The Reason Rally comes to DC, where I live . . .

. . . and I'm going to miss it.  Really.

I looked forward to attending this, particularly since Rebecca Watson wasn't invited to speak.  I'm terribly sick of the "outrage prism" through which she views life, and feel certain much of it is designed to drive up page views.  She's not attending the Reason Rally because, as a non-speaker, she likely can't afford it.  But it smacks of, "If I can't be a star, I'm not coming to the show" type attitude.

Anyway, so I was psyched to go.  And, reading Twitter, many people I'd like to meet, including Tanya of http://daisiesandshit.com/ are here in DC.  Right.  Now.

But . . . .  Life.

My statement on the "Book of Mormon" Twitter List Debacle

I'm glad I still have this blog, because I can just tweet a link to various entries here, and (1) have my say in more than 140 characters, and (2) not subject my followers to multiple tweets complaining about being made to feel so crappy.

Here's my take:

--I'm a superfan of Broadway's "Book of Mormon."  I kept up with their development on FB, followed them on Twitter EARLY, and saw the show in July of 2011.  I took pictures (of other people getting their pictures with the stars, I was too shy), and then realized that MANY of the ensemble cast were also on Twitter, yet only the "big 4" (Andrew Rannells, Josh Gad, Nikki M. James, and Rory O'Malley) were publicized.

So I created a Twitter list.  Scott Barnhardt first hipped me to some ensemble members accounts, and I went from there.  I added in Bobby Lopez as well, and then even added in some crew/behind the scenes folks.  Some were huge, like Stephen Oremus, who won a Tony and Grammy for his orchestral work.

--But I also added in the 3 stage managers (highlighted by Josh Gad) who work so hard.

--Finally, I added on the Book of Mormon Company Manager, Adam Miller.

--The list was substantial (28 members!) and was both the most-followed Book of Mormon Twitter list out there (there were many), and was the most populated (28 was nearly double the next highest BoM Twitter list).

--Many of the cast members didn't have a ton of followers.  I usually welcomed them when they'd join Twitter (like Kevin D., or even Stephen), and noted that they were now listed on the comprehensive Twitter list, and hopefully, as people consulted it as a reference/clearinghouse, their following would increase.  Groovy, good vibes, yada-yada.

--Things seemed fine.  NONE of the crew rejected my following of them on Twitter.  In fact, NONE of those listed/followed: 

1.  Stopped me from following them.
2.  Stopped me from listing them, or
3.  Asked me to not endorse them on #FF days (I did list them on some #FF days).

Instead, in late February of 2012, I noticed that Adam Miller, the Book of Mormon Company Manager hadn't just @replied to me and asked me to de-list (or even de-follow).  He flat out blocked me.  Twitter confirmed this when I attempted to re-follow (not permanently, I only attempted to re-follow because THEN Twitter will tell you something like, "Sorry, this user has blocked you.").

Suffice it to say, I was hurt, and a little depressed/angry.  You can't even do me the courtesy of a reply/request to say, "Hey, I don't want to be on this list?"  At least let me ignore you before you go to the trouble to block me.

So, I just decided, "Hasa Diga."  I deleted the entire Twitter list.  I unfollowed every single BoM-related person.  Because Miller had blocked me, he couldn't see my comments, so I @replied to Rachel, a stage manager, and told her I was done.

The upshot of all this is that it brought back EVERY feeling from High School about being a misfit/outcast.  Once a freak, always a freak, apparently.  Things don't change.

That last part is tough to admit for someone who supports the teaching of Evolution, lol.  I got some personal phone calls from RL friends on Twitter, and even some @mentions about the list's deletion, and just took solace in the notion that I was never IN the cool crowd to begin with, so it shouldn't be a surprise that I'd be treated as a freak even when older.

But this whole thing hurt.  It was really surprising to me, because ordinarily, the staff of BoM are pretty friendly.  I'd actually had some good conversations with the BoM Twitter account via DMs, because I had been scouring YouTube, and alerting the Show Account to various bootleg videos that were online.  Together, we got the YT accounts deleted outright.  As of this writing, there are no bootleg videos on YT anymore, but I'll be damned if I'm going to alert anyone if I find any more.  I'd hate to be thought of as over-the-top.  Or blocked without comment/warning.  The musical itself is wonderful, as are the people.  It's a great, funny, and profound show.  But this is an example of the old adage, "Never meet your heroes."  While it isn't quite applicable to this situation, it's close.  Close enough that it really hurt.

So I'm done.

Interesting exchange the other night

I'm helping Kitra learn how to use a buffbot (no, it's not that she's completely inept with these things -- she's literally never used them before!). I'm there as my mule, who is in his SUPER A-1 AWESOME HALLOWEEN COSTUME. It's actually pretty cool. It came in 2nd place a few years ago in a Dereth Fashion Show judged by some Devs and Maggie the Jackcat. I have a feeling I should have been first, and our final decision apparently caused much debate amoungst the judges, who were in a fellowship, and whose chat we couldn't see. I've had several offers for it while in the MP.

Anyway.

We're at the mansion, and a guy goes, "Whose ur main?" I tell him. "I've never heard of you," he says. Kitra laughs at this development. I then say something like, "I'm no one of consequence, just a gimp running through Dereth," and he says, "Yah, only us PKLs really get to be famous around here."

*snort*

Wow. Bitter much?

Ok, so that LAST entry seemed a little bitter, even though I was PLENTY bitter.

I still play lots of AC, but it's often at bizarre hours. I keep up with folks in game via Facebook. You can find me as THIS username. Friend request me!

So much to keep up with in AC. Need writs of refuge. Need to find that "rare exchanger" and trade in all the stoopid assess person rares.

Still having fun, though!

AC Christmas Shopping! It's like being in "Second Life," but with Arrows! And talking Snowmen.

Foxy and Marie hipped me to the fact that I was going to miss out on getting my own polar . . . Ursuin (seriously? We can't have a cute little Polar Bear drinking Coke out of an old time bottle? I mean, Polar Bears are practically mythical creatures by this point anyway).

Anyway, I got on tonight to hurry up and get one, and Kitra asked if she could come along. So we could give one of our Bears (eff it, I'm not calling it an Ursuin). It struck me how much AC is like real life. Consider:


In real life, you go from store to store in order to get that gift for your kid she would LOVE to have. You dodge traffic, get lost here and there, and fight through crowds to get the thing you want at the last minute.

In AC, you go from town to town to get that gift you want, you dodge groups of mobs (which, in my case, is usually necessary because I insist on doing these types of quests wearing my Dapper Suit, not my armor). You fight through ANNOYING crowds of shadows at the Umbral Hub, just to get what you want.

Speaking of which . . . the Umbral Hub has LOTS of useful portals. Someone should note that on the Wiki. We went to Zaikhail (twice) trying to get to Al-Jalima, and only later, when I (1) remembered I HAD an Umbral Hub portal, and (2) There was a Plateau portal there, did I notice that there was an Al-Jalima portal there.

It actually went like this:

Kitra Zan says, "Isn't that a portal to Al-Jalima? Could we not have just used that one instead of all that running?"

You say, ". . . "

So in that sense, it's ALSO like real life when the woman says to the man, "Why can't you stop and ask for directions?!"

Anyway, we're about 2/3 through this RAIL FAIL quest (that's my term for "Running Around Intently Looking For An Interesting Lagniappe") when Kitra Jr. had to be put to bed for school Monday. So we'll pick it up tomorrow. Whereupon --maybe-- I'll ask for directions.

P.S. One point. We hit this Igloo-looking thing (turns out it actually WAS an Igloo), and I noticed it had this snowman in there, around level 95, whom I thought I could target (turns out I targetted him in peace mode). So I made a big show, while Kitra was rebuffing, of talking to him, calling him names, etc. Then, IMMEDIATELY as I took out a flaming arrow, and furrowed my brow, trying to figure out why I couldn't target him, he MOVED. He did that kind of "lean in and squeeze his arms together" thing.

I nearly peed myself. I then wrote that in open chat, thinking that Kitra was the only other one in the Igloo with me.

Ahem. You guessed it. AC is low populated my (tight) bee-hind. There were TWO other players running up to the igloo during all this, and they came in just as I announced my jumpy-ness (read: propensity to wee-wee my armor) to Kitra.

Coolness. It never leaves ya.

Hi all!

Hey there all,

I'm still around, kickin, and now with CREATURE magic!

Much love goes out to my fair lovely Scottish lass Marie the Loyal, and the sweetest little (har, get it) patron ev-ar, Foxy.

You never know when I'll turn up online . . . !

Oh, and I now have Twitter updates, because by all means, you have to know what I'm up to IRL. Right? Oh. :-(

Tai Fung has discovered the Deceiver's Crystal!

Thanks, AC.

I'm gone, I'm back, I'm gone, and your siren call still rings in my ears, never unsubscribing. And when I come back, that's the rare I get?

Harumph.

Man, I so love this game, I really do. It's still such a blast to play!

Ooooh! THAT's how you do it.

You can update Decal by right clicking and selecting "Run as administrator."

This is for the error message "A file being updated is in use." Something something and try again, blah blah.

Woo hoo!

I've been playing on and off lately, but I might want to get the tradebot up and running again. Need my Decal, yo! ;-)

Love to all!

I can't resist . . .

. . . take a look here.

Log of Frost Haven quest

I logged in the other night, and noticed I have on me 22(!) stamina elixirs. That's like more Gatorade than some basketball teams drink! I split them out, and was about to drop 12 on the ground (leaving me with 10), when I reconsidered. Gbb had just hit me with a Strength Buff, so I figured, "Ah, I'll hang onto them."

Literally seconds later, Chef Wubbie announced that the Snowmen of Frost Haven were being attacked, and asked for volunteers to defend the town (he was summoning a portal in the MP). I think I've been to Frost Haven like ONCE before, and definitely never during the Abominable attack quest. So I figured I'd go kick in my best effort.

[General] Sister Shauna Kaboosh says, "Summoning portal to the snomman village in MP"
You say, "Woot!"
You say, "Um, not to be more stupid than normal, but . . . fire attacks?"
[General] Sister Shauna Kaboosh says, "Acid or BLudge"
[General] Sister Shauna Kaboosh says, "and then frost"
You say, "Ah, glad I asked, lol"

Life lesson -- You'll never know if you don't ask!

So I took the portal, and found myself alone on the side of a mountain. Ah, but I'm out of ANY kind of arrows! Time to fletch!


Anyway, I used to carry a TON of acid arrowheads, stockpiling them like I was waiting for a sudden onslaught of Iron Golems, when I realized I hadn't used them for so long, that I muled them. So much for acid attacks.

You make a big bundle of deadly blunt arrows.

There we go.

Silver Staff cast Major Item Enchantment Aptitude on you
Silver Staff cast Item Enchantment Mastery Self V on you
You say, "Malar Aeril"
The spell consumed the following components: Prismatic Taper, Prismatic Taper
You cast Infected Caress on Ivory Blunt Compound Bow

If there's ONE thing I know, it's how to buff a weapon. Actually, I left that part above in for a reason later on. You'll see.

[General] Wubbie's Lil Tinkerer says, "Snowmen killers meeting at 68.3S 25.7E"
The Mana Elixir restores 65 points of your mana.

No life magic. It's either elixirs or my Casting Stein.

I need extra mana for a reason.

You say, "Malar Aeguz"
The spell consumed the following components: Prismatic Taper, Prismatic Taper, Prismatic Taper, Prismatic Taper
Your spell fizzled.

That's one of them.

You say, "Malar Aeguz"
You cast Cragstone's Will on Ivory Blunt Compound Bow
Ivory Blunt Compound Bow cast Endurance Self VI on you, but it is surpassed by

Ok! I'm armed! I'm buffed! Off to the MP!

You have been teleported.

Teleport? Oh. I thought I was hitting the "E" key to see my bow, but I hit the "3" key. What's mapped to the "3" key? An Aphus Recall Gem. Maybe I shouldn't hotkey those things because I went from "alone on the side of a mountain" all the way to "at the Aphus Lassel drop."

Oops. Let's hope portal recall will get me back to the mountain.

Silver Staff cast Major Item Enchantment Aptitude on you
Silver Staff cast Item Enchantment Mastery Self V on you
You say, "Shurov Thipaj"
The spell consumed the following components: Prismatic Taper

Whew. It worked.

