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After an exceptionally eventful evening in which you and your allies travelled to Youngwater to rescue Merriam and her friends from a horde of undead, an attack orchestrated by none other than Albert himself, you find yourself in Aran, consulting with your innermost circle. Faye is here, along with the changeling Isseal (in disguise as a lovely necklace currently worn by Faye), Xiax'zas the Lich, your guard captain Vorkath, the Red One, Sheldrake and all of your cult heads and army leaders. Having transported the young necromancer Sophilia into Aran and temporarily confined her to quarters, allowing you to focus on more important matters, you turn towards your council and speak.

"The time of my revenge draws near," you inform them. "In less than a month, Mordrax will spring his trap. That is the moment I will face him and kill him for the injustice he delivered onto me." Several cheers rise from the council, but you did not summon them for their emotional support. You raise your hand and they grow silent. "The time has come to start moving all of my pieces on the board into the perfect positions. Recently, I acquired several new ones, but I hesitate to move all of them into place at once. There are some outlying issues that need be dealt with in some manner."

The Red One rises. "The Shadow Demons, my queen?"

Sorn, the centaur, shakes his head. "The attack on Binulia."

Xiax'zas, still seated, guesses, "The undead army led by the necromancer."

Faye shrugs. "Our family? We could probably take more of them out."

"All of these are pressing matters," you tell them, quelling more discussion as it threatens to overwhelm the table. "And others, as well. But yes, I desire to allocate resources towards these issues."

You sit down at the head of the table alongside your twin and consider which issue you find to be the most pressing.

>We must eliminate the shadow demons from Aran, so no more surprises pop up in our home.
>We must support the attack on Binulia with our forces so as to draw attention away from our area of operation.
>We must deal with the undead led by Albert, his brothers and their father so they do not become a third faction to deal with.
>We must focus on eliminating more members of my family, who are actively attempting to hinder my efforts and plans.
>Other

>>3051048
>We must eliminate the shadow demons from Aran, so no more surprises pop up in our home.
Not the most important issue, but we need to half a healthy base before we move forward.

>>3051048
>We must focus on eliminating more members of my family, who are actively attempting to hinder my efforts and plans.
With no warlock sibling, the demons can be dealt with in due course. Binulia can be handled soon, and getting stuck in with the undead brothers will lead to a quagmire we can't afford to get stuck in. Removing members of the Le Doux family will have the most direct impact on clearing our route to Mordrax, never mind all the other noble families in his pocket.

>>3051065
>>3051066
Can I get a tie breaker or another vote?

>>3051066
This

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>>3051066
>>3051114

"My family represents my greatest obstacles in my path to Mordrax, and some of his greatest assets. As my wonderful twin so eloquently put it, we must take more of them out."

Faye beams a smile as you rise and begin to circle the room. You look at your lich minion. "Xiax'zas, Perilynth is still infiltrating my family's staff, correct?"

"Yes, my queen."

"I will require an update on their current status. I am aware that after I nearly destroyed my family home, they have been taken in by the royal family at Mordrax's behest. What I need to know is when they are vulnerable or traveling. I want you to get in contact with her as soon as this meeting is concluded."

"At once, your majesty."

The Red One respects your desires, but once again voices her concerns over the shadow demons. Sheldrake looks at her. "I am keeping them at bay, for now. They will not slip through my watch a second time."

"They, the undead and the attack are all matters I intend to resolve soon enough," you explain. "What I wish to discuss now is the fact that we must turn our eyes towards the capital of Highvale. While I already have a cult within, and a revenant spy in the ranks of my family's staff, I must have greater numbers within for that is where the battle shall take place."

Faye looks up from her nails. "If I remember correctly, you said that organization is also going to be preparing for the battle, right? They'll have minions in the capital."

"Yes, of course, but I'll need my own. I fully expect that I'll need every single asset I've acquired in some way, shape or form to be present in or just outside city for when the time comes. Modrax already demonstrated his spell of anti-teleportation in the form of a violent storm, so I expect he'll do so again."

"You could have some of your minions move in with the cultists," Shaedara suggests.

Corus makes another point. "What about a ship? The capital has a large port. With enough money, one could have a crew ready at the docks at all times."

"We could purchase some property within the capital or find some for ourselves underneath it," the Matchless Companion offers.

You cup your chin and consider the options laid out before you.

>I will have some of my minions and allies move in with the infiltration cult
>I will send ships to the harbor and stage my allies there
>I will purchase property within Highvale, or find a hiding place beneath it
>A combination of all three of the above for maximum potential coverage
>Other

>>3051155
>A combination of all three of the above for maximum potential coverage
We need contingencies. If there's anything our new patron deities love, it's contingencies.

>>3051155
>A combination of all three of the above for maximum potential coverage

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>>3051161
>>3051231

All of those ideas have their own appeal. "I shall use all of them to some degree," you announce. Turning to your cult heads and army leaders, you inform them, "Until I decide who shall assist in the battle in Highvale and who shall assist in the attack on Binulia, prepare your forces."

Sorn lets out a dismissive snort. "The demon attack sated the bloodlust of my men, for now. I doubt they will be of much use in the puny human capital."

"In this we agree, but I still may have some use for you and your men elsewhere. Until I give the command, keep them in line."

Sorn nods respectfully. Though he is a brute, he saw your battle against your brother and has come to appreciate your cunning, especially after using his centaurs to such brutal effectiveness against the demon flanks.

"How will you attend the ball, my queen?" Vorkath asks. "And will you be needing protection?"

"Rest assured that you and the royal guard will play a role, but I shall attend the ball as a guest of the high elven king. I shall pull my newfound strings and influence to secure an invitation for myself and a select number of my most powerful and trusted minions; they shall help me destroy Mordrax in a direct confrontation. All of my other assets will be preoccupied fighting his minions throughout the capital, I imagine."

He nods and says no more.

"There is one other matter that I would seek council upon," you say, walking back to your seat. "Recently the town of Youngwater was attacked by an undead horde. The necromancer Albert manipulated some of the students of Bratia into creating summoning circles within the town that allowed him and his army to flood within its enchanted walls. I have secured one such ex-student, a girl by the name of Sophilia. I would like to find some use for her, but I have several matters upon my plate already. Who wants her?."

Xiax'zas the lich speaks up. "If she desires to learn necromancy, I can teach her."

Both the Witch Queen's Daughters and Antumbrian Order cults offer to integrate her into their lurid rituals, and she could have a place in one of the several non-sex cults as well.

Faye purses her lips. "Perhaps we could experiment on her with the black goo? See what happens in small doses."

The Red One suggests she be made to clean the Umbral Citadel alongside Alicia, the mind-wiped drow. It would humble her.

>Let her become a pupil under Xiax'zas
>Give her to one of your cults
>She will become a subject of experimentation
>Turn her into a maid to teach her humility
>Other

>>3051250
>>Let her become a pupil under Xiax'zas
She reminds me of me. But not as pretty or capable.

>>3051250
>Turn her into a maid to teach her humility
Then after a year or so.
>Let her become a pupil under Xiax'zas

>>3051263
This

>>3051250
>>Give her to one of your cults
She reminds me of me, and Faye and I both love selfcest perhaps a self-threesome is in order.
Plus it would be very humbling (and entertaining) for her service Merriam and her friends.

>>3051276
giving her to one of the cults doesn't seem very conducive for her long term survival. or at least sanity

>>3051250
>Other
Bring her along on a tour of our general duties if able, so she can see how a real professional works. "Take Your Enemy's Failed Apprentice To Work Day," I suppose.

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>>3051263
>>3051273

"Set her to work in the citadel. Make her scrub every floor and every wall. How long will that take, Sheldrake?"

"A year."

