NABC Page 125
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Since tearing apart dimensional barriers doesn't require a soul, divine power is currently the only known "working substance" or force capable of breaking them. When the Banshee Queen's divine power was channeled to create the distortion point, Casalos's goal was achieved—destroying dimensional barriers isn't about opening dimensional portals with magic; the process is completely irreversible. When the distortion point at the core of the positive energy plane is established, a wave of divine power will tear it apart. The potential difference between positive and negative energy will be enough to allow positive energy to continuously flow into Thanatos.
There is no need for any vortex pump; the power of "nature" will handle everything else.
Casalos focused intently on the changes in Banshee's Howl. Its arcane eyes, now capable of peering into divine power, watched as the previously stable point of distortion was torn apart by the Banshee Queen's divine pulse, then began to tremble irregularly, like a water balloon punctured by a needle, its internal tension suddenly released, completely disrupting the Banshee Queen's final plan.
A piercing scream came from an indiscernible direction: "The doomsday device is out of control! This is impossible! That was me..." It was the Banshee Queen's voice, sharp and shrill, yet filled with fear and disbelief. Even so, she dared not show herself before the four "adventurers" who had killed the Abyss Lord, and could only hide in the shadows and watch helplessly as the Great Collapse began.
The twisted point burst open into blooming petal-shaped cracks, from which endless positive energy surged forth, like water dripping into ink, stretching into golden, silver, and other dazzling feather-like shapes, instantly transcending the barriers of time and space, spreading throughout the entire 113th layer of the abyss.
The annihilation reaction of positive and negative energy has just begun.
"Go! Now!" Casalos shouted to the other three. As it took off, it flapped its wings, creating a vortex that pulled Elville into the air, then grabbed him with its hind claws. "Get out of this damned plane!"
The dragon nimbly leaped onto Jelllesk's back, and the two dragons simultaneously flapped their wings and burst out from the collapsing Banshee's Tear Tower well.
As if hearing the sound of shattering glass, the dimensional barrier of Thanatos cracked open, and a heavy liquid with silvery starlight overflowed from the cracks, widening and spreading them even more densely. Thanatos was then crushed, breaking into fragments resembling "mirrors," each reflecting the original space enclosed by the cracks.
“Astral matter? Indeed, every plane ‘beyond’ its boundaries lies the astral plane,” Casalos muttered to himself. “But that’s not a place we should be going.”
The ability to reach any inner or outer plane through the astral plane has long revealed its unique nature as a plane between planes. The destruction of Thanatos merely confirms this conjecture once again. However, the astral matter pouring in from the rifts in the planar barrier possesses a vast power capable of annihilating a true god, something that no living being can directly contact.
Flying away from the distortion point, Casalos watched the city rapidly crumble behind them. Countless demons and undead screamed and roared, but none could stop the spread of this cataclysm.
Elville held on tightly
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Casalos's fingernails proclaimed, "Jerlesk needs enough time and a stable ground to channel Bahamut's power!"
“I know!” Casalos roared, increasing his speed. “But we must make sure we’re far enough away from that distortion point, otherwise even if we open the portal, we’ll be torn apart by the shockwave of the plane collapse!”
Longyan gripped the holy sword tightly on the silver dragon's back, the golden light emanating from its blade illuminating their path. He shouted, "Jerlesk! How far are we from safety?"
Silver Dragon responded, "Further away! The fluctuations from the plane collapse are too strong!"
Casalos led the way, navigating through the increasingly dense cracks, as if burrowing from one shard of mirror into another. Finally, he found a relatively large fragment, jerked his body up, and slowed his pace: "This is it! Gerlesk, channel the power of Bahamut! Elvir, prepare the scroll!"
The silver dragon Jerlesk swooped down and crashed to the ground, crushing several panicked demons into mincemeat without a second thought. He rose, folded his wings forward, and sat upright, beginning to chant an ancient dragon prayer. A circle of silvery-white light, like flowing wind, emanated from his body, forming a protective barrier tens of meters in diameter, temporarily withstanding the impact of the plane's collapse.
