Great, I'm the New Bad Guy...

The female alpha, I'm sorry I mean ex-alpha, tried to pull the Tower Heart out of the pile when Gnarl groaned and said "The thing you're pulling on is the Tower Heart... you know, one of the things that the Overlord just said you couldn't have?" with what was almost the most patronizing tone I have ever heard.

The ex-alpha growled at him, but stopped at once when I gave my own light growl, crossed my arms and began to tap my foot. She winced, and quietly took a ruby, before slinking away and curling up in a corner.

By this point several dogs had come to the entrance of the room and were watching us with fear. I wanted to show them that good behavior would be rewarded, and bad behavior would be punished. It was part of why I let the female keep anything after her actions, namely attacking me. I tend to hold grudges on people who try to harm me, so this was a big deal for me.

I turned to the dogs who were huddled in the doorway and told them, "You there. You will carry the Tower Heart, that is the big glowing round thing, to where I tell you. Do you understand?"

They nodded, and six of the biggest of the group came in to lift and carry it out. I turned to one of my Browns and told him to lead the dogs to the place that we came from when we teleported here, he nodded in understanding and began to shout at the dogs, only saying "Follow! Follow!"

I then reached down to pick up a gem, but as soon as I touched it the thing... dissolved in my fist? I tried again, this time focusing magic in my gauntlet to 'see' what was happening. The same thing happened again, and this time I knew what it was. The gems were almost pure life force. My gauntlet was filtering out the imperfections leaving only the life force, which it then sent back to the life force pits in the tower.

I shoved my hand into the pile and watched as every gem that touched my hand disappeared, the pile quickly vanishing with only the tinkling sound of precious stones hitting each other. I left a rather large amount behind, as I knew that the dogs ate them since I had seen some doing so while I had walked around the den. Far be it from me to take all of their food from them just because I'm a bit greedy.

I'm not that bad... I think...

I turned to the female and asked her name, she told me she was called Sadie, which made me feel bad as my father's friend had a very lovely rottweiler by the same name. Nicest dog you ever did see, that one.

"Well, Sadie, this is how it's going to work. I am in charge of you, you are in charge of this den, and this den is in charge of protecting the sheeple village near here. Understand?" I told her, asking to make sure that she knew where her place was.

"Why should we protect those weaklings!?" Sadie yelled indignantly.

"It doesn't matter why! The Overlord gave you your orders! Now you will do them or die trying to do his glorious will!" Gnarl snarled at her, having been slowly getting more and more agitated at sadie's behavior until he reached his breaking point.

"Quiet, runt! Or I'll make you be quiet!" she snarled back.

I stomped the ground, I could already feel the habit forming, getting both of their attention. Sadie wouldn't look me in the eye, but I assumed that it was because it was considered a challenge, and Gnarl's ears went back like a... scolded... dog...

"Oh, man. As of right now all of my forces are glorified/actual war hounds. Gnarl even once said 'release the minions of war!' What am I going to do with all of you?"

"You will protect them, because I told you to. I will not punish you this time, but if you insult others in my domain again, I will." I warned her.

She lowered herself, not to the ground but pretty close, saying "Yes alpha."

I turned and walked out of the room, saying to some of the one's who were still in the doorway, "Gather up all of the sheeple in the den who wish to leave and take them back to their village. If any of them are hurt on the way, the same will be done to you, understand?"

They all nodded and set to work, by the time I had gotten out there were already around fifteen sheeple gathered and waiting at the entrance. They all started to shake... well shake even harder, when they all saw me. I'm pretty sure I heard one whisper "Please don't eat me, I'll just give you indigestion!" but I can't be sure, as at that moment I heard a gonging noise ringing in my head.

"One, UHHH, THAT'S STILL A THING HERE!? and Two, oh good, the Tower Heart made it back alright."

Once all of the sheeple who were coming, that is to say all of them, had been gathered outside the den we all began to head back to the village. A few of them stumbled along the way, and one dog lost his leg for biting at one of the sheeple's legs as I'm a man of my word, but we made it before the sun was below the horizon.

We found the father of the family kneeling outside, gardening I suppose, and at the sight of me and the one's who were following me he jumped up and ran towards us, shouting "I knew you wouldn't abandon us sire! I just knew it! Thank you! Thank you so much for saving them!" Then he started crying while hugging my leg.

I wanted to shake him off, but I was too uncomfortable to do anything at all, so I just waited for him to stop on his own.

Once he had, about three minutes after starting, he said weepily "Is there anything we can do to repay you, sire? Please, just give the word, I'm sure that all of us would be happy to help!" After a few moments the other sheeple quietly (and somewhat reluctantly) agreed, so I thought of what I needed right now...

"I need some heavy duty construction equipment to be taken to the... Gate way. One of my minions will stay here and lead you to it when you have it gathered."

One of the sheeple shouted at me in disgust, saying "You mean you're leaving!? I knew it! You're no better than the cowered over there! Just getting what you need from us, and then leaving us out to dry! Well I say th-"

He could no longer talk, as his head had left his body. Hmm, I'm really getting into the habit of performing decapitations, aren't I?

"I have no intention of abandoning you... However, I will not tolerate dissent such as this, am I clear? You may petition me for a change if you wish, and should I see fit I might grant it, but open revolt will only ever be punished. This goes for you dogs as well you hear?"

The sheeple closest to the now dead revolter looked a little shell shocked, but everyone else nodded their understanding. I turned to the now identified mayor of the village and told him that he was in charge, and the role that the dogs would play in the village. I also told him to report any dogs who broke the rules, or became a problem.

With all of that sorted out, I and my minions began the trek home. On the way I asked Gnarl a question that I had thought of in the dog den regarding evil energy.

"Gnarl, could I gain evil energy by taking it from other evil beings? Essentially draining it from them, into myself?"

Gnarl looked at me for a long moment before answering in an unsure tone, "I'm not sure my lord, it sounds plausible. Though, I have no idea how you would go about it..."

If it was, then that was my ticket. Draining the 'evil' from others into myself, getting stronger from it, and making others like me for it. After all, people don't attack the people they like.