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User:GS4-QUILIC

2024-09-20T16:00:07Z

CANNEL: Updated outdated information

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Quilic is a former GameMaster who was assigned to the Subscriptions team, with a focus on Premium Benefits and Events, as well as Mist Harbor/Premium Roleplay and Storylines.

TownCrier Interview Sessions with Maetriks

2018-03-16T23:26:00Z

CANNEL: Created page with "{{towncrier interview |name= Maetriks d'Edonil Faendryl |caption= |race= Dark Elf |culture= |class= Sorcerer |profession= Grandmaster Alchemist in Training |religion= |affil..."

{{towncrier interview
|name= Maetriks d'Edonil Faendryl
|caption=
|race= Dark Elf
|culture=
|class= Sorcerer
|profession= Grandmaster Alchemist in Training
|religion=
|affiliations=
|word=
|disposition=
|demeanor=
|ptrait=
|strait=
|flaw=
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|habits=
|hobbies=
|soft=
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|loyalties=
|friend=
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|loved=
}}

By Oubar, TownCrier Correspondent /
20 Lormestra 5118 // January 20, 2018 
----
==Introduction==
The Lady Maetriks is somewhat of a polarizing figure. A true friend to those she feels a connection with, she is also quite fearsome towards those who earn her disdain. A strong, opinionated Dark Elf, she is nevertheless a stalwart friend, always willing to lend a hand or a piece of advice when needed. Maetriks took some time recently to sit down with the Crier's own Oubar to share her story.

{| class="wikitable" style="background-color:#fff6c1;" cellpadding="25" cellspacing="25"
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| "I would even venture to say it was love at first sight because I knew at that very moment... that we were destined to be together. It took some years, but it eventually came to be." ~Maetriks
|}

----
==The In-Character Interview==
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Shrubs, small trees and neatly bordered garden beds filled with a variety of plants and herbs are clustered about the garden, centered around sculptures of granite, sandstone and limestone. At the heart of the park rests a bronze statue of an aged man with a thick tome open on his lap, a brass plaque set into a granite boulder at its feet. You also see an aged crystalline woman.
Also here: Lady Maetriks
Obvious paths: out

You bow to Maetriks.

Speaking to Maetriks, you exclaim, "Good afternoon!"

Maetriks inclines her head.

You see Lady Maetriks d'Edonil Faendryl the Paragon of Reim.
She appears to be a Dark Elf.
She is average height. She appears to be young and robust. She has vibrant phlox-limned anthracite eyes and smooth, immaculately pallid skin. She has very long, jet-streaked dusky twilight hair pulled into a tight roll and pierced by a set of illthorn hairsticks inlaid with channels of jet. She has a set of symmetrically sculpted cheekbones enhancing a delicately contoured face, an upturned nose and a pair of sharply curved ears culminating to a minute taper. She has two faint, silvery scars at the base of her neck and a spiral-shaped burn around her left wrist. She has a small vibrant purple spider on her right upper arm.
She has a tattoo of a shadowy ring of thorny vines on her ankle, a band of inky black thorns tattoo on her thigh, an entwined black tendrils tattoo on her arm, and a pair of firestone-studded obsidian hoops adorned with black diamond fragments set along the slender tips of her pointed ears.
She is in good shape.
She is holding a wooden broom in her right hand and a metal dust pan in her left hand.
She is wearing a glazed illthorn alchemy case, a smooth illthorn bracer, a deep indigo reticule stitched from softened triton hides slung over her shoulder, an opalescent white vaalin talisman, a moon-filled alexandrite pendant, a thick choker wrought from black ora vines, a hooded cloak of iridescent thunderhead purple-black panne velvet, a small bone periapt, a diamond dahlia-shaped cluster, a blackened leather harness over a sleek fitted suit of purple-sheened jet leather with a black silk chemise drenched with blood underneath, some stygian silk casting gloves, a tiny indigo illthorn promise ring, a slender smoky glaes tube with a rune-carved imflass lid, a shimmering amethyst purple satchel, and some deep orchid leather boots studded with dark petrified wyrmwoods.

Maetriks says, "Good afternoon, sir."

Speaking to Maetriks, you say, "First, thank you so much for agreeing to do this. Your name has been high on my personal list for some time."

You grin crookedly.

You clear your throat.

Maetriks smiles at you.

You say, "Apologies, my manners...."

Maetriks says, "It is for some as well, but... more so for those who wish me dead."

Maetriks grins mischievously.

Speaking to Maetriks, you say, "My name is Oubar Il'Prelay, and it's a pleasure to meet you in the flesh, so to speak."

You grin at Maetriks.

You bow to Maetriks.

Speaking to Maetriks, you say, "As we have discussed through our correspondence, I have a rough outline of questions, but it's my intent to see where the conversation leads us."

Speaking to you, Maetriks says, "Of course. I look forward to it."

Speaking to you, Maetriks says, "I dare say, this is the first time I have ever been interviewed."

Speaking to Maetriks, you exclaim, "Well, I have done a few of these to this point, but I'll apologize up front for the mistakes I'm sure I'll make. That's what editors are for, after all!"

Maetriks appears to be struggling to keep a straight face.

Maetriks agrees, "Of course."

Speaking to Maetriks, you say, "Now then, the point of these is to get a good picture of each of the interviewees, so I'll ask for your indulgence as I ask a few questions to which the answers are already well known."

You grin crookedly.

'''Speaking to Maetriks, you ask, "And to that end, what is your profession?"

Speaking to you, Maetriks says, "Grandmaster Alchemist in training."

You nod understandingly.

Maetriks offhandedly says, "Also, a sorceress."

'''Speaking to Maetriks, you ask, "What would you say it is, or was, about sorcery that drove you to go down that particular path?"

Speaking devilishly to you, Maetriks says, "I can make the dead walk again."

You grin nervously.

Maetriks flippantly says, "And I can have a pet demon."

Maetriks seriously says, "One day, it will be a vathor."

You nod slowly at Maetriks.

'''Speaking to Maetriks, you ask, "What town do you currently call home?"

A small vibrant purple spider on Maetriks crawls over to her left forearm.

The thick choker around Maetriks's neck is momentarily engulfed in a shroud of darkness!

Maetriks sighs.

Speaking to you, Maetriks says, "I am taking up temporary residence in this town (Solhaven) as it is the most convenient currently for my alchemy training. I call Mist Harbor my home, though. Unfortunately, the guild has been put on what seems like a permanent delay there."

'''Speaking to Maetriks, you ask, "Were you born in Mist Harbor? Where is your family from?"

Speaking wryly to you, Maetriks says, "Now, the right and proud thing to say is I am from New Ta'Faendryl... but that is inaccurate. In fact, I was born and raised in a small village just off Whistler's Pass between Zul Logoth and Cysaegir."

You nod understandingly at Maetriks.

Speaking to you, Maetriks says, "I can only assume my parents were originally from New Ta'Faendryl, but I cannot say for certain. You see, my mother died in childbirth, and my father... well, he blamed me for the whole thing."

You furrow up your face and wince.

Speaking wistfully to you, Maetriks murmurs, "Needless to say, I did not stay long in that village."

You nod in agreement.

Speaking to you, Maetriks says, "My father made me leave when I came of age to be able to take care of myself... and it did not serve to keep me around as I reminded him too much of my mother."

Maetriks dismissively says, "Anyway..."

''Speaking to Maetriks, you ask, "And I take it you went from there to Mist Harbor? What drove you there?"

Maetriks awkwardly says, "Not... entirely..."

You nod encouragingly at Maetriks.

Maetriks says, "I actually traveled for some time... for a while, really."

Maetriks thoughtfully says, "I was never formally trained in sorcery... I just happen to be a quick study. I had no master to work with, no one to show me the way..."

Speaking to you, Maetriks says, "The first time I raised the dead, it was a chicken with a broken neck... I fumbled through an incantation and ended with "Arise, chicken." It clucked and died again very shortly after."

You blink.

Maetriks continues, "In any case, I watched others, mimicked what they said and did... made my way to Ta'Vaalor as I did and resised between there and River's Rest as I honed my craft. Really, Mist Harbor became my home because it was mostly convenient and much more accommodating to my people than either of those towns were."

You nod understandingly at Maetriks.

'''Speaking to Maetriks, you ask, "I believe I can hazard a guess, given the location you chose for this interview, but which Arkati do you follow, if any?"

Maetriks breathes in slightly.

Speaking to you, Maetriks says, "Eorgina. In truth, I selected the Garden of Forbidden Knowledge because I felt it most fitting for this sort of thing. That and Fash'lo'nae was a known companion of Eorgina and Luukos, plus I feel it would have desecrated her temple had I chosen to hold this there."

You blink.

You nod understandingly.

''You ask, "I see, I misunderstood. My apologies. What about Eorgina drew you to her? Were you raised in her service, or did you find her later in life?"

Maetriks looks lost in thought.

Maetriks says, "Yes and no."

You nod encouragingly at Maetriks.

Maetriks explains, "After I arrived in Ta'Vaalor, I felt I had a strong pull to her. She has been depicted as strong-minded and independent and while she may be of the Lornon pantheon, she is not "evil" per se. In fact, the sole reason she chose to go to Lornon when the Arkati fled Elanthia was because her once King had married another, Lumnis, without so much of a warning. It was a rather deep cut of betrayal and having experienced what I did from my father... I realized she and I had more in common than I would with any of the others."

Speaking quietly to you, Maetriks says, "We did not simply survive our betrayals: we conquered them and rose above them."

Speaking to Maetriks, you say, "I can certainly understand that. Those sorts of shared experiences make for the strongest bonds."

Speaking to you, Maetriks says, "It was not until I met my ex-husband, however, that I truly began to walk her path."

Maetriks says, "And I did so because of and despite of him."

'''Speaking to Maetriks, you ask, "Not wishing to get too salacious, what was your ex-husband's name, and what do you mean by 'because of and despite' him with regards to Eorgina's service?"

''Speaking to Maetriks, you say, "And if you'd prefer not to discuss it, we can certainly scratch the question."

Maetriks inhales sharply as she crosses her arms and taps her nails against her illthorn bracer.

Speaking curtly to you, Maetriks says, "Demyse Ta'Mori."

You nod understandingly.

Speaking to you, Maetriks says, "He is one of her clergy."

Speaking to you, Maetriks says, "I am sure if I had met my mother, she would have said "If you cannot say something nice, do not say anything at all..." So I will have to stick by that advice on this topic."

You nod understandingly at Maetriks.

Speaking nervously to Maetriks, you exclaim, "On to other topics, then!"

'''Speaking to Maetriks, you ask, "This falls squarely under the umbrella of things that are already known, but what is your current marital status?"

You smile at Maetriks.

Maetriks excitedly exclaims, "Engaged!"

You grin crookedly.

''Speaking to Maetriks, you ask, "And who is the lucky groom-to-be?"

Speaking proudly to you, Maetriks gushes, "To the most wonderful male I could ever have the pleasure to call mine: Blade Durakar al'Yari Faendryl, my Palestra."

You nod approvingly.

''Speaking to Maetriks, you ask, "And how did you and he meet, if I might ask?"

Speaking to you, Maetriks says, "I doubt he would be able to recall it as vividly... but I was married at the time to my ex. It was at Ebon Gate... pretty sure in year 5110, during the costume contest..."

Speaking to you, Maetriks says, "He participated and for his costume: he was a vathor. It was the most glorious performance I saw all day... and he was marvelous at it, both terrifying and awe inspiring. I would even venture to say it was love at first sight because I knew at that very moment, despite being married to another, that we were destined to be together. It took some years, but it eventually came to be."

You grin from ear to ear.

'''Speaking to Maetriks, you ask, "What would you say is your most valuable possession? Not necessarily the one with the highest monetary value, but the one closest to your heart?"

''Speaking to Maetriks, you add, "Unless of course they are one and the same."

Maetriks shows you a violet-tinged veil iron locket, which she is wearing. Meticulously fashioned from dark veil iron, this circular locket features a nearly imperceptible violet suffusion. Etched into the face is a dozing aishan, head resting upon its paws, and behind it, a towering vathor standing guard over its restful slumber. Surrounding the two demons is a multitude of irregular carvings, creating the illusion of peering through a portal to a different valence. Inside, you see a grey scale dark elven portrait.

You exclaim, "Oh my... that's exquisite!"

The thick choker around Maetriks's neck is momentarily engulfed in a shroud of darkness!

Maetriks says, "I do not have my wedding ring yet, for obvious reasons, so this would be a close second."

Maetriks reaches out and touches her veil iron locket.

Maetriks says, "This is actually a representation of my fiance and I."

You flash a wide grin.

Maetriks says, "I am sure, based on how I said we met, you could assume the vathor is him."

You nod in agreement.

Maetriks says, "The sleeping aishan is meant to represent me, of course... with him always watchful and standing guard over me, ever vigilant and every protecting."

Maetriks removes a grey scale dark elven portrait from in her veil iron locket.

Maetriks says, "It, of course, houses a portrait of him that I carry with me, close to my heart, always."

You grin happily.

Maetriks shows you a grey scale dark elven portrait, which she is holding in her right hand. Artfully sketched upon the waxed vellum, the portrait is the grey scale rendering of a sharply featured dark elven man with a hawkish nose. Piercing eyes, which are painted an icy blue and are the only color depicted in the piece, rest within an angular face that is well defined and chiseled. Inky black hair, highlighted in greys, frames his face, a slender braid upon the left falling before his angular ear and draping across his muscled shoulder.

Maetriks put a grey scale dark elven portrait in her veil iron locket.

Speaking to Maetriks, you ask, "Exquisite work. Who was the painter?"

Speaking to you, Maetriks says, "Ziethsmet, I believe... also the creator of this locket."

You nod approvingly.

Speaking to you, Maetriks says, "She did a wonderful job with his likeness... and he has the partner locket. They are attuned to one another."

You grin from ear to ear.

You exclaim, "That's wonderful!"

Maetriks exclaims, "Indeed!"

'''Speaking to Maetriks, you ask, "In much the same vein, what is your most valuable posession, from a strict resale value perspective?"

Maetriks touches one finger to her lips.

Maetriks says, "I would say my shop, but probably not."

A small vibrant purple spider on Maetriks crawls over to her neck.

You nod understandingly.

Maetriks says, "Likely my leathers. Not the ones I am currently wearing, of course. I have a set of ethereal doubles that are currently being worked to a ninth enchant... they have been unlocked twice."

Maetriks says, "It is taking a lot of patience for that project."

You chuckle.

You nod in agreement.

'''Speaking to Maetriks, you ask, "What would you say is the seminal moment of your time as an adventurer? The moment which had the largest and longest-reaching effect on your overall journey?"

You flail your arms about.

You say, "Wait."

You say, "I'm out of order. That one comes next. One more easy one."

You stare at nothing in particular.

Maetriks snickers.

'''Speaking to Maetriks, you ask, "Would you be willing to give us a look at one of your lockers? Just a peek... no followups or clarifications?"

Maetriks grins impishly.

Maetriks removes a black-spined niveous suede manifest from in her hooded cloak.

Maetriks says, "Let's see now..."

You grin at Maetriks.

Maetriks shows you her niveous suede manifest.
Locker contents of Maetriks d'Edonil, the Dark Elf, as recorded in Mist Harbor:
In a deep chest:
a small round glass jar containing ayana leaves
a royal blue satin backpack
a bundle of faeroth crests
a bundle of faeroth crests
a bundle of faeroth crests
a bundle of faeroth crests
a bundle of faeroth crests
a bundle of faeroth crests
a bundle of faeroth crests
a bundle of faeroth crests
a bundle of faeroth crests
a hexagonal golden glass bottle containing essences of fire
a lime green wavy glass bottle containing lump of black ambergrises
a tall prismatic glass jar containing glowing violet essence dust
a crimson-hued thick glass bottle containing radiant crimson essence dust
a turquoise glass beaker containing radiant crimson motes of essence
a deep red glass beaker containing tiny golden seeds
a smoky octagonal glass jar containing n'ayanad crystals
a bronze-rimmed clear glass jar containing n'ayanad crystals
a bronze-rimmed cranberry glass jar containing crystal cores
a small round glass jar containing crystal cores
a hexagonal golden glass bottle containing crystal cores
a grooved pyramidal glass jar containing glimmering blue motes of essence
a gold-rimmed carmine glass jar containing glimmering blue motes of essence
a swirled rainbow glass bottle containing glimmering blue motes of essence
a bronze-rimmed cranberry glass jar containing white hook mushrooms
a clear glass bear-shaped bottle containing pristine siren's hairs
a smoky octagonal glass jar containing hollies
an ash grey glass beaker containing glimmering blue essence dust
an azure flecked glass bottle containing blue moss
a tall gold-streaked bottle containing large troll teeth
a frosted glass beaker containing smooth stones
a kelyn-rimmed amber glass jar containing essences of earth
an azure flecked glass bottle containing hollies
a slender multicolored bottle containing perfect myklian belly scales
a blue-hued speckled glass bottle containing perfect myklian belly scales
a laje-rimmed lavender glass jar containing tkaro roots
a tall gold-streaked bottle containing luminescent green funguses
a rough square glass jar containing red passionflowers
a light tan glass beaker containing murdroots
a silver-rimmed ash grey glass jar containing murdroots
a gold-rimmed carmine glass jar containing murdroots
a striped rainbow glass bottle containing spirit shards
a saffron yellow glass beaker containing spirit shards
an umber square-necked bottle containing spirit shards
an invar-rimmed violet glass jar containing spirit shards
a greenish mottled glass bottle containing spirit shards
a saffron yellow glass beaker containing spirit shards
a charcoal glass beaker containing spirit shards
a rosy pink glass beaker containing stargazer lilies
an olive green glass beaker containing pepperthorn roots
a bronze-rimmed clear glass jar containing pristine nymph's hairs
a kelyn-rimmed amber glass jar containing moonlight cactus-blooms
an ora-rimmed sienna glass jar containing essences of earth
a dark hexagonal glass jar containing pristine siren's hairs
a rosy pink glass beaker containing small troll teeth
a striped rainbow glass bottle containing waxy grey caederine
a tall gold-streaked bottle containing small troll teeth
a dark hexagonal glass jar containing white hook mushrooms
a brass-rimmed crimson glass jar containing inky necrotic cores
a twisted purple glass bottle containing glowing violet essence shards
a brass-rimmed crimson glass jar containing radiant crimson essence shards
an etched cubical glass jar containing waxy grey caederine
a turquoise glass beaker containing tiny golden seeds
a deep red glass beaker containing tiny golden seeds
a hexagonal golden glass bottle containing glowing green lichen
a rosy pink glass beaker containing n'ayanad crystals
an invar-rimmed violet glass jar containing glimmering blue essence shards
a perfectly spherical glass jar containing glimmering blue essence shards
a vaalin-rimmed sky blue glass jar containing corked crystalline globe filled with glowing mineral waters
a hexagonal golden glass bottle containing murdroots
a hexagonal golden glass bottle containing waxy grey caederine
a bronze-rimmed clear glass jar containing glimmering blue essence dust
an opalescent violet glass bottle containing glowing violet essence dust
a dark blue glass beaker containing glowing violet motes of essence
a dappled orange glass bottle containing luckbloom blossoms
a light tan glass beaker containing vial of farlook vitreous humors
a vaalin-rimmed sky blue glass jar containing vial of farlook vitreous humors
a perfectly spherical glass jar containing essences of air
an umber square-necked bottle containing glowing green lichen
a small round glass jar containing essences of fire
a clear glass bear-shaped bottle containing wavepetal blossoms
a hexagonal golden glass bottle containing elemental cores
a clear glass beaker containing stargazer lilies
a vaalin-rimmed sky blue glass jar containing ayana leaves
In a magical item bin:
a crimson-hued thick glass bottle containing ayana berries
an olive green glass beaker containing uncut emeralds
a spherical glass jar containing powdered black doomstone
a hexagonal golden glass bottle containing uncut diamonds
a dappled orange glass bottle containing uncut star-of-Tamzyrr diamonds
a vaalin-rimmed sky blue glass jar containing uncut diamonds
a tall prismatic glass jar containing shard of rainbow quartzes
an umber square-necked bottle containing golden topazes
a bronze-rimmed cranberry glass jar containing uncut emeralds
an iridescent citrine glass bottle containing uncut emeralds
a crimson-hued thick glass bottle containing green tourmalines
a sooty glass beaker
a laje-rimmed lavender glass jar containing blue peridots
a short ovoid glass jar containing golden moonstones
a silver-rimmed ash grey glass jar containing green peridots
an etched cubical glass jar containing piece of white marbles
an invar-rimmed violet glass jar containing iridescent piece of mother-of-pearls
a tall prismatic glass jar containing sparkling silvery conch shells
a perfectly spherical glass jar containing pink sapphires
a kelyn-rimmed amber glass jar containing yellow sapphires
an ora-rimmed sienna glass jar containing star sapphires
a rough square glass jar containing star sapphires
a grooved pyramidal glass jar containing green sapphires
an ora-rimmed sienna glass jar containing violet sapphires
a brass-rimmed crimson glass jar containing violet sapphires
a light tan glass beaker containing green sapphires
a tawny glass beaker containing deep blue mermaid's-tear sapphires
a rough square glass jar containing brilliant fire pearls
a short ovoid glass jar containing tiny white pearls
a silver-rimmed ash grey glass jar containing medium grey pearls
a short ovoid glass jar containing large pink pearls
a slender multicolored bottle containing medium black pearls
a frosted glass beaker containing pearl nautilus shells
a poppy red glass beaker containing ruby-lined nassa shells
a dark blue glass beaker containing polished pink coral
a saffron yellow glass beaker containing Kezmonian honey beryls
a turquoise glass beaker containing selanthan bloodjewels
a laje-rimmed lavender glass jar containing black opals
an olive green glass beaker containing golden beryl gems
a gold-rimmed carmine glass jar containing green garnets
Obvious items: 125

You nod approvingly.

Maetriks put a black-spined niveous suede manifest in her hooded cloak.

'''Speaking to Maetriks, you ask, "Thank you for that! And in a similar vein, would you be willing to give us a rough approximation of your current bank balance?"

Maetriks says, "Much less than I would prefer right now, but about 50 mil."

Speaking to Maetriks, you say, "Still a very respectable sum. Thank you once more for that."

You say, "Two more... the difficult ones."

You grin impishly.

'''Speaking to Maetriks, you ask, "What would you say is the seminal moment of your time as an adventurer? The moment which had the largest and longest-reaching effect on your overall journey?"

Speaking thoughtfully to you, Maetriks says, "There were so many... trying to narrow it down will be difficult..."

Maetriks touches one finger to her lips.

You nod understandingly.

You say, "The last two are the most difficult, I'm told. It's around now that I'm usually grateful I'm on this side of the questions."

You grin crookedly.

Speaking haltingly to you, Maetriks says, "It is likely... when my fiance was finally recognized as a Blade. I know that does not affect me personally, yet it did."

You nod.

Maetriks continues, "You see, up until that point... well, I was direly in love and he thought I was insane."

You flash a quick grin.

Speaking to you, Maetriks explains, "A sociopath, if you will... due to my prior marriage and the... situations I was place in and how I had to deal with them."

Speaking to you, Maetriks says, "Therefore, he had no desire to associate with me..."

Speaking to you, Maetriks says, "He was always polite, but let us call a spade a spade."

You nod understandingly.

Maetriks reflectively says, "That evening, I approached him with an offer he could not refuse. Come under my employ... serve as my Palestra, be my Blade... and keep me from destroying Elanthia."

Maetriks grins slowly.

You nod slowly.

Speaking to you, Maetriks says, "What better way to ensure I could be close to him but to let him know he would be what stayed my hand should I go into a rage."

Speaking reasonably to you, Maetriks says, "He agreed... it allowed us to get closer, and well, the rest is history."

'''Speaking to Maetriks, you ask, "And last but certainly not least... who, aside from your fiancee, has had the greatest impact on your life as an adventurer?"

Speaking to Maetriks, you add, "And aside from your ex-husband, as well, please."

Maetriks chuckles.

Speaking to you, Maetriks says, "Probably, and I hate to say this... Melivn. He was a Ta'Mori long before I was... in fact, he was the one who introduced me to my ex-husband. He is a pain in the rear, truth be told..."

You grin impishly.

Speaking vaguely to you, Maetriks says, "But he has almost been a surrogate father for me... in his odd immaturity."

Speaking to you, Maetriks says, "He still calls me kiddo from time to time and messes with my hair... which he swore he would stop doing if I could successfully attack him... which I did. I blew his arm clean off."

You chuckle to yourself.

Maetriks says, "He still does it, though."

Maetriks rolls her eyes.

Maetriks says, "He will be giving me away at our wedding... if I have not killed him first."

You try hard not to grin.

Speaking to Maetriks, you say, "Thank you so much for your patience as we put this together. That's the last of my questions for this evening."

You grin at Maetriks.

Maetriks says, "Of course. Thank you for the honor of being interviewed."

Speaking to Maetriks, you say, "You did a fantastic job. Thank you so much."

Maetriks chuckles.

Maetriks says, "Well, I look forward to reading it."

Maetriks appears to be trying hard not to grin.

Speaking to Maetriks, you say, "Thank you once more, and best of luck with your guild work."

You grin at Maetriks.

You bow to Maetriks.

Speaking to Maetriks, you say, "And I look forward to your upcoming wedding. Hopefully I will be invited?"

You wink at Maetriks.

Maetriks says, "There are likely few that will not be, however ensuring the officiant is there has been a bit of a pain."

You grin at Maetriks.

Speaking to Maetriks, you ask, "Who is officiating?"

Maetriks says, "Silvean, a well-respected member of the Faendryl community. He was recommended by his wife, Lylia."

You nod understandingly.

Maetriks says, "But getting in touch with him has been trying at times."

You grimace.

Speaking to Maetriks, you exclaim, "Best of luck with that, then, as well!"

Speaking to Maetriks, you say, "And if you'll excuse me, I need to get these notes filed, and then I'm going to turn in. Long day ahead of me tomorrow."

You try hard not to grin.

You bow to Maetriks.

Speaking to Maetriks, you say, "Have a wonderful evening, Lady Maetriks."

You grin impishly.

Maetriks inclines her head.

Maetriks says, "You as well."

Maetriks says, "Thank you."
</pre>
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{| class="wikitable" style="background-color:#fff6c1;" cellpadding="25" cellspacing="25"
|-
| "...the fact that we were recognized for it was just… astounding." ~Maetriks
|}
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==The Out-of-Character Interview==

'''What’s your real name? (First name only please)
:Melissa

'''Where are you located, geographically?
:Virginia, near Richmond

'''What do you do for a living?
:Retail Asst Manager for Toys R Us

'''How long have you played Gemstone?
:I think 11 years? I have to base my answer on how old my son is… I think he was 3 when I was introduced.

'''Have you taken any breaks, or played straight through?
:I’ve had several breaks, more so earlier in my playing. The last one I took was in 2012 and it lasted a month. In that time, I wrote a fairly decent backstory for my bard.

'''How many different ‘main’ characters have you had over the years?
:Too many? Seriously. I have two that are really, really known as being played by me. They’re the ones I’m most notable for. I don’t like to think of myself as having a main as I would play all my characters equally if I had all the time in the world to do so. For now, I’m trying to master things like alchemy or forging and can’t.

'''Who are/were your most notable characters?
:Maetriks and Nihrvanah

'''Do you have multiple accounts that you play at the same time?
:Yes and no. There are times that I have characters on both accounts that I hunt together (manually), and other times I end up fletching or forging on one when I hunt the other.

'''Do you have a Premium subscription?
:Yes, two

'''What front-end do you use? (Stormfront, Wizard, Profanity, other)?
:Stormfront, though, if I had to use my tablet in a pinch, I’d have to see if Profanity would work on it.

''Why?
:It’s what I was intro’d to GS with… ease of use… windows… I don’t have God awful start up music. The better question is why WOULDN’T I?

'''Do you use lich?
:Yes

''Why or why not?
:Mostly to help with tedium. I’d never do half the stuff I’m doing without it. Travel, forging, fletching, alchemy, etc. I don’t use it to hunt.

''If so, what are your ‘must-have’ scripts?
: ;alchemy, ;arenatimer, ;duskruin_watch, ;forgery, ;sammu

'''Have you ever bought or sold characters or items for real money?
:One time. It was the first character I ever rolled up but I sold her due to her having a lot of bad juju tied to her (mostly OOC juju). It was weird seeing her logged in a few times a couple weeks ago. Almost made me miss her. Almost. I also sold a self-charging wand with 102 on it after DMC because why would I need that?

'''Do you now, or have you ever roleplayed a character that was very different from your real personality?
:Yes, all the time!

''Why or why not?
:I actually have an acting background. I like to explore different backstories, races, and things that make them click. Sometimes it takes a few weeks to sort out who they are by playing, sometimes I go into it knowing who they are. It’s why I have a vast cast of characters to play with.

'''What would you say is your most memorable Gemstone ‘moment’ (as a player) , and why?
:There’s been so many… I think the moment that really sticks out in my head right now is when Nihrvanah (and Rohese) were both honored with the Patron of the Displaced title simply for holding a fundraiser in the Nations to help with the half-elven refugees from the West during one of Kenstrom’s storylines. It wasn’t big… it didn’t even have that much attendance… but the fact that we were recognized for it was just… astounding. I didn’t even find out about it on that character. I found out about it when I was lurking at an announcement in game with one of my lesser known alts. I was in tears.

'''What, in your mind, is the best thing about Gemstone?
:The community. The fact that I have over a dozen best friends that I haven’t already met. The fact that I can go to SimuCon and associate names to real faces and just be able to be out of my normal shell instantly because I’ve already built a rapport with them.

'''Have you ever attended Simucon, or otherwise met up with a person from Gemstone?
:See above. I’ve been to 3 SimuCons now, and I’ve hung out with GS people IRL twice now. I really do enjoy it and will continue to do so.

''If so, describe the experience (PG-13, please)
:Drinking, conversation, random other things (going to a zoo, for instance, like I did with Ewin’s player at Con with my kids). Honestly, just a lot of fun. Like normal people hanging out.

'''Imagine you're Wyrom for a day and can 'do' one thing. What are you changing/removing/adding/replacing, and why?
:I was a Wyromling for a weekend last EG (maybe it was most of the week)… I got to shamble all over the place… gnaw on people… totally worth the silvers from the Con auction. Seriously, though, I would make all items able to be ensorcelled or enchanted… really ensorcelled. I think not allowing merchant ensorcelling and capping player abilities to do so is ridiculous.

'''What do you feel is the biggest mistake that most GS players make?
:Not separating in game from real life. This can be taken in multiple forms… taking real offense to something said in game to your character, about your character, as a personal offense… to getting romantically attached to the character you’re RPing with and trying to take it into the real world (without any indication from the other side that this is returned).

''Why?
:It’s a game. Trying to take everything that happens in game into the real world can have severe consequences. I’ve seen/heard of real life relationships that have been ruined or damaged because of that. Learn to separate… I find I have to make an OOC disclaimer sometimes at the forefront of one of my characters getting into a relationship in game clarifying that I am happily engaged in real life and this is to be segregated to the game only. Sometimes, it limits me, others, I get a relieved “Oh, thank God” from someone who was worried about it as well but didn’t want to voice as much.

'''What’s something that you feel every GS player should do at least once?
:Go to SimuCon, or barring that, meet your fellow players.

'''Why?
:We’re a community of the internet age. We all enjoy this game for one reason or another and it’s easier to bond with people when you already know you have that one thing in common.

'''What advice would you offer to a new player?
:Don’t post in politics on the PC.

TownCrier Interview Sessions with Riend

2018-01-06T00:49:19Z

CANNEL: Created page with "{{towncrier interview |name= Riend Ar'Fiernel |caption= |race= Sylvankind |culture= |class= Rogue |profession= |religion= |affiliations= |word= |disposition= |demeanor= |p..."

{{towncrier interview
|name= Riend Ar'Fiernel
|caption=
|race= Sylvankind
|culture=
|class= Rogue
|profession=
|religion=
|affiliations=
|word=
|disposition=
|demeanor=
|ptrait=
|strait=
|flaw=
|strength=
|weakness=
|habits=
|hobbies=
|soft=
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|loyalties=
|friend=
|spouse=
|loved=
}}

By Oubar, TownCrier Correspondent /
19 Eorgaen 5117 // December 19th, 2017 - in Kestrel's Perch 
----
==Introduction==
The Lady Riend is exactly that, a Lady. From her love of tea and shoes, to her reserved nature, Riend comes across as a gentle soul, with a wry, sometimes mischievous sense of humor. She is eminently approachable, and quick to lend a hand when needed. She has an impeccable sense of taste, and is known as somewhat of a clothes horse, with an affinity for fine-looking things. She made time during the busy holidays to sit down with the Crier's own Oubar.

{| class="wikitable" style="background-color:#fff6c1;" cellpadding="25" cellspacing="25"
|-
| "I am very, very good at being very, very quiet." ~Riend
|}

----
==The In-Character Interview==
<pre{{log2|background=none|border=none}}>

[Upper Trollfang, Path]
A path meanders through large tree trunks encrusted with moss and lichens. Underfoot, a thick carpet of leaves mutes footsteps, its soft brown tones spotted here and there with small dots of deep purple where woodland violets bloom. You also see a wooden gate set into a tall stone wall.
Obvious paths: northeast

[Kestrel's Perch, Lawn]
The trees give way to a narrow, yet lush, lawn of grass which rings a country manor. The sides of the dwelling are wooden shakes, and its roof is slate, most of which is covered with the vivid emerald of living moss. Large rhododendron bushes frame a bright green door banded with iron and emblazoned with a painted soaring kestrel. Dense forest stretches away from the lawn on all sides, the foliage filled with the sounds of crickets and owls. You also see a wooden gate set into a tall stone wall.
Obvious paths: none

You knock upon a painted green door.
You open a painted green door.

[Kestrel's Perch, Sitting Room]
Polished oak paneling skirts the lodge, contrasting with green trim and upholstery on the generous leather armchairs. A large trestle table occupies one of the room's ends, flanked by a number of carved oak chairs. In the shadow of an overstuffed green sofa is a narrow slatted stairway, which leads upward to an open loft. A stone hearth dominates all, occupying the long wall across from a painted green door. Above the hearth, an immense elk trophy surveys its domain with a solemn gaze. You also see a silver-gilt serving platter with some stuff on it, a polished ebonwood platter inlaid with vaalin roses and a vine-motif small cast iron stove with a hammered copper kettle on it.
Also here: Riend
Obvious exits: west

Riend removes a frosted purple glass jar from in her blossom-framed case.

The small cast iron stove emits a steady crackle as the handful of tinder inside is slowly consumed.

Riend smiles at you.

You grin at Riend.

Speaking to Riend, you exclaim, "Good evening!"

You close a painted green door.

Speaking kindly to you, Riend says, "Good evening."

A loud pop issues forth from the small cast iron stove as the wooden log inside starts to catch fire.

Riend clears her throat.

You say, "This really is a lovely place. I was admiring the lawn."

A wavering glow dances behind the grate of the small cast iron stove, accompanied by the periodic cracking of burning wood.

You see Riend Ar'Fiernel the Master Artisan.
She appears to be a Sylvankind.
She is tall in stature and has a delicately lithe build. She appears to be in the bloom of youth. She has expressive, malachite-flecked chestnut eyes and gardenia white skin. She has fine, textured hellebore black hair caught within a beaded silk snood beneath a flat-topped dark burnt velvet hat. She has an oval face, a pair of rectangular fel glasses perched upon her gently sloped nose and slender shoulders. Though her features are predominantly Sylvan, subtleties in the shape of her face and the tilt of her eyes appear faintly Erithian. She has ivory-tipped cherry blossom pink polish brushed onto her squared fingernails.
She is in good shape.
She is holding a frosted purple glass jar in her right hand.
She is wearing an ornate skeleton key strung on a scalloped azure ribbon, a lace-strung ornate brooch choker, a puff-sleeve vanilla silk blouse ruffled along the scooped neck with a coffee and cream bourde shirt underneath, some tailored mocha twill overalls rivet-bound along the corseted front panel, a full-finger segmented copper ring, a pair of crossed wide leather belts, an enamel blossom-framed case, and a pair of short tri-toned taupe suede boots.

A wavering glow dances behind the grate of the small cast iron stove, accompanied by the periodic cracking of burning wood.

Speaking sheepishly to you, Riend says, "I thought I might have a bit more time to prepare the te-- Oh, oh my. Yes, the grounds here are very lovely, I am quite fortunate."

You grin at Riend.

Speaking to Riend, you say, "No worries at all. Please finish if you like. I'm in no particular hurry."

Riend smiles at you.

Speaking graciously to you, Riend says, "Please, have a seat and help yourself to a treat if you like."

You grin crookedly.

Riend indicates a silver-gilt serving platter as a possible option.

The intensity of the glow behind the small cast iron stove's grate dims slowly, a subdued reddish-orange replacing the yellow-white light, and visible waves of heat rise from its heating plate.

Riend toggles the latch on a frosted purple glass jar and flips back its lid.

Speaking to Riend, you say, "I don't mind if I do, at that."

You bow to Riend.

Riend takes some tea leaves from a frosted purple glass jar.

Riend flashes a quick grin at you.

You settle yourself on the leather armchair for a moment's rest.

Riend carefully measures out some tea leaves and places it into a hammered copper kettle.

Riend flips the lid of a frosted purple glass jar closed and toggles its latch to secure it shut.

Riend put a frosted purple glass jar in her blossom-framed case.

Riend removes an ornate skeleton key strung on a scalloped azure ribbon from her neck.

Riend put an ornate skeleton key strung on a scalloped azure ribbon in her blossom-framed case.

Faint waves of heat rise above the small cast iron stove, the fire burning inside casting a dancing reddish-orange glow through its grate.

Riend just went over and threw herself down on the sofa.

On the serving platter you see a gooey freshly baked brownie, a sugar-glazed cupcake, a sugar-glazed cupcake, a sugar-glazed cupcake and a small frosting-topped cake.

You beam happily at a silver-gilt serving platter!

Speaking to you, Riend mentions, "The tea will take a few minutes."

You say, "Oh my, those look a little too good."

You grin at Riend.

You remove a gooey freshly baked brownie from on a silver-gilt serving platter.

You beam happily at the freshly baked brownie in your hand.

Riend suddenly says, "Oh... I do hope you like tea? If not, I have some coffee in the kitchen. If it has not all been drank."

Thin ribbons of steam occasionally escape the copper kettle's spout.

Speaking to Riend, you assure, "Tea is quite nice for occasions like this."

You smile at Riend.

Riend nods approvingly.

You take a bite of your freshly baked brownie. Warm and gooey, the brownie is very rich. A nice scoop of ice cream might offset it well.
The gooey chocolate makes the freshly baked brownie a little difficult to eat. You do the best you can to not get the gooey chocolate everywhere.
You have 4 bites left.

Faint waves of heat rise above the small cast iron stove, the fire burning inside casting a dancing reddish-orange glow through its grate.

Speaking amusedly to you, Riend says, "My mother likes to say that a cup of tea solves the world's problems."

You grin crookedly.

The water inside the copper kettle slowly starts to boil.

You say, "I don't know that I personally would go that far, but I can appreciate the sentiment."

You take a bite of your freshly baked brownie. The rich dark chocolate brownie melts in your mouth, coating your tongue with sinful sweetness.
You have 3 bites left.

Riend gazes in amusement at you.

Speaking cautiously to Riend, you say, "My mother had a... different view."

You shrug at Riend.

Speaking curiously to you, Riend asks, "Oh?"

You close your eyes for a moment.

You say, "I spoke out of turn. This evening is not about me, it's about you. Perhaps another time. It's not a happy tale."

The water inside the copper kettle has reached a constant rolling boil.

You raise your freshly baked brownie skyward!

You take a bite of your freshly baked brownie. Warm and gooey, the brownie is very rich. A nice scoop of ice cream might offset it well.
You have one bite left.

Riend flushes slightly, some color reaching her cheeks.

Riend nods understandingly to you.

Faint waves of heat rise above the small cast iron stove, the fire burning inside casting a dancing reddish-orange glow through its grate.

Speaking to Riend, you exclaim, "And speaking of which, I do want to thank you for agreeing to be interviewed for the Crier!"

Faint waves of heat rise above the small cast iron stove, the fire burning inside casting a dancing reddish-orange glow through its grate.

Speaking to Riend, you say, "Yours was a name high on my list, and I was very pleased that you were willing."

Speaking sincerely to you, Riend says, "I consider it an honor and am grateful for the opportunity."

Riend inclines her head.

Speaking to Riend, you say, "I can't speak to how much of an honor it might be, but am gratified that you feel that way."

Your cheeks darken with a deep carmine shade.

Faint waves of heat rise above the small cast iron stove, the fire burning inside casting a dancing reddish-orange glow through its grate.
Ribbons of steam rise above the copper kettle, carrying the subtle aroma of brewing tea.
Faint waves of heat rise above the small cast iron stove, the fire burning inside casting a dancing reddish-orange glow through its grate.

A small smile tugs at the corners of Riend's lips as she glances at you.

The faint glow within the small cast iron stove flickers for a moment and goes out.

Ribbons of steam rise above the copper kettle, carrying the subtle aroma of brewing tea.

Riend removes a hand-painted indigo tea bowl from the stack on the ebonwood platter.

Riend removes a hammered copper kettle from on a vine-motif small cast iron stove.

Riend carefully inspects her indigo tea bowl.

Riend put a hand-painted indigo tea bowl in her blossom-framed case.

Riend removes a hand-painted indigo tea bowl from in her blossom-framed case.

Speaking appreciatively to Riend, you ask, "Delicious... did you make the brownies yourself?"

Riend smiles at you.

Riend nods once.

You nod approvingly.

Speaking fondly to you, Riend says, "I have been dabbling in baking, I find rather peaceful."

You say, "Very nice. I may have to send the White Haven chef down here to copy your recipe."

Speaking to you, Riend says, "I would be happy to send a copy back with you, if you like."

You nod appreciatively.

Speaking kindly to you, Riend says, "Here you are, be careful it is hot."

Riend offers you an ivory porcelain teabowl painted with teal arabesques. Click ACCEPT to accept the offer or DECLINE to decline it. The offer will expire in 30 seconds.

You accept Riend's offer and are now holding an ivory porcelain teabowl painted with teal arabesques.

You nod appreciatively.

Ribbons of steam rise above the copper kettle, carrying the subtle aroma of brewing tea.

Speaking to Riend, you say, "Thank you very much. And this is an exquisite bowl..."

You blow on your ivory porcelain teabowl.

You take a drink from your ivory porcelain teabowl. Heady and floral, the light teabowl is laced with honey.
You have 4 quaffs left.

You close your eyes for a moment.

Speaking gratefully to Riend, you say, "And delicious tea, to boot."

You wipe away the remaining gooey chocolate from your face with your hand. Ever hear of a handkerchief?

Speaking clearly to you, Riend responds, "I am rather fond of the color. I found them in a small shop in Bourth on my last visit."

You raise your ivory porcelain teabowl in a toast!

Riend nods approvingly.

Riend takes a tiny sip of her ivory porcelain teabowl, warming her lips and making sure it's cool enough to drink.

You grin crookedly.

Speaking to Riend, you ask, "Well then, if you're ready, shall we begin?"

Riend takes a deep breath.

Riend nods once.

You nod encouragingly.

Speaking firmly to you, Riend says, "Let's, before I lose my nerve."

Riend grins sheepishly.

You say, "We like to start off slow, so apologies if I ask things that are already common knowledge."

'''You ask, "And in that vein, what is your profession?"

You smile at Riend.

Speaking slowly to you, Riend says, "I believe the closest thing it is commonly associated with here is a rogue."

''Speaking to Riend, you ask, "And what name would you use, were you not trying to shoehorn it into conventional titles?"

You grin crookedly at Riend.

Riend thoughtfully taps a finger against her lips.

Speaking simply to you, Riend says, "I am very, very good at being very, very quiet."

Riend flashes a quick grin at you.

You nod approvingly.

'''Speaking to Riend, you ask, "What would you say is the best thing about the roguish professions?"

Riend looks thoughtfully at you.

Riend thoughtfully says, "We have the ability to be extremely versatile, no matter which path we choose to take."

You nod in agreement at Riend.

Riend adds, "There are very few avenues that are blocked off from us, I suppose one might say."

'''Speaking to Riend, you ask, "What started you on the path towards rogue-dom? Was it something you always aspired to, or was there something that pushed you in that direction?"

Riend gazes with interest at an ivory porcelain teabowl painted with teal arabesques in her hand.

Riend honestly says, "I had considered the art of song, but learned early on I could not carry a tune in a bucket."

You try hard not to grin.

Riend says, "Being a ranger sounded like a wonderful idea... communing with nature, befriending animals and the like... but found that while I have some talent for spiritual magic, I could not touch their particular circle with any basic skill."

You nod understandingly.

Riend concludes, "So when all was said and done, I chose this and it has served me well."

Riend smiles at you.

You grin at Riend.

'''You ask, "You are known as a Master Artisan. What skills have you mastered?"

You try hard not to grin.

Speaking surprisedly to you, Riend says, "I am? Oh my... that is certainly news, good news though not the bad kind."

You grin at Riend.

Riend clears her throat.

Speaking to Riend, you say, "Indeed you are. And while I'm personally aware of at least one of your specialties, we can at least get it on record."

Speaking to you, Riend answers, "I learned fletching very early on in life. Cobbling started out as a fascination and became one of my favorite hobbies and recently I have taken up painting to slightly less successful end."

You give a short little hum of surprise.

Speaking to Riend, you say, "I hadn't realized you'd taken up painting! That sounds like a logical progression from cobbling, though."

Riend gazes in amusement at you.

Speaking to Riend, you say, "It's making art in a visual medium through the productive use of your hands."

You shrug at Riend.

Speaking to you, Riend says, "I have watched some of the masters work and it always seems so graceful, watching the brush dance across the canvas and transform it into something magnificent."

Riend notes, "Though of course, when I paint it looks more like a rolton sneezed, but I am learning."

Speaking amusedly to Riend, you say, "I'm sure it's nowhere near as bad as all that, and the important thing is to always improve."

You adopt an agreeable expression.

Riend nods in agreement to you.

'''Speaking to Riend, you ask, "What is your preferred hunting method?"

Speaking slowly to you, Riend responds, "I prefer to keep my distance and hunt from the shadows or any tactically advantageous place using a balance of magic and archery."

You nod appreciatively.

Speaking to Riend, you say, "As a brawler, I can appreciate those tactics."

You grin wryly.

Riend nods approvingly to you.

Speaking to you, Riend says, "I have a great respect for those who fight with their hands, it is not something I find myself skilled at."

Riend nods.

Speaking to Riend, you say, "It's more about doggedness than skill... at least for me, anway."

You chuckle to yourself.

Riend chuckles to herself.

'''Speaking to Riend, you ask, "Normally I'd ask what town you call home, but since we're here in this lovely residence, can you tell us a bit about it? How did you come to be its owner?"

Riend glances appraisingly around the room.

Riend nods once to you.

Speaking to you, Riend explains, "This is Kestrel's Perch, a small cottage on the outskirts of the Trollfang forest that borders the Cairnfang."

You nod understandingly.

Riend continues, "I purchased the property at auction for a princely sum and have used it, I think, to help those I could over the years."

You nod approvingly at Riend.

'''Speaking to Riend, you query, "Are you married?"

You grin at Riend.

Riend blinks at you.

Riend surprisedly blurts, "Goodness, no."

Speaking to Riend, you say, "It's on the sheet. I have to ask."

You grin at Riend.

Riend blushes sheepishly to herself.

''Speaking to Riend, you ask, "Any particular reason why not?"

Riend squirms and fidgets oddly for a moment.

''Speaking to Riend, you ask, "Or just not had the right opportunity yet?"

Out of the corner of your eye you observe Riend studying you, contemplation knitting her brow. Noticing your glance, she blinks a few times in rapid succession before quickly looking away, a faint blush coloring her cheeks.

Speaking awkwardly to you, Riend responds, "Family obligations make it impossible for to marry, at this time."

Riend quietly adds, "Someday though, perhaps I could see settling down with the right person."

Riend brushes her fingers lightly against her ornate brooch choker.

You smile at Riend.

''Speaking quietly to Riend, you ask, "Anyone in particular in mind?"

Riend blushes a pink hue to the tips of her ears.

Riend squeaks, "No, no one comes to mind."

Riend glances away from you.

You nod slowly at Riend.

'''Speaking to Riend, you ask, "Do you belong to one of the Great Houses?"

You smile at Riend.

Riend nods to you.

''Speaking to Riend, you ask, "Which one?"

Speaking to you, Riend answers, "I am a member of Rone Academy."

You nod approvingly.

''Speaking to Riend, you ask, "A very fine House. What about Rone drew you to them?"

Speaking slowly to you, Riend says, "My people keep a verbal history and pass down our knowledge through stories and teachings."

You nod understandingly.

Speaking to you, Riend says, "It comes naturally to me to want to pass on those things I have learned in my lifetime to those around me, and I found that Rone gives me the greatest opportunity to do so."

'''Speaking to Riend, you ask, "What would you say is your most prized possession?"

Riend looks thoughtfully at you.

Speaking teasingly to Riend, you remark, "Just wait, the hard one is still to come."

You grin crookedly.

Riend gazes in amusement at you.

Speaking to you, Riend teases, "I can still run away, if it becomes too much."

Riend tugs the braided silk chain of her silver filigree locket and lifts the piece from its hiding place in her vanilla silk blouse.

Speaking agreeably to Riend, you say, "You definitely could, but it won't get that bad, I promise."

Riend reaches out and touches her silver filigree locket.

Riend nods slowly to you.

Speaking thoughtfully to you, Riend says, "This locket is my most prized possession."

''Speaking quietly to Riend, you ask, "Can you tell us about it?"

Riend nods faintly.

Riend quietly says, "It was a gift, given to me by someone very dear to me."

You nod understandingly.

Speaking wryly to you, Riend mentions, "He tried to kill me once."

You chuckle at Riend
.
Riend adds, "Later, he asked me to be his queen... to rule beside him."

Riend shakes her head, clucking her tongue.

You nod encouragingly at Riend.

Speaking to you, Riend clarifies, "It is my most prized possession because it, like the man who gave it to me, serves to remind me of the line that I walk. How far I have come these past years and that with even the slightest slip I could become something else, something I would not wish to ever become."

You blink at Riend.

''Speaking to Riend, you ask, "And what would that something else be?"

Riend bites her lip.

Speaking to you, Riend says, "It is hard to explain, it hovers on the edge of my periphery most of the time. All I can say is that it would be nothing like the person I am now."

You nod slowly at Riend.

Riend looks thoughtful for a moment, then shrugs.

Speaking to Riend, you say, "My Lady operates most often in those unseen edges of understanding, so your words make sense to me."

You nod understandingly at Riend.

Riend smiles at you.

Riend inclines her head.

You grin crookedly at Riend.

'''You ask, "What would you say is your most valuable or unique possession? From a purely monetary standpoint?"

Speaking quickly to you, Riend answers, "My longbow would be my most valuable possession."

You flash a wide grin.

''Speaking to Riend, you ask, "And while I'm familiar with it, could you explain its significance?"

Speaking to you, Riend says, "It is a fairly magical weapon that creates its own arrows, each one carrying its own unique flare and capable of hitting undead. It has been enchanted as far as a wizard possibly could, as well."

Riend nods.

You nod slowly at Riend.

Speaking to Riend, you say, "It's an amazing weapon, to be sure."

Riend nods in agreement to you.

You rub your chin thoughtfully.

Speaking to you, Riend says, "I am extremely lucky to be allowed to wield her."

'''Speaking to Riend, you ask, "Would you be willing to give us a rough estimate of the amount of silver you have in the bank?"

You grin at Riend.

Riend chuckles to herself.

Speaking to Riend, you add, "And if not, of course I understand."

Riend embarrassedly confesses, "I have been spending a bit too much as of late..."

You nod slowly.

You say, "Oh, I can relate."

Riend thoughtfully says, "I believe my bank account stills comfortably over a hundred million."

You nod approvingly at Riend.

'''Speaking to Riend, you ask, "Would you be willing to share the contents of a locker with the readers? No explanations or details, just a peek?"

Riend's face turns slightly pale.

You grin at Riend.

Riend awkwardly says, "Only on one condition."

Speaking to Riend, you ask, "Of course! What condition?"

Speaking firmly to you, Riend says, "No judging."

You nod in agreement.

Riend nods once.

Riend removes a pure white locker manifest from in her blossom-framed case.

Riend opens the cover on her locker manifest.

Riend takes a deep breath.

You nod encouragingly at Riend.

Speaking to herself, Riend mumbles, "I am most likely going to regret this."
Riend shows you her locker manifest.
Locker contents of Riend Ar'Fiernel, the Sylvankind, as recorded in Wehnimer's Landing:
On an armor stand:
some black leather boots braced with steel at the vamp
some taupe kidskin knee-boots strapped with cut-out leather
a brass and gold sphere
a pair of shapely cameo pink polka-dotted satin slouched boots
a pair of tall ribbon-laced leather boots with chunky monir heels (marked)
some leather high-heeled shoes partially concealed beneath olivine canvas spatterdashes
some cobalt floral cut-out leather knee-boots lined with painted silk
some folded olivine suede ankle-boots
a pair of strapped tangerine leather ankle-boots
some marbled grey leather boots perched on smoky glaes heels
a pair of damask high-heeled shoes beneath slouched vanilla leather spatterdashes (marked)
a pair of lovely blush rose-sprigged silk open-toed slippers
a pair of leather-latticed rose suede ankle-boots
some tall alabaster leather ankle-boots enveloped in down-turned albino alligator skin cuffs
some riveted lacquered paper knee-boots (marked)
On a weapon rack:
some polished onyx leather knee-boots lofted on cast steel tentacles
a pair of short asymmetrically-cuffed leather boots lofted on thin copper heels
a puff-sleeved black linen shirt with a plunging scoop neckline
some flared mocha twill pants (marked)
a distressed leather mask set with large brass-framed goggles (marked)
a black-on-brown broadcloth shoulder harness edged in ruffles
some geared knee-high cocoa boots with attenuated cherrywood heels (marked)
a wide mocha leather cincher centered with a raised clockwork design
In a magical item bin:
a striped argent and blue token
a shard of pink petalite (marked)
a shard of pale grey shadowglass
a slender crystalline vial
a length of cream chainsil
a turquoise and teal ostrich feather
a teal and silver nalatha agate (marked)
a jade-infused rich teal bottle
a silver braid-edged mirror (marked)
a grey-flecked ivory osprey feather
a pitch black Caligos conch shell strung on a length of indigo sea silk
an aqua-banded teal nathala agate (marked)
a ribbon-looped faenor key
a twisted maoral broomstick
a square auction block with a smooth polished surface
some twisted faenor hoops
a side-cocked diminutive silk tricorn
a cap-sleeved white linen tunic
a jewel-studded black ash chest
a green-tinged azulene peacock feather
a thin twined rose gold circlet (marked)
a flat-top striped henna twill hat banded in canvas loops (marked)
a wisp-etched pale amber-set flask with an ebonwood stopper
a smooth wrotwood telescope with a brass eyepiece
a tapered nail file with a smooth jade handle
a twine-bound old sketch book
a fluffy ball of cotton
a translucent long-bodied ampoule blushed with rose
a dusky sanguine glass phial capped with an alabaster cherry blossom (marked)
a wide paisley-patterned headband of white embroidered lace (marked)
a matte white glass vial
a layered cream and grey organza silk headband (marked)
a fused ornament of kelyn filigree clock-hands (marked)
a double-leaf silver lariat necklace suspending a square of petrified thanot
a pair of mechanical goggles with oversized glass lenses (marked)
a tapered leather mesh thigh-quiver
a copper clockwork rose ring
a viridian crystal-inset ring
a small golden arrow-shaped pin
a spiny pink-throated cream conch shell (marked)
a burnt steel cephalopod fascinator wreathed in writhing tentacles
a turquoise and teal ostrich feather
an elegant filigreed mirror on a thin silver chain (marked)
an enameled wooden bucket
a silver braid-edged mirror
a pale ivory bottle painted with sephwir branches
an eleven-pointed silver star barrette
In a clothing wardrobe:
some fitted leggings of overlapping webbed dark leather
a soft russet cashmere shawl
some coppery silk-on-velvet chopines
a split-sleeved gown of elegantly draped copper matte silk
a low-pointed tortoiseshell diadem set with a black amber jewel
a high-waisted dark silk skirt buttoned down a single column
a pair of tight membranous black leather leggings
an ebon-trimmed cream byssine skirt printed with a detailed map (marked)
a cincher of soft grey rabbit fur secured with wooden beading
a painted black satin underbust corset (marked)
a puff-sleeved teal satin blouse caught with nacre at the fitted cuffs
a bustled storm grey taffeta skirt overlaid with an ombre of teal glass shards (marked)
a puff-sleeved white cotton shirt open at the collar
a pair of side-buttoned ivory twill pants
a knee-length taupe cotton pinafore with a flat corset front (marked)
a single-sleeve vanilla silk blouse (marked)
a mocha leather cross-strapped corset (marked)
a bronze-sheened olivine dupioni silk corset with a short raised collar (marked)
a high-waisted mint green muslin tunic with a layered cowl neckline (marked)
a pair of high-waisted mocha wool breeches buttoned in two descending rows
a mint-striped ivory taffeta skirt bustled in tiers of ruffled satin and lace
a drop-waisted mint charmeuse tunic
some shell pink twill leggings
an off-shoulder cream lace shirt
some brushed dark suede pants cross-laced at the ankles
a trim-cut ivory silk shirt
a black leather corset fettered with silver buckles
a formal cream linen blouse caught with a flounce of lace at the throat
a canvas-belted mocha leather corset
a pair of ruched kohl black leather leggings
an off-shoulder ivory silk blouse
a jet and glass-beaded hourglass corset
some lightly ruched leggings of eggshell silk gauze
a long-sleeved dusky mulberry cotton shirt (marked)
a shoulder-draped cropped cameo pink silk top
a long-sleeved onyx cotton blouse with a ruffled bib neckline (marked)
a jewel-toned purple silk corset
a brocade and lace underbust corset
a sculpted oxblood leather waistcoat cut to expose the gear-caught bust
a tailored slate blue linen vest with thin vertical striping
an embossed dark leather waistcincher
an embossed coffee leather waist-cincher
a bustled skirt of artfully crinkled beige chiffon
an off-shoulder white lace shirt buttoned from wrist to elbow
a tea-length ecru ruffled dress (marked)
a band-collared pale pinstriped blouse with short capped sleeves
a claret satin hourglass corset (marked)
a thigh-length white cotton chemise ruffled along the high to low hemline
a pleated ivory linen shirt
a high-waisted blue muslin tunic hemmed in scalloped tonal lace (marked)
a short skirt of white and ecru ruffles beneath a taupe canvas yoke
a black linen blouse buttoned diagonally from the high neck
a tailored cesious linen waistcoat
a long-sleeved matte black linen shirt
a short ruffled mocha cotton skirt with an ankle-length bustle
a pair of knee-length ecru pantaloons of alternating lace and cotton ruffles
a sculpted corset of ecru rose lace silhouettes over tonal silk
a puff-sleeved vannilla cotton shirt caught with a single button
a clockwork paneled leather corset
a shoulder-draped lichen silk blouse (marked)
a tailored dark blue linen shirt
a hip-length silk hourglass corset scaled in thin overlapping slices of green amber
a calligraphic vellum-panelled corset cinched by some lace cut-out ribbons
an ebon-shadowed turquoise taffeta corset
a cream and blush pink bourde corset edged in frilly lace
a short rose-on-blue tartan skirt with ivory lace trim peeking below the hem
a thinly striped navy tweed waistcoat contrasted by coral-on-cream polka dot lapels
a pair of brown and green tartan pants with a high leather waist
a tartan-lined myrtle tweed pinafore
a cap-sleeved cream linen blouse
a pair of knee-length charcoal suede breeches flared at the hip (marked)
some ribbed ashen grey wool leggings
a tailored cream-on-white bourde shirt (marked)
a pair of low-slung chocolate brown linen pants with wide black stripes (marked)
a scoop-necked crocheted lace shirt
a puff-sleeved ecru crepe blouse open at the collar
a bustled sky blue day dress vertically striped with yellow-banded ivory
a single-shoulder bistre twill vest offset by a trio of tonal buttons (marked)
a pair of flat-fronted bloused fallow twill breeches (marked)
some slim-fitted almond sueded leather pants
a tailored cream bourde blouse (marked)
a niveous tulle halter dress appliqued along the hem and bodice in cardinal florals
an open-weave ebon paeline sweater ruffled along the cut-away hem (marked)
a pointed underbust corset of emerald-on-jade floriated silk jacquard (marked)
a cap-sleeved black silk blouse
a strapless laurel green linen dress accented with lace at the knee-length hem
a jewel-tone azure muslin tunic with a layered cowl neckline
a single-strapped column gown of silk-backed glinting smoky glaes beadwork
In a deep chest:
a thrice-looped thin copper lavaliere dripping with variegated teardrop pearls
some mismatched cream and pink kneesocks
a lengthy hematite chelioboros pendant backed in ebon glass (marked)
a petrified kakore hexagon bangle
a perfect winter rose adorned with white and blue ribbons
some layered ebon silk and taffeta petticoats (marked)
some fingerless gloves of hand-tatted dark lace
a pair of tiny silver loops
a Mandis Crystal shard
an abbreviated black leather shrug bristling with a collar of dark metal spikes
a thrice-wrapped constricting steel tentacle choker
a floor-length pair of squared off forearm sleeves (marked)
a pair of blue-on-orange tartan suspenders backed in silk
a deeply cowled cream plumille coat flaring out from the cinctured waist (marked)
a silk-backed choker of overlapping fused metal gears
a downward crescent of pearl-inset copper suspending a fan of filigreed ivory petals (marked)
a pair of amber drops capped with a quartet of tiny bronze beads (marked)
an ivory cameo framed in intricate clockwork
a twining necklet of lacquered lor branchwork (marked)
a chain-strung copper corset stay suspending a trio of filigree keys
a gilt-edged alabaster box
a pair of slim twilled copper suspenders
a wide fel choker suspending a trio of ivory cameos (marked)
a pair of silk-backed copper mesh spatterdashes
an oversized cream-striped mocha paeline scarf (marked)
a delicate clockwork hummingbird suspended on a thin silken cord (marked)
a low-slung chain mesh belt (marked)
a tortoiseshell-buttoned cowl of crochet vanilla wool
a wide oiled leather wristcuff (marked)
a paper-thin scarlet enamel poppy choker
some sage-hued tartan wool stockings
a stylized steel kraken
some gear-weighted ribbons
a pair of knee-high fawn brocade spatterdashes framed by antique lace (marked)
a cameo-clasped choker of overlapping fused metal cogs
a sheaf of parchment maps
a handful of assorted gears
a silver dolphin symbol set in blue coral
some dark brocade spatterdashes caged in vaalin latticework (marked)
some twilled copper-buttoned suspenders
a pair of stylized copper earcuffs
a fob-strung collection of mismatched skeleton keys
a pair of grey wool earmuffs
a dart-waisted dark bourde coat hooded in tonal paeline (marked)
a series of slender copper hairpins
a trio of hip-slung overlapping leather belts (marked)
some over-the-knee coffee and cream striped linen socks
a quintet of variegated gold beaded necklaces
a blue amber sleeping fox pendant
a smoke-filled glass vial pendant
a simple half-mask adorned with brass clockwork pieces
a long strand of graduated creamy white pearls
some pastel pink and blue striped knee-high socks
an oxidized steel kraken choker
a thick onyx cloisonne wristlet
a dainty copper bracelet (marked)
a kelyn-framed mosaic map brooch
a tight ball of stark white silk (marked)
a trio of carved ivory hoops
a soft black orchid pendant swept with pale silver patterns
a coraesine and dark bloodjewel ring (marked)
a packet of nightshade
a pair of elbow length grey flyrsilk gloves
a pure white mink shrug
a pendular stained glass doorknob and key lariat necklace
some wide-buckled straps
a pair of chandelier earrings dangling fragile shoulder-length latticework
Obvious items: 225

You blink.

Speaking distractedly to Riend, you say, "Thank you for that."

You blink.

Riend grins crookedly at you.

Speaking mischievously to you, Riend teases, "Take a moment to let it sink in."

Riend closes the cover on her locker manifest.

Riend put a pure white locker manifest in her blossom-framed case.

You close your eyes for a moment.

You nod firmly.

You say, "Right, then."

You chuckle.

Riend appears to be struggling to keep a straight face.

Riend takes a drink from her ivory porcelain teabowl.

'''Speaking to Riend, you ask, "What would you say is your most memorable moment in your time as an adventurer?"

Riend thoughtfully taps a finger against her lips.

Riend says, "Many years ago, I was the unfortunate host to a rather malevolent ghost. She spent a year tearing me apart from the inside while attempting to manipulate me into killing a man she once loved."

You blink at Riend.

Riend carefully says, "The night she was exorcised was my most memorable moment. It was the night I regained my freedom."

Riend nods slowly to you.

Speaking carefully to Riend, you say, "That's certainly memorable."

Riend nods in agreement.

You shudder.

Speaking offhandedly to you, Riend remarks, "I would not suggest trying it, very unpleasant."

You nod in agreement at Riend.

Speaking to Riend, you say, "And finally...."

You grin at Riend.

Riend glances warily at you.

Riend holds her breath.

'''Speaking to Riend, you ask, "Who would you say is the most important, influential person in your life?"

Speaking quietly to Riend, you remark, "This one really isn't fair, or so I'm told, but it's on the sheet."

Riend bites her lip.

Speaking hesitantly to you, Riend says, "That is certainly a difficult question indeed."

You nod in agreement at Riend.

Speaking to Riend, you say, "It's always at this point that I'm glad I'm on this side of the table."

Riend slowly says, "There are so many people in my life who have affected me in some way or helped mold me into the woman I am today... to single out one specific person seems almost unfair to the rest. However..."

You nod encouragingly at Riend.

Riend says, "If I had to choose that person, it would be someone who has always helped me, by his actions as well as his words, to be a better person. Even when the choices before me were both unfavorable, he has aided me to see clearly and to do what is right regardless of its popularity."

You nod approvingly.

Speaking to you, Riend concludes, "It would be Sir Bristenn Mires, Knight of the Empire."

You nod understandingly.

Speaking to Riend, you say, "A worthy name to be chosen."

Speaking to Riend, you ask, "And with that, I have come to the end of my questions! That wasn't so bad, was it?"

You grin at Riend.

Riend glances skeptically at you.

You grin crookedly at Riend.

Riend disgruntledly says, "I should not have baked."

You blink at Riend.

Riend flashes a quick grin at you.

Riend takes a drink from her ivory porcelain teabowl.

Speaking to Riend, you say, "You did wonderfully. I've done a number of these, and you did a tremendous job."

Speaking gently to you, Riend assures, "It was quite enjoyable."

Speaking to Riend, you say, "And I will certainly look to set up another time to go into a little more detail on some things."

Riend smiles at you.

Speaking warmly to Riend, you say, "Thank you so very much for setting aside some time to meet with me. It was a genuine pleasure, and I'm very pleased with how it turned out."

You grin at Riend.

Speaking to you, Riend says, "Thank you, this was very enjoyable. I rarely get the opportunity to speak to people these days."

Riend flushes slightly, some color reaching her cheeks.

You smile at Riend.

Speaking to Riend, you say, "This time of year especially, time truly seems to grow wings."

You stand back up.

Interlocking your fingers, you slowly extend your arms up over your head in a long, satisfying stretch.

Riend stands up.

Riend nods in agreement to you.

Speaking to you, Riend says, "It seems to be the boon and the curse of the holiday season."

Speaking to Riend, you say, "Thank you once more. If you have any questions or concerns before you hear back from me, please feel free to send a letter."

Riend nods once.

You extend a hand to Riend.

Speaking to you, Riend says, "I will, thank you again."

Riend shakes your hand.

You grin at Riend.

Riend tosses her ivory porcelain teabowl into the air, where it appears to vanish!

Riend flashes a quick grin at you.

You say, "A pleasure, as always, to spend time with you. Have a wonderful evening."

You bow to Riend.

Riend flushes slightly, some color reaching her cheeks.

Speaking to you, Riend says, "You as well, thank you so much."

Riend smiles at you.

You open a painted green door.

You turn toward Riend and render a sharp hand salute.

You chuckle.

Riend renders a sharp hand salute.

[Kestrel's Perch, Lawn]
The trees give way to a narrow, yet lush, lawn of grass which rings a country manor. The sides of the dwelling are wooden shakes, and its roof is slate, most of which is covered with the vivid emerald of living moss. Large rhododendron bushes frame a bright green door banded with iron and emblazoned with a painted soaring kestrel. Dense forest stretches away from the lawn on all sides, the foliage filled with the sounds of crickets and owls. You also see a wooden gate set into a tall stone wall.
Obvious paths: none

You close a painted green door.
</pre>
----

{| class="wikitable" style="background-color:#fff6c1;" cellpadding="25" cellspacing="25"
|-
| It is a storytellers playground to be sure ~ Riend
|}
----

==The Out-of-Character Interview==

'''What’s your real name? (First name only please)
:Jennifer

'''About how old are you, if you don't mind?
:37

'''Where are you located, geographically?
:Madison, WI

'''What do you do for a living?
:Web Developer/Graphic Designer

'''Describe your normal play space for us. Laptop/PC/Tablet... Office/basement/kitchen... what sort of stuff do you have in/on the space... etc etc etc Depending on the where/when/who/how...
:I have a desktop in my office or my macbook in whatever coffee shop/park/corner I can find depending on my mood and the weather

'''How long have you played Gemstone?
:Hrm... Roughly twenty-one years.

'''Have you taken any breaks, or played straight through?
:I took a break from the game between 2002-2010.

'''How many different ‘main’ characters have you had over the years?
:Honestly, Riend is and will always be my main character. I tend to always gravitate back to her because she's so opposite of me that playing her has always been a challenge. I do have two other "alts" that I enjoy playing, but they're both more like extensions or facets of my personality.

'''Who are/were your most notable characters
:Riend.

'''Do you have multiple accounts that you play at the same time?
:I do have a second account mainly for housing my ridiculously large cobbling material collection and for spelling myself up.

'''Do you have a Premium subscription?
:Yes.

'''What front-end do you use? (Stormfront, Wizard, Profanity, other)?
:SF

''Why?
:I've never tried Profanity and would certainly consider it, but SF's clickable links always brings me back. I've spent a number of years playing MMOs and it's gotten me into the habit of being a "clicker" so it just feels more natural.

'''Do you use lich?
:Yes.

''Why or why not?
:If I were to delete every aspect of lich and just keep the go2 functionality, it would still be amazing. Being able to take a world as big as Elanith and navigate it without having to print out maps is a game changer.

''If so, what are your ‘must-have’ scripts?
:Aside from go2, a lot of little things like sorter, locker/manifest, keepalive are big for me on a day to day basis.

'''Have you ever bought or sold characters or items for real money?
:Not characters, I'm far too attached to them. I have sold items for real money, but I don't normally make a habit of it.

'''Do you now, or have you ever roleplayed a character that was very different from your real personality?
:Yes, as I mentioned before, Riend is as opposite my personality as you can get.

''Why or why not?
:It's challenging and it forces me to think deeply about my character's choices and how they will affect both her and myself. It's extremely hard not to align her with my personal opinions about NPCS, events, etc but that is also part of the enjoyment of playing a character you can honestly has her own separate moral compass.

'''What would you say is your most memorable Gemstone ‘moment’ (as a player) , and why?
:The night Riend received her "Defender of Wehnimer's Landing" title. She was in the first group of people who received the titles after a very long, painful and heart-wrenching storyline. I had the utmost respect and awe for the people I was "titled" with and it felt good to know that despite all of the heartache, pain and sleepless nights, we'd done something amazing and came together as a team.

'''What's the luckiest you've gotten in-game? (big raffle win, finding vorpal sword of doom, surviving something cataclysmic, being in just the right place at just the right time, etc)
:Winning a full feature alteration suite with Grishom Stone. At the time, my character was possessed by the ghost of the ex-lover he had murdered and he was plotting my demise in order to capture her spirit in his ceremonial dagger. Riend's features had undergone a harsh change over the course of the year she was possessed and the opportunity to RP that situation out with him of all people was ironic and fun.

'''What's the hardest you've laughed while playing GS?
:A number of us including Greganth, Seomanthe, Bristenn, Maags, Rtune, Kerl and myself had hatched a plan to go in and save Cosima from the Rooks back during the CIS storyline. We'd been directed to an underground hideout and we headed on in, ready to save the princess from Koopa only to (spoiler alert) hear from Toad that our princess was in another castle. At one point, Kenstrom dropped about 30 bandits on us (we'd apparently been destroying them too efficientlyup until that point). Well, despite all our attempts we wiped in the most spectacular fashion. Thus began the two hour raise-fest. Not wanting to give our location away to the enemy (those siding with the Rooks) and compromising the rescue, we didn’t ask anyone to come rescue us and locating/fogging in or out was impossible. Maags raised herself and began the arduous task of raising the 10 of us who were there. Finally, an hour+ later, we're all raised and spelling up and prepping to continue on... when Kerl decides that the trapped door I'd disarmed before we died was ready to bash. Well, the trap had rearmed itself and BOOM! Everyone had died again (except Kerl), so he used a scroll to raise Maags and we started raising people all over again. At the time it was not at all funny, but now we laugh pretty hard about it.

'''What, in your mind, is the best thing about Gemstone?
:The lack of forced paths/rulesets. While our characters do have specific cultural/race guidelines our backgrounds, rp-style and adventures are restricted only by our imaginations. It is a storytellers playground to be sure.

'''Have you ever attended Simucon, or otherwise met up with a person from Gemstone?
:Many times

''If so, describe the experience (PG-13, please)
:Some of my fondest memories are drinking with my simucon friends, both past and present.

'''Imagine you're Wyrom for a day and can 'do' one thing (and that you could accomplish anything in that one day without time considerations). What are you changing/removing/adding/replacing, and why?
:I would get rid of arrows and make all bows self-ammo, finally allowing them to benefit from all the various flares and options the game offers including greater flares, rot flares, permablessing, etc... Ammo management has led to a great deal of frustration for me in the past. The eblading/blessing of arrows continues to be a thorn in almost every ranged player’s side and while some may say it is the balance to the overpowered state of archery as a whole, I feel it could be improved.

'''What do you feel is the biggest mistake that most GS players make?
:Understanding that actions made against/by your character are not insults/actions meant to be personal to you as a player or the person you're playing with.

''Why do you feel they make that mistake?
:It is very easy to become emotionally invested in our character and to feel that people's interactions with our characters are really interactions with us as people.

''Why do you feel it's such a bad mistake?
:It fosters bad relationships between people. Clear communication can be very hard, especially when we're in the middle of a story and events are moving quickly.

'''What’s something that you feel every GS player should do at least once?
:Visit the Kai shrine in the Landing, read the stones and reflect.

''Why?
:It's a truly powerful place.

'''What advice would you offer to a new player?
:Download lich, turn off lnet. Log in, try and get involved and never feel discouraged if you're not the in the spotlight. Good RP will always be rewarded, the rewards just may not come in the form you always want or when you want it. Ask questions, read the wiki and never feel like you can’t reach out to other people. We’ve all been where you are.

TownCrier Interview Sessions with Ordim

2018-01-06T00:36:19Z

CANNEL:

{{towncrier interview
|name= Ordim
|caption=
|race= Halfling
|culture= Truefolk
|class= Wizard
|profession= Ordim
|religion=
|affiliations= Triad Gaming Organization
|word=
|disposition=
|demeanor=
|ptrait=
|strait=
|flaw=
|strength=
|weakness=
|habits=
|hobbies=
|soft=
|likes=Muffins
|dislikes=
|fears=
|loyalties=
|friend=
|spouse=
|loved=
}}

By Oubar, TownCrier Correspondent 
----
==Introduction==
Ordim is, well, an Ordim, and he'll be happy to tell you so himself. A helpful sort, with a somewhat twisted fascination with pies that some people seem to end up being allergic to, Ordim is generally underfoot whenever there's things going down. He's always open and friendly, just be careful to give any food he passes your way an extra sniff or two before gobbling it down. A singular presence if ever there was one, Ordim made some time to sit down the Crier's own Oubar for an interview recently.

{| class="wikitable" style="background-color:#fff6c1;" cellpadding="25" cellspacing="25"
|-
| "I'm an Ordim." ~Ordim
|}

----
==The In-Character Interview==
<pre{{log2|background=none|border=none}}>

A layer of water surrounds Ordim and ripples with each movement.
You see Relic Hunter Ordim the Paragon of Reim.
He appears to be a Brughan Halfling.
He is average height. He appears to be of a tender age. He has sparkling deep heliotrope eyes and ashen skin. He has short, thick chestnut hair tucked beneath a twisted purple linen turban, which is covered in crumbs and frosting. He has a painted tanik mask fully covering his face and an owl-shaped mark perched on his wrist.
He has a scale-bowled wyrwood pipe clenched between his teeth, a runic dachre tattoo on his neck, a mostly mottled mocha muffin tattoo on his arm, and a rune tattoo on his arm.
His hands are covered in a light dusting of flour.
He is holding a complex gold and wire contraption in his right hand.
He is wearing an ur-barath monocle, some crystal vaalin filigree earrings with diamond accents, a cord-strung enameled bronze muffin, a silver-caged crimson-flecked soulstone periapt, a moon-filled alexandrite pendant, a patchwork longcloak stitched with an inky black kraken, a six-tentacled zoetic quill with a green rachis and webbed vane, a pink glaes muffin pin topped with an ivory-carved swirl, a gem-encrusted crashing wave pin, a fluffy feathered toy owl adorned with a wide-brimmed hat and a tiny black eye patch, a dahcre-etched symbol, a silver wyrm-shaped pin, a slender burled witchwood case capped with eahnor slung over his shoulder, a knitted dark grey satchel slung over his other shoulder, a diaphanous spiderweb knapsack woven with pearlescent threads, a hooded rune-covered dark grey robe, a scrollworked mithril vambrace, a pair of ur-barath-sigiled silk gloves, a faceted russet crystal ring with a frosted surface, a kraken-wrapped blood marble ring, a muffin-shaped key strung from a twisted chain, a patchwork cloth pouch secured with a muffin-shaped buckle, a polished silver pocket watch with a fine silver chain, a silvery mesh coin bag, a blue mithril mesh cage supported by dark grey veniom-threaded bands, a pair of leather pants drenched with blood, a small pitch black Caligos conch shell on a simple silver chain, and some flat silver-laced sandals.

[The Pie Shop - 25886]
Bright yellow paint coats the walls, which are bordered with grinning white skulls outlined in black. The plank flooring is a mishmash of various unfinished wood types that creates a haphazard though artistic aesthetic, further enhanced by the dappling of spills of sunlight streaming through three large street-facing windows. Filled with a variety of pies and topped with a small collection of jars, a broad, pristine display counter is surrounded by several wooden chairs and tables. You also see a bone-edged art display board hanging on one wall with some stuff on it and a swinging door.
Obvious exits: out

Relic Hunter Ordim just arrived.

Ordim compulsively brushes his hands all over his body, sending a sprinkling of crumbs into the air.

Rich and full, the smell of coffee beans is suffused with a dark bitterness.

Ordim ponders.

Ordim glances nervously around the room.

You blink.

Ordim waves.

You grin at Ordim.

You wave to Ordim.

Ordim exclaims, "Evening!"

Speaking to Ordim, you exclaim, "Good evening to you as well!"

Ordim glances at his silver pocket watch.

Ordim frets.

Ordim ponders.

You ask, "Are we safe to do this, or are you going to accuse me of mutiny again?"

You squint at Ordim.

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "I'm worried Lumnis might keep watching me."

Ordim gawks at you.

Speaking to Ordim, you say, "If this isn't a good time, I more than understand."

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "As long as you don't mutiny against the baker we'll be ok."

Ordim nods once.

Ordim looks over at you and shakes his head.

You work your fingers under your gold alloy crown and scratch your head.

Ordim exclaims, "Its fine!"

Ordim giggles.

You say, "I guess I can agree to that."

Ordim gazes thoughtfully at a wooden table.

White paint coats the wooden table, which is rimmed with a thick dark scarlet pigment that seems to have dried mid-dribble, leaving paths of deep color, like tears streaking cheeks, down the otherwise white legs. Set in the middle of the table, a tall white taper rises from a squared block of hematite.

Ordim says, "Only Ordim offers obvious obligations openly offensive."

Ordim twitches, trying to control a vocal outburst, before settling into a disdained grumble while regaining composure.

Ordim furrows his brow.

Ordim indicates a wooden table as a possible option.

You nod understandingly.

Ordim sits down next to a wooden table.

Ordim blinks.

Ordim's cheeks take on a slightly flushed tone.

You settle yourself on the wooden chair for a moment's rest.

Ordim stands up.

Ordim coughs.

Ordim grumbles.

Ordim walks over to the chair and settles down.

Speaking to Ordim, you say, "You missed."

Ordim nods approvingly.

Ordim's cheeks take on a slightly flushed tone.

Ordim glances at a wooden chair.

Ordim says, "I did."

Ordim hangs his head.

Ordim exclaims, "Ohh!"

Ordim stands up.

You give your eyebrow a little workout.

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "Excuse me just ONE moment."

Ordim nods.

You adopt an agreeable expression.

Relic Hunter Ordim just went out.

You say, "Of course."

Relic Hunter Ordim just arrived.

Ordim nods approvingly.

Ordim walks over to the chair and settles down.

Ordim beams!

You nod approvingly at Ordim.

Ordim appears to be checking his pockets for something, but finds them empty.

Ordim perspires delicately.

Filling your nose is the smell of ripe, sun-ripened berries, the heady scent slightly dizzying.

Ordim just opened a knitted dark grey satchel.

Ordim removes a cast iron muffin tin from in his dark grey satchel.

Ordim removes a warm peach muffin from in his muffin tin.

You sniff.

Ordim put a warm peach muffin on a wooden table.

You say, "Smells good in here."

Ordim removes a warm cranberry muffin from in his muffin tin.

Ordim put a warm cranberry muffin on a wooden table.

Ordim nods in agreement to you.

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "Lisbethany and Goblyn keep the ovens baking all the time."

Ordim beams!

You grin at Ordim.

Ordim gazes thoughtfully at his muffin tin.

Ordim removes a warm orange muffin from in his muffin tin.

Ordim nods.

Ordim put a cast iron muffin tin in his dark grey satchel.

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "Help yourself."

Ordim nods enthusiastically!

Ordim indicates a warm cranberry muffin as a possible option.

Ordim takes a bite of his orange muffin.

You remove a warm cranberry muffin from on a wooden table.

You say, "Thank you very much."

Ordim takes a bite of his orange muffin.

You say, "As you've probably seen, we have a bit of a formula, and as a part of it I ask some basic background questions. The answers are pretty well known, but for posterity we start with the easier stuff."

You take a bite of your cranberry muffin. Cakey and tender, the muffin bursts with cranberry flavor.
You have 4 bites left.

An aroma of sweet apple tarts drifts by you.

'''You ask, "To that end, what's your profession?"

You grin at Ordim.

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "I'm an Ordim."

Ordim nods.

You nod understandingly.

''You ask, "That you are... but to which guild do you belong?"

Ordim ponders.

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "The Wizard guild insists I pay them. They don't seem to mind that I clean up and experiment in there from time to time."

Ordim glances nervously around the room.

Ordim touches one finger to his lips.

You nod understandingly.

'''Speaking to Ordim, you ask, "What's the best thing about being an Ordim?"

Ordim takes a bite of his orange muffin.

Ordim glances at you and rubs his chin thoughtfully.

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "The free muffins people seem to hold for me."

Ordim giggles.

You chuckle.

'''You ask, "And what's the worst?"

Ordim frets.

You take a bite of your cranberry muffin. Cakey and tender, the muffin bursts with cranberry flavor.

Speaking woundedly to you, Ordim says, "The amount of people that learn they have food allergies when I offer them pies."

Ordim sighs.

Ordim gazes heavenward.

Ordim shakes his head, clucking his tongue.

Speaking to Ordim, you say, "I've heard that happens with surprising regularity."

Ordim frets.

Heavy droplets of sweat drip from Ordim's brow.

Ordim points at a large wooden sign titled "The Pie Shop: Pukk's Precious Pies".

Speaking to you, Ordim exclaims, "We've got a big sign saying to make sure you're aware of your allergies!"

Ordim frowns.

Ordim folds his arms over his chest in a display of stubborn pride, tilting his chin up slightly in defiance.

You nod appreciatively.

Ordim takes a bite of his orange muffin.

'''You ask, "You've got a fairly well-known love of muffins... is there a story there? Or is it just their innate grandiosity?"

You grin at Ordim.

Ordim gazes thoughtfully at his orange muffin.

Ordim tilts his orange muffin side to side, making the light play off it.

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "Muffins hold a very special place in my heart. They helped me out during a very trying time."

Ordim squints at a warm peach muffin.

You nod encouragingly.

Speaking to you, Ordim exclaims, "And they are amazingly fluffy most of the time!"

Ordim beams!

Ordim takes a bite of his orange muffin.

''You ask, "Can you tell us a bit more about that trying time?"

Ordim squints at you.

Ordim glances nervously around the room.

Speaking to Ordim, you say, "Don't worry, it's just between us and the entire readership of the Crier."

You nod slowly at Ordim.

Filling your nose is the smell of ripe, sun-ripened berries, the heady scent slightly dizzying.

Ordim says, "Sinking ships seal sailors sounds, seemingly silencing several slippery songs."

Ordim twitches, trying to control a vocal outburst, before settling into a disdained grumble while regaining composure.

Ordim blinks.

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "There was a time when I thought I was going to have to find a new profession for a living... muffins helped me keep my position, as it were."

'''Speaking to Ordim, you ask, "I'd be remiss if I didn't ask... you occasionally seem to have semi-controlled vocal outbursts. Is this something you've dealt with all your life?"

Ordim furrows his brow.

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "I can't control them very long... and they hurt."

Ordim frowns.

Ordim hangs his head.

You glance over at Ordim and wince.

Ordim sets about preparing himself to be as presentable as possible.

''You ask, "Any idea of their cause, or their source?"

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "One day I woke up and it was happening."

Ordim carefully looks himself over.

You nod understandingly.

Ordim prods himself in the ribs with his thumb.

Ordim shrugs at you.

'''You ask, "What's the story of the Pie Shop here? It smells amazig, and it seems like you've got a stake in it somehow? What can you tell us about that?"

Ordim giggles.

Ordim beams!

Ordim surveys the area.

You correct, "Amazing."

Ordim nods approvingly.

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "The Pie Shop: that pie dough..."

Ordim grins at you.

You chortle.

Ordim says, "Actually, its very fitting you ask that on the eve of Ebon Gate."

Ordim nods once.

Ordim asks, "Its a bit of a long story, if you don't mind?"

Ordim giggles.

You lift up your chin and throw back your shoulders.

You exclaim, "I don't mind in the slightest!"

You grin at Ordim.

Ordim beams!

Ordim gazes thoughtfully at a large wooden sign titled "The Pie Shop: Pukk's Precious Pies".

Ordim says, "Well, the sign has since been updated, but it used to have all of the people involved those nights... anyway."

Ordim giggles.

In the Common language, it reads:

|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
~~ THE PIE SHOP: Pukk's Precious Pies ~~
| |
| Proprietor: G.G.K. "Goblyn" Managers: Ordim and Telsas |
| Master Baker: Lisbethany Backroom Supplies: Cruxophim |
| Aromatics: Sareyna |
| Shop Drunkard: Kyulen Cherry Pitter: Savageheart |
| Mop Girl: Maylan Backroom Supply Assistant: Soliere |
| |
| |
Pie Recipes and Baked Goods By:
| Biscuity Pear and Apple Pie - Bremerial |
| Blackened Persimmon Spice Pie - Ysharra |
| Blueberry Apple Crumble Pie - Sadiyah |
| Blue Sprite Pie - Sweetsin |
| Butter Pie - Bremerial |
| Cheesy Noodle and Bacon Pie - Lisbethany |
| Chipmunk Pie - Barble, Pathragers, Ordim |
| Crux's Cellar Autumn Special Pie - Cruxophim |
| Chocolate Pudding Pie - Ordim |
| Herb-Glazed Shepherd's Pie - Cruxophim |
| Honey-Pecan Whiskey Pie - Sweetsin |
| Marshmallow Pie - Ordim |
| Pigeon Pudding Pie - Kittai, Glurt, Ordim |
| Public Bath Pie - Heartfire |
| Raisin and Peach Pie - Bremerial |
| Sheep's Brain Aspic Pie - Maylan |
| Winter's Gate Pie - Lisbethany |
| |
| |
Limited Offering (While Supplies Last):
| Black Apple Tartlet Recipe - Rhayveign |
| |
| |
Other Information!
| Use the chalkboard in the kitchen to leave shop name |
| suggestions. If leaving letters for Goblyn, set them on |
| the table downstairs. Do not take notes from the basement |
| that are not addressed to you! Leave artwork on the board |
| in this main salesroom. |
| |
| |
| The Pie Shop cannot be held responsible for |
| allergy-related deaths or afflictions! |
|___________________________________________________________________|

Ordim says, "Last Ebon Gate, in Feyrot Marsh, I ran into a certain Goblyn who was selling her wares down in the caverns under the swamp."

You nod understandingly.

Ordim says, "After she has a penchant for asking for strange foods, raw foods, unique stuffs often found off the beaten path."

Ordim nervously giggles.

Ordim says, "Well, I happened to have a new pie that was being sold around the grounds that had been spiced extra nice. She was thrilled at the idea of the pie."

You smile.

Ordim continues, "So after she had finished working on her wares she wanted to view the marsh and spend some time relaxing. I offered to go around with her selling pies to people playing the games."

Ordim giggles.

You try hard not to grin.

Ordim says, "We gathered a small group of people, myself, Goblyn, Telsas and a few others."

Ordim's cheeks take on a slightly flushed tone.

Ordim says, "I wish I had all their names, we started off small, gathering people as we went."

Ordim exclaims, "We would offer those playing games a bit of pie for a few silvers!"

Ordim nervously giggles.

Speaking to Ordim, you exclaim, "Quite nice of you!"

Ordim says, "Almost everyone bought some... turns out a lot of people didn't know they were allergic to chocolate that night."

Ordim frowns.

Ordim shrugs.

Ordim nods in agreement to you.

Speaking to you, Ordim exclaims, "Well, after we ran out of pie we talked about opening a pie shop. We needed a baker and managers and staff of all kinds! And pies! lots of pies!"

Ordim giggles.

You chuckle.

Ordim says, "Lisbethany offered to be the baker! Then we had the hardest job."

Ordim frets.

Ordim asks, "What would we call it?"

Ordim narrows his eyes.

You glance at a bone-edged art display board hanging on one wall.

Rough gouges in the sign make up nearly illegible wording.

Ordim says, "Well, we had SO MANY great names that the only way to make it all work would be if the shop's sign changed."

Ordim nods once.

Ordim giggles.

Ordim says, "So."

In the Common language, it reads:

|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
~~ THE PIE SHOP: Pukk's Precious Pies ~~
| |
| Proprietor: G.G.K. "Goblyn" Managers: Ordim and Telsas |
| Master Baker: Lisbethany Backroom Supplies: Cruxophim |
| Aromatics: Sareyna |
| Shop Drunkard: Kyulen Cherry Pitter: Savageheart |
| Mop Girl: Maylan Backroom Supply Assistant: Soliere |
| |
| |
Pie Recipes and Baked Goods By:
| Biscuity Pear and Apple Pie - Bremerial |
| Blackened Persimmon Spice Pie - Ysharra |
| Blueberry Apple Crumble Pie - Sadiyah |
| Blue Sprite Pie - Sweetsin |
| Butter Pie - Bremerial |
| Cheesy Noodle and Bacon Pie - Lisbethany |
| Chipmunk Pie - Barble, Pathragers, Ordim |
| Crux's Cellar Autumn Special Pie - Cruxophim |
| Chocolate Pudding Pie - Ordim |
| Herb-Glazed Shepherd's Pie - Cruxophim |
| Honey-Pecan Whiskey Pie - Sweetsin |
| Marshmallow Pie - Ordim |
| Pigeon Pudding Pie - Kittai, Glurt, Ordim |
| Public Bath Pie - Heartfire |
| Raisin and Peach Pie - Bremerial |
| Sheep's Brain Aspic Pie - Maylan |
| Winter's Gate Pie - Lisbethany |
| |
| |
Limited Offering (While Supplies Last):
| Black Apple Tartlet Recipe - Rhayveign |
| |
| |
Other Information!
| Use the chalkboard in the kitchen to leave shop name |
| suggestions. If leaving letters for Goblyn, set them on |
| the table downstairs. Do not take notes from the basement |
| that are not addressed to you! Leave artwork on the board |
| in this main salesroom. |
| |
| |
| The Pie Shop cannot be held responsible for |
| allergy-related deaths or afflictions! |
|___________________________________________________________________|

You chuckle.

Ordim says, "We put together our favorite names and pie recipes."

Ordim asks, "Then Goblyn set to work getting permits and building the shop! It wasn't that long after that we had to pick a spot. What better spot then here in the small park where people rest?"

Ordim beams!

You grin at Ordim.

You say, "I have to agree, this seems like the ideal location."

Ordim exclaims, "Just a few short months later The Pie Shop: Pie another day, opened to a large crowd!"

Ordim nods in agreement to you.

Ordim beams!

Ordim says, "The rest is, as they say, crumbs."

