OK, Xan is in a bit of a pickle. There are a few things that have happened in ol' Xan's life that have made things a bit crazy and I would love to have YOUR help in getting those things in order.
First of all, in real life you all know about my son being born on August 8th. Late night feedings, diaper changes, etc. The life of a father, there really is nothing better. Anyway, in WoW I created a toon named after my son, Calib (Trollbane US) And I busily went on and Xan grabbed him the shoulders, chest and two swords for a rogue.
Next, some of you may have known that couple months before my little bundle of joy was delivered I lost my job. Being on unemployment is heartbreaking as a young father. Anyway I have been feverishly looking for a job and I have found on selling life & health insurance. Problem being before I can work for this great company I need to pass the state exam and get my license. I have to get a 70% and I have now taken it twice, costing me $88 I can't afford to spend. I will be taking it a third time on Friday to hopefully pass it. Money has become quite tight to say the least.
Lastly my guild is in desperate need of a good healer. I have only played a priest once before but I would like to do it again. Now my WoW time is 'nil right now because I am spending 99% of my free time studying to pass this state exam. But I have put a poll on the right hand side of the blog here to figure out which race of priest I should play.
So a couple of things I ask of my readers...
1 - What should I do with my rogue?
2 - Donate (at the bottom of website) if you care to help out an impoverished fellow gamer.
3 - Vote!
Once a race is decided it will then become time to think of a fun back story and relate her to my other toons somehow.
Thanks again!
Wednesday, September 30
Tuesday, September 29
Momoment # 15 - Moraider
Are you a raider?
I believe wow players are of all play types: raiders, altaholics, RP, PVPers, etc.
I think we know of all the hardcore raiders that have blogs and podcasts because there are few of them compared to the number of wow players there are (12 million plus) and many of them do have the larger voice in the wow community and there is nothing wrong with that of course.
I am, well I would call my play style casual-altaholic-wants to enjoy wow as I please. Yes that is how I would put it.
I like to see all I can see when I want to and can to see it. I do not like raiding and I like raiding. :)
Yes there are many things about raiding I have experienced that I truly hate and even thought about quiting wow but of course did not after further thought.
Since I have moved my priest Moheal to Feathermoon to join friends guild and play/instance/raid with them, I have really enjoyed all the placed in wow I have not been to.
Primarily as a healer and at times dps (when needed) we have been to all the Heroics, you know the daily grind to get stinkin badges; VOA, OS, even Ulduar! and finally I went to Naxx this past weekend. It is truly amazing the work wow has done and continues to do. I always say, they do make every penny we pay worth it, in my opinion.
I do have a point here some where...what I have noticed is as I have been used to playing with my new guildies and their play style and their good play, it has been very hard for me when I do join a pug. I really do not know how to explain it but with the guild I have cause very few wipes in my, well lets say lack of healing at times. I always we always can improve what ever we are working on, that goes for my healing. But I have been doing a good job while in guild runs.
Pugs, well...I don't think I have to say how bad pugs can get. And with all the different people in a bug in the simplest counters, I lose the group!!!
Why is that? Is it operator error on me for just not healing? (well perhaps at times but probably not)
Is it for a lack of dps? yes some people would say so but I would like to believe there are other factors.
Is it the different classes tanking (guildie is a Paladine and most pug tanks are DK's and warriors, some Druids) maybe, but also a good factor or should I say some times a bad factor.
Gear, some people just don't have a good gear and I have been there myself and not able to hold agro. This is a great reason too and a viable one. Just as when I was not geared I could not even heal Heroics let alone some of the tricky encounters.
Any input you have please let us know, let me know as I would like to understand and figure out if it is something I am not doing or if I can do anything different.
With the type of playing style I have, even with the minimal research I do and asking the community, I am not a spreadsheet person, meaning I do not make it a science as some people enjoy doing to wow.
Can you really get used to playing wow with the same people so much that when you play with different players (play styles) it is like your first time playing or entering the instance you are trying to complete?
Mo wants to know! So please provide your input.
Thank you
I believe wow players are of all play types: raiders, altaholics, RP, PVPers, etc.
I think we know of all the hardcore raiders that have blogs and podcasts because there are few of them compared to the number of wow players there are (12 million plus) and many of them do have the larger voice in the wow community and there is nothing wrong with that of course.
I am, well I would call my play style casual-altaholic-wants to enjoy wow as I please. Yes that is how I would put it.
I like to see all I can see when I want to and can to see it. I do not like raiding and I like raiding. :)
Yes there are many things about raiding I have experienced that I truly hate and even thought about quiting wow but of course did not after further thought.
Since I have moved my priest Moheal to Feathermoon to join friends guild and play/instance/raid with them, I have really enjoyed all the placed in wow I have not been to.
Primarily as a healer and at times dps (when needed) we have been to all the Heroics, you know the daily grind to get stinkin badges; VOA, OS, even Ulduar! and finally I went to Naxx this past weekend. It is truly amazing the work wow has done and continues to do. I always say, they do make every penny we pay worth it, in my opinion.
I do have a point here some where...what I have noticed is as I have been used to playing with my new guildies and their play style and their good play, it has been very hard for me when I do join a pug. I really do not know how to explain it but with the guild I have cause very few wipes in my, well lets say lack of healing at times. I always we always can improve what ever we are working on, that goes for my healing. But I have been doing a good job while in guild runs.
Pugs, well...I don't think I have to say how bad pugs can get. And with all the different people in a bug in the simplest counters, I lose the group!!!
Why is that? Is it operator error on me for just not healing? (well perhaps at times but probably not)
Is it for a lack of dps? yes some people would say so but I would like to believe there are other factors.
Is it the different classes tanking (guildie is a Paladine and most pug tanks are DK's and warriors, some Druids) maybe, but also a good factor or should I say some times a bad factor.