[General] Sister Shauna Kaboosh says, "Anyone else joining the Snowman beatdown?"

Me! Me! Me!

WTF were those coords again? Run like hell, and look for the swarm of white dots!

Except there's just one white dot. Wubbie.

Wubbie's Lil Tinkerer says, "Mooies"
Tai Fung smiles
Wubbie's Lil Tinkerer says, "hurm this might hurt"

Ya THINK?!


Time to fess up.

You say, "I've actually never done this, lol"
Wubbie's Lil Tinkerer says, "kill snowmen... then kill giatn abominable"
Wubbie's Lil Tinkerer says, "when he dies loot a frozen prest"
Wubbie's Lil Tinkerer says, "then we kill giatn lava golem"

Well, that seems straightforward enough.

You say, "Seems straightforward enough . . ."

Aren't I expressive? ;-)

Wubbie's Lil Tinkerer says, "and then again and again then you get a coal to melt the present"
Wubbie's Lil Tinkerer says, "then you get a crap present and never wanan do it again ;)"
Wubbie's Lil Tinkerer says, "but you might get a good present"
You say, "LOL, gotcha"

I better concentrate.

You have left the General channel.
You have left the Trade channel.


Wubbie's Lil Tinkerer says, "his assistant respawn throuthg thr fight"

What assistant?

Two Headed Snowman says, "It's a shame I can't make more friends. FRIENDS ARE FOR LOSERS!"

Oh.

You resist the spell cast by Angry Snowman
You resist the spell cast by Angry Snowman
You resist the spell cast by Angry Snowman

OH!

Abominable Snowman numbs you for 19 points with Foon-Ki's Glacial Floe.
Two Headed Snowman says, "I don't WANT TO HURT YOU!"
Two Headed Snowman says, "I don't WANT TO HURT YOU!"

Well, as it happens, I --do-- want to hurt YOU!

You resist the spell cast by Angry Snowman
Angry Snowman is shattered by your assault!
Abominable Snowman cast Gelidite's Gift on you
You resist the spell cast by Angry Snowman
Magical energies lose 1 point of health due to Abominable Snowman casting Vitality Siphon on you
You resist the spell cast by Angry Snowman
The thunder of crushing Angry Snowman is followed by the deafening silence of death!
You resist the spell cast by Angry Snowman
You resist the spell cast by Angry Snowman

I know Magic D sucks as a skill, but it's darn nice to have when you're fighting mass mobs, even if high-level ones still land on you.

Angry Snowman is shattered by your assault!
You say, "DIE, EVIL SNOWMEN!"
You resist the spell cast by Angry Snowman
You beat Angry Snowman to a lifeless pulp!
You resist the spell cast by Angry Snowman
Abominable Snowman cast Glacial Speed on you
Angry Snowman is shattered by your assault!
You say, "TASTE MY ARROWS OF DOOM!"
You say, "THEY TASTE LIKE, WELL, DOOM"

Ok, so much for the parade of Snowmen Wearing Hats Who Seem Angry.

Wubbie's Lil Tinkerer says, "he sonly got 400k ghealth"

Holy CRAP! Look at that thing! He's got TREE TRUNKS for arms!

You say, "WTH? To quote Luke Skywalker, "Look at the size of that thing . . . ""
You lose 120 points of health due to Abominable Snowman casting Vitality Siphon on you

Ouch. That's a third of my health.

You say, "DIE GIANT ABOMINATION! BUMBLES BOUNCE, BUT YOU SHALL FALL FLAT (heh)"
Abominable Snowman cast Glacial Speed on you
Abominable Snowman cast Broadside of a Barn on you
Abominable Snowman cast Gelidite's Gift on you, surpassing Gelidite's Gift
You expertly heal yourself for 134 Health points. Your Treated Healing Kit has 1 use left.
You lose 129 points of health due to Abominable Snowman casting Vitality Siphon on you

Sheesh.

Two Headed Snowman frosts you for 120 points with Frost Bolt VI.

Um . . . more like two thirds. Sheesh.

The Elaborate Field Health Rations restores 70 points of your health.
You expertly heal yourself for 60 Health points. Your Plentiful Healing Kit has 52 uses left.
You heal yourself for 107 Health points. Your Plentiful Healing Kit has 51 uses left.
You lose 126 points of health due to Abominable Snowman casting Vitality Siphon on you
You heal yourself for 100 Health points. Your Plentiful Healing Kit has 50 uses left.

OK! I GET IT! This is getting old. I'll tell the Bumble that.

You say, "This Vitality Siphon thing is getting old, Frosty . . ."

Like I said, it was just me and Wubbie. Rather, Wubbie's Tinkerer. And when I examined the Evil Bumble . . .

You say, "Holy cow, he's only at 97%"

Uh oh.

You lose 126 points of health due to Abominable Snowman casting Vitality Siphon on you

Oh dear.

Wubbie's Lil Tinkerer says, "400k health"

I was WONDERING what he meant by that from before! Maybe if I imperil him . . .

Royal Runed War Bow cast Moderate Bow Aptitude on you, surpassing Moderate Bow Aptitude
You heal yourself for 60 Health points. Your Plentiful Healing Kit has 49 uses left.
You heal yourself for 91 Health points. Your Plentiful Healing Kit has 48 uses left.
Gelidite's Gift has expired.
You cast Gossamer Flesh on Abominable Snowman, surpassing Gossamer Flesh

Whoops, Wubbie had that covered. Back to work.

Ivory Blunt Compound Bow cast Endurance Self VI on you, but it is surpassed by Temeritous Touch


Abominable Snowman cast Gelidite's Gift on you, surpassing Gelidite's Gift
Abominable Snowman cast Gravity Well on you, surpassing Gravity Well
Abominable Snowman cast Broadside of a Barn on you, surpassing Broadside of a Barn
You lose 129 points of health due to Abominable Snowman casting Vitality Siphon on you
Gelidite's Gift has expired.
You lose 88 points of health due to Abominable Snowman casting Vitality Siphon on you

I swear, if I die to a SNOWMAN, I'm retiring to my villa to write my memoirs.


You heal yourself for 204 Health points. Your Plentiful Healing Kit has 47 uses left.

Wubbie's Lil Tinkerer says, "Acid of Bludge is best weapons"

Who's he talking to? Oh! Another guy showed up! Elchorn! No idea who that is, but it's another body to get attacked by these spells!

You say, "Woot! Another body, er, fellow!"

Abominable Snowman cast Gelidite's Gift on you, surpassing Gelidite's Gift
You lose 129 points of health due to Abominable Snowman casting Vitality Siphon on you
You lose 86 points of health due to Abominable Snowman casting Vitality Siphon on you

Or maybe he'll still focus on me anyway . . .


You heal yourself for 86 Health points. Your Plentiful Healing Kit has 46 uses left.
You lose 84 points of health due to Abominable Snowman casting Vitality Siphon on you
You heal yourself for 176 Health points. Your Plentiful Healing Kit has 45 uses left.

Either he's going to run out of mana, or I'm going to run out of healing kits . . .

You lose 122 points of health due to Abominable Snowman casting Vitality Siphon on you
You heal yourself for 79 Health points. Your Treated Healing Kit is used up.

There goes one. Plus, I'm low on stamina.

The Stamina Philtre restores 125 points of your stamina.
The Stamina Philtre restores 104 points of your stamina.

You heal yourself for 78 Health points. Your Plentiful Healing Kit has 44 uses left.

You lose 129 points of health due to Abominable Snowman casting Vitality Siphon on you
You lose 129 points of health due to Abominable Snowman casting Vitality Siphon on you
Abominable Snowman cast Glacial Speed on you, surpassing Glacial Speed
Inky Armor has expired.

Glacial Speed has expired.
Glacial Speed has expired.
Glacial Speed has expired.

He's rather hot for me, eh? Enough of this Treated/Blue kit crap. Time to pull out the roll of toilet paper.

You heal yourself for 174 Health points. Your Renegade Herbal Kit has 19 uses left.

Woot.

You say, "Woot, he's below 90%, lol"
You say, "So by morning he might be dead . . . ;-)"
Abominable Snowman cast Glacial Speed on you
Wubbie's Lil Tinkerer says, "thats the plan"
Wubbie's Lil Tinkerer says, "or before he spawns a copy of himself"
You say, ". . . ."

He was joking, right? RIGHT?

Wubbie's Lil Tinkerer says, "he and his guard spawn aevery 3 hours"

I peed in my armor at that point.

Wubbie's Lil Tinkerer says, "i doubt they make sure hes dead before spawning a new one"
You say, " . . . . "

More peeing of armor. At least I have my trusty pet.

Tai's Pet Penguin tells you, "Listen, it's been fun, but I'm just going to go see if I can recall to the MP"

You're out of ammunition!

You make a big bundle of deadly blunt arrows.
Wubbie's Lil Tinkerer says, "its Turbine you can only expect so much"
You say, "I wonder if we ran him out of mana?"
You lose 129 points of health due to Abominable Snowman casting Vitality Siphon on you
You say, "Oops, answered that"
Wubbie's Lil Tinkerer says, "i ususlaly kill his stam"
You heal yourself for 121 Health points. Your Renegade Herbal Kit has 18 uses left.
Wubbie's Lil Tinkerer says, "lets melees crit more"
The Stamina Philtre restores 125 points of your stamina.
The Stamina Philtre restores 98 points of your stamina.
Wubbie's Lil Tinkerer says, "grrr"
You lose 129 points of health due to Abominable Snowman casting Vitality Siphon on you

By now, Wubbie is at "First Base" hitting him with spells. I'm at "Third Base" shooting him. Elchorn, a melee, is sticky melee'ing the beastie between us two.

And then more snowmen beamed in.

Two Headed Snowman cast Defenselessness Other VI on you
Two Headed Snowman grazes you for 35 points with Shock Wave VI.

You lose 110 points of health due to Abominable Snowman casting Vitality Siphon on you
You heal yourself for 76 Health points. Your Renegade Herbal Kit has 17 uses left.
You heal yourself for 99 Health points. Your Renegade Herbal Kit has 16 uses left.
You lose 129 points of health due to Abominable Snowman casting Vitality Siphon on you

Running low on Toilet Paper kits now. Back to the Blues.

You expertly heal yourself for 124 Health points. Your Plentiful Healing Kit has 43 uses left.

At this point, with the baddie Imp'd and getting hit with a blud. rending bow, I wondered how I was doing. I didn't have Decal on, but normally squelch ALL combat anyway. Let's see.


You succeeded to remove a global squelch.
You graze Abominable Snowman for 128 points of bludgeoning damage!
You evaded Abominable Snowman!
You graze Abominable Snowman for 130 points of bludgeoning damage!
You evaded Abominable Snowman!
You evaded Abominable Snowman!
You graze Abominable Snowman for 126 points of bludgeoning damage!

Yuk.

Elchorn says, "he have fire vuln on him?"

Fire?

You evaded Abominable Snowman!
You evaded Abominable Snowman!
Abominable Snowman evaded your attack.
You evaded Abominable Snowman!
Abominable Snowman evaded your attack.

Wubbie's Lil Tinkerer says, "yeah"

I thought bludg? I'm so confused on damages.

You evaded Abominable Snowman!
Abominable Snowman evaded your attack.
Abominable Snowman evaded your attack.
You evaded Abominable Snowman!
Abominable Snowman evaded your attack.
Abominable Snowman evaded your attack.
Abominable Snowman evaded your attack.

Wubbie's Lil Tinkerer says, "Acid Bludge are best usually"

Yay!


Abominable Snowman evaded your attack.
Abominable Snowman evaded your attack.
You graze Abominable Snowman for 130 points of bludgeoning damage!
You graze Abominable Snowman for 138 points of bludgeoning damage!
Defenselessness Other VI has expired.
You graze Abominable Snowman for 158 points of bludgeoning damage!
You graze Abominable Snowman for 135 points of bludgeoning damage!
You evaded Abominable Snowman!
You graze Abominable Snowman for 158 points of bludgeoning damage!
You evaded Abominable Snowman!


Elchorn says, "dont have my acid buffed"

You and me both, pal.

You succeeded to add a global squelch.
The Stamina Philtre restores 125 points of your stamina.
The Stamina Philtre restores 104 points of your stamina.

