The Paladin Gamer

by SoGAlpha

First fic ever. Self insert OC. Methodical slow burn type story, sort of. Eventual world hopping. Content Context; Murder, war, blood, violence, lunacy, faith, lots of explosives, anything jarring that happens in real life to be honest can happen here, I'm not going to list every trigger warning ever, read at your own discretion.

4. Chapter 4: All aboard the RAID! (D&D)

[August 22nd, 2023, 9:00AM/ 1493 DR, 9:00AM]

"Dammit… I think I might have actually killed another human being." I muttered as I ran my fingers through my hair.

I sighed as I got up from one of the pews I had used to sleep in. It was daylight for sure now. Last night came back to me in an unfurling blur of sorts. I stripped my armor and shirt off and checked my abdomen. Four scars ran along the indentations between my upper two abs and the lower two. Two thin horizontal scars followed by two jagged star shaped scars. Like a twisted version of connect the dots or morse code. It began from the central left side of my abs and ran along till the final one stopped at the right side of my rib cage. Gnarly. Wait, you know what this means? My prayer had been answered! It worked! Thank you God, I wouldn't need to waste so much time recovering like I had to before!

[Congratulations you have unlocked Piercing Resistance 10/100!]

More memories came back. My mask was crumbling. I felt like garbage emotionally. Yes, they were unrepentant, evil, dragon worshipping cultists most likely hell bent on causing mass homicide but that doesn't mean I had to enjoy killing them. After so much rage comes the depression. Akin to dying embers and ash. Post killing depression hahaha…it's disgusting. Like molten metal swimming through my guts. Like snakes hissing in my ears. All my will bleeds out of my heart as despair overtakes me. Part of me doesn't even want to be alive anymore. Killing the cultists honestly was just part of the puzzle, not the whole. I just feel so suffocated and burnt out. And now supposedly I have to worry about the gods looking at me. I wonder how long I'll have to wait for Talos to try to airstrike me into oblivion.

I collapsed myself back onto the pew and dragged my hand over my face. The truth is, I'm evil by nature, or at least that's how I perceive myself sometimes. I'm inclined to sin, as is every human being. That's why I have to fight tooth and nail to do the bare minimum as a man of faith every day, always. And even then I still stumble and fail. I don't see myself as a good person most of the time. If anything I'm a very selfish person. Nevertheless, I want to be a better person. Why…

"Why can't you help me?" I muttered out in my sorrow to God. I could feel my insides broiling. "I'm sick of living at war with myself."

All those wrathful thoughts I don't tell you about or show. Don't mistake yourself, I'm not a hero, not a true hero. I'm just a broken man trying to do the right thing.

I summoned the Status tab and stared at it, and stared at it, and wanted to smash my head against it. I had managed to accrue fourteen stat points. Might as well use them since I'm not dead yet. "The depression and despair will pass. Remember you are more than your mistakes. That you are not a slave to sin any longer, there is still victory to be had. Suicide is never, NEVER a loving fruit of God. Keep hanging on Arthur. God hasn't abandoned you yet. And He never will. You have not walked this far to only be left behind."

I let out a sigh as I felt my upper back and spine heat up and then cool off. "In the name of Jesus Christ I rebuke the spirit of suicide off of me. Amen." I paused for a few seconds and glanced upward. "I'm sorry for what I said before, you can help, you always have. I'm just a bit of a knucklehead is all."

I cracked my joints a few times and got to assigning the stat points. At least that felt good on a different level, a different way. It was akin to drinking hot chocolate, and then taking a nice hot shower and then finding a twenty dollar bill or something in the couch cushions. No, no, it was like electricity flowed through my veins as my muscles became denser, my flesh changing, ascending down to the telomeres themselves. It was raw power and it was better than any drug, better than love making, it was power. Power I would need to right the wrongs of what I and others have done. God have mercy on the world of Toril.

[Name; Arthur
Level; 8 (45,500/48,000 till Level 9)

HP; 136/136 (1 hp per 10 minutes)
Stamina Points; 160/160 (1 stp per 10 minutes)

Miracle Points; 10/10

Lay on Hands; 40/40 (1 per 10 minutes)
Stats;

Str; 20 (+5)

Dex; 20 (+5)

Con; 20 (+5)

Int; 16 (+3)

Wis; 20 (+5)

Cha; 20 (+5)

Stat Points; 00

Proficiency; +3
Passive Perception; 17

Armor Class;

15 (Unarmored) 18 (+1 Blessed Chainmail+DFS) 20 (+1 Blessed Chainmail+shield+DFS)

Movement speed; 50ft - 100ft
Class; Paladin 8/20
Money; 15,582 $]

Damn that was nice to look at. So close to straight twenties across the board too. Hm, went from one hundred and twelve to one hundred and thirty six hit points, nice. Also boosted my speed by ten feet and my stamina pool from one hundred and twenty six to one hundred and sixty, double nice. Raising my Constitution stat sure came in handy. Boosting my Charisma was nice as well, it made my physical body look better and be better, even my abdominal scars looked more aesthetic now, sweet. Dexterity was more subtle, like I had a weight taken off me somehow, knowing where and when to place my next step and exhale etc. Something akin to autopilot, or rather better put, reflex.

Alright, I definitely felt better. I put my armor back on, left the chapel and walked back to the town hall. Needed to check on Sister Garaele and Leosin. Amusingly enough they were pretty much the same height at five foot five inches, poor Leosin had seen better days, as he laid in the same bed I was in not too long ago. Only difference was he was a half elf, compared to Sister Garaele being a full one. He was also a dark brunette sporting a goatee of sorts.

"So then 'agent' Leosin, care to share what you learned with the classroom?" I teased.

He let out a chuckle at that, "I suppose I owe you two that much. Another camp, another grouping of cultists. I was tailing them since Greenest you know? Only managed to finally get found out over here, got too comfortable. They'll most likely keep heading northward as well. I don't recommend getting caught, you know, not a fun time. But I don't think you'll have that problem considering your vigorous performance last night." He smiled wryly at that last part.

Another camp huh… The excavation site to the west? No, not big enough, then most likely Gnomengarde then… Oh no. Oh gosh, yeah, no, those gnomes are definitely all dead now. Dammit. Seeing as how I obliterated all those who would not yield, it's not like the other camp would be getting information soon, which means I had a slight buffer of time till they got paranoid. Which means that the faster I acted on it the better, probably. Lapses in communication were deadly after all.

