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77.77% The Ascendant Soul (DND-Faerun) / Chapter 21: Leaving the Bookstore

Chapter 21: Leaving the Bookstore

(Author Note: I think Intelligence stats and Wisdom stats are always fucked up in stories, limited by the intelligence of the author, so I apologise if it is not a perfect representation... But I will try my best to make her seem like she actually has 27 Intelligence. Thanks for listening to me convey this, hope you enjoy!)

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Twenty days had gone by in a similar way to the very first day that I had read 10 books. Missions were completed in quick succession as I soon surpassed 40 books, reaching into the hundreds... My mission's cap had long since surpassed the hundreds, getting up to 1280 books needed to be read. My rewards were plentiful and my proficiencies in arcana, history and nature were profoundly insane in comparison to before.

{ Completed-Book Junky Supreme| +1 to Arcana Proficiency, +1 to History Proficiency, +1 to Nature Proficiency, +2000 Experience| (Read 20 Books: 40/40) }

{ Completed-Book Junky Supreme| +1 to Arcana Proficiency, +1 to History Proficiency, +1 to Nature Proficiency, +4000 Experience| (Read 20 Books: 80/80) }

{ Completed-Book Junky Supreme| +1 to Arcana Proficiency, +1 to History Proficiency, +1 to Nature Proficiency, +8000 Experience| (Read 20 Books: 160/160) }

{ Completed-Book Junky Supreme| +1 to Arcana Proficiency, +1 to History Proficiency, +1 to Nature Proficiency, +16,000 Experience| (Read 20 Books: 320/320) }

{ Completed-Book Junky Supreme| +1 to Arcana Proficiency, +1 to History Proficiency, +1 to Nature Proficiency, +32,000 Experience| (Read 20 Books: 640/640) }

{ 6-Book Junky Supreme| +1 to Arcana Proficiency, +1 to History Proficiency, +1 to Nature Proficiency, +64,000 Experience| (Read 20 Books: 1259/1280) }

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Name- Lumin'ara'el | Species- Aasimar |

Titles- Book Worm Wizard | Religious Connection- Ao, God of Creation

(Wizard) LEVEL- 7 |5200/64,000|

Section Points- 5

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Proficiencies-

Bonus (+2)

Athletics : +3

Acrobatics : +2

Sleight of Hand : +2

Stealth : +4

Arcana : +14

History : +16

Investigation : +8

Nature : +14

Religion : +8

Animal Handling : +5

Insight : +8

Medicine : +5

Perception : +5

Survival : +4

Deception : +1

Intimidation: +1

Performance : +1

Persuasion : +1

Magic Schools- 

~Proficiency in all schools of Basic Magic (Transmutation, Enchantment, Necromancy, Divination, Abjuration, Evocation, Conjuration and Illusion)

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{ Completed- The Outer Planes| Book on Fiends, Book on Fey, Book on Celestials, Book on Aberrations, Book on Undead, Book on Elementals }

{ Completed- The Bridge, it moves? | Knowledge on basic Mechanics, Essential Transmutation Spells Weave Level 1 }

My efforts were mainly spent on gaining access to higher level magic and expanding my ability to use magic. After a few days of experimenting by using first level spells I found that I could also now caste a third, my limits expanding with my experimentation. The results started to change after those first few days, expanding to the point that I could start to use some second level spells that were outlined in some of the books. From Arcanist's Magic Aura to Blur, I was able to disguise my magical aura and even my species type to magical sensors. To be honest it was a very powerful spell that was perfect for my existence as an Aasimar of Ao.

The semantic, verbal and material components of the spell were rather simple. Speaking the power word, "Arcantombra" , followed by the arching of the hands in a wave-like motion towards my chest with a piece of silk held between each hand. Honestly each spell had specific requirements for bodily movements, verbal components or material components. As I had found out before the magic had principles behind it, such as taking materials that could be used to make gunpowder as a part of the process to caste a fire spell... Some spells were less specific than others, whilst many were very particular with ingredients needed. As it was, the only reason I could caste most of these spells was due to the components pouch I had received that had a total of 100 gold worth of materials.

