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The Greater Apotheosis of Ainz Ooal Gown

Book : Consolidating Power

Chapter 1: Peaceful Coexistence

Beta:


Ever since the Supreme One, Lord Ainz Ooal Gown, had defeated the coalition of evil gods who dared invade Felmid and firmly established himself as the new rising power in Realmspace, the great one and his subjects had been busy consolidating his power. Demiurge, 7th Floor of the Great Tomb of Nazarick and Felmidian god of cunning and strategy, was no exception. As befit his new portfolio, the diabolic evil god focused his attention on strengthening Nazarick's ability to formulate plans against their potential enemies and this required intelligence on said future foes.

To that effect he'd set up various labs, that he'd taken to calling Menageries, to study the new reality's native flora and fauna. Demiurge had originally planned to set up Menageries across Realmspace but unfortunately due to Lord Ao's edict limiting Lord Ainz's realm of influence, besides a handful of locations outside Laerakond that he had been able to negotiate with the local powers to gain exceptions, his efforts had been largely limited to the continent on Toril that had been handed over to the Supreme One.

He was thus determined to make the most of it, to make up somewhat for the limits imposed on him. He thus took regular tours of the facilities to ensure that they were operating at their maximum efficiency. It was one such tour that brought the god of Nazarick to the Dragon Sea Menagerie.

Said facility was an underwater city made of coral and salvaged shipwrecks built into the former lair of a Kraken which Demiurge's forces killed and whose former owner had become the Menagerie's prized specimen. Staffed mainly by Felmidian mermen and with an attached infiltration unit of Doppelgängers, the base was located roughly equidistant from the five Dusk Ports.

Seated in the office of the Director located in the deepest portions of the Menagerie, Demiurge sat across from the head of local operations as he quizzed him on his progress.

"Mirelurk, how goes our infiltration of these so-called Dusk Ports," Demiurge asked the Menagerie's Director, a Felmidian merman with an overall humanoid appearance, fins that grew all over its body and slimy skin that prevented it from drying out if exposed to the sun.

Unlike the merman of Toril, Felmidian mermen took on different forms in accordance to the racial and job classes they took under the YGGDRASIL system. This differentiation allowed their bodies to become better adapted to their tasks but also had the minor downside of making them quite heterogeneous in appearance as a race. Mirelurk, for example, was a commander type hence his humanoid appearance whilst his specialty in amphibious operations had caused him to appear less fish-like and more frog-like.

"It proceeds apace," the amphibious creature said with a surprisingly cultured voice for his rather bestial appearance. "We should be in a position to acquire practically all intelligence flowing through the cities by the end of the month. Though if we intend to wholly subvert the cities to our cause, it'll take considerably longer."

"That won't be necessary." Demiurge told him with a wave of his hand. "Lord Ainz has no intention of claiming lands if he does not have to. Simply focus your efforts on intelligence gathering."

"As you command, my lord."

"Now then, how goes the collection and study of local flora and fauna?"

"We have finished cataloguing that of the immediate area though that does not say much."

"Oh? What do you mean?" Demiurge asked, feigning curiosity despite already knowing the answer.

If the subordinate he'd poached from Merwyrm sensed his deception he made no mention of it and simply proceeded to dutifully explain. "It was the Kraken, Lord Demiurge. It had laired here for centuries before we took it over and in that time managed to drive away much of the local wildlife. We'll have to go further afield to acquire useful specimens."

"A shame." Demiurge said with a genuine shake of his head. "But one that we counted on when we chose to evict the Kraken in the first place. On that note, have we learned anything worthwhile from its corpse yet?"

"Nothing of particular note, though we are making progress on deciphering the means by which it is able to conjure lightning storms."

"It is not magic or a skill?" Demiurge asked curiously. He'd presumed as such.

"It is, however, there appears to be a biological component to it as well. If we can decipher it, we might be able to duplicate the effect in some fashion. My artificers have suggested the possibility of lightning cannons."

"Fascinating." The devil god said with a genuine smile. The joy he felt at the thought of Lord Ainz's armies equipped with such weapons and the mayhem they would unleash on the Supreme One's foes was simply too great to suppress. "Devote as much resources as you need on that project."

"It will be done, my Lord." Mirelurk said with a polite nod.

"It seems you are doing well, Mirelurk." Demiurge said as he stood and his subordinate hurriedly followed suit. "Keep up the good work."

"I will, my Lord." The merman said with a deep bow.

"Then till next time."

With that farewell, he teleported away to the next destination of his tour.


