Ivory Tower

The mission had started with high hopes and anticipation. Loxodar scout Antoine Duchamp, known for his exceptional tracking skills and resilience, was tasked with finding a new hunting ground for their tribe. The current hunting grounds were becoming scarce, and the tribe relied on Antoine's expertise to lead them to a fertile and abundant area.

Antoine embarked on his journey, traversing dense forests, scaling rugged mountains, and crossing treacherous rivers. Armed with his bow, arrows, and the loxodar's keen sense of smell, he navigated through the wilderness, searching for signs of game and resources.

Days turned into nights, and Antoine's determination never wavered. He endured harsh weather conditions, encountered dangerous creatures, and overcame numerous obstacles. His unwavering focus was solely on fulfilling his duty and ensuring the survival of his tribe.

Finally, after weeks of exploration, Antoine discovered a promising location north of the tribe's village. The hunting ground was teeming with wildlife, lush vegetation, and ample water sources. He felt a surge of triumph and excitement, knowing that his efforts would bring prosperity to his people.

However, as Antoine made his way back to the tribe to deliver the good news, disaster struck. He encountered a giant insect, its sharp claws and venomous stingers poised for attack. In a valiant attempt to defend himself, Antoine fought fiercely but was outmatched.

The battle was fierce, leaving Antoine with deep wounds and a weakened state. He managed to fend off the giant insect long enough to escape with his life, but his injuries were severe, and he could feel his strength fading rapidly. Determined to fulfill his duty, Antoine pressed on, pushing his body to its limits.

Finally, upon reaching the village, Antoine's injuries took their toll, and he collapsed, unconscious. The news of his return spread quickly, and the tribe's warriors and healers rushed to his aid, their hearts heavy with concern.

Warchief Matthieu, a respected leader known for his wisdom and strength, arrived at Antoine's side, his face etched with worry and determination. He sought answers from Warrior Sylvain, who had been by Antoine's side throughout the ordeal.

「 Warchief Matthieu 」

"How Scout Antoine is doing, Sylvain?"

「 Warrior Sylvain 」

"His wounds are deep."

"And he lost a lot of blood."

"The dark color of his wounds indicates that he was also poisoned."

「 Warchief Matthieu 」

"Can the healers save him?"

「 Warrior Sylvain 」

"They are trying their best, Warchief..."

"For now, we can only hope."

「 Warchief Matthieu 」

"Did Antoine say anything before he passed out?"

「 Warrior Sylvain 」

"He was rambling something about..."

"A giant insect."

Warchief Matthieu's brows furrowed as he listened to Warrior Sylvain's account. The mention of a giant insect piqued his curiosity and concern. He knew that Antoine's mission had taken him through dangerous territories, but the presence of such a formidable creature was unexpected.

「 Warchief Matthieu 」

"A giant insect?"

"That's troubling."

"We need to gather more information about this threat and take measures to protect our tribe."

Warrior Sylvain nodded, understanding the seriousness of the situation.

「 Warrior Sylvain 」

"I will organize a scouting party to investigate the area where Antoine encountered the giant insect."

"We must determine the extent of the danger and devise strategies to defend ourselves."

Warchief Matthieu placed a hand on Sylvain's shoulder, conveying his trust and confidence.

「 Warchief Matthieu 」

"Very well, Sylvain."

"Choose your best warriors and gather any relevant information you can find."

"I will consult with the healers and oversee Antoine's recovery."

With a determined nod, Warrior Sylvain set off to assemble the scouting party, while Warchief Matthieu turned his attention to the healers attending to Antoine. The healers worked tirelessly to tend to Antoine's wounds, administering antidotes for the poison and using their knowledge of traditional remedies to aid his recovery.

Warchief Matthieu watched over Antoine, his concern evident in his eyes. While the healers were trying their best to save Antoine, one of the village guards came barging into the healers' hut, panting.

「 Guard Bastien 」

"Warchief..."

「 Warchief Matthieu 」

"What is it, Bastien?"

「 Guard Bastien 」

"Warrior Sylvain sent me..."

"There is a group of humans at the main gate."

"Their leader is requesting an audience with you."

「 Warchief Matthieu 」

"Humans?"

"This deep into the forest?"

「 Guard Bastien 」

"Yes..."

"And they are hauling a carcass."

「 Warchief Matthieu 」

"A carcass?"

"A carcass of what?"

