Disclaimer: I do not own Overlord
Guide: "words", (thoughts), [sound effects], {quick in story author's note}, SHOUTING or LOUD NOISES. A line means scene change, Bold is important things or supernatural beings speaking.
Author note:
Certain dnd monsters will appear in the story dnd challenge rating to Yggdrasil level will be 5.25.
Young Silver Dragons will be Level 47 monsters in Yggdrasil (a bit stronger than dominion Authority)
Cloud Giants will be Level 47 monsters in Yggdrasil (a bit stronger than dominion Authority)
Re-Estize Capital Six Months Later
It was early morning in the capital of Re-Estize the sun had just begun to rise a small smattering of clouds covered the sky as the chief warrior of the kingdom of Re-Estize walked into the king's personal quarters. As the doors to the king's room swung open the king called out "ah Gazef come we have much to discuss,".
"Is this about my mission," Gazef asked?
"Indeed you are to travel to Duke Theren Starflower's domain to make preparations for the upcoming annual war as well as to deliver supplies," The king explained.
Gazef had heard rumors of this of large shipments of iron, steel, lumber, and gold being delivered to Theren Starflower's domain. "As powerful as that man is he should be an invaluable ally in the annual war," Gazef smiled at the mental image of the fire and hell he saw that day outside Carne village being brought against the enemies of his kingdom.
"No Duke Theren will not be used in the war" the king shook his head in sadness.
"Surely you jest why not make use of his strength is that not the reason he was given his position," Gazef asked in pure astonishment.
"I'm sure you're aware of our newly soured relations with The Slain Theocracy," the king said
Gazef frowned at the reminder once news of Re-Estize granting a noble title to an elf had spread. All the human countries of the continent reacted with various degrees of astonishment and anger. Though non had reacted quite as bad as the Slain Theocracy which had done all but declare war they had completely cut off trade with Re-Estize and were pressuring the other human nations to do the same. "I am" the chief warrior replied curtly.
"Well that combine with the nearly complete annihilation of the population of E-Rantel by that damned lich Khaajiit things aren't looking good for our kingdom sometimes I wonder if allying with that elf was worth the cost." the king lamented
"Still we never would have been able to retake the city of E-Rantel and kill that lich without Duke Theren's aid" Gazef countered.
"I suppose, still the Theocracy sent me a message in private. They say any attempts to use the strength of an elf against our fellow humans will be considered an act of war. And to make matters worse recent intelligence suggests they will be providing aid to the Baharuth Empire in the upcoming annual war," the king explained.
"So what are we to do then," Gazef asked a slight panic in his voice.
Upon seeing the chief warriors worry the king gave a slight smirk seeingly unconcerned by the dire circumstances they found themselves in "worry not for that is what you are traveling to Duke Theren's realm to do, for the past six months we have been working in secret with Duke Theren on a new weapon that will turn the tide of battle in our favor and change the face of war as we know it." the king said.
"I see what is this weapon," Gazef asked intrigued steadily stroking his chin.
"It's better if you see for your self and Theren can explain their inner workings much better than I. In addition to this new weapon, we will also be making use of Duke Theren's forces I assume you've heard the rumors," the King said.
Gazef had indeed heard rumors of strange winged beasts that patrolled the edges of the Duke's territory "yes I have but I guess I'll get a closer look soon enough".
"Another reason for your visit is to help ensure the safety of Duke Theren's territory. The annual wars as you know are normally fought on the Katze plains but we have information the Baharuth empire may be planning to attack the Duke's territory as well," the king explained.
"Ah I see so they want to starve us out" Gazef answered disgust lacing his voice. Ever since Theren had taken control of the territory the formerly remote and unimportant region had undertaken a radical change. It went from a sparsely populated area with perhaps a few hundred people living there to a large town of nearly a thousand with half a dozen smaller farming villages and settlements cropping up nearby. Duke Theren's territory was now home to nearly two thousand people. Through some unknown magic, the formally bare area had become an agricultures hub, and with the recent trade problems facing the kingdom the massive increase in food production in the Duke's region was the only thing saving Re-Estize from a famine.
