Pre-Cata Roundup

A while back I did a post on the things I'd like to do before Cataclysm is released. Since it looks like the Big Patch is dropping tomorrow, I thought I'd take a minute to see how far I've gotten.

Taurros has been moved. I haven't done much with him since (or any of my poor Horde guys), but it's good to have him "home" on Feathermoon. I will likely be moving Barraccus and Quae sometime this week as well, even have their IC "appearance" all figured out.

Quae and Shaurria are probably not going to make it to 80, unless I do some pretty major grinding. Quae is up to 76 now and Shaur is 77, but that's about it. I might just finish leveling them anyways, since the new 80+ leveling zones are likely to be CRAZY at first, but I don't know yet.

Rillian is 80 now and has been farming up points for his gear. He's got some t9 and other badge gear, plus the elemental invasion bosses coughed up some goodies for him, so he's doing pretty good.



Rajast is now 69. I spent all day today on him and got him up 3 levels. Thank goodness for heirlooms! He'll probably just sit for now, but he'll get finished sooner or later.

Arvoss' jewelcrafting hasn't been touched. I am a tad mad at myself, but hey, there's only so much time in each day. Can't get it all done, you know. On a plus side, Turron's JCing is nearly maxed.

Speaking of Turron, I've been neglecting him in favor of my others, but he has gotten another piece of t9 tanky goodness, and his dps set has seen some upgrades. He won't be finished come Cata, but I think I'll be happy.

My pet-craziness has wound down. I'm quite proud of my latest additions, most notably Booggah's new wolf and Lark's latest cat (she has 3 now, I think it's safe to call her a cat person).

Firstly, the wolf!

I took Lark out to Hinterlands on a whim, and there he was. Unfortunately I'd taken Boo back out to Sholazar. It was a long trip, but the old fella was still there, waiting for him.


Curious about the name? Well, Lark's mount is named Wynd. And this cat, Shadowclaw, is going to have a skin change in Cataclysm, to the riding-saber model. So, yea.


And finally, the last member of the gang, just so he's not left out...



The only pet left for Lark now is her fox, once I decide which color I want (the black one is tempting, but I'll probably go for the red/brown one). I'd still like to get Loque'nahak on Booggah, but I'm not rushing it. And he'll get more than his fill of the new stuff as well. *Starts thinking of what Cataclysm pets to tame....*

So that's about it so far. I have a ton of writing to do still, which annoys me. -_- Hopefully I'll get it done quickly. Til next time, Happy Hunting!

Shaurria: Goodbyes

I started thinking this one up, and then I wondered when it would actually occur. Then it hit me- I don't know what might happen with Teldrassil in Cataclysm, so it might be better to do this sooner rather than later. So, when Lark mentioned that Pitch was out of town a couple nights ago? This is what he was doing.

And Shaurria really needed the closure from this anyway. Poor baby.

_____________

Alanon looked up with some surprise as Shaurria came up to where he sat, kneeling in the grass beside him. "C-could we go on a trip?" she asked hesitantly. "We could," he replied, raising a questioning eyebrow at her. "Where would we be going?" Her answer was a whisper, just loud enough to hear. "T-Teldrassil?" Alanon blinked, then set down his notebook and the herb he had been examining. "Shaur," he said gently. "Why do you want to go to Teldrassil?"

She wouldn't meet his eyes; her voice was still soft. "Cause I used t' live there. In Starbreeze." Alanon reached over and gently tilted her chin up, making her finally look at him. "What is it?" he asked her simply. Shaur took a deep breath, seeming to find some courage in the process. Her voice steadied, and she met his eyes squarely. "Long time ago Arvoss asked me if I wanted t' go back home'n say goodbye," she said. "I-.. I think 'm ready." He looked back at her searchingly, then nodded. "I'll get Pitch," he said, then stood up. Shaur reached out to touch his arm. "Just us three," she whispered, and he nodded again.

Pitch met them at the boat to Auberdine. The trip was accomplished in silence, for the most part. Shaurria assumed that Alanon had told Pitch where they were going and why, because the normally garrulous druid didn't say a word. Soon enough they were facing the path that would take them to Starbreeze. They left their mounts there- Shaurria had been adamant about taking Finnall; the white saber could only offer her so much comfort, but he was a comfort all the same.

