You are an Overlord. A hulking humanoid figure covered in armor who summons and commands minions to lay waste to all that stands in your path and whatever goal you seek. One day while performing a magical ritual within your tower to obtain even more power, heroes broke in and attacked, disrupting your ritual and causing you, your tower, and minions to be flung into a brand new reality of warriors and monsters in the lands of the Old World of Warhammer Fantasy. What will you do in this new world of endless possibilities and multitudes of factions to interact with? Lay waste to the factions of the old world and attempt world domination? Ally with the forces of chaos and reap the blessings of the thirsting gods? Maybe knock over a dwarven keep and get sloshed with your minions on some proper beer. The number of possibilities are only matched by the amount of dangers this new realm possesses.
Will you rise to your title or fall under your own ambitions? Until then good luck.
What era of the Warhammer fantasy timeline should the Overlord appear at?
What part of the Old World should the Overlord and their tower appear in?
What gender should the Overlord be? (male or female for ease of choices)
What traits should the Overlord possess?
What should the Overlord's armor look like?
What type of tower should the Overlord have? (write ins allowed for custom towers)
Should the Overlord start with all four minion types available?
[] One (browns only)
[] Two (browns and reds)
[] Three (browns, reds, and greens)
[] Four (browns, reds, greens, and blues)
How visible was the arrival of the Overlord to the various factions of the setting and deities?
[] No witnesses (-3)
[] Well hidden (-1)
[] Somewhat visible (0)
[] Coming in hot and loud (+1)
[] Now all of Cathay knows you're here! (+3)
What is an Overlord without their tower… What does it look like
[] Circular
[] Blocky
[] Deeply underground
[] Segmented
[] Write in…
[] Describe its aesthetics.
-[] Write in…
What is the state of the Overlord's tower when they enter the world?
Gone 0 point
Wrecked 1 point
Normal condition 2 points
Pristine condition 3 points
Points to spend 21
[]The Throne room (automatically assigned) - where the Overlord holds their court and hears out petitions.
[] Private quarters (automatically assigned) - NOBODY interrupts the alone time. A place to rest and chill. Contains a bedroom, bath, and wardrobe.
[]write in for look and theme
[] Treasury (automatically assigned) - place to store and count wealth.
[0]Planning room/Archives (automatically assigned in a wrecked condition) - from here plans are made to improve the tower and what already is.
[]Forge - Minions make weapons and armors here.
[] Armory - Storage and easy access to arms while not in use.
[] Spawning Pit (automatically assigned) - Minions are made into being here. Crucial for continued existence of Minions.
[] Traps - miscellaneous assortment of defensive measures.
[] Alchemy room - mixtures and potions are needy things, give them some room
[] Astronomy room/ Observatory - there is much power in the stars, grasp it.
[] Dungeon - Arguably the most over hyped section of the tower. Effort well spent, no complaints yet.
[] Botanic garden - Where more rare and temperamental vegetation is cultivated for their purposes
[] Dining room/area - for some quality time with a quality company.
[] Arena - What better entertainment than beating things till they stop beating back…
[] Cellar - all those wines and ales present themselves better while secure.
[] Library - All this knowledge, where one would seek it. Plus it's classy.
[] Hidden room (indicate purpose) - Do not ask what's in there. You're not supposed to know.
[] Spell testing range/Study - There is a fine difference between finding out and figuring out. It's called a test group.
[] Kitchen - More than just food. It's the whole experience.
[] Guest room - Been a while since we had well behaved guests. Better prepare the good sheets.
[] Craft Workshop - Glass work, wood work, clay work! So many things to work on!
[] Scrying well - Knowing things is important! And spells that let you know things are finicky, With this the migraines should be worth it. Hopefully.
[] Greenhouse - Food security is an interesting concept. At least we won't have to eat bark. Again.
[] Main entrance- Behold! The place behind a door! Just to rub in the point of how important it is!
[] Storage room - As in the central one with a quartermaster Never mess with the quartermaster. You will not be the only one suffering.
[] Laboratory… so many variants. So many experiments to run. So many things to find out. So many safety violations!
[] Teleportation Chamber - Why wait! Just go there and be done with it! If only it would be that easy. Certainly makes it easier though.
[] Escape/safe room/bunker - Some things are not meant to be risked. Those confines will outlive the tower itself if they must. Already did.
[] Beast pens - A fence here, a cage there. Gotta put those lovely things somewhere!
Automatic Trait: Overlord- You are the Overlord the minions have near unbreakable loyalty to you and are more than happy to fight, die, and carry heavy objects around at your command along with anything else within their capabilities without question.
Automatic Trait: Silent Protagonist- You don't speak no matter the situation but somehow this makes other people more open to talking to you.
Automatic trai: Conduit of the tower - You are connected, on the deepest level, with the central crystal of the tower known as the Tower heart. Along with greater control over its functions it allows you to perform acts of magic through it without factual education in the matter. Your might grows alongside it related to artifacts you gather
Choose your skill traits. You start with 20 points.
Trait: Genius – Smart is not enough to describe you. (1 point)
Trait: Blacksmith – You are knowledgeable in ways of shaping metal. (2 points)
Trait: Functioning Drunkard - Sober or drunk, you are almost the same. (1 point)
Trait: Hard Life, Hard Body - Hard life has severely conditioned your body, to ensure you stay alive that much longer. (3 points)
Trait: Tranquil Fury – Your fury has been forged from a boiling thing into a precise blade. (2 points)
Trait: Long Rule - You are a ruler, and have been for a long time. Hopefully longer still. (3 points)
Trait: Experienced - You have drunk, punched and experienced much. (1 point)
Trait: Instinctual Tactician - Never took lessons in art of war, is skilled at it nonetheless. (3 points)
Trait: The Undaunted- Pain is still felt. Its grasp over reactions and thoughts is greatly reduced. (2 points)
Trait: Scholar - Loves learning whatever they can. (1 point)
Trait: Expert-Taught - Taught by working with experts via knowledge or experience. (2 points)
Trait: Experienced Diplomat - Has run diplomatic works for long years, earning experience in such matters.Been inured to the nuances of diplomacy (3 points)
Trait: Poison Master - taught about poisons over the world over, continued study in such. (1 point)
Trait: Attractive – person of great and conventional beauty. (1 point)
Trait: Culture Crosser- Entrenchment in a different culture for so long while maintaining connections to one original home, has resulted in growth of tolerance and ability to shift between wildly different groups. (1 point)
Trait: Ritual Survivor - You have survived an encounter where someone attempted to sacrifice you in a ritual this has left you embittered towards those who would sacrifice others for power (1 point)
Trait: Patient – patience and caution will ensure success. At least in their mind. (1 point)
Trait: Bloody Silence - Lacking in excess movement and addition of controlled breathing that can come with deadening of emotions grants a startling ability at being utterly silent when desired, including in battle. (2 points)
Trait: Tall – Towers over the heads of almost everyone. (1 point)
Trait: Strong – greater strength than one would expect. (2 points)
Trait: Survivor of Fatal Poisons- Dozens of varied poisons and deadly toxins flowed through those veins. The damage done to the body took time to heal, now it carries resistance to such substances, as a mark of survival. (3 points)
Trait: Heart of Ice – you are unmoved by pleas for help or aid even from the most desperate souls. (1 point)
Trait: Pragmatic -This one may respect honor but if a solution presents itself will not balk at alternatives. (1 point)
Trait: Responsible Ruler - Rules fairly and firmly, willing to accept suggestions of advisors without being useless without them. A good sign of things to come. (2 points)
Trait: Calm - It takes much to rattle this one, who can remain calm in all but most trying times. (1 point)
Trait: Humble - Despite achievements and history remains humble. (1 point)
Trait: Experienced Quartermaster – This one had a course in logistics and organization. (3 points)
Trait: Well Worked Body – Long conflict and hearty meals has given him a bulked form and improved musculature. (3 points)
Trait: Creepy – This one is just 'off' in a way that itches at people the wrong way. (1 point)
Trait: Inured To Horror – saw hundreds of men slaughtered, massacred, torn to shreds and devoured In carnage spanning days yet remains sane. (3 points)
Trait: Macabre Interests - Enjoys considerations of the macabre, both in talks and contemplations. (1 point)
Trait: Auspicious Blood – can be defined or synonymous to mixed blood. Or bloodline being open to non-human descendants and ancestors. (1 point)
Trait: Once-Tainted – This one was once corrupted by machinations of another. Through great means undesired influence was purged. Yet wary remains forever more. (1 point)
Trait: Tempered Anger – Even in the midst of blinding rage you possess the self control to maintain your faculties even in a berserk state. (3 points)
Trait: Quiet Stalker – this one does not walk as much as stalk quietly in their movement. (2 points)
Trait: War Veteran – Had known war for more than field of battle. Spent time with warriors facing death and witnessed the end of many. (3 points)
Trait: Frugal - There is time for expenses. Which ones are needed is a better question. (1 point)
Trait: Conviction - Death of loved one scarred your young mind, seed of iron determination had grown strong. (1 point)
Trait: Tremendous scarring- Sustained mortal wounds and only barely survived. Although healed, the body may bear the scars forever. (1 point)
Trait: Wilderness survivor- time spent in the wilderness miles from civilization has gifted you with the skills to last on your own no matter the environment. (3 points)
Trait: Quick reflexes- years of training has honed your reflexes to near inhuman levels. (2 points)
Trait: Witchsight- you were born with or gained the ability to see the winds of magic as they flow across and interact with the world around you. (3 points)
Trait: Unaging - Passage of time has no power over this body. Damage and sickness still may bring it down. (3 points)
Choose your character traits. You start with 10 points.
[] Honorable: Honor is many things. This one will respect it. (1 point)
[] Lawful: trustworthy and reliable. Exclusive with Deceitful. (2 points)
[] Deceitful: untrustworthy and full of lies. Exclusive with honorable.(plus 2 points)
[] Romantic: spending some time observing the beauty not with his eyes but soul and heart. (1 point)
[] Hedonist: Time spent in pursuit of joy and pleasure is time well spent. Why stop at what is allowed. (plus 1 point)
[] Disciplined: One is freed by the ability to undertake what they do not like. (1 point)
[] Arrogant: Will assume superiority over everyone present unless proven otherwise. Likely after as well. (plus 1 point)
[] Optimist: Every cloud has its silver lining. Exclusive to Pessimist (1 point)
[] Pessimist: Bad things will happen. It can only be delayed. Those will not be enjoyed. Exclusive to Optimist (plus 1 point)
[] Sadist: finds joy and happiness in the pain of others. (plus 2 points)
[] Weird: Does not act as one would expect. (plus 1 point)
[] Generous: You are willing to give to others within reason even if it may not benefit you. Exclusive to Greedy (2 points)
[] Greedy: The allure of coin sings loudly to this one, and monetary gains are difficult to resist. Exclusive to Generous (plus 2 points)
[] Loyal: Betrayal is not in this one's vocabulary. (1 point)
[] Open-minded: Equal opportunity overlord. There are better things to make a fuss about. (1 point)
[] Tranquil: be it middle of the battle of hectic festival, this one does not fuss over nothing. (1 point)
[] Inspiring: Gaze upon this grandeur and be sure of the outcome! (3 points)
[] Adventurous: There are so many things that can be done. Have fun while at it and seek new ones. (1 point)
[] Assertive: the way may change, not the goal. In the end, this one gets what they want. (plus 1 point)
[] Committed: This one knows what they want, who and how they want it. They stick to it. (1 point)
[] Honest: Lies are befitting one's not capable of bearing the truth. This one is not afraid of extra weight. (1 point)
[] Self Critical: What deluded fool would consider themself perfect? Improvement is a process, there are many areas of improvement. (2 points)
[] Involved: Like to keep hands on things. Some call it micromanagement, others motivating oversight. (1 point)
[] Bravery: You may experience the emotion of fear, it will not control you. (1 point)
[] Ruthless: You will do all in your power to utterly crush your enemies sometimes at your own personal cost, Exclusive to Merciful (plus 2 points)
[] Merciful: You are willing to forgive and spare others even if they slight you, at least within reasonable bounds. Exclusive to Ruthless (2 points)
[] Serious: Never seemed to play as much as others, more prone to watching, waiting and acting with strange seriousness to actions. (1 point)
At what time did you arrive at?
[] Disaster! Chupayotl sinks. Though the Elves have managed to siphon away the greater part of the power flowing out of the poles, the work must be buttressed. (Greatest chance to enact significant change on the world. Starting date -3894).
[] Malekith kills Phoenix King Bel Shanaar, then enters the Flame of Asuryan to claim the throne. Instead, he is horribly burned and flees to Nagarythe. Elven Civil War begins-2751 IC
[] Disaster. The world shakes, rocked by greater tremors that shift entire mountain ranges, The Age of Woes is upon. (Much of the world's history has passed you by. Starting date -1500).
[] By Ulric! (year 1 of Imperial calendar) Sigmar walks with us! Time of creation and unification of twelve tribes and forging bonds with dwarfs. No elves allowed.
[] Disaster? Zlatlan no longer remains hidden from the rest of the world! (Things are well settled, geopolitically speaking. Starting date 1150).
[] Write in: No Sooner than coming of chaos…
Name
[ ] Write-in
Gender
[][SEX] Male
[][SEX] Female
Physical Description
[ ] Write-in. You can either write-in a description and/or use an art piece.
Finally, what drives you to greatness?
[] Virtue
[] Desire
[] Inertia
[] Insanity? I'm not insane, I knew someone who was insane once...
[] Passion
[] Beauty
Your Guide (optional)
Your arrival unto Mallus was sudden, but you did not remain unnoticed for long. Though this era is strange and concerning to you and your sensibilities, you are not doomed to flailing aimlessly at the new social order while you find your footing.
You first landed somewhere in this strange new world after traveling through that awful dimension. Where was it?
Location of Arrival:
[] Near Naggoroth [+2]
The very northern tip of the region, blocked by mountains and wicked creatures.
Nearby Enemy Factions: Dark Elves
Nearby Neutral Faction: None
Expect some combat, diplomacy and intrigue in the future.
[] Near Norsca [0]
Just across the sea from the region of Norsca, which you will need to cross if you wish to go further south.
Nearby Enemy Factions: Norsca, Skaven
Nearby Neutral Faction: Dwarves
Expect a need for more combat (and probably some diplomacy) in the future.
[] Near Cathay [0]
In the middle of the territory claimed by the Kurgan tribes.
Nearby Enemy Factions: Kurgan, Skaven
Nearby Neutral Faction: Grand Cathay
Nearby ??? Faction: Ogres
Expect a need for more diplomacy (and probably some combat) in the future.
[]Underworld sea (0)
Far beneath territory claimed by Dark elves
Nearby Factions: Druchii, Skaven, Chaos, ???
Expect need for exploration and fights with beasts
[] Depths of Drakwald Forest.(+1)
The most unexplored wilds of Empire of Sigmar, True realm of Beastman and goblins
Nearby faction: Skaven, goblins, Trolls, giant spiders and worms. …
Expect lots of exploration and combat. Possibly a lot of mining.
Significant levels of environmental dangers.
(A narrative intro to Overlord for anyone unfamiliar with the series)
The Overlord stood in their tower channeling magical power into the tower heart, the artifact which provided them with much of their magic and ability to cast spells, aiding in the ritual that would grant them even more power, their loyal advisor Gnarl looked on a venerable brown minion who had aided countless other Overlord's before them. "The ritual is almost complete master, soon we'll have breached the realm of souls and have the power to take over the world or at least deal with those pesky heroes once and for all."
Almost as if on cue an alarm rang out in the tower alerting the residents that intruders had entered. Several floors below the heroes of the alliance burst into the tower charging forth to engage the minions of the Overlord. Human swordsmen raced in to engage the small brown minions with their blade work clashing with the small creatures but their small forms belied their natural strength the minions leaping onto the swordsmen of the alliance laying about them with their clubs after the humans crumpled the minions eagerly took up their fallen arms and other equipment before racing into battle with the other heroes racing into the tower. Meanwhile a lit brazier was knocked over spreading fire across the floor, luckily a red minion stepped into the flames absorbing them and then began hurling fireballs at several dwarven warriors as they attempted to close in. Elsewhere several elven rangers raced up the tower steps eager to reach the Overlord and disrupt their dark ritual and claim glory in slaying the villain. Unfortunately they had not watched their backs, not that it would have availed them much as green minions sitting invisibly in ambush leaped upon them with their steel claws cutting into the elves as the heroes of the alliance continued pushing into the tower. Back at the main entrance of the tower alliance wizards unleashed spells of arcane force slaying minions attempting to rush them though were puzzled as a new minion arrived on the scene blue in color they shrugged off the magical blasts as if they were not there and began reviving other fallen minions from death who quickly rushed back into battle eager to take vengeance on their former slayers.
