Gnomish Mounts

Gnomes and their mounts are the butt of many jokes throughout Azeroth. Our racial steed is, wait for it, a mechanical bird, I think an Ostrich to be precise. Yes, you heard right, a mechanical Ostrich, otherwise known as a Mechanostrider. Now, being an engineer, I have no issues with mechanical beings. But creaking and clanking around on a large, metal bird just doesn't suit my Warlock image.
Luckily for me, a Warlock learns to summon their very own fiery Felsteed! This is a creature of darkness, a true mare of the night, perhaps a carrier of those dreams that wake you in the blackest hours filled with fear. Summoned from another realm they seem content to carry mighty Warlock's about their business.

I absolutely adore my Felsteed, and I enjoy few things more than galloping across the wilds, the wind whipping my hair as the sparks fly from her eyes and hooves.

But I'm no fool. I know how ridiculous I truly look, perched up on the back of my black steed. A tiny little gnome figure, clutching at the non-flaming bits of mane. Sometimes staying on can be a challenge, we don't appear to summon a saddle or reigns which makes things...interesting. My inner thigh muscles are the envy of any body builder!

Imagine my utter amazement when, waiting for a boat at Theramore harbor, I happened upon a fellow Warlock. This one was of human decent, and thus a good deal taller than myself. But this was not the cause of my amazement. No, it was the fact that my Felsteed was noticeably larger than the human's... Yes, this is totally true. The other was not shrunk or changed due to some spell. The powers that be had seen fit to make my Gnomish form appear yet smaller and more dimished by placing me on a larger than average Felsteed! Sadly, I don't have a picture to share with you as I was far too busy laughing at the Human for being on a smaller horse than me whilst muttering about how 'size does matter...'

Do not worry though, I may, you'll be astounded to hear, have found the solution to all the Gnome mount problems. A few days later I was in Ironforge, where I met with a Hunter friend of mine who had recently completed a task in Outland and had been gifted a pet as reward.

What do you think?

Through the looking glass

Stepping through the looking glass is almost exactly how it felt actually! And the similarities between myself and Alice with her blond waves and pretty blue and white dress are uncanny...no really :)

I met with Aggrion at Nethergarde Keep and we rode down to the Dark Portal in the Blasted Lands. It really is an impressive and awe inspiring sight, even to an experienced Warlock like me! I felt quite tiny as we gazed over the wasteland that lead to the great glimmering and shimmering green of the portal.

As we got closer we were greeted by Watch Commander Relthorn Netherwane, pouring over a map of Outland. The picture he painted of the lands beyond the gateway was not pretty at all! He went on to request our support in the battle that raged on the other side. Not quite the encouraging start we were hoping for! We agreed to report to Commander Duron once through.

As we stood in front of the portal trying to build up the courage to take the final steps into what, for us, was the completely unknown, it almost felt as if something was gazing back at us...

"Ready?" asked Aggrion and I nodded, whilst my imp, Jakpit performed a number of somersaults. Taking a deep breath Aggrion took my hand in his, then took one step forward (I took about five) and the world tilted.

The ringing in my ears began to ease off and my vision cleared and we were standing at the top of a great flight of steps looking over a wasteland.

I had thought the portal itself was daunting, but this was something else. Ahead of us an organised force was doing battle with enormous, impossible beasts. Looking up I couldn't help but ask "Has the Sky fallen?" as what I saw looked like nothing I could possibly grasp. Perhaps it was a realm like this from which I summon my minions?

We descended the steps and met with Commander Duron who greeted us with the words "Welcome to Outland, welcome to the nightmare!".

"We're definitely not in Azeroth any more Jakpit" I murmered to my imp. But we were, finally, in Outland!

The best things come in small packages

I am in two minds about whether to discuss this publically. But what is the point of a blog if I am not open with my readers?

