Officer Barkely,

I am Associate Coronado Devir and am intrigued by the potential of our animatrons, destructive and otherwise. Unsentient and unfeeling, these hulks are immune to many of the favored tactics of our enemies the illithid, beholders and drow. Many of which hinge on the failings of flesh and blood. Constructs are not the answer for all tactics, but enough to make them a worthwhile vessel to be improved and used to bolster Sanctuary's defense. Of course this was realized long before I came, evidenced by the many animatrons that patrol our streets.

I have roamed the bowels of old Dunwarren for a long time and through experience learned many nuances of the animatrons that lie therein. While formidable, the animatrons are also clunky and predictable; as a result an able swordsman can put them down in droves. This can be excused by their malfunctional nature, but in the case that the Spellguard variant is not much better, I have considerable experience with a blade and can offer advice on improving their combat routines. In lieu of my assistance in that area, I have an idea for a new type of animatron, a "sapper" animatron that is laden with explosives, with little to no combat effectiveness and a weak hull in favor of fitting the most explosives payload possible and being quick enough to deliver the payload where it will hurt the most. When defeated it detonates itself dealing considerable damage to things around it. I estimate fifty to a hundred pounds of alchemist's fire can explode much in the same conflagration as a fireball spell. Triggering this detonation could be something as simple as lighting a fuse or wick. Sapper animatrons would be of little use in everyday situations in which collateral damage is an issue, but as shock troops in wartime I can see it being very helpful.

I would be much obliged if you consider my interests and get me in touch with the right people within our organization if you deem them useful.

Spellguard Associate Coronado Devir

Spellguard Associate Coronado Devir,

I am forwarding your letter to Animator Basian Dhimani for review. I will advise you, however, that he is not particularly fond of schemes involving the self-destruction of animatrons. It is a costly and non-trivial procedure to capture and instruct animatrons, and sending them on suicide operations would thus only be a measure of last resort. None the less, your thoughts are appreciated, and Animator Dhimani will make the final decision.

- Officer Barkely

A reply is sent several days later.

Associate Devir,

I've been running some experiments with animatrons that can adapt new combat techniques. You might be useful for those. As for your "sapper" idea, animatrons aren't expendable like that. It's enough of a pain to get them functioning as is. Plus the last thing I need is for people to have a new excuse for whining about animatrons, "Oh the bad evil Spellguard animatron malfunctioned and blew up my housing complex and killed my entire family, boo hoo!". So exploding animatrons are really out of the question except in very specific circumstances.

- Dhimani