text: [Themes: grimdark fantasy, fantasy]
  
  Catalina has a way of swaying you to her plan. (She does have experience in enchantment after all) She knew the whole raising undead giants thing would appeal to you! Of course you actually have to kill them first.
  
  "Alright Catalina, we'll go with this plan, but I'm going to do it personally, so you're in charge of things here for awhile."
  "Really? You're not only following my advice, but you're also trusting me to run Aftermath?"
  "Yeah I'm whipped, now I want you to keep a good run of things here, and if the Grand Alliance attacks I want to know immediately, so I can get here!"
  "Okay, but I doubt if that'll happen. They've been preoccupied with Velzix lately."
  "Hmm, y'know we'll have to do something about him too later, but first I guess I got some barbarians to kill."
  "Good luck!" she says and quickly kisses you on the cheek before you leave. You stare at her for a moment in shock and she stares back.
  
  "What?" she asks as if nothing happened.
  "Nothing, but we'll discuss THAT later when I return." You say.
  "Maybe. If you're good and return victorious."
  "I don't think I'll be good, but I will be returning victorious."
  
  You decide that given the long stretches of barren plains of where you're heading. Incorporeal undead shall work better. You need speed, and the tribes will probably have little in the way of magic to combat you. You also take a couple extra necromancers with you along with your army of ghosts, spirits and wraiths.
  
  You make pretty good time and suffer no attacks on the way, probably because of the rather low profile and somewhat hard to see aspects of your army. When you arrive in the Drozz region, it's night, but still as desolate as you remember it. Your Dad took you here a couple times during his attempts to "toughen" you up when he still thought he could turn you into a warrior. You hated it then, and you hate the place now.
  
  After casting a sense life spell, you start to head towards the direction of the nearest tribe, but your uncanny connection with death lets you know that you're being watched and not by the living...
  
  Suddenly from over a small hill top a group of misshapened creatures pop their heads up. After what looks to be chatter between the creatures, they lope in your direction. Ghouls. One of the filthier forms of undead. Typically they were created by vampires, who used to use them as tougher servants. (Basically mortals who weren't "worthy" enough for the gift of vampirism) but that would mean that there's a vampire in the area.
  
  You don't have time to think too hard about it, you just react and dominate your will over the ghouls. For some reason they're very resistant to you and you're forced to destroy them. More ghouls appear however, and soon you're surrounded.
  
  "Where the fuck are these things coming from?" one of your necros asks.
  "Stay calm. Don't lose control...VAMPIRE! SHOW YOURSELF! If you're going to assassinate me, I would've thought the clans were at least honorable enough to not rely on ghouls!" you shout.
  
  Your shouting is soon answered. The ghouls suddenly stop and a hideous figure appears on the same hilltop. He then walks towards you and your army and stops not to far from it. He's fearless and shows no signs of being concerned of your presence.
  
  "Clans? Don't speak to me of the clans! I was cast out long ago for my actions! Once I feasted upon the blood of royalty, with legions of mortals willing to die for me. Now I feast upon the carrion of barbarians with only ghouls as company."
  "So you're an outcast? I thought all you types of vampires degenerated into mindless beasts much like the ghouls."
  "Hah! Do you not think this is degeneration enough? I can't even make another vampire anymore. But you are quite correct. Most of us did. One thing keeps me going though and kept my mind sharp. Revenge. I vowed I would get revenge on the Clans somehow. Of course the reality is, I've had to hide in a hole in the ground while my ghouls scavenge the countless battlefields of this accursed place. I am the Ghoul King."
  "Ghoul King eh? I'm very surprised nobody's hunted you."
  "I haven't survived this long by being sloppy. The only ones who tend to be around here are barbarians and if any of them ever see us, it's their last time. But the tribes tend to be an anti-social lot anyway, so it's unlikely that any of them run to tell the civilized folks that there are ghouls and their king infesting the area. So what of you? It's been a long time since I've seen a necromancer...a long time..."
  "I'm attempting to supplement my army as it were. These tribes would make excellent additions. Especially the giants."
  "I see. So you mean to take away my food source? Not to mention my OWN supply of followers. These ghouls don't grow from trees you know!"
  
  This is an interesting situation. You didn't expect this, but perhaps you can use it to your advantage. This "Ghoul King" is close enough to you to attack with your troops. Chances are, if you killed him, you could take his remaining horde of ghouls to help you destroy the tribes in the area.
  
  However, maybe you could use a little diplomacy.
  
  > talk with the Ghoul King
  You can't say you've exactly been entirely enthusiastic about this plan to conquer these tribes. The reality is starting to set in that you'll never be able to get rid of them all. At least not without a concentrated effort, which would take a lot more time and troops that you're unwilling to commit at this point.
  
