Blog Truancy and a Special Announcement

There’s a big announcement at the end.  You can skip the noz if you want and just scroll down and read that.

So I’ve kinda been playing blog hookey lately.  I am a truant.  Sylus however, now that he’s back in school, is Mr. Bloggity-Blog-Blog-Goody-Two-Shoes.  He’s been bringing the blog teacher a shiny new apple each and every day.  Hey Sy, you have a little something on your noise.  Its brown.  No, a little higher.  There it is.

Man, my metaphors sure take a turn for the odd.

So what’s been up?  Well, I’ve kinda been running out of topics to blog on, and I’ve kinda been binge-alting again.  A quick summary of the recruit a friend goodness:

2 x Shaman (level 60)
1 x Warlock (level 60)
1 x Paladin (level 64)
1 x Rogue (level 36)
1 x Warrior (level 15)
1 x Priest (level 15)

Right now I’m working on the Rogue / Warrior.  The Rogue is being leveled with my buddy Vrugore’s Warlock, Maadra.  The Warrior is being dual-boxed with the priest, who’s kinda just along for the ride.  In addition to the recruit a friend stuff, I got my third toon to 70 last week, my Resto Druid Anteaus.  And in addition to those toons, I have my 70 Mage and 70 Hunter and a 61 SPriest.  And since I’ve pretty much all but abandoned my Alliance toons, I won’t bother listing them.

And now, FOR THE PIE!*  Err, I mean for the Announcement.

* We at For the Horde do not condone offering Pie as a lie.  All offers of Pie should be genuine and heartfelt, and should be followed through on, unlike offers of cake.  This was not a real offer for Pie.  Had this been a real offer for Pie, we totally would have followed through.  We at For The Horde love Pie in all its greatness, and we would like to take this opportunity to denounce cake.  The cake is a lie.

So, the final reason as to why I haven’t been bloggin much is due to a new project I’ve been working on.  It is still in its infancy stages, but I’m fairly comfortable that most of the details have been worked out to make it live to harddrive.

When I started WoW I was a casual RP’er.  I enjoyed it as a fun addition to an already fun game.  At some point, though, my focus switched to seeing the endgame and leveling and raiding, while the RP aspects of the game got left behind.  With the doldrums that have arisen before WOTLKEE, I began finding that some of the stuff I had wanted to do, I wouldn’t be able to, and so it lost a lot of its fun for me.  That, coupled with some drama in a few guilds we tried had made me give up on raiding.

I decided that I wanted to get back into RP’ing, and blogging about RP stories, something which I had done with Fikkle when I first started.  I thought about simply posting the RP stories here, however, For The Horde hasn’t really ever been an RP-focused blog, and I didn’t want to take away from the general sillyness we tend to lean towards.

So I decided I was going to take it to another site and get started there.  I have since purchased a domain and hosting.  I’m in the process of learning how to set that all up, but that’s another story for another time. 

Lastly, much the same with this blog, I thought our RP site would be much more interesting if there was more than just myself writing for it, but I didn’t necesarily want to limit the site to myself and Sy either.  So I offered it to our close group of friends that game together, and so far, there are going to be five contributors: Myself, Sylus, the infamous Nimroc, the not quite-yet famous Vrugore/Arameth and finally, my baby brother, Khaza.

So here’s a quick run down of what its going to be about:

We’re all going to be contributing stories to an overall saga that will be ongoing throughout the story of WoW.  Each author is going to choose up to four toons to act as main characters, while the plethora of alts that we all have are going to make up our supporting character roles.  The overall story will be based in the lore of wow, but we plan on creating our own lore as well. 

We’ll be giving updates in the next couple of weeks as we work out details and I’ll get links up to the new site once we have it semi-functional (at least).  We’ve got a name for the project, but I’m going to keep that under my hat for now.  So if you enjoy RP and are interested in following allong with some interesting and funny RP stories, stay tuned.

SO SAY WE ALL

Fikkle

Grimshott and Valkyrie

Kin to the Warsong Clan, Grimshott was raised in the forests of Ashenvale where he spent weeks at a time out in the wilds among the critters and beasts.  Aware of the many perils that he might face within those ancient woods, Grim developed a keen tracking sense that allowed him to elude would be predators and enemies.

He often spent his time on the hunt.  He would kill only when he needed food, but he would track any and all creatures that he could find for the thrill of the hunt.  Often times he spent days tracking a single animal, following its tracks and the trail it left behind until he caught up to it.  When he inevitable found his quarry, he would draw ever closer, silently stalking it, but allowing the creature to sense his presence and grow accustomed to his scent.  When the creature would no longer become spooked, Grim would reveal himself to the beast, allowing it to see him and again, grow accustomed to his presence.  His ultimate goal was to tame the wild creatures he followed, gaining their trust and returning that trust in kind.  Grim often would provide small amounts of food and over the course of time, many of the creatures would then seek him out.  When his current target ultimately grew passive to his presence, Grim would head back into the forests in seek of his next challenge.  It was in this way that he became destined to be one of the great Beastmasters of the Horde.

