Lezrum followed beside Alaster, teaching his master about the relevant and ancient history of the Undead. Without the sense of urgency that comes with a heartbeat, and with immense pride, comes a long history of slights, rivalries, grudges, and other such conflicts that see several decades without any action, and wars that can last centuries.

According to the Lich, rumor had it that there were Undead that had survived since before the Great Sinking of the continents. That would mean they were present during the first war between Humanity and Demons. Of course, Lezrum had never met one, nor had he met any Undead who had. Yet the rumor had persisted through the ages.

Alaster listened attentively, as the Lich promised his master that it was all critical to the upcoming negotiations. So, Alaster paid attention, even as he personally examined several Defenses and added a few of his own. He even had a few of his Undead begin carving Runes into the cobblestones. Runes that when filled with Mana, would explode.

They would be tricky to use, as the timing would have to be perfect, but he figured it would not hurt.

Eventually, they turned into the Slums, headed for the designated warehouse, where a few of Lezum's Minions had already posted signage informing the incoming Undead about Alaster's rules.

Alaster also had a few Shadows hiding in the rafters of the warehouse.

The streets were empty as most of the citizens dwelling here did not have much to take with them and as such were some of the first in the Train Station. Alaster even considered tearing down the slums entirely to serve as a kill zone and staging area, but decided to hold off on the plan.

A plan that he would rather ask for forgiveness than permission from the City Lord.

Through design, Alaster arrived at the warehouse fifteen minutes after a section of the warehouse's floor and caved in and Undead came up.

It was a power move. A pathetic one that wasted everyone's time. But one that Lezrum insisted was required.

Another reason Alaster hated politics.

Lezrum summoned two Skeletons ahead of them to open the warehouse double doors, allowing the Human and Lich to walk in without slowing down.

Inside, Alaster saw and felt enough power to destroy a village in just mere moments.

He saw several Ghouls, many Zombies, a handful of Skeletons of varying types, and he even spotted a single Wight. All to the sides. In the middle, standing proud and glaring at each other, Alaster spotted no less than four dozen Vampires dressed in varying degrees of rich clothing and jewelry.

The Vampires had separated themselves into their Houses with ample room between them. Large Banners carried by one of the Lowborn Vampires displayed the insignia of their Houses. Though the colors of the clothing would have also been a strong hint as to their loyalties.

His entrance and silenced any murmured conversations as they all turned to him.

Alaster stopped several feet away, allowing him to see the entire group.

"This is the Death God we have heard so much about?" One of the Vampires scoffed.

The offending Vampire's House chuckled quietly with him.

To the side, Alaster spotted the Wight rolling his eyes at their display.

Alaster stood straight as he addressed the group, "No one asked you here, and no one is forcing you here. You are all here because you want to be. So if you don't like me, or my offer, than leave. But lets all be honest with each other and ourselves. We are all here because we know that if we fight by ourselves, the Demons will kill us all. If we work together, however, some of us might survive."

The chuckled House stopped quickly.

"You are all here because you understand that simple truth. And you have all gathered before me because you know that I am the only Human who would even entertain the idea. You have all heard about me. I suspect at least one of the stories you heard spoke of how I an quite unforgiving.

So here is how this will work.

I will detail my offer, any of you may ask whatever questions you wish, and may refuse my offer and leave in peace. I will take no action against you or those you represent unless you take action against me.

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However, should you accept my offer and its terms, I will hold you to them. Refusal to adhere to these terms will result in the utter destruction of the offending party through whatever means I wish.

Hell, I might even allow your rivals to deal the killing blow."

Lezrum groaned behind Alaster. He had warned against a hard opening hand since the Houses did not know Alaster. His master had attentively listened and promptly decided to do just that.

The Vampires glared at the living man, but one of the Highborn stepped forward, "And what is this offer?"

Alaster smirked, "Very simple, utter obedience to me. Permanently. I will be your King, your God. None shall be above me and my word will be law."

Not just the Vampires, but many of the other Undead murmured amongst themselves.

How dare this mere Human stand before them and propose such an offensive idea? How dare this mortal think he was superior?

Alaster spoke over their murmurs and whispers, "You have all seen the Demonic Forces currently invading this continent. And you know that tens of thousands more flow from the Portal every day, with no sign of ending any time soon.

