“You speak of the farms?” Burke the scout asked.
Victor nodded. “I do. Their capacity is woefully inadequate.”
Ellie the Core Shaper stepped forward. “If the queen is laying at full capacity, then we can expect two hundred new hatchlings every few days. Currently, the colony is woefully underprepared to feed and groom that many workers. Certainly not to the standards the eldest hopes for.”
All twenty lowered their heads in contemplation. The eldest, the first and progenitor of their species, was something of a puzzle. As their senior and indeed, the eldest of their race, they revered and respected that individual as every member of the colony did. At the same time, they were frequently confused by them. Un-antlike concepts and behaviour, such as the insistence on the nurturing of each individual to the best of the colony’s capacity, went against their instincts, even if they could intellectually understand the benefit.
Antionette spoke for herself and her fellow Juvenile Queen, Victoriant. “I believe we are all agreed that the farms must be dramatically expanded. At least double, perhaps as much as five times the size,” she offered softly. “We must ensure the young are able to grow without want.”
The twenty all nodded. This was the first priority. The wave was a temporary phenomenon in theory, and whilst it persisted, they could exploit it to harvest the Biomass and cores they needed to fuel the rapid expansion of the colony. The workforce required to hunt and acquire such an amount of food under normal circumstances did not currently exist. Exploiting the current circumstances made a lot of sense.
“Let us discuss the composition of the workforce moving forward,” rumbled Grant. “I would like to hear your thoughts.”
The eldest had insisted each worker be allowed to choose their own path, which the twenty acknowledged, and again, didn’t quite understand. Of course, each individual ant would choose whatever it was that the colony needed. They themselves had been quite conflicted upon being told they would need to decide for themselves what to evolve into. Only after a lengthy discussion had they decided what would best serve the colony was for a representative of each caste to be present amongst them, thus allowing the ants to choose the caste that best suited their temperament without concern.
The new wave of hatchlings would be desperate to know what it was the colony required, and would then be overjoyed to evolve and fill that gap.
“We all know why you do not want to speak first,” grunted Tungstant. “The colony needs soldiers more than anything else. We have pressing need for strength in combat, scouts and leaders in order to protect ourselves, and increase in our hunting efficiency.”
“Indeed,” seconded Theresant, the Brood Keeper. “We also require more workers to tend to the brood. If we wish to ensure the young are given the best start to life we can manage, security, sustenance and care in the larval form is required.”
This was reasonable, and also ran into the other problem that the eldest had unwittingly dropped on them.
“Those of us from the specialist classes should begin to experiment and research Skills as quickly as possible,” Cobalt spoke their thoughts. “The eldest has procured information from a source outside the colony, but we should not trust that source implicitly. Each Skill unlock and fusion combination needs to be tested. Not to mention,” Cobalt continued wryly, “some castes do not have a clear purpose as of yet. We will need to discover it from scratch.”
The others agreed. Exactly how the Cavers and Core Shapers were supposed to operate, what exactly they were intended to produce, was completely nebulous at present. Not understanding with exacting precision, their purpose in the colony was unnatural and intolerable to the ants. It was unlikely they would rest until they were able to discern a function they could fill.
“I agree,” Sloan pitched in. “We need to establish a complete map of all Skill options, fusions and mutations as quickly as possible. For all castes. Peak efficiency is to be sought at all times.”
How the eldest had blundered forward, choosing this and that with seemingly little thought to future possibilities and consequences, yet still managed to become the most powerful individual in the family, was faintly miraculous. The workers did not wish to take any chances. All things should be planned and mapped as much as possible.
“Now we come to the most difficult question,” Coolant the mage spoke solemnly.
All the ants fell still as they contemplated this most serious issue.
“What exactly are we going to do with the eldest?” Burke muttered.
The strangely puzzling, compelling and powerful progenitor of their race, followed loyally by the two guardians, each a powerhouse in their own right, represented a tremendous asset to the colony, but also a somewhat random and chaotic element.
For now, it would appear their senior intended to… rest. Surely after a time the eldest would wish to continue to work for the colony. What should be done then? Should the senior just do whatever it was they wanted? Should the twenty make suggestions? As a potent asset to the colony, they certainly didn’t want to see the eldest pass away during a poorly thought-out escapade in the Dungeon.
“We may need some time to consider this issue,” Victoriant broke the silence. “I suggest we rally the colony and commence work for the time being. Let us reconvene just prior to the next wave of pupae hatching.”
In silent agreement, the twenty rushed out into the bustle of the colony, dropping scent trails and gathering workers for the projects they had in mind. It was going to get busy around here.
29. The Purpose Going Forward
Knowledge of Demon societies of the Third Strata is limited, to put it mildly. I’ve no idea why you would contact me seeking such knowledge, it’s hardly my area of expertise! I suppose it is true that my academy has amassed the most records regarding deep delves of the Dungeon, but that doesn’t mean I’ve had the opportunity to read them all.
Honestly, Ranlon, I don’t know why you waste your time in that third-rate college of yours. A scholar with your pedigree would be more than welcome here at the tower. I know of your distaste for ‘petty nobility and their feckless children,’ as you have put it, but surely you must be feeling the pinch, rolling around in the dirt with those commoners.
As far as demons and their ilk, I have managed to scrounge up a few records for you. Only a few groups have ever admitted to making contact with the demon clans; the Legion, a few mercenary companies of renown and several of the old empires. All of their public statements on the matter agree that the demons were cordial, did not attack and allowed them to leave in peace. In every other way, they were detestable. Trickery, lies, deception and entanglement supposedly come as second nature to the demon clans, making any negotiation with them a tangled nightmare.
A few successful trades have been reported, but those were only secured after shrewd bargaining and open threats of violence and retaliation from both sides.
Everyone knows the different clans differ vastly from one another and that the wild ‘beast demons’ infest the tunnels of the third strata, but specifics are just impossible to find. I’ve put the word out that if a text should be unearthed from the archive with pertinent information, to have it brought to my attention. That is the best I can do for the moment.
Do consider my offer, Ranlon. I’d hate to see a mind so bright rot away for such paltry people.