Get It?

Her name is Rio.

ROFL

The Latest Screenshots For your Viewing Pleasure

It's an emergency maintenance day!  Which means, I should probably write something, but I have Christmas cookies to make, a house to clean, and guest to entertain.  So, I'm posting some random screen shots for your viewing pleasure.

Blue Steel.

Dearbre was falling off the whole ride.  Glitch, or too small hippogryph?

The spirit of Shadumbra. Wasn't Shadumbra a black panther?

Darkshore Twister.

Queen Azshara

Boo!

I promise not to bite again.  Let me go?

Look at the roses and the clover.  How sweet, and sad.

Take two potions and call me in the morning.

This post brought to you by Dayquil, Diet Dr Pepper, and Kleenex.

Stood In The Fire

Damn.

Must...Write...Post.

Will we see this paintings outside Gilneas?

Hey everyone!  I know it has been forever.  I really don't have much to say these days that everyone else out there isn't already saying.  Cataclysm, and before that the Shattering of Azeroth, have pretty near blown me away.  All the new content that I am slowly digesting (Delgada is at an anemic level 82) gets to be a little overwhelming sometimes.


I have plans.  I really want to roll one of every race up, except for the Draenei and Blood Elf, to experience the new starter zones.  So far the only ones I have done are the worgen and troll, and last night I started out the goblin area. Like many bloggers out there are saying, I, too, find the beginning questing so involving that the levels just fly by.  The stories are engaging, and immersive.  Yeah, I get that I am not really the chosen one, but does it hurt to believe it for just as long as it takes to get the hell outta Dodge?

The ruins of Quel'Dormir.

As for my eighties, I have hardly touched them.  Delgada is almost done with Vash'jir.  As soon as she could get back to the mainland, she did, because I stupidly threw her onto the boat without training her professions so she could level them. Thankfully, she is not a gatherer, so all the items she needed to level were already in her bag when she did eventually train, and her tailoring and enchanting are now being worked on.  While in the Undercity, Delgada picked up archaeology, and she hasn't gone back to questing.  She found her first rare last night, piecing together bits of Elven relics.  The Highborne Soul Mirror is a neat toy (and if you have been reading at all on this blog, you know how Del loves her toys) that puts out a ghostly duplicate of the user next to them.  The image turns and watches you as you move, but doesn't leave the place it was cast.  I was surprised to get such a neat thing so early in the leveling, as Delgada is only about 165 skill points in.

My horde guild, KNR, has progressed to level 4.  There are about 12 people at 85 already.  Last night one of our guild mates linked their latest piece of gear in chat,and I about died laughing.  The Emberstone Staff, complete with the same old graphics, dropped for him off a boss in Heroic Deadmines!  I know, this is all old news to anyone paying any attention to the kajillion WoW bloggers out there, but I still find it silly (which is really one of the reason I play, for the silly stuff!) that someone would want to go back to an old instance and get the gear they leveled out of by level 25.

If it's far, we give you a car...riage.

I mentioned earlier I had tried out the Worgen starting zones.  I have more than tried them out.  I now have 3 worgen out of there. I don't have any plans to level more, yet, as I think a druid, mage, and rogue are plenty.  The rogue replaced my night elf druid who was the replacement my now level 63 draenei hunter as a bank alt.  Not that I don't plan to level her, just that she is kinda low on the totem pole.  I really want to have a druid at max level, and the last of the three worgen is the one I am leveling.  Her name is Dearbre, and I am leveling her as a restoration druid.  Dearbre is Catalan for of the tree.  Talk about forcing myself to stay a healer!  She is closing in on level 30 pretty quickly. 

My husband, his best friend and I started out together as worgen.  We joined my alliance guild, Illuminati Order, which is also a level 4 guild, and grabbing achievements left and right.  Here is a picture of the three of us, fresh level one characters in our cool starter clothes.

A priest, a mage, and a warlock looking for adventure!

Then, several quests later, in our top hats and wedding dresses...

Yes, this was a candid shot.

Here's my mage, on a horse.  Why, because she looks so good on it!

Black Beauty.

Last night I started leveling a goblin. I got in trouble, because hubby wanted to level one with me, but I didn't want to wait anymore.  Here is Bittsee, who is sure to be the next Trade Princess, in her hot rod.

