Disclaimer: I do not own Guild Wars, or any of it's character names except my own character. Guild Wars names, items, maps and locations is the property of AreaNet and NCsoft.
Chapter One: To the North
The dust puffed up under Kyte's feet as he landed on the ancient ground beneath the chasm above him. He had just arrived back in Lion's Arch a week ago after journeying from Elona. He had hoped for a longer break but unfortunately wind of his arrival had been spread around, and people began to constantly harass him for certain quests and jobs they required to be done. He didn't take to fame very well. It wasn't so much that he was famous, but his deeds in Tyria had definitely been the subject of many talks around the world. With the help of the famed Heroes of Ascalon Guild, he had rid Tyria of the infamous Undead Lich, a demon sorcerer who attempted to destroy and conquer all of Tyria by harnessing the power of the Scepter of Orr. He had also prevented the return of Cantha's most dangerous criminal, Shiro Tagachi, the man whose deathly cry petrified the Echovald Forest and turned Cantha's seas into what was now known as the Jade Sea. He had single handedly defeated Shiro and saved Cantha with the help of Mhenlo, the leader of the Heroes of Ascalon, and the Luxons and the Kurzicks, two rival factions who banded together to defeat a common enemy. Elona was a completely different story. Kyte had travelled to Elona in hopes of learning new things and new cultures, but ended up joining the Sunspears in a legendary quest to stop the former God of the Underworld, Abaddon, from rising again. In the end, all he truly wanted was a break.
"Damn dust." He coughed, waving the dirt away from his face. This request had come from a farmer in the North Kryta Province, who claimed he felt a massive earthquake which formed the crevasse he had just entered. As he cleared the dust from his view, his jaw dropped at the sight before him. An entire complex was built below the chasm, a giant underground temple. The steel structuring looked ancient, but it had no intention of falling apart any time soon. With a deep breath, he moved into the tunnels before him, grabbing a lighted torch from one of walls beside him.
"What in Balthazar is all this?" he muttered to himself. As he continued to move through the steel tunnels, minor earthquakes continued to shake the foundations of the walls in intervals. He had to constantly grab the side of the wall in order to hold his balance as he continued forward.
"Shouldn't have come alone…" he grunted to himself. For a moment he paused. What if this place was riddled with traps? Should he turn back and get a team together before returning? He considered the idea but pressed on when he realized he had gone too far in to turn back now. Whatever waited ahead he would have to be ready. He unsheathed his Fellblade which was strapped to his back and twirled it in his hand. It was a big sword, but it was crafted from a light, yet strong material. With his blade in one hand, and torch in the other, he continued forward slowly, but steadily. He rounded a corner where he came out into a long and large chamber room, with big, tall vertical pillars lined up before him.
"How long has this place been here?" he wondered to himself. As he was amongst his thoughts, he suddenly began to hear voices. They grew louder as he delved further into the chamber, finally coming across a small passageway off to the east of the chamber room. He broke into a run and clambered up a set of steps before coming into what appeared to be a large storage room, occupied with many dwarves hauling barrels and one who seemed to be barking orders at them.
"Alright you lot, pick up the pace!" the dwarf yelling orders cried out. "Take as many kegs as you can manage, we're going to need them."
Kyte lowered his weapon in surprise as he approached the team of dwarves scurrying around the room, piling up kegs of explosive powder.
"And someone find Vekk!" the dwarf barked again. "We need him to open the gate and get out of here!"
"Hey!" Kyte called out, as he approached the dwarf. "What's going on here?"
"Wha-? Where did you come from?" the dwarf asked in surprise as he turned to face the stranger.
"Are you seriously hauling explosives down here? There's a city right above us you know." Kyte said.
"I'm well aware that there's a-" but he was cut off by an approaching creature that Kyte had never seen in his life before. "Ah! Vekk, there you are!"
"We've got trouble, Ogden," the small creature muttered. He was extremely short, shorter than the dwarf. He waddled as he walked, and he had large round eyes perched on his wide little head, accompanied by two long rabbit-like ears.
"You get that gate working, we'll handle the trouble." the one named Ogden said.
"It isn't that simple." the small creature named Vekk replied. "The Destroyers have completely overrun the Central Transfer Chamber."
