Senani, Boolah, Duran, Red, Haren, Maximus, Dmitri, Azriel, Zorin, and Unagi all met on the training grounds to discuss the underworld. Senani did not feel that they needed to face this threat yet. He wanted to gain more power and grow their resources on the surface. Boolah and Duran thought differently. Senani chose this moment to reveal the true extent of his powers. He activated the buff he and his members received for being inside his land grant. Every single being of the over 13,000 became twice as powerful.
The group of Underbosses were astonished. They had no idea that the entire planet was now in Senani's land grant, or that he could increase their power in such a way. He informed them that this could be a permanent buff, however he would only leave it until the situation with the underworld was resolved. Senani sent Unagi and Haren with Boolah and Duran, as they knew the creatures of the underworld, they would prove extremely helpful in the defense of the kingdoms. Senani then went to his private portion of his land grant to view the progress of his palace. He hoped to move in soon. He asked for Maximus to accompany him. Maximus agreed.
Senani was rather pleased with the progress of his palace. It looked as though it would be done in another week. The undead were amazing at such tasks as they never tired and needed no sleep or food. It was at this moment that Rikki-Tiki notified Senani that Bear, and the members of the pack had entered cocoons. Senani teleported them all to the areas surrounding the palace.
Senani requested for Maximus to spar with him. He had yet to practice since he had absorbed the body of Azriel. When sparing, Maximus would always take it easy on Senani. Senani was by no means a fighter. He had been a farmer after all. He thought this round would go as it always had. So, he took it slow and easy. Senani blocked every blow. Maximus decided to take it up a notch. Senani still blocked every blow. Maximus then decided to go all out. Senani again blocked every blow. Senani had absorbed the body of Azriel. A tier 3 Lich Overlord that specialized in sword skills. The body still retained the muscle memory of all that experience. That muscle memory was no aiding Senani. Senani then realized it would likely help him to learn the skills Azriel possessed as well. He decided to try with one of Azriel's sword skills. This skill was called serpent sting. It coated the blade in poison and struck so quickly the eyes could not follow. After two tries Senani had mastered it. His body already knew the movements, he just had to get the skill set in his mind.
Senani and Maximus spared every day while waiting on the palace to be completed. Maximus was amazed and dumbfounded by the amount of progress Senani made in such a short time. By the end of the week, Senani could occasionally land a blow on Maximus, and he had learned most of the skills that Azriel possessed in swords.
Upon completion of the palace, the undead were told to build a massive training ground and a new guild hall. Senani then teleported to the castle in Solamnia to gather his things. He sent all his belongings at the castle to the relevant rooms at the palace. He then went to the treasury. He sent all the gems that could be used as soul stones to the palace as well as half of the gold. As for the armory, only artifact quality weapons and armor were sent to the palace. Solamnia would need the rest to arm and train new recruits.
With his goods now being in his home, Senani went to speak to Azriel at the castle in Solamnia. Azriel asked Senani a strange question. He asked, "Senani are you enjoying owning my old land grant? What did you think of the sanctuary planet?"
Senani replied, "I have not yet left this planet, what is a sanctuary planet?"
Azriel said, "Sanctuary planets have special creatures inhabiting them. When killed some systems can claim the souls of the fallen and turn them into weapons or armor. My system was unable to do so, however I was able to eat the corpses of the creatures. They strengthened my body significantly. There are also a different type of skills and people there. With your Covenant abilities you could potentially gain powerful allies on that planet. Be careful when you go however, there are creatures that are tier 3 as well as creatures above artifact rarity."
Senani responded, "I will visit that planet soon. How do I travel there? If you come to the palace, I have several System Stones for you to choose from. I have not forgotten our bargain."
Azriel agreed and went with Senani to the palace. Senani took him to his room to go through the System Stones. Azriel contemplated for hours, examining each stone. Senani had yet to inventory them, at this point Azriel knew more of what he had than he did. Azriel eventually decided on an artifact quality tier 2 Death Knight system. It would do well with his sword skills. Azriel also missed being one of the undead. The increased strength and stamina were rather handy, as was the lack of need to eat.
Senani inserted the system in Azriel and sent him back to Solamnia. Azriel would have to develop his own house guard. Senani then gathered the leaders of his kingdoms to discuss a plan of action against The Great Lich Kings forces in the underworld and to find out if anything new had transpired.
Once they had all gathered, Zorin reminded Senani of the potential alliance with the other orc city. Senani told her to go get the delegate and bring them to the palace. Senani would meet with them in his home. With the leaders of each kingdom here as well as his house guard and Red, this was the safest place in the galaxy for Senani. Zorin quickly returned with an orc warrior behind her. Senani allowed him to speak first.