"Indeed you are to leave at once to the duke's territory," King Ramposa ordered with sternness in his voice.
"At once sir" Gazef nodded respectfully.
Later on the road to Theren's Territory
It was now noon and the clouds that covered the sky earlier had dissipated Gazef and his men shivered from the winter chill that had set in over the last month a light breeze flowed freezing the men further, and half-melted snowfall from a few days ago littered the ground. Gazef noted the well-made paved road made of well-laid stone they road down. Six months ago this was a simple dirt path. It seemed the Duke had been investing in the infrastructure of the region. (Good it seems he's taking good care of lands placed under his charge,) Gazef smiled.
As Gazef and his men continued their journey to the Duke's domain they notice the weather and terrain begin to undergo a strange transformation from cold winds and half-melted snow to warm and pleasant, from frozen dead land to warm vibrant green grass and rolling fields. They could see crops growing in the distance large healthy. The men were astonished by the stark difference as they enter the Duke's territory.
Suddenly the sounds of men chatting and the clattering of hooves upon the stone road was interrupted by the ferocious roar of a beast. Gazef and his men looked on as a dragon soared overhead before landing on the road in front of them followed shortly thereafter by three more. The dragons were beautiful radiant creatures that stood at thirty-one feet in length from head to the end of their tails. A large head full of razor-sharp teeth a long slender neck nine feet in length connecting to a torso eleven feet long and five feet wide and a tail eleven feet in length with a wingspan of forty-five feet. The dragons were covered in shining silvery scales that reflected the light of the sun like a treasure box.
The men were so surprised they nearly missed the sight of the riders each equal in beauty to the beast they rode. Women dressed in golden armor were armed with long swords and bows. These women had sizeable white feather wings and radiated a soft white glow. The lead angel was a woman with long flowing golden locks that framed her face. Piercing blue eyes with long lashes and ruby red lips. She dismounted the great beast she road slowly walked toward the mesmerized men before her.
"You're the detachment sent from the capital correct," the angel asked extending her hand to Gazef breaking the man from his shock-induced stupor.
"Indeed I'm the chief warrior of Re-Estize Kingdom Gazef Stronoff I remember you we meet in the capital six months ago when you were accompanying Duke Theren your name is Genevieve if I remember correctly" Gazef replied with a smile shaking the celestial's hand.
"It is indeed I am pleased to make your acquaintance we have been expecting you. My sisters here will escort your men and you can ride with me my lord is expecting you," Genevieve smiled back.
With the woman's aid Gazed climbed atop the dragon sitting behind the woman on the large leather sandal strapped to the creature. With a flap of the creature's mighty wings, they took to the sky.
Gazef looked on in amazement as the people below him got progressively smaller as they took the flight. As they did Gazef took stock of his surroundings of vast rolling hills of a sea wheat and other crops that went on as far as the eye could see. He could feel the warm air of the Duke's lands in his hair and on his face. He could see half a dozen smaller settlements in the distance and many smaller family farms built recently.
"Tell me how it this in the middle of winter this land could be frozen in perpetual summer how could all this be possible," Gazef asked the angel in astonishment.
"Our lord used a spell called plant growth which can enrich the land and can double crop yields for a year. Then after the lich, Khaajiit wiped out E-Rantel there was a vast influx of refugees Lord Theren offered to build them new towns and homes to live in and a good deal on land leases to help increase the population and agricultural output of the region helping bring in more tax revenue which he then reinvested in the area. The plant growth spell combined with the weather being scheduled now makes this perhaps the best place in the world to grow crops," Genevieve patiently explained.
"I see fascinating but still there's one thing I do not understand how does one schedule the weather," Gazef asked incredulously.
Genevieve smiled at his reaction before responding "With magic of course,".
"Duke Theren's magic I assume," Gazef asked.
