Chrysalis

Pleased by the positive reaction to their first suggestion, the three golgari shapers launch into their next suggestions with gusto.

[Well, I had Corun work on a suggestion for your mandibles, since you haven’t mutated them after the reset. We know you had a few different mutations in the past, but you made a fair bit of use of the infusion mutation, right?]

It was true, infusing mana into my mandibles had been one of my earliest offensive mutations after the acid. By powering them up with raw mana, they were better at doing what good mandibles did, namely biting and crushing stuff, even dirt. The real sauce was infusing them with mana that had taken on an attribute. Fire bite? Sure thing, stuff some fire mana in there. My favourite effect was infusing them with gravity mana, which gave my mandibles the ability to yoink someone towards me.

Ahhhh, good times.

[Yep,] I confirm happily. [I had the savage mutation as well, for more chompy mandibles.]

A normal formica ant has mandibles that are a bit stubby, for gripping rather than cutting or puncturing. You might ask, what use are mandibles that can only grip in combat? You forget that for ant-on-ant warfare back on Earth, one of the main strategies was to grab hold of your enemies’ legs and pull the darn things off. Ditto when battling other types of insects.

Of course, that wouldn’t really work as well in the Dungeon, so I took that mutation to give my mandibles more of an aggressive shape. Longer and more spiky, they worked wonders with my bite Skills.

Corun steps forward, a serious expression on his face for once.

[Yes, well. I think this time around, you would agree that a different approach to your mutations will yield better results. Although the infusion mutation is flexible, and can be powerful in certain circumstances, we’re not sure that it’s the right mutation for you.]

[What makes you say so?] I ask, curious.

Corun coughs, looking a little embarrassed. Granin speaks in a flat tone of voice before his younger triad member can gather his courage.

[Because you’re too forgetful. The main benefit of mana infusion is the many different effects you can manifest with it. There’s no point for someone as scatterbrained as you to take it.]

for a second as I absorb this

[Ouch.]

golgari folds his

[Am I wrong?]

I just didn’t realise after all this time that you

of any monster I’ve ever seen, and somehow you’ve managed to create an entire ant society, the first of its kind. You’re clearly doing something

I

Corun looks relieved.

of mutation along the lines of Savage isn’t a bad choice. Although your mandibles aren’t the same as they were when

current mandibles aren’t as short and blunt as they were in the beginning, but they aren’t as brutal and fearsome as they could

have a short list of mutations for you to consider that includes the Savage mutation,

[Toothed? I’d have teeth?]

like it sounds. That mutation would give you a lining of inwardly curved ‘fangs’ on the inside of

that the same

of varying lengths, shortest close to your face, longest at the tips, on the inside of the mandibles. It’s

[And guillotine?]

would adapt your mandibles for cutting, rather than piercing. Considering how hard your mandibles are, you could cut through just about anything if you

I be able

I like the Savage

Trusty and reliable.

of everything, it doesn’t excel in any one department, but it improves both cutting and piercing while extending

Then what about from +20