Chrysalis

Golgari society has long been divided in a caste structure based on profession. The outer circle, or the fourth, consists of those regular craftsmen and women, the farmers, the miners, the smiths and tailors and traders. No matter how high a level they reach, or what impressive feats they achieve, it is impossible for them to climb higher than the circle in which they live.

A half-step above them is the Shaper circle, a name given to those with the ability to shape the mana of Pangera and bend it to their will. In many ways, their inclusion above the fourth circle is something of a begrudging nod of acceptance from the golgari caste system, which existed long before the Rending.

For this reason, the Warriors have always held a dominant position within golgari society. It was they who fought and defended the early territories of their people, before mana began to saturate the surface and the Shapers emerged to wield it.

Above them all stands the Noble circle. These are the ruling Class of the golgari, but make no mistake, there are no Shapers among them. Family members of the Noble families who choose to pursue the art of magic and join the Shapers are cut off from their families.

This social structure is as rigid and unyielding as the golgari themselves, and yet, their people continue to thrive. The Empire of Stone survived the Rending, rebuilding itself from the devastation left by Yarrum. To them, theirs is a successful model for society. Why would they change it?

- Excerpt from ‘People of Stone’ by Xinci

Isaac found it difficult to follow multiple conversations at the same time, which he felt was a natural thing to struggle with. This task only became exponentially harder when one of those conversations was out loud and one of them was conducted with pheromones. Isaac was uncomfortable with pheromonal conversation on several levels.

Where and how did he produce pheromones? How did he receive them? If his Class had grown small antennae on his body somewhere, he would have a serious complaint. The ants were evasive, at best, when he tried to get answers to questions like this, saying they couldn’t possibly know how Classes worked.

“Are you paying attention, Isaac?” Cavalant huffed at him.

“Of course I’m paying attention,” he snapped back, “but having you chirp at me all the time isn’t helping.”

“I’m ensuring you’re focused on the right things.”

“You are, in this moment, distracting me from the very things you want me to focus on!”

“That’s because you aren’t paying attention.”

be paying attention if you stopped

admitted you aren’t paying attention,” the ant noted, smugly. “Which means I’m right to

a headache coming on. He pinched the bridge of his nose and

listen to the envoys speak to each other. Then we can review afterwards

belongs on Royal Road. Report

understand their

getting a live translation from a

fell silent, flicking her antennae in a ‘have it your way’ kind of gesture, allowing Isaac to pay attention to

hundred ants had entered the fortress, and fully half of them were members of his cavalry squad. That meant fifty burly, powerful soldiers, built

it didn’t seem

had been greeted by six of the massive rock-people, now there were easily three hundred. Actually, knowing the golgari, there were likely

charge of proceedings. Because of course the merchants couldn’t run it.

forceful and imposing greeting,” Eran said, not flinching away from calling out their

Isaac of his ma’am a bit. She didn’t

a gleaming coat of almost liquid metal, smiled wide

welcome here. It wouldn’t do to have the Brathian Island Conglomerate think they were unworthy of

Eran replied smoothly and Isaac struggled not to smirk. She was about half the height of the man she was talking to, but she didn’t hesitate to

me and we will escort you to your quarters. I expect you are fatigued after your long

for Eran to interrupt them before they could move more

to make the presentation as soon as

turned back, a quizzical

you mean?”

business here, now, and be on our way. I’m sure that won’t be an issue? To delay these simple matters of trade would waste much of your precious

tall, a hand grasping his chin