Marty,

I forwarded your concerns about balance to the dev team, they should be getting back to you by the end of the day. If not, let me know, and thanks for pointing out the balance issues.

As for your tail, I am holding on to the request until I get a reply from this email. I could upgrade you to the combat training tail, but you would have to immediately train it. This is at least three days, sometimes more, and you would lose all the instinctual balancing that you have so far.

Let me know what you wish,

Emily

That, was disappointing. While the tail could really help, I didn’t have the time to train it.

Emily,

Forget about the tail, I don’t have the time.

Thanks,

Marty

“Hey bud, you ready for breakfast?” I called out, heading to the kitchen. I felt something brush past me. “You really like that light bending, don’t you?” I chuckled as I started fixing breakfast. Simple sausages and eggs today, as I was getting sick of oversized chicken legs. Once that was done, I checked and saw I still had an hour to kill before I could use magic again.

“If you release your invisibility, I can play with you for a bit.” I said, and Inkler was suddenly there, staring at me. “Give me a second, I have an idea.” Pulling some items out of my inventory, I tied several cassowack feathers together at the end of a length of rope. When I was done, I started twirling it around and laughed as Inkler’s pupils got incredibly wide. Flipping it away, I told him, “Well? Go get it!”

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

After a long play session that ended with Inkler shredding the rope as well as the feathers tied to the end, we headed towards the barracks. Some things never change, only this time it was Shrik who was berating trainees instead of Khaliss. “You call that a thrust? You couldn’t pierce a wet clay jug with a thrust that weak!” Someone must have mouthed off, as Shrik used [Dancing shadow steps] to appear right behind him and continued yelling. “You think I can’t hear you? Ten lunging laps around the training yard, with a spear thrust at the end of each lunge! Maybe then you’ll be too tired to run your dam mouth! CODO! Accompany this trainee and point out every single flaw in his technique! Podo, you have the rest of the squad for blocking drills!”

“Hard to believe that we were ever that weak, huh?” I asked as Shrik came over.

“I dunno about you, but I was never that weak. Didn’t I tell you that I was born with a spear skill of three?”

“Fairly certain you haven’t told me that before, not that I believe it.” I chuckled. “You really freaked the kid out there with your shadow steps. I thought I saw a trail of yellow running down his legs.”

“Ha! Oh that would be a feat worth bragging about! Though I doubt you came all the way down here to talk about my training methods. What can we do for you?”

“Well, I wanted your input on something I was going to make to honor Khaliss. I was thinking a statue in the main road with an implanted memory crystal so that anyone can see his last battle.”

“I think that would be a great way to honor him. I think I know just the place.” Leading the way, we eventually made it to the center of an open market area. “Khaliss started out patrolling here, and all the shopkeepers knew him. I’ll keep people back and let you work.”

Nodding at him, I got started. I had thought about how to portray him, and decided on a stance he had taken in battle. I had to go about the statue in a different way than most, and simply started raising stone from the ground. To someone looking from a distance, it probably seemed like a statue was simply rising out of the street. I took my time, using an hour just to get his expression and face right. That was the most important part, as he had to look exhausted but still defiant. His stance was next, body sideways to the oncoming enemies. Legs bent just a little too far, as nobody at the end of battle has the stamina to keep a perfect stance. Spear pointed forward, slightly downward. Rents at key places in his armor, I even had small streaks of a rusty colored stone I was able to use as blood. At the base of the statue, I made a notch for the memory crystal the devs had put in my inventory. I etched “Khaliss’ Last Stand. May he enjoy his rewards with Alnoss, while his memory never fades.”

Stepping back, I looked at my work only to feel something was off. Looking around, the entire marketplace was at a standstill, and the silence was unnerving. Everyone was walking around, staring at the statue.

“Got his attitude perfect.”

“Never did have an ounce of quit in him.”

“How many times did he give me that look when I tried to pull a fast one on him?”

All the shopkeepers were muttering to each other, and a few had tears in their eyes. I saw a small drakeling walk up, staring at the blue stone. “What’s this stone?”

“It’s a memory crystal.” I explained. “If you touch it, you can watch the entire final battle.”

He turned to look at me and asked, “Does Khaliss win?”

“He does, but not in the way you are thinking of.” I said. “Why don’t you watch it?” We all waited, as the child placed a hand on the stone. It glowed blue for about a minute, the memory playing out much faster than it actually unfolded. As the glow faded, the child slowly removed his hand.

“How did he beat so many adventurers? They always win against us monsters.”

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

“He trained hard, and used the surroundings to outsmart them.” Shrik spoke.

“Do you think I could beat adventurers someday too?”

“Of course.” Shrik answered, dropping down to a knee. “But it is a long and difficult road. You’ll have to train every day, just like Khaliss did. If you want, really want, join the guard in a few years. We will train you so that you can defeat adventurers.”

Eyes lighting up with joy, he took off running while shouting, “I’m gonna be a guard someday! Wooooo!” While everyone was laughing at that, several of the shopkeepers started taking turns watching the memory. I pulled Shrik aside, so that we wouldn’t mess up the queue.

“Thanks for this. I missed patrolling around with him on this area, though we never really had any issues. Everyone knew that he would get to the bottom of any issue, and do it fairly. I think the merchants will be happy to have him watching over them.”

“I think you found the perfect spot for it. Just so you know, I’m getting ready to head deep into the Underdark, and I have no idea how long I’ll be gone. If you need anything, send word through the other adventurers here. Okay?”

“Sure. Sure. Don’t worry Angus, we’ll be fine. Be careful in the Underdark, you’re going deep enough that you will meet up with the true powers.”

“I will. And if you’ll excuse me, I’m heading off to meet with the drow. That’s going to be fun.”

