Requiem.
We pick up our bulk from the ground and start heading down the hill. We’re tired enough to let some of our necks lie limp on our back. Each still looking in a different direction, but listless. We’re thankful to the Darling and her workers as several bees use the malleable nature of our inner temple to leave grooves for us to rest in.
As we walk, the problems of our minds being affected so significantly by another’s power are foremost in our thoughts. The importance of addressing that weakness grows and solidifies the longer we contemplate it, “{Darling. We need to focus on evolving our mental defenses. We’ve played the part of a well-trained beast of burden for your merchant friend… Sorry, we’re discombobulated. If you need us, Call for us, but we’re going to be focusing inward, so just direct us how you want us to move and we’ll do that. These encounters have proven how vital it is to maintain the sanctity of our mind.}”
We feel the mirthful cheer from her, “^Sure thing, Requiem. Just have your queen handle all the talking with people while you meditate. It’s fine, dear. This is something we can do for you, and we’re happy to help a friend.^”
Part of us still sees the world around us as we continue walking along, but most of us has subsumed deep into our core. The process made easier and more intellectually discernable for all the spell forms we’ve already created. In this almost instinctive place of possibilities and magic we call to what we intend and feel four distinct opportunities present themselves.
The first idea is amorphous, barely definable and just waiting for the material and tools to transform it into whatever we desire. We could just focus on creating an entirely new mesh polyp to defend our mind and self from this avenue of attack. But, while that would be a simple solution, it doesn’t feel correct, not yet.
The other solutions revolve around the three least complex forms we’ve created. Empowering [Deep Mind] so that its processing can analyze and dissect intrusions sent our way is another simple, if more immediately quantifiable choice.
We also consider diffusing our mind into the [Fog of Breathlessness], making us a larger target, but one less prone to stealthy effects. Using our connections of [One with Nature] and our domain [Elysian Fields] to give more lag time and opportunities for our natural resistances to wear down an opponent.
Alternatively, there is some merit in establishing ourselves more securely from our [Temple of Sinew], backing our biological advantages and more firmly entrenching ourselves with the faith that such a structure represents.
Each idea has its own strengths and weaknesses, each also will shape more fully in how our future self is presented to the world. We can see other permutations of these skills and a kaleidoscope of possibilities in creating something new. Though perhaps the most distracting concern we have at this choice is the one that follows.
When we build this new aspect to ourselves, do we reforge one of our two remaining perspectives into empowering it?
The difference in scale that Fogmaw has compared to what we could manage without it is immense, but it was not without drawbacks itself. We could also attempt to designate some other piece of our strange physiology to act as anchor for this expanded skill. The consequences and ramifications of each are a weight within us.
…
As we consider our options more, we rule out creating something wholly independent. Bringing forth something pristine for each new challenge when we haven’t even finished maturing into what tools we already have seems a profligate path to follow.
Likewise, we discard the idea with Fogmaw. Not out of concern for empowering an established piece, but merely because the clockwork for putting those pieces to such a purpose seems wasteful. Such complexity should solve some other complex problem, not something as simple as defense.
So, it comes down to adding a mind to [Temple of Sinew] or picking the right path to further capacitate [Deep Mind]…
We struggle with the narrowed band of choices that seems instead to have expanded massively in their intricacy. But even here in this meditative state, a memory resurfaces. A desire to become a concert of singers and not just a choir, as well as my and my reservations about elevating the first piece of disharmony into such a vital role. Protecting our mind from outside, invasive manipulation can rapidly become the indoctrination to a single mode of thought, given enough influence.
The spiraling bloom of opportunity and flourishing growth that surges forth after we settle on that judgement sweeps our consciousness away. As our awareness pulls back towards the bigger picture, I open an inner eye, and then another, and then teeth and claws and scent and sound and- {Initiating metamorphic buffering. Unfettered physiological flexibility overwhelming ordinary processing.}
We snap back into full awareness, finding ourselves walking alongside Sergei’s wagon once more. A glance back at ourselves sees that one of us was indeed transforming into our new singer, but the visions of eldritch nightmares hadn’t had enough time to manifest on the surface before DM supplied some much-needed regulation. Once again, DM proves their worth as a skill and an aspect we will eventually instantiate, just not right now.
Acolyte flexes and stretches their still shifting form. Experimenting and observing the various changes that are now possible for them. A quick voice test later and we find ourselves relieved and elated at the possibilities they already grant us.
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
[Temple of Sinew mesh polyp grafted with Sapience (Multithreading), Redirection sub-node Acquired!]
By modulating the content of their flesh, Acolyte can open up various additional mouths along their neck. Using our innate connection and harmony we find that each of our voices can sing through these secondary mouths where we are replicated. No longer should we be incapable of speech simply by being engaged in thorough combat. Another thing of notice is that Acolyte doesn’t think of themselves in the singular, which while unique to our voices so far, makes sense for how they were formed and our underlying concerns with their alternative.