"Lord Demiurge!" A lanky Twisted Warforged cried out in surprise as Demiurge teleported directly into his office inside the protective dome of heavily enchanted glass that was the Glaur Barrens Menagerie, located amidst the broken landscape of the plaguelands that the region had become with its floating chunks of earth known locally as earthmotes, mutable, boiling mud, immense zones of blue fire and a luminous, liquid blue fog that shrouded the whole area.

"Greetings Director Clockwerk." Demiurge said pleasantly as he gestured to his subordinate to dispense with the formal bow that the construct had half risen out of his chair to offer him. "I suppose you know why I am here?"

"To check on my progress?" The mechanical man asked rhetorically as he sank back into his seat behind the long metal desk that dominated his office. "You are conducting a tour of the Menageries?"

"Mirelurk sent word ahead?"

"Yes, my lord! All the Directors await your august presence."

"Do they now?" Demiurge said with a dark smirk that had Clockwerk shifting uneasily in his seat. The god of cunning had no ill intent towards his subordinates, but keeping them on their toes with subtle threats like this was always a good idea. That watching them squirm was thoroughly enjoyable was just a bonus.

"So," the Devil god said after a full minute of letting Clockwerk stew anxiously. "How goes the study of these strange lands you've been assigned? Recovered any artifacts of the Dawn Titan Nehushta which once ruled the area?"

"The surveys of the area is slow going, my Lord. The land keeps changing on us." Clockwerk confessed and paused waiting for a reply but Demiurge just waved at him to continue. "But we've at least began to understand the logic, such as it is, behind the changes."

"That is good. And the artifact recovery?"

"Only a handful of minor trinkets so far." Clockwerk said with a frown. "And I'm sorry to say that it's likely that we'll never find anything useful. Any such artifact has either already been plundered or destroyed by the effects the Spellplague had on this land."

"Unfortunate but expected." Demiurge said with a nod. "Moving on then. How goes the infiltration of the neighboring kingdom. Gonzel, was it?"

"Gontal, my Lord." Clockwerk corrected, earning a pleased smile from Demiurge. He'd made the mistake on purpose of course. It wouldn't do for one of his subordinates to be so cowed by him that they were unwilling to point out any mistakes he made. Such was the advice of the flawless Lord Ainz himself and Demiurge had taken it deeply to heart.

"Yes Gontal. So how goes your efforts?"

"Well, my Lord." The Twisted Warforged informed him with a grin. "Our Doppelgängers have successfully inserted themselves throughout the households of the nobility, even the highest ranking Twelvefold noble families."

Demiurge eyed his creation curiously as he watched with pleasure at Clockwerk's impressive expressiveness. All Twisted Warforged were his creatures, having been built and animated using techniques the god of cunning had learned from the study of a contingent of Warforged attempting to sail to the Dusk Ports aboard a Lantanese trade vessel and that his forces had discovered while setting up the Dragon Sea Menagerie. As such, he took great pride at every sign that they were as good as he hoped even in something as small as their ability to produce a passably Human facial expression.

"And the more long term plans?" Demiurge asked, letting none of his pride in his creation show.

The construct's grin just grew even broader. "Our takeover of the lesser noble houses proceeds well. If all goes well, our Doppelgängers will soon be in a position to marry into the Twelvefold in a few years and from there complete their subversion."

"And the Queen?"

"As you ordered, except for a handful of spies among her household we've limited our infiltration in regards to the royal family so to minimize the chance of her becoming aware of our efforts. Though I must ask, is that truly necessary my Lord?"

"Imreera Hethkantan is wily for a Human." Demiurge said with a shrug. "It would be wise to be cautious when dealing with her. Keep that in mind as you continue your efforts to sow dissent in her kingdom."

"Yes, my lord. And once we have driven Gontal to the brink, what then?"

"I have several plans." Demiurge admitted with a shrug. "We shall observe the exact circumstances at the time and choose which one to employ. Overall though, they will all serve to drive Gontal and its people into the embrace of the Supreme One."

"I look forward to the day the fools embrace the Bone Father."

Demiurge just nodded. He never did like the title that the Felmidians had bestowed on Lord Ainz. It was fitting yes, but he personally still preferred simply calling him the Supreme One. That said, Lord Ainz seemed to quite like the new title so Demiurge had kept the opinion to himself.

"Then work hard to bring that day closer to fruition, Clockwerk." Demiurge said as he stood.

"I will, my Lord." The Twisted Warforged said as he stood as well."

