Arkslaw

Writing Time and Random thoughts

2011-09-01T13:29:00.000-07:00

Be careful who you fulfill your dreams with, you are bound to fall for them.

Don't write romance novels with someone you don't intend to get involved with, it happens too often.

DO NOT under any circumstances combine those two.

That said I do not regret my choice. My life is many times improved from what I enjoyed when I was writing here on a regular basis. I am spending time working on my real life instead of my virtual one. I am committed to someone I really love, and who loves me without condition on either side for the first time in either of our lives. I wish I had time to play, but I had to do my own roof, while continuing to work full time. I am nearly finished and expect next weekend will actually be the last time I need to get up on the roof for a long time, provided fixing and passing inspection also fixes the leak.

Next though I will go back to work on editing the novel. I am taking the story in such a different direction that existed here. It was fun to play with the concepts, but having the base material to create a decent sized novel is great. Remaking a world is an immense task, but one which I think is worth doing, and I am loving it. Someday maybe as soon as the next six months I will be able to start looking for publishers. And a dream is born from the ashes that was my formerly WoW anesthetized existence.

Now the game is that a game, no longer wish fulfillment. A game I wish I could return to sooner rather than later, but my computer blowing up makes that harder.

God bless, Via con Dios and yes I will get back to regular writing, just not sure when.

Heals, and Pain Killing, or Why Aren't All our Toons retired to NPCS by level 30

2011-05-17T09:22:00.000-07:00

Well, that was a longer journey than expected. So much has changed in my life some people think I am having a mid life crisis. If I am I recommend it. Your life changes radically sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse, but a little shakeup, (or a lot of shakeup in my case) can be a good thing.
I haven't played much WoW lately so as I get back into the game I will have more thoughts to post. I have finished the first major draft of the book, a complete rewrite of so much, that there is little resemblance to what you know. Which is what I intended.

I just got over a kidney stone, no it doesn't kill you it only makes you want to die. Which brings me to wonder, how heroic must our characters be to throw themselves into certain oblivion time and time again. It is no wonder some people become NPCs. I had to go through a brief hearing in which my client pled out and agreed to a limited jail sentence, with the stone, and before the medication. I can tell you after that one fight I went straight to the hospital and was so grateful for pain medication. {Talidol is AMAZING!!!} Perhaps healers have some pain neutralizing effect with their heals? I know Disco priests have Pain Suppression, but given the punishment our characters are regularly dished out those heals must be addicting on some level. Don't you think?

Anyway I am still not back at full strength, but able to function in society again is great. Back to posting these random thoughts and ideas. I will continue editing the book, just to make sure I have made all the corrections I can find, but I will also begin a more regular playing schedule, provided my health holds.

Follow your dreams, you never know where they will take you.

Walk For Life 2011

2011-04-19T17:41:00.000-07:00

Walk For Life 2011

Yeah I am doing it. Not in the best of shape either, but I try and get out every once and a while. If you give a large gift I will even post a video of me walking onto the page. (Or not post it whichever works.)

In the Arms of Love

2011-04-07T12:54:00.000-07:00

Guthrum ran through the corridors. He rarely left his post except in the most dire emergencies, and this was one such emergency. He pounded on the door.

"Hello," Verloren said her eyes only half open.

"Nightscape is gone Verloren," Guthrum said.

Verloren covered her mouth in shock, the gryphon wasn't doing well, but she had no idea he was so ill. "I had no idea, when did he..."

"Middle of the night, he took off, just after the falling star." Grantum was impressed and unsure what to do, this was new even to him. "Never seen a gryphon released leave like that unless...You don't think?"

"He isn't dead? Wait unless what?" Verloren was afraid to get her hopes up. She had returned from Exodar two weeks ago from doing her service to them.

"Well either Ark is back, or I will shave my beard and wear a dress." Guthrum said.

Verloren left Guthrum standing in the open door, she ran to pick up her riding leathers there wasn't time to grab her plate armor. It took too long to put on. "Guthrum turn around."

"Lass you don't know where you are going?" Guthrum said. If he was wrong he would shave his beard, but he shouldn't have gotten her hopes up.

"I know who sent her on that mission. I am going there." Verloren said as she closed and locked the door behind her.

"But you don't know that she will be there. We don't even know why Nightscape left." Guthrum felt bad now.

"There is only one reason Nightscape would leave like that after a star. Nightscape doesn't spook." Verloren was walking briskly, but she was careful not to walk too fast for the dwarf.

"Aye but..." Guthrum expected to cheer her up not this, "I mean your condition."

"I worked for 3 months in this 'condition' I can handle a brisk flight." Verloren said adding "Men" under her breath.

Ark timed her re-entry into the atmosphere at a time when the world was asleep. She wanted to surprise Verloren. She was exhausted and she knew Verloren would let her rest for however long it took, before telling the guild she was back.

The Naaru that powered her craft made no signs of slowing he entered the waters off of the island full force. Ark held onto a shaking Tesla. He appeared to be fine. She cast a Gift of the Naaru on him anyway. The journey was weeks long, with little food and air. Ark had some accommodations for those problems. She was an engineer after all.

"Where are ya going now?" Guthrum asked.

"I am not taking the time to wait, I am porting there." Verloren said knocking on Ferya's door. Her father answered. "Just the man I want to see, how much for a port to the Exodar?"

"Can't this wait until morning? We have people here that know enough to check on the baby if it's..." Grantarm was tired, if she just needed a healer there were plenty there was no reason to go to the Exodar.

"No," Verloren said, "I need to see someone about a gryphon." Verloren smiled at Guthrum, who smiled back clearly understanding her joke.

"At this hour? Guthrum talk some sense into her." Grantarm was exhausted, but if this was just a woman thing he might be better off just porting her.

"Nope too important, must be done now." Guthrum replied.

"Riders." Grantarm said with disgust. He went over to his cabinet pulled out a few reagents and opened the portal to the Exodar.

Verloren stepped through it as soon as he had it open. Walking to the Vault of Lights, she headed the one place Ark was most likely to go, before Velen. She waited.

Ark grabbed Tesla, blew open the hatch with an explosive and swam for shore. Tesla was unconscious from the impact, but he was breathing, and his heart was beating. Ark wished now that she hadn't sent Nightscape away. She prepared to mount her Elekk, when she heard his familiar call. Ark stood there for a moment while Nightscape stood in front of her. His head prone waiting for his bridle.

When Ark didn't respond Nightscape nudged her hand. He shifted his body so she could put the child on his back, and nudged her hand again. Ark was not about to offend her favorite mount, she pulled his bridle out of her bags, and put it on him. She was stunned at his response. How had he known, even if he saw the star, how could he know it was her and not just another piece of debris.

Regrettably his armor was missing, and she would have to get a new saddle, but she could ride Nightscape easily without those things.

Ark picked up Tesla, and mounted. It felt safe, after harrowing months not knowing if she would live, she finally felt safe with her mount. It was good to feel his familiar muscles underneath her instead of cold metal. Ark was almost home. The exhaustion was catching up to her, but Nightscape headed straight to the Exodar, and the Vault of Lights. Ark could probably have dropped the reins and Nightscape still would have flown carefully to land in front of Velen.

Nightscape rounded the corner tightly, but smoothly and then Ark saw her. She came. She was here, but how did she know? Verloren didn't move. Ark thought it was a delusion from not enough sleep or oxygen deprevation, perhaps she should stay here tonight.

Nightscape landed more lightly than he ever had before, and bowed so low that Ark was practically standing. If he could have he likely would have crawled out from underneath her.

"Lord Velen, I present Tesla, the last living keeper of the true names," Ark wished she had some way to verify the boys claim that he destroyed the scrolls so the magic could not be abused after the last keeper died.

"And the scrolls he kept?" Vir asked.

"He destroyed them and contained all the knowledge within himself, through meditation and magic." Ark was going to defend they boys choice, there was barely room in that craft for the 2 of them as it was, if she brought the scrolls the boy would have died there.

"Most unacceptable," Vir said readying his hand to smack her.

Verloren caught him before he could strike Ark.Glaring furiously at this pompous Dranei. He had made Ark's life hell for the three months he had to serve here. He had tried to do the same to her, but Velen had interceded on her behalf. She had served her three months, but her duties had been sufficiently lightened.

So she wasn't a delusion.

"Vir you are dismissed." Velen said.

"Lord I..." Vir didn't fear much, but he feared Velen.

"Vir you are dismissed, and you are not to call me Lord until you know what that means." Velen said, turning from Vir and towards Ark. "So you chose to save one boy and risk the end of the world?"

Ark knew how it sounded, but if he knew how to make sigils then surely it wouldn't matter that the scrolls were destroyed. "Yes my Lord."

"Then you do understand what it means to be a dranei. Shield Reefa take the boy," Velen looked at Ark with a question on his face.

"Tesla, my Lord," Ark said.

"Take the boy Tesla, see that he is rested, and heal any wounds. We will talk in the morning. Shield Marcus make the arrangements." Velen looked at Ark, his eyes full of understanding, then at Verloren who was still holding Vir's arm. "I asked that he leave my presence Verloren, would you defy my order?"

"No my Lord," Verloren scowled at Vir, but she let him go and watched as he backed away like a rat.

"Your service is ended for now. I always knew you were the right choice child." Velen said.

Ark looked at him, "for now my Lord?"

"The world is still in peril, but I will not separate you two again if it can be avoided, be well." Velen said and turned towards the other leaders approaching his sanctum.

"Ark," Verloren was unsure how to say everything she wanted to. The last time they were together they spoke with their bodies, but now there was so much more.

"Your presence is enough," Nightscape nudged her as Ark walked away from the Vault of Lights, "and yours." Ark pet his head and scratched behind his ears.

Ark stumbled. Nightscape shifted himself slowing her fall.

"Ark are you all right?" Verloren said picking up Ark's arm and setting it on her shoulder she helped Ark stand bearing Ark's weight.

"Fine Ver." Ark lied.

"Ark would you stop it's just me, and regardless of what Velen says these people don't care about you." Verloren scolded.

"Just exhausted, I need rest sweetie." Ark admitted as she stumbled again.

"I am taking you home. Do you have a hearthstone, or should I get a port?" Verloren asked.

"Don't go to any trouble Nightscape can..." Ark started, the weight of the last few months bearing down on her all at once. Ark fell. Verloren caught her weight, and pulled Ark's arm tighter around her shoulder bearing more of the woman's weight.

Verloren looked at Nightscape who begged her, but she smacked him on his hind. "We'll be there before you are," she said by way of apology. "Port it is, mage 500 Gold if you can port us to Aerie Peak."

No less than 5 mages vied for the honor, or the gold. Verloren picked the youngest one she found who could open the portal, and stepped through.

Guthrum and Thulfram waited outside the Peak for Verloren's return. It was still early or late depending on your perspective.

"Nightscape?" Guthrum asked.

"Is on his way home, she needed him and he was there. Can you help me with her?" Verloren said, sure she was stronger now, but Ark was heavy and she had fallen asleep.

"Is she..." Thulfram dreaded telling Liz.

"Sleeping? Yes, she is completely exhausted, whatever she did, it did a number on her body and mind." Verloren was grateful for the dwarves help.

Together they took Ark to her room. Verloren offered to pay them, but both men adamently refused. "Tell her to come see me when she wakes, I want to hear this tale," Thulfram said.

"Only if you get me to hear it as well," Guthrum chimed in. "Need help with her armor?"

Verloren put her hands on her hips, uncertain if they just wanted to see Ark in a way only Verloren should. "No I got it, I take my own armor on and off all the time." Verloren started removing Ark's weapons and armor, when the dwarves made no move to leave she shooed them out the door. "And don't tell anyone she is here until she is ready for them to know. She needs rest not a bunch of people pestering her."

Verloren finished removing the remainder of Ark's armor and for the first time since their wedding spent the night curled up with Arkadelphia. For the first time since the wedding they were home together.

Extended Hiatus

2011-03-03T05:18:00.000-08:00

Okay, well like so many others from the blogosphere, I am taking an extended break to deal with some real life issues. I have finished the story arc of Ark, and made a good friend in the process. I will return, but in the meantime I want to see if I can make the changes needed to get this story published. It is the closest I have ever come to a real book finished.

I have not done this alone, and I want to acknowledge the others who have helped make this possible, by borrowing their characters, themselves.

AJ

Allison

Erica

Fred

Lynn

Phil

Sarah

Taylor

and most of all Sally Annette who came up alongside and wrote in the middle of this and that, and helped make this a reality. She filled in the voids in more ways than one. Also tossed in some ideas, and generally nurtured my fragile dream of writing this. Together we are making this a book given the size. Be on the lookout for this to appear on store shelves in the near future. (After substantial editing of course.)

And in the immortal words of almost every movie Arnold has made, "I'll be back."

Hope's Despair

2011-02-21T09:36:00.000-08:00

Ark,
There is no love lost between us. You have nothing but respect for me. I have nothing but respect for you, but you are the chosen.

The time has come, a bad time maybe, but you knew you were chosen. Regrettably you are to go alone, your mate, though a dranei in form is not yet one in spirit. She may never be, and we both know that.

I understand there is to be a formal ceremony. In honor of that you have 3 days. 2 for your ceremony and 1 to enjoy your bride. It is all I can give. I never hated you, Ark, but your task is a hard one. I needed to prepare you.

Vir

Ark sank as she sat by the mailbox, she had just meant to collect items from her Auctions. She wished now she had taken the time to gather materials for the fireworks herself. She had no idea what the future held. It was likely that no one did. But it wouldn't have mattered her duty called her. Her life with Verloren stretched finally into centuries was now shortened into days.

Three days, three days, a lifetime spent in fear of loving someone else, and now that she had found it. Ark pounded her gloved fist into the cobblestone. In her anger and rage she didn't realize she cracked it. Ark stood, and went to tell Moto, she checked the logs to find that Moto, and Prime were in Ironforge. Well that was one less time she would need to repeat the painful words. No she had to tell Verloren.

Verloren needed to know first.

Ark had left the Peak early to get started on final wedding preparations for the next day. Now she regretted leaving. She could not escape her fate, but now every moment she wanted to spend with Verloren, every spare second.

Ark hearthed home, but Verloren had already prepared and left for the day.

"Her and Luliana left giddy." Aunt Liz was preparing the food. Ark turned around before Aunt Liz did. Ark left, without telling her. She would find out, she would know soon enough. Verloren needed to know first.

Ark asked Gurthrum and the ladies left eyeing a piece of mail, arguing about it, but they were speaking so fast in common he couldn't make out much. He could tell from their expressions it was bad.

"Something something recalled, needed. I donnae." Guthrum had done his best.

Ark headed to the Shire to see if Verloren was there. Perhaps her parents knew.

"Aye, we knew about it, but it wasn't us that recalled her. I am not sure what it was about, she was needed that is all we know." Cuge said, as she busied herself preparing tea for Ark, she heard the door close. Cuge knew Verloren had to walk this path alone, and she suspected Ark knew as well. If she thought she could have eased the young woman's pain she would have, but she couldn't, such a separation so early in their lives together....

Ark checked the log to find Verloren, and she headed off to Stormwind. Sending the whisper on the wind, she asked Verloren's location. Ark hoped to find her first, but Stormwind was a large crowded city and Ark's heart was too heavy to fight the throng's of people.

I have to talk to you, Verloren whispered back. Meet where two hands meet.

The waterfall, either Verloren knew or she had some bad news of her own. Perhaps she had met someone else. Maybe it was for the best. Ark would always be her soulmate, but perhaps Verloren could find happiness in another.

Ark turned her mount slightly to change direction for the waterfall. Nightscape knew the way, and took over as Ark leaned into his feathered head and openly sobbed. Guthrum would have been ashamed, but nothing mattered anymore, she dropped the reins. Her strength was so low she nearly fell, had Nightscape not caught her, she would have fallen to her death. In a way that would have been preferable. Nightscape landed softly as if he knew how fragile Ark had become.

Ark approached Verloren without looking at her.

"I will let you two be alone." Luliana said.

"Ark I..."

"Ver I..."

"You start." Ark said not looking up.

"No you." Verloren said.

"I don't have time to argue and this is hard enough. I want to hear your voice my love." Ark fell as she wept openly, her voice pleading.

"I have something I have to do. The body came with a price. They always do. I am pressed into service. Three long months of service for the Shadow Proclimation, but they gave me 3 days. Ark I am sorry, but if we can make a life together after that..." Verloren now sobbed, her breathing labored. "I...I want to go through with the wedding. I want people to know I love you. I want to be your wife." Verloren pulled in a long labored breath, "I could die, I understand if you don't want to... I owe this debt Ark. I now know what you meant all those times, when you said the hammer is thrown."

"I paid Sahalia's price Ver, all of it, she can't do this." Ark protested, unconsciously grabbing her weapons.

"No Ark you paid for your change, not mine, this is her price for taking me instead. If I don't do this she will kill my friends, my family." Verloren fell into Ark, leaning on her for strength. "The price must be paid, Ark I'm sorry. Sahalia must be paid."

"That is all the time I have as well, my love." Ark said holding Verloren close one hand cradling the crown of Verloren's head, the other pulling her body close. Ark felt Verloren sobbing, and didn't try to stop her. There was no soothing this pain.

"I wanted all the scary freaky people out of your life and now they are in mine Ark." Verloren said in a whispered scream of agony.

"That is what it means to share a life, you embrace the good times and the bad Verloren. There come long absences, and short reunions." Ark wanted to ease her mate and lover's pain, but she couldn't. "I have been recalled."

Verloren pulled out of Ark's embrace, "I thought you were done with service?"

"No not service this time," Ark said, "this time I was chosen. I was born for this service. I don't know what it is yet, but it will take everything perhaps even my life."

"How long do you have?" Verloren asked. The words pierced her heart, as they pierced Ark's, neither of them would live together now, neither would be safe, neither was sure they would ever be together.

"Three days, including today, just like you. Long enough to marry you, long enough to love you, long enough to be your lover, just once, if you still wish that." Ark leaned on Verloren's neck, nuzzling it like she had in happier times.

Verloren picked up Ark's head and held it in front of her. "If there is a chance at carrying a piece of you with me, a chance at giving birth to a part of you, however small, I want it. I want people to know you loved me. I want it recorded for the ages Ark. I don't care that it is unconventional. I need it and I need you."

"We should tell Luliana, Prime and Moto, Verbear." Ark always bound by her duty, but not wanting to be parted from Verloren again, removed the bridle from Nightscape. Ark unlashed the saddle. Nightscape was confused. Ark held his head, kissed him and then smacked his hind. Knowing the command to go home, he returned to the Peak. Guthrum would care for him.

Verloren watched in stunned silence Ark was not sure she would ever return. She loved Nightscape in a way almost as much as she loved Verloren. To send him home, to set him free... Verloren's service was a set time, but Ark's..., and then she knew, Ark might never come back. And there was nothing she could do, nothing anyone could do.

Ark called a mechanical mount, "Verbear ride with me. I don't want to be apart from you, not in the next few days. Not until I have to."

As they approached Ironforge Verloren said, "I will tell Moto Ark, she has been a bit queer lately."

Verloren found Moto in a little house along the outer ring of Ironforge. She was mothering some poor night elf. Verloren felt sorry for the night elf, who was complaining about safety. And no wonder with Moto's tender graces.

"YES of course your safe here! Now Moto.. you know better. Why didn't you introduce me to this lovely being." Verloren popped in the doorway.

"Verloren, I believe she needs more rest. You will probably scare her.." Moto laughed a little.

Verloren replied, " I'm harmless. She will probably be more afraid of you then me!"

Motokume rolled her eyes. "Pft..." She whispered under her breath and quickly pushed Verloren out of the doorway and into the streets. "Ver im sure Ark needs you... its ok... I have this under control. Tell Ark that I will throw her a party for the wedding and I'll invite the nightelf if you want. Then you can get to know each other. Yah thats it..." Moto said as she continued to push Verloren out amongst the streets in Ironforge.

"We are going to have to tell them together with Prime, Moto is smothering some poor night elf in her tender graces." Verloren laughed, that infectious contagious laugh, and even Ark in her brooding mood couldn't help but smile.

Verloren put her arms around Ark, "The wedding preparations can wait, I am tired of waiting for the wedding night, you are already my wife. I want to spend today as your lover."

"But you are fertile, and I suspect I am as well Verbear." Ark said.

"I know. I am counting on it Ark. I am counting on it." Verloren held Ark, and the feeling excited Ark and crushed her, but if these were the last 2 nights they had, they would spend them together, as lovers.

A Stranger Lights the Darkness

2011-02-08T10:47:00.000-08:00

The room was dead silent. Ark was in bed, every nerve tensed. Verloren lay peacefully beside her. Lucy trusted in her Eye of Kilrogg to alert her to danger. The house indeed the entirety of the Peak seemed to be asleep save for her.

Ark knew Sahalia, well she knew her type at least. Sahalia took what she wanted. The gnome warlock seemed harmless enough, until she was angry. The transformation was remarkable both in speed and intensity. It was like watching Chromie, a female gnome, turn into Chromaggus the male dragon. Except Sahalia was not a benevolent dragon aspect. Sahalia was the devil's own daughter.

Ark heard before she saw the portal. Ark had gone to bed that night in full armor. She tried to rise, but she couldn't move. If her limbs were tied she could not have been held to the bed with more force. The robed shadows whispered to themselves. A language long dead, and probably best never spoken of again, let alone whispered in the dark of night. So dark and black were their words, a black vapor exuded from their hoods.

The chill of death was here. Ark felt the cold embrace of despair, as they removed Verloren from Ark's embrace. They lifted Verloren as if she were but a ragdoll, and Ark was a mere toddler. Verloren's head lolled this way and that while they shifted her body. Ark noticed there was one by the portal who held his fist closed.

The robed figure approached as Ark tried to pear into the portal. Ark needed a clue where they were taking Verloren. The figure pulled Ark out of her body and slammed her spirit fully into the wall, onto the ceiling, and then down on the floor. He forced his way into her mind. Ark watched as her mind was being invaded by this thing's finger. She tried to rush him, but her spirit was held as fast to the floor as her body was to the bed.

Ark tried to scream for help, but no sound came out. Ark pleaded that her friends would do something. As if in response the wall of their room dissolved like water, and Ark saw her friends. Not one of them was breathing, and some were bleeding, not blood, but spirit. A clear transparent liquid purer than water flowed from all of them.

Ark refused to quit. If she was still a spirit then perhaps no bonds could truly hold her. Ark focused, she prepared for the change, she became as light as a feather that rides the winds. She focused on her hands. It didn't matter if Ark lived only that Verloren did. Ark formed her fingers into long talons, blades with which to cut her bonds. Spirit blades that would cut even the shadow.

Ark's ability to fly as a spirit served her before, but she could not remember where. And she crafted her hands into such fine weapons, it bothered her. As if she had done this before. Without bothering to think she plunged her fingers into the shadow, and ripped the shadow in half about the middle.

The robe fell empty to the floor. But it was too late. They had taken Verloren, perhaps if she could get back in her body, then she could rip open the portal. She would find a way to save Verloren.

Ark laid down into her own body, and fell for ages long minutes turned into seconds, as she finally found her voice.

"VERLOREN, VERLOREN NO!!! YOU CAN'T TAKE HER. I WON'T LET YOU TAKE HER." Ark was able to move and sat straight up in bed.

"Ark, Ark, it's okay. It's okay. I am right here." A dranei female said laying next to her touching her, holding her like Verloren. "I am right here."

"I don't have time for Sahalia's games." Ark said turning to leave and follow the trail before it grew cold.

"Ark it's me. They changed me." The dranei female said.

Ark was skeptical at best, but as she looked she saw Lucy and the ever vigilant Eye of Kilrogg still on the couch in their room, not dead as the shadow showed her.

"Prove it." Ark said indignantly, if this was a ploy Ark would destroy Sahalia. If anything happened to Verloren, Sargeras himself could not have contained Ark's rage.

"Ark after Lord Melchar took you and I got you back I brought you here." the female dranei said.

"Plenty of people knew that if not then they do by now," Ark wasn't sure what to believe, but this was how Sahalia worked.

"Ark I won't make you leave the sunrise at the Peak. I love it here." As she said this the dranei held up her ring. A soulbound ring, and there were few like it in this world or Draenor. "You gave this to me that day, and I promised to give you myself, and a life at the Peak."

"Verloren?" Ark was astonished. Sahalia had made no trouble for anyone, she had simply taken a human body, and given Ark a dranei one. In a strange way Sahalia fulfilled the contract, since giving Verloren to Ark as a dranei was tantamount to giving Ark a dranei body. Sahalia took what she wanted, but she left Verloren's memories intact, or at least someone did.

Lucy slept soundlessly even with Ark yelling at the top of her lungs. Everyone else piled in the door as soon as they could.

Ark relaxed in Verloren's grip. Verloren had not grown stronger, but held her like a lover. Verloren held Ark, like well like, Verloren. Ark looked at Verloren's new form, not that it mattered, but she was as beautiful as ever. Different but beautiful, her hair was ebony, her eyes a cool blue like Ark's own. Her body was a brighter but paler blue than Ark's skin.

"Am I pretty?" Verloren asked.

Tears streamed down Ark's face as she pulled Verloren close to her. "You were always pretty to me Verloren, and you always will be."

Don't Know What You Have Til It's Gone

2011-02-01T07:01:00.000-08:00

Ark decided to head out and do her dailies, after hours of going over plans with Luliana and Moto. The wedding was coming along nicely. Ark checked her mailbox to see if any of her old items had sold, mostly little mechanical toys she sold on the Auction house. What she found made her heart and her jaw hit the floor.

To: Arkadelphia
From: Sahalia

Subject: Contract Nearly Complete

Don't come to us. We will come to you.

Sahalia

Wow, well better that this is dealt with now. Ark went to find Verloren. She found her in a confectioner's shop in the trade district. Everything looked wonderful, but she knew the look on her face gave away her trouble.

"Ark what's wrong, something with the wedding? Is someone arguing again?" Ver's words expressed a deep concern. Ver knew when Ark was this visibly shaken something was very wrong indeed.

"Ver I did something a while back," Ark started, "something I am not proud of, but I can stop it if I hurry. I think."

"Ark you can't run off on me again," Ver was not sure whether to be angry or happy that Ark was telling her this.

"I can't talk about this here Ver. When you finish up, meet me in the Timberline." Ark tried to turn and head out, but Verloren grabbed her wrist with all her strength and pulled Ark back.

"Ow Ver, I said I am not..." Ark protested.

Verloren kissed her softly and deeply on the lips, standing on her tiptoes to do so. "I know, that was to remind you of why you are not running off from me."

Ark mouthed the words 'I love you,' as she walked out of the shop. Verloren was quite the kisser, and when she wanted to she knew exactly how to leave Ark weak in the knees. This was one of those times. Ark shook her head to clear her thoughts, and began going over who was not involved in wedding plans at this moment. Moto would kill her if she tried to do this job solo. Ver would chew up the remains, it wasn't worth trying that now.

Lucy might help, a lock for a lock, fire with fire. But she might need a healer, perhaps a druid. River had a big mouth, and she wasn't sure Beldonna could be spared, between Bel's honeymoon and her sister's wedding. Well Beldonna had her hands full. Dobby might help, but Ark didn't know the druid well enough. Jade was too preoccupied at the moment, and Izume was out of contact. Honbun was getting better, but Ark wasn't sure she had the chops for something like this. Rose was off somewhere trying to attract a new man, and one Ark was pretty sure was gay, but she said she didn't want to be disturbed so. Ark chuckled at the thought. Mandy had all, but disappeared. Which left Dobby, better a guildie than not, and better someone you know a little than not at all.

To: Dobby
From: Arkadelphia

Subject: Ver

Dobby,
Listen I don't know you that well, but you said you wanted to be included more. I have a problem. I know this is short notice, but I need a healer. I know you quit healing, but you know how to do it. I need someone for this job. I can pay you if that is an issue. I don't normally ask for help, and it gets me in trouble. FYI this could get us killed or worse, and yes the people we are facing are worse than death.
It is a rush job I need to know in the next day or so.
Thanks Ark

Ark went to her bank, and grabbed a few extra things, you never knew what you might need against warlocks. "Lucy, listen I am glad I ran into you, have you ever heard of the Shadow Proclimation?"

"Ark tell me you didn't?" Lucy said in her high squeaky pitch.

"It was a dark time for me Lucy." Ark could see the uncertainty in Lucy's eyes as the little warlock mulled it over.

"Who else is on the team? I take it Ver is." Lucy continued, if she was going on this nightmare, she wanted to know who else was on the team.

"Well I asked Dobby, mainly because everyone else is either busy or out of contact." Ark knew Dobby and Lucy didn't always get along, but it was what she had at hand.

"Dobby doesn't heal anymore Ark," Lucy sighed, if she went this would be quite the challenge. "I don't know."

"Well if you aren't up to it, I will let you tell Ver I asked for your help, when you are both leaning over what used to be my body." Ark knew the little gnome had more than a little vanity. "Maybe I could ask that new fellow, Feanta something isn't it."

"You drive a hard bargain, but I am not letting Feanta get bragging rights I could have. We have a deal." Lucy and Feanta had a friendly rivalry that Ark could count on to get one or the other's goat.

"Meet me at the Timberline in 2 hours." Ark said as she started her coptor. She hadn't taken the mount in months, but this job could get one of her other mounts killed. She had no idea how the Shadow Proclimation were going to do what they were going to do. And she didn't want to risk a living mount. The coptor could always be repaired.

Neither Prime nor Fred were anywhere to be found, which was a shame. She didn't know that many other death knights that could help her, and that she trusted. And other paladins well, Ark didn't want this getting back to her superiors in the order.

Ark landed just outside the Timberline, and said hello to Bixi and Buliwyf. "Listen I need for you not to hear anything that is said when my friends get here." Ark's voice was low as she slipped the dwarf and gnome a few gold. "I need an hour or so."

"Grreat ta meet cha." Buliwyf said, as if he had never seen her before, and he and Bixi slinked out.

"You have a great day now!" Bixi called behind her.

Ark went downstairs to find Luliana, Verloren, Honbun, and Dobby all there.

"Ark," Luliana started right in with her tone, "we want to give you the benefit of the doubt, but you have so many secrets. Is this some ploy for attention?"

"Only if it keeps my memory intact. I am not hiding anything." Ark sat down and suggested by motion they should do the same. Ark went over to Verloren, and cupped her hands around Verloren's.

"Ver this is mostly to you, but I am not hiding anything. I made a deal with the Shadow Proclimation. They are supposed to take me out of a human body, and put me in a dranei one." Ark knew how this sounded, but she also knew the Shadow Procimation was well known enough, deals, dangerous scary deals were made and people just disappeared.

"See they can take me, my soul, remove my memories, and place me in a young brain damaged child. My new soul heals their mind, and I have a new body." Ark looked around and saw the looks of horror on her friends faces. "It was a dark time for me. It was a chance to start over. It never occurred to me how they would do it, or that my life would turn out how it did."

"Ark you can't go through with this." Luliana was adamant.

Ver was fit to burst. "Ark why would you do this, you aren't leaving not again. I don't care what you look like. How many times do I have to tell you that? What do I have to prove to you?" Verloren was readying a spell to release her pent up rage.

Ark held her hands at her side to prevent her from casting. "Verloren remember when I talked about how I wanted to end it all, long before ASC, and all of this." Ark brushed Verloren's cheek with her hand. Ark rubbed her thumb in an attempt to calm Verloren. "Ver it was before you, long before. I thought I needed to start over. I thought I needed a clean slate, but I don't. I..." Ark's eyes started to tear up. "Everything I experienced brought me to you Ver, and if I had to do it all again to find you I would." Ark rested her head on Verloren's shoulder. Verloren might be mad, but she had never turned Ark away when she was completely honest.

"Ok well you aren't going through with it. I am not risking your life for some half baked warlock scheme." Verloren held Ark's head as the pair rocked back and forth. "No offense Lucy," Verloren added nodding at the warlock who just walked in.

"Oh none taken, those guys are bad news. Even warlocks know not to mess with them. One of the first things they teach us, never mess with Mother in laws, Mother Nature, and Mother Freakin Shadow Proclimations. You just don't do it." As Lucy said this she counted off her fingers. "Demons can be bound, the Shadow Proclimation takes what it wants, when it wants it. Change your mind, oops too bad contract is binding." Lucy shook her head. "I had second thoughts, but a promise is a promise, plus I know what we are in for."

"Okay Ver I love ya. And Ark I think you are very nice, and very good, but I can't do this." Dobby waived her hands in protest and started to get up.

"DOBBY SIT DOWN!" Ver's ire had been raised now, and there were few things scarier in all of Azeroth. Dobby did as she was told.

"Ver this is too much, you can't expect..." Luliana always tried to contain Ver, but it was like containing a volcano you could try, but you would only get hurt.

"Luliana shush!" Ver interuppted. "Now Ark came to us, as you told her to do Luliana. WE ARE GOING TO HELP HER! SHE WOULD HELP US DAMMIT!"

Ver's logic was inescapable. Ark had done as asked, not helping was akin to saying don't bother us with your problems, and that would cost the guild both Ark and Verloren. More importantly it would cost Luliana a couple of good friends.

"Why am I here again?" Honbun asked. Ark hadn't mentioned anything about this to her, and she would rather stay out of trouble.

"You are here Hon, because Ark needs a healer, and Dobby can do more as a cat or a bear right now, than a healer." Verloren did her best to maintain her fragile composure.

"Ark why didn't you come to us with this before?" Luliana asked. It was a fair question. Ver decided to let Ark answer it.

"I forgot, honestly with everything going on, and the wedding, until I got the letter from Sahalia today. I was so happy I forgot. I really did. If you want me to do this alone I understand." Ark hoped her earlier foolishness didn't cost her everything she had spent the last few years building, trust, friendships, and most of all love.

Luliana cautiously approached Ark. "No Ark I just wish we knew ahead of time." Luliana rubbed Ark's back, careful not to touch Verloren. Not that Luliana was afraid of her, but there was no reason to escalate Ver's anger when they all wanted the same thing.

"Wait what, who? Sahalia, ok I was never here, you don't know me." Lucy had been cautious up until now, but on hearing that name, maybe she could find a way to wipe it from her mind. Sahalia was dangerous, powerful, and unpredictable.

"LUCY SIT!" Ver was forceful, and getting more so, by the minute.

"No Ver, I was kinda iffy on the Shadow Proclimation to begin with, but Sahalia, NO!! Feanta won't survive it either. I am out." Lucy was not going up against this one, this was too much.