「 Guard Bastien (perplexed) 」

"I have never seen something like that before."

"It looks like..."

"A giant bug."

「 Warchief Matthieu 」

"A giant bug?!"

Warchief Matthieu swiftly made his way toward the village gate. The arrival of humans with a carcass of a giant bug raised many questions. He wondered if there was a connection between Antoine's encounter with the giant insect and the humans' unexpected appearance.

As he approached the village gate, Warchief Matthieu saw a small group of humans standing near a massive, lifeless insect. Its segmented body and menacing pincers were unlike anything he had ever seen. The humans seemed uneasy, their expressions a mix of awe and apprehension.

The leader of the human group, a tall and weathered man, stepped forward to address Warchief Matthieu.

「 Human Leader 」

"Greetings, Warchief Matthieu."

"I apologize for the sudden intrusion, but we stumbled upon this creature in the depths of the forest."

"It posed a threat to our team, and we managed to defeat it."

Warchief Matthieu studied the human leader, his gaze shifting between the carcass and the man's face. He sensed sincerity in the man's words but remained cautious.

「 Warchief Matthieu 」

"I appreciate your assistance in dealing with this creature."

"May I ask who you are and what brings you to our lands?"

「 Rayyan Doisneau 」

"My name is Rayyan Doisneau."

"And this is my adventuring party."

"We are from the nearby city..."

"Acrania."

"We are on a commission by the local guild to investigate a strange sighting."

「 Warchief Matthieu 」

"Strange sightings?"

「 Rayyan Doisneau 」

"The sightings of giant bugs..."

"And by the looks of it, the rumor was indeed true."

Rayyan introduced himself to Warchief Matthieu while directing his attention to the remains of the giant insect. The Warchief acknowledged the group's sincerity with a nod.

「 Warchief Matthieu 」

"I am grateful for your transparency."

"Our scout, Antoine, recently encountered a similar giant insect during his mission."

"He was injured and is currently under the care of our healers."

Rayyan's eyes widened in surprise, a mixture of concern and understanding crossing his features.

「 Rayyan Doisneau 」

"I had no knowledge of that, Warchief Matthieu."

"I hope our encounter with this creature can shed some light on the dangers your scout faced."

Warchief Matthieu appreciated the human leader's empathy and willingness to cooperate.

「 Marris Johnson 」

"Was the scout poisoned?"

「 Rayyan Doisneau 」

"Marris?"

A beautiful lady with braided hair, cloaked in white garments suddenly interrupted the conversation. Marris Johnson, a skilled healer and member of Rayyan's adventuring party, stepped forward with a concerned expression.

「 Warchief Matthieu 」

"Yes, he was..."

"The wounds he sustained were deep, and the venom has been a great challenge for our healers."

「 Marris Johnson 」

"If you allow me, I would like to assist your healers in treating your scout."

Warchief Matthieu regarded Marris with gratitude, recognizing the potential help she could provide.

「 Warchief Matthieu 」

"Your offer is greatly appreciated!"

"Sylvain, please lead the way for Lady Marris, right away."

「 Warrior Sylvain 」

"Yes, Warchief!"

"Lady Marris, right this way please."

Marris nodded, her eyes were resolute. She followed Warrior Sylvain into the village, hoping that she was in time to save the injured scout.

「 Marris Johnson 」

"I will do everything in my power to help."

The Warchief turned his attention back to Rayyan, his expression serious.

「 Warchief Matthieu 」

"Lord Rayyan, I believe our two groups have a common goal."

"To protect our lands and understand the threat these giant bugs pose."

"Let us share our knowledge to ensure the safety of our people."

Rayyan extended his hand in agreement, a sincere smile on his face.

「 Rayyan Doisneau 」

"I couldn't agree more, Warchief Matthieu."

"Let us work together and uncover this menace."

As the two prominent figures exchanged pleasantries, the local residents watched with bated breath. The surprising collaboration between the loxodar tribe and Rayyan's adventuring party gave rise to the possibility of a unified front against the growing threat of the giant insects.

The alliance between the loxodar tribe and Rayyan's adventuring party marked the beginning of a new chapter in Aena's history. Together, they investigated the origins and nature of the giant insects, later known as zak'nagis. Pooling their knowledge and resources to protect their lands and ensure the survival of their respective communities. The ivory tower was brought down, not for individual gain, but for the greater good of everybody.