Challenge #04572-L188: Heroism From Hubris

They were addicted to going into dungeons and trying their luck. The harder, the better. Their skills improved incredibly since they had been doing this since they were young. Of course, immortality didn't hurt either. So what happened to all the loot? There were several temples, hospitals, and care places that didn't have to worry about money thanks to their addiction. -- Anon Guest

Once upon a time, the story goes, there was a soldier who was unbeatable on the field of battle. Ze made the mistake of bragging to the gods that as long as ze had hir sword, ze was immortal.

One of those deities said, "So be it," and that warrior became cursed with immortality.

This was usually told as a legend to warn people about the cost of hubris. Few ever really believe that it happened like that. Which almost suited Heikian, since hir name was not remembered in story or song. That said, there were only so many wars ze could fight in before the gloss wore off that particular gingerbread.

The next recourse was Adventuring.

There were always towns or cities in need. People who needed something retrieved from somewhere dangerous... or taken away to somewhere dangerous. Those last two paired up so well that some of that business was truly cyclical. Not always immediately cyclical, but it helped to lay puzzles that ze knew how to solve.

The rest of it was either slaying or subjugating any beasties that managed to set up a habitat in there. With or without fellow adventurers who decided to tag along.

Heiken looked like an Elf of indeterminate age, a well-trained warrior who knew exactly how to make sure hir adventuring companions survived. The one with the most wisdom and best advice for the rest of the crew. The surprisingly experienced cook, and with a shockingly encyclopedic knowledge of poisons.

Ze never sought vainglory beyond hir original boast of immortality. Ze literally lived for adventures, and loved to keep having them all over the world. Ze let people name hir, and never let hirself become a legend like other immortals wandering the world.

Ze didn't even really care about loot. There were always more organisations that needed the treasure more than ze did.

Once every thousand years or so, Heikian thought about putting hir sword down and letting time catch up with hir. Then another threat arose, or another city needed a hero, and the sword was not so heavy any more.

Sooner or later, Heikian would let hirself meet Mistress Dark and face the judgement of the gods. Today was not that day.

There was another dictator strangling the rights of the common folk without taking on a single responsibility of their reign. That needed dealing with. And who knew? They might have a dungeon that needed crawling.

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