"Ver I am with Lucy on this one. Ark is pretty strong let her handle it." Dobby's voice cracked. Honbun was trying to blend into the corner. Perhaps this was why they added Fade.

"No Ark, you aren't going alone, we are going with you." Verloren said stroking Ark's hair. "And by we I mean all of us." Verloren said through gritted teeth.

"Ver you can't just storm up to Sahalia, between Giddean, and her other guards, it is certain death." Ark tried to explain her plan. Ver cut her off.

"Okay then we explain you are no longer interested in her services Ark." Ver said matter of factly. "And if they won't take no for an answer we make them."

Lucy cut in, "Ver the deal is done, they probably already have a need for Ark's body, wait Ark you were human right?"

"Why does that matter? I love her for who she is now scars and all." Verloren wanted this over with, and if she had to call every favor she knew this was going to be over. Ark would be hers, no more scary freaky jerks. "Ark is this all of the people who have a claim to you? Because I want it all taken care of now. If we find a way, I want to be with you forever, not until some other idiot tries to take you again."

"Yes, I think so." Ark said lifting her head and wiping the tears from her eyes. Her whole future with Verloren might go down the drain, because of a death pact she made 4 years earlier.

"No Ver, you aren't listening, the Shadow Proclimation doesn't care about scars, they care about forms, that is what they deal in." Lucy waved her hands up and down her own body to demonstrate. "They are body switchers and snatchers Ver. They will mind wipe you, and give you a new start, but no one quite knows how or why, at least no one I have ever known who made such a deal ever talked about it. And some of them I never heard from again."

"And..." Luliana could see that Ver needed Lucy to get to the point faster.

"And Ark was human, Arkaneena when she made this deal. So they probably want a human body, not a dranei one." Lucy tapped her chin, as she starting mulling their possibilities. "Where can we find a brain dead human, equivalent exchange applies so in theory they just need the body." Lucy started pacing the room as her mind raced for a plan. "They are stuck with Ark being dranei, but they want a human." Lucy thought aloud. "Ark what body did you want?"

"Dranei, but I already am one. Ver maybe they will just give me a body free of scars. If they turn me into a man would you still love me?" Ark asked.

"Ark shush, I won't let them do anything to you." Ver pulled Ark closer to her. Ark was being silly, of course it didn't matter what she looked like. "Scars and all I am keeping you as is."

"Well Ver," Lucy started again, "as far as I know the procedure works. There is no way to be certain, and a mind wipe is not a requirement. They want a human, and presumably Ark has already paid for the transformation. Verloren how would you like to become dranei?"

Transparency

2011-01-21T13:02:00.000-08:00

"Ark, what are you still doing here?" Motokume asked. "Didn't Verloren send you a note telling you to meet her somewhere without delay?"

"Do I look like I am delaying?" Ark asked aloud. Ark was hammering some mithril on the anvil in the Dwarven district of Stormwind.

"Unless that is a goblin love machine, or a universal locater for your wife, you don't need it. GO!!!" Moto smiled as she pushed Ark away from the avil.

"Moto stop." Ark's tone was deathly serious. The smile dropped from Moto's face.

"Ark what's wrong?" Moto realized Ark was upset, and put her hand on the younger woman's shoulder in a sort of half hug.

"Nothing once I finish this and River gets here." Ark mopped her brow and wiped the tears from her face in one move so Moto wouldn't notice.

"What are you making?" Moto wanted Ark to open up, but she knew only one person could force Ark to do anything, and she was the one Ark was preparing to see.

"A new trinket," Ark said simply.

"A new trinket. From mithril. When you sold your brand new dragonling for cash." To say Moto was perplexed by Ark's actions was underselling the point.

"Well I need it for when I see her," Ark finished the trinket and admired her handiwork.

"So what does this oh so important new trinket do?" Moto was frustrated with Ark. Verloren was one of the best healers they had right now and Ark, the one person who could bring her back home, was fooling around in Stormwind.

River screeched overhead, and after swirling around Ark's head a few times, she landed on the edge of the fountain. River shifted out of her storm crow form. "I don't think you need these and I don't see why you want so many, but here they are."

Ark took the potions, and equipped her new trinket. "Well this should give me a full minute. Can I chug the potions River?" Ark asked.

"Sadly no, 10 minutes between uses honey. Is that all you need?" River was a polite, but rather flighty druid, she did whatever fancied her at the moment. She was a stark contrast to many of the druids Ark knew with their rigid ways and determination. River waved, shifted into a crow again, and left in the general direction of Vashj'ir.

"Okay what was that about, what do you need all of this stuff for to talk to Verloren?" Moto was curious to the point of distraction, it seemed Ark was doing nothing but wasting time. Ark grabbed chocolates, and flowers from her bank.

"What oh, yeah Moto, well I don't know how Verloren is going to take me now. I mean look at me." Ark grabbed a full face helmet and replaced her goggles.

"Is that what this is all about, what potions are you getting, love potions?" Moto was starting to think Ark was upset about her looks. I mean sure the dragons did a number on her, but Moto didn't think it was that bad.

"Invisibility potions, and an invisibility trinket if you must know. I have already placed an invisibility tinker on my belt. I don't want her to have to look at me. The helmet is for when they all are on cooldown." Ark hung her head, Verloren probably wouldn't want her now anyway. But at least Ark would know how Verloren felt. She mounted her purple gryphon outside the bank and headed to the location.

"You don't need it Ark. She loves you anyway, plus you can't hide from her forever." Moto followed Ark out of the bank, and watched as she mounted her gryphon. Ark should have been happy about seeing Verloren instead this was all about Ark hiding, which was why Verloren left in the first place.

"Those two need counseling." Moto said aloud to no one in particular.

Ark switched to her damage gear midflight and made sure her belt was ready to be activated.

Ark's flight was short and uneventful, but Ark ran through all the possible scenarios in her mind. Verloren never wanted to see her again. Verloren wanted to get back together, but shrieked in terror at Ark's face, or worse it made her sick. Perhaps Ark had taken too long to get everything together, and Verloren thought she wasn't coming. All the what ifs were working their way through Ark's mind when she got invited to a group from Verloren.

Ark briefly thought about refusing, but she didn't want Verloren to think she didn't love her. Ark accepted the invitation, and landed shortly after. Nightscape pounded down nervously. Ark's nerves were clearly affecting even her mount.

Ark activated her belt and ran to Verloren grabbing her, and holding her. This might be the last time she would ever get the chance. "Am I too late to ask forgiveness?" The tears streaming down her face reflected part of her image, but Ark had to know.

"What is there to forgive?" Verloren said. She was wearing her spring robes. Ark looked at the ravishing beauty in front of her, and wanted to run. "Ark I can see you, you know. What's wrong?"

"It's just well I can walk," the invisibility effect was wearing off, so Ark activated her trinket.

"Ark I see you, well I sort of see you, you are like a ghost, what is wrong?" Verloren asked again.

"Well I learned to walk, and run, but not all the healing that you would have done, was done correctly. Goblins follow contracts very specifically, and I was so worried about walking that... Well Anchorite Karja did what she could in the field." Ark touched her face, and realized that she was about to lose her invisibility again. Ark drank a potion.

Verloren laughed, well maybe she had planned on leaving Ark after all. "Ark I don't like you for your looks. I mean I think you are beautiful, but it doesn't matter. I love you. You are my wife, and I am yours. Do you really think the invisibility thing is going to last forever?"

Ark started to back away from Verloren, but Verloren was not going to let her get away. Not when Ark clearly wanted her back. Verloren simply advanced on the ghostly Ark, faster than the figure could back away. Verloren grabbed Ark around the neck and straddled her legs around Ark's waist.

"No I didn't think it would," Ark said as the last of her abilities faded.

"Take off the helmet Ark." It was not a statement Ver issued, it was a command.

"But what if you don't..." Ark tried to object.

"I said take it off. I don't care. I don't want anything between us anymore." Verloren said with a voice of certainty.

Ark turned her head and removed the helmet as her belt tinker became available. Ark activated it. This was the last one Ark would have for several minutes, but the last few seconds where Verloren could remember what Ark looked like before. Ark owed Verloren that. She turned around these last few seconds were all she had.

BLAM!!!!!

Well that was engineering for you.

Verloren touched Ark's face, it was bad sure, but she was also sure that it was nothing she couldn't fix if Ark really wanted it done. It would just take time. Verloren decided she had enough.

"Ark next time start yelling or fuming at me, or at the guild. Don't hold your anger in till it explodes. I have almost lost you now four times. Screw the wedding!! We are already married lets just stay in the peak and lead nice quiet lives hhmm?" Verloren blinked her eyes, and cocked her head to the side.

They both knew it would never happen, but Ark didn't run away. If Verloren was happy with the monster Ark had become, then Ark wasn't going to let this woman get away again. They talked about things, the upcoming wedding, but things were awkward.

Everyone was on eggshells around everyone else. Ark hated it. They were all still staying in Stormwind as a more central location, but it was Moto who put an end to the awkwardness amongst them, by suggesting they go raid Trial of the Champions again for old times sake. Soon the guild was back to joking and fooling around, no more kid gloves.

Things were better when they finally finished a whirlwind tour of Northrend, better among the guild. But Ark was still uncomfortable with Verloren, so Verloren suggested they end the night in the Lion's Pride Inn. That place was a cesspool of prostitution, duelers, and geniunely unseemly folks. Ark shrugged her shoulders, there was nothing there the 2 of them together could not take down.

Verloren wore only her tabard. "Ark put on your red outfit." Verloren wasn't asking, but she wasn't commanding either. It was desire in her voice as she told Ark what to wear. Verloren ran upstairs and since she could not find an empty room settled for one with a blind mage trainer in it.

Verloren sat down on the bed and pat the mattress beside her for Ark to sit down. Ark sat down and waited, she knew Verloren wanted to wait until their ceremony on the 19th of next month to do, well to go...

Verloren put her head in Ark's lap, and said, "Ask me anything."

"What?" Ark heard what Verloren said, but she didn't understand what she wanted.

"Ask me about my life, ask me anything, we'll take turns. Look we are married, but we still aren't that intimate, and this is the best way I can think of, so ask me anything, and then it will be my turn. You have to be honest, completely honest. Nothing is off the table." Verloren looked up at Ark with that look in her ocean blue eyes. "Ask me anything."

Three hours later, they both decided they would just pay for the room when they woke up. They were both too tired to go home to the Peak. Besides they didn't want to leave each other's arms any sooner than they had to.

Fallen Angels

2011-01-18T20:17:00.000-08:00

Verbear,
I don't blame you for leaving. I know you are disappointed in me. I failed you. I am miserable without you. I wanted to learn to walk again, to tank, to dance with you. Now I fear that is ruined. Why bother walking if you don't have anyone to walk with?
I love you more than words can say. I can't ask for forgiveness I don't deserve it. I would cross the world to find you, but as I understand it you don't want to be found. I don't know if you will even read this.
Love,
Ark

Verbear,
No matter what you are still my wife and I love you even if you don't love me anymore. I will do whatever it takes to win you back.
Tell me what I need to do. I wasn't leaving you. I just needed air. I wanted to dance with you. Please come back to me. I won't chase you down if you don't want, but I will wait for you. I won't rest until you come back to me.
Love,
Ark

Verbear,
Can I still call you that? I miss my wife. Do you still want to be my wife? I sound desparate I know. Sorry. I can't stand to be without you, but I want you to come back when you are ready. I thought I needed to be away from you to learn to walk again, but now I don't want to go anywhere without you.
I am tanking again. I love you so much. Please come back, I don't know how to live without you anymore.
Love,
Ark

V,
I don't know what Ark thought I wanted, but leaving you wasn't it. I told her she needed to walk on her own, that is all. I told her you wanted to dance with her, not some machine. Maybe it wasn't my right to do that. I am sorry. You can hit me all you want, just please come back. We need you. Ark needs you.
Hugs,
Luliana

Verbear,
I miss your smile. I know you gave everything you had to heal me. I haven't slept in days. I can't sleep without you anymore. I need you.
I am afraid you won't find me attractive, but I am still your wife. Will you still have me? I am a monster inside and out now.
I never stop thinking of you. I am beginning to lose hope, but can I come find you? Do you want me to come find you?
Love,
Ark

Verloren,
Lissen Ark misses you. She wants you back. Ye didnae hear what Luliana said. Nare did I, but please hear Ark out. If'n ye didnae want Ark afta tha' none can blame ya. She was wrong and she knows it.
Withou' ya healin' er her scars are pretty bad, but I didnae take ya for tha' shallow. I donnae if'n Ye moved on. But at least give Ark closure. She will always be your wife een if ye arenae hers.
Liz

Verloren,
Lissen up yeah, I understand you think Ark is marbles and conkers yeah, Just talk to her eh.
Let her know you have about as much interest in as a park horse has in the royalty yeah.
Michel

Verloren,
I know Ark is not the best companion, believe me growing up with her, ugh. But the silence, you don't have to tell her where you are. I understand she can be difficult, but at least let her know you are alive. She wants you back in the worst way, and the way she left was just well bad all round.
None of the blame lies at your feet, but I think if people knew...yeah.
The story is you found a couple of horde fellows. Good for you moving on. Ark just wants to know you are okay and happy. I mean she wants you back, but if not well happy is good.
Rose.

Verloren,
I don't know what to say. There is no love lost between us for sure, and I am still working on cleaning up moonwood, but my daughter loves you very much. I told Ark I would take care of her problem, but she said no. She wanted you to come back. I don't ask for much, and I have no right to ask anything of you. But if you care about Ark even a little write her a letter.
Jaq.

The Truth Hurts

2011-01-18T15:34:00.000-08:00

"So how much longer are you going to lie there?" Luliana asked.

"I am not laying anywhere. I am carrying myself on these bars." Ark said indignant.

"Exactly," Luliana had that tone, the one that said she was telling you something you didn't want to hear, "You are carrying yourself. You are supposed to be learning to walk again."

"I had some thoughts on that. I could make a device..." Ark started, but Luliana wasn't finished.

"And will it let you dance Ark?" Luliana had a way of telling you something that would crush your dreams, just when you finally had a glimmer of hope.

Ark held her form on the parallel bars they had set up in her room. Her mouth opened and closed several times. She wanted to say something, anything, but there was no response.

"How much longer will you drag your hooves, while Verloren is out there doing heroics?" It wasn't that Luliana was mad, just disappointed. Ark didn't take enough chances. Ark tried, but she had to be pushed to do what needed to be done.

"I am trying here. I have been dragging myself across these bars for days, Luliana." Ark's face was flush, it was true that she carried herself, but that was the problem. Ark didn't want to risk her legs failing. If Verloren was here she would be yelling at Luliana, but that didn't make the priest wrong. It only made Ark angry.

"You are using your arms. We know your arms are healed. We need you to use your legs before they atrophy Ark." Luliana had no anger in her voice, quite the opposite, her tone was one of a disappointed mother. "What is the guild to do, you are one of the most experienced tanks, and one of the best leaders, but you refuse to do what you need to do?"

Ark let go of the parallel bars crumpling to the floor with a thud. Luliana made no move to prevent it. "Okay I think we are done for today," was Ark's only response.

"I want you back Ark. I want you better. This isn't you. Verloren wants YOU back, not this shell." Luliana admired the recently reinforced door Ark had built with Prime. Ark was still capable of so much more than she would admit, but she was stubborn. Luliana put her hand on the door expecting Ark to stop her, Ark was silent. "Verloren wants to dance at your wedding Ark...she wants to dance with you." She turned the knob quietly closing the door behind her.

Ark had not been alone in the room for weeks. Luliana was right, no device, no machine would be the same for Verloren.

Verloren arrived home several hours later to find Luliana making arrangements for the wedding. "Aren't you supposed to be healing Ark?"

"Verloren Ark needs to heal herself right now." Luliana had that same tone she used with Ark earlier.

"What did you do?" Verloren asked.

"I said what needed to be said. I did what needed to be done. I think Ark is upset with me, but it doesn't change the truth." Luliana had the same compassion in her voice that said there was no argument to be won here.

"Luliana how could you?" Verloren wasn't sure what Luliana had said, and she was sure she might never know, but she had only just gotten Ark back. Sure enough when she got to the bedroom door they shared it was locked.

Verloren pounded on the now reinforced metal door. "Ark, Ark let me in." Verloren knew it was too late. Ark had shut down. Ark would hold up in her room until she was ready to face the world again. Verloren hated it when Ark got this way.

Verloren ran back downstairs and smacked Luliana across the face. "You had no right. I just got her back. I just got her back, YOU BITCH!"

Luliana grabbed the paladin, and held her close. "She isn't back yet Verloren. Shhh, I know. I know. Shhh." Luliana tried to comfort the paladin.

"Get away from me, just because Fred won't..." Verloren let the sentence hang half finished, there was no doubt what she meant, "forget it." She finished and ran back up the stairs. "Ark either you let me in, or you are going to have to make a new door."

Verloren prepared a powerful Holy Shock. The spell bounced off the door. Verloren prepared another. It bounced off. Again and again she shot at the door. There was no visible sign Verloren was having any effect whatsoever. The door had been built to withstand a dragon's force. Verloren exhausted herself before anyone else came up to see her.

"What if she is gone, has anyone thought about that?" Tears streamed down her face, this was worse than Ark being injured. This time Ark chose to shut her out. "Why Luliana? Why did you do this to us?" Verloren asked through the tears. "You know she has wormhole generator's and dimensional rippers, what if she left? What if I can't find her? What if that thing gets her again?" Verloren lost it. Luliana had robbed her of the love of her life, and now she had nothing. Just when Verloren was growing more confident and independant, her life was ripped out from under her.

"Get me a blacksmith, get me a rogue. I won't let her shut me out." Verloren stormed off into the Peak. She threw money at anyone who would attempt to open their door. Prime walked into the Peak, since this had become the guild's default gathering place. She walked into Verloren, and found the smaller woman dragging her to her apartment.

"Verloren what's wrong." Prime asked, Verloren couldn't even speak, she just sobbed and when she couldn't sob anymore gathered her breath. Verloren didn't stop until she reached the door Prime and Ark had just built.

"Open it Prime." Verloren demanded.

Prime looked around at everyone else. Everyone held their heads down. She got out her keys, and without bothering with her lower level keys she went straight to her obsidian skeleton key. Whatever was going on it was pointless to argue.

The key turned the tumblers and the door opened, but the room was empty.

Verloren ran in anyway. "ARK!!!! ARK!!!! I LOVE YOU!!! DON'T LEAVE ME!!!!" Verloren sat down on the bed, and slammed her fists into the side.

"Verloren I'm sorry I didn't know she would..." Luliana tried to apologize, but the damage was done. Ark was out there who knew where. She couldn't walk, and now she was alone.

"GET OUT, EVERYONE JUST GET THE HELL OUT!!!" Verloren unceremoniously ushered everyone else out, and slammed the door. The sound reverbated through the halls of the Peak.

Verloren collapsed on the bed, she could chase after Ark, but to what end. Ark left for a reason. Ark did not leave a note, so she could be anywhere by now. Eventually Verloren simply cried herself to sleep.

A world away Ark knew the chance she took, she brought her Iron Boot flask, her Savory Deviate Delight, and Dartol's Rod of Transformation. Her bags were nearly empty, except for those items. As she crawled off of the platform the dimensional ripper screwed up her matrix. Ark looked at her hand and saw a tauren's. Ark smiled, well that was an extra hour she had. An extra hour she would not be found by anyone.

"Qiff it's Ark. I need your help. Fifty gold if you help me get to the Anchorite."

Angels and the Dark

2011-01-14T12:22:00.000-08:00

Ark awoke to the familiar warcry of the murlocs. Time had long since lost meaning. She had no idea how long she had been out, but her mailbox was gone. She was certain she had dropped the letter. Her tormentors had probably taken it already. Ark tried to pick herself up enough to sit up, but she passed out before she could do anything. She had a bizarre stinging pain in her stomach, and new blood was on the floor.

"Grrlgurlk," the murloc pointed his spear at the blue lady. The white lady was smart enough to follow him, maybe she was strong enough to take the blue lady. The murloc lost his entire village to these dragons, and he wanted revenge.

Verloren saw the dranei on the floor. 'Could this really be Ark.' She was so badly beaten and bruised Verloren could not recognize her. Verloren turned the dranei over to her back to check for a heartbeat or pulse. This woman looked dead, or nearly there. 'If this was Ark...'

Verloren gave the dranei a Holy Shock, to revive her. She checked again for a heartbeat, if it was there it was not discernable. 'Okay if they killed Ark, no not yet.' Verloren shook her head to clear her mind and activated all of her trinkets, cast Avenging Wrath, and cast Holy Shock again.

"Ark don't die on me." Verloren didn't give up at the Frozen Throne and she would not give up now.

"Wereverr?" Dazed, but alive, Ark passed out again. She thought she heard Verloren, but it was only a Spirit Healer. This was not how she remembered death, but then this time her mother was not in her mind to anchor her to the world. She hoped she had completed whatever she was chosen to do, because she could feel her life being swept up.

Ark felt the world fall beneath her, but was powerless to do or say anything. She simply watched at this angel carried her to whatever lay beyond the final veil. She wished she could say goodbye to Verloren. She hoped Verloren would be alright. Ark knew her death would be hard, but Verloren was stronger and braver than she wanted to admit. If it didn't hurt so much Ark would have smiled.

Ark awoke again at what looked like the Peak. Strange that the afterlife was so much like her own life. Well what she could make out of it. Ark had been without water for so long she couldn't speak. And she sure didn't feel like heaven. Ark was in agony. Her arms, legs, body, even places she didn't know she had hurt.

Verloren approached her and was cleaning Ark's wounds. Ark did not know if this was heaven, or had Verloren once more managed the impossible. As Verloren started to wash another wound Ark reached out her hand and touched Verloren's hand. Ark entwined her fingers in Verloren's, and they both knew.

No, this was not heaven, but it would do. Ark was home. Home, and Verloren found a way to save her life. Verloren cried, whether from Ark waking up, or just the emotions welled up inside her, Ark could not tell. She couldn't talk to comfort Verloren, so she simply squeezed her hand tighter.

"Ark love I'm going to put your shoulders back into their sockets. I know this is going to hurt really bad, but it must be done." Ver bit her lower lip. Verloren braced Ark's arm as she prepared to set it back into the socket.

Verloren set down Ark's arm, but Ark could feel Verloren tense. Verloren had blown the door off. It appeared they had guests. If Ark wasn't already in too much pain she would have laughed.

"Ver if I had known you could throw attacks that fast, or even care for the wounded this well I wouldn't have insisted we get up here before the morning.", Luliana said.

"Since you're here you can help me pop her shoulders back in.", said Verloren still teary eyed.

Luliana came to one side and Verloren was about to take the other, but Aunt Liz took it instead and nodded.

Verloren placed a piece of leather in Ark's mouth. Ark had never experienced this before, but it looked painful. Ark steeled herself against the pain she knew was coming.

"On the count of three...one..two...three." Liz said and with a pop, both of Ark's shoulders were back in place.

"Argghh!" Ark cried out from the pain.

"Ver, Bel will sit with Ark for a minute, but we want to talk to you first.", Luliana said.

"Your safe now. Your home with those that love you. No one and Nothing will touch you again, this I promise you my love," Verloren whispered. And with a kiss she left the woman to the tender mercies of her sister.

Ark fell asleep at peace knowing Verloren was by her side and safe.

Dark shadows, ghosts, multicolored demons of shadow descended upon her. They had taken Verloren. She needed help to stop them, but there was no where to run. There was no one to help. "It is all your fault, it is all your fault." The demons repeated over and over again.

Ark awoke screaming hoarsely. "No you won't take her, you can't take her! Verloren!!!!!"

"Ark I'm right here." Verloren said, she grabbed Ark's hand with her ring hand. Ark pushed her away, but Verloren tried to comfort Ark. "You're safe now. No one is going to hurt you now." Verloren whispered. "Ark its your Verbear. I'm not going anywhere."

"My Verbear isn't here. She cant be!!! I don't want you hurting her." Ark said, the voices wouldn't stop chanting.

"There is a little lamb lost in dark woods." Again, the voices tormented her and this time Ark was definitely awake, was this part of her torture? Making Ark think she was home, and in Verloren's arms. Had Ark simply gone mad?

"Verbear if that really is you let me hold you." Ark needed to know if this was real.

"Arkadelphia I am your Verbear and I am not letting you hold me in your arms when you have broken legs and broken ribs. I have done six healing sessions with you this day alone and I WILL NOT let all the healing I've done be undone!!! I will hold your hand. I will make sure you heal, and at times I'm sure i will be your punching bag." Verloren did not understand why Ark was still so tormented. Perhaps it was the drugs, or some form of mind control.

Ark wanted to believe this was Verloren, but the dark voice kept telling her it was not. "You will be all alone in the end." The dark whispers were a voice of shadow and pain. "Look around. They will all betray you. You will be all alone in the end."

"Verbear please I need to have you in my arms again to know your really here." Ark pleaded, if this was Verloren she needed to know. Ark needed to be certain, the whispers continued even as she begged Verloren, if it was Verloren.

"This is the ring you gave me after that horrid dwarf tried to put doubt in my head about you and the men of the village." Verloren pressed the ring into Ark's hand as she related the story of the night Ark proposed.

"The void sucks at your soul. It is content to feast slowly." The dark whispers laughed.

"You kissed me and gave me your ring, asking me to be your mate. Well i am your mate for life and right now you need me to heal you with my hands." Verloren continued.

"You resist. You cling to your life as if it actually matters. You will learn." Ark could not silence the dark whispers, and Verloren, she tried to focus on Verloren.

"When your ribs have healed enough to my satisfaction I will stay in your arms always, but until then you will have to settle for holding my hand, and know you are stuck with me for life." Ver smiled, she loved that story.

"Even death may die." The voice went on, but Ark was tired from fighting the voices, and focusing on Verloren, she felt asleep in the madness.

Ark remembered the constant whispers of the dark ones. The shadows refused to let Ark rest, Verloren kept refusing to let Ark hold her until Ark's wounds were better healed, but Ark's madness only got worse.

Verloren kept reminding Ark of things only the two of them knew, and it helped, but the madness seemed to remain constant. During one of Verloren's healing session she noticed a strange hard marking on Ark's stomach. A new marking. And whatever it was, was burning marks into Ark's body.

Verloren traced a scar she was trying to heal, right above the square marking. She called Aunt Liz to investigate. Verloren did not recognize the marking, but perhaps this was what kept Ark's madness and fever from fading.

Aunt Liz made a rough sketch of the item and went to the Ironforge Library to investigate. Luliana had come by just to check on her favorite tank, and Verloren showed the marking to her.

"Verloren you have to get that out of her!" Luliana said.

"I know, but I don't know what it will do to her. I don't know what it is." Verloren was worried, she was willing to do what needed to be done, but this was powerful dark magic, and removing it could be a trap.

"It's the Puzzle Box of Yogg-Saron!" Luliana and Aunt Liz said in unison. Liz had just gotten back from Ironforge by portal. There was no time to waste.

"Verloren if you leave that in it will drive Ark mad." Luliana said.

"How do I take it out?" Verloren couldn't just dig into her mates body and remove this magic.

"Verloren it's a box, a literal box. You have to cut her open again and take it out." Aunt Liz said. Luliana thought she was going to be sick. "I kin do it if ya need."

"No I will get it. I was just afraid it might be booby trapped or something." Verloren said. Verloren's hand shook as she grabbed the knife. She was a healer, but this needed to be done.

"I got it." Aunt Liz said, holding the box in a bloody upraised hand. "This damned thing has been a heap o' trouble."

"I was. I mean..." Verloren was frustrated no one seemed to let her do the hard work.

"Aye lass, ye would've, but then it woulda taken a minute to heal er back oop. Now ye kin focus on tha'." Liz said dismissively. "You heal Ark. Imma take this damn thing ta Blackrock and throw it in the lava." Aunt Liz stormed out the door. "Take no chances with damned artifacts..." Liz trailed off as she left.

Verloren healed Ark's wound back up, and Ark's fever began to drop almost immediately after the box left the room.

A few hours later Ark woke back up. The voices had stopped. The shadows were gone. And Verloren was next to her. Ark was weak, and her body was wracked in pain. But she was awake, sane, mending, and she could see. Plus Verloren was beside her. Ark squeezed Verloren's hand. She tried to sit up in bed. "Ohh that hurt."

"You lay back down now missy. We didn't kill three dragons and get you here, just for you to screw up all the healing that's been done so far by sitting up too soon." Verloren scolded.

Ark kissed Verloren deeply and pulled her close anyway. It hurt, but Ark didn't care. Ark fell asleep again in Verloren's arms, and for the first time in more than a month she slept peacefully. The dark whispers were gone. The shadows were just shadows. And Verloren's love was the only thing that mattered in the world.

Cry Havoc

2011-01-13T09:47:00.000-08:00

"What is it Master?" a guard asked as a previously unseen communication crystal lit up.

"Someone is invading the Sanctum on the Hatchworld. I need to check this out." The Master was confident this was little more than a false alarm, but no one invaded his sanctum on Hatchworld. Whoever it was would be dealt with swiftly and painfully.

Jaq waited in Deadwind Pass for prearranged signal. A signal flare went up the moment Moonwood K cell found the sanctum. And passing the signal from Shadowmoon Valley, to Terrokar, to Hellfire, to the Gate, to the Blasted Lands would take time. And nobody knew how much time was left to save whoever Lord Melchar the "illustrious Leader" of Moonwood had taken. If Lord Melchar was in fact even human, and this Jaq and the rest of the remaining mortal Moonwood agents began to doubt that fact.

All of the Moonwood cells now had "former" Twilight Dragonkin as their heads, and all of the mortals were ordered to stand down. It all seemed too suspicious. Jaq didn't trust it. She had trusted Arthas to restore her kingdom, and it had gotten her killed, and raised into this thing. But power was power and at least she was still human.

An attack on what were most likely 3 elite dragonkin guards would be difficult. Jaq wished she had more backup, but it took all of their remaining agents to set the signal. Jaq knew Lord Melchar was by far the most dangerous. The guards she could take a chance, but she wanted Lord Melchar out of the way. After what Lord Melchar did to Melin...

Jaq never trusted Melin anyway, besides he was old, powerful true, but old. He had probably reached the end of his useful and productive years anyway.

Jaq mounted her skeletal gryphon, hoping some backup would arrive to follow her, when Verloren of all people showed up. Great Jaq did not have time for another fight with her presumptuous daughter in law.

"Don't shoot me with another one of your Holy Shocks. I am still smarting over the last one you shot my way." Jaq hoped flattery might get her at least a semi-competent healer. She could survive longer in her tank gear and with a healer who wanted her daughter back at least as much as Jaq did, well the chance of success was improving.

"Give me one good reason not to kill you here and now woman. You sent Heart to cause trouble. You had a book with people both Ark and I knew, but mostly Ark knew, with no rhyme or reason to why you have it. You were against us getting married, everyone knew it. Let me tell you are too late. In the Wildhammer's way we are married for life. Ark is indulging me in getting married in the Shire's way so it will be smiled upon by both our houses. So if your behind her being taken as soon as I get her back you won't ever see her again because I will kill you myself." Verloren didn't even bother taking a breath she just said it all at once.

"I dont care what you think of me Verloren all I want is Ark saved from those monsters. I went to them to help get Ark separated from you. But it didn't work. I saw how close you were, so I started thinking of other ways to get her to join me." Jaq saw no point in attempting to deceive her. That was Arthas' way, Lord Melchar's way, and look what it had gotten her. Sure Lord Melchar seemed to have all the factions trying to curry his favor, but it was all starting to fall apart now. Jaq couldn't afford to have this allegiance fall apart. Where the heck was her backup, if they got delayed all Jaq had would be Verloren.

'Perhaps I should just tell her everything.' "I watched you from afar and saw the love you have for one another and for your guild. I witnessed it first hand. After all I was in the guild and around you both. Sure I tried to do my own thing and force my daughters to follow me. And I'm certainly not going to win any mother of the year awards for my treatment of my daughters or for years to come. But I am telling the truth, I had no part in Ark's being taken from you this time." Somehow this made Jaq feel better, not about the battle that fast needed to be done, but about her relationship with her daughter. The truth was freeing her from years upon years of lies.

"Look I even went to Lord Melchar, the one I suspect and still believe has her. Thats why I approached you and left the letter. That's why I came back to Stormwind this morning and left a note from a newsletter in hopes of you or Ben finding it and putting it together." 'At the risk of my own life' Jaq thought, but at this moment Jaq knew Verloren could care less about Jaq's life, and if they didn't get in and get out soon, they wouldn't be able to save Ark's life either.

"Now I see you are alone which isn't smart, because if I know anything about these guards, Ark is guarded by more then one, most likely 3. They have to have a way to come and go at will or people would ask too many questions. Moonwood operates in secrecy, a secrecy that I am afraid might be the death of Ark if we don't get moving." Jaq knew all too well Moonwood's methods, perhaps if she were in charge she could change them, but now that Lord Melchar viewed her as a simple mercenary that was not going to happen.

Just as Jaq thought maybe Verloren would go with her the guild rode up. Jaq more than anyone else knew there wasn't time to answer questions now. She set a purple flare. Her team had not yet arrived, and a purple flare meant there was trouble, all the Draenor teams would converge on Lord Melchar's sanctum and delay him as much as possible. Jaq hoped the Moonwood cells combined could occupy Lord Melchar long enough. Now she was the only one who was on the extraction team, and now she knew her backup wasn't coming. It was supposed to be a simple snatch and grab. A simple run and gun with no time for anyone to notice. That wasn't going to happen now.

Motokume started barking orders, now this was a woman Jaq liked. Assertive, certain, and even when she was wrong she simply picked herself up, evaluated her situation, and moved on. Well if this wasn't going to be a snatch and grab there were worse people to have in charge. A couple of worgen were arguing about something or another. Animals, her daughter could be dead by now and they were having a stupid argument.

Finally Verloren, of all people, called them to action. "I just want my mate back in my arms, there will be time for yelling later, when I have her back and I know she is safe."

Verloren and Motokume briefly discussed strategy, and a gnome led them to a specific cave. Well this took time out of the process, if they were in the right location that could shave precious minutes. Perhaps they could succeed.

A murloc, they were placing their faith in a bloody murloc, and a gnome! If this went wrong...

And now Prime was questioning Jaq's loyalty. Great just great, Jaq bit her lip. 'Just shutup Jaq and make sure we kill them before Melchar gets back.' Verloren wanted Jaq where she could see her, that was fine, as long as they killed the guards, Verloren could get Ark out and it would be a simple snatch and grab, just more like a full raid snatch and grab with dead guards.