Gear, some people just don't have a good gear and I have been there myself and not able to hold agro. This is a great reason too and a viable one. Just as when I was not geared I could not even heal Heroics let alone some of the tricky encounters.
Any input you have please let us know, let me know as I would like to understand and figure out if it is something I am not doing or if I can do anything different.
With the type of playing style I have, even with the minimal research I do and asking the community, I am not a spreadsheet person, meaning I do not make it a science as some people enjoy doing to wow.
Can you really get used to playing wow with the same people so much that when you play with different players (play styles) it is like your first time playing or entering the instance you are trying to complete?
Mo wants to know! So please provide your input.
Thank you
Friday, September 25
The sun breaks the horizon… (Original Fiction by Xan)
The sweaty little urchin shuts the door in a huff; back to the door, sniffling and panting as though he has ran all night. As the door latch clanked shut, Mayvn jumped straight up in his bed. As though there was a spring in the bed, he jumped directly from the horizontal to the vertical without even moving to his knees. Silk bandana still tied around his eyes. “Who’s there?!?”
Solcloud, sitting next to the window was polishing his armor looked to the bony bard and could not help but shake his head. “Take off your little night blind and look for yourself. It’s our own little ‘fire.” Scorn seemed to drip with the statement, but it was still said with an air of tolerance. “Our little fire must have met with a bigger fire, yes?” He turned to the little man still gasping for breath at the door.
Peaking from under the blindfold, Mayvn blinks as the sunlight flashed into his sleep crusted eyes. “Oh, our little rogue has returned with news!”
Zander slowly rolls from his large bed and sits up, obvious to the group he stayed up late with the barmaid talking and cleaning up. “What did you discover, my diminutive humorous bandit?” He blinked as the sun flooded the room and reflected off Solcloud’s now brilliantly polished armor.
Wheezing, Beasley doubled over and coughed. After clearing his throat, he struggled to push the words out. “For being a threat to the town, this temple is not heavily guarded.”
Mayvn, pulling on one of his long boots and hopping to get it on, crashed to the floor. “Excellent,” he grunted from the floor. “Why don’t we knock on the front door?” The statement was saturated with sarcasm.
“Excellent!” The paladin straightens his breastplate, made his way towards the silky lump on the floor, and nudged him with his boot. “I am glad you are starting to feel a little more daring, peacock.”
Zander also starts to get dressed and splashes water on his face from the washbasin on the wardrobe. “I agree. No more time for questions, I believe it is time for action.” He turned and dried his hands on his robe as he smoothed his chain shirt and attached his hammer to his belt. “This day will not be silent, but rumble with Othr’s might.”
Now on his hands and knees Mayvn jeered, “Ah, someone is smitten by the classy lady in the tavern.”
Zander smiled at the bard, with a twinkle in his eye, he pushed Mayvn’s hand out from under him and he crashed to the floor again with a thud. “Othr smiles on those who recognize beauty and honor it.”
Making his way to his feet, nursing a bruised pride, Mayvn smiled. “That is true, my friend.” He picked up his beautiful lute and began to strum the strings as he slumped onto the bed to tune it. “But would this young lady prefer a sonnet, or perhaps a limerick?”
Zander dried his face on his robe but as he did so, he could not help but let out a thunderous roar of laughter. “You make me smile, little man!” Zander pulled out a large stein from his treasure chest. “You couldn’t drink a thimble of her special brew without falling to your knees in a drunken stupor. Imagine six of these full to the brim, burning their way down your throat! Now that is a man for Jenny.”
Zander flopped down on the bed next to Mayvn in a great thud, causing Mayvn to nearly shoot through the roof. Then Zander leaned in to whisper into Mayvn’s ear.
“I had ten before she told me I aught to stop. I felt a light burn in my nose, but a joy in my belly. Needless to say, I slept very well.” With a grin and a hearty slap on the shoulder, Zander stood up. “Now, what say you all? Shall we go bash some heretics?”
Beasley, now caught his breath, looked up to the towering giant standing over three times his own height. “Now wait a second! They are…” Beasley realized that nothing he could say could stop Zander from him ‘mission’ to avenge Jenny’s tavern being attacked. He hurried to catch up to his lumbering friend, the other two explorers followed down the hallway. As they made their way down the stairway, Jenny was already up and wiping the tavern tables down before the start of her business day. She looked up and gave Zander a waive and a wink, he returned her smile with a bashful look and continued out the door. The others, just waived and followed Zander with a doubled pace.
Solcloud, sitting next to the window was polishing his armor looked to the bony bard and could not help but shake his head. “Take off your little night blind and look for yourself. It’s our own little ‘fire.” Scorn seemed to drip with the statement, but it was still said with an air of tolerance. “Our little fire must have met with a bigger fire, yes?” He turned to the little man still gasping for breath at the door.
Peaking from under the blindfold, Mayvn blinks as the sunlight flashed into his sleep crusted eyes. “Oh, our little rogue has returned with news!”
Zander slowly rolls from his large bed and sits up, obvious to the group he stayed up late with the barmaid talking and cleaning up. “What did you discover, my diminutive humorous bandit?” He blinked as the sun flooded the room and reflected off Solcloud’s now brilliantly polished armor.
Wheezing, Beasley doubled over and coughed. After clearing his throat, he struggled to push the words out. “For being a threat to the town, this temple is not heavily guarded.”
Mayvn, pulling on one of his long boots and hopping to get it on, crashed to the floor. “Excellent,” he grunted from the floor. “Why don’t we knock on the front door?” The statement was saturated with sarcasm.
“Excellent!” The paladin straightens his breastplate, made his way towards the silky lump on the floor, and nudged him with his boot. “I am glad you are starting to feel a little more daring, peacock.”
