It took me a little while...but eventually I learnt that the rogue who had stolen the giant hand of guks ring sold it at the commons marketplace. Apparently there was a gnomish soldier who had come to purchase artifacts for research whom had bought it, but he had already begun his trek back home to Ak'anon.
I had to follow her! Before the gnomes did strange gnome things to the ring!! It looked like I was going to Ak'anon!
It didn't take me too long to get there, as I tend to prefer to ride druids instead of the boat. As I came to the city, I wondered if the gnomes could invent a druid saddle for me.
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Inside I eventually found where the soldier was stationed.
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But when I asked her what she had done with the ring....she said she had already given it to their clockwork King!!
The problem was the King doesn't grant an audience with just any random elf....
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Luckily, I always carry around pie and even clam chowder for such an emergency!!! Everyone knows a gnomes weakness is their stomach.
With such delicious food to tempt the gnomes with, I was soon granted an audience with the king. He might be a clockwork, but the others sure weren't!
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I explained to him the quest I was on ...and offered to buy the ring....but he said the gnomes needed it for their research.
If it was research they were after, they had come to the right elf!! I'd been around the world!! Fought dragons!! And had all sorts of magic treasure!!!
So I offered to let them examine my treasures if they would give me the ring (provided they didn't do weird gnome things to my treasure).
His eye sockets grew a little brighter....it seemed we had a deal!
So the next few days I stayed in Ak'anon practicing with my bow while the gnomes examined what I had. Overall it wasn't too bad.....just they really could use some longer beds...
With the final piece I was ready to return to Ganelorn!!! Surely with all of the things I had worked so hard to collect he would teach me how to call the flame!!!
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But when I reached him....he said I had one last test to prove myself worthy.....I had to stop the king of the poachers!!! Vance Bearstalker!!!
I'd only heard legends of him!! A poacher mightier than any other!!!! I wouldn't be able to defeat him alone.....or even with another archer....no, this was going to take some serious fighting power!!
So, I sent out messages to my closest allies!!! Kadest, of course, was ready to answer the call and came right away!
That left us looking for two more.....but it was so late in the season, finding adventurers was going to be difficult....
It looked like we would need some mercenaries.
So, together we went to Freeport! The perfect place to find mercenaries!!!
After some searching and posting help wanted signs....we eventually came in contact with a strange Iksar named Kiruru. He seemed to have a fetish for bones....but also seemed pretty strong! He would be a great teammate!
Shortly after that a dwarf paladin named Arity said he wanted to join us also! He was a little lower level than me....but still the help was welcome!!!
It looked like we had our band of heroes to defeat the poacher King!! A quick teleport later and we were back in Karana....ready for the hunt!!!
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I got to work tracking the king of the poachers..... finding him nearby on a hillside.... he hadn't seen me...
I let a shot loose towards him and began running away. Sure he would be a bit angry and come after me.....right into our ambush!
A few moments later, the real fight had begun!!!
But this poacher was smart!! Instead of focusing on me or the dwarf....he ran straight for the Iksar first!!! Punching him with great force!! And with that, the Iksar fell over dead.....I guess he wasn't that powerful after all.
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Though, the iksars minion saw what had happened and rushed at the poacher! Cackling as it swung its bony arms!
But the poacher didn't care, he had his eyes on Kadest next!!! I tried to do what I could, shooting my arrows and snaring.... as the dwarf chased behind the poacher swinging his halberd.
Eventually the dwarf distracted the poacher enough and it finally gave up on Kadest.
Suddenly, the Iksar jumped up and began doing his magic!! I guess he got over being dead.....like I said, he was strange.....I was glad he was alive again at least.
The fight waged on for what seemed like forever!! But we were definitely winning....
It was time to end it though...I took aim....and let loose a powerful shot. Striking Vance straight in the head.
And with that, it was over....
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I began tying a rope around the body to drag back to Ganelorn. He had told me he wanted the poachers head....but I wasn't going to do that!
But as I was tying the knots....the dwarf walked up and chopped off the poachers head with his halberd....
Blood was everywhere!! The horror!!!!
But oh well, it was lighter at least.
I took the head to Ganelorn and at long last, my quest was complete!!
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That night I poured over the scroll studying it and practicing.....by morning, I had mastered it!! Now I too knew how to call the flame!!