Casalos led Elville inside and tossed him to the ground. The Archmage, with no time to worry about appearances, hastily scrambled to his feet and retrieved a silver-edged scroll from his dimensional pouch—an astral portal scroll specially prepared before their entry into the Abyss, following Bahamut's instructions. The Archmage swiftly unfurled the scroll and, with focused hand gestures, began chanting a complex incantation.
"Hurry!" Casalos urged, sensing the rapid spread of the dimensional collapse in the distance. "We don't have much time left!"
As Elville completed his speed-up spell, a silver crack appeared in the air, gradually expanding into a portal large enough for a dragon to pass through.
Following their planned evacuation route, the "adventurers" left the crumbling abyss through an astral portal before the Great Collapse reached the ritual site.
At the very last moment before the portal closed, Casalos heard a chaotic roar, as if it originated from the abyss itself. The sound was filled with rage, hatred, and unimaginable pain, sending a strange unease through the dragon soul. It shook its sail-like wings, causing its entire body to sway, trying to banish the feeling from its mind and focus on the path ahead.
The silver river of the astral plane rose high in the distant horizon, then flowed slowly down, with an eerie tranquility as if time itself had stood still—a stark contrast to the chaos of the destruction of Thanatos. A radiant, warm current suddenly arose above everyone's heads, then quickly flowed through their entire bodies.
A gentle and kind voice murmured in the dragon soul, but it was impossible to hear what it was saying.
With the destruction of Sanato, the blessing from the dragon god Bahamut transcended the limitations of planes and descended upon Tobiasternd, Jelllesk, Elvir, and Gairos Dragon Nightmare, the "protagonist" He designated in this event.
The light enveloped the four of them, and Casalos felt that his Bahamut Holy Watcher power had been enhanced to a certain extent—it had probably risen two levels. More blessings were hidden deep within the dragon soul, clearing away the thorns on its future path to becoming a Holy Watcher.
Whether it was the silver dragon or the archmage, they both made progress under the blessing of the dragon god.
However, the greatest gift still belongs to Gallos.
A golden gem, shaped like some kind of seed, appeared in Garros's hand, radiating a warm aura.
"What is this?" Long Yan raised his hand in surprise, staring at the thing that was about the size of his head.
“The blessing of Bahamut has manifested,” Casalos replied. “Congratulations, Garros, you have been recognized by the North Wind King as his representative in Damara. I think you have already heard the details.”
Long Yan gripped the seed tightly, his expression a complex mix of joy and worry: "I never imagined I would receive such an honor... But this seed can free Damara from the threat of demons forever, as long as I plant it on Damara's land, as long as Damara continues to walk the path of goodness."
Casalos chuckled inwardly: From the very beginning, Bahamut's intention was simply to use this to further expand his influence in the North, so that his faith could return to Faerûn.
"Don't be too complacent. Gifts from the Dragon God usually come with responsibilities," Gerlesk cautioned.
The elven mage joked, "I have a feeling that the tree will consume the essence of Damara's land to grow, and it might also attract a bunch of annoying pilgrims."
Long Yan shook his head and laughed, his tone more relaxed than ever before: "Compared to the sacred barrier that can permanently banish demons, these are nothing."
Traveling via the astral plane, the adventurers, carrying Bahamut's blessing, returned to Damara, reaching Heliogabalus. This capital of Damara, after the fall of the Bloodfeather Dynasty, had suffered through court intrigues, noble conflicts, and warlord clashes, nearly destroyed. Although the city was never breached by demons, internal power struggles had left this once glorious city ravaged. When the people saw Galos Dragonnight return, hope rekindled in their eyes.
Garros carried the Gem Tree seed with him and planted it at the confluence of the three rivers of Damara, a place that had once been a colossal altar forged by demons but had now been completely purified. Witnessed by all, Garros buried the Gem Tree seed in the soft, black soil. Within seconds, a sapling, seemingly cast in gold, sprouted at the confluence of the three rivers, growing its first bud made of gemstones, which then unfurled into leaves.
