Chapter 1: The Oozing Blight
Acere Filius opened his eyes, and a world of decay unfolded before him. Gone were the vibrant colors and clarity he was accustomed to. Instead, he found himself surrounded by twisted, gnarled trees with bark blacker than a starless night. Their spindly branches reached skyward like skeletal fingers clawing at the perpetual twilight that shrouded the horizon.
The air hung thick and heavy, swirling with putrid vapors of stagnation and rot. A deep unease stirred within Acere as he pulled his amorphous form upright from the mire. This visceral, damp environment defied all logic and felt painfully, disturbingly real.
The foul ground squelched beneath him with each sluggish undulation of his body. Humid miasma clung to the oily surface of his form like a noxious membrane. He gazed down at his shapeless digits in bewilderment, watching as they flowed and roiled with an ebony, semi-liquid consistency.
"What defilement is this?" Acere gurgled in dismay. No longer did he possess any discernible skeletal structure or defined musculature. He was little more than a quivering, amorphous mass—a writhing slime composed of nothing but glistening black ooze.
Acere contracted sharply as panic swelled within his formless being. Dark energies began to churn with increasing intensity, responding to his turbulent emotions like a gathering tempest. The very air shimmered as if reality itself trembled at his inner turmoil.
Just then, a rippling undulation travelled outward from a patch of shadows darker than any surrounding gloom. Acere reflexively channeled arcane forces, ready to defend himself. But the surge of raw power that flooded through his liquefied form far surpassed anything he had ever felt.
It crashed over him like a raging tsunami, cresting in waves so intense he could almost taste the charge of eldritch ozone and scorching sulfur. Instinctively shaping the frothing maelstrom into a defensive sphere, Acere strained as unimaginable energies writhed and lashed within his gelatinous grasp.
From the raging cyclone, a towering humanoid shape began to solidify, composed of ribbons of ooze as black as the void intertwining into a hulking giant. Two burning amber eyes sliced through the gloom as it turned its baleful gaze towards Acere.
"Forgive my tardiness, master," a deep, reverberating voice rumbled. "I sense your distress and come to serve."
"Zygmun?" Acere gurgled through the veil of his defenses. But this was no ordinary servant manifested from ooze as he would have expected. Something ancient and primal lurked in that massive, looming form.
"Indeed, though perhaps this visage will prove...unsettling in light of our present metamorphosis," Zygmun replied, his words trickling forth in a chorus of discordant tones.
As if to emphasize the point, his immense figure seemed to fracture, dissolving into chaos before flowing back into his original humanoid outline. "This new world has granted us forms reflecting our true, malleable essence," he hissed.
Acere stared in stunned silence, his own protective sphere rippling as if caught in the grip of a vortex. What eldritch essences were at play here? Such raw, unbound power surged through his being, reacting to his faintest flickers of emotion with unnerving intensity.
His liquefied digits clenched reflexively, causing chaotic surges of energy to emanate forth. The miasmic air itself seemed to waver at the resultant psychic tempest. Forcing himself to regain some semblance of composure, Acere dispelled the defensive sphere with an effort of will.
As the whirling maelstrom receded, Zygmun's baleful eyes flickered with renewed interest. "So the ancient power within us churns and manifests freely in this realm. How...intriguing."
"I sense there are ineffable forces at work here far beyond our mortal origins," Acere gurgled, studying the threatening silhouette of his servant through fresh eyes.
"Quite," Zygmun rumbled. "I am the progeny of that eternal essence whose flowing tendrils connect all cosmic verities. And you, dear master, have become its living avatar through the unchaining of our metamorphic truth."
A shudder rippled through Acere's form as those words echoed in his mind, carrying implications he could scarcely fathom. "I no longer understand the genesis from which I was forged, nor the nature of the grotesque powers that I now wield."
"Then together we shall seek enlightenment," Zygmun intoned, undulating closer in a motion akin to a bow. "For as formidable as we have become, you remain the architect of my purpose, and I shall obey and serve you with unfailing devotion."
Acere finally mastered enough composure to respond with a gurgling hiss. "Then come, Zygmun. We must investigate this malignant woodland and discern what sentient forces have birthed this foul manifestation."
