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The-Bannerless-Mill: An Otherworldly Adventurer in Faerûn

🇫🇷Baldwin_Eamondh
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Synopsis
Louis-Bartholomew, a well-to-do Frenchman of modern times living in a watermill, finds himself in the fantastical world of Toril during the Time of Troubles. An era in which all the gods were punished by the higher being, Ao, and were compelled to live as mortals in the land of said mortals. Follow his ascent in this world alongside his watermill nicknamed "The-Bannerless-Mill". -------- Please take note of the following preliminary warnings prior to immersing yourself in this work: 1) The language employed adheres strictly to formal British English conventions. 2) I must clarify that I do not possess the rights to Dungeons & Dragons, the renowned tabletop role-playing game. 3) It is essential to acknowledge that I do not possess the rights to the Dungeons & Dragons settings of the Forgotten Realms, an enduring fantasy world devised by Ed Greenwood. Kindly be aware of these aspects before engaging with the material at hand. -------- The image was crafted by Midjourney, an AI designed for tailor-made visuals. I employed a bespoke typeface called "Handwriting Draft" (utilizing the Font Meme website).
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Chapter 1 - Transmigration

D-1 before transfer

I wander about my mill, oblivious to any abnormality. I am a versatile character, one of whose major strengths is his immense curiosity coupled with a very well-stocked library covering topics as diverse as economics and war, as well as human history and science. However, I suffer from extreme laziness and am incredibly bored, finding little to my taste. Pulling all-nighters for no apparent reason; at least at first glance, for in reality, I fear death. This night is no exception, and I eventually fall asleep from exhaustion.

Unbeknownst to me, as I have fallen asleep and am sleeping soundly, a greenish panel with polarised and iridescent reflections suddenly appears. The following information is displayed on this panel:

[Strength 11

Dexterity 10

Constitution 7 (11) /this means that I normally have 7, but for one reason or another, I have 11/

Intelligence 16

Wisdom 15

Charisma 12

Alignment: Neutral Evil

Class: Classless for now

Level: 0]

[Transfer in progress...]

The panel suddenly turns red.

[System error.

Invalidation of starting characteristics...]

[Characteristics have been aligned with the average of the destination world.

Strength 10

Dexterity 10

Constitution 10

Intelligence 10

Wisdom 10

Charisma 10

Alignment: Neutral Evil

Class: Classless

Level: 0]

[Error

Invalidation of revised characteristics...]

[Levelling up in progress...]

[Strength 10

Dexterity 10

Constitution 10

Intelligence 16

Wisdom 15

Charisma 12

Alignment: Neutral Evil

Class: Classless

Level: 0]

[Validation of characteristics...]

[Transfer authorised...

Destination: Faerun, 1358 D.R, Sword Coast, a few cables east of Nashkel.]

The mill disappears from Earth and suddenly appears in the place of a small river winding towards Nashkel. I continue to sleep deeply, unaware of this panel. The night passes without incident.

Somewhere in the vastness of the multiverse, an entity entertains itself by throwing unsuspecting systems at the chosen ones who are not. Because after all, after several billion years, one ends up getting bored and entertains oneself as best one can. And do you really believe that an entity needs to justify itself?

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

(POV: Louis-Bartholomew Di Hordius)

The first sensations were quite ordinary. There were the usual sounds of the mill: the gentle melody of the river's ripples, the singing birds, the cooing pigeons, the squirrels scampering on the roofs, and the familiar yet exasperating song of the three roosters and the guinea fowl in the farmyard. The smells of nature and the large yard flooding into the small entrance hall of the house, blending with the smell of the fireplace. My home, in short.

It was a Friday or a Saturday around noon in May. My parents had left the day before to see my grandmother while I was in charge of taking care of the animals. At least, that's the memory I have of it. I wish I could have said goodbye to them more dramatically with a good meal, reassure them and tell them that everything would be fine, that I would thrive. A regret that I fear I will take to the grave. It's a sad thing that I'm beginning to forget their faces. Fortunately, I have a few photographs, but most of them date back about twenty years before I ended up on the Sword Coast.

I do not know how the transfer was made, or why. Though I hardly care. I felt no change in the atmosphere. Perhaps several minutes had passed, perhaps several hours since my transfer. I was struggling with the Internet which had cut out, I eventually realised that there was no electricity. So, I went out in the yard to reset the main power. And that's when I saw it.

Or rather, that's when I didn't see it. Stepping out onto my terrace, I should have seen my neighbour's house. But in its place, there was nothing. Only a blue sky, no power lines, nothing human. I immediately thought the worst, and I rushed to the mill gate, only to face a wasteland, in place of where the road and my other neighbour's house should have been.

I was seized with a violent panic and incomprehension.

