WEEK 1
Sept 3
Today was the day I opened my eyes, and set out into the world of Egypt, land of my Grandfather, whose name I had inherited. I had grown up on his knee listening to his stories of adventure and accomplishment (not to mention the endless whining).
Armed with knowledge of my ancestors.. well granddad to be precise. I shot quickly through the citizenship. Then headed off to nearby Universities to learn what it would take to begin on the test that stranger person set for us.
Following after the elder apathy's steps I tried the Body initiation, but could not find a common altar to complete it. All the while hearing in my head "one common altar!! ha! try finding and anointing 120 of them in less than 30 hrs! and doing it all again day after day after day af.. " "yesyes I know I know" <sigh> and yet i never understood why someone would run all over placing cactus sap on an altar? In my musing I virtually stumbled over an altar and after asking around found a large stone.
Note to self, get better glasses as I cant seem to see many things until I am nearly on top of them :(.
So before I winked out of existence, on my first day I completed the Body initiation.
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Sept 6
*poof* I winked back into existence today, full of memories of ol granddad talking about how he walked from the Delta (place of his birth) around the backside of the "unfinished" (whatever that meant) Red Sea then down to Eastern Grounds and over to Western Grounds in South Egypt to get "home" and it took him 2 weeks. Was probably uphill both ways and in a blizzard.
Anyway, I just wandered over to the Chariot stop, after finishing my rounds at the Universities signing up for initiations. I also learned RoundOff Acrobat move from the University of Body. My first Test had officially begun!
I then pulled out my most valued possession, my notebook on tests and skills from the first apathy.
In going over my notebook from the old man, all that I found was scribbled angry notes about how "pretty good" was actually "great" which really wasnt "great" and in truth "pretty good" was pretty bad. Also something about teaching more meant you could teach more and not learn more but that everything was fixed with "The Great
Reset" underlined and given alot of exclimation marks. With notes like this I was sure to get nowhere really quick.
With these thoughts in mind I hopped the Chariot to Red Sea Oasis and wandered to the camp of my Grandfathers old friends Qetesh and Jaby.. which grandkids were named Qetesh and Jaby.. which seems to have been an Egyptian trend. <shrug>
After removing myself from existence for a while, I wandered back to the chariot station and taught and learned my first facets.
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Sept 7
Hung around the chariot stop doing acro with people, some awake and some not so much. I also played my first games of Reflection and was glad for those days of training under grandpa, also helped to be playing against people who had never player before. With all that I ended up getting 4 wins under my belt.
That was all I could do since I had the urge to cease to exist for a while.
When I came back into existence I continued my acrobatic efforts and pursued the Reflection initiation some more. I also wandered to Universities and learned the few skills there, picked up random objects, wood and thorns and slate.
I passed most of my time chatting with others and while doing so was happy to have taught my 14th facet allowing me to learn 2 facets of a move from each person! Nearly as exciting was winning my 7th game of Reflection passing the conflict initiation! I quickly re-read the first apathy's statements on the games to come in that discipline.
While heading back to the chariot stop and idea hit me. Why was I winking out of existence? why not just sit down here, who knows maybe I can learn acro moves while not paying any attention at all!!!
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Sept 8
I woke up, stretched my legs, tired from sitting all day. Sure enough I could learn while sleeping! I promptly tried to teach every sleeping person who was around me with decent success. Ahh this was truly the apathy way to do things. Feeling that I should share my AFK presence I headed to Sinai. while there I approached many people with a "Hello. Good to see you. I was wondering if you had passed the Body initiation and have started the test of Acrobat. I myself have Roundoff as the only move mastered currently. I would very much like to learn from you if you are able to teach or if not I would enjoy just trying to teach you. Do you have the time and ability?" of course we Egyptians have condensed that into the much more economical
"acro?"
Before I went to sleep, or AFK as people call it, I played my first tug match against Mako, the notes came in handy as I fought to a 2-0 win to reach rank 1.1.
I then went to sleep.
When I awoke I once again had learned more facets! I proceeded to wander around to people teaching both the awake and the asleep. I also played tug match #2 against CharlesFish, once again going 2-0 and achieving rank 2. Funny those notes, while useful dont seem to be to easy to put into practice. So I think I can share them "Think about what the other person is going to bid and either bid 1 more or a bunch less, its easy!" <shrug>.. why did I spend all that time listening to that old man?
Since I felt that I should AFK around Egypt I took the Chariot to the Delta and went AFK there.
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Sept 9
Woke up for a brief stretch of the legs. Again I learned quite a bit while sleeping. I was still feeling tired so I only managed to acro with a couple people before I climbed on the chariot to the desolation of Pharoah's Bay, where I once again went to sleep.
*Yawn* Wow, I learned facets even here! and found a couple people to acro with, and low and behold had picked up 20 signatures for my leadership initiation! While waiting for the chariot Takatot and I played my first rank 2 game. A much more challenging game with alot of back and forth, in the end I did come out on top of the match going 4-2. I am now both nervous and hopeful that I can get to rank 3 with my next match. I finally caught my Chariot to VoK by way of the Delta.
In both spots I acro'd a bit with people. At VoK I headed to a UoL to turn in my petition and get struck by lightening.. hmm this might become addictive. I finished the day out chatting with more grandsons of my grandfathers friends, watched a crime in progress which was interesting. And with that went to relax at a bench I found there.
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Week 1 progress:
Citizenship achieved
Signed up for all 7 Initiations
Completed Body, Conflict and Leadership initiations
Joined my guild
Got to 2.1 in tug (6-2)
Acrobat got learned:49 and taught:22
Time spent - 11hrs 5min.
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WEEK 2
Sept 10
Woke up once again stretching my tired legs only to find I had learned even more facets! I then proceeded to acro with the kind people around me and taught a few facets. Then I ran into Seyton a fellow rank 2 tug player. We had a challenge before us and bent our wills to reading each others minds. Taking the low road I was able to sustain his powerful onslaughts, that coupled with a few excellent reads while on the ropes resulted in a 2-0 match and pushing me into the challenging level of Rank 3 playing.
After the stressful games and gaining a new admiration for yet another style of play, I took the chariot over to a new location for me. Fool's Paradise. Once there I noticed a bunch of people standing around a hole. Not know why there were there, I did see they were digging, even if it was very very slowly. I asked if I might have a "shovel", after all 'when in Rome.. erm Fool's Paradise'. I was promptly handed 4 shovels, 3 of which I returned with many thanks. I then proceeded to dig in the hole. This was tough! no wonder there were so many people. Interestingly enough things popped out of the hole which Chart, the organizer, would pick up for later distribution. Here I thought it was some weird form of exercise people in these parts did, but it turns out these items from the ground were somehow useful..
While digging, I pulled out my mystic communicator and found a Rank 3 opponent, both nervous and excited to play a rank 3 game I convinced Al-Bilal to come on over. When Al-Bilal arrived I took what would be a short break from digging.