Verloren tried to nudge her way ahead. Jaq reached out and grabbed Verloren's shoulder. Jaq pointed to the dragonkin guards. Ver was making some bizarre gesture. Before Jaq could say they needed to control or stun one or two Prime had Deathgripped a guard. "So much for dogs being among the more intelligent animals." Jaq thought aloud before she thought better of it. She deathgripped another guard, and a cat druid stunned the remaining guard.

Verloren ran ahead. Jaq had her hands full, but at least there was backup. This group was impressive, coordinated. They acted like a team, seemless and integrated. Perhaps Jaq had underestimated them after all. The healers and damage dealers were starting to back out.

"This is no stun and run. These guys won't quit if they know who you are. We have to make a stand here and now." Jaq turned her quarry and she was back to back with Prime. Well at least Prime wasn't trying to back out. "We have to kill them before Lord Melchar returns. I am not sure how much longer my team can hold him off."

"Who the heck is Lord Milker?" Moto asked over the sound of the battle.

"Kill now, questions later, fair enough?" Jaq asked.

"Oh there will be questions later, but I am wondering if we should keep one of these guys alive, Jaq." Moto responded.

"Moto if Lord Melchar is who I think he is, Jaq's right, these guys need to die." Prime said.

"I never thought I would hear such sense from an animal." Jaq whispered over her shoulder to Prime, she intended it as a compliment.

"And I never thought I would agree so much with a selfish, greedy, bigoted bitch, but there you go." Prime responded, as the two worked together to keep the three dragonkin busy while the others did the real work of damage.

***

A world away Pluvalion, back in his dragon form was watching a full raid on the last of the loyal Dragonmaw. The last still loyal to Deathwing that is. Lady Sinestra would not be pleased, and he still had duties to Deathwing for now. He entered the fray. Defending Dragonmaw Fortress and Netherwing Ledge, but why did this attack have to occur now, and why here. His Sanctum, except for the initial alarm was largely undisturbed. The force just seemed to move in a circle, around and around.

'Were these Moonwood agents?' Well Pluvalion assumed that was lost to him now.

After an hour of hard fighting guerrilla style warfare, the attacking forces seemed to dissipate, with no rhyme or reason. No eggs were missing that Pluvalion could tell. This was why mortals needed to die they were senseless.

Lady Sinestra was at Pluvalion's sanctum when he returned. "Yes young one, we know of your little dalliance. Fear not, Lord Deathwing is forgiving of what he is unaware. Just don't fail him in your duties. This little raid might have broken some of your future siblings. See to it that this does not occur again."

Well Pluvalion's plans would keep for now.

Unexpected Answers

2011-01-12T10:54:00.000-08:00

"What do you want?" Ark's master asked. Normally calm there was an urgency in his voice this time. A faint trace of desparation, perhaps The Master was growing impatient with her master.

"Assedance and Love," was the only answer Ark gave. She had in the last week failed to find anything he would find acceptable. Ark knew freedom would have a price she was unwilling to pay. The beatings even with her gift of the naaru almost constantly active left it difficult to speak. Her tongue swollen from a lack of water only made it worse. Every third day she would be forced to drink until she thought she would drown. She learned this was to be her only liquid, so she had to hold it down.

"What do you see?" her master asked, calming himself further.

In truth due to her beatings, a lack of food, and water what little vision she had left was hazy and distorted. Her eyelids were slits. The drugs only made it worse, but she could make out vague shapes and she could see that her master was making himself larger. This shadowy winged thing started pounding the walls around her, and rocks flaked and fell off the sides.

"I thee anga." Ark said, knowing this was not the right response, but if her master was angry he might slip up. A mistake might give her a way out, a message she could send, something.

"You are right Ark." Another voice, not her alleged master came toward her.

The form seemed to step right out of the shadow, but with just the bright light and darkness elsewhere all was shadow, and light. It made it impossible to tell who came in magically or whether someone could walk here. Ark knew that a portal generator of some kind was here, because her reptilian guards left occasionally when an odd colored light or crystal burned above the one glaring in her face. If not for the difference in color she would not have known it was there. But did they need the portal to get here, or was that simply so there was no coming and going, Ark could not discern.

The new creature reached out a hand toward her master. An impossibly large arm and hand, or was that the drugs? She heard her master cry out briefly and then the creature dropped her master to the ground. Was this a new tormentor, or the master? The new tormentor tortured her, and asked about Ark's mother. Strange questions, "would Ark's mother care enough to save her?" 'Where was she, when Ark needed her?' Questions that made no sense with Ark's mother dead. It didn't matter the new tormentor kept asking, and punishing even when she told him what he wanted, and what he asked.

Ark blacked out yet again, it had been hours, perhaps days since she was last awake.

Noticing Ark was awake, "What do you want, consider the question?" The creature said again. "Consider the options." The creature approached her calmly and touched her cheek. The creature ran his hands through her hair. "You could have power," the creature said kneeling down to eye level with her in her present position. "Power to destroy the Burning Legion, don't you want that?" The voice was the same, but there was no torture this time.

"Nod at the pice youb ask." Ark realized she was clearly dealing with someone either less experienced or more motivated or both. He jumped straight to the end, and skipped the head games.

"You don't yet know my price." The creature responded in an almost jovial tone, as if he found her response funny.

"Ids too high." Ark said, and then the creature was gone.

Ark was no longer bound. It was not necessary. A guard simply grabbed her hands or feet, and hung her while she was questioned or tortured. Both of her legs were broken in several places. 'I might never dance again.' It was funny the things you think of when your whole world is dark. Her arms were excruciatingly painful to move. Both shoulders were out of socket, and probably other joints as well. Ark could not even crawl out of this hole, even if she wasn't under constant guard.

Ark thought about what she had learned. Whoever they were, they hated Neltharion Deathwing and the Burning Legion. They seemed very interested in her mother's childhood, her dranei mother.

Ark had not told them anything that was not common knowledge, but they seemed all too interested in life before the Naaru. Fortunately neither Ark, nor her mother knew much about that time. They had confirmed the rumors that Ark had enabled her mother to sleep without the Lich King's knowledge, but that was common knowledge now.

Ark refused to give the spell, but the matter was not pushed. Perhaps they wanted the old spells, the spells before the Light and the Naaru. They wanted the Eredar. But Ark didn't know any of those spells.

Ah but her mother did. Was that it? They wanted an eredar without all the trouble of summoning and controlling a member of the Burning Legion. Ark had access to her mother's memories, or maybe they wanted Ark to become her mother fully. They wanted to drive her mad so her other memories would take over.

Well it was all a guess, but it would explain why they would kidnap and torture a relatively nameless paladin. I mean sure she killed the Lich King, but it wasn't like she did it alone, and it nearly killed her. 'I am not so powerful as to go to this level. It would explain the trouble, but surely there were others, others more suited.'

But none that had so publicly used an eredar spell, nor so recently. No dranei would consider it, and no other race would have the knowledge.

Ark had not heard her guards in a long time. Their heavy breathing, heavy footfalls, seemed gone. Perhaps Ark could chance Moll-E, but then what. Sure she could contact her guild, but if they didn't understand her previous message, perhaps they all hated her. What if they had simply killed Verloren? Verloren was clearly an obstacle in their minds, when Ark spoke of her they almost spit bile they were so angry.

Ark had no idea who these people were. She had no idea where she was. She knew she was by a swamp, or close to one, but little else.

"Mrgglllgurgle!" Ark heard the sounds of, wait was that Murlocs?

A Murloc war party from the sound of it. With a great deal of luck, and the light on her side Ark hoped her message could get through. But she had to send something they could figure out this time. She wrote one last letter, and activated Moll-E to send it. It had to be short, the pain was too bad to write much.

To: Verloren
From: Arkadelphia
Subject: Swamp Murlocs

Verbear,
Love y

Ark passed out before she could send it. The drugs, the pain, and the constant mana drain prevented her from ever gathering strength.

A murloc scout had broken through the battle, a curious little thing with a spear and a helmet. He was to determine the size and power of the enemy force. He saw the broken blue lady, and the piece of paper in her hand. The murloc shoved the paper in the strange box, and the box went away. The murloc could do nothing about the light that made the place unbearable, but his orders were to observe and report in 1 day. The murloc found a hiding hole and waited. The rest of the party retreated a few minutes later.

"The murlocs want their cave back commander."

"I know, if she doesn't break soon we will have no choice, but a drone."

***
Ben walked around Stormwind bored and noticed a scarp of paper. He had taken to picking things up and throwing them away. He glanced at the paper as he was about to throw it in a fire.

Dragon Attack in the Swamp of Sorrows
A body with no tunic, no affiliation, and no other apparent motive was found with a crushed skull and dragon claw marks in the Swamp of Sorrow yesterday.

Asked for comment the dragons disavowed all knowledge, except for Chronormu who, while in his female gnome form said simply, "I can't tell you about that yet." It is assumed this is the work of Deathwing or his agents.

Officials found a small scrap of fabric in one of his wounds that seemed to have all color, and no single color, at the same time. Anyone with information is asked...

Ben knew that fabric. Verloren had to know about this. Ben ran to Verloren's room as quickly as his legs would carry him.

The Master's Plan

2011-01-10T09:10:00.000-08:00

"What exactly are you playing at Lord Melchar?" Jaq was livid. The daughters she had recently found both spurned her, and now this thing that controlled Moonwood likely had one daughter, and was doing Light and Shadow only knew to her.

"I have no idea what you mean?" Pluvalion, or as he preferred to be known in this form Lord Melchar responded. "You are an adequate mercenary, but don't believe you were ever anything more than that. And remember how I deal with those who know too much." There was no emotion in his voice as he said this, no malice. He was stating facts nothing more or less.

"Do you have my daughter or don't you?" Jaq had lost patience, she made him kill someone she intended only to teach a lesson, and now he was taking hostages.

"I believe both your daughters were human, I have no human captives at this time." Lord Melchar responded with the same cold intones that belied a deeper truth. "Now go." Lord Melchar waved Jaq out of his presence, he wanted to concentrate before today's, or rather tonight's session. His quarry was proving difficult to break.

He asked for nothing, but little things, little things led to bigger things, but breaking a spirit was a slow process. Done properly she would believe she was on whatever side assuaged her conscience. Done poorly the best he could hope for was a mindless drone. And he was fairly certain she could be more useful, and more powerful than the spells she could teach to them. Pluvalion wanted more than a mere drone to teach them eredar spells, he wanted an ally. Someone who could become an Eredar with all the power that followed.

Ark had already shown she could twist an Eredar spell to her own ends. That alone made her worthy of both respect and fear, but the fact that her new form increased her life span to almost his own made her if not a worthy consort, at least a worthy second. No one else seemed to consider this aspect that useful, and Pluvalion would show them just how foolish they all were.

Pluvalion would take over the twilight dragonflight, and then he could dispose of Deathwing. From Azeroth who knows how many worlds he could travel to, once he had an Eredar at his side. Pluvalion could build a force that could one day rival the Burning Legion or even the Titans themselves. But that would take time, time even a dragon does not have, especially one who was given accelerated growth to reach maturity so fast. He needed immortality and he already knew Ark could give that to him. But he wanted to know what else she could give him. Moving from one body to the next was one thing, death meant nothing when you could hop from one body to another. He could be invulnerable.

Pluvalion shifted to a mortal form and began the flight to where he kept his quarry. The problem with anchoring his headquarters on Draenor, the hatchworld, was he then had to travel back to Azeroth, for anything he wanted done. Though few, but the most powerful mages could find his headquarters this far off the beaten path. And after all Hatchworld still felt like home to him.

"How is she?" he asked once again masked as the Lord Melchar.

"I think she is near, but she still hasn't asked for freedom." Melin said eager to please his master, if he could break his quarry he was going to be given a new body. Something Melin was badly in need of, but age also gave him power, power that he now found near useless with so little strength, unless bolstered by the twilight guards.

"FOOL, I DON'T ASK YOU TO THINK. I ASK FOR RESULTS." Lord Melchar lost his composure, and in doing so lost the illusion on his hand as he smacked Melin, it was Pluvalion's claws that drew blood. Regaining his composure he said simply, "See to it that she desires service to me, and do it slowly. I don't want her agreeing to fast, I want her wholly and completely mine. Now go back in there."

Melin was washing blood off of his hands, some of it now his own. He had two choices, argue that it was too soon off of their last session, or do as his master commanded, and he already had new scars from not getting his master results. Melin sent the message that he would have to be summoned back.

Ark was already becoming resistant to the drugs, and a double dose this soon might kill her, but Melin needed Ark persuadable. He ordered another dose. Ark's face was bloody and unrecognizable with the knowledge she had gained. Her eyes were both swollen shut, and Melin now had to be careful to order body blows lest Ark be unable to communicate. She seemed willing to pay with almost her life to gather more knowledge, perhaps it was this tenacity which his master sought.

Shadows in the Dark

2011-01-07T06:55:00.000-08:00

"Ok who's...?" Ark started to get up, but the restraints held her down. Bright lights shone in her face. Wherever she was it smelled a great deal better than whatever muck and mire they had just been through.

"Relax it will do no one any good to have you struggle." A voice said calmly from behind the lights. "I would not want you getting hurt. Help our friend relax."

Two darkly clad figures came from the lights wearing bizzare robes. Ark could not tell what the color was it seemed to change as they got closer to her.

One held her head steady. The other smacked her arm. He took a linen bandage. He if it was a he. He placed some foul smelling liquid on it. Ark felt her arm grow unnaturally cold for a second. Then it was gone.

Ark tried to turn her head. Whatever creature held her head held fast. Instead Ark tried to look through the corner of her eyes. She felt a pinch in her arm. Ark could feel the room spinning.

The creatures robes were shadows that attempted to engulf her. The creatures walked away wordless, soundless. They were shadows upon shadows. Ark had heard of this before, mages, bloodelves, and others told her about this. This was not real, but that didn't assuage the growing fear within her.

Ark assumed she was alone, but where was Verloren. Was this Jaq? Had Verloren abandoned her? Had Verloren gone to get help?

She looked forward. A raven was flying at her face, talons outstretched. The raven stopped and formed into something else. Something mortal.

"I want to start with something easy, shall we?" A voice asked, it was a mortal voice, but the face.

Was that a face? Was this a druid? It sounded male, which meant this was not Jaq. But that did not mean Jaq was not behind this.

"We know that you are chosen, and we want your help. That is simple, yes?" The voice wasn't so much asking as telling.

"You have a strange way of asking for help." Ark said defiantly.

"Well you are a hard one to get alone. But enough chatter, shall we get started?" The voice was too calm. It was eerie. It was the voice of death come to take what he wanted.

"Who are you?" Ark wanted to get this over with. If she could finish it early she would.

A sharp pain pierced her whole body. "Ungghh...What do you...Ungghh" Ark resigned herself to silence. The pain wracked her entire being.

"That is the neural needler. You are familiar with it yes?" The voice asked as it seemed to glance at it's fingernails.

Ark nodded. Ark did not dare answer audibly again. On top of the drugs she was on there was going to be torture. She could not see straight. She could not think straight. Ark did not understand how anyone could do this on purpose. Or for fun.

"I don't like this, but I am your Master, and I must be obeyed. You understand of course." The voice said.

Ark nodded again. She had to be careful what she agreed to, clearly this creature was trying to break her.

"Now what is your name?" The voice asked, calm as an ocean before a storm.

"Arkadelphungghh AAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!"

"Wrong answer, you do not choose your name the master gives it. Now what is your name?" The voice said again.

"Arkadunnnnggghhh AAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!" The room went black, the pain was unbearable.

Ark awoke water splashed in her face.

"Don't make me do that. It is very unpleasant for me. Are you awake?" The voice asked calmly quietly. The creature returned to his seat. "I have all the time you do."

This was almost surreal, like a nightmare, but all too real. Ark nodded to indicate she was awake. In case he used the device again. Ark could not tell how long she had been here. Time had no meaning. All she knew was the bright light and the shadowy figure.

"Now what is your name?" The voice asked again.

Ark feared there was no answer to this riddle. But if it was a riddle then she might solve it.

"What would you call me?" Ark answered. unnggghhh The pain came again, but later and lighter. Was the device in need of power? Was the magic wearing off? Her sight was still hazy, but not as bad as before. How much time had passed?

"An answer closer to the truth, perhaps, but I am not The master, am I?" The voice seemed pleased. Had Ark said too much? "You may now ask a question."

"Is Jaq the master?" Ark asked. Knowledge was power, and the more knowledge she had the better.

"Jaq is a pathetic pawn who will be dealt with when the time is right." The creature said. The creature stood up and walked to her, touching her face. Caressing her cheek like Verloren might have. "Knowledge is power, and power does not come without pain." The voice said.

A fist met Ark's face. Her nose bled. Ark assumed it was the creatures fist that punched her in the face. But she could not make sense of anything.

"Feel free to ask what you wish, when I, your master, grant you leave. But the more knowledge you gain, the more painful the response will be. And I may not be able to answer. Now something I don't know is still knowledge isn't it. Then I will use the needlers."

"I am determined to get an answer from you before we end this session you understand, so what is your name?" The creature asked returning to his seat.

"The master may call me what the master wills." Ark said. Ark still refused to surrender herself no matter the pain. But the answer was close enough to what this thing wanted, and Ark could retain her sense of self. After all she had been through Ark would not surrender that easily.

"Close enough. I will permit you to rest. I will return when I wish, and you will tell me what I want to know." He bowed deeply. "Good day miss."

Ark struggled against her bonds. Partly she wanted to know if they were going to drug her. And partly she wanted to know if anyone else was there with her. Ark attempted to stand, but whatever they gave her made her legs jelly. Ark pushed the chair against the side of the wall. She heard an echo, but nothing else. It seemed she was alone.

Alone in the darkness Ark heard whispers. The whispers of darkness. The whispers of death. The whispers of the endless madness. The whispers of forever. The whispers of silence. The whispers of never.

Hopelessness rose in her throat physically. Ark tried to hold it down. Hopelessness exploded out of her mouth in a foul and painful black form. Ark refused to let go. But hopelessness demanded release, and bound as she was it fell into Ark's lap.

Ark thought of Verloren.

Was Verloren experiencing this same torture? Was Verloren dead?

And in the darkness cold and alone Ark wept.

Knights in White Satin

2011-01-06T09:10:00.000-08:00

Ark and Verloren headed off to start questing for the Tol'Vir in Uldam, but they were both waylaid right after they got started. Verloren escaped, but saw no sign of Ark. It wasn't like Ark to just leave her like this. She wouldn't get that far ahead without her Verbear.

Ben Ark's Argent Squire approached Verloren as she prepared to leave the city gate after giving her captor's a proper thrashing. "Miss Verloren I have a message from Ark." Ben Ark's Argent Squire said.

"Thanks." Verloren was concerned, Ark rarely if ever used her squire to send messages, she was an engineer, she had tools for that. How could she have gotten so far away so fast. Verloren wasted no time, she read the letter, and her heart sank. She hearthed to Stormwind to drown her sorrows.

Hello vErLoren,
Perhaps you can find soMe usE for thIs child. i tire of him And his aMtics. i am also tIred of you and your desparate Needs. I willT no longeR be chained to yOu like a millstone aboUt my neck. anB that goes doubLe for thE Guild. I will stayE in unTil i Have find a bEtter more progressed one, because you are all so Full of fRail. you alwayEs gIve away Ny loot to DumboS like PRIME' and I am tired of this Shit. Now get Out ofS my lifE. Perhaps you can move on, buLt I doubt it you Are all so failsauCe I am glad I aSM hEre. i Love pLuggingS. No I Can reAlly Nove to whereA Y belong. Morever dropping engineering for a Useful profecion. Ha ha Losers Only get Very littlE After aLL.

Ark

Ben who had no hearthstone found Verloren in the Golden Keg several guildies surrounding Verloren. It had been several hours, precious hours wasted. He knew the message was not complete, but he was honorbound not to say very much. Ben had to hope they understood what Ark said, and fast.

"Miss Verloren I am in a hurry." Ben said trying to get her to understand without breaking his oath.

"Go then child leave my sister to her misery." Beldonna was trying to be nice, but she was a little mad at Ark, and taking it out on her squire.

"Miss Verloren," Ben tugged at Verloren arm he had to make her understand, "I AM IN A HURRY!"

Beldonna was tired of this child, she now understood why Ark wanted to be rid of him, she transformed into her wolf form. "GO THEN CHILD!" she growled.

"Miss Verloren," Ben was scared of the wolf lady, but his master needed him for the first time in months she had asked him to do something, and he refused to fail her. "Miss V..Ver..Verloren AR..Ark said I I ha..have t..to g..get you th..this mmmmmmessage," Ben was scared, shivering in his boots actually. His voice cracked as he said her next order "She said if you were too stupid to have Prime help you." Ben held his hands in front of his face, and stood shaking. He closed his eyes tight and prepared for the beating he was about to get, but he would not leave until they understood.

Beldonna would not have her sister treated this way. She raised her hand to strike the child. Verloren caught her hand mid-swing.

"Wait she said what?" Verloren asked, she had gotten than a little drunk in the time it had taken the child to get here, but Ark would never say that. Ark always told her she was smarter and wiser than people gave her credit for. Ark believed in her. She meant something else, something she could not say. Ark and Prime had been growing closer, Ark was opening up, and Prime was one of the people she was opening up to, perhaps Prime knew something.

"I won't have this whelp treat you like that in your sorrow, or ever." Beldonna growled.

"He is under orders Bel. Aren't you son?" Verloren asked.

Ben nodded.

None of this made sense anyway, Ark's grammar was almost perfect, she rarely if ever misspelled anything. Sure the letter was written in her handwriting, but none of this seemed right.

"Verloren Ark collects companions, she never EVER throws them away." Luliana said her finger resting on her chin.

"Ark led by example, this isn't her, and she had excellent spelling and grammar. This letter looks like it was crayoned by a youngling." Moto said, it was starting to dawn on them what was going on.

"And she loved engineering. She loved her bombs. She said she felt naked without her explosives. The only thing that does make sense is that none of this makes sense." Verloren said absentmindedly.

Beldonna picked up the uncooperative child and held him against the wall. "Tell us where she is?" Bel growled, she hated seeing her sister this upset, and it was bringing out her feral nature.

"He can't or he would have already Bel, put him down." Verloren said as she rested her hand on her sister's shoulder to steady herself. Verloren shook her head to clear the drunken fog. "Is Ark in trouble?" Verloren asked Ben.

"I can't say." Ben said.

"Is Ark okay?" Verloren asked trying to find a way to ask a question the boy could answer.

Ben shrugged his shoulders, "I don't know."

"Could you tell me if she was okay?" Luliana bent down to the boy's eye level, perhaps if the boy knew he could trust them...

Luliana was better with riddles than Verloren. But this was going to be pulling teeth to get the right question.

Ben shook his head, "No."

"Did Ark say anything else?" Verloren asked.

"That Prime is the best person to read her note and that Prime should read it aloud at the next guild meeting." Ben said squeezing his eyes shut to remember his master's words exactly. "She made sure I understood that Prime was to read it, and that I should hurry. She made me promise Prime and Hurry. She made me repeat it, 'Prime and Hurry, Prime and Hurry.'"

"Ver that's it get Prime and hurry she can decode almost anything." Luliana said hugging Verloren and Motokume as the realization that Ark was not leaving dawned on them all. More troubling was the fact that Ark was in serious trouble.

"Bel you are the fastest and I am more than a little drunk, if Prime shows up here I will stop her, but she could be almost anywhere." Verloren said, whatever was going on it was bad. Ark could not tell her openly and she sent her squire which meant she didn't trust the mail to arrive. And if Ark did not trust her machines something was very very wrong.

"Jaq's behind this." Moto said pounding her fist on the table. "I am going after her."

"We don't know that Moto." Luliana, always the voice of reason tried to calm the guild leader down. "But I suppose it wouldn't hurt to find out what she knows. Let's go get her, while Ver and Prime decipher the note."

"I'm going with," Fred said. "I don't want either of you getting hurt, and I want Ark back."

"What about me?" Beitrim asked.

"Ready the irons, in case we need to persuade Jaq to talk." Moto said.

Luliana waved her hands to say no as they left the inn. Fred came back in to get something he forgot and just gave Beitrim a nod and a wink.

Good Forum Hosting

2011-01-04T12:01:00.000-08:00

Well this blog has descended, (or is it ascended?), okay sidestepped into little more than my RP with my friends. While that is okay, I would really like a place where more people both with and without the skills to create a blog, (Really what skills does it take anyway?) can go and create stories.

So the idea was floated of a forum. Story threads could be created, people could follow the ones they liked and ignore the ones they did not, and people with little to no computer skills could post.

Now I am not that worried about losing the very, precious, few readers I do have, but I do like to occasionally post information about Wow and this everyday RP thing might lose those posts, especially now that I am back at work. (Mainly because if I haven't lost you already I am probably boring you to death anyway.)

On that note I am interested in any of my readers opinions on a good forum hosting site. I am open to ones to go with and ones to avoid. Any information is more than I have. Both technical and anecdotal evidence is appreciated.

Thanks,
Ark

If Momma Ain't Happy No One's Happy

2011-01-03T13:27:00.000-08:00

Owww!!! Ark cried out in pain as Motokume bent her ear and pulled the taller dranei down to her level.

Motokume cuffed the other side of Ark's head with her other hand. "This is for thinking the guild would take the side of a psycho who claims to be your mother over you."

Oww!!! Ark cried again as Motokume hit her a second time.

"This is for validating the psycho's schemes and plans, by trying to run off and stop her." Moto said as she readied her free arm for another ear cuff.

Oww!!

"This is for making Verloren even consider compromising her values, just to prove she loves you." Moto said. "And this," Moto said while twisting Ark's ear so hard she nearly pinched the very life out of it, "is for thinking you need to run off and do this alone. We are family understand?" Moto said through clenched teeth.

Ark thought maybe Moto was done hitting her, instead Motokume took her free hand and was pinching Verloren's ear.

"Owwww!!!! What did I do?" Verloren asked.

"You were going to join her on this suicide mission. This little tap is so you don't soon forget this message." Moto said. "Now is there anyone else in this guild that wants a suicide mission, hmmmm?" Moto announced while still holding the ears of her victims. "We are not so large I can afford to lose good members on stupidity. The very next one who even thinks about it just tell me." Motokume smiled a wicked grin, "And I will kill you myself!" Motokume spit out the announcement to the various assembled guild members.

Motokume cocked her Kickback 5000, that Ark had just made for her. "Are we done with this lone wolf crap? No offense Prime." Prime just waved her hands and nodded her head as if to say none taken.

"Because I am, I am done with it. We do this together as a guild. Ark you practically turned us into a bunch of tree loving druids with your material sharing and helping everyone level their professions. I like it. It shows leadership, and by the way I love this gun." Moto said as she held up and stroked the rifle before she shot a random Murloc.

"What I was testing the new scope?" Moto said by way of explanation. "Now who wants to do some goblin arena. All this lovey talk makes me anxious, I need to kill something and unwind. I hear the Crucible of Carnage is good."

Luliana picked up and handed back pieces of plate armor at Arkadelphia and Verloren. "Get dressed girls, because apparently the sheriff is back in town." Luliana rolled her eyes as she said this, the sarcasm dripping from her words. "We have to postpone your little honeymoon for a few months." She whispered to Ark and Verloren, "And someone needs a man, soon."

But while it was true that though their guild was small, they fiercely took on challenges that were never meant for them and succeeded.

Prime was simply grateful that she was in wolf form. She was sure she was blushing. It was true most people would reject a worgen Death Knight, but this bunch were already almost family to each other, and in a way to her.

Motokume slung her gun over her shoulder, mounted her gryphon, and rode toward the highlands. "Ya coming?"

Woe to She Who is Alone When She Falls

2011-01-01T10:25:00.000-08:00

It had been a late night of helping the Wildhammers in the Highlands. It was nice given the proximity to their new home in the peak, they went home, took off their armor and never bothered putting on their dressing gowns. They slept in their underclothes.

Well Verloren did. Ark had other plans.

'So I come from a family of traitors, my birth mother has murdered, and to top it off she is bad mouthing our own guild. A guild she is in.' Ark thought. Ark wished she didn't have to do this alone, but if Jaq could kill a death knight, she could probably kill a paladin. 'No this is my family, my shame. I can't ask Verloren. I can't ask the guild. This is my battle, and it must be done alone. I couldn't live with myself if anything happened to my Verbear.'

Ark was more ashamed than she had ever been in the last few days. She refused to let Jaq ruin Verloren's moment, but this had to be finished. The back of her neck tingled as she knew she might die alone. Her stomach fell as she gathered her armor a conglomeration of Retribution and Protection. Ark had cleverly devised to put slippers on so her hooves did not clop on the way out.

Verbear,
Jaq is my problem. Do not follow me. As much as I wanted to kill Heart for what he said, he didn't deserve to die like that. And she is doing all of this in the name of our guild. I am tracking her down and finishing this. If I die, then well it is for the best. Michel has taken another name, and my family's name is forever shamed. My guild is shamed while she is alive, and as an officer I have to resolve this, even if it means I die in the process.
I am from Alterac anyway. I am a traitor. Death is my destiny anyway. No one will miss me, except maybe you. Fred and Prime will quickly replace me I am sure. I want you to be happy, and I hope these last few days gave you that.
Love Always,
Ark

Ark picked up her bags slung them over her shoulder, and closed the bedroom door peaking at Verloren breathing one last time as a tear fell from her eye. Ark mouthed the words 'goodbye my love.' Ark blew a kiss and quietly closed the door behind her.

Light was fast approaching and some people would wake up. She already had to sneak past Thulfram and Guthrum would certainly see her, but Ark knew she could take a route south first, and then head up to the Plaguelands. Ark reached out to open the front door, and it opened before her hand got there.

"Aunt Liz, what are you...?" Ark was stammered.

"Haha and then she said, ...ARKADELPHIA GOLIS DELENNAI SIT!" It had been years since Aunt Liz used her full name.

This was bad, Ark would never make it out of the Peak silently now. "Don't wake Verloren. This isn't her problem." Ark pleaded.

"Hagruff wake the lass." The large dwarf knew better than to tangle with Liz when she was like this, best to let the ladies sort this lot out on their own.

BANG BANG BANG!!! "Oi lass wake oop, ye're needed downstairs." Hagruff said as he waited for an acknowledgment.

"Don't give me that this isn't her problem, what do ye think marriage is, mmm? What exactly?" Aunt Liz was on a tear, and a bad one.

"Well it's..." Ark tried to answer her.

"Oh no, ye'll ave time ta speak when I am done, until then ye'll just shut it, eh. Now where was I?" Liz asked.

"I think marriage is..." Ark tried to start again, but Aunt Liz interrupted her.

"Thank you. Marriage is for better or worse. I don't know what ye're off ta do, but ye are missing an important piece." Liz said.

"I have everything I nee..." Ark defended.

"Oh no. No ye don't ye're mate is missing." Liz continued as Verloren walked in. Hagruff was still helping her attach her armor, and the look on her face made Ark even more ashamed, as Verloren held up her note.

"WHAT DO YOU THINK THIS IS? I LOVE YOU ENOUGH TO MARRY YOU, BUT I DON'T TRUST YOU ENOUGH TO FIGHT BY MY SIDE IS THAT IT?" Verloren was shouting loud enough to wake the whole of the Peak. "YOU WOULDN'T GET AWAY WITH IT ANYWAY YOU KNOW. THULFRAM AND GUTHRUM BOTH HAVE PLENTY OF MONEY TO MAKE SURE YOU DON'T GET TOO FAR."

Ark sat down by the fire her head in her hands. "I can't protect you from the fallout of this. I can't see the sense in bringing down your family with my bad blood. I am a worthless traitor," Ark said pounding her chest, "an enemy of the kingdom, my mother saw to that before I was born. Can't you see that? The longer you stay with me, the longer she is out there, the more people will find out." She said sobbing. "I won't drag you down with me. Michel is a rogue, and she has her own demons. I doubt anyone knows she is related. I won't be the millstone that destroys you. I won't," Ark blubbered, "I can't." Ark sniffed.

Aunt Liz sat down. She wanted to continue giving Ark a piece of her mind, but her mate was seeing to that. Liz wanted to make sure the younger woman didn't forget anything, but she kissed Hagruff and told him it would have to wait until they solved a family matter.

"So that's what this is all about. You are saving me. Well I need to be there when you save me Ark. You believe in me, and I believe in you." Verloren said.

"I knew once you figured it out, you wouldn't want me anymore. The only way out is death, because once you are mated to a Wildhammer it is forever. I needed to remove the bad, and" Ark hung her head low, "I am the bad. I can't fix that. I can only..."

"You don't have any proof that crazy woman is even your mother, and even if she is it isn't like she is the only one among dwarven kind who made mistakes, and got people killed." Verloren knelt down and held Ark close. "You can't live in her shadow, she has to live in yours."

"Ye know," Aunt Liz broke in, "Kholgarn died in the battle for Andorhal. He insisted that I stay here. I was more than capable of handling myself in battle, but I wanted to make him happy. I never regretted a decision more in me life." Aunt Liz dabbed her handkerchief at her eyes. Clearly this was painful for her. "When it was time ta search for survivors no one expected me ta go. But they couldna stop mah. It wasnae because I thought I could find him. I knew he was dead. No I went because I had ta make up for naht going in the first place. And I found you."

"Life does not come with guarantees. All ye can do is make the best of each moment, and she has made you better lass." Liz said. Ark looked up and started to say something, but Aunt Liz cut her off. "There are no guarantees that I would've survived or made a difference, I hold no delusions about tha'. But we'd've been together, and that would've made all the difference to me. Finding you made a bad decision a little better. Watching you grow up made it een better. But I dinnae want ta see ya make the same mistake Kholgarn made. I willnae allow it."

"Do you think I care about some crazy woman who may even be your mother? Do you really think I am that shallow?" Verloren waited for an answer.

"You have a name. I have to protect you." Ark responded.

"And now you are part of that name. You are more than this woman even if she is your mother. You aren't even human anymore. It isn't about who you were. It is about this moment. Are you making the right choice in this moment? You taught me that. Do you really believe in me, in us, or was that all lies?" Verloren asked.

"I just can't protect you from this." Ark said defeated. "The best I can do is save you from it."

"Maybe that is because you can't do this alone, you have friends now. You have a mate now. You are not alone. I know I want of piece of that bitch. I am pretty sure Moto and Luliana want to break off a piece of her themselves. I don't fault you for Jaq's mistakes, even if she is your mother." Verloren refused to let go. Ark was not getting away from her again, not ever.

