Disclaimer: I don't own Overlord or Dungeons & Dragons
The Greater Apotheosis of Ainz Ooal Gown
Book : Skelkor War
Chapter 9: Nation-building
Beta:
Neia lifted the Wyrmcrown, a powerful magical artifact and the ceremonial symbol of the ruler of Skelkor, up for the masses to see and held it there for a moment as part of Drau's coronation ceremony.
Why was she being crowned ruler of Skelkor? Well, in the wake of the Battle of Marangor and Gauwervyndhal's death at the hands of Drau, the empire's people and a fair number of their troops, had demanded their leader become Skelkor's new empress. And to prevent chaos, the Dragon had agreed.
I can still hardly believe it though. Neia thought as she held the crown up.
After a minute of doing so, Neia turned from the crowds gathered in the ruins of Marangor and placed the crown firmly atop the head of Drau's kneeling human form. Which for once was not wearing either her mechanical armor or the bodysuit she usually wore underneath. Instead she was dressed in a strapless dress with a neckline that exposed her shoulders whose fabric was ruched throughout. It hugged her curvaceous figure all the way till her waist before it flared out into a voluminous skirt. The dress' purple color was the exact same hue as Drau's eyes and paired well with the way she'd let her long blonde hair flow down her back. All in all, her current appearance was an elegant departure from the norm and quite clearly demonstrated the beauty of her human form that was usually hidden by her armor.
"Draudillon Oriculus." Neia, herself dressed in elaborate ceremonial robes, said in a voice that carried to the whole liberated nation thanks to the screenings of the event set up in all its communities by the liberating armies. "By the power invested in me by the Supreme One Ainz Ooal Gown as the Pope of his church, I hereby declare you the new Empress of Skelkor. Raise and greet your people."
Drau offered Neia a smile as the Pope stepped aside and she stood, an act that was met with rapturous cheers from the crowd.
She then strode forward and raised both her hands, gesturing for silence. It took a moment but eventually the excited masses obeyed and their new Empress addressed them for the first time.
"People of Skelkor, I am honoured that you have chosen me to wear the Wyrmcrown and serve you as your Empress." Neia watched Drau say as she moved to stand next to Yorha and the rest of their party at the side of the stage built for the occasion.
"You write this speech for her?" Kuro whispered from where he rested, as usual, on Yorha's shoulder.
Neia just nodded before gesturing back to the speech. The Slime looked a little disappointed that was all he'd got but complied.
"I will serve you as best as I am able," Drau said in the brief time Kuro and Neia had conversed. "And I will do my best to ease the transition we will soon be making."
There were murmurs in the crowd at this, more Neia noticed with satisfaction from the newly liberated slaves than from their troops. While their men might not have all the details, they at least knew enough to have an idea of what to expect. They were counting on that to prevent pandemonium when Drau finally dropped the bomb.
"'What transition?' Some of you might ask." Drau continued, ignoring the murmurs. "To my rule perhaps? No, nothing so simple. By the will of our Father, the great god Ainz Ooal Gown, I speak of a greater, more fundamental change for this nation."
The murmurs grew but the invocation of the Bone Father and the implication of a divine mandate for this change kept it contained. Whilst, most were new converts, they had all seen the Supreme One's power. It had liberated them from slavery. Thus if this was their god's will, many, at least Neia and Drau hoped, would accept it.
"In the coming months, Skelkor will transition from an empire ruled by the few to a nation ruled by its people. It is this transition that I will oversee as your Empress. I shall however not overstay my welcome and once the institutions for the new republic are in place, I shall abdicate."
This was met with cries of fear and dismay from the masses.
"But do not fear people of Skelkor," Drau said confidently, using her natural charisma to silence the crowds. "For by the time I depart, Skelkor shall be a formal protectorate of Nazarick and protected by its gods. And should there ever be a need I shall always be only a Gate away."
This seemed to mollify the crowds somewhat, which Neia was grateful for. It was the fear for their safety in the event that Drau left that was likely the one stumbling block of the transition. However, it looked like the promise of Nazarick's protection had calmed those concerns. At least if the crowd here was any indication.
"I tell you all this now at my coronation, my dear people of Skelkor, so that you might know what to expect in the coming months. That you would not be surprised. Know though that I will be with you throughout it all. That so long as I wear the Wrymcrown, I am your Empress and you are my people. Together, Skelkor, we will forge this new destiny our god has mapped for us and make it great!"
Neia's plants in the crowd led the cheers at this she could see, but soon the applause and cheers became organic. A fact that brought a smile to both Neia's and Drau's faces.
