After a year and a half, I have finally finished my M.A. and can focus again on my little blog on GW2. I never stopped playing, just moved my focus to writing papers for class. In this post, I will explore my life in Tyria since the last time I posted.
WvW and USSR
So the Mists War has certainly drawn me in for good. I will always have fond memories following Odinzu when TC first started or my days learning with the [TV] guild on how to zerg. But being a part of Die Kompanie [USSR] will always be the most important or best times I have ever had in WvW. I have been lucky enough to learn the tactics and strategies needed for WvW and make some great friends along the way. Let me just say how wonderful it has been to see the Toast grow and evolve into a T1 server that truly takes the competition seriously while keeping it cordial. To those who have bravely fought with me: For the Mother Toast!
3rd Legendary: The Minstrel
Before I went fully into WvW end-game mode, I had to get the last legendary that I wanted. Every time I hear the harp sound now, I am glad I did it. It wasn't easy and World Completion was a bit more painful this time, especially doing it on a Mesmer. But in the end, it was well worth it. I have no aspirations for the other legendaries, but with the current HoT expansion announcement, you better believe that I will be saving my T6 mat and hoarding other materials for the new legendaries.
New Inspirations
The freakishly tall asura grumbled and he shuffled through the snow, "I will never understand why Norn enjoy such hyperborean regions. The chillier the mountain, the more sanctified. A bit imprudent if you ask me."
Betty snickers. "Missing the sauna heat of the Tarnished Coast?"
"Most definitely, bookah. Most definitely," said Swagg.
"Will both of you quiet down. There is a presence here that is giving off a rancid energy. Full of cold. Could it be Jormag?" asked the slender charr.
"We are not that far North, yet. But his influence does reach out over all the Shiverpeaks. We must keep an eye out if you do sense something," Betty replied to Afasia.
They had been traveling for days through the Shiverpeaks. The only animals encountered, lazily trekked across the landscape, never minding the three. They were searching for a shrine, long lost to Norn tales and legends but not by Priory records. When it was brought to Betty's attention that the shrine did exist, she knew that she had to pay homage. She had already had an encounter in the Mist War. While the Pact readied to face Mordremoth on the Western frontier of the Maguuma jungle, the Mist warriors prepared for the great battle, getting stronger as each day passed. She had heard the call on the borderlands, calling her gently but with a confidence she knew could only be one of the Spirits of the Wild. Afasia heard it too, but then again, she many times heard and saw things that couldn't be explained.
Two ravens came flying back. One as black as night, the other as white as snow. Ob and Od in the truest sense, flying together in unison, headed to their trusted ranger. The ravens, Quoth and Nevermore landed on the brush near Swagg and cawed a quick and apathetic response. "This can't be good," said Swagg. "They have informed me that our target is frozen over and covered entirely in ice."
"It can't be that bad. If it is just some frost...," Betty began.
"It's not just that, bookah. It is guarded."
Concern came across Betty's face as she looked in the direction that the ravens came from. She had worked too hard to come this far and not follow through with her pilgrimage. She knew that the Spirit guide was there. It could not have met the same fate as Owl, this Spirit was calling her. She urged her group on towards the shrine, tucked away slightly to the West from the true damage that Jormag had laid upon the Northern Shiverpeaks. They finally came upon large stalagmite columns and clusters of ice. It reminded Afasia of the crystal formations that she had seen in the Branding caused by Kralkatorrik. This was not the ice or frost that forms in nature, this was corruption, twisting and forming in unnatural, barbarous shapes. These were the effects of Jormag, trying to consume and freeze over all life in the area. As if to mock them and to reconfirm their fears, a chunk of the icy heap began to move. It moved its limbs, making a sickening, crunching sound as its joints of ice cracked. Moving on two skinny pillars of ice that served as legs, its deformed over-sized body had an eerie look as it crept towards them. A Son of Jormag, corrupted by the ice and controlled by the dragon.
