Disclaimer: I don't own Overlord or Dungeons & Dragons
The Greater Apotheosis of Ainz Ooal Gown
Book : Realmfall
Chapter 3: Cultural Immersion
Beta:
The experience of becoming one with the denizens of the world he resided upon, this Felmid, was a thrilling experience. It was a high unlike anything Momonga had ever experienced. As Satoru he'd been forced to consume the odd stimulant just to get by, often in regards to the long hours demanded by his job but none of the highs they gave came close to what he'd just experienced.
"I'm glad you liked it." The familiar voice of Nameless said.
As expected as Momonga came down from his high and regained a proper awareness from his surroundings, he found himself standing with the ROB in the empty void once more.
"Why are you here?" Momonga asked cautiously. "Why are continuing to interfere? Shouldn't ROBs leave things be once they've transported their victims?"
"That's our typical modus operandi yes." Nameless conceded. "However, that really only applies if the motive of ROB in question is solely entertainment. Otherwise, we interfere like crazy to ensure the outcome we want. I'm just more direct about it than most."
"And what outcome do you want me to achieve?"
"That would be spoilers." The featureless being said with a grin. "But what I can do is throw you a bone."
The damnable ROB chuckled at his own bad joke but Momonga just rolled his eyes.
"Not in a joking mood I see?"
"Would you be if you were in my shoes?"
"I suppose not." Nameless admitted. "Very well, onto business then. You'll need to rally all the forces and muster all the resources at your disposal to face Atropus. And quickly. He is already on his way."
"And who is Atropus?"
"Find out. You'll really, really need to. Preferably before he shows up and it's too late."
With that last parting statement, Momonga was returned to the steps of Nazarick and in front of his army of subjects. It was jarring and it took all his self-control and the power of his emotional suppressor to keep from reacting. Sudden erratic movements would not fit with the mold of the Undead King that he was trying to project.
To that end...
"Thank you, my subjects, my children." Momonga said in as noble a voice as he could muster. Something helped along immensely by his new deep and booming voice. "I am honored to have the loyalty of such great and mighty creatures."
Now how to buy the time I need to do the research Nameless wants me to?
Momonga was no fool. He knew enough about isekai scenarios that if the ROB who dropped him in this new world wanted him to research something, warned him of the need to do so, twice even, then he needed to do it. As soon as possible.
How to sell it to them though…
"However, while I know you, all of you, like an extension of myself." Momonga continued, winging it as he went. "I know little of this universe we find ourselves in. For it was not the one from which we came nor any that I've previously walked. All I know of this world is the faintest memories of bygone tales. Thus it behooves me to arm myself with what knowledge of this world I can gather, so as to best lead us into the unknown."
Satoru expected the odd murmuring of shock, of awe, of discontent. He'd dropped quite a few bombshells on his people with just those short words alone. Yet there was none. All his subjects, be they denizens of Nazarick or the hordes of Felmid remained respectfully silent as Momonga spoke.
Buoyed by this, the Overlord continued.
"As such, I intend to head to Ashurbanipal, the Grand Library of the Great Tomb of Nazarick to scour it for everything and anything about this world that might be found in its depths."
Yeah, mainly just who or what the hell Atropus is. Though hopefully that will also offer clues to where the hell we ended up.
"In the meantime, Floor Guardians!"
"Yes, Lord Momonga?" The Floor Guardians of Nazarick that had served as his escort said, falling to one knee as they awaited his command. "While I conduct my research, you are to acquaint yourselves with Felmid. I do not expect you to know my creation and my children as I do but you must strive to understand them as best as you are able. Abledo!"
"Yes, my lord?"
"You shall handle the deployment of the various Guardians."
"As you command, Supreme One."
Turning away from the succubus, Momonga faced the armies of Felmid once more.
"My children, treat these Guardians of Nazarick, these children of my beloved friends as you would treat me. They know my will and act with my authority."
"We hear and obey," the many monstrous creatures of Felmid said as one.
