Sikadi read through the report that she had been provided. The bodies of those that had died or been rendered inoperable at their previously assigned usage had been processed, and sent to the architecturally inclined Necrotechs. A few of the Daghai grade draug had been dismembered and repurposed into Tulhai grade draug for use as aerial scouts, the leftover elements sent to the representatives of the General Resources Guild. The Tulhai had then been sent out to search for a suitable location to begin the construction of the Ziggurat that would serve as the foundation of the eventual city that would rise here.
While they were limited to what the Æthwork called Outpost Level for the moment, but the description that had been provided to the leaders of the Othgar Clan when the Tutorial finished had been clear. Provided the one in charge of the Home Base where they were arriving agreed, expansion would be possible after a period of assimilation or upon usurpation of the Home Base.
Not much information had been provided to them about this particular location, but from what the interrogation of the human souls had revealed, it was determined that the probability of the owner of the Home Base was most likely a human. Even if the humans had been as disorganized and prone to infighting as the ones they faced had been, there were still greater odds on it belonging to a human than one of their own, from sheer numbers if nothing else.
It still was difficult for Sikadi to comprehend, before the Æthwork had joined their worlds, the human planet had been home to more than seven billion humans. The dokkalfar population had been just approaching one billion. Putting that thought aside, Sikadi glanced up as one of the necromancers, Tahlia, entered the tent that Sikadi was using as a command location.
“Have the Tulhai found a suitable location?” Sikadi asked without preamble.
“They have, an appropriate hill was found to possess an intersection of ley veins that will make the eventual wards far stronger than anticipated,” the silver haired woman said.
“How much stronger?” Sikadi asked, taking the bone slat that had a map etched into it with the hill’s location given prominence. Still close to the location the Æthwork had sent them to, while to the North of the location that their new Lord had told them to stay away from.
“As much as sixty percent,” was Tahlia’s answer, and Sikadi nearly felt her heart stop in shock.
“How?!” Sikadi manage to avoid raising her voice, but her shock was still palpable in her voice.
The intersection of ley veins under His Majesty’s Necropolis in the capital, which had been fostered and improved upon for centuries, augmented the wards by ninety percent, and that was the best on their homeworld. The next best that Sikadi knew of only augmented wards by fifty percent.
“Unknown, but a few of my colleagues have had an idea for a possible explanation. We have noticed that there is far more Æther in the air, both in the Tutorial but especially here, perhaps the human’s world had an abundance of Æther, like legends say our world did prior to the rise of the Empire,” Tahlia said with a shrug. “Until we can make contect with others, all we can do is speculate and take advantage of our good fortune.”
That was true, Sikadi supposed. With her shock now back under control, she considered her next action, and ordered, “Have Necrotech Haka, yourself, and Captains Uthrik and Katsu join me in three hours. We will approach our new Lord to inform him of the site of our construction, as well as secure a better understanding of his personality.”
Tahlia nodded, “As you command.”
Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.
She departed swiftly to relay Sikadi’s summons. Sikadi, meanwhile, turned to the bonetyper on the table and began compiling everything she felt she’d need for the upcoming meeting. From survey reports from the scouts on how the local geography interacted with the local æthagraphy, estimated food production, and other resources that they would have available.
Her Lord had proven to be an incredibly skilled warrior, he had to have been in order to stand so long against Heir Svalgalti, who had necrograft augments that allowed him to fight with those who had advanced their race two Ranks and had nearly reached level 24. He had also shown an impressive amount of ruthless pragmatism and cunning when he drew the arrogant Heir in and used his teeth to tear out his throat.
Turning a position of weakness and humiliation into victory? It was a shame that he was human, if he were a dokkalfar Sikadi’d consider approaching him about a union contract. Then again, she was certain that if he were a dokkalfar, he’d have his choice of breeding partners from that act alone, regardless of who it was that he slew.
Purging the distracting thoughts from her head, Sikadi refocused. There would be time to ponder the qualities of their new Lord later. For now, she needed to ensure that they made the best possible impression during their initial meeting.
