Time's Flyin'...

Sup little blog, how are you?

Wow, I didn't even realize how long it's been since my last post. Craziness happened, in that my sister and I moved! We went from a house with 2 other roommates to our own apartment, which is pretty darn nice. No crowding, no people taking our stuff.... Anyways, besides that, what's been happening?

4.1 happened, that's for sure. I'm ridiculously happy that Booggah's hydra Karda now has his own family and stuff, but it's frustrating that the rest of the hydras aren't tamable yet. Come on, Blizzard! In other pet news, Lark's little Thor isn't so little anymore. -.- Even so, I did get attached to him in the short time she's had him, so maybe he'll stay. I haven't decided yet.

Booggah needs to go tame one of these babies asap - they're purty.


He only has a couple cats, shush. >.>

Rheugan has been chilling out at 64, I aim to level him and get him to Nagrand soon. I even have some RP ready for when he does get there. ICly he's been... thinking, a lot. Which means that he sticks in my head just long enough to get an idea about what he's thinking/feeling, then he boots me out again. Silly worgen.

Pitch has been involved with some RP with the Riders. It involves Gilneas, that's all I'm going to say- but I am chat-logging it, so once it's finished I may toss it up here. Keep watching!

With the move and the hassle of getting our internet sorted, I've been mostly doodling or playing on baby alts, including a new hunter on the Arthas server, that I made to play with my brother. Narzabeki has been rerolled, is now 21, and is missing her tiger Kumal something fierce, though her raptor Anzi'mar is a nice replacement so far. She's almost at the level to go get her baby back, though, so soon she'll have Kumal at her side too.

My Rift-playing has stalled out in favor of WoW, though I'm sure I'll get back into it sooner or later. My friends/sister's toons have all passed me, however, so hopefully they don't mind helping me play catchup.

Lark got a chance to see the new Zul'Gurub dungeon last night. It was pretty fun, even when we were wiping to bosses because we didn't know the fight mechanics yet. She got to run with some of her raid group members- I'm not quite up to dealing with PUGs in those dungeons yet. Pitch isn't quite at the gear level he needs for them yet, but a few more heroic runs should get him there, and then I can try to tag along on some of the WFR runs.

I think I said something about doodling, didn't I? Well, after not doing anything much art-wise for weeks, I finally got my groove back. My sister sketched this, but she gave me permission to color it (actually she kinda threw it at me with a "YES!" when I suggested it, but yea..)



These next ones probably need some explaining. See, I think of a lot of stuff while I'm at work- it's usually where most of my RP writing has come from. My job is mostly physical, which lets my mind wander while I work. A few weeks ago, I started getting this idea- for my own story, not WoW-related. The idea stuck hard enough that I wound up doing a few pictures on it, and I've started writing out bits and pieces of it too. Soooo, here's a couple characters from it.

This is Rhisovan. Getting his color right was challenging, yet a lot of fun when I finally figured it out. And then I added the mist effect and it obscured most of my hard work. Go me.

These are the main characters. Karee is a lonely village girl, and Vardigen is the "horse" that takes her away.


P.S.? They're not really horses. >.>

I still have a lot of work to do with the story before I'll feel comfortable sharing any of it, but I will likely do some more artwork of it, so I'll slap them up here when I do. Still working on a couple more WoW-related ones too, in fact I might finish one today.

That's all I can think of right now. Til next time, Happy Hunting!

Rheugan: Homecoming

I am slowly, slooowly starting to figure out some of the stuff that's still bothering Rheugan. I'm kinda hoping this might open some doors and help him get some of that out of his system, though he's doing his best to teach me to not expect anything from him, heh.

Rheugan finally gets to go back home, only to find that perhaps it's not quite what he was expecting. Enjoy!
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The pair of crows sitting on the outcrop took flight in a clatter of wings, shrieking their displeasure, as the two stormcrows came in to land, Pitch keeping a careful watch on his protege. Rheugan looked worn from the long flight, but he was far from exhaustion; Pitch was pleased that he was holding out so well.

They caught their breath as they surveyed the countryside below, Pitch paying special attention to the lay of the land. A good scout made himself familiar with the ground he would be covering, and he had planned this trip with more in mind than simply easing Rheugan's peace of mind.

Finally Rheugan unshifted long enough to point toward a dark blot in the distance, saying as he did, "Tempest Reach, and the Blackwald." Pitch nodded, and the two birds took off again.

The Blackwald looked foreboding as they flapped down through a break in the branches, unshifting as they hit the ground. Pitch stood where he had landed, looking around warily, but Rheugan took a few steps deeper into the woods. He stopped and stood motionless, though Pitch could see a range of emotions warring across his face. Fear, longing, pain... Finally he shuddered slightly, then turned and gave his mentor a slight, shaky grin. "It never quite goes away, does it?" he asked. Pitch felt a sudden surge of sympathy for the young man. "No, it doesn't," he replied as he stepped over and put a hand on Rheugan's shoulder. "But you learn to control it. It will get easier, believe me."

