The time had come, after thirteen years of training, Brann was going to take the Overlording trials. With the last breath of the dragon they kept chained up in the forge, he was given armor that was truly befitting of an Overlord. Gnarl wanted to send him out into the frozen wastes in nothing but discount iron, but the priests wouldn't have it. Instead, he walked out of the Netherworld wearing armor the likes of which the world had and never will see again. After long years of trial and error, Giblet had perfected an alloy made from mixing Arcainum and Infernium. Not only making armor and ax that was an intimidating red-tinged black, but was far more robust than either metal alone. His ax was made even more significant by incorporating one of the nightmare staves as the handle. The wood was supposedly cut from a dark magic tree that birthed a nightmare army. It certainly had the evil energy in it to convince Brann that that was true. When he stepped forth from the Netherworld entrance, some minions were waiting for him.

"Here he comes!"

"The master. Oooohh, the master! The master!"

"We'll see!"

"That's correct, Rasp, he must be tested as the beetle is tested by the dung pile!" Said a minion of a darker color than the rest in a jester outfit with a glass eye. Brann simply rolled his eyes at the fool's comment.

"As eloquently put as ever Quaver, now take me to the trials!"

"Follow. Follow." The minions yelled as they ran ahead of him. Gnarl chose this time to communicate his feelings on the matter.

"Those Nordberg winds go right to my nethers, so I'll stay here. Your helmet will allow me to see and hear what you do!"

"Fantastic, because there is no one I would rather have pocking around in my head than you, Gnarl."

"I will wait to berate your lack of respect until you prove yourself our master or not."

"Smart." Brann huffed as he marched on, stopping only when his path was blocked by a giant monster frozen in ice.

"Your first test is a test of strength. Oh, he who would-be-out-true-Overlording-master!" Quaver said as he possed dramatically. Only for Gnarl to then start speaking.

"We managed to find an old friend of yours. He's been, on ice, for quite a while." The elderly minion said with a giggle.

"Oh, ya! I remember you. Welp, better bash my way through!" Brann said as he effortlessly cut through the ice, releasing the Yeti in mear moments. The beast then took its time to start stretching its legs in a clearing further down the path.

"Yetis are relatively gentle creatures, and extremely hardy. Natures training dummies! At your current level, you can bash him around for hours, and he'll hardly feel a thing!"

"Seems rather mean to free him from his imprisonment in the ice just to wallop him... Are we sure this is a test and not recreation?!"

"HA! That's the spirit!" Gnarl laughed as the minions got back into their minion gate, but intentionally kicked Quaver out, mocking him as they did.

"No room, Quaver!"

"Find own pit!"

"Savages! No appreciation of true art!" Ignoring Quaver's plight, Brann extended his will to the minion gate, just as he had practiced for years, and summoned forth a full horde of minions. He could only control fifteen at the moment, but he had a feeling that would change once he had some life force to shove into the helmet.

"Now, it may be indelicate, but use your minions to whack that wall of fur!"

"Whatever you say, Quaver. Rough him up, boys!" The minions charged forth as Brann ordered, as Quaver continued poetically rambling on about the situation.

"The cold chill of fear pierces him like an icicle to the ear lobe! Or maybe it's just indigestion." The moment Brann struck the poor Yeti, breaking his leg free from the ice. It jumped to safety across the chasm.

"Sneaky beast! Find a way for your minions to reach the creature." Without even reacting to Quaver, he willed his minions to break some construction equipment to make a bridge to the beast and attack it.

"The moment the Yeti was tired of getting attacked by minions to smashed open an ice wall and escaped. Quaver took the opportunity to start touting it while it fled.

"Begon, you beast, and make it fast. For if not, we'll kick your aaaaarrrrrrrrrr!" The jester screamed as he fell to into the chasm from getting hit in the face with a snowball.

"Er, Hello? I can't get out. I want to be in the field of battle... The roar of the beasts... the smell of the minions. Hello? Hello? Anyone?" Quaver pleaded as Brann walked out of the cave and into the tundra propper.

"The test target has wandered off! You're going to have to catch up to him in the hunting grounds." He ignored Gnarl as he chased after the Yeti. Brann could see out the corner of his eye, a huge hunting camp, filled with what looked like strong fighters.

"This place is bursting with life force, both the hunters and the hunted. You should gather plenty of it to support the minions needed to build your dark tower."

"Sexual reproduction with the whores, not good enough for you, Gnarl?"

