Calling DnD experts and DMs from the piranha swarm. I need capable advisers on homebrewing some original DnD adventures with the BG3 crew. I plan for a small trip to Waterdeep, where Momonga encounters a certain Dracolich that is said to be the most powerful being of Faerun, so strong that Mr Rhexx assumes that it can slay a few gods.
Also need some reminders on some BG3 stuff like certain item details. Not gonna go for the all-gold currency as DnD has copper and silver coins as well.
Also not going to use the DnD class system. Game mechanics don't work exactly in DnD.
PM me if you want juicier brain meats, you piranhas, need lore and ideas to feed mah brain.
Also, check me p-a t/reon.
I post sneak peeks there.
The ship that looked like a flying, eldritch ammonite was a fiery mess beset by dragons.
Momonga frantically explored the ship, looking for the control room—anything to get the ship to teleport out of this hellhole.
While the prospect of being a war mage of hell sounded appealing, he did not want to be backstabbed by conniving demons, aware of the folly of such political positions, with many, many demons vying to take him down for petty gains.
The ship's insides were strange, reminding him of a Brain Eater hive nest in the game. Fans of the eldritch designed their nests to be a seamless, alien fusion of flesh and stone.
That was what Momonga saw when he speed-walked through the ship corridors.
The door was an organic version of a sci-fi door, a circular one with the walls pulling back to let people through. Pink-orange flesh that looked like something from a womb retracted with a weird, fleshy sound as it unfolded back into the ship when Momonga experimented with the door.
He mentally noted to explore the ship once he somehow took it over or negotiated terms with the crew piloting this alien vessel. Knowing his luck, he would have to kill them. He would have to see if his spells could extract information from them before he threw them out to Avernus.
He did not know which section of the ship he was on.
This room contained peculiar, alien flower-like vats made of sculpted flesh filled to the brim with acid-like fluids. Before Momonga could check it out, the wall exploded, shattering another bulk of the ship.
The crimson sky of Avernus peeked through the hull breach; flying Red Dragons and swarms of Imps and flying humanoid Demons that looked like Devils of Yggdrasil swarmed around the ship.
There were riders on the dragons bedecked in silver-colored armor. Momonga did not know how to describe them properly other than some kind of toad-like elf if the pointy ears were of any indication. They weren't as pretty as the elves he remembered in YGGDRASIL other than joke creations of Players.
"Arrrgh!"
The humanoid demons charged at him without a word.
Momonga didn't bother as he activated [Despair Aura V, the red-skinned demons dropping dead mid-sprint in an disgraceful tumble, their tridents clattering across the organic-infested floor.
The rest of them ceased their hostilities, the Imps flying away from the skeleton that brought death with its presence.
"Where is the control room?" Momonga ordered the survivors.
Momonga saw confusion on the faces of the demons.
He pointed a finger at a demon and cast [Lightning, a beam of yellow light shot through the Demon's heart without warning.
The rest of the Demons immediately gave the undead their attention once their comrade's corpse collapsed.
"We do not know, great Lich."
They immediately kneeled before him.
It seemed might and murder were the only languages these creatures understood. Even the Imps landed and knelt before him, something to take note.
"Why are you attacking this vessel?"
"We are sworn to defend the skies of Avernus, we sought to take over the Nautiloid and question the crew."
Momonga hummed.
"So its arrival was unintentional…"
However, the ship rumbled, the fading echo of an explosion rocked this vessel, the floor started to tilt sideways forcing Momonga to fall to the hull breach.
Still holding the Sword of Domiel, Momonga stabbed into the corrupted flesh floor for purchase.
The Demons already flew out of the hull breach, abandoning the ship.
Momonga was considering whether he should join them and return to the hellscape, returning to his original plan of killing his way out, but the sight of the charred land transitioned.
The scenery outside the hull breach shifted as if they had dove into a sea of strange, white, and purple ethereal energy, flying past his vision as the vessel's turbulence left it shakily unstable.
The 'Nautiloid' was most likely out of control, the crew most likely on their last legs, massacred, doing what looked like an emergency [Gate] teleportation or something.
Wherever he might end up, he wished that it was anywhere resembling YGGDRASIL or Earth, anything that didn't want to kill him on sight.
He was about to pull himself up until he saw the destination of this unique [Gate] shift.
He saw nature, beautiful green flora adjacent to the beige sandy shores, a vibrant ocean reflecting the starry night and rocky terrain.
The moonlight was strong and illuminating, bathing the scene of nature in a tint of moonlight blue, the night sky was the most beautiful sight he had ever seen, something that transcended the digital simulation in YGGDRASIL.
Although he almost missed the sight of ruins near the shore.
A good place to set up a hiding spot.
He ripped the sword out and descended in freefall, casting [Fly] to glide towards the ruins.
He looked for where to land, but imagine his surprise when he saw people.
Not demons or blasted 'Archons,' but people, though they were a mixed group. One looked like an elf, or elf-like, another looked like a gnome or halfling… dwarf? Whoever he was, he was short.
[Invisibility]
He instantly made himself invisible just in case they spotted them.
He inspected the ruins… it didn't look like a fortress, the masonry was cyclopean, rubble and mortar, old and overgrown with wild, green vegetation bathed under the moonlight.
There was a headless statue in the plaza, a stationary wooden crane with some kind of broken pillar dangling atop of a fractured floor, tied by rope.
He pondered on how he could approach them… ah, right. He still had them in his inventory, thank god for his kleptomania. He knew collecting every item and never using them would pay off one day.
He pulled out the Mask of Envy and a pair of metallic gloves to hide his skeletal face and hands.