Zander also starts to get dressed and splashes water on his face from the washbasin on the wardrobe. “I agree. No more time for questions, I believe it is time for action.” He turned and dried his hands on his robe as he smoothed his chain shirt and attached his hammer to his belt. “This day will not be silent, but rumble with Othr’s might.”
Now on his hands and knees Mayvn jeered, “Ah, someone is smitten by the classy lady in the tavern.”
Zander smiled at the bard, with a twinkle in his eye, he pushed Mayvn’s hand out from under him and he crashed to the floor again with a thud. “Othr smiles on those who recognize beauty and honor it.”
Making his way to his feet, nursing a bruised pride, Mayvn smiled. “That is true, my friend.” He picked up his beautiful lute and began to strum the strings as he slumped onto the bed to tune it. “But would this young lady prefer a sonnet, or perhaps a limerick?”
Zander dried his face on his robe but as he did so, he could not help but let out a thunderous roar of laughter. “You make me smile, little man!” Zander pulled out a large stein from his treasure chest. “You couldn’t drink a thimble of her special brew without falling to your knees in a drunken stupor. Imagine six of these full to the brim, burning their way down your throat! Now that is a man for Jenny.”
Zander flopped down on the bed next to Mayvn in a great thud, causing Mayvn to nearly shoot through the roof. Then Zander leaned in to whisper into Mayvn’s ear.
“I had ten before she told me I aught to stop. I felt a light burn in my nose, but a joy in my belly. Needless to say, I slept very well.” With a grin and a hearty slap on the shoulder, Zander stood up. “Now, what say you all? Shall we go bash some heretics?”
Beasley, now caught his breath, looked up to the towering giant standing over three times his own height. “Now wait a second! They are…” Beasley realized that nothing he could say could stop Zander from him ‘mission’ to avenge Jenny’s tavern being attacked. He hurried to catch up to his lumbering friend, the other two explorers followed down the hallway. As they made their way down the stairway, Jenny was already up and wiping the tavern tables down before the start of her business day. She looked up and gave Zander a waive and a wink, he returned her smile with a bashful look and continued out the door. The others, just waived and followed Zander with a doubled pace.
Wednesday, September 23
Momomomen t#14 - Quick long note on Aion
Hello,
I know this blog has been pretty much all on wow but I am one that likes to explore as many things, including games, as I can.
In addition to wow I do play Wii games, Xbox, other pc games like Aion, the new mmo that came out from Ncsoft.
So far, well I am just getting to know the game, read up on it and figure out what class I will start leveling.
When I remember back to my first time playing wow, WOW! that is over 4 years ago!?!?! crazy! I went Horde right away because my friend that recommended wow was a Horde Orc Hunter and also I just like the look of the Horde Characters. Than when I was going through the different races and what classes they each had, I was drawn right to the Tauren and warrior!!! So from here it seems it was very easy (I don't think it was that easy and it did take me some time).
And of course naming your character, in wow that has always been a challenge (believe it or not even after you find out all of my character names :))
As I have said before, the naming is very important I think; it is part of your in the virtual world of warcraft!
To some it may not be that important but to me it was and is. So of course after many minutes of thinking I went with Motauren!
Yes I know very creative but well, I am Mo and he is a Tauren!
In Aion, so you are aware, there are 2 races: Elyos and Asmodians (I will not go into detail right now, you may check out aiononline.com to read up if you would like to) and you may look at Elyos as Alliance and Asmodians as Horde, but it is not that simple.
Than, oh before I go on, I do have to say that Aion at first look is very PRETTY! This is one reason many people will try it and this is one reason I am trying it, in addition to checking out another game that may get our gaming curiosity juices flowing. If you are a gamer (which I will talk about this on a different post coming up) I believe you will dive into different games and this does not mean I am quiting wow or a wow hater, NO WAY! Wow is #1 and will be for a long time.
Ok, so after you pick a race (of course after you pick a server of course) you will not be able to create any characters from the other race on that server. Yes same as wow where you could not make Horde on a server where you had made Alliance already.
The classes are: Warrior, Scout, Mage, Priest
Warrior is very similar to Warriors in wow but one big difference in Aion is whatever class you are, everyone starts out the same, no specialization.
When you have gained enough experience (not sure how much or what level yet) you will be able to Ascend to one of 2 specializations for the class you are. I look at these like talent points (as I dont see there are talent points in Aion, not that I have found yet) Warrior can become Templar or Gladiator; Scouts: Assasins and Ranger; Mage: Sorcerer and Spiritmaster; Priest: Chanter and Cleric.
And with experience and leveling come flight; you get wings but just as many other topics I do not have all the details on that.
So with the actual hour or so of play time I have had with Aion, I have to say it is promising and the only issue is dividing time with wow and Aion and everything else.
I will do my best to report more on Aion and I hope other people can do that same.
Thank you very much,
I know this blog has been pretty much all on wow but I am one that likes to explore as many things, including games, as I can.
In addition to wow I do play Wii games, Xbox, other pc games like Aion, the new mmo that came out from Ncsoft.
So far, well I am just getting to know the game, read up on it and figure out what class I will start leveling.
When I remember back to my first time playing wow, WOW! that is over 4 years ago!?!?! crazy! I went Horde right away because my friend that recommended wow was a Horde Orc Hunter and also I just like the look of the Horde Characters. Than when I was going through the different races and what classes they each had, I was drawn right to the Tauren and warrior!!! So from here it seems it was very easy (I don't think it was that easy and it did take me some time).
And of course naming your character, in wow that has always been a challenge (believe it or not even after you find out all of my character names :))
As I have said before, the naming is very important I think; it is part of your in the virtual world of warcraft!
To some it may not be that important but to me it was and is. So of course after many minutes of thinking I went with Motauren!