"Then so it shall be. When she has finished cleaning every inch of every room and learned her place, she'll be allowed to learn magic from you, Xiax'zas."

From your position at the table, you look at all of the assembled and tell them, "You are dismissed, but know that I will be speaking with each of you soon. All that I have worked towards will soon come to fruition, and those who have served me most faithfully will be greatly rewarded when I have achieved my revenge. I will not forget those who have wronged me, but I also will not forget those who helped me make it right."

They all rise and bow to you and Faye before departing. Once they have all done so and the chamber is locked, leaving only you, the Red One, Sheldrake and Faye, Isseal flips off of her neck like a snake. Once on the floor, she coils up and grows in mass and size until she is once more in her changeling form.

You continue to pace slowly. The Red One tilts her hooded head and asks, "You are at unease, my queen. You must relax."

"I shall relax upon Mordrax's corpse," you mutter, but you calm down and try to take her advice. "Much weighs upon my mind. I have assembled so many assets, minions and resources--I must now focus on using them all to their full effect. Sheldrake, the list."

Sheldrake raises his hand and manifests a list before handing it to you. Your eyes run up and down it, deciding where to focus your attention first. In this, you shall leave no stone unturned.

>Allies, Party Members and Friends
>Minions, Cults and Revenants
>Associates, Business Partners and Teachers
>Physical Assets and Properties
>Other

>>3051321
>Physical Assets and Properties
Infrastructure before human resources.

>>3051321
>>Allies, Party Members and Friends
make sure the foundation is secure, then we can focus on peripheries.

>>3051321
>>Allies, Party Members and Friends
this, the most important thing for an evil sorceress is friendship and love.

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>>3051327
>>3051356

First and foremost will be Ben, currently residing within Cliffbrooke Manor.

As one of the heroes who rescued the high elven princess from the moon elf, his invitation to the ball is certain. He has trained under several individuals to proficiency with his sword and shield fighting style, has enhanced strength, speed, stamina and senses due to his lycanthropy (which he can control thanks to the moonstone), and is equipped with an enchanted shield that will protect him from magic.

Furthermore, as one of the individuals you have put the most time and effort into molding, he is a key figure in your plan to slay Mordrax. The child of a man wrongfully murdered sent into a life of adventure, eventually helping to slay the would-be emperor of an arcane empire; every detail about Ben has been carefully crafted by you to turn him into the ultimate storybook hero, primed and ready to be beloved by the people.

At least in public, anyway. But that's all that truly matters. They don't need to know about the things he's gotten up to behind closed doors.

But surely there must be some room for improvement in the coming few weeks...

>Ben has never been brought to his limits. He must face an opponent greater than he can manage on his own.
>Ben must diversify his fighting style, and learn to battle with alternate weapons.
>Ben must be equipped with greater magical gear, to enhance his already potent strength, speed and durability.
>Ben cannot be worn out by more training. Instead, he must remain prepared for the day when it will all count.
>Other

>>3051405
>>Ben has never been brought to his limits. He must face an opponent greater than he can manage on his own.

>>3051405
>Ben has never been brought to his limits. He must face an opponent greater than he can manage on his own.

>>3051405
>Ben has never been brought to his limits. He must face an opponent greater than he can manage on his own.

>>3051405
>>Ben has never been brought to his limits. He must face an opponent greater than he can manage on his own

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>>3051414
>>3051428
>>3051431
>>3051455

He will need an opponent who can truly test him, someone with powers that exceed his own. Ben has faced nothing but overall success, but true greatness is not found in victory, but in overcoming adversity. Even you were brought down from a position of great power and influence and forced into exile.

While you certainly don't have time for that for Ben, you can have him face an opponent who can absolutely wreck him and give him new challenges to overcome, both physically and mentally.

>Krom, the Demigod: His strength alone will trump Ben; he will be like a wall that Ben can throw himself against over and over until he can go no further.
>Sheldrake, your Butler: Ben is incapable of fighting against a living manifestation of your realm, who can use the environment to fight him.
>The Witch Hunter: His advanced experience, magical abilities and greater skill in combat will present a challenge that Ben cannot outmanuever.
>Raniya the Djinn-ala: Your warrior genie is uniquely magical, combined with a great amount of martial talent; for him to be defeated by a woman will humble him.
>Alura the Succubus: Ben will have to learn that he is too easily seduced when you send the succubus to be slain by his "sword". As a succubus, she can bring Ben to the limit of his "physical endurance" in other ways than combat.
>Other (Write-In)

>>3051457
>>The Witch Hunter: His advanced experience, magical abilities and greater skill in combat will present a challenge that Ben cannot outmanuever.
Seems like a good balance of martial and magical threats.

>>3051457
>Krom, the Demigod: His strength alone will trump Ben; he will be like a wall that Ben can throw himself against over and over until he can go no further.
No contest. The Witch Hunter is busy with other stuff to pull him away as Ben's sparring partner. With Krom, it will be extremely obvious where Ben falls short, compared to the hunter's more subtle methods.

>>3051466
But it won't be training for the likely heavily magic threat we'd be heading into. Blocking and dodging axe swings won't teach you how to defend against magic.

>>3051475
Ben's never really been equipped or trained to deal with magic, anyway. He's not a spellbreaker.

>>3051457
>>Krom, the Demigod: His strength alone will trump Ben; he will be like a wall that Ben can throw himself against over and over until he can go no further.

>>3051480
So we shouldn't work on that when we go up against a master wizard and his cabal of other mages? You prep for the threats you're going to face, not the threat you're best suited to deal with

>>3051457
>>Krom, the Demigod: His strength alone will trump Ben; he will be like a wall that Ben can throw himself against over and over until he can go no further.

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>>3051466
>>3051485
>>3051502

Krom will do. He shall show Ben what it truly means to be a warrior, and your past relations with the demigod shall secure Ben's safety, for why would Krom harm the boy if you sent him?

You'll arrange the deal with Krom. You'll twist it so that the situation in which he found himself with the amazons will be presented as a favor you gave to him, and he will return it by pushing Ben to his limits. Only when Ben realizes what his ceiling is will he be able to break through it, and the experience will prove invaluable.

Next comes Merriam, his beloved sister. She's learned much at the college, but unfortunately her classes have been cut short. Despite this, you were able to turn her into a stronger asset, as well as secure a few more in the form of her friends and rival. But much like her brother, there must be something to be done with her before the time of the ball.

>Merriam will continue to study spells from the abjuration and holy schools, making her into the ultimate defender.
>Merriam is far too lacking in offensive capabilities; she must learn more spells in evocation and elementalism.
>During Ben's time with Krom, she will go with him, and learn shamanism magic from the amazonian natives.
>The time has come to induct Merriam into the darker schools of necromancy, thralldom and shadow magic.
>Other

>>3051539
>Merriam is far too lacking in offensive capabilities; she must learn more spells in evocation and elementalism.

>>3051539
>>Merriam will continue to study spells from the abjuration and holy schools, making her into the ultimate defender.

>>3051585
The undead attack should've made it obvious that she needs more ways to defend herself.

>>3051539
>>Merriam will continue to study spells from the abjuration and holy schools, making her into the ultimate defender.

>>3051046
Art originally for korean MMO Shayla. fun fact.

>>3051644
And taken from Google
The more you know

>>3051599
Holy spells do have some attacking magic though

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>>3051585
>>3051604

Merriam did a commendable job learning spells from the schools of abjuration and holy, but she could learn more. Rather than spread the girl too thinly, you shall instead have her focus on her core talents and continue to sculpt her into the ultimate defensive mage, capable of keeping herself and her allies safe from any attack. So far her experience allowed her to survive the undead attack upon Youngwater; with additional training and spells, she could survive much more.

