For whatever reason, he seemed to think his stabbing attacks would be fatal in one hit, so he saw no need to immobilise me. It’s true, I can’t seem to defend myself against those strikes, they come too fast and hard even for my hyper-accelerated reflexes. That in and of itself is something I never thought would be possible.
I rush thirty metres down the tunnel and rejoin my pets. I can sense the colony swarming in their hidden chambers around me, granting me a strong sense of comfort. Even if I can’t hold them off on my own, we can hold them off together. Damn, my guts hurt. The darkness fades away to reveal the golgari, reforming their group as they begin to march toward us. Near the back, Granin, Torrina, and Corun walk with their people, grim looks between all three.
If I was to guess, I’m thinking they don’t want this to come to a bloody end, just as much as I don’t. They helped a lot in the past and I certainly can’t say they’d be spared if an all-out battle were to ensue here. At the same time, things won’t go as well for me and the colony if they decide to fight for real.
That figure encased in steel is the key. That’s clearly the leader here. My acid has little effect on them, the armour is just as polished as it was before. It doesn’t look as if the acid was even able to adhere properly and just sloughed off. Please don’t tell me that’s some sort of enchanted armour…
A fight is still possible, but I’m going to try another way first.
“Come on out, family! Time for a show of force!”
I call out to the hidden ants and they reveal themselves immediately. The core shapers come first, their shadow beast pets sliding from cover and blending into the darkness around them. Then the soldiers, the scouts, mages, healers, and generals. Hundreds of them crawl out of the walls and floor until they cover every surface, forming a living wall of carapace and mandibles that confronts the mere fifteen golgari.
Gwehehehe. Leave it to a colony of ants to perform a dominant display of numbers!
Some might expect I would feel ashamed at this overwhelming numerical advantage. Such people are fools! Charlatans, all! Also, they smell bad! Ants need numbers to win, these sorts of odds are only natural. Viva la swarm!
I’ll give the golgari credit, they remain stone faced—heh—when confronted with this intimidating scene. When we show no sign of advancing, they slow to a halt and stand before us, weapons poised.
Between the two sides, a standoff ensues. Two forces separated by only a dozen metres. The potential for explosive violence is thick in the air. The cold and oppressive darkness of the second stratum presses in around us and not a single figure wants to move in case they spark the conflict.
It’s into this tense atmosphere that I will need to insert my charm.
With slow caution, I deliberately weave together a Mind Bridge and extend it to the armoured golgari. I don’t want to startle anyone, so I keep my control tight and the contact light. The spell settles on him gently, and I open myself up to the channel with care.
Damn, I could cut this air with an antenna, I swear it’s that thick. Need to be so careful here.
[What’s happening, rock-man?] Gotta keep it light.
8. They Really Want me Stabbed
A nice, soft touch. That’s always the correct play. Keep it friendly, no need to shout or get angry, that stuff never defused anything. Believe me, I know. You gotta smile through the screaming, that’s how you get your bacon out of the frying pan. So far, signs are good! The powerful golgari warrior, encased in gleaming metal, is yet to stab me through the face, so let’s call the initial salvo a victory!
[You would be Anthony, I presume?]
The mental voice that comes back to me is deep and powerfully resonant. Just by touching that mind, I can tell this guy isn’t ordinary. There are depths of power here that he hasn’t yet displayed. A sleeping aura that boils beneath the surface, controlled and concealed. I get the feeling if he was to really cut loose, not only my pets and I, but also his allies, would be impacted by it.
[That’s me. One big ’ol ant.]
[You were once a human, were you not?]
[That is indeed the case.]
[Interesting. I presume you choose to surround yourself with these monsters for security, yes?]
He gestures toward the eerily still wall of ants that cover the tunnel walls and ceiling with one hand. I watch him carefully for any other sign of motion. If he moves a single toe, I want to see it happening in advance. Come on, antennae, don’t fail me now!
[I’m not sure what you mean. I’ve been more welcome and treated far better amongst them than with any ‘civilised’ race I’ve come across so far. With the possible exception of the sophos.]
[Monsters rejecting the sapient to consort with monsters. I’m hardly surprised.]
What?
[That attitude may be part of the problem, uh, what was your name?]
[I do not give my name to creatures such as you. Why do you wish to talk with me, creature? We have business to be about.]
This guy has issues. Serious problems in the upstairs department.
[You still want to fight? I think we both know that were we to continue, every golgari behind you would die, even if you survived.]
It’s hard to read the man’s emotions, his face being hidden behind the intricate helmet he’s wearing along with the armour. Now that I’m close enough to get a good look, the armour is super fancy. Smooth, burnished surfaces, elegant lines, and incredibly fine detailing. I’ll be shocked if it isn’t enchanted. The cores must be socketed somewhere inside the suit, which makes sense. They’d create a weak point were they placed anywhere else. Such a suit must be immensely difficult to make, not to mention pricey. My estimation of this guy’s status is rising even further.
[These proud Warriors would be pleased to give their lives to achieve our mission. Which, I might add, is exterminating you and your kind,] he proclaims.
[You really want to test the dedication of your members against mine? I’ll give you a hint at how that’ll go: they’re insects.]
The figure has barely moved, and now indicates indifference with the slightest lift of his shoulders.
[You have killed my people, monster. The city has charged me and mine with the extermination of your kind, down to the last, so that no further infestation will spread to threaten the Empire of Stone. I know not what you seek to achieve with this banter.]
[Preservation of life? According to your own words, more of your people will die here in this tunnel than have perished at my people’s mandibles, so far. If you actually care to keep your people alive, then turning around, and returning to your city, is by far the best choice. I have no wish to kill your people. We seek only to return to our home, far from here.]
The ants around me maintain their eerie, inhuman stillness, all eyes locked on the gleaming figure encased in metal. Even to me, it’s a creepy scene. When I include Crinis, all three maws open and dripping with ooze as she gnaws on the air whilst staring at the golgari, it becomes a touch unnerving.
[Just chill out, Crinis.]
[He stabbed you, Master!]
[I’m aware…]
[Twice!]
[I was there! Just don’t attack unless I say, alright?]
[Fine…]
Phew. This situation is bad enough without Crinis going off the deep end and committing us all to battle. Even now, the bulk of the golgari force is still tracking the majority of the colony somewhere in the tunnels. My fear is that battle has already commenced over there, though I know the colony is doing all they can to maintain the distance. There should be no chance that they’re fighting, but still, I worry.