Nodding in satisfaction, Momonga used his Ring of Ainz Ooal Gown to teleport to the Great Tomb's Treasury. If he intended to carry out his little research project with any level of efficiency, he'd need help. Exceptional help. With Demiurge and Albedo, the two greatest minds of Nazarick already assigned different tasks, he was left with the last of the Tomb's great minds. His creation Pandora's Actor. That he felt reasonably safe to trust him with knowing his lack of knowledge was another major factor.
Fake it till you make it. Satoru told himself encouragingly as he disabled the traps in the Treasury that protected its inner sanctum where Pandora's Actor resided. I just need to fake it till I make it.
"A worldwalker." Demiurge crowed with delight as their master left. "I knew it! I knew that the Supreme Ones were worldwalkers!"
"Save your gloating for later, Demiurge." Albedo told the Devil chidingly as she strode forward to address the still assembled masses of Lord Momonga's children.
To think that my love has already created a whole world! Truly he is magnificent.
"Children of Lord Momonga, do you respect my authority as Guardian Observer?"
The leaders of the various creatures exchanged looks before nodding towards the Momon representative who reverting to her human form addressed Albedo.
"We accept the authority the Bone Father has given you over us and respect you and your ilk as the keepers and protectors of his sacred home."
It's not quite full submission but it is good enough. We both still serve the same lord. Albedo thought with a nod.
"Then let me carry out our lord's instructions and assign the various Floor Guardians to learn your ways."
"We await your command, Guardian Overseer."
Let us begin with the easy ones.
"Mare! Aura!"
"Yes, Albedo." Aura said in a cheerful tone.
"Y-Yes?" Her twin brother Mare stuttered in his shy way.
The two were a pair of Dark Elf twins which served as the joint Floor Guardians of the 6th Floor of the Great Tomb of Nazarick and sported the dark skin and pointed ears that were the signature traits of their race. They both had golden hair and heterochromia. The latter was wherein the differences began. Where Aura's left eye was blue and her right eye was green, the inverse was true for Mare. Furthermore, Aura was a tomboyish child dressed in a reddish-black dragon scale leather vest covered by a white and gold vest embroidered with the sigil of Ainz Ooal Gown below which she wore matching set of white trousers and gold plated shoes, and around her neck was an acorn necklace emitting golden light. In contrast, Mare wore a blue dragon scale leather bodysuit, covered by a white and gold vest embroidered with the sigil of Ainz Ooal Gown, a forest green-leaf cloak, matching short white skirt that exposed his thighs, an acorn necklace emitting silver light and his slender hands covered with shiny white silk gloves that gripped his trusty staff of twisted black wood.
"I must apologize, but to cover more ground the two of you must split up to accomplish the mission Lord Momonga has assigned us."
The twins exchanged a look, before Aura nodded.
"We'll be fine. Don't worry about it." The more assertive of the twins said for them both.
"Very well," Albedo said with a pleased grin. "Mare, as you have always shown a particular care for plants, you are best suited to studying with Malwood."
"I-I'll do my best."
"I'm sure you will." Albedo told the shy boy reassuringly.
"Now, as for you Aura-"
"I'll go with Merwyrm." Aura said with a shrug.
"Not the Sliver Queen?"
"Cocytus called dibs on that. Plus I lost a round of 'Jankenpon' so he gets to have his choice."
If they already used the Supreme Ones' game to decide among themselves, then who am I to doubt our gods' judgement?
"I see, then so be it."
"Cocytus?"
"Yes. Overseer?" The two and half meter tall Guardian of the 5th Floor said.
Cocytus was an Insectoid with the appearance of an insect walking on two feet. Specifically he was a fusion between a mantis and an ant that had a tail twice as long as his height, and whose body was covered in sharp spikes that looked like icicles, the most pronounced of which protruded from his shoulders and back where they looked like uplifted icebergs had shot out of his body. In two of his hands he gripped a halberd, showcasing his nature as a warrior. Though it was more likely his Intectoid nature, that made him interested in the hive minded Sliver Swarm.
"As you wish, you will be assigned to the Sliver Queen and her Swarm."
"My. Thanks. Overseer." Cocytus said, clicking his strong mandibles in excitement and letting out a freezing breath in the process.
"Shalltear."
