AN: Just to warn you guys, next chapter is another NSFW one. So you may need to bring out your torches just so you can see what's going on.

As always folks, thank you for reading thus far. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please do not hesitate to voice them.

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Fourteen basilisk of varying shapes and sizes floated about my person as they glared upon my body with heated and hated gazes. If looks could indeed kill, I would have died many a time. However, these fourteen were not of their whole group. No. These were naught, but the survivors of their little clan, as my Undying servants had spread themselves out to find and capture the whole of them whilst the female Scarab was allowed to slay a couple in order to grow her little pack of undead.

Unfortunately, only these fourteen were easily caught, as they chose to hide amongst the dead and boulders instead of fighting as the others did. It seems they had chosen self preservation over joining in on a losing battle. However, we did find a cache of eggs guarded by a now dead broodmother, as well as a small treasure of gold, jewels, and other precious items. These would indeed serve a purpose in the cycles to come, as my own servants would soon gain servants of their own, but in the form of basilisks.

For now, though, my attention was now upon the floating creatures before my person, as they did their best to struggle and lash out in the hopes of striking my body. However, their small acts of defiance was for naught, whereas only one seemed to have some spark of intellect as it stared not with anger, but admiration. "Curious," I muttered turning towards this basilisk, of whom was of the smaller sort. Perhaps it was newly hatched or had a deformity about its person, as it seemed to have several scars and cuts not caused by the weapons of my Undying.

"Can you understand my words?" My voice was gentle, which caused the other to twist its head as though it came upon an interestingly new snack, "Hmm, you indeed can understand my words, it seems, but are unable to voice anything." The lesser arms near the centre of my body folded in on themselves, as I contemplated on what to do with the one before my person. It would be shameful if I did not utilise it to the fullest, whereas the others simply appeared to be mindless beasts.

"Brutus," my voice shook the earth around us, which loosened the rocks high above enough to fall around our bodies. Once he approached my person, however, my right primary clawed hand waved at the creatures now weakly struggling against the invisible grip surrounding their bodies, "Have each of the Undying choose a basilisk to form a bond with."

"My Lord God?" The Lich's own head had cocked towards his right shoulder with great curiosity.

"This will be one of the many rewards they shall be given for their service to my person," was my answer, as I turned back towards the little creature which was being pulled closer towards my being. "This one shall be bonded to my self, as I find it rather curious." Again, the small creature twisted its head once more, as I sent a line of silvered energy into its mind, and formed a bond to my own.

'Hi,' shouted the mental version of the small basilisk before my person, of whom waved in my direction the moment our minds became linked to one another. It seemed to my past self, at the time, that this small creature only had the voice and thoughts of a child not more than a few cycles old.

Indeed, and I grew more curious as it was allowed to sit upon the ground before my being. Of which caused it to stretch in the same manner as a small mammal world, before deciding to crawl up my own body until it came to my right shoulder. Once at this point, it simply stared into my own eyes with an intelligence many would find astonishing in a creature known for its brutality and animalistic instincts.

'Shoriin,' my mental voice reverberated about our selves, which garnered the other to release an adorable questioning squeak which seemed to calm my mind somewhat, 'That will be your name, and what I shall forever call you as we continue with our plans for world conquest.'

'Okay,' it squeaked towards my person, as its tail swayed quickly with excitement at the prospect of a name. Of which was mirrored to its physical self, and I had to steady its small frame many times as it continued to slip from my poison coated bones.

No, it did not seemed to be bothered by the poison, and even lapped it up whilst it was upon my body. This action seemed to stir Gahn from his position, and distort his facial features into something akin to jealousy. To this end, I found it humourous such a creature would feel jealous over my person being "eaten" by such a small creature as the basilisk. Well, no matter.

As to the others? Well, many of the females had chosen the smaller creatures to bond with, as they believed them to be "cute" and "adorable". Whereas those remaining went to the males, although one of the females had taken upon the largest of them all. The one was Shauu, of whom believed the basilisk to be a "challenge" for her to overcome.

Of course, those of whom did not receive a creature to bond with would have a chance to do so once an egg hatched, or another group of creatures made themselves known. For now, all they could do was watch as the bonding process took place, then gathered before my person once more.

"Let us discuss once more of what we are to proceed with next," my voice shook the space around us, loosening up more earth and rocks which fell to the ground. Whereas the basilisk Shoriin had met Suun, the metallic goblin, and had to be forced apart when the pair began to fight within my rib cage. The pair were now held within my lesser clawed hands, and were berated for their actions for a time, before releasing them and turning my attention once more upon my servants.

"We shall be needing knowledge of what we may face, and to do this, infiltration will be necessary. For this, I shall personally trek towards this 'port city' a few turns away from our position, and-"

"My Lord God," interrupted Brutus, "Let one of us go in your stead. It is better to have one of your own sacrifice themselves for the knowledge you crave." Many skeletal and metalised skulls nodded with their ascent, but were quelled by the uplifting of my right clawed hand.

"I understand your concerns, but would rather see what opposition we may run into with my own two eyes, as opposed to hearing the words of my own treasured servants. Besides, based on the memories shared between us, it would seem this world has some prejudices towards those of whom are draconic in nature." My eyes turned towards the twin Draconians as they seemed perplexed by everyone's eyes upon them.

"Us?" Asked Val'ruum, whilst the other looked about himself rather quickly.

"Yes, you two," my voice came out in a whisper, before increasing in volume, "In any case, I shall be taking the twins, along with Shoriin and Suun, to the port city. Once there, we shall assess the situation at hand, and begin to make our plans for conquest once more."

*

It wouldn't be until almost a sennight later, when myself and the twins arrived upon a large queue of varying races in front of the gate to the port city. Of which was called Freeport, which was a bit odd considering the fact that it was not free in any way. For the time being, though, we had to proceed through a heavily guarded entrance, of which our persons and baggage were to be search quite extensively. As to why this was so? They called it a "tax", and would take up to ten percent of all items or coin, depending upon what they brought with them.

Upon entering such a place, however, a voice from within told us to halt in our steps. This voice belonged to a heavily armoured individual, of whom had a look of greed and enamoured arrogance about its eyes. "What do we have here?" Its voice boomed throughout the enclosed space, of which caused many to step away from our persons.

By the by, my form was that of my kobold self, and was wearing an endarkened, crimson hooded robe which hid all, but the tip of my dark nose. The twins, on the other hand, wore matching hooded robes, but their colours were more of the darkness within the shadows. Our sleeves, though long and opened, allowed us to keep our clawed hands hidden as we fold our arms over one another.

Whilst I kept my mind calm, the pair had shifted their own clawed hands to grasp their long knives attached to their arms. They were nervous, you see, yet stayed in a relaxed position once they noticed my own.

"And what are you hiding beneath your hoods, hmm?" This armoured brute leaned down to touch the hood hiding my own facial features, but before it could even come close, my own energies flared to life. For you see, a spell of protection was embedded into the fabric of our robes. If they detect any hostilities from without, then a golden and translucent barrier quickly takes the shape of our bodies, protecting it from harm.

"Conjurers," cried out the brute, of whom had raised its voice in volume and pitch, whereas the rest of those about us ran as though their lives depended upon such a thing.

For you see, my dear audience, those of whom who practice what many call "magick" are called as such; as they are a rare breed and are allowed various amenities. One of such things is a free passage throughout the continent, whilst another is the rest of the populace fearing them and their unknown abilities.