It would take seventeen days for Leosin to recover, poor man. Ah well, he was in good hands. After eating breakfast I decided to head out for the other camp Leosin spoke of. I had a bad feeling in my stomach, and was beginning to feel bad for the gnomes, even if they were gnomes, they didn't deserve to die- to get butchered like they most likely had been. I hopped on Sunfire once more and set out.

I was right. I was right, and for once I wasn't happy about being right. Remember that little island of mushrooms before the caves, yeah it had at least three gnome bodies resting on it now. Dammit. I walked into the cave nonchalantly, spotting and slashing through two more cultists like the wind. All those prayers paid off, alongside bathing in dragon's blood, good sword.

[Dragonclaw level cultist has been slain x2! 400XP gained! 400GP gained!]

Time to keep it moving. I glanced to my left and then to my right, going with the right! I found what I could only assume to be an emptied out treasure room, with a drunk cultist who was asleep on the floor. "Slit his throat, do it, do it, slit it. No, piss off." I walked onward. I found the barracks, along with eleven more cultists who were asleep. I felt my left shoulder hitch and contract as anger momentarily flashed through me. "How the hell could you bastards be sleeping after what you did! Yes, yes, kill them, kill them all!" I gritted my teeth as I held my sword in my hand, torch in the other. No, too easy. I'd come up with something better later.

Walking into another room I was greeted by an amusing sight. The chamber contained a writing desk and stool, several tables with books and papers, and a mirror on a floor stand. Light came from two lit oil lamps. Stationed at the writing desk was one "Frulam Mondath" a "Wearer of Purple", a high ranking authority within the Cult of the Dragon. I rammed my sword through her throat and watched her eyes warble from shock.

"Traitorous scum. Defiler of humanity." I flicked my wrist, her head coming clean off her shoulders.

[Wearer of Purple Frulam Mondath has been slain! 450XP gained! 450GP gained!]

I snooped through her things, stuffing a key and a few maps detailing past raids and such into my inventory and closed my eyes in a moment of respite. That's when my Draconic Senses Perk subconsciously guided me towards a tunnel leading elsewhere covered by the rugs on the floor. A thirty foot drop huh, time to bust out the ol' ladders and rope trick again. Climbing down the ladder gave me a bad premonition, my abs were hurting, I did not like that sensation considering recent events.

I made it down to the other room. The chamber had been enlarged and reshaped from its original form. The floor and three of the walls were smoothed out, and stalactites and stalagmites had been polished into gleaming columns. Every surface glistened with moisture, and the air was warm and humid. The flat walls of the chamber were decorated with shallow abstract carvings of dragons. Dragons' tails coiled into intricate patterns and knots that flowed across the walls. The creature portrayed in the northwest corner stood out: a five-headed dragon, rising from an erupting volcano, Tiamat no doubt about it. Other dragons, which seemed dwarfed by the five-headed monstrosity, flocked to its side. A small, wooden chest with silver and mother-of-pearl inlays sat on the floor in the corner, in front of the monstrous dragon carving. All around a very draconic and gnarly looking shrine room…thing. Though it had a clear preference for black dragons.

In the midst of all this stood two human berserkers and another blue half dragon. "It would seem we have another guest with us, my friends." The half dragon clapped his hands.

Flames burst from the eyes of the dragon reliefs on the walls, lighting up the shrine. I could appreciate that honestly. "Come."

I dashed forth and muscled my way through the berserkers, slicing the half dragon's heads into vertical halves. "Careful what you wish for."

[Lungdredrosa Cyanwrath has been slain! 1,100XP gained! 1,100GP gained!]

Huh, must've been his twin or something. The berserkers meanwhile swung their axes at me, which I parried, the latter so hard that his axe flew out of his hands and hit him square in the face. I then proceeded to slice their heads off in a clean swoop.

[Berserker has been slain x2! 900XP gained! 900GP gained!]

[Congratulations you have reached 9th level!]

"Sweet."

I moved along to snoop the chest on the floor. Key time. Inside was a string of pearls worth three hundred gold pieces, a gold and sapphire ring worth nine hundred gold pieces, and a pouch containing a half dozen masterfully cut and polished precious stones about one hundred gold pieces each. Well don't mind if I do. I sat down for a moment to think and calculate some math. Replicating and selling the ring would accrue more money, but take longer, meanwhile sticking to my regular method now would be faster but a tad less monetary. I'd have to replicate the ring like two thousand times though I don't have time for that. I went ahead and sold everything I found so far, I'd most likely find greater treasures in the future anyway.

I relit my torch as I approached another room. I was quickly accosted by kobolds hurling God knows what at me. I parried two jars, ducked under the last two and performed a horizontal slicing lunge.

[Kobold has been slain x4! 100XP gained! 100GP gained!]

I sighed and glanced around, finding a key hanging on the wall, neat, another one. I also noticed a staircase to my right along with an iron fence and gate. Ah I see. Unlocking the gate and stepping forward I was then greeted to the delight of having two guard drakes try to maul me alive. I dispatched the first one easily, rolled out of the way of the second and then finished it off as well, my abs flexed maybe a tad too tight as I grit my teeth. I really did not want to suffer four crits to my guts back to back again y'know?

[Guard Drake has been slain x2! 900XP gained! 900GP gained!]

[Congratulations you have gained +4 Stat points!]

"Perfect." I pumped it into my Intelligence stat. Perfect twenties across the board baby!

I glanced about spotting all three dragon eggs that were nestled about in the area. They were about three feet tall and probably weighed one hundred and fifty pounds give or take. I shoved them all in my inventory, glanced up at the roper monstrosity on the ceiling…did a double take at the roper monstrosity on the ceiling and left that particular room and the cave over all. I did not close the gate! The remaining cultists were eventually eaten by the aforementioned roper monstrosity, sucks to suck! With that I left what was once Gnomengarde and rode my way back to Phandalin, those adamantine walls looked absolutely beautiful shining in the sunlight.

Amusingly enough whatshisface, the adult blue dragon's corpse was still lying there outside the northwestern section of the townwall perimeter. I should cash in on that cache. Before I did that though I placed the three dragon eggs in front of its face and waited. Nothing happened yet so I left that alone for now and went to go check up on Leosin. It was about ten in the day, give or take.