In addition to her surviving, so to did her little friends. While her three female companions are mages of average stock, it is the male you are particularly interested in. Nathanial Folcey, the one who casts spells with punches and kicks, with an affinity for elementalism. You observed some of his handiwork during one of his training sessions, and he has the potential to be very powerful.

Merriam did well by establishing a connection between him and the meek elf. The girl will be easily controlled, and through her you will be able to manipulate him. The question now lies as to what to do with them both, and where they would be best placed.

>Send them to the capital to take part in the upcoming battle
>Send them to Bridge Town to train local mercenaries at the guild hall
>Send them into the far east to train with the martial arts masters
>For now, keep them at Cliffbrooke Manor
>Other

>>3051683
>>Send them into the far east to train with the martial arts masters

>>3051683
>>Send them into the far east to train with the martial arts masters

>>3051683
>Send them into the far east to train with the martial arts masters

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>>3051706
>>3051715
>>3051723

The boy is skilled, but could be turned into a master under the proper trainer. Unfortunately you know none in the mortal realm, and having him brought to Aran could potentially backfire. You make a note to look into sending both he and the elf girl--Aurelia--into the far east, to study with the martial arts masters you have read about. Having some contacts that far away couldn't hurt, either.

Next are the two girls, Helen and Sybeth. Both are lovely young mages who recently discovered hidden feelings for each other. How do you know this? Well, you're the one who did it, naturally. Through your scrying orb you detected a moment of potential vulnerability and cast a subtle spell of lewd suggestion upon them both, mostly just to see if you could. It worked like a charm, but they were already mostly there--they justed needed an extra push which you provided. They've made the transition from friends to lovers with all the ease of a fish taking to water, but what to do with them?

>Position them in the capital, at the Alakaz Academy
>Keep them around for Merriam's company
>Indoctrinate them into one of your sex cults
>Send them back to Youngwater to participate in the rebuilding efforts
>Other

>>3051755
>Position them in the capital, at the Alakaz Academy

>>3051755
>>Position them in the capital, at the Alakaz Academy

>>3051767
>>3051772
We'll resume in the morning.

In case I haven't made it clear yet, the purpose of this thread is primarily to prepare for the confrontation with Mordrax in Thread 20, so we'll be making several big decisions relating to our allies, minions and assets that will all come to bear when we finally confront our old master.

See you in the morning!

>>3051755
>>Position them in the capital, at the Alakaz Academy

>>3051755
>Position them in the capital, at the Alakaz Academy

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>>3051767
>>3051772
>>3052081
>>3052201

It wouldn't be difficult to get them into the Alakaz Academy, due to your history and knowledge of the place. Though you were there in your real identity, you know who to speak with and exploit. After all, you didn't spend all that time at the academy without accumulating a decent amount of dirt.

Next on your list is Alex Shepherd, the divinely-blessed prodigy of holy magic. Recently, Alex's quest to his family tomb brought to light some disturbing revelations, as well as an encounter with Albert. In the end, you left the tomb with the undead knight, who presents some curious implications of his own.

For one, he is completely immune to your usual methods of undead control, and seemingly any other form of magic. He can presumably still be harmed by conventional means, as well as more direct forms of attack, but any attempts at controlling him or altering his appearance fail. Why is this, you wonder? Could it be that some vastly powerful entity created this knight, or is it simply his willpower being too strong so as to create such an aura?

Regardless, the skeleton appears to be an almost storybook noble knight, exceedingly polite but also very skilled and deadly when the time comes for it. He lives his life by a code of chivalry and claims to be on a quest to kill a devil who possesses the souls of the Shepherd family. Alex, being the adorably naive little child that he is, has pledged to help Sir Yorick on his quest. You managed to convince them to keep Sir Yorick in your basement at Cliffbrooke Manor for the time being until you can find a better solution.

>Send Sir Yorick off on his own for his quest.
>To prove himself, send him to infiltrate the undead army and gain intelligence for you.
>Send both Sir Yorick and Alex off on their quest with your support.
>For now, keep both of them around; you'll need Alex and you can't have an undead knight travelling freely.
>Other

>>3052477
>To prove himself, send him to infiltrate the undead army and gain intelligence for you.

>>3052477
>To prove himself, send him to infiltrate the undead army and gain intelligence for you.

>>3052477
>>To prove himself, send him to infiltrate the undead army and gain intelligence for you.

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>>3052479
>>3052481
>>3052489

If you cannot control him, it stands to reason that your enemy cannot either. Sir Yorick will infiltrate the undead army and gain intelligence for you, and he shall do so in order to prove himself to you. It will be a good excuse to find something for him to do while still furthering your overall goals and information.

That leaves Alex. The boy sees you as a mother, and his dedication to you is unwavering. The holy power he wields at his age is unprecedented and he could be a potentially game-changing asset, but you mustn't forget what you have learned. He fled from the capital of Highvale precisely because the head of the First Faith religion, High Priest of the Order of Light, Sebastian Ignus Oberhan the Second, wanted to use him as an asset of his own. Of course, now you have a distinct advantage in that you've made the boy love you, but bringing him back to the capital may prove difficult should this man learn of the boy's return...

>Alex will be present at the final battle, at your side at all times
>Alex must be kept hidden and protected, the First Faith mustn't find him
>Alex will be sent to Youngwater to help heal the wounded and the sick from the attack
>Alex must adopt a new disguise and name in order to operate in the open
>Other

>>3052531
>Alex must adopt a new disguise and name in order to operate in the open

As our son Phillip Beamount.

>>3052531
>Alex must adopt a new disguise and name in order to operate in the open

>>3052533
>>3052538

Very well, we shall decide upon a new identity for Alex.

But prior to that, another question to settle at this moment: has the time come to reveal our true selves to Alex?

We could do so in order to convince him of the success one finds in disguising oneself.

>Reveal ourselves to Alex
>Continue to keep it a secret

>>3052559
>Reveal ourselves to Alex

>>3052531
>Alex must adopt a new disguise and name in order to operate in the open

>>3052559
>>Reveal ourselves to Alex

>>3052559
>Reveal ourselves to Alex

>>3052559
>>Reveal ourselves to Alex

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>>3052562
>>3052594
>>3052596
>>3052658

When you bestow Alex with his new identity, so shall you reveal yourself to him. He has gone long enough without knowing, and trusts you; any longer, and you will be at risk of someone else revealing you to him either intentionally or not, and an unveiling under such circumstances could be harmful to your relationship with him. You will control when and how he learns, and it will be soon.

Next comes Amanda, your marked paladin. After returning to Bridge Town following the excursion into the Shepherd Family Tomb, you didn't have time to collect her for the attack on Youngwater. As one of those you have branded, she will follow your commands and won't even recognize them as such if they are worded cleverly, so you could have her play whatever role you desire.

And given how easily she fell to your and Faye's seduction, she could be convinced to do anything regardless of your brand.

>Send her to the capital to keep an eye on the paladins of the First Faith
>Keep her in Bridge Town and collect her when you need her
>Move her into Cliffbrooke Manor to protect your home
>Send her to Youngwater to help with the sick and wounded
>Other

>>3052688
>Send her to the capital to keep an eye on the paladins of the First Faith

Her and her paladins will be of great use to us.

>>3052688
>Send her to the capital to keep an eye on the paladins of the First Faith

>>3052688
>Send her to the capital to keep an eye on the paladins of the First Faith

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>>3052690
>>3052692
>>3052728

Amanda has history with the paladins of the First Faith, and can get closer to them than anyone else in your party. That is where she will play her part, gathering intel on them much like Sir Yorick will do for the undead.