She combed through the data meticulously, highlighting key points and jotting down notes in the margins. Food production looked promising, with the fertile soil and abundant rainfall in the region. The nearby forests would provide ample timber for construction. And the ley vein intersection...that was the true gem. With such a potent source of Æther at their disposal, they could construct wards that would make their new home nigh impregnable.
A faint smile tugged at Sikadi's lips. Yes, this location held great promise indeed. Now they just needed to convince their Lord of its merits.
The hours passed swiftly as Sikadi lost herself in planning and preparation. Before she knew it, Tahlia had returned, Haka, Uthrik, and Katsu in tow. The captains looked battle-ready as always, their necrograft augments gleaming in the lamplight. Haka, on the other hand, seemed distracted, his gaze distant as he fiddled with a small bone charm.
Sikadi cleared her throat, drawing their attention, “Thank you all for coming. As you know, we will soon be meeting with our new Lord to discuss the construction of our Ziggurat. I want us to present a united front - to show him that we are capable, resourceful, and above all, loyal to his cause.”
The others nodded solemnly. They understood the gravity of this meeting. First impressions were critical, especially when dealing with an unknown entity like their human Lord.
“Haka, I want you to take the lead on explaining the æthagraphy of the site and how we can harness it in our construction. Tahlia, you'll handle the overall design and timeline. Uthrik, Katsu - be ready to answer any questions about security and defense. I'll oversee the discussion and negotiate any terms. Any questions?”
Haka looked at her and asked, “Some of the workers were…concerned about…the human’s reaction to our necrotech. Have you given any thought to how we should broach that subject?”
Sikadi paused, considering. It was a valid concern. From what little they knew of humans, their views on death and the manipulation of corpses were quite different from dokkalfar society. What the Othgar clan saw as a practical and even honorable use of resources, humans might view as abhorrent desecration.
“We will need to tread carefully there,” Sikadi said slowly after a moment. “For now, focus on the practical benefits of our methods - the strength and durability of the materials, the self-repairing properties, the reduced strain on other resources. If he presses for details, be honest but emphasize the respect and care with which we treat the remains. Ultimately, we may need to adapt our practices to align with his values, at least outwardly. Remember the cardinal rule of the Regime.”
The others nodded, though Sikadi could see the discomfort on some of their faces. Even knowing the unspoken cardinal rule of dokkalfar society, changing centuries of tradition would not be easy for the proud dokkalfar. The cardinal rule would allow them to adjust, adapt, and survive under the rule of one who might try to squash their entire society. That rule being a simple three words: don’t be caught.
“One more thing,” Sikadi added. “We still know very little about this human or his capabilities. During the meeting, watch him closely. Note his reactions, his body language, anything that might give us insight into his character and motivations. Knowledge is power, and right now we are decidedly lacking in both.”
With that, Sikadi rose, gathering up her notes. “Let's move. We don't want to keep our Lord waiting.”
The group exited the tent, falling into step behind Sikadi as they made their way through the bustling camp. Dokkalfar warriors and necrotechs alike paused in their tasks to watch the procession, sensing the importance of their mission.
As they approached the wooden structure that had to be their Lord’s domicile, Sikadi felt a prickle of unease. The power emanating from that place was palpable, even at a distance. Just what kind of being had the Æthwork delivered them to?
There was no more time for speculation. They had arrived. Taking a deep breath, Sikadi stepped forward to meet her fate, for better or worse. The future of the people under her command hung in the balance. She could only hope that their new Lord would prove to be an ally rather than a tyrant.
Knocking on the door to the domicile, Sikadi prepared herself for the discussion to come. She steeled her mind as the door ope…
Her Lord…was not wearing a shirt…
Sikadi's train of thought derailed completely as she took in the sight before her. Their new Lord stood in the doorway, his muscular torso bare and glistening with a sheen of sweat. He had clearly been in the midst of some sort of physical exertion before their arrival…she didn’t think a living man could be so broad…did it suddenly get much warmer?