Wubbie's Lil Tinkerer says, "grrrr"
You say, "Anyone have a spare blowtorch?"
Wubbie's Lil Tinkerer says, "I wish"

You make a big bundle of deadly blunt arrows.

You resist the spell cast by Angry Snowman
You flatten Angry Snowman's body with the force of your assault!
You knock Angry Snowman into next Morningthaw!
You resist the spell cast by Angry Snowman
The thunder of crushing Angry Snowman is followed by the deafening silence of death!
The deadly force of your attack is so strong that Angry Snowman's ancestors feel it!
The thunder of crushing Angry Snowman is followed by the deafening silence of death!
You beat Two Headed Snowman to a lifeless pulp!
You beat Angry Snowman to a lifeless pulp!

That was theraputic. SOMETHING died. And it wasn't me!

Now, where were we?

You lose 107 points of health due to Abominable Snowman casting Vitality Siphon on you
You expertly heal yourself for 171 Health points. Your Plentiful Healing Kit has 42 uses left.
The Stamina Philtre restores 125 points of your stamina.
The Stamina Philtre restores 125 points of your stamina.

Oh, riiiiiiight.

Wubbie's Lil Tinkerer says, "He likes you"

Ya THINK????


You say, "And here I was about to throw my stamina philters on the ground because I thought I had too many . . ."
Wubbie's Lil Tinkerer says, "hehehe"
Wubbie's Lil Tinkerer says, "who knew acid had uses"
You say, "This is why I quit carrying those arrowheads!"
You say, "I never used them. Murphy's Law . . ."
You say, "Woot, below 60%"
You lose 129 points of health due to Abominable Snowman casting Vitality Siphon on you
Elchorn says, "there we go"
You heal yourself for 117 Health points. Your Plentiful Healing Kit has 41 uses left.
Elchorn says, "didn't have mcneils on me"
Elchorn says, "he'll go down faster now"
Wubbie's Lil Tinkerer says, "DIE DIE DIE"
Wubbie's Lil Tinkerer says, "hehehe"

Get into it Wubbie!

You say, "Evolution happens faster than this guy is dying"

You expertly heal yourself for 90 Health points. Your Plentiful Healing Kit has 40 uses left.
The Stamina Philtre restores 125 points of your stamina.

Aaaaaand, out of arrows. Again.

You make a big bundle of deadly blunt arrows.

You lose 129 points of health due to Abominable Snowman casting Vitality Siphon on you
You heal yourself for 122 Health points. Your Plentiful Healing Kit has 39 uses left.

Back and forth and back and . . .


You say, "We're more than halfway there now at least"

Wubbie's Lil Tinkerer says, "suck it snowman"
Tai Fung figures there's got to be a "snowballs" joke there somewhere
Wubbie's Lil Tinkerer says, "sigh... oh Tai"

Oh, C'MON! It was late! I was tired! Heh,
"snowballs." Huh huh huh huh. ;-)

You say, "Hey, cool, under 40%"
Wubbie's Lil Tinkerer says, "its good he dunno life rin"
Wubbie's Lil Tinkerer says, "we'd all be dead"
You say, "I'm still flipped out that Acid(!) is what he's weak to"
Wubbie's Lil Tinkerer says, "this and tusker fists is bes"
Wubbie's Lil Tinkerer says, "er best"

The Stamina Philtre restores 125 points of your stamina.
The Stamina Philtre restores 105 points of your stamina.
You heal yourself for 113 Health points. Your Plentiful Healing Kit has 38 uses left.
Wubbie's Lil Tinkerer fails to affect you because Wubbie's Lil Tinkerer is not a player killer!
Wubbie's Lil Tinkerer says, "hes aliot slower no stam"

Maybe Frosty should have kept his OWN stamina Philtres!

You say, "Excellent work!"
Elchorn says, "keep draining him =P"
Wubbie's Lil Tinkerer says, "So after hes dead we go to frost"
You say, "Oh, right, forgot that there's another step"
Elchorn says, "yeah for the other fun guy"

Hard to believe I'm clueless, isn't it?

Wubbie's Lil Tinkerer says, "but the next oen faste"

Well, since he's almost dead, and since we're fighting a Magma Golem next, I better buff again, right? Because I'm such a buffing god, as I'd mentioned earlier?

Silver Staff cast Major Item Enchantment Aptitude on you
Silver Staff cast Item Enchantment Mastery Self V on you
You say, "Malar Aeguz"
The spell consumed the following components: Prismatic Taper
You say, "Good thing this has Infected Caress built in."
You cast Cragstone's Will on Ivory Fire Bow, surpassing Cragstone's Will
You make a big bundle of deadly fire arrows.

Yup. I had made fire arrows to fight a Magma Golem. I didn't even think twice. I just went back to the Abominable since he was about to die.

Ivory Blunt Compound Bow cast Endurance Self VI on you, but it is surpassed by Temeritous Touch
You make a big bundle of deadly blunt arrows.

All my fletching/buffing prompted Frosty to go fight Wubbie some more.

Wubbie's Lil Tinkerer says, "HE LIKES NME"
"I feel like Sally Field"
You say, "UNION!!!!!!!"

I've never even SEEN "Norma Rae" but I got that joke! Nothing?

Tai Fung racks his brain for "Smokey and the Bandit" references, since Norma Rae didn't work . . .

Wubbie's Lil Tinkerer says, "5%"
Wubbie's Lil Tinkerer says, "RAR"
You say, "Prepare to melt, evil Bumble!"
Wubbie's Lil Tinkerer says, "0%"

Woot!

And look who got the kill . . .




Bong! Bong! Frost Haven's Mayor sounds the alarm again. All the fighting has drawn
Scold down from his mountain lair. Prepare for battle everyone!
You say, "WOOT!"
Wubbie's Lil Tinkerer says, "Loot present fast"
You say, "Done"
Wubbie's Lil Tinkerer says, "Giant lava soon"

At THIS point, it hits me, just as I take out and nock my FIRE bow. Fire. I'm using fire against a LAVA monster. I stared at the screen, looking at my FLAMING ARROW ON FIRE, waiting to shoot a monster who was ALREADY on fire.

Effing . . . sigh. I'm hopeless.

Silver Staff cast Major Item Enchantment Aptitude on you
Silver Staff cast Item Enchantment Mastery Self V on you
You say, "Malar Aeril"
You cast Infected Caress on Gold Frost Bow
You say, "Malar Aeguz"
You cast Cragstone's Will on Gold Frost Bow
Gold Frost Bow cast Coordination Self VI on you, but it is surpassed by Boon of Refinement
You make a big bundle of deadly frost arrows.

You say, "I can't believe I fletched fire arrows . . ."
Wubbie's Lil Tinkerer says, "he dies 2 times and doubles each time"
Scold singes you for 33 points with Flame Bolt VI.

Wubbie's Lil Tinkerer says, "Wow ;)"

Isn't Wubbie tactful? Because you KNOW he has to be thinking, "OMG GIMP GIMP GIMP!"

You say, "I even buffed my fire bow . . ."
Wubbie's Lil Tinkerer says, "Buffs failing here"
Wubbie's Lil Tinkerer says, "gonan reboff"

This is getting nowhere. But I have a secret weapon. Wubbie hit Scold with Imp and Cold Vuln. And I have a near max CS bow with Minor BT.

Silver Staff cast Major Item Enchantment Aptitude on you
Silver Staff cast Item Enchantment Mastery Self V on you
You say, "Malar Aeril"
You cast Infected Caress on Ivory Longbow
You say, "Malar Aeguz"
You cast Cragstone's Will on Ivory Longbow

Scold tells you, "Yes! Now we're having some fun!"

Yes, Scold, we're about to . . .

Scold tells you, "Come on! Is that all you got?! Give me your best shot!"
You succeeded to remove a global squelch.
Critical hit! You numb Scold for 5694 points of cold damage!

That's better.

Wubbie's Lil Tinkerer says, "when he dies there will be 4"
You say, "4 what?"
Wubbie's Lil Tinkerer says, "smaller him"
Wubbie's Lil Tinkerer says, "then each of those makes 2 tiny versions"
Critical hit! You numb Scold for 5694 points of cold damage!
You numb Scold for 2722 points of cold damage!
You lose 42 points of health due to Scold casting Drain Health Other V on you
Scold grazes your lower leg for 6 points of bludgeoning damage!
You heal yourself for 167 Health points. Your Plentiful Healing Kit has 35 uses left.
Scold says, "First I'm gonna stomp all of you squelchy things and then I'm gonna destroy this annoying little town!"
The Golem falls apart. Each segment reforms into a smaller version of the original.

A touch quicker to die that time . . .

You succeeded to add a global squelch.

The Stamina Philtre restores 125 points of your stamina.
The Stamina Philtre restores 125 points of your stamina.
You lose 53 points of health due to Scold Chunk casting Drain Health Other V on you
You heal yourself for 129 Health points. Your Plentiful Healing Kit has 31 uses left.


You succeeded to remove a global squelch.
You evaded Scold Chunk!
You numb Scold Chunk for 2613 points of cold damage!
You evaded Scold Lump!
Critical hit! You chill Scold Chunk for 6485 points of cold damage!
Scold Chunk tells you, "Congratulations! You hit me. Now it's my turn!"
Critical hit! You chill Scold Chunk for 6485 points of cold damage!
Scold Chunk tells you, "Congratulations! You hit me. Now it's my turn!"
You numb Scold Chunk for 2853 points of cold damage!
You lose 60 points of health due to Scold Chunk casting Drain Health Other V on you

I like this exchange of damage MUCH better than with Frosty . . .

The golem splits in two. The small halves turn to face you!
You evaded Scold Lump!
Your assault sends Scold Lump to an icy death!
Scold Lump says, "No!!! I'll be back!"

You frost Scold Lump for 3228 points of cold damage!
You succeeded to add a global squelch.
Scold Lump suffers a frozen fate!
The little golem explodes in a gout of flame.

You say, "Thanks Wubbie!"

As in, "Thanks for the debuffs on these beasties so I can finally get a kill here and there!

Scold Lump says, "No!!! I'll be back!"
Wubbie's Lil Tinkerer says, "Tada"
Wubbie's Lil Tinkerer says, "now loot a coal"
You say, "Zoikes!"

We DID it!

Wubbie's Lil Tinkerer says, "and unfreeze your present"
You melt the frozen present with the hot coal. The steam dissipates revealing a wonderful present box.
Elchorn says, "snow man, can't complain there"
Wubbie's Lil Tinkerer says, "BAH"

I got a . . . fireplace?

You say, "Holiday Hearth?"
Wubbie's Lil Tinkerer says, "its a big fireplace"
You say, "Ah well, my villa needed a heating source. =)"
You say, "Fun quest!"
Wubbie's Lil Tinkerer says, "repeatable in 23 hour"
Wubbie's Lil Tinkerer says, "and they spawen every 3 or 4"
You say, "That pack doll will dissolve soon, be careful!"
Wubbie's Lil Tinkerer says, "you need a coolie device for you house?"
You say, "Nah, I live in the cold north. =)"
Wubbie's Lil Tinkerer says, "if you want the doll take him :)"
You say, "Oh, cool, Wubbie! Thanks!"
Wubbie's Lil Tinkerer says, "I have more than enough"
You say, "Memories of a prolonged battle . . ."
Tai Fung -)
Wubbie's Lil Tinkerer says, "Well I was gonan help you get an Ice Box to keep your house cool"

Oops. He was being exceedingly nice, and I didn't get that. Time to have a little more fun!

You say, "Oh, is that not a present?"

I really did think Ice Boxes were possible gifts.

You say, "How do you get an ice box?"
Wubbie's Lil Tinkerer says, "we head bravely into Mount Ingot and kill the boss and loot his heart"
Wubbie's Lil Tinkerer says, "and then each snowman here gives a different reward.... a title, a carrot dagger, giant snowballs, ice box and some other things"
You say, "lol, a carrot dagger"
Wubbie's Lil Tinkerer says, "its just up the hill"
You say, "Sure, let's try it"
Wubbie's Lil Tinkerer says, "We are headed right to the bottom ignore the trash mobs"

Scold tells you, "I'm guessing those sniveling little snow drifts sent you. You should have stayed out of this. Now you get to see what it feels like to be melted!"
Your assault sends Scold to an icy death!
Scold says, "Oh, I'm just getting started!"
The Golem falls apart. Each segment reforms into a smaller version of the original.
Scold Chunk tells you, "We will wreck you!"
Your assault sends Scold Chunk to an icy death!
The golem splits in two. The small halves turn to face you!
Scold Chunk says, "I could use some help with this one guys!"
Scold Chunk tells you, "We will wreck you!"
Your attack stops Scold Chunk cold!
Scold Lump suffers a frozen fate!
Scold Lump says, "No!!! I'll be back!"

