A thick, foggy dew hung over a makeshift shelter nestled in the shadowy depths of a foreboding bog. Vex's eyes fluttered open inside the unlit space as he felt the cool sensation of droplets condensing on his skin. Blinking groggily, he attempted to focus on the figure standing just a couple of inches over him. Chaser, his Shadowling hunter, stared back at him with unwavering intensity, holding a crude wooden cup close to Vex's lips.

"Thanks," Vex croaked, attempting a weak smile that dissolved into a shiver. "I still feel like I've been chewed up and spat out. I guess that's not far from what happened, but still."

Chaser tilted their head, acknowledging the statement. They offered Vex some food - a handful of dark leaves - which was gingerly accepted. As Vex nibbled on the meager meal, his thoughts churned.

"Chaser," Vex murmured between bites, "thank you..."

The Shadowling ignored Vex while gesturing at the floor of the shelter. Taking the hint, Vex sighed and curled back up, his exhaustion quickly pulling him back into the realm of dreams.

Once Vex's breathing had steadied, Chaser stepped out of the shelter and moved away from the camp, their shadowy form blending seamlessly with the gloom of the bog. As they walked away from the shelter, a faint glow emanated from the buried firepit, barely illuminating the camp. Beyond the hidden shelter was a clearing marked by a ring of downed logs that encircled a large stone.

The thick fog cast an eerie veil around Chaser as they stood at the water's edge. The bog's surface was deceptively still, the water a deep shade of black that looked like a flat sheet of solid stone. The illusion was only marred slightly by the bits of plant debris that protruded from the top of the dark water.

With a quiet splash, Chaser jumped into the murky depths, their shadowy form near invisible in the dark waters. Forced to swim due to their diminutive size, they navigated through the muck with surprising ease as they swam toward the tendrils of decaying vegetation. As the Shadowling swam further and further from shore, they carefully gathered clumps of the precious plant matter, storing the wet clumps by the handful within their personal guild vault.

After more than an hour of diving and swimming, Chaser returned to the shore, hauling themselves out of the bog. Like its kin, the little creature wasn't the slightest bit exhausted despite having just spent an hour exerting itself. Instead, it remained focused on the task at hand. With great care, the little hunter pulled the handfuls of decaying plant matter from their guild vault and spread the collection out on the ground, creating large rings across the shore.

Walking further down the shores of the bog, Chaser began to check other piles of already dried plant matter. As they bent down to grab a handful, a faint rustling sound caught Chaser's attention. They tensed, their body instinctively shifting into a defensive stance. Though they couldn't immediately pinpoint the source of the noise, it wouldn't take them long to slip into the shadows and track their new prey.

* * *

In the eerie glow of starlight, the plateau at the center of Vex's guild dimension was cast in an ethereal silver hue. The Elder Gremlin hunched over a slowly forming ring of runes, its gnarled clawed hands diligently etching complex symbols into the hard stone. Every stroke was precise, deliberate, and imbued with an air of confidence that could only be gained through months of unyielding practice.

"Only a few dozen more runes to go," the Elder Gremlin muttered under its breath in a guttural tone, not bothering to look up from its task. It couldn't afford any distractions; the fate of their plan depended on this circle's completion.

Around the periphery of the plateau, the lesser gremlins shifted and fidgeted, their restlessness growing despite the elder's control. Their beady eyes darted here and there, searching for some reprieve from the monotony of waiting. Small fights occasionally broke out amongst the groups as the tiny balls of fluff and teeth fought for dominance and an end to their boredom.

"Such impudence," the elder thought, returning to the intricate design. "Once I'm done, I'll remind them of their place." With a sigh, it continued carving the runes, well aware of the precarious balance of power teetering on a knife's edge.

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As the Elder Gremlin resumed its work, the lesser gremlins continued to shift and grumble, their restlessness mounting like a storm about to break. Yet, in the heart of the plateau, one small creature remained steadfast, resolute in its duty – a master of runes, weaving the threads of fate into an intricate tapestry that would soon force the world around them to its command.

