A/N: WHATS UP, MUCKACHUNGAS!? It's Travez here with a new chapter for you all! Like the new intro guys? Took me a while to come up with something more original! Especially considering all the nonsense words my mom developed over the years to try and make me laugh or to just flat-out confuse the heck out of me! So anyway I am here today to bring you all a new chapter for Role the Dice: Asteriskos Sapphirus! So it's official, this is going to be the first Boss Battle of Role the Dice, and I am honestly excited to get this thing going! If the group survives this battle, they will be getting a level up and I have some neat little things planned for everything going forward! So I hope you guys are interested in what is going to happen from here on out!

Though, I have a question for all of you, which of these Player Character Arcs done first:

Option 1: "The Fiendish Five" (Fiona)

Option 2: "The Four Horsemen" (Damos)

Option 3: "The Black Comet" (Drugo)

Option 4: "The Kraken's Fall" (Longclaw)

Option 5: "In the Dark of the Night" (Ember)

Option 6: "The Left Hand of the Great One" (Mina)

These arcs are optional, but I would be interested in seeing which of these characters you would like to get One-Fifth of their personal character arcs done, and trust me, I have some major things planned for each personal arc, but I would like to know which story you want to see get started first! If you have a Character Arc you would like to see, please leave a review, and the one with the most votes by Tuesday, May 31st will be the one we explore first as we get ready for the next big Arc after this one, if everyone survives that is!

Also, going forward, I'm going to try and make it that each story arc is at least 3 Sessions Long (As well as each session being at least 5,000 words, not including Author's Notes), and if things go well, by the end of each Arc, the pcs should get a level up! And for the Personal Arcs, if the section of the arc is completed with the respective character being alive, I might have something interesting for that specific character! So for the series formula, we will have it that the Arcs proceed like this, we will start with the Main Story Arc, and depending on if we are in appropriate point for it, I will flip a coin to determine whether we are doing a Character Arc or Optional Arc, which are just side-quests related to specific characters, before continuing with the Main Story, if we didn't break off from it already. Also, as for the setting of the story, the majority of the story will be taking place within the countries that contain the Carpathian Mountains. So while the layout of the world will be explained later in the chapter, all you need to know is that the countries we will be exploring will be this world's version of: The Czech Republic, Austria, Slovakia, Poland, Hungary, Ukraine, Romania, and Serbia. However, we will be going to Russia at some point before the end of this series for Ember's personal arc so, as Scar would say: Be Prepared.

Anyway that is enough out of me! Please be sure to Follow, Favorite, Review, and Share this story with every person you know who loves Dungeons and Dragons Content! Catch ya on the Flipside! NAT 20!

Session 2: Battle of the Ratway

Everyone looks to Damos, whose smile is both terrifying and shocking to everyone around him. "I've been waiting for this!" Damos says, smiling, "Hunting Demons is what I live for!"

"Zealotry…" Annamina says, pinching the bridge of her nose. "You'll get your chance, friend but right now we need to take care of these Windmills that are being built…"

"She is right, friend…" Algernon says, "If we can destroy the circle before it's complete, then we may just be able to kill the demon before it can summon reinforcements!"

"That's the least of our problems…" Damos says. "Demons just don't pop up out of nowhere… They enter this world through rifts, and if we don't close it, then we're all in trouble!" Everyone looks at Damos in shock, but then he brings out the map. "It took me a bit more thinking to realize it but these Windmills aren't being set up in a Teleportation Circle, no this is a Magic circle designed to rapidly expand an abyssal portal, after examining the fields and placements of the farms!" Everyone is shocked, that is when doors open, revealing Father Dorian walks in, the wererats tense for a moment only to relax. "Father!"

"We have a problem…!"

"What is it?" Algernon asks, to which Father Dorian leads them outside and points to a direction and there is an ominous orange light coming from some distance away. "What the hell?"

