(General POV)
"What in the poledancing fucking Dagoth did you just call ?!"
The twelve goblins all flinched away in terror as the very ground below them shook under the force of the voice, the unmistakable power of a True Soul scraping against their minds far more harshly than ever.
A few of them even dropped their scrappy shields and weapons without even noticing.
Keg, who monts ago was arrogantly declaring his future rise to his new 'minions', was already ass down on the dirt, hyperventilating as the furious red eyes glared at him. Nᴇw novel chapters are publɪshed on novel[f]ire
Slowly, the air cald as the elf realized they were too shit scared to answer him and he sighed, crossing his arms and tapping his foot "Well?" He waved for them to answer.
Being a bit quicker than your average goblin, Keg imdiately turned his posture upside down, bowing lowly as he spoke "Biggest apologies oh great True Soul! We was just wonderin' about, how can we help you do the Absolute's work?"
"Absolute?" The elf quirked an eyebrow.
'Ah, this must be a test of faith!' Decided the wise goblin imdiately "Exactly, the Absolute! The Great Unifier that will make all beings equal under her glorious guidance! When we saw your power we knew you must be one of her True Souls!"
"Huh" The elf deadpanned and Keg felt a light brush over his thoughts.
Imdiately, the elf's eye twitched in irritation as he scoffed "Mindbroken"
And before any of the goblins could react, a large fireball slamd directly in between them, incinerating all of them save for one, who was instead blown away into a nearby tree, breaking her neck instantly.
(Reyvin's POV)
"We just going to ignore the little shit called you a Drow, aren't we?" Scorch asked as he popped up on my shoulder.
"I have no idea what you are talking about." I naturally answered.
"Uh huh" He deadpanned "You do realize you could have dug so useful info out of their brains, right?"
"Get into a goblin's brain?" I gave him a look of utmost disgust "Are you completely retarded?"
He twitched and scowled as much as a bird could "I am angry at myself for even suggesting it."
I decided to ignore the freshly ashed patch of dirt and resud my walk to the magic stone "Absolute or True Souls ringing any bells?" I pondered aloud.
"Sounds generic as fuck." Scorch chirped "Fitting for whatever religion the goblin follows, but still generic."
"Suppose we will just have to find out later." I waved it off "Though it was interesting that all of them were mindbroken to so degree."
"Fits a cult to a T" Scorch shrugged his wings "The whole True Soul shtick might have sothing to do with the mindbreakers too."
I humd along in agreent, my thoughts already moving on from the pests and onto a much more important revelation.
The magic in the air was resisting pure manipulation.
For whatever reason, when I tried simply snapping all of their necks at once I felt the magic in the air stirring to resist the 'unsanctioned' move. I could have overpowered it with so extra Magicka but decided against it.
But when I then threw the subsequent fireball, it seed to work too well instead. Curious and curioser indeed...
Sothing to consider for later, for within a few minutes of walking I found the rock I was looking for.
A large light purple sigil was carved into its side, radiating a spatially aligned aura but it seed to have been destabilized by sothing, as its center was overtaken by a small vortex of energy, pulling the surroundings in ever so slightly.
Naturally, I imdiately morized the whole matrix and was just about to start analyzing it properly when the spell seed to sense my approach and suddenly a pale human lookin hand burst from within.
"A hand?" A male voice rang out, the hand flailing about and grasping uselessly "Anyone?"
Scorch gave an encouraging look as a thought occurred, and feeling just a touch devious, I approached and gave the hand a crisp high five.
The hand stilled completely for a mont and out ca a sarcastic laugh "Ha ha ha, very clever of you. Perhaps I should have clarifi-"
Not bothering to listen, I just grabbed the hand and yanked the person out.
In a burst of energy that was far too smooth for this kind of thing, out ca a blue-robed man of brown hair with so greys in it "Oof" He grunted as he fell into the dirt.
Imdiately, I noticed an odd almost corrosive magical syphon stuck sowhere in his chest, but it seed to have been stabilized by sothing recently.
Scorch dematerialized, just in case.
The man breathed out and elected to stay down for a mont "Thanks for that" He muttered blithely and only then began picking himself up.
"And you are most welco" I chuckled, leaning against the nearby hillside "Awfully fortunate to land into a miraculously stable portal when you fell out of the skies. Truly, it was an amusing spectacle."