Wubbie's Lil Tinkerer says, "loot a lump :)"
You say, "Haha, awesome"
Wubbie's Lil Tinkerer says, "back to village"
Wubbie's Lil Tinkerer says, "you find one?"
Elchorn says, "the heart?"
Wubbie's Lil Tinkerer says, "yep"
Elchorn says, "got it"
Wubbie's Lil Tinkerer says, "to the village"
Wubbie's Lil Tinkerer says, "Ok"

Back in Frost Haven now. Wubbie took me door to door to point at the Snow People.

Wubbie's Lil Tinkerer says, "this snwoman gives the ice box"
Wubbie's Lil Tinkerer says, "this oen is the carrot dagger"
Wubbie's Lil Tinkerer says, "Mayor gives title"
Wubbie's Lil Tinkerer says, "she gives giant snowflake"
Wubbie's Lil Tinkerer says, "he gives a pie that gives a 13% frost buff"

You say, "What a cool town (no pun intended)"

Maybe a little intended. At least it wasn't a "snowballs" joke.

Wubbie's Lil Tinkerer says, "Nip gives deadly snwoballs"
Wubbie's Lil Tinkerer says, "Numb gives giant snowballs"
You say, "I'll go for the ice box"

You give Elijah Scold's Heart.
Elijah tells you, "Ow! It's still hot, and burning. The fact that it still gives off heat is interesting. Let's see, I have your reward over here."
Elijah gives you Ice Box.

You say, "Woot!"
You say, "My villa has a heating and cooling system, lol"
You say, "Great quest, thanks for the heads-up"
You say, "Now I know what to expect if I do it again =)"

Wubbie's Lil Tinkerer says, "its here all the time ;)"
Elchorn says, "off I go, thanks for the fun times in Frost Haven again"
You say, "I need to bail -- thanks for the quest guys. =)"
You bow deeply.
Wubbie's Lil Tinkerer says, "See ya Tai thanks for coming :)"
You say, "=)"
Logging off...

My villa now has heating and air conditioning. And when the battle was over, I had 9 Stamina Philtres left. I'd have been in trouble if I had dropped them.

Pretty great quest.

And here I was thinking I was in a rare drought . . .

. . . when I find 2 rares in about 6 hours (RL time, not game time). Probably within 2 hours of game time.

Something called a "Harvest Reaper" which took about 30 minutes for me to kill (I was almost better off waiting for him to die of natural causes, since his head was on fire) dropped a Mana Conversion rare

(woot.).

Then, a Tukora Lieutenant (I am at 210 out of 250 for killing those buggers) dropped a Magic Resistance rare. I'm guessing that's a touch more valuable.

The long road out of poverty continues!

Woot! I'm broke!

LOL, I actually found a Globe of Aubrean in the marketplace, and snapped it up for the simple price of a Virindi Desecrator mask. So I still had some MMDs left.

Which I then spent on a Horn of Vigilance. :-P

Penniless to start 2008. Not a worry. I welcome the challenge, and will get my trade bot up and running to make a little cash.

Happy New Year!

Boy, did 2007 have its downs and ups or what? Just today, I got my villa items back, including the Virindi Mask inscribed by Fong Sai-Yuk, my old Aussie mate (who doesn't like that there is no comment function on this thing!). I also got back a ton of quest items I'd earned, complete with my oh-so-droll inscriptions. Pretty cool.

I owe a HUGE thank you to:

Adept of Dereth.

I bow to you, good sir. You rock. And I was WAY wrong about the fate of my items. They were just muled and held onto. Seems my stuff isn't that uber, lol. ;-)

So having gone through the returned items, some stuff is missing, but I don't mind. The set of Greater Olthoi Armor I bought years ago, wore once, and muled just isn't missed by me. I do indeed miss the Globe of Aubrean I had floor hooked, but I can buy one of those.

Or can I?

Because I'm me. I insisted he take a "bounty" of items for his trouble, and gave him a War Rare (100 MMD value), a X-Bow rare, a melee D rare, a Sword rare, and 9 Burning Coals (all I had). Plus, I gave him 25 MMDs.

Meaning?

LOL, I'm broke again. ;-)

But this isn't a huge issue. I've got about 15 MMDs left to buy a Globe of Aubrean, plenty of supplies otherwise to live on, and even have Diamond Powders for Writs. This will just prompt me to get my Tradebot up and running again, and try to sell those Deception Rares I have. Ubar.

Happy New Year. Be safe. 2008 is starting off on a good note for me, hope it is for you!

Har.

I love how the idiot little children are bleating about their "l33t" PvP skills, and how they're amazing at this game. WTF? THIS is what you want to declare your uberness at? Um, I'm too busy kicking ass in RL, that I don't mind saying it -- I SUCK AT THIS AC THING!

There is NOTHING I can't die against. Monsters level against me. Drudges use my skulls for bocce tournaments.

I am not leet.

I think there is some SERIOUS penis compensation going on at the VN boards right now, and it's hysterical. I'm not sure who called it a "circle jerk" but that just about sums it up.

Excuse me while another monster kills me. Hope my ego can handle it. ;-)

Low score Harbinger

I did NOT have time to go on a Harbinger quest today, but I did anyway. I first blew a good 30 minutes looking for a couple of Snowflowers (grrrrr), but netted 4 diamond powders during the search. So my villa's paid for another two cycles! :D

Anyway, the quest didn't go well -- I didn't have ANY bloodletter charms, nor any Telemiat Essences, so I was stuck just turning in a Peerless charm for a couple of points in Magic D (the 118 million XP step, plus the next one).

The problem was that we had a couple of deaths, and a couple of missed jumps. This normally isn't a problem, except that I had a serious time constraint, and I couldn't believe my eyes when it was 5pm, and we were waiting for ANOTHER Harby spawn. So I took the exit portal, got my XP, and figured I'd recall back to the Harby room, where if I died, who would care?

One problem -- if you get your reward, you don't go back to the Harby room -- you start at the top.

Oops. So I tried running back to the Harby room directly. There were only two problems:

1. I don't know the way.
2. I am Tai Fung.

Therefore, I died after the FIRST ramp. Because I was stuck between two plants and two lizards. I would have lived, but I was busy writing in @a about why I had disappeared, and asking why I hadn't just beamed to the fight room at the end again.

Sooooo, I died, cleared my body (I had dropped pyreals, and hated leaving it on display), and logged off. RL wasn't just calling, it was deafening! I had to go.

Feh. I don't begrudge the Quest leader, but only myself. I have just been having too much fun lately, and should have passed on this quest.

Double Feh. =P

What's Chu Problem?

Sorry, bad attempt at a pun there.

While I'm off dying to stuff half my level, I'll sometimes chat with Chu-Chu. She seems perfectly nice, and is definitely a character. The other day, she asked me if her alt, Wolfen al'Thor (currently alone and a monarch) could join up with the EOL under me. I pointed out right out of the gate that I'm a HORRIBLE patron, and that my time is so irregular, that I wouldn't be a good fit. But, I offered to run the idea past Marie to see if we could get her approved to join (I knew there had been some drama in the past re the EOL, so I thought it best to check in).

I give Marie a lot of credit here -- apparently, there was tons o' drama with Chu in the EOL previously, although not of her own creation. It was mostly caused by Kiaya (I'm not her biggest fan, and found her puffing about her "published book" (done by a vanity press-type publisher) to be insufferable). Chu's hubby, Stee Jans, jumped to Kiaya's defense (and Chu's), and stuff went downhill quickly.

But, for all of the bad history, hurt feelings, and drama, Marie and the EOL gave the idea of Wolfen's membership a fair shake. It was debated pretty heavily, and Marie got back to me a couple of days later --

no dice.

I think the whole thing was handled well, and I saw in Marie the same thing I felt myself about Chu -- genuine regret that Chu's alt was alone, and a desire to get Wolfen into a clan. That goes a long way in my book, and indicates that the eventual denial wasn't based on venal feelings. I likely would have gone the other way on the call, but I can't say the counter-decision was definitely wrong. Reasonable minds differ.

Marie explained her decision in detail to me via an EOL PM, and could not have been more patient in showing her analysis/thinking behind the process. It was well-done, and showed careful thought. If my original clan (the old "Covenant of the 7 Circles" under B'an al-Azir) hadn't fallen apart so badly after I was persona non grata after RL drama, I could understand protectiveness over an alliance. I was all about the C7C for so long, until they screwed me but good.

For her part, Chu took it very well, laughing that she's still disliked by association. She mentioned that she'd leave Wolfen as a "lone" player, and despite any drama in the Wandering Stranger clan right now, she'll "continue to squelch the poopieheads, lol."

Ha -- love that line. It's good advice for ANYone running around Dereth. :-)

Got a poopiehead problem? Squelch 'em!

Let there be (holiday) light!

So laaaaaate last night, I did the "original" Gift Box quest, the one where you have a chance to get "holiday lights" that are in the "round" (i.e., not string) form. I had two of those on my villa, and still need one more "round" set.

Got it!

Only died once.

In a dungeon that is 80+.

I'm level 192.

Yes, I sincerely suck at AC. :-(

Um . . . holy crap.

I just bought a solo villa.

Me.

I frickin did it.

I didn't even have to ask anyone for the item, or even get a heads-up that it was available. Since this past Monday, the 17th, I've been "available" to dump my cottage and buy a villa to replace the other one. Since I've been on more anyway, I've been checking the "@house available villa" thing. When I see one (or two!) available, I alt/tab over to Maggies, check to see where the villa is, what the rare item required to buy it is, and whether it's a 1 or 2 courtyard type.

So for the past few days, I've had very little luck. The villas either are 2-courtyard (I prefer single), or not available that long. Then today (Friday, 21 December), I noticed 2 villas available from like 1:30am (so probably since 20 December). The items were a White Virindi jewel, and a Gold Wasp Wing. The Wing-Villa wasn't impressive to me, although it did seem to have items available for "salvaging" (i.e., getting the person's stuff when they lose their villa, and you get it -- I learned all about that the hard way, by being fed a total cock-and-bull story about where my major Covenant suit and other house items are).

Anyway, while "salvaging" someone's items might be fun, the Wing-Villa wasn't right. As for the White Gem, I didn't have one. I thought I might, and noticed that people (well, one guy) was offering 100 MMDs(!!??) for one of them. Yikes.

I spent part of this morning trying to find a decent place to hunt Virindi, and found it too tedious to get to the Crater, where a dungeon filled with them was located. So I put together another inventory of my stuff, and realized I had enough Writs to buy a villa, plenty of money, and a few of the rare Villa-items.

This afternoon (about 1 hour ago), I saw a Villa available. I just alt-tabbed to Maggie, and hit "find" for the first coords. Bam, it came right up. The exact Coords:

A lone villa.

http://www.thejackcat.com/AC/settlement.asp?settleID=1490

Villa. "Island on the NE Coast"

Holy crap -- that IS a lone villa. And all it takes is an ASH tooth? I've got THOSE?

After logging onto a couple of mules to FIND them (grrrr), I got the tooth. I knew I had the writs and the cash. I tracked the place down, keeping calm, telling myself that if it was bought, no worries, there'd be more.

And all the while, every 30 seconds or so . . . "@house available villa."

Still available.

Coming up on the place was amazing. It really is a little island, complete with its own little park bench nearby. Call it a sandbar, an atoll, whatever. But it stands alone out there, on its own.

And it's 1-Courtyard.

Holy crap.

Scanning for white dots (none), I slapped down the money, item, and writs.

Nothing.

Oops.

I forgot to abandon my cottage. =P

Congratulations! You now own this dwelling.

WOOOOOOOOT!

About to move again

Starting tomorrow, I can buy a villa again. I would of course prefer my prior one, as I'm rather attached to its location, but I've noticed more and more villas becoming available. So it occurred to me . . .

. . . why not a Solo Villa?

Hmmm . . . .

Tai Fung has acquired the Enduring Enchantment augmentation!