Shaur stood and stared down the path toward the village for a long time before starting off. A small part of her couldn't believe that she was here, that she was even thinking of going back to her old home, but the rest of her held steady. Thanks to Pitch and his furbolg friends, she no longer thought of the furbolgs as monsters. She knew now that they were simply sick, corrupted, and not truly evil. She still felt a bit surprised each time she realized that she wasn't afraid of them anymore.

Alanon, who was also in his cat form now, touched her shoulder with his nose. Shaur shook herself out of her reverie and started down the path.

She led the way to her old house unerringly, only stopping to make sure the furbolgs were a safe distance away before slipping through the door. Pitch and Alanon waited outside, guarding the door and also giving her some privacy if she needed it.The smallish blue-gray cat stepped through the doorway- and the Night elf entered the house.

She paused to look around. There were no bodies, at least- apparently the local Night elves had found time to clean the village up, although they hadn't done much to chase away the furbolgs. The interior was still a mess, with wrecked furniture, torn books, and broken dishes littering the floor. Suddenly unsure of what to do, Shaur hesitated, then went to the hearth and knelt down.

It had been so long, with so much happening since she had last been here, that she had trouble remembering what the house had looked like while she had lived here. While her parents had been alive. Now there were just dim flickers, half-remembered visions of a happy home with people who loved her.

Finally she just shrugged to herself and started talking, saying whatever came to mind. "I don't know if you can hear me," she began hesitantly. "But I just wanted t' let you know that I'm okay. I... I have people to look out for me now. I'm not alone, so y'don't need to worry about me.

"You'd probably like Pitch and Alanon, and Arvoss, even if he is a death knight. But I guess you wouldn't know what that is, would you? He.. He's real nice. He still looks out for me, even though I live mostly with Alanon now. He's taught me t' be a druid. A real druid, with healing skills'n stuff. He says I'm pretty good at it, though I'll always be a feral first, whatever that means.

"I... I miss you both." Now the tears started, falling fast and thick. She went on with hardly a tremor, though, determined to say what she had to. "I love you, and I'll never, ever forget you. I guess that's what I was afraid of- that if I said m'goodbyes, I'd just forget about you, and I don't want t' do that. But.. You're a part of me, right? So you're always with me in a way. That's how Alanon described it, anyway, and I think he's right.

"I don't know if I'll ever see you again. No one seems t' know what happens when we Night elves die. Th' humans think that they go to be with their "Light", whatever that is, but I don't know if it's th' same for us, or if we just kinda... disappear? But I wanted you t' know that I'm fine, and that I l-love y-you..." Now she finally broke down, burying her face in her arms and sobbing brokenheartedly.

A gentle touch on her shoulder told her she was no longer alone, and she turned to lean into Alanon's arms. He simply held her, making quiet shhing sounds and rocking her gently.

After what seemed like hours, though it was really less than one, Shaur's sobs quieted. She sat up straight, sniffling and rubbing at her nose. Alanon gave her a few minutes more, then lightly squeezed her shoulder. "All done here?" he asked her, and she nodded. They left the house to find Pitch still on guard, and all three druids made their way back to their mounts.

Shaurria was silent as she pulled herself up on Finn's back, then nudged him down the road. Pitch watched her with concern, finally breaking the silence. "You alright, Fuzzy?" It was Alanon who answered. "Yes, little brother," he said quietly. "She's all right." And Shaurria, feeling truly peaceful for the first time in a long, long time, saw no reason to disagree.

Rill and Lark at the Pig

Just because they're cute. And because everything I've written between these two so far has been awkward. >.>
__________________

Rillìan eyes Wildlark up and down.

Rillìan says: Y'gonna drink that're stare at it?

Wildlark shrugs.

Rillìan says: How's yer fella doing?

Wildlark says: He's fine, just out until late

Wildlark eyes Rillìan up and down.

Wildlark says: So don't get any ideas

Rillìan holds his hands up with a snicker. "I ain't."

Rillìan lets out a long, drawn-out sigh.

Rillìan says: Been a day, ain't it?

Wildlark says: Always is

Wildlark says: Rill?

Rillìan says: Mmph?

Wildlark says: Do you remember that first job?

Rillìan says: Course I do. Y'bloody got me t' sneak int' your room t' rob ya

Wildlark snickers.

Wildlark says: You made it easy. At least you've learned to be more cautious

Rillìan says: Woulda gotten away 'cept for that wolf o' yours, ya know

Wildlark grins.

Wildlark says: No you wouldn't. I knew you were there. Nether, why do you think it took Vei so long to attack?