By the end of the first week I had discovered what the Soul Bound Grimoire was for... It was a channel for my spells that allowed me to skip some of the material component costs for my magecraft. I did not know the extent to which it would be able to replace such components, but either way it helped me immensely. Besides that it also served as a book for me to write down my spells, allowing permanence in any writing I placed within it. Another good aspect of it was the fact that it was summonable for me, as In I could just make it disappear and reappear at will. Honestly, if anyone had told me a month ago I'd be slinging spells and even have my own spell book I would have called them a madman. But no, it was reality for me now.

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{ Completed- Discover the purpose of the Soul-bound Grimoire| 100 Gold, +1 Section Point }

{ Section Points- 6 }

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Inventory (200m^3) - Map of Faerûn , Compass, Adventurer's Camp Clothes, Spell Book of Cantrips, 2050 Gold, Ring of Protection, Soul Bound Grimoire, Immovable Rod, Evocation Spell Book 1st, Abjuration Spell Book 1st, 

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Besides my completion of that particular mission I also completed my other missions, except the Polyglot one, as it was a touch more difficult for me to learn at the same time I was exploring the arcane. The Geopolitical mission was rather simple and earned me some very intriguing books about Mystra's chosen, Elminster Aumar, including the information of some rather concerning forces in the world. The Illithids were massively worrying to me as they presented a threat to everyone and everything, with very little being done to put up resistance against any sort of incursion that may happen, supposedly. Thay was another matter as it was a literal land of doom and gloom, perpetual night time being strewn across the entire nation. 

The concerning part? No other nation really intended to stop them or band together to wipe out these liches. To me it seemed stupid but there were most likely matters I was not in the know of... Intelligence without Wisdom was a curse, Wisdom without Intelligence a similar malady... But, I had both, in decent amounts. Thus I dropped the topics for now until i earned more missions or got said info. My life was currently spent to in becoming powerful enough not to be squashed by any moderate threat, let alone striving to deal with despotic forces of evil or good.

The second week went by in a similar manner, my speed of increasing my spell knowledge slowing considerably amidst the lengthy complex runic arithmetic that was used in these tomes. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't too much of an issue as I was capable of casting my first 'third level' spell by the end of the week... But I was slower now than when I first began on 1st level spellcraft. I did notice some further curiosities with the weave at this level though. 

It tightened and flexed, almost as if it were musculature of some form instead of its liquid nature. Resistance was given to the more expansive directions present inside the 3rd level spells. Issues were present in my casting these times, but I quickly found that it was due to the improper posture of my body as I waved my hands... My body was far more important in placement as I sowed the magic together at this level, almost as if it were asking me to have etiquette at the very least. In a way it was all too similar to having to attend a fancy dinner. Putting on your best presentation, eating with forks and spoons... Except, in this case, it was posture and proper flexing of the fingers. And, by the time I got this all figured out, I began to wonder how wizards use this shit in battle so proficiently as they do in Baldurs Gate III.

With the next six days I finished learning the first 3rd level spell I had chosen, Clairvoyance. It was a beautiful magic that allowed me to create a magical sensor in which I could place anywhere I had seen or been before. It's summon radius was 1 Mile and it could be listened through or be seen through by myself at a whim. Meaning it could allow me to hear the secret plans of Gwen and her father from anywhere in the city practically. The rest of my time was spent in studying magical theory surrounding the topic of experimenting with various aspects that created a spell. By the end of my studying I came to understand that my connection to the weave was most important in allowing me to manipulate more of it. Most wizards tended to enhance this connection by tending to the weave for a long time, or continuously using it.