"Don't get me wrong, minion born from sex with human's, demon's, or the occasional female minion born from such processes is all well and good. But nothing builds numbers faster than feeding life force to the minion hive!" Brann simply nodded in agreement. If he would have an army that would rival, or even surpass his father's, he would need to get to work. He soon found himself by the sea. Baby seals were flopping about, looking so disgustingly cute that killing them seemed like a public service.

"Welcome to the test of life force gathering!" Gnarl said as one of the baby seals gobbled up a fish in the presence of the disgusted minions.

"Yuck!"

"Fluffy rats!"

"See! Poor fishy!" The senseless loss of fish life seemed to be enough to drive one of the minions into a murderous rage.

"Die smelly furball!" He screamed as he ran down and splattered the baby seal's brains all over the place, bringing its life force back to Brann.

"Now, the hunt begins! Show 'em who's top of the food chain!"

"Have some minions come to collect the seal bodies when I'm done, Gnarl. Tonight, we eat meat!" Brann said as he personally lead the slaughter. While he was butchering babies, a minion burst forth from the ground. Behind him, a minion gate popped up.

"Brown minion gate for master!" He screamed, looking rather proud of himself.

"Ah, there you are! This is Grubby, sire. He's a minion digger. Diggers can tunnel out of the Netherworld and create minion gates in certain areas. They're drawn to your presence like flies to a festering corpse, ahhh!" Brann nodded and then got back to the task at hand, cutting up baby seals while his minions clubbed them to death. A roar from the Yeti let him know that this behavior would not go unchallenged.

"Seems the Yeti is rather fond of those disgusting balls of fluff! You better find a way of discouraging him. Ah, you can put your training into practice. Make sure you gather all the life force in the area!"

"I know just how to get the fucker off my back!" Brann said as he lifted his magic-using hand, and sent a blast of pure arcane energy right into the Yeti's eye. By the time it recovered from that, all the baby seals were dead. Their bodies recovered and taken back to the Netherworld for later consumption. The beasts then busted down another ice wall and wandered off, until it bumped into a hunter and just stared at him while he raised his hand to attack him. The hunter stopped mid-swing when he spotted Brann.

"Hey, where did you come from? I gotta permit from the empire to hunt on these lands. This is my Yeti, I saw it first, get lost!"

"By all means, but I think you will find that your permit will be toilet paper by the end of the week."

"Whatever, loser!" The hunter said as he struck the Yeti with his club, that was a mistake. The monster then smacked the hunter so hard he went flying off into the distance. The Yeti then ran off. While pursuing it, Brann saw a small island with a peace sign flag in the middle of it, baby seals crawling all over the spit of land.

"Look at all that lovely life force. Hmmm, find a way to get to that area!"

"Don't get too used to giving me orders, Gnarl. After this, it will be me ordering you." Brann said as he cut down to adult seals, soon finding that hunter that was sent flying getting disemboweled by a wolf.

"Aw, pretty wolfie!"

"So playful!"

"Me ride wolfie!" The lead minion then ran over and jumped on the back of the wolf, who does not seem to mind. Brann could see that the camp ahead also had wolves, and the Yeti, who was attacking hunters. He soon joined the fry, slaughtering everyone but the wolves and Yeti, who wandered off. While getting his minions mounts, he found a way to that baby seal island and found more trouble.

"What do you think you're doing? Cease this barbaric slaughter at once!" Screamed what looked like an Everlight elf on a boat, bland dreads, and everything. He soon jumped from the ship with a few other warriors and struck a poss.

"I am Florian Greenheart, and these are the soldiers of the Sanctuary, valiant protectors of the Sanctuary's, and all creatures of magic and nature."

"Look, blondie. I don't know if you can see the world around you through that ridiculous hair, but there is nothing to eat around these parts but meat. Should I starve just to satisfy your hippy-dippy sensibilities?"

"Soldiers, stop this savage, protect the fluffy ones!" Brann simply groaned and charged forth, with Gnarl commentating the whole battle.

"Terrible elf... Well, that's what happens when you spend too much time hugging things, sire." Florian managed to flip back onto his ship as his fellow warriors fell before Brann. Forced to impotently watch as he continued his slaughter of the fluffy little bastards. They were sailing away when the blood and gore became too much for him.

"Coward! Face me like a warrior!" Brann yelled at the elf sail out of sight.

"No more life force to gather here. You should move on, sire. Remember that we still need a spell stone to give the Netherworld a magical kick in the pants! Those elves are magical. I wonder if they have something knocking around in their Sanctuary that would do the trick?"

