With Conditions

“...That’s a lot of drawbacks to partnering up.” She sighs and then turns to you. “We can party up only under the following conditions:

1. We stick to what I’m comfortable with. If I don’t feel like I’m ready for a fight, don’t go picking a fight with it. Of course, if it’s self-defense, there’s nothing we can do. But if I say something’s stronger than I want to fight, you do whatever you can to avoid the fight.
2. The party’s only women. All the men I’ve worked with in the past have been idiots. I mean...you saw Hovik. You killed Hovik.
3. I get the final say on who joins the party. You can’t just invite anybody without me looking them over first, regardless as to their race or whether or not they’re a monster.

I want to stay safe while we do this. I’ve had too many deaths to stupid party members before. Consider this insurance.”

You grin. “Don’t worry, I’ve died far too often in the past, and I don’t want to die now. As long as I keep living, I get to keep the strength I’ve gotten. But as soon as I do, I go back to being a LV. 5 Dryad in the Swamp getting killed over and over. And I haven’t done this grouping stuff before. If you think this is the best way to stay safe, I’ll just have to take your word for it.

That said...”

You pause for a moment, for a little emphasis. “Anyone who does join has to be able or willing to help me with ‘this.’” As you say this, you punctuate the statement by thrusting your hips into the air.

Tripp’s grins lightly and giggles. “Of course.”

The Ancient looks between the two of you and smiles. “Well then, if you two are done, we can begin to discuss the particulars of what needs to be done in my hut. Away from any prying ears.”

As the two of you walk back, you make sure to walk right behind Tripps, savoring the glorious view of her bountiful buttocks bouncing up and down with each step. Knowing exactly what you’re doing, the elvish women in front of you decides to add some extra sway to her hips.

Finally the three of you enter the Ancient’s hut. There, he sits you and your new friend down and speaks to you.

“The power of the shadewalker class is no small amount. As such, it is a closely guarded secret of the old times. So closely guarded, in fact, that there is nobody still alive today who knows all the conditions that must be fulfilled to obtain the class. Instead, the 5 conditions are shared between 5 secret keepers at all times. All I can do, is give you the piece of the secret that I keep, and give you the location and name of the next elder, with a recommendation to boot.”

As the old elf spoke, Tripps began to look more and more angry. She almost burst when she learned that nobody alive knew the whole method. But after you rested a hand on her thigh to comfort her, she calmed down. Soon, she grinned.

“It’s a shame that you don’t know everything. But at least I know I’m on the right path.”

“Yes,” the Ancient responded. “Especially after you agreed to form a party with the Dryad. You see, the shadewalker class was initially bestowed upon mortals by Marada-Larsa, the demonic goddess of fear and shadows. She was a part of the monster/demon pantheon, which has mostly been wiped from history by the rest of the deities.

“Marada-Larsa, being a demonic goddess, favored monsters. As such, to become a shadewalker, one must be in a party with at least 3 monsters. However, they must also have the charisma to bring others into the shadows with them. So their party must also possess one other mortal in it as well. This is called ‘The Requirement of Allies.’

“The next secret keeper is somewhere in Terratin Forest. They live isolated from society in a teepee. Here,” and at this he pulls out an envelope “is your recommendation. Hopefully, the secret keeper there will read this and decide you are worthy, as opposed to putting you through a trial. You two may sleep in the back room of my hut until you are ready to go.”