True to Taylor's word, the humans that had survived the battle departed the area 2 hours later.
Many of the civilians appeared dazed and depressed, but otherwise unharmed.
Storm and his people tended to those non humans that had been freed from the prisons.
Many were traumatized by their treatment while in captivity and would need additional care before they recover.
Those that had come from outlying settlements, Razor helped to reunite with their families.
Including the missing dragons from the Wyrm Tooth mountain clan.
The first thing they did after getting everyone settled in was to confirm the amount of dead that needed to be laid to rest.
The amount was staggering.
A field on the outskirts of the fortress was choosen as the site to lay them to rest.
Even though Mortis had departed and the Lich was gone.
Scars from their magic remained.
Kalipso and the druids warned Storm that a great deal of necrotic energy continued to linger in the caverns, and they feared that the energy could potentially reanimate any dead that were buried in the city itself.
The Fay and the Druids worked together to attempt to purify the air in the city but they warned that the project would still take months to complete.
They reassured Storm that the atmosphere had no serious effect on the living and only gave the city denizens a gloomy and depressed feeling.
Storm presided over the memorial service of those that had died in order to win the battle and personally praised their bravery.
He ordered that a memorial be constructed at the open space at the gates where the undead was held at bay and that the name of each individual that gave their lives in be battle be inscribed on the monument.
Currently he was meeting with his advisors, who fortunately had all survived, in order to discuss what they were to do with the city.
"The best thing to do would be to collapse the caverns and bury the city!
That should keep the necrotic energy from spreading outwards." Suggested Kalipso.
"My people can do it.
But do we absolutely have to?
This place has a lot of potential!
It would be a shame to waste it." Said Grombrim.
"Especially considering how much it cost us to claim this place." Said Razor.
"Razor is right! The cost was too high for us to just throw this place away!
It would be disrespectful to those we have lost!" Said Storm.
He looked up at his advisors.
"How long would it take to make the city livable for us?"
"City definitely needs work!
It has potential, but this place wasn't really built for the living!
As a result, it's lacking many of the basic necessities. " Explained Grombrim.
Storm had expected that much.
Get started on it right away!
Use whatever manpower and resources you need in order to get it done!
Demolish some of the original buildings if necessary in order to make space.
I want this place ready for settlement in the next two weeks at most!" Ordered Storm
He looked up at Razor.
"What are the condition of our supplies of food and basic necessities?"
"Stable ... for the moment ... even though the humans took a large amount of supplies with them, they left more than enough to sustain us for a few weeks.
Even with the additional mouths to feed." Razor replied.
"Send some druids back to the hideout to increase food production and have it shipped here."
He looked at Wolf and the Rakasha twins.
"Send out your warriors and raid the surrounding roads for supplies to be brought here!"
All three individuals nodded their heads, though they didn't seem particularly happy that they would be working together on the task.
"I don't mean to dampen everyone's spirits, but is it truly wise for us to linger here?
The humans know about the city's location? And the chances are very high that they may attempt to reclaim it?
It would be best if we returned to the hideout and laid low until things calmed down again." Said Augustus.
"The hideout can no longer sustain our numbers!
Even with the additions me and my people made!
We already struggled before and with the extra people we freed, it's only going to get worse." Said Grombrim.
He looked up at Storm.
"I suspect that once people hear of your victory here, even more people will be flocking to your banner!!
We need to find new settlement grounds and expand before they arrive." Explained Grombrim.
Storm nodded his head.
"He's right!! The time for hiding is over!
We will turn this place from a symbol of oppression and dispair, into one of hope.
A city state where people can live their lives in peace without fear of being enslaved or being seperated from their families.
We will make this place as grand as any of the human cities, and it will belong to us all!
And if the humans come and attempt to take it away from us?!
Then we will make them pay in blood and give them a fight they will never forget!!" Exclaimed Storm.
Grombrim and many of the others nodded their heads in approval to the speech.
"This place has the spine to hold out against a siege all right!!
The war machines may be alien to us, but I'm certain we can get them repaired and working if we study them long enough!
Would be a shame to abandon the old hidout after all the work we put into it though." Exclaimed Grombrim with a hint of sadness.
"We need not abandon it completely.
We can continue to maintain it.
I also intend to occupy Twin Rivers and turn it into a forward base that can warn us if the humans intended to invade again. " Explained Storm.
"We'd be spreading ourselves pretty thin?!" Said Aurora.
Storm turned to the Kitsune Matriarch and to Leyocan.
"Will your people spread word of our deeds among your contacts?
You're also more than welcome to move your people here if you wish. " Storm offered.
Both Leyocan and the Matriarch shook their heads.
We will of course spread word of our victory today.
"As for your offer of relocation, I must regretfully decline.
We already have a home at our village that we have worked on for centuries. " replied the Matriarch.
"And my people need to be close to the human cities in order to work at our best.
I thank you for your offer however. " said Leyocan.
Storm dipped his head in response.
"I understand. " he replied.