Arrrrrrgust 2016 Highlights

Friday:

WILI WAS USEFUL!! Not only was I responsible for freeing our two kidnapped people (you're WELCOME by the way) without using any hide skills (I'm just that sneaky), I got to paint a beautiful mural of a blackbird. Thanks for being the ONLY one to appreciate my artwork, Seifer. Ungrateful swine, the lot of you.

Drinks drinks and more drinks. Perks of running the blackbird- it is the coolest non-air conditioned area in game. Trade-off: floating floor. I had a LOT of drink options this weekend, sugar free and bubbly, and it seemed to go over well. Finely honing the menu so I can make permanent ones soon!

Something got in my eye and made me half blind the rest of the weekend. I think it was a mosquito. 100 gold to anyone who can get me bug repellant that actually works. I have tried everything and STILL get eaten alive. My mom tells me it's because I'm so sweet.

Saturday almost died of heat stroke. Thanks Brian, Matt, and Jen for letting me infiltrate your cool cubby to recuperate. You still have free drinks at the BB waiting for you.

Kardins chicken and potatoes OMNOMNOM holy crap those were delicious.

Calven's trial. I had no doubt you'd get out of that, brother, but I am still very impressed.

Going to "kill pirates" with the sole intention of capturing a dire shark. Mission successful. Nesterin caught us chopping it up and was like "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!?! There are still things to kill!".... No man, YOU have things to kill, I got what I came for. Handing out dire shark sushi all night was fun, and I have some SWEET new accessories coming in the future.

Rainy adventures = no witnesses. It was so nice working with a team that actually makes a plan before jumping in, and actually takes into account everyone on the team and uses their skills wisely. If y'all ever need me again, I'm there.

The refreshing rain scared away all of the Travancians, so Saturday night gambling party turned into Wili and Calven getting wasted and reminiscing old times.

Kidnapping an ettercap. Skinning a nosferatu. I love killing Ben's monsters, he's so accepting of Wili's need to collect things.

Having the impending storm flashing in the background during main mod = amazing.

Had some awesome Healer RP with Thalia, Leona and a new Healer (Emily OOG, don't remember IG).

Pendarvin land meeting and hearing how proper Hurgar was around a Quinarian lady impressed me.

I am starting to enjoy being up later and dealing with all the night time chaos because it seems that people seem to not need healing or have such a terribly large pool of BP that it's unnecessary for me to be there.

I am truly disappointed at the lack of fear that Fenri has while wandering around the proper both IG and OOG, but mostly OOG. I have been in Travance for almost a year and have gone from "there's no way I am going anywhere alone" to "haven't heard of anyone dying in a long time, guess I will walk down to the beach alone and enjoy the night" (which, to be fair, I was put to sleep and scalped but luckily was saved from death by Sir Hurgar), Coast Haven seems to be a scarier place than Travance, this is disappointing, as a Healer I feel as though my services are rarely ever needed. Fenri needs to have a chat with some Witch Hunters because it seems that being a non-combat Healer = never having anything to do. (to which I hear proclimations of "three people just died, where were you?!" and the answer is "I don't know".

BACK TO TALKING ABOUT THE EVENT.

Main mod was amazing, truly (although space seemed to be...tight).

I had a great RP session with Dimitri when I learned 1HE proficiency, truly a fantastic lesson that I actually applied later when I was fighting as an NPC.

Kardin gets all my love for walking right in to the middle of court with food (which was OOG delicious and worth 10g).

Biggest downside to being late showing up for the event is I missed out meeting all the new players. The ones I ran into were fantastic though. Shout out to the new wildmage! She was such a delight to talk to Friday night and the group of new players in the *amazing* armor.

NPCing the New Player Mod was an absolute blast. The pressure was real from Matt and Zipeto getting ready to murder-face everything.

Ilana's Highlights:

-With the appearance of the Coast Haveners avatar, they suddenly all got very interested in talking about their culture, that's clearly what happened. Getting to learn about the different spirits and even having a chance to make some bandages and put some twigs in them for the door.

