Chapter 4 Anauroch
When I first heard about the opportunity it sounded too good to be true. Magic and resources just available for any descendant of the Sarruhk to take. Then I found the catch. It was located in the Anauroch desert.
That was one hell of a catch.
To understand just how bad that was you have to realize lizardfolk live primarily in swamps. They've adapted for incredibly water rich environments. And after the alchemical alterations we can even live underwater.
None of which helps in a desert. Worse the Anauroch is massive. It's the Faerun equivalent to the Sahara from my old world. Hundreds of miles across and growing.
Worse it isn't even natural. It's the product of type of magic that's calls lifeleech. Sure in game terms there was never any actual effects, but it still doesn't sound good. And that isn't even considering what cast the lifeleech.
Phaerimm are a race. Natural sorcerors. Incredibly powerful with their own unique method of casting which is very powerful. I'd admire them if they were also horrifically hostile to just about everything.
And their entire race is trapped underneath the desert.
At least I won't have to deal with them directly since they don't break out until third edition.
Truthfully I wanted to wait until I was more powerful and more importantly better geared. I didn't have that option though because of this constant feeling that I was running out of time. Which wouldn't bother me if I knew why I felt that way.
It was perhaps the worst part of being reincarnated. Essylliss hadn't just added to me. He had also removed things from me. Dates in particular.
I was always fairly bad about keeping track of timelines and dates. However I usually remembered at least the more important ones. Now I can't remember any of them. I can't even remember the order they happen in.
Sure i've pieced together a very crude timeline, but it's full of holes and more importantly its more a collection of mini-timelines. And I have no idea how they relate to each other.
So I work with what I have.
There's a Godswar coming. It's bad and changes not only the nature of divinity, but the Weave of magic. Many spells and item schematics from second edition stop working at that point.
Given the lack of a recorded Time of Troubles and my experiments with magic I'm sometime before the Godswar happens. Which provided me a number of opportunities as long as I can advance fast enough. Of course allocating resources is made harder when I don't have a time frame.
Third edition follows the Godswar. The Weave changes and crafting magic items becomes much more expensive. It also becomes much more customizable as a trade off.
Sometime after that fourth edition triggers. This is caused by the death of Mystra. Again. And through stupid events as well.
Fourth edition is apocalyptic. Most of the dimensions are destroyed. Most of the deities are severely weakened. Active magic items sometimes absorbed Blue Flame, which are sort of pieces of Mystra's shredded soul.
I don't remember seeing any crafting rules. It was sort of handwaved away. Not sure if the rules changed. The items did seem much more limited than what was possible in third edition though. Lost knowledge? Stricter rules on what's possible?
I don't know what triggers fifth edition but I don't recall any crafting rules. It's probably safe to assume the rules change again though.
I know a number of events that occur within each edition, but only because I have a habit of applying stats to what I read. My friends call it being obsessive and picky, but it's coming in useful right now.
I can sort of understand why Essylliss removed the dates. Gods can not only pluck information from mortal minds, they can sense plans that affect them. The details are vague, but I'm assuming me knowing the exact dates means all the other gods due too. And that would negate my valuable foreknowledge.
Doesn't mean I have to like it though. Especially when it ends up with me planning an expedition to the Anauroch.
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When Jursa heard they were venturing into the desert she was terrified. Without wings she wouldn't be able to keep up. And even if she could the desert would be worse for her than any of the others besides her sister isiros. As greenbound they would weaken that far removed from nature.
Still she was determined to help as much as she could. She had been exhausting herself recently, casting goodberry and a few other long term spells. She also resolved to train herself harder. She never wanted to be left behind again.
At least had something to keep them occupied. Adahsk had already arranged for the next generation of their kind. A few of the chosen mothers had perished without her spells to aid them laying the eggs, but there were always more.
She could understand why he held their original race in such contempt. Capturing, taming and breeding them. The lizardfolk just accepted it. Honestly it was as if they were particularly clever animals rather than people.
