Mt. Skaevia

She towered over the valley that lay before me as I pulled myself over the final edge of the Glacial Walls, a climb that had taken four days.

I still wasn't completely sure how I had even reached the Walls. My trek through the Dead Forest completely skewed my sense of direction and time, with its endless, black leafless trees,dense suffocating fog, and wicked, dim light that always seemed to emanate from whatever lay beyond the fog.I am certain a month must have passed as I quietly moved through, careful not to disturb the large Wirren-Beasts, which live mostly in the canopy high above the fog and prey on the larger birds and beasts, though they have been known to carry off an unsuspecting warrior or guard. The Wirren's fury and territorial voracity is said to be much worse so close to Skaevian ice, presumably due to the harsh winds and frigid atmosphere.

Luckily I had only run into a few small groups of Wirren and was able to fend them off or kill the dumber/slower ones that prefered to challenge my blade and spirit. Needless to say I ate well during my travel through the Dead Forest.

I only hoped that I still had time.

Wind and time had sharpend Skaevia's ridges to tall, sharp spires which pierced the grey, snowy horizon like the crown of a ferocious ice queen looming over her domain. The shallow but wide valley was littered with large shards of dark, murky stone that made travel impossible without rope or explosives. Unfortunately I was too exhausted for either and needed to build shelter quickly. Already I had noticed dark shapes moving among the rocks, no doubt it was Skaevia's children, waiting patiently to eat my mind and drink my soul.

I decided it was best to let them know I meant to stay. I reached into my pack for Warm Cake and shoved an entire slice in my mouth. The effect was practically immediate; warmth, like honey, slowly flowed between my skin and and filled my soul, but would only last for a short time. With warmth came energy, energy that could be seen and felt throughout the valley.

With my renewed eyes I could see the things watching me as I dug out a small campsite. With a site established I needed defenses, otherwise I would surely not survive the night. Already the sun was beginning to fade. I began sensing energy gathering somewhere hidden among the rocks in the valley, it grew with every moment as I my own strength waned.

To the edge of my mind I called forth the need for protection. The very essence of my thought poured from my hands and I began to mold my empty walls. As soon as I had begun a deep thunderous rumble shook the very earth, almost knocking me over. It was moving. I needed to work quickly or else my efforts would be wasted. I drew from the very depths of my soul calling for every bit of protective energy that I could create. The ground continued to shudder at an increasing rate. I had little time to spare and was already beginning to lose energy and focus. I could barely see, the wind and snow had picked up and was slowing my progress. I looked up briefly, a large Sh'ekk Boss was lumbering towards me, crawling over the rocks and grunting hungrily with each step. I knew that it would be upon me before I could complete the impenetrable spirit veil. Regardless I squeezed from every corner of my mind the energy required to complete my task. I was almost finished, but another glance told me that I would not be able to do so. The Sh'ekk had reached the small clearing in the rocks that lay between us, it landed with a deafening thud and sprinted (at least as best as a Sh'ekk Boss could) at me, a murderous rage in its eyes.

I drew my blade just as the brute slapped me against a nearby rock.

Disorientation held my senses captive for only a brief moment. A slight glint captured my eye, and I noticed Liana's Jewel!

How could I be so careless as to forget such a powerful talisman? The Jewel was often used by Spirit Priests and Lords to communicate with Liana herself. Liana was a gasho of protection and a spirit shepard to those in need. I lunged at the glowing white crystal as the Sh'ekk reached for me. Clutching the small warm shard I raised it high above my head, letting the light shine into the eyes of the Sh'ekk, it shied away but only briefly. In that small instant I reached through the crystal itself to the Open, and with what little energy I called out for Liana's help.

I felt her attention consume me with peace. Part of my awareness drifted for eternity in her loving embrace, while the other was dimly aware of the scene at the foot of Mount Skaevia.

The Sh'ekk Boss, as if moving through thick ocean water, slowly stepped toward me raising its fist just as slowly. Somewhere in my consciousness I noticed that I had somehow ended up back in my small campsite next to my almost completed empty walls.

Time was moving slowly. My mind began to wander. I thought of my little Aja, running through the stables with her small herd of pet Tuk-Tuks. The fat gluttonous beasts were hardly ever seen without her. She was my purpose for being here. I wanted so badly to be with her again, to hold her and listen to her tiny lungs breathing as she drifted to sleep by the fire.

Something stirred beyond my consciousness. My mind was shut out of the Open and time resumed with the deafening roar of the cold, the wind and the snow. The Sh'ekk Boss's large fist was hurdling towards me, ready to flatten and end me. I suddenly felt overinflated with power, power that quickly shifting to pain. Every fiber of my being was burning. I cried out just before the final blow landed. The large fist was stopped only inches from my face, though the pain was far to great for me to even notice how closely I really was to death. The pain continued and so did my screams. Light appeared to radiate from my body. The Sh'ekk Boss appeared locked in place by whatever force that had already consumed me. As the pain increased the Sh'ekk's body began to turn to ash. I had reached a point beyond pain and time as I watched the Sh'ekk struggle with the invisible forces that held in place and destroyed it.

I finally blacked out by the time the Sh'ekk had lost its entire arm.