As I crawl from the hill, I’m a little shocked to see a small open-air building, almost like the tiered seating you’d see in a sports stadium, but much more modest. Every row is filled to capacity with humans wearing strange brown robes, with weird pointy things sticking out the top.
Come to think of it, they kind of look like antennae…
The moment I come within their sight, every single one of them throws their hands in the air and cries out with an ecstatic voice.
“PRAISE THE GREAT ONE! PRAISE HIS SHININESS. MAY THE SHADOWS FLEE FROM HIS CARAPACE, AND HIS MANDIBLES PIERCE THE HIDE OF EVIL!”
What in the hell…
I try to skirt around and avoid them, but they leap from the platforms and rush to greet me. Just when I think I’m going to be buried under a pile of human bodies, they stop and form a loose circle around me, hands clasped in front of their chests and facing outward. When I move, they move with me, forming a living barrier of devoutness that goes where I go. When I pick up the pace, they try and run with me, but it’s clear they can’t all keep up. I sigh and slow down, allowing them to do what they want…
This feels really weird.
25. Would you go to War for Some Insects?
With my circle around me, I find my way into town. And a shocking transformation has taken place. Cobbled roads with drainage ditches, a smattering of proper, stone buildings, way more people than I remember, and a plethora of other indicators of a thriving, happy community. To think that mere months ago, this place didn’t have one brick on top of another. There’s still quite a few ants about the place, watching the humans go about their business, helping out here and there. Most of them are mages, of course, but every now and again, a carver pops up with a mage escort to perform the Mind Magic for them.
The colony really has taken my instructions to learn from the humans very seriously. It seems as though they won’t be satisfied until they extract every little piece of information they can get their mandibles on. Considering the rate of improvement that they’ve shown, it’s working like a charm.
Corun and Torrina draw a lot of strange looks as they accompany me into the town. Being golgari, they stand head and shoulders above even the tallest human, not to mention their glittering stone skin and general lack of clothing. But even they, as strange and new to these people as they are, don’t seem to be enough to distract from the spectacle of forty robed ‘ant-people’ escorting me through the streets. Having them just be there is one thing, but the shouting adds a whole new layer of awkwardness.
“MAKE WAY FOR THE GREAT ONE!”
“DO NOT SULLY THE SHINE OF HOLINESS!”
“PAY PROPER RESPECT! MAKE WAY FOR THE MANDIBLES OF JUSTICE!”
The WHAT?
I thought I was the only one who called them that… Regardless, this public display of devotion receives something of a mixed response from the gathering crowd of onlookers. Some, presumably those who’ve seen me before, possibly during the battle against Garralosh, cheer and wave, or clasp their hands and join the shouting, which is less great.
Others appear more curious than elated, likely those who haven’t seen an ant of this sort of size or apparent importance wandering around. Then there’s those who are clearly less delighted to have a giant monster in quite such close proximity to themselves.
I should have waited outside of town. I just got a little enthused and wanted to see all of the changes that had taken place. They’ve worked hard, these people. Can’t help if I wanted to have a bit of a sticky-beak.
[You seem popular up here,] Corun laughs over a Mind Bridge.
[When you save people’s lives from a horrible death by monster, they tend to be grateful, even if you are a monster.]
[Even so, some of this feels a little… religious, don’t you think?]
[I’m not sure I get what you mean…]
[The robes, the singing of praises and such. Granin might be on the right track with you, you’ve already managed to create your own cult!]
[Antenna Cult?] Torrina says.
[I was thinking ‘Carapace Cult,’] Corun says.
[Whoa there, hold on. First off, I do not have a cult. Second of all, your cult is the ‘Cult of the Worm.’ Before you try and start making fun of other people’s cults, not that I have one, you might want to examine your own situation first.]
[It’s nice to finally see some humans treat Master with the respect he deserves!] Crinis remarks snippily.
[They’re slowing me down, though,] I sigh. [Being up here can’t be any more comfortable for you than it is for me, Crinis.]
[I’m fine!]
[No, you aren’t. But not to worry, we’re nearly done.]
Despite the ever-increasing crowd of onlookers, we do eventually push our way through to the newly constructed town hall, a two-storey building of simple stone construction that is nevertheless very impressive considering how quick they whipped it up. It’s nothing compared to what the carvers are building underground, but hey, they’re only human.
I use my Mana Sense and reach out with a Mind Bridge once I find the person I need.
[Enid! You can’t possibly tell me that you didn’t know I was coming. Half the town is out here gabbing.]
[Oh, I know.] She sounds equal parts irritated and weary. [I’ve been stuck in here listening to people natter on about their issues which apparently can’t be put aside for the sake of a monster.]
[Are they lacking gratitude to that extent?] I’m incredulous. [I hate to interrupt you, but I can’t stay up here for long. One more evolution and you’ll probably never see me on the surface again! Any chance I can break up the meeting? We’ve got some big stuff going on down there.]
[By all means. It’s hard to focus on mental communication when people won’t stop talking to you.]
Not if you had better mental stats. Enid needs a few more Levels, if you ask me. Although, she may be a touch too old for Dungeon delving. I turn to one of my ant-headed bodyguards and whip together a quick connection.
[Hey there, it’s me, the giant ant standing next to you.]
The fellow I’m talking to, a middle-aged-looking chap with a weather-beaten face, leaps a metre into the air before turning to look at me with a panic-stricken face.
[Hey, buddy, just breathe, alright? Stay cool. I just need you to grab some of your people, go in there, and make sure Enid can come out and talk to me. Okay? Keep it simple.]
Seemingly unable to form a coherent response, he nods jerkily, and then thinks better of it and bows deeply. After a moment to collect himself, he grabs two others and drags them into the building, whispering furiously to them as they go. The chap looks a touch glassy-eyed, I hope he’s alright. It’s better than having that one-armed Priest Beyn around. Goodness knows what would happen if he were here.
Not long after they went in, the three ant-robed people bring out a rather startled Enid being carried in their arms. She knew that something was going to happen, but I’m not sure that she expected this.
[Hey, Enid,] I greet her with a friendly wave of an antenna. [Been a little while.]
[It certainly has. Have you changed colour?]
[What? Ah, no. That’s Crinis. Say hello, Crinis.]
A section of gloop detaches from my carapace and forms a barbed tentacle, much to the horror of most people watching. Crinis extends the limb toward Enid and waves it playfully before retracting it back into her main mass.