The most important thing he needed was information, second was a base of operations, a remote ruins where he could teleport to at any time. Magic existed, the fact that there was a Hell full of demons proved it…
The question was, could he harness it?
"Oi, oi! Look at that beautiful thing falling out of the sky! Did you see that?!" Gimbelbock pointed at the falling ship.
"Uhhh, yeah?" Taman, the high half-elf half-answered.
"We got ourselves a ripe new opportunity right there, ain't everyday lady luck drop something like that from the stars, eh?"
Gimblebock and his crew were stuck here in the crypt digging for any sort of treasure to get by, their luck getting sour due to roadblocks in their way.
They couldn't access the deeper levels of the crypt for whatever reason, but this might be their lucky day.
"I don't know, it… It's dangerous."
Too bad his half-elf lackey had a spine shorter than his.
"Bah, you idiot. Whatever, we'll continue this once the sun rises. I ain't got the juice to argue with ya at this hour."
Gimblebock needed his beauty sleep, a life of banditry ain't easy work.
However, something out of the ordinary appeared.
Literally popped out from nowhere right in front of them like a ghost.
"Grimy shit!"
The stranger was tall, very tall, taller than the half-elf, broad as well.
The strange thing was that he was wearing fancy black robes, so goddamn fancy, something only the richest could afford.
Stranger thing was that he was holding a mighty fine golden staff, with seven jewels embedded in it, each held in the mouth of a golden serpent.
Normally, he would hold someone with such fancy gear at knife point, but his gut was warning him to play nice.
Something about this wizard ain't right, he was too well-built to be a spell slinger.
"Greetings. Apologies for my sudden appearance, but I must ask for your time. What are you doing here in these ruins?"
Gimblebock swallowed a lump of air.
"What's it to ya? Y-You… Are you here for the treasure, too? Even if you're bigger than the rest of us… and more intimidating… and…"
Honestly, he couldn't find a reason why he should resist at this point. Everything about this man screamed 'you will die if you try.'
"So you're treasure hunters? You look like cut throats, to be honest."
"...Maybe?"
He glared at the half-elf sissy.
"Shut up!"
"Ah. I see. That makes it much easier for me."
"What do you-"
[Death]
Taman dropped. He toppled like a house of cards, only he was still in one piece.
"...Taman?" Gimblebock called out to Taman.
"Taman, this isn't funny…"
He knew the half-elf. He was no actor, and the way his eyes were staring blankly at the sky lifelessly…
Gimblebock moved to Taman and checked for his vitals, knowing the basics.
There was no pulse touching his fingers.
Gimblebock could feel the snapping bite of fear digging its teeth into his spine.
Warren and Quelenna were looking at him as if asking what they should do.
[Fireball]
But the wizard didn't stop with Taman.
He watched as the rest of the crew was blasted by fireballs, one for each.
Their momentary screams felt like an eternity.
What was happening? Why were his friends dead?
Oh gods, he was next.
"L-Look, I-I think we got off on the wrong foot here, hehe…" Gimblebock immediately understood his situation.
"Yes. I am not in the mood for idle banter for now. Lead me into the ruins. I have questions that I must have answered, and you will provide."
"Erk, yes, yes sir! Got it, sir wizard!" Gimblebock saluted instantly.
He thought about running when he had the chance, but he thought that the wizard would track him down and off him with his wizardry. Quelenna had the most know-how in magic, and she disintegrated.
"Where am I? Tell me my location."
"...Er…" The wizard was asking him for directions? Wait, could he be from the ship? That would explain a lot, no way some murder wizard would appear out of nowhere like this.
"U-Uh, somewhere… between Elturel and Baldur's Gate. We are in the wilderness, you see. We in uncharted territory, well, more like…"
"Elturel… Baldur's Gate…" The wizard muttered.
"What is your name?"
"G-Gimblebock, oh mighty wizard."
"Gimble… bock?" The wizard seemed confused by his gnomish name.
"Yeah, Gimblebock."
"Gimblebock. What are you doing here?"
"L-Looking for treasure… Say, uh, are you… from the ship?"
"You can say that. But I am the one asking the questions."
So he was from the ship.
"Are there more of you?"
"Y-Yes. The rest is in the ruins, trying to get into the lower levels. Andorn is manning the front door."
"You haven't fully explored the ruins?"
"It's a crypt, you see. Lots of dead things… and we couldn't get inside the lower levels."
"I see…"
The wizard was rubbing the bottom of his mask with his gloved finger. Seriously, what was going on in his head?
"Take me to the ruins. I am in need of information. It would be wise to provide them for m-"
Gimblebock reached for his sword, scared by a sound, like hard glass cracking in the crispest pitch he had ever heard.
He looked around and saw an actual crack in the sky as if the air was hammered by something.
"What was that?"
"...Nothing for you to be concern-"
There was another crack.
"Hmmm?" The wizard sounded confused.
Another loud crack struck his ears like a sharp whip.
Then another.
Then another.
"What the hell? Why are they so persistent?"
He heard the wizard break out of character.
"What are they? Masochists? Who in the world is willing to get blown up just to spy on me?"
The repeating sound of breaking glass was starting to get worrying if someone like the wizard was talking to himself like this.
"Alright, how about this?"
He waved a fancy magic circle in his hand.
It was bright and pretty, actually, though nothing like the magic he'd seen so far.
"Back to business. Lead me inside."
"Oh, of course! Right this way, my liege!"
He might have a better chance of backstabbing him from behind with the gang backing him up, after all all wizards should be helpless if several guys jump him.
