[@Shadow Dragon] [@bloonewb]

Ophion took a look around at the wreckage. 

"We can worry about breaking that down later. We won today, but at what cost? There's no way that the release of [i]this[/i] much necromantic energy doesn't have consequences. At minimum, it may cause the dead to rise in a certain radius. Hmm. There aren't many graveyards or catacombs around here. None that I know of, at least. At worst, this may have weakened the fabric of this plane in a certain area, but what that area is, I can't say. We'll have to be vigilant." He paused for a moment, pondering the implications of the situation.

"Anyway, I can teleport us back now. You can stay with me, but we're going to have to get you a better disguise. Aurescia and I can help you with that. Maybe something a bit more substantial than your illusion? Some real skin on your spirit, perhaps?"

________________________________________________

(Some years later)

Not much of note had happened in the dracon realms, but periods of peace were inevitably calm periods between storms in these lands. Adykon and Aerta kept their farm and continued to have more eggs, all of which hatched. His adult children kept their farms and lives, even having more offspring of their own. Larek, Veax, and Caex grew a bit more distant from Adykon, while Kosjurec and his family visited Adykon every few months.  

Contrary to expectations among many of the dracons, Xigyll not only survived, but grew rapidly from immigration and the kobold's high rate of 'natural increase', so to speak. Much to his frustration, Hekaga's Grand Prince Ternoc was still unable to obtain the title of king, as the other major realms were unwilling to recognize him as such. Hekaga's military was willing to recognize Ternoc as their king, but most of Hekaga's aristocrats and temples, fearing the return of his father's tyranny and wary of inviting the wrath of the other realms, did not recognize him as king. Attempting a coronation ceremony was just too big of a risk. The most Ternoc was able to wear was a coronet indicating a lesser power. 

For his part, the Grand Prince managed Hekaga well; the gates between the city's walled-off districts were indefinitely left open, renovations to the royal palaces and great temple went off more or less on time and within budget, slavery was reduced within the city's limits, although by no means ended, and the city's budget was kept balanced, however precariously. The other seven major cities did very well for themselves, as did the wider kingdoms associated with each. Minbenthac and Naushindcalgoa (Naugoa for short) experienced economic booms due to newly and carefully-written trade deals with each other and the wider world, and Naugoa's overseas trading colonies finally paid off huge dividends when compared to the capital expended to establish them decades or centuries ago. 

Ophion himself had done well during this time, and his store provided more than enough money to pay for any number of experiments, including some which involved Soulcours.

"Soul, can you hand me the nightshade powder? I'm almost done with this one!"