Hot mess….

Dornaa is my focus for the time being --she reached level 85 yesterday, and though there was a maelstrom swirling in the Matty-shack (more on that later), here she is in all of her bad-gear, mismatched glory:

So: any advice on what to do with an elemental/restoration shaman, who may or may be called upon to save the world (again)?

Great blue shammy yonder...

Early Monday morning, Dornaa completed the Netherwing Drake exaltation, and hatched an Onyx drake, emptyied out the guild bank* and purchasing the others. Now, at a 168 mounts, quite a ways to go for the 200...oh well.

That's Mistress Highlord to you, punk!

Dornaa is quite relieved she doesn't have to wear that Orc disguise any longer: no offense, but the thing was causing a mean rash in her, um, nether region...no pun intended.

In other news:
Mataoka has her Orb on, too:

And, (hoping you won't read this part), after a death in a HS and on my warlock Kellda trying to bring down, with professional help mind you, a Warbringer, and dying horrible, embarassing, multiple deaths, it has been determined that:

I suck.

Back to the character drawing board.


*Sorry, Señor. I'll pay it back...I'm good for it!

Dornaa saves the day...

 There are many quest lines that are heartbreaking--the loss of Gwennyth Bly'Leggonde, Theramore and its shattering losses, heck, I'm still not over Woo Ping. Never will be. But as the Pandarens say, "Enough of that!" I want us to put our collective noggins together for the cutest, happiest, sappiest quests in the game.

One of my favorite places in Azeroth is the little-known Tainted Forest. I am sure I've written about it before: it's truly a fairy-tale place -- dark, lurking, haunted, and spectacular. It's one of those zones I'm sure the artists at Blizzard had fun designing, but never quite got off the ground, perhaps it's one of those "in between expansion zones" that no one needs to go to in order to level. (Cause it's all about the leveling isn't it?) One of the most darling of all quest is "The Future of the Rockpool" quest. Baby murlocs are on what appears to be an aquarium crate, most likely holding bad doings of naga spawn, and while fighting off naga of all sorts, and kicking down false idols of snakey Azshara's, you tug this little group along until you find a moment to get them off to the sea. Granted, there are also flaming crabs that will pinch and bite you along the way too.

They...are adorable.

So fellow bloggers: what are the most adorable, darling quests you can think of? I know Navi's heart melts with Lunk, but are there others that are just too damn cute to pass up? I mean really, how could you say no to this face?

Postscript: Made this a BlogAzeroth shared topic.

Drabble: Own Way

Happiest Place on Earth: Azuremyst

“Dornaa, I went mining for some lower quality gems so you can get started on your jewel crafting training. I put them in the bank for you.” Mataoka was so excited to see Dornaa carry on the traditions of Draenei jewel crafting. She herself had spent years perfecting gem cuts, and having a discerning eye for the perfect magic of each gemstone. Dornaa looked sheepish. “I have decided to pursue Engineering, Matty. I didn’t want to tell you.” Mataoka was not sure what hurt her more: the choice or the holding back. “And, it’s Goblin Engineering.”

“I see,” she said.

* * *

I am already missing that second account much more than I thought, although I know it's a very good thing. The reason I am missing it is because I love to start new characters, new zones, new everything: how tedious things become for me when I reach top level surprised me. Isn't that always the goal? More, more,  more? And how envious I am of those who can play only one true main, and craft and hone their skills to world-class levels of play? I don't deny them their skills or knowledge: I just wish I could groove like that. I will forever remain a dilettante; and that's just fine. I know I am in good company with my love of alts. But there is impatience in me, too--even with Dornaa, I tossed on a trunk load of heirlooms and just today alone went from level 14 to 28 in a few hours. Boom. Done. I swore that I would savour leveling her, take my time, do every quest, and here I am again, leveling out of zones faster than I can get a flight path. 

I told my friend Señor and CDR all I wanted to do was sit in Azuremyst and watch the purple skies. That's it. Listen to the crickets. Listen to the music of the zone. Chill. Out. Friday was a terrible, horrific day. No hyperbole, no exaggeration. It was the kind of day that broke me. Somehow the skies and pines of Azuremyst mend me. So does a glass of good Merlot, but that's a story for another time.

Yes. I could grab Mataoka and go "home" for a spell. And I have done that on occasion. But Dornaa's narrative intrigues me: I feel that when I am playing her, and aiding the Nestlewood Owlkin and their primitive, shamanistic, indigenous rituals, I am in another world. Somehow if I am on a leveled character, that sense of immersion dissipates and feels too nostalgic to be authentic.

