Chapter 4: The Tides of Change Sweep Across
Turning to Koral-Finn, I watched in curiosity as the kua-toa began to give its report, it's fishy smell and scaley skin fascinating to observe under the magical lights of arena. "Sire, our scouts have located several sunken vessels in the vicinity. Salvage operations are underway to retrieve any valuables they might contain." Nodding as I listened to the report given, my mind churned with the possibility of sunken riches and how we could exploit this.
"Given that there are several sunken ships in the area, we must be on a major shipping line then. Did you see anything else of interest? Any intelligent sea life?" I queried, seeking more information.
"No, Sire. We found nothing of any intelligence in the immediate vicinity. But several of the ships bore the symbol you showed and other ships did not." As the kuo-toa lieutenant finished his report, Koral-Finn ordered him to expand his search in ever larger areas, telling him he wanted an extensive map of at least 10 miles in all directions. "Make sure you are thorough, Lieutenant. If I am not satisfied, you will be Sekolah's next sacrifice on the morning's tide!"
Standing on the beach and observing all this, fascinated with Koral-Finn's marshal and warlike mindset, I was reminded of the historical character he was modeled after, Lieutenant General Lewis 'Chesty' Puller of the historical United States Marine Corps. "Sire, we need to explore plans and options for when we encounter other cultures here in the new ocean." Agreeing, I turned to the other two npc's. "What are your thoughts, Zanne? Ripscar?"
Tapping her scaled finger on her holy symbol, the cleric paused in long thought. "Lord Sekolah demands his followers be self-sufficient. Although he is bloody minded and values strength over all else, he also respects growth and despises weakness. I say if we encounter any intelligent life then we demonstrate our might but open ourselves up to trade. If not, then we feed their hearts to his Majesty."
Idly running his hands over his patron bonded trident, his voice sibilant and whispering softly, the warlock Ripscar nodded in agreement. "Sire, our Majesty loves bloodshed but also demands worship. Why can't we demonstrate we are not afraid of rending and tearing our enemies to pieces? But if you are our friend, we welcome you as potential worshippers of his Majesty's might?"
Pausing thoughtfully, my mind spun on all this information as we stood on the arena's beach and the crabs finished their clean up. "Let's continue our tour, show me the rest of the lair and we will decide as we walk." Turning our backs, we continued onward to the next area of my lair, my mind hoping that it was just as majestic as I remembered when I designed it originally.
Walking past more Sahagun warriors training in the combat pits, we paused to observe them. Spinning nets, thrusting with tridents, and utilizing other forms of aquatically adapted combat equipment, they were awe inspiring. Each warrior was roughly level 35, give or take and scattered throughout their ranks were various females with different yellow spots dotting their tails. While not as physically strong as the males, they were far more dexterous and cunning in combat and thus, complimented each other very well. Noticing us, a training Sergeant called attention with military crispness and discipline, the warriors responding with practiced ease. "As you were, Sergeant!" Koral-Finn nodded, pleased at the disciplined display.
Continuing our tour, we came to the hidden grotto where the vault and our magical treasures seized from enemy players and my adventures were held. It would also be where the sunken ship's treasures would eventually end up after being catalogued as well. Although, we may end up putting the gold and treasure elsewhere if for no other reason than to keep the vault pristine and hidden. Mere gold and treasure could not measure up to the magical trinkets and treasures hidden within, especially my two prized world items.
Looking up, magical faery lights filled the grotto and danced across the large waterfall cascading into a pool below. Surrounded by a scenic beach, anyone attempting to intrude into this domain would be in for a very rude awakening. The dancing faery lights, so serene and beautiful, were in reality, miniature stygian devil sharks with a permanent faery fire spell cast on them. Each about the size of a pea, at first glance they would appear harmless but when attacking in the thousands with magical bites...even the mightiest opponents would find themselves in trouble. Calling out, Zanne's voice echoed over the cascading water.
"Karkinos, show yourself! Your Master awaits! Arise and awaken!" Karkinos the Unbreakable, giant protector of the grotto, a colossal giant crab of formidable intelligence and ferocity lay hidden under these waters. Having never had to utilize the adamantine shelled colossal crab once in my many years as a 'final boss', I had nearly forgotten about her existence. Having the ability to ghostwater dive, Karkinos could move through solid matter as easily as water. One moment there would be nothing there, the next a giant hissing crab blotting out the sun with murder in her eyes would appear. Utilizing not only physical attacks, but psionic, and sonic ones as well, she was a force of cataclysmic proportions to anyone unlucky enough to run into her.
