The Late Tale of Grim

The Late Tale of Grim
by Dove

“Here lies Grim Mortbane, hero of all Tyria, Cantha, and Elona, conqueror of the frozen northern wastelands, savior of many peoples, and explorer of even the realms of the gods. His valor and courage will be remembered forever. May he rest in peace.”

“Yeah, my headstone will say… something like that,” Grim thought as he sighed heavily. Grim passed a feather pen through one hand and rested his head on the other as these thoughts passed through his mind. He reviewed the inscription he imagined on his tomb. “Hero, conqueror, explorer…” he set down his pen and slumped lazily back into his chair. “And now, the hero is bored.”

Ever since he and his allies defeated the Great Destroyer in the Far Northern Shiverpeaks, the greatest of Grim’s challenges were, first, teaching his Charr son Roan to swim in the clear, cool Vabbian pools and second, avoiding debates with Sunspear delegates in the Kodash Bazaar. They always talked of the wisdom of Kormir and her unending strength in her fight against the dark god Abaddon. Grim, having seen the story unfold, had other opinions. Grim had turned down a courteous offer to be the new Spearmarshal in favor of exploring the world, fighting for justice, and searching for his long lost father.

After the fall of the Great Destroyer and the end of the Destroyer threat, Grim was reunited with his father, Argus. As he passed through Kamadan enroute to Vabbi, the two met on the docks and exchanged kind words. Grim, like his father, had always been independent and was ready to press on with new adventures. After meeting, the two went their separate ways. A life-long question had been answered for Grim, very pleasantly no less, and Grim was once again empowered to embark on new quests.

The next telling event in Grim’s life was the discovery of a lonely, orphaned Charr. Grim and his allies, all of whom were witnesses of the tragedy of the Searing of Ascalon, had vowed vengeance upon the Charr. Since passage to the North had opened, brave travelers had gained access to the Charr homelands. As Grim and his allies had no further pressing missions, they revisited the destruction of Ascalon at the hands of the Charr. A spark was rekindled in their minds, and they set off to wipe the Charr from the face of Tyria. As they traveled to the North, not only the weather grew cold with ice, but their hearts also. After mindless destruction of scores of Charr villages, Grim heard a sound in the rubble behind them. A small Charr child was mewing from under the sullen remains of his mother, still clinging to a toy. Tears welled up in his eyes. At that moment, a vision of Dwayna appeared before Grim and placed her holy hand upon him. He knew that this child he had orphaned was to become his son.

He smiled slightly as he thought of the path of his life leading him to where he sat. He felt as though he had not yet done all he could do for the world of Tyria, and yet he felt as though there was nothing left that couldn’t be attended to by underlings or young warriors with much to prove.

“Maybe I feel this way because of all those ungrateful creatures up North,” Grim thought to himself. He slowly rose out of his chair and walked out the door. It was a warm night in Vabbi, and he could see for miles from his balcony elevated about thirty feet from the ground, separated from the main city by a few hundred steps. He leaned forward on the rail that existed to prevent his son from falling. The Vabbian pools all around glistened in the moonlight, causing Grim to think of all the magics he and his allies had used during their journeys. He smiled a bit wider, but frowned again upon following his former train of thought. “In Tyria, an ancient Dragon and many nations thanked us for our valor. In Cantha, a whole empire was grateful for our works. In Elona, the entire world reveled in our victory and told tales of our heroism. In the bitter north, once again saving the world,” Grim sighed, “we got no thanks from the drunken Dwarves, the stubborn Norn, the stoic Ebon Vanguard or those arrogant Asura. We swooped in and prevented total destruction across the lands, and what were we given? Free passage through their territories and… well, that’s about it.”

Grim shook his head and remembered that a hero sometimes must fight alone. Sometimes, the only gratitude one gets is what satisfaction he can find in his accomplishments. He remembered his offer of Spearmarshal, and his personal thanks from the Canthan emperor. “These are heavy thoughts for such a wonderful night,” Grim concluded as he went to see his son.

