When I first heard about this Christmas present from the devs, I was excited. Then a little bummed 'cause I paid to transfer Ken (Sleetsquall, ice control/kinetics controller). Then, the more I thought about it, the more I realized that nearly all my alts on other servers are single-digits levels or barely over 10 at most. Easily just re-created rather than transferred. We'll see, but for now, I'm thinking of 2 transfers:
Ryu Tatsu (ninja/trick arrow mastermind)
Guardian --> Virtue
Butcher of the Pit (dual blades/fiery aura brute)
Triumph --> Virtue
Of course, that means I'll need to either axe a couple characters... or go ahead, break down, and buy another pack of slots for Virtue. Since I already have plans for 3 new characters when Going Rogue is live, I think I'll just buy another 5 slots for Virtue.
...oh, you want to know what the 3 new characters are? Sure: Praetorian EVAC, a Vagz to visit Praetoria with, and Praetorian Will. I'm not deciding on powersets yet 'cause I'm thinking we'll see more proliferation, but E and Will will probably be corruptors (Will might be dual pistols). For Vagz, I'll have to decide between corruptor and dominator, but there will likely be fire and/or electricity in the powersets.
Showing posts with label Vagabond. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Vagabond. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Monday, April 13, 2009
Mission Architect - I'm Published!
I have published ArcID #48262, "The Unmaking". It is an Ouroboros-style story arc suitable for levels 40+. Three missions, and the final "boss" is a fairly hard-hitting AV unless you're playing on "Heroic". Comments, suggestions, etc. welcome and greatly appreciated.
The story is based on RP events that took place on Virtue in 2005. The vagabond himself (as Vagabond Wizard [cold/elec defender]) related the tale to Lunatrix, and I posted the transcript here.
The story is based on RP events that took place on Virtue in 2005. The vagabond himself (as Vagabond Wizard [cold/elec defender]) related the tale to Lunatrix, and I posted the transcript here.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Mission Architect
Plans. I has dem.
* Blood Crucible's father as an AV. This is exactly what I've been waiting for to advance BC's story again. It's a bit of a wait, but it'll be worth it.
* Jefallen as an AV. I've wanted to bring back Vagz' arch-enemy for a long time, but have never really managed to make it happen. Now I can. And with whatever random brain-washed minions I want, too.
* Nemesis in Cimerora. Current story element for Will.
* Rikti in Cimerora. ...nah, that'd just be mean. :)
* Styrm as an AV. This'd mostly be just for me since E's story is pretty much at a stand-still. Anyone who wants to pummel the guy would be invited, of course.
* Blood Crucible's father as an AV. This is exactly what I've been waiting for to advance BC's story again. It's a bit of a wait, but it'll be worth it.
* Jefallen as an AV. I've wanted to bring back Vagz' arch-enemy for a long time, but have never really managed to make it happen. Now I can. And with whatever random brain-washed minions I want, too.
* Nemesis in Cimerora. Current story element for Will.
* Rikti in Cimerora. ...nah, that'd just be mean. :)
* Styrm as an AV. This'd mostly be just for me since E's story is pretty much at a stand-still. Anyone who wants to pummel the guy would be invited, of course.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
The Vagabond Returns
((This story takes place before the creation of The Vagabond Knight [Shield/Fire tank].))
It was a perfect spring day. A cool breeze barely ruffled the tall grass and rustled the leaves of the nearby trees. If one listened carefully, it almost sounded like whispered conversation. In the middle of a field, not far from a patch of wildflowers and a lone cherry tree, a man reclined on the grass, his head and shoulders against the tawny side of an enormous lion. A piece of sweet grass between his teeth, the man wore a simple shirt that used to be white and a pair of simple brown pants. Dangling from one of the branches of the nearby tree was a heavy gray traveling cloak, dusty and care-worn, but hung neatly. The lion looked out toward the horizon, placid and calm. The man's gray eyes regarded the clouds hovering slowly by.
"Vagabond," the lion said suddenly, his voice deep and soothing, "you have lingered here for more than five years now. It is time for you to move on."
The man frowned, chewing the blade of grass. "I'm not ready to go," he replied. "It still hurts. Five years is not so very long."
"Wanderer," the lion began patiently, "you had nearly sixty good years with Miranda. You will treasure them always. And so will she in whatever afterlife she has gone to. But she has been gone at least twenty years now."
"And time heals all wounds, hm?" the man asked, almost sarcastically.
"In some ways, it is harder for immortals to deal with loss," the lion explained, showing no sign of recognizing the sarcasm. "You have a big heart and have continued to choose not to ignore it. You have loved a woman very deeply. And you will again."
Silence fell between the two again for several minutes.
"How do you manage it?" the man asked quietly, his eyes still on the clouds. "How do you let them go?"
"I love each and every one that passes through Narnia," the great lion purred. "And I miss each one that leaves, never to return. It is part of the circle of life. They will not learn and grow as people otherwise. I take comfort that I have done everything I can for them. And they for me."
Silence fell again as the man swiped the back of his hand across his eyes.
"But in the end," the man started again, his voice thick with emotion, "I could not save her."
Splitting the air like a peal of thunder, the great lion roared, startling the man into sitting up. "You did save her," he growled, his voice slowly calming once more. "She lived a long and happy life, and you lived it with her. She was happy, safe, and loved. It was her time to go. She was ready to go."
The man blinked at the lion, rubbing his eyes again. "And what about me? I don't suppose you can tell me..."
"It is not your time, vagabond. There are still a great many things left for you to do."
"So what do I do? Where do I go?"
"Back, wanderer. Paragon still has need of you. Your unique abilities, your knowledge, and your capacity to care."
"But it's been nigh on to a century," the man protested. "How can I go back? I'll have to start over again."
"Then start over," the lion said simply. He set a heavy paw against the man's chest. "Take up the shield. Be the knight that she saw in you. Protect your friends and the helpless."
The man looked down to see a silver pendant shaped like a shield, a red lion rampant, dangling from a silver chain around his neck. He looked back up again, a slight smile on his face. "Thank you, Aslan. You're right. 'Tis time for me to return. I will go."
The man pushed himself to his feet, walked over to the tree, and took down his cloak, swinging it back around his shoulders. He turned back to the lion... then strode over and hugged the great beast. The lion put a paw around him, returning the hug. Then they parted company, walking off in opposite directions.
**************
The air at the foot of the steps up to the enormous statue of Atlas distorted like heat waves, shimmering as a man stepped out of thin air. Although dressed much the same, mystic runes now rested on his clothing, almost hovering above the material if one were to look closely. The vagabond looked around, frowning to himself, obviously not seeing what he'd expected.
"Excuse me, sir," he said to the nearest pedestrian. "What year is this?"
"What year?" the man started, turning slowly around. "Are you trying... to be... funny..." The man trailed off as he took in the wanderer's traveling cloak and the runes marking his clothing. "Oh. It's, uh... 2008."
The planeswalker's jaw dropped. "Two thousand eight? But that's... I've been gone... How can...?" He sighed. "Thank you, sir."
Walking up the steps toward City Hall, he muttered darkly under his breath. "Sometimes I really hate that lion."
It was a perfect spring day. A cool breeze barely ruffled the tall grass and rustled the leaves of the nearby trees. If one listened carefully, it almost sounded like whispered conversation. In the middle of a field, not far from a patch of wildflowers and a lone cherry tree, a man reclined on the grass, his head and shoulders against the tawny side of an enormous lion. A piece of sweet grass between his teeth, the man wore a simple shirt that used to be white and a pair of simple brown pants. Dangling from one of the branches of the nearby tree was a heavy gray traveling cloak, dusty and care-worn, but hung neatly. The lion looked out toward the horizon, placid and calm. The man's gray eyes regarded the clouds hovering slowly by.
"Vagabond," the lion said suddenly, his voice deep and soothing, "you have lingered here for more than five years now. It is time for you to move on."
The man frowned, chewing the blade of grass. "I'm not ready to go," he replied. "It still hurts. Five years is not so very long."
"Wanderer," the lion began patiently, "you had nearly sixty good years with Miranda. You will treasure them always. And so will she in whatever afterlife she has gone to. But she has been gone at least twenty years now."