Rillìan grunts. "Yer spoiling all my delusions, lass."

Wildlark laughs.

Wildlark says: You were younger

Rillìan says: Not so much

Rillìan says: Only been two hundred years, lass

Wildlark says: Still, I'm sure you're a lot better at your business now than you were then

Rillìan smirks slyly at Wildlark.

Rillìan says: Y'want me t' show ya?

Wildlark gives Rill a mock-glare.

Wildlark says: I have another wolf now, don't forget

Wildlark glances down at Komah as he growls.

Wildlark says: And two others as backup

Rillìan waves his hands. "Alright, alright."

Wildlark yawns sleepily.

Wildlark says: Maybe we ought to call it a day

Rillìan grunts again.

Rillìan says: Mind if I walk ya out?

Wildlark says: Nope

Pitch: Another Night At The Pig

I really want to write about Pitch more than I do, but he can be so stubborn about letting me into his head that it's difficult. This time it was so easy, it was rather a surprise. So anyway, here's how things look from Pitch's viewpoint. This actually occurred in between my last 2 Lark posts, for reference.

Poor, poor Pitch. He's so clueless about girls. *pats him in sympathy*

______________________

The Pig was crowded. Too crowded.

Pitch watched Skyborne as unobtrusively as he could. After the talks he had had with his brother, he really wanted to talk to her. But there were so many people around, and besides, Taius was never far from her side. And Pitch didn't know Taius well at all, and definitely didn't want to make the human feel jealous. Especially when there was no reason to.

He thought of just coming out and asking her, but the memory of the first (and last) time he had done that was still strong. He didn't want the attention that would create; he was nervous enough already. So he waited for a good opportunity to ask her, just for a couple minutes of her time.

Pitch's own experience was very limited, he knew, but he also knew that people who liked each other spent time together. Like Alanon and Arien. Or his parents. Or any of the other myriad couples he saw nearly every week at the Pig. And he had hardly seen Sky since they had returned from Ashenvale. He knew it was mostly his fault- he had been so busy doing other stuff, and naturally Sky would turn to someone that could give her the attention that she needed. It looked pretty certain now that that someone wasn't Pitch.

He wanted to tell her it was okay. That he was fine with them remaining just friends, that if she wanted to be with Taius instead he wouldn't get in the way. They certainly looked happy enough together, he thought, as she playfully reached- again- for the human's ponytail.

He didn't mind. He and Lark were spending all the time he could want together, so he wasn't lonely. And while he wished he knew why Lark refused to go beyond "just friends" when they obviously got along so well, he wasn't willing to risk their friendship by pushing too hard for anything more.

Pitch watched as Sky turned to a stranger that had shown up, another Kal'dorei. He kept watching, sure that he would get his chance sooner or later. But the Pig was crowded and he was distracted by the others soon enough. He still hadn't said anything to her by the time he realized that she had left.

A Chat With A Spirit-Cat

Lark sat up, only to discover her hand captured when she tried to stand. She looked back with a raised eyebrow, but Pitch only kissed the inside of her wrist before releasing her with a sleepy smile. She returned the smile as she stood and began gathering her clothes.

Slipping out of Pitch's room and closing the door behind her, she turned to see Komah stretched out on the floor of the shop below. She peered through the darkness for her other cat, then looked at him. "Tuah?" Home, he replied. He got tired of waiting. Lark chuckled as she let herself and the big spirit-cat out of the shop.

She felt a flash of surprise from Komah when she turned for the Harbor instead of the Mage District, but he said nothing. She led the way to the fountain and sat; when he hopped up and settled next to her she started stroking his back absently.

Lark finally broke the silence. "Do you miss Har'koa?" Komah blinked at her, then turned his head away, a gesture she had come to recognize as his version of a shrug. A little. I miss being with my own kind. But it's not bad, I was never the most... "popular." Lark digested that for a bit. "Did you love her?" she asked, and he turned back to blink at her again. She felt his surprise.

He was silent for a few minutes, and Lark started wondering if she had offended him somehow. Finally, however, he answered. We don't understand "love" as your kind do, he said. But, she was my mate, and I would have died for her. As I would for you, if it ever becomes necessary.

Now it was Lark's turn to blink. Before she could form a reply to that, he surprised her again. Lark, why don't you take Pitch as your mate? She frowned. "I would have thought you'd know by now. I don't want to get him killed." But why are you so sure it will happen? She looked away without answering. He gently butted his broad head against her arm. You can't be sure of the future, he said. It might be that you and he could have a long life together. She looked back at him, then gave a crooked grin. "I didn't know you were paying attention so closely when I spoke to Arvoss." He blinked again, and she felt his amusement.