"The Guards, over the past few hours, swept the farms, finding Abyssal Chickens and Stench Kows at each location, almost as if they were guarding the farms and the windmills. Once I confirmed with them there is a demon running amok, and how we believe it is either possessing or posing as Lord Math is, the entire town militia decided that something needed to be done! Now these lights have begun to show themselves…" he looks to Algernon, who takes his human form as Father Dorian brings out noble garments. "It is time, Algernon…"

"Right…!" Algernon says, quickly changing into the garments as the wererats take their human forms. "Will you six stand with me?"

"We will!" Damos says, "This is what I was born for!"

"I will fight!" Drugo says, smiling. Mina looks at the picture in a locket around her neck, smiling.

"Well I'm not opposed to kicking some demon ass!" Mina says.

"I'm in!" Ember says, smiling.

"I shall fight to save these people!" Longclaw says.

"I've always wondered what demon blood tastes like…!" Fiona says, to which everyone smiles in agreement, whilst Father Dorian restores the last of Drugo's wounds. Following the Cleric to where the Militia is gathering, and moving to the front, Algernon makes his way forward to speak to the guards.

"I am Algernon, the Son of Archdruid Athras and Lady Melody Basilius! I come before you now not to make demands, but to ask for your aid! I am the King of Rats that has been plaguing this city for tue past year, but not out of malicious intent! I and my fellows had noticed fiendish influences over the are and had been investigating the farms, as well as destroying, incentivising the farmers to destroy the infected crops they grew! Forgive me for what I had done, but it was all for the sake of the people that I do it. Right now, the demon that either possesses or is posing as my grandfather is planning to widen a portal to the Abyss that will allow through demons that are stronger than the Abyssal Chickens and Stench Kows you dealt with not more than a few hours ago! I ask that you lend me your aid in defeating this menace so that the land may recover and cleanse itself, and so that peace, civility, and happiness cna return to our people in time!" Algernon says to the men, who slowly become roused by the speech. "ARE YOU WITH ME!?" The men cheer loudly, along with the mercenaries who willingly join him, while the wererats roar approvingly.

Thankfully, Dorian, having put on his combat garb, and joined by his fellow clerics, all rush to the mansion with the Militia, in which, much to the surprise of everyone, despite the menacing glow, is unusually quiet, but that all stops when the moon reveals the corpses lying on the grounds.

"Everyone!" Father Dorian says, the clerics passing out vials, "Dowse your weapons in this holy water! If these corpses rise then this will be your best offense against them!" Every soldier does as the cleric commands and soon they charge the Mansion, spears glinting with holy water.

Almost as predicted, the corpses rise and begin to fight the Militia, in which the Guard Captain looks to Algernon! "Milord! Go around the army and get to that demon, we'll hold these bastards here!"

"But!" Algernon begins.

"Go! The sooner you close that portal, the sooner you can return!" The captain says, to which Damos puts a hand on Algernon's shoulder, the young man nodding as the group follows Dorian around the outside of the ranks and the zombies and to the front door of the Mansion itself. Drugo… dashing at the door, uses himself as a battering ram, shattering the wooden door, and everyone rushes through to see the Fireplace of the Manor, nearly 60 feet in front of them, has a golden, crackling portal in it's heart, spinning rapidly as a man, who barely looks like he is skin and bones, turns to them, smiling wickedly. "Ah… So my daughter's ill begotten child has come to me at last!"

"Shut up! I know what you are, Demon! Tell me, how long was this portal open?" Damos says, stepping forward.

"A Devil, how delicious… I will enjoy feasting on your flesh! As for how long this portal was open, well it took me years to figure out why, but that damned Archdruid had allowed himself to be burned at the stake, and it seems he knew what he was doing as he placed a spell upon the portal to prevent it from expanding, so long as the druid's bloodline remained free of demonic influence…" the old man says, his body being torn apart as a 12ft tall, four armed demon rises from the literal skinsuit. "I had to sacrifice much of my power to ensure that I could find and infect you with Lycanthropy!"