"And she isn't your mother. She abandoned you in Andorhal. She never bothered to mention that she was your mother in the months she has been in the guild until we are getting married. No Ark your mother is dead, and she is alive in you. She is literally a part of you. That is your mother." Verloren said as she pointed at Ark's heart. "Jaq is simply an interloper. She doesn't love you. She just wants to use you. And you want to let her. All this is what she wants. I..." Verloren stumbled over the words, "I love you. Aunt Liz loves you. And whether you know it or not, the guild loves you. We take care of our own. You taught us that." Verloren held Ark, if Verloren could take Ark's shame and pain from her, then Verloren would do exactly that. Instead all Verloren could do was hold her and hope Ark trusted in their love.

It wasn't that Ark didn't believe in her, or in them. It was that Ark was ashamed. But Verloren would fix this. She would heal this, even if it took both their lives. They would do this together.

Worg Notice

2010-12-26T12:19:00.000-08:00

My name is Michel Weston. I used to be a human, until...
"We got a Worg notice on you, you're blacklisted."
Arooo
When you're worged you've got nothing. No gold, no reputation, no profession abilities. You're stuck in whatever city they decide to dump you in.
"Where am I?" MichelWeston asked, getting up from a very disorientating journey.
"Darnassus." Vergy replied.
You do whatever quests come your way.
You rely on anyone whose still talking to you.
A smite happy exgirlfriend, "Should we smite them?" Vergy asked.
an old Death Knight who used to inform on you to the Gilneans.
"You know rogues buncha bitchy little werewolves." Prime said.
Family to,
"Hey is that Ark again?" Prime asked.
...If you're desparate.
"Someone need your help Michel." Ark said.
Bottom line, until you figure out who worged you you're not going anywhere.

***
"So Math not that you are with Ebon Hold any idea on what happened to Jaq?" Ark asked as she handed him the invitation to what would now be their wedding whether Ark liked it or not.

"Can't say." Math said.

"Can't say or don't know?" Ark asked.

"Can't say, but you have a sister Arkadelphia, a worgen rogue calls herself MichelWeston. She was last seen in Darnassus. I suggest you recruit her. She is important to your search." Math was forbidden from reporting on Jaq's action, but nothing said he needed to keep secret information for her. At least that was how Math interpreted the orders she was given.

"The guild could use another rogue. And I could use a leather worker friend from time to time. Rose needs gear." Ark pondered this could work, and if it was her sister she had a connection to the past.

"Watch her though she is even more slippery and clever than you. And talk about a bitch. And no that is not a pun on the fact that she is a worgen." Prime said.

"Thanks, finally I have something to do while the girls prepare the wedding." Ark walked away from Light's Hope with new confidence. Sure her mate had put her off, but it was temporary, and Verloren understood now they were mated forever, but now she had a family. Something she had thought was long ago lost.

Steady Me

2010-12-24T00:41:00.000-08:00

"On second thought don't boot her. Leave her in as long as she chooses. It will give us some idea of where she is, even if it is late." Ark said. "Now go to your loved ones. Tomorrow is the Feast of Winter's Veil, and remember tomorrow is the declaration here at Aerie Peak."

There was no party tonight and with all the excitement Ark simply hired a shaman to heat the water for Verloren. After putting in the Firebloom and letting them steep for a few minutes Ark showed Verloren how to remove them without touching the plant.

Aunt Liz was working on part of the Great Feast for tomorrow. Ark bid Verloren farewell with a peck on the forehead. "I want tomorrow to be special, I am staying with a friend. Don't forget your dress," Ark said leaving Verloren once more confused.

***

The big day had finally arrived. Verloren took her place at Ark's side, and even Aunt Liz brought a date. Verloren wondered about Aunt Liz. Ark had said that her mother and her aunt were lovers in the past, but now she brought a man. Clearly a Wildhammer's heart ebbed and flowed as it wiled.

"I am Arkadelphia." Ark said as the large dwarf shook her hand. "This is going to be my mate Verloren."

"I am Hagruff," the large dwarf responded. "What are ye do'in then?"

"I want it to be a secret, I have been helping Kholgarn with his choice. He is so timid." Ark chuckled. "If this does not show his mate that he loves them nothing will. You can't hide love."

After a long time feasting and chatting with people running around making final preparations Falstad cleared his throat indicating the crowd should remain silent.

"Winter's Veil is a time of Secret's Kept, and Shown."
"What nature seeks to ide tis our duty to make known."
"Ye cannae keep love hidden, unchecked will it burn."
"Alone and afraid a lover's heart may turn."
"Stand forward all who seek a mate."
"Stand out then and learn your heart's fate."

Kholgarn a young dwarf just finishing his training in Gryphon Mastery nodded at Ark. Ark nodded back and held up her hand as if she was pushing up an invisible item. Obviously timid, he stood forward and bowed in front of Falstad.

"Ye're not me charge lad, ye may stand." Falstad said as Kholgarn stood up. "What do ye seek then?" Falstad smiled.

"With respect I am seeking Chise's hand." Kholgarn's voice broke as he said this.

"Are ye prepared for a Wildhammer lass? Ye may live in Theramore, but ye must prove worthy of a Wildhammer's heart." Falstad said this not out of tradition, but simply because he didn't know the boy, and Wildhammer women were difficult and forever.

Verloren looked at Ark to see what was going on, but Ark was changing places with the harpist. 'When did Ark have time to plan this?' Verloren wondered.

Ark started to play, and Kholgarn sang, "No love is not a fight, but it's something worth fighting for..." Clearly this was a new song in the Peak. As no one sang or seemed to know it.

Verloren had spent weeks learning about Ark. And she had no idea Ark could play, though it should have come as no surprise. Singing was still something she had to master, she could dance with prehensile legs, and her people were so musical it seemed everyone either played or sang or both.

Verloren thought back to everything that had happened over the last few months. They had downed the Lich King and she thought Ark was lost forever. When everyone else was ready to give up on Ark, she fought for her. Verloren gave everything she had and then she gave more.

Ark fought for months to restore her memory, her own memory, and sense of self, while Verloren thought Ark loved someone else. And even when Verloren had been told otherwise by Sixx, even when Verloren ventured into the Exodar, and saw the suffering Ark experienced, she could not be with Ark. Verloren was still uncertain.

Eventually Ark came to find her, and revealed her love to Verloren. Verloren had thought herself mad, but Ark was prepared to embrace Verloren's madness. Ark revealed her feelings in front of their family and friends and everyone. Something she could not bring herself to do.

Ark met her family and lived with them for a time. They fought together for weeks, while Verloren waited to see Ark's home. When Verloren finally pressed the matter she nearly chickened out. But she followed Ark, Verloren was nervous, left out, and afraid, but she came. Verloren learned Ark was prepared to leave Aerie Peak forever.

Ark searched all of Azeroth for a single ring, and spent her life savings on it. She stopped Verloren from starting yet another fight by giving it to her. All she asked was Verloren learn to ride better, and treat her mounts better.

Sure Ark's mother had tried to stop them. And Verloren had succeeded in stopping whatever Jaq had planned, but could she fight for Ark. How did she fight for Ark, when Ark was such a better fighter than she was? Ark was better at everything it seemed. But Ark treated her like an equal. Could she fight for Ark?

As Kholgarn finished singing, Ark gave the large Harp back to the harpist, who asked a few questions and made some notes.

Kholgarn knelt down in front of Falstad. "I ask for the Hand of Chise."

"Don' ask me lad, ask her." Falstad said, clearly impressed, sure the boy had help, but how much who knew, and for a boy so timid such a gesture was quite heroic.

Chise jumped over her own table and ran to Kholgarn. Realizing at the last minute she was wearing a dress as it caught on a candle holder and she tripped off the table onto the ground. She fell face first. Her friend Ferya was so mortified she slapped her hand in front of her face. Chise just stood up, dusted herself off, and walked forward proudly as if she had never fallen. She was grateful to Ark for having helped Kholgarn find a suitable way to ask.

"I take it then your answer is yes lass?" Falstad asked doing his best not to fall over laughing at this all too eager young woman.

Chise never at a loss for words just nodded, never taking her eyes of Kholgarn.

Falstad asked if anyone else wanted to declare themselves and several more people announced themselves, as Ark came and sat down next to Verloren. Verloren held her breath, hoping each time Falstad asked that Ark would declare their engagement. But each time it was someone else.

The sun was low in the sky, and some were preparing to leave as Falstad asked again who would declare their love. After a long pause Ark stood.

"I declare my love for Verloren. Not a Wildhammer by birth myself, some may take offense that I have not married a Wildhammer. Too BAD!" Ark clearly had this speech prepared. "This has been my home, and will remain my home, and when threatened I will defend it, as any of you. My mate will do no less." Ark went on gesturing grandly. "And to prove her worth I ask that she undertake the lover's challenge."

Ark had not prepared Verloren for this. Nothing was mentioned of a challenge. Ark simply reached down and took Verloren's hand leading Verloren into the rough center of the tables. Ark stood with her back to Verloren, and Aunt Liz and Guthrum came and bound their hands together back to back.

"The lover's challenge is ancient, and has never been undertaken by a non-dwarf. It may never be spoken of outside except to say whether you won or lost, is that understood?" Falstad asked mostly to Verloren, but loud enough for the general assembly gathered to hear. Everyone who was preparing to leave sat back down on the edge of their chairs.

Verloren swallowed hard, gulping down her own fear. Ark was stronger, sturdier and frankly better than her at most things. Why would Ark do this, to embarass her, to prove something?

"Do you trust me?" Ark whispered her head to the side so only Verloren could hear.

"Yes, but I don't...I mean you are bigger and stronger I ..." Verloren's heart pounded as she answered the question with her own.

"Then lean on me." Ark said.

Two staff wielders came forward and swept both of their knees. Placing both of them on their bottom, wrists bound.

"Stand oop." Falstad annouced to them, but mostly to the crowd.

"What?" Verloren asked unheard.

"We have to stand up Verloren." Ark whispered.

Verloren struggled, but she could not lift Ark, certainly not with her hands bound. Verloren tried to get her feet under her, but she couldn't lift Ark enough to lift their combined weight. Her feet were sprawled out in front of her, and Ark could not get her prehensile legs crouched enough to get her hooves on the ground.

"I can't do this. I can't lift you." Verloren said.

"I know and I can't get my hooves on the ground I lack leverage." Ark said.

"Did you know this was what it was?" Verloren asked.

"Nope it is always different, but it always depends on the couple working together." Ark said. "Can you dig your heels into the ground?"

"Yes, but I can't stand." Verloren said defeated. "I am sorry I failed you and your people."

"Not yet, look we fell together, we need to stand together, dig in your heels." Ark said as she got her hooves pressed down. "We use each other as leverage. Lean on me. Press into me. I am the wall you crawl up. And you are the wall I crawl up."

Verloren dug in her heels and held her body stiff and solid, as Ark got her hooves under her huge body. "My leg is cramping" Ark said, "your turn."

Verloren got one foot inch by inch under her frame. "Are you okay, can we stop?" she asked.

"Not until we stand," Ark said lifting herself by pressing into Verloren. Ark's hooves slipped in the mud several times, but eventually, tired and exhausted they both stood.

Hands bound they stood in front of everyone. The crowd erupted in a raucous applause. Pounding mugs on the tables, stomping feet on the ground, if anyone did not accept that these two were welcome at the Peak now they were not heard.

Verloren had fought for Ark, she had nearly lost. But Ark knew what she was doing. She wasn't always right, but Verloren could always trust Ark. Ark never let her down. Maybe this was why Ark chose the challenge to prove to themselves as much to the Wildhammers that their love was going to last.

Aunt Liz cut them both loose, and stood on her mount to hold up their hands. Now the only thing still binding them together was their fingers.

"May your lives together be long and happy." Falstad announced to all the lover's, but there was a twinkle in his eye when he looked at Ark and Verloren.

"So are ye all packed for yer honeymoon?" Aunt Liz asked.

"Honeymoon, I thought this was an engagement announcement!" Verloren said shocked. "My parents, our guildies, no one came, if I had known I would have made them come. What will they say?"

Ark sighed. "I tried to tell you. I tried to tell everyone. So does this mean I should cancel tomorrow's reservations in Telaar?" Ark asked.

An erstwhile and unwanted visitor flew into Ebon Hold. She had watched the whole ceremony from afar, hoping there was some chance, but she failed. For now.

"You Moonwood types are all the same," Math said. "You can't just climb in windows and snatch people up. Or they will hide their kids, hide their wives, and hide their husbands. You are so dumb, you are really dumb for real. So you can run and tell that Death Knight!" Math was livid. This Ebon Hold member in very low standing was trying to start trouble with his old guild. Math had just sent a recent recruit there. A worgen death knight of moderate ability. Worgen were generally not well accepted in the Alliance, but Math knew the Alliance Supply Company, and they could and would take her. Math half hoped Prime would replace herself, and half hoped no one could.

"If I could put an end to you right now I would. See to it that I never have reason to report your actions again." Math demanded obedience, something she rarely did. This near worthless former human Jaq had someone's ear higher up. That is the only reason Math could not report Jaq's location to her former guild and detain her, until the guild came to solve this problem. Besides apparently only Jaq knew how to kill a Death Knight.

"Did you get the information on the other one I asked for?" Jaq asked her hand outstretched as if she already knew the answer.

"Yes, her current name is Michel Weston. She was last seen in Darnassus." Math said the enmity in his voice obvious.

The Cold Hand of Love

2010-12-23T09:18:00.000-08:00

Moonwood, outside the government, beyond the factions. Tracking down Twilight Cultists on Azeroth and arming the factions against the future. The Cataclysm is when everything changes and you've gotta be ready.

My daughter formerly known as Lilla Renn, granddaughter of Alterac Nobillity, I was her mother. I am now a Death Knight. She was my youngest. She is the first I have found alive. I have surreptitiously joined her guild, a poorly progressed and small group and encouraged her to join us. I have a problem, and that problem's name is Verloren. My daughter is fiercely loyal, and that loyalty is currently so badly placed.

She and my daughter are in some disgusting relationship. Not that I care they are the same gender. I have loved both men and women on my way to where I am. Nor that they are not the same species. I have loved my fair share of other races, well perhaps loved is the wrong word. The woman she is with is too far beneath her, some simple child of a tiny village. Pathetic and unworthy. My daughter would better have died at Andorhal than marry this tart.

My daughter is no longer human, but Alterac is no longer a kingdom. Whatever magical process she underwent might be reversible, it might not be. It matters not, she is a child of nobility, and she will take her place. Even if I have to rip this guild and this relationship apart. Hmmm maybe that could work. I know she and Heart had some form of relationship, perhaps that can be rekindled.
--
My daughter must leave of her own accord. She must join me willingly. Then and only then will her loyalty transfer from this bunch of losers to me. However I cannot be the agent. That will be too easy. I must be the loving mother who fills the gap in her life. I cannot do that while Verloren and her guild keep her free and safe together.

I must be the one who saves Lilla. The one who helps her take her place, and together we can retake Alterac finally. However perhaps her new form with it's longer lifespan will be better as this form is better for me.

I was transformed willingly into a Death Knight. Once the Lich King fell my will became my own once more. Moonwood recruited me, and I eventually simply took over.
--

I have sent Heart Seeker and planted the seeds of doubt for several years to no avail. While she is nice to Heart she has no respect for him. She simply trusts her guild and its members more. I destroyed her last guild, and she was on her own for awhile. I was about to recruit her, and reveal her true identity, when she got involved with this weak bunch. She downed the Lich King however so she has proven her power. If it were anyone else I would have left them to their little pathetic world, but this marriage or whatever the dwarves call it cannot be allowed to happen.

I have only one option left, preventing Ark from getting to Aerie Peak for the next 2 days. I have tried to convince Verloren not to go through with this. The agent I used decided to grind a personal axe. I still have to pay him or he will reveal my plans. His time will come. No one fails Jaq Harkness.

-End-

As Verloren left in her riding leathers Ark thought about the next 2 ever so important days. Verloren is progressing well in her riding. Motokume and the others have been invited to the Peak for the feast, but it seems like they do not understand. They keep talking about the ceremony a few months off as if that is when we will be married. I know Verloren wants the ceremony and I will give her that, but I had hoped our friends would come to the feast. The point of declaration is so people will know we are mates together. To attempt to separate that is one of the few taboos my people have.

When she goes to the parties she is amazing. Truly she has learned more than I could have ever wanted. But to mate with someone is irreversible, best she find out now while she could back out. I don't think she would ever want to, but I still have 2 days. And nothing will keep me away from the peak on that day. Ark thought as she got ready to do her daily work.

Verloren was getting frustrated with Guthrum when Neeta spotted a guild member nearby. Unable to stop him Neeta flew down towards Jaq. Verloren waived at Jaq, who was riding away. Riding towards Heart. What did Heart want with Jaq? Verloren was about to go give Heart a piece of her mind, and tell him not to mess with her guildmate, when she saw Jaq paying Heart a bag of gold. This must be a misunderstanding. Great now Guthrum was calling her back. Verloren shrugged her shoulders. Jaq always was a strange one, and telling Heart off would have to wait.

Verloren turned around and headed back, when she heard something fall in the distance. She would get in more trouble the longer it took her to return, but she went back to see what it was. It looked like it fell out of Jaq's bag. She found a journal with the symbol of a tree inside a moon. The pages were written in a script she did not recognize mostly. What she did read was disturbing. She saw Heart's full name, Mandelo's full name, and several other names she did not recognize, but that Ark had mentioned, Auden, Adorelira, Wurn, and Gencela it was signed by Jaq. And the first page of the journal had the symbol of the traitor kingdom of Alterac. She placed it in her bag, and returned to Guthrum. Perhaps it was a quest item, but if it was then why did it have the names of so many people she and Ark knew, and more that only Ark knew? Why did Jaq pay Heart after he was so mean? She decided she would find a way to translate the journal, but given what it might contain, she would have to do this without Ark's knowledge.

“Right lass the saddle goes now. You will learn to communicate without words or a bridle, and YOU WILL learn it in today. Ark is counting on both of us.” Guthrum said, bringing Verloren's mind back to her riding.

Verloren nodded and got back on her mount even though her whole body ached. She hoped Ark would prepare another of her Firebloom infused baths. But she would be home late tonight.

Take me Away

2010-12-22T00:46:00.001-08:00

"Aye, well I'm off dinner is simmering. It will be ready whenever you are." Liz said grabbing her coat and headed out the door.

"Wait..." Ark tried to stop her.

Liz held up her hand. "Remember what Guthrum taught you, both of you. You will be fine. Oh and don't wait up." She said smiling as she closed the door behind her. She and her pet walked off Loudly.

Verloren was already blushing and Ark thought better now than later. Verloren still had a chance to back out. The closer it got to Winter's Veil the window was closing.

"Verloren I've never been with anyone in bed. Have you? I mean romantically, well obviously we have been in bed romantically. I mean have you ever been WITH someone? You know that you were together with, in that special way? Besides me I mean. Like another girl or even a boy. I mean I know you and Heartseeker were close. And I don't get what is going on between you and some of the other boys. Deadly maybe? I don't know maybe you have, maybe you haven't I don't know." Ark was nervous and when she was nervous she stuttered and stammered, just like now. She looked down at the table and traced the patterns in the wood grain again. "It doesnt matter to me if you have, its just I don't know what I'm supposed to do. I mean I know mechanics wise, but I know there is more to it than that. I don't know what you like." says Ark exasperated and fumbling with words and wondering if she had gotten it right at all or if Verloren was going to clobber her for her stupidity.

Ver starts laughing hysterically, "Ark what do you mean mechanics?" Verloren asked.

"Well look I have my mother's memories. I can still access them, but the emotions are lost to me, permanently." Ark said not looking up, she walked over to the oven and stirred the gumbo, for no reason except to avoid showing Verloren how utterly embarassed she was. Ark was the tank, the strong one. Yet now she had no clue. "I know how IT works, but I also know there is something more, something I can't reach. Aunt Liz said it won't matter everyone is different anyway, and I can see that, but... I don't know."

"Ark," Verloren started gulping for air, "I've never taken anyone to bed before you." Verloren gulped again. "You are my first romantically or any way. Last night was the closest I have ever been, EVER." Verloren paced around the room. Verloren did not have the benefit of a cauldron of gumbo to stare into and pretend she was busy. "I have never been tempted or interested by any of the guys I know. Certainly not Heart or Deadly." Verloren shuddered as she said the names of the two death knights. "They are children." Verloren said with disgust in her voice.

Verloren could see that Ark was hiding again, and even though she was deathly embarassed herself, she wanted Ark to be real, open, and honest. She walked over to the hearth, and just rubbed Ark's back to reassure her. Verloren wasn't going to let Ark hide, not anymore. No more masks, easier said than done. Verloren decided that if Ark could not hide she could not either. 'Lead by example,' Ark would say, 'people will follow.' Besides the proverbial hammer was thrown.

If they were going to get through this they had to talk. Verloren sighed deeply, true confessions. "I wrote my mother asking these same questions and instead of answering them she sent Cuge to talk to me."

"What did Cuge say?" Ark didn't really know the other woman very well, or why her mother would send Cuge.

"Not much, just that I will know when I am ready, and we should touch each other, whatever that means." Verloren said exasperated. Clearly both of them were in over their heads here.

Ark stood up, still staring at the hearth Verloren could see the wheels start to turn. Ark was getting an idea, a plan. Ark's plans could be amazing. Ark and Verloren had duoed at level bosses with Ark's plans. Sure this was no boss, but Ark was a strategist. Verloren started rubbing Ark's shoulders like a prize arena fighter.

Ark smiled, "So we are each other's first huh? I kinda like being your first. I won't lie I would have been green with jealousy over who had been your first."

"You think I wouldn't of been jealous as well not being your first?", asks Verloren.

"Aunt Liz said remember what Guthrum taught us." Ark said wagging her finger at the items on the mantle.

"Yea, but what does that even mean, all Guthrum said to me was, 'if you need reigns or verbal commands you aren't riding, you are commanding.' That doesn't apply here." Verloren said puzzled, but listening for the plan she knew was coming. Ark loved these long intros, maybe it helped her think or something.

"No, not what he said, what he taught us Ver, we and our mounts need to become one." Ark said.

"I don't know what that means or how it applies to us." Verloren was curious, but skeptical that anything Guthrum taught could apply to this.

"Well you and I are becoming one in the mating, right..." Verloren nodded as Ark continued. "So you need communication, but it doesn't need to be verbal."

"Huh?" Verloren was confused.

"Okay Cuge told you, you would know when you were ready, right?" Ark asked as Verloren nodded in agreement. "And we learn what each other like by touching each other."

"So what does that all mean?" Verloren was totally baffled, clearly Ark understood something she did not.

"So we pull the trash first, clear it, and then move on to the boss." Ark said to no one in particular. "This is simply us duoing a dungeon."

Ark just picked Verloren up and took her to their room to show her something Ark had forgotten about until today when she pulled it out of storage. She closed Verloren's eyes. She helped Verloren undress. Verloren tried to help, Ark stopped her and put Verloren's arms down at her sides.

"Ark I don't know...?" Verloren started, as she tensed up.

"Shhhh, do you trust me?" Ark interuppted her.

"Ark I am not ready." Verloren said scared.

"Shh I know, trust me." Ark said again.

"Ark I am scared." Verloren said gulping in air.

Ark simply nuzzled her neck like Verloren liked so much. "Have I ever hurt you?" Ark whispered.

"No." Verloren responded.

"Trust me." Ark whispered for the third time.

Verloren sighed a deep breath to release at least some of the tension. This was scarier than taking on the Lich King for some reason. Verloren felt the hearthfire in their room flare up for a second.

"Sorry I thought I took them all out." Ark said.

'All what.' Verloren thought. Then Verloren felt the last of her riding leathers fall to the floor. Ark lifted her up and put her in, what was this? It was wet, but warm, very warm. How did Ark get a heated bath in Aerie Peak and keep it hot for this long?

"Can I open my eyes now?" Verloren asked, she had no idea what was going on.

"Yes, but shhh." Ark said. Ark was wearing her Spring Robes, and she cast the Path of Cenarius, another little gift. The room smelled like spring in the Moonglade.

The water started to penetrate Verloren's aching muscles, it tingled. This was no ordinary well water. "Ark what is this, how did you get a warm bath, the flowers, and the water?" Verloren asked as she bent out of the cauldron to get some soap.

"First sit down. I will do this, just relax." Ark said pressing, but not forcing Verloren to sit down again. "Second it is an old cauldron, a spoil of the war in Andorhal, a war we lost remember." Ark shook her head to release that memory. "I made it into my bath tub. I can put hot coals underneath it and keep it near the hearth. It takes all day to heat up, but stays warm forever."

"And the water, it isn't water." Verloren said.

"Oh that, Firebloom, my aunt got some for me. I knew you would be hurting, and this is what she did for me after Guthrum's more painful lessons." Ark said. "Do you like it?"

"Yes it is amazing, I didn't know you could do this." Verloren said.

"I am a Wildhammer Engineer sweetie, now just relax." Ark said as she washed the road, dirt and grime off of Verloren slowly, and gently.

"Okay, but the flowers, I mean the Spring Robes are good, but they aren't that good?" Verloren asked as she relaxed further and settled more of her body into the soothing water.

"I have many friends, some of them give gifts most people ignore, or throw out. I keep them. I hope you like it." Ark said.

"I love it," Verloren said as she looked deeply into Ark's eyes. She had no idea what Ark had planned, but Ark seemed to have thought of everything. She let Ark manipulate her body even as Ark held her under the water to wet her hair and massage her scalp. Verloren went limp in Ark's arms, trusting Ark completely, as Ark let her head slip under the water again to rinse out the soap from Verloren's hair.

Ark let Verloren just relax in the bath as she massaged Verloren's aching body, starting at the head, removing every bit of soreness and tension from her head, neck, arms, back, and feet. Verloren did not even flinch as Ark pulled out what looked like war paint, and a tiny brush.

Ark looked at her and started to say something before Verloren cut her off. "I trust you." She said as she closed her eyes and prepared for Ark to paint her face. Instead Ark grabbed her hand, and one finger at a time held it for a moment, did something, then moved onto the next.

"Don't put them back in the water until they dry." Ark said softly as she moved to the other side of the cauldron lifted Verloren's other hand out of the water and gently dried it. Ark blew on Verloren's fingernails for a few moments, and then started the same process she had just done on the other hand.

Verloren opened her eyes to see what Ark did. Ark had painted her fingernails. A cool blue that matched eyes. Verloren was stunned, "How did you, I mean?"

"You said you like blue, I can use another color if you prefer. Aunt Liz is an inscriber so I have alot of ink." Ark said. "It's called Royal, do you like it?"

"I love it!!" Verloren said.

"Don't touch anything with your nails until it dries." Ark said as she lifted Verloren into a standing position. Ark grabbed a towel she had placed nearby and patted down Verloren's long hair, before wrapping it in the towel. She took a larger towel and dried Verloren off from head to toe. She handed Verloren her Spring Robes, and helped her slip into them.

"We can't wear these to the party." Verloren said.

"Who said we were going tonight?" Ark responded.

"But I am supposed to learn about you." Verloren said confused.

"And did you learn anything about me tonight?" Ark asked.

"I guess so, yeah." Verloren said.

"Then your quest is complete for tonight." Ark said smiling as she went over to sit on the bed. "Now come here and lay down."

Verloren felt the anxiety rise again, "Ark why are we both wearing Spring Robes, if we are going to..." Verloren started.

Ark's laughter interrupted her. "Sweetie I am going to do your toes," Ark said as she waved the Royal Blue brush in the air.

Verloren breathed a sigh of relief, as she went over to lay down on the bed.

"I said you would be ready didn't I?" Ark asked as she started the same process with Verloren's toes she had with her fingers.

"Yes." Verloren said, knowing she should have just trusted Ark when she first asked.

"Are you ready?" Ark asked.

"No." Verloren said staring at the ceiling.

"Well me neither, but I can touch you and learn how and where you like to be touched." Ark said inserting some wool between each of Verloren's toes. "How do you feel?"

"Relaxed, and loose I guess, like every knot I had from earlier is gone." Verloren said.

"Anything else?" Ark asked as she moved on to the other foot painting a toe and placing a piece of torn wool between each of them.

"I feel like I can trust you completely. I feel like you would do anything for me. I feel like you love me more than anyone I have ever known. Like you are my best friend ever." Verloren said pouring her love into each word.

"I think this is what they meant Ver." Ark said as she finished painting Verloren's toes, and crawled up to kiss Verloren on the lips. Verloren wanted the kiss to last longer, but Ark barely pecked her on the lips.

"Hungry?" Ark asked.

"Famished." Verloren said starting to get up.

"No need to get up. I will bring it in here." Ark said springing out of bed to get some bowls, and the gumbo. Ark brought in the gumbo, setting the kettle down by the fire.

Verloren started to get up again, as Ark waived her back, and poured two bowls for them. Ark crawled into the bed handing Verloren her bowl and laying on her elbows and kicking her feet up in the air, as she ate the gumbo. It was new, not something Aunt Liz liked apparently. Ark was enjoying the bowl and talking with Verloren.

"Oh I almost forgot!" Ark said rolling off her elbows and knees to her back. Ark went back to the kitchen and came back a few seconds later. "I made chocolate chip cookies, and I got some milk." Ark said as she brought a tray into the room. "I know how you like cookies." Ark said smiling as she crawled back into bed.

Ark did not make any attempt at anything other than talking to Verloren and answering every question Verloren asked. Honestly sometimes painfully, sometimes embarassingly, but always honestly. There was no evasion, no attempts to be secretive. Ark was an open book. Verloren was not sure how long this would last so she wanted to take advantage while it lasted.

As it got dark Ark lit the candles she placed around the room. Verloren struggled to keep Ark talking, but eventually she laid her head down on Ark's chest, and the soft breathing put her to sleep. Ark smiled as Verloren broke off in mid-sentence. Ark simply held Verloren, until she fell asleep in her embrace.

Mt. Hyjal Really?

2010-12-20T11:49:00.000-08:00

Ok I know there is a pet and an achievement for doing it. That should tell you something about jousting quests. Some of us hate them. Don't make them part of completing a zone. I hope the developer who thought it wasn't bad enough to have 2 dimensional jousting and thought of 3 dimensional dies in one gets stuck in the middle of 2 cliff where you can't fly out and can't hearth because of the damage.

DIAF!!!!

QQ over, please resume your normal gaming experience.

Unsturdy

2010-12-19T11:38:00.001-08:00

Verloren handled herself admirably these last few days. Ark thought as she looked up to see Verloren on her red gryphon. Guthrum was taking her through her paces. Forcing her to do precision work on the ground before he would let her in the sky. Guthrum would have her performing aerial maneuvers by Winter's Veil Eve. The night of the great feast.

Ark had duties to complete as an officer of the guild. She looked longingly and thought of her own days and frustration working under Guthrum. He could be harsh, but he cared about both his students and their mounts. Ark shook her head as she saw Guthrum remove the stirrups from her mount.

"If ye keep cheatin' Ah'll remove the temptation lass." Ark heard Guthrum say.

"But how will I stay balanced?" Verloren whined.

Ark simply laughed to herself remembering the thrill when she could finally ride without stirrups. Guthrum had to remove the saddle altogether to get her and her mount working as one, but eventually slowly she did it. It would be the same for Verloren. Ark did not dare look at Verloren, because Ark knew Verloren would see the smile on her face and mistake it for mocking. 'Truly those were good times.'

She did some work for factions the alliance was trying to curry favor with, and worked on preparing some items for the field units food wise. Then she left to spend the day mining, or she would have liked to, except for Luliana and her 'little tasks'.

"Ark I need this. Ark I need that. Ark I need you to go to Tanaris. Ark I need you to go to Northrend for that. Oh this item would be perfect, but she thought of Verloren and it made Ark smile from ear to ear. This was Verloren's ceremony. She might be adopted by the Wildhammers, but she was still a girly girl who longed for a fancy ceremony. Sure she said she wanted just family and friends, and fireworks.

Now fireworks Ark could do. Lots of Fireworks Luliana had her prepare a total of 10 launchers. Ark prepared 10 cluster launchers, and 10 regular launchers. Oh they were going to have fireworks. 'Is 50 snakeburst enough, hmm I only have blue fireworks, oh well I will make 50 of all of the small ones, and 100 of the clusters. 10 per launcher should do it, or would it?'

Ark traveled to Outland and secured reservations for them. The Cenarion Expedition turned them down, since Ark had not yet fully proven herself. One more task to complete before the ceremony. She would have to finish proving herself. Oh well she had always meant to, and they offered her a beatiful and unique gryphon.

As she flew home, Verloren had not yet arrived, and Aunt Liz was preparing some gumbo, a dish she and Verloren could compromise on. "Getting everything ready lass?" Liz asked.

"Yeah I only have 2 problems." Ark opened the door, knowing Aunt Liz would take the bait. A good mother she always took the bait.

"Wha'?" Liz asked cocking her eyebrow. So it was to be cat and mouse. They played this game often when Ark was younger. It gave the younger woman a way to approach difficult subjects.

"Well I don't have a best friend to stand by my side." Ark said. "Sure Math and I are very close, but with his schedule he could be called away. Verloren will not want to postpone the ceremony for an undetermined amount of time. There are others in the guild, but no one I think would fit."

"Well it is a few months away, 'ave ye thought about Auden?" Liz asked clearly this wasn't the problem she really wanted to discuss, but this was cat and mouse.

Ark laughed heartily at the suggestion. "Ahhhhh hahahaha no? He has been parked in Dalaran for over a year now. I will probably invite him though." Ark wiped the tear from her from the laughter.

"An wha' else? Ye said there were 2 problems, and ye've time enow ta solve tha' problem." Liz said.

"Well I've never been you know with anyone." Ark said looking down intently at the swirls on the table, tracing the wood grain with her finger.

"You mean you and Auden, never..." Liz asked.

"No, I mean I understand the mechanics and all well enough. But how do you know if you are any good? I mean what if I can't..."

Now it was Aunt Liz's turn to laugh. Slapping her knee, she composed herself knowing that for Ark this was a serious question. "Ave ye talked to Verloren about this at all?"

"No, I have no idea how many, I mean she knows alot of boys, I assume, I don't know." Ark said.

"Well all ye can do is ask, an if'n ye're going to be mates you will ask alot. Each one is different, each person likes different things. Talking lass, ye ave to talk to er." Liz said.