Her own humor was short-lived. She hugged her knees, resting her chin on them and staring out over the Harbor. "He's asked me about it a few times, you know," she said. "He never presses it, though, just lets it drop when I say no." But then he asks again another time, Komah replied. I know. If he's so persistent, though, why do you keep turning him down? Lark shrugged. "You know why. I just.... I'm not sure how much longer I can keep telling him no." The cat's only response was another slow blink.

Lark sighed to herself, then dropped one hand to his head, rubbing gently. After a few minutes of silence, she looked down at him again. "So you don't have any regrets about joining up with me?" she asked him. Komah seemed unfazed by the change of subject. None, he said. This has been as interesting as I ever could have asked for. I'm content. Lark smiled at the affection he sent through their bond. "Think I'm ready to head to bed," she said. "How about you?" He replied by standing up and hopping off the fountain. After you, he told her. Side-by-side, they headed back to the University grounds.

Cataclysm is coming... (picture heavy!)(spoilers!)

(This may sound like a sad post, but it's not really, just very introspective.)

Cataclysm is coming. Azeroth will be torn apart forever. Are you prepared? Are your characters?

Been thinking a bit on this the last few days. It's only a month til the expansion comes out, and then everything my characters have known will be irrevocably changed. How are they going to feel about that, while they're running around dodging Deathwing attacks and trying to stop elemental invasions?

The Plaguelands are slowly being redeemed. How much progress will be made come Release Day? Will Arvoss ever be able to live on his farm again?



What about the zones that haven't been spoken of much? Will the Wetlands still be... well, wet?



What about the Burning Steppes? Badlands?



What about Mulgore and the Tauren? Most of us have heard about the Barrens changes, but nothing about it's neighboring zones. Will the war in the Barrens spill over into the Rolling Plains? Or will it cross the Southfury River into Durotar?



What about Arathi? Hillsbrad? Silithus and Un'goro?

Will Hammerfall still stand after Deathwing comes?



Will the dinosaurs still roam Un'goro?



The Thousand Needles will be no more, except in name.



How will Azshara look after the goblins move in with their new "designs"?





My Night Elves, except for Shaurria, have lived in Ashenvale for most of their considerable lives (Lark included!). So what will happen when their home is torn apart by a volcano? What will they do about the Orcs' incursions?

What will Pitch and Alanon, who have spent most of their lives here nurturing and defending the land, do?

Will their house even still be standing when it's over?


Lark has spent over a quarter of her life in and around the Barrens. Some of the biggest events of her life have been focused here. What will it mean to her when it becomes a warzone?


Equally important to her is Darkshore, where she's spent more time than anywhere except Ashenvale and the Barrens. If the cinematic is any indication, Deathwing will be making one of his fly-bys directly over it.

Lark will be in Darkshore when he does. Will she even survive? What about her pets?



What about your characters? Have you thought about what their reactions will be?

(This post brought to you mostly by my penchant for taking pretty screenshots of the zones while on flight paths. >.>)

"Here with you..."

She heads to bed ahead of him as he puts Riptik down for the night. He joins her there in short order. She turns to face him as he settles at her side. "Barraccus," she asks softly. "Do you ever have any regrets about what happened to you?"

He looks at her curiously. "You mean being a death knight, and everything that came with it," he states, and she nods. He frowns slightly in thought, rolling to his back and staring at the ceiling. "No," he says finally, then looks at her again. "I wouldn't change a thing, no matter what I went through to get here. If anything did change, I most likely wouldn't have met you, Quae."

She frowns now, looking uncertain. "So your family dying, all the torture you went through.... You wouldn't change any of that?"

He shakes his head. "I know it sounds terrible, but Quae... I would go through it all again, so long as I knew that in the end I would be here with you."

She looks at him without answering for a minute, then she reaches over to gently stroke his cheek. His hand comes up to cover hers as it comes to rest on his chest. She can feel his heart beating under her arm, and she smiles.



_______________________

This is basically what was going through my mind when I did this picture. (So everyone get your minds out of the gutter! >.>) Haven't done anything RP-wise with these two for ages, and I miss them. I'm still not sure exactly when I'll move them to Feathermoon, but it'll probably be soon. Anyways, enjoy zee artz!