"You've tested my patience and my defenses," Darian said, his voice smooth yet laced with venom, and Sasha had no way to tell if he literally had venom or not. The glow of the serpentine creatures entwined around his limbs pulsed faintly, their existence reminding Sasha of what he did to Dravok with just a thought. "Speak plainly, human. Why did you come here?"
Sasha straightened, willing herself to appear as unshaken as she could. "We're adventurers," she began her tone even. "Explorers, you could say. We've heard rumors about the Vescarid, err, your hive...and your other swarm. We came to learn more."
Darian tilted his head slightly, as though weighing her words. "You risked your lives, and lost so many, to satisfy idle curiosity? I find that difficult to believe."
Sasha swallowed but didn't falter. "It wasn't just curiosity. We thought we could handle what we found, your hive seemed vacant. The others didn't notice, but we saw the distinct changes… but clearly, we underestimated the dangers here." She gestured subtly to the mangled remains of the blind rippers scattered around the chamber. "We've paid dearly for it."
"Underestimation," Darian repeated, his claws flexing. "A lesson many learn too late. Tell me, did you consider what your arrival might provoke? What chaos you might awaken within my hive? Did you not consider you might be wrong, as you so obviously were?"
Sasha hesitated, unsure how much to reveal. "This hive isn't the only one, is it?" she asked carefully, watching for his reaction.
Darian's glowing eyes narrowed, but his expression remained calm. "You presume much for someone who knows so little. No, human, we have anticipated this invasion and moved our home." His voice grew quiet as he shared the information with the human, as though it was vital, as though it was secret, "and you have brought unnecessary attention that should have been a trap for our true enemy."
"If we knew that, we wouldn't have come here."
Darian's gaze lay fixed on Sasha. "No. You wouldn't have."
A long silence followed. Sasha knew she had to redirect the conversation before it spiraled out of her control. "We didn't come here to destroy you," she said firmly. "In fact...we might be able to help each other."
Darian's mandibles clicked softly, a sound that could have been amusement, or a warning. "Help?"
"Yes," Sasha continued. "We've heard about another swarm, one even the Vanguard is struggling to contain. We've also noticed you haven't made any moves toward the humans in Ashvale. That tells us something important, you might not aligned with the others. They are too aggressive to be similar to you. Maybe...you're even opposed to them?"
Darian's glowing eyes seemed to brighten as he processed her words. "And if that were true?"
Sasha felt a surge of hope. "Then we can share information. Work together. Your hive is strong, but so is theirs. If the humans know you're not a threat to them, they might see you as an ally."
"An alliance with your kind would be...a bold experiment. What would you propose, human?"
The chamber grew heavier with expectation as Sasha hesitated, searching for the words that could shift this fragile moment in their favor. Darian's gaze bore into her as he awaited her response.
"We propose an exchange," Sasha said at last. "Information for information. We'll tell you what we know about the other swarm, and in return, you share what you are doing here?" she tried to be confident, but her response came as a question.
Darian's mandibles twitched. "The trade seems… unbalanced. We have the upper hand, while your people are struggling to make any progress."
Sasha recalled her surviving guildmates, the fear in their faces as they contemplated the trip home, and the hefty debuff that followed. "The other hive is insane. They are washing over the world like a plague. Odds are they will take you out with all of us. If they're anything like the hive we've seen here, you'd want to protect yourself against them."
Darian's serpentine companions hissed softly, their coils glowing faintly as they desperately urged him to attack. They wanted blood, but he had to hold their will back. His expression remained unreadable as he paced around her. "You come into my domain, disturb my hive, and offer me crumbs of knowledge in exchange for my cooperation. Tell me, why should I not simply harvest you for what I need?"
"Because you don't know everything," she said plainly. "We've been observing the Vanguard, the other guilds. We know how they operate, and where their weaknesses lie. And...we know they don't fully understand you."
Darian stopped, his glowing eyes narrowing. "Continue."
"The humans think all Vescarid are the same," Sasha explained. "Mindless swarms with one goal, destruction. But we know better now. You're different. You think, you plan, you negotiate, as we can see right here, right now in this interaction." She took a deep breath. "And you haven't attacked the town. That tells us you're not like them. If we help you, maybe you can help us in return."
A low chittering filled the chamber as Darian turned his gaze toward the ceiling, as though considering the weight of her words. His claws tapped against his carapace in a slow, deliberate rhythm.