"Yes, Albedo?" The short statured Vampire with the figure of a buxom fourteen-year-old girl that served as the Floor Guardian of the first to third floors in the Great Tomb of Nazarick said in what barely escaped being a sneer.
That brat… If we didn't have a crowd of outsiders here, I would totally put her in her place.
Unfortunately, they did have an audience and Albedo was unwilling to give anyone, much less the children of her beloved, the impression that Nazarick was anything but united.
"As an undead it is only fitting that you go learn about the Momons."
"But of course," Shalltear said with a smirk. "Good choice there, Albedo."
Ignoring the Vampire's biting sarcasm, Albedo just moved on.
"Demiurge, any preference?"
"I will learn the ways of Baragon and his ilk. While it is kind of you to give me a choice, Albedo, we both know that Sebas is best suited for working with Deathwing and his Dragons thanks to his own Dragonoid nature." The devil said, surprising all the other Guardians with his choice.
Demiurge giving anything to Sebas? Considering their hostility towards one another this was highly unexpected.
"Why the surprise my fellow Guardians?" The Devil said almost mockingly, the gems that served as his eyes glinting behind his glasses. "It is the most practical arrangement. And as you all know I am an eminently pragmatic individual."
"Indeed, you are." Albedo allowed, even as she tried to think of whatever ulterior motive Demiurge might have behind his choice. Pragmatic though the Floor Guardian of the 7th Floor may be, he was still a Arch-devil. It would not surprise her if hidden within his apparent pragmatic generosity were a dozen malicious motives.
Though I see none for the moment.
"Very well, then it is decided. Demiurge will shadow Baragon while Sebas will do the same for Deathwing."
"Are there any objections?" Albedo asked, directing the question to both her fellow Guardians and the Lords of Felmid.
No one said a word.
"Guardians, Sebas, report to me all you have learned in a week's time. We will consolidate it and present it to Lord Momonga."
She received a chorus of affirmatives from her colleagues before continuing.
"Then let us carry out our Lord's will. You have your tasks. Get to them."
With that the Guardians and denizens of Felmid began to disperse. Albedo stood there for a moment observing them, making sure the former paired up with the latter as they'd agreed. Satisfied that all was going well, she turned to walk back into the Tomb. While the Guardians carried out their new mission, she had one of her own.
As Guardian Overseer she was in charge of Nazarick's security and she needed to make sure that the transition to this new world had not affected its systems. And if it did, learn what had changed.
I must not disappoint the man I love.
"Lady Shalltear, you called for me?" Enri asked as she entered the drawing room of the residence she had arranged to be provided to the Bone Father's envoy and the entourage she had summoned.
The residence in particular was set up at the very top of highest spire of the ruined Tokyo Acropolis that was Enri's domain. In Lord Momonga's birthworld, it had been the site of the Tokyo Imperial Palace. High above that world's toxic clouds and carefully tended to the residence maintained a semblance of the natural beauty Earth had once boasted. It was also exceedingly luxurious, with every amenity the people of that decadent planet had imagined. All of which had carried over into Felmid largely untainted by the decay that touched all artificial constructs on the world, it was now made available to Lady Shalltear.
"Yes," the vampire said with a nod. "Now that I've settled in I want to get started and ask you some questions. Elder Liches are you ready?"
"We are at your command, Lady Shalltear." A pair of Elder Liches said. One was holding a long list of what Enri could only assume were questions, whilst the other was holding a quill and an equally long but blank piece of parchment.
"Good then start with the questions Albedo sent us," Lady Shalltear said, before grumbling.
Enri imagined she was upset at having to ask the Guardian's Overseer's questions. The Momon barely knew the Floor Guardian but she could already tell that she and her superior did not get along.
"First question," the Elder Lich with the list asked, cutting into Enri's thoughts. "Are the creatures of Felmid really the children of Lord Momonga?"
"In a sense." Enri answered truthfully. "Felmid and all who dwell on it were forged from the Bone Father's essence and shaped into our current forms by his dreams and nightmares."
"Dreams and nightmares?"
Enri nodded and gestured out a long window that dominated the room's far wall. Or more specifically the roiling toxic clouds that were visible through them.
"This world is a reflection of the Supreme One's birthworld."
