The Experienced Noob

Tale of the Purple Trance (Avaree of Crushridge US)

2011-02-25T16:07:00.001-07:00

Life was pretty plain for me growing up. My father was part of the Gilneas Musketeers serving King Greymane since he was a boy. He started off in the stables and he quickly became like a page boy to the Musketeers. They taught him how to wield a sword as well as fire a gun. Father went to war with them and kept the camp in working order and often hunted game for fresh meat for the Musketeers during the Second War.

Shortly after the Second War, my father returned home and married my mother; A beautiful maid-servant who was assigned to the Silverlaine family. She was allowed to leave with him and begin a life in the country. I was born into a happy life in the country with hunting hounds as friends and my father teaching me to hunt to provide for the family in case of another war when he would be called away to serve his king. Then came the Great Wall.

The Musketeers were disbanded shortly after my father was given his own tabard and standing within their ranks. This devastated my father because he wasn’t able to serve side by side with his friends during battle. He shared his feelings of apathy with Darius Crowley, a friend of the King and one who shared the disgust for the king’s actions in building the wall.

By this time I was well into my teens and knew of my father’s complaints of apathy and secret meetings with Crowley. One night my father left to meet with Crowley and his other supporters and was captured by the night watch. They were sent to prison on counts of treason. Within a year or so strange beasts plagued the countryside and killed my mother. After discovering my mother on the road from the market and our home mutilated, I retreated to my home for weeks. I barely ate nor slept. The only reminder I had of sleeping and eating were my hunting hounds.

One morning I awoke with the hot breath of Bayard, my favorite hunting hound, blowing my tangled hair away from my face. In his mouth he had a beautiful talisman made of purple metal and a purple gem. The images on the talisman were of a wolf and a hammer. Somehow this talisman brought back a strength and comfort I had longed for since my father was imprisoned. Gazing into the gem I could feel a heartbeat and a power like the stone was alive. That evening while I looked at the talisman in the firelight as it dangled around my neck I could almost hear a voice.

…I shall not make another like you…
…I will not be complete until I find you…
…KILZAR, NKAA’LA…

It was as if the talisman were the vessel in which someone’s thoughts had been put away for safe keeping. But what were these last two words? Were they names of people, places? How am I to find out more? How can I learn more about this talisman if I remain behind this wall? Would the beasts attack me as they did my mother? If I try to leave Gilneas will I be imprisoned like my father? So many questions swam through my mind, I didn’t notice the shadows outside the farmhouse windows growing larger.

Shadows burst through the windows, shattered glass and wind blew into my home snuffing out candles and the hearth. My hounds immediately jumped to my protection, as I reached for my rifle sitting on my mantle I got a good look at the intruders. WORGEN! The entire house was being overrun; I could hear them upstairs and on the thatch. I tried to shoot them as they made their way in, but they were too many. My hounds were keeping the beasts at bay while one of my hounds, Bayard, was ushering me towards the open door.

I took only a pack and my rifle and ran. My only thoughts were to make it to Gilneas and try to find my father, when I arrived in Gilneas I could see that the Worgen were filling the streets and I found Prince Liam Greymane in the town square on his horse shouting orders to anyone that would listen. I went to his aide and there is where my story begins…

RECRUITING IN WoW

2011-02-21T23:50:00.003-07:00

This is just a post to let everyone know if they are interested to email me or reply to this message for an invite to my guild on CRUSHRIDGE-US on World of Warcraft. The is recruiting all levels and all types of players to join our SOCIAL and LEVELING guild.

We are focusing mostly on guild achievements such as the Guild Instance Runs which we are doing every night at 9:00 PM PACIFIC TIME. So please come and join in the fun, help the guild level and be a part of the TEN guild.

Tale of the Purple Trance (Xandarr of Crushridge US)

2011-01-25T16:04:00.002-07:00

Before I begin my story after The Shattering, I guess I had better start from the time before the crashing of the Exodar. Before we were at war… This is my story…

Before the war I was a passivist, I don’t believe in confrontation or even war. If confrontation can be avoided through negotiation and setting terms through democracy then that is the way to preserve the peace. Although not a lawyer or even a moderator I had the ability to negotiate harder issues before they became violent. I preferred staying out of conflict and just work in my small jewelry shop outside the small township of Roilin on Argus. I had been commissioned to do jewelry for royalty and for weddings alike. Life was peaceful.

I believed in the power of The Light and attended services as often as my business would allow. My life changed, however, the night I received a blessing in the form of a vision while I slept one night.

The dream took place in a forge and jewelry shoppe similar to my own. I was working in the forge but the tools were different than my normal worn tools. I especially noticed the hammer which was of exceedingly radiant workmanship and lighter than a normal hammer used at my forge. I made beautiful jewelry in this forge and I became fascinated with the quality of this hammer. Its temper and strength was like no other I had ever used before. In fact, I pushed this hammer to its limits, even placing it near the fire and it did not heat up or crack like my previous tools had over time.

One beautiful morning an animal appeared in my forge that I had never seen before. An animal with four legs, beautiful silver fur and it always remained quiet except when I stuck my hammer to the anvil. This animal would let out a noise similar to a gun shot. But this sound was not in fear or in anger because I was using the hammer but more in awe at the hammer. This animal I later discovered was a wolf similar to the wolves of Azeroth but I had never seen a creature like her before coming to Azeroth. This strange creature fascinated me with her intelligence and playfulness.

I worked in the forge for months, the creature never left the forge and always stayed close to my tools, especially the hammer. I caught the beast on many occasions trying to steal the hammer but she just couldn’t lift it. Once she did pull it off my anvil and it fell to the floor, the hammer struck the ground and rang out almost in a laugh, as if to say “You are not strong enough to work with me.” This moment intrigued me as I watched the interaction between the hammer and the animal. This went on for quite some time; you could see the admiration in the eyes of the creature at the quality, the temper, and strength of this hammer that had been through so much in the forge. It was as if the wolf wanted to be as strong and as resilient as the hammer.

One day in the forge I had placed the hammer in a precarious position on my anvil where it teetered on the verge of falling over. I was across the room and nowhere near where I could catch it if it should fall. The wolf watched the hammer as it teetered, threatening to fall directly into the forge which was past the point of flash burning anything other than the strongest Eternium. The hammer started to fall, the wolf leapt up to try and save the hammer and together they fell into the furnace; the two becoming one in almost an instant in an explosion of light. When the blinding light subsided I went to the forge to see a glowing object. I reached into the blazing inferno with my tongs and pulled out a talisman made of Eternium and Draenite honoring the hammer and the wolf and the sacrifice the wolf made to never leave the hammer.

This vision touched me so deeply I awoke in the early hours of the morning and began to forge a talisman to remind me of this vision. I made the talisman from Eternium a rare metal on Argus as well as a singular perfect Draenite gem in the middle. I called the talisman The Purple Trance.

It is said that every craftsman makes one item in their lifetime that is so perfect and so pure that they put all their heart and soul into. Such items cannot be reproduced, not even by the craftsman, not even if a mold of the item was made. Fate chooses that item to imbue with certain gifts. So too was the talisman I made, although it was not known to me at the time, I knew this item was special to me because its significance and my dream.

I wore the Purple Trance daily; I only took it off to wash. It became a part of me just as much as my hands or facial tendrils are. Those who knew me saw the talisman and came to know of its significance to me, although none knew of the vision that inspired it. Commissioners came to offer me money for it, Suitors tried to obtain it as gifts for their intended, but nothing could separate me from my Purple Trance until we fled Argus.

With the betrayal of Kil’Jaeden and Archimonde ushering in the Burning Legion I fled with many others aboard the Exodar. We were forced to crash land on Azeroth. When I awoke from the devastation I realized that my talisman was no longer around my neck. All that I had was my hammer, my faith, and this new planet that I will search until my dying breath to retrieve my Purple Trance. I took up the mantle of Paladin but vowed to be a protector and only fight when forced to defend myself or those I cared for.

Before the Shattering I searched for my talisman in vain; but through my trials I have learned to harness the Light and use it to purify evil from my new home on Azeroth. I still search all over Azeroth, returned to the “Outlands” and even assisted the Alliance in their plight against the Lich King to find it. I was beginning to give up hope, but I always knew that my heart would truly stop beating if anything happened to my Purple Trance. So I continued my journey with my friends I have made along the way; Kilzar, the gruff but kind dwarf hunter and Nkaala, the ‘mother bear’ that guides me and keeps me centered on peace.

Life changed dramatically for me about a year or so before the Elemental Invasion ushered in the Shattering. But this story will have to wait until another side is revealed by the other player in this saga…

ORIGINAL FICTION NEEDS FEEDBACK

2010-08-06T05:00:00.000-06:00

Hello my blog readers! I am saddened by the announcement that my stories have come to a halt. I have had a lot of fun writing them but now it is up to my blog readers to show their support and stop lurking and please give me some feedback!

Jenny Blackbirch the pirate has just been taken to the Windriders Guild in Sharn... is she going to be honored, tortured, imprisoned? What is her fate... it is in YOUR hands!

Zan, Beasley, Solcloud & Jenny stand at an ornate door, what lies on the other side? What does their future hold? that too is in YOUR (my readers) hands.

Please leave feedback here as well as email me at TheExperiencedNoob AT Gmail DOT com.

The Eternal Flame (Original Fiction by Xan)

2010-07-09T05:00:00.000-06:00

They moved on up the tunnel to a thick oak doorway. Beasley had commented on the skill and mastery of the handle and lock on the door. Jenny retorted with the design of the ornate hinges designed to look like flames licking across the wood. Zander noticed how sturdy and well built the door was as Solcloud listened to the chanting coming from the other end of the door.
“Who cares about the workmanship of the door?” Solcloud whispered exasperated. “There are some evil rites happening on the other side and we need to stop them.”
“Mmmm, yr rite.” Beasley mumbled. Solcloud looked down at the halfling who was already trying to unlock the complicated lock with his nimble hands as he pulled various pins and wires from his pursed lips.

Sharn, the City of Towers (Original Fiction by Xan)

2010-07-01T05:00:00.000-06:00

They arrived in Sharn only a few days later with their captive ship and crew securely locked away in the brig. As they approached the harbor two small Deneith mercenary airships approached along each side of the Dryad Duchess.
“Jenny Blackbirch,” the loudspeaker from one of the airship boomed “you and your crew have been allowed safe passage into Sharn due to your ‘cargo.’ You will make your way to dock number fourteen and tie up there.”
The Dryad Duchess pulled into dock number fourteen and a small airship pulled the Onyx into the adjacent dock. Half orcs and bulky humans tied their ships off. Jenny walked to the side of her ship and noticed three official looking humanoid figures waiting at the bottom of the loading ramp. She walked down to greet her welcoming party.
“Hello there,” she started, “I assume I have you three to thank for the escort into port without confrontation?” As she got closer to the three individuals she noticed they had slightly pointed ears and fair complexions as well as strange tattoos that seemed to glow on their bodies. One half elf, a male, had the tattoo on his right cheek; the other two females had beautiful dresses with plunging necklines that revealed a similar tattoo on their chests. The taller of the two females began to speak.
“Jenny Blackbirch, daughter of House Lyrandar excoriate Theala, you have been summoned by Lord Toansus d’Lyrandar of the Windwrights Guild. Please come with us."

Resurfacing… (Original Fiction by Xan)

2010-06-25T05:00:00.001-06:00

The party of adventurers continued down the corridor. Beasley scurried around like a mouse searching for a bit of cheese. He darted back and fourth examining each wall, every crack, and all questionable spots of dust throughout the walkway.
“It feels as though we are slowly rising.” Beasley whispered.
Following the small halfling, Solcloud trounced along proudly, not caring about what may approach or what could hear him approach. His immaculate sword still secured in its fine scabbard and his polished shield upon his flawless back.
“I feel nothing, Thief.” Solcloud scoffed at Beasley. “You must be disoriented, we are on the level.”
“Would you be quiet,” ordered Jenny in a half whisper.
She stalked behind Solcloud listening to every echo his loud armor made. Her Drow blade drawn and in perfect ‘Spada Libera’ or free for an advantage. She moved with such grace, her footwork moved in a way like a swordsman would advance slowly on a retreating foe. Her body moved like water, no sound came from her, not even her chainmail made a sound.
Lastly came the giant, Zander. He did not lumber like Solcloud, nor did he stalk like Beasley, but he moved carefully and as quietly as he could down the hallway. His hammer firmly gripped in both hands. The large oak chest strapped to his back made him look like he had twice as much of an upper body than he actually had. His dim shadow flickering on the wall looked even more intimidating.
“I agree with the little one, we are slowly moving up.” Zander growled a whisper. “It seems that was the dungeon, and wherever we are going was where they came from to be forgotten about.”
“Or held until they were sacrificed.” Jenny interjected. “Those acolytes came to drop off prisoners and left with living,” Jenny cleared her throat. “Well, barely living sacrifices.”
“Did you see this corridor when you were brought to the holding cell back there?” Beasley asked.
“No, I woke up down there.” Jenny shivered as she remembered the small, cold cell.
“Messy business, sacrifices.” Solcloud piped up. “Much better to sacrifice time and money to your god than living, bleeding victims.”
“Absolutely right brother,” Zander piped in. “No use dragging someone to the altar when they will walk into the church willingly right?”
Beasley and Jenny looked at each other as they fought back the urge to fall to the floor laughing.
“Yes, quite right.” Solcloud didn’t even notice the suggestion about his methods made by Zander. “Teach them the philosophies and then guide them into the temple.”
“Guide them with a strong shove?” Beasley accused Solcloud. Jenny and Beasley used the opportunity of conversation to drift back towards the giant and allow the knight to take point. Jenny just smiled and winked at the small thief having played this game before with other ‘proud’ people.
“Well if a good ‘nudge’ is all they need then I am happy to be my Gods hand.” Solcloud seemed to puff up with pride with that statement, not noticing too much the change in marching order. “If He can use me to direct people into His holy places then I will do so.”
“I prefer to teach them with my actions and tell them my beliefs over a tankard of strong ale and let them make the call.” Zander winked to Beasley as he sensed the rouse taking shape, but making sure to keep a watchful eye on the puffed up evangelist. “If they want to join my faith, they can ask me more.”
“Do you feel you gain many converts that way?” Jenny asked as she took up her new position just behind Zander. The bittersweet feeling and familiar hum returned as she passed him again.
“Well, there is a whole caravan of halflings out there who could drink even you under their tables.” Zander laughed.
“I find that hard to believe. I mean my father and I stayed up many a night drinking the finest wines when I was but ten years old.” Jenny interjected. “But I suppose a faith in a God who can drink the oceans could help you take a few intoxicating drinks. But why did you teach halflings?”
Zander smiled. “Well, I don’t know how to speak halfling just out of coincidence.” His face softened as he though back on the moment. “They helped me and I in turn showed them my appreciation with my faith. They all accepted the gospel and Othr has a whole caravan of small ones with big hearts doing his work.”
“I never thought it possible for a halfling to be a drinker AND a wrestler.” Beasley said confounded. “I would have left that up to the larger folk.”
“I find it better not to assume anything,” Zander smiled at Beasley and then turned to Solcloud. “Especially on first impressions.”
Solcloud acted like he didn’t hear the comment of his fellow evangelist but decided to keep moving forward. He kept his eyes fixed forward and walked a little more puffed up
“Solcloud don’t…”
Beasley reached forward as if to try and stop the knight from taking his next step but it was too late. The stone that Solcloud put his next step on began to sink. In less time that it takes to blink, the ground at Solcloud’s feet instantaneously dropped out from under him and he began to fall. Luckily Zander had been expecting a trap to be set off by the preoccupied paladin seeing how easily Jenny and Beasley had set him up. Zander dove to the ground, sliding over to the pit as his massive hand shot out like a lion pouncing on a helpless animal catching Solcloud by in his armor. The half elf now dangled sheepishly by the scruff of his neck like a puppy in its mother’s mouth. About five feet down from the tips of his toes lay a spread of rusty swords and rotting wood spikes.
“Good show, old boy.” Solcloud tried to hold his voice steady as the shock resided. “Now could you be a lad and pull me up?”
“It seems that our company does not agree with your attitude, Sir Knight.” Zander groaned a bit as Solcloud twisted in his grasp.
“Quite right, I can see that we are at an impasse.” Solcloud retorted.
“Maybe you should keep the religion to yourself.” Beasley shouted down the hole.
“But that is what I do, my boy.” Solcloud said as he looked up at the three above his head.
“How about you just lay off it a bit then?” Jenny compromised as she admired Zander’s massive five-foot arm dangling the shiny knight in this hole.
“Point taken madam.” Solcloud conceded. “And I will trust your judgments in battle and I will redouble my efforts to understand your ways in ‘stalking.’ Now Brother, could you please hoist me up?”
The giant struggled to his knees and hoisted up the knight with both hands without any visible strain. Jenny just stood there amazed by the hulking frame that was this humble and mild priest.
Solcloud took a quick assessment of his armor and provisions, making sure none were lost in the fall. He noticed a scuff on his shield and tried to hold back a gasp but it still escaped as a whimper. Jenny and Beasley only smiled at each other. Beasley looked at Jenny in a way that only thieves could communicate. A few small gestures, almost imperceptible, passed between them as if to say “Good work.” Beasley climbed across the small ledge against the wall where the trap door connected and found the reset switch. The large slab slowly clinked back into place and they proceeded on their venture up the hallway.
Beasley, now back up front, noted to the rest of the group that the hallway was becoming steeper and the stonework and masonry was becoming cleaner and more ornate.
“We must be approaching the sacrificial chamber.” Jenny gritted her teeth.
“Shhh!” Beasley chided. “Can you hear that?”
Everyone stopped dead in their tracks and began to listen intently. A popping and crackling like flame burning moist wood could be heard in the distance. Along with that was the sound of chanting and hollering. The damp air in the hallway seemed to be drawn towards the sound. The cool, damp air in the corridoor rushed by them and was being replaced by cold and dry air.
“Whatever it is,” Solcloud mused, “It seems to be drawing all the heat and air toward it.”
“Let’s go.” Beasley looked up at the giant and the knight. “Let’s go quietly.”

Truth is Discovered (Original Fiction by Xan)

2010-06-18T05:00:00.001-06:00

Blackfin waved his arms in large arcs as his giant Balka Whale tooth blades glistened like polished pearls in the setting sunlight. Jenny, with the grace of a dancer, moved in fluid motions to avoid nearly every swing of the massive blades. Countering the attacks with a silver cutlass in one hand and a small dagger in the other hand Jenny tried to advance on Blackfin. The two captains matched one another blow for blow never allowing the other to gain the upper hand. Blackfin knew his ship well and was leading Jenny back towards the bow where he had a winch with a line attached ready to allow him the upper hand. The evil captain reached for the line, kicked Jenny, and took a swipe at a parallel rope which counterweighted his massive frame and launched him up to the topsail boom. Jenny looked for a way up to Blackfin and yelled to her crewmate Maccus who was standing in the rigging firing his guns down onto the deck of the ship.
“Mac!” she yelled.
Without hesitation or another order Maccus saw a rope on a pulley near him that led down to Jenny. He jumped into the rope and cut one side. Maccus and Piper were more than enough weight to catapult Jenny up to Blackfin’s perch. Jenny and Blackfin continued their duel, this time always being mindful of their footing on the boom. Blackfin dropped one of his blades as Jenny struck a lucky blow to his right hand, but Blackfin countered it with a swift uppercut the knocked Jenny directly onto her back. Luckily Jenny kept her balance while prone on the boom.
The fighting on the deck of the chip had slowed down as both sides watched this epic battle amongst their captains take center stage. Both sides knew that the battle would only be decided through this mighty duel.
“Looks to me I will be taking yer ship after all, Blackbirch.” Blackfin laughed triumphantly as he made his way towards his powerless victim. “You know your father had the same look on his face when I carved him up too.” He lunged at Jenny.
Jenny lifted her left hand up as if to try and stop the blade coming down but as she did so a burst of blue light appeared to shoot out of her hand as a massive wind seemed to come out of nowhere and push Blackfin off balance. He wobbled on the boom and slipped from the boom. As he fell more than the fifty feet to the deck of the Onyx he closed his eyes before impact and then he felt the joints in his hip, knee, and ankle crack grotesquely. He opened his eyes and screamed out in pain only to realize he had stopped a few feet from the deck, his foot had been caught up in a rope that now held him suspended from the foremast boom.
“Looks like we won this fight,” Kilzar walked up to the dangling shark captain and slapped him on his broken leg, “and we even have ourselves a piñata to celebrate with.”
Jenny’s crew laughed as they surveyed the damage to the Onyx and watched as the remaining members of the crew threw down their weapons in surrender to these brave sailors. Jenny made her way down the rigging by sticking a dagger in the sail and sliding down to the deck.
“What are we going to do with them now?” Salt belted from the Duchess helm.
“We are going to take them to Sharn to stand trial as pirates.” Jenny laughed at the irony of her words.
“What about us, ma’am?” Piper queried. “Won’t we be hung as pirates too when we make port?
“I have a feeling that bringing in the notorious Blackfin and his now crippled Onyx will redeem us.” Jenny assured the smallest member of her crew. “Hoist the white flag and make way to Breland and her home city of Sharn.”
“AYE CAP’N,” was the reply of the entire crew.

A Strange Feeling… (Original Fiction by Xan)

2010-06-11T05:00:00.001-06:00

Jenny stuttered in her stride as a small shock coursed through her body when she passed by Zander. The hum through her body buzzed all the way up to her head in a bittersweet rush of elation and sadness. She shook off the feeling with a confused look towards Zander and continued walking down the hallway. Zander and Solcloud followed closely behind her as they spotted Beasley down the dimly lit hallway. Beasley was waiting just outside the trophy room, leaning on the wall and carving a leg of the broken chair with his dagger.
“It’s about time you showed up.” Beasley said as he sliced a large chunk out of the piece of wood. “I was starting to get curious.” He looked up at his towering friend. “And you know what happens when I get curious.” He cut another chunk of wood from the leg effectively making the piece too thin to work with. He tossed it over his shoulder and proceeded to the only door left closed.
“Well, I figured you’d come running back if you got into too much trouble friend.” Zander chuckled as he patted the halfling on the head. “I had a talk with Solcloud.” Zander spoke in halfling. “I hope he realizes that he is losing great allies for his cause.”
Beasley just spit on the ground as he checked the solitary doorway for traps. “We’re clear to continue.” He turned to the giant and motioned him to open the door as he slid to the side; his tiny sword ready to strike.
Zander, with a small grunt, pushed the heavy wooden door to reveal a smoky corridor with dim torches about every fifty feet or so. The small flames seemed to go on forever.
“Well, looks like it is a long walk.” Solcloud pushed through the group gathered by the doorway and within a few moments was easily passing two torches between himself and the group.
“Let’s get going.” He yelled back to the three of them.
“What about Mayvn?” Beasley looked to Zander.
“Well,” Zander shrugged as he drew his hammer. “We know he isn’t behind us in those cells. Let’s go.”
The giant moved cautiously into the long hallway. Jenny drew her new blade and a faint hum could be heard as the steel brushed upon her makeshift scabbard. She moved up in front of Zander and winked as she passed by him, the same bittersweet feeling rushed through her body again.
“I think you aught to cover the rear Zander.” She winked at him and glanced down her body. Zander’s ears burned as he realized he had followed her eyes and found himself looking at her backside.
“Y-yes, of course m’lady.” Zander tried very hard not to let on his sidetracked thoughts. He tried to refocus thinking about the battle with the dragon or with the troll; anything to keep his mind focused on battle. Everything he tried just came back to gazing at the cat-like movements of the atypical barmaid stalking the corridoor in front of him.
“Get a room already you two.” Beasley stormed past them as he jumped from shadow to shadow.
Zander continued to walk a few steps behind Jenny. His mind wandered back to Jenny in that robe, then to thoughts of her milky bare shoulders with that dark elf chainmail resting on them.
“Doesn’t it hurt Jenny? Zander said curiously. Jenny slowed her walk as she contemplated exactly what Zander was asking. Did he know about the feelings she got when she was around him? Did she do something to tip him off? She had been a barmaid for some time and could hide her true feelings under a mask of flirtation, but never was she able to flirt and have it feel real.
“Does what hurt?” She asked elusively, trying to cover up any hint of guilt in her voice.
“That chainmail you are wearing.” Zander pointed with the head of his hammer.
The hum pressed further inside Jenny, her knees nearly buckled. She feigned a smile. “Not really, feels lighter and smoother than silk.” She reached up and touched her shoulder. “Everything from the elves is more beautiful and delicate than it appears.” A coy smile curled her lips as she slowly slid her hand down the chainmail to her breast. Instinctively, Zander’s eyes followed her hand until he realized where he was looking.
“M’lady!” Zander tried to rebound from his apparent embarrassment of the situation. “It is true what they say, elves are more than they appear. “Let us press on.”
Jenny giggled playfully. “Yes, let’s.”

Attack on the Onyx (Original Fiction by Xan)

2010-06-04T05:00:00.000-06:00

With the six guns on the starboard side loaded and ready to fire with a flip of a switch and a run of fuse Maccus and Piper remain below decks for their captains’ orders. Kilzar sat in wait on the steps between the gun deck and the main deck to relay the order to fire. Salt stood in a crouch at the helm of the Dryad Duchess ready to flip the switch to release the air elemental that lay dormant in the bindings of the ship. Jenny stood at the forecastle deck ready with a hatchet in her hand to cut the tow line connecting the crippled Duchess to the dreaded Onyx.
The crew aboard the Duchess lay in wait, they were so quiet and still they could hear Blackfin barking orders to his crew over the crashing of the waves on the ship.
“Tighten the Fore Sail you mangy sea dogs!” The gurgle and the coarseness of the voice could only be accredited to the dreaded shark known as Blackfin. “Keep that Jib tight you bilge rat!”
Jenny’s stomach turned as she reflected on the visions of her father bleeding out in that Inn over a year ago, branded by the Black Delta, the light fading out of his eyes as he gasped his last words, “Promise me you will not go looking for Blackfin, but you will RUN and take the Duchess far away from here.”
“He came looking for me, Father.” Jenny mumbled under her breath as she tightened her grip on the hatchet. “He took our ship and it is time to take her back.” She took a deep breath and barked the words that her deck hands had been waiting to hear. “NOW!”
As if the crew were one being everything happened at once. The fuses started sparking and spitting as they slowly crept like a fiery snake towards the six guns on the starboard side of the Duchess, the windy roar of the air elemental could be heard as it ripped in a circular motion around the bindings encircling the ship, and the mooring line holding the Duchess hostage by her bow dropped into the water. The Duchess leapt forward in the water like a horse rears up on its rear legs before bolting. Just as the elemental brigantine drew up along the port side of the Onyx the six guns thundered to life raking it with splinters of wood and steel bursting into the air. The schooner lurched and stalled as the main mast took a direct hit and came crashing to the deck crossing the gap between the two vessels and creating a perfect boarding platform for the crew of the Duchess.
Without so much as an order to board the Onyx, Kilzar had already fired his blunderbuss into the disoriented crew of the schooner and was on his way across the fallen mast. Fire of his fallen ancestors burned in his eyes as he pulled out a second hand axe and ran into the fray yelling out battle cries in ancient dwarven. Salt was standing at the helm as he reached into an iron chest at his feet and pulled out what looked to be a small rusty cannon barrel the length of his forearm. Within seconds Salt’s right forearm had been replaced by this cannon barrel and Salt was firing fist sized cannonballs at the opposing vessel taking down two or three crewmen at a time. Maccus had strapped on a leather harness in which Piper could easily sit and cover his massive friends’ backside as they traversed the ship in great spans. Maccus scaled up the Duchess’ foremast in seconds and traversed to the Onyx in a blink of an eye, his massive ape-like arms propelling him with supernatural speed all the while Piper was raining down a barrage of pistol shot from his harness. The pirate crew of the Onyx was in disarray not knowing what had happened only seconds before now they were fighting for their lives in a seemingly losing battle against a massive army of six.
Amidst the shrapnel of exploding ship and musket balls Jenny made her way to the deck of the Onyx and after cutting down many rogue pirates she had located Blackfin near the foremast. Their eyes locked and it seemed that the world slowed down as the two engaged in battle.

Prejudice never led to happiness… (Original Fiction by Xan)

2010-05-28T05:00:00.000-06:00

Jenny shrugged her shoulders and rolled her eyes. “But I don’t see how a theological discussion would have put him in such a foul mood.”
“It seems he didn’t like what I said about the Drow.” Solcloud shuddered a bit. “Devilish creatures the lot of them, especially their wretched infatuation with spiders. It’s disgusting.”
Zander could see the muscles in Jenny’s jaw and knew he had to speak quickly. “Do you think he could have been upset with the way you talk about someone strictly on their appearance, brother?” He placed a hand on Jenny’s arm.
“Whatever do you mean, Zander?” Solcloud acted a little hurt as he slid his breastplate back on, the reflection of the firelight reflected perfectly on it.
“Well brother priest,” Zander tried to choose his words carefully. “You have done nothing but judge on outward appearance.”
“What?!” Solcloud seemed to step back. “Judgment is up to St. Cuthbert himself; I merely bring sheep into his fold.”
Zander could see the conversation was going nowhere. “Brother, we are all creations of a divine entity. We move and breathe because of the special gift of divine creation. Someone of a different profession or bloodline should not judge what profession we choose or our heritage to be ‘evil’ or wrong. If we do so we may find ourselves judged incorrectly.”
“Truer words could never be spoken, my friend.” Solcloud clapped Zander on the back as Zander turned to pick up his large treasure chest backpack. “I would never dream of finding anyone guilty without proof to sustain the guilt.”
Zander just slung the chest over his broad shoulders. Closed his eyes, shook his head muttered a short prayer to Othr and kicked out the burning embers of their small campfire. He turned an apologetic look towards Jenny; her jaw set fighting back the urge to lash out at the paladin.
“Let’s go.”
Jenny adjusted her belt, the drow thinblade nestled through a small loop made of the discarded shirtsleeve. She proudly walked past the paladin who gave her no notice as he picked up his polishing kit and backpack.
“Yes, it feels a little dark in this room.” Jenny said softly as she moved towards Zander who was politely holding the door open for her.