Alex and Amanda are a cleric and paladin respectively, but that is not your only source of holy power. Bargum the dwarven runepriest has been a commendable ally, keeping watch over Alex and guiding him as a mentor, even teaching him new spells and powers in the form of runic blessings. Though you have been wary of how close you allow the dwarf to get to you, as he is sharp even in his old age, you cannot deny his usefulness.

He'll need a place to be for the final battle, so long as it isn't alongside an elf. That also rules out sending him to Youngwater.

>Partner him up with Alex and continue to mentor the boy
>Partner him up with Amanda and send them both to the capital
>Partner him up with Urist, the dwarven mechanic, and post them both on his steamboat
>See if we can't find a nice dwarven lass for Bargum; he's getting too old for this king of thing
>Other

>>3052733
>See if we can't find a nice dwarven lass for Bargum; he's getting too old for this king of thing

>>3052733
>Partner him up with Alex and continue to mentor the boy

>>3052733
>See if we can't find a nice dwarven lass for Bargum; he's getting too old for this king of thing

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>>3052738
>>3052750

Perhaps considering his eventual retirement wouldn't be a bad thing, and securing a potential line of dwarven warriors is also worth looking into. But how to arrange for such a thing? Who to pair him with?

>Sanzir, your brothel owner
>Send him to his homeland
>For now, just wait for a good opportunity; until then, keep Bargum as he is
>Hire dwarven miners for Digger Mine and select from them a hardy female for Bargum to court
>Other

>>3052819
>For now, just wait for a good opportunity; until then, keep Bargum as he is

>>3052819
>For now, just wait for a good opportunity; until then, keep Bargum as he is

>>3052819
>Sanzir, your brothel owner

>>3052819
>>For now, just wait for a good opportunity; until then, keep Bargum as he is

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>>3052826
>>3052838
>>3052856

One cannot rush or force romance, and so you'll wait for an opportunity to present itself, much like with those two girls earlier. With the matter of the dwarf settled in your mind for now, you turn your attention to the other side of the racial spectrum and consider your dear elven friend Kaylessa.

Kay did a fine job keeping Merriam happy during her stay in Youngwater. Though the girl did make new friends, and admits that Kay kept mostly to himself, he watched over her and offered a stable foundation for her to build herself up with. And furthermore, sending him to Youngwater forced him to confront an element you knew of but hadn't yet explored the depths of; his family.

His sister Talindra is a fascinating find. Much like your brother Aldric, she is a swordmage, but a disciple of a more elven tradition known as the witchblades. While the differences between them to the common observer are few, the intricacies of the schools create a gulf as wide as a canyon. She could be a potentially useful asset, if converted properly.

>Kaylessa will remain in Youngwater to patch things up with his sister
>You or someone you control will seduce Talindra into your service
>For now, keep them apart; Kay will remain with you and she in Youngwater
>You will take control of the government of Youngwater and through them control the Golden Shields
>Other

>>3052873
>You or someone you control will seduce Talindra into your service

>>3052873
>Kaylessa will remain in Youngwater to patch things up with his sister
Not sure how much it will take to overthrow the government of Youngwater. If it can be done, go for it. They're busy rebuilding from the attack, so they should be vulnerable.

>>3052873
>>Kaylessa will remain in Youngwater to patch things up with his sister
become an influential figure. He did participate in saving the town

>>3052873
>You or someone you control will seduce Talindra into your service

>>3052873
>You or someone you control will seduce Talindra into your service

>>3052877
>>3052893
>>3052912

That being the case, we'll need to select a suitable candidate to seduce and subvert Talindra into a minion.

>Ben, Aspiring Hero; why not farm him out some more?
>Bruut, Half-Orc Troublemaker; nothing like some orc on elf action
>Supremia, Drow Thief; the criminal and the captain, a tale as old as time
>Kay, Elven Archer; incest has worked out for you in the past
>Other

>>3052931
>Other

Have someone spy on her to get a hang of her likes and dislikes. Send Supremia

>>3052931
>>Supremia, Drow Thief; the criminal and the captain, a tale as old as time

>>3052931
>Supremia, Drow Thief; the criminal and the captain, a tale as old as time

>>3052931
>>Supremia, Drow Thief; the criminal and the captain, a tale as old as time

>>3052931
>Supremia, Drow Thief; the criminal and the captain, a tale as old as time

>>3052873
>>You will take control of the government of Youngwater and through them control the Golden Shields

We need people with experience against undead.
An entire unit is better than just a few individuals.

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>>3052936
>>3052938
>>3052945
>>3052954
>>3052958

Alicia's sister Supremia will do nicely for the task. You will send her to Youngwater to spy upon the captain, learn her interests and ultimately seduce her. Since you absorbed all of the memories of her sister, you know how you can twist Supremia to the task, and with your brand upon her she won't be able to refuse.

Your thoughts now turn towards Brutus, who has been spending much time at the Cutter Farm, effectively taking over as the primary source of manpower at the mill. The minotaur warrior has found much peace at the farm, feeling productive and helpful as he has lived with the Cutter family. They too have seemingly adopted him into their fold, and now he is one of the family, with the troublesome Todd and Fred looking up to him and his strength, and the matriarch Jan treating him as a close friend and a supportive influence in the time since her husband's passing.

Brutus is strong, and could serve you well in the fight to come in some capacity, but you must never forget that you turned the corpse of his son into an undead abomination when you combined it with Boris. Were he to ever find out, it would be devastating to him and you would become the subject of his wrath. And of course, you could always retire him and keep him at the mill or even take it over.

>Send Brutus to the outskirts of the capital
>Send Brutus to the capital itself
>Keep Brutus at the mill until you need him, as you have done
>Hook up Brutus and Jan so that he will become the new Cutter patriarch
>Other
>Other

>>3053034
>>Hook up Brutus and Jan so that he will become the new Cutter patriarch

>>3053034
>Hook up Brutus and Jan so that he will become the new Cutter patriarch

>>3053034
>Keep Brutus at the mill until you need him, as you have done

>>3053034
>>Send Brutus to the outskirts of the capital
Hell be on stand-by as a reserve

>>3053034
>>Hook up Brutus and Jan so that he will become the new Cutter patriarch

>>3053034
>>Hook up Brutus and Jan so that he will become the new Cutter patriarch

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>>3053037
>>3053045
>>3053060
>>3053076

Brutus has become close with Jan, and soon will become even closer with her. She is still pregnant with her husband's last child, but perhaps in the future Brutus will be able to rebuild his family and his legacy.

But only until you break the curse of infertility upon non-humans. And speaking of non-humans, another minion of yours deserves some consideration: Bruut. The half-orc troublemaker-turned-river pirate has been laying low with his crew of the Azure Serpent for some time, in accordance with your commands, but the supplies are running low and the women they've been playing with are nearly broken. You'll need to find something for them to do.

Intelligence you have gathered from your revenants among the lake men, Ir'as and Nebulia, indicates that the region has gone quiet and the hunt for the river raiders has died off. However, you should also consider sending the raiders further south, towards the capital. There is another potential application of another asset, Urist and his steamboat; you could have Bruut and his men be its crew, which would turn them into one of the most powerful raiding crews in the history of the region.

Alternatively, you could dissolve the crew entirely and find a new task for Bruut to occupy himself with.

>Resume raiding operations with the Azure Serpent
>Bruut and his river raiders will use the Fist of Urist and wreak havoc
>Send Bruut and his crew towards the capital to be positioned at the docks
>Dissolve the river raiders and find a new task for Bruut
>Other

>>3053111
>Bruut and his river raiders will use the Fist of Urist and wreak havoc
>Send Bruut and his crew towards the capital to be positioned at the docks

>>3053120
This

>>3053111
>>Send Bruut and his crew towards the capital to be positioned at the docks

>>3053111
>Bruut and his river raiders will use the Fist of Urist and wreak havoc

>>3053111
>Send Bruut and his crew towards the capital to be positioned at the docks

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>>3053120
>>3053123
>>3053126
>>3053175

Using the Azure Serpent from this point forward is too dangerous. Best to destroy the ship and make use of a new one: specifically, the Fist of Urist. You will send word to Bruut with specific instructions on what he is to do, as well as to Urist with another payment. When Bruut and his crew arrive to man the steam-powered battleship, they will take it south to position it at the capital at its docks. Positioning them there will give you a key advantage in case you need any form of sea-based deterrance or escape.

