September 2017 highlights

Hello everyone,

When I first posted the report on the homunculi, I was feeling a rush of emotions ranging from “this is rather cool” to “I can't believe I am doing this” to, “wow, I am actually helping newbies”, to “now I KNOW IG the entire town will want me obliterated without question”, and yes, I actually felt at one point I would be Killed On Sight upon startup. However, what ended up happening is that barring a few people in the know, I opened myself to a lot of new and interesting role-plays, inducing the fact that now people know me... so much for my usual anonymity anymore.

What is also to note is that, because of said document, I was fully invested in this plot line to the point that I had to see it through to the end, and therefore I made the decision ahead of time to head to my first Main Mod in over a year, regardless of whatever could happen. This was a decision I would not regret.

So in no particular order, here are the stuff I found to be most interesting. I may add some other things in case I feel necessary.

• Pre-game meeting with James himself. Thank you for helping me sort out all of my personal worries administrative wise. I'm not going to disclose what was discussed for a number of reasons, but I am glad he was able to reassure me everything is ok with my standing OOG
• “Ok, just need to avoid all the people I feel I may have pissed off in the process and... oh crap it's Grim. Hide. He probably hates me for posting that doc.” (It was not the case, but rather telling me the plot mechanic for this event.)
• Added to that, personally searching for Yo-Yo, and calling her name out at random intervals, knowing full hand she was infected with the virus, because Ezequiel felt he could not only try to treat her, but also because he felt she could actually relate to the experiences my IG character went through before arriving in Travance. (Also, they tell me she will find me when I least expect it. I don't work like that. I find stuff, because stuff never finds me on purpose... and if it is, it's a trap.)
• Finding the Doctors Without Borders NPCs. Two things to note here: 1. Doctors Without Borders exists in the world of Arawyn? 2. There was a quarantine throughout the entire proper?! How did I not know about this?
• Fun (read: wet) times into the rift, and me having left my fleece hat in the car. Also, the mental quandary as to if it was ok to “deactivate” a Golem, and not count against “thou shall not kill.” on account it was a construct. (Called out I was by one player, and repeated again by the same one at the Inn afterwards.)
• Although in the report I stated generally that Lilith was cured, I failed to mentioned specifically just what was involved, as my character was visibly disturbed at the truth. Once he found out who just did that and the details of, his response was to the lines of “What the hell?! Do you realize what you have done?! Also, why is she here when Eden is around and can do stuff?”
• Discussions with Lilith, and finding out what was done with her and Mercy. Ezequiel still had issues with the encounter, but after further discussions with Tobias as to the treatment, and forming quick conclusions later, he decided to let it go. He was still visibly worried about her, as reflected in future scenes, but beyond that, he understood who she was, and her abilities, and felt better about.
• The encounter with Icarus, and the interactions with Prometheus. Needless to say, I have one more report to write about before I can put this behind me. (Same with Yo-Yo if I am allowed to do it.) I may do a custom drawing seeing as IG I was given one by Icarus. Also, failing to note secondary objectives. This was brought to my attention after the fact to which I face-palmed, but when your personal objective was to speak to her to understand her for research purposes, stuff tends to be dropped in the moment.
• Having short discussions with almost ALL of the homunculi in the town, and finding out about them more. Even the twins wanted to help me at one point. (Sadly, I was busy with other stuffs, like Yo-Yo's plague.) It was at this point, I realized, that everyone kinda knew who I was, but didn't really want me dead. Also, I missed Lawrence for some reason.
• All the local people going insane that one time at 3 PM... it just wouldn't stop! Also, I think I was infected, but the ruling was all over the place, so I just accepted it as I got infected, and went with it, only to be cured shortly thereafter. On a related tangent, to those that took me down and got me confused with one of the infected, I was ok with that, as I thought it was really cool people thought I was infected when I was not, and just playing my character's gradual descent into madness. (As for why, FOIG. I am not saying. )