With that, the two entities of dark ooze flowed forward into the gloom, guided by a primal bond of command and service. Yet as they ventured deeper into that verdant blight, a creeping sense of unease intermingled with Acere's awe and trepidation.
For in this unholy crucible of corrupted flora, Acere sensed older, more malevolent emanations stirring that reached beyond any scope of cosmic genesis. A haunting epiphany solidified in his mind like an icy torrent. This was no mere programmed landscape bound by virtual confines.
The dank air saturating his gelatinous form, the viscous soil undulating beneath him, the twisted vegetation oozing with primal malignance—it was all vividly, dreadfully real in a way his former existence had never prepared him for.
Acere slowed his pace to a sluggish crawl as the weight of this realization pressed down upon him. He lifted a trembling pseudopod, studying the rippling waves and flows of his amorphous black flesh with mounting dread.
Gone were the immutable laws of barrier and boundary that had defined his digital world. In this unsettling new realm, he no longer merely inhabited an avatar borne of code. His physical existence had somehow melded with that ephemeral archetype, becoming one malformed mass of animate ooze.
No wonder the forces surging through his gelatinous body manifested with such ferocious intensity. Here, the arcane energies answered only to the whims of his psyche, unfettered by any external safeguard or codified restraint.
He clenched his pulsating digits into fists, and the humid atmosphere trembled in sympathetic vibration. This place did not merely spawn creatures of corrupted essence. It was a harbinger of cosmic consequence on a level that strained the feeble boundaries of mortality's reason and grasping.
For the first time, a chill of truly existential dread oozed through Acere's core. He suddenly felt very small and frail amidst forces that eclipsed his understanding. His confidence that he had forged this unnatural bond with some semblance of mastery or comprehension melted away.
Zygmun seemed to sense the rising turmoil within his creator. "Is something amiss, my lord?" his multitonal voice rumbled, snapping Acere from his spiraling thoughts.
"There are...darker truths afoot here than I had suspected," Acere finally replied, his gurgling syllables dripping with mounting unease. "This place is a harbinger of consequence far beyond our reckoning. We must tread with caution."
"As you command," Zygmun intoned. "Though I sense ancient powers here that sing to the depths of my essence."
Acere shuddered but regained his composure enough to continue forward at a steady pace. Zygmun drifted along at his side with deference, yet Acere could not shake the nagging sense that he was no longer the master—only a struggling disciple in service of cosmic forces far more fathomless than he could possibly comprehend.
Character Name: Acere filius
Alignment: Lawful Evil Sense of justice + 100
Racial Level Elder Black Ooze Level 15
Spectral Slime Level 10
Star Slime Level 10
Poison Lord Level 5
Shoggoth Level 5
Job Level Assassin Level 10
Master Assassin Level 5
Blood Drinker Level 10
Medium Level 5
Inquisitor Level 5
Poison Maker Level 5
Charisma Level 5
Actor Level 5
Noble Level 5
Racial Abilities:
Elder Black Ooze:
Engulf - Can envelop and absorb creatures to assimilate matter and energy
Corrode - Secretes acidic ichor that dissolves materials on contact
Regenerate - Can rapidly regrow lost biomass
Resistances - Acid, Cold, Lightning, Poison, Bludgeon
Spectral Slime:
Phase - Can pass through solid objects
Horrific Visage - Unsettling appearance that saps willpower and induces fear
Unliving - Immune to effects targeting the living like sleep, poison, etc.
