13th day of Sunswell, 1368

[Quintessence] 8372/16000

Nestled in the heart of her lair, amongst glistening stalagmites and ancient stone, Calyxia indulged herself in a private pastime. Arrayed before her, a lavish collection of arcane texts, their leather-bound covers aged, but well-preserved. Her emerald eyes scanned the cryptic symbols, a rare smile gracing her stern visage, her serpent crown softly hissing in response to her subdued delight.

There was a subtle softness in the way she stroked the book's cover, the softest taps of her scaly fingers against its supple skin, and then a faint rustle as she flipped its pages to absorb its secrets once more. She loved learning new things, but these tomes had long since grown stale to her ever-curious mind. It was an enchanting collection to be sure, but an ancient one at that—written by scribes of a bygone age that was long forgotten by all but the most dedicated scholars.

And yet, Calyxia kept coming back. These arcane tomes were the first relics she had ever salvaged, and their knowledge was indispensable to her, no matter the age.

She closed the book and returned it to its place on the shelf, before she stretched her arms over her head and let out a yawn. As always, after spending an afternoon surrounded by arcane script, a well-deserved nap was in order.

Basking in the warmth of the dappled sunlight filtering through her grotto, Calyxia coiled languidly around a monolithic shard of quartz, the sunbeams glinting off her obsidian scales. The serpentine muscles beneath her scales thrummed in harmony with the gentle lull of the forest outside, her snake-crowned head lulled in contemplation of a delicate moss patch growing on the stone's cold surface.

As the minutes melted away into an hour, and then another, Calyxia drifted into a warm slumber, the weight of her slumberous body pressing into the quartz and the moss, as if they were the most comfortable bedding she could dream of.

The serene calm was interrupted when a shadow fell upon her. Turning her emerald gaze towards the disturbance, she beheld a serpentine beastkin, an underling of her court. The Seraphid beastkin was sinuous and lithe, his lower body a long coiling snake and his torso akin to a man's, but covered in glistening cobalt scales. His face was a blend of the reptilian and the human, with high cheekbones and almond-shaped eyes that glowed with a subdued luminescence.

"Forgive me, O great one," the beastkin rasped, a sibilant undertone echoing in his words. "Another intrusion by the Kungwans. Their insolence grows with each passing moon."

The news caused Calyxia's serpents to stir. Her emerald gaze hardened as she slowly unwound herself from her cozy spot, scales whispering against the quartz, and rose to her full height, towering over the beastkin as she coiled around him.

"How many?" she hissed, her tail curling around him in a possessive gesture as she peered down at him with slit-pupil eyes.

"Ten," he replied without hesitation, keeping his gaze lowered and respectful. "We managed to slay four of them, but the rest fled back to their territory."

Calyxia's serpents hissed, their ire a mirror to her own.

"This is getting tiresome," she murmured, the harsh syllables sliding off her forked tongue. "They breed unrest throughout my forest."

She was silent for a long moment, her gaze distant. The increasing frequency of the Kungwans' incursions was becoming more than just an insult to her sovereignty. She had been patient, but it seemed that the Kungwans misunderstood her restraint for weakness. They would learn differently soon enough.

"Their insolence knows no bounds," she remarked, her voice cold as the depths of her serpentine eyes. She uncoiled herself from around the beastkin and dismissed him with a wave of her clawed hand. "Rally your leaders. I will join them shortly."

"As you wish," he bowed deeply before departing from her chamber.

Calyxia's serpentine tail flicked idly, stirring dust and sand into a glittering cloud that floated about her throne like motes of sunlight caught in a whirlwind. Her serpent crown swayed as her coils flexed, rising and falling in graceful arcs as she paced back and forth with languid ease.

Kelzryn had kept those Kungwans around merely as a source of nourishment and as a buffer for those who would invade his territory. But now that he has gone missing, the Kungwans were beginning to make trouble—too much trouble to ignore any longer. It was time to deal with them once and for all.