That went well. The Pope of the Church of Ainz Ooal Gown thought as she clapped along with the masses for Skelkor's new Empress.
A few days after the coronation and the obligatory feasting that followed, Neia was walking with Renner, Kelart and Ninoninya through the vast construction site that was to be Marangor's new temple district to the gods of Nazarick. All around them undead laborers of all types did the tiring hard labor such as carrying heavy loads while living devotees to the gods did the fine work such as carving reliefs.
"Nice compromise on the division of labor," Neia noted. "It was a good suggestion on your part Renner."
"Thank you, my Lady." The ball gown wearing Momon said with a curtsy. "I merely felt this was the most efficient use of manpower is all."
"If that were the only consideration then the undead would do everything." Kelart countered. "The dull skeletons and zombies might not be able to handle fine work, but other types certainly could and more efficiently than the living ever could. No, you reserved them for the living so that they could have a way to express their devotion as well, didn't you?"
Renner just offered a coy smile.
"You truly are a genius, Lady Renner."
"Thank you for the compliment, Magepriest Veryon."
"My Ladies!" A nervous looking Halfling said as he ran up to the group of women. "Trouble! There's trouble!"
The women exchanged looks. What did he mean by trouble?
"Lead the way, good sir." Neia told the man and without so much as catching a breath, he sprinted back the direction he came.
The women exchanged another round of looks, but nevertheless followed after him.
It didn't take them long to reach the trouble that he spoke of and found a gang of Marangor natives, identifiable by the roughspun fabric of their clothes that contrasted hugely with the higher quality clothes of even the lowliest of the people that made up the liberating army and their camp followers wore. They were throwing insults and the occasional object at a pair of stoic Death Knights that were blocking their path into the temple district worksite even as a small group of the laborers tried to reason with them from behind the two undead.
"Get out of our city, you murderers!" One of the locals shouted, throwing a stone that bounced off the tower shield of one of the Death Knights.
"What is going on here?" Neia demanded as she made it to the commotion, her people parting to let her through so she could stand in between the two Death Knights.
"What's going on is we want you murdering scoundrels out of our city!" A well built Human that seemed to be the crowd's spokesman said as he got into Neia's personal space and loomed over her.
I hate being so short. The Sacred Archer thought absently as she looked up to glare at the man. Her eyes had on more than one once been described as terrifying, it was why she usually wore the visor that amplified her accuracy down even when not shooting but she did not on this occasion. To this man's credit however, he did not flinch at her gaze.
"Why do you call us murderers?" Neia asked calmly.
"You flatten most of our city, destroying our homes and killing many of our friends and family in the process, yet still have the gall to ask us that?"
"Collateral damage is unavoidable in war."
"Is that what you call our dead? Collateral damage?"
"Yes," Neia said bluntly. Her faith did not believe in sugar coating anything and as its Pope it behooved her to live out that tenet.
"Why you!" The man said raising his arm to strike her.
Neia didn't react, she didn't need to. Fast as a snake, Renner's delicate looking hand had shot out from behind her and grabbed the fool's wrist.
"You will not touch my Lady." The Momon said coldly, her usual playful air gone and replaced with deadly purpose.
The man seemed to finally grow a brain and pulled his hand away. Or more precisely Renner let him. A Momon's strength far surpassed a Human's and if she hadn't released him, there was no way he'd have managed to escape her grip.
"Might makes right, huh?" The man spat in disgust.
"No," Neia said with a shake of her head. "Merely that might should be used to fight for what is right. And what is right in this situation is that you are ungrateful fools."
"You dare-"
"Shut up!" Neia barked with the power of an Evangelist, causing the man's mouth to snap shut with an audible click as his teeth slammed into each other.
"You were slaves." Neia began, turning her attention away from the silenced fool. "Your lives were entirely in the hands of the Dragons. We changed that. We liberated you. Gave your lives back. We used our might for that."
A large chunk of the crowd shifted uneasily at this reminder.
"And yet here you are being ungrateful. To us, your liberators. And to our gods, who ordered your liberation, who empowered us with the strength to liberate you."
At this many in the crowd grew shamefaced and some even began to walk away, looking chastised.
"No change, especially one caused by an exercise of might like your liberation, comes without cost!" Neia shouted at the crowd as she glared at them. "So I ask you, was that cost worth it? Is your freedom worth it?"
The crowds of locals, many weeping now as they were reminded by her words and the accompanying skills of their feelings of newfound freedom, began to disperse.
Soon it was only their spokesman left and Neia turned to look at him.
"Are you still here?"