"And time heals all wounds, hm?" the man asked, almost sarcastically.
"In some ways, it is harder for immortals to deal with loss," the lion explained, showing no sign of recognizing the sarcasm. "You have a big heart and have continued to choose not to ignore it. You have loved a woman very deeply. And you will again."
Silence fell between the two again for several minutes.
"How do you manage it?" the man asked quietly, his eyes still on the clouds. "How do you let them go?"
"I love each and every one that passes through Narnia," the great lion purred. "And I miss each one that leaves, never to return. It is part of the circle of life. They will not learn and grow as people otherwise. I take comfort that I have done everything I can for them. And they for me."
Silence fell again as the man swiped the back of his hand across his eyes.
"But in the end," the man started again, his voice thick with emotion, "I could not save her."
Splitting the air like a peal of thunder, the great lion roared, startling the man into sitting up. "You did save her," he growled, his voice slowly calming once more. "She lived a long and happy life, and you lived it with her. She was happy, safe, and loved. It was her time to go. She was ready to go."
The man blinked at the lion, rubbing his eyes again. "And what about me? I don't suppose you can tell me..."
"It is not your time, vagabond. There are still a great many things left for you to do."
"So what do I do? Where do I go?"
"Back, wanderer. Paragon still has need of you. Your unique abilities, your knowledge, and your capacity to care."
"But it's been nigh on to a century," the man protested. "How can I go back? I'll have to start over again."
"Then start over," the lion said simply. He set a heavy paw against the man's chest. "Take up the shield. Be the knight that she saw in you. Protect your friends and the helpless."
The man looked down to see a silver pendant shaped like a shield, a red lion rampant, dangling from a silver chain around his neck. He looked back up again, a slight smile on his face. "Thank you, Aslan. You're right. 'Tis time for me to return. I will go."
The man pushed himself to his feet, walked over to the tree, and took down his cloak, swinging it back around his shoulders. He turned back to the lion... then strode over and hugged the great beast. The lion put a paw around him, returning the hug. Then they parted company, walking off in opposite directions.
**************
The air at the foot of the steps up to the enormous statue of Atlas distorted like heat waves, shimmering as a man stepped out of thin air. Although dressed much the same, mystic runes now rested on his clothing, almost hovering above the material if one were to look closely. The vagabond looked around, frowning to himself, obviously not seeing what he'd expected.
"Excuse me, sir," he said to the nearest pedestrian. "What year is this?"
"What year?" the man started, turning slowly around. "Are you trying... to be... funny..." The man trailed off as he took in the wanderer's traveling cloak and the runes marking his clothing. "Oh. It's, uh... 2008."
The planeswalker's jaw dropped. "Two thousand eight? But that's... I've been gone... How can...?" He sighed. "Thank you, sir."
Walking up the steps toward City Hall, he muttered darkly under his breath. "Sometimes I really hate that lion."
Monday, January 26, 2009
Double XP - Aftermath
Vagabond Magus (Fire/FF Controller): 40 --> 41
Vagabond Knight (Shield/Fire Tank): 36 --> 40
Captain Peterson (AR/Energy Blaster): 37 --> 39
Retrieval (Radiation/Pain Corruptor): 14 --> 18
Capt. Peterson (Shield/Energy Tank): 2 --> 21
That's right, folks. I got 30 levels out of Double XP Weekend this time around. Granted, most of them were low levels, but still: I'm pretty impressed and very happy. Especially since that puts every version of Vagz at 40+, 3 in the low 40s and 2 at 50. I'm also very happy to have basically skipped the low levels with TankWill. Low level tanks are very frustrating. Having Stamina makes things much easier.
A huge thank you to Fyre, especially for helping with TankWill. It was a fun weekend all around, though, and Fyre was an important part of what made it fun. :)
Vagabond Knight (Shield/Fire Tank): 36 --> 40
Captain Peterson (AR/Energy Blaster): 37 --> 39
Retrieval (Radiation/Pain Corruptor): 14 --> 18
Capt. Peterson (Shield/Energy Tank): 2 --> 21
That's right, folks. I got 30 levels out of Double XP Weekend this time around. Granted, most of them were low levels, but still: I'm pretty impressed and very happy. Especially since that puts every version of Vagz at 40+, 3 in the low 40s and 2 at 50. I'm also very happy to have basically skipped the low levels with TankWill. Low level tanks are very frustrating. Having Stamina makes things much easier.
A huge thank you to Fyre, especially for helping with TankWill. It was a fun weekend all around, though, and Fyre was an important part of what made it fun. :)
Monday, December 15, 2008
The Shield Team (Vagabond Knight, Tresa M'Orrigan, Pas d'Armes, and Li-Hwan), trapped in an alternate dimension where opening chests destroys the world, receive some timely help from Mender Silos (aka GM_Sven)
Tyrant!
Jez Cavell: about to clean Dominatrix' clock. Or just stick a knife in it.
Blood Crucible trying to keep his eyes from popping out of his head at Jez's "undercover" outfit (insert ribald joke here).Thursday, December 4, 2008
I13 So Far
The night I13 dropped, I was all fired up to make Vagabond Knight (Shield Defense/Fiery Melee Tank). But the patch server wouldn't even let me in. I eventually gave up on it (about my normal bedtime) and just left my computer on so it'd eventually finish downloading without me. It did.
So last night, I got in, loaded up Vagabond Mage (Fire Blast/Electricity Manipulation Blaster) and saved his base costume. Then I went back to the login and deleted my place-holder Vagabond Knight and started a new character. I still had to choose the body type and sliders. Okay, I've got those saved, and I think I can get the height right this time. I get to the costuming screen and click Load.
It won't let me load the costume because options that BlasterVagz has open, TankVagz does not. Bastards. Why couldn't it load up the costume parts that aren't the cape and aura? *grumble*
Okay, so I re-make the costume from scratch. Not that hard.
I'm enjoying my new tank so far. Got to level 6. But I realize I lack experience with the AT and both powersets. So I'm probably going to need to plan ahead so I can figure out what powers I can and need to skip. On top of primary and secondary, I need to fit in 3 Fitness pool powers (Swift, Health, Stamina) and 2 Teleportation (most likely Teleport Foe and Teleport). It'd be nice to fit in Hover, too, but I'll skip it if I have to. I won't be hover-tanking, after all. Just using it to be lazy and magey. :)
Recommendations welcome!
So last night, I got in, loaded up Vagabond Mage (Fire Blast/Electricity Manipulation Blaster) and saved his base costume. Then I went back to the login and deleted my place-holder Vagabond Knight and started a new character. I still had to choose the body type and sliders. Okay, I've got those saved, and I think I can get the height right this time. I get to the costuming screen and click Load.
It won't let me load the costume because options that BlasterVagz has open, TankVagz does not. Bastards. Why couldn't it load up the costume parts that aren't the cape and aura? *grumble*
Okay, so I re-make the costume from scratch. Not that hard.
I'm enjoying my new tank so far. Got to level 6. But I realize I lack experience with the AT and both powersets. So I'm probably going to need to plan ahead so I can figure out what powers I can and need to skip. On top of primary and secondary, I need to fit in 3 Fitness pool powers (Swift, Health, Stamina) and 2 Teleportation (most likely Teleport Foe and Teleport). It'd be nice to fit in Hover, too, but I'll skip it if I have to. I won't be hover-tanking, after all. Just using it to be lazy and magey. :)
Recommendations welcome!
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Since I Couldn't Sleep...
I've been having some trouble with insomnia again lately. Waking up in the middle of the night and not being able to go back to sleep. Since I was awake again last night, I fired up the computer and dove into Test's costume creator.
The Brawler was not exaggerating. There are an enormous number of shield options, and they all look fantastic. I tried really hard not to let them inspire character ideas since I'm already contemplating 2-3 shield characters. The real reason I was in there was to see the options and to pick a shield for Vagabond Knight.
Now, I've been playing the character of the Vagabond since 1990. I have a good idea of what he and his stuff looks like in my head. Often, it's hard to make that come out on paper or in a video game, and I end up settling in one way or another. Sometimes it comes out good anyway. Sometimes, not so much.
