[color=firebrick][center][img]https://i.imgur.com/liks82d.png[/img]
[h3][color=firebrick]Darc Matter[/color][/h3][/center][/color]
[hr][center]0 / 6 [color=firebrick] Stress [/color][color=darkgray]||[/color] 0 / 9  [color=firebrick]  Wicked XP [/color] [color=darkgray]||[/color] 0 / 3 [color=firebrick] Reckless XP [/color][color=darkgray]||[/color] 1 / 2 [color=firebrick] Dark Hearts [/color][/center]

While his mask stayed in place Darc Matter was looking at Krieg. The brute from the dungeon who somehow managed to escape instead of die fighting. Maybe he was smart, or maybe he was a coward. And now he was being annoying. His size didn't intimidate Darc as he rose to meet his height, his slime-like body enabling him to manipulate his size and shape with ease. Despite his pragmatism telling him to let bygones be bygones, Darc's Big-Mouth just couldn't keep shut (Dark Impulse). [color=firebrick]"My problem is that [i]I[/i] am no mere beast. If you want to roam the wilds, eating grass and banging your head against rocks, that's your prerogative. But if you plan to be [i]more[/i], to be a true [i]Monster Lord[/i], we need to focus on the task at hand!"[/color]

After his little outburst Darc glanced towards the others. They seemed to be distracted or at least not particularly focused on the conversation, so Darc just kept talking. [color=firebrick]"I remember being sent to this area to scout for the old lord. I know there's a few hamlets and remote villages even we four could take on our own. But we need to focus on which one we plan to take over for ourselves so we can gather information and make the preparation we need. Though we aren't dealing with a militia or adventurers, usually these frontier farmers are retired soldiers or at least expect some danger. Even if we manage to take a place for ourselves there's also other monsters in this area who might try and pick a fight with us. But they might also be allies if we want to try and talk to them. Though considering that most of our wealth was left behind at the dungeon I doubt we have anything they want."[/color] Darc returned to the fire, throwing some sticks into the flame to keep it going. He wasn't about to become a servant again, so he was more than willing to start calling the shots if no one else was going to bother taking the lead. And he'd probably still boss people around even if someone did decide to become the leader.

[color=firebrick]"So yeah. We need to decide what sort of base we want! Again, I vote for a workshop or a forge. It doesn't need to be anything too fancy, just somewhere we can gather gear to prepare for bigger raids and jobs. But once we start gathering more resources and minions we ought to be able to expand.[/color] Darc pointed a bony hand over at Zaz'ak, who was muttering something. [color=firebrick]Workshops attract all sorts of monsters, kobolds in particular, so it ought to be easy for Zaz'ak to gather some minions for raids.[/color] Darc turned towards Krieg, still defiant but now cooperative. [color=firebrick]"And better equipment means you'll be more effective in the field of battle, Krieg. Weapons to cleave your enemies, armor to break their blades, all that good stuff.[/color] And finally Darc moved towards the woman dancing around the campfire. Darc didn't dance with her but he at least followed her along. [color=firebrick]"I'm sure that Baganaria dark rituals will also need things that have to be made, so again, a forge will make sure we're able to make whatever we need to fuel out efforts. Iron idols to your dark god for our minions to venerate, effigies and symbols to show the mortals that their gods won't save them in our territory. Very essential stuff."[/color]