As I drifted off to an early sleep I was greeted to a surprise. Within my dreamscape, within my dream realm stood a man, a man who bore the name Hazirawn, or who I assumed to be Hazirawn, seeing as how he was wielding the blade of the same namesake as well. Dressed in black military garb befitting of a general, adorned in medals of silver and gold. Cropped grey hair and a mean mug of a face.
"It's about damn time boy, I've been trying to reach out to you. We have business to talk about."
My eyebrows twitched in a mixture of slight confusion and amusement as I found myself sitting on a log. We found ourselves upon a campground, natural wilderness, akin to forestry nestled within a valley. The sky was painted in pinks and golds, dawn was breaking forth. Overall it was a nice dream in terms of physical setting.
"Business? What business?"
"What good is a sword that is kept buried in its sheath during times of war? The business of being actually used, dammit!"
"What's the matter? Lord-General Hazirawn doesn't like being a war trophy, and here I thought giving you a break is something you wanted."
He scoffed at that before giving a bitter smile, "I seek freedom, I seek war, I seek honor restored."
"And here I thought once again that you would seek something else considering your past and the fall of your empire."
He stared at me, eyes narrowing like an eagle. He scoffed once more.
"Listen it's not my fault you were betrayed by an empire of wizards, you should've seen it coming honestly but no, you just turned a blind eye to everything that went on, and kept on furthering their causes instead."
His face contorted into a snarl at the mention of his betrayal.
"Yes that's right I studied up on my history, I know all about you. As a matter of fact, I have a deal for you of my own since you wanted to talk about business originally."
"...I'm listening." He responded as he shifted his weight upon his log.
"Due to the methods of your creation, or rather your imprisonment, I won't be using you, or your blade rather, as you've already surmised probably, but I will offer you a second chance at life, one that isn't being stuck inside a blade, or my inventory for that matter."
"What's the catch?"
"Seeing as how I'd be responsible for setting you loose on the plains of Toril once more, your servitude, or partnership rather."
"Pfft, don't try to play politician with me boy, I know what you're after, no need to dress it up in gold…Alright, I'll do it." He had a somber look to him.
Imagine a man, a tired man. A man who slew without end for his people and burned any and all ethics he had to his core for the sake of it. No matter the cost, obsessed, possessed, driven. No lover, no trust, no friends. Surrounded by magi who knew not love but only ambition and envy. Whose only euphoria was delving deeper into dark arts, horrid arts, unholy things. Is it really that much of a surprise that a literal shadow wizard government would betray a general who developed a will of his own? No. The truth was Hazirawn was tired, tired of being used, used by incompetent people at the very least, and wanted to be free. But he couldn't be, not yet at least. Not before he attempted redemption.
"So here's how this is going to go down. I'm going to make you a body, stab you into it and you'll be free."
"Just like that?"
"Just like that. Now go away, I need to rest my mind, I just got done raiding two dungeons."
He scoffed and smiled slightly as he stroked his face. Darkness took over as I fell back into a deeper sleep.
[August 28th, 2023, 6:00AM/ 1493 DR, 6:00AM Icespire Hold]
I had decided to conduct my little experiment here. It'd be the first time I'd be doing something like this, I was nervous but excited too. I decided to take the path of least resistance this time around and just replicate my body as a vessel. Granted I summoned and stabbed Hazirawn into the body first and then finished fleshing it out, pun intended. I didn't want to risk making an empty vessel for some other thing to possess. What was most peculiar was watching the body change to accommodate Hazirawn's essence, soul? Soul. Yeah.
It was odd, my- his, his skin tanned over, a bit more olive compared to my fair skin, irises turning blood red. A stark contrast from my golden brown. The hair was ever more peculiar, I saw it wilt in a sense in real time from a jovial wavy dark brunette to a thin straight jet black with wisps of grey all over. Face no longer diamond shaped like mine but more square, plenty of jaw on that one now. Some of my scars even faded away as his essence filled out the flesh. Soon enough I saw his eyes flutter open and he yelped out in pain, understandable given the sword in his chest. I chuckled at that and helped mend the wound with my Lay on Hands, his chest now bearing a lavender scar.
"I-I can feel again…I can feel again!"
"Indeed, welcome back to the world of the living Haz."
I observed him as he wiped tears from his eyes, examining his body as he flexed his hands… I was a tad psychologically worried considering that his body used to be a replica of my body a few seconds ago…though it seems the DNA has been rewritten magically? Hopefully he doesn't explode or something later down the line. After a few more minutes he calmed down and began to shiver, and then began to laugh over being able to shiver in the first place. All those centuries of war and death and being used as a weapon seemed to melt away as he rediscovered what it meant to have a human body once more. What it meant to be human. It was fascinating to watch him.
"So about what we discussed earlier.."
"Why, why did you actually do it?" Hazirawn asked me.
I shot my eyebrows up in a state of pondering as I stroked my chin, "Do you want me to be honest, or lie to you?"
"I'm almost tempted to choose a lie to see what you'd say but I'd prefer the truth for once."
"Ha…you and me both general.. I'll confess, I thought about throwing you away into the river Styx, or just keeping you in my inventory forever but that'd be boring or you'd just die.. I was morbidly curious to see what you would do if given the chance to have a body again, to be freed from your prison. I also wanted to give you a chance at redeeming yourself. Yes, the things you did were a product of your times, but that time and culture no longer exists in this realm, at least to its original degree. There's no need to keep being Lord-General Hazirawn, now you can just…be, in a way."
"And if I choose to keep being who I was?"
"I'd advise against it, seeing as how it ultimately led to your betrayal and imprisonment in the first place. You are who you surround yourself with, what you consume, what you listen to, etc. You already know what type of life your past led you to, now is your chance to start something new, the choice lies in your hands."
He mulled it over, nodding to himself. "If I'm going to be something new, or serve you or whatever boy-"
"Arthur."
"Arthur, if I grasp that new chance you gave me… I don't have to go back to who I was?"
"No, you don't. For what possible good you did and all the bad you wrought, you can start over, by my side or not."
He let out a soft laugh, exhaling from his nose, a soft smile tugging the corners of his mouth. "Alright, I'll be by your side, for now."