She pondered what course of action to take as she left her grotto and slithered through the tunnels leading to the outside world.

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Under the vast umbrella of the Eldergrove's emerald canopy, Calyxia journeyed. Her serpentine lower body moved with graceful power, stirring up the carpet of fallen leaves that cushioned the forest floor. The shafts of sunlight, intruding through the verdant ceiling above, glistened against her obsidian scales as she navigated the complex maze of roots and undergrowth.

The tribe of serpentine beastkin—calling themselves the Seraphidae—had rooted themselves here no more than fifty summers ago, despite her repeated attempts at intimidating them into leaving her territory. But where she expected the usual fear and submission, she instead found awe and reverence in their eyes. Perhaps it was because they shared similar serpentine traits, but they came to see her as their guardian deity.

If she were an actual deity, the reverence would have worked in her favor. But such devotion did not grant any additional boon to ancient spirits such as herself or any of the other lords of the Eldergrove. Instead, she was left with the hassle of overseeing a beastkin tribe that had steadily grown from several hundred to now numbering more than two thousand.

Calyxia had considered driving them off for good, but something stopped her from doing so. Perhaps it was because they were a bit different, or perhaps it was their culture that garnered her respect, but she could not bring herself to be rid of them. Instead, she left them to their own devices and watched over them from a distance, albeit a rather nosy one.

The Seraphidae's settlement, the Coils, unveiled itself before her—a labyrinthine commune of homes and spaces, seamlessly woven into the landscape. It was an architectonic tapestry of living wood and vine that spiraled in harmony with the towering trunks and branches. Homes twined around robust trunks, spiraling upward to the high boughs. Treetop abodes, interconnected with sinuous bridges, crisscrossed above the forest floor.

As she moved, Calyxia's serpentine tail undulated rhythmically, the scales grazing over the mossy forest floor. Her sharp eyes missed no detail. The Seraphidae had not simply adapted to their forest home; they were a part of it, living harmoniously within its bosom. Abodes resembling elaborate snake dens lay low to the ground, home to the young and less nimble, their entrances adorned with bright wildflowers and pieces of polished shell. Higher up, stronger and larger Seraphidae resided, their dwellings hanging amidst the foliage like ripe fruits, connected with an intricate network of bridges and pulleys, displaying an elegant solution to vertical living.

Moving further into the settlement, Calyxia took a moment to observe the daily activities of the Seraphidae. She watched as a group of younger Seraphidae practiced their Serpent Song, their bodies swaying and undulating to an unseen rhythm, their vocalizations an eerie yet captivating melody that resonated in the air. She passed by a mature Seraphid, whose golden scales glowed under the sunlight, his eyes closed as he meticulously etched patterns into the skin of a younger kin, narrating another story of life into their living tapestry.

A communal area lay in the heart of the settlement, a clearing where the trees bent to create a natural dome, the sunlight speckling the ground below. Here, the Seraphidae congregated, a tapestry of greens, golds, and blacks. A group was engaged in what seemed to be a storytelling session, their song-like language echoing through the forest.

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There were smaller clearings too, dotted around the main gathering space. In one, Seraphids harvested fruits and herbs, their hands moving with the practiced ease of their craft. In another, young Seraphids played in shallow pools, their laughter echoing among the trees. Fishers returned from the nearby stream, their catch glistening under the sunlight, set for preparation and sharing in the spirit of communal living.

As she moved through the settlement, her serpentine hair hissed and writhed, each snake a separate witness to the life thriving around them. She passed under a massive archway made of intertwined tree roots leading to the den where the Eldress resided, and the council of Oracles deliberated the path of their kin.

As Calyxia approached, the activities around her dimmed, the vibrant eyes of the Seraphidae turning towards her. Their reactions to her presence were a blend of reverence and curiosity, gazes lingering on her snake-tressed head, her regal attire, and the mesmerizing patterns of her black scales shimmering under the sunlight.

