September 2011 Event Highlights

The Good

-I'd like to express my surprised joy at seeing certain folk, again: Erik/Wolfgar, Gabriel/Alexander, and Elias/Bolton.  It was a pleasure to see many, many of you again, but these three were rather unexpected, so I'm glad you were there.

-It was good to be back in armor and swinging Geheimnis, again.

-It was also good to lead gamers in battle, again.  It's always an interesting challenge to try and get a bunch of self-determined individualists all paying money to come out looking for their own CMOAs* to follow an actual battle plan.  More on that later ...
*( tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/SugarWiki...Main.MomentOfAwesome )

-Galen Gast taught me willpower using a sandwich.

-Said sandwich, made by none other than Hammish MacSweeney, was REALLY good when I finally got to eat it.  If I had known there was melted cheese on it during the lesson, I might not have made it.

-It was kind of neat to meet up with a fellow ex-mercenary-commander.  I think it's appropriate that we met on the battlefield.  It was also a lot of fun sitting around and commiserating about how poorly this stupid town treats mercenaries who would be a lot of help if people would quit kicking them around.  Thanks, Emerson.  Looking forward to seeing more of Private Valentine.

-Kudos to the guild-mate with over a hundred confirmed mosquito kills.

-Thank you to the newly-again-weds for the feast.  I don't care what any cranky old man has to say - it was delicious.

-Watching Sorel save the bacon from Gnools - only to have to keep chasing it after he cut it loose and it ran away again.  It was like something out of a cartoon.  I feel like I should have been paying to watch that.

The Bad

-I have not seen bugs this bad since summer in North Carolina.  I'm still swatting at phantom bugs.

-Guard duty seems really pointless when guys like Cinder and Ardentfyre are nearby.

-I clocked some poor NPC in the head with my elbow Friday Night.  Sorry, dude.

The Tactical Perspective: Three up, three down.

UP: On the lowbie-side of Main Mod, the violence of action was admirable.  That's how you pursue an enemy - rapid, focused assaults.

UP: Another lowbie mod - this one in the maze, against a bunch of spiders and a necro ... guy.  The PCs split up and ended up on either side of the boss (said nerco-guy), making that fight pretty much a piece of cake.  I don't think I would have thought of that, but it worked very well, and so I'll remember to try it next time I'm fighting in the maze.

UP: Excellent use of barricades in the Tavern on Saturday night.

DOWN: On the lowbie-side of Main Mod, again, my team and I were given the task of pushing ahead out of the cave.  There was no explanation of the fact that we were providing security for the PC carrying the chest full of mod-critical stuff.  I had to figure that out on my own.  It all worked out in the end, and I realize that the heat of battle makes it hard to give thorough instructions, but a little more detail would have gone a long way towards how I accomplished my mission.

DOWN: Friday night, Father Gideon Weaveforger was doing his best to take command outside the inn while fighting against some undead things.  He gave a very simple command - and I know his voice is loud enough - to not go any further than the road.  There might have been better tactics to use, but this was not a bad one, and it would have been a good base to start using other techniques from.  NO ONE listened.  It is far too typical a thing in Travance.

DOWN: ... Only two "downs" this time, I guess, that I observed and are worth noting.  I'd be very interested to hear about things others saw - stuff that worked, stuff that didn't, things we can improve on, and things we can institute across the board.

Hey everyone, 

Let's keep the Highlights about what was enjoyable for you at Knightrealms and the lowlights in an Event Recap form. Thanks!

....Cherry Ice.....

The good out of this past event.
- First guild meeting seeing people faces when they got seen for doing well
-Learning more about each member
-Feast was amazing!
- Having the Barrons back on more then one issue.....and in come cases literally having his back on a dark side path was a lot of fun.
"Ming your fighting? ......Contrary to popular belief I do know that the pointy end goes into the enemy like thus"
- Politics stress
- The wedding

Remember remember the ninth of September....The Abendroth treason and plot. I see no reason why Abendroth treason, should ever be forgot!


The not so good
- We learned the hard way the old cataclysm "Buyer be ware" from Doug the hard way when dealing with Winterdark Merchants.
- Had his fill of people jumping at the bit to tear down what little we have,
-Politics being used and abused only to think really in the end will this get me and mine anything other then &%$#  on?
- Some one made Kool aid with the water down at the stump...So I got poisoned in real life!! So my Sunday was not at all a good one.

