EQJoldaq2

So what's all the fuss about this place, Kunark? That's what I thought, and you may be thinking right now. I mean, there are plenty of other places to hunt at 22... like Oasis, South Karana, High Hold Keep... But what's so special about this Lake of Ill Omen in Kunark? I wanted to find out, so I hopped the first boat out from Butherblock to Firiona Vie, a little port settlement on Kunark. Kunark is a vile land filled with Iksars, the lizard people; Drachnids, the spider people; Goblins that were different than any I had seen before, and so many other horrible things that the only place good people could settle was in Firona Vie. From there I trekked along a river, making sure i stayed invisible with my helpful new song the whole time to avoid monstrous Drachnids and gigantic leeches. I made my way down the river to a giant lake. So far, nothing too remarkable, compared to what was to come. I was with someone else who brought me to the Sarnak fortress, which was where I would be hunting for quite some time. This is where things got crazy, but I really learned how to fight in a group like a true warrior. I fought about the outside for a while, and eventually was coaxed into going inside the gates to a ledge outside the true entrance to the fortress. The thing you must know about Sarnaks is that they are SCARY. They are ten foot tall lizardy creatures with brown scaly skin. They have long lanky arms and legs tipped with deadly claws. They have horrendous tearing beaks and three spiralled horns atop their heads. The casters have red striped shoulder pads, blue stripes on their snouts, and a sort of third eye in the middle of their heads. So i fought these for a while, occasionally moving into the fortress (if not very far) and learned that grouping truly is the ONLY way to fight! I had some bad ones, but mostly good, and one incredible group where i almost gained a season in a matter of a few hours! So there I stayed, progressing to the 27th Season.

Looking back on those times... It's easy to see how such an exciting life seems appealing. But let me tell you, it is a lot more entertaining looking forward to, and looking back on, times like those. Going through them is hellish at worst and challenging at best. But these memories I made will last a lifetime, even as my adventures continue.

      After reaching the 27th season, I found myself in a rut. Continuous fighting in the "Snark" fortress taught me very little after a certain amount of time, and even attempts to fight in the more challenging nearby frontier mountains was more of a hassle than a real experience builder. So I took a break. For long years, longer even than the time it took to get to the 27th season, I fought no Sarnaks, completed no quests, and experienced no adventures. I took time off to experience the things a quiet life in Firiona Vie offered. But then one day, I was overtaken by a desire to once again travel and fight. I realized that to head in a new direction, I needed to go back to my origins: Kelethin.
       I hopped on the first boat to Faydwer, but on the way there the boat suddenly jerked to a stop, sending me over the railing and into the Timorous Deep. A ship like the Maiden's Voyage is not easily reboarded, so I begain to slowly paddle towards land. The islands of the Deep are few and far between, but armed with my arsenal of magical songs including one that gave me infinite lung capacity and another that replenished my stamina, I made it to a hostile island filled with bird people and ogres. Once there, helpful adventurer guided me to a barge that ventured from the island to my old hunting ground the Oasis of Marr. Relieved to be back on familiar ground I trudged through the desert and back to Freeport. I sat and waited at the Freeport docks, relishing my last time on Antonica and remembering my times there, among the plains of the Commonlands, in the scorching deserts of Ro, and in the hectic city. Finally the boat arrived, and I headed back to my beloved homelands.
        My first visit to Faydwer in so many years was breathtaking. I was glad to see that in such a world the beautiful Butcherblock Mountains had remained unchanged. I ran as fast as I could to the Faydark, dreaming not for the first time of seeing my beautiful home city once again. I reached the forest and kept running, and soon I was greeted with the unbelievably beautiful music of Kelethin. I hadn't heard it for so many long years, and it was an indescribable joy to hear it once again. I handed off many of my possessions to a young bard in need and returned to my original guild hall. I was home, and that is where I stayed.