Ordim nods once.

Ordim giggles.

''You ask, "Have the allergy situations continued? Or has that particular... epidemic... died down?"

Ordim looks thoughtfully at you.

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "Well, I think people remain allergic for life so it will probably come and go with time."

Ordim frets.

''Speaking to Ordim, you say, "Let me ask it a different way."

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "I heard the Elves out East had a rash of incidents recently."

Ordim frets.

Ordim looks thoughtfully at you.

''Speaking to Ordim, you ask, "The night of the initial pie sales, there were reportedly a large percentage of individuals who were surprised to find they had this allergy... would you say the same percentage of the new customers to the shop find the same allergy issues?"

Ordim ponders.

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "I'm not lucky enough to see EVERY pie sale, but I'd imagine a good amount of poeple have an allergy to something or another."

Ordim nods.

You nod understandingly.

'''You ask, "How long have you been an adventurer?"

Ordim compulsively brushes his hands all over his body, sending a sprinkling of crumbs into the air.

Speaking to you, Ordim corrects, "I'm an Ordim."

Ordim nods.

You rub your chin thoughtfully.

You say, "This is undeniably true, I suppose."

Ordim nods in agreement to you.

Ordim beams!

'''You ask, "What can you tell us about your early life? Where did you grow up?"

Ordim says, "I grew up near Lake Khesta 'dahl, but I did not stay there long."

You nod understandingly.

Ordim says, "I set out to see the world and ended up on a ship crewed by the Truefolk for many years."

Ordim giggles.

Ordim surveys the area.

You grin at Ordim.

Ordim nods.

You say, "Never pegged you as a sailor."

Ordim takes a bite of his peach muffin.

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "Thats because I'm an Ordim."

Ordim nods.

You say, "Of course you are. I apologize that I keep forgetting."

Ordim giggles.

Ordim says, "To be fair..."

Ordim narrows his eyes.

Ordim says, "I didn't do much sailing as you might expect, I was in charge of helping to identify the stuff that happened to be found along the way."

Ordim says, "Trinkets, magical artifacts, stolen sorcerer's gems."

Ordim says, "Stuff like that."

Ordim nods.

You give a short little hum of surprise.

You say, "That sounds much more interesting than just a deckhand."

Ordim says, "Pirate's plunder promptly produces peculiar purple people."

Ordim twitches, trying to control a vocal outburst, before settling into a disdained grumble while regaining composure.

''You ask, "Did you come across many stolen sorcerer's gems, or was there one in particular that stood out?"

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "It's tough work, you don't want the crew to rub the wrong statue and suddenly have a maelstrom on deck! You need to know whats safe and what should be tossed over board."

Ordim looks thoughtfully at you.

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "Well.. there was this one Sorcerer."

Ordim taps a patchwork longcloak stitched with an inky black kraken that he is wearing.

You nod encouragingly.

Ordim brushes his hand across his shoulder, and shadowy ripples appear to slither down his patchwork longcloak.

Ordim touches his patchwork longcloak's haloed Reim ruby clasp and appears to be listening intently to something.

Ordim says, "Malicar... he was a warlock though... he had his soul trapped into a gem. I used to wear him as jewerly, when he got mad he'd change shape and stuff."

Ordim nervously giggles.

You try hard not to grin.

'''You ask, "And how did that chapter in the life of Ordim come to an end? How did you get from that point to where you are now?"

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "Well, one day the ship docked in the port of the Landing. When I got out and looked around I heard of all the stories and adventurers that were happening around here and figured I'd be able to learn more than I would just sailing around the ship."

Ordim rubs his chin thoughtfully.

You nod understandingly.

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "I guess I never really gave up the sea though."

Ordim says, "I spent a lot of my time in Solhaven, still call it my new home."

You grin at Ordim.

Ordim beams!

You say, "Which neatly answers my next question. Well done."
grin ordim
You grin at Ordim.

Ordim's cheeks take on a slightly flushed tone.

Clanking and sputtering sounds emanate from behind a swinging door.

Ordim glances at a swinging door.

Speaking to a swinging door, Ordim exclaims, "Careful in there!"

Ordim frowns.

'''You ask, "What would you say occupies the majority of your time these days?"

You agree with Ordim.

You glance at a swinging door.

Speaking to you, Ordim exclaims, "Well, I help keep The Pie Shop: Crumb on down! running smooth, clean the tables, write up new recipes and names, bring in the customers. Inbetween that I used to be gypsy... I suppose I still am at heart!"

Ordim beams!

Ordim giggles.

You grin at Ordim.

Ordim says, "But the Troupe moved on as they do from time to time. Now I've started to put together a team that will help bring order to all the gambling around Elanthia."

Ordim says, "The Triad Gaming Commission, we run raffles and as we grow hope to help others run their gambling events with that extra professionalism."

Ordim looks thoughtfully at you.

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "Mostly though."

You grin at Ordim.

Speaking to you, Ordim confirms, "I'm an Ordim."

Ordim nods slowly.

You nod in agreement.

Ordim glances nervously at his dark grey satchel.

Ordim shushes a knitted dark grey satchel!

Ordim places his hand on his dark grey satchel.

'''You ask, "Do you follow any particular Arkati?"

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "Well..."

Ordim's cheeks take on a slightly flushed tone.

You give your eyebrow a little workout.

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "I don't really believe in them."

Ordim narrows his eyes.

You give a short little hum of surprise.

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "Supposedly, we went to Flash'lo'nae's library not too long ago."

Ordim frowns.

Ordim says, "All I met was a vesperti reading a book and an old man with a melty face taking a nap."

Ordim sighs.

Ordim shakes his head, clucking his tongue.

''You ask, "How can you explain the abilities that clerics and paladins are able to draw upon, then?"

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "I just figured it was like controlling water... some people just can."

Ordim raises his hand and slowly curls his fingers into a clenched fist. A cloud of vapor streams out of the sigil on Ordim's glove, swirling around his hand and emitting small droplets of rain before slowly dissipating.

Ordim shrugs.

You give a short little hum of surprise.

'''You ask, "Are you married?"

You grin at Ordim.

Ordim squints at you.

Speaking to Ordim, you exclaim, "It's on the sheet! I have to ask!"

Ordim frowns.

Speaking to you, Ordim repeats, "I'm an Ordim."

Ordim ponders.

Ordim says, "One time, somewhat long ago."

Ordim says, "A fancy gentleman, Farain, tried to marry me to Riend."

Ordim says, "But it wasn't a hand fasting."

Ordim shakes his head.

You nod understandingly.

Ordim says, "Then during the Trine there wasn't any ceremonies held."

Ordim frowns.

Ordim says, "I wanted to marry the moon."

Ordim sighs.

'''You ask, "What would you say is your most prized possession?"

Ordim ponders.

Ordim takes a bite of his peach muffin.

Ordim squints at a knitted dark grey satchel.

Ordim says, "I'm not going to say you, no matter what you tell me to say."

Ordim squints at a knitted dark grey satchel.

You grin at Ordim.

Ordim taps something in a knitted dark grey satchel.

Ordim removes a cast iron muffin tin from in his dark grey satchel.

Ordim says, "There are lots of things that I really enjoy... but I think this magical muffin tin is my favorite."

Ordim giggles.

''You ask, "What's its magic?"

Ordim exclaims, "Who could say no to always fresh warm muffins?!"

Ordim's jaw drops.

Ordim rubs his muffin tin.
The aroma of freshly baked muffins fills the air.

Ordim shows you a cast iron muffin tin, which he is holding in his left hand. You see nothing unusual.

Ordim giggles.

Ordim exclaims, "It fills itself with muffins!"

Ordim beams!

You grin at Ordim.

Ordim put a warm peach muffin in his patchwork longcloak.

Ordim removes a warm pumpkin spice muffin from in his muffin tin.

Ordim beams!

Ordim exclaims, "Always fresh and warm!"

Ordim lets out a cheer!

''You ask, "Do the flavors vary?"

You grin at Ordim.

Ordim put a cast iron muffin tin in his dark grey satchel.

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "They do! There are lots of flavors, at least six or seven I think I've seen."

Ordim gazes thoughtfully at his dark grey satchel.

Ordim squints at you.

You say, "Very impressive, and very appropriate for an Ordim."

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "The Dahcres wanted me to say they are the most important, but all they do is speak loudly to me all the time."

Ordim just closed a knitted dark grey satchel.

Ordim nods in agreement to you.

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "I think so too."

Ordim giggles.

Speaking to Ordim, you say, "Nobody likes bossy Dahcres."

You nod sagely at Ordim.

Ordim nods in agreement to you.

Ordim folds his arms over his chest in a display of stubborn pride, tilting his chin up slightly in defiance.

Speaking to his dark grey satchel, Ordim asks, "Hear that?"

Ordim frowns at a knitted dark grey satchel.

Inky black liquid tendrils lethargically seep out of a large wooden sign titled "The Pie Shop: Pukk's Precious Pies", wrapping it so completely that the lettering at the top is completely obscured. The tendrils languidly slink around it, then recede completely leaving the shop with a new name: "The Pie Shop: Dead Heat Pies".

'''Speaking to Ordim, you ask, "What would you say is your most valuable item, then? The one that's worth the most silvers?"

You glance at a large wooden sign titled "The Pie Shop: Dead Heat Pies".

You give a short little hum of surprise.

In the Common language, it reads:

|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
~~ THE PIE SHOP: Dead Heat Pies ~~
| |
| Proprietor: G.G.K. "Goblyn" Managers: Ordim and Telsas |
| Master Baker: Lisbethany Backroom Supplies: Cruxophim |
| Aromatics: Sareyna |
| Shop Drunkard: Kyulen Cherry Pitter: Savageheart |
| Mop Girl: Maylan Backroom Supply Assistant: Soliere |
| |
| |
Pie Recipes and Baked Goods By:
| Biscuity Pear and Apple Pie - Bremerial |
| Blackened Persimmon Spice Pie - Ysharra |
| Blueberry Apple Crumble Pie - Sadiyah |
| Blue Sprite Pie - Sweetsin |
| Butter Pie - Bremerial |
| Cheesy Noodle and Bacon Pie - Lisbethany |
| Chipmunk Pie - Barble, Pathragers, Ordim |
| Crux's Cellar Autumn Special Pie - Cruxophim |
| Chocolate Pudding Pie - Ordim |
| Herb-Glazed Shepherd's Pie - Cruxophim |
| Honey-Pecan Whiskey Pie - Sweetsin |
| Marshmallow Pie - Ordim |
| Pigeon Pudding Pie - Kittai, Glurt, Ordim |
| Public Bath Pie - Heartfire |
| Raisin and Peach Pie - Bremerial |
| Sheep's Brain Aspic Pie - Maylan |
| Winter's Gate Pie - Lisbethany |
| |
| |
Limited Offering (While Supplies Last):
| Black Apple Tartlet Recipe - Rhayveign |
| |
| |
Other Information!
| Use the chalkboard in the kitchen to leave shop name |
| suggestions. If leaving letters for Goblyn, set them on |
| the table downstairs. Do not take notes from the basement |
| that are not addressed to you! Leave artwork on the board |
| in this main salesroom. |
| |
| |
| The Pie Shop cannot be held responsible for |
| allergy-related deaths or afflictions! |
|___________________________________________________________________|

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "I think that's my runestaff now. The last time Bloodriven Village was running wagons I was able to finish enhancing my runestaff to 10x acuity."

Ordim removes a scrollworked illthorn runestaff with twisting inlays of balenite from in his patchwork longcloak.

You blink.

Ordim indicates a scrollworked illthorn runestaff with twisting inlays of balenite as a possible option.

You say, "Very impressive."

Ordim raises his illthorn runestaff in triumph!

Speaking to you, Ordim exclaims, "Thank you!"

Ordim beams!

Ordim put a scrollworked illthorn runestaff with twisting inlays of balenite in his patchwork longcloak.

Ordim takes a bite of his pumpkin spice muffin.

'''You ask, "What's your fondest memory of your time since leaving the ship? Is there one singular moment that stands out above the rest?"

Ordim sighs.

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "There are so many along the way."

Ordim giggles.

You grin at Ordim.

Ordim ponders.

Ordim rubs his chin thoughtfully.

Speaking to Ordim, you say, "A common lament in response to this question."

Speaking to you, Ordim exclaims, "Every time I think about it I remember two more and then someone else will remind me of two I almost forgot!"

Ordim's jaw drops.

Ordim frets.

You chuckle at Ordim.

Ordim says, "For friends, forgetting family features fears fearsomly."

Ordim twitches, trying to control a vocal outburst, before settling into a disdained grumble while regaining composure.

Ordim takes a bite of his pumpkin spice muffin.

You nod understandingly.

Assailing your senses is a melange of sweet tart apples, the scent of headily ripe sun-ripened berries, and the dark bitter smell of coffee beans. Beneath the main thrust of the mingled aromas, however, a pervasive, creeping bouquet of overripe fruit just turning sneaks in.

'''You ask, "Would you be willing to give us a rough idea of your current bank account balance?"

Ordim giggles.

Ordim's cheeks take on a slightly flushed tone.

You grin at Ordim.

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "I am not hurting for silvers, but I'm certainly not in the running for richest person."

Ordim nods slowly.

You nod understandingly.

'''You say, "Would you be willing to give us a peek inside one of your lockers? Just a peek, no details on anything."

Ordim ponders.

Ordim giggles.

Speaking to you, Ordim exclaims, "I'll even let you pick the town!"

Ordim giggles.

You grin at Ordim.

You ponder.

Ordim squints at you.

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "Pick well..."

Ordim stares at you.

Ordim takes a bite of his pumpkin spice muffin.

You say, "Well, you mentioned you reside in Solhaven. That means that's likely to be a gem jar repository."

Ordim looks thoughtfully at you.

Ordim glances down.

Expressions of utter shock, disbelief, and horror cross Ordim's features as he shakes his head repeatedly in denial.

You say, "I believe you have access to Mist Harbor, which is where you likely store the things you want to have close at hand."

Ordim mutters something about bandits.

Ordim blinks at you.

Speaking to you, Ordim asks, "Is that your final answer?"

You say, "I believe I'll choose River's Rest, under the assumption that it's the things you hang onto, but don't want all the time."

You try hard not to grin.

Ordim giggles.

Speaking to Ordim, you confide, "It was that or Zul Logoth..."

Ordim looks thoughtfully at you.

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "I move my lockers around so much I don't think even I can remember what is where."

Ordim frets.

On a weapon rack:
a double-edged faenor dagger with a carved bloodstone grip
a petite mithglin bodice dagger with a polished white pearl hilt

In a clothing wardrobe:
a twining silver bracelet worked into two-headed serpent (marked)
a delicate elven queen hand-puppet with a tiny gold crown
a comical kobold hand-puppet with a bulbous nose
a gold-vaned white feather quill
a long silver feather quill
a small copper buzzer
a small copper buzzer
a black wool hat stuck with a trio of bronze-sheened feathers

In a deep chest:
a heavy vaalorn slab
a simple copper tea kettle (registered) (marked)
a small scroll-worked caravan stove (registered) (marked)
a black dragon-shaped pinata
a thick glass jar
a contorted ivy-carved stick
a knobby leaf-carved stick
a coral-blushed ivory flask set with pearl trillium blossoms
a crystal dancer motif talisman
a piece of grey vellum
a helical veniom pendant strung on a steel chain
an enruned gold ring
a tube of raspberry frosting
a mithril halfling-shaped frosting tip
a tiny metal keep (registered) (marked)
a white crystal comb
a vaalin-rimmed glass bottle (marked)
a plump copper-tinted glass bottle with ivory whorls (marked)
a crimson and black-whorled glass bottle with a square stopper (marked)
a lilac glass bottle with a gold silk-tassel (marked)
an ivory-stoppered smoky glaes bottle (marked)
a jeweled blue glass bottle with a white silk tassel (marked)
a pale red toy crab
a piece of grey vellum (marked)
a small tin of powdered purple leaves
a small tin of powdered purple leaves
a dark green serpent-haired doll
a worn-out sailcloth knapsack
a large herb-painted packet of seeds
a large herb-painted packet of seeds
a large herb-painted packet of seeds
a large herb-painted packet of seeds
a large herb-painted packet of seeds
a large herb-painted packet of seeds
a large herb-painted packet of seeds
a dented tin tip cup
a bottle of cookie dough perfume
a bottle of cookie dough perfume
a bottle of chocolate perfume
a flat etched stone
some jet glass spinner eyes
a soft white birch bark-covered tome painted with intertwining magnolia and orange blossoms
a foul pile of excrement
a polished blackwood fife banded with vaalin
a flat etched stone
a flat etched stone
a flat etched stone
a flat etched stone
a layered gold disc necklet engraved with delicate vinework
a square-cut deep pink diamond
some jet glass spinner eyes
a large ocean blue suede volume
some sea green paper pages
a lacquered black rattan back-basket
an elegant expressionless mask
a plush ribbed blue-grey chinchilla stole
a crimson-hued thick glass bottle
a burnished dark ruic horn inlaid with ivory triangles
a threadbare white wool blanket stained with mud
a gleaming brass lantern with clear-paned glass
a thin teak meditation mat
a cord-tied theatre mask
a pair of tiny mechanical glasses
a piece of grey vellum
a piece of grey vellum
a piece of grey vellum
a dark pouch of pale green powder
a thin bronze glass vial
a thin onyx glass vial
a thin ivory glass vial
a purple forest troll hide pack
a glazed clay bottle
an enamel gilt-intaglio bottle with a green silk tassel
a long maoral stick
a piece of grey vellum (marked)
a piece of grey vellum
a piece of grey vellum
an enamel gilt-intaglio bottle with a green silk tassel (registered) (marked)
a stout green glass bottle wrapped in silver netting
a thin black leather volume
some pale pink paper pages
a silver-worked black leather notebook
some pale vellum pages
a burled walnut stationery box with brass mountings (marked)
a tortoiseshell stationery box with mother-of-pearl inlay (marked)

Ordim giggles.

You grin at Ordim.

You say, "I understand that. Especially with Ebon Gate looming."

Ordim groans.

Ordim gazes heavenward.

Heavy droplets of sweat drip from Ordim's brow.

You say, "I've been shuffling stuff around trying to make room."

You shudder.

Ordim nods in agreement to you.

Ordim stares off into space.

Ordim slowly empties his lungs.

'''You ask, "And finally... if you had to pick one other adventurer that had the largest affect on your life, who would it be?"

Panicked mewling echoes from somewhere nearby.

Ordim looks thoughtfully at you.

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "I have not seen them for some time, but there was a high priest of Arachne, Gramelfein, who made a strong impression on me. I've met lots of fun poeple who I've shared experiences with since then, but Gramelfein sticks with me the most."

Ordim giggles.

Ordim's cheeks take on a slightly flushed tone.

You grin at Ordim.

Ordim frets.

Ordim says, "It's been so long i almost forgot how to pronounce his name."

Ordim gasps.

Ordim says, "Its Grim Elfin."

Ordim nods.

Ordim giggles.

Ordim ponders.

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "He used to cry over pookas ALL the time."

Ordim giggles.

Ordim shakes his head, clucking his tongue.

You grin at Ordim.

Speaking to Ordim, you say, "Pookas are annoying... I can see getting a little teary-eyed."

You rub your chin thoughtfully.

Ordim holds up his hand and tilts it side to side in a so-so gesture.

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "Of all the ghost horses, pookas are the least worrisome."

Speaking to Ordim, you ask, "That's all I had prepared... was there anything you'd like to discuss on the record, or any questions you had for me?"

You nod in agreement at Ordim.

Ordim squints at you.

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "One VERY important question."

Ordim begins to twitch.

You blink at Ordim.

Ordim leans forward.

You ask, "Oh?"

Speaking to you, Ordim asks, "Would you like a piece of pie?"

Ordim grins slowly.

You feel the blood drain from your face.

Ordim removes a lightly browned treacle pie from in his cloth pouch.

Ordim indicates a rich butter pie with apples and cheese as a possible option.

You glance at a large wooden sign titled "The Pie Shop: Dead Heat Pies".

You exclaim, "Sure!"

Ordim sniffs at his treacle pie.

You grin weakly.

Speaking to you, Ordim exclaims, "Lets get you a fresh piece then!"

Ordim giggles.

Ordim put a lightly browned treacle pie in his cloth pouch.

Ordim appears to be checking his pockets for something, but finds them empty.

Ordim ponders.

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "Pick out your favorite."

Ordim nods.

Ordim stands up.

Ordim compulsively brushes his hands all over his body, sending a sprinkling of crumbs into the air.

You stand back up.

In the Common language, it reads:

|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
~~ THE PIE SHOP: Dead Heat Pies ~~
| |
| Proprietor: G.G.K. "Goblyn" Managers: Ordim and Telsas |
| Master Baker: Lisbethany Backroom Supplies: Cruxophim |
| Aromatics: Sareyna |
| Shop Drunkard: Kyulen Cherry Pitter: Savageheart |
| Mop Girl: Maylan Backroom Supply Assistant: Soliere |
| |
| |
Pie Recipes and Baked Goods By:
| Biscuity Pear and Apple Pie - Bremerial |
| Blackened Persimmon Spice Pie - Ysharra |
| Blueberry Apple Crumble Pie - Sadiyah |
| Blue Sprite Pie - Sweetsin |
| Butter Pie - Bremerial |
| Cheesy Noodle and Bacon Pie - Lisbethany |
| Chipmunk Pie - Barble, Pathragers, Ordim |
| Crux's Cellar Autumn Special Pie - Cruxophim |
| Chocolate Pudding Pie - Ordim |
| Herb-Glazed Shepherd's Pie - Cruxophim |
| Honey-Pecan Whiskey Pie - Sweetsin |
| Marshmallow Pie - Ordim |
| Pigeon Pudding Pie - Kittai, Glurt, Ordim |
| Public Bath Pie - Heartfire |
| Raisin and Peach Pie - Bremerial |
| Sheep's Brain Aspic Pie - Maylan |
| Winter's Gate Pie - Lisbethany |
| |
| |
Limited Offering (While Supplies Last):
| Black Apple Tartlet Recipe - Rhayveign |
| |
| |
Other Information!
| Use the chalkboard in the kitchen to leave shop name |
| suggestions. If leaving letters for Goblyn, set them on |
| the table downstairs. Do not take notes from the basement |
| that are not addressed to you! Leave artwork on the board |
| in this main salesroom. |
| |
| |
| The Pie Shop cannot be held responsible for |
| allergy-related deaths or afflictions! |
|___________________________________________________________________|

Ordim gazes at a display counter.

You say, "I'll try the marshmallow, I think."

Ordim nods.

On the display counter you see some chalky white jars, a cup of sassafras tea, a mug of toasted hazelnut coffee, a jug of black coffee and a skull-painted cup of dark hot chocolate.

Ordim says, "Excuse me a moment."

Relic Hunter Ordim just went out.

In the display counter you see a rich butter pie with apples and cheese, a blueberry apple crumble pie, a honey-pecan whiskey pie, a blackened persimmon spice pie, a flour-dusted raisin and peach pie, a biscuity pear and ale pie topped with lemon zest, a Winter's Gate pie, a cheesy noodle and bacon pie, a moon-shaped marshmallow pie, a chocolate pudding pie with crumbly cookie crust, a vanilla cheesecake stuffed with brandied saffron apricots, a fluffy cranberry pie topped with swirls of dark chocolate and a tart lemon-cherry pie.

Relic Hunter Ordim just arrived.

Ordim nods.

A sales clerk accepts your silvers.

A sales clerk looks wistfully one last time at a moon-shaped marshmallow pie then hands it to you with a ghostly sigh.

Ordim flails his arms about.

Ordim folds his arms over his chest in a display of stubborn pride, tilting his chin up slightly in defiance.

Ordim giggles.

You blink at Ordim.

Ordim says, "Marshmellow moons make many mouths merrily munch marvelous mixtures."

Ordim twitches, trying to control a vocal outburst, before settling into a disdained grumble while regaining composure.

You sniff your marshmallow pie.
It smells like nice, fresh marshmallow pie!

You take a bite of your marshmallow pie.
You have 7 bites left.

You nod appreciatively.

You say, "Oh that's good."

You take a bite of your marshmallow pie. The chalky filling inside almost causes you to cough. Must be your first bite.
You have 6 bites left.

Ordim nods in agreement to you.

Ordim beams!

Ordim says, "Its a delicacy where I'm from."

Ordim giggles.

Ordim says, "Its hit or miss..."

You take a bite of your marshmallow pie. At first the dryness of the the pie lends to the concerns of staleness, but that quickly turns to surprise as the graham and fluff filling melts into a pleasent vanilla mix.
You have 5 bites left.

Ordim shrugs.

You give a short little hum of surprise.

You say, "A very complex flavor."

Clanking and sputtering sounds emanate from behind a swinging door.

You glance at a swinging door.

Ordim sighs.

Speaking to a swinging door, you say, "That's a compliment."

Ordim shakes his head at a swinging door.

You take a bite of your marshmallow pie. At first the dryness of the the pie lends to the concerns of staleness, but that quickly turns to surprise as the graham and fluff filling melts into a pleasent vanilla mix.
You have 4 bites left.

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "I think the pie machine is on the fritz again."

Ordim frets.

Speaking to himself, Ordim says, "I hope they don't blame us for the missing birds."

Ordim frowns.

Ordim shrugs.

Speaking to Ordim, you say, "Well, they got this piece just right."

You blink at Ordim.

Ordim nods in agreement to you.

Ordim beams!

Speaking to Ordim, you ask, "Birds?"

You take a bite of your marshmallow pie. The chalky filling inside almost causes you to cough. Must be your first bite.
You have 3 bites left.

Speaking to you, Ordim exclaims, "Pies... Pies here in The Pie Shop: come pie away with me!"

Ordim squints at you.

You nod slowly at Ordim.

You take a bite of your marshmallow pie. At first the dryness of the the pie lends to the concerns of staleness, but that quickly turns to surprise as the graham and fluff filling melts into a pleasent vanilla mix.
You have 2 bites left.

You take a bite of your marshmallow pie.
You have one bite left.

You take a bite of your marshmallow pie.
That was the last of it!

You nod appreciatively.

A sales clerk hands a moon-shaped marshmallow pie to Ordim with a ghostly sigh.

Ordim takes a bite of his marshmallow pie.

Ordim hums happily to himself.

You agree with Ordim.

Ordim praises the virtues of a rich butter pie with apples and cheese.

Speaking to Ordim, you say, "Delicious."

Speaking to you, Ordim exclaims, "I'll pass the compliments to the bakers!"

Ordim nods enthusiastically!

You grin at Ordim.

Assailing your senses is a melange of sweet tart apples, the scent of headily ripe sun-ripened berries, and the dark bitter smell of coffee beans. Beneath the main thrust of the mingled aromas, however, a pervasive, creeping bouquet of overripe fruit just turning sneaks in.

You exclaim, "I appreciate that. And I appreciate you making some time to sit down with me tonight!"

Ordim nods enthusiastically!

You grin at Ordim.

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "Thank you very much for the opportunity."

Ordim beams!

Ordim giggles.

Ordim takes a bite of his marshmallow pie.

You feel more refreshed.

Speaking to Ordim, you say, "My pleasure, to be sure. Thank you again, and I hope you have a great rest of the evening."

You grin at Ordim.

Ordim nods.

You bow to Ordim.

Ordim waves to you.

Ordim glances down.

Ordim says, "Oh."

Ordim pulls his dark grey robe aside for a moment.
Spying a bit of frosting in his toe-hair, Ordim adjusts his double leather and gracefully bows and scoops it up.

Ordim nods approvingly.

Speaking to you, Ordim exclaims, "Safe travels!"

Ordim beams!

You blink at Ordim.

You grin.

You wave.
</pre>
----

{| class="wikitable" style="background-color:#fff6c1;" cellpadding="25" cellspacing="25"
|-
| "The very first event I went to was one of Rohese’s fashion events and I learned about “earth tones”." ~ Ordim
|}
----

==The Out-of-Character Interview==

'''What’s your real name? (First name only please)
:Joe
'''About how old are you, if you don't mind?
:34
'''Where are you located, geographically?
:Jersey Shore
'''What's your favorite movie?
:Aliens
'''What's your favorite book?
:House of Leaves
'''What do you do for a living?
:Healthcare IT specialist
'''Describe your normal play space for us. Laptop/PC/Tablet... Office/basement/kitchen... what sort of stuff do you have in/on the space... etc etc etc
:Dedicated office, large wrap around desk with three mounted monitors. Usually distracted by movie or other website(s) open at the same time.
'''How long have you played Gemstone?
''Have you taken any breaks, or played straight through?
:I played a bit back in the AOL days but not as any character that I have now. I was around shortly before and after the move to the web. I vaguely remember the opening of Solhaven. I’ve been around now for almost 2 years.
'''How many different ‘main’ characters have you had over the years?
:Three. Two right now and my old character(s) I’ll count as a singular, since I used to reroll all the time.
'''Who are/were your most notable characters
:Ordim and some elf.
'''Do you have multiple accounts that you play at the same time?
:Yes
'''Do you have a Premium subscription?
:Yes
'''What front-end do you use? (Stormfront, Wizard, Profanity, other)?
:Stormfront, It seems to have the information I want where I want.
'''Do you use lich? Why or why not? If so, what are your ‘must-have’ scripts?
:Yes – It helps break down the more grindy things into manageable chunks. The reference scripts like ;wood, ;metal, ;925potions, ;enchants for keeping track of my enchanting projects. ;alchemy, ;sloot
'''Have you ever bought or sold characters or items for real money?
:I’ve bought some silvers here and there.
'''Do you now, or have you ever roleplayed a character that was very different from your real personality? Why or why not?
:In some ways very much so yes. I think Ordim is fairly different from my normal personality. I think my other active character is a bit closer in the ways that Ordim is different.
'''What would you say is your most memorable Gemstone ‘moment’ (as a player) , and why?
:Wow, this is a hard one. I’ve been lucky to have a lot of really fun moments. The most memorable though… Probably my first EG last year. Going around and selling people poisoned pie and pawning it off as allergies with Goblyn, Telsas and then everyone else we picked up after selling them pie. That whole event was just fantastic and lots of fun.
'''What's the luckiest you've gotten in-game? (big raffle win, finding vorpal sword of doom, surviving something cataclysmic, being in just the right place at just the right time, etc)
:Luckiest? Probably when I survived being stunned in the arena for 15 rounds and being dropped to 1 HP and then survived through it. That was really lucky.
'''What's the hardest you've laughed while playing GS?
:There really isn’t one great moment, I’ve been lucky to be involved in so many (or maybe I just laugh very easily). Rovvigen hugging Beloran with no pants and becoming married to him. Gramelfein crying over pookas all the time. Everything with The Pie Shop: Big P, little “ie”. When the GM’s give me guff for misreading signs or being annoying. Most of the Relic Hunters quest line.
'''What, in your mind, is the best thing about Gemstone?
:The characters and the situations they get into. I think most of my favorite moments are things that developed spontaneously. Just people getting into their characters and seeing where things go from there.
'''Have you ever attended Simucon, or otherwise met up with a person from Gemstone?
:I have not
'''Imagine you're Wyrom for a day and can 'do' one thing (and that you could accomplish anything in that one day without time considerations). What are you changing/removing/adding/replacing, and why?
:The Forums, with the added answer of communication as a whole. There has to be a better way for players and staff alike to spread news and events around.
'''What do you feel is the biggest mistake that most GS players make? Why do you feel they make that mistake? Why do you feel it's such a bad mistake?
:I think the biggest mistake a lot of new players make is jumping right into automated scripts without learning the basic commands and flow of what they are scripting first. I’ve done this with a few things and if I could I would go back and do it over. It helps you appreciate it more and understands the mechanics of what you are doing, that way you can be more agile if something changes.
'''What’s something that you feel every GS player should do at least once? Why?
:Attend one of the multiday player organized events. A lot of hard work goes into setting up the events and trying to make them entertaining. Sure, not everything will be for everyone, but stopping the daily grind for a half hour and learning something new or reviewing something you think you might know already can lead to some surprises.
'''What advice would you offer to a new player?
:Check the calendar and attend any and all player/GM events that seem like they might even be PARTIALLY interesting to you. You never know what might happen! The very first event I went to was one of Rohese’s fashion events and I learned about “earth tones”. You know what, that might also be one of my most memorable moments as well. Those events helped me develop the character of Ordim even more and meet lots of people I normally wouldn’t have. Gemstone is very much a game of communities within communities. Get out there and see who you run into!

TownCrier Interview Sessions with Ordim

2017-11-04T21:15:30Z

CANNEL: /* The In-Character Interview */

{{towncrier interview
|name= Oubar
|caption=
|race= Halfling
|culture= Truefolk
|class= Wizard
|profession= Ordim
|religion=
|affiliations= Triad Gaming Organization
|word=
|disposition=
|demeanor=
|ptrait=
|strait=
|flaw=
|strength=
|weakness=
|habits=
|hobbies=
|soft=
|likes=Muffins
|dislikes=
|fears=
|loyalties=
|friend=
|spouse=
|loved=
}}

By Oubar, TownCrier Correspondent 
----
==Introduction==
Ordim is, well, an Ordim, and he'll be happy to tell you so himself. A helpful sort, with a somewhat twisted fascination with pies that some people seem to end up being allergic to, Ordim is generally underfoot whenever there's things going down. He's always open and friendly, just be careful to give any food he passes your way an extra sniff or two before gobbling it down. A singular presence if ever there was one, Ordim made some time to sit down the Crier's own Oubar for an interview recently.

{| class="wikitable" style="background-color:#fff6c1;" cellpadding="25" cellspacing="25"
|-
| "I'm an Ordim." ~Ordim
|}

----
==The In-Character Interview==
<pre{{log2|background=none|border=none}}>

A layer of water surrounds Ordim and ripples with each movement.
You see Relic Hunter Ordim the Paragon of Reim.
He appears to be a Brughan Halfling.
He is average height. He appears to be of a tender age. He has sparkling deep heliotrope eyes and ashen skin. He has short, thick chestnut hair tucked beneath a twisted purple linen turban, which is covered in crumbs and frosting. He has a painted tanik mask fully covering his face and an owl-shaped mark perched on his wrist.
He has a scale-bowled wyrwood pipe clenched between his teeth, a runic dachre tattoo on his neck, a mostly mottled mocha muffin tattoo on his arm, and a rune tattoo on his arm.
His hands are covered in a light dusting of flour.
He is holding a complex gold and wire contraption in his right hand.
He is wearing an ur-barath monocle, some crystal vaalin filigree earrings with diamond accents, a cord-strung enameled bronze muffin, a silver-caged crimson-flecked soulstone periapt, a moon-filled alexandrite pendant, a patchwork longcloak stitched with an inky black kraken, a six-tentacled zoetic quill with a green rachis and webbed vane, a pink glaes muffin pin topped with an ivory-carved swirl, a gem-encrusted crashing wave pin, a fluffy feathered toy owl adorned with a wide-brimmed hat and a tiny black eye patch, a dahcre-etched symbol, a silver wyrm-shaped pin, a slender burled witchwood case capped with eahnor slung over his shoulder, a knitted dark grey satchel slung over his other shoulder, a diaphanous spiderweb knapsack woven with pearlescent threads, a hooded rune-covered dark grey robe, a scrollworked mithril vambrace, a pair of ur-barath-sigiled silk gloves, a faceted russet crystal ring with a frosted surface, a kraken-wrapped blood marble ring, a muffin-shaped key strung from a twisted chain, a patchwork cloth pouch secured with a muffin-shaped buckle, a polished silver pocket watch with a fine silver chain, a silvery mesh coin bag, a blue mithril mesh cage supported by dark grey veniom-threaded bands, a pair of leather pants drenched with blood, a small pitch black Caligos conch shell on a simple silver chain, and some flat silver-laced sandals.

[The Pie Shop - 25886]
Bright yellow paint coats the walls, which are bordered with grinning white skulls outlined in black. The plank flooring is a mishmash of various unfinished wood types that creates a haphazard though artistic aesthetic, further enhanced by the dappling of spills of sunlight streaming through three large street-facing windows. Filled with a variety of pies and topped with a small collection of jars, a broad, pristine display counter is surrounded by several wooden chairs and tables. You also see a bone-edged art display board hanging on one wall with some stuff on it and a swinging door.
Obvious exits: out

Relic Hunter Ordim just arrived.

Ordim compulsively brushes his hands all over his body, sending a sprinkling of crumbs into the air.

Rich and full, the smell of coffee beans is suffused with a dark bitterness.

Ordim ponders.

Ordim glances nervously around the room.

You blink.

Ordim waves.

You grin at Ordim.

You wave to Ordim.

Ordim exclaims, "Evening!"

Speaking to Ordim, you exclaim, "Good evening to you as well!"

Ordim glances at his silver pocket watch.

Ordim frets.

Ordim ponders.

You ask, "Are we safe to do this, or are you going to accuse me of mutiny again?"

You squint at Ordim.

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "I'm worried Lumnis might keep watching me."

Ordim gawks at you.

Speaking to Ordim, you say, "If this isn't a good time, I more than understand."

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "As long as you don't mutiny against the baker we'll be ok."

Ordim nods once.

Ordim looks over at you and shakes his head.

You work your fingers under your gold alloy crown and scratch your head.

Ordim exclaims, "Its fine!"

Ordim giggles.

You say, "I guess I can agree to that."

Ordim gazes thoughtfully at a wooden table.

White paint coats the wooden table, which is rimmed with a thick dark scarlet pigment that seems to have dried mid-dribble, leaving paths of deep color, like tears streaking cheeks, down the otherwise white legs. Set in the middle of the table, a tall white taper rises from a squared block of hematite.

Ordim says, "Only Ordim offers obvious obligations openly offensive."

Ordim twitches, trying to control a vocal outburst, before settling into a disdained grumble while regaining composure.

Ordim furrows his brow.

Ordim indicates a wooden table as a possible option.

You nod understandingly.

Ordim sits down next to a wooden table.

Ordim blinks.

Ordim's cheeks take on a slightly flushed tone.

You settle yourself on the wooden chair for a moment's rest.

Ordim stands up.

Ordim coughs.

Ordim grumbles.

Ordim walks over to the chair and settles down.

Speaking to Ordim, you say, "You missed."

Ordim nods approvingly.

Ordim's cheeks take on a slightly flushed tone.

Ordim glances at a wooden chair.

Ordim says, "I did."

Ordim hangs his head.

Ordim exclaims, "Ohh!"

Ordim stands up.

You give your eyebrow a little workout.

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "Excuse me just ONE moment."

Ordim nods.

You adopt an agreeable expression.

Relic Hunter Ordim just went out.

You say, "Of course."

Relic Hunter Ordim just arrived.

Ordim nods approvingly.

Ordim walks over to the chair and settles down.

Ordim beams!

You nod approvingly at Ordim.

Ordim appears to be checking his pockets for something, but finds them empty.

Ordim perspires delicately.

Filling your nose is the smell of ripe, sun-ripened berries, the heady scent slightly dizzying.

Ordim just opened a knitted dark grey satchel.

Ordim removes a cast iron muffin tin from in his dark grey satchel.

Ordim removes a warm peach muffin from in his muffin tin.

You sniff.

Ordim put a warm peach muffin on a wooden table.

You say, "Smells good in here."

Ordim removes a warm cranberry muffin from in his muffin tin.

Ordim put a warm cranberry muffin on a wooden table.

Ordim nods in agreement to you.

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "Lisbethany and Goblyn keep the ovens baking all the time."

Ordim beams!

You grin at Ordim.

Ordim gazes thoughtfully at his muffin tin.

Ordim removes a warm orange muffin from in his muffin tin.

Ordim nods.

Ordim put a cast iron muffin tin in his dark grey satchel.

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "Help yourself."

Ordim nods enthusiastically!

Ordim indicates a warm cranberry muffin as a possible option.

Ordim takes a bite of his orange muffin.

You remove a warm cranberry muffin from on a wooden table.

You say, "Thank you very much."

Ordim takes a bite of his orange muffin.

You say, "As you've probably seen, we have a bit of a formula, and as a part of it I ask some basic background questions. The answers are pretty well known, but for posterity we start with the easier stuff."

You take a bite of your cranberry muffin. Cakey and tender, the muffin bursts with cranberry flavor.
You have 4 bites left.

An aroma of sweet apple tarts drifts by you.

'''You ask, "To that end, what's your profession?"

You grin at Ordim.

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "I'm an Ordim."

Ordim nods.

You nod understandingly.

''You ask, "That you are... but to which guild do you belong?"

Ordim ponders.

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "The Wizard guild insists I pay them. They don't seem to mind that I clean up and experiment in there from time to time."

Ordim glances nervously around the room.

Ordim touches one finger to his lips.

You nod understandingly.

'''Speaking to Ordim, you ask, "What's the best thing about being an Ordim?"

Ordim takes a bite of his orange muffin.

Ordim glances at you and rubs his chin thoughtfully.

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "The free muffins people seem to hold for me."

Ordim giggles.

You chuckle.

'''You ask, "And what's the worst?"

Ordim frets.

You take a bite of your cranberry muffin. Cakey and tender, the muffin bursts with cranberry flavor.

Speaking woundedly to you, Ordim says, "The amount of people that learn they have food allergies when I offer them pies."

Ordim sighs.

Ordim gazes heavenward.

Ordim shakes his head, clucking his tongue.

Speaking to Ordim, you say, "I've heard that happens with surprising regularity."

Ordim frets.

Heavy droplets of sweat drip from Ordim's brow.

Ordim points at a large wooden sign titled "The Pie Shop: Pukk's Precious Pies".

Speaking to you, Ordim exclaims, "We've got a big sign saying to make sure you're aware of your allergies!"

Ordim frowns.

Ordim folds his arms over his chest in a display of stubborn pride, tilting his chin up slightly in defiance.

You nod appreciatively.

Ordim takes a bite of his orange muffin.

'''You ask, "You've got a fairly well-known love of muffins... is there a story there? Or is it just their innate grandiosity?"

You grin at Ordim.

Ordim gazes thoughtfully at his orange muffin.

Ordim tilts his orange muffin side to side, making the light play off it.

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "Muffins hold a very special place in my heart. They helped me out during a very trying time."

Ordim squints at a warm peach muffin.

You nod encouragingly.

Speaking to you, Ordim exclaims, "And they are amazingly fluffy most of the time!"

Ordim beams!

Ordim takes a bite of his orange muffin.

''You ask, "Can you tell us a bit more about that trying time?"

Ordim squints at you.

Ordim glances nervously around the room.

Speaking to Ordim, you say, "Don't worry, it's just between us and the entire readership of the Crier."

You nod slowly at Ordim.

Filling your nose is the smell of ripe, sun-ripened berries, the heady scent slightly dizzying.

Ordim says, "Sinking ships seal sailors sounds, seemingly silencing several slippery songs."

Ordim twitches, trying to control a vocal outburst, before settling into a disdained grumble while regaining composure.

Ordim blinks.

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "There was a time when I thought I was going to have to find a new profession for a living... muffins helped me keep my position, as it were."

'''Speaking to Ordim, you ask, "I'd be remiss if I didn't ask... you occasionally seem to have semi-controlled vocal outbursts. Is this something you've dealt with all your life?"

Ordim furrows his brow.

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "I can't control them very long... and they hurt."

Ordim frowns.

Ordim hangs his head.

You glance over at Ordim and wince.

Ordim sets about preparing himself to be as presentable as possible.

''You ask, "Any idea of their cause, or their source?"

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "One day I woke up and it was happening."

Ordim carefully looks himself over.

You nod understandingly.

Ordim prods himself in the ribs with his thumb.

Ordim shrugs at you.

'''You ask, "What's the story of the Pie Shop here? It smells amazig, and it seems like you've got a stake in it somehow? What can you tell us about that?"

Ordim giggles.

Ordim beams!

Ordim surveys the area.

You correct, "Amazing."

Ordim nods approvingly.

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "The Pie Shop: that pie dough..."

Ordim grins at you.

You chortle.

Ordim says, "Actually, its very fitting you ask that on the eve of Ebon Gate."

Ordim nods once.

Ordim asks, "Its a bit of a long story, if you don't mind?"

Ordim giggles.

You lift up your chin and throw back your shoulders.

You exclaim, "I don't mind in the slightest!"

You grin at Ordim.

Ordim beams!

Ordim gazes thoughtfully at a large wooden sign titled "The Pie Shop: Pukk's Precious Pies".

Ordim says, "Well, the sign has since been updated, but it used to have all of the people involved those nights... anyway."

Ordim giggles.

In the Common language, it reads:

|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
~~ THE PIE SHOP: Pukk's Precious Pies ~~
| |
| Proprietor: G.G.K. "Goblyn" Managers: Ordim and Telsas |
| Master Baker: Lisbethany Backroom Supplies: Cruxophim |
| Aromatics: Sareyna |
| Shop Drunkard: Kyulen Cherry Pitter: Savageheart |
| Mop Girl: Maylan Backroom Supply Assistant: Soliere |
| |
| |
Pie Recipes and Baked Goods By:
| Biscuity Pear and Apple Pie - Bremerial |
| Blackened Persimmon Spice Pie - Ysharra |
| Blueberry Apple Crumble Pie - Sadiyah |
| Blue Sprite Pie - Sweetsin |
| Butter Pie - Bremerial |
| Cheesy Noodle and Bacon Pie - Lisbethany |
| Chipmunk Pie - Barble, Pathragers, Ordim |
| Crux's Cellar Autumn Special Pie - Cruxophim |
| Chocolate Pudding Pie - Ordim |
| Herb-Glazed Shepherd's Pie - Cruxophim |
| Honey-Pecan Whiskey Pie - Sweetsin |
| Marshmallow Pie - Ordim |
| Pigeon Pudding Pie - Kittai, Glurt, Ordim |
| Public Bath Pie - Heartfire |
| Raisin and Peach Pie - Bremerial |
| Sheep's Brain Aspic Pie - Maylan |
| Winter's Gate Pie - Lisbethany |
| |
| |
Limited Offering (While Supplies Last):
| Black Apple Tartlet Recipe - Rhayveign |
| |
| |
Other Information!
| Use the chalkboard in the kitchen to leave shop name |
| suggestions. If leaving letters for Goblyn, set them on |
| the table downstairs. Do not take notes from the basement |
| that are not addressed to you! Leave artwork on the board |
| in this main salesroom. |
| |
| |
| The Pie Shop cannot be held responsible for |
| allergy-related deaths or afflictions! |
|___________________________________________________________________|

Ordim says, "Last Ebon Gate, in Feyrot Marsh, I ran into a certain Goblyn who was selling her wares down in the caverns under the swamp."

You nod understandingly.

Ordim says, "After she has a penchant for asking for strange foods, raw foods, unique stuffs often found off the beaten path."

Ordim nervously giggles.

Ordim says, "Well, I happened to have a new pie that was being sold around the grounds that had been spiced extra nice. She was thrilled at the idea of the pie."

You smile.

Ordim continues, "So after she had finished working on her wares she wanted to view the marsh and spend some time relaxing. I offered to go around with her selling pies to people playing the games."

Ordim giggles.

You try hard not to grin.

Ordim says, "We gathered a small group of people, myself, Goblyn, Telsas and a few others."

Ordim's cheeks take on a slightly flushed tone.

Ordim says, "I wish I had all their names, we started off small, gathering people as we went."

Ordim exclaims, "We would offer those playing games a bit of pie for a few silvers!"

Ordim nervously giggles.

Speaking to Ordim, you exclaim, "Quite nice of you!"

Ordim says, "Almost everyone bought some... turns out a lot of people didn't know they were allergic to chocolate that night."

Ordim frowns.

Ordim shrugs.

Ordim nods in agreement to you.

Speaking to you, Ordim exclaims, "Well, after we ran out of pie we talked about opening a pie shop. We needed a baker and managers and staff of all kinds! And pies! lots of pies!"

Ordim giggles.

You chuckle.

Ordim says, "Lisbethany offered to be the baker! Then we had the hardest job."

Ordim frets.

Ordim asks, "What would we call it?"

Ordim narrows his eyes.

You glance at a bone-edged art display board hanging on one wall.

Rough gouges in the sign make up nearly illegible wording.

Ordim says, "Well, we had SO MANY great names that the only way to make it all work would be if the shop's sign changed."

Ordim nods once.

Ordim giggles.

Ordim says, "So."

In the Common language, it reads:

|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
~~ THE PIE SHOP: Pukk's Precious Pies ~~
| |
| Proprietor: G.G.K. "Goblyn" Managers: Ordim and Telsas |
| Master Baker: Lisbethany Backroom Supplies: Cruxophim |
| Aromatics: Sareyna |
| Shop Drunkard: Kyulen Cherry Pitter: Savageheart |
| Mop Girl: Maylan Backroom Supply Assistant: Soliere |
| |
| |
Pie Recipes and Baked Goods By:
| Biscuity Pear and Apple Pie - Bremerial |
| Blackened Persimmon Spice Pie - Ysharra |
| Blueberry Apple Crumble Pie - Sadiyah |
| Blue Sprite Pie - Sweetsin |
| Butter Pie - Bremerial |
| Cheesy Noodle and Bacon Pie - Lisbethany |
| Chipmunk Pie - Barble, Pathragers, Ordim |
| Crux's Cellar Autumn Special Pie - Cruxophim |
| Chocolate Pudding Pie - Ordim |
| Herb-Glazed Shepherd's Pie - Cruxophim |
| Honey-Pecan Whiskey Pie - Sweetsin |
| Marshmallow Pie - Ordim |
| Pigeon Pudding Pie - Kittai, Glurt, Ordim |
| Public Bath Pie - Heartfire |
| Raisin and Peach Pie - Bremerial |
| Sheep's Brain Aspic Pie - Maylan |
| Winter's Gate Pie - Lisbethany |
| |
| |
Limited Offering (While Supplies Last):
| Black Apple Tartlet Recipe - Rhayveign |
| |
| |
Other Information!
| Use the chalkboard in the kitchen to leave shop name |
| suggestions. If leaving letters for Goblyn, set them on |
| the table downstairs. Do not take notes from the basement |
| that are not addressed to you! Leave artwork on the board |
| in this main salesroom. |
| |
| |
| The Pie Shop cannot be held responsible for |
| allergy-related deaths or afflictions! |
|___________________________________________________________________|

You chuckle.

Ordim says, "We put together our favorite names and pie recipes."

Ordim asks, "Then Goblyn set to work getting permits and building the shop! It wasn't that long after that we had to pick a spot. What better spot then here in the small park where people rest?"

Ordim beams!

You grin at Ordim.

You say, "I have to agree, this seems like the ideal location."

Ordim exclaims, "Just a few short months later The Pie Shop: Pie another day, opened to a large crowd!"

Ordim nods in agreement to you.

Ordim beams!

Ordim says, "The rest is, as they say, crumbs."

Ordim nods once.

Ordim giggles.

''You ask, "Have the allergy situations continued? Or has that particular... epidemic... died down?"

Ordim looks thoughtfully at you.

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "Well, I think people remain allergic for life so it will probably come and go with time."

Ordim frets.

''Speaking to Ordim, you say, "Let me ask it a different way."

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "I heard the Elves out East had a rash of incidents recently."

Ordim frets.

Ordim looks thoughtfully at you.

''Speaking to Ordim, you ask, "The night of the initial pie sales, there were reportedly a large percentage of individuals who were surprised to find they had this allergy... would you say the same percentage of the new customers to the shop find the same allergy issues?"

Ordim ponders.

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "I'm not lucky enough to see EVERY pie sale, but I'd imagine a good amount of poeple have an allergy to something or another."

Ordim nods.

You nod understandingly.

'''You ask, "How long have you been an adventurer?"

Ordim compulsively brushes his hands all over his body, sending a sprinkling of crumbs into the air.

Speaking to you, Ordim corrects, "I'm an Ordim."

Ordim nods.

You rub your chin thoughtfully.

You say, "This is undeniably true, I suppose."

Ordim nods in agreement to you.

Ordim beams!

'''You ask, "What can you tell us about your early life? Where did you grow up?"

Ordim says, "I grew up near Lake Khesta 'dahl, but I did not stay there long."

You nod understandingly.

Ordim says, "I set out to see the world and ended up on a ship crewed by the Truefolk for many years."

Ordim giggles.

Ordim surveys the area.

You grin at Ordim.

Ordim nods.

You say, "Never pegged you as a sailor."

Ordim takes a bite of his peach muffin.

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "Thats because I'm an Ordim."

Ordim nods.

You say, "Of course you are. I apologize that I keep forgetting."

Ordim giggles.

Ordim says, "To be fair..."

Ordim narrows his eyes.

Ordim says, "I didn't do much sailing as you might expect, I was in charge of helping to identify the stuff that happened to be found along the way."

Ordim says, "Trinkets, magical artifacts, stolen sorcerer's gems."

Ordim says, "Stuff like that."

Ordim nods.

You give a short little hum of surprise.

You say, "That sounds much more interesting than just a deckhand."

Ordim says, "Pirate's plunder promptly produces peculiar purple people."

Ordim twitches, trying to control a vocal outburst, before settling into a disdained grumble while regaining composure.

''You ask, "Did you come across many stolen sorcerer's gems, or was there one in particular that stood out?"

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "It's tough work, you don't want the crew to rub the wrong statue and suddenly have a maelstrom on deck! You need to know whats safe and what should be tossed over board."

Ordim looks thoughtfully at you.

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "Well.. there was this one Sorcerer."

Ordim taps a patchwork longcloak stitched with an inky black kraken that he is wearing.

You nod encouragingly.

Ordim brushes his hand across his shoulder, and shadowy ripples appear to slither down his patchwork longcloak.

Ordim touches his patchwork longcloak's haloed Reim ruby clasp and appears to be listening intently to something.

Ordim says, "Malicar... he was a warlock though... he had his soul trapped into a gem. I used to wear him as jewerly, when he got mad he'd change shape and stuff."

Ordim nervously giggles.

You try hard not to grin.

'''You ask, "And how did that chapter in the life of Ordim come to an end? How did you get from that point to where you are now?"

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "Well, one day the ship docked in the port of the Landing. When I got out and looked around I heard of all the stories and adventurers that were happening around here and figured I'd be able to learn more than I would just sailing around the ship."

Ordim rubs his chin thoughtfully.

You nod understandingly.

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "I guess I never really gave up the sea though."

Ordim says, "I spent a lot of my time in Solhaven, still call it my new home."

You grin at Ordim.

Ordim beams!

You say, "Which neatly answers my next question. Well done."
grin ordim
You grin at Ordim.

Ordim's cheeks take on a slightly flushed tone.

Clanking and sputtering sounds emanate from behind a swinging door.

Ordim glances at a swinging door.

Speaking to a swinging door, Ordim exclaims, "Careful in there!"

Ordim frowns.

'''You ask, "What would you say occupies the majority of your time these days?"

You agree with Ordim.

You glance at a swinging door.

Speaking to you, Ordim exclaims, "Well, I help keep The Pie Shop: Crumb on down! running smooth, clean the tables, write up new recipes and names, bring in the customers. Inbetween that I used to be gypsy... I suppose I still am at heart!"

Ordim beams!

Ordim giggles.

You grin at Ordim.

Ordim says, "But the Troupe moved on as they do from time to time. Now I've started to put together a team that will help bring order to all the gambling around Elanthia."

Ordim says, "The Triad Gaming Commission, we run raffles and as we grow hope to help others run their gambling events with that extra professionalism."

Ordim looks thoughtfully at you.

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "Mostly though."

You grin at Ordim.

Speaking to you, Ordim confirms, "I'm an Ordim."

Ordim nods slowly.

You nod in agreement.

Ordim glances nervously at his dark grey satchel.

Ordim shushes a knitted dark grey satchel!

Ordim places his hand on his dark grey satchel.

'''You ask, "Do you follow any particular Arkati?"

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "Well..."

Ordim's cheeks take on a slightly flushed tone.

You give your eyebrow a little workout.

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "I don't really believe in them."

Ordim narrows his eyes.

You give a short little hum of surprise.

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "Supposedly, we went to Flash'lo'nae's library not too long ago."

Ordim frowns.

Ordim says, "All I met was a vesperti reading a book and an old man with a melty face taking a nap."

Ordim sighs.

Ordim shakes his head, clucking his tongue.

''You ask, "How can you explain the abilities that clerics and paladins are able to draw upon, then?"

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "I just figured it was like controlling water... some people just can."

Ordim raises his hand and slowly curls his fingers into a clenched fist. A cloud of vapor streams out of the sigil on Ordim's glove, swirling around his hand and emitting small droplets of rain before slowly dissipating.

Ordim shrugs.

You give a short little hum of surprise.

'''You ask, "Are you married?"

You grin at Ordim.

Ordim squints at you.

Speaking to Ordim, you exclaim, "It's on the sheet! I have to ask!"

Ordim frowns.

Speaking to you, Ordim repeats, "I'm an Ordim."

Ordim ponders.

Ordim says, "One time, somewhat long ago."

Ordim says, "A fancy gentleman, Farain, tried to marry me to Riend."

Ordim says, "But it wasn't a hand fasting."

Ordim shakes his head.

You nod understandingly.

Ordim says, "Then during the Trine there wasn't any ceremonies held."

Ordim frowns.

Ordim says, "I wanted to marry the moon."

Ordim sighs.

'''You ask, "What would you say is your most prized possession?"

Ordim ponders.

Ordim takes a bite of his peach muffin.

Ordim squints at a knitted dark grey satchel.

Ordim says, "I'm not going to say you, no matter what you tell me to say."

Ordim squints at a knitted dark grey satchel.

You grin at Ordim.

Ordim taps something in a knitted dark grey satchel.

Ordim removes a cast iron muffin tin from in his dark grey satchel.

Ordim says, "There are lots of things that I really enjoy... but I think this magical muffin tin is my favorite."

Ordim giggles.

''You ask, "What's its magic?"

Ordim exclaims, "Who could say no to always fresh warm muffins?!"

Ordim's jaw drops.

Ordim rubs his muffin tin.
The aroma of freshly baked muffins fills the air.

Ordim shows you a cast iron muffin tin, which he is holding in his left hand. You see nothing unusual.

Ordim giggles.

Ordim exclaims, "It fills itself with muffins!"

Ordim beams!

You grin at Ordim.

Ordim put a warm peach muffin in his patchwork longcloak.

Ordim removes a warm pumpkin spice muffin from in his muffin tin.

Ordim beams!

Ordim exclaims, "Always fresh and warm!"

Ordim lets out a cheer!

''You ask, "Do the flavors vary?"

You grin at Ordim.

Ordim put a cast iron muffin tin in his dark grey satchel.

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "They do! There are lots of flavors, at least six or seven I think I've seen."

Ordim gazes thoughtfully at his dark grey satchel.

Ordim squints at you.

You say, "Very impressive, and very appropriate for an Ordim."

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "The Dahcres wanted me to say they are the most important, but all they do is speak loudly to me all the time."

Ordim just closed a knitted dark grey satchel.

Ordim nods in agreement to you.

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "I think so too."

Ordim giggles.

Speaking to Ordim, you say, "Nobody likes bossy Dahcres."

You nod sagely at Ordim.

Ordim nods in agreement to you.

Ordim folds his arms over his chest in a display of stubborn pride, tilting his chin up slightly in defiance.

Speaking to his dark grey satchel, Ordim asks, "Hear that?"

Ordim frowns at a knitted dark grey satchel.

Inky black liquid tendrils lethargically seep out of a large wooden sign titled "The Pie Shop: Pukk's Precious Pies", wrapping it so completely that the lettering at the top is completely obscured. The tendrils languidly slink around it, then recede completely leaving the shop with a new name: "The Pie Shop: Dead Heat Pies".

'''Speaking to Ordim, you ask, "What would you say is your most valuable item, then? The one that's worth the most silvers?"

You glance at a large wooden sign titled "The Pie Shop: Dead Heat Pies".

You give a short little hum of surprise.

In the Common language, it reads:

|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
~~ THE PIE SHOP: Dead Heat Pies ~~
| |
| Proprietor: G.G.K. "Goblyn" Managers: Ordim and Telsas |
| Master Baker: Lisbethany Backroom Supplies: Cruxophim |
| Aromatics: Sareyna |
| Shop Drunkard: Kyulen Cherry Pitter: Savageheart |
| Mop Girl: Maylan Backroom Supply Assistant: Soliere |
| |
| |
Pie Recipes and Baked Goods By:
| Biscuity Pear and Apple Pie - Bremerial |
| Blackened Persimmon Spice Pie - Ysharra |
| Blueberry Apple Crumble Pie - Sadiyah |
| Blue Sprite Pie - Sweetsin |
| Butter Pie - Bremerial |
| Cheesy Noodle and Bacon Pie - Lisbethany |
| Chipmunk Pie - Barble, Pathragers, Ordim |
| Crux's Cellar Autumn Special Pie - Cruxophim |
| Chocolate Pudding Pie - Ordim |
| Herb-Glazed Shepherd's Pie - Cruxophim |
| Honey-Pecan Whiskey Pie - Sweetsin |
| Marshmallow Pie - Ordim |
| Pigeon Pudding Pie - Kittai, Glurt, Ordim |
| Public Bath Pie - Heartfire |
| Raisin and Peach Pie - Bremerial |
| Sheep's Brain Aspic Pie - Maylan |
| Winter's Gate Pie - Lisbethany |
| |
| |
Limited Offering (While Supplies Last):
| Black Apple Tartlet Recipe - Rhayveign |
| |
| |
Other Information!
| Use the chalkboard in the kitchen to leave shop name |
| suggestions. If leaving letters for Goblyn, set them on |
| the table downstairs. Do not take notes from the basement |
| that are not addressed to you! Leave artwork on the board |
| in this main salesroom. |
| |
| |
| The Pie Shop cannot be held responsible for |
| allergy-related deaths or afflictions! |
|___________________________________________________________________|

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "I think that's my runestaff now. The last time Bloodriven Village was running wagons I was able to finish enhancing my runestaff to 10x acuity."

Ordim removes a scrollworked illthorn runestaff with twisting inlays of balenite from in his patchwork longcloak.

You blink.

Ordim indicates a scrollworked illthorn runestaff with twisting inlays of balenite as a possible option.

You say, "Very impressive."

Ordim raises his illthorn runestaff in triumph!

Speaking to you, Ordim exclaims, "Thank you!"

Ordim beams!

Ordim put a scrollworked illthorn runestaff with twisting inlays of balenite in his patchwork longcloak.

Ordim takes a bite of his pumpkin spice muffin.

'''You ask, "What's your fondest memory of your time since leaving the ship? Is there one singular moment that stands out above the rest?"

Ordim sighs.

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "There are so many along the way."

Ordim giggles.

You grin at Ordim.

Ordim ponders.

Ordim rubs his chin thoughtfully.

Speaking to Ordim, you say, "A common lament in response to this question."

Speaking to you, Ordim exclaims, "Every time I think about it I remember two more and then someone else will remind me of two I almost forgot!"

Ordim's jaw drops.

Ordim frets.

You chuckle at Ordim.

Ordim says, "For friends, forgetting family features fears fearsomly."

Ordim twitches, trying to control a vocal outburst, before settling into a disdained grumble while regaining composure.

Ordim takes a bite of his pumpkin spice muffin.

You nod understandingly.

Assailing your senses is a melange of sweet tart apples, the scent of headily ripe sun-ripened berries, and the dark bitter smell of coffee beans. Beneath the main thrust of the mingled aromas, however, a pervasive, creeping bouquet of overripe fruit just turning sneaks in.

'''You ask, "Would you be willing to give us a rough idea of your current bank account balance?"

Ordim giggles.

Ordim's cheeks take on a slightly flushed tone.

You grin at Ordim.

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "I am not hurting for silvers, but I'm certainly not in the running for richest person."

Ordim nods slowly.

You nod understandingly.

'''You say, "Would you be willing to give us a peek inside one of your lockers? Just a peek, no details on anything."

Ordim ponders.

Ordim giggles.

Speaking to you, Ordim exclaims, "I'll even let you pick the town!"

Ordim giggles.

You grin at Ordim.

You ponder.

Ordim squints at you.

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "Pick well..."

Ordim stares at you.

Ordim takes a bite of his pumpkin spice muffin.

You say, "Well, you mentioned you reside in Solhaven. That means that's likely to be a gem jar repository."

Ordim looks thoughtfully at you.

Ordim glances down.

Expressions of utter shock, disbelief, and horror cross Ordim's features as he shakes his head repeatedly in denial.

You say, "I believe you have access to Mist Harbor, which is where you likely store the things you want to have close at hand."

Ordim mutters something about bandits.

Ordim blinks at you.

Speaking to you, Ordim asks, "Is that your final answer?"

You say, "I believe I'll choose River's Rest, under the assumption that it's the things you hang onto, but don't want all the time."

You try hard not to grin.

Ordim giggles.

Speaking to Ordim, you confide, "It was that or Zul Logoth..."

Ordim looks thoughtfully at you.

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "I move my lockers around so much I don't think even I can remember what is where."

Ordim frets.

On a weapon rack:
a double-edged faenor dagger with a carved bloodstone grip
a petite mithglin bodice dagger with a polished white pearl hilt

In a clothing wardrobe:
a twining silver bracelet worked into two-headed serpent (marked)
a delicate elven queen hand-puppet with a tiny gold crown
a comical kobold hand-puppet with a bulbous nose
a gold-vaned white feather quill
a long silver feather quill
a small copper buzzer
a small copper buzzer
a black wool hat stuck with a trio of bronze-sheened feathers

In a deep chest:
a heavy vaalorn slab
a simple copper tea kettle (registered) (marked)
a small scroll-worked caravan stove (registered) (marked)
a black dragon-shaped pinata
a thick glass jar
a contorted ivy-carved stick
a knobby leaf-carved stick
a coral-blushed ivory flask set with pearl trillium blossoms
a crystal dancer motif talisman
a piece of grey vellum
a helical veniom pendant strung on a steel chain
an enruned gold ring
a tube of raspberry frosting
a mithril halfling-shaped frosting tip
a tiny metal keep (registered) (marked)
a white crystal comb
a vaalin-rimmed glass bottle (marked)
a plump copper-tinted glass bottle with ivory whorls (marked)
a crimson and black-whorled glass bottle with a square stopper (marked)
a lilac glass bottle with a gold silk-tassel (marked)
an ivory-stoppered smoky glaes bottle (marked)
a jeweled blue glass bottle with a white silk tassel (marked)
a pale red toy crab
a piece of grey vellum (marked)
a small tin of powdered purple leaves
a small tin of powdered purple leaves
a dark green serpent-haired doll
a worn-out sailcloth knapsack
a large herb-painted packet of seeds
a large herb-painted packet of seeds
a large herb-painted packet of seeds
a large herb-painted packet of seeds
a large herb-painted packet of seeds
a large herb-painted packet of seeds
a large herb-painted packet of seeds
a dented tin tip cup
a bottle of cookie dough perfume
a bottle of cookie dough perfume
a bottle of chocolate perfume
a flat etched stone
some jet glass spinner eyes
a soft white birch bark-covered tome painted with intertwining magnolia and orange blossoms
a foul pile of excrement
a polished blackwood fife banded with vaalin
a flat etched stone
a flat etched stone
a flat etched stone
a flat etched stone
a layered gold disc necklet engraved with delicate vinework
a square-cut deep pink diamond
some jet glass spinner eyes
a large ocean blue suede volume
some sea green paper pages
a lacquered black rattan back-basket
an elegant expressionless mask
a plush ribbed blue-grey chinchilla stole
a crimson-hued thick glass bottle
a burnished dark ruic horn inlaid with ivory triangles
a threadbare white wool blanket stained with mud
a gleaming brass lantern with clear-paned glass
a thin teak meditation mat
a cord-tied theatre mask
a pair of tiny mechanical glasses
a piece of grey vellum
a piece of grey vellum
a piece of grey vellum
a dark pouch of pale green powder
a thin bronze glass vial
a thin onyx glass vial
a thin ivory glass vial
a purple forest troll hide pack
a glazed clay bottle
an enamel gilt-intaglio bottle with a green silk tassel
a long maoral stick
a piece of grey vellum (marked)
a piece of grey vellum
a piece of grey vellum
an enamel gilt-intaglio bottle with a green silk tassel (registered) (marked)
a stout green glass bottle wrapped in silver netting
a thin black leather volume
some pale pink paper pages
a silver-worked black leather notebook
some pale vellum pages
a burled walnut stationery box with brass mountings (marked)
a tortoiseshell stationery box with mother-of-pearl inlay (marked)

Ordim giggles.

You grin at Ordim.

You say, "I understand that. Especially with Ebon Gate looming."

Ordim groans.

Ordim gazes heavenward.

Heavy droplets of sweat drip from Ordim's brow.

You say, "I've been shuffling stuff around trying to make room."

You shudder.

Ordim nods in agreement to you.

Ordim stares off into space.

Ordim slowly empties his lungs.

'''You ask, "And finally... if you had to pick one other adventurer that had the largest affect on your life, who would it be?"

Panicked mewling echoes from somewhere nearby.

Ordim looks thoughtfully at you.

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "I have not seen them for some time, but there was a high priest of Arachne, Gramelfein, who made a strong impression on me. I've met lots of fun poeple who I've shared experiences with since then, but Gramelfein sticks with me the most."

Ordim giggles.

Ordim's cheeks take on a slightly flushed tone.

You grin at Ordim.

Ordim frets.

Ordim says, "It's been so long i almost forgot how to pronounce his name."

Ordim gasps.

Ordim says, "Its Grim Elfin."

Ordim nods.

Ordim giggles.

Ordim ponders.

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "He used to cry over pookas ALL the time."

Ordim giggles.

Ordim shakes his head, clucking his tongue.

You grin at Ordim.

Speaking to Ordim, you say, "Pookas are annoying... I can see getting a little teary-eyed."

You rub your chin thoughtfully.

Ordim holds up his hand and tilts it side to side in a so-so gesture.

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "Of all the ghost horses, pookas are the least worrisome."

Speaking to Ordim, you ask, "That's all I had prepared... was there anything you'd like to discuss on the record, or any questions you had for me?"

You nod in agreement at Ordim.

Ordim squints at you.

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "One VERY important question."

Ordim begins to twitch.

You blink at Ordim.

Ordim leans forward.

You ask, "Oh?"

Speaking to you, Ordim asks, "Would you like a piece of pie?"

Ordim grins slowly.

You feel the blood drain from your face.

Ordim removes a lightly browned treacle pie from in his cloth pouch.

Ordim indicates a rich butter pie with apples and cheese as a possible option.

You glance at a large wooden sign titled "The Pie Shop: Dead Heat Pies".

You exclaim, "Sure!"

Ordim sniffs at his treacle pie.

You grin weakly.

Speaking to you, Ordim exclaims, "Lets get you a fresh piece then!"

Ordim giggles.

Ordim put a lightly browned treacle pie in his cloth pouch.

Ordim appears to be checking his pockets for something, but finds them empty.

Ordim ponders.

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "Pick out your favorite."

Ordim nods.

Ordim stands up.

Ordim compulsively brushes his hands all over his body, sending a sprinkling of crumbs into the air.

You stand back up.

In the Common language, it reads:

|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
~~ THE PIE SHOP: Dead Heat Pies ~~
| |
| Proprietor: G.G.K. "Goblyn" Managers: Ordim and Telsas |
| Master Baker: Lisbethany Backroom Supplies: Cruxophim |
| Aromatics: Sareyna |
| Shop Drunkard: Kyulen Cherry Pitter: Savageheart |
| Mop Girl: Maylan Backroom Supply Assistant: Soliere |
| |
| |
Pie Recipes and Baked Goods By:
| Biscuity Pear and Apple Pie - Bremerial |
| Blackened Persimmon Spice Pie - Ysharra |
| Blueberry Apple Crumble Pie - Sadiyah |
| Blue Sprite Pie - Sweetsin |
| Butter Pie - Bremerial |
| Cheesy Noodle and Bacon Pie - Lisbethany |
| Chipmunk Pie - Barble, Pathragers, Ordim |
| Crux's Cellar Autumn Special Pie - Cruxophim |
| Chocolate Pudding Pie - Ordim |
| Herb-Glazed Shepherd's Pie - Cruxophim |
| Honey-Pecan Whiskey Pie - Sweetsin |
| Marshmallow Pie - Ordim |
| Pigeon Pudding Pie - Kittai, Glurt, Ordim |
| Public Bath Pie - Heartfire |
| Raisin and Peach Pie - Bremerial |
| Sheep's Brain Aspic Pie - Maylan |
| Winter's Gate Pie - Lisbethany |
| |
| |
Limited Offering (While Supplies Last):
| Black Apple Tartlet Recipe - Rhayveign |
| |
| |
Other Information!
| Use the chalkboard in the kitchen to leave shop name |
| suggestions. If leaving letters for Goblyn, set them on |
| the table downstairs. Do not take notes from the basement |
| that are not addressed to you! Leave artwork on the board |
| in this main salesroom. |
| |
| |
| The Pie Shop cannot be held responsible for |
| allergy-related deaths or afflictions! |
|___________________________________________________________________|

Ordim gazes at a display counter.

You say, "I'll try the marshmallow, I think."

Ordim nods.

On the display counter you see some chalky white jars, a cup of sassafras tea, a mug of toasted hazelnut coffee, a jug of black coffee and a skull-painted cup of dark hot chocolate.

Ordim says, "Excuse me a moment."

Relic Hunter Ordim just went out.

In the display counter you see a rich butter pie with apples and cheese, a blueberry apple crumble pie, a honey-pecan whiskey pie, a blackened persimmon spice pie, a flour-dusted raisin and peach pie, a biscuity pear and ale pie topped with lemon zest, a Winter's Gate pie, a cheesy noodle and bacon pie, a moon-shaped marshmallow pie, a chocolate pudding pie with crumbly cookie crust, a vanilla cheesecake stuffed with brandied saffron apricots, a fluffy cranberry pie topped with swirls of dark chocolate and a tart lemon-cherry pie.

Relic Hunter Ordim just arrived.

Ordim nods.

A sales clerk accepts your silvers.

A sales clerk looks wistfully one last time at a moon-shaped marshmallow pie then hands it to you with a ghostly sigh.

Ordim flails his arms about.

Ordim folds his arms over his chest in a display of stubborn pride, tilting his chin up slightly in defiance.

Ordim giggles.

You blink at Ordim.

Ordim says, "Marshmellow moons make many mouths merrily munch marvelous mixtures."

Ordim twitches, trying to control a vocal outburst, before settling into a disdained grumble while regaining composure.

You sniff your marshmallow pie.
It smells like nice, fresh marshmallow pie!

You take a bite of your marshmallow pie.
You have 7 bites left.

You nod appreciatively.

You say, "Oh that's good."

You take a bite of your marshmallow pie. The chalky filling inside almost causes you to cough. Must be your first bite.
You have 6 bites left.

Ordim nods in agreement to you.

Ordim beams!

Ordim says, "Its a delicacy where I'm from."

Ordim giggles.

Ordim says, "Its hit or miss..."

You take a bite of your marshmallow pie. At first the dryness of the the pie lends to the concerns of staleness, but that quickly turns to surprise as the graham and fluff filling melts into a pleasent vanilla mix.
You have 5 bites left.

Ordim shrugs.

You give a short little hum of surprise.

You say, "A very complex flavor."

Clanking and sputtering sounds emanate from behind a swinging door.

You glance at a swinging door.

Ordim sighs.

Speaking to a swinging door, you say, "That's a compliment."

Ordim shakes his head at a swinging door.

You take a bite of your marshmallow pie. At first the dryness of the the pie lends to the concerns of staleness, but that quickly turns to surprise as the graham and fluff filling melts into a pleasent vanilla mix.
You have 4 bites left.

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "I think the pie machine is on the fritz again."

Ordim frets.

Speaking to himself, Ordim says, "I hope they don't blame us for the missing birds."

Ordim frowns.

Ordim shrugs.

Speaking to Ordim, you say, "Well, they got this piece just right."

You blink at Ordim.

Ordim nods in agreement to you.

Ordim beams!

Speaking to Ordim, you ask, "Birds?"

You take a bite of your marshmallow pie. The chalky filling inside almost causes you to cough. Must be your first bite.
You have 3 bites left.

Speaking to you, Ordim exclaims, "Pies... Pies here in The Pie Shop: come pie away with me!"

Ordim squints at you.

You nod slowly at Ordim.

You take a bite of your marshmallow pie. At first the dryness of the the pie lends to the concerns of staleness, but that quickly turns to surprise as the graham and fluff filling melts into a pleasent vanilla mix.
You have 2 bites left.

You take a bite of your marshmallow pie.
You have one bite left.

You take a bite of your marshmallow pie.
That was the last of it!

You nod appreciatively.

A sales clerk hands a moon-shaped marshmallow pie to Ordim with a ghostly sigh.

Ordim takes a bite of his marshmallow pie.

Ordim hums happily to himself.

You agree with Ordim.

Ordim praises the virtues of a rich butter pie with apples and cheese.

Speaking to Ordim, you say, "Delicious."

Speaking to you, Ordim exclaims, "I'll pass the compliments to the bakers!"

Ordim nods enthusiastically!

You grin at Ordim.

Assailing your senses is a melange of sweet tart apples, the scent of headily ripe sun-ripened berries, and the dark bitter smell of coffee beans. Beneath the main thrust of the mingled aromas, however, a pervasive, creeping bouquet of overripe fruit just turning sneaks in.

You exclaim, "I appreciate that. And I appreciate you making some time to sit down with me tonight!"

Ordim nods enthusiastically!

You grin at Ordim.

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "Thank you very much for the opportunity."

Ordim beams!

Ordim giggles.

Ordim takes a bite of his marshmallow pie.

You feel more refreshed.

Speaking to Ordim, you say, "My pleasure, to be sure. Thank you again, and I hope you have a great rest of the evening."

You grin at Ordim.

Ordim nods.

You bow to Ordim.

Ordim waves to you.

Ordim glances down.

Ordim says, "Oh."

Ordim pulls his dark grey robe aside for a moment.
Spying a bit of frosting in his toe-hair, Ordim adjusts his double leather and gracefully bows and scoops it up.

Ordim nods approvingly.

Speaking to you, Ordim exclaims, "Safe travels!"

Ordim beams!

You blink at Ordim.

You grin.

You wave.
</pre>
----

{| class="wikitable" style="background-color:#fff6c1;" cellpadding="25" cellspacing="25"
|-
| "The very first event I went to was one of Rohese’s fashion events and I learned about “earth tones”." ~ Ordim
|}
----

==The Out-of-Character Interview==

'''What’s your real name? (First name only please)
:Joe
'''About how old are you, if you don't mind?
:34
'''Where are you located, geographically?
:Jersey Shore
'''What's your favorite movie?
:Aliens
'''What's your favorite book?
:House of Leaves
'''What do you do for a living?
:Healthcare IT specialist
'''Describe your normal play space for us. Laptop/PC/Tablet... Office/basement/kitchen... what sort of stuff do you have in/on the space... etc etc etc
:Dedicated office, large wrap around desk with three mounted monitors. Usually distracted by movie or other website(s) open at the same time.
'''How long have you played Gemstone?
''Have you taken any breaks, or played straight through?
:I played a bit back in the AOL days but not as any character that I have now. I was around shortly before and after the move to the web. I vaguely remember the opening of Solhaven. I’ve been around now for almost 2 years.
'''How many different ‘main’ characters have you had over the years?
:Three. Two right now and my old character(s) I’ll count as a singular, since I used to reroll all the time.
'''Who are/were your most notable characters
:Ordim and some elf.
'''Do you have multiple accounts that you play at the same time?
:Yes
'''Do you have a Premium subscription?
:Yes
'''What front-end do you use? (Stormfront, Wizard, Profanity, other)?
:Stormfront, It seems to have the information I want where I want.
'''Do you use lich? Why or why not? If so, what are your ‘must-have’ scripts?
:Yes – It helps break down the more grindy things into manageable chunks. The reference scripts like ;wood, ;metal, ;925potions, ;enchants for keeping track of my enchanting projects. ;alchemy, ;sloot
'''Have you ever bought or sold characters or items for real money?
:I’ve bought some silvers here and there.
'''Do you now, or have you ever roleplayed a character that was very different from your real personality? Why or why not?
:In some ways very much so yes. I think Ordim is fairly different from my normal personality. I think my other active character is a bit closer in the ways that Ordim is different.
'''What would you say is your most memorable Gemstone ‘moment’ (as a player) , and why?
:Wow, this is a hard one. I’ve been lucky to have a lot of really fun moments. The most memorable though… Probably my first EG last year. Going around and selling people poisoned pie and pawning it off as allergies with Goblyn, Telsas and then everyone else we picked up after selling them pie. That whole event was just fantastic and lots of fun.
'''What's the luckiest you've gotten in-game? (big raffle win, finding vorpal sword of doom, surviving something cataclysmic, being in just the right place at just the right time, etc)
:Luckiest? Probably when I survived being stunned in the arena for 15 rounds and being dropped to 1 HP and then survived through it. That was really lucky.
'''What's the hardest you've laughed while playing GS?
:There really isn’t one great moment, I’ve been lucky to be involved in so many (or maybe I just laugh very easily). Rovvigen hugging Beloran with no pants and becoming married to him. Gramelfein crying over pookas all the time. Everything with The Pie Shop: Big P, little “ie”. When the GM’s give me guff for misreading signs or being annoying. Most of the Relic Hunters quest line.
'''What, in your mind, is the best thing about Gemstone?
:The characters and the situations they get into. I think most of my favorite moments are things that developed spontaneously. Just people getting into their characters and seeing where things go from there.
'''Have you ever attended Simucon, or otherwise met up with a person from Gemstone?
:I have not
'''Imagine you're Wyrom for a day and can 'do' one thing (and that you could accomplish anything in that one day without time considerations). What are you changing/removing/adding/replacing, and why?
:The Forums, with the added answer of communication as a whole. There has to be a better way for players and staff alike to spread news and events around.
'''What do you feel is the biggest mistake that most GS players make? Why do you feel they make that mistake? Why do you feel it's such a bad mistake?
:I think the biggest mistake a lot of new players make is jumping right into automated scripts without learning the basic commands and flow of what they are scripting first. I’ve done this with a few things and if I could I would go back and do it over. It helps you appreciate it more and understands the mechanics of what you are doing, that way you can be more agile if something changes.
'''What’s something that you feel every GS player should do at least once? Why?
:Attend one of the multiday player organized events. A lot of hard work goes into setting up the events and trying to make them entertaining. Sure, not everything will be for everyone, but stopping the daily grind for a half hour and learning something new or reviewing something you think you might know already can lead to some surprises.
'''What advice would you offer to a new player?
:Check the calendar and attend any and all player/GM events that seem like they might even be PARTIALLY interesting to you. You never know what might happen! The very first event I went to was one of Rohese’s fashion events and I learned about “earth tones”. You know what, that might also be one of my most memorable moments as well. Those events helped me develop the character of Ordim even more and meet lots of people I normally wouldn’t have. Gemstone is very much a game of communities within communities. Get out there and see who you run into!

TownCrier Interview Sessions with Ordim

2017-11-04T10:53:07Z

CANNEL: Created page with "{{towncrier interview |name= Oubar |caption= |race= Halfling |culture= Truefolk |class= Wizard |profession= Ordim |religion= |affiliations= Triad Gaming Organization |word= |..."

{{towncrier interview
|name= Oubar
|caption=
|race= Halfling
|culture= Truefolk
|class= Wizard
|profession= Ordim
|religion=
|affiliations= Triad Gaming Organization
|word=
|disposition=
|demeanor=
|ptrait=
|strait=
|flaw=
|strength=
|weakness=
|habits=
|hobbies=
|soft=
|likes=Muffins
|dislikes=
|fears=
|loyalties=
|friend=
|spouse=
|loved=
}}

By Oubar, TownCrier Correspondent 
----
==Introduction==
Ordim is, well, an Ordim, and he'll be happy to tell you so himself. A helpful sort, with a somewhat twisted fascination with pies that some people seem to end up being allergic to, Ordim is generally underfoot whenever there's things going down. He's always open and friendly, just be careful to give any food he passes your way an extra sniff or two before gobbling it down. A singular presence if ever there was one, Ordim made some time to sit down the Crier's own Oubar for an interview recently.

{| class="wikitable" style="background-color:#fff6c1;" cellpadding="25" cellspacing="25"
|-
| "I'm an Ordim." ~Ordim
|}

----
==The In-Character Interview==
<pre{{log2|background=none|border=none}}>

A layer of water surrounds Ordim and ripples with each movement.
You see Relic Hunter Ordim the Paragon of Reim.
He appears to be a Brughan Halfling.
He is average height. He appears to be of a tender age. He has sparkling deep heliotrope eyes and ashen skin. He has short, thick chestnut hair tucked beneath a twisted purple linen turban, which is covered in crumbs and frosting. He has a painted tanik mask fully covering his face and an owl-shaped mark perched on his wrist.
He has a scale-bowled wyrwood pipe clenched between his teeth, a runic dachre tattoo on his neck, a mostly mottled mocha muffin tattoo on his arm, and a rune tattoo on his arm.
His hands are covered in a light dusting of flour.
He is holding a complex gold and wire contraption in his right hand.
He is wearing an ur-barath monocle, some crystal vaalin filigree earrings with diamond accents, a cord-strung enameled bronze muffin, a silver-caged crimson-flecked soulstone periapt, a moon-filled alexandrite pendant, a patchwork longcloak stitched with an inky black kraken, a six-tentacled zoetic quill with a green rachis and webbed vane, a pink glaes muffin pin topped with an ivory-carved swirl, a gem-encrusted crashing wave pin, a fluffy feathered toy owl adorned with a wide-brimmed hat and a tiny black eye patch, a dahcre-etched symbol, a silver wyrm-shaped pin, a slender burled witchwood case capped with eahnor slung over his shoulder, a knitted dark grey satchel slung over his other shoulder, a diaphanous spiderweb knapsack woven with pearlescent threads, a hooded rune-covered dark grey robe, a scrollworked mithril vambrace, a pair of ur-barath-sigiled silk gloves, a faceted russet crystal ring with a frosted surface, a kraken-wrapped blood marble ring, a muffin-shaped key strung from a twisted chain, a patchwork cloth pouch secured with a muffin-shaped buckle, a polished silver pocket watch with a fine silver chain, a silvery mesh coin bag, a blue mithril mesh cage supported by dark grey veniom-threaded bands, a pair of leather pants drenched with blood, a small pitch black Caligos conch shell on a simple silver chain, and some flat silver-laced sandals.

[The Pie Shop - 25886]
Bright yellow paint coats the walls, which are bordered with grinning white skulls outlined in black. The plank flooring is a mishmash of various unfinished wood types that creates a haphazard though artistic aesthetic, further enhanced by the dappling of spills of sunlight streaming through three large street-facing windows. Filled with a variety of pies and topped with a small collection of jars, a broad, pristine display counter is surrounded by several wooden chairs and tables. You also see a bone-edged art display board hanging on one wall with some stuff on it and a swinging door.
Obvious exits: out

Relic Hunter Ordim just arrived.

Ordim compulsively brushes his hands all over his body, sending a sprinkling of crumbs into the air.

Rich and full, the smell of coffee beans is suffused with a dark bitterness.

Ordim ponders.

Ordim glances nervously around the room.

You blink.

Ordim waves.

You grin at Ordim.

You wave to Ordim.

Ordim exclaims, "Evening!"

Speaking to Ordim, you exclaim, "Good evening to you as well!"

Ordim glances at his silver pocket watch.

Ordim frets.

Ordim ponders.

You ask, "Are we safe to do this, or are you going to accuse me of mutiny again?"

You squint at Ordim.

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "I'm worried Lumnis might keep watching me."

Ordim gawks at you.

Speaking to Ordim, you say, "If this isn't a good time, I more than understand."

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "As long as you don't mutiny against the baker we'll be ok."

Ordim nods once.

Ordim looks over at you and shakes his head.

You work your fingers under your gold alloy crown and scratch your head.

Ordim exclaims, "Its fine!"

Ordim giggles.

You say, "I guess I can agree to that."

Ordim gazes thoughtfully at a wooden table.

White paint coats the wooden table, which is rimmed with a thick dark scarlet pigment that seems to have dried mid-dribble, leaving paths of deep color, like tears streaking cheeks, down the otherwise white legs. Set in the middle of the table, a tall white taper rises from a squared block of hematite.

Ordim says, "Only Ordim offers obvious obligations openly offensive."

Ordim twitches, trying to control a vocal outburst, before settling into a disdained grumble while regaining composure.

Ordim furrows his brow.

Ordim indicates a wooden table as a possible option.

You nod understandingly.

Ordim sits down next to a wooden table.

Ordim blinks.

Ordim's cheeks take on a slightly flushed tone.

You settle yourself on the wooden chair for a moment's rest.

Ordim stands up.

Ordim coughs.

Ordim grumbles.

Ordim walks over to the chair and settles down.

Speaking to Ordim, you say, "You missed."

Ordim nods approvingly.

Ordim's cheeks take on a slightly flushed tone.

Ordim glances at a wooden chair.

Ordim says, "I did."

Ordim hangs his head.

Ordim exclaims, "Ohh!"

Ordim stands up.

You give your eyebrow a little workout.

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "Excuse me just ONE moment."

Ordim nods.

You adopt an agreeable expression.

Relic Hunter Ordim just went out.

You say, "Of course."

Relic Hunter Ordim just arrived.

Ordim nods approvingly.

Ordim walks over to the chair and settles down.

Ordim beams!

You nod approvingly at Ordim.

Ordim appears to be checking his pockets for something, but finds them empty.

Ordim perspires delicately.

Filling your nose is the smell of ripe, sun-ripened berries, the heady scent slightly dizzying.

Ordim just opened a knitted dark grey satchel.

Ordim removes a cast iron muffin tin from in his dark grey satchel.

Ordim removes a warm peach muffin from in his muffin tin.

You sniff.

Ordim put a warm peach muffin on a wooden table.

You say, "Smells good in here."

Ordim removes a warm cranberry muffin from in his muffin tin.

Ordim put a warm cranberry muffin on a wooden table.

Ordim nods in agreement to you.

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "Lisbethany and Goblyn keep the ovens baking all the time."

Ordim beams!

You grin at Ordim.

Ordim gazes thoughtfully at his muffin tin.

Ordim removes a warm orange muffin from in his muffin tin.

Ordim nods.

Ordim put a cast iron muffin tin in his dark grey satchel.

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "Help yourself."

Ordim nods enthusiastically!

Ordim indicates a warm cranberry muffin as a possible option.

Ordim takes a bite of his orange muffin.

You remove a warm cranberry muffin from on a wooden table.

You say, "Thank you very much."

Ordim takes a bite of his orange muffin.

You say, "As you've probably seen, we have a bit of a formula, and as a part of it I ask some basic background questions. The answers are pretty well known, but for posterity we start with the easier stuff."

You take a bite of your cranberry muffin. Cakey and tender, the muffin bursts with cranberry flavor.
You have 4 bites left.

An aroma of sweet apple tarts drifts by you.

'''You ask, "To that end, what's your profession?"

You grin at Ordim.

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "I'm an Ordim."

Ordim nods.

You nod understandingly.

''You ask, "That you are... but to which guild do you belong?"

Ordim ponders.

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "The Wizard guild insists I pay them. They don't seem to mind that I clean up and experiment in there from time to time."

Ordim glances nervously around the room.

Ordim touches one finger to his lips.

You nod understandingly.

'''Speaking to Ordim, you ask, "What's the best thing about being an Ordim?"

Ordim takes a bite of his orange muffin.

Ordim glances at you and rubs his chin thoughtfully.

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "The free muffins people seem to hold for me."

Ordim giggles.

You chuckle.

'''You ask, "And what's the worst?"

Ordim frets.

You take a bite of your cranberry muffin. Cakey and tender, the muffin bursts with cranberry flavor.

Speaking woundedly to you, Ordim says, "The amount of people that learn they have food allergies when I offer them pies."

Ordim sighs.

Ordim gazes heavenward.

Ordim shakes his head, clucking his tongue.

Speaking to Ordim, you say, "I've heard that happens with surprising regularity."

Ordim frets.

Heavy droplets of sweat drip from Ordim's brow.

Ordim points at a large wooden sign titled "The Pie Shop: Pukk's Precious Pies".

Speaking to you, Ordim exclaims, "We've got a big sign saying to make sure you're aware of your allergies!"

Ordim frowns.

Ordim folds his arms over his chest in a display of stubborn pride, tilting his chin up slightly in defiance.

You nod appreciatively.

Ordim takes a bite of his orange muffin.

'''You ask, "You've got a fairly well-known love of muffins... is there a story there? Or is it just their innate grandiosity?"

You grin at Ordim.

Ordim gazes thoughtfully at his orange muffin.

Ordim tilts his orange muffin side to side, making the light play off it.

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "Muffins hold a very special place in my heart. They helped me out during a very trying time."

Ordim squints at a warm peach muffin.

You nod encouragingly.

Speaking to you, Ordim exclaims, "And they are amazingly fluffy most of the time!"

Ordim beams!

Ordim takes a bite of his orange muffin.

''You ask, "Can you tell us a bit more about that trying time?"

Ordim squints at you.

Ordim glances nervously around the room.

Speaking to Ordim, you say, "Don't worry, it's just between us and the entire readership of the Crier."

You nod slowly at Ordim.

Filling your nose is the smell of ripe, sun-ripened berries, the heady scent slightly dizzying.

Ordim says, "Sinking ships seal sailors sounds, seemingly silencing several slippery songs."

Ordim twitches, trying to control a vocal outburst, before settling into a disdained grumble while regaining composure.

Ordim blinks.

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "There was a time when I thought I was going to have to find a new profession for a living... muffins helped me keep my position, as it were."

