It took six months for Senani to finish his evolution. During that time, Ilromy secured House Sloths hold on Darkshire, Flint consolidated his power in Mithril City, and the Midnight Beasts population grew. It was a small start, and yet House Sloth already controlled 2 of the cities of the Underworld and were building a third from scratch. Every warrior was registered with House Sloth. Now off to the Utlagi tribe. Once Senani controlled the outcasts of the mind flayers it would be time to take on the great city itself. One more wonderful step towards conquering The Great Lich King.
Senani teleported back to Darkshire. Senani, Unagi, and Haren would leave from there on their path of conquest. Unagi would lead. It was a short 4-day trip from Darkshire to the home of the Utlagi tribe. With Unagi leading, they did not see a single creature before they arrived. To Senani's surprise the gate to the Utlagi tribe was guarded by ogres, not mind flayers. Senani had not asked Unagi what type of tribe she hailed from, but he had assumed it would be a tribe of the same creatures she was. The further they went into the tribes headquarters the more he realized he was greatly mistaken. The Utlagi tribe had more species even than House Sloth currently had. Senani did not even know what half of them were.
Unagi lead Senani to the leader of the tribe. As the leader was a creature Senani had no name for. It had the upper body of a woman, and the lower body of a cobra. She spoke to Senani, "Welcome to the Utlagi tribe. We are a band of outcasts each of us cast out from our race with nowhere to go, and no other place to call home. They call me Slider. I see you have Unagi with you. She disappeared a century ago, we had given her up for dead. Thank you for bringing her home. Are you here to join us?"
Senani replied, "I am Overlord Senani of House Sloth, I am here seeking allies. I am fighting against The Great Lich King. I desire to increase trade with all the kingdoms under my command and grow the strength of my armies. Do you have any interest in joining me?"
Slider replied, "House Sloth eh, I have heard a lot of your guild in the last 6 months. They say you took Mithril hall. Some say you control Darkshire as well. It is said you routed all The Great Lich Kings troops in both cities. I hope its true. The Great Lich King has attacked us several times. If destroying him is your goal, count us in. We have no interest in joining House Sloth However. We will trade with you though. We will give you a good price for the goods you need for your war. This war may prove rather profitable for us both."
Senani replied, "An alliance, that could be arranged. You would be the first ally not directly under House Sloth. I can provide you with a portal to the overworld, this will greatly increase the amount of goods you are able to trade for. The portal will lead directly to the training grounds at my palace. My entire army and my house guard will be able to reinforce your location at any time. What do you have to offer in return for such an alliance?"
Slider replied, "In my tribe are members of every race from every city in the Underworld. If you want information, this is the place to go. If you need a guide, this is also the place to go. You offer us protection and trade. We offer you guides to every species in the Underworld as well as trade from most of them."
Senani made a counteroffer, "I will create a faction called Candor. You will be the first to be offered membership. Joining will guarantee safety and aid. It will also give you access to my training grounds to train with my army. You will find that my generals are highly skilled."
Slider Accepted and the Candor Faction was formed. Senani summoned Zorin and had her create a portal to the palace. For the first time, no guild hall for House Sloth was built.
Senani then had Unagi lead him to her birth home. This trip also proved boringly peaceful. Dredence is a land Unagi had not seen in centuries. Not since she had been banished for dabbling in the dark arts. You see, mind flayers were deathly afraid of magic. They are led by a being known as the overmind. They can telepathically communicate and the absorb the knowledge from creatures whose brains they consume. All the information is then uploaded to the overmind. A mind flayer being disconnected from the overmind essentially limits the amount of knowledge they have available. Senani was determined to convert the overmind. If he were able to then the entire city would be under his control without battling more than a single creature.
Once Senani had entered the city, Unagi requested an audience with the overmind. The overmind believed it could easily overpower a mere human and a banished mind flayer. Furthermore, it was curious what Unagi may have learned in the centuries since she had left. The knowledge possessed by her brain was enticing, much like a nice juicy steak. It did not see the danger that such an encounter could pose. It allowed them to enter its domain in the center of the city. Senani was the first human to arrive there in many years. The overmind craved knowledge of the outside world. Senani would be its first snack. As soon as the trio entered, the overmind attacked Senani with a burst of psionic energy strong enough to cripple a mind flayer. To the over mind's surprise Senani easily blocked the attack. You see with Senani's latest evolution, he gained the abilities of a mind flayer. This was further enhanced by the other bodies absorbed at the time and combined into his Tier 3 body. Now Senani also possessed a Tier 3 mind. Senani fought back with a psionic attack of his own. While the overmind's attack was meant to cripple, Senani's attack was meant to kill. In a matter of seconds, Senani had killed the overmind. He quickly offered a Spirit Covenant before the mind flayers could attack.
"Do you wish to activate a Spirit Covenant with the Overmind known as Cato?" Yes or No." Senani chose Yes.
Cato also chose Yes. It knew this was the only way to live.
Cato then spoke, "This is an unexpected outcome. What do you intend for me and my hive?"
Senani replied, "You and all of the mind flayers will join House Sloth. You will trade with my kingdoms and you will provide your knowledge to me as well as paying me a tribute monthly. You will no longer persecute mind flayers for practicing the arcane arts. In fact, you will welcome back all who have been banished. They will be needed for my army. In return I will create a library here. Yours will be different than the others as you will integrate with it directly. Once that is done you will have access to all the collective knowledge of me and the beings that I rule. More knowledge than you will have been able to gain in centuries will be yours in a moment." As soon as he finished, Senani began summoning a library and Zorin. Zorin created a portal in the town that was empty. Senani had a group of undead begin to build a guild house for House Sloth. Afterword's, Cato had all the mind flayers join the guild.
Cato was thrilled. With this knowledge his hive would thrive. Cato then began to merge with the library. He was so excited to gain the knowledge that he did not realize that all the knowledge that he and his hive possessed would now belong to Senani and his army as well. This arrangement was hugely beneficial to all. Senani then asked Unagi if she desired to be rejoined with the overmind. She said yes. Cato rejoined her to the hive.
With that completed the trio decided to move further into the Underworld. This time their goal was the undead city of The Lich King.