The first game once again pushed me to the edge in a brilliant display of telepathy, but I was able to crawl, scrap and beg my way back in it and pull out a win. The 2nd game I seemed to have finally learned from my granddad and in nearly every bid I upped Al-Bilal's bid by 1 making my first rank 3 match a 2-0 victory. After thanking Al-Bilal for the invigorating games I was ready to numb my mind for a little longer and dug some more. After 30 min of digging I needed a longer rest, and sat down next to a cactus for a good sleep. Chart said he would give me my "share" later.
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Sept 11th
Ahh, another refreshing rest in once again I learned facets. This is simply amazing. I then headed back to my home camp. Sigh this walking is a royal pain, I can wait for more of these fabled navigation points. Back at camp, I needed some canvas and rope for the skill to make construction sites. I proceeded to use 40 of my guilds flax seeds to make 200 flax and return 50 seeds. I then pressed out 4 canvas. I hoped that this was a decent trade, but was never sure. Armed with my items I then proceeded to learn a new skill.
Next I was driven to find myself another rank 3 opponent, and found it in the form of Ift. After a few Chariot stops I found him. Coming off my knowledge garnered in my last game, I was able to avoid too much stress, though the 2nd game was won by only 2 points. In the end I was able to go 2-0 to reach the elite realm of rank 4.
After this I decided to check out one of there "acro lines". This was also amazing as I promptly met a few masters and ended up learning 4 moves!! With the headiness of now having 5 moves I wandered back to the chariot and for the first time in a while simply winked out of existence.
Sept 11/12
I awoke to the haunting sounds of ghosts past asking why I had not fulfilled the purpose, that I as the son of the oldest BEDOUIN should be out hunting down a spot for this generations GH. Knowing that the name had been greifed by some fool, I felt torn on what I should name it.. should it be something close or all together different. After much debate, I decided on the later and paid homage to Ithilra, the original founder calling the new GH Ithilra's Disciples. Though the nickname is and always will be BEDOUINS!. After much internal thought I decided on a location and traveled the long leagues there, through desert and hills and tracks of wasteland I roamed. Eventually I found the spot, looking at drawings my granddad made of the spot it has certainly changed a lot, but it was a good spot nonetheless. The Guild was created. Shortly after it was created TpcT appeared over the horizon asking something along the lines "you built it yet" as he seemed to have been reading my mind.. which he might have inherited, after all ol' granddad never stopped ranting about his "loss to that TpcT!!" in tug, crazy old coon. With TpcT there to help we expanded the GH to 10 people.
After the many labors of the day I needed to leave again. As was to be my custom now that I have 5 moves and a few moves at 6/7 facets, leaving my AFKro days behind, I winked out of existence.
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Sept 12
Reappearing, I noticed more people had found the new GH, and let them in. Today I wandered back to civilization finding my first mushrooms of the telling on my way. The fabled Dueling Serpents, another gift to my guild, hopefully it will be worth something. After I had returned to civilization I got a change to play my first rank 4 game against Kvin. In the first game I was being pushed back badly but it was costing Kvin mightily. He finally had me on the ropes though and did the unprecedented full bid, shocking me as well as beating me. In the 2nd game we played it close to the chest, but he was able to squeeze a 1 point lead and used that to push me to the edge twice, and the 2nd time fooled me into bidding high. The defeat was crushing, 0-2. I now knew I was at rank 4. I took heart in knowing that my grandfather also stumbled at rank 4. With this is mind I hope I can turn things around.
After the wake-up call I then gathered wood for the Bedouins GH as I knew we would need to expand soon.
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Sept 13th
Today was a day of work once again, and then maybe the ghosts of past would stop bugging me for a while. I zapped myself back to the GH. Ahh the love of having a couple navigation abilities and plenty of offline time. Once there I let in the rest of the members bringing it to 10 of 10 and in need of expansion. Fortunately a good friend of mine had found the Hall, with no help from me, and left thousands of bricks, boards and wood!! Along with the wood and slate I gathered I was able to plane enough boards after some time to expand the hall to hold 45 people. Exhausted by the efforts of the past few days I closed my eyes and dropped from existence once again.
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Sept 14th-15th
I briefly popped into existence to let in people who had found the Hall, seems the poem/riddle for finding it was not that hard. I was happy that people still wanted to find it and work on it.
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Week 2 Progress---
Founded the Bedouins Guild Hall of Tale 2 (Ithilra's Disciples)
With the help of Jaby and TpcT created a 45 member hall.
Played 4 tug matches (6-2) rank 4.-1
Did a small amount of digging and found some mushrooms for my guild.
Learned 4 moves in test of acrobat. Learned: 107(+58) Taught:43(+21)
Time Spent - 11hrs 15min
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WEEK 3
Sept 16th
*POP* ahhh existence once again. This day I find myself hunting once again for a rank 4 opponent in Tug. I notice CharlesFish has gotten to rank 4, recalling my previous encounter with him at rank 2 I corral a match with him. After my humiliating defeat to Kvin I play a little more cautiously and in 2 close games I am able to come out on top and sweep CharlesFish to get back up to 4.0. After the games though I am worn out and need a break.
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Sept 17th
Today I think I shall learn things. With this purpose in mind I head to RSO and travel to the Universities in the area; Worship, Body, Architecture and Art & Music. I am quite amazed once again at how long it really does take to walk around, even using the mystical navigation system for assistance it takes me a while to reach my destinations. As I leave the last university I decide its time to head 'home' once more.
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Sept 17/18th
I reappear again, still on my trek towards camp. This time I reach camp, but realize I have no idea what to do with myself! After checking my little guidebook I decide its time to pay for learning some skills. I then proceeded to make some flax and firebricks, while doing some hackling to build up some resources for my skills trip. After that I start on my way. While wandering I partake in the mystical communication system and have a few discussions about our "esteemed" Pharaoh. After hitting the few schools I wanted to get to, learning salvage and fishing specifically (a few other cheap skills as well) I decided to leave existence before I got too worked up about things I can not change.
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Sept 18th
As I re-adjusted my eyes to the noon sun (always a bad time to blink back into existence) I continued my earlier trek towards the chariot stop. On the way I attempted to convince Seraphine to play me in tug, but alas she was busy. So with nothing particular in my list of things to do with little time. I stepped outside the world once again.
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Sept 19th
Back in the saddle and hunting once more for rank 4 people. I find Klubbad who escaped my clutches at rank 3 by beating up other people. Klubbad agreed to a tug match and we met on a hot and humid day in the Delta. Wanting to stomp me into the ground he came out aggressively, once again using tactics similar to those I used against CharlesFish I was able to give ground without loosing and turn the tide. In the end I swept the match 2-0 to get to rank 4.1. After the victory I wandered from Chariot stop to chariot stop, eventually ending up in CotS. There I started to wander, as if in a daze when all the sudden a little window called "fatal error" snuffed me out.
