Senani spent the next 5 days organizing the leadership of the Deviant Faction and bringing the Deviants and undead over to Greshem from his secondary dimension. Per Senani's request, Patricia had claimed the massive city and began extending the highest buildings into the clouds. Once they rose above the clouds, the undead would begin to harvest power from the suns.
The humans that had been infected with parasites had long since had their parasites removed. They possessed an unnatural regeneration ability and no longer required food to survive. They could gain their sustenance entirely from the Hive Mind. As such they proved immune to all but the most drastic injuries and were afraid to remove themselves from the Hive Mind that Patricia possessed. They introduced themselves as the First men. Each of them was grateful to Senani for allowing them to regain their minds, and they decided to join the Deviant Faction.
Maximus studied his powers and realized that through Shadow Realm he could travel to the shadows in the cave on Orion. He returned and began to claim portions of the grand army that Grishnar had possessed.
Argent spent most of his time flying above the clouds and increasing his energy. He longed to increase his power and gain his very own candle.
The four anomalies that had been infected with parasites also decided to join the Deviant Faction. The possessed the same unnatural regeneration and dependance on the Hive Mind as the first men. They would live in the city and would answer to Patricia. Three possessed the True Sight ability, and the fourth possessed the ability of Detection. Without the control of the Parasitic host, they possessed little combat ability. They were all extremely grateful for the protection that the Deviant Faction offered.
This still left Senani with some unresolved issues and a great deal of freedom. The members of Deviant Faction would be looking to Patricia and Maximus for guidance. As such he began to wonder, how would he leave planet Greshem? Where did Greshem lie in relation to Orion? Would Zurin return? What other prizes could be gained from Greshem? Should he take on more champions? What did a Faction Grade mean, and how could he improve it? What should he do with Wagu?
These thoughts and many others ran though his mind for the remainder of the week. Finally, Senani could determine if Zurin would return and eliminate some of his concerns. He climbed to the top of the building that he had last seen Zurin in and began to wait on her arrival.
Senani did not have to wait long before he could see a large chunk of dirt moving toward them. Senani was rather pleased; he had feared that the humans would be too afraid of him and his champions to bother returning.
Once the dirt arrived at the building Senani occupied, a rope ladder descended and Zurin climbed down to greet him.
"Where there were three now you are all. What has happened here? How is it that I see a connection between you and every creature here? Many of which are rather strange creatures that now roam the city of Grishnar and look far more fearsome than the zombies we had before your arrival. I also see many of the zombies on the ground below, while their glow has changed. I am unsure if that means that they are no longer infected, or if it merely means that you control the infection. You might as well drop the illusion; the humans above know you're an anomaly. It was the only explanation I could give that would convince them to return here to meet you."
Senani informed Zurin that he would answer those and many more questions when the others could hear him as well, Zurin knew that if Senani wanted them dead, they already would be. She led him up the ladder and into the midst of her group.
Once in the center of the humans, Senani dropped his illusion and Argent flew down to join him. Even Zurin began to scream out in terror as the great beast flew down. It was at this point that Senani spoke loudly above the chaos.
"I am Senani, leader of the Deviant Faction. This is my champion Argent the Draco-Lich. Those creatures you see building into the sky are a portion of my undead builders. They intend to expand some of the buildings here above the clouds. Your suns exude an energy that they can absorb to increase their power. The other strange beings are vampires, they are the founding members of the Deviant Faction and are ruled by the Anomaly known as Patricia. The Anomaly known as Maximus has returned to Orion to claim the armies of Grishnar as Grishnar was eliminated by our combined forces a week ago.
The humans below were infected with parasites from a plant like anomaly that protected Grishnar's candle. It has also been eliminated and the parasites have been removed from the humans and the anomalies. They have all also joined the Deviant Faction. Your group have been looting this city for years and are running out of resources. My people do not require food as they are almost entirely undead. I propose that you all join the Deviant Faction and relocate to this city. With the power of my forces, you will be safe, and you will prosper.
The infected humans were the first men. They know how to use the technology here and will aid in making this city a great center of life once again."
Zurin answered for all those on the dirt block. "We have barely survived the past decade and resources grow ever smaller. This planet is ruled by creatures equally as formidable as the zombies that you have freed. They however are not swayed by a song and a dance and will kill any who approach them. Prove you can defend my people from the likes of the Man Wasps, and I will join you. We are all free people. Each of us will decide his or her own fate."