"This must have been the shrines attendant," said Betty.
"Looks like he gave into Jormag and didn't put up much of a fight seeing how far corrupted he truly is," affirmed Afasia.
"What're you waiting for? Reinforcements?" asked Swagg. He pulled out his bow, lit three arrowheads on fire and began shooting the flaming arrows upon the corrupted shaman.
Afasia popped out of existence as Betty pulled out her hammer which gave off a dull glow. Swagg's three arrows landed and sizzled, cracking the ice surrounding the shaman's head. Thick antlers, decayed with time, could be seen through what was left of the ice, jutting out of the shaman's helm. The corrupted shaman bellowed as a chunk of ice bursted off of his knee. For a split second Betty could see Afasia hacking at the shaman's knees and then she was gone again. Mesmers can really give you a headache, she thought. With Swagg continuing to shoot arrows and Afasia hacking away at the icicle legs like a Banyan sapling, Betty looked for her opportunity. She charged the corruption and with a mighty blow, went straight for its chest. "Watch out!" she cried as she ran in and landed a shattering blow that sounded like a thousand mirrors being broken. The shriveled body of the corruption laid twisted on the snow, writhing in pain. Afasia appeared and quickly struck the heart of the demented creature with precision, stilling it.
After burning the body, the three started large bonfires around the shrine's area, melting the blocks of ice that had consumed the sacred spot. Looking into the large blocks, Betty could see something, hear something. Something trapped.
Days later, it became even more noticeable. The constant roar of the fires kept up to melt the ice had warmed even Swagg to the point that he couldn't take it anymore.
"I am sweating in the Shiverpeaks! This must be some extremely corrupted ice to take this long in the ablation process."
"We almost have it, Swagg," answered Betty. "Soon enough we will have accomplished what we have set out to do." Peering into the ice, she could see it now. The aust of the Spirit she had come to honor was above a golden plate of offering. She saw the gaze of the Moose staring down at her, looking through the ice, calling her to be set free.
Afasia stood next to Betty, gazing into the ice at the distorted statue and asked, "Why the Moose? Why not your Snow Leopard?"
Betty gently smiled. "Snow Leopard teaches we must adapt to our surroundings and show ferocity. What better way to adapt then to seek out the assistance that we need to fight the Elder Dragons? Moose is the Spirit that has called on me to improve and we share many traits. Confidence, courage, and fearlessness. These are the things I must reinforce to be able to take on Mordremoth and the other dragons."
"Yes, yes. And the records show that Moose is clumsy yet graceful. Kind of like you, bookah," jested Swagg. Betty gave him a killer look but the asura quickly disregarded her.
"Those records also state that the Moose is the true expression of joy," chimed in Afasia. "To express joy through accomplishments. Not for pride or ego but in the true sense of sharing your accomplishments with others to spread joy and confidence."
Betty turned to her companion and nodded. "My accomplishments are my friend's accomplishments. There is no time for ego or self-glory in the traditional Norn sense. We are all in this battle together and must rely on each other in the coming battle. Moose will guide us."
"Moose better be there for me when I finish my coursework for the semester, bookah. After this long trek, I am hoping for acknowledgements for my extracurricular activities! Shiverpeaks land surveillance and topography, weather acclimatization, etc. etc.!"
"Lazy asuras. You want a badge of honor and a pat on the head for everything," responded Afasia.
"Lazy? I remind you that I am still on the Dean's List for the Dynamics College, an exemplary student! Why, if it wasn't for me, this krewe would have never succeeded!"
"What? You miserable rodent..."
"Please! Stop!" Betty bellowed. "We all did our fair share of what was needed. Once we leave a proper offering, we must head back into the Mists. Commander Adun and Sergeant Candrian should be expecting us."
Swagg studied the Norn and realized how serious she was about her mission. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath and shook his head in acknowledgment. "Fine. Fine. Just don't expect me to be a sentry after this!"
