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.

in this monster ant body, felt thirsty. Since I am also a monster, just as

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

notice me is a lizard 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 monster

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

to approach the pool, as I step further and further into the light emitted from the pool another heaving mass of centipedes

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

it doesn’t approach or

the horrible things piled over there, if they tried to attack

the peace of the water source held. There is only 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 once.

lizard but I never saw any conflict here. There is something important about this water source and I don’t think it has to do with hydration. After all I still don’t feel any need

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 source, right at the bottom of

of current or propulsion of any kind. Almost like a lava lamp, the pool seemed to have a motion and swirl all of

posturing of the stupid centipedes I lower my mouth to

It burns!

burns! What is this, hydrochloric

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

Yeeouch!

for? This painful, burning water of death?! What is wrong with

help but stare at the other creatures around the pool incredulously. What the hell

once again examine the slowly churning water before me, the dense light seemingly suspended within, like jellyfish coils, see through

I carefully analyse my own condition. I don’t feel worse in any way. I hurriedly open my

Strange.

seriously weird. What on earth is the attraction these monsters feel to this stupid pool. It must be important, otherwise why would there be this unspoken truce at this

seem

fellow guests at

I’d tasted

before I do I can’t resist one