The man shot her a defiant look but she just raised an eyebrow.
"Go home." She ordered with her skills and in spite of his wishes, he was forced to obey.
"You handled them marvelously, my Lady." Renner complimented.
"Yes, Lady Neia, that was most well done." Kelart chimed in with her own praise.
"You're scary good at speeches, my Lady." Magepriest Veryon said. "Guess that comes from being an Evangelist, huh?"
"It does," Neia said absently as she watched the mob's spokesman disappear in the distance
"You want me to deal with him, my Lady?"
Neia knew full well what her sadistic adjutant meant. If she got her hands on that man, she'd end him. Slowly.
"No, we'd only make him a martyr." Neia said with a shake of her head. "But arrange for him to be watched just in case. If he tries anything, then deal with him."
"As you command," Renner said with a grin.
"And tighten security in the city, especially around the temple district."
"Of course, my Lady." Kelart nodded. "I'll double the guards on patrol immediately."
"Good, then let's get back to our tour. We can't let disruptions like this derail our efforts."
While Neia handled the construction of temples for the gods of Nazarick, Taana and Gaul had chosen to supervise the teams taking stock of Gauwervyndhal's hoard vaults below the city. A task that at the moment they were taking a break from while having some tea.
"She is very capable isn't she?" Gaul noted as he gestured at Arche who was standing in the heart of the command center in Marangor's subterranean levels they'd set up to oversee the operation. "She's essentially doing our jobs for us."
"All our adjutants in the war were exemplary. It was why they were assigned to us in the first place." Taana countered. "Besides, they're supposed to be the first generation of administrators of the new republic once we leave, aren't they? Of course they'll need to be good at what they did."
"True," Gaul agreed with a nod. "Though that Renner woman worries me. Have you heard about what she's doing to maintain order?"
"The spy network and raids at the first sign of dissident activity? Yeah, I have."
"Not bothered by it?"
"Should I be?" Taana asked with a raised eyebrow and a small burst of the static electricity that now always covered her body since she'd unlocked the Lightning Savant job class using the experience she'd gained during the Battle of Marangor.
"I thought you might be. It's quite draconian."
Taana rolled her eyes. "I'm long past worrying about things like that. I know that sometimes things just must be done to achieve the kind of good we're after."
"Just checking, little sister." Gaul teased and Taana huffed in irritation, which caused the necromancer to chuckle lightly.
They descended into silence for a few minutes after that as they both enjoyed their tea.
"So I heard from Neia that thanks to the changeover to the YGGDRASIL system you've got around the curse of the Tome?"
"Part of it anyways." Taana admitted. "You remember how it works right? How it makes it impossible for me to read anything but it?"
Gaul nodded.
"Well, that meant I couldn't really learn any spells outside of it which meant that except for Haste and Mage Armor, Stone Body and Iron body I didn't have any enhancement spells."
"What changed?"
"Well, the fact that under the YGGDRASIL system so long as I can cast a spell, it gets added to my repertoire permanently rather than me having to refresh a spell slot by reading up on it or practicing with something enough until I could turn it into a cantrip." Taana explained. "So using the experience I had transcribing from the Tome of Runes to recreate Master Falgrim's Runic Compendium, I memorized the forms of a number of basic spells, had Arche guide me through casting them, and thus added them to my repertoire."
"Which spells?"
"Nothing major. I doubt the trick will work for anything complex since they need a ton of mental components that I don't think any amount of secondhand guidance will help with."
"Just give me the names already." Gaul growled irritability and Taana smirked.
"Bull's Strength, Bear's Endurance and Cat's Grace."
"Didn't bother with Eagle's Splendor, Fox's Cunning, or Owl's Wisdom?"
"Nah," Taana shook her head. "I don't really use the stats they enhance all that much in a fight if at all and outside of it I'd really rather train things up on my own instead of relying on a boost from a spell."
"Fair enough," Gaul allowed. "Though I'm curious about something."
"What?" Taana asked, wary of Gaul's mischievous tone.
"The Arche girl has been helping you with a lot of things hasn't she?"
Taana nodded, even as her frustration built. She had a good idea where this was going and was frankly tired of dealing with this. Her agitation taking physical form in the way the static around her body began arcing more prominently than normal.
"So how close are you two exactly."
"We are not lovers if that's what you're asking."
"I know that." Gaul told her with a snort. "I'm asking if you like her enough to either stay in Skelkor with her or invite her to join the party."
"The former is not an option," Taana told him seriously. "I'm not leaving the party. And Arche would never agree to the latter. She's a very dutiful person and she has already got a posting lined up in Skelkor once the transition to a republic is complete."