Lady Shalltear startled at that. All the Nazarick denizens did.
"This ruined waste? You must be joking."
"No, my lady." Enri said with a serious shake of a head. "Felmid is indeed a reflection of Earth. A reflection shaped by the Bone Father's mind. Where its megacities and acropolises stood with their teeming masses of humans, most slaves to tyrannical masters, the Supreme One has in his infinite mercy reduced them to undead free of their petty free will and all the pain it brought them as they toiled in inhumane conditions. Of the masters, he created us Momons, his children, to oversee our less fortunate undead brethren and see to their well being."
"Truly, Lord Momonga is generous indeed." Lady Shalltear observed. "And why then did he transform the cities into ruins?"
"It is merely a reflection of their true nature, my lady." Enri explained. "Where once they were places of beauty hiding the darkness within. Places where the surface was utopian but whose underbelly was a cruel dystopia, now that lie has been stripped away and they are left as they always should have been: wastelands."
"To do such a thing, Lord Momonga is truly a genius" Lady Shalltear gushed.
"A genius without peer." Enri agreed.
"Okay, that's enough for this question." Lady Shalltear said after a moment.
"W-Why, um, is the land poisoned like that?" Mare asked Malwood while pointing to a badly cratered wasteland off in the distance, barely visible through the thick vegetation of the forest they walked through.
"That, my dear Guardian, is a direct import from the Supreme One's Earth."
"R-Really?"
"Yes," Malwood said with a sad nod. "I know little of the reasons why. Lord Momonga gave us little memory of what occurred on his birthworld when he created us, but what I know is that that blasted plain and all the wastelands of Felmid are duplicates of those on Earth. Which were in turn created by its people."
"P-People like Lord Momonga?"
"Some of them," the arboreal monster said with another nod. "But while they might have shared our Lord's power, they shared none of his wisdom."
"D-Did he try to stop them?"
"You will have to ask Lord Momonga that yourself, Guardian. What I do know is that when he created Felmid he duplicated these wastelands as reminders to us, his children, to never repeat the folly of the people of Earth."
"Lord Momonga is wise."
"The wisest." Malwood agreed. "He even tasked us to repair what was destroyed wherever possible. A task that would only further reinforce the lesson."
"Is that why you are growing this forest?" Mare asked, gesturing to the many plant monsters under Malwood's command that moved industriously all around them as they planted and tended to new plants and fungi of all types, both mundane and magical.
I suppose that's the answer to question six about whether all plants and fungi on this world were monsters like Malwood.
"Yes," the Lord of Plants said. "Once on Earth, this place was called the Amazon Rainforest. One of the largest and most bio-diverse wildernesses on the planet, but the foolish Earthlings destroyed it. I've taken it on as my task to bring back at least some of the Amazon's glory."
"That's a noble goal. Maybe I can, uh, help you? If Lord Momonga allows it of course."
"If Lord Momonga permits."
"But Lord Momonga never told us anything about you lot. He didn't even know you guys existed until we came here." Aura said as she swam on the back of one of her few aquatic beasts, a monstrous spiny shark called Megalodon. An item allowing her to both breathe and speak freely underwater. "How could he give you orders if he didn't know all that?"
"Time flows differently for gods," Merwyrm told her as they swam side by side through the depths of Felmid's oceans. "In the moment that we swore fealty to him, he went back into the distant past to create us. In that way, he created a series of events that led to the moment where we swore our undying loyalty to him."
"That sounds complicated." Aura noted with a frown.
"For lesser beings like us perhaps, but Lord Momonga is a god. Such things are trivialities to the likes of him."
"That's true." Aura agreed easily, before her eyes widened at the sight before her. "What is that?"
Of in the distance was a massive city built entirely out of coral and the rusted remains of what looked like ships. It looked like something straight out of some of the books Mare was always borrowing from Ashurbanipal. It was full of bizarre architecture that humans might have likened to non-Euclidean geometry.
"That, Guardian, is my home, the city of R'lyeh." Merwrym told her, stretching his tentacles proudly as if to better show off his city. "It is from here that I rule the waves."
"So that's a nice lead in to one of the questions that Albedo wanted me to ask."
