Somewhat... Maybe I don’t know how this thing works, ok?

“Sooo… this is not awkward at all,” you eventually say as you glance at the scene in front of you.

After placing the blueprint for a campfire and taping it a few times to build it, you took some time to skin the rabbits that you apparently gained from the band of goblin. As you retrieved the pelts in your inventory, your companion had taken to herself to prepare your meal and immediately took the meat from you with a mischievous smile on her lovely lips.

“I know that the last time you still were under the influence of the dryad’s blessing but today maybe we can eat something that is not burnt” apparently one mistake marks now the start of a new recurring joke at your expenses, but not to be the one to back from a challenge you decide to take the bait and respond to the provocation. “I remember you had much to say about my abilities at night but nothing about my cocking” you speak as you grab her arm and pull her closer to you, instinctively locking lips in an impetuous bout of desire.

You continue for a while lost in your small world of your own but in the end your attention is brought to your guest who’s interested gaze you meet during one of your breathing pauses. You remain petrified for a second as you burrow deep within her clouded eyes before moving to the rest of her small frame, noticing the rhythmic movement of her knees and thighs.

You almost expected Alyanne to explode in a furious rage, but noticed she simply reddened considerably and moved to continue her original task next to the fire. As the meat was still cooking, nothing was said and even when your companion approached the much smaller Nyx and pulled her to her lap, not a sound was heard from any of you. Even now that you were eating, you simply glanced at each other and continued to say nothing, so obviously you couldn’t take it anymore and pointed out the obvious.

“Sooo… this is not awkward at all,”

A muffled giggle finally breaks the silence again and your eyes are drawn to the half-hidden face of your guardian, who is apparently trying to hide herself behind the voluminous beanie of the now tense necromancer in her lap. “Nope, not at all,” she says between fits of laughter.

“I’m sorry” comes then the small voice of your guest as she makes once more an attempt at making herself smaller in embarrassment.

You know you can’t really blame her and at the same time that she truly seems convinced she is somewhat guilty, so you sigh and attempt to reassure her for what is worth. “It’s not your fault. It’s us who forgot you were here since you seem to be so capable of not drawing much attention your way” your words have some effect since she is now imperceptibly smiling while she still attempts to hide her face but it’s the twitching of her ears that reassures you that things have calmed since the same thing is now associated in your mind to happiness from your experiences with Alyanne. Speaking of which, she seems to notice the show of emotion herself and a candid smile takes the place of her usually mischievous one while she glances between you and the diminutive woman in her arms.

As the atmosphere is now calmer you don’t feel oppressed by the silence that is surrounding you since the circumstances gives it a different feeling and eventually you simply lean on the column that you had used as support leaving your mind to bask in the night's calm.

Notice
The full effects of Automatic rearrangement and Spatial dissonance are now activated
Do you wish to review the changes?

Since you still have time, you decide to take some overseeing the changes in your domain. A good boss would do it, so you will do it. As you move your hand instinctively, many windows open reacting to your intention, not your action and not even caring to comprehend, you simply begin to read them one at a time while the others present seem to just happily chat in their own little world.

The initial 2km square area has been enhanced by 50% allowing for new terrain to be generated following the template of the domain.
The realm affinities can now be applied: Gaia will terraform the surface of the domain with the aid of the natural features Water Spring x 1 and Wood nodes x 4. The Forest terrain will now become Primordial Jungle.
Light will be applied to a certain area around the ruins in the form of golden light that bathes over fertile lands and artistic buildings, allowing for increased Charisma and Presence of all followers that can see the beacon that is the core of your Domain.
The natural features Ore nodes and Mineral nodes have been integrated within the caves already present generating new unique buildings: Mineshaft x 2 and Quarry x 1 (Due to special rank of the Claimant Crystal the normal limitation of one type of drop have been removed allowing for multiple drop types to generate from each building)
New Natural Feature detected
1 x Primordial river
4 x Logging stand
New Special Feature detected
Mineshaft (Prismatic)(Gem)
Mineshaft (Prismatic)(Metal)
Quarry (Prismatic)
New options are being unlocked in the Fame menu

As you reopen the menu after just a couple hours from the last time, you immediately notice something that again shocks you.

Fame: 564
Recent activity:
Defended a raid + 240 (Expand)
Subdued a faction + 224 (Expand)

You expand the two options, hoping to see the breakdown of those absurd numbers and are indeed not disappointed.> Defended a raid:

Defeated a **** ten times greater + 100
Unscratched + 50
Unseen + 50
Rightfully judged + 40
Subdued a faction:
Resolved internal conflicts + 20
Eliminated leader following + 95
Intimidated a leader + 6
Eliminated a leader + 5
Gained information + 3
Judgement of a fool + 5
Pacified a leader + 20
Befriended a leader + 50
Inspired a leader + 20

“That’s a lot of points for some goblins,” you say to yourself as you try to gather the courage to look further to the fame shop. In the end, you simply sigh as you press the right button and the screen changes, listing what you can only describe as your worst nightmare at the moment, an inexhaustible list of options that goes on forever. To your **** enjoyment, most are simply question marks, so you dare speak again trying to test your luck. “Mhh… System, I should really come up with a better name for you. Can you show just the known options?”

