* * * EARTH – MARY * * *

Mary figured it was time. If she didn’t act now it would be too late as there would be no more proto-dungeons. So here she was, having fun, swimming in her gorgeous dolphin form off the coast of Australia. On her left was Suttons Beach in Redcliffe; Mary was somewhat puzzled that there wasn’t anyone in the water. Her only irritation was the noisy helicopter overhead.

It was then that she realized she was being stalked. She leapt from the sea with a touch of magic, seeking altitude to see if she could spot whatever was stupid enough to stalk her.

In the helicopter overhead Ruth Smith bit her lip as she kept her camera on the pale dolphin. She suspected that the jump it had just executed was record breaking. She maintained her camera going because it was obvious that the great white female her team had just tagged was hunting the lone dolphin.

What followed was unexpected. The dolphin turned and attacked the larger shark. It was exceptionally fast and manoeuvrable. It swam exceptionally fast and it repeatedly rammed the great white.

Then after the kill the dolphin rose up on its tail and danced across the waves before giving a spectacular series of acrobatics. It certainly looked like a victory dance for the benefit of the spectators on the beach. Ruth could have sworn it was watching them just before it dove and went after the body of its victim.

It surfaced and wagged its head even as it held the part of the shark’s fin with their tag. After it was sure they had seen it headed for the beach and somehow threw it into the surf before vanishing under the waves again.

* * *

Mary couldn’t help grinning to herself. Especially when she saw people returning to the sea. At least the carcass hadn’t gone to waste. Her serpent had been hungry after all, they always were.

Mary spent some time playing with the bolder swimmers until the noisy helicopter returned, so she dove again and changed avatars. She made her way to the shore and came ashore.

Mary grinned up at the chopper that was still circling around looking for her beautiful dolphin self. ‘Got to thank Bluey again for linkin’ my domain to all the seas. Makes things sooo easy.’

Mary touched her ring and invoked its cleanse function. Now that she was dry and salt free she hauled out a t-shirt and shorts from her storage ring and pulled them over her dry swimming costume and after answering a few queries regarding her rings, she trotted away from the beach, heading for a certain beach bar. She grinned when she spotted the small sun tanned blue-eyed blond.

Mary stopped by the table and said, “Hi, I’m Mary, I guess you’re Tammy O’Hare. I’m glad you believed me and agreed to meet.”

“G’day Mary. Bit difficult to disbelieve when your companion contacted me over the Dungeon Exchange blog thingie. You say you can connect me to my other self. I guess I’ll have more information regarding where I should establish my domain that way.”

“That will be one advantage yes. Additionally if you want to remain linked to your other you you’ll know what type of companion will work best. That is if the companion the Blue Haired Cow supplied is acceptable to the two of you.”

“Why did you pick me?”

“Azurea is desperate. She hinted that your dungeon is close to the coast. Real close.”

“And that is important. Why?”

“Because, Tammy, I’m bound to the seas and oceans.”

Tammy sat silently as she thought. She stood, “Lets go sit on the beach. Somewhere with less company.”

Mary stood and followed her. They sat looking at the waves.

“Go ahead Mother of Monsters. And you’ll owe me a favour. Right.”

Mary let out a bark of laughter. “That’s usually my line. But fair enough.”

“I know. I’ve been lurking for a while.”

Mary took Tammy’s hand and used her experience to locate her link. She found it much easier than before, her goddess abilities made it easy. She found the bound dungeon core easily even as she dragged Tammy with her.

* * * AMBUILA – ANS 71 * * *

Moonbright the dungeon sprite watched with heart in mouth. They were out of mana and almost out of defenders. Their lizard men had been caught returning from a hunt in the marsh by the cannibals. He shuddered in sorrow at the sight of the twenty warriors with their cow hide shields and iron tipped throwing spears.

He had overheard the chief witch doctor crow victory and boast of what he was going to do with his poor bound friend. It had begun as a job for the goddess and it had grown into something more. ANS 71 was sweet and he had grown to love her as a true companion.

He froze as a presence flooded into their dungeon and domain. He felt what could only be a goddess look through his memories with a growing feeling of approval.

Then Moonbright felt the intruder look out at the cannibals with disapproval. Their domain was suddenly full of mana and it expanded explosively. The diameter of their domain doubled, tripled and grew further until it connected to the nearby sea.

And to his shock another domain overlapped theirs from the sea feeding them a certain wild chaotic energy.

A wave of serpents emerged from the waves, and badger men emerged from the depths of their dungeon armed with strange steel weapons and clad in steel knit shirts. Both sets of monsters swarmed the cannibals.

« I figure I can leave things to you now Tammy, and you Moonbright. I gift you with my small sea serpents and the badger ’folk. I’ve a dungeon to claim and link. »

Moonbright was astounded at how quickly the badger ’folk won the fight. Greatly aided it must be said by the cannibals’ terror of the snakes. He almost didn’t see the healer and mage at the back of the metal clad badger ’folk.

Then he forgot everything else because his dungeon core was free and he was meeting Tammy O’Hare.