The shield options are fantastic. Shapes and sizes, colors and textures, patterns and emblems... even if I13 creates City of Shields, there is so much variety that everyone's will look different. And they had the perfect shield for Vagz. Right size, right shape, coloration... it's not perfect to what I've always pictured in my head, but it's damn close. And it looked fantastic in the creator. I'm betting it'll look good in the game, too.
No screenshot. You'll just have to wait to see what it looks like. :)
The Brawler was not exaggerating. There are an enormous number of shield options, and they all look fantastic. I tried really hard not to let them inspire character ideas since I'm already contemplating 2-3 shield characters. The real reason I was in there was to see the options and to pick a shield for Vagabond Knight.
Now, I've been playing the character of the Vagabond since 1990. I have a good idea of what he and his stuff looks like in my head. Often, it's hard to make that come out on paper or in a video game, and I end up settling in one way or another. Sometimes it comes out good anyway. Sometimes, not so much.
The shield options are fantastic. Shapes and sizes, colors and textures, patterns and emblems... even if I13 creates City of Shields, there is so much variety that everyone's will look different. And they had the perfect shield for Vagz. Right size, right shape, coloration... it's not perfect to what I've always pictured in my head, but it's damn close. And it looked fantastic in the creator. I'm betting it'll look good in the game, too.
No screenshot. You'll just have to wait to see what it looks like. :)
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
I13 Plans
Yes, I already have characters created in my head. These are ranked from "absolutely creating the second I13 drops" down to "will create if I have time/interest".
Vagabond Knight (Shield/Fire tank)
* I already have the name reserved because I worried with shields coming, others might make a grab for it. Fyre and I have spotted other "Vagabond" characters running around... I would've made him shield/broadsword, but two things: they're not proliferating broadsword to tanks (yet), and I've already done broadsword. I contemplated Axe and Mace, but the sword is really Vagz' preferred weapon, and I kinda like that Fire includes a sword (sorta). And this way, I get a tank and two powersets I haven't played yet.
Unnamed E-VAC version (Psionic or Radiation/Pain corrupter)
*Oh, yes. E is coming back. "Pain Domination" is just too perfect for him. I'm having trouble coming up with the right name, though, mostly 'cause I'm not sure he'll go by a variation on "EVAC" with the story I've got cooking. Now what could make him go bad? Hmm...
Unnamed Will version (Shield/Mace tank)
* Yeah, you weren't the only one thinking this, Keen. :) Will's supposed to have been a SWAT officer from way back, so a riot shield and baton? All over this. Srsly. I had my fingers crossed for a riot shield, but was thinking tech mace or Energy Melee (from the power gauntlets) until I heard about the riot baton. We'll see, though. HeroWill hasn't seen a lot of play and the original Will has seen pretty much none. Plus, starting up two tanks when I've had a hard time playing tanks before might not be a good idea. My highest-level tank to date reached 16 before he was deleted.
Unnamed Blood Crucible version (Broadsword or Katana/Dark Armor or Shield or Super Reflexes or Willpower scrapper)
* Just a thought I'm toying with. As you can probably tell, it's not even close to formed yet. I enjoy the character and don't want to stop playing him once he hits 50. :) My only hesitation is playing him as just another flavor of scrapper. Dunno. We'll see.
Vagabond Knight (Shield/Fire tank)
* I already have the name reserved because I worried with shields coming, others might make a grab for it. Fyre and I have spotted other "Vagabond" characters running around... I would've made him shield/broadsword, but two things: they're not proliferating broadsword to tanks (yet), and I've already done broadsword. I contemplated Axe and Mace, but the sword is really Vagz' preferred weapon, and I kinda like that Fire includes a sword (sorta). And this way, I get a tank and two powersets I haven't played yet.
Unnamed E-VAC version (Psionic or Radiation/Pain corrupter)
*Oh, yes. E is coming back. "Pain Domination" is just too perfect for him. I'm having trouble coming up with the right name, though, mostly 'cause I'm not sure he'll go by a variation on "EVAC" with the story I've got cooking. Now what could make him go bad? Hmm...
Unnamed Will version (Shield/Mace tank)
* Yeah, you weren't the only one thinking this, Keen. :) Will's supposed to have been a SWAT officer from way back, so a riot shield and baton? All over this. Srsly. I had my fingers crossed for a riot shield, but was thinking tech mace or Energy Melee (from the power gauntlets) until I heard about the riot baton. We'll see, though. HeroWill hasn't seen a lot of play and the original Will has seen pretty much none. Plus, starting up two tanks when I've had a hard time playing tanks before might not be a good idea. My highest-level tank to date reached 16 before he was deleted.
Unnamed Blood Crucible version (Broadsword or Katana/Dark Armor or Shield or Super Reflexes or Willpower scrapper)
* Just a thought I'm toying with. As you can probably tell, it's not even close to formed yet. I enjoy the character and don't want to stop playing him once he hits 50. :) My only hesitation is playing him as just another flavor of scrapper. Dunno. We'll see.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Update!
Just to summarize my City of... of late. Some items briefer than others. :)
Vagabond Wizard
I love the RP between DefenderVagz and Lunatrix. We've hit a point where I'm really curious to see what will happen next, and I'm eager to play again. :)
I know the ice shields aren't any fun to look at, but Luna's a freakin' tank with all those buffs. I've added Electric Mastery, so Vagz has a single-target immobilize to throw down now: the same Electric Fence that he spams with gleeful abandon as BlasterVagz. Luna's added Cold Mastery, so in addition to Vagz' three slows, we have another one. With all the talk of caps, I wonder what the bottom is? >:)
A few more levels and Vagz will have armor and Luna will... have another shield. Yikes.
Sounds of Silence
I love the VEATs. When we actually come up against a challenge, we're shocked. I love that! I wasn't going to take Mind Link 'cause I didn't think we needed another defense buff, but the Devouring Earth taught me that sometimes we will. And it gives a huge buff against psi which, you know, very handy. And it gives a to-hit buff. So that's what I'm mainly slotting it for.
Silence can tell the three of them are getting stronger. And now he's discovered that Lord Recluse has been screwing with them. That just firms up his resolve to become the best of the Widows. He's working his way up to... well, it might be obvious, and if it's not... I'm not going to tell you! :-D
Vagabond Blade
After sitting at 48 forever, Fyre and I went on an ITF yesterday (yay for paid days off). She took Evan Caine, that defender everyone's talking about (I teamed with her once before, honest). It was a good strong ITF, and we did really well. Afterwards, I was just over 2 bubbles from level. So we went and smacked around some Praetorians... and Vagz is now Hero of the City twice over.
Shouldn't be too much longer 'til it's three times...
Derick Darklight
Darklight finally made a full-blown appearance last night. Derick was walloped a few times by Red Caps and ended up face-planting a lot. Darklight seized the opportunity to force Derick to the back and take over. Ellianne Sylvanie had a chance to actually talk to him once she realized Derick wasn't in control any longer.
Unfortunately for Darklight, while he's getting stronger, Derick is still a force to be reckoned with. Derick forced the Nictus back down again relatively quickly. Elli almost sounded disappointed... :)
But Darklight's not done yet...
Vagabond Wizard
I love the RP between DefenderVagz and Lunatrix. We've hit a point where I'm really curious to see what will happen next, and I'm eager to play again. :)
I know the ice shields aren't any fun to look at, but Luna's a freakin' tank with all those buffs. I've added Electric Mastery, so Vagz has a single-target immobilize to throw down now: the same Electric Fence that he spams with gleeful abandon as BlasterVagz. Luna's added Cold Mastery, so in addition to Vagz' three slows, we have another one. With all the talk of caps, I wonder what the bottom is? >:)
A few more levels and Vagz will have armor and Luna will... have another shield. Yikes.
Sounds of Silence
I love the VEATs. When we actually come up against a challenge, we're shocked. I love that! I wasn't going to take Mind Link 'cause I didn't think we needed another defense buff, but the Devouring Earth taught me that sometimes we will. And it gives a huge buff against psi which, you know, very handy. And it gives a to-hit buff. So that's what I'm mainly slotting it for.
