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File 150941968587.png - (75.82KB , 700x600 , DB_title.png )
841157 No. 841157 ID: 33d4be

This quest may contain NSFW content… but we’ll see.

————————————————

We dragons are the greatest and most glorious of all mortal creatures. I need to remember that, first of all.

Our highest, indeed our only truly worthy purpose, is to demonstrate how undeniable this is. It is to accomplish this that we hoard, of course. The common dragon chooses to collect treasures, gathering gold and jewels and kidnapping lesser mortals who are valued by their kind. Some decide to collect knowledge or magic. There are even a few who make a reputation their pride, deigning to act as benevolent protectors, or terrible conquerers, and gather fame and infamy.

I chose a… somewhat similar path, to that last sort. Yes. I remember that.
20 posts omitted. Last 100 shown. Expand all images
>>
No. 841206 ID: 67d5dc

We should probably make a list sorted by life length and work from longest to shortest. Would suck to have to replace a human every few years.
Heck, goblins hardly last 10 winters.
>>
No. 841208 ID: 33d4be
File 150942710023.png - (18.24KB , 700x600 , DB004.png )
841208

Oh. I have company.

Fortunately for you, I’m very sociable by dragon standards. It will be some comfort to have someone to talk to.

>Don't worry, I'm sure you'll find plenty of people who still want to jump your bones.

Or it might not.

>What led to this situation happening here?
>Wh- They MURDERED YOU for wanting to get laid?!

Well, if we consider “they” to be other dragons, it was more the fact that I had been getting laid, prolifically, that earned their hostility.

If we consider “they” to be those who actually did the deed, it was because I had made off with their royal heir. Willingly on his part, of course, but that willingness had been concealed so that he wouldn’t risk his place in the succession. My dear darling little sorcerer-prince. I hope he didn’t think it was his fault.

>Speaking of necromancy, can you tell what foul magicks have brought you back from the dead?
>First thing's first, we need to figure out what is keeping you in your current state, as opposed to normal death

It’s hard to remember. Everything is hard to remember.

Because of my unfulfilled oath, I was bound to this world as a restless spirit. My ghostly existence was chained to the area near my body, though, and I was barely aware of anything except a sense of being incomplete. Eventually… yes, eventually there was a necromancer. When they bound my soul and my bones with magic, I regained some of my consciousness, but full control over my own thoughts only returned to me a few moments ago. I remember coming here only vaguely. There was an undead army that I was a part of. I’d say the bodies and the burning city nearby have something to do with it.

The necromancer must have been killed. I’m still undead, but I’ve been released from their control. So much for whatever they were hoping to accomplish.

Perhaps you’re ghosts. Aimless wandering spirits can be attracted by necromancy, and I could be the largest concentration here, now. Being undead myself might be what allows me to speak with you.

>So that oath. You did mean romantic love, right?

I have had romantic partners, but the oath is more permissive than that. My lovers just have to desire me, and to willingly consummate that desire with me.

>Do dragons have Baculums?

No.

>Er, what gender are you?

When I died, I was female. With this mist over my memories, I’m not entirely sure I was female when I was born.

Most dragons learn some shapeshifting magic, but I was a master. Or mistress, if I liked. Ahnat whispered secrets to me, and my skill was beyond what others could achieve. Eventually, gender became no more to me than a bauble to wear on my horns would be.

Sadly, the same chains of necromancy that bind my spirit to my bones will now bind me to a single form, as well.

>time to necromancy your way to a body. TO THE LIBRARY!
>Well, this looks like a disaster. To the library!

Necromancy is a banned subject in the libraries of most mortal races. Aside from that, they tend to be in cities, and most cities are going to be reluctant to admit undead dragons. Especially once word of this city razed by a necromancer’s army starts to spread, I’d think.

Still… looking for knowledge of necromancy is a good idea. Perhaps the necromancer who raised me had some collection of knowledge?
>>
No. 841209 ID: 33d4be
File 150942713015.png - (11.46KB , 700x600 , DB005.png )
841209

>Just curious, what races are still yet to be checked off the list?
>Can you remember which mortal races you had left on your todo list?

That’s what was so maddening! I only had one race left!!

It was… it…

… curse this fog over my memories! What was the last race I needed to fulfil my oath?

>OH! You need to REMEMBER YOUR NAME!

… And what was my name?
>>
No. 841210 ID: c88e6d

>>841209
Space Doobies, those strange, misshapen and elusive crystal-lovers.

Your name was... Erenaitha, I think? Try one of the other spooky ghosts around these parts until you find a better one if you don't like it.
>>
No. 841212 ID: be0718

Your name is/was Barenziah. The last race was the elusive hill giants.
>>
No. 841213 ID: d1d0b8

>>841209
Darcenoba. Darcy for short.
>>
No. 841216 ID: b82d04

The last was a rare subspecies of elf. Very reclusive. Practically extinct!
>>
No. 841217 ID: 51b8ec

>What was the last race I needed to fulfil my oath?
Deep ocean Naga.

>what was my name?
>>841213
What this fellow spoop have said.
>>
No. 841218 ID: 094652

You know how there are some gods whose power comes from planets? And how modern science has reclassified some of these giant asteroids as non-planets?

