Formicea
Epilogue: An Unparralleled Being 3

- Dilion -

Who would have thought that things would end up like this for me?

Son of a minor noble, I started early to lay out my career as a state official in the office of outer affairs.

After all, this is where you can gather accomplishments, and therefore, merits.

My talent in analyzing events, with an eye for the greater picture, as my abilities in logistics and organization were recognized early by no other than Lord Gioras Zion.

The man responsible for all secret affairs in Tarsona.

Of course, the position I was offered by his side, and the power I'd thus be able to wield were tempting; nonetheless, I'd have rather declined and pursued a more officially recognized position, instead of the, oh so obviously, shady business I'd without a doubt be involved in.

Yet try to refuse a man who has probably ordered more assassinations than he gave formal greetings.

Therefore, I was one of the first to know when the war started that things wouldn't end pretty.

Yet never in my wildest dreams had I imagined that I would end up like this.

<Checkmate. It's my win.> (C)

Yes, now I am the personal attendant of an insect princess who right now beats me at Kingmaker.

Yep, my troops are cut off, and the prince is approaching the center space.

I could start some distraction attacks, but ultimately this would be just pointless.

Also, it's deemed tasteless to prolong an already lost round.

Sigh.

I should've never shown her this game.

As one of the most popular leisures among nobles, I thought it would be beneficial to her if she were at least to learn the rules so she may use this knowledge to establish some common ground.

After all, it's a game of wits, seeing patterns, and of course, knowing the abilities of each figure, which makes it fairly expressive for individuals in a leading position.

Not a small number of important accords were decided upon over a game.

Yet I couldn't have fathomed what I called forth with this action of mine.

After I beat her once, due to my far greater experience, this princess became utterly obsessed with it, challenging me whenever she could and otherwise going on about every single aspect of this game in every waking moment.

Even now that she managed to beat me, with impressive consistency even, she doesn't seem to have any intention of stopping anytime soon.

It's at a point where she started discussing daily business during these occasions.

<Another one, please. And I urge you to focus. Your defense was all too open.> (C)

Was difficult to get basic courtesy into that mandibled head of hers, but at least that she got down.

In other areas, she might still be lacking, but I appreciate that hard-working attitude of hers.

<So, what are your plans regarding this, Teron? I've heard you had some recent interactions with him.> (D)

I start with a classic opening.

Three footmen in a spearhead formation towards the center.

<It should be obvious that I'm building him up to become the leading unit of my armies. This hive has still to push through a long time of conflict. The attack by the Crusteans won't stop anytime soon. This human has proved to be rather successful at organizing the defense. He also doesn't seem interested in abandoning the battlefield anytime soon. Therefore, I'm confident that it will prove quite profitable that I isolated him from his former associates. Eventually, he will fully commit to my cause, as I will fulfill all his longings in return.> (C)

It seems she anticipated my defense, opening her lines and bringing her knights into position.

<This man is still a mercenary. Your kind lives rather long lives, as far as I'm aware. Do you truly deem it smart to trust him with this kind of military position?> (D)

I have my mage and rogue advance, backing up my footmen.

<Don't be ridiculous. Of course, I don't fully trust him. I won't let him control all of my troops or even my inner defenses. Yet the outer layers, especially the recovered territories at my old mycelium, he can keep guarded. On that line of thought, how is the progress regarding my iron guard?> (C)

She counters with her pawns advancing as well, in a layered formation.

<By now we were able to acquire armor and weaponry for twenty of your gladiators. Yet we are not talking about perfectly adjusted equipment. To make that happen, we should advance our metal processing facilities and finally get those smiths here. Now that the war is over, it shouldn't be so hard to find personnel, due to the lack of work, if not for the general apprehension serving in this place is publically met with.> (D)

My mage goes another step forward, still covered by the pawns.

I'll have to wait one round to make use of his devastating attack, but it also allows my archers to move into position.

<I see. Then what would you suggest?> (C)

She wants to play it safe and sends more pawns in.

<To build the production facilities further south. As the smelting process already requires a degree of air circulation, it would make sense to build the place south of the northern edge. This way, we can offer any human experts somewhat decent living conditions in the sun.> (D)

I guess now it's time to bring my knights forward.

<I understand that you want to create a purely human environment. I'm opposed to this. While your plan for a separated facility may have its merits, to keep processes within the hive undisturbed, I also want to have full control over the structures, so my drones may one day be able to process the metal without human assistance if the need shall arise. For this reason, the place that has to be built will be, to a greater degree, below the surface, as to offer appropriate conditions to my kind as well. If any humans prefer to freeze on the surface, they may have their dwellings there, but not the facilities.> (C)

She says so, while having her knight take down a flanking pawn.

That's nothing new from this princess.

She always wants everything at once, not being prone to make concessions.

<This kind of mixed environment could instill further unrest if humans were to be forced together with your drones permanently. Not to forget the extra resources this will take.> (D)

My mage fires, destroying everything in a two by three field before him.

A footman falls, but the losses inflicted are worth it.