Verloren walked in smelling of old rams and covered with dust, dirt and straw all over. "Talk to me about what?" Verloren said as she plopped down exhausted in a chair.

Wonderful Tonight

2010-12-18T14:37:00.000-08:00

'Oh no she did not just do that again. She is going to get a piece of my mind this. She can't keep running off on me.' Verloren felt awkward and abandoned. She had worked hard all day and had worked hard to look this good. She even pulled out some fancy perfume, and all she got was a Nice, and a kiss. Okay it was one of the best kisses she ever had. Okay it WAS the best kiss she ever had, but still. She mounted her red gryphon and flew to Ironforge as fast as she could go, collecting her thoughts and what exactly she was going to tell Ark when she caught up to her.

Ark was just barely ahead of Verloren. She needed only a few minutes to grab the paper in her favorite color and wrap the present, so she kicked her fastest mount. Nightscape seemed to understand the urgency, so he seemed to find all the air currents he could, even if they took them slightly out of a straight line. Ark leaned into the gryphon, her body almost perpendicular to his.

She made it to the goblin vendor just in time, and wrapped the gift as fast and pretty as she could. She made it to the Inn and quickly paid for a bath. Ironforge was the best place to wash the dirt from the road off her body. The water was warm, and the dwarves had contacts with everyone. Aunt Liz had been good enough to mail some of her perfume. Ark was never happier to be a packrat. Verloren smelled glorious, angelic. She grabbed her soap out of the bank, paid for 2 towels and got into the bath. She thought of Verloren chasing her, and it would probably anger her, but Ark needed to make her see, Ark could be beautiful if she wanted to.

"Either you tell me where she is or I start breaking stuff." Verloren's voice was unmistakable. And once more she was threatening people. After tonight Ark hoped Verloren would never feel threatened again. But she had important contacts in Ironforge and this could be embarassing for them. She was nearly finished anyway.

"Oi lass you cannae go in there." A female dwarf called out.

"Stop me!" Verloren said as she pounded on the door. "Ark you better let me in!"

Ark got out of the bath and ran to the door, unlocking it for Verloren. She pulled Verloren into the small room, and pulled her face close enough to kiss. Verloren pushed her away.

"No Ark you have to tell me what is going on. Why did you leave me all day?" Verloren was clearly hurt. Ark just stood in front of her water still dripping off of her body. Ark pulled out the package. Tiny as it was, it was one of the most expensive things she had ever bought.

'If Verloren turns me down, no she wouldn't fight to get to me this hard if she was going to say no.' Ark thought before saying, "I had to search all of Azeroth for your gift, and I mean all of it. I have searched for this for weeks. I had to go out of this world, literally. I can wait until Winter's Veil, but I was hoping you might want if sooner." Ark said shyly, as she ground her hoof in small circles on the floor.

Verloren was struck by the beauty standing in front of her. She knew Ark was beautiful, but she had never seen her so purely. She was still mad, but she decided to give Ark a chance. "Can I open it now?"

"No the moment has to be perfect, I hope you understand." Ark said entering the bath to finish getting ready. "Can you wash my back?"

Verloren was a little shocked Ark was suddenly so comfortable with her. It was only this morning they had touched each other without full plate armor, and now... Verloren took the small cloth from Ark and washed her back, feeling Ark's curves, her scars, her strong muscles.

She thought maybe she lingered too long, when Ark reached up to take the cloth from her and rung it out. Ark rinsed her hair one last time. "Can you hand me those towels sweetie." Ark asked.

Verloren was dumbstruck as she handed the towels to the nubile dranei standing in front of her. Ark dried off and wrapped the towel around her body, barely. Ark patted her long black hair dry. "I can never do anything with this." Ark said as she brushed her hair to get out the tangles. "Should I change it or do you not want to wait?"

Arkadelphia held up her Lovely blue dress, going back and forth between that outfit and her Festive Teal Pant suit. "Which one do you like better?" Ark asked.

"Oh the dress." Verloren said finely clearing the fog as Ark slid the dress on.

"I told you it would be quick." Ark said spritzing herself with perfume.

"I thought you couldn't get that anymore." Verloren said shocked.

"I have an extensive collection of thing you 'can't' get anymore. I wanted to smell nice for you. Don't you like it?" Ark frowned.

"No I love it! I didn't think you had it in you. You are so beautiful." Verloren said wondering where Ark had hid this part of herself.

Ark threw the towels to the Innkeeper, as they both walked out of the Inn. "Verloren can I ask a favor."

"Sure, but we are going to the party." Verloren said curious, but determined.

"Yeah no, I have been riding around the world all day. Nightscape is tired, can we take your mount?" Ark asked.

Verloren was certain her jaw hit the floor. Ark rarely if ever took rides. She was so independant... "Of course," Verloren said as coyly as possible after picking up her jaw off the floor.

As Verloren mounted her red gryphon Ark mounted behind her and put her arms tightly around her. Ark nuzzled the nape of Verloren's neck. This is going to make my flying a little erratic, Verloren thought. The thrill it sent through her body kept her from asking Ark to stop. Several times her mount avoided an obstacle, when Verloren was a little distracted.

As they arrived in Aerie Peak, none the worse for wear the dwarves were dancing, drinking and carrying on. Ark introduced Verloren to many more dwarves, and the pair started drinking and dancing. Clearly there was a tension between some of the females and Ark, but they kept it below the surface. At least until the brew started flowing a little to freely. Verloren tried to keep her glass full by not drinking, but occasionally someone would notice her brew was warm and empty it and give her another. She took a sip every now and again, but she needed to keep a clear head.

Ark helped by bringing her out on the dance floor. Verloren loved dancing, and Ark was so good at it. Ark never stepped on Verloren's toes, and though some moves were a little difficult now, because of her prehensile legs, Ark adapted. "As all Wildhammers do," she said when Verloren asked about it.

The band played some slow songs, and Verloren cherished every second. Ark held her too closely to dance properly so they simply swayed to the music, enjoyed the feel of their skin so close. Verloren had a few brews and rested her head on Ark chest. Ark whispered her love in the words of some of these songs. Sure Ark could be cheesy, but that was part of her charm. Ark showed no sign of fear, regret, or doubt. And she didn't care what anyone else thought either. They were together, and now the Peak knew it.

Ark and Verloren were inseparable Verloren hung on her arm, and Ark made no attempt to prevent it, or 'clear anything up'. Verloren took time to talk to everyone who might know Ark from her childhood. They laughed. Ver showed them pictures from some of their adventures from Ark's Snapper She asked about Auden, but apparently that was after Ark left the Peak, because no one seemed to know anything about him. So instead she focused on Ark's childhood. Ark had slipped out after she thought Verloren was comfortable enough to fit in. She was dieing for a smoke. It had been ages, and she missed it. She slipped out with the boys and they all lit up their pipes.

Ark was laughing and joking about the good old days when she had to spend all those extra hours at the stable, and Guthram said she would never ride. The other dwarves complimented her on her skill these days though. As Chise ran toward them.

"Aunt Senica is here, and Nioma said there was going to be trouble to get you." Chise said.

Senica had always hated Ark, though Ark could not think of why. They had rarely spoken. Senica was the most popular dwarf at the Peak when they grew up. She was everything the boys wanted, but somehow Senica never missed a chance to make fun of Ark. The scene Ark walked into when they got back inside was everything she remembered about Senica.

"So noa she's ootside trying ta steal our manfolk again." Senica chided pointing her drunken finger to any who would listen. Verloren was quickly getting upset. Senica could wait. Verloren needed to know Ark had interest only in her.

"Verloren I was just having a smoke. I wasn't flirting." Ark said.

"Is there any truth to what she says? That you are only ever after attention. You flaunted your height, that you were sleeping with everyone?" Verloren asked as her confusion and bewilderment contorted her face.

"Some, I mean sure I flirt sometimes, but never seriously, but I have never slept with anyone. I mean not like that, and my height well I was embarassed by it." Ark whispered directly into Verloren's ear. "I mean they always had bigger breasts and the boys seemed to like them more. I was kind of a tomboy, so I think she's just jealous Ver. But then I guess that works both ways, huh?"

Ark had 2 choices. She could tell Senica off like she had always wanted to, she could just ignore it, like Aunt Liz always said. But her mother always said there were at least 3 choices. What was her 3 choice? 'THE GIFT'

"Senica!" Verloren yelled.

"Verloren hold on," Ark interuppted, "I want to give you something."

"She can't talk about you like that." Verloren said stomping her slipper. Stranglely it did not have the same satisfying feel as when she stomped her boot.

"Verloren I want you to come with me. I have something for you, and the moment is right." Ark slid her hand down Verloren's arm to intertwine their fingers as she held Verloren's hand and led her downstairs.

"Ark you can't just let her..." Verloren started, but she stopped as Ark held her closer, and just held Ark's strong arm with both of her own.

"She gets up every morning and brushes her teeth and sharpens her tongue." Ark sighed. "There is no way to stop her. What I can do is show you what you really mean to me." Ark said her eyes soft. Verloren stumbled a bit, and Ark picked her up. Verloren nuzzled her face into the nape of Ark's neck, and held on with both of her hands.

Ark took her to the bottom of the Peak. She set Verloren down in the chair nearest the hearthfire. She knelt down, bowing her head as she reached into her clutch, she took out a small package.

"Happy Winter's Veil." Ark said.

Verloren opened the box to find the gold eternium band Ark had spent her savings on.

"Do you like it? Will you be mine forever and always?" Ark asked, this was it. This was the big one, if Verloren said no, but the hammer was thrown.

"Yes," was Verloren's only response.

"Yes you like it, or yes you will be mine?" Ark asked her stomach full of Sprite Darters.

"Both." Verloren said.

Ark lifted her head from the floor as Verloren said this. She wanted to see if Verloren would wear it, but she had already put it on. Verloren pulled Ark's face in close to her own and kissed her, purely, passionately, and powerfully, as any doubts either one had about the other melted away.

It was late and Verloren needed to help Guthrum, but Ark did not want the magic to end. "Come with me, there is something I want to show you Ver."

Ark mounted Nightscape and flew to the coast. She held Verloren close with one hand and the other guided her mount to the coast. "I want you to see the sun rise out here. It is breathtaking."

"You are breathtaking." Verloren said simply as they landed and sat to watch the sun rise. Ark pulled Verloren into her lap, and snuggled her tight, resting her head on Verloren's shoulder.

Ark lit a cozy fire when they arrived, since they were both still in evening gowns, and they were both freezing from the ride. They sat together for a long time as the sun began it's long sojourn, inching up from the sea. There was nothing more to say at this point. Words could not describe the beauty, or the feelings shared between them. They could only enjoy this moment, holding each other tight, shivering in the cold morning air. Together, finally, certainly together.

Ark rode back to the Peak, after dawn broke. They stole up and slid out of their evening gowns and into robes. Verloren didn't know if Ark would still go to the couch, but her fears were ill placed as Ark washed her face and slid into bed next to her.

"Was I okay tonight?" Verloren asked as Ark snuggled up next to her pulling her close, and wrapping her arm around Verloren's waist.

"You were wonderful tonight Verloren."

The Magic of Love

2010-12-18T10:21:00.000-08:00

"Her leathers fit ye just fine." Liz said as she eyed Verloren in Ark's old riding leathers. The last time Ark tried these on they fit, a little snugly but they fit. Verloren who did not have the added strength of mining her whole life, fit them perfectly, loose enough to ride comfortably, tight enough not to encumber her.

"Where did she go? I felt like she was just warming up to me." Verloren asked.

"Well she's a few things to pick up, it's a family affair." Liz said as Verloren gave her a cross look. "I didnae mean tha'. Winter Veil is coming. This is a magical secret time of year. Will ye ruin all the surprises?" Liz brushed off the dusty old leather gear, that it had not rotted in the last few years was miraculous. "I think ye'll like what Ark has in store for ye. Ye'll be the first human ta be a part o' this in many a year."

"Oh is it a secret?" Verloren asked.

"Nay lass, just few humans, hell few dwarves would understan this. Maybe the Gilneans, but een then." Liz shook her head doubtfully. "If'n ye are in love with Ark, ye'll love it. And don' worry about how gruff people are. They need ta see ya are made of stern stuff. Ye are only human." Liz patted her on the bottom as she said this. Verloren was not sure if this was part of the fitting or a form of endearment.

"So people are going to be mean on purpose. That's not right!" Verloren protested.

"Aye, they will, but ye cannae protest. Watch, obey, and lissen. They are trying to make sure you are sturdy enough. If'n ye go flying off, run off, or get angry, you will prove them right. Wrong response lass. Know that once acceptance comes these same people who are so vicious are on ye're side FOREVER." Liz emphasized the last word and let it hand in the air, echoing in the cavernous chambers.

"But what about Ironforge...?" Verloren asked.

"They left us." Liz said indicating the subject was closed.

Verloren decided to change the subject. She was supposed to find out about Ark after all. "So is this what happened to Ark?" Verloren asked.

"Right response, someone shuts you off, change the subject to something else you want to know. Let them open up in their own way." Liz said her face beaming, maybe she would suit Ark after all. "And noa Ark was practically born here. She was very young by our lives when she was brought here. She didnae know anything else. They just treated her like their own. It came naturally to er."

"So does Ark have any friends here, I should talk to?" Verloren wanted to know.

"Mostly young men," seeing the look of shock on her face Liz added, "the girls always treated her poorly, and she was something of a tomboy. It wasn't romantic, well except with Auden."

"What happened with him?" Now this conversation was getting somewhere Verloren really wanted to know about.

"Time for tha later you have to go see Guthrum, now scoot." Liz practically pushed her out the door.

***

"What are you looking for?" Math asked. Math had been called into service by the Ebon Blade. It was quite an honor, and one Ark understood all too well. Though her service was called for different reasons it was nonetheless a great honor to be called to serve your people or faction. Quite apart from completing these sort of short mercanary missions.

"An exceedingly rare item, and needlessly so, it's driving me nuts." Ark said. Several people eyed the Death Knight she talked to with great suspicion. Ark just stared them down. "Oi, Push OFF! jerks."

"I am used to it really, but thank you. What exactly are you looking for maybe I can help." Math said.

"No you have your duties, and no one knows more than I how they will keep you busy, but it is something very special, and I have checked the AH for days, weeks. I had Sixx checking the Exodar auction house when I was there." Ark sighed fearing she would never find it.

"Is it what I think it is?" Math said, a twinkle in his eye.

"Maybe." Ark responded coyly.

"Well ask Amy, she has an extensive supply of tailoring patterns, I would think your sister, Rose could make something if you wanted ya'know." Math said helpfully.

"I already asked Rose, she doesn't have a thing and I want more than some cheap Silver ring. It has to be special, very special, like her." Ark said her face blushing her deep maroon pink color that her blood now gave.

Luliana happened to walk up on the two of them talking in Stormwind, and wondered who Math was talking to. "Ark is that you, are you blushing." Luliana laughed heartily. She had always thought Ark was simply shameless, never in all the years they had known each other had she seen Ark blush.

"Ark is looking for a 'special gift' for Verloren." Math said just before Ark kicked him hard in his prehensile joint.

"Whoa Ark, easy what is it you are looking for I want to help." Luliana said chuckling.

"What I am looking for is exceedingly rare is what it is." Ark responded avoiding the answer she knew Luliana was looking for.

"I know what you are looking for, and I think there is a vendor somewhere." Luliana said thinking. Her finger tapping her chin as she thought hard on where to find this elusive item. "I know I have seen it I will keep an eye out for it."

"I will pay well if you can find it. I have searched all of Azeroth it seems." Ark said exasperated at her failure. Failure was not an option, Verloren was worth all the time she spent searching for it.

"I know it was either Stormwind or Dalaran, try there." Luliana said.

"Thanks," Ark said as she activated her wormhole. Stepping into Icecrown she did a few dailies for more money and bought another pet she already owned to try and sell via the goblins. It was a high consignment but an engineer by trade she needed all the money she could get.

'Damn Harold Winston doesn't have it either.' Ark had spent the entire day searching for one item. By now Verloren would be finished, and probably exhausted, but Ark would not stop until she found it. Ark was not used to shopping so hard. Fighting, mining, crafting, sure, but shopping, no. This was maddening. Everyone knew someone sold it, but no one knew where. Then she remembered her mother giving Aunt Liz a ring, something to commemorate their choice. She had her mother's memories, and sure she knew her Aunt and her mother were special, but the details were sketchy. They never announced themselves at the feast of Winter Veil. Ark knew they were lover's when she absorbed her mother's memories, but the details were pushed to the back so she could have her own life.

An elf, it would be an elf, and it might take weeks to get it, but how was that different than this. Ark risked it and used her Dimensional Ripper, and teleported to Area 52. She waived quickly to the goblins, mounted her purple nether ray, Sailor's Delight, and flew to Shattrath. She wanted to get home to her beloved Verloren before she went to bed. But she had to get her this gift. And Ark was so close.

Not even bothering to dismount she flew straight into the World's End Tavern. Sailor's Delight threw her off and left the building as she reached Haris Pilton.

"Well you seem eager. Your gold is welcome here." Ms. Pilton said as Ark checked the inventory.

Ark winced at the price, she had worked for years to become popular with all of the factions in Shattrath, but that did not seem to matter to Ms. Pilton. "I sell only the finest goods." Haris said, "and remember good things cost good money." Haris said with a glint in her eye.

"I will take the Gold band." Ark said.

"You chose wisely. That is the last one I am getting in for some time. Shall I wrap that?" Haris asked.

"No I want to wrap it myself, thank you ma'am." Ark said as she took the package and carefully placed it in her bag.

Chancing it again Ark used her Dimensional Ripper to Everlook. She had to get back to Verloren. It was past midnight, and Verloren would worry. Aunt Liz would remind her that Ark had errands still. Ark stopped by the mailbox grabbed the dresses she ordered. She mounted the first mount that responded to her call, her blue drake, and flew toward Ru'theran. Not stopping in Darkshore she flew to Ru'theran mounted. It was risky, but faster if it worked. No mount could cross the ocean to Eastern Kingdoms, but hopefully she could get to the boat.

'Be there, be there.' She thought as she approached, she flew in just as the boat was pulling out. She managed to light her mount on the captain's deck before it got too far away. Bowing to the captain for her rudeness, she dismounted, and walked downstairs to await the boat's arrival in Stormwind.

Looking out over the ocean, she had no idea what Verloren would say. 'Would Verloren think this was too fast? Would she be mad Ark had been shopping all day, while she had mucked out stables? The poor girl probably smelled like an old ram.' Ark chuckled as she thought this, but at the same time, she was worried Verloren might still reject her. Ark shook her head until the thought past. "The hammer is thrown." She said out loud to no one in particular as the boat pulled up in Stormwind, she found Verloren at the docks waiting for her.

Verloren looked radiant in her black dress. "I thought we were going to a party. Where were you all day?" Verloren was visibly upset.

Verloren smelled of rose petals and jasmine, certainly not old rams. "You look nice." Ark was literally stunned by the beauty standing in front of her.

"Nice, NICE, DO YOU KNOW HOW LONG IT TAKES TO GET RAM POO OUT OF YOUR HAIR?" Verloren stomped her feet. She took a breath steadying herself to give Ark a piece of her mind and a good thrashing for going out and having fun all day without her.

"I thought you would be tired, do you still want to go to the party?" Ark asked changing the subject.

"Yes and you are not getting out of it. You said I need to learn about you, and I intend to, no matter how hard they try to break me." Verloren readied a shock to start throwing items at Ark. Hadn't she just finished cleaning up the last mess she made.

Ark activated her Nitro Boosts and closed the gap before she could ready the spell. She picked up Verloren by the waist and kissed her long hard and deep on the lips. Her fears melted. This petulant, persistent, pernicious woman they were perfect for each other.

"Sweetie can I can be there and ready in about 30 minutes. I have to pick up my dress and my pipe, and I want to bathe from the road, is that okay?" Ark asked genuinely. Sure Ark could go in full battle gear the Wildhammers care more that you came than how you came, but Verloren deserved Ark looking her best. Verloren had dressed to kill, and she deserved Ark's best.

Verloren was still a little hazy from being kissed by Ark. Sure they had kissed before, but this time it was different. Not only did Ark kiss her, but Ark seemed confident somehow certain. "Sure," was the only thing she could think of at that moment.

"Meet me in Ironforge, they have warmer water for a bath." Ark said as she mounted up.

Verloren took a moment to remember what Ark said. 'Meet in Ironforge, oh no, I am going with you,' but it was too late Ark was gone. Again.

Leading with the Heart

2010-12-16T21:45:00.000-08:00

"You know part of the reason I speak Dwarvish here is so you don't get confused. Things don't mean the same thing here they do in Ironforge common let alone Stormwind common." Ark said by way of explanation. "But I need to communicate more and be less MI:6. We are not rogues, and I shouldn't act like I am."

"So explain it to me, why are you still trying to hide from me?" Verloren questioned.

"It was a safety mechanism, for myself. Humans tormented me endlessly when I was training in Stormwind. My old boyfriend Auden just disappeared without so much as a by or leave one day. My last guild just quit a few days later. Literally they all quit one right after the other. I spent months by myself as the only person in my guild. I was alone and everyone seemed to hate me. I decided the world was probably better off without me. I thought about suicide a few times. I really did, but Aunt Liz would have killed me."

"I'm sorry." Verloren said realizing now how difficult this really was for Ark.

"Aunt Liz took over the bank. She said I should go meet other people. She said I had not met everyone so there was no way I knew everyone hated me. If I had met everyone and they did hate me then we could talk again in a couple of months about suicide. So I did, but I was totally alone for months. I met a few people, including you. I pugged some raids and things, and Alliance Supply Company asked for me almost often. Eventually Luliana and Motokume asked me to join their guild, but I am not the greatest paladin of all time. I fully expected them to ask me to leave at any moment. I mean that is what everyone else always did."

"I have always been waiting for the other boot to fall. With the guild, with you. ALWAYS." Ark's vision was a little cloudy as her eyes were watering. Ark closed her eyes tightly to press the water out as she continued.

"I could not bear losing you, because my people, my former home was disagreeable, or not to your liking." Ark held Verloren closer as she said this, squeezing her as if she could pull Verloren into herself and become one. "I mean most humans don't like the Peak, because it is all underground. Auden said it reminded him of the grave."

Ark liked the feel of Verloren's soft body against her own. Verloren was shivering from the cold, it was a brisk morning after all, even for the Peak. Ark used this as a perfect excuse to hold Verloren closer to herself than ever before. It was odd for Ark to touch someone after so many years relying only on herself. Always being told she needed to get there on her own, gear herself up, get more powerful. It was even odder feeling Verloren's body. With neither one wearing their heavy plate armor Ark felt the goose bumps on Verloren's skin from the cold. Every curve of Verloren's form, every soft line. Every time Ark and Verloren had touched before it was always with their armor between them. This time Ark only had light leather riding gear, and Verloren was wearing nothing but a linen robe.

Ark realized she held never held anyone like this before. Verloren's parents had set up a nice room for Ark, and Verloren was right at home in her room with her sister. Here at the Peak however, well once someone is your mate they simply are. There isn't any pomp and circumstance or a ceremony. Different people have different types of relationships, but all are simply accepted at face value. Ark was not sure Verloren understood that yet, but right now she just wanted to feel the thrill of holding this woman she loved so close to her.

"If you feel that way then I need to choose between you and my home. I needed time to think about that. I needed to see the sunrise over the ocean in the Hinterlands one last time. I love these people, they are my people, more than Stormwind, Ironforge, or even the Exodar. And you don't like..." Ark continued.

"Wait a minute I never said I..." Verloren interrupted.

"Please let me finish sweetie, you wanted me to talk and I am talking. You don't like the food, but I can make different food for you. I am an Illustrious Grand Master Chef after all. Most of the ceilings are too short even for you. But I have to practically bend over in some of the living quarters. Maybe living here isn't practical, but it is still my home. I hope you can accept this part of me as much as the other parts. The short version is this part of me will always be here. I can accept that we may make our home somewhere else. But the wild untamed part of me, the Wildhammer part of me, you have to accept that, or I cannot be your mate. It would not work." Ark squeezed Verloren so hard she could barely breathe. She wanted to will Verloren to accept this, but she knew she could not force it.

Wildhammers relationships rarely end other than in death because they are free to choose whomever they will in the first place, and while suggestions are made, there are never arrangements. Each partner accepts the other as they are right now, with no expectation of change. If change occurs they accept that as well. Ark wanted and needed Verloren to understand this was it. This wasn't Stormwind where you could get divorced or separated and the church would help divide things. This wasn't Ironforge where you talked to people until the relationship was fixed. This certainly wasn't the Exodar where people stayed together out of duty. Wildhammers did not think that way. If Verloren did, this would not work.

Verloren gave a muffled response, and Ark realized she was holding her too tight. Verloren was glad Ark was suddenly so eager to hold her. Ark had just started initiating contact with Verloren, and then just for a peck on the head, or an arm around the shoulder. Verloren's ear was right on Ark's chest. Verloren could hear Ark's heart beating fast as she poured out her heart, and her love in words Verloren thought she might never hear.

Verloren freed her head from underneath Ark's arm and looked up at Ark. She did not bother trying to step back. Ark's body felt warm against her own, and she wanted this embrace to last forever.

"So I have to accept the wild untamed part of you, huh? And what about you?" Verloren asked raising an eyebrow as she did so.

"A Wildhammer mate is for life. A live in the moment, as you are in the moment right now life. If I change, you adapt. If you change I adapt. Once that hammer is thrown you deal with whatever it hits. That is what it means when I say the 'Hammer is thrown'. I am prepared for that. I have seen your people. I spent some time there before and now. I am ready... are you?" Ark asked.

"I have told you yes, I don't even know how many times." Verloren said exasperated and angry at being asked the same question. She wanted to be betrothed to Ark, and maybe they could get married someday. "Will this mean we can finally be together, and you will quit asking?"

"Yes it means that." Ark said puzzled, but she took the question in stride. "I would like you to be my guest at the Feast of Winter Veil, but you cannot say yes yet. You must get to know my people, my past, and become a better rider. Guthrum does not approve of how you treat your mounts."

"My riding isn't that bad. And I treat my mounts fine. They are just mounts." Verloren protested.

"Not here they are not Ver. Here a mount is your equal. You and your mount are one. You treat a mount as you would your own child. Let's get you home, by a fire, and into some riding leathers. You are frozen." Ark said mounting her gryphon as she did so.

"Ok well maybe I can be a better rider, but how do I get to know your past and your people?" Ver asked mounting up behind Ark and pressing her head against Ark's back to feel the warmth of her body.

"There is always a party going on. Everyone in the peak is always invited, we will just stay here until the feast and you make your decision. A few nights of partying will do us both some good. You will learn far more than you ever wanted to know, or I ever wanted you to know." Ark said as Verloren laughed.

The thought of learning so much about someone so guarded amused and intrigued her. Ark had given her a quest of sorts, learn to handle her mounts better. If that was all it took she could do that. And these people seemed nice enough. She held onto Ark tightly and for the first time Ark held the reins in one hand and held onto Verloren's arms with the other.

Ark was concerned. These next couple of days would decide their fate together, perhaps forever. And this was the first time Ark would share a bed with anyone since Auden. She hoped this relationship would fair better than her last one. But Verloren was no Auden, that was certain.

A Heart Turns Home

2010-12-16T07:03:00.000-08:00

Ark woke up early the next morning. Her back aching and her neck full of knots. A dwarf couch was no place for her new full grown dranei form. Though she slept there when she was a child, clearly those days were behind her.

Verloren slept soundly. Ark simply watched her for a few minutes. This woman she grew to love so much in so little time it seemed. In truth their love had grown slowly over the course of the last several years, from a mild dislike. Verloren's soft steady breathing, belied the rage she would release when she awoke.

With Ark's body in pain and knots she looked around the room and found all her stuff was moved here. She looked in her old riding trunk and just enjoyed the smell of the leathers, and balms, and other items. She pulled out her riding leathers and tried them on. However they were made for her when she was younger, and human. She was neither anymore and they did not fit.

Though all her leathers were well preserved only her riding gloves came close to fitting. She put them on to enjoy the old smell, grabbed her old gryphon brush, and talon pickbrush and headed out to the stable. A good ride would help release her tension, and help stretch her aching muscles.

The night was fading fast, and watching the sun rise over the ocean was glorius, especially in the Hinterlands. She wished Verloren could see it, but she would wake up angry, and that was no way to watch a sunrise. There would be time enough to see it another day.

She stole out as quietly as she could, and made her way down to the Inn where Thulfram was finishing his night shift. "Thulfram!" Ark called.

"What kin I git for ya?" Thulfram surprised at seeing Ark so early in the morning. "Rough night, I ain't eard nothin'."

"No she sent us straight to bed. Don't raise your eyebrow at me I slept on the couch. No I need you to send up some breakfast. I don't want them yelling at me on an empty stomach. Verloren can barely tolerate Aunt Liz's cooking as it is, and when she cooks angry, well... I don't want Verloren starving." Ark threw more gold than needed on the counter. "Something extra for your trouble, and have someone deliver it for me. I want them rested and fed."

"You're devious, clever, and devious chile. If'n you didnae have a mate I'd find ya a good un meself." Thulfrum said scooping up the money and gathering his pots. "What do humans eat anyway?"

"Eggs are a good guess. She hates fish. I know that. Eggs, Sausage, and Banana Bread, and throw in some gingerbread cookies, and spiced cider for good measure. It is Winter Veil after all." Ark knew Verloren liked cookies at least, cider was always a good bet, as for the rest well she hoped. Aunt Liz would accuse her of trying to sweeten them up, but so what.

"Oh any chance I could scrounge up some riding leathers somewhere? It is cold this morning and I am going flying. This Festival Dress is not warm enough for it." Ark asked, doubting that anyone at Aerie Peak would have riding leathers big enough for a dranei.

"I should say noa, ask Nioma, if anyone has anything that will fit ye she will." Thulfram said as he went to work preparing the food.

"Thanks you're a lifesaver." Ark said as Thulfrum chuckled.

After getting some riding leathers made for her new stature, Ark set off to pick up Nightscape, her purple gryphon. As she approached the gryphon stables she greeted Guthrum.

"You're a worthless cultist."

"Well you don't deserve anything other than the scourge."

Guthrum looked like he was on the warpath as he stomped into the stables. He raised his hand to cuff the girls about the ears when Ark stopped him. "Ferya and Chise if you don quit fussin...!" Guthrum said.

Kneeling down and holding the 2 girls arms length apart Ark asked, "Now what is this about then?"

"What do you care you aren't a Wildhammer?" One of the girls called out in spite.

Guthrum raised his hand again, but Ark halted him. "I will handle this Guthrum."

Guthrum stomped off toward the entrance mumbling to himself.

"And what makes you a Wildhammer, hmm?" Ark asked.

"I am a dwarf," said Ferya who looked like she was losing the scuffle anyway.

"And so is Moira, but she would be offended if you called her that. So again, what makes you a Wildhammer?" Ark asked again.

"Living at Aerie Peak," called Chise proudly.

"The dranei who lives at the inn lives here. Is he a Wildhammer?" Ark asked. "I don't think so. And before you say facial markings Night Elves have them, and they aren't Wildhammers. Aunt Liz does not and she is. So what makes a Wildhammer?"

Both girls simply shrugged their shoulders sheepishly.

"This," Ark said pointing at their hearts. "And this," she said cupping the crown of their heads in her hands. "That is what makes you a Wildhammer, nothing more, nothing less."

"Now what is this all about anyway?" Ark questioned.

"Well there is this new boy from Kalimdor..." Ferya said.

"And he is here training to be a flight master." Chise interrupted.

"And you both like him?" Both girls nodded their heads. "Well any brain addled Leper Gnome can get into a row, can you ride?" Ark asked.

The girls nodded their heads eager to impress Ark with their skills. "Well then he likes riding, so why don't you prove your skill in a riding contest? He can choose either one of you. Give him a reason to pick you."

"I am faster." Chise boasted.

"Hold on, anyone can ride fast, but Wildhammers ride with a skill unmatched in all of Azeroth, how well can you ride?" Ark continued.

The girls looked confused.

"I am going to see the sunrise when I leave here. I want you to ride to the coast and meet me without having any silvermane, owlbeasts or trolls tag you." Ark offered. "That will show who is truly the best rider, and I pay 10 gold to whomever can finish my quest."

The young girls had never had a quest before. Guthrum stood outside listening, but not interfering.

"Well what are you waiting for the sun is going to rise any minute?" Ark pressured, as both girls hopped on their mounts without thinking, and rushed off down the hill.

"Ya know they could be seriously injured by a Silvermane at their age." Guthrum said.

"You didn't think I was going to not follow them the whole way from above did you?" Ark said as they watched the girls try to push each other off their mounts.

"What has you up so early anyway?" Guthrum asked.

"I could barely sleep on the couch when I was human, now ouch. I need a good ride to stretch my muscles." Ark responded.

"Safe Travels then." Guthrum called as Ark mounted and followed the girls at an altitude where she could dive bomb anything that got too close.

Sure enough the girls made it close to the coast, but were both knocked off their mounts by a Silvermane Howler. Ark flew down as the ram ran off, and killed 4 beasts with a single throw of her shield. The 2 girls were frightened to death as Ark lifted them onto her gryphon. Together they could not weigh that much more than her armor and weapons most of which she left at the Peak for the lighter more comfortable riding leathers.

Ark said nothing as she lifted off and continued heading for the coast. The 2 young girls just held Ark tight, one in front and one in back. Ark landed lightly on the coast and took off the gryphon's bridle so he could scavenge for some fish or something if he liked.

The girls just sat and watched as Ark quietly sat down and looked out at the water as the sun started to rise and the night sky turned to the subdued hues of morning.

"Sorry Ma'am." Chise finally said sitting down and picking at the grass.

"Oh don't apologize to me, apologize to Ferya, you both cost each other 10 gold." Ark said her eyes focused on the glorious morning about to begin.

The girls just looked at each other shocked. "I said I would give the gold to whomever completed the task. If you worked together you might have succeeded where you could not while competing." The sun was just starting to peak over the horizon now, and morning was about to begin in earnest. The Peak will be waking now Ark thought, maybe I should have left a note.

"The sunrise on the Hinterland coast is always gorgeous never forget that ladies." Ark said. She whistled for her gryphon, and began putting the bridle back on.

"Ma'am how could we have both won?" Chise obviously the bolder one asked.