"Then I shall move on confident in your diligence, my creation." Demiurge told his subordinate.

"You honor me," the construct said with a bow only to raise and see his god had already departed.


Half-buried and its surface side structures entirely overgrown with plants was the Melabrauth Menagerie which catalogued the many and varied monsters and plants of the so-called Jungle Empire. Demiurge had limited interest in the site, seeing as the region's ruler, the dracolich Melauthaur, had not allowed the development of anything resembling settlements there was simply not much that he felt was worth studying in the area. That was not to say it was entirely worthless however.

"And this is the latest shipment of plants and fauna being sent to Aura, Mare and Melwood?" Demiurge asked the facility's Director, a Felmidian Treant that looked liked a fusion of a skeletal mage and an animated tree, as they stood on a catwalk overlooking a large Gate portal through which dozens of large crates full of specimens were being carried to Felmid by the Menagerie's treefolk staff.

"Yes my lord," Poison Ivy, the Director, replied. "As you commanded, we have been following the directives of Lords Mare and Melwood on what plants to collect and Lady Aura on which beasts to acquire."

"And they have been satisfied?"

"I have received no complaints."

"And you have managed to avoid detection by the Dragons?"

"For the most part," the Treant said with a nervous shuffling of its feet. "We've lost some teams but all indications are that the Dragons believe us to be little more than new things to hunt."

"They tend towards overconfidence like that." Demiurge agreed, even as he furrowed his brows in annoyance. The fool allowing her teams to be discovered by the Dragons could jeopardize their whole operation! That said, it did not seem that the situation was quite as dire as all that, so he reined his anger in as he replied. "But we should not follow in their footsteps. Be more careful."

"I will, my Lord." The Treant said, bowing low in apology.

"Do that," Demiurge said curtly before teleporting away and thus making his displeasure abundantly clear.


"Any differences with our own giants?" Demiurge asked as he appeared next to the humanoid creature made of basalt rock that was the earth elemental Pahoehoe that served as the Director of the fortress carved into the very sides of one of the Howling Mountains that was the region's Menagerie.

"They are entirely creatures of flesh and blood." Pahoehoe replied as he gestured to the corpse of a Giant that his fellow earth elementals and subordinates were dissecting in a large chamber his office overlooked. "Our Giants are partially elementals. The magic of the elements flows through their very veins."

"Disappointing." Demiurge said with a frown.

"Indeed, my Lord."

"Are the Orcs, Dwarves and other locals of the area more promising?"

"Biologically no." Pahoehoe said, before pausing significantly.

"But?" Demiurge asked, playing along.

"They are all scattered and isolated. Furthermore, our Doppelgängers report many are desperate and barely clinging to survival."

"Perfect fodder for someone who seeks to convert them to their faith and service." Demiurge observed. "You think this will be fertile ground to plant the seed of the Supreme One's faith?"

"I do." Pahoehoe agreed. "It is no surprise that Lord Ainz chose to make the avatar chosen to found his following in the image of one of the Humans of these mountains."

"There is truth there." Demiurge agreed. He had not seriously considered the reason behind that choice but now that Pahoehoe was pointing it out to him, it seemed obvious. "Very well. I shall make arrangements to have priests dispatched from Felmid to you. Deploy them as you see fit and convert these heathens to the proper faith."

"Lady Neia is unavailable?" Pahoehoe asked, blinking in surprise.

"The Supreme One has sent her to liberate and minister to the slaves of the Underdark." Demiurge informed him apologetically.

"Then the duty to convert Fimbrul falls to me. I shall not fail."

"I trust that you will not." The devil said with a nod of satisfaction before teleporting away.


"And expansion into the Underdark under Eskorn goes well?" Demiurge asked Gorzoth, the Abyssal Lord in charge of the Menagerie responsible for the Laerakond Underdark. The network of tunnels and caverns was too vast for a single facility to manage alone, so unlike the other Menageries Gorzoth's was not one base but rather a network of smaller outposts.

"The region is dominated by the generally pacifist Myconids so we have encountered little resistance there." His fellow Devil informed Demiurge as they sat across from each other in the Abyssal Lord's office in the human styled manor house he used as the administrative building set up in the center of the domed structure of his base of operations.

"Yet, in your last report you reported growing resistance to your expansion efforts."

"It is the Drow, my Lord." Gorzoth explained. "They have been aggressively expanding into Laerakond since the Spellplague deposited the continent on Toril and have not taken kindly to our own efforts to secure a place for ourselves in the local Underdark. They have been launching hit and run attacks of our forces. Last report they were focusing on Eskron."