Did I actually convince him? Did the transfer from imprisoned magic weapon to a modulated replica of my body scramble his brain a bit making it easier to converse with me? Did we develop some type of unspoken sixth sense with one another? It would seem so, for the first two at least, given the notification I received.
[Congratulations you have created your first party! You have recruited your first party member successfully! XP sharing has been auto enabled and can be disabled via settings.]
[Congratulations, you have reached 100% Reputation with Hazirawn! You have reached the rank of Friend!]
[Name; Hazirawn
CR; 17 (18,000XP)
HP; 300/300
Stats;
Str; 20 (+5)
Dex; 20 (+5)
Con; 20 (+5)
Int; 15 (+2)
Wis; 17 (+3)
Cha; 17 (+3)
Proficiency; +3
Passive Perception; 17
Armor Class;
15 (Unarmored)
Movement speed; 50ft - 100ft
Class; Fighter 20/20
Alignment; Neutral
Sex/Gender; Male
Race; Human
Ideals: Order, Freedom ("To have no discipline is to have chaos. I rather be free than be safe.")
Interaction Traits: Honest]
"Damn, you will be a force to be reckoned with, that's for sure."
"How did you procure this body in the first place?"
"I replicated my own."
"Oh..got any spare clothes?"
"Ha, I'll do you one better Haz."
I summoned most of my gear and replicated it for him, and bought him some plate armor as well. Watching his face was priceless for me.
"What…who are you, really. You're radiating power, The Power, in a purer form than I have ever seen in my life and I'm old. It's- the quality is different, your armor, your blade especially... What did you do, who are you Arthur?"
"Might as well be honest, I'm a traveler, an extra dimensional traveler. I am not from this realm whatsoever, but was sent here nonetheless. I am a messenger, and a fledgeling in a sense, testing out my capabilities. As for the sword, I prayed over it a bunch and left it to stew in the heart of a dragon for a bit accidently, the armor I just commissioned and prayed over."
"Messenger? What's the message?"
I grinned as he asked, as I went on to explain everything that happened to me so far. He took it better than I expected, maybe it was an age thing, or a perspective thing who knows.
"So where to now?"
"The Misty Forest, I need to continue fighting off the Cult of the Dragon."
Hazirawn stroked his cheek with a chuckle, "So much for my freedom and war huh."
"Hopefully I delivered on those two, as for the third one, ah we'll find it eventually."
I fast traveled the both of us to where the "Trade Way" bordered the "Misty Forest" and we simply headed in from there, looking for a village by the name of "Altand" if what Delaan told us held out true. After marching through a few other abandoned elven villages that were torn asunder we finally found the village of Altand. A wood elf settlement. I was about to go into a rage, seriously who the hell designed the names for these things and people, what drugs is WOTC smoking, damn bastards are about to give me damn dyslexia with how bad these names are. "Silmerhelve" should have been "Silverhelm", that makes so much more sense. "Altand" should've been "Atland" just saying. Don't get me started on people's names, makes me think their parents must've hated them or something, ugh. Where was I, right, the elves.
The village existed on two levels, with a few structures built on the ground around an ancient monument to an elven ranger. Residences and the village temple were built into the upper boughs of the forest. The elves string rope bridges between these sites and construct circular walkways around the trees. Normally this proved to be convenient and natural with their ways of life, however this time around it'd be their undoing. It was akin to investigating a crime scene really. I was so glad to have Hazirawn by my side, his gut feelings and war knowledge were priceless. We were able to deduce that The dragon swooped down and attacked on the ground first.
Nearly half of the village's victims died during that first assault. Humans in the regalia of the Cult of the Dragon followed the dragon, killing all those they found. The village's priest stepped out to lead others in fighting the dragon, but the beast swallowed him whole. Some survivors claim to have seen a cultist riding atop the dragon. Most of those refer to the dragon rider as human, like the other cultists. However, a few people report that the figure moved with the grace of an elf. Elves I swear.
With the priest dead, the village's warden, Galin, has become the leader of Altand. Though he was in the thick of the fight, he survived unscathed, and has been a potent force for rallying the survivors. The attack lasted only a short while, then the dragon unexpectedly retreated. The cultists followed, but as they fled, they took nothing of value from the village. This is a stark contrast to the dragon's other raids, which were focused on capturing treasure.
"So, what do you think?" I asked Hazirawn.
"A deal was struck with the Cult, by the priest perhaps, and if not him beforehand then this new warden, Galin is responsible. Ha, speak of the devil."
As Galin approached I continued to watch Hazirawn work his way, soon enough the three of us were in Galin's home. Galin answers echoed what the other survivors knew. Though apparently he claimed to have not seen the dragon rider and disbelieves those who say they did, dismissing such reports as the result of fear and chaos during the raid. Sure, it could've been true, if it wasn't a lie. Being pressed over this, he admitted that he saw the dragon kill his wife…ouch… and was wracked by guilt that he could not save her.
Hazirawn true to his past nature as a weapon wasted no time cutting through any and all lies, and using his wit as a centuries long war general coaxed Galin and tugged on his heartstrings. It was uncomfortable to say the least watching Galin break down and weep. Over the guilt at what he had done, over the pain of losing his wife and just- well the entire situation in general. He confessed that after seeing his wife killed, he found himself face to face with the Wyrmspeaker in the thick of battle and begged for his life, offering anything in return. Said speaker took the warden up on his offer, agreeing to spare Galin and leave Altand intact in exchange for information on other settlements that would become the targets of the cult's next round of raids. Galin didn't know the identity of the green wyrmspeaker, or the location of the cult's lair. However, from the meeting place, he has watched the dragon flying off on a course due southeast and noticed that the wyrmspeaker's clothes are often wet.
It was nearing noon by now. We were further deep along the woods, having left to discover the lair of our enemies after Galin showed us the meeting spot he used to convene with the Wyrmspeaker.
"So, how's it feeling, having your life back?"
"Ha, bittersweet I suppose, but I'm grateful nonetheless, for every sensation so far, good and bad- Ah we got activity."
Hazirawn given his recent transfiguration of sorts developed a unique physiology in regards to magic, magical items and the weave itself, in the sense that he could see it, all of it. Therefore he could tell that the tree laying upon the druid we came upon was in fact awakened, and that there were three more hiding behind her. It made me wonder how perks came about and how they could be influenced in regards to myself. Nevertheless I was grateful to have Haz by my side, magical sensor and all.
