Gob tried to explain what had happened in the temple dungeon.

"firs we walk frew level wun an den we find a ded end, an den i try to smash da wall, an den da coor open da door an da templ go up an up an up an da grosniks came an da coor giv us a kwest to con-tane da isa-tope an den i ask mista fing to go get yoo an den we hav to brake fings an open da dome, an we did it an da an dere was dese metal rods in it, an wite orc came down an pik dem up wiv his bare hans an…" Gob trailed off, he wasn't actually sure what the Orc had done then.

Leőn and Kylie watched him with amusement. They had never heard Gob say that many words in one go.

"He manifests a magic shield that looks like a spinning dark vortex." Leőn continued, "I don't fully understand it myself, but it protects against attacks by absorbing or drawing their force inside it. I think he must have used it to absorb the power of the dark metal."

"i fink it chang da vortex. it look difrent at da end." said Gob.

"Fascinating" commented Karl looking around the structure. "I can only detect residual amounts of the mutagen at all in here now… he must have absorbed it from the immediate environment as well as the matter itself. Strange to think the epicentre of the infection is now probably the cleanest part of our swamp! After generations we can finally start to rebuild! I doubted I would live long enough to see the opportunity to start reclaiming our bayou. There's so much to do but at least now my legacy can be about bringing life back to our bayou, not just protecting against corruption."

"We're in an undiscovered chamber!" he said as he looked around, "Underneath the original structure level! This means there's multiple unexplored lower levels! We always knew it was a circle, but never suspected there might be more levels further below the bog. It even looks like a temple now." he exclaimed, turning to Gob and Gurd, "are they full of treasure too?"

"yep. and infes-sted wiv grosniks…" warned Gob,

The mutated plant life that had been growing in the inner chamber had been ripped apart as the chamber had mechanically expanded upward, and the walls revealed carvings an inscriptions depicting many strange figures.

"The orc would love all these," said Leőn looking around. He stood as he saw a depiction of a giant groshnicke with a lot of smaller groshnickes around it.

He pointed it out "I'd be wary about exploring the depths of this level without experienced warriors. Looks like you might have a Queen to contend with down there somewhere."

"iz in dere," said Gob pointing to the closed stone doorway right next to where they were all gathered. "iz very nastee."

Karl looked nervous. "How do the doors open and close?"

Gob shrugged, "da coor doz it."

"The Core?" asked Karl.

YES. THAT'S ME. I'LL BE OPENING THE DOORS AS SOON AS IT'S DARK TO LET THE SCYTHE GUARDIANS GET A BIT OF EXERCISE. IF YOU DON'T LIKE THEM YOU BETTER GO. DOORS OPENING IN 00:01:04. it intoned.

"MISTA FING, CAN YOO GET UZ OWT?" it was Gurd who yelled up at him.

"OH SURE, NOT EVEN A 'PLEASE' OR AN 'EXCUS--"

GET US OUT NOW FING!!!!

She shrieked with ear rending ferocity.

Mr Thing dropped his elevator. Gob looked at Gurd with admiration. she iz very powaful! he thought.

They all climbed on, Gob, Gurd and Leőn dragging the heavy slumped form of the White Orc, still inside his bubble.

"fank yoo, mista fing!" said Gurd sweetly as he wordlessly lifted them out of the funnel.

Raaaasssssssssppppp.

It sounded like five stone doors opening as one, below them in the dark.

tikka-tikka-tikka-tikka-tikka-tikka

The noise of Groshnicke claws on stone escalated quickly, and a horde of multi jointed long-legged black nightmares poured up and over the rim of the structure as Mr Thing sloshed across the swamp ahead of them in the dark.

They were very fast, and even though Mr Thing's legs were extremely long, they outpaced him on the boggy ground below, sweeping across the swamp in every direction, released from their dungeon for the first time in a generation to feed on the denizens of the swamp.

"Well," signed Karl, "I guess the clean-up of our swamp is going to include years of Groshnicke defestation."

Their trip home took most of the night. Gob and Gurd sat next to each other with their legs dangling over the edge of the platform, not saying much, just watching the swamp go by. Leőn dozed off. Kylie kept a watch over the White Orc until he eventually groaned and roused, checking carefully over his replenished but tender skin.

Karl spent the trip between being moodily silent, and furiously scribbling in a notebook.

----------------------------------------

They got back to the village as dawn was lighting up the ever-present mist over the muddy river, but it was clear the village had been up for hours too, keeping watch and waiting for them. Change was in the air.

There didn't seem to be any Groshnickes this far from the temple dungeon, so Mr Thing placed them down at the ferry.

"Well," he said, "I've decided to go fishing." and without another word, he sloshed off back into the swamp.

Gurd turned to Gob, patted him on the shoulder and said "good luk gob. it woz nice knowin yoo. com bak an visit if yoo don die." and without another word, she too disappeared into the mist.

Gob was speechless, and didn't even have time to say anything before she was gone.

Leőn let out a low whistle. He turned to Kylie. "Ouch," he whispered, "that was savage."

