Throwing axe

Those who complete the Throwing Axe quest may buy a Throwing axe for 1000 coins from Genghis Kahn.

These Axes cause massive damage to foes at any distance.

Origin

This story goes back to the time of our earliest elders and follows the creation of the Barbarians initial weapon, the double sided War Axe. Many Barbarian tribes were scattered throughout the Three Kingdoms before the majority were united. There are still many tribes out there whose wish is to not exist to the Kingdoms, but in these lands their goal is a hard one.

One such tribe that exists to this day is called the Kulik tribe that favors speed. In this tribe there lives an old Barbarian named Gion Kurig who has passed his prime and is now considered an elder. Because Gion possesses such little ability in battle now, he avoids any skirmishes or brawls within his tribe, and now devotes his axe to finding ways to better his people. It just so happened to be that Gion would find inspiration in a unique scenario.

The morning was nothing special; the chickens were strutting around the well like it was theirs. The deer could be seen on the outskirts of the village, and everyone went on with their morning routine. Gion sat outside his village on top of a shallow grassy mound. His eyes were focused on small family of deer, watching them feed on berry bushes and frolic around as if there was nothing to fear. Little time passed until Gion heard a young man breathing hard as he climbed the mound shouting. "Gion sir! News from the other elders, a scout has spotted a party wandering close to the village. From the looks of their clothes, they serve the King." Reluctant to move Gion rose to his feet and acknowledged the young man. "I see, let the elders know I am coming."

As they assembled in a tribal gathering, the elders informed the village of the threat this small party could impose. They assured the villagers that if this party were to discover the whereabouts of the Kulik tribe, that they were surely report back to their King and bring his army down upon their village. As the villagers grumbled to one another Gion stepped forward and called out for several fighters scattered in the crowd. As he called their names, they stepped forward. "Barin Heavyfoot, Semun the Swift, Kesomi Longbow. You will come with me and we shall ensure the safety of our village. The rest of you, if we do not return in two sunsets then prepare yourselves." Gion could feel the curse of old age in his bones. It made him feel helpless, so he decided before his day would come he could do one last thing for his tribe, so this was it.

You see there is a reason he chose these three warriors to accompany him. Barin Heavyfoot stands tall and firm as the largest warrior in the village. Semun the Swift was exactly that, incredibly haste at dodging attacks and sure striking. Last was Kesomi Longbow who was the most skilled with a bow in the tribe. With these three diverse veterans, Gion was sure they would have little problem against the enemy party, or so he thought.

The four Barbarians scouted the area where the group was last sighted. They moved quickly and quietly, a trait the Kuliks favored greatly. They approached an abandoned campsite with a smoldering pit. By the looks of it the Imperial party headed out not an hour before. Gion lowered himself to the ground and peered at the grass in the small opening in the trees. He whispered to the others "There are three of them, and they headed... east." Gion rose to his feet and acknowledged the others. They all knew what had to be done, for east of their position would bring the enemy party directly past their village, so they headed east with no time to spare.

Gion and the others began to slow down as they breathed heavily from the forced effort to catch up with the enemy party. It wasn't long before Semun shouted to the others. "Our village is on the other side of the glen." So they picked up the pace, for they had not yet reached their enemy, and feared they might be to late in keeping their village a secret.

Their fears have been revived for Gion and the others. They could now see their village, but nothing seemed amiss. The tracks clearly stated the enemy had continued east to their kingdom to warn their king of the villages' presence.

The sun setting, Gion and the others continued after the enemy to put an end their adventure. The Barbarian party traveled late into the night until they spotted an eerie glow in the trees. It was them, settled around a fire talking to one another. Around them stood several sentinel specters. Gion spoke softly "We will have to wait until daylight. We are no match for their wind spirits at this time. Let them dream tonight it will be their last." And so Gion, Barin, Semun and Kesomi gathered distance between themselves and the enemy campsite, and set up their own for the night.

The next morning a battle took place where the outcome would change the ways of the Barbarians from then on. Gion and the others ascended on the enemy party from behind, stopping them in their tracks. There were three of them as predicted. All dressed in bright armor and bearing their kingdoms banner. Gion gazed upon one Imperial soldier to the next. Only one of which looked unusual to him. Dressed in robes that scraped the ground and wielding a tall staff with a jewel incrusted at the top. An appearance he has never seen before.