Dr. Heckyll, Mr. Jive, or Poole

2010-05-27T05:00:00.000-06:00

To be Worgen or not to be Worgen? That has never been the question for Ol' Xan. The question is what to name said Worgen? Based on one of my favorite songs growing up, as well as one of my favorite books I have come up with three candidates:

Dr. Heckyll

Mr. Jive

Poole

Male or female, doesn't matter... so please vote and help me decide.

Taking Back the Duchess (Original Fiction by Xan)

2010-05-21T05:00:00.001-06:00

Like a water strider bug across a still pond the crew in their elemental powered row boat skidded across the water in a perpetual pool of still waters upon the rougher waters of the Thunder Sea. Maccus’ arms bulged as he held onto the side of the small vessel to look under the boat he was shocked to behold what he saw. Beneath the ship was a humanoid form of a large ogre-like figure but made completely out of the waters of the surrounding sea. Like Atlas holding the world on his shoulders this gargantuan watery ogre held the small ship on its shoulders.
“My god, Jenny,” Maccus exclaimed, “I had no idea your father had friends such as these!”
“Neither did I, Mate.” Jenny smiled at her good fortune.
“There she be, Cap’n!” Kilzar pointed to the horizon as his mechanical eye whirred as it retracted back into his head like a spyglass.
“Shu’ei,” Jenny hollered, “slow down slightly so that we may board the Duchess quietly and not raise suspicion.
“Aye, aye Cap’n,” gurgled Shu’ei in a burbling rumble like a geyser about to erupt.
The small rowboat started to slow down in the water and settle back onto its surface. The waves of the Thunder Sea still did not come within five feet of the small vessel even though the seas were experiencing waves larger than a small gnome. As they approached the Duchess Ol’ Salt commented on the fact that Blackfin’s schooner had to resort to towing the brigantine because he was missing Red Dog’s hook to control the bound water elemental within it. With the considerable size difference between the two vessels and Blackfin’s ship being controlled strictly by sail and oar gave Jenny and her crew a speed advantage.
The small boat pulled in beside the Duchess just as the sun began to set on the Thunder Sea. The beautiful reds and oranges reflecting off the water and the sun at their backs gave them the upper hand as they boarded the ship and took care of the few guards riding on the sleeping vessel.
“Maccus, Piper, n’ Kilzar” Jenny began to whisper her orders to her men, “go below and get the cannons ready to fire.”
“AYE!” they whispered back with gusto.
“Salt, take the helm.” Jenny pointed to the elemental controls of the beautiful brigantine as she tossed him the hook of her father.
“Where is Rum?” Salt queried.
Jenny looked around and drew her sword. “I have not seen him since we took out the guard on the deck.”
“Shall we look for him Cap’n?” Kilzar had a gleam in his mechanical eye as he too pulled out his hand axe and small blunderbuss pistol.
“No time,” Jenny ordered. “We will have one shot to drop the sails, spur on the elemental, and rake The Onyx before Blackfin will be onto us. We have to make it quick.”
“Aye, aye, Cap’n,” was the reply of the crew in unison as they took their positions.

After Breakfast (Original Fiction by Xan)

2010-05-14T05:00:00.000-06:00

“Way to go, smart guy.” Beasley hit Solcloud in the gut just right to score a hit under his breastplate, knocking the wind out of the half elf. “She was about to change again in here.” Beasley stormed over to his pack, pulled out a roll and his water-skin, and slumped down to eat his tasteless breakfast.
Beasley coughed as he choked down the rest of his dry biscuit and took a long draw on his waterskin.
"Honestly, I don't understand you." Beasley glared at Solcloud as the paladin was polishing his breastplate. His undershirt of chainmail reflecting the dim firelight. "You religious types always ruin the best moments in life."
"Excuse me, son?" Solcloud looked up from his work. "What do you mean 'religious types’? And I find nothing better as the moments I spend in a chapel of my God."
"That is exactly what I mean." Beasley tied his waterskin back to his tiny backpack. "By 'religious types' I mean YOU and YOUR profession." He accentuated those words as he tightened the tied on the backpack. "You always think everyone should subscribe to your beliefs and no one is truly happy unless they feel the same way you do about your God."
"Well, it is true St. Cuthbert has blessed me." Solcloud tried to defend himself. "And I feel that everyone deserves the same blessings I have obtained through serving him."
"Hogsmuck!" Beasley countered. "You push your beliefs on others. I have seen you try with Zander and the comments you said to Jenny a few moments ago were offensive. Even to my religiously neutral ears."
Beasley's face turned beet red as the rage filled up in him. Zander just sat there in awe as the little thief pressed on in his tirade.
Beasley continued, "I will be happy when we find our way out of here and we can go our separate ways. You and I can honestly not work together."
"It is just as well, my little one." Solcloud had a cold, emotionless tone in his voice. "I don't think stealing from the dead or delving into a cave for profit is the life of a preacher such as myself."
Beasley just looked to Solcloud shocked at his apparent disinterest in the whole situation. He stood up, slung his backpack onto his shoulders and began walking out of the room. "Zander, I am going to check on Jenny. I'll wait for you to join us when you are through here."
The door opened, a beautiful red haired woman stood in the doorway, Beasley hardly took notice as he bumped her knee as he stormed out the door. "Jenny, I'll be in the trophy room." And the little halfling disappeared.
"What is wrong with him?" Jenny seemed to float into the room as Zander took in the sight before him.
Jenny had removed the shirt and replaced it with the chainmail shirt from the swordmaiden. It seemed to hug every curve of her body with a deep "V" in it exposing her magnificent cleavage and milky skin. She had left the pants on, although the chainmail still hung over the pants finishing just above her knees. She was a stunning figure of a warrior now, not just a helpless barmaid.
"Zander?" Jenny stooped to look into his glossy eyes.
"What?" Zander shook his head to regain his focus. "I'm sorry m'lady. What did you say?"
"I said," Jenny blushed. "What's up with your tiny friend?"
"Allow me to answer." Solcloud interjected. Jenny turned around to see the paladin busying himself with polishing his armor, not bothering to look up at the other two.
"It seems the little one doesn't care for us, "Religious Types." Solcloud nearly choked on the words.
"Well I can't say I blame him." Jenny retorted. "I find religion a bit too constrictive for the most part. Although a good prayer can get you out of a real spot."
"Indeed." Solcloud's voice turned emotionless once again.

Ret Pally needs some love...

2010-05-10T05:00:00.001-06:00

It has been a while since I have done a post other than my fiction posts. With my new job taking me away from home Monday mornings through Friday afternoons I will probably have more times to post as things come up. Being able to listen to podcasts on my long drive has definately come back into my life and I am happy to say that it feels as if I am going home to distant friends and family.

MEDROS
APRILLIAN
ASHAYO
TEMPESTE
WYCH
WEMB
SCOTT J.

Missed you all!

Last Wednesday night I was able to go on a guild run into ICC. They made it all the way to Sindragosa prior to last night's raid. Well to make a long story short, my Ret Paladin main Xandarr (Lovingly referred to as Double R, for reasons I might explain if asked) has a gear score of just over 5100 but could not do the DPS needed to really assist the raid. Now everyone knew this going in, and the guild said that they would help me to gear up or do whatever to make my DPS crush all others. But I am trying to do what I can and asking the experts what can I do as far as spec builds and gear that could make me better for ICC?

Here is my armory page:
http://www.wowarmory.com/character-sheet.xml?r=Crushridge&cn=Xandarr

Talents , glyphs, gear... I am asking my readers to tell me what I can do and what the guild may be able to help me do to be better DPS for them. Also, is there a different spec that I might need for Raiding that my current Ret spec I use for dailies and PUG instances?

I am putty in your very capable hands so please reply and let me know.

Nerdtacular '10

2010-05-09T21:37:00.002-06:00

Wow, wow, wow!

This was my second year going to the greatest event I have every attended in Utah. Nerdtacular 2010 at the District in South Jordan, UTAH. Viewing one of the greatest movies of this year, IRON MAN 2.

I went with my friend Matt, AKA "TURGID" whom I went to High School with and have had a distant but solid friendship for many, many, many years. He was actually the one that originally told me about WoW when it was in it's early development stages. so I would have to credit him for my addiction.

Anyway, my family had a yard sale planned and they just happened to fall on the same day as Nerdtacular. Luckily I don't have to travel out of the state to go to the event. Unfortunately after the movie I was unable to stay for the after party and hook up with fellow gamers and bloggers. (ON A POSITIVE NOTE... we made $350 at the yard sale and plan on extending the yard sale to next weekend if you want to raid my 'bank' email me if you would like directions) But there is always next year. Because this event will only get bigger and better every year I will FOR SURE make sure to be there!

I went to the event and received a copy of WoW magazine Issue #1. That was pretty cool. And as I said the Movie was SPECTACULAR! The two minutes at the end of the movie after the credits were the highlight for me though.

To all those I missed... sadly we will have to hook up next year. For those I met... I hope to see you again next year and keep in touch!

Fire, Ice, and Spirit… (Original Fiction by Xan)

2010-04-30T05:00:00.001-06:00

The morning arrives with the sweet smell of maple and bacon; once again, Zander is up before the rest preparing his sweet salted pork and maple. The giant crouches next to the small cooking fire made from the bottom couple of rungs of the driftwood and rope ladder.
Jenny rolls over and sits up, realizing her tattered clothes had been removed she examines her bare flesh to find not even a small blemish to her milky skin.
“I wondered when you would awaken, my lady.” Zander did not remove his eyes from his pan, giving Jenny time to bundle herself up in his blanket of a robe.
“Did you do this?” She softly spoke as she raised a smooth arm into the firelight showing the unbroken skin that used to be full of festering sores and bruises. “I am impressed by your skill; you seem more apt for destruction than repair.” They both shared a soft laugh.
“Yes, it is true my blood causes more harm than good.” Zander poked the bacon around in the pan with a small knife.
“Did you also do this?” Jenny let the robe fall off her shoulder to reveal the smoothness of her bare skin. She looked to Zander with playful eyes.
“It was to see to your wounds, nothing more.” Zander assured her. “It was after all had gone to sleep, we were alone.” Zander’s face turned a slight hint of red beneath the green skin tone. Jenny stood up, wrapping the robe tightly around her slender frame.
“I’m not embarrassed,” she said as she walked towards him. She slipped her arms into the sleeves of his large robe, whipped the robe open, closed it tightly around her, and tied it tight around her waist. Zander averted his eyes after he accidentally caught a glimpse of her natural form. He blushed again as Jenny continued. “Although I cannot walk out of here in this, no matter how elegant you may think I look.” She lifted her arms out and the sleeves nearly touched the ground and fell past her hands as she placed them on her hips.
“Beasley and I procured you some breeches and a nice shirt. There is also a nice chain shirt and a sword you may be interested in as well.” Zander looked up at her. She looked like a high priestess of Sif. Sif is Othr’s golden haired warrior wife. The priestesses of Sif and the priests of Othr regularly performed rituals together. Often these rituals were ones of fertility and for harvest. Zander’s heart skipped a beat as he gazed upon her form, her beautiful Gaelic red hear cascaded off her right shoulder.
Jenny looked at Zander and smiled. “Where are they?” She folded her arms in front of her, well aware that Zander was staring at her with his mouth open wide. “Or do you want me to stay in your beautiful robe a while longer?”
“They are over on my chest.” Zander pointed with his cooking knife to a large chest with the leather shoulder straps harnessing his large hammer, it still glowed slightly. The breeches and shirt were surprisingly soft, with a small bloodstain on the left shoulder.
“What is this?” Jenny held up the shirt for Zander to inspect.
“Oh, I didn’t think your captors would need it anymore.” Zander smiled and winked at her.
Jenny smiled and tossed her hair back. “Well then, I suppose that these clothes should be put to better use.”
“That is exactly what I say!” Beasley rolls over from his comfortable sleeping corner and sits up reluctantly. “You two need to learn how to be quieter when someone is sleeping.” He scratches his head and rubs his eyes.
“Sorry little one.” Jenny said jokingly as she slipped on her breeches while still wearing the robe, seeming to not care that two sets of male eyes were on her as she did so.
“M’lady, do you think it wise to dress in front of such roguish company?” Zander said as he looked to Beasley with a protective glare. Beasley just sat and stared at the beautiful human woman before him as she turned her back to them both and dropped the robe exposing her athletic build and strong bare back.
“Don’t worry Jenny,” Beasley grabbed his blanket and threw it over Zander’s head. “I’ll make sure he doesn’t see you change.”
Beasley winked at Jenny as she glanced over her shoulder at him and just giggled. “Why thank you Beasley, You are such a gentleman.” She slipped the shirt on and rolled up the sleeves. “Not a great fit, but it may do the job.”
Zander pulled Beasley’s blanket off his head and glared at him. “Jenny, there is also a thin blade and a chain shirt there as well.”
“I hope you don’t mind,” Beasley piped up as he kept his distance from Zander. “But the chain shirt and thin blade look to be Drow made.”
“Oh?” Jenny held up the chain shirt. “Have you ever seen a dark elf wear anything under their armor?” The chain shirt seemed to make a perfect V-shape starting at Jenny’s shoulders and coming to a point just above her knees.
Zander and Beasley just looked at each other and smirked. Zander cracked a smile, winked at Beasley, and cleared his throat. “Actually, I have never even seen a ‘dark elf.’ All I know of them is they are as beautiful as other elves only with black skin and silvery white hair.”
“They are also evil by nature.” The cold voice of Solcloud seemed to nearly thunder through the holding area where they camped. “Zander, your breakfast is burning.” Solcloud pointed to the unattended pan in the fire, the pork now blackened and smoking was burned to the pan.
“DAMN!” Zander cursed as he hit the pan off the fire.
“I guess we are eating rolls and water for breakfast.” Jenny laughed. “Good morning Sir Knight.” Jenny flopped the chain mail over her arm and bowed gracefully.
“Good morning, my lady.” Solcloud did his best to bow in his full armor. “Glad to see you are well, but do you feel it necessary to don that hideous and evil armor?”
“HIDEOUS!?” Jenny nearly jumped across the room for Solcloud making such a remark. “By the looks of those ears you have elven blood in you too.”
“I am not remarking it as hideous because it is elven,” Solcloud retorts in a haughty tone. “I refer to it as hideous because it was made by dark elves, DROW.” He curled up his nose at the mere mention of that black race.
“They still be elves,” Jenny said defensively. “We will see how hideous it looks on the right person.” Jenny just looked to Zander and Beasley, winked, and then returned Solcloud’s disgusted look with one of equal disgust. “You should take pride in the craftsmanship, no matter if it be DARK elf or WOOD elf. WE are all ELF.” And Jenny stormed off down the hall to the trophy room to change.

Calming the beast within… (Original Fiction by Xan)

2010-04-23T05:00:00.000-06:00

Beasley sat on top of his last kill and wiped the blood from his blades on his scarlet leather clothing. “That is three for me, two for Zander, and how many for you Mr. Nice Guy?”
“It is not about killing my little friend.” Solcloud chided the small thief. “I assisted in your last one, and I slowed their approach into the room. Now what about our raging storm?” Solcloud looked around trying to find Zander.
“I…am…here.” Zander faded into view in the corner of the room. He was slumped into a mound, witting on the ground with his knees drawn up to his chest. “Did you…find…a key… little friend?” Zander observed the small halfling already looting the guards.
“Not yet, my friend.” Beasley barely batted an eye as he looted each body and spoke to Zander simultaneously. “I am still looking, you just rest and relax.”
“Do you really have to pocket everything you see on the bodies?” Solcloud shook his head as he too pulled himself up from his prone position on the floor.
Beasley stopped and looked at the knight with a look of disgust. “You don’t have to benefit from our efforts,” his voice nearly dripped with spite. “Zander and I could keep it all for ourselves.”
“Well, as you said my little pirate,” Solcloud dusted off his armor as he examined his now scratched armor. “We are putting it to better use.”
Beasley just huffed and threw anything of value into a pile as he looked for any clue of keys or anything. A couple precious stones, some polished coins, a shield with a slight red tint in the silvery sheen, and a few bottles filled with a deep red liquid. However, one bottle piqued Beasley’s interest; he stared at the seemingly empty bottle with a cork on it. He popped the top and was blasted in the face with a torrent of fresh air. Beasley’s hood flopped of his head and his hair blew back from his head.
“Must be a magic bottle, meant for breathing underwater or saving you when air is pulled from your lungs.” Solcloud again fascinated by the simple things.
“Or…perhaps…meant for…making your hair stand up.” Zander chuckled as he messed up Beasley’s hair.
“Or something like that.” Beasley tried to press his hair back down. “I found no key, Zander. Shall we try the other room?”
“Yes, let’s…” Zander’s voice faded as he walked through the door at a slightly slower pace. The doorway at the end of the hallway was open. The other guards must have come from this door; a small bell could be heard ringing just inside the door. This room was a bit statelier than the other was. A rack on the wall had a nice chain shirt hanging neatly from it, deep green and royal purple ribbons woven throughout fine links. A glass case with a lock was attached to the wall just under the ornate armor. Within the case lay a fine thin sword; black engravings along the blade and the hilt had a spider motif. Hanging from the handle of the blade was a white tassel. Beasley anxiously scurried into the room and directly to the rack and trophy case.
“Drow made,” he announced. “Too big for me, too small for you and too black for the goody-goody here.” Beasley pointed to Solcloud as he came walking through the door. “Not much for selling them on the surface either. Looks like it isn‘t a full chain shirt anyway. Seems like a lot has been cut out or destroyed.” Beasley didn’t even bother with the lock on the case although his fingers lingered on it, itching to try his hand at even the simplest puzzle of a lock right now.
He walked around the room some more and examined every little nook. He stared at a stone that seemed a bit out of the ordinary in the wall. Beasley took out a small dagger and tapped the stone, it moved slightly. His eyes glimmered and pushed his finger to the stone and it depressed, a series of clicks could be heard echoing through the chamber. Without a word, Zander rushed from the room back towards the cell. Not a moment later, a roar could be heard echoing through the hallway.
“JENNY!” Zander rattled the bars, as they did not even budge. Dust fell from the ceiling but the sturdy iron bars did not move.
Beasley rounded the doorway and saw Zander reaching trough the bars, tears filling his eyes, as his fingers were mere inches from Jenny’s bruised and blackened feet.
“Zander?” Beasley softly touched the heartbroken giants back. “Are they magic bars?”
“Why?” Zander sniffed as he leaned his massive body against the bars.
“Have you tried your ring?” Beasley pointed to the cat ring on Zander’s left hand.
The giants’ eyes glimmered with a sign of hope as he twisted the ring and vanished, a moment later he appeared again inside the cell with Jenny. He reached down and scooped her up in his arms, brushing her dingy red hard from her swollen face. Her eyes and cheeks swollen beyond all recognition, her clothes torn and bloody clung to her back. The bloody welts had long since crusted over and began to seal up, while yet others seemed to be fresh and oozing. As Zander examined her back, she did not even stir as he looked at each infected welt. Zander grimaced at the sight of Jenny’s bruised leg as the tattered sackcloth blanket fell from her body. Her dress shredded revealed many black, blue and red contusions.
Zander tried to cover her near naked body with the sackcloth blanket and turned his ring. Both of them vanished and then reappeared on the other side of the bars. He gently lay her down on the cold floor, wrapping her legs with the blanket. He knelt over her with his hammer in his hand, he mumbled softly and his hammer began to glow with an electric blue light. He touched the hammer to her legs; the welts started to fade. He slowly moved the hammer up her body to her stomach and her ribs, small snaps could be heard as her ribs set and mended themselves. As the last snap occurred, Jenny gasped for breath, coughing blood she began to speak.
“No more, please.” Jenny mumbled as she had so many times the days she had been down in this foul holding area.
“Jenny,” Zander spoke softly. “It’s your colossus.” Zander referred to the term of endearment Jenny had given him back in the bar as they exchanged drinks. The reference shook the cobwebs from Jenny’s mind as the familiarity of the voice and that word ‘colossus’ shook her back to reality.
“I knew you would find me,” Jenny sighed. “Even if you weren’t looking for me.” She slowly reached up to his pale green cheek covered in coarse black stubble. “You need to shave.” She forced a smile on her face as her tear filled eyes looked to the giant cradling her in his arms.
“Rest now, you are safe with us.” Zander held her gingerly in his arms, like a large bundle of eggs and slowly began to slip the large chest off his back. It landed on the ground with a thud and the lid popped open. “Beasley there should be my bedroll and a spare robe of mine, please retrieve them for me.”
Beasley swiftly made it over to the chest that towered in front of him; the opening of the large chest was about eye level to the small burglar. That did not stop him from scampering his way inside the chest. Finding the robe and bedroll, he reached out and handed them into the massive waiting hands of the giant.
“Thank you,” came the quiet tender voice of Zander as he cared for Jenny. He rolled the bedroll and placed it under her head. Zander then unfolded the robe, this one was a more ornate robe meant for special ceremonies. This white quilted robe had designs of rams and mountains quilted onto the back the gold borders were covered in dwarven runes. Zander disregarded the beauty of the cloak and mumbled something about how this covering would not do for Jenny. Beasley gawked at the majesty of the robe and was shocked that Zander didn’t wear it more often.
“Paladin!” Zander shouted as he looked around for Solcloud who was still in the other room. “Damn him and his speed.” Zander cursed in giant.
Solcloud made his way into the room; he gawked at the sight that Jenny now laid on the floor with Zander’s robe over her sleeping softly.
“You got her free?” Solcloud said astonished.
“Is not sloth a sin in your religion too, paladin?” Zander preached angrily.
“Isn’t wrath?” The paladin retorted. “You called for me?”
“Please watch her while the little one and I find some supplies.” Zander gently smoothed Jenny’s hair as he spoke. Jenny nuzzled his large hand and slightly smiled as she slept, like a child nuzzling a teddy bear.
“So we are stopping for the day?” Solcloud sounded a bit upset at the thought of spending the evening in the middle of a prison.
“Yes,” Zander looked up to the knight.
“You want to carry her out?” Beasley looked to Jenny and then to Solcloud. “She will be well in the morning enough to travel. Can you handle that?”
“Yes, and if she needs healing I can help her as well.” Solcloud said as he knelt beside Jenny.
“She will be fine,” Zander said defensively. “Othr will watch over her.” Zander stood up, leaving his glowing hammer on the floor near Jenny’s head for comfort and warmth. He turned to the small halfling who barely came up to his thigh. “Now, did you say something about dark elf gear earlier?”
“In the other room.” Beasley scampered out of the room pointing like a child who wanted to show his parents a discovery they were sure his parents had never seen before. Zander trudged reluctantly out of the room behind the halfling.
Beasley was already anxiously working on the glass case as Zander entered into the room. “I think that these may actually do Jenny some good.” Beasley said between twists of his lock picking tools. “They must be more valuable than I thought because this lock isn’t a simple one.
“My hands are too big to manipulate tools like that, my small friend.” Zander spoke back in halfling as he pulled up the padded chair from the desk close by and watched intently as Beasley worked.
“What’s wrong, friend?” Beasley took the signal of the giant that he wanted to keep this conversation candid.
“I am beginning to think that this torture chamber is only part of a bigger plot.” Zander whispered.
CLICK! “Great Dallah, I knew this lock would have nothing on this old lock pick!” Beasley waved his hands and the picking tools seemed to vanish, but due to the training Beasley gave Zander, she could see the tools slip into Beasley’s sleeves.
“One day you will have to show me how you do that, little teacher.” Zander laughed as he pointed to Beasley’s cuff sleeve.
The small halfling flipped the latch on the glass case, reached in, and pulled out the sword. “Not bad for a Drow weapon.” He tested the weight of the blade and then examined the tassel of silvery white on the handle.
“What is this?” Zander too saw the tassel and began to examine it, but he paid more attention to the small red tips of the tassel rather than its silky white braid. “It looks to be… blood.”
“Not surprising,” Beasley held it up to the torchlight. He then looked closer at the braided tassel on the handle. “Oh my goodness…” Beasley stopped to catch his breath. “This is hair from a Drow Swordmaiden, not exactly easy to obtain, Zander. This must have been her sword and armor, whoever captured this, is an amazing fighter. Swordmaidens don‘t exactly take too well to being captured.” Beasley changed his vocabulary into the human tongue and took a more serious tone. “I’d imagine that blood on the tassel is her own blood and to add insult to injury, I’d wager my share of our treasure that her hair was taken with her own blade.”
“Great Father Othr, we are dealing with someone who shows no mercy. One who takes pleasure in the pain of others?” Zander’s eyes began to pulsate with anger as tears slowly welled up in his eyes. He stood up, took the chain shirt off the rack, and wrapped the sword within it. “This blade and armor would best serve those that would stop the one who removed them from their owner.” Zander looked to Beasley. “Don’t you agree?”
“I do, perhaps Jenny could use them to protect herself?” Beasley replied. “Albeit, barmaids are more adept to their fists than a blade.”
Zander laughed at the comment and began to walk out the door. His voice echoed through the hallway as he made his way towards Jenny. “Most barmaids, yes. But I think you may be surprised by Jenny’s ability with a thin blade like this.”

Deeper into evil’s den… (Original Fiction by Xan)

2010-04-16T05:00:00.000-06:00

Beasley examined the latch to the trap door. If it had not have been for Solcloud’s prayer and St. Cuthbert’s answer with outlining the hatch, they probably would have never located it. Beasley bent over the latch and slowly picked the release lever, lifted the rusty ring, and waved to Zander to open the doorway. With his massive arms, Zander reached over the small lock pick and flexed his massive muscles. The hatch groaned with its own weight as Zander snarled with the effort as he lifted it open.
Solcloud slowly inserted the torch down the opening, a crude ladder made of ropes and driftwood could be seen swinging gently in the flickering light as a small rat jumped from the bottom rung and scurried into the darker shadows. Zander began down the hanging rope ladder, gingerly stepping on each gnarled driftwood rung. After the giant was about twenty feet down the ladder Beasley followed swiftly and with ease like a spider on a web. The armored Solcloud had as much difficulty as the giant as he started, but Zander held the ladder steadier as the knight made his decent. After reaching the bottom, the trio assessed their new location.
“It looks to be a prison.” Solcloud speaks the obvious, as the others look roll their eyes at him.
“You think?” Said the small halfling already running around examining each cell. The smell of rotting flesh, moldy cloth, and refuse filled their nostrils as they looked around the room. The rooms’ walls had a slight curve; each cell’s door seemed to be within a step or two of one another. The circular room held ten cells set up around the ladder that they had descended down, the ladder seemed to be a constant reminder to the occupants how close to escape they were, but unable to grasp the ladder that dangled just out of arms reach. One heavy wooden door lead out of the room between two rusty iron cells.
“Zand..!” Beasley choked on his own words as he stood by one cell and looked between the bars. His face drained of color and his hand over his mouth in shock. Zander slowly approached the cell. With his keen eyes he blinked to adjust in the darkness and looked into the darkness in the back of the cell, what he saw nearly stole his breath away.
“Jenny?” Zander’s voice quivered as he held the bars in his hands, his arms flexed and knotted as he attempted to break the bars, they didn’t so much as creak under the great strength of the half-ogre. The barmaid lay motionless in the back of the cell huddled up in the dirty rags and refuse of the cell. Her beauty dimmed by signs of abuse and neglect. She was not moving.
“Jenny, are you OK?” The giant struggled to catch his voice as he wrestled to open the door his muscles ached from the strain but these bars were meant to hold beasts stronger than even he was.
“It’s no use.” Solcloud said softly as he tapped sympathetically on the giants bulging shoulder. “We will have to find another way in. I have discovered something; come over here and see.”
Solcloud turned with the torch and held it to the opposite end of the circle of cells. In the dim torchlight, the feathered plume of ‘Betty’ could be seen in the cell. Most of Mayvn’s other personal effects could be seen strewn about the cell as well. The bard was nowhere to be found. Tiny eyes glared in the torchlight under the hat and then a large spider about the size of Beasley’s head skittered out from underneath into a crack on the far side of the cell.
“There is more going on here than a contest of strength and survival.” Solcloud snarled in a vengeful tone. “It seems we have stumbled onto a torture chamber holding area. The slaves on the surface are more than just slaves; they were the survivors of torture.”
“I don’t care much about these empty cells.” Zander spat out a primeval growl from deep inside his soul. “I only care about getting Jenny out of here alive.”
The giant pushed his way through the two other adventurers and through the door. Looking to his left and right he observed a hallway with a door directly across from the holding area, as well as two wooden doors to his left and to his right. A light could be seen flickering underneath the door to the right. Zander wasted no time in taking out his hammer, twisting his cat ring and faded from sight.
A whirlwind of fury, a primeval roar, and a rush of teeth were all the guard could see as Zander burst through the door and clubbed the guard standing next to the door before he could blink crushing his skull. The second guard who had been sitting lazily at a table in the center of the room tried to jump to his feet. As all four feet of the guards chair rattled to the ground a hammer appeared out of nowhere shattering his left shoulder and sent him flying across the room.
“Zander!” Beasley shouted as he rounded the corner. Another guard, who had been standing on the other side of the door, rounded the door and swung his long sword at the small halfling as Beasley tumbled through the door and under the table. The momentum carried him under the table and he slammed into a lever protruding from the ground.
Solcloud followed the two into the fray. “There are more coming!” He looked to the chaos as he entered the room. “An alarm must have been triggered. Hurry, prepare to defend yourselves!” He grabbed the off balance guard who had missed Beasley and threw him to the ground. The guard easily fell with a thud.
Solcloud took a defensive position by the doorway, surprising entering guards with a quick swing of his sword or a slam with his shield. Zander faded in and out of the material plane roaring and whirling with rage. The guard slumped in the corner shook the cobwebs from his head and nursed his shoulder as he stood up limply holding his longsword in his hands.
“There are three of them!” The guard shouted as he spotted Beasley under the table. As the guard dove for the small halfling, Beasley twisted to his left and slashed at the guards’ good arm.
“Ha HA!” Came the gleeful cheer from the small thief as this small sword struck true. The guard dropped his sword and the halfling finished off the guard and dove back into the shadow of the table.
Zander’s hammer and face seemed to fade in and out of view as he whirled and roared like a raging ghost. The whirl of air and the smell of ozone filled their nostrils and it seemed like a thunderstorm were brewing in the room. The knight swung wide with his sword at an entering guard. The guard ducked below the long arch causing Solcloud to slip and fall with a metal crash. The hammer appears in front of the guard and just before impact, it vanishes. The guard blinks and says a small prayer to an unknown god, but to no avail as Beasley leapt from his hiding place under the table and drives his sword right into the heart of the guard.
“Zander, you had better control yourself, or I am going to kill them all myself.” Beasley jokes as he dives again back under the table.
“One more!” Shouts the fallen paladin. Solcloud takes his shield and slams the back of the guards’ knees as he steps through the door. The guard yells in agony as his knees crack. Beasley, like a stalking cat, leapt from under the table and drove both swords into the felled guards back.