....Cherry Ice.....

^THIS!!!!!!! lol!!

Remember remember the ninth of September....The Abendroth treason and plot. I see no reason why Abendroth treason, should ever be forgot!

^ Also, this.
I would like to say publicly, Thank you Rob for instilling fear in my heart as a character again.  I appreciate it.

-The wedding - beautiful.  AND delicious.
-Courting on Dragon's Breath.  Oh my.
-Spirit Realm + Satyr's Wine = TERRIBLE idea.
-Galamachian Hearald Plot.  Mike, this was awesome.  I loved the interaction with Pete and Tammy.
-Getting up the hill and being stripped of all of my Templar/Cleric abilities... This was actually a highlight.  It was rough trying to figure out how I was to be useful on the battle field without Gaia protecting me.  And then left me full and ready to take on Drow later that night.

Overall, great event.

Haven't done one of these in a couple months. 
Had a great time this month. 
-Actually getting there, after driving 2 extra hours of detours to get there for a total of 7 hours. 
-Did some teaching, getting better at it.
-Getting a courage lesson from Amalthea and Bran with help from Misaki.  It was hilarious if you watched Bran's face.
-The wedding was amazing
-sitting at market fair and hearing Malyc say "trinkets, incendiaries, a small boy..." when hawking his goods.
-getting to go on the high level mod as a level 12 healer.  I helped some, so I'm happy.
-Going to bed the first time and having Rayven run in yelling to get up that there was a vampire coming.  Then after a couple of hours trying to sleep again only to be woken by someone running in saying we have to leave or we are going to die.
-Sitting on the steps of the inn listening to Zander singing and talking about walks through the focus while on saytr's wine, yes it is a bad idea, and getting back massages while slowly getting drunk.
-Having to run with the other healers and being told later I was on the list of missing.
-There was a lot of great RP this month, some of the best conversations I have ever had.



The only bad things were the little vampires and when I went to get the van to load up I found a very flat tire.  (thank goodness for warranties, got it fixed for free today).

-Watching Sorel save the bacon from Gnools - only to have to keep chasing it after he cut it loose and it ran away again.  It was like something out of a cartoon.  I feel like I should have been paying to watch that.

How could I forget the bacon pig?  That was one of the best things I saw all weekend, and it was nice to see something lighthearted amongst all the horror that would occur later on.  Well done, Sorel, the town's bacon has been saved.

-Getting a courage lesson from Amalthea and Bran with help from Misaki.  It was hilarious if you watched Bran's face.

And yeah.... that was terrific! Puttin' the fear of Bran into Leandra was just neat!

one thing I forgot that really amused me...

While walking back from Main Mod with Templar Rayven and Father Morgan
Rayven: (something to the effect of) The barbarians who come to town may not recognize me as *their* chieftain, but they should recognize me as *a* chieftain, and the authority that goes with that.
Winks: You mean like how goblins that come to town should recognize my authority as a chieftain too?
Morgan: But Winks, they *do* recognize you as a chieftain.

I don't care that I'm covered in bites, this event was awesome.

Friday:
- I had the privilege of working with some great new players on my npc shift.  I wish all the new players could come in and have that same level of enthusiasm, willingness to throw themselves into a role, and determination to have fun.  Hope to see you lads back.

-Shady, shady dealings and the look on the marshal's face when we returned and counted out what we had swindled from the town.

-The RP between Sergei and Seamus in giving him permission to marry his sister.  This entire thing has been fantastic RP from the start.  It will be interesting to see how it turns out.

-No sooner do I get to the inn and I am accosted by a Templar in need of a massage.  It would seem Sergei's reputation is spreading...

Saturday:
-New noms for maket faire.  Always a joy to see how people enjoy the things that Shane and I make and the reactions to the new things I bring.  I may have to make the butterscotch brownies and cinnamon rolls again.

-The wedding.  Possibly the most adorably nerdy thing I have ever had the pleasure of witnessing.  The Kirkwall tradition of the Highland Pint Fights with "your Sirness" Collin was icing on the cake.  Also, the look on Gideon's face when he realized that the horn Bran had given the couple to toast and share from was filled with whiskey, not mead?  Priceless.  