Calyxia could feel their scrutiny but felt no discomfort. Instead, her stern lips curved slightly into a knowing smile. As much as she had detested the very idea of interacting with these beastkin in the beginning, she had come to terms with it. At this point, they were so interwoven within her territory that it would be more bothersome to get rid of them.

Another turn, and the entrance to her den came into view. Two sentries, clad in ceremonial armor, flanked the entrance, their weapons held firmly against their armored chest. Both of the Seraphidae, one male and one female, lowered their gazes respectfully as she approached.

"Lord Calyxia," the male sentry spoke, his voice a deep rumble, "Welcome, the Eldress and the Oracles await."

Calyxia lifted her chin as she looked down at them, her forked tongue flicking against her lips as she regarded them with a smile that showed off her sharp fangs. "It seems you have done your training well. You may escort me inside."

Calyxia allowed the Seraphidae to lead the way, her gaze cast upwards at the intertwined foliage above. As they rounded a bend, they entered into the Eldress' den, and Calyxia's serpent crown twisted in approval as she took in the scene before her.

The Eldress sat atop a dais of stone, her regal countenance framed by a curtain of greenery. Beside her, the Oracles—four elderly Seraphid sat in a semi-circle. Their attire was the same, a drape of finely woven cloth hanging loosely from their shoulders.

"Our lord Calyxia," the Eldress said with a nod as she regarded her guest. "We have awaited your arrival."

Calyxia slithered past the sentries, her gaze turning to the Eldress. "Skip the usual pleasantries and tell me what happened," she replied, her tone clipped and to the point.

The Eldress shifted her weight and gestured to the Oracles. "A fresh Kungwan incursion, Ophis," she began, addressing the Seraphid who bore the title of Battle Seer. "Report."

Ophis, a Seraphid of magnificent gold, his crest a striking blood-red, stepped forward. His voice was a mixture of serpentine hiss and melodic tone, the unique melody of Serpent Song. "The Kungwan breached our western border, my lord," he recounted, his features as hard as ancient stone. "Ten of them. They struck in the twilight, and attempted to burn the Coil. They killed several of our kin, including the young."

Calyxia's tail thrashed against the ground, her emerald eyes flashing in anger. "Where were your sentries?" she hissed, her voice a sibilant snarl. "How did they manage to breach the settlement's defenses?"

Ophis' face contorted into a grimace, the slightest hint of frustration flickering across his face before his composure returned, his expression set and determined. "We lost fifteen sentries, my lord," he said, a hint of regret in his tone, "including the scouts and lookouts. Their loss is an offense to our honor."

Calyxia did not answer. Instead, she regarded Ophis for a long moment, her emerald gaze weighing his words and sifting through the faint undertones for truth and deception. At length, she sighed and flicked her tail, releasing some tension in the process.

"So, a warband," she mused, her emerald eyes darting to the other Oracles. "What happened after?"

Ophis nodded. "A team was sent to drive them off, while the remaining Seraphidae tended to the wounded," he answered.

Calyxia flicked her tongue, her reptilian features contemplative. "How far did they retreat?" she asked, her voice growing cold again, as if her earlier anger had never even existed.

Ophis' expression clouded over with a frown as he considered his answer. "They fled for a good distance," he replied, his voice hesitant, "but our warriors managed to slay four of them. Unfortunately, the rest escaped."

Calyxia's coils flexed and writhed at the news. A Kungwan warband in her territory was no small matter. A low, guttural growl echoed from Calyxia's throat, the serpents on her head flaring angrily. "How often have these attacks occurred over the year?"

Ophis sighed, the edges of his mouth tightening. "Too often, my lord. Once a season, then once a moon, and now twice in the last fortnight."

The Eldress's voice faltered. "Our people are...afraid, my lord. These constant attacks disrupt our way of life. The young ones are terrified. The loss of our brethren has left us all...shaken."

"Too many. The frequency of these incursions, the audacity... this cannot go unanswered." Calyxia's voice was cold as ice, and the finality in her tone left no room for dissent. "Gather your warriors and prepare for war."