TAKE THAT, DEATH!!!

So . . .

1. No more dropped death items.
2. No more lost buffs after dying.


Just my beautiful body strewn all over Dereth's dungeons, plains, and seashores of Vissidal.

Oh, plus all those rares on it. =P

Sigh.

I'd forgotten -- I had 2 sets of holiday lights, about 3-4 golden gromnies, quest bows, and stuff like that also lost in "Tai Fung's Katrina."

There are times I go from trying to chin up over losing the stuff, to just thinking that I should quit, despite how much enjoyment I get over this game when I do get to log on.

Bah.

I'm homeless, part 2

I had a thought about this situation. I mean, this seems like a perfect excuse to just unsubscribe. But on the other hand, maybe the answer is to become a "prospector."

Aren't there people who buy up cottages just to open up the storage and see what's in there? Then, they release the cottage and buy another one?

I'm homeless.

As detailed elsewhere in this journal, when I'm not getting killed (often) in AC, I have a pretty intense job, one that can be incredibly rewarding, but also can suck out tons of time. Plus, I was trying to train for another marathon, and just lost track of time.

LOTS of time, it appears.

Tonight, Kitra was asking, "Hey, you're paid up on your villa, right?"

OMG.

NOT good.

I logged in, and sure enough, there's my mule who typically paid rent, standing in front of the house located at my "coords for life": 36.1N, 36.1W.

Not my house anymore.

Now owned by "Moo Im A Fish"

Damn.

Punched in the stomach doesn't begin to describe how bad I felt, but it wasn't for any items in storage. As I recall, there was nothing THAT irreplaceable. I think at worst, there was a noble helm, and 1 piece of ancient armor dye. I had some stupid stuff in the chests, like a tree trunk, a Colban plant (don't ask), and perhaps some MMDs (not many, this is me we're talking about).

It was all the mounted items. I had one from Fong Sai-Yuk, and old Aussie UA mate I met as Ken Po, who was a blast, and an all-around cool guy. I lost my little bouncy Golden Gromnies. My fireworks.

My Wi Flag.

The really painful thing about this was that I knew I had to get on and pay rent, but was just so tired as of late that I couldn't get on. It looks like I missed it by about 2 weeks.

I looked through "Moo's" villa. She has a chalkboard up now, and people have left her all these notes, raving about how nice it is. They seem really happy for her.

Part of me is happy someone is happy over this. The user Moo Im a Fish is "Dalyia" on VN, but she apparently got/bought the villa from "Lord_Hastur." Dalyia knows Nastazio and Calimad, because those names were on her chalkboard congratulating her on the villa. Like I said, at least someone's happy over this.

What really jarred me was logging on to go through my mules (I'm not sure why, but my majors, rares, MMDs, and salvage were typically stored on mules, not in the chests). I never realized how so many times when I needed to just kind of "reset" in AC, I would hit @house_recall and go to my villa, to just (literally) sit up on the roof and rearrange my packs/ammo/etc.

Now, all that's left is my RAZR's wallpaper, which is of me in my Dapper Suit, up on my roof, arms akimbo -- standing next to my Colban-colored Wi Flag.

Did it!

I finished the marathon (no, not just now!). It was actually FASTER than last year's marathon, which was weird, despite training less for it. I'll post a picture later.

And in the meantime, just weathered another storm of busy-ness at work, so I'll be able to get on at more regular hours soon.

Yay all around!

Another Marathon this Sunday!

My second Marathon, again the Marine Corps Marathon is set for this Sunday, 28 September.

I'm psyched, but it's why I've missed a ton of AC.

I should post another "wish me luck" post on VN, but I haven't been posting much (lurking lots), so I don't feel right about the attention. Ah well. :-(

Wish me luck!

To grief, or not to grief?

There's this whole thread on AC:TD regarding the players who grief Gibbon Raver when he's on quests. Talk about being truly neutral on a debate, lol.

While I dislike griefers, what people on AC:TD fail to recall is that Gibbon Raver, aka David Prince, has been PERMAbanned multiple times from VN. He has gone off the deep end, "on tilt" as poker players say, numerous times.

My personal experience with him came from him accusing me of shill bidding in an auction (which I won, nice shilling, lol). It had something to do with me taking advantage of an auction with no stated sniper rule, and winning. He wasn't even a party to the auction (didn't even bid), but immediately accused me of being part of a conspiracy, with the seller, Asper. When I dared challenge him, and put my points up against his, he started sending me e-mails (from his personal Yahoo account, thus I know his name) to me. The usual stuff, the usual insults, and all of it done to make someone who has one foot in the grave (he's terribly old) feel better about himself.

This guy gets off on the AC:TD kiddies picking on him, because he feels like he can debate them and win. But he's just a rather flabby guy with awful blotchy tattoos and gripped with a huge need to hang onto long-lost youth.

Oh, and the whole DNS attacks he did on Kaos' site were the cherry on the cupcake (back when I was doing double duty posting there and on VN). The kicker was that he didn't know we had his IP & source, and then lo-n-behold, he approached Kaos months later asking to join. I pointed out to Kaos that I would not "blackball" his membership, but I personally would not stay a member. Davy was sent on his way.

So from my point of view, while I have problems with griefing, this kind of stuff could NOT happen to a better target.

Fox too tries to give you Major Mana Stone.

Too exhausted to write this last night, and I don't have the chat log here at work (your tax dollars paying for this!). ;-) I'll edit the relevant parts in later.

Anyway, I had just thanked Sunami Jen, and was logging off, when I noticed that Foxy was on. So I thought I'd just send her some well-wishes, love, etc. (I know, I'm lame, but I dig Foxy, and have my reasons for making sure she's doing ok). Anyway, she asked if I was in the MP, and I said that I was, but had just recalled.

So she told me to come back, and I did. She logs, and Fox too comes on. I'm standing there, looking dopey as usual, when she walks up, and . . .

Fox too tries to give you Major Mana Stone.

WTF? (Heh, I keep "accept items" off).

Fox too says, "Pfth turn on accept"

So I did, but not before saying,

You tell Fox too, "Why do I need a mana stone?"
Fox too says, "you'll see"

WTF x2? So I figured it was probably inscribed with something silly.

Accept items back on.

Fox too gives you 100 trade notes (250,000).

WTF WTF WTF??????

Oh, nonononononononono.

Fox too says, "Now go buy ALL the scrolls"
Fox too is recalling home.

Oh, nonononononononono.

So I start frantically attempting to hand her the notes back, but she was recalling, and I couldn't do it.

Although I DID manage to drop them on the ground. In the Marketplace. 100 MMD notes.

(Don't worry, you cretins, I did pick them up in time!).

You tell Fox too, "PUNISHMENT!"

Someone's a pretty awesome chick, but she's SO still getting a spanking. ;-)

Off shopping I go!

Bot wub.

Sunami Jen tells you, "have two scrolls for ya"

Sunami is a bot. Bots talk to me sometimes. ;-)

Anyway -- woot! Just got two more scrolls for my attempt to learn a full array of Creatures Self 7 spells. I shop with Sunami a lot for scrolls, and this owner of the bot has been making a point to find me scrolls I need, based on my !search inputs. Gotta love businesspeople! ;-)

The epilogue to the scroll chest thing

Eventually, I did find a SIK chest. It wasn't far from Candeth. I used every SIK I had, and got . . .

*drumroll*

1 scroll I could use.

ONE.

As in, "I've done better on the nickel slots in Vegas, because at least there some skank will offer to (blank) me while I'm pulling the one-armed bandits, and as creepy as that is, I think I'd rather be (blanked) by a skank instead of opening chest after chest, because at least in Vegas I'd be the one doing the (blanking) instead of getting (blanked)."

So I went to the MP and spent like 20 MMDs on bots buying MOST of the scrolls I need. I still have a few spells I'm looking for, but plenty of time to find them, since I don't want to train creature until I have every spell, and need all the XP I can save for the "don't lose your buff when you die" augment.

Time to sell that War Rare. =/

SIK, SSK, what's the difference?

Oh, only about 3 days worth of running around.

So I've needed scrolls, and as I have previously mentioned, they're a touch expensive. So, why not just go to those "scroll chests," and use up all these SSKs I've got?

This started last week. Last Sunday to be exact.

I complained (a lot) to Foxy, and in @a chat, about not being able to find a SSK chest (I have 2 rings on me just for emergencies), like when I need cash, etc.

Pretty early on in my running about to find a steel chest, I found a . . . "Steel Chest."

Woot! So I popped a SSK off a ring, and . . .

"The key doesn't fit this lock."

WTF? You mean that SIK chests are Steel?! Gack!

Off I run some more. And more. And more.

Found just TONS of SIK chests. No SSK chests.

But flipping DAYS of running around passed by. No hunting, no questing, not a thing but looking for SSK chests. And complaining to Foxy. =P

Anyway, yesterday, I FINALLY found a SSK chest (sooooo far outside Ayan, near the Drudge Aviator quest location).

I take the key I'd previously popped off the keychain, and viola!

Lots of treasure. Maybe 1 scroll.

WTF? Isn't this supposed to have 2 mana charges and 2 scrolls?

So I asked in @a.

And found out that I wanted sIk chests, not sSk ones . . .

That sound you heard was my palm hitting my forehead. Hard.

OMG. I suck. I suck. I suck. Gack.

Time to go find a SIK chest (I had a couple of rings of those left at the house).

Guess what I couldn't find?

Found tons of SSK chests, though.

Asheron tells you, "I hate you so much, your pain brings me pleasure."

What was that about the economy going down again?

I recently made the decision to switch to Creature (from Lockpick), although I'll have to re-learn Pick temporarily to take Kitra (finally!) on the Aerlinthe Quest.

So I need scrolls. Off to the MP to buy them! I used to charge a plat each on my bot. Let's see how deflation has treated them. 3 for a plat? 5 for a plat?

You tell Fizz Bang, "Point."
Fizz Bang tells you, "MMD= 1 point."

Um . . .

You tell Fizz Bnag, "Check scroll of Bravo Watchers Tend to be Gay, or whatever weird name level 7 scrolls have"

Fizz Bang tells you, "The cost of What is This Rash is 1 point."

OMG. AN MMD FOR ONE SPELL?!

Time to sell that War Rare.

Damn, another lost weekend.

I really wanted to do a Harbinger Run on Saturday, and then promptly forgot to bring my laptop with me so I could get on for a few hours. So Saturday was totally flushed. :(

Now here I am on Sunday, and my dog is destined for the hospital later today, so he can be readied for surgery Monday or Tuesday (discs in his back). He's resting comfortably at the moment, but we know he's going to have to go in. So today is flushed.

"Poop" seems like a good weekend theme. :-(

Ninja tells you . . .

. . . ehehehe I R hding!

I noted that they made Ninjas "easier" for melees and archers, so I gave into the temptation and (dun dun dun . . . ) went back to the EO to test out how I would do against them.

Number of Ninjas who spawned on me (you already know the answer) -- ZERO. And all I did was fight Rippers.

Ninjowned.

ME?! A creature mage?

So I'm afraid I've been thinking.

LeFou tells you, "A dangerous practice"

You tell LeFou, "I know."

What if . . . what if? I dropped Lockpick, despite it being necessary for my solo questing, and instead (drumroll) trained creature?

That sound you hear is a paradigm shifting without a clutch (apologies to Dogbert).

One problem -- I understand NONE of those spells. "So and so's boon, Pritzi's Honor, What Is That Rash, etc." It could take freakin' FOREVER to learn them all. Because I'd have to learn "other" spells as well, if for no other reason than to throw buffs on Mules.

Hmmm.

Gawd, this is why I still read VN: TD

OMG -- TOO FUNNY!

This is the tool who stalked me years ago, sent Doomherald some picture of a shotgun, DNS attacked Kaos's old clan web site, and yet (wait for it) -- says that people who grief in game are overcompensating for having no life(!).

IRONY ALERT!!!!

Deep "doo-doo"

Seriously, is there ANY way I can manage a run to "The Deep" without having to drop 2 bodies there at the same time? Those baddies cling to me like Lindsay Lohan to a bottle o' Chivas.

Har! Cheated death again!

Because I received a couple of @tells last week about this issue (and more than a few naughty zingers from Marie and Foxy), for the record, I logged back into the fort . . . and survived.