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later
Letting the gods anger run its course I laid low for a while. When I finally came to, I headed straight home, setting a WP there, and then using the navigation system skipped over to the Bedouin GH to check on applicants. After my work there was done I again rested.
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Sept 20th
*foop* looks around quickly, checks membership applications. *poof*
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Sept 22nd
Ahh today was the day, I could feel it. Rank 5 tug was in my grasp. First to attend to duties and let people in the guild, chat a little about getting myself a nice little hatchet, then went after Amtep a fellow rank 4 tug player. Once again aggression was Amtep's downfall, but only for 1 game. He quickly adapted, where I was slow to adapt. In a couple close bids, I was on the loosing end. In coin toss decisions once again I was being out thought. He was now going passive, so I tried to switch tactics only to have him counter them perfectly, this was not going to be my day. The match finally ended in his favor, 1-3. As a nice concession though he was a perfect teacher of mine, and had picked up around 16 moves since last we acro'd. Not as nice as a rank 5 tug standing, but better than nothing.
So I headed out into the desert, to fish and to rethink my Tug playing. Much to my surprise I started actually catching fish, ranging from 1 deben minnows (my only oxychronis) to medium sized, 6 deben, catfish, perch and carp. After fishing for a while and chatting with guildmates.. alot. I decided to rest for the day.
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Sept 22nd/23rd
The DAY. I knew it was coming, from the first time she asked, I had somehow missed co-existing with her for over a week now. But it had to happen. I used the navigation system and appeared back home. Jaby was home. There I was surrounded by guildmates and I knew. It was over. 'Hey!! apathy! come on!, lets go to the altar!.
Okay, its not really at all bad ;) after all she has rather nice lines, works very very hard and is extremely helpful. All of which is why I said yes, of course none of which explains why she would ask me! But I try not to dally on that fact. So armed with my new Leetah made hatchet I headed to the altar.
Once there Jaby briefly winked out of existence, and after trying to drown myself in despair, only to realize I actually walk *on* the water she reappeared and the wedding was back on. After the first attempt, we got some helpful advice from an often married friend of ours, Qetesh, who straightened us out. After a few more tries we realized one of the party was not a citizen, so we booted him out and rounded up more people. Then after 3 more tries, Qetesh stepped in again had us step back and try all over. The lightening descended raising us both up in the air, striking us continuously, we merged together and in a final zap Jaby was incinerated, but not before she became my wife :) Jaby tried to come back to Egypt, but each time the mere presence of her new husband was too much for her and needed some more rest, or at least thats what I'm telling myself.
With my duties complete I meandered back to camp and brought back a chunk of thorns I had gathered for no real reason, hackled more flax and grew more flax and cooked firebricks. With all of this, I had to call it a day, as well as a week.
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Week 3 Progress---
Played 3 tug matches (5-3) rank 4.0
Achieved rank 4.1 to pass Tug.
Spent a lot of time chatting.
Did small amounts of both resource gathering (wood/slate/thorns) as well as making items (flax/firebricks)
Learned skills from universities as well as Schools.
Learned 4 moves in test of acrobat. Learned: 127(+20) Taught:43(0)
Time Spent - 9hrs 15min
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WEEK 4
Sept 23
Ahhh, a new week is upon me, but what do I do? Poking around camp I noticed we have a surplus of nails, I discretely borrow 80 of them for the rest of the telling. Next was the flax making and wood harvesting. Converted flax into canvas, wood into boards and made myself a tent! Passing the 4th Initiation, Architecture.
Now what? ooo, hello a 23 move acrobat who is a perfect master for me. I find myself standing around very closely watching the beautiful lady and end up learning 10 facets and a new move. Finding that the bored method is working, I bump into another perfect teacher for me who has 10 moves. After watching him I find myself having learned 4 more facets and 2 new moves!
Well on to "productive" things, I figure its high time I learn how to rot flax so I stop having to ask guildmates to put the flax in the water for me :).
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Sept 23/24
While out and about in RSO, and hearing of this "fishing contest", I decided to learn taxidermy, despite warnings my Grandfather said about this "worst of skills". After my session at the university, I headed to the Bedouin GH and converted 1200 straw into a lot of bricks, and then wandered up to a possible fishing spot.
Sept 24
Today is the fishing day! Beer in hand I walk the coast fishing and growing garlic. Catching every sort of known fish and drinking ore than needed, I end the evening pretty well off.. but unfortunately lacking in any real trophy fish, having caught nothing greater than 8db, though having caught 8 db in virtually every type. Well fishing is never about the fish anyway ;)
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Sept 25
Hmm, today I think I will hunt for shrooms. A full shroom time later I look in my shroom basket and sadly see it is empty, but I at least I remembered to enjoy the tranquility of the desert.
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Sept 26
Ready for another shroom hunt, I notice some fellow rank 4 tuggers are online. Abandoning all shroom hunting, I hunt tug games instead. Marrick meets me first and we settle in. First game was tight from beginning to end, ending up back in the middle every 12 or so points. In the end though I was able to edge the game out by a just a couple points. The second game went more to my liking, leaving the match a 2-0 decision and putting me back up at rank 4.1. Gurney, another rank 4 player arrived at the end of the 2nd game. He came on deck next. The first game was quick, he bum rushed me right to the edge, but left him at 25 points to my 42. Thinking he would chance it and try to take the win instead of trying even the points up, I placed down 25. The move was correct and the game went to me. Next game was nearly as quick, a little more back and forth, but this time I was pushing him. Having him at the edge this time, I was at 13 he had 23, I was counting on my 'conservative' nature to fool him and went 13. Once again it turned out to be the correct answer, and I was rank 5.0 tied with the highest ranked tug players in Egypt.
Not wanting to let the streak I was on end, I was able to convince Seraphine to face off with me at Pharaoh's Bay. After catching the wonderful chariot system there we buckled down. We played 2 games, which were extremely similar to the games against Marrick, right down to the result. After this streak, I raced home to tell Granddad that I was now the highest ranked Tugger in Egypt. The old coon just looked at me with that stare he had and said '5.1? bah! come back when you show some honor to me and get to 6.0!'.
After being put back in my place, I did a little more acroing, picked up a couple facets and dropped off some more random stuff at camp.
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Sept 27
Today was another shroom hunting night. This time there were shrooms to be found. After a short evening of shroom hunting, I had 8 shrooms in my pockets. All Dueling Serpent variety. In fact come to think of it, I have never found any type of mushroom other than Dueling Serpent so far.
