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.

want to lose anyone. In fact, pass the order, I want all personnel to be

Titus turned and strode toward the communications tent. As he walked he managed to loosen his jaw and tamp 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 the medics do

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 just like a monster would. What the old Legionary worried about was something only

stiff canvas tent to find Braxis fussing over a core as it was lowered

it's six months pay for a louse like

be a lot easier

"Shut up and work!"

its housing. The moment it clicked into place, the entire array hummed to life, accompanied by an inward whoosh of mana as the core began to

ready?" Titus rumbled

Give it a second to

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 temper flared until he forced it down

Legion? The Legionem Abyssi were not to be lied to, something the Empire of Stone appeared to

knew he was reaching through the array with his mind, seeking out the connection to the Golgari camp. "You’re

will, he allowed himself to be carried out of his own body. There was a feeling of being dragged, and a rush of distance, then

blade, lay it across his palms and bowed

stone I greet you, Titus of the

a Legionary salute, crashing his

its greetings, High Blade," Titus

weighed each other. Titus was familiar with the Golgari, they were a martial people, numerous within the

tinge of contempt from his opposite's expression, the High Blade Balta

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

hard, at the Golgari. To his credit, Balta

Abyssi does not appreciate when information is

a raised

withholding knowledge from you? This is a bold claim you make, commander. By your honour, I

word honour from the mouth of this snake curdled Titus' gut, but he kept his face smooth, even as he allowed a little heat to

Empire has misled us, then I will petition the 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

"You would dare?!"

wouldn't be my first

leaders glared at each other, hands twitching as they longed to grasp weapons that didn't truly exist here in

the Empire

the High Blade, Balta would be honour bound to defend himself. Better to