"So you did this to me!" Algernon says, transforming into his hybrid form, angry, but then he laughs. "Tell me, did my grandfather go mad before you possessed him, or did you possess him right away?"

"It was easy to do as soon as I forced my way through, your grandfather, though angry, was about to allow your parents to be married, and because he wasn't expecting an attack in his own house, it wasn't hard to do!" The Glabrezu says, "Though now I no longer need you, or that damned circle! You may have reduced the demo ix threat down to me, but you will not find me such easy prey! And the portal is ready to proceed to stage three-" That is when a divine light shines down as Dorian is Praying. "A Divine Intervention! I won't let you…!"

(A/N: Roll Initiative! *Rolls dice* Turn Order: Ember, Fiona, Reduced Threat Glabrezu, Drugo, Longclaw, Damos, Mina.)

Ember, thinking fast, gently takes runs her hand along her mantle, and swings her hand, releasing silver flames that fly towards the demon, wreathing the monster in ethereal flames, ensuring that the creature cannot use any sort of invisibility to hide. Fiona, noticing the flames wreathing the demon, smirks as she summons a blade to her hand made out of psionic energy, feeling the presence deep inside her smile as she does, charging at the creature and slashes at the demon, who roars in pain as a small amount of blood flows out of it's nose. The Demon snarls at the Dhampir, lashing out with it's two pincers, the Dhampir barely dodging both attacks, standing directly between the two claws, her eyes wide with an audible "Kya!". Seeing how his attacks aren't going to work, he then notices the ethereal flames around his body and smirks.

"Clever little spitfire!" The Demon says, casting Dispel Magic to remove the flames from his body.

"Clever enough for me!" Drugo shouts as he jumps at the demon, opening his maw… The air around his maw reverberates as he sinks his teeth into the back of the Glabrezu's head, aiming his lower teeth into the back of the demon's skull. Upon his teeth sinking in, the Dragon's starburst patterns glow indigo, with both Thunder and Force energy erupting into the Demon's Head, the creature roaring in pain as the energy is sent into the demon like the venom of a snake.

(*Rolls for Longclaw* NAT 1! Oh fuck… I gotta roll Severity…! *Rolls a d100* Oh thank god, a 91!)

Longclaw, rushing over to the Demon, pulls his arm back to swing, only to find that he misses, his claws not extending, and the Ranger looks terrified. "GHOST!" The Ranger shouts as the cat sized Dragon jumps from under his hood and flies past the demon, it's fangs ripping off a small chunk out of it's leg as it lands behind the demon, the little dragon roaring defiantly. Damos, smiling eagerly, and with his navy blue eyes glowing menacingly, aims his ring at the Demon with a smile on his face, the voices of Four Pit Fiend Demons repeating as he speaks in Infernal.

(DAMOS ROLLED A FREAKING NAT 20!)

"With the Blood War's Rage of Crimson Red, we fill black souls with darkest Dread! And twist your minds with Painand Hate! We'll Destroyyou all! THAT IS YOUR FATE!" Damos shouts in Infernal, speaking the only memento he has of his eldest brothers and Elder sister, a memory of the three Pit Fiend Devils whom he shared a father with, the three of them taking on a hoard of lesser demons to protect him. Their Oath of Conquest… The Oath that invokes fear in their enemies… Absolute Terror, Hatred begot by Fear, A Lust for Destruction born of Fear… And Finally, if Damos had been a Paladin and taken this oath, Fear of one's own Fate…

"DEMONS BEGONE!" The voices of the Four Devils shout as the ring glows brightly from it's Star Ruby.

"GUIDING BOLT!" Damos shouts in Infernal, using a punching motion to send the a bolt of radiant light, three colors flowing from the bolt as it hits the demon, who screams in agony as the radiant power from the Nine Hells rips through it's body, forcing the Demon to fall to his knees.

