Chrysalis

Titus hated dressing up. But the Golgari High Blades were notorious sticklers for protocol and tradition, so his hands were tied. He'd be damned if he'd put on his full dress uniform though, absolutely no chance. The jumped up pile of rocks would have to be satisfied with him giving his armour a solid polish. So it was that in the final hours of the bridge relay being assembled, Titus took off his elaborate Legion Runic Armour, sat in front of the command tent and attended to the buckles, plates and stone whilst directing his Legion.

His hands worked the leather straps, polished the buckles and cleaned the stone almost automatically, not really having to look at what he was doing, his eyes instead roving over the camp. There wasn't a single Legionary with five years of experience who couldn't clean their armour in their sleep, and Titus had far more than that.

When the job was done, he put the suit back on, almost feeling a sense of relief when the final plate snapped into place, sealing him in.

"Feeling more comfortable commander?" Alberton asked from his seat nearby.

Titus shrugged his shoulders, feeling the heavy suit fall into place on his frame.

"It doesn't feel right being in the field without being armoured up," Titus said.

He performed a few rapid checks with hands, pulling on a plate here, shoving with his palms there, testing the joints and straps. The Loremaster frowned.

"Be careful of the mana …" he began.

"I know," Titus cut him off and continued his meticulous checks.

Alberton was silent for a moment before he continued quietly.

"I worry sometimes, old friend. Just be careful."

Titus didn't look up from his inspection and after a long moment Alberton sighed and rose from his seat, checking every strap and seal on the back of the suit.

"Flawless as always commander," he said, slapping him on the pauldron with one wrinkled hand.

"Are you going to suit up?"

The Loremaster snorted.

"What for? My Skills are in research and documents, not swords and sorcery."

Titus turned and looked his friend in the eye.

on," he ordered, "something isn't quite right on this mission and I don’t want to lose anyone. In fact, pass the order, I want

down his anger. It wasn't Alberton's fault. The mana was rising and the armour drank it in, pouring it into his infused body. He made a mental note to have

many implications. Mana sickness was just the most common of these. Once adapted to a certain level of mana, withdrawal became the next concern, wasting away

opening of the stiff canvas tent to find

thing cracks and it's six months pay for a louse

be a lot easier if you'd

"Shut up and work!"

as he placed the precious core into its housing. The moment it clicked into place, the entire array hummed to life, accompanied by

Titus rumbled from the

time, it's ready to roll. Give it a second to

of the device. This was far from the first time he'd used a Bridge Relay. As he waited for the mage to finish his work, the younger Legionary watching attentively over his shoulder, Titus thought about the current campaign. The more he thought, the higher his

The Legionem Abyssi were not to be lied to,

Titus knew he

commander and Titus felt his mind reach out to his own. Relaxing his will, he allowed himself to be carried out of his own body. There was

his blade, lay it across

stone I greet you, Titus of

returned the gesture with a Legionary salute, crashing his right fist into his chest plate, right

Legion sends its

each other. Titus was familiar with

expression, the High Blade Balta sneered as he addressed

have come calling so soon, commander. Has the Legion run into difficulty already? Are the insects too difficult and you must request

stared, hard, at the Golgari. To his credit, Balta appeared unruffled, his

Abyssi does not appreciate when information is

got a raised

is a bold claim you make, commander. By your honour, I trust

snake curdled Titus' gut, but he kept his face smooth, even as he allowed a little heat

Consul for a punitive expedition to be dispatched immediately," Titus spoke evenly, "perhaps after we put a few cities to the torch your people will remember how to

"You would dare?!"

wouldn't be my first

grasp weapons that didn't truly exist here in

it was the Empire that provided

the High Blade, Balta would be honour bound to defend himself. Better to let those words hang in the