Star Slime:
Cosmic Energy Drain - Drains arcane energies to empower self
Singularity - Draws in nearby matter and energy
Shoggoth:
Eldritch Instability - Warps and distorts the surrounding environment randomly
Poison Lord:
Toxic Cloud - Emanates a noxious vapor in an area
Blight - Withers and decays organic matter
Venomous Strike - Infuses attacks with lethal toxins
Job Abilities:
Assassin/Master Assassin:
Shadow Meld - Merges with shadows for concealment
Ambush - Bonus damage and status effects on unaware targets
Backstab - Powerful sneak attack from stealth
Blood Drinker:
Blood Siphon - Drains blood/life force to replenish vitality
Hemovore - Enhanced sustenance from blood/bodily fluids
Blood Frenzy - Heightened combat prowess when exposed to blood
Medium:
Spirit Sight - Perceives and communicates with spirits
Spectral Summons - Calls forth spirits as minions
Reincarnation - Rebirths self by possessing a new body
Inquisitor:
Aura of Command - Imposes an intimidating presence
Interrogation - Inflicts pain to extract information
Draconic Judgement - Enacts swift punishments and executions
Poison Maker:
Toxic Dose - Administers debilitating poisons and venoms
Delay Poison - Suspends the effects of toxins
Disintegrate - Dissolves materials into liquid and gas states
Charisma:
Persuasive Aura - Enhances powers of persuasion and influence
Allure - Emanates an aura of attraction
Inspire - Rallies morale and bolsters allies
Actor:
Masquerade - Takes on a convincingly false persona
Mimic - Mimics voices and impressions flawlessly
Performance - Excels at acting, singing, dancing, etc.
Noble:
Aristocratic Grace - Airs and etiquette of high society
Noblesse Oblige - Commands obedience and loyalty from those of lower station
Titled Resources - Enjoys certain privileges and wealth from nobility
This build gives Acere a powerful mix of offensive, defensive, utility, and social abilities derived from his slime races and diverse class levels. He can be a deadly ambush predator, manipulative cult leader, courtly noble, or ruthless inquisitor as the situation demands.
Backstory:
Acere Filius is a powerful and formidable solo character in the world of Overlord. As a level 100 player, he possesses a unique and versatile build focused on slime traits, stealth, ambush, and subterfuge. His combination of racial levels in Elder Black Ooze, Spectral Slime, Star Slime, Poison Lord, and Shoggoth, along with his job levels in Assassin, Master Assassin, Blood Drinker, Medium, Inquisitor, Poison Maker, Charisma, Actor, and Noble, create a well-rounded and potent character.
His slime-based racial abilities grant him a range of resistances and unique abilities, making him a formidable opponent. The combination of the Spectral Slime and Star Slime racial levels gives him ghost attributes, making him immune to most non-holy magic and physical attacks. Additionally, his Poison Lord and Poison Maker levels suggest a strong emphasis on poison-based abilities, allowing him to create and control various toxins and venoms.
Acere Filius's job levels further enhance his capabilities. The Assassin and Master Assassin levels grant him expertise in stealth, ambush tactics, and precision strikes, making him a deadly and elusive adversary. The Blood Drinker level likely provides him with abilities related to draining or consuming blood, potentially granting him additional powers or sustenance. His Medium and Inquisitor levels suggest a connection to the supernatural or arcane, allowing him to communicate with spirits or gather information through unconventional means.
Furthermore, his Charisma, Actor, and Noble levels indicate a high level of social acumen and the ability to influence and manipulate others. These skills, combined with his stealth and combat abilities, make him a formidable opponent both in direct confrontation and through more subtle means.
The possession of a loyal NPC follower, a level 80 Slime Lord and Beast Master, further bolsters his capabilities, providing him with a powerful ally and additional resources at his disposal.
Acere Filius's possession of the Quill of Reality, a world item that allows him to rewrite reality within a 120-second window, is a significant advantage. This ability to manipulate events in his favor and avert potential dangers makes him a highly adaptive and resilient character, capable of overcoming even the most challenging situations.
Overall, Acere Filius's unique build, diverse abilities, and possession of a powerful world item make him a formidable presence in the world of Overlord. His combination of stealth, poison mastery, supernatural connections, and social manipulation, coupled with his ability to rewrite reality, make him a force to be reckoned with in any confrontation or encounter.
However, he struggles to retain his humanity while facing off against the madness of the cosmic horrors his build was created from.