'''Speaking to Ordim, you ask, "I'd be remiss if I didn't ask... you occasionally seem to have semi-controlled vocal outbursts. Is this something you've dealt with all your life?"

Ordim furrows his brow.

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "I can't control them very long... and they hurt."

Ordim frowns.

Ordim hangs his head.

You glance over at Ordim and wince.

Ordim sets about preparing himself to be as presentable as possible.

''You ask, "Any idea of their cause, or their source?"

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "One day I woke up and it was happening."

Ordim carefully looks himself over.

You nod understandingly.

Ordim prods himself in the ribs with his thumb.

Ordim shrugs at you.

'''You ask, "What's the story of the Pie Shop here? It smells amazig, and it seems like you've got a stake in it somehow? What can you tell us about that?"

Ordim giggles.

Ordim beams!

Ordim surveys the area.

You correct, "Amazing."

Ordim nods approvingly.

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "The Pie Shop: that pie dough..."

Ordim grins at you.

You chortle.

Ordim says, "Actually, its very fitting you ask that on the eve of Ebon Gate."

Ordim nods once.

Ordim asks, "Its a bit of a long story, if you don't mind?"

Ordim giggles.

You lift up your chin and throw back your shoulders.

You exclaim, "I don't mind in the slightest!"

You grin at Ordim.

Ordim beams!

Ordim gazes thoughtfully at a large wooden sign titled "The Pie Shop: Pukk's Precious Pies".

Ordim says, "Well, the sign has since been updated, but it used to have all of the people involved those nights... anyway."

Ordim giggles.

In the Common language, it reads:

|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
~~ THE PIE SHOP: Pukk's Precious Pies ~~
| |
| Proprietor: G.G.K. "Goblyn" Managers: Ordim and Telsas |
| Master Baker: Lisbethany Backroom Supplies: Cruxophim |
| Aromatics: Sareyna |
| Shop Drunkard: Kyulen Cherry Pitter: Savageheart |
| Mop Girl: Maylan Backroom Supply Assistant: Soliere |
| |
| |
Pie Recipes and Baked Goods By:
| Biscuity Pear and Apple Pie - Bremerial |
| Blackened Persimmon Spice Pie - Ysharra |
| Blueberry Apple Crumble Pie - Sadiyah |
| Blue Sprite Pie - Sweetsin |
| Butter Pie - Bremerial |
| Cheesy Noodle and Bacon Pie - Lisbethany |
| Chipmunk Pie - Barble, Pathragers, Ordim |
| Crux's Cellar Autumn Special Pie - Cruxophim |
| Chocolate Pudding Pie - Ordim |
| Herb-Glazed Shepherd's Pie - Cruxophim |
| Honey-Pecan Whiskey Pie - Sweetsin |
| Marshmallow Pie - Ordim |
| Pigeon Pudding Pie - Kittai, Glurt, Ordim |
| Public Bath Pie - Heartfire |
| Raisin and Peach Pie - Bremerial |
| Sheep's Brain Aspic Pie - Maylan |
| Winter's Gate Pie - Lisbethany |
| |
| |
Limited Offering (While Supplies Last):
| Black Apple Tartlet Recipe - Rhayveign |
| |
| |
Other Information!
| Use the chalkboard in the kitchen to leave shop name |
| suggestions. If leaving letters for Goblyn, set them on |
| the table downstairs. Do not take notes from the basement |
| that are not addressed to you! Leave artwork on the board |
| in this main salesroom. |
| |
| |
| The Pie Shop cannot be held responsible for |
| allergy-related deaths or afflictions! |
|___________________________________________________________________|

Ordim says, "Last Ebon Gate, in Feyrot Marsh, I ran into a certain Goblyn who was selling her wares down in the caverns under the swamp."

You nod understandingly.

Ordim says, "After she has a penchant for asking for strange foods, raw foods, unique stuffs often found off the beaten path."

Ordim nervously giggles.

Ordim says, "Well, I happened to have a new pie that was being sold around the grounds that had been spiced extra nice. She was thrilled at the idea of the pie."

You smile.

Ordim continues, "So after she had finished working on her wares she wanted to view the marsh and spend some time relaxing. I offered to go around with her selling pies to people playing the games."

Ordim giggles.

You try hard not to grin.

Ordim says, "We gathered a small group of people, myself, Goblyn, Telsas and a few others."

Ordim's cheeks take on a slightly flushed tone.

Ordim says, "I wish I had all their names, we started off small, gathering people as we went."

Ordim exclaims, "We would offer those playing games a bit of pie for a few silvers!"

Ordim nervously giggles.

Speaking to Ordim, you exclaim, "Quite nice of you!"

Ordim says, "Almost everyone bought some... turns out a lot of people didn't know they were allergic to chocolate that night."

Ordim frowns.

Ordim shrugs.

Ordim nods in agreement to you.

Speaking to you, Ordim exclaims, "Well, after we ran out of pie we talked about opening a pie shop. We needed a baker and managers and staff of all kinds! And pies! lots of pies!"

Ordim giggles.

You chuckle.

Ordim says, "Lisbethany offered to be the baker! Then we had the hardest job."

Ordim frets.

Ordim asks, "What would we call it?"

Ordim narrows his eyes.

You glance at a bone-edged art display board hanging on one wall.

Rough gouges in the sign make up nearly illegible wording.

Ordim says, "Well, we had SO MANY great names that the only way to make it all work would be if the shop's sign changed."

Ordim nods once.

Ordim giggles.

Ordim says, "So."

In the Common language, it reads:

|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
~~ THE PIE SHOP: Pukk's Precious Pies ~~
| |
| Proprietor: G.G.K. "Goblyn" Managers: Ordim and Telsas |
| Master Baker: Lisbethany Backroom Supplies: Cruxophim |
| Aromatics: Sareyna |
| Shop Drunkard: Kyulen Cherry Pitter: Savageheart |
| Mop Girl: Maylan Backroom Supply Assistant: Soliere |
| |
| |
Pie Recipes and Baked Goods By:
| Biscuity Pear and Apple Pie - Bremerial |
| Blackened Persimmon Spice Pie - Ysharra |
| Blueberry Apple Crumble Pie - Sadiyah |
| Blue Sprite Pie - Sweetsin |
| Butter Pie - Bremerial |
| Cheesy Noodle and Bacon Pie - Lisbethany |
| Chipmunk Pie - Barble, Pathragers, Ordim |
| Crux's Cellar Autumn Special Pie - Cruxophim |
| Chocolate Pudding Pie - Ordim |
| Herb-Glazed Shepherd's Pie - Cruxophim |
| Honey-Pecan Whiskey Pie - Sweetsin |
| Marshmallow Pie - Ordim |
| Pigeon Pudding Pie - Kittai, Glurt, Ordim |
| Public Bath Pie - Heartfire |
| Raisin and Peach Pie - Bremerial |
| Sheep's Brain Aspic Pie - Maylan |
| Winter's Gate Pie - Lisbethany |
| |
| |
Limited Offering (While Supplies Last):
| Black Apple Tartlet Recipe - Rhayveign |
| |
| |
Other Information!
| Use the chalkboard in the kitchen to leave shop name |
| suggestions. If leaving letters for Goblyn, set them on |
| the table downstairs. Do not take notes from the basement |
| that are not addressed to you! Leave artwork on the board |
| in this main salesroom. |
| |
| |
| The Pie Shop cannot be held responsible for |
| allergy-related deaths or afflictions! |
|___________________________________________________________________|

You chuckle.

Ordim says, "We put together our favorite names and pie recipes."

Ordim asks, "Then Goblyn set to work getting permits and building the shop! It wasn't that long after that we had to pick a spot. What better spot then here in the small park where people rest?"

Ordim beams!

You grin at Ordim.

You say, "I have to agree, this seems like the ideal location."

Ordim exclaims, "Just a few short months later The Pie Shop: Pie another day, opened to a large crowd!"

Ordim nods in agreement to you.

Ordim beams!

Ordim says, "The rest is, as they say, crumbs."

Ordim nods once.

Ordim giggles.

''You ask, "Have the allergy situations continued? Or has that particular... epidemic... died down?"

Ordim looks thoughtfully at you.

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "Well, I think people remain allergic for life so it will probably come and go with time."

Ordim frets.

''Speaking to Ordim, you say, "Let me ask it a different way."

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "I heard the Elves out East had a rash of incidents recently."

Ordim frets.

Ordim looks thoughtfully at you.

''Speaking to Ordim, you ask, "The night of the initial pie sales, there were reportedly a large percentage of individuals who were surprised to find they had this allergy... would you say the same percentage of the new customers to the shop find the same allergy issues?"

Ordim ponders.

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "I'm not lucky enough to see EVERY pie sale, but I'd imagine a good amount of poeple have an allergy to something or another."

Ordim nods.

You nod understandingly.

'''You ask, "How long have you been an adventurer?"

Ordim compulsively brushes his hands all over his body, sending a sprinkling of crumbs into the air.

Speaking to you, Ordim corrects, "I'm an Ordim."

Ordim nods.

You rub your chin thoughtfully.

You say, "This is undeniably true, I suppose."

Ordim nods in agreement to you.

Ordim beams!

'''You ask, "What can you tell us about your early life? Where did you grow up?"

Ordim says, "I grew up near Lake Khesta 'dahl, but I did not stay there long."

You nod understandingly.

Ordim says, "I set out to see the world and ended up on a ship crewed by the Truefolk for many years."

Ordim giggles.

Ordim surveys the area.

You grin at Ordim.

Ordim nods.

You say, "Never pegged you as a sailor."

Ordim takes a bite of his peach muffin.

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "Thats because I'm an Ordim."

Ordim nods.

You say, "Of course you are. I apologize that I keep forgetting."

Ordim giggles.

Ordim says, "To be fair..."

Ordim narrows his eyes.

Ordim says, "I didn't do much sailing as you might expect, I was in charge of helping to identify the stuff that happened to be found along the way."

Ordim says, "Trinkets, magical artifacts, stolen sorcerer's gems."

Ordim says, "Stuff like that."

Ordim nods.

You give a short little hum of surprise.

You say, "That sounds much more interesting than just a deckhand."

Ordim says, "Pirate's plunder promptly produces peculiar purple people."

Ordim twitches, trying to control a vocal outburst, before settling into a disdained grumble while regaining composure.

''You ask, "Did you come across many stolen sorcerer's gems, or was there one in particular that stood out?"

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "It's tough work, you don't want the crew to rub the wrong statue and suddenly have a maelstrom on deck! You need to know whats safe and what should be tossed over board."

Ordim looks thoughtfully at you.

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "Well.. there was this one Sorcerer."

Ordim taps a patchwork longcloak stitched with an inky black kraken that he is wearing.

You nod encouragingly.

Ordim brushes his hand across his shoulder, and shadowy ripples appear to slither down his patchwork longcloak.

Ordim touches his patchwork longcloak's haloed Reim ruby clasp and appears to be listening intently to something.

Ordim says, "Malicar... he was a warlock though... he had his soul trapped into a gem. I used to wear him as jewerly, when he got mad he'd change shape and stuff."

Ordim nervously giggles.

You try hard not to grin.

'''You ask, "And how did that chapter in the life of Ordim come to an end? How did you get from that point to where you are now?"

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "Well, one day the ship docked in the port of the Landing. When I got out and looked around I heard of all the stories and adventurers that were happening around here and figured I'd be able to learn more than I would just sailing around the ship."

Ordim rubs his chin thoughtfully.

You nod understandingly.

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "I guess I never really gave up the sea though."

Ordim says, "I spent a lot of my time in Solhaven, still call it my new home."

You grin at Ordim.

Ordim beams!

You say, "Which neatly answers my next question. Well done."
grin ordim
You grin at Ordim.

Ordim's cheeks take on a slightly flushed tone.

Clanking and sputtering sounds emanate from behind a swinging door.

Ordim glances at a swinging door.

Speaking to a swinging door, Ordim exclaims, "Careful in there!"

Ordim frowns.

'''You ask, "What would you say occupies the majority of your time these days?"

You agree with Ordim.

You glance at a swinging door.

Speaking to you, Ordim exclaims, "Well, I help keep The Pie Shop: Crumb on down! running smooth, clean the tables, write up new recipes and names, bring in the customers. Inbetween that I used to be gypsy... I suppose I still am at heart!"

Ordim beams!

Ordim giggles.

You grin at Ordim.

Ordim says, "But the Troupe moved on as they do from time to time. Now I've started to put together a team that will help bring order to all the gambling around Elanthia."

Ordim says, "The Triad Gaming Commission, we run raffles and as we grow hope to help others run their gambling events with that extra professionalism."

Ordim looks thoughtfully at you.

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "Mostly though."

You grin at Ordim.

Speaking to you, Ordim confirms, "I'm an Ordim."

Ordim nods slowly.

You nod in agreement.

Ordim glances nervously at his dark grey satchel.

Ordim shushes a knitted dark grey satchel!

Ordim places his hand on his dark grey satchel.

'''You ask, "Do you follow any particular Arkati?"

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "Well..."

Ordim's cheeks take on a slightly flushed tone.

You give your eyebrow a little workout.

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "I don't really believe in them."

Ordim narrows his eyes.

You give a short little hum of surprise.

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "Supposedly, we went to Flash'lo'nae's library not too long ago."

Ordim frowns.

Ordim says, "All I met was a vesperti reading a book and an old man with a melty face taking a nap."

Ordim sighs.

Ordim shakes his head, clucking his tongue.

''You ask, "How can you explain the abilities that clerics and paladins are able to draw upon, then?"

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "I just figured it was like controlling water... some people just can."

Ordim raises his hand and slowly curls his fingers into a clenched fist. A cloud of vapor streams out of the sigil on Ordim's glove, swirling around his hand and emitting small droplets of rain before slowly dissipating.

Ordim shrugs.

You give a short little hum of surprise.

'''You ask, "Are you married?"

You grin at Ordim.

Ordim squints at you.

Speaking to Ordim, you exclaim, "It's on the sheet! I have to ask!"

Ordim frowns.

Speaking to you, Ordim repeats, "I'm an Ordim."

Ordim ponders.

Ordim says, "One time, somewhat long ago."

Ordim says, "A fancy gentleman, Farain, tried to marry me to Riend."

Ordim says, "But it wasn't a hand fasting."

Ordim shakes his head.

You nod understandingly.

Ordim says, "Then during the Trine there wasn't any ceremonies held."

Ordim frowns.

Ordim says, "I wanted to marry the moon."

Ordim sighs.

'''You ask, "What would you say is your most prized possession?"

Ordim ponders.

Ordim takes a bite of his peach muffin.

Ordim squints at a knitted dark grey satchel.

Ordim says, "I'm not going to say you, no matter what you tell me to say."

Ordim squints at a knitted dark grey satchel.

You grin at Ordim.

Ordim taps something in a knitted dark grey satchel.

Ordim removes a cast iron muffin tin from in his dark grey satchel.

Ordim says, "There are lots of things that I really enjoy... but I think this magical muffin tin is my favorite."

Ordim giggles.

''You ask, "What's its magic?"

Ordim exclaims, "Who could say no to always fresh warm muffins?!"

Ordim's jaw drops.

Ordim rubs his muffin tin.
The aroma of freshly baked muffins fills the air.

Ordim shows you a cast iron muffin tin, which he is holding in his left hand. You see nothing unusual.

Ordim giggles.

Ordim exclaims, "It fills itself with muffins!"

Ordim beams!

You grin at Ordim.

Ordim put a warm peach muffin in his patchwork longcloak.

Ordim removes a warm pumpkin spice muffin from in his muffin tin.

Ordim beams!

Ordim exclaims, "Always fresh and warm!"

Ordim lets out a cheer!

''You ask, "Do the flavors vary?"

You grin at Ordim.

Ordim put a cast iron muffin tin in his dark grey satchel.

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "They do! There are lots of flavors, at least six or seven I think I've seen."

Ordim gazes thoughtfully at his dark grey satchel.

Ordim squints at you.

You say, "Very impressive, and very appropriate for an Ordim."

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "The Dahcres wanted me to say they are the most important, but all they do is speak loudly to me all the time."

Ordim just closed a knitted dark grey satchel.

Ordim nods in agreement to you.

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "I think so too."

Ordim giggles.

Speaking to Ordim, you say, "Nobody likes bossy Dahcres."

You nod sagely at Ordim.

Ordim nods in agreement to you.

Ordim folds his arms over his chest in a display of stubborn pride, tilting his chin up slightly in defiance.

Speaking to his dark grey satchel, Ordim asks, "Hear that?"

Ordim frowns at a knitted dark grey satchel.

Inky black liquid tendrils lethargically seep out of a large wooden sign titled "The Pie Shop: Pukk's Precious Pies", wrapping it so completely that the lettering at the top is completely obscured. The tendrils languidly slink around it, then recede completely leaving the shop with a new name: "The Pie Shop: Dead Heat Pies".

'''Speaking to Ordim, you ask, "What would you say is your most valuable item, then? The one that's worth the most silvers?"

You glance at a large wooden sign titled "The Pie Shop: Dead Heat Pies".

You give a short little hum of surprise.

In the Common language, it reads:

|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
~~ THE PIE SHOP: Dead Heat Pies ~~
| |
| Proprietor: G.G.K. "Goblyn" Managers: Ordim and Telsas |
| Master Baker: Lisbethany Backroom Supplies: Cruxophim |
| Aromatics: Sareyna |
| Shop Drunkard: Kyulen Cherry Pitter: Savageheart |
| Mop Girl: Maylan Backroom Supply Assistant: Soliere |
| |
| |
Pie Recipes and Baked Goods By:
| Biscuity Pear and Apple Pie - Bremerial |
| Blackened Persimmon Spice Pie - Ysharra |
| Blueberry Apple Crumble Pie - Sadiyah |
| Blue Sprite Pie - Sweetsin |
| Butter Pie - Bremerial |
| Cheesy Noodle and Bacon Pie - Lisbethany |
| Chipmunk Pie - Barble, Pathragers, Ordim |
| Crux's Cellar Autumn Special Pie - Cruxophim |
| Chocolate Pudding Pie - Ordim |
| Herb-Glazed Shepherd's Pie - Cruxophim |
| Honey-Pecan Whiskey Pie - Sweetsin |
| Marshmallow Pie - Ordim |
| Pigeon Pudding Pie - Kittai, Glurt, Ordim |
| Public Bath Pie - Heartfire |
| Raisin and Peach Pie - Bremerial |
| Sheep's Brain Aspic Pie - Maylan |
| Winter's Gate Pie - Lisbethany |
| |
| |
Limited Offering (While Supplies Last):
| Black Apple Tartlet Recipe - Rhayveign |
| |
| |
Other Information!
| Use the chalkboard in the kitchen to leave shop name |
| suggestions. If leaving letters for Goblyn, set them on |
| the table downstairs. Do not take notes from the basement |
| that are not addressed to you! Leave artwork on the board |
| in this main salesroom. |
| |
| |
| The Pie Shop cannot be held responsible for |
| allergy-related deaths or afflictions! |
|___________________________________________________________________|

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "I think that's my runestaff now. The last time Bloodriven Village was running wagons I was able to finish enhancing my runestaff to 10x acuity."

Ordim removes a scrollworked illthorn runestaff with twisting inlays of balenite from in his patchwork longcloak.

You blink.

Ordim indicates a scrollworked illthorn runestaff with twisting inlays of balenite as a possible option.

You say, "Very impressive."

Ordim raises his illthorn runestaff in triumph!

Speaking to you, Ordim exclaims, "Thank you!"

Ordim beams!

Ordim put a scrollworked illthorn runestaff with twisting inlays of balenite in his patchwork longcloak.

Ordim takes a bite of his pumpkin spice muffin.

'''You ask, "What's your fondest memory of your time since leaving the ship? Is there one singular moment that stands out above the rest?"

Ordim sighs.

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "There are so many along the way."

Ordim giggles.

You grin at Ordim.

Ordim ponders.

Ordim rubs his chin thoughtfully.

Speaking to Ordim, you say, "A common lament in response to this question."

Speaking to you, Ordim exclaims, "Every time I think about it I remember two more and then someone else will remind me of two I almost forgot!"

Ordim's jaw drops.

Ordim frets.

You chuckle at Ordim.

Ordim says, "For friends, forgetting family features fears fearsomly."

Ordim twitches, trying to control a vocal outburst, before settling into a disdained grumble while regaining composure.

Ordim takes a bite of his pumpkin spice muffin.

You nod understandingly.

Assailing your senses is a melange of sweet tart apples, the scent of headily ripe sun-ripened berries, and the dark bitter smell of coffee beans. Beneath the main thrust of the mingled aromas, however, a pervasive, creeping bouquet of overripe fruit just turning sneaks in.

'''You ask, "Would you be willing to give us a rough idea of your current bank account balance?"

Ordim giggles.

Ordim's cheeks take on a slightly flushed tone.

You grin at Ordim.

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "I am not hurting for silvers, but I'm certainly not in the running for richest person."

Ordim nods slowly.

You nod understandingly.

'''You say, "Would you be willing to give us a peek inside one of your lockers? Just a peek, no details on anything."

Ordim ponders.

Ordim giggles.

Speaking to you, Ordim exclaims, "I'll even let you pick the town!"

Ordim giggles.

You grin at Ordim.

You ponder.

Ordim squints at you.

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "Pick well..."

Ordim stares at you.

Ordim takes a bite of his pumpkin spice muffin.

You say, "Well, you mentioned you reside in Solhaven. That means that's likely to be a gem jar repository."

Ordim looks thoughtfully at you.

Ordim glances down.

Expressions of utter shock, disbelief, and horror cross Ordim's features as he shakes his head repeatedly in denial.

You say, "I believe you have access to Mist Harbor, which is where you likely store the things you want to have close at hand."

Ordim mutters something about bandits.

Ordim blinks at you.

Speaking to you, Ordim asks, "Is that your final answer?"

You say, "I believe I'll choose River's Rest, under the assumption that it's the things you hang onto, but don't want all the time."

You try hard not to grin.

Ordim giggles.

Speaking to Ordim, you confide, "It was that or Zul Logoth..."

Ordim looks thoughtfully at you.

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "I move my lockers around so much I don't think even I can remember what is where."

Ordim frets.

Ordim giggles.

You grin at Ordim.

You say, "I understand that. Especially with Ebon Gate looming."

Ordim groans.

Ordim gazes heavenward.

Heavy droplets of sweat drip from Ordim's brow.

You say, "I've been shuffling stuff around trying to make room."

You shudder.

Ordim nods in agreement to you.

Ordim stares off into space.

Ordim slowly empties his lungs.

'''You ask, "And finally... if you had to pick one other adventurer that had the largest affect on your life, who would it be?"

Panicked mewling echoes from somewhere nearby.

Ordim looks thoughtfully at you.

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "I have not seen them for some time, but there was a high priest of Arachne, Gramelfein, who made a strong impression on me. I've met lots of fun poeple who I've shared experiences with since then, but Gramelfein sticks with me the most."

Ordim giggles.

Ordim's cheeks take on a slightly flushed tone.

You grin at Ordim.

Ordim frets.

Ordim says, "It's been so long i almost forgot how to pronounce his name."

Ordim gasps.

Ordim says, "Its Grim Elfin."

Ordim nods.

Ordim giggles.

Ordim ponders.

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "He used to cry over pookas ALL the time."

Ordim giggles.

Ordim shakes his head, clucking his tongue.

You grin at Ordim.

Speaking to Ordim, you say, "Pookas are annoying... I can see getting a little teary-eyed."

You rub your chin thoughtfully.

Ordim holds up his hand and tilts it side to side in a so-so gesture.

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "Of all the ghost horses, pookas are the least worrisome."

Speaking to Ordim, you ask, "That's all I had prepared... was there anything you'd like to discuss on the record, or any questions you had for me?"

You nod in agreement at Ordim.

Ordim squints at you.

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "One VERY important question."

Ordim begins to twitch.

You blink at Ordim.

Ordim leans forward.

You ask, "Oh?"

Speaking to you, Ordim asks, "Would you like a piece of pie?"

Ordim grins slowly.

You feel the blood drain from your face.

Ordim removes a lightly browned treacle pie from in his cloth pouch.

Ordim indicates a rich butter pie with apples and cheese as a possible option.

You glance at a large wooden sign titled "The Pie Shop: Dead Heat Pies".

You exclaim, "Sure!"

Ordim sniffs at his treacle pie.

You grin weakly.

Speaking to you, Ordim exclaims, "Lets get you a fresh piece then!"

Ordim giggles.

Ordim put a lightly browned treacle pie in his cloth pouch.

Ordim appears to be checking his pockets for something, but finds them empty.

Ordim ponders.

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "Pick out your favorite."

Ordim nods.

Ordim stands up.

Ordim compulsively brushes his hands all over his body, sending a sprinkling of crumbs into the air.

You stand back up.

In the Common language, it reads:

|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
~~ THE PIE SHOP: Dead Heat Pies ~~
| |
| Proprietor: G.G.K. "Goblyn" Managers: Ordim and Telsas |
| Master Baker: Lisbethany Backroom Supplies: Cruxophim |
| Aromatics: Sareyna |
| Shop Drunkard: Kyulen Cherry Pitter: Savageheart |
| Mop Girl: Maylan Backroom Supply Assistant: Soliere |
| |
| |
Pie Recipes and Baked Goods By:
| Biscuity Pear and Apple Pie - Bremerial |
| Blackened Persimmon Spice Pie - Ysharra |
| Blueberry Apple Crumble Pie - Sadiyah |
| Blue Sprite Pie - Sweetsin |
| Butter Pie - Bremerial |
| Cheesy Noodle and Bacon Pie - Lisbethany |
| Chipmunk Pie - Barble, Pathragers, Ordim |
| Crux's Cellar Autumn Special Pie - Cruxophim |
| Chocolate Pudding Pie - Ordim |
| Herb-Glazed Shepherd's Pie - Cruxophim |
| Honey-Pecan Whiskey Pie - Sweetsin |
| Marshmallow Pie - Ordim |
| Pigeon Pudding Pie - Kittai, Glurt, Ordim |
| Public Bath Pie - Heartfire |
| Raisin and Peach Pie - Bremerial |
| Sheep's Brain Aspic Pie - Maylan |
| Winter's Gate Pie - Lisbethany |
| |
| |
Limited Offering (While Supplies Last):
| Black Apple Tartlet Recipe - Rhayveign |
| |
| |
Other Information!
| Use the chalkboard in the kitchen to leave shop name |
| suggestions. If leaving letters for Goblyn, set them on |
| the table downstairs. Do not take notes from the basement |
| that are not addressed to you! Leave artwork on the board |
| in this main salesroom. |
| |
| |
| The Pie Shop cannot be held responsible for |
| allergy-related deaths or afflictions! |
|___________________________________________________________________|

Ordim gazes at a display counter.

You say, "I'll try the marshmallow, I think."

Ordim nods.

On the display counter you see some chalky white jars, a cup of sassafras tea, a mug of toasted hazelnut coffee, a jug of black coffee and a skull-painted cup of dark hot chocolate.

Ordim says, "Excuse me a moment."

Relic Hunter Ordim just went out.

In the display counter you see a rich butter pie with apples and cheese, a blueberry apple crumble pie, a honey-pecan whiskey pie, a blackened persimmon spice pie, a flour-dusted raisin and peach pie, a biscuity pear and ale pie topped with lemon zest, a Winter's Gate pie, a cheesy noodle and bacon pie, a moon-shaped marshmallow pie, a chocolate pudding pie with crumbly cookie crust, a vanilla cheesecake stuffed with brandied saffron apricots, a fluffy cranberry pie topped with swirls of dark chocolate and a tart lemon-cherry pie.

Relic Hunter Ordim just arrived.

Ordim nods.

A sales clerk accepts your silvers.

A sales clerk looks wistfully one last time at a moon-shaped marshmallow pie then hands it to you with a ghostly sigh.

Ordim flails his arms about.

Ordim folds his arms over his chest in a display of stubborn pride, tilting his chin up slightly in defiance.

Ordim giggles.

You blink at Ordim.

Ordim says, "Marshmellow moons make many mouths merrily munch marvelous mixtures."

Ordim twitches, trying to control a vocal outburst, before settling into a disdained grumble while regaining composure.

You sniff your marshmallow pie.
It smells like nice, fresh marshmallow pie!

You take a bite of your marshmallow pie.
You have 7 bites left.

You nod appreciatively.

You say, "Oh that's good."

You take a bite of your marshmallow pie. The chalky filling inside almost causes you to cough. Must be your first bite.
You have 6 bites left.

Ordim nods in agreement to you.

Ordim beams!

Ordim says, "Its a delicacy where I'm from."

Ordim giggles.

Ordim says, "Its hit or miss..."

You take a bite of your marshmallow pie. At first the dryness of the the pie lends to the concerns of staleness, but that quickly turns to surprise as the graham and fluff filling melts into a pleasent vanilla mix.
You have 5 bites left.

Ordim shrugs.

You give a short little hum of surprise.

You say, "A very complex flavor."

Clanking and sputtering sounds emanate from behind a swinging door.

You glance at a swinging door.

Ordim sighs.

Speaking to a swinging door, you say, "That's a compliment."

Ordim shakes his head at a swinging door.

You take a bite of your marshmallow pie. At first the dryness of the the pie lends to the concerns of staleness, but that quickly turns to surprise as the graham and fluff filling melts into a pleasent vanilla mix.
You have 4 bites left.

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "I think the pie machine is on the fritz again."

Ordim frets.

Speaking to himself, Ordim says, "I hope they don't blame us for the missing birds."

Ordim frowns.

Ordim shrugs.

Speaking to Ordim, you say, "Well, they got this piece just right."

You blink at Ordim.

Ordim nods in agreement to you.

Ordim beams!

Speaking to Ordim, you ask, "Birds?"

You take a bite of your marshmallow pie. The chalky filling inside almost causes you to cough. Must be your first bite.
You have 3 bites left.

Speaking to you, Ordim exclaims, "Pies... Pies here in The Pie Shop: come pie away with me!"

Ordim squints at you.

You nod slowly at Ordim.

You take a bite of your marshmallow pie. At first the dryness of the the pie lends to the concerns of staleness, but that quickly turns to surprise as the graham and fluff filling melts into a pleasent vanilla mix.
You have 2 bites left.

You take a bite of your marshmallow pie.
You have one bite left.

You take a bite of your marshmallow pie.
That was the last of it!

You nod appreciatively.

A sales clerk hands a moon-shaped marshmallow pie to Ordim with a ghostly sigh.

Ordim takes a bite of his marshmallow pie.

Ordim hums happily to himself.

You agree with Ordim.

Ordim praises the virtues of a rich butter pie with apples and cheese.

Speaking to Ordim, you say, "Delicious."

Speaking to you, Ordim exclaims, "I'll pass the compliments to the bakers!"

Ordim nods enthusiastically!

You grin at Ordim.

Assailing your senses is a melange of sweet tart apples, the scent of headily ripe sun-ripened berries, and the dark bitter smell of coffee beans. Beneath the main thrust of the mingled aromas, however, a pervasive, creeping bouquet of overripe fruit just turning sneaks in.

You exclaim, "I appreciate that. And I appreciate you making some time to sit down with me tonight!"

Ordim nods enthusiastically!

You grin at Ordim.

Speaking to you, Ordim says, "Thank you very much for the opportunity."

Ordim beams!

Ordim giggles.

Ordim takes a bite of his marshmallow pie.

You feel more refreshed.

Speaking to Ordim, you say, "My pleasure, to be sure. Thank you again, and I hope you have a great rest of the evening."

You grin at Ordim.

Ordim nods.

You bow to Ordim.

Ordim waves to you.

Ordim glances down.

Ordim says, "Oh."

Ordim pulls his dark grey robe aside for a moment.
Spying a bit of frosting in his toe-hair, Ordim adjusts his double leather and gracefully bows and scoops it up.

Ordim nods approvingly.

Speaking to you, Ordim exclaims, "Safe travels!"

Ordim beams!

You blink at Ordim.

You grin.

You wave.
</pre>
----

{| class="wikitable" style="background-color:#fff6c1;" cellpadding="25" cellspacing="25"
|-
| "The very first event I went to was one of Rohese’s fashion events and I learned about “earth tones”." ~ Ordim
|}
----

==The Out-of-Character Interview==

'''What’s your real name? (First name only please)
:Joe
'''About how old are you, if you don't mind?
:34
'''Where are you located, geographically?
:Jersey Shore
'''What's your favorite movie?
:Aliens
'''What's your favorite book?
:House of Leaves
'''What do you do for a living?
:Healthcare IT specialist
'''Describe your normal play space for us. Laptop/PC/Tablet... Office/basement/kitchen... what sort of stuff do you have in/on the space... etc etc etc
:Dedicated office, large wrap around desk with three mounted monitors. Usually distracted by movie or other website(s) open at the same time.
'''How long have you played Gemstone?
''Have you taken any breaks, or played straight through?
:I played a bit back in the AOL days but not as any character that I have now. I was around shortly before and after the move to the web. I vaguely remember the opening of Solhaven. I’ve been around now for almost 2 years.
'''How many different ‘main’ characters have you had over the years?
:Three. Two right now and my old character(s) I’ll count as a singular, since I used to reroll all the time.
'''Who are/were your most notable characters
:Ordim and some elf.
'''Do you have multiple accounts that you play at the same time?
:Yes
'''Do you have a Premium subscription?
:Yes
'''What front-end do you use? (Stormfront, Wizard, Profanity, other)?
:Stormfront, It seems to have the information I want where I want.
'''Do you use lich? Why or why not? If so, what are your ‘must-have’ scripts?
:Yes – It helps break down the more grindy things into manageable chunks. The reference scripts like ;wood, ;metal, ;925potions, ;enchants for keeping track of my enchanting projects. ;alchemy, ;sloot
'''Have you ever bought or sold characters or items for real money?
:I’ve bought some silvers here and there.
'''Do you now, or have you ever roleplayed a character that was very different from your real personality? Why or why not?
:In some ways very much so yes. I think Ordim is fairly different from my normal personality. I think my other active character is a bit closer in the ways that Ordim is different.
'''What would you say is your most memorable Gemstone ‘moment’ (as a player) , and why?
:Wow, this is a hard one. I’ve been lucky to have a lot of really fun moments. The most memorable though… Probably my first EG last year. Going around and selling people poisoned pie and pawning it off as allergies with Goblyn, Telsas and then everyone else we picked up after selling them pie. That whole event was just fantastic and lots of fun.
'''What's the luckiest you've gotten in-game? (big raffle win, finding vorpal sword of doom, surviving something cataclysmic, being in just the right place at just the right time, etc)
:Luckiest? Probably when I survived being stunned in the arena for 15 rounds and being dropped to 1 HP and then survived through it. That was really lucky.
'''What's the hardest you've laughed while playing GS?
:There really isn’t one great moment, I’ve been lucky to be involved in so many (or maybe I just laugh very easily). Rovvigen hugging Beloran with no pants and becoming married to him. Gramelfein crying over pookas all the time. Everything with The Pie Shop: Big P, little “ie”. When the GM’s give me guff for misreading signs or being annoying. Most of the Relic Hunters quest line.
'''What, in your mind, is the best thing about Gemstone?
:The characters and the situations they get into. I think most of my favorite moments are things that developed spontaneously. Just people getting into their characters and seeing where things go from there.
'''Have you ever attended Simucon, or otherwise met up with a person from Gemstone?
:I have not
'''Imagine you're Wyrom for a day and can 'do' one thing (and that you could accomplish anything in that one day without time considerations). What are you changing/removing/adding/replacing, and why?
:The Forums, with the added answer of communication as a whole. There has to be a better way for players and staff alike to spread news and events around.
'''What do you feel is the biggest mistake that most GS players make? Why do you feel they make that mistake? Why do you feel it's such a bad mistake?
:I think the biggest mistake a lot of new players make is jumping right into automated scripts without learning the basic commands and flow of what they are scripting first. I’ve done this with a few things and if I could I would go back and do it over. It helps you appreciate it more and understands the mechanics of what you are doing, that way you can be more agile if something changes.
'''What’s something that you feel every GS player should do at least once? Why?
:Attend one of the multiday player organized events. A lot of hard work goes into setting up the events and trying to make them entertaining. Sure, not everything will be for everyone, but stopping the daily grind for a half hour and learning something new or reviewing something you think you might know already can lead to some surprises.
'''What advice would you offer to a new player?
:Check the calendar and attend any and all player/GM events that seem like they might even be PARTIALLY interesting to you. You never know what might happen! The very first event I went to was one of Rohese’s fashion events and I learned about “earth tones”. You know what, that might also be one of my most memorable moments as well. Those events helped me develop the character of Ordim even more and meet lots of people I normally wouldn’t have. Gemstone is very much a game of communities within communities. Get out there and see who you run into!

TownCrier Interview Sessions with GM Necios

2017-10-29T16:35:27Z

CANNEL: /* Introduction */

{{towncrier interview
|name= Necios
|caption=
|race=
|culture=
|class=
|profession= Assistant GameMaster
|religion=
|affiliations=
|word=
|disposition=
|demeanor=
|ptrait=
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By Oubar, TownCrier Correspondent 
28 Jastatos 5117 // October 28, 2017 - via correspondence 
----
==Introduction==
Necios is a GameMaster (GM) who has recently been making some noise in Icemule Trace. Since that's the beloved home of TownCrier Correspondent Oubar, he decided to approach Necios and request an interview. What follows is the result of that effort. Necios was open and approachable, and the results were illuminating. [Please note, as GMs don't really 'exist' in an IC aspect, this interview is solely out of character (OOC)]

{| class="wikitable" style="background-color:#fff6c1;" cellpadding="25" cellspacing="25"
|-
| "You can never have enough glitter." ~ GM Necios
|}

----

You see GameMaster Necios Seres the Precious.
He appears to be a Paradis Pirate.
He is pretty dang tiny for a halfling. He appears to be in his second childhood. He has bright blue eyes and pale skin. He has very short, tangled blue-black hair held in place with some gel. He has a scruffy face, a super cute nose and a pair of eyebrows on fleek. A small white tag attached to his foot reads “QC complete!” He has one hand constantly on his hip.
You can hardly recognize him covered in all that glitter!
He has a strikingly detailed tattoo of the great mountain Aenatumgana on his left forearm, a treacherous thundersnowstorm tattoo on his right arm, an oversized animated grinning skull tattoo on his shapely right calf muscle, and a shifting triquetra tattoo on the back of his neck.
Brilliant rainbow-hued sparks of light swirl lazily around him.
He is in good shape.
He is holding your lost rat or kitten in his right hand.
He is wearing a pair of black hipster glasses with a torn grey eyepatch underneath, a glowing crystalline prism, a squirming vibrating undulating glowing coupon for whatever you want, a purple big ugly kobold badge, a shiny gold star, a shaggy black dragon-shaped goat pin, a lost soul, a ginormous dictionary attached to a bright orange strap, a freakish typo, a sparkling gold Planeteer ring emblazoned with a tiny blue water symbol, a sparkling Pennant Chase baton, some office backpacks, a pair of amazing yellow trousers, a polished silver anklet from Icemule Trace, and some shimmering rainbow socks.

'''What’s your real name? (First Name Only please)
Come to SimuCon and find out!

'''Where are you located in real life?
Just outside of Blacksburg, VA. (Go Hokies!)

'''How old are you (approximately, if that’s what you’d prefer)?
I'll turn 35 in November.

'''What do you do in real life?
I'm a PhD candidate at Virginia Tech working on my dissertation. I study educational psychology and learning sciences. I'm focusing on the Virginia state sex education curriculum and whether or not it is effective as-is. Most days, though, I just GM and procrastinate. ;)

'''What's your favorite song in the whole world?
The world moves on, another day, another drama, drama... (Just kidding, but I don't really do "favorites" of anything. People tend to like my playlists, though.)

'''Who's your favorite author?
Mary Oliver comes to mind.

'''What's your favorite book?
I thought about it for a while, and I like these: the annual Best American Short Stories series, Auntie Mame, A Prayer for Owen Meany, Drown, El Llano en Llamas (The Burning Plain), and Bless Me, Ultima.

'''Who would you say is your hero, and why?
A combination of Thor (for the hammer and associated powers), Captain America (for the fortitude and resolve), and the Black Widow (for the superhuman agility and finesse). Those heroes can do anything and still have the same struggles we mere mortals face. Sorry if you were expecting me to say my first grade teacher or something...

'''If you could meet someone in person and talk to them one on one for half an hour, who would you pick, and why?
Barack Obama, because how did he deal with all the things? Actually, any President dead or alive would be a suitable answer for this question.

'''What's your favorite piece of gear you've ever owned in-game (if it's a signature piece that might out you, feel free to skip this one)?
My dhu kitten. I got it for about 100k long before they became cool (and very updated). Now very valuable, but priceless to me.

'''What's something in the game that you feel is horribly underappreciated? This can be a type of gear, a class, a spell, a hunting area, etc...
People who've learned Fire Spirit (111) and focused Web (118), especially Clerics and Empaths, should use those spells more. I feel like there is this expectation out there that those professions in particular should be exclusively casting warding spells. But if you run out of mana mid-hunt and have some spell aiming skill, you can use an assortment of wands! Amaooozing!

'''When/How did you start playing Gemstone? What drew you to it?
I started in 1996. I vaguely remember finding it through the "AOL Member's Choice" portal, or keyword: awesome things, or something. Heh. That bright white background with black text drew me in and I was hooked! I think my first turnip farmer act was following someone into the Catacombs and getting killed, then screaming in all caps that I didn't know what was going on. Somehow I figured it out, though!

'''Who was your main character, and what level did you/he attain?
My main character since '96 is [CENSORED!] and [she or he] is still alive and kicking at level 100 - actually, more like level 160 in experience.

'''What is your favorite part of playing Gemstone?
The magic (and associated messaging) has always been my favorite part. Never been a big weapon user or collector of heavy armor. I also like doing AG tasks; nothing beats that saturated feeling.

'''Do you still actively play aside from your GM role/duties?
I play about an hour or two a week if I'm lucky.

'''When/How did you start on the path to your current role?
I became a GameHost in 2010, and I served in that role for almost two years. Then I became a GameMaster and worked for almost a year before I had to leave staff due to a pretty serious family emergency. I returned in February of this year.

'''What is your official title these days?
I'm an Assistant GameMaster, and I've recently been appointed to the Subscriptions team. I will be working some with Icemule Trace in the coming days (though we no longer serve as "gurus" so don't get excited). I'm also a QCer, so I frequently check things over before they go live. Somehow I also earned the role of the BADNAME committee chair, so when decisions need to be made on names that fall into grey areas, I make sure that several GMs weigh in before an approval or rejection is made.

'''Can you give us a summary of what that title/role entails? What are your responsibilities?
Woops, I gave all that in the previous question. Though I also do a lot of customer service: Sadie scrolls, assists/referrals, bug fixes, merchanting, finding lost kittens...

'''How long have you been in that position?
I have been a QCer since I returned to staff. I was on the Events team from February or March until just a couple weeks ago.

'''What’s the thing you like most about your current role?
It's a tie between QCing and assists/referrals. I have a condition called surface dyslexia (but I play a text-based game... go figure, right?) so typos and grammar errors really jump out at me. Also, most of the time, players are enthralled by having a GM standing in front of them, and I love to goof off for them while figuring out where their runestaff went or why their morphing container/forehead gem is stuck or whatever else.

'''What’s the most frustrating thing about your current role?
I have a hard time coming up with original ideas for stories and such. I'm much better at embellishing an existing idea. Consequently, moving forward with Icemule Trace duties will be a personal challenge.

'''Are GMs volunteers, or paid employees (or both)? Are there other ‘benefits’ aside from monetary?
Wonderful Wyrom has already answered this question on multiple occasions. The best benefit, though, is being a GM. It's like playing the game from the other side, and it's extremely rewarding in that capacity.

'''What’s your favorite event to be a part of these days? Why?
Any event that I run. ;) My favorite kind of merchanting is tattoos.

'''Give us three things that you feel like most players would be surprised to realize.
Constructive criticism and a kind tone go a long way, so count to 10 (or 100 or 1000) before you post.
Someone is always listening if you have a new idea or suggestion, even if they don't respond.
You can never have enough glitter.

'''Give us a teaser (if you can) for something that’s definitely coming that people will be excited about.
There's something stirring in the air in Icemule Trace (besides snow).

'''What’s the best thing about Gemstone?
The best graphics processor is always and forever your imagination.

'''What’s the worst thing about Gemstone?
New players often don't have the patience we did 20 years ago to figure the game out.

'''How would you sell someone who had never heard of GS (or MUDs in general) on starting to play?
It's like The Elder Scrolls, but as a book. And the book talks to you, and you talk back, and you can write your own character, and the game helps you do that.

'''What do you think is the most common mistake made by players?
NOT REGISTERING AND MARKING EVERYTHING YOU OWN!!! Registering is especially important as it creates an EXACT RECORD of the item. No digging through logs or asking the janitor (most of the time)!

'''What’s one thing that you think every player should do at least once?
Serve as an officer for a CHE or MHO.

TownCrier Interview Sessions with GM Necios

2017-10-28T14:08:26Z

CANNEL:

{{towncrier interview
|name= Necios
|caption=
|race=
|culture=
|class=
|profession= Assistant GameMaster
|religion=
|affiliations=
|word=
|disposition=
|demeanor=
|ptrait=
|strait=
|flaw=
|strength=
|weakness=
|habits=
|hobbies=
|soft=
|likes=
|dislikes=
|fears=
|loyalties=
|friend=
|spouse=
|loved=
}}
By Oubar, TownCrier Correspondent 
28 Jastatos 5117 // October 28, 2017 - via correspondence 
----
==Introduction==
Necios is a GameMaster (GM) who has recently been making some noise in Icemule Trace. Since that's the beloved home of TownCrier Correspondent Oubar, he decided to approach Necios and request an interview. What follows is the result of that effort. Necios was open and approachable, and the results were illuminating. [Please note, as GMs don't really 'exist' in an IC aspect, this interview is solely out of character (OOC)]

{| class="wikitable" style="background-color:#fff6c1;" cellpadding="25" cellspacing="25"
|-
| "You can never have enough glitter." ~ GM Necios
|}

----

'''What’s your real name? (First Name Only please)
Come to SimuCon and find out!

'''Where are you located in real life?
Just outside of Blacksburg, VA. (Go Hokies!)

'''How old are you (approximately, if that’s what you’d prefer)?
I'll turn 35 in November.

'''What do you do in real life?
I'm a PhD candidate at Virginia Tech working on my dissertation. I study educational psychology and learning sciences. I'm focusing on the Virginia state sex education curriculum and whether or not it is effective as-is. Most days, though, I just GM and procrastinate. ;)

'''What's your favorite song in the whole world?
The world moves on, another day, another drama, drama... (Just kidding, but I don't really do "favorites" of anything. People tend to like my playlists, though.)

'''Who's your favorite author?
Mary Oliver comes to mind.

'''What's your favorite book?
I thought about it for a while, and I like these: the annual Best American Short Stories series, Auntie Mame, A Prayer for Owen Meany, Drown, El Llano en Llamas (The Burning Plain), and Bless Me, Ultima.

'''Who would you say is your hero, and why?
A combination of Thor (for the hammer and associated powers), Captain America (for the fortitude and resolve), and the Black Widow (for the superhuman agility and finesse). Those heroes can do anything and still have the same struggles we mere mortals face. Sorry if you were expecting me to say my first grade teacher or something...

'''If you could meet someone in person and talk to them one on one for half an hour, who would you pick, and why?
Barack Obama, because how did he deal with all the things? Actually, any President dead or alive would be a suitable answer for this question.

'''What's your favorite piece of gear you've ever owned in-game (if it's a signature piece that might out you, feel free to skip this one)?
My dhu kitten. I got it for about 100k long before they became cool (and very updated). Now very valuable, but priceless to me.

'''What's something in the game that you feel is horribly underappreciated? This can be a type of gear, a class, a spell, a hunting area, etc...
People who've learned Fire Spirit (111) and focused Web (118), especially Clerics and Empaths, should use those spells more. I feel like there is this expectation out there that those professions in particular should be exclusively casting warding spells. But if you run out of mana mid-hunt and have some spell aiming skill, you can use an assortment of wands! Amaooozing!

'''When/How did you start playing Gemstone? What drew you to it?
I started in 1996. I vaguely remember finding it through the "AOL Member's Choice" portal, or keyword: awesome things, or something. Heh. That bright white background with black text drew me in and I was hooked! I think my first turnip farmer act was following someone into the Catacombs and getting killed, then screaming in all caps that I didn't know what was going on. Somehow I figured it out, though!

'''Who was your main character, and what level did you/he attain?
My main character since '96 is [CENSORED!] and [she or he] is still alive and kicking at level 100 - actually, more like level 160 in experience.

'''What is your favorite part of playing Gemstone?
The magic (and associated messaging) has always been my favorite part. Never been a big weapon user or collector of heavy armor. I also like doing AG tasks; nothing beats that saturated feeling.

'''Do you still actively play aside from your GM role/duties?
I play about an hour or two a week if I'm lucky.

'''When/How did you start on the path to your current role?
I became a GameHost in 2010, and I served in that role for almost two years. Then I became a GameMaster and worked for almost a year before I had to leave staff due to a pretty serious family emergency. I returned in February of this year.

'''What is your official title these days?
I'm an Assistant GameMaster, and I've recently been appointed to the Subscriptions team. I will be working some with Icemule Trace in the coming days (though we no longer serve as "gurus" so don't get excited). I'm also a QCer, so I frequently check things over before they go live. Somehow I also earned the role of the BADNAME committee chair, so when decisions need to be made on names that fall into grey areas, I make sure that several GMs weigh in before an approval or rejection is made.

'''Can you give us a summary of what that title/role entails? What are your responsibilities?
Woops, I gave all that in the previous question. Though I also do a lot of customer service: Sadie scrolls, assists/referrals, bug fixes, merchanting, finding lost kittens...

'''How long have you been in that position?
I have been a QCer since I returned to staff. I was on the Events team from February or March until just a couple weeks ago.

'''What’s the thing you like most about your current role?
It's a tie between QCing and assists/referrals. I have a condition called surface dyslexia (but I play a text-based game... go figure, right?) so typos and grammar errors really jump out at me. Also, most of the time, players are enthralled by having a GM standing in front of them, and I love to goof off for them while figuring out where their runestaff went or why their morphing container/forehead gem is stuck or whatever else.

'''What’s the most frustrating thing about your current role?
I have a hard time coming up with original ideas for stories and such. I'm much better at embellishing an existing idea. Consequently, moving forward with Icemule Trace duties will be a personal challenge.

'''Are GMs volunteers, or paid employees (or both)? Are there other ‘benefits’ aside from monetary?
Wonderful Wyrom has already answered this question on multiple occasions. The best benefit, though, is being a GM. It's like playing the game from the other side, and it's extremely rewarding in that capacity.

'''What’s your favorite event to be a part of these days? Why?
Any event that I run. ;) My favorite kind of merchanting is tattoos.

'''Give us three things that you feel like most players would be surprised to realize.
Constructive criticism and a kind tone go a long way, so count to 10 (or 100 or 1000) before you post.
Someone is always listening if you have a new idea or suggestion, even if they don't respond.
You can never have enough glitter.

'''Give us a teaser (if you can) for something that’s definitely coming that people will be excited about.
There's something stirring in the air in Icemule Trace (besides snow).

'''What’s the best thing about Gemstone?
The best graphics processor is always and forever your imagination.

'''What’s the worst thing about Gemstone?
New players often don't have the patience we did 20 years ago to figure the game out.

'''How would you sell someone who had never heard of GS (or MUDs in general) on starting to play?
It's like The Elder Scrolls, but as a book. And the book talks to you, and you talk back, and you can write your own character, and the game helps you do that.

'''What do you think is the most common mistake made by players?
NOT REGISTERING AND MARKING EVERYTHING YOU OWN!!! Registering is especially important as it creates an EXACT RECORD of the item. No digging through logs or asking the janitor (most of the time)!

'''What’s one thing that you think every player should do at least once?
Serve as an officer for a CHE or MHO.

TownCrier Interview Sessions with GM Necios

2017-10-28T13:42:04Z

CANNEL: Created page with "{{towncrier interview |name= Necios |caption= |race= |culture= |class= |profession= Assistant GameMaster |religion= |affiliations= |word= |disposition= |demeanor= |ptrait=..."

{{towncrier interview
|name= Necios
|caption=
|race=
|culture=
|class=
|profession= Assistant GameMaster
|religion=
|affiliations=
|word=
|disposition=
|demeanor=
|ptrait=
|strait=
|flaw=
|strength=
|weakness=
|habits=
|hobbies=
|soft=
|likes=
|dislikes=
|fears=
|loyalties=
|friend=
|spouse=
|loved=
}}
By Oubar, TownCrier Correspondent 
28 Jastatos 5117 // October 28, 2017 - via correspondence 
----
==Introduction==
Necios is a GameMaster (GM) who has recently been making some noise in Icemule Trace. Since that's the beloved home of TownCrier Correspondent Oubar, he decided to approach Necios and request an interview. What follows is the result of that effort. Necios was open and approachable, and the results were illuminating. [Please note, as GMs don't really 'exist' in an IC aspect, this interview is solely out of character (OOC)]

{| class="wikitable" style="background-color:#fff6c1;" cellpadding="25" cellspacing="25"
|-
| "You can never have enough glitter." ~ GM Necios
|}

----

'''What’s your real name? (First Name Only please)
Kasey.

'''Where are you located in real life?
Just outside of Blacksburg, VA. (Go Hokies!)

'''How old are you (approximately, if that’s what you’d prefer)?
I'll turn 35 in November.

'''What do you do in real life?
I'm a PhD candidate at Virginia Tech working on my dissertation. I study educational psychology and learning sciences. I'm focusing on the Virginia state sex education curriculum and whether or not it is effective as-is. Most days, though, I just GM and procrastinate. ;)

'''What's your favorite song in the whole world?
The world moves on, another day, another drama, drama... (Just kidding, but I don't really do "favorites" of anything. People tend to like my playlists, though.)

'''Who's your favorite author?
Mary Oliver comes to mind.

'''What's your favorite book?
I thought about it for a while, and I like these: the annual Best American Short Stories series, Auntie Mame, A Prayer for Owen Meany, Drown, El Llano en Llamas (The Burning Plain), and Bless Me, Ultima.

'''Who would you say is your hero, and why?
A combination of Thor (for the hammer and associated powers), Captain America (for the fortitude and resolve), and the Black Widow (for the superhuman agility and finesse). Those heroes can do anything and still have the same struggles we mere mortals face. Sorry if you were expecting me to say my first grade teacher or something...

'''If you could meet someone in person and talk to them one on one for half an hour, who would you pick, and why?
Barack Obama, because how did he deal with all the things? Actually, any President dead or alive would be a suitable answer for this question.

'''What's your favorite piece of gear you've ever owned in-game (if it's a signature piece that might out you, feel free to skip this one)?
My dhu kitten. I got it for about 100k long before they became cool (and very updated). Now very valuable, but priceless to me.

'''What's something in the game that you feel is horribly underappreciated? This can be a type of gear, a class, a spell, a hunting area, etc...
People who've learned Fire Spirit (111) and focused Web (118), especially Clerics and Empaths, should use those spells more. I feel like there is this expectation out there that those professions in particular should be exclusively casting warding spells. But if you run out of mana mid-hunt and have some spell aiming skill, you can use an assortment of wands! Amaooozing!

'''When/How did you start playing Gemstone? What drew you to it?
I started in 1996. I vaguely remember finding it through the "AOL Member's Choice" portal, or keyword: awesome things, or something. Heh. That bright white background with black text drew me in and I was hooked! I think my first turnip farmer act was following someone into the Catacombs and getting killed, then screaming in all caps that I didn't know what was going on. Somehow I figured it out, though!

'''Who was your main character, and what level did you/he attain?
My main character since '96 is [CENSORED!] and [she or he] is still alive and kicking at level 100 - actually, more like level 160 in experience.

'''What is your favorite part of playing Gemstone?
The magic (and associated messaging) has always been my favorite part. Never been a big weapon user or collector of heavy armor. I also like doing AG tasks; nothing beats that saturated feeling.

'''Do you still actively play aside from your GM role/duties?
I play about an hour or two a week if I'm lucky.

'''When/How did you start on the path to your current role?
I became a GameHost in 2010, and I served in that role for almost two years. Then I became a GameMaster and worked for almost a year before I had to leave staff due to a pretty serious family emergency. I returned in February of this year.

'''What is your official title these days?
I'm an Assistant GameMaster, and I've recently been appointed to the Subscriptions team. I will be working some with Icemule Trace in the coming days (though we no longer serve as "gurus" so don't get excited). I'm also a QCer, so I frequently check things over before they go live. Somehow I also earned the role of the BADNAME committee chair, so when decisions need to be made on names that fall into grey areas, I make sure that several GMs weigh in before an approval or rejection is made.

'''Can you give us a summary of what that title/role entails? What are your responsibilities?
Woops, I gave all that in the previous question. Though I also do a lot of customer service: Sadie scrolls, assists/referrals, bug fixes, merchanting, finding lost kittens...

'''How long have you been in that position?
I have been a QCer since I returned to staff. I was on the Events team from February or March until just a couple weeks ago.

'''What’s the thing you like most about your current role?
It's a tie between QCing and assists/referrals. I have a condition called surface dyslexia (but I play a text-based game... go figure, right?) so typos and grammar errors really jump out at me. Also, most of the time, players are enthralled by having a GM standing in front of them, and I love to goof off for them while figuring out where their runestaff went or why their morphing container/forehead gem is stuck or whatever else.

'''What’s the most frustrating thing about your current role?
I have a hard time coming up with original ideas for stories and such. I'm much better at embellishing an existing idea. Consequently, moving forward with Icemule Trace duties will be a personal challenge.

'''Are GMs volunteers, or paid employees (or both)? Are there other ‘benefits’ aside from monetary?
Wonderful Wyrom has already answered this question on multiple occasions. The best benefit, though, is being a GM. It's like playing the game from the other side, and it's extremely rewarding in that capacity.

'''What’s your favorite event to be a part of these days? Why?
Any event that I run. ;) My favorite kind of merchanting is tattoos.

'''Give us three things that you feel like most players would be surprised to realize.
Constructive criticism and a kind tone go a long way, so count to 10 (or 100 or 1000) before you post.
Someone is always listening if you have a new idea or suggestion, even if they don't respond.
You can never have enough glitter.

'''Give us a teaser (if you can) for something that’s definitely coming that people will be excited about.
There's something stirring in the air in Icemule Trace (besides snow).

'''What’s the best thing about Gemstone?
The best graphics processor is always and forever your imagination.

'''What’s the worst thing about Gemstone?
New players often don't have the patience we did 20 years ago to figure the game out.

'''How would you sell someone who had never heard of GS (or MUDs in general) on starting to play?
It's like The Elder Scrolls, but as a book. And the book talks to you, and you talk back, and you can write your own character, and the game helps you do that.

'''What do you think is the most common mistake made by players?
NOT REGISTERING AND MARKING EVERYTHING YOU OWN!!! Registering is especially important as it creates an EXACT RECORD of the item. No digging through logs or asking the janitor (most of the time)!

'''What’s one thing that you think every player should do at least once?
Serve as an officer for a CHE or MHO.

TownCrier Interview Sessions with Dirvy

2017-09-23T12:05:43Z

CANNEL:

{{towncrier interview
|name= Dirvy
|caption=
|race= Sylvankind
|culture= Lassaran D'ahranal
|class= Empath
|profession= Healer
|religion=
|affiliations= House Sovyn
|word=
|disposition=
|demeanor=
|ptrait=
|strait=
|flaw=
|strength=
|weakness=
|habits=
|hobbies=
|soft=
|likes=
|dislikes=
|fears=
|loyalties=
|friend=
|spouse=
|loved=
}}
By Oubar, TownCrier Correspondent 
23 Imaeratos 5117 // September 23, 2017 - in the thinking tree of Executrix Dirvy 
----
==Introduction==
Dirvy is a pervasive presence, as she seems to be everywhere at once. This is largely due to her willingness to travel far abroad to help those who might need it. A tireless worker, she has been a welcome presence to many a fallen adventurer. She champions for those who need help, and is generous almost to a fault with her time and attentions. Dirvy made time recently to sit down with the Crier's own Oubar for an in-depth interview, and true to her nature, she provided breakfast.

{| class="wikitable" style="background-color:#fff6c1;" cellpadding="25" cellspacing="25"
|-
| "...There is nothing more rewarding than restoring a patient back to perfect health, or aiding the fallen so that their life can be restored." ~ Executrix Dirvy Aerilithren
|}

----
==The In-Character Interview==
<pre{{log2|background=none|border=none}}>

You see Executrix Dirvy Aerilithren the Master Physician.
She appears to be a Sylvankind of the Lassaran D'ahranal.
She is of a slight height and has an hourglass figure. She appears to be young and sprightly. She has sparkling acantha green eyes and flawless snowy white skin. She has ankle-length, white blonde hair caught up in a complex weave by the thorns at the back of a briar rose vine headpiece featuring gilded autumn-hued leaves. She has a cherub-like face, a pert, daintily upturned nose and petal pink, bow-shaped lips. She is wearing an icy blue battle standard bearing the burrows of Icemule Trace that juts over her shoulder.
She has a pitch-black crow tattoo perched upon a twisted branch on her ankle, a tiny pair of silvery clasped hands set along the slender tips of her pointed ears, a tattooed symbol of Imaera on her ankle, a series of tattooed tally marks on her neck, a blushing fairy tattoo on her finger, a tiny faenor sovyn clove in her left nostril, a silvery clasped-hands tattoo on her wrist, a vividly inked chipmunk tattoo riding in a dwarven mining cart on her wrist, and an inked bushy-tailed chipmunk on her ankle.
She is in good shape.
She is holding a white wicker picnic basket in her right hand.
She is wearing a moon-filled faenor pendant, a glowing pentagram suspended from a linked onyx neckchain, a copper-edged emerald Imaera symbol, a curling ivy choker, a glimmering silver bracelet crowned with a prismatic emerald damselfly saewehna, a blood-stained linen empath's cloak secured with an intricately carved onyx clasp, a small crystal Sovyn pin, a pale white butterfly pin with gossamer wings, a tiny golden firefly charm, a split-buckled bloodstained baldric with a twisted runestaff and a faewood staff secured to it slung over her shoulder, a plunging backless white lace sark with blood red-dipped bell sleeves over a russet leather bodysuit secured with multiple straps, a rune-worked silver engagement ring set with a trio of scarlet despanals, a silver clasped hands ring, a leaf-embossed suede belt, a hip-satchel embroidered with a sylph healing a wounded faendryl, a braided silver keyring, a blood red silk skirt embroidered with tiny black sylvan runes, a twining rose vine anklet, and some blood red silk knee-high stockings with ebon seams under some blood red crystal spike-heeled shoes inset with laje ladybugs. Several pale spirits converge upon a nearby spot, their bodies displaying the signs of past ravages. Soldiers in dented armor, men and woman in tattered clothing, and even a pale child in a nightgown, all converge upon a single space. Their bodies exude a chill mist that condenses into a pale column, which suddenly parts to Dirvy. As quickly as they came, the spirits scatter to the winds.

Dirvy covers her faenor pendant with her palm, and an incandescent green haze surrounding her form fades.

A quirky spring spirit floats in, following Dirvy.

You beam happily at Dirvy!

You bow to Dirvy.

Dirvy waves to you.

Speaking to Dirvy, you exclaim, "Good morning!"

Speaking brightly to you, Dirvy asks, "Good morning. How does it find you?"

You adopt an agreeable expression.

Speaking to Dirvy, you say, "Fairly well so far, though a bit busier than usual. Still, better that than boredom."

Dirvy starts chuckling at you!

Speaking softly to you, Dirvy says, "I am rarely ever bored, and always busy, so I can agree with that."

You grin at Dirvy.

Speaking to Dirvy, you ask, "An enviable position to be in. Is this still a convenient time for you?"

Dirvy nods to you.

Speaking to Dirvy, you say, "In that case, I'll follow your lead and let you choose whatever venue works best for you."

You bow to Dirvy.

Dirvy gently takes hold of your hand.

A pumpkin orange tabby kitten suddenly streaks into the room, pitching headfirst into the ground.

A bushy-tailed chipmunk scurries into the room.

Dirvy softly says, "It is a place not a lot of people know about or remember."

Dirvy softly says, "Which makes it perfect for me."

You nod understandingly.

Dirvy softly says, "When I want to get things done."

Dirvy chuckles.

[Editor's note: Traveling to Dirvy's thinking tree]

Dirvy softly says, "And here we are."

You grin from ear to ear.

Dirvy chuckles.

You say, "I never even knew this place existed."

Dirvy softly says, "Not many do."

Dirvy carefully places a white wicker picnic basket on the ground.

You nod approvingly.

Dirvy softly says, "And I brought breakfast."

You beam happily at Dirvy!

You sit down.

A pumpkin orange tabby kitten saunters past, brushing against you only long enough to deposit a few stray kitten hairs onto your person before continuing on.

You pet the orange tabby kitten.
The orange tabby kitten nips at your fingers playfully.

You glance at a pumpkin orange tabby kitten and grin.

The fluffy kitten is a bright pumpkin orange-hued tabby with rich sienna striping. Her long, fluffy tail is striped from base to tip, resembling that of a lemur. Her sharply pointed ears are tufted and her paws appear larger than normal. The kitten's emerald green eyes are vigilant, as if looking for trouble. A silver collar etched with the runes of a summoning circle adorns her neck, bearing a tiny silver acantha leaf-shaped tag that reads, "Punkin".

In the wicker picnic basket you see some fluffy scrambled eggs, a pair of fried round eggs, a slab of smoked ham, a trio of thin bacon slices, a trio of venison sausage links, several orange wedges, a stack of blueberry pancakes, a stack of buttery griddle cakes, a glass of orange juice, a glass of cranberry juice, a small bottle of milk, a buttered herb biscuit, a large mug of dark roasted coffee and some hazelnut cinnamon coffee.

Dirvy softly says, "Help yourself to anything in the basket."

At the thought of food, your stomach growls.

Speaking to Dirvy, you exclaim, "I... don't mind if I do, actually. Thank you!"

You blink.

You reach over to your forehead and guide the glossy black spider to your awaiting hand.

You absent-mindedly drop a small glossy black spider into your grey wolf fur satchel.

Dirvy giggles.

You mumble something under your breath.

Dirvy softly asks, "All of Imaera's children have a place, yes?"

You nod at Dirvy.

Dirvy softly says, "Sometimes, your forehead is that place."

Dirvy chortles softly at some secret joke.

Speaking dryly to Dirvy, you say, "Apparently."

A pumpkin orange tabby kitten turns away from a bushy-tailed chipmunk, ignoring it with the finality that only felines can muster.

Dirvy removes a small bottle of milk from in a white wicker picnic basket.

Dirvy attempts to feed a small bottle of milk to a pumpkin orange tabby kitten.
With supreme indifference, the orange tabby kitten calmly licks its paw.

Dirvy attempts to feed a small bottle of milk to a pumpkin orange tabby kitten.
The orange tabby kitten settles its head in against her wrist and it purrs contentedly.

Speaking softly to a pumpkin orange tabby kitten, Dirvy says, "Alright, then."

Dirvy shows a small bottle of milk to a bushy-tailed chipmunk, setting it on the ground as the rodent sneaks forward to sniff at the proffered beverage suspiciously. Apparently satisfied the chipmunk drags the milk off a ways and begins lapping at it, watching the surroundings warily.

You grin at Dirvy.

The bushy-tailed chipmunk laps at a small bottle of milk, its eyes darting back and forth, scanning for potential threats.

Dirvy softly says, "She must have already gotten her breakfast this morning."

Finished with a small bottle of milk, the bushy-tailed chipmunk makes a cursory pass of its paws over its whiskers, nosing at the ground for spilled drops.

You nod understandingly.

Speaking to Dirvy, you ask, "So, if you don't mind eating while we talk, we can get started?"

You smile at Dirvy.

Dirvy softly says, "As you wish."

You say, "As we discussed, if there's anything you'd prefer not to answer, please just let me know and we can move past it."

Dirvy nods understandingly to you.

Dirvy removes some hazelnut cinnamon coffee from in a white wicker picnic basket.

Dirvy blows on her cinnamon coffee.

Speaking to Dirvy, you say, "I generally start out with questions that are fairly common knowledge, so forgive me if I ask something that is pretty obvious. It's setting the scene, or so my editor tells me."

'''Speaking to Dirvy, you ask, "To that end, what is your profession?"'''

Speaking softly to you, Dirvy says, "I am an empath."

''Speaking to Dirvy, you ask, "What would you say is the best thing about being an Empath?"''

Speaking softly to you, Dirvy ponders, "The best thing about being a healer, for me, is the chance to help others. It is what I like to do with my time. And there is nothing more rewarding than restoring a patient back to perfect health, or aiding the fallen so that their life can be restored."

''Speaking to Dirvy, you ask, "What about the worst part? The thing that might make others shy away from the profession?"''

Dirvy ponders.

Speaking softly to you, Dirvy asks, "Things were different for me, when I first set out to practice my skills. But, sometimes, healing seems very... competitive?"

You nod slowly.

With a happy trilling mrrrrow, a pumpkin orange tabby kitten clambers inside of a white wicker picnic basket.

Speaking to Dirvy, you say, "I've definitely noticed that trend myself."

Speaking softly to you, Dirvy explains, "There are a lot of healers trying to learn, so they sometimes step over each other, and forget that there are others who are trying to learn just as they are."

Speaking softly to you, Dirvy says, "It can be frustrating, and I hear their complaints. And while I can only offer advice on how to make things a little smoother, it does not always go that way. And feelings can be hurt, which is unfortunate. Healers are an important part of any town. And we never want to make any feel that they are unwelcome or having to fight to practice their healing arts."

A pumpkin orange tabby kitten slowly begins to crawl out from inside a white wicker picnic basket when it suddenly misgauges where its paws are! With a small WHUMP, the orange tabby kitten lands in an ungangly heap of flailing legs and tail before righting itself with a plaintive mew.

Speaking to Dirvy, you say, "Well said, and I completely agree, for what it's worth."

'''Speaking to Dirvy, you ask, "What can you tell us about your early life, before becoming an adventurer? What got you started on the path?"'''

Speaking softly to you, Dirvy says, "My parents are scholars. So, naturally, they expected me to follow in their path. But, growing up and hearing the early stories about why we no longer live in Yuriqen, and all the pain and suffering that was caused during that time... well, that and being surrounded by the beauty that Imaera and Kuon created, I felt drawn to another path. So, with my parents' reluctant blessing, I studied the healing arts. And once my studies were completed, I was sent to Icemule to practice them."

You nod understandingly.

Speaking softly to you, Dirvy says, "I lived a good portion of my childhood in libraries. It was not a place I wanted to spend the rest of my life."

Dirvy chuckles.

You chuckle at Dirvy.

'''You ask, "What town do you currently call home?"'''

Speaking softly to you, Dirvy says, "Well, I am very much your typical Lassaran."

Dirvy chuckles.

You try hard not to grin.

Speaking softly to you, Dirvy says, "So, I travel a lot. But, Icemule will always be home for me."

'''You ask, "Where do you typically hunt these days?"'''

Dirvy softly says, "Mostly in Nelemar on the island of Teras... when I hunt, which is not often. I never did enjoy the act of taking lives. But, I understand it is necessary, in order to prevent the creatures from overtaking the towns."

You nod understandingly.

'''You ask, "And what's your preferred method of hunting?"'''

Dirvy softly says, "I use warding spells, have only ever used warding spells, and will likely never change this. I find it easier than trying to study alternate methods, and what has worked for me all this time, will work for me forever."

Dirvy chuckles.

'''You ask, "To circle back just a touch... you mentioned that your parents are both scholars. Would you say that growing up with that influence has had any direct impact on your day to day life?"'''

Dirvy softly says, "Well, as I mentioned, I spent a lot of my childhood in libraries. I appreciated the access to books and tomes and scrolls my parents gave me as a child, so I definitely have their thirst for knowledge."

Dirvy softly says, "I am always trying to learn new things. I know there are so many things I still have yet to learn, and every day I try to learn something new."

You nod approvingly.

You try hard not to grin.

'''Speaking to Dirvy, you ask, "Are you married?"'''
Dirvy smiles quietly to herself.

Speaking softly to you, Dirvy says, "Not yet, but soon. Zailon Britbane and I are hoping to be married under the stars of Imaera during Eoantos."

''Speaking to Dirvy, you ask, "My congratulations to you both! How did the two of you meet?"''

Speaking softly to you, Dirvy says, "We actually met in Icemule, well over a year ago. I had just arrived to the town, a very, very young healer who had no idea what she was doing. I was sent there, because there was a real need for a full-time healer, and I found more than my share of work. At first, the townspeople were reluctant to trust me. Why would they, when they had gone without a proper healer for awhile? But, Zailon was one of the ones who warmed up to me almost immediately, and helped me learn the town. Made me giggle when I felt overwhelmed. We would talk long into the night about all sorts of things. He was my best friend for the longest time."

Dirvy furrows her brow.

You smile quietly to yourself.

Dirvy softly says, "But then, I actually did get married back then, and he was engaged to someone else. And we grew apart over his engagement. Partly because I did not trust the woman he planned to marry, and partly because of..."

Dirvy blushes sheepishly to herself.

Dirvy softly admits, "Well, I was jealous. Despite being already married myself!"

Dirvy giggles to herself.

Dirvy softly says, "We reconnected sometime after the end of my marriage and the end of his engagement. But, things did not seem to... fall into place, until we found ourselves on Teras. We went hunting and spent time just talking and wandering around town. And somehow, we both realized what we already knew. That there was definitely something between us, and had always been. So, he seized the opportunity, and a little while later, asked me to be his wife. And, here we are. Planning our wedding a few months later."

Speaking to Dirvy, you say, "They say that those who are meant to be will find each other no matter the obstacles in their way."

''Speaking to Dirvy, you ask, "What would you say are the best three things about him?"''

You grin.

Dirvy ponders.

Dirvy softly says, "Gracious, I could get into trouble with this question."

Dirvy chuckles.

Speaking carefully to Dirvy, you say, "That may or may not be why it's in there."

You try hard not to grin.

Dirvy softly says, "His sense of humor. I love that he can make me laugh, despite whatever mood I may be in."

You nod understandingly.

Dirvy softly says, "His silliness. I get to see a side that nobody else gets to see. Most would see a dangerous sorcerer, sometimes brooding, sometimes angry. But I see his silly side, like his love for his kitten, Rumbles. And how he plays with her. Or how he always comes up with silly names for me or the things we are doing."

You grin at Dirvy.

Dirvy softly says, "Which brings me to the third thing that I find best about him. He never fails to feed me."

Dirvy chuckles.

Dirvy softly says, "He always brings me breakfast, because he says "Breakfast Dirvy is the best part of the day". And he is frequently searching out sweets and exotic wines and foods, just so we can try them."

Dirvy chuckles to herself.

You say, "That's very sweet."

Dirvy softly says, "He is incredibly sweet, despite what he wants everyone else to see."

You grin at Dirvy.

'''Speaking to Dirvy, you ask, "Are you a member of one of the Great Houses?"'''

Speaking softly to you, Dirvy says, "I am. I am the Executrix of House Sovyn. Which is just a fancy title for Co-Chairperson."

Dirvy chuckles.

''Speaking to Dirvy, you ask, "What would you say drew you to House Sovyn initially?"''

Speaking softly to you, Dirvy says, "I love that House Sovyn is so selective with whom they allow membership. I love that we are a healing house, and we devote our time and effort doing just that... healing our community and helping others."

''Speaking to Dirvy, you ask, "You mentioned that the House is selective. What would you say your criteria is?"''

Speaking softly to you, Dirvy says, "House Sovyn only allows members of the empath, cleric, and paladin professions to become members, as well as their spouses, despite their spouses' professions."

You nod understandingly.

'''Speaking to Dirvy, you ask, "What about Meeting Hall Organizations? Are you a member of any of those?"'''

Speaking softly to you, Dirvy says, "I am a member, as well as the Elder Sentinel Advisor of The Order of the Sphere and Scythe. It is an organization that strives to preserve the past, protect the present, and predict the future. We are a group of people, some are clairvoyant, others protect those who are, and all of us work to preserve the history of Elanthia."

'''Speaking to Dirvy, you ask, "What would you say is your most prized possession?"'''

Dirvy smiles quietly to herself.

Dirvy softly exclaims, "My kitty!"

Dirvy glances at a pumpkin orange tabby kitten as if it really needs a hug.

You grin at Dirvy.

Dirvy carefully places some hazelnut cinnamon coffee on the ground.

Dirvy carefully lifts the kitten by the scruff of its neck and then tucks it gently into the crook of her arm.

Dirvy wraps her arms around her orange tabby kitten affectionately, squeezing it enthusiastically.
Dirvy's orange tabby kitten hooks a claw in her clothing and she has to help it get loose.

Dirvy giggles.

Dirvy gives her orange tabby kitten an affectionate smooch and places it carefully on the ground. It gazes about with wide curious eyes.

A pumpkin orange tabby kitten eyes you with flattened ears and puffs up into a ball of affronted fluff.

You chuckle to yourself.

Dirvy softly says, "I love Punkin more than all the things I own."

'''Speaking to Dirvy, you ask, "Assuming it's different, what would you say is your most valuable possession?"'''

Dirvy picks up some hazelnut cinnamon coffee.

Dirvy takes a drink from her cinnamon coffee.

Dirvy ponders.

Dirvy softly says, "Well, I do not own a lot of valuable things. While my kitten is certainly one of those things, I guess my other most valuable item would be my nervestaff."

You nod understandingly.

'''Speaking to Dirvy, you say, "What would you say is your most memorable moment from your time as an adventurer? A singular event or instant that's etched in your mind..."'''

Dirvy chuckles to herself.

Dirvy softly says, "This would have to be one that is also etched in the minds of several, if not many, others."

Dirvy gives a sidelong glance at a bushy-tailed chipmunk.

You try hard not to grin.

You nod encouragingly.

Dirvy softly says, "When I was a very young healer in Icemule, a lovely woman had fallen in the snow of Pinefar and needed help. I tried to help her, but failed miserably, and died on the way. After we were both rescued and restored to life, she gifted me with my chipmunk, to show her appreciation for me trying to help her. At the time, she told me he was a lot of trouble, which I thought was odd. He was such a tiny little thing."

Dirvy chuckles.

The bushy-tailed chipmunk forages around, finding a long slimy grub which it pounces on and devours with rodent glee.

Dirvy softly says, "However, I named him Rashwe, which is Elven for "Trouble", since that seemed to be what he was known for. Little did I know that he would live up to that name."

Dirvy chuckles.

You nod understandingly.

Dirvy softly says, "While getting him as a gift was memorable, the most memorable moment of my life would be the night I went to help a rogue who had injured himself and was unable to climb on his way to Zul Logoth."

Dirvy softly says, "I went to take the gentleman herbs, it was very late into the night and no others were available, and it is not uncommon for me to make long journeys to help others."

Dirvy softly says, "We travelled to Zul Logoth together, and visited an Inn for a couple drinks and some conversation while we were there. After awhile, we went to the area where the mining carts are, and said our goodbyes, preparing to leave for the night."

Dirvy chuckles to herself.

You try hard not to grin.

Dirvy softly says, "However, the mining cart heading towards the Landing seemed to be out of order."

Dirvy softly says, "There was a lot of confusion after that, as many were trying to get from the Landing to Zul Logoth, others were trying to travel, as we were, to the Landing. But, we all seemed to be stranded for the night, unless we had other methods of travel. We did, of course, and we made it to the Landing via the Chronomages, and said our goodbyes."

Dirvy softly says, "I believe it was the next day, perhaps the day after, that I was in River's Rest, hunting with a friend of mine, when a messenger came to me. The messenger asked if I had taken the mining cart in Zul Logoth."

Dirvy chuckles.

Dirvy softly says, "I was quite confused by this question, considering there is no need to take the mining cart from the Landing to River's Rest."

Dirvy softly says, "I told them so, and the messenger went on their way."

Dirvy giggles.

Dirvy softly says, "A short time later, the messenger returned and said, "No, you TOOK the mining cart."."

Dirvy furrows her brow.

Dirvy softly says, "Again, confused, I asked them to explain. Apparently..."

Dirvy chuckles.

Dirvy softly says, "Rashwe had somehow absconded with the mining cart the night we were in Zul Logoth, and had stowed it in his nest. Now, while this sounds completely fantastic, what is worse is, his nest was in my cloak. So, I apparently had been carrying around a mining cart without my knowledge."

Dirvy chuckles.

You laugh with delight!

Dirvy softly says, "Nobody can figure out how he managed to steal a mining cart and hide it away in his nest in my cloak, considering his small stature."

Speaking wryly to Dirvy, you exclaim, "Trouble, indeed!"

Dirvy softly exclaims, "Unfortunately, I was not allowed to keep the mining cart, though I tried!"

Dirvy nods enthusiastically to you!

Dirvy chuckles.

Dirvy shows you a vividly inked chipmunk tattoo riding in a dwarven mining cart.
Scrolling letters are inked beneath the mining cart that read "Lumnea 26, 5116"

Dirvy giggles to herself.

Dirvy shows you an inked bushy-tailed chipmunk.
The bushy-tailed chipmunk is inked in a deep sienna with vivid black lines. He is covered in spots resembling grease, and is peeking through the bars of a jail cell. Above the cell door is a plaque that reads, "Zul Logoth's Most Wanted".

You laugh out loud!

Dirvy softly asks, "So, when I am long gone, and people ask others what is the one thing that defines me?"

Dirvy points at a bushy-tailed chipmunk.

Dirvy chuckles.

You chuckle to yourself.

Dirvy softly says, "It is a night I will never forget."

Dirvy chuckles.

'''Speaking to Dirvy, you ask, "What would you say is your most embarrassing moment?"'''

You grin wryly.

Dirvy giggles.

Dirvy softly exclaims, "Besides that?!"

You rub your chin thoughtfully.

Dirvy ponders.

You ask, "I suppose we could count that, actually. Unless you have another you'd like to share?"

You chuckle.

Dirvy softly says, "Hmm. I honestly cannot think of any embarassing moments. I am usually very careful how I conduct myself in public. Though I have lived around others for a year and a half, I am still learning how to act around them. I spent all of my life in forests and libraries, so once I moved to Icemule, I was thrown into a world I had not previously known. I am sure I have done embarassing things, I just cannot recall any... which is probably a blessing."

Dirvy chuckles.

The tips of some whiskers and a bit of nose belonging to a pumpkin orange tabby kitten appear from inside a white wicker picnic basket. The kitten blinks owlishly for a second and then ducks back out of sight.

Dirvy glances at a white wicker picnic basket.

Speaking softly to a white wicker picnic basket, Dirvy says, "I did offer you breakfast."

You agree with Dirvy.

Speaking to Dirvy, you exclaim, "You did, I witnessed it!"

'''Speaking to Dirvy, you ask, "Would you be willing to give us a rough idea of your current bank balance?"'''

Dirvy starts chuckling at you!

Speaking softly to you, Dirvy says, "Oh, my bank account is in a very sorry state, indeed. Which, is actually typical. I never have much money."

Dirvy softly says, "I believe... I have about 2 million silvers in my account right now."

You nod understandingly.

Dirvy softly says, "I have a bad (or good) habit of spending my money on others for things they need. So, I can never keep money, and I definitely cannot save it."

Dirvy chuckles.

'''Speaking to Dirvy, you ask, "Similarly, would you be willing to share a glimpse into one of your lockers? No details or anything, just a peek?"'''

Speaking softly to you, Dirvy says, "I do not mind, but be warned, my lockers are always in a state of disarray."

Dirvy chuckles.

You grin at Dirvy.

Speaking dryly to Dirvy, you say, "I can certainly understand that."

You shudder.

In a deep chest:
a bundle of bone-tipped fir arrows
a shadowy black burglar's cloak
a vine-motif small cast iron stove
a bundle of rough faewood arrow shafts
a bundle of rough faewood arrow shafts
a gold-banded short glass jar
a dark brown narrow-necked bottle
an enruned steel strongbox
a badly damaged iron strongbox
an engraved silver trunk

In a clothing wardrobe:
a weathered leather bandolier
an opalescent glass jar containing green aventurine stones (20/20)
an opalescent glass jar containing pink sapphires (20/20)
an opalescent glass jar containing banded sardonyx stones (20/20)
a heart-etched crimson glass jar containing blue topazes (20/20)
an opalescent glass jar containing golden beryl gems (20/20)
a swirled rainbow glass bottle containing white opals (50/50)
an opalescent glass jar containing quartz crystals (20/20)

In a magical item bin:
an opalescent glass jar containing polished blue coral (1/20)
a skull-etched black glass jar
an opalescent glass jar
an opalescent tan glass jar containing star diopsides (12/20)
an opalescent glass jar containing dark red-green bloodstones (18/20)
an opalescent azure glass jar containing clear zircons (2/20)
an opalescent glass jar containing blue topazes (4/20)
an opalescent glass jar containing pink sapphires (4/20)
an opalescent glass jar containing large white pearls (15/20)
an opalescent glass jar containing green garnets (8/20)
an opalescent glass jar containing piece of yellow jaspers (19/20)
an opalescent blue glass jar containing blue tourmalines (4/20)
an opalescent glass jar containing polished pink coral (13/20)
an opalescent glass jar containing polished black coral (1/20)
a translucent glaes jar containing pink tourmalines (3/20)
an opalescent glass jar containing mottled agates (16/20)
an opalescent azure glass jar containing banded sardonyx stones (2/20)
an opalescent glass jar containing clear sapphires (5/20)
an opalescent glass jar containing rock crystals (17/20)
a heart-etched crimson glass jar containing iridescent labradorite stones (6/20)
a slender multicolored bottle containing white opals (6/50)
a small round glass jar containing yellow zircons (31/50)
an opalescent glass jar containing blue spinels (2/20)
a swirled rainbow glass bottle containing violet sapphires (11/50)
a tall silver-streaked bottle containing uncut rubies (12/50)
an opalescent glass jar containing pink rhodochrosite stones (13/20)
an opalescent glass jar containing blue sapphires (15/20)
a slender multicolored bottle containing green tourmalines (33/50)
an opalescent glass jar containing yellow sapphires (12/20)
an opalescent glass jar containing aquamarine gems (4/20)
an opalescent glass jar containing deep purple amethysts (1/20)
an opalescent glass jar containing bright chrysoberyl gems (4/20)
a slender multicolored bottle containing piece of green jades (13/50)
an opalescent glass jar containing piece of black jaspers (19/20)
an opalescent glass jar containing piece of cat's eye quartzes (3/20)
a thick glass jar containing piece of smoky quartzes (15/20)
an opalescent glass jar containing rock crystals (19/20)
a small round glass jar containing green zircons (38/50)
a tall glass jar containing golden beryl gems (1/20)
an opalescent glass jar containing green malachite stones (9/20)
an opalescent glass jar containing star sapphires (8/20)
an opalescent glass jar containing red spinels (10/20)
a slender multicolored bottle containing piece of rose quartzes (7/50)
an opalescent glass jar containing violet spinels (5/20)
an opalescent glass jar containing turquoise stones (1/20)
an opalescent glass jar containing smoky topazes (3/20)
an opalescent glass jar containing clear topazes (6/20)
a small round glass jar containing light pink morganite stones (35/50)
an opalescent dark glass jar containing green zircons (5/20)
a small round glass jar containing star rubies (16/50)
a small round glass jar containing piece of golden ambers (36/50)
an opalescent glass jar containing black opals (3/20)
an opalescent red glass jar containing black tourmalines (4/20)
a sun-etched golden glass jar containing pink topazes (8/20)
an opalescent glass jar containing golden topazes (6/20)
a swirled rainbow glass bottle containing fire opals (46/50)
an opalescent glass jar containing almandine garnets (15/20)
an opalescent glass jar containing pink spinels (14/20)
an opalescent glass jar containing clear tourmalines (4/20)
an opalescent glass jar containing polished red coral (1/20)
a pale green glass jar containing uncut diamonds (20/20)
a vaalin-banded square glass jar containing uncut emeralds (50/50)
an opalescent glass jar containing blue lapis lazuli (10/20)
an opalescent glass jar containing small grey pearls (11/20)
an opalescent glass jar containing black dreamstones (1/20)
an opalescent glass jar containing dragonfire quartz (1/20)
a vaalin-banded square glass jar containing uncut diamonds (2/50)

On a weapon rack:
a dark red minstrel's cloak
a floor-length hooded black cloak
a fuschia-hued faewood runestaff capped with a polished ruby
a ruby-hilted black rolaren longsword
a bamboo-hafted vultite handaxe
a smooth orase runestaff inlaid with veins of copper
a polished ruic long bow with a suede leather grip

Obvious items: 92

Dirvy takes a drink from her cinnamon coffee.

Dirvy softly says, "My lockers are always full of... stuff."

Dirvy chuckles.

Dirvy softly says, "One day, I will get rid of some of it. One day."

'''Speaking to Dirvy, you ask, "What other adventurer would you say has had the largest influence on your life to this point?"'''

Dirvy softly says, "Hmm. This is a tough question."

You nod in agreement.

Dirvy softly says, "I guess I would say Eruheran. He is the Patriarch of House Sovyn. I say this, because he kept his eye on me when I was in Icemule. And he is the one who extended an invitation to me to join House Sovyn. He was also the one who recommended me (or voluntold more like it) for an officer position as Co-Secretary. From my position in the House, I have been able to help many more people than I could have done on my own. Not only from the support of House Sovyn, but from the influence that I have both inside and outside of the House."

You nod appreciatively.

Dirvy softly says, "It was his trust in me, him believing in me, that enabled me to do many of the things I have done in the community. And I strive to make him proud, though I give him a hard time. But I must be doing a good job of it, since he recommended me for the Co-Chairperson position."

Dirvy gives a lopsided grin.

You chuckle to yourself.

'''Speaking to Dirvy, you ask, "And finally, what would you say your mission is? What drives you to get out of bed every day and continue on your path?"'''

You grin at Dirvy.

Speaking softly to you, Dirvy says, "Helping others. It is all I ever wanted to do. And most of the time, it is what I am doing. Those who know me, will have heard me say I am "working" most days. They know this means I am doing something for someone else, or something that will help others once I am finished."

You chuckle.

Dirvy softly says, "I have had so much help along the way, and still do have help when I need it. I want others to feel they can rely on me, just as easily."

Speaking to Dirvy, you say, "Of all the questions on the sheet, this was the one I felt I could have answered for you. You've helped me on numerous occasions, and that's a sentiment that is shared by everyone I know of."

Speaking to Dirvy, you say, "On their behalf, and my own, thank you for all that you do."

You bow to Dirvy.

Dirvy chuckles.

You grin at Dirvy.

Dirvy inclines her head.

Dirvy softly says, "It is always my pleasure."

Speaking to Dirvy, you ask, "And with that, I've come to the end of my sheet! Is there anything else you'd like to discuss on the record?"

You grin at Dirvy.

Dirvy looks over at you and shakes her head.

Dirvy softly says, "Nothing that I can think of."

You nod in agreement.

Speaking softly to a pumpkin orange tabby kitten, Dirvy asks, "Get your fill, did you?"

Dirvy shakes her head at a pumpkin orange tabby kitten and clucks her tongue.

Dirvy glances at a white wicker picnic basket.

You glance at a pumpkin orange tabby kitten and grin.

Dirvy softly asks, "Did she leave anything in there?"

In the wicker picnic basket you see some fluffy scrambled eggs, a pair of fried round eggs, a slab of smoked ham, a trio of thin bacon slices, several orange wedges, a stack of blueberry pancakes, a stack of buttery griddle cakes, a glass of orange juice and a glass of cranberry juice.

Speaking to Dirvy, you say, "Looks like she likely just took a nap amongst it."

Dirvy chuckles.

You grin crookedly.

Dirvy softly says, "Well, a little cat hair never killed anyone."

Dirvy chuckles.

You nod sagely.

Speaking to Dirvy, you say, "Thank you so much for agreeing to this, and making time this morning for me."

You stand back up.

Interlocking your fingers, you slowly extend your arms up over your head in a long, satisfying stretch.

Dirvy softly says, "It was my pleasure. Though, I admit, I was nervous. I think everyone fears they will look foolish."

Dirvy chuckles.

Dirvy rises, momentarily holding the fabric of her skirt up until her feet are firmly planted underneath her.

Dirvy picks up a white wicker picnic basket.

Dirvy put a white wicker picnic basket in her linen empath's cloak.

Speaking to Dirvy, you say, "You did fantastic. It's going to make my job so much easier."

You chuckle at Dirvy.

Dirvy softly says, "We shall see."

[Editor's note: Travel back to town]

Dirvy softly says, "And here we are."

You stare at nothing in particular.

A bushy-tailed chipmunk scurries into the room.

Dirvy giggles.

You say, "Amazing."

You chuckle at Dirvy.

Dirvy nods firmly.

Speaking to Dirvy, you say, "Thank you again, Ms. Dirvy. It was a delight, the food was wonderful, and you made it a great experience."

Dirvy softly asks, "Would you like to take the picnic basket with you?"

You give your eyebrow a little workout.

Dirvy removes a white wicker picnic basket from in her linen empath's cloak.

Dirvy offers you a white wicker picnic basket.

Dirvy appears to be poking herself.

You beam happily at Dirvy!

Dirvy softly exclaims, "I do not need it!"

You accept Dirvy's offer and are now holding a white wicker picnic basket.

Dirvy chuckles.

Speaking to Dirvy, you exclaim, "Thank you!"

Dirvy softly says, "Of course."