-Conversations with Father Morgan and Father Haroldson.  Bran is determined to show that he is deserving of the trust and honor they have given him.

-Starleaf and his constant molestations and requests to mate with Bran.  Judging by people's reactions I can only surmise the look of abject horror on Bran's face was hilarious.

-Assisting Amalthea and Misaki in teaching Leandra how to be courageous.  "You are a strong, independent woman, and you don't need anybody!"

-Going on the high level stupid.  And surviving.

Coming back in as Sergei "to profit off of the pain and suffering of others."  There are a couple kinds of people who do that.  Lawyers and those that give massage.  Sergei's the latter.

-The Apollocaust.  From trying to find survivors with Zander, to realizing that deep within his soul, Sergei has a hidden big damn hero streak when it came down to leading people out of town and returning to find his sister, the intensity was amazing.

Sunday:
-Flat tires suck, but awesome people who help a bunch of Rochestarians who are far from home change a tire are awesome.  Thanks again, guys.

-"With terrible aim, I cast Miss!"  Possibly the funniest thing said all Sunday.

-Also, Goblin Jesus.

I think more character development happened for Sergei than for Bran this game.  It's always fascinating what characters do if you give them their head and let them run for a bit.  So despite the hour and a half detour through the bowels of Pennsyltucky to get there and the flat fixed to get home, all in all amazing event.

Well, as some of you know and many of you can tell, this was my first time in Travance.  It was filled with an immense amount of lessons, some which were learned the hard way.

Friday-

-Introduced myself to a few around the inn and gained valuable insight  into Travance.

-My first combat was with assassins, with a swarm of other warriors to aid me.  There I found Misaki and Kelt, who taught me much about the ways of the Dragoon as well as combat.

Saturday-

-I allied myself with Ostcliffe, and got to know most of them.

-Attended the wedding.

-Received a handshake of death, and nearly survived thanks to my new allies.

-The feast was one of the most memorial events I had.  Great food and even greater entertainment.

-NPC'd as a fungus.(Not the hardest it RP, but served to be a rather annoying force for some.)

-Played a two or three games of chess, winning some and losing some.  But learning new things regardless of the result.

-Cowered in the inn while an intense dramatic scene unfolded before me and drew me in. It was thanks to the strong warriors and leaders at the inn that I survived that night.

Sunday-

-Had breakfast at the inn and preceded to play one last chess match before I left, which resulted in a draw.

I had such a blast, and I look forward to meeting up with my friends in Travance again soon.

Okay, I am still editing my highlights but I can tell you my favourite one right now.
Kat's gypsy and elric were guarding the stairwell door to the inn during the Apollocaust, when one of the high-level stomping demons comes up and starts knocking on the door.
Demon: *knocks on door*
Elric: *looks out and sees the demon* we do not want what you are selling!
Demon: *knocks again*
Elric: No! Now shoo!
Demon: *walks away with head hanging, stops, then looks back*
Elric: GO AWAY!
Demon: *walks away, its hopes of us letting it in crushed*

To whomever played that demon, thank you. You made my night.
I would also like to state that the back door of the inn was held for an entire night by a low level bard and smith.

I must say, having a darker event was kind of refreshing. Just being actually afraid to walk alone at night was kind of thrilling, I have never felt that at game before, even has a low level. I hope there are more dark events like this.

Collecting my thoughts would be easier if I didn't just leave them any old place.  I should get a folder for that.  

So here I am, back for the first time to a full event in over a year.  That highlight alone is the top of my list.  Reuniting with friends in and out of game, meeting new people, and trying to get up to speed with the events in Travance since my disappearance.  Huge, huge fun.  I can't possibly go over all the things I enjoyed about this event, and I'm absolutely terrible with names, so please don't feel left out if I didn't mention you, I'm very scatterbrained.

-Getting essentially drafted onto the guard, and within just a few hours trying to arrest a troublemaker...only to have her disappear, trying to arrest her again, after trying to figure out what was going on, only to have her disappear again and come back later, convincing Galen that this was some sort of elaborate hazing ritual set up by Magnus.

-Teaching, and realizing that there may soon be conflict brewing between the healers after some very serious conversations.

