R.I.3

Mother is aware of you and what you just did. But one thing remains. The machine that gave it the power to give birth has done the same to you. Its pride and its curse, both.

You understand what it does. It divides consciousness into smaller pieces. With you, it would kill you. With Mother, its awareness is so vast it could split into thousands, maybe millions, and still remain whole enough to think.

Each division weakens it, but the desire to multiply, to create more, is stronger than its will to preserve itself. It sees the Brood as offspring, even though the Brood is only itself, divided.

It reaches for you. For the first time, it feels like thousands of separate awarenesses are focused on you.

It gives you something to help you.

You feel it growing from your stomach, spreading through your skeleton and melting into your bone marrow.

Lose Keyword Nurturer.
Gain Keyword Ossified.

Ossified

• Uses: d4
• If Damage would reduce you to 0 HP, prevent all Damage from that source.
• On use, roll the Uses die.
• On a 1–2, Uses ⇩.
• At 0 Uses, lose Keyword Ossified.

Mark this Hex as R.I.1. Reroll the Hum.
You may continue your journey.