"Any excuse to bash some elvish heads in, right?" Brann then continued to pursue the Yeti, following it through another hunter's camp that he then destroyed. Soon coming up a hill, he spotted a town in the distance, and the memories flooded back.

"Do you remember that place, sire? It's Nordberg, the sleepy, snowy little town that was going to hand you over to the empire!"

"Oh, don't you worry, Gnarl. I remember exactly what they did to me." Brann continued hunting the Yeti down to what looked like a hunter's port. After slaughtering the hunters, he cornered the Yeti on the docks. That is when the elves came by to try and help the Yeti.

"Hmmm, he's not looking too gentle anymore! In fact, he looks rather peeved!"

"Good! I rather he fights back!" Brann charged in attacking the Yeti, dealing minimal damage, but damage all the same. The elves jumping in to attack only made the situation more entertaining.

"You've gone to fare this time, man!"

"Perhaps all he needs is a hug?"

"Try it, knife ear, see what happens!"He yelled at the elf before chopping him in half. Between bouts of the Yeti throwing barrels at him, or elves trying to stab him, the battle did not last very long. The great beast jumped over to a segment part of the dock where Brann could not reach him. That is when Florian decided to step in.

"No! No! Stop this at once! This noble beast belongs with us! Come here, come here, boy! As if we magical folks didn't have enough problems of our own with the empire, without the likes of you trying to expunge us!"

"Hey, I tried to reason with you cunts! But you decided to attack me. Everything I do from here on out is on your head, Greenheart!"

"Silence, murderer! Now let us away. Set sail to the Sanctuary!" The elves jumped back onto their boat and sail away, at which point Gnarl felt like giving his unwanted opinions.

"We should fallow them, sire. If only we had the swimming abilities of the blue minions. Aw, well, looks like we're going to have to find another way to that Sanctuary of theirs." Brann simply nodded and moved on, soon coming across an odd sight, a large patch of stumps where trees should have been.

"Were trees gone?" One minion pondered.

"Looks like someone has been logging the area, Gloob. I wonder why?"

"Well, why don't we politely ask these nice imperial troops?" Brann sarcastically jested as he charged the legionaries. After butchering them to the last, they soon found that the wolves didn't want to get too close to the fires.

"Get some snow on those fires, boys!" We don't want to make the wolves sad, do we?" The minions did as they were commanded, and then they descended into the cave. The deeper they got, the warmer it got, allowing more green to grow around than average. Soon Brann came upon some more empire soldiers, accompanied by a robust legit and the even fatter governor Borius, gathered around a stone ring glowing with magical energy.

"Do hurry up. I have a hot oil bath and a large plate of quails eyeballs to attend to!"

"Of course, Broius. I thought you would like to meet some of the brave men who-." Brann wasted no time charging down and attacking, killing the legit himself, and having his minions kill the soldiers.

"Hello, Borius. Small world running into you here."

"I-I-I don't know who you are, barbarian... Bu-But if it's coin you and your demons are after-"

"No, nothing as clean as that. Kill him, but save the head, I have a good idea on how to use it later!" The imperial governor screamed like a little girl as he was torn apart by wolves, but to be fair, he was being torn apart by wolves.

"Today was certainly eventful! Not only have you claimed a spell stone, that magical device will unlock your magical potential even more, sire. Find an area for grubby to set up a tower gate and get it back to the Netherworld!"

"Sure thing, Gnarl." Willing some minions to start carrying it, Brann continued deeper into the cave. Soon he found what was unmistakably elvish architecture. When he moved over to the bridge to investigate, he was greeted by a blue woman with roots for legs, leaf wings, and antennas that looked like a crown.

"Welcome to the Sanctuary, creature of magic." She said in a soft, sultry voice. Then the familiar, annoying voice of Greenheart was heard next.

"No! Do not let this barbarian in dryad. He is an enemy to all that is fluffy and adorable, like this poor fellow here."

"YOU'RE THE ONE WHO ATTACKED ME!" The dryad then grew a barrier of roots to keep Brann out; he simply turned around and left. Close by he found a shard of black stone sticking out of the ground.

"This looks like a shard of Netherworld rock! Perhaps it will become active once the Netherworld has accepted you as it's true, Overlord."

"Just another thing to look forward to." Brann said as he moved outside of the cave. He was stopped by what looked like fuzzy little people in pointy hats on the trail he was walking. They squeaked at him angrily.

"He said that spell stone we stole... Belongs to the gnomes. Er... Now... He's either declaring war... Or he wants to marry you to his pet dormouse."