He peeked in the door and found Roan sleeping, curled up under the fine linen blankets he had crafted for him. He slowly opened the door and leaned against the door post. A large smile once again came to his face. A decision had been made. “If a mission of hatred and anger brought me so much joy, then surely a mission of curiosity and enjoyment will bring some good.” With that thought, Grim went to bed, intending to leave the next day. He did not know exactly where he would go, but he purposed to stop by Boreal Station in the Far Northern Shiverpeaks and see what he had missed. After all, his first trip to the North was consumed by the pursuit of the Great Destroyer, and his second was a primal plot of revenge. He had never stopped to see the beauty of the lands that lie beyond what was formerly the known world.

The next morning, Grim said goodbye to his son and left instructions for while he was gone, then strolled calmly through Vehtendi Valley on his way to the river Elon where his small boat was docked. He would take Elon all the way south to Gandara, where he could book passage to Kamadan, then to Lion’s Arch in Tyria, and from there take the secret Asura Gate to Boreal Station.

Almost immediately after leaving his home, a wave of children ran by laughing and screaming “He’s here! He’s here!” His curiosity piqued, Grim followed the mass of children from a short distance. As he followed, he heard a quiet whisper, “Psst! You! You with the scythe!” He turned, looking all the way around him. Thinking he had missed something obvious, he turned a full circle looking for whoever had called. “Psst! Wrong, er, plane!”

“Plane?” thought Grim. Then it dawned on him. He looked up and, on top of a large rock a few feet away shone the smiling face of a man and a furry hump behind him. The man laughed and waved, causing Grim to awkwardly smile and wave back. “Um, do I know you?”

“Well, c’mon up here and get to know me! Don’t worry, ole’ Professor Yakkington won’t bite,” said the man, who turned to pet the large creature behind him. As Grim climbed up the rock, he saw that the creature on the rock was a fully grown dolyak.

“How did you…”

“Get a big ole’ dolyak on a big ole’ rock?” the man blurted out before briefly laughing again. “Well, Yakkington’s quite the athlete, actually,” he said as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a fresh red apple. For some reason, upon seeing the apple, the man’s countenance changed slightly, and the glimmer in his eyes faded, if only for a moment. He extended the apple to the dolyak, who sniffed and gobbled it down. “My name is Nicholas. The older folk call me Nicholas the Traveler. Pleased to make your acquaintance.”

Grim was thrown off a bit by the man, but offered his name anyway. “I’m Grim… Grim Mortbane. Resident here, and a bit of a traveler myself.” After a mere second of silence, Grim couldn’t hold it back anymore. “What are you doing here on a rock in the heart of Vabbi?”

Nicholas smiled again, though not quite as broadly as before. He no longer laughed between phrases. Grim wondered what it was about the apple that made him gloomy. He looked slightly off into the distance. “To be honest, it’s what I do. I travel. Some of the kids call me Saint Nick, but that assertion is quite absurd. I’ve seen my share of life, both good and bad, and am nowhere near a saint.” Here Nicholas smiled and reestablished eye contact. “Although, it wouldn’t be so bad to have that name stick, eh? Saint Nick… I would accept that legacy.”

“How come I’ve never seen you before?” Grim asked, now legitimately interested in the man atop a random rock near his home.

“The name traveler is quite apt, and strangely insightful concerning my character. I’ve seen many things in my days, some not so pretty, and it brings me joy to give some helpful or fun presents to kids and adults alike.” Nicholas opened his bag and pulled out a few items. “Here, I always make it a point to give at least one person something free. Ordinarily I trade for an item that has a decent sale value or something that I need. It’s my living. Quite honest work on my behalf, I promise.” Nicholas extended his hand. Grim took the items and looked at his prize. In his hand were five stones with a strange swirling myriad of color and a few blue rocks that looked like candy.