<Once the first ironclad drones secure the borders with the crusteans, I'm confident we will also be able to take care of any 'human unrest', as you call it.> (C)

Yet he’s quickly picked off by one of her archers.

<Do you really want all of this so close to your hive?> (D)

This is my chance to finally bring my guardian’s into the game.

With their peculiar ability, they can prevent the archer’s damage.

<I'm confident in my gladiators, but in one sense you are right, as I feel that especially with all the humans present, I require a more swift way to protect myself in the case of sudden and unexpected developments. It's a shame that keeping more than one completely different royal guard pattern ingrained is such a difficulty. For this reason, I deem Princess Erys royal guard to be a suitable addition for my personal safety.> (C)

Quickly picking off my remaining footmen, her knights get into the fire of my archers.

<You want to hire the royal guard from another princess?> (D)

I didn't even know that was possible.

Drones are usually fanatic to their respective broodmother.

That much I learned by now.

<Certainly. Inati's guard might pose a greater offensive potential, yet they are too erratic to properly protect one and too fanatically devoted to Inati to serve anyone else even if requested to.> (C)

<No, I meant you think that Princess Erys would just hand over a number of those to you?> (D)

<Why wouldn't she? As she's establishing her very own hive, I'm sure she will appreciate any support my recovering hive can offer. Not to forget, we're allies after all. Or in your human terms, friends.> (C)

She puts an emphasis on the latter, while bringing her prince closer to the central field that he may claim her victory, stating her claim in a way that makes me question how much Princess Erys would concur with this statement.

The guardians I manage to send at best disrupt her arrangement a little, yet can't stop the advance, and her rogue has cut off all means of attack before I bring in further figures.

Chera answers by sending the prince just one step away from the central field.

Just as expected.

<It could still prove to be difficult. Especially, as her future situation may be highly unpredictable. We need to be keenly aware of the developments around her hive while paying attention not to lose focus of the broader picture.> (D)

"Tock"

And with this, my knight removes her guardian, in a way that I can see that next round the archer will take him down, rendering the game unwinnable for her.

<I forfeit. Once again. > (C)

I probably should be proud of her that she got this down as well.

Not like it was like this in the beginning.

She was a rather poor loser.

<I still think you should seek out other players.> (D)

We reset the pieces on the board.

This won't end anytime soon if I don't do anything about it.

<You deem yourself insufficient as my partner? I don't share this assessment.> (C)

<Well, I never claimed to be a master at this game. Other players would be able of showing you different approaches and help you adapt. Furthermore, the circumstances are somewhat irritating.> (D)

As it worked before, I try the same early build as before.

To be honest, I'm possibly one of the better players.

Not an elite, but decent at least.

<That reminds me. Your pheromone speech allows conclusions about your intentions. This poses another detriment to your game.> (C)

<As I said, it might be time to search for other partners. Otherwise, your game might stay narrow with so little variety.> (D)

Maybe I'm making it a point to show her, by repeating the same steps as before.

<You're saying I should further associate with your human nobles?> (C)

<While they may not be able to challenge you in this realm, it's undeniable that they possess a certain influence over the people and, in general, wield a degree of power on the surface. If you make some presents and ask for their support to your recruiting agency, it's likely they will be accommodating to your endeavors.> (D)

<So you want me to hand them over riches. Yet your pheromones indicate that you don't mean it as a 'gift', but rather a transaction.> (C)

<Hah, in noble circles you may rather call it a gift. It's considered to be rude among most nobles to demean oneself too directly and aggressively.> (D)

Contradictory, I again bring my mage forward, which may be the preparation of a devastating attack.

<You're saying that I, a swarm princess, should lower myself so low it would distort my behavior, solely so I may beg for a boon?> (C)

Her archers start threatening the center.

My prince won't be able to approach, and the knights have their difficulties to take her pieces at her current pawn setup.

<I'm not saying you should completely disregard your personality, but if a bit of acting serves you to avoid their disfavor and in return gains you solid benefits, then of course you should. This is the game we're playing after all.> (D)

<Oh, and I thought we'd be playing this one.> (C)

Her rogue comes forward, threatening my archers.

So this time no open attack with the knights.

Not quite her style, to go for indirect approaches, but this is what makes it impressive.

<You always play a multitude of games at once during exchanges like this. It is enough if you win those that truly matter.> (D)

I have to readjust my archer, or I'll lose them to the rogue, and with them the center.

<I can see the logic in your thinking. However, if I already am to play any kind of game, I prefer to win them all!> (C)

Her mage takes the center.

That came as a surprise.

She holds quite the disdain for this piece, but the way she placed it, I can't approach the center anymore.

I might concentrate on getting it killed, but the rogue will disrupt any sudden adjustment.

All the while, her prince is right behind.

A bold move that exposed her, but now I realize she set everything up to keep her central piece alive for long enough to claim the king's throne.

I lost.

<The game is yours.> (D)

<One more round. Please.> (C)

Sigh.

I never should have bought her this game.

<By the way, when will the board and pieces that were designed in my likeness be delivered?> (C)

I really shouldn't have.

Announcement

And here is a game setup.

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