Oso's plan was simple, but it would only work if the Naturae family elected to challenge the dragon.
The Naturae family, who was debating this amongst themselves at that moment, were undecided as to whether or not they'd challenge the dragon.
"We recently recieved a massive boon from the Shadow Lords, and our power has never been greater!" Thorne was trying to persuade the elders. "Our family definitely won't lose to any other!"
"What kind of dragon was it?" First elder's aged voice quietly filled the room.
"A black dragon." Thorne responded.
"Ah, the dragon of destruction." First elder's withered hand slowly rose and pointed to Thorne. "Do you want this family to be wiped out?"
"Of course not!" Thorne exclaimed.
"Then why...Why would you confront a dragon that represents the end of the world?" First elder's withered body shook. "Why would you risk the entire planet for a dragon's heart?"
"Because our family hasn't possessed a dragon heart in our entire history." Thorne responded. "Isn't it about time out family rose to power?"
"Need we remind you of the tragedy of the Draconic family?" Second elder stepped in to support First elder. "They fought a black dragon in our civilization's third world and were erased like an errant line of chalk."
"We will not support you if you choose to fight such a beast." First elder's shriveled body rose and he left the room.
"Damn it!" Thorne cursed.
The remaining forty-eight elders took First elder's departure as their cue and followed him, offering empty words of consolation.
"Maybe if it were a weaker dragon, we'd attack."
"I'm sure the city lord of the capitol will kill it."
"We can't get everything."
"Maybe the next dragon will be ours."
Thorne sighed heavily, depressed by his family's unwillingness to take a risk.
'I suppose not all of us are truly willing to risk our lives for the betterment of our inheritors.' He thought, his desire for the dragon's heart remained unabated, however he knew that without his family's support they would never lay so much as a finger upon the heart of that dragon.
....
Oso had sent spies to ask around the Naturae family, hoping to learn of the family's decision.
It was a simple matter for the spies he sent, and their report sat upon his desk, torn to shreds in his fit of anger.
"Those gutless skivs!" Oso raged. "They have been HANDED f*cking power, and they DON'T WANT TO USE IT?"
He continued to rage until everything in his office was little more than splinters of very expensive wood and fragments of fabric from his floor pillow.
"Family head..." His servant tentatively addressed him.
"WHAT?" Oso walked up to his servant and yelled into his face. "Wanna tell me to calm down?"
Oso's voice got dangerously low as he asked that question.
"No." The servant's instant response puzzled Oso.
"Well, spit it out then!" Oso backed off and sat on the floor. "I'm all ears."
"Why don't we...Leak the information we have to a few families and use them to weaken the dragon?''
Oso pondered for a bit. "My anger has blinded me."
Oso smiled and patted his servant on the shoulder.
"Thank you." Oso thought for another moment. "I shall reward your family greatly for your wisdom.
"...My last remaining family member died four years ago." His servant responded sadly. "My little sister starved before you had the chance to take me in."
"Then I shall reward you." Oso responded after briefly hesitating as he recovered from his shock.
"I don't need a reward." The servant shed a few tears. "I just want my sister back."
"I'll be able to rule over death itself once I use the dragon's heart." Oso said slyly. "When I get that heart, the first thing I'll do is return your sister to you."
The servant, spurred by Oso's words, began outlining a plan to use the other families to weaken the dragon before they swooped in to kill it.
They thought the plan foolproof.