Yes I know very creative but well, I am Mo and he is a Tauren!
In Aion, so you are aware, there are 2 races: Elyos and Asmodians (I will not go into detail right now, you may check out aiononline.com to read up if you would like to) and you may look at Elyos as Alliance and Asmodians as Horde, but it is not that simple.
Than, oh before I go on, I do have to say that Aion at first look is very PRETTY! This is one reason many people will try it and this is one reason I am trying it, in addition to checking out another game that may get our gaming curiosity juices flowing. If you are a gamer (which I will talk about this on a different post coming up) I believe you will dive into different games and this does not mean I am quiting wow or a wow hater, NO WAY! Wow is #1 and will be for a long time.
Ok, so after you pick a race (of course after you pick a server of course) you will not be able to create any characters from the other race on that server. Yes same as wow where you could not make Horde on a server where you had made Alliance already.
The classes are: Warrior, Scout, Mage, Priest
Warrior is very similar to Warriors in wow but one big difference in Aion is whatever class you are, everyone starts out the same, no specialization.
When you have gained enough experience (not sure how much or what level yet) you will be able to Ascend to one of 2 specializations for the class you are. I look at these like talent points (as I dont see there are talent points in Aion, not that I have found yet) Warrior can become Templar or Gladiator; Scouts: Assasins and Ranger; Mage: Sorcerer and Spiritmaster; Priest: Chanter and Cleric.
And with experience and leveling come flight; you get wings but just as many other topics I do not have all the details on that.
So with the actual hour or so of play time I have had with Aion, I have to say it is promising and the only issue is dividing time with wow and Aion and everything else.
I will do my best to report more on Aion and I hope other people can do that same.
Thank you very much,
Friday, September 18
The questioning begins… (Orignal Fiction by Xan)
Zander grasps the guard by the waist and the scruff of his neck and drops him on a nearby table, just as Beasley frees Jenny from her bonds. Before he released her from her bonds, she stood up and ran to Zander.
She flung herself at the giant, “Are you OK?” She almost mauls him as she searches for injuries.
“I am fine miss.” Zander tries to gently push her away. “Are YOU OK, m’lady?”
“You’re hurt!” Jenny gasps as she sees a glint of blood on Zander’s cloak. “Let me help you.”
Zander grins, shakes his head and mutters under his breath. A spark of electricity and the smell of ozone fill the air as Zander’s wounds seemingly vanish in a spark of lightning. “Please mistress, let me take care of your attackers.”
Jenny blushes after she realizes her intentions are becoming a bit too forward for someone like Zander. “Please, if I can get you anything…” Before she could finish, Zander winks towards her and smiles. “I will let you know.” He turns to the guard, squeezing the handle of his hammer and twisting it as it creaks in his hand. The others gather around the weakened guard, all also brandishing their weapons and smiling intimidating smiles. Beasley hops onto the table, dagger in hand. “What is the meaning of harming these fair people?” He moves the dagger under the guard’s neck as he grips him by the hair.
“I will not tell!” The guard spits in Beasley’s face. Zander slams the table with his open hand, rumbling the table.
Struggling to keep his balance, Beasley slips and nicks the guards chin. “If you don’t want me to nick you again, I suggest you start to talk.” The halfling pushes the tip of the dagger into the small cut and twisted the tip in the bone of the guards chin. “And I don’t think my large friend appreciated you disrespecting me like that. Now please tell me why you attacked these people in the bar.”
Now a bit more ‘motivated,’ the guard begins to stutter. “I-I-I, I mean, w-w-we…” Pushing the dagger up to his chin again, Beasley glares at the guard. “We always come at this time and take sacrifices to our god.”
“God?” Zander growls, “What GOD requires a human sacrifice.” Clearly angered by the comment, the half-ogre continues to grumble. “What is with the dragon crest on your armor? Where is your GOD now?” Slamming his hand on the table again, this time breaking off a small piece. “SPEAK!” Thunder seemed to roll somewhere in the distance.
“I’ll tell you whatever it is you want to know! Please, don’t hurt me.” The guard pleaded as though his life depended on it.
Still holding onto the frightened man hair, Beasley points with his dagger to the missing chunk of the table. “Then I suggest you tell us everything you know, my friend. I doubt you will get another warning from my hefty friend here.”
The guard sputtered out everything as though the words burned like hot soup on his lips. “The dragon is a symbol of our god. We worship irregularly, only when our leader calls us. When we are called we are asked to bring a sacrifice.” The guard began to snivel and cry. “Please…”
Beasley snorted a small laugh and glared at the guard, trying to keep up the menacing persona. “Go on baby, keep crying. Tell us what we need to know. Who is your leader?”
“No one knows his name! No one knows where he comes from other than a portal in our temple. Our temple is near the inn at the other end of town, but you will never get in.” Whimpering and crying the guard sputters out more information. “The stronghold is somewhere outside the city limits and it is linked only through the portal. That is the only way to reach our god or our leader.”
“Please, that is not the only way.” Mayvn rolls his eyes and puts a hand on his hip. “They had to build this stronghold, how did they get in to build it?” Mayvn slaps the guard with a soft hand.
“It is rumored that there is an entrance through the labyrinth where adventurers go to gain renown at the inn on the far end of town.” Solcloud looks up and makes eye contact with the rest of the party. With a knowing nod, they all knew of the labyrinth of which the guard spoke. The guard cried once more, “PLEASE, let me go! I have dishonored my god.” With a glint of light, a crunch of bone, and a splash of red the table collapsed as Zander’s hammer broke through the table and the guard together as they crumbled to the floor. Everyone, including Jenny, stared in awe at the cleric’s lack of resolve. Beasley was especially shocked as he was standing on the table before it was sundered into pieces by the mighty ogre. He stood up from the floor wiping the blood from his face.