It was very much a test of character as she cried out for help. Decent acting, and seeing as how she wasn't in any real danger I was almost insulted, tempted to even leave her be. But what if she wasn't alright hypothetically? What if I find another person crippled in the woods? Then I'd be more willing to help wouldn't I, so I should regardless then. So I did, granted it felt odd, like a rehearsal or a lifting exercise.
"Heroes at last!" she said. "How many might fall back in fear at the sight of a stranger in the woods, or think first of their own safety before helping another? I grant you my blessing. May your hearts prove true where others fear to tread."
She began to pluck flowers from her hair that weren't there a moment ago, then twisted her fingers to weave them into garlands as if by magic, because it was, she was basically casting druidcraft. I held up my hands as she went to lay the garland around my neck.
"While I appreciate the gesture, thought and compassion I…cannot accept, I would rather you tell us directions as to where we could find the green menace that's been slaughtering your kin like a sickle to wheat. Sorry if I'm being coarse here."
"Oh but my adventures these garlands will aid you in such an endeavor you see!"
I thinned my lips in discomfort. "I know, but I cannot, my oath forbids me so, I am sorry."
"Ahh, a paladin, pity you could've taken an oath to the ancients no?"
"You won't understand it now, but you will one day, for I serve the most Ancient of Days. Now about those directions."
After that whole cringefest we were on our way once more. Hazirawn ended up rejecting the garland as well, not due to an oath or belief like me, but rather due to past trauma and biases regarding magic and magi, understandable to be honest, extremely fresh wound that was.
It started off with a scratch, a passing of the hand in the air, then a strand, a few more. Then a whole web, weaving and ducking till we were forced to march through hellish web infested humid vegetation. Seven giant spiders and two ettercaps attempted to ambush us, I say attempted because I immediately shrieked in disgust and anger, popping off my Dreadful Mein and stunning all of them.
[Ettercap has been slain x3! 1,350XP gained! 1,350GP gained!]
It took me four swings to kill that horrid disgusting trio, even using Hatred Empowerment! God they were so disgusting! I felt my left shoulder hitch in a rage.
[Giant Spider has been slain x7! 1,400XP gained! 1,400GP gained!]
Note to self, find out a way to kill Lolth eventually. For those that aren't aware, she was essentially the mother goddess of the drow, the dark elves and all things spider-y. And she sucks. I paused and clenched my teeth as my sternum hurt.
"Tsk. Haz, please do me a favor and burn down this webbing."
He chuckled at my request and got to it. Afterwards we finally came across the lair of the green dragon, the entrance hidden behind a waterfall, showing the expansive cave system turned home. It would soon devolve into all out war, and with me letting go of any hesitations or reservations I might have had, self defense always wins in my book. Four noble, eleven commoners, three ettins, a knight, a mage, ten dragonclaws and two dragonfangs. My flesh was weak and weary, restless to slaughter them all, I am not proud to admit it but will nonetheless. It was then that the little voice in my head told me to spare those that were not totally devoted to the dragon.
"Hazirawn! Incapacite the civilians, slay the cultists!"
[Warning you have received a Critical Hit!]
[Warning you have received a Minor Scar!]
[Warning you have received a Critical Hit!]
[Warning you have received a Minor Scar!]
[Warning you have received a Critical Hit!]
[Warning you have received a Minor Scar!]
[Warning you have received a Critical Hit!]
[Warning you have received a Minor Scar!]
"PISS OFF!"
[Dragonclaw level cultist has been slain x10! 2,000XP gained! 2,000GP gained!]
[Dragonfang level cultist has been slain x2! 3,600XP gained! 3,600GP gained!]
[Congratulations you have reached 15th level!]
The ettins proved to be harder, sort of.
[Ettin has been slain! 1,100XP gained! 1,100GP gained!]
[Warning you have received a Critical Hit!]
[Warning you have received a Minor Scar!]
I screamed out in rage as I powered forth, the cultists had slashed my face up like a cat from hell and the second ettin managed to ram his morningstar just above my right elbow, while the last swung his axe into my leg. Bastards, all of them! I managed to disarm them of their weapons as I parried their barrage off.
[Ettin has been slain x2! 2,200XP gained! 2,200GP gained!]
I coughed, catching my breath, my stomach hurt. I splashed some water in my face to try and get rid of the bleeding.
"Arthur, I hear wings!"
Haz shouted as I looked over, he was done with his half, good, wait crap. I clicked my teeth as I ran for the entrance. If I was a dragon whose home was being raided I'd return and point blank breath attack them, creating a hot box of death. Meaning that if it were to occur all those civilians who were practically brainwashed into serving the dragon would die, damn!
Hazirawn chased after me as well, we managed to long jump, crawl and roll our way onto dry land as we heard the cries of the green wyrmspeaker overhead.
"Go Chuth, give them death!"
The real fight started now as that elven bastard pounced on Haz while Chuth dive bombed himself onto us.
"Try to keep him alive!"
We managed to roll our way out of the poison breath attack as I internally seethed at Chuth like a rabid dog. I closed my left eye from all the dust and debris, closing my left hand to concentrate on the green dragon himself.
"By the cords of Ecclesiates, I bind you with a threefold cord, fall vile serpent, to the earth!"
Shimmering chains of gold shot forth from the air itself, wrapping around Chuth, snaring him about as he struggled and fell to the soil below, and shattered every last one of them. Free to fly once more he chose to forgo it at the moment and set himself on slaying me. We charged at one another like bulls.
Biting into me and using his tail like a bullwhip of mass proportion I was nearly thrown about like a ragdoll as my blade sliced through his scaled flesh. I knew, I knew instinctively just like Venomfang did that Chuth would run. So I dashed and leapt onto him like a squirrel bloodlusted on crack.
Ha…deja vu baby. "Idols and Anchors" by Parkway Drive was blasting in the wind as Chuth tried to shake me off. God I love metal, those guitar solos were absolutely delicious.
"Goodbye Chuth the # %$!"