For example... My growth from being able to cast two level 1 spells to now being able to cast four or more, plus a couple 2nd level spells and a singular 3rd, was this exact method. Now it was definitely true that I had a bond with the weave that many didn't, my sensing of it and ability to see it at all times justifying this conclusion... But this wasn't a unique method, I was just faster at it than most. Which, as opposed to some people's views, was a bad thing in the long run. My confidence could possibly get in the way of actual results alongside the missing of details due to the ease with which I can form spells. To clarify, I was suffering from success. I was too good at nailing spells, it made me miss details that other wizards or mages would have easily retconned from their castings. From the book of Elminster, he spoke about flaws in other wizard's spells being a constant boon for him in combat... There wasn't much more spoken about with regards to combat in his book, but the flaws segment did worry me a touch, given how easy I was doing everything.

Unfortunately my time was up in the Ubiquitous Binder, the entity which I now knew was fey in origin, sitting there still reading through his blank book. No magic could be sensed by me coming from the environment, but much like the aura spell, magic was easy to conceal given enough prowess.

"Huuu... Woman, you are a prodigy of unforeseen prowess. Never have I seen anyone go from the capabilities of an apprentice to a basic Mage within such a small period of time. The weave has blessed you in some way, or your bloodline is blessed by celestial powers. Either way I will simply say this..." 

His words hung in the atmosphere as his slightly masculine and creepy voice echoed out into the massive chamber that made the centre of this book collection. I blinked a few times and regarded him neutrally whilst listening.

"Step lightly, oh bearer of knowledge and flame,

For power unguarded is a perilous game.

Eyes that peer into secrets arcane,

May find that the darkness peers back just the same.

In spells and in shadows, choose wisely your key,

Not all doors once opened will let you be free.

Remember, young mage, in the arcane's embrace,

One's brightest of powers leave the darkest of trace."

The form of the fey shrunk down to human size as their features solidified into a starkly elvish appearance. Broad of shoulders but lithe in musculature his entire aura changed to that of a somewhat proud heir of a family, a noble countenance spreading across his delicate rigid features in cautious bearing. Eyes of the deepest oceans stared at me as his ears glowed a dull silver, his hair long and flowing, sparking backwards adrift, as if pulled by gravity in the opposite direction to the ground. 

Words tried to escape my mouth, my reaction to his words all but lost amidst the silence that loomed over the entire room, before a bright flash consumed all around me. The light sluggishly peeling back as the bookstore had now become vacant, all bookshelves cleaned of any tomes and all dust, signs of life or inanimate objects were eradicated... It was as clean as a hospital waiting room without patients. Standing amidst the quiet for a small while I couldn't help but remember the minute aid that he had lent to me in studying and finding certain books.

"Thank you. Friend. Shall we meet again and you need help, I'd be willing."

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Chapter 22: Spying...

Stepping out from the Ubiquitous Binder I straightened out my cloak and clothing, ensuring that my Grimoire was away before continuing on. My safety was still under question and my intention was to escape Iriaebor with alacrity so I could dodge any shady assassination attempts. Through my twenty days I had seen no sign of retribution but I was far too intelligent to believe that they had given up... No, they would wait a month if they were wise, and kill me whilst I did not suspect it. As it is I have been most likely followed discreetly by spies or assassins, measuring my every move and action.

Today would have to be me last day in Iriaebor. But, before I could set off there was some small details that needed to be taken care of. First, I needed transport from Iriaebor to Baldurs Gate. Second, I needed to use my Clairvoyance spell to understand what Gwen's father was up to. Thirdly I would need to use invisibility to dodge any suspecting eyes for an hour, then I will switch clothes. Tracking spells were a possibility for them, but they were rare for most people to be able to cast and most Assassins would most likely not have those abilities. At this stage I had no response to locate spells as they were totally separate to identification magic of one's species and alignment in religious terms.