Not him, though, his height ain't up to snuff. The others could do it.
Yeah, he could signal the others to do it.
Maybe they could use the oil barrels strewn around the halls to blow him up first, though.
What in the hell he escaped from was going on?
His [Anti Information Magic Wall] was reacting like crazy.
He set the spell to [Explosion] anyone attempting Divination Magic on him, but that didn't stop them at all.
Not even Players were this persistent.
He was tempted to set up either [Nuclear Blast] or [Cry of the Banshee, but he settled on [Armageddon: Evil].
Yet there were still some daredevils that were tempted to spy on him even as he went inside the dimly lit rocky ruins with a gnome called Gimblebock leading the way.
It took a while for the spell to calm down, the unwanted eyes finally learning their lesson… probably.
The spell had a good ability to absorb the magic of the Divination Spell to replenish his MP, though its durability was limited.
Eight level spells was the line to balance the cost of punishing the spies, but he decided to give them hell with a tenth tier spell, [Armageddon Evil] was perfect. Otherwise, he would [Nuclear Blast] them.
He wondered if it was the Demons or the Angels attempting to spy on him.
Either way, he would have to deal with the looters.
Now that he was calm and away from threats, he pondered if he could use magic to enforce their cooperation.
He could just kill them…
"Hm?" Momonga recognized something.
Did he just thought of killing them like they were NPCs?
He looked at the little manling… he might be human but he was a sentient organism, humanoid.
The Angels were a stubborn nuisance that refused to listen and the Demons… well.
He wouldn't mind massacring them again. But the idea that that mindset would automatically apply to every life form without provocation might be… Well, he doubted that they were innocent.
The goons were already gathering behind him, he could tell they were planning to backstab him from the positioning alone.
As for the crypt, it was ancient, dreary and immersive… in a different manner. No flair, just rotten shelves and cabinets, dusty books that he gathered for information, aged stone walls covered in moss and cracked portions of the ceiling letting some moonlight in.
Cobwebs stuck to the corners and unused utensils from the kitchen and torches barely giving enough light in this crypt.
"It's right here, boss."
Gimblebock led him to the door that they couldn't get in.
It looked wooden, the oak rotten dark brown from untold years.
Momonga hummed. What to do… Screw it.
[Shockwave]
He threw a spell at the door. He didn't care if there were traps at this point, it was a long day.
His spell annihilated the door, revealing a stone corridor leading deeper into the compound.
Actually, it didn't stop there, it broke struck the wall behind the door and shook the ruins, the impact site spreading cracks even to the ceiling.
Hell, the cracked were wide as small miniature chasms even. This kind of effect wouldn't happen in YGGDRASIL…
He looked at his guides. Their faces showed perplexion and fear.
"Well? Scour everything, search every room for anything of value."
Playing along, Momonga decided to use them to do his bidding.
"Ur, um, y-yes, boss." The gnome, halfling, whatever the small man was nodded frantically.
"If you want positive motivation, I will offer compensation."
Momonga dug his hand into his inventory, his hand disappearing as he rummaged through his items.
He retrieved a handful of gemstones and handed them to the small man.
"Oh, oh! You heard the man, fan out and search the place! We're not being paid by the hour, so move your asses! Oh wait, what items of interest are you looking for, boss?" Gimblebock asked, more motivated.
The looters changed their tune from treasonous to cooperative.
"If you find anything of magical or arcane interest, bring them to me. The rest, be it gold or whatever trinkets, you may keep. Ah, also bring me books of lore. Leave no stone unturned."
He offered the reward.
"This is the initial payment. Expect more if you satisfy me."
The little man accepted the handful of treasures with a wide smile.
"You heard the wizard! Today is our biggest payday of the century, so move, you worthless bastards!"
The looters scattered like cockroaches to pick the place clean for him. From this, they would not backstab him.
Now he was all to himself, with nothing but silence and rubble-brick walls of primitive yet effective masonry surrounding him.
Enough time for him to reminisce in thought…
Strange, he still felt connected to the summons he left in that hellscape.
A link that he didn't notice in the heat of slaughter.
He closed his nonexistent eyes and focused on that connection. He should use [Undeath Slave Sight] to see through the Elemental Skull at least to check on the situation; the summon should still have hours left before it disappears.
His sight shifted back to the familiar fiery wasteland… to see his summon use the Divine Spell, [Seven Trumpeter, and eradicated some kind of giant hyene Demon he could not describe, wielding a three-headed bone-handled flail.
"Secure this place! Leave no Tanar'ri survivors!"
He heard a voice, a female voice.
He assumed direct control of the Elemental Skull to look around for the voice - it sounded like a warped, distorted version of Domiel's voice, a bit twisted and full of emotional repression exploding constantly, it was hard to describe.
He found the source.
She was the closest representation of a Fallen Angel.
A hairless scalp holding a halo of fire burning above her crown, her skin looked like it was scorched to a sickly gray, black mascara drawn down her eyes as if she was crying black ichor, wings of black feathers turned into a leather texture, eyes that glowed with a fiery wrath, black lips, elven ears…
Wait, one of her arms was replaced by a flail, what the hell?
As for her attire, just medieval metal plate armor for her torso, as for her lower half, everything was covered by a black long skirt, though calling them scorched black rags was more befitting-wait, he could see dragon-like feet poking out from under that rag-skirt, three long talones toes.
Definitely corrupted as hell.
She was battling another one of those fiery minotaur-like Demons with wings, only it looked more hound-ish. She was beating it to death with the hammer in her hand and the flail in the skies, an aerial battle where she was leading the charge with a legion of flying horned demons, the ones that looked more humanoid and organized.
