Chrysalis

Negotiations were always a delicate matter. There were many things to consider, after all. What was culturally and economically acceptable to both sides? What did each side want from the other? It was around these things that discussions would focus.

The first thing Eran Umizan needed to discern was what it was the Colony desired.

“Do they need food?”

Clearly, they had an interest in foodstuffs, as evidenced by the tea and scones. There was a brief consultation.

“They don’t,” Irisod told her. “Apparently, they grow all of their own food. Their own sugar, wheat, tea leaves and everything else they consume in large quantities. For satisfying their hunger, they generally use Biomass or… aphids? I’m not sure what those are.”

Interesting.

“We can negotiate a price for access to our gates?” she suggested. “Would they be interested in discussing terms for such an agreement?”

The price would be hideously expensive, of course. If you couldn’t make your own gates, then you were at the mercy of whoever was in a position to offer you access to one.

An ant entered with another tray covered in delectable-looking slices of layered cake, each topped with a twirl of pink cream. Eran’s brow went up as the tray was carefully placed before her, and another was distributed amongst her retinue.

Again, no poison.

“I thought they were short on supplies?” she asked her Court Mage, quietly.

“Apparently, they just developed their own gate.”

“What? When?”

“Just now.”

“As in…?”

during this

first thing they used it

us cake,

see glistening fruits embedded

It was delicious.

then turned and

stuffing her face with it in a most un-decorous manner. The girl flushed under the withering glare of her mother and licked the cream from her

now knew they preferred to be called, were an interesting case. They didn’t want what most she negotiated with wanted, as

could adorn their Queens with the finest gems the

protective and absurdly doting on their Queens, considering they seemed to have developed an entire culinary culture around serving their

be more clear, they don’t think the Queens

“Very well.”

highest quality pieces were brought to the fortress as quickly as

curiosity, are any of you talking to the large one?” she asked

“Not currently, no.”

“Interesting.”

a moment longer. Would they want arms and armour? None of the ants she saw around her were wearing anything of the sort, though she saw some wore clearly enchanted rings metal rings around where their

was some level of industry

be interested in purchasing equipment from us? Our forges produce materials of the highest quality. Particularly, for metals and woods infused with water mana, we are the best to be found on

their faces and she had to constantly remind herself that she was looking at their skeletons. They couldn’t move them. The level of stillness went beyond just

“They… hmmm.”

she demanded softly, no hint of her irritation

troubled, perhaps

warned. “Cultural differences can give rise to offence where none

apologise. They suggested they would love to purchase a sampling of our wares, but only so they could study them. The ants

pride would suggest that their mastery over the waters would never be questioned, since they were the only sapient race to live in it. They absolutely did have a far higher affinity for water mana than any other race, and were extremely accomplished when

in their own craftswork? It took decades to develop those Skills to

was approaching this from

they be prepared to