"No the Cloud Gaint's magic is responsible though they were created by lord Theren's magic," Genevieve explained.
"Cloud Giants," Gazef asked.
"I'll introduce you," said Genevieve, chuckling.
As they talked Gazef noticed them passing over Carne Village
The once humble village and grown into a large town over eight times as big. Where once stood simple wooden homes and dirt paths now stood proper homes made from brick and mortar with proper paved streets and a large stone wall surrounding the settlement.
Eventually, they came upon Duke Theren's fortress landing just outside its walls.
After Gazef and Genevieve finished climbing down off the great beast they rode Genevieve turn to her mount slowly petting its head "Thank you, partner, go get food and rest" she smiled.
"I will, just call if you have need of me and I shall come mistress" the dragon replied in its deep rumbling voice which echoed off the stone walls of the Duke's fortress home.
As they enter the fortress they were greeted with a fascinating sight three giants over twenty-four feet tall. They were clad in simple clothes and carried morning stars on their belt they had gray skin, light blue hair, and eyes. One, in particular, sat in a meditative stance eyes closed a thin beam of light blue light rising from him into the sky.
"Gazef I would like you to meet the people responsible for controlling the weather in Duke Theren's territory," said Genevive gesturing to the giants.
"I-I don't know what to say," Gazef said in surprise
One of the giants gained a smirk of pride seeing the humans response "Surprised to see us little man I take it you've not met any of my kind before the name is Blunderbore," the giant said kneeling down to offer his massive hand to the chief warrior.
Gazef smiled grasping one of the giant's fingers in his hand and shaking it greeting the giant. "It's a pleasure to meet you my name is Gazef Stron off and I must say no never have I met creatures quite like you before tell me how did come to be in the Duke's employ," Gazef asked inquisitively.
"Me and my brothers have worked for that elf Theren for as long as we've lived though that ain't saying much since we've only been living for a few months now Theren fashioned us out of stone you see," Blunderbore explained.
"Wait so all of you were literally made by Theren," Gazef exclaimed in shock.
"Why yes the giants as well as the dragons you saw earlier were all created by lord Theren out of stone using a spell called true polymorph though my sisters and I are different we were summoned to this world from the upper planes by Lord Theren to serve him," Genevive explained with a patient smile.
"I see then so you said these giants are responsible for controlling the weather here," Gazef asked trying to get over his shock at what he had just heard.
"Ah you see me and my brothers here are called cloud giants we have a number of special abilities though the one relevant in this instance is the power to cast the spell control weather spell it allows us once per day to control the weather for eight hours straight in a five-mile radius around us. So to ensure the weather is always under control we work in shifts controlling the weather according to the weather schedule, which is what my brother over there is doing now," said Blunderbore gesturing to the giant sitting in a meditative position.
"I see so does Theren set the weather schedule," Gazef asked.
"No I do," a feminine voice called out from inside the fortress keep.
At the sound of the voice, everyone turned to see one Enri Emmot walking out of the fortress keep.
"Ah Enri just in time please feel free to explain," said Blunderbore.
"Gladly is nice to meet you my name is Enri Emmot. You see after I was made chief of Carne village Lord Theren himself gave me this position you see Carne village as well as all the other towns and villages in his domain each keep in contact with me about the condition of their crops and what weather is need for their growth if they need rain or if warm air is needed etc. Then based on this information I set the weather schedule though it does need to be approved by Lord Theren of course," Enri explained.
Theren's POV
In a room deep below the earth, a room seemingly made of pure stone formed from magic lit by the flickering of the dancing magical flames that lined its walls them selfs also a product of magic though producing no heat the spell continual flame could be used to make a permanent source of light. In the center of the room was an elaborate magic circle carved into the rock.