Your name is kind of like that. You were named after a jewel that technically does not exist. I mean, it's basically a rare form of emerald that was subjected to centuries of naturally forming magical plasma, but it reverts to emerald when cracked so there's no way to cut it without screwing something up. Apparently, gemcutters found this entire vein of the "plasmic emerald" ore and tried to forge it but it turned into plain emerald, then later they witnessed the power of a mastercrafted emerald-embroidered amulet or something and they assumed some master enchanter found a way to cut the ore without breaking it and named it Plasmerald or some other stupid excuse of art. And it doesn't have the properties the textbooks says it does, because it's been disproven scientifically,and now you're stuck with a name that is based on an incorrect legend.

So now we're calling you Esmie!

Oh and the last race was Keidran.
>>
No. 841222 ID: 3ce125

>>841209
The last race? Well it wasn't Dragon, you crossed that off the list real quick I imagine. We can safely eliminate Human and Elf because there are some serious degenerates there. Perhaps Drow since they're so hard to find on the surface and have such an insular society. Or maybe you didn't leave a difficult one for last, knowing your reputation would eventually make things harder?
I bet it was Dragonborn, because you wanted to save the best for last. Too bad they're usually paladins.

So uh, can you still use shapeshifting magic?
Also I think your name was Kerashalor.
>>
No. 841226 ID: 3abd97

>What was the last race I needed to fulfill my oath?
Spiderkin
>>
No. 841227 ID: ed67d9

>>841209

The answer to this conundrum is clear!

After all, there is only ONE race that is not for lewds...

SLISSA.
>>
No. 841232 ID: b4793d

>>841172
>>841177
Boney Maloney
>>
No. 841235 ID: 91ee5f

>>841209
You last race was dragons.

You were so caught up in mating the other mortal races that you completely forgot to mate with one of your own race! How embarrassing!
>>
No. 841237 ID: b4793d

>>841209
>What was the last race I needed to fulfill my oath?

The Big Booty Titwolf
>>
No. 841238 ID: 66a4ca

>What was the last race I needed to fulfil my oath?
Human

>what was my name
Aшка.

In English that would be..
Ashka / Ashix
>>
No. 841240 ID: e605d8

The most elusive race of all
The Humble Elf!
no wait it was
The Notshit Human!
no wait it was
The Sober Dorf!

Okay seriously I'm going with Leferran Or a sergal or a Nedynvor OR A Lohrke we haven't seen one of those in forever.
>>
No. 841254 ID: 35089a

you are dorien and your after slimes
>>
No. 841258 ID: 314bcd

Your name was Karon.
Based on the sound effect of clacking bones

>>841226
The amusing thoughts to have come from this have my support for spiderkin.
>>
No. 841265 ID: 3740b1

>>841237
Or as it's known in this setting, Matron from Clamp Quest.

So yeah, gnoll.
>>
No. 841267 ID: b4793d

You sure it was just one race? You sure it wasn't a parade of sexy races?
It doesn't hurt to double check in any case. Especially Dragonborn. Might want to double to triple check with them.
>>
No. 841269 ID: 2aba49

>>841240
I also vote for Nedynvor or Lohrke
I miss them

>>841213
and this name
>>
No. 841270 ID: 416adc

The last race was dragon, yes. Whoops!
>>
No. 841273 ID: 35089a

shit looks like you completely forgot which that one race was guess well just have to go through all of them
>>
No. 841279 ID: b4793d

>>841273
Such a shame but this is how it has to be. I guess if we go in alphabetical order we should start with Aarakocra.
>>
No. 841280 ID: b4793d

>>841269
I second Nedynvor. We could call her Neddy.
>>
No. 841290 ID: 8cb228

The last race was a Yugoloth-descended Fey'ri. IE, an elf with a very precise amount of 'loth blood, known for shapeshifting powers and having a wide variety of minor fiendish abilities.

Also, if you are female, you presumably had lots of half-dragon broods somewhere, yes? You should find your family. Blood is thicker than water, after all.

Another thing to do: you need to figure out exactly what sort of undead you currently are. Bone Creature? Bone Dragon (as something else entirely)? Some sort of Lich (if so where's your phylactery? Something stranger? This makes a large difference in your current power-set.

You also need to investigate the likelihood of getting resurrected and once again joining the ranks of the flesh-and blood. There are plenty of ways that a flesh and blood creature can become immortal without being annoyingly undead.

Another thing to keep in mind, is that if you exist in a world with Tiamat in it, that gives us several useful things to keep in mind. For example, Tiamat is a cosmic archetype that exists in several collections of linked universes in a broader pan-multiverse. Figuring out the name of the continent you are on could help us give you relevant intelligence.

You should also try and figure out what specific magic abilities in general you have, which can help us figure out where you should focus your efforts in recovering or advancing your fighting style.
>>
No. 841294 ID: 8cb228

>>841290
Another thing to keep in mind is -- what type of dragon were you?
We need the broad category first: Chromatic (likely, given the Tiamat reference), Metallic (unlikely, again given the Tiamat reference), Ferrous, Gem, Lung, Planar, Arcane? And which specific species? Did you have any other sort of dragon blood in you (ie, a half-dragon dragon?)?

And if you ARE a chromatic dragon, you'll have an instinctive tendency to evil. In this case, is this something you fought in your past? Your views on morality are also relevant; for example having to constantly channel dangerous negative energy to maintain mobility could be problematic to your morality if you consider yourself Good.