Suffice to say he was still injured and in need of much rest but I was happy to report my findings, producing the files and maps I collected. You should've seen the look on his face, I couldn't help but grin.

"Castle Naerytar! That's inside the Mere of Dead men, those fiends are truly mad, but this excellent news as well, thank you Arthur with this I can speak with Frume and we can launch a proper raid."

"Ah don't worry about it, my pleasure. Say though tell you what, if it's the same Frume I'm thinking of, I know Danar has ties with the Order of the Gauntlet, you might as well connect with him, and get the message across faster, meanwhile I can go ahead and take care of that castle for everyone's sake."

"Perhaps…though Castle Naerytar is no joke either, if I was you I'd take the rest of the day off."

"Fair enough, my stomach is still a bit upset, truth be told."

"Ha, then I'll wish us both a speedy recovery."

I spent the rest of my day leveling up my Replication Perk, got it up to level twenty five, sweet. I learned the hard way that it took three hours to refill my entire stamina bar from zero. From one to four, four to seven, seven to ten and then I decided to rest up for bed. My Replication Perk was now at level seventy, and I had gained the ability to replicate organic matter as well. Oh no, this is not okay, I feel like I'm holding a grenade in my hand right now except I was the entire grenade as well at the same time.

[Perk; Replication (70/100) (Active);

You can replicate organic and inorganic matter, its innate properties, intricacies and concepts down to the sub atomic particle within a 350ft by 350ft cube. This requires that you are physically touching the object(s) you wish to replicate. (10 StP)]

"That is wild, my goodness."

[August 23rd, 2023, 9:00AM/ 1493 DR 9:00AM]

I woke up to the sound of Toblen hollering for me, one of the garrison guards as well, as I rushed downstairs I was informed that my eggs were beginning to hatch. I ran like the wind to the outside perimeter. Worst case scenario, three black dragon wyrmlings would attempt to destroy the town, but won't happen because I am here. I sliced through the first two with overhead diagonal swings and managed to roll to the side out of the third one's acid breath, granted I still took some damage, it stung! But soon enough it too died.

[Black Dragon Wyrmling has been slain x3! 1,350XP gained! 1,350GP gained!]

[Congratulations you have gained +6 Stat points!]

"Can't say I'm not disappointed…oh well more profit though."

I spent some time harvesting what I could. One hundred eighty thousand and three hundred gold pieces for the three wyrmlings and sixty thousand and hundred gold pieces for Big blue himself. Nice! Great way to start my morning. I walked on over to where the chapel was in the east and picked it up via my inventory and walked on over to the ruined temple of Waukeen. I'd tell Sildar to cancel the renovation project later since I found out I can just essentially spawn in buildings with enough coins on hand. I stuffed the entire temple into my inventory too. I couldn't help but laugh. I sold the chapel I had already spawned beforehand, two thousand more gold in my pocket. I then cracked my fingers and stared at the now nude plateau of land before me… As much as I love the Stonehill Inn, maybe it is time I get my own place here in town. Heh, I'll miss messing around with Pip, Toblen and Trilena's son, yes his name was actually Pip. Anyways!

Soon enough a brand new temple was standing there before me. It was beautiful. I based it off of gothic architecture. You know, the rib vault, flying buttress, and pointed arch etc. Can't forget that beautiful stained glass either, yes please. The main exterior color was soft beige with grass green as the roof tilings. Consisting of a chapel, library, storage room and an office study. Might just go ahead and turn that study into my bedroom honestly. Ah, I was a happy man for sure. I went on inside and basked in the sunlight shining through the stained glass. That's when it dawned on me, I'd need acolytes myself to man this while I was away. I quickly bought and spawned a two bedroom apartment next to the right wing of the temple. AHhahahaha! I could create free housing! Replication rocks!

Could I replicate myself? No, I know I could technically, better question is would I trust myself enough to do that. Oh dude I could replicate my organs though! Organ donors would love me. Ah that's right I had wanted this temple to serve as a means of nursing the injured as well. Need more healing kits for that! Just in case. I bought ten, that should be enough for now. I left them along the pews and sat down in front of the altar in thought. The current town population was about nine hundred more or less, of those nine hundred three hundred and eighty donated, I had a sum of ninety four gold pieces. I'd set that aside for an emergency fund in the office for now. It was time to begin my mission. I drank some water, cleared my throat and got back to walking into town. Placing a notice on the job board, I detailed a letter of thanks to everyone who donated and to come visit the new temple of God, the Alpha and Omega.

Yeah I was about to stir up all kinds of trouble in the astral plane for the other gods. I could feel it, I smiled nonetheless. I walked back to the temple and waited as I pondered over how I'd explain a monotheistic faith to a polytheistic people. Saint Paul sure was a figure to draw inspiration from in that regard, I should read my Bible more for that. It was about six in the afternoon, and I was sweating. I was sweating, why was I sweating? Because sixty six townsfolk showed up! I actually had to do public speaking! I could hear my stomach growling as they grew closer, amongst the crowd was Sildar and Danar along with his daughter Bertrice. Alger and Maza too, guess it was a slow day at the forge. That made me smile a bit as I cleared my throat and welcomed everyone inside.

"I'll be completely honest with all of you, despite being a man of faith, I am not yet a priest, this will be my first time doing this, but any questions you have I'm willing to do my best to answer."

They sat and murmured a bit. "Who is this god you speak of Arthur? The Alpha and Omega… are you an acolyte of Ao?"

"I'm glad you know of him, but no I am not, rather I serve an even higher Master than Ao, the one he himself answers to. My God, the one true God of humans I might add, is the Father of all Creation, both heaven and earth and all that resides in it."

This sent them into an even greater murmur.

"Would you mind if I told you a story?"

They silenced themselves and gazed at me.

"In the beginning-"

In the end I spoke to them of how God created everything from my faith and point of view. How the Faerunian pantheon wasn't necessarily needed in terms of paying worship. Think about it, as a farmer in Faerun, you'd have to pray to Chauntea most likely, Faerunian goddess of agriculture, followed by Lathander, Fareunian god of dawn and renewal, then maybe Selune, Faerunian goddess of the moon, etc etc etc and like two to three more deities. Screw that. With God, Lord God, you'd need only one, well three in one, but I'd teach them about the Holy Trinity in the future. Regardless it does make things simpler. For now I wanted them to get used to the idea of a monotheistic God even being possible. I mean even amongst the world of Toril there is a hierarchy of gods and spirits, so why not worship the highest of them all. They will know, they will choose.

