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!]

irritation. It’s not exactly reasonable to expect them to be quiet as they protect me from an unending torrent of furious

and I’ll try and get this ready

[Okay!]

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

to whipping up some stone, but personally I’d

is such a freakin’

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

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

Exciting!

There’s more of them

of all

know, but they managed

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

drop everything, no matter what is happening, to come and defend the

lizards with mighty headaches out there

about it!] I tell them. [Unleash

[I-I’ve got it, Master.]

Givesss it to

appears to have supercharged it this time, the green light shredding through everything it touches. It looks like it’s shredding anything that even gets close

dripping onto the tunnel floor beneath

it, Invidia,] I

be,] he replies

about him, I 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. Within, the

managing the damn thing

mana,

in triumph. [I’ve got