These things make a difference. Know thyself and so on.
>>
No. 841296 ID: b4793d

You should find a magic wishing gem and wish your flesh back on. Or you could drink a potion that brings you back to life.
>>
No. 841301 ID: 8cb228

>>841296

Problem is, in the most likely worlds she lives in, that level of magical power is VERY rare to achieve, and not typically found in those sorts of items. If you want access to a Wish, you NEED assurances that the entity granting the Wish is benevolent and the effect you actually want, not just what you are saying, is within the power of the Wish.
>>
No. 841303 ID: 2fe26a

If you're a shapeshifter, maybe you can just bypass the whole lack-of-skin issue altogether?
You've just got to believe in the heart of the cards, Lwaxanwe.
Now where are we going to find a space doobie?
>>
No. 841305 ID: 8cb228

Also, if you are in a version of the multiverses which contain Tiamat where a magic item known as the 'Skin of the Proteus' exists, that could totally solve your 'most people don't want to jump bones' issue! It behooves you to try to let us know as much as we can to try and determine if such a thing exists where you are!
>>
No. 841307 ID: d1d0b8

It might be a bit late, but...

The desert dryad. They inhabit the trees around a hidden oasis that you've never been able to find. They've probably been hiding from you because you were a fire-breathing dragon.
>>
No. 841308 ID: 8cb228

Though that begs the question -- were you a FIRE breathing dragon? Or did you breathe something else? There are a LOT of varieties of things dragons can breathe!
>>
No. 841309 ID: 8cb228

Assuming that image references Tiamat, and you are of the same sort of dragon she represents, and you have two backswept horns and no prominent nose horn... are you a Green or a Red dragon?
>>
No. 841310 ID: 41c9bc

>>841258
This.
>>
No. 841314 ID: b9b4da

Could a dragon such as you really have saved the driders for last? You aren't perhaps arachnophobic, are you?
>>
No. 841319 ID: 1e7aa8

The race you saved for last, the one that you didn't get around to banging because of all the prep work involved?

Weredragon.

>>841258
This name sounds great, so I'm gonna vote for it.
>>
No. 841320 ID: 8111b6

Let's try narrowing it down. Animal, mineral, vegetable, or other?

As for a name, your old one can be found later, I'm sure. For now, perhaps choose something cute and disarming to offset the whole skeleton thing. ... Like 'Mittens', or 'Daisy' or something like that.
>>
No. 841322 ID: ca196a

Nedynvor!
>>
No. 841328 ID: a363ac

>>841209
Saving the best for last a Succubus was your greatest task.
in name alone you were know by Watermelon.
>>
No. 841340 ID: 2d1231

>>841209

Clearly the answer was OTHER DRAGONS, seeing as we slept with everything but dragons.
>>
No. 841402 ID: 5d2db0

The ever elusive tree gnolls was the last race you needed to jump your bone.

Also you name was Ponere
>>
No. 841406 ID: c0f729

I'm going with Barenziah and other dragon
>>
No. 841415 ID: 0c84a3

The problem with listening to us about what you do and don't remember, is we see several parts of the multiverse simultaneously. We call them quests. It gets extremely hard to keep everything straight after a while so some of us just start shouting random things.

If you want a new name though, why not Rhea? it's the name of a titan of ancient legend in another world who was mother to the gods of that pantheon. it's fitting given your life's aspiration.
>>
No. 841418 ID: 1d8d67

Wait a minute... A polyamorus dragoness who's an unparalelled master of shape shifting?! Are you some kind of alternate universe Ceridwen clone?
>>
No. 841419 ID: 78a3e5

>>841340
Supporting this.
>>
No. 841462 ID: 33d4be
File 150950738134.png - (17.79KB , 700x600 , DB006.png )
841462

[[Author’s note: “Dragon” got a few votes in at the end, but I had already put the update together. Sorry, dragon voters!]]

Karon! That was it. And the last race remaining was the spiderkin!

I remember now. The most famous are the driders, but there are other types, and fortunately I don’t need to mark off every single one. Yes… I wanted to leave something good for last, but also to leave the more unpopular races until late, to make earlier efforts easier. Spiderkin were in the sweet spot between.

Ah, shall I venture underground to find the classic dark elf breed? Into the frosty forests, for the adorably fluffy tribes that dwell there? To the craggy mountain foothills, to find spider goblins? Perhaps I’ll locate some other sub-race of theirs. All spiderkin are rare; I’ll need a way to refine my search.

… And the other things I’m lacking.
>>
No. 841463 ID: 33d4be
File 150950741710.png - (16.57KB , 700x600 , DB007.png )
841463

>So uh, can you still use shapeshifting magic?
>Another thing to do: you need to figure out exactly what sort of undead you currently are.
>You also need to investigate the likelihood of getting resurrected and once again joining the ranks of the flesh-and blood

I will repeat: the necromancy binding my spirit to my bones also binds me to one shape.

We dragons have souls closely bound to our bodies to begin with, which is what allows us to be so powerful. If one of us lingers as a ghost when we die, as I did, a necromancer can tighten the slack on those chains even more, concentrating that spirit and its magic into their bones. This creates an undead dragon far greater than the simple mindless skeleton of any other large creature, one with incredible durability, resistance to magic, a necromantic reflection of its former qualities, and a will of its own that the necromancer, of course, must suppress. That is what I am.

I forget the proper name.

I should still be able to use some other magic. Shapeshifting was my speciality, but I can do anything you could expect of a reasonably advanced apprentice wizard, a handful of more advanced convenience spells, and a few tricks I found useful for my own purposes. Since I’ll be using a type of magical energy I’m not used to, I may be a little clumsier of a spellcaster for a while.

