Chapter 1625 – A Nameless Way of War

It is not the purpose or mission of the Nameless Ones to use their abilities to fight on behalf of the Colony.

Formed by a cadre of dedicated, some would say fanatical, ants of all castes, with the guidance of the Shadow, their stated goal has always been to enforce the will of the Eldest upon those who insufficiently respect it. Within the Colony, there is no infraction more common than failing to abide by the regulations regarding rest.

To ensure that the directives of the oldest amongst the ants are followed, they have developed a frankly quite astonishing network of infrastructure, spies and capabilities. Members of the Colony are regularly abducted, mid-sentence, vanishing into the shadows so quickly it appears as if they just disappeared, only to appear again the next day, well rested, polished, fed nutritious food and meticulously groomed.

There have been few occasions when these remarkable capacities have been put to use in warfare. Though it should be noted that, when they are, it is to devastating effect.

• Excerpt from ‘Secrets of the Colony’ by Rathwyn Werilos

The Nameless One watched the fighting unfold from within the shadows. She couldn’t ‘see’, not exactly, but being connected to the mana-filled pools of darkness provided a window for her mind, and she saw everything.

The Krath were canny fighters, cautious and calculating on the defence, but savage and decisive on the offence. Yet, having their own shadows turn against them had rattled the slugs. Not enough for them to make any major mistakes… yet… but the Nameless One could sense their fear, could scent it in the air, a sweet smell that only grew stronger with every slug dragged away into the darkness.

The human appeared beside her, crouched down in the world of shadow, his axe at his side.

Nameless One, he signed to her, it looks like they seek to destroy the root. The snail-monsters are being primed to fire.

Indeed, she could see that this was true. The slugs had reinforced their tamed monster handlers and chased away the shadows. No longer harried by the darkness, the snails were being fed on the plentiful mucus still clinging to the walls of the heart, condensing it within their bodies. She judged they wouldn’t have nearly enough fuel to bring out the creatures’ full potential, but it was likely they would succeed in their intention.

She signed as much to the human, and he frowned, puzzled.

Shouldn’t we stop them? he signed.

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We do not need to win every fight in order to win the battle, she replied to him. They focus on the root, but it is not the thing that will bring victory.

The human considered these words, extending his own senses throughout the shadows, trying to feel out the state of the field.

The vents, he eventually signed.

The Nameless One nodded, pleased.