Ashen Dragon-Chapter 1197 - 349: Power of Faith (Part 2)

However, on the statue they worship, the Red Dragon Emperor’s left claw steps on a cannon, the right claw gripping a rifle, with his entire body coiled atop a hill of stacked crates of ammunition, appearing quite peculiar.

"How can this favor be repaid? All the people worship together, the Great Red Dragon in the heavens!"

On the streets of the main city of Isdalia, members of the choir, dressed in scarlet ceremonial robes, are tirelessly singing the "Song of Cassius" day and night. Its rousing melody has merged with the bustling crowds, becoming an inherent part of this prosperous city.

"Cassius, the man among men, the male among males, the ruler among men, the dominator among men, the Lord of men, the ender King of men!"

In the remote wilderness of the Anzeta Great Wilderness, deep within a cave abandoned by an owl bear, players of the Dragon Enthusiasts Group, dressed in agony shirts featuring Cassius, gather like a group of cultists, fervently chanting around a magnificent Red Dragon statue.

Hmm, but their emperor statue’s posture is strange, quite unusual, seemingly embodying the essence of some fan works. If placed within the city, it would likely be seized by the Tiefling of the Imperial Army, condemned for the grave crime of disrespecting the emperor.

With the sounds of calling, Cassius feels countless light points imbued with miraculous strength converging from all corners of the empire, surges of warmth pouring into his body, stabilizing his form and life state.

If the Red Dragon Emperor, previously shrouded by divinity, seemed like a ship tossing amidst a stormy sea, about to sink into the endless void-filled ocean, these beliefs acted like anchors, binding him firmly at the harbor called the Material Plane.

"No wonder these demigods walking the earth are establishing churches, tirelessly spreading their beliefs." Cassius couldn’t help but sigh as he felt the massive flow of information flooding into his mind.

Dragon of Ascension (DRAGON ASCENDANT)

Dragons are undoubtedly the most powerful creatures native to the Prime Material Plane, occupying a unique position linked to powers beyond this plane. Those who become Dragons of Ascension seek to transcend the limitations of material existence, rising above all other dragons, in every aspect comparable to the gods themselves. Their progress in this occupational level represents their advancement towards their ultimate goal, becoming more god-like as they advance.

Most Dragons of Ascension have not previously gained occupational levels but are dragons of considerable age and strength. Some dragon priests, paladins, and dark guards move into the ascended dragon advanced occupation upon reaching sufficient power levels. Members of the sacred progression classes described in this Chapter (Kronipus’s Calm Observers, Bahamut’s Holy Watchers, and Tiamat’s Desecration Destroyers) sometimes choose the path of sacred ascension to become more perfect servants of their gods.

Dragons of Ascension are proud and generally aloof. They see the journey on the path to divine ascension as a competition and do not choose to share this path with others in the same process. On the other hand, they often have followers and allies supporting their exploration, and they cooperate more freely with lesser dragons and non-dragons than with other dragons.

Life Dice: d12.

Requirements

To qualify as a Dragon of Ascension, a dragon must meet the following conditions.

Race: Any True Dragon.

Basic Attack Bonus: +30.

Specialty: Dragon Knowledge, Quick Healing, Strengthening, Increased Speed, Steel Will, Quick Reflex.

Special: Consume Treasure: To begin the sacred ascension process, a potential Dragon of Ascension must consume its treasure. The treasure must be valued at least 100,000 Gold Coins, but the dragon cannot choose to consume exactly 100,000 Gold Coins and leave the rest—it must eat the entire treasure. (This occupation is the most heart-wrenching for giant dragons)

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Dragons of Ascension do not gain proficiency with any weapons, armor, or shields.

Spiritual Light of Reverence (Awesome Aura) (Unique): The Dragon of Ascension loses its innate Fierce Momentum, replacing it with a special fear aura. This aura radiates around the dragon to a maximum radius chosen by the dragon equal to its Fierce Momentum range (30 feet × dragon’s age category) and is always active unless the dragon chooses to dismiss it. The dragon can choose to exclude its allies from its aura’s effects. Creatures within the aura must make a Will saving throw (DC equal to the dragon’s Fierce Momentum DC plus half its Dragon of Ascension levels). Creatures that fail the saving throw tremble, while those who succeed are immune to the dragon’s aura effects for 24 hours. If the dragon attacks or charges, trembling creatures must attempt a second Will saving throw (same DC), or become frightened.

