Last but not least, certain sages with a stronger taste for the macabre would vehemently argue that some of the Lost Regiments met a fate darker and more sinister. They claim those unfortunates encountered nodes of negative energy and turned into most horrible undead abominations, who would plague both the upper and lower world with sporadic but horrifying forays and unspeakable atrocities.

Quite unlike Olaf and his unfortunate followers, Gerard and his people survived and prospered in the years to come. Ironically, Olaf's mutiny proved quite beneficial to Gerard in a multitude of ways.

First of all, it sifted out the most unbridled hotheads, whom Gerard would have found rather unruly and largely incapable of prolonged peaceful coexistence in the Liskarrii plains. Thus Gerard was left with the cold-blooded, the wise, and the sensible, who were only too happy to help him build his human empire.

Second, Gerard's public condemnation of Olaf's breach of treaties and murderous escapade proved to most dwarves and halflings that the humans could be peaceful, reasonable, and trustworthy. Ironically, this new perception of Gerard and his people established the necessary political climate to make Gerard's underhanded designs achievable.

Finally, Olaf's rampage left many of the Free Cities militarily and economically weakened, which made them more susceptible to Gerard's diplomacy, military campaigns, and economic pressure.

Soon, Gerard started building human cities using halfling and dwarven masons and artisans. Sometimes he took over the halfling and dwarven ruins Olaf left behind; other times, he chose strategic locations and there erected cities or citadels from scratch. The whole process was slow and tortuous, and did not miss occasional setbacks, but all in all, Gerard managed to build, take over, buy, exchange, and conquer enough land and cities over the expanse of thirty years to put together a vast domain.