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?”

advanced techniques. Their use of mana during the forging process is far beyond what we are capable of. For example, I’m fairly sure one of

to be a lot to do once we get back from this trip,” I muse. “How long

grizzled carver cleans off her antennae

we need to investigate more advanced techniques like these. Now that we have a clue, it should help us advance, albeit slowly at

are other secrets they

big monster

you noticed. The Shulk are fairly private creatures. You’ll forgive

story should be reported if

enjoys a little privacy, I can respect

not like I’ll ever get privacy ever again. How far away from the Colony would I need to be in order to be alone in my own head? Even if I got there, Crinis would be latched onto my carapace, no question. I really hope I

brother of the Satrap and… their lead… fighty… guy. I don’t know his title. Unlike his pudgy, cheerful and fabulously wealthy brother, this guy is more jacked than a house of cards. If the Satrap is the fattest

tiny compared to me, but I’m trying to pay

settlements built

that runs straight through the middle of the brathian settlement, the Shulk is a huge monster, tier seven at least, its core gleaming like a miniature sun. Part crab, part oyster, the

of them,] Marzban informs me readily. [You would have felt

I nod.

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 feed it, keep it informed and entertained, and help to propagate their species. After all, more Shulk surviving to maturity means more places we

Huh.