Stabbing my blade into his back twice he let out a final roar and began to plummet to the ground below, I aimed for the waterfall and pool.
[Chuth the Adult Green Dragon has been slain! 13,000XP gained! 13,000GP gained!]
[Congratulations you have gained +2 Stat points!]
[Congratulations you have gained the Perk; Do You Even Lift Bro? (Passive); You can now grapple creatures of the Large size category with advantage. Likewise you can wield weapons made for Large sized creatures without penalty, two-handed weapons made for medium sized creatures can be wielded with one hand and weapons possessing the Versatile property deal their highest die of damage.]
Interesting considering Chuth was large but whatever honestly. I dragged myself out of the water and turned the music off. Hazirawn was waiting for me with the unconscious wyrmspeaker at his feet.
"Annoying little scrub he was, but I left him alive, barely."
"Good work, thank you."
We both shared a chuckle over that. I binded the bastard with rope and we decided to rummage around the Chuth's lair. Any and all others that did wake up were told that the dragon was dead and that they were free to go, which they did, after we all searched the cave for their belongings. Something very much of note that me and Haz found out though, the green wyrmspeaker was Nerovain, son of King Melandrach. One of the members of the council. Well this just got ugly real quick. I'd have to save face with the elf king, probably tell him this all in private.
Oh yeah and the Green Dragon Mask wasn't here, it was with the Cult, great! I fluttered my lips and decided to unwind by taking a break under that waterfall. It was about one in the afternoon give or take. I was back on dry land and not wearing my armor, I handed Hazirawn a cheeseburger I bought from the Market Tab. The look on his face was amusing to me, but we both agreed in the end they were delicious.
"Hello there my fellow adventurers, you wouldn't happen to know of a 'Sir Arthur' around these parts would you?" A silver haired woman called out to us, a few feet of space left between us.
"Present and accounted for." I hit her with a mental Analyze.
[Name; "Elia" Otaaryliakkarnos the Ancient Silver Dragon
CR; 23 (50,000XP)
HP; 500/500
Stats;
Str; 30 (+10)
Dex; 10 (+0)
Con; 30 (+10)
Int; 18 (+4)
Wis; 17 (+3)
Cha; 23 (+6)
Proficiency; +3
Passive Perception; 17
Armor Class;
22 (Natural armor)
Movement speed; 40ft - 80ft, fly 80ft - 160ft
Alignment; Neutral Good
Sex/Gender; Female
Race; Dragon
Ideals: Leadership, Camaraderie ("The true treasure is the friends we made along the way.")
Interaction Traits: Honest, Friendly]
Well hot damn alright then, now that is a dragon. Also seriously what in dear God's name is that name? Is that some form of butchered greek?
I pulled my thoughts away and smiled, "You are speaking to him, Lady Elia."
She couldn't help but grin, I won't lie I knew she was a dragon but man did she look good as a human.
"The reports of your person don't lie, you are certainly blessed with knowledge. I bring you a formal invitation to the council of metallic dragons, the Noble Concord."
"Sometimes perhaps ha, as for this invitation, if I accept it, when should we depart?"
"Oh immediately, two days is all to travel back to the Nether Mountains, but I urge you Sir Arthur to take the chance with haste, for I don't have much time."
"A dragon short on time, now that's a scary thought indeed." I grinned at her as I started putting my armor back on.
Pausing for a moment, I turned towards Hazirawn and asked if he could essentially babysit Nerovain, and that I'd be back for him. He wasn't that amused but still agreed to do so nonetheless.
[August 30th, 2023, 8:00AM/ 1493 DR, 8:00AM, The Nether Mountains]
Well, we made it. A council of five metallic ancient dragons. It's most likely redundant to say how large they were, but honestly, they really were enormous. Cave openings hugged the sides of an open plateau, the five judges meeting, well five now that "Elia" was back with visitors. Me and Haz being said visitors. I glanced about the other four I did not know. Protanther the gold, Eleuthera the brass, Nymmurh the bronze and lastly Tazmikella the copper dragon.
I let out a breath, damn, I'd have to manage discussion with five dragons, forget ten to eleven people. At least I wasn't alone, I had God with me.
"Good morning Noble ones, I am honored that you would send me an invitation despite mixed views, rest assured we will stop the rise of Tiamat together!"
Nymmurh was grinning at that, Otaaryliakkarnos smiled softly.
"So with that being said, let's start with you shall we Protanther, King of Justice."
He preened a tad at that before narrowing his eyes and nodding his head. He went on to tell of how he considered the cycle of failed human civilizations across Faerûn as a sign of a quintessential flaw in human nature. Understandable but he needed to look deeper than that. Moreover, he was quick to point out that humans make up the majority of evil archmages and liches, including Sammaster, who founded the Cult of the Dragon, and Szass Tam's Red Wizards. Even the current leader of the Cult of the Dragon, Severin, and a majority of the cult's members were human. Much to my chagrin.
In regards to bringing up lifespans and overall human wisdom Protanther at least appreciated that the crimes of the humanoid races were usually directed against each other. He knew that the short lives of many humanoids means they might not even recognize their own evil. So I managed to shift that view a bit more in my favor.
That was when he moved onto the elves. How they live for long years and possess great knowledge, and have used that knowledge to the detriment of dragonkind in the past. Which was true. It was the elves who shaped the magic of the "Dracorage mythal", sending dragons across Faerûn into an uncontrolled rage. Also true.
Knowing the nature somewhat of golden dragons I could tell they could develop tunnel vision in regards to being overzealous. He wanted to go fight now, only entertaining such a meeting as to not have a metallic mutiny of sorts. Or perhaps subconsciously he knew he was wrong and wanted to be convinced of it. He reminded me of myself in my past. I agreed with his gripes when it came to the elves.
Eventually I managed to get to the heart of his desire. A formal apology from one who speaks for elvenkind for the abomination that was the "Dracorage mythal", oh boy King Melandrach would love this.
After promising to get the apology he pretty much shifted gears mentally, with a sigh of relief I cracked my back. Great, four more to go.
I turned to Eleuthera, nodding at him, "Alright big guy, your turn."
Much easier to converse with seeing as how he didn't have that much to gripe with. The only flicker of a desire he had personally was the acquisition and safekeeping of the dragon masks. Once I summoned and gave him the Black Dragon Mask I pretty much had him in my pocket.