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Sept 28
Popped into existence during the day, so instead of hunting shrooms, I hunted acro masters. After catching up with a couple different people and trying to learn and teach to very little success, I called it a day. *note to self - learn how to walk faster *
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Sept 29
I woke in Sinia at the chariot stop and noticed a rank 5 opponent was online, Styxx. I once again experienced the wondrous chariot system, hoping from Sinai after 3 min to the Nile Delta, there for 7 min, then off to Valley of Kings for a 8 second wait and to Pharaoh's Bay to play Styxx. With the ring of rank 6 on the line for me, to finally prove to Granddad I was equal to his name, I buckled down. First game Styxx came out strong bidding 11's, I played it safe with low bids. Then I dropped a large bid to stop his advancement and avoid the edge. Using the advantage gained from the first 2 bids I was able to control the game and though we used his position to nickel and dime me, Styxx ended up 2 cents short. Using the knowlege from the first game, and hoping we was as well, I came out strong and spent the game in his territory, but it took me a while to get an edge situation, at 13 on my side and 21 on his, I bid 0 and watched him bid 8, tieing us at 13 a piece deep in his territory. I was able to just play conservatively for the remander of the game, taking the match 2-0 and hitting the Rank 6 plateau.
After my tug matches Styxx granted my the privilege of teaching me acro, he was able to teach me a couple facets and another new move. After teaching someone else a little acro I headed back to RSO via DoS and then to my camp to drop off the random stuff picked up along the way.
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Week 4 Progress---
Played 4 tug matches (8-0) rank 6.0
Achieved highest tug rank ever achieved.
Spent a lot of time walking.
Did flaxing/board making and put up a tent to pass the Architecture initiation.
Picked up a few minor skills.
Hit 9 acrobat moves. Facets - Learned: 144(+17) Taught:47(+4)
Time Spent - 9hrs 20min
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WEEK 5
** New style **
This week I decided not to try and write each day, instead just take notes and recap the week, this will help me from sliding back and forth through tenses ;).. at least I hope it will....
Sept. 30
Nothing... really. I recall awakening at camp, wandering around a bit, feeling rather aimless, no one at Rank 6 tug to play, not sure which acro people to pursue.. I hackled the rake a little, gathered some wood mindlessly, but really did nothing and after almost 30 min I decided to if I wasn't going to do anything at least I could be non-existent while doing it.
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Oct 1
Having mulled over an idea and knowing I would love to vote on art exhibits.. if there were ever any tests released in that field ;). I had an idea. I then proceeded to gather wood, grow a little flax (I try the "leave more than you take" philosophy with my guild since I never actually build anything) and process it a bit. Then with boards and supplies in tow head to RSO chariot stop. There I set up my sculpture and title it "Man in a Box". I then settle in and take a long nap in my little.. very little box.
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Oct 2
After having told the few guild chats about my little sculpture, word seemed to get around a little bit. As much as I was enjoying my meditation I really needed to stretch my legs. It had been a while since I just "went to sleep" instead of "winking out of existence" and took a little getting used to, the box was a bit more cramped and darker than the usually bench or palm tree I used to "rest" under. After a short chat I then went back to "sleep"
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Oct 3
This day I was really starting to ache, my legs were sore. I needed a little fresh air. After watching a tug game nearby I then played a game against an up and coming tug player and promptly lost, good thing he wasn't rank 6! I also was dismayed that I was both "in the box" and "out of the box" depending on the person viewing! I must have moved ever so slightly the previous day. With the help of the person who just beat me in tug I repositioned myself for the final few hours of my sculptures existence.
later
This was it, nearly 40hrs spent in a box!! All for the sake of art. But to my utter amazement 41 people had stopped by and given their opinion, and all 41 gave a positive opinion! I recognized their votes and got nailed by some crazed storm god with lightening. Funny I never see any storm clouds but that is the 6th time I have been hit...
Even more amazing, apparently I don't even have to be able to see and Acrobat teacher!, It must be those telepathy skills, and I'm seeing them enact their move in their thoughts, because I found myself, after spending 40hrs in a box, knowing 7 more facets and 4 more moves!
After these revelations I, with some regret, tore down my sculpture, after all "man in a Box" would not quite be the same without someone in it :) I do have to say, many thanks to those who liked it, I was very glad to share the idea and even happier that others thought it as funny/neat as I had hoped.
On to the real world, as it was my favorite time of night I went shroom hunting once again, hoping again I would find something other than Dueling Serpents. This night I broke the curse and found a small variety, some Dueling Serpents as expected but also Sand Spore and Iron Knots. After my shroom hunt I returned to camp and processed a bunch of flax and fired wet firebricks for my guild. Not complete with my day I hunted down a couple acrobat partners, unfortunately neither learning or teaching anything. A day well used was finally over and I went back to gathering offline travel time.
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Oct 4
Foraging had come out and since I like hunting shrooms I figured it would be good to be able to forage for any herbs I ran across, so I gathered 250 thorns and headed to the nearest School of Worship. After all of that though I had had enough and relaxed for the rest of the day.
-later-
Today was a "hunt down perfect teachers" day. I started with a guildmate who was "only" a Great teacher but I was still able to learn 2 facets from here, and then I was able to locate both Esher and Lynnetra and they were able to teach be a few more new facets. I ended this day shroom hunting once again, this time finding about a dozen Sand Spore and a couple DS.
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Oct 5
Exciting day, sort of, I got to try on someone else's skin for a while and found out they really sucked at fishing. After which I transferred my essence back into my normal form and did some shroom hunting, but alas all the shrooms were avoiding me and in the end I accomplished little beyond the enjoyment of the land today, so it was yet another successful day :)
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Oct 6
Started the day in the middle of nowhere at the end of mushroom spawning time, again found nothing, but spent time chatting with over the magical communication system with a guildmate which is always fun to do.
Week 5 Progress---
Passed art initiation in 40hrs with 41 votes!
Acrobat - learned 6 moves: Learned 161(+15). 28 to go, Taught: 47.
Shroom hunting - found more DS, some SS and IK & CH
Helped with camp "chores" flax processing a but and firebrick cooking
Time Spent - 8hrs 15min.
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WEEK 6
Oct 8
Today the hunt was on for acrobat facets, I was able to train with a couple Great teachers. The results were excellent as I succeeded in not only picking up some facets but learning 2 new moves as well. High on my success I went shroom hunting, which while enjoyable was completely unproductive.
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Oct 9
This day was a quick day, I actually did not move an inch and just stood in the middle of nowhere using the mystical chat system for a short while before departing once again. Not much to write home about.
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Oct 10
Once again I had a little drive to do something, hearing that Shadus had become a master acrobat, and believing my sketchy notes indicated he was a perfect teacher I traveled from the depths of north east Egypt all the way to the source of the nile in Upper Nubia. My journey was well worth it as I learned quite a few facets and another 2 moves. I was now close enough to start a little facet count-down (12 left).
After my lessons I wandered around my granddads old stomping grounds, though stayed southerly of the areas I knew as a small apathy. While wandering around I picked up some white sand and the old location and found my first herb which I prompty distroyed, but the second one I succeeded in harvesting.
I then headed back up to RSO to join guildmates in this thing called "digging" having done it once before, I found it nearly as tedious as the last time and without the wonderful distractions of an occasional tug game. But they were digging for some reason (at least I hoped it was more than to just have a hole) and I felt I should help out my guildmates at least once and a while.