This is not a war that can be won by discussing each move. I am not sure this is even a war that can be survived.

Our only hope, mortal or not, is to fight as one. One organized fighting force.

And lets be honest amongst each other, you do not trust me and I certainly don't trust you. So the only way I will allow any of you to fight beside me, is if you swear an oath upon your Mage Root to obey me."

For many of the Undead, their Mage Root might as well also be their heart.

"However, I do not wish to reign over the Undead as some sort of tyrant. During the War, I will make use of you as best as I can to best effect. After the War, if we survive, you may all resume whatever you were doing beforehand. I care not that you continue fighting between each other."

A Highborn from another House stepped forward, "What guarantee do we have that you will not simply throw us into a suicidal battle? Or that you won't sacrifice thousands of us just to save the lives of a handful of Mortals? You are Human, you no doubt value Human Life over those of the Dead."

"Then you clearly have not been paying much attention to me. I care about all equally. That is to say not at all. I care not for the Humans across the continent, just as I care not for the Undead below. I care only for a small number of people. And the only way to protect them is to win this War. In order to do so, I will use whatever assets are available to me in whatever manner I can to ensure victory.

If this means sacrificing a few hundred, Mortal or Undead, to hold a point, I will do so."

"What makes you think we are so desperate to be your slaves?" A Highborn scoffed, "The Deep Tunnels are extensive and wide. It would take centuries for the Demons to take them."

"Or a single Decade." The Wight groaned, bringing everyone's attention and glares upon himself, "By the Gods you Vampires are annoying to deal with. The Demons have already begun invading the Deep. And already they have carved out a small, but sizeable chunk. At this rate, it would take several decades, perhaps even a century to conquer the entire Deep.

But it won't take them even half a Decade to defeat the Humans. And once they are done with the Mortals, they will focus all their attention on the Deep. Once that happens, I doubt even a single Decade will pass before they control all of the Deep.

Lord Ashborn, the Houses of the Vampires would never agree to meet with you unless they were desperate. All the Undead know that, but they are relying on the hope that you don't know that in order to leverage a better deal. A deal that would take a long time to negotiate and sign. Time none of us have, even for the unaging."

"And you are?" Alaster asked curiously.

Who was this man who would so callously call out the tricks of the Vampire Houses?

"I am Nicholos Jedda. In life I was a Druid Ranger Adept. Now in death, I take contracts and jobs as a scout and pathfinder, both above and below. I have seen the Demonic Armies, both in the Deep, and in the sunlight. I know firsthand their threat. Like you said, separate, we are screwed. Together we might have a chance of a few of us surviving.

I am willing to agree to your terms, as are many of the independent Undead. We were willing to agree to complete servitude if it meant a chance of survival.

I am handy with a blade, proficient with a bow, but my true talents lay in scouting. You will find none, living or dead, more familiar with the land."

"And water?"

"No sir, I am afraid that even in death, I am deathly afraid of any water I can't see the bottom of."

Alaster chuckled, "Good. How many Independent Undead are here and willing to obey?"

Nickolos adjusted his sword belt, "A lot. Might not enough to sway this siege, but word spreads fast down there. Even now, more and more and rushing here. However, I must say, for the Vampire Houses, you should be careful. Only their Counts are able to swear their entire House to your cause. Any other who attempt will only be swearing themselves, regardless of their words."

The Vampires growled, displaying their fangs at the Wight, who mocked them by comically showing his own teeth.

Feeling their anger reaching a boiling point, Alaster summoned two of his Death Knights from his Soul, temporarily disrupting their training with their Legions.

They stood behind him, hands on their weapons, radiating power. Enough power between just the two of them to wipe out all the Undead in the warehouse.

The Vampires painfully contained themselves, smoothing out their clothes as they calmed.

"As I said before, you may choose not to swear to me and leave in peace. We will remain neutral. But we all know what will happen to your House if such a decision is made. Return to your Counts. Tell them everything I have said and demanded. Let them make their decision. If they agree, bring them here to me so they might bend the knee."

Alaster would have been better simply spitting in their faces as his words drove daggers into their pride and arrogance. But that was exactly his intention. If they did choose to swear themselves to him, they had to understand their place.

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