Grim also learned many other valuable skills while on his hunts.  In addition to his prowess at tracking, he developed a knack for setting and baiting traps for the beasts he hunted for food.  When he eventually captured something worthy of cooking, he honed his skills at skinning, using the hides and leathers to craft simple pieces of armor and clothing.  Grim also carried with him a bow, with which he’d practiced from the time he was just a young Orclet.  While he was not a perfect marksman, he very rarely missed his targets.

By the time Grim grew of age, he’d hunted and tracked every creature in the forests of Ashenvale and he sought other challenges, those he could only find by exploring the rest of Azeroth.  But Grim knew that he would not be able to accomplish this on his own, and that the Horde would be the means through which he could gain the skills required to hunt in any land.  It was with this spirit in mind that Grim left the shade of Ashenvale and headed south through the open plains of the barrens and into the hard cracked fields of Durotar to the heart of the new Horde empire, Orgrimmar.  There he sought out the master hunters and learned what they were willing to teach him.  When he had gained the skills to be a true hunter, his trainer told him that he would need to accomplish one final task before setting out on his journey.  A hunter could only reach his full potential when he tamed a great beast to fight by his side.  Thus Grim set out into Durotar in search of a valiant beast to accompany him on his journeys.

Unfamiliar with the terrain, Grim headed south towards a large outcropping of rock that dominated the landscape.  As he approached he began to notice tracks in the hard cracked clay.  Intrigued by the different patterns, he decided to follow the tracks.  The tracks skirted the rock formation, leading him around a large outcropping.  As he rounded the base of the mountain, he began to notice distinct patterns in the tracks.  There appeared to be four sets of tracks; three were similar and of the same species while the fourth was hooved track.  As he continued on the trail, he began to hear loud grunting noises coming from a small inlet where the rocks had formed a small canyon.  Rounding the last bend, he came upon a cornered Boar being stalked by three red Raptors.

Grim could see that the Boar had been running from the predators, attempting to avoid a fight if possible, much as he had done in Ashenvale when he detected a predator.  But the Boar had run herself into a corner and now she turned on her would-be attackers.

Looking on, Grim saw as she continued to grunt and let out a shrieking squeal as she charged the closest Raptor, hitting it full on and sending it careening into the jagged rocks.  The spattering of blood on the rock face left no doubt in Grim’s mind that the Raptor would not be getting back up. 

A bit stunned by the sudden display of ferocity in the boar, he stood still as she turned on the second Raptor and lunged for its soft underbelly.  The Raptor attempted to come down on her before she reached him, but she was too quick and drove her tusks deep into the Raptor.  As she pulled back, a long trail of innards followed and the Raptor let out a shriek of its own as it wavered and fell into the dirt.

But the great Boar had lost the element of surprise that had doomed the first two Raptors as the third brought its sharps talons down upon her side.  Squealing in pain as she was thrown off balance, she quickly climbed back to her feet and charged at the final Raptor.  Slamming into one of the legs of the Raptor, Grim could her the bones being crushed from the impact as the Raptor suddenly lost its own balance and toppled over.  The Boar took advantage of the small success, driving its tusks down into the wounded Raptor repeatedly until it no longer moved. 

The Boar continued to grunt and squeal as the pain of her open wounds began to over take her and she fell onto her side.  Grim knew at that moment that this proud beast was destined to be his companion and he outstretched on arm, holding his palm open as he slowly approached the Boar and reassured it that he was no threat.  As he came upon her, it gently set his hand upon her neck and used his free hand to remove several bottles of ointment from his pack.  Spreading the liquids over the wounds he then removed some fresh bandages and wrapped them around the wounded creature.

Sensing that it was at ease, Grim lifted the great Boar into his arms and began to carry her south.  He knew there was an inn at Razor Hill where he could allow the creature to rest and recuperate back to a healthy state.

After several days the ointments had healed the gashes in her sides, but there were large scars that remained.  She was able to walk again and she moved around the small room at the inn, shoving her snout across the floor in search of food.  Grim pulled some small grubs and a few pieces of meat from his pack and spread them across the floor for the noble creature. 

As he watched her forage for the food he left out, Grim decided that she would need a name.  But not just any name, he had seen the valiant spirit this powerful warrior possessed.  Her great deeds would need to be honored by a name that carried with it great honor.  Remembering back to the stories he’d heard as a young Orcling, Grim thought of a Great hunter that had tamed a mighty boar.  She had been a fierce beast and a force to be reckoned with.  Her name was honored as much as any great Orc’s name was and it would be a fitting name for this noble animal as well.

