Limited Weekend Gaming (but still fun)

Ibeogur and my warden Seduisant headed to DFC to complete the Chronomagic quest from last week. I love this zone. I loved it when it was a lot more difficult too, and you needed an actual group to complete it. It still has lots of memories even though the script has changed. I don’t typically enjoy the archers who stand on the top of the towers and rain arrows down over the group until we manage to scramble up there and kill them.

T’is the season for family get togethers and for me this was no different. I had a brunch to attend on Saturday that was loaded with bacon, eggs, roasted potatoes, ham, and all sorts of other goodies. Next week I have a lunch to attend, and everyone has Christmas parties going on. Of course since I work from home I’d have to throw myself my own party, but hey that could be fun too!

I hope everyone is gearing up to have a fantastic holiday season, and I want to say a huge thank you to some amazing people out there. My readers of course, those who have followed me here on MmoQuests as well as Beckett Massive Online Gamer, and all of my friends. Brenda, Nicholas, Thomas, Derrick, Angela, Pat, Peter, Brad, Christopher, Matt, and a whole bunch more. You guys mean the world to me and don’t ever forget that!

Back to gaming!

I did some crafting this weekend. Trying to get all of my ‘left over’ characters to 80 before February. I picked up some new books for my library (and thank you those who have donated) it’s been fantastic. I also ran through some more frostfell quests and dragged Calreth along with so that we could save up our tokens and purchase ice dividers for the basement of my Norrathian Museum. Happily, it’s ALMOST done. After over a year in the making. Then I can turn my attentions to someone else’ house that needs work. I’ve been decorating my guild hall room as well (there are five rooms in the basement, and the founders of the guild each get one as their own) as well as the overall guild. Now that we’re not moving anywhere any time soon, it’s time to settle!

Aside from that, things have been quiet. Just the way I like them.

I hope everyone has a fantastic Monday, and happy gaming no matter where you find yourself! See you in Norrath!

Book of the day – Da True Adventures of Ogur – Vol. 1

(( Another book of the day, each week I try to post at least one or more books from my library in game on the Antonia Bayle server. You can find the library in the North Freeport mage building, bottom floor, under the name of Ellithia. If you’d like to donate a book to my library, please send me in game mail and I will send you some coin and a blank book for your troubles! ))

Da True Adventures of Ogur – Vol 1. by Ibeogur

“Shut up!” Ogur screamed. His largs legs pounding the soft forest floor as he ran, leaving dents from the massive weight he carried. He was running as fast as he could, which wasn’t all that fast, but for an ogre he was barreling through the growth. Had his skin not been so thick he would’ve suffered dozens of scratches and scrapes from the foliage.

Another loud cackle, closer this time. Ogur was getting tired from the running. He knew he couldn’t go much farther, and cried out in desperation, “Go ‘way! Me no want yoos anymore!”

The cackle once again shrieked through the otherwise peaceful forest.

Ogur finally stopped running and as he slowed down he heard the little pitter-patter of his pursuer slow as well. As he turned to face this tireless foe, he unsheathed a massive club. “Go ‘way!” Ogur screamed as he swung his mighty club at the skull of Jonaber. The cackling died the second the club struck its target. Jonaber exploded in a spray of bone shards.

Ogur was gleefully clapping his hands and celebrating his victory over the skeleton companion he had accidentally summoned earlier in the day. Somewhat undecided about his choice to become a Shadowknight, he had chosen this path just this morning and now was regretting it. Ogur’s skeleton companion had terrified him and would cackle endlessly to his annoyance.

Bark! Bark!

“Hullo der doggy!” The dog picked up one of the shattered bones from Jonaber and carried it over to Ogur. As he patted the dog through his heavy gloves he could see it had a collar on and words he could not read – not only because it was in another language, but because he was an Ogre.

“Kitty? Come on boy! Where did you run off to?”

The dog bolted up at the sound. Ogur didn’t understand, was the dog named Kitty? Ogur knew what a kitty looked like and he knew what a doggy looked like but he never thought anyone would call a doggy Kitty.

“Hullo der little wuns,” Ogur exclaimed with a big, somewhat toothy grin, as he followed the dog to its owners. Screams could be heard as the 9 foot goliath stepped into the clearing of a group of little Halflings having a picnic.

Ogur convinced the little Halflings that he was kind and gentle by playing fetch with Kitty. They had invited him to join them in their picnic and over the course of the afternoon the Halflings explained that the name Kitty was just a joke. Ogur didn’t understand, but it didn’t matter. He was having fun and enjoying his new tiny friends. Time passed and after a while of drinking wine and eating delicious pies and sandwiches, Ogur’s little friends decided they wanted to go swimming in the nearby stream. They pleaded and begged and him to come along, assuring him it would be fun. Ogur gave in, bounding after them to the waters edge, drunk and happily singing nursery rhymes he learned as a child in Oggish.