Next on the list is Amber. A cunning and capable warrior, one who has grown close to your party and has assisted you in several endeavors. She is also your business partner for the Bridge Town chapter of the Mercenary Guild. She is also romantically infatuated with Ben and carrying his child, but to be fair so are several others. But how many more times can you send her into active battle while she is with child?

The question now is what role she is to play in the coming month.

>Amber will remain close, and travel with your party to the capital when the time is right
>Amber will be sent to Bridge Town and begin recruiting a force of mercenaries for the upcoming battle
>Amber will retire from active battle in order to properly raise Ben's child
>Accelerate her pregnancy with the ritual you've learned in order to ensure she will be in proper fighting condition
>Other

>>3053192
>Amber will be sent to Bridge Town and begin recruiting a force of mercenaries for the upcoming battle

>>3053192
>>Amber will be sent to Bridge Town and begin recruiting a force of mercenaries for the upcoming battle

>>3053192
>Amber will be sent to Bridge Town and begin recruiting a force of mercenaries for the upcoming battle

>>3052477
>>Send both Sir Yorick and Alex off on their quest with your support.

>>3052479
>implying that Albert won't instantly recognize his aura of goodness and justice.
>forcing a righteous paladin to associate himself with evil and break his code.

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>>3053197
>>3053198
>>3053202

You decide that Amber will be sent to recruit a large number of mercenaries from the guild hall in Bridge Town. With her reputation, experience and influence, she'll be able to amass a suitable force that you can send to the capital or anywhere else when the time is right. If need be, she can use Redford Keep as a temporary home for herself and the mercenaries she plans to recruit.

Krom. The name sends shivers up and down your spine. You sent him away both for his own protection and as a means to keep him occupied until you were prepared for his use. His demigod-granted strength and resilience makes him an invaluable asset, but what to have him do before the final confrontation? You already plan on having him train Ben, but that won't take much more than a day, you imagine.

>Keep Krom with the amazons until you need him
>Krom and his army of amazons will take on the army of the undead
>Send Krom to the capital and have him wait there
>Krom and his amazons will usurp the barbarian kings of the southwest
>Other

>>3053255
>Krom and his army of amazons will take on the army of the undead

>>3053255
>Krom and his amazons will usurp the barbarian kings of the southwest

>>3053255
>>Krom and his army of amazons will take on the army of the undead

>>3053255
>Krom and his army of amazons will take on the army of the undead

>>3053255
>>Krom and his amazons will usurp the barbarian kings of the southwest

>>3053255
>>Krom and his army of amazons will take on the army of the undead

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>>3053259
>>3053266
>>3053272
>>3053294

Krom has more than enough resources and manpower now to lead his personal vendetta against Albert and his undead legions. This could be the very distraction needed to keep the undead from interfering with any of your future plans. Firstly, however, they will need to go through the swamp, and that means dealing with the green and black dragons. You'll oversee that situation and how best to take advantage of it when the time comes.

Finally, you have Jenna, the kind and cheerful druid. While you consider her a teacher as well, she is also a lover and one of Ben's as well. When last you checked in with her, she was still living in her cave not far from Redford Keep.

>Convince her to join you at Cliffbrooke Manor
>Move her into Redford Keep
>Send her to the Capital
>Keep her where she is
>Other

>>3053356
>>Convince her to join you at Cliffbrooke Manor

>>3053356
>Keep her where she is
Druids don't like to leave nature if they can help it. Putting them in any sort of infrastructure is a downgrade for them.

>>3053356
Have her help krom get through the swamp

>>3053356
>>Convince her to join you at Cliffbrooke Manor
might be some nearby elven druids to learn from

>>3053365
This isn't a bad option. If there are other backers for it, I'll hear them.

>>3053356
>Have her train your sex-cults, combining her life-nurturing/creating magics with their life-creating fertility rites.

>>3053365
If she can wing it, go for it.

>>3053365
+1

>>3053358
>>3053371
>>3053365
>>3053421
>>3053478

We'll go for a combination of both: moving her closer to Cliffbrooke Manor, while also later on assisting Krom and his amazons.

What shall we oversee next?

>Minions, Cults and Revenants
>Associates, Business Partners and Teachers
>Physical Assets and Properties
>Other

>>3053533
>Physical Assets and Properties

>>3053533
>Physical Assets and Properties

>>3053533
>>Physical Assets and Properties

>>3053533
>>Minions, Cults and Revenants

>>3053536
>>3053542
>>3053558
We'll be resuming in just a few hours, and we'll be going over our physical assets and properties, such as our dragon eggs, ants, buildings, etc.

And we're back. I would like some 1d100s, please.

Rolled 100 (1d100)

>>3053998

Rolled 17 (1d100)

>>3053998

Rolled 89 (1d100)

>>3053998

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>>3054008
>>3054041
>>3054046

In the midst of your planning, a servitor enters the room to deliver a message. It is hastily-scrawled and with terrible handwriting, and contains only two words: "Egg Hatchen"

"Xerro," you say aloud, and immediately proceed to the incubation chamber, where the kobold is running about very excitedly.

The first of the green dragon's eggs has hatched, and it presents a most curious mystery. The creature born appears to be a fully-fledged dragon, with four limbs, a tail, and two wings, which seems to indicate pure parentage as opposed to the other dragonspawn you have encountered from her brood. What is even more perplexing is that this dragon appears to be a mixed breed after all: that of two different colors, green and black.

"I thought the black dragon and the green dragon hated each other," you muse, looking at the creature making its way out of the egg before you. "Perhaps it is a very complicated relationship..."

The small whelp has black and green scales and bright eyes. It isn't much smaller than Xerro himself.

"This could be useful," you think with a smile. "But right now, it is merely an infant... dragons take quite some time to grow."

>The dragon will grow naturally, with no alterations
>We will use magic to artificially increase the age of the dragon
>Xerro always wanted to be a dragon; perhaps we can infuse his soul into this one
>Let's see what happens when we expose it to the shadow essence pool
>Other

>>3054100
>>The dragon will grow naturally, with no alterations

>>3054104
Any further votes?

>>3054191
Nah

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>>3054104
>>3054246

The remainder of the eggs are hatching and stock is taken. With the exception of the green-black hybrid, all of them are dragonspawn to some degree, whose parentage is easy to discern, and in some cases you have glimpsed adult versions of.

>2 Lizardfolk (Humanoid, Tails)
>5 Draconian (Humanoid, Tails, Winged)
>5 Drake (Four-Legged)
>3 Snake (Giant)
>3 Wyvern (Winged, Two-Legged)
>3 Raptor (Two-Legged)
>3 Crocodile (Four-Legged, Aquatic)
>1 Green-Black Dragon (Four-Legged, Winged)

It will not be difficult to convert the egg hatchery into a nursery for them, but eventually different conditions will be required to properly fascilitate their growth and use. You turn to consider Xerro.