"And now?"

"They have shifted their attention to the Relamur region."

"Frustrating, I'm sure." Demiurge said with a smirk. "But worry not, Lord Ainz has plans for dealing with slavers like the Drow."

"I see." Gorzoth said with a bloodthirsty grin. "I look forward to seeing his Chosen in action."

"As am I." Demiurge allowed. "But that'll have to wait. We still have business to conclude."

"Of course, my lord. You have new orders for me?"

"Yes," Demiurge nodded. "I want you to take over command of the doppelgänger infiltrators already deployed into Relmaur. With the kingdom's largely subterranean nature and close proximity to your own base of operations, I've decided there is no need for a separate facility."

"I obey, my Lord." The Abyssal Lord said with a deferential bow.

"You don't seem surprised."

"I had expected as much." Gorzoth admitted.

"Is that so? Then did you expect that I would give you command of the Skelkor infiltration unit as well?"

Gorzoth blinked in surprise for a moment before shaking his head. "Skelkor as well, my Lord? Wouldn't it benefit from a dedicated Menagerie of its own? It is a large and rich empire in its own right after all."

"Normally yes, but the Supreme One has plans for the so-called most powerful Dragon empire of Laerakond and personally told me that there would be no need for a Menagerie there."

Both Devils exchange knowing grins at that. Whatever plans Lord Ainz had for Skelkor it would surely be glorious to behold.


It was still riding the high of expectation for what his Lord would have in store for Skelkor that Demiurge materialized in inside the large, seemingly abandoned castle of the rather primitive style used by the local Humans that hid the Eskorn Menagerie.

"Greetings Lord Demiurge," a Momon in the guise of a blonde with clear purple eyes that looked like amethysts said as he stood from the throne at the head of the long table of the conference room in which the god of cunning had appeared and fell to one knee before him.

"Rise Director Jircniv." Demiurge told the undead Director of the Eskorn Menagerie. "You know why I have come?"

"Yes, my Lord. My men," here Jircniv indicated the various Momons and Doppelgängers standing by the various chairs of the conference table. All of them naturally appearing human so as to blend in with the inhabitants of Eskorn and the neighboring Sword Lands which also came under the jurisdiction of their Menagerie. "And I was just consolidating a report on our progress."

"Very good." Demiurge said with pleasure. "How efficient. I look forward to reading that report, but for now, give me a one line summary for your progress towards the total subversion of the ruling classes of both regions?"

This was supposedly a management trick that the Supreme Beings used to check on the efforts of their subordinates back in the other worlds they inhabited. Whilst it did not give one a very detailed image of what was going on, it did give one a glimpse into the subordinate's perception of things. Combine that with a detailed report, it gave great insight into the matter. Truly a marvelous invention, as expected of the Supreme Ones.

"One line, my lord?"

"Yes Jircniv. Just one line."

"Hmm. If so, then," the Momon said ponderingly before he nodded and delivered his summary. "We should have completely replaced the entire ruling class of both regions with our agents by the end of the decade."

"So soon?" Demiurge asked sarcastically.

"It cannot be helped, my Lord. As you commanded, we are exercising extreme caution, my Lord." Jircniv said apologetically.

"That is a priority." The devil god allowed. "We want the transition to our Lord's rule to be as smooth as possible."

"My Lord, if you would pardon me might I ask why we wish to behave so aggressively here? I understand that Clockwerk's efforts in Gontal are similar to ours but geared towards creating anarchy. Why are we seeking the take over of Eskorn and the Sword Lands?"

"Because you border Skelkor." Demiurge told him with a shrug. "And Lord Ainz has plans for that place."

Jircniv's eyes widened as he realized just what Demiurge was implying.

"I understand, my Lord." The Momon masquerading as a local lord said with a feverish determination in his eyes. "I will not fail the Bone Father."

"I have faith that you will not." Demiurge told the undead creature as he teleported away to his next destination.


Said destination was a new, well supported trading company located in the city of Imdolphyn that functioned as the primary front for the Menagerie of the Windrise Ports. Staffed entirely by Doppelgängers, the Menagerie was given a surprisingly benign remit in addition to its standard orders to collect noteworthy specimens of local plant and fauna. It was to use the considerable wealth of Felmid and Nazarick to subtly transform Imdolphyn not only the premiere port in Laerakond but in all of Toril so as to allow it to be used as a vector by which to spread the divine word of Lord Ainz.