Resurrection would be nice, but terribly unlikely. Having been undead at all increases the difficulty of resurrection, and having been an innately magical creature means it would also require more power. That’s why some human warrior hero can be up on their feet again quite quickly, while a half-demonic sorcerer king requires cultists and a blood ritual at the full moon. Besides, most resurrection techniques require divine intervention, and Tiamat expects her greatest children to not come whining to her to undo the consequences of their own mistakes.

>if you exist in a world with Tiamat in it

There are many worlds, I know. Some share the same gods, some share only aspects of those gods, and some have gods that only appear superficially similar. Even in this world, people put several names, shapes and perspectives to the same divine being. Obviously, we dragons see the clearest; what lesser races name separate gods and goddesses with separate domains, we know to be aspects of a single goddess with many faces. Through each of her many mouths, Tiamat breathes life and motion into each part of the grand cycle of existence, from creation, to separation, to unification, to destruction, and back to creation, with one more remaining to oversee and dominate the whole with her knowledge and vision.

Ahnat, who favours me, is the breath of unification. She is beyond good and evil, as we mortal dragons are; in her domain are both the devoted lover and the broken slave, peace through cooperation, peace through subjugation; the conception of children, the sense of belonging, the destruction of individuality, the binding of nations and the toppling of social order are all within her domain.

I would say the Tiamat you are thinking of is not really the same one I am.

>shit looks like you completely forgot which that one race was guess well just have to go through all of them
>Such a shame but this is how it has to be.
>It doesn't hurt to double check in any case. Especially Dragonborn. Might want to double to triple check with them.

I’m not one to shy away from any intimate encounters that present themselves to me, but even I don’t want to go over my entire life’s work from the beginning again. Certainly not in this state. Undeath is not something you want to endure for longer than you can manage. Still, if I overcome my current lack of suitable organs, there’s no reason I can’t enjoy myself along my way.

>what type of dragon were you?
>were you a FIRE breathing dragon? Or did you breathe something else? There are a LOT of varieties of things dragons can breathe!

The qualities a dragon gains are a reflection of their soul, and the foremost influence on and manifestation of a dragon’s soul is their hoard! Those who gather gold and jewels, for example, breathe fire, mirroring the flames of the forge and the deep earth that created that which they prize. My hoard, and my glorious geas, endowed me with the breath of Ahnat herself. I could breathe a mist which fogged the mind of others, lowering inhibitions and melting their thoughts into drunken affection and desire.

If I adjusted my effort and concentrated the mist into a dense stream, however, it would melt what it touched less metaphorically.

Sadly, the necromantic enchantments that pin me to my skeleton now simply feed on my soul’s natural power to fuel their own. I appear to have some sort of deathly frost breath. How painfully generic!
>>
No. 841464 ID: 33d4be
File 150950745770.png - (24.06KB , 700x600 , DB008.png )
841464

>Also, if you are female, you presumably had lots of half-dragon broods somewhere, yes? You should find your family. Blood is thicker than water, after all.

It’s true, I’ve had many half-draconic children. I even raised many of them! The infancy of lesser mortals, or even semi-lesser mortals, is not much to a dragon’s lifespan. Of course, the largest portion of my children came from my lovers among…

…!

>see if any of your mortal followers still live.

My kobolds!

My servants, my searchers and spies, my children! My death must have devastated them!! I don’t even know if they survived! They must have. I hope they have! I taught them so much more than most dragons do theirs. Oh, if I were a ghost I’m sure I would be able to appear to my descendants. Then I could find out! But when I was a ghost I wasn’t conscious enough to think of it.

I still don’t even know how long it’s been or where I am!
>>
No. 841465 ID: 3ce125

>>841464
Then we need to find someone to ask. Cast Detect Life then go use your frost breath and near-indestructible body to go save people in the flaming ruins. Thusly indebted to you, they will be sources of information and possibly material aid (but I wouldn't count on it, plus what would even be useful to you?).

Can you fly? With magical aid perhaps?
>>
No. 841466 ID: be0718

Spider goblins are nice, but I'll still vote for the classic spider elves.
I guess you need to find a survivor who can tell you what's going on! Not too many at once, though, their first instinct probably will and should be to attack you.
>>
No. 841467 ID: 3ce125

Oh and I vote we find the fluffy.
>>
No. 841468 ID: bb78f2

>>841464
You said have other forms of magic yes?
Could you possess someone (or create a humonculus and possess that shell) and love through them for it to count? At least in theory? Don't know what brand of magic possession is, or what brand creating a humonculus shell might be.

Hopefully neither is necromancy. Necromancy is managing undeath (maybe souls). Possession sounds like Mysticism (at least where one possesses the mind instead of switching souls, which would probably also be part of necromantic magic), and creating a humonculus could either be conjuration or an advanced version of creative or healing magic.
>>
No. 841469 ID: b4793d

>>841463
Roofie breath

>>841464
Wouldn't at least some of your direct descendants be half-dragons as opposed to Kobolds?
>>
No. 841471 ID: 3abd97

>>841462
Hmm. I'd prefer the fluffies or maybe the drow, but we'll have to see where we can find romance.

After we figure out how we're supposed to bone as bones.

