In Bryn Shander, certain quest show "pre-spawn" gangs in the beginning and then vanish and then come in phases as it should be. The first phase should be only 2 monsters.
The following is the beginning of "Caravans Distress". There were more showed up (and then vanished) than my screen capture.
Similar thing happens to "Fighting Barbarians".
And these 'preview' gang can be target and hit too and its damage bar decreased, then they vanished.
*** The game can read your mind. If you want it, you won't get it. If you don't expect to get it, you will. ***
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As an aside, the Knucklehead Trout for Beast Clearing quest nearest to Guard Cecil? That's still bugging and becoming unable to be interacted with, after 6 years.