"Lady Elia" I couldn't help but tease. Her and Tazmikella shared a chuckle.
Otaaryliakkarnos shared a less intense but similar problem in regards to past grudges. For she knew that the skin of her slain kin was used to make armor for the dwarf lord who slew her. She essentially demanded the remains be returned and that Ambassador Brawnanvil make an apology on behalf of all dwarves for the wrongful deaths the Dragonmoots have caused. Damn, elves and dwarves were in hot water with these dragons. Another promise made, another draconic smile displayed.
Nymmurh was friendly already so I went ahead and focused finally on Tazmikella. She being tha wily copper dragon she was couldn't think of a concession she'd want, but I managed to get her too when I offered to hand over Severin to them dead or alive.
I had done it. I had managed to get them all in agreement with me, now came the fun part. I asked all of them to shapeshift into human form, that I would make them stronger, this hooked them in. I held out my right hand and told them to each grasp a finger. I chuckled as I replicated them, there were now two of each metallic dragon. Seeing their facial reactions was hilarious.
"Consider this a gift from me, one step closer to draconic asceticism." I grinned.
Fast traveling back to Hazirawn he was chilling next to the water pool once more. Nerovain groveling not too far off, bound and now gagged. Oh boy.
"Sorry I was gone for so long, hope he wasn't too much trouble."
Haz let out a snort of amusement, "Trouble he says, so long he says, ah nevermind it boy. Idiots aside this forest is quite peaceful, I enjoyed my time. How did that dragon business go?"
"Better than I thought it would honestly, now we just need to head back to Waterdeep and drop him off."
"Sounds good."
We fast traveled back to my room inside the Lord's palace after I placed Nerovain in my inventory, who I then proceeded to dump back out onto the bed.
"I'm going to go look for King Melandrach, this'll be easier in private rather than public."
Dragging King Melandrach back to my room was a pain but an eventuality nonetheless. His yells could most likely be heard from down the hall for the first few seconds. It was understandable given the fact that he was face to face with the son he thought exiled and dead now found out to be alive and a traitor as well. Not an easy day for the king of the misty forest whatsoever.
Fast forwarding to the third council meeting it had been revealed through the Varram's dwarven court trial that the White Dragon Mask had been stolen by a Zhentarim agent in league with the Cult of the Dragon. The Zhentarim were essentially the mercantile black market dark web faction of Faerun, nasty stuff. They also used flying snakes as messengers I kid you not. I went on to quickly introduce Hazirawn as "Haz'', my new adventuring partner, and that the green wyrmspeaker had been captured alive and would be processed through the courts of elven law etc.
Everyone was impressed that I managed to unite the metallic dragons into aiding us. King Melandrach and Ambassador Brawnanvil proceeded to seeth in fury when I told of the concessions that would be needed to garner the continued support of the metallic dragons. Personally I didn't care and I was not about using violence and fear to coerce them into doing so I'll admit, thankfully I didn't have to. King Melandrach was honor bound and Brawnavil was essentially peer pressured into doing so.
Damn non humans. My human bias aside, we got down to further business. The council of Waterdeep passed along a note to me.
It read as follows, "You don't know me, but we can help each other immeasurably. My name is Iskander, and I made a terrible mistake in joining the Cult of the Dragon. The cult's horrifying plans are sure to bring doom to all, but I can stop those plans with your help. Rescue me from the cult's clutches, and I will deliver to you the prize of prizes: the Blue Dragon Mask. Without it, Severin faces an insurmountable setback in his effort to call Tiamat back to our world. The mask is here in Xonthal's Tower, being studied and guarded by only a handful of wizards, including myself. The danger of my treason becoming known grows with every passing day, and if I'm discovered, I'll surely be killed. Please hurry, for the sake of everyone and everything you value."
Haz looked it over as well and scoffed. Turning towards everyone in the council I voiced my opinion, "You all know this is most likely a trap right, a lie."
"We do understand, but on the off chance that it isn't it'll prove useful to us to rid them of another mask." Lady Remalia said softly.
"Alright fine, guess we know our next destination then.."
[August 30th, 2023, 10:00AM/ 1493 DR, 10:00AM, Xonthal's Tower]
After fast traveling to the southern edge of the Serpent hills me and Haz hopped aboard Sunfire and zipped our way on over to the tower. Around the base of it was a spanning hedge maze and beyond that a village. Its origin, students of the famous wizard Xonthal. Of course. In time however more normal settlers would be drawn to reside there.
The locals were friendly enough, but there were still traces of ties to the Zhentarim history within the village. It gave me a bad feeling, Thalia had yet to try anything on me to my knowledge, hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. Where was I, ah yes, things were quiet there for a long time, but for almost a year now, the villagers have seen lights through the windows at night and heard unearthly sounds. A few claim to have seen a blue dragon lingering in the sky high above. Some villagers scoff at that idea, but everyone agrees that the tower has been reoccupied. Joy…
I made the sign of the cross as we entered the maze just in case. Hazirawn eventually did the same, which made me giggle internally.
"Yeah, this place is practically dripping with magic…I don't like it, it makes me feel misplaced…"
We entered an intersection where eight paths converged symmetrically. Xonthal's Tower was dead ahead above the eight foot tall hedge wall, but the way the paths curve, there's no telling which one might lead to it. A sundial stood in the center of the intersection, the shadow from its gnomon pointing straight toward the tower, which was highly odd, because the sun wasn't behind us. Our shadows pointed in the proper direction. Only the sundial's shadow pointed ahead.
Some shadow play huh, fine then we'll humor you Xonthal. We went along the shadows path only to end up back at the sundial, which was now casting two shadows, along the first and third paths. So we chose the second, a pattern began developing, amongst shadowplay and spatial sundial magic. After a few more rounds we eventually managed to leave the sundial area and found ourselves at the foot of the tower. Thank God.
[Cultist has been slain x4! 100XP gained! 100GP gained!]
[Cult fanatic has been slain! 450XP gained! 450GP gained!]
Found our hosts.
[Cult fanatic has been slain x5! 2,250XP gained! 2,250GP gained!]