Sure, I had to crack an Aphus gem with 78 health left from all the spells that were pounding my tight be-hind, but I made it.

So there!

Drudges built THAT?!

I was going to see "Harry Potter" tonight, but wanted to kill a little time on Vissidial, preferably with me doing the killing more than, oh, EVERY FREAKING THING I RUN INTO!

Alas, just as my buffs ran out, I recalled to the mansion for some more 2-hour buff loving. As I was recalling, someone in @a mentioned that there was a "Drudge Fort" quest going out.

I thought, "Well, hell -- Drudges can't build anything bigger than balsa wood," I'm in!

So after digging through a dungeon looking for a shovel, we head off to . . . Cragstone.

Cragstone? I was dumbfounded.

[Fellowship] You say, "Hey, we're in Cragstone."

See?

So we head off to the "Fort," at which point I'm finally putting together all of those "Cragstone is under attack by Drudges!" messages.

Finally we get to the Fort.

Obi-Wan Kenobi says, "That's no fort. That's a space station."

Holeeeeey crapola. That thing might as well have a freaking ZIP CODE! Ack.

Oh, and did I mention it has Balloons? I remember those from the Drudge Aviator Quest, an underrated tough quest.

Balloon tells you, "OMG u are so effing owned."

[Fellowship] Lelldorin of Arendia says, "when fighting our way in, watch out for the balooons. They chain cast"

Oh, THAT'S what the Balloon meant. =/

So we get to this freaking Aircraft Carrier made of what appear to be sharpened redwood trees, and I realize we're shooting at the wall.

@e has Gaerlan flashbacks. Except in thise case we don't have giant Indiana Jones balls rolling all over us.

Grammar Police tells you, "You don't mean "Indiana Jones balls" in a possessive noun sense do you?

Anyway.

We shoot Le Door. Le Door "dies."

We fight our way through the fort, which was pretty cool, only to find: Another Door.

Another Door tells you, "Har!"

We shoot THAT door. Door dies.

At this point, about 1001 drudges run out onto us. We promptly whack 'em, and move to The Last Door.

The Last Door tells yoy, "I got somethin fo' you, beyotch."

Whatever, we kill it. Only to find a little house at the top of the fort, complete with a Withered Banderling inside, and an NPC Drudge standing outside. Eventually, the NPC told us to go look at dead "Biter Drudge" bodies for some blueprints. So I went looking.

Outside The Last Door. The one we killed.

When, at that point, Ye Olde Last Door respawns. And so do the 1001 drudges.

Um, oops.

Thank goodness Winter's Boon was stuck out there with me, otherwise, I would be in Standard Tai State, i.e., Toast.

It was then that something interesting happened:

You resist the spell cast by Drudge Ballooon.

Ok, never mind that I resisted. What the hel is a Ballooon?

Grammar police tells you, "And you were worried about Possessive Nouns? Turbine can't spell."

So, I finally got back through the door, and even got my "blueprints" off of a dead "biter."

So now what? I have to hand them over to an NPC Bandering (I hadn't noticed him earlier), and he gives me a key.

Just in time for . . .

. . . the point where I had to leave to see Harry Potter.

Potowned.

I bid goodbye to my fellow, thanked them for letting me tag along, and realizing how late it was, I logged off.

Postscript -- I was going through the log, trying to see what I could write about for today (I'm trying to get back into adding more entries again), when I saw this -- I missed it during the quest (I sometimes get random tells when I'm on):

Lelldorin of Arendia says, "Bail Tai, and not here"

Oh, crap. I can only imagine what's waiting for me when I log in . . . Toasters.

Bang! Zoom!

Happy 4th, belatedly. ;-)

*sheepish*

I've actually been playing AC a lot this past month, although at very weird hours. It's been great. Random happenings . . .

. . . I had a completely botched attempt at running Kitra though the Vissidial flagging quest (thank you "stuck in portal" bug!). That seriously sucked. But fortunately, the good ol' EOL scheduled another quest, and we ran her through -- she's flagged now!

. . . on my first time taking Kitra on an "orientation tour" of Vissidial, I died not once, but FOUR times, almost all of which were in front of Foxy and 2 other EOL members standing near the Vissidial lifestone (I unfortunately didn't have chat logging, so I missed the spellings). Kitra lived.

Feh. This new blogger is troublesome in Firefox. Lemme publish and work on the next draft.

Oooooh! Hunter's Crystal! SWEET!

Using this gem will increase your Assess Creature skill by 250 for 15 minutes.

Hunters "assess" things?! WTF? Sigh.

You cast Inferno's Bane on Mana Philtre

Sigh.

Not my proudest moment.

Foxy was on as one of her 72 characters, and she mentioned she was getting jaws. Perfect! Kit and I were getting jaws as well (we'd gotten the 125 and 110 so far). Off we go to the 90+ dungeon, where Foxy was hanging out waiting for us.

So the whole way down, I'm pwning Ravenous Eaters -- woot!
There's Foxy -- woot!
She's on as her new UA char -- woot, I'm Sho! I've got UA trained!

So I figured I'd show her how it's done!

Ravenous Eater spawns.
I try and show Foxy how it's done, and fight the thing -- barehanded.

During this time, I'm trying to work the camera for a good screenshot, when I see this message:

(Foxy's character) says, "lol you are taking damage"

I thought, "What?"

Ravenous Eater runs Tai Fung through!

Dammit.

For those of you keeping track . . .

. . . I just received my third Clutch of the Miser Augmentation.

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOT!

For YEARS, since I've been Ken Po, to even now, death has been a huge hassle because I invariably drop stuff I need. That's so done!

Now then:

--I have 3 Clutch augments
--I have the critical hit augment
--I have 1 of the 20% burden reduction augments.

What's next? Don't lose buffs when you die?

Hmmmmmm.

First Colosseum Run!

So I decided to make a Colosseum run. Alone. Just to see what the fuss was about (I had never done a run before)

The first thing I did was go to the AC Vault website and read up on what damage types you'll need. Hrm. Nothing for levels 1-5. But no worries. I've got tons of piercing arrows left over, and I might as well use them up first.

Master Arbitrator says, "Arena One is now available for new warriors!"

You make a big bundle of deadly fire arrows.

Apparently, I need these for mossies.

Master Arbitrator says, "Arena One is now available for new warriors!"

I get it, I get it.

You have created the Fellowship of Tai Flagged.
Tai Flagged is now an open fellowship; anyone may recruit new members.
Fox too has come online.
You tell Fox too, "Heyas =)"

So do I invite Foxy? But she KNOWS what she's doing. And the only way I'll learn about this place is if I do a run-though at least once by myself.

You make a big bundle of deadly lightning arrows.

I'll need these for the Blues.

Master Arbitrator says, "Arena One is now available for new warriors!"
Fox too tells you, "hey tai"

Let's cut her a break. No sense in getting her killed asap.

Master Arbitrator says, "Arena One is now available for new warriors!"
You give Master Arbitrator Colosseum Ticket.
Your fellowship is now locked. You may not recruit new members. If you leave the fellowship, you have 15 minutes to be recruited back into the fellowship.
Tai Flagged is now a closed fellowship.

A fellow (army) of One. One gimp.
Well, I've got this lockpick rare. It's not doing any good for me, so . . .

Master Arbitrator gives you Colosseum Ticket Stub.

[Fellowship] Master Arbitrator says, "Your fellowship will be battling in Arena One."
Master Arbitrator says, "Attention Patrons! Combat will soon begin in Arena One."

Don't TELL everyone I'm doing this alone! I mean, there was no one there at the time, but STILL!

[Fellowship] Master Arbitrator says, "Use one of the two portals to enter your Arena. If every member of your group is powerful enough you may skip the lower battles by using the Advanced Colosseum Arena, but any one member of your fellow may be restricted from using that portal so be careful or you may be split up."

[Fellowship] Master Arbitrator says, "Don't forget that you must wait one full hour after the time you enter the colosseum before I will reward you for your achievements in the Arenas."

[Fellowship] Master Arbitrator says, "Good Luck!"

After thinking about it, I'm sure of it -- I want to make one run through the whole thing first.

Master Arbitrator says, "Arena Two is now available for new warriors!"

At least he'll spam a little differently now.

Colosseum Arena teleports you with Colosseum Arena.

Ok -- first off, we have golems. Obviously a piece of cake, even for me.

Iron Golem's perforated corpse falls before you!
Granite Golem is fatally punctured!
Granite Golem's death is preceded by a sharp, stabbing pain!
Copper Golem is fatally punctured!
You resist the spell cast by Unstable Magma Golem
Magma Golem explodes from your attack!

You say, "I AM SPARTACUS!"

You so have to know I was saving up time JUST to scream that out in the Colosseum. ;-)

Next spawn. Yawn. Not that I'm complaining.

Skeleton Lord tried and failed to cast a spell at you!
Skeleton Lord's death is preceded by a sharp, stabbing pain!
Risen Knight's perforated corpse falls before you!
As the skeletal archer clatters to pieces on the mossy battlements, it groans the name of Aerfalle.

You say, "The Colosseum's floor is a "mossy battlement?" Looks pretty clean and well-kept to me!"

A Door appears on the North wall.

Oooooh. THAT is cool!

What's in here?

Oh. Dolls.

Innocent Doll tells you, "We prefer action figures."

Whatever.

You resist the spell cast by Contained Rift
Contained Rift is fatally punctured!
You resist the spell cast by Pristine Doll
You knock Innocent Doll into next Morningthaw!

And fire elementals. Glad I'm using a physical attack.

You resist the spell cast by Flare
You run Gout through!
You resist the spell cast by Flamma

You say, "I AM SPARTACUS!"

Woot! After action figures, what's next? Transformers?

Oh -- bandies.

Banderling Striker's death is preceded by a sharp, stabbing pain!
You resist the spell cast by Banderling Striker

Banderling Striker cast Bludgeoning Vulnerability Other IV on you

WATAF!!?!???

The deadly force of your attack is so strong that Banderling Striker's ancestors feel it!

Beyotch.

Whoops. Out of ammo. Don't bandies hate piercing attacks?

You make a big bundle of deadly armor-piercing arrows.

You resist the spell cast by Banderling Striker
You resist the spell cast by Banderling Striker
You resist the spell cast by Banderling Striker
You resist the spell cast by Banderling Striker
You resist the spell cast by Banderling Striker
You resist the spell cast by Banderling Striker
You resist the spell cast by Banderling Striker
You resist the spell cast by Banderling Striker

Spell-happy, ain't they?

Banderling Striker cast Bludgeoning Vulnerability Other IV on you, surpassing Bludgeoning Vulnerability Other IV

Oh, FFS. It's not going to affect me, but sheesh.

You slay Banderling Striker viciously enough to impart death several times over!
A Door appears on the North wall.

Woo hoo. That's cool, but creepy.

Time for more fighting!

Your missile attack hit the environment.

Whether there's an enemy or not.

Oh, I like Tummies. Taste my death, j00!

Tumerok Gladiator's perforated corpse falls before you!
Tumerok Gladiator's death is preceded by a sharp, stabbing pain!
You run Tumerok Gladiator through!

Oh, crap -- I forgot

You say, "I AM SPARTACUS!"

Bobo's Quickening has expired.
Brighteyes' Favor has expired.
Ketnan's Eye has expired.

Time to keep drinking!

You cast Bobo's Quickening on yourself, surpassing Ogfoot
You cast Brighteyes' Favor on yourself, surpassing Honed Control
You cast Ketnan's Eye on yourself, surpassing Calming Gaze

Woot.

Demented Zharalim cast Magic Yield Other IV on you
You resist the spell cast by Demented Zharalim
Demented Zharalim cast Vulnerability Other IV on you

I still don't know what the heck a "Zharalim" is, but I'm thinking they look like weird Mujahadeen.

Demented Zharalim nicks you for 34 points with Force Bolt IV.
Maddened Zharalim's perforated corpse falls before you!
Demented Zharalim singes you for 16 points with Flame Bolt IV.
You resist the spell cast by Maddened Zharalim
You run Demented Zharalim through!
You resist the spell cast by Maddened Zharalim
You lose 6 points of stamina due to Crazed Zharalim casting Drain Stamina Other III on you
You resist the spell cast by Maddened Zharalim
You lose 30 points of mana due to Crazed Zharalim casting Drain Mana Other III on you
You knock Demented Zharalim into next Morningthaw!