"Impossible…!" The Glabrezu snarls, falling to his knees, only for another bolt of radiant energy to rip through him, a crossbow bolt as Mina had taken her shot, and landed the shot in his forehead.

(BTW: Mina rolled a Nat 20)

Ember looks at the creature, seeing it is barely clinging to life as it growls at them, in which the creature growls at the Genasi. "You wretches… You think you've won? By killing me here, I will regain my full power once I return to the Abyss, and when I finally make it back here, I swear that I will tear you all to pieces!"

"If you ever return from that place of damnation, we will be waiting for you…" Ember says, the nails on her right hand extending into talons. "In my name, Anastasiya Ember Elin, Tsarina of the Empire of Russia, Daughter of the Lunar Blossom, Queen of the Dragon's Maw, Maiden of the Frostreach… I hereby sentence you to die…!" Ember says, raising her claws, and slicing the Demon's head off, acid and blood dripping from her nails as they retract to normal. The demon's body then begins to transform into an ominous mist as it is drawn through the portal, along with mist from the corpses of the demon corpses that had been outside of town, all flowing through the portal as Dorian rises.

"IN THE NAME OF OBAD-HAI, I BANISH YOU UNHOLY ABOMINATIONS!" Dorian shouts, holding out his hand as the Divine Favor activates, and the portal is rapidly struck by lightning. The Lightning breaks up the vortex, causing it to crash down on itself as the back of the hearth seals up tightly with stone and mud, creating a normal hearth again. "It's over… The Portal has been destroyed, and the hearth has been cleansed… It will be weeks before things go back to normal, but we should be fine on our own!" The guards then rush through the door, covered in gore from fighting the undead, and the captain walks to the front.

"Is it over, Father?" The Guard Captain asks.

"Yes, it is! Our friends made short work of the demon, as it had already weakened itself considerably to break the seal implanted in Algernon's blood." Father Dorian says, "Speaking of which, Algernon, do you wish to take up your grandfather's mantle?"

"No, I think a new official, elected from amongst the people, should be chosen to run the town. Though, I would also like to redistribute some of the wealth, but also give our heroes some much deserved reward for their aid!" Algernon explains.

"Now that you mention it…!" The Guard Captain says, walking over to Damos, and handing him a sack of coin. "This gold was to be given to those who solved our rat problem… Turns out it was a demon problem, but we wish you to take it anyway!" Damos checks inside and finds the purse contains about 18 Gold Pieces, much to everyone's annoyance.

"Hey don't be like that!" Algernon says, "When we find the Vault in this manner, I'll give you a reward befitting those who killed a Glabrezu, plus a little extra, depending on what we find, also, if you guys find anything interesting you like here, feel free to take it now!" Everyone begins searching around… Unfortunately for Ember, the moment she starts looking for something, she steps on a weak board and falls through the floor.

"Kya!" She screams, landing hard. She groans as she rubs her ass, standing up.

"Ember, you okay?" Drugo asks, rushing to the hole.

"Yeah, I'm fine! I think I fell into the cellar!" Ember says, "It's a bit dark in here, but I think I see the stairs leading up!"

"Okay, we'll meet you there in a bit!" Drugo says. When it comes to finding the vault throughout the manor, Fiona doesn't do much better, neither does Drugo. However, Longclaw, following his instincts, searching the storage room, casts Thaumaturgy to send his voice, in the form of a wolf's howl, over the manor, and alerting everyone he had found it. As this is happening, Damos and Mina both find something interesting themselves, but decide to make a mental note of that for later as everyone converges on Longclaw. The Shifter is smiling as he shows everyone the vault, and Fiona smiles.