Senani asked Zurin to lead him to the nearest hive, and he and Zurin climbed on Argent to fly to it. To Senani's surprise, the wasps lived up to their name. Each wasp was as large as an adult human, and they were red and black in color. They derived their name from their size. They were purely bee like in appearance, and in no way resembled humans. After Senani observed the Wasps for a few hours, he had Argent take him to the hive and he jumped from Argents back and landed on the top of the town sized hive. With his illusion ability Senani had made himself look and smell like one of the Wasps. Argent then returned to Zurin to ensure her safety.
Senani began to climb to the nearest entrance into the hive. Senani quickly made it to the entrance and began making his way inside the hive. He began his hike to the center of the hive. Man Wasps flew in every direction, each of them ignoring Senani in passing. Senani's climb took the better part of the next 4 hours. At which point he finally began to see eggs inside the cells of the hive. He continued to move deeper inside the hive. Senani finally happened upon a much larger Wasp with a large midsection and an elongated abdomen. Senani assumed from its size that it would be the Queen and leader of the hive. Due to his illusion, he approached the queen without causing suspicion. He then pounced on her back, drew his dagger, and stabbed it into her eye instantly killing her.
Senani quickly placed his hand on the dead queen's forehead and placed his Icon marking her as his new champion. As the queen's flesh began to be absorbed by Senani, scale covered wings began to grow from his back. Senani gasped out in pain as the wings formed. The wings could be folded into his back and remain undetected until they were needed. The Queen Wasp's appearance did not greatly change as she possessed an exoskeleton, though her eyes now burned with a bright red light. Senani removed his newly blackened dagger from the Queens eye and returned it to its sheath.
· New Faction Functionality unlocked, Hive Mind. "Hive Mind function: All members of your faction can communicate no matter the distance. Those members with limited intellectual abilities will now be able to be given commands from the queen."
The queen bee began relaying her thoughts into Senani's head. They were not words like a human would use but rather emotions and vague concepts that were unfamiliar to Senani. He spent the remainder of the day attempting to communicate with his new champion. Eventually they managed to work out a system of pictures. The queen or Senani would send a mental image of what they intended to relay so that each could comprehend. From this communication, Senani was able to determine that the queen could no longer perform the function of creating eggs now that she had become a member of the undead. She would have to place her responsibilities on a queen in training. Unfortunately, that would make the queen in training the new leader of the hive, and Senani's Champion would no longer be in charge.
This gave Senani several ideas, the easiest of which would be to kill all the Wasps and raise them as undead under the Queens command. When he sent that image into the Queens mind, she became visibly agitated. She moved into the chambers of the queens in training and began sending the images of what had happened to her as well as what Senani would do to the hive if the new queen did not agree to serve her and her new leader. After several more hours, the new queen and all the other bees in the hive developed a pale imitation of Senani's icon. This was formed through the bond the queen had with the hive and was a sign of her status as ruler.
After claiming his prize, Senani spread his wings and carefully flew with the Queen out of the hive and back toward Argent and Zurin.
Seeing Senani and the queen move toward them, Zurin was struck with fear. She had seen the Man Wasps kill many people in the past for trying to gather honey from their nests when the sanctuary village had run out of food. Senani landed by Argent's head and spoke.
"I apologize for taking so long. Meet the Queen of my new hive. Argent, can you relocate this hive to the corner of the outskirts of the city of Grishnar? Our queen will claim more nests so that one can be placed at each corner around Grishnar city for increased protection. Our living beings will begin a garden and the new wasps will help in pollinizing the plants they grow. The honey they create can also be harvested for food for the living. Grishnar will become an oasis on this planet. Zurin, I have dealt with the entire nest that you brought me to, and more importantly secured more guards for Grishnar. Will you uphold your statement and join the Deviant Faction?"
Zurin still shook with fear. She had been part of the last expedition to the Man Wasp hives. She had seen firsthand what they were capable of. Now, seeing the power Senani possessed, she truly began to fear this man's possibilities. "Senani, I said I would join you, and I am a woman of my word. What do you wish of me?"
"That would be entirely up to you. Your abilities will prove rather useful for the Deviants, But I have something more dangerous in mind. Would you like to become a new species Zurin?" asked Senani.