>Xerro will continue to watch over the babies, feed them and train them
>Usai will take over from here, raising his half-brothers; Xerro will have another task
>Xerro and Usai will work together on the greenspawn from this point forward
>See if there is a way to turn Xerro into a dragon as he desired using some excess greenspawn or the greenspawn corpses you have acquired
>Other

>>3054303
>Xerro and Usai will work together on the greenspawn from this point forward

>>3054303
>Xerro and Usai will work together on the greenspawn from this point forward
>See if there is a way to turn Xerro into a dragon as he desired using some excess greenspawn or the greenspawn corpses you have acquired

>>3054303
>>Xerro and Usai will work together on the greenspawn from this point forward

>>3054303
>>Usai will take over from here, raising his half-brothers; Xerro will have another task

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>>3054380
>>3054413
>>3054429

You decide that from this point on, Xerro and Usai will work together to rear the greenspawn. Summoning Sheldrake to your side, you ask him how goes the process of altering Aran's landscape, given that in the future such creatures will need space and resources. He informs you that it is coming along nicely, especially given the recent underground expansion. You desire to see it for yourself.

The giant ant queen has created a flourishing colony of giant ants beneath Aran. A massive network of tunnels is being created by them, and they have adapted to feed upon raw shadow energy after the queen was sustained upon it. The new generation she has birthed is sleek and dark in color.

"How do we know they will not rise up to feast upon the people?" you ask Sheldrake as you tour the tunnels.

"It seems that those who have been touched by Aran's essence have a degree of control over them," he explains. "Your shades, for example, can command them with an almost telepathic means of mutual understanding."

"And the shadow demons?"

"Apparently the ants find them to be quite tasty."

"Excellent."

>Raise an elite cavalry unit of ant-riding warrior shades
>We must flood the shadow demon lair with giant ants and overwhelm them
>For now, keep the population stable until I have need of them for war
>Can we further perfect the species as to refine the shadow energy through them?
>Other

>>3054451
>>Raise an elite cavalry unit of ant-riding warrior shades

>>3054451
>Can we further perfect the species as to refine the shadow energy through them?
Very interesting thought

>>3054451
>>Raise an elite cavalry unit of ant-riding warrior shades

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>>3054452
>>3054487

"I want them prepared for war. Tell Vorkath to add these ants to my royal guard, and to start training a cavalry unit of mounted shades. I can think of fewer things that will frighten an enemy more than shadow warriors riding upon giant black ants..."

Next, you meet with the leaders of the goblin community: your revenant Jinxy, and the three bumbling fools Toldy, Moldy and Scoldy.

It seems the goblin population is having trouble breeding. Much like the normal populace of Aran for many generations, birthrate percentages have been declining. It is more noticeable in a fast-breeding species like the goblins than it is for, say, humans. Despite your encouragement and advocacy of fertility rituals and healthy children, the goblins seem to be having none of it.

>We need some kind of fertility/virility potion put into mass production
>Let's see if we can't get those flesh pits up and running and clone them
>Integrate the goblins into the hybrid sex cult and crossbreed them with humans
>We need to refine that shadow essence immediately in order to properly adapt all non-native species to Aran
>Other

>>3054522
>We need to refine that shadow essence immediately in order to properly adapt all non-native species to Aran

>>3054522
>>We need to refine that shadow essence immediately in order to properly adapt all non-native species to Aran

>>3054522
>>We need to refine that shadow essence immediately in order to properly adapt all non-native species to Aran

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>>3054524
>>3054526
>>3054549

Turning towards Isseal, who was managing the shadow pool in your abscence, you inquire of her, "What is the true missing element that will allow us to refine the shadow essence?"

"I have closely studied the texts of the prior witch queen who intended to use it. What is essentially missing is a filter through which the positive and negative aspects of the shadow essence are separated."

"I thought it was all negative energy."

"I only mean to speak in simple terms; what you seek are the 'positive' aspects of the negative essence, or perhaps the 'useful' or 'advantageous' qualities it possesses. What you desire is to submerge a subject and have them emerge changed and adapted to Aran without any loss in usefulness; in fact, you desire a boost to their abilities through it as well. But shadow energy is difficult to work with, as it has several qualities that make it inherently damaging to the user, notably that it seeks to do the same to them: sucking out their 'positive' qualities while replacing them with its own negative qualities, much like how air escapes a jar when you fill it with liquid."

You fold your arms and cup your chin. "You mentioned a filter... what manner of filter?"

"Simply put, a living one," she explains. "Someone or something to syphon all of the harmful qualities of the essence, thus allowing us to refine it into the state you would seek. It could be a powerful being, ideally an immortal of some sort, who could withstand constant exposure to the shadow essence without dying. Otherwise we'll need to continually replace hosts."

"And this cannot be done mechanically?"

"This isn't oil, my queen. This is dark magic, and if you desire to benefit from it then someone must pay the price in pain and torment from exposure to it. But access to a refined product of shadowstuff could be the key to taking all of your forces and turning them into truly deadly weapons of darkness."

>If this is the cost, then I won't consider it at this time.
>Perhaps we could entrap an angel somehow and force them to undergo the procedure
>We will begin using a series of mortal victims from my populace as a filter
>We'll use temporary hosts but only enough to create enough refined essence to use on a few units
>Other

>>3054574
>Other

Use Shadow Demons that we capture

>>3054579
Wouldn't this be potentially hazardous? I mean, a demon that already uses the negative qualities, and then we just start boosting it with it

Unless we can completely keep it in check

>>3054600
Could also use the mortals that our river pirates have captured

>>3054606
Maybe the broken women?

>>3054612
sure. lets use them

>>3054574
Use broken women/captured demons if that'll work

>>3054612
>>3054574
Seconding this.

>>3054614
>>3054574
This is also a good plan.

In fact, is there a demon that would benefit from this somehow? Maybe Faye could set up a backroom deal to sell the corrupted women off, or to let a demon take their place.

>>3054574
Use demons.

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>>3054606
>>3054612
>>3054853
>>3054855

"We have some broken women," you mutter. "Likely a few useless men as well. Round them up and use them."

"It shall be as you command, your majesty."

The next asset you wish to oversee are the ogres. After tricking them into being captured in Aran, Gezug had the males emasculated and took over as the prime alpha. While this may have seemed like a good idea at the time, being born out of a dimwitted intellect more concerned with immediate results rather than long-term planning, the ogres are facing the same problem as the goblins and the enshrouded; they're simply not breeding fast enough. At least you have more goblins than ogres, of which you have about thirty, but you cannot deny that ogres are vastly more powerful than goblins.

Not much to be done with them until you have refined the essence, and so you wait.

It takes about a day for the raw material to be filtered through the chosen victims. You spare yourself the sight of the wretches as you look upon the product that is produced. It is thinner than before, more like black water now, no longer churning or bubbling on its own so it has a perfectly flat surface when undisturbed.

You kneel alongside it and look into its ebony surface, looking at your reflection. "So this is the refined essence?"

"Yes, your majesty. It should allow for absolutely none of the negative qualities previously associated with unrefined material: all who enter should be made into a more powerful version of themselves, adapted to Aran and the power of shadow."

"Including myself?"

"If you wish it. But be aware that based on our calculations, you only have enough refined material for seventy individuals. That is all we were able to achieve with the victims before they were completely corrupted and wasted away."

"I see..."

>Test it on a goblin
>Test it on an ogre
>Test it on a human
>Test it on yourself
>Other

>>3055177
>Test it on a human

>>3055177
>Test it on an ogre

>>3055177
>Test it on an ogre

>>3055177
>>Test it on a human

>>3055177
>Test it on a human

>>3055177
>>Test it on a human

We're on a brief pause while I get a tire patched.

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>>3055193
>>3055287
>>3055321
>>3055337

Sending for a human subject, you command them to fully submerge themselves in the pool. The young man does so, vanishing beneath its surface. For several moments he does not emerge, leading you to think that perhaps it swallowed him, but then he suddenly does when he crawls out of the pool.

He has been changed into a shade, with grey skin and dark hair, along with glowing blue eyes.