“I am sorry,” Zander wipes a spatter off his chain mail. “I can’t tolerate anyone who worships a god like that. It is not natural.” Zander reached down to help the small man regain his feet.
The shocked little man looked up to the towering man, wiped the rest of the gore from his face, and looked to the giant. “Next time tap me on the shoulder or something. I like surprises as much as the next halfling, but that was a little too close for comfort my friend.” He smiled and patted the giant on the arm as he swaggers to his feet. Zander, with sorrow in his eyes looked down on the startled halfling.
“You are…” Zander gulped with caution, “all right?”
“Yes my short tempered friend. I am fine, but you know I really wanted to ask his bag of bones more about this temple of his.” He looked down at the grisly mess on the floor. “I suppose now our only option is for me to ‘investigate.” With a wink, he turned to his companions. “I guess I am off to burgle… er… search the temple for more information about this cult and their.” Beasley paused and looked to the cleric still wielding his hammer waiting approval to continue. Zander only hinted of a smile, but Beasley continued. “This cult and their ‘god’ need to be unearthed. We cannot let this town continue to live in fear of kidnappings and loss of life.”
Solcloud cleared his throat. “I do not condone thievery and burglary to discover evil.” He fondled the hilt of his sheathed sword and continued, looking down on the small man, still trying to climb his way out of the macabre. “Evil begets evil little one. What will breaking and entering afford us?”
“Might I have a word?” The thin peacock of a man tapped the paladin on the shoulder politely. “It is said that we should fight fire, with fire too. There are songs about it, you know.” Mayvn puffed up his chest, as if he had enlightened a child to the way water becomes steam.
Zander chuckled as he put his hammer away and bent down to pick up the table pieces, looking towards Jenny in apology. He addressed Mayvn in amusement, “Our poet speaks! Please, go on; tell us more of your ‘song.’ What else does it say?”
Mayvn cleared his throat. “Well, I can’t remember now.” He began to slouch again, his puffed up chest depressed. “I just agree with the little one. I think we should send him in, no use in us all being… well, you know what I mean. Let’s have the thief investigate.” Beasley looked up to Mayvn and grimaced, but decided it was no use to fight the seemingly obvious truth that he was a thief at heart.
“All right, I will investigate and return in the morning.” Beasley looked to the group. “I think you all should get some rest.” With that order and a wink to the giant, the little man dashes out of the room.
The paladin and the bard, fatigued by the night’s events, hauled their tired bodies back up the stairs. The giant bent over the body as Jenny knelt down to clean the mess. Zander smiled, as she looked up to him in genuine appreciation and gratitude for their help.
She flung herself at the giant, “Are you OK?” She almost mauls him as she searches for injuries.
“I am fine miss.” Zander tries to gently push her away. “Are YOU OK, m’lady?”
“You’re hurt!” Jenny gasps as she sees a glint of blood on Zander’s cloak. “Let me help you.”
Zander grins, shakes his head and mutters under his breath. A spark of electricity and the smell of ozone fill the air as Zander’s wounds seemingly vanish in a spark of lightning. “Please mistress, let me take care of your attackers.”
Jenny blushes after she realizes her intentions are becoming a bit too forward for someone like Zander. “Please, if I can get you anything…” Before she could finish, Zander winks towards her and smiles. “I will let you know.” He turns to the guard, squeezing the handle of his hammer and twisting it as it creaks in his hand. The others gather around the weakened guard, all also brandishing their weapons and smiling intimidating smiles. Beasley hops onto the table, dagger in hand. “What is the meaning of harming these fair people?” He moves the dagger under the guard’s neck as he grips him by the hair.
“I will not tell!” The guard spits in Beasley’s face. Zander slams the table with his open hand, rumbling the table.
Struggling to keep his balance, Beasley slips and nicks the guards chin. “If you don’t want me to nick you again, I suggest you start to talk.” The halfling pushes the tip of the dagger into the small cut and twisted the tip in the bone of the guards chin. “And I don’t think my large friend appreciated you disrespecting me like that. Now please tell me why you attacked these people in the bar.”
Now a bit more ‘motivated,’ the guard begins to stutter. “I-I-I, I mean, w-w-we…” Pushing the dagger up to his chin again, Beasley glares at the guard. “We always come at this time and take sacrifices to our god.”
“God?” Zander growls, “What GOD requires a human sacrifice.” Clearly angered by the comment, the half-ogre continues to grumble. “What is with the dragon crest on your armor? Where is your GOD now?” Slamming his hand on the table again, this time breaking off a small piece. “SPEAK!” Thunder seemed to roll somewhere in the distance.
“I’ll tell you whatever it is you want to know! Please, don’t hurt me.” The guard pleaded as though his life depended on it.
Still holding onto the frightened man hair, Beasley points with his dagger to the missing chunk of the table. “Then I suggest you tell us everything you know, my friend. I doubt you will get another warning from my hefty friend here.”
The guard sputtered out everything as though the words burned like hot soup on his lips. “The dragon is a symbol of our god. We worship irregularly, only when our leader calls us. When we are called we are asked to bring a sacrifice.” The guard began to snivel and cry. “Please…”
Beasley snorted a small laugh and glared at the guard, trying to keep up the menacing persona. “Go on baby, keep crying. Tell us what we need to know. Who is your leader?”
“No one knows his name! No one knows where he comes from other than a portal in our temple. Our temple is near the inn at the other end of town, but you will never get in.” Whimpering and crying the guard sputters out more information. “The stronghold is somewhere outside the city limits and it is linked only through the portal. That is the only way to reach our god or our leader.”
“Please, that is not the only way.” Mayvn rolls his eyes and puts a hand on his hip. “They had to build this stronghold, how did they get in to build it?” Mayvn slaps the guard with a soft hand.
