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!]

to expect them

there and I’ll try and get

[Okay!]

the larger termite soldiers to start scissoring away at it. Even the workers are capable of

his attention to whipping up some stone,

This spell is such a freakin’

added to the intricate weave that is this spell. Its structure is almost like a spherical cake, one with dozens

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

Exciting!

more

name of all that is ant can there

don’t know, but they

know, she’s right. It’s horrifying, but also fascinating to see. The termites flood around the tunnel corner like literal water, a densely packed wave that sloshes and froths as individuals are sent tumbling

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 might have found their mental control breaking if they tried to deny

with mighty headaches

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

[I-I’ve got it, Master.]

it! Givesss

to have supercharged it this time, the green light shredding through everything it touches. It looks like

his eye is bleeding, thick ichor dripping onto the tunnel floor beneath his hovering

I tell him.

he replies with

attention into the spell, weaving threads with all the delicacy and speed I can muster. Within, the omni-elemental construct spins and whirls as raw mana is pumped in one end and converted into

damn thing is taking

mana, just…

I cry out in triumph. [I’ve