-Willpower lesson as mentioned above, the best part was watching Rannick's body language after I walked off with the sandwich at the end of the lesson as he resigned himself to the fact that he was going to be hungry for the rest of the day.  Yeah, I ended up giving him the sandwich because I had already eaten earlier, but he sure didn't know that at the moment, and yes, I am a jerk  

-My NPC shift.  Thank you to everyone that was running around to my evil machinations.  I hope you all had as enjoyable a time as I did.

-To one particular player I heard about from my NPCs, thank you once again if you didn't hear it before, your actions surprised me in one of the best ways and I'd like to thank you for setting such a good example for everyone.  You sir, rock.

-Corsair trying to use me to set off a huge fight in the Tavern.  Matt, you looked so wonderfully saddened when I spoiled your fun.  I'm just glad I was in "RAR Angry Galen Mode" or I would have cracked up from it.

Lowlights:

-Not staying up to all hours like I normally would, and thus sleeping through the worst of the Apollocaust.  This is sort of a highlight as well, since Galen feels partially responsible for every person that died, which will make for some great RP, I just wish it had been the result of other reasons.

-Oddly, not so much the bugs, but the humidity.  That was bothering me a  lot more than the tiny ghouls.  Still, the bugs were obnoxious at times.

-Not enough time with everyone.  I guess I'll just have to keep coming back then, won't I?  


Thanks again to everyone that helped me out this weekend, I really appreciate it, and I'm looking forward to coming back again next month!

-Willpower lesson as mentioned above, the best part was watching Rannick's body language after I walked off with the sandwich at the end of the lesson as he resigned himself to the fact that he was going to be hungry for the rest of the day.  Yeah, I ended up giving him the sandwich because I had already eaten earlier, but he sure didn't know that at the moment, and yes, I am a jerk  

-My NPC shift.  Thank you to everyone that was running around to my evil machinations.  I hope you all had as enjoyable a time as I did.

You did a great job on both the lesson and as the Monster Marshal.  It was a pleasure NPCing for yah!

Alright, I guess my recap is one of the more anticipated ones so it's time I finally do it.  First of all, this was my first full event back in about 9 months and WOW was it amazing!  It was awesome seeing all the old faces of good friends and really exciting to see all the new people to KR.  It was great to RP and fight with all of you and that alone is enough for a highlight list.  But you know me, gotta get in the specifics  

Friday Night

-ELIAS COMING BACK!  Missed you so much buddy!
-managed to save two people from the Galmachian Death-Hand (aka. Master Hand) by grabbing them at the last second and running with their body.  Kind like this...
Ilana: I'm almost done!
Misaki: We're running out of time, Ilana!
I: Just hang on!
M: It's here!  *grabs body mid resuscitation and runs*
-doing the same thing to a downed assassin NPC, turning around the corner to run towards the forge, and literally being face-to-face with about 15 undead NPCs IG.  I almost peed my pants.  Then I ran.
-staying up all night with my Witch Hunter brethren.  You guys ROCK!  Coop, I finally got to hang out and meet Seamus.  So awesome.
-nothing wraps up a long night of beating up undead, assassins, and the Magnus-Cinder-Sorel-Mega-Badguys (Undead Anti-Paladin Dark Siths) like catching the sun rise.  So awesome.

...oh, and Posi Puppies.  That is all.

Saturday Morning

-Lauren Silver, wherever you are reading this just know that we are totally hanging out each event now.  Insane RP with this girl and Misaki's mind exploded on multiple occasions.  Definitely looking forward to October.
-Why is it that everybody now points to Misaki to lead expeditions (mods) or guard people or whatnot?  It's cool, but man.  I went from mod to mod to mod and all I could hear in my head was Geoff Schaller saying "Drink."


Saturday Evening: Main Mod

-probably would have been ok with sneaking onto the Higher Level Main Mod, but decided to do the right thing and go on the lower level one.
-being at the head of the attack force with the rest of DragonForce (heck yeah) and ripping through NPCs like Galen's cheese
-Zach Theis, I love you buddy, but one more "Bestow Daydream" and I would have blown all my latent skills to annihilate you.
-managing to capture NPCs and bring 'em in for questioning.  Man I love strength.