"Really? That's fast. What is it?"
"She works fast." Taana told him with a shrug. "Apparently she's going to take a teaching position in the new college of magic they're planning to open up here in Marangor.
Gaul hummed interestedly at that. "How interesting. I'd like a chance to visit the college the next time we're in Skelkor."
"Speaking of visiting, any ideas where we should go next? I know it'll have to be a joint decision but I would like to suggest something but I can't think of anything good."
"No, just not anywhere in Laerakond. We'll be too famous as the liberators of Skelkor to get any good adventuring done here."
"Where else can we could go though?"
"The merchants should know." Gaul suggested with a shrug. "Some of them are known to trade with other continents after all."
"That makes sense." Taana agreed with a nod. "I'll go ask around later."
After a hard day's work overseeing the organization of Marangor's new militia, Yorha and Kuro were enjoying a drink in one of the city's few surviving taverns. The Roaring Red was the stereotypical tavern and was completely lacking in anything that made it noteworthy, however with less than a dozen pubs still in operation after the liberation it was drawing in a huge crowd. Nevertheless, as commanders of the liberating army, the two had no trouble at all securing a booth in the back all to themselves.
"I'm still struggling to understand why you're doing this." Yorha told the Slime honestly as they slipped into the booth, he having assumed his favored purple skinned Human form.
"What's there not to understand?" Kuro replied as their drinks were delivered and they both offered their thanks for the prompt delivery. "I have the memory of drinking alcohol before but I've never actually done so myself. I just want to try it out."
"But alcohol has no effect on you." She pointed out as she watched him use his Illithid derived telekinesis to carefully levitate his mug to match the movement of his arm as he 'lifted' it to his lips. "Look at the pretense you need to put up just to seem to drink normally. Is it worth it?"
"It's the experience I'm after." Kuro reminded her. "Besides isn't one's first drink something of a rite of passage into adulthood for many cultures?"
"Are you trying to be more adult then?" Yorha accused him teasingly.
"Better than being seen as a child." Kuro shot back with a cheeky grin.
"Speaking of children, ever thought of having some?" Yorha asked with what she hoped was idle curiosity.
"No, never." Kuro said with a dismissive wave of his hand. "One of the failsafes that my Illithid creators built into me was an inability on my part to fission like a normal Slime."
"Just humor me will you?" Yorha pressed. "If you could, would you like children?"
Kuro shrugged nonchalantly. "As I've said I've never thought about it, but if I could? Then certainly. I think few with the ability to do so would choose not to."
"I do too, you know." Yorha said looking at him meaningfully. "Want children I mean. If I asked, would you help me with that?"
Kuro raised an eyebrow. "Can Automatons have children?"
"I just asked for help didn't I?" Yorha said with a coy smile.
Kuro laughed. "I suppose we could build one couldn't we?"
"We could." Yorha agreed, a happy smile spreading across her face. "So you'd help?"
"Sure, I don't see why not." Kuro said easily. "You know I'd do anything for you."
"I know." Yorha agreed. She knew full well how devoted Kuro was to her. It was why she was approaching him over the others in the first place.
"Enough teasing." Kuro said as he took another swig of his beer. "Let's talk about something else."
"Sure," Yorha said easily. She'd gotten her promise already anyways.
Their conversation drifted to more mundane topics then and they enjoyed a pleasant time in the pub for the next couple hours.
At the end of the night as they returned to the tent in the army encampment they had been using as their quarters. They had offered housing in the surviving buildings in the city but had refused out of a desire to remain with their troops.
It was a quiet night and as Yorha put away her equipment for the night, there was nothing but the sound of the two of them filling the quiet of their tent.
"Kuro?" She said as she removed her Dragonhide buckler, the last of her accessories. "At the pub, you promised to help me with something. Do you remember?"
"I did? Not really, I'm sorry." Kuro admitted from atop the boulder where he sat and was surrounded by the haze of gas created by his corrosive nature eating away at the rock. "But whatever it is, I'm happy to help."
Yorha smirked at his easy acceptance and proceeded to strip off her clothes, putting them aside.
I wonder if he's noticed I'm not only stripped off all my clothes but that I'm putting it aside not just cleaning them like I usually would when I take them off.
If he did, he did not give any sign and she spoke to him as nonchalantly as she could, "I want you to help me become a mother."
Kuro sputtered incomprehensibly for a moment, which Yorha found cute. He was fine with her stripping naked in front of him but asking him to do the deed, as it were, and he loses his composure? Adorable.
