The Whispering Wastes, at least from the mouths of the more intrepid adventurers tell, has hidden depths beneath its shifting sands. They speak of a cavernous network of tunnels, bored out by the Guardians of the wastes and of rivers, not of water, but of sand that flows beneath the surface. They tell tales of people who have never seen the light of the Sahel, our glorious sun, who have made such a place their underground home. Others whisper of cannibalistic and backward troglodytes, far removed from our common ancestry, who prey on each other and the monsters that dwell beneath the surface. But all of them speak of the vast treasures of an ancient civilization and a gateway into the deeper darkness. A path to the mystical realm of the Everdark.

- The Fanciful Travels by Beron de Laney 376 AC.

Hesitation, the source of all failure, leeched power and speed from my blow. My sword was slowed in the final fractions of a second before it was stopped by a layer of wood and metal that grew with sudden speed from the joints of my wrist and formed just above my arm. From near my wrist, an organic mix of wood flecked with dull metal burst forth tendrils that formed a shape. The shape of a small round shield.

Dumbstruck, I could only pause in shock as the edge of my blade cut into this new shield. Messages and notifications then floated across my vision, obstructing my view. Blocked, my sword had bitten deep into the strange wood, but not nearly enough to cut through it and sever my wrist. I had been completely protected from harm.

You have learned Monster Taming (lvl.1)

Your Entropic Mimic has learned Adaptive Defense (lvl.1)

Your Entropic Mimic has learned Shield Form (lvl.1)

There it was before me, the unnatural shape of my curse and my latest parasite. Had my humanity been taken from me, making me a monster, an unnatural and alien thing? I would grieve if I had any tears left in me, I thought to myself with a bitter mental laugh. The thing living inside me, was it a separate entity? Or I had become partially a monster? Perhaps it was a little bit of both.

I had envisioned that the invasion would be finished once the voices, as promised, had neutralized the Mimic’s influence. But, like all wars, the damage is still felt long after, as this unnatural growth was testament to. Was this supposed to be the Iasis’ gift, a shield made from my own flesh and blood? Then this should be a blessing, and not a curse. A giggle infused with the chaos of the moment escaped me, so overwhelmed I was at the ridiculousness of it all.

I scanned my Status, looking for any changes.

[STATUS] Calling: Gilgamesh lvl.12 Paladin/Reaver

Strength: 30

Dexterity: 26

Constitution: 42

Intelligence: 21

Wisdom: 22

Charisma: 14

Luck: 21

Entropic Mimic [Creature of Entropy - lvl.24]

Health: 462/474

Stamina: 58/60

Mana: 1/1

Adaptive Defense (lvl.1)

Shield Form (lvl.1)

SKILLS & PROFICIENCIES

Pain Nullification (lvl.3)

Power Strike (lvl.4) 10

Endure (lvl.4)

Stealth (lvl.1)

Stolen novel; please report.

Rest (lvl.3)

Backstab (lvl.2)

Dodge (lvl.3)

Polearms (lvl.3)

Dual Wield (lvl.2)

Critical Hit Mastery (lvl.3)

Improved Unarmed Combat (lvl.1)

Hammers (lvl.4)

Flails (lvl.3)

Maces (lvl.3)

Shields (lvl.3)

Medium Armour (lvl.3)

Heavy Armour (lvl.5)

Axes (lvl.2)

Daggers (lvl.4)

Throwing Weapons (lvl.2)

Double Throw (lvl.1) 5

Shield Bash (lvl.2) 10

Riding (lvl.2)

Dash (lvl.1)

Swords (lvl.3)

Crossbows (lvl.4)

Blind-Fighting (lvl.1)

Rush Strike (lvl.1)

Tracking (lvl.1)

Trap Detection (lvl.1)

Frenzied Strikes (lvl.1) 30

Monster Taming (lvl.1)

SPELLS & MAGIC

Heal (lvl.5) 5

Rust (lvl.4) 2

Identify (lvl.3) 1

Silent Casting (lvl.2)

Mana Regeneration (lvl.2)

Purify (lvl.2) 3

Greater Heal (lvl.2) 10

Holy Aura (lvl.3) 2

Decay (lvl.1) 1

Drain (lvl.5) 2

Entropic Aura (lvl.3) 2

Inferno Bolts (lvl.1) 2

GIFTS

Curse of Entropy: -20% to all starting attributes.

Mark of the Paladin: 10% resistance to Dark/Holy magic. 5% resistance to Physical.

Touch of the Void: 10% reduced resistance to Holy/Fire magic, 20% resistance to Mental Effects, 15% immunity to Mental Effects.

Mark of the Adaptive Helix: 5% resistance to Physical, Minor Regeneration

Experience to next level 812/891

Health: 256/342

Stamina: 8/70

Mana: 10/14

There it was, a new entry on my Status, the list and record of my progress and accomplishments. The Entropic Mimic, with all its own mini status within my own. For an irrational moment, jealousy pulsed hot. This creature had taken up precious space in my already cluttered ‘character sheet’.

I took a deep breath, shaken by my almost-self-dismemberment. The will I had worked up to cut off a part of my limb had left me, and the crazy part of me finally stopped giggling. The rational part of my mind was slowly taking over, searching within for any last remnants of my invader. Finding nothing, not that I would know what I was looking for anyway, I began to think more and more logically, and cold reason took the helm. Like appreciating a pointillist painting, I needed to take a step back and appreciate the whole.