"And how have the seas been treating our ships?" Demiurge asked the Greater Doppelgänger named Osk that was the Director of the Windrise Ports Menagerie. "Any mishaps?"

"Not as of yet, my Lord." The Director said whilst wearing the guise of a stout-bodied merchant, with hair cut so short that one could see his scalp. "The sea and winds have been kind so far. Though that might be because we have yet to launch any truly dangerous expeditions."

By that Osk meant the planned expeditions to the other continents of Toril. Whilst their little trading company front, rather amusingly named the Menagerie Trading Company, had more than enough capital to launch such ambitious expeditions - They had the wealth of all Felmid at their back after all - it would simply be too suspicious to do so. A new upcoming trading firm backed by mysterious anonymous wealthy investors raised enough eyebrows already, but one which proceeded to immediately embark on costly and risky trade missions? That would get too much attention. As such, they'd had to bide their time and establish themselves more conventionally first before carrying out the full extent of their plans.

Besides, they had plenty of time. The Supreme One's faith had not germinated yet and if the Menagerie Trading Company was to serve as its vehicle to distaff lands then they needed to wait for the tree to start bearing fruit before they could proceed.

"And has anyone been asking questions as to your backers?" Demiurge asked, redirecting the question.

"Some." Osk acknowledged. "There are many who suspect we are simply spies."

"Were they dissuaded by the backstory we concocted?"

"It has deflected most." Osk allowed. "Apparently they find that we are founded by a group of former adventurers from Faerûn surprisingly believable."

"As Lord Ainz predicted they would."

"He did?" Oska asked, his eyes widening in surprise.

"Indeed. In fact, the Supreme One produced the general outline of the story itself. Even those props you use," Demiurge said gesturing to a host of old weapons and armor that decorated Osk's office inside the trading house they'd rented for their operations. "Are from his collection."

Lord Ainz had declared they were trash items and wastes of space in his inventory, but Osk doesn't need to know that. Demiurge thought to himself. Besides, they might indeed be those to the Supreme One but to us...

"I did not realize." The Greater Doppelgänger said as he looked at the various items reverentially. "If I had known-"

"You would treat them like sacred objects." Demiurge said knowingly. "Which is what they are, but doing so would undermine your efforts at deception."

"Then why tell me now, my Lord?" Osk asked, tearing his eyes away from the gifts from Lord Ainz.

"Because you've proven your ability. In the month or so that your Menagerie has been in operation, it has been the most successful of them all. Admittedly, the others have been busy setting up shop and have more secondary objectives than you do. However, your success cannot be overlooked. Hence, I decided to tell you the truth and impart to you the understanding of just how highly the Supreme One values your operation."

"He would not give us such treasures if he did not feel it was essential that we succeed."

"Exactly." Demiurge told his subordinate. "So do not fail, Lord Ainz."

"On his sacred name, I swear that I will not." Osk replied solemnly.

"I will hold you to that oath."


Demiurge's last destination was outside Laerakond and one of the few Menageries he's set up on the continent of Faerûn. Specifically it was located in the Ride, the open steppe land situated between the Dragonspine Mountains, the Border Forest and the Gray Land of Thar. Just establishing this base was difficult and he'd only been able to do so because the land of cold plains was partially inhabited the Vaegould who worshiped of the primordials among whom they now rightfully counted Lord Ainz. Even then this Menagerie was meager at best compared to the others, being a collection of tents and manned by a small handful of Slivers, Momons and the latter's lesser undead servitors. It was supposed to be so much more but work in building a proper base had been slow.

"Lord Demiurge," the site's Director, a Momon whose human form was that of giant, bald man with half of his face and body covered with tattoos of various beasts, said as he walked over to greet him. "It is a pleasure to see you here."

"Save the pleasantries Zero." Demiurge told the man as he walked around the site and observed the limited progress in laying the foundation for a more permanent base. "I see construction has not been going well."

"Unfortunately not, my Lord." Zero confessed. "The attacks from the local tribes have been hampering our efforts."

"And the Vaegould have been unable to force their fellows to stay away?"

"They have tried but they lack the manpower to face the many tribes against our presence here. We've been forced to send some of our troops to aid them and in so doing-"

"Draw down your available manpower for the construction. I see." Demiurge noted with a frown. "This is problematic. I suppose we have no choice but to deploy more troops from Felmid and reinforce the Vaegould. Only then will our operations here be safe."

"You're a fool to believe that," a rasping voice said suddenly from their right.

