Path of The Seekers - The Seeker - Songs - Imminent Disaster Lost Treasures - Seeking A Name - Singularity Axe

A Name Worth Seeking

Chapter 1 - A Place Called Home After following a tip to hunt north of Arwic, Liena searched up the coast, a bit north of Eastham. There, Shallow Slayers and Shore Armoredillos tested her arrows. After a bit of hesitancy, she learned that she not only could stand up to them, but defeat them in great numbers. With a little more confidence, she moved away from the shore and into the mountains, recalling her dream to explore them. Soon she found herself face to face with her once mortal enemies, Tuskers. In an earlier attempt to explore Northern Osteth, her friend Castor Fireheart was stalked and slain by foes such as these. After several attempts to escape, each time at the hands of either Tusker or Drudge Stalker, he lost more than his equipment but also hope of returning to his safe homestead in Holtburg. He had not a patron to look after him and no one close to call for help. Naked with half his life force removed, he was never seen again. That was indeed a day or sorrow, but this was the day her friend would be avenged. With stealth and speed, she moved close, spotting both male and female. She crouched low and spied to see if they were part of a larger pack. No, they were alone. She pulled out an arrow and cocked it in her bow. It was not enough. She put it back and pulled out a greater arrow. She would only get one shot off before her location would be revealed, so she took full aim and held it a moment, bracing herself for the possibility of both fight or flight. Aiming straight for the heart, she released the arrow into flight. Selah! It was a critical hit, but the Tusker was not finished. With great speed and rage, the beast raced towards Liena. In part fear and part exhilaration, she hastily cocked another arrow and launched it at the Tusker, piercing it in the heart. However, the second Tusker was quickly upon her, striking her with a mighty blow. Liena recovered herself quickly and fired another arrow at the female, wounding it. Unfortunately, she could not survive such close range combat, so in fear of death, she ran. After a momentary chase, the female abandoned its prey, but Liena was far from finished. She gave immediate pursuit to where the female was resting and cocked one last arrow, striking down the mighty Tusker. She took pause and rested in the memory of her own departed friend. "It is a small victory," she whispered, prayed and carried on. She moved north, watching the mountains grow taller and more ominous. She pondered if she were wise to traverse such territory unescorted. Her fear gave way to anticipation when she felt the fresh snow under her feet. She constantly checked her vision to see if she was being followed. "These trees have eyes, I swear it," she whispered under her breath. Then she heard it, the sound of guttural laughter. She crouched low and cocked an arrow, listening intensely for the sound again. She dashed into the shadows and stood silent. She peered about and then saw the source of the noise - two drudge stalkers gesturing and conversing in a foul tongue. Then she saw she was not the only hunter gazing upon the same target. She saw a dark, cloaked man standing on the other side of the trees. They exchanged glances momentarily before he held out his hand and spoke an incantation, releasing a great fireball and burning one of the drudges severely. They both raised their guard and charged the mage. Liena leapt from the shadows and released two arrows, both flying wildly and striking the ground. Her angle was wrong. She ran behind one of the drudges as the other fell to the ground in a pile of burnt flesh. She cocked her arrow and shot the last drudge in the back, but the drudge was more concerned about the cloaked mage in front of him. Liena released two more arrows before the last drudge fell to the ground, its body dormant. The mage and the huntress exchanged one more glimpse, before parting without a word. It was better that way, she thought to herself. After all, there was only one mage she trusted. She began to grow tired, as the slope became steeper. She reached the top of a hill and peered down into the valley. She stood silent a moment and gazed about as the sun gave way to darkness. It would get very cold very soon. Then she saw a fire burning in the distance. She drew her bow out again and moved closer to investigate. As she drew close, she saw no one. Here there were no trees to hide behind. Who would light a fire and leave it? She drew an arrow and held it out, ready to loose in a heartbeat. She heard only the howl of the wind and the crackle of ice beneath her feet. She took pause again and peered about. The sun was gone now, leaving just the white of the mountains and the falling snow on her head. She relaxed her bow and knelt by the flame, letting it warm her body. She could see all about from there, down valleys on both sides. This indeed is a special place, she thought to herself. Here she felt at peace. Here she felt at home. Chapter 2 - A Journey to the Grave Liena's home was in the east. She was raised there. She hunted there. One would think it easy to find something special there. She and Ca'reus met briefly to discuss plans for exploration of the east. She had already visited Tou-tou and fought her way through a Lich tower, felling a good dozen of the beasts. She had even visited all the towns, including the marvelous Baishi. (Would one designate that east or south?) She had