Year 87.1

  *In Glimmerfell, the party arrives just as fall reaches the lands. The Glimmerfell trees, for which Glimmerfell is known, had started losing their leaves as they began their transformation into flakes of magic, shattering on impact with the ground. Gnomes avoid building directly under the canopies of these trees for the risk of injury. Some gnomes have made a sport out of collecting the leaves, which they later sell in the market. As they enter the small town, Emma hides her ears with a hood, using a weakened version of her stealth to avert direct view. Until Pts runs over to her with a leaf in hand.*

  Pts: Emma! Here. You said you always wanted one last time you were here.

  *Emma takes the leaf and smiles. A gust of wind blows her hood down. She freezes, awaiting the gnome's annoying barrage of insults. A couple of younger gnomes bounce excitedly while holding their parents' hands, pointing at Emma, but they are speaking in Gnomish and can’t be heard. Pts looks at the child, then turns back with a smile.*

  Pts: He said. “Look, Mom, it’s an Elf like what saved us in the stories.” *Emma looks more confused.* The majority of Gnomes that hate elves live in higher society.

  Spt: Because they need to redirect the gaze of judgment on themselves. I assure you, they’re far more morally corrupt than any elf they’ve attempted to make you all out to be.

  Emma: I’ve met my fair share of corrupt elves.

  *A scream from the outskirts of town grabs the attention of everyone as they all run toward it. Reaching the source of the noise, a group of Moose-like animals, their antlers snap shut like a claw, each end is a sharp stinger. Rodrick swings his giant battleaxe, keeping one from closing around a child. Canda begins chanting, causing Emma and the others in the area to feel lighter. A group of adventurers and guards charge toward the swarm. Emma throws her knives, but they bounce off their shell. Leaping back to avoid getting grabbed, Emma glances over and watches as Rodrick rips through their bodies. *

  Lily: If they feed on the leaves, they could be extra durable.

  *Emma spots a child, and in the blink of an eye, she stands between the child and the creature. Her eyes glow green as she reaches for her blade. A flash of light and Emma stands across the area. Lily sits with the child.*

  Emma: Follow Lily! She’ll take you to safety!

  *The child hops on Lily and is taken back to town. Emma hears the loud screeching cry as the swarm splits to allow a much larger, bulkier, Warrior type. Emma barely manages to block the low as she gets sent flying into Rodrick. He catches her, looking at her in confusion. He then turns his attention to the Insectoid, steam vents from its body as it locks onto its next target.*

  Rodrick: *Smiles* Finally. Someone worthy of a challenge.

  Emma: Okay, mind putting me down?

  *Rodrick places Emma down, grabs his axe, and blocks as the creature’s large claw-like arm swings down.*

  Emma: What are these things?

  *Spt has increased his size to closer to a tall dwarf. He wears metal gloves to crush through their shells.*

  Spt: They’re called Aphiscet’s. They have a hierarchy system similar to goblins. The difference being. We have to kill their queen and king, or they’ll just come back every year.

  Emma: Does it have to be both?

  Spt: Killing one can lead to a change in cycles. The problem is the Queen won't show herself.

  *Rodrick chops through an arm as the large Aphiscet attempts to crush them.*

  Emma: Okay, is this the king?

  *Spt points to a large personoid looking Aphiscet sitting atop a centipede. It holds a chain with its smaller two arms, and another two larger arms, one that holds the bottom half of a gnomish body. It takes a bite of the body before throwing it to block an arrow mid-flight. It points at Rodrick and chitters something. *

  Rodrick: *Grin* That’s a challenge if I’ve ever seen one.

  *Rodrock grips his axe with his teeth before getting down on all fours and sprinting toward the leader. He leaps into the air and grabs his axe, and slams his axe down, and the leader leaps back. The Aphisect create a ring around the two. Canda uses her speed to slip through the cracks while Pts casts growth on Spt, making him taller than Rodrick. He starts crashing through the Insects, making his way to Rodrick as well. Rodrick stares the Aphisect down, his eyes piercing as he waits for it to make a move. Pts calls over to Emm, who’s using Lily to shuttle children to safety.*

  Pts: Emma! Spt needs help pushing through!