Rolling with my homies.

Bittsee's coming out party...

Smog, palm trees and swimming pools.  Kezan, or So Cal?

That is all I have for now.  I am itching to get Dearbre out of Ashenvale, and into mining something she can level her engineering with.  How is Cataclysm treating you?  I'd love to hear from you (pokes blog with a stick to see if it is still alive).

Last Minute Preparations

As the sun sets off the coast of Azshara...

Midnight Tuesday morning is coming up awfully fast.  Instead of doing what I should be doing to get ready for Cataclysm launch, I'm leveling a troll druid.  What should I be doing to get ready?  Here's a list of things I should have started over a month ago to be ready for what is coming in less than 28 hours.

1. Cleaning and bag space.  All my characters need to be gone through and cleaned up. There should be no extra pieces of gear hanging around for just in case, no leftover garbage like old arrows and vials, nothing that will not be used. There should be food, drink, a hearth stone, the necessary profession tools and supplies, and maybe some potions and flasks. Upgrade your bags to something bigger, if you can.
2. Talents and Glyphs should be set, with glyphs learned and maybe a small stack of powder to wipe out the old in favor of what new glyphs come.  
3. Get the hell out of Dalaran.  Seriously, what good will that town do for you?  Park yourself in a nice, quiet, centrally located main city to wait out the last hours. Oh, and don;t forget to set your hearthstone!
4. Professions.  If they are not at max level, get them as close as possible.  Gathering professions will be crucial at the start out of Cataclysm. The materials for older recipes will become pricier as less people will be leveling (and gathering) through this past expansion.  Professions that aren't up to your level make you no money, so skill them up quick.
5. Clean out your alt closet.  Take a good look at any character below 40, and even some above, and decide whether they will be sticking around.  Exceptions being current projects like that Tauren paladin you've fallen in like with, or that twink/bank alt that would cost too much to replace.  Chances are you have a few alts whose professions aren't up to snuff, whose quest logs are old and dusty, who weren't even worthy of adding with your main guild.  Clean 'em out, strip em down, send the profits to the leveling character of your choice, and delete them. If you are as avid an alt-aholic as I am, you will need the space.
6. Clean out your quest log.  If you have no plans on finishing it, abandon it.  You can always come back to the area and pick it up later, especially if it was an Outlands or Northrend quest. Abandoning these quests should delete any quest items you might have, but go through and check just in case.  Keep the furbolg transformation stick, toss the garbage. 

That's all I have.  I'm not one to stockpile low level materials to level a new profession on a new character, since I think that they can probably gather all they need as they go.  I won't buy bags for them either, since I usually make them earn their own. They end up with enough money on their own as well, if they keep only their quest rewards and sell the rest. I'm so stingy I won't even buy them heirlooms.

As for my level 80 characters, I think they are ready.  Delgada, Carlotta, and Maura have all their professions leveled. Shawndra is a little behind on her enchanting, so she will probably be leveled after I start a goblin.  They may still have some odd garbage in their bags, and old quests in their logs, and be without of any helpful food or drink. I'm pretty sure I even checked their talents and glyphs.  Really, though, I just can't be bothered to finish out the preparations for Cataclysm.

Yeah, sorry, I gotta go.  There's a troll named Niranjani who seems to be tapping her foot in the graveyard near the Southsea Pirate Stronghold.  I let her think she had me wrapped around her little finger, and I had to leave her in spirit form to think on this post.

They're cute, and dangerous!

No, really, I have to go.  She won't like me being away for so long! You should see what she can do with a pride of baby wyvern. It's rather scary...

The Shattering

Wow.  Yeah, that is pretty much all I have to say about the new patch.  While some were complaining about their talents being refunded, or the lack of portals in Dalaran, I was busy getting lost in Orgrimmar.

So totally lost.  I love the whole thing.  My favorite area is still undecided, though I am leaning toward the Goblin Slums.  A beach, beach side bartenders, beach chairs and umbrellas, blow up floaty animals in the water, and a big huge oil drill right smack dab in the middle of everything. I tried fishing, even though there were obviously dead fish floating in the water and flies everywhere.  I got the usual starter level fish for my effort.  I threw them away, sure they were contaminated.

