Aroakhan, Slayer of Leviathans

Summary

As with so many in Ebalatan's‌ deeps, Aroakahn followed his parents' legacy of being hunters for the village. More than many of his peers, however, he dedicated himself to the craft in the extreme, going above and beyond. He would, with increasingly regularity, venture out for days and weeks at a time. During these trips, he catalogued every animal he came across, noting its habits and locations especially. Such was his proficiency that even veteran hunters came to him, asking for guidance on where to hunt or what to avoid.   With age came experience and power, and Aroakahn grew unsatisfied hunting the 'normal' predators that plagued his people. His attention went to ever darker and colder waters, where the mightiest of beasts lurked. Against the wishes of many, one day he set out, determined to conquer the largest thing he could find. Thus, in the far northern waters, Aroakahn experienced isolation in only the way the sea could bring. With few safe food sources, he fought, and struggled, day after day, even long after sunlight vanished from overhead.   Wounded, but undaunted, he pressed on, and found himself worthy prey. A creature he knew no name for swam in the depths, seemingly that of a shark crossed with a squid. Its tendrils swept through the dark, hungrily snatching up anything in reach. And so, Aroakahn fought with the monstrosity, day-in-day-out, measured only by the times he took to retreat and sleep. His victory was hard earned, and he ultimately could only escape with a few pieces as proof of his victory.   No one believed him, despite his prizes. Suffering great offense at being called a liar, he convinced a group of elder hunters to accompany him–observers, nothing more. And so, they bore witness to his tenacious methods of survival, his excellent hunting form, and singlehandedly felling another titanic leviathan of the deep. Struck stupid by the mere sight of it, they couldn't help praising him ceaselessly when they all returned home again, and thus Aroakahn's fame exploded across Ebalatan.   Each year since, Aroakahn brought groups of elder hunters with him. His glory seeking always arranged it as just him versus the leviathan, and upon victory, the elders would scavenge the massive corpse. Indeed, these yearly harvest runs have become so popular it is something of an expected tradition. For Aroakahn, the height of his skill could only be found in such impossible fights, and he racked up dozens of leviathans to his name.   With age came a loss in the adrenaline-filled thrills, despite still being in the prime of his life. Aroakahn, unable to find more powerful prey within reach, has been forced to find other ways of keeping himself busy. He's taken up to learning writing, and inscribing his tomes worth of knowledge onto kelp-paper. The ways of teaching, however, sit oddly with him, and so he leaves it to others to fill in for him.   Aroakahn is ceaselessly restless, wishing to prove his skill further, to surmount a challenge no other could possibly do. Yet, all that remains are the darkest depths, cliff-faces into oblivion no one has readily returned from again. His challenge may await down there, or certain doom, and he stares long into the abyss, musing over the possibilities.