>My kobolds!
>I can do anything you could expect of a reasonably advanced apprentice wizard, a handful of more advanced convenience spells, and a few tricks I found useful for my own purposes
Would that happen to include Sending, or similar ranged communication spells?

The simplest way to check up on your kobolds would be to try to contact them directly in this way. (If the spell fails, you know you're out of range and/or they're dead).
>>
No. 841472 ID: 41c9bc

>>841471
This.
>>
No. 841473 ID: 094652

So you have mastery over shapeshifting magic, but you're locked into your current form by the same magic keeping you alive. What if your magics changed along with your breath?

There's a specific school of magic called Chi-Casting, where all magic is focused inward to improve your combat performance. Try hardening your spine or regrowing sinews between wingbones.
>>
No. 841475 ID: 314bcd

Gotta aim for the floof later!
Some magic portal phoning your kobolds or something could work.

Looking around the area might give some insight as to where you are at least. Attempt to see if you're able to fly with your wings as they are now; if not, can you freeze your breath to shape wings over your current boney ones?
>>
No. 841476 ID: c88e6d

>>841464
First, we need to find the city's palace, and there any information on where this place is.

Next, we go and find the ADORABLY FLUFFY SPIDERS.

...Or your servants, whichever comes first.
>>
No. 841477 ID: 1e7aa8

First and foremost, see if there's anyone alive nearby. It looks like you were quite busy fighting a whole bunch of armed beings before the necromancer died.

If there's not, then you may as well carefully put out the town and dispatch any remaining undead while you look for any survivors.
>>
No. 841483 ID: b4793d

Use your ice powers to make an ice-body Frozen-style. The cold never bothered you anyway.
>>
No. 841489 ID: 0c84a3

use your frost breath to put out the fires and try to contain any undead left behind. Survivors are more likely to believe you wish them new harm if they see you helping stop the damage your former master inflicted.
>>
No. 841490 ID: 0c84a3

*No harm. this place REALLY needs a way to edit typos.
>>
No. 841543 ID: 8d4593

Hmm... What about a reincarnation?
Bind your mind and soul to the body of a lesser race or descendant.
>>
No. 841579 ID: 66a4ca

Can we stop with this disposition dump and get this show on the road? As nice as it is, it's ruining the pacing of the quest. Provide information when it's relevant to do so.

(Make suggestions, not a scene.)
>>
No. 841600 ID: b4793d

What if you reached out with telepathy and founded a cult dedicated to restoring you to life and then sexing them up? They'd do all the work and you do all the sex.
>>
No. 841602 ID: 904bad

Try to fly high and see if you can find some point of reference, also, I'm sure you can find some drew spider with necrofilia, drews are weird like that
>>
No. 841608 ID: b9b4da

Find the spider-goblins first, and a cure second. Your partner should be someone who likes you for what's on the inside!
>>841579
Don't be rude now, reviewing what little she does know is relevant to the quest to catch us up to speed.
>>
No. 841610 ID: a363ac

>>841464
New plan fly into the sky and find a landmark then try and remeber what is around there from your time.
>>
No. 841617 ID: a82738

While you can't change your shape, could you still alter how others perceive you through illusions? Might be good to make yourself appear different than you are then only revealing your true form to those you come to feel you can trust with such knowledge.
>>
No. 841618 ID: 790b31

>>841464
Oh shit! Get home, find what's happening with your kids!!
>>
No. 841620 ID: 41c9bc

>>841617
This is a good idea.
>>
No. 841621 ID: 94bef7

Hey, what if we build a body out of ice around your skeleton? Mortals are less likely to be scared of you if you appeared less undead.

Maybe you're in the city of silver wolves, Georgie.
>>
No. 841626 ID: 935d0d

Illusions are a good idea. Also, we need to get our bearings and hopefully find a way home.
>>
No. 842175 ID: 66a4ca

I suggest scouting the area and finding someone that's alive.
>>
No. 842310 ID: fe7355

Unfortunately, you can't really start hunting down spiderkin until you have some idea of where they live about here. Considering that there was a undead army, up until the necromancer croaked a minute ago, the area could have been depopulated by it, and anyone not killed has fled as a refugee. And technically you could just wander the lands and under them until you stumble across spiderkin, since you don't need to eat, drink or sleep any more, but that's boring and you'd risk getting adventuring bands of heroes hounding you.

Check if you can still speak. The necromancer probably didn't feel the need for his undead dragon to be able to talk, so if you can't that's gonna make things even tougher for you.

How famous (or infamous) was your name back in the day? Think it could have survived in story and legend such that you could drop your name to folks and get interest enough to tell your story?

Are there any spells that can be cast on bones to determine how long its been since the creature they were part of expired. (Sorta like magical radio-carbon dating.) Cast that on your skeleton and it would tell you just how long its been since you died. Alternatively, dig through the rubble of that burning city to find a calendar to get the current date. Though, it's possible that you're somewhere that doesn't use the same calendar that you remember, or a new calendar with a different start year came into use after your death. Either would complicate determining how many years its been.

Do you remember a general map of the world, where you died and where each major species was concentrated? Then you could try and figure out where you generally are from what the species of the corpses laying about are. You can also check if there's one that was obviously the necromancer and what their species was. And for a more exact location, you could trot into that burning city and try to find a map maker's shop before it burns down.

Once you determine where you are, then returning to your old home and seeing if your kobold followers' descendants still live there would make sense. They'd be the most likely to help you.

