Oathmaker.

A Song of Fire and Ice:
"Night gathers, and now my watch begins. It shall not end until my death. I shall take no wife, hold no lands, father no children. I shall wear no crowns and win no glory. I shall live and die at my post. I am the sword in the darkness. I am the watcher on the walls. I am the shield that guards the realms of men. I pledge my life and honor to the Night's Watch, for this night and all the nights to come."

My dear friend Señor once told me a man is nothing without his word: granted, these are not original sentiments, but originality is superfluous for vows to remain timeless. Inifinity is more fragile than we perhaps believe, or maybe our small human minds wilt under the heat of eternity. Meh. I don't know. If you Google the terms "oath WoW" you will see a number of links to the word oath in Azeroth, but I didn't find any specific pledges, vows, or oaths to be spoken.

From WoW Insider

As we all know, Velen does not pledge his allegiance: sometimes not taking an oath takes greater courage than accepting all alliances at face value. Promises and pledges should not be taken lightly, yet, they are mutable and plastic due to the very nature of the oath-sayer: we change, mutate, and fixed, rigid promises are only as good as the integrity of the barter, of the trade they are built upon. Every married couple on their wedding day intends those vows, and yet the divorce rate is alarmingly high. It is not the vows at fault, nor is it the breaking of them: perhaps they cannot be sustained in the era they are given.  But I digress, and this is not a personal reflection, merely a thesis on the nature of vows and oaths in general. What does the Night Watchman receive for his oath? The fealty of brotherhood, the security of position, or is it the basic, but overwhelming desire for purpose in life? Like many vows, I've come to discover, we are asked to take the vows long before we understand what it means, or how the promises impact our lives. "In sickness and in health" sounds charming when we've coddled a boyfriend through the sniffles, but altogether something very different when other maladies emerge, or even more crticial concerns and loss. But that's too serious to consider, allow me to steer it back: I've often joked that all babies should be second babies--motherhood is much more relaxed and confident enterprise with that second one. But no one can tell anyone that, just like you can't tell anyone who has not experienced the same things you have to have anything but sympathy: empathy is not an option.

In Azeroth, and my time spent there, I wonder what my own goals are, and wheres satisfaction lies. I have never seemed to fit anywhere--always a dilettante in any endeavor. This is not a "poor me" statement, or a "Blizzard must change something," no, on the contrary. It has allowed me to make my own vows, create my own promises, and be true to myself in a trajectory that has few equals. Try on a variety of roles, voices, playstyles, and plasticity that has been open and sweet.

I am so looking forward to see how the story unfolds: remember my friends, often in Azeroth I am not me, the scrubby human behind the screen.My character is Mataoka, a shaman, complicated and conflicted.

And she has pledged her vows:

I shall live worthy
To see Draenor reborn, to live by the Light
To mend the Broken, and share the Gift
I shall live worthy 
To hear the sounds of children, in freedom
To heal the sick, and give to those less fortunate
I shall live worthy
I pledge myself to others, so fortune favors us all
Wherever the path shall lead
I shall live worthy 
And we all shall be strong



Blog Azeroth: What vows would your character say, intend, or break, and to what allegiance? Would it be to class/race/specialization, deity, or ruler? This is quite a challenging Blog Azeroth topic, however, I know you are all up to it because you are amazing writers. 


Mantra

Rock and roll lobster....

In the deep briny ocean, next to a forgotten cove
There lives a cranky oyster, who holds a treasure trove
Fight off a shark or two, no lasers this time
And the reward will be yours if you commit this small crime

Just fly down to Rikkitun Village, and do the Sprite Hop
Dive down deep with some friends until the oyster pops
Swim away fast, don't dawdle or delay
The boon is worth it if I really must say

Got to hand it to Blizzard, because when it comes to fun
No one else does like they do under the Azerothian sun
Don't let dailies or rep grinds ever get you down
Cause when there's naked Draenei no one could possibly frown!

All my blog buddies have been posting the funniest stats. Well I'll share one with you: it is probably pretty clear that 'sexy draenei' comes up quite a bit. Here is my contribution to the images that may appear at the top of the heap:

That post had by far the most views at 259 to date. Makes you wonder what folks are looking for.


