The Misguided Archer
-- By David Wilson--
Chapter 1: Seared Souls The sun loomed high in the sky over the city of Ascalon. The trees were swaying gently in the soft breeze. Small animals scurried across the ground in the lush forests. Farmers tended to their animals outside the nearby Ashford Abbey. This picturesque landscape seemed to be untouchable by the foul and vile Charr.
Although a small group of Charr did exist beyond the wall, not much were thought of them. The citizens thoroughly enjoyed the peace and tranquility of the city. The city was thriving.
Unfortunately, this joyous time would be marked by one of the most devastating moments in the land of Tyria. The Charr forces assembled beyond the wall, along with a new mortar-shelling technology they had created.
The mortar apparatus jerked down as a mortar shell was fired from the top half, sending the projectile towards the Great Northern Wall of Ascalon. Blue flames flicked innocently behind the giant projectile, leaving a lovely grey cloud of smoke behind as it neared contact with the great wall. This day would surely be remembered. The citizens of Ascalon would never be given a chance to forget the day that their beautiful city would be attacked.
Needless to say, the city guards were not prepared for this attack that had torn a massive hole in the one strong defense this city had. The wall would crumble shortly, and the city would be taken over within an hour.
The first casualty that this final Guild War had created was one Kensai Rokoro, one of the marksman guards that patrolled the top of the wall. His last memory would be seeing the Charr advance, and thinking "Oh god, I don't have enough time to warn them... The city will be lost..." His spirit was to be led to the Hall of Heroes by Dwayna, but he would find himself being pulled off-course.
He was being pulled by a massive, dark force. He could not name this force, but he tried with all his might to resist its grasp. He had called on the goddess Dwayna, but even her light would fail to repel the monstrosity.
He did not care at this moment for his own life, nor where his eternal resting place would be. All that he could find himself worrying about was his sister, the young Tira Rokoro. The only thing going through his mind at this moment was Her.
"Is she safe?", He would ask himself. He had stopped resisting the pulling force as he realized that his efforts were futile. "What will become of her?" His own life was gone, and he knew this. Nothing could bring him back, not Dwayna, not Melandru, not Balthazar, not even Grenth. He sent wishes flying to the ears of the Gods, praying for Tira's safety and protection.
His wishes also brought him great fear. He did not know where he was going, and would have no way of possibly knowing if the Gods had heard his call, or if this creature had the power to block his wishes altogether. He felt hopeless, and allowed himself to drift along the airborne current with which he was being pulled. Drifting along like a dead fish in a stream.
Chapter 2: Komalie’s Rest The Flameseeker Prophet had called on him, bringing him ever closer to the Ring of Fire - Komalie’s Rest. This dark, mysterious creature would pull the helpless Kensai down to the most vile of places, feared even more than the haunted Crystal Desert.
Over the once-great city of Ascalon, over the icy mounds of the Shiverpeak mountains, over the ocean and parts of the crystal desert, towards the volcanic area known as the Ring of Fire.
He would be forcefully and unwillingly taken to a bloodstone located at the very center of the volcanic Ring of Fire, and sealed beyond the ethereal door of Komalie.
It was behind this door that Kensai would remain until either his soul was destroyed or the Flameseeker called him again, searching for a way out, and hoping that a group of heroes would make it that far to free him from his imprisonment. He would not find rest often, among these tortured, twisted souls beyond the ether seals.
His days were long, and boring. He found himself frequently thinking of his sister. He hoped she was safe, and that he would not see her behind this door. He did not speak with the others here, as their twisted and tortured forms were not forms that one could easily associate with. He did not make any friends back here, but made sure not to make any enemies either.
The bloodstone was not a comfortable place to rest, and was the home of many fallen titans. He would gain strength while training back here among the fallen titans. This is where Kensai would be for a while, losing hope of escape with each passing day (Though day was not easily discernable through the darkness of this cell).
"The fires of hell itself are as a chilly spring day whence compared to this hellish nightmare of a place. The rocks do bleed the blood of children, and corrupted souls speak of deeds they have done that are unimaginable even to the damnedest of gods, Grenth!" Kensai would whisper quietly each day as he moved about this cell.