Invisible golden ripples swept across the land of Damara, centered on the sapling.
The demons that remained on this land howled as they were banished back to the abyss. The fate of the undead was even more tragic. Their soul fires were ignited by this power from the gods, and they turned to ashes with silent screams, leaving only their already dead, decaying bodies or skeletons lying on the ground, rotting into a pile.
The orcs, goblins, and other evil creatures in the army of the conquerors watched in bewilderment as the main force of their troops vanished one by one, falling one after another. Even the distant horns of the Damara army's counterattack failed to bring them to their senses.
The golden tree symbolized Damara's transformation into Bahamut's backyard in Faerûn. As long as Damara remained aligned with good, Bahamut, the Lord of the North Wind, would forever protect the kingdom from demonic influence. The people of the city cheered, kneeling before the newly grown, ever-growing tree with its increasingly lush, jewel-encrusted leaves. The name of Gaelos Dragonnight was proclaimed; he had successfully freed Damara from demonic interference, granting it a degree of peace and freedom—a feat never before seen in the entire northern demonic lands.
However, the nobles of Damara remain embroiled in internal strife, vying for the throne. The threat of demons and undead armies has only recently been eliminated, yet true peace has yet to be found within the kingdom. Gaelos Dragonnight, chosen by Bahamut as his representative, bears the heavy responsibility of quelling the rebellion, rather than immediately ascending to the throne. His paladin's character dictates that he will not rashly seize the throne during this chaotic time, but rather strive to truly bring peace and order to the people.
Casalos stood at the back of the crowd, his wings lazily folded back, silently watching everything.
"Aren't you going to accept their cheers?" the elven archmage Elville asked in a low voice, standing beside it. "After all, you were also a contributor to this victory."
“No, this is his moment.” Casalos shook his head. “Besides, humans are more likely to accept miracles brought about by humans.”
"So what are your plans next?"
“Me?” Casalos gave a meaningful smile. “I think it’s time for me to say goodbye. As a Golden Dragon Holy Watcher, it is not appropriate for me to get involved in the internal strife of human regimes.”
埃尔
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Will raised an eyebrow but didn't press the matter. As an older elf, he considered himself quite knowledgeable. The golden dragons certainly had their own plans, and their pride wouldn't allow humanoids to get involved.
Three days later, at a grand celebration, Gairos Dragonnight announced to the people that he would dedicate himself to quelling the internal strife and restoring order to Damara. Although people expected him to immediately ascend the throne, he firmly believed that his mission went beyond that; he must first restore peace to the land before discussing the future of a unified kingdom. Regardless, in the eyes of the people, he was already the only divine king of Damara's future, only the time was not yet ripe.
Under the cover of night, Tobiased quietly left the city and flew south into the distant sky...
14. Cornerstone
After the turmoil subsided, aerial travel in the Prime Material Plane became calm and uninteresting. Casalos traveled above the sea of clouds for a moment, then simply took out a magic scroll, opened a portal connecting to the Dragon Territory, and returned without taking a single cloud with him.
Upon returning to Dragon Territory, Casalos reverted to its true form as an iron dragon, its silvery-white metallic scales shimmering in the dim light. It stretched its wings, savoring the comfort of returning to its original form. While Tobiastern's disguise wasn't as cramped as its human form, it was never as comfortable as its original one.
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“Let Bahamut worry about that stupid golden tree,” Casalos muttered to himself. “Tobiased would be better off disappearing for a while; that would be more in line with its identity as a devout and righteous ascetic.”
Inside the snowy mountain fortress, dozens of half-dragon kobold elders stood in formation, awaiting their arrival. They were Casaloz's core advisors, each responsible for a different aspect of the Dragonflight. These aged yet wise old dogs, having undergone half-dragonification, had gained enhanced physical and mental abilities, becoming the Dragonflight's most capable administrative assistants. Behind them stood a group of neatly dressed male drow elves; these former slaves now served as scribes and secretaries, eager to prove their worth and loyalty.