-Reanimating someone! I haven't been able to do that in awhile. She was such a good sport about it too being an 'under 3 events' character too

-Leading Pendarvin and the very effective shield rush to the other boat. I think we only got a bit separated as we were bouncing back and forth between boats, but thank you to them for working together

-Sharks are terrifying o.o Thank the Gods I bought extra deflects. (Also, I just need to say A+ to the ravenous Shark crew. George legitimately thought Ilana was getting ripped apart by sharks you guys were frenzy-ing in one spot I just escaped from. I think he was getting ready to boil the ocean.)


Keola's Highlights:

-Learning some more druidics!

-Nigel's lecture

-Being able to openly make fun of the trials and not get arrested because everyone listening agreed.

-Ice cream sales Lemon sorbet + cinnamon apples = amazing.

Sad to see that another event has passed, but very happy there are already things to look forwards to on the horizon.

Friday night began without a hitch. Gras was a little worrisome about the large influx of coast haveners despite it being his "night off" . Despite all that was happening around him, he was able to gather more information regarding his study of the moon and everything and anything that has to do with it.

Despite the heat and humidity which is tolerable for me, I was able to enjoy the night sky and all its wonder on the shore and the lake. It was a very nice moment until a hoard of pirates and undead saunter by. We made sure to not stick round very long after that haha.


NPC shift in the early hours of Saturday morning was very eventful. I thoroughly enjoyed the pace and longevity of our roles. It was also interesting to scare the pants off some unlikely heroes and become the bump in the night. I hope no one is too displeased with us.

After recovering from my late night shift, I eventually made my way to the inn. I enjoyed several lessons and once again continued to learn about the many beings in our world. It became apparent to Gras that he wishes to one day know about anything and everything about monsters, beasts, and the fantastic beings of Travance. He may event try to publish a work (at his own pace and by his own hand) on all creatures so. This of course would take a great amount of time. ( he does have to learn the lores one or two at at time after all)

Also in regards to Knowledge, gras is happy to see that he is generating some interest in Moon Elves and the moon in general. By far, his two favorite people to talk to about them are Chet and Kanas. I am also bummed to also hear OOG that there may of been a "moon elf" wandering about on Saturday. Another time perhaps. Overall, I am interested to see where this goes.

Now comes the trial. Who could forget that? It was great to see the Role play that occurred and get a feel for IG Law and use of IG discretion by the Baron and Bob. And of course, Kardin. THE TIMING WAS PERFECT (and it has just the right pause after CHICKEN!)! the food was also very good.

There were a string of interesting conversations that led up to main mod. Kardin's play ( god I hope it comes to be) , Bob and Angeliana having a civil discussion about Agaura and Andorra, and Chet seeing what a Moon Elf looks like for the first time.

Main Mod- Shout out to the crew for fine tuning the weather just right. Overall, It was very unique. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

After main mod, things got even better! A dire cow appeared at the inn. Gras had the distinct pleasure of being able to see Chet climb the cow (after a indirect suggestion ) and ride it like a bull. It was good fun. Gras was even able to secure two bottles of dire milk.

Things slowed at that point, however, Gras had a wonderful conversation with Dr. Krow. He looks forward to future interactions.


Overall, an excellent weekend

I went into this event not having to worry about purposely staying out of the main plot for the first time since February, and I told myself I was going to throw myself as much into it as possible. I didn’t realize quite how much this was going to be the “wait, what?” weekend. This was also the weekend of “Rook does ALL THE COMBAT THINGS”. I did more running into fights this weekend than I did all my other events combined. I still missed a LOT of the main parts of the plot, but had an absolutely amazing time. Thank you to the whole crew of the winged victory (but especially Alice), Steve, Gus, Karen, Onca, Drew, and so many others for just absolutely phenomenal RP.

This is going to be long but I had a lot of highlights


Friday-

Enjoying Wili’s excitement over her arts and crafts, but trying to explain to her that “No we don’t go walking up to the captain of the guard covered in blood that’s a bad idea” and her being so confused why. Trying not to Facepalm

Siefer posing the question of Rook squiring in literally the only way she actually would have accepted that. Still definitely was a major “wait, what?” moment. I really didn’t think that was going to happen any time soon. It caught me off guard, but I’m so glad because that made this weekend have some of the best role play I’ve ever had at game.

