Unlike the rest of the Acolytes, Helena had not stood in the way of the mob that dragged them out into the street to breathe in the spore cloud. She had seen the writing on the wall and found herself a comfortable thatched roof to lay on and try to nap through the process. Unfortunately, the terror and guilt that she felt challenged even her famed ability to nap through any situation, she was writhing in torment when the spores fell.
The writhing had turned into rolling and coughing as the spores entered her system and she lost consciousness after she fell off the roof and hit the dirt street like a sack. She "woke up" in a field, a strangely beautiful field filled with pale purple flowers and several mushrooms in lieu of grass. A person took her hand and smiled, it was a radiant smile as perfect as the majesty of the full moon itself. Helena followed her as she was led through the field until she joined a circle with countless people dancing there. They all turned to welcome her with smiles and laughter as she was led down to them.
Helena hesitated for a moment and then she joined, she danced, she laughed as the whole world were smiles. A song that filled her mind and welcomed her into a greater community. She felt friends and family around her as well as countless animals and beings that she didn't know. It was wondrous and Helena was lost to the dance as the circle moved through the field and the eternal night they found themselves in.
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She woke up on the road to the sound of a building being torn down. When it happened she was completely clear in spite of the feverish dreams, the pain of being infected, and the shock of having fallen down from the roof. In fact, it took her a moment to focus not because her mind was impeded in any way, but because her body was strangely in tip-top shape. No bruising, broken bones, cuts, or any other signs of injury were to be found.
But after having patted herself down multiple towns to confirm once more that she was fine, her attention could go to her surroundings. Giant bug...things were tearing down the wooden wall surrounding Hor. No not "bug things", Workers. She felt it in the song that still reverberated through her soul, a song in which her voice was just one out of millions participating in it. A more authoritative voice called to her specifically, it felt almost like she was a part of it somehow, it spoke with authority but with a strange undercurrent of fear attached to it.
"Acolyte Helena go to the Townsquare to be assigned to your future function. The Vizier and our Sovereign are working to get the town in order."
It felt like the voice of Hor itself somehow, and she had to obey it.
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Mar felt her Avatars actively work as one would expect of them to do while more and more of the townsfolk awakened. Their plan was simple enough in the short term. First, get the entire population of the town and the fortress organized and segmented in a way that would be useful. Then begin assigning them to appropriate tasks, Mar had not yet fully subjugated the fortress as the inhabitants were slowly being converted due to the nature of having to torture them into consenting first.
But the real step would come after this initial grace period. Mar was planning to send an army out to begin further conquest as the enemy would expect that and the messengers that had been sent would have already started to spread the word of their existence. Or rather the "Thrall-King Spider" would be the one that took the blame for all of their deeds, which was the plan.
Non-essential Subjects would be sent out before the conquering horde disguised as refugees, their goal would be to flee far away from the expected territory and establish hidden cults and enclaves as far away from this land as possible. Ant-Termite General took the time to object once again to the plan as Mar reconsidered it.
"Why? Why are we bothering with sending the infiltrators so far when we can use them to more rapidly take nearby territory."
"Because our initial conquests will succeed splendidly. But the overall war effort is destined to fail."
"Pffft why do you think so Master?"
Ysandra could not help it but chime in and Nasi was assenting to the complaint as well as the cluster of Avatars, Collectives, and their one individual began debating the plan.
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"Simple, We know how these stories go. A giant horde of seemingly unstoppable forces rise up from an unexpected location, they conquer the nearby territory and consume or convert everyone that gets in their way. Some might escape but in a statistical sense, at least 90 percent of the population is either eliminated or assimilated. There is only one possible result at the end of this conflict, the various forces of the world will unite against us. It might take them time and they will most likely squabble and fight against one another at first, but as we continue to win they will be forced to address us as an existential threat."
"But by that time we could win Master. With me at the head of your armies, nothing can stop us!"
Nasi couldn't help but interrupt Mar as he spoke up and Mar noticed the weight that his words carried. Like one of the largest Collectives his opinion resonated through the entire Swarm and Mar could feel it almost shift their own perspective in spite of the validity of the argument. This was disconcerting to Mar because Nasi was an individual Avatar and this was another unwelcome discovery about them. Hell, Avatars could even choose to not broadcast their thoughts through the Swarm at times. Having too many of them could complicate matters if they suddenly overrode their established opinions and changed the very outlook of Mar themselves.
"Arrogance is how we will fail, might you might be Nasi, but it is not up to any individual to grant us victory."
Logistics-Collective chimed in smugly and a few soft murmurs of agreement came from the Hor-Collective as well. Nasi started sputtering on his end and Old Yoss spoke up.
"Patience, we need to hear what our Sovereign wills first."
"Yes, now to let us continue where we left off. Demons, Angels, Spirit Kings, Gods, Archmages, Heroes, and other such beings will rise to challenge us and the tides of all life will join in to counter our numbers. Magical plagues, curses, and all matter of weapons meant to turn our connection into a weakness will be employed against us. Our role in the story will be preordained if we walk down that path, which is why this is not our actual goal."
"What?"
"WHAT?!"
"What do you mean?"
"We are confused?!"
Queen Meath, Nasi, Ysandra, the Ant-Termite General and multiple other voices spoke up in outrage and shock as they heard the will of Mar. Mar was patient and let their grumbling last before they spoke up again.
"Oh eventually all life in this world will be part of us, we will defeat everyone and destroy them. Eventually all will be our domain and we will be the ultimate Sovereigns of this reality, but that will not happen unless we are worthy of it. We will unleash legions upon the world to test it, the learn from their response and fight against the defenders that this universe has to offer. It is all a distraction, however, from a much larger scheme. The world will not fall to us through mere force of arms and walls of chitin and stealthy bug swarm attacks."
The entire Swarm quited down as Mar broadcasted their will to all that lived in it, from the lowliest Unit to the most powerful of Avatars and everything in between heard them as they spoke the next part.
"We did not conquer Hor through force of arms nor did we beat our first true foes among the ants and the termites with force of arms. We will not conquer the world through armies and simple tactics, we will conquer the world through our true strengths. Subtlety, patience, and deception. Our most loyal subjects will infect the forces arrayed against us from within, we will watch, and we will learn, and we will listen. As our armies and the ruse of the Thrall-King serve as a distraction to lull our enemies into a false sense of victory. We will gather the power needed to win a final time and all life will become part of us. We are the Sovereign Swarm and all life belong to us!"
Mar reached out and marked the entire town of Hor with a burst of power that saw a massive mark appear on the ground and covering every inch of the soil that the city stood on. A spider web with bees captured within and a hammer and a sickle crossed in the middle. Their "human shape" in the divine realm stood up as Mar finished the speech and they finalized it with one sentence.
"So, are there any questions?"