"But our defenses, my lord," a Seraphid interjected, her crest a soft, shimmering blue that reflected her status as a Wisdom Keeper. "They are strong but stretched thin."

Calyxia's gaze turned towards the Wisdom Keeper, her expression softening slightly. "I am well aware, Zephyra. The Kungwan are relentless, and your resources are finite."

She paused, letting her words sink in. "You cannot rely solely on our traditional defenses. The Serpent Song, your magic... it is potent, but against a tide of Kungwan, you must think of alternatives."

"How, my lord?" Zephyra asked, her almond-shaped eyes filled with questions. "Our warriors are fierce, but the Kungwan are resilient to our weapons and magic. We've learned that they are vulnerable to fire, but that element is not part of our Song. What other recourse have we?"

Calyxia considered Zephyra's words for a moment. "First, you must bolster your defenses. The Kungwan have learned your patterns and exploited your weaknesses. You need a shift in strategy. Ophis, can you devise a defense that will keep the Kungwan from the Coil?"

"Of course, my lord," Ophis answered, his voice booming and confident, "I will draw up plans at once."

Calyxia nodded in approval. "Good. Once you've done so, prepare a hundred warriors for the counter-offensive. Our goal will be to eliminate the Kungwan once and for all."

Ophis' brows creased in a frown. "Eliminate the Kungwan? But won't that incur the wrath of the dragon that rules over that land?"

Calyxia flicked her tongue, her serpent crown swaying in disapproval at Ophis' words. "That is my concern for a later time," she hissed, her tone icy. "Focus on your preparations."

Ophis bowed low. "Of course, my lord."

Calyxia turned to Zephyra and the other Oracles. "You will need to increase patrols around the smaller Coils," she said, her voice curt and commanding, "but ensure that the warriors sent are well-trained and able to fend off any attack."

Zephyra nodded, her voice a soft whisper. "I will do as you ask, my lord."

Calyxia regarded the Eldress with a stern stare. "Fear not, the Kungwan will not plunder your settlements again."

With that, Calyxia turned to leave. As she slithered out of the den, the sentries stepped aside to let her pass, bowing their heads in respect. She didn't slow her pace. There was no time to waste. There was a war to prepare for.

It was a matter of pride now. Calyxia had tried to avoid conflict with the Kungwans but found her patience tested repeatedly.

Upon her return to the solitude of her lair, Calyxia brooded over the looming conflict. The cool seclusion of the cavernous space wrapped around her like a cocoon, providing a quiet sanctuary amidst the gathering storm.

War was a predator, and the Eldergrove Valley was its prey. But Calyxia was a predator too, a cunning one, and she had no intention of becoming the hunted. Her serpents writhed and hissed atop her head, reflecting the whirlwind of strategic calculations occupying her mind.

The Kungwan numbered a few hundred at best, but they were all hardy, voracious, and some of their elites possessed battle magics. The losses that the Seraphidae would endure would be immense. Despite her power, she alone wouldn't be enough to topple them.

A sudden spark lit her eyes, her lips parting in a vicious smile that revealed her deadly fangs. An idea had surfaced, a plan that might just turn the tide of the war in their favor.

Ebonheim, the little fledgling goddess that ruled over the land between Elmsworth and Liselotte, could provide the support they needed. Their territories were both susceptible to the Kungwan's incursions. If Calyxia could convince Ebonheim to participate, this war could be won with little loss to the Seraphidae's side, and her forest would finally be free from the Kungwans' harassment.

Convincing Ebonheim might not be too difficult of a task. From their first encounter some time ago, Calyxia sensed that Ebonheim was lighthearted and easygoing, yet perceptive enough to act prudently. Calyxia could manipulate the way she perceived this situation. It would not take much to convince her.

A smile creased Calyxia's lips as she slowly slithered towards the exit. It was time to pay Ebonheim a visit.