“It is rumored that there is an entrance through the labyrinth where adventurers go to gain renown at the inn on the far end of town.” Solcloud looks up and makes eye contact with the rest of the party. With a knowing nod, they all knew of the labyrinth of which the guard spoke. The guard cried once more, “PLEASE, let me go! I have dishonored my god.” With a glint of light, a crunch of bone, and a splash of red the table collapsed as Zander’s hammer broke through the table and the guard together as they crumbled to the floor. Everyone, including Jenny, stared in awe at the cleric’s lack of resolve. Beasley was especially shocked as he was standing on the table before it was sundered into pieces by the mighty ogre. He stood up from the floor wiping the blood from his face.
“I am sorry,” Zander wipes a spatter off his chain mail. “I can’t tolerate anyone who worships a god like that. It is not natural.” Zander reached down to help the small man regain his feet.
The shocked little man looked up to the towering man, wiped the rest of the gore from his face, and looked to the giant. “Next time tap me on the shoulder or something. I like surprises as much as the next halfling, but that was a little too close for comfort my friend.” He smiled and patted the giant on the arm as he swaggers to his feet. Zander, with sorrow in his eyes looked down on the startled halfling.
“You are…” Zander gulped with caution, “all right?”
“Yes my short tempered friend. I am fine, but you know I really wanted to ask his bag of bones more about this temple of his.” He looked down at the grisly mess on the floor. “I suppose now our only option is for me to ‘investigate.” With a wink, he turned to his companions. “I guess I am off to burgle… er… search the temple for more information about this cult and their.” Beasley paused and looked to the cleric still wielding his hammer waiting approval to continue. Zander only hinted of a smile, but Beasley continued. “This cult and their ‘god’ need to be unearthed. We cannot let this town continue to live in fear of kidnappings and loss of life.”
Solcloud cleared his throat. “I do not condone thievery and burglary to discover evil.” He fondled the hilt of his sheathed sword and continued, looking down on the small man, still trying to climb his way out of the macabre. “Evil begets evil little one. What will breaking and entering afford us?”
“Might I have a word?” The thin peacock of a man tapped the paladin on the shoulder politely. “It is said that we should fight fire, with fire too. There are songs about it, you know.” Mayvn puffed up his chest, as if he had enlightened a child to the way water becomes steam.
Zander chuckled as he put his hammer away and bent down to pick up the table pieces, looking towards Jenny in apology. He addressed Mayvn in amusement, “Our poet speaks! Please, go on; tell us more of your ‘song.’ What else does it say?”
Mayvn cleared his throat. “Well, I can’t remember now.” He began to slouch again, his puffed up chest depressed. “I just agree with the little one. I think we should send him in, no use in us all being… well, you know what I mean. Let’s have the thief investigate.” Beasley looked up to Mayvn and grimaced, but decided it was no use to fight the seemingly obvious truth that he was a thief at heart.
“All right, I will investigate and return in the morning.” Beasley looked to the group. “I think you all should get some rest.” With that order and a wink to the giant, the little man dashes out of the room.
The paladin and the bard, fatigued by the night’s events, hauled their tired bodies back up the stairs. The giant bent over the body as Jenny knelt down to clean the mess. Zander smiled, as she looked up to him in genuine appreciation and gratitude for their help.
Wednesday, September 16
New Moon Theater Reservation PART 2
HOPE YOU LIKE THE NEW TRAILER!
I am following up from the previous posting regarding anyone who would like to reserve tickets for 'New Moon'
I have been contacted by Larry Miller Group to see if we would again be interested in a ‘private’ showing of the next Twilight Saga movie. I thought I would put ‘feelers’ out to see who would want to go. I am sure that the tickets will have an extra built in to the price – the concession. Last time it was the price of a normal ticket plus $5 which was given to you as a gift card to use at the concessions.
There is a possibility that there might be a pre-screening the day before the national release date – and, I won’t know that for certain until I tie up a theater.
Please let me know your thoughts – I would need at least 300-325 tickets to be purchased. Just ask your friends/family/twilighters and see what kind of interest you get and then get back to me – then we will make the decision.
The movie comes out Friday, November 20th – less than 2 months away!
In addition I have been given the go ahead to offer Gift Certificates to 1% of those tickets sold. If we sell out a 300 seat theater that will be 3 Gift Certificates to J!NX.
.jpg)
The Experienced Noob is going to try to find other items to give away. Please let me know with a post here and an email to TheExperiencedNoob@Gmail.Com if you would like to come or if you would like to help with a give away.
Thanks to all!
Friday, September 11
The Bar Brawl... (Original Fiction by Xan)
Charging down the stairs, Solcloud jumps the last three steps. “Down with evil, justice must be carried out!” He crashes into two guards standing near the stairs. Sword in hand he swings wildly at the closest guard. Taking a mighty gash out of one of the shocked guards arm before he even had a chance to raise his sword.
Zander follows suit, with a mighty roar he lumbers down the stairway, wielding the hammer in his long arms he smashes into the second guard. The hammer connects directly on the unknown soldiers’ breastplate. The guard yelps in pain as he raises his sword, but quickly drops his sword when he felt his rib pierce his lungs and he gasped for air.
Beasley dives under the nearest table, slashing at the guards’ feet. Bringing the maimed guard fighting the paladin to his knees with a gash to the back of his leg, where his armor was thin.
Mayvn stood at the top of the staircase. Singing a mighty dirge, ushering the other fighters to greatness as he fires a shot from his crossbow at the third guard closing in on the group. The bolt strikes the guard in the arm, just as he approaches the fray.
The giant roars as his adversary falls to the ground, his armor crushed from the potent Hammer of Smiting. He lumbers towards the third guard. The man sees this giant approaching and turns to run away. Zander roars in hot pursuit.