I was surprised to see a shrine dedicated to Oghma, Faerunian god of knowledge and invention be repurposed into a weapon. The skeletal forelimbs of a black dragon had been enchanted with an animate object spell. After replicating the ulna I sold the rest of the bones for five thousand six hundred gold. Hazirawn showed wonder at how I basically made the bones vanish because he knew it wasn't "the Art", magecraft, but rather another instance of divine power. His eyebrows rose after I told him how much money those arm bones sold for.
We used the teleportation circles, there was no other way to navigate the tower. Sure I could use dynamite to bomb the floors and use ladders, but that wasn't a guarantee that the blast would just be magically warped back onto me. Anyway we found ourselves in a lounge. A large fireplace in the center of the room kept this chamber warm and cozy, its smoke magically vented outside. About two thirds of the skeleton of an adult black dragon was laid out on the floor, curled around the fireplace. That was when more cultists decided to try and kill us.
[Cult fanatic has been slain x6! 2,700XP gained! 2,700GP gained!]
"Well, at least now we know where they got the arms from hahahaha." I commented.
After selling them off too we teleported once more to what looked like an observatory with a balcony, once again we were accosted but this time around it was Hazirawn who decided to take initiative against them. I simply weaved and parried when need be.
"So what was that about?"
"Ha, can't let you have all the fun, this my war too now…for now. Plus that sword makes things too easy."
"Sounds to me like the old man didn't want his joints to rust."
He flipped me off with a grin, I smiled back and chuckled, "For the record, depending on who and how many yes my blade can make quick work of my enemies."
"Let the blood flow, drenched in blood and bodies of the damned, let it all flow. Stop that, none of that. Every life we have taken was out of self defense and need be, I refuse to be some monster. We already were a monster. Piss off. I am not a monster."
"Hey boy, got a key here for ya. Looks important."
Made of crystal and shaped like an hourglass, neat, and so we found ourselves teleported underneath the tower, in the dungeons. We found blood and three dead cultists strewn about the floor. Nothing like internal strife huh. Aside from a few stab wounds we didn't find much, following the blood trail we were led to a new sight. Standing amid the gore are three humanoid figures—two that look like misshapen statues of clay and stone and one appearing as a humanoid made of flame. They were admittedly beautiful. Elementals. First I'd ever come across, minus the invisible stalker but I didn't personally count them in my head.
"Alright Haz prepare yourself!"
I inhaled and channeled frost upon my blade gunning for the fire elemental. Since I was no longer capable of feeling fear I instead felt a heightened sense of battle calculation, pain and priority. It was odd, it was liberating. Something so human, gone, good.
[Fire Elemental has been slain! 1,800XP gained! 1,800GP gained!]
The frigid smites paid off, I managed to slay it and it even dropped its core as well! My other reward was the first earth elemental smacking its rock fist into my lower left kidney. I coughed and whipped around, veering out of the way of a right jab that tried to shoot at my head!
I inhaled once more to psych myself up and tapped into my thunder affinity for twinned thunderous smites! The blessed blade cleaved through the elemental's rocky skin like butter, the thunder further damaging its insides apart.
[Earth Elemental has been slain! 1,800XP gained! 1,800GP gained!]
Yes! It also dropped its core, sweet! I glanced about the room to see Hazirawn vanquish his earth elemental as well. Nice. We moved on in search of the Blue Dragon Mask for we had yet to find it. We happened upon a laboratory. Worktables were covered with notes, alchemical flasks, beakers, braziers, and other arcane apparatus. More startling was the whirlwind occupying the center of the room. Ten feet across and stretching from floor to ceiling, it swirled endlessly, revealing a number of sparkling gems within it. Elemental gems, used by magi to invoke the elemental spirits from the planes beyond. Tempting, very tempting, oh so shiny, but no.
Scanning through the papers I was able to deduce that Xothal was essentially trying to create the damn avatar between the four elements, a being that incorporated the best aspects of them all. Heh, who's to say humanity wasn't already the result huh. I shook my head and pressed onward, things got real trippy from here, or more magical I should say.
Steps descended to a walkway that appeared to stretch across infinite space. Thousands of stars twinkled in unfamiliar constellations, and meteors streaked through the vastness above and below the path. Just past the base of the stairs, a door framed by nothingness arose from the path. Fifty feet beyond that, the path met an intersection, with another door straight ahead. I didn't like it, sure it was beautiful but it felt unnatural, therefore I didn't trust it. My gut instinct was correct as I hit the deck of the floor, ducking under falling meteorites that attempted to knock over into an infinite void.
My patience was beginning to wear thin. We decided to skip any of the other rooms connected to the "cosmic hallway" and did a quick rundown glance of Xonthal's observatory room and book making room, we finally came across an unexpected other though. An efreeti. I couldn't help but grin a predatory grin, and it reciprocated the same as we eyed one another. Fun fact, in actual mythology or religion the ifrit were regarded as demons of the underworld, don't mind if I do!
I dashed forth at him like a tiger, I could hear the crunch of his neck as he stood up and summoned his giant scimitar, his look of bloodlust soon turned into horror as unleashed my full power, cleaving through him, turning him into meaty chunks. Said chunks soon turned into smoke as his armaments dropped to the floor.
[Efreeti has been slain! 7,200XP gained! 7,200GP gained!]
[Congratulations you have reached 16th level!]
Sweet. Oh, we finally found the Blue Dragon Mask as well! Along with Iskander's dead body, he was the one who set this whole goose chase off to begin with. Slipping into my inventory I sighed with relief. We were in some kind of time chamber? Two massive hourglasses occupied this irregularly shaped chamber. Their glass globes were nearly fifteen feet across, with each hourglass rising almost to the ceiling thirty feet overhead. Each was suspended by chains, pulleys, and gears in such a way that it can be turned over to set its sand running. I couldn't resist and pulled one over on itself. The auditory feedback was horrendous, they definitely needed to be oiled.
[Congratulations you have gained Time Affinity (1/100)!]
"Wait what?" The hourglass then proceeded to break, sand spilling all over the floor as tiny diamonds washed over to my feet. Free six hundred gold. I wasn't scared, because I couldn't be, but if I could I definitely would've been a little bit. Time is a very big universal force and concept, therefore an even bigger responsibility. I saw it as a thing to be filed away and managed for now. We got what we came for, the mask.