Grumpy Idealist… (Original Fiction by Xan)

2010-04-09T05:00:00.000-06:00

A familiar voice echoes up the corridor followed by the clatter of plate armor. “I am seriously beginning to think those three don’t want me to be around.”
The crash of every step gives away the cantor of someone bumping around without much light. A dim light flows up the cavern in the direction of the two companions. They both twist their rings and vanish into the background, just as the light touches their hiding spots.
“I swear by St. Cuthbert that they really need a good talking to about leaving someone alone in a monster filled cave, especially while they are sleeping.” The soot covered knight dusts some ash off his arm as he stumbles along the dirty path. “Leaving a note and traipsing off like nothing is going to happen to those they leave behind. As though they could just come back and the whole world revolves around them…
A small snicker echoes as if from another plane of existence.
“Who’s there?!” The knight freezes in his footsteps, the torch flickering as he waves it about frantically. “I am a crusader for St. Cuthbert; I am sworn to deliver Justice and Right. Prepare yourselves for battle!”
The laugh turns into two and the echo seems to amplify the sound to two thousand laughs. A rap on the poor knight’s armor makes him turn swiftly; the torch dimmed then flickered back to life.
“I am more than a match for all of you; now show yourselves to Solcloud Genus, deliverer of justice! Evil bewares!” Solcloud sputters out in fear.
“St. Cuthbert, these evil beings will not show themselves to me, reveal them to your servant, Solcloud!” A flash of light bursts from the holy symbol emblazoned on his breastplate. The cavern lights up in an explosion of light and sound. The light dimmed in every direction except for a trapdoor on the ground.
“Solcloud…” Zander’s voice seemingly jumped from corner to corner of the cavern. “Are you still looking for us?”
Solcloud drew his sword and gripped his shield tightly. “SHOW YOURSELF DEMON! I will not be deceived by your trickery, reveal what you have done to my companions.”
The laughter doubles as Beasley melts into sight from a shadow behind a stalactite. Zander steps from his hiding spot as though walking out of the wall. Just as the giant steps from the wall, Solcloud swings his sword at the emerging cleric. “En gardé, monster!”
Zander whipped his shield around just in time to block the large arc of Solcloud’s broadsword. The force of the hit knocked Zander to the ground, his wooden shield vibrating on his arm.
“I knew you had it in you, but you need to be using that kind of energy on your enemies not your allies.” Zander sat on the ground looking up into the enraged paladin’s eyes.
“What do you three think you are doing? This is not a laughing matter. You three left me alone while you ran away to get yourselves into more trouble.” The knight’s face continued to grow redder as he reprimanded his compatriots. “Where is Mayvn?”
Zander looked at his small brother in arms and then up to the paladin standing over him. “I thought he was with you. We left the protective spell over both of you.”
“I even checked the outskirts of the spell,” Beasley confirmed Zander’s story. “You were both covered when we left.”
The two pranksters’ hearts dropped as they looked to one another, feeling the loss of their mistake start to sink in. The paladin sheathed his sword and helped Zander to his feet. The three stood there for a moment assessing their next move. They had left a seemingly helpless poet and writer down here to fend for himself while they went off alone. Thoughts of betrayal, fear, and anxiety leapt into their minds.
“Justice will be done,” mumbled the dimmed knight. “We must find him. He is down here somewhere, and I will bet that he is in the way that St. Cuthbert has laid out for us.” The knight nodded, pointing to the glowing trap door on the ground with his cleft chin. “Evil will always show the way to justice.”

An Unlikely Partnership (Original Fiction by Xan)

2010-04-04T05:00:00.001-06:00

“I think the first thing we should do is find fresh water, Captain.” Bad Rum looked to his captain with an air of cruelty in his voice.
“You are right, Rum,” Jenny looked to him with a hint of disgust in her voice. “You always had a thing for self preservation.
“While you were taking a nap I found a natural spring on the rocks just a few hundred paces within the darkness of these coconut trees, Captain.” Bad Rum hissed as he pointed to the North.
“Well then, we should waste no time gathering provisions. Then after we gain our strength we shall look for a way off this rock and gain our precious Duchess back.” Jenny beckoned her crew to follow her as she made her way in the direction of Bad Rum’s footprints on the beach.
The rag tag group of pirates hiked into the trees and they discovered beautiful spring lined with black lava rock. Without skipping a beat Kilzar ran to the water, stripping his tattered clothes and dove in. He vanished in the crystal clear water and bubbles ceased to float on the water where he entered.
“KILZ!” roared Salt.
Jenny started stripping off her coat and sashes to dive in after him when like a shot out of a cannon Kilzar flew out of the water and slammed into a nearby tree. The crew ran to the slumped over dwarf and lifted the broken tree off his limp form.
“WHO DISTURBS MY WATERS?” roared a voice like the sound of a waterfall on boulders.
Jenny stood up with a coconut in her hand ready to defend what remained of her crew. “My name in Captain Jenny Blackbirch of the Dryad Duchess, daughter of the late ‘Red Dog’ Blackbirch, marooned on this island by the foul fish Blackfin. To whom am I addressing? Friend or Foe?”
A roar of laughter softened the roaring waterfall to the sound of a babbling brook. “THE Red Dog,” burbled a softened reply out of what seemed to be the water itself.
“Yes,” Jenny replied. “Who are you stranger? Show yourself!”
Within the water a giant shape formed out of the center and moved towards the pirates. “I am called many things, but I prefer Shu’ei.”
“What are you?” Maccus asked respectfully.
“I am a water elemental,” Shu’ei proudly boasted. He moved closer to the pirates and as he got closer to the edge of the freshwater pond he shrunk to no taller than Piper.
“How do you know my father, Shu’ei?” Jenny asked respectfully.
“He and I spent a lot of time together ages ago, right at this very pond.” Shu’ei mused. “It seems the Blackbirch family is drawn to this island. And I assume your next question will be…”
“How do we get off?” Jenny asked without provocation.
“HA!” Shu’ei wave-like form lashed out a whip of water and slipped back that seemed as if he slapped his knee. “I knew it; you are exactly like your father!” A rush of sound like the rolling of waves on a rocky shore made the sound of a deep rumbling laughter. “You know if your child comes to MY Island I will not have any more boats to get them off the island.”
“You have a ship on this island?” Jenny gasped. “How?”
“You would be surprised what washes up on my shores.” Shu’ei said in a matter of fact tone. “And I didn’t say it was a ship, I said a boat. Follow me.” The water flowed out from the edge of the pond onto the rock and continued deep into the trees.
Jenny looked at her crew; they in turn looked back at her and shrugged. The pirates followed the small wave into the trees to a small river deeper inside the forest and there lay a small rowboat with only one paddle.
“Here is your boat, Captain Blackbirch.” The small wave tittered as if it had just told a joke.
“How are we supposed to navigate that tiny boat in these seas and find our beloved Duchess?” hissed Bad Rum from behind the rest of the party as he emerged in the clearing.
“Perhaps you can turn yourself into a mermaid and push us, Rumsy!” Kilzar roared in laughter at the expense of their changeling crewmember.
“Very funny little man,” Bad Rums face contorted and shifted to that of a feral shifter with long teeth. “How about I just bite out your other eye and be done with you?”
“Enough!” Salt interjected. “You two will someday learn to cooperate, especially in the presence of our captain.” He then turned to the small wave perched at the bow of the small rowboat. “Perhaps you can help us, little elemental.”
“And what would you have me do?” Shu’ei scoffed at the notion of doing more than it had anticipated. “I already am providing you with a boat.”
“As you can see this boat is without propulsion.” Salt began to weave his deal with the elemental. “If you are able to get us back to our ship, you may have your boat back, plus a ship of your own.”
“You plan on giving Shu’ei the helm of Blackfin’s Onyx,” Jenny laughed. “Brilliant!”
“What do you say little elemental?” Salt stated respectfully, “Do we have an accord?”
“Indeed we do!” The small elemental dissipated underneath the small rowboat for a moment then by some unnatural means a roaring water could be heard upstream.
“Everyone in the boat quickly,” barked the bosun.
Just as everyone had boarded the small rowboat a large wave rolled from out of nowhere to sweep the little boat out to sea.

Master and student (Original Fiction by Xan)

2010-04-02T05:00:00.000-06:00

The two adventurers did not seem to mind the quiet as they prowled the smoky, torch lit caves. Zander was starting to pick up some tricks Beasley tried to show him with hand gestures and facial expressions. They seemed to speak volumes without a noise exchanged between them. Beasley held his hand up with his open palm toward the giant, Zander froze.
The rogue slipped quietly in the shadows and approached a bend in the tunnel. Like a cat stalking a mouse, Beasley crept close to the wall on his hands and knees slowly and steadily pulled out his tools from his belt and began working on something invisible to Zander.
“What are you…?” Zander began to speak in halfling with a very hushed tone.
“Shhh!” Beasley snapped as he continued to work on the invisible wire. “I am working on a tripwire and I need all of my focus on…” Before Beasley could finish his statement there was a whoosh of air and a small needle hit Zander in the neck as he stooped over Beasley.
Zander began to swoon and waver, as his vision seemed to fade to black. With a thud, the giant collapsed on the wire releasing another hail of darts that flew over the little thief and the downed cleric.
After a few worried moments in the darkness, Beasley held a bag of strong smelling herbs to Zander’s nose. The giant jumped back as if a dog had attacked him.
“What happened?” Zander shoot his head and then pulled his knees up to his chest and leaned up against the rough rock walls.
“You failed to see a trap I was working on.” Beasley smiled. “Next time you will have to observe me from a distance. But I am proud of how you are trying to stay in the shadows.” The rogue continued to beam with pride over his large pupil. “But we need to be quiet, I think something is coming. Hide quickly!”

A giant and a sneak attack? (Original Fiction by Xan)

2010-03-26T05:00:00.000-06:00

Zander just shook his head as they began back down through the swamp water and through the passage on the other side. He gave his small friend ample room to run off ahead but still kept him just within his sight. Beasley seemed to dart between the darkness and cracks in the cave wall like an animated shadow. Zander was amazed to see how skilled his little friend was.
The halfling froze a few paces ahead of the giant. He held his hand up in a fist and the lumbering tower stopped in his tracks. Beasley tapped his nose and winked at Zander. Zander took a deep smell through his large nose. A thick musk filled his nostrils and almost immediately he turned his head and his last meal nearly topped his throat. He quickly put his hand to his mouth and slowly moved to where his small friend was trying not to laugh at his lumbering friend turning greener than normal.
Zander peeked around the cave corner and viewed five slender bipedal lizard-like creatures. They seemed to be arguing with each other, creaking and croaking like a couple small tree frogs in the summer night’s warmth. The smell emanating from these dirty creatures was nauseous and Zander was astounded that Beasley shrugged off the smell but he was having a hard time keeping his eyes from tearing up.
Beasley put his finger over his mouth as he put his hood over his head and twisted his ring and vanished as a cloud of smoke dissipates in the wind. Zander looked at the ground and watched the dirt on the cave floor smash in small footprint like patterns. Zander tried to hold his breath as he twists his ring and flickers out of sight.
“You can’t have all the fun little friend.” Zander scoffed in halfling in a small whisper.
“Shhh… you need to learn how to prey on those not paying attention.” Beasley said in a tone like an aged instructor says to a pupil.
Quietly, like a couple of lions hunting a pack of gazelles, the two slipped unnoticed around the clutch of troglodytes while they continued to chatter and groan at one another.
It seemed they were arguing over a steel pot, probably discarded or lost by a traveling band of gypsies or ‘confiscated’ from an adventuring party who had descended into the pit. Unknowing to their surroundings the troglodytes did not even notice the two lions stalking them. The biggest of the three lizard kin was standing by as the smaller two fought. Without warning one lunged at the other, the two flailed on the ground lashing at one another with claws and crude knives.
“NOW!” Beasley shouted as he appeared on the back of the top troglodyte and made quick work of one with his sword and it went limp falling on top of the other. The second one, dazed by its victory, pushed the dead body to the side and tried to get up. As it started to stand, it stiffened, gurgled, and dropped to the ground. The crazed eyes of Beasley glowed with a fire of adventure as he stared at the larger troglodyte clutch leader.
The clutch leader stared in awe at this small man appeared out of nowhere to drop his two clutch mates with not so much as a blink. The large lizard man growled and drew its crude stone axe from the leather belt slung crudely from its waist. The stench of the leader filled Beasley’s nostrils as he raised the axe. Beasley felt his stomach turn as the noxious fumes paralyzed him. The toothy grin of the clutch leader seemed to grow larger as he ominously approached the frozen halfling, the glint of the stone blade glimmered in the torchlight. In a blink of an eye, the clutch leader flew across the tunnel and fell in a slump. The crushed head gave no hint that it had once been a troglodyte had it not been attached to his body.
“You aught to watch out for yourself.” Zander chided Beasley as he lay on the cave floor still covered in the gore of the two slain troglodytes and the grey matter of the clutch leader. Zander appeared like a reflection on a pond after ripples subside. He was holding his large hammer in his hand and was wiping the blunt face with his cloak.
“You have room to talk,” Beasley sputtered in the common tongue. “I scotched two of them before you decided to come out of hiding. You big yellow brute!” Beasley stood and wiped his face with a scrap of cloth from his pack.
“You got the two smaller ones,” Zander growled. “I was just waiting for my moment to strike, unlike you I don’t have size on my side to hide.”
The small man looked up to his large compatriot and laughed a hearty laugh loud enough to make even the giant proud.
“Come on, let’s get going.” Beasley slapped Zander on the knee with the gore-covered rag and laughed again.

Before the Attack (Original Fiction by Xan)

2010-03-24T05:00:00.001-06:00

“Father,” Jenny roared through the thick oak door of the inn’s finest suite, “you had better not be in bed with that sweet young barmaid you was flirting with all last night!” Her voice began to show signs of impatience as she pounded on the door with more force. “That’s it! I’m coming in!” She screamed as she backed away from the door and across the hallway. She huffed a deep breath and charged at the door with her shoulder. The door crashed open as it broke of its rusted hinges. The sight that Jenny expected to see was not the one that awaited her in the suite of her father, Captain “Red Dog” Blackbirch.
Jenny nearly lost her footing as she slipped on the crimson pool developing on the wooden floor. His signature black and red coat lay on the bed at the far side of the room folded eloquently, probably from the night before. A man lay on a table in the middle of the room gasping for air, his white shirt stained burgundy by his own blood lay torn open exposing his red curls of hair matted with blood as well and a strange marking carved into his flesh.
“Jenny,” he gasped.
“Who did this to you father?” Jenny dashed to his side, bundling his shirt on the wound and trying to stop the blood.
“It is too late for me Jenny,” the fading captain gurgled out. “The Dryad Duchess is yours. Take her crew as your own. Leave here, now.”
“Father, what happened?” Jenny sobbed “Who did this to you?”
“Not… much… time…” he garbled out between coughs of blood. “Blackfin marked me with his Black Delta. He wanted me dead, and my ship to be his.” Jenny tried in vain to keep him breathing but the brand carved into his flesh ran to the bone. “You musn’t go after him, Jenny. Promise me!”
“Father, what will you have me do? Run from him like a coward?” The fire of revenge burned in her tear filled eyes as she hung onto her father’s final words.
“Take me hook, it controls the Duchess. You know that the elementals bound to its hull will only be controlled by its power.” He gasped. “Promise me you will not go looking for Blackfin, but you will RUN and take the Duchess far away from here.”
“I promise.” Jenny sobbed as her father’s last breath gurgled from his slack jaw. “For now…”

This I Believe

2010-03-21T05:00:00.000-06:00

So before I post this I wanted to say that I don't post much on this blog, I leave that to Maggie. But every once in a while I think I need to post a thought or two.

This I Believe is based on a 1950s radio program of the same name, hosted by acclaimed journalist Edward R. Murrow. Each day, Americans gathered by their radios to hear compelling essays from the likes of Eleanor Roosevelt, Jackie Robinson, Helen Keller, and Harry Truman as well as corporate leaders, cab drivers, scientists, and secretaries—anyone able to distill into a few minutes the guiding principles by which they lived.

I hope you enjoy mine.

I believe that if you don’t want to get your hands dirty, don’t. My father taught me that. I don’t want to say that hard work doesn’t profit you or benefit you, but if you are opposed to working in the trenches and getting your hands dirty then aspire for something better.

As a child I went to work with my father, the general contractor, to ‘help’ him on his jobs. During the summertime, when school was out, and sometimes on weekends I would climb gleefully into his truck. The smell of sawdust wafting into my face as I bounce on the seat, the same sawdust covered the dashboard and console of the truck. Our first stop of the day was at a gas station where my father would fill up his mug with his Diet Coke and purchase a sweet roll, I would follow him to the fountain and grab me a large cup to fill with my Root Beer and then over to the pastry cabinet for my chocolate cake doughnut with chocolate frosting. My father pointed out to me that the glazed doughnuts are so much better and sweeter. My comment, as a child at that time, was simple in my mind “I hate getting my hands dirty, Dad.”

My father proceeded to take the rest of the day and the rest of my life reflecting on my comment and taught me a valuable lesson. He explained to me that he has worked manual labor his whole life. He never graduated High School and was a misfit in his younger years. He was lucky to be taught by his Father-In-Law a trade in construction and he is grateful for that. He learned the value of working hard and having a strong work ethic. Be good at your job, do it well, do it better than the other guy and do it faster. Be paid by your ability and not by your time. Many times my father explained to me that if I didn’t want to get my hands dirty with something as sweet as a doughnut then I definitely don’t want to get them dirty with manual labor. He taught me to work hard in school, develop my skills in such a way to be paid for my mind and not by my strength or the sweat of my brow.

I appreciate the blue collar worker. I believe myself to be from a great strong stock of hard workers who made it possible for me to be white collar because of their example. I worked harder in school to get better grades and learned from my father that I have a choice in my life to get my hands dirty in jeans or get my hands dirty through sales in slacks and a tie.

On their own once again… (Original Fiction by Xan)

2010-03-19T05:00:00.000-06:00

The large missionary is interrupted from his alms to Othr by a nudge on the shoulder. He neglects to open his eyes, as he already knows who has become familiar enough with him to attempt such an act.
“What is it my small thief?” Zander speaks halfling in a hushed voice.
“I am not a...” Beasley replied back in his own tongue but with a slightly aggravated edge. “Oh, never mind. “Call me whatever you want, but right now, you can call me ‘bored.’ I can’t sleep, and those two are out cold again, can we go? They are too loud and they are slowing me down with their complaining and ‘righteous admonitions.” Beasley waives his hands and puffs up his chest in an attempt to look like Solcloud.
“Very well little one, we can go again. Valhalla forbid you should get yourself in trouble with no one to pull you out.” Zander’s face curled with a slight smile and a wink. “But I do not want to leave them unprotected, give me a moment.”
“Hurry up; I smell adventure just down this hallway!” The hooded halfling said nearly jumping out of his skin with anxiety.
Zander looked around for a decent sized stone and placed his hammer on it. He knelt down and Beasley could see the head of the hammer begin to glow slightly and in the dim light, he could make out the giant’s lips moving but could not hear him speak. The hammer then dimmed and Zander stood up and walked a few paces away from the stone, it looked as though he had passed through a smooth waterfall. A sparkle of light washed over him and was gone.
“What was that?” Beasley looked up to his large companion.
“An insurance policy that our friends will be safe while they slumber.” Beasley looked to the cleric quizzically as the giant spoke to him. “Not to worry, Solcloud will know what it is and will know how to pass through.”
“Well I hate to think they may think the ‘thief’ ran off alone again. I penned them a small note to let them know where we went and they should catch up.”
Beasley had another stone with a piece of parchment tied to it with a bit of twine. He tossed it up in his hands as if to judge the weight and then tossed it towards Zander’s ‘magic rock.’ As the stone flew through the air it stopped and dropped to the ground where Zander had passed through his magic.
“What the…?” Beasley jumped a bit. “That is a protection spell of some kind. I like that. Now let’s go, we are wasting time.”

Digging in the Trash (Original Fiction by Xan)

2010-03-12T05:00:00.000-07:00

“Well boys…” Beasley trots over to the pile of junk in the middle of the pond of black water. “Let’s see what this Dragon has been holding onto down here.” Without a moments notice he begins digging through the tattered clothing and bones of adventurers past who had become the unfortunate dinner guests of the young dragon.
“There is nothing but junk and tattered clothing.” Solcloud scoffs. “Why waste your time digging around in such filth? Can we just continue? I feel evil radiating here. This place must be cleansed.”
“I couldn’t agree more, my somewhat dimmed knight.” Mayvn takes his damp sleeve and rubs a chunk of slimy filth off the paladin’s now grimy armor. “Besides, it’s dark in here, the smell is awful, my shoes are soaked clear through, and my lute is beginning to warp.”
Beasley barely pays them heed and continues to dig through the refuse. “By the smiling face of Olidammara!” He stops digging in a gasp and waves his hand beckoning to his large friend but never taking his eyes off his find. “Zander! Bring me a torch quick!”
The half-ogre quickly does as he is told and rips the torch from Mayvn’s hand and trudges through the muck towards the mound and his small friend. “What is it?” He leans in over the small halfling, completely engulfing the tiny man underneath his enormous body. The torchlight flickers as he holds it close to the halfling.
“Back up a bit, Zander!” The small bandit elbows the half-ogre in the chest. “You’re crowding me.” Zander moves back a small bit, but continues to hold the torch close to the tiny man in red.
“What is it?” Zander says curiously.
“It’s a small jackpot, my oversized associate, a small jackpot.” Beasley reaches into the small hole he made and begins to pull out items to be of some value.
“Did I hear 'JACKPOT?'?” Mayvn begins plodding through the muck towards the two treasure hounds. “I think I am only entitled to MY share!”
“Oh how quickly we disregard our silks when treasure is involved.” Beasley takes a stab at the lyricist as the murky water splashes on all three of them when he approaches them.
“Well, I did cause a distraction.” Mayvn’s eyes gleamed with anticipation. “What did you find?” He flops on the sullied mound of bones, tattered clothing and twinkling metal beside the halfling.
Beasley just rolls his eyes as he reaches into the hole he has dug. He pulls out a diamond bigger than his tiny fist. “I didn’t find much.” He turns to Zander and smiles. “But it should pay the bills.”
From across the cavern Solcloud’s voice echoes. “I hope you plan on giving some of that as a donation to the poor! The church always needs financial support.”
Beasley only huffs and buries his head back into the refuse.
“Our patrons also give us blessings to pay for the quests we must go on.” Zander harasses Solcloud. “Don’t you think they guided us to this trove to pay for a greater mission?”
Solcloud slinks in his armor as he folds his arms with a huff. “I doubt St. Cuthbert would appreciate us keeping this fortune to ourselves.” He skulks off down the passageway a bit to leave the raiders to their dirty work.
“DON’T MOVE!” Beasley spurts out to Mayvn with his arms straight out and his hands out. “Since when did you find silks to lie on?”
“What are you talking about my boy?” Mayvn looked at him quizzically. “I just dropped on top of some old rusty armor.” Mayvn pats his ‘bed’ he had been lying on while watching the small burglar work. To his amazement, he was not on rusty armor anymore, but on a bed of silky robes.
“My goodness!” Mayvn jumps to his feet, the silks disappear, and the rusty armor reappears.
“Touch it again.” Beasley prods the bard. “I have a thought.”
Mayvn slowly extends his hand to the armor and with one extended finger touches the armor. The armor again turns into silks before the three raiders as they all gasp.
“I have heard of this before,” barks Mayvn. “It is glammered! It appears to be whatever the host wants it to be. Zander, you try!”
Mayvn removes his hand and the rusty armor returns. Zander hesitantly does the same and touches the rusty armor and it turns to chain mail armor. Zander jumps back in astonishment and pushes the rusty armor away. “No Thank You! I do not want something like that; Othr likes things to be as they appear. Nothing to hide.”
“It is too heavy for me to be walking around in full plate armor.” Mayvn scoffs. “Besides, it wouldn’t feel like silk against my delicate skin.”
“Well,” Beasley shrugs. “I am too small for it, and it will make too much noise for my tastes. By the looks Mr. Shiny was giving us about keeping this stuff, I doubt he will want it. However, it will bring a good price at the market. Zander, can you boot it in your backpack please.”
Zander slings the giant chest off his back and loads up the armor that looks like chain mail as soon as he touched it. “I just can’t get used to armor doing that. Makes my skin crawl.” Zander shudders as he turns his head towards something flickering in the torchlight. “What’re those?” Zander points to a couple bottles with different colored liquids in them. Beasley hops up, runs nimbly across the loose treasure mound, and scoops the bottle up in his arms like firewood.
They look like potions or poisons or something.” He gently lays them down at Zander’s knees. “Can you tell what they are?”
Zander pops the stopper on the first one and takes a deep sniff, smacks his tongue to the roof of his mouth and makes several clicking noises, rolls his eyes back and then exhales.
“This one is a restorative brew…crude but not bad when we are in a pinch.” Zander smiles as he puts the stopper back in the bottle and does the same smelling technique on the other two, devising they are an anti-poison and a curative potion for disease victims.
“We aught to keep all of these.” Zander gently tucks them into his belt. “Feel free to take them if needed.” He winks at Beasley as he pats the belt. “What’s this?” Zander notices an intricate stick tucked in with the pile of bottle when Beasley brought it over.
“Looks to be a wand!” Mayvn’s eyes begin to sparkle. “I am schooled in the ways of magical items; shall I give it a wave?”
Zander and Beasley gather up their things and begin to back off.
“Maybe you should identify that one some other way than giving it a flick.” Beasley says with an edge in his voice. “You are not exactly followed by good luck or anything.”
“Oh, very well.” Mayvn begins to mumble under his breath and wave his hands about as if to weave the very air over the item. The wand glows a light bluish-white and then dims. “It is a wand that cures moderately damaging wounds. Definitely a keeper! Well, I think we aught to find old Mr. Grumpy and settle down for a bit of rest.”
“I agree,” Beasley stands up and stretches in a long cat stretch. “It feels as though it is to be late.”
“I will take last watch so I can pray for help from Othr in the morning.” Zander opens his toothy mouth in a large yawn. The low rumble echoing within his cavernous mouth nearly took the color out of Mayvn’s face.
“I am sure glad you are a man of the cloth,” Mayvn hesitantly smiles and pats Zander on his cold chain-mailed arm. “You could frighten even the biggest things in here.”

