Quote: Beach

This page contains the narrations of wood ant missions.

## **Rising Tide**

**Mission begins**:

* This *Formica rufa* wood ant queen has laid her first brood in a burrow near the sea. Her nest is just on the outskirts of the beach, the perfect vantage point for scavenging hapless morsels washed in by the tide. At the moment, the tide is out, but it won’t stay that way. The ants must make haste and stockpile what they can, while they can.

**You dig to the surface**:

* There is food to be found all over the beach, but the wood ants must be cautious and choose their trails carefully. Tiger beetles frequent the higher ground and they will make quick work of any wood ant that strays too close.

**Water is going to flood the fourth layer**:

* The tide is coming in. Soon the lower level of the beach will be flooded, any ants caught in the surge will be washed out to sea.

**Water is going to flood the third layer**:

* The water is rising quickly. The ants must head for higher ground.

**Water is going to flood the 2nd layer**:

* The tide has almost reached its highest point. The sands east of the nest are about to be completely flooded.

**Water has reached the 1st layer**:

* The tide is in and soon night will fall. As the temperature drops outside, nocturnal creatures begin to awaken. It would be wise for the *rufa* colony to stay underground, and hope that their nest remains hidden until the morning.

**Hermit crabs appear on the surface for the 1st time**:

* Overground, nocturnal hermit crabs rule over the sands at night. These creatures are typically scavengers, searching for algae and carrion on the beach, but due to the unusual incursion of *Formica rufa* colonies into this area… this particular community of crabs has developed a taste for ant flesh.

**The 1st night is over**:

* The tide is receding and a new day dawns. The hunters of the night return to the safety of the shadows and the ants can begin to lay down new trails. The harvest must go on.

**Fish is washed up on the 2nd day**:

* A dead sardine has been washed up on the beach. This feast is too precious to pass up, but the smell will soon attract other scavengers.

**Sand bear wolf spiders appear on the surface for the 1st time**:

* There is another creature roaming the sands tonight, *Arctosa perita*, the sand bear wolf spider. In the day these spiders retreat to the shade provided by the large plants on the edge of the beach, but once the sun has gone down, they are far more active… and on the hunt for a midnight feast.

**The 2nd night is over**:

* As the sun rises over a new day, the tide recedes. The nocturnal creatures return to the shadows and once again the harvest must continue.

**You encounter a dune tiger beetle for the 1st time**:

* The ants have been spotted by *Cicindela hybrida*, the dune tiger beetle. With its long, slender legs, it’s the king of speed on these intertidal flats. Its wide carving jaws will slice effortlessly through squads of wood ants. It’s going to take a monumental, unified effort to bring this beast down.

**You kill a large dune tiger beetle for the 1st time**:

* The huge tiger beetle has been defeated. There are many more of them, but this is a milestone moment for the colony. They cannot be bullied by sheer size alone.

**You encounter an enemy wood ant for the 1st time**:

* There are other wood ants out here. They have also come to take advantage of the buffet provided by the sea. Territorial disputes will inverably favour the colony in the greater number.

**Hermit crabs invade your nest**:

* A hermit crab has found its way into the nest. The ants must mount a swift and decisive defense.

* A group of hermit crabs has stormed the nest! The larvae must be protected.

* More hermit crabs have found the nest.

**Sand bear wolf spiders invade your nest**:

* A wolf spider has found the nest entrance. She is only small, but her venom will quickly incapacitate any ant that tries to fight alone.

* Another wolf spider has entered the nest. This one is large, fast and voracious.

* More wolf spiders have found the nest.

**The final wave invades your nest**:

* A huge wolf spider has found the colony. This one is a mother, and her recently hatched brood have followed her into the nest... These ants are facing an overwhelming infestation.

**You win**:

* As the ants grow in number, the local predators pose less and less of a danger. Eventually they will be displaced from this area entirely. Despite the danger of the beach, it seems this intrepid queen’s gamble to establish her colony here has ultimately secured her success.

**You lose to surface enemies**:

* Tucked mere centimeters beneath the path of choice for a vast array of nocturnal predators, it was only a matter of time before this queen and her small brood were overwhelmed. Their legacy, a picnic, served up for the creatures of the night.

**You lose to underground enemies**:

* The queen has been slain. Her choice of nest site was over ambitious, and ultimately, led her colony to extinction.