Can I have another of these coconut drink things?

Just another care-free day at the beach.

 

 

Goblins are busy folk.

I'm still exploring.  I am saddened by the change to my beautiful Azshara, and I'm sure through questing out there I will find out the fate of the Timbermaw (there are Blackmaw furbolgs everywhere, with the exception of a gatekeeper that is of the Timbermaw, a rare.) And, darnit, I already see people on those trikes. I want one!

Happy Thanksgiving!

What a Feast!

Here's to bountiful tables, the company of friends and family, turkey induced halftime naps, and second helpings of pie.  I'd like to thank you all for stopping by from time to time, and I pray that these holidays are a joyful time for all of you.

The Day Before The Last Day.

The world is going to explode.  I know it. It will writhe in the flames of Deathwing's hatred tomorrow.

But today, there is yet time to visit, to celebrate life, to reminisce in our old, familiar world.  Today, I chose to visit what has to be my favorite quest in the whole game.  It's simple, really.   One quest that I always come back to.  One quest that my poor Horde characters can never experience.  This quest is For Love Eternal. Cerellean Whiteclaw gives us these instructions and information:

In the aftermath of the battles at the Well of Eternity, I heard that Ameth'Aran had been destroyed, its people dead, including my love, Anaya.

I would never have thought, thousands of years later, that memories of Anaya would still haunt my dreams. Wandering the woods of Darkshore in a stupor, I found myself in the ruins of Ameth'Aran... where I saw the haunted spirit of my beloved.

She must be freed, but I lack the heart to do it. Her spirit must be destroyed.

So, we head for Ameth'Aran and find her, alone and peaceable amongst angry spirits of the area.

A haunting memory.

Sadly, we did as Cerellean asked. Hantu yowled sadly as she fell.

The ghost of memory crushed to free the spirit within.

When we returned to tell Cerellean the news of her ghost's passing, we are met by Anaya's spirit, having a heart to heart with Cerellean, for the last time.

Anaya...?  Do my eyes deceive me?  Is it really you?

Here is their short, sad reunion, hopefully not cheapened by being posted here.

Cerellean Whiteclaw says: Anaya...? Do my eyes deceive me? Is it really you?

Anaya says: The ages have been cruel to you and I, my love, but be assured, it is, and at long last we are reunited.

Cerellean Whiteclaw says: That the fates should be so cruel as to permit us only this after a thousand years apart...
Do you hate me, my love? That I was forced to destroy your living form, that your spirit be released from unhappy bondage.

Anaya says: Let it not trouble your heart, beloved. You have freed me from slavery, and for that I love you all the more.
Sadly, even this must be cut short...
The ties that bind me to this world weaken, and pull me away...

Cerellean Whiteclaw says: No! Anaya...Anaya! Don't leave me! Please...

Anaya says: Farewell, Cerellean, until we are joined once again...
Anaya's soft voice trails away into the mists Know that I love you always...

Cerellean Whiteclaw says: How, my love? How will I find the strength to face the ages of the world without you by my side...

Tomorrow, Deathwing will demolish the docks in Auberdine.  Tomorrow, perhaps Cerellean will finally join Anaya for eternity.

I will stay behind, one of millions who have witnessed his anguish.  I will keep this small memento in my bank forever, a memory of this lover's tale.  Too sad that the next group of World of Warcraft players will not ever see this quest.  Point them here.  Cerellean's story is worth being shared.

A Few Thousand Words...

Okay, I'll keep this one. Don't be so scared!

Redeemed from Felwood's filth.

Arko'narin

A lone warrior's grave in Un'Goro Crater.

Dwarven Delight!

You are now leaving Ashenvale. Oooh! Azshara!

The new leveling sets will never be so colorful...or mismatched.

This is only missing a blanket and some tanning oil...and you.

Poor Jim.  If he was himself, these would be from him.

A girl and her wolf.

Feeding a teen is hard work.

Trolling with my homies.

All Grown Up!

Celestia is here! Yay!