--
After a short rest, I wandered around a little more and actually ran across a student who was a perfect learner and who had only a couple moves, finally returned the gift of knowledge to someone. I then taught someone how to play relfection and played 2 games with them teaching, hopefully, some strategies and imparting knowledge.
--
Another short break later, I wandered back into nowhere, stopping at a University of Law to sign up for the famed Demi-Pharoah test. Then I decided I should help out my wife in her Towers quest, to this end I build a couple chests and gathered some grass in anticipation of making 1K bricks for the base of a future tower.
---
Oct 11
Today I knew I was going to make bricks, after making a third chest and a drying rack as well as a set of 20 brick racks I then dried some grass and took a break.
--
Came back and converted ~200+ grass into bricks and stored them, put more grass on the drying rack and took another drink break.
--
Rinse. Wash. Repeat. Now at a bit over 1K bricks I was satisfied with my progress here.
--
After yet another nap, I decided to hunt down an acrobat teacher and swing by camp to drop of the assortment of random shrooms and herb I had collected. I then went to RSO and succeeded ion learning another facet and move. Then it was off to Lower Nubia and out into the wilderness of old SE to shroom hunt.
--
Not yet done with this long day, it was time once again to shroom hunt, and while I found very little in the way of shrooms I was becoming better at spotting shrooms. At this point I noticed also that I seem to have vision problems, at times I see with what I like to call my 'radeon 7500c' vision, which leaves everything a muted dark green, but other times I can see with what I call 'Nvidia G-4 fx5200' vision and things are just so ful of color, and those herba are so much easier to match against my traveling books 'guide to herbs'. Shame there are no doctors, this occassional radeon vision thing can really blow.
---
Oct 12
After such a long day yesterday, I decided to relax a little more today, I spent a short amount of time shroom hunting once again to no avail and then took a quick nap.
--
Up again and off to more shroom and herb hunting. This time I finished my exploration of my granddad's home area, from where he and old Jaby along with Gorm and silver built a giant pyramid, to their old home and checked out the volcano arera. Nothing showed any evidence that any of his stories were true. ah well. My southern shoom hunting yeilded the common IK and CH varieties as was as the BH and EL sets, I also had a small speckling of EoO and CN. The last 4 where all new shrooms to me. I found a wide variety of herbs as well, too many to document here. All in all I feel I should work my way back home after this long week and drop off my supplies. With this in mind I am taking the entire day off tommarrow.
---
Week 6 Progress---
Acrobat - learned 5 moves (8 to go): Learned 178(+17). 11 to go.
Shroom hunting - found IK, CH, BH, CN, EoO & EL
Found a wide variety of herbs.
Helped with a dig and set up a possible tower location.
Taught someone how to play reflection.
Time Spent - 11hrs 50min.
|
WEEK 7
Oct 14
Today was a very long day for me, using up nearly half of my allotted time in one fell swoop. So what did I do with all that time? :)
I started my day just chatting over our wonderful mystic "chat" and "guild" channels. I tell you these thing are pretty neat, if it wasn't for them I think I would feel as if I was all alone! After some chatting an historic moment occurred. Al-Bilal reached rank 6 in "tug", marking the only time in ATITD history 2 people have achieved rank 6. Well we couldn't resist, and I needed to check my skills since last I met Al-Bilal on the tug courts (A rank 3 match ending 2-0 in my favor). So we started the only rank 6 tug game ever played. In both games I was able to gain a small point lead over the first 3/5ths of the game as well as taking advantage of a few perfect bids on my end (9/8, 8/7 style), allowing me to keep the small advantage in points while not loosing any ground on the court. Both games ended in the same fashion with me up by 4-6 points at the 20-25 point range, slowly and carefully bidding and maintaining, while not getting caught on any of the painful pitfalls Al laid before me. In the end I was able to walk away 2-0 for the match and achieve rank 6.1.
Then I walked over to the nearest UoC to sign up for Hekets Rake, another game my granddad was good, at but never really excelled, having played very very rarely the last 2/3rds of his active life. Once again I wondered why I had to walk all the way to a UoC to sign up, its not like they taught me anything, and I told them "hey next time I give you permission to sign me up for all conflict tests you all come out with!" <sigh> I doubt they were listening.
Well with my new ability to play Heket's Rake (aka Rake) I sought an opponent. I quickly found LilaMay, but she did not want to play a rank game (we were both rank 1) so we played a practice game, something I needed as well. After struggling a bit and a hard fought game I was able to put into play some of my old granddad's teachings and pull out the win. Next up was Pjort and in this case it was a ranked game. Into the fray we went, and boy was it a game. I came out with the early advantage and was trying to put him away when he turned the tables and almost trounced me, I was able to stave off loosing and squeaked out a reverse of fortunes, but again was unable to close it out. This time though I kept him from once again turning the tables and was eventually to pull in a win.
If every Rake game is like this one getting to rank 4 will take forever.
--
Later that evening, as a representative of the Egypt News Radio group, without a radio <sigh> I did a long interview with ATITD tale 2's first student of Architecture : Rehpic. I wont go into the topics discussed as the whole thing is on the forums under "Interviews", but all in all it went nicely and Rehpic didn't grumble too much about answering my questions. I also got in some flax raking while doing then interview ;)
On a side note, I found out that I was not alone in my DP group. Not sure if this is fair, but I guess that's the way it is.
With that I long last closed my eyes on this longest of days.
---
Oct 15
Today I just spent some brief time chatting with my DP group, not much worth reporting there.
---
Oct 16
Much like the previous day I just spent time chatting with the DP group while processing more flax for my guild. Trying to convince the DP group that none of them are going to even have a shot at being DP so they should abandon any pretense of "trying to win" and go for, "rock the boat" or "have a blast" method. Does not look like its working though, everyone I have spoken too is much too serious.
---
Oct 17
Today I went back out into the world and spent my time tracking down both master acrobat teachers who had learned new moves as well as people who have passed acrobat and I have never trained with. I also snuck in a little shroom hunting and found my first Heaven's Torrent shrooms. I thought about doing some herb hunting but realized I had Radeon 7500 vision and that hunting herbs was completely worthless while I was under the influence of this vision. After much wandering and tireless training I ended up learning 6 facets and 3 moves! I also taught a few more people as well.
With that I called it a week and took the next couple days off.
---
Week 7 Progress---
Acrobat - learned 3 moves (5 to go): Learned 184(+6). 5 to go.
Shroom hunting - found first HT
Hit Rank 6.1 in tug.
Hit rank 2 in Hekets
Did an interview with Rehpic
Time Spent - 9hrs.
|
WEEK 8
Oct 22nd
I start this week searching for a Rank 2 Heket's Rake player, after not finding any I start wishing that the University and School's of Conflict kept a list of who was at what rank. Life in the conflict realm is hard enough without the challenges of actually finding an opponent. Interestingly enough my concerns were voiced by another conflictor in the near future.