This is taking too long, and I'm taking too much damage. Time to switch attacks.

Your lightning coruscates over Demented Zharalim's mortal remains!
Blistered by lightning, Maddened Zharalim falls!

Well, THAT worked.

Demented Zharalim cast Imperil Other V on you
Demented Zharalim cast Magic Yield Other IV on you, surpassing Magic Yield Other IV
Demented Zharalim cast Imperil Other V on you, surpassing Imperil Other V

Wow. So much for lowering Magic Defense to trained.

You heal yourself for 93 Health points. Your Treated Healing Kit has 5 uses left.
A Door appears on the North wall.

Okies. Now according to my little ol' chart here, I'm to face bugs.

You say, "I HATE BUGS!"

I wonder if I can get away with using piercing on these guys.

Red Rune Silveran Bow cast Moderate Bow Aptitude on you, surpassing Moderate Bow Aptitude
Red Rune Silveran Bow cast Honed Control on you, but it is surpassed by Brighteyes' Favor
You run White Phyntos Wasp through!

That would be a yes. But I bet bludgeoning would do better. I'd just be burdened if I made THOSE kinds of arrows, too."

You resist the spell cast by Black Phyntos Wasp
You obliterate Black Phyntos Wasp!
You resist the spell cast by White Phyntos Wasp
Black Phyntos Wasp's perforated corpse falls before you!
Black Phyntos Swarm sparks you for 32 points with Lightning Bolt V.
Black Phyntos Swarm shocks you for 37 points with Lightning Bolt V.

You say, "I AM STILL SPARTAGUS!"

But I *am* starting to take some damage.

You resist the spell cast by Black Phyntos Swarm
Black Phyntos Wasp sparks you for 22 points with Lightning Arc IV.
You resist the spell cast by Black Phyntos Swarm
Black Phyntos Swarm sparks you for 9 points with Lightning Blast V.
Black Phyntos Swarm sparks you for 10 points with Lightning Volley IV.
Black Phyntos Swarm sparks you for 9 points with Lightning Volley IV.
You resist the spell cast by Black Phyntos Wasp


You heal yourself for 101 Health points. Your Plentiful Healing Kit has 67 uses left.

Whew.

This is weird now. There are two hives left. Just standing there, doing nothing, like the monoliths from 2001. Except these two don't have a pack of screaming monkeys surrounding them.

Black Phyntos Hive is fatally punctured!
Black Phyntos Hive is incinerated by your assault!

Time for the second round.

You say, "WFT? More bugs?"

Yes, I actually typed "WFT." Sigh.

Hey, fire worked well on that last hive. Let's try it on the bugs.

You bring Black Phyntos Wasp to a fiery end!
White Phyntos Wasp is incinerated by your assault!
White Phyntos Wasp is incinerated by your assault!
Black Phyntos Wasp's seared corpse smolders before you!
Black Phyntos Wasp's seared corpse smolders before you!
Black Phyntos Swarm is incinerated by your assault!
You obliterate White Phyntos Wasp!
You bring White Phyntos Wasp to a fiery end!
Black Phyntos Wasp is incinerated by your assault!
You bring Black Phyntos Swarm to a fiery end!

THAT is a yes.

Oh good. More hives.

Black Phyntos Hive's seared corpse smolders before you!
Black Phyntos Hive is incinerated by your assault!

You say, "EFFING DRUDGES?!"
That's code for, "And now drudges."

These guys HATE fire, right?

You bring Augmented Drudge to a fiery end!
You bring Altered Drudge to a fiery end!
Altered Drudge catches your attack, with dire consequences!
Altered Drudge's seared corpse smolders before you!
You bring Altered Drudge to a fiery end!
You knock Altered Drudge into next Morningthaw!
Augmented Drudge is reduced to cinders!
Altered Drudge is reduced to cinders!

Seems it.

Baktak the Human Slayer says, "Time for a little payback!"
Kerthump the Ear Taker says, "I'm gonna bite me off some human ears!"

Ooooh. How neat! Named Drudges?! I bet they're something out of the Drudge "fight club" quest. Wish I knew about it more than that.

You smite Baktak the Human Slayer mightily!
Baktak the Human Slayer says, "Not Again!"
You resist the spell cast by Kerthump the Ear Taker
You resist the spell cast by Kerthump the Ear Taker
You say, "Har"
You knock Kerthump the Ear Taker into next Morningthaw!
Kerthump the Ear Taker says, "No! Don't take my belt you dirty humans!"

Oh, DEFINITELY from that fight club quest.

A Door appears on the North wall.

Next round. Me and my fire bow "blaze" in. Get it? Har.

You resist the spell cast by Cursed Wisp
You resist the spell cast by Fire Wisp
You resist the spell cast by Fire Wisp
You resist the spell cast by Fire Wisp

Um, maybe I shouldn't be using fire.

Fire Wisp is fatally punctured!
Fire Wisp's perforated corpse falls before you!
You run Cursed Wisp through!
Stasis Wisp is fatally punctured!

You say, "Well, just as well that I switched from fire!"
You say, "I HATE WISPS!"

I'm not always this negative. But this is like a hit parade of things that have killed me. A lot. In a row.

It's at this point that things got bad for the first time.

You say, "Gromnies? Who let the dawgs out!?"
You say, "Har."

But not so fast.

I'm doing SQUAT for damage. I realized that the colors of these dawggies corresponds to what damage you shouldn't do to them, elemental wise.

@e is color blind.

You say, "Uh oh."

So I hit on this method --

Royal Runed War Bow cast Moderate Bow Aptitude on you, surpassing Moderate Bow Aptitude
You cast Gossamer Flesh on Emerald Gromnie
You cast Gossamer Flesh on Emerald Gromnie, surpassing Gossamer Flesh
You heal yourself for 111 Health points. Your Plentiful Healing Kit has 66 uses left.
You heal yourself for 76 Health points. Your Plentiful Healing Kit has 65 uses left.
Red Rune Silveran Bow cast Moderate Bow Aptitude on you, surpassing Moderate Bow Aptitude
Red Rune Silveran Bow cast Honed Control on you, but it is surpassed by Brighteyes' Favor
Emerald Gromnie's perforated corpse falls before you!

I hit them with my War bow until I Gossamer'd them, then I switched to pierce vuln'd weapon.

This.
Took.
Time.


You cast Gossamer Flesh on Brass Gromnie
Brass Gromnie's perforated corpse falls before you!

Royal Runed War Bow cast Moderate Bow Aptitude on you, surpassing Moderate Bow Aptitude
You cast Gossamer Flesh on Sapphire Gromnie
Red Rune Silveran Bow cast Moderate Bow Aptitude on you, surpassing Moderate Bow Aptitude
Red Rune Silveran Bow cast Honed Control on you, but it is surpassed by Brighteyes' Favor
You obliterate Sapphire Gromnie!

And more time.

Royal Runed War Bow cast Moderate Bow Aptitude on you, surpassing Moderate Bow Aptitude
You cast Gossamer Flesh on Amethyst Gromnie
Red Rune Silveran Bow cast Moderate Bow Aptitude on you, surpassing Moderate Bow Aptitude
Red Rune Silveran Bow cast Honed Control on you, but it is surpassed by Brighteyes' Favor
You run Amethyst Gromnie through!

Whew. Finally.

Then (naturally) more came in.

You say, "MORE OF YOU IDJITS?"
You say, "What more could go wrong?"

The spell Inferno's Bane on Asheron's Supreme Raiment has expired.
The spell Inferno's Bane on Ancient Armored Long Boots has expired.
The spell Inferno's Bane on Ancient Armored Gauntlets has expired.
The spell Inferno's Bane on Ancient Armored Leggings has expired.
The spell Inferno's Bane on Ancient Armored Bracers has expired.
The spell Inferno's Bane on Ancient Armored Vestment has expired.
The spell Inferno's Bane on Ancient Armored Helm has expired.

You say, "Uh oh"

The spell Gelidite's Bane on Ancient Armored Leggings has expired.
The spell Gelidite's Bane on Asheron's Supreme Raiment has expired.
The spell Gelidite's Bane on Ancient Armored Long Boots has expired.
The spell Gelidite's Bane on Ancient Armored Gauntlets has expired.
The spell Gelidite's Bane on Ancient Armored Leggings has expired.
The spell Gelidite's Bane on Ancient Armored Bracers has expired.
The spell Gelidite's Bane on Ancient Armored Vestment has expired.

The spell Gelidite's Bane on Ancient Armored Helm has expired.
The spell Astyrrian's Bane on Asheron's Supreme Raiment has expired.
The spell Astyrrian's Bane on Ancient Armored Long Boots has expired.
The spell Astyrrian's Bane on Ancient Armored Gauntlets has expired.
The spell Astyrrian's Bane on Ancient Armored Leggings has expired.
The spell Astyrrian's Bane on Ancient Armored Bracers has expired.
The spell Astyrrian's Bane on Ancient Armored Vestment has expired.
The spell Astyrrian's Bane on Ancient Armored Helm has expired.

So I have to rebuff. And yes, the MOBs are STILL IN THE ROOM. Ignoring me. They've literally walked away, and aren't even FACING me. I had taken that long to kill the others, that the second crew got BORED.

You shake your fist.

But I'm not stupid.

You cast Inferno's Bane on Ancient Armored Long Boots
You cast Inferno's Bane on Ancient Armored Gauntlets
You cast Inferno's Bane on Ancient Armored Vestment
You cast Inferno's Bane on Ancient Armored Leggings
You cast Inferno's Bane on Asheron's Supreme Raiment
You cast Inferno's Bane on Ancient Armored Helm
You cast Inferno's Bane on Ancient Armored Bracers

You cast Gelidite's Bane on Ancient Armored Long Boots
You cast Gelidite's Bane on Ancient Armored Gauntlets
You cast Gelidite's Bane on Ancient Armored Vestment
You cast Gelidite's Bane on Ancient Armored Leggings
You cast Gelidite's Bane on Asheron's Supreme Raiment
You cast Gelidite's Bane on Ancient Armored Helm
You cast Gelidite's Bane on Ancient Armored Bracers

You cast Astyrrian's Bane on Ancient Armored Long Boots
You cast Astyrrian's Bane on Ancient Armored Gauntlets
You cast Astyrrian's Bane on Ancient Armored Vestment
You cast Astyrrian's Bane on Ancient Armored Leggings
You cast Astyrrian's Bane on Asheron's Supreme Raiment
You cast Astyrrian's Bane on Ancient Armored Helm
You cast Astyrrian's Bane on Ancient Armored Bracers

You cast Tusker's Bane on Ancient Armored Long Boots, surpassing Tusker's Bane
You cast Tusker's Bane on Ancient Armored Gauntlets, surpassing Tusker's Bane
You cast Tusker's Bane on Ancient Armored Bracers, surpassing Tusker's Bane
You cast Tusker's Bane on Ancient Armored Vestment, surpassing Tusker's Bane
You cast Tusker's Bane on Ancient Armored Leggings, surpassing Tusker's Bane
You cast Tusker's Bane on Asheron's Supreme Raiment, surpassing Tusker's Bane
You cast Tusker's Bane on Ancient Armored Helm, surpassing Tusker's Bane

You cast Swordsman's Bane on Ancient Armored Long Boots, surpassing Swordsman's Bane
You cast Swordsman's Bane on Ancient Armored Gauntlets, surpassing Swordsman's Bane
You cast Swordsman's Bane on Ancient Armored Vestment, surpassing Swordsman's Bane
You cast Swordsman's Bane on Ancient Armored Leggings, surpassing Swordsman's Bane
You cast Swordsman's Bane on Asheron's Supreme Raiment, surpassing Swordsman's Bane
You cast Swordsman's Bane on Ancient Armored Helm, surpassing Swordsman's Bane
You cast Swordsman's Bane on Ancient Armored Bracers, surpassing Swordsman's Bane

Almost done!

You say, "Malar Quaril"
Your spell fizzled.

Or not.

Fast forward -- back to it.

Emerald Gromnie's perforated corpse falls before you!
You cast Gossamer Flesh on Sapphire Gromnie
You cast Gossamer Flesh on Emerald Gromnie
You run Brass Gromnie through!
Emerald Gromnie is fatally punctured!
Sapphire Gromnie's death is preceded by a sharp, stabbing pain!

