The leaf litter of the jungle after a ferocious downpour proved to be a loathsome thing for a band of men, however fueled they were by rage and a thirst for revenge. Damp, smelly, and clinging at the best of times, the litter had been transformed by the incredible rain into an intolerable waste, full of perilous hazards from leeches to pits. These gaps, masked by the mud that covered them, had already nearly killed one of the members of the vindictive troop. One innocent mistake left him wallowing in the mire, where he sank with frightening speed and would have asphyxiated beneath the choking muck had a watchful biomancer not stretched out a nearby root for him to grab a hold of. Though all of the magicians present presented a carefully restrained face to their guardsmen comrades, their impatience and burning anger could easily be sensed below the tranquil veil. Biomancer and soldier alike were in pursuit of a thief and murderer, described only by the haunting gasps of the dying crone. 

With only cursory details surrounding the stolen amulet and the savage death inflicted upon those who had attempted to requisition it, there were seemingly no clues to be had. Luckily, even without the emerald amber that had been the guiding star of the biomancers' enterprise, they retained much of their own magic capabilities. One such spell was [i]persequere vitae[/i], Trace Life. Normally used to find certain species of animal or plant among the wild hubbub of the jungle, this the frenzied, panicking biomancers quickly discovered that this enchantment could track down the specific life force present in the leader's amber. Barely had the revelation been made than an expedition chartered and two dozen volunteers, from magician to Virens guardsman to cook to pathfinder.

Several hours later, after a tiresome trek through the sucking mud and sweltering humidity of the jungle, the posse spotted the King Tree, coated with some beige substance, looming above the canopy. With the feeling of the predator closing in on its prey, the band approached the colossal, despoiled plant, preparing for battle as it did so.

-=-=-

Scutra vented spittle as he clambered up the tree as fast as his four legs could carry him. He dimly heard the roar of fire from below, and sprinted all the faster. Weaving his way through branches, leaves, and hive material, the construct eventually ripped his way through the floor of the Dungeon Heart, evoking a death glare from the Swarm Keeper who rested there. Though instantly possessed of a foul mood due to her slumber being interrupted, Clotho managed to belay any outrage. Clawing her way from the soothing confines of her cocoon, she looked down upon Scutra from her full height, with a suppressed sneer of disdain. Scutra, however, seemed both terrified and nervous, and sputtered constantly, as if he couldn't find the right words. Or as if he was waiting for her go-ahead. Sighing, Clotho obliged him.“Well, spit it out already.”

“Mistress! You...we...we're under attack!”

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Location: Dungeon
Dungeon: Jungle north of Saploya River, N16°W12° An incomplete and unfurnished yet vast hive spanning the length, width, and height of a massive, ancient tree in the jungle. The hive itself is constructed of a magically-created liquid that expands and hardens into a stiff, paperlike substance upon exposure to air. The main body of the hive is suspended by countless support struts that reach for hundreds of feet in every direction. The Dungeon Heart is situated at the very top of the tree. Currently has: Dungeon Heart, Myrmidon Spawner. Living Foundry, Apothecary
Forces: 24 Drone Imps, 52 Myrmidons, imp construct Scutra
[/hider]