While wandering around Akba hunted me down looking for her last CW facet, sadly I was a last resort teacher for her, but conversely she turned out to be the best "Great" teacher one could wish for and taught me 3 of my last 5 facets!! all 7th facets for 3 new moves! Looks like my hop to learn 3-5 facets is already achieved and the next couple days will be spent looking for Rake opponents.
--
Later that day I awoke deciding to check Egypt out once again. This time I did find a Rank 2 opponent. IamTara. I tried a different approach than I tried the past 2 games, and was quickly ruing the choice as I found myself grasping at straws trying to keep from getting squished. Right at the bleakest point I saw an opening appear and was able to completely turn the game around and was able to put the game away to achieve rank 3.
I then spent a chunk of time just chatting with Amtep about the lack of conflict courts and how silly it was that there was only 1 court of most of the games, especially since a number of the games took a chunk of time. Who built this world with such lack of thought? sigh.
I then tried a little more acro, but no additional success, my belief that the acrobating is near over is small, I know full well the last 2 facets can often take quite a long time.
---
Oct 23rd
I awoke to check on Rank 3 hekets rake players and to see if any of the few masters I know of were online. Much to my surprise Berin(sp?) was right next to me when I appeared. He was an acrobat who I had yet to try with and low and behold turned out to not only be a master teacher but was able to teach me one more facet, leaving me needing just 1 facet in Leg Stretch!. After that quick lesson and a simple check on Hekets rake players I was off again.
---
Oct 24th
Once again wandering from chariot to chariot checking peoples /info to see if they have LS and if they can teach me. Then my Rank 3 hekets rake game appeared. Apathy vs. Decision. I had no idea what I was getting into when this started. The game right off the bat was a tight game of slowly working towards victory only to miss the last piece and result in trying to prevent loss only to find a chink and able to turn the game once again. The sportsmanship and trust we both displayed found me pulling almost as much for decision as for myself. (There were a couple mis-clicks, and when that happened we would both stop playing and make moves specifically designed to let the person who mis-clicked do what they intended on). At various points in the truly marathon event both of us felt "this one is finally mine" only to have it snatched away inexplicably. After over 225 minutes of playing, yes over 3 1/2 hours!! Decision in a difficult bind let exhaustion slip in and he missed the backdoor my set up had. The game was mine, and I hit Rank 4. I have to say that game left me with a simple "WOW" and quite shakey. Completely exhausted I left Egypt for a breather.
---
Oct 25th
Went shroom hunting once again! Left out herb hunting as I was having a Radeon kind of day :(. Found my first Peasants Foot, spent time chatting and looking for any Rank 4 hekets rake players.
---
Oct 26th
While hunting down possible teachers for that last facet, I kept checking for Rank 4 players, coming to the conclusion that there are only 2 other current Rank 4 players, one of whom had not been online for 5 days. While chatting Branco started a Conflict oriented petition and during the chat he decided to add in the request that the schools and universities will carry records of who is what rank. I cant begin to state how much this would help all conflict players and can only pray it gets enough signatures to get up for vote and pass soon.
Sadly my acro hunting resulted in only close calls. Had 2 'follows' which is about as close as one can get.
---
Week 8 Progress---
Acrobat - learned 4 moves (1 to go): Learned 188(+4). 1 to go.
Shroom hunting - found first PF
Hit rank 4 in Hekets
Time Spent - 9hrs. |
WEEK 9
Oct 29th
Today I found one of the few rank 4 Rake opponents currently out there, Tortanick. He started with an unusual diagonal opening, which I quickly turned to my advantage. Having him on the ropes though I was unable to put him away and made a minor slip up. Tortanick, playing a flawless game after the opening pounced on the slip and never let go of his stranglehold. I ended up departing from the court with my first hekets rake loss and a need to reset all the way back to rank 1. Knowing how hard it was not only to win just 3 games but to even find someone to play me, I think I will retire from Hekets for the telling, or at least not actively pursue any games, while welcoming any games that come to me.
The apathy inherent in conflict should assure rank 4 passes before the telling ends.
--
Later I logged on once again, after struggling with the general feelings I have been having over the past 2 weeks. I checked my lifeline cycle and noticed that I had to receive an influx of life on Nov. 2nd, I decided that the influx was not worth the existence, so I started contemplating the removal of my essence from Egypt for a chunk of time.
Oct 31-Nov 1
After missing a couple of the friends I have I finalized my decision to leave the game. I will come back for 1 month in a couple month to see if anything has change, though I doubt it will have.
Instead of writing a long goodbye post, I will place me thoughts and reasons here. Ever since Feb. of this year I have felt a sort of betrayal from the company, the 1 year telling was progressing far far longer than expected, Teppy seemed overtly against many ideas the player base seemed to strongly support, and there was what seemed to me a lack of willingness to change. Two examples that bothered me, after having a poll he started on the forums and having 7blades come up as the 2nd least favorite conflict game (behind RoC which many throught could have been good, but as it stood was horrible) it was used in the tournament of 7 thing. Next was the "larger" sets ladder. Both of these were items that the people in general had already stated they did not like, so Teppy (to me) seemed to force them down the collective throat instead of admitting 'hey maybe im not right and these are not as great as I thought'. Another aspect was the complete disrespect that seems to have been given to the oracles of last telling. (I only include oracles since asking peoples opinions can get out of hand if you include too many).
After one of the worst endgames I could have imagined, I honestly thought that Teppy would make an effort to contact all oracles and get their opinions on not only the new test, but on all the pre-existing tests. That their opinions on the pre-existing tests, way to improve them, rate of release, tweaks and modifications would not just be opinion but that it would be considered on par with a heavily paid consultant. Coupled with this would be the chief designer position I expected the Oracle of each discipline to be in when it came to the new test, that the designer/programmer would be actually getting the "this is how I envisioned it" check of approval from those 7 people. To me this was a world Teppy created with the concept that the players would forge it into its future, that Teppy would play the scenery and background role while the players made the direction the game was to go. As it turned out, to me, it was far more Teppy's sandbox come hell or highwater, and while your opinions are nice, if Teppy disagrees with them it doesnt matter if its 10 or 1000 people who think that way. After all its Teppy's game.
