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

Can you fly? With magical aid perhaps?

Spider goblins are nice, but I'll still vote for the classic spider elves.
I guess you need to find a survivor who can tell you what's going on! Not too many at once, though, their first instinct probably will and should be to attack you.

Oh and I vote we find the fluffy.

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

Hopefully neither is necromancy. Necromancy is managing undeath (maybe souls). Possession sounds like Mysticism (at least where one possesses the mind instead of switching souls, which would probably also be part of necromantic magic), and creating a humonculus could either be conjuration or an advanced version of creative or healing magic.

>>841463
Roofie breath

>>841464
Wouldn't at least some of your direct descendants be half-dragons as opposed to Kobolds?

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

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

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

The simplest way to check up on your kobolds would be to try to contact them directly in this way. (If the spell fails, you know you're out of range and/or they're dead).

>>841471
This.

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

There's a specific school of magic called Chi-Casting, where all magic is focused inward to improve your combat performance. Try hardening your spine or regrowing sinews between wingbones.

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

Looking around the area might give some insight as to where you are at least. Attempt to see if you're able to fly with your wings as they are now; if not, can you freeze your breath to shape wings over your current boney ones?

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

Next, we go and find the ADORABLY FLUFFY SPIDERS.

...Or your servants, whichever comes first.

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

If there's not, then you may as well carefully put out the town and dispatch any remaining undead while you look for any survivors.

Use your ice powers to make an ice-body Frozen-style. The cold never bothered you anyway.

use your frost breath to put out the fires and try to contain any undead left behind. Survivors are more likely to believe you wish them new harm if they see you helping stop the damage your former master inflicted.

*No harm. this place REALLY needs a way to edit typos.

Hmm... What about a reincarnation?
Bind your mind and soul to the body of a lesser race or descendant.

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

(Make suggestions, not a scene.)

What if you reached out with telepathy and founded a cult dedicated to restoring you to life and then sexing them up? They'd do all the work and you do all the sex.

Try to fly high and see if you can find some point of reference, also, I'm sure you can find some drew spider with necrofilia, drews are weird like that

Find the spider-goblins first, and a cure second. Your partner should be someone who likes you for what's on the inside!
>>841579
Don't be rude now, reviewing what little she does know is relevant to the quest to catch us up to speed.

>>841464
New plan fly into the sky and find a landmark then try and remeber what is around there from your time.

While you can't change your shape, could you still alter how others perceive you through illusions? Might be good to make yourself appear different than you are then only revealing your true form to those you come to feel you can trust with such knowledge.

>>841464
Oh shit! Get home, find what's happening with your kids!!

>>841617
This is a good idea.

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

Maybe you're in the city of silver wolves, Georgie.

Illusions are a good idea. Also, we need to get our bearings and hopefully find a way home.

I suggest scouting the area and finding someone that's alive.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

You need to find out if the "leash" by which the necromancer was commanding you is still there, dangling about for another necromancer or mage to grab hold of, and how to tie it back to yourself. Otherwise you could

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

Make yourself an ice-sculptire body using your breath and remaining magic, and seek out your kobolds.

Karon 2017/11/16(Thu)20:14 No. 845601 ID: 33d4be
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… I must focus. I must consider what I can do now, know my options and abilities and choose, if I want to accomplish anything.

>Check if you can still speak.

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

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

>What if your magics changed along with your breath?

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

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

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

>Can you fly?

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

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

Good idea. I do like talking about myself, my race and my goddess, but I should at least be doing it on the move.

Karon 2017/11/16(Thu)20:14 No. 845602 ID: 33d4be
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>could you still alter how others perceive you through illusions?

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

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

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

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

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

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

>ranged communication spells?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

In any case, sex is an art to me. I can get pleasure from playing my partner’s body as I would playing a musical instrument.

Karon 2017/11/16(Thu)20:15 No. 845603 ID: 33d4be
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Having gained some height, I can see that the city is larger than I first thought. Looking further across the valley, which is shallow on the other side, the terrain is quite distinctive. Mountains to the west and north, a city on the sea, two rivers providing irrigation for a stretch of farmland, fading into grassland and I believe a hint of desert on the horizon to the east. I can also see that the necromancer who raised me, unless they had friends, is one of those who drains life energy from the land for extra power. The blighted ground left by the mass of their army lets me see a clear trail northward, even under starlight, which allows me to guess that the place I died was north of here as well.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The state of restless death is a thing quite like being constantly tired and in pain already, and I believe such is the case for all unwilling undead, but I’ve gotten the impression that exposure to the sun is much more acute.

>>845603
Try Finding and Rescuing Survivors and THEN Searching for the tools you need within the city. One can help the other!

Find the necromancer's possessions. His vanquishers should be too tired to sling any spells at you.
How well known is the phrase 'Never make a deal with a dragon' to these people?

>>845603
Go to the camp and find the necromancer’s possessions. Specifically, circle above it and amplify your voice to inform the victors that they have freed you from the necromancer and you wish to parley. If you get shot at after that, just fly away. In that case I would say go into the city to search for tools and information instead.

>>845610
This sounds like a good idea!

>>845610
This.

>>845605
This if the above fails.

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

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

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

Personally I would prefer to simply go home. Mostly because I don't fully understand what the consequences will be and I prefer to live with lost opportunity than the consequences of mistakes.

There's probably a lot of rich and frightened people holed up in the inner districts. Not likely to have all those necromantic goodies but there's the possibility up to date information and basic spell supplies at least.

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

In fact, you mentioned there are canals running over town? In lieu of using your deadly frost breath on any active fires, just lightly freeze some of the available water into sheets of ice. Then just place those over any fires that are still raging.

>>845603
Go to the camp and wipe out the remaining undead. If you find survivors along the way, do what you can to help.

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

You could just thank them and sing them praises, however. They deserve that much as well! They definitely won't trust you, but they might not immediately shoot you either, if only out of confusion.

>>845639
When I said amplify, I meant magically. Magic shouting should be loud enough!

Hmmm... if you developed a ghost form and possessed someone, would you be able to use your shapeshifting magic again?

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

That said, keeping a wing and an eye over the city as you travel to look out for things of interest or particularly important rescuees may be a good idea.

>search for the tools and information I need in the city
maybe find a surviver or 2 and see if you can't convince them to give you bit more information on what happens since you died. Maybe find out how long the guy who rised you was raiding the country side and how far north he came from. Because unless your home isn't north I'm kinda worried about the kobolds that you use to live with. Also while poking though the city you might luck out and find one of those spiderkin you're looking for. I mean you did say it was a trade city and as such it isn't TOO unlikely that one might pass through every now and again.

You need to build a reputation as a not-bad skeleton dragon if you want a chance of not getting hindered at every future step, especially since you have most likely assisted in at least some of the city's devastation while under the necromancer's control. That said Find and rescue survivors in the city. You don't have to go into tight spaces, just clear up a route for survivors to flee through, and in the worst cases break walls and the like down to create one. Just destroying any mindless undead that you find loitering would also be helpful. After that you can start finding the necromancer’s possessions.

>>845603
Go to kobols!

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

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

>finding the necromancer’s possessions
Might want to do a high altitude flyover where you think those possessions or the heroes might be located, scout out your chances from above. Can you do simple directional scrying? Make the ground appear closer than it is in order to observe things safely?

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

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