Theme song: Going to a Clambake

While looking up this Elvis Presley classic, I came across another lexicon delight in Urban Dictionary. As always, click on Urban Dictionary at your own risk.

And of course: Rock Lobster

Draenei Tail Ring Tales: to be continued

Off to work, hope there's gas, and dashing off - but will do something with this when I can:

https://kamaliaetalia.wordpress.com/2012/05/25/the-draenei-tail-ring-code/

Dear Draenei:

Recently Guarf sent me this forum link: http://us.battle.net/wow/en/forum/topic/3530355657

Guarf hasn't been around much lately: lots of work, work, work. Doesn't he know dwarfs need time off, too?

In any case, I'm glad he sent me that link. Recently I was thinking about the subtle cultural shifts in our shared virtual world. Perhaps it was because of Facebook silliness I read recently. I know, I know - don't get political. But whom we associate ourselves with is an interesting thing to think about, in my opinion. I could play girl reporter and ask my WoW friends, "Why did you choose the character you did, why that face, that race, that hair color?" We can only do so much to ourselves in real life, and aging is inevitable, (better than the alternative as my dad and Guarf say), so why do we spend any of our short lives living virtually and vicariously?

Well, alter egos sure are fun. And, if I was just a solo player, going out and killing pixels only, that would be so sad and boring. I found myself in quite a funk when one of my best player friends was gone for a while, and though I miss another player friend, have every confidence that he is doing great. I don't want to neglect my real life friends, though, or family. Never--they always come first.

But to those of you who have me as your own little draenei as your friend in Azeroth, cheers to you!

http://wow.joystiq.com/2010/03/31/know-your-lore-the-draenei/

Theme song: The Romantics/What I Like About You

Trouble*

Since the time I have been playing, about a year and a half, three players have reported seeing other draeneis, shamans no less, who resemble "Matty." One even said he had to rub his eyes to make sure it wasn't me.

Well, as I was walking down the street, doing my jewelcrafting daily, I see this girl:

Hirsute Hussy!

Not only does she look like me, but my Hyjal bear cub didn't even recognize me, and sat right next to her and her stinky little butt-wiping dog! Oh! The nerve! Like to rip her bleach-blond hair right out from the tender roots!

Which leads me to my point:
Draenei girl haircuts = not good. They are some left over from Farah Fawcett's heyday of feathered bangs and big poofs. Luperci has had her hair cut no less than approximately 45 times. She has tried blond, long,  straight, up, and every time ends up in the same pigtails. Matty's hair hasn't changed except for once. (And now this trollop comes waltzing down the Whisperwind streets...! Shammy RAGE!)

I have been told, repeatedly, in a nerd-tastic tone, that hair pixels are tough to model. And just like the hairdresser we love, when we bring in a photo of Jennifer Anniston or Selma Hayak and say "Cut it like that," what we're really saying is, "...and I'll take a side of plastic surgery too to look like her." It is the magic. I know -- men will never, ever understand this. I get it. The only man who understood good hair is Samson, and look what happened to him.

Now Night Elf females are given many more choices: they can have the Fook Yu or Fook Mi look:

...and in just about any color desired. Draenei females are limited in their choices. It's feathered look 1977 or feathered look 1979.

Or really, really unattractive, like Sinead O'Connor shaved. Or soccer-mom-ish.

It would be too much to ask if the Transmorgifierblahdeblahhoopdejoo thing provided more hair style choices, I know.

And while crawling over the web today, found this gem:

 It wasn't just me who was irked by the World of Dresscraft comment:
http://manalicious.wordpress.com/2011/08/26/still-excited-to-play-world-of-dresscraft/


...and!  Darkmoon Faire!
http://manalicious.wordpress.com/2011/08/25/the-new-and-improved-darkmoon-faire/

Just talking about that today with some Druids by the water cooler!

And I do appreciate Manalicious' artwork. She is incredibly talented. I can't help but wonder, though, how Arthur Rakham would have drawn a Draenei female. One can only imagine.

Postcript: Things that do kind of, a little bit, maybe, just a tad irk me: When players tout that they "have boobs!" Okay, sweetie - 40% of us do who play WoW. That may impress the wanker down the block, but not sure that one is a buff anymore. What does that have to do with haircuts? Not much, but if you're trying to impress anyone with your feminine wiles, well....