The Halflings all stripped off their tunics and jerkins and bounded merrily into the stream with Ogur lagging behind, stumbling to take his heavy plate mail armor off. Finally, stripped down to just his skin underwear, he joined them jumping into the stream and causing a massive tidal wave to playfully splash over everyone nearby.

Ogur was tipsy, full-bellied, and happy. With new friends making him forget the scary events of earlier, and a friendly dog named Kitty that loved to play fetch with the broken femur of his old annoying companion, Ogur had not a care in the world.

It was getting late now and the oddball group of five drunken Halflings and a drunken Ogre were getting tired. The sun was waning in the sky, not quite ready to set, as the group slowly sauntered out of the stream to get dressed and head to their own homes. Ogur was struggling to put his boots on when Kitty woke up from under a nearby tree. He’d been napping all afternoon, worn out from fetch with Ogur, as everyone else played in the water. Seeing Ogur, Kitty got excited and bounded towards him. Ogre fell over, startled, but opened his big, meaty hands to catch him, laughing his big hearty bellow of a laugh.

Kitty was not a small dog by any means, but Ogur managed to catch him playfully in just one hand as Kitty pounced. The dog froze, his tail stopped wagging, his tongue stopped panting and drooling. In Ogur’s massive, gentle hand, Kitty convulsed, gave Ogur a very puzzling look, and then exploded. Screams echoed as bits of Kitty splattered the half-dressed crowd of Halflings that no longer wore smiling, happy grins.

Monster!

Evil beast!

Get away from me!

They screamed and ran; leaving Ogur alone and confused, covered in bits of fur and flesh from Kitty. Ogur was sad; he’d lost all his friends, and Kitty. Kitty was the best out of all of them, he thought. Kitty was friendly and not scared even from the start. His thoughts trailed back to playing fetch with Jonabers’  femur. He sat up suddenly, looking at his bare hands.

Oh nos, dats wut happen!

He’d remembered the last lesson his Shadowknight Master had taught him and warned him about. Deff Touch, Ogur, ez da best ting about us. But da price ez yoo can nebber touch anyting living wit yer bare hands again.

Ogur miss yoos, Kitty. Ogur not mean to explode yoos. Ogur not furget yoos be best frend ‘n Ogur sorry.

Ogur remembered.
He knew now this would be a hard, lonely path.

Book of the Day – The Plea of the Intelligentsia By Arthalion

(( It’s time once more for me to post an EQ2 player written book of the day. I have over 160 books written by 77 different players on the Antonia Bayle server. If you’d like to visit the library in person, you can find it in North Freeport, in the mage tower (bottom floor) under the name of Ellithia. If you’d like to donate a book to the library, please feel free to send me an in game mail! I will send you a blank book and some coin for your time. If you play on another server please feel free to also ask for a blank book and I will add yours to the collection! ))

The PLEA of the INTELLIGENTSIA
by Arthalion Gatecaller

When Erud discovered the homeland,
True civilization began!
His knowledge was set in a tome and
Enlightened the brightest of Man.

Our cities were built out of granite,
And marble, and crystal, and glass:
The most glorious sight on the planet
With beauty as never could pass!

Though steadily time’s disc was turning,
Unchanging our palaces stood,
Proclaiming that wisdom and learning
Are the highest of all that is good.

But accursed be the name of the Rending!
Accursed be the Shatt’ring’s renown!
Destruction from Luclin descending
As the civilized world crashes down!
The Stonebrunt is rendered asunder!
The Warrens collapse to the ground!
Toxxulia burns to a cinder!
The sea rises!  Odus is drowned!

O Prexus, could you not defend us?
O Quellious, where is our peace?
Ye gods, only death do you send us!
Will your tyrannous rule never cease?

Yea, dark times befell in those ages,
Such woe ne’er shall fit in a tome!
O miserable plight of those sages:
Live in exile or die at home?

And yet immaterial knowledge
Not even the gods can destroy.
Its might shall our people acknowledge
And its powers and strengths e’er employ.

Our seers and mystics saw visions,
Our scholars, the signs of the time,
And mid all the Shattering’s scissions,
Our devotion to mind proved sublime.

Thus stoically ceding our status,
We sailed Erud’s Crossing once more,
And after eight cent’ries’ hiatus,
Set foot on th’Antonican shore.

And though but a few hundred dozens
Had made it, they lived yet at least,
And learned our Paineelian cousins
Had survived and made port in the East!

So th’Erudites still are divided,
In schism to live evermore;
Yet great is the knowledge confided
To our people, and culture, and lore.

And scholarly knowledge brings wisdom,
And wisdom, perspective and scope,
Perspective shall breed understanding,
And with understanding is hope.

So hearken, ye leaders of nations,
And seek to grow wise in your ways!
That we, through your own educations,
May see peace, by the end of our days…

T’is The Season For Frostfell

Frostfell is here Frostfell is here! That time of year where eager adventurers dive head first into the special Frostfell instances, flinging snow balls at one another and bumping them along the ice in order to pikc up that ONE LAST SHINY. Then of course are the mountains of presents scattered through the zone that you have to harvest if you want to make the neat house items (like the one pictured here to the left).