Speaking to Dirvy, you say, "It will be put to excellent use."

You nod firmly.

Dirvy softly says, "Sovyn's cart is in the square, if you want to refill it."

Dirvy chuckles.

You grin at Dirvy.

Speaking to Dirvy, you say, "Thank you once more. It was a pleasure. I hope you have a wonderful rest of your day."

With a daring leap, the orange tabby kitten launches itself from atop the Oubar disk! It deftly and silently lands on the ground on all four feet looking quite pleased with itself.

You glance at a pumpkin orange tabby kitten and grin.

Speaking softly to you, Dirvy says, "You, as well. Thank you for the discussion. I look forward to your report."

You bow to Dirvy.

Dirvy pets a pumpkin orange tabby kitten.
The orange tabby kitten kneads its tiny paws against the ground, purring slightly.

Speaking softly to a pumpkin orange tabby kitten, Dirvy says, "Behave."

You snicker.

You wave to Dirvy.

Dirvy waves to you.
</pre>
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{| class="wikitable" style="background-color:#fff6c1;" cellpadding="25" cellspacing="25"
|-
| "Not necessarily something a player should do at least once, but players should explore Gemstone. There are so many hidden areas and forgotten secrets in this game, and all of them have a history." ~ Executrix Dirvy
|}
----

==The Out-of-Character Interview==

'''What s your real name? (First name only please)'''
:Tiffany

'''Where are you located, geographically?'''
:North Carolina

'''What do you do for a living?'''
:N/A

'''How long have you played Gemstone?'''
:Since 1995.

''Have you taken any breaks, or played straight through?''
:I took a break at the end of December 1999, and didn't come back until April 2015.

'''How many different main characters have you had over the years?'''
:I technically have only ever had one main character, but Dirvy sort of took over once I created her. So, I guess you could say I have two main characters.

'''Who are/were your most notable characters'''
:Chaddeaux and Dirvy

'''Do you have multiple accounts that you play at the same time?'''
:No, I am terrible at MAing. I do it when it is necessary to bring in a utility alt (cleric, mage, etc.) for someone else, but I am not a fan of people who run around all the time with a string of utility alts in their group. There are very few people I have met who can actually pull off a believable MA. Unfortunately, I am not one of them.

'''Do you have a Premium subscription?'''
:Yes, two of them.

'''What front-end do you use? (Stormfront, Wizard, Profanity, other)?'''
:Stormfront

''Why?''
:In the 90s, I used Wizard. I thought this front-end was amazing for Gemstone at the time. But, when I came back to the game, I completely forgot all about it, and the person who helped me acclimate told me to download Stormfront. I have tried using Wizard since Stormfront is so much easier and is able to provide more on-screen information in separate windows that I use regularly, i.e. arrivals/disconnects/departures, lnet/thoughtnet, speech window, combat window, inventory boxes, etc.

'''Do you use lich?'''
:Yes.

''Why or why not?''
:It was a month or two after my return, before I found out about lich. I sort of wish I had known about it from the beginning, because when I first restored my original account, I was stuck in River s Rest with no money, no maps, NO BOOT!, and no idea how to get back to the Landing. However, once I did get it installed, it made getting back into the game so much easier and enjoyable. I didn't have to worry about printing out maps or writing down or remembering directions to places I visited regularly.

''If so, what are your must-have scripts?''
:This depends on the character. As Dirvy, I rely on the following scripts pretty heavily:
:heal
:empheal
:waggle
:spellactive
:rnum
:uberbarv
:sloot
:alchemy
:wander

'''Have you ever bought or sold characters or items for real money?'''
:No.

'''Do you now, or have you ever roleplayed a character that was very different from your real personality?'''
:Sort of.

''Why or why not?''
:I have tried playing an evil character, but I just could not stick with it. It just isn't me. I think every character a person creates has some part of their personality, despite how much they may try to play them differently. Evil just isn't something I can pull off apparently.

'''What would you say is your most memorable Gemstone moment (as a player) , and why?'''
:Although there are many memorable moments, there are very few moments involving a singular player that affected Gemstone on a large scale. My most memorable moment would have been the night (it was actually really, really early, around 2am) that Dirvy's chipmunk, Rashwe, stole the mining cart in Zul Logoth. The hours and hours that travel was shut down for all of Gemstone across the Dragonspine Mountains using that mining cart. The visit a day later from a GM informing me that I was in possession of the mining cart in the chipmunk s sack/nest and him not letting me keep it And then having to confess that I was responsible for all of the trouble the day before. There have been a few times I have lost her chipmunk to server crashes or disconnects, and every time a GM answers my assist request to get him back, their response is always, Oh! He s THAT chipmunk. It makes me half-groan, half-giggle every time.

'''What, in your mind, is the best thing about Gemstone?'''
:The blend of exceptional minds of the staff that created/creates Gemstone and the extraordinary personalities of the players that make Gemstone come alive.

'''Have you ever attended Simucon, or otherwise met up with a person from Gemstone?'''
:I have never attended Simucon (much too shy), but I have met a few people from Gemstone.

''If so, describe the experience (PG-13, please)''
:I have not met anyone since returning to Gemstone, but back in the 90s, I met many people who no longer play (and unfortunately I cannot even remember who they played).

'''Imagine you're Wyrom for a day and can 'do' one thing. What are you changing/removing/adding/repla cing, and why?'''
:I would bring back the boot to River s Rest. This is often said, but never really explained why it should be brought back. River s Rest is a prime hunting area for mid-level characters. It is also a great place for undead hunting. The problem is, unless you want to spend an arm and a leg going back and forth via Chronomages, it is a hassle to take The Cutter. Awhile back, gold ring travel was updated, to make areas more easily accessible, in an effort to shrink Elanthia, due to the population in game now. But this gem is still difficult to get to, is underhunted and underused. River s Rest is rich in history, too, and it s a shame more people don t visit just because they either don t know how to get there, can t afford to get there, or don t want to waste the time figuring it out.

'''What do you feel is the biggest mistake that most GS players make?'''
:I think some people take this game too seriously.

''Why?''
:I understand people being invested in their characters, we all are. Otherwise, we wouldn't play Gemstone at all. But sometimes, people get so involved in what their characters are doing, it clouds their judgment and makes them do something stupid, like threaten to hunt down people in real life and do them bodily harm over an in-game romantic relationship. Or smearing someone s name all over the Player s Corner, because of a misunderstanding in game. I think sometimes we forget that we aren't teenagers playing Gemstone anymore.

'''What s something that you feel every GS player should do at least once?'''
:Not necessarily something a player should do at least once, but players should explore Gemstone. There are so many hidden areas and forgotten secrets in this game, and all of them have a history.

'''What advice would you offer to a new player?'''
:Don t be afraid to ask for help. I have met a lot of new players (and returning players) who said they were afraid to ask for help, for fear of looking stupid or noobish. I m helpful by nature, so if I see someone struggling, I am going to see how I can help. But, there is no reason for anyone to have to struggle to learn how to play Gemstone or struggle to acclimate after a break. There are so many helpful players around, and Tillmen created the Help channel on Lnet just so we are able to help new and returning players better. So, if you have a question, are completely lost, or like a couple I have known, are ready to just give up trying to figure out Gemstone, ask for help!

TownCrier Interview Sessions with Dirvy

2017-09-23T01:12:43Z

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|caption=
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|culture= Lassaran D'ahranal
|class= Empath
|profession= Healer
|religion=
|affiliations= House Sovyn
|word=
|disposition=
|demeanor=
|ptrait=
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By Oubar, TownCrier Correspondent 
23 Imaeratos 5117 // September 23, 2017 - in the thinking tree of Executrix Dirvy 
----
==Introduction==
Dirvy is a pervasive presence, as she seems to be everywhere at once. This is largely due to her willingness to travel far abroad to help those who might need it. A tireless worker, she has been a welcome presence to many a fallen adventurer. She champions for those who need help, and is generous almost to a fault with her time and attentions. Dirvy made time recently to sit down with the Crier's own Oubar for an in-depth interview, and true to her nature, she provided breakfast.

{| class="wikitable" style="background-color:#fff6c1;" cellpadding="25" cellspacing="25""...There is nothing more rewarding than restoring a patient back to perfect health, or aiding the fallen so that their life can be restored." ~ Executrix Dirvy Aerilithren
|}
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==The In-Character Interview==
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You see Executrix Dirvy Aerilithren the Master Physician.
She appears to be a Sylvankind of the Lassaran D'ahranal.
She is of a slight height and has an hourglass figure. She appears to be young and sprightly. She has sparkling acantha green eyes and flawless snowy white skin. She has ankle-length, white blonde hair caught up in a complex weave by the thorns at the back of a briar rose vine headpiece featuring gilded autumn-hued leaves. She has a cherub-like face, a pert, daintily upturned nose and petal pink, bow-shaped lips. She is wearing an icy blue battle standard bearing the burrows of Icemule Trace that juts over her shoulder.
She has a pitch-black crow tattoo perched upon a twisted branch on her ankle, a tiny pair of silvery clasped hands set along the slender tips of her pointed ears, a tattooed symbol of Imaera on her ankle, a series of tattooed tally marks on her neck, a blushing fairy tattoo on her finger, a tiny faenor sovyn clove in her left nostril, a silvery clasped-hands tattoo on her wrist, a vividly inked chipmunk tattoo riding in a dwarven mining cart on her wrist, and an inked bushy-tailed chipmunk on her ankle.
She is in good shape.
She is holding a white wicker picnic basket in her right hand.
She is wearing a moon-filled faenor pendant, a glowing pentagram suspended from a linked onyx neckchain, a copper-edged emerald Imaera symbol, a curling ivy choker, a glimmering silver bracelet crowned with a prismatic emerald damselfly saewehna, a blood-stained linen empath's cloak secured with an intricately carved onyx clasp, a small crystal Sovyn pin, a pale white butterfly pin with gossamer wings, a tiny golden firefly charm, a split-buckled bloodstained baldric with a twisted runestaff and a faewood staff secured to it slung over her shoulder, a plunging backless white lace sark with blood red-dipped bell sleeves over a russet leather bodysuit secured with multiple straps, a rune-worked silver engagement ring set with a trio of scarlet despanals, a silver clasped hands ring, a leaf-embossed suede belt, a hip-satchel embroidered with a sylph healing a wounded faendryl, a braided silver keyring, a blood red silk skirt embroidered with tiny black sylvan runes, a twining rose vine anklet, and some blood red silk knee-high stockings with ebon seams under some blood red crystal spike-heeled shoes inset with laje ladybugs. Several pale spirits converge upon a nearby spot, their bodies displaying the signs of past ravages. Soldiers in dented armor, men and woman in tattered clothing, and even a pale child in a nightgown, all converge upon a single space. Their bodies exude a chill mist that condenses into a pale column, which suddenly parts to Dirvy. As quickly as they came, the spirits scatter to the winds.

Dirvy covers her faenor pendant with her palm, and an incandescent green haze surrounding her form fades.

A quirky spring spirit floats in, following Dirvy.

You beam happily at Dirvy!

You bow to Dirvy.

Dirvy waves to you.

Speaking to Dirvy, you exclaim, "Good morning!"

Speaking brightly to you, Dirvy asks, "Good morning. How does it find you?"

You adopt an agreeable expression.

Speaking to Dirvy, you say, "Fairly well so far, though a bit busier than usual. Still, better that than boredom."

Dirvy starts chuckling at you!

Speaking softly to you, Dirvy says, "I am rarely ever bored, and always busy, so I can agree with that."

You grin at Dirvy.

Speaking to Dirvy, you ask, "An enviable position to be in. Is this still a convenient time for you?"

Dirvy nods to you.

Speaking to Dirvy, you say, "In that case, I'll follow your lead and let you choose whatever venue works best for you."

You bow to Dirvy.

Dirvy gently takes hold of your hand.

A pumpkin orange tabby kitten suddenly streaks into the room, pitching headfirst into the ground.

A bushy-tailed chipmunk scurries into the room.

Dirvy softly says, "It is a place not a lot of people know about or remember."

Dirvy softly says, "Which makes it perfect for me."

You nod understandingly.

Dirvy softly says, "When I want to get things done."

Dirvy chuckles.

[Editor's note: Traveling to Dirvy's thinking tree]

Dirvy softly says, "And here we are."

You grin from ear to ear.

Dirvy chuckles.

You say, "I never even knew this place existed."

Dirvy softly says, "Not many do."

Dirvy carefully places a white wicker picnic basket on the ground.

You nod approvingly.

Dirvy softly says, "And I brought breakfast."

You beam happily at Dirvy!

You sit down.

A pumpkin orange tabby kitten saunters past, brushing against you only long enough to deposit a few stray kitten hairs onto your person before continuing on.

You pet the orange tabby kitten.
The orange tabby kitten nips at your fingers playfully.

You glance at a pumpkin orange tabby kitten and grin.

The fluffy kitten is a bright pumpkin orange-hued tabby with rich sienna striping. Her long, fluffy tail is striped from base to tip, resembling that of a lemur. Her sharply pointed ears are tufted and her paws appear larger than normal. The kitten's emerald green eyes are vigilant, as if looking for trouble. A silver collar etched with the runes of a summoning circle adorns her neck, bearing a tiny silver acantha leaf-shaped tag that reads, "Punkin".

In the wicker picnic basket you see some fluffy scrambled eggs, a pair of fried round eggs, a slab of smoked ham, a trio of thin bacon slices, a trio of venison sausage links, several orange wedges, a stack of blueberry pancakes, a stack of buttery griddle cakes, a glass of orange juice, a glass of cranberry juice, a small bottle of milk, a buttered herb biscuit, a large mug of dark roasted coffee and some hazelnut cinnamon coffee.

Dirvy softly says, "Help yourself to anything in the basket."

At the thought of food, your stomach growls.

Speaking to Dirvy, you exclaim, "I... don't mind if I do, actually. Thank you!"

You blink.

You reach over to your forehead and guide the glossy black spider to your awaiting hand.

You absent-mindedly drop a small glossy black spider into your grey wolf fur satchel.

Dirvy giggles.

You mumble something under your breath.

Dirvy softly asks, "All of Imaera's children have a place, yes?"

You nod at Dirvy.

Dirvy softly says, "Sometimes, your forehead is that place."

Dirvy chortles softly at some secret joke.

Speaking dryly to Dirvy, you say, "Apparently."

A pumpkin orange tabby kitten turns away from a bushy-tailed chipmunk, ignoring it with the finality that only felines can muster.

Dirvy removes a small bottle of milk from in a white wicker picnic basket.

Dirvy attempts to feed a small bottle of milk to a pumpkin orange tabby kitten.
With supreme indifference, the orange tabby kitten calmly licks its paw.

Dirvy attempts to feed a small bottle of milk to a pumpkin orange tabby kitten.
The orange tabby kitten settles its head in against her wrist and it purrs contentedly.

Speaking softly to a pumpkin orange tabby kitten, Dirvy says, "Alright, then."

Dirvy shows a small bottle of milk to a bushy-tailed chipmunk, setting it on the ground as the rodent sneaks forward to sniff at the proffered beverage suspiciously. Apparently satisfied the chipmunk drags the milk off a ways and begins lapping at it, watching the surroundings warily.

You grin at Dirvy.

The bushy-tailed chipmunk laps at a small bottle of milk, its eyes darting back and forth, scanning for potential threats.

Dirvy softly says, "She must have already gotten her breakfast this morning."

Finished with a small bottle of milk, the bushy-tailed chipmunk makes a cursory pass of its paws over its whiskers, nosing at the ground for spilled drops.

You nod understandingly.

Speaking to Dirvy, you ask, "So, if you don't mind eating while we talk, we can get started?"

You smile at Dirvy.

Dirvy softly says, "As you wish."

You say, "As we discussed, if there's anything you'd prefer not to answer, please just let me know and we can move past it."

Dirvy nods understandingly to you.

Dirvy removes some hazelnut cinnamon coffee from in a white wicker picnic basket.

Dirvy blows on her cinnamon coffee.

Speaking to Dirvy, you say, "I generally start out with questions that are fairly common knowledge, so forgive me if I ask something that is pretty obvious. It's setting the scene, or so my editor tells me."

'''Speaking to Dirvy, you ask, "To that end, what is your profession?"'''

Speaking softly to you, Dirvy says, "I am an empath."

''Speaking to Dirvy, you ask, "What would you say is the best thing about being an Empath?"''

Speaking softly to you, Dirvy ponders, "The best thing about being a healer, for me, is the chance to help others. It is what I like to do with my time. And there is nothing more rewarding than restoring a patient back to perfect health, or aiding the fallen so that their life can be restored."

''Speaking to Dirvy, you ask, "What about the worst part? The thing that might make others shy away from the profession?"''

Dirvy ponders.

Speaking softly to you, Dirvy asks, "Things were different for me, when I first set out to practice my skills. But, sometimes, healing seems very... competitive?"

You nod slowly.

With a happy trilling mrrrrow, a pumpkin orange tabby kitten clambers inside of a white wicker picnic basket.

Speaking to Dirvy, you say, "I've definitely noticed that trend myself."

Speaking softly to you, Dirvy explains, "There are a lot of healers trying to learn, so they sometimes step over each other, and forget that there are others who are trying to learn just as they are."

Speaking softly to you, Dirvy says, "It can be frustrating, and I hear their complaints. And while I can only offer advice on how to make things a little smoother, it does not always go that way. And feelings can be hurt, which is unfortunate. Healers are an important part of any town. And we never want to make any feel that they are unwelcome or having to fight to practice their healing arts."

A pumpkin orange tabby kitten slowly begins to crawl out from inside a white wicker picnic basket when it suddenly misgauges where its paws are! With a small WHUMP, the orange tabby kitten lands in an ungangly heap of flailing legs and tail before righting itself with a plaintive mew.

Speaking to Dirvy, you say, "Well said, and I completely agree, for what it's worth."

'''Speaking to Dirvy, you ask, "What can you tell us about your early life, before becoming an adventurer? What got you started on the path?"'''

Speaking softly to you, Dirvy says, "My parents are scholars. So, naturally, they expected me to follow in their path. But, growing up and hearing the early stories about why we no longer live in Yuriqen, and all the pain and suffering that was caused during that time... well, that and being surrounded by the beauty that Imaera and Kuon created, I felt drawn to another path. So, with my parents' reluctant blessing, I studied the healing arts. And once my studies were completed, I was sent to Icemule to practice them."

You nod understandingly.

Speaking softly to you, Dirvy says, "I lived a good portion of my childhood in libraries. It was not a place I wanted to spend the rest of my life."

Dirvy chuckles.

You chuckle at Dirvy.

'''You ask, "What town do you currently call home?"'''

Speaking softly to you, Dirvy says, "Well, I am very much your typical Lassaran."

Dirvy chuckles.

You try hard not to grin.

Speaking softly to you, Dirvy says, "So, I travel a lot. But, Icemule will always be home for me."

'''You ask, "Where do you typically hunt these days?"'''

Dirvy softly says, "Mostly in Nelemar on the island of Teras... when I hunt, which is not often. I never did enjoy the act of taking lives. But, I understand it is necessary, in order to prevent the creatures from overtaking the towns."

You nod understandingly.

'''You ask, "And what's your preferred method of hunting?"'''

Dirvy softly says, "I use warding spells, have only ever used warding spells, and will likely never change this. I find it easier than trying to study alternate methods, and what has worked for me all this time, will work for me forever."

Dirvy chuckles.

'''You ask, "To circle back just a touch... you mentioned that your parents are both scholars. Would you say that growing up with that influence has had any direct impact on your day to day life?"'''

Dirvy softly says, "Well, as I mentioned, I spent a lot of my childhood in libraries. I appreciated the access to books and tomes and scrolls my parents gave me as a child, so I definitely have their thirst for knowledge."

Dirvy softly says, "I am always trying to learn new things. I know there are so many things I still have yet to learn, and every day I try to learn something new."

You nod approvingly.

You try hard not to grin.

'''Speaking to Dirvy, you ask, "Are you married?"'''
Dirvy smiles quietly to herself.

Speaking softly to you, Dirvy says, "Not yet, but soon. Zailon Britbane and I are hoping to be married under the stars of Imaera during Eoantos."

''Speaking to Dirvy, you ask, "My congratulations to you both! How did the two of you meet?"''

Speaking softly to you, Dirvy says, "We actually met in Icemule, well over a year ago. I had just arrived to the town, a very, very young healer who had no idea what she was doing. I was sent there, because there was a real need for a full-time healer, and I found more than my share of work. At first, the townspeople were reluctant to trust me. Why would they, when they had gone without a proper healer for awhile? But, Zailon was one of the ones who warmed up to me almost immediately, and helped me learn the town. Made me giggle when I felt overwhelmed. We would talk long into the night about all sorts of things. He was my best friend for the longest time."

Dirvy furrows her brow.

You smile quietly to yourself.

Dirvy softly says, "But then, I actually did get married back then, and he was engaged to someone else. And we grew apart over his engagement. Partly because I did not trust the woman he planned to marry, and partly because of..."

Dirvy blushes sheepishly to herself.

Dirvy softly admits, "Well, I was jealous. Despite being already married myself!"

Dirvy giggles to herself.

Dirvy softly says, "We reconnected sometime after the end of my marriage and the end of his engagement. But, things did not seem to... fall into place, until we found ourselves on Teras. We went hunting and spent time just talking and wandering around town. And somehow, we both realized what we already knew. That there was definitely something between us, and had always been. So, he seized the opportunity, and a little while later, asked me to be his wife. And, here we are. Planning our wedding a few months later."

Speaking to Dirvy, you say, "They say that those who are meant to be will find each other no matter the obstacles in their way."

''Speaking to Dirvy, you ask, "What would you say are the best three things about him?"''

You grin.

Dirvy ponders.

Dirvy softly says, "Gracious, I could get into trouble with this question."

Dirvy chuckles.

Speaking carefully to Dirvy, you say, "That may or may not be why it's in there."

You try hard not to grin.

Dirvy softly says, "His sense of humor. I love that he can make me laugh, despite whatever mood I may be in."

You nod understandingly.

Dirvy softly says, "His silliness. I get to see a side that nobody else gets to see. Most would see a dangerous sorcerer, sometimes brooding, sometimes angry. But I see his silly side, like his love for his kitten, Rumbles. And how he plays with her. Or how he always comes up with silly names for me or the things we are doing."

You grin at Dirvy.

Dirvy softly says, "Which brings me to the third thing that I find best about him. He never fails to feed me."

Dirvy chuckles.

Dirvy softly says, "He always brings me breakfast, because he says "Breakfast Dirvy is the best part of the day". And he is frequently searching out sweets and exotic wines and foods, just so we can try them."

Dirvy chuckles to herself.

You say, "That's very sweet."

Dirvy softly says, "He is incredibly sweet, despite what he wants everyone else to see."

You grin at Dirvy.

'''Speaking to Dirvy, you ask, "Are you a member of one of the Great Houses?"'''

Speaking softly to you, Dirvy says, "I am. I am the Executrix of House Sovyn. Which is just a fancy title for Co-Chairperson."

Dirvy chuckles.

''Speaking to Dirvy, you ask, "What would you say drew you to House Sovyn initially?"''

Speaking softly to you, Dirvy says, "I love that House Sovyn is so selective with whom they allow membership. I love that we are a healing house, and we devote our time and effort doing just that... healing our community and helping others."

''Speaking to Dirvy, you ask, "You mentioned that the House is selective. What would you say your criteria is?"''

Speaking softly to you, Dirvy says, "House Sovyn only allows members of the empath, cleric, and paladin professions to become members, as well as their spouses, despite their spouses' professions."

You nod understandingly.

'''Speaking to Dirvy, you ask, "What about Meeting Hall Organizations? Are you a member of any of those?"'''

Speaking softly to you, Dirvy says, "I am a member, as well as the Elder Sentinel Advisor of The Order of the Sphere and Scythe. It is an organization that strives to preserve the past, protect the present, and predict the future. We are a group of people, some are clairvoyant, others protect those who are, and all of us work to preserve the history of Elanthia."

'''Speaking to Dirvy, you ask, "What would you say is your most prized possession?"'''

Dirvy smiles quietly to herself.

Dirvy softly exclaims, "My kitty!"

Dirvy glances at a pumpkin orange tabby kitten as if it really needs a hug.

You grin at Dirvy.

Dirvy carefully places some hazelnut cinnamon coffee on the ground.

Dirvy carefully lifts the kitten by the scruff of its neck and then tucks it gently into the crook of her arm.

Dirvy wraps her arms around her orange tabby kitten affectionately, squeezing it enthusiastically.
Dirvy's orange tabby kitten hooks a claw in her clothing and she has to help it get loose.

Dirvy giggles.

Dirvy gives her orange tabby kitten an affectionate smooch and places it carefully on the ground. It gazes about with wide curious eyes.

A pumpkin orange tabby kitten eyes you with flattened ears and puffs up into a ball of affronted fluff.

You chuckle to yourself.

Dirvy softly says, "I love Punkin more than all the things I own."

'''Speaking to Dirvy, you ask, "Assuming it's different, what would you say is your most valuable possession?"'''

Dirvy picks up some hazelnut cinnamon coffee.

Dirvy takes a drink from her cinnamon coffee.

Dirvy ponders.

Dirvy softly says, "Well, I do not own a lot of valuable things. While my kitten is certainly one of those things, I guess my other most valuable item would be my nervestaff."

You nod understandingly.

'''Speaking to Dirvy, you say, "What would you say is your most memorable moment from your time as an adventurer? A singular event or instant that's etched in your mind..."'''

Dirvy chuckles to herself.

Dirvy softly says, "This would have to be one that is also etched in the minds of several, if not many, others."

Dirvy gives a sidelong glance at a bushy-tailed chipmunk.

You try hard not to grin.

You nod encouragingly.

Dirvy softly says, "When I was a very young healer in Icemule, a lovely woman had fallen in the snow of Pinefar and needed help. I tried to help her, but failed miserably, and died on the way. After we were both rescued and restored to life, she gifted me with my chipmunk, to show her appreciation for me trying to help her. At the time, she told me he was a lot of trouble, which I thought was odd. He was such a tiny little thing."

Dirvy chuckles.

The bushy-tailed chipmunk forages around, finding a long slimy grub which it pounces on and devours with rodent glee.

Dirvy softly says, "However, I named him Rashwe, which is Elven for "Trouble", since that seemed to be what he was known for. Little did I know that he would live up to that name."

Dirvy chuckles.

You nod understandingly.

Dirvy softly says, "While getting him as a gift was memorable, the most memorable moment of my life would be the night I went to help a rogue who had injured himself and was unable to climb on his way to Zul Logoth."

Dirvy softly says, "I went to take the gentleman herbs, it was very late into the night and no others were available, and it is not uncommon for me to make long journeys to help others."

Dirvy softly says, "We travelled to Zul Logoth together, and visited an Inn for a couple drinks and some conversation while we were there. After awhile, we went to the area where the mining carts are, and said our goodbyes, preparing to leave for the night."

Dirvy chuckles to herself.

You try hard not to grin.

Dirvy softly says, "However, the mining cart heading towards the Landing seemed to be out of order."

Dirvy softly says, "There was a lot of confusion after that, as many were trying to get from the Landing to Zul Logoth, others were trying to travel, as we were, to the Landing. But, we all seemed to be stranded for the night, unless we had other methods of travel. We did, of course, and we made it to the Landing via the Chronomages, and said our goodbyes."

Dirvy softly says, "I believe it was the next day, perhaps the day after, that I was in River's Rest, hunting with a friend of mine, when a messenger came to me. The messenger asked if I had taken the mining cart in Zul Logoth."

Dirvy chuckles.

Dirvy softly says, "I was quite confused by this question, considering there is no need to take the mining cart from the Landing to River's Rest."

Dirvy softly says, "I told them so, and the messenger went on their way."

Dirvy giggles.

Dirvy softly says, "A short time later, the messenger returned and said, "No, you TOOK the mining cart."."

Dirvy furrows her brow.

Dirvy softly says, "Again, confused, I asked them to explain. Apparently..."

Dirvy chuckles.

Dirvy softly says, "Rashwe had somehow absconded with the mining cart the night we were in Zul Logoth, and had stowed it in his nest. Now, while this sounds completely fantastic, what is worse is, his nest was in my cloak. So, I apparently had been carrying around a mining cart without my knowledge."

Dirvy chuckles.

You laugh with delight!

Dirvy softly says, "Nobody can figure out how he managed to steal a mining cart and hide it away in his nest in my cloak, considering his small stature."

Speaking wryly to Dirvy, you exclaim, "Trouble, indeed!"

Dirvy softly exclaims, "Unfortunately, I was not allowed to keep the mining cart, though I tried!"

Dirvy nods enthusiastically to you!

Dirvy chuckles.

Dirvy shows you a vividly inked chipmunk tattoo riding in a dwarven mining cart.
Scrolling letters are inked beneath the mining cart that read "Lumnea 26, 5116"

Dirvy giggles to herself.

Dirvy shows you an inked bushy-tailed chipmunk.
The bushy-tailed chipmunk is inked in a deep sienna with vivid black lines. He is covered in spots resembling grease, and is peeking through the bars of a jail cell. Above the cell door is a plaque that reads, "Zul Logoth's Most Wanted".

You laugh out loud!

Dirvy softly asks, "So, when I am long gone, and people ask others what is the one thing that defines me?"

Dirvy points at a bushy-tailed chipmunk.

Dirvy chuckles.

You chuckle to yourself.

Dirvy softly says, "It is a night I will never forget."

Dirvy chuckles.

'''Speaking to Dirvy, you ask, "What would you say is your most embarrassing moment?"'''

You grin wryly.

Dirvy giggles.

Dirvy softly exclaims, "Besides that?!"

You rub your chin thoughtfully.

Dirvy ponders.

You ask, "I suppose we could count that, actually. Unless you have another you'd like to share?"

You chuckle.

Dirvy softly says, "Hmm. I honestly cannot think of any embarassing moments. I am usually very careful how I conduct myself in public. Though I have lived around others for a year and a half, I am still learning how to act around them. I spent all of my life in forests and libraries, so once I moved to Icemule, I was thrown into a world I had not previously known. I am sure I have done embarassing things, I just cannot recall any... which is probably a blessing."

Dirvy chuckles.

The tips of some whiskers and a bit of nose belonging to a pumpkin orange tabby kitten appear from inside a white wicker picnic basket. The kitten blinks owlishly for a second and then ducks back out of sight.

Dirvy glances at a white wicker picnic basket.

Speaking softly to a white wicker picnic basket, Dirvy says, "I did offer you breakfast."

You agree with Dirvy.

Speaking to Dirvy, you exclaim, "You did, I witnessed it!"

'''Speaking to Dirvy, you ask, "Would you be willing to give us a rough idea of your current bank balance?"'''

Dirvy starts chuckling at you!

Speaking softly to you, Dirvy says, "Oh, my bank account is in a very sorry state, indeed. Which, is actually typical. I never have much money."

Dirvy softly says, "I believe... I have about 2 million silvers in my account right now."

You nod understandingly.

Dirvy softly says, "I have a bad (or good) habit of spending my money on others for things they need. So, I can never keep money, and I definitely cannot save it."

Dirvy chuckles.

'''Speaking to Dirvy, you ask, "Similarly, would you be willing to share a glimpse into one of your lockers? No details or anything, just a peek?"'''

Speaking softly to you, Dirvy says, "I do not mind, but be warned, my lockers are always in a state of disarray."

Dirvy chuckles.

You grin at Dirvy.

Speaking dryly to Dirvy, you say, "I can certainly understand that."

You shudder.

In a deep chest:
a bundle of bone-tipped fir arrows
a shadowy black burglar's cloak
a vine-motif small cast iron stove
a bundle of rough faewood arrow shafts
a bundle of rough faewood arrow shafts
a gold-banded short glass jar
a dark brown narrow-necked bottle
an enruned steel strongbox
a badly damaged iron strongbox
an engraved silver trunk

In a clothing wardrobe:
a weathered leather bandolier
an opalescent glass jar containing green aventurine stones (20/20)
an opalescent glass jar containing pink sapphires (20/20)
an opalescent glass jar containing banded sardonyx stones (20/20)
a heart-etched crimson glass jar containing blue topazes (20/20)
an opalescent glass jar containing golden beryl gems (20/20)
a swirled rainbow glass bottle containing white opals (50/50)
an opalescent glass jar containing quartz crystals (20/20)

In a magical item bin:
an opalescent glass jar containing polished blue coral (1/20)
a skull-etched black glass jar
an opalescent glass jar
an opalescent tan glass jar containing star diopsides (12/20)
an opalescent glass jar containing dark red-green bloodstones (18/20)
an opalescent azure glass jar containing clear zircons (2/20)
an opalescent glass jar containing blue topazes (4/20)
an opalescent glass jar containing pink sapphires (4/20)
an opalescent glass jar containing large white pearls (15/20)
an opalescent glass jar containing green garnets (8/20)
an opalescent glass jar containing piece of yellow jaspers (19/20)
an opalescent blue glass jar containing blue tourmalines (4/20)
an opalescent glass jar containing polished pink coral (13/20)
an opalescent glass jar containing polished black coral (1/20)
a translucent glaes jar containing pink tourmalines (3/20)
an opalescent glass jar containing mottled agates (16/20)
an opalescent azure glass jar containing banded sardonyx stones (2/20)
an opalescent glass jar containing clear sapphires (5/20)
an opalescent glass jar containing rock crystals (17/20)
a heart-etched crimson glass jar containing iridescent labradorite stones (6/20)
a slender multicolored bottle containing white opals (6/50)
a small round glass jar containing yellow zircons (31/50)
an opalescent glass jar containing blue spinels (2/20)
a swirled rainbow glass bottle containing violet sapphires (11/50)
a tall silver-streaked bottle containing uncut rubies (12/50)
an opalescent glass jar containing pink rhodochrosite stones (13/20)
an opalescent glass jar containing blue sapphires (15/20)
a slender multicolored bottle containing green tourmalines (33/50)
an opalescent glass jar containing yellow sapphires (12/20)
an opalescent glass jar containing aquamarine gems (4/20)
an opalescent glass jar containing deep purple amethysts (1/20)
an opalescent glass jar containing bright chrysoberyl gems (4/20)
a slender multicolored bottle containing piece of green jades (13/50)
an opalescent glass jar containing piece of black jaspers (19/20)
an opalescent glass jar containing piece of cat's eye quartzes (3/20)
a thick glass jar containing piece of smoky quartzes (15/20)
an opalescent glass jar containing rock crystals (19/20)
a small round glass jar containing green zircons (38/50)
a tall glass jar containing golden beryl gems (1/20)
an opalescent glass jar containing green malachite stones (9/20)
an opalescent glass jar containing star sapphires (8/20)
an opalescent glass jar containing red spinels (10/20)
a slender multicolored bottle containing piece of rose quartzes (7/50)
an opalescent glass jar containing violet spinels (5/20)
an opalescent glass jar containing turquoise stones (1/20)
an opalescent glass jar containing smoky topazes (3/20)
an opalescent glass jar containing clear topazes (6/20)
a small round glass jar containing light pink morganite stones (35/50)
an opalescent dark glass jar containing green zircons (5/20)
a small round glass jar containing star rubies (16/50)
a small round glass jar containing piece of golden ambers (36/50)
an opalescent glass jar containing black opals (3/20)
an opalescent red glass jar containing black tourmalines (4/20)
a sun-etched golden glass jar containing pink topazes (8/20)
an opalescent glass jar containing golden topazes (6/20)
a swirled rainbow glass bottle containing fire opals (46/50)
an opalescent glass jar containing almandine garnets (15/20)
an opalescent glass jar containing pink spinels (14/20)
an opalescent glass jar containing clear tourmalines (4/20)
an opalescent glass jar containing polished red coral (1/20)
a pale green glass jar containing uncut diamonds (20/20)
a vaalin-banded square glass jar containing uncut emeralds (50/50)
an opalescent glass jar containing blue lapis lazuli (10/20)
an opalescent glass jar containing small grey pearls (11/20)
an opalescent glass jar containing black dreamstones (1/20)
an opalescent glass jar containing dragonfire quartz (1/20)
a vaalin-banded square glass jar containing uncut diamonds (2/50)

On a weapon rack:
a dark red minstrel's cloak
a floor-length hooded black cloak
a fuschia-hued faewood runestaff capped with a polished ruby
a ruby-hilted black rolaren longsword
a bamboo-hafted vultite handaxe
a smooth orase runestaff inlaid with veins of copper
a polished ruic long bow with a suede leather grip

Obvious items: 92

Dirvy takes a drink from her cinnamon coffee.

Dirvy softly says, "My lockers are always full of... stuff."

Dirvy chuckles.

Dirvy softly says, "One day, I will get rid of some of it. One day."

'''Speaking to Dirvy, you ask, "What other adventurer would you say has had the largest influence on your life to this point?"'''

Dirvy softly says, "Hmm. This is a tough question."

You nod in agreement.

Dirvy softly says, "I guess I would say Eruheran. He is the Patriarch of House Sovyn. I say this, because he kept his eye on me when I was in Icemule. And he is the one who extended an invitation to me to join House Sovyn. He was also the one who recommended me (or voluntold more like it) for an officer position as Co-Secretary. From my position in the House, I have been able to help many more people than I could have done on my own. Not only from the support of House Sovyn, but from the influence that I have both inside and outside of the House."

You nod appreciatively.

Dirvy softly says, "It was his trust in me, him believing in me, that enabled me to do many of the things I have done in the community. And I strive to make him proud, though I give him a hard time. But I must be doing a good job of it, since he recommended me for the Co-Chairperson position."

Dirvy gives a lopsided grin.

You chuckle to yourself.

'''Speaking to Dirvy, you ask, "And finally, what would you say your mission is? What drives you to get out of bed every day and continue on your path?"'''

You grin at Dirvy.

Speaking softly to you, Dirvy says, "Helping others. It is all I ever wanted to do. And most of the time, it is what I am doing. Those who know me, will have heard me say I am "working" most days. They know this means I am doing something for someone else, or something that will help others once I am finished."

You chuckle.

Dirvy softly says, "I have had so much help along the way, and still do have help when I need it. I want others to feel they can rely on me, just as easily."

Speaking to Dirvy, you say, "Of all the questions on the sheet, this was the one I felt I could have answered for you. You've helped me on numerous occasions, and that's a sentiment that is shared by everyone I know of."

Speaking to Dirvy, you say, "On their behalf, and my own, thank you for all that you do."

You bow to Dirvy.

Dirvy chuckles.

You grin at Dirvy.

Dirvy inclines her head.

Dirvy softly says, "It is always my pleasure."

Speaking to Dirvy, you ask, "And with that, I've come to the end of my sheet! Is there anything else you'd like to discuss on the record?"

You grin at Dirvy.

Dirvy looks over at you and shakes her head.

Dirvy softly says, "Nothing that I can think of."

You nod in agreement.

Speaking softly to a pumpkin orange tabby kitten, Dirvy asks, "Get your fill, did you?"

Dirvy shakes her head at a pumpkin orange tabby kitten and clucks her tongue.

Dirvy glances at a white wicker picnic basket.

You glance at a pumpkin orange tabby kitten and grin.

Dirvy softly asks, "Did she leave anything in there?"

In the wicker picnic basket you see some fluffy scrambled eggs, a pair of fried round eggs, a slab of smoked ham, a trio of thin bacon slices, several orange wedges, a stack of blueberry pancakes, a stack of buttery griddle cakes, a glass of orange juice and a glass of cranberry juice.

Speaking to Dirvy, you say, "Looks like she likely just took a nap amongst it."

Dirvy chuckles.

You grin crookedly.

Dirvy softly says, "Well, a little cat hair never killed anyone."

Dirvy chuckles.

You nod sagely.

Speaking to Dirvy, you say, "Thank you so much for agreeing to this, and making time this morning for me."

You stand back up.

Interlocking your fingers, you slowly extend your arms up over your head in a long, satisfying stretch.

Dirvy softly says, "It was my pleasure. Though, I admit, I was nervous. I think everyone fears they will look foolish."

Dirvy chuckles.

Dirvy rises, momentarily holding the fabric of her skirt up until her feet are firmly planted underneath her.

Dirvy picks up a white wicker picnic basket.

Dirvy put a white wicker picnic basket in her linen empath's cloak.

Speaking to Dirvy, you say, "You did fantastic. It's going to make my job so much easier."

You chuckle at Dirvy.

Dirvy softly says, "We shall see."

[Editor's note: Travel back to town]

Dirvy softly says, "And here we are."

You stare at nothing in particular.

A bushy-tailed chipmunk scurries into the room.

Dirvy giggles.

You say, "Amazing."

You chuckle at Dirvy.

Dirvy nods firmly.

Speaking to Dirvy, you say, "Thank you again, Ms. Dirvy. It was a delight, the food was wonderful, and you made it a great experience."

Dirvy softly asks, "Would you like to take the picnic basket with you?"

You give your eyebrow a little workout.

Dirvy removes a white wicker picnic basket from in her linen empath's cloak.

Dirvy offers you a white wicker picnic basket.

Dirvy appears to be poking herself.

You beam happily at Dirvy!

Dirvy softly exclaims, "I do not need it!"

You accept Dirvy's offer and are now holding a white wicker picnic basket.

Dirvy chuckles.

Speaking to Dirvy, you exclaim, "Thank you!"

Dirvy softly says, "Of course."

Speaking to Dirvy, you say, "It will be put to excellent use."

You nod firmly.

Dirvy softly says, "Sovyn's cart is in the square, if you want to refill it."

Dirvy chuckles.

You grin at Dirvy.

Speaking to Dirvy, you say, "Thank you once more. It was a pleasure. I hope you have a wonderful rest of your day."

With a daring leap, the orange tabby kitten launches itself from atop the Oubar disk! It deftly and silently lands on the ground on all four feet looking quite pleased with itself.

You glance at a pumpkin orange tabby kitten and grin.

Speaking softly to you, Dirvy says, "You, as well. Thank you for the discussion. I look forward to your report."

You bow to Dirvy.

Dirvy pets a pumpkin orange tabby kitten.
The orange tabby kitten kneads its tiny paws against the ground, purring slightly.

Speaking softly to a pumpkin orange tabby kitten, Dirvy says, "Behave."

You snicker.

You wave to Dirvy.

Dirvy waves to you.
</pre>
----

==The Out-of-Character Interview==

'''What s your real name? (First name only please)'''
:Tiffany

'''Where are you located, geographically?'''
:North Carolina

'''What do you do for a living?'''
:N/A

'''How long have you played Gemstone?'''
:Since 1995.

''Have you taken any breaks, or played straight through?''
:I took a break at the end of December 1999, and didn t come back until April 2015.

'''How many different main characters have you had over the years?'''
:I technically have only ever had one main character, but Dirvy sort of took over once I created her. So, I guess you could say I have two main characters.

'''Who are/were your most notable characters'''
:Chaddeaux and Dirvy

'''Do you have multiple accounts that you play at the same time?'''
:No, I am terrible at MAing. I do it when it is necessary to bring in a utility alt (cleric, mage, etc.) for someone else, but I am not a fan of people who run around all the time with a string of utility alts in their group. There are very few people I have met who can actually pull off a believable MA. Unfortunately, I am not one of them.

'''Do you have a Premium subscription?'''
:Yes, two of them.

'''What front-end do you use? (Stormfront, Wizard, Profanity, other)?'''
:Stormfront

''Why?''
:In the 90s, I used Wizard. I thought this front-end was amazing for Gemstone at the time. But, when I came back to the game, I completely forgot all about it, and the person who helped me acclimate told me to download Stormfront. I have tried using Wizard since Stormfront is so much easier and is able to provide more on-screen information in separate windows that I use regularly, i.e. arrivals/disconnects/departures, lnet/thoughtnet, speech window, combat window, inventory boxes, etc.

'''Do you use lich?'''
:Yes.

''Why or why not?''
:It was a month or two after my return, before I found out about lich. I sort of wish I had known about it from the beginning, because when I first restored my original account, I was stuck in River s Rest with no money, no maps, NO BOOT!, and no idea how to get back to the Landing. However, once I did get it installed, it made getting back into the game so much easier and enjoyable. I didn t have to worry about printing out maps or writing down or remembering directions to places I visited regularly.

''If so, what are your must-have scripts?''
:This depends on the character. As Dirvy, I rely on the following scripts pretty heavily:
:heal
:empheal
:waggle
:spellactive
:rnum
:uberbarv
:sloot
:alchemy
:wander

'''Have you ever bought or sold characters or items for real money?'''
:No.

'''Do you now, or have you ever roleplayed a character that was very different from your real personality?'''
:Sort of.

''Why or why not?''
:I have tried playing an evil character, but I just could not stick with it. It just isn t me. I think every character a person creates has some part of their personality, despite how much they may try to play them differently. Evil just isn t something I can pull off apparently.

'''What would you say is your most memorable Gemstone moment (as a player) , and why?'''
:Although there are many memorable moments, there are very few moments involving a singular player that affected Gemstone on a large scale. My most memorable moment would have been the night (it was actually really, really early, around 2am) that Dirvy s chipmunk, Rashwe, stole the mining cart in Zul Logoth. The hours and hours that travel was shut down for all of Gemstone across the Dragonspine Mountains using that mining cart. The visit a day later from a GM informing me that I was in possession of the mining cart in the chipmunk s sack/nest and him not letting me keep it And then having to confess that I was responsible for all of the trouble the day before. There have been a few times I have lost her chipmunk to server crashes or disconnects, and every time a GM answers my assist request to get him back, their response is always, Oh! He s THAT chipmunk. It makes me half-groan, half-giggle every time.

'''What, in your mind, is the best thing about Gemstone?'''
:The blend of exceptional minds of the staff that created/creates Gemstone and the extraordinary personalities of the players that make Gemstone come alive.

'''Have you ever attended Simucon, or otherwise met up with a person from Gemstone?'''
:I have never attended Simucon (much too shy), but I have met a few people from Gemstone.

''If so, describe the experience (PG-13, please)''
:I have not met anyone since returning to Gemstone, but back in the 90s, I met many people who no longer play (and unfortunately I cannot even remember who they played).

'''Imagine you're Wyrom for a day and can 'do' one thing. What are you changing/removing/adding/repla cing, and why?'''
:I would bring back the boot to River s Rest. This is often said, but never really explained why it should be brought back. River s Rest is a prime hunting area for mid-level characters. It is also a great place for undead hunting. The problem is, unless you want to spend an arm and a leg going back and forth via Chronomages, it is a hassle to take The Cutter. Awhile back, gold ring travel was updated, to make areas more easily accessible, in an effort to shrink Elanthia, due to the population in game now. But this gem is still difficult to get to, is underhunted and underused. River s Rest is rich in history, too, and it s a shame more people don t visit just because they either don t know how to get there, can t afford to get there, or don t want to waste the time figuring it out.

'''What do you feel is the biggest mistake that most GS players make?'''
:I think some people take this game too seriously.

''Why?''
:I understand people being invested in their characters, we all are. Otherwise, we wouldn t play Gemstone at all. But sometimes, people get so involved in what their characters are doing, it clouds their judgment and makes them do something stupid, like threaten to hunt down people in real life and do them bodily harm over an in-game romantic relationship. Or smearing someone s name all over the Player s Corner, because of a misunderstanding in game. I think sometimes we forget that we aren t teenagers playing Gemstone anymore.

'''What s something that you feel every GS player should do at least once?'''
:Not necessarily something a player should do at least once, but players should explore Gemstone. There are so many hidden areas and forgotten secrets in this game, and all of them have a history.

'''What advice would you offer to a new player?'''
:Don t be afraid to ask for help. I have met a lot of new players (and returning players) who said they were afraid to ask for help, for fear of looking stupid or noobish. I m helpful by nature, so if I see someone struggling, I am going to see how I can help. But, there is no reason for anyone to have to struggle to learn how to play Gemstone or struggle to acclimate after a break. There are so many helpful players around, and Tillmen created the Help channel on Lnet just so we are able to help new and returning players better. So, if you have a question, are completely lost, or like a couple I have known, are ready to just give up trying to figure out Gemstone, ask for help!

TownCrier Interview Sessions with Faulkil

2017-09-16T01:11:14Z

CANNEL:

{{towncrier interview
|name= Faulkil
|caption=
|race= Dark Elf
|culture= Dhe'Nar
|class= Wizard
|profession= Hedgewizard Extraordinaire
|religion=
|affiliations= House White Haven
|word=
|disposition=
|demeanor=
|ptrait=
|strait=
|flaw=
|strength=
|weakness=
|habits=
|hobbies=
|soft=
|likes=
|dislikes=
|fears=
|loyalties=
|friend=
|spouse=
|loved=
}}
By Oubar, TownCrier Correspondent 
16 Imaerasta 5117 // September 16, 2017 - in the Office of Lord Faulkil 
----
==Introduction==
Faulkil is known far and wide, though especially in Icemule, as a generous, patient sort. Always quick to lend a hand, some advice, or a spirited rendition of a bawdy ballad revolving around roltons, he embodies the cheery, helpful disposition that is at the heart of the House he helps lead. Alongside his wonderful wife Niadja, he helps make Icemule as warm and welcoming as he can. Faulkil made time recently to host TownCrier Correspondent Oubar in his office for an in-depth interview.

{| class="wikitable" style="background-color:#fff6c1;" cellpadding="25" cellspacing="25"
|-
| "Hedgewizard extraordinaire. It's easier for most folks simply to call me a wizard though." ~ Luminary Faulkil
|}
----
==The In-Character Interview==
<pre{{log2|background=none|border=none}}>

[Faulkil's Office - 15807]
Beneath an oak beam ceiling, an Elanthia map painting hangs on one of the rough plaster walls. Some gilt kakore shelves and an ancient orase desk sit in opposite corners while a number of unopened shipping crates rests on a scraped oak floor. You also see a crackling lightning wyrdling and a beveled cedar sign.
Obvious exits: northeast

You squint at a crackling lightning wyrdling.

Speaking to a crackling lightning wyrdling, you ask, "Keeping his seat warm?"

You adopt an agreeable expression.

Faulkil suddenly fades into view.

A vortex of air spins and whirls around Faulkil.
You see Faulkil the Hedgewizard.
He appears to be a Dhe'nar Dark Elf.
He is shorter than average. He appears to be very young. He has long-lashed dark eyes and dusky skin. He has long, silky russet hair feathered with soft, shadowy strands. He has a long face, a broken nose and thin lips. He has a fake fancy fuzzy fuchsia goatee.
He has a rune tattoo on his arm, and a rune tattoo on his arm.
He is in good shape.
He is wearing a floppy purple hat set with plumed griffin feathers, a pale crystal shard, a knitted cashmere and amethyst scarf, a frumpy fiery red greatcloak, some dark grey silver-insigiled casting gloves, an eahnor-bound fireleaf badge, an ebon-hued obsidian gate pin, a shaggy ice blue mule pin, a faceted opalescent thunderstone charm flecked with gold, a heavy dark wool shirt with long narrow sleeves and embroidered with a snowshoe hare, a slit-pupiled citrine quartz pin, a small bone periapt, a silvery ora snowshoe hare stickpin, a carved round-of-cheese locket, a voluminous haversack with a griffin claw clasp, a lilac leather weapon harness trimmed with silver and gold, a storm grey leather satchel clasped with a radiant opalescent thunderstone, some pale layered leather hunts ridged with colorful braid lacing, an etched white gold wedding band, a rune belt, an elegant black silk gem pouch, a dusty dark red sack, a dark leather bag swept with silver sigils, some pale grey silk trousers with a slight lilac tint, and a pair of resplendent white pelt boots inset with purple thunderstones.

Faulkil smiles.

You grin at Faulkil.

Speaking to you, Faulkil exclaims, "Good morning!"

You bow to Faulkil.

Speaking to Faulkil, you exclaim, "And good morning to you as well!"

Speaking to you, Faulkil exclaims, "More like keeping me awake. It's early!"

You nod in agreement.

Speaking to Faulkil, you say, "I appreciate you getting up early to do this."

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "I'm more of a night owl but happy we could find a time to meet."

Speaking wryly to Faulkil, you say, "I know."

You stare at nothing in particular.

You mutter something inaudible.

Faulkil chuckles.

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "Funny enough... that's late for me as well. My nights end earlier than they used to."

Faulkil nods slowly.

You chuckle to yourself.

You say, "I usually start out with some questions that are basic knowledge, just to get the complete picture. So even though I know quite a few of these answers already, we're getting them on the record."

Faulkil grins.

'''You ask, "What is your profession, for those who might not already be aware?"'''

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "Hedgewizard extraordinaire. It's easier for most folks simply to call me a wizard though."

Speaking to Faulkil, you say, "Though to be PROPER... naturally the full title is warranted."

You nod sagely at Faulkil.

Speaking to you, Faulkil exclaims, "Oh to be sure!"

'''You ask, "What would you say is the best thing about your profession? If you were attempting to convince someone still on the turnip truck to lean towards your profession, what would you tell them?"'''

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "Apples taste much better than turnips for starters..."

You adopt an agreeable expression.

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "There's a lot to speak of! I enjoy the utility that elemental magics offers, the ability to use magic to help others, the flexibility to travel nearly anyplace in the lands in relative safety, and the crafting of powerful artifacts via enchanting to name a few."

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "That was a mouthful but hopefully gives you a general idea."

'''You ask, "Similarly, what would you warn that same person about, if they were intending to become part of your profession?"'''

Faulkil ponders.

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "Socially? Spend a little less time in the library."

Faulkil smiles.

You grin at Faulkil.

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "In combat? I do tend to drop my runestave now and again but there's plenty of magic to help in those situations."

Faulkil asks, "Bring a spare maybe?"

You adopt an agreeable expression.

'''You ask, "How many trainings do you have currently, and how long have you been an adventurer in the lands?"'''

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "More than most giantman can count."

You blink.

You squint at Faulkil.

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "That applies to both."

Speaking doubtfully to Faulkil, you say, "I can count pretty high..."

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "I said 'most'."

Faulkil adopts an agreeable expression.

You nod understandingly.

'''You ask, "What is your preferred method of hunting, and why?"'''

Speaking to you, Faulkil exclaims, "Whatever works!"

Faulkil grins.

You grin.

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "More specifically, I use most of the magics I have available. There's usually a few bolts and a lot of fanciful display of the elements involved though."

You adopt an agreeable expression.

Speaking to Faulkil, you say, "I wasn't sure if you also sometimes employed a weapon... possibly your teeth..."

You shrug at Faulkil.

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "Honestly I try to avoid anything with a sharp edge... it is too easy to cut myself."

Faulkil grins.

You grin crookedly.

'''Speaking to Faulkil, you ask, "Have you trained in any artisan skills?"'''

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "My craft is elemental magics. I focus my time and energy on the study of magic leave the crafting of other items to those who have a passion for it."

You adopt an agreeable expression.

You say, "A sensible approach."

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "As an additional note... always leave box opening to the professionals as well.."

Faulkil nods to you.

Speaking to Faulkil, you ask, "Voice of experience there?"

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "Maybe..."

You grin wryly.

'''You ask, "What town do you currently call home?"'''

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "Icemule Trace has been my home for the past dozen or so years. I couldn't imagine living anywhere else though I do vacation a lot on Teras."

Faulkil adopts an agreeable expression.

You adopt an agreeable expression.

''Speaking to Faulkil, you ask, "What about Icemule drew you initially?"''

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "I love this town! I love the people! The faces change over time but there's still always great people here willing to share a joke or a story and to help others out as needed. I couldn't imagine calling any other town home."

You nod understandingly.

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "Some people complain about the cold but it is one of the warmest towns I know."

Faulkil nods.

Speaking to Faulkil, you say, "I couldn't agree more, actually. It's been my home for nearly as long. I wouldn't change a thing."

'''You ask, "Where do you typically hunt these days?"'''

Faulkil ponders.

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "For years I focused most of my energy on Teras. More recently I've been hunting in the Confluence and the Sanctum of Sands. I'll probably mix it up again when I grow tired of those."

You nod understandingly.

'''You ask, "Are you married?"'''

You grin at Faulkil.

Faulkil beams!

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "Yes, to my wonderful wife Niadja."

Speaking wonderingly to Faulkil, you say, "You don't say..."

You try hard not to grin.

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "Quite the surprise for you I am sure."

Faulkil nods.

''Speaking to Faulkil, you ask, "And how did you and she meet initially?"''

Faulkil says, "We both arrived in the Landing around the same time and we just hit it off right off the bat."

Faulkil ponders.

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "Not the most romantic or exciting telling I suppose but it is what it is."

Faulkil grins.

Speaking to Faulkil, you ask, "What are the three best things about her?"

You grin at Faulkil.

Speaking to you, Faulkil asks, "Only three?!?"

Speaking to Faulkil, you say, "Keeping in mind we're a family friendly organization."

Faulkil ponders.

Speaking to Faulkil, you ask, "Off the top of your head. What comes to mind first?"

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "She's always willing to give of herself to help others."

You nod in agreement.

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "Besides being beautiful AND smart she also seems to like to hang around me."

You grin.

Speaking to Faulkil, you say, "You're cheating a bit, but I'll allow it."

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "We share the same passion for food in general."

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "I didn't stay married for as long as I have by being dumb."

You try hard not to grin.

'''Speaking dryly to Faulkil, you ask, "Do you belong to one of the Great Houses?"'''

You blink at Faulkil.

[Full disclosure: As of this date, the interviewer is a fellow officer in House White Haven.]

Faulkil grins.

Speaking to you, Faulkil exclaims, "I have the honor and privelege of serving as the current Luminary of White Haven. I'm hoping to change the title at some point as I'm not sure how I feel about being Luminous!"

Faulkil adopts an agreeable expression.

You snicker.

Speaking to Faulkil, you say, "I can see your point there. It's a bit of a... cumbersome title."

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "That aside... We have an awesome, and very creative member base in the house and an equally awesome and dedicated group of officers. I enjoy the house focus on the community and frankly its just been fun to be a part of it."

''Speaking to Faulkil, you ask, "What does being the Luminary mean? What are your 'official' duties in that role?"''

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "Plainly I'm the head of the house. Which means that I work for all of the other officers to insure they are happy and have what they need to be successful."

Faulkil grins.

You nod understandingly.

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "Fortunately they aren't overly demanding."

Faulkil grins.

You grin at Faulkil.

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "And... to add a note... Niadja gets a lot of credit for doing what I just took credit for."

Faulkil grins.

Speaking thoughtfully to Faulkil, you say, "Very wise..."

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "Also a simple fact."

Faulkil grins.

'''Speaking to Faulkil, you ask, "Are you active in your profession's guild?"'''

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "As active as I can be. I've mastered Alchemy and make it a point to help out younger wizards when the opportunities arise."

You nod appreciatively.

Speaking to Faulkil, you say, "I applaud your resilience and question your sanity in mastering Alchemy."

Faulkil chuckles.

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "It wasn't done over night... I did have to take a sanity break for awhile before mastering it."

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "It turns out that a standard sanity break is about 12 months."

You grin at Faulkil.

'''Speaking to Faulkil, you ask, "Are you a member of one of the Elanthian Societies? The Order of Voln, Guardians of Sunfist, or perhaps another one?"'''

Faulkil works his fingers under his floppy purple hat and scratches his head.

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "I don't go in much for secret handshakes or wearing funny hats."

'''You ask, "What would you say is your most prized possession?"'''

Faulkil ponders.

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "I have a lot of toys..."

You grin from ear to ear.

You carefully say, "I understand this personality quirk."

Faulkil grins.

Faulkil nods slowly.

''You ask, "Which is the most meaningful, or important, to you?"''

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "I do very much enjoy a tome that I acquired some years ago."

Faulkil just opened a dusty dark red sack.

You nod encouragingly.

Faulkil removes an ancient bronze case embossed with a regal griffon clutching a slit-pupiled eye from in his dark red sack.

Faulkil just opened an ancient bronze case embossed with a regal griffon clutching a slit-pupiled eye.

Faulkil removes an ancient yellowed tome from in his bronze case.

Faulkil shows you an ancient yellowed tome, which he is holding in his left hand. You see nothing unusual.

Faulkil takes a long whiff of the yellowed tome, savoring the moment.

You nod appreciatively.

''Speaking to Faulkil, you ask, "How did you acquire it?"''

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "Interestingly enough... fortune smiled upon me the day I acquired it. I won it in an auction."

You nod appreciatively.

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "Probably the only way I would have come into its posession. I doubt many would part with it."

''Speaking to Faulkil, you ask, "Does it have any abilities or properties that aren't readily obvious?"''

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "This tome is a gift from Fash'Lo'Nae himself. The possessor can cast most any magics, even spells that may have been lost at one point or that would not normally be known to the possessor."

You nod appreciatively.

You say, "That's VERY impressive."

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "This ability has become more common in recent times... but this one tome is more powerful still."

Speaking to Faulkil, you ask, "Can I ask how much it cost you at the time?"

You grin at Faulkil.

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "It cost me a single token."

Faulkil adopts an agreeable expression.

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "And probably a lifetime of saved luck."

Faulkil grins.

You exclaim, "Ah... a token auction. Now I see!"

Faulkil put an ancient yellowed tome in his bronze case.

Faulkil just closed an ancient bronze case embossed with a regal griffon clutching a slit-pupiled eye.

Faulkil put an ancient bronze case embossed with a regal griffon clutching a slit-pupiled eye in his dark red sack.

Faulkil just closed a dusty dark red sack.

Speaking to Faulkil, you suggest, "A wiser man would have said that he used up all his luck finding and connecting with his wife."

You hum a random, wandering tune.

Faulkil laughs!

You wink at Faulkil.

Speaking to you, Faulkil exclaims, "You are a wise man indeed!"

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "Another wonderful trait about Niadja is that she will forgive me for not thinking of that first."

Faulkil nods.

Faulkil attempts to hum a merry little tune.

'''Speaking to Faulkil, you ask, "Would you say that tome is the most valuable of your possessions, or is there something else that takes that title?"'''

You grin at Faulkil.

Faulkil ponders.

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "I suppose... I don't really assess the value of my possessions in terms of silver. So for me the tome is as valuable as the stuffed animal that Niadja gave me. I wouldn't part with either."

You nod understandingly.

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "Would the tome fetch a higher price than my armor? I don't know."

Faulkil shrugs.

'''You ask, "What's your most memorable moment from your time as an adventurer in Elanthia?"'''

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "SO many memoriess... one does stand out."

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "A lesson in humility I suppose."

You nod understandingly.

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "You may be aware that to access certain areas a simple short sword is needed."

You exclaim, "I am indeed!"

Speaking to you, Faulkil asks, "As it turns out... kobolds love to use short swords! Convenient, no?"

Speaking to a crackling lightning wyrdling, you confide, "He's talking about Darkstone."

The lightning wyrdling darts around the room, her movements jerky and uneasy.

You nod at Faulkil.

You exclaim, "Eminently so!"

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "So... becuase its fun to show off and use different magics I chose to relieve one kobold of his sword using weapon fire."

You try hard not to grin.

You say, "I... see..."

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "The spell was cast, the kobold dropped the blade as expected, I picked it up and..."

You chortle softly at some secret joke.

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "The kobold had the better day."

Speaking to Faulkil, you say, "And the spell did what the spell does."

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "It is amazingly effective."

Speaking to Faulkil, you say, "A lesson in humility indeed, it would seem."

'''Speaking to Faulkil, you ask, "And I think you just answered one of the later questions... unless you have another moment that you would call your most embarrassing?"'''

Faulkil chuckles.

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "Let's go with that one."

Faulkil nods.

You nod slowly.

'''Speaking to Faulkil, you ask, "Can you talk about your time before becoming an adventurer? Was your family from Icemule originally?"'''

Faulkil frowns.

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "It was not and those are not pleasant memories. I have two sisters that could be called family..."

Faulkil asks, "You did say children might be reading this?"

Speaking to Faulkil, you say, "That's entirely possible, yes."

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "That's all I care to say about my sisters at this time."

Faulkil nods.

You nod understandingly.

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "Plus it upsets Niadja... she gets along with them for some unknown reason."

Faulkil shakes his head.

You give a short little hum of surprise.

Speaking to Faulkil, you say, "There's sometimes no accounting for family... I do understand that."

Faulkil agrees with you.

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "I prefer to think of Icemule as my family."

Faulkil smiles.

Speaking to Faulkil, you say, "You should try growing up in a family who honors and worships Lady Zelia."

You stare at nothing in particular.

You trace the lines of your crescent moon tattoo.

Faulkil chuckles.

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "I might consider that a good trade."

Faulkil looks at you and hums.

You grin crookedly.

'''Speaking to Faulkil, you ask, "Would you be willing to give a rough estimate of the current value of your bank accounts?"'''

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "I rarely have much silver on hand... Silver is for buying the next toy."

Speaking to Faulkil, you say, "I couldn't agree more, personally."

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "At the moment I have around 27 million silver in various accounts."

You nod appreciatively.

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "Once I had more than 100 million... but then some crazy merchant started selling padded armor off the shelf."

You snicker at Faulkil.

'''You ask, "Would you be willing to share a look at the contents of one of your lockers?"'''

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "Sure! All of them are full."

Faulkil agrees with you.

Speaking to you, Faulkil asks, "Perhaps my locker for alchemy ingredients and enchanting projects?"

Speaking to Faulkil, you say, "Whichever you prefer."

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "There is some semblance of order to them."

Faulkil nods.

On an armor stand:
some etched ora augmented chain (registered) (marked)
a rectangular vultite greatshield riveted and spiked with silvery eonake (registered) (marked)
some sleek black stalking leathers
some grey mithril augmented chain (registered) (marked)
a vultite greatshield
some supple tawny hunts banded with narrow leather piping (registered)
a set of dark double leather with burnished brass buckles
an embossed vultite aegis
some ornate spiked steel full plate
some silver threaded double leathers
a spiked vultite greatshield riveted with silvery eonake (registered) (marked)
some oiled brigandine armor of night black hue (marked)
a gold-accented black silk shirt (registered)
some reinforced leather
a set of storm grey adamantine coat-of-plates with silver rivets (registered) (marked)
some gleaming ora augmented chain

On a weapon rack:
an imposing eonake warsword (marked)
a banded orase runestaff (registered) (marked)
an archaic fireleaf runestaff (registered) (marked)
a perfect mithril greataxe
a gnarled black ko'nag runestaff (registered) (marked)
an aquamarine mossbark runestaff with a deep blue eostone set in its shaft
a dull ipantor heavy crossbow
a twin-bladed silvery mithril axe with an intricate lacework pattern cut into the blades
a lime green carmiln long bow
a scorched vultite backsword (registered) (marked)
an ancient mithglin spear (registered) (marked)
a bronze-hilted kelyn main gauche (registered) (marked)

In a magical item bin:
an eoveneh potion
a dirtokh potion
a mirtokh potion
a crystalline vial containing some minor holy oil
a rohnuru potion
a bromin potion (registered) (marked)
an ayveneh potion
a duqnuru potion

In a clothing wardrobe:
some ochre chambray gloves
a coarse burlap sack
a black-eared rufous squirrel (registered)

In a deep chest:
a charcoal glass beaker containing green malachite stones (50/50)
a kelyn-rimmed amber glass jar containing powdered moonglae opal (40/50)
a large prismatic glass bottle containing white opals (21/50)
a gold-banded short glass jar containing black opals (87/100)
a large octagonal glass jar containing medium white pearls (10/50)
a mortar
a spiral-ended black stone pestle
a hammered silver cauldron (registered) (marked)
a blue-hued speckled glass bottle containing uncut emeralds (42/50)
a swirled rainbow glass bottle containing uncut emeralds (21/50)
a hexagonal golden glass bottle containing n'ayanad crystals (65/100) (registered)
a dark blue glass beaker containing black opals (40/50)
a frosted glass beaker containing powdered dragonfire opal (40/50)
a sooty glass beaker containing essences of fire (50/50)
a slightly bulbous glass jar containing radiant crimson motes of essence (50/50)
a pale pink wavy glass bottle containing radiant crimson essence shards (50/50)
an ora-rimmed sienna glass jar containing essences of earth (8/50)
a greenish mottled glass bottle containing waxy grey caederine (26/50)
a burled walnut stationery box with brass mountings (registered) (marked)
an oversized pale grey wax stick
a lilac beryl intaglio signet (registered)
a fluffy ball of white cotton
a slender trefoil brass key
a taupe-banded hawk feather quill
a crystal inkpot with a hand-chased silver lid (marked)
a swirled rainbow glass bottle containing star emeralds (27/50)
a mottled ten-sided glass jar containing inky necrotic cores (26/50)
a large prismatic glass bottle containing pristine siren's hairs (50/50)
an intricately painted tin carousel (registered) (marked)
a frosted glass beaker containing ayanad crystals (2/50)
a vial of clear dye base
a vial of clear dye base
an ochre glass beaker containing tiny golden seeds (50/50)
a mottled ten-sided glass jar containing vial of farlook vitreous humors (15/50)
an opalescent glass jar containing glowing violet essence dust (20/20)
a tapered glass bottle containing perfect myklian belly scales (17/20)
a slightly bulbous glass jar containing blue sapphires (50/50)
a dark brown narrow-necked bottle containing elemental cores (50/50)
a dark brown narrow-necked bottle containing copper fangs (3/50)
a soil-filled dragonfly saewehna-studded green ceramic pot (registered)
a frosted blue glass jar containing faceted black diamonds (4/20)
a bevel-edged steel box (registered)
an opalescent glass jar containing glimmering blue essence dust (8/20)
a striped rainbow glass bottle containing glimmering blue essence shards (3/50)
an azure glass beaker containing ayanad crystals (50/50)
a charcoal glass beaker containing golden moonstones (50/50)
a tall silver-streaked bottle containing s'ayanad crystals (50/50)
a greenish mottled glass bottle containing dragonfire emeralds (28/50)
a perfectly cubical glass jar containing blue diamonds (41/50)
a tapered glass bottle containing glowing green lichen (9/20)
a slender multicolored bottle containing pristine sprite's hairs (37/50)
a light tan glass beaker containing radiant crimson essence dust (12/50)
a pale pink wavy glass bottle containing uncut rubies (32/50)
a charcoal glass beaker containing essences of air (34/50)
a hexagonal golden glass bottle containing black opals (100/100)
a frosted glass beaker containing powdered moonglae opal (19/50)
a hazy heptagonal jar containing powdered moonglae opal (40/50)
a hexagonal golden glass bottle containing powdered dragonfire opal (90/100)
a perfectly cubical glass jar containing ayana leaves (50/50)
a large octagonal glass jar containing t'ayanad crystals (38/50)
a gold-banded short glass jar containing uncut diamonds (32/100)
a gold-banded short glass jar containing moonglae opals (3/100)
a dark blue glass beaker containing Kezmonian honey beryls (12/50)
a gold-banded short glass jar containing essences of water (47/100)

Obvious items: 103

You rub your chin thoughtfully.

'''You ask, "What would you say inspired you to begin on the path you're currently on? What was your mindset when you began, and do you feel like you've been true to that path on your journey?"'''

Speaking to you, Faulkil exclaims, "I've always loved magic... and wizards have more magic than anyone else!"

You nod in agreement.

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "It's still a journey on progress though so I'll let you know how it turns out when I get to the end."

You grin.

'''You ask, "Is there a particular goal that you feel like you're driving towards? Something that you're striving for, that keeps you motivated?"'''

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "Recently I've been on a quest to master the harnessing of mana... it may seem like a minor thing but more mana unlocks the ability to use your magic in ways that you might not otherwise consider."

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "So I am striving to always have the mana to cast whatever I want, whenever I want... or something along those lines."

Faulkil grins.

You grin at Faulkil.

Speaking to Faulkil, you say, "An appropriate goal for a hedgewizard extraordinaire."

You nod approvingly.

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "Exactly! I see you understand."

Faulkil nods to you.

'''Speaking to Faulkil, you ask, "And finally... with the exception of Niadja, who would otherwise be the natural answer, what other adventurer would you say has had the most impact on your time as an adventurer?"'''

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "He is long gone from the lands but I would have to say the wizard Rnombi. We hunted together for many years and had some great adventures in the process..."

You nod understandingly.

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "There was one time he spent 2 or 3 days with a finger puzzle on his hands."

Faulkil grins.

You grin from ear to ear.

Speaking to you, Faulkil exclaims, "He was determined to figure it our for himself though... I give him credit!"

Speaking to Faulkil, you say, "There's something to be said for tenacity."

Faulkil adopts an agreeable expression.

Faulkil says, "I respect and admire it."

Speaking to Faulkil, you ask, "That's the extent of my notes, I believe. Is there anything you'd like to discuss for the record?"

You grin at Faulkil.

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "I have to say this has been an enjoyable experience! It has brought up some fond memories that have been buried for some time."

You beam!

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "Thank you for your time and patience with my responses. Hopefully you got some of what you were looking for."

You say, "I'm very glad. I feel like these are important, but it's always nice when it's a good experience for the interviewee."

Faulkil smiles at you.

Speaking to Faulkil, you say, "You did great, truly. I appreciate you being prepared, and being so forthcoming."

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "It's always better to be prepared so that you can toss it out the window when the unexpected happens."

Faulkil nods.

You chortle.

You agree with Faulkil.

Speaking to Faulkil, you say, "Thank you very much for getting up early, and making the time to do this. I truly appreciate it."

Speaking to you, Faulkil exclaims, "It's no trouble at all. That is what weekends are for!"

Faulkil shakes your hand.

Speaking to Faulkil, you say, "I should go file these notes. Thanks so much for the time this morning."

You give Faulkil a firm handshake.

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "Have an enjoyable rest of your day and let me know if anything else is needed."

Faulkil bows to you.

Faulkil smiles.

Faulkil waves.

You wave.

You grin.

</pre>
----

{| class="wikitable" style="background-color:#fff6c1;" cellpadding="25" cellspacing="25"
|-
| "We ended up standing next to each other for about 5 minutes before we figured out who we were because apparently my shirt was "aqua" (which isn't the same as green it seems)" ~ Luminary Faulkil
|}

==The Out-of-Character Interview==
'''What’s your real name?'''
:Robert

'''Where are you located, geographically?'''
:Texas

'''What do you do for a living?'''
:I work for a bank.

'''How long have you played Gemstone?'''
:Somewhere around 1989.

'''Have you taken any breaks, or played straight through?'''
:I stopped playing years ago on Genie once I capped my wizard. Since then I've been playing straight on since roughly mid-2004 until now.

'''How many different ‘main’ characters have you had over the years?'''
:Just two. Theldorn back in Gemstone II and Faulkil here in Gemstone IV.

'''Who are/were your most notable characters?'''
:Faulkil most likely.

'''Do you have multiple accounts that you play at the same time?'''
:No. Just the one Premium account.

'''What front-end do you use? (Stormfront, Wizard, Profanity, other)?'''
:#WizardFE4Lyfe! :-)

''Why?''
:Besides simply being used to Wizard FE, I find the Stormfront FE to be sluggish.

'''Do you use lich?'''
:Yes.

''Why or why not?''
:Mostly for the ;chat channels, ;go2, and the handy ;narost map features.

''If so, what are your ‘must-have’ scripts?''
:;go2

'''Have you ever bought or sold characters or items for real money?'''
:Characters: Never. Items: I've sold one item for cash but I much prefer dealing in silvers.

'''Do you now, or have you ever roleplayed a character that was very different from your real personality?'''
:All of my characters are unique and different. Faulkil is the one that is most like me.

''Why or why not?''
:That's part of the fun of this game. Most players don't know my other characters (there are a few exceptions) and it's fun to have people react to my individual characters based on the character and not the person behind the character.

'''What would you say is your most memorable Gemstone ‘moment’ (as a player) , and why?'''
:Stealing a newspaper and portrait out of the rogues guild in Gemstone II (back then the guilds were run by other players) to win a bet.

'''What, in your mind, is the best thing about Gemstone?'''
:One of the things I've enjoyed about Gemstone over the years is it's long term playability. Both in terms of the time and effort it takes to achieve various goals (which is a plus in my book) and even now, I still continue to discover new things about the game.

'''Have you ever attended Simucon, or otherwise met up with a person from Gemstone?'''
:I attended a vegas get together held at someone's house back around 1989 or so. I've travelled to Wisconson to meet a Gemstone buddy around the same time period. And, I flew out to MA to meet the love of my life around that time period as well!

''If so, describe the experience (PG-13, please)''
:I'll go with flying out to Mass. to meet my (now) wife for the first time. We didn't exchange pictures or anything so we didn't know what each other looked like the first time I flew out. I told her I would be wearing a green shirt. We ended up standing next to each other for about 5 minutes before we figured out who we were because apparently my shirt was "aqua" (which isn't the same as green it seems).

'''Imagine you're Wyrom for a day and can 'do' one thing. What are you changing/removing/adding/replacing, and why?'''
:I'm not convinced that Wyrom has the ability to influence this but I'd really look at keeping some of the events less monetized - I'm sure the financials are looking better with all of the slot machine based events but I really think it will eventually drive some of the core players away over time. It's certainly been a big turn off to events for me. Failing that, I'd push for giving elemental lores more "elemental flavor" vs. utility categories - I don't expect to ever see that happen given what it took to get where we are but it is an "imagine" question!

'''What do you feel is the biggest mistake that most GS players make?'''
:Hmmm... I think people miss a lot by jumping to the automated scripts too quickly. e.g. ;go2 - spend some time exploring any areas manually before jumping to ;go2.

'''What’s something that you feel every GS player should do at least once?'''
:For every negative post you post on the forums, make sure to post at least two positive ones. :-) In game, make it a point to hunt in the hard areas that you may have avoided with your past characters. There's a lot of fun out there!

'''What advice would you offer to a new player?'''
:There is a lot of depth to the game. Don't be afraid to ask questions, there are a lot of helpful folks out there. Don't be afraid to experiment and try things outside of the "best build". The game allows for a lot of variety and odd builds to be successful as well.

TownCrier Interview Sessions with Faulkil

2017-09-16T01:10:32Z

CANNEL: /* The In-Character Interview */

{{towncrier interview
|name= Faulkil
|caption=
|race= Halfling
|culture=
|class= Wizard
|profession= Hedgewizard Extraordinaire
|religion=
|affiliations= House White Haven
|word=
|disposition=
|demeanor=
|ptrait=
|strait=
|flaw=
|strength=
|weakness=
|habits=
|hobbies=
|soft=
|likes=
|dislikes=
|fears=
|loyalties=
|friend=
|spouse=
|loved=
}}
By Oubar, TownCrier Correspondent 
16 Imaerasta 5117 // September 16, 2017 - in the Office of Lord Faulkil 
----
==Introduction==
Faulkil is known far and wide, though especially in Icemule, as a generous, patient sort. Always quick to lend a hand, some advice, or a spirited rendition of a bawdy ballad revolving around roltons, he embodies the cheery, helpful disposition that is at the heart of the House he helps lead. Alongside his wonderful wife Niadja, he helps make Icemule as warm and welcoming as he can. Faulkil made time recently to host TownCrier Correspondent Oubar in his office for an in-depth interview.

{| class="wikitable" style="background-color:#fff6c1;" cellpadding="25" cellspacing="25"
|-
| "Hedgewizard extraordinaire. It's easier for most folks simply to call me a wizard though." ~ Luminary Faulkil
|}
----
==The In-Character Interview==
<pre{{log2|background=none|border=none}}>

[Faulkil's Office - 15807]
Beneath an oak beam ceiling, an Elanthia map painting hangs on one of the rough plaster walls. Some gilt kakore shelves and an ancient orase desk sit in opposite corners while a number of unopened shipping crates rests on a scraped oak floor. You also see a crackling lightning wyrdling and a beveled cedar sign.
Obvious exits: northeast

You squint at a crackling lightning wyrdling.

Speaking to a crackling lightning wyrdling, you ask, "Keeping his seat warm?"

You adopt an agreeable expression.

Faulkil suddenly fades into view.

A vortex of air spins and whirls around Faulkil.
You see Faulkil the Hedgewizard.
He appears to be a Dhe'nar Dark Elf.
He is shorter than average. He appears to be very young. He has long-lashed dark eyes and dusky skin. He has long, silky russet hair feathered with soft, shadowy strands. He has a long face, a broken nose and thin lips. He has a fake fancy fuzzy fuchsia goatee.
He has a rune tattoo on his arm, and a rune tattoo on his arm.
He is in good shape.
He is wearing a floppy purple hat set with plumed griffin feathers, a pale crystal shard, a knitted cashmere and amethyst scarf, a frumpy fiery red greatcloak, some dark grey silver-insigiled casting gloves, an eahnor-bound fireleaf badge, an ebon-hued obsidian gate pin, a shaggy ice blue mule pin, a faceted opalescent thunderstone charm flecked with gold, a heavy dark wool shirt with long narrow sleeves and embroidered with a snowshoe hare, a slit-pupiled citrine quartz pin, a small bone periapt, a silvery ora snowshoe hare stickpin, a carved round-of-cheese locket, a voluminous haversack with a griffin claw clasp, a lilac leather weapon harness trimmed with silver and gold, a storm grey leather satchel clasped with a radiant opalescent thunderstone, some pale layered leather hunts ridged with colorful braid lacing, an etched white gold wedding band, a rune belt, an elegant black silk gem pouch, a dusty dark red sack, a dark leather bag swept with silver sigils, some pale grey silk trousers with a slight lilac tint, and a pair of resplendent white pelt boots inset with purple thunderstones.

Faulkil smiles.

You grin at Faulkil.

Speaking to you, Faulkil exclaims, "Good morning!"

You bow to Faulkil.

Speaking to Faulkil, you exclaim, "And good morning to you as well!"

Speaking to you, Faulkil exclaims, "More like keeping me awake. It's early!"

You nod in agreement.

Speaking to Faulkil, you say, "I appreciate you getting up early to do this."

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "I'm more of a night owl but happy we could find a time to meet."

Speaking wryly to Faulkil, you say, "I know."

You stare at nothing in particular.

You mutter something inaudible.

Faulkil chuckles.

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "Funny enough... that's late for me as well. My nights end earlier than they used to."

Faulkil nods slowly.

You chuckle to yourself.

You say, "I usually start out with some questions that are basic knowledge, just to get the complete picture. So even though I know quite a few of these answers already, we're getting them on the record."

Faulkil grins.

'''You ask, "What is your profession, for those who might not already be aware?"'''

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "Hedgewizard extraordinaire. It's easier for most folks simply to call me a wizard though."

Speaking to Faulkil, you say, "Though to be PROPER... naturally the full title is warranted."

You nod sagely at Faulkil.

Speaking to you, Faulkil exclaims, "Oh to be sure!"

'''You ask, "What would you say is the best thing about your profession? If you were attempting to convince someone still on the turnip truck to lean towards your profession, what would you tell them?"'''

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "Apples taste much better than turnips for starters..."

You adopt an agreeable expression.

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "There's a lot to speak of! I enjoy the utility that elemental magics offers, the ability to use magic to help others, the flexibility to travel nearly anyplace in the lands in relative safety, and the crafting of powerful artifacts via enchanting to name a few."

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "That was a mouthful but hopefully gives you a general idea."

'''You ask, "Similarly, what would you warn that same person about, if they were intending to become part of your profession?"'''

Faulkil ponders.

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "Socially? Spend a little less time in the library."

Faulkil smiles.

You grin at Faulkil.

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "In combat? I do tend to drop my runestave now and again but there's plenty of magic to help in those situations."

Faulkil asks, "Bring a spare maybe?"

You adopt an agreeable expression.

'''You ask, "How many trainings do you have currently, and how long have you been an adventurer in the lands?"'''

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "More than most giantman can count."

You blink.

You squint at Faulkil.

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "That applies to both."

Speaking doubtfully to Faulkil, you say, "I can count pretty high..."

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "I said 'most'."

Faulkil adopts an agreeable expression.

You nod understandingly.

'''You ask, "What is your preferred method of hunting, and why?"'''

Speaking to you, Faulkil exclaims, "Whatever works!"

Faulkil grins.

You grin.

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "More specifically, I use most of the magics I have available. There's usually a few bolts and a lot of fanciful display of the elements involved though."

You adopt an agreeable expression.

Speaking to Faulkil, you say, "I wasn't sure if you also sometimes employed a weapon... possibly your teeth..."

You shrug at Faulkil.

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "Honestly I try to avoid anything with a sharp edge... it is too easy to cut myself."

Faulkil grins.

You grin crookedly.

'''Speaking to Faulkil, you ask, "Have you trained in any artisan skills?"'''

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "My craft is elemental magics. I focus my time and energy on the study of magic leave the crafting of other items to those who have a passion for it."

You adopt an agreeable expression.

You say, "A sensible approach."

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "As an additional note... always leave box opening to the professionals as well.."

Faulkil nods to you.

Speaking to Faulkil, you ask, "Voice of experience there?"

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "Maybe..."

You grin wryly.

'''You ask, "What town do you currently call home?"'''

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "Icemule Trace has been my home for the past dozen or so years. I couldn't imagine living anywhere else though I do vacation a lot on Teras."

Faulkil adopts an agreeable expression.

You adopt an agreeable expression.

''Speaking to Faulkil, you ask, "What about Icemule drew you initially?"''

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "I love this town! I love the people! The faces change over time but there's still always great people here willing to share a joke or a story and to help others out as needed. I couldn't imagine calling any other town home."

You nod understandingly.

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "Some people complain about the cold but it is one of the warmest towns I know."

Faulkil nods.

Speaking to Faulkil, you say, "I couldn't agree more, actually. It's been my home for nearly as long. I wouldn't change a thing."

'''You ask, "Where do you typically hunt these days?"'''

Faulkil ponders.

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "For years I focused most of my energy on Teras. More recently I've been hunting in the Confluence and the Sanctum of Sands. I'll probably mix it up again when I grow tired of those."

You nod understandingly.

'''You ask, "Are you married?"'''

You grin at Faulkil.

Faulkil beams!

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "Yes, to my wonderful wife Niadja."

Speaking wonderingly to Faulkil, you say, "You don't say..."

You try hard not to grin.

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "Quite the surprise for you I am sure."

Faulkil nods.

''Speaking to Faulkil, you ask, "And how did you and she meet initially?"''

Faulkil says, "We both arrived in the Landing around the same time and we just hit it off right off the bat."

Faulkil ponders.

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "Not the most romantic or exciting telling I suppose but it is what it is."

Faulkil grins.

Speaking to Faulkil, you ask, "What are the three best things about her?"

You grin at Faulkil.

Speaking to you, Faulkil asks, "Only three?!?"

Speaking to Faulkil, you say, "Keeping in mind we're a family friendly organization."

Faulkil ponders.

Speaking to Faulkil, you ask, "Off the top of your head. What comes to mind first?"

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "She's always willing to give of herself to help others."

You nod in agreement.

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "Besides being beautiful AND smart she also seems to like to hang around me."

You grin.

Speaking to Faulkil, you say, "You're cheating a bit, but I'll allow it."

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "We share the same passion for food in general."

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "I didn't stay married for as long as I have by being dumb."

You try hard not to grin.

'''Speaking dryly to Faulkil, you ask, "Do you belong to one of the Great Houses?"'''

You blink at Faulkil.

[Full disclosure: As of this date, the interviewer is a fellow officer in House White Haven.]

Faulkil grins.

Speaking to you, Faulkil exclaims, "I have the honor and privelege of serving as the current Luminary of White Haven. I'm hoping to change the title at some point as I'm not sure how I feel about being Luminous!"

Faulkil adopts an agreeable expression.

You snicker.

Speaking to Faulkil, you say, "I can see your point there. It's a bit of a... cumbersome title."

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "That aside... We have an awesome, and very creative member base in the house and an equally awesome and dedicated group of officers. I enjoy the house focus on the community and frankly its just been fun to be a part of it."

''Speaking to Faulkil, you ask, "What does being the Luminary mean? What are your 'official' duties in that role?"''

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "Plainly I'm the head of the house. Which means that I work for all of the other officers to insure they are happy and have what they need to be successful."

Faulkil grins.

You nod understandingly.

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "Fortunately they aren't overly demanding."

Faulkil grins.

You grin at Faulkil.

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "And... to add a note... Niadja gets a lot of credit for doing what I just took credit for."

Faulkil grins.

Speaking thoughtfully to Faulkil, you say, "Very wise..."

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "Also a simple fact."

Faulkil grins.

'''Speaking to Faulkil, you ask, "Are you active in your profession's guild?"'''

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "As active as I can be. I've mastered Alchemy and make it a point to help out younger wizards when the opportunities arise."

You nod appreciatively.

Speaking to Faulkil, you say, "I applaud your resilience and question your sanity in mastering Alchemy."

Faulkil chuckles.

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "It wasn't done over night... I did have to take a sanity break for awhile before mastering it."

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "It turns out that a standard sanity break is about 12 months."

You grin at Faulkil.

'''Speaking to Faulkil, you ask, "Are you a member of one of the Elanthian Societies? The Order of Voln, Guardians of Sunfist, or perhaps another one?"'''

Faulkil works his fingers under his floppy purple hat and scratches his head.

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "I don't go in much for secret handshakes or wearing funny hats."

'''You ask, "What would you say is your most prized possession?"'''

Faulkil ponders.

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "I have a lot of toys..."

You grin from ear to ear.

You carefully say, "I understand this personality quirk."

Faulkil grins.

Faulkil nods slowly.

''You ask, "Which is the most meaningful, or important, to you?"''

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "I do very much enjoy a tome that I acquired some years ago."

Faulkil just opened a dusty dark red sack.

You nod encouragingly.

Faulkil removes an ancient bronze case embossed with a regal griffon clutching a slit-pupiled eye from in his dark red sack.

Faulkil just opened an ancient bronze case embossed with a regal griffon clutching a slit-pupiled eye.

Faulkil removes an ancient yellowed tome from in his bronze case.

Faulkil shows you an ancient yellowed tome, which he is holding in his left hand. You see nothing unusual.

Faulkil takes a long whiff of the yellowed tome, savoring the moment.

You nod appreciatively.

''Speaking to Faulkil, you ask, "How did you acquire it?"''

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "Interestingly enough... fortune smiled upon me the day I acquired it. I won it in an auction."

You nod appreciatively.

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "Probably the only way I would have come into its posession. I doubt many would part with it."

''Speaking to Faulkil, you ask, "Does it have any abilities or properties that aren't readily obvious?"''

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "This tome is a gift from Fash'Lo'Nae himself. The possessor can cast most any magics, even spells that may have been lost at one point or that would not normally be known to the possessor."

You nod appreciatively.

You say, "That's VERY impressive."

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "This ability has become more common in recent times... but this one tome is more powerful still."

Speaking to Faulkil, you ask, "Can I ask how much it cost you at the time?"

You grin at Faulkil.

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "It cost me a single token."

Faulkil adopts an agreeable expression.

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "And probably a lifetime of saved luck."

Faulkil grins.

You exclaim, "Ah... a token auction. Now I see!"

Faulkil put an ancient yellowed tome in his bronze case.

Faulkil just closed an ancient bronze case embossed with a regal griffon clutching a slit-pupiled eye.

Faulkil put an ancient bronze case embossed with a regal griffon clutching a slit-pupiled eye in his dark red sack.

Faulkil just closed a dusty dark red sack.

Speaking to Faulkil, you suggest, "A wiser man would have said that he used up all his luck finding and connecting with his wife."

You hum a random, wandering tune.

Faulkil laughs!

You wink at Faulkil.

Speaking to you, Faulkil exclaims, "You are a wise man indeed!"

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "Another wonderful trait about Niadja is that she will forgive me for not thinking of that first."

Faulkil nods.

Faulkil attempts to hum a merry little tune.

'''Speaking to Faulkil, you ask, "Would you say that tome is the most valuable of your possessions, or is there something else that takes that title?"'''

You grin at Faulkil.

Faulkil ponders.

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "I suppose... I don't really assess the value of my possessions in terms of silver. So for me the tome is as valuable as the stuffed animal that Niadja gave me. I wouldn't part with either."

You nod understandingly.

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "Would the tome fetch a higher price than my armor? I don't know."

Faulkil shrugs.

'''You ask, "What's your most memorable moment from your time as an adventurer in Elanthia?"'''

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "SO many memoriess... one does stand out."

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "A lesson in humility I suppose."

You nod understandingly.

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "You may be aware that to access certain areas a simple short sword is needed."

You exclaim, "I am indeed!"

Speaking to you, Faulkil asks, "As it turns out... kobolds love to use short swords! Convenient, no?"

Speaking to a crackling lightning wyrdling, you confide, "He's talking about Darkstone."

The lightning wyrdling darts around the room, her movements jerky and uneasy.

You nod at Faulkil.

You exclaim, "Eminently so!"

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "So... becuase its fun to show off and use different magics I chose to relieve one kobold of his sword using weapon fire."

You try hard not to grin.

You say, "I... see..."

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "The spell was cast, the kobold dropped the blade as expected, I picked it up and..."

You chortle softly at some secret joke.

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "The kobold had the better day."

Speaking to Faulkil, you say, "And the spell did what the spell does."

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "It is amazingly effective."

Speaking to Faulkil, you say, "A lesson in humility indeed, it would seem."

'''Speaking to Faulkil, you ask, "And I think you just answered one of the later questions... unless you have another moment that you would call your most embarrassing?"'''

Faulkil chuckles.

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "Let's go with that one."

Faulkil nods.

You nod slowly.

'''Speaking to Faulkil, you ask, "Can you talk about your time before becoming an adventurer? Was your family from Icemule originally?"'''

Faulkil frowns.

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "It was not and those are not pleasant memories. I have two sisters that could be called family..."

Faulkil asks, "You did say children might be reading this?"

Speaking to Faulkil, you say, "That's entirely possible, yes."

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "That's all I care to say about my sisters at this time."

Faulkil nods.

You nod understandingly.

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "Plus it upsets Niadja... she gets along with them for some unknown reason."