*"Trouble" is the name of my toon's haircut. Oh yeah. You copy my groove, there's gonna be trouble all right.

Theme song: Cake/Short Skirt/Long Jacket (Lou Reed, is that you?)

50* Ways to Love a Draenei

This is a very timely article for me:

I don't think the lack of lore is a bad thing - I am more than capable of filling in the plot holes: http://wow.joystiq.com/2011/07/24/all-the-worlds-a-stage-plot-points-for-draenei-roleplayers/

Been thinking about draeneis. I don't know why I like them, just do. They can't dance like Night Elf girls, aren't as aloof and self-possessed as Blood Elves, aren't rocking the sexx-ayy like gnome chicas, and don't keep boys in line like dwarf women. And they can't match human girls for having feet. Real feet. Often they have a Hans Christian Andersen Little Mermaid mourning time for the lost pedicures and peppermint foot cream that will never be theirs: kind of silly to paint the "toe nail" of big hooves. If you go from hoof to horn, draenei females evolve from animal earthiness to etched beauty. But, they open their mouths and talk "funny."

So, when I'm not so sleepy, (and I am sweetly sleepy right now- all the Draenei girls are at a good stopping point: Matty, Lupe, and Zep are fine: Haanta has been tracking her lost friend, but other than that, holding up all right), my creative energies are going to tackle more Story Time entries before the summer's light vanishes, and extinguishes my free time.






*I say 50 because that's the alt limit. I cannot, will not, make 50 characters, and most certainly not all Draenei. I've created a few Horde and some alts that are not blue aliens.

Postscript: Perhaps draeneis will be buried under other lore, or maybe this will help: Mists of Panderia: http://www.youtube.com/user/OMFGcata?blend=2&ob=1#p/u/1/F3WGdj9L5co

Thing of beauty.

My art skills are as rusty as a blade left out in the Darkshire rain, so I am a standing here as a critic and not an artist. Contemplating on a quick conversation about fanart yesterday with a friend, I described most of the art I've seen in the idiomatic term "cheesy." That's a tough one to explain, as most idioms are. I defined 'cheesy' in context of the fanartists as being those who are trying for 'high art' and falling short.

Liger: Bred for its skills in magic.

There is a lot of cheesy fanart out there. Skillful artsits and real talent are rare. Figurative art, or art that relates to the human form, is especially tricky. It can become cartoonish quickly, and unless the artist wants it to be cartoonish, usually ends up just looking awkward. In college, I spent hours in figurative drawing classes, drawing both males and females (unfortunately, there were no ligers). Mountains of charcoal vine sticks were destroyed in order for me to try to capture the curve of a hip, or the subtle bend of an elbow.

I may pick up my sketch pad again, and see what I can do or attempt. In the meantime, I think this is one of the better renditions of a draenei female I've seen. It is still on the cartoonish side for me, something you might see air-brushed on the side of a party van, but really, it is beautiful and well-done. I know I couldn't do any better.

Click here for a link to this art.

Full Circle.

I did it.

My beautiful violet drake is mine, the boon from completing What a long, strange trip it's been.

I've escorted orphans, eaten eggs, been heartbroken, perfumed dwarfs, talked to old people (they do smell kind of funny), eaten gingerbread and started a whole lot of fires.

Can't believe how fast this year has gone by, flown away like a whelpling.

So happy.

Nothing's going to change my world tonight.

Theme Song: Across the Universe/ Beatles (this version has an original animation)

Words are flying out like
endless rain into a paper cup
They slither while they pass
They slip away across the universe
Pools of sorrow waves of joy
are drifting thorough my open mind
Possessing and caressing me 




Postscript: To my mates, friends, comrades, and confidants: thank you for understanding that when something, anything, takes a year to do, the right words to say are simply "congratulations." Thumper's Law: If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all. 

Draenei, phone home:

I'm sorry--I just can't get over the phrase "tinfoil hat."

Making one now:

http://wow.joystiq.com/2011/02/13/know-your-lore-tinfoil-hat-edition-mystery-of-the-naaru/