As we more fully settle into ourselves it would appear that Acolyte’s chosen stable form is one of change. Sharp teeth forming into mouths rising to the surface, sliding along it as if in a current and sinking back down. The occasional, thankfully discreet eye opening in a random location, glancing around the area before closing once more. More radically than either of those rather slow acting facets though, are the silhouettes of bees and to a lesser extend frogs that appear as though they are just under the skin, trying to burst out- some of which aren’t imitation as a sphincter opens around a particularly feisty bee and it flies off.
A thought makes all of us chuckle out loud enough that Darling notices we’ve awoken, welcomes us back and asks us what’s so funny, “{Our newest singer, Acolyte. With how their flesh shifts and writhes, we couldn’t help but think: (We’ve created a [Monster].) And that thought was just too ridiculous to keep contained.}”
Darling sighs good humoredly, “^You know, for having memory stretching back hundreds of years, you can be so juvenile sometimes. You’re lucky you’re a cutie.^” Afterward she buzzes back over to a perch in front of Sergei to return to their conversation.
We notice something… different about Darling and a quick peek elucidates some of our curiosity but mostly serves to kindle it further.
[Serene Zombee Queen, “Darling”; tier 2 Noblesse Class, Knighter of Requiem]
[G: Hive, A: Undeath, S: Dance, M: Sapience (Eusocial), O: Swarm, D: Rally, E: Dynasty]
Fortunately for our impulsive desires, she is able to quickly wrap up talking with our traveling companion as we notice ourselves nearing the gated walls and entering into the staggered line of entrants. “^We are- Sorry, Requiem. I am glad your Soul Polishing went well. The hive’s latest reports list new areas to explore within and that our new neighbors are continuing to behave rather nicely. But you seem rather fixated on something else?^”
We feel rather sheepish that our reactions are so unrefined and recognizable, “{Thank you, Darling. It is good news that our latest changes are a boon to our dwellers, though we would advise specific caution about significant chunks of comb being built in the neck. Not only are they a naturally vulnerable piece of our anatomy, this new one in particular is… strange.}”
She hums in response as she takes a closer look at our alternations now that she’s free from social requirements, “^Strange indeed. Although, and forgive me if this seems improper, the size of the space seems almost ideal to encase that deployable nest that we’ve been experimenting with. Our [Inspection] informs us-^” She pauses and shakes herself for a moment, “^I can read some deeper information about this particular MP, since it also serves as my Court and Country. You should be able to protect a specific portion of it rather well, even against an opponent like Wraithstorm.^”
“{That seems a rather odd observation. We recall you wanting to foster some independence in your daughters, but would such an environment be a viable option for something like that? We know that our body already shifts around more than should be pleasant considering your predecessor’s choice of a hollow tree to nest in.}”
She dances a short denial, “^You still underestimate how much more comfortable you feel to our kind. Even with the chaotic thrashing from the prior battle, the reports I received from those outside were far more stressed out than even the ones dealing with damage to the comb. Being within you, even when thrown around, feels akin to larval memories of swimming in honey, it feels safe. It feels like home.^”
We sigh at her praise, “{Now we want to give more to you and yours and ours, but the membrane of the temple’s polyp is too rigid to allow for more growth. You’ve spoken before about how much our energy is in synch with your new existences. Yet it will be a while before we attain the strength to expand our temple into [Undeath] as well.}”
The scent of her delight wafts from her as she settles on a bone protuberance of Acolyte’s make from our humpback, “^There is time enough for that, later. Now. Before you get distracted by compliments and other scenarios: What were you wanting to ask us before we came over?^”
“{Right! So, we thought we noticed a change in you after we awoke from our evolution. We also felt, and still feel to a degree, a high degree of impulsiveness that DM has been working to compensate for-}”
“^Requiem. Calm yourself. Take a breath. What is your question?^”
With the traffic around us approaching the stop and go of the checkpoint ahead, we take a moment to stop and concentrate. We didn’t recognize how much we were spiraling. While Acolyte may not have much of a solitary voice, they have been acting as an amplifier for the rest of our song. One simple change practically doubling our choir but not feeling like it did threw off our equilibrium.
After settling ourselves, we reopen our eyes, take a short time to pull up next to Sergei again, “{Thank you, my Queen.}” We bow a head towards her and taking another breath to keep ourselves in check, “{You have a class now, and you’ve reached tier 2. Would you tell us about that experience?}”
She nods at us, “^Of course, Our Knight. It happened during the battle with that dragon. I felt the change sweep through me after DM called for me to intervene, when I needed to grow and be more than a mere curiosity. Being your voice amongst the people who cannot do more than inconvenience or ostracize you isn’t really being a voice at all.
“^Settle down, Requiem. I know that my place isn’t contingent on these things, I was speaking about what I felt and what I needed.
“^After the battle was over, and during the time you spent sleepwalking, I had the opportunity to really dig into what the changes meant. For sacred beasts at least, at each tier we advance, we can choose how to advance who and what we are. This can mean picking a class, altering an old one, or even just becoming more of ourselves rather than a [Title] or a job.
“^In those moments of decision and weight, I didn’t need to be more Darling, nor more Serene Zombee; I needed to become more Queen. And so, on instinct, as many of these things are, I chose a class to define my next stage. The Noblesse gave me power and more significantly at the time, Authority. [Our Voice] allows me to speak for my people, so long as it is what my people would speak.^”