"Follow the Lich's minions! Today is the day we bring the war to the Abyss! Kill all Tanar'ri on sight!"
Speaking of minions, Momonga checked on his summons.
His Primal Star Elemental continued to vaporize legions of demons with starfire, blasting a very large demon, a were-hyena kind of demon, one that was holding a three-flailed weapon to oblivion.
His Primal Wind Elemental summoned lightning in the skies and fried many flying Demons, though their bodies turned to dust upon death for some reason.
The Primal Earth Elemental was beset by demonic minotaurs, red, muscular minotaur-like demons, with the head of carnivorous bisons armed with carnivorous teeth and a body of red-furred gorillas. They even ran like gorillas on all fours, hands and feel, ramming their horns against the bulky body of the Elemental.
Their horns shattered upon crashing into them, bad move. It was like crashing airplanes into a mountain or driving a car into a fortified wall, only to break instead of breaking through. They looked like they got knocked out from the attempt.
No, they died. They turned to dust instantly, the Elemental guilty of assisted suicide.
As for his Dark Young, the Demons were firing every spell they could at the five-legged black goats while swarms of large and small Demons of various shapes and size charged at their legs.
The goats trampled them regardless, their speed surpassing their bulk and crashed through the enemy lines.
He caught sight of one particular Demon, a giant black-furred Minotaur with six horns and fiendish eyes jumping at the Dark Young, readying its dark-gray polearm, a bardiche.
The ax-blade of the polearm bit into the Dark Young, but failed to draw blood, his reward was a swat of the tentacle. It died since it turned to dust like the rest.
A large demon with four arms and two large, fanged mouths, one in the usual and the other was in its stomach, two leathery red wings and a mane of quills running from its head to his upper elbows charged at the Dark Young, holding four weapons glowing with magical properties.
It hacked away at the legs of the Dark Young, yet failed to draw blood despite its size and monstrous appearance.
Momonga could feel the Dark Young being annoyed, so it grabbed the Demon's head and crushed it like a grape.
As for his Death Warrior and Death Knights, they were slaughtering the Demons left and right.
Too bad the bodies disintegrated or else they would be raised as Zombie Squires.
His Death Warrior battled against two wolf-headed demons, each with a snake protruding from their necks, in an interesting contest of might and skill, both of them were pushing back his warrior.
However, before the warrior was about to use its skills, purple-skinned Demons with barbed beards joined the Death Warrior. They were half the size of the wolf-headed Demons, but they were great in number.
"Assist the Undead!"
The wolf-headed demons roared at the spear-wielding Demons. The bearded demons maintained a healthy poking distance, harassing anf stealing blows from the Demons with spears while the Death Warrior occupied their attentions.
"Boss!"
Momonga pulled out from his summon.
He looked down to see the small man approaching him, behind was the rest of his group.
"What? Did you finish your tasks?"
"We ran into some trouble while looting the place! Er, there's a door that's locked, and uh, we can't get in! Oh, and we found some coffins! They're all booby trapped though."
"Did you set off the traps?" Momonga asked.
"Er… yeah. Torga didn't make it… some crazy firetrap did her in."
This should be interesting. The reason why Momonga wanted this place looted was because of his curiosity and habits as a solo adventurer, the call to loot any unclaimed dungeon was still in him.
"Show me."
Gimblebock nodded.
He followed the gnome towards the door behind the locked door, the one sandwiched between to identical headless statues.
Through that second door, the first thing he saw was a toppled cylindrical pillar bathed in moonlight, overgrown with green weeds ahead.
To his left, he saw an open treasure chest, a fancy large chest of black, artistically gilded in gold. The looters must have picked it clean upon discovery.
Momonga walked through between two pillars and looked left and right. There was another treasure chest, gilded in gold ahead, picked clean.
Two massive double-wooden doors were present, one on the left and other on the right.
Both were half-obround shaped doors, each having a hemispherical top standing on a rectangular base. The one on the right was guarded by two statues of a robed figure and seemed to be reinforced by a square lattice of iron while the one on the left was just wood with an iron frame built into its perimeter.
"The one on the right leads to some coffins, boss."
The right side was open.
Moonlight bathed the interior through a broken ceiling, illuminating the stone sarcophagus in the center and warrior statues, a few toppled down from the ages.
The massive sarcophagus had the shape of a sleeping man resting chiseled into the lid.
Not only that, scorch marks, black soot and ash covering the floor and the corpse of a black-skinned dwarf creature with tied white hair. That must be Torga he mentioned.
Gargoyle heads on the wall left and right were constantly shooting bolts of fire in repetition, the traps perhaps. There were constant explosions filling the room… Momonga scrutinized the source, finding circular vents on the floor, probably explosive gas traps.
There were also hidden pressure plates in the room upon closer inspection. On the other end, there was also a door leading somewhere.
"Did you manage to find anything after that fiery mishap?"
"Uhhh, we found a fancy coin. Everything went to hell when we tried to open the big coffin in the middle."
A bearded human approached Momonga, holding a coin and offered it to Momonga. Burn marks colored his skin pink and red, barely coming out of that unscathed.
He accepted the coin and inspected it.
It was a dark, thick coin made of iron… it looked like iron, but there was an eeriness to it. The edges were chiseled to make it look like a small gear, the face of the coin had a symbol he had never seen before.
Strange, incomprehensible whispers emanate from this coin, quiet rage and despair tingled Momonga's thoughts.
He appraised it with a spell. He blinked his nonexistent eyes.
"...What the hell?"
"Is something wrong, boss?" Gimblebock asked.