Before any words could be said, Barin fell to the ground grasping his throat with both hands after dropping his sword. A camouflaged rogue appeared behind the body of the now dead barbarian, revealing a fourth soldier. That sparked the flame in the three remaining Barbarians and the battle had begun.

Immediately the soldier dressed in robes ran from the fight leaving behind his friends. Two fighters and a clever rogue remained to fend off the Barbarians. The numbers were now even but skill favored the enemy. The rogue was there one second then gone the next, striking weak but quickly his daggers could not inflict much harm to Semun. Kesomi was busy with a solder himself, but being skilled with a bow more than a sword he was having difficulty. Gion faced the other remaining solder. This one stood as large as Barin once did.

Blows were landed from both sides but harm was avoided by studded leather and chain mail. As old as Gion was his skills were faded but present, still proving a difficulty. As it appeared the three Barbarians were losing the battle, but then Kesomi landed a lucky blow to his opponent. His sword had pierced the solder between the seams of his armor. The blow was to the heart, dropping the solder dead in his feet. After defeating his opponent Kesomi helped Gion with his. Together they overpowered the giant solder and were able to fall him.

In a distance Semun was able to keep up with the rogue as he dodged each strike but not able to land any himself. Everything seemed to be going smoothly until the rogue let out a loud cry. The rogue put all of his might into a single focused attack and struck Semun. After removing his dagger from the chest of Semun, the rogue vanished.

Gion and Kesomi remained standing in the end, but the fight was not yet over. The solder in robes and the rogue were left, so both Barbarians fallowed their tracks until they had them in sight. This time the battle would take place on a shallow plain of grass.

Hearing the Barbarians war cry the rogue and mage halted their escape and faced the Barbarians with great distance in between. Immediately Kesomi drew his bow, removed an arrow from his quiver and fired upon the enemy. The shot was deadly in speed but not quick enough. The rogue, with his daggers halted the arrow before it struck him. Kesomi grinned and spoke to himself. "Aha, I see how it is." Sure of his own skills he withdrew three arrows and aimed again. This time even the swiftness and accuracy of the rogue could not evade Kesomi's wrath. Two of the three arrows were shielded but the third quickly put an end to him as it struck deep into his chest.

Enraged the solder in the robes raised his staff from the ground and shouted a strange tongue. The mage had conjured a massive ball of fire, in which he hurled at the Barbarians. It struck Kesomi dead center in his chest, killing him instantly. Only Gion and the mage remained. Again, the mage began to conjure another ball of fire, but this time Gion wouldn't let him have the chance to aim. Adrenaline kicked in as Gion began running towards the mage, swaying back and forth making it difficult to aim. The mage fired upon Gion as he finished strafing left. At first it would appear the fireball would have missed but its course had changed. It was headed directly at Gion no matter his path. The instant the ball reached Gion, he grasped his War axe with all his might. He smashed his axe into ball of fire. Upon the impact, a great flash occurred, blinding the mage and stunning Gion.

Lying on the ground battered but still alive, Gion gathered himself and began to rise. At the same time the mage began rubbing his eyes with his robes. As if by some cruel trick of fate, both Gion and the mage gathered their senses at the same time. This time Gion had no weapon, and the Mage began to conjure his final ball of fire. While the mage was chanting, Gion glanced around for a weapon. There it laid smoking in the grass, Gions axe was shattered and broken. Half of the blade was gone as if it melted, and most of the handle was burnt to charcoal. All that remained was a foot of handle and half a blade. With all his hate built up inside, Gion leaped towards his broken war axe, and hurled it at the mage.

An instant before the fireball finished taking form Gion's axe had reached the mage. The axe pierced through the fireball taking form and crushed the mage's chest before his eyes. He fell right then and there to never again rise.

After the adrenaline had settled Gion gathered himself and went over what had happened. He thought it was comical, when his axe lay shattered on the ground it became even more deadly. He thought long and hard on his way back to his village. He thought of how his axe was used that day. As a heavy yet sharp projectile, heavy enough to where a rogue could not parley it, nor could a warriors' armor shield against it.

Through this tragic yet successful event, Gion had discovered a new and powerful weapon the Barbarians could easily forge and learn to master.

He decided to share his story and experience with all his brethren throughout the Kingdoms, traveling from one village to the next.

Today he reached ours...

Qualkehk,

The Hunter