Watching, awe in my eyes as first one, then another giant claw appeared, the massive crab pulled herself out of the water. Each claw easily 20 or 25 feet in length, I had no doubt that this was a monster among water monsters. Pulling herself up, she rapidly scuttled closer and then bowed deeply, her hissing voice somehow comprehensible to my sensitive ears. "Welcome, Master. How may we be of service today? Would you like to see the vault perhaps? Or exchange knowledge of history or other lore?" Listening, I nearly forgot that I had given her levels in sage and historian and filled her memory with a data dump of earth's maritime lore and knowledge.
"No, Karkinos. Another time perhaps. I may call upon you soon though. I have a feeling we will need your maritime knowledge of combat tactics and technology in the coming days. Rest now and prepare yourself for that time." Turning and nodding at my npc's, we watched as she returned to her watery resting spot under the waterfall, tiny crabs scuttling and smoothing the beach over where she had trod, cousins to the larger ones in the arena. "She is always a magnificent sight, Sire. I would not want to face her in combat!" Koral-Finn commented, eyes narrowed appreciatively at her retreating form.
Continuing our tour, deciding a vault inspection could be done at a later time, we came to one of the final areas, the nursery. "Sire, at the moment the nursery remains empty. Should we encourage the warriors to begin populating the lair?" Turning, I listened to Ripscar's suggestion and nodding thoughtfully I gave assent. "Yes, we should look to increase our numbers in case of confrontation or future war. However, follow the rule of law. Any warrior caught abusing or taking advantage of another without their consent will be disciplined most harshly. I will not stand for abuse among my people."
"I have seen enough. Let's return to my private quarters. We have much to discuss and plans to finalize." Nodding at the trio, the knowledge of the fastest way returning to my mind, we finished our walk in silence until ending up at a large wooden door. Pushing slightly, the gravity centered hinges opened without resistance, and we walked in, the plain wooden door indistinguishable from any other in the lair. Pulling up a chair to my sparse, but functional desk, I pointed at the other seats. "Have a seat and be at ease. Here you may relax with me." Grabbing four glasses and opening the drawer, I was pleasantly surprised to discover several bottles of dark, spiced rum had been stocked in there. Back in the real world, we had never had the money for alcohol and with a bit of hesitation, soon all four glasses were partially filled.
"Now, Koral-Finn, your recommendations first. Tell me about your thoughts on any sunken treasure and any potential intelligent life we might find in our new home." So, saying and sitting back, my feet relaxed on the wooden floor as I studied him for a long moment. "Sire, we should gather the resources we need to commence trade with any cultures. It would be easier to use this worlds wealth for that instead of our own. We can gather food from the sea and other basic resources, but we will need wealth for anything else."
Nodding at his words, signaling for him to continue as we sipped our drinks. "If we encounter any hostiles, I will lead from the front and bathe the tides in their blood. If they wish to talk, then Zanne will be the best negotiator." Koral-Finn concluded, sipping his rum and idly running his fingertips over the hilt of his cutlass. Pausing thoughtfully at his words, turning to the cleric and nodding at her to speak. "Your thoughts, Zanne?"
"Sire, Sekolah demands of course we be self-sufficient. He has visited you with his avatar and that means he is closely watching. Koral-Finn is right, we need resources, and we can gather them through war or through trade. In either case, Sekolah will be pleased as long as his worship grows." Nodding along at her words, my mind returned to that massive great white that circled me upon my first arrival. "He will require sacrifice, that must not stop, or we risk his wrath."
"You are correct, Zanne and these are my thoughts on the matter. But first, Ripscar, you said earlier you could look into another being's soul, correct? Explain that to me, exactly." Sipping my rum, the drink burning slightly on its way down as I awaited the warlocks reply. "Sire, Lord Sekolah, my patron has granted me the ability to judge another being's soul and future. I can look deep within them to that place they themselves do not know exist and see if they are good aligned, evil, or something else. I can also tell if they are fated for greatness, or not." He finished his explanation with a sip and thoughtfully leaned back, looking over at the other two npc's. "I have not used this ability often, Sire. But I can do it on command without losing much mana."
Standing and putting my arms behind my back, feet pacing as I begin to explain my thoughts to the trio. "Koral-Finn, we will do as you suggest and create trade with peaceful neighbors if we find them. Zanne, you will be responsible for outreach and ambassadorial relations. Both of you will also use your abilities to seek out any surface ships crossing our territory. If they bear the crossed manacles and coiled whip, we will destroy them and free the prisoners."