How lenient is the definition of consummation for your oath? Could just your lover be the one to feel orgasm? Because if that's the case then there's plenty of ways to do that that doesn't require you to have flesh at all. ...And relatedly, do you feel sexually pent up? Do you even still have a sex drive?

You need to find out if the "leash" by which the necromancer was commanding you is still there, dangling about for another necromancer or mage to grab hold of, and how to tie it back to yourself. Otherwise you could
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No. 842499 ID: 2c8807

>>841464
Oh no, the Kobolds!
Try to reunite with them, they'll probably be able to help as well as be moral support.
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No. 842917 ID: 7ee47c

Make yourself an ice-sculptire body using your breath and remaining magic, and seek out your kobolds.
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No. 845601 ID: 33d4be
File 151089205019.png - (20.94KB , 700x600 , DB009.png )
845601

… I must focus. I must consider what I can do now, know my options and abilities and choose, if I want to accomplish anything.

>Check if you can still speak.

A good question. Let me see: ”… For waste of words it fits not well; to gape and feed with, the gullet’s good.”

Agh! It works, but I have to force the words out by force of will. It takes a small moment from effort to sound, and builds with a strange reverse echo effect between. Perhaps it might be recognisable, but it’s been twisted. Ah, I used to have such a beautiful voice! In later years I could bring some of my lovers to ecstasy by sweet spiced whispering alone. I won’t be doing that now.

>What if your magics changed along with your breath?

The breath is an intrinsic ability of all true dragons, and tailors its quality and potency to the individual. Trained spellcasting is more objective, and works the same for everyone. Everyone with the same level of power and skill, at least. Mostly.

In case you don’t know, the innate abilities of true dragons are five, the gifts of Tiamat. The first is the domination of breath, which is of two halves, pouring out the essence of our souls as a weapon, drawing in the wind to fill our wings. The second is the domination of scale and bone, which makes us durable. The third is the domination of claw and fang, which rends the defences of our prey. The fourth is the domination of eyes, by which lesser beings may be taken hold of by our gaze. The fifth is the domination of wisdom, which puts knowledge in our blood, so that even the loneliest hatchling can survive and develop words and cunning without ever meeting another speaking creature.

I know that my breath has been changed, but if or how the others have been, I don’t yet know. Except:

>Can you fly?

Yes. I vaguely remember doing so on the way here.

>Try to fly high and see if you can find some point of reference
>New plan fly into the sky and find a landmark

Good idea. I do like talking about myself, my race and my goddess, but I should at least be doing it on the move.
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No. 845602 ID: 33d4be
File 151089208624.png - (18.53KB , 700x600 , DB010.png )
845602

>could you still alter how others perceive you through illusions?

I always preferred changing reality to creating illusions, so my skills aren’t expert. Beyond the most simple illusions, and a few tricks essentially similar to how lesser races use cosmetics, what I’ve learned are mostly in the line of glamours; that is, illusions that amplify and modify the impression of what actually exists. Making a skeletal dragon appear to be a living one is a large step past turning autumn leaves into fairy gold, however. I would need to practice, and the effect would be temporary and unreliable.

>what if we built a body of ice around your skeleton?

It would freeze me solid, or break when I moved, or need large chunks taken out of it for articulation. A convincingly “living” body of ice and snow would need an expert elementalist, which I am not. I work with truly living things, which is much the more artful and delicate skill.

>Could you possess someone
>Bind your mind and soul to the body of a lesser race or descendant.

A remote mind control effect would not count. If I was a ghost, and possessed someone by inhabiting their body, that could work. However, the point of my oath was to demonstrate the superiority of dragonkind, so I would need to posses another dragon. Or… now that you make me think of it, perhaps one of the degenerate dragonkin would do. A hydra, drake, draconid - “dragonborn” is insulting, you know - dracoped, or even a kobold would count. That would be bending the rules, but I feel sure enough Ahnat will accept it, so long as I’m putting in some effort.

Still, I would need to be a ghost, and more than that I would need to be an awakened ghost, in full possession of my intelligence and will. It is possible, I know, but I’m not sure how. There might be a way to find out nearby, though.

>ranged communication spells?

Magical messaging spells require some setup, mostly just to find the person you want to talk to. If you haven’t prepared in advance, that means either combining it with a decent scrying spell - and combining spells requires special tools which I don’t have right now - or having a link focus to the target. Some small part of their body like a scale, a tooth or a drop of blood or tears is the most common. There are others: something they personally created, a place where their heart was broken, a bone each of a parent and a child… it can be a chore, keeping your links safe. Some sort of special mirror, crystal ball or viewing pool would be needed for two-way communication, as well, if the target can’t use magic themselves.

Blood relation half counts for a link focus, so I can theoretically contact my own close kin. For my descendants, it could extend to the third generation, with a push. The half it manages, however, is the “link” rather than the “focus”; simple shared blood can’t specify an individual. I would need to know their name, face, or personal arcane sigil, if they have one. Trying to contact everyone I remember one at a time, though, would be draining, and tiresome… and probably very depressing. I feel like it’s been a long time since I died.

>How famous (or infamous) was your name back in the day?

Well, I didn’t exactly hang my hindquarters out in every city and raise a welcome sign on my tail, but there were songs and stories being passed along the bardic circuits and through the rumour mills. I could be discreet if my lovers required discretion, but not all of them did, and I was a friend to those who worship Ahnat, or the aspects of her that they so amusingly give other names and faces. So, I’d say I had some fame, indeed, to those who paid attention to the wider world. But there are less who do that than don’t.