Despite the tenacious fighting of the minions the heroes of the alliance continued to steadily push their way through the tower towards where the Overlord was working their magic upon the ritual. The Overlord recognizing the armored footsteps of warriors rapidly approaching from the stairway begrudgingly stepped away from the ritual and took up their sword seeing distinct non-minion figures coming up the stairway to face him. Leading the group of heroes was a figure who was distinctly a paladin wearing an open face helm with a cocky grin on their face. "Halt villain, your days of evil are over. The alliance has arrived to defeat you. Surrender now and stand trial for your crimes or-" The paladin's words were cut off as Gnarl flipped a switch activating the trap door they stood upon causing them to fall screaming into a dark void though the other heroes standing behind him avoided the trap. The Overlord strode toward the remaining heroes blade in hand silently calling more minions to join them with their gauntlet as they engaged the heroes striking out at them with spells and steel setting heroes ablaze with fireballs and causing magical confusion among them causing them to strike out at their own allies. As the Overlord and their gathered minions were about to finish off the remaining heroes in the chamber the paladin from before made their way up the stairs dragging themselves smelling absolutely foul and covered in a brown liquid. "You'll pay for dropping me into a latrine, you villain." The paladin raised their blade and fired off a magical bolt at the Overlord who easily side stepped it though unbeknownst to them the spell kept flying, striking the tower heart directly while it was primed with magical energy.
The timing could not be more problematic, for the first rips in the fabric of reality had formed. With its control over the process the ritual continued what it could on and broke down the energy of other realms into something usable. Misfortunate in hindsight for such a quantity of energy had unbalanced the very integrity of tower presence , subordinating its teleportation feature into something it was not meant to perform. The fortunate were expelled out, like part of the realm they were still connected to. Overlord and his minions bound to each other and tower first and foremost. With its anchor to local reality severed and highly powered rift inside itself the tower went on a walk through what some refer to as Immaterium….
It was not a pleasant experience for anyone involved. Immaterium is a realm of its own rules not meant to be supportive of mortal presence. Time and space became a suggestion, stretching and squeezing and ending and turning into loops at intervals no calculation could explain. Up and down and closer and further had changed their definition at least a dozen times in different sections of the tower either together or independent from one another. Colors and shades and visions of events that could have been and never could be and echoes of distant past and theories of events from distant future clashed one another in display both magnificent and maddening to gaze upon. Sounds and smells and sensations both possible and not mixed with one another and took each other places invading scenes both mortal and beyond regardless if receiving them was possible.
All that and much more were but a preludium, a kind introduction of sorts cut short by Overlord mystical might imposing upon the impromptu vessel just as the rezidents of this churning sea of emotions and ideas took notice of newcomers splashing in their vicinity.
The uncountable horrors invading insides of the towers paled in comparison to ever-hungering parasites outside of hastily erected barriers and shields.
Claws of melting entropy and fangs of poisonous treachery took curious swipes and bites at offenting pieces of material presence. Thousands of eyes sprouting from hands and joints and fur took it in with its envious gaze of hungering conquerors and scheming thugs.
For a time that was both longer than milenia and shorter than blink of an eye the impasse was held. Then bigger fishes took notice. And the Overlord decided that that maw looked big enough from all the way over there.
He took hold of the tower heart using it as an improvised helm of his tower-turned-ship and headed for the perceived way out. Via the nearest piece of scratched veil between realms he could find.
Some cultists were performing a ritual to summon some beings from the realm of their gods. They kind of succeeded. And were squashed for their effort. Footprint of the tower exceeding the size of their secluded gathering.
[X] Plan Overlord Overdoctor
-[X] Name:
--[X] Jitaxis
-[X] Sex:
--[X] Male
-[X] Physical Description:
--[X] Unarmored - Lean, to the point he would resemble a stick figure were it not for graceful and assured way he moves. Rather pale. Long white hair, usually a bit disheveled. Sharp grey eyes. Facial features gentle, but not soft.
--[X] Armored - Wears armour from polished brass, with strange runes inscribed with copper and silver. Helmet includes a flat mask, except for visor that someone from 21st century would say resembles welding goggles. Armour usually pared with a longcoat. Its back includes a twitching mechanical contraption resembling spiderlegs.
-[X] Drive:
--[x] Passion
---[X] "Nothing will stop me from breaking reality to learn how it works, understand? NOTHING!"
-[X] Guide:
--[X] A dwarf engineer you rescued from the cultists' sacrifice pen. He was wounded enough it was easier to remake him via prosthetics, which he disliked, but stuck with you on account of the whole 'saved his life' thing.
-[X] Skills:
--[X] Trait: Genius – Smart is not enough to describe you. (1 point)
--[X] Trait: Instinctual Tactician - Never took lessons in art of war, is skilled at it nonetheless. (3 points)
--[X]Trait: Expert-Taught - Taught by working with experts via knowledge or experience. (2 points)
--[X]Trait: Scholar - Loves learning whatever they can. (1 point)
--[X]Trait: Culture Crosser- Entrenchment in a different culture for so long while maintaining connections to one original home, has resulted in growth of tolerance and ability to shift between wildly different groups. (1 point)
--[X]Trait: Pragmatic -This one may respect honor but if a solution presents itself will not balk at alternatives. (1 point)
--[X]Trait: Patient – patience and caution will ensure success. At least in their mind. (1 point)
--[X]Trait: Survivor of Poisons - carries resistance to such substances, as a mark of survival. (1 points)
--[X]Trait: Calm - It takes much to rattle this one, who can remain calm in all but most trying times. (1 point)
--[X] Trait: Auspicious Blood – can be defined or synonymous to mixed blood. Or bloodline being open to non-human descendants and ancestors. (1 point)
--[X]Trait: Bloody Silence - Lacking in excess movement and addition of controlled breathing that can come with deadening of emotions grants a startling ability at being utterly silent when desired, including in battle. (2 points)
--[X]Trait: Quiet Stalker – this one does not walk as much as stalk quietly in their movement. (2 points)
--[X]Trait: Witchsight- you were born with or gained the ability to see the winds of magic as they flow across and interact with the world around you. (3 points)
-[X] Character
--[X] Romantic: spending some time observing the beauty not with his eyes but soul and heart. (1 point)
--[X] Optimist: Every cloud has its silver lining. Exclusive to Pessimist (1 point)
--[X] Weird: Does not act as one would expect. (plus 1 point)
--[X] Generous: You are willing to give to others within reason even if it may not benefit you. Exclusive to Greedy (2 points)
--[X] Open-minded: Equal opportunity overlord. There are better things to make a fuss about. (1 point)
--[X] Tranquil: be it middle of the battle of hectic festival, this one does not fuss over nothing. (1 point)
--[X] Inspiring: Gaze upon this grandeur and be sure of the outcome! (3 points)
--[X] Committed: This one knows what they want, who and how they want it. They stick to it. (1 point)
--[X] Bravery: You may experience the emotion of fear, it will not control you. (1 point)
--[X] Ruthless: You will do all in your power to utterly crush your enemies sometimes at your own personal cost, Exclusive to Merciful (plus 2 points)
-[X] Minions
--[X] Two (browns and reds)
-[X] Tower form:
--[X] Segmented
-[X] Describe its aesthetics.
--[X] A great cylinder of metal, rising high above the surrounding land, seemingly built in layers. Tall gothic windows are sometimes visible between the tangle of pipes and lattices. Numerous turrets and spires jut out, wreathed in lightning. Interiors are either well-crafted victorian-gothic offices (important rooms) or a labyrinth of corridors, elevators and catwalks sneaking between strange objects (everywhere else)
-[X] Landing
--[X] Coming in hot and loud (+1)
--[X] Depths of Drakwald Forest.(+1)
-[X] Rooms
--[X]The Throne room (automatically assigned) - where the Overlord holds their court and hears out petitions. - 1
--[X] Private quarters (automatically assigned) - NOBODY interrupts the alone time. A place to rest and chill. Contains a bedroom, bath, and wardrobe. - 1
---[X]write in for look and theme: A gothic lair
--[X] Treasury (automatically assigned) - place to store and count wealth. - 1
--[X]Forge - Minions make weapons and armors here. - 2
--[X] Armory - Storage and easy access to arms while not in use. - 1
--[X] Spawning Pit (automatically assigned) - Minions are made into being here. Crucial for continued existence of Minions. - 2
--[X] Traps - miscellaneous assortment of defensive measures. - 1
--[X] Alchemy room - mixtures and potions are needy things, give them some room - 1
--[X] Astronomy room/ Observatory - there is much power in the stars, grasp it. - 1
--[X] Dungeon - Arguably the most over hyped section of the tower. Effort well spent, no complaints yet. - 1
--[X] Library - All this knowledge, where one would seek it. Plus it's classy. - 1
--[X] Spell testing range/Study - There is a fine difference between finding out and figuring out. It's called a test group. - 1
--[X]Planning room/Archives (automatically assigned in a wrecked condition) - 1
--[X] Craft Workshop - Glass work, wood work, clay work! So many things to work on! - 1
--[X] Scrying well - Knowing things is important! And spells that let you know things are finicky, With this the migraines should be worth it. Hopefully. - 1
--[X] Greenhouse - Food security is an interesting concept. At least we won't have to eat bark. Again. - 1
--[X] Storage room - As in the central one with a quartermaster Never mess with the quartermaster. You will not be the only one suffering. - 1
--[X] Laboratory… so many variants. So many experiments to run. So many things to find out. So many safety violations! - 2
--[X] Teleportation Chamber - Why wait! Just go there and be done with it! If only it would be that easy. Certainly makes it easier though. - 1
--[X] Guest room - Been a while since we had well behaved guests. Better prepare the good sheets. - 1
-[X] When?
--[X] Malekith kills Phoenix King Bel Shanaar, then enters the Flame of Asuryan to claim the throne. Instead, he is horribly burned and flees to Nagarythe. Elven Civil War begins-2751 IC
-[X] Where?
--[X] Depths of Drakwald Forest.(+1)
The last moments you remember were channeling power into the Tower Heart as your armor began smoking before passing out as you steered your dark tower towards the rift in reality you had been pulled into. Your newest moment was awakening amid piles of rubble hearing minions scuttling about you exerting themselves as they moved pieces of rubble from your person. "Rub some acid into his eyes that will freshen him up" you hear from a familiar voice. This is enough to get you to sit up as you see a handful of minions gathered around you. An elderly brown minion you know as Gnarl steps forward, a staff on their back with a glowing light crystal illuminating the area around them. "It's so relieving to see you're still alive, master. I was worried we were going to have to find a new Overlord after that terrible disaster." "This just proves you shouldn't trust ancient tomes written by insane cultists." The elderly minion looks at the remnants of your armor. "Oh dear your armor is ruined master and after all that hard work to steal that smelter from the alliance's forge works.
- Well this certainly is not the worst way to wake up. Still, there is work to do just to figure out what needs doing. But first, gotta change into something more menacing.
—-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Moments later you were bedecked in your back up suit of steel armor which had survived the trip sitting on the remnants of your throne, more a flat slab of stone, in the middle of your throne room as minions gathered around as Gnarl began briefing you on the state of the tower. "Well I have good news and worse news sire. The good news is all the pesky heroes who invaded the tower seem to have died while we were pulled through that nightmarish realm. The bad news is the tower rooms were thoroughly damaged during that same trip as you can see around you" the minion gestures to the chunks of rubble and other battle damage around the room. "Some rooms are entirely gone while others were merely damaged in the chaos, sire. It also appears that the green and blue minions wandered off shortly after our arrival. We're also missing all of the powerful spell relics you had worked so hard to collect. Some of them may have been destroyed by those pesky heroes when they invaded the tower, the others may be scattered around the nearby area, my lord. Speaking of your evilness, we've appeared in a wonderfully dark and evil forest. Oh it makes my heart soar and there doesn't appear to be any signs of elves for miles." The elder minion clutches their chest presumably where their heart might be while saying this. "Back to the state of the tower my lord most of the rooms are wrecked, limiting the benefits they can provide us though the forge, spawning pits, and your laboratory are all in fine condition. The treasury also seems to be woefully empty whether those dreadful alliance heroes plundered it or some weird gold destroying creature got in while we were in that blasted realm I'm not sure. We'll need to get our claws on some construction equipment before we can begin restoring them but at least we have plenty of wood around. The tower also appeared in the middle of some type of camp sire. I wasn't able to identify what creatures exactly they were as their remains were rendered quite messy from our arrival but looking at their attempts at a campsite they're quite primitive and brutish sorts I'd estimate. We also managed to find you a prisoner lord, a dwarf they were found in the remains of the camp. I considered having them killed to generate life force for you master but they didn't have much life left in them they also didn't seem to be a part of the alliance. In fact they bear little resemblance to any race of dwarves I know of. They might be useful to tell us where exactly we are. More concerning my lord, our arrival was not exactly subtle. I fear we may have to ready for ... 'contenders', in these new lands."
Gnarl turns to the other minions gathered around you. "As for your minions I'm afraid you had most of them outside of the tower during that sneaky attack by the alliance or off protecting your settlements of peons or fighting the forces of the alliance on the front lines. Many were also slain during the attack on the tower and your blues were too preoccupied to revive them while we were traversing that other realm." You can see ten brown minions and ten red ones for a total of twenty most with just their loincloths though a few are wearing beaten helmets and wielding battered swords likely taken from the heroes in the most recent attack. "Finally we have the worst news of all sire." Gnarl gestures with a claw up to a crystalline ball which would normally be shedding light in this chamber. "The tower heart appears to have expended all of its magical energy to protect us when we were trapped inside that other realm. You should prioritize finding a way to restore it once we figure out exactly where we are."
- Well you won't get anything done by sitting around on your throne all day. It's time to mobilize the minions, but the question is "What will you do first?" (potential action rewards are listed in parenthesis. You may select up to four actions)
[] Focus on raising defenses: Set some minions to gather wood from the nearby area and construct defenses. You don't know what's around these parts but you can bet it won't be friendly. (simple defenses)
[]Visiting hours: Visit the dwarf your minions found they may have useful information on the surrounding lands. (information)
[]Culture Crosser: ask your new prisoner about their culture, you may learn something useful about them that can further your own technological breakthroughs. (information on dwarven culture)
[]Optimist: That camp around the tower is certain to have something useful in it. Perhaps it's worth having the minions scour the place? (equipment, ???)
[] Focus on restoring the tower: Even without a crane there's plenty of loose rubble and wreckage your minions can dispose of, they might even find something useful while doing it. (equipment, treasure)
[]Get Overlording: Set out with what minions you have and start exploring the area, murder any creature who gets in your way or just looks at you funny and try to find your missing minions or other resources. (equipment, life force, treasure, ???)
[]Resource gathering: There's plenty of wood around, set some crews of minions to gather it with your supervision. You can always use more firewood. (raw lumber)
[] Write in: Keep it reasonable and realistic (dependent on action)
Overlord's weapon. Before you can do anything you need to choose what instrument of destruction you would like to carry out with you into the world should you choose to personally end the existence of anyone who gets on your bad side. All weapons at this time are made of steel you can swap them out whenever you return to the tower better options may be available later.
- With your decisions made you set out stopping at a weapons rack to choose a personal weapon, your hand hovering over three implements of destruction.
Sadly your durium, arcanium, and other enchanted weaponry had not survived the journey through that cursed and chaotic realm without being reduced to slag.
You finally settle on a steel sword, the handle felt right in your hands. Swinging it through the air, testing the balance of its weight, you found it immaculate and acceptable. It had after all been custom forged for you when you had just started out as an Overlord. The poetics of the situation strike you as laugh worthy in this new unfamiliar land.
[Visiting hours]
You make your way to the dungeons Gnarl leading the way stepping around rubble and wreckage from your entry into this world mentally noting how much it would cost you to restore each spot of damage from the battle with the heroes and your trip through that other realm.
To say it was in shambles would be an understatement. Entering the dungeons you see it's partially flooded, likely from a burst pipe somewhere else in the tower along with chunks of masonry that fell from above destroying some cells entirely. "The other prisoners you had before have either escaped or died during the attack, likely freed by those intruding heroes." Gnarl half smiles and sneers at the thought, his eyes glowing a little. "I do hope the trolls and other beasts you had locked in here had mauled them for foolishly releasing them, sire. Disgusting heroes always poking at things they have no business messing with."
That did explain the blood. Everywhere you looked the walls were stained with red stains, limbs sprawled out. Not just from humans but some of the beasts as well with their entrails sprawled about, it was the aftermath of carnage in its purest form. While Gnarl seems gleeful at the sight, you can sense moots of annoyance knowing such a wonderful dungeon was in a state of disarray.
