Author's Note:

There's a PDF of the (nearly) completed story on my profile (containing story-related screenshots from the game, as well as a fancy map of Tyria). If there is enough interest I will post all chapters here as well.

Guild Wars – The Aftermath

"Thus quaffed the Raven: No More"

For Luca

Prologue

Time-line: 1078 AE (Mouvelian Calendar), Season of the Zephyr

Place: Shiverpeak mountains, 300 feet below the surface

The ground trembled and shook as the great wurm, bleeding from numerous wounds caused by arrows, blades and sorcery, toppled over like a felled tree – Its impact against the cavern floor sending clouds of dust and dirt in all directions.

For a moment time seemed to slow to a crawl, a perfect stillness descended upon the scene, muting all sound, action and thought. As the dust started to settle, slowly uncovering the silhouette of the slain beast; the coarse voices of men pierced the silence, roaring out their victory in an ever rising crescendo.

"This!" Slade howled "Is the way to live."

"And a quick way to die" Fabian laughed.

"Better to die now, at our peak, than to grow old and useless Fox!" Slade said, slinging his charcoal-colored bow on his back.

"If you are so keen on throwing away the retirement plan, you won't mind the necromancer and I pocketing your share of the valuables then?" Fabian teased and started for the sizeable treasure trove that lay waiting further in the chamber behind the husk of the wurm, its great gaping maw still smoldering red hot.

"Retirement? Pah!" The dark-haired ranger spat behind him. "I'll not end my days wasting away in some backwater village, mark my words – there's only one way for a true Ascalonian to end his days!"

"Making another case for the old 'Going out in a blaze of glory argument' again I see." The necromancer, joining them from the flank, smirked. "As long as you leave me out of any suicidal plans to mount an assault on the Charr homelands or single-handedly recapturing Rin."

Unable to help himself, Fabian burst out laughing.

"At least I will be remembered as actually possessing a spine!" Slade said defensively as the three unlikely friends and comrades-in-arms made their way deeper into the chamber to claim their prize.