Suddenly with a flash of light Theren appeared in the center of the room the room itself was created as a way to teleport in and out of the fortress since the fortress and all the surrounding areas were covered by the spell forbiddance. A spell that blocked teleportation and any form of planar travel or travel via ports such as thoughs created by the gate spell the spell also damaged any creature of my choice that try to enter the area, in this case, any undead or fiends. This room which was protected by dozens of glyphs of warding storing multiple different powerful ninth-level spells would kill any who enter the room save me or those accompanying me was the only place in the fortress one could teleport to.
As the light from my teleportation faded I looked down at the permanent teleportation circle I was in the process of making. Teleportation circles were useful in that they allowed one to teleport to their location without any chance of failure or an associated object.
By the light of flicker magical flame, I slowly made my up the stairs till I came to a roof over the stairs a layer of solid stone as I kept walking the layer of rock shimmered as I walked straight through it, an illusion to hide the room courtesy of the spell major image.
I emerged from the hidden stairs into a hallway in the fortress and walked to the front door of the fortress only to see Gazef and my servants out in the courtyard.
I waved greeting them "ah Gazef good to see you I've been expecting you,".
"Good morning lord Theren your servants here just explained how you control the weather here tell me is it possible to expand this program to the rest of the kingdom," Gazef asked.
"It's possible though I don't feel now is a good time," Theren replied.
"Of course, after we've settled the current crisis," Gazef chuckled.
"Speaking of that come with me I have something to show you," I said with a smirk leading Gazef into the fortress.
"So am I finally going to see this weapon you and the king have been working on," Gazef asked looking around the fortress taking in the sight of the Duke's home for the first time.
"Yes but first a stop in the dungeon I need to see how much our enemy knows of our plans," I said.
The Fortress Dungeon
On the very back of the first floor of the Fortress was a room with thick steel bars and stone walls. Three humans lay sleeping on the other side of the bars on simple cotton mattresses. Sitting near them just outside the bars was Gabrielle waiting with a patient smile. "Lord Theren to what do I owe the pleasure," she asked.
"Tell me have you finished interrogating the prisoners," I asked.
"Prisoners, tell me Lord Theren who are these people criminals perhaps," Gazef asked warily.
"Of a sort, they're spies my servants caught," I replied.
"Oh, how so," Gazef asked eyebrows raised curiously.
"You see my servant Gabrielle there's not actually a human but a type of celestial known as a couatl a large feathered serpent they have a number of magical abilities including access to healing magic with the power to heal wounds or cure diseases. I have four others in addition to Gabrielle who lives among the villagers providing free health care to all who live in my domain," Theren explained.
"Well that's awfully kind of you but it doesn't exactly answer my question," said Gazef.
"Ah but it does you see unbenounced to the people of my domain who believe them to be simple magic users they possessive another ability the power to read minds which is usefully in sniffing out spies like these. Its one of their main duties, in addition, to providing free health care to the people of the region," I explained.
"It also makes getting information out of these idiots easier," Gabrielle said with a smile.
"Ah clever," Gazef smirked.
"So tell me what'd you get out of them," I asked her.
"The two men are from Slain Theocracy and the woman is from Baharuth they were sent here to gather information on and if possible kill you. Both slain and Baharuth know about our weather system though not about the giants they also know about the angels and dragons thankfully they didn't learn anything too sensitive," Gabrielle explained before giving a quick glare to her prisoners.
"Good I will bring Gazef to see our little project you stay here and keep trying to get more intel out of them," I said as Gazef and I walked of out the room.
The workshop
Eventually, Gazef and I exited the secret tunnel into my workshop a massive underground area created by magic. As we exited the tunnel and our eyes adjusted from the sudden change in lightning we saw the sight of four enormous naval vessels. Each was over sixty meters long with three large sails and with over one hundred and twenty naval cannons eight at the stern four at the bow and fifty-six on each side and covered in thick iron plating.
The hustle and bustle of hundreds of men filled the air of saws cutting and hammers hammering. Over a hundred men all living and working underground in secret. The design was based on the man o war a massive naval battleship designed by Portugal in the fifteenth century. I remember learning about them in history class and from a certain pirate-themed assassin game. I even went out to learn more by going to a real museum about naval warfare.