“Thanks…” said Grim cautiously. Nicholas grinned. “These aren’t just children’s playthings, I assure you. The candy is quite powerful. Quite. Powerful. And I wouldn’t break those stones open unless you’re in a real pinch.” Grim shoved the items in his pocket and nodded his head. “Well, is there something I can help you with before I go on my way?” he asked.

“Nay, fellow traveler. I like to speak with an adult first and find what business is happening nearby. That and it’s always more fun to make the children search for me, so I may be up here for a while yet.”

“No business here. In fact, that’s why I’m headed off for a trip,” replied Grim.

“Wait a second… Grim Mortbane. I know I’ve heard the name! You fought Shiro Tagachi, the evil Lich Lord, Abaddon! You’re a legend!” said Nick, not holding back any enthusiasm.

Grim smiled for the first time since meeting Nick. “Yeah, that’s me. It’s nice to be known, so thank you.”

“In that case, I have one more thing for you before you go.” Nicholas said. He stood up and unlatched a pack attached to Professor Yakkington’s back and pulled out a small cage. The cage chirped in a high-pitched tone a few times. “This rarity is something I know you’ll enjoy. And listen up: what you’re looking for? Pay attention to this little guy and he’ll lead you to adventure for sure.” Out of the cage hopped a tiny white Moa bird, hatched no more than a month before. Typically, Grim would have turned down a gift of this high value, but given his love of birds, he reached out and took the chick, then put it in his pocket. The bird popped its head of the pocket and chirped a few times, then adjusted himself for comfort and fell asleep.

“Pleasure to meet you Grim. Farewell.”

“And likewise, Saint Nicholas,” Grim said with a wide smile. The dolyak grunted. “Oh, and you too, er, Professor.” And with that, Grim hopped down from the rock and went on his way.

Grim’s voyage to Boreal Station was quite uneventful, even through the Asura Gate which had been properly stabilized since the battle against the Destroyers. More than a few times, Grim thought to himself how ironic it was that his trip was so boring, but he knew that the sights he would find in the North would be worth leaving home to see. Upon arriving in Boreal Station, Grim checked in with Borvorel, the merchant in town, and picked up some necessities. As he was leaving, he noticed a shadowy figure sitting next to the exit into Ice Cliff Chasms, the territory he would be traveling through. He walked past it and into the mountains outside of Boreal Station. A few steps out, he felt a heavy, dark presence behind him. A moment later, he realized that an Assassin had cast Shadow Prison on him. His legs refused to move and he felt a cold steel pressed up against his neck.

“Grim Mortbane,” said the Assassin, “I know you.”

Grim had seen techniques like this before, and used his plethora of skills to get free and prepare for a battle. He used the spell Heart of Shadow to escape the Assassin, and strengthened his scythe with Conjure Flame, which sent a twirling pillar of fire from his hands to the point of his weapon. The Assassin neither moved nor turned to face Grim, who was now behind him a few feet away.

“I’m sorry, my manners are somewhat lacking. But I know you and your reputation, as well as my own, and I couldn’t simply ask for your aid without looking a bit tough first.”

Grim did not lower his scythe, but rather stiffened his neck and widened his stance. He knew that a well trained Assassin could strike from anywhere at any time. “What do you want, Assassin?”

“I’ve heard rumors among the Norn of a great beast that haunts the Asura. However, my reputation with the Norn hasn’t been so high since I bested a whole lot of them in a race. They say I used shady techniques because I shadow stepped miles ahead of them. I guess they’re technically right about the shady part but…”

“So do you actually want something or just to tell me lame stories? Because I can find a better use of my time,” interrupted Grim.

“Hm. I’m sorry if my ‘lame story’ as you call it didn’t lighten the mood a bit. What I say is true. The Norn are preparing to venture into Asuran lands to search for some new beast, and I’m not so popular with them right now. However, I am concerned for the well being of all people. I’ve fought in all the battles you have Grim, and I know a hoax when I see one. This is a real threat.”

“And your name?” asked Grim. He knew that if the Assassin was trying to trick him, he wouldn’t give a name, false or otherwise. He had encountered many Assassins and knew much about their training.