Reunited… (Original Fiction by Xan)

2010-03-05T05:00:00.000-07:00

“Zander?” Solcloud waives his torch around in the looming darkness. “Drat that big oaf and that thief friend of his too. St. Cuthbert would never approve of such shenanigans, regardless of the bounty.”
The heavy breathing and purring continued to echo in the darkness. The chill of the shallow, murky water seemed to permeate even the walls. Solcloud’s torchlight seemed to dance on the walls, reflecting the small streams of water soaking through the rocks and collecting on the cave floor into this underground swamp-like environment.
“We should be dealing out justice to the rank beasts living down here, not sneaking around them.” Solcloud continued to stand on the bank of the small swamp waiving his torch from side to side, trying to spot any sign of movement. The water rippled slightly, but not enough to suggest something concealed in the darkness. The silence was almost tangible except for his torch burning and flickering, pieces of cloth and rope sizzling in the water as they fell off the torch.
“I say!” A voice shatters the silence as Solcloud nearly drops the torch from the unexpected boom of sound. “Is that you Solcloud? I thought you were dead?”
Solcloud turns on his heels swiftly, draws his sword, and nearly lops Mayvn’s head off had it not been for his quick reflexes.
“Goodness that is a fine how do you do!” Mayvn bends down, picks up his hat, drops his shoes, and slips them back on. “I thought I was lost down here for good, alone.” He shakes at the thought of such an idea. “What are you doing here, were you separated as well?”
“Would you be…?”
ROWRRRRRRR!!!!!!
Before Solcloud could chide Mayvn for making so much noise, Mayvn had already alerted the presence hiding in the darkness.
“You have come to take my horde, and no doubt try to kill me Paladin!” The words all seem to drip with poison as they are growled out in the deepest part of the swampy cavern. Greenish eyes seem to glint to life from the back of the cavern. “Well come on now, deal your justice on the darkness Paladin; let your silly bard there record your exploits!”
Suddenly a splash of water at the banks near their feet bursts a long black tail. Masked in the darkness the massive tail swings through the air, splashing water and flinging the surface scum around the darkened cavern. The immense tail flailed around in the darkness nearly flinging Mayvn across the room. Solcloud was not so lucky; his torch doused by the watery tail fell to the ground where he used to stand. Solcloud lay in a heap on the other side of the cavern, a good thirty feet from where he once stood. The scum and filthy water lapping over his scratched armor, he shook his head glad that he was wearing it. He rolled to his hands and knees in the water; he wiped a small bit of blood from the back of his head as he slowly made his way to his feet.
“Fowl wyrm, you deserve the justice St. Cuthbert will deal you through my blade!” Solcloud reached around in the bog and fumbled for his sword, once found he held it at the ready.
“Ha!” The dragon, still masked in darkness waived his tail in warning. “I will have you and the bard here as a pickled snack!” The green of the dragon’s eyes flickered briefly then it roared in defiance at the two would be horde snatchers. The dragon swung its tail again splashing a wave of fowl smelling water at Solcloud and roared but this time the swing went wide and the roar was not one of anger but one of pain.
“Get to higher ground!” The small yelp of Beasley came in the direction of the dragon. “You kept him busy long enough for me to find him. RUN!”
The dragon flailed around as the small halfling had dug his short sword into the knee of the giant beast. The great black monster turned its head towards the pain scorching through its leg and snapped at the small attacker, but he seemed to have disappeared.
“Show yourself thief!” The dragon snarled with rage, nursing his fresh wound. “I know you are here, in the shadows, lurking in my waters!”
“You will have to find us.” The haunting voice of Zander booms from the shadows, echoing in a distant ghostly tone.
The dragon roars again as the crunch of scale and bone mixes with the sound of flesh and sinew. The dragon turned to the site of impact just in time to see the half ogre fade from view. “Your tricks will not work on me thieves! I have your paladin!”
Without warning the sound of air, being drawn into powerful lungs was quickly replaced by a sticky muck that burst from the dragons’ mouth. Hissing and putrid smoke followed in its wake as it splashed off the walls in a deadly line towards Solcloud. The knight, now back on solid ground behind the dragon leapt to the side just before the stream of vile goo hit the place he once stood.
“You see dragon,” Solcloud scoffed. “St. Cuthbert protects me from your vile ways, you have been judged. Now you must be executed!”
Mayvn, cowering in the corner heard those valiant words and stood up gallantly. “That was great; it will go in my next sonnet.” With that, Mayvn began to strum his lute and began playing a tune with a fast-paced rhythm and a strong backbeat.
Solcloud concentrated on Mayvn’s tune and lunged towards the darkness. “Fall before St. Cuthbert’s might!” He swung his sword wildly in the darkness, trying to locate exactly where the beast was.
The dragon, also blind in the flicker of the small torch near Mayvn, swung his great claws and flapped his mighty wings. Solcloud continued to parry the hidden onslaught of attacks, hacking at the beast with great fervor.
Dodging another swipe of the dragons claws, Solcloud scoff at the dragon and steps in to strike. “My lord protects me, vile harbinger of the mire. But who protects you?” He slashes at the dragon, connects with the dragon’s front leg, and spills more blood. The dragon roars in agony but continues to fight on.
“You are persistent Paladin! Between your travel companion and you against me... you are out measured!” The dragon swipes again and flings Solcloud across the cavern once again. The dragon turns to the sound of the lute and the only light in the cavern. The beast trudged towards the silky bard strumming his lute.
“Stop that annoying screeching!” The dragon breathes in and let’s loose another spray of the vile acidic ichor.
Mayvn quickly dodges the spray; hissing and smoke fill the air as the acid burns the rock wall smooth. Mayvn continues to hum his tune as he does a quick assessment for holes in his silks.
“Whew,” he sighs. “These clothes sure are durable. I will have to refer all my friends of my wizard tailor.” He snickers.
Again, the dragon roars with pain, attacked again from the shadows by one of the unseen opponents.
Beasley’s voice echoes underneath the dragon. “Mayvn, you had better move, he sees you and he likes your gift wrapping!”
The dragon barely slowed down from Beasley’s cut to his rear leg. It roars with anger and continues toward the silk-garbed minstrel. Slowly increasing its advance to a trot then to a run. Nevertheless, yards away from Mayvn another hollow thud filled with the crunch of bone echoes through the underground waterway.
Zander’s voice can be heard in that unearthly tone. “Don’t mess with what you cannot see!”
The dragon falls to the ground, splashing the stagnant water in all directions. The tidal wave covers Zander and Mayvn in moss and mud. Mayvn just stood in awe like a rain soaked scarecrow, wishing he were in some tavern or court singing tales of other adventurers, not being in one himself.
“I sure hope this is all worth it.” Mayvn flaps his soggy arms like a bird, flicking slime and muck everywhere. “I say my lads, why did you leave me up there while you were down here? I could have been killed, or worse, my clothing could have been ruined!” He looks at his dingy silks and sighs.
“Looks like you have now been blessed with adventure.” Solcloud seemed to gleam in the faint torchlight; his armor seemed to still be polished to perfection.
“How did you…?” Mayvn’s jaw dropped to the floor never imagining a knight so quickly after a battle would have time to polish his armor. “Oh never mind,” He pouted. “My clothes are now officially ruined! I will never be allowed back into civilized society again. It will take months soaking in rose oil to remove the smell of this place.”
“Othr has blessed us with great wealth!” The ethereal voice of Zander seems to echo from behind the two. Without another word, the giant appeared before them as a reflection in a pond materializes after the ripples from a stone begin to smooth on the surface, his hammer swinging lifelessly from the leather strap off the bottom of the handle to his massive wrist. Twisting the newly acquired ring on his finger and a wide grin on his face.
“You like that ring, eh Zander?” From the shadows, the small halfling materializes with not even the slightest hint of water or muck on his deep red clothes. “Next time I tell you to hold back while I look ahead…. Listen to me.” He slips his sword back into its scabbard and glares at the giant. Zander looks to the small companion like a dog reprimanded for barking at the neighbors’ children and frightening them.
“Sorry, sir.” He wrings his hands together and looks down in humility. Nearly a blink of an eye later he pirks up and slaps the small halfling on the back, nearly knocking him face first into the stagnant water. “But we sure showed that black beast not to mess with what it can’t see.” The towering clergyman bellows in a howl of laughter.

“Attack on the Dryad Dutchess” Original Fiction by Xan

2010-03-04T05:00:00.003-07:00

AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT This is the story I came up with from the picture I previously mentioned. ENJOY!

“His left leg was cut off close by the hip, and under the left shoulder he carried a crutch, which he managed with wonderful dexterity, hopping about upon it like a bird. He was very tall and strong, with a face as big as a ham-plain and pale, but intelligent and smiling.” (Stevenson, 1883)

Awakening

“What happened?”

The rays of the bright sun rushed into her eyes like a tidal wave as she tried to focus on the shadow looming in the middle of the flood. As her eyes slowly came into focus the image of her battered and rusted warforged bosun came into view.

We have been marooned Cap’n.” The towering warforged replied to his captain in his rust stricken metallic voice.

She blinked and tried to rub her eyes as the white sand of the beach scratched her face. “Where is my Dryad Dutchess?” She rubbed her head where a large knot could be felt underneath her ebony curls. She winced at the mere touch of the swelling mass.

“Blackfin took her Cap’n.” A potbellied dwarf piped up from behind the massive warforged. His normal orange mohawk drenched in seawater lay like kelp over a manatees head after surfacing.

“Kilzar, my old friend,” The deposed captain placed a hand on the bare shoulder of her long time friend. “That ugly pirate has returned to take back what I have rightfully stolen.”

The dwarf looked up at his captain and smiled, “Aye.” His mechanical eye gleamed blue as it hummed and whirred as it telescoped out and back in focusing on his friend’s battered face. “The filthy shark killed more than half yer crew and shipwrecked us all on this blasted island.” He cursed under his breath while he wrung out his long crimson beard and tried his best to stand his mohawk back up straight. His blue tattoos all over his body and face almost seemed to writhe like snakes when he moved.

The immense pile of rust that was Ol’ Salt piped in with his tarnished voice, “Role call has turned up as; I yer bos’n, Kilzar yer quartermaster, Maccus ‘n Piper yer gunner and powder monkey, and ‘Bad Rum’ Maurice yer cooper. Ma’am.”

Slowly lifting herself to her feet she groaned, “It seems that my best men survived, eh Salt?”

“Aye Cap’n,” he grated.”

“It seems then that Captain Jenny Blackbirch is in need of a new vessel.” She wrung out her own hair as she looked at her lightened crew. “But what exactly happened to us Salt? How did I lose my precious Dutchess?”

Ol’ Salt produced his Captain’s hat and handed it back to her as he relayed the tale of the attack on the Dutchess.

A Bosun’s Tale

“We were sailing to the Straits of Xaloc where we usually…” Ol’ Salt cleared out his throat with a gurgle and a cough of oil and rust before he continued “where we toil at our honest profession.” The crew laughed at his choice of words. “We were approaching our favorite spot to weigh anchor and await the next merchant ship to arrive on its way from Sharn to the outpost of Weatherdeep on Xen’drik when we seemed to have run aground. Now Cap’n, you’n I both know these waters better’n any man and to run aground in the Straits is damn’d near impossible.”

Kilzar sat down on a stump and rolled his eye as the mechanical one scraped in and out with the grit of sand marring it as it moved. “Just because you were once an honorable marine during the war doesn’t mean you can navigate the tides n’ weather always, Salty.” He popped his mechanical eye out and spit on it and tried to polish it with his beard to get the sand off.

“As I said Cap’n,” Ol’ Salt continued, “we ran aground in the middle of the Straits.”

“How is that possible, Salt?” Jenny queried as she rubbed the knot on her head. “And I guess I can credit this knot to my foggy memories of the event.”

“Aye ma’am,” was the squeaky reply of the young gnome they called Piper. His ruddy cheeks could be seen for the first time in months as he was washed clean by the sea from all the cannon powder he was usually covered in. “The ol’ shark Blackfin knocked you good on the noggin’ Cap’n.”

“We are getting ahead of the story,” Salt retorted. “We had no more as gained our footing on deck when tentacles started crawling up the sides of the boat. We had been caught by one of those creatures, the ones from sea myth, those Kray-kens.”

“Crack’n,” said Maccus.

“Krah-kun,” barked Bad Rum.

“Regardless,” snapped Salt. “The giant squid believed only in fairy tales and nightmares had grabbed a hold of your poor Dutchess and began crushing masts and rudders.” Salt seemed to creak and groan in his joints as if he shuddered at the thought of this beast doing the same thing to his own frame. “Then came the real shock, Blackfin and his crew came around a nearby cove aboard his ship, The Sea Lance; As if he had taught that creature to lay in wait for us.”

“I wouldn’t doubt that in the slightest,” Kilzar chimed in as he popped his polished eye back into the hollow socket of his mechanical eye.

Salt’s voice box scraped out the words as he continued. “We were boarded as we were helpless in the grasp of the Kray-ken.”

“Crack’n,” snapped Bad Rum.

“Krah-kun,” whispered Maccus.

“Anyway,” growled Salt. “We were boarded by Blackfin and his band. You’d been proud of yer crew ma’am. Each man proved his mettle a hundred times over as they lay waste to three to four of Blackfin’s crew before bein’ cut down themselves.” Salt seemed to groan, but it was just his body creaking with the white sand mingling with the rust in his salt corroded joints. “You ma’am then squared off with Blackfin. You fought honorably, despite Blackfin’s predilection for cheating.”

“Predilection?” Kilzar grumbled. “Stop speaking like a Marine mate and speak to us like we are educated pirates.”

“His fondness for cheating,” if Salt could sneer he would have done so to the quartermaster.

Kilzar smiled.

“Despite all odd ma’am, Blackfin got the best of ye when one of his crew, a crimson red painted warforged skulked behind ye and knocked you on the head with his massive sledge of a hand.” Salt shuttered at the image replaying in his mind. “It is a wonder you are still alive ma’am.”

“So that is how we ended up on this island somewhere between Xen’drik and Khorvaire?” Jenny stood up and looked to the horizon for any sign of another spot of land. “How about we find a way off this rock and get our ship back?”

TO BE CONTINUED…

Rude awakening… (Original Fiction by Xan)

2010-02-26T05:00:00.000-07:00

“Well, I must have slept like the dead.” Mayvn lifted his arms out in a long and wonderful cat stretch, as he flexed his fingers as if grasping for the ceiling.
“Did someone let the fire go out?” He fumbled around with his pack trying to find the torch.
“What did you do with the torch the mage gave us, Beasley? You know the one that its flame never goes out?” He continued to search in his pack for his ‘spare’ torch.
“Damn, I will have to remember to have a certain pouch made so I can find the thing a little easier.” He grasped onto a thick wooden stick, wrapped in a small bit of leather wrapped around one end, and a cup on the other.
“Radiantino!” The torch burst into flame, showering sparks that popped and hissed as they fell to the ground. Mayvn looked around to campsite, the fire’s embers had been out for some time and they were not even warm to the touch. Everyone seemed to still be curled up in their bedrolls and thin travel blankets.
“Beasley!” Mayvn looked to the smallest lump in the circle of blankets. “Beasley, you fool! Why didn’t you wake me for my watch?”
Mayvn stood up and stretched once more. He walked to the far end of the small alcove they had spent the night in to take care of some morning business. He walked back to the campsite with a sigh and bent over to relight the campfire with his torch. The campfire sparked and hissed as if it too had been rudely interrupted from a deep slumber. Mayvn walked over to Zander and nudged the largest of the bedrolls with his toe.
“Zander, what’s for breakfast?” The blanket and huge mass didn’t move from its position. “I sure could use some of your maple cured meat, I am starved and I have nothing in my pack but salted pork for emergencies.” Still there was no sign of movement from the bedroll. Mayvn crouched down to lift the blanket from over the large mass.
“EEEEK!” Mayvn let out a shrill cry like a wash maid who found a mouse in the laundry. Where once a large half-ogre was now lay a half-ogre skeleton in rusty chain mail and tattered robes. A rusty hammer also lay next to the aged set of bones.
“Solcloud, Beasley, come quickly! Zander has been…disintegrated in his sleep.” Mayvn danced around the fire, he shuttered as if something was crawling on his skin. He made his way over to the two other bedrolls on the opposite end of the fire pit. He nudged the larger of the two and a rusted helmet rolled out with a skull still inside.
“Solcloud, you too?” Mayvn began to panic as he pulled the cover sheet to reveal a rusty suit of armor and aged bones.
“I am not excited to have to wake you my little friend,” he made his way to the last of the three bedrolls.
“Beasley, are you all right? He lifted the blanket that should have been covering a healthy little halfling in dark red clothing, but it also revealed another skeleton in a black hooded robe and clothing that had aged to tatters.
“Oh my, now what am I to do? I can’t remember how I got in here; let alone how I am to get out.” Mayvn started biting his nails as he grabbed his pack and slowly edged back to a wall. He jumped as he bumped into it, dropping his torch. The flame of the torch sputtered out as it hit the ground. Now cast into the flicker of firelight, every shadow and every noise seemed to be a beast coming for his thin and helpless body. A distant sound of rocks settling could be heard in the distance, echoing towards him.
“Who’s there?” He yelped as he reached for the torch.
“I am just skin and bones,” He tried bargaining with the darkness. “I am not even worth the fuss for a meal.” He picked up the torch and recited the activation word again. “Radiantino!”
The torch sputtered back to life, illuminating the room once again. Nothing lay in the room now except for the three skeletal remains of Zander, Beasley and Solcloud as well as his dependable lute, his pack and his hat, Betsy II.”
As he searched through the campsite of any clue as to what happened, he could see footprints in the dirt going off into the darkness.
“Well, I suppose I could follow the tracks and find out what or who befell my friends.” Mayvn spoke to himself when he was nervous. Being in a dark cavern alone, in the dark was reason enough for anyone to be nervous. He gathered up his effects, slung his lute over his back, flopped his wide brimmed ‘Betsy II’ on his muddled hair and made his way in the directions of the shuffled footprints in the dark. With one hand on his hat and one hand on the torch, he ducked through the tunnels, ever aware of the dirty and cobweb filled caverns he walked through.
“Please, don’t let there be anymore spiders.” He whimpered to himself as he stepped into a large room. He noticed the footprints split off in two directions. Two sets seemed to go off towards a pile of rocks and a secret doorway that was opened just enough to be noticed. Those footprints then came back and joined up with the footprints back to his campsite.
“Curious, it seems that someone ventured to that doorway over there then came back to attack my fellows as they slept.” Mayvn thought out the footprints in detail. “I am no tracker, but I assume those footprints probably were troops gathering weapons to fight my friends… or worse to gather a wizard to help.” He gulped. “I sure hope I don’t find him, I would hate to hurt him.”
Mayvn walked towards the rock pile and gingerly made his way up and into the hallway within. He took a step down the hallway and felt a sharp pain in his boot. “Scorpion!” He shrieked as he waved the torch by his boot. He was embarrassed to find a dart sticking out of his boot.
“Oh my, I hope there wasn’t poison in it.” He gingerly rubbed his foot and walked on. As he walked, he felt a little light headed and less adventurous.
“Perhaps I should rest for a moment.” He sat down, and rubbed his foot again. “Well, that dart looked like it had already used its poison on a previous victim. I should probably watch for infection, a small bit could have still been inside.”
He rested a moment, leaning up against the wall with Betsy II safely in his lap. He turned to look at the edge of the torchlight; in the dim light, he could see another door, with a small sign on it. He stood up, dusted off his fine silks that had been wrinkled from days of wear. He looked at his poor ruffled clothing and curled his nose as he brushed them off with Betsy II…
“I must find a good cleaner to wash my effects after we are done here.” He gazed up at the door and then looked to the ground inspecting the travel of the many footprints he intended to follow. There were many shuffled footprints and scuffs in the dirt surrounding the doorway. Gazing further up he found a sign written in a crude form of dwarf, more commonly used by giants.
“Well, this sign could mean anything from danger to dining hall to one such as me.” Mayvn flopped his hat back on his head and adjusted her brim.
“What do you say, Betsy? Shall we open it and see if we find danger or a dining hall?” He tapped his hat and a smile curled his lips as he pushed the door open. He peered into the darkness as he waived his torch around to inspect the entryway but he saw nothing only more footprints past a shuffle of dust in the doorway. Mayvn scoffed at the lack of guarding of this passageway and then stepped through the doorway. Without warning, the giant glowing hand returned, just as it had with Beasley and Zander. It gripped Mayvn by his coat and flung him out the door. As Mayvn shuffled to a stop on the outside of the doorway, his torch spun on the ground but continued to burn. He looked up and saw that his hat, Betsy II, lay on the other side.
“Betsy!!!” Mayvn scrambled to grab his poor hat that lay helpless feet inside the door. The ghostly hand then slammed the door. Mayvn sat on the one side of the door, while his hat lay on the other; he curled his feet up and slumped his head onto his knees. “I am not a dungeoneer nor am I a true adventurer, but I know I cannot do it alone. Perhaps a show of manners would be more in order.” Mayvn stood up and cleared his eyes of the dirt and he pushed his jacket straight again and stood without a slouch and cleared his throat.
“My name is Mayvn Dyse and I wish to retrieve my hat!” Mayvn announced as he knocked on the door. “Hello?” With that show of manners, the door swung open. Mayvn stepped through the door, and stepped back, then through one more time. He swiftly swept up Betsy, flopped her back on his head, and straightened the brim.
“I know when I am not wanted, I will turn away. I thank you for letting me retrieve my Betsy.” With that, he pulled Betsy off his head and with a grandiose sweeping motion, he stepped back with a curtsy and bowed deep. He stood back up proudly, turned on his heels, and began to step away from the door. With a swift motion, the heavy door slammed shut again behind him. Mayvn jumped and checked his coattails to make sure they were not caught in the doorway and scurried away.
“I suppose I should try to find out where the other footprints lead in the other direction.” Mayvn picked up the torch and walked back towards the rock pile and the large room. After some difficulty, trying to lower himself down the rocky pile while not getting dirty he almost made it to the bottom. Just as he took his last step he placed his foot on a small loose rock hidden in the shadow of his torchlight and slipped and fell right on his face.
“Oh, damn, now I am even dirtier.” Mayvn pushed himself to his feet and dusted himself off once again. “I will definitely need my silks cleaned Othroughly after this little adventure. However, before that I must find funding to have them cleaned. I have sung of adventurers finding wealth in dungeons and abandoned castles. There must be hidden treasures here.” Mayvn began to walk briskly towards the stairway, following the other footsteps, but he stopped just short of descending downward.
“Oh my, but I have also sung of these adventurers fighting against unbearable odds.” Mayvn started down the dusty stairway, each step seemed to echo with every footfall of his hard-soled shoes. He grasped the handrail and slowed his pace as to try to quiet his shoes.
“My, my, this will not do.” Mayvn sat on the steps a moment, removed his shoes, and put them in his bag.
“If I continue to make such a ruckus I will wake the dead.” Mayvn stood up and continued walking down the stairs, with more effort and moving quietly.
“And goodness knows the dead need their rest or they will become grumpy.” He continued to talk to himself as he slid one hand down the railing and with the other; he held the torch up high. Slowly descending flights of the spiral staircase, he continued to mumble to himself as if to subconsciously warn things of his approach and to scare the smaller threats away.
“I would rather like to avoid making the dead grumpy or worse yet waking something bigger like a dragon.” Mayvn reached the bottom of the stairs to the large landing. Three doors lay open while the others remained closed.
“My, my, it seems someone has lost their manners and left these doors open.” Mayvn sat on the bottom stair as he slipped his heeled shoes back on his feet, then he also polished the large buckles on his shoes.
“Perhaps I should close them?”
As he stood up and straightened his jacket, Mayvn looked up and could see a dim light coming from one of the doors. “Oh goodness, something is down there. Perhaps I should investigate the light source.”
Mayvn walked towards the doorway and stepped through as his torchlight began to be complimented with the dim light further down the hallway.

Lunch appointment… (Original Fiction by Xan)

2010-02-19T05:00:00.001-07:00

Zander groaned as he began to stand up, he held himself up on the wall slowly creeping to his feet by using his hands. His head felt like he was wearing a crown of marble. His knees buckled under his own weight and he saw the hallway begin to darken.
“Whoa there big fella!” Solcloud raced to get underneath him as Zander lost consciousness and fell like a tree felled by a lumberjack. Under Zander’s weight Solcloud dropped to his knees and slowly lowered Zander to the ground. Beasley raced to their fallen companion and tried to revive his large friend. He patted the giant on the face; Zander rolled his eyes and slowly fluttered them open. Beasley took a small vial of healing potion and force-fed it to his friend. Solcloud looked quizzically at the rogue.
“Sometimes when I get a hangover after a good night in the local tavern,” Beasley winked. “I take a potion of cure light wounds to take care of it.” The paladin shook his head and smiled as Zander sat back up on his own power.
“I didn’t think the troll hit me that hard.” Zander smiled as he rubbed the bump on his head that was slowly fading.
“He threw you into a solid stone wall.” Beasley pointed to the slight indention in the wall. “Not only that, but you left your mark. It’s a good thing you didn’t feel the pain with the impact, you were angry.”
“I was protecting you.” Zander groaned as he tried to stand again, Solcloud helped him to his feet. “I feel I had a little too much of Jenny’s ale.”
They all laughed at the remark. Zander wrapped his arms around his chest and winced. “Let’s take it slow for a while, huh? Give my ring a chance to catch up with the potion, thanks Beasley for the ‘cobweb cleaner.”
“You’re welcome, big guy.” Beasley patted him on the back. “But next time, I can take care of myself.”
The group walked slowly back to the landing. Beasley scouted ahead to warn of any trouble while Solcloud let Zander use him as a crutch. Every step Zander seemed to get a little stronger and a little more confident. The ring seemed to be doing its job. Zander smiled as he looked at the troll carving on his ring. “I never thought I would be happy to have that ugly face on my ring. But I am glad it gives us similar healing abilities; however it seems to be slower than our headless friend back there.”
“Yes, but as long as you feel better.” Solcloud lifted Zander’s arm off his shoulder. “You able to walk?”
“Yes, thank you.” Zander winced a bit as he rolled his shoulders and cracked his neck.
“We made it back.” Beasley turned around after walking through the doorway in the landing. “What door next?”
“Let’s wait until Zander is ready.” Solcloud put his hand up to stop Beasley.
“I’m all right now.” Zander had his hammer in his hand and his shield off his shoulder as he walked into the torchlight. “Next time I won’t bother wrestling with them, I’ll just put them into the wall as payback.”
“Well, we have chosen the door to the right last time; you just want to keep going?” Beasley was already at the next-door and ready to open it.
Solcloud waved the little person on. “Go ahead, we are right behind you.”
This hallway seemed a little better kept. The stone was cut in elaborate patterns, perfect tiles on the floor, and gargoyles on the walls. The hallway had a thick musty smell in the air; it was thick with humidity and very dark. Mold seemed to be cleaned off the carvings almost daily, it seemed to be scrubbed too. As they continued to walk down the hallway, the mold began to thicken; the carvings were smoothing out and less obvious.
“We are getting close to something.” Solcloud drew his sword and pulled out his shield.
The air began to smell like rotting meat like a drowned piece of carrion soaking in water. The hint of metal also filled the air, like walking within a mile of a mint making coins. A low growl, almost like a purr could be heard in the darkness. Beasley snuck into the corner of the walls using the shadows as he proceeded forward. Solcloud held the torch high and could see the gleam from a pile of coins. Zander twisted his blink ring and faded. His voice echoed on the wind.
“I almost got the hang of this spinning feeling in my stomach. I’ll go take a look with Beasley”
Solcloud saw the hallway open up into a large room and then he heard a chilling voice in the darkness.
“Mmmmmm…. lunch.”

Need the help of my fans...

2010-02-16T15:16:00.005-07:00

I want to thank everyone that follows the blog. I know it has been a while since I have done a post other than my Original Fiction sections. But life has been difficult and work and school are demanding a lot of my time.

BUT there is hope! I am going to be enrolling in a CREATIVE WRITING in a couple weeks. My first assignment is to write a 1,400 word story about any picture of my choosing. I have decided to use this pic by the AMAZING artist Wayne Reynolds

The problem I am facing is names for the characters in the picture. I am going to use Jenny from my ORIGINAL FICTION as the female pirate and so now I just need a name for the shark dude?

Twitter has given me the following names: (In no particular order)

The Dreaded Pirate Blackfin
Basil Von Mako
Johannes the Gut Ripper
Jawgoulous
Blackfin
Admiral/Captain Ripsaw
First Mate Serrated Edge
Captain Hexanbite
Razortooth
Blood Maul

or...

The media named him 'Razorslash' - his parents named him 'Barry' - but his friends call him 'Captain Nibbles'

PLEASE HELP ME SOON! The story is due on 3/4/2010

Clash of giants… (Original Fiction by Xan)

2010-01-29T22:14:00.000-07:00

As Beasley cautiously unlatched the next door, he slowly pushed it open. This hallway was very similar to the last, though the hallway was a bit longer, they could not see the end in the dim torchlight. The musty smell rotting vegetation filled the air, though thicker and more acrid than the last. “Smells as though this room has had its share of waste a little longer.”

“SHHHHH!” Zander stopped them in their tracks, and then he moved in front of them. Like a hunting dog tracking its quarry, he pricked his ears. “Beasley, cover your light, can you hear that?” Zander whispered to the group.

“I hear nothing.” Solcloud stoutly mumbles.

“You don’t speak Giantish, do you?” Beasley snickered as though everyone should know the several languages he spoke. “I thought you were an educated man.” Beasley laughed quietly as Solcloud glared at him. “What is he saying Zander?”

“He is complaining about… trash.” Zander got a confused look on his face. “Something about being upset that he has been given trash duty. And he’d rather be defending the keep.” Zander slowly drew his hammer and shield as he slowly advanced. “Let us proceed with caution.”

The others drew their weapons; Beasley pulled his hood over his head and backed against the wall as they advanced toward the mumbling creature. When they approached in the dark Zander made out their quarry, a creature more than a foot taller than Zander with gray rubbery skin. The creature was carrying a large basket or barrel over its hunched back; it spilled over with refuse and half decomposed plants and vegetables. The creature did not hear their approach because it was too busy talking to itself.

“Why do we get stuck with trash duty? A troll like us, strong and limber, deserves to be defending the tower. Protecting our fiery god, not stuck down here taking care of the rubbish. We should be dealing with intruders and feeding on their remains, but instead we end up here.” The troll dropped the basket and wiped its brow, it turned towards the approaching party. “We see INTRUDERS!!!” Without a second of hesitation, the creature lumbered in a frontal attack.

Beasley gasped as the creature swiftly closed the gap between them. He leveled his crossbow and loosed a bolt that went high and wide. This seemed to only provoke the creature to a greater act of rage. Zander took this opportunity to run at the troll and the two giants collided and locked arms in a dance of death. Both frothed at the mouth, muscles flexed, and sinews tightened. Neither would give ground to the other.

“What are we waiting for?” Beasley ran to the aid of his friend.

Solcloud drew his mighty sword and let out a stout battle cry as he too charged into battle. Zander occupied the beast while the other two slashed and poked at its thick hide. Nevertheless, as every gash and every wound spouted blood, it immediately closed off.

“FIRE!” Solcloud shouted as though it was an order, but it was more of a request.

“Beasley, ignite your torch, they cannot regenerate that which is burned!” The mighty giants twisted and turned in the small hallway. Smashing into the walls, dirt falling to the ground from the ceiling, Solcloud narrowly avoiding being crushed between them and the stone walls. “Hurry little one! Zander is fading.”
It was true. Even though he was holding the monster off, Zander was tiring. Every smash into the walls that seemed to break to shoulders of the troll, it immediately restored itself. Zander also was taking similar abuse, and thanks to his troll ring, he was holding his own, but his magical healing could not match the speed of the natural healing of the troll. Every smash, every twist seemed to grind him further down.

Beasley relight his torch and as Solcloud slashed at the troll, Beasley pushed the flame of the torch into the open wound.

“AAHHHH!” The troll shrieked in agony as the wound sizzled but did not heal. “It burns us!” The troll shrieked in Giantish, “You filthy monster burned us!”
With a renewed flow of strength, the troll threw Zander to the wall, knocking him unconscious. The troll then reached for the halfling. Beasley ducked between the giants’ legs and pushed the head of the torch into the back of its bare leg, right at its knee. The troll cursed at the halfling and reached between its legs to grasp hopelessly at the small halfling. This fraction of a second gave the paladin the opening he needed to slash at the monsters head. He caught it clean between its shoulders and head. The head of the beast, separated now from the body, fell to the ground with a hollow thump. The body also fell in a grotesque slump. Solcloud held his hand out to Beasley to silently ask for the torch. Beasley threw him the torch, Solcloud pushed the torch into the open neck, the troll ignited within, and bursts into flames, as its half-living body thrashed on the ground then smoldered into ash. He threw the torch back to the halfling who was crouched over looking at the still living head. Beasley took the nod from Solcloud as an order to ignite the head. He did as he was signaled to do, the head rolled to the side and burned to ash.

“Nasty things, trolls.” Solcloud said in a disgusted tone. “Luckily I had run across them before and I knew their weakness, fire. We would have been here for days in a stalemate, with our rings and his natural ability. Beasley, you want to check down the hallway in the refuse room?”

“Not with what you told me.” Beasley shuddered at the mere thought of running into one of those garbage monsters. “I am not going in there alone.”

“I’ll go with you.” Zander hefted himself up against the wall then slumped into a sitting position propped against the wall. He rubbed his head and checked his hands for blood. “What did I miss?” He rolled his neck to check everything was still attached.