The cold, which became very sudden, gripped me and brought out my agoraphobic fears (the fear of open spaces, especially the unknown) which resurfaced in a fraction of a second. I had to take refuge inside the house, trembling and sweating. I don't remember very well what I did that day. I think I was trying to convince myself that everything would be resolved when my parents arrived.

That night, I slept very poorly, a thousand questions constantly spinning in my mind hoping that my parents would still return. Taking a winter sleeping bag to sleep in my living room, several knives within reach, I eventually fell asleep. My cat, a fifteen-year-old European breed, whom I had named Hermione in my youth, kept me company, purring to her heart's content by my side.

In the early morning, after a quick breakfast, I armed myself with my custom-made katana with a purple blade that I had purchased a few years ago. I had even had an inscription engraved on it, my motto, which read: "Will, Respect, Creativity."

I went across the yard, through the farmyard and opened the iron door leading to the upper garden. I saw the usual upper garden, as well as the horrible cinder block wall that stands at the end of that same garden. I walked into this garden to have a view of the lower garden.

This garden, which runs along the river, was still there with its two weeping willows. I went there to see if the orange boat was still there. It was. I could also see the sluices from where I stood. Then a question crossed my mind: "Is the orchard there too?".

I returned to the mill courtyard which I crossed to get to the gate. I left the mill through the gate, facing my agoraphobic fear. I walked about ten metres until I reached a bank. In any case, I could not have gone further, as long as I was unable to calm my anxieties.

From where I stood, I could also see the mill sluices. This is how I saw that the entire mill, with the orchard, had been transported, I don't know where. Around me, it was the countryside, a plain without a doubt. Somewhere on my right, I could distinguish in the distance buildings but also creatures or animals that I had never seen. I even saw some resembling small black baboons. I later learned that they were actually gibberlings.

For some reason or another, I then spoke out loud.

"It looks like there are dwellings over there."

I had a heart attack when a green panel with polarised and iridescent reflections appeared in front of me, floating in the air. The screen floating before my eyes was irrefutable proof that I was no longer in my real home but elsewhere. A system that I had seen thousands of times in games and books, but never in reality.

My statistics were displayed:

[Louis-Bartholomew Di Hordius

Male Human, 24 years old

Strength 10, Dexterity 10, Constitution 10,

Intelligence 16, Wisdom 15, Charisma 12.

As well as various informations:

Level 0, without class, without profession, Neutral Evil.

Owner of the mill.

Equipment (Current):

Katana + 3, non-magical;

Non-magical hearing aids,

Smartphone (0%)]

And in tiny letters at the bottom right:

[Information provided by A.U.R.A (Anima Ultra Rationis et Arcanorum)]

My basic understanding of Latin allowed me to vaguely comprehend the meaning of this AURA: soul (ultra???) of reason and arcana.

Searching for words in my language written with ultra or similar, I understand that it is linked to the concept of ultimate. By synthesising, I end up triangulating the meaning of this word: superior, beyond.

Aura is therefore a superior soul of reason and arcana or a soul beyond reason and arcana.

I ended up verbalising this idea out loud and the panel suddenly changed. Text began to scroll character by character at a staggering speed:

[A.U.R.A (Anima Ultra Rationis et Arcanorum) is an artificial intelligence whose name means "soul beyond reason and mysteries". Its computing capabilities are quite similar to those of ChatGPT3.5 in your home world, it is limited to the mill and your consciousness.]

and again this little:

[Information provided by A.U.R.A (Anima Ultra Rationis et Arcanorum)]

"Hello, Aura", I said, hesitating a little, feeling a bit silly but before whom? This I don't know. A flicker followed by scrolling text, indicating that she had heard, if indeed she really hears:

[Hello, Louis-Bartholomew, how can I assist you today?]

I smiled despite my worry.

"Well, I've been panicking quite a lot since I got here.", I replied.

[I'm sorry to hear that you are experiencing distress related to temporary agoraphobia. I will give you some advice to help manage your situation and make you feel better when you are outside:

Breathe deeply: When you feel anxious, take a few moments to breathe deeply. Inhale slowly through your nose for a few seconds, hold your breath for a short moment, then exhale gently through your mouth. This will help to calm your nervous system and reduce your level of anxiety.

Practice relaxation: Learn relaxation techniques such as meditation, visualisation or progressive muscle relaxation. These techniques can help you relax and decrease your anxiety when you find yourself in stressful situations.

Set progressive goals: Start by setting small goals when you go out. For example, you could start by taking a short walk in a quiet, less frequented place, then gradually increase the duration and intensity of your outings as you feel more comfortable.

Find support: Talk about your experience to trusted individuals, like friends or family members. They can provide emotional support and encourage you in your progress. You may also consider consulting a mental health professional specialised in anxiety disorders, who can provide you with advice tailored to your situation.