"This coin is a prison. There is a soul trapped inside."
"Wait, what?" Gimblebock squinted at the coin. "Oh, oh! Them one of those Soul Coins or something, uh, I heard about it! Warlocks and Devils love those things if I remember!" Gimblebock pointed at the coin.
Momonga perked at Gimblebock. So this was the currency of Demons, huh? Momonga decided to keep it in his storage to use later.
"Did you find anything else?"
"Mostly silverware, bones, a few weapons and scrolls… wait, do you want the scrolls?" Gimblebock asked.
"Of course. Consider me as your buyer for those things."
"Alright. Give it to him!" Gimblebock ordered.
A woman with tan brown skin and gray purple hair approached him and handed him a bag. Momonga rummaged through the backpack and saw the two rolled papers. He took a scroll and unrolled it, seeing what looked like a spell scroll.
He appraised it…
"Protection From Evil and Good?" Momonga muttered.
It was a weak spell, a beginner's spell from what the appraisal gave him, one that offered minor protection against the powers of otherworldly beings like Fiends, Undead, Fey… Aberrations.
He put it back and took out the other scroll.
That one was just a fragment of some kind of sealing ritual, something he shouldn't care about, probably read later.
"Let's move."
Moving on, he turned to the other door, the one that was locked.
He walked towards the other door and aimed his finger at it.
[Magic Arrow]
He blasted the door down with impunity, his spell firing a piecing arrow of magic through the lock.
He pushed open the door… the arrow didn't stop with the door, it also struck the statue behind it.
A massive shrine of sorts bathed in a spotlight of moonlight, a statue of a robed skeleton looking back at him, more plants growing over the rock under the moonlight.
Though the statue crumbled, unable to hold after being struck by the weak spell.
Looking down, Momonga saw a robed skeleton laid on the floor face-down.
There was a circular emblem painted on the floor, a many pointed star of sorts, more sarcophagi, rubble, and passages leading to other rooms.
"Search everything carefully."
"Right away! Move, you swines! Payday is just around the corner, and I don't want to go back with empty pockets!"
The looters spread out and explored the shrine.
Momonga sighed as he waited for them to finish, pondering his recent findings.
What were… fiends?
He would need to learn about the new terminologies of this world, he felt that there was a massive difference between the Demons and Angels he knew and the ones here.
He still couldn't figure out which asshole dropped him in that golden coffin.
Thinking about it… should he find a way back home if he should?
What was waiting for him back home, anyways?
All he could remember was a shitty job, a lonely, cold home that had no one waiting for him… no family.
Friends… He wished that they were there when he needed them at least.
He was in his avatar… with all of his powers and abilities.
He was somewhat immortal, no need for food and drink, equipped in his best gear and armed with the Staff of Ainz Ooal Gown.
Thinking about it, it wasn't a bad deal for him.
But…
"...Hah… I wish the asshole brought Nararick with me…"
Though, it would be hard to imagine the Great Tomb of Nazarick dealing with 'Mount Celestia' or whatever those Archons call their heaven.
Still, it was such a waste to leave all those treasures behind, those World Class Items… The NPCs he and his guild created.
He really could use a base of operations. He could travel, but after pissing off Heaven and drawing the eyes of Hell, hardships awaited him.
Momonga perked when he sensed the Dark Young reaching out to him.
They killed all of the rampaging Demons and were surrounded by friendly humanoid Demons, so they awaited orders.
Momonga used [Undeath Slave Sight] to look through the eyes of the Elemental Skull once more.
A river of blood amidst the hellish wasteland beneath the crimson sky was the first thing he saw followed by a desert of demon corpse-ash.
Damn, his summons did work. How many did they kill? So far, Momonga estimated that minutes had gone by.
They could still keep going and proceed to slaughter the other army if he wished.
The other Demons were cheering, raising their weapons to the hellish sky with roars of victory.
The Dark Young, his Undead, and the Primal Elementals were on standby, awaiting orders, watching the demons revel.
"We have banished the Tanar'ri scum! The River Styx is ours once more!"
They all looked up to the Fallen Angel woman. From the looks of it, she was their superior.
"The light of fortune has graced our side! Our enemies are trampled by the powers of a creature outside of our conflict! Ready the boats and summon the Merrenoloths! We will ride the rivers to the Abyss!"
The humanoid demons roared with a bloodthirsty ferocity, drunk on their victory over the other 'Tanar'ri' demons.
"My mistress. I beg for your forgiveness for my ineptitude, but I could not fulfill your request…"
A pale, blue-skinned winged demoness, Devil maybe, landed before the fallen angel and kneeled.
Her short hair was fiery-red, tucked behind her elf-like ears, eyed black as coal with irises brimming with speckled fire, her lips purple.
Gold and rubies jeweled her unique tiara which was made with holes for her four horns. Her dress was simple, with a gilded belt, but elegant.
"Speak."
"The undead wizard that vanished. I had my more experienced Warlocks attempt to divine his location… Well, they perished."
"...Perished?"
"Died in a, crudely put, massive explosion. When they attempted to find him, well… They exploded. I had several more try again only for them to receive the same fate. The damage was severe, ruining the ritual rooms I prepared. I believe the Lich has protected himself with a violent measure against Divination magic."
"I see… continue your efforts. I must have an audience with him. I need him to progress the Blood War. I have tasted true victory today, and it will not be the last!"
This was getting dangerous. A dangerous woman was gunning for him. He need to do something… he did not want to sign a binding contract.
He had experience with paperwork as a salaryman, knowing legal terms and jargon, but… Wait.