"Ask away." As they continued the journey to his seat of power.
"So you Lords of Felmid split control of the planet up?"
"Yes," Merwyrm agreed. "I rule the seas. Deathwing rules the skies and Baragon rules the Underdark."
Wonder what's that, but I guess I'll leave it to Demiurge to figure out.
"The various Momon lords rule different domains, each centered around one of the ruined acropoli and megacities. The wastelands belongs to the Sliver Queen, whilst the forests that remain are in the charge of Malwood and his plantfolk."
"And what do you all do?"
"We all have two basic orders from Lord Momonga. One, we are to constantly prepare ourselves for the day he will need our armies in war. Thus we relentlessly drill against each other in mock battles. Two, he tasks us to heal Felmid's devastated landscape and biosphere as a reminder to never follow in the footsteps of the Earthlings who turned their world into that which forced the Lord into such despair."
"And that's all?"
"No, we each have different tasks beyond that."
"What's yours?"
"I manage the transport of goods across Felmid as I control all the portal hubs on the planet."
"Transport goods? What would you need to transport?"
"Many things, Guardian. Many things."
"So you handle all the mining activities on Felmid?" Demiurge observed as he stood overlooking a massive magma field in the depths of the planet's crust
"Indeed, Lord Demiurge." Baragon said in the bestial growl that passed for his manner of speech. "Me and my minions scour the Underdark for deposits of the raw materials my fellow Lords need to carry out their tasks in the sunlit lands above."
Demiurge nodded as he watched a group of earth and fire elementals in the shape of willowy humanoids scoop out a bucket of raw magma from one of the rivers of molten metal that flowed across the vast underground plain before him before proceeding to combine their powers to draw up the metals within and transform it into ingots of processed metals that a pack of humanoid rat-creatures stacked into neat piles on top of pallets. These pallets were in turn hauled away in long trains by herds of monsters that blended the features of wolves and rats. This was one of many such scenes occurring all around the myriad magma rivers in the underground plain in front of him.
"Tell me Lord Baragon, why do you call your domain the Underdark?"
"It is one of the names the Earthlings called their underground works. When it was made a part of Felmid and I took it over, I choose it as the name of my realm." Baragon told her with a shrug. "It seemed fitting somehow."
"An inspiration from Lord Momonga perhaps?"
"Perhaps," Baragon said uncertainly.
"So do you know what these raw materials you're harvesting is used for?"
"You. Produce. Weapons?" Cocytus asked in surprise as he stood over a vast chamber in the heart of the largest of the Sliver Hives located in the wastelands that covered what he had been informed would have been the Central Asian steppe back on Earth.
Indeed, Guardian. The Sliver Queen informed him telepathically as she gestured with one of her long mantid claws towards the rows upon rows of her children as they labored away assembling what seemed similar to CZ2I28 Delta's Magic Gun though most, but not all, lacked enchantments of any kind.
"Why. Would. This. Be. Necessary?"
Mainly to arm the Momon's undead legions. A skeletal warrior is a weak thing, especially when armed with merely a sword and shield but equip it with ballistic armor and an assault weapon and without raising its level, it becomes a far deadlier foe.
"Can. They. Even. Equip. Such. Weapons?"
So long as it is neither too advanced nor enchanted, even the lowliest of skeletons can indeed bare such arms.
"Fascinating."
And indeed it was. If this was truly the case and Cocytus had no doubt it was, then equipping the POP skeletons of Nazarick in such a manner would greatly increase their combat effectiveness. It was something to seriously consider after he'd seen what the capabilities of these weapons were.
"Besides. Guns. What. Else. Do. You. Produce.?"
We produce all manner of weapons, from guns to tanks to warplanes to ocean going ships. The only thing we do not produce are starships those are the purview of Deathwing.
Cocytus nodded, making a mental note to contact Sebas to discuss these starships. In the meantime, he had plenty to assess already.
"I. Would. Like. A. Demonstration. Of. These. Weapons. Of. Yours."
Of course, Lord Cocytus. I shall make the arrangements immediately.