“Jin. Jin Hwoarang. And if you’re interested in continuing to protect Tyria, I suggest you follow me.”

Reluctantly, Grim decided to follow. At the very least it would give some direction to his journey, at the very worst, score him a full-out battle. Either way, Grim’s boredom from a few hours before was quickly deteriorating. As Jin ran ahead, Grim followed. Jin’s pace was quite fast, and though Grim followed with ease, he was a bit disheartened as he quickly ran past some lovely sights he would have enjoyed stopping at. “Still,” he thought, “at least I’m seeing them this time around.”

“Where are we going?” he asked the Assassin as he followed.

“Sifhalla. As I’m sure you know, Sif Shadowhunter is kinda’ in the know about all hunts going on, especially the big ones. I need you to ask her about the Asuran beast. That’s all you need to do for me.” Jin had a more casual tone now, and Grim was slowly starting to believe that he had no ill intentions. Just as that thought occurred, Jin turned into a cloud of black smoke and disappeared. Grim turned around quickly, once again ready for an attack. On turning around, Grim saw Jin kneeled over a dead Stonewolf. Jin pulled a dagger out of the beast’s chest, cleaned it, and offered a short blessing. He turned to Grim and smiled. “All those luscious Vabbian swimming pools gettin’ to ya’?”

Grim ventured a grin. He knew that Jin was just trying to be friendly, in a strange, Assassin sort of way. He said nothing in return, but turned and continued running in the same direction as before.

Arriving at Sifhalla was ever the adventure. When the city was in sight, the duo’s pace slowed to a walk and they began discussing the battle against the Destroyers a few months before. “Some of the Asura eluded to a dark, strong magic from within the cavern adjacent to the Central Transfer Chamber,” Jin said. “From the statue, right?” Grim returned. “Yeah… I haven’t been around much since the fall of the Great Destroyer, but I imagine the magical properties of that room are still intact… it’s enough to support the whole Undergate System, and that’s something worth mentioning.”

As they neared the gate, Jin receded into a small shrubbery outside of the town. Grim noted his location. In the distance, a small flock of white moa birds grazed calmly. After a moment of his watching, they casually raised their heads and jogged south toward Drakkar Lake. Grim reached into his pocket and scratched his baby moa’s head. It peeped several times as courtesy and poked its head out, ready to explore the world from the safety of its pocket. Then he entered Sifhalla.

As usual, Sifhalla was swarming with Norn exchanging stories of the hunt and gathering the whereabouts of the next creature. Unlike usual, it was also crawling with hundreds of Asura, scribbling notes, performing calculations, and carrying about all sorts of strange gadgets. Grim spotted Sif Shadowhunter and headed towards her. When she spotted him, she diverted her attention immediately to him. “Welcome back, Grim Mortbane,” she said. All of the Norn surrounding her turned to look at him. They all bowed slightly, then wandered off, uninterested in his presence. Grim mumbled to himself and began thinking again of the Norn stubbornness, but Sif regained his attention. “I hope you’re not here for a vacation, Grim. No less than a dozen Norn have fallen prey to this new Asuran beast.” Grim’s focus returned. “Yes, I’ve heard. Do you know where it is or what we’re dealing with?” he asked. “Sadly, very little. The Norn that encounter it seem to not return. Those that do return come back void. Please find this beast, Grim. This has become a threat, even to the Norn.”

Grim stood and thought for a moment. Knowing that Sif would have told him anything important right up front, he walked back outside. Jin rejoined him and asked if he knew where to head to next. However, Grim didn’t answer. He remembered what Nicholas had said about the chick he carried. “Lead me to adventure, little one,” he said out loud, and followed the tracks that the moas had left behind heading south. As they approached the middle of Drakkar Lake, Grim stopped. “An Asura Gate? In the middle of Drakkar Lake?” “It’s our best, and only lead,” Jin replied, “also, the moa tracks lead inside.”

