Longbow's Travels

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Longbow's Travels

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By Ciaran

I found myself wandering a bit, as I'm prone to do these days. This land, despite its terrors, is actually quite beautiful. The rolling hills of the northern and southern reaches remind me of my home, with their purple mistiness as they trail off into the distance.

Today I had decided to do some traveling. I had found a type of arrow the bowyer called "frog crotch" in the town to the southwest of my new hometown of Holtburg and had been experimenting with them. Much to my pleasure, they proved to be quite deadly at taking out some of the more foul wretches of the outer countryside. I was able to improve my skill as an archer with only slight fear of returning to those lifestones that dot the land.

I'd traveled through the series of purple gateways that lead from Holtburg to Rithwic and then all the way south through the towns of Shoushi and Yanshi. I was surprised to see the lands so desolate around the towns of Yaraq and Samsur. There were barely any living plants at all. The little rain that fell evaporated quickly from the soil in misting, steaming blankets that clung to the armor I wore.

This day, I found myself again in Shoushi by way of Sawato -- a rather desolate town in the middle of a muggy swamp -- on my way to the outer limits of the town named Hebian-to. From there, I would step within one of the gateways and arrive in Cragstone, a few scant miles from Holtburg. From Cragstone, I planned to travel back to Glenden Wood and restock my nearly depleted frog crotch arrows.

I was running down the road, taking out the large angry wasps and those horrid things called drudges, when I looked to the east and saw a small peninsula jutting out from the coast. My curiosity to explore new areas got the better of me, so I moved across the shallow waters of the bay and up to this unchecked land. There I spotted something in the distance that I'd never seen before: a gigantic monstrosity made completely out of wood. Eager to test its mettle along with my skill as an archer, I pulled a frog crotch arrow from my quarrel, strung it, and let it fly. The finely crafted projectile hit its mark on the first strike and the monstrosity let out a cry of pain and rage. It turned slowly, then charged me, its speed and determination expressing anger that its featureless visage could not, the ground shaking all about it as it closed the gap between us. A second and third arrow flew, the first whizzing by its head and landing in a nearby palm tree. The other found its mark, and the beast cried out again, this time swinging its arms madly. Sparks emanated from its clublike fists, and as it struck me, a shocking blast threw me several yards.

I shook my head clear, trying to regain my senses. I was still reeling and dizzy, but I reached for my bow and strung another arrow as it charged. The shaft flew and the monster went down in a pile of rubble.

After taking a moment to dress my wounds, I checked the corpse of my fallen foe, said a silent prayer to the Goddess of Battles, and went on my way, continuing east along the shore.

What I found next astounded me. Alone, right along the beach, was a small fort that even from a distance I could see was alive with activity. Thinking I'd found another remote village like Glenden Wood, I moved closer . . . and then I heard it. Horrible noises of creatures the likes of which I'd not even fathomed in my nightmares were keening like the gulls above. Strange things that looked like walking frogs or salamanders stalked the parapets and walls of the fort, taunting me with their spears and poleaxes, daring me to come closer.

Suddenly a loud croaking grunt sounded to my side. A creature like those in the fort was charging toward me, a poleaxe in its hand and a look of fury in its eyes. Quickly I shot another arrow. But the beast had caught me off guard, and the arrow flew right past it. Not about to let this foul creature take me, I let four more arrows fly. Two of these hit, and the thing backed off a bit. It was trying to size me up. Taking advantage of this pause, I got off two more arrows and the beast went down with a yelp of agony.

I turned to the fort to see its comrades howling with rage at my success. I showed them the back of my hand and my shooting fingers and headed back to Hebian-to, knowing one day I would return to skewer them all.

--Martin Longbow ____________

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