<Archers Vow> The Journey Continues!

[Ivory]

The next thing I needed to find was some rope....a lot of it. Luckily I had heard stories of a ship carrying rope sinking in a place called Cobalt Scar.

Even better was that the entrance to the Cobalt Scar was through the Dragons City! After saving the dwarves and helping to kill the giants champion fighter...I was sure they would like me even more than before! (At least, as long as no one told them about what I did to Wuoshi).

So, I made my way back to the city as fast as I could.

When I got there I met another Iksar whom the dragons seemed to like too. It makes sense, Iksars are dragons too.

He told me he knew about the entrance to Cobalt Scar, but that it was locked....and the only way through was with a key.

After some investigating I discovered the key was being guarded by a drake. No problem! Elves are known for their negotiating skills!!!

But, when I found the drakes room...the Iksar was there already....and the drake seemed to be asleep....on the ground..... Oh well, no negotiating needed it seemed!!!!

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I grabbed the key and within minutes I found myself standing in Cobalt Scar!!! It was time to find that ship!!!

Though, before that, I made an amazing discovery!!! Looking out of the window at the cliff in Cobalt scar....I discovered the cliff looks like a cat from above!!

Just pointing that out, it is pretty important.

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My next discovery was Cobalt Scar was home to an entire civilization of Otter people!!!! The elves in Kelethin had never been told about Otter people!!!!!

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Surely they would know more about any ships sinking around there...and they seemed nice enough.

So I went down to ask them if they had any information.

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They told me to talk with their chief....I just had to figure out who that was....

And then I saw it.

It was amazing.

An otter person....with a magnificent hat!!! And fancy outfit! It had to be the chief!!! Who else would have such an amazing hat and be so fancy?!

These otter people were a great people indeed!!!

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The chief said he knew about a few ships that had sunk....but said his otter divers had seen chests in the one just off shore. Seemed like a good place to start.

So, using my great swimming skills I had practice in the Iceclad Ocean...I swam out to see for myself.

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I found the ship easy enough, and began to scout around. Sure enough, there were some treasure chests in it. It had to have the rope I needed!

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The only problem is as I got close....the chests sprang to life and attacked me!! They were possessed!!!! Or, maybe they were always like that? Who ships monster chests?!

Anyhow, I knew how to handle this.....arrows!!! (And a few snares, which surprisingly still work on things without legs!)

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It was a long fight, but in the end the chest was no match for my arrows. Carefully I reached inside, past the chests monster teeth, and pulled out its...guts? No no! It was rope! Over 100 feet of it!!!

All that was left was to find a huge drakes wing!!! ....but.....the only place to find that was.....the Western Wastes....

[Ivory]

Even I had heard stories about the Western Wastes. Giant wurms....dragons....cliffs higher than a tower.....and, of course, just how dangerous it was to get there. Through the home of Sirens!

It was no place for an inexperienced archer.....but I wouldn't let that stop me!

My first step was to find out where this Sirens home was! I didn't think I could get through it...but, I had to at least go see.

I asked some wyverns if they had heard about it, and they told me just to swim along the cliffs....until I saw an underwater entrance.

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That seemed....pretty easy to miss....and, actually I almost did!! But luckily I found what he had been talking about.

When I went inside, I realized rumors about getting through it were true....it looked pretty dangerous.

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But, I could hear some people fighting inside!! Humm, maybe they could use an archer? But, on the other hand, I wasn't sure making sirens hate me was a good idea....well, they already didn't like me, but that is a big difference from wanting me dead on sight!

As I was trying to decide, a druid appeared! She had been fighting with deeper in the grotto and seen me nearby!! But, she had got separated from her group...which might have been my fault....

Luckily, her spells instantly teleported us through the grotto! It couldn't have worked out better!! And she was able to rejoin her group!

Even more fortunate was when I entered into the Western Wastes through the tunnel... I saw some more adventurers....they were from <Awakened> !! The same people I had fought with against Wuoshi!! And then the giant wars!!

They were surprised to see me there, having gotten through the Grotto while still having so much to learn. Upon finding out that I was hunting giant drakes, they offered to help me! And, they had two ogres with them!

Somehow, suddenly, I had a hunting party! Things were working out better than I had imagined!

It was time to hunt these giant drakes....and prepare for the battle.

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Finding them was surprising easy, since they seemed to be watching the entrance to the grotto. Tunare definitely was on my side today.