The guard is gasping as he tries to fend off the paladin with his heavy sword and the halfling hiding in the shadows of the tables. Beasley is shocked at how fast the guards fall at the efficiency of these seemingly unskilled fighters that are his friends. Then the thought rushes to his head that they do not know what these guards were doing at the bar in the first place. “Leave one alive!” He shouts in the direction of the paladin and the cleric.
As the yelp of desperation leaves his lips, time seems to slow down as Solcloud’s sword cuts through the final guard facing him. Zander’s hammer drops the fleeing guard to his knees and Mayvn’s bolt leaves his crossbow soaring to finish off the same guard. Zander heard the call and tries to leap in front of the bolt to save the kneeling guard now going pale. Luckily, the bolt flies wide and misses its target. The guard rolls his eyes back into his head and he drops to the ground passed out. Zander breathes a deep breath and says a prayer to Othr and the guard slowly opens his eyes. The limbering giant grabs the guard by his armor and begins to drag him down the street back to the bar where the rest of the party waits. Kicking and screaming the guard yells for help, the bystanders on the street only watch the giant and the guard shuffle down the street and into the bar.
Zander follows suit, with a mighty roar he lumbers down the stairway, wielding the hammer in his long arms he smashes into the second guard. The hammer connects directly on the unknown soldiers’ breastplate. The guard yelps in pain as he raises his sword, but quickly drops his sword when he felt his rib pierce his lungs and he gasped for air.
Beasley dives under the nearest table, slashing at the guards’ feet. Bringing the maimed guard fighting the paladin to his knees with a gash to the back of his leg, where his armor was thin.
Mayvn stood at the top of the staircase. Singing a mighty dirge, ushering the other fighters to greatness as he fires a shot from his crossbow at the third guard closing in on the group. The bolt strikes the guard in the arm, just as he approaches the fray.
The giant roars as his adversary falls to the ground, his armor crushed from the potent Hammer of Smiting. He lumbers towards the third guard. The man sees this giant approaching and turns to run away. Zander roars in hot pursuit.
The guard is gasping as he tries to fend off the paladin with his heavy sword and the halfling hiding in the shadows of the tables. Beasley is shocked at how fast the guards fall at the efficiency of these seemingly unskilled fighters that are his friends. Then the thought rushes to his head that they do not know what these guards were doing at the bar in the first place. “Leave one alive!” He shouts in the direction of the paladin and the cleric.
As the yelp of desperation leaves his lips, time seems to slow down as Solcloud’s sword cuts through the final guard facing him. Zander’s hammer drops the fleeing guard to his knees and Mayvn’s bolt leaves his crossbow soaring to finish off the same guard. Zander heard the call and tries to leap in front of the bolt to save the kneeling guard now going pale. Luckily, the bolt flies wide and misses its target. The guard rolls his eyes back into his head and he drops to the ground passed out. Zander breathes a deep breath and says a prayer to Othr and the guard slowly opens his eyes. The limbering giant grabs the guard by his armor and begins to drag him down the street back to the bar where the rest of the party waits. Kicking and screaming the guard yells for help, the bystanders on the street only watch the giant and the guard shuffle down the street and into the bar.
Tuesday, September 8
MoMoment #11 - Home Sweet Home
Hello all,
The last two weeks I had traveled back to Chicago where I grew up and I don't know about you, I enjoy going back to Chi-town.
I did not have that much time to visit all the places I like or people to visit but still very fun.
I was thinking, in WoW, have you ever returned home?
What does that mean?
Well I look at it this way, we all have at least one (to 10 mains if you are an alt-aholic) and many of us are partial to one server, one guild, you name it.
So if you did level or was on a server, in a guild for a long time and than transferred to another server/guild (no matter what the reason) did you ever go back (for a visit)?
For me, I was looking from the inside out. I started on the Balanzzar server horde side with my friend from Chicago and we made lots of friends and started a guild that grew to 300+! We were mainly the leveling guild for that server, and I am not kidding. We easily provided the raiding guilds on that server with at least 20-30 60s at the time. I still have over 10 characters on that server but the friends I had made are just down to a few. People either left for another guild (many did come back and left again), many transferred to another server because Balanzzar has always been a low pop server and ALWAYS hard to get good groups together let alone raids; some people even quit the game (again for many reasons).
It was nice to see some people come back and have fun with the guild and people they leveled up to 60 with back in the day.
I have heard on many podcasts how many people have leveled on one server, one guild from day one! I think that is so cool! Fantastic!! GREAT!!!!
Have you returned to your "birth place" = the first server/guild you leveled on?
I understand there are also many that are not that sentimental as I am but I don't think I am alone.
I do miss the first friends I made in wow and I do stay in contact with some of them, even daily with some. I have even had the chance to meet some as they were traveling or when I was.
I am curious what all of you have to say. Let us know if you are sentimental or think I am mental. Well don't tell me that I know that already.
Where is your home sweet home in wow?
Thank you
The last two weeks I had traveled back to Chicago where I grew up and I don't know about you, I enjoy going back to Chi-town.
I did not have that much time to visit all the places I like or people to visit but still very fun.
I was thinking, in WoW, have you ever returned home?
What does that mean?
Well I look at it this way, we all have at least one (to 10 mains if you are an alt-aholic) and many of us are partial to one server, one guild, you name it.
So if you did level or was on a server, in a guild for a long time and than transferred to another server/guild (no matter what the reason) did you ever go back (for a visit)?