* * * EARTH – MARY * * *

It was getting dark when Tammy woke again. She looked at Mary with a dazed look. Mary grinned, “I guess you understand now.”

Tammy opened her mouth, swallowed, “Yeah, I guess I do. Where do I find a sprite?”

“I know a lot of sea sprites, but you want a land based classic dungeon version, speak with Jerica. She’s in charge of that kind of thin’ on Earth.” Mary grinned.

“My, um, twin I guess, thanks you. And Moonbright too. But they say the badger ’folk are hideously expensive. And their gear too, any idea why?”

“Think it has to do with tech levels an’ general conditions. Looked like those dungeon killers were barely into the Iron Age. Suspect much of the planet isn’t that far along. Know there are no sea elves or Drow. Got lots to learn.”

“Oh. That’s going to make things difficult,” said Tammy staring into the distance.

“Hey Tammy, don’t feel down. Were plenty of big cities an’ the like even in the stone age. Just a case that there was a lot more wilderness. Think about it. Research is easy here on Earth.”

“Yeah I guess.”

Mary stood and removed her t-shirt and shorts storing them once again. She looked down with a grin. “You know how to get hold of me. I want to go an’ play some more. It’s been a while since I went Dolphin.”

Tammy watched as Mary raced back to the sea and dove into the waves and a dolphin went dancing out to sea.

* * * PARTHIA – ROY ANDERSON * * *

Roy watched as the inn’s staff fussed over Cas. Not that he and the rest of the party weren’t being well treated, it’s just that they went the extra mile for Cas. Captain Shultz had been forced to split his men between the Ocidon’s Gift and the Lazy Cat. Neither inn being that big. At least they only stood some two hundred meters apart, and both were on the docks.

In fact the only establishment that could have held them all was the local bordello. And while most of the men would have been delighted the officers vetoed the idea.

Having finished breakfast, and being served ale with breakfast was odd, Roy stood outside the door to the inn. He was watching a rundown three masted ship being hurriedly prepared for sea. Several scruffy individuals were carrying a number of obviously drunken people aboard. The ships master seemed to be rather excited.

“I have always wondered about the Swallow. She used to have some very odd cargoes, and has been struggling lately. Looks like I was correct.”

Roy looked at the speaker and saw that it was their innkeeper. “What makes you say that?”

The man grinned, “Two things happen when Tomcat comes calling. Men lock up their unmarried daughters and rats flee.”

Seeing that Roy hadn’t understood, the innkeeper clarified. “Mother is death on pirates and those that help and support them. And Tomcat is one of her principal agents.”

“Mother? Who is Mother?”

That netted Roy an incredulous look. “How is it you don’t know when Cas wears her symbol, and one blessed by her at that?” The innkeeper shook his head, and continued. “Mother, The Mother of Monsters and Blackbeard’s Bane. Occidon’s consort and Balancer of the Drow, mind you that last is a joke. Between the Spider Queen and the Mother of Monsters, hah! Protector of the Were, and currently, a minor goddess.”

Roy stared at the man and licked suddenly dry lips.

* * *

Inspection that morning was fun. Angry NCO confounded when all that stuff appeared out of the government issued storage device. Officers dragged in and explanations offered. The airborne boys had been busy after that hint. They were now actually carrying more with less stress than before.

That got Roy roped in, and after some questioning, Cas as well.

The tours of the town were delayed by about an hour. Not that there was much to see or learn. Sus was a small unimportant port that lived of trade, farming and fishing. Most of the wealth was found in Barcolton thanks to the dungeons and the East West trade road.

Though by all indications that road was losing importance with the virtual disappearance of the previously rampant piracy.

Roy accompanied the padre around to see the various temples and shrines. He was amused that the man was actually physically unable to enter two of them. A fairly impressive ruin showed where the god of pirates had been worshiped. Also the temple to Occidon was being enlarged along with its attached shrine to the consort.

* * * EARTH – ARENA OF BLOOD * * *

Frog and Angel watched and liaised with Frog and Strelitzia as a small group of CIA agents attempted to infiltrate Conimbriga. They withdrew hastily when the iron collars, the slave soldiers employed by Conimbriga refused them access. They returned dragging their dead.

Frog was getting tired of explaining. “Look, I honestly can’t make them talk to you. Yes I can give you the language. But not for all of you, creating items costs energy. Especially magical items.”

“Can we get you energy, we can pay,” offered Jerry.

“The way by which dungeons gain most energy is not acceptable on Earth. That is by killing sapient beings. The other ways, well time slowly allows us to gain energy. Then you and the people currently in my domain are allowing me to gain energy. Sapient beings give off energy dungeons can use just by living. But it’s a small amount. Mind you I’m glad to get it, I don’t want to have to kill anyone.”

Jerry exchanged a look with Damien. “So if we set up a bunkhouse...”

“Well yes, that might help. No it would help though it would be a bit nerve wracking to have too many people in my dungeon. If they were unarmed it would help.”

Angel chirped in, “A gym would be better. Exercise tends to make beings give off more energy. And exercising in a dungeon’s domain would also be beneficial for the people exercising.”