  But The Ghoul King could help. He most likely knows the lay of the land just as well as the tribes, and considering he lives here, he can dedicate as much time as he wants.
  
  "Very well Ghoul King I have no wish to take what is yours. I shall leave in peace if you'll permit." You say respectfully.
  "Hmm, I had not expected you to respond that way. Perhaps though you have yet another trick up your sleeve?"
  "No trick. But perhaps a proposal."
  "Diplomacy? Are you serious? I have rarely ever encountered a necromancer ready to discuss anything so calmly before. You are a rare breed. Okay, what's your proposal? I have to know just because you've managed to surprise me, twice today."
  "My proposal is an alliance."
  "An alliance? For what purpose? I imagine that you're being hounded by the civilized world. Why would I bring such troubles on myself?"
  "Because I'm your best shot at revenge. You said you've wanted revenge on the Vampire Clans, well I'm not exactly on their good side either. Eventually I'm going to have to deal with them. Look at you, you said it yourself. You've been forced to hide out from the world in a hole in the ground. Wouldn't you at least like that to change? Even if you die, at least you can say you tried! Changes ARE coming to this world, and this is your chance to be on the winning side."
  
  The Ghoul King looks in the sky. His expression reminds you of delegate Yolev's when Mr. Demar gave him a chance to join. You hope you have more success.
  
  "I have been told such promises before; a long time ago...this state that you see before you is what it got me. However, there's no fool like an old one. What more can be done to me? I've lost all as it is, I can only gain. I'm listening more to your proposal, but let's have some details. I won't ally with someone that's as foolish as me."
  
  You quickly explain that the Ghoul King should attack the tribes like he's been doing, but to just increase the frequency. All you ask is that he leave a portion of the dead for you (rather than eating them) to use as troops. You will leave one of your necromancers here as an emissary and transporter as it were.
  
  The Ghoul King finds this arrangement to be acceptable. He laughs when you say you would also like it if he managed to kill some giants for you to raise. He says he'll see what he can do and as an act of goodwill he allows you to have a sizable amount of his ghouls.
  
  "I can always make more!"
  
  You return to Aftermath feeling a great sense of accomplishment. Catalina is a bit leery of the entire situation though.
  
  "How can you be sure of this? He's a vampire! Last I heard they aren't too happy with us right now!" Catalina says.
  "He's an outcast from the clans. He's been living like an animal for who knows how long. I've given him a sense of purpose again. He'll help. Besides he's better suited to take care of the tribes in Drozz. He'll take all the risk and we'll gain the benefit. I see no downside!"
  "How do you know he won't just kill your emissary there and not do anything?"
  "It's certainly possible, but he did give me some of his ghouls as an act of good faith."
  "A bunch of mangy ghouls can't make up for one necromancer!"
  "Considering I left Hessan with him, you could make the argument that they do! Relax! I know what I'm doing."
  "I hope so, because I heard that the Grand Alliance is stepping up their military operations."
  
  Catalina leaves you in a huff. What's with this girl? One minute she's expressing interest, the next she's pissed at you. Oh well. You're not worried about anything, you're confident you made the right decision.
  
  A few months pass and you get a letter via bat from The Ghoul King. He tells you that he's got something special for you. Something that Hessan can't transport himself. You make your way back to Drozz, traveling invisibly for the most part, since last you heard, the Grand Alliance ousted Trelik from the Brot Kingdom and are currently stationed there, probably planning to attack you next.
  
  When you arrive, the Ghoul King meets you.
  
  "Well don't say I haven't held up my part of this alliance. Here are your giants. A whole tribe of them! Took a hell of a long time dragging them down here. You'll have to forgive the bite marks, but my ghouls do get hungry every now and then."
  
  You can't believe your eyes. You expected one or two. Not a whole tribe! You aren't even going to ask how he did it, you're just happy he did.
  
  "Alright Mr. Necromancer, I wanna see you raise these big ass things! Your emissary has been going on for months about how powerful you are, so I wanna see this."
  
  You begin to concentrate...
  
  Slowly one of the dead behemoths rises and stands ready to serve. You concentrate again and one by one each one stands up and fully obedient to you. It requires very little energy on your part surprisingly. You must be growing in power.
  
  "Well now, I guess you can walk the walk! Alright now you go have fun with those big boys. I have some barbarians to terrorize. It seems I've inadvertently united most of the tribes against me with this giant killing business."
  "You need some help?"
  "Nah, I got it all under control. I was sick of hiding anyway. Thanks though. Especially for making me feel like a true vampire again rather than a running scavenger."
  
  You tell Hessan to stay with the Ghoul King as you still need someone here in Drozz. One day you'll have to construct some sort of portal between here and Aftermath, but that will have to be later. Right now you've got undead giants and you're all prepared to use them right away. You remember The Grand Alliance is in the Brot Kingdom and tthat they're probably still recovering from battling Trelik recently.
  