"Well one could have run ahead, and the other stay behind to shoot at whatever beast came after the first one. You switch the target back and forth, and if you stay far enough apart it can't get to either one of you before it gets out of its territory, and must return." Ark pulled up the girls to ride home with her since they were now both mountless. "Teamwork, then you both win. This boy has to choose anyway, why let him tear your friendship apart."

Ark landed in front of Guthrum both girls in tow, both quieter, and more amicable than when they left. "And here, just to show wisdom is more valuable than knowledge, each of you gets 5 gold."

"I was worried when the rams returned riderless, but I should've known better they don't look worse for wear." Guthrum said.

"Hopefully the ride took some of the energy out of them. They should be more obedient for the rest of the day." Ark replied.

Ark walked rather than rode into the Peak proper this time. No sense rushing off into certain doom.

She walked into her aunt's quarters, "Will you both please forgive me. I behaved like a goblin. I ignored both of your needs and thought only selfishly of myself." Ark sat down and waited for their response.

Crossing the Barricade

2010-12-15T10:32:00.000-08:00

Ver protested as she and Ark walked through Stormwind. "It is late, perhaps tomorrow will be better." Ver protested. "Come on Ark I just want to got to sleep."

Ark made her decision, as Aunt Liz would say, "Tis done, the hammer thrown." Ark mounted her favorite gryphon, and headed north for Aerie Peak without so much as a look back to see if Ver followed.

Verloren had seen Ark resolute before, but never like this. Ver silently mounted her golden gryphon and followed Ark. Ark flew in a mostly straight line, no fancy flying, not tonight. She flew fast, but not dangerously so. It was only the occasional catch of the light on Ark's purple gryphon's armor that told Verloren Ark was still ahead of her. It wasn't that Ark was trying to leave her behind, so much as Ark was lost in her thoughts. This silent determination bothered Verloren, but she could not say why.

Ark had requested 2 things, that Verloren follow her, and that she be riding a gryphon into Aerie Peak. Verloren knew so little about the culture of Aerie Peak, she had nothing to do but trust at this point. And Ark was silent as the grave.

Ark landed perfectly in front of Guthrum Thunderfist. It wasn't that she was really ever a Wildhammer anyway, but she had always felt this was home. Sure she picked up engineering. Sure she was raised by a dranei. Sure she spent no small amount of time galavanting around the world, but she had no way to know how they would respond to Verloren. She had a habit of not bothering to fit in. A habit Ark found endearing, but the Wildhammers?

"Ow are ye?" Guthrum said as she walked her purple gryphon to the stable.

"Well met." Ark responded in dwarvish. While they were in the shire Ark had felt out of place among all those humans. They accepted her well enough, but Ark wanted to say what she had to say without risking Verloren's feelings.

"Missed ya lass." Guthrum was glad to see his favorite rider. Ark had always proven her skills, she fought longer and harder to learn flying, but she was also more proficient than most he taught, well except for dwarves. "There a reason we're speaking Dwarvish?" Guthrum asked.

"Aye, what's the word?" Ark asked. Verloren had caught up landed a little unsure of herself and Guthrum understood what Ark was asking. Verloren walked to Ark to hold her hand, but Ark simply pointed to the stable.

"Oi, ye stable first lass, time enow fo other stuff later." Guthrum said in common taking what he thought was Ark's queue. He glared Verloren up and down, before returning his gaze to Ark's new form.

Verloren was extremely confused by such rough treatment, but these were Ark's people not hers. Ark dreaded this for a reason and maybe this was it.

"On what lass?" Guthrum asked returning to dwarvish.

"On me, on you know us." Ark said through her teeth in dwarvish. Verloren may not be able to understand them, but she was good at reading people.

"Is tha a proposition lass?" Guthrum simply laughed as he said this.

"You know what I mean, don't be coy." Ark said.

"Well ye're a might taller and bluer than I remember, but as to yur mate can't say." Guthrum was evading something.

"Can't or won't." Ark asked.

"Me life is no worth the trouble Liz would put on ma if Ah said nother word." Guthrum responded. "Sorry" he added.

Verloren had no idea what either one was saying as it was entirely in dwarvish, and she had taken up dranei, but once more Ark used language to hide her true self. She followed the conversation with her eyes, but she could not understand even a little what they were saying.

"Speak COMMON DANGIT!" Verloren was now so angry she could feel bile rising in her.

Ark handed Guthrum some coins to care for the gryphons and said simply, "Thanks, buy yourself a pint." Although much to Verloren's relief she spoke common this time.

"Be good." Guthrum called after her as she walked away.

"Ark what is going on? Why are you avoiding me? Why are you treating me like this?" Verloren grabbed Ark and turned her around as she asked this. Ark was guarded, she simply shook her head.

"Do you trust me?" Ark asked, her doe like eyes looking deep into Verloren's own eyes. Ark's eyes said everything Ark had not. Ark did love her. This was not a punishment. Ark had reasons, but she chose not to reveal them yet. Those eyes begged Verloren to follow. Plus Ark did not expect an answer, nor did she truely want one, merely acquiescence.

Verloren had 2 choices, walk away from something she asked Ark to do, or accept this was going to be done Ark's way. As angry as she was about the whole thing she knew if she walked away now, it would betray their love forever. But she did not have to be happy about this treatment.

Ark rode her purple ram down to the Peak proper. Verloren thought it best to do the same. She rode her charger since she did not own a ram, but this horse was no stranger to the Peak. Plenty of dwarves rode it.

Thulfram always had information, and a few pints would get him talking. Ark decided this was her next stop after greeting those few still awake in the Peak and introducing Verloren as simply Verloren. However Ark could tell from their expression they knew exactly who this was. More importantly they knew who she was to Ark.

"THULFRAM, can I interest ya in a pint?" Ark asked as soon as she got back to the Inn.

"Ark a whatever you call yerself noa, Ow are ya?" Thulfram was not one to stand on ceremony. EVER. "And will this be yer mate then?" He asked in dwarvish to avoid them both embarassment as he pulled out a chair for Verloren and handed her a pint.

"Any friend o' Ark's is a friend o mine lass." Thulfram said clapping Verloren on the back so hard her helmet nearly fell off.

Verloren was not sure what to make of this. First Ark treats her like a servant, then like a mere friend. Verloren did her best to stay under control and a good drink would help. Everyone kept going back and forth between common and dwarvish. Clearly everyone was thick as thieves with Ark, but she couldn't tell what was going on nor why Ark would not talk to her.

Ark headed toward the bar with Thulfram. Verloren started to get up to follow her, but Ark shooed her away behind her back, indicating Verloren should just sit down. 'Ark may be the one to wear the pants, but she is going to get a piece of my mind VERY VERY SOON!' Verloren thought to herself.

"I would not say she is my mate yet Thulfram." Ark said in response to the question. Ark preferred Rhapsody Malt to Thunder Ale, but she didn't question what Thulfram put in front of her as she gulped it down greedily and wiped her shirt on her sleeve.

"O the lass is available then. A cute one she is. I think I'll make myself known to er then." Thulfram started to leave the bar hiking up his belt, and puffing out his chest as he did so. A smile on his face knowing Ark would stop him.

"Hold on our relationship is complicated." Ark said exasperated that no one would give her enough information.

"Well which is it lass? Either she is your mate, or she isn't. Ye cannae ave it both ways." Thulfram said returning to his post behind the bar and pulling another brew for Ark. Returning her stein to Ark by sliding it down the bar he washed and polished his glasses for the next day.

"Well our relationship is hardly traditional Thulfram." Ark said. "I want the peak to accept her like they accept me. Perhaps if I wear some war paint..."

"Seems you don feel to accepted yerself if ya think war paint is going to make a difference." Thulfram chided. "It doesnae matter that you are a dranei. It didnae matter when you became an engineer. It didnae matter when you became a paladin. Where d' ya come when ya need to rest from the road?" Thulfram breathed on the glass and gave it one last go over before picking up another.

"Aerie Peak." Ark said simply. Knowing the answer would be understood, but she couldn't help Verloren's response.

"Aye." Thulfram said speaking common again. "And we dinna care fo traditions. Tha is an Ironforge invention. No that there is anything wrong with it. Ya been too long out in there high falutin ways lassie. Now go see ur aunt afore she gives me wha for keeping ya down ere so long." Thulfram paused a second, before continuing with a sparkle in his eye, "Tell er I am still available when she is ready."

"Can we get one for the walk, and make mine a stiff one?" Ark spoke the last part in Dwarvish.

"Aye. And treat her like ur mate or you'll lose er. Ye'll end up old and alone like meself." Thulfram said in dwarvish as he finished filling up Verloren's glass, and dropping a shot of Volatile rum into Ark's glass for a nice Batol Bruiser.

He poured four fingers of rum in another glass for Ark while Ver was getting ready to leave, and Ark downed it in one gulp. Ark put some gold on the bar, more than enough to cover her tab.

Ark walked up through the peak with her arm around Verloren's shoulder. 'Thulfram was right, Aerie Peak was not the Exofar or Ironforge. Too long had she been away from home.' Ark thought as she squeezed Verloren closer.

For her part Verloren was a little cautious, but she put her arm around Ark's waist. "What was that all about?" Verloren asked her head spinning from the sudden change.

"Well you yell at people, and I spy on them, or pay informants." Ark responded truthfully. "Plus we were trying to decide what color war paint would look good on you." Ark smiled as Verloren looked disgusted, but shrugged her shoulders in a reluctant acceptance.

As the pair walked up to Aunt Liz's rooms Ark held her index finger to her lips and removed her boots, indicating that Verloren should do the same. They tiptoed inside only to find Aunt Liz sitting by the fire petting her ghost saber.

"Aunt I..." Ark started to apologize.

"Go ta bed lass ur room is ready. We'll talk in tha mornin." Liz said as she followed the pair to the sleeping quarters. Her tone an ominous one.

"Aunt Liz this is your room." Ark questioned.

"Was my room lass, there's one o' me and two a you." Liz said as she closed the door on Ark's old room and presumably went to bed. Ark and Verloren had no choice but to share the double bed.

"Well that makes 2 of us that want to talk to you in the morning." Verloren said in a whispered yell. She splashed water from the bathing bowl on her face before putting on her linen robe and sliding into the bed.

Ark slid into her Festive Purple Dressing gown and curled up on the couch. It seems she had managed to make everyone angry at once, and the best thing to do when people were angry was stay away from them. More than a little uncomfortable she curled up and went to sleep.

Home Calling

2010-12-14T10:14:00.000-08:00

"Ver you have been rather subdued today is something wrong?" Ark asked.

"Ark are you ashamed of me?" Ver asked the question nagging at her heart.

"What no, we have been going like gangbusters for over a week. Why would you ask that?" Ark thought maybe Dobby embarassed Ver, or was Ver ashamed of Ark in front of her friends.

"Well you never take me anywhere that matters." Ver responded.

"How can you say that I just took you to Blackrock Caverns. We even killed Rom'Ogg, and sure we couldn't get much farther, but it was just the two of us." Ark said defensively.

Much had happened in the last couple of weeks. Besides Ark transformation, and brief near servitude in the Exodar, Verloren's self imposed exile, and the guild reforming. The guild leader revealed that she was only half night elf, as if this was something to be ashamed of somehow. She decided to embrace her human heritage, and while Ark found no good reason anyone would do that, she understood the need to embrace who you are. Verloren and Ark had gone through the twilight forces like a 2 woman wrecking crew, destroying Twilight forces and Naga in Vahj'ir, and rapidly through Deepholm.

"When are we going to see Aunt Liz?" Ver knew Ark was using her diplomatic skills to distract from the real issue.

"Well as soon as we finish here in Deepholm we can go to the Twilight Highlands, maybe we will see her on the way." Ark hoped this would satisfy Verloren, but she half knew it would fail.

"So you are ashamed of me then." Ver knew Ark would always evade questions she did not want to answer. And Ark was definitely being evasive. "Is it because I am like you, or because I am not like you?"

"What, no, neither or both, I don't know. Wildhammers don't have very strict rules on such things. In fact Wildhammers don't have very strict rules on many things." Ark said with a sigh. She was confused, angry, defensive, and protective about their whole situation. She did not want Verloren to feel bad about their relationship, or thinking Ark somehow was embarassed by it. Ark thought it over and in truth it was past time. Ark had not returned to Aerie Peak since her transformation.

"Ver turn in your tornado." Ark said matter of factly.

"Why? I thought we were going to finish Deepholm." Ver asked.

Putting away her weapon and shield, Ark reached down and held Verloren's hand in her own, intertwining her fingers with Verloren's as she did so, in a very human sign of affection. Verloren could tell Ark needed her strength. Ark still did not touch people very often, she was warming up to her guildies, but hugs were still at arm's reach. Thinking on it, this was probably the first time Ark had initiated contact or touch of any kind, usually Ver kissed her or hugged Ark first. She responded well enough, but Verloren could not think of a single incident where Ark had been the one to reach out.

It was this fear of intimacy with anyone that kept Ark at a distance from so many for so long. Going against dungeon bosses was nothing compared to opening your heart. And this time they were meeting Ark's surrogate mother. Ark had changed from a human to a dranei, though amongst the dwarves who would care. But Ark was also bringing home for the first time a genuine prospect as a potential mate, and a female at that. Sure Ark had brief moments with other suitors, none very serious, or very long.

Neither Arkadelphia nor Verloren was the driving force in the relationship. Neither was in charge of who did what and when. Like most things in Azeroth, things happened when they happened. Except Verloren would not let Ark 'let this happen.' Ark was going to have to face Aunt Liz sooner or later. And in Verloren's mind sooner was better than later.

"You are sure about this," Ark pointed back and forth between herself and Verloren, "about us then?" Ark asked, her fear of rejection still in the back of her mind.

"Thank you." Ver said to Lorvarious, and turned toward Ark. "Yes Ark, I am sure, now don't ask me again." She was agitated Ark found acceptance so hard, while it was understandable, it was annoying.

"Mount up then." Ark said as she mounted her gryphon. While this was far from her rarest mount showing up to Aerie Peak at this point on anything but a gryphon was unthinkable. Ver mounted her Celestial Steed and followed.

"Ver," Ark said as she held her gryphon back allowing Verloren time to catch her, "when we get to Aerie Peak, be riding a gryphon." Ark kicked her mount forward to the temple portal leading to Stormwind.

Verloren started to ask why, but Ark was already too far ahead to hear. Ark changed, she was decisive, almost impulsive at times. Ark was still the woman Verloren fell in love with, but she had changed. She was no longer the timid healer with defense who stood at the front. No longer was Ark the distant, pensive person she met all those years back. Sure there were parts of her soul that Ark would not let anyone into, but slowly she was letting Ver pierce the deeper parts of her heart. It was a delicate process for both of them.

Ark was letting her guard down at least for Verloren, and in doing so became even more protective, almost reckless in keeping Verloren safe. Verloren liked the change in Ark, but sometimes it scared her. Ark would just run off, and ask Verloren to trust her. 'Obviously,' Verloren thought 'this was one of those times.'

They Say It Better

2010-12-14T08:33:00.001-08:00

So I was going to do a post on what to get and where, but go see Rhidach for pally tanks.

Gear Pally pre-raid Gear

Gemming Pally gemming at 85 as level cap

Stuff I would have loved to know Vashj'ir

2010-12-09T07:19:00.000-08:00

MAJOR CORRECTION: Once you get separated out to Horde and Alliance caves, do not, I repeat do not enter the opposite's faction cave/inn. The NPCs will not attack, but you know that Elemental at the back. Yeah he 2 shot me yesterday. I went in to see if my theory was right, and "oh look the NPCs are not attacking... What the? Oh look the graveyard." It's bad mm'kay.

So a few tips for leveling in Vash'ir where all good tanks should start, (when did I become more tank focused?) Anyway

Polyps = a cave with air and usually questgivers, well everytime so far, though they do divide from all quest givers to faction specific ones after a certain point. ~~They are mostly Earthen Ring aligned, so I don't think you will be attacked on sight.~~ Yeah see correction above.

Whale shark is teh awesome. If you have always wanted to dive and swim with one of these, now is your chance. Seriously they do not attack despite being an elite red skull level mob. And they are so realistic, sure you might be a space goat or an elf, but this looks so much like the real deal.

That said Giant underwater Fish Giant will attack. Him you avoid. He is not majestic, and if you aren't careful he will om nom nom your face.

Not everything is one the sea floor, avoid that temptation. Raiders, hungry sharks and certain other types of mobs are not at full depth. Despite these disadvantages it has improved 3d combat significantly.

You don't need underwater breathing, but if you use 2 handers it might be worth it to pull out the Mastercraft Kalu'ak Fishing Pole until you get your sea legs buff. It is a few quests in and there are plenty of places to breathe, but a friend drowned yesterday despite my attempts to save her.

The sea horse mount should be your next priority, it makes movement around the zone easy peasy. Plus the "dance, dance revolution" style quest is one of the best mount quests I have ever done. (And I HATE mount quests.) Wait for the shark in the first quest with the turtle. It will eat the turtle and that completes the quest. Trust me it will happen.

Also Mobs have a crazy fast respawn timer. If you are even remotely squishy, i.e. non tank, pull it away from its spawn point to a non-spawn point. However if you are a tank heal team duoing this stuff. Send out the healer to play soft taco/bait, and AoE your way to fame and glory. 9 mobs on a healer, or dps, problem. 9 mobs on a healer whose tanked just dropped whatever AoE with their Threat modifier on. Wait were there mobs here?

This zone is really made up of subzones, which are about the size of some of the smaller zones in classic. So A it is huge, and B you will go to a large number of different quest hubs. Each one sends you to the next one somehow so don't sweat it.

Be prepared not to have to target stuff. Some quests just let you click quest tool, spear, rope, whatever with no clicking on a target. Don't worry about it, it makes it much faster. Try this first if you have a kill them with this or collect them with that style quest. Targets are for sissies, pew pew.

Oh talking to giant Mollusc, go in the entrance it says to go in unmounted. Get out of the water, quest givers should spawn right ahead of you, follow them. If they do not spawn just walk back in again and again until they do.

Lots of quests are picked up and turned in, in the field. Nice going. No need to run back to quest turn in person and then go all the way back, just go on next part, usually in cases where the quest giver is farther away from the zone.

Kill some random mobs they drop maps or teeth that lead to other quests, sometimes out of nowhere, and sometimes from an item they drop.

I think that is about it. Good luck and have fun. Really it reminds me so much of scuba diving, which I love, try the zone. It isn't as bad as you think. I mean it is no dive in the Cayman's, but neither is it the old style of bizarre pathing underwater mobs we are used to from before. They hit you from below, but you can't hit them that sort of silliness is gone.

Swimming with Whale Shark, Sqweee!!!

Secrets on Solsbury Hill

2010-12-07T13:41:00.000-08:00

(With apologies to Cameron Crowe, and Peter Gabriel, mimicry is the sincerest form of flattery after all right. No need to sue anyone now is there?)

As the small group gathered around Verloren and everyone prepared to leave Ark sighed.

"Wait. Okay...okay...okay. If this is where it has to happen, then this is where it has to happen. In front of all our friends, family, guildmates, everyone, okay." Ark cracked her knuckles and let out another exasperated sigh as she continued.

"I'm not letting you get rid of me, brush me off, or run off on me. How about that?" Ark said as she wagged her finger at Verloren.

"This used to be my specialty. You know, I was good solo. They'd send me in there, and I'd do it alone, in Holy spec no less. At level elites, whatever, it didn't matter. And now I just..." Ark made a grand waving gesture towards Durn the Hungerer.

"But tonight, our world is shattered, our whole world is a mess -- a very, very big mess. Elementals are everywhere. Deathwing roasting whole zones, with no rhyme or reason. We have been called to fix it." Ark stiffened her back and puffed her chest as she said this, but with a sadness in her voice.

"But I can't fix the world, I am not complete, not nearly close to being in the same vicinity as complete, because I need to share my life with you. I couldn't figure this out without hearing your voice. I couldn't make the usual joke or laugh about it without you. You left, and I was trapped. I miss my -- I miss my healer." Ark forced the words out through her grief, continuing by sheer force of will preventing herself from crying.

Ark bit her lip and continued, "We live in a dangerous world, a cynical world, and we work in a business of killing deadly dangerous things. I can't face that world without you." Ark sighed deeply.

"I have never been accepted, anywhere. And now I know I never will be. I was never human enough for Stormwind. I wasn't dwarf enough for Aerie peak. I wasn't dranei enough for Exodar. I wasn't good enough to raid. My last guild just abandoned me, completely. I am always going to be at a distance, from everyone and everything." Ark removed her helmet and brushed away tears with her last handkerchief.

"Tonight I found out that a very few dranei accept me. This guild I was so sure would abandon me, like my last one did. They were just waiting, for me to be ready; they proved that when they came for me. They accept me, but I need for you to..." As Ark said this she pressed down 2 fingers and held up a third.

The assembly was shocked at Ark's revelation. That the stalwart tank never felt acceptance explained her occasional disappearance for long periods of time, and why she spent so much time alone.

"I need you to accept me. And I just had to say that. I just..I love you. You ... complete me. I can't..." Ark lost her composure entirely, her heart was pounding. The sound of her blood rushing through her ears made it hard to hear. Boom, boom, boom. As Ark struggled through her grief, Luliana, and Motokume tried in vain to console her. Math rubbed her back, unsure of what to say or how to say it. Most of the others just stood where they were, mouths open at this sudden open display of honesty.

"Shut up. Just shut up." Verloren responded, as her eyes started to well up. She brushed away Ark's friends and pulled the taller dranei's head down to her smaller, shorter human shoulder. She smiled through her own tears. She lifted the sobbing dranei's head inches from her own face, "Ark," she said looking deep into her eyes, "You had me at hello. You had me at hello."

"You know what, screw the world," Moto said. "Grab your things we've come to take our own home."

Approaching the Dark Portal, the guild reunited once more, prepared to enter Azeroth. Math said matter of factly, "I don't think the world is prepared for us! Now let's go punch Deathwing in the face."

Walking through Broken Glass

2010-12-06T13:36:00.000-08:00

"Vir is proud. He will not understand us. Listen a moment. Lost teach to you listen?" Gurrag said in Stillpine, a language Ark learned upon coming to the isles ages ago, and working among the Stillpine, and later the Timbermaw.

"I listen and honor Gurrag." Combining and confusing her Stillpine dialect with a Timbermaw accent.

Gurrag laughed the throaty growly laugh of a furbolg. "Gurrag not need winter fat." Gurrag smiled the toothy threatening grin of his people, at the respect Ark showed. Those who did not understand or respect the furbolg would assume Gurrag was upset about something, and punishing Ark for it, which was exactly how Gurrag intended their dialog to appear.

"Ver proud. Ver love." As Gurrag said this he grabbed Ark's shoulder and pulled her in roughly as if reprimanding her. Shielding his other hand from view he touched Ark's heart with his first finger.

"Long time Ark follow Vir." Gurrag went on. "Vir proud, Vir ashamed. Vir make Ark bad." As Gurrag said this he waved his hand in a circle.

For almost 3 months Ark had obeyed every order, and performed everything asked of her with little regard for food, water, or sleep, and now to discover it was all just to make an example of her was too much to bear. She wept, and fell to her knees.

"Nobundo tell Velen Ark fixed." Gurrag continued. "Velen agree, but Vir want Ark work." Though few spoke the language fewer still would understand the contempt in Gurrag's voice, and Ark was no exception. "Velen agree elements loose, need Ark work. Velen say Ark good work." Gurrag could see the puzzled look on her face.

"World broke. Velen not fix. Nobundo not fix. Gurrag not fix. Ark not fix. No fix." Gurrag brushed his hands one over the other again and again as he said this. Finally he held his hands in front of him as if examining his paws.

"Shaman talk Vir. Vir no like Shaman. Vir say Shaman bad. Nodundo say Ark no stay. Vir mad talk Velen." Her stunted ability to speak their language was surely not hearing what Ark thought she was hearing. "Velen say Ark no stay. Nobundo say Ark in love." Gurrag held his arms wide as he said this.

"Velen and Nobundo say Vir no more Ark do. Ark find love. Ark free now. Ark no sick." Ark looked at Gurrag, as if she didn't understand. Gurrag made his hands into a bird and made the bird fly away as he repeated, "Ark free." Gurrag pointed to his head, held out his paw and tilted it back and forth. "Ark no sick, Ark well."

"Ark no sick. Ark free." Ark repeated these phrases and motions looking to Gurrag for confirmation. As she said this Sixx, snook up on the pair standing silently behind Ark as she waited for Ark's comprehension.

Gurrag grabbed Ark around the waist in a bear hug only a furbolg could do, lifting the taller dranei off of the floor, plate armor and all. He was glad to see she had not been made simple by her long trials. Gurrag was beginning to worry about her.

"Mighty Gurrag," Ark asked causing the furbolg to blush, twice now she had shown him great respect and reverance, "Ver lost?"

Gurrag gave a happy and welcome nod of his head, Ark knew where her love was. She wasn't an idiot after all.

Ark shook her head, clearly she had asked the wrong question.

Sixx had hoped this would be a surprise, but she couldn't stand it any longer. She heard the mention of Ver's name, and guessed the question. "Ark she is in Outland." Gurrag pointed to Sixx his head nodding agreement.

"She wanted to see you, but Vir...forget it. Here these are from Ver." Sixx said pressing a letter and several crumpled pieces of paper into Ark's trembling hands. Ark turned and saw Sixx and a small handful she had worked with, well wishers and friends. Gurrag was shoving her from behind towards the portal to the Blasted Lands.

Several of her guildmates rode up like their mount's tails were on fire.

"Ark I know you were needed here, but the world broke, we need you and Ver. Deathwing's loose!" Motokume the ever graceful hunter panted, uncharacteristically out of breath.

The four guild leaders tensed as Vir walked up. Gurrag himself puffed himself to show his bulk, and strode toward Vir waving his hand as he walked.

"I only wanted to say thank you Ark. I still don't agree with what you did, or how you did it, but if you are En'La Shak, I will not stand in your way." There was none of the contempt in Vir's voice Ark knew so well, but neither was there any passion. This was a truce between warriors, a grudging respect, born more of an inability to win, than true acceptance. Vir could not break Ark, or remake her in his image, so he simply walked away.

Ark was in a daze. Verloren loved her. Ark was free and a true dranei now, accepted by Velen and some of her people at least. Deathwing was loose. This could not be good.

Unsure of what to feel or how to respond, she decided simply on the action she spent the last 3 months planning. "Let's go get Verloren." Ark said as she swung up on her Great Exarch's Elekk. The guild, heck Ark would not be complete without Verloren, she only hoped Verloren still loved her the same way she did a few month's ago.

Ark clicked her teeth, and kicked her heals to move her steed into the portal. As one her other guild leaders followed her into the portal to find Verloren. The world would have to wait.

Walking on Broken Glass

2010-12-06T11:57:00.000-08:00

To: Verloren
From: Sixx

Ark is no longer allowed to talk to you, or me for that matter. Vir is working her harder than a farmer's elekk after a drought. Me, Nobundo, Gurrag, and Hobahken are the only ones who talk to Ark other than to give her more orders. And Nobundo is not always here. She is broken, and has no people at this point. The Dranei shun her as Man'ari, and visitors treat her like just another dranei. Only the former lost ones, and the stillpine furbolg are still allowed to speak to her. The Shaman trainers make the excuse that they are giving her orders. They are encouraging her not to give up, but what she did was forbidden.

She wanted to write to you, but Vir has her on 20 hour days. She has drank little and eaten nothing in weeks. I fear for her health. She is concerned about you, but the earthquakes and the elementals these last few weeks have most of us running ragged. In a way that is good, because the Shaman can claim they are consulting a field agent on the elementals. Ark needs all the friends she can get.

All she thinks about is you. Word arrived here about your exploits in the Shire, and she was glad to know it meant you were okay. She won't say it, but she loves you. When she asks about you her face lights up, and then it falls again. When the time comes let her down easy. Ark's heart is breaking as it is.

Sixx

P.S. I will get her word that I sent this.

Letters behind Glass II

2010-12-03T11:42:00.001-08:00

Verloren,
I really want to see you. Vir says I should focus on my memories and the people in my life, as opposed to my mother's. It is still hard to separate them, but I know I can always focus on you, and find myself again when I get lost.
My day starts very early, before first rise, with 2 hours of meditation. Vir wants me to focus on family and friends in my life, to hold myself distinct from my mother. The Exodar is both a good and bad place for that. My mother has many memories from here, but it is very peaceful and easy to stay focused. I then spend 2 hours in martial training. Then I take my first duty shift as a Shield of Velen.
Shields have 4 hour shifts, when I am relieved as a Shield of Velen I take the place of a Peacekeeper for another 4 hours. I then spend a time with O'ros. He doesn't say much, but he is a terrific listener.
Vir has me fasting for now to focus on my meditation. Sixx has tried to talk to me on a few occasions, but she is always shooed away. I know this is not a punishment, but some people are unsettled by my presence, and it feels like a punishment sometimes. It is too quiet here, and I can't tell you how much I miss you.
Ark

Letters behind Glass I

2010-12-02T06:49:00.000-08:00

Verloren,
Math says she is unable to find you. I know you. When you disappear you won't show up until you want to.
I don't know why you left. I wanted to tell you something. Maybe you don't share my feelings. People said they thought you did. I hope we stay friends.
Writing so this letter finds you. Next is that my head is well... My mother's memories and mine are intertwined. Vir says this will fade. I will always have the memories, but like dreams. Imagine your mother looking at you as a child. Now imagine this completely intermingled with your own memory.
I write so I know you will understand me.
I can't look for you myself as Vir, now my commander, will not permit it. My duties occupy me from dawn until night. I will tell more of these later.
Moto says you have not left the guild, so I am glad of that. I want to see you. There is so much I want to talk about.
Ark sorry space limt

Morality in a Fantasy World

2010-12-01T11:21:00.000-08:00

Love without liberty is not love at all, it is compulsion. Liberty without love is not freedom, it is anarchy.

Azeroth, like any fantasy world has it's own set of rules. (Philosopher's would argue that the world we live in is little more than a fantasy as well, but I am taking it for granted that the world we exist in is more or less real, at least for us.) Most of these rules exist purely to increase the games fun factor. It is for instance moral in the game sense to kill a prostitute, or police officer in Grand Theft Auto. Such acts, if they occurred in our world would be met with swift punishment if caught. However in Grand Theft Auto and other similar games you need to do this to "win" or at least to get more points. Does this mean that all of our morals translate over to video games? Obviously not, but by that same token some morals do translate over to video games.

If you are caught doing certain activities in GTA, then you can be arrested and suffer whatever penalty the game has, but the game encourages you not to get caught. I am not suggesting that this game is evil, and we should all just play chess, go fish, or checkers, simply that because of our nature as moral beings even when behavior that is "immoral" is required for gameplay we still institute penalties. (That said please do not play these types of games if you have trouble separating fantasy and reality, for your sake.)

How then do we define morality? Dictionary.com defines moral as right conduct, ethical behavior. So then in Azeroth it is moral on PvP servers to kill anyone or anything red to you at any time. On RP servers it is immoral to name your character anything referencing genitalia, (actually I think that is true for most servers, but RP servers find it more offensive.) In fact there was a time that Shaman healers could dual wield and heal without going full resto, and they were better than full resto healers. Blizzard, for lack of a better term the creator, deemed this behavior unacceptable and made it impossible, shortly after it was discovered. The same could be said for hunters who tamed worgen/wolf Garwal. It was considered a misuse of game mechanics, and fixed.

Now no matter what faith tradition you have it is doubtful most of these are sins. So how does one create a moral existence for themselves within Azeroth? The Golden rule works to a certain degree, but many people decide it does not or should not apply to them. This leads to behavior such as ninja looting with unstated loot rules. Players frown on it, but the creator will not do anything in that circumstance. Players have very strong reactions to this, but it isn't "sin" since the creator allows it without punishment. However it makes living together in the virtual society of Azeroth unpalatable for some. Get a name as a ninja and you might as well change realms, because for many players you are persona non-grata.

Some players have visceral reactions to certain things in real life, like homosexuality. My own faith tradition teaches that this behavior is immoral. So how do I reconcile the fact that I have at least one character who is passionately in love with another woman?

Well for one I am not my character. But I still have to walk a fine line remembering that this is just fantasy and that I have a real life spouse. My spouse knows about the online relationship RP and reads the blog, so if she had a problem I am sure she would tell me. However I have been guilty of coming close to an emotional, (read nonphysical), affair before, about 12 years ago at my then job. Someone confided in me about problems in their relationship. I confided in this person about problems in mine, and we developed an unhealthy intimacy. We never touched each other in even the most benign germane fashion, but I developed an emotional attachment to this person.

Was that cheating on my spouse? According to my faith tradition yes. I desired. I envied. I cheated. In short I sinned. The ability to be perfect is, according to my faith tradition impossible, so my faith tradition teaches we need a substitute.

Is playing games sinful? No not according to my faith tradition. Is story telling sinful? Again no. The problem occurs when the two worlds interact. Azeroth and our own. My faith tradition and that of my character Arkadelphia.

Homosexuality is not forbidden or mentioned in Azeroth. Reproduction itself is rarely mentioned, except that we know there are children, (though I suspect they are pod people as they rarely age.) /conspiracy mode off

More importantly many rules we have in our world simply don't exist in Azeroth. There is the old standby a wizard did it, but it is very true. Take Noblegarden, during this event rabbits lay eggs that give birth to miniature versions of themselves.

Is this reproduction? Perhaps, but rabbits do not lay eggs in our world to reproduce. Species from different races/worlds can cross breed, see Lantressor or Arator. Not only do widely varying species have offspring they appear to be viable, meaning they could have children of their own. Usually this is not possible in our world with the exception of the occasional chimera.

And don't get me started on ogres who I believe reproduce akin to hydras. A new ogre simply buds off of another, the single eye separates into two, and eventually the cycle continues. Well it continues until the next adventurer happens by and slaughters them all. Or perhaps they are like worms or starfish, the more we slash at them the more of them divide and form whole ogres on their own. (Sorry tangent.)

In most faith traditions having offspring is not only a biological imperative, but it is a moral and religious one as well. Look for instance at the Catholic prohibition on birth control in most circumstances. Having children is deemed a blessing from the creator, and one which should not be impeded. Homosexuality under natural conditions denies this outcome of physical intimacy between two people. This is why I believe most faith traditions teach that the behavior is sinful. Note however that many of these faith traditions set impossible standards, and require substitutes in order to meet our obligations to the creator, from animal sacrifice to human sacrifice, and forms of penance.