"Surely there is a means of escape. If I have been put here, then there must be a means of removing me. If I cannot do it myself, as I have already figured out that I cannot, then I must wait for a warrior to spring me from behind this accursed door!" Kensai shouted in the beginning.
As his hope wavered, and time passed on, these courageous and bold statements dwindled down to, "Whence will Grenth smite me from this wretched tomb?". He was already dead, yet wished to be destroyed once again. "For surely any layer of Grenth's hell is at least ten times better than this monstrous void I now call a home!"
Hope would dwindle further, as moments passed. His memories and dreams of Tira were all that were keeping him from losing his sanity. She had helped him grow as a man, and even in her absence, would keep Kensai from faltering. He had never realized how much he loved Tira, until he could not see her any more.
Without Tira, it is doubtful that Kensai would have become a successful ranger guard as he had become when he did have a life. He was happy for one thing; that he had lived up to his promise and taught Tira the art of being a Ranger before he died. That would be one of the very many things in his life that he had done for her, and that he was very happy with himself for doing. Memories like these would be the only mental fuel that would keep Kensai stable for a long while.
Chapter 3: Abaddon’s Mouth Nearly two years afterwards, Kensai began to give up all hope of escaping this literal hellhole. He sighed and looked to a poem he had taken that his little sister, Tira, had written before he had gone off.
Thinking of his little sister caused him to drift deeper into depression, and he was soon approached by a creature that he had not been acquainted with before. It had introduced itself merely with a grunt, and held out its hand.
"Come with me. I have been sent to bring you to the Underworld. You do not belong here." It said, and began a ritual to send Kensai through the door of Komalie and out into the underworld, where he would be welcomed by Grenth and his servants of hell. "It's about time. Do you know how long I've been waiting down there for someone like you to come along?", Kensai responded to this creature with a slight chuckle.
"This is no time for humor. You show great disrespect to Lord Grenth by your mockery. Come now or you will remain back here for eternity - and I shall slay any who come to spring you from this place... even if it includes your sister."
Kensai quickly apologized and stood up, taking the creature's hand and awaiting the completion of the skill that would transport him into the underworld. He was prepared for this, and willing to go. He had his mind set that Tira was not strong enough to free him, and that there was nothing that he could do to protect her or to escape, anyway.
Just as the ether guards were going to take him there, Kensai felt a strong force pulling him towards the door. It had been opened by a band of heroes - setting loose the wretched souls within, but also freeing the misguided archer.
Kensai looked back at the Ether Guardian that was going to take him away, and heard it speak. These words would echo in Kensai's mind, and remain with him as another spark of hope.
"As fate has commanded, the door is opened. And once the wrongs have been righted, it will be violated once more. This innocent soul has been set free. He shall remain, after the closing of the door."
As he was floating upwards, he glanced down to see the heroes that had freed him. Though he could not see their faces, he recognized the capes as that of the Half-Life Republic guild. A smile came across his face as he began his day-long journey to Hero’s Ascent, to begin his trial of redemption, and reclaim his rightful spot in the Hall of Heroes.
His hope returned, he now began a quest to fight his way through Hero's Ascent and get into the Hall, where he would be forever enthroned where he belonged, and would be able to watch over and protect his little sister whom he loved so much.
"I fight for Tira, and none else. This soul may fail me if it may, but I shall not do anything that is not working towards easing her life." Kensai said to himself, as he swiftly made his way back out of the Ring of Fire and towards Battle Isles.
Chapter 4: Ascension Upon arriving in this dark, foreboding area, Kensai came across Malae, Kaiser, and Triia of the Half-Life Republic. He saw that they were preparing to enter the hall as well, and joined their group. Others from the guild arrived as well, and they began to discuss a battle strategy for this area. Their strategy consisted of forming a body block, which Kensai doubted the success of from the mere mention of the tactic. He would not find enough courage to speak up about it, afraid that he might upset the Guild members by speaking out against their officers.
As strategy was discussed, Kensai couldn't help but wonder why such a dreary place had such a nice-sounding name. His mind drifted and his thoughts wandered as this passed through his mind. He could see Malae's mouth moving, but did not hear the battle plan as it came from his mouth.
After a few moments, they had started to wonder where “Phame” was - he had apparently promised to be there for this battle, but was mysteriously absent. Kensai believed this to be an omen from Grenth, that this battle was not meant to go on - but he said nothing, and went along with the group as they entered the cave to begin the trial.