Sipping my drink one more time, I continued, voice lowering into a sinister growl. "And Ripscar, you will be responsible for capturing those crew and officers that man these ships. If they are good aligned, we will free them. If they are of evil intent, they will be Lord Sekolah's next sacrifice. I will not deal with slavers in my waters. Children will not be harmed."
Turning to the cleric, Zanne, my next words were thought filled. "What is Lord Sekolah's will regarding land dwelling worshippers? If we rescue the children, provide them a holy symbol, food, and gold, and return them safely, would this help spread his worship?" Sitting back down and finishing my drink, I poured us another round, our high-level metabolisms immune from the rum's effects as I awaited her answer.
"Sire, I don't believe he has been worshipped by full land dwellers before. He has had kua-toa and other semi-aquatic races worship him. But I am unsure of landbound races. Tonight, I will meditate and seek out an answer. Would you like to join me in this?" She finished with a small tap on her holy symbol, fervent belief in her eyes. Pausing for a long moment, mind racing as I realized this could be an opportunity to know the divine, something no one on earth had experienced as far as I knew, I gave her my answer. "I think tonight, I will do so. It is only appropriate that since his avatar sought me out, I should seek him out as well."
Elsewhere, several dozen leagues away, in a port and harbor.
"Careful there, ya lazy runts!" yelled an oversized human with scars running up and down his back and legs, a coiled whip wrapped around his arm as he directed the slaves loading the black powder kegs into the hulls of the warships. "If you so much as drop a barrel, I will flay the skin off your back and feed it to your bunk mates!" Growling his threats, his stares watchfully keeping an eye on the dwarves, minotaur's, and elves struggling to load the heavy barrels carefully.
Turning at the sound of footsteps, he quickly raised his knuckles to his forehead in a sloppy salute to the captain and the two officers flanking him. "Sir, preparations are nearly complete. We have loaded 150 barrels of powder into both fore and aft on the ironclad galleons, enough grog and rations to see us there and back and made sure the naval Marines have full supplies for a lengthy engagement." Nodding to himself as he listed off the supplies, he counted on his fingers as he made his point.
"Very good, Mister Jenkins. As soon as loading is complete, you will escort these two Captain's to their ships for final inspection and walk through." Wiping the sweat from his brow with his tricorn, he turned to the officers. "Tell me again what weapons you bring with you. I know you have enchanted canons, but I know nothing more."
Looking at each other, the more senior of the two stepped forward. "Captain, each ironclad galleon has forty, six-inch cannons mounted, a variety of grapeshot artillery pieces, and a complement of over one hundred Navel Marines in attendance. The cannons are heavily enchanted and can penetrate up to twenty inches of steel." Rubbing his lapels proudly and straightening his jacket he continued.
"Each Marine is issued a standard arquebus, saltwater cutlass, and muzzleloader pistol enchanted to not let the black powder malfunction due to minor wetness on the open sea. Finally, the ironclad sides are enchanted to repel most non-magical attacks, but they are vulnerable to lightning and electricity." Stepping back, he concluded his report to the slave vessel captain with a nod of certainty. "Whatever we encounter, will not walk away from it."
Remembering the massive beast he encountered, it's roar echoing over the ocean's waves in his minds eye, the captain shuddered, not entirely certain he believed them.
To answer some questions:
The NPC's are all roughly level 70. As a developer and as a 'final boss', the main character never had a need to develop level 100 npc's. He simply overwhelmed opponents with his physical stats and didn't care enough to create level 100 characters. Looking back, he could have done so at any time with his developer credentials but now it is too late.
I am not sure yet if I will have any encounters with Nazerick or Ainz Ooal Gown. I kind of want this to be more of an underwater and nautical theme story focusing on places in the new world that have not been seen before.
In a fight, Npc to Npc, then the residents of Nazerick would wipe the floor with my Npc's. They are not the same level at all. While Koral-Finn, Zanne Deepstalker, and Ripscare Tidehunter are very powerful in their own way, they are by no means genius level tacticians. They would be able to take out the Pleiades, but the floor guardians would rip through them.
In a fight between Tyrant Lizard and Lord Ainz, Lord Aainz would definitely win. The main character is very vulnerable to high tier magic. He has no defense against time magic, is vulnerable to divine magic, and this would be very quickly exploited. Both of these characters are on different levels when it comes to comparison.
I will also release everyone's character sheets soon.