Chrysalis

As we approach the nest I find myself in a huddle with Torrina, Corun and my pet gang in the centre of our column. I'm not sure where the prisoners are being held, somewhere toward the back, I imagine. Hopefully they can adjust to their new abode. I may not like them very much, but I don't want total suffering for them. Claws crossed we use them as part of a peace negotiation or something.

My Vestibule is sparking to life as more and more ants come into range and begin to provide their own trickle of energy. Frankly, the number of ants is already out of control and I don't think I've reached them all yet. I'd estimate close to five thousand are feeding me energy and I'm starting to buzz as if I just drank ten cups of coffee and followed it with a kilogram of raw sugar. Keeping my focus is… difficult. Perhaps a higher Will stat will help me resist this effect? I'll need to test it later.

The tunnel begins to widen out and flatten itself as the rocky protrusions are suddenly gone, as if sheared away by mandibles. The roof remains a little rough though and it takes me a little while to figure out why. Behind each carefully sloped bump is a well disguised hole behind which an ant could emerge without being seen. Clever stuff! In fact, when I look closer, the tunnel ceiling has been left deliberately rough, and not smoothed out like the floor. The ground has been smoothed out so well you could play marbles on here, but the small deviations and bumps that make the stone much easier to grip remain above my head.

[This is some good work,] Corun observes as he walks.

[What do you mean?] I ask him.

He pulls a face.

[Look closely at the floor and walls. Achieving this level of smoothness isn't easy with magic. It appears to have been compressed as well. Trying to get it compacted and remain this even? I'm impressed.]

He's right. My digging Skill is telling me the soil all around has been pressed hard, making it much harder to bite into. Yet it's super smooth, with nothing to grip or hold onto. Is that to make it harder to reach the roof tunnels from the ground?

[Wait a second, what's that?] Torrina breaks in. [Further up on the wall, it doesn’t look as flat.]

She's right. As we approach it becomes clear that there's an image carved into the wall. The indentation is shallow, not enough to provide a foothold, but the image is sharp nonetheless. Magically done, no doubt.

[Look at that,] Torrina gasps, [it's so well done!]

[Very lifelike!] Corun admires the image, walking closer to take it in. [Looks like it was made with a combination of magic and carving. See here? You can see the residual scrape marks, even if only barely. A lot of effort went into this!]

I can see the image is of a very impressive and dignified ant, standing proud with a well-shaped carapace and powerful mandibles clacking with determination. If I was in any doubt who it was meant

be Tiny?] Corun wonders,

and Tiny just after he was reconstituted,]

me, then back at the carving, then back at me before they both turn away. They're trying to hide it but I

to do

carve someone else dammit! Like

up with the Golgari laughing. Turns out that wasn't the only carving that depicted me and my pets. I'm not sure

the first time. Meeting with Mother. The development of Pheromone language, using traps to feed the Colony, hunting in groups. The

Corun can't help but become curious about the evolving story so I wind up having to explain the images as we go along, despite each of them

of Liria is awkward to say the least. Both of the Golgari have perplexed looks on their faces when that particular saga is done. Only for it to be followed with the war against Garralosh and her

one big monster,] Corun gasps. [On the surface?

an antenna to the place a lizard

She

[That's the damnable lizard that told you lot about me, Granin

would have never met me!]

turning to me. [Did you absorb the core from that creature? If not, do you

didn't absorb it, no. But I

to think about that core ever since

She nods.

possible,] she holds up her hands, [I won't interfere with it in any

suppose I can arrange that,] I

have to focus on maxing out my core, which probably means absorbing