"Saw that, did you?" He chuckled as he stretched his back, and then turned to "You could say magic itself has a soft spot for - What in the Weave are you?" He asked with wide eyes as his eyes landed on .
'Weave?' the word rang out as it finally dawned on .
"Awfully rude, aren't you?" I drawled, my arms crossed.
He blinked but recovered quickly and covered his heart, offering a courtly bow "Gale Dekarios of Waterdeep, travelling wizard and magical explorer, humbly at your service."
He chuckled as he straightened back up "Apologies, I am usually better at this."
"Clearly" I noted dryly, much to his amusent, before slightly inclining my head "Reyvin Dagoth. I suppose I'd count as a... curious wonderer as of right now."
"Quite mysterious" Gale smiled "Though I hope you won't be too offended if I repeat my question? It isn't often one ets a bearded, red-eyed elf" He tilted his head "Or is it half-elf? I wouldn't want to presu."
"Pure elf, if it counts" I shrugged "Of a more fiery variety." I leaned in slightly, my voice conspiratorial "I am not from around these parts, see."
"Interesting" His eyebrows rose "I don't suppose you've already 'curiously wondered' around the area already? Seen the sights? Found a healer mayhaps?"
"I have no bloody idea where we are" I snorted.
"Just my luck" He sighed and then forced a smile "But at least I am in good company!"
"Be honored" I drawled humorously and turned the question around "Do you have any ideas where we are?"
He gave an assessing look, and began looking around, then closed his eyes and muttered an incantation under his breath, a magical circle forming in his free hand as his other moved about in a rigid pattern before it simply fizzled out of existence.
"Damn it" He cursed, and suddenly I felt sothing in his head push out against my mind, it was not nearly powerful enough to do anything but it was noticeably efficient in its efforts.
Gale flinched as I batted the influence away, clutching at his head with a hiss.
"Is this how people from Waterdeep treat their saviors?" I didn't even bother moving from my position, but I did ready a choice spell just in case.
"Agh" He pressed the sides of his head with his fingers "I assure you, my friend, that that was not my intent."
"So you aren't usually psychically potent enough to connect to another's mind?" I quirked an eyebrow.
Finally he straightened his back and exhaled "Well, that was disconcerting" He muttered "How did you do that?"
"Magic" I deadpanned, which earned a dry look "What I am curious about is how soone clearly not even slightly psychic just tried to mindbump ."
He frowned and turned to the still burning wreck of the brain-airship in the distance "I didn't arrive here by chance unfortunately. That Nautiloid-"
I gave him a dry look at the na.
"-there kidnapped hundreds of people from all around the Sword Coast a day or so ago" He sighed and gave a sideways glance "Do you know what a Mind Flayer is?"
'Faerun it is then' I humd as I put the pieces together, absently answering the question "I haven't had the pleasure of eting one but the na makes it seem rather self evident."
"Downright subtle" He dryly huffed "They reproduce by placing these tiny tadpoles" He pinched his fingers real close "Into people's brains."
"And let guess" I interrupted him "The tadpole devours the brain in short order, replacing the person and transforming their body into an adult Mind Flayer?"
"Impressively deduced" He snapped his fingers at before sighing "And so we arrive at my current predicant."
"Out of the frying pan and into the fire, huh?" I chuckled.
"Quite." He nodded before looking up to again "You wouldn't happen to be a hidden master healer under those... curious wonderer's garbs of yours?" He asked, pointing at my obviously potent robes and armor.
Snorting at the jab I shrugged "I might be? The real question is do you trust to poke around in your brain?"
"You've already saved once, my friend" He spread his arms as if to say 'what can you do?' "I doubt you've suddenly changed your mind."
"True enough" I nodded and pushed myself off the rock, my whole posture suddenly fully serious "Do keep still."
He closed his eyes and did as was told.
Imdiately, I spamd his head and the rest of his body with a number of scanning spells, ignoring the world's, or rather a particular goddess' ddling with a flex of my will, and seeing no traps or dangers, I dove inside with my own mind.
Around a minute later I stepped away from Gale, whose eyes snapped open, his gaze filled with a newfound respect "You are far more than a re wonderer, I'd say."
"You wouldn't say a thing, if you know what is good for you" I japed and he laughed, before inclining his head in acceptance.
