Ruby continued down the tunnels of the base of Phoenix Rising. Everywhere she went, undead were digging out new tunnels to further expand the base. Sometimes, she saw former vagrants who would normally be dying in the streets. Now they were here, being fed and made healthy, then indoctrinated for the glory of her master.
Many of the Fire Priests were responsible for making the meals and training the new vagrant and homeless members. Many of them had started to look healthier and more fit. Ruby was still shocked at the sheer number of vagrant children and homeless that appeared on the streets of Valoria.
Ruby, inspired by Fate's recommendation with the earth mages helping build the city, had the earth mages enhance the earth of this underground necropolis. Now, with the help of low-level fire, earth, and water mages, Ruby was able to quickly grow almost unlimited amounts of magically enhanced food. Not only was the food healthy, but it also helped to strengthen the bodies and magic levels of those who ate it.
This new food had become the main staple of Ruby's new and growing forces. As for healing the people she took in from the streets, Ruby simply kidnapped a bunch of healers from the church. She could care less about how these bitch Priests viewed their forced labor. The Church Of Divine Promises was merely the pawn of the powerful rulers of various nations, a way to tax citizens and keep them in check with their monopolized abilities to heal people.
By now, Ruby came to the Heart Fire, the very core of this underground necropolis. Shadow appeared in front of Ruby, but she now wore a deep red robe instead of a black one.
"My lady, all of the Blood Maidens have received your orders and, as we speak, are growing the influence of our master, the Phoenix Lord, throughout the territory of the Southern Hampshire Plains. Every town and city now has a massive number of homeless and orphan children that have gone missing. With the food and healing we provide, they will gladly do anything we ask of them. We have already begun to train a legion of death sworn as soldiers."
Death sworn are suicide soldiers who will do anything to achieve their objectives, even sacrifice their lives. Ruby was happy to have these forces come under her command.
"Shadow, make sure that the women that meet my standards are brought into the Blood Maidens directly. We only take the best and most beautiful women into the Blood Maidens."
At this point, when Ruby looked at Shadow without her hood covering her face, it was possible to see that Shadow was a pure-blood high elf. Ruby had found Shadow when she was an enslaved child. After freeing her, Shadow followed Ruby, eventually becoming her second-in-command.
"With everything settled here, Shadow, we will need to look towards the nobles that serve the Phoenix Lord. They are all servants that have turned traitor and now serve King Samuel Bloodsworn. They serve no further purpose, so their disposal is necessary."
Shadow stood in front of Ruby for a moment in thought, then said, "Master, if that's your goal, we can eliminate them when they come to Valoria for the meeting of lords in several months' time. By then, our newly recruited forces will number in the hundreds of thousands. I'm surprised that no one has ever thought of using the homeless and destitute as soldiers before. Their numbers are almost limitless. Master, every day, thousands more are brought under our banners with the promise of food and medicine. Many of them are foreign races like myself."
After Ruby heard about the foreign races joining her cult, she smiled. "Shadow, set up a few underground settlements for the foreign races especially. Designate them according to their race. We could benefit greatly if we have our own loyal communities of foreign soldiers to serve my master's cause."
Shadow nodded in understanding. Indeed, it would be best to keep the foreign races with their own kind. Not only would this prevent problems, but it would also make their existence a valuable trump card. Shadow began to think of ways to exploit the unique abilities of the various non-human races.
"Master, I will make sure that these communities are created in the next week. The earth mages we recruited are very eager to serve after a bit of persuasion."
Ruby smiled at this statement. Contrary to Fate's wishes, Ruby would use any and all means possible to achieve her goals.
"Shadow, as for the nobles, I think a very painful poison would work great, one that eats their bodies from the inside out. Use the Moon Shadow Poison. That's one of my favorites to deal with nobles. We can also make the existence of the Blood Maidens known to the world once again at that time."
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