Chrysalis

Though many of the modern kingdoms bray of their triumph over the Rending and the manifestation of their grand destiny, the College views these paper monarchies as they truly are: children playing castle in the crumbling remnants of a much greater civilisation.

It has also become surpassingly clear over the years that the lasting effect of the Rending on the human psyche is fear. Our race may never be free of the terror that took root when the very ground beneath our feet became our enemy, the source from which our nightmares sprung to life.

Exert from "Legion College Record volume V: years 213-289AR

After a good rest, filled with the contended and happy feeling of being in my own enclosed space with a full stomach for the first time in this world, I awake refreshed and ready to (cautiously) approach my next challenge.

I need to further explore the cavern, gather more information on my situation and try to identify my next prey. Before that however, there is something else I want to try first. After eating, Gandalf informed me I had unlocked a basic profile of the Spineta Lacertos. I haven’t yet tried to access this profile, it’s time to experiment and see if I can learn something.

Unlock!

Access Profile!

Open Sesame!

....

Spineta Lacertos!

[Spineta Lacertos: Thorn Lizard, spines are sharp and contain mutated venom.]

Whoo! There you go! So the Spineta Lacertos is translated to Thorn Lizard and what is the rest of this information. The spines are sharp?! Contain venom?! Isn’t that obvious the first time you look at the lousy thing?

Well, it’s only the basic profile after all. Perhaps if I can hunt and consume more of them I’ll be able to access a more detailed profile with more useful information.

With that out of the way it is time pursue the next task.

Emerging from my nest I make may across the roof to the rock pool. A now familiar scene greets my eyes, a collection of monsters, types I have seen before, loiter at the waters’ edge, warily guarding against each other whilst drinking from the glowing pool.

In fact, with my newly improved +2 eyesight the pool seems to be glowing slightly more brightly than it did in the past.

here to drink, yet I have not, in the several days I’ve been here in this monster ant body, felt thirsty. Since I am also a monster, just as these creatures are, what compels them to drink the water from the

to investigate. I will take a bold, brave, possibly stupidly suicidal step in order to shed some light on this mystery. Continuing to move in my almost habitual slow method I creep across the ceiling to the nearest wall, make my way down it and onto the cavern floor. Then, slowly at first, but with growing confidence as each step

hound, the wolf looking creature with a long reptilian tail, there really is a large proportion of lizard-like creatures here in this place, the huge bipedal Crocadilic

begins to growl, shocking me slightly, but then something odd happens, as I continue to approach the hound begins to back away slowly and make ground for me, almost

further and further into the light emitted from the pool another heaving mass of centipedes becomes

creatures emerges from the tangle and slithers forward on its spindly legs a few metres

it doesn’t

or seven of the horrible things piled

one reason that the survival minded me would risk coming into the open here, only one reason that I would show myself in front of all these creatures who could kill me so quickly: not even

Not even once.

this water source and I don’t think it has to do with hydration. After all I still don’t feel any need to drink. Monster physiology in

glow is so bright here up close, it’s difficult to see into the water, even with +2 eyes. The pulsing lines on the floor of the cavern seem to converge towards the center of the water

water itself seemed to flow and move in strange, concentric circles, despite the lack of current or propulsion of any kind. Almost like a lava lamp, the pool seemed to have a motion and swirl all of its

of the stupid centipedes I lower

It burns!

What

enters my mouth and flows straight through my three body segments to my stomach, from which the heat begins to permeate my blood

Yeeouch!

what you creatures have been coming here for? This painful, burning water of death?! What is wrong with all of you? Is this the cavern

burning sensation gradually subsides and I can’t help but stare at the other creatures around the pool incredulously. What the hell are you all doing here?! Many pairs of eyes

me, the dense light seemingly suspended within, like jellyfish coils, see through and

own condition. I don’t feel worse in any way.

Strange.

feel to this stupid pool. It must be important, otherwise why would

answers seem to

isn’t like my fellow guests at the

before I’d tasted the water,

before I do I can’t