  *Emma turns to see the Aphisect make its move, Canda casts a spell to create Spirit Claws. She sprints toward the leader. The leader grabs Canda with its larger hands, then attempts to claw at her with its smaller arms. Rodrick swings up, cleaving the leader's arms. It screeches in pain as it sprouts wings and leaps back again.*

  Rodrick: Just like an insect to scurry away.

  *Two of the smaller Aphisects carry the king's arms back to him. He starts eating them, and his arms regrow in sync. Emma shadowsteps behind the king, attempting to cut off its wings, but the king’s exoskeleton prevents her from breaking through. The King turns around, kicking Emma, throwing her toward his Centipede mount. The Centipede grabs Emma and begins crushing her like a snake. It looks down at Emma, locking eyes as its venomous mandibles drip on her cheek, hissing as it burns her cheek. As it goes to bite down, its head vanishes. Emma feels the grip release, and she drops to the ground, holding her broken ribs in pain. She looks over at a Large muscular Human male. He extends his hand to Emma, and one of the nearby insects leaps toward him, right before it reaches him, a female dwarf rogue slices it to pieces. Emma hesitates to reach out as the Dwarf walks toward them.*

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  Dwarf: *Dwarvish* She’s not likely to trust you, Bohater.

  Emma: Brother? Is he a halfling?

  Dwarf: Well, shite. I didn’t think you’d know dwarvish. No, his name is Bohater. But we can do introductions after we avoid becoming insect feed.

  Lily: Mama?! Are you okay?

  Emma(TL): Yeah, I’m fine. How are the kids?

  Lily: Anyone outside the township is inside. I heard one of the gnomes say so.

  Emma(TL): Okay. Come back here then.

  *Emma’s ear glows as Lily reappears to he place.*

  Dwarf: That big guy fighting the king. Is he with you?

  Emma: Yeah. I can also confirm that all non-combatants have made it back in town.

  Dwarf: *Looks to Bohater.* You don’t need to hold back anymore.

  *Bohater’s skin turns metallic as he begins charging toward the king. Crushing anything in his path.*

  Dwarf: Might want your party to step back. The boy doesn’t know how to hold back well.

  *Emma calls out for Rodrick and the others to move out of the way. None of them can hear her, but Canda notices her attempt to grab their attention. She looks confused until she realizes she’s telling them to run away.*

  Canda: Rodrick. Hold him still.

  *Canda turns to Pts, and they both create a shield on Rodrick. Bohater leans his head down as he aims to tackle the king. Rodrick slams his axe in the ground, and using his tail to hold him in place, he grapples onto the back of the King as he turns to run. Bohater collides with Rodrick, and the shield shatters as he is sent flying. The rest of the army screeches as they all retreat, some dig while soldiers fly. Some stay behind, preventing any attempts to follow them. Canda runs over to Emma and the Dwarf.*

  Canda: Spt and Pts are going to meet up with us when they get Rodrick back. Let’s try sneaking through.

  Dwarf: Won’t work, they are sensitive to magic, and it gets stronger as they get to the hive.

  *Bohater walks over, wiping blood and guts from his body.*

  Dwarf: The tunnels are all traps, and we can’t keep up with the fliers.

  Emma: Are there any dive points near here?

  Dwarf: This far north? I don’t think so.

  Canda: What’s a dive point?

  Emma: A few things block my blades. All of which I’ve only fought down below. Dive Points are how dwarves go underground.

  Lily: Or your slacking is catching up to you.

  Emma(TL): I’m sorry for sleeping in. I’ll remember to wake you up from your nap with Rodrick and Canda later.

  Lily: You wouldn’t.

  Dwarf: *Mumbles* Knows dwarvish. What a moment, you wouldn’t happen to be Emma Silvashade, would you?

  Emma: Who’s asking?

  Dwarf: Hemlock. No family name. Same goes for Bohater. We’ve heard of your travels and were looking for you.

  Emma: Okay? I’m currently engaged in a quest at the moment

  Hemlock: Well, I don’t mind aiding your cause if it means you’ll at least listen and think about my own.

  Emma: Lily.

  *Lily leaps down from Emma and down one of the burrows. Emma kneels to the ground and closes her eyes, attempting to sense the direction of the hive. Lily slides through any traps that appear to consist of random pits.*

  Emma: You can talk still, I just can’t promise I’m listening. *Smiles*

  Hemlock: Well, plain and simple. I’d like you to join a party I’m working on putting together.

