Paris Wolfman was once again conferring with his friend Victoria in their hidden war room.

“So the Bloody daggers are trying to cobble up an alliance with the Dire Wolves,” asked Paris.

“Correct, do you want us to assassinate one of the leaders again, it might not work this time as there are too many others who would love to see either of those monsters bite the dust.”

“Hmm... no, didn’t you tell me about an assassin that likes to play both sides? Is he still around?”

“Yes and he is still flourishing, this chaos is tailor made for him,” answered Victoria.

“Please feel free to elaborate, but forge a note in the hand of one of the Bloody Knives leaders asking for the assassination of whoever is deemed the most dangerous member of the Dire Wolves, include an up front goodwill gift and get it delivered to that overambitious idiot. Then if you think it necessary get an anonymous warning to the putative victim. Can you work with that?”

“Why Paris what a lovely idea, yes I think something along those lines might just work,” purred Victoria.

* * *

In Drakoton meanwhile the man-rats were also busy, Steve their leader was making plans, he had dispatched a messenger to Mary with all the recent news and asking her if she could provide some competent burrowers and builders. He was also thanking his stars that he now had access to two catamarans and many more of his folk.

All the hooded conspirators present at the meeting with Vinculus had been identified and their properties were being carefully ransacked for useful documentation. Lastly he assigned a number of newcomers under a couple of the more experienced of his folk to undertake ‘background checks’ whatever those were on the local ship chandlers. Mary wanted a list of the local chandlers with a note of their foibles, health and honesty.

* * *

‘Diggers an’ builders, so Badgers, Moles, Rabbits or maybe beavers. Lessee the list of beastfolk available, yeah typical got rabbits but no badgers or moles. And no, rabbit beastfolk couldn’t dig a simple hole never mind construct a warren. Hey good test for my new agent.’

After checking to make sure that she wouldn’t be interrupting anything Mary contacted her Admiral of the Ocean Blue.

« Tomcat, I’ve got a job for you. »

“Yes Mother, what can I do for you today,” Tomcat purred back.

« Get yourself to Drakoton and confer with Steve, if he wants a digging crew then I want a healthy pair of Badgers so get him to get the quest placed in the local Guild. Then recruit the most suitable of the local chandlers as the agent for our White Dolphin Shipping company. Steve’ll have a list to help you choose. Better get the Badgers delivered to our new agent, that’ll do as a test as to their suitability. »

“Yes Mother, it shall be as you desire.”

« And cut it out with the Mother bit, m’name’s Mary. »

“But Mother, it’s your official title Mother of Monsters conferred by the System itself,” laughed Tomcat.

* * *

Mary then checked out her new soft border and was satisfied at the way it was performing, the larger parties from New Town had yet to make it to her new outer perimeter, and her young monsters were gaining valuable experience.

Then she checked on Pete and Shirley, if she could she would have grinned at the harassed couple as they tried to control their cute offspring, there were only twenty-eight of them but even with magic their parents were being swept off their tentacles.

* * *

Trisha meanwhile was puzzling over the latest message she had just received from Marigold the head of the Dungeon Companions' League. Why had Marigold just sent her such effusive congratulations and why was she being asked to attend the next annual get together of the league as guest of honour.

“Um... Mary do you know why Marigold is so excited.”

« Who’s Marigold? Why should we care if she’s excited? » replied her dungeon.

“Marigold, you know the head of the Dungeon Companions' League.”

« Oh. If you really want to know why not ask Ocidon or Bluey? »

“Can we, ask Bluey that is?” asked Trisha anxiously.

« Hey Bluey, what’s happenin’ an’ why’s it got that Marigold so excited? »

« You are now ranked as a Godlike Dungeon by the Adventurer’s Guild. »

« ‘K, hey Trish what does that mean for us anyway? »

“Um... Err... I have to... Let me check I’ll tell you when I’m sure myself.” Answered Trisha.