Thankfully even if greater numbers they wouldn't despoil the land the way most other intelligent races did. The woodling template made them naturally more comfortable in a more natural surrounding. It granted a serenity of spirit that made it easier to commune with nature. The greenbound template had just strengthened that bond.
Upon arriving at the nursery she found her sister already feeding the hatchlings. "Couldn't sleep either?"
"No. I worry for the rest of our clutch. Stranded so far in the middle of such horrific territory. If Mother Yesk hadn't received that vision I'd still be trying to keep them from going."
isiros snorted. "You worry too much. Adahsk is with them. There is nothing to worry about. I'm just glad I didn't have to go with them."
Jursa sighed. And that was the largest difference between them. While she could admit Adahsk was definitely their leader she didn't consider him perfect. She wasn't even sure why Isiros hadn't decided to become a cleric instead of a druid with how strong her faith was.
And that was why she was a druid. She just didn't feel comfortable putting all her trust in someone else. As amazing as their brother is she can still remember the screams of her dying sister. Communing with the land had helped her accept the loss. She still worried for the rest though.
Isiros rolled eyes at the lack of reply. They had argued a few times but both were firm in their beliefs. Not even the twisted experiments Adahsk had set up bothered her. She wasn't even sure why Jursa cared. All the experiments were conducted on artificially created populations. It wasn't like most of them would survive in the wild.
Even Adahsk's use of necromancy wasn't that bad. He kept his creations tightly confined and even made sure to destroy all of his experiments. Invasive species had more impact than he did. Besides they were all themselves a hostile invasive species from a certain point of view.
Really. It was just natural selection at work. As long as everything balances in the end what did it matter. Jursa would be a lot more powerful if she just understood that. Although it probably explains why she's so good dealing with the hatchlings and experiments.
She wasn't sure why Jursa was so against the projects. Steel wasn't natural and they all wielded weapons made from it. Besides there was something deliciously ironic over using arcane magic to protect magic.
Isiros had worked closely with Adahsk on that project. The careful injections of hydra blood into the naga eggs creating their version of a nagahydra. The resulting four headed creatures were incredibly gifted magically.
They were also trained strenuously. Their natural talent at sorcery molded into a carefully chosen selection of spells. Despite being little more than a year old they were progressing incredibly fast. Adahsk would be so proud!
At least the Siv were finally breeding rapidly. While she understood the state of contentment their templated imparted they needed the numbers. She had heard more than once Adahsk mention quantity has a quality of it's own.
Besides it wasn't like they couldn't afford it. Given how rapidly a hydra regrows heads and necks they'd need an enormous population base to outpace it's regeneration.
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Hess considers the idea that she might be cursed. Sure her connection to nature wasn't as strong as her sisters, but she made up with it with her skill in traps and weapons. She had even learned how to hunt outside the swamp.
However nothing had prepared her for the Anauroch.
It was so dry. The air seemed to suck the moisture out of her. And the ground was either baked hard or just loose sand. Dead and so so wrong.
It unnerved her enough that she didn't even protest the Adahsk's idea of summoning a few minor devils. Even their twisted energies still registered as alive. Just corrupted.
Which made her feel dirty. And in dire need of a very long bath. Which she would have needed anyway. And at least the spinagons can teleport them miles at a time. She can put up with being uncomfortably close to one for a few hours to get out of weeks of being covered in sand.
At least the elf provided a welcome break.
It had been dying and half mad when they found it. She had watched as Adahsk had carefully crafted a weak illusion and subtle charm spell to befriend the elf and interrogate him. It was like watching him tame a vicious animal in minutes. Very impressive.
And while a bit stringy the elf was delicious. Adahsk relayed what he learned as they ate.
The elf, a bladesinger from Evereska, confirmed they were on the right trail. He was part of the famed Tomb Guard, elven protectors of ancient tombs they consider important. He was also the only survivor of the patrol in that area.
Which is good news except for the fact that a patrol was sent in the first place.