"Good boy!" Fiona says, petting the shifter on the head, who blushes bright red with embarrassment, but then Fiona takes a look at the door to the vault… Finding this thing to not have any visible traps, but she does notice that the lock seems to have a number combination to it. "Well fuck… I don't know the combination…" She then looks around outside the room and in the room with the vault… And notices a painting on the opposite side of the room, and brings out a magnifying glass. "A Painting Combination Lock… It should have the combination on it!" The Dhampir smirks as the painting looks like a marshland with a naked nymph lying across a log. The last place she expected to find the combination was in the pubic hair of the Nymph, having expected it to be in the natural scenery instead… 4-9-13… Taking this combination to the Vault, she opens it with a smirk and then the vault door opens to reveal bags of coin, along with several gemstones, objects of value and magical trinkets inside, along with bars of electrum, gold, and platinum too! "Jackpot!"

"Well, my mercenary friends, first let me collect your reward for killing that demon!" Algernon says, carefully bringing out a coin purse, and giving the company 120 Gold Pieces and 18 Platinum Pieces, and to join this, he gives them 18 Pieces of Blue Quartz, and 18 Pieces of Eye Agate. Algernon then picks up a Silver Plated sword made of Steel with a large piece of Jet set as the pommel. However, there is something strange about this sword… There is no tapering to this blade, with one half of it having been chipped almost methodically, whilst there are two irregularly placed fullers along each side of the blade. Damos examines the sword… In which his eyes widen and he smiles as he looks at it.

"A Keyblade! I haven't seen one of these in a while!"

"Keyblade?" Mina asks.

"They are ancient silver plated steel swords that are meant to act as keys to vaults that belonged to the Dwarves of Days Past!" Dorian explains, "There are a number of ruined cities that the Dwarves left behind when the Great Revelation took place, and as such, many evil dragons have taken these ruins for themselves…" He then shows them the name of the city this sword was built for, written in Dwarvish, but Longclaw smirks as he knows the name of this place.

"Sanctuary City…" Longclaw says, "I know where that is located, the largest mountain in the Carpathian Mountain Range, Gerlach Peak!"

"Seriously?" Damos asks, smirking at the shifter. "Well then I know where we need to go one of these days!" He then places the sword in it's sheath and places the thing into his bag of holding.

The Next Morning

Drugo finds himself inside a black void in his dreams, finding that, before him, is Bahamut with his Seven Bodyguards, who look down upon the young Sapphire Dragon with amusement. "You have done well for your first battle against the forces of evil, Drugo'Naigo… Though you still have a long way to go!"

"I thank you for your kind words!"

"Oh stop that! I asked you to come here, and so you have made an impressive start! Though, I have seen the need to… Let's say do some housekeeping with your abilities…!"

"My lord?" Drugo'Naigo asks.

"Before, you had asked if you could utilize your attacks with the same elemental power as before, correct? Well I think that, after that last battle, you need a bit more freedom and options…" He then snaps his fingers, revealing that he has changed things around slightly, giving Drugo the Tough and Mobile Feats without his permission. "Drugo, you are doing amazing so far, my boy, but I need to keep you alive for as long as possible, so please try to understand what I've done."

"I… I understand, my lord…" To which the god smiles and pets his head.

"Good luck boy, and again, hell of a start!"

Waking up that morning, Drugo feels his body has become much lighter, and when he looks at the scales on his body, there are more starbursts upon his black body, smaller, and not noticeable unless one were up close, but they are there, and his body looks like it has a finer polish and are far harder than he remembers. Picking himself up and slowly walking down the stairs, he makes his way to the tavern's floor, which many look at the dragon and raise their glasses, hailing the dragon. "Hail to the Night's Fury!" One of the Patron shouts.

"No, we name him the Black Star!" Another says, Drugo is stunned at the idea of being given such names.

"Nay! Name him the Black Comet!" Another shouts, to which the stars on Drugo's cheeks glow red with embarrassment as he makes his way to his companions, who sit at a nearby table, the people praising the dragon for his pivotal role in defeating the demons that infested their farms and their town. Today, the town is planning on celebrating their liberation and salvation from the Demons, and, as such, the people are now praising their new heroes. Though, as Drugo takes his seat at the table with his new comrades, he sees the group going over a map as they plan out their next move over breakfast. "Morning!" Drugo says.