I started to walk calmly through the streets of the upper district of Iriaebor, away from the Emissary Inn where I usually stayed. No one was paying too much attention to me, that I could identify, but that did not mean there wasn't one... Thus, I watched several alleyways slip past me before I found a small, clogged and barely maintained alley. One that I could slink into and cast my invisibility spell. This would use one of my 2nd level spells, one of three that I had access to, a painful expense but one that would allow me to dodge suspicion. Ducking into the alley with a modicum of anxiety I immediately reached into my component pouch, grasping a single eyelash encased in gum and throwing it in the air before me as I crisscrossed my arms and clasped my eyes for a moment. The Weave stirred as I felt a slimy frigidness coalesce within the skin on my arms, slowly radiating into my musculature and until to was all consuming.

Taking my arms away I blinked and gazed downwards, finding no body where there once was. Not even a shimmer was noticeable from my as the light was perfectly deflected and representative of what was in front, beside or behind me. Shaking my head to stop myself marvelling I shrunk down into a crouch in a small alcove of abandoned barrels and refuse. Slowing my breathing to conceal myself more effectively, I bided my time, hoping to see a figure, which I had believed was always following me, pop into the alleyway. 

Like clockwork my assumptions were correct. A thick figure dressed in all black clothing and sporting a thick collection of facial wraps began to traipse through the alley. It seemed that my absence from the other side of the alley drew the figure's attention, a slip in detail that made me curse myself. Frowning in discomfort I awaited their passing. They took several minutes before they was satisfied with their sleuth, never seeing me or inspecting near me as it was 'too open' to hide in. Obviously my chaser knew nothing about magic or the fact I knew it, they left themselves open to so many spells and shenanigans that it was almost hard for me not to mess with them... Luckily I waited however, as multiple figures began talking with the first figure. The conversation was impossible to hear from this distance but based purely off of body language I could tell they were flustered. No doubt the contract from Gwen's father was substantial and messing up would cost them dearly.

'Step one complete... Now I need to wander around and switch clothing. Once that is done I need to go across the bridge and find a transport to Baldurs Gate. I'll get a drink at a tavern and do a quick Clairvoyance on Ville Family's compound.'

With my plan set I spent my next hour quietly stealing clothing articles and different elements that were usable in an outfit. It was surprisingly simple with my inventory as all I needed was a single touch and it entered into it. Theft wasn't my first resort but honestly I only used it to dodge death and suspicion. Despite feeling bad I continued on, crossing the bridge between the two segments of Iriaebor with the last ten to twenty minutes of my spell, jumping into a side alley when it was almost finished. From this point I didn't change my clothes, i simply put the new ones on over the top. It was bloody hot, but it would save being seen naked or spotted whilst I had my pants down. 

My new clothes were rather bright, having interlacing stripes of blue and orange along its exterior. A droopy beret slumped over the top of my forehead as I tied up my hair as quickly as I could. My Elven boots were the same, but they were somewhat covered by the poufy striped pants that draped over the top of them. I looked like a real idiot, but this was the perfect disguise as I had never been seen in anything other than the clothes I had first entered Iriaebor with. Coughing somewhat, I tried to change my voice. The hope was real, but it didn't work at all. I was horrid in accents and honestly that was fair since I was barely able to talk without the language section I had gotten, which was hindering me more than aiding me at this stage.

{Section can be removed for full refund of section points?}

'Not now... Anything is better than nothing.'

The small screen on my framework dropped away as I stepped out of the alley, only to find several commoners looking at me with wide eyes and smiles on their faces. I paled somewhat before smiling at them and quickly strutting towards the nearest inn or tavern. Which was utterly easy, because there was one just a small trek away. Swords crossing above the head of a wolf being the symbol that hung from a sign on the exterior of the building. Drunken crooning and shouts emanated as if a dirge from a funeral as a wooden windowsill was blown out, a body following the splintered wood as it landed on the cold hard dirt outside, passed out. Boisterous laughter raucously wafted through the opening before the window area started to slowly repair through a usage of the weave. Unlike my magic, which was basic, this was a couple levels above my maximum; The Weave interweaving with each fragment and scooping it up and back into its previous form. Within seconds the damage was undone, a rather raspy voice booming in the interior as everything else turned utterly quiet.