Elder Skalgrim, the kobold elder, was the first to report, presenting a detailed post-war report: "My lord, intelligence and predictions regarding Damara: the Golden Tree is growing far faster than expected, and the civil war in Damara is expected to subside within three weeks. Under the influence of Bahamut's divine power, the nobles who were originally at odds will tend to seek reconciliation rather than war within a few days."
“That’s good news.” Casalos conjured a mage’s hand and flipped through the report. “What are Galos’s next plans?”
“According to our intelligence, he plans to hold a large conference within three months, inviting all influential nobles to participate. The aim is to rebuild the political order of Damara,” Skalgreen explained, as a Drow scribe immediately scribbled down the conversation on parchment. “But Damara is currently in dire need of rebuilding; they urgently require all kinds of resources and skilled personnel. Nobles from all sides are seeking external support.”
“Hmm, this is a good opportunity.” A sly glint flashed in Casalos’s eyes. “Trade agreements signed before the turmoil can now come into play.”
Skarglin nodded slightly, immediately understanding its master's meaning. At its signal, another elder, Krimnett, responsible for production and reconstruction, stepped forward and handed over a second document: "Master, regarding the reconstruction progress of Waterdeep and Baldur's Gate—the infrastructure repairs of both cities are 75% complete, but the recovery of commerce within the cities is progressing slowly. Those human nobles…"
"Find a few typical examples, kill them, and hang them on the city wall. That will speed things up considerably. As for what happens after that, we'll deal with that later."
"As you command... However, our factory capacity is no longer sufficient to meet the needs of large-scale reconstruction in all three locations simultaneously."
Casalos nodded, his head still disproportionately large. This situation was entirely expected—he hadn't initially planned to seize Deepwater Territory and Baldur's City amidst the turmoil. The two territories essentially covered half of Sword Coast, with a total population exceeding one million, dozens of times that of Dragon Territory. Faced with such a massive expansion, Dragon Territory faced far more than just insufficient production capacity.
"How much exactly is the difference?"
“Based on current production capacity, we estimate it will take an additional 7 years to complete the reconstruction of the three locations. But if Water Deep City doesn’t show any significant progress within 2 years, there will definitely be a large-scale secondary population loss…” Krimnett explained in detail.
Casalos clicked its iron beak, allocating its pseudo-Laplace's demonic computational power, which was adept at combat simulation, to this rather unsuitable task of calculation. After a moment's thought, it said, "So the key problem is insufficient production capacity, the factory is too small, and the number of workers is limited." It stood up and paced, its tail tip gently tapping the ground. "Has anyone suggested expanding the use of local labor?"
“Yes, sir,” Elder Gramdock, who was in charge of population statistics and labor allocation, replied. “That is precisely the current predicament. The local inhabitants of Waterdeep and Baldur’s Gate are indeed numerous, but they lack the necessary skills. Our skilled workers have to be dispersed to various construction sites to supervise the work, which has severely slowed down the overall progress.”
“Skills problem…” Casalos repeated softly, “They lack skills because they lack education.”
Upon hearing this, the kobold elders and drow scribes in the entire conference room seemed to sense something, and they all straightened their backs, awaiting the Dragon Lord's decision.
"We are not just rebuilding the cities, but also rebuilding the people—through education," it announced. "I want you to immediately draft a plan to establish a series of schools in Waterdeep and Baldur's Gate, covering everything from basic literacy and arithmetic to advanced magical engineering."
“My lord, this requires a lot of resources and manpower… The location isn’t a problem, and the school’s construction can be included in the reconstruction project as a high priority, but the teaching staff will be a major issue,” Elder Hogville, who is currently in charge of cultural education within Dragon Territory, raised the question.
"The teacher shortage isn't complicated," Casalos replied confidently. "Basic education can be recruited from the residents of Deepwater Territory. I'm confident we can find enough literate, patient, and caring individuals. Just have Kenneth and Charleson focus on that. As for higher education..."