"An intriguing offer," he said, at last, his tone thoughtful. "But information alone will not suffice. If I were to accept your terms, there would be...conditions."
Sasha braced herself. "Name them."
Darian leaned closer, his imposing form, his aura consuming all within the cavern. "First, you will speak to the Vanguard on my behalf. Inform them that we are not like this… other swarm. Convince them that I am not their enemy. If they wish to direct their wrath, they should aim it at their true foe."
"Second," Darian continued, "you will bring me what I require. Creatures of interest, rare specimens, and materials to fortify my hive. You will act as my agents in the world beyond these walls."
"And in return?" Sasha asked, her voice steady despite the growing weight of his demands.
"I will share my intentions, my grand scheme as you seem to believe I have planned.," Darian said.
Sasha hesitated. "The conditions you mentioned, are there more?"
Darian tilted his head, his serpentine companions shifting as if in amusement. "Only this: betray me, and I will destroy you and everything you hold dear."
The room fell silent. Then Sasha extended her hand. "Agreed."
Darian's claws brushed her fingers, the contact sending a faint chill through her body. "Then let us begin, and take with you the rabble that haunts my corridors. Do not forget their remains, for that is what binds them here, and I care not to have it litter my domain."
The meeting concluded, Sasha and her surviving guildmates were released from the hive, their nerves frayed, but they understood the role they were given. The eerie glow of the Vescora receded as they climbed through the concealed tunnels leading to the surface. At last, the cool night air greeted them as they each hauled the remains of their would-be saviors. The Vescarid had already picked the meat clean from the bones, so they were able to haul multiple Vanguard corpses in the arms of each Ironhearth guildmember. .
"What now?" Jax asked, his voice quiet but steady as they regrouped.
"We do what he asked," Sasha said, her gaze fixed on the distant lights of Ashvale. "We're going to have to speak to the Vanguard."
Ivy raised an eyebrow. "And convince them to work with a Vescarid hive? That'll go over well."
"Not work with," Sasha corrected. "Direct their focus elsewhere. If we tell them he isn't working with the other swarm, and that Darian might be willing to share intel, they might listen."
"Might," Jax repeated. "And what happens if they don't? What happens if they see us as traitors?"
Sasha let out a breath, her eyes darkening. "Then we figure it out. But for now, I need you to tail the Vanguard. Quietly. Learn what you can about their leadership, their plans. See if anyone's already talking about the other swarm."
Jax sighed as his orders were issued, "Alright, if it's what we need to do, I will see it done."
"And the rest of us?" Ivy asked, crossing her arms.
"We'll split up," Sasha said. "I'll approach Caledryn directly, see if he's willing to hear us out. Ivy, gather intel on the other swarm. Talk to the townsfolk, listen for rumors. If we're going to make this work, we need more than just Darian's word to back us up."
Sasha's steps were steady as she approached the Vanguard's encampment. The activity of soldiers building their fort had slowed with the deepening night, leaving the perimeter sparsely guarded. A few sentries eyed her warily as she drew closer, their hands resting on their weapons.
"I need to speak to the Warden," Sasha announced, her voice clear and commanding.
The guards exchanged glances before one of them stepped forward. "State your business."
"It's about the Vescarid threat," Sasha replied, keeping her tone neutral. "I have information he'll want to hear."
The guard hesitated, then nodded. "Wait here."
Sasha watched as the guard disappeared into the encampment. She could feel the gaze of the sentries as they assessed her as a potential threat. Moments later, the guard returned, accompanied by Caledryn himself.
The Warden's presence was imposing, he didn't seem particularly experienced, but what he lacked in that field, he made up for in unbridled confidence. "You're one of the adventurers who went into the hive," he said, his tone cold.
"I am," Sasha confirmed. "And I learned something important. The other Vescarid's, they're the real threat."
Caledryn's expression didn't change, but his eyes narrowed slightly. "I could have told you that. Anyone could have. We are just a contingent force sent to deal with this threat. Is that all you really have?"
Sasha hesitated for the briefest moment before answering. "We came here seeking the new swarm, we wanted to do something that would show we were worth the Vanguard's attention. In this most recent expedition, we learned a few things. The swarm in the hive to the northwest isn't like the others. They're defensive, not offensive. They've made no move toward Ashvale, and we believe they won't unless provoked."
Caledryn folded his arms, his expression unreadable. "And you think the Vanguard should redirect its efforts elsewhere? Based on your word alone?"