The Zaishen elites that were found inside this cavern proved to be a problem, as the monk just refused to die. After much coercing, the spirit was able to let itself fade into the ethereal plane. The group proceeded to cross the lava pit, where they met a Ghostly Hero.
Triia gazed at the ghost, and found herself frozen in fear. She would not be able to fight in the upcoming battle.
Now the group entered the Underworld, where they would meet a large group of steroid-induced over-powered warriors and rangers, known as the “I Will Avenge You” (IWAY) Build. Triia’s exit would leave a hole in the defensive “meat shield” tactic that the guild had decided to use on this run. The Half-Life Republic would find themselves defeated.
Kensai regretted thinking about the name of Hero's Ascent, as his thoughts had drowned out the battle plan, and he was not able to do what was requested of him. He said nothing of this, and vowed to practice battles once this was all over. He would practice and gain strength and skill. He had failed in doing all in his power to get to Tira, so he has resorted to increasing his power in order to get to her.
Chapter 5: Let’s go again! Upon re-entering Hero’s Ascent, the group was able to regroup with Triia. An argument ensued, further complaints that “Phame” had not arrived.
One comment was made, “He’s got boot camp tomorrow, I hope they make him learn something about punctuality”, that elicited a chuckle from Kensai. The group would practice standing in a line, as the previous battle did not go well because of it. Many curious folks wondered why a large group was standing in a line, and made it a point to run through or around them, trying to be as annoying as possible.
The Half-Life Republic had not been discouraged by the first loss, and re-entered the cave to re-match with the Zaishen Elite. This second run had let the group know the weakness of the opposing group. The Zaishen order was dispatched quickly, allowing the Half-Life Republic to move on with a (4%) Morale Boost.
As the battle once again shifted to the underworld against yet another IWAY build, the same meat shield tactic was used. The Half-Life Republic would take large amounts of damage, but refused to die. Attention was not at all focused properly at this time, as most of the group was fighting the enemy pets. The interrupter, the misguided Kensai, had failed to see and interrupt an enemy elementalist casting meteor shower.
More complaints about Phame’s absence were thrown around as the group returned another time to Hero’s Ascent.
Chapter 6: Third time’s the charm, am I rite? Despite two consecutive losses, this team was still determined. They regrouped and moved once again into the cave, an environment that Kensai was beginning to tire of seeing. Though he was beginning to grow angry at the very sight of a rock anymore, he continued to press forward along with the relentless group that he had been accepted into.
This third battle with the Zaishen was reminiscent of the first. The spirits within had begun to fight dirty. Though it took much more strength than Kensai believed he could muster, he remained with the group as they cut through the Zaishen forces and went once again into the Underworld.
The same meat-shield tactic was used, once again against another IWAY build, and once again the tactic could not hold up. Obviously, the third time was not the charm for the Half-Life Republic. Kensai was beginning to think of giving up his attempts at returning to the Hall of Heroes. He would not give up, though, for he longed to reclaim his rightful place and be able to watch over his sister once more, and to ensure her safety.
Chapter 7: Fissure of Woe As they returned to Hero’s Ascent, the Half-Life Republic fighters had found themselves too tired to try another run through the area. Kensai watched as the group disbanded and the brave warriors went off their separate ways. He felt as if he had failed the group, and went off to the Fissure of Woe. He would remain there until called upon again by the Half-Life Republic. He was deeply hurt by this failure, but would use his time alone to build up his strength. He made a vow that he would never give up until either he reclaims his place in the Hall, or he is able to see his sister sitting in her spot of the Hall. He has waited months, and to this very day continues to strengthen himself to make himself useful to the Half-Life Republic. He would appear in their Guild Hall every once in a while to check in on things, and to see if the group was going to reform any time soon to head back and attempt to take the hall.
EpilogueThis is not the end of a story, but a new beginning for a lost life. Random has joined the Half-Life Republic, bringing Tira and Kensai with it. The stories of these characters created a perfect backdrop for the lore.
End.I would like to thank Triia for having this event. This is a very interesting contest and I am very glad that I didn't write back-stories for Tira and Kensai for nothing.