“You wait here and let the ring do its thing, Beasley and I will check down the hall.” Solcloud pointed down the hallway in the direction the troll was walking. “We will yell to you if we…” Beasley coughed, showing his apprehension. “If we see, or run into something.”

An education on trash… (Original Fiction by Xan)

2010-01-22T22:13:00.001-07:00

“Shall we continue?” Beasley examined the large circular room they stepped into from the stairway. The stairs stood solitary and steadfast in the middle of the room like a mighty elm tree on top of a small hill. It rose out of the light of the torch like a great column of smoke from a large bonfire. The stonework was less dramatic, not smooth like the other tunnels had been, but rough and full of ridges. It was an amazingly clean floor though, dirt only being pushed into the corners to seem to mold the floor into a rounded corner fading into the walls of carved stone. Along these walls lay nine identical doors with the locking mechanisms to the room. Whatever was through these doors was to remain on the other side of them by the looks of the complexity of each latch and bolt.

Upon examining the latches and locks, Beasley snickered. “Well, one thing is for sure, we will have no need to disarm traps or unlock doors. We, for once, are on the defended side.” He looked to the other two and continued with a gleam in his eye. “But we aught to be careful when we step through as to not trip a trap on the other side.”

“Trip a trap!” Zander laughed. “You are becoming a poet, my friend. Better be careful or one day you will be wearing Mayvn’s hat.”

The entire party laughed as they stepped through the first door. The hallway was rough-hewn stone, not quite as nice as the landing they just came through. The hallway went back just out of torchlight and opened into a small room. They continued to explore the hall down to the room, a smell of rotting vegetation and garbage filled their nostrils as they went on. The torchlight filled the room and it had a large pile of decomposing rubbish piled high in the back corner. Beasley approached the pile, with his arm covering his nose and he waved the torch around to examine the rubbish.

“Nothing here, and the stench is beginning to make my eyes water.” He coughed through his shirtsleeve. “Let’s try another door.”

Solcloud’s nose curled at the disgusting sight of filth. “I agree, no use digging through this mess. But be weary of Fungus, or worse an Otyugh.”

“A What?” Beasley stopped instantly, looking back at the pile of refuse waving his torch around and looking closer at the garbage.

“Nasty creatures they are.” Zander growled. “They are misshapen underground monsters that live in piles of refuse.”

“They are primarily scavengers,” Solcloud added. “Much like vultures or a krenshar, they eat that which nothing else will dispose of. My order had one in a personal holding pit to dispose of our waste.”

“As did my abbey.” Zander went on as they turned to walk back to the landing. Beasley walked backwards, afraid of this walking waste eater. Zander continued. “They are bloated, with rocklike skin. It has a large mouth filled with razor-sharp teeth in the center of its body. It has three thick legs and two long tentacles with leafy like hands to scoop refuse into its mouth.”

Solcloud almost wretched as he thought about of their ‘garbage monster’ back at his order. “They are as wide as I can span my arms. Not something you care to see, face to face.”

Beasley shuttered as he shut the door and latched it. “They sound disgusting; I should hope I never have to meet one. I will make sure to keep clear of refuse piles bigger than myself.”

“Let’s try the door to the right here.” Solcloud smiles as the pats the fearful halfling on the back. “Not to worry, I think Ol’ Zander and I can keep you safe.”

Debate on the descent… (Original Fiction by Xan)

2010-01-15T22:11:00.001-07:00

“What about that doorway above those rocks?” Solcloud questioned the giant and the halfling.

“Ummm, I think this way is probably better.” Beasley winked at Zander as the giant held a hand over his mouth and tried to hold in a laugh. “Yeah, I have a feeling that we should go down these stairs.” Beasley pointed to the opposite side of the large cavern where they had set off the gas trap and used the bones for their trick on Mayvn. “That doorway up there probably doesn’t go anywhere.”

“All right, little one,” Solcloud huffed. “You are, after all, used to dark places and dungeoneering.” The contempt in his tone of voice just seemed to ooze from his lips. “Dark creatures play cruel jokes on their friends, and I want it to be known I do not condone your course of action. To gag me and drag me away from our camp while Mayvn slept is just cruel. But since you will not let me go back to wake him I suppose I might as well continue on with you lot.”

“Don’t worry, he’ll be safe.” Zander comforted the paladin as they clanked down the long and dark spiral staircase. Beasley just shook his head and rolled his eyes, as the other two could not take one step without clanging or clinking.

“A man of the cloth, such as you wouldn’t play such jokes.” Solcloud scoffed. “A cleric should not give himself up to laughter. Only a fool indulges such childishness.” Solcloud gathers himself and continues, “I am sorry. I trust my words did not offend you.”

“It all is a matter of your god, my noble friend.” Zander smiles in the darkness as they continue to descend.

“Ah yes, I have heard of your order.” Solcloud switches into a ponderous tone as if to deliver a sermon as they travel. “Your order views merriment with indulgence while my order hasn’t the time for such laughable things.”

“Yes it is true. Othr was much disposed to laughter of a thunderous nature.”
“Laughter is a devilish wind! It distorts the features of the face and makes men look like monkeys.”

“HA!” Zander begins to laugh almost out of spite, but continuing to keep a humble posture. “Monkeys do not laugh, it is particular to humanoids.”

“Yes, just as chaotic choices can be.” Solcloud stopped a moment on the steps to emphasize the point.

Beasley felt uncomfortable hearing about religion at a time like this, but he did not want to get in the middle. He decided to keep going, Solcloud would have to use the torchlight Beasley was carrying to see where he placed his next footstep.
Just as Beasley had guessed, the noble knight continued down the stairway. “St. Cuthbert never laughed.” He stated with some authority.

“Can you be so sure?” Zander placed an interesting question to the man with a different faith than his own.

“There is nothing in his teachings to say that he did.” Solcloud huffed.
“There is also nothing in them to say he didn’t.” Zander took a bold step, not truly knowing the faith of this knight. Solcloud turned his head to listen to the cleric. “Why it is known to all that some gods have been known to employ comedy to embarrass and ridicule enemies of the faith. Is this not true?”

Solcloud only growled with Zander’s attempt to preach his faith.

“For example; Garl Glittergold, the Joker and god of the gnomes once collapsed the cavern of Kurtulmak, god of the kobolds, as a practical joke.” Zander drew upon his teachings of other faiths while doing missionary work to continue his point. “There are the stories of the bard cleric, Rehgan Jhurl. After ogres captured him and they plunged him into boiling water for dinner, he complained that his bath was too cold. The ogre mage reached out his hand placed it in the water and scolded himself.”

“A so called saint of Olidammara, immersed in boiling water, does not play childish tricks.” Solcloud now knew that the half-ogre was schooled enough to be a missionary of the faith but he saw no reason to back down yet. “He withholds his cries and suffers for his faith.”

“Did not Kainderhast, the great philosopher, devote his second book of lyrics to comedy as an instrument of truth?” Zander smiled at his reference to a well-known philosopher in all circles of the world.

Solcloud stumbled at the mention of the philosopher’s name. “You have read this work?”

“No, of course not.” Zander enraged by the rebuttal. “It has been lost for many centuries.”

“How do you know of this book?” Solcloud continued his retort. “A book like that was never written. I will hear no more of this…this…idle banter. Let us agree to disagree and move on shall we?”

Zander humbly bows his head, conceding to a draw. They reach the bottom of the stairs; Beasley straightens his tunic and smiles up to the both of them. “Well, that conversation sure made the travel seem swifter.”

“That it has, my little rogue.” Solcloud smiles. “It has also made me realize that education and wisdom are not always limited.” He looks to the giant and gives him a hearty slap on the back. “Well done, my friend. You are truly an educated man and an experienced missionary of your faith. I misjudged you, may St. Cuthbert…” Beasley clears his throat to signal the paladin to rethink his words.

Solcloud cleared his throat and continued. “May St. Cuthbert and Othr forgive my prejudice?”

Gear Upgrades

2010-01-11T05:00:00.000-07:00

I have been working my tail off lately and really trying to make Xan the best toon he can be with the limited time I have to play. Recently I have been taking full advantage of the Random Lich King Heroic LFG (Looking for Group) option located on the action bar. Once a day for completing a random daily heroic you receive 2 Emblem of Frost which can be used to purchase all sorts of great gear.

Xan recently bought himself a new weightlifting belt... well at least that is what it looks like. It is called Malevolent Girdle. But seriously, does this belt make me look fat? I mean it is called a girdle.

In addition as you kill bosses in the random heroics and any subsequent heroics you complete you also receive Emblem of Triumph which can buy you a lot of great stuff as well. Xan has decked out his Retribution (DPS) set as much as he can using these guys. His last purchase was Helm of Thunderous Rampage. Pretty fashionable hmmm?

I talked to a friend of mine the other day and she recommended a great program to help me optimize my gear as well as look for potential upgrades. I suggest everyone give it a try. RAWR is a program that takes your toon right off of the WOW Armory and then gives you ways to optimize your current gear or look at all the potential upgrades. It is amazing.

Sadly now most of my gear upgrades will have to come from raids or upgrading my tanking gear. Now if only Blizzard would help to make the Raid LFG (Looking for Group) option a little bit better then we would be in business. As you can tell... Xan has barely seen inside the halls of any raid. (Except a couple)

Continuing the practical joke… (Original Fiction by Xan)

2010-01-08T22:10:00.000-07:00

The two early risers, after their ‘morning stretch’ they sauntered back to the rest of their group. Having only spent an hour or two exploring and doing a little extermination work, Zander looked like a little kitten after pouncing on its first mouse. Beasley looked like a horse that had been ridden all day without a rest. His head was down and he drug his feet back to the makeshift camp. The two other adventurers still slumbered while the skeletons still lay where Zander and Beasley had placed them. Beasley examined the scene and it was as though he had seen a dragon’s horde of jewels before his eyes, an idea popped into his mind.

“Let’s wake just the walking blacksmith shop.” Beasley had that same gleam in his eye he had earlier. “I think the peacock would have a heart attack if he was the only one that wasn’t a skeleton.”

“Beasley, you are quite the trickster.” Zander fought back a rolling laughter. “I’ll get the bones.”

Covering an escape… (Original Fiction by Xan)

2010-01-01T22:08:00.000-07:00

As the two bandits make their way, back through the tunnel ash pushes up in their faces as the chests drag on the ground. The halfling, covered in ash, pulled the first chest off to the side, grabbed a hold of one of the worm creatures, and began to slowly move it towards the hole. The second chest pushed through the hole and slid against the wall, Zander’s huge blackened hand protruding from the hole.

“They’re right behind me Beasley!”

“Well then, get out of the way,” Beasley, grunted as he continues to tug on the mutated worm. “I have an idea! Get out of that ash chute and help me.”
“What are we doing with that thing?” Zander made his way out of the tunnel and wiped the ash from his face.

“If we pull this in front of the hole it will slow them down as they crawl out.” Beasley had a gleam in his eye. “As they push their way out of the, now smaller opening that will give us a chance to…” Beasley cleared his throat. “Clobber them.”
In an instant, Zander’s eyes took on the same gleam as he gripped the giant worm; with a mighty grunt he swung, it in front of the chutes opening. He then wasted no time positioning himself on the side of the opening and readied his mighty hammer.
The first guard encountered the worm corpse and struggled to push past it. As he pushed his head through the opening, he did not have time to react before everything went dark. Zander’s well-placed hammer strike crushed the helmet of the guard between his shoulders with a hollow crunch.

Beasley blinked at the power of his towering companion. He shook his head in disbelief and readied himself for the next guard as he shouted, “Move him out of the way, that way the guards following will think they are still chasing us.”

“Done!” Without a second thought, the giant hefted the guard into the back wall with a limp thud. The next guard peeked his head through as Beasley jumped onto his back and slashed him from ear to ear. Beasley jumped off the limp body, and Zander played clean up once again lofting the body into the forming pile. The next four guards fell just as easily, but as the seventh guard crept through the hole, he managed to take a sing with his sword at Beasley. As he leapt to avoid the sword swing, a burst of flame rumbled down the shaft above them. Zander howled in pain as his cloak smoked and his chain mail armor smoldered. The guard lay dead in the hole. The giant grimaced as he pulled the burnt guard away from the hole and threw the body, as he did so he noticed a figure standing on the ledge above them.

An emaciated figure in dark flowing robes stood over them, his fingers had a smelly powder dropping off them. The skeleton of a man reached into a pouch at his belt, pulled out some more powder, and began to chant. Zander had to think quickly and stop this evil from casting another fireball. He grabbed a stone from the ground and said a quick prayer. A feeling like a thunderclap without noise reverberated in the room and everything fell eerily silent. Zander reached up to the ledge and dropped the stone at the wizards’ feet and without hesitation climbed onto the ledge. Zander pulled out his hammer that seemed to glow in the dim light of Beasley’s torch coming from the bottom of the cavern and he swung it into the wizard. He felt the hammer stop briefly as it connected and then continued on its course, taking the thin wizard with it until he smashed into the wall.

In the silence time seemed to slow down as Zander looked back into the pit and noticed Beasley was not near the tunnel entrance. He opened his mouth to scream Beasley’s name, but the sound stopped just short of reaching his lips. In a panic, the giant dropped back into the pit and fell to his knees he could see the small halfling and he was slashing at the last guard as he backed up in the dark hole.
“Come on!” Beasley was screaming as he slashed at the near helpless guard backing up. The halfling was standing completely upright and advancing as the guard, stricken with fear could do nothing more than back up on his hands and knees. The guard struggled to gain any advantage he could. Reaching for a small pile of ash in the tunnel corner, he threw it at the overconfident halfling. Beasley dropped to the ground, rolled toward the guard and his small short sword found its mark in the guards’ chest just as he reached the fireplace opening. He fell to the ground with a thump.

“Beasley?” Zander yelled in a panic as the silence spell wore off.

“Yeah?” Beasley emerging from the hole with ash and blood spattered all over his face. “You get that wizard?”

Zander reached for the halfling and gave him a bear hug. “How many times do I have to tell you?”

“You’re crushing me!” Beasley gasped for air as Zander’s massive arms flexed around him.

“No,” Zander chuckled as he loosened his grip. “Don’t run off without me.”

“Let’s not worry about me; you know I handled that human guard all by myself.”

Zander lowered Beasley to the ground as he continued his boastful rant. “And I did it without sneaking up behind him.” He hopped onto the pile of bodies and examined the two chests. “Can we open these now before we go back?”

“As much as I like the idea of having funding to provide for our quest,” Zander chided the little burglar. “I think we aught to share with our other companions. However, before we go back to the surface, I think I can throw most of these contents in my ‘pack.”

“You’re right.” Beasley kicked one of the chests and turned his back. “I don’t want to see what’s in it yet then.”

“Very well.” Zander crushed the lids of both chests with his hammer and emptied their contents into his large chest backpack.

Momoment #18

2009-12-30T12:30:00.002-07:00

Hello,
Hope everyone is doing well at the end of the year and for some end of the decade.
In WOW the big news lately has been patch 3.3 and especially the LFG tool, looking for group tool.
Lets step back before patch 3.3 for 5 years of WOW all players would of course either go into instances/raids with guildies or use the chat channels (the trade chat for some reason) and the previous useless lfg menu option. An additional fact with WOW has always been PUG - pick up groups or you can imagine any other variations you wish. Basically people dreading to group up with any other players on their server to complete the dungeon dailies or trying to complete a raid and down another boss.
Before 3.3 pugs as I stated were the stigma and pretty much everyone I know/knew/read/listened to hated doing pugs but it was/is a necessity. You basically had to at some point do a pug and the few lucky thousands that were in a guild did not have to worry about it and could not understand what the big deal is. WOW in my opinion has always been interaction with other, such as life. No matter if you are a loner, guildless, outcast or just someone that does not want to play with others to people that live, strive for the people interaction within a guild and would not play because of that. I think one big fact we all forget playing this great game is that on each of our servers, there are thousands of people we are interacting with and majority of the people you are playing with you do not know (or did not know). What that means is that all these strangers have to interact, mesh together their play styles and personalities. No matter if you agree or disagree, each of us plays a different way even slightly and our personalities shine through our characters.
Take me, I am pretty laid back in game and out of game; I am also patient with how people are in instances with either how they attack the mobs, strategy or how they greed on silly loot like they will never get into the dungeon or just because they are greedy.
Taking all of the different personalities and play styles, than you need to take into consideration that some people just do not know how to play WOW like others or they just have bad gear and are trying to gear up (and you need to remember that like it or not!). What I mean about that is that (before 3.3 and now as well) some people are good tanks some are not and same for dps and healers.
The first 2 weeks of 3.3 I really was enjoying the few times I or my guild had to use the LFG tool to pug the last dps spot or which ever spot. No issues, we are well geared and paired up with similarly geared players from other servers. Some people say hello and do not say a word after that until the last boss is down and say a goodbye. Other or chatty cathys or interact some in chat. In all the experience had been ok, I would even say to my surprise pleasant.
Until the last few days and a few pugs I was paired up with in LFG. One the tank started before I (as healer!) and one dps were loaded in to the instance; he/she was already at 50% downing the first pair of mobs and from there did not stop. I mean REALLY did not stop, for mana, food, buffs, coffee, for anything!
So to my self I was says: " REALLY!!!!" but I was willing to giving the tank the benefit of the doubt and go with the flow and after a few mobs, almost to the first boss I was able to buff the group as well as another person was able to throw their buffs and we of course sat to get our mana up at lest to 70%.
Personally with 70% as a priest healer I can pretty much heal a well geared group with no issues even on a boss. BUT....
There goes the tank onto the other group as we were not even up to 50% mana! REALLY!!!???
So from there please tell me what you would do, I really would like to know. Of course I could let the tank die and most likely wipe the group or just deal with it like I had been and heal him and try to get mana up some way.
Well I went with A, I did not heal him and just stood back, healed the dps a bit. Tank dies, and repeat it one more time just before the boss and the tank actually says: " heals?"

REALLY!?!?!?!

I usually keep myself in check but this time I could not, I say: "feel free to wait for us to get our mana up or let us know if you want to solo this place"

Was that harsh, I think not but let me know, Please.

So what happens, we all res come back mana up, buff up, and tank is waiting, waiting, we say we are ready and we are waiting.....ZZZzzzzz

REALLY!!!!

The tank asks: "ready?"

WOW! YES we are ready!

Than we continue and tank goes back rushing through the instance so I just had no choice to deal with it and left as soon as the instance was done and did not even care about the loot.

Just a few thoughts, I really would like to know what else I could have done and what you all would have done.
I could have left but in the beginning before i was locked in the instance but I don't think that is very productive; get into pug after pug and leave just because of some people basically being idiots in my opinion.
I could have just let the tank die and try to make him/her understand but that would be a waste of time as many things in life you cannot make everyone understand common sense (or at least to keep other group members in mind and not to be selfish).

So please let me know because I encountered other tanks like that and even dps in other groups that just would not wait a second for the tank. I am all for hurrying up but does it really hurt or kill you to wait a few seconds. Just like while we are all driving and I have been guilty, when we race drive, cut people off to than stop at the stop light.

I believe people are in a rush because they are trying to finish all the heroic instances to get all the badges they can each day. Also, in WOW, not just in pugs, I think game wide people just don't consider the other players in the game; many have the " me me me" mentality, just as in life. I say the people that are open minded and considerate do need to deal with it because we are not going to change peoples minds. I can not heal and let the tank or dps die but as I said that is not production and proves nothing. Perhaps for a few seconds it may satisfy you but I truly think that is not the way.

For my instances perhaps I could have said in the group chat to hold up, and I did not. I don't think that would have changed the tank or dps and how they played. But never know, I can try it the next time because I think it will get worse in some instances and I will also have more awesome LFG/pug experiences.

I hope your gaming is fun and please keep others in mind. We are all playing online with others and it is no different in real life; where you would keep a door open for a person you can also wait a few seconds for your group members or greed something that clearly should not be needed!!! oh wait that is another blog post.

Have a great week,
Happy Holidays,
Happy New Year!

--
Mo

Nothing like a spell to protect the thief… (Original Fiction by Xan)

2009-12-25T22:07:00.000-07:00

“STOP!” The shouted order came into the room like a roaring wind. The frightened guard that had retreated only minutes earlier now seemed to have an air of power about him. His pride outweighed his order as Zander continued towards the fireplace without hearing the order. Many more guards flooded into the room but they kept their swords sheathed. They looked to one another questioning their ability to bring the giant down without a combined use of force. They all let out a yell in unison and began to jump and grapple at the giant.

“Rats!” Zander belts out a curse as another guard grabs onto his leg. “I don’t see why you insist on grabbing onto me. You will only serve the purpose of scuffing this nice marble floor.” He takes another step, dragging two guards from his legs and one over his shoulders. Another guard swiftly latches onto one arm, and then another on his other arm.

“Come on!” Beasley yells from his hiding place.

“I am trying; this is among my heaviest load I have ever had to carry.” Zander’s brow furrows as yet another guard grabs him around the waist. “Six guards and two treasure chests, let’s see you carry such a burden!”

“Well met, friend. But why drag others behind me when I can escape without facing them.”

As yet another guard latches to the legs of the guard around Zander’s waist. “True, but you could never dream to carry away to hoard I carry on my shoulders.” He continues to take steps, each one slightly more labored than the last. The large mass of bodies makes its way finally to the fireplace. Zander drops the first chest to the ground and kicks it towards the opening. Beasley makes short work of pulling it into the tunnel.

Like a dog emerging from a pool of water, Zander shook and each guard in turn fell to the ground. “I have had enough of this foolishness.” Shaking the last guard off his shoulders, “By Othr’s protection your lives have been spared. Please take my advice and leave.” And with that, Zander drops to his knees and like amole pushing a rock in front of him he slinks into the tunnel with the chest in front of him. Disappearing into the ash waste tunnel, the guards are shocked by the power if the giant. They watch as his feet disappear into the blackness.

“FOLLOW HIM!” The guard from the first battle barked, still standing at the door. “He has our master’s effects. It will be all our heads if they escape.” With that threatening order, the guards in all their armor clattered into the hole after the thief and his packhorse.

Exploring the pinhole… (Original Fiction by Xan)

2009-12-18T22:06:00.000-07:00

After moving the two worm-like creatures off to the side of the pit, the two adventurers got back to the adventure at hand and looked back to the tunnel. Beasley just smiled and winked as he strolled back into the hole, Zander groaned like an old man as he hunched down onto his hands and knees once again and began to shuffle his way back into the constricting tunnel. He pushed his way down the hole with a small light in front of him silhouetting his small friend in front of him.

“Is something burning?” Beasley yelled back to the slow moving giant.

“I smell ash, but it is cold in here.” Zander rubbed along the damp dirt walls. “I think this was once a fire pit.” Zander lifted up his hands and noticed the black muddy ash on his hands.

“Oh, end of the line my friend.” Beasley knocked on a white marble tile-like door. He waved the torch around to look for switches or tripwires. He placed the torch on the damp ground. The torch sputtered as it touched the wall but due to the enchantment placed on it, the torch continued to burn. Beasley dropped to his knees and began to tap on the door. “I don’t think it is trapped.” He pushed the door open slowly as to not make any sound. He winced at the light; Zander also held his hand in front of his face as the bright sunlight flooded into the tunnel.

Beasley examined his surroundings and noticed they were, in fact, inside an ash chute for a very elaborate fireplace. The white marble tile had a slight stain of ash and tar but it looked as though it was cleaned to a sparkling shine after every use, the ash pushed into the hidden tile door, which Beasley was now standing in. He took in his surrounding with his jaw on the floor. The elaborate room spanned out in front of him, the spacious room was tiled with the same marble in the fireplace that sparkled in the sunlight. An elaborate canopy bed decorated the far end of the room; silk sheets decorated with a fire theme flowed over the bed and onto the floor. The orange, red, and yellow sheets made the bed look as though it was on fire. On either side of the elaborate bed were two ornate chests with a carving similar to the dragon emblem embossed on the tavern marauders armor.

Beasley immediately ran for the chests as Zander wormed his way towards the entrance.
“What do you suppose they have in here?” Beasley jumped onto one of the chests on the right hand side of the bed and began fidgeting with the lock. As he replaced his silence with grunts and curses as he tried to break the lock, four guards entered the room from doors on the left and right walls.

“HALT!” The first guard ran into the room and went directly towards the halfling as the small thief dove under the bed. All four guards drew their swords and focused all their attention on the halfling; none of them noticed the half-ogre emerging from the fireplace.

The guards began to slash under the bed, Beasley shrieked. “Zander, I need a little help.”

Zander stood hidden in the darkness of the fireplace and began to pray to Othr. A golden badger appeared and fizzled on the bed. “Damn!” Zander cursed as his summoning seemed to fail; he drew his hammer and prepared to charge into battle.
Beasley jumped out from under the bed and slashed at one of the guards, their shin bracers deflected his initial attack. The guard turned to attack the small rogue but Beasley dove back under the bed for cover. All four guards started to slash at the thief once again; one froze in place as Zander stepped out from the fireplace. “Leave him alone. I may have frozen one of you in place, but I swear by Othr if you continue your attack you will regret your actions.”

Seizing the opportunity of Zander’s distraction, Beasley attacked one of the guards. This time he slashed at the back of the guards’ knee placing a large gash through the leather of his armor. Then Beasley dove back under the bed and shouted. “Could you have waited any longer, I could have been skewered!”

A glowing hammer appeared next to one of the other guards and knocked him squarely on the head, the guard fell to the floor not expecting such a sight. Zander laughed as he stepped towards the bed and the two guards unhindered moved towards him. Beasley leapt out at the limping guard and slashed at his other leg, the guard dropped to the ground in pain. Zander began swinging his hammer with both hands, moving like a tornado while his glowing hammer swung viciously at the other guard. The glowing hammer landed on the frozen guard as Zander followed it and finished off the frozen guard. The uninjured guard yelled for help as he ran out the door. As they stepped over the three downed guards Beasley went right back to the chests. “We have to block the doors and get these out of here. Quick, tie the knobs together!” Beasley makes for the rope in his small pack.

“They open in, Beasley!” Zander said frustrated. “The guards will be here soon, what shall we do?”

“Well,” Beasley stops to think for a moment. He grabs one of the chests by the handle and begins to drag it towards the fireplace. “Are you going to help me or what? We can take these chests and they won’t be able to follow if we hurry.”
Zander just shakes his head and hefts the large chest over his shoulder. He then walks over to the second and throws that one over his other shoulder. He seems to carry them as a baker carries two sacks of flour over his shoulders. The weight of the enormous chests barely seems to encumber this giant of a man as he turns toward the fireplace at the far end of the room. Beasley was already in the small tunnel opening. “Hurry!”

“What if they should come while I carry these? I could be skewered like a wild boar on the run!”

“Don’t you have a spell or something to protect you? I have heard of clerics who can bring safety to those on the run. Those who have an aura of safety.”

“YES! Sanctuary, I remember asking Othr for his protection this morning. I shall remind him.” Zander started walking towards the fireplace, his lips moving but the words were inaudible. A light glow seemed to radiate from the half-ogre as he casually smiled and walked towards Beasley who had already disappeared into the tunnel.

Momoment #18

2009-12-16T12:13:00.000-07:00

Hello all,

it has been some time since I have had a chance to make another blog post for many reason.

And that is why I am curious what everyone else has been doing in wow!

So...what have you been doing in wow?

I have noticed that my time has decreased dramatically (compared to years past) because of work (getting home late or needing to get to sleep earlier to get to work earlier), real life things like Thanksgiving and other life events, sickness. When you have coughing up a lung or 2 even wow is not something that can be tolerated at least by me :)

And, at least for me, other games. I have checkout Aion (which I have already cancelled my subscription), played new xbox games like call of duty modern warfare 2 ( very fun game! Im mohalen on there, send a group invite if you want to be a crappy shooter like me :)) and of course my favorites Madden and Civilization IV on the pc.

I have heard other people have grown tired of wow and quit or others that need to quit for personal life reasons. For the first reason, I understand but for me I take a break and have done so many times. This may not be for everyone but quitting cold turkey not sure if that is productive in my opinion.

So please let us know what else have you been doing as we prepare for patch 3.3 to ruin our Tuesday. I am glad that I do work during the day as I know I would go crazy if I was at home and trying to get in wow. Oh and yes I am one of those that cries over addons not working, but dont worry I dont cry too much.

Happy wowing.

--
Mo

Reflections of Patch 3.3

2009-12-14T19:38:00.002-07:00

Patch 3.3

What an awesome patch! I will have to say I am still learning all the things that there is to be had about this wonderful new patch, but lets go go over what Ol' Xan has experienced since patch day.

Whining - there has been an awful lot of whining from those that I run in the same circles with. These folks complain that their addons aren't working correctly anymore, or the game has been made too easy. What, do you ask, is my reply? I say one thing: It is a game, if it is no longer fun for you then stop playing. I honestly believe the game gets better with every patch and expansion and I continually love to play it.

The new LFG option within the game - FABULOUS! My gaming experience to this point was solo adventuring because my hours were at odd times server time and sometimes I didn't have the time to wait around while someone in trade chat spammed "N1M (Healer/Tank/DPS) for ~Insert Instance Here~ then GTG" Now what do I get? I click a few key things in the LFG tab and 5 - 10 minutes I am running an instance! WOW! RIGHT ON BLIZZARD! Now if we can just make the window of opportunity from battlegroups to something like two or three battlegroups then we would REALLY be in business! I might finally be able to see the inside of NAXX or heaven forbid ULDUAR!

New badge system - OK, OK, OK... folks complain about how easy it is to get the great gear. No longer is it a JOB to get the items needed to be geared properly for those raids and such. To me I say, THANK YOU BLIZZARD! Again, my time being limited I find it more difficult to find the time to work at the virtual "job" that is WoW and my real life pulls me away from 'gear runs' or this, that and the other where I may not be able to get gear upgrades normally. "Random Heroic Instances" with the badge reward is AWESOME!

So Blizzard, from a player to the game designer... THANKS!