"Damn it!" Ogden cursed. "If the chamber is captured, then there's no way back…"
"Hold on a minute," Kyte interrupted. "the quakes have opened other passages, I saw them on my way in. There should be another way out."
"The bookah's right." Vekk nodded in agreement. "There is another gate not far from here, but we should hurry. The Destroyers were right on my tail."
"You'd best be coming with us," Ogden said, turning to Kyte. "If we split up, the Destroyers will eat us alive."
"What are these 'Destroyers'?" Kyte asked, before turning to Vekk. "And what are you for that matter?"
"Me?" Vekk asked. "Right now, I'm your best chance at getting you out of here alive, bookah."
"We can talk later," Ogden said, hurrying them. "We're really going to need your help to get to that gate." He turned to his team of dwarves and barked. "Everyone, get ready to move out, the Destroyers are on their way!" A high pitched scream that caused Kyte to wince echoed through the storage chamber, and Ogden cursed again.
"They're here!" he cried out. "Let's go!"
"Come bookah, the Asura Gate is not far, but we have to move now." Vekk said, motioning for Kyte to follow suit. Kyte, still extremely confused, nodded and chased after the little creature, with Ogden right behind him. As they re-entered the chamber where Kyte had previously come from, the sight caused Kyte to pause. Charging toward them was a large group of what he could only describe as demons. The black creatures were bug-like and terrifying, their piercing cry filling the chamber with fear. Kyte knew from the moment he saw them that if they were to engage in combat, it would not be a win.
"Let's go, bookah!" Vekk shouted. He was already at the end of the chamber, Ogden racing ahead of him. Kyte snapped back to his sensors and raced forward, afraid to look back in case the deathly Destroyers were right on his tail. Vekk and Ogden led him through a winding series of tunnels and chambers, with Ogden's team just ahead of them.
"Those are Destroyers?" Kyte asked, running alongside Ogden and Vekk.
"Deadly beasts," Ogden panted. "they'll be the death of us all." The three rounded a corner and Vekk suddenly pointed ahead.
"There! The gate!" he cried out. "Go! Go now, through the big purple glowing thingy!" Kyte had no idea what this Asura Gate was, but he would rather risk going through it than waiting around for the Destroyers to catch up. Taking a deep breath, he raced up the golden ramp and plunged through the gate. Unsure of where he was going, he lost his bearings and stumbled over the ramp on the other side, collapsing onto the ground and planting himself face first in the dirt.
"Nice landing kid." Ogden chuckled, appearing out of the gate just moments after him. Vekk came through after Ogden, panting heavily and attempting to catch his breath.
"Vekk, disable the gate." Ogden said. "Everyone else, set up a perimeter."
"Where are we?" Kyte asked, getting to his feet and dusting himself off.
"The Far Shiverpeaks," Ogden replied. "but more importantly, we're far away from those damned Destroyers." Kyte turned back to see Vekk playing around the Asura Gate that they had just came from. After a new minutes, the gate cracked and shattered, the magical aura within vanishing.
"There aren't many dwarves up here, the few that to reside here are Stone Summit exiles…" but he was cut short. Kyte turned to him.
"What's wrong?"
"No one move." he said firmly. His gaze was fixed on something ahead of him, and Kyte followed it to a sight that almost made him stagger. Walking towards them was the largest woman he had ever met. She was at least half a body taller than him, with shoulder-length blonde hair tied into two plaits. She wore golden armor and carried the largest blade he had ever seen.
"They're called the norn." Ogden whispered. "They're big, tough, and extremely bad tempered. We may have to fight our way out."
"Your friend is right," the norn said loudly. "not many dwarves come up here, or humans for that matter…"
"There are humans up here too?" Kyte asked curiously.
"There are." the Norn confirmed. "If you survive long enough, perhaps you will meet them." Kyte turned back and whispered to Ogden.
"So where do we go from here?"
"The only way we can go," Ogden replied. "forward."
"Where are we?" Kyte asked, as he gathered himself and looked around. He was in what appeared to be a massive cave, with dwarves shuffling around, carrying the explosive kegs that they had gathered from earlier.
"Boreal Station." Ogden replied. "Take a quick rest and gather your strength, we're heading to the Eye as soon as possible."
"The Eye?" Kyte questioned. "What is that?"
"The Eye of the North." Vekk replied, waddling over to his side. "A large fortress northwest from here. That is where the other humans are located. We will find aid against the Destroyers there."