So, we sent one of the ogres out to bait them. Giant drakes love eating ogres I hear.

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But, there was a problem....the smaller drakes wouldn't leave the side of Tranala! The giant drake!

I knew what I had to do....I ran out of the cave we had set the ambush in and began to calm the smaller drakes as best I could!

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My distraction must have worked, because moments later we were able to lure Tranala into the cave....the worse place for a giant drake! Since the close walls gives it no room to fly!!

Though, maybe it was her who was trapping us? Because the close cave walls also helped her channel her icey breath .....at least on the others, I made sure to keep my distance (an archer doesn't fall for such tricks!).

Indeed, the fight was close! Naethyn almost falling a few times, but managing to stay alive!

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After a long fight, filled with arrows... we did it!! Tranala was defeated! And I had her wing!!

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It was time to travel further into the wastes...to find the stranded gnomes I had heard about, and bribe their unique "bow" from them.

[Ivory]

We camped in the cave till daylight came, and as the sun rose....we set out into the open wastes. It would be a long journey.

I was in awe of the icey formations and beautiful landscapes.

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Not only that, but dragons were everywhere!! Roaming free!! I had never seen so many of them! Not even in the dragons city!!!

Along with the beauty though, also came danger. Giant wurms were crawling everywhere.....looking for adventurers to eat. I had heard they could sneak up on you and eat you before you even realized what had happened!

It was obvious we needed help.....the dragons? They liked me well enough, maybe...just maybe....

So, I found the nearest dragon I could and began talking to him.

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He was actually very nice!! He could tell I was a friend, and even offered to give us a ride across the wastes!!

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"Don't worry, the wurms won't bother you with me nearby little elf" he told me.

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Eventually we made it to the other side of the wastes to the nesting grounds. Our chaperon leaving us to continue our journey.

Dragons? In nests?! I had never seen it before!! It was amazing!! Humm, if only I could get one of their eggs I thought....I could bring it back to Kelethin, the elves would never have to worry with a dragon as a guardian!

I couldn't imagine the dragons surrendering one of their eggs so easily though...

So, I approached one of the dragons nesting ....

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"You know, you look pretty hungry....I'll watch your eggs for you if you wanted to go find something to eat" I said.

She stared at me for a moment....considering .... "You will elf? Thank you!"

And with that she flew down to the ocean to catch some fish.

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This was my chance!!! I quickly grabbed one of the eggs and piled as much snow as I could to replace it!! Then, before she returned, I continued on to find the ship! I'm sure she wouldn't mind....probably....

Either way, this was much more important for the elvish empire!!! The baby dragon would have a good life! Eating crushbone orcs!

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[Ivory]

I continued down the shoreline of the Wastes for some time.... until finally, I saw it....the stranded treasure ship!!

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They were the ones with the strange contraption! Had they invented it? Found it? I didn't know....but I knew I had what they wanted.

Most of them were too busy trying to repair things to pay me much attention.

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But it only took a small chat with the captain to come to an agreement. I had his planks, his rope, and the giant drake wing I had heard they were after....and for it, they agreed to give me their strange weapon.

My mission had been a success!!! Whatever this thing was, I was going to master it!

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After that, I stayed by the shoreline exploring for a while....and soon dusk came.

In the distance, I could see a faint light.....people, were fighting dragons?!

I got closer and discovered an ogre, a dwarf, and an iksar fighting them!

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But I saw the iksar was in trouble! Twice iksars had helped me already....I had to save him! If even it meant the dragon!! Though, it looked like the dragon was badly hurt already....so, it was inevitable anyhow.

Firing off a few arrows, the dragon was struck down....his body falling into the shallows of the ocean.

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In thanks, they gave me the talisman the dragon had been holding and offered to take me back to Thurgadin. Another treasure? It really was my lucky day!!!

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Finally, the adventure had come to a finish!!! Now I could relax....pfft, who needs that? It was time to celebrate like a dwarf!!!! Drinks for everyone!!!

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[Vilkata]

I am in awe. Great stuff.

[SwiftInTheNight]

This absolutely deserves a bump! Love the stories! Bravo Rosen Windstep, Bravo with and encore please!

Cheers!

[Ivory]

As always, I was returning to the wakening lands to continue my hunt after another of my trips to Thurgadin to buy more arrows.