He could get a lawyer. Maybe he could get an angelic lawyer, but after that stunt in the heavens, that might be difficult.
He needed absolute assurance that no conniving Demon would backstab him. Something more neutral and with all fine prints removed.
Wait, he could audit the terms of the contract to see how the other party could loophole the contract when asked, that would be the best.
Good, he had a plan.
Momonga decided to speak through Elemental Skull.
"So that explains why my spell was reacting like that. Please, if you want an audience, you should've asked."
Every demon gave the Elemental Skull their utmost attention.
The fallen angel named Zariel flew towards his summon, face to skull.
He wanted to read the woman's expression but all he could see was a raging obsession and anticipation.
She looked like an open book, the way she smiled with jubilance was disconcerting.
"So you were listening. I shall get to the matter. Your power, that glorious power that massacred the Tanar'ri. I cannot let anyone that bring an end to the Blood War go after seeing so much death. I, Archduchess Zariel, request you to be my war mage."
She was quite direct, everything about her screamed 'brutal honesty.'
"Shouldn't you be more courteous of the mage that could wipe out both sides of the Blood War?"
Zariel paused.
"...Indeed. I am surprised that I haven't heard of you. But my offer still stands, Lich."
"And will you offer me for massacring the Tanar'ri under your name, Zariel?"
"What all wizards desire. Riches. Magical items. Power. Souls for your phylactery. Name your price."
Momonga rubbed his chin in thought. There was chatter of the looters bickering about 'finder's keepers' in the background.
"All of the above and all knowledge that I desire, no questions or figurative strings attached. If you are that persistent for a contract, I request the most capable and loyal lawyer I can trust, worthy of trust, and to have the terms audited meticulously. I will also decide my availability, I am a busy man, Zariel."
"Your caution is unwarranted, but I respect your vigilance. I will assign my most capable Eurinyes as your servant and our liason to discuss the terms of our bargain. However, I hunger to capitalize on this momentum."
"Unless you can extend the duration of my summons permanently, well, I am afraid your desires would be delayed. Otherwise, I would be glad to lend my adorable goats to you."
If they could make his summons permanent, he would definitely have an incentive to work with this woman.
Zariel's features creased. Momonga was starting to think that this woman might be more honest than he believed.
"...I request to establish a medium of contact."
It sounded more like a demand.
Message scrolls would suffice, but they were realms apart, the distance limit.
"None I have would work across realms. However, I can arrive in Avernus if you have something."
"Excellent."
Zariel stretched her hand.
Flames blazed briefly before receding, revealing what looked like a token, a amulet of black iron, a medallion with a crest of wings and a sword between then dangling from a chain.
[Gate]
Momonga summed a black, yawning portal and walked through.
In front of the Elemental Skull, Zariel watched as the Lich that brought her aid in battle.
"Why the disguise? You mingle with mortals like this?" Zariel asked.
"You can assume as such." Momonga almost forgot about his Mask of Envy.
He took it off.
The way Zariel's eyes gazed into his was worrying.
"Interesting. You are a peculiar Lich. Not a scent of decay, and your presence felt no different than a harmless mortal."
"Hahaha, thank you for the compliment." Momonga donned the mask back on his face.
"Enough pleasantries. I will summon you when the time comes. I swear by my name as Archduchess Zariel that our time will not leave your expectations betrayed."
"Time will be the judge of that."
Momonga accepted the black iron wing medallion and analyzed it.
The medallion would let her contact him across realms and only she would be able to locate him when the time comes.
"I suggest you refrain from attempting to use this to track me. It would be a shame if you fall victim to my spell."
Zariel smiled with amusement.
"How astute. I will heed your words as meaningful caution."
Momonga nodded and turned around.
He left through the gate and returned to the crypt.
Only to see chaos on the other side.
The skeletons that littered the room rose with Undeath, battling his hired goons.
"Boss! Thank the gods you're back! A little help for Gimblebock why don't ya?!"
Momonga didn't know what happened in the short time he was away, but his goons must have triggered a trap.
[Magic Arrow]
He decided to snipe the undead skeletons. He didn't bother boosting the spell, ten homing magical arrows was more than enough to headshot each reanimated skeleton.
Their skulls shattered like eggshells as they fell, bones scattered on impact.
It seemed most of the looters survived. One of them died, the bearded man with the burn marks had a rusted knife in his throat.
"I had to be away for an errand. What happened while I was away?"
"One of us found a button on a wall. He pressed it and… well it opened a secret door on the wall and awoke these bastards."
Momonga's interest peaked.
"And the goods?"
"Found another Soul Coin for ya. Oh, and one of us got a suspicious book. Bring it here!"
A woman walked up to Momonga with the Soul Coin and book.
The book was locked by something which was interesting.
He accepted them and placed them in his inventory.
"I believe your job is finished."
"What's… that mean?"
The midget was probably expecting betrayal.
"I'm taking what's left in the hidden room. And you're overdue for your reward."
Momonga bothered to pay them mostly to practice interacting with the natives. His summons could do the same work, but he couldn't trust their intelligence.
He handed them a bag of gems to the gnome.
The small man happily accepted and looked inside the bag, seeing the glittering jewels inside.
"We're fucking rich boys! Thank ya, wizard! If you ever need us, look fer us in Baldur's Gate!"
Momonga nodded as he watched the crew leave, backpacks brimming with loot and faces filled with joy after striking it rich.
He wondered how much they could trade those gems for?
Whatever the case, he looked for the hidden passageway… Found it.
There was a chest and a stone sarcophagus, one that was fancier than the rest.
He opened the chest, some gold and a bone amulet.
