December Highlights!

I went into this event getting over a nasty virus that made it so the more active I was, the worse I felt meant I had to green headband, and everyone kept yelling at me to take it easy. As a result I feel like I didn't get to do much.

Friday night I NPC'ed first shift, started as cultist posing as a mage trying to buy essences, apparently Zelretch caught on to me right away, and sent Seth to keep an eye on me, eventually figure the cultist out and drag me up to be tortured by Sylas Crone, which was also a really interesting RP experience. I was sent out with the "if you get caught here's what you can reveal," so it was neat setting up a lot of plot stuff, and not having to wing it, but wow guys, you figured me out right away.

Going back out as Jamison Woolworth, the man who makes elementals in boxes that either heat or cool the various statehouses was awkward when everyone assumed I was again some kind of suspicious merchant, but I was entirely on the up and up, and I love it when monster marshals run mods that take an explanation for OOG stuff and flesh it out to make it feel like it's actually a part of the world. Thanks to Shane for coming up with that, and for Bill being my bumbling assistant who drew a bunch of fire elementals into our world by accident. (Also shout out to Bill for Grim constantly trying to delve into Jackdaw's mental state while he dodged and avoided his problems like a pro rogue.)

Also props to all of the people who insisted Jackdaw try and get a reading from Carlos, I don't know why everyone walking away shaken to their core about how scary accurate those readings are would make him want to, though "Find out the future so you can defy it." was a pretty solid argument.

My Saturday was light, I really enjoyed spending more time with Crane and Magpie than I usually do, and stoking the flames of the quiet strife that's running through Winged Victory. It's been a lot of great character RP. Probably the best thing about Winged Victory is how diverse you guys are as a group. We are always a team, we have each others back through everything we go through, but it doesn't mean that each character doesn't have their own unique feelings on morality, loyalty and politics that makes all of them feel like individuals. It makes every character so fascinating and I love it.

Drega'mire meeting was super interesting, seeing how the land actually interacted was neat Jackdaw continues to question authority figures, and I love that it continues to be "Don't be a pirate, be a privateer, work with us so we can help you!" and he continues to refuse. It ties into character stuff so much better than I could hope, and I really should play with it more.

Lead up to main mod had a lot of cool build up, watching the group going into the abyss talk about how they weren't coming back gave me chills, and the "I'm going but I need my loved ones to not go" could have been so cheesy, but was extremely heartfelt. The biggest moment for Jackdaw were with Jun, and I wanna give some mad props to Dustin for the quiet moment sitting in the corner of the inn hashing out the mentor and student relationship.

Jackdaw put his weapons on, and planned to power through any sickness, but he refused to sit aside while his friends and family were going to be on the front line. Then I got given a job that kept me out of the abyss. There ended up being a lot of cool little character moments for me, which was surprising but really nice. Of course our commanders outside were on point, Travance used actual tactics and thus there wasn't a lot for people to do.

Saturday night I chatted with a few, but mostly I crashed early due to sickness.

Sunday was a lot of fun, I got to sit with Alestair and Starling helping her figure some scholar stuff out. It was a great convo, and had a surprising number of secret Jackdaw moments, and said moments kinda lead really interestingly into a shocking confrontation on Saturday morning. I'm sorry to Matt Calo for the lesson going strangely off the rails, and Jackdaw is shocked at the number of people standing up for him (especially when he knew he wasn't in danger) he's actually a bit shaken by it. It was a really interesting IG scene, (I hope it was all IG, but then making me question if it was means it was some pretty impressive role play as everyone really hit those emotional buttons and for once Jackdaw was stunned into silence)

I did a lot. Things happened. Stuff happened after that. The end.

Just Kidding.

So, first. Holy crap my squad. Seth and Maer ran EVERYWHERE for me and did ALL OF THE THINGS. It was amazing and I super appreciated it. I felt bad I kept carefully backing out of so many situations but God, I needed to.

Shrike. Telling everyone. Explaining everything. Hitting a mental block sometime Friday night/Sat morning where I just started skipping details because my mind was so tired- it was a LONG explanation for some.

Explaining "other."

All of the things on Sat morning! Omg. "Other" indeed.

Getting to lay down for a few hours while Oren apparently decided to plan for a suicide mission. He also apparently told everyone to NOT tell me. Cue Dirge waking me up coming up the stairs mentioning it to people. Cue Allyce being....very....very....upset.

Main mod! All of the fire! All of the fighting! All of the RP!

Shrike mod. That was a whole bunch of frantic fighting, keeping track of people, and finally just the whole pure stubbornness that Allyce has shown as both a character flaw and strength in the last year. She wasn't letting it go. Until..... distraction! (And it was a damn good one!)

After Shrike-Shrike mod. Stubbornness is catching. Oren, Zelretch, and I walk into the woods....

Humunculanius.

Sunday- GETTING A LESSON! (Several actually)

The pure sense of relief that Allyce felt upon telling people she was leaving for a month. Where shes going isn't really that much easier but its still a thing.

