The Dusk Realm- Council Chamber of Castle Gillingman

A motley assortment of demon and daemon lords sat around a great table in Gillingman's feast hall. Naria Zalderos, princess of daemons, sat at the head of the table, watching as the multitude of fell beings took their seats and waited. The meeting she and Gillingman had called would not, of course, go without at least one of the other rulers of the Dusk Realm attempting some sort of coup against her, but Naria was confident that the assembly, for the most part, would go well.

"Thank you all for attending our gathering. What we are here to discuss is the reunification of the Dusk Realm."

Naria continued to speak as the guests gathered in the meeting hall intently listened.

"As you all know, many of the mortal worlds have recently been destroyed by an undead creature called Asaratain."

Though the guests faces remained stoic, Naria was already beginning to assess who suppored her plan, as well as which members called to the gathering did not.

"This leaves the mortals, who have been afflicted with a mass amnesia following the restoration of many of their worlds, effectively out of the picture for a while, and the celestials should be too busy assisting the mortals rebuild to notice our machinations, providing us with the optimal time to re-create our once glorious empire."

"I am aware that many of you do not wish to see the empire rise again. You would prefer to keep your own little sub-kingdoms. You don't wish to bow down before myself and Maleficus. Be aware that I am being gracious in giving you this opportunity to serve us; those who decline to do so will be killed. Your bodies will be given to Gillingman for his experiments, and your souls will be imprisoned within the depths of my castle, being used as nothing but a source of power for it."

Naria coldly glared out at the assembled daemon lords, waiting for one of them to respond.

Raikandos was the first to speak, responding in a meek and compliant tone.

"I mean you no disrespect, princess, but isn't Maleficus dead?"

Naria, anticipating this question, responded swiftly and without a hint of the prior malice in her voice.

"Maleficus is by no means dead. Though many of you received news that he died during the war against the celestials many years ago, I would like to remind you that you were also told that my father and myself died. Maleficus will be returning here in all his glory not too long from now."

Khalrundas nodded in assent to Princess Naria's statement.

"I am very impressed by what I have seen here so far, and my masters are quite likely to offer you're their support. I am curious, however- where are Oorimbar and the Sovereign of Shadows? I thought that they were supposed to be at this meeting."