The orc proclaimed, "I am Sugbu, Chieftain of Argun. Zorin has spoke of your great strength. I originally sought an alliance with House Sloth. I seek one no longer. After seeing the advances that Thronmar have made, I wish to challenge Overlord Senani, Emperor of House Sloth. Should you defeat me in combat I will pledge my allegiance to House Sloth and my army will join House Sloth as the army of Thronmar has. My army contains 4000 warriors and 1000 shaman. 700 of the army ride worgs into battle. Do you accept my challenge Senani?"
Senani replied, "I gladly accept your challenge. The rulers of all the Kingdoms under my command are here, as well as the great dragon Red. They will bear witness to this fight and should you choose not to do as you have claimed, will exterminate you, I will then raise your corpse and claim your army for my own."
Senani then led Sugbu to the training grounds. All the leaders as well as the house guard and Red circled the grounds to watch the battle. Senani pulled out his tier 1 artifact sword and waited on Sugbu to make the first move. Sugbu pulled out his Great sword. He wielded this blade with two hands. His massive muscles bulged as he charged at Senani prepared to swing his sword with all his strength. Senani did not move, he stood still and waited on Sugbu to strike. Aside from Maximus, all Senani's allies thought he was about to die. Senani easily parried the blow. He then followed up with a strike, placing his sword at Sugbu's neck. Were they actually fighting, Sugbu would now be headless.
Sugbu immediately took a knee and swore his fealty to Senani. Senani allowed him to stay for the gathering, after all he was now a leader under Senani's command. Senani then asked for updates on the situation in Drowmere and Gronmar. Boolah and Duran both had seen no new enemies. Senani spoke, "It is no secret that we will be doing battle against the Great Lich King. As these attacks have been made by his allies in the underworld. We will have to conquer that realm. We will have access to things never seen in the overworld. This will greatly aid in our trade with other factions and Guilds. When I call, you will each be required to send your armies to my location immediately. This can be done by sending them to the palace training grounds. I will teleport every living being from there to me. I hope that most will be willing to join us once they see our might and a fight will not be required, however when we reach the city of the undead, I am sure a fight will be required. I will be taking members of my personal guard as well as Kaz. I expect you each to continue as you have been. Recruit for our army, Increase trade. Now that the palace is complete, I will ask that each kingdom pay me a tribute. I will purchase armor and weapons above tier 2 with the wealth that you give in tribute. I also will take gemstones that can be made into rings, rings with gemstones will be counted at 120% of value towards your tribute. Amulets with gemstones will be treated as the same value. The tax will be a mere 5%. Duran, if you have a craftsman skilled in making jewelry in your graveyards, I will also request that the body be sent to Fred. His services will be needed at the palace. If any trouble occurs while I am away, reach out to me immediately via the guild messaging system."
The leaders all agreed. Senani dismissed them one by one, to Zorin he requested that a portal be made at the location of the guildhall being built at the palace as well as where the guild hall would be built in Argun. Senani also asked her to oversee the process of joining House Sloth for Sugbu and his army."
Once the leaders were gone, Senani spoke to Red. "While you are not yet a leader, I hope you will soon become one. Do you know of the location for any other of your kind? Or of a burial ground of your kind? We would do well to possess an army of undead dragons."
Red replied, "My kind are few in this world. There are a few dragons whelps I may be able to convince to join, as well as some eggs we could potentially hatch. Though this may prove difficult as the mother died long ago. Dragons can fly between worlds; few have come here to die. Most fly back to the mother world. Their bones would be impossible to obtain. However, it does happen on occasion, there are a few corpses of dragons in the world. I will see what I can do."
Senani then called Wolf. He then told Wolf that it was time he received a System Stone. Senani led Wolf to his bedchambers and inserted a Berserker system stone. It was one of the few that fit with Wolfs fighting style. Senani hoped to gain more Were creatures. With that in mind he then spoke to Wolf. "The passive skills of House Sloth allow others to evolve rather quickly, that is how you became a werebear. You will now be the Underboss of all animals that do not join Bear's pack. There are still 20 sheep corpses you can have Fred raise if you desire. I will require you to return to the world and recruit other animals. As an Underboss you should be able to be rather successful. The undead humans that are currently under your command will be moved under Azriel. As the farms are now in his lands, he will maintain them. Consider this a promotion, as you will now be the leader of one branch of my armies. Should you gain many Were creatures under your rule, we will create or conquer lands for you to control and further increase your power."
Wolf complied, and Senani had Fred raise the sheep corpses. He then called Unagi, Haren, Kaz, and Dmitri. They were to accompany him on his trip to the underworld. Senani had them train with Maximus in the training yard while he finished his preparations. He went to his room and grabbed a back of ring sized stones. He never knew when he might need to create a soul stone. He placed the soul stones he had that contained the souls of his allies in a drawer next to his bed. He would find a better means to store them when he returned. He then went to his armory. He hoped to find a better-quality weapon. A tier 1 artifact may not be good enough where he was going. Unfortunately, he currently had equipped his minions with all the tier 2 gear he had. He would have to hope that he found better on his trip into the underworld.