An unexpected surprise… (Original Fiction by Xan)

2009-12-11T22:04:00.000-07:00

With Beasley in the lead, they ventured into the small tunnel. Zander had to crawl on his hands and knees; his broad shoulders rubbed the sides of the tunnel as he shuffled along. A short distance ahead of him the small halfling stood upright and casually strolled along whistling and often making comments about the ease in his walk. After a few moments of grueling work to pull himself along, Zander noticed a strange odor. He looked up to see that Beasley had also noticed the smell and was frozen. With an alarming whisper, he ordered the giant behind him, “Back up, back up, back up!” Beasley turned and started pushing the giants’ shoulders. “Hurry, we don’t want to be in here when it reaches us.”

“What reaches us?” The giant queried of his small companion. Nevertheless, before he could answer a sound of sloshing like a wet mop on a stone floor could be heard, the acrid smell of rotting flesh filled their noses. “What is it?”

“I don’t know, but it definitely isn’t friendly!” Beasley started to panic because his large associate was having a hard time backing up in the small quarters.

They reached the opening from the collapsed floor trap just as eight green tentacles started to snatch at them. Zander quickly jumped to his feet and pulled out his hammer. As he did so, the green beast slapped him with its many tentacles. All of his muscles seemed to burn and turn to stone all in the same motion, he could not move as he watched helpless as his small friend dove behind him in an attempt to distract the monster. The thing had eight tentacles and smelled of a rotting corpse. It looked like a green worm with a large mouth and mandibles like a large insect, with the tentacles protruding just above its mouth. Beasley jumped out from behind his tense friend and stabbed at the worm-like creature. He connected and the monster shrieked as it flailed its tentacles in a counter attack but missed the small target dancing around evasively. Finding another opening, the rogue dashed in again and slashed at the worm monster again, this time connecting a little harder. The creature writhed in agony; just then, Zander was able to move his body again and wasted no time finishing off the beast with a staggering slam of his hammer.
“Nothing takes away my ability to move and gets away with it!” Zander wiped the gore from the crushed worm from his face and winked at the thief.

“You need to stop coming to my rescue, I almost had him finished.”

“I couldn’t let you have all the fun dispensing this foul creature, now can I Beasley?” Zander laughed, went to put his hammer away and was struck from behind by another tentacle, this one pulling him off his feet. He fell to the ground with a thunderous crash and his hammer slid to the far end of the hole and just out of reach. The sticky creature tried to hook him and inject its paralyzing sticky film covering its body. Beasley leapt in and began to slash at the monster slapping at Zander’s back. Stabbing and slashing the green slimy creature, all the while Zander scrambled to regain his footing but with both his friend and the beast dueling on his back he could not stand, only grasp for his hammer. Beasley stepped over the monster and let out a cry of anger as he took his short sword in his hand and buried it deep in the monsters head. The monster flopped after having the blade into its head as Zander yelped in pain. Zander leapt up and grabbed his posterior.
“You got your beast and my sensitive spots you fool!” Zander belted out in a spark of broken pride.

“Would you rather…” Beasley laughed. “Would you rather I let it stun you again and eat you for breakfast?”

“Next time watch where you poke that thing.” Zander grumbled. “I will have a hard time walking with a blade through my rear. Let’s remove these things and continue down the tunnel, they cannot be more of these putrid things.” Zander kicked the impaled worm.

They pulled the two beasts from the tunnel by their tentacles away from the opening. Zander scoffed as they dragged the carcasses aside.

“What’s so funny?” Beasley said labored by his efforts.

“It was nice of the creator of these beasts to give them such easy hand holds to drag them away by.” Zander winked at his small friend and the two compatriots laughed together.

After a time of resting and practice… (Original Fiction by Xan)

2009-11-27T05:00:00.000-07:00

“Zander!” Beasley nudged the dozing giant quietly. “Zander come on! Let’s go!”
“W-what’s the matter?” Zander groggily rubbed his eyes.
“Shhh!” Beasley placed a small finger to the huge lips of the cleric. “I wanted to go exploring on my own a bit. But I figured I’d include you on the fun.” He peeked to the others, still dozing. “Let those two sleep a little longer, heaven knows Solcloud can be a party pooper if I have to liberate a jewel or something.”
The giant shuffled to his feet trying hard not to make any noise as he slung his giant trunk onto his back. “Besides,” Zander tried to be as quiet as he could when he spoke in his thunderous baritone voice. “You’ll need my help if you should get into trouble, or need to carry something.” He winked at the small halfling and they both snickered silently.
They preceded down the tunnel they had burned the assassin in earlier, the smell of charred flesh and cloth still seemed to cling to the air. Zander plugged his nose and waved his hand in the air to try and part the smell before him. His eyes seemed to sting with the toxic fumes of the fabric burned his nose. He kept his eyes closed for a bit, as they continued to walk; the smell slowly dissipated to a lighter smell and eventually was gone. As the smell vanished, the room seemed to open up into a large cavern, large enough that the torchlight from Beasley’s torch didn’t touch the far wall.
“Wow!” Beasley didn’t even attempt to be silent any further as they were several yards away from their sleeping companions. “Look at the size of this cavern!”
“It’s not that big.” Zander let out a laugh.
“Funny.” Beasley shot the giant a glare. “Be careful about those size jokes, besides, I am the one who is supposed to tell jokes.”
“Sorry, I couldn’t help it.” Zander continued to look around the cavern. “Hey, what’s that over there?” Zander spotted a large pile of bones on the edge of the torchlight. He walked towards the pile and before he stepped more than a half a dozen paces, he heard a click. Like a flash of lightning, Beasley sparked the distance of twenty feet in a single bound just as a plume of green smoke enveloped Zander. His eyes and lungs seemed to burn like an acid was tearing him from the inside out. Beasley threw off his cloak and began to fan the thick gas away from the giant. Zander fell to his knees trying to get fresh air close to the ground.
“Othr help me, what was that?” He coughed out every word.
“You set off a trap, you big oaf!” Beasley continued to fan the noxious gas away from them. “If I hadn’t been here, you would have been the next pile of bones.”
Now that the plume of gas had dissipated, Beasley took his time to investigate. He saw the trigger tile on the ground a foot or so away from where Zander had collapsed. With a simple rock in the shape of a wedge, Beasley disabled the tile by removing a small spring mechanism underneath it.
“So much for that.” Beasley stood up and dusted off his hands in victory. “You OK?”
Zander just finished a prayer to Othr. “Othr has given me strength to continue. He has also blessed me with a gift in a small package. Thank you my friend.” He patted the small man on the back. “Is it safe to look through those bones? I have a feeling there is something they may be hiding.”
“I have a better thought!” Beasley winked at his large comrade.
He began to whisper in Zander’s ear a devious plan. Zander snickered at the halfling’s humor and sense of practical jokes and of course went along with the suggestions. After a few hours of searching and setting up, they found nothing in the pile of bones so Beasley took the torch and searched the room further. He stumbled over some stones piled in a corner and cursed. Zander, after hearing the curse in halfling moved towards the pile.
“Looks like a cave in.” Beasley said auOthritatively.
“No, they were out here deliberately.” Zander looked around. “I watched many stone workers who worship Othr discard stones with less precision.” Zander got down on his knees and examined further. “They lead up to something.”
Beasley hopped on Zander’ shoulders while he was on all fours and clapped him on the head gently. “Well get me up where I can see what’s at the top!” Zander stepped out and with almost no effort stood back up as if no weight had been placed on his enormous shoulders. However, Beasley seemed to need to catch himself without falling off this enormous moving platform.
“Stop, there!” Beasley pointed to the wall in front of him. “I think I see some light.”
“I see nothing.” Zander stood up on his toes to try to see what Beasley was looking at.
“Wait; go back to the flats of your feet man!” Beasley waved the giant down. “I can’t see it now.” He pulled out his tools and began to scrape the wall. Light appeared to glint in the little rogue’s eyes. He pulled out a long wire with a small hook on the end, fished it through the crack, and then turned it a quarter of a turn.
With a grunt, Beasley yelped. “I got it!”
Light started to glow eerily in a square pattern on the rock wall. Beasley pushed just above the horizontal line of light lowest to the ground. It was about waist high to the little man. As the door opened, a click was heard and before the halfling could duck a small dart flew from an unknown source and hit him between the eyes.
“OUCH!” Beasley yelped by the sharp pain of the small dart pricking his head. He pulled the dart out, climbed up to on the ledge, and signaled Zander to follow. “Come on up, I think that was the only one.”
Zander pulled his large form up to the ledge and in the hidden doorway and closed it gently behind him, but left it open just a crack. “What kind of dart was that? Obviously it was a trap.”
Beasley was examining the dart in the torchlight. He smelled it, twisted it in his hands, rubbed the tip and smelled the residue on his fingers.
“It smells like the blue pumpkin.” Beasley began to laugh.
“What’s so funny?” Zander dusted his hands off as he sat next to his tiny friend.
“I was part of a joke a long while back for one of my cousins on his wedding night. His brother, a few others and I slipped some spice made from a blue pumpkin in his wedding cider. The blue pumpkin seed, when crushed and added with alcohol or certain ciders has a very interesting side effect.” He snickered again.
“What does it do?” Zander was very curious. “I hope you didn’t try to kill your cousin on his wedding night.”
“Well, yes and a resounding no.” Beasley tried to keep a straight face as he continued with his tale. “I haven’t the bard’s tongue for tales, but we did ‘kill’ his… how should I say it? We killed his drive to be with his wife.” Beasley could not contain his laughter anymore as tears began to run down his face. “We told tales of his inability to consummate his marriage for weeks. It seems we put in a little too much pumpkin seed in his cider, or perhaps he drank too much.” He fell to the ground in laughter.
“I will have to remember that next time I am back at the Broken Horse or any other Inn while I am drinking with you.” Zander chuckled.
“It seems whoever rigged this trap had a sense of humor as well. This would have made you numb in your…” Beasley coughed. “You get the idea. You would be numb for weeks. But as it hit me in the forehead, it had no effects.”
Zander cleared his throat. “Considering the traps we have encountered, I would suggest you take the lead my small trap-finder.” Zander groaned as he came to his feet. “Shall we continue?”
“Yes. But I should want to keep this dart; it would make a wonderful trick to play on…” Beasley winked.
“Yes, but let’s do it at a more jolly occasion, where there is cause to celebrate something.” Zander tried to contain a smile.
The two adventurers began to walk down a hallway that seemed to have been carved out of pure rock into some extraordinary brickwork. The hallway seemed to have been built rather than carved.
“We have definitely stumbled onto something here.” Zander spoke softly.
They kept walking down the hallway a few more paces and reached another door. Beasley examined the door carefully, covering his head with his hood for some protection. Zander stood back a few steps. The door seemed to have no traps on it or a locking mechanism. Beasley swung the door open and stood there for a moment, wincing, waiting another dart. Nothing came from the darkness so Beasley stepped through the door. Just as both feet crossed the threshold of the doorway, a large glowing hand appeared in the darkness. Beasley grabbed his short sword but it was too late, the hand grabbed him, threw him to the other side of the doorway again, and slammed the door.
“Hmmm, not a trap, but it definitely doesn’t like us going that way.” Beasley rubbed his backside as he stood up. “All the more reason to enter, wouldn’t you agree my big friend?”
“I suppose.” Zander cleared his throat. “Let me have a look.” He approached the door with caution, examining it carefully. He looked at the door and saw a sign covered with years of dirt and mud. He rubbed the sign gently but due to years of rot in the wood, the sign disintegrated partially only leaving a few characters. “It’s written in giant. It is hard to make out but I think it says ‘knock.’ Shall we try it?”
Beasley jumped up and stood behind one of Zander’s legs as he reached with the hilt of his sword and tapped the door. He closed his eyes half expecting another explosion of poison gas.
“Nothing happened.” Zander said shocked as well. “Well, only one way to find out if it worked.” Zander grabbed the rusty door latch and pushed the door open, and apprehensively took a step forward and braced for the ghostly hand.
“It worked!” Beasley barked. “I must find out the spell for that one, it’s amazing!” He pranced on through the doorway without fear and did not notice the crack in the tile flooring. Without warning, the floor dropped out from underneath the tiny bandit his hands waived in the air, clawing for handholds that were not anywhere within reach. “ZANDER!”
“Beasley!” Zander jumped to save Beasley, skidding across the floor with his immense arms outstretched. “I gotcha!” Zander lay on the floor in a cloud of dust holding Beasley by his hood. The little halfling dripped the torch when he fell, it now lay about one foot below Beasley on the ground. “Let me go Zander, I think I’m OK.” Zander released the small bundle, Beasley simply dropped half his height, and with a soft thud, he landed with both feet and picked up the torch. He looked up to see the pit he had fallen into was a little more than the height Zander one and a half times over.
“Come on down Zander! You can get us back up this hole with a little climbing.” Beasley looked around and saw at one end of his small pit there was a tunnel about his height. “Hey, there is a tunnel down here. Let’s see where it goes.”
Zander made his way down the pit and onto the ground. He dropped to his knees to examine the tunnel. “You had better hope it stays this size, or I am going to get stuck and then we are really in trouble.”
Beasley began to walk down the tunnel and smugly remarked over his shoulder and laughed. “Well then, don’t get stuck.”

Putting it to better use… (Original Fiction by Xan)

2009-11-20T05:00:00.000-07:00

“Very well.” Solcloud reaches for the ring with a false air of contempt. “But I think stealing from the dead isn’t right.”
“We’re not stealing,” Beasley looked up from his examinations. “We are putting them to better use.” He looked to the paladin and then over to the half-ogre who was trying not to smile.
Not doing a very good job of holding back his excitement for nice things, Mayvn jumps into the search. “What else did you find, my diminutive friend?”
“Stop crowding me!” Beasley tries his best to fight off the grabbing thin man. “Don’t worry, we’ll find you something pretty.”
Zander walks up, grabs Mayvn by the coattails, and pulls him back. “If you keep crowding him, he may not find the ‘good stuff,’ understand?”
“Y-y-yes, s-s-sorry.” Mayvn sits on the closest rock. “My apologies, friend. Just make sure you can find me something worth while.”
“DONE!” Beasley reaches up with a pendant in his hand. “By the looks of it, it seems to make you move a little faster. Might be good if you ever get close enough to someone to try and use the small sword you have hidden in that fiddle of yours.”
“Fiddle! How preposterous…”
“You want it or not? I am sure Zander could use it.”
“Oh, my apologies. I will certainly take such an endowment.”
“Thought you would.” Beasley smiled, winked, and went back to searching the next body. “And what do we have here?” Beasley pulled on the wizards’ gloves. “They will fit you well Mayvn.” As Beasley pulled the gloves off the wizard, he noticed the wizard’s complexion became a little more… geographical. “Hmmm, seems to me they make you better looking.”
“Don’t encourage him, small one.” Solcloud walked over with his arms folded. “He is already a peacock.”
With a smug look on his face, Mayvn fidgeted with the gloves and they slid on with a perfect fit. Everyone noticed Mayvn’s teeth got a bit whiter when he smiled at their fit. “Beautiful!” Mayvn shrieked as he picked up his lute and began to strum a happy little tune. The music seemed to be better than before. “It sounds like my playing has improved.” He smiled at the party once again.
“Put those away, your smile is almost blinding.” Solcloud shrugged, “Seems they make you more charismatic.” Beasley and Zander looked at him like a curious set of dogs looking at something making an odd noise. “It made him prettier and his music better.” The paladin just shook his head. “I am glad intelligence wasn’t wasted on everyone.”
“Oh! Perfect!” Beasley shrieked with glee as he held up a pack of playing cards that seemed to shimmer in the torchlight. “I have heard of these! They’re great for parties!” He eagerly stuffed the deck of cards back into one of his many hidden pockets and went back to pawing through the bodies like a hyena.
“What is this?” Beasley seemed as though he was pulling on something off one of the ogres, but nothing was in his grasp. “Zander, could you help me please, it seems to be stuck!”
“What is?” Zander observed Beasley standing very stiffly with one foot on the ogres face and the other on its chest pulling at thin air.
“Just come and help me!” Beasley demanded. He obviously was a bit frustrated at his small size and the need to ask for help.
With one large hand, Zander gripped the small halfling in his colossal hands and lifted him off the body. He was shocked that the halfling cleared the ground but his hands stayed in position, still gripping the invisible object. “Pull harder, but don’t pull my legs off!” Beasley hesitantly ordered. With a great pull, Beasley yelped as he barely budged when Zander pulled at him.
“It’s still under him.” Solcloud kicks the dead ogre body and as it rolls to the side, Zander and Beasley fall to the ground. Beasley was holding a black and white cowhide. Beasley shakes the cobwebs out of his head from the impact and his eyes went large.
“This is a vanishing hide!” Beasley looked at the enormous size of it and sighed. “It’s too big for me. Zander you can have it. It disappears when you put it on. It can be worn right over your chain mail.” Beasley rubbed his head and rear end as he stood up, examining the bodies.
“What else did you find on that assassin, thief?” Mayvn piped up greedily.
“I am not…er…I found this hood. Well on me it’s a cloak, I suppose.” Beasley twirled. “I found it quite by accident. I dropped the torch on the assassin’s body and he did not light up. I noticed the hood protected him a bit.”
“He took it,” Zander’s nose began to curl. “You can still smell the burnt remains after Beasley lit the body after he took the cloak.” The half-ogre rubbed his nose. “I would have preferred to haul the body back to that chasm we threw the ogres and the spider into. At least then the smell would have taken longer to reach us.”
“I saved you the trouble of hauling him back up here.” Beasley said with a grin. “Besides, you’d never find the body if you just find a pile of ash.”
“What is that token on your left hand, thief?” Solcloud stated his accusation while waiving towards Beasley.
“Oh yeah, and this ring.” Beasley gave the ring a twist and vanished. His voice seemed to come right from Mayvn’s shoulder, “Isn’t it great? I am like those disappearing lizards down south. I love it!” With a flash, Beasley appeared next to Mayvn with his hands crossed over the ring. “Zander found a ring lying on the ground on our hike back; it has a dog or something on it.”
“Give it a twist.” Mayvn said excitedly. Zander shrugged and twisted the dog towards his palm and he too vanished.
“What happened to you?!?” Zander’s voice echoed as if he were a ghost. “You are all blurry!”
“It is not us, my dear friend.” Solcloud chuckled, “You have found a ring of the blink dog. You go to an alternate plane that is parallel to this one.”
“I have heard of those!” Mayvn said ominously, “They are very rare! Good in a fight though, you blink in an out of this plane all the while you can attack and still not be seen. Amazing!”
Zander blinked back into their vision. “I feel sick.”
Beasley laughed. “Looks like you and I will need to practice with our new jewelry.”
“It’s getting late; we had better just stop here.” Solcloud sat down; putting his ring with the troll head on his left hand, he breathed a great sigh as his muscles relaxed from the effects. “I need to rest.”
“I think we all do!” Mayvn dusted off his rock with his hat, sat down and leaned against it. “That fight took a lot out of us all.”
“Agreed, besides I want to look around.” With a wink and a nod, Beasley twisted his ring and was gone. His voice echoed from a far distance in the cavern. “I will be back before my turn at watch!”
Zander shook his head while caressing his ‘dog ring.’ “I’ll take first watch,” he said. “I’m not tired.” With a twist of his ring, he too vanished. His voice echoed ethereally, “I got to get used to this feeling.”

An unexpected twist of fate… (Original Fiction by Xan)

2009-11-13T05:00:00.000-07:00

“Shhh…” Beasley cautiously made his way back up the winding slope of the cave back to the adventuring party who were lumbering down the slight incline. “There are at least three of them just about fifty yards down. Looks as though we have a wizard and his bodyguard.”
Zander pulled his hammer out of the strap on his belt and strapped his large wooden shield to his left arm. Solcloud tried to pull his sword out without it singing as it cleared the scabbard; he too had his shield out and at the ready. Mayvn just shrugged his shoulders and made sure his crossbow was loaded and his lute was tuned. Beasley extinguished the torch in order for the entire party to sneak up on the unsuspecting wizard. He began to creep back down the cavern towards the slight light now emanating from the other unsuspecting group.
As they all rounded the bend, a light could be seen and standing on the edge of the light was a man looking their direction. “They’re just down this tunnel.” He whispered back to the other three in his group. “We shouldn’t dally; one of them has sneaked up on us and knows we’re here. All except for me. I walked right past him. We must get them before they get us. It is, after all, all about winning.”
Beasley signaled his group to stay put with an extended finger over his lips. He could see the wizard already had something in his hands to quickly cast a spell. His bodyguards consisted of two very large armored ogres. Beasley made his way down the tunnel once again trying to be very quiet as to not alert the other rogue again of his presence. He made it to the wizard and his bodyguard and ran past the thief. With a slash, he cut the rogues leg, just under the knee. He let out a yelp of pain as the others in the party turned towards the noise.
Zander and the others rushed into battle, catching the rest of the party with their backs to them staring at the downed rogue. Solcloud, with sword in the air charged at the first ogre. Before the ogre could block the swing, Solcloud buried his sword deep in the ogre’s right arm. It just winced and looked at the paladin with a glare and threw his arm to the side, flinging both the paladin and his sword against the cave wall. Zander mightily hammered the ogre in the shoulder, but the strike hit the armor and glanced off. The ogre roared, with his great sword swung, and connected. Zander’s shield was too slow to deflect the sword. It cut Zander’s arm straight to the bone on his left side. Zander grimaced, did not hesitate, swung his mighty hammer again at his kin, and made a huge dent in the ogre’s shoulder plate knocking the big thug to the ground with a thud. Mayvn stood at the edge of the battle, lobbing bolts with his crossbow into the fight while composing a song of the ensuing battle. One shot held true and dropped the ogre that had so ferociously threw Solcloud like a rag doll. Mayvn cheered at his accomplishment, looking for the fallen paladin, but he was not where he was thrown. Solcloud had closed the gap on the wizard and began to swing with his sword. Zander, after several attempts to drop his kin, finally landed a solid hit to the ogre bodyguard’s chin, breaking its jaw and sending several teeth flying as it fell to the ground like a mighty oak tree.
“Where’s the halfling?!?!” He bellowed to the others.
Solcloud was preoccupied with attacking the wizard and did not answer.
Mayvn looked around and shouted out, “Where is the other dark fellow?”
“DAMN!” Zander shouted as he ran down the tunnel, following a trail of blood presumably left by the rogue after Beasley had slashed him in the leg. He rushed down the tunnel with the din of battle fading behind him; he heard the panting of his small friend growing louder along with clashes of daggers. “I’m coming Beasley, hold on!” With renewed vigor, Zander ran towards the battle.
“Zander!” Beasley shouted back towards his friend in complete panic. “Help me!”
The giant rounded a bend and saw Beasley and a man dressed in black locked in a fight to the death. The man had one hand on his gash bleeding on his leg and the other hand had a dagger in it, slashing at the poor halfling. Beasley was countering all the assassin’s moves but he was tiring quickly. Without hesitation, the large man swung his hammer at the assassin while his back was turned. With lightning reflexes, he pulled out a separate short sword with his bloodied hand and countered the mighty swing of the giant. The unknown assailant looked back to the giant and glared through his black mask. “You won’t strike me down that easy, half-breed!” His eyes went wide and he let out a groan. He looked down and noticed that he had let his guard down and let Beasley have the opportunity he needed to stab him through the chest.
“Don’t ever insult my friends!” Beasley scowled at the assassin as he fell to the ground. He spit at the dead body on the ground, panting with exhaustion. “Now that is what I call an equal in battle. Zander, if you hadn’t come to distract him we could have fought for hours.”
The giant smiled with a look of consolation. “I’m just glad you are OK. Let’s check on the others.”
“Wait! Give me a second to see if he has anything of worth on him.” Beasley greedily looked to Zander. “A man that good should have a whole clutch of great gear.”
“I thought you weren’t a thief.” Zander chuckled. Beasley just smirked and went about searching the body.
The two opposite friends walked back up the cavern towards where Mayvn and Solcloud were awaiting their arrival. Mayvn was searching the bodies.
“Let me do that sir.” Beasley shouted to the bard. “After all, I am the thief.” The thief started with the wizard and found a great ring with the head of a troll biting an emerald. He smiled and started searching the wizards other pockets. “I think we shouldn’t go too far right now. I just found a Ring of Trolls on this wizard!”
Solcloud walked towards the body of the wizard and kicked him. “That would explain why he was so hard to kill.”
“Exactly!” Beasley pointed to Zander. “I gave him the one I found on the black one back there. They give you healing abilities just like trolls. The large gash in Zander’s arm from that ogre will be gone within an hour after wearing that ring. I suggest you have this other one.”

Breakfast conversation… (Original Fiction by Xan)

2009-11-06T05:00:00.000-07:00

“NO!” Beasley jumped from his slumber after a terrible nightmare. “I sure hope we don’t face anything uglier than that spider.” He smiles at everyone who was already awake.
Zander was cooking some bacon and ham on a skillet over the fire. Solcloud was leaning against the wall, still nursing some stiff muscles in his chest and arms. That spider did a lot more damage to him that the party had realized. He grimaced as Beasley came over to take a look at the dressings on the wounds. Even though Zander had healed him, the two puncture marks on Solcloud’s chest will probably never truly go away. Mayvn was, of course, tuning his lute and singing a sweet song of morning and sunlight. The party listened to his sweet soft tune and reminisced over what the sun looked like and they all smiled. It was truly hard to tell if it was day or night in the caverns, they just assumed it was daytime and did not think twice about it. The sweet smell of maple cured ham and bacon made Zander’s stomach rumble with ferocity.
“Everything tastes better with maple.” Zander spoke while poking at a ham steak sizzling sweetly in the pan. “There is plenty for everyone in my box.” Zander pointed with the greasy fork at his large makeshift chest of holding backpack. “I am quite the cook you know.”
Everyone looked at the meat, smelled the sweet sugary smell and furiously dug through their packs to find their bowls and forks. Zander served the meat up to everyone and then went back to his box. He rummaged around in the bottomless chest until he found some bread; some baguettes Jenny had given him for his adventure.
It seemed like so long ago that they spent the night drinking and exchanging stories. Jenny had expressed an interest to go, but was worried about the Inn and the Innkeeper if those soldiers should return. He had found the tankard she had given him and he smiled as he placed it back in the chest and brought the bread to the cooking fire.
Everyone was eating the food as though if they did not it would vanish right out of their bowls. Beasley finished first and was anxiously awaiting another serving. The giant just looked to the little one and chuckled. A couple more pieces of bacon and that is all, we must conserve our resources. I have brought us some bread as well eat some of that. Solcloud let out a small chuckle followed by a grunt of pain as he grabbed his chest.
“Are you all right to continue, Brother Genus?” Zander looked up from his smoky pan in a look of genuine concern.
“I will be fine, Mother.” Solcloud moved his arm around, testing his movement. “I have never seen a giant care so much for others as you do. You act like a nursemaid, but in the thick of battle, you are a bear. You are a strange creature Zander.”
The half-ogre smiled at the appraisal. “I am, as you say a bear. Have you ever seen a bear with its cubs?” Zander took on a glow of the priest giving a great oratory. “I too am like that bear. I defend those that are smaller than I, as they may not have the ability to defend themselves. I care for those who are in need of protection. And I am slow to make friends, but those that gain my trust I will defend with my life.”
“Yeah, you can sleep like one too.” Beasley poked fun at his huge friend as he picked at a piece of bacon and dropped it into his bowl and licked his fingers of the sweet maple glaze. “But, you sure can cook!” He munched on the sweet bacon and hummed with contentment.
“Zander the Bear,” Mayvn mused as he strummed a low chord on his lute. “That will definitely have to be placed into my memoirs!”
“Along with that rubbish about our adventuring party… what did you call us?” Solcloud abruptly interrupted.
“What was wrong with, ‘Silent Scales of The Singing Storm’? Is it too strong?” Mayvn queried.
Solcloud and the rest of the party fell to the ground laughing. “Are you sure you are just a musician? That is comedy!” Solcloud wipes his face of the tears. “Too strong, too strong, how about too long! How about not being clear? How about…”
“That’s enough, Solcloud.” Zander cleared his throat. “I think it is ‘interesting.’ Tell me Mayvn, how did you come up with it?” The giant stood up and patted the bard on the shoulder as he started putting the cooking utensils back into his box. He stopped rummaging when Mayvn didn’t begin to talk. He peeked up over the lid, “Go on and tell us, I am sure it has a ‘strong’ meaning.” He winked at the embarrassed man.
“Well…umm… it came to me when I was thinking about our party.” Mayvn apprehensively spoke up, toying with his bowl to place it back in his satchel. “I thought of our small friend, the thief; ‘Silent.’ I thought of our just paladin; ‘Scales of judgment.’ Of course, I had to be part of our tales so I chose the ‘Song.’ Then we have our ‘bear’ that worships the ‘Storms of Othr.’ And thusly we get the ‘Silent Scales of the Singing Storm!” Mayvn stood and with a flip of his hat swung his body low with a great bow as though he had performed a great couplet.
“Well met.” The paladin begins to applaud as he places his saddlebags into Zander’s box. “You are good for entertainment, peacock. I think that was a great choice for a name.” Solcloud claps the bard on the shoulder with a mighty slap. “Perhaps you are good for something.” He draws his sword, walks to the crevasse, and examines the depth of it by tossing a rock down.
“I like it!” Beasley pokes his head from around the chest after tossing his bedroll inside. He bolts down the tunnel to scout ahead of the ‘noise’ of the rest of the party and do what he does best.
Zander takes the mighty chest and slings the cracked leather straps over his broad shoulders. “As do I, my twiggy friend. Come, let us be off to more adventure and to dispose of that evil cult and their so-called god.” He slung his immense arm over the slight man, who nearly buckled by the weight of an arm that was nearly as much as he weighed. He managed a smile and a pat on Zander’s arm as the both began to walk to catch up with Beasley and Solcloud.

Beasley’s watch… (Original Fiction by Xan)

2009-10-30T05:00:00.001-06:00

The sound jostled Beasley to awaken, crossbow in hand. “What was that?” He whispered.

“Just a spider, my miniature rogue.” The paladin smirked, “But now that you are awake, I will retire and you may begin your shift.” He stood up and made his way towards his bedroll.

“Well then,” Beasley kicked his blanket off himself with a grunt. “I guess I don’t have any choice do I?” He sniveled all night as he found a small rock to perch on as everyone else slept. Zander continuing to make quite a racket with his snoring, Beasley just turned his back on the party in spite. He saw something moving like a line of ants across the wall. He stood up to examine the phenomena before him on the wall and it was not ants, but lines of spiders crawling up the wall. “What a peculiar sight,” Beasley spoke to himself. “I have never seen so many spiders” He spotted the spiders continuing on their path up the wall. He slowly followed with his eyes, the miniature march of these spiders as they continued into a hole about ten feet off the floor. A large tree root began to move as the spiders collected around it. Another root moved, and then another, Beasley began to back up realizing that those were not tree roots but rather legs of a large spider.