"This is not an entirely unforeseen outcome," the Red One explains. "Shades have always been produced through a ritual that produces a similar effect to the refined essence."

"Then why don't we simply use that ritual for all of my assets?"

Sheldrake points out, "It takes time and resources of its own. This was an instant transformation."

The Red One continues, "Furthermore, the shade ritual is only for humans and exceptionally-near human beings. Other races turn into other things when exposed to the essence."

You inspect the new shade from top to bottom. He has been enhanced from his prior form, given powers that all shades wield. Sure enough, the process was fast and worked wonderfully, even at the cost it required.

"The ends justify the means," you mutter to yourself. "We have enough uses in this pool for sixty-nine more, yes?" They nod. "Then let me decide what to use it with..."

>Current Asset Count:
>7,930 Humans
>158 Giant Ants
>82 Goblins
>30 Ogres
>132 Centaurs
>280 Shadar-kai
>51 Kenku
>24 Dragonspawn

We have 69 uses left of the pool. How should we split it up?

If it is so desired, a unique character or more can also be exposed to the pool.

>>3055688
Half the ogres, a couple dragonspawn, kenku and centaurs. The rest at your discretion.

>>3055688
Let's test it on a goblin and an ogre before we decide anything.

>>3055688
Sirena, the ant queen and ask for volunteers

>>3055696
>>3055697
>>3055705

Any additional backers for these three suggestions?

>>3055725
Im fine with either

>>3055697
>>3055725
this

>>3055705
I'm not sure about dousing ourselves in the energy.

>>3055742
>>3055696
yeah also the kenku and centaurs are basically mercenaries so I doubt they'd accept it

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>>3055739
>>3055697

Deciding to test the results per species, you summon an ogre and a goblin and send them into the pool one after another. The results are fascinating, to say the least.

In the ogre's case, what emerged was a sleeker, dark-skinned creature with bright hair and claws. Faster and stronger than the normal ogre, it was now an oni, and with its transformation came the largest difference of all: its intellect was raised significantly.

A similar situation happened with the goblin, resulting in the first of what you have been trying to achieve: a shadoblin. Grey-skinned, intelligent and wicked, perfectly suited and adapted for survival in the realm of Aran. Both it and the oni, like your shades, are able to influence lesser creatures of shadow without verbal commands.

Perhaps the biggest change in both of them was their increase in intellectual capacity, greater memory and more control over their baser instincts. With this increase in intelligence comes the ability to cast spells, once they have been properly trained.

67 uses of the pool remain.

>Convert all the remaining ogres, then use the rest on goblins
>Convert half of the ogres and goblins
>Test it on other species
>Test it on yourself or another unique companion
>Other

>>3055783
>Convert all the remaining ogres, then use the rest on goblins

>>3055783
>Convert all the remaining ogres, then use the rest on goblins

Tempt to enter it ourselves

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>>3055790
>>3055794

You convert the remaining ogres into oni, all thirty of them, including Gezug, who is now a far cry from what he once was. He towers over the other oni, perhaps due to the special place he holds among them, and is now able to speak in complete sentences. They recognize that you have bestowed this gift upon them and swear fealty to you, and depart the citadel with your blessing, content that now they can live a new life here in Aran.

With all thirty of them converted, that leaves thirty-eight uses of the shadow material left, just enough to convert a decent chunk of the goblins.

As the thirty-seventh departs the pool, leaving only enough material left for one more dip, you consider if it is wise to use this last amount on a goblin.

>Use it on the goblin; you'll make more refined essence later
>Use it on a unique minion
>Save it for now, in case you'd like to use it on something later
>Use it on yourself
>Other

>>3055878
>Use it on yourself

>>3055878
>Save it for now, in case you'd like to use it on something later

>>3055878
>>Save it for now, in case you'd like to use it on something later

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>>3055885
>>3055918

You decide to save this last amount of refined essence; you have it collected in placed safely within a container for future use.

The next asset you consider are the wild elves within Wineleah that you once saved: Arradon, Mormaraleth, Jinarra and Torethel. Decent scouts and warriors who owe you their lives for warning them of a coming battle, you have kept your distance from them but the time has come to give them greater instructions.

>Position them outside the capital
>They will join the crew upon the Fist of Urist
>Send them northeast to assist in the attack upon Binulia
>They will assist Krom, Jenna and the Amazons in traversing the swamp
>Other

>>3055984
>Position them outside the capital

>>3055984
>Send them northeast to assist in the attack upon Binulia

>>3055984
>Send them northeast to assist in the attack upon Binulia

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>>3056028
>>3056034

They shall assist in the attack upon Binulia.

Let's turn our attention to the various corpses we have lined up in storage.

Corpses in Aran:
Giant Greenspawn Snake
Greenspawn Wyvern
Amazon
Barbarian Woman
Green Elf
Harpy
Battlemage
Night Elf
Satyr
Serpent Woman
Western Human Woman

These corpses have been preserved through a combination of magic and ideal conditions until you have found use for them. What better time than now?

>Use them as genetic material to clone and combine in the flesh pits
>Reanimate them as undead units to bolster your forces
>Combine several of them into abominations; add onto Boris
>Get rid of them; you have no need of them anymore
>Other

>>3056074
>Use them as genetic material to clone and combine in the flesh pits

>>3056074
>Reanimate them as undead units to bolster your forces

Need numbers

>>3056074
>Use them as genetic material to clone and combine in the flesh pits

>>3056074
>>Reanimate them as undead units to bolster your forces

>>3056074
>>3056074
>>Use them as genetic material to clone and combine in the flesh pits
need moar amazons, barbarian women, exotic colored elf women, lamia women and harpy women going about their sexy business in our realm.

>>3056074
>>Use them as genetic material to clone and combine in the flesh pits

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>>3056076
>>3056085
>>3056123
>>3056165

The flesh pits, once activated, will allow for the cloning, hybridization and production of creatures. As the flesh pits have dried, they will need fresh genetic material, which we can provide with our corpses or a series of sacrifices. Blood is the key ingredient, and the wider genetic pool of material that is entered into the flesh pits, the more potential elements exist to draw from when creating a new creature or species.

For example, if one were to desire to clone an army of amazons, one would only introduce the amazon corpse into the pit, along with enough blood, food and flesh needed to create a clone. If one were to introduce harpies to the formula, we would create a hybrid creature between the amazon stock and the harpy stock, provided we continually feed the pits the important ingredients of life (which can be done by simply dumping in food down into the pit, much like with a normal human in pregnancy).

The third use for the pit, other than cloning and hybridization, is genetic modification. A subject can enter into a pit and have its flesh altered significantly or in minor ways; for example, the addition or removal of scales, or extra limbs, or wings, etc. Genetic material of the desired modification must be present in the pit, and this process must be carefully monitored to ensure that it grows properly. This process is more involved and delicate than cloning or crossbreeding.

We currently have three flesh pits, each of which that can be used for production of units. By careful introduction and monitoring of what we introduce to each, we can grow specific breeds or copies in each one. Another important thing to consider is how much material we have available per individual subject. A single corpse of a unique species, such as a serpent woman, can only be used so many times before the material becomes too diluted with other flesh and the traits of that corpse no longer manifest.

Current Stock Species:
>Human
>Goblin
>Shadoblin
>Oni
>Shadar-kai
>Centaur
>Kenku
>Greenspawn
>Shadow Ant

Unique Corpses (Limited Uses):
>Corpses in Aran:
>Amazon
>Green Elf
>Harpy
>Night Elf
>Satyr
>Serpent Woman

So, what do we want to dedicate the three flesh pits towards? For example, we could have one continually producing humans, one producing a hybrid race, and another focused on genetic modification.

The floor is open to suggestions.