"Morning!" Ember says, then she gasps. "You're now super shiny!"

"Yes, I woke up this morning and found myself like this!" Drugo explains, "Still I think this is amazing, I feel like my natural armor is stronger than before! Not only that!" He shows them his new retractable claws. "My claws now work!"

"Nice!" Damos says, smiling. Soon the group goes over the map and Drugo notices it is a world map, which carries the names of the continents of the Anora he knows, but he can see that Anora had changed so much since he first created it and they have changed to become identical to the continents on Earth.

Thinking back on it, the continents he knew were all given names associated with the 8 Elemental Planes: Atlantis (Water), Fireheart (Fire), Stonefather (Earth), Skycrown (Air), All-Garden (Wood), Ironfell (Metal), The Night Lands (Darkness), and Suncradle (Light). For reference, the Elemental Planes of Positive and Negative Energies would be represented by the Nightlands and Suncradle, whilst the All-Garden and Ironfell were unique to the Anoran Setting. Each continent was loosely tied to it's element, and thus each had their own unique ecosystems. Now, however, it seems the Cataclysm caused by the Great Revelation had caused the continents to be reshaped to look more like Earth's six continents. From what he can tell, the Continents of All-Garden and the Nightlands had been fused to create the Americas in the West, Stonefather became Australia, Fireheart became Africa, Atlantis and Skycrown fused to become Antarctica, whilst Ironfell became Europe, and Suncradle became all of Asia.

However as they eat, drink, and plan out their next move, they see Algernon walk over with what appears to be something covered in a large cloth, and everyone smiles. "Quiet! Quiet everyone!" The man says, "Yesterday we had narrowly avoided a crisis, a crisis that was averted with the aid of these six mercenaries, and as such, on behalf of all of us, we wish to thank you all for your efforts, and especially you, young dragon!"

"Me?" Drugo asks, confused. "What did I do that was so special?"

"You were the one who found the farms were infested with Abyssal Chickens, though it nearly cost you your life to reveal the truth!" Algernon says, "And we know that one day you will find a home of your own and build a hoard where you can look back upon your victories. So to commemorate your first real victory, I offer you these!" He pulls back the cloth to reveal to everyone the modified skull of the Glabrezu. The Fiend's Skull has been gilded, having been split into two pieces, each being made into a Skull Bowl that can hold a gallon of liquid, and a large chalice, which can hold at least 30 ounces of liquid! The Pieces of the skull that were made into these implements are plated in gold, covered in gemstones, and with the bowl, the horns had been repositioned to act like that of a stand, and Drugo looks in shock. "May these works of our master craftsmen remind you of us in the far future, when you finally grow to a mighty dragon, and look back on this place, Long River, as the starting point of your journey!" Drugo looks on the map and smirks as he thinks of something.

"Actually, i think there is a name I might like to suggest for Long River in the native language of Ukraine!"

"And what is that?" Algernon asks.

?

"And to this, the young dragon suggests "Kyiv" as the new name for Long River, and in the decades to come, this simple town would become the capital of the Ukrainian Kingdom…" To which a hand closes a book, "And so ends the Flowers for Algernon Arc… How did you enjoy the story so far?"

"It was wonderful!" A little girl says, smiling as she looks at the man at the desk. "But what about the rest of the story?"

"Oh we will continue it another, for now we are entering the next arc, "Red vs Blue". And in this one, I am sure you will like it, but now run off to bed!" The man says, to which the little girl smiles and rushes off as the man gently picks up the book and puts it onto the shelf. He then turns to the mirror near him, and smirks as the image on it changes from that of a human with dark tan skin, with brown eyes, and black hair to that of a black sapphire dragon...