Chrysalis

The brathian continue to be quite friendly and open with us, even allowing the carvers to peek into their workshops. The results of that visit were apparently a little humbling.

“They’re way ahead of us,” Smithant admitted freely.

She hasn’t changed much since the last time I saw her, in terms of attitude at least. Focused, a bit grouchy, entirely obsessed with her craft. It’s not always easy for me to tell, since I’m so much larger than every other ant, but I’m fairly confident she’s evolved recently as well. There’s a definite metallic sheen to her carapace and I’m not sure she always heated metal via her mandibles, or used her own carapace as an anvil. A nifty couple of additions, she doesn’t even need a forge to work anymore. Case in point, she’s busy testing some intricate wire… thing, even as we talk.

“Is it uncomfortable having your legs bend backwards like that?”

The spot she uses to hammer on is just behind her head. Her eyes are mutated enough that she still gets a good view of it, though she sometimes needs to turn a little.

“They don’t actually bend backwards, they rotate in the socket.”

“Ah… hmmm… so is that uncomfortable?”

“No.”

It sure looks weird.

“Sooo, we’re a long way behind them?”

forging process is far beyond what we are capable of. For example, I’m fairly sure one of the forges we saw was actively infusing water mana into the metal as it was being worked. I’ve never even thought of doing that, let alone have any idea how it

lot to do once we get back from this trip,” I muse. “How long do you think it will take before we can match

grizzled carver cleans off

higher ranks, we need to investigate more advanced techniques like these. Now that we have a

other secrets they reveal to us as

I felt a big monster sitting around here

The Shulk are fairly private creatures. You’ll forgive me if I don’t take you

Royal Road, this story should be reported

a monster who enjoys a little privacy,

would be latched onto my carapace, no question. I really hope I get back before she wakes up. I left a note in the event I didn’t… but I don’t think it’ll be enough

If the Satrap is the fattest brathian I’ve ever seen, then Marzban is surely the most muscular. Wearing his

mean, they’re all tiny compared to me, but I’m trying to pay attention

are all brathian settlements built around one of these

its core gleaming like a miniature sun. Part crab, part oyster, the thing has shells

informs me readily. [You would have felt the barrier you passed through

I nod.

the Shulk. It keeps smaller monsters away, enriches mana, and reduces the burden of water pressure, allowing our settlements to thrive at greater depths than we would normally be able to live comfortably. In exchange, we provide for the monster’s needs. We

Huh.