"Fucking fools! Enough! If I have to repair one more fucking window then I will turn you into toads...!"

The tavern slipped into a lull of silence, everyone not wishing to piss off whoever had just repaired that damage. The clinking of drinks started to continue once more but it was subdued, many men walking out the front door like scolded children. Some spared a glance for me, grumbling more as they assumed I was a bard that was coming to play my art, something they would no doubt miss now that they were kicked out.

"I missed the bloody bard as well... This day sucks...!"

The large but slow looking man kicked the dirt before him, tripping on a small pebble and eating shit within the next second as his friends all cackled like madmen. He grumbled for a few more seconds until he started to chuckle and join his friends in the laughter.

Shaking my head at them I straightened out my garb and stepped up the very small steps of the entrance. The exterior wasn't that bad, rugged, but maintained well with a lot of dedication put into the restoration of the door. Opening the door and walking through I was met by the gazes of every single patron in the Tavern, hundreds of men and a smaller amount of women. It seemed that it was break time at work or something as there were dockworkers and even some shop owners drinking meed and eating some small meals. Excitement flushed through many of the tavern goers as they marked my clothing as those of a bard no doubt. To be completely honest the guise was awesome at hiding my original 'identity', but it was worrying me to have this many eyes on me, practically begging for me to play music or sing with their souls.

"Enough! Don't bloody scare the woman you fish-for-brains! Looks like the good bard has been walking for a long while."

A portly woman of kind face and hardy sinew stepped forwards and slapped the head of one of the patrons, a hiss of pain echoing from him before he went quiet and started minding his own business. I don't know how she was able to tell I had been walking for an hour or more, but she did and I didn't care at this point...

"Lady bard. Come, come, I'll get you a pint!" 

A man of similar age as the portly woman gestured towards me, the weave gravitating around him somewhat as the wand on the side of his belt gave me a feeling that I hadn't sensed before. It wasn't desire or want, it was more akin to curiosity and focal concentration. Not wanting to be unkind or disregarding of kindness I walked up to the bar where the man was sat and smiled, keeping my persona up for now.

"Thanks. It's been a while since I've had a pint." This wasn't a lie, I hadn't touched alcohol since I got absolutely smashed in the Emissary with-

"No problems! Martha, could ye get her a pin-"

"Yes Jonathan, i bloody heard... Now, dear bard, how is the countryside these days?" Panic internally flew through me but I quickly stamped it down and began speaking.

 "Near the Snake Woods I heard, and saw, a red dragon fighting something nastily. There were some elves I was staying with, and, well... You can guess the rest..."

Shock plastered itself over their faces as they slid me my pint and leaned in, like gossipers from my last life. Humanity never changed and it seemed some species other than human had a lot of similar traits to humans with regard to emotions and ego. How could I say this? Well a Tiefling at the side of Jonathan was listening with an upturned head, trying to play off as if he weren't listening.

"No, no, no, tell us...! Please...!"

"Well, I first heard the screeching of the wind and sky as a mighty roar resounded over the entire encampment. I had been staying with them during this time, learning Elvish and some techniques of theirs and I was there for all of it. Fire rained down from the sky in orange and red hues, screams echoed into the sky as flesh was, sloughed off of people's bodies. Children and Women crying out for held from their husbands as the fire consumed them."

Tears slipped from the eyes of Martha as Jonathan was a little pale, his right hand tensed until it was white in rage. The Tiefling was also angered by the description as his tail whipped the nearby stools. I continued.

"Naturally I was flabbergasted by the entire ordeal, I mean who expects a dragon to attack from nowhere? Anyway. I tried to rush out and save a family that was rushing towards my tent, one of the only tents that weren't affected. They thanked me as I got closer towards them, only for the wind to buffet above me, the movement of dragon wings making this small tempest... What happened next was similar to the details I have already given you... They died whilst singing my praises, burning alive as magic was flung at the dragon in the next few seconds."