Definitely this place will be next to be cleaned of filth. But as you walked through the hall, stepping over a half eaten corpse. You realize that Gnarl was right, some of the most dangerous creatures you had collected were missing. Now it is possible that all of them had died from the trip, but even then, there would be more corpses beneath your feet and the dungeon would stink more of rot. So it was entirely possible some of the beasts had escaped into the wild, perhaps starting a new population.
How…fascinating. You thought, the implications were staggering at what new niches those beasts would fit in.
As you and Gnarl continued. You hear your prisoner before you even see them hearing what sounds like a long stream of expletives and insults.
"This dwarf has quite the mouth on em . They've been insulting the craft work of the tower since they've been brought in, though seeing the remains of your inventions got him to shut up."
The stream ceases when you come into view and the dwarf looks at the spider like apparatus on your back functioning as extra hands for yourself when doing lab work, you knew you couldn't trust minions to hold things after the accident that resulted in acid melting a hole from your lab to the base of the tower. Which is why you had this thing created in the first place, it took time and effort when scouring through the library on crafting, reading a dozen books, making a dozen notes that could fill a book. Until you eventually created the device that sits on your back this day.
Now the Dwarf in question, it…was completely different from the dwarves you've seen. Unlike the squat things that inhabit the mines like infesting rats, this one was taller, from the looks of it. More defining muscularity beneath those clothes and armor.
You spend the following few hours listening to the dwarf along with Gnarl, the two conversing while you stood silently by encouraging the dwarf to tell you more.
Rarely do you ever talk, and you always found that strange, while you were never a conversationalist sometime even before becoming an Overlord, you still had conversed more in the past than you did now. Apparently this wasn't a new phenomenon,
Overlords of the past had done the same thing. Rarely speaking until the time was right or they deemed it sufficient to do so, when you inquired about it. Gnarl had explained that once someone assumes the role of an Overlord, they would start to go through changes. Like for instance the increased musculature and height, the urge to conquer more land and the ability to conjure more powerful magic spells.
Those were the benefits that came with the role and responsibility, talking less was apparently one of them. Because when an Overlord speaks, sometimes with years passing, is considered an event, when an Overlord speaks at all the Minions stop their antics instantly and all listen, it was almost divine in nature.
While you wouldn't admit this, not even to Gnarl, you did feel your ego bloom further like a thorny flower in the gardens. Then again it could just be a feedback loop from the Tower Heart adapting its host to predetermined parameters.
As Gnarl questioned the prisoner about the surrounding lands through the insults of being called a "wrinkled up grobi" you learn their name is Malaksson and the rough details on the surrounding area.
It seems you're within a large forest known as Drakwald or the Dragon's forest. You were unfamiliar with this place, but going off from the looks and examination, it is a dangerous place. But no doubt the escaped beasts that once inhabited your dungeon would still likely survive in the wilds, and even if not, anything that could take them down would be worth of study on its own.
Gnarl is sufficiently disappointed to learn elves dwell in these lands though most are confined to the western coast of the continent, where they've established colonies from some land across the seas the dwarf has little personal knowledge of.
Though from what you interpret from how the Dwarf spoke of them, they weren't like the hippie fools—dangerous in their own right— that go around preaching about 'Save the cute animal. Can't we hug it out?' Or worse. 'How dare you attack this defenseless beautiful creature!' While yetis in their own right could be considered beautiful, they were anything but defenseless.
But these elves weren't like that, more that while they were still pompous creatures, they were more competent and discarded such foolish notions. At least you assumed for now.
Eventually both you and Gnarl leave, but not without giving the Dwarf proper accommodations and new set of clothing. To their surprise.
[Optimist]
- You stand back, observing and enjoying the sounds of the minions plundering the remains of the camp enjoying their shouts of "For me" as they bash through the assorted hides and other camp garbage searching for plunder.
You see a few minions carrying poor quality swords, axes, and a few spears, whoever occupied this camp previously did not take good care of their wargear. No issue, such things can be rectified with improvements or simply looting better gear elsewhere.
You're pleasantly surprised when a brown minion you know as Brown approaches, one of the first minions you had named when you had first started out as an Overlord and had trouble naming your followers. "For you." the minion said as they held out their hands revealing a few coins of a currency you don't recognize. Bearing the symbol of some mountain range which was then surrounded by symbols of a language you don't recognize either, on them.
You take the coin, your gauntlet magically transporting the small item back to the tower's treasury. By the time the minions finish ransacking the camp you have collected a small pile of miscellaneous valuables, mostly a few scattered coins, small gems, pieces of jewelry and some ivory were also found.
The minions were also sporting new armaments though of a crude make and nature seeming that they were not constructed well and showed signs of neglect. A few minions were also sporting new armor in the form of crude hides taken from the remains of the camp site from those creatures
[Focus on raising defenses]
You set the minions to gather wood from the edge of the clearing the tower appeared in watching as the browns put their new axes to work chopping at trees, and then using their surprisingly massive strength contained in their small frames to shift the lumber.
Even you couldn't believe the outrageous strength they possessed in such a small frame, logic in your opinion dictates that they should be weaker than an adult human. However from your deduction, you attributed it being the magic that flows through their body.
You aren't to be honest, you somehow never got the chance to dissect a minion before, despite the ample supply…thoughts for another time.
With your supervision they make excellent progress. You're able to set the red minions to work hardening the points of stakes with their fire instead of setting everything alight.
You watch a red minion named Hash taking particular glee in hardening the point of a stake for a line of defenses in front of a palisade wall. Their tips glowed with heat, giving it an otherworldly intimidating appearance, no doubt Gnarl would be ecstatic about it.
When your work is finished you manage to set up several palisade walls with simple ramparts for minions to stand behind them and lob fireballs or hit anything trying to get over or through them. Several stakes were set up in mounds of earth to break enemy charges and skewer their bodies if they were so foolish as to charge in unabashedly. They are set up and defensive pits are dug where the earth had been taken from. Your instinctual skills as a tactician you read from past Overlords, guiding you on the optimal position to place each defense encircling your tower.
Perhaps with more time and resources you can improve things even more. You always did love to improvise.
[Resource gathering]
You spend the rest of the daylight hours having your minions gather extra wood, sometimes joining in the labor for stimulation, the minions happily cutting down trees and shouting "Timberrrrrr!" as they fell.
By the time the sun is setting below the tree tops you and your minions have collected a nice surplus of wood and placed them into a few piles. Enough to keep braziers and fire pits lit in the tower for at least a few weeks at the current rate, until the demand increases in the winter months assuming these lands grow cold enough to experience it.
-Your first day in this new world ends time to determine what you'll do tomorrow
(underlined actions indicate a trait being used which grants a bonus to rolls)
[]Culture Crosser: ask your new prisoner about their culture, you may learn something useful about them that can further your own technological breakthroughs. (information on dwarven culture)
[]Focus on restoring the tower: Even without a crane there's plenty of loose rubble and wreckage your minions can dispose of, they might even find something useful while doing it. (equipment, treasure)
[]Get Overlording: Set out with what minions you have and start exploring the area, murder any creature who gets in your way or just looks at you funny and try to find your missing minions or other resources. (equipment, life force, treasure, ???)
[]Resource gathering: There's plenty of wood around, set some crews of minions to gather it with your supervision. You can always use more firewood. (raw lumber)
[]Witchsight: Using your second sight you can see the winds of magic and things infused by their power. Perhaps you could use this to find sources of magic to restore the tower heart or even your missing spell relics and minion hives. (???)
[Build your own crane]: (Requires 40 units of wood). Rather than steal someone else's crane, why not build your own? (allows damage to tower rooms to be slowly repaired if successful)
[] Write in: Keep it reasonable and realistic (dependent on action)
Visiting Hours 1d100 = 66
Optimist 1d100+20 = 63, 27 gold units worth of misc treasure found
Focus on raising defenses 1d100+20 = 75
Resource gathering 1d100= 40, 24 units of wood collected
(Shout to @watcheye456 and @Gin the writer for helping with the writing)
You awaken in the morning as dew of sunlight begins rising outside through your window, though you cannot see it yet above the treetops from how massive the trees are, with only a finger of light streaming through the foliage.
You got out of bed, tensing your shoulder and arching your back to pop the few air bubbles in your spine, rolling out your shoulder to warm the joints and smooth the taught ligaments that grew stiff from sleep.
After some light stretching you don your armor —which now you realized needs polishing— and head for your makeshift dining room. Your breakfast was strips of salted sheep and pickled vegetables. A basic meal but adequate enough to get you through the day. You'll have to get the minions to restore the greenhouse soon before your stores run out, before you're forced to eat bark again or worse consuming the insects the minions considered delicious. You had nothing against insects, you actually found them quite fascinating subjects for biological studies of the sciences but you could not bring yourself to consume them the way the minions did with such vigor
How you shudder seeing Gnarl munching on a bowl of said beetles squirming about as they try to evade his claws. No matter what they always looked disgusting, even when they were prepared and cooked they were barely considered edible. You had to wonder how different the tastes buds of a minion are to a regular human, it couldn't be that different considering Gnarl enjoyed a good steak.
Speaking of the elder minion, he came in your quarters. "Good morning, sire." He said, fanning a yawn from his mouth, the sleeping cap still on his head. "I hope you slept well. We have another busy day of doing evil ahead of us. The minions on watch last night have nothing to report but we have been seeing curious and unfriendly eyes watching the tower from the tree line. It might be time to introduce yourself to the locals and assert your dominance." He stated with a clenched fist and toothy smile, his weariness from sleep slowly melting off.
You finish eating and don your helmet, setting out for another day of being an Overlord.
[Culture Crosser]
You make your way to the guest room, you had the dwarf Malaksson moved here after seeing the state of the dungeon. You wanted to befriend him for his knowledge of these new lands. You enter the doorway, Gnarl in tow and are annoyed at the state of the furniture of the room being broken.
You can tell from experience that the damage wasn't done by the trip through the warp and you know the minions wouldn't have trashed the room without your orders so you surmise the invading heroes had done it. Likely searching for treasures or magical items that would have no place being here.
You've never understood the mindset of heroes doing this just to find treasure and new equipment then again you've done it before…maybe it's a universal thing. But on the other hand you've seen minions break objects hundreds of times and locate better equipment and treasures for your cause. Gnarl enters the room greeting the dwarf. "I hope your breakfast was acceptable, we didn't have any beer on hand to wash it down with."
Malaksson grumbled at this as they sat on the remains of the bed. You look over the dwarf seeing that he was missing a leg and chunks of flesh out of the other along with one arm and three fingers on the other hand. It spoke volumes to their durability and the cruelty their captors had inflicted upon him and that they were still alive and conscious. You make a mental note to create some prosthetic replacements for him in your lab later on when supplies aren't so low.
On your signal Gnarl approaches the dwarf and begins speaking on your behalf. He begins by asking what Malaksson had been doing before they'd ended up in the woods. You learn they had been attacked by creatures called beastmen, strange animal men who are as violent as they are primitive. They weren't hard to tell due to the fact that most beastmen had horns, or that they would let out blood curdling cries that were more haunting then the calls of wolves. You resolve yourself to slay any of these beastmen you encounter later, especially to study their anatomy if the truth of their hybridization was correct. "Sheep with weapons. What's next, killer pumpkins?" Gnarl stopped for a moment, gazing down in thought before shrinking his head onto his shoulder with a grumpy look."Actually, never mind," he said dryly.
From there Malaksson went on to tell you and Gnarl about dwarven merchant practices and other aspects of their culture. You learn the lengths of dwarven beards are incredibly important to their status in their society, especially their length.
Even you found it fascinating that their status of rank is dictated by the length of their beards, considering Malaksson has a substantial one means he's ranked high. Might consider alchemical concoctions for beard growth later.
Malaksson then continues with pride about the holds of the dwarves though he does catch himself to not mention anything related to the dwarven military strength. But from what they mention of the defenses make it quite clear that even if the dwarf wasn't exaggerating through their pride, it would be suicidal to attack one of their holds in your current condition. Which is not a high bar at the specific moment but the point stands.
You're also able to pick up that the dwarves of this land have yet to invent gunpowder, something that Gnarl silently takes notice of. Giving you a glance and nodding. You conclude your conversation and set out to tend to other matters.
[Resource Gathering]
Outside, your small force of minions continues gathering wood for your many projects, aiming to gather at least enough to attempt to build a crane so you can finally get your tower back in full order.
The work is harder going as the trees at the edge of the clearing now are more dense with twice the undergrowth getting in the way.
After several hours of tedious labor sweating in your armor under the sun's rays. You and your minions' work pays off though as you and the minions gather just enough wood to attempt to construct your own crane.
[Build your own crane]
You have the minions gather up the wood and take it inside the tower, annoyed that your workshop is still in shambles from rubble damaging your tools and work stations.
You and the minions spend hours attempting to construct a crane with Gnarl attempting to give helpful advice from a distance.
You begrudge the fact that you're a scientist instead of a carpenter as you struggle with working with the materials, sure you built the contraption on your back but that was different, fine engineering work and artifice do not share many basis with current project. Despite this you used what can and guided the minions on the construction eventually your work brings fruition in the form of a very crude crane.
Though by minion standards it's probably fairly decent. You are concerned it may break down but it should last some time. Possibly enough for you to obtain more resources to construct a better device for the time being until its use would run out. At least now your minions can begin some repairs on the tower especially if you can spawn more to work while you're out in the field.
[Get Overlording]
After a short rest and some cool water to help a parched throat you set off into the wilderness with your band of minions geared with what they can find to do what you do best. Traverse the land and crush any creature that gets in the way of your goals or at least looks at you funny.
You leave the clearing of the tower traversing the woods, walking under the massive trees that only let in streams of sunlight through the foliage, everything seemed…quiet to say the least. Nothing new to that but even still it felt odd, there was no birdsong, no insect calls. Nothing, just the wind in the air, your minions and the sound of your footfalls making clinking sounds in your armor. It filled you with a sense of unease even the minions can sense it despite their numbers, with some browns and reds glancing around wagging their ears to pick up at least a modem of sound. Quite a novel experience.
Thankfully that feeling went away and you quickly come across a goat headed humanoid figure with an ax leaping out of the brush in front of you and roaring a challenge mid-run, just as it was about to charge properly it was followed shortly and swiftly by your swarm of browns leaping on the surprised creature, it thrashed letting out bleats of pain that sounded nearly identical to a goat's while also sounding identical to a man, beating it to death resulted in some life force, the orb flew into the gem embedded into your gauntlet which was then absorbed as you got close with well practiced ease. Well good thing is even in a new world you can still absorb life force. The minions responsible for slaying the creature took up new equipment for themselves from its body. Even if calling it that was generous.
You study the creature despite how badly mangled it was, remarking how it appears similar to the general description Malaksson gave on the beastmen that attacked you. Only difference was that this one had three horns, part of its face seemed ripped off from a past battle, the teeth, while broken from the clubs, were more predatory and sharp that were more identical to a wolf's but still retained some goat dentures the animals usually had.
You'll have to do some studies on these creatures when you have the time, you are fascinated, you can guarantee that but it'll have to wait. The next encounters proceeded similarly with more beastmen leaping out to rush your position but the browns halting their charges with their strong frames and then overwhelming the creatures as the reds set their flea ridden fur ablaze. As they thrashed around and died from being cooked to death.
Some of the beastmen attempted to be more cunning, firing arrows or throwing javelins at you, yet you avoided them easily with some bouncing off your armor. They hid from behind trees or inside of brush but few are able to escape as your red minions burn them out or the browns sweep in to catch them before they can reposition. Your minions happily loot the bodies of the beastmen of their decrepit equipment and bring you any baubles of value as they search them, being unbothered by the creatures stench or parasites. "Sheepie men bash good." says one brown, as he slams a club onto one that attempted to rise with a wet crunch.
You also notice dark energy coming off the bodies of the beastmen as they die flowing into you but you're aware that it isn't life force, as you pondered it Gnarl conveniently chimes in. "That's evil energy sire. It's attracted to evil beings by killing them or committing acts of great evil. If you can gather enough, it can be used to create some very useful things.
As you travel further into the forest the atmosphere seems to grow darker, both figuratively, and quite literally. The sun's rays no longer felt warm. You notice the abundance of webs becoming prevalent as you stroll along with them growing larger and larger with each passing second. Gnarl, the elder minion let out a warning through your helmet "Be careful master this place shows signs of being a hang out for giant spiders. I know you're resistant to poisons but it's no excuse to get sloppy lest you find yourself tied up in a web by an eight legged horror." You were glad some of the magic that allowed Gnarl to speak through was working.