Rheugan turned back to the woods without answering. After several minutes, when Pitch was about to suggest they find a safe place for the night, he spoke again. "We lived here, to start with," he said softly. "But hunting grew slim, and the pack leader took us south." Pitch felt a brief shock as he realized Rheugan was speaking of his time as a feral, but he kept quiet, listening. "I.. I didn't like it. There were so many people... But it made our 'hunting' easier, so the leader kept us there. Then the hunters came.

"I wanted to run, but I wouldn't leave the pack. Finally I challenged him." His hand came up to touch the remains of his left ear. "I lost. A few days later they came for us. The leader was killed, several others. I didn't fight back, which is probably why they didn't kill me too. They drove me into a cage, along with a few others. The rest is a blur... until I came back to myself, in Duskhaven."

He fell silent. Pitch waited patiently, in case he had anything else to say, but at last he gently touched Rheugan's arm. "We need a safe place for the night," he said softly, and Rheugan nodded, seeming to pull himself back together. "Taldoren is right over there," he said, pointing, then he led Pitch through the trees. Pitch could feel the thrum of magic before the great tree even came into view; it felt like druid magic, but not anything he had felt before. He glanced at Rheugan, but the other druid didn't seem bothered- if anything he looked calmer, more relaxed.

Rheugan ducked between the roots into the cave underneath the tree, Pitch following more hesitantly. The human immediately assumed his cat form and started sniffing around until he found a spot to his liking, where he scratched at the dirt, then flopped down. Pitch looked around uncertainly. "Are you sure we'll be safe in here?" Rheugan favored him with a sardonic look, then curled into a tight ball and stuck his nose under a paw. Pitch shrugged to himself, then changed to his cat form and curled up beside him. His sleep was uneasy, but they were undisturbed the entire night.

* * * * * *

Pitch woke the next morning to find Rheugan gone. He scrambled out from under the tree, then relaxed as he found his student just outside. Rheugan had taken his worgen form and was poking around cautiously, sniffing the air. He fixed Pitch with one bright green eye as the Kal'dorei appeared. "We need to get moving," he said gruffly. A low howl in the not-so-far distance punctuated his words, and Pitch made no objections. The two druids took to the air again without another word.

Pitch found himself in the unfamiliar position of being completely dependent on Rheugan to lead them where they had to go. He paid close attention to the landmarks below, fixing them in his memory, as they flew down to Stormglen Village, then back north to the city itself. Rheugan paused at the city's edge, Pitch waiting patiently while he studied the streets and buildings. Finally he gave himself a little shake, then flapped onward.

He led Pitch to what looked like a square, an old Forsaken standard still standing in the middle. Rheugan landed in the street, sparing a contemptuous look for the flag, then unshifted. Pitch did likewise, then moved to stand at his shoulder, staying close but still giving the younger man space if he needed it.

Rheugan glanced at him briefly, then turned back to the flag. "This is where Prince Liam fell," he said softly. Pitch blinked, then took a closer look around, taking in the signs of battle. Rheugan simply stood still, staring at the standard. "He was one of the few that accepted us right from the beginning," he continued. "He treated us as friends, not monsters. Even the ones..." He trailed off without finishing, then glanced at Pitch again. "This way," he said, then headed deeper into the city.

They crossed over into a section of town that appeared to be mostly housing, with a few shops scattered throughout. There were signs of fighting even here, though it was apparent that it had happened a long time ago.

Rheugan stopped suddenly, and Pitch nearly ran into him. The younger druid was staring at one of the houses, an unreadable look on his face. "This was my home," he said before Pitch could ask, his voice so quiet it could hardly be heard. Pitch blinked, then looked up at the building. It looked virtually the same as the neighboring buildings, made of stone but clearly belonging to people of some wealth. The door was broken in, the dark entryway yawning in front of them. Rheugan stared into it as if his life depended on it.

Pitch looked at the open doorway, then at Rheugan. Finally he asked, "Well, why don't you go in and have a look?" Rheugan started, as if it was something he wouldn't have dreamed of doing, then took a slow step closer to the door. A look of naked longing came over his face. One hand came up toward the doorframe; Pitch noticed it was shaking. It stopped before touching the wood frame, and Rheugan stood stone-still for a long minute.

Finally he lowered his hand, stepping away from the doorway. "It's not my home any longer," he said, glancing at Pitch almost as if he had done something wrong. His eyes looked haunted.

Pitch took a step closer, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder and trying not to notice when the young man flinched slightly. "It's all right, Rheugan," he murmured. A quick glance at the sky showed that the sun, barely visible through the ever-present overcast, was almost at noon. He looked back at Rheugan. "I think we've seen enough here, huh? Ready to head home?"

Rheugan rubbed at his eyes, which Pitch dutifully pretended not to notice, then he nodded. "Aye," he said bleakly. "Home."

Plans

Oh hey, have some RP. Not finished yet, but the last part is looking to be a doozy, so I figured I'd post it separate. Enjoy!
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Rheugan launched himself clumsily into the air, flapping his wings hard to gain altitude. His landing was much smoother, as he came in to light on the tree branch next to Pitch. His mentor beamed at him. "That was much better. Just need to work on your takeoffs now." Rheugan just nodded- speaking as a bird was another thing he needed work on.

