Chrysalis

[Yes, you] I snap.

Enid immediately stumbles forward until she reaches the side of the still sonorously praising one-armed priest.

I see her concentrate and then her voice appears in my mind.

[Wouldn't it be more appropriate to communicate with this man?] she indicates the priest, [it was he who led our people to this place].

This priest?! How the heck did he find me?! Does he have some sort of tracking device on me or something?! More likely he was able to follow our trail somehow but the bottom line remains, what the heck are these people here for? They certainly don't look as they've come to fight, judging by the number of women and children in the crowd, not to mention the sheer lack of arms.

[I will speak to you since I have had dealings with you before. Make it clear to the others I am speaking to you].

I don't want to talk to that guy. He makes me a nervous.

Enid take a moment to gingerly touch the priest on the shoulder and indicate that I am communicating with her using mind magic. Rather than disappointed, the priests face is overcome with enlightenment and he bows low before me, head nearly touching the ground, before he backs away to speak animatedly to the crowd. Nothing phases this guy…

[Enid. Tell me why these people have followed my family here to the wild lands]

following the assault on the castle things settled down at first. Many of the villagers wanted to know where you went but we weren't told

recollections

breath before focusing her mind once more. [Then the capital caught fire. We could hear the roaring of beasts from our houses and flames reached the so high it was sky was burning. We were terrified, nobody knew what to do. Then monsters burst out of the Dungeon and into

human expressions as perhaps I was before but she seems overwhelmed with sadness and

The children of Garralosh. They killed so many… Only thanks to Father Beyn did we survive. He rallied the survivors and organised a retreat. We ran from the town with nothing but what we

we decided to flee south. We heard word of the colony's passage as we travelled. Father Beyn believed that perhaps you would be able to help

see she doesn't hold much hope. Having interacted with me directly and taken part in the deception to save her village from

all we can ask. If you aren't willing then you may as well eat us] she says bitterly, [we've

if I do need Biomass. I'll be getting that from the Dungeon in short order, I need to prepare myself before the future generation of ant workers is born! This is a critical

direction] I point with my antennae in front of the shocked woman, [tell Beyn I want him to get them settled make sure they don't

to some extent, a little light returns to their dark and dull faces. With a little more energy and spring in their step they turn as Beyn,

hobbles over to it and sits. I have no idea how she managed the journey at her age, trudging by foot over such a large

happened Enid? Tell me

swaying around her ears. [I don't know much. I think the monsters have invaded the surface. The capital got the worst of it, I can't imagine any other reason for the whole city

have been thousands of people trapped inside those walls. It isn't hard to imagine the chaos

little about the Dungeon] Enid continues, [my husband taught me a lot about his work. It isn't normal for monsters to approach the surface like this.

has been happening ever since

Croca-Beasts? I mean the Garralosh Infants?