Acknowledged
Some options have been altered to better suit the user.
{Angelic Liegelord 0/10 (Racial ability): 10 fame} and {Draconic Liegelord 0/5 (Racial ability): 20 fame} have been integrated into [Domain Lord 0/20 (Bloodline ability): 40 fame]
Evolve: 500 fame (Must be Level 10 or higher)
Create Worker 0/(Level + Domain Lord rank): 100 fame

Well, that’s definitely more than you expected, in a good way this time around. Before making any calculation, you still wonder how all this works so as to make sure you buy a level of the options that seem to be available to you before going further.

Domain Lord 1/20: 90 fame
Your innate majesty has started to sway the local monster population to your banner. Each day, there is a small chance that local creatures will spontaneously convert to your side and ask to join you. You may also receive gifts from monsters seeking to stave off your wrath or gain your favour.

That is even more amazing than what you imagined. You will definitely need to invest in this one if you ever want to build your community more, but the prompt you see in the corner of your eye brings you back to reality.

Create Worker 1/5: 100 fame
Create a worker which cannot leave your claimed land. Created workers will respawn some time after being destroyed, or can be brought back instantly for a minor fee.
Select Worker Type
Builder: Helps construct structures in your domain and occupies a spot in any basic production building
Sentinel: Guards your domain against invaders
[Additional options unlock at higher Domain Lord level]

You initially select a worker waiting for something to happen, but noticing nothing, you return and scratching your head, press the same options again, trying once more to observe any change

“Eh… that’s strange. Am I missing something?” You mumble to yourself, going through the process once more and being once more left with nothing to show.

Notice. No available job spot present in the domain. Do you wish to place the new buildings and gathering spots?

As you read, you almost facepalm but remember the pain of the last time and stop yourself before ridiculing yourself, once again calming down and speaking once more. “Yes, I want. Can I place them manually or it’s automatic?” You dare ask before a new screen shows.

The placement can be done manually or left to the automatic functions after stating preferences

“That’s pretty convenient. Can you place the Mineshafts and the Quarry at the far back of the valley, on the mountainside? Also, if possible I wold want to develop the area into a production zone so don’t place anything that would be an obstacle there,” as you speak you try to remember the layout of your territory from your flight in the day in an attempt to find a suitable spot for the Logging stands but eventually you compromise and decide to leave the choice to the system “the Logging stands should be easily accessible from our side but difficult to reach for possible invaders, also don’t cramp them together if possible. Wouldn’t want them to be looted in one go if someone finds them”

Acknowledged
Placing production and gathering spots
Placement complete while maintaining the user input into consideration
User preferences have been registered as default until further notice
Requirements for “Junior civil engineer” achievement have been meet

Once more, the melodious ding resounds around you and the Fame screen is shown without surprises for once

Fame history
-40 Domain Lord rank
-90 Create Worker
-100 Create Worker
-100 Create Worker
+100 Achievement reward
Current Fame 334

After reading you think once more about possible plans for development and smiling a bit you address the system once more to lazy to move your hand again. “Can you buy me another rank in Domain Lord and two Create Worker?” As soon as you speak, the notice comes immediately, making you look around one more time before continuing, “Also… can you assign the workers to the various jobs around the domain?”

Notice. Number of workers is insufficient to fill all available spots.
How do you want to distribute them?

After a few moments of thinking about what you will probably need the most, you decide and, not entirely knowing the outputs of each job, chose to balance it all. “Prioritise the mining for now. Place two in the Quarry and one in each Mineshaft. The last can take care of the wood for the time being. Also, since we are short on hands, can you make them go wherever I place some blueprints for now? When I can spend more influence I’ll make sure to enhance the workforce as a priority,” as you speak a new thought crosses your mind and instantly you ask certain that the apparently all knowing System will cast a light on such doubts “Since we are here, how many spots are there in each building and how do I upgrade them?”

Processing request
Workers have been assigned as for the user preferences
Preferences have been registered as default until further notice
Information request
Each basic building and gathering spot has two available slots
In order to upgrade or acquire more of such commodities, the user needs to:
Upgrade the main base
Increase the number of autonomous population
Increase the personal level
Increase Domain Lord rank

It amazed you for a single instant before the rumbling of rocks reaches your ears and your head snaps, trying to locate the potential danger. As you turn, however, you are once more left with a hanging jaw and an incredulous look. Five rough statues that are vaguely shaped in a humanoid form without distinguishing features have risen from a short distance in the direction of what was once the temple entrance. As you stare at the inscrutable figures, they each start moving towards you and after reaching a couple feet in your direction, each of the statues drops to one knee with the one in the middle speaking for the group.