I've mentioned Aggrion a few times in posts, but I've not gone into any details. So let me introduce him properly Aggrion is a Night Elf Warrior. I met him at the Great Forge in Ironforge and was so mesmerised by his rippling muscles as he worked at the anvil that I nearly fell into the lava pit. He, on the other hand, didn't even see me (reaching only to his knees) but he did notice my succubus, Jhorlia, oh yes he did.

I spent at least five minutes jumping up and down and shouting to attract his attention, finally resorting to a well aimed shadow bolt to the calf. He quickly agreed that we could make a good team out in the wilds and would accompany me as my buddy come bodyguard. When I say me, I think he meant Jhorlia. But as she's my minion.....

In the months since we have faced many exciting adventures and mortal dangers, defeating all manner of evil nasties and survived a few nightmare instances. Our friendship has grown and strengthened. He has shown a great deal of interest in Jhorlia, but none, what-so-ever in me! And, when we retire to the inns after a hard days adventuring I hear the jokes he tells without considering how I might feel. "I don't mind the Gnomes,I'm just worried about tripping over them." Of course I laugh along, whoever heard of a Night Elf and a Gnome!?

Yesterday Aggrion suggested a jaunt to Western Plaguelands to help get him trained up and ready to go through the Dark Portal into Outland. I of course agreed to accompany him. Well, he's not all that bright and the Western Plaguelands isn't all that safe....

I arrived at the Alliance Outpost of Chillwind Camp shortly before him. While I waited I summoned my succubus, Jhorlia to teach her some new spells I had picked up on my last visit to Ironforge after reaching level 58. We were just finishing up when Aggrion's Gryphon landed a short way from us.

Off he hops and runs over to greet us both. Noticing Jhorlia he immediately starts to chat her up. Then launches into a dancing routine in some sort or misguided attempt to impress her. Jhorlia, who has more than her fair share of admirers was about as interested in his dancing as she ever gets about anything. That is she checked her nails and slapped her thigh.

I sent Jhorlia back whence she came and summoned out my faithful imp Jakpit. We spent a good few hours terrorizing the undead of Andorhal. Summoning icky cosmic slugs and searching out some annals in the heavily guarded City Hall on behalf of the Gnome, Chromie, holed up in what used to be the town's inn.

Finally, as the sun began to set, and we were both in need of rest and food we made our way back to Chillwind camp. We chatted briefly about the days successes and our gains against the evils of the Western Plaguelands. I decided that it was time to head back to Ironforge and, blowing him a kiss, activated my hearthstone. Just as the spell neared completion I noticed that Aggrion was flirting. Not with Jhorlia, not with one of the Chillwind inhabitants. But with me....little Ary....

As soon as I registered what had happened I was surrounded by the hustle and bustle of Ironforge. Aggrion many miles away and I hadn't even heard what he'd said!

So? I ask you. What does this mean? This is the first time he has shown even the slightest interest in me! Was he just seized by a moment of madness? Brought on by the bloodlust of successful battling? Or has he finally realised that size doesn't matter? That the best things really do come in the smallest packages!?

I'll keep you up to date as more happens!

Outland here I come..

I'm level 58! Level 58! How exciting! I can now stick my head through that scary Dark Portal that everyone has been talking about in the Blasted Lands. I'm getting extremely excitable about my first trip into Outland. I have heard tales amazing creatures and fantastic loot. I just can't wait!

I hit 58 whilst exploring in the Eastern Plaguelands with Aggrion and Iskaral. We spent a good few hours helping a small ghost find her scary looking doll, collecting termites whilst dodging undead and dispatching a not insignificant number of ghouls. I couldn't help but notice a impressive increase in the havoc I was wreaking and the damage I was inflicting on whatever got in my way. I'd like to say I was 'on fire' but I think you'll find that was my enemies ;)

Aggrion has a little catching up to do, being a little under a level behind me. Well! If you will hide out in the inns of Ironforge for weeks on end what do you expect? But has promised to do his best so that we can step through the portal together now now now! I'm sure my constant encouragement of "Are you nearly there yet?" has been helping him along the way!