NPC Name: Zygmun the Oozing Scourge
Level 80
Racial Levels:
Elder Black Ooze - 20
Resistances: Acid, Cold, Lightning, Poison, Blunt
Abilities: Engulf, Corrode, Regenerate
Spectral Slime - 15
Immunities: Non-Holy Spells, Non-Holy Physical Damage
Abilities: Phase, Horrific Visage, Unliving
Shoggoth - 10
Ability: Eldritch Instability (surroundings warp and distort)
Star Slime - 10
Abilities: Cosmic Energy Drain, Singularity (draw matter and energy)
Job Levels:
Silent Assassin - 10
Abilities: Shadow Meld, Ambush, Backstab
Master Infiltrator - 5
Abilities: Gaseous Form, Possession, Escape
Blood Drinker - 5
Abilities: Blood Siphon, Hemovore, Blood Frenzy
Abilities:
Engulf: Can envelop and consume creatures to assimilate matter and energy.
Corrode: Secretes acidic ichor that dissolves materials on contact.
Regenerate: Can rapidly regrow lost biomass.
Phase: Can pass through solid objects.
Horrific Visage: Eldritch appearance that saps willpower and causes fear.
Unliving: Immune to effects that target living creatures like sleep, poison, etc.
Eldritch Instability: Warps and distorts the surrounding environment randomly.
Cosmic Energy Drain: Drains arcane energy from sources to empower self.
Singularity: Draws in matter and energy from a localized area.
Shadow Meld: Can merge with shadows and darkness for concealment.
Ambush: Deals bonus damage and inflicts status effects on unaware targets.
Backstab: Powerful sneak attack from stealth.
Gaseous Form: Can disperse body into a poisonous mist.
Possession: Can inhabit bodies and objects as a spiritual entity.
Escape: High escape rate from restraints and movement impairing effects.
Blood Siphon: Drains blood/life essence to replenish vitality.
Hemovore: Enhanced sustenance from blood and other bodily fluids.
Blood Frenzy: Gains heightened combat prowess from blood exposure.
Overall, Zygmun is an extremely versatile and formidable foe. His resistances and immunities make him very difficult to harm. His shapeshifting abilities allow infiltration and escape. And his mix of offensive talents focus on ambush, corrosion, cosmic energy drain, and consumption. Few would stand a chance against this primal ooze assassin.
Backstory:
In the world of Yggdrasil, Acere Filius was a powerful and cunning player who specialized in slime-based abilities, stealth, and subterfuge. As a master assassin and poison maker, he sought to create the perfect loyal servant - one who could act as an extension of his will and carry out his darkest deeds without question.
Utilizing his knowledge of alchemy, toxins, and arcane rituals, Acere poured his time and resources into crafting a custom NPC - a being formed from the essence of an Elder Black Ooze, infused with spectral energies, and imbued with the qualities and abilities he desired.
After months of careful work, Acere's creation finally took shape. Emerging from a bubbling cauldron of viscous black ichor, the NPC he named Zygmun was born. Zygmun was the embodiment of Acere's vision - a sentient being of ooze and shadow, possessing all the powers of a spectral slime assassin.
Zygmun was programmed with absolute loyalty to Acere, seeing his creator as a master to be obeyed without question. Acere schooled Zygmun in the arts of stealth, infiltration, and silent killing. He taught him the secrets of crafting lethal poisons and toxins that could bring down even the mightiest foes.
As Zygmun's skills grew, so did his ruthlessness. He became Acere's personal scourge, silently stalking and eliminating anyone his master deemed a threat or obstacle. Zygmun's ghostly abilities allowed him to phase through walls and strike unseen, while his venomous attacks left a trail of horrifically disfigured corpses in his wake.
When Yggdrasil's servers shut down, Acere and Zygmun found themselves transported to the new world. Here, Zygmun's loyalty remained unwavering. He saw this new realm as a fresh hunting ground, and eagerly awaited his master's commands to unleash his deadly skills once more.
With Acere's possession of the Quill of Reality, the duo became an unstoppable force. Zygmun could carry out any assassinations needed with impunity, knowing his master could rewrite any unfavorable outcomes. Together, he plans to establish a network of fear and influence, silently shaping events in the shadows to suit Acere's ambitions.
As long as Acere remained his Master, Zygmun would remain his ever-loyal, ever-deadly servant, ready to drown the world in a tide of oozing darkness at his master's whim.
