POV Sylv Queen Yuhnoth (In Everglade Forest, just before the incident).
A message reaches me from my swarm, a group of humans have entered our territory. We must be careful and not cause a stir. We stop all other activities and order an observation of the human group. My two Hive Commanders want to strike, but my experience has taught me better. It is better to avoid the conflict because the humans are strong and intelligent. If any escape, they will call for reinforcements and my Hive Complex will fall. Just like my mother’s before.
It would be best if the humans do not notice us and we can continue to expand the swarm undisturbed. Through the eyes of my cloaked worker drones, I take a closer look at the group. I see five humanoid figures with shiny metallic armor and weapons. I lack the experience to classify them accurately, but I recognize one thing clearly. The person in the middle of the group is one of those cursed mages. Unlike the other people, they have this ornate staff which helps cast their magic.
As I look more closely at the group, they stop and the people talk to each other. I can't understand them, but as they continue on their way they seem alarmed. Concerned, I notice that they have changed direction, they are now coming directly toward the Primary Hive Complex. This can't be a coincidence, they must have noticed something and are determined to investigate it further. A conflict seems inevitable, but I can try one more thing. While my Hive Commanders make the necessary preparations for the approaching conflict, I move closer to the surface.
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POV Melissa Klarsicht (Fourteen Hours Earlier in Westerville)
I awake in my bed in the tavern, sleepily trying to turn away from the light hitting my face from the window. I'd like to sleep on, but it's time to get up. I put on my clothes and put on my armor over them. Chain mail protects my torso, while hard leather with metal reinforcements protect my arms and legs. Last, I put on my shiny silver helmet before arming myself with my weapons. Besides two knives on my thighs, my trusty sword on my hip and my round wooden shield on my back come with it. After gearing up for the day, I head downstairs to the general room of the tavern, where I eat breakfast with the rest of my team.
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TODO: Introduction to rest of the team:
-Gerard is the leader of the adventurer group.
-Seth is tall, melee fighter.
-Mervan is a mage (space, teleportation).
-Lira is the scout and archer.
TODO: Introduce adventurer team, eat lunch, accept quest, get into dangerous situation towards evening (Reason for going out late: Safe from Sylv during the day, but you won't find any for the quest either).
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Yuhnoth attempt to use an illusion to ward off the adventurer team fails (The illusion magic being one of the perks of the next Sylv Queen growth phase)
Adventurers attack. It is unfortunate that it came to conflict. From then on POV adventurers.
In the end Space Mage saves his comrade (Melissa) from the creatures. Only survivor. Reports back, leading to events from last chapter.