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.

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• 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 push away my irritation. It’s not exactly reasonable to expect them to be quiet

and I’ll try and get this ready as quickly

[Okay!]

away at it. Even the workers are capable of nibbling at the stone and tearing it down piece by piece. Since neither I, nor

his attention to whipping up some stone, but personally I’d rather have him on explosion

such a freakin’ pain in the

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

that I want to be standing next to when it goes off, but I don’t know how long it

Exciting!

more of them

the name of all that is

don’t know, but they

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 or

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

few lizards with mighty headaches out there

do about it!] I tell them.

[I-I’ve got it, Master.]

it! Givesss it

the green light

dripping onto the tunnel floor beneath his hovering form. That is less

I

be,] he replies

spell, weaving threads with all the delicacy and speed I can muster. Within,

the damn thing is taking me five

on mana,

I cry out in triumph.