>How lenient is the definition of consummation for your oath?

There is no specific definition. I will simply sense Ahnat’s satisfaction with what I’ve accomplished, if I have satisfied her. Though she has been flexible to specifics before, she’s never let me off lightly. The coupling must be intimate, enthusiastic, and thorough, on both sides.

>Do you feel sexually pent up? Do you even still have a sex drive?

I might. It’s hard to describe. I feel like all the thirsts I once felt in my flesh and blood have been barred away within me, and what penetrates beyond like the cold through thin walls is a mixture of all of them and none of them, suffusing my being with a hunger simply for life itself. Or, failing that, true death. I understand how so many undead behave. Sex might partially satisfy what I feel, but I don’t know.

In any case, sex is an art to me. I can get pleasure from playing my partner’s body as I would playing a musical instrument.
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No. 845603 ID: 33d4be
File 151089212605.png - (32.37KB , 700x600 , DBO11.png )
845603

Having gained some height, I can see that the city is larger than I first thought. Looking further across the valley, which is shallow on the other side, the terrain is quite distinctive. Mountains to the west and north, a city on the sea, two rivers providing irrigation for a stretch of farmland, fading into grassland and I believe a hint of desert on the horizon to the east. I can also see that the necromancer who raised me, unless they had friends, is one of those who drains life energy from the land for extra power. The blighted ground left by the mass of their army lets me see a clear trail northward, even under starlight, which allows me to guess that the place I died was north of here as well.

This, then, is probably the city called The Wedge. Called, as I’m sure it had a proper name its rulers preferred, but that’s what it was referred to. Ruled by… well, it was a merchant princess last I knew, but judging by how the gate villages have grown together into a sprawl and a castle-palace has appeared on the hillsides near where I started, it’s been at least a hundred years since I last flew over and probably more. Quite an unpopular little city-state, from what I remember, too distant from any other nation to be conquered, too few nearby resources to expand, but immensely profitable by sheer geographical convenience. There should be dwarven kingdoms to the west, a variety of plantations off the coast to the east, mines in the desert and eager customers to the north and across the sea. A very unscrupulous and jealous nobility overseeing trade, permitting all sorts of terrible businesses that would be forbidden elsewhere, and a melting pot of desperate unfortunate souls scrabbling for freedom from their debts. I can easily imagine them making a dedicated enemy.

Can you tell that I’m very well-traveled, for a dragon? I’m sure I’ll be familiar with any language we’re likely to encounter, as well.

I can sense life, so I could try finding and rescuing survivors in the city, though I’m not sure how helpful that would be to me or them. This is not a city of giants, or even of dwarves, who love their vast tunnels and vaults. Much of it will be cramped, and the buildings flimsy, even moreso now than usually. The inner city has somewhat more space, but is full of canals. Simply breathing deathfrost on burning buildings may catch people in a more certain and unclean death. The main threat besides fire is the newly purposeless undead, but they can fit inside the buildings of lesser races and I cannot. It would take my time and do little for me, besides, and I have no obligations here that I know of.

Looking for survivors outside the city walls might get me someone to talk to, to give information on time and recent events. As this appears to have been a rather successful siege, however, there are unlikely to be many outside the walls who need rescuing at this point, and without a rescue to compensate for my appearance they may not be cooperative. The presence of an individual life is trickier to pinpoint in natural areas, as well.

The greatest potential gain is probably in finding the necromancer’s possessions, which should gain me spellcasting equipment and materials and, I should hope, some books, or scrolls, or whatever else can tell me more about necromancy and the state of undeath. They’d have surely had something. The downside of this option is that, since necromancers who lead armies of undead generally stay camped behind their minions, chances are high that visiting that camp will mean encountering whatever ragtag band of desperate defenders took my reanimator down. What condition they’ll be in and what their attitude to me would be is unpredictable, but there is a very strong possibility of a serious threat to me. If I leave them to their devices, however, they’ll surely make off with the necromancer’s things themselves, and maybe destroy them.

On the other claw, if this city is the kind of cut-throat trading destination I remember it being, then there may actually be magical tools and resources for dark magic somewhere within, as this is one of the few places such things are not restricted. So I could search for the tools and information I need in the city. Though that seems a very chancy option, it does potentially combine all the benefits of the others thus far, since I could destroy some undead and find someone to rescue along the way.

Finally, now that I have some idea of where I am, I can simply go home, and see if my kobolds are still there, to get their help if they are, or begin tracing them or my other descendants if they’re not. I should point out that my home is not the same place that I died: that was a temporary lair of mine, one of many I’ve had. What I considered my proper home is further away, and it will take time to get there. I can’t get tired like I did when I was alive, but I will have to contend with the sun. I’m too powerful for sunlight to destroy me, but it will still make me weaker, slower and more easily confused. So, really, the same as being tired. Except that I will also be in pain.