"What's this?"
He picked it up, inspected it, and appraised it.
"Oh?" This item would allow him to speak with the dead.
The spell would allow only five questions, though, but the corpse would answer with truth, to the best of its knowledge.
He felt like playing with this item now, but lacked the corpses to do so.
Wait, he had a sarcophagus in this room. Maybe he could get that corpse to talk.
They never had anything like this back in YGGDRASIL, he was excited to see the limits of this spell.
He reached for the coffin lid, but something went wrong.
Eldritch green flames came to life as something rose from the sarcophagus, levitating as it positioned itself.
Momonga sensed that the creature was undead…
Strange, this thing had no HP. Was this thing using [False Data: Life]?
Its MP, on the other hand, was off the charts.
In slots.
Why was the MP in slots?
Zariel's was a bit trickier, though, something of an slot and a MP bar mashed together.
"Ahhh. So thou hath escaped from Baator."
Momonga assumed that meant Avernus.
The corpse was like a mummy, but without the bandages.
Skin dessicated yet remarkably preserved, the thing wore noble robes and gilded gold was worn on his face and collarbone.
Despite his withered state, the thing wore an expression of perpetual, yet… somewhat gentle weariness.
"As thine predicted, I will be greeted. But not by the company I expected."
His voice was like smooth, fine gravel, easy to listen and mystical.
"I do not like riddles. What are you?"
"...Suzuki Satoru."
Momonga flinched. How did he know his real name? What the hell was he?
"What is the worth of a single mortal soul?"
And he followed with a vague question he had no desire or need to answer.
"Why do you ask that?"
He wasn't sure if he should play along or kill him on the spot.
"The importance of this question is far greater than thou believe."
Like Hell it was, it made no sense.
"Will you tell me how you know my name if I do?"
"No."
Momonga stared at the mummy.
So far, the creature was not hostile, only engaging in dialog.
"...I don't know. I've met and known many people over the years."
Momonga decided to play along, no need to waste MP on this thing.
"Some of them are despicable, others… they showed me that I can become something more than the destiny life forced upon me. The life of a single soul… is determined by how I live."
"Thou art using thineself as thy answer?"
"...Because I don't know my worth." Momonga clenched his hands.
He wasn't sure if he could lie to this thing. The angels could sense lies.
"Ah. I accept thy answer, Suzuki Satoru. Thou hath questions, but all will be revealed in time."
"I do not adhere to the everything will reveal itself bullshit. What are you? Why am I here? From what I can see, you know something about my situation. You better answer or else."
Momonga's patience was running low, though his frustration suddenly died.
He did not know why… Was it related to hid undead racial traits? Every strong emotion that reached a certain threshold instantly fell back to the starting point. It was a strange experience, helpful in crucial situations… but not something he could control, which left him concerned.
"...Stranger from beyond the planes." The withered mummy. "Thine journey will determine the fate of this world. Thy decisions will be thine own. Thine first step to thine adventure shall begin outside these ancient walls. Patience, Suzuki Satoru. The Gods of Mount Celestia are watching. Thine place in this world will be determined at the end of this journey."
Momonga paused at the mention of the Gods.
He would not underestimate them; Gods are bosses that required one or more parties of Players to vanquish.
He inhaled deeply despite not needing breath to function as he calmed his nonexistent nerves. If this mummy was a agent of the Gods, he would have to tread carefully.
"...Fine. I'll play your game."
He had no idea what he meant by journey outside the walls.
Fate of this world? What, was he summoned to another world to save it? Honestly, if true, where was his godlike cheat? At least give him something that he could use… or give him a fair warning.
"Thou art free to perceive as thy wish. May we meet again, Suzuki Satoru. Thine name shall be added to the records."
What the hell was he talking about?
Momonga felt the urge to scream at him for using cryptic nonsense, for using vague terms against a non-native.
Either way, the mummy was already hobbling away.
He didn't even get that thing's name.
Tavlana Stargazer fluttered her eyes open.
The back of her purple skin felt coarse grains pressed against her pores as she got up, seeing sunlight blue sea and vibrant beige sand.
She was on the beach, thank her Patron that she somehow survived.
Though how did she survive? By all accounts, dropping from that height was certain death, and Shadowheart pulled the tentacle planeshift device on the ship.
Blast that red dragon for igniting the purple liquid barrels. She remembered something about Mindflayers using them as a combustible fuel source for their Nautiloids, but she forgot the name.
Oh, speaking of Shadowheart, she was right beside her, on the sand.
The strange twenty-sided polyhedron device beside her, harmlessly laid on the sand.
For some reason, she remembered the words of a beautiful high elf woman saying something, but it was vague.
"Up you go, Tav, time to wake up the girl… Oh."
Tavlana saw another body on the beach.
It was a white dragonborn.
Five horns slanted back from the top of his head as if he had slicked his hair back, scarlet-red seemed to bleed from under his shoulders and some patches around his face in a cosmetic fashion.
His clothes were quite fancy though.
Two leather or silken vambrances with gold embedded in the black color in a fiery golden pattern, a sleeveless robe with gold around his around his shoulders and chest, gold around his waist as decor, making him look like he was wearing a fancy golden belt. His robes reached to his feet, a rectangular crotch curtain hiding his pants.
She remembered escaping together with this one in the Nautiloid, a powerful storm sorcerer.
He and Laezel took on the Cambion with the flaming sword. Hells, he helped Laezel disarm the red-skinned half-devil just as she jumped, grabbed the sword, and decapitated the mindflayer.