[Congratulations, You have planted 27 seeds of faith!]

I wiped away my tears as I read that notification over. It felt good. Plus considering all the things I've done so far, I may be biased but I think I deserve some credit in their eyes in regards to what I'm claiming here. I did after all use the powers and blessings of God to bring those adamantine walls into creation. Ah, I was tired, time to test out that new office, see how good it makes as a bedroom.

[August 24th, 2023, 9:00AM/ 1493 DR 9:00AM]

Up and at 'em boy! I visited the Stonehill Inn and told the Stonehills that essentially I'd be moving out, and that they could keep the rest of the money, it really was a nonissue for me. They wished me well and that was that. I decided to check town hall just in case. Sildar told me that I was being made an honorary member of the council, not just one in case of emergencies, and then proceeded to joke that I was now the richest man in town. Probably, yeah. It was then that I happened upon Halia Thorton whilst leaving the town hall.

"Oh Sir Arthur, it's so good to finally see you, thank heavens you're doing well."

She had dulled green eyes, and storm grey hair split down the middle that ended at her chin, a lean face, a sharp face. Cunning…like a snake.

"Likewise Ms Thorton, likewise, is something the matter?"

"Oh no nothing really I just wanted to talk business, seeing as you conjured up those walls like magic and slaying dragons left and right, why it's an inspiration to us all really. I was hoping if I could perchance be graced with some of that good fortune you carry, I assure you, I make for a good business partner, anyone at the miner's exchange can attest to that, even old Wester."

"Analyze." I mumbled. "Ah…I see. Well I'll give you a form of grace you didn't think of. Repent of the path you walk now or by three years you will die from it. I know of your past with the Redbrands, I know of your past with the Zhentarim. Do not speak sweetly to me again, I suggest you heed my wisdom instead, leave town, repent or die, those are your choices."

"Are you threatening me little adventurer?" Her tone was like ice, her eyes venomous.

I chuckled and smiled, "No, you did that to yourself, I can only hope for your sake you think what I said over. Good day Halia."

She did not heed my advice, perhaps I was lacking in my communication skills. Nevertheless I pondered over the Mere of Dead Men. I couldn't leave the Cult of the Dragon alone, even if I wanted to, which I don't. Not only because that would be wrong but also because I was given a quest, and if I did humanity would pretty much die. Can't let that happen.

Normally it'd take two days to reach Castle Naerytar from the west, but I'm not normal, and neither was Sunfire, let's go baby. I hopped aboard Sunfire and made my way. It was about ten or so by the time I got there. Halfway into the damned, cold, unholy swamp I met a group of Lizard folk, working for the Cult, that's how I met Snapjaw, who I was currently canoeing with. I placed Sunfire in my inventory. I was tempted to kill the lizard folk but after a flash of Frightening Presence and speaking in draconic tongue, we saw eye to eye a bit better. Regardless, Snapjaw wanted to use me to get back at the Cult for their slave labor and abuse of the folk. Understandable really.

Suffice to say between the cold black saltwater swamps, humidity, giant insects, reptiles and all round horrid color muting, the Mere of Dead Men sucked. Go figure, am I right haha. Castle Naerytar was thankfully built on dry land, with a deep dry moat dug around it. Or at least that used to be the case because now the moat flooded and overflowed. Now the whole site was as swampy as the rest of the mere, and large pools of standing water dotted the clearing. Dammit. The castle was built on exposed bedrock at least, so its foundation was sound and mostly dry even a century after the flooding. Meanwhile tangled brush and trees grew to within twenty feet of the walls on three sides of the castle. I was tempted to light the whole thing on fire, scratch that, the whole mere on fire.

Maybe another time, I turned to Snapjaw once more, I was taking a liking to the guy- ah lizard man, and spoke up in draconic once more. "I'll be honest with you Snapjaw, I don't really have a plan aside from just storming the entire castle, that sounds good to you?"

"Warriors hundred strong, outnumber all others, we fight to the death, kill all bullywugs."

I couldn't help but chuckle and smile as I shook his hand again, spawning that elegant greataxe I picked up back in Icespire Hold into his arms, cleared my throat and dashed forward, screaming out in draconic. "LEEEEEEEEEEROYYYYYYYY JENKINSSSS."

"Dude how old are you, what was that? Hey I had to yell something, might as well go with a classic. Yeah okay grandpa. Oh hush." I grinned a savage grin as I spotted some bullywugs, my blade slicing through them like butter. The giant frogs fleeing away in fear. Snapjaw went ahead of me upstairs a few minutes later with a small group of lizard men, ahahahaha I love this.

[Bullywug has been slain x10! 500XP gained! 500GP gained!]

"Kill kill kill" I ran into some guard drakes while running through the courtyard.

[Guard Drake has been slain x3! 1,350XP gained! 1,350GP gained!]

[Congratulations you have gained +6 Stat points!]

Sweet. I set foot inside the northwest tower about to go up the stairs when I was then assaulted by tentacles! Oh hell no, I am not going to put up with that. From the waste and muck that littered the floor an aberration reared its ugly head and screamed. It was known as an "Otyugh". Think of a yellow elephant with three legs, barbed tentacles and needle teeth with an eye stalk housing three eyes. Yeah it's DISGUSTING. I felt my left shoulder flex and hitch up in disgust and rage.

"Get the #$% off me."

I screamed and performed a cross slash at its face, smiting it at maximum power. It still managed to live. It proceeded to bite into my right leg and wrap its spiked tentacles around me again. I screamed and managed to rage shake myself free, ramming my blade through its skull twice. I coughed, scrubbing my mouth and face clean of muck.

[Otyugh has been slain! 1,800XP gained! 1,800GP gained!]

I backpedaled away from the tower, flipping it off as I ran around like a dog on crack. Found more bullywugs! Bye bye!

[Bullywug has been slain x12! 600XP gained! 600GP gained!]