  You march with your undead giants to the Brot Kingdom. You have no back up, just you. You're going to show them all what you're capable of...
  
  Your arrival isn't surprising since they could see you coming from quite a few miles away, but the utter fear you inspired was immense and there still wasn't enough time for the Grand Alliance to get reinforcements.
  
  Your undead giants smash and destroy buildings. They crush knights under foot. The carnage is great. You supplement your attack by raising the recent dead to your cause. Graveyards are your reinforcements.
  
  You see the remnants of Grand Alliance flee. Let them flee. Let them speak of the terror and the death!
  
  The news of what you did travels fast, and Catalina runs to meet you when you arrive back in Aftermath.
  
  "What the hell did you think you were doing risking your life like that? You should've come back to Aftermath for more soldiers before taking on the Brot Kingdom AND the Grand Alliance all by yourself!"
  "Why? Were you worried about me?" you smile.
  "Well... um...no! But, you should've told me!"
  "I did tell you. I told you I had everything worked out and look...I did." You say putting your arm around her. She's not resisting anymore.
  
  "Hmmm, well I guess you did. So now what?"
  "Now what? You and me in the bedroom, that's what!"
  
  You and Catalina at last end this little dance and consummate your relationship.
  
  And just think all it took was destroying an entire kingdom with some undead giants!
  
  Four years pass...
  
  It's been five years since you took control of Aftermath and you've made progress. Many changes have certainly have come about.
  
  Your territory now encompasses far more than just Aftermath. You now control several former kingdoms. You call your region the Dead Dominion. The population consists mainly of the dead, with necromancers typically being the only living beings, though there are pockets of living that have pledged their loyalty to you in exchange for mercy. You have granted it. You and Catalina are now truly King and Queen of the dead.
  
  Velzix has benefited from your success, due to the excessive problems you've given the Grand Alliance; he's expanded his own realm relatively unchecked. Minor conflict has come about between your respective domains, and it's only a matter of time before all out war occurs. Rumors are that he's attempting to rip open a portal of the largest size to unleash all of the horrors the infernal plane has to offer.
  
  The Grand Alliance is attempting to handle the pair of you, but has only succeeded in fighting to a stalemate. Rumors are the Zalan Empire is attempting to take full control over the Grand Alliance in order to pursue a more extreme course of action.
  
  You have not heard anything from you family. You know your Dad's mercenary company has been fighting in the outskirts of Velzix's realm. Your sister has become a respected and successful Grand Alliance captain. She's managed to hold back the tide of your dead horde from gaining anymore ground for a couple years now. As for your Mom, who knows? You'd prefer not to know what she thinks of you.
  
  The Vampire Clans have unsuccessfully sent assassins after you, but they have all failed. The Ghoul King suggests that an attack should be made on them soon. He mentions he knows where their secret fortress is and now that he has the support he wishes to take his revenge. He has completely conquered Drozz and turned into a true Kingdom (The only one semi-independent from your Dead Dominion) no longer does he hide in a hole.
  
  As for Trelik, you have heard nothing. For all you know he may be dead. He disappeared soon after his defeat at Brot four years ago.
  
  But today is another day and with that new problems come. You have to decide which new direction you're going to steer your Dominion.
  
  > attack Velzix
  Sometimes it takes a "bad guy" to take out another bad guy, maybe even two...
  
  "Catalina I think it's time to attack Velzix." You say walking into her study.
  "Oh you do huh? Got a plan in mind of how to go about it? Because it's not going to be easy."
  "Well I figured we'd just go in there and chop his head off." You laugh.
  "Ha ha. Sometimes you have a really strange sense of humor. You realize that the Grand Alliance has been trying to chop his head off for years and they haven't been successful."
  "Yeah, well they ain't me. Besides I got an angle. My Dad's mercenary company is over there right now. I can get help from him."
  
  Catalina looks at you as if you've gone completely insane.
  
  "Your Dad? The one you've always complained about? The bastard that you say could barely stand you? The one I think is the reason you got into necromancy in the first place, to prove you could be more powerful than he could ever be?"
  "Uh...excuse me?" you say after hearing that last bit of psychoanalysis.
  "What makes you think he'll help you?"
  "He might not, I dunno just how pissed he is at me, but I figure if there's any chance he might, I'll try it. He probably has good intelligence on the realm. Besides, he's an opportunist first of all. If Velzix wins. We all lose. BUT if I win, well just maybe I'll take sentimental mercy on the old man and the family."
  "Would you?" Catalina asks.
  "With my Mom and sis? Sure." You grin.
  "I dunno about this family stuff, sometimes I'm glad I was an orphan." Catalina sighs. "But if you think it's worth a shot, you should try it. It's not like we have too much of an advantage over Velzix. I worry that we'll expend too much power in an attempt to destroy him, leaving us open for a Grand Alliance attack."
  "I'm really not worried about the Grand Alliance. They're suffering from their own internal squabbles from what I've heard and if I do this the way I think it might go, we won't need to waste one corpse on Velzix's realm. Okay, as usual you're going to be in charge of things while I'm gone."
  