Without hesitation, they entered the gate. Unlike the Asura Gate outside Lion’s Arch, this one was turbulent, with an ominous glow passing through it. On exiting, both Grim and Jin realized where it led to. “The Central Transfer Chamber?” Jin asked, as if in disbelief. Grim simply nodded, and looked around. Six Norn corpses, still in bear form, lay slaughtered around the chamber. Around twenty white moas were slain and dismembered, scattered about. “I think we may have found what we’re looking for… be on guard,” Grim said. He used Conjure Frost as preparation, knowing that anything that could thrive in this cavern would be extremely resistant to fire, and slowly walked deeper into the cave.

A bright, red fire suddenly appeared in front of them. Grim shielded his eyes from the light. “Look out!” Jin yelled. Grim looked up just in time to see a giant molten claw descending on him. He shadow stepped to Jin a split second before the claw landed, and they both observed the beast before them with wide, unsuspecting eyes.

A foul creature with the appearance of a Destroyer stood before them. It was only slightly smaller than the Great Destroyer, but had what appeared to be wings made of a white, glowing flame. It let out a horrible screech, lifted its wings, and soared towards them. Grim pointed to a spot on the creature’s upper back, just below the neck. Jin nodded and shadow stepped up on to the beast, driving his daggers in. The beast only became more agitated and writhed in pain. Jin clung to his daggers for stability, unable to attack through the turbulence. Grim sprinted underneath the beast, intending to incapacitate a limb. As he approached, the creature flew upwards, letting out a breath of fire at him. He rolled to the side and leapt, swinging at the back paw of the creature, who simply dodged by flying ever higher. Jin released his Aura of Displacement and returned to Grim’s side. “We need the wings down. His attacks are slow and cumbersome. We can bring him down if we can keep him on the ground,” Grim instructed. “I’m not fast enough. I feel heavy in his presence, as if my energy is being drained away,” Jin replied.

Grim reached into his pocket and tossed one of the blue candies from Nicholas to Jin. Jin paused. “You kidding?” “Maybe,” Grim replied, “but it’s all I’ve got.” Jin ate the rocks. He felt swiftness returning to his legs. “Alright, pull him to our left, I’m going for his right wing. If he drops, take off his front right leg,” Jin said, and shadow stepped up. Grim ran left and waited for Jin’s attack to land. Right as he drove the daggers in, the creature drooped slightly, and Grim attacked with a Wounding Strike. The creature’s appendages oozed hot lava, and he crashed to the ground. Jin ran to the creatures other side and sliced the other wing. Once fully grounded, Grim attacked the creature’s throat. As he plunged his scythe in, the creature let out a faint roar, and collapsed, shaking the whole room. Jin returned to Grim’s side, covered in ash, breathing heavily. “Ever seen anything like that?” “It looked like a Destroyer… and a Dragon.” Grim replied. “We must return to Sifhalla. Whatever it was is dead now, and I think this cavern ought to be sealed while they investigate that statue.” The two looked up. An ominous darkness still fell heavily from the statue, as it had ever since the first battle there. As they exited, Grim looked back one more time. “There will be more to the story here,” he thought as he left.

As usual, the Norn were rather unimpressed with their tale. Sif, however, quietly thanked Grim for his deeds. “I will pass on your suggestion to the Asura,” she reported.

“Thank you for your help, Grim Mortbane,” said Jin as Grim walked back outside. “Not a problem,” Grim replied, “and next time, feel free to start with ‘Hello.’” Jin smiled and extended his hand, which Grim accepted. “And we both know there will be a next time,” Jin said with a nod and a smile. Then he shadow stepped far into the distance, and was out of sight in a few moments.

Grim smiled, and began to slowly walk south toward Boreal Station on his way home. He pulled out his moa from his pocket and placed it on his shoulder. “I think I have a name for you, little one. You are now Jin.” The bird peeped pleasantly to accept his new title. “I think I’ve had plenty of adventure for now. Let’s go see what Roan thinks of you.” The bird hopped around and sat comfortably. “Let’s go home.”