Outland better watch out!

Scholomance

While I was waiting for Aggrion to come out of hiding I was invited along to a guild 'fun run' in Scholomance. There was a little bit of a personality clash, with half the party wanting to take it slow and steady and the other half wanting to rush through at break-neck speed. I won't bore you with the details around this as I think I made my point about this subject in my last post!

To my absolute delight I had a fantastically lucky visit! It seemed appropriate to me that whilst the party was struggling to stay civil, I was needing on the most amazing items. The truly exciting moment came when Alanna's Embrace, an epic robe fell from the corpse of Ras Frostwhsiper . Technically I think he was already a corpse before we..er...killed him some more. But hey! Who cares!? He stopped moving and looked all squishy and crunchy.. And certainly didn't need these robes anymore!

Truthfully a fantastic priest item. But as the only caster in the party it fell to me to shout "NEED!!" and push everyone out of the way in a move that would have bargain hunters on sale day gasping in awe. For one awful moment the feral druid was considering fighting me for the item, but, taking one look at the evil glint in my eyes, she thought better of it and let the best Gnome win.

I look like a goddess in it I'm sure you'll all agree. Very little suits a gnome Warlock better than pink with white and gold detail.....okay....it doesn't quite go with my look. But it's EPIC! And if you squint and tilt your head slightly to the left the pink looks more lilac and almost matches my funky shoulders.

As if this wasn't good enough, I went on to acquire a pair of Dreadmist Wraps a perfect match for my Dreadmist Belt. Part of a set that now give me a lovely +200 armour. Not to be sniffed at. And they go just peachy with my shoulders and dress. It is, of course, essential to look great whilst you're shadow bolting everything to death!

Finally, to prove that good things come in threes I 'found' (for found read pried from the cold dead fingers of Darkmaster Gandling who thought that getting in our way was a good idea) a really nice wand. Bonecreeper Stylus is not one of those wishy washy sparkly girly wands, no, this is a wand a Warlock would be proud to wield. Just check this out.


So, I'm all tooled up! Now where to go?

Need for Speed?

It's been quite quiet for me recently, almost by accident I've gained a few levels and am half way to level 58...portal time! I have put serious play on hold though due to the absence of my warrior bodyguard, Aggrion.

I am beginning to wonder if Aggrion is actually traumatised following a recent trip to Blackrock Depths in the bowls of Blackrock Mountain. This was certainly the last time I saw him outside of Ironforge!

We were accompanied by a Rogue, Shadow Priest and Feral Druid. I probably should have seen the warning signs from the start when the druid, upon joining the party and seeing the make up asked if she should tank. No was the reply from Aggrion. Should she heal? No, was the reply from our priest Iskaral. I was half expecting her to offer to sap, pick locks and backstab, but we finally agreed that cat form dps would be best.

Of course she maintained this role for all of 5 minutes before she was launching fights in bear form, switching to cat and then out into nelf form to support Iskaral's desperate attempts to keep her and the rest of our party alive due to her hectic style. Aggrion began to cry "Give me time to build some aggro please..." over and over again until it became more mantra than request.

As this area is heavily populated with humanoids I had summoned my succubus Jhorlia (much to Aggrion's pleasure) , but she was barely able to do a thing as any attempts at crowd control were dashed as our druid rushed into combat or ignored raid markings in her hurry to set some sort of instance speed record.

You know me, I like to wreak miserable havoc wherever I go. I take pleasure in bringing down those that would oppose me. I get a pleasant shiver from seeing the corpses piling up before me. Don't get me wrong. But, I also like some organisation and control to the process. And in this run, there was none.

As the Rogue tried to get a sap in and Aggrion tried to maintain some levels of aggro, whilst Iskaral tried to work out which of the two tanks he needed to heal it became rapidly clear that this run would end in disaster or tears, maybe both!

I hear a lot of people shouting 'Hurry up! We can do this in 20 minutes" and I can't help but wonder at what repair cost?