However excitement and expectation could be heard in the animated voices of the villagers, even from across the lake and there was no time for Gob to go chasing after Gurd into the swamp. They boarded the ferries and could hear the swell of animated chatter among the villagers through the mist before their ferry pulled up to the rotten timber jetty on the town side.

When they climbed out, a cheer and loud applause greeted them out of the mist, from the cobbled streets and the raised walkways. The children ran forwards excitedly, dragging them to the town square by the hands where a great long table had been set up with a hearty breakfast to celebrate the occasion.

Karl immediately excused himself somewhat mysteriously, running to his workshop after a brief peck on the cheek and a word to Paula, who seemed to sigh and roll her eyes.

When he eventually returned, he was beaming triumphantly, grinning from ear to ear. Everyone was ushered to their places, and Karl energetically recounted the story to the villagers with great detail and drama.

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"You are to be counted as our guests for as long as you will stay," finished Karl at last, "but we understand you have a quest of your own. We offered you safe passage, and as agreed, Paula will accompany you along the river to refind the East pass that will take you to the Shadowlands. However, in addition to the passage promised we have some gifts of thanks."

He gestured to the side room of the hall, and two burly villagers struggled out with a chest full of gleaming gold Quezatl coins.

"These treasures are very valuable, but nowhere are they more so than the Lizard Kingdoms, where you're headed, as they are valued as an historic relic as much as a precious metal. We hope that in one way or another they will speed you on your quest."

The villagers clapped and cheered as the White Orc graciously accepted the gift.

"I LUV TREZA!" yelled Gob over the applause, causing some laughter. The townspeople were a bit nervous about having a troll in their midst, especially now he seemed to have grown a bit bigger.

"And one last gift for a special little lady." Karl said, looking more excited than they had yet seen him, as if he could hardly contain himself. He held up a trembling hand as the laughter and applause died down.

"Kylie you came to us brown and sickly and you leave us healthy and ruby red, and in the meantime you've been an excellent test subject for the efficacy of my protective Aspects!"

Murmers of agreement from the villagers.

"You make the best bubbles!" Kylie replied, still inside one, she did a little flip to the delight of the children, and probably most of the adults too.

"Well, this adventure inspired me to advance my craft one step further. There is still much to clean up for us in the coming years so it will be useful here for our people, but I would like to give you the honour of bearing MY VERY FIRST ASPECT CRAFTED.... ARMOURBUBBLE!"

There were some mixed murmurs as Karl triumphantly held up what looked like a tiny translucent shrivelled shape between two fingers. It didn't look very impressive, but Karl had announced it like it was the pinnacle of his lifes achievements. Kylie flew over inquisitively.

"Ummm… I'm honoured, thank you Karl... But, what… is it?"

Karl leaned over and popped the bubble Kylie was floating in, causing her to jump, but then held the shrivelled shape over her head and dropped it on her. It sealed over her head, then her shoulders, then formed around her wings, her waist and finally her legs. Then it seemed to disappear.

She looked down at herself, patting her body then looked back at him in surpise.

"No way!" She whispered excitedly "NO WAY!… did you…"

"Yes Kylie, the new armourbubble is form fitting, undetectable, includes a pure air affinity, and strongly protects against any airborne or liquid physical attacks, especially effective against poison, gas, radiation of course, ice or freezing spells, hot or acidic liquids and, interestingly enough by extension, flame. I didn't intend on it being flame retardant but, it's a great feature! It should mean you don't have to be too worried any time the White Orc casts his… er… radiance power. I heard him mention it may be quite quite strong."

"I love it!" She said, flying around happily, experimentally, to the cheers an applause of the villagers.

With that, a morning meal was served and they ate happily and, in Gobs case, extensively. Being size four seemed to have introduced a new level of appetite.

Soon it was time for them to leave, and with a great cheer as a send-off from the villagers, they pulled away from a jetty on the opposite side of the island to the one they had arrived on, and set out into the late morning mist.

Paula and Criff accompanied them part of the way, just until they arrived at a furrow in the swamp with some remnant gravel in it that they told them was what was left of the 'other' end of the east pass.

"bye criff" said Gob to the boy, who was no longer eye to eye with him, but now only reached to his shoulder.

"Bye Gob. Hey trolls aren't so bad after all. At least you don't smell like you did when I first met you. You really stank! I'll say hi to Gurd for you next time I catch her some bogspawn!" he flashed a cheeky grin and ran off.

"I'll leave you all here." said Paula to them all, "take care now, there are still plenty of dangerous swamp dwellers between here and the Shadowlands… and plenty more there too. Thank you all so much again, we owe you a great debt. If you need help in the future call on the swamp folk and we'll answer!"

"And gob," she whispered and winked, "your lady has been watching over you all the way, just beyond the mist. I'm sure next time you pass by here she will want to know about it!"

"Goodbye to you all, and good luck with your quest." And with that she turned back to the village.