## **Queen Of The Hill**

**Mission begins**:

* A number of small *Formica rufa* and *Formica fusca* colonies have established themselves on this beach. Those nearest to the water's edge have enjoyed the first pick of the washed up sea food for the past few days. However, as the sun and moon near alignment and the first spring tide of the month approaches, high tide draws nearer to these intrepid ants. Seemingly aware of their circumstances, these colonies are preparing to relocate to higher ground. There is only one way up the bank, and the route is currently occupied by a small *rufa* colony. These defenders will have to hold their ground against the oncoming siege. It will be three days before the high tide washes away the competition. If the colony survives, it will inherit the beach, but this won’t be an easy fight.

**You have played for 90 seconds**:

* Although the nests nearer the water have better access to the food washed up by the sea, this *rufa* colony need not starve. The plant life growing nearby is home to herds of grey aphids. As they feed on plant sap, these tiny insects excrete droplets of honeydew which the wood ants find irresistible. They need only protect the aphids from danger to receive a constant supply of sugary liquid. Doing so is not always simple, however. Hungry ladybird beetles know exactly where the aphids like to graze. They can strip an unguarded stem bare in a mere matter of minutes. The ants will need to keep a close watch over their flock.

**The 1st day is over**:

* The lower ground colonies have relented their siege for now. Night approaches, and with it, it brings a host of nocturnal predators out onto the beach. The high ground ants could go underground to wait out the night, but they would have to leave their precious aphids unguarded. It is a difficult choice for this colony: face the peril out in the open, or hide away and risk losing their only reliable source of food.

**Night is over and you lose many aphids**:

* Dawn breaks, and the battle for the high ground will soon continue. Many aphids were eaten in the night. The high ground colony must ration their food carefully.

**Night is over and you lose few aphids**:

* Dawn breaks, and the battle for the high ground will soon continue. The high ground colony defended their aphid flocks well, succeeding in securing vital food supplies to see them through the oncoming onslaught.

**Day is over**:

* Night falls, and a temporary truce emerges between the warring colonies. Once again, the high ground wood ants must make a choice: do they defend the aphids, or will they hide, resting their forces until the morning.

**The 3rd night is over and you lose many aphids**:

* Last night’s high tide was dangerously close to the low ground nests. Today is their last chance to relocate. The ants must prepare for their final battle. Many aphids were eaten in the night, food will be scarce.

**The 3rd night is over and you lose few aphids**:

* Last night’s high tide was dangerously close to the low ground nests. Today is their last chance to relocate. The low ground colonies won't show any restraints. Their attacks will be desperately vicious. Fortunately for the high-ground colony, many aphids survived the night. Access to food will be pivotal during the upcoming battle.

**Black ants are going to attack for the 1st times**:

* A party of *Formica fusca* black ants are heading inland, the high ground rufa colony must defend their territory.

**Black ants are going to attack** *(randomized)*:

* The *fusca* colony is sending a wave of warriors to clear a path for their queen.

* More black ants are emerging from the *fusca* nest.

* A large black ant force has been sent from the *fusca* nest.

**Wood ants are going to attack for the 1st times**:

* The *rufa* colony on the low ground are sending troops to clear a path for their queen, the high ground colony must keep them at bay.

**Wood ants are going to attack** *(randomized)*:

* The *rufa* colony is sending another assault, they are desperate to reach higher ground.

* More soldiers are emerging from the *rufa* nest.

* More wood ants are heading toward the high ground colony.

**Black ants and wood ants are going to attack at the same time** *(randomized)*:

* Both lower ground colonies are now sending out armies at the same time.

* Black ants and wood ants are heading from their nests to the high ground.

**Black ants and wood ants are going to attack for the last time**:

* The day is almost over. The low ground colony is already starting to flood. The lower ground nests are emptying completely and the ants are rushing up the bank. This is their final assault.

**You win**:

* The wood ants upon the hill have finally defeated their would be successors. Tomorrow their empire will expand to the undefended intertidal flats below. Commanding both the aphid farms and the bounty of the sea, this colony will rise to become an undeniable power in the undergrowth.

**You lose**:

* It seems that holding the high ground was too great of a task for this small *rufa* colony. With limited food, they were unable to amass the number needed for an adequate defense. In the end, the largest swarm always comes out on top.

## **Challenge mode**

**Mission begins**:

* Unfortunately for this colony, the queen’s choice of home could not have been worse. This stretch of beach is peppered with burrowed tiger beetle larvae. They lie, jaws primed, with only their armoured heads visible from the sand. Anything that stumbles into their pit is speared and dragged below.

**Larval dune tiger beetles kill your ants** *(randomized)*:

* An ant has fallen victim to a beetle larvae trap. They must watch their step. The voracious predators are difficult to see and lightning fast.

* More ants have been caught by tiger beetle larvae lying in wait.

* The beetle larvae hiding in their burrow are eating well. Every ant lost to them diminishes the colony.