Though, this time, as I snuck through the giants city....I noticed a band of adventurers. One of them being Pooma from the other day fighting holgreshes! They were planning to attack the heart of the giants city!

Humm, I knew Wuoshi wasn't awake, so of course I offered to escort them in their battle against the giants.

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As we made our way deeper into the city, we knew we would need inside help...but who?

It was then we devised a plan!! We would wipe the memory of one of the giants! And fool him into believing he was one of us!!!

We laid a trap and lured a Sergeant close....then ambushed him! First, we would shrink him...and then our enchanter would work her magic!! But, as the shrink was cast....it misfired and hit me!!!

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Oh well, another shrink and the giant had been subdued....I was sure it would wear off eventually....though it was kind of nice feeling like a gnome for a while.

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While the shrink wasn't 100 percent on the giant....when he came to, we convinced him he was one of our barbarians....and that the evil giants had hit him over the head. We told him he had a mission to do and he needed to get to work.

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And with that, we had found ourselves a powerful ally for the battle into the giants city heart!!

Giant after giant fell as we fought deeper....my arrows flying from my bow faster than ever before!

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Our target was the great giant Prophet....but first, we needed to clear his guards.

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More fighting ensued , we were like ants to the great giants!! But biting ants, and also ants with arrows...and magic....we were really dangerous ants.

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And then...suddenly.....a message came from one of my spies....."Wuoshi is awake!!!"

[Ivory]

How could this happen now?! The timing....was horrible!!

I had to make a choice....to continue in the battle against the giants, or go to battle Wuoshi once more!!!

I had to go!! I had to fight Wuoshi again and try to find the legendary bow!!!!!

But, how would I get out?! We were so far into the giants city....and guards had returned behind us who would see even the invisible.... I knew I wouldn't make it, but, but I had to try!!

"Wait!! You can't do it alone!! But maybe, with my help!!" Pooma said as she stood up

"No!! You can't!! It is too dangerous! This is my duty! Not yours!" I told her....but she wouldn't listen...her mind was made up.

There was little time to argue, the battle with Wuoshi was soon....we had to go now!

She lead the way, distracting the giants onto her as I followed behind.....more than I had even expected!

But as we ran, eventually the giants saw me too. It was too much!!

As I ran down the slope, I could hear the sounds of spells being cast behind me....and I was too hurt to survive another hit....moments later, I was knocked unconscious.

.........
........

When I woke, I was without my equipment in Skyshrine! How? What had happened?? And Pooma? Was she ok?!

Obviously the dragons must have saved me!! Surely Pooma was ok too.... But oh why couldn't they have gotten my bow!

I knew the battle with Wuoshi was about to start if it hadn't already begun!!!! And I was naked, on the other side of the Wakening lands!!!

There was only one person who could help me now....Tunare....

I ran as quick as I could to the Temple of Tunare, rumored to be the entrance to the planes themselves!! Knowing that if she could hear me, it would be there....

Climbing to the top of the temple I called out before the sacred tree "Tunare!! Please! I need your help!! The battle with Wuoshi is about to begin!"

There was silence....

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And then....a gentle voice whispered..."My little elf, I will help you....place your hand upon this sacred Tree".

I did as the voice said and instantaneously I found myself in front of the giants city!! Tunare had saved me!!

I concealed myself and ran inside, finding my equipment within moments and returning to the Wakening Lands to join the hunting party of <Bregan D'aerth> as official archer support. I had made it in time!!!!!

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Bouncing with excitement we prepared ourselves for the battle....and before long, we could hear Wuoshis roar coming from the forest.....she was coming.

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This time the battle party knew better than to try and fight Wuoshi within closed spaces....the miasma would be much easier to avoid.

But still, it was a hard fight!! I saw several adventurers fall to Wuoshis maisma....one archer in particular who hadn't taken the high ground with me.

Seeing her death, I knew Wuoshi had to be stopped! With great strength I let loose another half dozen arrows...and finally...Wuoshi had fallen again!

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While we were victorious, Wuoshi had hidden her legendary bow from me again.

But my will wasn't shaken! I wouldn't give up! Some day I would see the Skydarkener!! And maybe own it for myself!!

[eadric]

The archers spread out and set up a deadly crossfire. The mighty dragon didn't stand a chance!

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A shame she left her bow in her lair again, but it was a good fight! She'll have to bring her bow out sooner or later... [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

[Yoite]

This is an amazing adventure!!!