They walked on carefully through the swamp picking their way around pukkas, following the pass until the light started to dim. Following Criff's game, Gob had now learnt to use his tail to swipe across the little purple flowers then jump out of the way when they arched over to snap their jaws shut.

He was enjoying himself. He was enjoying his tail.

"i fink i miss dis tail wen it gon" he said to no one in particular. He was expecting a jibe from Leőn but to his surprise instead he said,

"It does seem to have added some range and ability to your attacks, I think you actually fought better even with the loss of your troll claws. Can you use those little things at all?"

"not reely. dey sharp, but too short for much. dey iz good fo catchin bogspawn..."

"Huh. Shame you can't keep the tail!"

Gob thought about that. He kept thinking about it as they walked. He would lose the tail, he knew that but he decided he would put all his focus for the next day into working out what he had learnt from the change that he could keep hold of. He had a strange feeling, like there was something just at the edge of his consciousness he couldn't quite see clearly. He knew there must be something here for him to learn…

"Gob!" it was the White Orc who jerked him out of his reverie. They had all stopped walking except him. It was dark.

"Time to stop for the night."

They set up camp, and as Leőn hadn't slept much beyond a doze the previous night, and the White Orc was still not fully recovered, and Kylie didn't sleep anyway, she agreed to keep watch. Gob couldn't sleep though.

"Can't sleep?" she asked after he got up.

"don no wy." he said, "sumfin feelz rong."

He looked around.

There was a

SPLASH, SLURP... SPLASH-SPLASH!

and the boy Criff stumbled into camp, bloodied and muddy.

"Criff!" exclaimed Kylie, flying over to the boy, "Orc! Leőn! Get up!

"What's happened?" she asked with concern as she flew a circle around him, checking his injuries. He had a deep gashes on one of his arms and up that whole side of his body he was bleeding profusely. He stood with most of his weight on one leg, the other obviously hurt. He stumbled to his knees, tears streaming down his face.

"Gob, carry him over to the fire." she said, and Gob picked him up easily and laid him down next to the fire where Leőn and the White Orc were now standing, roused and ready.

"The Groshnickes came!" wept the boy. "I was out fishing with Paula after breakfast. There were hundreds of them. She told me to run, so I ran. She did what she could, but... it was just me and her! I don't… I don't know…"

"It's OK Criff," said Kylie soothingly, "did they do this to your arm?"

He nodded, "I ran but they chased me. I led them through a dangerous part of the swamp and the turtlegator took care of most of them. Honestly, I think maybe Gurd was there in the mist helping too. But one got through. I twisted my leg and fell over in the mud. It jumped on me and I killed it with my fishing spear, but…" he gasped and sobbed again in pain as much as being overwhelmed.

"But not many chased me… not compared to how many there were… they were everywhere, so many of them… they were headed for the village! You have to help!"

The four of them looked at each other wordlessly.

"i wan go help." said Gob.

"Me too." said Kylie, "How could we leave them at a time like this?"

The White Orc nodded. "Gob you understand this will delay us further from completing your quest?"

"criff iz mi frend. karl an paula… an gurd. dey iz frens. we muz help."

They all looked at Leőn. "Would it matter if I didn't want to go?" he sighed. I know you all well enough by now that I shouldn't bother arguing. Anyway, they have great food. A question though boy, how would the Groshnickes get across to your island?"

But Criff didn't answer. He had fainted from the pain and bloodloss.

Leőn and Gob doused the fire while the White Orc dressed Criff's wounds to staunch the bleeding. Gob took the lead, using his frogeyes to lead them on the safest route as quickly as he could. The White Orc carried the limp form of the boy, and Leőn and Kylie followed behind. Gob lead them much faster than was responsible considering the swampland's unpredictable ground and nasty native flora and fauna, but he was getting far more adept at recognising the pitfalls now, and before too long they could hear the sounds of a desperate battle through the mist.

As they got closer, they saw two forms surrounded by Groshnickes on the near side of the lake, and mostly obscured through the mist, but still visible, hordes of the same creatures swimming across the water to the village, where a fierce confrontation was taking place at the doors to the town hall. From a distance it looked like Karl had cast a protective bubble over the building that the Groshnikes couldn't penetrate for now, and he and the strongest villagers were desperately battling to get through to Paula and…

"GURD!" cried Gob. It was Gurd who was Paula's companion, and the two of them were dispatching Groshnickes together, though they looked tired and the horde was still oncoming.

There was a third, surprise combatant though. In the lake surrounding the town, churning and seething from the wild splashes of the swimming Groshnickes, a large fish could be seen darting around just under the surface of the water, and every few moments a Groshnicke would simply disappear under the water. It was Jangles the catfish, protecting it's beloved lake.

"Kylie," said the White Orc, "can you fly to the island and help Karl beat back the horde from there?"

She nodded and shot off across the lake, as she went, blue flames erupted around her, and many of the Groshnikes screamed their high pitched screams as they sizzled and crackled.

"What about the kid?" said Leőn, "we can't carry him into battle."

"Gob," said the Orc, "go and ask the fish for help."