Chrysalis

This period of history became known as the Great Expansion, the first of several large spans of aggressive land claims made by the Colony. What differentiated these from the manner of conquest utilised by the sapient races of Pangera was our unusual 'top down' approach. When the Colony claimed an area in the third stratum, they also seized the land above it in the second, and the first, and on the surface.

When we descended to another layer in force, we strived to ensure that the resources and cities beneath what we had already taken became ours as well. Although it was generally considered a normal practice to try and achieve this vertical structure, none were as fanatical about it as the Colony. Indeed, it was commonplace to possess significant holdings in the fourth stratum, a place of incredible value to any with the means to exploit it, and not bother to invest in the extremely difficult to manage third stratum, and unimportant second and first strata.

As we remained creatures of low mana requirements, the nests and academies spread far and wide across the upper levels of the Dungeon, accompanied by matching outreach from the human population on the surface. During this first wave of outreach, the city of Rylleh established its exploratory foundation that initiated construction of the new city that became Sothoth.

• From the records of Historiant.

I really need a holiday. As nice as it's been to engage in endless combat against the termites, and believe me, it has been satisfying on a primal level to rip into those damn abominations, I feel like I need a break.

With the lizards stepping in and taking control of the offensive directly, the entire battlefield has turned into a giant cat and mouse game. Vast swarms of termites sweep forward, tear up our tunnels, try to hunt down our patrols, lay false scent trails and generally be a nuisance before they retreat. Or they pretend to retreat but instead lay a trap and when we run in to try and chase them out, termites pour out of the walls and drop on top of us.

fire, setting traps of their own, false tunnels, chambers filled with concentrated acid, misleading trails, surprise forays into disputed territory,

crafty creatures, deceit dripping from every cursed scale. The only ant who got close was me,

away without even being seen, no matter

as possible before retreating back to safe ground. Once we regroup, we try

The number of termites swarming around the territory of the mother

to pull all the way back to the Bruan'chii settlement to try and get an audience with the tree herself. As a fellow

overall mass, I'm quite a bit larger than the tree man, but ants tend to be much longer than they are tall, I'm quite a midget for a tier six monster in that respect. I barely come up to Tiny's waist when

talk or

am not sure what she will say. Mother's mood has been… difficult

difficult! As far as I've been told, she's been difficult from the moment she

while the many flowers, bushes and roots that adorn the walls in the chamber rustle amongst themselves as the Grove Keeper tilts his

will speak,] he tells

against the termite threat any time soon? We've been doing pretty darn well holding off in the invasion so far on our own, but a little

the incursions reach her roots, hasn't she been fighting?] the Keeper replies without