Faulkil shakes his head.

You give a short little hum of surprise.

Speaking to Faulkil, you say, "There's sometimes no accounting for family... I do understand that."

Faulkil agrees with you.

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "I prefer to think of Icemule as my family."

Faulkil smiles.

Speaking to Faulkil, you say, "You should try growing up in a family who honors and worships Lady Zelia."

You stare at nothing in particular.

You trace the lines of your crescent moon tattoo.

Faulkil chuckles.

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "I might consider that a good trade."

Faulkil looks at you and hums.

You grin crookedly.

'''Speaking to Faulkil, you ask, "Would you be willing to give a rough estimate of the current value of your bank accounts?"'''

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "I rarely have much silver on hand... Silver is for buying the next toy."

Speaking to Faulkil, you say, "I couldn't agree more, personally."

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "At the moment I have around 27 million silver in various accounts."

You nod appreciatively.

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "Once I had more than 100 million... but then some crazy merchant started selling padded armor off the shelf."

You snicker at Faulkil.

'''You ask, "Would you be willing to share a look at the contents of one of your lockers?"'''

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "Sure! All of them are full."

Faulkil agrees with you.

Speaking to you, Faulkil asks, "Perhaps my locker for alchemy ingredients and enchanting projects?"

Speaking to Faulkil, you say, "Whichever you prefer."

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "There is some semblance of order to them."

Faulkil nods.

On an armor stand:
some etched ora augmented chain (registered) (marked)
a rectangular vultite greatshield riveted and spiked with silvery eonake (registered) (marked)
some sleek black stalking leathers
some grey mithril augmented chain (registered) (marked)
a vultite greatshield
some supple tawny hunts banded with narrow leather piping (registered)
a set of dark double leather with burnished brass buckles
an embossed vultite aegis
some ornate spiked steel full plate
some silver threaded double leathers
a spiked vultite greatshield riveted with silvery eonake (registered) (marked)
some oiled brigandine armor of night black hue (marked)
a gold-accented black silk shirt (registered)
some reinforced leather
a set of storm grey adamantine coat-of-plates with silver rivets (registered) (marked)
some gleaming ora augmented chain

On a weapon rack:
an imposing eonake warsword (marked)
a banded orase runestaff (registered) (marked)
an archaic fireleaf runestaff (registered) (marked)
a perfect mithril greataxe
a gnarled black ko'nag runestaff (registered) (marked)
an aquamarine mossbark runestaff with a deep blue eostone set in its shaft
a dull ipantor heavy crossbow
a twin-bladed silvery mithril axe with an intricate lacework pattern cut into the blades
a lime green carmiln long bow
a scorched vultite backsword (registered) (marked)
an ancient mithglin spear (registered) (marked)
a bronze-hilted kelyn main gauche (registered) (marked)

In a magical item bin:
an eoveneh potion
a dirtokh potion
a mirtokh potion
a crystalline vial containing some minor holy oil
a rohnuru potion
a bromin potion (registered) (marked)
an ayveneh potion
a duqnuru potion

In a clothing wardrobe:
some ochre chambray gloves
a coarse burlap sack
a black-eared rufous squirrel (registered)

In a deep chest:
a charcoal glass beaker containing green malachite stones (50/50)
a kelyn-rimmed amber glass jar containing powdered moonglae opal (40/50)
a large prismatic glass bottle containing white opals (21/50)
a gold-banded short glass jar containing black opals (87/100)
a large octagonal glass jar containing medium white pearls (10/50)
a mortar
a spiral-ended black stone pestle
a hammered silver cauldron (registered) (marked)
a blue-hued speckled glass bottle containing uncut emeralds (42/50)
a swirled rainbow glass bottle containing uncut emeralds (21/50)
a hexagonal golden glass bottle containing n'ayanad crystals (65/100) (registered)
a dark blue glass beaker containing black opals (40/50)
a frosted glass beaker containing powdered dragonfire opal (40/50)
a sooty glass beaker containing essences of fire (50/50)
a slightly bulbous glass jar containing radiant crimson motes of essence (50/50)
a pale pink wavy glass bottle containing radiant crimson essence shards (50/50)
an ora-rimmed sienna glass jar containing essences of earth (8/50)
a greenish mottled glass bottle containing waxy grey caederine (26/50)
a burled walnut stationery box with brass mountings (registered) (marked)
an oversized pale grey wax stick
a lilac beryl intaglio signet (registered)
a fluffy ball of white cotton
a slender trefoil brass key
a taupe-banded hawk feather quill
a crystal inkpot with a hand-chased silver lid (marked)
a swirled rainbow glass bottle containing star emeralds (27/50)
a mottled ten-sided glass jar containing inky necrotic cores (26/50)
a large prismatic glass bottle containing pristine siren's hairs (50/50)
an intricately painted tin carousel (registered) (marked)
a frosted glass beaker containing ayanad crystals (2/50)
a vial of clear dye base
a vial of clear dye base
an ochre glass beaker containing tiny golden seeds (50/50)
a mottled ten-sided glass jar containing vial of farlook vitreous humors (15/50)
an opalescent glass jar containing glowing violet essence dust (20/20)
a tapered glass bottle containing perfect myklian belly scales (17/20)
a slightly bulbous glass jar containing blue sapphires (50/50)
a dark brown narrow-necked bottle containing elemental cores (50/50)
a dark brown narrow-necked bottle containing copper fangs (3/50)
a soil-filled dragonfly saewehna-studded green ceramic pot (registered)
a frosted blue glass jar containing faceted black diamonds (4/20)
a bevel-edged steel box (registered)
an opalescent glass jar containing glimmering blue essence dust (8/20)
a striped rainbow glass bottle containing glimmering blue essence shards (3/50)
an azure glass beaker containing ayanad crystals (50/50)
a charcoal glass beaker containing golden moonstones (50/50)
a tall silver-streaked bottle containing s'ayanad crystals (50/50)
a greenish mottled glass bottle containing dragonfire emeralds (28/50)
a perfectly cubical glass jar containing blue diamonds (41/50)
a tapered glass bottle containing glowing green lichen (9/20)
a slender multicolored bottle containing pristine sprite's hairs (37/50)
a light tan glass beaker containing radiant crimson essence dust (12/50)
a pale pink wavy glass bottle containing uncut rubies (32/50)
a charcoal glass beaker containing essences of air (34/50)
a hexagonal golden glass bottle containing black opals (100/100)
a frosted glass beaker containing powdered moonglae opal (19/50)
a hazy heptagonal jar containing powdered moonglae opal (40/50)
a hexagonal golden glass bottle containing powdered dragonfire opal (90/100)
a perfectly cubical glass jar containing ayana leaves (50/50)
a large octagonal glass jar containing t'ayanad crystals (38/50)
a gold-banded short glass jar containing uncut diamonds (32/100)
a gold-banded short glass jar containing moonglae opals (3/100)
a dark blue glass beaker containing Kezmonian honey beryls (12/50)
a gold-banded short glass jar containing essences of water (47/100)

Obvious items: 103

You rub your chin thoughtfully.

'''You ask, "What would you say inspired you to begin on the path you're currently on? What was your mindset when you began, and do you feel like you've been true to that path on your journey?"'''

Speaking to you, Faulkil exclaims, "I've always loved magic... and wizards have more magic than anyone else!"

You nod in agreement.

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "It's still a journey on progress though so I'll let you know how it turns out when I get to the end."

You grin.

'''You ask, "Is there a particular goal that you feel like you're driving towards? Something that you're striving for, that keeps you motivated?"'''

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "Recently I've been on a quest to master the harnessing of mana... it may seem like a minor thing but more mana unlocks the ability to use your magic in ways that you might not otherwise consider."

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "So I am striving to always have the mana to cast whatever I want, whenever I want... or something along those lines."

Faulkil grins.

You grin at Faulkil.

Speaking to Faulkil, you say, "An appropriate goal for a hedgewizard extraordinaire."

You nod approvingly.

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "Exactly! I see you understand."

Faulkil nods to you.

'''Speaking to Faulkil, you ask, "And finally... with the exception of Niadja, who would otherwise be the natural answer, what other adventurer would you say has had the most impact on your time as an adventurer?"'''

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "He is long gone from the lands but I would have to say the wizard Rnombi. We hunted together for many years and had some great adventures in the process..."

You nod understandingly.

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "There was one time he spent 2 or 3 days with a finger puzzle on his hands."

Faulkil grins.

You grin from ear to ear.

Speaking to you, Faulkil exclaims, "He was determined to figure it our for himself though... I give him credit!"

Speaking to Faulkil, you say, "There's something to be said for tenacity."

Faulkil adopts an agreeable expression.

Faulkil says, "I respect and admire it."

Speaking to Faulkil, you ask, "That's the extent of my notes, I believe. Is there anything you'd like to discuss for the record?"

You grin at Faulkil.

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "I have to say this has been an enjoyable experience! It has brought up some fond memories that have been buried for some time."

You beam!

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "Thank you for your time and patience with my responses. Hopefully you got some of what you were looking for."

You say, "I'm very glad. I feel like these are important, but it's always nice when it's a good experience for the interviewee."

Faulkil smiles at you.

Speaking to Faulkil, you say, "You did great, truly. I appreciate you being prepared, and being so forthcoming."

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "It's always better to be prepared so that you can toss it out the window when the unexpected happens."

Faulkil nods.

You chortle.

You agree with Faulkil.

Speaking to Faulkil, you say, "Thank you very much for getting up early, and making the time to do this. I truly appreciate it."

Speaking to you, Faulkil exclaims, "It's no trouble at all. That is what weekends are for!"

Faulkil shakes your hand.

Speaking to Faulkil, you say, "I should go file these notes. Thanks so much for the time this morning."

You give Faulkil a firm handshake.

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "Have an enjoyable rest of your day and let me know if anything else is needed."

Faulkil bows to you.

Faulkil smiles.

Faulkil waves.

You wave.

You grin.

</pre>
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|-
| "We ended up standing next to each other for about 5 minutes before we figured out who we were because apparently my shirt was "aqua" (which isn't the same as green it seems)" ~ Luminary Faulkil
|}

==The Out-of-Character Interview==
'''What’s your real name?'''
:Robert

'''Where are you located, geographically?'''
:Texas

'''What do you do for a living?'''
:I work for a bank.

'''How long have you played Gemstone?'''
:Somewhere around 1989.

'''Have you taken any breaks, or played straight through?'''
:I stopped playing years ago on Genie once I capped my wizard. Since then I've been playing straight on since roughly mid-2004 until now.

'''How many different ‘main’ characters have you had over the years?'''
:Just two. Theldorn back in Gemstone II and Faulkil here in Gemstone IV.

'''Who are/were your most notable characters?'''
:Faulkil most likely.

'''Do you have multiple accounts that you play at the same time?'''
:No. Just the one Premium account.

'''What front-end do you use? (Stormfront, Wizard, Profanity, other)?'''
:#WizardFE4Lyfe! :-)

''Why?''
:Besides simply being used to Wizard FE, I find the Stormfront FE to be sluggish.

'''Do you use lich?'''
:Yes.

''Why or why not?''
:Mostly for the ;chat channels, ;go2, and the handy ;narost map features.

''If so, what are your ‘must-have’ scripts?''
:;go2

'''Have you ever bought or sold characters or items for real money?'''
:Characters: Never. Items: I've sold one item for cash but I much prefer dealing in silvers.

'''Do you now, or have you ever roleplayed a character that was very different from your real personality?'''
:All of my characters are unique and different. Faulkil is the one that is most like me.

''Why or why not?''
:That's part of the fun of this game. Most players don't know my other characters (there are a few exceptions) and it's fun to have people react to my individual characters based on the character and not the person behind the character.

'''What would you say is your most memorable Gemstone ‘moment’ (as a player) , and why?'''
:Stealing a newspaper and portrait out of the rogues guild in Gemstone II (back then the guilds were run by other players) to win a bet.

'''What, in your mind, is the best thing about Gemstone?'''
:One of the things I've enjoyed about Gemstone over the years is it's long term playability. Both in terms of the time and effort it takes to achieve various goals (which is a plus in my book) and even now, I still continue to discover new things about the game.

'''Have you ever attended Simucon, or otherwise met up with a person from Gemstone?'''
:I attended a vegas get together held at someone's house back around 1989 or so. I've travelled to Wisconson to meet a Gemstone buddy around the same time period. And, I flew out to MA to meet the love of my life around that time period as well!

''If so, describe the experience (PG-13, please)''
:I'll go with flying out to Mass. to meet my (now) wife for the first time. We didn't exchange pictures or anything so we didn't know what each other looked like the first time I flew out. I told her I would be wearing a green shirt. We ended up standing next to each other for about 5 minutes before we figured out who we were because apparently my shirt was "aqua" (which isn't the same as green it seems).

'''Imagine you're Wyrom for a day and can 'do' one thing. What are you changing/removing/adding/replacing, and why?'''
:I'm not convinced that Wyrom has the ability to influence this but I'd really look at keeping some of the events less monetized - I'm sure the financials are looking better with all of the slot machine based events but I really think it will eventually drive some of the core players away over time. It's certainly been a big turn off to events for me. Failing that, I'd push for giving elemental lores more "elemental flavor" vs. utility categories - I don't expect to ever see that happen given what it took to get where we are but it is an "imagine" question!

'''What do you feel is the biggest mistake that most GS players make?'''
:Hmmm... I think people miss a lot by jumping to the automated scripts too quickly. e.g. ;go2 - spend some time exploring any areas manually before jumping to ;go2.

'''What’s something that you feel every GS player should do at least once?'''
:For every negative post you post on the forums, make sure to post at least two positive ones. :-) In game, make it a point to hunt in the hard areas that you may have avoided with your past characters. There's a lot of fun out there!

'''What advice would you offer to a new player?'''
:There is a lot of depth to the game. Don't be afraid to ask questions, there are a lot of helpful folks out there. Don't be afraid to experiment and try things outside of the "best build". The game allows for a lot of variety and odd builds to be successful as well.

TownCrier Interview Sessions with Faulkil

2017-09-16T00:15:09Z

CANNEL: Created page with "{{towncrier interview |name= Faulkil |caption= |race= Halfling |culture= |class= Wizard |profession= Hedgewizard Extraordinaire |religion= |affiliations= House White Haven |w..."

{{towncrier interview
|name= Faulkil
|caption=
|race= Halfling
|culture=
|class= Wizard
|profession= Hedgewizard Extraordinaire
|religion=
|affiliations= House White Haven
|word=
|disposition=
|demeanor=
|ptrait=
|strait=
|flaw=
|strength=
|weakness=
|habits=
|hobbies=
|soft=
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|loyalties=
|friend=
|spouse=
|loved=
}}
By Oubar, TownCrier Correspondent 
16 Imaerasta 5117 // September 16, 2017 - in the Office of Lord Faulkil 
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==Introduction==
Faulkil is known far and wide, though especially in Icemule, as a generous, patient sort. Always quick to lend a hand, some advice, or a spirited rendition of a bawdy ballad revolving around roltons, he embodies the cheery, helpful disposition that is at the heart of the House he helps lead. Alongside his wonderful wife Niadja, he helps make Icemule as warm and welcoming as he can. Faulkil made time recently to host TownCrier Correspondent Oubar in his office for an in-depth interview.

{| class="wikitable" style="background-color:#fff6c1;" cellpadding="25" cellspacing="25"
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| "Hedgewizard extraordinaire. It's easier for most folks simply to call me a wizard though." ~ Luminary Faulkil
|}
----
==The In-Character Interview==
<pre{{log2|background=none|border=none}}>

[Faulkil's Office - 15807]
Beneath an oak beam ceiling, an Elanthia map painting hangs on one of the rough plaster walls. Some gilt kakore shelves and an ancient orase desk sit in opposite corners while a number of unopened shipping crates rests on a scraped oak floor. You also see a crackling lightning wyrdling and a beveled cedar sign.
Obvious exits: northeast

You squint at a crackling lightning wyrdling.

Speaking to a crackling lightning wyrdling, you ask, "Keeping his seat warm?"

You adopt an agreeable expression.

Faulkil suddenly fades into view.

Faulkil smiles.

You grin at Faulkil.

Speaking to you, Faulkil exclaims, "Good morning!"

You bow to Faulkil.

Speaking to Faulkil, you exclaim, "And good morning to you as well!"

Speaking to you, Faulkil exclaims, "More like keeping me awake. It's early!"

You nod in agreement.

Speaking to Faulkil, you say, "I appreciate you getting up early to do this."

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "I'm more of a night owl but happy we could find a time to meet."

Speaking wryly to Faulkil, you say, "I know."

You stare at nothing in particular.

You mutter something inaudible.

Faulkil chuckles.

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "Funny enough... that's late for me as well. My nights end earlier than they used to."

Faulkil nods slowly.

You chuckle to yourself.

You say, "I usually start out with some questions that are basic knowledge, just to get the complete picture. So even though I know quite a few of these answers already, we're getting them on the record."

Faulkil grins.

'''You ask, "What is your profession, for those who might not already be aware?"'''

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "Hedgewizard extraordinaire. It's easier for most folks simply to call me a wizard though."

Speaking to Faulkil, you say, "Though to be PROPER... naturally the full title is warranted."

You nod sagely at Faulkil.

Speaking to you, Faulkil exclaims, "Oh to be sure!"

'''You ask, "What would you say is the best thing about your profession? If you were attempting to convince someone still on the turnip truck to lean towards your profession, what would you tell them?"'''

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "Apples taste much better than turnips for starters..."

You adopt an agreeable expression.

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "There's a lot to speak of! I enjoy the utility that elemental magics offers, the ability to use magic to help others, the flexibility to travel nearly anyplace in the lands in relative safety, and the crafting of powerful artifacts via enchanting to name a few."

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "That was a mouthful but hopefully gives you a general idea."

'''You ask, "Similarly, what would you warn that same person about, if they were intending to become part of your profession?"'''

Faulkil ponders.

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "Socially? Spend a little less time in the library."

Faulkil smiles.

You grin at Faulkil.

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "In combat? I do tend to drop my runestave now and again but there's plenty of magic to help in those situations."

Faulkil asks, "Bring a spare maybe?"

You adopt an agreeable expression.

'''You ask, "How many trainings do you have currently, and how long have you been an adventurer in the lands?"'''

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "More than most giantman can count."

You blink.

You squint at Faulkil.

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "That applies to both."

Speaking doubtfully to Faulkil, you say, "I can count pretty high..."

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "I said 'most'."

Faulkil adopts an agreeable expression.

You nod understandingly.

'''You ask, "What is your preferred method of hunting, and why?"'''

Speaking to you, Faulkil exclaims, "Whatever works!"

Faulkil grins.

You grin.

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "More specifically, I use most of the magics I have available. There's usually a few bolts and a lot of fanciful display of the elements involved though."

You adopt an agreeable expression.

Speaking to Faulkil, you say, "I wasn't sure if you also sometimes employed a weapon... possibly your teeth..."

You shrug at Faulkil.

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "Honestly I try to avoid anything with a sharp edge... it is too easy to cut myself."

Faulkil grins.

You grin crookedly.

'''Speaking to Faulkil, you ask, "Have you trained in any artisan skills?"'''

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "My craft is elemental magics. I focus my time and energy on the study of magic leave the crafting of other items to those who have a passion for it."

You adopt an agreeable expression.

You say, "A sensible approach."

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "As an additional note... always leave box opening to the professionals as well.."

Faulkil nods to you.

Speaking to Faulkil, you ask, "Voice of experience there?"

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "Maybe..."

You grin wryly.

'''You ask, "What town do you currently call home?"'''

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "Icemule Trace has been my home for the past dozen or so years. I couldn't imagine living anywhere else though I do vacation a lot on Teras."

Faulkil adopts an agreeable expression.

You adopt an agreeable expression.

''Speaking to Faulkil, you ask, "What about Icemule drew you initially?"''

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "I love this town! I love the people! The faces change over time but there's still always great people here willing to share a joke or a story and to help others out as needed. I couldn't imagine calling any other town home."

You nod understandingly.

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "Some people complain about the cold but it is one of the warmest towns I know."

Faulkil nods.

Speaking to Faulkil, you say, "I couldn't agree more, actually. It's been my home for nearly as long. I wouldn't change a thing."

'''You ask, "Where do you typically hunt these days?"'''

Faulkil ponders.

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "For years I focused most of my energy on Teras. More recently I've been hunting in the Confluence and the Sanctum of Sands. I'll probably mix it up again when I grow tired of those."

You nod understandingly.

'''You ask, "Are you married?"'''

You grin at Faulkil.

Faulkil beams!

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "Yes, to my wonderful wife Niadja."

Speaking wonderingly to Faulkil, you say, "You don't say..."

You try hard not to grin.

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "Quite the surprise for you I am sure."

Faulkil nods.

''Speaking to Faulkil, you ask, "And how did you and she meet initially?"''

Faulkil says, "We both arrived in the Landing around the same time and we just hit it off right off the bat."

Faulkil ponders.

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "Not the most romantic or exciting telling I suppose but it is what it is."

Faulkil grins.

Speaking to Faulkil, you ask, "What are the three best things about her?"

You grin at Faulkil.

Speaking to you, Faulkil asks, "Only three?!?"

Speaking to Faulkil, you say, "Keeping in mind we're a family friendly organization."

Faulkil ponders.

Speaking to Faulkil, you ask, "Off the top of your head. What comes to mind first?"

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "She's always willing to give of herself to help others."

You nod in agreement.

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "Besides being beautiful AND smart she also seems to like to hang around me."

You grin.

Speaking to Faulkil, you say, "You're cheating a bit, but I'll allow it."

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "We share the same passion for food in general."

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "I didn't stay married for as long as I have by being dumb."

You try hard not to grin.

'''Speaking dryly to Faulkil, you ask, "Do you belong to one of the Great Houses?"'''

You blink at Faulkil.

[Full disclosure: As of this date, the interviewer is a fellow officer in House White Haven.]

Faulkil grins.

Speaking to you, Faulkil exclaims, "I have the honor and privelege of serving as the current Luminary of White Haven. I'm hoping to change the title at some point as I'm not sure how I feel about being Luminous!"

Faulkil adopts an agreeable expression.

You snicker.

Speaking to Faulkil, you say, "I can see your point there. It's a bit of a... cumbersome title."

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "That aside... We have an awesome, and very creative member base in the house and an equally awesome and dedicated group of officers. I enjoy the house focus on the community and frankly its just been fun to be a part of it."

''Speaking to Faulkil, you ask, "What does being the Luminary mean? What are your 'official' duties in that role?"''

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "Plainly I'm the head of the house. Which means that I work for all of the other officers to insure they are happy and have what they need to be successful."

Faulkil grins.

You nod understandingly.

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "Fortunately they aren't overly demanding."

Faulkil grins.

You grin at Faulkil.

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "And... to add a note... Niadja gets a lot of credit for doing what I just took credit for."

Faulkil grins.

Speaking thoughtfully to Faulkil, you say, "Very wise..."

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "Also a simple fact."

Faulkil grins.

'''Speaking to Faulkil, you ask, "Are you active in your profession's guild?"'''

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "As active as I can be. I've mastered Alchemy and make it a point to help out younger wizards when the opportunities arise."

You nod appreciatively.

Speaking to Faulkil, you say, "I applaud your resilience and question your sanity in mastering Alchemy."

Faulkil chuckles.

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "It wasn't done over night... I did have to take a sanity break for awhile before mastering it."

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "It turns out that a standard sanity break is about 12 months."

You grin at Faulkil.

'''Speaking to Faulkil, you ask, "Are you a member of one of the Elanthian Societies? The Order of Voln, Guardians of Sunfist, or perhaps another one?"'''

Faulkil works his fingers under his floppy purple hat and scratches his head.

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "I don't go in much for secret handshakes or wearing funny hats."

'''You ask, "What would you say is your most prized possession?"'''

Faulkil ponders.

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "I have a lot of toys..."

You grin from ear to ear.

You carefully say, "I understand this personality quirk."

Faulkil grins.

Faulkil nods slowly.

''You ask, "Which is the most meaningful, or important, to you?"''

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "I do very much enjoy a tome that I acquired some years ago."

Faulkil just opened a dusty dark red sack.

You nod encouragingly.

Faulkil removes an ancient bronze case embossed with a regal griffon clutching a slit-pupiled eye from in his dark red sack.

Faulkil just opened an ancient bronze case embossed with a regal griffon clutching a slit-pupiled eye.

Faulkil removes an ancient yellowed tome from in his bronze case.

Faulkil shows you an ancient yellowed tome, which he is holding in his left hand. You see nothing unusual.

Faulkil takes a long whiff of the yellowed tome, savoring the moment.

You nod appreciatively.

''Speaking to Faulkil, you ask, "How did you acquire it?"''

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "Interestingly enough... fortune smiled upon me the day I acquired it. I won it in an auction."

You nod appreciatively.

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "Probably the only way I would have come into its posession. I doubt many would part with it."

''Speaking to Faulkil, you ask, "Does it have any abilities or properties that aren't readily obvious?"''

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "This tome is a gift from Fash'Lo'Nae himself. The possessor can cast most any magics, even spells that may have been lost at one point or that would not normally be known to the possessor."

You nod appreciatively.

You say, "That's VERY impressive."

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "This ability has become more common in recent times... but this one tome is more powerful still."

Speaking to Faulkil, you ask, "Can I ask how much it cost you at the time?"

You grin at Faulkil.

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "It cost me a single token."

Faulkil adopts an agreeable expression.

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "And probably a lifetime of saved luck."

Faulkil grins.

You exclaim, "Ah... a token auction. Now I see!"

Faulkil put an ancient yellowed tome in his bronze case.

Faulkil just closed an ancient bronze case embossed with a regal griffon clutching a slit-pupiled eye.

Faulkil put an ancient bronze case embossed with a regal griffon clutching a slit-pupiled eye in his dark red sack.

Faulkil just closed a dusty dark red sack.

Speaking to Faulkil, you suggest, "A wiser man would have said that he used up all his luck finding and connecting with his wife."

You hum a random, wandering tune.

Faulkil laughs!

You wink at Faulkil.

Speaking to you, Faulkil exclaims, "You are a wise man indeed!"

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "Another wonderful trait about Niadja is that she will forgive me for not thinking of that first."

Faulkil nods.

Faulkil attempts to hum a merry little tune.

'''Speaking to Faulkil, you ask, "Would you say that tome is the most valuable of your possessions, or is there something else that takes that title?"'''

You grin at Faulkil.

Faulkil ponders.

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "I suppose... I don't really assess the value of my possessions in terms of silver. So for me the tome is as valuable as the stuffed animal that Niadja gave me. I wouldn't part with either."

You nod understandingly.

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "Would the tome fetch a higher price than my armor? I don't know."

Faulkil shrugs.

'''You ask, "What's your most memorable moment from your time as an adventurer in Elanthia?"'''

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "SO many memoriess... one does stand out."

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "A lesson in humility I suppose."

You nod understandingly.

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "You may be aware that to access certain areas a simple short sword is needed."

You exclaim, "I am indeed!"

Speaking to you, Faulkil asks, "As it turns out... kobolds love to use short swords! Convenient, no?"

Speaking to a crackling lightning wyrdling, you confide, "He's talking about Darkstone."

The lightning wyrdling darts around the room, her movements jerky and uneasy.

You nod at Faulkil.

You exclaim, "Eminently so!"

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "So... becuase its fun to show off and use different magics I chose to relieve one kobold of his sword using weapon fire."

You try hard not to grin.

You say, "I... see..."

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "The spell was cast, the kobold dropped the blade as expected, I picked it up and..."

You chortle softly at some secret joke.

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "The kobold had the better day."

Speaking to Faulkil, you say, "And the spell did what the spell does."

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "It is amazingly effective."

Speaking to Faulkil, you say, "A lesson in humility indeed, it would seem."

'''Speaking to Faulkil, you ask, "And I think you just answered one of the later questions... unless you have another moment that you would call your most embarrassing?"'''

Faulkil chuckles.

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "Let's go with that one."

Faulkil nods.

You nod slowly.

'''Speaking to Faulkil, you ask, "Can you talk about your time before becoming an adventurer? Was your family from Icemule originally?"'''

Faulkil frowns.

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "It was not and those are not pleasant memories. I have two sisters that could be called family..."

Faulkil asks, "You did say children might be reading this?"

Speaking to Faulkil, you say, "That's entirely possible, yes."

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "That's all I care to say about my sisters at this time."

Faulkil nods.

You nod understandingly.

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "Plus it upsets Niadja... she gets along with them for some unknown reason."

Faulkil shakes his head.

You give a short little hum of surprise.

Speaking to Faulkil, you say, "There's sometimes no accounting for family... I do understand that."

Faulkil agrees with you.

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "I prefer to think of Icemule as my family."

Faulkil smiles.

Speaking to Faulkil, you say, "You should try growing up in a family who honors and worships Lady Zelia."

You stare at nothing in particular.

You trace the lines of your crescent moon tattoo.

Faulkil chuckles.

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "I might consider that a good trade."

Faulkil looks at you and hums.

You grin crookedly.

'''Speaking to Faulkil, you ask, "Would you be willing to give a rough estimate of the current value of your bank accounts?"'''

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "I rarely have much silver on hand... Silver is for buying the next toy."

Speaking to Faulkil, you say, "I couldn't agree more, personally."

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "At the moment I have around 27 million silver in various accounts."

You nod appreciatively.

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "Once I had more than 100 million... but then some crazy merchant started selling padded armor off the shelf."

You snicker at Faulkil.

'''You ask, "Would you be willing to share a look at the contents of one of your lockers?"'''

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "Sure! All of them are full."

Faulkil agrees with you.

Speaking to you, Faulkil asks, "Perhaps my locker for alchemy ingredients and enchanting projects?"

Speaking to Faulkil, you say, "Whichever you prefer."

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "There is some semblance of order to them."

Faulkil nods.

On an armor stand:
some etched ora augmented chain (registered) (marked)
a rectangular vultite greatshield riveted and spiked with silvery eonake (registered) (marked)
some sleek black stalking leathers
some grey mithril augmented chain (registered) (marked)
a vultite greatshield
some supple tawny hunts banded with narrow leather piping (registered)
a set of dark double leather with burnished brass buckles
an embossed vultite aegis
some ornate spiked steel full plate
some silver threaded double leathers
a spiked vultite greatshield riveted with silvery eonake (registered) (marked)
some oiled brigandine armor of night black hue (marked)
a gold-accented black silk shirt (registered)
some reinforced leather
a set of storm grey adamantine coat-of-plates with silver rivets (registered) (marked)
some gleaming ora augmented chain

On a weapon rack:
an imposing eonake warsword (marked)
a banded orase runestaff (registered) (marked)
an archaic fireleaf runestaff (registered) (marked)
a perfect mithril greataxe
a gnarled black ko'nag runestaff (registered) (marked)
an aquamarine mossbark runestaff with a deep blue eostone set in its shaft
a dull ipantor heavy crossbow
a twin-bladed silvery mithril axe with an intricate lacework pattern cut into the blades
a lime green carmiln long bow
a scorched vultite backsword (registered) (marked)
an ancient mithglin spear (registered) (marked)
a bronze-hilted kelyn main gauche (registered) (marked)

In a magical item bin:
an eoveneh potion
a dirtokh potion
a mirtokh potion
a crystalline vial containing some minor holy oil
a rohnuru potion
a bromin potion (registered) (marked)
an ayveneh potion
a duqnuru potion

In a clothing wardrobe:
some ochre chambray gloves
a coarse burlap sack
a black-eared rufous squirrel (registered)

In a deep chest:
a charcoal glass beaker containing green malachite stones (50/50)
a kelyn-rimmed amber glass jar containing powdered moonglae opal (40/50)
a large prismatic glass bottle containing white opals (21/50)
a gold-banded short glass jar containing black opals (87/100)
a large octagonal glass jar containing medium white pearls (10/50)
a mortar
a spiral-ended black stone pestle
a hammered silver cauldron (registered) (marked)
a blue-hued speckled glass bottle containing uncut emeralds (42/50)
a swirled rainbow glass bottle containing uncut emeralds (21/50)
a hexagonal golden glass bottle containing n'ayanad crystals (65/100) (registered)
a dark blue glass beaker containing black opals (40/50)
a frosted glass beaker containing powdered dragonfire opal (40/50)
a sooty glass beaker containing essences of fire (50/50)
a slightly bulbous glass jar containing radiant crimson motes of essence (50/50)
a pale pink wavy glass bottle containing radiant crimson essence shards (50/50)
an ora-rimmed sienna glass jar containing essences of earth (8/50)
a greenish mottled glass bottle containing waxy grey caederine (26/50)
a burled walnut stationery box with brass mountings (registered) (marked)
an oversized pale grey wax stick
a lilac beryl intaglio signet (registered)
a fluffy ball of white cotton
a slender trefoil brass key
a taupe-banded hawk feather quill
a crystal inkpot with a hand-chased silver lid (marked)
a swirled rainbow glass bottle containing star emeralds (27/50)
a mottled ten-sided glass jar containing inky necrotic cores (26/50)
a large prismatic glass bottle containing pristine siren's hairs (50/50)
an intricately painted tin carousel (registered) (marked)
a frosted glass beaker containing ayanad crystals (2/50)
a vial of clear dye base
a vial of clear dye base
an ochre glass beaker containing tiny golden seeds (50/50)
a mottled ten-sided glass jar containing vial of farlook vitreous humors (15/50)
an opalescent glass jar containing glowing violet essence dust (20/20)
a tapered glass bottle containing perfect myklian belly scales (17/20)
a slightly bulbous glass jar containing blue sapphires (50/50)
a dark brown narrow-necked bottle containing elemental cores (50/50)
a dark brown narrow-necked bottle containing copper fangs (3/50)
a soil-filled dragonfly saewehna-studded green ceramic pot (registered)
a frosted blue glass jar containing faceted black diamonds (4/20)
a bevel-edged steel box (registered)
an opalescent glass jar containing glimmering blue essence dust (8/20)
a striped rainbow glass bottle containing glimmering blue essence shards (3/50)
an azure glass beaker containing ayanad crystals (50/50)
a charcoal glass beaker containing golden moonstones (50/50)
a tall silver-streaked bottle containing s'ayanad crystals (50/50)
a greenish mottled glass bottle containing dragonfire emeralds (28/50)
a perfectly cubical glass jar containing blue diamonds (41/50)
a tapered glass bottle containing glowing green lichen (9/20)
a slender multicolored bottle containing pristine sprite's hairs (37/50)
a light tan glass beaker containing radiant crimson essence dust (12/50)
a pale pink wavy glass bottle containing uncut rubies (32/50)
a charcoal glass beaker containing essences of air (34/50)
a hexagonal golden glass bottle containing black opals (100/100)
a frosted glass beaker containing powdered moonglae opal (19/50)
a hazy heptagonal jar containing powdered moonglae opal (40/50)
a hexagonal golden glass bottle containing powdered dragonfire opal (90/100)
a perfectly cubical glass jar containing ayana leaves (50/50)
a large octagonal glass jar containing t'ayanad crystals (38/50)
a gold-banded short glass jar containing uncut diamonds (32/100)
a gold-banded short glass jar containing moonglae opals (3/100)
a dark blue glass beaker containing Kezmonian honey beryls (12/50)
a gold-banded short glass jar containing essences of water (47/100)

Obvious items: 103

You rub your chin thoughtfully.

'''You ask, "What would you say inspired you to begin on the path you're currently on? What was your mindset when you began, and do you feel like you've been true to that path on your journey?"'''

Speaking to you, Faulkil exclaims, "I've always loved magic... and wizards have more magic than anyone else!"

You nod in agreement.

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "It's still a journey on progress though so I'll let you know how it turns out when I get to the end."

You grin.

'''You ask, "Is there a particular goal that you feel like you're driving towards? Something that you're striving for, that keeps you motivated?"'''

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "Recently I've been on a quest to master the harnessing of mana... it may seem like a minor thing but more mana unlocks the ability to use your magic in ways that you might not otherwise consider."

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "So I am striving to always have the mana to cast whatever I want, whenever I want... or something along those lines."

Faulkil grins.

You grin at Faulkil.

Speaking to Faulkil, you say, "An appropriate goal for a hedgewizard extraordinaire."

You nod approvingly.

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "Exactly! I see you understand."

Faulkil nods to you.

'''Speaking to Faulkil, you ask, "And finally... with the exception of Niadja, who would otherwise be the natural answer, what other adventurer would you say has had the most impact on your time as an adventurer?"'''

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "He is long gone from the lands but I would have to say the wizard Rnombi. We hunted together for many years and had some great adventures in the process..."

You nod understandingly.

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "There was one time he spent 2 or 3 days with a finger puzzle on his hands."

Faulkil grins.

You grin from ear to ear.

Speaking to you, Faulkil exclaims, "He was determined to figure it our for himself though... I give him credit!"

Speaking to Faulkil, you say, "There's something to be said for tenacity."

Faulkil adopts an agreeable expression.

Faulkil says, "I respect and admire it."

Speaking to Faulkil, you ask, "That's the extent of my notes, I believe. Is there anything you'd like to discuss for the record?"

You grin at Faulkil.

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "I have to say this has been an enjoyable experience! It has brought up some fond memories that have been buried for some time."

You beam!

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "Thank you for your time and patience with my responses. Hopefully you got some of what you were looking for."

You say, "I'm very glad. I feel like these are important, but it's always nice when it's a good experience for the interviewee."

Faulkil smiles at you.

Speaking to Faulkil, you say, "You did great, truly. I appreciate you being prepared, and being so forthcoming."

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "It's always better to be prepared so that you can toss it out the window when the unexpected happens."

Faulkil nods.

You chortle.

You agree with Faulkil.

Speaking to Faulkil, you say, "Thank you very much for getting up early, and making the time to do this. I truly appreciate it."

Speaking to you, Faulkil exclaims, "It's no trouble at all. That is what weekends are for!"

Faulkil shakes your hand.

Speaking to Faulkil, you say, "I should go file these notes. Thanks so much for the time this morning."

You give Faulkil a firm handshake.

Speaking to you, Faulkil says, "Have an enjoyable rest of your day and let me know if anything else is needed."

Faulkil bows to you.

Faulkil smiles.

Faulkil waves.

You wave.

You grin.

</pre>
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{| class="wikitable" style="background-color:#fff6c1;" cellpadding="25" cellspacing="25"
|-
| "We ended up standing next to each other for about 5 minutes before we figured out who we were because apparently my shirt was "aqua" (which isn't the same as green it seems)" ~ Luminary Faulkil
|}

==The Out-of-Character Interview==
'''What’s your real name?'''
:Robert

'''Where are you located, geographically?'''
:Texas

'''What do you do for a living?'''
:I work for a bank.

'''How long have you played Gemstone?'''
:Somewhere around 1989.

'''Have you taken any breaks, or played straight through?'''
:I stopped playing years ago on Genie once I capped my wizard. Since then I've been playing straight on since roughly mid-2004 until now.

'''How many different ‘main’ characters have you had over the years?'''
:Just two. Theldorn back in Gemstone II and Faulkil here in Gemstone IV.

'''Who are/were your most notable characters?'''
:Faulkil most likely.

'''Do you have multiple accounts that you play at the same time?'''
:No. Just the one Premium account.

'''What front-end do you use? (Stormfront, Wizard, Profanity, other)?'''
:#WizardFE4Lyfe! :-)

''Why?''
:Besides simply being used to Wizard FE, I find the Stormfront FE to be sluggish.

'''Do you use lich?'''
:Yes.

''Why or why not?''
:Mostly for the ;chat channels, ;go2, and the handy ;narost map features.

''If so, what are your ‘must-have’ scripts?''
:;go2

'''Have you ever bought or sold characters or items for real money?'''
:Characters: Never. Items: I've sold one item for cash but I much prefer dealing in silvers.

'''Do you now, or have you ever roleplayed a character that was very different from your real personality?'''
:All of my characters are unique and different. Faulkil is the one that is most like me.

''Why or why not?''
:That's part of the fun of this game. Most players don't know my other characters (there are a few exceptions) and it's fun to have people react to my individual characters based on the character and not the person behind the character.

'''What would you say is your most memorable Gemstone ‘moment’ (as a player) , and why?'''
:Stealing a newspaper and portrait out of the rogues guild in Gemstone II (back then the guilds were run by other players) to win a bet.

'''What, in your mind, is the best thing about Gemstone?'''
:One of the things I've enjoyed about Gemstone over the years is it's long term playability. Both in terms of the time and effort it takes to achieve various goals (which is a plus in my book) and even now, I still continue to discover new things about the game.

'''Have you ever attended Simucon, or otherwise met up with a person from Gemstone?'''
:I attended a vegas get together held at someone's house back around 1989 or so. I've travelled to Wisconson to meet a Gemstone buddy around the same time period. And, I flew out to MA to meet the love of my life around that time period as well!

''If so, describe the experience (PG-13, please)''
:I'll go with flying out to Mass. to meet my (now) wife for the first time. We didn't exchange pictures or anything so we didn't know what each other looked like the first time I flew out. I told her I would be wearing a green shirt. We ended up standing next to each other for about 5 minutes before we figured out who we were because apparently my shirt was "aqua" (which isn't the same as green it seems).

'''Imagine you're Wyrom for a day and can 'do' one thing. What are you changing/removing/adding/replacing, and why?'''
:I'm not convinced that Wyrom has the ability to influence this but I'd really look at keeping some of the events less monetized - I'm sure the financials are looking better with all of the slot machine based events but I really think it will eventually drive some of the core players away over time. It's certainly been a big turn off to events for me. Failing that, I'd push for giving elemental lores more "elemental flavor" vs. utility categories - I don't expect to ever see that happen given what it took to get where we are but it is an "imagine" question!

'''What do you feel is the biggest mistake that most GS players make?'''
:Hmmm... I think people miss a lot by jumping to the automated scripts too quickly. e.g. ;go2 - spend some time exploring any areas manually before jumping to ;go2.

'''What’s something that you feel every GS player should do at least once?'''
:For every negative post you post on the forums, make sure to post at least two positive ones. :-) In game, make it a point to hunt in the hard areas that you may have avoided with your past characters. There's a lot of fun out there!

'''What advice would you offer to a new player?'''
:There is a lot of depth to the game. Don't be afraid to ask questions, there are a lot of helpful folks out there. Don't be afraid to experiment and try things outside of the "best build". The game allows for a lot of variety and odd builds to be successful as well.

TownCrier Interview Sessions with Rohese

2017-09-09T01:33:21Z

CANNEL: Created page with " {{characterprofile |name= Rohese Bayvel-Timsh'l Illistim |caption= Lady Rohese Bayvel-Timsh'l Illistim the Chatelaine of House Sylvanfair |race= Elf |profession= Cleri..."

{{characterprofile
|name= Rohese Bayvel-Timsh'l Illistim
|caption= Lady Rohese Bayvel-Timsh'l Illistim the Chatelaine of House Sylvanfair
|race= [[Elf]]
|profession= [[Cleric]]
|affiliations= [[House Sylvanfair]]
|relatives=
}}
{{TOCright}}
By Oubar, TownCrier Correspondent 
9 Imaera 5117 // September 9, 2017 - in the Tea Room of Elanthian Elegance 
----
==Introduction==
The Lady Rohese is exactly that, a Lady, in the truest sense of the word. With her careful attention to the details and nuances of etiquette, as well as her impeccable sense of fashion, Rohese carries herself with a careful dignity. Yet somehow she is never cold or unapproachable. Her demure manner and friendly nature were both on full display when she made some time recently to sit down with TownCrier Correspondent Oubar for an in-depth interview, before departing to travel the Empire inspecting refugee camps.

{| class="wikitable" style="background-color:#fff6c1;" cellpadding="25" cellspacing="25"
|-
| "I believe we are here to serve and if that means our time is not our own, then so be it." ~ Lady Rohese Bayvel-Timsh'l Illistim
|}
----
==The In-Character Interview==
<pre{{log2|background=none|border=none}}>

You see Lady Rohese Bayvel-Timsh'l Illistim.
She appears to be an Elf.
She is taller than average with a slender willowy form. She appears to be youthful. She has silver-lashed misty grey eyes and silky smooth, fair skin. She has lustrous, hip-length pale silver hair neatly collected within an umber alum-beaded snood. She has naturally glossy, rose-pink tinted lips. Peeking through her hair are dainty upswept ears tapering to fine points which enhance her fey-like countenance. She is inked with a faint lacework pattern upon her face.
She has an inking of a faint star constellation on her neck, and a cascade of tiny silver stars tattooed over her right eyebrow that fades into her hairline.
She is in good shape.
She is holding some fragrant white peony tea in her right hand.
She is wearing a metalworked withering tree talisman, a sleeveless pelisse of dove grey chamois collared in soft rabbit fur, a platinum wedding ring, a tall-collared onyx velvet bliaut with fur-lined hanging sleeves, and some tall cognac leather boots with perforated suede panels.

Lady Rohese just arrived.

Rohese smiles.

Straightening her back, Rohese gives you a formal, low curtsy. She inclines her head as well, favoring you with a nod.

You nod to Rohese in greeting.

You bow to Rohese.

Speaking softly to you, Rohese says, "Good morning."

You exclaim, "Good morning to you as well!"

You grin at Rohese.

Speaking softly to you, Rohese asks, "Care to join me for some tea at Lily Manor?"

Speaking to Rohese, you say, "I would be delighted, if you wouldn't mind leading the way."

Rohese softly says, "Of course."

Rohese curtsies to you and extends her arm for you to take.

You join Rohese.

Rohese smiles.

Rohese pauses in place and glances around for a moment, as if pondering which direction to go.

[Editor's note: travel time]

[Lily Manor, Courtyard - 24644]
Immaculately groomed hedges frame the spacious courtyard of an elegant, two-story mist grey manor. Cultivated beds of ivory stargazer lilies line the cobblestone walkway from the base of a gracefully arched gate to the ebonwood doors of the manor. A sweeping expanse of ancient willow trees dots the landscape, their drooping boughs providing shade for several scroll-worked marble benches. A series of granite stepping stones winds around the side of the grounds.
Also here: Lady Rohese
Obvious paths: none

Rohese softly says, "Welcome to Lily Manor."

You nod appreciatively.

Rohese softly says, "We'll head around the back to the tea room."

Rohese smiles.

Rohese points at a series of granite stepping stones.

Lady Rohese's group just went across a series of granite stepping stones.

[Lily Manor, A Walled Garden - 24669]
Shaded by modwir trees, a series of granite stepping stones leads into the garden, following the gently curving pathway of a gurgling stream. Sparkling with reflected sunlight, the water trickles past clumps of verdant moss and wild orchids to disappear under an ivy-covered stone wall. Terraced beds lush with foliage in varying shades of green edge the walls. A seating area with polished ironwood benches is positioned near a mistwood-framed tea room with a multi-paneled double door. You also see a slender engraved silver receptacle.
Also here: Lady Rohese
Obvious paths: none

You adopt an agreeable expression.

Lady Rohese's group just went through a multi-paneled double door.
[Lily Manor, Tea Room - 24669]
A quartet of arched vaalin windows affords a generous view of the outdoor garden. Swathes of plum charmeuse frame each window in billowing pools of silk, the curtains caught and held in place by creamy enamel stargazer lilies. Glass teardrop vases frame the cozy room, providing a sense of symmetrical order amidst the simplistic furnishings. An arrangement of high-backed mahogany chairs circle a low mistwood table, while an elaborate mistwood teacart rests in waiting against a patterned wall.
Also here: Lady Rohese
Obvious exits: out

You distractedly say, "It's lovely in here."

Rohese softly says, "Please, take a seat and help yourself to some tea."

You stare at nothing in particular.

Rohese smiles.

Rohese walks over to the chairs and settles down.

You bow to Rohese.

You settle yourself on the mahogany chairs for a moment's rest.

On the mistwood teacart you see a buttercream nougat, a milky pink lily petal, some honeyed orange blossom tea, some fragrant white peony tea, a cup of chamomile tea, a warm black olive, a thin watercress sandwich and a wedge of pale yellow cheese.

Rohese pours herself some fragrant white peony tea.

Rohese lets out a long, contemplative breath.

You pour yourself a cup of red apple chamomile tea.

Rohese softly says, "One of my favourite places."

Rohese gazes fondly at her surroundings.

You raise your chamomile tea in a toast!

Rohese smiles.

Rohese takes a tiny sip of her white peony tea, warming her lips and making sure it's cool enough to drink.

You say, "I can easily see why."

Speaking to Rohese, you say, "Thank you very much for agreeing to this interview."

You smile at Rohese.

Rohese softly says, "You're very welcome."

Rohese bashfully says, "I must admit to being somewhat flattered at being asked."

Rohese wrinkles her nose.

You try hard not to grin.

Speaking to Rohese, you say, "You were very near the top of our list."

Rohese bites her lip.

Rohese softly says, "Then I am humbled, thank you."

Rohese takes a tiny sip of her white peony tea, warming her lips and making sure it's cool enough to drink.

Rohese softly says, "Oh my, you seem to have ..."

Rohese bites her lip.

You grin crookedly.

You reach over to your head and guide the glossy black spider to your awaiting hand.

Rohese diplomatically remarks, "A spider on your head."

You scowl at the glossy black spider in your hand.

Rohese lets out a sigh of relief.

Speaking to Rohese, you ask, "I have a... collection of friends?"

You rub your chin thoughtfully.

Rohese softly says, "Forgive me, I'm not particularly fond of them."

Rohese fans herself.

You say, "And he's one of them, but he's not too respectful of boundaries."

Rohese giggles at you.

You absent-mindedly drop a small glossy black spider into your grey wolf fur satchel.

Rohese softly asks, "I hope you have no scarabs in there?"

You chortle softly at some secret joke.

You say, "No, that's where I keep my skins. He'll find a crevice easily enough and settle down."

Rohese lets out a sigh of relief.

Rohese folds her hands in her lap.

Rohese smiles.

Rohese takes a tiny sip of her white peony tea, warming her lips and making sure it's cool enough to drink.

You say, "As we discussed, I'll be generally following the questions that we spoke about previously, but I may deviate as the answers come forth. Feel free to decline to answer any that you like, and feel free to contribute anything you'd like on the record, as it were."

You smile at Rohese.

Rohese nods.

Rohese smiles.

Rohese softly says, "Of course, I am happy to answer any questions you might have."

You say, "I'll start with more general questions, even though the answers are fairly well known. The purpose of these is to have as complete of a picture as I can create."

Rohese nods understandingly.

You say, "And to that end..."

'''You ask, "What is your profession, for those who might not already be aware?"'''

Rohese smiles.

Rohese softly says, "I am a High Priestess, a cleric if you like."

You nod understandingly.

''Speaking to Rohese, you ask, "And which deity do you follow?"''

Rohese smiles quietly to herself.

Rohese softly says, "Lumnis, the Queen of Wisdom and Enlightenment."

'''You ask, "What would you say is the best thing about being a cleric? For any new adventurers considering the path, what would you say to recommend it to them?"'''

Rohese softly says, "I like that we are the first most people turn to for spiritual guidance. The fact that we have the gift of Resurrection too is something that should not be taken lightly."

You agree with Rohese.

Rohese softly says, "We are able to connect with the Arkati in ways no other profession can."

Rohese places a hand over her heart.

Speaking wryly to Rohese, you say, "Though those of us who look to Lady Zelia are less sought out for spiritual guidance."

Rohese giggles at you.

Rohese playfully says, "Zelia has her moments."

You grin crookedly.

Rohese traces the lines of her star constellation.

Rohese lets out a long, contemplative breath.

'''Speaking to Rohese, you ask, "What would you say is the downside to our profession? If you were talking to that same new adventurer, what would you caution them about?"'''

Rohese softly says, "I honestly don't see a downside, I believe we are here to serve and if that means our time is not our own, then so be it."

Rohese softly notes, "Not a day goes by when I am not asked to serve my Lady or help another."

You nod understandingly.

'''You ask, "How long have you been an adventurer in these lands?"'''

Rohese softly says, "Oh my gosh, I arrived in Ta'Vaalor ... let me see now."

Rohese looks very far away for a moment, a wistful expression on her face.

Rohese softly says, "It must be about 15 years ago now."

You nod understandingly.

'''Speaking to Rohese, you ask, "What is your preferred method of hunting?"'''

Rohese laughs softly, trying to hide her amusement.

You grin wryly.

Speaking defensively to Rohese, you say, "It's on the paper, I have to ask."

You shrug.

Rohese softly says, "That is an interesting question and one I was finding difficult to answer."

Rohese softly says, "I do understand."

Rohese softly says, "Let me explain it this way."

Rohese smiles.

Rohese softly says, "I don't hunt in the true sense of the word."

You give a short little hum of surprise.

Rohese softly says, "I consider myself a pacifist so do not set out to hurt another."

Rohese smiles.

You nod understandingly.

Rohese softly says, "I do however take risks and venture outside the city gates often."

Rohese softly says, "If I happen to be set upon then I will naturally defend myself."

Rohese wrinkles her nose.

You adopt an agreeable expression.

''Speaking to Rohese, you ask, "In those situations, what method do you generally employ to defend yourself?"''

Rohese softly says, "Add to that though, I have walked the Path to Enlightenment through the Voln Monastery and do consider it my duty to free the souls of the undead."

You nod understandingly.

Rohese softly says, "I have been known to Smite many of the undead."

You nod in agreement.

Rohese softly says, "Along with unleashing Divine Fury on those who refuse to be released."

'''Speaking to Rohese, you ask, "What town do you currently call home?"'''

Rohese softly says, "Ta'Illistim."

Rohese smiles.

Rohese softly says, "It's where my heart and home will always be."

Rohese kisses her fingertips and presses three of them to her heart.

''Speaking to Rohese, you ask, "And what drew you to Ta'Illistim originally?"''

Rohese softly says, "It's where my family have always lived."

Rohese softly says, "Even though I spent my early days in Ta'Vaalor, I always envisaged returning home at some point."

Rohese smiles.

'''Speaking to Rohese, you ask, "Can you tell us a bit about that family, and your time before setting out to be an adventurer?"'''

Rohese softly says, "Of course."

Rohese softly says, "My father was a cleric and my mother, a herbmistress."

Rohese softly says, "Sadly, I lost my mother at a fairly young age but I was very close to my older sister and father."

Speaking to Rohese, you say, "My apologies for that loss. It's always hard, but especially when you're young."

You shake your head.

Rohese nods slowly.

Rohese softly says, "We loved her dearly and it hit my father very hard."

Rohese bites her lip.

You nod slowly.

Rohese softly says, "But our father loved us and we had a happy childhood."

Rohese smiles.

Rohese softly says, "There was an incident with my sister some years back that ..."

Rohese glances away.

Rohese softly says, "... well, let's just say she was very upset and lashed out at me."

You furrow up your face and wince.

Rohese softly says, "You mentioned Zelia earlier."

You grin happily.

Speaking to Rohese, you say, "Indeed. My family has always followed her."

You trace the lines of your crescent moon tattoo.

Rohese softly says, "She was, and still is as far as I know, a follower of Zelia."

Rohese smiles at you.

Speaking to Rohese, you say, "The Lady's blessing, when given, can be... difficult for those close to the recipient to understand."

Rohese softly says, "Quite so."

Rohese nods understandingly.

Rohese softly says, "Because in her moment of insanity, she cast a curse that left me mute."

You furrow up your face and wince.

Rohese traces the lines of her star constellation.

Rohese softly says, "You can barely see the scar now as I have taken steps to cover it."

You nod understandingly.

Rohese shows you an inking of a faint star constellation.
Five tiny stars configured in the shape of a W have been discretely tattooed on the side of her neck with faintly shimmering silver ink, the pattern barely visible against her pale skin. One star however appears slightly brighter than the rest and cleverly conceals a small crescent-shaped scar on her throat.

Speaking to Rohese, you say, "It's quite well done, and the scar is barely noticeable."

Rohese smiles.

Rohese softly says, "Thank you."

Rohese softly says, "It's difficult for me to talk about so I try to hide it as best I can."

Speaking to Rohese, you ask, "Clearly you were able to escape the curse... how did you manage that?"

Rohese smiles.

Rohese softly says, "That's where Lumnis came into my life."

You nod understandingly.

Rohese softly says, "I left home and wandered for quite some time."

Rohese softly says, "It was Lumnis that guided me to Ta'Vaalor where I became an Acolyte."

Rohese softly says, "And learned more of her."

Rohese softly says, "Under her guiding hand I went west to follow the Path to Enlightenment at the Voln Monastery."

You smile.

Rohese softly says, "And with that, she lifted the curse."

Rohese smiles.

Rohese softly says, "And here I am."

Speaking agreeably to Rohese, you say, "And here you are."

You smile at Rohese.

Rohese giggles.

Rohese takes a tiny sip of her white peony tea, warming her lips and making sure it's cool enough to drink.

'''Speaking to Rohese, you ask, "Are you married?"'''

You grin at Rohese.

You take a drink from your chamomile tea.

Rohese softly exclaims, "I am!"

Rohese clasps her wedding ring tenderly to her chest, looking blissfully happy.

Rohese softly says, "And very happily."

Rohese smiles.

''Speaking to Rohese, you ask, "And who is the lucky spouse?"''

You grin at Rohese.

Rohese softly says, "To give him his formal title, which he will likely scold me for, he's High Lord Sighisoara Timsh'l of the House Vaalor."

Rohese wrinkles her nose.

Rohese softly says, "But to me, he's just Sighisoara."

You chuckle.

Rohese places a hand over her heart.

Rohese softly says, "My soulmate and best friend."

''You ask, "How long have you two been married?"''

Rohese softly says, "Thirteen wonderful years."

Rohese wrinkles her nose.

You nod appreciatively.

''You ask, "How did the two of you meet?"''

Rohese smiles.

Rohese takes a tiny sip of her white peony tea, warming her lips and making sure it's cool enough to drink.

A wisp of fragrant steam rises from your chamomile tea as you swirl it in your hand.

You take a drink from your chamomile tea.

Rohese softly says, "I met him in Ta'Vaalor a few years prior to our marriage."

Rohese softly says, "Whilst I was an Acolyte and improving my knowledge of Lumnis."

Rohese softly says, "I felt him fall to the wights in the Cemetary."

Rohese softly says, "And for some reason I felt compelled to go and help him."

Rohese softly says, "I'd never done so before."

You smile at Rohese.

Rohese softly says, "I managed to get him back to the safety of the Fortress and with Lumnis's guidance I restored breath to his broken body."

Rohese softly says, "But in doing so, I lost my own life."

Rohese wrinkles her nose.

You wrinkle your nose.

Rohese softly says, "It was a sacrifice I would make again."

Speaking to Rohese, you say, "Knowing how it turns out, especially."

You grin at Rohese.

Rohese nods eagerly.

Rohese giggles.

Rohese softly says, "I didn't see him again for quite some time but I felt a connection to this handsome elf."

Rohese flushes slightly, some color reaching her cheeks.

You grin crookedly.

Rohese softly says, "It was quite a surprise to literally walk into him a year or so later and for him to remember me."

Rohese wrinkles her nose.

Rohese takes a tiny sip of her white peony tea, warming her lips and making sure it's cool enough to drink.

Speaking to Rohese, you say, "He must have made quite the impression."

You grin at Rohese.

Rohese softly says, "And after having stole my soul away, he promptly stole my heart too."

Rohese softly says, "Oh he did and still does."

Rohese giggles to herself.

You nod appreciatively.

Rohese takes a drink from her white peony tea.

'''Speaking to Rohese, you ask, "Do you belong to one of the Great Houses?"'''

Rohese softly says, "I do indeed."

Rohese smiles.

Rohese softly says, "I am the Chatelaine of House Sylvanfair."

You nod knowingly.

Rohese softly exclaims, "It keeps me busy!"

Speaking to Rohese, you exclaim, "It surely does!"

Rohese softly says, "And often keeps me away from home but I don't mind."

''Speaking to Rohese, you ask, "What about the house drew you at the outset?"''

Rohese softly says, "The members."

Rohese softly says, "I first met them as a group during an Ebon Gate festival some years ago."

Rohese softly says, "And they have been my best friends ever since."

Rohese smiles.

You grin.

Rohese softly says, "I have never met a more wonderful group of people."

Rohese softly says, "Sylvanfair's doors are always open."

Rohese softly says, "Quite literally of late too."

You chuckle.

Speaking to Rohese, you say, "Sylvanfair is definitely one of the more active Houses lately. It's quite impressive."

Rohese smiles.

Rohese softly says, "We have always aspired to helping others."

''Speaking to Rohese, you ask, "You mentioned Elanthian Elegance, which leads into my next question: Are you a member of any other groups aside from Sylvanfair?"''

You grin.

Rohese smiles.

Rohese softly says, "Elanthian Elegance is another of my passions along with the newly founded Looking Glass in Ta'Illistim."

''Speaking to Rohese, you ask, "Can you tell us a bit about those? What are their purposes?"''

Rohese softly says, "It has always been my desire to encourage others to understand fashion and etiquette."

You nod understandingly.

Rohese softly says, "Elanthian Elegance was established over 10 years ago to do just that."

Rohese softly says, "I was fortunate enough to be asked to take it over and I wanted to extend that to the Elven Nations."

Rohese softly says, "In doing so, I founded a Fashion House in Ta'Illistim."

Rohese smiles.

You grin at Rohese.

Rohese softly says, "We are currently working on plans for the structure too, which is very exciting."

Rohese softly says, "Our architect is hard at work."

Rohese softly says, "I run Elanthian Elegance and act as trustee to the Looking Glass."

Rohese smiles.

Rohese softly says, "If that makes sense."

You grin at Rohese.

You say, "It does indeed."

Rohese softly says, "And in doing so, I plan and organise Fashion Week."

Rohese takes a drink from her white peony tea.

You grin at Rohese.

Speaking to Rohese, you exclaim, "Which just recently occurred!"

Rohese nods enthusiastically!

Rohese softly says, "And has left me quite exhausted."

Rohese giggles.

You chortle.

You say, "I can only imagine. That was quite the undertaking."

Rohese smiles.

Rohese softly says, "I do so love it though."

You smile at Rohese.

'''You ask, "What would you say is your most prized possession?"'''

Rohese smiles quietly to herself.

Rohese removes a pavonated leather-bound book from in her sleeveless pelisse.

Rohese softly says, "This, as Corlyne would put it, is "THE BOOK!"."

Rohese shows you a pavonated leather-bound book, which she is holding in her left hand. A quire of creamy vellum has been neatly bound in faded blue leather and embossed with a stargazer lily on the front. Thin bookmarks and slips of annotated parchment protrude from the top of the well-thumbed pages, marking passages of significant relevance to the reader. The title, "Deportment and Decorum," can still be made out on the distressed spine in gold leaf along with the name of the author, "Lady Sahese Bayvel Illistim."

You nod appreciatively.

Rohese softly says, "It was written by my grandmother and is an excellent guide on good manners and propriety."

Rohese softly says, "It goes everywhere with me."

Speaking to Rohese, you say, "That's fantastic. Easy to see how it holds a special place in your heart."

Rohese looks totally engrossed in her book as she absently nibbles on the end of a lock of hair.

You smile at Rohese.

Speaking absently to you, Rohese says, "It is such a good read, I can barely put it down."

You nod understandingly.

Rohese leans forward.

Speaking quietly to you, Rohese confides, "And I have been known to almost hit people with it."

Rohese blushes sheepishly to herself.

You chortle softly at some secret joke.

In a momentary fit of pique, Rohese lifts her book as if to take a swipe at someone. She quickly lowers her arm, however, with an abashed look on her face.

Rohese clears her throat.

Speaking to Rohese, you say, "Surely only when it's called for."

Rohese nods firmly to you.

Rohese mutters something about Dreaer.

You try hard not to grin.

Rohese shakes her head, totally at a loss.

'''Speaking to Rohese, you ask, "Assuming it's something different, what would you say is your most valuable possession, from a silvers standpoint?"'''

Rohese put a pavonated leather-bound book in her sleeveless pelisse.

Rohese softly says, "That's a difficult one but I would say it's probably the leathers I wear when I venture into Reim."

''Speaking to Rohese, you ask, "Can you tell us a bit about them?"''

Rohese softly says, "Of course."

Rohese softly says, "They have been blessed by Voln twice and my husband has added considerable enchantment to them."

You nod appreciatively.

Rohese softly says, "He insists on me wearing them at all times when I go for a walk."

Speaking to Rohese, you exclaim, "Very nice, and quite useful!"

Rohese softly says, "Indeed."

Rohese removes some misty grey elven fighting leathers from in her sleeveless pelisse.

Rohese softly says, "I happen to have them with me as per his instructions."

Rohese smiles.

Rohese shows you some misty grey elven fighting leathers, which she is holding in her left hand. Silver cording criss-crosses up the length of the spine, designed to draw the supple misty grey leather close to the body like a second skin. In this way it ensures a comfortable fit whilst enhancing the hour-glass figure of the wearer. Two fused glass peacock plumes, set with blue and green shimmarglin sapphire beads, dangle at varying lengths from the elaborate knot at the back of the high collar. The feathers serve as the only adornment to this otherwise modest and utilitarian suit of armor. You also notice a small enchanter's glyph.

You smile at Rohese.

Rohese softly says, "Not unattractive to look at either."

Rohese put some misty grey elven fighting leathers in her sleeveless pelisse.

Rohese softly says, "Other than that, I don't really possess much of monetary value really."

Rohese smiles at you.

'''You say, "What would you say your most memorable moment from your time in Elanthia is? Not an overall experience... just a singular moment that is burned into your memories."'''

Rohese softly says, "My wedding."

You grin at Rohese.

Rohese wrinkles her nose.

Rohese softly asks, "Was that too quick an answer?"

Speaking to Rohese, you say, "Not at all! Some questions have answers that are so obvious they're on the tip of the tongue and take no time to consider."

Rohese laughs softly, trying to hide her amusement.

Speaking to Rohese, you ask, "Tell us about that? Where was it held?"

Rohese softly says, "Well we wanted as many of our friends to attend as possible so we held it outside in a forest glade."

Rohese softly says, "It was a magical evening."

You smile.

Rohese sighs wistfully.

You ask, "Who officiated it for you?"

Rohese softly says, "A beloved friend of ours called Curthieus."

Rohese smiles.

You nod appreciatively.

'''You ask, "Looking back on your path as an adventurer to this point, what would you say was the most enjoyable portion?"'''

Rohese softly says, "Oh my gosh, that's a difficult one."

Rohese bites her lip.

Rohese softly says, "I think some might consider me to be crazy but I did enjoy studying alchemy."

You blink at Rohese.

Rohese laughs softly, trying to hide her amusement.

Rohese softly exclaims, "You see!"

Rohese softly says, "You think I'm crazy."

You say, "That... might be the first time I've EVER heard that sentiment expressed."

Rohese giggles to herself.

Rohese softly says, "I am fascinated by it."

Speaking to Rohese, you say, "I've heard it's a bit... monotonous at times."

You stare at nothing in particular.

Rohese softly says, "It took me to places in Elanthia I would never have dared to visit and I learned so much from it."

Rohese softly says, "It can be but I enjoy the discipline of it."

You nod understandingly.

Rohese softly says, "The level of detail and meticulous processes."

Rohese softly says, "Quite amazing really."

'''You say, "What would you say was your most embarrassing moment? And yes, we'd like details please..."'''

You grin wryly.

Rohese wrinkles her nose.

Rohese softly says, "I don't know that I have any really."

You nod appreciatively.

Rohese softly says, "I know that's probably what everyone says but I do try to live by my grandmother's creed of sensibility and propriety at all times."

Rohese softly asks, "Is that boring, sorry?"

Rohese bites her lip.

You grin at Rohese.

Speaking to Rohese, you say, "Not at all! It was somewhat expected, actually."

Rohese softly says, "Perhaps tripping on my long skirts from time to time."

Rohese looks thoughtful for a moment, then shrugs.

You say, "But I have to ask the questions on the sheet."

You grin wryly.

Rohese softly says, "And struggling to wear high heels."

You chortle softly at some secret joke.

Speaking to Rohese, you say, "Leafiara had an interesting anecdote built around that..."

You ponder.

You shake your head.

Rohese softly asks, "Oh?"

Rohese inclines her head.

You grin at Rohese.

Rohese softly says, "She does strike me as a Lady who prefers the comfort of pants to gowns."

Rohese smiles.

Speaking to Rohese, you say, "You'll have to review her interview for the details. It's a scandalous story told by others about her, it would seem."

Rohese softly says, "I think I know what you're referring to."

Rohese smiles quietly to herself.

You try hard not to grin.

Rohese softly says, "I too have heard the tale."

Rohese winks at you.

'''You ask, "Would you be willing to give us a rough estimate of your current bank account balance?"'''

Rohese takes a drink from her white peony tea.

Rohese giggles.

Rohese removes a pure white leather bankbook from in her sleeveless pelisse.

Rohese opens the cover on her white leather bankbook.

Rohese studies her white leather bankbook for a moment.

Rohese's player whispers, "Your total silvers: 255883519."

You nod appreciatively.

Rohese softly says, "As you can see, my husband funds my gown addiction quite nicely."

Rohese flushes slightly, some color reaching her cheeks.

You chortle.

Speaking to Rohese, you say, "There are worse addictions."

Rohese closes the cover on her white leather bankbook.

Rohese smiles.

Rohese put a pure white leather bankbook in her sleeveless pelisse.

'''You say, "Would you be willing to share a peek inside one of your lockers? There'd be no need to elaborate on any of the items, just offer a peek."'''

Rohese removes a silver-bound peacock blue manifest from in her sleeveless pelisse.

Rohese opens the cover on her peacock blue manifest.

Rohese shows you her peacock blue manifest.

Locker contents of Rohese Bayvel-Timsh'l, the Elf, as recorded in Mist Harbor:

In a clothing wardrobe:
a bisque duchess satin gown with a lace-sheathed quatrefoil silhouette skirt
a strapless sheath gown of burnt copper charmeuse with a pooling side train
a shredded cornsilk chiffon gown bound by a longline corset of torn leather bookspines
a structured off-shoulder gown of palest pink faille split over glossy saffron taffeta
a loosely draped dark gold chiffon stole
a peak-shouldered sea green silk gown with split-sleeves pinned back to form a train
an off-shoulder greige silk cotehardie with artfully twisted pendant sleeves
a high-waisted mint silk gown with scallop-edged sleeves split from the elbows
a columnar vanilla cream faille gown crisply pleated from the curved high waist
a low-shouldered overgown of softly draped dark lavender tartan
a silver-bloomed dark plum suede shrug
a sweeping pelisse of laurel silk shouldered in smoky coyote pelts
a quatrefoil-skirted gown of coppery pink silk swathed in a web of ebon lace
a spiral-cut sheath gown formed of glossy pale chartreuse silk ribbons
a backless gown of milky coffee lace sprinkled with tiny twinkling diamonds
a sideless pale blush silk gown with a single sleeve of sheer lace
a softly draped cassis satin sheath gown with copper-black shadowing in the folds
a rich cobalt velvet gown adorned across the shoulders with a fan of iridescent peacock feathers
a pure white mink shrug
a sheer white silk chemise gathered at the high neck
a gilt-on-teal brocatelle gown dragging heavy sleeves split from the shoulders
a low-cut dusky pink velvet gown with a long sweeping train of pale pink feathers
a sweeping twilight blue silk longcloak with an inverted back pleat
a short-collared gown of orchid-painted tea green silk cut with a high side slit
a dip-necked gown of ochre silk lampas enriched with pale silver thread
a round-necked cream silk gown painted with rambling pale peach roses
a smooth silver leather shrug with a fanning collar of metal feathers
a sleeveless gown of smoke-toned silk fading to creamy white along the forked train
a vaalin-scaled partial shrug gripped by a silver claw pauldron
a slate blue velvet cotehardie with slightly flaring over-the-hand sleeves
a fan-tailed gown of smoke-dark granular leather with detached sleeves
a verdant silk damask peplum jacket
a glazed floral-print calico gown in shades of pink and green on white
a densely piled ebon fur shrug creating a shadowy facial frame
a glossy cobalt leather shrug plumed with vibrant feathers
a plush lavender fur shoulder-wrap
a cream velvet gown trailing a gold-pinned bustle of rose and lavender chiffon
a bateau-necked rose gold damask cotehardie trailing a tapered fork train
a soft-textured chemise of mint cream silk
a fan-tailed longcoat tailored from petal-edged lengths of pale metallic silk
an open-shouldered column gown of blush-suffused alabaster charmeuse
a pale ivory tulle-skirted gown with a deep-cut bodice of furled cream chiffon roses
a two-toned beige and cream mink wrap

In a deep chest:
some pale silver chain mesh shoes inset with crystalline streams
a nacreous pink silk eye mask
a pair of parchment-hued ramie silk chopines inset with fulgarite glass
a gold-nibbed cream owl feather
a matte gold silk drawstring reticule
a pair of almond leather mesh high-heeled shoes with polished bone toes
a pair of argent silk chopines atop low glowbark platforms
a pair of pale silver suede high-heeled shoes with vaalin toes
a pair of calf-laced bisque satin slippers
a vivid teal kingfisher feather
a bamboo-slatted parasol with a scrimshawed ivory handle
some sharply pointed vert silk chopines with floral bas-relief heels
a petal-painted cream leather tote
a pair of stark white dupioni silk divit-toed shoes
a pair of ivory gold-shot silk high chopines
a pair of copper brocaded silk pointy-toed slippers
some soft slate blue suede poulaines
a smoky silk vaalin-bladed fan
some cobalt velvet high shoes with verdigris copper toes
a gleaming gold foil-on-leather corset
a pair of smoky blue fine weave tartan high chopines
a soft rabbit fur-collared niveous velvet bodice
a silver-veined amethyst lily
a cluster of lustrous pearls
an arc of dark nightshade blooms
a pastel-toned floral jacquard bag
a wispy slate blue semiplume
a pair of sage green dupioni silk narrow-toed shoes
a cluster of vivid peacock pinions
a pair of gilt needle-lace gloves
a pair of stark white kidskin half-gloves
a cluster of white dove pinions
a bronze-slatted silk fan suspending a spill of pink pearls and feathers
a bamboo-framed paper parasol painted with orchids
a pair of blush brocade lace pointy-toed slippers
some cream petal-painted silk chopines with virid faenor toes
some soft-soled teal leather poulaines with darker toes
a double-knotted girdle belt of silvered leather
some night-hued woven linen sandals with narrow heels
a purplish indigo toucan feather
a copper-netting cerise velveteen bag
a pair of gilded peach velvet pointy-toed slippers
a pair of flat deep pink suede slippers with floriated cutwork
a pair of glossy onyx leather round-toed shoes
a lacquered oval case of silver and black cloisonne
a caged trio of pale water sapphires
some wisteria-hued suede shoes on silver-scaled heels
a pair of satin high-heeled shoes beaded with silvered glass droplets
a pair of muted gold leather high-heeled shoes
some leather-buckled gilt chain sandals
some ankle-tied gold footflower sandals
a pair of alabaster silk high-heeled shoes laced with gilded chain
a pair of elbow-length salmon pink suede gloves
a pastel-toned floral silk hatbox
a thin silver wirework circlet centered with a low twist
a headpiece of five splayed platinum chains
a lace-accented silk hat
a slit-pupiled dragon's eye ornament in a silver surround
a tonal ivory satin hatbox tied with mint organza
a floral-print miniature silk hat offset with silk tulle veiling
a quintet of slim matte gold leather headbands
a jaunty hunter green hat
an opaline clock face ornament framed in bronze (marked)

Obvious items: 106

You flash a wide grin.

Rohese softly says, "As you can see, well funded."

Rohese giggles.

You exclaim, "Well funded indeed!"

Rohese softly says, "That's my spring and summer collection."

Rohese bites her lip.

Rohese closes the cover on her peacock blue manifest.

Rohese put a silver-bound peacock blue manifest in her sleeveless pelisse.

You rub your chin thoughtfully.

You say, "I'm reviewing my notes, and some of the remaining questions have already been covered."

Rohese smiles.

'''Speaking to Rohese, you ask, "If you had to choose, what other adventurer would you say has had the most impact on your time in Elanthia?"'''

Rohese thoughtfully taps a finger against her lips.

Rohese softly says, "Apart from my husband, of course, I think it would have to be Corlyne Lancre."

''Speaking to Rohese, you ask, "What about Corlyne makes her fill that role for you?"''

Rohese softly says, "She's such a delight to spend time with, even though she drives me to distraction with her predilection for drinking, flirting and gambling."

You chortle softly at some secret joke.

Speaking softly to you, Rohese says, "I would consider her my best friend and confidante though."

Rohese smiles.

Speaking to Rohese, you exclaim, "At least she's not boring!"

Rohese laughs softly, trying to hide her amusement.

Rohese softly exclaims, "She's most definitely not that!"

Rohese softly says, "She has been a constant in my life and an amazing support for both House Sylvanfair and Elanthian Elegance."

Rohese smiles.

'''Speaking to Rohese, you ask, "What would you say is your mission? What drives you each day to get out there? What would you say you're striving towards?"'''

Rohese softly says, "To help others less fortunate than myself."

You nod appreciatively.

Rohese softly says, "I have strived to work with the displaced over the last few months."

Rohese softly says, "To see that their needs are met and they are cared for."

Rohese softly says, "That they are not forgotten."

Speaking to Rohese, you say, "A very worthy cause."

Rohese smiles at you.

Rohese softly says, "I hope so."

You rub your chin thoughtfully.

Speaking to Rohese, you ask, "I believe that's all that I had for this morning. Was there anything you'd like to discuss on the record?"

Rohese smiles.

Rohese softly says, "I don't think so, you've been most particular in your questions."

Your cheeks darken with a deep carmine shade.

Speaking to Rohese, you say, "We do try to be thorough."

Rohese softly says, "In a good way."

Rohese touches you.

You smile at Rohese.

Rohese softly says, "I feel like I've had a chance to say everything I wanted to and you've been very sensitive."

Rohese smiles at you.

Speaking to Rohese, you say, "You've been a wonderful interview subject. I really appreciate you taking the time this morning, and being so forthcoming. It makes my job so much easier."

Rohese blushes a light pink shade at you.

Rohese softly says, "Again, I'm honoured to have been asked."

Rohese playfully says, "My husband does chide me for talking too much when I'm passionate about something."

Rohese glances away.

Speaking apologetically to Rohese, you say, "Unfortunately, I should get going. I need to file these notes."

Rohese smiles.

Rohese stands up.

You stand back up.

Rohese softly says, "Then allow me to see you back to town."

Rohese smiles.

You bow to Rohese.

You say, "It would be appreciated."

Rohese attends to her onyx velvet bliaut, making the bliaut as presentable as possible.

Rohese smiles.

Lady Rohese's group just went out.

Speaking to Rohese, you say, "Thank you again, so much. It was a wonderful experience, and you were a great subject."

You bow to Rohese.

Speaking sincerely to you, Rohese says, "It's been a pleasure."

Straightening her back, Rohese gives you a formal, low curtsy. She inclines her head as well, favoring you with a nod.

Rohese smiles.

Speaking to Rohese, you say, "Have a wonderful rest of your morning."

Rohese softly says, "You too, my Lord."

Rohese smiles at you.

You smile at Rohese.

You wave.

Rohese waves.

</pre>
----

{| class="wikitable" style="background-color:#fff6c1;" cellpadding="25" cellspacing="25"
|-
| "it is a living breathing community and we are all essentially writing the story together." ~ Lady Rohese Bayvel-Timsh'l Illistim
|}

==The Out-of-Character Interview==

'''What’s your real name? (First name only please)'''

:Teri

'''Where are you located, geographically?'''

:England. More specifically, in a small town in the New Forest called Lymington.

'''What do you do for a living?'''

:Currently an Executive Assistant to an MD. I'm basically a career PA and have worked for Directors, Government Ministers, and Secretaries of State in the past.

'''How long have you played Gemstone?'''

:21 years.

'''Have you taken any breaks, or played straight through?'''

:One 6 year break with the occasional step-back for a few months here and there since.

'''How many different ‘main’ characters have you had over the years?'''

:Really only one.

'''Who are/were your most notable characters'''

:Rohese, although I play her half-sister Cappyn from time to time.

'''Do you have multiple accounts that you play at the same time?'''

:I have two accounts but seldom at the same time. The second account is mostly utility and extra lockers.

'''Do you have a Premium subscription?'''

:I do, on both -- it's all about the lockers.

'''What front-end do you use? (Stormfront, Wizard, Profanity, other)?'''

:Stormfront

''Why?''

:I like the item links and customisation options.

'''Do you use lich?'''

:Yes, but I certainly don't make full use of it.

''Why or why not?''

:I'm not one for scripts as a whole and certainly wouldn't use anything like sloot or bigshot etc. The maps, however, are a godsend and whilst I tend to avoid LNet, the other chat channels like Prime, help, and TownCrier are an amazing resource. I rely on them A LOT to promote my CHE and MHO events.

''If so, what are your ‘must-have’ scripts?''

*;narost
*;go2
*;group_ajar (I like to keep my group closed by default)
*;waggle (good for a quick and dirty spell up when needed)

*That's about it really!

'''Have you ever bought or sold characters or items for real money?'''

:Only items. I am too heavily invested in my own characters to buy or sell them.

'''Do you now, or have you ever roleplayed a character that was very different from your real personality?'''

:Yes, I mentioned Cappyn earlier, Roh's half-sister.

''Why or why not?''

:Cappyn is very brash and forward; she doesn't care what others think about her. She has a wild and carefree gypsy spirit, which I envy, but I am more like Rohese: mild mannered and reserved. Even though I'm the one pulling the strings, I am often shocked at Cappyn's actions and what she comes out with - that probably sounds really odd.

'''What would you say is your most memorable Gemstone ‘moment’ (as a player) , and why?'''

:That's a difficult one as there have been many highlights over the years but I think I might have to say Rohese's wedding to Sighisoara back in 2004. It was a Cathedral Wedding and being able to create the whole setting for the evening, such as the room messaging, outfits and food, and then to be able to share the occasion with all their friends was so much fun and definitely something I remember with great fondness. And, yes they are still very happily married!

'''What, in your mind, is the best thing about Gemstone?'''

:That it is a living breathing community and we are all essentially writing the story together.

'''Have you ever attended Simucon, or otherwise met up with a person from Gemstone? If so, describe the experience (PG-13, please)'''

:I haven't yet had the chance to attend SimuCon but I hope to at some point! I have been fortunate enough however to meet up with quite a few Gemstone players; I was even a bridesmaid for one of them! Several of them have become very close friends over the years and have remained so even though they no longer play.

'''Imagine you're Wyrom for a day and can 'do' one thing. What are you changing/removing/adding/replacing, and why?'''

:One of my biggest peeves is scripting; not just AFK but the non-responsive MA scripting where characters are just running around so quickly that it's impossible to engage with them. I do wish more was done to curb it or at least encourage it less. It saddens me to drop by the Dais in Ta'Illistim only to find it's a group of non-responsive characters spelling up and running back and forth to rest between hunts.

'''What do you feel is the biggest mistake that most GS players make?'''

:Focus too much on levelling.

''Why?''

:They forget to "smell the roses." I would encourage everyone to stop what they're doing once in a while and just take the opportunity to wander around and read the room descriptions. We are part of such a rich tapestry and we forget to appreciate it sometimes with everything else going on.

'''What’s something that you feel every GS player should do at least once?'''

:Bathe! I'm kidding, of course ... or am I? I personally think everyone should visit at least one of the museums in game.

''Why?''

:They are so rich in history with fascinating artifacts that can really help you connect with Elanthian lore. My personal favourite is Museum Alerreth in Ta'Illistim - especially the Costumery - but I might be a little biased about that on two counts.

'''What advice would you offer to a new player?'''

:Three things really: 1. Make friends; lots of friends! 2. Drop by Silverwood Manor and ring the doorbell to have a chat with a Mentor, we're nice people and love having a chat! 3. Support the CHEs and MHOs.

TownCrier Interview Sessions with Ardwen

2017-09-02T02:04:38Z

CANNEL: Created page with "{{characterprofile |name= Ardwen Ydwenson |caption= Ambassador Ardwen Ydwenson the Officer of Rone Academy |race= Human |profession= Warrior |affiliations= Rone Ac..."

{{characterprofile
|name= Ardwen Ydwenson
|caption= Ambassador Ardwen Ydwenson the Officer of Rone Academy
|race= [[Human]]
|profession= [[Warrior]]
|affiliations= [[Rone Academy]]
|relatives=
}}
{{TOCright}}
By Oubar, TownCrier Correspondent 
2 Imaerasta 5117 // September 2, 2017 - in Wehnimer's Landing 
----
==Introduction==
In the realm of merchants, there's Ardwen, and then there's everyone else. However, this in no way encompasses this legendary warrior. A fierce combatant, a helpful presence, and a willing conversationalist, Ardwen is a singular presence. He recently hosted TownCrier Correspondent Oubar in his lovely garden for a lengthy chat.

{| class="wikitable" style="background-color:#fff6c1;" cellpadding="25" cellspacing="25"
|-
| "I am also the self styled Ambassador for the one percent." ~ Ambassador Ardwen Ydwenson the Officer of Rone Academy
|}

----
==The In-Character Interview==
<pre{{log2|background=none|border=none}}>

You see Ambassador Ardwen Ydwenson the Officer of Rone Academy.
He appears to be a Human from Riverwood.
He appears to be advanced in years. He has piercing radiant violet eyes and dark skin. He has short, spiked light brown hair evenly peppered with a hint of grey. He has an articulated silver nose. He has deep worry lines marring his weathered face in several places. He has a small glossy black spider on his right upper arm.
He has a grumpy dwarf empath tattoo on his arm, a regal golden gryphon and a beautiful white dove flying wingtip to wingtip into a crimson sunset tattoo on his arm, and a tattooed symbol of andelas on his ankle.
He is in good shape.
He is holding a cup of cherrywood smoked mead in his right hand.
He is wearing an elegant leather weapon harness slung over his shoulder, a pair of ecru satin socks embroidered with tiny monkeys, a cloak so black that it seems to be fashioned of pure essence, with a faint sparkle of luminous stars deep within, some black plate armor subtly patterned with ashen shadows, a verdant faenor scabbard twined with silvery mithril leaves, a sapphire-set silvery rolaren sheath with a burnished azure throat, a brass-buckled brown suede pack with a braided canvas drawstring, some gold and veniom alloy gauntlets, some soft blue leather boots buttoned up the calf with small gold coins, a blood-soaked bag which writhes violently as if it has something living inside of it, a black plush crow, a soft leather scrip pouch, a carved bone button that reads, "Proud to Live in Sin, Vote for Cruxophim!", some robes so black they seem to be fashioned of purest essence, with the faint luminescence of dying stars deep within them, a steel weapons cache pin, a midnight black hat embroidered with a mystical pattern that seems to resemble the stars of the night sky, a sparkling emerald Andelas high priest symbol, a mechanical human pin, a gold and blue tartan plaid kilt bearing a small cat's head patch, a tiny leather shoulder saddle, and a massive chunk of rust-stained iron with a rope handle strapped to the back slung over his other shoulder.

[Pan's Place, Hidden Garden - 25595]
Candles sparkle off the water of a winding stream. A stately oak tree surrounded by a collection of exotic plants stands to the west, and toward the east, a somnolent buzz points the way to a hidden apiary. You also see a hollow tree stump.
Also here: Ambassador Ardwen (sitting)
Obvious paths: down

You bow to Ardwen.

You exclaim, "Good evening!"

Ardwen's dwarf empath tattoo slowly trudges up to his shoulders and makes a few circuits around his neck, his eyes trained on his head. He pulls out some aloeas stem from his haversack and glances between it and his head before sadly shaking his own head. With a mournful look, he tucks the remedy away again and walks off.

You feel more refreshed.

Ardwen says, "Howdy."

Ardwen says, "Have a seat."

Ardwen points at a wicker chair.

You bow to Ardwen.

You settle into the wicker chair and lean back, causing the chair to creak.

Ardwen takes a drink from his smoked mead.

You exclaim, "This is a wonderful place you have here!"

Ardwen says, "Thanks."

Ardwen says, "Refreshments on the table."

On the wrought iron table you see a warm honey cake on a tall silver stand, a plate of barbecued cockatrice wings, a crystal decanter, a gold-trimmed porcelain teapot and a clay jug.

You pour yourself a stein of smooth honeyed whiskey.

You raise your honeyed whiskey in a toast!

You take a drink from your honeyed whiskey. Surprisingly sweet, a smooth taste of honey weaves throughout the bold alcohol flavor, making this whiskey quite palatable.

You close your eyes for a moment.

You say, "Oh that's good."

You grin at Ardwen.

Ardwen says, "All the victuals are made with my own honey."

Ardwen points at a hidden apiary.

A trio of small, white wooden structures holds flats of bees, the winged workers making constant flights among the garden's blooms and into the neighboring brewery's hops. Each humming hive is painted to eerily resemble Darkstone Castle, even down to the glaes portcullis.

You gawk at a hidden apiary.

You say, "Amazing."

You shake your head.

Ardwen takes a drink from his smoked mead.

Speaking to Ardwen, you exclaim, "Thank you very much for agreeing to be interviewed for the Crier!"

You grin from ear to ear.

Ardwen says, "Of course."

You adopt an agreeable expression.

You say, "Some of these are fairly common knowledge, but just asked for the record... for instance..."

'''You ask, "What is your profession, for those who might not already be aware?"'''

Ardwen says, "I am a warrior merchant."

Ardwen chuckles.

Ardwen nods.

''You ask, "Are you sure that's the correct order?"''

You grin at Ardwen.

Ardwen says, "Well."

Ardwen says, "I am also the self styled Ambassador for the one percent."

Ardwen shrugs.

''You ask, "What would you say you spend the majority of your time doing, to ask it another way? Merchanting, or being a warrior?"''

Ardwen says, "Chatting with friends far more then either of those."

You adopt an agreeable expression.

Ardwen says, "I socialize a lot."

'''You ask, "What would you say is the best thing about your profession? If you were attempting to convince someone still on the turnip truck to lean towards your profession, what would you tell them?"'''

You say, "And here, we're asking about the warrior portion... not the 1 percent, or the merchanting."

You grin at Ardwen.

Ardwen says, "A well founded and established guild."

'''You ask, "Similarly, what would you warn that same person about, if they were intending to become part of your profession?"'''

Ardwen says, "Expect many bruises."

Ardwen chuckles.

You grin.

'''You ask, "How many trainings do you have currently, and how long have you been an adventurer in the lands?"'''

Ardwen says, "I have been capped for several years."

Ardwen says, "I came here from Riverwood a couple of decades ago with my family."

''You ask, "You say you came from Riverwood with your family... can you tell us that story? What prompted the move?"''

Ardwen says, "Greater market access."

Ardwen chuckles.

Ardwen says, "And better loot."

''You ask, "Your family were merchants, I take it?"''

Ardwen says, "Indeed."

''You ask, "Of what sort, if I can ask?"''

Ardwen says, "Relics and antiquitiesd."

You adopt an agreeable expression.

You say, "Given your status as a merchant, it seems as if you learned those skills from an early age, then."

Ardwen says, "Indeed, I had excellent tutors."

'''You ask, "What is your preferred method of hunting, and why?"'''

Ardwen says, "I use an axe and shield, but I have hunted every manner possible at times."

''You ask, "What makes the axe and shield preferable for you?"''

Ardwen says, "I hunt where theres a fair number of archers and watching them shoot themself is amusing."

You try hard not to grin.

Ardwen says, "And I own a really nice axe."

You say, "Indeed you do. We'll circle back to that..."

'''You ask, "What town do you currently call home, if any?"'''

Ardwen says, "Landing has been my home for two decades or so."

Ardwen says, "I've owned this place for more then a decade."

''You ask, "What about Landing drew you initially?"''

Ardwen asks, "It was the only option?"

Ardwen chuckles.

You adopt an agreeable expression.

You say, "Point."

'''You ask, "What area do you typically hunt?"'''

Ardwen says, "Nelemar generally."

''You ask, "Why there as opposed to the other options?"''

Ardwen says, "But I hunt anywhere theres things to kill when I am in the mood."

Ardwen asks, "Easiest to walk to?"

You adopt an agreeable expression.

Ardwen says, "As long as ya can swim Nelemar is simple and quick to access."

''You ask, "Is there any hunting area currently accessible that you don't hunt?"''

Ardwen says, "Never been to the sea of fire."

''You ask, "Never got around to it, or do you avoid it for any particular reason?"''

Ardwen says, "Just haven't wandered there."

You adopt an agreeable expression.

'''You ask, "Are you married?"'''

You grin at Ardwen.

Ardwen says, "I was."

''You ask, "To whom, if I can ask?"''

Ardwen says, "Myshel wandered off a long while ago."

Ardwen removes a miniature Myshel portrait from in his veniom alloy gauntlets.

Ardwen taps a miniature Myshel portrait, which is in his right hand.

You nod slowly.

Ardwen shows you a miniature Myshel portrait, which he is holding in his right hand. Framed in gold, Myshel stands proudly, hazel eyes staring at something just out of sight. One corner of her mouth is turned up, giving her a mysterious all-knowing look. Lustrous golden blond hair has been pulled back from her face and adorned with many silver butterfly hairpins. A stunning black satin gown provides a dramatic backdrop for the beautiful opal dove pendant which lies in the hollow of her throat. The entire effect is of mystery and elegance.

Ardwen put a miniature Myshel portrait in his veniom alloy gauntlets.

You ask, "She looks beautiful. She just wandered away?"

Ardwen says, "Sadly."

You say, "My sincere condolences for that."

Ardwen says, "My thanks."

'''You ask, "Do you belong to a Great House, or a Meeting Hall Organization? Possibly more than one of the latter?"'''