“Oh Hell!” Beasley yelped in warning as he drew his crossbow and let loose a bolt into the spider’s large beady eyes. “Time to wake up fellas!” Beasley kicked Solcloud on his way in backing up and fell onto Zander. As he fell, he let loose another bolt that crashed into the roof of the cavern above the spider.

The spider pawed its way out of its lair as smaller spiders fell to the ground. Solcloud drew his sword and began to curse the fact he could not sense this large spider. The spider dropped, leapt at Solcloud, and with lightning reflexes sank its fangs into his chest, piercing his armor like tin under a hammer and spike. With a startled look on his face, the paladin’s eyes rolled back into his head and dropped like a rag doll. By this time, Beasley had reloaded and fired another bolt at the aggravated spider.

Zander watched his associate of the cloth fall and with a roar of anger, he flew into a rage. Flailing his hammer in the air and with both hands, he slammed the hammer square into the back of the giant arachnid, a crash of thunder echoed through the tunnels as the spider landed to the ground with an empty thump. Gore from the spider dripped from his hammer as well as his armor, Zander panted as he fell to a knee in exhaustion.

Mayvn still slumbering rolled over and put his back to the party. Zander and Beasley spent the rest of the night on watch together after mending Solcloud of his wounds and stripping him of his armor so he may sleep more soundly. Zander pounded out the puncture holes in the paladin’s armor.

“That was quite an amazing feat, my large comrade.” Beasley had to talk to calm his nerves. “How did you do that?”

Zander, hunched over the armor and a rock as an anvil, solemnly spoke. “I don’t know. You have seen me do it before, it just happens. I have a mighty temper and when people are in danger I can think of nothing else than protecting them.

Solcloud was dying and would need healing right away, no time to waste. I felt the only way to save him was to quickly dispatch that dreadful spider.”

“That could really come in handy.” Beasley traced a line in the dirt as he continued. “It can also be a hindrance when we need you the most. You are as though a mindless juggernaught. What happens if we all need a spell from you?”
“That is why I am ashamed, it is my ogre blood.” Zander continues to hammer at the breastplate. “I am sorry.”

“No, don’t be.” Beasley walks over and looks Zander in the eye. “Don’t be ashamed of your ancestry; use it to your advantage. Goodness knows I have.” With a smile and a pat on the back, Beasley sits down and lies back on the rock Zander is sitting on and pulls up the blanket and looks up to the giant makeshift blacksmith. “You all right?”

“Yes, thank you, my friend.” Zander grins apprehensively. “Go to sleep, Othr watch over you.” He pats his friend on the head as Beasley slouches down and closes his eyes for a few more hours of rest.

Momoments - Hallow's beginnings?

2009-10-23T22:43:00.001-06:00

What is your favorite holiday?
In game or out of game? I know you have been asked this so let us know. Mine is Halloween, in game and out of game. It is just fun and candy and costumes, what more can you ask for!?

I was thinking about the wow achievements; how much of an achiever are you in wow? And are there people still trying for the meta-achievement, completing all the holiday achievements.
I have not been a achievement person in game but when I have time I do try to get some done because at times the achievements make you go back to Azeroth - Kalimdor and Eastern Kingdom and even the Outlands to revisit some areas you have not been to in a long time or for me (horde heavy) some alliance areas I have never been too. For Hallows end, one of the achievements is to visit different Inn's in the game across all lands on your side (meaning alliance or horde).
This is a great way for your alts or if you are new to the game to not only get experience, discover all the zones, but also more importantly to get the fp's.
However one things I would suggest, well one of the things, is to do this at level 20 so that you either have a mount or you have your races speed buff (hunters get the Aspect of the wild, believe it is, and Shammans get wolf form, etc...)
Also, definitely checkout the podcast World of Warcast: A World of Warcraft Podcast, no by @Alachia and @starmike and the previous regular host and now special host? not sure the official title for the very knowledgeable @renatta they are all very knowledgeable. As I have stated before, perhaps not in this blog but on Twitter, they are the Harvard of podcasting in my opinion. It is truly AWESOME, wonderful to see their passion for raiding in game and other things about the game we love!

My last question was, are any of you still going for the special mount for completing all the special/holiday achievements? I am curious because if some people are just starting, that means 1 year of making sure they do not miss one achievement or it will be all for a loss. I think it is great the dedication some give to their game playing.

Happy gaming and please let us know, Thank you

--
Mo

--

First night in the depths… (Original Fiction by Xan)

2009-10-23T05:00:00.000-06:00

The first watch fell on Mayvn, everyone seemed to think that if something should happen during his watch they would be the most at their ready. Mayvn played a sweet song on his lute as everyone prepared their bedrolls. Zander pulled up a pile of rocks, threw his head down with a crash, and was out like a light in a storm. Solcloud knelt in supplication to St. Cuthbert before he too fell victim to slumber.
Beasley tossed and turned, rolling around like a fish out of water. The noise made by Zander snoring was like that of a mighty thunder on the horizon. “Couldn’t he worship a god of rabbits or Olidammara? At least that way his snoring would be silent.” Mayvn chuckled softly as he continued to strum his lute and sang the poor halfling to sleep.

The night wore on and Mayvn’s eyes began to droop as he started to slouch over his lute. He snorted to a start as a small spider not larger than his thin fingertip crawled across his face. “Oh, thank you little one.” He mumbled with a groggy tone. “Best to wake up the second watch.”

Mayvn stood up and made his way over to Solcloud. Mayvn had to take a second look as it looked as though there were two people where the paladin slept. It was in fact just the paladin lying next to his neatly polished and laid out armor. Mayvn nudged the soldier awake and smiled. The paladin did not speak a word, as he knew his duty and didn’t want to wake the others. Mayvn pulled up a soft silky pillow he had laying in his sack and swiftly went to sleep.

The evening seemed most uneventful through Solcloud’s watch. He spent most of the time sharpening his sword and polishing his armor to the best of his ability in the firelight. As he sat there, he mumbled to himself about lying his head down in slumber when there was evil looming all about him. His focus being lost as the entire cavern seemed to radiate evil. A few hours passed without incident either, but again another small spider crawled across the floor in front of him. With a swift movement of his boot, Solcloud crushed the small vermin into the rock floor.

Into the unknown… (Original Fiction by Xan)

2009-10-16T05:00:00.001-06:00

After, what seemed to be an eternity in darkness the group reaches the bottom. “Seems a bit dark down here.” Mayvn points out the obvious. “I’m not too fond of the dark.”

As if remembering he had a thousand gold pieces in his pocket Beasley jumps with a start. “Oh, excuse me, I have the torch.” He laughs sheepishly.

The room is filled with smoke and light as the torch slowly illuminates the dark cavern they found themselves in. Above them, they see the pit; it was nothing but a hole, just tall enough to be out of reach of even the tallest of men. Zander looked up, stretching with his arm to touch the opening but he could not.

“Must be an enchantment,” Mayvn again points out the obvious. “It felt like we were descending for hours, when in fact this pit is nothing but a small hole not more than about twenty feet or so. Well doesn’t that just figure?” He turns to step off the lift and is struck in the face by an unknown object.

GONG! The sound of the low toned bell echoes in all directions.

“I found the signal bell.” Mayvn rubs his face.

The voice of the innkeeper echoes down the hole. “Ring the bell again when you want to be lifted back up. But I warn you, if something is chasing you, I won’t be able to crank fast enough to save you.” His laughter fills the hole and the tunnels as the lift slowly moves up.

Mayvn looks to the lift longingly. “Well, I suppose we are stuck down here for now. Which way?” The silky man walks five feet to the left and then five feet to the right. “Seems we could also get lost down here too.”

“You think so? I wonder if that’s why they call it a labyrinth.” Beasley rolls his eyes at the gangly man.

“Well, I must take an accounting of my surroundings. You know, make a mental note for my memoirs.” Mayvn begins to puff up with pride. “I will write my adventures, I mean, I will write our adventures and they will be legend throughout all the land!”
“If you make it out alive, peacock.” Solcloud quickly deflates the haughty bard. “Pride can be thought of as evil. Be careful not to tread that line bard. It is a slippery slope that leads to evil.” He looks to the halfling, “Isn’t that right, my little burglar?”

Beasley just shrugs at the insult and starts walking down one of the tunnels to the right of the lift. The stone walls seem to be a natural tunnel, probably caused by years of water and wind erosion. There is a distant sound of dripping and the echo of their voices seems to go on for eternity. The sound of three sets of footsteps echoes down the corridor. Beasley only shakes his head, as the three other members can’t seem to be quiet to save their lives.

“You know, you couldn’t even sneak up on a deaf and blind owlbear in hibernation!” He barks in aggravation. “Can’t you three be quiet?”

Solcloud takes another step, his plate armor clangs and chatters with every movement. Zander turns at the waist, his chain mail shirt rustles like metal leaves blowing in the wind.

“What are we trying to sneak up on?” Mayvn queries.

“And would you please keep your mouth shut?” Beasley throws his hands up in the air, and turns to continue down the corridor. “Honestly! How is a man supposed to hunt creatures when he can’t even sneak up on them? There are probably no monsters within miles because of you three.” He continues to walk down the path backwards as he reprimands his boisterous companions. Without warning, he runs into what felt like a wall. A gurgling growl began to fill his hears. His eyes went wide; his knees began to quake as he reached behind himself to feel what he had run into. This wall was wearing tattered pants and smelled like rotten fish. Beasley grimaced and apprehensively looked up to see a dreadful sight. It looked to be three larger and much uglier versions of Zander. “OGRES!” Beasley shrieked as he ran back towards the safety of the party.

Mayvn gulped and chanted a quick poem, behind the ogres sprouted a spring of large hairy spiders. They immediately spread out in all directions, overwhelming the ogres. They swung their arms in a futile attempt to beat them off themselves all the while provoking the spiders to bite them. The ogres’ thick hides prevented the spiders from poisoning them, but the distraction was what the group needed to gather their senses and prepare for a battle.

Zander closed his eyes and began to offer up a prayer to Othr to help them in their battle by slowing their attackers further. He pointed a finger in the direction of the smaller ogre, the ogre seemed to be distracted for a moment but shook off whatever the prayer was aimed to do. The paladin immediately drew his sword and jumped into the thick of battle slashing for the largest of the three ogres. He began slashing at the mid-sized ogre standing in the front; the tunnel opening was only big enough to have the ogres attack single file. With their extremely long arms, the ogres can reach over one another to grasp at the adventurers standing in their path.

Solcloud takes the point making sure as to not let the ogres continue to advance. Zander closes in behind the paladin; he too having the long reach gifted by his ogre blood and can also swipe at their attackers. Beasley and Mayvn take to the rear, firing shots with their crossbows as the long smelly arms attacked the front line. The ogres looked to Zander as an unfit cousin fit only to die at their hands. They roared and clawed at Zander as he laughed at their futile attempts to attack him. They clawed at the air, landing only minor blows as they reached over Solcloud. Solcloud taunted the ogres for their stupidity as he slashes at their arms taking major cuts to their limbs. Mayvn was composing a song of the adventure as it unfolded, inspiring his companions to greater deeds of valor and strength. Beasley fired bolt after bolt into the openings that Solcloud left for him. One bolt landed true finishing off the first bloodied up ogre. His larger companion advanced into the opening and took up attacking their cousin once again. Zander crushes its hand as Solcloud in turn hacks the arm off at the elbow. The ogre roared is pain but continued its advance with its other arm. Zander grasped the arm with one hand as Solcloud dropped to one knee and plummeted his sword all the way to the hilt into the belly of the beast. It dropped to the ground as the third, smaller ogre leapt onto the bodies of its fallen comrades and let out a shriek in attack. It jumped towards Solcloud but in mid-flight, it changed direction and fell to the ground with an empty thump.

“HA!” Mayvn shouted and jumped like a child. “I knew I’d figure out the aim on this silly contraption.” He waived his crossbow in the air in triumph. “This will definitely go into my memoirs.” He hooked the crossbow back to his belt and straightened his silks, proud of his minor victory. “Where are we going now, Mr. Beasley?”

The small man, still dazed by the amazingly lucky shot performed by the bard, looked up at the party and shook his head. “Well, I suppose we should go the way they came from.” Pointing back to the mass of ogres lying on the ground he continued. “But let’s proceed a little more quietly, including myself. But I figure we all need a bit of healing as well as a bit of rest.”

Zander chuckles under his breath. “You are right, my little companion.”
The paladin points to a crevasse and a small cavern to their left. “I suggest we send those brutes back to the abyss down there, and we can make camp in that cavern.”
Beasley curled his nose up at the smell of the bodies. “But I can’t lift them.”
The half-ogre grabbed the ogres by the hair and began to drag them towards the seemingly bottomless pit. “I can get rid of my half-kin lad. Don’t you worry about that?” He threw the smaller one into the ravine, followed by the middle-sized one that he had slung over his shoulder. “But I suggest you begin cooking our meal for the night and figure out who is going to be on watch.”

Xyliaa needs a relationship...

2009-10-14T05:00:00.002-06:00

A few weeks back I had a poll regarding creating a new toon healer for my guild. As a result of the poll which was focused on what race my priest should be, I was overwhelmed by the responses about the various healing classes I was missing out on.

The result of that poll was a Draenei Shaman named 'Xyliaa.' As I am always a fan of the relationships of my toons I need some help as to what her relationship is to Xandarr. So I have set up a poll that will be open until October 24th. Please take a moment to vote.

After the poll is complete I may start a new fiction section with her adventures, so please vote and let others know to vote.

Momoment #17 / MoContest #1

2009-10-13T05:00:00.000-06:00

Hello,

For all WoW players, from day one of playing the game no matter if it was when the game came out or if you just are getting into the game, game security is/has/will always be important to all (even to Blizzard!).

What do I mean by game security? Well, for one I think it is important we read!!!

Read you say? Yes read! It is a skill we are all lacking.

How many times you install a game, program, complete an application, anything and there is a TOS (terms of service agreement) that we (not all of us but I think a major majority, I say 70% of us) just click the box that states we have read it and understand it. Why do we do this? Well I think it is a combination of laziness, impatience, AND, not caring, and I am sure many other reasons, to many to list all of them.

Now before I upset all of you/us, I know I am generalizing but please prove me wrong; tell me that I am wrong. It will be hard to prove this wrong but until that time I believe that I am correct (maybe wrong in the percentage but I know it is more than half of us MMO players). So how does not reading the TOS make our game/account security vulnerable? Yet again the answer is lengthy but pretty much not knowing how your account can be canceled or suspended in my opinion is a security risk.

For WoW, the major security risk has been account hacking and that has been part of the game almost from the beginning I believe. For the first few years of the game, the only way to make sure our account was safe was to change our password often and make it as difficult as possible. Did/were you doing that? I think not. I did not do that! :(

Thankfully Blizzard came out with the authenticator and that started security more accounts; well people that would get the authenticator. Than the iPhone application came and and even more people made sure their accounts were secure.

The latest work of Blizzard is the Battle.net site for all of their games; I call it their hub, union station for players of their wonderful games. If you play a Blizzard game or are playing WoW, you go to the site, register, enter your WoW account info and you are in Battle.net! Some people for their own reasons do not want to do this (I personally do not know of any negatives, please let me know of some cons of doing this). Until recently, registering your WoW account on Battle.net was not mandatory until the news came out this week that Battle.net will be mandated by November 11th. Now I do not know all the details but I believe if you are not on Battle.net you will not be able to log into the game.

Why do you think Blizzard is doing this?

In my opinion, we are playing their game and if they require this as part of logging in, well we have to do it no matter what we think; it is their product, if you don't like it don't buy it and play it! A more thoughtful reason could be that it is additional security for them and us. Think of it as a good big brother aspect, where Blizzard will know all of their 12 million+ ( of that is the true number of players on WoW, which I do not think so) and help prevent the account hacking and spamming. I am not kidding when I say I do not know of any negatives and please let me know of some. Also, this will possibly allow interaction of wow players and players of Diablo and StarCraft possibly. Or even a Blizzard gaming achievement system in the near future. And the big one of them all, when ever the new WoW expansion and the next Blizzard MMO comes out.

The main point is, sign up for Battle.net, get an authenticator (if you can or try to win one) and also let me know why one would not want to do these things.

Thank you very much, and stay safe! In game and out of game!

--
Mo

--

Hello Gamers....

This is Xan. It has come to my attention that MO has a couple of authenticators he would like to give away in a contest. In order to make this interesting and to help emphasize the point of needing an authenticator I am posting this contest -

1 - Please respond to this post with an AUTHENTICATOR HORROR STORY of someone you know or even a story about your own account being hacked and the devastation it caused to you and perhaps your guild.

2 - One more contest is a LINKING CONTEST. This contest is one that will have you linking to us all over the internet. Your link should be this: The Experienced Noob, Your Friends and Guides in World of Warcraft, with a link to http://theexperiencednoob.blogspot.com/. These can be on your guild forums, your blog, WoW or gaming related forums, as long as it's not spamming or against the rules of the forum. If you want to write your own words around the link, feel free to. If you create a site solely for this contest, it will be disqualified. There should be real, useful content at the site.

Twitter, Facebook, FriendFeed, and other social networking sites are also allowed to be used. If you twitter, an @Xandarr2112 or @Mohalen is recommended, with a preferable #TEN at the end. If you Facebook, a link to the site would be appreciated. Any other social networking sites, just link back to the TEN website. Once again, spamming will get you disqualified. If we hear from a webmaster, guild leader, or otherwise from someone complaining, we will disregard any entry.

In order to let us know about your submission, send us the url to the site you linked to us on. If you can include a screen shot, that would be even better. The winning link will have to be verified on submission and on completion of the contest. Links on the WoW forums are discouraged, and can get you banned or suspended from forum posting privileges, therefore use them at your own risk.

THE PRIZES: Two (2) Authenticators from MO drawn randomly from the entrants. The winners will be drawn on November 11th (one entry from the authenticator horror story and one from the linking contest) and will be posted to the blog and will need an email from the winner to Xan at TheExperiencedNoob@gmail.com as to where the prize will be sent.

DONATIONS - If you wish to donate a prize for further contests, email Xan at TheExperiencedNoob@gmail.com

Within the Slaver’s Pit… (Original Fiction by Xan)

2009-10-09T05:00:00.001-06:00

Solcloud takes the lead and walks right up to the proprietor of the inn. “My good man, I heard there is evil within this labyrinth under your inn?”

The innkeeper, shocked that a Paladin of St. Cuthbert would enter a contest such as this, turns to face the party. “Yes, there is evil down there. But take a look at this board.” He points to a large pegboard with small rings with numbers on them with other numbers scribed underneath them. “These are the ‘good men’ who have also ventured down into the labyrinth as well. Just look at our current leaders, they have been down there for close to nine hundred days!” The innkeeper shakes his head. “At least we think they are still adventuring down there. Their treasure must be a heavy burden not to return yet.”

“You mean they haven’t been up in almost three years?” Solcloud was shocked.
Mayvn gulps. “Why don’t you send down a rescue party?”

“What do you think these other rings are?” The innkeeper scoffs, “Ornaments?”
“You mean all that go down don’t come back?” Beasley cringes but continues. “What is the sport in that ‘game?”

The innkeeper leans over the podium to look down on the small man. “The ‘sport’ is exactly that. What you find down there, you keep and the longer you are down there, the more renown you get as a competitor of the labyrinth.” The innkeeper smiles an evil smile. “So, will I be entering your names into the contest?”

The party looks at one another. Zander shrugs his shoulder as he clenches his hammer’s head tightly as it swings on his belt. Beasley pulls out a dagger and twists it in his fingers to test its sharpness. Solcloud looks to Mayvn and smiles as Mayvn’s knees begin to knock together.

“I sense great evil down there, innkeeper.” We will go down, we will enter the contest.

“Very good! What shall I name thee?” The innkeeper dips his feather pen in its reservoir to write the party’s name in his ledger.

“Call us…” The paladin ponders a moment.

Nevertheless, before he could sputter out an answer, Mayvn jumps in. “Call us, the Silent Scales of The Singing Storm!”

The party winces, the innkeeper look up at the thin man in the obscenely large hat with a bewildered look on his face. “I don’t know where you came up with that rubbish, but by the sounds of your little party there, it should win you some favor, or some humor.” The innkeeper chuckles as he pulls out a ring with a number on it. “You are number thirteen hundred ninety-five. Your time begins after you reach the bottom of the pit and ring the bell signaling you have arrived. Now step on the platform please.” The innkeeper ushers them over to a small platform, with Zander’s large size everyone had to hug in close to fit. The innkeeper then went to a small-notched winch, unhooked the safety lever, and began to crank. The platform slowly edged its way into the unknown. Some time later, the cavern began to grow darker and darker. A few more minutes seemed to pass by and then the party was engrossed in total darkness, the echoing laughter of the innkeeper could be heard as he reminded the party, “Don’t forget to ring the bell!” His words echoed into the blackness.

Momoment # 16 - Are U a Gamer?

2009-10-06T05:00:00.001-06:00

Hello good people of the internet blogland and wowville!!!

A while back I had an argument with my brother (we have many!) about whether he is a gamer or not.

A quick note about him, he still likes the old school Sega Genesis games like Golden Axe and Star Control. He also likes Red Alert, yes the first few games that came out. But he is a hater of all things new (not just games, all things!) as anyone I know! He is not willing to even try some games (which can be a good thing in some ways but bad if he is just going to jump to conclusion). So I told him that he is a gamer because he does play games even though they are old! but he does play them.
But is that enough to label him a gamer?

And is that a bad thing? To be called a "gamer"?

To me it is similar to being called a raider in wow. It is not a bad thing to be called either one and also in some ways it is similar to being called a nerd or a geek. Just another word, if you will, to describe yourself (oneself).
So are you a gamer? and What does it mean to be a gamer?

In my opinion a gamer is a person who enjoys playing games; that simple.

Of course it cant be that simple. From what I have seen and read many believe that a gamer is someone that plays the more involved games like MMO's, role playing games, board games such as D&D. This can be true too but why can a console person be called a gamer? (I believe they can be if they fit your definition).

Possibly the main point can be made that in the past gamers were looked down upon similar to being called a nerd or geek. It is ok to be called or labeled a gamer in our modern day of technology as web-episodes like The Guild grow in popularity.

Such as life we all will have many different opinions and many different ways we will describe things and each other.

Gamer is one of them and there is even a movie out with the same title. From what I have seen in the previews it does not look like a good movie but I am sure I will watch it once it is out on dvd :)

Please let us know your opinion and GAME ON!

Back story for Xyliaa

2009-10-03T11:28:00.003-06:00

OK, so your votes from my previous posting led me from a Priest to a Shaman instead. It also made the race choice very easy for me as I think the Draenei are my favorite race of all.

Now I find myself thinking of a background and a story for my Shaman, Xyliaa. I would also like to fill in holes for my main toon, Xandarr. This is where I would like the help of my readers.

I would like to learn more of the lore but don't know where to begin.

I would like Xan and Xy to be realted, with Xy being MUCH younger than Xan.

Progression -
Xan started as PROT but found his true calling at lvl 80in DPS/RET, however he still holds roots in protecting others.

Xy is starting out, she is finding a niche with the elements, but longs to help others in reference to trauma & on the spot healing.

I would like to use The Hero's Journey to build both stories and REALLY flesh them out. Please help.

At the temple gates… (Original Fiction by Xan)

2009-10-02T05:00:00.001-06:00

The party reached the temple doors just as the sun flooded down the road at their backs. Their shadows creeping ahead of them down the long dirty alley. All of them had their weapons drawn as they reached the two guards at the door. The guards shuffled their feet as they watched the figures with the sun at their backs. A giant followed closely by two men and what looked like a child approached. They steadied themselves as they performed their duty.

“None shall enter, ‘tis not time of the gathering.” One guard looked to the other for confidence as he spoke.

The other one felt the strength of their ‘numbers’ and piped up. “Yeah, be gone with ye until the gathering begins.”

A rumble came from Zander as he reached for his hammer. Beasley jumped in before the hammer could be lifted. “Hello, up there lads!” Beasley let out an uneasy chuckle as he placed a reassuring hand on Zander’s knee. “When is the next gathering?”

The guards looked down on the small man and with a matching tone of voice scalded him. “If you don’t know, then you must not care. This is for our god and his followers. You must not be a believer.” The guards fondled their swords in a small threat to the halfling not just over half their size. “Leave now, boy!” With that insult, one of them nudged him harshly with their knee. Beasley stumbled backwards.
“You shouldn’t have done that.” Beasley said in a taunt. “You’ve made my friend angry.”

Before Beasley could finish his last words of the threat before the thunder rolled as Zander’s hammer flew through the air and connected with the dragon emblazoned on one guard’s breastplate. The guard flew back off his feet, smashed into the wall, and slumped to the ground. Solcloud and Beasley jumped at the second guard as Zander walked toward the fallen guard. With not so much as a cough or a stutter to stand, the fallen guard stood to his feet and spit at the ground to Zander’s feet as he approached. The guard drew his sword and braced for the next hit of the mighty hammer.

Mayvn began strumming on his lute a mighty tune singing of mighty battles of old and Kings fighting entire nations of monsters. The words echoed through the streets, all the party felt the magic of the bard’s song reverberate in their very souls. A mighty roar followed at a perfect time in the bard’s song as Zander let his feral nature take a hold of him as he swung at the dented guard. Beasley and Solcloud began trading blows with the other guard but all their efforts seemed to deflect off the dragon armor of the second guard. The guard ducked under the mighty swings of Solcloud’s sword and reached for an open spot in the knight’s defenses, with a clang of steel on steel the guard’s sword smashed into Solcloud’s armor. He yelled out in pain as the sword of the guard connected again. The guard seemed to move like lightning and Beasley couldn’t connect with the guard but only clanged off his leg guards with his short sword.

Zander smashed into the other guard again, this time with more vigor than before. The rumble of thunder echoed in the distance as the hammer connected again, this time on the guard’s arm. The guard wailed in agony as his arm shattered like a twig in autumn. The guard swung the sword and gashed Zander across the chest, as the blade bit into Zander’s flesh, the giant just roared as he followed through with another clean blow and crushed the guard’s breastplate like tin under foot. The guard slumped to the ground, Zander turned just as Solcloud dropped to the ground. With a howl of rage, the giant lumbered toward the remaining guard.

Beasley looked up from his position between the guard and the colossus. He grabbed Solcloud by the armor and began dragging him away as fast as his strength could carry him. Mayvn too saw the lumbering juggernaught coming toward the unsuspecting guard and lunged toward the fallen knight. The two companions dragged the knight, now passed out, into an alleyway and began to give first aid. Meanwhile, Zander made short work of the second guard. Turning him into a tin spike in the street as this hammer cleanly connected with the guard with a driving force into the earth.
Huffing and puffing from sheer exertion, Zander trudged towards his companions. Grasping the gash in his chest. “Is he going to be OK?”

Beasley looked up to his friend. “I tried to tell you back at the inn, these guards are heavily armed.” Like a father reprimanding his son for not obeying him, Beasley continued his lecture. “We barely escaped with our lives. You can’t just jump into every battle before you; you must learn to pick your battles my friend. You could have had us all killed.”

Zander pulled his hand away from his wound, inspecting the blood and contemplating his tiny friend’s words. “You are right, I am sorry.” Zander hung his head in shame as he muttered a prayer to himself, thanking Othr for giving him strength and asking him to heal his wounds. A spark of lightning shimmered across his chain mail shirt, it repaired itself as well as mended Zander’s wound.

With a cough, Solcloud sputtered a little of the curative potion as he began to speak. “Did we get them?”

Mayvn spoke softly. “Well, Zander ‘got’ them.” He turned Solcloud’s attention to the guard’s helmet protruding from the street. “Our cleric friend here even gave him a proper burial.”

The adventurer’s all chucked at Mayvn’s joke as Solcloud grunted and made his way to his feet. He dusted off his now red tinted armor. “Well this won’t do. Not for a servant of St. Cuthbert.” He looked to everyone; they just shook their heads. “At least it is tainted with my own blood, meting out St. Cuthbert’s justice to the heretics.” He grimaced as he held his side gingerly. “Now, let’s say we look for a back way in. I hate to think we’ll find more guards wearing this fine armor.” He bent over the body crushed in the chest. He examined the body for anything worth selling to fund their adventure. Nothing was found, but a few rings and some nice swords. The armor was useless after the major dents, even if they were smithied out.
Mayvn piped up. “Didn’t the guard back at the tavern, consequently smashed too, mention something about a back door through the labyrinth?” The group all looked to the bard with a glint in their eye. “I like back doors.” The group all laughed at the peacock as he smiled a smile, not realizing he made a joke at his own expense. “He-he, perhaps we should ‘enter the contest’ within the labyrinth?”

“To root out the evil of this town, both below and within!” The paladin raises his sword and starts marching towards the northern inn, ‘The Slaver’s Pit.’

The great conundrum...

2009-09-30T21:05:00.003-06:00

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!

Momoment # 15 - Moraider

2009-09-29T05:00:00.000-06:00

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

The sun breaks the horizon… (Original Fiction by Xan)

2009-09-25T05:00:00.002-06:00

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.

Momomomen t#14 - Quick long note on Aion

2009-09-23T10:34:00.001-06:00

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,

The questioning begins… (Orignal Fiction by Xan)

2009-09-18T05:00:00.001-06:00

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.

New Moon Theater Reservation PART 2

2009-09-16T09:27:00.003-06:00

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.

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!

The Bar Brawl... (Original Fiction by Xan)

2009-09-11T05:00:00.000-06:00

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.

MoMoment #11 - Home Sweet Home

2009-09-08T05:00:00.002-06:00

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 Room... (Original Fiction by Xan)

2009-09-04T05:00:00.001-06:00

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.

Back at the Broken Horse Inn… (Original Fiction by Xan)

2009-08-28T05:00:00.000-06:00

“Zander, I could have got twice this much!” Beasley complains in halfling. “If you would have only grumbled under your breath and folded your arms a little more gruffly that weapon smith would have purchased our wares at twice the price.”