Gnarl does seem to be correct as you proceed on seeing larger and larger webs clinging from trunk to trunk easily capable of catching small animals and even man sized creatures, forcing you to have your red minions burn through webs blocking your path forward. The amount of bones ensnared, the desiccated corpses, some of the skeletons were recognizable, deer, elk, bear. Even some beastmen with their eye sockets hollow and their flesh dried and a cavity empty of organs.
Including what you think was a lion sized feline with ram like horns and man sized monitor lizard, its mouth held open by web, like it had been perpetually screaming.
With a motion of your hand you had the minions form into a tight formation that covered most of their sides, you weren't sure if these spiders were the same ones from your world or a completely different species, in either case you knew the danger and you needed to be ready.
Eventually the spiders themselves appeared to challenge you, no doubt displeased by your rudeness of not being caught in their snares. Something they are evidently not used to around here.
Around the size of a horse you pleasantly note it's a different species to the giant spiders of Everlight that you had studied in the past. These animals had a thicker carapace and eight legs that ended in sharp tips and looked capable of impaling. They more resembled crabs or scorpions, only without the stinger and grasping claws. The shell like epidermis was mottled green with hues of blue on the thorax shaped in an hourglass, like a black widow only fifty times bigger. Its black mandibles twitched, more resembling obsidian spikes than actual mandibles. Glaring down at you sapphire blue eyes, two smaller ones at the top while six large ones at the bottom, giving a total of eight.
The creature scuttled before approaching, brandishing its fangs dripping precipitation from the tips. No doubt that being its venom. Your reds' timely fireballs set its body ablaze causing it to screech in panic before your browns attempted to put it out of its misery, due to its hard carapace it was a difficult endeavor, but thanks to the fire softening its shell one swipe of a sword to the head ended it .
Further encounters go much the same way with your brown and red minions easily taking out the spiders, their animal intelligence not being a threat to your ability to command your minions on their own. Despite this you are still cautious, it might seem easy now but you knew it wouldn't last. Nothing did.
Your minions are even able to find you some treasures as they search the cocooned forms of the spider's victims that resemble the desiccated forms of beastmen. Like the one from before their cavities seemed hallowed out, leaving an empty space of where the intestines should be. Bringing you a few trinkets you send off to the tower along with the life force collected from the spiders to begin creating new minions for your future goals.
As you trek around, your eyes darted around taking in the scenery, spotting new animal forms that you catalog in your mind. After passing around another large tree in your path you spot something of note: several dead beastmen corpses of relative freshness seeing as the flies had gotten to them but maggots had yet to infest their bodies.
Normally you would ignore such details and move on as by this point you had seen so many corpses and being used to death in your line of work, however something compels you to look further, you motion your minions to keep a lookout and they do so without question. You prodded on a beastman, this one had four horns instead of two projecting from the skull and seemed to have a third eye in the middle of its forehead, unlike the others including these corpses. The stomach cavity wasn't hollowed out, nor dried of fluids judging from the red liquid that dripped from the mouth and eyes.
You recognize the cause of death when flipping it to the side, the shape of the wound and the depth of the damage. You turned to the other bodies and it was the same thing, albeit in different areas, but they had all perished due to stab wounds in the back from a particularly sharp knife, a serrated one at that."Master this was clearly the work of the green minions. You should follow their trail immediately. Their skills will no doubt prove invaluable." Gnarl exclaims giddily through the magical link in your helmet. You set off on the trail occasionally finding more bodies slain in ambushes and already stripped of equipment noting that the air was getting fouler, the stench being rot and overripe fruit as you went on mixed with dung and other substances. "Oh those greens do enjoy a good stench. Hold your breath master, hopefully we can find them and their hive before you choke on the smell."
You knew he wasn't joking, which is why you were thankful you inscribed some magic to filter out the deadly toxins and pathogens from entering your lungs.
You make your way onward the foliage becoming thicker with large mushrooms sprouting up much like the ones you'd find back home that the minions enjoyed tearing through despite the lack of lootable materials presented from smashing them. Some of the minions would point out with awe, while others, seeming begging hunger would snatch up a bug to eat.
You stomp your way through the underbrush, crushing smaller mushrooms until you see small familiar green forms ahead rummaging around in the foliage. You immediately recognize them as the missing green minions and hold out your gauntlet to magically call to them. Hearing the magical horn-like call that speaks to the minions they immediately jerked their heads from what they were doing and looked in your direction a smile bright on their faces with mushrooms stuck between their teeth. "Master" the minions exclaimed and scuttled over to you adding five more minions to your horde.
"This way master. Hive over here." the newly acquired green minions began giving you directions to their hive. Some waved ahead motioning you to follow.
"Yes master, you must retrieve the hive. We'll need it if you intend to create new green minions" Gnarl exclaims through the link. You press onward the minions clearing brush from your path as you forge ahead until you come across low hanging clouds of green fog. "Watch out master, that poisonous gas will kill your minions except for the greens of course. It'll also do a nasty number on yourself despite your resistance to toxins from your experiments." You hum beneath the mask and sweep your greens ahead of you who stand in the clouds of gas being produced and begin absorbing the deadly substances Into their bodies. You watched in fascination, always finding it interesting that the minions could absorb elements related to their nature. The gas was inhaled and absorbed through rubbery green skin into the pores of their flesh, seemingly unbothered by the amount that lay around.
You weren't entirely sure if it was something related to their biology or their magic pending a dissection but that could always be left for later. But you did wonder, if the red minions could weaponize fire and absorb it into their bodies, could the greens do the same too?
The minions absorbed the poisonous gas leaving the way ahead clear for you to press on. That thought could be for later and you would consult Gnarl when you returned.
You can't help but notice a few creatures had stumbled into the gas and died. Silently approving of the minions placing their hive in such an area to protect it and themselves from the dangers of the woods. It was always an annoyance when other creatures kidnapped your minions for their own ends, usually requiring their rescue and then time spent destroying the kidnappers which could otherwise be spent on researching new scientific discoveries and magical research.
After the third patch of poisonous gas being released by some rather foul smelling fungus you'd finally spotted the green minion hive being surrounded by another five minions who were lounging around it with even more poison spouting plants. A tall spindly thing, not too dissimilar from a cactus in terms of looks but without the spines.
You set some of the greens to lifting the hive seeing as the other minions couldn't approach it safely. "I'll have Grubby dig you a temporary gate nearby, sire so we can retrieve the hive without needing to travel back all the way you came. You can also use it to quickly return should you feel the need to sire." As expected a gate appeared in the vicinity, erupting from the ground like a sand worm, tearing up out of the soil dislodging earth and plants rooting nearby.
You always admired the design and working of the minion tunneling devices allowing them to traverse many miles underground even across the sea. You knew some magic was involved but your skills in the arcane weren't enough to allow you to understand the exact details of how they worked.
But you did wonder how they were able to use magic considering the tower heart was still unusable. You assumed it must operate on a separate system to the tower heart remembering that Gnarl had mentioned in the past that at times they didn't always have a tower heart requiring a new Overlord to create one at times.
As the main gate opened four smaller ones appeared alongside it one for each type of minion of individual color. Though you had yet to locate where the blue minions had wandered off to yet or even why they did to begin with.
You were about to step through the gate to return to the tower when a green minion halts you tugging on your leg. You turn recognizing Francis who was holding a small spider, a hatchling of those species they'd gotten from somewhere. "Minions found camp" That grabs your attention as you turn completely to the minion. "Camp full of tiny green things that aren't minions. They have spell relic put inside giant spider." Now you were intrigued. What could these green non-minions be? Along with having a spell relic inside a giant spider.
You attempt to get more information from Francis but their minion vocabulary isn't enough to explain in more detail. "Whatever this giant spider is, sire you should investigate immediately. It's possible that it could be a queen of those you killed earlier. Retrieving the missing spell relics will do wonders for ensuring your survival in these new lands."
With the objectives in mind. You head off at the guidance of Francis trekking further through the woods after summoning a fresh set of minions from the gates. Increasing your numbers that way you'd handle the danger much more easily. You had the feeling you would need more minions with what was to come even with the greens now added to your arsenal. You set off with your larger horde feeling more confident now as you cut through the forest like a hot knife on butter.
Being aware that there was a camp ahead you attempt to move more quietly or at least as much is possible with a horde of rambunctious minions, so you sent a silent command,- a serious one - that required their silence at the moment. Sending the greens ahead, as they would easily camouflage within the shrubs and greenery, along with their ability to turn invisible, to scout should there be any patrols in the vicinity of the camp on the lookout for intruders. This soon pays off as you locate what appears to be a hunting party returning to the camp.
At first you thought they might be a type of minion but their noses were far too big and their ears were far too short, not to mention their arms weren't as long, to be some new breed of minion. From a distance it was hard to tell, but their eyes were red, almost pure red save for the slight discoloration within the pupil.
They wore scraps of leather in place of clothing, their armor if you can call it that since some dawned a portion of their bodies are made out of chitin perhaps made from those arachnids.
Though some had nothing on at all except loincloths and war paint if you could even count that. The small group was carrying a pole with some type of wild pig tied to it upside down no doubt the spoils of a successful hunt.
You sent some green minions ahead and set them up for an ambush as the singing creatures continued along unaware of their situation. The results were vicious, bloody and short, the greens leaping on their forms and cutting them down with their knives before they could even draw their weapons.
The minions began to quickly loot the bodies as you looked at the animal more closely. It appears to be some type of boar though with far too many tusks sprouting from its jaws and face with some sticking out of the top of its head and neck, resembling horns more than actual tusks its body was twice as muscular with thicker skin, as you then spot several arrow wounds on the beast with a residue you recognize as poison similar to the venom dripping from the giant spiders you had slain on the way here. You make a note to take some soil samples and also test the groundwater in this area seeing a resemblance in the creature's form to that of the beastmen.
Minions were a hardy race but you didn't want to risk them mutating from whatever might be causing the local wildlife to change like this even if said changes could prove beneficial to your cause in the future.
As you watch the minions putting on the feathery headdresses of those creatures and their necklaces you gain a brilliant idea.
Glorbo was up on the watch platform with his trusty bow at hand. But frankly he was quite bored. The forest goblin had been up here watching the camp and the perimeter of their compound for hours and nothing had happened all day and while the goblin was happy to stay out of any potential danger they were becoming antsy and wished they had something to torment with their poison tipped arrows.
The local beastmen hadn't even come by to raid them for days now so things at camp were becoming quite dull after the weird lights lit up the night sky and something landed in the forest.
Broding Monstatoof had naturally claimed it was a sign from the spider god and sent out scouts to investigate but none had returned which was rather concerning but predictable since the lights had come from the part of the forest that was currently in beastmen territory. Glorbo hoped this wasn't a sign of a large beastmen attack on their camp.
As the goblin pondered they saw movement on the edge of their clearing amidst the trees, they notched an arrow and watched as their hunting party returned and successfully no less singing a goblin tune and carrying a spiky boar beast on a pole. Glorbo's stomach rumbled seeing the beast and imagining the feast the tribe would have tonight. The fellow goblins entered the compound and were directed towards the central fire pit with their kill.
Glorbo's eyes spotted more movement from the corner of his eye in the forest and moved to track it. The goblin was shocked entirely seeing an armored warrior with glowing yellow eyes almost like burning gold and a sword standing taller than any goblin in the woods at the edge of the camp.
It was like nothing the goblin had ever seen before, it certainly wasn't like the pointy ears they had heard tells of from other tribe members. Glorbo quickly reached for a horn on his belt to sound the alarm but was met with a sharp agonizing pain erupting from his back, he turned to see what had struck him and was driven speechless to see another goblin with steel claws, one them slicked with his blood had snuck up behind him, but that wasn't right their nose was way too flat to be a goblin and their ears were way too long. Unfortunately Glorbo never got the time to even shout as his vision went dark and felt the strange goblin taking the weapon from his hands.
You were a little amazed your plan had worked. There was almost something supernatural with how minions could put on a disguise and could fool most creatures. You'd actually tested whether this was some magical ability inherent to the minions but every result came up negative.
Gnarl had informed you of times when creatures had seen through the disguises namely royalty among dwarves and elves so you at least knew it wasn't fool proof and that you couldn't send disguised minions to infiltrate into the heart of an enemy organization to eliminate your enemies, but getting minions into an enemy camp was certainly possible. Even then…you still wondered how most can be fooled so easily.
You'd only needed to dedicate a few browns to carrying in the mutant boar so the green skinned creatures would open the gates and then have your green minions invisibly sneak in with them and begin eliminating the sentries while the browns seized the gate opening it to allow the rest of your forces inside.
So far the plan was working as it seemed, with the wooden gate opening the smaller—minion—like creatures shouted in garbled tongues, to each other, which you couldn't understand but it was like a mockery of language. It was almost grating to your ears, you easily crushed a chunk of wood from a felled log from how annoying the sounds were.
Despite this you endured, the creatures didn't seem bothered with the minions…for now until with the snap of your fingers the command was sent. Your greens went to work quickly, even spotting some either snapping the necks of the enemy or slicing open their throats, which bleed out greenish red blood onto the floor.
You look over the compound as you send your minions out to swarm the unprepared enemy. You see some type of plot growing mushrooms of a species you don't recognize. You also see even smaller green skinned creatures who seemed to be in charge of tending it wielding crude farming tools along with carrying other bits and pieces of equipment as crude weapons. It reminded you of newly spawned minions grabbing whatever odds and ends they could get to arm themselves before taking down an enemy with proper equipment. Sadly the creatures weren't as adept at using them as weapons when a pack of brown minions swarmed over them mercilessly beating them and then relieving them of their scavenged equipment.
Your eyes were next drawn to a pen where some type of domesticated creature was being housed, though of what species you could not say as it didn't resemble any animal you had ever seen before or read about in your books.
The creatures had reddish skin and round bodies standing on two legs with stubby tails, their body dominated by one large mouth with a curtain of teeth and a pair of beady eyes. The creatures practically bounced around clearly excited by the chaos proceeding through the camp as the minions bashed, killed, and set fire to everything in their way.
A few browns broke the crude fence trapping the creatures and rushed towards them leaping onto their backs beating at them like they would a sheep, though with the cost of some minions being caught in their jaws. The creatures raced out of the pen and through the camp adding to the growing chaos.
An eruption of flames drew your attention to an area where it appeared giant spiders were being domesticated. Massive webs had been spun across several small trees in a rough square shape where the spiders nested. You could see several cocooned forms in the webs, some still wriggling others deathly still. A pack of reds had set part of the webbing aflame screeching with glee at this along with several spiders and some of the green skinned beings who had either attempted to stop the minions or put out the flames.
You stomp through the camp to the center, your blade arched out cutting down a few of the green skins who were attempting to rally against the minions, who continued tearing through the camp in a wave of destruction.
Your eyes locked on the structure dominating the center of the camp. A massive spider exoskeleton far larger than the queens from your old world. The specimen must have died at some point, and its now gray corpse had been repurposed and converted into a building likely by whoever was in charge of the camp judging by how decorated the remains of the creature were. "That must be the spider Francis was talking about. I wouldn't have liked to run into it when it was alive. It's larger than a rock giant." Gnarl chimed in as they saw the creature through your eyes.
You couldn't help but agree, that implied that the ones you faced were only the young, and more populated woods than you've realized. You would have to take some samples later even if the specimen was deceased there would be at least a few things you could glean from looking at the remains.
More importantly as you concentrated your second sight, you could see the flow of magic as it moved across the material realm, weaving in tendrils of iridescent shapes and geometries, then coalescing around the minions in different colors related to their magic and condensing around two forms within the giant spider. One around the form of a flat circular object you can recognize as a spell relic from the tower that must have been found by these creatures and brought here.
The other was that of a spell caster you can tell from the way the magic flowed around them. As you approached the creature stepped out of a crude door made in the chitin of the spider, they were much like the other green skinned beings except slightly bigger and taller. The creature looked about at the chaos inside their camp with confusion before their eyes locked onto you with a mix of amazement, fear, and outrage.
The creature began waving a staff, with thin bony fingers tightened around the stem. with a spider icon on the tip and began chanting, your witchsight alerting you to the fact that they were beginning to cast a spell as they gathered energy around them. Your body moved, you dodged just in time as green streaks of fire flew past you and struck one of its own kind, setting another building on fire. Moving at a speed granted from being an Overlord and moving as fast as possible. You close the distance between you and your opponent before they could cast another spell, a few minions coming to join the fray seeing you in battle.
You got in close to the mage, your blade sang through the air with the intention to remove their head, the mage however began evading their outstretched arm, with only a slide appearing on his staff, only it wasn't enough to break it. You detect the magic coalescing into their body, and in that moment it had increased their speed to avoid the beheading. It leapt back and began channeling another spell, but you didn't bring it heed. Your blade cut through the air but the result was the same, it kept weaving and dodging with your sword like a spider on a web, in fact thats what it reminded you of, slicing deep gashes into what you presume was its home, the spider's corpse.
