Several days ago, as I was getting tired of spending, spending, spending, I decided to take a break from the incessant skilling and go on a little trip. I had always wanted to visit the four most extreme compass points on the map - northernmost, easternmost, southernmost, and westernmost.
On this particular night I opted for the westernmost - since there are no teleporters directly west of Hadesheim, I figured it would be a nice, unexplored place to visit. It was.
Beginning in Orthos, I followed the adjacent riverbank northwest. After a short time I could see a few Umbranoids on patrol across the river. They didnât spot me. Near the Umbranoid town the riverbank began to slope up and eventually I found myself at the top of this spectacular valley.
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The valley led to a fork in the river. I knew I had to cross somehow - my expedition could not continue if I did not. However, the steep sides of the valley meant I would not be able to climb out if I jumped in. To my left, I spotted a crashed spaceship - conveniently forming a bridge over the deep gorge. Heading for it, my radar binked red. Looking in the direction of the signal, I spotted something in the sky. A Hiryuu hovered above the ship like a watchman. Gripping my amplified Mentor Edition A&P Series Brave tightly, I slowly advanced on the ship. The Hiryuu didnât stir. Reaching the edge of the cliff, I looked for a good place to jump from the ground to the wrecked ship. Unfortunately, I looked a little too closely. Losing my footing, I tumbled and splashed into the river below.
âNo big dealâ, I thought to myself. âIâll just take the other wayâ. I headed upstream from the wrecked ship for several minutes - and encountered a huge rock blocking the path. No matter how I tried, I could not pass it. I was forced to turn back. Shortly after, I saw the spaceship come into view, looming high overhead. I continued under it, hoping to find a small enough slope to let me out of the water.
Shortly past the ship, I found a place where I could get out. I climbed out of the river and shook myself off, grasping the dirt as I scrambled up the hill onto the higher part of the riverbank. Standing up, I looked around - and heard the swoop of wings above. The Hiryuu was coming. Clutching my Brave, I swung the sight upward and fired a couple of warning shots. âI can take this thing,â I thought to myself. âIt doesnât look much older than a baby.â
With lightning-fast speed, the creature descended on me. My laser shots grazed one of its wings, but didnât slow it down. With a shriek and a CRUNCH it bit down on my shoulder and tossed me back into the river. My Rascal armour was slightly damaged, but I was fine. I stayed underwater to avoid any more attacks, and was able to spot the Hiryuu slowly ascending, thinking its job was done.
Peering from the shallows, I aimed my gun and blasted the bird hard. It screamed and whirled around, immediately diving toward me again. I was able to get in another shot before I was forced to dive back underwater. The bird lost interest again, and this time it proved to be a big mistake. I rose from the river again and aimed for the creatureâs head. With a zap of laser and a shriek from the Hiryuu, it plummeted to the ground.
I searched the corpse but found no skins or anything of interest. No matter. I was one step closer to my goal, and feeling quite proud of myself. Climbing a hill to my right, I ended up back on the top of the gorge - but this time on the other side of the spaceship-bridge.
I was able to continue my journey from there. When I encountered hostile creatures, the river provided a safe haven from attack and detection. I swam for miles, spotting a few other Hiryuu and a nasty-looking Atrox on shore. Near the west coast of Eudoria the river widened into a small, triangle-shaped lake dotted with islands. After traversing the lake the water narrowed into a river again. On the bank I spotted a large flashing structure. At first I thought it to be a large tree, but it was definitely man-made. Two large grey pillars with flashing yellow lights stood at the edge of the river mouth. At their base, a large metal construction stretched across the river, meeting two grey poles on the opposite side.
A bridge.
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The bridge marked my arrival at the west coast of Calypso. The hardest part of my journey was over. I took some time to admire the vast ocean before continuing north to reach my final destination - the westernmost point on the continent.
It was here that I began dropping EnMatter probes to try and unearth some resources. Every so often I dispatched a probe, but turned up nothing. Cursing my luck, I continued on.
From the coast I headed northward. The distance to my destination was almost equal to what I had traveled so far. Orthos was so far away. Sighing, I continued on. Coming over the top of a small hill, the land stretched out blue and barren in front of me.
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I continued north, and after climbing the next hill I could see a squarish object over the top. Thinking it to be some sort of building, I hurried upward. To my disappointment, it was simply a large, almost perfectly square mound of land. Looking up I could see that these square hills dotted the landscape as far as I could see.
I meandered between them, avoiding the aquarish depressions in the ground that began to block my path. It was a strange land, and did not seem natural. I spotted a lone bull Armax in the distance, but I was far enough away so as to not disturb it. All the while I dropped more EnMatter probes, but after twenty or so drops with nothing turning up, I decided to give up the search for resources.
As I got nearer and nearer to my destination, the block-hills became taller and more numerous. Squarish ditches separated the landscape and I was forced to climb in and out of them to cross. Turning westward slightly, I spied the coast. I was almost there.
I reached the waterâs edge shortly afterwards. In the water, the square hills continued to rise from the ocean floor, forming a series of islands near the coast. One of these was the spot I was looking for. I swam to one that looked promising, and after a long struggle up the steep side stood atop it. I looked around. To the north was another square island - slightly further from the coast. That was the westernmost point on the continent.
Again I entered the water, swimming the distance to the island, and again climbed onto the top slowly. This was it. My journey was done. Stepping to the edge, I admired the vast emptiness of the ocean. I had arrived. Nothing was in front of me save for the water. Looking back, the square hills seemed so far away, the shoreline distant. I imagined how far I was from anyone. There was bound to be a great distance between myself and the nearest person. It was so silent.
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After some time, I knew it was time to turn back. I had completed my journey. Stepping back from the edge of the island, I sighed. This was one of four great journeys that I will someday undertake. It was a changing experience.
I lay down and closed my eyesâŚ