It paused, a magical glint flashing in its indigo vertical pupils: "We have technicians from Dragonflight, and a large number of registered mages under the rule of Deepwater and Baldur's Gate. The chaos of magic has shattered their arrogance, and now it's time for them to contribute to society. And then there's that group of scroll dragons I... well, those I persuaded to come. And don't forget, there are quite a few singing dragons gathered outside Deepwater, and a considerable number of hidden dragons within the city. They are all excellent candidates for teaching."
“But Lady Isis…” Elder Damteske, who was in charge of religious affairs and diplomacy, hesitated before speaking.
“Isis is indeed unable to intervene directly right now.” Casalos shook his head. “The change of gods is not something that can be accomplished in a short time. As newly appointed goddesses of magic, she and Midnight are not yet able to respond to the prayers of non-devout believers. Moreover, the original followers of the goddesses of magic all invoked the name Mystra, and they need time to build their own base of followers.”
After a moment's thought, it added, "But this is actually an opportunity. Popularizing education, especially magical education, is the best way to expand their base of followers. We can start by establishing an education system to pave the way for them."
“You mean…” Hogville seemed to be thinking.
"Let the Dragon Lord lead the establishment of this education system, but don't overemphasize whose credit it is," Casalos explained.
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"In this way, we can solve our production capacity problem, accumulate potential believers for Isis and Midnight, and further expand the influence of Dragon Territory. It's a win-win-win situation."
The staff exchanged glances, assessing the feasibility and potential risks of the plan. Finally, Scalgren, as the chief advisor, spoke on behalf of the entire team: "The Dragon Lord's vision is extremely farsighted. It not only solves the immediate problem but also lays the foundation for the future. The staff will fully support it."
The Zhuoer scribes buried themselves in recording every detail, their ink-filled pens moving swiftly across the pristine white paper, making a gurgling sound, yet they didn't miss a single important piece of information.
“Very good,” Casalos decided, “Now, let’s talk about the specific details of implementing the education plan.”
"Regarding the trade goods of Damara," said Elder Vickstall, who was in charge of intelligence and disguise, "what kind of samples and displays should we prepare?"
“Prepare the best.” Casalos’s eyes narrowed slightly. “I want to show the nobles of Damara what true ‘magical industry’ really is. To make them understand that instead of fighting each other, they should unite to develop production. Only in this way can they truly escape the shadow of the abyss.”
Vekstar nodded and noted it down. Then, Elder Targrim, who was in charge of border and outer territory affairs, asked, "My lord, what are the arrangements for the Underdark and Tindor?"
"What's the situation underground?" Casalos asked.
“The situation in the underground Dragon Territory has largely stabilized,” Targrim replied. “The reinforcement work following the collapse of the dome is 95% complete, and agricultural output has recovered to pre-turmoil levels. As for Tindor, the refugee crisis on the plains has been effectively managed, and approximately 40,000 people now live and work under the influence of the Dragon Territory.”
"What happened to Tunaras after the Astral Expeditionary Force and the Construction Legion were transferred to Sword Coast?"
"With your authorization, we have made adjustments," Elder Gremska, who is in charge of military and defense, reported. "After completing the suppression of the shallow layers of the Leyline Maze, half of the elite forces have returned to the Astral Forward Base to continue eliminating the remaining Astral forces and fortresses of the Githyanki and to maintain control over Tunalas; the other half have been assigned to two fronts to assist in reconstruction."
Casalos nodded in satisfaction: “Very good, I will personally visit and make adjustments soon. Now, let’s get to the work at hand. Hogville, regarding the education plan, I would like you and your team to come up with a more detailed implementation plan. We need to determine the school’s size, location, curriculum, and teacher allocation. We should make the most of existing resources, but not skimp on necessary investments.”
“Yes, my lord,” Hogville replied respectfully.
Over the next few hours, the staff worked with Casalos to refine the details of the education expansion plan. Each elder offered expert advice from their respective areas of responsibility, while the drow scribes recorded every decision and plan. From basic literacy classes to specialized artisan training, and finally to advanced magical engineering academies, a complete education system gradually took shape.