While the little Intellect Devourer, the small brain on four legs, helped her fend off the other pitchfork wielding half-devils from getting close as she spammed Eldritch Blast at them.
Speaking of Laezel, Tavlana didn't see her anywhere. Still, she must be nearby.
Well, time to wake up Shadowheart.
Her mind was still groggy, her limbs felt like lead had replaced her Tiefling muscles. That damned Mind Flayer parasite was in her head, squirming in her skull and making itself at home. The unwanted tenant in her head left her severely weakened to the point where she couldn't draw much of her Outer patron's powers.
Oh, the indignation of being the novice all over again. It was a miracle that they managed to slay that Mindflayer and Cambion back there.
She shook the half-elf cleric by the shoulders.
Shadowheart stirred awake, her eyes fluttered open.
"Come on, wakey wakey. We're still alive and in one piece, you're not dead yet."
"Must that be the first thing you say to a sleeping refined lady?" Shadowheart gently criticized as she accepted Tav's offered hand as the Tiefling pulled her to her feet.
"If we don't find a way to get the unwanted guests out of our heads, say hello to tentacles for life and a taste for brain juice," Tav remarked with humor.
"Hah, charming. And I take that you're an expert in brain surgery?"
"What you'll get is a botched lobotomy if you're wondering. Let's wake our other friend. Help me see if he's injured."
Shadowheart nodded.
Tavlana rolled the white dragonborn onto his back and shook him awake.
"Nnn… nngh."
The dragonborn opened his orange-red reptilian eyes.
"That's it, Dirge. That's it."
Tav managed to get his name in their brief interaction in the Nautiloid.
"This is…"
The two women helped Dirge to his feet.
"How long was I out?" He asked.
"It was night when we fell, so…" Tav shrugged.
"How did we survive the fall? We should be with broken necks."
"Quite a macabre way of saying 'we should be dead by all accounts,'" Shadowheart quipped.
"We'll figure that out later. How are you holding up?" Tavlana asked.
"Weaker than I prefer. I am experiencing a biting headache that just won't calm down."
He rubbed his head, fingers rapped against his pale, red-stained scales.
"Yeah, my head isn't feeling right, too. What about you?" Tav asked Shadowheart.
"Same. I suggest we move to find a healer. Fast."
"The symptoms won't appear on the first day, and we don't have much time. Last I heard, the longest time someone survived being a Mindflayer is three days. Earliest is two… I think."
"You 'think'?" Shadowheart did not look inspired.
"Hey, I can't remember the exact, but we only have a few days, that's fact. But let's pray to whatever Gods are listening that we won't turn into walking squids."
"I appreciate your attempt to alleviate the severity of our situation with humor, but our hopes are low. Where can we find that rare healer in this area?"
Dirge pointed out.
"Good question."
They were stranded in the middle of the beach next to a crashed, flaming Nautiloid along with hostile and potentially friendly survivors. Scavengers would soon gather to pick the vessel clean along with Gods knew what.
"But waiting to sprout tentacles isn't an option. Let's move. We need to scout the area and find the nearest settlement. Oh, and look for friendly survivors if we have time."
"And if they're not friendly?" Shadowheart quipped.
"Kill any squids and walking brains on sight. I think I can handle the rest."
Tavlana winked at Shadowheart.
"Charming. Very well. Lead the way."
Their trek began, their journey to find a cure.
Tavlana saw a dead fisherman on the wooden planks of a manmade docks.
It seemed that unlucky victims were near the crash site, meaning there was a chance that a settlement was near.
Tav caught something in sight, Mergrass, alchemical ingredients.
"How unfortunate," Shadowheart commented.
"Search the body."
Shadowheart and Dirge looked at the blue-skinned tiefling.
"What? Kelemvor isn't taking his things as toll pay. We won't survive another day if don't scavenge for food and supplies. Also take anything that looks valuable."
"True. But we don't a Bag of Holding or-"
Shadowheart stopped when Tavlana held a Bag of Holding.
"...You know what? I'm not even going to ask."
Shadowheart and Dirge searched the corpse and its surroundings for anything valuable.
Tavlana was gathering Mergrass to make health potions for the trip.
As she pulled the valuable weed, she saw a wooden door built into the walls of a ruins.
"Hey, you two! I found something!"
Shadowheart and Dirge, the latter holding a bucket of fish, turned to Tavlana.
She was pointing ahead, leading their gazes to the ruins.
"Well, what an interesting find. But do we even time to go treasure hunting?" Shadowheart asked.
"We're still going to need money for the trip."
"Hmmm. Let's see if we can break down the door first. If not, let's leave it," Dirge suggested.
After packing their loot, foodstuffs mostly, into the Bag of Holding, the trio stood before the door.
Shadowheart banged on the door with her mace as hard as she could.
"...Blast."
"Stand back." Tav flicked her hands, smiling as her fingers crackled with eldritch power and blasted the door.
"...Fuck."
Only for the door to remain intact.
Not even a bloody splinter.
Tav should've blown a clean hole through that door or disintegrated it.
"Can't get it the right output anymore?" Shadowheart snarked.
Dirge smirked at the banter between the two.
"Can it. Its a misfire."
"Seems you misfire often."
"Please. Let me focus." Tavlana's dignity was at stake.
However, the door shattered.
The trio flinched and readied their weapons and spells, Dirge holding his staff and ready to fire his magics.
The door was ripped open as something exited the door.
He was tall, so tall he had to duck under to get out.
"Whoa…" Tavlana stared at the stranger.
He looked… Majestic, cloaked in night decorated with crimson orbs on his shoulders, his strange mask that seemed to both smile and frown staring at them.
"...Greetings."