"What are you talking about, Yorha!?" He managed at long last.
"You remember that I'm a Pleasure Doll?" Yorha asked as she finished folding and putting the last of her undergarments aside.
"Y-Yes."
Spinning around so her full nude body was on display for the Slime, Yorha continued. "Well, one of the unique aspects of my particular model is that we have an artificial womb. One that can produce offspring using genetic material inputted into the system."
"And?"
"And," Yorha said walking towards Kuro in a sensuous stride programmed into her very being. "I would like to try that system out."
Kuro breathed a sigh of relief. "So you only need genetic material? How do you need to go about gathering that?"
The silly man still doesn't get it.
Yorha picked him up and hugged him close to her breasts.
"Sex." She told him in what she knew to be a seductive whisper. "I am a Pleasure Doll after all."
Kuro started sputtering all over again.
Adorable. He's just adorable.
Yorha pulled him away from her and offered him her best pout, "You're not willing to help?"
He froze and then squirmed. "Put me down, I need space to transform."
Smirking at having gotten what she wanted, Yorha dropped her would be lover and watched as he transformed into his favored purple skinned, levitating human form but now sans the simple tunic and breeches he usually dressed it in.
The sight of the form's phallus reminded Yorha that it would be going inside her and she suddenly felt nervous but she steeled herself.
This is what I wanted. She told herself as she reached forward and took the member into her hands, even as she began moving her body closer.
"Not so fast," Kuro said, grabbing her hands. "I've got more 'experience' as it were with this. Let me take the lead."
Yorha blushed but nodded and let Kuro gently move her hands away from him and use his grip on them to push her to the ground.
"The bed-"
"I'd melt it away." Kuro told her as he leaned over her. "Now, are you sure?"
Yorha's reply was to pull her hands from his, cup his head and pull him into a kiss.
The first of many kisses and many other things besides that they shared that night. A night that left Yorha feeling very satisfied indeed.
A few months later, Drau stood inside the newly constructed National Assembly building as she formally signed the document for her abdication of the Wyrmcrown. As she lifted the pen from the paper, she couldn't help the smile that spread across her face at finally being free from its weight.
Well almost free. She corrected herself as she stood and using both hands she lifted the crown off her head and ceremoniously placed it on the cushion that Fluder held.
"With this," Drau declared for the cameras broadcasting the event across Skelkor. "I, Draudillon Oriculus, formally relinquish the Wyrmcrown and all claims to the throne of Skelkor and hand over all authority over the nation to the Skelkor Republic's President, his cabinet, and the members of its National Assembly."
This was met with immediate applause from the gathered National Assemblymen, even as Drau offered a polite bow to the Dragonborn, Belxan Kiltanuules, that had been elected as the Republic's first President in the national elections last month.
At last it's over! Drau thought with relief as she stood back and the ceremony that marked the founding of the Skelkor Republic continued with Belxan Kiltanuules' swearing in.
A few hours later and the ceremony was finally over and the festivities had transitioned into a feast. One that Drau was forced to navigate in the red, corseted long ball gown that she'd been saddled with for the abdication ceremony.
If I ever needed a reason for me to abdicate then just that doing so meant I could stop wearing gowns like this all the time is more than enough. Drau thought with a burst of annoyance as she surveyed the crowds for her party. They were pretty enough and surprisingly comfortable, and I wouldn't mind wearing them once in a while. But not all the time!
That and pretty or not, she'd come to loathe them if for no other reason than they symbolized how she was still stuck in Skelkor!
She was pulled from her musings when she spotted Yorha standing by a pillar with both Kuro and another strange Slime creature riding on her shoulders while the party cooed over the new creature.
"What is that?" Drau asked as she walked over, pointing at the new creature.
"This is Grimfal," Yorha said as she gently lifted the Slime up for Drau to get a closer look. "He's my son. I gave birth to him just this morning."
"Son!?" Drau asked incredulously. "Since when were you even pregnant?"
That Yorha could birth a child was no surprise to Drau. She knew full well the capabilities of the Pleasure Doll race. What she was shaken by was that her sister had gone through an entire pregnancy without her noticing.
"I only finally conceived about a week ago. Kuro's genes were difficult for my womb to process." Yorha told her eagerly, too eagerly. "I would've told you about it but you were busy with everything. So this is the first chance to show off Grimfal. Isn't he cute?"
"Adorable." Drau said, rattled by Yorha's case of verbal diarrhea but not so much that she couldn't shoot an accusing look at the baby's father.
"Yorha asked me to."
"You didn't need much convincing." Yorha said with a cheeky grin.