“Lord Raziel” comes the voice that seems to be produced by the grinding of rocks “We hear your command and follow your will” he continues leaving the statement hang as if waiting for your response, on instinct you raise and after a short glance toward the two women you assume a regal pose without noticing the appearance of your massive set of wings into the night breeze obscuring the campfire that still burns a few feet in the back. After that your voice comes following with an authoritarian tone that is unknown to you “Then by my command you will work for the growth of this domain and by my will you shall serve faithfully until my vision is made reality”

As you finish, the stone figures in front of you bow their heads and in unison let out a chorus of grinding stones that reaches your ears forming their words “Glory to the Lord, prosperity to his Domain” after that they simply raise and scatter in various direction almost certainly trying to reach their new working positions.

After observing the surprisingly nimble movements of your new workers, you turn around still immersed in the atmosphere created by the incident and instantly find yourself looking at your guardian and guest who, on their part, are frozen in awe of you if you have to guess. To break the tension, you try to move closer, but your very first step seems to bring a reaction from the smaller one and after a moment the both of them fall backwards from the fallen piece of column they were using as a seat. Worried about them, you cover the distance that still separates you and kneel near the two figures as they move to sit. Your sight of relief is instantly replaced by concern as you see something that you didn’t expect, however. There is a trace of fear in the eyes of the woman who has accompanied you since you can remember, and Nyx is now bowing deeply in front of you as you notice her small figure shake. Instantly, you retract your wings and notice the tension immediately dissipate as you do so. The minute goblin is still bowing however and even flinches as you reach one of her shoulders, making you retract your hand as you curse yourself.

“Nyx… get up please… I didn’t want to…” you can’t finish, you don’t know how. You barely know what happened, so you retreat and turn to leave before the small trembling voice reaches your ears.

“…Please, please Lord Raziel. Allow…this insignificant one…to serve and learn under you” her speech is broken by small sobs barely kept under control and you turn around looking at her still kneeled body while she slowly raises her head to meet your gaze “Allow me to serve by your side… please” her pleading request leaves you wandering through your own thoughts, the Domain Lord must have given you some kind of aura and knowledge to back up your claim and instinctively you used them in the presence of a waiting crowd. But Nyx is not like that, the statues are somewhat intelligent if you can say that, but are in the end just fragments of your power, their will is yours and their minds are born from your needs. Alyanne and Nyx are more than puppets for your ends, even if you didn’t say so until now, as you assumed, it was unnecessary. You were wrong.

“Nyx… Alyanne” your voice has once more gained the authority of a true ruler and both of them flinch at the simple display “I have no need for insignificant ones” you speak as you fix your gaze on the small goblin before moving your eyes to meet your guardian “Nor do I need servants” the two women don’t move but their shoulders drop and the heads are now bowed in what seems to you as resignation “I already challenge the impossible by rewriting my own fate and going against the will of those who cast me aside like a broken toy” Alyanne is the first to timidly look up towards you as you continue your speech “I only need those who are willing to walk with me through the gates of haven and hell and support me while I topple the arrogant bastards that wish for our demise”

There is a moment in which even the sound of the forest stops, the movements of the sky freezes, and the light of the moon shines upon you, bathing your once more exposed wings in the mesmerising effect. The two are not speaking, but their eyes burn with the same fire that you feel in your heart, so you simply ask, “Are you willing to walk that path besides me?”

Oath of truth has been extended to the presents, your voice has reached the hearts of the ones that believe in you, your intent is made clear and your request is heard

You just read and continue to wait, glancing at the two

Nyx will be invited under your banner

“Lord Raziel…” she pauses as the words seem to elude her still trembling lips “I want to walk alongside you” as she speaks the confirmation of the System shows in the corner of your eye but is fast to disappear as Alyanne walks close to you.

“Yeah… Lord Raziel. Count on me to make a mess of the bastards” her words are still timid, but her eyes tell you that she simply can’t bring herself to joke too much at the moment.

“I know” you say simply before embracing her and touching your foreheads “I know you will, but now it’s time for some well deserved sleep” your words are confirmed by her yawn and you can’t refrain from laughing as you put some space between you.

“You are right” as she speaks she leaves your arms and gets once more close to the small Nyx before continuing “let’s go get some rest cutie” her words are met with a sideways gaze as her hand helps the goblin rise to her feet and just at that point does she moves her eyes on you seeing approval.

You just nod, smiling as you approach them and gently push on their backs, making their feet take the first steps towards your “provisional sleeping quarters”