visited several places of interest, but wanted something more tangible to show for her efforts. "Perhaps the Green Mire Grave," Ca'reus suggested. She pondered a moment. She had read about it many times, but knew not of its whereabouts. She had even searched for it, with no success. She looked up and smiled at the wondrous idea. "Then we shall!" She declared. The two agreed to meet in Shoushi before beginning the trip. After taking care of some small business, she met up with the brave Ca'reus in the busy town. They equipped themselves and sprinted to the final resting-place of the Green Mire Warrior. Once inside, they had to pause to regain their bearings. The two Seekers moved south first, following the rumor that a Drudge Prowler held one the keys that locked the tomb. After a small amount of searching, they found a very angry Prowler and a few of his friends. The two Seekers were far more experienced and had little difficulty convincing the drudges to yield the key. Sharing a brief victory together, the two Seekers moved on to the northern wing of the grave. They moved with great stealth and speed, searching for the second key that would grant them access to the tomb. Instead they found a group of mosswarts that were very reluctant to give them the key. Together Ca'reus and Liena had little difficulty retrieving the key from the body of the slain mosswarts. They found their way quickly to the east, heading deeper into the tomb. A few barker mosswarts guarded the tomb, but Liena's arrows silenced them. The room became silent. There before them was the final resting-place of the great warrior. The two knelt in reverence and gave their respects. Using the key from a departed mosswart, they opened the chest holding the Green Mire Yari. Liena held the spear in her grip and felt its sharp edge. They moved further down the tomb to where the green mire cuirass rested. Ca'reus halted as they spiraled down the corridors. "It will get tricky," he warned. Liena nodded and prepped herself for the struggle. As they entered the last room, several mosswarts, including a pair of shamans attacked the two intruders. The two fought with great skill and agility, slaying the mosswarts to the last, but the battle was not over. Ca'reus warned her of a trap in the room. Surrounding the chest was a thick, green, ominous fog. As Liena placed her first foot into it, a spell was cast on her, causing her to lose her strength. They both rushed forward to the chest in haste to open it. Ca'reus removed the cuirass quickly and they both exited the fog before it cast any more spells on them. He smiled and handed the armor over to Liena. This will do well, she thought to herself. Chapter 3 - A Quest for Superiority Visiting a place as beautiful as the vast deserts near Samsur and Tufa ought to inspire one. However, Liena found herself seeking again, for something that just seemed to elude her. While the deserts themselves held a beauty to them, it just wasn't enough. She wanted something that she would have to work for. She found little challenge in hunting the mild beasts near Samsur. If she had been here when she was younger, she would have found it quite an adventure. She sighed to herself. She wanted to earn her title. Then she remembered a tip given by a kind lady who advised her to seek out the Superior Helmet in Zaikhal. Liena removed her beaten helmet and examined it. "Perhaps I could use a new helmet," she admitted to herself. She took out her wand, muttered an incantation, and in a few moments was in Zaikhal - with no idea where to begin or what to look for. She stopped at the local tavern and spoke with the barkeep, but he would not give her any information. Her excitement turned to grief as each question was denied an answer. She even asked some of the locals, but even the ones that took the time to answer did not care to even give a direction. As fortune would have it, she met a fellow archer outside of town who knew of the item she sought. Together they moved towards the halls, but he stopped just by the roadside and told her, "You must go alone from here. I am not skilled enough to follow." She understood completely and thanked him for his assistance. They shared good-byes and went their separate ways. She spotted the entrance without trouble and entered the dungeon. She stood silent as she entered and checked her arrows. She was prepared for the undead, as that was what she was warned to look for. She quickly fletched some blunt arrows with swift fingers and kept one ready in her bow. She quickly dispatched the local zombies and proceeded into the dungeon. After much wandering, she finally found her way to the hall where the Guardian of the Helm lay in wait. She quickly and quietly entered, but the Guardian was no where to be found. She paced the room, wondering if she had yet arrived. No, it was here, without a doubt. Desiring not to waste the mana in her bow, she let her guard down. A foolish mistake as the Guardian appeared out of the shadows with a vengeance, accompanied by a small handful of zombies. Liena drew her bow in time to feel the jolt of a whirling blade knocking her backwards. Immediately they were upon her, swords drawn and arrows aimed. She got quickly to her feet to defend against the attacks. She loosed a few arrows at the rotting warriors, knocking them to next Morningthaw. The Guardian glared at her with hate. She wiped the sweat from her brow and knocked an arrow in her bow. She paused, then loosed the arrow, striking him square, but not out. She knocked a second and