* * * INTERLUDE 1 * * *

After setting up a hidden water dump Grraafgor and Rrrofaar followed their noses south. They were ecstatic at what they found, a large cave with a deep pool of clear water spilling out to form a vigorous if ultimately short lived stream flowing out into the rocky desert.

The only sticking point was the fact that according to their noses these caves had been inhabited recently, and the lingering mana traces they could just sense suggested that this had been a dungeon.

“Good water, lots,” said Grraafagor.

“Yes but Boss and Shaman have to know,” confirmed and clarified Rrrofaar.

They very carefully explored the complex of caves and made doubly sure no dungeon was present and they even tried excavating the collapsed tunnel that they suspected the remaining inhabitants had used to leave. The scent of humans and dwarf lingered faintly.

“Adventurers kill dungeon,” speculated Graafagor.

“Yes, go tell tribes,” agreed Rrrofaar.

The leaders temporal and spiritual of the two tribes were dubious but decided to take their folk to the new caves. They could always leave if something came up but more water than either tribe could remember having plus good hunting due to the stream was an irresistible attraction.

* * * INTERLUDE 2 * * *

Agents Tremillio and Muller watched as the woman parked the antique jeep on the drive then removed a large bag from its rear and walked down the side of the house headed for the rear. Shortly after they saw the faint glow of a light at the rear of the property so they got out of their vehicle and headed for the front door. It had been a long day and this was their last interview for the day.

They rang the front door bell and waited, they vaguely heard what was probably someone yelling “Coming!” then lights started coming on in the house as someone approached the front door.

Mary looked down at the two agents, “Yes, who are you and what do you want?”

Tremillio and Muller showed their ID, “Ms Silvestre?”

Mary glanced at the badges, “FBI, ’K then, you wanna come in, cup of coffee maybe?” and led the way to the lounge waving at a pair of large somewhat shabby if comfortable armchairs.

The two agents followed Mary into the house and sat gingerly in the indicated chairs. “So coffee?” inquired their host.

“No need, we won’t take up much of your time,” stated Muller.

“We just have a few questions, Ms Silvestre did you attend HawaiiCon this year?” asked Tremillio.

Mary narrowed her eyes in suspicion, “you gotta know I did, why the question?”

“Sorry but we have to ask, have you been seeing blue screens since then?”

“Yesss.” ‘an’ for several months before.’ She added in her thoughts. “Why?”

“There have been incidents, we are trying to find out how wide is the problem,” explained Muller.

“So?”

“Look Ms Silvestre, we need to know how someone managed to do this and we need to talk with everyone that has been affected, so if you could please tell us your thoughts,” added Tremillio.

Mary leaned back in her couch and used her system given evaluate skill on them, Amanda Rose Tremillio Class N/A Level N/A Strength 12 Intelligence 17 and Roy Henry Muller Class N/A Level N/A Strength 16 Intelligence 13. So.

“This is pure speculation understand, got virtually no hard facts, but, if any individual or group was able to create this thing then they have a more profound understandin’ of the human brain than... well than anyone would be able to credit. I’ve got blue screens on twenty-four hour delay and have gained skills an’ abilities...”

“So you believe the blue screens are more than hallucinations? What skills and abilities.” Asked Tremillio.

‘Oops, said too much... ‘K then...’

“Can ‘evaluate’ people an’ things,” stated Mary.

“You’re not the only one to claim that, care to demonstrate?” suggested Muller.

“’K on your heads be it, Amanda Rose Tremillio Class N/A Level N/A Strength 12 Intelligence 17 and Roy Henry Muller Class N/A Level N/A Strength 16 Intelligence 13.”

Roy was shaken, there was no way this girl could know their full names, the rest could be dismissed as a bluff but...

The sound of a key in the front door announced that someone else was arriving.

“Evening Mary, how was your day.”

“Hiya mama, got visitors in the lounge, official visitors from the FBI.”

A quarter of an hour later the two FBI agents left and headed for home having been invited to the next day’s barbecue by the former Mrs Silvestre.

“She’s hiding something.” Tremillio to Muller.