Chrysalis

The Church of the Path is founded on the belief that all things born of the Dungeon belong to the Old Races. The resources that are found there, the territory and space, the mana and, perhaps most importantly of all, the monsters.

Monsters give experience when killed, allowing the slayer to grow stronger. They also contain valuable materials; their cores, primarily, but also the precious substances that make up their bodies, things that often cannot be found any other way.

A globe-spanning entity with adherents in every one of the old civilisations, the Church is a powerful entity with a simple mission: the complete and utter domination and exploitation of the Dungeon.

This view has put them at odds with other organisations, such as the Legion, who view the Dungeon as a danger and threat, but they remain undeterred.

Among the most important secrets of the Church has been their development of the Elixir, otherwise known as Dungeon Nectar. A miraculous beverage that can empower others simply by drinking it, the method of its manufacture is known only within the Church, though many would commit dark deeds to learn it.

- Excerpt from “Power and Influence: Church of the Path” by B.S. Wordsmith

The monster twisted in agony, suspended from hooks anchored into the stone ceiling. Senior Priest Alir tsked loudly as he looked up from his desk.

“Try to be still, stupid beast,” he grunted as he stood.

A quick tour of the chamber showed that the array was still functioning as intended. As he watched, another drop of golden liquid dripped down from above into the receptacle and he nodded, satisfied.

death, monster,” he said as he sat once more and turned his attention to the report that had filtered to him from

first report contact with the ants and ensured the

fascinating, to say the least. Monsters, actively working with others, seizing territory, reports of a tier seven ant, the first in recorded history. Rather than a ravenous horde of mindless insects, these ants

There was something different about this, but then,

waves, so close together. The Church could clearly see what was coming. Thousands of years of preparation were coming to a head,

to do with these ants

and a mythic as well. Such a resource. Should they be properly harvested, a veritable river of Elixir would flow through the Church. It could be just

anthill at the wrong time wouldn’t pay

down at the letter the

wish you to be a key component of our council.

critical work. Still, he understood it, he was an Elixir specialist, and these ants would make a fine brew

He needed to think.

and walked a slow circuit around the monster that continued to thrash weakly above. The array carved into the stone continued to burn with a dull light as it worked its magic on its target. The result of hundreds of years of research from tireless priests who demanded that the Dungeon yield to them, this array was one of the greatest achievements of the church, or

to say it could not be improved? Extract all of it, that had been the dream of those early pioneers.

ants, just what would Alir do to get his hands on a crop like that. But how? They couldn’t be underestimated, that much was certain. They had survived an attack from the Legion, nothing

would need allies. It may be possible to draw on the Legion, though unlikely; they would be too focused on the upcoming cataclysm. The Ka’armodo, the Empire of Stone, perhaps even the underwater kingdoms of the Brathian, surely someone would be willing

chuckled darkly to