by Lars M.
Companion info:
Name: Atlas
Race: Veiled Dawnlight Chameleon
Level 3 – experience towards next level: 560/3000
Stats and Attributes:
Health: 70/70
Mana: 20/20
Stamina: 70/70
Racial Abilities:
360 Degree Vision: The eyes of a Dawnlight Chameleon are a wonder of nature. Each eye swivels independently of the other, allowing for a full 360-degree vision, with the animal able to focus on two different objects simultaneously.
Ability type: Passive
Arboreal Movement: The body of a Dawnlight Chameleon is optimized for climbing trees and traversing rough terrain, both horizontally and vertically, and it can maintain an impressive movement speed, even on almost impassable terrain. Each foot is capable of an almost tong-like grip on whatever it is grasping, due to the design of the foot and the sharp claws on each toe. Additionally, it has a long prehensile tail to help support both grip and balance.
Ability type: Passive
Ballistic Tongue: A Dawnlight Chameleon catches its prey, primarily insects and small animals, by means of its highly elastic tongue, which it projects from its mouth at extremely high velocities. Once it hits its target, the tongue stays in place by means of both suction and wet adhesion. The tongue also exudes a movement-inhibiting poison capable of incapacitating small animals.
Ability type: Active
Cost: 20 stamina
Color-changing Skin: The chameleon is able to control its color and thermoregulation via two layers within its skin. These layers allow the chameleon to alter its pigmentation and affect which wavelengths of light are absorbed and reflected, resulting in an incredible ability to blend in with the background. It can also be used to to create colorful, clashing displays, mainly used for impressing female chameleons or scaring away easily startled animals. The ability is triggered either consciously or via pheromones, activating when the chameleon is agitated, and slowly defaulting to regular coloring when it relaxes again.
Ability type: Active.
Cost: 5 Stamina/Minute.
Poison Spit: Apart from providing poison to the tongue, the chameleon can use its Protection Glands to launch a wad of poison and neutralize targets at a distance. The liquid substance disperses slightly over distance, and accuracy reduces significantly beyond 15.0 meters. The mechanisms required to produce the poison wad are very taxing to the animal, and it can only be used sparingly before needing recovery.
Ability type: Active
Cost: 35 stamina
Cast time: 1.0 seconds
Sensitivity To Heat And Cold: While the adaptation of the chameleon's body to the forest climate grants a number of advantages, it also comes at a cost. Upon exposure to intense heat, the animal becomes increasingly lethargic. The same applies for cold. Prolonged exposure to either heat or cold can result in lasting damage or death.
Ability type: Passive
His stats and skills were completely unchanged, and I probably looked completely confused – right until I noticed the single blinking button at the bottom, stating simply [Level up].
Wonderful. I had figured that an animal companion was like a humanoid companion, in that he chose his own increases – but apparently, I was wrong. I clicked the button and was rewarded with a selection screen:
Congratulations. Your animal companion has gained a level:
Select Specialization for Level 2
- Increase close combat capabilities
Focuses on building health and stamina, improving existing close-combat capabilities and developing new ones. Can eventually develop mount capabilities.
- Increase spell-like capabilities
Focuses on building mana and, to a smaller degree, health, as well as improving existing spell-like capabilities and developing new ones. Can, in time, develop the ability to learn spells from the nature magic school.
- Increase stealth capabilities
Slight focus on building health,with a clear fixation on improving stealth capabilities and developing new ones. Can eventually learn true invisibility and flight.
Ooh – Exogenics! Suddenly, I was willing to take back some of the ugly thoughts I had harbored for them. Hrm. I really wanted ”Option D – all of the above.” However, if I had to choose, I’d better give it some thought. Now, stealth could very well be useful – as we’d seen when the Gyrespit had spotted Atlas. And flight… drool. It still wasn’t my first choice, however. I hated the idea of him relying only on stealth to keep him alive. 70 health really wasn’t much, even if it was going to grow. Spell-like capabilities – sure. That sounded damn useful, and there were bound to be a ton of combinations to make us even more efficient in combat. Even so, with myself and Arack in the party, we didn’t particularly need further variety. No, what we needed was one big-ass lizard who could take the occasional punch without dying. Also, the thought of an awesome chameleon mount had me intrigued. Nodding to myself, I selected [Increase close combat capabilities].
The first time, nothing much happened. Arack gained an additional 20 health and stamina. The second time, however, he gained the same increase and a new ability.
Jaws of Steel
The chameleon’s jaw musculature has evolved. Like certain canine species, he is able to clamp down on his target and hang on, causing massive damage in the process. He is still able to apply the pacifying poison from his tongue in this position.
Looking at Atlas, the changes were immediately obvious. His jaw was more pronounced, and he’d grown. Before, he had been the length of a large dog, with his tail the same length in addition. Now, he had gained maybe two handspans in length and looked quite a bit more solid. I’ll make sure you stick around with us, I thought, smiling fondly at the large animal.
Chapter 20 – Peak Efficiency
We were taking the scenic route - or at least, that's what Tirane called it.
"We don't get many guests here. That's why we need to do this the right way."