  Emma: Seems to be a lot of that going on lately. You know, elves would’ve still been around to help if it weren’t for the on-and-off again genocide everyone seems so fond of committing, depending on how your slaves are behaving. I’ve read the papers. Aside from a few locations and those enslaved by nobility. Most elves have disappeared from the public eye.

  *Emma opens her eyes as Lily looks at a network of tunnels and caves that make up the hive. Emma starts walking forward, her eyes start to sparkle with hints of purple.*

  Emma: Lily’s found the hive. It’s at least a day’s hike from here.

  Canda: Wait, how?

  Emma: There’s a ravine to the north. I’m all but certain it is one of their exits. That’s all, assuming my memory is right. I’m going off maps from roughly 60 years ago.

  *Hemlock pulls out a map and points at a line to the north.*

  Hemlock: Are you talking about Cocant Ravaine?

  Emma: Maybe, I remember the image better than the name. *Glances at the map.* Yeah. It’s full of poisonous Cocoa plants. I was sure I could cook the poison out, so my party made sure to avoid it. *Laughs*

  *Everyone looks at Emma with concern. *

  Hemlock: All past times aside. If y’all are going to head that way, do ye mind if we join?

  Canda: That’s up to you two. But how do you know for certain? I thought you said you couldn’t sense swarms?

  *Emma starts walking back toward town.*

  Emma: As I said, Lily found them. I can’t explain it to someone whose not an elf. I’m going to go get the cart ready. *Turns to Canda.* You’re sure the ramhead’s okay?

  Canda: Why wouldn’t it be?

  Emma: The thing looks drunk with the way its head wobbles. I don’t fucking know. *Laughs*

  *Canda shrugs in agreement.*

  *As they finish prepping the cart, Rodrick, Pts, and Spt come back with an elderly male gnome.*

  Rodrick: Canda! Chf here says someone found a lead on the bugs.

  Canda: Yeah. We’re aware. Now get Rocky saddled up so we can get going.

  *Rodrick looks at Emma, then the gnomes.*

  Rodrick: See, no appreciation.

  *Emma’s ears twitch in anger. She places down the bag she was carrying before jumping out of the cart and sprinting off on her own. After a few minutes, she pauses on a tree branch for a moment.*

  Lily: What was that about?

  Emma(TL): I’m tired of that meathead thinking I do nothing. So I’m taking care of the problem to put him in his place.

  *As the night falls, Emma looks down at the rainforest blooming from a slit in the ground. Insectoids of all shapes and sizes can be seen. *

  Emma: I hate this.

  Lily: You wanted this!

  Emma: Yeah. I know, and it’s not like I can sleep after hearing all that chittering down there.

  *Emma listens as the chittering synchronizes, her eyelids become heavy, and she flees to the nearest clearing where she sets up for the night. Lily rests in her lap while she stirs a pot of food over a fire.*

  Emma: That was close. Lily falling asleep on me was the only reason I figured it out. *Smiles* Just like before against those Sneaky Sleepers. You always fall for the hypnotic songs.

  *The next morning, Rodrick kicks Emma awake softly.*

  Rodrick: I apologize.

  *Emma glares and stands up, dusting herself off. Lily’s head flutters as she shakes and yawns.*

  Emma: Glad to see you can be civilized. *Smiles* I’m sorry as well. I just don’t handle being called lazy very well. At least not in a serious manner.

  Canda: All well and good, but why’re you sleeping here? We all thought you’d be at least waist-deep in guts and carapaces.

  Spt: No! I said she’d probably fashion some armor and weapons from their shells.

  Emma: I don’t know about during the day, but at night, the chittering from the ravine was creating a hypnotic effect. If Lily hadn’t gone so silent, I was about to fall for it as well.

  Canda: Come here.

  *Canda aggressively turns Emma and lifts her shirt; Emma makes sure to keep it below her breasts.*

  Emma: What the Hells!

  Canda: Your mark weakened because you ran off. I need to reapply it before we can go forward.

  Pts and Spt: We’ll get lunch started!

  Rodrick: Do you need help setting up the tent?

  Canda: No, we can use the cart. Just take what you boys need beforehand.