"Neia?"
"Yes?" The Paladin asked, sounding confused by why she was being addressed.
"Has Yorha been replaced by a Doppelgänger?"
"No, she's just riding out the high of being a new mother I think."
Father, please let that be true.
All she got in reply was a chuckle from her divine Father.
"Oh, stop worrying so much Drau." Taana said with a grin. "Can't you see how adorable Grimfal is?"
Drau looked at the strange chimeric creature. It was as large as a medium sized dog that had the body of a dragon hatchling which was made out of translucent slime similar to that of a Gelatinous Cube and a head that looked menacingly similar to that of a Brainstealer Dragon. It had no mouth and instead had a host of tentacles akin to an Illithid where its maw should have been and a pair of Drow-like pointed ears.
It should have appeared horrific to her, being a mishmash of various quite unpleasant creatures but it was her nephew. In light of that of that what else could she say but, "He's perfect."
"So while Drau takes her turn cooing at the baby, Yorha, mind explaining the name?"
Drau would have refuted her necromancer brother's statement but that would have been a lie, so she just ignored him and kept patting little Grimfal's head and laughing at his attempts to use his tentacles to catch her hand.
"Shouldn't it be obvious Gaul, it's in remembrance and honor of our fallen brother Falgrim."
"Thanks for that Yorha," Taana said with a watery grin. "I'm sure Master appreciates the gesture."
"I'm sure he does, Taana. I'm sure he does." Neia assured her.
"So quick question that has nothing to do with the baby." Kuro asked suddenly.
"What is it?" Drau pulled herself away from Grimfal long enough to ask.
"Well, just, what are we going to do now that our job in Skelkor is done?"
Everyone exchanged looks. It was a question they'd all probably considered on and off for some time now, but Drau doubted any of them had an answer.
"I have a suggestion," Taana said, much to the Dragon's surprise. "I've asked some merchants about places that might be interesting to explore and I think Faerûn might be a good place to start."
Momonga watched through the Mirror of Remote Viewing as his children all gathered around cooing at his first grandson and he felt a desire to join them, but quickly dismissed the idea for now. He could visit them later. For now he had work to do, so turning away from the Mirror he looked towards the display of the holographic projector that had been installed inside the desk of his Nazarick office.
"Demiurge, are these the character sheets, I believe the locals call it, for my Chosen?"
"Yes, my Lord." His loyal Devil servant reported. "They have been summarized as you requested."
He had glanced at the original documents on his children and their party that the Devil had compiled and had him balking when they were first presented to him. Each one was a hundred pages long and contained way too much detailed information. How his agents had come to know enough to track Neia and Taana's menstrual cycles and make make noted about the dates when they'd their periods was beyond him. And thank goodness that neither Yorha nor Drau menstruated, or their privacy would've been similarly violated. In response to that, he'd issued a strongly worded reprimand to Demiurge about respecting his children's privacy and to prepare a summarized version of their reports for easier reading.
"Very good, Demiurge." Momonga told the Devil as he began reviewing the character sheets.
He ignored their stats for now, he could review later. For now, he focused on their levels.
Draudillon Oriculus
Starting level: 63 [Racial: 30 -Dragonoid (15) Dragon (10) Primeval Dragon Lord (5)- Job: 33 -Gunner (10) Sniper (5) Fighter (3) Commander (5) Shapeshifter (10)-]
Current level: 91 [Racial: 30 -Dragonoid (15) Dragon (10) Primeval Dragon Lord (5)- Job: 61 -Gunner (10) Sniper (5) Fighter (15) Commander (5) Shapeshifter (10) Craftsman (9) Armor Smith (7)-]
She seems to have leveled up her Fighter class quite a bit from her combat experience. Her craft skills have leveled up too from her use of her omnitool to craft goods and from maintaining her armor. Ainz mused as he read the data over. Overall, she's grown thirty levels and moved into the 90s. Based on how we know YGGDRASIL levels compare to the locals, that should put her above all but the strongest non-divine beings in all of Realmspace.
Pretty good job there, daughter. Momonga thought with a smile as he toggled the display to bring up the next sheet.