I laughed and cackled as metal music blared in my head, my body was alive and I could feel the blood pumping, rushing through me like fire! Not a human? Not a problem! Openly evil? Don't be surprised when you die from it! I ran into a bunch of more lizard folk while snooping about, time for more dragon tongue.

"Rebellion is now, slaughter the bullywugs!"

Yeah they got behind that idea real quick. Hey did you know this castle had three floors! You do now! Damn was this place big! My back was starting to get sore.

[Dragonclaw level cultist has been slain x4! 800XP gained! 800GP gained!]

Ran into a dwarf and two commoners in the kitchen, telling them to flee for their lives if they care for them. I then stepped into the great hall and saw more cultists eating and dining, talking about a last meal huh.

"Hello and goodbye!"

[Dragonclaw level cultist has been slain x4! 800XP gained! 800GP gained!]

[Cultist has been slain x12! 300XP gained! 300GP gained!]

Idiots. Idiots. IDIOTS. We all could've gotten along happily but noooooo, you just had to swear your dying loyalty to an evil dragon goddess. May you rot in hell. Alright time for more raiding!

I went into the northeast tower and practically froze in place. Ten giant centipedes. TEN GIANT CENTIPEDES. DISGUSTING DISGUSTING DISGUSTING! I threw a pack of dynamite and went running upstairs, the second floor was a war zone, lovely, third floor too. All the raiding insanity came to a halt as I happened upon Rezmir's territory within the castle. How did I know it was hers? All the black dragon hype riding that's how.

The furnishings in all four chambers were lavish, surprisingly so, compared to everything else at the castle. All other furnishings were built on site, but Rezmir's came from the workshops of the finest carpenters and upholsterers in Faerûn. This front chamber served Rezmir as an office. It naturally contained a writing desk, several smaller tables stacked with inventories and reports, and four beautiful but uncomfortable wooden chairs. Among the papers on the desk were Rezmir's notes describing the portal beneath the castle and how to operate it, including its command word "Draezir". I replicated those notes just in case and kept them and the originals in my inventory. Something else then caught my eyes. Two matched onyx carvings of black dragons flank the top of the staircase. They are three feet tall and weigh four hundred pounds apiece. Sold them for six thousand gold, thanks Rezmir darling. Another item of value in the room was a two foot tall statuette of a black dragon, made from actual black dragon scales and claws, with ruby eyes and diamond teeth. Sold that for five thousand gold, thanks again Rezmir.

Well, time to go subterranean! It was a nice moment of respite, clearing my head and all. So it was me, Snapjaw and a small army of pissed off Lizard folk took a trip downstairs. I let them run loose, safe to say any and all bullywugs and cultists that weren't slain by me were slain by them. Sucks to suck. I eventually found the room with the portal in it. I pondered whether or not I should go through it. Screw it, the faster I could screw over the plans of this doomsday cult the better, I said the command word and hopped through the portal.

Well, it was definitely a portal that's for sure. Dark pine woods were all around on the slopes of a mountain valley, the air was cold and fresh, reminding me of Icespire Peak, but with more trees. Two ancient stones stood to either side of me, and no more than a bowshot ahead along a path was a large house, with stone on the ground floor, timbers above. Within sight were more standing stones. Pine branches shifted and swayed in a gusting, fitful wind. A squirrel chattered and then fell silent as it scampered away. I like pine, spruce as well, mmm, spruce. Anyway, considering recent events, Rezmir herself or another cultist or somebody must've fled the castle when I was raiding it. Therefore… I'm raiding the cabin as well!

Or at least that was the plan. I encountered a slight road block in the form of three ambush drakes and two trolls. Guard muscle huh, so much for the element of surprise on this one. I sliced through the first two ambush drakes with ease. The trolls however would be a whole new problem for me.

[Ambush Drake has been slain x2! 200XP gained! 200GP gained!]

[Warning you have received a Critical hit!]

[Warning you have received a horrible scar!]

[Congratulations you have gained Slashing Resistance 2/100!]

I could feel the force of that swipe trying to tear my head off as the first troll clawed hand sliced through my left cheek, across my philtrum, through my right cheek and a piece of my right ear as well. I was essentially lacerated from left cheek to right ear right under my nose, how swell. I managed to parry his other claw swipe and duck under his lunging bite. I fended the second troll off as well though still took a bite to the right forearm. Then the last ambush drake decided to take revenge for its comrades, it failed miserably and died as a consequence.

[Ambush Drake has been slain! 100XP gained! 100GP gained!]

[Congratulations you have gained +6 Stat points!]

I was grateful for the frigid wind for once, it was providing a nice cooling effect as I was once again fighting for my life. I inhaled and gritted my teeth as gold flames burst to life upon my blade. I screamed as I slashed through the first troll, it would not be getting back up.

[Troll has been slain! 1,800XP gained! 1,800GP gained!]

"Come on you ugly bastard, I can do this all day."

It slashed my thighs at the last second as I smacked its fangs and claws away, I clicked my teeth in irritation. Once more I channeled flames into my blade. And down it went too.

[Troll has been slain! 1,800XP gained! 1,800GP gained!]

My back I swear. I took a moment to do some stretches and noticed a mushroom esque growth sprouting from the chests of the trolls I slayed. I muttered out "Analyze" and was hit with a surprise.

[Troll Mushroom (Rare); A mushroom that blooms from the corpses of trolls sometimes, known for its random and mutative nature. It may grant a boon to or disfigure the consumer for life. Eat at your own discretion. Sells for up to 5,000GP.]

I placed them in my inventory and kept going, or I would have kept going if it weren't for the four armed troll that came out of the kennel to the side of the lodge. Followed by six more ambush drakes.

"Oh for- AHHH!"

I made a beeline for the troll lord specifically, slashing into him as I let off a final flame infused smite. He responded swiftly as he roared, his four claws arms whipping forth like mechanized guillotines of death. I managed to lunge my top half backward but my legs were still slashed up and rented asunder, damn it all!

[Warning you are below half health!]

"AHHHHHHHHHHH"

[Four Armed Troll has been slain! 2,600XP gained! 2,600GP gained!]

Suffering Empowerment for the win! The drakes then decided to just take the gamble and maim me to death. Three managed to get a hit on me.

[Warning you have received a Critical Hit!]

