If you had asked me halfway through, what I thought about “Victory or death” I probably would not have had much to say that was pleasant or worth repeating. This mission was a long and difficult one. I tried a few days earlier, and 2 players rage quit. It happens. I was talking about it in Open chat today and another player was echoing his dismay at finding a group to complete it. Story mode doesn’t offer much in the way of reward if you are repeating it. Even the final loot bags you get for your first run through were a mixed batch of blue and green level armor. I’m lucky, I know how final battles go and I was decently geared. A pocket full of coin is good to, as is food, repair canisters, and a lot, of patience.
But I digress. We were chatting, and another voice chimed in saying she too, was having no luck forming a group. Well, there we had it. 3 of the much needed 5, were ready to go. but 5 is recommended, surely 3 would not do. So we talked we hung out a bit, we waited while one helped another player acquire a skill point. We then talked to another player that was nearby and he echoed, he too needed to do the mission. We had 4, one more to go. But sadly no one spoke up. The guard in our group said “Let’s do this”. We looked at each other, and another said “We can try and see what happens”. See what happens? Face down the Lord of the Elder Dragons, Zaitan with less than a full group? Folly, a fools errand, we set off through the portal. Surely to our doom… We fought and fell, laughed and I’m sure cursed those on high pulling the strings. But we moved forward, one core, two cores, and on we went, past Titans and Champions, through tunnels and swamps, foulness and filth, until we stood on the deck of a wondrous machine. We soared through the air, but our spirits were dashed all to quickly. Giants throwing poison and more.. we made it through, somehow. We fell again and again, we laid on the deck and laughed while the learned one of the bunch read how to do that part of the mission. Me ask directions? Nevah!
We gained ground, the last one fell. Hazzah! But wait, we had more to face. A glutton that could not be filled. He ate, and he ate, and he ate, and wanted more.. We saw him finally fall, what I did on his grave, will not pass for flowers. I wiped off my daggers, let my pistols cool, and we moved on. We soon found ourselves airborne again. Now facing Elder Dragons, hurling more poison, and Risen, wave after wave, we fought, we fell (are you sensing a theme yet?) , and finally the last renegade lizard fell. Now, he swooped in from on high, a voice cried out “Here he comes, ZAITAN!!” The rest is a blur, fire and blood, poison and flame, until he fell, he finally, fell. The long road was at it’s end, and so it would seem was our journey.
Words cannot describe how the battle was, you must experience it for yourself. As long as it is, as seemingly unfair and unforgiving as it is. The spoils be darned, the rewards be dashed, you must see it through.
Tankanasan, Christine, Grider, we made it. 4 battle weary warriors made it. It took a long time, but we saw that Dang Lizard fall.
Oh in case you’re wondering who this is, I also go by Ting
/SwordSalute
(edited by Evon Skyfyre.9673)