We traveled even faster. The devils teleporting nearly constantly. We were all worried about what we would find.
It turns out our destination isn't a tomb. At least not anymore. It's a full on warzone.
A massive fortified camp was built right on top of the tomb. It was inhabited by a what looks like a type of lizardfolk. Although they don't seem to mind all the sand or lack of water. They're surrounded by a bunch of little camps of humans and not in a friendly way.
Which I normally would be all for attacking, but that's a lot of hostiles. And no cover or places to put traps or well anything really. And of course Bhaoozk wants to charge in there.
While I can see Adahsk surviving that. I definitely don't see the rest of us doing so.
When the imp goes invisible and teleports us into the tomb I'm pretty happy. Not so happy when we get jumped almost immediately. At least the imp manages to dump us out of the portable hole before biting it.
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Kodrih grunts and suppresses a wince as he's grazed by another javelin. When Adahsk had told him and Thriz to hold the entrance he was excited. He had thought. This was it! He could finally prove himself to his older brother.
He had rushed forward to protect the door. Lessons about defensive positions placing him just behind it to limit attackers.
He figured this was what Adahsk had trained them for. All that work finally being paid off. They hadn't had much of a chance in Daggerford since they had been the attackers. He still hated how one of his siblings had died there.
The sandy lizards, Adahsk had called them Laerti, charged in. They didn't have any armor and most used skinny curves swords or javelins.
Kodrih had locked his shield with Thriz and braced themselves. It was a mess. The Laerti fell easily. They didnt stop though. They were like rabid animals, crawling over the bodies of the slain to try and get closer.
And they did. Wave by wave they inched closer. To keep from being buried they had to retreat. And once they were away from the door they were pushed back even faster.
Just like with the cut, Kodrih didn't even twitch as he felt the soothing energy of a cure spell flowing over him. He didn't have time. It was taking everything he had to keep from being overrun. Keep pace with his shield brother.
Stab, stab, stab. And just before one can get too close step back. Stab across to protect his brother. Trust Thriz to do the same. And then back to stabbing.
"Down!" Kodrih didn't question Adahsk's yell. He dropped to the ground.
Almost immediately he saw several skeletons hurtle over him, slamming into the horde of Laerti. Before he could scramble up again he was yanked backwards. He hit the ground hard enough to knock the air out of him. He watched in horror as one Laerti gets past the skeletons and lunges at him.
Then a wall of solid ice forms between him. He hears the crunch as it slams into the wall before allowing himself to collapse.
That had been horrible. Despite all of his practice and training they had almost been overwhelmed several times. Worse they were exhausted. Sure they had been incredibly effective, but all he could think about was just how close it was.
The next generation of their kind was being raised right now. Surely not all of them were going to be clerics and druids? Maybe he and Thriz can recruit a few and train them up. Being able to rotate out if one of them dies or even trips... hell just to catch their breath. Yeah they are definitely going recruiting.
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Ocuugi took inventory of her remaining spells. She tried to hide how her hands shook. That hadn't been anything like Daggerford. Until the loss of her sister it had been fun.
This... had been horrific.
The Laerti had swarmed like ants. Relentless, merciless.
Mindless.
Was that what all the scaled races had been reduced too?
The thought bothered her more than a little. Was that what she could have been?
A lot of communication between lizardfolk was instinctual. They could convey a host of information through body language and scent. Adahsk was the one who seemed to always insist everyone speak. And not just speak, but speak fluently.
Was this what mother Yesk was always preaching about? Why she had held Adahsk up so high? If so she owed her an apology. She had nodded along with the lectures. But she hadn't realized. Hadn't understood. Not really. Not until now.
Adahsk really was their champion. Always pushing them to be more. To never let them settle. To be better.
And Essylliss really cared to provide such a champion for them. She now understood why Yesk had said just survival wasn't enough.
Looking over at Raxl she could see the same conviction in his eyes. They would support Adahsk and lizardfolk would rise as never before. Even if they had to kill and replace every single one of them to do so.