In another part of the city, a meeting is being held in an unassuming house.
A lone figure sat in a high back chair, surrounded by several floating green communication orbs in a circle with the largest remaining stationary in the center of the room.
"How goes our little research project," asked the first small sphere in a playful feminine voice.
"I've hit a few rough spots here and there, but this is expected when you tread new ground and break barriers," a second sighed with a refined masculine voice.
The lady sitting in the throne spoke up. "I am having so much fun seeing the results your potions. However I may have to excuse myself unexpectedly as I have put a little spell on the bottles to let me know when they are opened." She began to blush and covered her reddening cheeks. "Oh I do love watching them change. You are truly an artist, Maximillian."
The second voice seemed a little surprised. "Uh, I thank you for your praise, Lady Alyvia."
"Just be sure to keep a low profile. We aren't ready to strike yet. And that outfit isn't exactly subtle," commented a third deep male voice.
"Oh come now Zezzeroth. This helps sell the merchandise," the woman motioned to her long dark green dress, a window in the chest giving full view of her cleavage and if one took a long enough look at the slip up her legs would see she wasn't wearing any undergarments.
"If you say so," Zezzeroth sighed.
"Besides the test subjects, how is recruitment progressing," asked what sounded like a Male voice on every second word and female on the next.
"I've gotten some to join and have given them the marker coins as I've been instructed....there is one thing I should mention however."
"And that is," asked the alternating voice.
"One 5th year mage I approached with joining us, he was just like so many others that did join. Ambitious, desire for power and glory, lost close ones to the self richeous order of paladins or some corrupt noble, ect. Anyways he declined and tried to expose our plans."
"And you removed him as per our instructions correct," a delicate and somewhat high pitched male voice stated.
"Well no, Raphael, I actually saw an opportunity and captured him. Maximillian sent me 4 highly unstable and untested potions and I decided to test one on the boy. The results were spectacular." She began to get hot and bothered at the memory of how the young man had shifted and contorted as the potion took effect. His hands and feet changed to green claws as a long powerful scaled tail shot out of his rear. The boy's head elongating into a reptilian visage followed by a quartet of identical heads grew out around the primary one, creating a very nice and healthy hydra. And then he began to grow larger. "It took all my power to trap him inside the dimensional cube. I don't know how big he got. But even with the marker coin he still nearly attacked me."
"Do you think he might be in control of the body," asked Zezzeroth, a bit of concern creeping into his voice.
Alyvia shook her head, causing her long black locks to wave. "No I only saw a beast in his eyes, but it might be strong enough to ignore the marker coins. I think he may be too powerful for us and needs to be destroyed."
"No he will serve us well," spoke another.
"A rabid dog is no use to its master, put it down," yet another countered.
The smaller spheres began to voice their opinions, shouting to be heard over the next voice. The arguments got louder and louder until a calm voice spoke.
"No," the large central sphere spoke finally. The arguments stopped quickly without protest. "No, I think this will serve us nicely. We don't need obedience from a weapon, only to point it at a target and let go of its chain. If a few of our recruits get caught in the crossfire, then so be it so long as it serves our goal."
"Yes lord, your wisdom knows no bounds," a random sphere praised.
"That being said, I want you to avoid using any more of those unstable potions for now. We don't need to raise anymore monsters than can be put down, or that you can contain."
Alyvia felt the call of a potion being opened. "I think Lady Alyvia has something to attend to now and I call this meeting to rest until tomorrow. Continue as you have and keep up the results, they are acceptable."
"Yes Lord Valentine," the spheres and Alyvia spoke in unison, and then the room went dark leaving her alone.