This brings me to my point on homosexuality in Azeroth, perhaps homosexual abiogenesis/ reproduction is possible in this world. In that case it would meet the biological/moral/religious imperative so there would be no reason not to allow it. Perhaps reproduction is not the moral/biological imperative that it is in our world, in which case again it is not relevant. In any case until Blizzard the world creator speaks on this issue, (and given the target audience I don't see any reason why they would), we just don't know if this is allowed or not.

So given that I treat the fact that my character has fallen in love with another woman as simply part of her story, I don't see an issue with it in either world. If it is later revealed that this type of love is forbidden in Azeroth, not just uncommon, well that will simply make the story more interesting. How does my character retain her moral compass? I don't know the answer yet. But I doubt I will ever know. If the question was ever asked it was never answered officially that I could find, and yes I did check.

And not that it matters, but my spouse is of the opposite sex. I think the RP love relationship came about as a trust thing between a healer and a tank. In other words it came about like most relationships in our world in the end. Familiarity + Time + Common Goals = Relationship of varying degrees. More on one side of the equation creates a stronger bond on the other side of the equation.

Can't wait til Tuesday when I will make my new rogue and warlock. Talk about morally questionable, sheesh.

Love is the Ultimate Weapon Requiem

2010-11-24T14:30:00.000-08:00

People have been starting the story here so please follow the links to read this from the beginning, or start here, whatever you wish.

The Story begins here.

The Story continues here.

Ver's Story, (related)

Next part of the chain here.

Next part of the chain here.

Ver's Perspective.

Love is the Ultimate Weapon Part I.

I think this is where Ver's story fits.

Love is the Ultimate Weapon Part II.

You can also fill in some gaps in my story with Verloren's story here. I tried linking them in the appropriate spots, but I may have mashed it a bit. Her last few stories occur after the story below.

Swoom, the familiar sound of a portal opening, but who could port to the Lich King's chamber? Math tensed ready for a new battle. Moto readied Isis, her pet cat to attack.

"My name is Vir. I am a Shield of Velen." The stranger said as he stepped out of the portal into the Lich King's throne room. "And this is G'Kar." Vir said this with disdain as he introduced the Consortium Assistant.

"Happy to be offfffff SSSSSSSServicccccccceee." G'Kar said.

***
"It has been 3 days Rynn. She hasn't slept or left Ark's side, can you...?" Moto said looking to her mate for help.

Rynn said nothing as he cast Soothe on Verloren, and she quietly slumped down in the chair near Ark body.

"What is she wearing?" Rynn asked.

"Vir says Ark is undergoing a process not seen in thousands of years amongst the dranei." Moto whispered.

"And the wisp?" Rynn raised an eyebrow as he asked this.

"That is G'Kar. She is wearing his wrappings, until the process is complete." Moto whispered, shrugging her shoulders. Even among Night Elves this was strange.

"He is only here to observe, and ze prozess is nearly complete." Vir Koto said to no one in particular.

Ark started to twist and turn in the bed, the first movement she had made in days, other than breathing.

"If you use anything aboud her, you vill be split to a thousand pieces of de Nether. Now go." As Vir said this the wrappings surrounded G'Kar of their own accord.

"I willll not leavvve until the processssssss is finishshshsshed." G'Kar said in response.

"What cappened?" Ark said in dranei.

"You are reborn." Vir said. Then in common, "You are reborn, because of her love, sacrifice, and determination not to let you go."

Verloren sat sleeping in the chair by Ark's side, even asleep she would not let Ark's hand go. She groggily awoke to hear Vir's words, and smiled.

"You now have part of her inside you Ark. Normally you would choose a new name now." Vir announced.

Verloren beamed at Ark. The waiting was so worth it. Sure Ark was a dranei now, like her mother adopted mother had somehow merged with her, but she was still Ark.

"I vill..." Ark started, but stopped when Vir told her to speak common. This was going to take some getting used to.

"Uh I mean..." Ark looked at Vir to make sure she was speaking common. Vir simply nodded. "Call me Arkadelphia, part Arkaneena, part Delenn, all love."

Verloren's hand dropped Ark's hand slowly, the realization hitting her like a mammoth off of a rooftop. Ark wasn't saved by Verloren's love, but by this Delenn, whoever he was.

Verloren left the room, holding back just long enough to be out of earshot.

"Verloren wait, I think I love you," Ark said slipping into Dranei again. Even if Verloren heard her she would not understand.

Ark started to go after Verloren, but fell as soon as her legs hit the floor.

"You vill haff to vait a few more days to get your strength back, but you are alive." Vir said.

"And ven you do, report to Velen immediately, you must complete your training." Vir ordered in dranei.

"Math find Verloren I must tell her how I feel in common." Ark said weak and uncertain, maybe Verloren didn't feel the same way about Ark.

Love the Ultimate Weapon, Part II

2010-11-24T11:15:00.000-08:00

"Ver, it's time to let go." Moto cared about her guild, but this was senseless it had been 45 minutes. She let it go on this long out of her compassion for Verloren, but it was time to let go.

"No, I will never give up." Ver said casting Divine Plea, Divine Illumination, and Avenging Wrath, in an effort to boost her resurrection enough to save Arkaneena.

"You cannot give up." Kalma Delenn, Ark's adopted mother's voice spoke to Ark's now sleeping spirit.

"I am not done yet. Moto please..." Verloren did not even stop casting as she sobbed out the words. Her whole body was trembling from a mixture of exhaustion, and grief.

"You are not done yet, child." Delenn spoke, it was annoying Ark like being awoken early on a holiday when you wanted to sleep in.

Shadow had just finished another strudel. He grabbed 4 stacks and they were now almost all depleted. But given the somber ritual, he kept silent. Well that and Luliana would likely have wanted to gut him like a fish if he said what he was thinking, that this was pointless. Plus he had said so already, but continued in deference to his mate, compassion for his friends, and because he liked having Ark as a mentor. After all she could show him dranei tricks for using the light, and she promised to show him how to use the Gift of the Naaru. More than that she was fun to be around.

Math stood like a cat ready to pounce, the moment someone needed something. Ark could be annoying at times, but she was easy to work with and she knew her stuff. She didn't feel the need to always be the center of attention, and was willing to give the spotlight entirely to someone else. She also gave credit where credit was due, something many tanks lacked. If there was something anything he could do...

"I am tired," Ark said, "let me sleep mom."

"I know you are tired, but we can't quit yet, get up Shadow." As she said this Luliana gave him another dirty look to emphasize her displeasure. It might not work, but it was too soon to quit. Moto should know that.

Luliana knew, like Shadow that this was pointless, but it didn't matter. She had seen what happened between those two, and she had lost a beloved already. Prime was taken in undeath several months ago. She could not bear to see it happen to Verloren.

"I will continue with you Verloren." Luliana said stoically continuing in the face of the impossible.

"I will continue with you, my child." The voice said in response to Ark's pleading.

"I just want to quit, it is over." Ark just wanted to sleep, why couldn't Delenn just let her sleep.

"Ark you can't quit, I need you." Verloren sobbed, nearly depleted of mana she cast resurrection one last time, and cradled Ark's head in her lap. Verloren removed the helmet, and caressed Ark's cheek, brushing away Ark's hair from her face.

"It has only just begun my child." Delenn would not let Ark sleep, not after everything Ark had done.

Delenn rested quietly in Ark's mind until the destruction of Frostmourne, but though she could leave now, she refused to let this daughter quit. There was much still to be done.

"We can begin a life sniff, together." Verloren held Ark's limp body so closely to her own. She wanted to give Ark a part of herself, and now no... she would not consider it. Ark would say 'Never give up, never surrender.'

"Verloren she was exhausted in body and mind, I think she is gone." Moto rested her hand on Verloren's shoulder as she said this. As much as it pained her, battle was dangerous, and sometimes deadly. This was not the first time Moto had seen death, and she knew it when it came.

"Mom I am tired, and can't think straight." Ark said sleep demanding her like a hound hunting a fox to ground, tireless and unrelenting.

"She gave her life to save yours." Moto said.

"You gave your very life to save your friends," Delenn said.

"I can't let her go. I won't let her go, not now not ever." Verloren was afraid Moto would try to take Ark from her, so she held her with all of her strength.

"I just want to let go." Ark was falling now, or flying she could not tell.

"It is time for you to wake up." Delenn knew Ark was too weak to be resurrected, and no amount of coaxing would change that.

"WAKE UP ARK, PLEASE!!!" Verloren begged Ark, pleading with the light.

It was well past time for Delenn to go into the light, but perhaps she could do one last thing for her daughter.

"I give you myself." Delenn said her voice trailing off.

"Ark I..." Ver started to say something, and just kissed Ark softly and passionately.

Moto, Math, Luliana, and Shadow stood in stunned silence.

GASP!!!!!!!!!!! Ark started to breathe.

Love the Ultimate Weapon, Part I

2010-11-23T11:00:00.000-08:00

"Grab the Spirits Grab the Spirits!!!!" Motokume yelled.

"I am throwing everything I got at them, it doesn't help that damage dealers are just opening up to kill Arthas and Vile Spirits." Ark was extremely frustrated, the fight was not going as well as it could have. While it had been a struggle to make it through the Lich King's minions, make it she did. Slowly, ever so slowly, one by one they fell, like snowflakes. Each fight individual, each fight painfully agonizingly slow. But they all fell to Motokume's Alliance Supply Company.

The fight was personal for many of them. Verloren had lost family to the scourge. Arkaneena had lost 2 sets of parents, biological and adopted.

"Pick him up, I have Soul Reaper." Mathematics called out.

"Got him already." Ark said struggling to keep her frustration down. Like saving her mother's spirit this was not something Ark could be done alone.

"Come on pop any cooldowns, use them or lose them." Motokume always the calculating and practical leader was still barking out orders. She was as determined as Ark to destroy him now.

"APOCALYPSE!!"

"Not agai..." Ark cried knowing she had once more failed.

"No questions remain unanswered. No doubts linger. You are Azeroth's greatest champions! You overcame every challenge I laid before you. My mightiest servants have fallen before your relentless onslaught, your unbridled fury... Is it truly righteousness that drives you? I wonder."

The Lich King was gloating now.

"You trained them well, Fordring. You delivered the greatest fighting force this world has ever known... right into my hands -- exactly as I intended. You shall be rewarded for your unwitting sacrifice."

"Watch now as I raise them from the dead to become masters of the Scourge. They will shroud this world in chaos and destruction. Azeroth's fall will come at their hands -- and you will be the first to die." The Lich King was reveling in his victory. Ark would have been better off dead than live in this world.

No even if she had to be undead, she would continue to fight the Scourge everywhere.

Out of nowhere Tirion broke free, and at least that was one thing she could enjoy. No one could blame her now for killing Tirion.

Terenas appeared out of the broken sword and resurrected everyone, all at once. This fight was not yet over.

"Not today Arthas," Ark and Tirion said in unison. Even as she was fighting for her life she and Tirion looked at each other in shock. That they could ever agree on anything would have to wait for another day.

"Everyone kill him, if he breaks free..." Motokume would not have this kill lost by distraction. "FOCUS!!"

"Ark I..." Verloren fell.

"Keep killing him we can resurrect the ones we need to later." Moto barked.

One by one her force was falling and failing, especially Verloren.

"No more, not again, not ever." Ark knew it was now or never. The last of the King's minions were killing the team.

There was only one thing left to do.

BOOM!!!!!!

Over the sound of the clashing of metal, and the swoosh of spells Ark finished him. But the cost was heavy, a global thermal sapper charge. One of the few engineering items guaranteed to work, but at a heavy cost. After the long battle, with her armor badly depleted, and near exhaustion, and without her dedicated healer the explosion took her own life with the Lich King.

The room exploded with cheers, as they resurrected everyone who had fallen.

"What dropped?" Mandelo asked.

Verloren ran to Ark's side as soon as Verloren was resurrected.

"Ark, Ark are you ok?" Verloren asked, knowing the answer before she asked the question.

Parts of Ark's limbs were destroyed in the explosion, and as Verloren lifted Ark to cradle her head in Verloren's lap tears streamed down Ver's face.

"What did he drop, anything good?" Mandelo persisted.

"How can you think of that at a time like this, Ark is hurt." Motokume said. "No one is getting anything until everyone was alive. We don't leave people behind, and certainly not for some junk off this this monster." Moto said, her disgust for Mandelo apparent in her voice.

"Mandy I swear if you ask about the loot again before we can bring Ark back I will KILL YOU!!" Verloren said in a tear filled rage.

Luliana, Shadow, and Verloren were all casting their resurrection spells on Ark to no avail.

"I am telling you it won't work if they don't want to live anymore," Shadow said. "I was the one who resurrected her earlier it wasn't easy. She jumped off of Dalaran."

"She was PUSHED!!" Ver screamed, "Stop talking and cast harder, I won't let her die." She said through gritted teeth.

Shadow was a pragmatic priest, not that Shadow would give up easily, but he knew when something was not possible, and he knew this was not possible.

"Verloren, she was an engineer, and a paladin, even if she was pushed she could have survived a fall from Dalaran if she wanted to." Luliana, with tears streaming down her face gave him a dirty look as he said this. Grudgingly he focused on the resurrection spell.

Moto knew something was wrong now.

"Ark," she said running to Verloren's side, "remember when we killed Kul'Thezad. You didn't think you could do it, but we did it together." Moto said as a tear fell on Ark's cheek, whether it was Verloren's or Motokume's was anyone's guess now.

"Look this is all very touching but..." Mandy started to say.

"Mandy if you say one more word I will help Verloren kill you. AM I UNDERSTOOD!!!" Motokume barked.

Mandy stodd in shocked silence, by the sudden outburst from the normally level headed night elf.

"I ASKED IF I WAS UNDERSTOOD!!!" Moto barked again.

"Yes Ma'am!" Mandy said his tail literally between his legs.

"There will be time to hand it out later, AFTER we take care of the fallen." Moto announced.

"We can do this Moto take care of them so we can focus over here, it's okay." Luliana said, as evenly as she could through the sobbing.

Verloren just gave Moto a permissive look.

"There now you all can do what you need to do." Moto said, handing out the items with despair and disgust that her fellow guild members could be so calloused.

"No I will stay. I don't want to have to train with another tank, you tell me what you need and I will get it or find a way." Math who had been silent up til now spoke. His voice full of more compassion than anyone could have imagined possible of a Death Knight.

Luliana, Shadow, and Verloren stood together casting resurrection, focusing on it so hard Verloren's nose started to bleed from the effort.

They tried different variations, one cast after another. Starting the casts at the same time. Ending the casts at the same time. They even tried sending Math to get pure intellect enhancements for their gear to make their resurrections as powerful as they could get it. One would drop out as the other two kept casting in constant rhythm, modify the gear and then another would do the same.

"I am telling you this won't work." Shadow said, "You can't resurrect someone who doesn't want to live anymore."

Luliana looked at him with a cold stare as cold as the Pinnacle of Icecrown itself. A look that said, "SHUT UP, NOW STUPID!"

To be concluded...

Forgiveness is the Ultimate Healer Part II

2010-09-25T09:37:00.000-07:00

So the reason this story dropped off is that my computer ate it. So rebuilding hopefully better than the original.

The Story begins here.

The Story continues here.

Find part 1 of this part of the chain here.

***
"Is this the room we want?" Gen asked as he mopped his brow.

"Looks like." She said, knowing this could be her one last chance to free her mother gave her resolve, and fear, hope, and regret.

Verloren leaned into her close enough for the whisper of a conspirator, or a kiss, and wiped the tear from her eye with her thumb. "Ark, you don't have to do this." She said so only Ark would hear. Verloren had been Ark's healer for a long time. They understood each other on a level, even Luliana was not privvy to. "A healer knows her tank, Ark." Ver would say. Without words they coordinated their hand spells, and emergency heals.

"Right." Ark said, standing tall. All dps stays here at this position. "I will aggro the mobs and drag them in my wake. Gen pick up any stragglers. Guy if there are any casters, please grip them back here."

The fighting was like all the fighting previous, simple easily killed trash mobs. It was harder knowing these were someone's brother, sister, daughter, son, father, and mothe... Ark shook her head to clear the thought. These people could not shake the Lich King's control. They were as good as dead.

"SHE IS MINE!!" Ark yelled, casting Hand of Reckoning to make sure this one particular monster stayed paying attention to her. Few in the group knew why it mattered so much to Ark that she kill this mob alone, but after everything they had seen her do, they let her do it. It would take longer, but no one wanted to answer to her. They were just glad to have someone so powerful along on this routine mission.

Luliana wept as she healed Ark, and the group. She knew Ver pretty well, but Ark was a deep one. Ark could be warm and friendly, funny and silly, but at times like these Ark kept quiet, her heart close to her chest, and Ver seemed to be the only one who knew her. As everyone finished all the other monsters, they were left with just this Dranei Death Knight, and Arkaneena, battling to the death. Luliana knew that this was her, she could see the look in Ark's eyes as she looked into the Death Knight's empty grey eyes. The despair, as hope ended.

Ark kited the Death Knight into the center of the room, away from the main group. She kept her visor down. Tears streamed down Ver's face, as she knew why Ark did kept her visor down, knowing she was overhealing she kept casting Holy Light on Ark. Ver just wished she could shield Ark from the pain, but neither Luliana, nor Verloren had shields that powerful. Nothing could shield Ark from this.

As the Death Knight fell, Verloren gained her composure. She needed to speak for Ark. Ark was strong, but killing her mother would nearly kill Ark's heart. Wiping the tears from her own eyes, she coughed to clear her throat.

"Watch the door. Make sure we are not disturbed. And if you turn around I will kill you myself. IS THAT UNDERSTOOD?!!" Verloren barked with a commander's force. Though she seemed a small frail girl, she was also a force to be reckoned with, if and when her friends were in danger. And now Ark needed that strength.

"I ASKED IS THAT UNDERSTOOD?!" Verloren asked again, in that same commanding tone.

"Ma'am. YES MA'AM." They responded saluting. These three were a force to be reckoned with. They were not the best geared group, but apparently they were quite dangerous, and had powerful friends, and enemies. The kind it is best not to know, or if you have to know them, not to get on their bad side.

"And nothing from this moment on, is to be discussed, ever." Verloren did not know why it mattered so much to her to help Ark with this mission it just did, ever since Ark had asked her all those months ago. Ver studied everything Ark taught her. Ver had no desire to be a Hand of Argus, but she learned the Dranei, and prepared, just in case Ark did not make it. They had grown so close in that time. She did not want to think about life without Ark, not now, not ever.

"Not even with your own mother, DO I MAKE MYSELF UNDERSTOOD?" Ver barked the words out, as much to cover up her own feelings, as to emphasize them.

"Luliana will be staying with us at least for most of this correct?" Gen asked to relieve the tension.

"Yes I will, they need me, but not for the first part." Luliana said, steeling herself, as she downed some more tea to restore her now depleted mana. "Does anyone need repairs, this could get dicey."

"No I think my men are set. Let's get this over with, and forgotten." Gen said, the voice of reason throwing water in the emotional tinderbox Ark had created. "Fools watch the door, you will get us killed." He ordered, both to turn his men, and to give Ark her privacy.

Ark with her visor down was beginning to cast, as she touched the body of her now dead mother. Ver quietly lit the candles, feeling the giddy electric feeling pass through her body again. She kept telling herself this was simply learning the gift of the Naaru, but Verloren had never been one to revel in power for it's own sake.

"Delenn re krokul sha kure il krokul..." Ark said the words in her mind as she mouthed them aloud. She hoped they would survive. Verloren had remembered to light the candles. As always Ver had her back. Ark saw the symbols in her mind. She was not sure anyone else could ever know this like she did, but she was glad to have Ver, and to a lesser extent Luliana helping her. Ver had been her strength, ever since Ver pulled her out of the gutter that day in Dalaran. Ark thought the whole plan was over at that point.

Not now she must stay focused. Ver's hand touched hers, and she nearly lost the spell. "...adare te shattrath." The sigil shown brightly on her forehead. Ark could feel the burning intensity, and it helped restore her focus

"Man'ari kehla men samir, solay lamhaa kahl." Ver spoke her portion of the spell, as a barely visible sigil began to glow above her forehead.

"This is my entry point." Luliana said to Gen, as she slipped into the group of three.

"Keep an eye out, if you want to make it out of here." Gen smacked his men on the back of the head as he barked the command keeping his men eyes forward instead of on the pretty human female form back to the others.

"Aman rit krokul kuren raka Sha." And for the first time Luliana actually felt more than saw the sigil. She could never quite do this without the others, though she was better with the language than Verloren, and she had far more discipline she could never see it the way Ver did.

None of them were ever sure this would work. The spell was part dranei, and part Eredar. But if not for the help Ark would have done this alone. As they repeated their spells in a round for what seemed an eternity minutes passed. Then just as Luliana was about to peek open her eye to see if they should give up, a spectral presence began to make its way toward them. She was not sure how she knew, she just did.

The others seemed to feel it to, because their chanting became more and more intense, and the presence seemed to move faster. The more intense they were in their casting the faster the presence moved.

Faster they chanted. Faster the presence came. Was it Ark's mother?

It flew into the room in a dash. The men were unaware of its presence, or there were other problems, but they kept a watch out.

Ark felt it. It floated above them. It was scared, uncertain, and suddenly Ark's whole body went cold. Verloren instinctively shielded Ark. The shield broke the Dranei spell. Luliana cast dispel to put out the candles. As she did so she released the soothe and fear wards she had placed on the men at the door.

Ver held Ark's limp body, and lifted her visor to see if she was still alive. As she leaned in a single tear fell on Ark's face. She could not lose Ark, not now.

Ark blinked.

"Ore anta belen mannor?" Ark asked, seemingly unaware that she was speaking dranei, instead of common.

"Ark are you alright?" Ver asked with tears in her eyes, and relief in her voice.

"Yes. Yes, sorry, not sure what happened, but it worked." Ark could not say for certain what happened, but her mother was quiet, and resting now, hopefully in the light.

As much as she wanted Ver to hold her like this forever, there wasn't time. "Let's blow this place up and get out of dodge." Now was not the time to grieve her dead mother.

We're all Warriors Now

2010-07-22T10:45:00.000-07:00

Umm, so yeah, so at the character selection screen I selected Paladin. This character can heal, do melee dps, or tank. I did not select the warrior, however at current warriors can self heal, do melee dps, or tank. Now they are changing to make Thunderclap a warrior version of consecrate, i.e. more AoE tanking for them. And Paladins no longer have Holy Shield up constantly. So like a warrior that needs to generate rage and interrupt, we need to generate Holy Power to activate Holy Shield. Both things protect us from spell damage. Who cares? Most bosses are doing mostly physical damage in the new Expac.

Warriors get 15% Block baseline. Paladins have to work for it. Using, you guessed it, Holy Power. A generated resource, like all other tanks. Source of Frustration for this article.

Health pools should be similar, fine, great in fact. I have no issue with health pools being equivalent. I have an issue when the only difference between the warrior and the paladin is the paladin can heal others, in one spec.

Ardent Defender is no longer automatic and must be activated like shield wall. Shield block must be activated, really? I am getting 5 more levels and all of a sudden I have forgetten how to shield block automatically. Does that seem counter intuitive to anyone else, or is it just me?

So in other words paladins are getting a strong nerf on tanking. I expected this. Paladins are getting a resource they have to generate like all other tanks. I expected this. (I did not expect that all specs would have to use it, but I did see pally tanks switching to a generated resource system.)

At this point I fully expect that my paladin healing will be nerfed hard. I expect that Ret Paladin dps will be below all other melee classes. And I expect that Pallies will slowly become the jokes of WoW. (Wait did we ever stop being jokes?)

Were we OP once, sure. Are we now? No. We are on par with other classes, but the perception persists. The developers have decided, I guess to simply crush the perception under their sneakers heel. So we were healers in Classic. Paladins had 3 semi viable specs at the end of Burning Crusade, and were briefly overpowered at the beginning of Wrath, along with Death Knights. All of that changed, and things got more even as the Wrath expansion progressed.

I did not choose to level a warrior tank, or warrior anything. I have no interest in it. I don't care for the playstyle. Paladins are now warriors with Holy sounding abilities?

"Thanks, hey call me when you decide to give them a different feel again." I will still not level a warrior. I have no interest in the playstyle. I am trying to learn the DK who is now at 62 and rising fast. I have a druid feral tank spec at level 66, and rising even faster. I hate priority rotations in tanking.

It isn't that I can't do it. It is that I don't find it fun in a tanking context. I have enough to do as it is when tanking. When healing on my shaman I have a spell priority that I follow and it is a blast, but the shaman does not have as many things to do when healing. Healing is not tanking.

As a tank I always have to keep an eye out for all the things that can go wrong. Healers pick a target who needs heals and heal them. Maybe a riptide, or chain heal, or if Tidal Waves has procced a Lesser Healing Wave, or her super charged insta-heal macro, with {Nature's swiftness, trinket, Healing Wave, all instant cast,} whatever is needed.
While maintaining Earth Shield on the tank, and Water Shield on themselves.

Healers do not have to:

Hold threat on numerous targets,
Keep an eye out for incoming patrols,
Hand of Salv the over eager dps who decided to blow up a target you barely have any threat on.
Tab targeting to maintain aggro on all mobs
Shield throw or taunt to get the caster that ran away
Manage Holy Power and decide whether to use it for mitigation, threat, or EH

All while trying to keep alive a bunch of bad habit dps and healers who learned all those bad habits in the last expansion pack, because it was the right way to do things then.

I did not roll a warrior. I can see staying Holy if these changes are permanent. I have other tanking classes, and druid tanking is easy. Charge, turn the mobs, kill casters, maul, swipe, mangle, rinse, repeat. Sure I have to tab target for larger groups, but with fewer abilities it is easier to do. I don't have a secondary resource to manage, and the health pools on druids are just crazy.

I don't think all the changes are bad. I just don't see why paladins and warriors need to be exactly the same. Sure it makes things easier to balance, but it also makes them boring. I don't want to play a warrior. I never have. I did not play the barbarian in DI past level 12, I never played it in DII. BOORRRIINNNGGG!!!!!!!!!

Druids and Death Knights are both dodge based tanks. They both use two handed weapons to tank, (or rather some do). Yet they are very different. Druids and Warriors both have rage and charge, but they are very different, and have a different feel, rhythm, and style. Druids, Warriors, and Death Knight all have a different feel. I do not know how Warrior tanks feel about these changes, but I am not thrilled with them. I did not sign up to be a Warrior, and some Warriors did not sign up to be paladins.

Paladins are different. They should feel different, not just have extremely similar to warrior talents and abilities. Otherwise what is the point?

I realize this is a work in progress. All I can say is, keep working.

Who am I? Or What do I Want?

2010-07-07T14:53:00.000-07:00

Update:
So Zarhym and other blues have responded on the official forums. He says things before that, but the relevant post for me is what I linked to. I don't need him to tell me what he thinks about this. He can't anyway. But I get the feeling that he heard the concerns of the community, and put it on the line to explain the passion we had about this issue.

It will still go through. But in my profession nuance can often mean the difference between a case settling and going to trial. Subltely is important, and he uses that to great effectiveness here.

I am not one who cares whether you agree with me on every issue, as long as you hear and understand my argument. I am willing to accept people feel differently about different things. I am willing to adapt to change when I can. I cannot adapt to this change in its current form. I do feel they understand that now.

For that, and for rejoining the discussion, I respect them. And yes previous to yesterday afternoon this was not a discussion. It was one side yelling. Now they have come back, after lengthy meetings and strategy sessions. Now we can work out a way to make this work for everyone. The companies who signed contracts for this deal, and the customers. And yes I do think there are ways to implement this in a nuanced way that are more palatable. Link all my toons to one single self-chosen unique alias. There are ways out of this debacle yet.

Babylon 5 explored this question very well. Kosh, the representative of Light/Order in the universe, asked Who are you? Mr. Mulden, the representative of the Shadows/Chaos, asked What do you want?

Who am I, was the question asked by Order. What do you want was asked by Chaos. Both sought to advance the younger races, in their own way. Sort of a yin/yang thing.

I was thinking about this question with the upcoming announced changes to the forums and why I was so upset about them. For whatever reason I began to think of the superheroes I always liked reading about, and wondered what it was about them I liked so much. Why did they NEED secret identities? Not everyone had them, but most did.

So I did what anyone does these days when they have that kind of question and googled it. Sorry "internet searched" it. Someone wrote a rather interesting wiki on the subject. Specifically the part about Batman v. Superman. They have always had a certain rivalry. One dark and brooding, the other easily able to bear the weight of the world when needed.

Sometimes the distinction as to which persona is the "real one" may be blurred or confused, as has sometimes been the case with Clark Kent and Superman. For example, in the television series Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, after Lois Lane learns that Superman is Clark Kent, he discusses his dual identity with her. "Clark Kent is not a disguise. Clark is who I am, while Superman is what I do." Conversely, it has been argued that Bruce Wayne has become the disguise (his true personality isn't a socialite playboy) and Batman is his default state- a lonely, brooding, unhappy man still mourning the deaths of his parents. In an episode of Batman Beyond, he is apparently hearing voices in his head, but he realizes they are an illusion rather than psychosis because the voices call him Bruce, and "that's not what I call myself in my head."

In my real life, things get ugly, horrible, and hideous, on an almost daily basis. I have to see people at their ugliest. When they are escaping domestic violence, losing their home, or otherwise at the end of their rope. In some ways I feel I am Batman in real life, not with gadgets, and fisticuffs, but words, pleadings, complaints, injunctions, and motions. I have to hear about the ugly stuff they can't even portray on a Lifetime Original Movie. I have to do something about it. I can't just say tsk, tsk, and turn off the television talking about how glad I am that doesn't affect me.

It does affect me, daily. I accept this. It is part of why I both love and hate my work. I can give back, but sometimes the ugliness and pain gets to be too much and I want to go somewhere everyone knows my name. So my choices are search the local area for a bar, and get smashed on a nightly basis, or pretend to be a human female paladin/dranei shaman/etc. Playing WoW is cheaper, easier on the liver, and much less likely to get me in trouble with the Professional Bar that regulates attorneys for a DUI, or other alcohol problem.

That paladin/shaman/druid/whatever is my escape, my billionaire playboy. No it isn't what I call myself in my head. In my head I am a guardian, a champion, and to many of my clients that is exactly what I am. But being that guardian takes its toll daily. I need an escape. I do not want my real life and my warcraft life to cross paths. I suspect that Azeroth is not prepared for the influx of REAL real life that other people just like me will drag with us if this REAL ID thing goes much farther.

Normally this would not trouble me, but this post leads me to think this is only the start of a very large, very dangerous shower right before the meteor that is about to hit Azeroth. I am not quitting, but I am looking at my other escape options. I can live with not posting on the forums, but if real names start getting dragged into Azeroth as part of otherwise normal in game activity, I will be looking elsewhere for my escapism.

I am just a single lawyer, in a small legal aid office, in a middling metropolitan area. I shudder to think of the people who would bring worse real lives to Azeroth. Doctors, Police Officers, Government agents, Social Workers, Psychiatrists, all capable of dragging the darkest of the ugliness we all try and escape from in Azeroth right along with them, if real names are used much more. That much darkness will make Sargeras look like a kindergarten teacher.

Bear Necessities And Fire Festivities ... Joy

2010-06-21T08:09:00.000-07:00

Or maybe not. This week will tell if I decide to...

So I am working on tanking with my druid at low levels, since I expect that my paladin will be nerfed for the expac. As you can see my druid is undergeared currently, so I will probably try to tank something really low for my level like Deadmines, or Stocks. I think Ragefire is too low, but Razerfen Downs might work, (or was it Kraul, the low level one.) Worst case scenario I just go dps while leveling herbalism and maybe cooking, and stay in LFG the whole time until I get gear and level up to get my 41 point talent Mangle.

I want to have another guild tank laying in wait. Plus I love healers. I am going to try tanking starting tonight and updating this blog all week with the ongoing adventures of LFG. (If this doesn't work I always have Jaqharkness a DK to tank.

Thank goodness today starts the fire festival. I am sort of running out of quests for my little mini project. The plan is to stay in Kalimdor for questing and see if I can get the achievement for Loremaster in Kalimdor by level 60. The skinny is they are changing Loremaster to include more quests, but those who completed it will get credit. Those that have not will simply have the counters reset, so if I can get Kalimdor, I won't lose that many in EK. I won't get anywhere near all the quests done in both zones, but one zone may be possible.

I level my priest with my wife on Monday and sometimes Tuesday, and my druid needs to spend time at the inn for rested XP, but it all stacks on top of the fires and their bonus XP, so that should be great. Plus my JC can make her a decent neck

Low Level LFD Bear Tank Adventure
Day #1
Well the first day was interesting. The group consisted of a warrior, who wore a shield, a hunter with a bear pet, a warlock with a voidwalker, a priest healer, and myself. So given the situation of everyone tanks for themselves, I tanked in Kitty form. It seemed the most sensible, I mean we had 4 tanks. I could not hold more than one mob at once with that kind of group. I think I need a lower level dungeon.

I tried just the random and got the SM graveyard last night. Tonight I am going to pick one and hope not everyone decides to tank. But as with all halfway decent runs it was silent, efficient and silent.

The other good news is that Thousand Needles does have some low 30ish quests I can do. So Mission Kalimdor continues...

Ironically in Eastern Kingdoms right now, but the quests are all listed as StoneTalon Mountains so I blame Wow not me.

Anyway

Low Level LFD Bear Tank Adventure
Day #2

Well I actually tanked for the first time tonight. I have about 2K health in bear form. I got some compliments from the group, and a warrior who wanted to charge into the next mob. No one died, except I came close a couple of times. Everyone seems to want to pick their own target. I learned bears have to tab target, and I need to reset my bear and kitty bars based on the abilities I use most often. 1-5 are pretty easy to get to, as is 7, and 10 (0). But I will need to make some adjustments before tanking tonight.

I tanked the SM Library. I still have issues with rage starvation. I had to pop some health pots at key moments, and survival instincts, but it is fun, stressful, and really different than Pally tanking. Which is exactly what I was looking for, so I succeeded. I got the Huntsman Gloves, which is the second dungeon upgrade. The second was a pair of green boots with agility and stam I got last night. The Satchet of Useless Goods is still full of fail, but it is decent money. I can see that becoming an ongoing joke.

I am still gaining about 2 levels a night for now. I should be 80 very soon, with extremely casual, but smart play. The dancing helps, but I am not even rested or danced most of the time.

Oh and pounce, man that is a hoot. I use it everytime I can.