Perhaps it's a good thing we are not getting three specializations. This way, I am forced to level Dornaa in a new way. She is strictly elemental and restoration. Not an agility muscle will be flexed, nor a single piece of gear without intelligence in it. 

Not sure what it is -- probably my own projection of narrative and idiosyncrasies--but let's just say it's mischief, magic, and mojo: playing Dornaa is unique to her. We'll just leave it at that.

Hearthstone

Dornaa and the Bloodmoon

Tonight I needed to take care of the inhabitants of the Matty-shack, and could not attend the last run of the ICC run with Bear and the Gang. On one hand, I did manage to finish getting the mount/achievement with some who are near and dear to me, but am sorry I couldn't see it through with the Bear group, too. Ah, being two places at once is doable for most women, but alas, three is even out of my level of multi-tasking skill.

Late summer in the Northwest is one of the superlative honey-wind, cool breeze and apple-crisp rainy times of the year. The air starts to get that tinge of scarecrow whispers and goose honks, and when the sun clings to late horizon eyes, it is warm and sweet. I love it. Sunday nights are a regrouping night, and depending on how the year is going, can be an evening that requires a small confrontation with a number of blues: Sunday nights can suck, and not because of the "Someone's Got a Case of the MOOOOndays," but more the realization that what promises to be great and productive on Thursday nights became diminished reality around 7:19PM on Sunday nights.

The weekend is over, and the mundane ran out of time.

One thing I did do over the weekend was play with a character I started for an RP story, Dornaa. Dornaa is Mataoka's adopted daughter, coming-of-age in Azuremyst. Leveling the same class but two years' later is wonderful and strange. Though some things are familiar, and yes, there have been changes to shamans that are still odd and nonsensical (example: the fake totems that drop? Why do we need placeholders? It's an insult.). Dornaa is her own character, and comes across surprises and familiar faces to the Draenei community. Through her questing, I am learning more about lore and connections.

As I become more a part of the WoW community, I am also finding out more about myself, and the good folks out there. I know when I log in, my alternative Hearthstone will be just as warm and inviting as my real hearthstone. I'll keep the light on for you, too.

Update: Theme Song:
Of Monsters and Men/Little Talks

Drabble: The long view...

Dornaa sat on Matty’s lap and put her tiny hands on both sides of Matty’s face. She said, “You’re old but pretty, Matty.” Matty laughed, tickling the tiny girl. “You are so right, my darling girl, and you are silly as a gnome and twice as cute!”

She thought of that now—Mataoka, (never “Mommy”), was so patient—except when she wasn’t. But she was always fair. This gave Dornaa self-respect. Matty had one request for the young Draenei—to go to Azuremyst and understand her true people again. She loved it, but home was still just out of reach.

Wheel of Destiny: Dornaa

Dornaa's path will be elemental and restoration

(IC): Every circular tick, every rotund tock, every spin of the wheel, as Matty left Dornaa at the orphanage in the good care of Matron Mercy, she died a tiny bit inside--she felt it. Draenei live long lives when not otherwise thwarted by wars or manufactured means of destruction. If left alone, in peace, they are close to immortal. But these tiny heartaches demanded too high of a price. The decision was made to adopt Dornaa, and raise her as her own daughter. This had been Dornaa's wish all along, too: every night she prayed that Matty choose her, and maybe even her brother, too, and start a new life.

(OOC): Recently both Tome and JD/Amateur gave me a tiny nudge, unknowingly in JD's case, but I suspect Tome knew what she was doing all along, and the result is Dornaa. She is the Draenei orphan girl Matty has escorted two years in a row. JD's post on Reincarnation was added to the thought-pile of "what is a main?"

People speak of their mains frequently, and though I believe there is a rubric for what categorizes this (primary play hours, time spent with achievements, new content, end-game content, etc.), those of us who are serial alt creators and deleter-s find this concept difficult. Yes, if all of my characters were on a life boat and some needed to be tossed over, who would end up bubbling down to meet Davy Jones, and who would be eating sea rations? I guess I would choose Matty, but then Ceniza would grab her by the horns and head-butt her, Zep would add a touch of Devouring Plague, and then Lupe would toss her shield and go surfing to the next island (where she would meet a handsome troll shaman and they would have a torrid love affair, all whilst communicating in gestures and sign language. Talking is overrated anyway.)

So, like my dear friend Tome, we don't have "mains," we have "projects." The care and feeding of a young shaman girl is certainly a project. She adores Matty, and doesn't want to disappoint her, but needs to find her own path, too. Redemption through genetics. And re-rolling.