"I have a sinking feeling that it's the former." Brann said before using a blast of magic to splatter the speaking gnome all over the place. Stomping his way through the vermin, he discovered that they were a good source of life force. Soon he came across yet another cliffside view of his old hometown, but much closer this time.

"Ah, Nordberg. Nearly thirteen winters have passed since you were last there, sire! Soon you will return. Once more on the feasting of midwinters eave, to finish what you've started! Revenge is a dish best served cold... And screaming!" Brann simply nodded. It would be an easier conquest now that he killed Borius. On his way to find a good spot for a gate, he saw what looked like a Nerthworld artifact, grabbing it on his way to. Soon coming across a clearing where some commoners were gathered.

"...And Broius said he wanted stuffed widgeon at the midwinters feast. I said to the wife, what the hell is a widgeon!?"

"Oh, that's posh stuff. I think maybe it's some kinda... small bear?"

"Do you think if we put a wolf skin on a pig, Broius would notice?"

"Well, he eats so fast anyway I'd doubt his eyes have time to focus!"

"Yeah, they'll be no feast for the rest of us! A bigger pain than wolves and Yeties put together."

"Ya, but you know... At least we've got folks watching over us!"

"Watching over us while we starve, you mean!"

Hmmpf, yeah, bet there's no good eaten on a widgeon anyway!" As Brann got closer to the disgruntled peasants, a massive spiky tower gate emerged out of the ground, scaring the fuck out of the people.

"Ah-ha, Grubby has managed to bring up a Netherworld gate, master. This will allow your minions to transfer the spell stone back to the Netherworld." Sending both the artifact and the spell stone back home, the evil claw-shaped Netherworld gate began to erupt and spark with magical power before blasting it all into Brann.

"Look at all that evil energy surging into you, lord. I don't know what spell it has unlocked within you, sire. If you run into some townsfolk, feel free to use them as test subjects!"

"AHW! Run for the gates!" Screamed one of eleven peasants that were nearby, Brann willed his minions to hold them down. One per peasant was enough. He used the knowledge he had gained from the spell stone to cast something on the first man he found. Soon the man was on his knees, Brann ended the spell before it killed him.

"I live to serve you, master!"

"Ah, groveling! Clearly, the stone had unlocked the evil presence spell! They're bound to your will, but if you had held the spell any longer, it would have killed them outright! Enslavement of death, domination or destruction, these are the great Overlording choices sire."

"Mind slaves... Cool." Brann then used his power to enthrall all of the villagers he had found. Only when he had all of them bound to his will did he make his will known.

"Now, my servent's. I want you to go back into town, gather as much information as possible. The number of empire troops, guard rotations, anything that will give me the tactical edge. Be ready to commit sabotage if necessary."

"Yes, one true master!" Brann let his followers go off to do what needed doing, gathering the two other Netherworld artifacts in the area, more villagers guarded one, but they soon became his thralls as well. One increased his health, and the other was an orange pyramid that looked important.

"You found a forge stone, sire! These contain instructions on how to craft new and deadly arms and armor."

"Lovely, returning to the Netherworld now, see you in the flesh soon." Brann stepped onto the gate pad and was teleported down into the Netherworld. Surrounded by both his minions and the knights and priests of the order of the black dragon. The jester was the first to congratulate him.

"The Netherworld has accepted you as its master! I knew it! I knew it!"

"Do calm down, Quaver, we wouldn't want another accident! You are indeed our true Overlord! It's somewhat of a relief, sire... We didn't want to have to bury another candidate." Gnarl said as The knights and the priests got on their knees, and the minions jumped in joy.

"The order of the black dragon recognizes you as the master of this world as well. As the blood of the Infernal Lord courses through your veins, may you to ascend to as great a height as he before you did!" Markus, the high priest, said as the rest of the knights cheered and pledged their agencies to Brann.

"I feel a small poem is called to commemorate the event!" Quavers said in an ever so positive way.

"Feel free to tell everyone about it, Quaver. But I need rest after killing and marching all day."

"Your prived quarters are just up those stairs, master."

"Thank you, Gnarl. Please inform me before letting anyone up to bother me." Brann walked up the stairs and soon found himself in the cavernous chamber set aside for him to sleep in.

"This cavern will be your private quarters, master. It is traditional in Overlording circles to find oneself a mistress, or several! Keep an eye out for a suitable candidate."

"Actually, Gnarl, I think I already have someone in mind..."