With a triumphant flourish, the elder gremlin completed another intricate rune etched into the plateau's surface. The lines glowed faintly with absorbed mana, beckoning to an untold power just beyond reach. A satisfied smirk spread across the elder's face as it surveyed its work – a masterpiece that would soon set them free from their prison.

In a moment of prideful solace for the elder gremlin, several more of the lessers began fighting, challenging the elder's ability to fully control the hoard amidst its waning strength as it poured its mana into the slowly forming circle. Its patience finally tested; the elder picked up the nearest lesser and chucked it over the side of the plateau.

"Disperse," the elder growled, gesturing for the lesser gremlins to scatter. "Enough distractions."

The lesser gremlins hesitated, their restlessness palpable in the air. But as they caught the vicious gaze of their leader, they quickly scampered away, many climbing down from the plateau to the forests below.

As the last of the gremlins disappeared from sight, the elder allowed itself a moment of quiet reflection before gathering its strength and continuing the arduous task of carving runes while infusing them with its mana.

* * *

Quietly moving between the Shadows, Chaser quickly located the source of the noise. Rather than a stray gremlin the hunter had expected, Strikesies was being a bit oafish as they walked along bogs with Sir Sneaks.

Deciding to have a little fun, the hunter decided to practice stalking its prey. Sticking to the shadows, Chaser slowly navigated its way behind the duo. Closing the distance and moving into lock-step with the pair took several minutes, as neither paid attention to their surroundings. Then, an opportunity presented itself. As Strikesies began to climb over a fallen tree, Chaser quickly darted in, grabbing the fighter's leg and tugging the off-balanced oaf down into the mud.

Sir Sneaks, turning as soon as he heard the satisfying splat that Striksies made on impact. As silent laughter wracked Sir Sneak's body into little fits, the Shadowling pounded at the ground in absolute glee while Chaser and Strikesies wrestled for several seconds before the hunter lost its initial advantage.

Mud-soaked and in good spirits, the three Shadowlings eventually clambered to their feet. Standing together in a circle, each of them looked back and forth, not wanting to be the one to break the mood. Eventually, Strikesies stepped into the center, a stoic expression crossing their mostly wispy features.

"We need to strike back," Strikesies signed, their previously playful demeanor giving way to a sense of urgency. "They are gathered together for the first time. We could hit them hard and reduce their numbers. "

"Perhaps we should..." Sir Sneaks began, only to be cut off by an enthusiastic suggestion from Chaser.

"We need to lure them here," the hunter gesticulated wildly. "I'm ready to meet them here, and they won't be able to resist."

Cutting in, Sir Sneaks sharply gestured at the plateau, "We need to sneak in and take out the leader."

As their hands danced through the air in a flurry of motion, each of the Shadowlings advocated their own point, taking an interest in each other's argument only so they could tear it apart.

"We can't leave Vex unguarded. They can just race past us and kill him."

"Yeah? And you think you can magically convince them to stand in one place for you?"

"Your suicide mission is sooo much better. Let's just sneak past a few thousand gremlins to kill the elder. What could go wrong?"

"Enough!" Strikesies finally signed, their patience wearing thin. "We need to decide now."

With a nod of agreement, Sir Sneaks and Strikesies faced each other, their hands poised for a decisive game. The tension hung heavy in the air as the two locked eyes, each daring the other to make the first move.

"Three... two... one!" Chaser signed silently, and the Shadowlings threw their hands forward in unison.

"I win," Sir Sneaks signed with a smug grin while Strikesies lowered their head. Despite the gravity of the situation, Sir Sneaks couldn't resist a small victory dance – a rare moment of levity amidst the chaos.

"Very well," Strikesies conceded with a respectful nod. "You get your suicide mission. We'll stay here."

With a satisfied nod and a sly grin, Sir Sneaks set off towards the central plateau, every step indicating its giddiness for their first triumphant victory against Strikesies. It only took a few moments for the rogue to disappear into the starlight night, their lithe form slipping effortlessly into the endless shadows of the valley.

"You let them win" Chaser signed pointedly at Strikesies, amusement flickering through their ethereal form. "Why?"

"Someone needed to light a fire and draw out the shadows for your plan to work," replied Strikesies, their expression serious as they signed. "Let the dumb one do it."