"What do you mean a new species? I have no interest in becoming one of those vampires from your village, if that is what you mean." Replied Zurin.
"I too possess the fangs of a vampire and the power of undeath, yet I remain a living creature and a unique species. I am asking if you are willing to risk your life to become the same as me?" Replied Senani.
Zurin considered this proposition for over an hour before she responded. "If the transition fails, will I die?"
Senani replied, "That is a good question. You may well die. Though if you do, I will raise you as one of my champions and grant you my abilities to make up for your loss of life."
Zurin weighed her options and decided rather quickly that the prospect of being able to fly and possess scales for protection sounded amazing. She hesitantly agreed. Senani flew her into the hive to attempt the change in relative safety. Argent removed the nest and began the relocation to Grishnar.
Senani bit deep into Zurin's neck and began draining her life blood. With every swallow he could feel her lifeforce leaving her body. When only a flicker of life remained, Senani slashed his wrist with the newly blackened dagger and placed the gash in Zurin's mouth. As she began to drink, he could see the life force reenter her body until she began to glow a bright purple light. When the light dissipated, a cocoon had formed where Zurin had previously been.
Two days later, Zurin emerged from her cocoon a new creature. She possessed the power of an orc, the scales and defense of a dragon, the wings of a Man Wasp, and the fangs of a vampire along with the regenerative abilities of the infected. While she did not gain Senani's abilities, she did retain her own True Sight ability. Zurin counted this as a huge win. Zurin's scales were a blacked silver that possessed a hint of a cinnamon color, much like the skin she had originally possessed. In looking at her transformation, Senani was amazed that she had retained her beauty.
Senani brought Zurin out of the hive and among the others. Patricia found herself quite jealous of Zurin's change. In Patricia's eyes, Zurin had gained a higher status as she had become the first of her masters' species. As such, Patricia strove that much harder to seek Senani's approval.
Senani next took Zurin to the humans of her group. Percival was the first to speak.
"Zurin, what are you? Is that the cost of joining the Deviant Faction? If so, count me out."
Zurin replied, "Percival, this was my choice. Senani presented me with the option of joining him as a human or becoming the first true Draco Vere. I chose the latter. Any of you that wish to become the same species have but to ask, and with my request, Senani will turn you. Otherwise, Senani is working on bringing food to the city of Grishnar so that you may live as humans without fear. Grishnar has already become the safest place on Gresham. You will be extremely surprised when you see them. Pack your things, I am begging each of you to join us, whether as humans or as Draco Veres."
Each member of the sanctuary hesitantly agreed to move to Grishnar. Senani did not allow them to pack their belongings, and merely told them to get on the large chunk of dirt and travel to Grishnar. Each looked back with a sorrow filled face at the thought of leaving the place they had called home and all that they possessed in life. Yet they truly had little choice in the matter. This sanctuary was among the smallest on the planet. They had barely survived with the few members that they had. With Zurin leaving, they had very little chance to continue surviving. Her ability was irreplaceable and with the increasing scarcity of resources, many of the sanctuaries chose to loot other sanctuaries rather than risk the dangers of the wild.
Once Zurin's sanctuary members had moved out of sight, Senani placed his hand on the trees in which they made their homes. As he moved his hand away, the buildings of the sanctuary disappeared. Senani then began to fly back to Gresham on his own. With his newfound wings, he beat the others in arriving at Gresham by hours.
Senani moved to the empty area around the pyramid. There he placed his hand upon the ground. When he removed his hand, the trees and the buildings from the sanctuary appeared in the previously empty space. He had stored it all in Deviant Home to make his new faction members feel more comfortable. While he waited on their arrival, Senani visited Patricia.
"I am sure that you have felt the changes in the Deviant Faction. We now have a Hive Mind that is useable by the entire faction, and we can all communicate in the way that you communicate with the other vampires. What effect has this had on your own Hive mind?" inquired Senani.
"Your wings are amazing Senani. You never cease to impress with each addition you make to your body. In answer to your question, I can now speak to and command the undead that I left in Yebin. Prior to the Faction possessing its own Hive Mind, this was an impossibility. I am also able to see through the eyes of the vampires that were left on Yebin to guard the city. I have yet to see much, and reports have been few. I will let you know more when I have more to report." Reported Patricia.