Ardwen says, "I am the Co-Chair at Rone Academy."

''You ask, "Who's the other Co-Chair there?"''

Ardwen says, "Xanith."

''You ask, "What about Rone drew you initially?"''

Ardwen's dwarf empath tattoo raises a thin glass syringe to eye level and squints at the liquid within. He raps the tip of one finger against the glass once, twice, three times. Squinting again, he nods in satisfaction and returns it to his haversack.

Ardwen says, "When I joined the membership was all friends."

Ardwen chuckles.

Ardwen says, "But we used to teach the youth how to live here."

Ardwen says, "Before there were Mentors."

''You ask, "These days not so much, I take it?"''

Ardwen says, "Well a lack of new folks and less members have reduced it."

You nod understandingly.

Ardwen says, "I try to help where I can."

''You ask, "What is the focus of the Academy these days, would you say?"''

Ardwen says, "In theory its the same, mostly we just chat with each other."

Ardwen chuckles.

Ardwen says, "I think Beldannon is going to teach people to fish soon."

You grin.

You say, "Nothing wrong with that."

'''You ask, "Are you a member of one of the societies in Elanthia? The Order of Voln, or the Guardians of Sunfist, for example?"'''

''You say, "Or the other, which shall not be named for a variety of reasons..."''

You grin at Ardwen.

Ardwen says, "I am involved elsewhere yes."

You adopt an agreeable expression.

You say, "Moving on, then."

You cough.

Ardwen taps a sparkling emerald Andelas high priest symbol that he is wearing.

Ardwen says, "It suits me."

You agree with Ardwen.

'''You ask, "What would you say is your most prized possession?"'''

Ardwen says, "My memories."

You say, "Very nice answer."

You nod appreciatively.

Ardwen says, "Many friends come and gone and a few long passed."

''You ask, "To come at it from another direction, what would you say is your most valuable possession?"''

Ardwen pours himself a stein of smooth honeyed whiskey.

Ardwen takes a drink from his honeyed whiskey.

Ardwen says, "Likely my axe."

''You ask, "Can you tell us about it?"''

Ardwen removes a short-hafted lochaber axe from in his leather weapon harness.

Ardwen says, "Had it a long time, and had lots of things done to it."

Ardwen says, "Is as enchanted as is possible, is quite effectively weighted to injure things."

Ardwen says, "Enchanted to harm the undead, and to cause disease to the living."

You nod appreciatively.

Ardwen put a short-hafted lochaber axe in his leather weapon harness.

''You ask, "Where did it come from initially?"''

Ardwen says, "I bought it from Ciston years ago."

You adopt an agreeable expression.

'''You say, "What would you say your most memorable moment from your time in Elanthia is? Not an overall experience... just a singular moment that is burned into your memories."'''

Ardwen says, "Discussing the facets of the pillars on the Shrine of Kai late into the night with Lady Wanton and Hyoko."

You grin slowly.

''You ask, "How long ago would you say that was?"''

Ardwen asks, "Seventeen or eighteen years?"

You nod understandingly.

Ardwen says, "Ages."

Ardwen says, "Wanton had an amazing presence."

You say, "I never had the pleasure, unfortunately."

'''You ask, "What was the most enjoyable time of your life as you navigated through your trainings?"'''

Ardwen says, "Lots of events, meeting many friends, and enemies too."

Ardwen chuckles.

You grin.

Ardwen says, "Weddings, parties and a few funerals."

Ardwen says, "The way Kali lit up a room when she was there, or how Bleeds intimindated it."

Ardwen says, "I have had the honor to know many of the old legends in my time."

'''You say, "What would you say was your most embarrassing moment? And yes, we'd like details please..."'''

You grin wickedly.

Ardwen says, "I am rarely embarassed so hard to say."

You say, "That's an admirable trait."

Ardwen says, "The whole airship debacle was moderately embarrassing I suppose."

You furrow up your face and wince.

''You ask, "Would you be willing to give a short recap of that experience for us?"''

Ardwen shrugs.

Ardwen says, "I bought it, they refused to keep me in the loop, I demanded a refund, they gave it away later."

You nod in agreement.

Ardwen says, "The details are fairly well known."

Ardwen says, "It was still broken years later when they did give it to Nuadjha."

Ardwen snickers.

You try hard not to grin.

'''You ask, "Would you be willing to give us a rough estimate of your current bank account balance?"'''

Ardwen says, "Ten digits."

Ardwen says, "Though only a fool trusts banks."

You nod appreciatively.

Ardwen says, "Diversify."

''You ask, "And I assume you diversify by investing in resalable items of value?"''

Ardwen says, "Well yes and by having silvers in other places."

Ardwen says, "Shops for instance."

You nod understandingly.

You say, "Ah, I see."

Ardwen says, "Loans work too."

Ardwen shrugs.

You adopt an agreeable expression.

Ardwen says, "But yes new toys work too."

You say, "New toys always work."

'''You ask, "How many items would you say you currently own that are the only one of their kind?"'''

Ardwen says, "Well, that's a hard one."

Ardwen asks, "Intentionally unqiue or unique because its the last of its kind?"

Ardwen says, "But hundreds easily."

''You say, "For instance, it's fairly well known that you recently sold Thailor's Eye. That would be a singular sort of item."''

Ardwen asks, "Ahh true relics?"

You nod at Ardwen.

You say, "Relics, that's a much better word."

Ardwen asks, "A few dozen?"

You say, "Very impressive, indeed."

Ardwen says, "Most aren't as valuable as the eye or diamond after all."

Ardwen's dwarf empath tattoo pulls out a serrated steel bone saw and eyes its sharp edges. With a semi-clean rag he brushes a few bits of sinew and cartilage from between the saw's jagged teeth before replacing it in his haversack.

You say, "But still, for someone who appreciates history, they're practically priceless."

'''You ask, "Forgive me, I must ask... can you tell us the story of your tattoo? Where did it come from, and what does it do?"'''

Ardwen asks, "Which one?"

Ardwen asks, "The dwarf?"

You say, "The dwarven empath."

You nod at Ardwen.

Ardwen says, "Mostly it drinks."

Ardwen says, "Its rude too."

Ardwen says, "But it also stores herbs and heals me as needed."

Ardwen removes some ephlox moss from in his blood-soaked bag.

Ardwen drops some ephlox moss on the dwarf empath tattoo.
The dwarf carefully adds a bit of the ephlox moss to his stores, then hands the remainder back to Ardwen.

Ardwen put some ephlox moss in his blood-soaked bag.

''You ask, "Does it do so of it's own volition, or on command?"''

Ardwen says, "Heals by severity."

Ardwen says, "And at its own pace."

''You ask, "Incredible. Where did you acquire it, and is it unique, or are there others like it?"''

Ardwen says, "There are a pair that I know of."

Ardwen says, "Riend got one as well."

You nod appreciatively.

''You ask, "Where did they come from?"''

Ardwen says, "And at the last auction."

You say, "Ah, I see."

Ardwen says, "I am one of the rarer folks that doesn't mind spending coins on things they can't sell."

'''You say, "Would you be willing to share a peek inside one of your lockers? There'd be no need to elaborate on any of the items, just offer a peek."'''

Ardwen says, "Sure I have lots of lockers after all."

Ardwen snickers.

You grin at Ardwen.

Ardwen exclaims, "One hundred small statues on demand!"

You say, "Whichever you'd prefer. I fear I'd be lynched if I didn't ask... your lockers have quite a reputation."

''[Editor's Note - Ardwen indicated he'd prefer we use a partial inventory of his shop, transcribed below]
a Ta'gurr figurine
a bloodstained grey laen broadsword
a dark green ring
a green laen ring
a heather grey fitted shirt with the words Raging Thrak Inn emblazoned boldly across the chest in large blue letters
a miran quarterstaff
a roasted torkaan leg
a rularon-edged laen shield
a shaalk helm
a thin black eog wand
a well-crafted dwarven slecge
a xenium hafted shaalk bladed cabis
an ithloss greatsword
an ithloss shield
some xenium-studded armguards
a black laen three-bladed dagger
a brutally spiked laen mace
a double-edged xenium alloy warblade
a horrid black eog greataxe
a miraculously beautiful eog rose
a ruby inset golden shaalk clasp
a small Orhan shrine statue
a thick laen mini shield
a well balanced ithloss jo staff''

Ardwen chuckles.

Ardwen says, "I also have large pockets as it were."

Ardwen says, "I can carry tons of junk."

Ardwen starts chortling.

You say, "You and Roblar both."

You gaze up into the heavens.

Ardwen says, "He's a rank amatuer."

You try hard not to grin.

Ardwen says, "I own somewhere north of ten thousand items."

You feel the blood drain from your face.

''You ask, "Have the two of you ever dueled?"''

Ardwen says, "He'd win."

You say, "That's... a lot of items."

Ardwen says, "His axe is nastier then mine."

Ardwen exclaims, "Though, I sold him his axe!"

You say, "It is pretty vicious, though yours is no slouch."

You grin.

Ardwen says, "A lot of years ago."

You say, "He did mention that, in fact, when I interviewed him."

Ardwen says, "He's done a bit to it."

You say, "Just a bit, yes."

Ardwen says, "But I bought it off the shelf."

'''You ask, "What other adventurer would you say had the most significant impact on your life?"'''

Ardwen says, "Too many to list."

Ardwen says, "I have had many hunting partners thru the ages."

You nod understandingly.

'''You ask, "Do you have someone that you identify in your mind as your mentor?"'''

Ardwen asks, "Mentor?"

You ask, "Someone who helped you along, showed you the ropes, as it were?"

Ardwen says, "Me, Wadsworth and Hakonne were co-merchants for a long spell, that was fun, equal compition as it were."

You nod.

Ardwen says, "Ciston too but in a different manner."

''You ask, "How so? What made that one different?"''

Ardwen says, "And well like I said so many old friends it'd be hard to mention them all."

Ardwen says, "I sold gear for him, quite a lot of it very valuable back then."

You nod understandingly.

Ardwen says, "He gave me a leg up as it were."

'''You ask, "What would you say the largest single item sale you've made to this point is?"'''

Ardwen says, "Sold an elemental bow for sevenhundred and fifty million silvers or so."

You say, "Quite respectable."

You chuckle.

Ardwen says, "Several package deals were higher though."

You nod understandingly.

'''You ask, "And my final question for the evening: What would you say drives you to continue on your path through Elanthia? What is the goal that you feel you're driving towards?"'''

Ardwen says, "There is always another new toy around the corner that I haven't owned."

You chuckle to yourself.

Ardwen says, "That and I never did find the rock of doom."

''You ask, "The rock... of doom?"''

Ardwen says, "Indeed."

''You ask, "What is or was that, pray tell?"''

Ardwen says, "It was a boulder of sorts that one could hurl at people."

You blink.

You say, "Sounds... painful."

Ardwen says, "Seventy five pound rocks are likely to hurt."

You grimace.

You dryly say, "Indeed."

'''You ask, "Well, I believe that's all I had on my notes. Was there anything you'd like to add for the record?"'''

You grin at Ardwen.

Unwinding part of a used bandage, Ardwen's dwarf empath tattoo spits on the blood-stained cloth. He rubs it repeatedly with his thumb, smearing more of it than he removes.

Ardwen says, "Not that I can think of."

You adopt an agreeable expression.

You say, "Thank you once again for agreeing to do this. I truly appreciate you taking the time to meet with me. I'll be writing this up for the Crier, and will send you a copy to peruse before we publish."

Ardwen says, "Excellent."

Interlocking your fingers, you slowly extend your arms up over your head in a long, satisfying stretch.

You say, "Truly a gorgeous garden."

Ardwen says, "And thanks for the opporunity."

Ardwen says, "My secret vault is under the tree."

You give your eyebrow a little workout.

Large enough to be a younger sibling to the towering tree in Town Square, the oak's spreading branches bear candles in punched tin holders clustered above a simple wrought iron table and a set of wicker chairs.

Under the oak tree you see an opening.

You give a short little hum of surprise.

Ardwen says, "I have to swim in my silver somewhere."

You chortle at Ardwen.

You say, "Yes, finding locations that can manage that is probably a hardship."

You stand back up.

Ardwen says, "Quite."

Raising your arms slightly, you arch your back and gently let your head rock back in a relaxing stretch.

Ardwen says, "Feel free to steal booze whenever ya like, the door is usually open."

You grin.

You say, "I will likely take you up on that, and thank you."

Speaking to Ardwen, you say, "Thank you once more, and have a wonderful rest of your evening."

You bow to Ardwen.

</pre>
----

{| class="wikitable" style="background-color:#fff6c1;" cellpadding="25" cellspacing="25"
|-
| "...learn the lands, especially the oldest parts, the stories and histories are amazing."
~ Ambassador Ardwen Ydwenson the Officer of Rone Academy
|}

==The Out-of-Character Interview==

'''What’s your real name? (First name only please)'''

:Dennis

'''Where are you located, geographically?'''

:New Hampshire

'''What do you do for a living?'''

:Freightflow Management

'''How long have you played Gemstone?'''

:22 or so years

'''Have you taken any breaks, or played straight through?'''

:Not significantly so

'''How many different ‘main’ characters have you had over the years?'''

:1

'''Who are/were your most notable characters'''

:Ardwen

'''Do you have multiple accounts that you play at the same time?'''

:I have them but don't use them in concert other then to hand off items and the like.

'''Do you have a Premium subscription?'''

:Yes

'''What front-end do you use? (Stormfront, Wizard, Profanity, other)?'''

:Stormfront

''Why?''

:PC with wizard died so had to start anew and chose SF

'''Do you use lich?'''

:Yep

''Why or why not?''

:Ease of communications

''What are your ‘must-have’ scripts?''

;I only use things like go2

'''Have you ever bought or sold characters or items for real money?'''

:Yes

'''Do you now, or have you ever roleplayed a character that was very different from your real personality?'''

:Yes

'''Why or why not?'''

:Boring to alwys be the same dontcha know

'''What would you say is your most memorable Gemstone ‘moment’ (as a player) , and why?'''

:Way too many to count, Meeting Wanton, being rescued by and befriending Kali, etc, etc

'''What, in your mind, is the best thing about Gemstone?'''

:Use of your imagination

'''Have you ever attended Simucon, or otherwise met up with a person from Gemstone?'''

:Yes

'''If so, describe the experience (PG-13, please)'''

:Have met lots of folks thru the years, for events, parties etc

'''Imagine you're Wyrom for a day and can 'do' one thing. What are you changing/removing/adding/replacing, and why?'''

:Bring back the Ice Age! I think big

'''What do you feel is the biggest mistake that most GS players make?'''

:Listen to the wrong people when asking for advice, either on training, items etc etc, a lot of variations

''Why?''

:Entirely to many know-it-alls that think they know the only path that works, or folks that are out to crew or grief people

'''What’s something that you feel every GS player should do at least once?'''

:Complete all the societies, without cheats and scripts, learn the lands, especially the oldest parts, the stories and histories are amazing

''Why?''

:Know the story and backstory adds so much to the game, makes it more then just numbers.

'''What advice would you offer to a new player?'''

:Avoid the open channels of LNet, they are, as it were, a cesspit

TownCrier Interview Sessions with Japhrimel

2017-08-26T01:36:14Z

CANNEL: Created page with "{{characterprofile |name= Japhrimel Laurentiu Faendryl |caption= Japhrimel Laurentiu Faendryl the Silver Tongued |race= Dark Elf |profession= Bard |affiliations= |re..."

{{characterprofile
|name= Japhrimel Laurentiu Faendryl
|caption= Japhrimel Laurentiu Faendryl the Silver Tongued
|race= [[Dark Elf]]
|profession= [[Bard]]
|affiliations=
|relatives=
}}
{{TOCright}}
By Oubar, TownCrier Correspondent 
26 Phoenatos 5117 // August 26, 2017 - in Wehnimer's Landing 
----
==Introduction==
When it comes to bards, one of the first names on many people's list is Japhrimel. A dedicated, friendly sort, Japhrimel is widely recognized as a master of his profession. He recently agreed to meet with TownCrier Correspondent Oubar for an in-depth discussion which ranged across a wide variety of subjects. As expected, Japhrimel was a pleasure to interview.

{| class="wikitable" style="background-color:#fff6c1;" cellpadding="25" cellspacing="25"
|-
| There was an incident with a dice game, some drinking, and a demon.. lost my former job.. decided after that I'd spend my life wandering and drinking and carousing.. mostly did a bang up job of it." ~ Japhrimel Laurentiu Faendryl
|}
----
==The In-Character Interview==
<pre{{log2|background=none|border=none}}>
You see Japhrimel Laurentiu Faendryl the Silver Tongued.
He appears to be a Dark Elf.
He is tall. He appears to be an adult. He has intense, slightly tilted absinthe green eyes and gold-tinged ebon skin. He has long, silky autumnal red hair that is streaked with a multitude of copper and bronze hues. He has a pair of antique silver spectacles perched upon his nose and a refined face with sharp features that are accentuated by his narrowly pointed ears. His right hand is replaced with an articulated glyph-scribed one.
He has a series of mismatched rings set along the slender tips of his pointed ears, an inky black sigil, and a stylized Faendryl crest tattoo on his wrist.
Dark shadows twist and swirl around him.
He is in good shape.
He is wearing a small bone periapt, a rakish short-brimmed black hat adorned with a burnished verlok feather, a despanal-hued bourde cravat secured with a prismatic crystalline shard, a long black leather longcoat strapped with a single coraesine pauldron, a pair of soulstone cufflinks, a spiky luminescent blossom, a winking fox lapel pin, a sedate dark bourde vest dangling a watch fob, a pristine white silk shirt, a single damaged vambrace, a segmented blood red urnon finger-armor, an iron-barred ebon toybox, a black leather survival kit, a chain-strung silver pocket watch, a red-black wrotwood case, some pleated ebon cotton trousers, some glistening black ora spurs, and some polished glowing black faceted crystal knee-boots.

You head over to the Giant Thrak Table.
[Giant Thrak Table]
In an effort to accomodate larger clientele, this section of the table has been raised on wooden blocks, which does nothing to increase the stability of its surface. Two of the chairs gathered here are oversized, padded chairs with high winged sides. Squarely in the center of this section is a block-style thrak figure painted dark grey.
Also here: Japhrimel who is sitting
Obvious exits: out

Japhrimel says, "Evenin."

You bow to Japhrimel.

Japhrimel bows with a sweep of his black hat.

You exclaim, "Good evening! And thank you for agreeing to meet with me!"

Japhrimel says, "Sure."

You pull out a chair and seat yourself at the table.

You say, "As discussed, we at the TownCrier are starting a new series of interviews, and you were one of our first preferred subjects."

Japhrimel nods.

You say, "I'd like to start off with a few questions that might be a bit... redundant, but still will allow those who aren't already aware of you to get a basic understanding. I apologize ahead of time if they are a tad obvious."

You blush a glowing shade of red.

Japhrimel says, "No worries."

'''You ask, "What is your profession, for those who might not already be aware?"'''

Japhrimel winces as a single drop of blood falls from his damaged vambrace.

Japhrimel ponders.

Japhrimel says, "Honestly, I usually just tell people that I'm an Officer of the Enclave, Navigator of the Falcon, Wanderer and Soothsayer... but bard is what most people want to hear."

You nod understandingly.

'''You ask, "What would you say is the best thing about your profession? If you were attempting to convince someone still on the turnip truck to lean towards your profession, what would you tell them?"'''

Japhrimel says, "Self reliance, staggering utility abilities, and able to know more than everyone else, rather easily."

'''You ask, "Similarly, what would you warn that same person about, if they were intending to become part of your profession?"'''

Japhrimel says, "Everyone will bug you for loresinging and gem purification if you admit to being a bard, so don't."

You say, "That is... remarkably true. Well said."

'''You ask, "How long have you been an adventurer in these lands?"'''

Japhrimel says, "Though I've been running around this part of the world for about.. eight years? nine? something like that."

You nod appreciatively.

Japhrimel says, "Oh, looks like at least nine since I converted."

'''You ask, "What is your preferred method of hunting, and why?"'''

Japhrimel says, "I do a combination of pole-arm and casting, with an emphasis on casting."

Japhrimel says, "Though for a while there I was using a chainspear and a sonic tower shield, which was fuuuuun."

You say, "That's quite a devastating combination, I would think."

Japhrimel says, "Devastating enough that I get really overconfident and then something eats me, sure."

You chuckle to yourself.

'''You ask, "What town do you currently call home, if any?"'''

Japhrimel exclaims, "Wehnimer's Landing!"

Japhrimel says, "It's a town of misfits, full of vice and sin, lies and corruption."

You try hard not to grin.

Japhrimel says, "No one fits in, so everyone fits in."

You exclaim, "Hard to argue with that!"

'''You ask, "What area do you typically hunt?"'''

Japhrimel says, "Reim or Sanctum of Scales."

''You ask, "What is the most challenging aspect of the Sanctum, in your view?"''

Japhrimel says, "Lugging all the loot back."

You stare at nothing in particular.

You dryly say, "A... terrible problem to have."

Japhrimel says, "I can't take the portal, because I'm that encumbered and fitting it all in my bags for the wagon back can be difficult."

You chuckle.

Japhrimel says, "I tend to stay in the sanctum for, at minimum, two hours at a time."

Japhrimel says, "I think I was in there for around six, at my longest."

You say, "That's incredible. If I were to attempt to hunt for that long, I'd run out of deeds."

You chuckle to yourself.

Japhrimel says, "I have a gnomish bank that lets me directly deposit 5k to a bank of my choosing, three times a day.. that helps the load.. I pop boxes as I go, to otherwise keep going.. it's fun."

'''You ask, "Are you married?"'''

Japhrimel winces as a single drop of blood falls from his damaged vambrace.

Japhrimel says, "Married? Complicated.. I'll go with widowed, I suppose. I was married, but she left to "go be one with nature"... somewhere around 3-4 years ago now."

You nod understandingly.

You say, "My condolences for that."

Japhrimel says, "Thanks."

'''You say, "And... I apologize, but are you all right? You seem to be bleeding around your vambrace there."'''

You grimace.

Japhrimel says, "Oh, thats Leech."

''You ask, "Leech?"''

Japhrimel nods.

Japhrimel shows you a single damaged vambrace, which he is wearing. A once pristine vambrace has been nearly bisected by a single large crack down the length. The details of the vambrace are obscured by a coating of an oily black substance, which increases in density around the crack, suggesting a point of origin. The oily black substance is threaded throughout with swirling strands of duller ebon, giving the impression that the oily coating is shifting over the vambrace.

Japhrimel stretches out his right arm as several oily black tentacles spread out from his damaged vambrace. They burrow beneath his skin as they spiral up and down his arm. Gradually they move into the palm of his hand as they begin to wrap around themselves. The undulating oily black liquid in the palm of Japhrimel's hand rapidly hardens as it stretches upward. The liquid from his damaged vambrace slowly takes shape into a pike as beads of oily black liquid drop from its form.

Japhrimel says, "Leech."

Japhrimel shows you a crystallized oily black pike, which he is holding in his right hand. Formed from a long, slender length of a crystalline substance, the weapon appears more grown than crafted. Suffusing the weapon is a core of oily black threaded with whorls and swirls of duller ebon, the liquescent material branching up and through the crystalline coating, bleeding across the surface. The crystalline material is irregular, studded with sharp protrusions, only growing perfectly smooth at the apex as it forms a foot-long blade. You also notice a small enchanter's glyph.

The ebon crystalline formations surrounding Japhrimel's oily black pike start to dissolve, beads of oily black liquid reverse directions, traveling up his arm. Several tentacles appear, latching onto him as they burrow into him. The now liquid entity spirals across him with snake-like movements before returning to his damaged vambrace.

Your jaw drops.

Japhrimel says, "It drains a bit of blood from time to time."

You say, "That's... incredible."

Japhrimel says, "Hence the name."

You say, "An apt name, at that."

Japhrimel says, "Thank yas."

Japhrimel says, "Everything worth having also should have a good name, I think."

You adopt an agreeable expression.

'''You ask, "Do you belong to a Great House, or a Meeting Hall Organization?"'''

''You say, "Or both, I suppose..."''

You ponder.

Japhrimel says, "I'm a member and former officer for Twilight Hall.. oh, and used to be a Knight of Paupers, for Paupers a long time back.. and I am one of the Co-founders and current Officer of The Faendryl Enclave."

The black ora spurs around Japhrimel's ankle are momentarily engulfed in a shroud of darkness!

''You ask, "What would you say is, or was, the appeal for you, with regards to Twilight Hall and Paupers?"''

Japhrimel says, "At the time, Paupers was great for the community... there was a group of us who were acting together as Knights, under some command. Which was fun, until people started sleeping around on other people."

You grimace.

Japhrimel says, "Twilight.. eh, Someday I'm going to steal the coraesine door, damnit."

You say, "That's rarely fun aside from those doing the sleeping around, I suppose."

You grin at Japhrimel.

Japhrimel says, "Until then, it's got a great cave behind the waterfall, which is nice."

Japhrimel says, "Sleeping around can be great, until there is drama."

You agree with Japhrimel.

You say, "Drama belongs on a stage, not in a House."

Japhrimel says, "You're going to find drama, eventually, anywhere you go."

You agree with Japhrimel.

'''You ask, "What would you say is your most prized possession?"'''

Japhrimel says, "Hard to say, honestly."

''You say, "And in this instance, we're not talking monetary value... though we may get to that."''

Japhrimel says, "I have a lot of prized possessions."

Japhrimel just opened a silver mesh ankle sheath.

''You ask, "If you had to pick one that was closest to your heart?"''

Japhrimel says, "Two things, actually."

You adopt an agreeable expression.

Japhrimel slips a hand to his ankle, deftly retrieving a suede-wrapped black ora dagger.

Japhrimel says, "This dagger would be the first.. it's solely sentimental."

Japhrimel shows you a suede-wrapped black ora dagger, which he is holding in his right hand. The slender needle-like blade of this dagger appears ancient, the fine carving and detailed designs having faded with time. At the base of the weapon is a jagged end, suggesting that this weapon was originally the tip of a much larger pike blade. Simple black suede has been used to bind the lower portion, creating a serviceable grip. The base of the grip has been tied off around a single despanal bead carved into the likeness of a fox.

Japhrimel says, "It actually has quite the loresong."

You blink.

Japhrimel says, "Focusing on the dagger, your vision turns dark. You blink and find yourself on a battlefield filled with sights of carnage and loss. A tightly formed squadron of Faendryl match blades with a small party of orcs, until the eyes of one of their own fill with madness and he turns on his allies, wielding a black ora pike. The scene fades, replaced by another. The same man, weeping, bashes his pike against a granite outcropping until it shatters, but one piece splinters off and takes him in the neck.
Sound and sight merge into a new scene. The unmistakable sound of a woman crying fills the interior of a well-appointed home. The door stands ajar as two Faendryl men carry in a lidless coffin and place it on marble blocks. Inside it, another Faendryl tightly grips a broken blade of black ora, a look of revulsion permanently twisting his cold features. One of the pallbearers pries the shard from his mortal grip and passes it to a red-haired Faendryl youth. The crying waxes until the vision fades away.
You renew your focus upon the dagger and your vision grows hazy. A series of visions crowd your sight, two similar scenes appearing over and over. A wild battle ends in the death of a Faendryl with a black ora pike, sometimes at the hands of enemies, sometimes at the hands of allies on whom he's turned. A young boy is handed a black ora weapon over the body of his father, those who hand it to him always grim, silent, and brusque."
Japhrimel says, "Your song strains to coalesce into one final vision. A cacophony of sights rush past, each seemingly farther backward in time. In each, a Faendryl fights, goes mad, and dies. Back, and back further, till his skin lightens and nothing separates him from regular elves, til his pike too pales to plain ora. On one last battlefield, an elven army faces an onslaught of the undead. Robed elves stand in a circle, chanting, and before them forms a rift. The rift opens and all fades to black."

You close your eyes for a moment.

You say, "Very impressive."

''You ask, "That has quite the backstory... how did you come to possess it?"''

Momentarily revealing the small mesh ankle sheath hidden at his ankle, Japhrimel deftly sheathes his black ora dagger, concealing both it and the sheath once more.

Japhrimel just closed a silver mesh ankle sheath.

Japhrimel says, "Family heirloom, of sorts."

You nod understandingly.

''You ask, "And you said there was another item that fit the categorization?"''

Japhrimel nods.

Japhrimel fiddles with his wrotwood case before lifting the latch and flipping the cover open.

Japhrimel removes an ornate brass wand from in his wrotwood case.

Japhrimel says, "My embellishing wand."

You give a short little hum of surprise.

''You ask, "How do you mean, embellishing?"''

Japhrimel says, "I love designing and making things. This enables me to do so.. at great length."

''You ask, "I think I know what you mean, but could you clarify a touch for the readers, please?"''

Japhrimel says, "It enables one to add a showier or longer description to items, if they don't have one."

Japhrimel grabs a petrified monstrosity hand from a velvet-lined pocket inside of his leather longcoat.

Japhrimel carefully places a petrified monstrosity hand on the floor.

Japhrimel hums a fancy little tune to himself.

Japhrimel says, "Lets see.."

You stare at a petrified monstrosity hand.

This limb seems to have been forcefully separated from its original owner. It seems to come from a monstrosity, although you can't quite be sure, since it's not really in very good shape any more.

Japhrimel exclaims, "Ok, so!"

Japhrimel says, "I have here a plain piece of piercing jewelry."

Japhrimel says, "And there happens to be a hand on the floor, coincidentally enough."

Japhrimel winks.

You agree with Japhrimel.

You say, “So there does.”

Japhrimel waves an ornate brass wand at a petrified monstrosity hand.

Japhrimel waves his brass wand at a petrified monstrosity hand. There's a slight distortion in the appearance of the banded onyx ring he's holding, which promptly fades, and now he holds in his hand a sinuous banded onyx ring etched with a petrified monstrosity hand design.

Japhrimel offers you a sinuous banded onyx ring etched with a petrified monstrosity hand design.

Japhrimel says, "And.. embellished."

You accept Japhrimel's offer and are now holding a sinuous banded onyx ring etched with a petrified monstrosity hand design.

Your jaw drops.

Japhrimel picks up a petrified monstrosity hand.

Japhrimel tucks a petrified monstrosity hand into a velvet-lined pocket inside of his leather longcoat.

Japhrimel grabs a golden topaz from a velvet-lined pocket inside of his leather longcoat.

You exclaim, "That's... incredible!"

Japhrimel put a golden topaz in his brass wand.

Japhrimel put an ornate brass wand in his wrotwood case.

Japhrimel says, "Super fun to play with."

Japhrimel closes his wrotwood case and fiddles with the latch for a moment.

You turn over your banded onyx ring.

You exclaim, "So I imagine!"

You offer your banded onyx ring to Japhrimel.

Japhrimel has accepted your offer and is now holding a sinuous banded onyx ring etched with a petrified monstrosity hand design.

Japhrimel tucks a sinuous banded onyx ring etched with a petrified monstrosity hand design into a velvet-lined pocket inside of his leather longcoat.

Japhrimel says, "I've an infinite piercing kit, so my go-to test item for embellishing is usually the ring there."

You grin.

You say, "I have a family member who loves piercings... I can understand the appeal."

'''You ask, "Assuming it's different, what would you say is your most valuable possession?"'''

''You say, "For this, we're talking from a straight silvers standpoint."''

Japhrimel says, "Hmm."

Japhrimel says, "Well, the last offer on the wand was 50m. The last offer on my armor was 75m.. and my vambrace cost about 102k bloodscrip, so probably that."

Japhrimel says, "Though no one has made offers on it."

You adopt an agreeable expression.

You say, "It's a bit... daunting."

You chuckle to yourself.

Japhrimel exclaims, "Thanks!"

'''You say, "What would you say your most memorable moment from your time in Elanthia is? Not an overall experience... just a singular moment that is burned into your memories."'''

Japhrimel says, "Hells bells, far too many to really narrow it down much. And probably the few top picks aren't really something to share when there might be impressionable readers."

You grin wickedly.

Japhrimel says, "I think I'd say."

Japhrimel says, "During EG...'12 I think it was."

Japhrimel says, "I was with my wife and my friend Durakar and we had run to a merchant in a wagon, but we were too late."

You nod understandingly.

Japhrimel says, "The door was closed, so we sat there bashing on it, and yelling and all that. Which was immensely fun, until the merchant came out and yelled at us for ruining her door."

You snicker to yourself.

Japhrimel says, "So later during the fest the wife and I got another door made, with an inscription of apology from us all, and left it in the wagon for the merchant."

Japhrimel says, "Who, it turns out, did replace her door with the new one and the wagon had the inscription on it after that."

You try hard not to grin.

Japhrimel says, "So, yeah, probably that story or the creation of the Love Nest."

''You say, "Love Nest? I think that needs a little embellishment..."''

You grin at Japhrimel.

Japhrimel says, "Mist Harbor, on the northwest corner of town, has a red wagon situated."

You say, "I've seen it, I think."

You ponder.

Japhrimel says, "And a sign that reads... to paraphrase "Love Nest - Japhrimel Laurentiu, Proprietor"."

Japhrimel grimaces slightly, and swirling ebon invades his eyes, turning them into flat ebon orbs. Darkness bleeds from his eyes and across the rest of his face, shrouding it in blackness. A fang-filled maw forms into a wicked grin and looses a single low hiss before the darkness drips down and seeps into his chainmail.

Japhrimel shivers.

Japhrimel says, "Scuse me."

You blink at Japhrimel.

Speaking to Japhrimel, you ask, "Are you alright?"

Japhrimel nods.

Japhrimel says, "I've a bit of a collection of items that tend to have a mind of their own."

Japhrimel says, "In this instance, that was my armor."

You nod slowly.

'''You ask, "Would you be willing to give us a rough estimate of your current bank account balance?"'''

Japhrimel says, "About 120m."

You nod appreciatively.

'''You say, "Would you be willing to share a peek inside one of your lockers? There'd be no need to elaborate on any of the items, just offer a peek."'''

You grin impishly.

Japhrimel says, "Oh sure, but I'd need to grab a manifest."

You adopt an agreeable expression.

Japhrimel says, "Be right back."

Japhrimel scoots his chair back and stands up.

Japhrimel just went out.

Japhrimel arrives at your table.

Japhrimel says, "Here you go.. my minis and momentos locker."

Japhrimel shows you his peacock blue manifest.

Locker contents of Japhrimel Laurentiu, the Dark Elf, as recorded in Icemule Trace:

In a magical item bin:
a miniature clock tower

In a clothing wardrobe:
an aged bone talisman emanating a faint glow
a shuttered faenor lantern charm
a tiny bat-winged squid with a pair of glossy serrated fins (marked)
a dice pouch
a pair of Kezmonian honey beryl dice with fox head pips
a polished pewter campaign button that reads, "Japhrimel for Mayor!"
a rainbow glaes Borthuum crest
a pair of travel-worn merchant's pants with torn coin pockets and vaalorn mesh running down the legs
a bone-inlaid siegery repair case
a lacquered mistwood repair case
a flat black ash case with a tiny despanal pike head latch
a fused lor and sephwir wedding ring (marked)
a flowery silk handkerchief
a despanal engagement ring
a red-haired sylvan empath hand-puppet wearing a flowing green gown (marked)
a sheet of creamy vellum
a brass-latched brushed doeskin pouch
a burnished dark golden mesille tambourine with polished brass zil pairs
some gold-set despanal cufflinks carved into fox heads
a polished obsidian cuff bracelet
a plump enamel panda charm
a winking fox head charm
a despanel airship charm with a deviantly grinning Faendryl at the helm (marked)
a dashing pink zebra skin jacket emblazoned with a pouncing black kitten sequined across the back (marked)
a twisted dull black talisman

In a deep chest:
a blue-haired human pirate miniature
a skeletal shadow knight miniature (marked)
a blue-eyed robed summoner miniature (marked)
a long-tailed war rat miniature
a leather-bound large oak chest
a twisted dull black talisman
a chunk of stone
a tiny red volcano
a blood-stained rock
a sheet of creamy vellum
a scrimshaw stein (marked)
a leather instrument strap
a deck of silver-edged cards
a gold-tinged ebony compass (marked)
a gaudy faenor-plated elf
a fox-shaped russet mithglin pattern
a pearl-edged oyster shell locket
an iridescent mother-of-pearl locket
a twined copper doe and fox mold
a gleaming steel and gold chocolate heater
an eahnor-hued silk airship kite trailing blue and white streamers
a two-sided lead crystal pendant
a dark ruic-framed wheel
a wax-preserved couple's portrait
a smarmy dark elf bard figurine
a blue-haired human pirate miniature
a tall Stomees miniature
a Palestran guard miniature
a dark elven gypsy miniature
a dark elven silver tongued miniature (marked)
a sleek eahnor airship miniature
a raving lunatic miniature
a drunken bard miniature
a teal-haired buxom mermaid miniature
a Faendryl summoner miniature
an Igaeshian Reader miniature
a slender Palestra Blade miniature (marked)
a burly krolvin warlord miniature
a yellow-eyed disciple miniature
a beguiling sea nymph miniature
a swarthy deckmaster figurine
a tiny eahnor-bound trebuchet
a small silver crystal castle
a miniature Darkstone castle
a bright red baker's wagon with a metal stovepipe
a shrouded halfling pirate miniature
a two-headed red sea serpent miniature
a reddish brown giant octopus miniature
a seductive nedum vereri miniature
a carved guild taskmaster miniature
a burly frost giant miniature
an ebon-faced maoral sorcerer miniature
a burgundy orc assassin miniature
an amber-eyed large giantman miniature
a gaunt human cabalist miniature
a wide-eyed farmer miniature
a bright orange spider crab miniature
a Madam Zannebah miniature
a sleek onyx-eyed puma miniature
the warrior Raging Thrak miniature
a raven-haired woman miniature
an Otuio miniature
a Sauli miniature
an Iamal miniature
a stormy-eyed halfling pirate miniature
a peg-legged halfling pirate miniature
a petrified giantman hand
a massive volcanic rock
an engraved metal whistle dangling from a thin chain (marked)
a skeletal right hand
a tiny fox-shaped shrub
a growing event
a dented tin can of water
a pair of silver pruning shears
a chained tiny veniom-plated hourglass (marked)
a misty slate grey crystal strung with a dark leather cord (marked)
a red-nosed halfling pirate miniature
a handsome Faendryl groom miniature (marked)
a slim metallic black case etched with a stylized fox (marked)

Obvious items: 106

You grin.

You say, "Thank you for that."

Japhrimel pulls out a chair and seats himself at the table.

Japhrimel drops a silver-bound peacock blue manifest and it immediately falls apart.

Japhrimel says, "Sure."

Japhrimel smiles.

You say, "Just a few more, then we'll be wrapped up."

'''You ask, "What would you say inspired you to begin on the path you're currently on? What was your mindset when you began, and do you feel like you've been true to that path on your journey?"'''

Japhrimel says, "Trying to be as irresponsible as possible."

Japhrimel says, "Didn't quite work out, but I do try."

You grin at Japhrimel.

You say, "A noble goal."

You nod sagely.

'''You ask, "In your time adventuring in Elanthia, what would you say are the moments that had the most impact on you, as an individual? By which I mean, as you look back, are there specific events or interactions that altered your outlook or plans in a meaningful way?"'''

''You ask, "Something that forced you to reconsider your path, and maybe go in a different direction?"''

Japhrimel says, "There was an incident with a dice game, some drinking, and a demon.. lost my former job.. decided after that I'd spend my life wandering and drinking and carousing.. mostly did a bang up job of it."

You chortle softly at some secret joke.

Japhrimel says, "Meeting my wife was a big one.. there was a moment in solhaven also, that changed things a lot."

''You ask, "Oh? What was that, if you don't mind?"''

Japhrimel says, "Well, I'd been on the look out for a nice MHO to join. I was leaning towards Ord an Dragan, but nothing was a great fit."

You adopt an agreeable expression.

Japhrimel says, "Then one day I was in Solhaven talking with a few random people."

Japhrimel says, "And one of them commented on how 'normal' I was and that her expectation of dark elves was that we were all murderous baby eating scum of the earth types."

You try hard not to grin.

Japhrimel says, "And that it had been her experience up to that point."

Japhrimel says, "That was the moment that lead to the Faendryl Enclave.. instead of joing an MHO myself and a few friends started one."

You nod appreciatively.

You say, "A noble cause, at that."

Japhrimel says, "With part of the goal to be to provide my fellow Faendryl an alternative community to certain less than savory individuals around."

You say, "One final question...."

You grin at Japhrimel.

Japhrimel nods.

'''You ask, "If pushed to choose, what other adventurer would you say has had the largest influence on your time in the lands?"'''

Japhrimel says, "Nuadjha, probably."

Japhrimel says, "I'm around to this day solely because I really wanted to irritate him, one time."

You try hard not to grin.

Japhrimel says, "And it's kind of gone from there."

You say, "A noble cause, once again."

Japhrimel adopts an agreeable expression.

Japhrimel says, "I'm full of those."

Japhrimel cackles!

You ask, "That's all that I had prepared... is there anything else you'd like to discuss, for inclusion on the record?"

Japhrimel says, "Nah, I think I'm ok."

You say, "Then I thank you very much for your time this evening. I will write up this interview for our editing team, and pass along a copy to you before it is published."

Japhrimel says, "Okey dokey."

You scoot your chair back and stand up.

You bow to Japhrimel.

Japhrimel scoots his chair back and stands up.

Japhrimel bows with a sweep of his black hat.

You say, "Have a wonderful evening."

Japhrimel says, "You, too."
</pre>
----

{| class="wikitable" style="background-color:#fff6c1;" cellpadding="25" cellspacing="25"
|-
| "There is a reason I rock EG so hard, booyah, bitches." ~ Japhrimel Laurentiu Faendryl the Silver Tongued
|}

==The Out-of-Character Interview==

'''What’s your real name? (First name only please)'''

:Eric

'''Where are you located, geographically?'''

:The Mitten State! Michigan! Ever so boring, but is what it is.

'''What do you do for a living?'''

:I work for Community Mental Health, specifically with a short term crisis residential facility where we take people for a short time who are currently in a crisis. It's supposed to be mental health related, but there is a lot of substance abuse/use overlap and people faking to get 3 hots and a cot. Am I cynical? Never!

'''How long have you played Gemstone?'''

:I have played GS since I was 13, so about 21 years now. I've taken breaks from time to time, usually when I get bored or am in a serious relationship or just get busy with life.

'''How many different ‘main’ characters have you had over the years?'''

:Tons of characters, over the years. One of my first was Packrat and I never got him past like level 2. I hid in the back room at the pawnshop and would run out and grab all the gold and silver falchions people dropped and save them. I was certain they were worth something, despite the pawnshop not buying them, and was insanely encumbered. If I recall correctly, Packrat was last left a room from the Graveyard after the vine pulled him down and I couldn't get him to stand up again.

:My main character that is best known has been for the last 8ish years, Japhrimel. He was never supposed to be. I made him as a joke to annoy a friend of mine. There is a certain BriarFox running around and I made Japh and wanted everyone to call him CrimsonFox or something like that, just to be annoying. I also thought bards were a joke since back in the day my level 2 sorcerer dueled a friend who was a level 10 bard and kicked that bards ass in 1 hit (702 death crit ftw). But I took Japh to Solhaven one night to sit around and shoot the shit and got like 3 RPA that night and was hooked.

:Prior to Japhrimel, my main character was Malkave De'Panda, who I still have. I don't do much with him, but still like the character, there's too much history not to. I also spent a stint as an Erithi Ranger named Kakeshi (totally was trying to think of a real ninja name, not Naruto, realized my mistake later on). I played him on and off for a while. There was an Erithi MHO back then and I got involved in that, but eventually the other Erithi moved on to other things and it wasn't as fun without a group of us.

'''Do you have multiple accounts that you play at the same time?'''

:I have two accounts, with the second account pretty much for utility/mule characters.

'''Do you have a Premium subscription?'''

:I have two, currently.

'''What front-end do you use? (Stormfront, Wizard, Profanity, other)?'''

:I am using Stormfront these days. I started during EG'12 or EG'13 and did so solely because of a script I was writing that had too many variables for wizard to work. I loved wizard and hate change, so it took my merchant hounding greed to get me to swap over. I made a script that matched each merchant at EG's name, or part of their messaging. Then it would sound an air raid siren on my computer and run me to the shop that merchant tended to work out of. I still use a version of it, sans the running, and that is how I sleep during EG. There is a reason I rock EG so hard, booyah, bitches.

'''Do you use lich? Why or why not? If so, what are your ‘must-have’ scripts?'''

:I use lich and used to use PSInet. I loved the community of assholes on PSInet. Lich has it's own share of ginormous jerks, I've got my own moments on there, but also has a great deal of utility. I love ;go2 and some scripts that are pretty must have, IMO, is Gibreficul's purification script, ;hotpotato for dealing with weapon fire, ;chatfail for avoiding sexy mistakes, ;keepalive to keep from logging out until I want to, ;uberbar for keeping an eye on everything, and I also use ;sanctumwatch a lot, which is one a friend of mine made for me, based off a script I'd made. It responds to your weapon being turned into a snake and clenches until it's fixed. It also keeps an eye out if you get diseased and asks if you want to get that fixed and, if you nod, will ;go2 you over to the vat and use it.

'''Have you ever bought or sold characters or items for real money?'''

:I sold a level 28 sorcerer on ebay in like.. 2001 for over 300 dollars, but that's the only character. Korendal, I think the name was. I've sold a number of items for coins or real money and have sold coins. I paid for a 2 week trip to japan off some items sold, a few years back, which was great. I more recently paid for a 2.5k vet bill with items sold.

'''Do you now, or have you ever roleplayed a character that was very different from your real personality? Why or why not?'''

I would say that every character is a facet of my personality. Not necessarily the same parts, but each is me expressing a different part of me. Kakeshi and Japhrimel are staggeringly different characters, IMO.

'''What would you say is your most memorable Gemstone ‘moment’ (as a player) , and why?'''

:This entirely depends on whatever someone most recently reminded me of. There are SO many moments over two decades that picking one is impossible. However, what comes to mind at the moment was a time a friend of mine and I were bored so I rolled a newb and we convinced Foxs that Nuadjha and a friend of his were “Secretly evil” and got her to meet with him and I think she brought.. Futtilo or Fuaru or someone F-named along with her. And Nuadjha and the other guy are like “ha ha ha, we're real evil! We keep it secret! If you want to join us, you must murder your friend” so she did and we laughed at her and left.
:Another that is entirely different, but was a great time was a specific storyline, the erithi bride one in Ta'Illistim. There was an erithi carriage that had broken down an an erithi bride was supposed to be going to get married. It took place over a week or two and there were murders, plotting and incest. And, despite it being Erithi-related, I was on my Faendryl. It was awesome. I sat around yelling over gates, just to shoot the shit, spent time with an erithi and we investigated a crime scene (and OOCily compared profiling and forensics and how we would look at the scene). There was trial and I got picked to be one of the questioners. But the stupid audience let the incestuous duo off because they felt there wasn't enough evidence, but other than that, it was pretty sweet.

'''What, in your mind, is the best thing about Gemstone?'''

:Two things, really. Firstly, that it requires your imagination and, as such, can be a whole level of immersion beyond games that have visuals. Secondly, the ability to alter/customize your gear, though lately that seems to be more and more curtailed.

'''Have you ever attended Simucon, or otherwise met up with a person from Gemstone? If so, describe the experience (PG-13, please)'''

:I have never attended, though I have been sorely tempted. I mostly don't for three reasons; 1. funding, 2. having faces and real people names to put with characters tends to throw me off when dealing with people IG sometimes. 3. I would probably get drunk and be far far too honest.

'''Imagine you're Wyrom for a day and can 'do' one thing. What are you changing/removing/adding/replacing, and why?'''

:I'd seriously relax the sphincter-tight restrictions on alterations that seem to have grown worse over the years. That or spend my entire time lightning bolting Demyse.

'''What do you feel is the biggest mistake that most GS players make? Why?'''

:I'd say a lot of us are incredibly passionate about this game and that many of us are probably not terribly well adjusted. I think a lot of people have moments where we need to step back and remember that this is just a game and it's supposed to be fun, instead of getting incredibly angry. Plus people need to stop stalking others on multiple characters and being douches. It's a game, it's supposed to be fun, if your idea of fun is ruining someone else's day(unless that person is Demyse), then go play something else.

'''What’s something that you feel every GS player should do at least once? Why?'''

:Two things! Mess with a merchant till you get blasted and have a cyber slip on lnet or the amunet. Both are hilarious.

'''What advice would you offer to a new player?'''

:Utilize the mentors as much as possible. REGISTER and MARK anything valuable. DON'T ENCHANT WHILE DRUNK.

TownCrier Interview Sessions with Leafiara

2017-08-19T03:32:17Z

CANNEL: Created page with "{{characterprofile |name= Leafiara Autumnwind |caption= Maiden Leafiara Autumnwind the Scion of Shaundara |race= Half-Sylvan |profession= Cleric |affiliations= Guildm..."

{{characterprofile
|name= Leafiara Autumnwind
|caption= Maiden Leafiara Autumnwind the Scion of Shaundara
|race= [[Half-Sylvan]]
|profession= [[Cleric]]
|affiliations= Guildmaster of the [[Cleric Guild]]
|relatives=
}}
{{TOCright}}
By Oubar, TownCrier Correspondent 
19 Phoenatos 5117 // August 19, 2017 - in Icemule Trace 
----
==Introduction==
Leafiara Autumnwind has gained a good amount of attention in a short time. Always willing to come lend a hand when asked, she's been a savior for many a fallen adventurer. Her bubbly personality, barely repressed energy, and expressive nature were all on full display as she recently sat down for an in-depth conversation with TownCrier Correspondent Oubar.

{| class="wikitable" style="background-color:#fff6c1;" cellpadding="25" cellspacing="25"
|-
| "And yet there they were, inviting me along and making me feel like some kind of heroine." ~ Leafiara Autumwind
|}
----
==The In-Character Interview==
<pre{{log2|background=none|border=none}}>
You see Maiden Leafiara Autumnwind the Scion of Shaundara.
She appears to be a Half-Sylvan.
She is tall and has a slender build. She appears to be very young. She has sparkling green eyes and fair skin. She has shoulder length, tousled bright red hair pulled into a loose ponytail adorned with a rosy-centered pale alabaster moonflower. She has slightly pointed ears. She has ebon-marbled kelyn green lacquer brushed onto her smooth oval fingernails.
She is in good shape.
She is wearing a bold red musical note-shaped locket, a white satin ribbon choker dangling a trio of emerald bells, a mazerine angora cape fastened with a diamond snowflake pin, a platinum and emerald ivy leaf, a honey beryl note symbol inset with tiny water sapphires, a veniom-bound rolaren tower shield slung over her shoulder, a white spidersilk tunic, some gleaming rolaren chain mail with bold red and pure white links, a pair of fingerless eonake-studded sylvan gloves emblazoned with leaves, a pure white silk gem pouch embroidered with a bold red musical note, some silver and gold filigree bells, a pure white silk instrument case with a bold red leaf-shaped latch, a high-slit knee-length red silk skirt adorned with a dozen white bells, and a pair of eonake-soled sylvan sandals with leaf-patterned toe straps.

You exclaim, "Good evening!"

Leafiara exclaims, "So that's where the tables are in Icemule!"

Leafiara gazes in wonder at her surroundings.

You grin at Leafiara.

Leafiara laughs softly, trying to hide her amusement.

Leafiara flashes a quick grin at you.

Leafiara amicably greets, "And good evening!"

You chuckle to yourself.

You rub your chin thoughtfully.

You exclaim, "Oh!"

You grab a banded thanot keg of Oiran winter ale from inside your linen haversack.

You place your thanot keg on the floor and pull out a small locking pin on the tap.

Leafiara's jaw drops.

You say, "Help yourself, if you like."

You grin.

Leafiara airily acknowledges, "Oh, I don't drink, but... thank you anyway!"

Leafiara flashes a wide grin.

You adopt an agreeable expression.

You say, "In that case..."

You pick up a banded thanot keg of Oiran winter ale, carefully setting a locking pin back in the tap.

Leafiara starts chortling.

You absent-mindedly drop a banded thanot keg of Oiran winter ale into your linen haversack.

You grin.

You say, "First off, thank you very much for agreeing to meet with me tonight."

Leafiara beams happily at you!

Speaking warmly to you, Leafiara praises, "You're very welcome. It's great work you're doing, I think."

You say, "As we discussed, we're doing a series of interviews for the TownCrier, and you were one of the ones we wanted to speak with."

You bow to Leafiara.

Leafiara nods understandingly to you.

Leafiara bobs a quick curtsy to you.

Leafiara flashes a quick grin.

You say, "Hopefully I do a decent job with it."

Speaking soothingly to you, Leafiara assures, "You will, you will."

Leafiara nods firmly.

You grin.

You say, "The readers will determine that."

Leafiara chortles softly at some secret joke.

Leafiara gently concedes, "True enough."

You ask, "Now then! I usually start off with some basic questions that are pretty common knowledge, but just for background and such, if that's alright?"

Leafiara affably exclaims, "Certainly is!"

'''You ask, "What is your profession, for those who might not already be aware?"'''

Leafiara cheerfully replies, "I'm a cleric."

Leafiara nods sagely.

'''You ask, "What would you say is the best thing about your profession? If you were attempting to convince someone still on the turnip truck to lean towards your profession, what would you tell them?"'''

Leafiara thoughtfully taps a finger against her lips.

Leafiara warmly enthuses, "For me it's definitely raising the dead! That's the whole reason I became a cleric--I was only seven the first time I was killed, and at that age a resurrection is a life-changing experience."

Leafiara suddenly remarks, "Well, at any age that first death is really something, but especially for a little child."

Leafiara idly says, "That's me, though. For anyone just coming from the turnip truck..."

Leafiara thoughtfully taps a finger against her lips.

Leafiara stares into space, appearing to ponder multiple possibilities and potential nuances.

Leafiara amicably muses, "Actually, I'd still say the same thing. Raising the dead makes you a hero to many and a friend to even more."

You say, "Well said."

'''You ask, "Similarly, what would you warn that same person about, if they were intending to become part of your profession?"'''

'''You ask, "Or to put it another way, what would you say the pitfalls are for those on that path?"'''

Leafiara thoughtfully answers, "Other than the sorcerer guild, the cleric guild is probably the most blind to how many anti-magic creatures and entire anti-magic areas are out there, so they could be much better equipped to deal with these threats and situations when magic simply won't work."

You nod slowly.

Leafiara praises, "The empath guild, for example, was very wise to research a spell to focus their intensity, so they're much more fierce with weapons than we are."

Leafiara ponders.

Leafiara assures, "Don't get me wrong, though--clerics can still do many things! Even if the cleric guild's trainers and researchers could stand to take a broader approach, I myself have trained to battle even if I only have my own hands and feet. We can do well enough for ourselves if we put our minds and bodies to it!"

Leafiara flashes a wide grin.

You agree with Leafiara.

Leafiara taps a pair of fingerless eonake-studded sylvan gloves emblazoned with leaves that she is wearing.

Leafiara nods sagely.

You chortle softly at some secret joke.

'''You ask, "What is your preferred method of hunting, and why?"'''

You say, "Though I think you just gave us a hint."

You grin from ear to ear.

Leafiara laughs softly, trying to hide her amusement.

Leafiara acknowledges, "Maybe not as much as you might think!"

You give a short little hum of surprise.

Leafiara simply says, "First I have to tell you that I do everything. I cast spells, I sling bolts, I brawl, I use symbols taught to me by the Order of Voln... I'll do what works."

You nod understandingly.

Leafiara acknowledges, "I even used to swing a waraxe once, but I let my skills with that type of weapon fall slack. I'm picking that study up again right now, though, but the reason I let it slip was because I had more fun with one of my two current favorite methods of hunting..."

Leafiara fondly states, "Unarmed combat and throwing bolts are my two favorites and it would be pretty tough for me to make a call between them."

Leafiara thoughtfully taps a finger against her lips.

You grin.

Leafiara idly says, "How to explain this..."

Leafiara begins, "My patron is Tilamaire, the spirit of music and dance, and both these kinds of combat have their similarities to a dance."

You adopt an agreeable expression.

Leafiara excitedly comments, "There's a passion that goes into them, a force, an energy--whether you're throwing fists or throwing bolts, you have to give it everything you've got and take a full offensive front to take down the dangers out there."

Leafiara nods enthusiastically!

You say, "Very well put, and for what it's worth, I agree."

Leafiara mischievously dismisses, "None of that careful, guarded movement stuff that the cautious types do, only casting other types of spells... I'm the furthest thing from cautious--give me danger and thrill any day!"

Leafiara nods understandingly to you.

Speaking approvingly to you, Leafiara exclaims, "Always glad to see a like mind!"

Leafiara beams!

You bow to Leafiara.

'''You ask, "I'd like to circle back a bit, if you don't mind. You mentioned an incident when you were seven years old... is that a story you'd be willing to share?"'''

Leafiara amicably exclaims, "Oh, of course!"

You nod appreciatively.

Leafiara honestly acknowledges, "I can only give my perspective, though, and to be honest I don't fully understand what happened..."

Leafiara calmly says, "As a little girl I lived in the sylvan forests and I'd been out gathering herbs and flowers one day when suddenly I had a powerful sinking feeling and then... and then..."

Leafiara flatly concludes, "I was dead."

Leafiara shakes her head.

You furrow up your face and wince.

Leafiara baffledly says, "I always thought it was a poisonous plant, but the cleric who arrived to save me had to patch up a hole in my chest..."

Leafiara quickly says, "But I'm getting ahead of myself."

Leafiara continues, "When you've never seen a resurrection before, it's very scary lying there alone and helpless, thinking it's all over."

You softly say, "I can imagine."

Leafiara guesses, "It was probably only a few minutes..."

Leafiara shakes her head.

Leafiara adds, "But to me it seemed an eternity."

Leafiara relievedly says, "And when a cleric arrived to rescue me with a sweet, smiling face, I felt..."

Leafiara rubs her chin thoughtfully.

Leafiara blithely concludes, "I knew from then on that was what I wanted to be."

You nod understandingly.

Leafiara flashes a quick grin.

You say, "And the rest is history."

You grin at Leafiara.

Leafiara nods to you.

Leafiara wistfully says, "Is it ever."

Leafiara attempts to hum a merry little tune.

'''You ask, "Are you married?"'''

You grin at Leafiara.

Speaking to Leafiara, you say, "Not to change gears too quickly, there."

Leafiara's face turns slightly pale.

Leafiara flails her arms about.

Leafiara baffledly exclaims, "No! No, definitely not!"

Leafiara scratches her head.

''You ask, "Why 'definitely not'?"''

Leafiara warmly explains, "Oh, I love all of my dear friends, so I don't know how people do that marriage thing--committing to spending so much time with just one. I want to be out with everyone I hold dear."

You grin slowly.

You say, "Well put, yet again."

Leafiara nods to you.

'''You ask, "What town do you call home these days, if any?"'''

Leafiara brightly says, "Wehnimer's Landing is my home and always will be."

Leafiara flashes a wide grin.

You adopt an agreeable expression.

''You ask, "What about Landing appeals to you?"''

Leafiara thoughtfully muses, "Well, I'd separate that into two things... the reason I came and the reason I stayed."

You adopt an agreeable expression.

Leafiara begins, "Originally I moved there because I felt cornered. The Elven Nations largely don't want a half-sylvan like me and neither does the Empire. I love the warmth of the people here in Icemule, and I adore visiting, but I couldn't live in the cold all year."

You carefully say, "The cold is a bit of an acquired taste."

Leafiara nods knowingly to you.

Leafiara laughs softly, trying to hide her amusement.

Leafiara ruefully says, "And I couldn't stay in the sylvan forests where I mentioned growing up. My history there is..."

Leafiara quietly concludes, "Complicated."

You nod understandingly.

Leafiara quickly continues, "So when I first traveled to the Landing, it was just relief. Seeing half-elves everywhere I looked, I thought: yes, this is a town that will welcome me!"

Leafiara wistfully muses, "By now my love of the Landing is so much deeper, though. Out on the frontier, the Landing itself is an experiment and an adventure--how does a small town like that make it, you know?"

You grin.

You say, "Some would say by the strength and grit of its inhabitants."

Leafiara nods approvingly to you.

Leafiara slyly adds, "Right, right. I mean, you'd think the danger would be the magic and wilderness all around us--and, sure, it's pretty insane out there, but... what's just as wild is what's inside those gates. Often for our benefit, often to our detriment--we're a crazy bunch."

Leafiara admiringly opines, "And that's why I stay. No better way to be."

Leafiara laughs softly, trying to hide her amusement.

You chortle softly at some secret joke.

'''You ask, "Are you a member of any of the Great Houses?"'''

Speaking casually to you, Leafiara informs, "I sure am! Twilight Hall is the one."

''You ask, "What about Twilight Hall appeals to you?"''

Leafiara simply says, "Well, it's the House that studies magic so that I don't have to."

Leafiara nods emphatically!

You try hard not to grin.

Leafiara slyly says, "Okay, okay, I'm sure you're wondering what I mean by that."

Leafiara snickers to herself.

Leafiara thoughtfully taps a finger against her lips.

You say, "I was trying to figure out the best way to phrase it, but yes."

Leafiara starts chortling.

Leafiara carefully explains, "I develop magical talent differently from others. I don't have the patience for traditional study, but Tilamaire blessed me with an ability to hear the--"

Leafiara rubs her chin thoughtfully.

Leafiara thoughtfully says, "The harmony of magic, you might say."

Leafiara explains, "Like a musician, I learn by observation, by imitation, by coordination, by repetition... Put another way, I grasp how magic works when I can hear its inner melody, and when I'm surrounded by magic put into practice."

You give a short little hum of surprise.

You nod appreciatively.

Leafiara admits, "I'm sure I could learn even more if I hit the books, so I'm not an amazing magical talent, but--when you're lazy about studies, becoming even as good as I am now because I'm surrounded by so many magic practitioners is a true blessing."

Leafiara flashes a quick grin.

You grin impishly.

Leafiara nods slowly.

Leafiara starts chortling.

'''You ask, "Are you a member of any of the Elanthian Societies? There's the Order of Voln, the Guardians of Sunfist... and there's rumors of another one that isn't spoken aloud. Are you involved with any of them?"'''

Leafiara nonchalantly replies, "Oh, yes, I'm a member of the Order of Voln like I mentioned earlier."

Leafiara looks thoughtful for a moment, then shrugs.

''Speaking to Leafiara, you ask, "As am I. Can I ask what drew you to the Order?"''

Leafiara furrows her brow.

Leafiara indifferently muses, "Convenience? With or without the Order I'd still personally be dedicated to battling the undead..."

Leafiara thoughtfully taps a finger against her lips.

Leafiara continues, "I see devotees out there who vocally defend the Order night and day. But in my case I just thought it's better to learn a few new abilities than to not--ya know?"

Leafiara ponders.

You adopt an agreeable expression.

You say, "I can certainly understand that."

Leafiara leans in closer toward you.

You lean forward.

Leafiara whispers aloud, "Since we're here, I guess I might as well let you know something..."

You listen carefully to Leafiara.

Leafiara carefully explains, "This might sound strange from a cleric, but mostly I didn't have all that high an opinion of the Arkati, including the ones who the Order honors, before I joined them. It was difficult to say how involved they are in our lives... but the Order does draw on their power. And we clerics do too, of course. You might say part of the reason I joined the Order and part of the reason I became a cleric--a very small part, mind you..."

Leafiara rubs her chin thoughtfully.

Leafiara's face turns slightly pale.

Leafiara concludes, "Was like my way of testing the gods..."

Leafiara gazes in wonder at her surroundings.

You give a short little hum of surprise.

Leafiara suddenly says, "Now that I put it that way, suddenly it seems really arrogant."

Leafiara gazes heavenward.

Leafiara glances down.

Leafiara quietly acknowledges, "Still... it's good to be more connected like this. To feel their presence more directly."

Speaking reassuringly to Leafiara, you say, "I can assure you, we've all felt the urge, or even on occasion the need, to reinforce our faith through such tests."

Leafiara smiles at you.

Leafiara nods slowly.

Leafiara offhandedly praises, "Oh, I should mention I do believe the Guardians of Sunfist do excellent work too. If the cleric guild would hire trainers who know more about fitness, I definitely might have considered joining them."

You nod in agreement.

Speaking to Leafiara, you say, "I agree, they do fantastic work. I have the exact same lament."

Leafiara admits, "I don't think I've ever met a cleric in their ranks, though. Sometimes I feel like joining anyway just to see if I'd like it."

Leafiara starts chortling.

Leafiara muses, "Maybe one day."

Leafiara flashes a quick grin.

'''You ask, "How long have you been an adventurer? From the time you, as they say, rolled off the turnip truck?"'''

You grin at Leafiara.

Leafiara simply answers, "Oh, a little more than fourteen months at this point."

You blink.

Leafiara brightly muses, "Young and determined, that's what some would say!"

Speaking to Leafiara, you compliment, "That's quite impressive."

Leafiara acknowledges, "Others might not put it so nicely."

Leafiara glances upward and whistles quietly, an innocent look on her face.

Leafiara explains, "It's like I mentioned regarding Tilamaire's blessings... I do learn quickly because I can hear that harmony around me."

You nod understandingly.

'''You ask, "Are you active in your profession's guild?"'''

Leafiara proudly replies, "Oh, not only active, but a cleric guildmaster!"

Leafiara flashes a wide grin.

You beam happily at Leafiara!

Speaking to Leafiara, you say, "That must have taken some serious work."

Leafiara fondly says, "Oh, it did. And even finding two other cleric guildmasters to nominate me took some work--and we made it just in time, as I was promoted by kind High Lady Rohese and my friend Mikalmas the very day before I saw my trainer for the last time."

Leafiara enthuses, "A wonderful two days those were."

You grin at Leafiara.

''Speaking to Leafiara, you ask, "There are those who would say... and indeed have said... that the cleric guild, in particular, has very little to offer. What would you say to those individuals?"''

Leafiara scoffs.

Leafiara sarcastically dismisses, "Little to offer? I learned so much there about sweeping floors and cleaning alchemical equipment that I could be the best maid the lands have ever seen."

You nod slowly.

Leafiara regretfully says, "Still very upset they didn't give me an appropriate outfit for all that..."

Leafiara grins impishly.

Leafiara calmly says, "But no, to give you a more serious answer..."

Leafiara rubs her chin thoughtfully.

Speaking to Leafiara, you say, "I'm sure it was just an oversight."

Leafiara offhandedly says, "Oh, it better have been. I want at least three official cleric guild outfits one day."

Leafiara starts chortling.

Leafiara leans back in her chair, balancing herself on two legs for a few moments, then sets the chair back down on all four legs.

You grin at Leafiara.

Leafiara honestly admits, "Well, the only items that anyone from the cleric guild has paid me to make for them before are healing tinctures, mana potions, and lichbane talismans. Two of those could have been made in other guilds, leaving only the talismans..."

You nod understandingly.

Leafiara muses, "I guess they're useful to some, even if not most, but the critics aren't necessarily wrong."

Leafiara laughs softly, trying to hide her amusement.

Leafiara adds, "Though I do hear that alchemy is a pain without much payoff for every guild, not only fellow clerics."

You nod enthusiastically at Leafiara!

''Speaking to Leafiara, you ask, "Then what was your personal driving force in navigating your way through the guild? What drove you to do it?"''

Leafiara rubs her chin thoughtfully.

Leafiara thoughtfully replies, "Well, at a certain point it was probably mostly stubbornness. I wanted to make mana potions, thinking they'd be very helpful, but it's such a time-consuming process that I didn't love them nearly as much as I thought I would. And by the time I'd gotten that far, I felt like I might as well make it all the way and be a guildmaster for my efforts."

You nod understandingly.

You say, "There's certainly something to be said for stubbornness."

You grin at Leafiara.

Leafiara honestly muses, "There is! But I do have limits--right now I don't see myself ever going back to become a grandmaster alchemist."

Leafiara flashes a quick grin.

'''Speaking to Leafiara, you ask, "Have you worked toward any of the artisan skills?"'''

Leafiara nods enthusiastically to you!

Speaking to you, Leafiara replies, "I definitely have!"

''You ask, "Which ones?"''

You grin happily.

Speaking sweetly to you, Leafiara says, "Well, first I'm very proud to say I'm a master cobbler. There's nothing like being able to make the perfect shoes for your friends for a big wedding, shopping at a festival and matching the theme, or even a casual night in town."

Leafiara quickly adds, "Oh, but I don't make high-heeled shoes and I never will. That's my rule!"

Leafiara airily continues, "Anyway..."

You nod sagely.

You say, "A good rule."

Leafiara airily continues, "I'm also learning now how to make a forging hammer. I'm very talented at it already--I know almost everything there is to know other than maybe a dozen little nuances, but I'll definitely make a flawless hammer for myself. And after I do, I'll put it to use and supply my home with weapons to defend itself."

Leafiara greedily adds, "For the right price, of course."

Leafiara grins impishly.

You grin impishly.

You agree with Leafiara.

You say, "Forging is a time-consuming, but profitable, hobby."

Leafiara nods approvingly to you.

Leafiara amicably agrees, "It really is."

Leafiara ruefully says, "And a sweaty one."

You grin at Leafiara.

Leafiara starts chortling.

'''You ask, "What would you say is your most prized possession?"'''

You grin at Leafiara.

Leafiara grins slowly.

Leafiara sighs contentedly.

Leafiara fondly says, "Mmm, well, it's a bit private, but..."

Leafiara carefully opens her case and flips open the lid, taking care not to jostle the contents.

Leafiara removes a piece of ivory parchment from in her instrument case.

Leafiara sighs at a piece of ivory parchment.

Leafiara warmly says, "This little piece of paper--this letter from a dear friend."

''You say, "Oh? Can you tell us a bit more? I understand if it's a bit too private for that, of course."''

You nod understandingly.

Leafiara wistfully says, "Yes, I can't tell you exactly what it says because that's between the two of us, but it's... It's such a seemingly small thing, only eleven words in the sylvan language--and two of those are our names!--but..."

Leafiara shakes her head.

Leafiara warmly concludes, "There are no eleven words I would rather have read."

You grin slowly.

Leafiara adds, "Everyone should write for their friends. It's a good, small thing."

Leafiara flashes a wide grin.

Leafiara put a piece of ivory parchment in her instrument case.

Slowly, Leafiara reaches for the lid of her case and closes it. She latches it with deft hands.

'''You ask, "What would you say is your most valuable item, silvers-wise?"'''

Leafiara ponders.

Leafiara guesses, "It might be my trusty shield here... maybe."

Leafiara acknowledges, "I don't keep track of valuable items that well."

Leafiara starts chortling.

In one brisk move, Leafiara slides a veniom-bound rolaren tower shield off her shoulder.

Leafiara carefully buffs the surface of her rolaren tower shield.

Leafiara nods approvingly.

''You ask, "Can you tell us about it?"''

Speaking affably to you, Leafiara says, "Sure, sure. It's been eight times enchanted and, from the looks of it, you'd think it's a tower shield..."

Leafiara shows you a veniom-bound rolaren tower shield, which she is holding in her left hand. You see nothing unusual, except a small enchanter's glyph.

Speaking proudly to you, Leafiara explains, "But whichever blacksmiths made it must have done something special with the inside, because it's light enough to maneuver exactly like a medium-sized shield."

You blink.

You exclaim, "That's impressive!"

Leafiara cheerfully reports, "It serves me very well, and I sure need it since I'm always taking those offensive fronts I mentioned."

Leafiara snickers.

You agree with Leafiara.

'''You ask, "If you had to choose one other adventurer who has had the largest impact on your life, who would you choose and why?"'''

Leafiara thoughtfully taps a finger against her lips.

Leafiara stares into space, appearing to ponder multiple possibilities and potential nuances.

Leafiara slides a veniom-bound rolaren tower shield over her shoulder and it settles into place.

Speaking idly to herself, Leafiara muses, "Only one, hmm..."

Leafiara gazes heavenward.

Leafiara amusedly says, "It's like trying to pick between children! Or so I hear... don't have any of those."

Leafiara lets out a long, contemplative breath.

You grin impishly.

You offer, "Well, it's not the one you like the most... just... the most influential."

Leafiara nods faintly to you.

Leafiara slowly says, "Right, that's what was worrying me. I hope nobody will be hurt to hear this answer, since I love so many people so dearly, but--"

Leafiara acknowledges, "I'd have to say my friend Crux, the current mayor of the Landing."

You flash a wide grin.

''You ask, "How would you say he's influenced you?"''

Leafiara warmly explains, "He's quite the inspiration! Seeing how quickly he works to rescue drove me to work even harder than ever. Tasting his bread worked wonders and made me study up on how to make bread just as good."

You nod understandingly.

Speaking to you, Leafiara adds, "And, you know, somehow I almost forgot about this..."

Leafiara gazes in wonder at her surroundings.

Speaking to you, Leafiara explains, "In the Landing I've become known for 'delivering' corpses to the square, dragging them right there back to TSC with an announcement..."

Speaking embarrassedly to you, Leafiara says, "It turns out that's been Crux's thing--and only his--for years. He was just so prolific and rescued so many people that I had come to believe it was a tradition of the whole town, like 'bring out your dead.'."

Leafiara gazes heavenward.

You burst out in a sudden snort of laughter.

Your cheeks darken with a deep carmine shade.

You mutter something inaudible.

Speaking to you, Leafiara admits, "So I kinda accidentally stole his fame!"

Speaking to Leafiara, you ask, "I'm sure he understood, though?"

Speaking warmly to you, Leafiara says, "But it's alright, or at least I think it is. We're very close friends."

Leafiara nods to you.

You grin.

You nod appreciatively.

'''You say, "What would you say your most memorable moment from your time in Elanthia is? Not an overall experience... just a singular moment that is burned into your memories."'''

Leafiara surprisedly exclaims, "Oh, that's a tough one!"

Leafiara ponders.

Leafiara thoughtfully taps a finger against her lips.

Leafiara stares into space, appearing to ponder multiple possibilities and potential nuances.

Leafiara thoughtfully says, "Mmm, this might not be the most memorable, but it does come to mind very quickly... when the Scions of Shaundara recognized my hard work in finding a cure for the black blood curse affecting my fellow half-elves and me, and named me as one of their trusted contacts."

You blink.

Leafiara thoughtfully explains, "It was like..."

Leafiara rubs her chin thoughtfully.

You exclaim, "That's certainly a memorable occasion!"

Leafiara nods to you.

Leafiara explains, "You stay in the Landing and any given day or night you can pass by these incredible heroes like Sir Cryheart or Roblar, and--and they're true inspirations. And aspirations!"

Leafiara acknowledges, "And I'm not there yet. Not even close."

Leafiara blithely says, "But that acknowledgment from the Scions... was a sign I'm on my way. On the path I've wanted to be on since I was a little girl."

Leafiara sighs blithely, her countenance full of hope.

You nod understandingly.

Leafiara proudly says, "A first step."

Leafiara flashes a wide grin.

'''You ask, "What would you say is your path? How would you describe your motivations, and, to use your word, aspirations?"'''

Leafiara wistfully says, "Maybe I was in too many plays when I was young, but... I'm a romantic. I believe in heroes--and I want to be one. I played one on a small theater stage, many times, but I'd like to be on the stage of our whole world."

You grin slowly.

Leafiara sincerely says, "And like I said before, a resurrection can leave a big mark when you're seven years old--and so can the reassuring smile that comes with it."

You carefully say, "Some would say you're already there, just for the record."

Leafiara determinedly explains, "That's what I want to be too. A smiling face of salvation."

Leafiara looks thoughtfully at you.

Speaking to you, Leafiara acknowledges, "I know... I know they would..."

Leafiara firmly says, "But I can always push myself even further. And I will."

Leafiara flashes a quick grin.

Speaking to Leafiara, you say, "I do my best to tend to those unfortunate to lose their lives up here. I hear them talk."

You grin at Leafiara.

'''You ask, "What would you say was your most embarrassing moment from your time adventuring?"'''

Leafiara stares at you.

You hum a random, wandering tune.

Speaking to Leafiara, you exclaim, "I have to ask it! It's on the paper!"

You try hard not to grin.

Leafiara seriously exclaims, "I'm glad to report that absolutely nothing embarrassing has ever happened to me since I started adventuring, and anyone who says otherwise is a liar. Especially if they say it happened at Jhenni's and Khylynnia's wedding reception!"

Leafiara nods firmly.

You nod slowly.

''You ask, "What might these liars say, so I can watch out for it?"''

Leafiara gazes heavenward.

Leafiara cautiously acknowledges, "Well, you see, they say that while dancing with Jhenni I tripped... and I was trying to balance myself and I stepped on my gown... and while steadying I stumbled and tore it clean off..."

Leafiara quickly adds, "That's what they say!"

You blink.

Leafiara quickly states, "But it's absolutely and definitely a lie!"

You slowly say, "I see..."

You nod slowly.

Leafiara quickly explains, "Because only clumsy girls who wear heels trip over themselves, and I made the shoes for that wedding and I don't make heels and so I couldn't possibly have tripped."

Leafiara nods sagely.

Leafiara nods sagely.

Leafiara nods sagely.

Leafiara flashes a wide grin.

You say, "That's a very good policy, to be sure."

Leafiara brightly asks, "Right?"

Leafiara nods to you.

You try hard not to grin.

You say, "Well, I'll certainly look out for that lie and quash it when I can."

'''You ask, "Where do you typically hunt these days?"'''

Leafiara thoughtfully taps a finger against her lips.

Leafiara casually replies, "Oh, these days I typically stick to bandit patrols. I don't like making myself unavailable for rescues more than I already have--"

Leafiara offhandedly explains, "--you know, with my work in the forges that I talked about."

Leafiara nods.

You nod understandingly.

'''You ask, "What was the most enjoyable time of your journey as an adventurer?"'''

Leafiara sighs blithely, her countenance full of hope.

Leafiara wistfully says, "Oh, without a doubt it was my time hunting the shadow mares, shadow steeds, and night mares in Shadow Valley near Wehnimer's Landing."

You give a short little hum of surprise.

''You ask, "What made that so enjoyable for you?"''

Leafiara carefully clarifies, "Well... 'near' in a sense... it's difficult to say where exactly that valley is located..."

Leafiara starts chortling.

You agree with Leafiara.

Leafiara excitedly explains, "It was the first area where I needed a wide variety of my skills. At least five spells were very useful at culling the swarms, slowing 'em down, or simply protecting me. And the blade I used at the time--oh, my blade was just the greatest for splitting night mares' skulls."

Leafiara grins mischievously.

You grin from ear to ear.

Leafiara excitedly continues, "And several of the Order's symbols were helpful for weakening the undead or strengthening me. And my ability in combat with multiple opponents helped out in such a lively--such an unlively?--area."

Leafiara enthuses, "Even my talents at skinning were valuable!"

Leafiara cheerfully opines, "That's the kind of place I love. I really enjoy hunting anywhere that I get to think on my feet and take many different approaches instead of relying on just one or two spells. It makes me feel like my hard work paid off."

You grin at Leafiara.

'''You ask, "As you look back on your journey as an adventurer, is there a moment that sticks out to you as a pivotal one? A point at which your focus or path shifted significantly?"'''

Leafiara ponders.

Leafiara wistfully says, "The first time I went hunting with my friend Severine, her uncle Mischung, and our mutual friend Deva."

Leafiara embarrassedly admits, "I, um--you probably would never think this today, but I was very quiet when I first became an adventurer."

You try hard not to grin.

Speaking to Leafiara, you say, "I'll take your word for it."

Leafiara explains, "It was because I first started adventuring in Ta'Vaalor. The elves were so cold to me and I withdrew into a shell..."

Leafiara shudders.

You furrow up your face and wince.

Leafiara raises her fist in the general direction of Ta'Vaalor.

You say, "They can definitely be rather... off-putting."

Leafiara nods gravely.

Leafiara sighs heavily.

Leafiara continues, "So I didn't make many friends at first when I came to the Landing."

You nod understandingly.

Leafiara continues, "And I also didn't offer my help to others very freely either."

Leafiara gazes heavenward.

Leafiara thoughtfully says, "Looking back on it, I'd say that hunt with Severine, Mischung, and Deva was when things changed for me. Because they wanted me along, they asked me to help, and--and they really appreciated my being there."

Speaking to Leafiara, you say, "That sort of support is invaluable."

Leafiara agreeably assures, "It's such a small thing, but it's so important to hunt with friends and even make new friends that way."

Leafiara ponders.

Leafiara clarifies, "Oh, and I call Severine and Mischung friends because I see them that way now, but at the time they weren't."

You ask, "How did you see them at the time?"

Leafiara admits, "I hardly knew them at all. I'd seen them around the square a couple times, but we never spoke or anything."

You nod understandingly.

You rub your chin thoughtfully.

Leafiara fondly says, "And yet there they were, inviting me along and making me feel like some kind of heroine."

Leafiara beams!

You grin at Leafiara.

Leafiara concludes, "That made me feel like I could make it--like I could achieve my dreams and become who I wanted to be."

Leafiara rubs her chin thoughtfully.

You say, "Well, for what it's worth, if they set you on the path and made a contribution to who you've become, then we're all grateful to them."

You grin at Leafiara.

Leafiara bemusedly adds, "Sev will probably kill me for saying this, but I'll say it anyway since I'm a cleric and can just ask Tilamaire to raise me..."

Leafiara snickers.

You try hard not to grin.

Leafiara takes a deep breath.

Leafiara warmly says, "She's told me before that I was a heroine to her, when she was a much less experienced adventurer in those days..."

Leafiara shakes her head.

Leafiara truthfully acknowledges, "But, really... it's because of that very thing she was a heroine first to me. I couldn't be who I am now if not for the way she looked up to me."

You smile at Leafiara.

You nod understandingly.

Leafiara flashes a wide grin.

Leafiara nods to you.

You say, "Two final questions, and these get asked of everyone."

You hum a random, wandering tune.

Leafiara nods understandingly to you.

Leafiara tilts her head toward you, examining you intently as the tip of one ear twitches briefly.

You say, "And by all means feel free to decline if you'd prefer."

Leafiara hesitantly says, "Okay..."

Leafiara cocks her head at you.

'''You ask, "Would you be willing to give the readers an approximation of the amount of coins you currently have in the bank?"'''

Leafiara airily acknowledges, "Oh, somewhere in the realm of 110 million silvers."

Leafiara relievedly says, "All that buildup to something scary and it was just that."

Leafiara giggles.

You grin.

You say, "Well, some are more... guarded about things like that."

You shrug at Leafiara.

'''You ask, "And finally, would you be willing to share the contents of a locker with us? Just a listing of the items in it?"'''

Speaking amicably to you, Leafiara says, "I sure would."

You grin happily.

Leafiara thoughtfully exclaims, "Since we're in Icemule, I suppose my locker here will do!"

You adopt an agreeable expression.

On an armor stand:
a thick spiked ora greathelm
a golden leather breastplate

On a weapon rack:
an emerald-imbedded faenor cresset sword
a dull kakore runestaff
a twisted glowbark runestaff capped with a great horned owl saewehna
an elegant gold-hilted eonake dagger
a vultite crescent dagger with a moonstone-set pommel
a white ora handaxe
a white ora falchion
some violet-hued darts
a white-runed twisted steel falchion
a silver-runed eonake waraxe
an onyx-handled vaalorn naginata

In a magical item bin:
a layered black silk half-cape with a trio of small buttons

In a clothing wardrobe:
some stylish star sapphire-studded silvery sandals
a pair of textured organza open-toed slippers inset with tiny pearls
a gut-stitched hide instrument case with a crude bone toggle
a snow white watered silk dress
a multi-folded dingy linen blindfold
a multi-folded dingy linen blindfold
a triangular turquoise silk hip-scarf edged with bronze bells
a conical multi-colored hat topped with a springy tuft of yarn
some goldenrod crystal-beaded sandals
a shimmery goldenrod satin gown
some knit candy cane-striped socks
some knit candy cane-striped socks
a pair of slim fern-edged sandals set with whorls of wyrm's-eye garnet chips
a pair of discolored iron manacles
a pair of discolored iron manacles
some lacquered leather gauntlets with gold filigree joints
a pair of arm-length glistening silver lace gloves
a leather crafter's apron
a ruby red satin bodice
a pair of soft knee-high socks
a snow white bandana
a pure white ribbon
a golden-tinged mauve rose
a pair of leaf embroidered mittens
some fingerless gloves emblazoned with a polished crimson harp masterfully carved with a singing woman on the pillar design
a small campaign button etched with a fiery meteor crushing a krolvin and the words, "Hapenlok for Mayor!"
a vertebra bone button that reads, "Team Crux: Wrought from Sin, Born to Win!"
a white leaf-shaped pin with red lettering that reads, "Vote Leafi: She Delivers!"
a white leaf-shaped pin with red lettering that reads, "Vote Leafi: She Delivers!"

In a deep chest:
a soft ivory wool scarf pinned with a silver snowflake
a thin iron-encased vial
an opalescent glass jar containing glowing violet essence dust (5/20)
an opalescent glass jar containing glowing violet motes of essence (16/20)
a woven palm frond back-basket dangling tiny shell-beaded strings
a pair of small steel jaws
a pair of small steel jaws
a pair of small steel jaws
a slender steel needle
a silver-caged turkey wishbone lavaliere
an opalescent glass jar containing essences of air (20/20)
a glimmering heather blue bottle
a glimmering seawater blue bottle
an opalescent glass jar containing pristine nymph's hairs (18/20)
some engraved blood marble prayerbeads
a blood-stained vellum page
a hastily-scrawled paper scrap
a small piece of blood marble
a heavy imflass slab
a heavy mithril slab
a heavy iron slab
a heavy mithril slab
a heavy iron slab
a heavy iron slab
a grimy pine crate
some engraved blood marble prayerbeads
a thin iron-encased vial
a heavy imflass slab
an opalescent red glass jar
an opalescent white glass jar
some powdered yellow diamond
some powdered blue diamond
some powdered star-of-Tamzyrr diamond
an elementally balanced core
a silver-backed incarnadine ruby periapt
a carved black willow jewelry box inlaid with aspen leaves
a leaf-etched slender faenor ring traced with copper
a round green faenor tin
a rectangular matte black invar tin with an eostone toadstool latch
a short ovoid glass jar containing s'ayanad crystals (23/50)
some sturdy night hound leather
some sturdy night hound leather
some sturdy night hound leather
a tanned night hound hide
a tanned night hound hide
a tanned night hound hide
a perfectly spherical glass jar containing n'ayanad crystals (32/50)
a slender multicolored bottle containing t'ayanad crystals (41/50)
a bolt of silk
a bolt of silk
a bolt of silk
a bolt of silk
an opalescent glass jar containing ayanad crystals (20/20)
an octagonal sanguine glass jar containing ayanad crystals (20/20)
a tanned night hound hide
a tanned night hound hide
some sturdy night hound leather

You exclaim, "Thank you very much for that!"

'''You ask, "That brings us to the end of my questions... was there anything you'd like to discuss on the record, as it were?"'''

Speaking curiously to you, Leafiara asks, "Hmm, I suppose it depends... I know the hour is late, but will you ever do followup interviews?"

Leafiara cocks her head at you.

You say, "I'm quite certain we'll circle back to some of the interviewees."

Leafiara nods understandingly to you.

Leafiara flashes a wide grin at you.

Leafiara pleasantly exclaims, "Excellent, I'd love to do another one!"

You say, "For now we're trying to keep to a format, but we'll let the readers tell us what more they might want to know."

Leafiara adds, "But let me think if there's anything I feel has to get out now..."

Leafiara rubs her chin thoughtfully.

Leafiara simply says, "There is one thing, circling back to the beginning of the interview..."

You nod at Leafiara.

Leafiara thoughtfully remarks, "When it comes to being fresh from the turnip farm, whether you're a cleric or anything else, you might say the heavens favor a rookie... it's very easy to refocus your mind and try new things."

Leafiara amicably suggests, "So do just that: try everything and see what you like. New spells, new weapons, new strategies. Find what you like to do."

You agree with Leafiara.

You say, "OK, I believe, after consulting my notes, that I've covered all the questions we agreed to... plus a few I added in there."

You duck your head.

Leafiara starts chortling.

Speaking approvingly to you, Leafiara says, "I'm sure the readers will appreciate that."

Leafiara nods once.

You say, "Our intent is to get these written up and published in the TownCrier, and as you’ve seen, we’re releasing one per week."

Leafiara nods understandingly to you.

You say, "I thank you very much for your time this evening. You were a delightful interviewee, and I very much appreciate your patience as I fumbled with my notes."

Leafiara starts chortling.

Leafiara beams happily at you!

Speaking understandingly to you, Leafiara exclaims, "It happens to the very best of us!"

Speaking quietly to Leafiara, you say, "Kind of you to say."

Speaking to you, Leafiara praises, "You do excellent work, like I knew from the beginning."

Leafiara nods emphatically!

You say, "Still! I have a ton of great information here, and I will get to work transcribing it soon. We'll of course keep you in the loop, and you'll be able to see it before it goes to print."

Leafiara amicably says, "Excellent, then! Do let me know if you need anything more from me."

You exclaim, "I will, and thank you once again!"

Leafiara mimes raising a glass and gives a toast to your health.

Leafiara winks.

You mime raising a glass and give a toast to Leafiara's health.

You say, "Have a wonderful evening."

Leafiara agrees, "You too!"

You bow to Leafiara.

You grin at Leafiara.

Leafiara bobs a quick curtsy to you.

Leafiara waves.

You wave.

Leafiara takes ahold of her red silk skirt and turns gracefully, causing the bells on it to chime in time to her movement.

Leafiara nods sagely.

Maiden Leafiara just went out.
</pre>
----

{| class="wikitable" style="background-color:#fff6c1;" cellpadding="25" cellspacing="25"
|-
| "I don't want to be the very best. I want to be like no one ever was." ~ Leafiara Autumwind
|}

==The Out-of-Character Interview==
'''How long have you played Gemstone? Have you taken any breaks, or played straight through?'''

:I've actively played probably three or four years, with a big gap of almost twenty between 2016 and somewhere around 1998.

'''How many different ‘main’ characters have you had over the years?'''

:Four, but my first three were all basically the same--I kept losing characters as a kid by decaying without deeds, then remaking them with one or two letters changed in their names, the family fame being the only proof that the previous characters ever existed. Good times!

'''Who are/were your most notable characters?'''

:Leafiara is the most known one without a doubt. Sometimes I'm still shocked that as many people know her as they do considering how relatively recent a character she is.

'''Do you have multiple accounts that you play at the same time?'''

:Sure do!

'''Do you have a Premium subscription?'''

:Sure do!

'''What front-end do you use? (Stormfront, Wizard, Profanity, other)? Why?'''

:Stormfront. There's no specific reason; I just never tried the Wizard FE and this one works, so why not?

'''Do you use lich? Why or why not? If so, what are your ‘must-have’ scripts?'''

:Sure do! I've never script hunted and never will (except maybe Duskruin arena, but even then I haven't done it yet), since I enjoy hunting, but a lot of other things in this game like alchemy, mastering cobbling, foraging, mastering forging, and even travel itself kind of screamed to me to run scripts. ;narost is amazing for travel, as well, and I also have a bazillion macros set up with the alias feature of Lich--everything from rummaging for a gem jar in my locker to making chrisms to looking in a container.

:This is by no means a list of every script I use, but some must-haves are:
::* sloot
::* voodoo
::* uberbar
::* dreavening
::* waggle
::* spellmerge
::* betazzherb
::* uberbounty
::* heal
::* roomcreature
::* title
::* child2
::* step2
::* rnum
::* pulsetimer
::* treim
::* spellactive
::* alchemy
::* forgemaster
::* cobble
::* roomorder
::* inspectweight
::* 10deeds
::* arenawatch
::* burst-calc
::* shield-size
::* volnstep
::* a certain other Voln script I won't name!
::* Anything that automates events like digging, Delirium Manor, and Duskruin sewers.

'''Have you ever bought or sold characters or items for real money?'''

:Definitely not characters. As for items... Not directly, but I'll say yes. There's a thin line between spending money on items and spending money on Simucoins that turn into Duskruin passes that turn into bloodscrip that turns into items.

'''Do you now, or have you ever roleplayed a character that was very different from your real personality? Why or why not?'''

:Every character I play is very different from me, though they all at least have parts of me. And who's even to say whether I'm the real personality or one of them is? There's a great quotation from F. Scott Fitzgerald: "Writers aren't people exactly. Or, if they're any good, they're a whole lot of people trying so hard to be one person." Playing Gemstone isn't perfectly like writing a story, of course, but it shares some of the same elements even if you're only lightly into roleplaying.

:Of all my characters Leafiara might actually be the one who has the least in common with me--she's outgoing, fearless, mischievous, confident, dedicated, energetic, cheerful, extroverted, and probably a lot of other things that I'm definitely not.

:But that's the beauty of it, right? I play to be things I can't or won't be in the real world. Even if it's halfway pretend, in a sense I have a different life here.

'''What would you say is your most memorable Gemstone ‘moment’ (as a player), and why?'''

:There's a tricky one.

:Maybe getting my first Lady title, since none of my characters as a kid ever made it to level 20. The catharsis was like stretching back through time, meeting my younger self again, and saying we finally did it.

:Maybe helping my best friend master Voln--among many other things I've helped her with, but that was the biggest. She's the same profession and race that my characters were in the 90s, so I kinda live vicariously through her.

:Maybe Leafi being captured for a solo story scene during a time when I thought she was still a nobody and that she and I were failing to make any impression or impact in the storyline.