So obviously I had a number of hangups from the first telling, primarily the speed at which the game progressed, and Teppy's lack of willingness to let the players shape the world. I harbored large hopes for fixes made primarily in the discipline I pursued (Conflict) but also in other disciplines and techs, as well as having 'events' (It should be noted my biggest gripe about 'events' is the lack of lead time. I expect to have 1-2 weeks notice that an 'event' is going to happen, not 10-30 hrs notice). Not a one of my hopes were fulfilled, and the promise of a 6 month telling seemed as true as the promise of his '1 year' telling. Coupled with this was my determination to play "casually" this time around. Sadly my somewhat anti-social attitude towards people and my difficulty in connecting with guild/group projects helped me feel lost and without a place in ATITD. Having played since the 2nd week of Tale 1, I had only a very small group of people I regularly chatted with. In the end I found I had no time to pursue much of anything and if I did, by the time I became proficient it was not worth anything.<shrug>
*poof*
|
WEEK 32
Apr 13th
Today I returned in full form to my home land, after a long chunk of time roaming beyond the great sea. This was not my first return though, I visited for one day many moons ago, and should probably recount my adventures of that day first. Because time and space have passed, many memories of that one day have faded, but I do know I visited man universities and signed up for a few new tests. I learned Zhadu and Yokir and even won a couple games of each, of course my Grandfather still scoffs at my accomplishments, but what can I do? While waiting for a Yokir game, I noticed someone waiting in an acro line, and not only that but they knew Leg Stretch, the only move I still had not mastered. Looking at the long acro line and thinking "wow that would take a lot of time" I decided just to ask the person waiting in line to try. They were only 'Pretty God' for me so I held little hope, but then on the 3rd try the storm gods once again appeared and struck me with lightening, proclaiming that I did learn that last Facet!! Here I thought the last couple of facets where the hardest, but as it turns out, you need only b lazy :). After a few more conflict games I went back to the desert and roamed for the rest of the day, while in the desert I started collecting a new item, Cicadas. I was able to collect 3 of them before I had to leave again. While collecting cicada's I also tried to eat some shrooms as opposed to just picking them. I was able to find and eat 7 Peasant's Foot Shrooms to complete the first step in my Darkest Night test.
So that leads me up to today, my return. I came in at the desert, the land looking familiar and quietly strode the expanses of Sinai. Using the magical "chat" system I also talked with my ever faithful and supportive wife. But beyond that I did very little and saw nothing more exciting than a large rock. Still it was good to stretch the legs.
--
Apr 14th
Today, I spent a good chunk of time wandering the great expanses of the Sinai, Central/Fools Paradise and old Eastern Grounds deserts. I was on the lookout for those Cicadas. In moving from the Sinai region to the more southerly areas I stopped and played 7 Tombs of the Immortal. 2 of them stumped me, but I vowed to return to them again. 2 others after I finished, apparently I had played before, which was strange as I had never played any at all until today! Sigh Egypt can be rather strange at times. I also stopped by many universities and learn quite a large number of skills, not sure what they are for, but I have heard once that knowing was half the battle.. of course, all this knowledge doesn't enlighten me as to where, when, why or what this 'battle' might be, ah well. After my side trip was done, I was back in my element, doing what I do best... pointlessly roaming the vast flat deserts.
By the end of this long day I had found 3 more cicadas, 2 of which resulted in crumbled cages! I searched for Shrooms while out wandering but never found any. But now I had other things to keep an eye out for as well! And much to my amazement I spotted an otter, which after being rather confused and some consulting, I started stuffing wood down its holes until I could capture it and tag it. A little later on I spotted some tracks, followed them to the source and tagged a Desert Rat as well. So in the end it was a good day. I hope that I can soon find a 7th cicada to set up my own cage, I also plan on visiting my old camp, seeing if I can scare up the materials for one of those shiny Navigation points.
--
Bonus Day Progress---
Signed up for new tests
Achieved Rank 2.0 in Zhadu
Achieved Rank 1.2 in Yokir
Learned my last facet in Acrobat, passing that test. Now Student of 3!
Collected 3 Cicadas
Ate 7 Peasant's Foot Mushrooms for Darkest Night
Time Spent -Approx 8.5hrs
Week 32 Progress---
Signed up for more new tests, and learned many new skills
Found 3 more Cicadas
Found 1 otter and 1 desert rat for Safari
Time Spent - 9hrs 25min.
|
WEEK 33
Apr 15th
I awoke this day with a passion burning inside, I was close to building my first cage to hold my collection of Cicadas. I had 6 and rumor had it the university would give me a cage if I showed them 7 of these loud little buggers. I also note that it is very nice that they only make noise when they are inside a constructed cage! So back into the flat wasteland of the desert I roamed. My search was not in vain either as I found 1 cage, then quickly, using the mystical teleportation system, flew to a University of Body (well came closer to one and walked the rest of the way), then transported myself back and placed my first cage! With that accomplishment behind me I quit Egypt for the day.
--
Apr 17th
Today I was renewed with vigor and spent a long period of time wandering the dunes, flatlands and ravines of the remote corners of Egypt. Traveling the desert brought a certain zen to me. But the desert held more than just zen. It also held strange creatures. I found some tracks, and followed them, at the end of the tracks I tried and succeeded catching my 2nd Desert Rat. After examining the creature I tagged it and let it go. In my travels I also ran across a series of holes which an Otter was poking his head out. After examining his patterns I clogged up the correct holes and tagged my 2nd Otter, the result of this was a strange feeling of additional strength. I quickly gathered up bucketfuls of sand and found I could indeed carry more than before, quite amazing. The day was not all animal tagging though, I also succeeded in finding 5 more cicadas and found out that now I could get a cage for only 6 cicadas! The day was long and hard at times, but with my feet sore I was happy with my catches and rested.
--
Apr 18th
This day was much like all the days of this week, wandering the remote areas of Egypt. But with a slight twist. After finding another cage, I went back to the university and stopped to play some Tombs for an hour, I tried 5 tombs, but 2 stumped me. the other 3 I was able to judge though, after which I returned to remote areas to place my 2nd cage! After some additional wandering around I found 2 more cicadas as well. I then noted, right before I laid down to rest that I had gained some speed!
--
Apr 19th
Not to change a pattern that has been working so well for me, I continued my journey. This time finding 3 more cages, leaving me one shy of my 3rd cage. I also experienced my first night of shroom hunting in a while. The results were well worth the extra time as someone found a batch of Pool of Tranquility mushrooms and let me know about them. After using the mystical navigation system and eating 7 shrooms, I returned to my wandering and found 7 of the more popular, but still needed Cobra Hood mushrooms and ate 7 of those. Full and tired from near continuous walking this week. I retired for the week after only 4 days, taking the next 3 days off, but looking forward to next weeks hunt for Cicadas, Desert Rats, Otters and Razor's Edge Mushrooms!
--
Week 33 Progress---
Cicadas - found 11 cages an built 2 cages. Got my first speed point.
Safari - Found 1 otter and 1 desert rat, getting my first strength point.
Darkest Night - Ate 7 PoT and 7 CH, leaving only RE for my first set of Shrooms.
Thought Tests - Played 5 Tombs, Judged 3
Time Spent - 10hrs.
|
WEEK 34
Apr 22nd
At the dawn of a new day, and a new week, I found myself both lighter of stored 'cicada points' but also a bit quicker. I spent a chunk of time wandering the desert, seeing many illusions but very few objects that remained true. Luckily I was able to find one cage, which gave me enough Cicadas to build my 3rd cage. After taking a bit of a break I found a few fellow conflictors and played a couple intense games of Yokir. Both of them being rank 3 and me only at Rank 1 required the games to be practice, but I was glad to see that I at least held my own. With that I called the long day over.