Silence can tell the three of them are getting stronger. And now he's discovered that Lord Recluse has been screwing with them. That just firms up his resolve to become the best of the Widows. He's working his way up to... well, it might be obvious, and if it's not... I'm not going to tell you! :-D
Vagabond Blade
After sitting at 48 forever, Fyre and I went on an ITF yesterday (yay for paid days off). She took Evan Caine, that defender everyone's talking about (I teamed with her once before, honest). It was a good strong ITF, and we did really well. Afterwards, I was just over 2 bubbles from level. So we went and smacked around some Praetorians... and Vagz is now Hero of the City twice over.
Shouldn't be too much longer 'til it's three times...
Derick Darklight
Darklight finally made a full-blown appearance last night. Derick was walloped a few times by Red Caps and ended up face-planting a lot. Darklight seized the opportunity to force Derick to the back and take over. Ellianne Sylvanie had a chance to actually talk to him once she realized Derick wasn't in control any longer.
Unfortunately for Darklight, while he's getting stronger, Derick is still a force to be reckoned with. Derick forced the Nictus back down again relatively quickly. Elli almost sounded disappointed... :)
But Darklight's not done yet...
Friday, June 27, 2008
The Unmaking
The following is an in-character retelling of events which took place in City of Heroes in 2005. Those who were in the Dauntless Reverie then (or just the role-playing community) may recall these events. These events have also been documented by MAGI and are part of the vagabond's public record.
Vagabond Wizard: So. Should I try to find more trouble for us to get into? Or has that been enough for one evening?
Lunatrix: Like I said, you're in charge.
Vagabond Wizard: And I'm making an executive decision to consult you.
Lunatrix: I'm not anxious to find any more "trouble," myself, but whatever.
Vagabond Wizard: Then we can knock off for the night. 'Twould take effort to seek more anyway. *chuckles*
Lunatrix: Good. Freaks give me a headache, apparently.
Vagabond Wizard: Too much... ah... noise?
Lunatrix: Too much smashing.
Vagabond Wizard: Ah. Yes. That part leaves me aching as well. Not always in the head.
Lunatrix: Guess I'm lucky, then.
Vagabond Wizard: Will you be heading home, then?
Lunatrix: I don't think I'm in much of a party mood.
Vagabond Wizard: Do I strike you as a party animal?
Lunatrix: ...I think I missed part of that conversation.
Vagabond Wizard: No worries. If you'd rather head home, I won't keep you. Good night, Luna.
Lunatrix: Wait, what? Why, did you want to get coffee or something?
Vagabond Wizard: I was going to offer, aye. But if you'd rather head home, I understand. We can catch up tomorrow.
Lunatrix: I can't "rather" if I don't have options, can I?
Lunatrix: I can meet you back in the boardwalk in Talos, unless there's somewhere else.
Vagabond Wizard: The boardwalk is a bit crowded, and I don't feel like making room. I'm at the end of one of the piers.
Lunatrix: Okay. I'll meet you there.
Lunatrix: I'd have expected more people out here.
Vagabond Wizard: Barring the occasional party or other large gathering, I very rarely run into anyone out here.
Vagabond Wizard picks up an insulated paper cup beside him, sets it on the air, and blows, floating it over to Luna.
Lunatrix: Quiet, and no trees. Works for me.
Lunatrix takes the cup.
Lunatrix: Thanks....
Lunatrix mutters loud enough for Vagabond to hear, "Show-off."
Vagabond Wizard shrugs and sips from his own cup.
Lunatrix smiles slightly before taking a drink.
Lunatrix: You still owe me a story. But it's getting late. Even though you said you would, I'm starting to think you don't want to tell me.
Vagabond Wizard: My mind gets onto other things. I'm afraid I need reminding.
Vagabond Wizard: It's been a while since someone genuinely wanted to hear my stories.
Lunatrix: I'll admit to a slight curiousity.
Vagabond Wizard smiles a little and sips.
Vagabond Wizard: Just slight?
Lunatrix: It'd be more interest than I've shown in most things, wouldn't it? I don't want to overdo it.
Vagabond Wizard chuckles.
Vagabond Wizard: Have I warned you about the Thornite power crystals?
Lunatrix: The Ori-whatsit, or those colored ones....? Well, either way, not that I remember.
Vagabond Wizard: The blue ones that replenish energy and power... the green ones that speed up the healing process... It feels good to be near them, no? Makes you feel stronger. More sure of yourself. Better able to fight.
Lunatrix: I don't know about the more sure of myself part, but, yeah, they help. Except the red ones, of course.
Vagabond Wizard: Aye. Except the red ones. I believe, based on observations in the Hollows, that those are created by accident.
Lunatrix: Huh. I wouldnt' have guessed that.
Vagabond Wizard: Some time when you're in the Hollows, you may come across a group where one is instructing the others how to empower the crystal. If you then startle them, the crystal will change colors.
Lunatrix: I tried not to spend too much time in the Hollows... well, we didn't spend much time there. But I'll take your word for that.
Vagabond Wizard: In any case, the power the green and blue crystals grant... it can be addicting. Especially if one's own strength is flagging for... one reason or another.
Lunatrix raises an eyebrow.
Lunatrix: Like what kind of reason?
Vagabond Wizard: Ahh...
Vagabond Wizard sounds a little self-conscious.
Vagabond Wizard: Sometimes... after living a very long time... without certain... ties...
Vagabond Wizard sighs.
Vagabond Wizard: I have spent a lot of my life alone. And lost a great many friends. I get... lonely. Depressed. Weary of life.
Lunatrix nods after a minute.
Lunatrix: I think I get it.
Vagabond Wizard tries to smile, but mostly fails.
Vagabond Wizard: Self-doubt and the like are not conducive to spell-casting. Magic requires a certain... arrogance, to put it bluntly. One must believe in one's own power... or 'twill fail.
Lunatrix gives a quirked smile.
Lunatrix: I think a lot more makes sense once that's taken into consideration.
Lunatrix: The arrogance part, I mean. Of course.
Vagabond Wizard smiles a bit, very self-deprecating.
Vagabond Wizard: I'm glad to clear that up for you.
Lunatrix: Well, you did say it.
Lunatrix waves a hand.
Lunatrix: But go on.
Vagabond Wizard: Well, I do not recall the actual incident that started my... slump. I could make a guess, but my timing is confused, I think.
Vagabond Wizard: In any case, I found myself spending a lot of time in Oranbega. And I found my tactics centering more and more about the crystals. Standing within their aura, 'twas easier to fight. Easier to recall spells. I felt less pain.
Lunatrix nods to show she's paying attention and takes a sip of her drink.
Vagabond Wizard: After a while, I was finding excuses to go to Oranbega and to linger. I would dwell beside the crystals, even if I was not alone. Often, team-mates would have to call back for me to remind me to move.
Vagabond Wizard: I took to carrying pieces of charged crystal with me. Just a few at first. Then pocketsful. Using them to recharge my strength... sometimes even when my strength needed no recharging.
Vagabond Wizard: The blue held the strongest draw for me, replenishing my power and allowing me to cast more spells. Work more magic.
Vagabond Wizard: I became more and more withdrawn from my friends and allies. I spent more and more time harvesting and using crystals. The Thornites... well, that would be jumping ahead.
Lunatrix raises an eyebrow slightly but doesn't interrupt.
Vagabond Wizard: I started to become... deranged. Unhinged. My depression worsened as I realized how strong the forces of evil and unlawfulness are in Paragon. The fight started to seem pointless. A waste of time.
Vagabond Wizard: No matter how many I slaughtered, there were always more. Especially of the Thornites.
Vagabond Wizard: I, ah... did not know the secrets of the Thornites' longevity then. Looking back... well, one could say I was rather dense about most of the events leading up to the end.
Lunatrix nods a bit.
Vagabond Wizard: In any case, the power I was drawing off the crystals... it began to... overflow. The energies were actually leaking randomly out of me. Although I did not notice and kept drawing on the crystals for more and more.
Vagabond Wizard: Oddly, channeled by the energies, my depression began to feed my... ego. If fighting at the level of the ordinary hero was not helping... well, then I just needed more power than the ordinary hero has. Bigger spells. More damage.
Vagabond Wizard: Greater power, of course. And, as you can probably guess, more crystals.
Lunatrix nods.
Vagabond Wizard: Then it occured to me. The trouble with this plane is that all its gods are passive, imprisoned, or lost. The city didn't need a hero. The city needed an...
