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.

lose anyone. In fact, pass the order,

to the Loremaster’s spluttering protestations, 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 regular checks

of mana on the human body had 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 high level individuals had to be wary

opening of the stiff canvas tent to find Braxis fussing over

it's six

would be a lot easier

"Shut up and work!"

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

it ready?" Titus rumbled

Give it a second to charge

tent to stand in front 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

Legion? The Legionem Abyssi were not to be lied to, something

distant and eyes seemed to be open but saw nothing. Titus knew he was reaching through the array

to be carried out of his own body. There was a feeling of being dragged, and a rush of distance, then he stood before the High Blade Balta, surrounded by

cold, the Golgari drew his blade, lay

greet you, Titus of the

crashing his right fist into

Legion sends its greetings, High Blade," Titus

of decorum addressed, the two men settled on their heels and weighed each other. Titus was familiar with the Golgari, they were a martial

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

have come calling so soon, commander. Has the Legion run into difficulty already? Are the

the Golgari. To his credit, Balta appeared unruffled, his

does not appreciate when information

got a raised

a bold claim you make, commander. By your honour, I trust you have proof," his

Titus' gut, but he kept

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

"You would dare?!"

be my

two leaders glared at each other, hands twitching as they longed to grasp weapons that didn't truly exist here in this mind space. After a long,

it was the Empire that

his suspicions of the High Blade, Balta would be honour bound to defend himself. Better to let