Looking down upon her, Grim grunted and gave her a name.  “You possess a courage and a spirit to be honored,” he said.  “From this day forth you shall be known as Valkyrie the Swiftusk.”

Fikkle Moves to Orgrimmar

Having spoke to a few of the ’seedier’ elements in Brill, I realized that I was not the only one that had been ‘changed’ by this Master Apothecary. 

If he’s been doing this to others, then he is either being supported by those in power or has enough power himself that it doesn’t concern him.  Or both.  In any case, I’m going to have a lot of work to do if I’m ever to get to the bottom of this.  Wait, first I need to get out of Tirisfal Glades.

If this Apothecary did have enough power to be capable of this, I needed to get away from his base of power.  If he were to discover what I knew, what I was planning or that I wasn’t worth the trouble to just dump in Deathknell, then I may never get my chance for revenge.  While I never truly liked the smell of Durotar, I knew it would be the place where the Apthecary’s influence would be the weakest.  Of the others contributing factions to the Horde, the Orcs were by far the strongest and most independent.  I would need that strength to protect me until I’m able to protect myself.

For now, the important thing would be to grow stronger.  But there was one thing that I needed to accomplish before I left Tirisfal Glades.  An old informant of mine, Jeremiah Payson sits within the Trade sector, surrounded by his filthy little creatures.  I often paid him for information as he was in a position to hear a great deal of sensitive information on an assortment of topics.  One can never have too much information.  Even if he hasn’t heard anything yet, I could ask him to remain vigilant and contact me the moment something comes up.

So off I ran to the Undercity.  I doubted any would recognize me now that I looked so different.  But I knew the Cockroach vendor would remember our little meetings.

It was the middle of the night when I arrived at the Undercity, but that hardly made any difference.  As many of the Forsaken walk the halls of the city at night as do during the day.  Shrouded in my robes, I was hoping to remain as inconspicuous as possible, and stuck to the shadows. 

It wasn’t really all that difficult to hide, however.  Most of the people running around the city had their own business to attend to.  The guards walked with a singular purpose that was only interrupted if directly questioned.  I was fairly safe, and made my way down to the little nook Jeremiah had made for himself.

After a moment of confusion, Jeremiah recognized my most familiar greeting.  I sat in front of him and there was a moment of silence before he spoke.

“Ahhh, then it hazz happened to you azz well?”

“What do you mean ‘happened to me azz well’, Jeremiah?”

“You know the proceedure,” he stated.  “My payment hazz alwayss been up front.”

“Unfortunately, I wazz robbed in addition to the resst of thiss,” I replied.  “I have very little I could offer you.”

“Perhapss a sseparate arrangement then?” he hissed at me, an evil grin forming in his lips and echoed in his eyes.

“What did you have in mind?” I asked relunctantly.

“Well, you ssee,” he began.  “My little friendss here don’t get many visitors.  I’m going to need ssomeone to help me sell them in other partsss of Azeroth.  You will be my fensse.  In return for a continued agreement, I will provide you with the information you require azz well azz one to keep for yoursself.  And that sshall be part of the deeal.  For how you will you be able to sell theezze little beautiess if you don’t have one yoursself?”

This deal is going from bad to worse by the second.  It’s most likely going to continue down this path much further before its gets better.  If selling these disgusting things is what it takes, then I have little choice.

“You have a deal.  What have you heard?”

“I’ve been hearing whissperzz,” he continued.  “Nobody wantss to ssay it, but people have been going missing, only to wake up again in Deathknell, as one of the Forssaken.”

“Thiss much, I know.  What elsse?”

“Azz far azz talk, I’ve heard nothing more.  And I haven’t had a reazzon to inquire further up until now.  I will make ssome disscreet inquiriezz, however, and let you know what I find.  For now, here iss the firsst sshipment of roaches to be ssold.”

I accepted the small containers and decided that I would try to sell a few on the Auction Houses.  I have no idea how much interest the Alliance would have in these nasty things, but if they are willing to put up their gold, I have no problem taking it from them.  In the meantime, I should get out of the Undercity and get to Orgrimmar.

I ran off to the Zeppelin tower and waited anxiously for it to arrive.  I was almost to safety.

It pulled in within minutes, and I quickly hid myself in the lowest levels.  A few more minutes and I should be out of his reach for now.

And then I was to safety, at least momentarily, arriving at the great city of Orgrimmar, where I planned to rebuild my life and seek my revenge.

To be continued…

Fikkle Caught the Pox

Shattrath has been so crowded lately and I decided I wanted to get away last night.  I also had this itchin to Mana Tap something, but didn’t feel like having hundreds of Peacekeepers swarm me, what with my recent manicure and all.