"Have you ever considered not attacking anything that moves? Might lead to more guests. That and a welcome drink would work wonders..."
"Stow it, bard. We can't all be ingratiating fast talkers." Her harsh words were accompanied by a saucy grin. "Seriously, though. There are enough dangerous beasts and monsters around that we do well to keep on our toes. Also, the one race we've had the most dealings with have been kobolds. You'll see why I walk armed."
I started to argue, then thought better of it. Next to me, Arack was nodding in agreement. "Fair enough. You do get newcomers from time to time, though? I mean, ones you don't stab."
"Yeah. We get the occasional lost wanderer, fugitive, or Chronicler. Chroniclers are always welcome, and the others... well, some earn their place, while others are sworn to secrecy and kicked out." I wanted to ask about the decency of letting people fend for themselves in a monster-filled forest, but she forestalled my argument, holding up a hand. "Ah. We're here now. Go ahead, you three. Enjoy the sight."
At first, I figured she was joking. The canopy above us was a tangled mess, allowing only for a rare few hints of light to enter. Before us, however, it slowly opened up. A couple of minutes later, we stood at the edge of the tree line, staring at High Hold. It was an incredible sight. The tree line was carefully cultivated around a circular area. My keen eye sight could see the trees on the other side of the depression, but they were tiny, several kilometers away. The ground sloped slightly downward on all sides, leading down into a bowl-shaped depression with a peak rising smack in the middle. I had to hand it to them. It really was a mountain within a dale.
The town was nothing special in itself - a haphazard tumble of buildings, placed seemingly without order and general planning. The overall construction of the place, however, was singular. Where the downward slope evened out, it met with a huge lake, spanned by a single large bridge leading to the town itself. In the absolute center of the city, the mountain pierced towards the sky. Also... "Ar
e those... scaffolds? And windows? In the mountain, I mean?"
Tirane laughed at my gawking. "Yes. You wouldn't expect harpies to live on the ground, would you? The scaffolds are for those of your ilk - obviously, we don't need them." The pride in her voice was obvious as she continued. "Once you earn your citizenship, you are entitled to a place of your own inside the peak. Mine is two-thirds up - there." She pointed and I shivered at the thought of having to climb all the way up the steep face.
"This... it's impressive. Really. Is it all natural?" I watched the place in awe. Even this late in the day, the place was busy like a honeycomb, streets filled with bustling people and the sky busy with harpies flying to and fro.
She shook her head, beaming. "My people have toiled for centuries to make this place our own. Everything you see, we’ve earned. The peak used to be surrounded by trees on all sides, and the lake was a tiny forest spring."
I whistled. Looking at the place again, I marveled at the defensibility of the place. Not a single building was set outside the lake, and if the bridge was closed, any crossing would be challenged by hordes of flying harpies. "I... Grant's Crossing really needs to become friends with you guys - you have skills."
Eyes gleaming, she grinned. "No, Arcangelo. We have something even better. We have brains. Now come, let's introduce you to The Wisdom."
The approach to the city was easy. Well, not for Atlas. The scarred harpy insisted that we should leave him to wait outside the city until we were formally bid welcome. As she said, "You never know what they put into their cookpots dirtside." Atlas didn't take it well, but was uplifted when Morine, through me, told him about a species of fat, juicy birds that lived nearby.
The bridge itself was wide, wooden, and well-maintained. Contraptions along the way led me to believe that there were defensive measures incorporated into the construction, but it was otherwise unremarkable, apart from the sheer size. We were challenged once on the bridge by a pair of alert guards, who questioned Tirane for a while before allowing us entrance, and the city proper opened up before us. The moment I set foot on the far side, a pop-up appeared before me, which I readily accepted.
You have been offered to change your respawn point to High Hold. Please note that if you do so, the current respawn point will be erased.
Current: Grant’s Crossing
Accept/Decline?
No respawning back in Grant's Crossing for me now. I took a deep breath, as a weight I didn't realize I'd been carrying lifted itself from my shoulders. Now, I could focus on enjoying myself and playing the game. With a closer view, the actual city failed to impress. The wooden buildings varied widely in both quality and size and looked to be placed wherever the owner had felt like it. Apart from a well-maintained paved road leading straight toward the mountain, I would have suggested that the city planner be fired. When I commented as much to Tirane, she laughed.
"Oh, you people. I'll never tire of this. The place is called High Hold, and you still think this is the city? How high are we right now? This mess of huts and hovels is for the rejects and the dirt-born. Those who don't care or aren't able to work for the city. The city is up there." She pointed at the mountain.
Reevaluating the place, everything suddenly made more sense. So, you'd have to earn your place in order to become part of the city proper. There was clearly a huge divide among the different groups. Focusing on the milling crowds only confirmed the idea. I hadn't suspected the diversity of the place, but within moments, I spotted a ratling and halfling youth jeering at a half-orc passed-out at the side of the street. People of all races were walking, toiling, and coexisting. And making noise. Gods, I had forgotten the buzz and constant noise you'd get outside small villages. The few harpies I spotted while we walked held themselves apart, walking briskly with aloof expressions.