---
April 23rd
This day before I was off again to the great desert, I received a gift of 4 silk from Jaby for a shiny new Navigation point and traveled into the city to learn the skill. The desert was then again my landscape, while desert stretched on endlessly before me, I started wondering why I never seem to exist during mushroom blooming times. Fortunately this long day did cover one of the spawning times, unfortunately all I spotted where Dueling Serpents. On the plus side I found yet another Cicada cage and stated my collection for a 4th cage. I also found 2 more cages, but noticing them both as being younger than 24hrs I left my 2 navigation points there, promising myself a return visit in a few days or so.
I finished this long day by starting another practice game of Yokir, intending on playing a ranked game after the Practice game, unfortunately one of the player froze and had god problems resulting in his abrupt removal from our world. After waiting a time we decided his god(ess) was not going to let him return and I also decided it was time to depart.
---
April 24th
Running low on time, I stopped by Fool's Paradise to pick up a generous donation of 100 papyrus from Tortanick, while headed back to camp I was able to arrange my first Ranked Yokir game since returning! The stakes high I started strong, but then was overcome, down 3-3-6, the two of us worked together getting us up to 6-5-6. I had 5, but 2nd call. Unfortunately for me I never got the call and win or lose, I was out. After that I sat down for my first smoke of a hookah, not getting anything off of it, but a relaxing puff, I retired for the day.
--
April 25th
With time nearly gone, I decided to spend some time at camp, processing the rest of the papyrus as well as making boards while waiting and pressing out a sail. Armed with paper, tar, some wood and boards I learned my 3rd level of Navigation as well as how to make a small ferry.
Only having 1 cicada and nearly out of time I went back towards the desert/remote areas. On the way out I was shocked to hear a 'ribbit!'. Having never heard one of these frogs before, I checked my handy manual on how to locate the bugger, after a bit of a search I was able to find the bullfrog and tagged my first one. Feeling a bit better I continued my search finding one more Cicada, sadly only 124 points was all I got. I then took a break having virtually no time left (15min).
Deciding I should finish out my week early once again I returned to the search. Surprisingly enough, this last 15 min was more productive than the previous 9h 45m were. I found 3 cicadas, all worth 8+K. Going a little over my time I found a nice semi-secluded spot, used navigation skills to go back to a city center and university of body to get my 4th cage and return to place it. While in route I once again gained some speed. After placing the cage I left, hoping my 4 cages would prosper while I was gone.
--
Week 34 Progress---
Cicadas - found 8, took 6 and built 2 cages, Got speed points two and three.
Safari - Found my first bullfrog, but no other creatures.
Darkest Night - was only online during 1 shroom time and didnt find my RE.
Yokir - played 1 ranked game, lost.
Time Spent - 10hrs 20min
|
WEEK 35
Apr 29th
Came awake again in our desert world. Found myself feeling yet a little bit faster. Today I successfully found 2 more rank 1 Yokir players and settled in for a game. Near the end of the game, Marrick and I were tied at 6 points with Sassy lagging behind, I called and Sassy decided try and be neutral, while not working against me, she also did not work for me. Leaving me a narrow lane in which I was able to take the game. The win pushed me up to Rank 2. After which I needed a rest.
Now that the heady feel of victory was under my wings I found a 2nd Ranked game, this one at Rank 2. Once again it was me and one other opponent tied at 6, this time it was Rhydd. and Bigboy was the one who got to chose the winner. I called but Bigboy had a strong enough hand he could have set me, while Rhydd could only watch. Lucky for me Bigboy let it play out to see if I had a good enough hand, and once again I slide by, getting to Rank 2.2.
As a side note, while playing Yokir, I got to use a barrel grinder for the first time. With 2 victories under my belt I called it a night.
--
Apr. 30th
Today was a busy and long day for me. I was navigating between the deep desert and city centers. But the first thing I noticed was that I had lost a cicada cage to roving thieves, I long for the day when we enact a law protecting all my cages. While I continued my search, I stopped for a time to play another Ranked Yokir game. This time, while I was close (6-5) the 3rd player sided on the opposite side, ending the game before I could push it to 6-6. The setback was painful, but on the plus side, my 2.2 rank was enough to get me the level 7 in Yokir.
Back in the desert, after time consuming searching I found a large cashe of cages, 4 of them!! Unfortunately someone had recently pillaged all of them and I got a very small reward for taking my fair share.
Then I came back for yet another Ranked game of Yokir, both me and satsuki? were teamed up yet again. This time it was not even close, after a rough start, first 3 hands resulted in losses for the person calling, Kalar decided he was going to get the good cards and we were left watching. After words we decided to play a practice game, which of course is when my luck kicked in and I swept the game. The two losses left me out of range of Rank 3 once again. Looking back upon my Yokir playing, it seems that I have pretty good luck in practice, but in ranked games I need a little favor from another person to actually win.
Back on the cicada trail again I found a 5th cage! This one was worth quite a bit and gave me enough to create a new cage! I also found another bullfrog, giving me 2 of those buggers found. Then to round out the night someone ran across some RE shrooms, and I was able to eat 7 to complete my first set of Darkest night shrooms!
Heady from the busy day I collapsed in the desert once again.
---
May 2nd
This day once again started with good and bad news. The good news was an increase in speed, my 5th. The bad news was that those bandits destroyed another one of my cages, leaving me with only 3 left standing. I searched for a decent interval this day, but found nothing but sand, not animals, no signs of life. But the trackless land is still soothing to me and I am optimistic.
---
May 3rd
Continuing my search, not as long as the previous day, but with the same results, though I am not surprised as I cannot see how much could live in such a desert.
---
May 4th
Today is my last day of wandering this week, and while the desert was yielding just as little as the previous 2 days, there was a new group of people apparently interested in being this DP thing I got to chat with. I enjoyed their company and laughed quite a bit. Fortunately there was no one to see me laughing in the middle of nowhere.
Just as the week was ending for me, I heard a cage!!! raced to it, only to find it was one I found nearly 2 weeks ago. Having found no new cages in a few days I begin to worry about my attempt to pass this test of the cicadas before my month has ended. I still have the location of 2 cages though, and the points from those two might be enough, but I am currently holding off on those for now.
---
Week 34 Progress
Cicada - found 5 cages, built one cage, lost 2 cages, got 2 speed points (5/7)
Darkest Night - Was directed to 7 RE shrooms to complete my first set, no progress on my 2nd set so far.
Safari - Found 1 bullfrog.
Yokir - Played 4 ranked games, won 2, lost 2. fortunately the winswhere in the right order. Passed Yokir.
Demi-Pharaoh - Joined a group :) (Would have had to stop by a voting booth to decline and that's a lot of work ;) )
Time Spent: 10h 10m
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