Zero spun to its source in a combat stance and the Menagerie's other staff all stopped what they were doing to likewise tense for a fight. Demiurge in contrast just turned to the Lich avatar of the Archlich Vecna with a raised eyebrow.

"What pray tell are you doing here, Vecna?" Demiurge asked his fellow god.

"To register my complaint." Said the god wearing the avatar of a one eyed gaunt husk of a man with weathered skin pulled taut against his skeletal frame. He was dressed in tattered velvet robes with gold trim and was adorned with lavish gems, baubles and other jewelry.

"That we are operating outside Laerakond?"

"Hardly." The Lich said with a shake of its head. "If you had violated Lord Ao's edict in regards to your area of operation, he'd have intervened against you already. As an Interloper God I know how strict he can be about these things."

"Then what is your complaint?"

"One of my portfolios is Hidden Knowledge, did you know that?" Vecna asked, almost conversationally.

"Ah!"

"So you see the problem?"

"You are upset that we are seeking to unravel the secrets of Creation with our efforts?"

"Indeed."

"And what do you want us to do about it?"

"Stop?" Vecna suggested hopefully.

"I'm afraid I cannot do that." Demiurge said as he began summoning his Devilish hordes from Nazarick and Felmid to his side. God though he was now, he was originally created as a commander type and knew he could not stand alone against another god. Especially one of a higher level of power than himself.

"You're not the only one with an army, boy." Vecna said with a roll of his lone pale blue eye even as a horde of undead equal to Demiurge's own fiendish host appeared as if out of nowhere.

"It would appear so," the Devil god agreed with a frown. "Though I have my doubts that battle is a good way to settle our differences."

"It's how it's usually done." Vecna said with a shrug.

"And if I know a better way?"

"And what's that?" Vecna asked skeptically.

"Let us dismiss our armies and I'll show you."

"You first."

"Gladly." Demiurge said with a nod as he began dismissing his troops back to Felmid, followed a shocked moment later by Vecna sending his own undead legions away.

"So what exactly do you have in mind, young god?" Vecna asked once both their summoned armies were gone.

"Have you heard of chess?"


"Argh! How! How do I keep losing!?" Vecna cursed as Demiurge caught him in checkmate for the sixth time.

"That's six wins for me and none for you." Demiurge declared with a smile at the Lord of the Rotted Tower as he reset the chess set they'd set up inside one of the tents of the Ride's Menagerie that the two gods had been using to play. "In my favor. Do you retract your complaint as we agreed should you lose? Or should we extend this competition further."

"No. I've had enough." The Lich said with a scowl. "You win. I really just wanted to mess with you anyways."

"Is that so?" Demiurge said, raising an eyebrow curiously.

"You and your pantheon are new to Realmspace, did you expect anything less than some resistance from the rest of us old hands?"

"I suppose not," Demiurge said with a sigh. "Though I had hoped after we repulsed the invasion of Felmid that such interference would be kept to a minimum."

"It is. Count yourself lucky that no one has ordered their followers to declare a holy war on you and yours and seek to wipe you off the face of the Realm."

"I would like to see them try." Demiurge said dangerously.

"As would I. The death you and your master would reap on the fools would be glorious."

"And would empower you as well?"

"But of course." Vecna agreed with a smile full of rotted, yellow teeth.

"That said, I am glad we could avoid such an outcome between us."

"Agreed," Vecna said eyeing the chess set between them with amusement. "As frustrating as this game is, it is a so much more civilized way of resolving differences than open war."

"You're just glad you didn't inadvertently offend my master by declaring war on me."

"That too, I suppose." Vecna allowed. "Though I am serious about this game being a good way of settling differences. Perhaps I will use the idea myself. With a unique twist of my own, of course."

"Cursed pieces? Perhaps when a piece is taken, it is removed by the attacking piece by being smashed violently apart by the winning piece? You could tie the pain of the taken pieces to their user as well."

"Devious." Vecna said with a grin. "I like it."

"You flatter me."

"Friends?" Vecna asked suddenly and extending a hand. "I would like brainstorming ideas with you in the future."

"I would like that." Demiurge said as he shook the Maimed God's hand. "Friends."

The nasty grins the two gods exchanged saying more about their newly declared 'friendship' than any words could.


Done!

I hoped you guys liked this look at what Demiurge has been doing while Ainz was sending his avatars/children gallivanting through Laerakond's Underdark. He was setting up the foundations for Nazarick's peaceful coexistence with the people of Toril. Or at least his version of it.

Well, that's it from me this chapter. Till next time kwaheri!