:Maybe attending my first wedding in-game and everything surrounding it:
::-Running to Cysaegir because the wiki showed me they had nice, matching off-the-shelf clothes I could wear for the occasion.
::-Desperately moving clothing, accessories, and other piles of fluff to newly-rolled mules so I could dress up and not be that one guest looking awkward and wearing gigantic containers.
::-Not knowing enough about DS mechanics yet to be sure I'd survive running from Icemule to the Landing with no armor or shield.
::-The lovely event itself with Brokkrsten officiating for Spontae and Kahlanni.
::-The reception when Brokk showed Leafi all the special dance verbs I had no idea existed.
::-A little bit of embarrassment in TSC afterward when Leafi hadn't changed back into her adventuring clothes yet and Severine told her she looked lovely.

:Maybe attending my second wedding, which coincidentally was Brokk's and Riixae's and coincidentally was Severine's first time attending, and showing *her* all the dance moves at the reception.

:Maybe being a bridesmaid. We even had a huge spa day before that one and Leafi discovered a softer side of herself that neither of us knew existed, as she loved being pampered and fell into a kind of blissful, quiet calm that's so unlike her normal self.

:Maybe being a maid of honor. Leafi even made shoes for that occasion, the payoff of seemingly endless hours becoming a master cobbler.

:Maybe my first GALD session. I didn't use Lnet yet and didn't know about the calendar, so I didn't know there was a merchant, but Ososis told me about the merchant and walked me over, Gingie paid for me, and while we waited Areigha joked about it being my first time.

:I kept fretting over how I would know when I was picked, but when the merchant turned to me, I thought "Oh, of course... she types '*turn* Leafiara' when it's Leafiara's *turn*! Brilliant!" (Yes, these are the silly thoughts I have.)

:Maybe Leafi being affected by the black blood curse while Jellybeard was doing merchant work. Because of the timing, I thought it was a weird, unwanted tattoo and ran off to the pavilion to get it removed, then came back and Leafi got cursed worse than she was the first time, which was awesomely hilarious.

:Maybe using a travel token from Ta'Vaalor to the Landing without knowing any better. That was one of the very first things I did when I came back, because the Ta'Vaalor NPCs hate half-sylvans and she couldn't possibly stay.
:It took about 90 minutes of mostly staring at the words "Whistler's Pass" and "Locksmehr" and thinking it would never end, but there was such a rush of memories and warm feelings when I finally, finally saw "Upper Trollfang," "Lower Dragonsclaw," and at last "Wehnimer's."

:Maybe the moment when it dawned on me that after I had come back to Gemstone out of a nostalgia kick, wanting nothing more than to slay some giant rats and greater kappas, never intending to roleplay--because I never had as a kid--there I was some months later and I was now staying mainly for the interactions with the crazy mass of adventurers passing through.

:Maybe writing a song about the Landing to the tune of 'For the First Time in Forever' and performing it in front of a couple friends in TSC in the early morning hours.

:I guess I'll just admit I have no idea what my most memorable moment is. Maybe that's the best part, though. Not a month passes without several amazing memories, so I don't need to get caught up in any single best moment. There are always more to come!

'''What, in your mind, is the best thing about Gemstone?'''

:I accidentally answered this one in the last question! There are always more great memories to come and the reason why is that in Gemstone you just never know what to expect--it's an expansive world and, better yet, a game so largely driven by its players.

'''Imagine you're Wyrom for a day and can 'do' one thing. What are you changing/removing/adding/replacing, and why?'''

:I'm pretty sure not much can be *implemented* in one day unless I give a not-very-interesting answer like "307's self-cast-only bonus now applies to melee AS and ranged AS too" (and maybe even that's too much for one day).

:So here's a juicier answer! I'd draw up the basic concept of a new character customization system and set people to get working on it. Before I give the what, I'll give the why: my goal would be better harmony of gameplay elements and RP elements.

:The intersection of gameplay and RP is something I'm always fascinated by. Since I didn't intend to RP when I started, I didn't give all that much thought to Leafiara's character before I created her and it wound up that many aspects of her character came about based on the way I was training and playing.

:For example, because she was 1x Survival, she took foraging jobs for people, which led to someone commenting offhand that she must be related to a ranger. I replied that her dad is a ranger, which I had no idea was true before saying it that very moment, and ever since then I've run with it.

:That's how I developed Leafi, letting skills and playstyle influence who she became as a character, but I'd want a system that also allows the opposite:

:If you know who your character is, then you can tangibly establish that somewhere in the game--define personality traits, lineage, character history, and so on--and those characteristics would have an impact on the character's abilities. (I vaguely imagine a system of Character Trait points set up like Combat Maneuver points, with the ability to get more pronounced effects the higher your amount of experience, but exact details could be left up to GMs.)

:Perhaps a character who grew up in the mountains gets a bonus to climbing, but a character who grew up in the forest gets a bonus to foraging. A character who's naturally suspicious has increased Perception, but a trusting character gets a boost to his Side by Side bonus. The daughter of a rogue and ranger is better at hiding and ambushing, but the descendant of a long lineage of warriors and empaths is more physically fit.

:There might even be tradeoffs in some cases for balance's sake. Maybe Leafiara takes 5 ranks of "Reckless Personality," which increases her AS but decreases her DS. Maybe she takes 3 ranks of "Brimming With Energy," which increases her stamina stat and spirit recovery at the expense of a decrease to CS and TD.

:To some extent we can already train our characters to reflect who they are, of course, but given enough time and training points these differences break down, so our gameplay experience right now is defined almost exclusively by profession and society--and maybe race if you're one of the small races or a giant.

:And yet Gemstone is gameplay *and* roleplay. Every time I come back for another Elanthian adventure, I believe I'm much more than just a Voln cleric. I believe I'm much more, even, than just a capped half-sylvan Voln cleric of Tilamaire.

:To borrow a line from Ordim, I'm a Leafiara--and to borrow a line from Tigger, the most wonderful thing about Leafiaras is I'm the only one.

:So I want a system where everybody can be even more fully and even more expressively "the only one." I want a system where we can reflect a greater number of our character facets in gameplay just as we do in roleplay. Maybe in the end it would somehow benefit min-maxers most, or maybe it would hardly benefit them at all, but in either case I wouldn't mind. I'm after individuality, not buffs.

:I don't want to be the very best.
:I want to be like no one ever was.

'''What do you feel is the biggest mistake that most GS players make? Why?'''

:I don't know about *most* GS players, but when other clerics--and sometimes even empaths--PM me asking for training advice, I do pretty often get the impression they don't understand opportunity costs in their training plans.

:Mostly I see this when people are so bent on making their characters efficient at hunting that they unintentionally become inefficient at leveling or making silvers. A cleric will put 128 PTPs toward 1 CS, but has 0 ranks of First Aid at level 65--a skill they could have 42 ranks in by sacrificing that 1 CS--and they'll ask me how other people their level have so much more money than they do. Or an empath will have 0 Survival at level 47 and miss out on free exp from foraging bounties.

:This isn't limited to secondary skills like Survival or Trading, either. Comparing combat skill to combat skill, maybe a warmage can hold off training Combat Maneuvers for those next ten levels, sacrificing 5 AS to afford enough Air lore for another second of RT reduction from Celerity. If a rogue isn't regularly uphunting, maybe 1.5x Two Weapon Combat is good enough and he can bump up Physical Fitness because everything in his level range casts Earthen Fury.

:When these are intentional tradeoffs, that's great--after all, every last character I make is a mutant. I understand sacrificing efficiency to fit a vision of the character or to play the way you enjoy, whether that efficiency is in hunting, making money, leveling, traveling, or anything else. But when people don't realize what they're giving up, that's when training plans can become mistakes instead of choices.

'''What’s something that you feel every GS player should do at least once? Why?'''

:Go to the peak of Melgorehn's Reach and go back down the hard way. We all get caught up in the speed of ;go2 and other scripts, myself included, but it's good to do at least one thing that's a royal pain to get some feeling for what our characters go through. It's also one of the most interesting areas GS has to offer.

'''What advice would you offer to a new player?'''

:Be true to your character, even if you don't know who your character is at first. Maybe *especially* if you don't know who your character is at first. I sure didn't.

:And speaking of not knowing: if you can't figure out what profession to play or what you'd enjoy, I recommend a ranger or empath. Then no matter what you're like, you'll be fine playing a profession that can do everything well even starting pretty early in their leveling careers.

TownCrier Interview Sessions with Roblar

2017-08-12T22:42:58Z

CANNEL:

{{characterprofile
|name= Roblar Coronia
|caption= Commander Roblar Coronia the Warmaster of [[Highguard Keep]]
|race= [[Giantman]]
|profession= [[Warrior]]
|affiliations= Commander of [[Helden Hall]]
|relatives=
}}
{{TOCright}}
By Oubar, [[TownCrier]] Corrrespondent 
12 Phoenatos 5117 // August 12, 2017 - in Icemule Trace 
==Introduction==
Roblar Coronia is a name known far and wide as one of the strongest fighters in the land. In any instance where something needs to be hit VERY hard, he's the one for the job. His axe is his hallmark, and stories of his domination in the fighting pit of Helden Hall are whispered across the land. Recently this fierce warrior made time to sit down with the TownCrier for an in-depth interview. As expected, he was a daunting presence indeed, though he remained open and friendly throughout the process. The ale may have helped.
==The In-Character Interview==
<pre{{log2|background=none|border=none}}>
>go table
You head over to the Burnt Tart Table.
[Burnt Tart Table]
A slightly foul scent fills the air over this table, as if Master Tartlicker left a tart baking a bit too long. The top of the table is seared with a burn mark from something rather small and terribly hot.

You see Roblar waving at your table, clearly hoping that you will invite him to sit with you.
Commander Roblar arrives at your table.

>exa Roblar
You see Commander Roblar Coronia the Warmaster of Highguard Keep.
He appears to be a Giantman of the T'Kirem Clan.
He is imposing in size and has a muscular physique. He appears to be in the prime of life. He has intense bluish grey eyes and dusky golden skin. He has shoulder length, thick dark brown hair with grey at the temples. He has a seasoned square-jawed face and some broad shoulders. He carries an air of confidence, warm and without guile, though his eyes seem to hint at a roiling temperament beneath his exterior countenance.
He is in good shape.
He is wearing a thick blackened warhelm, an ur-barath inlaid rolaren torc, a large mithril key hanging from a thick silver chain, a suit of black rolaren plate armor, a dark blue balenite-bound pin, a small bone periapt, a grizzly bear hide greatcloak with an ivory-fanged hood, some golvern-chased vambraces, some thick golvern-banded gauntlets, an enruned dark veil iron ring, a carved thin blue gem band, a hefty veniom-bound bear hide axe scabbard secured with silver buckles, a claw-grasped golvern shield slung over his shoulder, a glaes-encased rough leather belt, a gilded minotaur warhorn, a barbed iron boar hide sack, a shuttered silver lantern charm, a rugged dark leather sack, and a pair of golvern-plated boots.

Roblar deeply says, "Allos."

Roblar smiles.

You bow to Roblar.

You exclaim, "Good evening!"

You rub your chin thoughtfully.

Roblar pulls out a chair and tiredly allows gravity to seat him.

You remove a banded thanot keg of Oiran winter ale from in your harness.
You place your thanot keg on the floor and pull out a small locking pin on the tap.

Roblar chuckles.

You pour yourself a mug of amber Oiran winter ale.

Roblar pours himself a mug of amber Oiran winter ale.

You raise your Oiran winter ale in a toast!

Roblar raises his Oiran winter ale in a toast!

You exclaim, "Good evening, and thank you so much for agreeing to be interviewed for the Crier!"

You grin impishly.

Roblar nods to you.

Roblar takes a drink from his Oiran winter ale.

You take a drink from your Oiran winter ale.

You say, "As we discussed beforehand, I've got some questions that I'd like to pose. We'll be recording the interview, and once it is all finalized, it will be published by the Crier for all to see."

You pull out a chair and seat yourself at the table.

Roblar chuckles to himself.

Roblar deeply says, "Aye."

Roblar nods slowly to you.

Roblar tenses up, beads of sweat glistening on his brow.

You say, "I generally start with a bit of background, for those precious few who might not be aware of you."

You ask, "What is your profession, for those who might not already be aware?"

Roblar deeply says, "Am a warrior."

You adopt an agreeable expression.

You ask, "What would you say is the best thing about your profession? If you were attempting to convince someone still on the turnip truck to lean towards your profession, what would you tell them?"

Roblar deeply says, "Combat."

Roblar grins at you.

You try hard not to grin.

You adopt an agreeable expression.

You say, "It's certainly true that warriors tend to have that particular aspect well covered."

You ask, "What would you say is the area in which warriors are weakest?"

Roblar deeply says, "In general, defending aginst spells."

Roblar takes a drink from his Oiran winter ale.

You adopt an agreeable expression.

You say, "But with enough training, doesn't most of that weakness go away? I've heard tell that you've managed to acquire some spell knowledge yourself."

Roblar nods in agreement to you.

Roblar deeply says, "Tiz possible wid alot of effort."

You ask, "Are spells still a concern for you personally?"

Roblar deeply says, "In which case, encumbrance and other types of spells."

Roblar grins at you.

Roblar deeply says, "Not usually, depends on da spell."

You nod understandingly.

Roblar deeply says, "A focused implosion still likely deadly."

Roblar nods to you.

You shudder.
You ask, "What town do you call home these days?"

Roblar deeply says, "Diz one, Icemule."

Roblar deeply adds, "Mostly."

You ask, "What is it that you like most about Icemule?"

Roblar deeply says, "Iz close to my some of my properties and to da Scatter."

Roblar deeply says, "Da tarts smell guud too."

You grin impishly.

Roblar takes a deep breath.

You say, "I can't argue with that."

Roblar smiles.

Roblar takes a drink from his Oiran winter ale.

You ask, "You said properties... do you own property near here?"

Roblar deeply says, "You likely passed [[Highguard Keep]] on da way north to dis lil town."

You nod understandingly.

You say, "I did indeed. Wasn't aware that it was yours, though."

You give a short little hum of surprise.

Roblar deeply says, "Also av a hunting cabin up da mountain and likely soon a small shop in town for extra supplies."

You say, "Very nice. I think we're all anxious for the town to open up shops again."

Roblar nods in agreement to you.

Roblar flashes a quick grin.

You ask, "I already know, but for the readers... what's your preferred hunting method and weapon?"

Roblar flashes a wide grin at you.

Roblar deeply says, "Swingin an axe or two."

Roblar removes an immense rolaren waraxe from in his bear hide axe scabbard.

Roblar shows you an immense rolaren waraxe, which he is holding in his left hand. The haft of this waraxe has been crafted of twin lengths of ironwood and ebonwood, the grey-on-black woods banded together by scored rings of golvern. In opposition, blackened rolaren rises from the ironwood and argent rolaren from the ebonwood, creating a contrast that is both stark and compelling. Along the massive blade, heavy Saramar runes have been etched across the carcass of a serpent enveloped in flame, the script flowing to a perfectly honed edge that radiates a subtle blue-white incandescence. There is a groove down the center of the weapon, bisecting it into two halves.
You also notice a small enchanter's glyph.

You nod appreciatively.

Roblar deeply says, "Usually two."

Roblar tips his head back and empties a mug of amber Oiran winter ale down his gullet!

Roblar holds his waraxe with both hands and, pressing a small button near his thumb, separates the weapon into two halves.

Roblar winks at you.

Roblar holds the two halves of his waraxe in each hand, carefully recombining the two halves of his weapon into one.

You say, "An amazing weapon, to be sure."

Roblar casually brushes the remnants of his last battle from his waraxe.

Roblar grunts.

Roblar adopts an agreeable expression.

Roblar put an immense rolaren waraxe in his bear hide axe scabbard.

You ask, "Do you have any other fighting methods that you employ these days?"

Roblar deeply says, "Am a master of all methods."

Roblar deeply says, "Sometimes may punch and kick an opponent for amusement."

You ask, "Where do you generally hunt, these days?"

Roblar deeply says, "Da Scatter."

Roblar deeply says, "Sometimes travel south into da Sea of Fire to kill Luukosians."

You nod understandingly.

You ask, "Do you belong to any of the Great Houses?"

Roblar deeply says, "Aye, am commander of Helden Hall."

You nod appreciatively.

You ask, "What do you like most about Helden Hall?"

Roblar deeply says, "It az an ole history and was formed by warriors of old, for most part."

You adopt an agreeable expression.

You say, "It's widely known as the House for warriors, to be sure."

Roblar deeply says, "Metaboculous was one of da early warriors me met in da lands."

Roblar deeply says, "And a founder."

You nod understandingly.

Roblar deeply says, "Also, da fighting pit iz a wonderous place ta trains."

Roblar winks and flashes a sly grin.

You grin.

Roblar balls his fists, causing his golvern-banded gauntlets to tighten around his hands.

You say, "The way I understand it, these days, you're generally regarded as the master of said pit."

You grin at Roblar.

Roblar deeply says, "Me does well."

Roblar grins.

You agree with Roblar.

You ask, "Aside from your axe, what would you say is your most prized possession?"

Roblar ponders.

Roblar points at his rolaren plate armor.

Roblar runs a hand across the front of his armor and a few wisps of vapor stream out behind his fingertips.

Roblar deeply says, "Ma armor."

You ask, "Can you tell us a bit about it?"

Roblar deeply says, "Wells.."

Roblar deeply says, "It iz highly enchanted aginst physical attacks and protects aginst magical attacks."

Roblar deeply says, "It iz resistant to acid, impacts, tings dat slash or pierce."

Roblar deeply says, "It iz fully ensorcelled."

Roblar deeply says, "And touched by strange Ithziri majiks."

Roblar shrugs.

Roblar shows you a suit of black rolaren plate armor, which he is wearing. Dark and dull as the cliffs of the Dragonspine on a bleak winter's day, the matte black finish of this masterfully crafted armor belies its exceptional quality. Favoring practically and function over glossy surfaces and polished sheen, the lack of any visible flaw stands as testimony to the vigilance paid to its care. Along every edge, Saramar runes have been traced in an unbroken line, clearly some sort of warding, and wisps of vapor occasionally escape from between the many layers of rolaren plates. You also notice a small enchanter's glyph.

Roblar deeply says, "Protects me well."

You say, "That's VERY impressive. Seems like the ideal armor."

Roblar drums his fingers on the surface of his armor, and small wisps of vapor puff out after each impact.

Roblar deeply says, "Had it made for da Scatter."

Roblar deeply says, "Da Ithzir majiks heals me too."

You say, "And I imagine it does quite well there."

Roblar stretches his shoulders, settling his armor into a more comfortable position.

You ask, "If pressed, what other adventurer would you say had the most impact on you as you progressed through your skills?"

Roblar deeply asks, "A single adventurer?"

Roblar grins.

Roblar deeply says, "Been a long time."

You hold up your hand and tilt it side to side in a so-so gesture.

You say, "First name that comes to mind, then. If there's more than one, that's understandable."

You grin at Roblar.

Roblar deeply says, "Well Kerl was one of my first guild skill teachers and helped me master war cries."

Roblar smiles at you.

You exclaim, "A worthy mentor, to be sure!"

Roblar deeply says, "And also liked axes."

You try hard not to grin.

Roblar deeply says, "Though he likes ta throw dem moar."

Roblar winks at you.

You say, "I believe I may have heard mention of that fact at some point."

You say, "A couple more, and then we'll wrap up."

Roblar nods to you.

You ask, "What would you say is your motivation? What is it that drives you currently?"

Roblar deeply says, "To become stronger, more powerful, and to learn more each day."

You nod understandingly.

You say, "A noble goal."

Roblar deeply says, "To crush my enemies, hear da lamentations of their…"

Roblar chuckles to himself.

Roblar deeply says, "Ok, well."

You chuckle to yourself.

You ask, "Looking back on your path, is there something that comes to mind that you wish you'd done differently?"

Roblar simply says, "No."

You nod.

Roblar flashes a quick grin at you.

Roblar deeply says, "Aye, dat didn’t pour myself another a lil earlier!"

Roblar pours himself a mug of amber Oiran winter ale.

Roblar nods with satisfaction.

Roblar leans back in his chair, balancing himself on two legs for a few moments, then sets the chair back down on all four legs.

Roblar takes a drink from his Oiran winter ale.
Roblar looks rather relaxed.

You exclaim, "By all means, help yourself!"

You grin.

You ask, "One last thing... would you be willing to give the readers a peek inside one of your lockers? No explanations or anything, just a glance?

Roblar deeply says, "Well carry most tings on me so only really av a locker for stuff dat reminds me days past."

Roblar grabs a thin-spined grey leather manifest from a weathered black leather pocket inside of his bear hide greatcloak.

Roblar opens the cover on his grey leather manifest.

In a deep chest:
a small decrepit dollhouse toy
a Lord Roblar portrait
a tissue-lined box covered in burnished copper foil
a small jagged shard of blood marble
a Mandis Crystal shard
a colorful Elanthian globe
a miniature pink marble kraken
a miniature stone manor
a tiny clay penguin chick
a carved Aeia statuette
a tiny brass spittoon
a small wooden tree
a reclining woman figurine
a tiny enameled serving maid
a steel-banded ironwood catapult (registered)
a steel-banded ironwood ballista (registered)
a dark wizard figure (registered)
a towering thick-walled fortress (registered)
a fel block
an ironwood block
a faewood block
a Silvergate Inn snowglobe
a gold-chased rolaren medallion on a green tartan ribbon
a silver-chased rolaren medallion on a red tartan ribbon
a silver-chased rolaren medallion on a red tartan ribbon
a silver-chased rolaren medallion on a red tartan ribbon
a silver-chased rolaren medallion on a red tartan ribbon
a bronze-chased rolaren medallion on a blue tartan ribbon
a silver-chased rolaren medallion on a red tartan ribbon
a clear glaes bubble
a gilt-edged clear glaes seashell
an ivory snowflake plaque
a piece of parchment
a silver party horn with multi-colored silk streamers
a luminescent silver-gold orb
a heavy ironwood key
a carved ur-barath totem
an obsidian chest
a large invar-bound chest
a small oak casket

In a clothing wardrobe:
a silver-inlaid cherrywood case
a slender Palestra Blade miniature
a Nalfein swordsman miniature
an armored human crusader miniature
a skeletal shadow knight miniature
an axe-wielding mayor miniature
an amber-eyed large giantman miniature
a ferocious troll commander miniature
a long-tailed war rat miniature
a giantman warlord miniature
a raging vathor miniature
a scruffy and muscled warrior miniature
a Madam Zannebah miniature
a small blood red spider
a black griffin
a bloodstained claidhmore pin choked with an inlay of thorny onyx vines
an eyeless skull pin
an opaline snowball pin (registered)
a moss-covered skull insignia
some dark cotton pants
some studded eonake gauntlets
a smooth ebonwood case inlaid with a labyrinth of silvery vaalin wire
a carved stone dwarf statue
a lion-inlaid mithril signet ring
a black spidersilk vest
a lustrous gold crown-shaped pin
a tiny iron catapult pin
an aged bone talisman emanating a faint glow

In a magical item bin:
a meteor-etched gold ring
a large brass-framed lens
a miniature clock tower
a granite triangle
a ruby amulet
a turquoise glaes spider charm
a sky blue glaesine orb

On an armor stand:
a gold-inlaid winged rolaren warhelm

On a weapon rack:
a massive glaes club

You nod gratefully.

You say, "Thank you very much for that!"

Roblar nods to you.

You ask, "I believe that wraps up the questions I had prepared! Was there anything you'd like to talk about for the record?"

Roblar looks over at you and shakes his head.

You nod understandingly.

Roblar deeply says, "Well lookin forward to yer scrivenin'."

Roblar nods to you.

Roblar deeply concedes, "Aye."

Roblar deeply says, "Dis some guud ale."

Roblar taps a mug of amber Oiran winter ale, which is in his right hand.

Roblar deeply says, "Fergot me av a keg er two locked up in da keep."

Speaking to Roblar, you say, "Thank you! I like to provide refreshments. Least I can do for occupying your time like this."

Roblar deeply says, "Shall afta tap one later."

You grin at Roblar.

Roblar deeply says, "Well t'anks invitin me to tink back."

Roblar deeply says, "Been a long road."

You nod understandingly.

Roblar grins at you.

You bow to Roblar.

Roblar scoots his chair back and stands up.

You say, "Thank you again, good Sir."

You scoot your chair back and stand up.

Roblar grunts to you in tribute as he bangs his fist sharply upon his rolaren plate armor in a barbaric salute.

You shake hands with Roblar.

You say, "Have a good evening."

Roblar deeply says, "Welcome, an t'ank you."

Roblar deeply says, "You too."

Roblar waves.

You wave.

Roblar turns around.

Commander Roblar just went out.
</pre>

==The Out-of-Character Interview==
''How long have you played Gemstone? ''
:'''Since August, 1996.'''

''Have you taken any breaks, or played straight through? ''
:'''I've taken some breaks of up to a year or more before, though no significant ones for a long time.'''

''How many different main characters have you had over the years? ''
:'''My only real main character in Prime has been Roblar. My first character in Prime was Lur, though that half-elven warrior (Tanis - Dragonlance based) only lasted about a few weeks before my first small 2 month break - those hourly bills got intense!'''

''Do you have multiple accounts that you play at the same time? ''
:'''Rarely. Maybe 1 or 2 months out of the year, usually EG month.'''

''Do you have a Premium subscription? ''
:'''Yes.'''

''What front-end do you use? (Stormfront, Wizard, Profanity, other)?''
'''Stormfront'''

''Why? ''
:'''I liked the name better because Wizard(s) are puny. Ok, only half-kidding. I also downloaded it after whatever return from a break and liked the look and layout. It provides alot of info at a glance and saves remotely. I then later found it helpful at festivals or when discovering things I may have missed when exploring the environment. I honestly don't remember the Wizard anymore, maybe the music. I also enjoyed a previous web client (not this current one) prior to SF I think.'''

''Do you use lich? ''
:'''No.'''

''Why or why not? ''
:'''I guess I enjoy my process and doing it myself'''

''Do you now, or have you ever roleplayed a character that was very different from your real personality? ''
:'''Nothing of significance.'''

''What would you say is your most memorable Gemstone ˜moment (as a player), and why? ''
:'''I don't know, there have been so many I remember and others I wish I remember better. I'll go with an old gamble of my then entire bank account long ago at Beldrin's Gaming Wheel to quickly try and increase funds for an unexpected festival, with Lord Commandant and Lady Karess witnessing. I won but the fear of losing that 2M or so was terrifying as I had saved for so long. And it's not even double but 50% if you win!'''

''What, in your mind, is the best thing about Gemstone? ''
:'''The longevity, creativity (story/world/interaction), depth, mechanical flexibility, and relationships it offers.'''

''Have you ever attended SimuCon, or otherwise met up with a person from Gemstone?''
:'''Yes, I went to SimuCon in 2015. It was a lot of fun to meet players and staff. I highly recommend it and wish I could attend this year. It mostly involved drinking, talking about in and out of game things, playing games and contests and eating!'''

''Imagine you're Wyrom for a day and can 'do' one thing. What are you changing/removing/adding/replacing, and why? ''
:'''I would love to see some kind of postcap system added to the game. I'm not sure about the specifics but I wouldn't mind for example the convenience of not requiring enhancive items by permanently boosting some stats at the cost of cap points that you earn as you advance, say x amount every 1M exp past cap. Some CMANs already do this. This would allow further incentive to continue with a character, cut down on some tedium (or open up new abilities), and is probably good for the long term health of the game as players continue to advance.'''

''What do you feel is the biggest mistake that most GS players make? ''
:'''I'm not sure what mistake most GS players make, but I'd probably advise to move around some from whatever area you are comfortable. I think hunting level breakdowns have historically been a nice impetus for that in the past, though I see the need for expansion.'''

''Why? ''
:'''There is always more to learn and, while a possibly uncomfortable initial adjustment, each new area or discovery can ultimately be like playing the game again for the first time.'''

''What's something that you feel every GS player should do at least once? ''
:'''Get lost. Go out and explore the world.'''

''What advice would you offer to a new player? ''
:'''Read the room descriptions, immerse yourself, learn from mistakes, try intuitive commands and actions, explore and learn on your own to begin your experience. Don't get too daunted by the wealth of information and, as you feel comfortable, read the wiki for mechanics and lore, ask people questions IG or out, ring bells for Mentor help, but mostly do whatever is fun for you!'''

TownCrier Interview Sessions with Roblar

2017-08-12T22:09:54Z

CANNEL:

{{characterprofile
|name= Roblar Coronia
|caption= Commander Roblar Coronia the Warmaster of [[Highguard Keep]]
|race= [[Giantman]]
|profession= [[Warrior]]
|affiliations= Commander of [[Helden Hall]]
|relatives=
}}
{{TOCright}}
By Oubar, [[TownCrier]] Corrrespondent 
12 Phoenatos 5117 // August 12, 2017 - in Icemule Trace 
==Introduction==
Roblar Coronia is a name known far and wide as one of the strongest fighters in the land. In any instance where something needs to be hit VERY hard, he's the one for the job. His axe is his hallmark, and stories of his domination in the fighting pit of Helden Hall are whispered across the land. Recently this fierce warrior made time to sit down with the TownCrier for an in-depth interview. As expected, he was a daunting presence indeed, though he remained open and friendly throughout the process. The ale may have helped.
==The In-Character Interview==
<pre{{log2|background=none|border=none}}>
>go table
You head over to the Burnt Tart Table.
[Burnt Tart Table]
A slightly foul scent fills the air over this table, as if Master Tartlicker left a tart baking a bit too long. The top of the table is seared with a burn mark from something rather small and terribly hot.

You see Roblar waving at your table, clearly hoping that you will invite him to sit with you.
Commander Roblar arrives at your table.

>exa Roblar
You see Commander Roblar Coronia the Warmaster of Highguard Keep.
He appears to be a Giantman of the T'Kirem Clan.
He is imposing in size and has a muscular physique. He appears to be in the prime of life. He has intense bluish grey eyes and dusky golden skin. He has shoulder length, thick dark brown hair with grey at the temples. He has a seasoned square-jawed face and some broad shoulders. He carries an air of confidence, warm and without guile, though his eyes seem to hint at a roiling temperament beneath his exterior countenance.
He is in good shape.
He is wearing a thick blackened warhelm, an ur-barath inlaid rolaren torc, a large mithril key hanging from a thick silver chain, a suit of black rolaren plate armor, a dark blue balenite-bound pin, a small bone periapt, a grizzly bear hide greatcloak with an ivory-fanged hood, some golvern-chased vambraces, some thick golvern-banded gauntlets, an enruned dark veil iron ring, a carved thin blue gem band, a hefty veniom-bound bear hide axe scabbard secured with silver buckles, a claw-grasped golvern shield slung over his shoulder, a glaes-encased rough leather belt, a gilded minotaur warhorn, a barbed iron boar hide sack, a shuttered silver lantern charm, a rugged dark leather sack, and a pair of golvern-plated boots.

Roblar deeply says, "Allos."

Roblar smiles.

You bow to Roblar.

You exclaim, "Good evening!"

You rub your chin thoughtfully.

Roblar pulls out a chair and tiredly allows gravity to seat him.

You remove a banded thanot keg of Oiran winter ale from in your harness.
You place your thanot keg on the floor and pull out a small locking pin on the tap.

Roblar chuckles.

You pour yourself a mug of amber Oiran winter ale.

Roblar pours himself a mug of amber Oiran winter ale.

You raise your Oiran winter ale in a toast!

Roblar raises his Oiran winter ale in a toast!

You exclaim, "Good evening, and thank you so much for agreeing to be interviewed for the Crier!"

You grin impishly.

Roblar nods to you.

Roblar takes a drink from his Oiran winter ale.

You take a drink from your Oiran winter ale.

You say, "As we discussed beforehand, I've got some questions that I'd like to pose. We'll be recording the interview, and once it is all finalized, it will be published by the Crier for all to see."

You pull out a chair and seat yourself at the table.

Roblar chuckles to himself.

Roblar deeply says, "Aye."

Roblar nods slowly to you.

Roblar tenses up, beads of sweat glistening on his brow.

You say, "I generally start with a bit of background, for those precious few who might not be aware of you."

You ask, "What is your profession, for those who might not already be aware?"

Roblar deeply says, "Am a warrior."

You adopt an agreeable expression.

You ask, "What would you say is the best thing about your profession? If you were attempting to convince someone still on the turnip truck to lean towards your profession, what would you tell them?"

Roblar deeply says, "Combat."

Roblar grins at you.

You try hard not to grin.

You adopt an agreeable expression.

You say, "It's certainly true that warriors tend to have that particular aspect well covered."

You ask, "What would you say is the area in which warriors are weakest?"

Roblar deeply says, "In general, defending aginst spells."

Roblar takes a drink from his Oiran winter ale.

You adopt an agreeable expression.

You say, "But with enough training, doesn't most of that weakness go away? I've heard tell that you've managed to acquire some spell knowledge yourself."

Roblar nods in agreement to you.

Roblar deeply says, "Tiz possible wid alot of effort."

You ask, "Are spells still a concern for you personally?"

Roblar deeply says, "In which case, encumbrance and other types of spells."

Roblar grins at you.

Roblar deeply says, "Not usually, depends on da spell."

You nod understandingly.

Roblar deeply says, "A focused implosion still likely deadly."

Roblar nods to you.

You shudder.
You ask, "What town do you call home these days?"

Roblar deeply says, "Diz one, Icemule."

Roblar deeply adds, "Mostly."

You ask, "What is it that you like most about Icemule?"

Roblar deeply says, "Iz close to my some of my properties and to da Scatter."

Roblar deeply says, "Da tarts smell guud too."

You grin impishly.

Roblar takes a deep breath.

You say, "I can't argue with that."

Roblar smiles.

Roblar takes a drink from his Oiran winter ale.

You ask, "You said properties... do you own property near here?"

Roblar deeply says, "You likely passed [[Highguard Keep]] on da way north to dis lil town."

You nod understandingly.

You say, "I did indeed. Wasn't aware that it was yours, though."

You give a short little hum of surprise.

Roblar deeply says, "Also av a hunting cabin up da mountain and likely soon a small shop in town for extra supplies."

You say, "Very nice. I think we're all anxious for the town to open up shops again."

Roblar nods in agreement to you.

Roblar flashes a quick grin.

You ask, "I already know, but for the readers... what's your preferred hunting method and weapon?"

Roblar flashes a wide grin at you.

Roblar deeply says, "Swingin an axe or two."

Roblar removes an immense rolaren waraxe from in his bear hide axe scabbard.

Roblar shows you an immense rolaren waraxe, which he is holding in his left hand. The haft of this waraxe has been crafted of twin lengths of ironwood and ebonwood, the grey-on-black woods banded together by scored rings of golvern. In opposition, blackened rolaren rises from the ironwood and argent rolaren from the ebonwood, creating a contrast that is both stark and compelling. Along the massive blade, heavy Saramar runes have been etched across the carcass of a serpent enveloped in flame, the script flowing to a perfectly honed edge that radiates a subtle blue-white incandescence. There is a groove down the center of the weapon, bisecting it into two halves.
You also notice a small enchanter's glyph.

You nod appreciatively.

Roblar deeply says, "Usually two."

Roblar tips his head back and empties a mug of amber Oiran winter ale down his gullet!

Roblar holds his waraxe with both hands and, pressing a small button near his thumb, separates the weapon into two halves.

Roblar winks at you.

Roblar holds the two halves of his waraxe in each hand, carefully recombining the two halves of his weapon into one.

You say, "An amazing weapon, to be sure."

Roblar casually brushes the remnants of his last battle from his waraxe.

Roblar grunts.

Roblar adopts an agreeable expression.

Roblar put an immense rolaren waraxe in his bear hide axe scabbard.

You ask, "Do you have any other fighting methods that you employ these days?"

Roblar deeply says, "Am a master of all methods."

Roblar deeply says, "Sometimes may punch and kick an opponent for amusement."

You ask, "Where do you generally hunt, these days?"

Roblar deeply says, "Da Scatter."

Roblar deeply says, "Sometimes travel south into da Sea of Fire to kill Luukosians."

You nod understandingly.

You ask, "Do you belong to any of the Great Houses?"

Roblar deeply says, "Aye, am commander of Helden Hall."

You nod appreciatively.

You ask, "What do you like most about Helden Hall?"

Roblar deeply says, "It az an ole history and was formed by warriors of old, for most part."

You adopt an agreeable expression.

You say, "It's widely known as the House for warriors, to be sure."

Roblar deeply says, "Metaboculous was one of da early warriors me met in da lands."

Roblar deeply says, "And a founder."

You nod understandingly.

Roblar deeply says, "Also, da fighting pit iz a wonderous place ta trains."

Roblar winks and flashes a sly grin.

You grin.

Roblar balls his fists, causing his golvern-banded gauntlets to tighten around his hands.

You say, "The way I understand it, these days, you're generally regarded as the master of said pit."

You grin at Roblar.

Roblar deeply says, "Me does well."

Roblar grins.

You agree with Roblar.

You ask, "Aside from your axe, what would you say is your most prized possession?"

Roblar ponders.

Roblar points at his rolaren plate armor.

Roblar runs a hand across the front of his armor and a few wisps of vapor stream out behind his fingertips.

Roblar deeply says, "Ma armor."

You ask, "Can you tell us a bit about it?"

Roblar deeply says, "Wells.."

Roblar deeply says, "It iz highly enchanted aginst physical attacks and protects aginst magical attacks."

Roblar deeply says, "It iz resistant to acid, impacts, tings dat slash or pierce."

Roblar deeply says, "It iz fully ensorcelled."

Roblar deeply says, "And touched by strange Ithziri majiks."

Roblar shrugs.

Roblar shows you a suit of black rolaren plate armor, which he is wearing. Dark and dull as the cliffs of the Dragonspine on a bleak winter's day, the matte black finish of this masterfully crafted armor belies its exceptional quality. Favoring practically and function over glossy surfaces and polished sheen, the lack of any visible flaw stands as testimony to the vigilance paid to its care. Along every edge, Saramar runes have been traced in an unbroken line, clearly some sort of warding, and wisps of vapor occasionally escape from between the many layers of rolaren plates. You also notice a small enchanter's glyph.

Roblar deeply says, "Protects me well."

You say, "That's VERY impressive. Seems like the ideal armor."

Roblar drums his fingers on the surface of his armor, and small wisps of vapor puff out after each impact.

Roblar deeply says, "Had it made for da Scatter."

Roblar deeply says, "Da Ithzir majiks heals me too."

You say, "And I imagine it does quite well there."

Roblar stretches his shoulders, settling his armor into a more comfortable position.

You ask, "If pressed, what other adventurer would you say had the most impact on you as you progressed through your skills?"

Roblar deeply asks, "A single adventurer?"

Roblar grins.

Roblar deeply says, "Been a long time."

You hold up your hand and tilt it side to side in a so-so gesture.

You say, "First name that comes to mind, then. If there's more than one, that's understandable."

You grin at Roblar.

Roblar deeply says, "Well Kerl was one of my first guild skill teachers and helped me master war cries."

Roblar smiles at you.

You exclaim, "A worthy mentor, to be sure!"

Roblar deeply says, "And also liked axes."

You try hard not to grin.

Roblar deeply says, "Though he likes ta throw dem moar."

Roblar winks at you.

You say, "I believe I may have heard mention of that fact at some point."

You say, "A couple more, and then we'll wrap up."

Roblar nods to you.

You ask, "What would you say is your motivation? What is it that drives you currently?"

Roblar deeply says, "To become stronger, more powerful, and to learn more each day."

You nod understandingly.

You say, "A noble goal."

Roblar deeply says, "To crush my enemies, hear da lamentations of their…"

Roblar chuckles to himself.

Roblar deeply says, "Ok, well."

You chuckle to yourself.

You ask, "Looking back on your path, is there something that comes to mind that you wish you'd done differently?"

Roblar simply says, "No."

You nod.

Roblar flashes a quick grin at you.

Roblar deeply says, "Aye, dat didn’t pour myself another a lil earlier!"

Roblar pours himself a mug of amber Oiran winter ale.

Roblar nods with satisfaction.

Roblar leans back in his chair, balancing himself on two legs for a few moments, then sets the chair back down on all four legs.

Roblar takes a drink from his Oiran winter ale.
Roblar looks rather relaxed.

You exclaim, "By all means, help yourself!"

You grin.

You ask, "One last thing... would you be willing to give the readers a peek inside one of your lockers? No explanations or anything, just a glance?

Roblar deeply says, "Well, I am somewhat of a minimalist and, as a giant, carry most things on me so I only partially use one locker of mostly items with nostalgic value."

In a deep chest:
a small decrepit dollhouse toy
a Lord Roblar portrait
a tissue-lined box covered in burnished copper foil
a small jagged shard of blood marble
a Mandis Crystal shard
a colorful Elanthian globe
a miniature pink marble kraken
a miniature stone manor
a tiny clay penguin chick
a carved Aeia statuette
a tiny brass spittoon
a small wooden tree
a reclining woman figurine
a tiny enameled serving maid
a steel-banded ironwood catapult (registered)
a steel-banded ironwood ballista (registered)
a dark wizard figure (registered)
a towering thick-walled fortress (registered)
a fel block
an ironwood block
a faewood block
a Silvergate Inn snowglobe
a gold-chased rolaren medallion on a green tartan ribbon
a silver-chased rolaren medallion on a red tartan ribbon
a silver-chased rolaren medallion on a red tartan ribbon
a silver-chased rolaren medallion on a red tartan ribbon
a silver-chased rolaren medallion on a red tartan ribbon
a bronze-chased rolaren medallion on a blue tartan ribbon
a silver-chased rolaren medallion on a red tartan ribbon
a clear glaes bubble
a gilt-edged clear glaes seashell
an ivory snowflake plaque
a piece of parchment
a silver party horn with multi-colored silk streamers
a luminescent silver-gold orb
a heavy ironwood key
a carved ur-barath totem
an obsidian chest
a large invar-bound chest
a small oak casket

In a clothing wardrobe:
a silver-inlaid cherrywood case
a slender Palestra Blade miniature
a Nalfein swordsman miniature
an armored human crusader miniature
a skeletal shadow knight miniature
an axe-wielding mayor miniature
an amber-eyed large giantman miniature
a ferocious troll commander miniature
a long-tailed war rat miniature
a giantman warlord miniature
a raging vathor miniature
a scruffy and muscled warrior miniature
a Madam Zannebah miniature
a small blood red spider
a black griffin
a bloodstained claidhmore pin choked with an inlay of thorny onyx vines
an eyeless skull pin
an opaline snowball pin (registered)
a moss-covered skull insignia
some dark cotton pants
some studded eonake gauntlets
a smooth ebonwood case inlaid with a labyrinth of silvery vaalin wire
a carved stone dwarf statue
a lion-inlaid mithril signet ring
a black spidersilk vest
a lustrous gold crown-shaped pin
a tiny iron catapult pin
an aged bone talisman emanating a faint glow

In a magical item bin:
a meteor-etched gold ring
a large brass-framed lens
a miniature clock tower
a granite triangle
a ruby amulet
a turquoise glaes spider charm
a sky blue glaesine orb

On an armor stand:
a gold-inlaid winged rolaren warhelm

On a weapon rack:
a massive glaes club

You nod gratefully.

You say, "Thank you very much for that!"

Roblar nods to you.

You ask, "I believe that wraps up the questions I had prepared! Was there anything you'd like to talk about for the record?"

Roblar looks over at you and shakes his head.

You nod understandingly.

Roblar deeply says, "Well lookin forward to yer scrivenin'."

Roblar nods to you.

Roblar deeply concedes, "Aye."

Roblar deeply says, "Dis some guud ale."

Roblar taps a mug of amber Oiran winter ale, which is in his right hand.

Roblar deeply says, "Fergot me av a keg er two locked up in da keep."

Speaking to Roblar, you say, "Thank you! I like to provide refreshments. Least I can do for occupying your time like this."

Roblar deeply says, "Shall afta tap one later."

You grin at Roblar.

Roblar deeply says, "Well t'anks invitin me to tink back."

Roblar deeply says, "Been a long road."

You nod understandingly.

Roblar grins at you.

You bow to Roblar.

Roblar scoots his chair back and stands up.

You say, "Thank you again, good Sir."

You scoot your chair back and stand up.

Roblar grunts to you in tribute as he bangs his fist sharply upon his rolaren plate armor in a barbaric salute.

You shake hands with Roblar.

You say, "Have a good evening."

Roblar deeply says, "Welcome, an t'ank you."

Roblar deeply says, "You too."

Roblar waves.

You wave.

Roblar turns around.

Commander Roblar just went out.
</pre>

==The Out-of-Character Interview==
''How long have you played Gemstone? ''
:'''Since August, 1996.'''

''Have you taken any breaks, or played straight through? ''
:'''I've taken some breaks of up to a year or more before, though no significant ones for a long time.'''

''How many different main characters have you had over the years? ''
:'''My only real main character in Prime has been Roblar. My first character in Prime was Lur, though that half-elven warrior (Tanis - Dragonlance based) only lasted about a few weeks before my first small 2 month break - those hourly bills got intense!'''

''Do you have multiple accounts that you play at the same time? ''
:'''Rarely. Maybe 1 or 2 months out of the year, usually EG month.'''

''Do you have a Premium subscription? ''
:'''Yes.'''

''What front-end do you use? (Stormfront, Wizard, Profanity, other)?''
'''Stormfront'''

''Why? ''
:'''I liked the name better because Wizard(s) are puny. Ok, only half-kidding. I also downloaded it after whatever return from a break and liked the look and layout. It provides alot of info at a glance and saves remotely. I then later found it helpful at festivals or when discovering things I may have missed when exploring the environment. I honestly don't remember the Wizard anymore, maybe the music. I also enjoyed a previous web client (not this current one) prior to SF I think.'''

''Do you use lich? ''
:'''No.'''

''Why or why not? ''
:'''I guess I enjoy my process and doing it myself'''

''Do you now, or have you ever roleplayed a character that was very different from your real personality? ''
:'''Nothing of significance.'''

''What would you say is your most memorable Gemstone ˜moment (as a player), and why? ''
:'''I don't know, there have been so many I remember and others I wish I remember better. I'll go with an old gamble of my then entire bank account long ago at Beldrin's Gaming Wheel to quickly try and increase funds for an unexpected festival, with Lord Commandant and Lady Karess witnessing. I won but the fear of losing that 2M or so was terrifying as I had saved for so long. And it's not even double but 50% if you win!'''

''What, in your mind, is the best thing about Gemstone? ''
:'''The longevity, creativity (story/world/interaction), depth, mechanical flexibility, and relationships it offers.'''

''Have you ever attended SimuCon, or otherwise met up with a person from Gemstone?''
:'''Yes, I went to SimuCon in 2015. It was a lot of fun to meet players and staff. I highly recommend it and wish I could attend this year. It mostly involved drinking, talking about in and out of game things, playing games and contests and eating!'''

''Imagine you're Wyrom for a day and can 'do' one thing. What are you changing/removing/adding/replacing, and why? ''
:'''I would love to see some kind of postcap system added to the game. I'm not sure about the specifics but I wouldn't mind for example the convenience of not requiring enhancive items by permanently boosting some stats at the cost of cap points that you earn as you advance, say x amount every 1M exp past cap. Some CMANs already do this. This would allow further incentive to continue with a character, cut down on some tedium (or open up new abilities), and is probably good for the long term health of the game as players continue to advance.'''

''What do you feel is the biggest mistake that most GS players make? ''
:'''I'm not sure what mistake most GS players make, but I'd probably advise to move around some from whatever area you are comfortable. I think hunting level breakdowns have historically been a nice impetus for that in the past, though I see the need for expansion.'''

''Why? ''
:'''There is always more to learn and, while a possibly uncomfortable initial adjustment, each new area or discovery can ultimately be like playing the game again for the first time.'''

''What's something that you feel every GS player should do at least once? ''
:'''Get lost. Go out and explore the world.'''

''What advice would you offer to a new player? ''
:'''Read the room descriptions, immerse yourself, learn from mistakes, try intuitive commands and actions, explore and learn on your own to begin your experience. Don't get too daunted by the wealth of information and, as you feel comfortable, read the wiki for mechanics and lore, ask people questions IG or out, ring bells for Mentor help, but mostly do whatever is fun for you!'''

TownCrier Interview Sessions with Nuadjha

2017-08-12T19:41:48Z

CANNEL:

{{characterprofile
|name= Nuadjha kis'Anthri
|caption= Captain of the Falcon Nuadjha kis'Anthri
|race= [[Half-Sylvan]]
|profession= [[Ranger]]
|religion=
|affiliations= Member of [[Sylvanfair]]
|relatives=
}}
{{TOCright}}
By Oubar, [[TownCrier]] Corrrespondent 
5 Phoenatos 5117 // August 5, 2017 - in Wehnimer’s Landing 
==Introduction==
TownCrier Special Correspondent Oubar was recently invited aboard the mighty airship ‘[[The Falcon]]’ for a candid interview with her Captain, Nuadjha kis’Anthri. As expected, Nuadjha was a very pleasant interview, open and willing to chat at length about a variety of subjects. A renowned ranger, explorer, archer and traveler, he has developed a reputation for his willingness to help others, expertise in all items archery-related {Editor’s note: "[[Art_of_the_Bow_(guide)|Art of the Bow]]" is regarded as the go-to source for archery knowledge}, and of course his fantastic airship. A friendly, approachable sort, he can be found wherever the winds take him, but if there is ever a need for powerful defenders against all manner of invading horrors, you can reliably look for him on the front lines.

{| class="wikitable" style="background-color:#fff6c1;" cellpadding="25" cellspacing="25"
|-
| “It’s important to remember that justice cannot be taken for granted.” ~ Nuadjha kis'Anthri
|}

==The In-Character Interview==
<pre{{log2|background=none|border=none}}>
A small leaf chameleon scurries in.
A small leaf chameleon says, ""The Captain invites you to enter the portal."
Pale, swirling mist begins to billow out from nothingness before you, and quickly coalesces into a small orb of shifting essence. Suddenly, the orb expands and forms an elliptical portal of swirling blues and blacks, its edges shrouded in dancing blue-white mist.
You step through the shifting portal.

[The Nexus, Fixed Point]
Concentric swirls of interleaved gold and brass erupt outward from a pedestal standing at the center of an expanse of cavernous, featureless darkness. Blacker than night and unalleviated save by the glow of the orb atop the pedestal, the emptiness encompasses all but the floor, which seems to spiral outward to the furthest vagaries of sight. The air smells faintly of brine and pitch. You also see a shifting portal, an etched ebony obelisk and a shining silver orb.
Also here: Maze Master Arkios, Captain of the Falcon Nuadjha
Obvious paths: none

Nuadjha grins mischievously.

Nuadjha says, "Fair light of the evening."

You bow to Nuadjha.

Nuadjha touches one hand to the ground and chants a respectful bird-like trill.

Nuadjha's fingernails flash briefly with a tinge of green coloring.

>examine Nuadjha
You see Captain of the Falcon Nuadjha kis'Anthri.
He appears to be a Half-Sylvan.
He is taller than average. He appears to be in the spring of life. He has sharply angled inquisitive tawny eyes and weathered golden brown skin. He has tousled and sun-streaked, unruly russet hair hacked off crudely at the shoulders and stained at the ends with a melange of autumnal hues. He has a triangular, flat-planed face and slightly pointed ears. Thin scars permanently dyed a deep cerulean crisscross his forearms. His right hand is replaced with a silver and ironwood one.
He has a tattoo of gold-tipped black briars that twist around his left eye and curl in tangled knots down his cheek.
He is in good shape.
He is wearing a glimmering ruby sunburst earring, a deeply hooded longcloak woven from commingled chainsil and veniom strands, a small leaf shaped pin, a dull silver cloak clasp, a thrice-buckled storm grey surcoat glimmering with intricate veniom bluework, a sleeveless dusky blue chainsil undershirt, a faenor wrist cuff inlaid with copper briars, an inlaid gold ring, a weathered dark blue belt quiver, a leather herb pouch with a simple tie, some loose azure chainsil pants, and some fitted caedera leather boots.

Nuadjha says, "Welcome to the Nexus, which is, well, not really on The Falcon."

Nuadjha laughs softly, trying to hide his amusement.

The shifting portal shimmers slightly, the haze within its glowing outline growing opaque as it contracts to a pinpoint of blue-grey mist and vanishes.

You grin impishly.

Nuadjha bows to Arkios.

Nuadjha points at an etched ebony obelisk.

Nuadjha says, "Touch the obelisk there."

Nuadjha rests a hand on an etched ebony obelisk. His form melts away into a mass of spinning colors that swiftly dissolves into thin air!
You rest a hand on an etched ebony obelisk, and suddenly the world begins to spin around you. After a nauseating moment of dizziness, the wild carousel of color glides to a halt, leaving you standing somewhere completely different!

[The Falcon, Engineering]
Approaching the heart of the ship, the lengths of crimson-varnished wood give way to lightless blocks of crystal. An enclosure of precious metals fans out around a pulsating hexagonal blue crystal, the source of an ethereal pulse bathing the chamber in blue-white luminescence. Faint, haunting notes pour forth from the depth of the crystal in a strange and unending song. You also see a mischievous golden brown fox, a stained workbench with a large gold-bound chest on it, a squat wooden stool, a set of steel hooks with some stuff on it, a pulsating hexagonal blue crystal and a brass and gold-rimmed pedestal with a solid silver orb on it.
Also here: Captain of the Falcon Nuadjha
Obvious exits: west

You gaze in wonder at your surroundings.

The crystal hums an alien tune, merrily, as if pleased with itself.

>examine crystal
Roughly the size of a giantman's torso, the hexagonal blue crystal hovers steadily in the air, washing its surroundings in blue-white radiance. Forking skeins of prismatic hue glide through its depths.

Nuadjha says, "Welcome to the heart of the ship."

Faint sounds like glass shattering whisper through the air around the crystal.

Nuadjha carefully surveys his surroundings.

Speaking quietly to yourself, you say, "Amazing."

Nuadjha glances around the room.

Nuadjha confers with the crystal for a moment.
Pulses of color travel through the bulk of the crystal. It states, "The designation of this ship is the Falcon."

Vivid motes of blue light wash off of the crystal, vanishing into the metal walls of its enclosure.

Nuadjha smiles faintly.

You stare at a pulsating hexagonal blue crystal.

Nuadjha says, "The crystal is perhaps the ship's true master, at least if you ask it."

The crystal bobs slowly in its enclosure, its radiance gone momentarily feeble.

Nuadjha flashes a quick grin.

Nuadjha confers with the crystal for a moment.
"I am authorized to receive orders from a finite number of humanoids as designated by the holder of The Falcon's deed," states the crystal. "As such, it would be incorrect to suggest that I have but a single captain."

Nuadjha gazes heavenward.

You burst out in a sudden snort of laughter.

For a moment, vivid light washes off of the crystal.

Nuadjha says, "Yes, yes. At least you fly."

Nuadjha confers with the crystal for a moment.
The crystal keens softly, whispering, "Flight is my purpose. I collect essential force while at rest and redistribute it to the ship while active."

Nuadjha scratches his nose.

Nuadjha coughs.

The crystal bobs slowly in its enclosure, its radiance gone momentarily feeble.

Nuadjha mutters something about pendantic.

Speaking to Nuadjha, you say, "Rather sure of itself."

A mischievous golden brown fox barks loudly!

The crystal hums an alien tune, merrily, as if pleased with itself.

Nuadjha says, "Aye, she is."

Faint sounds like glass shattering whisper through the air around the crystal.

Nuadjha says, "Crystal, tell the fellow a bit more about yourself, if you please."

Nuadjha confers with the crystal for a moment.
"I do not possess a designation," states the crystal. "In brief, however, I am a thaumatocrystalline construct fully integrated into this ship's navigational capabilities, as well as providing the ship with necessary power."

The crystal hums an alien tune, merrily, as if pleased with itself.
You gawk at a pulsating hexagonal blue crystal.

The crystal begins glowing a vivid green before returning to its natural hue.

Nuadjha confers with the crystal for a moment.
"My home port is the city of Solhaven," the crystal responds in a gently musical tone. "I am, however, capable of travel to a number of destinations as commanded by my current captain."

For a moment, vivid light washes off of the crystal.

You say, "Astounding, truly."

Nuadjha says, "Anywhere there are clouds, really."

Nuadjha confers with the crystal for a moment.
For a moment, a sardonic hint creeps into the crystal's voice. It answers, "There are, indeed, clouds in the sky."

Faint sounds like glass shattering whisper through the air around the crystal.

Nuadjha stares at a pulsating hexagonal blue crystal.

You giggle to yourself.

Nuadjha mutters under his breath.

The crystal hums an alien tune, merrily, as if pleased with itself.

Speaking to Nuadjha, you say, "She was merely agreeing with you."

You shrug.

Nuadjha chuckles.

Nuadjha says, "Yes, so she'd say."

Faint sounds like glass shattering whisper through the air around the crystal.

Nuadjha asks, "Are you familiar with airship travel?"

Nuadjha raises an eyebrow.

You say, "Only in the vaguest terms."

Vivid motes of blue light wash off of the crystal, vanishing into the metal walls of its enclosure.

Nuadjha ponders.

Nuadjha confers with the crystal for a moment.
"The wind is irrelevant," states the crystal, its feminine voice polite. "I am not authorized to derive joy."

The crystal bobs slowly in its enclosure, its radiance gone momentarily feeble.

Nuadjha frowns.

The crystal hums an alien tune, merrily, as if pleased with itself.

Nuadjha says, "I was asking her to tell you about flying, but she sometimes has ideas of her own."

Nuadjha grumbles.

A loud, musical humming sound emanates from the crystal.

You adopt an agreeable expression.

Nuadjha says, "Airships defy all normal laws."

Nuadjha looks lost in thought.

Vivid motes of blue light wash off of the crystal, vanishing into the metal walls of its enclosure.

Nuadjha says, "Nothing should be able to fly they way they do."

Captain of the Falcon Nuadjha's group just went west.
[The Falcon, Belowdecks]
Dusky blue tubes plated with refined veniom stand as tall as a man and far wider, lining the interior hull of the ship. The metal sparkles dimly in the half-light. They resonate faintly with the constant vibrations twitching through the ship, releasing a high-pitched hum into the cool air. Glass pipes full of rushing water direct their frothing current eastward toward a steadily pulsating light source. You also see a mischievous golden brown fox, a redwood footlocker, a row of spidersilk hammocks, a set of steel hooks with some stuff on it and a dark teak hatch in the ceiling.
Also here: Captain of the Falcon Nuadjha
Obvious exits: east
>look on hookS
On the steel hooks you see a brown fur hide hooded cloak, some imflass boarding axes, some sharp vultite grapnels, a variety of tools and a coil of silk rope.

Nuadjha says, "The exact science is something I don't entirely understand, but the short version is that through a fusion of magic and the natural properties of veniom --"

Nuadjha points at some veniom-plated dusky vultite tubes.

You glance at some veniom-plated dusky vultite tubes.

Nuadjha says, "The ship is able to conquer the normal laws that would bind it to the earth."

Nuadjha says, "Come above decks with me."

Captain of the Falcon Nuadjha's group just went through a dark teak hatch in the ceiling.
[The Falcon, Amidships]
The golvern-edged propellers of the ship glow silver in the moonlight, casting a wavering blur of reflected radiance over the smooth-worn and polished planes of wood below. Fanciful tracery forms golden vines that twine up the trio of cylindrical supports leading to the whirring blades. A dark teak hatch fastened with a black iron ring lies to starboard. Unmarked crates and wooden barrels have been stacked high and lashed down near the railings. You also see a mischievous golden brown fox.
Also here: Captain of the Falcon Nuadjha
Obvious paths: east, west

Nuadjha says, "Once you have levitation, you still need lift and maneuverability."

Nuadjha points at a trio of golvern-edged propellers.

You adopt an agreeable expression.

You say, "Makes sense."

Nuadjha says, "The main propellers provide the lift, and there are maneuvering blades on each side of the ship, as well as aft."

Nuadjha points east.

Nuadjha says, "The Falcon is designed for speed and maneuverability. She's far smaller than some of the ships you'll see in the air."

Nuadjha says, "Occasionally, however, a veniom tube will degrade and need to be replaced."

Nuadjha says, "Which gets rather expensive."

Nuadjha grunts.

You furrow up your face and wince.

You say, "I can imagine."

Nuadjha says, "And that's one of the reasons I carry cargo."

Nuadjha points at some unmarked crates.

Nuadjha says, "As we travel between towns, we do a bit of trading in certain goods."

You give a short little hum of surprise.

Nuadjha says, "Something to offset the costs of travel, and to garner a bit of profit."

You ask, "And do you trade with the towns themselves, through their respective leadership, or with the merchants individually?"

Nuadjha grins mischievously.

You try hard not to grin.

Nuadjha says, "Well, with some towns, but usually with individual merchants who know we're coming."

Nuadjha says, "Often, a town ... doesn't entirely notice that we're there."

Nuadjha winks at you.

You nod understandingly.

Nuadjha says, "And if they don't notice us, they usually don't think to tax us."

Nuadjha says, "You understand, I assume."

Nuadjha chuckles to himself.

Captain of the Falcon Nuadjha's group just went west.
[The Falcon, Foredeck]
A bronze-beaked falcon figurehead juts from the prow of the vessel, its spread wings embracing the crimson-painted hull. Wrought from verdigris bronze, a waist-high railing mimics vines twining around modwir saplings. A carved redwood ship's wheel crowns a raised platform several paces behind the figurehead. You also see a mischievous golden brown fox and a woven spidersilk ladder.
Also here: Captain of the Falcon Nuadjha
Obvious paths: east

You say, "Of course. No need to trouble them with things beyond their notice."

Nuadjha adopts an agreeable expression.

You adopt an agreeable expression.

Nuadjha says, "It would merely inconvenience them."

Speaking to Nuadjha, you say, "It's for their own benefit, really."

Nuadjha agrees with you.

Nuadjha says, "You'd make an excellent crewman."

Nuadjha flashes a quick grin.
>examine figurehead
Tiny crystal tears leak from the falcon's eyes.

Nuadjha points at a woven spidersilk ladder.

Nuadjha says, "The ship never really lands, so the ladder allows one to reach the ground."

Nuadjha says, "Or, at the home port in Redwing Spire in Solhaven, it allows you to climb down into the tower."

You say, “A moment. Why is the figurehead crying?”

Nuadjha gazes thoughtfully at a bronze-beaked falcon figurehead.

Nuadjha asks, "Why does the falcon cry?"

Nuadjha scratches his chin.

Nuadjha says, "A question for the ages, perhaps, though some say that great sorrow struck the first captain."

Nuadjha says, "And the ship, echoing his emotions, wept ever afterward."

You nod understandingly.

You say, "It merely caught my eye, I apologize."

Nuadjha reaches out and touches a bronze-beaked falcon figurehead.

Nuadjha says, "Well, let's continue this chat over some drinks. I lay in a good supply wherever we travel."

Captain of the Falcon Nuadjha's group just went east.
[The Falcon, Amidships]
The golvern-edged propellers of the ship glow silver in the moonlight, casting a wavering blur of reflected radiance over the smooth-worn and polished planes of wood below. Fanciful tracery forms golden vines that twine up the trio of cylindrical supports leading to the whirring blades. A dark teak hatch fastened with a black iron ring lies to starboard. Unmarked crates and wooden barrels have been stacked high and lashed down near the railings. You also see a mischievous golden brown fox.
Also here: Captain of the Falcon Nuadjha
Obvious paths: east, west

Captain of the Falcon Nuadjha's group just went east.
[The Falcon, Aft]
A long redwood bench sits far aft, backed by a railing that overlooks the squared stern of the ship. Far enough away from the ceaseless drone of the main propellers to be almost quiet, the deck provides a view of the steering blades situated midway down the ship's hull. Beyond them is a dizzying view of the night-darkened earth below. A lustrous redwood sideboard has been bolted to one section of the railing. You also see a mischievous golden brown fox, a gap in the deck and a set of polished teak deck chairs.
Also here: Captain of the Falcon Nuadjha
Obvious paths: west

You grin from ear to ear.

Nuadjha glances around the area.

Nuadjha relaxes into a deck chair, his gaze scanning the skies.

Nuadjha points at a lustrous redwood sideboard.

Nuadjha says, "Help yourself."

You settle into one of the deck chairs, your gaze scanning the vastness of the skies.
>look on sideboard
On the redwood sideboard you see a dense fruit and nut bar, a crystalline flask of ice wine, a mug of thick cardamom-spiced coffee, an ice-filled glass of scotch, a cup of sweet dark tea, a chunk of fresh bread and a sparkling flask of spring water.

Nuadjha says, "I'm partial to the tea, myself."

Nuadjha pours himself a cup of sweet dark tea.

You say, "My thanks! It all looks wonderful."

You pour yourself a cup of sweet dark tea.

You raise your sweet dark tea in a toast!

Nuadjha adopts an agreeable expression.

Nuadjha says, "Aye, the scotch comes from the dwarves of [[Zul Logoth]], though we have to land at Khazar's Hold to take it on board, and the ice wine is from Ta'Nalfein."

You say, "Thank you very much for taking some time to speak with me this evening."

You take a drink from your sweet dark tea.
You close your eyes for a moment.

You say, "Very nice, indeed."

Nuadjha says, "You're welcome. I assume you'll be contributing to our docking fees in return."

Nuadjha appears to be trying hard not to grin.

You feel the blood drain from your face.

Babbling again, eh?

Nuadjha raises an eyebrow in your direction.

You weakly say, "I'm sure something can be worked out."

Nuadjha agrees with you.

Nuadjha says, "Excellent."

You nod slowly.

Nuadjha says, "Well, you said you had some questions, and we're well fortified."

Nuadjha takes a drink from his sweet dark tea.

Nuadjha adopts an agreeable expression.

You say, "I do indeed. Some of this is rather common knowledge, and I apologize for any belabored points, but for the sake of thoroughness, I'd like to run through a few simple ones to start."

Nuadjha says, "As you wish. I find the skies contemplative, and a fine place for conversation."

You ask, "To begin with, what is your profession, for those who might not already be aware?"

Nuadjha looks lost in thought.

Nuadjha says, "Ah, well."

Nuadjha rubs his chin thoughtfully.

Nuadjha says, "I was raised among the [[Tyesteron]], and hoped to guard the sylvan forests one day, but such was not to be. For many years, I wandered the wilds of Elanthia as a guide and hunter. These days, I mostly wander the skies."

A mischievous golden brown fox growls menacingly!

As Nuadjha scratches the golden brown fox behind the ears, the canine tilts her head into Nuadjha's hand.

You nod understandingly.

Speaking to a mischievous golden brown fox, Nuadjha says, "Peace, Tawny."

A mischievous golden brown fox stretches out and rolls over on her side sound asleep.

You ask, "What would you say is the best thing about your profession? If you were attempting to convince someone still on the turnip truck to lean towards your profession, what would you tell them?"

Nuadjha scratches his chin.

You say, "For this one, I more mean the role you filled before taking to the skies."

You blush a glowing shade of red.

Nuadjha says, "Solitude. A hunter in the wilds has everything he needs if he only has a knife. There is nothing a ranger cannot do for himself, barring a few oddities."

Nuadjha draws a leaf-bladed hunting knife from one of the small scabbards sewn inside of his hooded longcloak.

With a quick flick of his wrist, Nuadjha lightly tosses his knife into the air and turns his hand to catch it, momentarily balancing the small blade against the back of his knuckles. Completing the trick, Nuadjha snags the blade's tip with his thumb and deftly flips the knife to catch it again by its hilt.

Nuadjha sheathes a leaf-bladed hunting knife into one of the small scabbards sewn inside of his hooded longcloak.

You nod appreciatively.

You ask, "Similarly, what would you warn that same person about, if they were intending to become part of your profession?"

Nuadjha says, "Hm. Well, one hopes you don't want to learn how to throw fireballs. For that, you might wish to go talk to a mage instead."

Nuadjha rubs his chin thoughtfully.

Nuadjha says, "Though I suppose one can eventually learn to throw *some* fire, if one practices enough."

Ethereal carnelian foxfire flickers into being along Nuadjha's hands, slithering across his palms...

Nuadjha gestures.
A flare leaves Nuadjha's hand and shoots up into the sky where it hangs for a few moments before exploding into a breathtaking array of colors. The sheer brightness of the image before you lingers in your sight for several seconds after the explosion can no longer be seen.

Nuadjha says, "Mostly useful for lighting wet wood, though."

Nuadjha grunts.

You grin.

Nuadjha takes a drink from his sweet dark tea.

You say, "I've seen others use similar spells to great effect against trollkin, though I wager you have better methods."

Nuadjha says, "I find it faster to shoot them in the eye, though I do like to do it with a fire-imbued arrow."

Nuadjha says, "Sears the brain so it doesn't regenerate, you understand."

Nuadjha flashes a quick grin.

You try hard not to grin.

Nuadjha scratches his chin.

You ask, "Would it be fair to say that you've progressed to the point that you're comfortable in any regions of these lands, regardless of what obstacles they might contain?"

Nuadjha ponders.

Nuadjha says, "I've hunted the depths of the Scatter with the Vvrael Champions to the top of the [[Sanctum of Scales]], the broken ruins of [[Old Ta'Faendryl]], and the watery recesses of [[Temple Nelemar]] on [[Teras]]. When a [[demon]] forces entry to this plane, I hunt it for sport. Perhaps that gives you some idea."

You nod respectfully.

You say, "It does indeed."

Nuadjha shrugs.

You ask, "What is your preferred method of hunting, and why?"

Nuadjha says, "I have always loved the [[Art_of_the_Bow_(guide)|bow]], for speed and accuracy. While another might hammer away with a maul as if the opponent were a tree, an arrow is a death as graceful as a sparrow landing. The velnalin smiles as it exhales its last breath."

You appreciatively say, "Well spoken."

Nuadjha says, "And that makes the meat taste better."

Nuadjha adopts an agreeable expression.

You ask, "Are you married?"

You grin impishly.

Nuadjha laughs softly, trying to hide his amusement.

Nuadjha says, "Never yet have I met the woman who'd join me in the skies, and who could talk fast enough to keep up."

Nuadjha flashes a quick grin.

The golden brown fox shifts in her sleep as Nuadjha gently scratches at the canine's neck and ears.

Nuadjha says, "Well, except for Tawny here."

Nuadjha chuckles.

Nuadjha says, "But that's not quite what you meant."

Interlocking his fingers above his head, Nuadjha stretches slowly, extending his spine in a satisfying stretch.

You grin.

You say, "Not exactly, no, though I take your point."

Nuadjha takes a drink from his sweet dark tea.

You ask, "Are you a member of any of Elanthia's Great Houses?"

Nuadjha adopts an agreeable expression.

Nuadjha says, "Aye, indeed. I was once a Knight of [[Paupers]], but these days I gather with the members of [[Sylvanfair]]."

You nod understandingly.

You ask, "What drew you to each of those?"

Nuadjha says, "As a wanderer, I never cared much for commitment, and Paupers respects that. Sylvanfair, on the other hand, has an ethos of common aid, and when one wanders the wild, one learns to appreciate the value of a piece of bread when one is hungry."

Nuadjha says, "After some bad experiences when I was younger, I always try to keep an eye out for the young and foolish, and Sylvanfair feels the same way."

You say, "Indeed. I myself reside in [[Icemule Trace]], and am always glad of the assistance of [[White Haven]]."

Nuadjha agrees with you.

You ask, "Aside from this stunning airship, what would you say is your most prized possession?"

You say, "And I'm not necessarily speaking of monetary value here... though we may get to that."

Nuadjha ponders.

You grin impishly.

Nuadjha says, "Undoubtedly, my hand."

Nuadjha reaches out and touches his replacement hand.

Nuadjha flexes the fingers of his silver and ironwood replacement hand.
You blink at Nuadjha.

Nuadjha absentmindedly traces the silver joints of his replacement hand.

Nuadjha says, "Without it, I could never shoot my bow."

Speaking to Nuadjha, you say, "I assume there's a story behind that... is it something you'd be willing to share? I've never seen its like."

Nuadjha ponders.

Nuadjha says, "Ah, well. The short version."

Nuadjha scratches his chin.

Nuadjha says, "Some years back, I fought a being who wasn't from this world, and who wielded unusual weapons."

Nuadjha says, "I won, but in the battle, I lost my right hand."

Nuadjha says, "Typically, an empath could have healed me. I've often been wounded but managed to scrape myself back together."

Nuadjha says, "Much to my very great dismay, however, nothing would heal the wound left behind by that sword."

Nuadjha says, "And without a right hand, it's very hard to shoot a bow or wield an axe."

You say, "I should think so."

Nuadjha scratches his chin.

Nuadjha flexes the fingers of his silver and ironwood replacement hand.

Nuadjha says, "The priests of [[Phoen]] led me to a devotee of [[Imaera]], one who worked in wood."

Nuadjha says, "With his help, and with divine magic, he carved me a hand, one that moved with my thoughts as if it were my original."

Nuadjha absentmindedly traces the silver joints of his replacement hand.

You quietly say, "Amazing."

Nuadjha says, "And that let me pick my bow back up again."

Nuadjha adopts an agreeable expression.

Nuadjha says, "It's also excellent for picking up hot things."

Nuadjha flashes a quick grin.

You ask, "In the same vein, but from a different direction, what would you say is your most valuable possession from a straight silvers standpoint?"

You grin impishly.

Nuadjha chuckles.

Nuadjha says, "Ah, well, that's an easy question. At the moment, that would be my bow."

Nuadjha says, "A good archer wants the finest one he can make or buy."

Nuadjha asks, "Would you like to see it?"

Nuadjha raises an eyebrow.

You say, "Yes please, if you don't mind."

Nuadjha unslings a bronze-banded ruic longbow with an ethereal bowstring off from over his shoulder.

Nuadjha shows you a bronze-banded ruic longbow with an ethereal bowstring, which he is holding in his left hand. You also notice a small enchanter's glyph.

Nuadjha tosses his longbow a few inches in the air, catching it adroitly and settling his hand comfortably around the grip.

You nod appreciatively.

Nuadjha says, "This bow was made by [[Lirion]], the master craftsmen, and then enchanted by skilled craftsmen."

You say, "Very impressive... and rather effective, from what I understand."

You grin impishly.

Nuadjha says, "It's what those in the know would call an eight times enchanted [[elemental bow]]."

Nuadjha says, "It makes its own arrows that are imbued with various elemental magics, is permanently blessed, and so forth."

Nuadjha carefully sights down his ruic longbow and points it directly at you.

Nuadjha chuckles.

You say, "It's an amazing weapon, truly. I’d wager to say that it fits your description of the best bow than an archer can make or buy."

Nuadjha chuckles.

Nuadjha says, "It hits all the things."

Nuadjha adopts an agreeable expression.

You ask, "What would you say was the most memorable moment in your adventure to this point? If you had to choose a single one, that is?"

Nuadjha ponders.

Nuadjha says, "Well, winning the Falcon, certainly, but beyond that, a dark period with some dark vambraces."

Nuadjha ponders.

Nuadjha asks, "You've heard of the ShadowDeath?"

You say, "I have indeed."

Nuadjha adopts an agreeable expression.

Nuadjha says, "Some time back, I acquired, through one means or another, a pair of the [[ShadowDeath vambraces]]."

Nuadjha says, "Much to my regret."

A pained expression crosses Nuadjha's face.

You nod understandingly.

Nuadjha says, "Wearing them was a terrible decision."

Nuadjha shakes his head.
You ask, "In what way?"

Nuadjha says, "Slowly, ever so slowly, the shadows invade your mind. They turn you against your friends, they make you hate your foes even more."

A pained expression crosses Nuadjha's face.

You grimace.

Nuadjha says, "And ever and ever do they hunger. They are never satisfied."

Nuadjha says, "Soon you find that you hunt to feed them. Then you give over your life to feeding them, and nothing is ever enough."

Nuadjha slowly empties his lungs.

Nuadjha says, "But where there is darkness, there is light, and the one flees the other."

Nuadjha says, "With the help of some priests of Phoen, I was able eventually to remove them. I gave the vambraces into their brilliant care, and good riddance to them."

A pained expression crosses Nuadjha's face.

You say, "I can't imagine... and for that I find myself grateful."

Nuadjha agrees with you.

Nuadjha says, "I still find myself less patient than once I was, though."

Nuadjha shakes his head.

Nuadjha says, "More prone to violence, less accepting of insults."

Nuadjha grunts.

Nuadjha says, "So it goes."

You say, "It definitely sounds like something with long-lasting effects. My condolences for that."

Nuadjha says, "My thanks."

Nuadjha nods to you.

You ask, "As your journey progressed through the various lands, what period of your time would you say was the most enjoyable?"

Nuadjha rubs his chin thoughtfully.

Nuadjha says, "Hmm. If I understand your question, I'd say hunting the eastern lands was the most enjoyable, from the [[Blighted Forest]] to the [[Griffin's Keen]] and through [[Maaghara's Tower]]."

You ask, "That's exactly what I was shooting for, thank you. What about it made it particularly enjoyable for you?"

Nuadjha says, "You can never underestimate a challenging opponent."

Nuadjha flashes a quick grin.

Nuadjha says, "And besides, you can use [[storm griffin]] feathers for arrows."

Nuadjha laughs softly, trying to hide his amusement.

You try hard not to grin.

You say, "Very true, at that."

You ask, "What would you say inspired you to begin on the path you're currently on? What was your mindset when you began, and do you feel like you've been true to that path on your journey?"

Nuadjha ponders.

Nuadjha says, "Curiosity has always moved me. If I stay in one place too long, my feet get itchy. Walking new trails helps."

You nod understandingly.

Nuadjha says, "I've been true to curiosity in the way one can be, with each new adventure spawning new insights and new attitudes. Life is change."

You ask, "Would you say that's what drives you to this day? Or is there more meaning behind your day to day actions?"

Nuadjha says, "Curiosity, profit, and justice."

Nuadjha adopts an agreeable expression.

You nod appreciatively.

Nuadjha says, "Sometimes, actions are simply necessary."

You ask, "Would you say that you have a fixed goal in mind, or something that you strive towards?"

Nuadjha waves his hand in a dismissive gesture.

Nuadjha says, "Whatever the wind brings me, in general, but overall, to bring light to places that are full of shadow, as any good follower of Phoen."

You ask, "If pressed to narrow the list to a single name, what other adventurer would you say has had the most profound impact on your life?"

Nuadjha scratches his chin.

Nuadjha says, "Japhrimel. We have been friends for 25 years."

You burst out in a sudden snort of laughter.

You say, "Pardon me."

Nuadjha starts chuckling at you!

You say, "I was speaking with him before this, and he had a few interesting comments to make."

Nuadjha laughs softly, trying to hide his amusement.

Nuadjha says, "I'm absolutely certain that he did."

Nuadjha chuckles.

You ask, "Specifically, I was instructed to ask you about a marriage that you may have overseen in your role as Captain of the Falcon?"

Nuadjha laughs softly, trying to hide his amusement.

Nuadjha says, "Ah, yes. He insisted that the Falcon fly in and host the wedding."

Nuadjha gazes up into the heavens.

Nuadjha says, "But, he's the Navigator, so it's his right."

Nuadjha rubs his chin thoughtfully.

You grin impishly.

Nuadjha says, "Not that he really navigates much. The crystal ignores us all."

Nuadjha grumbles.

You say, "So it seemed."

Nuadjha chuckles.

You say, "To slightly less weighty matters, then, and then I'll be at the end of my list."

Nuadjha chuckles.

Nuadjha adopts an agreeable expression.

You ask, "Would you be willing to give the TownCrier readers a rough idea of your current finances?"

You grin impishly.

Nuadjha scratches his head.

Nuadjha asks, "Huh. Well, in the bank or in goods?"

You carefully ask, "In the bank?"

Nuadjha chuckles.

Nuadjha says, "Well, let's see..."

Nuadjha removes an ink-smudged handbook from in his azure chainsil pants.

Nuadjha glances down at his handbook.

Nuadjha says, "Looks like I have .... 158,579,271 silvers in the bank at the moment."

Nuadjha put an ink-smudged handbook in his azure chainsil pants.

You nod appreciatively.

You say, "That's quite the tidy sum! Thank you for sharing that."

Nuadjha shrugs.

Nuadjha says, "It comes and goes."

Nuadjha says, "Just you wait until the Falcon needs repairs."

Nuadjha mutters under his breath.

You nod understandingly.

You say, "I can only imagine... and would rather not."

Nuadjha chuckles.

You ask, "Last but not least... and apologies for the brazen nature of the question... would you be willing to give us a peek inside one of your lockers?"

Nuadjha says, "Well, let's find a [[locker manifest|manifest]]."

Nuadjha removes a coverless manifest bulging with loose pages from in his azure chainsil pants.

Nuadjha says, "Ah, there we are."

Nuadjha shows you his coverless manifest.

Locker contents of Nuadjha kis'Anthri, the Half-Elf, as recorded in Mist Harbor:

In a deep chest:
an opalescent glass jar containing azure blazestars
an opalescent glass jar containing moonglae opals
an opalescent glass jar containing uncut rubies
a tall glass jar containing inky necrotic cores
an opalescent red glass jar containing white-point star diamonds
a rectangular steel-barred cage
a thin golden oak case inset with golden flaeshorn berries (marked)
an opalescent glass jar containing fire opals
a large herb-painted packet of seeds
a large floral-painted packet of seeds
a rune-etched amethyst earring
an ethereal armor waiver for defensive strength flares (marked)
a darkly stained bone stylus
a bundle of crystalline arrows
a cross-woven pale sea grass thigh-quiver
an Eye-of-Koar emerald
an ethereal armor waiver for defensive strength flares
a lopsided golden moonstone sphere
a golden emblem decorated with thyme flower-etched sunstones
a square magenta bloodrune
a four-ringed metal pendant (marked)
an ethereal armor waiver for defensive strength flares
a bundle of griffin talons
a soil-filled terracotta pot with an amber-inlaid rim (marked)
an opalescent glass jar containing drakeferns
a domed mithril-barred cage
an opalescent glass jar containing sylvarraend rubies
an opalescent glass jar containing dragon's-tear rubies
an opalescent glass jar containing dragonseye sapphires
an opalescent glass jar containing dragon's-tear emeralds
an opalescent glass jar containing golden blazestars
an opalescent glass jar containing uncut maernstrike diamonds
an opalescent glass jar containing periwinkle feystones
an opalescent glass jar containing dragon's-tear diamonds
an opalescent glass jar containing white opals
an opalescent glass jar containing blue sapphires
a tall gold-streaked bottle containing uncut diamonds
a vaalin-rimmed glass bottle containing emerald blazestars

In a clothing wardrobe:
a veniom falcon stickpin (marked)
some bronze-toed brown leather boots turned down at the knee (marked)
a pair of dark morduska hide boots with pale bone buckles
some cross-buckled chestnut leather pants reinforced with bronze bands (marked)
a soft leather scrip pouch
a pair of indigo chainsil pants with thin veniom threading (marked)
an oft-mended leather baldric lined with straps and pouches (marked)
a dark grey leather scroll case with an onyx clasp
a scorched scroll
a faded palimpsest
a glittering scroll
a burnt scroll
a smeared parchment
a light scroll
a sheaf of faded paper
a faded scroll
an aged scroll
a small shadowy black velvet pouch
a gold wind-up key
a gold wind-up key
a brass wind-up key
a brass wind-up key
a brass wind-up key
a brass wind-up key
a brass wind-up key
a brass wind-up key
a brass wind-up key
a brass wind-up key
a brass wind-up key
a brass wind-up key
a brass wind-up key
a brass wind-up key
a brass wind-up key
a brass wind-up key
a brass wind-up key
a brass wind-up key
a brass wind-up key
a brass wind-up key
a brass wind-up key
a brass wind-up key
a brass wind-up key
a brass wind-up key
a brass wind-up key

On a weapon rack:
a vaalorn-edged vultite katana
an exquisite illthorn runestaff
an elegant lor runestaff
an oak brown illthorn runestaff
an engraved orase runestaff
a villswood composite bow
an ipantor composite bow
a lily white imflass halberd

On an armor stand:
some eahnor-washed mail riveted to thick layers of raw silk padding (marked)
some gleaming vultite studded leather
some vultite double chain (marked)
a matte black bucket helm inlaid with golvern lightning bolts (marked)
some segmented dusky eahnor vambraces inset with a pattern of sunburst rubies (marked)
some electrum-edged plate (marked)
some bone-plated dark leather brigandine
a set of ora-scaled full plate
some polished spiked ora arm greaves (marked)
a polished eahnor chain hauberk (marked)
an embossed glaes aventail (marked)

Obvious items: 100

You nod appreciatively.

Nuadjha says, "There's my [[Mist Harbor]] locker."

You exclaim, "Thank you very much for that, as well!"

Nuadjha adopts an agreeable expression.

You ask, "That's the end of my 'official' list. Is there any subject you'd like to add, for the record?"

Nuadjha rubs his chin thoughtfully.

Nuadjha says, "Not that I can think of at the moment."

Nuadjha chuckles.

Nuadjha picks up a cup of sweet dark tea.

Nuadjha takes a drink from his sweet dark tea.

You grin impishly.

You ask, "In that case, I believe we're all set. I'll be writing out this interview for the Crier, and will be sending you a copy before it goes for publication, if that works for you?"

Nuadjha says, "Aye, that sounds fine to me."

Nuadjha adopts an agreeable expression.

Nuadjha says, "Now, about that docking fee ..."

Nuadjha stares at you.

You carefully say, "I believe you may need to speak with Newsby about that."

You duck your head.

Nuadjha raises an eyebrow in your direction.

Nuadjha says, "I will ... take it up with her."

Nuadjha stands up.

You stand back up.

You bow to Nuadjha.

Nuadjha chuckles.

Nuadjha says, "Come, let's get you off the ship."

Nuadjha says, "It's tricky if you're not familiar."

You say, "Thank you so very much for your time tonight. It's greatly appreciated."

You grin.

Nuadjha says, "Well, my thanks for the questions."

Nuadjha says, "You've flattered my ego, not that it needed it."

Nuadjha rolls his eyes.

Nuadjha points at a solid silver orb on a brass and gold-rimmed pedestal.

Nuadjha says, "Touch the orb."

You adopt an agreeable expression.

Faint sounds like glass shattering whisper through the air around the crystal.

You say, "Thank you again, and have a pleasant rest of the evening."

You bow to Nuadjha.

Nuadjha touches one hand to the ground and chants a respectful bird-like trill.

Nuadjha's fingernails flash briefly with a tinge of green coloring.

You rest a hand on a solid silver orb, and suddenly the world begins to spin around you. After a nauseating moment of dizziness, the wild carousel of color glides to a halt, leaving you standing somewhere completely different!
</pre>

==The Out-of-Character Interview==
''What’s your real name? (First name only please)''
:'''Ryan'''

''Where are you located, geographically? ''
:'''Boston, MA'''

''What do you do for a living? ''
:'''I own a small business in the education industry.'''

''How long have you played Gemstone? ''
:'''I started in 1997, after two middle-school friends of mine talked it up during lunch. I was so impressed by the thought of [[Locker|lockers]] to store your items and [[Floating Disk|disks]] that followed you around and carried your things.'''

''Have you taken any breaks, or played straight through? ''
:'''As with many of us, I've taken a few breaks and have had waves of interest. I took a break between 2001 and 2003 during my first couple of years of college, and then I took a fairly long break between 2012 and 2016 where I only signed in to pay rent on my airship property (which I won as the grand prize at the 2011 Droughtman's Maze).'''

''Can you elaborate on the experience of winning the airship, from your own point of view (not the character’s)? '''
:'''I bought about 40 runs total, but I had absolutely terrible luck with treasure pulls. One of thebest things I won was a 5x scripted ice-flaring maul! However, some friends and I had figured out that the key principle in [[Droughtman's Challenge|Droughtman's Maze]] was speed. There was no point in fighting the blockers or trying to heal down from the traps; instead, you needed to pull as many ropes as possible to find keys and get through the doors. So, I fixskilled my characters to have the minimum HPs so they'd die from every trap and hit and then ran them through the event as quickly as possible. I won enough runs to make it into the semi-finals, then the finals, and then got lucky enough to find the golden key and the white door first in the final -- and for that I won the airship (technically on an alt, but the GMs allowed me to pass the win to my main) and some other fantastic items. Ironically, the final was actually held on my birthday, so the airship was an absolutely amazing present. I was up almost all night because the adrenaline from the win wouldn't let me fall asleep!'''

''How many different 'main' characters have you had over the years? ''
:'''My first character was a dwarven ranger named Asthalan Aspenfire. I played him from 1997 to 2001, but he never got above level 23. I spent the vast majority of my time buying low and selling high on the amulet. I started Nuadjha when I came back to Gemstone in 2003 and eventually capped him in 2011. I have no other major characters except for a wizard that I've hunted up to level 90.'''

''Do you have multiple accounts that you play at the same time? ''
:'''I have typically only had one account, though I recently switched my wizard to an alternate account so I could hunt one character while the other one was absorbing experience.'''

''Do you have a [[Premium]] subscription? ''
:'''At the moment, yes. I've been premium for about 4.5 years of the 20 years that I've played.'''

''What front-end do you use? (Stormfront, [[Wizard (front end)|Wizard]], [[Profanity]], other)?''
:'''[[Stormfront]]'''

''Why? ''
:'''I find the aesthetics to be much cleaner than the Wizard's and the XML links to be a huge help. '''

''Do you use [[Lich (software)|Lich]]? ''
:'''Yes.'''

''Why or why not? ''
:'''Lich ensures that there's a world-wide chat channel that helps the player base feel connected. It's a large world and one can feel isolated even with 500 players around. Lich helps ameliorate that. Also, it automates some of the tedious tasks, like running to the bank or spelling yourself up.'''

''What are your ‘must-have’ scripts? ''
*waggle
*keepalive
*go2
*bestiary
*isigns/isigils
*narost
*sloot
*and voodoo

''Do you now, or have you ever roleplayed a character that was very different from your real personality? ''
:'''Yes, I've tried out various alts, from an elven rogue who views everything in life by its monetary value to a rather slow-witted giantman paladin. My wizard is an ancient sylvan who compares everyone he meets to one of his countless great-something grandchildren. None of them have ever held my attention for long, though. I always come back to Nuadjha, whom I roleplay as mischievous, sharp-witted, and impulsive, and that's just a distilled version of how I see myself.'''

''What would you say is your most memorable Gemstone ‘moment’ (as a player), and why? ''
:'''My most memorable moment would be either winning Doughtman's Maze and my airship or leading the Crossbone Vanguard against the Clan of Marlu in Gemstone: Shattered the summer after it opened. It was an intense summer with some massive back-end coding (we had an SQL database automatically logging info about our opponents, for instance) and a lot of intrigue. In the end, we infiltrated a spy (played by Tisket) into their command group and eventually took them down. '''

''Would you be willing to give a rundown from your perspective of the Vanguard/Marlu events in Shattered?''
:'''It's a bit of a long story, but I'll try to give you the short version. Right after Shattered opened in 2010, an influx of players found themselves in a lawless environment. Within the first couple of weeks, a group of players had banded together to try to grief and extort other players. They were camping the Landing gates and running lockdown scripts to catch anyone running by at first, and then it evolved into methodically running through each hunting ground in an area and imploding anyone who wasn't on their protection list, to leaving cursed boxes on the locksmith counter to interfere with people running locksmith scripts, and to dragging people who had left their groups open out of town and killing them repeatedly to incur massive death's sting, among other lovely activities.'''

:'''I wasn't looking to lead a group. I just wanted to work on leveling my empath, Necen, and explore an evil-character RP in an environment that would allow it (the basic idea was to create an evil empath who would hurt people and then learn from healing them). Instead, I found myself isolated versus this group of people out to ruin the game experience for anyone not paying them protection money. So, I gathered together some like-minded players and we formed the Crossbones Vanguard. Shutting the other group down took us about four months, and it meant developing some very specific tactics. No one in Shattered cared in particular about an individual death, for instance, and just killing the other players was pointless. We had to take a two-pronged approach: 1) We needed to remove all the fun from their griefing, and 2) We needed to create a mechanical advantage to achieve goal 1. So, we made it a point to not just kill the other players but to make it impossible for them to leave town without dying. We made a points game with prizes out of it, in fact. As they died and logged out, they began to fall behind in the experience race (it takes about 6 months of 24/7 scripting to cap a character), which meant that we were able to achieve our goals the more easily the more able we were to kill them, and that led to achieving goal 2.'''

:'''Those two goals by themselves weren't sufficient to put an end to the griefing by the Clan of Marlu, though. To do that, we needed to destroy their group cohesiveness. To achieve that, we infiltrated a spy into their midst (Tisket, playing the character Mooch), who relayed all of their private chats to our "Spy" chat channel to give us intelligence, and then began attacking their camaraderie. We manipulated some scripts we stole from them to make it seem like one of their members had betrayed them, for instance, then recruited that member when he had no other options and used his BEFRIEND status to raid their group table. We also played on the kinder side of one of their two coders to guilt him into regretting griefing the server and made him break off from the group. With tactics like those, we turned them against each other until they felt that they couldn't trust the other members of their group.'''

:'''Once we had achieved those goals, and with the increasing pressure of killing them, we eventually reached a point where the members of Marlu were no longer bothering to log in to even try to hunt. When their leader stopped logging in and disappeared from the boards, we knew we had won -- and that ended the Vanguard-Marlu War.'''