Youthful Recreation Of Humanform Android (YORHA) Bodyguard Type Serial 979787234 (commonly known as Yorha)
Starting Level: 57 [Racial: 13 -Automaton (3) Wardroid (5) Pleasure Doll (5)- Job: 44 -Sword Saint (4) Fighter (15) Sword Dancer (15) Sword Master (10)-]
Current Level: 88 [Racial: 30 -Automaton (15) Wardroid (9) Pleasure Doll (6)- Job: 58 -Sword Saint (5) Fighter (15) Sword Dancer (15) Sword Master (10) Mother (1) Commander (5) Guardian (7)-]
She picked up Guardian from being the party's tank I imagine. Commander is form being a commander in the war, it's pretty low though. Which isn't too surprising, she didn't really do much generalship. And the Mother is just obvious. The racial classes though… Hmm… I suppose her immunity to Kuro's corrosiveness was the main factor for the increased levels in Automation? Wardroid must then be due to the use of her robotic capabilities in combat and the level of Pleasure Doll must come from her sexual activity with Kuro. That reminds me, I have to have a word with that Slime. If Yorha's siblings aren't going to give him a Shovel Talk, then I certainly will.
Momonga made a mental note to himself to schedule a visit with Kuro as he moved onto Neia's sheet.
Neia Baraja
Starting Level: 48 [Racial: N.A. (Human)- Job: 48 - Paladin (15) Shooter (15) Sacred Archer (10) Evangelist (3) Founder (1) Saint (1) Sniper (3) -]
Current Level: 83 [Racial: N.A. (Human)- Job: 83 - Paladin (15) Shooter (15) Sacred Archer (10) Evangelist (10) Founder (5) Saint (10) Sniper (10) Bishop (8)-]
Her preaching has certainly raised her levels in Evangelist, Founder and Saint substantially hasn't it? The Sniper levels she got from combat but what about the Bishop? Hmm…
With a few taps of the projector's controls, Momonga brought up the timestamps for when she earned those levels.
She got them for being a religious and military leader to her troops in the Skelkor war at the same time? I suppose that fits one definition of a Bishop. Though the rest seems to be from her time helping the wounded. That's more understandable. Still, the things that lets one gain experience to level up sure can be strange in this world.
Momonga chuckled at that and moved to the next sheet.
Gauldoth Half-Dead
Starting Level: 52 [Racial: 2 -Undead (1) Ghoul (1) (Human)- Job: 50 -Necromancer (10) Master of Death (10) Wizard (15) Sorcerer (10) Illusionist (2) Academic Wizard (3)-]
Momonga smiled as he looked at the racial classes. It should have been impossible to give a humanoid racial classes under the YGGDRASIL system but Ainz had forced it through as a means to give Gauldoth his unique condition. Though admittedly it had been more to just experiment how far he could bend the system than anything else. That however did not detract from the pride he felt at the achievement.
Current Level: 78 [Racial: 2 -Undead (1) Ghoul (1) (Human)- Job: 76 -Necromancer (10) Master of Death (10) Wizard (15) Sorcerer (10) Illusionist (2) Academic Wizard (9) Armored Mage (10) Commander (10)-]
So I can reason that he leveled Academic Wizard by studying the ruins he and his party created? Yes, the timestamps tally up. As for Armored Mage and Commander, it's not too hard figure out where the levels there came from. He's a little low level overall though, probably because he tends to let his minions do the fighting for him and that meant he gained less experience.
"My Lord, those are all the sheets for your avatars-"
"Show me those of their partymates as well." Momonga said interrupting Demiurge. "I wish to see the strengths of those who my children call family."
"As you command, my Lord. I must warn you beforehand however that the data is likely to be jumbled at best. We have yet to formulate a good way to translate the levels that the people of Toril measure things into our YGGDRASIL based metrics."
"I understand. Show them to me nonetheless."
"At once, my Lord."
Kuro
Current Level: ? [Racial: ? -Blacklight Slime (?)- Job: ? -Shapeshifter (?) Psion (?) Father (?)-]
Special Note: Kuro's levels and even classes, are variable based on the form or combination thereof that he is copying at any given time. The above is merely a representation of his baseline levels and classes.
Not much I can tell from this. Then again I did not expect much more than his entry. Moving on.
Grimfal
Current Level: 1 [Racial: 1 -Slime Dragon Wyrmling (1)- Job: 0]
"I suppose my cute little grandchild is still only a newborn, it'll take time, even for one of my descent, to grow to be a powerhouse." Momonga said, mostly as a joke than anything else though the look Demiurge shot him told him that the Devil thought it was words of wisdom.
Argh! Why do they do that with everything I say. It gets old quickly dammit. Especially since it means I have to be careful with everything I say.
Knowing he would get nowhere if he tried to correct the Devil's misconception however Momonga simply ignored it and toggled the display to the next sheet.