I love Frostfell. I don’t enjoy the crowds so I typically end up going when everyone else is at work or sleeping. I love the crafting, adore the quests, and really any zone that has Nathan Ironforge stuck to a frozen pole by the tongue is a win for me.

If you’ve never experienced a Frostfell before, well. Now is the time! Head to Qeynos Harbor or West Freeport and you’ll notice a tree that wasn’t there before. Under that tree you’ll find a quest giver, but more importantly you’ll find a magical closet waiting to take you to the new instance. In that instance you’ll find even more quests, some vendors with goodies, and yet another instance. Bring warm clothes, it’s cold in there!

The quests may be a repeat of last year, but there are some new rewards (and new crafted goods) so be sure to take a look. Of note, the tokens are back from last year that allow you to purchase some really incredible frozen furniture. So if you’re one of those players that like the look of a themed room, you’ll certainly want to stock up.

Personally, I just love watching everyone. It’s great. The event is on for long enough and there are enough instances that you shouldn’t feel rushed to doing it. Don’t forget to visit the daily gift giver and pick up your treats, too! Just watch out for that bag of coal.

An Unexpected Evening

Another ‘not my typical’ blog post, post. I’m not trying to start a huge debate here, but it was something that occurred last night that has had me thinking about it every since. Since my main is ‘complete’ for me, I decided that perhaps I’d look into getting involved with the roleplay community on Antonia Bayle. This community is HUGE. There are events pretty much every single day of the week not to mention numerous channels you can join, and random encounters on the streets of Norrath.

Since the destruction in Freeport on Wednesday it has been exceptionally interesting to me to watch how each one of these roleplay guilds reacts to the situation. Especially those who follow Lucan D’Lere. In channels guilds are bonding together to heal the wounded, they’re taking in those who have been hurt by the debris. Some very prominent rp people have been killed (presumably) crushed beneath the buildings. Some were there at the time of the wreck, and give their description to others. It’s great.

Anyhow, that’s besides the point. Typically I really enjoy rp. I always have. I love the story telling, I love how involved people get. I’ve found over time that there’s nothing roleplayers like better then to talk about themselves and get themselves lost in their own stories – which is good and bad. Good because it can be very interesting especially if you’re a part of those stories – but also bad because you can easily leave out every onlooker (like myself) who is not a physical part of that story from the beginning. I don’t have a history with these people, and so I typically act as an observer, and then write about their stories later, keeping mine to myself.

Last night myself and a guild mate decided to head to one such event. I was really excited, it had been some time since I had done any serious roleplaying. Not since the Festival of Discord in early November. I (wrongly) assumed that this event was going to be a tavern setting, with perhaps songs and poems and what not. As the event started, that’s exactly what it was. It was great. There were over thirty people around, and there were stories from every which way. Having heard none of them before, I observed. I mingled a little, met some new people. I loved watching their stories unfold.

Then the actual ‘event’ started – and I am sad to say but for the first time ever I actually had to LEAVE. What I had assumed was a casual tavern setting, was actually a strip show. Graphic, dancing on stage, some times with candy canes show. With over thirty people around, I was actually embarrassed to be there. Now. I am not above sexuality in a video game. I’m not easily embarrassed, and I can be quite crude, especially in game. This was too much for me. Blatant sex sells, I realize. But when the ‘dancers’ on stage started advertising that they could be ‘hired for private parties’ afterward, I just couldn’t stick around any more. When women started talking about their ‘secret treasures’ and doing full frontal (pixel at that) I just wanted to stare at the floor and go away. This had nothing to do with the fact that they were female characters (a few men got up there too) or anything like that, in real life none of that bothers me in the least bit. In fact strip clubs in general don’t even bother me. At least there I know what I’m getting. For some reason having it in a video game did bother me. Especially when I was expecting some amazing poetry or some other artistic showing. Maybe there was some afterward, but I didn’t stick around to find out.

I guess my main issue is that while sex DOES sell, I don’t want to be in a room with 30 other characters ‘listening’ to someone emote sexual dance moves on a stage. It doesn’t do anything at all for me. Give me a good story, an interesting conversation, and something that requires some thought instead of just mind numbing sexual gratuity. I find that a LOT of people resort to turning rp into nothing but sex, and that’s just not what I’m looking for. Sex is simple. Anyone can do it. If there’s nothing more to it, it’s just plain boring. Watching everyone vie for someone else’ attention by means of sexual innuendos just gets dull after a while. Try something else!

The hour before the performances was great. There were stories everywhere, and I loved listening. As soon as it turned into the strip show the evening just went downhill. Thankfully Frostfell is in game, and I spent the majority of my evening doing that afterward. Sorry for ranting in this post, but I’ll get back to my regular scheduled program next!