POV: Elf Scout Group 1

Emerging from the fog barrier 5 elves can be seen heading towards the source of the barrier they wore leather armour camouflaged with green and brown colours carrying master crafted wooden bows with twin curved daggers at their hips. They navigate through the forest towards their goal patient, silent and unseen if it were any other forest the group would be confident that they moved unnoticed. Unfortunately, this isn’t any other forest and the moment they crossed the barrier every sentient denizen who lives within became fully aware of their presence including the very trees themselves.

[Scout Elf 1] “Sir I’m feeling very uneasy, are we sure the mage is not aware we have crossed the barrier?”

[Scout Leader Elf] “Stop worrying of course it doesn’t no we are here, you want to know how I can tell you this with complete faith in my words? It’s because the barrier this mage has used is nothing more than a rip off we elves used to surround our hidden cities it effects a being’s perception making them subconsciously avoid the area. But unlike our mages who can freely use the forests mana and weave it into a barrier making it stronger than normal this mage has used brute force resulting in a weak effect and a large concentration of mana that is visible. Might fool some weak humans or animals but the average elf can see and pass it with a minor headache at worse from the large mana in the air, now come on we need to find this fool of a mages hiding place.”

[Scout Group] “Yes sir!”

Advancing further into the forest the elves continued their search unaware that the new ruler of this patch of the forest heard everything that was said between the group members and couldn’t help but smile to himself. The arrogance of the elves has made them extremely sloppy they utilise spells to quiet their steps and hide their mana presence but don’t think to check the environment for foreign entities. If they did their spell would be sounding alarms all over the place for while they believe themselves to be completely hidden to the forest their about as stealthy as a man in a mirror maze.

[Scout Elf 2] “Sir the forest is changing up ahead I think the natural order has been tainted?”

[Scout Leader Elf] “I see it trees with more than one kind of fruit while it may seem harmless the variation is too different to be natural, we will have to isolate and burn this part of the forest to eliminate the abominations this mage has created. While they might be beneficial only we elves have the authority and wisdom to manipulate nature, even then the benefits should be for us only as the guardians of these forests.”

[Scout Elf 1] “Sir there looks like a clearing up ahead.”

[Scout Leader Elf] “Good looks like these abominations have not spread to far yet less forest to burn down. Advance towards the clearing but stay to the tree line our mission is to scout not kill even if this is too easy.”

Looking out at the clearing the scout group could see a group of humanoids gathering around a tree at the centre. They first focused on the tree which was a sight to behold a pure white healthy trunk leaving the ground and reaching towards the sky were its branches spread out decorated in beautiful pink petals. A true reference to natures beauty and a source of inner conflict, this tree again was not normal which means it likely came from the mage leaving the elves with no other choice but to burn it to the ground when the time comes. For such scene to go against their true belief the elves could only lock away their feelings on the subject as to do otherwise will make them a traitor to their own cause. Focusing towards the base of the tree towards the gathered group at the base of the white trunk the elves what they perceived to be the one at fault for this disturbance and as the race of the members of the group became known only shock graced their faces. Pixies, sylphs, dryads and nymphs all pests who claim themselves to be a part of nature when only elves can claim that title. With this information, all the minute details suddenly made sense to the scout leader, these pests have decided to make a stand against those who seek to maintain order as such their objective was clear the annihilation of this new fairy nest.

[Unknown Pixie] “I knew this would happen! After we finally put our guard down the elves show up there is no way he will be able to protect us from them and we hardly have the strength to protect ourselves from such an attack.”

[Unknown Sylph] “We must trust that the master will be able to hold them off notice he hasn’t requested to aid in the defence only to gather towards the clearing for our own protection.”

[Unknown Pixie] “More likely to use us as a sacrificial shield.”

Meanwhile hiding in the bushes, the elves were taking in the conversation hoping to gather information from their argument while wishing for it to escalate into infighting. But their information gathering was halted by the sudden silence of the argument followed by two words spoken be every member of the group at the base of the tree.

[Fairy Group] “Yes master.”

Clearly the leader of this group who remained unknown had tired of the argument and brought his followers to an agreement without the elves hearing anything which was worrying. But not as much as the ground beneath them erupting in soil and roots, the elves were unprepared for such an attack they had been spotted but by who and what magic was he using to attack them.

