Guest Post:
Top 10 Things to Bring on a Quest
We’re going on a trip…a journey…a QUEST.
First, we have to pack. Now, this ain’t a trip to the Bahamas—we can’t bring 3 suitcases on a plane to unload onto a cart and then into a car. If we’re lucky, we’ll have a horse to strap a couple extra small bags to.
But really, we have to carry everything on our backs. Especially since, in
Sword of Soter, Karina and friends lose their horses!
Often times, though, it’s not the things that we carry on our backs that we need for a quest. A quest—the kind we find in epic fantasy stories like the
Sacred Armor Trilogy—requires so much more. “Like what?” you may ask…
1. A Positive Attitude: No quest is without its ups and downs, overwhelming obstacles, and disheartening setbacks, so it’s no surprise that we questers would need to maintain a positive attitude. It helps us stay motivated and accomplish our tasks post haste!
2. A Sense of Humor: Every quest comes with learning experiences and sources of frustration. The ability to laugh at ourselves or at the situation will keep us from losing our mind and throwing ourselves off the nearest cliff. A surprising benefit of humor is the ability to diffuse some of the tensest situations.
3. Communication Skills: Clear. Concise. Communication. Talking in riddles and spouting off pearls of wisdom only confuses people. Vague plans and mistrust are breeding grounds for failure and death. We have to be able to communicate efficiently with those on our team. (But that doesn’t mean we don’t enjoy the Gandalfs and Dumbledores in our stories.)
4. Strong Willpower: In the face of those overwhelming odds that are inevitable with epic quests, a strength of character is key to success. Pushing through when all seems lost. Overcoming when we’d rather give in. Inspiring others when they want to give up. We can do it!
5. A Ragtag Group of Allies: Speaking of all these people… Perhaps one of the biggest keys to success for any quest is friends! They must have a variety of personalities, skills, and knowledge. They will be our greatest source of strength, our best encouragers when we want to quit, and at the last minute they will come through with that key piece that will save the day!
6. Wilderness Skills: We cannot travel across kingdoms and realms without the ability to start a campfire, fishing, knowing what plants are safe to eat, what clothes to wear for the environment, etc. I mean, we can’t catch a fish with honey or expect to wear sandals in the swamplands. Or can we?
7. Cooking Skills: To go along with those wilderness skills, we need to know how to cook! While we might be carrying dried meat and bread in our packs, we will tire of those quickly, and the quest can last for weeks or months! Knowing how to put together a proper stew is of the utmost importance. I mean, EVERYONE knows how to make stew in an epic adventure! And knowing how to cook up wild game is a perk as well.
8. First Aid Skills: It is the rare quest that comes to pass where no one is injured. And oftentimes those injuries are not even sustained in battle! Someone tripped and broke their arm. Or they ate the wrong kind of berry. Or they fell off a cliff… Okay, that might be a bit beyond the basic first aid. But still, some knowledge of first aid can only aid our journey.
9. Willingness to Learn: No matter how prepare we are for our adventure, we can’t know what will happen. We can’t prepare for every outcome. Our skills will not cover every possible obstacle. But if we are willing to learn, willing to try, then we can overcome even our lack of knowledge.
10. Our WHY: The most important factor needed for an epic quest? Knowing our WHY. Why are we going on this quest? Why is it important to us? What will we accomplish by completing this quest? Much as with our goals in real life, knowing the answers to these questions will help to motivate us and keep us focused no matter what the quest throws at us.
This is a list of quest necessities that stay with us, even if storm waters sweep away our pack of supplies or a villain kidnaps us in an attempt to waylay our journey or even if we find ourselves all alone in the middle of unfamiliar territory.
And in the world of reality that we live in, these traits and skills can be just as powerful. From helping us to embrace our calling, to learning to #SHINEBeyond our circumstances, to giving us ways to help others.
With these skills, there is not much we can’t accomplish. No quest we can’t see through!
For now, join Karina and friends on their quest in the first 2 books of the Sacred Armor Trilogy.
What would YOU take on a quest?
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