:'''One of the major takeaways for me from the Vanguard-Marlu war was that as members of a modern society, we're deeply accultured to rely on the justice system to protect us. In a lawless environment where there are no police, no courts, no army to step in and protect you, your only choice is to step up and protect yourself. The key point here is that this situation is not actually all that different than the modern world; we only think it is because of how we've been raised. As Churchill said, we sleep soundly in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to deliver harm unto those who would do us wrong. It's important to remember that justice cannot be taken for granted. '''

''What, in your mind, is the best thing about Gemstone? ''
:'''Because it's a text-based game, it can be more versatile than other, much more technically advanced, games. All it takes is a few words and perhaps an alteration or two and you've established a new character.'''

''Imagine you're Wyrom for a day and can 'do' one thing. What are you changing/removing/adding/replacing, and why? ''
:'''I think Wyrom's been a godsend for Gemstone, from his responsiveness and interaction with players to his more flexible take on game balance. If there were one thing I could do, though, it would be to crack down on third-party scripting. I realize how much that move would annoy current players, but it would improve the game environment massively and make players much more engaged the game.'''

''Can you elaborate on that a bit, please?''
:'''I'd increase penalties for AFK scripting after the first warning and institute an in-game version of selling everything from your hunt to encourage people to use something other than the incredibly obnoxious ;sloot sell (which sells gems one by one for instance and spams the heck out of the gemshop).'''

''What do you feel is the biggest mistake that most GS players make? ''
:'''Two things, actually. 1) Don't let your scripts take over. If they do, you're not really playing the game any more. 2) Don't love your character so much that you get caught up *in* your character. Keep your character-self separate from your real self. Play your character like putting on a suit of clothes -- and then take them off again when you're done.'''

''What's something that you feel every GS player should do at least once? ''
:'''Two things again: 1) If you've been playing the same character for a long time, roll up a new one and hunt that character without any help up to level 10. It really brings back the thrill of the early levels and makes you appreciate that ora broadsword. 2) Write up a journal entry for your character, perhaps on his/her origin story or a defining moment.'''

''What advice would you offer to a new player? ''
:'''The key to the game is roleplaying, so give careful thought to your character. Outline what your character's attitude is and how s/he will respond to a few given situations. Think of some good or bad habits your character will have, or perhaps of a unique way of saying hello or goodbye. Remember that roleplaying in a game like this can't be in your head, so you have to do something physically/externally that establishes your roleplay for the other people. Think about how you can do that quickly and simply (Nuadjha, for instance, always says hello and goodbye with "Fair light of the morning/afternoon/evening" and "Dance lightly among the thorns." These often raise eyebrows, which is then a good chance to talk a bit.)'''

[[Category:TownCrier]]
[[Category:Interviews]]

TownCrier Interview Sessions with Roblar

2017-08-12T19:36:36Z

CANNEL:

{{characterprofile
|name= Roblar Coronia
|caption= Commander Roblar Coronia the Warmaster of [[Highguard Keep]]
|race= [[Giantman]]
|profession= [[Warrior]]
|affiliations= Commander of [[Helden Hall]]
|relatives=
}}
{{TOCright}}
By Oubar, [[TownCrier]] Corrrespondent 
12 Phoenatos 5117 // August 12, 2017 - in Icemule Trace 
==Introduction==
Roblar Coronia is a name known far and wide as one of the strongest fighters in the land. In any instance where something needs to be hit VERY hard, he's the one for the job. His axe is his hallmark, and stories of his domination in the fighting pit of Helden Hall are whispered across the land. Recently this fierce warrior made time to sit down with the TownCrier for an in-depth interview. As expected, he was a daunting presence indeed, though he remained open and friendly throughout the process. The ale may have helped.
==The In-Character Interview==
<pre{{log2|background=none|border=none}}>
>go table
You head over to the Burnt Tart Table.
[Burnt Tart Table]
A slightly foul scent fills the air over this table, as if Master Tartlicker left a tart baking a bit too long. The top of the table is seared with a burn mark from something rather small and terribly hot.

You see Roblar waving at your table, clearly hoping that you will invite him to sit with you.
Commander Roblar arrives at your table.

>exa Roblar
You see Commander Roblar Coronia the Warmaster of Highguard Keep.
He appears to be a Giantman of the T'Kirem Clan.
He is imposing in size and has a muscular physique. He appears to be in the prime of life. He has intense bluish grey eyes and dusky golden skin. He has shoulder length, thick dark brown hair with grey at the temples. He has a seasoned square-jawed face and some broad shoulders. He carries an air of confidence, warm and without guile, though his eyes seem to hint at a roiling temperament beneath his exterior countenance.
He is in good shape.
He is wearing a thick blackened warhelm, an ur-barath inlaid rolaren torc, a large mithril key hanging from a thick silver chain, a suit of black rolaren plate armor, a dark blue balenite-bound pin, a small bone periapt, a grizzly bear hide greatcloak with an ivory-fanged hood, some golvern-chased vambraces, some thick golvern-banded gauntlets, an enruned dark veil iron ring, a carved thin blue gem band, a hefty veniom-bound bear hide axe scabbard secured with silver buckles, a claw-grasped golvern shield slung over his shoulder, a glaes-encased rough leather belt, a gilded minotaur warhorn, a barbed iron boar hide sack, a shuttered silver lantern charm, a rugged dark leather sack, and a pair of golvern-plated boots.

Roblar deeply says, "Allos."

Roblar smiles.

You bow to Roblar.

You exclaim, "Good evening!"

You rub your chin thoughtfully.

Roblar pulls out a chair and tiredly allows gravity to seat him.

You remove a banded thanot keg of Oiran winter ale from in your harness.
You place your thanot keg on the floor and pull out a small locking pin on the tap.

Roblar chuckles.

You pour yourself a mug of amber Oiran winter ale.

Roblar pours himself a mug of amber Oiran winter ale.

You raise your Oiran winter ale in a toast!

Roblar raises his Oiran winter ale in a toast!

You exclaim, "Good evening, and thank you so much for agreeing to be interviewed for the Crier!"

You grin impishly.

Roblar nods to you.

Roblar takes a drink from his Oiran winter ale.

You take a drink from your Oiran winter ale.

You say, "As we discussed beforehand, I've got some questions that I'd like to pose. We'll be recording the interview, and once it is all finalized, it will be published by the Crier for all to see."

You pull out a chair and seat yourself at the table.

Roblar chuckles to himself.

Roblar deeply says, "Aye."

Roblar nods slowly to you.

Roblar tenses up, beads of sweat glistening on his brow.

You say, "I generally start with a bit of background, for those precious few who might not be aware of you."

You ask, "What is your profession, for those who might not already be aware?"

Roblar deeply says, "Am a warrior."

You adopt an agreeable expression.

You ask, "What would you say is the best thing about your profession? If you were attempting to convince someone still on the turnip truck to lean towards your profession, what would you tell them?"

Roblar deeply says, "Combat."

Roblar grins at you.

You try hard not to grin.

You adopt an agreeable expression.

You say, "It's certainly true that warriors tend to have that particular aspect well covered."

You ask, "What would you say is the area in which warriors are weakest?"

Roblar deeply says, "In general, defending aginst spells."

Roblar takes a drink from his Oiran winter ale.

You adopt an agreeable expression.

You say, "But with enough training, doesn't most of that weakness go away? I've heard tell that you've managed to acquire some spell knowledge yourself."

Roblar nods in agreement to you.

Roblar deeply says, "Tiz possible wid alot of effort."

You ask, "Are spells still a concern for you personally?"

Roblar deeply says, "In which case, encumbrance and other types of spells."

Roblar grins at you.

Roblar deeply says, "Not usually, depends on da spell."

You nod understandingly.

Roblar deeply says, "A focused implosion still likely deadly."

Roblar nods to you.

You shudder.
You ask, "What town do you call home these days?"

Roblar deeply says, "Diz one, Icemule."

Roblar deeply adds, "Mostly."

You ask, "What is it that you like most about Icemule?"

Roblar deeply says, "Iz close to my some of my properties and to da Scatter."

Roblar deeply says, "Da tarts smell guud too."

You grin impishly.

Roblar takes a deep breath.

You say, "I can't argue with that."

Roblar smiles.

Roblar takes a drink from his Oiran winter ale.

You ask, "You said properties... do you own property near here?"

Roblar deeply says, "You likely passed [[Highguard Keep]] on da way north to dis lil town."

You nod understandingly.

You say, "I did indeed. Wasn't aware that it was yours, though."

You give a short little hum of surprise.

Roblar deeply says, "Also av a hunting cabin up da mountain and likely soon a small shop in town for extra supplies."

You say, "Very nice. I think we're all anxious for the town to open up shops again."

Roblar nods in agreement to you.

Roblar flashes a quick grin.

You ask, "I already know, but for the readers... what's your preferred hunting method and weapon?"

Roblar flashes a wide grin at you.

Roblar deeply says, "Swingin an axe or two."

Roblar removes an immense rolaren waraxe from in his bear hide axe scabbard.

Roblar shows you an immense rolaren waraxe, which he is holding in his left hand. The haft of this waraxe has been crafted of twin lengths of ironwood and ebonwood, the grey-on-black woods banded together by scored rings of golvern. In opposition, blackened rolaren rises from the ironwood and argent rolaren from the ebonwood, creating a contrast that is both stark and compelling. Along the massive blade, heavy Saramar runes have been etched across the carcass of a serpent enveloped in flame, the script flowing to a perfectly honed edge that radiates a subtle blue-white incandescence. There is a groove down the center of the weapon, bisecting it into two halves.
You also notice a small enchanter's glyph.

You nod appreciatively.

Roblar deeply says, "Usually two."

Roblar tips his head back and empties a mug of amber Oiran winter ale down his gullet!

Roblar holds his waraxe with both hands and, pressing a small button near his thumb, separates the weapon into two halves.

Roblar winks at you.

Roblar holds the two halves of his waraxe in each hand, carefully recombining the two halves of his weapon into one.

You say, "An amazing weapon, to be sure."

Roblar casually brushes the remnants of his last battle from his waraxe.

Roblar grunts.

Roblar adopts an agreeable expression.

Roblar put an immense rolaren waraxe in his bear hide axe scabbard.

You ask, "Do you have any other fighting methods that you employ these days?"

Roblar deeply says, "Am a master of all methods."

Roblar deeply says, "Sometimes may punch and kick an opponent for amusement."

You ask, "Where do you generally hunt, these days?"

Roblar deeply says, "Da Scatter."

Roblar deeply says, "Sometimes travel south into da Sea of Fire to kill Luukosians."

You nod understandingly.

You ask, "Do you belong to any of the Great Houses?"

Roblar deeply says, "Aye, am commander of Helden Hall."

You nod appreciatively.

You ask, "What do you like most about Helden Hall?"

Roblar deeply says, "It az an ole history and was formed by warriors of old, for most part."

You adopt an agreeable expression.

You say, "It's widely known as the House for warriors, to be sure."

Roblar deeply says, "Metaboculous was one of da early warriors me met in da lands."

Roblar deeply says, "And a founder."

You nod understandingly.

Roblar deeply says, "Also, da fighting pit iz a wonderous place ta trains."

Roblar winks and flashes a sly grin.

You grin.

Roblar balls his fists, causing his golvern-banded gauntlets to tighten around his hands.

You say, "The way I understand it, these days, you're generally regarded as the master of said pit."

You grin at Roblar.

Roblar deeply says, "Me does well."

Roblar grins.

You agree with Roblar.

You ask, "Aside from your axe, what would you say is your most prized possession?"

Roblar ponders.

Roblar points at his rolaren plate armor.

Roblar runs a hand across the front of his armor and a few wisps of vapor stream out behind his fingertips.

Roblar deeply says, "Ma armor."

You ask, "Can you tell us a bit about it?"

Roblar deeply says, "Wells.."

Roblar deeply says, "It iz highly enchanted aginst physical attacks and protects aginst magical attacks."

Roblar deeply says, "It iz resistant to acid, impacts, tings dat slash or pierce."

Roblar deeply says, "It iz fully ensorcelled."

Roblar deeply says, "And touched by strange Ithziri majiks."

Roblar shrugs.

Roblar shows you a suit of black rolaren plate armor, which he is wearing. Dark and dull as the cliffs of the Dragonspine on a bleak winter's day, the matte black finish of this masterfully crafted armor belies its exceptional quality. Favoring practically and function over glossy surfaces and polished sheen, the lack of any visible flaw stands as testimony to the vigilance paid to its care. Along every edge, Saramar runes have been traced in an unbroken line, clearly some sort of warding, and wisps of vapor occasionally escape from between the many layers of rolaren plates. You also notice a small enchanter's glyph.

Roblar deeply says, "Protects me well."

You say, "That's VERY impressive. Seems like the ideal armor."

Roblar drums his fingers on the surface of his armor, and small wisps of vapor puff out after each impact.

Roblar deeply says, "Had it made for da Scatter."

Roblar deeply says, "Da Ithzir majiks heals me too."

You say, "And I imagine it does quite well there."

Roblar stretches his shoulders, settling his armor into a more comfortable position.

You ask, "If pressed, what other adventurer would you say had the most impact on you as you progressed through your skills?"

Roblar deeply asks, "A single adventurer?"

Roblar grins.

Roblar deeply says, "Been a long time."

You hold up your hand and tilt it side to side in a so-so gesture.

You say, "First name that comes to mind, then. If there's more than one, that's understandable."

You grin at Roblar.

Roblar deeply says, "Well Kerl was one of my first guild skill teachers and helped me master war cries."

Roblar smiles at you.

You exclaim, "A worthy mentor, to be sure!"

Roblar deeply says, "And also liked axes."

You try hard not to grin.

Roblar deeply says, "Though he likes ta throw dem moar."

Roblar winks at you.

You say, "I believe I may have heard mention of that fact at some point."

You say, "A couple more, and then we'll wrap up."

Roblar nods to you.

You ask, "What would you say is your motivation? What is it that drives you currently?"

Roblar deeply says, "To become stronger, more powerful, and to learn more each day."

You nod understandingly.

You say, "A noble goal."

Roblar deeply says, "To crush my enemies, hear da lamentations of their…"

Roblar chuckles to himself.

Roblar deeply says, "Ok, well."

You chuckle to yourself.

You ask, "Looking back on your path, is there something that comes to mind that you wish you'd done differently?"

Roblar simply says, "No."

You nod.

Roblar flashes a quick grin at you.

Roblar deeply says, "Aye, dat didn’t pour myself another a lil earlier!"

Roblar pours himself a mug of amber Oiran winter ale.

Roblar nods with satisfaction.

Roblar leans back in his chair, balancing himself on two legs for a few moments, then sets the chair back down on all four legs.

Roblar takes a drink from his Oiran winter ale.
Roblar looks rather relaxed.

You exclaim, "By all means, help yourself!"

You grin.

You ask, "One last thing... would you be willing to give the readers a peek inside one of your lockers? No explanations or anything, just a glance?

Roblar deeply says, "Well, I am somewhat of a minimalist and, as a giant, carry most things on me so I only partially use one locker of mostly items with nostalgic value."

In a deep chest:
a small decrepit dollhouse toy
a Lord Roblar portrait
a tissue-lined box covered in burnished copper foil
a small jagged shard of blood marble
a Mandis Crystal shard
a colorful Elanthian globe
a miniature pink marble kraken
a miniature stone manor
a tiny clay penguin chick
a carved Aeia statuette
a tiny brass spittoon
a small wooden tree
a reclining woman figurine
a tiny enameled serving maid
a steel-banded ironwood catapult (registered)
a steel-banded ironwood ballista (registered)
a dark wizard figure (registered)
a towering thick-walled fortress (registered)
a fel block
an ironwood block
a faewood block
a Silvergate Inn snowglobe
a gold-chased rolaren medallion on a green tartan ribbon
a silver-chased rolaren medallion on a red tartan ribbon
a silver-chased rolaren medallion on a red tartan ribbon
a silver-chased rolaren medallion on a red tartan ribbon
a silver-chased rolaren medallion on a red tartan ribbon
a bronze-chased rolaren medallion on a blue tartan ribbon
a silver-chased rolaren medallion on a red tartan ribbon
a clear glaes bubble
a gilt-edged clear glaes seashell
an ivory snowflake plaque
a piece of parchment
a silver party horn with multi-colored silk streamers
a luminescent silver-gold orb
a heavy ironwood key
a carved ur-barath totem
an obsidian chest
a large invar-bound chest
a small oak casket

In a clothing wardrobe:
a silver-inlaid cherrywood case
a slender Palestra Blade miniature
a Nalfein swordsman miniature
an armored human crusader miniature
a skeletal shadow knight miniature
an axe-wielding mayor miniature
an amber-eyed large giantman miniature
a ferocious troll commander miniature
a long-tailed war rat miniature
a giantman warlord miniature
a raging vathor miniature
a scruffy and muscled warrior miniature
a Madam Zannebah miniature
a small blood red spider
a black griffin
a bloodstained claidhmore pin choked with an inlay of thorny onyx vines
an eyeless skull pin
an opaline snowball pin (registered)
a moss-covered skull insignia
some dark cotton pants
some studded eonake gauntlets
a smooth ebonwood case inlaid with a labyrinth of silvery vaalin wire
a carved stone dwarf statue
a lion-inlaid mithril signet ring
a black spidersilk vest
a lustrous gold crown-shaped pin
a tiny iron catapult pin
an aged bone talisman emanating a faint glow

In a magical item bin:
a meteor-etched gold ring
a large brass-framed lens
a miniature clock tower
a granite triangle
a ruby amulet
a turquoise glaes spider charm
a sky blue glaesine orb

On an armor stand:
a gold-inlaid winged rolaren warhelm

On a weapon rack:
a massive glaes club

You nod gratefully.

You say, "Thank you very much for that!"

Roblar nods to you.

You ask, "I believe that wraps up the questions I had prepared! Was there anything you'd like to talk about for the record?"

Roblar looks over at you and shakes his head.

You nod understandingly.

Roblar deeply says, "Well lookin forward to yer scrivenin'."

Roblar nods to you.

Roblar deeply concedes, "Aye."

Roblar deeply says, "Dis some guud ale."

Roblar taps a mug of amber Oiran winter ale, which is in his right hand.

Roblar flashes a wide grin at you.

Roblar deeply says, "Fergot me av a keg er two locked up in da keep."

Speaking to Roblar, you say, "Thank you! I like to provide refreshments. Least I can do for occupying your time like this."

Roblar deeply says, "Shall afta tap one later."

You grin at Roblar.

Roblar smiles.

Roblar deeply says, "Well t'anks invitin me to tink back."

Roblar deeply says, "Been a long road."

You nod understandingly.

Roblar grins at you.

You bow to Roblar.

Roblar scoots his chair back and stands up.

You say, "Thank you again, good Sir."

You scoot your chair back and stand up.

Roblar grunts to you in tribute as he bangs his fist sharply upon his rolaren plate armor in a barbaric salute.

You shake hands with Roblar.

You say, "Have a good evening."

Roblar deeply says, "Welcome, an t'ank you."

Roblar deeply says, "You too."

Roblar waves.

You wave.

Roblar turns around.

Commander Roblar just went out.
</pre>

==The Out-of-Character Interview==
''How long have you played Gemstone? ''
:'''Since August, 1996.'''

''Have you taken any breaks, or played straight through? ''
:'''I've taken some breaks of up to a year or more before, though no significant ones for a long time.'''

''How many different main characters have you had over the years? ''
:'''My only real main character in Prime has been Roblar. My first character in Prime was Lur, though that half-elven warrior (Tanis - Dragonlance based) only lasted about a few weeks before my first small 2 month break - those hourly bills got intense!'''

''Do you have multiple accounts that you play at the same time? ''
:'''Rarely. Maybe 1 or 2 months out of the year, usually EG month.'''

''Do you have a Premium subscription? ''
:'''Yes.'''

''What front-end do you use? (Stormfront, Wizard, Profanity, other)?''
'''Stormfront'''

''Why? ''
:'''I liked the name better because Wizard(s) are puny. Ok, only half-kidding. I also downloaded it after whatever return from a break and liked the look and layout. It provides alot of info at a glance and saves remotely. I then later found it helpful at festivals or when discovering things I may have missed when exploring the environment. I honestly don't remember the Wizard anymore, maybe the music. I also enjoyed a previous web client (not this current one) prior to SF I think.'''

''Do you use lich? ''
:'''No.'''

''Why or why not? ''
:'''I guess I enjoy my process and doing it myself'''

''Do you now, or have you ever roleplayed a character that was very different from your real personality? ''
:'''Nothing of significance.'''

''What would you say is your most memorable Gemstone ˜moment (as a player), and why? ''
:'''I don't know, there have been so many I remember and others I wish I remember better. I'll go with an old gamble of my then entire bank account long ago at Beldrin's Gaming Wheel to quickly try and increase funds for an unexpected festival, with Lord Commandant and Lady Karess witnessing. I won but the fear of losing that 2M or so was terrifying as I had saved for so long. And it's not even double but 50% if you win!'''

''What, in your mind, is the best thing about Gemstone? ''
:'''The longevity, creativity (story/world/interaction), depth, mechanical flexibility, and relationships it offers.'''

''Have you ever attended SimuCon, or otherwise met up with a person from Gemstone?''
:'''Yes, I went to SimuCon in 2015. It was a lot of fun to meet players and staff. I highly recommend it and wish I could attend this year. It mostly involved drinking, talking about in and out of game things, playing games and contests and eating!'''

''Imagine you're Wyrom for a day and can 'do' one thing. What are you changing/removing/adding/replacing, and why? ''
:'''I would love to see some kind of postcap system added to the game. I'm not sure about the specifics but I wouldn't mind for example the convenience of not requiring enhancive items by permanently boosting some stats at the cost of cap points that you earn as you advance, say x amount every 1M exp past cap. Some CMANs already do this. This would allow further incentive to continue with a character, cut down on some tedium (or open up new abilities), and is probably good for the long term health of the game as players continue to advance.'''

''What do you feel is the biggest mistake that most GS players make? ''
:'''I'm not sure what mistake most GS players make, but I'd probably advise to move around some from whatever area you are comfortable. I think hunting level breakdowns have historically been a nice impetus for that in the past, though I see the need for expansion.'''

''Why? ''
:'''There is always more to learn and, while a possibly uncomfortable initial adjustment, each new area or discovery can ultimately be like playing the game again for the first time.'''

''What's something that you feel every GS player should do at least once? ''
:'''Get lost. Go out and explore the world.'''

''What advice would you offer to a new player? ''
:'''Read the room descriptions, immerse yourself, learn from mistakes, try intuitive commands and actions, explore and learn on your own to begin your experience. Don't get too daunted by the wealth of information and, as you feel comfortable, read the wiki for mechanics and lore, ask people questions IG or out, ring bells for Mentor help, but mostly do whatever is fun for you!'''

TownCrier Interview Sessions with Roblar

2017-08-12T18:21:31Z

CANNEL:

{{characterprofile
|name= Roblar Coronia
|caption= Commander Roblar Coronia the Warmaster of [[Highguard Keep]]
|race= [[Giantman]]
|profession= [[Warrior]]
|affiliations= Commander of [[Helden Hall]]
|relatives=
}}
{{TOCright}}
By Oubar, [[TownCrier]] Corrrespondent 
1 Phoenatos 5117 // August 1, 2017 - in Icemule Trace 
==Introduction==
Roblar Coronia is a name known far and wide as one of the strongest fighters in the land. In any instance where something needs to be hit VERY hard, he's the one for the job. His axe is his hallmark, and stories of his domination in the fighting pit of Helden Hall are whispered across the land. Recently this fierce warrior made time to sit down with the TownCrier for an in-depth interview. As expected, he was a daunting presence indeed, though he remained open and friendly throughout the process. The ale may have helped.
==The In-Character Interview==
<pre{{log2|background=none|border=none}}>
>go table
You head over to the Burnt Tart Table.
[Burnt Tart Table]
A slightly foul scent fills the air over this table, as if Master Tartlicker left a tart baking a bit too long. The top of the table is seared with a burn mark from something rather small and terribly hot.

You see Roblar waving at your table, clearly hoping that you will invite him to sit with you.
Commander Roblar arrives at your table.

>exa Roblar
You see Commander Roblar Coronia the Warmaster of Highguard Keep.
He appears to be a Giantman of the T'Kirem Clan.
He is imposing in size and has a muscular physique. He appears to be in the prime of life. He has intense bluish grey eyes and dusky golden skin. He has shoulder length, thick dark brown hair with grey at the temples. He has a seasoned square-jawed face and some broad shoulders. He carries an air of confidence, warm and without guile, though his eyes seem to hint at a roiling temperament beneath his exterior countenance.
He is in good shape.
He is wearing a thick blackened warhelm, an ur-barath inlaid rolaren torc, a large mithril key hanging from a thick silver chain, a suit of black rolaren plate armor, a dark blue balenite-bound pin, a small bone periapt, a grizzly bear hide greatcloak with an ivory-fanged hood, some golvern-chased vambraces, some thick golvern-banded gauntlets, an enruned dark veil iron ring, a carved thin blue gem band, a hefty veniom-bound bear hide axe scabbard secured with silver buckles, a claw-grasped golvern shield slung over his shoulder, a glaes-encased rough leather belt, a gilded minotaur warhorn, a barbed iron boar hide sack, a shuttered silver lantern charm, a rugged dark leather sack, and a pair of golvern-plated boots.

Roblar deeply says, "Allos."

Roblar smiles.

You bow to Roblar.

You exclaim, "Good evening!"

You rub your chin thoughtfully.

Roblar pulls out a chair and tiredly allows gravity to seat him.

You remove a banded thanot keg of Oiran winter ale from in your harness.
You place your thanot keg on the floor and pull out a small locking pin on the tap.

Roblar chuckles.

You pour yourself a mug of amber Oiran winter ale.

Roblar pours himself a mug of amber Oiran winter ale.

You raise your Oiran winter ale in a toast!

Roblar raises his Oiran winter ale in a toast!

You exclaim, "Good evening, and thank you so much for agreeing to be interviewed for the Crier!"

You grin impishly.

Roblar nods to you.

Roblar takes a drink from his Oiran winter ale.

You take a drink from your Oiran winter ale.

You say, "As we discussed beforehand, I've got some questions that I'd like to pose. We'll be recording the interview, and once it is all finalized, it will be published by the Crier for all to see."

You pull out a chair and seat yourself at the table.

Roblar chuckles to himself.

Roblar deeply says, "Aye."

Roblar nods slowly to you.

Roblar tenses up, beads of sweat glistening on his brow.

You say, "I generally start with a bit of background, for those precious few who might not be aware of you."

You ask, "What is your profession, for those who might not already be aware?"

Roblar deeply says, "Am a warrior."

You adopt an agreeable expression.

You ask, "What would you say is the best thing about your profession? If you were attempting to convince someone still on the turnip truck to lean towards your profession, what would you tell them?"

Roblar deeply says, "Combat."

Roblar grins at you.

You try hard not to grin.

You adopt an agreeable expression.

You say, "It's certainly true that warriors tend to have that particular aspect well covered."

You ask, "What would you say is the area in which warriors are weakest?"

Roblar deeply says, "In general, defending aginst spells."

Roblar takes a drink from his Oiran winter ale.

You adopt an agreeable expression.

You say, "But with enough training, doesn't most of that weakness go away? I've heard tell that you've managed to acquire some spell knowledge yourself."

Roblar nods in agreement to you.

Roblar deeply says, "Tiz possible wid alot of effort."

You ask, "Are spells still a concern for you personally?"

Roblar deeply says, "In which case, encumbrance and other types of spells."

Roblar grins at you.

Roblar deeply says, "Not usually, depends on da spell."

You nod understandingly.

Roblar deeply says, "A focused implosion still likely deadly."

Roblar nods to you.

You shudder.
You ask, "What town do you call home these days?"

Roblar deeply says, "Diz one, Icemule."

Roblar deeply adds, "Mostly."

You ask, "What is it that you like most about Icemule?"

Roblar deeply says, "Iz close to my some of my properties and to da Scatter."

Roblar deeply says, "Da tarts smell guud too."

You grin impishly.

Roblar takes a deep breath.

You say, "I can't argue with that."

Roblar smiles.

Roblar takes a drink from his Oiran winter ale.

You ask, "You said properties... do you own property near here?"

Roblar deeply says, "You likely passed [[Highguard Keep]] on da way north to dis lil town."

You nod understandingly.

You say, "I did indeed. Wasn't aware that it was yours, though."

You give a short little hum of surprise.

Roblar deeply says, "Also av a hunting cabin up da mountain and likely soon a small shop in town for extra supplies."

You say, "Very nice. I think we're all anxious for the town to open up shops again."

Roblar nods in agreement to you.

Roblar flashes a quick grin.

You ask, "I already know, but for the readers... what's your preferred hunting method and weapon?"

Roblar flashes a wide grin at you.

Roblar deeply says, "Swingin an axe or two."

Roblar removes an immense rolaren waraxe from in his bear hide axe scabbard.

Roblar shows you an immense rolaren waraxe, which he is holding in his left hand. The haft of this waraxe has been crafted of twin lengths of ironwood and ebonwood, the grey-on-black woods banded together by scored rings of golvern. In opposition, blackened rolaren rises from the ironwood and argent rolaren from the ebonwood, creating a contrast that is both stark and compelling. Along the massive blade, heavy Saramar runes have been etched across the carcass of a serpent enveloped in flame, the script flowing to a perfectly honed edge that radiates a subtle blue-white incandescence. There is a groove down the center of the weapon, bisecting it into two halves.
You also notice a small enchanter's glyph.

You nod appreciatively.

Roblar deeply says, "Usually two."

Roblar tips his head back and empties a mug of amber Oiran winter ale down his gullet!

Roblar holds his waraxe with both hands and, pressing a small button near his thumb, separates the weapon into two halves.

Roblar winks at you.

Roblar holds the two halves of his waraxe in each hand, carefully recombining the two halves of his weapon into one.

You say, "An amazing weapon, to be sure."

Roblar casually brushes the remnants of his last battle from his waraxe.

Roblar grunts.

Roblar adopts an agreeable expression.

Roblar put an immense rolaren waraxe in his bear hide axe scabbard.

You ask, "Do you have any other fighting methods that you employ these days?"

Roblar deeply says, "Am a master of all methods."

Roblar deeply says, "Sometimes may punch and kick an opponent for amusement."

You ask, "Where do you generally hunt, these days?"

Roblar deeply says, "Da Scatter."

Roblar deeply says, "Sometimes travel south into da Sea of Fire to kill Luukosians."

You nod understandingly.

You ask, "Do you belong to any of the Great Houses?"

Roblar deeply says, "Aye, am commander of Helden Hall."

You nod appreciatively.

You ask, "What do you like most about Helden Hall?"

Roblar deeply says, "It az an ole history and was formed by warriors of old, for most part."

You adopt an agreeable expression.

You say, "It's widely known as the House for warriors, to be sure."

Roblar deeply says, "Metaboculous was one of da early warriors me met in da lands."

Roblar deeply says, "And a founder."

You nod understandingly.

Roblar deeply says, "Also, da fighting pit iz a wonderous place ta trains."

Roblar winks and flashes a sly grin.

You grin.

Roblar balls his fists, causing his golvern-banded gauntlets to tighten around his hands.

You say, "The way I understand it, these days, you're generally regarded as the master of said pit."

You grin at Roblar.

Roblar deeply says, "Me does well."

Roblar grins.

You agree with Roblar.

You ask, "Aside from your axe, what would you say is your most prized possession?"

Roblar ponders.

Roblar points at his rolaren plate armor.

Roblar runs a hand across the front of his armor and a few wisps of vapor stream out behind his fingertips.

Roblar deeply says, "Ma armor."

You ask, "Can you tell us a bit about it?"

Roblar deeply says, "Wells.."

Roblar deeply says, "It iz highly enchanted aginst physical attacks and protects aginst magical attacks."

Roblar deeply says, "It iz resistant to acid, impacts, tings dat slash or pierce."

Roblar deeply says, "It iz fully ensorcelled."

Roblar deeply says, "And touched by strange Ithziri majiks."

Roblar shrugs.

Roblar shows you a suit of black rolaren plate armor, which he is wearing. Dark and dull as the cliffs of the Dragonspine on a bleak winter's day, the matte black finish of this masterfully crafted armor belies its exceptional quality. Favoring practically and function over glossy surfaces and polished sheen, the lack of any visible flaw stands as testimony to the vigilance paid to its care. Along every edge, Saramar runes have been traced in an unbroken line, clearly some sort of warding, and wisps of vapor occasionally escape from between the many layers of rolaren plates. You also notice a small enchanter's glyph.

Roblar deeply says, "Protects me well."

You say, "That's VERY impressive. Seems like the ideal armor."

Roblar drums his fingers on the surface of his armor, and small wisps of vapor puff out after each impact.

Roblar deeply says, "Had it made for da Scatter."

Roblar deeply says, "Da Ithzir majiks heals me too."

You say, "And I imagine it does quite well there."

Roblar stretches his shoulders, settling his armor into a more comfortable position.

You ask, "If pressed, what other adventurer would you say had the most impact on you as you progressed through your skills?"

Roblar deeply asks, "A single adventurer?"

Roblar grins.

Roblar deeply says, "Been a long time."

You hold up your hand and tilt it side to side in a so-so gesture.

You say, "First name that comes to mind, then. If there's more than one, that's understandable."

You grin at Roblar.

Roblar deeply says, "Well Kerl was one of my first guild skill teachers and helped me master war cries."

Roblar smiles at you.

You exclaim, "A worthy mentor, to be sure!"

Roblar deeply says, "And also liked axes."

You try hard not to grin.

Roblar deeply says, "Though he likes ta throw dem moar."

Roblar winks at you.

You say, "I believe I may have heard mention of that fact at some point."

You say, "A couple more, and then we'll wrap up."

Roblar nods to you.

You ask, "What would you say is your motivation? What is it that drives you currently?"

Roblar deeply says, "To become stronger, more powerful, and to learn more each day."

You nod understandingly.

You say, "A noble goal."

Roblar deeply says, "To crush my enemies, hear da lamentations of their…"

Roblar chuckles to himself.

Roblar deeply says, "Ok, well."

You chuckle to yourself.

You ask, "Looking back on your path, is there something that comes to mind that you wish you'd done differently?"

Roblar simply says, "No."

You nod.

Roblar flashes a quick grin at you.

Roblar deeply says, "Aye, dat didn’t pour myself another a lil earlier!"

Roblar pours himself a mug of amber Oiran winter ale.

Roblar nods with satisfaction.

Roblar leans back in his chair, balancing himself on two legs for a few moments, then sets the chair back down on all four legs.

Roblar takes a drink from his Oiran winter ale.
Roblar looks rather relaxed.

You exclaim, "By all means, help yourself!"

You grin.

You ask, "One last thing... would you be willing to give the readers a peek inside one of your lockers? No explanations or anything, just a glance?

Roblar deeply says, "Well, I am somewhat of a minimalist and, as a giant, carry most things on me so I only partially use one locker of mostly items with nostalgic value."

In a deep chest:
a small decrepit dollhouse toy
a Lord Roblar portrait
a tissue-lined box covered in burnished copper foil
a small jagged shard of blood marble
a Mandis Crystal shard
a colorful Elanthian globe
a miniature pink marble kraken
a miniature stone manor
a tiny clay penguin chick
a carved Aeia statuette
a tiny brass spittoon
a small wooden tree
a reclining woman figurine
a tiny enameled serving maid
a steel-banded ironwood catapult (registered)
a steel-banded ironwood ballista (registered)
a dark wizard figure (registered)
a towering thick-walled fortress (registered)
a fel block
an ironwood block
a faewood block
a Silvergate Inn snowglobe
a gold-chased rolaren medallion on a green tartan ribbon
a silver-chased rolaren medallion on a red tartan ribbon
a silver-chased rolaren medallion on a red tartan ribbon
a silver-chased rolaren medallion on a red tartan ribbon
a silver-chased rolaren medallion on a red tartan ribbon
a bronze-chased rolaren medallion on a blue tartan ribbon
a silver-chased rolaren medallion on a red tartan ribbon
a clear glaes bubble
a gilt-edged clear glaes seashell
an ivory snowflake plaque
a piece of parchment
a silver party horn with multi-colored silk streamers
a luminescent silver-gold orb
a heavy ironwood key
a carved ur-barath totem
an obsidian chest
a large invar-bound chest
a small oak casket

In a clothing wardrobe:
a silver-inlaid cherrywood case
a slender Palestra Blade miniature
a Nalfein swordsman miniature
an armored human crusader miniature
a skeletal shadow knight miniature
an axe-wielding mayor miniature
an amber-eyed large giantman miniature
a ferocious troll commander miniature
a long-tailed war rat miniature
a giantman warlord miniature
a raging vathor miniature
a scruffy and muscled warrior miniature
a Madam Zannebah miniature
a small blood red spider
a black griffin
a bloodstained claidhmore pin choked with an inlay of thorny onyx vines
an eyeless skull pin
an opaline snowball pin (registered)
a moss-covered skull insignia
some dark cotton pants
some studded eonake gauntlets
a smooth ebonwood case inlaid with a labyrinth of silvery vaalin wire
a carved stone dwarf statue
a lion-inlaid mithril signet ring
a black spidersilk vest
a lustrous gold crown-shaped pin
a tiny iron catapult pin
an aged bone talisman emanating a faint glow

In a magical item bin:
a meteor-etched gold ring
a large brass-framed lens
a miniature clock tower
a granite triangle
a ruby amulet
a turquoise glaes spider charm
a sky blue glaesine orb

On an armor stand:
a gold-inlaid winged rolaren warhelm

On a weapon rack:
a massive glaes club

You nod gratefully.

You say, "Thank you very much for that!"

Roblar nods to you.

You ask, "I believe that wraps up the questions I had prepared! Was there anything you'd like to talk about for the record?"

Roblar looks over at you and shakes his head.

You nod understandingly.

Roblar deeply says, "Well lookin forward to yer scrivenin'."

Roblar nods to you.

Roblar deeply concedes, "Aye."

Roblar deeply says, "Dis some guud ale."

Roblar taps a mug of amber Oiran winter ale, which is in his right hand.

Roblar flashes a wide grin at you.

Roblar deeply says, "Fergot me av a keg er two locked up in da keep."

Speaking to Roblar, you say, "Thank you! I like to provide refreshments. Least I can do for occupying your time like this."

Roblar deeply says, "Shall afta tap one later."

You grin at Roblar.

Roblar smiles.

Roblar deeply says, "Well t'anks invitin me to tink back."

Roblar deeply says, "Been a long road."

You nod understandingly.

Roblar grins at you.

You bow to Roblar.

Roblar scoots his chair back and stands up.

You say, "Thank you again, good Sir."

You scoot your chair back and stand up.

Roblar grunts to you in tribute as he bangs his fist sharply upon his rolaren plate armor in a barbaric salute.

You shake hands with Roblar.

You say, "Have a good evening."

Roblar deeply says, "Welcome, an t'ank you."

Roblar deeply says, "You too."

Roblar waves.

You wave.

Roblar turns around.

Commander Roblar just went out.
</pre>

==The Out-of-Character Interview==
''How long have you played Gemstone? ''
:'''Since August, 1996.'''

''Have you taken any breaks, or played straight through? ''
:'''I've taken some breaks of up to a year or more before, though no significant ones for a long time.'''

''How many different main characters have you had over the years? ''
:'''My only real main character in Prime has been Roblar. My first character in Prime was Lur, though that half-elven warrior (Tanis - Dragonlance based) only lasted about a few weeks before my first small 2 month break - those hourly bills got intense!'''

''Do you have multiple accounts that you play at the same time? ''
:'''Rarely. Maybe 1 or 2 months out of the year, usually EG month.'''

''Do you have a Premium subscription? ''
:'''Yes.'''

''What front-end do you use? (Stormfront, Wizard, Profanity, other)?''
'''Stormfront'''

''Why? ''
:'''I liked the name better because Wizard(s) are puny. Ok, only half-kidding. I also downloaded it after whatever return from a break and liked the look and layout. It provides alot of info at a glance and saves remotely. I then later found it helpful at festivals or when discovering things I may have missed when exploring the environment. I honestly don't remember the Wizard anymore, maybe the music. I also enjoyed a previous web client (not this current one) prior to SF I think.'''

''Do you use lich? ''
:'''No.'''

''Why or why not? ''
:'''I guess I enjoy my process and doing it myself'''

''Do you now, or have you ever roleplayed a character that was very different from your real personality? ''
:'''Nothing of significance.'''

''What would you say is your most memorable Gemstone ˜moment (as a player), and why? ''
:'''I don't know, there have been so many I remember and others I wish I remember better. I'll go with an old gamble of my then entire bank account long ago at Beldrin's Gaming Wheel to quickly try and increase funds for an unexpected festival, with Lord Commandant and Lady Karess witnessing. I won but the fear of losing that 2M or so was terrifying as I had saved for so long. And it's not even double but 50% if you win!'''

''What, in your mind, is the best thing about Gemstone? ''
:'''The longevity, creativity (story/world/interaction), depth, mechanical flexibility, and relationships it offers.'''

''Have you ever attended SimuCon, or otherwise met up with a person from Gemstone?''
:'''Yes, I went to SimuCon in 2015. It was a lot of fun to meet players and staff. I highly recommend it and wish I could attend this year. It mostly involved drinking, talking about in and out of game things, playing games and contests and eating!'''

''Imagine you're Wyrom for a day and can 'do' one thing. What are you changing/removing/adding/replacing, and why? ''
:'''I would love to see some kind of postcap system added to the game. I'm not sure about the specifics but I wouldn't mind for example the convenience of not requiring enhancive items by permanently boosting some stats at the cost of cap points that you earn as you advance, say x amount every 1M exp past cap. Some CMANs already do this. This would allow further incentive to continue with a character, cut down on some tedium (or open up new abilities), and is probably good for the long term health of the game as players continue to advance.'''

''What do you feel is the biggest mistake that most GS players make? ''
:'''I'm not sure what mistake most GS players make, but I'd probably advise to move around some from whatever area you are comfortable. I think hunting level breakdowns have historically been a nice impetus for that in the past, though I see the need for expansion.'''

''Why? ''
:'''There is always more to learn and, while a possibly uncomfortable initial adjustment, each new area or discovery can ultimately be like playing the game again for the first time.'''

''What's something that you feel every GS player should do at least once? ''
:'''Get lost. Go out and explore the world.'''

''What advice would you offer to a new player? ''
:'''Read the room descriptions, immerse yourself, learn from mistakes, try intuitive commands and actions, explore and learn on your own to begin your experience. Don't get too daunted by the wealth of information and, as you feel comfortable, read the wiki for mechanics and lore, ask people questions IG or out, ring bells for Mentor help, but mostly do whatever is fun for you!'''

TownCrier Interview Sessions with Roblar

2017-08-12T18:17:59Z

CANNEL:

{{characterprofile
|name= Roblar Coronia
|caption= Commander Roblar Coronia the Warmaster of [[Highguard Keep]]
|race= [[Giantman]]
|profession= [[Warrior]]
|affiliations= Commander of [[Helden Hall]]
|relatives=
}}
{{TOCright}}
By Oubar, [[TownCrier]] Corrrespondent 
1 Phoenatos 5117 // August 1, 2017 - in Icemule Trace 
==Introduction==
Roblar Coronia is a name known far and wide as one of the strongest fighters in the land. In any instance where something needs to be hit VERY hard, he's the one for the job. His axe is his hallmark, and stories of his domination in the fighting pit of Helden Hall are whispered across the land. Recently this fierce warrior made time to sit down with the TownCrier for an in-depth interview. As expected, he was a daunting presence indeed, though he remained open and friendly throughout the process. The ale may have helped.
==The In-Character Interview==
<pre{{log2|background=none|border=none}}>
>go table
You head over to the Burnt Tart Table.
[Burnt Tart Table]
A slightly foul scent fills the air over this table, as if Master Tartlicker left a tart baking a bit too long. The top of the table is seared with a burn mark from something rather small and terribly hot.

You see Roblar waving at your table, clearly hoping that you will invite him to sit with you.
Commander Roblar arrives at your table.

>exa Roblar
You see Commander Roblar Coronia the Warmaster of Highguard Keep.
He appears to be a Giantman of the T'Kirem Clan.
He is imposing in size and has a muscular physique. He appears to be in the prime of life. He has intense bluish grey eyes and dusky golden skin. He has shoulder length, thick dark brown hair with grey at the temples. He has a seasoned square-jawed face and some broad shoulders. He carries an air of confidence, warm and without guile, though his eyes seem to hint at a roiling temperament beneath his exterior countenance.
He is in good shape.
He is wearing a thick blackened warhelm, an ur-barath inlaid rolaren torc, a large mithril key hanging from a thick silver chain, a suit of black rolaren plate armor, a dark blue balenite-bound pin, a small bone periapt, a grizzly bear hide greatcloak with an ivory-fanged hood, some golvern-chased vambraces, some thick golvern-banded gauntlets, an enruned dark veil iron ring, a carved thin blue gem band, a hefty veniom-bound bear hide axe scabbard secured with silver buckles, a claw-grasped golvern shield slung over his shoulder, a glaes-encased rough leather belt, a gilded minotaur warhorn, a barbed iron boar hide sack, a shuttered silver lantern charm, a rugged dark leather sack, and a pair of golvern-plated boots.

Roblar deeply says, "Allos."

Roblar smiles.

You bow to Roblar.

You exclaim, "Good evening!"

You rub your chin thoughtfully.

Roblar pulls out a chair and tiredly allows gravity to seat him.

You remove a banded thanot keg of Oiran winter ale from in your harness.
You place your thanot keg on the floor and pull out a small locking pin on the tap.

Roblar chuckles.

You pour yourself a mug of amber Oiran winter ale.

Roblar pours himself a mug of amber Oiran winter ale.

You raise your Oiran winter ale in a toast!

Roblar raises his Oiran winter ale in a toast!

You exclaim, "Good evening, and thank you so much for agreeing to be interviewed for the Crier!"

You grin impishly.

Roblar nods to you.

Roblar takes a drink from his Oiran winter ale.

You take a drink from your Oiran winter ale.

You say, "As we discussed beforehand, I've got some questions that I'd like to pose. We'll be recording the interview, and once it is all finalized, it will be published by the Crier for all to see."

You pull out a chair and seat yourself at the table.

Roblar chuckles to himself.

Roblar deeply says, "Aye."

Roblar nods slowly to you.

Roblar tenses up, beads of sweat glistening on his brow.

You say, "I generally start with a bit of background, for those precious few who might not be aware of you."

You ask, "What is your profession, for those who might not already be aware?"

Roblar deeply says, "Am a warrior."

You adopt an agreeable expression.

You ask, "What would you say is the best thing about your profession? If you were attempting to convince someone still on the turnip truck to lean towards your profession, what would you tell them?"

Roblar deeply says, "Combat."

Roblar grins at you.

You try hard not to grin.

You adopt an agreeable expression.

You say, "It's certainly true that warriors tend to have that particular aspect well covered."

You ask, "What would you say is the area in which warriors are weakest?"

Roblar deeply says, "In general, defending aginst spells."

Roblar takes a drink from his Oiran winter ale.

You adopt an agreeable expression.

You say, "But with enough training, doesn't most of that weakness go away? I've heard tell that you've managed to acquire some spell knowledge yourself."

Roblar nods in agreement to you.

Roblar deeply says, "Tiz possible wid alot of effort."

You ask, "Are spells still a concern for you personally?"

Roblar deeply says, "In which case, encumbrance and other types of spells."

Roblar grins at you.

Roblar deeply says, "Not usually, depends on da spell."

You nod understandingly.

Roblar deeply says, "A focused implosion still likely deadly."

Roblar nods to you.

You shudder.
You ask, "What town do you call home these days?"

Roblar deeply says, "Diz one, Icemule."

Roblar deeply adds, "Mostly."

You ask, "What is it that you like most about Icemule?"

Roblar deeply says, "Iz close to my some of my properties and to da Scatter."

Roblar deeply says, "Da tarts smell guud too."

You grin impishly.

Roblar takes a deep breath.

You say, "I can't argue with that."

Roblar smiles.

Roblar takes a drink from his Oiran winter ale.

You ask, "You said properties... do you own property near here?"

Roblar deeply says, "You likely passed [[Highguard Keep]] on da way north to dis lil town."

You nod understandingly.

You say, "I did indeed. Wasn't aware that it was yours, though."

You give a short little hum of surprise.

Roblar deeply says, "Also av a hunting cabin up da mountain and likely soon a small shop in town for extra supplies."

You say, "Very nice. I think we're all anxious for the town to open up shops again."

Roblar nods in agreement to you.

Roblar flashes a quick grin.

You ask, "I already know, but for the readers... what's your preferred hunting method and weapon?"

Roblar flashes a wide grin at you.

Roblar deeply says, "Swingin an axe or two."

Roblar removes an immense rolaren waraxe from in his bear hide axe scabbard.

Roblar shows you an immense rolaren waraxe, which he is holding in his left hand. The haft of this waraxe has been crafted of twin lengths of ironwood and ebonwood, the grey-on-black woods banded together by scored rings of golvern. In opposition, blackened rolaren rises from the ironwood and argent rolaren from the ebonwood, creating a contrast that is both stark and compelling. Along the massive blade, heavy Saramar runes have been etched across the carcass of a serpent enveloped in flame, the script flowing to a perfectly honed edge that radiates a subtle blue-white incandescence. There is a groove down the center of the weapon, bisecting it into two halves.
You also notice a small enchanter's glyph.

You nod appreciatively.

Roblar deeply says, "Usually two."

Roblar tips his head back and empties a mug of amber Oiran winter ale down his gullet!

Roblar holds his waraxe with both hands and, pressing a small button near his thumb, separates the weapon into two halves.

Roblar winks at you.

Roblar holds the two halves of his waraxe in each hand, carefully recombining the two halves of his weapon into one.

You say, "An amazing weapon, to be sure."

Roblar casually brushes the remnants of his last battle from his waraxe.

Roblar grunts.

Roblar adopts an agreeable expression.

Roblar put an immense rolaren waraxe in his bear hide axe scabbard.

You ask, "Do you have any other fighting methods that you employ these days?"

Roblar deeply says, "Am a master of all methods."

Roblar deeply says, "Sometimes may punch and kick an opponent for amusement."

You ask, "Where do you generally hunt, these days?"

Roblar deeply says, "Da Scatter."

Roblar deeply says, "Sometimes travel south into da Sea of Fire to kill Luukosians."

You nod understandingly.

You ask, "Do you belong to any of the Great Houses?"

Roblar deeply says, "Aye, am commander of Helden Hall."

You nod appreciatively.

You ask, "What do you like most about Helden Hall?"

Roblar deeply says, "It az an ole history and was formed by warriors of old, for most part."

You adopt an agreeable expression.

You say, "It's widely known as the House for warriors, to be sure."

Roblar deeply says, "Metaboculous was one of da early warriors me met in da lands."

Roblar deeply says, "And a founder."

You nod understandingly.

Roblar deeply says, "Also, da fighting pit iz a wonderous place ta trains."

Roblar winks and flashes a sly grin.

You grin.

Roblar balls his fists, causing his golvern-banded gauntlets to tighten around his hands.

You say, "The way I understand it, these days, you're generally regarded as the master of said pit."

You grin at Roblar.

Roblar deeply says, "Me does well."

Roblar grins.

You agree with Roblar.

You ask, "Aside from your axe, what would you say is your most prized possession?"

Roblar ponders.

Roblar points at his rolaren plate armor.

Roblar runs a hand across the front of his armor and a few wisps of vapor stream out behind his fingertips.

Roblar deeply says, "Ma armor."

You ask, "Can you tell us a bit about it?"

Roblar deeply says, "Wells.."

Roblar deeply says, "It iz highly enchanted aginst physical attacks and protects aginst magical attacks."

Roblar deeply says, "It iz resistant to acid, impacts, tings dat slash or pierce."

Roblar deeply says, "It iz fully ensorcelled."

Roblar deeply says, "And touched by strange Ithziri majiks."

Roblar shrugs.

Roblar shows you a suit of black rolaren plate armor, which he is wearing. Dark and dull as the cliffs of the Dragonspine on a bleak winter's day, the matte black finish of this masterfully crafted armor belies its exceptional quality. Favoring practically and function over glossy surfaces and polished sheen, the lack of any visible flaw stands as testimony to the vigilance paid to its care. Along every edge, Saramar runes have been traced in an unbroken line, clearly some sort of warding, and wisps of vapor occasionally escape from between the many layers of rolaren plates. You also notice a small enchanter's glyph.

Roblar deeply says, "Protects me well."

You say, "That's VERY impressive. Seems like the ideal armor."

Roblar drums his fingers on the surface of his armor, and small wisps of vapor puff out after each impact.

Roblar deeply says, "Had it made for da Scatter."

Roblar deeply says, "Da Ithzir majiks heals me too."

You say, "And I imagine it does quite well there."

Roblar stretches his shoulders, settling his armor into a more comfortable position.

You ask, "If pressed, what other adventurer would you say had the most impact on you as you progressed through your skills?"

Roblar deeply asks, "A single adventurer?"

Roblar grins.

Roblar deeply says, "Been a long time."

You hold up your hand and tilt it side to side in a so-so gesture.

You say, "First name that comes to mind, then. If there's more than one, that's understandable."

You grin at Roblar.

Roblar deeply says, "Well Kerl was one of my first guild skill teachers and helped me master war cries."

Roblar smiles at you.

You exclaim, "A worthy mentor, to be sure!"

Roblar deeply says, "And also liked axes."

You try hard not to grin.

Roblar deeply says, "Though he likes ta throw dem moar."

Roblar winks at you.

You say, "I believe I may have heard mention of that fact at some point."

You say, "A couple more, and then we'll wrap up."

Roblar nods to you.

You ask, "What would you say is your motivation? What is it that drives you currently?"

Roblar deeply says, "To become stronger, more powerful, and to learn more each day."

You nod understandingly.

You say, "A noble goal."

Roblar deeply says, "To crush my enemies, hear da lamentations of their…"

Roblar chuckles to himself.

Roblar deeply says, "Ok, well."

You chuckle to yourself.

You ask, "Looking back on your path, is there something that comes to mind that you wish you'd done differently?"

Roblar simply says, "No."

You nod.

Roblar flashes a quick grin at you.

Roblar deeply says, "Aye, dat didn’t pour myself another a lil earlier!"

Roblar pours himself a mug of amber Oiran winter ale.

Roblar nods with satisfaction.

Roblar leans back in his chair, balancing himself on two legs for a few moments, then sets the chair back down on all four legs.

Roblar takes a drink from his Oiran winter ale.
Roblar looks rather relaxed.

You exclaim, "By all means, help yourself!"

You grin.
You ask, "I believe that wraps up the questions I had prepared! Was there anything you'd like to talk about for the record?"

Roblar looks over at you and shakes his head.

You nod understandingly.

Roblar deeply says, "Well lookin forward to yer scrivenin'."

Roblar nods to you.

Roblar deeply concedes, "Aye."

Roblar deeply says, "Dis some guud ale."

Roblar taps a mug of amber Oiran winter ale, which is in his right hand.

Roblar flashes a wide grin at you.

Roblar deeply says, "Fergot me av a keg er two locked up in da keep."

Speaking to Roblar, you say, "Thank you! I like to provide refreshments. Least I can do for occupying your time like this."

Roblar deeply says, "Shall afta tap one later."

You grin at Roblar.

Roblar smiles.

Roblar deeply says, "Well t'anks invitin me to tink back."

Roblar deeply says, "Been a long road."

You nod understandingly.

Roblar grins at you.

You bow to Roblar.

Roblar scoots his chair back and stands up.

You say, "Thank you again, good Sir."

You scoot your chair back and stand up.

Roblar grunts to you in tribute as he bangs his fist sharply upon his rolaren plate armor in a barbaric salute.

You shake hands with Roblar.

You say, "Have a good evening."

Roblar deeply says, "Welcome, an t'ank you."

Roblar deeply says, "You too."

Roblar waves.

You wave.

Roblar turns around.

Commander Roblar just went out.
</pre>

==The Out-of-Character Interview==
''How long have you played Gemstone? ''
:'''Since August, 1996.'''

''Have you taken any breaks, or played straight through? ''
:'''I've taken some breaks of up to a year or more before, though no significant ones for a long time.'''

''How many different main characters have you had over the years? ''
:'''My only real main character in Prime has been Roblar. My first character in Prime was Lur, though that half-elven warrior (Tanis - Dragonlance based) only lasted about a few weeks before my first small 2 month break - those hourly bills got intense!'''

''Do you have multiple accounts that you play at the same time? ''
:'''Rarely. Maybe 1 or 2 months out of the year, usually EG month.'''

''Do you have a Premium subscription? ''
:'''Yes.'''

''What front-end do you use? (Stormfront, Wizard, Profanity, other)?''
'''Stormfront'''

''Why? ''
:'''I liked the name better because Wizard(s) are puny. Ok, only half-kidding. I also downloaded it after whatever return from a break and liked the look and layout. It provides alot of info at a glance and saves remotely. I then later found it helpful at festivals or when discovering things I may have missed when exploring the environment. I honestly don't remember the Wizard anymore, maybe the music. I also enjoyed a previous web client (not this current one) prior to SF I think.'''

''Do you use lich? ''
:'''No.'''

''Why or why not? ''
:'''I guess I enjoy my process and doing it myself'''

''Do you now, or have you ever roleplayed a character that was very different from your real personality? ''
:'''Nothing of significance.'''

''What would you say is your most memorable Gemstone ˜moment (as a player), and why? ''
:'''I don't know, there have been so many I remember and others I wish I remember better. I'll go with an old gamble of my then entire bank account long ago at Beldrin's Gaming Wheel to quickly try and increase funds for an unexpected festival, with Lord Commandant and Lady Karess witnessing. I won but the fear of losing that 2M or so was terrifying as I had saved for so long. And it's not even double but 50% if you win!'''

''What, in your mind, is the best thing about Gemstone? ''
:'''The longevity, creativity (story/world/interaction), depth, mechanical flexibility, and relationships it offers.'''

''Have you ever attended SimuCon, or otherwise met up with a person from Gemstone?''
:'''Yes, I went to SimuCon in 2015. It was a lot of fun to meet players and staff. I highly recommend it and wish I could attend this year. It mostly involved drinking, talking about in and out of game things, playing games and contests and eating!'''

''Imagine you're Wyrom for a day and can 'do' one thing. What are you changing/removing/adding/replacing, and why? ''
:'''I would love to see some kind of postcap system added to the game. I'm not sure about the specifics but I wouldn't mind for example the convenience of not requiring enhancive items by permanently boosting some stats at the cost of cap points that you earn as you advance, say x amount every 1M exp past cap. Some CMANs already do this. This would allow further incentive to continue with a character, cut down on some tedium (or open up new abilities), and is probably good for the long term health of the game as players continue to advance.'''

''What do you feel is the biggest mistake that most GS players make? ''
:'''I'm not sure what mistake most GS players make, but I'd probably advise to move around some from whatever area you are comfortable. I think hunting level breakdowns have historically been a nice impetus for that in the past, though I see the need for expansion.'''

''Why? ''
:'''There is always more to learn and, while a possibly uncomfortable initial adjustment, each new area or discovery can ultimately be like playing the game again for the first time.'''

''What's something that you feel every GS player should do at least once? ''
:'''Get lost. Go out and explore the world.'''

''What advice would you offer to a new player? ''
:'''Read the room descriptions, immerse yourself, learn from mistakes, try intuitive commands and actions, explore and learn on your own to begin your experience. Don't get too daunted by the wealth of information and, as you feel comfortable, read the wiki for mechanics and lore, ask people questions IG or out, ring bells for Mentor help, but mostly do whatever is fun for you!'''

TownCrier Interview Sessions with Roblar

2017-08-12T17:42:32Z

CANNEL:

{{characterprofile
|name= Roblar Coronia
|caption= Commander Roblar Coronia the Warmaster of [[Highguard Keep]]
|race= [[Giantman]]
|profession= [[Warrior]]
|affiliations= Commander of [[Helden Hall]]
|relatives=
}}
{{TOCright}}
By Oubar, [[TownCrier]] Corrrespondent 
1 Phoenatos 5117 // August 1, 2017 - in Icemule Trace 
==Introduction==
Roblar Coronia is a name known far and wide as one of the strongest fighters in the land. In any instance where something needs to be hit VERY hard, he's the one for the job. His axe is his hallmark, and stories of his domination in the fighting pit of Helden Hall are whispered across the land. Recently this fierce warrior made time to sit down with the TownCrier for an in-depth interview. As expected, he was a daunting presence indeed, though he remained open and friendly throughout the process. The ale may have helped.
==The In-Character Interview==
<pre{{log2|background=none|border=none}}>
>go table
You head over to the Burnt Tart Table.
[Burnt Tart Table]
A slightly foul scent fills the air over this table, as if Master Tartlicker left a tart baking a bit too long. The top of the table is seared with a burn mark from something rather small and terribly hot.

You see Roblar waving at your table, clearly hoping that you will invite him to sit with you.
Commander Roblar arrives at your table.

>exa Roblar
You see Commander Roblar Coronia the Warmaster of Highguard Keep.
He appears to be a Giantman of the T'Kirem Clan.
He is imposing in size and has a muscular physique. He appears to be in the prime of life. He has intense bluish grey eyes and dusky golden skin. He has shoulder length, thick dark brown hair with grey at the temples. He has a seasoned square-jawed face and some broad shoulders. He carries an air of confidence, warm and without guile, though his eyes seem to hint at a roiling temperament beneath his exterior countenance.
He is in good shape.
He is wearing a thick blackened warhelm, an ur-barath inlaid rolaren torc, a large mithril key hanging from a thick silver chain, a suit of black rolaren plate armor, a dark blue balenite-bound pin, a small bone periapt, a grizzly bear hide greatcloak with an ivory-fanged hood, some golvern-chased vambraces, some thick golvern-banded gauntlets, an enruned dark veil iron ring, a carved thin blue gem band, a hefty veniom-bound bear hide axe scabbard secured with silver buckles, a claw-grasped golvern shield slung over his shoulder, a glaes-encased rough leather belt, a gilded minotaur warhorn, a barbed iron boar hide sack, a shuttered silver lantern charm, a rugged dark leather sack, and a pair of golvern-plated boots.

Roblar deeply says, "Allos."

Roblar smiles.

You bow to Roblar.

You exclaim, "Good evening!"

You rub your chin thoughtfully.

Roblar pulls out a chair and tiredly allows gravity to seat him.

You remove a banded thanot keg of Oiran winter ale from in your harness.
You place your thanot keg on the floor and pull out a small locking pin on the tap.

Roblar chuckles.

You pour yourself a mug of amber Oiran winter ale.

Roblar pours himself a mug of amber Oiran winter ale.

You raise your Oiran winter ale in a toast!

Roblar raises his Oiran winter ale in a toast!

You exclaim, "Good evening, and thank you so much for agreeing to be interviewed for the Crier!"

You grin impishly.

Roblar nods to you.

Roblar takes a drink from his Oiran winter ale.

You take a drink from your Oiran winter ale.

You say, "As we discussed beforehand, I've got some questions that I'd like to pose. We'll be recording the interview, and once it is all finalized, it will be published by the Crier for all to see."

You pull out a chair and seat yourself at the table.

Roblar chuckles to himself.

Roblar deeply says, "Aye."

Roblar nods slowly to you.

Roblar tenses up, beads of sweat glistening on his brow.

You say, "I generally start with a bit of background, for those precious few who might not be aware of you."

You ask, "What is your profession, for those who might not already be aware?"

Roblar deeply says, "Am a warrior."

You adopt an agreeable expression.

You ask, "What would you say is the best thing about your profession? If you were attempting to convince someone still on the turnip truck to lean towards your profession, what would you tell them?"

Roblar deeply says, "Combat."

Roblar grins at you.

You try hard not to grin.

You adopt an agreeable expression.

You say, "It's certainly true that warriors tend to have that particular aspect well covered."

You ask, "What would you say is the area in which warriors are weakest?"

Roblar deeply says, "In general, defending aginst spells."

Roblar takes a drink from his Oiran winter ale.

You adopt an agreeable expression.

You say, "But with enough training, doesn't most of that weakness go away? I've heard tell that you've managed to acquire some spell knowledge yourself."

Roblar nods in agreement to you.

Roblar deeply says, "Tiz possible wid alot of effort."

You ask, "Are spells still a concern for you personally?"

Roblar deeply says, "In which case, encumbrance and other types of spells."

Roblar grins at you.

Roblar deeply says, "Not usually, depends on da spell."

You nod understandingly.

Roblar deeply says, "A focused implosion still likely deadly."

Roblar nods to you.

You shudder.
You ask, "What town do you call home these days?"

Roblar deeply says, "Diz one, Icemule."

Roblar deeply adds, "Mostly."

You ask, "What is it that you like most about Icemule?"

Roblar deeply says, "Iz close to my some of my properties and to da Scatter."

Roblar deeply says, "Da tarts smell guud too."

You grin impishly.

Roblar takes a deep breath.

You say, "I can't argue with that."

Roblar smiles.

Roblar takes a drink from his Oiran winter ale.

You ask, "You said properties... do you own property near here?"

Roblar deeply says, "You likely passed [[Highguard Keep]] on da way north to dis lil town."

You nod understandingly.

You say, "I did indeed. Wasn't aware that it was yours, though."

You give a short little hum of surprise.

Roblar deeply says, "Also av a hunting cabin up da mountain and likely soon a small shop in town for extra supplies."

You say, "Very nice. I think we're all anxious for the town to open up shops again."

Roblar nods in agreement to you.

Roblar flashes a quick grin.

You ask, "I already know, but for the readers... what's your preferred hunting method and weapon?"

Roblar flashes a wide grin at you.

Roblar deeply says, "Swingin an axe or two."

Roblar removes an immense rolaren waraxe from in his bear hide axe scabbard.

Roblar shows you an immense rolaren waraxe, which he is holding in his left hand. The haft of this waraxe has been crafted of twin lengths of ironwood and ebonwood, the grey-on-black woods banded together by scored rings of golvern. In opposition, blackened rolaren rises from the ironwood and argent rolaren from the ebonwood, creating a contrast that is both stark and compelling. Along the massive blade, heavy Saramar runes have been etched across the carcass of a serpent enveloped in flame, the script flowing to a perfectly honed edge that radiates a subtle blue-white incandescence. There is a groove down the center of the weapon, bisecting it into two halves.
You also notice a small enchanter's glyph.

You nod appreciatively.

Roblar deeply says, "Usually two."

Roblar tips his head back and empties a mug of amber Oiran winter ale down his gullet!

Roblar holds his waraxe with both hands and, pressing a small button near his thumb, separates the weapon into two halves.

Roblar winks at you.

Roblar holds the two halves of his waraxe in each hand, carefully recombining the two halves of his weapon into one.

You say, "An amazing weapon, to be sure."

Roblar casually brushes the remnants of his last battle from his waraxe.

Roblar grunts.

Roblar adopts an agreeable expression.

Roblar put an immense rolaren waraxe in his bear hide axe scabbard.

You ask, "Do you have any other fighting methods that you employ these days?"

Roblar deeply says, "Am a master of all methods."

Roblar deeply says, "Sometimes may punch and kick an opponent for amusement."

You ask, "Where do you generally hunt, these days?"

Roblar deeply says, "Da Scatter."

Roblar deeply says, "Sometimes travel south into da Sea of Fire to kill Luukosians."

You nod understandingly.

You ask, "Do you belong to any of the Great Houses?"

Roblar deeply says, "Aye, am commander of Helden Hall."

You nod appreciatively.

You ask, "What do you like most about Helden Hall?"

Roblar deeply says, "It az an ole history and was formed by warriors of old, for most part."

You adopt an agreeable expression.

You say, "It's widely known as the House for warriors, to be sure."

Roblar deeply says, "Metaboculous was one of da early warriors me met in da lands."

Roblar deeply says, "And a founder."

You nod understandingly.

Roblar deeply says, "Also, da fighting pit iz a wonderous place ta trains."

Roblar winks and flashes a sly grin.

You grin.

Roblar balls his fists, causing his golvern-banded gauntlets to tighten around his hands.

You say, "The way I understand it, these days, you're generally regarded as the master of said pit."

You grin at Roblar.

Roblar deeply says, "Me does well."

Roblar grins.

You agree with Roblar.

You ask, "Aside from your axe, what would you say is your most prized possession?"

Roblar ponders.

Roblar points at his rolaren plate armor.

Roblar runs a hand across the front of his armor and a few wisps of vapor stream out behind his fingertips.

Roblar deeply says, "Ma armor."

You ask, "Can you tell us a bit about it?"

Roblar deeply says, "Wells.."

Roblar deeply says, "It iz highly enchanted aginst physical attacks and protects aginst magical attacks."

Roblar deeply says, "It iz resistant to acid, impacts, tings dat slash or pierce."

Roblar deeply says, "It iz fully ensorcelled."

Roblar deeply says, "And touched by strange Ithziri majiks."

Roblar shrugs.

Roblar shows you a suit of black rolaren plate armor, which he is wearing. Dark and dull as the cliffs of the Dragonspine on a bleak winter's day, the matte black finish of this masterfully crafted armor belies its exceptional quality. Favoring practically and function over glossy surfaces and polished sheen, the lack of any visible flaw stands as testimony to the vigilance paid to its care. Along every edge, Saramar runes have been traced in an unbroken line, clearly some sort of warding, and wisps of vapor occasionally escape from between the many layers of rolaren plates. You also notice a small enchanter's glyph.

Roblar deeply says, "Protects me well."

You say, "That's VERY impressive. Seems like the ideal armor."

Roblar drums his fingers on the surface of his armor, and small wisps of vapor puff out after each impact.

Roblar deeply says, "Had it made for da Scatter."

Roblar deeply says, "Da Ithzir majiks heals me too."

You say, "And I imagine it does quite well there."

Roblar stretches his shoulders, settling his armor into a more comfortable position.

You ask, "If pressed, what other adventurer would you say had the most impact on you as you progressed through your skills?"

Roblar deeply asks, "A single adventurer?"

Roblar grins.

Roblar deeply says, "Been a long time."

You hold up your hand and tilt it side to side in a so-so gesture.

You say, "First name that comes to mind, then. If there's more than one, that's understandable."

You grin at Roblar.

Roblar deeply says, "Well Kerl was one of my first guild skill teachers and helped me master war cries."

Roblar smiles at you.

You exclaim, "A worthy mentor, to be sure!"

Roblar deeply says, "And also liked axes."

You try hard not to grin.

Roblar deeply says, "Though he likes ta throw dem moar."

Roblar winks at you.

You say, "I believe I may have heard mention of that fact at some point."

You say, "A couple more, and then we'll wrap up."

Roblar nods to you.

You ask, "What would you say is your motivation? What is it that drives you currently?"

Roblar deeply says, "To become stronger, more powerful, and to learn more each day."

You nod understandingly.

You say, "A noble goal."

Roblar deeply says, "To crush my enemies, hear da lamentations of their…"

Roblar chuckles to himself.

Roblar deeply says, "Ok, well."

You chuckle to yourself.

You ask, "Looking back on your path, is there something that comes to mind that you wish you'd done differently?"

Roblar simply says, "No."

You nod.

Roblar flashes a quick grin at you.

Roblar deeply says, "Aye, dat didn’t pour myself another a lil earlier!"

Roblar pours himself a mug of amber Oiran winter ale.

Roblar nods with satisfaction.

Roblar leans back in his chair, balancing himself on two legs for a few moments, then sets the chair back down on all four legs.

Roblar takes a drink from his Oiran winter ale.
Roblar looks rather relaxed.

You exclaim, "By all means, help yourself!"

You grin.
You ask, "I believe that wraps up the questions I had prepared! Was there anything you'd like to talk about for the record?"

Roblar looks over at you and shakes his head.

You nod understandingly.

Roblar deeply says, "Well lookin forward to yer scrivenin'."

Roblar nods to you.

Roblar deeply concedes, "Aye."

Roblar deeply says, "Dis some guud ale."

Roblar taps a mug of amber Oiran winter ale, which is in his right hand.

Roblar flashes a wide grin at you.

Roblar deeply says, "Fergot me av a keg er two locked up in da keep."

Speaking to Roblar, you say, "Thank you! I like to provide refreshments. Least I can do for occupying your time like this."

Roblar deeply says, "Shall afta tap one later."

You grin at Roblar.

Roblar smiles.

Roblar deeply says, "Well t'anks invitin me to tink back."

Roblar deeply says, "Been a long road."

You nod understandingly.

Roblar grins at you.

You bow to Roblar.

Roblar scoots his chair back and stands up.

You say, "Thank you again, good Sir."

You scoot your chair back and stand up.

Roblar grunts to you in tribute as he bangs his fist sharply upon his rolaren plate armor in a barbaric salute.

You shake hands with Roblar.

You say, "Have a good evening."

Roblar deeply says, "Welcome, an t'ank you."

Roblar deeply says, "You too."

Roblar waves.

You wave.

Roblar turns around.

Commander Roblar just went out.
</pre>

==The Out-of-Character Interview==
''How long have you played Gemstone? ''
:'''Since August, 1996.'''

''Have you taken any breaks, or played straight through? ''
:'''I've taken some breaks of up to a year or more before, though no significant ones for a long time.'''

''How many different main characters have you had over the years? ''
:'''My only real main character in Prime has been Roblar. My first character in Prime was Lur, though that half-elven warrior (Tanis - Dragonlance based) only lasted about a few weeks before my first small 2 month break - those hourly bills got intense!'''

''Do you have multiple accounts that you play at the same time? ''
:'''Rarely. Maybe 1 or 2 months out of the year, usually EG month.'''

''Do you have a Premium subscription? ''
:'''Yes.'''

''What front-end do you use? (Stormfront, Wizard, Profanity, other)?''
'''Stormfront'''

''Why? ''
:'''I liked the name better because Wizard(s) are puny. Ok, only half-kidding. I also downloaded it after whatever return from a break and liked the look and layout. It provides alot of info at a glance and saves remotely. I then later found it helpful at festivals or when discovering things I may have missed when exploring the environment. I honestly don't remember the Wizard anymore, maybe the music. I also enjoyed a previous web client (not this current one) prior to SF I think.'''

''Do you use lich? ''
:'''No.'''

''Why or why not? ''
:'''I guess I enjoy my process and doing it myself'''

''Do you now, or have you ever roleplayed a character that was very different from your real personality? ''
:'''Nothing of significance.'''

''What would you say is your most memorable Gemstone ˜moment (as a player), and why? ''
:'''I don't know, there have been so many I remember and others I wish I remember better. I'll go with an old gamble of my then entire bank account long ago at Beldrin's Gaming Wheel to quickly try and increase funds for an unexpected festival, with Lord Commandant and Lady Karess witnessing. I won but the fear of losing that 2M or so was terrifying as I had saved for so long. And it's not even double but 50% if you win!'''

''What, in your mind, is the best thing about Gemstone? ''
:'''The longevity, creativity (story/world/interaction), depth, mechanical flexibility, and relationships it offers.'''

''Have you ever attended SimuCon, or otherwise met up with a person from Gemstone?''
:'''Yes, I went to SimuCon in 2015. It was a lot of fun to meet players and staff. I highly recommend it and wish I could attend this year. It mostly involved drinking, talking about in and out of game things, playing games and contests and eating!'''

''Imagine you're Wyrom for a day and can 'do' one thing. What are you changing/removing/adding/replacing, and why? ''
:'''I would love to see some kind of postcap system added to the game. I'm not sure about the specifics but I wouldn't mind for example the convenience of not requiring enhancive items by permanently boosting some stats at the cost of cap points that you earn as you advance, say x amount every 1M exp past cap. Some CMANs already do this. This would allow further incentive to continue with a character, cut down on some tedium (or open up new abilities), and is probably good for the long term health of the game as players continue to advance.'''

''What do you feel is the biggest mistake that most GS players make? ''
:'''I'm not sure what mistake most GS players make, but I'd probably advise to move around some from whatever area you are comfortable. I think hunting level breakdowns have historically been a nice impetus for that in the past, though I see the need for expansion.'''

''Why? ''
:'''There is always more to learn and, while a possibly initial uncomfortable adjustment, each new area or discovery can ultimately be like playing the game again for the first time.'''

''What's something that you feel every GS player should do at least once? ''
:'''Get lost. Go out and explore the world.'''

''What advice would you offer to a new player? ''
:'''Read the room descriptions, immerse yourself, learn from mistakes, try intuitive commands and actions, explore and learn on your own to begin your experience. Don't get too daunted by the wealth of information and, as you feel comfortable, read the wiki for mechanics and lore, ask people questions IG or out, ring bells for Mentor help, but mostly do whatever is fun for you!'''

TownCrier Interview Sessions with Roblar

2017-08-12T09:13:18Z

CANNEL: Created page with "{{characterprofile |name= Roblar Coronia |caption= Commander Roblar Coronia the Warmaster of Highguard Keep |race= Giantman |profession= Warrior |affiliations= Co..."

{{characterprofile
|name= Roblar Coronia
|caption= Commander Roblar Coronia the Warmaster of [[Highguard Keep]]
|race= [[Giantman]]
|profession= [[Warrior]]
|affiliations= Commander of [[Helden Hall]]
|relatives=
}}
{{TOCright}}
By Oubar, [[TownCrier]] Corrrespondent 
1 Phoenatos 5117 // August 1, 2017 - in Icemule Trace 
==Introduction==
Roblar Coronia is a name known far and wide as one of the strongest fighters in the land. In any instance where something needs to be hit VERY hard, he's the one for the job. His axe is his hallmark, and stories of his domination in the fighting pit of Helden Hall are whispered across the land. Recently this fierce warrior made time to sit down with the TownCrier for an in-depth interview. As expected, he was a daunting presence indeed, though he remained open and friendly throughout the process. The ale may have helped.
==The In-Character Interview==
<pre{{log2|background=none|border=none}}>
>go table
You head over to the Burnt Tart Table.
[Burnt Tart Table]
A slightly foul scent fills the air over this table, as if Master Tartlicker left a tart baking a bit too long. The top of the table is seared with a burn mark from something rather small and terribly hot.

You see Roblar waving at your table, clearly hoping that you will invite him to sit with you.
Commander Roblar arrives at your table.

>exa Roblar
You see Commander Roblar Coronia the Warmaster of Highguard Keep.
He appears to be a Giantman of the T'Kirem Clan.
He is imposing in size and has a muscular physique. He appears to be in the prime of life. He has intense bluish grey eyes and dusky golden skin. He has shoulder length, thick dark brown hair with grey at the temples. He has a seasoned square-jawed face and some broad shoulders. He carries an air of confidence, warm and without guile, though his eyes seem to hint at a roiling temperament beneath his exterior countenance.
He is in good shape.
He is holding a mug of amber Oiran winter ale in his right hand.
He is wearing a thick blackened warhelm, an ur-barath inlaid rolaren torc, a large mithril key hanging from a thick silver chain, a suit of black rolaren plate armor, a dark blue balenite-bound pin, a small bone periapt, a grizzly bear hide greatcloak with an ivory-fanged hood, some golvern-chased vambraces, some thick golvern-banded gauntlets, an enruned dark veil iron ring, a carved thin blue gem band, a hefty veniom-bound bear hide axe scabbard secured with silver buckles, a claw-grasped golvern shield slung over his shoulder, a glaes-encased rough leather belt, a gilded minotaur warhorn, a barbed iron boar hide sack, a shuttered silver lantern charm, a rugged dark leather sack, and a pair of golvern-plated boots.

Roblar deeply says, "Allos."

Roblar smiles.

You bow to Roblar.

You exclaim, "Good evening!"

You rub your chin thoughtfully.

Roblar pulls out a chair and tiredly allows gravity to seat him.

You remove a banded thanot keg of Oiran winter ale from in your harness.
You place your thanot keg on the floor and pull out a small locking pin on the tap.

Roblar chuckles.

You pour yourself a mug of amber Oiran winter ale.

Roblar pours himself a mug of amber Oiran winter ale.

You raise your Oiran winter ale in a toast!

Roblar raises his Oiran winter ale in a toast!

You exclaim, "Good evening, and thank you so much for agreeing to be interviewed for the Crier!"

You grin impishly.

Roblar nods to you.

Roblar takes a drink from his Oiran winter ale.

You take a drink from your Oiran winter ale.

You say, "As we discussed beforehand, I've got some questions that I'd like to pose. We'll be recording the interview, and once it is all finalized, it will be published by the Crier for all to see."

You pull out a chair and seat yourself at the table.

Roblar chuckles to himself.

Roblar deeply says, "Aye."

Roblar nods slowly to you.

Roblar tenses up, beads of sweat glistening on his brow.

You say, "I generally start with a bit of background, for those precious few who might not be aware of you."

You ask, "What is your profession, for those who might not already be aware?"

Roblar deeply says, "Am a warrior."

You adopt an agreeable expression.

You ask, "What would you say is the best thing about your profession? If you were attempting to convince someone still on the turnip truck to lean towards your profession, what would you tell them?"

Roblar deeply says, "Combat."

Roblar grins at you.

You try hard not to grin.

You adopt an agreeable expression.

You say, "It's certainly true that warriors tend to have that particular aspect well covered."

You ask, "What would you say is the area in which warriors are weakest?"

Roblar deeply says, "In general, defending aginst spells."

Roblar takes a drink from his Oiran winter ale.

You adopt an agreeable expression.

You say, "But with enough training, doesn't most of that weakness go away? I've heard tell that you've managed to acquire some spell knowledge yourself."

Roblar nods in agreement to you.

Roblar deeply says, "Tiz possible wid alot of effort."

You ask, "Are spells still a concern for you personally?"

Roblar deeply says, "In which case, encumbrance and other types of spells."

Roblar grins at you.

Roblar deeply says, "Not usually, depends on da spell."

You nod understandingly.

Roblar deeply says, "A focused implosion still likely deadly."

Roblar nods to you.

You shudder.
You ask, "What town do you call home these days?"

Roblar deeply says, "Diz one, Icemule."

Roblar deeply adds, "Mostly."

You ask, "What is it that you like most about Icemule?"

Roblar deeply says, "Iz close to my some of my properties and to da Scatter."

Roblar deeply says, "Da tarts smell guud too."

You grin impishly.

Roblar takes a deep breath.

You say, "I can't argue with that."

Roblar smiles.

Roblar takes a drink from his Oiran winter ale.

You ask, "You said properties... do you own property near here?"

Roblar deeply says, "You likely passed [[Highguard Keep]] on da way north to dis lil town."

You nod understandingly.

You say, "I did indeed. Wasn't aware that it was yours, though."

You give a short little hum of surprise.

Roblar deeply says, "Also av a hunting cabin up da mountain and likely soon a small shop in town for extra supplies."

You say, "Very nice. I think we're all anxious for the town to open up shops again."

Roblar nods in agreement to you.

Roblar flashes a quick grin.

You ask, "I already know, but for the readers... what's your preferred hunting method and weapon?"

Roblar flashes a wide grin at you.

Roblar deeply says, "Swingin an axe or two."

Roblar removes an immense rolaren waraxe from in his bear hide axe scabbard.

Roblar shows you an immense rolaren waraxe, which he is holding in his left hand. The haft of this waraxe has been crafted of twin lengths of ironwood and ebonwood, the grey-on-black woods banded together by scored rings of golvern. In opposition, blackened rolaren rises from the ironwood and argent rolaren from the ebonwood, creating a contrast that is both stark and compelling. Along the massive blade, heavy Saramar runes have been etched across the carcass of a serpent enveloped in flame, the script flowing to a perfectly honed edge that radiates a subtle blue-white incandescence. There is a groove down the center of the weapon, bisecting it into two halves.
You also notice a small enchanter's glyph.

You nod appreciatively.

Roblar deeply says, "Usually two."

Roblar tips his head back and empties a mug of amber Oiran winter ale down his gullet!

Roblar holds his waraxe with both hands and, pressing a small button near his thumb, separates the weapon into two halves.

Roblar winks at you.

Roblar holds the two halves of his waraxe in each hand, carefully recombining the two halves of his weapon into one.

You say, "An amazing weapon, to be sure."

Roblar casually brushes the remnants of his last battle from his waraxe.

Roblar grunts.

Roblar adopts an agreeable expression.

Roblar put an immense rolaren waraxe in his bear hide axe scabbard.

You ask, "Do you have any other fighting methods that you employ these days?"

Roblar deeply says, "Am a master of all methods."

Roblar deeply says, "Sometimes may punch and kick an opponent for amusement."

You ask, "Where do you generally hunt, these days?"

Roblar deeply says, "Da Scatter."

Roblar deeply says, "Sometimes travel south into da Sea of Fire to kill Luukosians."

You nod understandingly.

You ask, "Do you belong to any of the Great Houses?"

Roblar deeply says, "Aye, am commander of Helden Hall."

You nod appreciatively.

You ask, "What do you like most about Helden Hall?"

Roblar deeply says, "It az an ole history and was formed by warriors of old, for most part."

You adopt an agreeable expression.

You say, "It's widely known as the House for warriors, to be sure."

Roblar deeply says, "Metaboculous was one of da early warriors me met in da lands."

Roblar deeply says, "And a founder."

You nod understandingly.

Roblar deeply says, "Also, da fighting pit iz a wonderous place ta trains."

Roblar winks and flashes a sly grin.

You grin.

Roblar balls his fists, causing his golvern-banded gauntlets to tighten around his hands.

You say, "The way I understand it, these days, you're generally regarded as the master of said pit."

You grin at Roblar.

Roblar deeply says, "Me does well."

Roblar grins.

You agree with Roblar.

You ask, "Aside from your axe, what would you say is your most prized possession?"

Roblar ponders.

Roblar points at his rolaren plate armor.

Roblar runs a hand across the front of his armor and a few wisps of vapor stream out behind his fingertips.

Roblar deeply says, "Ma armor."

You ask, "Can you tell us a bit about it?"

Roblar deeply says, "Wells.."

Roblar deeply says, "It iz highly enchanted aginst physical attacks and protects aginst magical attacks."

Roblar deeply says, "It iz resistant to acid, impacts, tings dat slash or pierce."

Roblar deeply says, "It iz fully ensorcelled."

Roblar deeply says, "And touched by strange Ithziri majiks."

Roblar shrugs.

Roblar shows you a suit of black rolaren plate armor, which he is wearing. Dark and dull as the cliffs of the Dragonspine on a bleak winter's day, the matte black finish of this masterfully crafted armor belies its exceptional quality. Favoring practically and function over glossy surfaces and polished sheen, the lack of any visible flaw stands as testimony to the vigilance paid to its care. Along every edge, Saramar runes have been traced in an unbroken line, clearly some sort of warding, and wisps of vapor occasionally escape from between the many layers of rolaren plates. You also notice a small enchanter's glyph.

Roblar deeply says, "Protects me well."

You say, "That's VERY impressive. Seems like the ideal armor."

Roblar drums his fingers on the surface of his armor, and small wisps of vapor puff out after each impact.

Roblar deeply says, "Had it made for da Scatter."

Roblar deeply says, "Da Ithzir majiks heals me too."

You say, "And I imagine it does quite well there."

Roblar stretches his shoulders, settling his armor into a more comfortable position.

You ask, "If pressed, what other adventurer would you say had the most impact on you as you progressed through your skills?"

Roblar deeply asks, "A single adventurer?"

Roblar grins.

Roblar deeply says, "Been a long time."

You hold up your hand and tilt it side to side in a so-so gesture.

You say, "First name that comes to mind, then. If there's more than one, that's understandable."

You grin at Roblar.

Roblar deeply says, "Well Kerl was one of my first guild skill teachers and helped me master war cries."

Roblar smiles at you.

You exclaim, "A worthy mentor, to be sure!"

Roblar deeply says, "And also liked axes."

You try hard not to grin.

Roblar deeply says, "Though he likes ta throw dem moar."

Roblar winks at you.

You say, "I believe I may have heard mention of that fact at some point."

You say, "A couple more, and then we'll wrap up."

Roblar nods to you.

You ask, "What would you say is your motivation? What is it that drives you currently?"

Roblar deeply says, "To become stronger, more powerful, and to learn more each day."

You nod understandingly.

You say, "A noble goal."

Roblar deeply says, "To crush my enemies, hear da lamentations of their…"

Roblar chuckles to himself.

Roblar deeply says, "Ok, well."

You chuckle to yourself.

You ask, "Looking back on your path, is there something that comes to mind that you wish you'd done differently?"

Roblar simply says, "No."

You nod.

Roblar flashes a quick grin at you.

Roblar deeply says, "Aye, dat didn’t pour myself another a lil earlier!"

Roblar pours himself a mug of amber Oiran winter ale.

Roblar nods with satisfaction.

Roblar leans back in his chair, balancing himself on two legs for a few moments, then sets the chair back down on all four legs.

Roblar takes a drink from his Oiran winter ale.
Roblar looks rather relaxed.

You exclaim, "By all means, help yourself!"

You grin.
You ask, "I believe that wraps up the questions I had prepared! Was there anything you'd like to talk about for the record?"

Roblar looks over at you and shakes his head.

You nod understandingly.

Roblar deeply says, "Well lookin forward to yer scrivenin'."

Roblar nods to you.

Roblar deeply concedes, "Aye."

Roblar deeply says, "Dis some guud ale."

Roblar taps a mug of amber Oiran winter ale, which is in his right hand.

Roblar flashes a wide grin at you.

Roblar deeply says, "Fergot me av a keg er two locked up in da keep."

Speaking to Roblar, you say, "Thank you! I like to provide refreshments. Least I can do for occupying your time like this."

Roblar deeply says, "Shall afta tap one later."

You grin at Roblar.

Roblar smiles.

Roblar deeply says, "Well t'anks invitin me to tink back."

Roblar deeply says, "Been a long road."

You nod understandingly.

Roblar grins at you.

You bow to Roblar.

Roblar scoots his chair back and stands up.

You say, "Thank you again, good Sir."

You scoot your chair back and stand up.

Roblar grunts to you in tribute as he bangs his fist sharply upon his rolaren plate armor in a barbaric salute.

You shake hands with Roblar.

You say, "Have a good evening."

Roblar deeply says, "Welcome, an t'ank you."

Roblar deeply says, "You too."

Roblar waves.

You wave.

Roblar turns around.

Commander Roblar just went out.
</pre>

==The Out-of-Character Interview==
''How long have you played Gemstone? ''
:'''Since August, 1996.'''

''Have you taken any breaks, or played straight through? ''
:'''I've taken some breaks of up to a year or more before, though no significant ones for a long time.'''

''How many different main characters have you had over the years? ''
:'''My only real main character in Prime has been Roblar. My first character in Prime was Lur, though that half-elven warrior (Tanis - Dragonlance based) only lasted about a few weeks before my first small 2 month break - those hourly bills got intense!'''

''Do you have multiple accounts that you play at the same time? ''
:'''Rarely. Maybe 1 or 2 months out of the year, usually EG month.'''

''Do you have a Premium subscription? ''
:'''Yes.'''

''What front-end do you use? (Stormfront, Wizard, Profanity, other)?''
'''Stormfront'''

''Why? ''
:'''I liked the name better because Wizard(s) are puny. Ok, only half-kidding. I also downloaded it after whatever return from a break and liked the look and layout. It provides alot of info at a glance and saves remotely. I then later found it helpful at festivals or when discovering things I may have missed when exploring the environment. I honestly don't remember the Wizard anymore, maybe the music. I also enjoyed a previous web client (not this current one) prior to SF I think.'''

''Do you use lich? ''
:'''No.'''

''Why or why not? ''
:'''I guess I enjoy my process and doing it myself'''

''Do you now, or have you ever roleplayed a character that was very different from your real personality? ''
:'''Nothing of significance.'''

''What would you say is your most memorable Gemstone ˜moment (as a player), and why? ''
:'''I don't know, there have been so many I remember and others I wish I remember better. I'll go with an old gamble of my then entire bank account long ago at Beldrin's Gaming Wheel to quickly try and increase funds for an unexpected festival, with Lord Commandant and Lady Karess witnessing. I won but the fear of losing that 2M or so was terrifying as I had saved for so long. And it's not even double but 50% if you win!'''

''What, in your mind, is the best thing about Gemstone? ''
:'''The longevity, creativity (story/world/interaction), depth, mechnical flexibility, and relationships it offers.'''

''Have you ever attended SimuCon, or otherwise met up with a person from Gemstone?''
:'''Yes, I went to SimuCon in 2015. It was a lot of fun to meet players and staff. I highly recommend it and wish I could attend this year. It mostly involved drinking, talking about in and out of game things, playing games and contests and eating!'''

''Imagine you're Wyrom for a day and can 'do' one thing. What are you changing/removing/adding/replacing, and why? ''
:'''I would love to see some kind of postcap system added to the game. I'm not sure about the specifics but I wouldn't mind for example the convenience of not requiring enhancive items by permanently boosting some stats at the cost of cap points that you earn as you advance, say x amount every 1M exp past cap. Some CMANs already do this. This would allow further incentive to continue with a character, cut down on some tedium (or open up new abilities), and is probably good for the long term health of the game as players continue to advance.'''

''What do you feel is the biggest mistake that most GS players make? ''
:'''I'm not sure what mistake most GS players make, but I'd probably advise to move around some from whatever area you are comfortable. I think hunting level breakdowns have historically been a nice impetus for that in the past, though I see the need for expansion.'''

''Why? ''
:'''There is always more to learn and, while a possibly initial uncomfortable adjustment, each new area or discovery can ultimately be like playing the game again for the first time.'''

''What's something that you feel every GS player should do at least once? ''
:'''Get lost. Go out and explore the world.'''

''What advice would you offer to a new player? ''
:'''Read the room descriptions, immerse yourself, learn from mistakes, try intuitive commands and actions, explore and learn on your own to begin your experience. Don't get too daunted by the wealth of information and, as you feel comfortable, read the wiki for mechanics and lore, ask people questions IG or out, ring bells for Mentor help, but mostly do whatever is fun for you!'''