You slammed your blade in an overhead strike to bisect the creature down around, only for that same, annoying result to happen again. This time as the creature circled around It yanked from its pocket a rusty dagger, and then proceeded to stab at you. Only for said dagger to completely snap against the thick plate of armor in an instant. The creature screeched as a result.
Lifting you spun quickly on your feet bringing your sword down, this time it didn't dodge fast enough with your blade cutting through strands of tissue and armor on its chest. Flicking blood to the ground. Soon your minions went in seeing the blood, and sensing weakness they surrounded the caster keeping it from escaping earlier, the only reason they hadn't initially joined in was because they thought it would be a done deal; even you thought so too earlier. They swarmed the creature and attacked with their assorted weapons.
Predictably they went down quickly once your blade swiped in arch towards their neck, your torso was lowered and one leg was placed behind you to keep you stabilized. The creature stood frozen, like a statue stuck in time letting out a few gargles before, thin trails of blood seeped out from the thin lines of neck, and eventually the head fell and bounced onto the floor. The body fell over but you stood up, you held one arm up and used a gap in your armor's joint to clean off the blood, flicking it to the ground.
The minions, your little companions all clapped unison, even Gnarl praised you for your work. "Well done sire, truly a glorious show of your great strength!"
Your minions swarmed over the body like piranhas quarreling over who would get their large feathered headdress and staff among their other belongings.
With the minions continuing to ransack the camp you entered inside the remains of the giant spider getting a red minion to make a small fireball in their hand to help light the area.
Amidst various herbs, mushrooms, and bottled substances you would love to have carried off to the lab for study you found what you were looking for laying in the center of the room surrounded by spider totems. "Ah the spell relic. Get it back to the tower, sire and then you'll be able to harness its power for yourself." You ushered in some brown minions to grab the object while also looting the rest of the room.
As the minions begin lifting and jostling the spell relic to get it out of the room you step back outside to see how the rest of the horde is doing to see the rest of the camp overrun by your minions who were in a mix of looting the dead and trying on new stuff or searching around for loot smashing up the camp.
A few brown and red minions had gathered around the burnt bodies of the strange red creatures that had been leaping around the camp earlier and seemed to be eating them. You considered stopping them but if they hadn't died yet it was probably safe for them to eat and the creature appeared roasted enough to not need to worry about any parasites the minions might pick up.
Other minions spotted you exiting the remains of the giant spider and began heading your way, arms outstretched with treasure in their mitts. "For the Overlord" they say, handing you the contents of their hands, as you collected the treasure you noticed more of the dwarven coins you had found before in varying values of metal along with other small treasures mainly low value gems and pieces of ivory, though something catches your eye as a minion hands you a leaf.
You wonder why a minion would bring you something like this until you realize the entire leaf is made of silver and shows extreme detail in its craftsmanship. "That must be the currency of the local elves master. Only they would be so frivolous to make their currency look like actual leaves. We'll melt it down into something sensible when we start minting our own coins." As the minions continue funneling you stolen riches you also find a few objects that appear to be of human make though of a very crude and primitive nature which nonetheless pleases you to have some fellow humans in this new land.
The last thing of note found amidst the camp are several chests filled with some type of teeth you vaguely draw familiarity to the ones found in the mouths of the green skinned creatures and wonder what purpose they might have for gathering them. Either way, these would be taken as well just in case.
As the looting is wrapped up and the last of the fires either are burned out or extinguished by the reds ability to absorb flames you set a group of minions to lift the collected spell relic and carry it back to the gate escorting it in case any other creatures should seek to attack you after your conquest over the green skins camp.
The trip back to the gate is uneventful as your minions sport new feathery head gear and necklaces some carry whole mushrooms as improvised bludgeoning weapons. Chanting out and singing their songs as they did so.
Among the treasure you also had the minions collect any supplies from the camp you deemed useful and could help with construction efforts resulting in lots of collected mushrooms and strips of meat you had the green minions test for poison. You'd have to test them to see if they were safe for human consumption but they would serve well for the minions in addition to their weevils and beetles.
As the minions set the spell relic down on the gate which transported it back to the tower you hear Gnarl speaking in your head "Ah the evil presence spell, master one of my favorites!" he exclaimed loudly "You can use it to bend the will of weak minded innocents to your will or destroy them as you please. Oh good, retrieving that spell relic seems to have restored the tower heart partially, an excellent bonus my lord."
As if on cue, you feel a familiar yet vaguely alien warmth crawl into your body, you were after all connected to the tower heart after all. Perhaps without realizing it before you were actually connected to the realm of magic, that did explain why something felt missing before…
"You should return to the tower master. It's getting late and it's certain some dangerous creatures roam this place at night." You step onto the gate as your minions enter their own respective portals and you return to the tower to reflect on all that you've managed to achieve this day.
- Now it was time to decide what you would focus your new resources on tomorrow and what you would seek to accomplish. (choose maximum of four)
[]Get Overlording: Set out with what minions you have and start exploring the area, murder any creature who gets in your way or just looks at you funny and try to find your missing minions or other resources. (equipment, life force, treasure, ???)
[]Resource gathering: There's plenty of wood around, set some crews of minions to gather it with your supervision. You can always use more firewood. (raw lumber)
[]Witchsight: Using your second sight you can see the winds of magic and things infused by their power. Perhaps you could use this to find sources of magic to restore the tower heart or even your missing spell relics and minion hives. (???)
[]Weird+Curious: You've acquired several fresh bodies from your recent excursion why not take some time to dissect them and learn more about the unique creatures of this land (biology of beastmen and greenskins)
[]Ruthless: Now that you've ransacked that camp you can burn it down. It's likely more of those green skinned creatures won't return with it left in that state.
[]Generous: Construct some prosthetic limbs for the dwarf Malaksson. They'll certainly appreciate them if you can do a fine enough job. (costs one unit of wood)
Instinctual Tactician: Seeing what you know now about the local creatures it may be worth increasing your defenses so you have a better chance of withstanding a concentrated attack.
[]Write in:
Culture Crosser: 1d100+20=83
Get Overlording: 1d100= 96. Brown life force: 1d20+10=11, Red life force: 1d20+10=24, Green life force 1d20+10=16 (plus starting minions 10) 35 gold units collected. 22 evil energy collected
Resource gathering: 1d100=30. 16 units of wood gathered
Build your own crane: 1d100=29
You awoke in the morning with a fervor quickly, you did your morning exercises and headed to your banqueting chamber practically scarfing down a meal of more salted sheep cuts with a side of fresh mushrooms gathered from the woods. While quickly dawning your gear. Gnarl had to force you to stop and chew your food knowing your excitement at the prospect of new scientific experiments.
"Master, I know you're eager to begin your dissections on your recently acquired bodies before they go off, however you must keep yourself fed. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Especially when that day is going to be full of evil and dark deeds." the minion snickered to himself at the thought. Clearing his throat, before he got to business."Anyways we also have to consider the state of the tower. You've done a splendid job spawning new minions, more than enough to begin rebuilding the rooms but we're going to need more gold in the treasury before we can properly restore some of the rooms."You weren't certain exactly who Gnarl did business with when spending your money on upgrades and features to the tower. You knew it wasn't other minions; they weren't capable of the skill shown in some of the greater design features of the tower.
Considering Gnarl seemed to have no issues in re-establishing contact with them in this new world added to your theory that they resided in some other plane or there was a secret group of elite craftsminions hidden somewhere in the spawning pits you weren't able to find.
[Weird+Curious]
Finishing your breakfast you head to your laboratory, one of the thankfully still intact rooms left from your trip to this realm.
You quickly wash your hands and don your lab gear, a few of your less clumsy minions coming along to assist you dragging in the more intact bodies from your most recent excursion. Others holding trays of tools for use in the coming dissections. Even Gnarl entered the lab curious to learn about these new creatures as much as the Overdoctor was.
The minions dragged in the first body, one of the green skinned creatures that had perished from a stab to the back leaving the body relatively intact making it a better subject than some of the others which had been hacked to pieces or set on fire. You begin by recording the physical description of the specimen and their weight along with the injuries already administered to it prior to its death, followed by the initial incision. Your fingers applied the right amount of pressure into the scalpel, cutting through its leathery green skin. The resistance was surprising but not improbable, you dissected other creatures with thicker hide before so this is nothing new.
Over the course of dissection, peeling back the layer of skin, hewing away at the tissues and sinewy muscles with delicate precision, while collecting samples of blood. You were already met with a strange conundrum, upon opening the chest cavity you were met with a slurry of green fluids. Your brow tightened at the sight, so you decided to extract the substance. Your scalpel masterfully removed the strange organs, if they could even be called that. From the cavity you opened up and placed them into jars filled with preserving liquid to keep them from rotting away. You make several amazing discoveries.
The first major and initial one being that the creature is without a doubt, a hybrid between animal and plant–or in this case fungus. For every time you looked under the microscope, you recognized the plant-like structure due to your knowledge of botany. They possessed a cell wall, as well as other structures indicative to a fungus. You grab one of the organs from the preservation jars, the heart and began examining it more thoroughly. Making careful examinations and discovering that all of its organs were nearly identical to a human's in that they all had posses the same characteristics a human would…but the similarities end once you notice the root like structures that sprouted out, they weren't arteries, you were sure of that but they almost worked the same. Looking into the cavity you see the attachment points at where these roots go into, and come to the realization that they attached more to the immune system. Root-like structures working in harmony leaving you for once speechless before hurriedly scrawling down your observations in a notebook kept at hand with intense fervor.
Gnarl and the minions behind you all glanced at each other but kept silent, they heard your mutters, the way your lip quivered but even with their large ears, they could not quite hear your observations. But in any case it's clear that this was of great importance.
Living plants were nothing new in your world, you've fought them before and even turned them into useful medicines and traps for your tower. Even parasitic fungi that invaded and took over hosts were as common as the people that inhabit their lands. This was different, the host in this case wasn't being invaded quite the opposite, it was a part of the host.
No…it was the host. But how does that explain the substance that fills its entire body?
What you can intuit that with this…alien body plan—because that's the only way you could describe it—would grant the creatures a very strong immune system as a disease or virus would have to be able to infect their fungal systems and animal biology to be effective. These were conjectures of course as you would need a live specimen to conduct these tests, but all roads point to this conclusion and it's amazing!
You also surmise they'd be highly resistant to injuries due to this body plan. Which made a bit of sense, you've seen a brown minion rip the arm of these green skins from their socket and continue fighting, of course in pain from the screeching it produced, but still fighting, considering this creature is part fungus it did make sense, there were plants that could have chunks taken out of their stalks and still keep growing. That also leads to another line of thinking, could these creatures, given enough time, regenerate as well?
You wrote that under 'Regeneration inconclusive for the time being' in one of your notes.
Studying the blood, which was green and black with the consistency of syrup, of the creature under your microscopes you're able to identify that the creatures are capable of a form of photosynthesis which must be how they partially sustain themselves considering they had been hunting and raising mushrooms for food. Which made sense, if food was scarce the sun would provide sustenance thus allowing it to survive without food for a day, months, years! You weren't sure the more you dig in the more questions began to pile up. From this one creature you could make an entire thesis going over every detail and would be only scratching the surface!
Reaching for the head you discover the skull is actually thicker than a human's, remembering the amount of times the minions had to beat one of them down with a hammer before it finally went down you also discover the lack of fungus present in the brain itself. You had to use a stronger instrument, a chisel and a hammer, you hammered some holes into the bone and proceeded to cut into those weak points. You had to be very careful not to accidentally destroy the brain, it would be a real shame to destroy this creature's most interesting organs. Thankfully the process was successful with the cap of the skull removed and placed on the counter. Even then as you carefully extracted the brain, most of your hands caked completely with blood and fluids, the brain itself was so…strange, sporting small growths, even the root-like structures weren't as prevalent. Instead there were some bulbous protrusions. You then measured the organ before placing it in a labeled jar and preserved it in some of the formaldehyde that had survived the journey through the so-called realm of souls.
At your conclusion, breathless at your discoveries you deduced that these creatures were artificially made. Now it's completely possible that the ancestors of these creatures over course of centuries perhaps developed a symbiotic relationship with fungi which over the course of time newer generations evolved to the point where both animal and fungus had perfectly adapted into being one…but that was the issue.
It's perfect, perhaps too perfect. That was impossible, perfection as you knew was a myth. No one knew what perfection looked like and even then it doesn't last, for there will always be something better, for those that perfection can never be improved upon is a lie.
But here…this was perhaps as close as anything has gotten to perfection than most, of course even then, it won't last. Logic dictates that it will either improve or degenerate. There was at least one conclusion to this conundrum. These green skins, must have been artificially created, you were after all forming a theory but that's the best one you can come up with. What were they engineered by or for you could only guess, it had to be from some powerful, intelligent individuals with resources you can only fathom, the closest to something like this you remembered was the Gargantuan project, but even that had issues. Here however, to be able to create such complex systems within a creature… powerful magic and science must have been used in the process.
You admit, you hadn't been this excited during a dissection since you had obtained live samples from the magical wasteland. Already this world was proving to be more exciting than you realized. You sorely wished you could meet the individuals responsible—perhaps steal their work if proven unreasonable— for the creation of these greenskins and ask them a long list of questions.
Naturally you dissected several more specimens in order to compare them, finding much the same results except where damage to the body had caused significant internal changes or physical injuries. If only you had live specimens to dissect, that would shed even more light on their organs functions.
Hm how odd…another big observation was the presence of spores within their blood and there was an absence of traditional reproduction organs, which means there actually no females or males of the species, though you could be wrong and somehow the reproduction organs were apart of the slurry of fungal soup…but even then you would have found something indicative of them. Which means they reproduced asexually which would technically mean all the green skins you've collected are clones… wait a second?
Then the realization strikes you. Fungal organisms, mushrooms especially reproduce via spores, which could be dispersed by the millions. Which means…oh balls. These creatures must do the same, growing from some fungal organism. You'd have to return to their camp and see if you could find live specimens or any samples to study before realizing that your lab area was likely contaminated with these same spores.
Reacting calmly you simply gathered some with a swab where they had settled on the surface of the examination table and took it to one of your most powerful microscopes. There they are, invisible to the naked eyes but not your microscope, tiny polyps by their hundreds, even these seemed alien as all plant pollen was, with their tiny tendrils searching around for dirt.
After studying the spores closely and introducing them to various chemicals and stimuli, they were hardy little things for sure but you're able to conclude that fire is effective at destroying them, thanks to the help of an overenthusiastic red minion. Poisons work too but even then it's actually not guaranteed, more tests would need to be done after all. The spores also don't seem to do well when exposed to large quantities of salt or powerful acids either.
Now you wonder if your guest could add to that …
After tidying up the area and having a pack of red minions burn the remains of the creature and any lingering spores in the lab you have the minions bring in the first of the beastmen corpses you were able to retrieve. You make note of the creature's details.
The specimen had a human-like head and torso with goat-like legs on their lower half and small horns coming from their head. It reminded you of the satyrs from back home but this specimen was much taller and far more human looking. On closer examination the canines were sharp and protruded out more. Some are actually missing and there were signs of infections. You began once again by noting down the weight and height of the specimen while also listing the injuries already inflicted on the body before beginning the first incision. The skin was dense, a lot denser than the green skinned specimen, but eventually you cut in.
Perhaps you'll have the skins of these creatures be used as under armor for your minions.
This time you are not as stupefied when first opening the cavities of the creature though you find that many of the organs are extremely similar to those of a human's and not just in terms of arrangement, however you note some growths, although they didn't seem life threatening though the muscles seemed denser with signs of scar tissue and the legs are similar to those of an animal's as expected. After removing the organs to weigh and then preserve them you have the minions bring in the next specimen while the former is incinerated by the same pack of reds as before.
The next specimen is more bestial having a goat's head with several horns four in number protruding from the skull, perhaps a sign of growth? An adult stage? You shrugged but you placed it down under inquiries which you note in the description before beginning your incisions, there was a slightly more thickness but not an issue. As expected the skeletal structure in the head of this specimen is much like a goat's though with the arrangement of organs being fairly similar to that of the former specimen which is interesting.
Jarring the organs you move onto the next specimens as you continue going through them you note each one has unique natural features or at least you believed they were natural to start before recognizing they were beyond what an individual of a species would possess, it was small things at first, some were missing fingers, some had more humanoid feet or some had more layers of fur, but as you went the latest one you notice something. An eye, but not where it was supposed to be on this individual the eye was on its shoulder, burst from a bludgeoning club. You attribute it as perhaps a mutation from birth though you doubt it could ever see through it.
