Chrysalis

We warred for survival. That was our driving motivation for so long that when we eventually reached the point that survival wasn’t threatened, we almost didn’t know how to act. We had established enough power, enough allies, that the forces who sought to exterminate us were unwilling to pay the cost, and thus secured our ongoing existence.

Some theorise that it is only when one doesn’t have to struggle day to day that their true personality can shine through. In that case, this period would reveal who the Colony was, what our priorities were, and who we saw ourselves being in the future.

Even the Eldest, so often the driving force behind our development and direction, stepped into the background. Left to our own devices, the Colony had to search deep within itself to find a new direction, a new channel in which to place its bottomless energy.

·

• Excerpt from the private notes of Historiant

Turns out, it takes a lot of mana to create a volcanic eruption.

[Stay away from the master you trash! Die!]

[GRAAAAAH!]

[Ssssurrender your livesss to me!]

BOOM! BOOM!

And it requires an extreme level of concentration and focus.

[Succumb to fear! Retreat from the shadows!]

[Ahhh. The experience isss mine!]

[HRAAAAAAAAA!]

[Can you keep it down, dammit! I’m trying to focus!]

[Sorry, Master!]

away my irritation. It’s not exactly reasonable to expect them to be quiet as they protect me

Do your best up there and I’ll try

[Okay!]

doesn’t take long for the larger termite soldiers to start scissoring away at it. Even the workers are capable of nibbling

divert his attention to whipping up some stone, but personally I’d rather

such a freakin’ pain in

flow out of the omni-elemental construct at a constant rate, each seized by my mind constructs and condensed before they are added to the intricate weave that is this spell. Its structure is almost like a spherical cake, one with dozens of wafer

when it goes off, but I don’t know how long it takes to detonate after I finish

Exciting!

more of

How in the name of all that

know, but

The termites flood around the tunnel corner like literal water, a densely packed wave that sloshes and froths as individuals are sent tumbling or flying by

wider nest that the queens were under threat. Naturally they drop everything, no matter what is happening, to come and defend the queen. In fact, the ka’armodo

wager there’s a few lizards with mighty headaches out

I tell them. [Unleash everything you’ve got. I

[I-I’ve got it, Master.]

Givesss it

beam. In fact, he appears to have supercharged it this time, the green light

is bleeding, thick ichor dripping onto the tunnel floor beneath his hovering form. That is

overdo it, Invidia,] I tell

he replies with

can’t. Instead, I turn and pour all of my attention into the spell, weaving threads with all the delicacy and speed I can muster.

damn thing is taking

mana, just… frickin…

out in triumph. [I’ve got