Taana Baryn Zyfyn
Current Level: ? [Racial: N.A. (Shadar-Kai)- Job: ? -Wizard (?) Lightning Savant (?) Runesmith (?) Fighter (?) Runic Knight (?) Paladin (2)-]
So she has levels in Paladin for serving me. Hmm… Considering how limited her use of Runes are, I imagine her levels in Runesmith and Runic Knight are minimal at best. Quite a waste to keep them at all, but I can understand the sentimentality that drove her to do so. Overall though, she has proven herself quite the able servant and trustworthy companion for my children. That's all that really matters.
"Demiurge, do we have data on Kuro and Taana as they were when they first met my children?"
"I'm afraid not, my Lord. At least not at this time. These measurements were produced through careful study of their demonstrated abilities. We shall however work hard to produce them for your comparison as soon as possible."
"Take your time, it is just a curiosity on my part." Momonga said steepling his fingers in front of his face. "More importantly, it seems the experiment to see if we can gain experience and levels using the YGGDRASIL system in this new world has been an unqualified success."
"As you undoubtedly knew it would, my Lord." Demiurge praised. "Truly you foresight is astounding."
"It was no foresight." Momonga countered. "Merely common sense. We are not too different from the locals. If they can gain levels, then surely we could too."
"You downplay your genius as always, my Lord." Demiurge said fawningly. "Truly your humility knows no bounds."
There he goes again. Momonga thought with exasperation.
Unwilling to attempt another futile attempt to convince the Devil of his own fallibility, Momonga changed the subject.
"What does surprise me is the fact that those locals who have converted to the YGGDRASIL system like Taana seem perfectly able to access their old spells and skills without any complications. A welcome outcome but unexpected nonetheless."
"Yes," Demiurge said with a nod. "By the time Lady Taana decided to undergo the conversion, we had already had time to beta-test everything with the Priests of Sebas and managed to iron out any kinks that might arise."
"True enough," Momonga admitted. "But those were few and far between anyways, for which we were lucky. Though, speaking of beta tests-"
The Overlord trailed off meaningfully and the genius Devil quickly provided the answer to his unfinished question.
"Everything is ready for Lady Taana, my Lord." Demiurge reassured him. "She'll serve as a fine beta tester for our newly developed soul runes. And, of course, measures are in place should mishaps occur."
Soul runes were runes developed by Demiurge that were etched into a subject's soul and unlike normal runes did not become inert after they ran out of charges. Instead they slowly drew energy from their host's soul itself to recharge over time.
"Remember Demiurge, no permanent harm must come to her or my children from this experiment or I will be most upset." Momonga warned, shooting the Devil a sharp look. "But if you are sure that you are ready, then you have my permission to approach Taana to ask for her consent to carry out the procedure."
He personally didn't see the need for Taana to carry out the procedure at all yet he had illusions over whether she'd agree. The opportunity to etch her Master's legacy into her soul? She'd kill for the chance. Even if he doubted the girl would use the runes often.
"All is ready, I swear it on your name Lord Momonga." Demiurge reassured him with an oath which was considered practically sacred by all of Nazarick. "The procedure will be complete and Lady Taana ready to depart with the rest of your Chosen when they set off for Faerûn."
Momonga continued looking at Demiurge sternly for a moment to make him sweat a little and remind him of the seriousness of what he was undertaking before finally nodding.
Ignoring the Devil's sigh of relief, the undead primordial turned his attention towards the Mirror of Remote Viewing once more which was showing an image of his children and their family as they planned their trip to Faerûn.
How I wish I could join you.
Done!
That's it for this 'book' folks. Next chapter will be the first chapter of the climactic 'book' of this story, hopefully I'll see you there.
So Yorha and Kuro did the deed and even got a kid out of it. I tried to create some chemistry between them to set this up for some time now but I'm unsure if I did it well. Do let me know in a review if I did okay. On that note, I do want to say that Yorha is a lot less in love with Kuro than he is with her. She mainly did what she did to have a child. She wanted to see what it was like. This was why in this chapter, she considered, if only for a second, going to one of the other party members and asking them to be the father of her child. That said, she does have the strongest romantic attachment to Kuro even if she can't quite call it love.
On another note, why did I include the soul runes if Taana is noted by Ainz/Momonga to likely not use them often. Well, it's a nod to the character sheet that her creator, my former beta AllForFire, made for her. As I actually wrote out the story, her having runes just didn't fit so they got sidelined but in respect for the character he created I'm keeping her abilities mostly as we discussed and agreed upon. It might make things odd but I think keeping faith with him even if he's no longer working on the project is more important, especially when I can minimize the former.
Beyond that point, I don't really have much to say about this chapter so till the next one ardievas!