"This is not just a solution to the current production capacity shortage," Casalos concluded at the end of the meeting, "but also the cornerstone of Dragon Territory's long-term development. Remember, true power is not gained through conquest, but through influence and cultivation. We must ensure that people not only live under Dragon Territory's rule, but also recognize Dragon Territory's values, spontaneously follow our ideals, and willingly become a part of Dragon Territory, taking pride in being Dragon Territory people. Only in this way can Dragon Territory truly stand firm on the continent."
The staff members responded in unison, each leaving the conference room with a specific task. The Zhuoer clerks quickly organized the recorded documents and distributed them to the heads of various departments. The entire Dragon Territory was operating at high speed like a sophisticated machine—but whether it could continue like this after the millions of Sword Bay people joined in the future was an unanswerable question.
15. The First Academy
Mornings in Waterdeep always begin with the hustle and bustle of the docks. In the third month since the gods returned to their places, the Crown of the North continues its astonishing recovery. The highly efficient reconstruction methods brought by the Dragon Vein Engineering Team have allowed many former ruins to rise again as new buildings.
However, today's commotion was different from usual. At the foot of Deep Water Hill, a complex of buildings covering nearly two hectares was crowded with people. The exterior walls of the buildings were made of smooth blue and white stone, and at the entrance was a pair of huge open arches, above which were carved the simple yet solemn words "Deep Water City First Public College".
"I heard that as long as you can pronounce your own name, you can be admitted!" a simply dressed boy excitedly told his companion.
“Nonsense, you have to be able to count to at least one hundred!” another child retorted.
“That’s not right. My uncle said the academy accepts everyone, regardless of whether you can read or do math.” A third voice joined the discussion. “They will group students according to their abilities.”
Among the crowd, several half-dragons and dragon vein goblins in neat uniforms were maintaining order and guiding people to line up for registration. They held signs that read "Deepwater City Public College Admissions Office" and patiently answered people's various questions.
In the center of the open space in front of the academy, a drow male who, to the eyes of other races, might be a woman, was directing staff to arrange the registration area. "She" was dressed in the distinctive administrative uniform of Dragonflight, and her demeanor was efficient and confident, completely unlike the drow who usually hid in the shadows in Waterdeep.
"Recorder Hescolara, we're running out of registration forms for the West District," a kobold assistant rushed in to report.
"Immediately allocate two thousand copies from the central warehouse, and at the same time, notify the printing press to expedite production." Zhuo'er decisively issued the order, then turned to another assistant, "Notify all registration points that if there aren't enough forms, they can record basic information first, and supplement the details later. We can't keep anyone who wants to learn waiting too long."
Just then, the academy gates slowly opened, and several humans and elves dressed in robes of different styles emerged. They possessed distinct airs, yet all shared a scholarly composure. Leading them was an elderly elf with silver hair; he surveyed the crowd, smiled, and spoke:
"Residents of Waterdeep, welcome to the Public Academy. I am Adniel Starfall, the Provost of the Academy. Today is the first day of admissions, and the Academy will provide educational opportunities for everyone, regardless of your race, background, or wealth."
Although his voice wasn't amplified by magic, it possessed a natural penetrating power, resounding throughout the entire square: "Knowledge is the most powerful force, and education is the key to acquiring knowledge. Here, you will learn reading and writing, arithmetic, magical theory, mechanical engineering, civil engineering, and many other useful skills."
A cheer erupted from the crowd. For most ordinary residents of Waterdeep and indeed the entire continent of Faerûn, formal education had always been the privilege of nobles and the wealthy. Being able to receive education for free was an incredible stroke of luck—well, most people didn't yet realize the importance of education, mainly because the schools run by the Dragon Lord provided room and board. Sending children who couldn't work to school saved their families a considerable amount of money and allowed them to earn a few more copper coins.
Under the dragon's rule, setting aside everything else, the mere fact that one could earn money based on the amount of work done was enough to ignite a spark of passion for life among the suffering masses. Foremen, merchants, and minor nobles who used to delay paying wages under various pretexts, after dozens of them had been hanged by the ferocious little dog-headed men in three months, were no longer stingy with their pay.