Qi's Journey

Part I

Far away from Ahsira, far from Wynveria, far from the Lurion Isles there is a land few have visited. The Sessara, who hail ancestrally from this land carry tales of it, from a time before they left it. The land's name was lost to them, but the land itself is still alive and well.

This is a tale of that land, and a golem, one of the Orewrought, who has become a legend to them.

They say there is a life force. One that thrives and flows between us all. It is unique to each being, yet it is all a part of a great system a great oneness that seeks to be reunited someday, when this world has met its end.

There was a sculptor who believed this philosophy, a man named Hui. Hui spent his lifetime, trying to create a perfect statue in the form of human likeness. He was inspired by an old tale about the creation of the Orewrought and wished to see one spring to life before him.

For fifty years he toiled, day after day. In that time, it was said he made over one thousand statues. Images of men, women, children, of different shapes and sizes were soon made. While most thought him a fool, his artistic renown was respected. People clamored to buy his creations, seeking to own such lifelike beauty for themselves.

When Hui was eighty, with his now balding head losing the last of its silver locks, he finished what would be the last of his statues.

The statue was made with great pains taken, but it was considered his masterpiece. Made in the image of a female soldier he had once loved, this statue was fierce, yet beautiful. The body was crafted of rich, sepia brown earth. Her hair was designed to appear in a neat bun, while small, stylized round eyebrows were above her serious, deeply gazing eyes. Her lips appeared to be forming something between a smile and a snarl, further pronouncing her ferocity.

The armor on the statue was based heavily on the style soldiers wore whenever they visited the village, called Xa'Ani. It was replicated faithfully after years of study, completing the statue's overall look. The image of a female warrior was made by Hui, standing as his last and greatest work.

With all his years behind him, and the end of his days before him, Hui decided he could at least die happily if his last work had a name.

After a few moments thought, he named the statue Qi, engraving it on the base below the figure he had sculpted. The statue had been named for the life force he had believed in, but never saw within his creations.

After that, the old man, Hui, passed. Months after his funeral, when all of his works, except the last, had been sold, it began to move. It had been given motion and voice, having become a golem... So began the story of Qi.

-

Ba'Lao was a village on a mountain path, having sat in the shadow of the monastery mountain for as long as there had been humans in the land. Rumor had it that one of the first dragons, the Primordials, called the mountain home, and held a great treasure within the monastery.

Qi, however, had no interest in the monastery, but instead wished to find a good place to rest.

The Orewrought golem was sitting down beneath a shady tree, humming to herself as she tried to find composure. The fact that she did not need to breathe or eat made things easier, quieting her mind was still difficult. Ever since she had become aware, she had nothing but, thoughts, feelings, and worries...Ones she sought to rid herself of.

She tried to feel nothing, to cease to be and regain a oneness with existence...Yet it eluded her. Especially since there was a loud cry coming from outside.

"Hm?"

"The Kobolds are coming! Quickly, to the cellars!"

Qi saw villagers quickly running to their homes in a panic, while a few with arms came outside, facing a threat of several, lizard-like beings.