>>3056194
Mix a greenspawn with a centaur, I wanna see what happens

>>3056194
mix some Amazon and night elf. Probably get us the sexiest super soldiers.

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>>3056216

It would likely result in a hybrid race of four-legged reptillian centaur-like beings; the closest analogy would be the drakkoth species, or warcraft-style dragonspawn. Dracotaurs, if you will. Pic related, top

>>3056226

Essentially shooting for a race of seven-foot athletic/muscular women with the strength of amazons and the speed/grace of night elves, coupled with both species' affinities for shamanism and druidry. Pic related, bottom

Any other suggestions or backers?

>>3056268
sounds good. Have another pit spawining humans.

>>3056194
We can rinse and reuse the pits right?
What if, for starters, we just make ~10-20 clones from each corpse to keep as a stock population?
That way if we mix and match and end up with something we don't like we'd still have pure samples to fall back on.

>>3056290
Primarily the problem arises that you can only create so many clones from one body before you run out of prime genetic material. These clones are not "perfect" copies, they use other genetic material we provide, such as human bodies as substitute building blocks. Even if the end result of the first batch of clones are nearly perfect, let's say 95%, and achieve all the desired results (being as strong or fast as the original or replicating its traits perfectly), a second batch created from a clone would degrade to a slightly more noticable degree, such as only being 85% perfect, then perhaps only 70%, then 50%, and so on in that fashion, unless we continually supplied fresh genetic material of a pure sample.

That's essentially how it breaks down.

>>3056216
>>3056226
>>3056274

So,

>Pit 1: Greenspawn/Centaur Combo
>Pit 2: Amazon/Night Elf Combo
>Pit 3: Generic Human Stock

Everyone good with this?

>>3056349
no problem with me

>>3056349
Don't get why we would need more humans but ok

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>>3056417
>>3056407

Well, let's briefly consider the corpse of our brother Jeaneus, not initially included on the list of corpses because we still possess his soul.

What would we like to do with him?

>Keep his body around as leverage for his soul
>Create a template of clones from his body with the third pit
>Use his blood in all of the flesh pits, so that all clones have Le Doux blood
>Study his corpse and learn to unlock the power of blood demons and blood magic
>Other

>>3056427
>>Keep his body around as leverage for his soul

>>3056427
>Create a template of clones from his body with the third pit

Have one of his clones attend the party to confuse the absolute fuck out of everybody.

>>3056427

>Keep his body around as leverage for his soul

>>3056427
>Keep his body around as leverage for his soul

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>>3056429
>>3056445
>>3056456

We have, of course, three primary goals:

>Preparing for the confrontation with Mordrax
>Dealing with the undead army by assisting Krom
>Attacking the border of Binulia

The bulk of our fighting force consists of the centaurs, shadar-kai and kenku, which we will focus on one at a time.

Firstly, the centaurs: highly mobile and very brutal. How do we want to position them?

>They will assist in the attack on Binulia with the northmen and the wild elf scouts
>They will assist Krom and the amazons in the swamp and take on the undead
>They will be positioned outside the capital as a distraction
>Hold them in reserve in Aran
>Other

>>3056526
>>They will assist in the attack on Binulia with the northmen and the wild elf scouts
I doubt they'd be useful in city fighting, or thick swamps

>>3056526
>>They will assist in the attack on Binulia with the northmen and the wild elf scouts

>>3056526
>They will assist in the attack on Binulia with the northmen and the wild elf scouts

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>>3056540
>>3056552
>>3056557

Let us consider now our shadar-kai: good infiltrators, able to make excellent use of shadows, and in a way a king of shock trooper due to how they fight with unorthodox weaponry and make extensive use of body piercings and constricting clothing in order to heighten their physical sensation.

>They will assist in the attack on Binulia with the centaurs, northmen and wild elf scouts
>They will assist Krom, Jenna and the amazons in the swamp and take on the undead
>They will infiltrate the capital among your cult and remain hidden until you need them
>Hold them in reserve in Aran
>Other

>>3056581
>They will infiltrate the capital among your cult and remain hidden until you need them

>>3056581
>>They will infiltrate the capital among your cult and remain hidden until you need them

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>>3056584
>>3056595

And finally, let us consider our kenku monks and assassins. Similar to your shadar-kai, they are good infiltrators, but are more versatile in their methods, able to employ their unique size and avian traits to both infiltration and combat. Though short, they are deadly, and able to make use of their natural physiology to great effect with their martial arts training, along with their deadly weaponry. Veyr professional and only work for gems.

What task will they be best suited towards?

>They will assist in the attack on Binulia with the centaurs, northmen and wild elf scouts
>They will assist Krom, Jenna and the amazons in the swamp and take on the undead
>They will infiltrate the capital among your cult and remain hidden until you need them
>Hold them in reserve in Aran
>Other

>>3056688
>Hold them in reserve in Aran

>>3056688
>>Hold them in reserve in Aran

>>3056688
>>Hold them in reserve in Aran

>>3056694
>>3056700
>>3056749

Let us focus now on our properties. Which one should we oversee first?

>The Umbral Citadel
>Digger Mine
>Bridge Town Brothel
>Bridge Town Mercenary Guildhall
>Other

>>3056831
>>The Umbral Citadel

>>3056831
>The Umbral Citadel

>>3056842
>>3056865

What aspect of the Umbral Citadel should we make use of first?

>Lost Library
>Pool of Divining
>Receive Prayers
>Evocation Training
>Other

>>3056875
>>Pool of Divining

>>3056875
>>Pool of Divining

>>3056875
>Pool of Divining

>>3056883
>>3056893
>>3056921

Who should we attempt to scry upon?

>Mordrax
>A member of our family
>One of our revenants
>Albert the Necromancer
>Other

>>3056950
>A member of our family

>>3056950
>>A member of our family

>>3056950
>>A member of our family

>>3056956
>>3056985
>>3056999

Who should it be?

>Imon Le Doux, Father
>Blaise Le Doux, Mother
>Aldric Le Doux, Swordmage
>Guilhem Le Doux, Wizard
>Lambert Le Doux, Artificer
>Rainard Le Doux, Exile
>Edgar Le Doux, Nephew

>>3057021
>Aldric Le Doux, Swordmage

>>3057021
>>Imon Le Doux, Father

>>3057021
>>Imon Le Doux, Father

>>3057021
>>Imon Le Doux, Father

>>3057036
>>3057058
>>3057067

We'll resume tomorrow. In the meantime, I would like some 1d100 rolls to randomly determine what our father is up to.

Rolled 82 (1d100)

>>3057071

Rolled 78 (1d100)

>>3057071

Rolled 51 (1d100)

>>3057071

Rolled 2 (1d100)

>>3057071

Rolled 52 (1d100)

>>3057071

Rolled 24 (1d100)

>>3057071

Rolled 86 (1d100)

>>3057071

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>>3057078
>>3057089
>>3057131
>>3057399
>>3057401
>>3057420
>>3057499

Holding aloft your hand over the pool, you decide to scry upon your father. The image in the reflection shifts to that of the capital, but not the royal palace. Rather, it focuses on a sole carriage, travelling down a seldom-busy street.

Your eyes narrow and you command it to view further, revealing your father within the dim interior, alone. Within his lap is a small chest, more of a jewelry box, and his stern expression is as though set in stone as he silently waits out the ride. He isn't dressed as he usually is, wearing dark robes with a hood, and that coupled with the strange circumstances that you find him in leads you to believe he is on an errand of some secrecy. The small chest in particular is clutched very tightly in his hands.

'How curious,' you think to yourself. 'What are you up to, father?'

>Observe where he is going
>Set up an ambush on the carriage
>Attempt to communicate with him
>Observe someone else
>Other