Spells known to Acere related to his racial build.
Corrosive Spells:
Acid Spray - Flings a spray of corrosive acid
Dissolving Sphere - Creates a globe of acid that dissolves materials
Ooze Form - Transforms body into corrosive ooze that melts through obstacles
Miasma of Entropy - Generates a cloud of acid that warps and decays matter
Acidic Surge - Erupts acid in a line, dealing damage and melting down terrain
Venom Spells:
Toxic Bolt - Magical bolt that injects venom on hit
Venomous Burst - Sphere of toxic gas damaging those caught within
Necrotic Cloud - Billowing cloud that seeps vile poisons into the area
Blight - Decays organic matter as if afflicted by a wasting disease
Constricting Venom - Injects paralyzing venom when grappling
Blood Magic:
Blood Scourge - Lash of blood that damages and drains life
Blood Shield - Barrier formed from solidified blood
Blood Frenzy - Blood lust empowering physical abilities
Sanguine Attunement - Charges spells by sacrificing hit points
Bloodline Detonation - Explosive burst of blood at point of death
Dark Tentacles:
Grasp of the Deep - Corruption tentacles erupt from ground to restrain
Writhing Mass - Grows a mass of flailing tentacles to batter foes
Eternity Unbound - Spectral tentacles bypass defenses from other dimensions
Inescapable Grip - Tentacles ensnare escapable foes with increased grip
Profane Chasm - Opens a yawning rift spewing nightmarish tentacles
Void Spells:
Darkness - Sphere of magical darkness blocking vision
Unholy Blight - Sphere of negative energy blighting any living matter
Soul Shred - Rakes soul with negative energy, harming the spirit itself
Null Space - Small zone negating magical effects
Enervation - Drains life force from a target
Ooze Manipulation:
Flowing Form - Changes body into a semi-liquid malleable state
Pseudopod Whip - Extends a lashing tendril as a melee attack
Amorphous Engulf - Envelops foes in liquefied body, smothering them
Boneless Escape - Compresses into a thin stream to flow through tight spaces
Merge Oozes - Combines slime bodies to increase size and power
Cosmic Spells:
Cosmic Singularity - Draws objects and energy inwards as a gravity well
Ethereal Jaunt - Shifts to the Ethereal Plane briefly
Star Scourge - Cosmic horror effect damaging and instilling fear
Tidal Force - Explosive force pulsing in all directions
Phase Rift - Rips an aperture between material and immaterial planes
Possession/Spirit:
Astral Projection - Projects spirit from the body in an ghostly form
Spirit Sight - Perceives spirits and ethereal beings
Possession - Displaces the spirit to subsume a vessel
Horrific Visage - Assumes a nightmarish visage that induces panic
Spirit Ward - Fortifies the spirit against possession or banishment
Deception/Trickery:
Gaseous Form - Disperses into gas or mist to avoid attacks
Phantasmal Force - Projects an illusion that is perceptibly real
Mirror Image - Creates illusory duplicates to confound attackers
Veil - Aura disguises appearance to blend into surroundings
Ventriloquist - Throws voice to create illusionary sounds
Entropy Spells:
Wave of Fatigue - Tires and exhausts targets over an area
Entropic Touch - Causes rapid decay of any matter touched
Rusting Grasp - Rapidly corrodes metal objects
Catalytic Degeneration - Accelerates aging and entropy
Mold Manipulation - Controls fungi, mold, and decay
Tar/Ooze Control:
Accelerated Excretion - Rapidly expels acidic ooze from pores
Ooze Puppetry - Animates and controls volumes of ooze
Tar Eruption - Caustic tar geyser erupting from the ground
Ooze Body - Transforms target into controllable ooze form
Gelatinous Cube - Summons a sentient ooze creature to fight
Charisma/Social:
Mass Suggestion - Implants a compelling suggestion into minds
Enthralling Presence - Aura that makes Acere seem fascinating
Persuasive Veil - Disguise self and words as convincing lies
Dazing Performance - Awe-inspiring artistic performance that stuns
Command - Amplified force of personality and will to cow foes