"Before I could do anything the dragon had moved on, attacking the druid who ran the encampment. A fair distance from where they were fighting now, I grabbed my bow and some other items, attempting to rush over to aid..."

Martha gasped as Jonathan picked up.

"It didn't end well, did it?"

"A woman who I had been getting close to and been learning from was but a charred pile of bones by the time i got there, the remainder of the bodies in a similar state. The only reason I was able to tell it was the one who taught me, was the single trinket that remained on the dirt before her, a contraption I had acquired from a far off land..."

I took out the lighter, it's exterior slightly melted and its metallic elements still soot soaked by what had happened that day. Martha and Jonathan sighed sadly, their eyes meeting a few times as he began to stare off in contemplation. The Tiefling sighed loudly as he rolled three gold over to my spot at the bar, his tail hanging low as he stood up.

"I am glad you survived Bard, now they will live on forever in your stories and in our hearts."

His words were rather strong and masculine in emotionlessness, but I could tell that he was deeply saddened by the story. I did not know who he was or why he had seen to pay me, but I appreciated him nonetheless.

"Thanks. I guess they will live on through everyone I tell, huh...?" Sighing after my rhetorical question I stood and walked over to a distant corner that was unoccupied. My meed was in my hand as my thoughts turned to the events of that day unwillingly. PTSD was not what I would call this, it instead felt more like recollection. I never wanted to feel that hopeless again, it was utterly devastating to feel that emotion during terrible circumstances.

'Snap out of it me! I need to cast the spell and move onwards as quickly as possible to Baldurs Gate.' Shaking my head from my thoughts I sat down and pulled out a crystal horn and a glass eye. Placing them down behind my meed mug I began to cast the Clairvoyance spell, my hands holding both the horn and eye as I spoke the verbal component of the spell... "Praevisionis".

The image of the location I wished to look in on emerged in my head, on a floating book. Almost like an iPhone but heavily influenced by the medieval standards of this world. Selecting that image by focussing my entire mind on it my vision zoomed through space. In an instant I was floating in the air above the large wooden table that Gwen's father used for eating. It seemed I was lucky as he was sitting there at the current moment, his teeth chewing on lamb as off to the side a man eerily similar to the man who had creeped through the alley just an hour or so ago. Switching to hearing I began to listen in on their private conversation

"So that sow got away?"

"Yes, my lord."

"Can't thou succeed at anything?"

"We are trying my lord... She has slithered in-between our grasp for now, but we will find her."

There was a pause.

"If she escapes our grasp and tells other kingdoms that my own daughter wishes to kill me, it would mean chaos politically. You... You must! Kill her!"

"Your will be done my lord..."

"Fuck the lord shit! Just fucking gut her, make sure that her head is before me within a day!"

"Yes...It will be done..."

Footsteps resounded for a short time as I switched to vision once again, noting the obvious hatred wreathed on Gwen's father's face. It seemed I had very little time and needed to retreat at a much more rapid pace... Not to mention the amount of information I could spill. He was a little more frantic about ending me than I was expecting. Because even if I were to expose the relationship between him and his daughter I had no way to verify it and that was even if I could get to tell the royalty of the kingdoms surrounding Iriaebor.

'He is paranoid. His actions are erratic and desperate, it seems his daughter is winning.'

Cutting off the spell, my gaze was met by a woman who sat opposite of me, her eyes gleaming bright green in excitement as a bow was sitting next to her. Panic flickered through me for a moment until I realised that she had the same look that many of the patrons had when I first walked in.

"Mrs Bard! I think you need help getting out of here, yeah!?"

'Okay, what the fuck...?!'

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Thanks for all of the power stones and support! Please continue to donate power stones for me if you like my work, it really helps me gain motivation and keeps me wanting to give more chapters!

 Here is my Patreon if you are so inclined: patreon.com/user?u=111976696

Also, if you feel so inclined and would like to help me continue to be able to make these chapters, here is my PayPal: paypal.me/RBSMFF

Feel free to join my Discord here: https://discord.gg/wVZXpPpUQn

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