You say, "24 minutes left!"

The spell Archer's Bane on Asheron's Supreme Raiment has expired.
The spell Archer's Bane on Ancient Armored Long Boots has expired.
The spell Archer's Bane on Ancient Armored Gauntlets has expired.
The spell Archer's Bane on Ancient Armored Leggings has expired.
The spell Archer's Bane on Ancient Armored Bracers has expired.
The spell Archer's Bane on Ancient Armored Vestment has expired.
The spell Archer's Bane on Ancient Armored Helm has expired.

The spell Swordsman's Bane on Asheron's Supreme Raiment has expired.
The spell Swordsman's Bane on Ancient Armored Long Boots has expired.
The spell Swordsman's Bane on Ancient Armored Gauntlets has expired.
The spell Swordsman's Bane on Ancient Armored Leggings has expired.
The spell Swordsman's Bane on Ancient Armored Bracers has expired.
The spell Swordsman's Bane on Ancient Armored Vestment has expired.
The spell Swordsman's Bane on Ancient Armored Helm has expired.

You say, "COULD EVERYTHING STOP EXPIRING ON ME, PLEASE?!"

Back to it.

You cast Archer's Bane on Ancient Armored Bracers
You cast Archer's Bane on Ancient Armored Long Boots
You cast Archer's Bane on Ancient Armored Gauntlets
You cast Archer's Bane on Ancient Armored Vestment
You cast Archer's Bane on Ancient Armored Leggings
You cast Archer's Bane on Asheron's Supreme Raiment
You cast Archer's Bane on Ancient Armored Helm

The spell Tusker's Bane on Asheron's Supreme Raiment has expired.
The spell Tusker's Bane on Ancient Armored Long Boots has expired.
The spell Tusker's Bane on Ancient Armored Helm has expired.
The spell Tusker's Bane on Ancient Armored Gauntlets has expired.
The spell Tusker's Bane on Ancient Armored Leggings has expired.
The spell Tusker's Bane on Ancient Armored Bracers has expired.
The spell Tusker's Bane on Ancient Armored Vestment has expired.

And now, the mossies. THESE guys I know don't like fire.

You obliterate Mosswart Swamp Lord!

Mosswart Scrounger is incinerated by your assault!
Mosswart Scavenger is incinerated by your assault!
Mosswart Swamp Lord is incinerated by your assault!
You bring Mosswart Scavenger to a fiery end!
Mosswart Scrounger is incinerated by your assault!

You say, "So, I'm liking you guys better than the Gromnies . . ."

Understatement of the year.

Mosswart Scrounger's seared corpse smolders before you!
You resist the spell cast by Mosswart Swamp Lord
Mosswart Scavenger is reduced to cinders!
You knock Mosswart Swamp Lord into next Morningthaw!
Mosswart Swamp Lord is incinerated by your assault!

You say, "WTF?"

I have thought and thought about this -- I have no idea why I said that.

You expertly heal yourself for 99 Health points. Your Plentiful Healing Kit has 65 uses left.
You heal yourself for 93 Health points. Your Plentiful Healing Kit has 64 uses left.
You heal yourself for 200 Health points. Your Plentiful Healing Kit has 63 uses left.

Unless it was because I was nearly dead, and hadn't noticed??

So now, according to the chart, you are supposed to use lightning on the lugians and mattys.

But I am having a freaking TOUGH time, even with the War Bow.

Royal Runed War Bow cast Moderate Bow Aptitude on you, surpassing Moderate Bow Aptitude
You cast Gossamer Flesh on War Mattekar
You cast Gossamer Flesh on War Mattekar, surpassing Gossamer Flesh
Your lightning coruscates over War Mattekar's mortal remains!

Remember - I filter all combat, so trust me, this took a LONG time.

So I decided to take a look.

You succeeded to remove a global squelch.
You evaded War Mattekar!
You evaded War Mattekar!
You evaded War Mattekar!
You spark War Mattekar for 57 points of electrical damage!
Bobo's Quickening has expired.
You evaded War Mattekar!
Gotrok Juggernaut grazes your abdomen for 4 points of bludgeoning damage!
You evaded War Mattekar!
You evaded War Mattekar!
You evaded War Mattekar!
You spark War Mattekar for 51 points of electrical damage!
You evaded War Mattekar!
You evaded War Mattekar!
You evaded War Mattekar!
War Mattekar scratches your upper leg for 2 points of slashing damage!
You evaded War Mattekar!
Gotrok Juggernaut grazes your lower leg for 4 points of bludgeoning damage!
Brighteyes' Favor has expired.
Ketnan's Eye has expired.
You spark War Mattekar for 68 points of electrical damage!
You evaded War Mattekar!
You evaded War Mattekar!
You evaded War Mattekar!
You evaded War Mattekar!
You evaded War Mattekar!
You spark War Mattekar for 62 points of electrical damage!

This is NOT a lot of damage.

You spark War Mattekar for 28 points of electrical damage!
In fact, it's downright sucky.

Screw it. Let's try fire.

You scorch War Mattekar for 116 points of fire damage!
You scorch War Mattekar for 140 points of fire damage!
You scorch War Mattekar for 107 points of fire damage!
You scorch War Mattekar for 114 points of fire damage!
You scorch War Mattekar for 128 points of fire damage!
War Mattekar is reduced to cinders!

Ok, so I like that MUCh better.

Critical hit! You burn War Mattekar for 292 points of fire damage!

WAY MUCH BETTER.

You say, "Ok, so whoever had "Lightning" as the attack on IGN can BITE ME"

Har. Back to filtering.

You succeeded to add a global squelch.

You bring War Mattekar to a fiery end!
You say, "Ok, so this is MUCH easier"
You say, "No offense, Mattys"
War Mattekar is incinerated by your assault!
You bring War Mattekar to a fiery end!
War Mattekar is incinerated by your assault!
You bring War Mattekar to a fiery end!
You bring War Mattekar to a fiery end!

A Door appears on the North wall.

I am SO happy to see a door at this point. Sheesh.

Ok, here we go again.

You have killed 9 Repugnant Eaters! You must kill 50 to complete your task.
You say, "PUGS?"
You have killed 10 Repugnant Eaters! You must kill 50 to complete your task.
You have killed 11 Repugnant Eaters! You must kill 50 to complete your task.
You have killed 12 Repugnant Eaters! You must kill 50 to complete your task.

You say, "Woo - hoo! I'll make great headway on that kill task!"
You say, "And it only cost me a rare! Oh . . ."

You split Ravenous Eater apart!
You cleave Ravenous Eater in twain!

You say, "Not just Pugs. =("

You have killed 13 Repugnant Eaters! You must kill 50 to complete your task.
You have killed 14 Repugnant Eaters! You must kill 50 to complete your task.
You have killed 15 Repugnant Eaters! You must kill 50 to complete your task.
You have killed 16 Repugnant Eaters! You must kill 50 to complete your task.
You have killed 17 Repugnant Eaters! You must kill 50 to complete your task.
You have killed 18 Repugnant Eaters! You must kill 50 to complete your task.
You have killed 19 Repugnant Eaters! You must kill 50 to complete your task.
You have killed 20 Repugnant Eaters! You must kill 50 to complete your task.

You say, "8 minutes?!"
You say, "Holy crap! I might not die in this place!"

You say, "Er, but it would be helpful if I --DID--"

I meant this. Because I wanted the answer about whether you got vitae and/or dropped items. I'd heard both.

And then the Blues showed up. Pshaw. I have lightning arrows, fool! I eat you idiots for breakfast!

Blistered by lightning, Viamontian Tribune falls!
Blistered by lightning, Viamontian Tribune falls!

See?

Adept of Acid sears you for 44 points with Disintegration.
You resist the spell cast by Adept of Fire
Adept of Frost chills you for 50 points with Icy Torment.
Adept of Lightning sparks you for 14 points with Luminous Wrath.
Adept of Lightning cast Wrath of Harlune on you
Adept of Frost cast Wrath of Harlune on you, surpassing Wrath of Harlune
Adept of Fire singes you for 15 points with Silencia's Scorn.
Adept of Acid blisters you for 17 points with Dissolving Vortex.
Adept of Frost cast Wrath of Harlune on you, surpassing Wrath of Harlune
Adept of Lightning cast Wrath of the Hieromancer on you
You resist the spell cast by Adept of Acid
Adept of Fire scorches you for 46 points with Ilservian's Flame.
Adept of Fire cast Wrath of Harlune on you, surpassing Wrath of Harlune
Adept of Frost cast Wrath of Adja on you
Adept of Lightning cast Wrath of Harlune on you, surpassing Wrath of Harlune
Adept of Acid blisters you for 23 points with Dissolving Vortex.

You say, "WTF?"
You say, "YOU BROUGHT SPELLCASTERS!?"

Adept of Frost cast Pacification on your Teak Electric Bow
Adept of Acid blisters you for 25 points with Celdiseth's Searing.
Adept of Fire singes you for 22 points with Silencia's Scorn.
Adept of Lightning sparks you for 20 points with Luminous Wrath.

Uh oh.

You fail to heal yourself. Your Renegade Herbal Kit has 33 uses left.

Uh oh uh oh.

Viamontian Tribune beats you to a lifeless pulp!
You have retained all your items. You do not need to recover your corpse!

You say, "Ahem . . ."
You say, "Let's see . . ."
You say, "All spells gone? Check."

You're no longer protected by the Lifestone's magic!

You say, "Tons of arrows stuck on me, leaving me burdened? Check check."
You say, "Oh! 6 minutes left! Woot!"
You say, "Shurov Thipaj"
The spell consumed the following components: Prismatic Taper
Colosseum Arena teleports you with Colosseum Arena.

You say, "Sweet! I can go back where I was!"
You say, "Wait. Not rebuffed yet."
You say, ". . ."
You say, "And I *do* have vitae!"

You say, "Well, the mossies were relatively easy, I'll kill them and get rid of vitae"

Tai Fung rings the bell in Arena 6
Tai Fung waits

You say, "Oh."
You say, "Ah, what the heck -- how fast can I die in the Viamont room, anyway?"

Adept of Frost frosts you for 123 points with Icy Torment.
Adept of Fire singes you for 18 points with Silencia's Scorn.
The thunder of Viamontian Tribune crushing Tai Fung is followed by the deafening silence of your death!
Adept of Fire cast Wrath of Harlune on you
You have retained all your items. You do not need to recover your corpse!
The Lifestone's magic protects you from the attack!

You say, "Oh."
You say, "Ahem"
You say, "Now it's personal"
You say, "Shurov Thipaj"
Your actions have dispelled the Lifestone's magic!

Colosseum Arena teleports you with Colosseum Arena.
You cast Blackmoor’s Favor on yourself
You cast Asheron’s Benediction on yourself
You say, "BITE ME, BLUE SKINS!"

Blistered by lightning, Adept of Frost falls!

Ha. Got one. I'm pleased.
You say, "HA!"
See?

Adept of Lightning tried to cast a spell on you, but was too far away!
Its lifespan finished, your Colosseum Ticket Stub crumbles to dust.

Well, now -- time for my fat reward!

You've earned 500,000 experience.

You say, "..."

Master Arbitrator tells you, "You fought well! You are a skilled combatant."
Master Arbitrator tells you, "You shall be known to all as a "Gladiator"!"
Master Arbitrator tells you, "Take this knowledge as a reward for your accomplishments."

Master Arbitrator says, "Arena Two is now available for new warriors!"

Master Arbitrator says, "Arena One is now available for new warriors!"

Because the gimp just left Arena One. Don't mind his pee-pee puddles.

Wrath of Adja has expired.
Inferno's Gift has expired.
Wrath of the Hieromancer has expired.
Wrath of Adja has expired.
Gossamer Flesh has expired.
Logging off...
You have left the General channel.
You have left the Trade channel.
You have left the LFG channel.
You have left the Roleplay channel.
You have left the Allegiance channel.

Sigh.

Overall, it was actually great fun. I'm genuinely pleased. I think I lost a TON of time with the Gromnies, and whoever wrote to use lightning on the mattys can bite me. I can see why that place is addictive, though.

Doing this solo for my maiden run was no Aerlinthe (when I soloed it on my first time through that quest, but it took me 2+

hours, and a consult from Capt. Justice). But it was fun.

And that is what Asheron's Call is all about.