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

“Are you ready to head down to Menzoberrazzan?” The priestess asked me as I walked up to the drow. They were already packing up several spiders, the tarantula types that I had ridden before were used for cargo. I did notice several rogue types riding ones with thinner legs, they looked like a supersized version of a black widow.

“I am. I take it you have the contract?” She smiled as she handed me a rolled up parchment, which I skimmed through twice then read verbatim forwards and backwards. Everything seemed to be in order, there were no added clauses. They were even kind enough to name the city that I could use as a base, something which I had expected to be left off intentionally. “I’m not seeing any issues, which means I’m most likely missing five or six, but everything seems to be in order.”

“Relax. Not all contracts with the drow have hidden clauses and loopholes.”

“Of course not.” I said, signing the paper and handing her the contract and the two items. “Better to have payment up front, so that none can argue that I am in breach, no?”

“Very wise.” She replied, then pointed out a spider. “That’s the one you rode previously, I figured you would want something familiar.”

“Thanks for your consideration. Will it mind if Inkler rides with me?”

“Inkler? I don’t see your cat anywhere.”

“Go ahead bud, show her.” I said, and watched her eyes widen when he appeared right next to me. “He’s learned a few tricks.” I chuckled, scratching between his ears and getting a purr in return. “Let’s load up, wouldn’t want everyone to be waiting on us.”

I’ll give the drow this, that spider they loaned me was unflappable. It barely moved when Inkler pounced on its back, settling down in an amazing bit of enchantment. He had a travel basket with a nice blanket in it, and as soon as he settled in a blue mana shield rose around him. “Don’t worry about him falling out or anything. The mana shield negates external gravity, while under the blanket is a normal gravity enchantment.” The Drul’kaath explained. “No matter what angle the spider is climbing, your pet will only feel a normal pull towards the spider.”

“That’s a rather genius solution. How strong is that shield though?”

“Strong enough to take several powerful blows. Don’t worry, we are rather adept at traveling through the Underdark, even if it is with a convoy.” Having said his piece, he wandered off to start checking some of the loads on other spiders. It was a new feeling to be in the game with not a lot to do, and having to wait on other people. It was rather annoying, no matter that the drow were working in an incredibly efficient manner. Luckily I only had to wait for about fifteen minutes, before the priestess strolled up to me on a black widow spider of her own.

“Ready to head out?”

“Yes. How long of a trip are we looking at?”

“We will camp after six hours of travel. Tomorrow we will have another eight to go before the gates of the city, depending on what we encounter.” As we were talking, the spiders lined up in two rows side by side, and the black widow troops headed out to scout our path.

“Expecting trouble this close to the city?”

“Oh no, but it pays to always be alert. Until we reach Menzoberrazan, we will be on high alert. So scouts forward and back. I ask that you leave any and all fighting to them, unless clearing it with me first.”

“Not a problem. Unless I’m in imminent danger, I’ll leave the fighting to you guys.” I easily agreed. We settled into a companionable silence, moving through the forest that surrounded the city and coming up to the cliffs that surrounded the plateau my final dungeon would be on. After a five minute or so trip we came up to a normal looking cave. The only standouts were the two drow guards, who nodded when they saw us and headed inside. We followed them in, to the back of the cave where we oddly went up a chimney at the back of the cave. Climbing nearly fifty feet straight up, we leveled off and started down a fairly steep, smooth spiral.

“I would have loved sledding down this as a kid.” I muttered to myself, as we had been forced into single file by the narrowness of the path. It took us another twenty minutes of constant travel to reach the bottom, where the group was gathering up in a large cavern. Before we could start on our next spot, I noticed a nervous scout waiting for the priestess.

“My lady, that, creature, is still there.” He said, hesitating on the word creature.

“Why can’t you just kill the thing again?”

“We won’t know what will be unleashed upon whoever kills such a cursed existence.”

“Then we will have to placate it somehow.”

“Pardon me, but what is the issue and can I help in any way?” I asked as I got closer.

“Some half breed goblin type creature is up ahead, and the guards refuse to kill it. Show him.” She ordered the scout who was glaring at my interruption. Tsking in annoyance, he beckoned me to follow. As we got closer, I could faintly hear muttering, but couldn’t make out the words.

Next to a natural stone column, was a hunchbacked green creature with overly large eyes. It had long fingers, that were frozen into a curve, with slightly bulbous tips. I could see cracked yellow teeth, and thought I heard it mention a spoon. We headed back to converse with the priestess before it could notice us.

“Well?” She asked as we returned.

“I do have an idea, but we’ll have to be fast.” I said with a grin. “I’m going to try out one of my legendary spells, it’ll take out all of the creatures senses for thirty seconds, and prevent all sight for five minutes.”

“Good enough. We will form four lines, two on the ground with Angus and two on the ceiling. Once he casts his spell, we move as fast as possible. I don’t want this creature following us and pestering us about his spoons.” She announced to the group. Everyone immediately moved to comply, dividing up without any need for communication. They stayed close as we neared the creature, and it saw us at the last moment. I froze for a second as it started talking.

“Why, hello there.” It spoke in a higher pitched voice than expected, smiling at me. “I would like to inquire about your spoons. Would you happen to have any rusty spoons? I must find the perfect spoon. The feeling of rust on my fingers, it’s almost orgasmic.”

Shaking myself out of my stupor, I started the chant that was required for all legendary spells. “Confound the thousand senses, and leave them adrift in the timeless void. Stumble in the deepest darkness, that no vision may penetrate. [Deo Noct]!” As I chanted, I formed a circle with my hands that gathered more shadow with each word. At the culmination of my chant, the orb shot out and struck the creature, expanding to a size of twenty feet. Every spider immediately took off, skirting the orb and trying to put as much distance as they could with the thirty second window. With the horrified screams of the creature behind us, we continued on into the Underdark.