Chrysalis

Hello, dear readers! It has been some time, but I greet you once more from the pages of my tome, the record of my grand adventures!

It is I, Travelling Tolly, and I continue my amazing journey in the lands of the Colony, the remarkable species of monsters who have captured imaginations and set tongues to wagging. As you are well aware, I can never resist a wagging tongue, and as such have made it my mission to thoroughly explore the lands claimed by these boneless creatures and bring my tale of excitement and endeavour to you!

When last we left you, I had been a resident of the Demon city of Roklu and the grand nest which the Colony had made underneath. Such an incredible place, the architecture, the customs, the people!

However, and I’m sure this is no secret to you, precious reader, the third stratum is not, shall we say, the most salubrious of locations.

Oh! I have travelled in the most miserable swamps, the most explosive of volcanoes. Never forget, ‘twas I who plunged into the depths of the forbidden mountain of Krak’tooa in search of the Crystal Fountain, hidden within the subterranean jungle of death, Amagor!

However, it’s no secret that your Tolly is getting on in her years. Breathing the smoke and ash all day long isn’t good for the lungs, reader. I assure you that my doctor has said so!

So it was that after my gentle urging, my host, guide and dear friend, Emilia, was persuaded that we might take our travels down to a deeper layer of the Dungeon.

“Are you sure, Ms Tolly?” she asked me, wide-eyed.

The precious thing.

the tour. It’s important you get enough

well rested, dear,”

here, which is said to reach fifty kilometres high! Also there is a monument raised not too far away to commemorate

certain the Colony has left wonders everywhere they’ve set

search for the correct framing, reader. It is the key to any discussion! At my gentle urging, Emilia agreed to speak to the representatives of the Colony, and we secured passage via one of the

original

upon learning our application had been approved, reader! The fourth stratum is,

and ash behind, and entered a world of light, life and beauty. Ah, it soothed my soul to set foot once again into that vibrant place, and I was most keen to see what the Colony

it was necessary to endure a period of mana acclimation before we

travel without having done

was an exciting moment, reader! After all, who hasn’t heard tales of the great nest? My fellow old biddies and I have exchanged

see any human sacrifice or such nonsense here, and indeed I

eagerly, I assure you, was one of prosperity. We stepped out of the gate and into the major gate reception of the ant mountain, and it was busy! We all know of the incredible mercantile efforts of the brathians in conjunction with the Colony, but seeing it firsthand, I was taken aback

people and loaded carts and wagons going to and fro in a seemingly endless stream! The mana requirements for such an enterprise must have been absolutely absurd, and I could see huge arrays gathering the required energy all throughout the vast

a scene wouldn’t have been out of place in the place I call home, the

to the sheer number of non-ants around, but I think it was rather foolish of them, considering there were still thousands and thousands of them! Directing traffic, inspecting cargo manifests, and performing all of the millions of administrative tasks that