The state of restless death is a thing quite like being constantly tired and in pain already, and I believe such is the case for all unwilling undead, but I’ve gotten the impression that exposure to the sun is much more acute.
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No. 845605 ID: c88e6d

>>845603
Try Finding and Rescuing Survivors and THEN Searching for the tools you need within the city. One can help the other!
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No. 845609 ID: 33cbe7

Find the necromancer's possessions. His vanquishers should be too tired to sling any spells at you.
How well known is the phrase 'Never make a deal with a dragon' to these people?
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No. 845610 ID: 3ce125

>>845603
Go to the camp and find the necromancer’s possessions. Specifically, circle above it and amplify your voice to inform the victors that they have freed you from the necromancer and you wish to parley. If you get shot at after that, just fly away. In that case I would say go into the city to search for tools and information instead.
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No. 845612 ID: 91ee5f

>>845610
This sounds like a good idea!
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No. 845625 ID: ba56e6

>>845610
This.

>>845605
This if the above fails.
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No. 845628 ID: 13fded

Maybe I'm being optimistic, but I believe you will find help from the living far from here independent of your current actions. If I'm correct we should make a decision thinking more about what balance of power is more advantageous for you.
Your mind were slaved to a necromancer before, can it be again? Are their presence a threat? If their presence risk your very will this conflict may be a good opportunity to eliminate enemies that can reach weakness on your new nature.
On the other hand maybe the living would not be willing to tolerate the undead unless they have no option. If by principle or religion your very existence is intolerable than you want the restless to have a foothold on this land political power balance, if for no other reason so you can be a lesser evil.

If we aim to influence the power balance even further I think your aim should be the necromancer’s possessions. They should be at the core of the conflict, it likely lead to a conflict with a successful resistance group but I'm confident on your negotiation skills, but this isn't my favorite option.

If we are to seek short term help from the locals our efforts are better concentrated on searching for tools and information. Gratitude may come from individuals in dire need of help, but collectively the survives are more likely to blame you regardless of guilt.
It's one peculiar problem with undeads and plague carriers: simultaneously the victims and the aggressors.

Personally I would prefer to simply go home. Mostly because I don't fully understand what the consequences will be and I prefer to live with lost opportunity than the consequences of mistakes.
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No. 845629 ID: c65c10

There's probably a lot of rich and frightened people holed up in the inner districts. Not likely to have all those necromantic goodies but there's the possibility up to date information and basic spell supplies at least.
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No. 845633 ID: 1e7aa8

Search for survivors. We can acquire whatever arcane tools and spell casting items we need AFTER the living have successfully been convinced that we aren't going to finish what the necromancer started.

In fact, you mentioned there are canals running over town? In lieu of using your deadly frost breath on any active fires, just lightly freeze some of the available water into sheets of ice. Then just place those over any fires that are still raging.
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No. 845635 ID: 0764a8

>>845603
Go to the camp and wipe out the remaining undead. If you find survivors along the way, do what you can to help.
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No. 845639 ID: 7152b7

>>845610
This is a complex idea and one that is hard to shout from a distance at terrified, hostile individuals.

You could just thank them and sing them praises, however. They deserve that much as well! They definitely won't trust you, but they might not immediately shoot you either, if only out of confusion.
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No. 845640 ID: 3ce125

>>845639
When I said amplify, I meant magically. Magic shouting should be loud enough!
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No. 845642 ID: 3ce125

Hmmm... if you developed a ghost form and possessed someone, would you be able to use your shapeshifting magic again?
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No. 845643 ID: 5322c5

>>845610
Optimal.
Thanking any heroes for freeing you from on wing should be safe enough, and may give you more information even if you are driven away.

That said, keeping a wing and an eye over the city as you travel to look out for things of interest or particularly important rescuees may be a good idea.
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No. 845652 ID: ba506f

>search for the tools and information I need in the city
maybe find a surviver or 2 and see if you can't convince them to give you bit more information on what happens since you died. Maybe find out how long the guy who rised you was raiding the country side and how far north he came from. Because unless your home isn't north I'm kinda worried about the kobolds that you use to live with. Also while poking though the city you might luck out and find one of those spiderkin you're looking for. I mean you did say it was a trade city and as such it isn't TOO unlikely that one might pass through every now and again.
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No. 845653 ID: d9cd96

You need to build a reputation as a not-bad skeleton dragon if you want a chance of not getting hindered at every future step, especially since you have most likely assisted in at least some of the city's devastation while under the necromancer's control. That said Find and rescue survivors in the city. You don't have to go into tight spaces, just clear up a route for survivors to flee through, and in the worst cases break walls and the like down to create one. Just destroying any mindless undead that you find loitering would also be helpful. After that you can start finding the necromancer’s possessions.
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No. 845735 ID: a363ac

>>845603
Go to kobols!
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No. 845753 ID: 3abd97

>I know that my breath has been changed, but if or how the others have been, I don’t yet know
>The fifth is the domination of wisdom, which puts knowledge in our blood
Considering your memory has holes in it, and that you remember things at all despite no longer having an organ for thought (or blood for that matter) it seems reasonable to assume this gift has been impacted.

>this appears to have been a rather successful siege
Well aside from the fact the necromancer has lost control of you, their army, and i presumably dead themselves.

>finding the necromancer’s possessions
Might want to do a high altitude flyover where you think those possessions or the heroes might be located, scout out your chances from above. Can you do simple directional scrying? Make the ground appear closer than it is in order to observe things safely?
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No. 845764 ID: e37a06

The main benefit of helping around is to save face, as we are currently alone, and your schizophrenia has no idea what level of power you command, and so have no idea of how well you can hold your own.

How do mortals and their empires usually deal with dragons, no less undead ones? Its obvious enough that some have the power to defeat them, and so it is likely whoever killed this necromancer, either got very lucky, or has superior prowess.
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