"About your little" I twirled my finger to the side of my head "Passenger, I could in theory just rip it out right now, but sothing is keeping it dormant as far as I could tell."
"Dormant for now, maybe" He pointed out.
"Yes, I can see how that wouldn't be too encouraging" I humd "But what I am saying is that no transformation has been initiated thus far and whatever magic is keeping it in its half-asleep state is also protecting it."
Shrugging my shoulders I concluded "I could still rip it out of you and then regenerate your brain back into perfect condition but that is a bit risky, even on my level." Seeing him about to press, I quickly added "All I am saying is you should probably get a second opinion, or at least let observe the thing a bit longer."
"Right" He nodded "That makes sense"
And then just kept nodding for a good five seconds.
I could practically feel his thoughts racing in the air.
He looked up to "What are your plans, if I may ask?"
"Thinking I should follow you about, just in case?" I humd "Quite arrogant of you, I must say."
He gave a dry look of amusent at that "Sothing tells you find all this too interesting to just pack up and leave. Not imdiately at least."
'He is onto us, pops!'
"Well spotted" I laughed and clapped my hands "You have a good head on your shoulders."
"So I have been told" He puffs his chest out dramatically.
I just shake my head.
"Now that that has been decided" Curiosity filled my tone as I asked "As you claim to be a wizard I have a question which as been bothering ever since I arrived."
"Ask away" He said with rising eagerness "I dare say I am quite inford in wizardly matters."
"Why is the magic in the air so fucking ddleso?" I bluntly asked.
Gale's eyes widened, but just then we heard an distant roar, followed by the distinct noise of crystal or ice striking and crunching flesh.
"I don't suppose we are just going to ignore that?" Gale asked after a few seconds, his whole posture already prepared for a run.
"Nope" I popped out and began greedily rubbing my hands "If one of those 'Mind Flayers' of yours survived, I want to see what makes them tick."
"You have so curious interests my friend" Gale stated.
"At least I don't shove massive and unstable magical cores into my chest" I shrugged, a cheeky smirk on my lips "Not all of us can be as avantgarde as yourself." And before the gaping wizard could respond I moved.
The burning fleshy hallways of the 'nautiloid' ship were covered on all ends by corpses and body parts, so of which I recognized, and many of which I did not, but I did not stop to observe as we quickly neared the sounds of battle and ca upon what out of context may have been a slightly codic sight.
A large albino colored male Argonian-esque mage of so sort was pelting a pair of brains with tiny limbs with shards of ice, while a pale, black haired half-elf? with a mace and shield was trying, and utterly failing, to hit another of the little brain bugs.
Gale did not hesitate, imdiately rising the wooden stave he carried and calling out "Incende!" launching a middlingly potent firebolt at one of the brain bugs facing the lizard man.
His spell didn't seem to fizzle out this ti, for whatever reason.
The lizard didn't so much as twitch at the sudden help, focusing fully on the remaining brain and shoving his clawed hand into its center mass, completely impaling it and then proceeding to rip it apart.
The woman once more missed her enemy with her mace, letting out a low noise of frustration as she was forced back by the thing.
Suddenly I felt a shift in the air, and saw the little brain bug gathering psychic energy within itself, aiming at the half elf.
It was a truly pathetic amount, but with all the wounds the woman carried I didn't doubt it would put her on her ass for a while at least.
And so I decided against letting her learn the harsh lesson of needing proper aim, and with a minuscule twitch of my mind destabilized the brain's 'spell' making it burst from within.
The half elf stared into the distance with dead eyes as she was covered in freshly exploded brain bits.
And for whatever reason, the lizard man licked his lips.
Freaky.
"Greetings, friends" Gale called out "Are you in need of healing?"
The lizard looked away from his companion and up at the wizard "Thanks, friend, but I am perfectly fine" He sounded downright suave, the little shit, as he pointed at the woman "She might need so though."
He looked a bit like a big manly Shalazar, co to think of it.
Finally aware, the half-elf made an annoyed sound and incanted so kind of prayer, covering herself in an aura of dark light that left her wounds closed and her breathing lighter.
"Who are you?" She demanded as Gale and I approached, her suspicious eyes fixed majorly on my most glorious self.
"Concerned citizens" I quipped, to the lizard's imnse amusent.