• The encounter with Eden just showing up, and having to fake his presence only to have her realize just who I am, and the quick conversation that followed that felt less of insulting my skills, and more me playing with my own insecurities by owning myself to be bad for the sake of admitting it. (Yes, I am aware that Eden probably was trying to inflate/deflate my ego and/or may not be attempting to put me down and place me in a higher pedestal then Belegchand. Yes, I gloriously owned up to the fact that I took her critique 100%, and essentially committed a metaphorical Slay on my character by comparing himself to nothing, and felt that the entire town wanted me dead since day one. What's your point? Ezequiel never looked at himself positively anyway.) Also, I am not shaking your hand, Eden. I know what you did the last time, and where that thing's been.
• Walking to Ostcliff and getting some air to get my mind off of things. Thanks for clearing my head to all those there. Also, note to self: Never give the homunculi booze. (I'm looking at you, Abel!)
• Going into the mind of Yo-Yo, and all of the events unfold from within her mind. This was a major turning point in my character for an IG character reason. See, with the potential rule changes happening after this event, and a job class I took last year, I had thought of two songs in which I was going to play that would reflect my IG character quirk that was being reflected throughout this year. (That being me slowing going insane from using some of my skillsets, so if I did a OOG “I'm ok.” signal, that is why to avoid getting confused with an actual panic attack that did happened at two points.) Depending on what happened this month would result either of those two songs being played, and the scene associate with it being reflected accordingly. After going down the mind of Yo-Yo, and seeing what she has become, as well as the events fold out of her creation, my character could not let Yo-Yo be like this. So what started his quest of being insane for the sake of being around someone he could try and relate to, became a personal mission to remove her of the unnatural insanity, and by doing so, came to a conclusion that finally made him engage combat without restraint. If you interacted with me during that event and main mod, you may have seen a glimmer of what it is come out.
• Soon after, I realized that I was not the main character in this story, and had to step back and “hold the line” while more experienced players did just that. Kinda sad since I wanted to be on the “Save Yo-Yo” team, but considering my skill set, and what was necessary, well... see the above statement.
• To those in the kitchen right before main mod. Thank you for giving me a moment to calm myself. Also, I felt a bit of long standing awkwardness to some leave me as a result, as it looked like you all understood one of my concerns here. For that I truly thank you.
• (Before main mod, with the fireworks in the distance.) ...yeah, that can't be good.
• Ok... So does anyone needs healing potions, I have a few one shots to get back up and... (sees oncoming horde from the side.) Ah crap, since when did we cross over with The Walking Dead... or for that matter, another system? (+1 if you get why.)
• (goes into Inn for refuge, and sees battle unfold from within) Ok, just a few mad people over here. Just need to dispatch them from here after we break from a hold in 3,2,1... (hears a maddening cackle. Sees “Clown” Yo-Yo in the flesh. Mentally cue the sirens from Kill Bill... The 15 second snippet, not the other ones everyone thinks about.)
• So, while this entire fight was happening, there was one thing on my mind, and that was why were the bards still playing in the inn. Unless the soundtrack changed, and I did not know, stop playing! We are being attacked by angry commoners having gone insane by biological/chemical sabotage.
• The final act of making sure of she was OK. Once Yo-Yo and Lilith met, I felt like there was nothing more I could do, so as a result, I felt my mission was fully complete, and disappeared into the night.

Once that was done, I left the camp soon afterwards. (after saying goodbye to a few people and such.) In retrospect, this was a good thing because had I gone to the fight against the Great Old One, ALL of my progress would have been altered right then and there. (Also, I would have likely gone to the phokus, a place I do NOT want to go through anytime soon.) So barring two scenarios (which involving meeting people for payment due to land actions. Sorry. You were right in front of me, and I didn't realize until I left the campsite. ), I felt that this was a fitting end to my character for now. I do not know if he will make a final appearance in October, as I felt exhausted coming over here this month, and was not expecting to push myself before. However, I am happy I got to my conclusion. So thank you all.