Death is a part of the circle of life, especially in Azeroth where that circle keeps on spinning like a merry-go-round. If I die, I die. I don't sulk, I just run on back and pick up from where we started. But I do see it as a mini failure. To me, a good party won't wipe, or at least not through foolish errors. But the mentality of so many people seems to be that perceived speed is more important (and fun!?) than a clean, practised, chilled-out run. I'm not actually sure if you timed the two 'styles' that there would be much difference.

What I do know is that rushing in and racing about is not my style. I like to stop and smell the fresh blood. To admire the handy work of my party as we cut a path through our enemies.

I am beginning to think that I need to coax Aggrion out of the safety of Ironforge to slay the ghost of this bad experience! And maybe there's no better time than the present!

The trouble with Soulshards

Just a few days ago a fellow Witch of Darkshire invited me along to Uldaman. I agreed to accompany the priest as I had been tasked by Advisor Belgrum in Ironforge to find the Tablet of Will deep within the heart of the Uldaman cave system.

I flew to my old stomping ground, Loch Modan and then summoned my Felsteed to carry me into the Badlands. It was then that I checked my bags and realised, with horror, that I only had seven shards on me!

One of the very first things a young Warlock learns is that nothing in this life is free. Many of our more powerful abilities such as summoning our minions, creating Soulstones and healthstones all require, not only mana but also a Soul Shard.

Soul Shards are pretty, purple gems that are created by ripping the soul out of an unsuspecting target at the point of death. I have given a small amount of thought to what losing their soul means for the, now deceased, creatures at my feet and have decided that that will teach them to mess with a Gnome Warlock!

Oh! And one very important thing....Soul Shards can only be acquired by killing an enemy that yields xp.

This is where things got a little bit difficult for me. I couldn't actually find anything in the Badlands that yeilded xp...."Well, I was sure to find something inside the instance that would" I reasoned. And until then, 7 shards would have to do!

Now it's rare that this Warlock makes a mistake, and even rarer that she'll admit to it. But on this particular occaision, and in hindsight, it was a pretty damn funny one! Still flexing my new affliction muscles I was playing around with my various spells and their hotkey positioning. Whilst doing this, I also decided to mixup my Voidwalkers command keys. Well, I was in an instance well below my level, it would be fine if I hit the wrong key wouldn't it? They say that pride goeth before a fall, and indeed this Gnome, despite her small stature, had a long way to fall!

In a moment of pure insanity I swapped my Sacrifice button for my attack button. Well, I would find it quickly, in an emergency, if it was at the front of the list wouldn't I? And then we ran around a corner and into a nest of scorpids!

I dutifully sent my Voidwalker into battle and set about raining fire on the nasty creatures. To my absolute dismay my Voidwalker had been killed by the Scorpids and sent back to the nether realms. So I patiently summoned him back and we set off. As we encountered a bat-like creature I sent him to attack, and he was slain again. What on earth was going on!? Then it hit me, like a bolt from the blue, or a small shimmering shield....which I had been wondering about....I was not sending my faithful minion to battle, I was sending him to his doom.

And now I had just one soul shard left and a party depending on me and no sign of anything that might grant me more shards. What an embarassment I was to my class! A warlock who had wasted her Soul Shards when she had precious few to begin with!?

I summoned my Void walker, using my final Soul Shard and then, woe! My ability to control it disappeared. Disconnecting and reconnecting was the advice I was given to solve the problem, but this would leave me soul shardless and petless and thus pretty useless. What a fool to have gotten myself into this mess! I was too mortified to explain to my waiting party the mistakes I had made that had lead to this show stopping situation. When I had a brain wave. I could set the attack button as a hot key and use that until another solution presented itself.

It was a good while, at least one full wipe, copious use of my imp and a very good lesson learned before I was able to acquire any more Soul Shards.

So, never again will I enter an instance without at least one bag full of Soul Shards! And that, is the trouble with them!