"Aid?" Kyte said, taking a step back. "You want my help?"
"Your reputation precedes you, Kyte of Tyria." A dwarf answered, hauling the keg barrels into a corner of the cave. "We know about you and your exploits around the three continents."
"I just got back from Elona," Kyte replied. "I don't think I'm ready to-"
"A hero has no rest." Ogden interrupted. "If we don't combat the Destroyers, all of Tyria could be in peril." Kyte took a deep breath and sighed.
"You're right." He said finally. "I am sorry, I'm still a little overwhelmed by all the details."
"No matter." Vekk said. "Let us make haste for the Eye. We will find answers there."
Kyte, Ogden and Vekk gathered provisions and exited the cave that was Boreal Station. As soon as they entered the daylight, Kyte felt the ice cold breeze against his skin and he shivered slightly. He had come from the warm, sunny continent of Ascalon into this cold atmosphere. It has still hard to believe he had jumped hundreds of miles from where he was in a matter of hours.
"Ah!" came a voice from further down the icy slope. "Looks like Jora has recruited help for her hunt!" the voice had come from a large, burly man covered in silver armor. A long, bushy red beard covered most of his facial features. "Not very norn of you, having humans bail you out of your situation…" Another norn was standing next to Olaf. It was a female, but she looked just as strong as he did.
"There is nothing wrong with accepting help from others, Olaf." The woman said. "Especially if one cannot become the bear. Come, let us leave Jora to her challenge." With that, and to Kyte's surprise, the two norn began to morph. Their bodies twitched and twisted until both norn were transformed into two large bears standing on their hind legs. He roared and raced past the three of them back into Boreal Station.
"What was that all about?" Ogden asked, turning back to Jora.
"Olaf and Sif are right," Jora replied, referring to her norn comrades. "I cannot accept help from others. This hunt is my hunt… my responsibility. We will go our own way. Go to the north, you will find allies there."
"You sure?" Kyte asked.
"Certain." Jora answered. "Perhaps we will meet again, human." With that she gave a curt nod before heading back into the cave.
x x x x
It had been several days since the Charr attempted to siege the Eye of the North from the Ebon Vanguard. Gwen had been placed in charge of the Eye while her commander, Captain Langmar, led a large force and travelled east towards the Charr Homelands. During her time in charge, Gwen had been organizing raids and scouts of the surrounding area, in order to gather food and supplies should Captain Langmar send word of need. At that moment, an Ebon Vanguard watchman came down to report to Gwen.
"We've spotted three individuals heading towards the Eye, ma'am."
"Can you identify them?" Gwen asked.
"One is a dwarf, and the other is a creature we haven't seen before." The watchman replied. "There is a human among them, but we do not recognize him as one of us."
"Okay," Gwen replied. "I'll head outside and see what they want."
"Do you need backup?"
"No, I can handle it." Gwen answered. "But keep an eye out just in case."
"Yes Ma'am." The watchman departed for his post, and Gwen went to retrieve her weapons and armor. Who could these individuals be? The Eye of the North was located in a very isolated area, they didn't get many visitors around here, if any at all. Gwen opened the large steel gates to the fortress and stepped into the frozen air. She strode down the ramp just in time to see the three unknown individuals approach.
"… King Jalis would want to gather what allies we can to fight the Destroyers." Gwen heard the dwarf say before waving her arm out in front of her. A violet light twirled from her fingertips and wrapped itself around the three intruders.
"Don't move!" she cried out. "What is your business here?"
"Please, we were told there were humans here." The human said. His arms were raised, as a sign of surrender. "We want no trouble."
"This is the Eye of the North." Gwen said. "Again, what is your business?"
"We're adventurers from the south." The man replied firmly.
"I... I was from the south." Gwen said softly. "From Ascalon."
"We're seeking a place of safety." he continued.
"Safe places are few and far between in the north. You are welcome to stay here." Gwen said finally, satisfied that they were no threat. She releasing the magical barrier and the three individuals lowered their hands in relief.
"Thank you." he said.
"The Ebon Vanguard protects this place, but most of my fellow soldiers are away. I command it in Captain Langmar's absence." she went on. "My name is Gwen."
I understand this chapter did not contain much about Gwen, but this telling was necessary in order for the story to progress. The rest of the story is intended to focus on Gwen from here on!