For me, I was looking from the inside out. I started on the Balanzzar server horde side with my friend from Chicago and we made lots of friends and started a guild that grew to 300+! We were mainly the leveling guild for that server, and I am not kidding. We easily provided the raiding guilds on that server with at least 20-30 60s at the time. I still have over 10 characters on that server but the friends I had made are just down to a few. People either left for another guild (many did come back and left again), many transferred to another server because Balanzzar has always been a low pop server and ALWAYS hard to get good groups together let alone raids; some people even quit the game (again for many reasons).
It was nice to see some people come back and have fun with the guild and people they leveled up to 60 with back in the day.
I have heard on many podcasts how many people have leveled on one server, one guild from day one! I think that is so cool! Fantastic!! GREAT!!!!
Have you returned to your "birth place" = the first server/guild you leveled on?
I understand there are also many that are not that sentimental as I am but I don't think I am alone.
I do miss the first friends I made in wow and I do stay in contact with some of them, even daily with some. I have even had the chance to meet some as they were traveling or when I was.
I am curious what all of you have to say. Let us know if you are sentimental or think I am mental. Well don't tell me that I know that already.
Where is your home sweet home in wow?
Thank you
Friday, September 4
The Room... (Original Fiction by Xan)
Inside the room, there are four beds. Amazingly equipped to handle three large men and a smaller bed that seems to have been brought in. The beds are nothing special, but seem to have clean sheets.
“That sweet angel,” Zander puts his hands on his hips. “That young child has provided us the best room in the house! She will be offered a mighty thanks and a blessing from Othr in the morning.”
“That girl sure had a sweet spot for you, my large companion.” Mayvn slaps the large cleric on the back. “My hat’s off to you my good man.”
“Take your hat off for anyone, peacock!” Solcloud scoffs at the play on words.
“That hat could provide cover for anyone hiding behind you, including Zander!”
“Just because you don’t have enough fashion sense to clothe yourself in the finer things.” Mayvn huffs. “Don’t take it out on me.”
“SHHHHHH!” Zander orders. “Something is the matter!
“I hear it too!” Solcloud draws his sword. “Let’s check it out.”
“Are you mad?” Beasley pipes up. “You couldn’t sneak up on an elephant stampede through an inn full of ale bottles! Zander and I will go.”
“Aye.” Zander winks at his small friend. “Don’t worry though, we will return before we have too much fun.” He draws his hammer and ushers the little man out the door. He turns to the other two and places a finger over his lips.
Down the hallway, Beasley sticks to the shadows. Quieter than a mouse he scurries down the hallway. The sounds of a commotion in the bar, tables being overturned, women screaming and men barking orders.
“Don’t let that one get away! Tie them up with the others!”
Beasley looks around the corner and down the stairway to see three men in full armor tying people together. He sees another man shout to the other three. “These will be perfect! They will all come to the tower!”
Beasley makes his way back down the dark hallway to meet Zander. “Let’s get the others. Jenny is in trouble.”
“What! No one hurts her!” Zander takes a step towards the stairway Beasley grabs his leg.
“NO! We need the others! Then we can come back and teach them all a lesson.” Beasley spoke sharply and quietly. “Now come on, let’s get the others.”
They rush quietly back down the hallway to the room where the others wait their return.
“The inn is under siege!” Beasley, panting, throws the door open. “We must help them!”
“Evil is at our doorstep and we wait like children from a monster under our beds!” Solcloud unsheathes his sword, raises it in the air. “Evil must perish!”
The Paladin runs out the door, followed by Zander as the march down the hallway.
The halfling pops his head in the room. “Well, you coming, Silky?”
“Wait for me!” Mayvn yells to the others as he grabs his lute and Betsy II as he runs down the hallway.
“That sweet angel,” Zander puts his hands on his hips. “That young child has provided us the best room in the house! She will be offered a mighty thanks and a blessing from Othr in the morning.”
“That girl sure had a sweet spot for you, my large companion.” Mayvn slaps the large cleric on the back. “My hat’s off to you my good man.”
“Take your hat off for anyone, peacock!” Solcloud scoffs at the play on words.
“That hat could provide cover for anyone hiding behind you, including Zander!”
“Just because you don’t have enough fashion sense to clothe yourself in the finer things.” Mayvn huffs. “Don’t take it out on me.”
“SHHHHHH!” Zander orders. “Something is the matter!
“I hear it too!” Solcloud draws his sword. “Let’s check it out.”
“Are you mad?” Beasley pipes up. “You couldn’t sneak up on an elephant stampede through an inn full of ale bottles! Zander and I will go.”
“Aye.” Zander winks at his small friend. “Don’t worry though, we will return before we have too much fun.” He draws his hammer and ushers the little man out the door. He turns to the other two and places a finger over his lips.
Down the hallway, Beasley sticks to the shadows. Quieter than a mouse he scurries down the hallway. The sounds of a commotion in the bar, tables being overturned, women screaming and men barking orders.
“Don’t let that one get away! Tie them up with the others!”
Beasley looks around the corner and down the stairway to see three men in full armor tying people together. He sees another man shout to the other three. “These will be perfect! They will all come to the tower!”
Beasley makes his way back down the dark hallway to meet Zander. “Let’s get the others. Jenny is in trouble.”
“What! No one hurts her!” Zander takes a step towards the stairway Beasley grabs his leg.
“NO! We need the others! Then we can come back and teach them all a lesson.” Beasley spoke sharply and quietly. “Now come on, let’s get the others.”
They rush quietly back down the hallway to the room where the others wait their return.
“The inn is under siege!” Beasley, panting, throws the door open. “We must help them!”
“Evil is at our doorstep and we wait like children from a monster under our beds!” Solcloud unsheathes his sword, raises it in the air. “Evil must perish!”
The Paladin runs out the door, followed by Zander as the march down the hallway.
The halfling pops his head in the room. “Well, you coming, Silky?”
“Wait for me!” Mayvn yells to the others as he grabs his lute and Betsy II as he runs down the hallway.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)