Vagabond Wizard coughs, and fidgets.
Vagabond Wizard: I thought Paragon needed a deity. And I thought... at the time, of course... that given enough power and enough crystals... I could...
Vagabond Wizard lifts his hands slowly heavenward.
Lunatrix: Become a god? I get it.
Vagabond Wizard: Lots of people develop god-complexes. Those with super-powers are more prone to it than others. Planeswalkers...
Vagabond Wizard: If you ask people to define what makes a god, those same terms can often be used to describe planeswalkers. It is difficult to find one who has not succumbed to the hubris and set themselves up.
Lunatrix smiles slightly.
Lunatrix: You're making excuses. It must have been bad.
Vagabond Wizard: 'Twas one of the lowest points of my life. And I did not realize it at the time. I am still ashamed.
Vagabond Wizard: Nothing can excuse it. I am merely offering explanations that I think I have discovered in retrospect.
Vagabond Wizard: ...which just come out sounding like excuses.
Lunatrix nods.
Lunatrix: They're excuses. Trust me. I recognize, if not the exact, the general.
Vagabond Wizard sighs.
Vagabond Wizard: In any case, I gathered my energies and my crystals. I found the mystical center of Paragon. I drew on the ley lines that run beneath the city.
Vagabond Wizard: You'll find out more once we go to work for Portal Corp, but the dimensional fabric of Paragon City is very weak and thin. I intended to use that weakness, stretch everything out farther... and then break it.
Vagabond Wizard: I was going to unmake Paragon City and start over. The whole "rebuild it in my image" or "reshape it as I see fit" thing you've probably heard before.
Lunatrix shakes her head slightly.
Lunatrix: Not that I know of. But go on.
Vagabond Wizard: Well, that's kind of where the story ends. My friends and allies both within the Dauntless and without located me, quite by accident. Some had felt what was happening. Others came because they'd heard.
Vagabond Wizard: I was swarmed by friends, talked down from my idiocy by people who cared, and slowly drained of my excess energies by those who knew how.
Lunatrix sets her cup aside and stretches.
Lunatrix: Sort of late for an intervention.
Vagabond Wizard: A few had tried before. But as I said, I had been distancing myself. Withdrawing. Most had no idea I was in any manner of trouble.
Lunatrix: I've known addicts. If they didn't notice, they weren't paying attention.
Vagabond Wizard: 'Tis easy to be distracted in this city.
Lunatrix shrugs and nods.
Lunatrix: Maybe. I have to admit, at least you don't think small.
Vagabond Wizard chuckles a little.
Vagabond Wizard: Well, see... here's the rub...
Vagabond Wizard: Weeks... or was it months? Later, I tried something nearly as hare-brained. I don't recall what because... well, we discovered something.
Vagabond Wizard: The Thornites had noticed my harvesting of the crystals and their energies. Far early on in my addiction... they... do they call it "lacing"?
Lunatrix nods.
Vagabond Wizard: Aye. They "laced" a crystal for me. With a daemon.
Vagabond Wizard: The daemon was absorbed into my system with the other energies. He made himself hidden within my mind, not controlling or planting thoughts, but picking and choosing things to nurture and bring to prominence.
Lunatrix: Sneaky.
Vagabond Wizard: Aye. He was driven out, but not before wreaking a little extra havoc using my body. I got a first-hand look at how the spirit thorns and library crystals work.
Lunatrix frowns slightly in confusion.
Lunatrix: What do you mean?
Vagabond Wizard: Well, after the whole "unmaking the world" thing failed, I guess the daemon thought he'd take a more active role. I obtained a few spirit thorns, he took over my body and...
Vagabond Wizard mimes stabbing himself in the heart.
Lunatrix winces a bit.
Vagabond Wizard: I was only out of my body... well they tell me 'twas an hour or so. See, my friends caught onto this little bit of mischief very quickly. Tracked the daemon down. Battled it, drove it out of my body, and stuck me back in.
Lunatrix nods thoughtfully.
Vagabond Wizard: That's pretty much the complete story as I know it. I may have glossed over a detail or two. But that's the majority of it.
Lunatrix nods again.
Lunatrix: I guess I wish I would have known before we spent so much time in Oranbega. But you seemed, you know, okay.
Vagabond Wizard nods.
Vagabond Wizard: I am. My addiction was as strong as it was because the daemon had made it so. And after the attempt to unmake the world is when MAGI revealed they could bind my magic for me.
Vagabond Wizard: They, uh... did so as punishment for my attempt. But they did hand me my sword which they had been keeping.
Vagabond Wizard: 'Twas easier to quit the crystals with no spells to cast.
Lunatrix: I guess I can see that.
Vagabond Wizard: Still, I try not to tempt myself. I steer clear of the crystals when I can. No sense taking chances.
Vagabond Wizard: Plus, the feeling the crystals give... well, now it inspires memories and revulsion instead of a power rush.
Lunatrix: Probably for the best.
Lunatrix: You must get tired of telling that story. But, like I said, you mentioned it. Just enough to make me curious.
Vagabond Wizard: Actually... you're the first person I've told that story to since...
Vagabond Wizard thinks for a moment.
Vagabond Wizard: No. You're the first person I've told that story to.
Lunatrix: Oh. Well... nevermind, then.
Vagabond Wizard: Curiosity satisfied now? Or over-satisfied, perhaps?
Lunatrix picks up her cup and tears at the edges a bit.
Lunatrix shrugs.
Lunatrix: You mentioned, I asked, you told. It's all good.
Vagabond Wizard watches Luna for a minute or two.
Vagabond Wizard: 'Tis not the part of my life people tend to be most curious about. And I am not proud of it.
Lunatrix shrugs a bit again.
Lunatrix: What part should I have asked about?
Vagabond Wizard: You asked about what you were interested in. And I am glad of that.
Vagabond Wizard: I admit... I am left wondering... what you will think of me now.
Lunatrix: I don't think I have any room to judge.
Vagabond Wizard shrugs a little.
Vagabond Wizard: There is room enough. Not many people can claim to have tried to destroy the world. Fewer still actually had near enough power to do so during the attempt.
Lunatrix: Okay, but... let's see... you were influenced. You actually had good, but twisted, intentions. And maybe if someone else did have the power to do it, they would have tried something similar.
Vagabond Wizard smiles in spite of himself.
Vagabond Wizard: Now you're making my excuses.
Lunatrix: I'm good at excuses. I'm just saying, I'm the last person whose opinion you should be concerned about.
Vagabond Wizard: You're the one I'm spending the most time with of late. Your opinion could therefore bear the most weight. Depending on what it is, of course.
Lunatrix: You should probably hang out with a better class of people. Like I said, though, I'm the last person to judge... and it seems to me that any harm that you might have unwittingly caused, you've more than made up for.
Vagabond Wizard: I like the "class" of people I hang out with. And thank you. I have tried.
Vagabond Wizard slips down from the crate.
Vagabond Wizard: I think I should be heading to my rest. If you come up with anything else you want to ask me, just hold onto it 'til tomorrow?
Lunatrix: I wasn't trying to interogate you... Like I said, you mentioned and hinted, so I was curious.
Vagabond Wizard smiles.
Lunatrix: But I'm sure anything else can wait until tomorrow.
Vagabond Wizard: I did not feel interrogated.
Vagabond Wizard: More like... well, in my experience, once I tell one story, it often leads into another, aye? So if you find yourself wondering something... just ask.
Lunatrix shrugs a little and nods.
Lunatrix: Okay. Go get your rest.
Vagabond Wizard: So. Should I try to find more trouble for us to get into? Or has that been enough for one evening?
Lunatrix: Like I said, you're in charge.
Vagabond Wizard: And I'm making an executive decision to consult you.
Lunatrix: I'm not anxious to find any more "trouble," myself, but whatever.
Vagabond Wizard: Then we can knock off for the night. 'Twould take effort to seek more anyway. *chuckles*
Lunatrix: Good. Freaks give me a headache, apparently.
Vagabond Wizard: Too much... ah... noise?
Lunatrix: Too much smashing.
Vagabond Wizard: Ah. Yes. That part leaves me aching as well. Not always in the head.
Lunatrix: Guess I'm lucky, then.