Gale rolled his eyes slightly "We heard sounds of fighting from beyond the wreck" He explained "And thought you might need so assistance."
"That is appreciated" The half elf noted, still suspicious "But we had it under control."
"Oh do co off it" I snorted "That little brain bug-"
"Intellect Devourer" Gale corrected subconsciously.
"Thank you" I inclined my head and cleared my throat "The Intellect Devourer was just about to burst your little head when we arrived. Your posturing gives you nothing."
She glared at , no doubt ready for a paranoid tirade, when both Gale and the duo flinched, clutching at their heads.
Naturally, I noticed the new thread of psychic energy connecting them but left it be for now. I was out of practice and I wouldn't want to rupture their brains.
Monts later, they all flinched away from each other and the half-elf pointed at Gale half-accusingly "You were on the nautiloid!"
"And so were you, it seems" Gale muttered, eyes calculating as he offered "Gale of Waterdeep, at your service."
"Care to clue in?" I interjected.
"My friend here doesn't share in our predicant" Gale explained at the duo's questioning glances and then directed with a questioning look of his own, seeing nod he turned back "He might be able to help us with our passengers, but we aren't sure yet."
"How lucky" The albino lizard muttered "How did you arrive so quickly if you were not taken?"
"I saw you lot crash" I shrugged and then scoffed "And if this pathetic little thing tried to capture I'd have blown it from the skies before its master could finish formulating the thought."
The lizard's red eyes narrowed at the claim but he kept his silence.
I observed him for a mont longer, making note of the odd aura surrounding him.
This one had so form of divine blood in him, and not of the fun happy tis kind.
Still eyeing suspiciously, the half-elf decided to speak up "All this seems a bit too convenient." She sighed "But it doesn't look like we have any choice but to trust you. I am Shadowheart."
"Curious na to choose for one's child" I snorted.
I felt a flash of sothing subtle yet undoubtably divine on her left hand but she barely reacted to it and offered a cold response "It is the na I chose."
'rely channeling a divine power without possessing it' I mused 'One of the local clerics?'
"Just poking fun" I raised my hands in faux surrender "No need to bite my head off, girl."
The look she gave could have curdled milk.
"I believe most people would fail to find the levity in our situation." Gale usefully added, cautiously leaning away from the half-elf "No need for us to provoke each other, right?"
"But of course" I drawled and offered the half-elf an elaborate bow "My sincerest apologies, my lady. I am but an olde jester seeking out his entertainnt."
For whatever reason, all three of them were giving weird looks now.
Clearing my throat I went on as if nothing happened and looked to the albino "And you, my scaly friend?"
"I do not know who I am" He answered simply.
"Amnesia?" I quirked an eyebrow, stealthily scanning him out of simple curiosity and quickly revealing he was covered in so many internal scars he must have been ripped apart and put together at least thrice.
How was he even coherent at this point?
"Yes" He nodded, unaware of my observations "I feel... echoes of who I was, voices that demand to fight, to bleed and kill and cut, but no nas, no mories."
He looked away "All I have know since waking is the Dark Urge."
"How incredibly edgy" I humd, drawing a surprising if incredibly minor upward twitch of the half-elf's lips.
Cupping my chin in thought I decided "That just won't do."
The lizardman's eyebrow equivalent quirked upwards.
"We can't keep calling you you, or lizard boy" His eye twitched at that "And thusly until you rember otherwise your na shall be... Durge!"
I nodded at my endless creativity "Truly, I surprise even myself sotis.."
"You just put the two words together." Durge deadpanned.
"And yet it does sound good, doesn't it?" I grinned "Odd how these things seem to add up, eh?"
All three seed to pause at that.
Ignoring them, I went on "But, I have been remiss, for I have not yet granted you the honor of my na" I smirked "Reyvin Dagoth, at your most temporary service. Wanderer supre, and an enjoyer of Interesting Tis™."
Gale shivered slightly "Why did that last part sounds so ominous?"
"I assure you, I have no idea what you are talking about." I smiled sunnily, even as I noticed the three were actually being guided by an effect of that exact variety.
Sothing big was happening around these people, and the local deities were pushing them sowhere, without them even knowing.
How very ddleso indeed.
-----
There shall be no ddling with the stone tithes.
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