Lessons with Lorelai. Most emotional lesson I’ve had yet. Rook nearly broke down at one point. Ow my heart. I don’t even know if you heard what she said to herself before she was able to channel, Onca, but it hurt to even say it.

Walking back to the inn and coming across an attack with undead; Channeling posi for the first time in a fight. The look on the people’s faces who realized that I was using posi. So beautiful. So glad I fated that for the weekend. Lead to some great RP.

About to go to bed at 3 am, sitting with lorelai at pendarvin eating a donut, and hearing a super faint scream off in the distance. Stomach dropping, instinctively going “No, that’s coming from Drega’Mire. Winged Victory is under attack.” Super Squire Birb Powers Activate? No idea how I just knew it was Drega, I just did. Running all the way across the proper as fast as I could as everyone is running away. Panicking, running around trying to find my birb crew, realizing that they were inside the tent with wards. Being so relieved I nearly hugged them. Then realizing people were missing and running out of the tent into the fight to try to find the rest of the crew to bring them back to safety. Realizing Cade was down and going “Fuck this, I’m not letting them die” and running back into the heat of the fight to get Angeliana. Circling up with Chet and someone else (can’t remember, it was so dark) and all of us taking on one undead at once. I haven’t had that much adrenaline in a fight yet at game, and it was probably one of the best intense mods I’ve gone on. I don’t think my heart stopped pounding for an hour after. I had so much fun, even if rook was completely terrified and trying to fight through panic. I love stuff like that, stuff that makes the game feel so real

Finally getting to bed at 6am, only to get up an hour and a half later to cook breakfast.



Saturday-

Taking a fun walk with Siefer and Aleister. Siefer asking aleister if I could be his squire. Aleister going “Damnit, I wanted her! That’s the 5th squire I wanted that someone took first!”

Aleister to random person on the road who was walking by- “How would you feel if you were mugged right now?”
Random person on the road- “*WINDWALKER*” *runs away*
Aleister- “….. I was just trying to start a conversation. Damnit now I’m going to have to go deal with that”

Being informed that the man with the skeleton face and the top hat was asking about me… by name… Rook proceeding to be like “……… wait what?” I never did run into him all weekend though, even though Rook spent a few hours looking for him. Apparently every time I walked out of the inn he would walk in, and vise versa. I just really wanted to talk to him! Rook is so super confused and oog I’m SO CURIOUS WHAT THAT WAS ABOUT.

Rook was *so* over the undead bouncing pirate. Every time he showed up she PURPOSELY was trying to stay as far away from him as possible. And every time I tried to focus on only fighting the undead she knew she could hurt, suddenly he’s behind her. Getting my butt saved by Curse of Madness that was put on me a few months ago. The only time I dropped into serious all game and the moment I jumped up and started attacking people I got frozen in ice and then they were able to remove it from me. So thank you for that.

Sitting with Annora and Aleister and Siefer and all making comments under our breaths about the trial and what we thought of the proceedings.

Going to take a nap at about 5pm because I was so overheated and drenched with sweat that I needed to just not be in clothes anymore. Wake up to someone pounding on the door. Walk over, forgetting I wasn’t wearing a shirt, and just opening the door and being all angry face “WHAT DO YOU WANT?!?” and see the Spookiest person in Travance standing there staring at me with a creepy doll. I had never even seen him before. I thought for a moment I might die, especially since I didn’t have any weapons on me. He hands me the creepy doll of himself and tells me to give it to aleister. I, being the mature and responsible person I am, proceed to scare Annora with it in her sleep, before setting it up creepily to sit on a chair staring at Aleister’s stuff, before going back to sleep for a few minutes. Wake up to Aleister flipping out about the doll, then making it make funny voices.

All of us missing the announcements for feast, so getting Squired in Dregaroom instead. The super awkward moment of being asked for my real name and refusing to tell it. The super touching moment of Aleister and Siefer both pointing out they had my back, no matter what happened and not making me tell it. Then going down to feast and having to awkwardly stand there and get clapped at. Rook doesn’t like people staring at her if she doesn’t have to. She was very excited to escape to the Adventurers Guild for food.

SO MUCH FOOD. I spent most of this weekend being handed lots of food by people (I love you all, thank you), but even so, the AG dinner had so much amazing delicious food. Best moment though by far was walking up to Ven, sticking some food in my mouth and going “Fuck you, Pay me”. Him throwing gold at me every time I ate something. It was wonderful.