Vagabond Wizard: Will you be heading home, then?
Lunatrix: I don't think I'm in much of a party mood.
Vagabond Wizard: Do I strike you as a party animal?
Lunatrix: ...I think I missed part of that conversation.
Vagabond Wizard: No worries. If you'd rather head home, I won't keep you. Good night, Luna.
Lunatrix: Wait, what? Why, did you want to get coffee or something?
Vagabond Wizard: I was going to offer, aye. But if you'd rather head home, I understand. We can catch up tomorrow.
Lunatrix: I can't "rather" if I don't have options, can I?
Lunatrix: I can meet you back in the boardwalk in Talos, unless there's somewhere else.
Vagabond Wizard: The boardwalk is a bit crowded, and I don't feel like making room. I'm at the end of one of the piers.
Lunatrix: Okay. I'll meet you there.
Lunatrix: I'd have expected more people out here.
Vagabond Wizard: Barring the occasional party or other large gathering, I very rarely run into anyone out here.
Vagabond Wizard picks up an insulated paper cup beside him, sets it on the air, and blows, floating it over to Luna.
Lunatrix: Quiet, and no trees. Works for me.
Lunatrix takes the cup.
Lunatrix: Thanks....
Lunatrix mutters loud enough for Vagabond to hear, "Show-off."
Vagabond Wizard shrugs and sips from his own cup.
Lunatrix smiles slightly before taking a drink.
Lunatrix: You still owe me a story. But it's getting late. Even though you said you would, I'm starting to think you don't want to tell me.
Vagabond Wizard: My mind gets onto other things. I'm afraid I need reminding.
Vagabond Wizard: It's been a while since someone genuinely wanted to hear my stories.
Lunatrix: I'll admit to a slight curiousity.
Vagabond Wizard smiles a little and sips.
Vagabond Wizard: Just slight?
Lunatrix: It'd be more interest than I've shown in most things, wouldn't it? I don't want to overdo it.
Vagabond Wizard chuckles.
Vagabond Wizard: Have I warned you about the Thornite power crystals?
Lunatrix: The Ori-whatsit, or those colored ones....? Well, either way, not that I remember.
Vagabond Wizard: The blue ones that replenish energy and power... the green ones that speed up the healing process... It feels good to be near them, no? Makes you feel stronger. More sure of yourself. Better able to fight.
Lunatrix: I don't know about the more sure of myself part, but, yeah, they help. Except the red ones, of course.
Vagabond Wizard: Aye. Except the red ones. I believe, based on observations in the Hollows, that those are created by accident.
Lunatrix: Huh. I wouldnt' have guessed that.
Vagabond Wizard: Some time when you're in the Hollows, you may come across a group where one is instructing the others how to empower the crystal. If you then startle them, the crystal will change colors.
Lunatrix: I tried not to spend too much time in the Hollows... well, we didn't spend much time there. But I'll take your word for that.
Vagabond Wizard: In any case, the power the green and blue crystals grant... it can be addicting. Especially if one's own strength is flagging for... one reason or another.
Lunatrix raises an eyebrow.
Lunatrix: Like what kind of reason?
Vagabond Wizard: Ahh...
Vagabond Wizard sounds a little self-conscious.
Vagabond Wizard: Sometimes... after living a very long time... without certain... ties...
Vagabond Wizard sighs.
Vagabond Wizard: I have spent a lot of my life alone. And lost a great many friends. I get... lonely. Depressed. Weary of life.
Lunatrix nods after a minute.
Lunatrix: I think I get it.
Vagabond Wizard tries to smile, but mostly fails.
Vagabond Wizard: Self-doubt and the like are not conducive to spell-casting. Magic requires a certain... arrogance, to put it bluntly. One must believe in one's own power... or 'twill fail.
Lunatrix gives a quirked smile.
Lunatrix: I think a lot more makes sense once that's taken into consideration.
Lunatrix: The arrogance part, I mean. Of course.
Vagabond Wizard smiles a bit, very self-deprecating.
Vagabond Wizard: I'm glad to clear that up for you.
Lunatrix: Well, you did say it.
Lunatrix waves a hand.
Lunatrix: But go on.
Vagabond Wizard: Well, I do not recall the actual incident that started my... slump. I could make a guess, but my timing is confused, I think.
Vagabond Wizard: In any case, I found myself spending a lot of time in Oranbega. And I found my tactics centering more and more about the crystals. Standing within their aura, 'twas easier to fight. Easier to recall spells. I felt less pain.
Lunatrix nods to show she's paying attention and takes a sip of her drink.
Vagabond Wizard: After a while, I was finding excuses to go to Oranbega and to linger. I would dwell beside the crystals, even if I was not alone. Often, team-mates would have to call back for me to remind me to move.
Vagabond Wizard: I took to carrying pieces of charged crystal with me. Just a few at first. Then pocketsful. Using them to recharge my strength... sometimes even when my strength needed no recharging.
Vagabond Wizard: The blue held the strongest draw for me, replenishing my power and allowing me to cast more spells. Work more magic.
Vagabond Wizard: I became more and more withdrawn from my friends and allies. I spent more and more time harvesting and using crystals. The Thornites... well, that would be jumping ahead.
Lunatrix raises an eyebrow slightly but doesn't interrupt.
Vagabond Wizard: I started to become... deranged. Unhinged. My depression worsened as I realized how strong the forces of evil and unlawfulness are in Paragon. The fight started to seem pointless. A waste of time.
Vagabond Wizard: No matter how many I slaughtered, there were always more. Especially of the Thornites.
Vagabond Wizard: I, ah... did not know the secrets of the Thornites' longevity then. Looking back... well, one could say I was rather dense about most of the events leading up to the end.
Lunatrix nods a bit.
Vagabond Wizard: In any case, the power I was drawing off the crystals... it began to... overflow. The energies were actually leaking randomly out of me. Although I did not notice and kept drawing on the crystals for more and more.
Vagabond Wizard: Oddly, channeled by the energies, my depression began to feed my... ego. If fighting at the level of the ordinary hero was not helping... well, then I just needed more power than the ordinary hero has. Bigger spells. More damage.
Vagabond Wizard: Greater power, of course. And, as you can probably guess, more crystals.
Lunatrix nods.
Vagabond Wizard: Then it occured to me. The trouble with this plane is that all its gods are passive, imprisoned, or lost. The city didn't need a hero. The city needed an...
Vagabond Wizard coughs, and fidgets.
Vagabond Wizard: I thought Paragon needed a deity. And I thought... at the time, of course... that given enough power and enough crystals... I could...
Vagabond Wizard lifts his hands slowly heavenward.
Lunatrix: Become a god? I get it.
Vagabond Wizard: Lots of people develop god-complexes. Those with super-powers are more prone to it than others. Planeswalkers...
Vagabond Wizard: If you ask people to define what makes a god, those same terms can often be used to describe planeswalkers. It is difficult to find one who has not succumbed to the hubris and set themselves up.
Lunatrix smiles slightly.
Lunatrix: You're making excuses. It must have been bad.
Vagabond Wizard: 'Twas one of the lowest points of my life. And I did not realize it at the time. I am still ashamed.
Vagabond Wizard: Nothing can excuse it. I am merely offering explanations that I think I have discovered in retrospect.
Vagabond Wizard: ...which just come out sounding like excuses.
Lunatrix nods.
Lunatrix: They're excuses. Trust me. I recognize, if not the exact, the general.
Vagabond Wizard sighs.
Vagabond Wizard: In any case, I gathered my energies and my crystals. I found the mystical center of Paragon. I drew on the ley lines that run beneath the city.
Vagabond Wizard: You'll find out more once we go to work for Portal Corp, but the dimensional fabric of Paragon City is very weak and thin. I intended to use that weakness, stretch everything out farther... and then break it.
Vagabond Wizard: I was going to unmake Paragon City and start over. The whole "rebuild it in my image" or "reshape it as I see fit" thing you've probably heard before.
Lunatrix shakes her head slightly.
Lunatrix: Not that I know of. But go on.
Vagabond Wizard: Well, that's kind of where the story ends. My friends and allies both within the Dauntless and without located me, quite by accident. Some had felt what was happening. Others came because they'd heard.