  You kiss Catalina goodbye and make your way to Velzix's realm alone...
  
  Velzix's realm is appropriately a wretched place. Sure there is death here, but none of its purity or beauty exists. Demons torment the mortal population with much delight. You get a few attempts to torment you and you teach them a fatal lesson. You stay invisible while you can though.
  
  Using a few ghostly scouts and a couple of minor divination spells (Thank the gods Catalina's been around to help you with other types of magic!) you soon determine the exact location of your Dad.
  
  You don't know what to expect, you haven't seen him in years. When you approach the camp, you're immediately met by guards.
  
  "HALT! Who the hell are you?"
  "I'm more powerful than you could ever imagine...tell your asshole of a Captain that his son is here."
  
  The two guards' eyes widen, they know about you and they run off almost immediately to tell your Dad. You wait patiently and sure enough your Dad comes from out of his tent with his lackeys hiding behind him.
  
  "Boy, you gotta a lot of balls showing up here before me. Didn't think you had 'em either. Figured you'd be hiding in some tower somewhere."
  "Yeah, well sometimes you have to do things yourself."
  "True. So, you here to try to kill me boy? That why you here? Gonna break yer Mom's heart even more? Y'know she still cries over what you've become even after I've told her time and time again that you ain't worth one of her fuckin' tears?"
  
  You didn't like hearing that...
  
  "Yeah well Mom's always been the nice one, must be something like her wasting her love on a mean spirited abusive bastard that probably would've killed her AFTER he raped her if not for the powerful magic aura she exuded."
  
  He didn't like hearing that...
  
  "Bah! I don't need to hear this shit! If yer gonna try an' kill me, you best do it now boy!" your Dad shouts as he begins to draw his sword.
  
  > kill Dad
  You can't put up with this asshole anymore. You had to put up with him as a kid and as a teenager and even when you went away to college! Well no more! You're a lot more powerful and you're going to finally teach the old man a lesson.
  
  You unleash a death cloud upon your Dad and his company, most of them fall to their knees choking up blood before dying. Your Dad is made of a little stronger stuff and charges at you, but you blast him with a bolt of negative energy. He falls, struggling to breathe.
  
  "(Wheeze) Hope yer happy boy...you killed an old man, with some sissy magic tricks...ha ha...Mr. Big Fancy Nec..."
  "SHUT UP AND DIE!" you shout and cause his flesh to age at an accelerated rate and rot. You don't stop until his skull becomes dust.
  
  You sit down beside the dust in exasperation. You allowed him to "get" to you. You didn't want that to happen. Especially since you wanted his help to get to Velzix. Still you may be able to probe the minds of his dead soldiers and still go through with your plan of killing Velzix yourself.
  
  Or you could decide that doing this alone would be suicide and go back to Aftermath.
  
  > continue with your plan
  You didn't need your Dad to get where you are, you don't need him to kill Velzix either. You'll do it yourself, like you always have. You probe the minds of the dead to get your information.
  
  You scan them all to make sure you don't miss anything. Excellent, they've all been within the inner reaches of Velzix's realm. You know exactly where he dwells.
  
  You sneak and creep and lurk better than any dark elf assassin while on your way to Velzix's fortress. When you arrive, you go through the secret way you saw in the minds of one of the soldiers. You can feel the malevolence emanating from all areas of this place.
  
  It doesn't take long before you get into trouble. Demon and mortal patrols hunt you down. The mortal patrols you welcome since you can easily kill and then raise them. Still, you need to get to Velzix soon, before you're completely overrun.
  
  Eventually you reach Velzix's throne room. He's already prepared for battle.
  
  "Ha ha! At last a real fight! I shall enjoy ripping you apart and feasting on your soul little necromancer!" he chortles and swings a huge whip at you.
  
  You summon up ghostly warriors to assist you, and Velzix responds in kind by opening up several portals where large amounts of demons come pouring out. While you're powerful, you can't fight Velzix's seemingly endless reinforcement of demons. You land some good hits, but ultimately you're overwhelmed.
  
  Velzix picks up your drained bloody body to mock you one last time.
  
  "Since you took the effort to come visit me personally, perhaps I'll pay that little queen of yours a visit personally too. Show her what REAL power is!"
  
  Velzix then proceeds to make good on his promise and slowly rips your soul apart before ultimately sending you to oblivion.