"What is this what are these ships how could you have built them in such a short time," Gazef asked in bewilderment.
"Well, all the carpenters and ship writes working here certainly helped though it would never have been possible without the fabrication spell,"
"Fabrication spell what's that," Gazef asked.
"Ah, perhaps a demonstration is in order," I smiled before ordering some of the workers to bring over some raw materials.
After a few minutes, the men hauled over various amounts of lumber and steel as well as other raw materials.
Standing there in the center of the materials around me I began to cast a spell using wish I cast another spell "Fabricate,".
In response to my magic, the metals and wood began to liquefy and flow toward each other taking form before my eyes and solidifying leaving a freshly made thirty-two pounder old fashion naval cannon. A replica from ages past capable of firing a thirty-two pound cannonball to distances of over five hundred yards.
"I see a spell like that would certainly speed up things but what is this strange device," Gazef questioned.
"I was hoping you'd asked me that question," I smirked.
I then led Gazef over to the firing range two of the workers help carry the cannon over to where the firing range was located.
At the far edge of the cavernous workshop, a thick stone wall several feet thick covered in large craters and small holes stands in front of the wall where many wooden targets freshly painted targets on them as well as many destroyed wooden mannequins and a few that weren't.
"Now for a demonstration, I would suggest plugging your ears," I said taking aim at one of the wooden targets a ring cut from a tree near of foot thick a fresh coat of red paint forming a bullseye.
Taking careful aim I lit the fuse before covering my own ears. As I did the cannon roar and the air shook as the thirty-two pound iron ball was launched at supersonic speeds. The iron ball slammed into the wooden target going straight through it and smashing into the stone wall behind it leaving a sizable crater smoke billowing from the mouth of the cannon.
"Amazing is this weapon you and the king were working on," Gazef in amazement as observed to damage caused by the cannon.
"Part of it the ship the cannons are mounted on is the weapons itself," I explained.
"Interesting I assume it's some kind of magic item," Gazef asked.
"Made by my magic yes but not fueled by it here look at this," I said tossing a small glass vial filled with a black powder to Gazef.
"And what is this," Gazef asked as he carefully examined the vial.
"Gunpowder, a chemical mixer that explodes when you put a spark to it it's what made that explosion earlier" I explained.
"Incredible this could just be the edge Re-Estize needs" Gazef smiled eyes alight with the possibility.
"And we're still not done that was round shot a simple iron ball we even have this other form of ammo called canister shot a metal can filled with hundreds of small iron balls that spread out after being fired shredding the target a capable of hitting several targets at once," I said excitedly like a kid at Christmas.
"Still what is the point in placing these weapons on the large ship such as those they won't be of much use on the Katze plains," Gazef explained.
"Don't be so sure follow me I'll show you what they can do," I smirked.
Later on, board on of the ships
Now standing atop the vessel Gazef looked upon an ornate chair it was a black iron chair with light red cushioning and inlaid with silver. A large white crystal attached to the underside of the chair which floated in midair and hummed with magic.
"This Gazef is a magic item called a spell jammer helm it was created via a spell called create spell jammer helm a fifth-tier spell it allows one to fly the ship with nothing more than one's thoughts," I explained.
"Surely you jest" Gazef replied not believing me.
"Ah another demonstration then we don't have much room so simply lifting the ship up should prove it," I said sitting down on the chair.
As I did the large ship we sat on slowly began to lift into the air before gently settling down on the ground. "I should really stop being so surprised at this point" Gazef chuckled hand on his face.
"That is not all we also designed them with a lever open hatch at the bottom and were planning to use it to drop exploding barrels filled with oil and gunpowder down on the enemy allowing us to attack from above. I think we might finally be able to put an end to Re-Estize annual war with Baharuth," I said with a smirk.
Chapter End
Author's note: If you liked the chapter or have any suggestions, please let me know in a review