“Yes, my little one. But at what cost?” The cleric began to preach once again.

“Would you see that we are never allowed back into his Shoppe? Would you prefer we come out with our pockets empty and licking our wounds? Be thankful that Othr blessed us with the wealth we received. Now quit your babbling in your own tongue. You complaints fall on deaf ears!” Zander lifts his barrel of ale for another drudge of the sweet nectar of the midnight rose. As he lowers his large coffer, he sees a tin man and a silky boy walk through the door. He waves them to their table.

“So, I see you have ordered drinks without us.” Mayvn grumpily slumps onto the bench. “Not much to find out. Just those slaves come from all over this region. Normally they are prisoners of war that have been sold into bondage three or four times before reaching Gleorn.”

“I, too, have found very little about your origins.” Solcloud shambles to the table, and finds the tall backed chair in the corner. “I have, however found a way to earn our keep and find adventure. But more importantly, rid the world of some evil.”

Beasley jumps onto the table. “Lower your voice! We are not in good company here!” The little halfling eyes the room. “What did you find?”

“There is a pit, at the inn to the north. This pit is a labyrinth where there are gladiatorial games.” Solcloud fumes with angst as he tells the tale. “This labyrinth is a way for would-be adventurers to gain fame and fortune through…survival.” The words come to his lips like poison as he spits them out.

“You enter the pit with a number; they keep track of your time in the pit. If you come out alive after the record, you gain a great reward.” But there is no way to tell those who never come up, if they are still ‘adventuring’ in the labyrinth, or if they are dead.”

“Sounds dreadful!” Mayvn shivers. “Dirty and smelly too.” He again turns his head to his silks and inadvertently smells them. He waves to a cute crimson haired barmaid with a white top, low cut and a dark green dress with an apron. He winks as she approaches.

“What can I get you gents?” The barmaid talks to the group with an eye towards the cleric.

“Well, my beauty,” Mayvn puffs up. “My boys and I would like a pitcher of your finest ale!” He waves his hands in the air in a big display. “And for your troubles, we have a few extra silvers for you.” Mayvn stands up, leans towards the barmaid, and winks.

The barmaid begins to withdraw from the advances of the thin man in flashy clothes. “And what can I get you, my lord.” She winks at the giant at the table.
Zander clears his throat uncomfortably. “Just another round of the biggest, tallest drink you have. My child, and please, call me Zander.”

“I am Jenny.” She smiles, bows to the group and hops off to bring back the drinks and a loaf of bread for the travelers.

“What next? We barely have any idea of where to go!” Beasley paces on the top of the table. “This is exhausting! What are we to do?”

“Your drinks, my lord.” Jenny respectfully interrupts. “I suggest you take your drinks to a room. It is not safe here.” Jenny seems to be a little on edge and restless.

“What is it Jenny?” Zander asks quietly, as quiet as a half ogre can. “What seems to be the trouble?”

“There is a room prepared for you all, upstairs.” Jenny looks behind her shoulder.

“Please, I will bring up warm blankets and hot water for your faces. But go now.”

“As you wish.” Mayvn stands and bows low and removes his hat. “Please, show us the way.”

Kilzar's Garage (Revisited)

2009-08-25T09:21:00.004-06:00

Hey everyone, welcome to another edition of Kilzar's Garage and I'm your host Kilzar.

Let me start off by saying congratulations to Xandarr on the birth of your son Calib, and good luck to Mo on your server transfer.

I was asked to write about my experience doing Heroic Trial of the Champion (aka HToC) since no one has had more fruitless runs than I. So here we go.

I don't think anyone is more off balance than I when it comes to getting 'drops' that are upgrades. I mean, not like Xandarr who seems to be rolling for gear almost every bloody run. I ran four HToC and only killed the main boss, The Black Knight, twice. Out of all those runs I got zero upgrades. I even ran Heroic Gundrak about this same time and only got a chance to get a DPS ring that was a huge upgrade but lost out to a certain paladin.

Saying that I was getting frustrated is a understatement, I was furious when I didn't get the ring, not because the paladin got which was already much more powerful in the DPS area, but the fact that I couldn't get anything that would help my character. Every body keeps telling me to "do this instances or that instance... there is gear in there that will be a huge upgrade."

The only thing I have received in this instances are a few emblems and achievements but no gear at all. This is actually a sad joke between Xandarr and myself, because I have this problem all the time. Receiving no upgrades at all on a lot of instance runs and then BAM! one instance would drop a ton of stuff. Like when I went into KARA, which has a lot of bosses. I think I did it like four times with nothing than one day I ran through there and ended up with like three upgrades all at once.

I think the Old Gods are against me because they all know that Dwarves are the superior race and that we needed some kind of disadvantage.

Then we come to Sunday night, Xandarr and I get into a HToC run and we died a few times not anything major...

"The Champions": NOTHING

Argent Confessor Paletress and Memory of Kalithresh (which we had the hardest time with): She dropped a sweet axe. (Edge of Ruin) It is as ugly as a Draenei female on Prom Night, but it blew my current sword away. So I'm happy I finally got something worthwhile.

(At this point let me point out when you are doing instances or raids there is a rule that states you should only get one item from bosses, this rule is set up so one person doesn't try to steal all the loot.)

The Black Knight: (He always seems to be so easy) This time he dropped a awesome gun (True-aim Long Rifle) and some gloves (Gloves of the Dark Exile) and that was yet another upgrade for me.

I had to ask the party, as good manners dictate, to make sure that it was all right to get so much in one HToC run. Lucky for me we had a good group that didn't mind. And of course no other Hunters in the group needed the gun.

So if you are one of those players that keeps doing instances over and over and don't get anything, all I can say is stay at it. You will have one of those runs that makes it all seem worth it.

If there is anyone out there that has questions that needs to be answered send me a email at kilzar316@gmail.com with the subject as Kilzar's Garage or at the experiencednoob@gmail.com.

So i guess that is it for me. So just remember to have fun and not everyone can be as cool as a dwarf.

If you would like to ask questions from Kilzar please email us at theexperiencednoob@gmail.com and put "ASK KILZAR" in the subject line. The grumpy ol' dwarf will be glad to answer readers questions.

Gonna Have a Good Time...

2009-08-23T12:10:00.006-06:00

Ol' Xan is one day older and wiser too... yup Ol' Xan dinged 31 today. Who shares this special day with me? Well...

1978 Kobe Bryant, NBA guard, Los Angeles Lakers
1970 River Phoenix, actor, Little Nikta, Stand By Me
1970 Jay Mohr, American Actor
1969 Amanda Hope, playmate, Jul, 1992
1949 Rick Springfield, General Hospital, Jessie's Girl
1949 Shelley Long, actress, Diane-Cheers, Money Pit
1912 Gene Kelly, dancer/actor, An American in Paris, Going My Way

Events in history that took place on this best day of the year:

1989 Los Angeles Dodgers beat Montreal Expos, 1-0, in 22 innings
1977 1st man-powered flight of a mile (Bryan Allen in Gossamer Condor)
1974 John Lennon reports seeing a UFO in New York City
1968 Ringo quits Beatles over a disagreement, temporarily
1968 Yankees and Tigers play 3-3 tie in 19 due to 1 AM curfew
1963 Beatles release "She Loves You" in UK

What happened in WoW to Xan?

Recent Achievements:

What the Eck? - Defeat Gal'darah in Gundrak on Heroic Difficulty while under the effects of Eck Residue.
Sunken Temple - Defeat Shade of Eranikus. (Yes, I have a couple more for "Classic Dungeonmaster" Achievement)
Stocking Up - Create 500 Heavy Frostweave Bandages.
250 Stone Keeper's Shards - Loot 250 Stone Keeper's Shards.
Heroic: Gundrak - Defeat the Gundrak bosses on Heroic Difficulty.

Last Day of Contest

2009-08-22T13:26:00.002-06:00

22 hours until the linking contest ends and so I wanted to pimp the show as well as get in one more entry.

I wanted to again talk a little bit about a great podcast out there. All Things Azeroth, Your World of Warcraft Podcast.

Medros and Graece have held contests a time or two and they are currently having a contest similar to ours here at The Experienced Noob.

Ol' Xan is trying to win their contest as the awards will be announced on my birthday. So this blog post is not only promoting All Things Azeroth, Your World of Warcraft Podcast but a contest entry as well.

As a matter of fact, as Ol' Xan is thinking about this contest and All Things Azeroth, Your World of Warcraft Podcast I do beleive they were the first podcast I listened to and the one that influenced Ol' Xan to think about starting his own.

Thanks Medros & Graece and keep up the great work!

Calib's first professional photos

2009-08-22T05:00:00.000-06:00

Well here are some pics for you to look at and giggle over.

The Auction Square... (Original Fiction by Xan)

2009-08-21T05:00:00.000-06:00

“Good afternoon ladies!” The gangly bard tilts his hat as he makes his way towards the group of young women giggling as he approaches.

“Do you know where these fine, string backed men hail from?” He waves his hand towards the slaves on display on a platform in the middle of the square.
The women eyes all go wide, as they giggle and run off. Mayvn lifts his arm, takes a sideward glance, and smells under his arm. Just then, he receives a hearty thump on the shoulder.

“I don’t think they were worried about your smell, peacock.” Solcloud laughs out loud. “Perhaps next time you should concern yourself more about asking them about the slaves, and less about the way you look.”

“I was asking about the…” Mayvn clears his throat in embarrassment. “All right, I’ll keep looking around.”

“I’m going to talk to those guards over there.” The paladin waves to a group of talking guards. “Stay out of trouble.”

“I…” Mayvn rolls his eyes and with a huff, he turns toward the crowd and then mumbles under his breath. “Come on Mayvn, take the ‘high road’ you’re better than that.”

MoMoments #12 - Stranger in a Strange... Server

2009-08-20T05:00:00.001-06:00

Hi,

Well I finally did it...I transferred my 80 priest, Moheal, the old Troll packed up his stuff, took some things from my guild bank, shined his tusks and moved to Feathermoon (US).

Moheal left a PvP server, where he grew up, learning to attack the Alliance on site with no hesitation and also deal with getting ganked or ganged up by two Human Paladin's and a stupid Dwarf Hunter standing in the back pew pewing!

It took about 20 min for the move. You would think moving that long distance from one server (one virtual world) to another would have taken longer (virtually). To let you know again, Balanzzar (US) is where Moheal grew up and it is and has always been a low population dominated by Alliance server. Feathermoon (US) is close to high at times medium level server a little edge to Alliance in numbers. Oh and it is RP!!!

RP?

What is that you ask? Role-play, some people call it real play, not sure why but I have heard that. I do not RP much or at all but am curious about the WoW lore and how some people RP.

Well when Moheal first set foot in Dalaran on Feathermoon (US), it was a very strange feeling. The city was familiar but the number of people running around was a shock!!!!

The usual daily grind of dailies started and he flew away from Dalaran to say "Hi" to his Hodir friends.

Carbonite: WARNING Alliance detected near you!!!

This flashed on my screen. Carbonite addon is a wonderful addon that I have used for a while and one thing it does is warn you when other players are near you from friendly faction and the ENEMY Alliance.

I shield myself and get ready to fight! FIGHT FOR THE HORDE!!

Than...nothing...nothing happens.

The Alliance character runs past me and my tusks drop with my jaw.

"What is going on here!? Must be a bug. eh OK back to completing dailies."

Again warning and two more Alliance are near me. I have them in sites but for some reason I cant attack them.

"Ok for the love of Thrall, did I become a PvP noob all of a sudden!?!?!"

My friend/coworker logs in and I tell her what is the deal with all these Alliance people around me and me not being able to attack them!?!

Then it hits me!!! It is a RP server not PvP!!!

You can laugh. Laugh with me, not at me because my little WoW characters grew up on a PvP server they didn't know any better.

So needless to say it will take some getting use to the RP and also all the people on the server. After one night of instancing with some people I know and some I am getting to know, I have to say so far so good. Of course with time it will get better I believe as we all learn how each of us play and how we can rely on each other. Also, a new guild is being formed; casual WoW playing, raid/instance when we can and have fun playing a game we all like.

I think that is one reason this game is so popular among gamers; we can play it as we wish. Some like to play it as well like it is work! Taking it too seriously and have spreadsheets and that is fine. That is their prerogative. I like to have fun, relax, and enjoy it; 'smell the roses' as they say.

I would like to ask how many of you have moved servers and and let us know how your experience turned out.

Well Happy WoWing to you all and to anyone going to Blizzcon, have fun, and I am not very far from you in Orange County.

Take care

And the winner is... (Update)

2009-08-18T05:00:00.002-06:00

I would like to thank "Brajana" for sending me a pic of her in her newest cloth armor in homage to Arthas.

Congrats on your Nerdtacular '09 win!

The Shoppes... (Original Fiction by Xan)

2009-08-14T05:00:00.001-06:00

Zander and Beasley made their way towards the shoppes. Atop Zander’s shoulder, Beasley spots the armory.

“Over there, my friend!” Beasley bounces on Zander’s shoulder as a little child. Zander just smiled and continued in the direction Beasley pointed. Zander was a full head taller than all the other bustling townspeople, but Beasley had sharper eyes to see the sign of the armory. “What should we ask for? This armor is not worth much you know.”

“We only need supplies for a few days.” Zander tried to keep his over anxious friend in check. “Perhaps we could get enough money for a night at the inn tonight?”

“Awww.” Beasley pouts as he flops down on the chest backpack and mopes. “You know I could get us so much more!”

“Othr has blessed us with a great many things little one,” Zander preaches. “Let’s not take advantage of our good fortune.”

“Well, then let me do the talking!” Beasley shirks the lesson in humility.

“Ha, Ha, Ha!” The cleric booms out a hearty laugh as he stepped through the armory door. “Very well, thief. But try to be reasonable or we won’t be able to sell anything.”

“I am not a…”

The armory door shuts behind them, as a bell tolls their entry.

MoMoment #11 - To Transfer or Not To Transfer

2009-08-13T10:21:00.002-06:00

Hello fine community of World of Worldcraft,

I am have a dilemma; in a quandary; bind, pickle, you name it I am in it!

I have 3 80s along with countless alts from 70s down to level 1's and majority of my characters (18 to be exact) are on Balanzzar (US) server. It is the server I started on, years and years ago. Even though I have many alts, majority of my WoW time has been on that server. As you can imagine the time spent and for me personally, I do get attached to my characters as we do spend so much time on them.

I do say it is a game but how can we not take some personal pride in the way we play. My play style is, well hybrid is one way to call it; a mutt. I enjoy it all. I love leveling! Yes I am one of those people. I love working on a RAF (refer a friend) leveling 2 characters while getting triple experience. I also enjoy the challenge of leveling on a new server with people I just started interacting with and working on classes I find challenging. I also enjoy questing, doing instances, (of course prefer not to do PUGs but I do dive into the PUGdome :( ) helping out guildies, and even old guildies that have moved on to other guilds. Raiding, on the other hand, I have not done much but I have had good and bad experience. Long story short I do enjoy getting and seeing as much of this awesome game we love as I can and as time permits.

With my playing style I have at least one of each class and each profession; not all of them are leveled up but it is a nice family of MO characters and are self sustaining and also can co-exist with others as needed.

Now to the issue I have which to some it may not even sound like an issue. I have been asked, by a coworker no less, to transfer or level on their server and to raid/instance with them...on a different server of course. I am thinking this will be great way to see the content I have not seen and to experience a guild hopefully that will be active like mine was back during original WoW and first few years when we first started on Balanzzar (US). The move that makes the most sense to me is my Priest, Moheal = avg gear with dual spec disc and shadow (I really enjoy healing and as you know... everyone needs healers).

What is my issue you ask? You may be saying what is your major malfunction MO? Make the move and snap out of it! Well, just imagine one of your brothers/sisters, long time friends decides to defect to another country and family and a piece of the machine you had running is no more.

Basically, with the way I run on my original server, as I mentioned, I have one of each class so I have my DPS characters, healers, tanks, & characters that have certain professions. I am going over the PROS and CONS so basically I am looking for different views at this point.

Of course, PROS = getting a chance to raid/instance without worrying about PUGs all the time; playing with the same people and getting to know their playing style and adapting to it to heal better; be part of a guild again and not having to worry about running the guild.

CONS = the MO gang of characters on Balanzzar (US) will be minus a healer and tailor and their Troll tusky brother; making the move may not necessarily be all that I think it could be.

I am asking for anyone to let us know, let me know, what do you think?

Have you been in a situation like this?

I know some podcasters have been but I have not; I am a kind of person that can be loyal to something even though it may not be going any where but still willing to contribute.

Please comment on this blog, email us, tweet me @mohalen I am very interested in different opinions and also let us know how your situation is.

Thank you

Blame the baby...

2009-08-11T05:00:00.003-06:00

http://www.statcounter.com/

Wow, I want to thank everyone for taking the time to come over to the blog and see the announcement of the birth of my son. 103 page loads... 68 unique visitors. I am overwhelmed!

Thank you so much for viewing the announcement. Thank you especially to all those who have left comments [here], this is great for posterity.

I hope those that might be new to the blog keep coming back. Those that aren't and may just be friends.... thank you as well!

Ol' Xan's new challenge...

2009-08-10T11:16:00.002-06:00

In honor of my family I usually have a toon created to play, and of course with Calib coming to join the family I have created a toon for him.

My daughter was created for fun with Maggie, my wife, sitting next to me and choosing the way my little girl would be portrayed in the game. Below I have attached her toonsig.

Calib was created last night. He is a gnome rogue, because Maggie and I both said he stole our hearts. Anyway, he is gonna get some help from "Big Daddy" Xan if I am going to spend time playing an alt. (Don't worry, Shelbimay got plenty of help when she was created as well.)

Xan has seen the advent of heirloom items Ol' Xan decided he was gonna try and get some for his little boy.

ENTER NEW PROBLEM...

How do you get Heirloom Items?

Heirloom items are purchased with either Stone Keeper's Shard in Wintergrasp, (Alliance or Horde) or you can go to Dalaran and purchase them from Brammold Deepmine with Emblems of Heroism.

Now from what I gather, Stone Keeper Shards are dropped off of any instance boss in Northrend when your faction controls Wintergrasp. No problem, I suppose, but that just means you have to watch for the buff on your screen to let you know you have control and then get an instance together.

The other part is... Emblems of Heroism are no longer available. You have to get an Emblem of Conquest and then trade that in for Emblems of Heroism. It is a bit longer process, but I think the rewards are amazing!

My shopping list for Calib is:

Stained Shadowcraft Spaulders
Stained Shadowcraft Tunic

So big task ahead of Ol' Xan. Current count of Emblems: 29

Calibs introduction to the world

2009-08-09T22:12:00.011-06:00

Daddy, Big Sister Shelbi, & Calib

Great-Grandma Shirley Webb

Grandpa Cyril Webb

Grandma Roxi Webb

Aunt "Dis" (aka Bela)

Great-Grandma Pixton

Auntie Raquel & Cousin Mia

Grandma Kim Pixton

Grandpa Brad Pixton

Time for bed

"With Arms Wide Open..."

2009-08-09T00:14:00.007-06:00

Dr.Hansen & Calib

More hair than Daddy

Calib Bradley Webb
Born 08/08/2009 22:02 Mountain Time
6 lbs. 12 oz. & 18 inches long

Well, after a hard wait and uncertainty Calib has joined my brood.

Maggie's water broke at about 16:15 as we were about to leave to go to a BBQ at my parents home with my fathers side of the family. We dropped off Shelbi May and just went directly to the hospital.

Upon our arrival we were checked into a room and the tests began. Tests to check the fluid first came up with a negative for her 'water' and they were about to send us home. The Doctor on call came in to check Maggie once more and indicated that it was that her water had broken but she wasn't dilating.

This same thing happened with the birth of Shelbi May and so Calib was taken C-Section.

Now Ol' Xan is taking a quick shower, grabbing a bite to eat (haven't eaten since this morning) and will be heading back to the hospital.

Recovery time for Maggie = 3 days.

(Please post comments for posterity)

Mommy & Calib

Daddy & 'Cheezer'

The Inn... (Original Fiction by Xan)

2009-08-07T05:00:00.003-06:00

The four begin to walk through the crowd, this time more in a pack than a line. They begin to formulate a plan.

“Wonderful!” Mayvn pipes up. “I may be able to sing and gain us a room or two for the night.”

“Excellent idea, my gaunt fellow.” Solcloud gives him a stout slap on the back. Mayvn’s hat flops down in front of his eyes. “Make it worthy of two men of the cloth and a man of your… abilities.”

“Hey!” Beasley shrieks as he tries not to get stepped on. “What am I, a puppy meant to sleep outdoors?”

They reach the inn doors and as they step inside Beasley continues his rant. “Don’t you dare forget me! I may be small, but I am useful!”

Zander chuckles in a deep voice as he sweeps the little halfling onto his shoulder.

“I would never forget about you, my little friend. You are going to be very useful. Philomar told me so.” He gave him a wink as they stepped onto the wood floor at the inn.

With Beasley’s new viewpoint on Zander’s shoulders, the adventurers locate an empty table fitting their atypical sized group. They pull up a seat and begin to talk over their plans. Solcloud takes the lead in the discussion. “There is a definite feel of evil in this town. It saturates everything, there are some dark forces working here. I suggest we search the auction and marketplace for clues as to the source of the slaves.”

“Icky!” Mayvn curls his nose. “That is dirty work!”

“There will be people of high standing at the auction.” Solcloud goads Mayvn. “You will be in your element. Besides, if it is like any other lave auction, the clean people stay away from the slaves and the slaves are clean. Makes them ‘worth’ more and more attractive.”

Mayvn clears his throat. “Well then I suppose I am the only one for the job.”

“I will go along to see that things go smoothly.” Zander grumbles. “Try not to cause a scene. Let’s do this without being kicked out of town.”

The paladin lets out a sigh of frustration. He does not like explaining himself. “I am a paladin of St. Cuthbert; justice will be served in due process. I intend to get to the bottom of this and root out the cause of all evil, not just it’s agents.”

“Then it is agreed.” Zander pats the halfling on the back and continues. “I feel we need some money to fund our quest. How about we take these items you stole off the dead guards from earlier and we sell them?”

“Magnificent notion, my hulking friend!” Beasley perks up and with a hearty, but small, laugh he continued. “But, let me do the talking. You just stand behind me and look…well… look big.”

Zander just smiled and winked as he stood up, strapped his large chest to his back and the two unlikely pair were off to the market to sell their ‘loot.’ As they walked off the paladin spoke to his companion. “Well, my thin peacock, we aught to start looking for information ourselves.”

Mayvn looked to Solcloud with a huff. “Well, you’re no spring chicken!” He stuck out his tongue as the paladin stood up with his back turned. Mayvn followed behind the armored man, trying to not pay attention to the racket Solcloud was causing as he lumbered in his shiny armor. The two made their way towards the auction block where people were gathering to look at the new crop of slaves, just brought in. “So am I to woo the ladies with my charm?”

Solcloud shook his head in irritation. “Do what you must, peacock. Just find out where those slaves came from and who runs this town.”

As the two entered the town square, Mayvn’s eyes lit up as he saw all the well-dressed people walking around. He spots a group of young women and put on his most suave face.

WoW Gold comments...

2009-08-05T05:00:00.002-06:00

I just wanted to make a quick posting regarding this fact.

I have received comments before to the blog (Which I always appreciate) and I will post all the comments I receive EXCEPT ones that have a link that leads to a gold selling site.

I DO NOT in any way support gold farming/selling and will not allow comments like that on the blog.

If you wish to have your comment posted, please do not link gold selling/farming sites on your signature or otherwise.

Thanks again to all those who read the blog! If you really enjoy it help support the advent of the PODCAST by donating. Scroll down to the bottom of the blog and click "donate"

Thanks again!

MoMoment #10 - Why the hate for Stranglethorn Vale?

2009-08-04T10:46:00.002-06:00

Hello good people out here,

Hope you are all well. In listening to podcasts and reading on Twitter and some blogs I have read since the beginning of WoW have read so much hate for the zone: Stranglethorn Vale

Why?

It is a beautiful zone so I do not understand. Now you do need to know that most of the people I have noticed that hate Stranglethorn Vale or also known as STV are on PVP servers.

For those of you on a PVP server i think you know the reasons why and for those of you not in PVP servers, well it is a gank fest of gank fests!

At times it can be worse than The Hills (Hillsbrad Foothills) or the Barrens. Main reason, I think, is good ol' Booty Bay (BB), or you may call it Pirate Bay or Goblin Bay, or Gank Bay.

No matter what level you may be in BB you are a target. You are a target not only by high level characters from the other faction but if you attack back or attack you will be attacked by the nonplayer characters (NPC) and they hit hard!!!

There are many spots that are perfect for ranged classes to stand there and kill on site, especially low level characters with one shot. Many people also do this on purpose to level up or down (depending on how you look at it) their rep for Boot Bay (Bloodsail Buccaneers) and yes this is even crazy at level 80 but some people like to get this for the pirate hat you get so it is worth it or even crazier is the "Insane in the Membrane" achievement.

Well, I still do not know why people would hate this zone. I think it is one of the beautiful zones in game. I would not want to live there if I had to pick a WoW zone to live in but I would vacation there. For the Horse you have GG or Grom'Gaul and the Alliance have some camp on the northern part of the zone which I think is useless but still a flight path point there. You have our good old buddy Hemet Nesingwary Jr. and the NAGA!!! (They took someones bike I hear)

In STV you can also find the daily arena event where horde and alliance fight for the chest of goodies.

ZG, Zul'Grub level 60 raid instance, a very interesting place where you can go through with a few 80s or maybe one if you are geared.

If you are a fishing enthusiast, the fishing event happens in STV.

So come on people!!! Tell me why you really hate STV because I cannot find any good reasons.

Leave a comment and tell me I am wrong as you know I am right!

Changing Servers?

2009-08-03T11:33:00.000-06:00

Hail to the Naaru! It seems there might be an opportunity in the future to change realms for ol' Xan. A friend of mine has made some connections and we will probably be switching from Trollbane (US) to Chromaggus (US)

The Upside is that we will FINALLY get to see some action in Naxxramas and possibly even Ulduar. FINALLY Gear Upgrades!

The Downside of this switch is we will be on a PvP server and without PvP gear really. I mean take a look at ol' Xan. Not exactly ready to take on other players, am I? Not only that but I might have to change the spelling of ol' Xan because someone else loves the name so much that they too have chosen it on that server.

Tell me what you think about the change in servers. Anyone on that server who can tell me more about it?

T. E. N. Guild takes on future instances...

2009-07-31T10:27:00.001-06:00

An issue came up last weekend I would like to discuss and get your feedback. It has come to my attention that there is a void in instances that some guild members do not feel like doing right now, even though we are at the appropriate level.

Blackfathom Deeps 20 - 27
Razorfen Kraul 25 - 30
The Stockade 24 - 32
Gnomeregan 24 - 33
Razorfen Downs 33 - 40

I am OK with skipping these instances but we have to go back and do them before we move on from Vanilla WoW. How does that sound? The whole idea of this is to do instances 'at level' and it seems that this is becoming a bit of a challenge which I thought the experiment was all about. So I would like to take a vote on this if I can to find out what everyone thinks about skipping or holding true to the experiment and doing the instances at level.

I would even be happy to make sure instances are done at the high level mark if it would make everyone more comfortable.

Please let me know what you think?

The quest truly begins… (Original Fiction by Xan)

2009-07-31T05:00:00.000-06:00

After the group got familiar with one another and their new equipment, Philomar began to speak. “I know that this is a hard adjustment for some of you.” He winked at Mayvn and then looked to Solcloud. “For others of you, it is your life’s journey. However, fate has brought you together for a reason. I hope that I may be of some assistance in your journey. To the north of here is a town called Gleorn. This town may have answers to who you were before the slave train as well as how you can stop slavery in the area. I wish I could go with you, but my job is freeing those who travel through my lands. However, let me assist you in your journey by creating a passageway for you to arrive at Gleorn more swiftly. But before you go, you will need this.” He winked his eyes and a chest appeared before his feet. “This will help you on your journey. It is not a normal treasure chest. This one is made to be carried as a pack, and for someone as large and as strong as Zander, it will serve your group well.” With a flick of his wrist and a wriggle of his nose, a portal opens up before the four adventurers. “Safe journey to you all, I hope you find what you are looking for.”

With a handshake, a nod, a pat on the back and a firm punch on the shoulder the brave group stepped through the portal. On the other side lay the gates to the large city of Gleorn. The party looks to one another for direction, the large half-ogre grins and walks towards the gates and the guards. The other three follow behind like baby ducks following their mother. People hustle by and give the giant ample room as he makes his approach, making it easier for the party to follow in his mighty footsteps. One of the gate guards looked up and shuttered at the sight of a peculiar looking man with a hammer emblazoned on his chest.

“Good day, my friends.” The cleric booms with a smile and a wave. “This is a mighty city, is there a chapel of Othr, herein?”

The other guard at the gates looked at his companion as he chokes on his answer. “N-n-no,” the lead guard stutters. “There be no religion in these walls.” The claim seemed less than credible. “Please go about your business and be gone.” He gained his composure as he spoke with more auOthrity. “No preaching in the streets and no sermons in the inns. Make your purchases and leave.”

The cleric folded his mighty, metal covered arms while his hammer dangled from his belt. “I suggest you take a lighter tone with me, sir.” He continued with a sneer. “I mean no harm. Tell me, neighbor, what kind of goods are sold here?”

The guards laughed at the comment. “Why everyone knows that Gleorn is a slave town. I thought you suggested that I be your neighbor.” The guard laughed as he nudged his companion. “Ain’t you be here for some slaves to work a vineyard or clean your monastery?”

“I beg your pardon! Othr may be a god of war, but he also believes in being rewarded for a hard days work. What an unpardonable act! How dare you…”

The guard cuts him off. “No preaching in the streets. Be on your way.”

Zander glowers at the two smaller men and chokes up one final request. “Where is the local inn, I need rest.”

“Over there.” The guard points slightly down the road, a wooden sign in the shape of a tankard of ale swings in the breeze. “Off with you now, we have work to do.” The guards turn their backs to the giant and return to their posts.

Zander turns to the group, “I don’t think we’ll get much more out of these worthless men. Let’s try at the inn.”