Vagabond Wizard: I was swarmed by friends, talked down from my idiocy by people who cared, and slowly drained of my excess energies by those who knew how.
Lunatrix sets her cup aside and stretches.
Lunatrix: Sort of late for an intervention.
Vagabond Wizard: A few had tried before. But as I said, I had been distancing myself. Withdrawing. Most had no idea I was in any manner of trouble.
Lunatrix: I've known addicts. If they didn't notice, they weren't paying attention.
Vagabond Wizard: 'Tis easy to be distracted in this city.
Lunatrix shrugs and nods.
Lunatrix: Maybe. I have to admit, at least you don't think small.
Vagabond Wizard chuckles a little.
Vagabond Wizard: Well, see... here's the rub...
Vagabond Wizard: Weeks... or was it months? Later, I tried something nearly as hare-brained. I don't recall what because... well, we discovered something.
Vagabond Wizard: The Thornites had noticed my harvesting of the crystals and their energies. Far early on in my addiction... they... do they call it "lacing"?
Lunatrix nods.
Vagabond Wizard: Aye. They "laced" a crystal for me. With a daemon.
Vagabond Wizard: The daemon was absorbed into my system with the other energies. He made himself hidden within my mind, not controlling or planting thoughts, but picking and choosing things to nurture and bring to prominence.
Lunatrix: Sneaky.
Vagabond Wizard: Aye. He was driven out, but not before wreaking a little extra havoc using my body. I got a first-hand look at how the spirit thorns and library crystals work.
Lunatrix frowns slightly in confusion.
Lunatrix: What do you mean?
Vagabond Wizard: Well, after the whole "unmaking the world" thing failed, I guess the daemon thought he'd take a more active role. I obtained a few spirit thorns, he took over my body and...
Vagabond Wizard mimes stabbing himself in the heart.
Lunatrix winces a bit.
Vagabond Wizard: I was only out of my body... well they tell me 'twas an hour or so. See, my friends caught onto this little bit of mischief very quickly. Tracked the daemon down. Battled it, drove it out of my body, and stuck me back in.
Lunatrix nods thoughtfully.
Vagabond Wizard: That's pretty much the complete story as I know it. I may have glossed over a detail or two. But that's the majority of it.
Lunatrix nods again.
Lunatrix: I guess I wish I would have known before we spent so much time in Oranbega. But you seemed, you know, okay.
Vagabond Wizard nods.
Vagabond Wizard: I am. My addiction was as strong as it was because the daemon had made it so. And after the attempt to unmake the world is when MAGI revealed they could bind my magic for me.
Vagabond Wizard: They, uh... did so as punishment for my attempt. But they did hand me my sword which they had been keeping.
Vagabond Wizard: 'Twas easier to quit the crystals with no spells to cast.
Lunatrix: I guess I can see that.
Vagabond Wizard: Still, I try not to tempt myself. I steer clear of the crystals when I can. No sense taking chances.
Vagabond Wizard: Plus, the feeling the crystals give... well, now it inspires memories and revulsion instead of a power rush.
Lunatrix: Probably for the best.
Lunatrix: You must get tired of telling that story. But, like I said, you mentioned it. Just enough to make me curious.
Vagabond Wizard: Actually... you're the first person I've told that story to since...
Vagabond Wizard thinks for a moment.
Vagabond Wizard: No. You're the first person I've told that story to.
Lunatrix: Oh. Well... nevermind, then.
Vagabond Wizard: Curiosity satisfied now? Or over-satisfied, perhaps?
Lunatrix picks up her cup and tears at the edges a bit.
Lunatrix shrugs.
Lunatrix: You mentioned, I asked, you told. It's all good.
Vagabond Wizard watches Luna for a minute or two.
Vagabond Wizard: 'Tis not the part of my life people tend to be most curious about. And I am not proud of it.
Lunatrix shrugs a bit again.
Lunatrix: What part should I have asked about?
Vagabond Wizard: You asked about what you were interested in. And I am glad of that.
Vagabond Wizard: I admit... I am left wondering... what you will think of me now.
Lunatrix: I don't think I have any room to judge.
Vagabond Wizard shrugs a little.
Vagabond Wizard: There is room enough. Not many people can claim to have tried to destroy the world. Fewer still actually had near enough power to do so during the attempt.
Lunatrix: Okay, but... let's see... you were influenced. You actually had good, but twisted, intentions. And maybe if someone else did have the power to do it, they would have tried something similar.
Vagabond Wizard smiles in spite of himself.
Vagabond Wizard: Now you're making my excuses.
Lunatrix: I'm good at excuses. I'm just saying, I'm the last person whose opinion you should be concerned about.
Vagabond Wizard: You're the one I'm spending the most time with of late. Your opinion could therefore bear the most weight. Depending on what it is, of course.
Lunatrix: You should probably hang out with a better class of people. Like I said, though, I'm the last person to judge... and it seems to me that any harm that you might have unwittingly caused, you've more than made up for.
Vagabond Wizard: I like the "class" of people I hang out with. And thank you. I have tried.
Vagabond Wizard slips down from the crate.
Vagabond Wizard: I think I should be heading to my rest. If you come up with anything else you want to ask me, just hold onto it 'til tomorrow?
Lunatrix: I wasn't trying to interogate you... Like I said, you mentioned and hinted, so I was curious.
Vagabond Wizard smiles.
Lunatrix: But I'm sure anything else can wait until tomorrow.
Vagabond Wizard: I did not feel interrogated.
Vagabond Wizard: More like... well, in my experience, once I tell one story, it often leads into another, aye? So if you find yourself wondering something... just ask.
Lunatrix shrugs a little and nods.
Lunatrix: Okay. Go get your rest.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Stops on an Endless Road
So you may ask: "Where has the vagabond been?" The simple yet complicated answer to these questions is what I like to call the "Vagabond Rule of Thumb": If I've read it, played it, or watched it, the vagabond has been there. This includes blogs, books, comics, movies, short stories, T.V. shows, video games, and websites. Even when I'm playing another character, in the back of my head, the vagabond is still nearby.
Now, the majority of the time, he is simply an observer. He comes across an interesting plane with interesting people or events on it. He stays in a neighboring plane ("peeking from the ether" he calls it) or hidden within the plane and just... watches. This means he has seen a great many great events he did not participate in. Kind of the planeswalker version of watching T.V.
On the other hand, if my interest is especially strong, if I get drawn into the story so much I feel a part of it, or if I actually role-play in the world, then the vagabond has been there in person, often as an active participant in events. Scattered around, I have 12 different character sheets for structured role-playing games, and I have "free-form" role-played the character in at least twice that many.
Now the most important thing to me, especially regarding the vagabond, is story, so if something is revealed to me where the story would be better served if the vagabond doesn't know it, I'll mentally pull him out. If steps are intentionally taken to be sure he doesn't hear about something, and I hear about it anyway, if it makes sense in the context of the story, he doesn't hear.
Now, the majority of the time, he is simply an observer. He comes across an interesting plane with interesting people or events on it. He stays in a neighboring plane ("peeking from the ether" he calls it) or hidden within the plane and just... watches. This means he has seen a great many great events he did not participate in. Kind of the planeswalker version of watching T.V.
On the other hand, if my interest is especially strong, if I get drawn into the story so much I feel a part of it, or if I actually role-play in the world, then the vagabond has been there in person, often as an active participant in events. Scattered around, I have 12 different character sheets for structured role-playing games, and I have "free-form" role-played the character in at least twice that many.
Now the most important thing to me, especially regarding the vagabond, is story, so if something is revealed to me where the story would be better served if the vagabond doesn't know it, I'll mentally pull him out. If steps are intentionally taken to be sure he doesn't hear about something, and I hear about it anyway, if it makes sense in the context of the story, he doesn't hear.
Monday, June 16, 2008
The Imperious Task Force
I love Cimerora. Love, love, love. It's visually awe-inspiring, and I wish parts of the ITF were accessible outside of the TF so I could just go hang out there. If and when my economic stimulus check arrives, it's immediately going to a more powerful video card just so I can turn my graphics settings up even higher.
