The voice in the darkness apperantly belonged to a man named Aerophobos. He had been a little condescending, but Atroxica knew it itself could be so too. Such was often the way of Lords amongst strangers. Atroxica had a feeling if it hadn't built proverbial walls around itself blocking true vision between itself and others that they would get along very well.   Unfortunately most resent having their blinding solitude wiped from their eyes, so what Atroxica knew could be would mostly likely never be. His magical power though might be comaprible to Atroxica's own and that was worthy of respect. No doubt Vholdran had quite a bit of magical power, but Atroxica couldn't help but think that, outside of his specialty, his command of magic wasn't quite as vast as Atroxica's.<br/><br/>Now there were mercenaries here? Tough talking profiteers it seemed. Profit sounded better than anything else at the moment. Atroxica and it's court had plenty in all but liquid resources; gold, slaves, raw magical goods, that was what they needed. Jerion, was the de facto treasurer and he had been insisting they needed to do something to gain such things.<br/><br/>Jerion smelled potential opportunity in the new arrivals. Their service as mercenaries was not needed, but such types tended to have leads on how to acquire riches that they had not personally sought due to lacking the power to act on such information. Yet with the assistance of Atroxica and it's retainers there was much more that could be done.  "Mistress Atroxica already has the best assistance it could ask for. . .  "  one of the twins said, slithering forward a bit. Then the other finished with saying, "But the Master has great power and cunning. If there was suitable profit involved our court would commit ourselves to a proper venture. "<br/><br/><br/>"The Womb of Distain. . . " Atroxica said slowly, letting the words settle on its sweet lips. "Could it be that there is a sentience to the local? Swooning emptiness smites it's bosom for it hast not stepped aside to accept a yolk. Harken us! Thrones in the reign of eternity we, my court, hast the power to share vision with the layer. Tis not idle boast that we think ourselves the best for the task. You all share a hayday most grand indeed, but your locus is not suited for such."<br/><br/>Atroxica enjoyed the idea that the layer might be intelligent, and that conquering it might be an act of mental dominance rather then physical. If Atroxica's theory was correct it felt itself best suited to convince the layer to accept it as master. Perhaps others were interested in sharing it, that was part of the reasoning Vholdan spoke about. That they would conquer a single layer and share it, but perhaps one was too limiting. They should chose several to gather more intelligence on. What would easy layer truly require to control it?<br/><br/>"There must be reasons these locations are not the realm of a lord already. Manses must be created, alliances forged, current occupants disposed of, and terrain made pliant. We know not what elixir will make the proper solvent until we know what wall must be dissolved." Atroxica said, summarizing what it felt was the first order of business in examining the layers. One layer might be about erecting and defending a proper castle to reign from, while another may have a powerful and ancient beast that has so far prevented others from taking over due to its constant rampaging nature.