[Warning you have received Organ Damage; Whenever you attempt an action in combat, you must make a DC 15 Constitution saving throw. On a failed save, you lose your action and can't use reactions until the start of your next turn. Magic such as the regenerate spell can cure your organ damage. Alternatively, someone can tend to the organ damage and make a DC 15 Wisdom (Medicine) check once every day. After ten successes, the organ damage is resolved.]

[Congratulations you have unlocked Piercing resistance 12/100!]

"SON OF A & #$%, AHHHH!"

I proceeded to slash through five of them in two swings and then impaled the last one through the head when it failed to bite me in the leg.

[Ambush Drake has been slain x6! 600XP gained! 600GP gained!]

[Congratulations you have gained +12 Stat points!]

"Listen to me you sons of &%$#*^, you traitorous scum, I'm going to SKULL %^ you for what you've done, YOU HEAR ME YOU GOD DAMN BASTARDS!"

I started running towards the lodge, free at last. There were two gargoyles and a helmed horror running to jump me, I grabbed the helmed horror by the face/helm and forced him into my inventory, then weaved through the attacks of the gargoyles and did the same to them. That's when every cultist came for me.

I grinned. "Let the blood flow, let hate consume you. They are traitors to all humanity! They hold no repentance. THEY MUST DIE."

I screamed a fiendish scream as I let my Frightening Presence Perk pop off. I just chased them down and slaughtered them like animals. I saw humans, but no humanity. Sell your soul to a dragon? Your life is forfeit. Cry me a river and then drown in it. Heathen scum. "Strife" by Trivium was blasting in my head as I caught my breath, walking around the lodge.

[Kobold has been slain x24! 600XP gained! 600GP gained!]

[Cultist has been slain x4! 100XP gained! 100GP gained!]

[Dragonclaw level cultist has been slain! 200XP gained! 200GP gained!]

[Talis the White has been slain! 1,800XP gained! 1,800GP gained!]

[You have gained the Perk; Hatred Empowerment (1/100) (Active); You deal bonus damage equal to your Strength score for every successful attack. Warning that repeated use can lead to negative consequences such as organ damage, temporary blindness, bouts of madness, depression, etc.]

Oh yes this will definitely bode well for my mental health. It cost twenty stamina points per usage as well, damn. That's when it hit me. I glanced around at all the gore I left in the wake of my destruction. A shiver went through my flesh, blood and guts plastered the once noble and fanciful walls of this lodge. Those damn idiots… I hated them for making me do this, for leaving me no other choice if I wanted to stay alive. I gritted my teeth and kept moving forward. I eventually found some prisoners in the basement, set them free along with the actual staff of the lodge itself. I meandered about the halls, ignoring the treasure and loot, I was too depressed to care for it honestly. Money is never the end all be all anyway, that's just another road down to Hell. I found a few notes from Talis in her bedroom detailing a floating castle in Parnast, a village five miles east of the lodge that the Cult was using to transport more goods.

I was starting to run out of steam but if I stopped now I knew I'd never get the chance again. I summoned Sunfire and made way for the village of Parnast. It was a quaint little fishing village, infected and infested with dragon cultists, I'd fix that soon enough. I was starting to get tired, but I had no choice but to keep forcing myself to keep going. I inhaled deeply and screamed.

"CULTISTS! DIEEEEE!"

[Veteran has been slain! 700XP gained! 700GP gained!]

[Guard has been slain x5! 125XP gained! 125GP gained!]

Making progress with that. Then came the wyverns, of course they had wyverns.

[Captain Othelstan has been slain! 1,800XP gained! 1,800GP gained!]

[Dragonclaw level cultist has been slain x3! 600XP gained! 600GP gained!]

[Congratulations you have reached 10th level!]

Sweet. The wyverns were without their masters now as well, double sweet. Said wyverns were also pissed at me, not so sweet. One on my left bit into my left side while the one on my right jabbed me with their stinger in the thigh. I responded by slashing the first one into thick bloody quadrant based chunks. The second one followed the same fate after.

[Wyvern has been slain x2! 6,400XP gained! 6,400GP gained!]

[Congratulations you have gained +4 Stat points!]

I sighed as I cracked my back and made my way over to the castle, placing Sunfire back in my inventory. The sun was still in the sky I think. I took a moment to heal myself and kept moving, right under half health, joy. The flying castle was huge, literally, it was made of ice, magic and clouds. Hand made by cloud giants, and maybe a frost giant or two. The doors were like fifteen feet tall or something, I wasn't paying that much attention, my back was sore from so much fighting. I sighed and closed my eyes, resting myself on the doors. Alright, let's do this.

I ran through the main courtyard, throwing dynamite packs up at the gate towers.

[Ogre has been slain x3! 1,350XP gained! 1,350GP gained!]

A stone golem shifted to life and was soon sucked into my inventory. Five dragonwing cultists came out weapons in hand, they died as quickly as they came into view. Along with the remaining five sleeping ones in the barracks. Sword had a mind of its own I swear.

[Dragonwing level cultist has been slain x10! 4,500XP gained! 4,500GP gained!]

I know before I was hesitant and such in regards to killing the cultists but honestly at this point I don't care anymore, they deserve everything that's coming to them. May this cult rot in hell. I walked out of the barracks and into a kitchen filled with twenty kobolds and an actual griffon. I threw a tangler grenade at the griffon and proceeded to slaughter the kobolds. I love grenades and dynamite, and my sword!

[Kobold has been slain x20! 500XP gained! 500GP gained!]

Refreshing. I stuffed some kobold meat down the griffons gullet to get it to shut up for a bit. In that time I also decided to take a gamble and eat those troll mushrooms. I no longer was suffering from organ damage and now had natural dark vision. Sweet. Walking through the northern half of the courtyard I came across two nerds- two bald red robed men speaking to one another. Said room was decorated with spikes, skulls and other arcane and occult sigils. Suffice to say they shut up pretty quickly. If only they used that time to get away.

[Red Wizard of Thay Rath Modar has been slain! 2,300XP gained! 2,300GP gained!]

[Red Wizard of Thay Azbara Jos has been slain! 1,100XP gained! 1,100GP gained!]