As we walked closer toward the mountain, I slowly arrived at a fear-inspiring suspicion. "The Wisdom. Sounds official. We... aren't going to the top, are we?" My eyes zoomed in on the rope ladders, structural ladders, and scaffolds surrounding the peak on all sides, all progressing toward the top. The closer we got, the more shoddy the construction looked. My agility-deficient body would never make it up there.
She considered me with a grave expression. "Since the founding of High Hold, the Wisdom have held court in the Ruling Chambers near the top. All important decisions are made there." Her lips split in a grin. "Of course, after a while, we learned that we needed chambers somewhere closer to the ground, so you clumsy apes wouldn't keep dying during the climb."
"You are a wicked, evil creature." Some of the tension left me again.
"Thanks. I try." She performed a mock bow. The paved road started a steep incline and I was quiet for a while as I toiled to walk and conserve my stamina. Before long, she guided us to a granite bench next to an entrance into the mountain itself. "You guys wait here for a while. I'll have to see if we can get an audience for you right now.” She left us alone to our thoughts, and we sat down on the bench for a bit as we took in the sights. The view was excellent from where we were sitting.
After a while, I arrived at an initial observation. On the ground - or dirtside, as they called it - was a busy, bustling place, bordering on chaotic. It was also dirty, smelly, and overcrowded with people. Where did that come from? I thought. I'd never had problems with crowds back in Copenhagen. The village life must be getting to me. I started noticing a few harpies, who probably lived inside the city - they carried themselves less erect and pridefully. Regardless of my dislike, the place seemed to be law-abiding. We spotted no fights, crime, or even major disagreements while we waited. And wait, we did.
Arack took to it like a cat to sunlight. She managed to look relaxed on the bench in a pose that would probably dislocate half my spine. "Mmmh. I've sorta missed this. You know, they did it all the time back in Nerit. Let us wait for no real reason, I mean. Stupid. Like, we all know you don't care for us. Why do you have to rub it in?"
Lyle seemed less at ease. "I believe I dislike this place. Keeping everybody who's not a harpy down?"
"Let's not judge them right away, Lyle. First, we'll get to know the place, then we judge them. All right?"
He chuckled. "I can do that. To be fair, I'm looking forward to seeing what the place has to offer. It's a lot bigger than Grant's Crossing."
I nodded. Regardless of how the place looked, I couldn't help but anticipate checking out the shops in the marketplace. Judging from the attire of the soldiers and people milling about the city, they had some excellent smiths and tailors. Grant Jr. might be disappointed, but I wanted some clothes to really make me stand out on stage. I still had a fair amount of gold burning holes in my pocket. I smiled as other sounds drifted in from the city; a singer and some sort of stringed accompaniment. I might finally find some fellow bards, too.
"Wake up, you lot. They're ready for you."
The sound brought my attention back from the half-doze I'd entered in the warm sunlight. Blinking, I gazed up at Tirane, who smiled down upon us, not unkindly.
She continued, "You'll want to move. The Wisdom don't take kindly to sluggards."
We scrambled to our feet, and I arranged my clothes, trying to look as presentable as possible. I'd rehearsed the introduction a few times over in my head and believed it was good. Still, my experience from playing in pubs and bars had taught me one thing - presentations like these depended a lot on the audience.
Nodding to Tirane, I gestured for her to lead the way, and we entered the mountain. The entranceway itself was nondescript - simple, carved pillars without as much as a door. As we walked further in, however, the decor changed. A long, wide corridor with tiled floors was lined by framed portraits and... "Wait. Those aren't paintings?"
In a hushed voice, Tirane answered, "Some respect, please. In the forest, we can act as we please. Here, we are in the presence of history. As to your question, the answer is no. The portraits are carved and then painted."
I took in the carvings adorning the corridor.
The quality of each work was impeccable, and the additional dimensions in the carvings added a sense of life and depth to the scenes that I found simultaneously impressive and eerie. "These are incredible, Tirane," I whispered.
She gave me a fond smile. "Just hope you get the chance to ascend to the Ruling Chambers. You'll see real art there." She placed a finger on her lips to forestall any further discussion, and we moved on. The corridor turned two corners, and we walked back the way we'd come. Near the end of the hall, two harpy guards were stationed, fully decked out in gold-traced leather armor set over robes of a brilliant white. Tirane approached the one on the left and intoned, "Supplicants to bow before the Wisdom."
The soldier responded in a tone of voice that indicated he'd repeated those words a thousand times. "Will they listen?"
"They will."
"Will they learn?"
"Only time will tell."
"Let them enter - and Serune pray for their minds." With that, he half-bowed, indicating the chamber beyond him, and we followed Tirane.
The chamber beyond was not huge - but every inch of it reeked of tradition and opulence. The back wall clearly faced the mountainside, where windows let in the evening sun. Around the room, sconces were set to illuminate the chamber when it was dark, and plinths marked even distances along the walls, displaying all sorts of paraphernalia. My curiosity yelled at me to go investigate, but I followed Tirane instead.
