The adventurers take a second to register my monster’s words. I await their reaction with bated breath. Their face goes through shock to disbelief into delight and excitement.
“A talking monster? In a Tier 1 dungeon? That's so rare!” the lady with the party exclaims.
“Ahem. It is nice to meet you as well, Juliette. My name is Marcus and these two are Baerdur and Larissa. May I ask… what is going on here? I kind of got that the previous room is meant to test an adventurer's restraint when it comes to chests…”
The paladin shoots a sideways glance at the dwarf and I have to chuckle. The mimics really took a liking to him, something about tasting delicious.
Juliette, meanwhile, gives the adventurers a mischievous smile and responds.
“This room is for preparing yourself and getting into a role. Is there something about that, that you need help comprehending?”
“Err, well… which of us should go to which room?” the dwarf, Baerdur, asks.
Juliette tilts her head at them and stares at them for a second.
Then she shrugs her shoulders.
“I don’t know. I'm merely a fellow performer. Just pick whichever one you like?”
“Riiiiiiiight.” the dwarf trails off.
Juliette is really playing up the mysterious air right now. She has been so excited for this since she got speech down when her skill hit level 10, I am just glad she gets to experience this. Her siblings can communicate somewhat but it’s not a real conversation. And she does really have that vibe down pat.
Oh. The rogue, Larissa, seems to have gathered herself somewhat. She seems thoughtful for a second before speaking up.
“Pardon me if this seems insensitive, but are you the same type of creature as those in the entrance hall? You look nothing like them other than a faint wooden texture on your skin.”
Juliette considers this question for a moment before responding.
“Well, yes. I am a mannequin like my fellows. But I am also an actress. They have other callings, themselves.”
The paladin speaks up calmly.
If you come across this story on Amazon, it's taken without permission from the author. Report it.
“It is to be expected, the transmutation affinity of the dungeon must change the monsters drastically.”
Now here is a thought.
I know that evocation allows me to create things, and illusion is probably responsible for my lighting controlling abilities. So transmutation makes my monsters change?
Juliette, dear, could you ask them about affinities?
She mentally affirms my request before putting her head in a thoughtful pose.
“Transmutation affinity you say… would you mind explaining affinities to me?” she asks.
“Ah… that should be fine?” the paladin asks, looking at his fellows who nod. “There is evocation, transmutation, illusion, conjuration, enchantment, divination, necromancy, abjuration, as well the elemental affinities: radiant, fire, ice, water, earth, lightning, air and darkness.
Evocation is about generation of something, typically it is linked to the elemental affinities. A fireball for example is evocation and fire elemental affinity.
Transmutation is the affinity of change and growth. It is likely the source of your difference from your siblings if I had to guess.
Illusion shrouds the senses and alters perception. It governs such simple things as lighting and such complex things as hiding from detection spells.
Conjuration is about bringing things from one place to another or otherwise linking two spatially separate locations together. It is sometimes confused with evocation when used to summon elements, but they are typically taken from an elemental domain instead of created, to much the same effect.
Enchantment is about imbuing something, or someone, with magic, be it beneficial or malign.
Divination is the affinity of the senses. It allows perception of distant events, location of hidden objects and detailed information gathering.
Necromancy is the affinity of life and death. To the average peasant it is synonymous with evil, but only its application of twisting death to undeath is as such. In and of itself, the affinity is used to heal and cure diseases as much as to bring death directly. Though, it is still a distasteful art. Radiance conjuration can achieve much the same effect of healing without having to meddle with Her divine provenance.
Ahem. I apologize for straying off topic here.
Abjuration would be the next affinity. It is the affinity of warding and protection. Barriers and other defensive skills and magics are under its purview.
As for the elements, they really are self explanatory. They sometimes are linked to certain emotions and personality traits as well, but that is nothing that any academic or scholar can confirm.”
“I see…” Juliette responds, before beaming a smile at him. “Thank you for the thorough explanation! You are really quite knowledgeable!”
“You flatter me, madam. This is the mere minimum, anyone could have told you as much. It was nothing.” he awkwardly deflects the praise. “Now, if there was nothing else, our young charges are still waiting outside, we should really continue with this. What should we do, miss? Just pick a room and get ready for our roles?”
“That's right!” Juliette affirms, and they nod and split up.
The eagerness with which they follow a “monster’s” instructions is kind of unexpected and confusing to me, to be honest, but I am glad they are going along with it. I won’t have to enact the emergency plan then…