Get messed on wizard scum. I chuckled to myself over the fact that the alarms hadn't been tripped yet despite my ferocious presence dismantling the cult. Going up the staircase I was met with two ogres practicing their javelin throws. Flashing some hand signs and speaking in draconic I managed to bluff my way into getting them to think I was with the cult, dumb as rocks I swear. What I didn't expect was for them to escort me around the place, that was neat. I ended up in one of the many ice towers within the keep, going up more stairs I was met with a peculiar sight. The walls of this room were sculpted with icy murals depicting cloud giants riding giant birds. An enormous bed with a headboard of ice sculpted to resemble clouds dominated the room. Bear furs were heaped upon the bed, and two large wooden chests rested at the bed's foot. A blue skinned giant sat on the floor with his legs crossed while two ogres combed his snowy white hair. The giant's hulking morningstar leaned against the bed within arm's reach. It was akin to watching a girl get their hair combed for me. I could probably handle them all with some dynamite but my gut was telling me it wasn't worth it.

He was angry to see me but not much else, I brushed it off and got to talking about what I was really here for.

"I can take care of them. But just in case, you should know that they are entirely serious about making dragons a power along the coast again. Can you imagine? The nerve."

He told me about the dragon below and went off about his business, instructing the orcs around while I went to investigate that little tidbit of information. Going back down the central castle staircase I noticed tunnels offshooting here and there, so I walked forward, equipping those crampons just in case. The walls of blue ice were partly transparent, revealing various things embedded in the ice all around, including coins, helmets, livestock, a handful of kobolds, and an ogre or two. I could hear the crunching of ice underfoot as I made my way forward. I was led to a central core, a glittering cavern of ice with jagged walls and icicles the size of stalactites. This grand vault was split into two levels, an egg shaped upper level with a sheer ledge overlooking a sunken level thirty feet below, where a massive pile of treasure rested beneath an icy glaze. Clinging to the ceiling above the hoard, wings tucked in tight along its sides with claws gripping the ice, was a huge white dragon. "Well damn I wasn't being punked after all, there is a dragon."

Name; Glazhael "Cloud Chaser" the Adult White Dragon
CR; 13 (10,000XP)

HP; 200/200
Stats;

Str; 22 (+6)

Dex; 10 (+0)

Con; 22 (+5)

Int; 8 (-1)

Wis; 12 (+1)

Cha; 12 (+1)

Proficiency; +5
Passive Perception; 21

Armor Class;

18 (Unarmored)

Movement speed; 40ft - 80ft, burrow 30 - 60ft, fly 80 - 160ft, swim 40 - 80ft.

"Hot damn that's a strong dragon."

He apparently heard and began to laugh and speak of how he was proud to guard this treasure for Tiamat, his most glorious and perfect queen. What a simp. He went on to deliver a pompous speech about the superiority of dragons over humans, dwarves, and so forth. Bla bla bla, I threw tangler grenades at his face in response. And so the battle began. Ice blasted forth from its mouth I summoned the enemies I forced into my inventory in front of me as a meat shield of sorts. They were flash frozen instantly. I managed to roll to the side, frost crystals clinging to my mail. Ha, it reminded me of Cryovain but so much worse. It lunged from the ceiling using its tail to strike at me. It was like being slammed against a wall, but I tanked it nonetheless and pressed onward. I slashed through it twice to no avail. It laughed and went to strike at me, yet I parried off each claw and fang strike. It battered its tail into me again, I sank my blade into said tail. It roared out in pain.

[Warning you are at a quarter health!]

Dammit my back hurts. Maybe I should pray about it or stretch some more. I gritted my teeth as claws and fang pierced and slashed into me. I was at six hp. It was do or DIE. I inhaled as "MUKANJYO" by Survive Said The Prophet burst into my head. All I saw was red as my body heated up to life.

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH"

I could feel my sternum crack as I let out a roar of my own. "Suffering Empowerment X Hatred Empowerment go!" I slammed my blade through his flesh as he screamed out in pain and fury. My muscles were screaming in pain too. Damn.

[Glazhael "Cloud Chaser" the Adult White Dragon has been slain! 10,000XP gained! 10,000GP gained!]

[Your Perk; Frightful Presence (Passive) has been upgraded!]

[Congratulations you have received +2 Stat points!]

[Warning, you have received a level of exhaustion from usage of Hatred Empowerment, Disadvantage on ability checks until relieved.]

I sat down and then proceeded to lay down to catch my breath. It was all worth it. Screw the dragons, human supremacy forever you #$%& . That was close…I almost died… again. I got up slowly and placed my palm on Glazhael's corpse. I proceeded to replicate said corpse twice over and got to selling them all. Yeah, I was putting organic replication to good use. One hundred eighty nine thousand three hundred gold pieces later. That's when I got the bright idea to see how far I could go in replicating the dimensions of organic and inorganic matter, in terms of scale and proportions, like my longsword for example. I'd have to experiment with that another time though. I could hear footsteps coming from the tunnels.

Lo and behold it was Rezmir, leader of this chunk of the Cult I've been personally sabotaging and slaughtering this entire time. She was a black half dragon adorned in purple armor, leading two guard drakes. Seeing as how I was extremely low health I decided to chuck some tangler grenades her way. I couldn't help but laugh as she and her drakes were caught in them.

"Thank you, I needed that. I'll be right back."

She could only glare at me as I departed to snoop back to the lower courtyard. There was a certain room I wasn't able to snoop earlier, ain't the case anymore. I laid my hand on the locked door and placed it in my inventory, God I love this trick. And was greeted by a tempting view. A large rug covered the icy floor just inside the door of this ten foot high room, which was lit by a brazier of hot coals. A large bed rested in one corner, a desk in another. Resting atop the desk was a handsome, iron-banded chest secured with a sturdy padlock.

"Don't mind if I do."

I bought some thieves' tools and got to work, after dodging the carpet which turned out to be a carpet of smothering and hacking it to death with my sword.

[Rug of Smothering has been slain! 450XP gained! 450GP gained!]

[Congratulations you have reached 11th level!]