[Scout Leader Elf] “Retreat to the main group we must get the information to the general and his advisors.”

The elves escaped their perceived attacker and fled towards the main group waiting just outside the barrier to share what they had learned. While their silent observer contemplated current and future events regarding his would-be attackers and traitors to his god.

‘The baits been set and they have little to no information on my abilities too interested in what’s before them, now I need to deal with these other groups before the main party arrives can’t have them getting to confident now can we.’

POV: Elf Scout Group 2

Meanwhile as the first group is making their discovery the second scout group will make a discovery of their own. Advancing under the cover of their silencing spells the elves reached a part of the forest were the trees start to thin slightly creating the perfect place for an ambush.

[Scout Elf 1] “Uuuhhh sir are you sure it’s wise to go into an area that’s clearly suitable for an ambush point?”

[Scout Leader Elf] “And what do you suppose is going to ambush us … rabbits, the enemy were about to face is worse than bandits at least they had some people on guard even if they are likely to be asleep instead of watching.”

[Scout Elf 1] “But sir can’t you feel it, there is something out there watching us we should…”

[Scout Leader Elf] “That’s just paranoia even if there were some warning system set up we would now and act accordingly other than your worrying there is no evidence that we are being watched.”

[Scout Elf 2] “There’s a girl watching us over there.”

[Scout Leader Elf] “What are you talking abou…”

The conversation was brought to a halt when every member of the scout group finally noticed the young girl looking at them from atop one of the nearby trees on the edge of the clearing, it took a moment before the scout groups leader could finally speak his thoughts.

[Scout Leader Elf] “You there what are you doing here?”

[Aria] “I am Aria a nature spirit under the command of the king of this forest.”

She’s pretty forthcoming with the information thought the scouts leader, she’s either naïve of our purpose here or just stupid. The elves didn’t even consider the idea that there was a third option behind this girl’s action.

[Scout Elf 1] “You do realise we are here to kill the king you follow right (whisper: stupid fairies)”

[Aria] “That’s why I was ordered to kill you.”

The elves were caught off guard at first due to the unexpected answer before smiles started to appear on their lips only to quickly fade into surprise again at the scene around them. The trees surrounding the clearing moved and expanded spreading out and wrapping their branches together creating a wall the treetops then spread their branches upwards and across to meet at the centre of the clearing creating a dome entrapment. The elves finally realising their situation immediately attempted to escape while the dome started to compact inwards. Their magic was useless spells broke against the wooden barriers as their mana was drained, their weapons were pointless breaking as soon as they impacted the bark, their fates were sealed as the dome crushed all inside with a series of agonising screams, cracking bones and blood flowing, lots of blood flowing.

POV: Elf Scout Group 3

Meanwhile the final scout group found their way into what appeared to be an orchid with many trees bearing strange never before seen fruit.

[Scout Elf 1] “Sir what is this?”

[Scout leader Elf] “The upstart probably grew these for a steady food supply I doubt they grew naturally.”

One of the elves attempted to pick one of the fruits struggling to separate it from a branch only succeeding in bringing it close to his face.

[Scout Elf 2] “Do you think we can eat these fruits?”

The group’s thoughts were drawn away from this question when an answer came from the unknown.

[???] “On earth you eat fruits.”

The group was drawn to the source of the comment only to stare when they found it, the unknown fruit had a split going through its centre which opened to expose sharp teeth and a large in proportion to its body tongue.

[???] “In Floeria fruits eat you.”

At that comment the fruit seemed to leap out of the elfs hand and bit down on his face, panic ensued as the elf group was forced to defend themselves from the orchid as more fruits exposed their teeth and attempted to eat them. The scout’s leader made a break for it seeking to warn the general about the horrors held within this forest only to trip and fall face first to the ground. As the leader looked up he came face to face with another one of those fruits but one that rivalled himself in size and appeared to be making a smirk with its mouth, staring mouth agape the fruit spoke.

[???] “Mmm mm I think its supper time.”

At those words the fruit opened wide and raised its body to be directly above the elfs prone form, the elf could only blink before the fruit came down with a chomp taking the elf and a chunk of earth into its mouth before starting to chew with a smile on its face.