Neven glanced over the map briefly. It was satisfactory. Even more pleasing was the grumpy expression on Mictlantecuhtli's face and the knowledge that he was now below them. "Give me a brief summary of my lands. Who dwells there, how many souls am I expected to take care of, what resources are there and shall I face unwanted intrusions?" Neven asked firing off one question after another. He would know all there was to know about his lands or else he would both look and act foolishly. Neither of which were permitted of course.

@Eklispe

Mictlantecuhtli spoke calmly
"All th people that reside in your kingdoms are null. You have those servants that you chose. You decide how many souls you wish to have. I do not know what kind of resources have been given to you and there are no intrusions from the outside of this area. This is a protected area.
Are there any more questions?"

@Aisling

Blake looked over the map as well, and what he saw did not surprise him. Rather, he just looked up towards Mictlantecuhtli, who said he was no longer above him. However, Blake would not feel comfortable until he had his powers returned to him, and would be able to break Mictlantecuhtli like a twig.

"I need more information, Mictlantecuhtli. What do you mean that their the people in our kingdom are null. You do not mean that no is there, do you?"

@Aisling
With a exasperated look, Blake said, "You mean to tell me that the underworld is empty?"

Neven was quite surprised by this turn of events. It was like being a sandbox to play in and having to dig to find the toys. "Fill my kingdom with whoever you want, I'll make them serve me regardless. Anything else we should know or can we get to work?" Neven asked somewhat eager to start in spite of himself.

"I suppose not" she simply agreed, shifting her attention towards the knock on the door, intent on the messenger as he spoke. She was mildly curious, of course, but had no desire to sit in on such deliberations, she would see them soon enough.

"Go on ahead" she called after Neven, with a smile, ushering the maid she'd chosen earlier back into the room as he left.

"Could you draw me a bath dear?" She asked the girl, and without a moment spared the she took off to complete her task. "Also..." Penelope stumbled about the suite for few seconds, locating her things "I'm not sure where my bags were placed, but my robes are in there as well."

The girl appeared in the doorway once more, her gaze slightly averted "Would you have them ironed mam?"

"Please" Penelope answered with a smile once more, looking over the girl more carefully this time. She seemed so young. Maybe around her sisters age, she supposed, with midnight black hair, braided neatly down her back. If she had been dressed differently, she could have passed for any other normal girl her age. But she heard what the Butler said earlier.."we have to name them..? she pondered silently. "How could I be expected to name someone?"

Aimlessly wafting about the room she found herself gazing out of the window, her eyes fixated on the fountain once more. "No..no, I'm sure she had a name..."

"But how does one end up here, if not the way I've come...?"

"Mam, your bath." The girl spoke, startling Penelope from her thoughts.

Almost embarrassed, Penelope shuffled off quickly to enjoy her bath while it was still hot, eager to shed her clothes from the day of travel and lay her mind at ease.

Merrily, Penelope soaks in the bubbly concoction, lightly exchanging words with the girl from across the two rooms, as she gently ironed Penelope's silk gown and robes for the evening.

@Aisling
@Eklispe

Blake was rarely surprised now, but this turn of events had puzzled him. You could not simply make a whole society from scratch, with no point of framework, and expect to adequately outperform your rival.

Blake turned to Neven and said to him, "How many do you think will be appropriate?"

Neven shrugged. "Well if the first batch is free than give me 10,000 males and females. That should be enough for them to thrive. Besides they're tough and adapt easily. If 10,000 is too much even half that much is fine, it'll just take longer. Anything else?"

@Aisling

"Ten-thousand couples?" Blake said. "I lived among the humans long enough that that meager amount is only enough for one of their towns, and a small one at that as well. Yet if that is how it is to be, then give me the same amount, ten-thousand men and ten-thousand women. You say we may choose their occupations, yet I am uncomfortable with such designs. Tell me, before you do anything, are these men and women non-existent at the moment?"