So I decided instead that I’d go visit the Undercity.  Most of the guards would bow in Revered silence, but without touching me.  Its always nice to see the masses show you the proper respect you deserve!  So I ran over to the nice little portal in the middle of Shattrath and took a quick trip to the Magic Quarter.  Normally I would get on my trusty [Black War Kodo], however, the walk felt good.  Every once in a while it was nice to kind of get down and mingle with the ‘lesser’ peoples.  Luckily for me, I’ve developed an immunity to the stench in this place.  Before that, this place was horrific.

Wait, focus.  I wanna Mana Tap something, don’t I?  Well, the Western Plaguelands isn’t far from here.  No one important will miss a few Scourge minions.  Just enough to wet the whistle, get that fix.  Not that I’m addicted or anything.  I mean, I’m not.  No matter what anyone said.  Don’t listen to them.  Besides, there might be some fanatics out there who’ll actually appreciate it!

Wait, focus Fikkle!  I decided to stop by the Apothecarium before I left, just to see if they had anything that could take the edge off while I rode out to the Plaguelands.  Master Alchemist Faranell was quite happy to see me actually, more so than usual.

He’s been doing some extensive experiments throughout the Eastern Kingdoms trying to perfect this sweet little potion that should help the Forsaken reach their goals.  The only problem was, he was fresh out of Alliance prisoners to test it on.  They all died from the previous versions of the elixir.

But that could all wait, I needed something to take that ole’ edge off huh?  Well he had just the thing.  He handed me this tiny little vial.  Said that he knew it wasn’t much, but it was a ‘new’ recipe he’d been working on that was supposed to be much more potent than the stuff that I normally get from him.

So I popped the cap, gave it a whif and tossed my head back, finishing off every last drop.  I waited a few moments, but that nagging urge was still in the back of my mind. 

I told him his new brew was fairly useless and that I wasn’t paying for it.  He told me I would pay, eventually.  That was the last thing I remember happening.  Until I woke up, here.

I couldn’t figure out what had happened.  All of my gear, my bags, everything was gone.  And then I looked down at my hands, or what used to be my hands.  Where is my skin?!?!?!?  What in the name of Quel’Thalas happened?

This can’t be happening.  I just had my nails done!  Okay, someone was going to answer for this!  I ran up the steps out of the crypt I’d been laying in and saw someone there. 

He introduced himself as Undertaker Mordo, but as I started to complain he interrupted me and told me that I had to go talk to the Administrator, Shadow Priest Sarvis at the bottom of the hill.  Fine, I’m sure the Administrator can do more than you’re sorry behind anyways! 

So I ran down to the Administrator and began to tell him my story when he interrupted me as well.  Something about killing mindless, wretched things or something or other.  I told him I couldn’t possibly do that as it would be horrible for my complexion.  The Administrator just stood silent for a moment and then told me that I was dead and had no skin, let alone a complexion.  I’m dead? Now I’m pissed!

After listening to me he told me that he thoroughly had no idea what I was talking about and that if I really wanted to get to the bottom of it, I’d need more training, better gear and a lot more experience.

That’s when I realized that not only had I been turned into a creepy Undead thing, not only had all my bags and gear disappeared, but I couldn’t seem to use any of my spells or abilities except my Fireball.  All I did have was some tattered cloth that passed for a robe, a little bit of fungus as well as a half empty flask that tasted like it was the backwash from one of the Abominations.

When I complained to the Administrator about the lack of food around here, he once again just stood there silently.  Eventually he just cackled and said there were corpses laying all over the place and that I was free to have any that weren’t already half eaten.  Ewwwww. Gross.  When I protested he smacked me across the face and told me to forget whatever it is I thought I knew.  I was Forsaken now, that is all that matters.

What the crap did that scheming corpse do to me?!?!?!  Well fine, since I apparently have no choice, looks like I have to go kill those mindless, wretched something-or-others. 

This is crazy.  Now I know how Rabbit feels.  Wait a sec.  Rabbit has been missing a few parts.  I better check to see if I’m missing anything…  Wait a second.  Where are my eyes?  How can I see anything with two leather straps covering them?  This makes no sense!  Aww crap!  Where is my rib cage? 

“Hey, anyone seen a rib cage laying around?”

Apparently, the Administrator wasn’t sure where they kept all the spare parts.  What’s the deal with ’some assembly required?’  I did eventually find something useful from a walking skeleton that got in my way.  It wasn’t an exact fit or anything, but it will do for now.

Oh, and if one more corps says ‘remember, patience… discipline,’ to me I’m going to learn how to cannibalize on their rotting corpse…

To be continued…