Then other anomalies crop up, first it was eyes, then it became mouths, horns. You could have sworn you saw the structural beginnings of wings and then realize some magical influence was involved in the shaping of the bodies of these creatures which would explain the many variations between them and how it seemed to extend to other species in the area, like the many tusked boar you'd seen the green skinned creatures carrying to their camp. You present this theory to Gnarl who concurs having seen the results of magical mutations and even plagues in the past serving previous Overlord's.
You would have to do more research on the source of this magical influence along with a means to ward yourself and the minions from it should it become a threat.
With everything done you show your notes to Gnarl, who hummed with interest as he patiently read through it all. "Hmm, we'll have these transcribed into books my lord, perhaps starting a new bestiary!"
[Witchsight]
You make your way to the top of the tower next heading up the ruins of stairs with minions sweeping up debris and chasing rats, sometimes catching and eating them as they tended to their duties when not out in the field.
You are surprised as a minion wearing a jester's hat leaps in front of you "Hail the Overlord!" you hadn't realized your jester Quaver had survived but you were happy they were still around to bring some levity to life as an Overlord. "Slayer of greenskins!" the minion shouted as you continued your way up the stairs, always happy to praise you and shout titles they had made up related to your exploits.
Eventually you reached the top of the tower where previously your devices would crackle with lightning, that sent bursts of electricity between them. You would have to get them repaired once you had the resources collected as they operated the many elevators and machines which gave quality of life to the tower. Having working plumbing again and running hot water would greatly improve your mood even if the minions didn't care much about it. Hygiene standards notwithstanding.
Stepping out onto a balcony you concentrate on your second sight, something you had been born with from your old world which allowed you to see the flow of magic and the creatures infused and born by it. Useful for locating magical plants for alchemical recipes, if tricky to use right. As your eyes focused, the view of the trees in front of you began to fade as another world emerged from your view. You could see through them and see the different flowing streams of magical energies of this land instead as they flowed like river channels across the world in varying sizes. You walk along the balcony watching the streams ebb and flow of these diverse types of energy, to see where they might coalesce or leave a mark, whether it be around an object or creature, is your guess but with this you'll be able to find one of the many missing artifacts or even another minion hive.
As you walked around you began seeing the different colorful flows all heading in the same direction further up north. Concentrating further you see the streams gathering in one place the sight was something to behold, even if technically it was nothing more than a sink of a receiver. You surmise the location must be a potent site of magic as you examine it closer you can also make out a form, perhaps a mage of some sort though at this distance you cannot discern what species they might be. Less pleasant is the chaotic nature of the flow, as if forced or not really controlled, something that might have to do with all the snags and twists the flows are performing. Nonetheless you note it down as a perfect location to head towards during today's outing to collect more resources for the tower while simultaneously dealing with the hostile locals. Perhaps finding another artifact or simply fixing a mess of an idiot.
[Resource Gathering]
You head down the tower around the teams of minions cleaning up the detritus in and around the tower as much as they could, with the influx of new minions the work quickened, even with the treasury being so depleted.
You eventually reach the base and gather your minions with a wave of your gauntlet and pointed outside, you order the minions to begin gathering more resources for the tower. The minions quickly got to work, their larger numbers meaning you can do much more in a less amount of time. Those minions with axes use them to fell more trees while others break off branches and gather the logs.
A few minions with nothing better at hand taking the resulting tree branches as makeshift clubs. The logs are chopped into more reasonable sizes for firewood and other purposes before being carried past your defenses into the tower for storage and to be used in repairs for the tower structure.
When you call to stop you've gathered a healthy amount of wood for the tower's use. It should last you a good while if a red minion doesn't set it ablaze accidentally or just wanted to burn something because they were bored.
[Get Overlording]
You step outside of the tower calling out your small horde of minions around you, their leering faces eager to cause some more mayhem wielding their array of stolen armaments and improvised armor either made from raw animal hides and mushroom caps adorning the heads of some or taken off the bodies of the slain. You set out towards the north towards the source of magic that was coalescing into an area of the woods. As you got closer it grew more vibrant, shimmering with an area of colors, some recognizable and others not. You had seen from atop the tower with your second sight and began creating a mental map. You began your excursion by sweeping a few greens ahead of you to scout through the thick woods.
Your first encounter of the day is with another beastman, this one oddly enough possessing no horns unlike the others and only wielding a simple bow as its weapon. A green minion leaps from the brush and stabs the creature in the back, blood beginning to pool from it as they let out a howling bray, which was soon silenced with the knife used to stab it going for the throat, spilling more blood from its body before it falls to the forest floor in a heap. You're not certain if they were a scout for some larger force or an under equipped hunter setting out on their own but you resolve to proceed cautiously considering there may be a camp or settlement around the object all the magic is gathering about.
You and your minions move forward into the forest, crushing the brush beneath your heel while leading your army of minions that further flattened down the area. The sounds of insects and chirping birds quieting as you proceed onwards the familiar tension filling the air you have your minions move as quietly as they can though with a simple hand gesture. They still chatter as they move through the brush and squabble over small insects they want to eat, with some actually eating them. A red minion crunching on a scorpion while marching alongside you.
Then you stop, holding up your hand to cease the march, you glanced noting the subtle shift in the brush, along with the cloying scent of manure…and blood. Suddenly, bursting from the bushes and tearing through branches and vines, a pack of beastmen rushed from the woods charging your line together in a pack, your minions jumping to attention to face them, letting out their own battle cry, quickly clashing with them in a chaotic melee. You set up your red minions to begin supporting the others. It seemed while attempting to catch you by surprise the beastmen in turn were caught off guard from how tenacious and skilled the minions were. Perhaps assuming them to be weak creatures as all races mistakenly underestimated. Your head turns to the sound of exploding wood as another beastman form erupts from the woods, ripping a small tree from the roots with its large hands with an explosion of earth following while the trees behind it collapsed, on the other side of your formation
It was something you haven't seen before, a new form of beastman. It stood seven feet eight inches in height, you calculated, with large muscles rippling over its entire frame with scars, crisscrossed gray marks on its biceps and face. Ah yes the head, it quite literally resembled a bull's to the point you thought maybe it was someone using a bull's head as a helmet, until jets of air exited from flaring nostrils, and its lips peeled back to show red gums and a line of teeth that had gold in one of them. The large bull headed creature wielded twin axes of crude make but lethal sharpness, covering its body was a layer of leather overlaid by chain mail and plate of scavenged steel, with some plate covering its knees.
At its hip were the skulls of its slain, four at least with some still carrying scraps of skin. "Watch out master, that one looks dangerous." Gnarl exclaims through your helmet. Which you agreed with. You quickly begin repositioning minions trying to send a pack of greens behind the bull to back stab it as arrows and javelins began raining on your position from the tree line.
You contain your fury as the minions clash around you, power crackled from your palm and raising your hand you unleashed your arcane might, sending a crackling bolt of lightning at the bull headed beast, stunning it partially as the arcane energy crackled through its body, as the greens did their work leaping onto its back and attempted to sink their claws into its back. Only to shake them off and charge you, its axe sailed in the air and clashed with your blade, you felt yourself slide back but were otherwise standing. The bull seemed surprised for the moment before bellowing and engaging you, there was a clear difference in skill.
The bull definitely had experience in battle from the way it moved, blocked and parried your strikes, each of its hits were meant to kill. While you, however, may not be a battle junkie, definitely had experience in combat. You were more efficient, you ducked under a strike meant for your head and instead bent and nearly split a tree in half with its strength. You swiped your blade up, cutting off its finger and sending them bloody flying from its hand which in turn lost a grip on its ax. It bellowed in pain and rage attempting to catch you with its other, only for you to slam your foot into its wrist and stab your blade into its eye.
The life was snuffed out in an instant and its life force was absorbed like the rest, blood seeped from the entry and mouth then you yanked your blade back to join the fray.
You then brought order to your red minions who began launching fireballs back at the tree line. You heard the satisfying screams of several forms being set on fire as you then waded into the melee striking out at the various beastmen, using your knowledge of their anatomy to strike at vital organs and major arteries your blade dubbed "Scalpel" going to work disemboweling foes or causing them to bleed out from a cut to the arm or leg.
You continued carving through foes alongside the minions unleashing blasts from your evil presence spell, scorching their bodies while the red minions support you from the back setting creatures aflame as their fur burns causing them to panic and stumble into allies leaving more openings for the other minions and yourself to strike decisive blows at them.
Despite your victories against the foes engaging you, you can sense more forms in the treeline watching your position for now. You know that at any moment they could charge into battle to turn the tide so you don't relent in attacking the foes before you, the minions happily cackling away as they felled foes before taking up new equipment from their bodies and leapt into combat against the next foe in battle. As expected more beastmen came to reinforce the others these ones having human-like heads carrying spears and shields, attempting to pincer your formation and you easily respond having your browns split to face them while the green and red minions continued to support them with yourself unleashing your arcane blasts and stepping in to cut down foes where the lines were beginning to flag or break.
You continue fighting what seems like a near endless stream of enemies who try to break you with superior numbers but are unable to break your lines, your minions holding strong in the face of the enemy, for now. Preparing for another rush from a fresh line of beastmen you prepare to command your minions when a blast from a horn halts the beastmen's charge. You look for the source and see another form, a beastman who towers above the others, even the bull you battled earlier. At least eight feet in height of beastial muscle, with a more refined suit of plated armor, covering its chest and arms while the legs were covered by leather. Much larger horns protruded out, smooth unlike the others that had ridges and…actually looked more like bull horns. On his back was a cape of fur and green leather that flowed and tattered from the breeze. He was surrounded by an honor guard of beastmen who were similar in stature. You ready yourself to do battle with this creature, he seems to regard you, glancing down at the skulls at his hip, but instead of charging their forces seemed to be withdrawing into the woods. Clearly they had decided not to try and kill you at this time, the leader you presumed, regarded you again, he pulled out his large sword, a crude thing with a jagged edge, you can feel the magic wafting off it, screaming faces on the flat surface pointed at you. He smiled at you before sheathing his weapon and disappearing.
You neglected to pursue them as they were the larger force and knew the local terrain better. Taking advantage of the combat ending you have your minions sweep over the area to loot the enemy dead and finish off any who weren't quite dead yet and collect life force.
Along with rescuing any minions who were in need. Your minions eagerly gather up new weapons for themselves while also bringing you any valuable trinkets and trophies the creatures had been wearing. You also accrue some evil energy that was drawn to yourself as the other beastmen fled away.
You also have the minions gather up any excess metal weapons and other equipment from the dead to take back to the forge to be melted down into more useful objects. The standard affair, really.
As you return to the tower you cannot help but feel that this will not be the last time you will see that beastman leader and that even know they were perhaps preparing for another attack potentially on the tower itself if what you saw had only been the spear tip of their forces. You look over your defenses and question if they will be enough if the beastman was holding back their forces just to see what you were capable of. The minions for their part eagerly brandished new swords, axes, and spears from the enemy among other objects. While scraps would be placed in storage.
A few browns had even collected shields that had gotten through the battle relatively intact and were beginning to paint crude faces of minions on them using fresh blood. Luckily it was just the blood that covered them and not their own.
You'd have to find them some dye for paint later. Nonetheless you head within your tower as the day nears a close your minions carrying in the loot from the battlefield to dump the piles of battered and broken weapons in the forge room for Giblet and Ricket the forge minions to begin melting down for armor and weapons and other necessities for the Overlord. Heading to the throne room you sit and ponder your next move, with new information and context.
"With new eyes on us my lord, they shall be the first to be crushed under your heel!" Gnarl graciously expressed with a clenched fist. Humming he tapped his chin with a look of thought. "Wonder if they make for good pelts?"
—-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(four options max)
[]Get Overlording: ♾️ Set out with what minions you have and start exploring the area, murder any creature who gets in your way or just looks at you funny and try to find your missing minions or other resources. (equipment, life force, treasure, evil energy, ???)
[]Resource gathering: ♾️ There's plenty of wood around, set some crews of minions to gather it with your supervision. You can always use more firewood. (raw lumber)
[]Ruthless: ⏳ Now that you've ransacked that camp you can burn it down. It's likely more of those green skinned creatures won't return with it left in that state. (Destruction affinity)
Curious: Return to the greenskins camp and search for more fungal samples to study. (further information on greenskins)
[]Generous: Construct some prosthetic limbs for the dwarf Malaksson. They'll certainly appreciate them if you can do a fine enough job. (costs one unit of wood)
[]Instinctual Tactician: You know conflict is coming, preparing the defenses for an assault seems like a good idea. (improved defenses)
[]Culture Crosser (1): Ask Malaksson about the green skinned beings they may have more useful information on them and their society. (information on greenskins)
[]Culture Crosser (2): Ask Malaksson instead about the beastmen you may learn something useful before the next conflict. (information on beastmen)
[]Get Forging: Have the minions prioritize melting down the excess weapons you looted and make some armor for the minions. (better minion armor)
[]Write in:
Get Overlording 1d100+30= 61 contested by 1d100=58.
19 brown life force, 17 red life force, 12 green life force. 25 gold units. 19 units of evil energy.
Witchsight 1d100+20= 86 provided plus 20 bonus to Overlording
Resource gathering: 1d100= 52. 44 units of wood collected
Weird+Curious: 124. plus ten for combat rolls against beastmen and greenskins permanent boon
You arise from your repaired throne, with your decision made as Gnarl and Quaver stand by eager to assist or give advice when needed. You begin issuing orders to the awaiting minions who begin scrambling about as you head off. There is evil to be done and this land will know it.
[Generous]
Making your way up to the remains of the workshop, where the minions are working away to clear up rubble and repair what damage they can with the tower's current resources, you take a seat at a table and begin carving into a piece of wood that one of the minions gave you. With your set of tools you began working away, the activity bringing you some simple joy taking you back to your days of being a humble scientist needing to make your own specialized tools when the local villagers didn't have the expertise to produce what you needed.
You decided to create some prosthetics for the guest who was currently bedridden in the castle, you had a book with you and some notes to follow on its instructions. Some of the minions helped out to some degree as you delicately began putting the pieces together measuring the weight and proper width.
After some hours you produce what you hope is a serviceable pegleg for Malaksson along with a prosthetic hand ending in a hook. You even made some swappable attachments in the form of a hammer and a beer mug you had thought to include with Gnarl's input.
Testing the device you find it satisfactory, Still you felt you could have done better, but alas it would have to do and you proceed onwards to visit the dwarf. Further refining will have to wait but this is better than nothing. Not to mention he can fiddle with it on his own time.
[Culture Crosser 2]
Accompanied by Gnarl you proceed to the guest room to see Malaksson sitting on top of the bed giving an irritable look as usual. You present the gift you made for him, which causes him to brighten up somewhat though he looks equally remorseful about further owing you a debt after you saved their life.
Personally you did care, even if you were just doing it to gain information it still felt…right to help out.
Getting to the other reason you had come to visit him you ask more about the beastmen. "The bloody gori? Ye want to know about the bloody gori that took me arm?" You partially regret asking this as the dwarf goes on a tirade spouting expletives and foul insults you can't bear to repeat about the beastmen even causing Gnarl to blanch and laugh a few times.
Apparently the beastmen had regular conflicts with the karak Malaksson was from, and the surrounding settlements causing them to accrue quite a few grudges and the dwarves were quite familiar with the several species that made up their races. After sifting through the many insults you learn that they have a very primitive way of living with hierarchy being related to the size of their horns though a member can always fight their way to a higher position but would need to fight off constant challengers, who were just as greedy for that position.
The beastmen are also cannibals not only in terms of merely feeding on sapient beings but that they would readily consume their own kind just as easily as they would others. Usually after they're slain in a battle for status. You also learn of a few beastmen species you have yet to encounter such as winged humanoids called harpies and giant sized beasts he'd only heard stories of, who, if the details are accurate, stand far taller than the trolls and rock giants of your own world. Likely similar in size to the giant spider remains from the greenskin creature's camp if not bigger.
You make note of these details and endeavor to have the minions prepare defenses to counter these forces should any emerge from the woods to threaten the tower. Malaksson for his part is happy to be mobile again albeit slower than he was before and is happy to accompany the Overlord through the tower and aid them to repay his life debt to you so long as your actions bring no harm to his kin. You can tell Gnarl isn't happy about that last part but doesn't say anything, it wasn't his place and the dwarf was fruitful.
[Get Forging]
You make your way to the forges with Gnarl and Malaksson following in your wake. Naturally upon entering them you're greeted by the two forge minions Giblet and Ricket who thankfully survived the trip and are eager to begin forging. Malaksson looks over your smeltery setup and begins insulting it. You can't agree with everything he has to say but you are disappointed that the durium and arcanium smelters you had worked so hard to collect had been stolen by the invading heroes or lost during your transition to this realm.
