You emerge in the mountains

The next morning, you and your party pack up and head for the surface. There isn't much along the way that you can't easily vanquish by now, so it's a fairly easy trek. When you do emerge, you find yourself deep in the Westward Mountain range. A long, winding path leads down into a valley below. You can just make out a few distant buildings and a lake at the very bottom.

As you take your first step out into the sunlight, its warmth upon your cheek is unexpectedly pleasant. Your companions on the other hand seem to have mixed feelings about it. The crossbow skeleton will only venture out under your direct order and seems to suffer various penalties while the giant vampire bats (you've dominated quite a few of them) actually take damage in direct sunlight.

In the end you decide that even if you did wait until nightfall these creatures would simply be too conspicuous to take. You release the bats and they immediately fly back into the caverns. Then you turn to the skeleton.

"I'll actually be sad to see you go. Keep the crossbow. It's the least I can do," you say and release it.

You had been fearful the creature would turn on you and that you'd be **** to destroy it. But instead, the skeleton shoulders the crossbow and gives you a crisp salute. You return it and the skeleton turns and marches back into the depths. Under your command, it had somehow leveled alongside you. How that happened and weather it will continue to be able to collect XP without you, you can only wonder about.

"As for you two," you say and unsummon your skeleton companions.

Now with just Abby in tow, you head down the path. In time it begins to straighten out and widen into a passable road. You continue to follow it for some time until your progress is barred by a dozen men in leather armor, carrying swords and bows.

"Brigands," you say under your breath.

"Greetings travelers!" one of them says, approaching. "I guess you didn't know it but this is a toll road. Now, why don't you just hand over your valuables?"

Obviously this blowhard is some sort of mini boss.

"I think not," you say.

"Eh, can't say it's totally unexpected. Alright boys, you know the-," he says until you interrupt him.

"I'll make you a deal. Serve me from this day forward and not only will I let you live, but I'll bring you glory far greater than this pitiful existence," you say.

"You'll let us live? Hah! That's tough talk for one man," the brigand says and spits.

You pass your staff to your left hand and hold out your right. In it, a Dark Orb begins to form.

"This is Lord Vader, you fool! Do not take his words lightly," Abby hisses.

While Abby distracts them, you continue to feed it mana.

"Vader? Never heard of- Ahhh!" the brigand cries out in agony as the Dark Orb crashes into his chest.

Onyx lightning bolts ark out, killing two others. To make matters worse for the hapless highwaymen, a pair of armored figures appear amongst their ranks. With ruthless efficiency they begin swinging their two-handed swords, chopping men down.

One bandit breaks free from the chaos and comes running at you, sword held high.

"Dominate," you cast.

He stumbles and falls to his knees, dropping his sword. Gritting his teeth, he looks up at you. He's just about to rise, when a buxom female brigand rushes over and falls to her knees beside him.

"Please spare us, Lord Vader! We had no idea your power," she pleads.

"And if I do?" you ask.

"We'll serve you," she answers.

You raise a hand and the skeletons cease their slaughter.

"You speak for all of them?" you ask.

"Yes sir," she says.

"The hell you do!" the man next to her barks.

She immediately backhands him with her gauntlet. A bloody spray errupts and he is sufficiently subdued.

"Let my men live, and agree to bring us this glory you spoke of, and we will serve as your faithful honor guard," she says, rising to one knee.

"Very well. You may start by showing me the way to your hideout. Abby, heal those who need it the most," you say.

"You heard our new leader! To the hideout," she yells.

The remaining six brigands look at each other nervously but sheath their swords and allow Abby to heal them. You order the skeletons to follow them but at comfortable distance as they prepare to depart. You allow them to travel on ahead, out of earshot.

Now that the immediate threat has been delt with, you take a moment to look over your new ally. She's an inch or two shorter than Abby but more toned, with tan skin and medium length red hair. She wears a simple black leather chest plate, with matching gauntles, and greaves. On her hip she carries a short sword and a long dagger which you suspect she can be quite deadly with.

"Watch out, Master. I don't trust her," Abby whispers.

You shrug. She is a brigand after all.

"What is your name, girl?" you ask.

"Leia," she responds, coming to what you suppose a brigand would consider attention.

"Very well, Leia. Dominate," you cast.

"What- what the hells...," she says drawing her dagger but stumbling as the spell disorients her.

"I demand loyalty of my captains. And I know no better way to ensure that than this," you explain. "Dominate."

Again it fails.

"Resist and I'll be **** to destroy you, Leia," you say as she looks up at you, having fallen to a knee.

"Please don't-," she begs.

"Dominate!" you cast yet again.

And like that, she becomes your faithful puppet.

"Master," she says, rising to her feet.

"Have I allayed your fears, my dear?" you ask over your shoulder with a grin.

"Is it bad that you care me a little bit?" Master.

Just then, one of the other brigands comes running back.

"Leia, are you okay? I heard you scream," he says, drawing his sword.

You see a fire burning in your new captain's eyes as she turns to face him. "No, I'm not okay. Our glorious master has ordered that we march to our hideout. But instead, one of my own men has decided to run around waiving his sword like some twit, making it look like I can't keep order in the ranks!"

"S- sorry m- ma'am," he stutters, struggling to resheath his trembling sword.

"So tell me Leia, how many more men do you have back at your hideout?" you ask, walking beside her.

"Another dozen, Lord," she replies.

"And how difficult will it be to recruit them as well?" you ask.

"Difficult? Pshaw! Boki might have been our leader, but I was the one that kept everyone in line. If I follow you, they'll follow you," she says confidently.

"Good. When we arrive I want a private place where the three of us can rest and plan our next move," you order.

"Of course," she answers.

The brigands eventually lead you off on a side trail which leads back up into the mountains. All the while, Abby is uncharacteristically silent. You decide to leave it alone for now. In time you come to a small clearing filled with stone ruins. Eight or nine large tents have been set up amongst the crumbling structures. Barrels, crates, and a few wagons litter the camp with no particular attention paid to organization.

"So this is it?" you ask, unimpressed.

"Yes, sir. I've already sent word to have a tent specially prepared for you. It was Boki's," she says, leading the way.

"You didn't like Boki, did you?" you ask.

"No lord. He always thought too small. This here, this was it for him. For some reason he could never leave these mountains. But I can tell you have much more in mind," she says, holding the tent flap open so that you may enter.

For a brigand's tent, it's actually quite comfortable looking on the inside. The center is occupied by a large red and gold rug with an equally large bed covered in pillows of blue and purple.

"I had them change the linen, too," Leia adds.

"This will do. Station a guard and inform him that we are not to be disturbed. In the meantime, I want the wagons packed and made ready to move. We leave first thing in the morning," you tell her.

Leia disappears out the tent to make the arrangements.