Unfortunately, I was so wrapped up in the TF and in looking around that I completely forgot to take any screenshots. @#$%. At least I'm planning to do it again. I still want to take Vagabond Blade and Blood Crucible on it. Then make some tweaks to their armors. So there'll be other chances. And if I get the new video card first, then the screenies will be even prettier. :)
I hope everyone had a good time on the ITF, by the way. I know I sure did. And I read every word of what Imperious said, every clue that dropped, and every bit of NPC dialog. I was totally into the plot and eating up every word. Even though it wasn't RP heavy, I was in Vagz' head the entire time, and both of us were in awe.
Speaking of Vagz, I have been having a blast playing him again. He really is my favorite character to RP. He has lots of depth, lots of history, and it's always interesting to play him. He constantly surprises me, though, even after having played him since 1991-ish. Yeah, he's that "old".
What surprises me the most is how he gets along with other characters. Sometimes, I'll think "oh, he'll get along great with this character", and I'll be blown away by how wrong I am. Other times, it's the opposite. Case in point: Lunatrix.
To me, this duo had "DOOM" written all over it. With extra O's, even. Mechanically, I knew it'd be a great match-up, but I thought for sure the characters would take an instant dislike for each other and Fyre and I would spend half our time trying to come up with ways to keep the two together. And I have never been more happy to be wrong.
Don't get me wrong: the characters aren't best buds or anything, and they have big arguments and blow-ups. But it's interesting RP. They have interesting conversations, interesting fights, and it's the kind of RP I've been missing for a bit now.
And with Shields coming Soon(tm), I'm all excited about TankVagz being on the horizon... :)
Unfortunately, I was so wrapped up in the TF and in looking around that I completely forgot to take any screenshots. @#$%. At least I'm planning to do it again. I still want to take Vagabond Blade and Blood Crucible on it. Then make some tweaks to their armors. So there'll be other chances. And if I get the new video card first, then the screenies will be even prettier. :)
I hope everyone had a good time on the ITF, by the way. I know I sure did. And I read every word of what Imperious said, every clue that dropped, and every bit of NPC dialog. I was totally into the plot and eating up every word. Even though it wasn't RP heavy, I was in Vagz' head the entire time, and both of us were in awe.
Speaking of Vagz, I have been having a blast playing him again. He really is my favorite character to RP. He has lots of depth, lots of history, and it's always interesting to play him. He constantly surprises me, though, even after having played him since 1991-ish. Yeah, he's that "old".
What surprises me the most is how he gets along with other characters. Sometimes, I'll think "oh, he'll get along great with this character", and I'll be blown away by how wrong I am. Other times, it's the opposite. Case in point: Lunatrix.
To me, this duo had "DOOM" written all over it. With extra O's, even. Mechanically, I knew it'd be a great match-up, but I thought for sure the characters would take an instant dislike for each other and Fyre and I would spend half our time trying to come up with ways to keep the two together. And I have never been more happy to be wrong.
Don't get me wrong: the characters aren't best buds or anything, and they have big arguments and blow-ups. But it's interesting RP. They have interesting conversations, interesting fights, and it's the kind of RP I've been missing for a bit now.
And with Shields coming Soon(tm), I'm all excited about TankVagz being on the horizon... :)
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
DefenderVagz
Vagabond Wizard, level 6 Magic Cold Domination/Electrical Blast Defender
Let the I12 madness begin. Some time this week, I'll be rolling up my Blood Widower, too. I'm not committed to a story or character for him yet, but I'll come up with something.
Let the I12 madness begin. Some time this week, I'll be rolling up my Blood Widower, too. I'm not committed to a story or character for him yet, but I'll come up with something.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
DefenderVagz
With Vagabond Magus (ControllerVagz) at 40, and the new slots that'll open up for me when Issue 12 hits the live servers, I'm seriously contemplating the next incarnation of the vagabond. I was hoping they'd proliferate Thermal Radiation to defenders, but instead they sent the powerset I used for VillainVagz - Cold Domination. So now I have to figure out what sets to go with.
As an old-school Dungeons & Dragons wizard, the one thing Vagz' magic can't do (except in the Ultima universe) is heal. I'm also not really interested in repeating a powerset since that kind of defeats the purpose of making a new version. The vagabond's strengths have always been with fire, lightning, and pure magical energy/force.
Among the defender primaries, I'm looking at Cold Domination, Dark Miasma, Kinetics, and Storm Summoning. To me, Empathy is centered too much around heals, Force Field would be repeating the powerset from ControllerVagz, Radiation Emission just doesn't seem right (and I did it already with E.VAC), Sonic Resonance doesn't seem right (and I think would feel like a repeat of FF), and Trick Arrow... well, Vagz is about the sword, not a bow.
My concern with dark and kinetics is that I'd have to skip the heals and that might be a bit crippling to the sets. Dark might not really work for Vagz anyway, but kinetics still has some possibility. My concern with storm, even though that's the way I was thinking of going pre-proliferation, is that I've already done it with Jack Royale.
Which has me kind of leaning toward cold. It has some good buffs and debuffs, no heal for me to skip, and VillainVagz (The Gray Wizard) was a Cold Domination/Fire Blast corruptor, so it's something he's touched on already.
As far as secondaries, I'm pretty much committed to Electric Blast. In the beginning, I had to choose whether to make BlasterVagz (Vagabond Mage) fire/elec or elec/fire. I went with the fireball first, so now it's probably time to play with those lightning bolts. :) Dark Blast, Energy Blast, and Ice Blast would make good secondaries, too, but I think I'm leaning away from dark, energy might cause too much knockback, and while ice is an excellent blast set, I like to keep up Vagz' status as a dabbler by keeping his powersets as different as possible.
I would love to get thoughts, advice, and suggestions on this. It doesn't matter if it's from an IC standpoint, mechanical standpoint, or what. Any help would be welcome.
As an old-school Dungeons & Dragons wizard, the one thing Vagz' magic can't do (except in the Ultima universe) is heal. I'm also not really interested in repeating a powerset since that kind of defeats the purpose of making a new version. The vagabond's strengths have always been with fire, lightning, and pure magical energy/force.
Among the defender primaries, I'm looking at Cold Domination, Dark Miasma, Kinetics, and Storm Summoning. To me, Empathy is centered too much around heals, Force Field would be repeating the powerset from ControllerVagz, Radiation Emission just doesn't seem right (and I did it already with E.VAC), Sonic Resonance doesn't seem right (and I think would feel like a repeat of FF), and Trick Arrow... well, Vagz is about the sword, not a bow.
My concern with dark and kinetics is that I'd have to skip the heals and that might be a bit crippling to the sets. Dark might not really work for Vagz anyway, but kinetics still has some possibility. My concern with storm, even though that's the way I was thinking of going pre-proliferation, is that I've already done it with Jack Royale.
Which has me kind of leaning toward cold. It has some good buffs and debuffs, no heal for me to skip, and VillainVagz (The Gray Wizard) was a Cold Domination/Fire Blast corruptor, so it's something he's touched on already.
As far as secondaries, I'm pretty much committed to Electric Blast. In the beginning, I had to choose whether to make BlasterVagz (Vagabond Mage) fire/elec or elec/fire. I went with the fireball first, so now it's probably time to play with those lightning bolts. :) Dark Blast, Energy Blast, and Ice Blast would make good secondaries, too, but I think I'm leaning away from dark, energy might cause too much knockback, and while ice is an excellent blast set, I like to keep up Vagz' status as a dabbler by keeping his powersets as different as possible.
I would love to get thoughts, advice, and suggestions on this. It doesn't matter if it's from an IC standpoint, mechanical standpoint, or what. Any help would be welcome.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
VirtueVerse
New link in the "Relevant Links" section there. I've been meaning to add Vagz to the VirtueVerse forever. A lot of my/Vagz's friends from Virtue are already in there, including a few with profiles that mention him. I went ahead and opened a page for each version of Vagz as well as a "The Vagabond" page to collect it all together. It's just a framework at the moment, but now that it's started, I might be more inclined to continue.
While I was at it, I opened a page for both E-VAC and E.VAC, too. Might do Will as well if I get ambitious, but Vagz is first priority.
More on this as it develops. :)
While I was at it, I opened a page for both E-VAC and E.VAC, too. Might do Will as well if I get ambitious, but Vagz is first priority.
More on this as it develops. :)
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