Ricket for her part does not stand for the insults to her forge and confronts the dwarf beginning a verbal battle with him. Giblet sighs watching his fellow forge minion get carried away while cleaning his hands with a cloth. "What needs forging?" Giblet asks as he turns to the Overdoctor. You have the minions bring in the looted weapons and armor from the lastest battle with the beastmen, that the minions didn't take as their own equipment and had them begin melting it down using the red minions to power the forges.
This was enough to halt the arguments between Ricket and Malaksson who turned with some curiosity to see what the reds were doing. He eyes the battered and decrepit equipment taken from the beastmen with some disgust. "Ack, this stuff isn't fit for even making horseshoes but when I'm done with it we'll have something fit for your little army of grobi, you mark my words." His fist clenched and you heard his knuckles popped: this is enough to spark off another argument with Ricket seeing how they're in charge of the forge.
You settle the matter by having the two work together though neither seems too happy about it. Piles of swords, axes, and spear heads are brought in along with pauldrons too large for minions to wear along with other pieces of armor. All of them are sorted and then tossed into the smelter works to be melted down. the reds of the forge eagerly heating the mechanisms to melt the steel and iron. Pushing their pyrokinetic powers with purpose. With their combined might, heated metal became white hot and then liquid. At the direction of the forge minions and Malaksson, the smelter is upended and the molten metal poured into channels where it is then processed and then shaped by red minions sculpting the molten metal like clay in their hands to forge armor and helmets.
Malaksson and two forge minions oversaw the process and proceeded to guide them, the dwarf helped by making adjustments to the armor with Ricket and Giblet taking measurements to the helmets and adding a few features from the dwarf's suggestions. A segment was added to the sternum allowing the minions to turn with more flexibility, with small shoulder pauldrons added as a layer of protection.
Though reluctant to admit it, without the added benefit from the dwarfs' input they would have no doubt had more issues than necessary. The armors were placed into a pile, stacked neatly under Malaksson's orders, for no good blacksmith would ever desecrate their work by tossing it to the floor. A notion you, as a part-time creator, agree with.
Once the sets were ready the minions were called in to don their new suits of armor, they eagerly formed up in a line to be given their new equipment. "Minion shiny" one says, examining themselves in their new steel armor in the reflection of another minion's breastplate. They looked like a "Proper army of evil" according to Gnarl in their new armor though it was still a bit too bright and shiny, and to be fair they were just freshly forged. With time the armor would eventually darken with the prospect of future battles. You were overall quite proud of the results knowing the armor was much stronger than anything your minions could create on their own and would take more punishment. Thus allowing them to survive longer. It would certainly serve them well in the battles to come. But that's only if you could keep Malaksson on your goodside.
[Instinctual Tactician]
Marching out, you examine your hastily made defenses and see that they're woefully inadequate with what you've learned about the beastmen of these woods. Malaksson follows behind and also expresses his thoughts on the defenses using several words not appropriate in polite company, to Gnarl's begrudging approval. With a raise of your gauntlet you summon forth the minions who began to work under your direction to improve your defenses, by gathering up wood from the surrounding trees to build the new defenses instead of dipping into your stored supplies. You also order a team of minions to bring your crane out of the tower to assist in the construction, deeming the trade off worth it.
Working away, the minions build some simple platform towers to give themselves greater height and better vantage point over the defenses along with digging out new pits and placing sharpened fire hardened stakes in the pits you already had constructed. Knowing the beastmen's animal instincts and then penchant to act on them you have several pits dug outside of the main walls where your gates are set up and lined with wooden stakes at the bottom which was then covered with a mesh which grass and dirt and other forms of detritus to camouflage the trap to fool those that look who would only see normal solid ground. The mesh over the pit trap is even set up so that the minions can stand on it, thanks to their lighter build provided that not too many would stand on it all at once, but a large armored beastmen would crash through easily. You make a mental note of their positions considering you also qualify to break the weight limit for the pits.
After this you have minions take all the wood scraps and other materials from the felled trees and pile them beyond the pits outside of your walled defenses aiming to have the red minions set them on fire when an attack begins to funnel the attackers along with burning up anything foolish enough that stands on the piles of tree branches.
Hearing shouting you make your way over to where Malaksson is overseeing work teams of minions who are building small yet primitive catapults. A far cry from the siege weapons you've seen and had in the past, these ones could only launch large rocks at most. Not enough to batter down the defenses of a settlement but more than enough to deal grievous harm to a man in armor. You grin to yourself behind your mask at the sight as Malaksson overseeing the teams of minions making the small siege weapons. "Aye, a far cry from good dawi work but good enough for your grobi here. Those red ones are quite useful with that azul of theirs. Would be great to bring some home to show them off at the forges. Wouldn't need to burn coal or divert magma for heat." You chuckled to yourself imagining how dwarves would really react to a pack of red minions getting inside their hold but keep the thoughts to yourself.
Moving on you set out into the woods with teams of browns and greens hefting fresh logs and begin setting up traps along the clearest paths to the clearing. You set those teams by having them use vines and ropes from the tower to hoist logs into place to swing along the paths and tie them to trip lines made with local vines to trigger them. You also set up some rolling log traps where they can roll a good distance downhill, before being stopped by other trees in the vicinity. Facing the most likely route of approach.
Tirelessly you had them working even through the night, Gnarl and Quaver at your side viewing the activity, the process of returning this castle back to its former glory one step at a time. You can feel it in the air, the magic exuding from the core of the tower heart and filling it with what you can describe as vibrancy, but only a little bit.
By end it, an impressive if irregular wall of hewed trees, tightly packed and bolted together to the point that intruders would have issues getting through. Of course you would much prefer reinforced steel and stone, but this would have to do, the traps laid out would no doubt take a good number of those savages down. It was only a matter of time before they would come, you can just feel it.
And if they did. You would show them why in your old world you were an Overlord.
You are forcefully awakened by Gnarl the next dawn in an urgent manner. "Master, you must wake up, the tower is about to be attacked." You rise swiftly, quickly donning your armor and grabbing Scalpel you make your way to the base of the tower with Gnarl at your side. "Some green scouts spotted those beastmen gathering and reported back that if the brutes move as expected, they should be running into the first of your traps as we speak." Reaching the base of the tower you can hear their chants and bleating roars from the treeline. Like banshees of the woods.
The minions have already assembled on the ramparts and set up in the tower platforms the reds holding fireballs in their hands while the horde looked eager in their newly forged armor, you can practically feel their excitement. Taking your place on the wall you wait for the assault to begin as you hear roars and screams grow closer from the woods only able to imagine the sight of those massive logs swinging down on formations of careless beastmen to shatter their limbs and bodies.
It doesn't take long before beastmen come charging out of the woods. Herds of mutated multi-tusked boar charging towards your defenses, ropes of saliva and jets of air exiting from nostril and maw being harried by some form of mutant wolves or species of hounds, their fur black and sometimes brown with horns sprouting from their skulls like goats, with lips peeled back to reveal a menagerie of teeth and fangs all crooked like on their flanks driving them onwards.
Most who would see this would either cower in fear of pass out from fright, while you however saw more specimens for your autopsy table and minion food.
You signal the reds who set the piles of wood scraps at the outer edges of your defenses aflame, catching those and roasting the forerunners of the pack while also frightening the others into turning to the sides to escape the blaze that exploded out of nowhere. Most ran off to the sides and into the woods on the other side of the clearing away some still blazing.
Some moments later hordes of beastmen infantry emerge from the woods. Their battle cries hanging in the air. Large horned forms in the lead wielding axes and swords, sometimes crude hammers. Mixes of goat headed and bull creatures leading the charge as they race through the gaps in the burning piles of wood towards your walls. As expected, halfway across their charge was stopped by the hordes falling into the pit traps. The screams of the front runners soon became yelps only to be silenced when they fell into the spikes at the bottom. "Ah, music to my ears." Gnarl says through the helmet. "Very wise choice in placing your defenses my lord."
As those beastmen not impaled or crushed by their fellows began to lift themselves from the jumble of fresh corpses in the pit the red minions began flinging their fireballs onto the masses along with aiming for the beastmen who hadn't fallen into the trap, that being mostly archers. The catapults were soon put to use. Sending hunks of rubble collected from the tower flying at the formations of the beastmen, huge chunks flew into the air and then smashed into them breaking bones and disfiguring bodies as the stones connected with flesh. As the rocks and flames began flying into the beastmen, winged humanoid forms appeared from the trees around the clearing, unleashing high pitched shrieks as they sailed through the air aiming towards the minions arrayed on the walls and those operating the catapults. The minions for their part were only partially distracted by them looking like humanoid women before throwing fireballs at the incoming creatures.
Instead of fear, those who managed to land among the minions on the ramparts and platforms found the waiting brown and green minions who giggled, eager to do battle with them, contesting those that tried to fly away with their prey. Those winged creatures would often be yanked down, and beaten or torn apart. Several forms closed in on you prompting you to draw your sword and prepare for battle. Fending off their sharp talons and unleashing lightning from the evil presence spell at their forms, making their bodies thrash and convulse. Nearby minions coming to your aid reds throwing fireballs at the creatures while the browns battered any coming close enough to the ground while the greens leaped on the backs of any coming close enough sinking their claws into them.
Turning your attention to the catapults, if they can even be called that due to their small size, you see the packs of harpies being fended off by the groups of brown minions who had been operating them along with Malaksson waving the hammer attachment on their arm and yelling curses at them, as the minions flung fireballs at their forms.
Seeing the catapults are fine for the moment you turn your gaze back to the beastmen you see their army is largely broken with some beastmen in the far back fleeing back into the woods. You raise your gauntlet deciding now is the time to sally out ordering the main gate opened as you send the minions charging out who swarm into the pit tearing through the injured beastmen still attempting to recover there.
The minions surge through as a horde hollering their cries, hardly needing your help as they clear the way to your target. The large beastmen who you had seen leading the army during your last conflict.
One of his horns was broken, marrow and blood leaking down from the stem, he was cut up from falling into the pit, parts of his already scraped together armor had broken off, while the more reinforced parts like the chainmail or half a steel plate still held onto his bleeding body. But otherwise still standing and seemed determined to fight you as you strode forwards, he seemed to smile at you, excitement clear in his eyes, bloodlust wafting from his panting breath. The minions took their places at the edges of the pit ensuring there would be no interference or chasing down the remnants of the forces who had yet to flee or perish.
You stand before the beastlord-wanna-be pointing Scalpel at him in challenge. Nose dripping blood the creature lets out a weak roar of challenge, his eyes glowing dimly like rubies and raising his blade, the distorted faces seeming to scream in unison, tortured souls that made even your spine shiver as they waved it about. The beastman starts by charging towards you, even with an injured leg he was fast but you had the edge of being uninjured, something quite expected at this point. You swiftly side step taking advantage of the terrain to make the beastman to stumble over broken bodies and stakes and slash at it as it passes.
As the bull headed creature turns to confront you growling, you unleash a blast of arcane power from your gauntlet at the creature singeing its hair and making him stumble back. Shaking his head further enraged the beast let out a roar and swung his blade down; you raised Scalpel and clashed with him. You can feel it, your arm trembling, even in an injured position he still possessed a monstrous amount of power and his blow could no doubt cut an unaware man in half, even then this was probably nothing when his condition wasn't so bad.
So taking advantage of his injuries and sapped strength you push back and take steps back to further tire out the beast, stepping away from him and forcing the beast to pursue you as you dance out of range of his attacks or parry them before going in for a quick slash. Sneaking in small cuts and slashes whittling down the creature as the minions cheer, you even believe you can hear Malaksson above the crowd egging you on to kill the beast. His strike would land, but with his declining strength only left some rents and dents.
Soon your back was to a wall, he used this to charge and attempt to impale you in the gut, only for him to only embed his screaming sword into the dirt to the hilt. When you strike his wounded area with your fist, he releases a grunt and then lands his own strike to where your face would be, stumbling back but otherwise uninjured.
He huffs and snorts, but eventually you see your opening as your opponent weakens, you make the universal sign of holding out your hand and saying. 'Bring it' taunting him he let out a bellowing roar with his eye fully becoming red, he charged at you twice as fast as before into one last swing, instead of moving away you step in, quick as a vipers strike your blade gleams from the sun, before lowering down. The beastlord continued past you and soon his head fell from his shoulders. Decapitated, your minions cheer around you before diving into the piles of bodies to gather up new loot and bring you the spoils of the battle. Picking up the head, which was twice as big as yours, his dull eyes meeting yours, even though the life was gone. He looked…satisfied though. You'll find a suitable portion of your main gate to adorn the head on incase anyone else gets the idea to foolishly assault your tower.
You take a seat back from the walls and the stinking bodies of the dead as the minions scour the clearing for equipment, life force, and treasures which they bring to you.
Your eyes can't help but continue to settle on the sword the beastlord had dropped, under the eyes of your witchsight. You can see it emanates with dark power. Not like any dark magic you had ever seen, this felt more…alive, in pain, if that sharp pain had landed perhaps the intended purpose was to cause agony, of course you were speculating, and you weren't willing to risk it testing its properties yet.
You could potentially have it drained to refuel the tower heart, as it did have the power to convert even dark magic into a more sustainable energy albeit with this sword would only produce a small amount or you could let one of your elite minions wield it and use it in battle against your foes though there's no telling what effect the dark magic might have on them in the long run. A proper study may be a preferable course of action when it comes to unknown enchantments.
To take your mind off this decision you call a victory feast in the tower, the minions cheering and gathering the roasted remains of the mutated boar corpses to make the main course.
You enjoy some fresh meat though it is a bit suspect due to the nature of the source, nonetheless a good change from eating salted sheep for the past few days. Even Malakson provides few approving grumbles. Shortly followed by grumbling when he learns the status of your alcohol collection.
Fate of the blade. Pick one
[] Drain the blade: Leech whatever small amount of magic is within the sword to restore the tower heart (2% increase to Tower heart's power)
[] Keep the blade: Allow one of the elite minions to wield the weapon and strike down your enemies (named minion gets a magic weapon)
[] Study the blade: Magic like this is not something you're familiar with, interesting discoveries await. (begin study of chaos)
(if you haven't named a minion yet go ahead and do so in when you vote we need more
characters)
—-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Choose up to four actions some may not be available later choose wisely:
[]Get Overlording: ♾️ Set out with what minions you have and start exploring the area, murder any creature who gets in your way or just looks at you funny and try to find your missing minions or other resources. (equipment, life force, treasure, evil energy, ???)
[]Resource gathering: ♾️ There's plenty of wood around, set some crews of minions to gather it with your supervision. You can always use more firewood. (raw lumber)
[]Ruthless: ⏳💣 Now that you've ransacked that camp you can burn it down. It's likely more of those green skinned creatures won't return with it left in that state. (Destruction affinity) (last chance)
Curious: Return to the greenskins camp and search for more fungal samples to study. (further information on greenskins)
[]Culture Crosser (1): Ask Malaksson about the green skinned beings they may have more useful information on them and their society. (information on greenskins)
[]Ruthless:⏳ Hunt down the fleeing beastmen before they can rally somewhere and cause you trouble later. (life force, treasure, evil energy)
Room Repair: You have accrued enough treasure to repair one room (100 gold) bringing it back to normal status to take advantage of its benefits (costs 1000 to bring a room to pristine status for increased benefits). Choose one room to repair or abstain to save your treasure for other matters.
Today was an astounding day, after the defeat of the raiding beastmen. You decided that it was cause for celebration! Mostly it was Gnarl's idea but you decided, why not. It had been years. So a great feast was prepared, the boars of the enemy were picked out from the battlefield, those that were mostly intact would be skinned of their fur and have their tusks removed for later use. Their meat sliced off, intestines pulled from cavities to be emptied and then later be prepared.
Drool pooled from the minions mouths as they were eager to sink their teeth into swine meat, however you held them back until the reds did their job to fully cook the meat. Once they were served up did you finally allow them to eat, taking a bite of your slice you admit… it needs a bit more seasoning, the taste was a bit plain but compared to salt dried sheep jerky this was better. Malakson had joined in the feast, drinking some of the alcohol that had actually managed to survive the jump. The minions were also happy to participate.
The Overlord finished their feast deciding that there had been enough revelry. Finally coming to a decision on the blade, you had it brought to the spell testing range despite its ruined state. Short of rebuilding an arcane vault, it would be the best location to keep it contained though the room would need to be repaired before the blade could be properly studied in earnest. Rising from your seat you raise your gauntlet and gather the minions as they get up from the feast, some stumbling with their full stomachs. While others still had meat in their mouths.
Before setting out you decide to have the minions repair the craft workshop. It would let you make useful tools and devices for the rest of the tower. You could even create siege weaponry there with the right resources. Perhaps Malaksson would be able to aid you being an engineer. All you had to do was choose a minion to manage the room so you wouldn't need to be there personally to oversee the work. Hovering between a brown minion named Brux and a green minion named Grixie you select Brux knowing they're dependable and will ensure the compliance of any minions working there. Your decision made you set out with the horde.