When the Dragon of Ascension reaches Level 5, it can choose to change its aura to inspire allies and instill fear in enemies. All allies within the aura’s radius of the dragon receive a +4 morale bonus to attack rolls, saves, and checks. The dragon’s enemies must succeed on a Will saving throw, or suffer a -4 penalty to attack rolls, saves, and checks.

Upon reaching Level 10, the Dragon of Ascension gains a third option for its aura. Simply staring at the dragon in captivated awe can daze affected creatures if their Will saves fail. Like the fear aspect of the aura, the dragon can choose to exclude its allies from the aura’s effects.

All uses of the dragon’s Spiritual Light of Reverence are mind-affecting effects.

HP Increase (Unique): At Level 2, and every two levels thereafter, the Dragon of Ascension gains 1 HP for each Life Dice it possesses, including all its dragon Life Dice and those gained from class levels. This effect can never make the dragon’s HP exceed the maximum determined by its Life Dice and constitution bonus.

At Level 12, the Dragon of Ascension’s HP equals the maximum determined by its Life Dice and constitution bonus.

Transformation Immunity (Transmutation Immunity) (Unique): At Level 3, the Dragon of Ascension gains immunity to polymorph, petrification, and any other attacks that would alter its form. Any polymorphic power or spell the dragon possesses normally affects itself.

Enhanced Damage Reduction (Supernatural): At Level 4, the Dragon of Ascension’s damage reduction can only be overcome by Legendary weapons. At Level 8, the amount of the dragon’s damage reduction (the number before slash) increases by 5. For example, an old Black Dragon/Level 8 Dragon of Ascension has a 20/Legendary damage reduction.

Life Guarding (Lifewarding) (Unique): At Level 6, the Dragon of Ascension is no longer affected by attacks that cause energy drain, attribute absorption, or attribute damage.

Deflection Bonus (Supernatural): At Level 7, the Dragon of Ascension’s armor class gains a deflection bonus equal to its charisma modifier—if any.

Iron Mind (Iron Ambition) (Unique): At Level 9, the Dragon of Ascension becomes immune to mind-affecting effects (charm, coercion, phantasms, mental illusions, and morale effects).

Fire Resistance (Resistance to Fire) (Unique): At Level 11, the Dragon of Ascension gains 20 fire resistance if it does not already have immunity to fire.

Magic Resistance (Unique): At Level 11, the Dragon of Ascension’s Magic Resistance increases to 33.

Immortality (Immortality) (Unique): A Level 12 Dragon of Ascension is effectively a quasi-god, no longer likely to die of natural causes. It does not need to eat, sleep, or breathe. It can still be killed in physical or magical battle and is still susceptible to death from massive damage.

Code of Conduct: The Dragon of Ascension must remain absolutely faithful to the principles of its camp, whatever they may be. If the Dragon of Ascension voluntarily acts against its camp’s tenets, it loses its Spiritual Light of Reverence (and does not regain its Fierce Momentum) and cannot gain more Dragon of Ascension levels. If the dragon atones for its violation, situationally determined, it can regain its Spiritual Light of Reverence and progress again in the Dragon of Ascension advanced occupation.

There are several relatively famous cities near the Sword Bay Region, such as Waterdeep City, Elturel, Neverwinter, etc. Waterdeep City is built on the ruins of the capital of the Elf Empire, Ilfaen— Erin Vier’s site, filled with temples of numerous deities, the Miracle Temple being the grandest Magic Goddess Temple in the game, with magnificent towers, embedded with various artwork and magical decorations, full of lavish Baroque style. In contrast, Neverwinter leans more towards Gothic architecture, originally formed as the earliest human dwelling Aegostor developed after nearly a century, and the main city in the story, Bod Gate, serves as the sword.