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Aggron Period of Solitude Before I accepted the trials, I prepared myself somewhat. I slew a bear and made some pelt armour of his hide. Then I brought out my retired Ranger Bow that I had made in my youth. I figured if I needed anything more then I could find it on my travels, and then I made my way towards the Wildlands. The terrain was rather bleak, not at all like the forests that I have come accustomed to looking at. I felt somewhat vulnerable being out in the open like this with little trees or bushes to hide myself in. I came upon a site with a sign that listed it as where the first battles of the gods took place. I figured this as a good camping spot thinking that perhaps local legend would scare off any unfriendlies. That night I dreamt of Alvogyl and Vagma locked in their battle, tearing up the ground and the world, for a moment, seeming to be insane. Flames seemed to burst around me and for a moment it felt real. A little too real... I awoke ok found myself being a breafast buffett to a small army of Fire Ants. These damned creatures had a bite that would make your flesh feel miserable for hours! After I had dispatched them, I rounded the corner only to find more, and more, and then even more ants awaited me. I knew fighting at this pace would do me in soon. This ant problem must be resolved! There is only one way to get rid of ants, and that is at their source: Their Queen... I could see their earthy lair from about a mile away. Once there, I made my way down the hole. Several of their guards would round the corner and stumble upon me, only to have a flaming arrow seperate their head from their thorax. I carried on through the vast network of tunnels, finally arriving in a room that looks like it had seen a lot of traffic. I heard noises coming from the next chamber over and thought I might want to wager a look over before bursting in with arrows blazing away. And there she stood... The biggest damned ant I had ever seen in all my life, the Queen. I quickly poisoned my bow and hoped that it would somehow slow her down, and with an Elven war cry I leaped into action. I made quick work of the smaller ants that were in the room so I could focus on her without the aggravation of being pacified. Her large mandibles dripped with poison and snapped wildly at me. I kept pumping arrow after arrow into her. She kept coming like a demon possessed. I strategically began to try to shoot arrows into her leg joints. Leg after leg I tagged until she seemed to be in too much pain to move. It was then that I was able to get the all important kill shot, and the victory was mine... "Well, that should ease my hide's torment at the mandibles of these ants a little now..." I thought. My belly rumbled and reminded me that I still needed to hunt up some grub in this desolate environment. So, I close this journal entry and will try and get enough food to last me a few days in the campground. Until the next time... Several days has passed, the heat from the wildlands is stiffling! I went into the swamp today to try and find a source of nourishment that was different from eating bits of liver and such. I found that Crocodille tail makes an excellent dish! It tastes like a mixture of pork and chicken. I'll have to make a note to return here whenever I get the rumblings again. As I roasted some croc tail over the fire, I thought of tales that Montalin used to tell me. He would tell me of his unique race of Wilder Elves; a race of elves that had escaped into the Wildlands never to be seen again. Hopefully, since I'll be here for a while, I can find something of their kind to report back to him. I had already heard some suspicious noises in the bushes, but was unable to find any trace of anything that might have been the source when I investigated. It's funny how often you think of your friends when you are unable to contact them. You wonder what they are up to, and how they are doing. I miss you all and think of you often. I hope all is well in Redwood. A few more days, and I will be returning to you... The sun... the sand... the buzzards... Welcome to the desert! After trecking around for days without a single drop of fresh water (the water in the Wildlands always tends to have a very sour taste to it)i remembered that a cactus is a very good source for water. I wandered for hours and caught not a sight of a cactus. The one that I did encounter were covered with insects and had long dried up. The sun beat down unmercifully. In the distance shown a glimmer of water, but when I neared the source, it was merely a mirage. Eventually, I noticed footprints in the sand that were quite similar to mine. "I'll be damned... Walking in circles..." Finally, I encountered an old woman by chance, and she told of a great Oasis in the desert. I made my way to find it. Eventually, I stumble upon it and it is everything she described! Plenty of palm trees for shade and the water was pure and crystal like. I drank til I got my fill and then proceeded to take a swim and try to bathe off the dirt and build up from my days in the Wildlands. My time on the Trial of Solitude has almost come to an end, and I can think of no better place than this to relax and reflect before my journey home. Finally, I encountered an old woman by chance, and she told of a great Oasis in the desert. I made my way to find it. Eventually, I stumble upon it and it is everything she described! Plenty of palm trees for shade and the water was pure and crystal like. I drank til I got my fill and then proceeded to take a swim and try to bathe off the dirt and build up from my days in the Wildlands. My time on the Trial of Solitude has almost come to an end, and I can think of no better place than this to relax and reflect before my journey home. |
Date Joined: Current Status: Mentor's Name: Mentor Pgm. Graduate? Ironwood Ranger Bow Award: Guild Team(s) Joined: Gold Leaf Patch Award: Giant Falcon Award: Ring of the Redwood Award: Taken Period of Solitude? Guild Offices Held: |