Making Cassie want to cry with all of our horrible ideas. We didn't want the lanius but now that we have them.....why not use them? I still don't think any of those ideas were that horrible. Well. They were. But realistically- its easier then war?

Getting a present!!!!!!!!!!

I will be at the banquet but will NOT be at Jan. Have fun with the ice and the snow and the wen-di-go.....

JTinney wrote: (This is a tale in two parts for me due to time today....)

Part two...

Other Saturday things nearly forgotten.

Counselling an Upset Thalia on homages to Family and giving her hope. Something the clergy of her faith is supposed to be doing but she came to me for reasons. And I am honored...

Discussions with Felix Stonebar and his First Master Warrior Lesson. There are Fighters and there are Warriors. The difference between the two is how much the grey matter between your ears is used, for starters- and he got the questions asked without much prodding.

Lesson Two will prove enlightening, I am sure.

Leading Orphan Guild Organizers to the right people to help them. Little did I suspect where that encounter with NPCs was going to end up- and I am damn glad I was able to find the right persons for them to speak with.

Blood Spirit things...
Clan MacKenzie things...

Then the late Saturday night news. Wow. I might not have liked Arabeth Chance very much- for some VERY VALID IC reasons... but how she was murdered (yo- that was an out and out murder. No other way to define that...) is a way no one should ever go. That I cannot be on the party hunting down her murderer... maddening for some very excellent RP reasons. Where the rest of that story goes will be interesting...

Sunday Morning- Breakfast with the Spirits, training and shenanigans before volunteer NPC shift for Rogue Mod.

"Jake.... Jake from Pendarvin"

Back IC for a quiet discussion with someone I never expected to ever talk business with. But developments sometimes cause these things to happen. Where *this* goes... may prove both character building and epic.

Some more scenes, some learning and then time to packup cleanup.

For those going to the Banquet, see y'all there....

-John

This event was a whirlwind for me. There were a ton of highlights, but the following stood out above and beyond:

Let's get the big one out of the way. Amalthea passed her final Paladin test. Thanks to Matt M. and company for putting it together, to Oren and Annora for tagging along, and thanks to Utgard for being an amazing part of this experience. Especially where I stabbed you. Love you, babe. And F--- Malyc!

Interacting with so many healers. From Midori's lesson, hanging with Alexi again, sharing popcorn and genuine feels with Swyft (not giving up on you, kitten!!!), and borrowing Pluvious to help Thalia, to the post-Main Mod chat with Willow.... I love you guys so much.

Shenanigans with the Winged Victory crew. Thanks to Starling for the tabard, and I'm super excited to see where Carlos' reading takes Blue Kes.

Leading a team for Main Mod. I don't think my little elf has been more nervous for anything in her life, including the test Friday, and everyone on our side did marvelously. Sorry to hear about Carl, but not surprised.

To the folks who made feast possible, thanks from the bottom of my stomach. You are miracle workers.

I can't wait to find out what happens next month! See you all at the Banquet!

I had missed the last 3 events due to work things. But man, what an event to come back to.

Starting right out the gate on Friday, seeing people and having important talks with the Kin. This is something Sergei has been working towards for a while now, and the pieces are starting to come together. As Steward of Inovar, Sergei feels a great weight of responsibility for the Kin and is determined to see it is done properly.

Dammit, Tari, why do you always have to be dragging Sergei off to nearly certain death?

To the people who rolled with me late Friday night, thank you. We finally finished a thing that has been in the works for 3 years. And did it with grace, style, and a wilder success than I thought would ever happen.

George's "present." Still waiting til Yule to unwrap him, I see.


Saturday:

A nice relaxing morning sitting and sassing with Maeve.

Corndogs (YES), challenging Creepy Bard with Bardic hot sauce nonsense and him coming through spectacularly, and well shit, now I HAVE to step up and help Aliester. Spell Cleave all my magic, will you? Thank goodness for alchemy.

MM shift!

All the crazy shenanigans. The Orphan's Guild and the surprising/not-so-surprising reactions to it. This is what you get for having 98% tragic backstories, Travance! You can't ALL be batman.

For those of you who encountered the very special encounter Zach was kind enough to help marshal for me, sorry, not sorry. Ask me your lore questions! Do it! Let's get WEIRD.


Main Mod. Almost enough fire. Almost. I wish I could have fought you guys for longer. I was still feeling spry! I've been jonesing for combat for 3 months, and man, y'all didn't disappoint.

Post main mod.

It happened. To everyone who was there, A++ roleplaying. I am completely shocked by what has become of this, the intensity of peoples' reactions, and how much/many it has affected. After 3 months away, THIS encounter helped remind me why I keep wanting to come back to this game. Absolutely incredible on everyone's part.


See you all in January! Dress warm, change your socks, stay hydrated, and maybe consider a nice marinade. No reason...

Bran MacInnes wrote: See you all in January! Dress warm, change your socks, stay hydrated, and maybe consider a nice marinade. No reason...

...don't forget the Kleenex.