Sunday Morning

-Matt/Rayven is a trooper.  I was person number 9 that he brought through the focus that night/morning.  You, sir, deserve lots of praise.
-Misaki being exceedingly confused on his death and the RP that's now ensuing to try and get his memory back.

NPC Shift:

-Playing a Lizardkin Poisoner and Jim Bob's mods.  Just plain awesome.  Also, exceedingly weird being on the other side of things.  Usually I'm the one calling "Lore: Lizardkin"  

"What kind of Ice?"
"Cherry Ice.  Does it really matter?"
*hilarity ensues*
Gregor I love you dude.


So yeah, if I missed something it's just because the entire weekend was amazing.  I absolutely cannot WAIT for when all the things hit the fan for Misaki in October.  Get ready for some fun!

Folks as a quick reminder - please be wary of Spoilers (/riversong)!  Some people may not know things OOG as well as IG, and finding them out both IG and OOG is part of the fun of the game.

I know this past event was very eventful for a lot of people, but it's not over yet... I'm pretty sure there will be more to come. . Don't ruin the surprise for other players, or people who were not there!

Fixed!  My bad!  :-X

Good times, all around, so many people that I haven't seen at game in a while.

Highlights in no particular order
coming out of a dragon spirit daze to see Marcos for the first time in months and proceeding to jump on him

yet another weekend of riding bad dragoon-based decisions into the sunset, could have done without all the mosquitos in the universe also sharing the carren.  Also kinda enjoyed the shouting match with Vith-nar.

NPCing as the mushroom farmer looking for her husband.  Was really nice to hear "aww I love a happy ending" when we found him at the end.

Pirate sing along on the porch.  Wagon wheel is one of my all time favorite songs and the "elf song" and other improvised songs were fantastic.

Wedding, wedding fight, wedding drinking and Wedding prancing fairy violating Bran.  So good!

TERRIBLE and fantastic idea that was my saturday night.  Thats the last time I ic think "i know Collin told me to stay here but I'm with three nobles what could possibly go wrong?" and out of charcter "its 3am and I'm with Jake and Jim Bob, what could possibly go wrong?"   Nothing like dying along in the woods and spending the night wandering the spirit realm to teach a serious lesson.  Never felt so angry, embaresed, frusterated and sad ic, but OC it was pretty amusing to wander around the massare as a ghost

After 2 years kwildar finaly saying something almost as stupid to Ashling as she said to him during their first conversation... unfortunatly it was while Ashling was dead so she doesnt remember it.

Glen Z - the good news for you is the draw was the first half point I surrendered in Travance in two years, IIRC.  The bad news is I will give our future games my undivided attention. 

I did not mention this at first, but prior to the event, my "miracle of parting the waters."  Ask Jake about it.

OK so taking forever to getting around to the highlights but eventually has arrived

Got there very late friday but still found time for several games of chess and chance, the gambler with ming na and blackjack was hilarious.

Saturday NPC: Bacon Mod, Sorel intercepting blows on the prized bacon pig and taking the crits was hilarious. Can't believe he cut the pig loose....

Learning Kubb was fun, quite difficult and losing to gypsys must mean they cheated somehow.... not really but i thought it sounded good

Feast was excellent, as was the feast entertainment.

RP with Ardin and learning my first spells as well as other IG facts about family matters, when this comes to fruition it will be excellent

Main mod being usefull on the low shift against the galamchian school, thank you to strength potions and scrolls to allow me to carry like 10 different people to healers.

Coming back to the inn, slightly out of breath to Edwin's request.... Care for a game of chess? timing Charlie timing

During said game hearing a philisophical debate about how the galamchian children should be handled between Edwin and Remi, very good RP on that, kudos

Gathering to go fight the drow with the baron, hearing some of the spells being cast and going in my head "F that" and walking into the mages guild, secure that next to no one knew the new password. and RPing studying and practicing alone

Best part of the weekend goes to my getting woken up at 4:30 am by mae, oryx, sergei, and a several others portaling into the mages guild and informing me that Apollo has returned to seek revenge.
Mae asking me what Sorcery and high magics do i know(just learned my FIRST spells this event) and the intenseness of the entire situation. The RP was worth being woken at 4:30 am

Look forward to October!