My Life wizard is only level forty.  Celestia is a long way off for her.  I still felt like running around Wizard City today, so Rowan got to come out and play.  I wasn't up for much, just a few fights against Baron Mordecai, and to empty my pet energy bubble once on my new imp.  So, I skipped Rowan down Triton Aveue to the Baron's tower and waited for the entry timer to finish counting down.  I was alone, so I started the fight right away.  I put down a life trap, put up a heal boost, and passed once, waiting for something good to come up to cast.  The next available choices were a zero pip ice blast and my pixie minion.  I figured, it's just me, alone, maybe she will be helpful.  So I pulled her out.  And she was!

Several posts ago I complained about how selfish she was.  She would cast one pip pixie spells on herself, and occasionally toss an imp at the wrong target.  She was annoying, and only rarely offered any help.  Tonight, she dazzled me with her skill. Her first cast was a trap on one of the lesser targets.  Her next cast was a leprechaun, a spell I hadn't seen her use before, at the same target she had trapped.  She passed twice, then cast a satyr spell on me.  This is another spell I didn't know she knew.  Then she cast a trap, which I used, then she cast another trap, and another leprechaun, this time on the boss.  I think she finished him off with that spell.

Well, I think to myself, this can't be real.  It was only one fight.  so, after I left the tower, I tossed out a few spells in favor of stacking the maximum number of minion cards in my deck, so I would be sure to pull her early in the fight.  I stepped into the entry and started with a blade and a trap, waiting for my pips to build to 4 so I could summon my minion, because sure enough, her card was ready and waiting.  I pulled her out and her first cast was a trap on the lesser mob.  Then, she cast leprechaun at that target.  Her third cast was a trap, on the boss this time.  I must have taken some damage, because her fourth cast was a two pip fairy heal on me.  She passed, then cast another two pip fairy on herself, as she had somehow grabbed aggro on one of the two mobs., then she passed and sent that same fairy spell to me again.  Then she cast a trap on the boss, followed by a leprechaun.  By then, the deed was done. Mordecai gave me a pair of boots and a banana for my trouble. I stepped outside for some fresh air, and there were people ready to enter the tower, so I thought I would try her in a group.  It was easy to tell she had grown to like me, but would she help others?  I stepped in on the two second mark and was whisked inside.

The first member in our party took some damage early on, enough that when I pulled my pixie out, she had work to do.  Her first cast was a pixie on him.  She followed that with an imp to a low health target, then cast a fairy on the third group member.  She then trapped another target, and cast a  fairy on the first group member.  She was doing so well, it was too bad that an hour or so before someone was adding a plug to my almost full surge protector and accidentally unplugged my laptop.  I was disconnected.  I got down and plugged back in, logged back in to find us back in the fight.  I can't remember what she cast and who she cast it at after that, being so embarrassed for disconnecting in the middle of a duel, but we won, and loot was handed around.

The TL:DR version - forest sprite is your friend!  Something in the latest few patches to the game have replaced the once ditzy and self centered minion with a useful and desired questing companion.  I look forward to more fights with her to see what other spells she has learned and is hiding from me! 

Does your wizard have a minion?  Is it a helpful minion, or one you would rather lock up in the depths of the stinkiest dungeon?  Tell me about it!

The Plan

As suggested by Kiwired of One of These Alts, and because I had planned on it anyway, I am listing below my plan for my dungeon set 1. A lot of the things on my list are about unattainable (yeah, like I'm EVER going to win a fishing tournament, or finish the Argent Tournament), but this is highly attainable.

Vestments of the Devout

• Devout Belt- drops in Blackrock Spire from some random mobs and Quartermaster Zigris.
• Devout Sandals-drops from Maleki the Pallid in Stratholme.
• Devout Bracers -drops in Stratholme from Thuzadin and Crimson casters. Or the Auction House :)
• Devout Crown- drops from Darkmaster Gandling in Scholomance.
• Devout Gloves-drops from Archivist Galford in Stratholme.
• Devout Mantle-drops from Solakar Flamewreath in Blackrock Spire.
• Devout Skirt-drops from Baron Rivendare in Stratholme.
• Devout Robe-drops from General Drakkisath in Blackrock Spire.

If Delgada ever gets this whole set, it would look like this on her.

And then, if she ever got off her lazy undead rear and upgraded it, they would be the Vestments of the Virtuous, and look like this.

I hope that they implement a separate wardrobe for Cataclysm for all Delgada's clothes.  She's running out of bank space.