[Ruthless]
You set out with the minions heading into the woods to pursue the fleeing beastmen and destroy them before they can rally elsewhere and return, better to remove the disease then let it fester and come back. Setting off into the woods with the horde you begin trying to track down the beastmen mentally smacking yourself for deciding to celebrate before chasing them down. It wasn't hard, their tracks were deep in the dirt and the crushed brushes and other plants were easy indicators to follow.
Marching into the woods you soon find your way to the spot the traps had been set up and look in satisfaction at the bodies of beastmen crushed by swinging and rolling logs, bodies gruesomely flattened on trees like decorating paper. You sent the minions to search their bodies for treasure and anything else of use. Searching the area for more tracks you manage to find hoof prints heading away from the tower that are still fresh and proceed after them, seeing too many together to be just a lone forest creature.
Following the prints eventually you catch up with a pack of ungor archers trying to make their way somewhere in the woods nursing wounds from the battle, some having patches of burnt skin and hair where they tasted a red's fireball. Coming up behind the group the brown minions quickly cut down the stragglers at the back who were the most injured, sometimes clubbing them only those furthest away have any time to interact aiming their bows before green minions leap upon them and viciously stab them to death.
Like that, the ambush was so swift and effective that not even an ungor had enough time to cry out.
Further encounters go much the same way with the minions easily taking down the fleeing beastmen who couldn't escape the vicinity of the tower after your feast. "If you had some wolf riders master you could probably capture even more fleeing enemies in less time." You nod silently agreeing as the minions loot the latest group, a small pack of bestigors one limping where a stake had impaled their leg from a pit trap.
After searching fruitlessly for more beastmen for several more hours you had the thought that if you had some green minions invisibly follow them you could have found their camp but then you suppose it would be in the vicinity of the coalescing magic signature you'd been able to detect from the tower.
Or not, you weren't sure yet until you got there.
The minions managed to find piles of equipment for themselves, some of which would be taken back to the tower to be melted down along with a smattering of trinkets to bless the treasury. You'd also obtained some more life force from the few creatures you were able to slay among the fleeing remnants. All in all not the worst outing.
[Culture Crosser]
Returning to the tower you decide to speak with Malaksson to obtain more knowledge on the creatures of this land. You and Gnarl find the dwarf in their guest chamber relaxing after the feast. "Ah hello Overlord, here to ask more questions?" After Gnarl asks about the green skinned creatures the dwarf's mood does a complete 180 forcing Gnarl to back away and take over as Malaksson goes on an even greater tirade than they had about the beastmen who had personally taken his own limbs. It really made you wonder what the green skins had done to Malaksson in comparison.
Sifting through the tide of insults you learn much of the grobi as the dwarves call them or green skins. There seem to be two main types not counting their beasts. Orcs or Urks in dwarvish and goblins. Goblins you have already met whereas the orcs you haven't. From their description they stand taller than the average man and are heavily muscled, with tusks like a boar. Their behavior also reminds you a lot of minions in that they fight constantly and terrorize other beings for their own amusement, though usually they will fight among themselves when not raiding dwarven settlements and attacking travelers.
Their society has a might makes right policy leading to the largest greenskin being in charge of a tribe. Your theory is also confirmed that greenskins multiply via spores requiring you to burn their bodies after slaying them or otherwise making the ground barren as new greenskins would appear given enough time. The creatures seem to have the average intelligence of minions creating their brutish society and seem to worship two deities that are very hard to tell apart. Though Malaksson had stated that his knowledge on green skins was not the best, and he was explaining what information he had. That is, orcs vary in intelligence.
Malaksson isn't able to relate much on them, only hearing stories of the greenskin gods Gork and Mork. The common domesticated beasts they keep that you are familiar with are known as squigs. Hyperactive bouncing balls of teeth, as dangerous as they are unpredictable though, Malaksson relates that they can be taken down with a few well aimed crossbow bolts. He has also stated that squigs come in a variety of types but he's never seen them personally. He also knows that the greenskins will domesticate wild boar, spiders, and wolves. Something to keep an eye out for in the future, especially if you decide to obtain some trained wolves for the brown minions but you would need to repair the beast pens to house them first.
Malaksson is quite pleased to hear of you already dealing with one camp of forest goblins in the area, and hopes for you to destroy any others you come across along with retrieving any stolen dwarven goods they might have on them.
Before leaving you made a bit of adjustments to his prosthetics, and gave him a bottle out of the remaining brews for him to drink.
[Curious]
Taking the gate from before you begin approaching the greenskin camp, you are welcomed to a familiar sight. Too familiar for your liking. Usually when you sack a place it's supposed to stay deserted, with perhaps some degree of plant life taking over. This camp is populated by goblins.
Again.
Sure, not as many as the first time, but the fact that they managed to pop out from the ground, judging from the disturbed earth and the abundance of mushrooms. That replaced what you killed and set on a path of becoming a problem again is… kind of annoying, but with the information granted it was expected. The mere idea of an enemy that returns after you're done killing them fills your head with frustration just at the thought of it being such an endless chore. While the other part of you, the scientist couldn't help but feel fascinated, you definitely want to examine the process in detail. However this will need to be rectified. On the plus side you can harvest more life force from them and regrow your vast army again.
Looking over the goblins who seemed to be salvaging what they can from the camp you also see several of the squigs as Malaksson had named them bouncing around, scampering through the camp, some of them being wrangled by the goblins who seemed to be trying to pen them up, while some of the goblins had actually been eaten by them. Judging by the fact that one of them had a green arm sticking out from their lips, dripping greenish black dew on the ground.
The goblins themselves were even more poorly equipped than the first time you attacked the camp, only a few having crude wooden spears, fashioned from sticks and rocks. You don't even need to use tactics to deal with them as you sweep the minions in, even counting the squigs. The goblins were heavily outnumbered and were easily swept aside as you made your way into the camp to collect the greenskin fungus samples.
Perhaps some insight can be gleaned from this, perhaps you can modify these into becoming a fast growing food source.
Finding a patch of likely looking mushrooms growing around the rotting grey remains of goblins you had slain. Roots spread across their corpses, resembling octopoid tendrils that sucked in nutrients. You have the minions dig underneath the bodies resulting in strange bulging growths under the ground. Having the minions dig them up and then cutting into them, it spilled fourth embryonic fluid to the ground and you find them to be very womb-like sacks providing nutrients to the growing forms inside. Reinforcing the claim even further as a pair of said embryos stirred and started fighting back. They are however easily dealt with only taking a few cuts from Scalpel to cut through their quaggy flesh. Though it does upset you to ruin fresh samples, they'll need to be placed in preservation fluid.
Two contained squigs that hadn't reached full maturation and the third viable specimen contained a goblin that hadn't fully formed an arm. You take notes on them as you write into your field journal and even do sketches that will eventually be transcribed. You feel quite pleased with the outing before rounding up the minions who had torn through the camp and leaving once more.
As you head out, the minions gather up meat and hide harvested from the squigs to feed on. Minions are far less picky than even pigs and will eat almost anything, though they did have preferences such as liking the taste of sheep over humans but you wouldn't deny your growing army some fresh squig meat if they seemed to like it. Provided they made sure to cook it properly and prevent spores contaminating the tower. You didn't need random goblins sprouting from cracks…until you made an artificial habitat that is.
You return to the gate reflecting on what you learned. Of course you would need to decide whether to burn the place down in the future to prevent new creatures spawning but certainly that could wait.
[Get Overlording]
Taking a moment to adjust at the tower as the minions dropped off the collected squig meat, while you placed your findings in your lab notes you prepare to set out towards the coalescing source of magic once more. Gathering your horde— which was a fraction of what it used to be— around you, you set out into the woods, an artificial path created from the timber chopped down. Sending green minions ahead of you through the wilderness to scout ahead and prevent another ambush, catching on to what the beastlord had attempted before.
Marching through the forest part of the journey is rather uneventful until you come across a corpse. This one being a goat headed beastman who stared up at the sky with dull eyes, flies starting to buzz around them, newly born maggots in the corner of its eye in the process of devouring the flesh. Examining them you see two arrows in their chest and looking further you see discoloration in the areas around the wounds, clear signs of poison being used. "It looks like the forest goblins have been fighting the local beastmen. Judging by the state of the corpse this conflict happened quite recently. Stay vigilant my lord." Gnarl cautions
Moving more cautiously making sure not to step on so much as a twig, you press forward the green scouts keeping you informed of what lies ahead eventually they come back in a very excited manner and grinning. "Fighting ahead master. Big fight, big fight!" says Francis, jumping excitedly in place. You press on hearing the sounds of combat ahead hearing the roars of beastmen and the shouts of goblins. Drawing your weapon you press closer seeing forms through the trees and the clashing of weapons. Stepping to the edge of the clearing you see the backs of a force of beastmen who seem engaged with a force of forest goblins of about equal numbers.
The goblin infantry stood as firm as they could with spears and wooden shields held out as they fended off charging beastmen while behind them, goblin archers fired poisoned arrows into the ranks of the beastmen, screaming being uttered followed by choking and collapsing bodies spasming on the dirt as arrows found bare flesh.
What stands out to the Overlord is a new form of beastman present on the battlefield. They possessed the torso of a man but their lower half resembled that of horses. Taking a moment to recall what Malaksson had said in the past, a name comes to mind "centigors" holding back to observe the battle your attention is grabbed when a green minion, you recall their name being Threfs, points up.
As you turn your gaze upwards you see forms silently lowering themselves down from the tree tops. Giant spiders with goblins hanging on their backs wearing war paint and bedecked in colorful feathers. Most were carrying shields and either swords or spears though you spotted a few with short bows taking aim as best they could from their hanging position as their mounts swiftly but silently lowered themselves to the forest floor before striking at the backs of the beastmen's rear forces.
You had to admit, it was quite the clever strategy to use and one that you'll definitely use for your greens in the future.
Hanging back, you let the fighting continue waiting for the perfect moment to strike, and that moment was now. Charging in as both sides are too focused on killing each other to notice you. The spear tip of your charge is made of the browns still wearing their new armor, that gleamed silver under the sunlight as they raced to meet the spider riders leaping on the goblins facing away form them and bashing them before turning on their mounts as the greens flank the sides of the enemy invisibly sneaking in to stab unaware enemies from the back. The reds for their part eagerly flung fireballs in their dozens into the ranks of the enemy adding to the confusion as beastmen and greenskin alike were set aflame. Striking out with spell and sorcery you cut down any goblins who turn about to strike at your forces, unconcerned about any poison coated weapons they might attempt to use against you seeing as it would be unlikely for their wooden arrows to pierce your armor and any foe trying to get close would be swarmed by your honor guard of minions.
Even if they did land a strike it was likely your natural resistance to poison would see you through long enough to get back to the tower and create an antivenom.
Carving into the enemy you notice a force moving around to strike at your flank. The centigors from before leveling their glaives as they charge into the brown minions you set up to try and intercept them with their shields and spears. The large creatures charge into your formation, sending a few minions flying and crashing around, getting in among your minions and seeming a bit surprised by how hardy they are. "Perhaps they thought we were goblins, my lord?" Gnarl mentions in your mind.
The minions snarled and leapt upon the centigors like they would a unicorn. Stabbing and beating them causing some of the centigors to stop moving and attempt to buck off their riders or race off with the minions still striking them. One brown was currently striking one in the face, beating it with brass knuckles and knocking out teeth as a result. Moving to protect the reds from the centigors who broke in, you strike out with your evil presence at one centigor stunning them long enough for the red minions to set it ablaze before turning to another and engage it in melee.
Catching the swing of their glaive with Scalpel you halt their swing and drive it into the ground moving in closer seeing as they have the longer range, you slammed bodily into them, making it release a pained grunt as you lift its muscular torso and slammed your fist into its sternum then into its gut forcing air from its lungs. Being an Overlord your strength had always been above the average human with the skills to match, you drove your fist into where the spleen would be making the centigor release a pained bellow forcing it to stumble back.
Your minions who weren't busy closing the gap in your formation begin surrounding the creature slicing at its back legs, hewing tendons and leaping at it, distracting it while you slash away at it. Removing the hand before it can bring its weapon to bear against you. It let out another roar before Scalpel pierced through their heart and exited through the back, blood flowed from the mouth letting out a death chortle until it went limp.
With the centigors dealt with the rest of the battle goes easy, as you lead your minions to attack the remaining goblin and beastmen forces who haven't retreated into the woods yet. By the end of the fighting the forest floor is littered with bodies, most being from the enemy.
Being able to create new minions from fallen foes let you sustain a high attrition in battle and minions being all too willing to loot the wargear of the dead made equipping them all too easy. Plus their bodies would make for good fertilizer for the area indeed.… unless you have to burn them first to prevent contamination. Something to consider.
As the minions stripped the fallen of equipment and valuables, you made your way to what you presume the goblins had been defending during the battle having noticed some type of crude wagon during the conflict off to the side.
Approaching and stepping around the bodies of dead goblins you see several crude barrels. Getting a minion to help open one you are hit with a very powerful odor. One that was familiar but somehow twice as strong. "Beer!" the minions exclaim scenting the fumes, their eyes shining bright. Investigating more it seems to be a type of fungus based alcohol judging from the fuzz around it. The goblins must have been transporting it somewhere, perhaps their camp when they were attacked. "An excellent find master! As you know beer makes the minions much more effective in combat. Hmmm It does remind me that we should get a brewery built in the future. I can't remember the last time I had a nice frothy ale." You swore you heard him patting his belly.
You had to admit the first Overlord who created the minions must have been a master of magic and biomancy to form creatures who got stronger from drinking alcohol and suffered no real effects from hangovers. You hadn't had a chance to examine the internal organs of the minions but you imagine they must have very powerful livers, or some other organ that turns the beverage into strength.
"I'll have Grubby make a gate nearby master. It will make it easier and safer to get that beer back to the tower along with your other spoils." It doesn't take long for Grubby to erect a gate nearby. You spend the time waiting having the minions loot the bodies of the dead gathering up scraps of equipment for the forge, like an iron plate here, chain mail there, whether it be half of it or rusted didn't matter and any treasures they can find for the treasury. You wonder… did the paintings from Spencer mansion survive?
Not much treasure is found but you have a sizable pile of beastmen and goblin wargear as the minions wield new weapons taken fresh from the conflict.
Returning through the gate as the minions carry the spoils of war to different rooms the sun is close to setting as you retire for the day. Tomorrow is a new day for evil and evil continues its path.
Back at the tower the workshop has returned, better than before. Chunks of debris had been hauled out with new work tables and tools setup for making new trap and siege weapon parts along with simple furniture and pottery to give the fortress a more furbished appearance for the halls at least. For the minions to create among countless other items and objects for everyday use.
Brux stands overseeing groups of working minions who gladly began carving wood and molding clay to make evil necessities for the tower. While the room could be improved further with more gold being spent to improve the tools and layout it would suffice for now.
Of course in minion fashion they already began to mess around, turning clay pottery into balls of throwing material or clubs to smack each other over the head. Truly it was becoming like home again.
[]Get Overlording: ♾️ Set out with what minions you have and start exploring the area, murder any creature who gets in your way or just looks at you funny and try to find your missing minions or other resources. (equipment, life force, treasure, evil energy, ???)
[]Resource gathering: ♾️ There's plenty of wood around, set some crews of minions to gather it with your supervision. You can always use more firewood. (raw lumber)
[]Purge the camp (Ruthless):⏳Incinerate the goblin camp before new greenskins emerge (destruction affinity)
[]Get Scouting: Send out a force of green minions to explore the surrounding area and gather information. (information on unexplored areas)
[]Generous: Use the rebuilt workshop to help Malaksson work on his prosthetic arm. (better arm for guide)
[]Siege warfare: Use the workshop and Malaksson's aid to improve your catapults. (better catapults)
[]Curious+Weird: ⏳Collect samples from the most recent battle for study who knows how the internal skeleton structure of those centigors operates. There were also plenty of giant spiders you could study and extract venom and silk from. (spider venom and silk collected)
[]Write in:
Get Overlording: 1d100+20= 82 contested 1d100= 78 life force: 5d4 14 browns. 8 reds. 13 greens. Gold: 1d20+10 11 units. Evil energy: 1d10+4= 14 units of evil energy
Curious: 1d100+20= 42 life force 3d10+2 browns 6. reds 8. greens 6
Culture Crosser (1): 1d100+20= 92
Ruthless (Beastmen): 1d100+40= 57 contested 1d100= 27 3d4+2 5 browns, 8 reds, 5 greens. 28 units of gold. 12 units of evil energy