Critics and Cynics

2010-06-18T06:41:00.000-07:00

In place of a real post this week, I am putting this up. I have a review of my new Logitech Gamepad G13, and a continuation of my RP, but my computer got fried this week so instead you have this. It has been sitting around awhile, and I think I need to use it up before it goes bad.

Raiders and Puglyspoons
Author: Arkaneena
with apologies

I come before you, to heal behind you
To tell about a boss fight I know nothing about
In phase two, which comes out of the blue
All dps heal adds bandages only
The encounter is easy you'll see from the floor
Watch out for the changes And loot you'll ahbor

________________________________________________________________________
To those who lived a sheltered and unloved childhood the original.

Ladies and Jellyspoons
Author: Anonymous

I come before you, to stand behind you
To tell you something I know nothing about
Next Thursday, the day after Friday
There will be a ladies meeting for men only
Admission is free, you can pay at the door
We will give you a seat you can sit on the floor.

Horse and Rider

2010-06-09T08:00:00.000-07:00

You know I looked at this video and realized why I hate PvP so much. It is that individual things to me are not that interesting, especially when the only measure is speed. I prefer group activities. I love scuba diving, always with a buddy, and have well over 100 dives at this point. I love horseback riding, and before I moved to an urban area owned my own horse. I used to compete in that. I also love watching horse and rider competitions, like racing, dressage, hunt jump, etc. Yet I can't stand dog racing. I realized the difference is that in horse competitions you have a human, (a predator), and a horse, (a prey), who work together to accomplish something.

This task is far more difficult than most people will ever realize. You cannot overpower a horse, no matter how much you beat him/her, or abuse the animal. If a horse does not want to do something IT WILL NOT. I don't care how much you weigh the horse can always overpower you easily. They can kill you with a single blow, possibly two. You also have 2 disparate mindsets, predator and prey. We are by nature predators, we think that way. Horses are by nature prey, they think and view the world differently. No they are not sentient, and I am not suggesting they are, but the disparate worldviews exist, and horses do think, and are self aware. The fact they can work with us at all is amazing. The fact that a good horse and rider team seem like an accomplished dancing couple is miraculous.

That said neither the horse nor the rider can expect to win if they are not at top performance. Trust me, the horse knows when you "won" the prize. It is the nature of the relationship, it senses your emotions and responds accordingly, while having emotions of his/her own. Both the horse and the rider must perform at their best, and in a good relationship they do for the most part. Everyone has off days, and it is neither fair nor correct to be angry at someone for this.

What does all of this have to do with WoW?

Simple in an instance you have extremely disparate viewpoints. You have dps who want to get the big damage numbers. You have tanks who want to impress the boss with their many yo' mamma jokes, (i.e. taunting;). You have the healers who are mesmerized by green bars and making them go up if they fall down. (Tanks and healers have very similar roles here, but accomplish it in very different way. Or perhaps this is my perspective having leveled a Holy Paladin as my first level capped toon.)

The disparate viewpoints need to come together to accomplish a goal. There are different rules that each group need to follow. Healers and dps try to avoid people looking at them while they do their job. Tanks try to get the mobs to focus on them. Unless everyone does their own part you will not likely be successful. In a similar vein when the horse decides he/she does not want to jump, it won't. You may or may not have seen this coming, and prepared appropriately.

You may have one mistimed event or bad rng, and bamm everything goes to to crapper. I love this team aspect of WoW. I never did find that in other games I played. I imagine if we had some PvP events in my guild or group of friends I would probably enjoy it more. I like the coordination of the disparate members of the team each performing their own role to the best of their ability. Other people relish the solo game.

So what is the reason you log on and play WoW?
Team play
Facemelting
Breaking things
Watching others break things while you help in a passive aggressive way
World Exploration
Roleplaying

I have gotten into all of these things at one point or another. That is one of the things I love about the game, it embraces so many different ways to be enjoyed.

I Looked into the Future and It Looked Back!!

2010-06-01T06:55:00.000-07:00

Update: Now I know how it feels to conquer the beast. Boo Yah!!

Well as many of you know the world as we know it is going to change. I have taken this as motivation for getting all of the accomplishments done in classic that I want to do. I have 2 raids left still >.<. I am 49 quests from Loremaster. Yes the Loremaster, the big one, not one of the mini ones. (Well technically it is for Kalimdor, but it gets me the big one, so...)

Started the long weekend with 400 out of 700, and now have 651. I am trying to do the higher level quests dripping with lore, but I really hate Silithus, so I might go back to Shimmering Flats and Thousand Needles and grab some there.

But I still seem to have some quests in Tanaris that keep taking me to Sunken Temple. I hate the place, but the lore is good. So many quest chains are just broken. The Essence of Eranikus looked like it might really go somewhere interesting, but you go to Winterspring and it just says to be continued... And then nothing.

In a way this makes me glad that I am doing this now, before more are gone. I will be able to say I did it back in the day. This is the kind of thing you only do once. I mean the holiday achievements are really fun in there own right, but this is a grind. Yes I want to do it, but I just don't see doing it again.

Oh and as to my post a few weeks ago, I took Sunday off, went to my relatives campsite, and hung out. I did not play WoW all day. I may take another day or two break after finishing Loremaster. This was the real Long Strange Trip.

And I even got into a couple of pugs for 10/25 ICC on my main. Sadly no time to pug my shaman this week, but my main finally got the trinket she wanted to further her kit. Now for the bracers off of Marrowgar, and a couple of marks to upgrade my 2 tier pieces and my tanking set is complete.

So how about you, what are you doing to prepare for the coming apocalypse? I am going to start leveling my alts with a frenzy now. Doing more PvP to get the PvP mounts before they change with no warning. Hey extra mounts are extra mounts. I will grind out my talbuks, and Netherrays, but after a long grindfest I take a break from grinds and work on leveling another toon.

Tribalism or Why WoW is Not Socially Acceptable

2010-05-25T09:53:00.000-07:00

The short answer is tribal thinking. That is to say that the smartest AND strongest are the most fit to lead. In tribal cultures you often have a military leader, and a wise leader. Now the tribe that is most analogous in modern society is the mob/mafia.

They run in a tribal mentality, although the wise leader, the Don, is usually the main leader, but there is often a co-leader another very strong person, an enforcer, i.e. the military leader. There are numerous scholarly articles on the subject including this one here. I am not suggesting this behavior is desirable, just that it has a purpose, or it would not still exist.

Tribal cultures do well in most situations because it does not require the level of organization of a democracy. You have one maybe two leaders, at most an oligarchy of a handful of people who make all decisions. An example of this is Blizzard managing the World of Warcraft.

Human culture evolved from this kind of tribal thinking. So physical/military process is prized over intellectual ability. That is the reason you can be 300 pounds and spend all your time ignoring your family watching every football game, (whichever version is popular in your culture), and you are not frowned upon. Even though you probably should be.

Obviously not a small man, although to be fair, neither am I.

As your neglect, and wasteful spending of familial resources could be put to better use preparing your offspring's education for instance. Thereby increasing your personal family's wealth, and by extension the tribe's wealth. This is why people do the odd things they do for sports teams. Their success is your success. The hero brings the trophy of meat or other resources, and you eat better as a result.

Notice the similarities in the two images. They both wear garish costumes. They use specialized tools, weapons, gear, ball, and have a specific field of play. There are also always rules to the hunt/game. In some cultures you must give thanks to a god, gods, or ancestors, for the gift, sometimes they eat a specific organ for a certain reason. There are rules in football, the ball must be in play to score, etc. (I am no sports expert, sorry.) In our culture someone thanks God or Jesus for their win.

So the great warrior brings resources you can use, and the shaman/wise leader is simply the resource manager. While outdated this line of thinking still exists, and because of this archaic thinking people place more value on the tribal success of [insert sports team name here]. Their victory is your victory, in the same way a good hunt for game, or other resources was your victory. It is part of tribal programming.

Now contrast the above images with this image.

The shaman is talking to the tree, before the people harvest it for bark. The shaman will decide how much can be harvested, and from which trees. Now imagine your son or daughter is sick. You want medicine and you want it now. However the shaman knows that if you strip this tree of bark it will die. Perhaps there are not that many of this tree left, or perhaps it takes a long time for bark to regrow on this species, so you can only take a small amount. You don't hate the shaman, but it doesn't make you like the wise one either.

The wise leader manages the resources, and distributes accordingly. So the intellectually superior are basically the jerk-wad who signs your paycheck, the one that is never big enough.

For lack of a better term Nerds are placed in the same category with the wise person. So admitting you play Madden places you in the category with the warrior who brought resources, meat or whatever, the hero. Admitting you play an intellectual game places you with the wise person who never gives people enough of what people want.

Hmm I should write a journal article on this, it would make a fascinating study.

Edit for:
TL;DR
Madden=Warrior/Hunter/Hero who saved tribe, ugh good
Wow= Resource manager who decides how much of the spoils you get, (hint it is never enough for your liking, EVER) ugh ugh bad person

Hazard to Myself

2010-05-18T08:26:00.000-07:00

So I was perusing my usual blogrolls, when I came across Pink Pigtail Inn today.

I find this interesting, because without intending to at first I took a week off from wow. I said nothing to anyone at first, because well, it wasn't planned. I got back on last night, and felt good about the game and started working towards my goals for cataclysm again, Loremaster on my main, and getting more mounts. I am going to go back to doing my tourney dailies on at least my main. I still have to get a large number of those seals to get all those mounts. Also they pay well, and while money has not been an issue, it is starting to run low. I would like to eventually make a motorcycle for myself you know, engineer and all.

I even got in a bit of ICC raiding with my guild. They were saying they missed me, and they couldn't do Rotty, or Fester, and I said, "Well I am on now, so..." We pugged a few and got Rotty down, and nearly got Fester before people had to start leaving. I did my tourney dailies, they aren't so bad. I got in a couple of quick dungeons. I even got the weekly quests done on both of my 80s in less than an hour, (granted it was Anub'Rhekan.)

But still, I enjoy this game. I still really enjoy this game. It is not a grind unless I make it one. The only one who does that is me.

I have been working on a novel on and off for years. I am one of "those" writers. so I was reading up on some ways to overcome writer's block, and created a simple outline for the plot. I always "knew" where I wanted it to go, but without having a written plan you can get lost in the details at times.

I embraced the dance class I am doing with my wife, as something other than time away from WoW. I removed the deck so the pool guy can find the leak in the underground line. (Go ahead and make your jokes.) I powerwashed the cement and the remaining wood deck we still have. It looks really good. I am physically exhausted. I feel like I really got stuff done this week.

Stepping away for a week gave me a real perspective, on the massive time sink I made WoW. I don't need to level my priest, druid, and hunter before Cataclysm. I would like to, but I don't have to. I am not going to get Loremaster Hordeside, not because I don't want to, but because I don't want to spend that kind of time in the game. I am deleting my Horde DK most likely and starting again with a gnome. I love gnomes, and I have always wanted one. Plus it would be nice to see how other classes tank, and be more versatile. I rarely log on my Horde toons anyway. I do want to see life from their side, but WoW is not going anywhere anytime soon. I just started at the end of BC, and when the next expansion is getting ready to come out, and I have 5-8 geared toons Alliance side, I will need something to do. Then maybe I will level those horde toons.

I will continue whittling away at my book, and practicing for my dance class. Maybe even eating dinner somewhere other than the office. I will probably start inviting family over for pool parties in the Sundays during the summer, and maybe take Sunday off from WoW entirely.

Why? Because it is healthier to have multiple hobbies, than one I spend my whole existence focused on. At least for me.

Plus I would love to finally have my book written, if it is good enough to get published is really another matter. Finishing it is my job. Then editing, and reediting, etc. ad naseum.

I need to stop being a Hazard to myself. My wife loved me not wearing the headset for an entire week, by the way. I even helped more than usual with housework, made dinners, it was an odd week all round. But I learned a few things to make me better.

So to those of you that can quit anytime. Do it. Do it for one week. Don't tell your online friends, just do it. Find out what you are missing, and discover how to incorporate Wow back into your life in a less all consuming fashion than it plays now.

Maybe we can play it for the love of the game again, instead of teh phat lewts.

I am Iron Man

2010-05-10T10:51:00.000-07:00

Ok, so no this is not about the movie that came out last week. (Although I admit when I first saw a cutout for it I was disappointed. Whiplash is a 2 bit thug in canon. I have seen trailers that change that. I have not seen it yet though, so don't spoil it.) {I chose Iron Man because of the suit, mine is a black single breasted super light wool suit with button suspenders. I really do change my personality, and posture when I put it on.}

This message brought to you by my brother in law who graduated college this week, and got me thinking on my life in general.

There is a real difference in my mind between the relate-able characters we play in WoW, and ourselves. I usually think of the friends I meet on the game as their avatars. When I see them in my minds eye it is the avatar that I see. I may eventually meet some of them in real life, which begs the question.

While we are our avatars, are our avatars us?

The simple answer is no. They are a reflection of what we choose to be. An idealized image, a god version of ourselves, but many of us roleplay in some form. It is after all an RPG, role playing game, and when we roleplay we often have flaws in our characters. I know I have many, perfect and beautiful is only fun for a short time if ever.

A friend said recently they live in Azeroth, because real life sucks. True it does, but life in Azeroth is worse. Or is it? There is a constant threat of invasion from a surging sea of viral undead. There is constant war. And the existence for most is quite a hard scrabble one. Yes you can do dailies that are easy and reward a decent amount of gold, make money or do something else to end the hard scrabble, it really is not a world I want to live in. Too many others in pain and suffering.

Now people bring real world baggage to Azeroth, this is also true. I have been guilty of this. I like to put a DND and warn people about it, but I am guilty. But that brings back the question is Iron Man me?

I think for most of us the answer is no. Our avatars are us, only in that they reflect an idealized image of us. I am not Iron Man. I am not a tank. I am not a healer. I am not a dps. No I am all of those and more, and none of those.

I PvP in real life as a lawyer. The skills involved require me to know when to negotiate a peaceful resolution, and when to go for a killing blow. Is that a tank, a dps, or a healer? I think it is all of those roles. In real life there are battles that must be fought and won. In real life there are also battles that cannot be won.

Today I had a client who is going to be evicted. The manager of the property where she lives has an injunction for protection against this client. The potential client came in today with her notice to terminate.

What advice can I give her? A previous court has already said bad stuff happened. She can say the bad stuff did not happen, but it is already decided that it did. The eviction is not yet filed, but it is already over. I advised her of the process and the consequences she faced depending on the choices she makes from this point on. However I cannot win that case. There is no argument that will win that case before it gets to hearing.

In WoW terms this is a wipe, but you can't DI a healer and get to a safe location and walk back. The matter is already decided. So what can I do? I explain the process and provide tissues. I have to let the client make the best decision she can.

I have a relative who struggles with substance abuse and mental illness. I tried to help him, including giving him his medicine on time, all the time. However in the end the relative made a bad decision that landed him in jail. He is now getting treatment, but I could not help him. Not because I did not want to, but because he was not ready. In Wow terms this is like getting camped at the graveyard in PvP. You are helpless, anything and everything you try to do just makes you lose faster.

This is life. Iron Man and the types of superheroes we have in Azeroth don't work here for precisely this reason. Real life is messy, and filled with things that can't be fixed by explosions.

There are no quick solutions that are worth having. No leader, no politician, no hero can save us, we must do it ourselves, a little at a time.

Another friend asked my thoughts on the oil spill, my response was that it was too bad. Not an environmental disaster, simply too bad. Many in Louisiana make more money from an oil spill than actual fishing. This is good for them as they will have a productive year. It will raise the cost of gas, which is hard for those who use it. The ocean releases far more oil daily than this spill, and removing some of that oil puts a pressure release valve on some of this. So this is bad for the environment, but not as bad as the natural release of oil at any rate.

Will it have to be cleaned up? Sure, but that is part of the price we pay to have whales, and live in an industrial society. (Most oil came from whales before we harvested crude and found ways to use it.)

In the end I think the thing we like about Azeroth the most is that we can walk away. When the made up problems get to be too much, we simply walk away. We might come back, but we don't have to come back. School of Hard Knocks get you down, don't try and do it on all your toons this year. Maybe you don't ever do it. Eventually it will be trivialized or changed.

The reason real life sucks is because we can't just walk away. We must face it. I don't want to face life in a mask. I want to feel the pain of it all. I want to see the ugliness. Because that lets me know I am still alive. I can be Iron Man, in my profession I am very often. But Iron Man is not me, because I can feel. I pity my clients at times, I rage at them in others. But I can see ugly, and by extension, I can know beauty. I can be thankful for the gifts I have, and use them to help others in whatever small way possible.

That is why, to me, bad things happen to good people. It makes me a better person, and hopefully if our paths cross, it makes you a better person to.

Oh and PvP in Wow sucks.

310% Flying will be purchasable in Cat

2010-05-05T12:01:00.000-07:00

Well you may have heard it here first, but probably not:

Q u o t e:
I didn't know that they were making 310 flying trainable. If they are then this should also cost a LOT of gold, around 16k would be appropriate.

It certainly is happening, but it will only be purchasable by characters who are level 85. Players who already own a 310% mount will be 'gifted' the training, and it goes without saying that once the skill is learned all flying mounts will become 310% mounts. That's the current plan at least, and we don't plan on offering any further speed increases to these mounts.

Source

For those who like me were working on the holidays on one toon for the achievement and another for the mount, well I guess we can relax, this speed will be attainable before I finish. And if my alt does not get it, oh well. Yes, I feel so much better. I am still going to try and get it, because that is a nice purple drake, but if I don't get the PvP done this year on my alt, oh well.

Going Back To School

2010-05-05T10:01:00.000-07:00

Well I sucked it up and got the School of Hard Knocks for my Matron title on my main. I am trying to get it on my shaman as well, but I am still 3 BGs short WSG, EoTS, and AV. It is making the BGs frustrating for all involved. Either you get a PvE lovefest as was had in AV and WSG on my paladin, or you get a murderous monopoly as was had in every EoTS, and quite a few WSGs, and ABs.

It occurs to me that not everyone will understand the acronyms used here so:
AV Alterac Valley is a Battleground
AB Arathi Basin another Battleground, not the zone in Eastern Kingdoms
BG Battleground as in a PvP only zone, usually fought over objectives in a capture the flag sort of fashion
EoTS Eye of the Storm a Battleground introduced during the Burning Crusade Expansion
PvE Player vs. Environment, questing, dungeons, raids, and other scripted encounters
PvP Player vs. Player, a battle against a real player on the other team usually Horde vs. Alliance, but arena can pit you against a team of any faction, and is also considered PvP
WSG Warsong Gulch a Battleground

This must frustrate true PvP folks as neither side really cares for the most part about winning as long as they get the orphan achievement done. After that then maybe, MAYBE a real BG will go on. Otherwise players are happily trading the flags back and forth in some BGs, and don't have any real intention of doing any actual killing, or even fighting another player. Except for EoTS, that BG is cutthroat all the time, and Children's week is no exception. I finally got the flag on my shaman, but my side had capped no towers so there was no where to go. I am going to try really early in the morning or really late at night to get it done.

I don't think this was how Blizzard intended the event to go. I think it was intended to simply teach PvE players the supposed objectives of the BGs. The problem is random BGs, or really anything other than premades are all about fighting mono a mono in the middle. No one really trys to run flags they just want more HKs. The most efficient path to the maximum amount of honor points is racking up HKs, not running flags. Also some rolls should never be near the flag let alone the clicker. Some rolls are to heal the runner, other to defend at range, etc. So the achievements while they make sense on the surface, don't make sense to someone trying to win the BG. And then you have what is going on now, win trading. I click on the flag repeatedly to let you keep capping it, without exchanging a single hit. Because by the inverse rule of logic that is the most efficient route to accomplishing these achievements.

It occurs to me that you may not know the achievements, bear in mind this is all with an orphan out:
Capture the flag in Eye of the Storm
Assault a flag in Arathi Basin
Assault a tower in Alterac Valley
Return a fallen flag in Warsong Gulch

Aside from the stupidity of taking a child to a battleground, (when did the achievements ever make any sense anyway), all of these achievements essentially involve clicking some form of flag. As you have in many of the BGs now with the notable exception of Eye of the Storm you can essentially just send emissaries and trade flag clicks back and forth until the objective is achieved. After that PvP may or may not occur depending on the overall mood of the group. Some players get their achievement and /afk, (away from keyboard command) out. This ports you out of the Battleground and gives you a coward debuff so you cannot go back into a BG for 15 minutes. But then if you are done why does this matter, well because sometimes PvP players wanted to win, and now they can be one player or more down.

The only community this event has fostered is between the Horde and Alliance PvE players. The divide, already quite wide, between PvP players, and PvE players is simply widened every year by this event. Now if the goal was to foster this work together attitude between Horde and Alliance PvE only players they succeeded.

Somehow I doubt that was the intent. Are new players experiencing the Battlegrounds? Sure, but under severely artificial conditions. Conditions that will only exist for as long as a majority of players need this achievement. Will those players come back after this week? I suspect very few, especially with the way they are berated by PvP players this week. But then Blizzard cannot fix player bias.

As a professor I would give this achievement an F. I have suggested and there are huge threads that do the same to change this achievement so it is more like other holiday PvP achievements, however they have so far fallen on deaf ears. And if Flight Speed goes up to 310% in Cataclysm, I suspect it will be largely undone in future years. Until it finally is changed, and the old method becomes a feat of strength. Not because it was hard, but because it doesn't make sense for a vast and growing majority of the playerbase.

Blizz is killing Wow ... again. No really

2010-04-27T09:12:00.000-07:00

So the latest 2 announcements are causing all kinds of CATACLYSMIC QQ on the forums. See the changes to PvE raiding here, and the point and emblem system here. The majority of the posts are this will be the death of Wow. I doubt it.

I for one could not be happier about this change. I have always thought that 10 mans were about actual player skill and 25 mans were about human resources. The essential part of the QQ seems to echo that sentiment. So many people will stop running 25s since they are "carrying" people, and they don't like fighting the human resources boss. They are also complaining since there is a cap on how many points you can get in PvE and PvP each week.

The point system works like this. The points are being downgraded with each change in arena season for PvP points. The points are also being downgraded in PvE with each new tier of raiding, which is how it works now. Except now there is a new emblem for each new tier. In Cataclysm there will only be 2. Heroic for dungeons and old raids, and Valor for new raids and the daily dungeon. Since there is a weekly cap on how many you can earn you may not have to run the same old content and get on every single day to run an old tired dungeon if you don't want to run it. Hit the cap and go do something else. Horray for world of altcraft, which is a game I like.

So the points are earned just like they are now, except that you won't need to raid necessarily, or do arena to get the "best" gear. Kind of like how it is now, but all the personal arena ratings requirements are being removed from gear. Want to get those points, just do a series of rated BGs and you can get them. Great if I really want to get into PvP I can still get them.

Now for the real craptstorm of cataclysmic proportions, 10 and 25 man raids will be the same difficulty and share the same lockout, but you can switch back and forth between them mid run if needed. However this seems unlikely since they are shorter raids, like a 5 man and a 6 man raid, not and 11 boss or more multiple night session like now. They are releasing more raids at launch. And the part that has everyone's undies in a bunch, (aside from the fact that according to the posters Blizz can't possibly make the raids the same difficulty), the raids will drop the same loot.

Let that sink in. 10 man and 25 man normal drop differing amounts, but the exact same loot. 25 man will drop more valor points I guess, the post actually reads badges, but I assume since it is changing to points that is what was meant. 25 mans will drop more gold and more loot per player to encourage the 25 mans to continue. They are letting 25 man players gear up faster. The heroic versions also share the same loot table. This should really help with gear inflation.

The consensus varies between those who love the change, to those who are going to quit the game. Also the achievement will just say "Storming the Citadel" with no differentiation between 10 or 25. So 25 man raids will no longer be able to stroke their own epeen with their leetness. Most of the posts are either:
Great I no longer have to carry the bads.
or
Great I no longer have to struggle to keep my 25 mans together I will just take the 10.
to
But, but the pure classes, won't somebody think of the pure classes.

Well mages got bloodlust/heroism, I see this trend continuing with more class homogenization. I still eagerly await to see which class gets rebirth. I definitely see it happening now. I don't know if it will go to a pure. I think the pure classes will be fine.

In fact I see this addressing many issues currently existing in WoW. Too few tanks, well with more ten man teams with the same ratio as 5 mans, there should be more tanks available. The door boss, also known as more instances cannot launch at this time, will likely be fixed by this. More people will be in different instances at different times. Gear inflation, with only 2 tiers, should help to bring that under a bit better control. Players getting all kitted out in a few weeks, and then quitting, well with 10 mans dropping less loot per player that could still happen, but it seems less likely. Small guilds being left behind, or only focusing on one aspect of the game, still possible, but less of a liability. Small guilds like mine where we all have a ton of alts, but can only get about 10 players on at any one time, awesome. Pugging 25 mans will be a thing of the past for us. No more having to see Ony's head going to some random pug, after organizing and leading the 25 man raid for 8-9 people who actually want to be there from the guild.

I see a large number of fixes for this. If they can actually make the encounters the same difficulty there should not be anymore crying about how 10 mans are treated as second class, and only 25 mans are real raiders. Frankly we will all be second class citizens compared to heroic raiders, and people who don't do heroic raids will all be told to shut up. Frankly I don't often see the people who do heroic raids really doing that much crying about this change. They know that heroic raiding is where the real challenge is. People who do 25 mans want to feel like they are the "real" raiders, and then complain there is no challenge.

Well that is because Blizzard put the challenge in the heroic encounter. Which the 25 man "real" raiders then complain are too hard. So it is either too easy or too hard? What do you want, hard raids? Do heroics those are hard. If you want easy raids you have those.

I see all these changes as awesome. I am really looking forward to this expansion pack. I hope you are to. Playing a game I enjoy, with a group of people I like, and having fun doing it. Whoah, now there's a concept that works. I thought this raiding was SRS BSNS. Like a job that must be ground endlessly to accomplish anything. I guess those days are going away.

The epeen strokers are hating it. I would like to say they will be missed, but I doubt they will be.

Holy Changes and The Boogeyman

2010-04-21T09:32:00.000-07:00

The bogeyman has no specific appearance and conceptions of the monster can vary drastically even from household to household within the same community; in many cases, he simply has no set appearance in the mind of a child, but is just an amorphous embodiment of terror. Bogeyman can be used metaphorically to denote a person or thing of which someone has an irrational fear.

Borrowed from wikipedia

I imagine we all have that dream. The dream where we are set upon by some nameless, faceless, horror, without shape who never tires and will catch up, until we wake up. That is the boogeyman to me. I have not had that dream in a long time, and now I can easily put it out of my mind as stress, but there was a time, where I was certain the shadow of a monster existed.

That said, I love the changes to Holy. It homogenizes healer to some degree. If done right it gives Holy Paladins a chance to expand to something outside of their current niche. I see this as a great change. Granted I only heal 5 mans right now, a quick redo of my spec, and pick up some better gear and I could tank heal in 25 man ICC. I know how to tank heal. I did it in Naxx, back when you did it in blues and crafted and a few drop purples. I did it before Beacon of Light became the current awesome.

I love the angel. I have always wanted one ever since I saw my first fail angel in Naxx. It was a beautiful thing to behold. I love it.

I could go into great detail on the Holy changes, but all of it is subject to change anyway. Besides, I think the larger problem is Blizzard wants to change the game. They often do this during an expansion. In BC paladins became better at a few things, dungeons had heroic modes, the game changed. I think for the better from what it was. In Wrath raiding content was made puggable to some degree, we got heroic level raids, and a constantly rebalanced emblem system to get gear at the last content level. In short the game changed. Like it or not, it changed.

Now we have been given a preview of how they intend to change the game again. I have never been at max level before, but from the forums and blogs I would think the game is now over. I don't believe this. Subscriptions have leveled off sure, but it is the end of an expansion cycle. Those on the cutting edge have everything they want, and we are in a recession. I suspect this will change with Cataclysm, and if the economy turns around subscription numbers will go up again.

In the last few weeks Blizzard has shown several things:

The know how to increase revenue, by providing customers products they want without ruining the game play experience for others. (The bug with Lil XT notwithstanding.)
They are responding to customer concerns that are not really discussed. For example healing on a paladin is boring, or tanking on a druid. Druid forms being so good that you never see druid armor, etc.
They can clarify even when they misspeak and admit they made an error. For example the misconception that Flash of Light was still going to be the heal that was fast and cheap for paladins. It isn't anymore.
They know how to keep stuff under their hats even when the storm of QQ reaches category 5 hurricane levels.

Right now what everyone is afraid of is that thing they just can't see. The little bit of darkness just on the edge of their vision, the boogeyman. I realized this as I was watching Dr. Who this week, (great episode by the way. I was a fan in the 70s, so I go way back.) The monster was a boogeyman, a shapeshifter who would invade others minds and take that shape. The monster had escaped from a prison and the wardens wanted him back.

Anyway the point is the creature had this ability to not allow you to see what was there unless you really looked. I think that is what everyone is doing right now. They are looking at what is comfortable and seeing change in the future is scary. Will the game be screwed up for the first few weeks? Sure it always is. Beta tests are great, but they don't show you the many ways 11 million players or more can find to "break" things. People will do things like kiting previous world bosses or something somewhere and killing a bunch of lowbies, or bringing a raid boss to kill an NPC meant to help with an encounter, etc. It will be fixed eventually. Gameplay mechanics and class mechanics will also be innovated in unintended ways, and fixed. It is all part of a changing and evolving game.

As far as anyone knows the game is not yet to Beta, or is just starting. There will be much to learn, and that is all before 11 million innovative minds get in there and find ways to break stuff.

In case you never figured it out, the boogeyman is not real. It is a trick of the light and shadow, and sometimes the internal structures of the eye itself. That is not to say there are not bad people, people who should be avoided, but the dark scary shapeshifter in the night does not exist.

It certainly is not Blizzard, and it isn't Activision either.

You Pull It You Tank It

2010-04-14T10:08:00.001-07:00

Well I hope you trained first aid. You are gonna need it.

First since I spend most of my time tanking now, Prot.

What is this crap?

Protection paladins need a different rotation between single-target and multi-target tanking. Likewise, we're looking to add the necessity to use an additional cooldown in each rotation.
Holy Shield will no longer have charges. It will be designed to improve block chance while active, and will continue to provide a small amount of damage and threat.

Protection
Damage Reduction
Vengeance
Block Amount

Vengeance: This is the damage-received-to-attack-power conversion that all tanks share.

Block Amount: We want to keep the kit of the paladin as a tank who blocks a lot. So by contrast, the warrior tank will sometimes get critical blocks, but the paladin will absorb more damage with normal blocks.

So all the tanks got crap for mastery stats. Block for warriors and Pallies, and a different form of damage absorb mechanic for druids and Death Knights. Wow that is fun and exciting.

Block sucks. It is neither dynamic nor fun, required as a shield wearer, but not fun or dynamic. And different rotations, for trash than bosses, what? I don't remember leveling a warrior. Sure they have good utility, but if I wanted utility I would have rolled a warrior. I don't want anymore freakin' utility. I already have to cleanse myself Hand of Salvation the overeager dps, Hand of Protection myself for curses or whatever I can't cleanse. And so on. Now you want to add more crap just for trash tanking? I don't see warriors having to change their style based on mob type, and DKs and bears, they always do the same thing anyway.

I mean the angel is nice. I always wanted an angel, but freakin' Block, and different rotations! Since when is our rotation not full enough, what with saving the stupid dps from themselves. (Note I did not say all dps was stupid, just that some are and I have to save them from their own stupid.) The only reason I see this being a consideration, and not completely ignored by the math crafters is fights like Saurfang where you don't want to pull the trash that the boss spawns. Really, that fight wasn't that great fun or exciting. It was a gear check on dps. I don't see that changing.

Ok now when I say "you pull it you tank it," I mean it. You pull it I am not saving your sorry butt. I am not taunting back as a tank, and I am not healing you in Holy spec either. Either your dps is good enough to kill it, or you die and get a rez when the rest of us are done. If my mana matters the tank gets healed. If I have enough for the new AoE spell fine on occasion otherwise, the rest of you are one your own. I hope you trained first aid.

Hopefully Vengeance will help with this somewhat. But when the tank is starting out gearscore does not matter. They are still trying to learn the ropes, and spells, and when to use them. And these ICC geared dps just wanna blow everything up. They don't let the tank get aggro. I know it turns a 15 minute dungeon into a 20-22 minute dungeon. You will live. If you can't take an extra seven minutes to play a game, I am sorry. So even with Vengeance it is going to be painful for new tanks. And with a margin between them, i.e. a tank in blues and a dps in Deathwing's Lair gear, (Just guessing here), it is going to be worse.

I say this because Vengeance is based on health, which is based on a tank's gear. Which is based on how many purples the tank can get and how fast. See where I am going here? If dps outgear the tank by a large margin, they might well have gear that gives them as much, if not more health than the tank. While they don't have Vengeance, the other stats are going to be trouble. This means Vengeance will not likely save them from pulling off of the tank. If everyone is equally geared sure, it will be fine, if not, well you get what we have now.

People also talk about bringing back crowd control, but I predict it won't last long before the need for crowd control gets nerfed. There are just not enough classes that can do it effectively enough on all mobs. Hunters can. Druids can. Warlocks sorta can. Other classes only work on certain mob types. Mages and shaman only sheep or hex humanoids. Pallies and Priests only work on undead, etc. So I don't see that lasting long before the good ole nerfbat squashes it.

I also see so many regular Northrend dungeons nerfed. With poison cleansing being removed from 2 classes, and easy dispels going away they will have to nerf Azjol-Nerub, and Old Kingdom, perhaps to a lesser extent Drak Tharon Keep and Gun'Drak, not to mention Halls of Reflection and Pit of Saron. Although I doubt people will even do those anymore, and Halls of Reflection, say goodbye. No one is going to run that, it is going to be Gnomeregan.

Newbie: Oh I have a quest for HOR. Can someone help me run that?
Helpful Guildie 1: Good luck
Guildie 2: You are on your own.
Helpful Guidlie 3: You know Frost emblems are not worth anything anymore and the gear you get in Mt. Hyjal will replace it, just skip it.
Newbie: But you guys hated it so much I wanted to see it.
Helpful Guildie 1: No you don't, trust me, it isn't worth it.

So tomorrow I will talk about the Holy changes. I just wanted to get this tanking stuff out first since I expect it to be my main spec in Cata. Also because I think it is a stinking pile.

I do like the angels though. I mean I really like them.