I burst out into laughter over that, sitting down on the bed for a moment. Of all the things I swear. Anyway, back to the chest. I managed to pick the lock after all, sweet. Oh damn, there was a needle trap in here as well. Thanks for keeping me safe God. I grinned at the contents. The chest contained the Black Dragon Mask as well as Rezmir's private collection of gems, jewelry, and coins. The gems and jewelry included a set of matched peridot stones on a gold chain worth four hundred gold pieces, a silver torc with dragon's heads worth two hundred gold pieces, six moonstones worth fifty gold pieces each, and a set of twenty loose pearls, worth a total of three thousand gold pieces. There were also six hundred silver pieces, two hundred gold pieces, and fifty platinum pieces. Yes I sold everything, minus the mask obviously.

I went back downstairs to see her still struggling, "Congratulations, you have now outlived your use to me, goodbye, and thanks for the mask."

She thrashed about with hate in her eyes, and didn't stand a chance.

[Rezmir the Black Wyrmspeaker has been slain! 2,900XP gained! 2,900GP gained!]

[Guard Drake has been slain x2! 900XP gained! 900GP gained!]

[Congratulations you have gained +4 Stat points!]

"Yes, this is more like it."

I watched her, to my surprise, turn into ashes. Her greatsword fell onto the frozen floor. A matte black colored greatsword. With a small trio of spikes along the half point of the actual blade. Its crossguard was ringed and curved and its pommel bore a stunning amethyst at the tip. It was an alluring sword. I could feel it pulling to me as my left shoulder hitched slightly.

"Analyze."

[Greatsword, Rank; Legendary (requires attunement)

A sentient (neutral evil) greatsword, Hazirawn is capable of speech in Common and Netherese. Even if you aren't attuned to the sword, you gain a +1 bonus on attack rolls and damage rolls made with this magic weapon. If you aren't attuned to Hazirawn, you deal an extra 1d6 necrotic damage when you hit with it.

Increased Potency. While you are attuned to this weapon, its bonus on attack rolls and damage rolls increases to +2, and a hit deals an extra 2d6 necrotic damage (instead of 1d6).

Spells. Hazirawn has 4 charges to cast spells. As long as the sword is attuned to you and you are holding it in your hand, you can use an action to expend the required number of charges to cast one of the following spells from the sword: detect magic (1 charge), detect evil and good (1 charge), or detect thoughts (2 charges). Each night at midnight, Hazirawn regains 1d4 expended charges.

Wounding. While you are attuned to the weapon, any creature that you hit with Hazirawn can't regain hit points for 1 minute. The target can make a DC 15 Constitution saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending this effect early on itself on a success.]

I chuckled as I picked it or rather him up.

"It's a shame really, your past and methods of making, fine shape though, I appreciate the form even if it is a bit unorthodox."

I placed Hazirawn inside my inventory for now. I then went back to the lower courtyard, back to Rezmir's room, placed the door back where it belonged and locked it and decided to nap for a bit. It was a good nap. It was an interrupted nap. I woke up to the sound of screams, the language was giant tongue, which I did not comprehend. But I had a very bad feeling about this. I went outside Rezmir's room and decided to explore. I didn't even know what time it was, just that the sky was a mix of sunset and night. All the ogres were slain. It looked like a mess, I actually let out a chuckle. I wondered if this is what those staff members at the hunting lodge felt like. There was blood and corpses everywhere. I could hear faint shrieking so I went upward and found a vampire?

Of course the Cult had a damn vampire in their ranks. It eventually saw me and shrieked. I snapped my fingers and forty gallons of water dumped onto her. Where did I get forty gallons of water from? The "super barrel" I used to make my blessed platinum chainmail is where I got it from, never did throw it out. Was it overkill, sure, but I rather have overkill than no kill.

[Sandesyl Morgia the Vampire has been slain! 10,000XP gained! 10,000GP gained!]

I sighed as I looked around, we were moving pretty fast and by we I mean myself at this point. I loaded up the Map Tab and nearly lost my stomach, we- I was being dragged along for a beeline straight to the "Spine of the World" A collection of jagged mountain ranges to the far north. Oh dammit all. I noticed a blinking button at the corner of the Map tab, clicked it.

[Fast travel has been recently configured, you can now teleport to locations you have previously visited. Would you like to try it out now? Y/N]

I punched yes and shouted for my bedroom back in Phandalin. I was instantly caught up and soon enough the bustling cold winds were no more. I was safe and sound within the little office turned bedroom of my temple. I let out a sigh of relief and held my ribs for a second before laying down and falling asleep. I needed a break… and a shower. Note to self, research bathhouses for town use, both public and private.

[August 25th, 2023, 10:00AM/ 1493 DR, 10:00AM]

That, now that, was a very good sleep. I slept like a log or a rock. I sniffled and stood up stretching.

[Health and Stamina Regen rates have been reconfigured while you slept.]

[HP; 187/187 (20 HP per 1 minute)
Stamina Points; 220/220 (20 StP per 1 minute)]

"Ho-oh my goodness, okay! Thank you God! This is great!"

That was good news. This was like a two hundred percent increase or something! Don't quote me on that I just woke up. Now I could cheese my perks even more! Maybe, sort of… Damn, I can't believe I can teleport now, sort of too, this is great! These recent updates, ah love them. I went to go check on Leosin, maybe I could do something about his recovery.

"Sir Arthur, thank heavens you're alive." Sister Garaele spoke, her eyes reflecting some worry and comfort.

I thanked her and said good morning. No doubt my newest scar across my face wasn't doing me any favors in regards to coming off as "safe" per say. Nevertheless I smiled and nodded asking for how Leosin was doing and if he could be transferred over to my temple for safe keeping.

"Ah that won't be necessary any longer Sir Arthur." Leosin spoke up, walking about with a grin on his face. "How did you put it, I'm as right as rain." He joked with a smugness about him.

"How?"

"Might've been Corellon, Tymora, even your deity you spoke of or all three, all I know is I'm certainly grateful to be me, but enough of that now dear Adventurer. We have summons to Waterdeep! This plot with the Cult of the Dragon thickens!"

AN: More dragons, more emotions and now we add some spiritual warfare and city simulator to the mix? I have no idea what I'm doing but I like it, just kidding, I have some guidelines I'm basing stuff off of. My raving madness not so much. Thanks for reading as always, I appreciate it. To the guest account who left a review thank you for your words, they made me laugh genuinely, I shall name you and remember you fondly as "Seagull bro" :p

Alright that's all for now. Stay strong guys, and whatever it is you may be going through, remember that you aren't as alone as you think you are, and that you are loved. God bless.