Chrysalis

With my circle around me, I eventually find my way into town. It's a shocking transformation that's taken place. Cobbled roads with drainage ditches, a smattering of proper, stone buildings, way more people than I remember and a plethora of other indicators of a thriving, happy community. To think that mere months ago this place didn't have one brick on top of another. There's still quite a few ants about the place, watching the humans go about their business, helping out here and there. Most of them are mages, of course, but every now and again a carver pops up with a mage escort to perform the mind magic for them.

The Colony really has taken my instructions to learn from the humans very seriously. It seems as though they won't be satisfied until they extract every little piece of information they can get their mandibles on. Considering the rate of improvement that they’ve shown, it's working like a charm.

Corun and Torrina draw a lot of strange looks as they accompany me into the town. Being Golgari, they stand head and shoulders above even the tallest human in town, not to mention their glittering stone skin and general lack of clothing. But even they, as strange and new to these people as they are, don't seem to be enough to distract from the spectacle of forty robed 'ant-people' escorting me through the streets. Having them just be there is one thing, but the shouting adds a whole new layer of awkwardness.

"MAKE WAY FOR THE GREAT ONE!"

"DO NOT SULLY THE SHINE OF HOLINESS!"

"PAY PROPER RESPECT! MAKE WAY FOR THE MANDIBLES OF JUSTICE!"

The WHAT?!

I thought I was the only one who called them that… Regardless, this public display of devotion receives something of a mixed response from the gathering crowd of onlookers. Some people, presumably those who've seen me before, possibly during the battle against Garralosh, cheer and wave as they see me, or clasp their hands and join the shouting, which is less great. Others appear more curious than elated, likely those who haven't seen an ant of this sort of size or apparent importance wandering around. Then there's others who seem less delighted to have a giant monster in quite such close proximity to themselves.

I should have waited outside of town. I just got a little enthused and wanted to see all of the changes that had taken place. They've worked hard, these people. Can't help if I wanted to have a bit of a sticky-beak.

[You seem popular up here,] Corun laughs over a mind bridge.

[When you save people's lives from a horrible death by monster, they tend to be grateful, even if you are a monster.]

[Even so, some of this feels a little… religious, don't you think?]

[I'm not sure I get what you mean…]

[The robes, the singing of praises and such. Granin might be on the right track with you, you've already managed to create your own cult!]

[Antenna Cult?] Torrina says.

thinking

is the 'Cult of the Worm'. Before you try and start making fun of other people's cults, not that

some humans treat Master with the

[being up here can't be any more comfortable for

[I'm fine!]

aren't, but not to worry, we're nearly

increasing crowd of onlookers, we do eventually push our way through to the newly constructed town hall, a two story building of simple stone construction that is nevertheless very impressive considering how quick they whipped it up. It's nothing compared to what the carvers are building underground, but hey,

mana sense and reach out with a mind bridge once I

me that you didn't know I was coming. Half the town is out here

[but I've been stuck in here listening to people natter on about their issues which

hate to interrupt, you but I can't stay up here for long. One more evolution and you'll probably never see me on the surface again! Any chance I can break up the meeting? We've got some

hard to focus on mental communication

had better mental stats. Enid needs a few more levels if you ask me. Although, she may be a touch too old for Dungeon delving. I turn to one of my ant-headed bodyguards and whipped

there, it's me, the giant

a weather beaten face, leaps

I just need you to grab some of your people, go in there, and

to form a coherent response, he nods jerkily, and then thinks better of it and bows deeply. After a moment to collect himself, he grabs two others and drags them into the building, whispering furiously to them as they

in, the three ant-robed people bring out a rather startled looking Enid being carried in their arms. She knew that something was going to happen, but I'm not sure that she

Enid,] I greet her with a friendly wave of

certainly has. Have you

no. That's Crinis. Say

people watching. Crinis extends the limb towards Enid and waves it playfully before retracting it back into

[She says hi.]

brushes her skirts down

there's something important happening going on down in the Dungeon? Must be big if you've come back up here, it can't be pleasant

company. I'm not sure exactly how to phrase this delicately, so I'm just going to come out and say it. I might have accidentally started a war with the

stares

Golgari?! Then why are they here?] She points an