Aleister doing something that I didn’t even know was possible and suddenly I’m doing like double my damage and have all these sweet skills temporarily (and also being made of wood, which made for interesting RP). Rook is starting to learn not to ask questions when Aleister does stuff.

Main mod was Gorgeous. Great job on the storm storytellers! ;P

Having what was my favorite lesson yet. I love lessons that require creative problem solving. “Open this box any way you can, but you can’t break it.”
First time, used a scroll to dispel the magic holding it shut. Easy.
Second time was harder, mainly because no one in the whole inn had what I needed. Ended up paying Karkat for his idea and then paying him to open it for me.
Third time, getting blinded by T’soli so Siefer can hide the box. He comes back, tells me to find it. I look straight at him and go “Tracking.” He was like “how do you have tracki- DAMNIT I gave that to you, Using my own skills against me.” Tracking him to where he hid the box, though he still thinks he has me because the box is invisible. I call him over, and use true sight. The look on his face as he’s like “………… well I just learned something new about my squire.” So beautiful.

Taking care of the Psion who’s been a major thorn in my side since February. Witnessing my first IG dread surgery. That was fun to watch.

Walking into the kitchen and started washing other peoples dishes because it was a mess. Siefer telling me I was nobling wrong.


Sunday-

Taking it super easy since I slept in two hours longer than planned. Lots of roleplay and being used in other people’s lessons.

Realizing that Jackdaw had no idea I was a squire now, and not telling him. Taking bets with starling on how long it would take him to realize that I was one.

HILARIOUS conversation with Billiamm, Aleister and the spooky healer. I was on the ground laughing so hard I was crying. Welcome to the new official Spookiness Advisor of Drega’Mire.



I never had a moment to sit and relax the entire game. Nonstop moving, and it was absolutely amazing. 22/10, would do it again.

Overall a good time, I'm really glad everyone liked the aesthetics of the armor suits I'd built for myself and Ann, as we kept getting a lot of positive comments on that.

After sitting quietly through the trial in the back, knitting away his scale maille and listening in on things Volker was convinced of two things:

#1 - These people took their religions seriously
#2 - They were more ornery about matters of faith than cats dropped in a bucket of cold water

So when there was an actual discussion in the bar about the nature of local faiths and regions AND it was being held by someone with a good legal background, he was very pleased to get a chance to go in with the skull of his many times g reat ancestress just to make sure he could properly revere his great mother without someone having him executed or worse trying to take her away.

"Please...do not refer to great mother as 'it' " (in reference to the bloody skull)

#AncestorWorship
#GreatMotherIsBoss

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I was actively trying to get mugged by pirates all weekend by standing around with my back to the room over the anvil, sadly no takers. But the water creatures (hippocampie siren things?) strolled...naturally when he was working on a sword, and got one of the more amusing conversations of the weekend.

"Hey friend, do you want to come with us to the beach?"
"NO. I am working on sword."
"But we're gonna have a picnic."
"NO. Must finish sword, improper to leave forging incomplete!"
"But we could hang out..."
"WHAT? I DO NOT WISH TO BE HUNG!"

*charm*

"I WILL GO WITH YOU! TO THE BEACH! AND HAVE THIS PICK NICK!"

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I am sadly awful with names so I cannot recall her beyond 'Awesome tree spirit lady' who started talking to Volker out of the tree...which made him freak RIGHT the heck out, as he is superstitious to begin with, who then stepped OUT of the tree, making him drop his sword and shield, grab in ancestors skull and beg the tree spirit to bless them both - after politely asking the nature of her magic (druids good! arcanums ptui!)

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Running around as some manner of skeletal warrior I was quickly dubbed 'That clattering bastard' since I couldn't talk I just kept snapping my teeth at people and getting into as many fights as I could. Then having to get reigned in as apparently I was starting TOO many fights as the undead...then more or less just trying to up thep hysical RP of looking ready to commit great physical offense while glancing at the nearest captain in the begging 'Oh please oh please oh please OH YES ITS KILLING TIME!" when I got the nod.

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Thank you everyone for being so welcoming and friendly!