Chrysalis

Despite most of the peoples of Pangera using their own form of currency - even the bruan’chii used something they called a ‘soul chip’ to trade amongst themselves - there was one universal unit of wealth that was good for business everywhere in the Dungeon.

Cores.

Which was why Smithant and Cobalt had brought a healthy supply from the Colony’s stores with them on this trip, though they had begun to suspect that they may have brought too many. Their brathian guide couldn’t resist sending covetous glances towards their carry bags, strapped to their carapace, though she tried to hide it.

“Everything is so spread apart,” Smithant huffed. “It’s inefficient.”

“It is,” Cobalt agreed, “but it does allow room for specialities to bloom. If everyone were forced to compete in proximity to each other, every stall would be the same.”

It was taking a long time to get from market to market; each district of Freehill was a sprawling mass of houses, shops, schools, fighting arenas, seemingly without much planning having gone into the layout. It was apparent that much of the growth was organic, new things being constructed when it was found to be necessary, and placed wherever the people at the time thought it would make sense. It deeply offended the ants.

Yet, it wasn’t their place to criticise others’ way of living, they were out looking for trade, and were having greatly mixed levels of success.

[What is this store?] Cobalt asked their guide.

Irisod read the sign and sighed.

[It is ‘Big Hogs Swarthy Swords’.]

don’t seem

name of the store

care one whit for marketing, only for quality goods, so they

were confronted with the clientele. Large, pinkish-skinned and snout-nosed Folk

here to trade, with permission of the Council,” Irisod assured everyone, holding up the official documents in case anyone wanted to inspect

Nobody did.

huge, flap-eared man emerged, looking down at the two ants. He spoke to Irisod in short, clipped tones, and the two

aware that it

know what you want to buy. Having monsters in his shop is

hesitation, her antennae twitching as she took in the many blades on

Folk, Hog, presumably, raised one brow before he stomped out the back and then returned bearing a

into their swords. Not only was the metal refined to the highest purity,

“Look at the layering of the steel. What sort of temperature did they fire this, to get that effect? Or was it the quenching? And this metal! Is it an

swords, so I don’t think it’s necessary for us to

out, “and techniques for making good blades can also be

was working on. It was tricky, since each set needed to be adjusted and fitted to the ant who used them, but a sharpened and enchanted set of barbs that fit over an ant’s mandibles had proven to make their bites

you enquire as to how much this costs?] Cobalt asked Irisod,

some back and forth, the

is overpriced by as

Smithant grumbled, still prodding the