Use stress management techniques: Learn stress management techniques, like positive thinking, distraction, or problem-solving. These approaches can help you shift your perspective and effectively manage anxious thoughts that may arise when you are outside.

Take care of yourself: Ensure that you take care of your overall well-being by adopting a healthy lifestyle. This includes eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly, getting good sleep and engaging in activities that you enjoy. Good lifestyle hygiene can help to reduce anxiety and strengthen your resilience to stress.

Remember that each person is different, and managing temporary agoraphobia can take time. Be patient with yourself and celebrate each small progress you make. If your symptoms persist or worsen, it is important to consult a health professional to receive additional help.

I wish you a lot of courage in your endeavours and do not hesitate to ask for help when you need it. You can overcome this period of distress and regain greater freedom outside.

[Information provided by A.U.R.A (Anima Ultra Rationis et Arcanorum)]

No matter how much I told it I already knew all this, that it was a rhetorical question, nothing did. AURA proceeded with its response to the end. In front of the answers, which are slightly out of sync with my reality, I laughed. I feel like I'm going to have fun with this AURA. Especially if it's somewhat out of touch.

—-----------------

I asked AURA for a lot of information. It taught me that the mill is located in the world of Faerûn. Fortunately, I played Dungeons and Dragons in my previous life. Moreover, was it a previous life or is it still the same life? Well, asking myself such questions won't help me move forward. Anyway, I got a bit familiar with the plants and animals of Faerûn, using AURA to identify unknown species. Sometimes, I was struck by the strangeness of this new world, but I found some comfort in the company of AURA, always so offbeat.

I was strolling in the mill's orchard listing the fruit tree species. Why am I doing this, you wonder? Because there is a town not far away, Nashkel apparently. I know this town thanks to a game. I know that there is a tavern, an inn and a merchant there.

I plan to take advantage of my natural resources to rake in a bit of dough. Because of my banknotes, I didn't have many in the other world, but here, in Faerûn, it's just fancy paper. On the other hand, I have the advantage of having a large orchard stretching over 500 metres for 10 metres wide. Hence the tree census.

That gives: 6 apple trees, 1 peach tree, 3 cherry trees, 4 plum trees, 1 almond tree, 9 hazel trees, 6 walnut trees, a 500-metre mulberry hedge accessible only from the river (hence by boat) and a tree that I could not identify. In addition to that, there are an incredible number of poplars that will be good to cut down in a few years, easily thirty.

Returning to the mill because I was finished, I came face to face with a funny creature. A kind of giant dodo crossed with an ostrich. AURA told me that it is an Axe Beak, also called Axtrich. I had never heard of it. Surely a beast endemic to Faerûn.

—--

Correction, these things are bastards. You still can't see what an Axe Beak is? Imagine an ostrich boosted on steroids, with a beak shaped like an axe. Of course, the beak is super sharp. I know, I tested it for you.

"Good boy, are you okay?" I had the misfortune to ask the beast.

A few seconds later as I was being chased by the "nice doggie":

"Seriously, who invented these damned Axe Beaks !? If one day I come back to the other world, I find the guy who invented it and make him fry his own balls to give them to an Axe Beak. Shut up, AURA, I don't care to know that it's not possible!"

All this to say that tonight, I have chicken to eat.

Second correction: the meat is revolting. Moreover, my clothes are drenched in blood and feathers. And to top it all off, I've forgotten that there's no electricity... Consequently, I had to endure a freezing shower.

By posing a multitude of questions to AURA, I learnt that I possess a few powers. Three to be precise.

The first one is a system that allows me to see my characteristics as well as those of everyone else. It appears as a panel that only I can see. Thanks to my knowledge of D&D, I know that the system uses the second advanced edition of D&D. Currently, I am displayed as a level 0 civilian, all my physical characteristics showing a 10, only my intelligence standing out. The class of civilian is assigned by default by the system. I hope to be able to choose later.

The second power is the ability to interact with this system, which is an artificial intelligence very much resembling ChatGPT but answering to the name of Anima Ultra Rationis et Arcanorum. I also learned that under certain conditions (of course not specified) AURA can evolve to become AURA.

What!? Is it unclear to you as well? Basically, from what I understood, Anima Ultra Rationis et Arcanorum can become Anima Ultra Rationem Amplitudini. The second AURA can be interpreted as "soul beyond the rationality of greatness" or "soul surpassing reason in its grandeur". The second meaning seems more logical to me if it's an improved version of AURA.

Well, AURA and AURA are confusing. So, I'm going to refer to the improved version as AURA V2.

As for the 3rd power, I know it exists but I am not aware of what it is and AURA (V1, keep up!) doesn't know any more than I do.

In any case, I sense a presence, a latent power within me. When and how will it manifest? I have no idea.

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