High in the skies of Felmid. Hidden within the thickest banks of its toxic clouds, there floated a single massive facility. This was the Felmid version of what on Earth had been known as the United Acrology States' Zeus Starport. It had been the confederation of American acrology states' and hence the world's biggest spaceport. In Felmid, it was the only one of its kind. Not because the others had not been duplicated by Lord Momonga when he created the world but because of Deathwing's industriousness.
At the Dragon lord's orders, the dozen or so different spaceports' equipment had been packed up and shipped to Zeus. This greatly expanded the facility but in a haphazard way, so what had originally been a simple H-shaped station floating on anti-gravity plates in Felmid's atmosphere had been transformed into a confusing mess of connecting tube like sections that spread out like a basket star.
"I know it is inelegant," Deathwing, currently in the form of a human with dark skin dressed in a double breasted suit not unlike Demiurge's, said as they looked down at the whole construct from an observation deck at the top of the tallest of the dozen or so towers sticking up from the rest of the structure. "However, I chose to prioritize efficiency over aesthetic concerns."
To an outsider unfamiliar with the situation, Deathwing's apologetic, defensive tone seemed odd. For Sebas Tian, the man to whom he was speaking, who had the appearance of an elderly butler, dressed gracefully in his traditional black uniform and one make easily mistake him for the Dragon's servant. In truth, they were more akin to equals than anything else.
"Is that why the ships you are producing and maintaining are all covered in rust and look like they are falling apart?" The Iron Butler of Nazarick asked, his eyes narrowed in displeasure.
By Deathwing's own admission, he had been tasked by Lord Momonga to prepare a starfleet for the Supreme One's service. If the dragon had failed in this task, then as a loyal servant of the last of the Supreme Beings it was his duty to take him to task.
"Yes and no," Deathwing said with a sigh. "There are ways that I could make them seem more appealing to the eye but that would be a waste of resources."
"How so?"
"I could paint over the rust but it will not last. It is the nature of Felmid, of Lord Momonga's curse."
"He has cursed this world?" Sebas asked, skeptically.
"In a sense." Deathwing said with a sigh. "Until all of Felmid is healed, everything of its make will be tainted by rust and decay soon enough. Thankfully by the will of the Supreme One, that which is afflicted by this curse still work normally. The taint is merely cosmetic at least while we remain within Felmid itself. A reminder to all that until we heal this broken world like he dreams, we will have no escape from its impact."
"But starships are made to leave this world are they not?"
Deathwing nodded. "That is why we must consecrate each vessel we build to the Supreme One without exception. Nothing of Felmid's can leave this world and survive more than a moment without his divine protection."
"As it should be."
"Indeed."
"How many ships have you made ready for war? You said that was one of your goals?"
"It is," Deathwing agreed. "And I am sad to say I only have thirty true warships at the moment. Twelve of those we salvaged from the ruins. Another thirteen we converted. The rest we built ourselves."
"Yet from this window alone I see at least fifty ships." Sebas observed as gangs of Goblins and Dragonkin of various types scurried over the aforementioned ships docked in dozens of bays within view.
"Many are civilian vessels. Mainly of the mining or freighter variety." Deathwing informed him with a shake of his head. "They will not be very useful in battle. We have been trying to refit them, but it is slow going at best."
"You need all the ships for combat?"
"No," Deathwing acknowledged. "But many of the Earthling civilian designs lacked even the most basic defenses. If they are used even in support roles for the Supreme One's wars like he commands they must be refit."
"I see. How long till your task is complete?"
"Months at best." Deathwing told him, sounding disappointed. "Much of the time until now has been focused on building the supply chain we needed and with that done our progress will be greatly accelerated, but there is still much work to be done."
"Tell me what you need, I shall forward it to Lord Momonga. I am sure that he will reallocate the resources you need if it is possible."
"You have my thanks, Sebas Tian."
"No thanks are necessary. I am merely carrying out the will of Lord Momonga."
Done!
So we get some fleshing out of the lore of Felmid. I hope it was interesting. I scattered a host of references/ideas from other IPs, some more obvious than others. Anyone want to take a crack at spotting all of them?
Speaking of crossover elements, the D&D elements will be coming next chapter. That should be fun to write.
Till then, alámenë