We teleported about, reaching the sundial once more and leaving the maze for the village when we heard the sound of screams, and then saw the plumes of smoke and said village on fire as an adult blue dragon terrorized the sky.
"The mask fools! Return to me the mask, you cannot stop the rise of our queen!"
I sighed as I pinched the bridge of my nose. "# $%$ dragons I swear…"
"That's going to be a bit of a problem." Haz commented.
"Tell me about it. Damn I think I left the trebuchet in the town as well."
I exhaled and inhaled as I brought my hands together in prayer, Hazirawn watching me as I did so. Another trebuchet spawned into existence via the Market Tab, thank you God. Haz's furrowed brows in wonder were an amusing sight to look at.
"Alright Haz, let's see how quick you can be at firing one of these, I want you to launch me at that dragon."
He paused and chuckled, shaking his head, "Definitely my most mad wielder by far."
Soon enough I was flying through the air towards the blue bastard himself, nothing like good ol deja vu mixed with some if it ain't broke don't fix it. "Idols and Anchors" by Parkway Drive started blasting in the winds again, a small grin adoring my face.
"INSOLENT WORM! YOU DARE DEFY ME, I AM THE STORM OF DEATH!"
"And my God is the ender of storms, nice to meet your acquaintance."
I plunged my blade twice into his scaly blue back. We nearly crashed into the earth as a result as he went feral in rage and fear.
"You are not the first dragon to be slain, nor will you be the last."
[Warning you have received a Critical Hit!]
[Warning you have received Severe bruising. You suffer severe bruising over an extensive portion of your anatomy. Anytime you suffer bludgeoning damage, you suffer an additional point of bludgeoning damage. The bruising heals if you receive magical healing. Alternately, it heals on its own in 2 weeks.]
[Warning you have received a Critical Hit!]
[Warning you have received Severe bruising. You suffer severe bruising over an extensive portion of your anatomy. Anytime you suffer bludgeoning damage, you suffer an additional point of bludgeoning damage. The bruising heals if you receive magical healing. Alternately, it heals on its own in 2 weeks.]
"Ow…"
Who said lightning couldn't strike the same place twice, or in this case the tail of a lightning breathing dragon. Despite the stinging pain in the left side of my back I managed to stay on course. Though I did stagger a bit admittedly as I raised my sword up to strike once more. As I did so he released a bolt of lighting up into the heavens, and it came raining back down upon me with full force.
[Warning you have received a Critical Hit!]
[Warning you have received Brain Injury. You have suffered a brain injury. You have disadvantage on Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma checks, as well as Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma saving throws. If you fail a saving throw against bludgeoning damage, force damage, or psychic damage, you are also stunned until the end of your next turn. Magic such as the regenerate spell can restore your full brain function.]
[Deathstorm has been slain! 15,000XP gained! 15,000GP gained!]
[Congratulations you have gained +2 Stat points!]
[Congratulations you have been recognized as the new owner of Deathstorm's hoard!]
"I…Pain…# $%..." I coughed.
Everything hurted. I eventually crumpled and rolled over to the floor like a ragdoll as Deathstorm crash landed to the soil below. On the bright side, my Lightning Affinity and Resistance shot up by a good twenty or so levels, so that was nice. Also apparently I didn't have to worry about draconic hoard curses since I now owned that hoard, neat. God my stomach was broiling over, and my head was beginning to hurt! God please no. I lost track of how long I was on the floor, I only knew it began to rain thankfully.
I summoned the last troll mushroom I had and began to replicate it.
"That was one hell of a fight, you lit up like a jewel when that lightning bolt struck you too. Wait, are those troll mushrooms? Ha, wow I haven't seen those in ages, some of the wizards were experimenting with them back in the day, the results varied widely, some ended up developing cancer even."
"Divine health..ugh…"
I gnashed my teeth and coughed as I brought the first one up to eat, lingering injuries be damned, magic be damned. At this point the troll mushrooms were starting to remind me of settled jumbo olives in both taste and physical texture when eaten. I had to fight the urge to vomit as I forced the food contents down. No more brain injury.
I exhaled, "You want one?"
"No thanks lad, I'm good."
I paused as I felt my brain come back to a proper order, more was done than I had realized truly. Rezmir was dead, Varram and Nerovain were captured and jailed, Iskander was also dead, four wyrmspeakers had been compromised and with it two of the five dragon masks as well. One more wyrmspeaker remained along with three masks. Sweet! I stuffed the last four mushrooms back in my inventory and slowly stood back up. I could hear the hoard calling me.
"Hey, want to go loot a dragon hoard?"
One hundred twenty thousand four hundred and fifty gold. That was the total once I converted and sold everything necessary, not bad. It was about noon in the day now but if you told me it was four or six in the afternoon I would've believed you, because my mind sure was feeling it. After we raided the hoard I decided to show Haz the town I had invested in and we fast traveled our way back to Phandalin.
It definitely made me nostalgic seeing as how I hadn't shown my face there in public in the past weeks…months? I don't remember anymore. Regardless it was good to see Danar, Sildar, Toblin and the rest of em. I introduced Hazirawn as my adventuring buddy in my war against the Cult of the Dragon and how we were pretty much crushing it!
I then proceeded to buy sixty five pounds of gold and silver, which costed me a total three thousand five hundred and seventy five gold pieces, replicated the blessing I had placed on the blessed chainmail and then proceeded to head on down to smithy and use the forge to smelt the blessed metals into blessed electrum, recycle the blessed chainmail into the new plate armor I had just concocted as I borrowed Hazirawn's plate to replicate the proper shape and form for the armor. It was a mad science project of the divine and I was loving every second of it.
"There it is folks, my new armor." Alger and Maza couldn't help but stare, Hazirawn too.
[Blessed Electrum and Platinum Plate Armor: Wondrous item, Legendary.
Heavy Armor; Provides an AC bonus of +2 alongside resistance against cold/ice damage, thunder/sonic damage, fire damage, acid damage, lightning damage and poison damage.
Freshly polished, matte white gold colored plate armor with an underlayer of freshly polished, masterwork riveted, sky white platinum chainmail. Gives off a faint golden sheen when exposed to any and all light sources.