loosed it, forcing him backwards. He recovered and charged, but she was too nimble and evaded his attacks. She ducked his blow and shot the arrow straight into him, knocking what life was ever in him out once more. She thanked the forces protecting her once more and retrieved the helmet from the rotting pile of flesh. "This," she said to herself, "shall make a great trophy." Chapter 4 - A City of Strangers Once by chance. Twice by leading. The final by choice. Liena had determined that for her final part of the quest she would find the city of Kara. She knew not where it was, only that it was in the south, in the mountains. That, she thought, would be an adventure, indeed. Taking a portal to Qalaba'r, she began her journey. Ignoring many of the small creatures, she saved her arrows, knowing full well the consequences of running out in the wilderness, far from supply. Slaying several lugians, gromnies and mattekars, she found that she had progressed just enough to relax a little. Once she even entered combat with 7 or 8 mattekars at once and survived, with a pinch of life left, but alive. She stopped to heal herself and moved on, eastward. She climbed to the top of a mountain and spied several great mattekars. She knocked an arrow and took aim, but a gut feeling warned her not to... Just then, in a twinkling of an eye, two dark figures appeared behind her. She dropped to the ground and spun about, face to face with a pair of shadows. Her eyes widened in fear as they simultaneously lifted their arms to cast spells. They both struck her, knocking her life to five points. Barely conscious, she struggled to her feet to flee, but felt cold steel run through her. Liena opened her eyes, weak and battered beneath a lifetstone. She stayed there a moment, not realizing what had just transpired. She checked her body to see the extent of the damage when she realized she was virtually naked. Her hauberk, leggings and boots were all missing. She began to panic, recalling her promise to guard the armor with her life. She cried a moment in frustration, but quickly wiped the tears from her face in determination to recover her lost prizes. She ran back to town and bought whatever armor she saw with what little money she had left. She raced into the wilderness once more, not realizing where her corpse actually was. She ignored the lugians and the mattekars as they gave chase and hurled boulders. She did not trust this new armor, as it was not half the protection she had before, and she was not prepared yet to test it. As she tried to retrace her footsteps, she realized that she had ventured into an area she did not recognize. Panic began to set in, but she would not lose her head. She just had to try again. She ran back, but could not even find a place she was familiar with. She portaled back to town and tried again, but could not find her original path. She even offered to give all she had to passing strangers if they found her corpse. None could stop to help. She knew that she was almost out of time and her corpse would soon fade away. With one last effort, she ran through a valley, when a glint of metal caught her eye. With great anticipation, she found herself near her body, but two Linvak Ursuins and a pack of Mattekars guarded it. She drew her bow and loosed a series of arrows at the mattekars, dispatching them all before they reached her. Then she crept to her body without the Ursuin noticing and recovered the lost armor. With joy and exhilaration, she ventured further to the wilderness, cautiously engaging in battle. As she made her way through the mountains, she grew closer to a designated place on the map. However, when she arrived, she could see nothing. She healed her wounds and headed south to the next closest dot. As she approached, there was a great wall surrounding it. She ran around it, but could find no entrance. "This must be it," she thought. "If it is this difficult to access, it must be important." She found a small hill that she could climb to access the valley, but still could not get close enough. As she drew nearer, she realized her arrow supply was growing small. She could not afford to engage in many battles. At the base of the hill, Liena found a stream, where she washed the sweat off her face. She knelt and rested a moment, summoning her courage. She noticed that there were Phyntos Wasps and Shreth near, so she was very careful. She ran westward, up a hill to try to find a way into the mountain. As she approached the summit, she caught a glimpse of a festival stone. "I must be close!" She thought to herself. With renewed courage, she strode to the top, but the last stretch was too steep for her to climb. She knew that there must be an entrance. She raced down the hill and back up another nearby. Running past mattekars, she caught sight of a building not far away. With half her health, she made it in to safety. She stood at the top and looked around and felt the rain beat down on her face. It was a victory, indeed. However, it was not the city that she was proud of. No, that was in the journey. The struggle and the growth. "Now," she said to herself, "if I could only find the words to express this to Arianda!" - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Many thanks go to Arianda, who helped decide my title quest; to Ca'reus who aided me in part of this quest; to Pirzart who made my life as a Seeker so much easier. Many thanks go to all the Seekers for support and encouragement on the completion of this quest. - Liena the Huntress The Roaming Seeker of Dreams