With the more serious topics now out of the way, Storm switched to other topics.
"What's the status on the construction efforts?"
"We're still on track, the supplies we managed to get from the gnolls has helped with this and we should be finishing in about a week's time." Explained Grombrim.
Storm nodded his head.
"There is a problem though.
This place is impressive, but was never made with others in mind.
It was designed for dragons and only a small group at that.
If you plan to expand our numbers, then you'll need to find a better location for the hideout. "
"Any leads on where I could find one?" Asked Storm.
Everyone shook their heads.
"Very well, I'll keep an eye open." Replied Storm.
He then turned to Aurora and gestured to Dust'an.
"How's his rehabilitation going?"
"There's.... been a few obstacles. " Aurora replied.
"He tried to eat me yesterday!" Said Augustus.
"It isn't his fault!!
He's spent years living as a feral that had no societal or moral restrictions.
Teaching restraint to a feral is the hardest part of the process!!" Defended Aurora.
Storm sighed.
"We can't have him attacking allies, Aurora. Especially since I'll be bringing in new people soon."
"I'm doing the best I can, all right!!
But the language barrier is a bit of a problem!!
He can't understand any language, so I first have to teach him 'how' to understand me before moving on to the lessons themselves!"
"Is that the problem? I might have a solution for you then."
Storm got up and walked over to Dust'an.
When he was in front of him, Storm reached out with his mind and began transferring information to him.
The feral reeled and held his head while wincing in pain as a stream of words and images flashed thought his mind.
"What did you do to him!?" Asked Aurora.
"I transferred my knowledge about the common tongue directly into his mind. "
....
"What?" Asked Storm.
"You could have done that this whole time!!?" Shouted Aurora.
"I was unconscious, remember?" Replied Storm.
"Still!! Can't you transfer the other things we need to teach him to his mind!!"
Storm shook his head.
"I can transfer the information, yes.
But he would still have no obligations to obey them.
He needs to be taught 'why' we do things the way we do them.
That will require a more 'personal' touch.
Furthermore, any mind can only learn so much facts per day before becoming overloaded.
I fear he's already reached that threshold for the day.
You'll have to go through what I transferred to him and see if he undertood it all.
I only transferred the common tongue to him.
You'll still need to teach him draconic, as well as our values.
I've dug the foundation for you.
Now you must build the rest of it." Explained Storm.
Aurora nodded her head.
"Thank you, Storm.
This should speed things up considerably. "
"I believe this meeting is finished.
You may all return to your duties.
Kalipso! Please stay behind. " called Storm.
Everyone except Kalipso began leaving the study.
As Dust'an reached the threshold of the room, he paused before turning back.
"Th... Thank you." He said.
His speech was hesitant and he seemed to struggle with it, but his meaning was clear.
Storm nodded his head in response.
Once everyone was gone, he turned towards Kalipso.
"You said you knew of potential allies?"
"There are two groups in the area that I can think of that might be willing to join up.
There's a coven of 3 hag sisters that stays not very far from here." Explained Kalipso
Hags were what you get when a fae and a troll had a child together.
Although their true form appeared monstrous, closely resembling trolls.
They were actually kindly and friendly creatures.
They had a strong connection with the forest that they choose to inhabit and used their formidable nature magic (which rivaled those of elves) to tend to and nurture the forest around their dwelling like it was their own personal garden.
In order to avoid confrontation, they took the forms of kindly old human grannies that lived in small houses in the middle of their forest.
There was an unfortunate superstition concerning hags among humans, believing that they stole children and consumed them.
The truth was that although hags do occasionally take in lost children, they don't consume them.
Instead they are raised by the hag as their own child and are even taught nature magic by their adoptive parent.
These children often grow up to become shamen, druids, or hedge witches/warlocks that are more in touch with the natural world as well as the magical creature communities.
Despite their monstrous appearance, hags hated combat.
They were the most skilled healers in the world however and their control over nature could greatly expand the cultivation of food or herbs.
"Hags are non combatants, Kalipso! What makes you think they would even consider joining up with us?!" Asked Storm.
"Times have been growing increasingly dangerous for us all.
I'm sure they would jump at the security siding with you would offer." Replied Kalipso.
"What help could they even offer us? They're not warriors?"
"You need to feed your warriors, don't you? They could expand the yield of your greenhouse considerably, and they're skilled healers too.
You'll definitely find a use for them." Explained Kalipso.
"Fine! I'll consider it!
You said two groups though? Who's the second one?"
"Welll... there's also a enclave of Kitsune that might...." started Kalipso.
"No!!" Interrupted Storm.
"Just hear me out!!"
"Absolutely not!!"
Storm had good reason to refuse the Kitsune's help.
They were a race of magical beast-kin that was infamous even among the magical creatures.
As an all female race, they were unique in that they required other races in order to expand their numbers, with humans being their favored partners.
Lone, or small groups of Kitsune who often poses as an family of sisters, occasionally infiltrate human cities to seek out well connected partners who they can manipulate and get information from.
Once they find a target, they seduce and marry them in order to use this person for whatever scheme the Kitsune has planned.
These unions often produce children, and it has been known that a Kitsune may become attached to their new family.
This occasionally causes an conflict of interest as they are torn between their family or her clan and some Kitsune turn traitorous and sides with their new family.
Occasionally, they manage to turn a partner to their side and once her task is completed, or it becomes time to flee, the husband turns his back on his old race and flees with his spouse and daughter.
They move back to the Kitsune's home village and the husband becomes a member of the community.
This combined with their manipulative streak and their tendency to cause romantic disputes with people already in an relationships, have made them something of a pariah among the magical community.
Storm was not only powerful by being a dragon, he was also well connected.
This would make him quite a desired prize for the Kitsune, and he had no intention of being used in such a way.
"Look!! They're skilled magicians, spies and diplomats!!
And they will know the surrounding settlements far better than the rest of us!!" Kalipso Explained.
"And what do you think they'll want in return!!?
I'm not some 'prize winning stallion' to be used for breeding purposes!!" Shouted Storm.
"Come on!! They're not that bad!!"
Storm just glared at Kalipso.
"Ok, yes, they are that bad!!
But you can offer them something else in exchange for their help!!
Just meet with their matriarch and hear her out.
If you don't like her offer, then you can just refuse. "
"Fine, I'll listen to what she offers but I promise no more than that!!" Replied Storm.
"Aurora is going to kill me when she hears about this!!" Thought Storm.