Weighs 65 lbs.
Made from electrum and platinum that has been blessed by God.]
I couldn't help but laugh as I suited up, the Cult had no idea what would be hitting them now. I then spent the rest of the day cleaning up my church and tending to whoever came by. All in all, a very good day. I happily went to bed in my study and fell asleep. Then came the dreaming once more.
[You have planted an additional 19 seeds of faith today, good work.]
It was night, I found myself in a hotel of sorts, high rise, top floors, vip areas. It was decked in marbles and golds, everything sleek and smooth, reeking of bleeding edge modernism trends that only the richest could indulge and buy. And there I was sitting upon the black leather couch which at minimum was probably two grand. And on the other side of the couch, a woman of mulan descent, essentially asian converting forgotten realms to earthen terminology. Sleek silken black hair, soft smooth fair skin with a honey peach tinge to it clothed in nothing but a silk purple and black nightgown which hugged and emphasized all of her womanhood.
That is to say she was stacked, and she knew it well. It was both a weapon and a point of pride for her. She slipped her gown off as she approached me. That part of me, that carnal pleasure loving part of me wanted nothing more than to just dive ahead, but something was holding me back, a gut feeling. She pressed her lips against mine and I nearly melted.
That was when it hit me. Tiamat. I saw her eyes flush in black, like pools of the abyss as she chuckled, I snarled as I got into a combative stance on the couch.
"Darling, pest of a little human, do you really think you have any chance against me?"
"YES!"
She scoffed and rolled her eyes and then proceeded to chuckle, "Well are you sure I can't change your mind, after all you do seem to like what you see if your body is any indication. Such a hypocritical man of faith aren't you?"
"Silence dragon # $%& of the chromatic sea, you are not the first spirit that has attempted to seduce me in my dreams. You will be defeated."
"Hmmm, nor will I be the last, if I can't have you as a toy then I'll merely have you for lunch, simple really." She lulls her head to the side, smiling a grin of razor sharp teeth. "You'll be the first bite in a long meal of despair I plan on savoring over these ill begotten lands."
Damn, damn, damn, she was a fine woman. The internet has ruined me. "NO! Enough of this! In the name of Christ I compel you!"
She didn't like that one bit, the entire dreamscape was swallowed in a flash of light as I heard her scream in pain. I found myself once more in the wilderness, no, in the fields where I first spawned into this realm. Ao was there.
"Ao."
"Arthur."
"Any more weird dreams I need to worry about?"
"You already know the answer to that one, wasn't the first, won't be the last."
I sighed and furrowed my brow, "Damn seducing spirits." I paused and sat down. "Soon enough we'll be done, we'll reconvene again and see what happens."
"Be warned Arthur, this fight may not go in your favor the way you think it will. It's not just the dragon queen you need to worry about."
"I'm surprised the other gods haven't tried anything yet."
"They're biding their time and observing, as gods do. Savras especially, told them not to engage immediately."
"A far cry from their past behavior eh Ao." I teased.
He sighed in response. "I am…grateful for the final orders that I have received."
"Are the others aware?"
"No, honestly, they just think of you as an arrogant little fanatic that will start a cult that will fade with time."
I couldn't help but grin and chuckle, "Do they not realize whose messenger I am?"
"Not yet, since you've mainly just instilled in some people the idea of a supreme God that should be given active worship, when you do get to the trinity I'm sure you'll set off a rather nuclear sized ripple within the astral realm. That is to say you'll be harassed even more so. That lightning bolt you took courtesy of Talos will be the least of your concerns."
"Oh so that's why it hurt so much, he was giving Deathstorm a handout. What a #$% ." "Heh..all in due time, all in due time, let them hunt me down, whoever does will be accursed with their reckoning. The Final Sundering began as soon as I took my first breath within this realm."
I let out a sigh. "Can I go back to enjoying my sleep now?"
I looked up to glance at Ao and he was gone, and the setting had changed once more. In his place sitting in front of me was Tymora.
"Oh for #$ &)* sake. How did you even get in here?"
"That's for me to know and for you to find out little hero." She teased with a smile.
I furrowed my brow and went off, holding no mercy, "The shrine in town, the damn shrine." I scoffed, "And you gods think yourself so smart."
She narrowed her eyes. A tan skinned brunette tomboy with a shoulder braid, adorned in a toga of red with gold accents. Her form, like Tiamat's before her, was that of a normal sized woman. She had a cute nose and gold irises. I could hear my teeth clench in irritation.
She pouted playfully, feet fluttering in the wind as she rose up and hovered about, "Well that's no fun at all, Savras didn't say you were keen."
"I am not a plaything of the gods, I need my sleep. I have a quest that must be fulfilled, 'Lady of Fortune'."
"Ooh you're a feisty one, say want to get to know one another, you're new in town after all." She grinned ear to ear.
"Like all your other dalliances of the past, no thanks darling. I've had enough trouble with the 'fairer sex' as is. I'll tell you what though Tyche, keep watching me, you and all the other gods, every last one of you. Keep watching me, because I am going to make this world never forget the things I do."
She paused at that, eyes narrowing, "Well someone is certainly passionate at the moment, and well read, I haven't been called that in a while…Hmph, too much! I'll be leaving now, goodbye little hero." She winked at me as she disappeared in a flash.
I woke up. I began to curse as I sat up in bed running my hands through my hair. I wanted to rip something apart. I hated that the gods all looked so good physically. Invading, seducing and teasing my dreams, piss off thank you! Ao certainly did a fantastic job keeping them all in check, NOT! I sighed and laid back down. Soon…soon, all in due time. I had a quest to fulfill and a people to save first.
AN: Lots of dreams, lots of fights, plenty of pain, such is life! :' D Arthur made a new friend! Yay for Haz! Crazy how we're so close towards the end of this quest though, I wonder what will happen hahaha. Anyway, thank you for sticking with me, and for reading. Also for following and favoriting, I really appreciate, I never thought I'd get this far but hey we're making it! ahahaha Yeah that's all, hope you enjoyed the chapter, sorry if you didn't, that's life. As always keep your chin up, you're stronger than you know, God loves you, God bless you. Till next time.