Pitch watched him as the small human left his bird shape and straddled the branch, peering fearlessly at the goings-on below them. "So," he said casually, and Rheugan looked up at him. "I thought we might make that trip back to Gilneas tomorrow. I mean, it'll be a lot safer now you can fly, and you could use the endurance training." Rheugan cocked his head. "You really th- ahh, if you think I can do it," he said, and Pitch grinned. "Sure you can. We'll go slow if we have to. But we'll be flying the whole way," he warned. "No gryphons, no shortcuts. So make sure you get plenty of rest tonight." Rheugan nodded, then looked down below them again, pensively.

Pitch eyed him. "You could be happier about it," he stated. "Is something wrong?"

The younger druid shrugged, then glanced up at him briefly. "If we're going.." he said slowly. "That means that Fells doesn't want me along on whatever that trip is she's planning, does she?" Pitch looked at him thoughtfully for a moment. "Well, no," he answered honestly. "But it's not because she thinks you'd be a bother."

"It's because I'm Gilnean, isn't it?" Rheugan asked softly. "Whatever she wants to do there, I gathered it isn't honest, and she thinks I'll object."

"I don't know," Pitch replied, then trailed off as he eyed his student curiously. "Would you?" he asked. Rheugan shrugged. "I don't know what she's after, so how would I know, eh? But she's made her choice, so what does it matter now?"

Pitch sighed as he looked away. Rheugan's soft voice brought him back, however. "Are you going?" The Night elf eyed the human for a long moment. "Yes," he said finally. "She said she needs a scout, and I am good at it, bragging or no." Rheugan wouldn't meet his eyes. "Do you... know what she's going after?" he asked hesitantly.

Pitch blinked, thinking fast. "No, she hasn't told me yet," he answered, wincing inwardly at the lie. "I imagine she will once we're all there. Look," he said as he sat up straighter on the branch. "I'll tell you all about it once we're back, all right? Bet it'll be quite the story." Rheugan nodded, rather listlessly, and Pitch looked at him sharply. "Are you okay, Rheu?" he asked, using the nickname the younger druid had tacitly deemed acceptable. The human shrugged. "Doesn't really matter, does it? It's decided."

Pitch frowned, but didn't press it. "Well, it's getting late," he said instead. "I'm going to turn in. You do the same soon, okay?" Without waiting for an answer, the Kal'dorei rolled right off the branch in a backwards somersault, changing to a bird and catching himself before he splattered on the ground. Rheugan watched in bemusement as his mentor flapped off toward the Mage District, then opted to shift to his bird form before hopping off himself.

* * * * * *

"I need a favor." Lark rolled over to look at him, her drowsiness vanishing as she raised an eyebrow. "Fells has a job going on in Gilneas, and I'm going as a scout," Pitch told her. "I don't know how long it'll take, though, and while I'm gone Rheugan will be on his own."

Lark nodded. "So you want me to keep an eye on him?" "If you could," he replied. "Shaurria was going to stay with him as much as possible, but my brother is heading back to Hyjal soon and I don't know if he's taking her or not." Lark frowned, deep in thought. "I can do better than that, I think," she said finally. "I was going to go over the grounds for a maintenance check soon, and I could use a cat or two to help."

Pitch brightened. "Oh that'd be perfect," he said. She grinned at him. "When?" she asked, and it was Pitch's turn to think. "Fells said a week and a half, and that was a couple days ago," he answered. "All right then," Lark told him. "Consider it taken care of." He beamed, letting out a huge sigh of relief. "Thanks. Whatever you'd like as repayment, just let me know."

Lark gave him a sly look, then grinned as she reached over and tugged at one ear. "Oh, I can think of a few things."

You Think That You're Done and Then This Happens

Some folks in one of the OOC channels wanted to put together an old-school raid for cheevohs when I logged in tonight. I didn't really pay much attention, until suddenly Naxx was mentioned.

See, I happened to find a post over on the Petopia forums, about a "special" pet that could only be found in Naxx, where it is spawned during the Anub'Rekhan fight. I had been toying with the idea of dragging my sis in there and trying to duo it, but this... This opportunity just couldn't be passed up.

A couple of the others in the raid were from Lark's Thursday night group, and the others were known at least in passing, so it was no problem when I explained about the beetle and how I wanted to tame it. Anub was the first boss we headed for, and soon enough...



The tame took forever, because whichever bugger Lark targeted would randomly aggro on someone else and the tame would break. Finally Anub was kind enough to summon a fresh round, and Lark simply ran up to one nomming on the other hunter, smacked it with her spear, then trapped and tamed while the hunter feigned. It finally worked.



He comes with a shell-shield!



His name is Thor, because a bug that small deserves a disproportionately mighty name.





He is so stinking tiny it's ridiculous. I love it.



Also, bragging rights for the Heigan fight:



Boom, baby.

(Lark picked up so many achievements in there I'm not even going to try listing them. Apparently this was her first time in there. O.o)