Chrysalis

I strain. I push. I fight with every fibre of muscle and every strand of brain matter to get my body to move forward! Nothing. As an experiment I try to move backwards and find no resistance, but once I move forward again, no dice. I'm frozen in place as long as I attempt to move forward.

This is crazy! The Dungeon is basically refusing to let me walk forwards?! Are you telling me I don't have control of my own limbs?

Dammit, Gandalf! Get your scrawny wizard backside out here and explain this. I won't take another step until this unpleasant phenomenon is spelled out to me. I mean… I can't take another step… but that's not the point!

[Master? Is everything alright?]

I realise then that my comrades have been watching me skuttle backwards and forwards, straining against an invisible barrier in front of the gate for over a minute now. I can imagine it doesn't look at all that sane, prompting Crinis to check in with me.

[I, uh, seem to be experiencing technical difficulties?] I reply.

Crinis is confused.

[I'm not sure what you mean. Is there a problem?]

[In a sense. I can't walk forward.]

[You can't?] She extends a tentacle forward toward the gate and meets no resistance. [I don't think anything is there?]

[This is a little hard to explain. It feels like the Dungeon itself is preventing me from going through the gate. As if it refuses to let me move somewhere that's going to take me up a stratum.]

[The Dungeon isn't letting you move?]

[Yeah, it sounds weird, I know.]

[CONTEMPTIBLE DUNGEON! UNHAND THE MASTER!]

Exploding with wrath, the tentacled shadow-mass unleashes her fury upon the Dungeon. In the literal sense. Stones fly and the bark beneath us splinters as Crinish lashes out blindly. Tiny, witnessing this chaos, naturally does the first thing that pops into his head, which is to join in. Chunks of wood start flying everywhere as the giant ape joyously smashes his mighty fists into the root beneath his feet.

HEY! Knock it off, both of you. That's

A Grove Keeper stomps over, a rare expression of anger plastered on his face. I reach out to him with my mind before

mean to attack the Mother

satisfy the Grove Keeper one bit and he replies in a tone rumbling

brush off this attack so brazenly? Hmmmmm. There must be a

hardly chipped the bark, don't get your logs soggy,] I retort, [besides, since you're here I have a question for your mum. She might be able to help

would she help

dead if I

that. Still bristling with anger the Grove Keeper turns toward the bushes and engages in another rustling session with them before he turns

her roots being disturbed. What is

the gate. Does she have any idea what that might

The Dungeon, you

I get it. Talk to the tree would

one thing, I kind of expected that to happen as I kept evolving, but this constant tug dragging me downwards is something else entirely. Now

also explain why I was so eager and reckless

the answer we get back. [The Call. She says that many monsters have felt it at one time or

you serious? Does this mean the Dungeon itself has acknowledged me or something? I don't

it herself? But doesn't now? What

an important

much of her potential to be able to create us, her children,

an evolution I won't have to put up with

[Hmmm. Useless?]

meant! Useless in the 'becoming an

me a long look before he

to say on this matter. Please refrain

was totally a

an antenna as they start to extend

[Ha-ha! Friends!]