"I'm saying we need to consider the bigger picture," Sasha said carefully. "This isn't just about Ashvale anymore. If we don't deal with the larger swarm, none of us will be safe."
For a long moment, Caledryn said nothing. "I had a similar experience. Their leader spared my life and allowed me to return to the guild. I'm wondering if he had an ulterior motive in play. if maybe this was all some grander scheme to bring us here and discuss terms between the two species."
Sasha met his gaze and appeared unfazed, "I feel the same way. We came here seeking glory, but this might just be what we need to survive the tide. We can't throw away this opportunity. Like you, he spared us, no Vescarid spares a human. We need to make a move and strike a deal before they see us as inconsequential. If we have nothing to provide to them, they might just wash over us as the Brutes wash over their enemies.
The conversation with Caledryn weighed on Sasha's mind as she walked back through the quiet streets of Ashvale. She entered the tavern they had agreed to meet in and immediately saw that Ivy and Jax were already seated at a battered table near the hearth. A half-empty mug of ale sat untouched in front of Ivy, while Jax idly twirled a dagger between his fingers.
"How'd it go?" Ivy asked as Sasha sat down.
"They're listening," Sasha said, rubbing her temples. "Caledryn's cautious, but I think he'll give us the benefit of the doubt. For now."
"Great," Jax said, "so we're not dead yet. What's the next move?"
Sasha let out a long breath The weight of the conversation with Caledryn still pressed on her, but she felt like they were making progress.
"I think," she said slowly, "we need to double down on our information. I told Caledryn what we knew, but the Vanguard needs more. We need to prove that Darian isn't just a threat, but a potential ally. That means we're going to have to dig deeper into the other swarm, the one they're really afraid of." She paused, looking at Ivy and Jax. "We need to find their weak points. What makes them different from the bug king's hive, What are their goals? Their desires?"
Jax twirled the dagger a few more times before stopping and placing it on the table. "So, we're going back into the muck. Again," he muttered. "I thought you were done with this shit?"
Sasha nodded. "We might be. But we need to make sure the Vanguard doesn't continue to mistake this hive for the other one. If we can get more concrete evidence, anything that can back up our claims, they'll be more willing to consider the idea of an alliance. Could you imagine, Ironhearth being the driving force for an alliance between the humanoid races and the Vescarid? This would change everything!"
Ivy leaned forward, her fingers tapping on the edge of the table thoughtfully. "I agree. But we can't afford to make any more mistakes. If we go in blind again, we could wind up stirring the hornet's nest. We need to know who we're dealing with first."
Sasha considered her words carefully. "You're right. We can't afford another misstep. That's why we need more intel. I'll approach Caledryn again, see if we can work out some sort of partnership. Maybe if I can get a formal agreement from the Vanguard, they'll give us the backing we need to get closer to the source of the other swarm. This is exactly what we've been fighting for, a chance to really see what the Vescarid swarm is all about"
"Sounds like a gamble," Jax commented, leaning back and crossing his arms.
"Maybe. But it's the best shot we've got. If we can prove that the other swarm's a real threat and that this patriarch can help us stop them, we'll have leverage," Sasha replied, her voice steady. "We need to find their leader, or whoever's controlling the bigger swarm. If we get an understanding of what we are going against, we'll have a target."
"And if we don't find anything?" Ivy asked.
"Then we adapt," Sasha said with resolve. "We can't afford to sit on our hands. The longer we wait, the more of a risk it becomes. We move fast, or we all end up as meat for whatever's coming."
The three of them exchanged looks. They had already paid a steep price, a majority of their guild was likely to ring their necks when they returned. The sting of losing comrades lingered, and the idea of losing more to the swarm or the Vanguard was weighing on them heavily.
"Alright," Jax said, standing up with a sigh. "Let's get some rest. We'll need it for what's coming. But you're right, Sasha. We don't have time to waste."
Sasha stood as well, giving him a small nod. "Agreed. Tomorrow, we move again. We've got to produce something, we've got to get the intel both sides need."
Ivy finished her ale in a long gulp. "I'll go gather more intel. Whatever we can get in this backwoods town will set up us for the future… I suppose." She eyed Sasha with some skepticism. "You're sure Caledryn's not going to try and sell us out?"
Sasha hesitated, her fingers brushing the hilt of her blade as she glanced toward the door. "He saw that creature for what it was, and if his experience was anything like mine, I'd wager he is good for his word."