Training wings and learning to fly

In one fell swoop I gained mount number 190 and the ability to fly in the Broken Isles.

Flying almost seemed like an anti-climax. I couldn’t think of areas that I immediately wanted to explore, whose unreachable heights had me hankering to suddenly search them out. I even found myself still riding along the ground, having forgotten I could take to the skies almost as quickly as I’d earned the right.

Then I remembered, that area of Suramar which had long tempted me. I assume it’s part of the Nighthold raid but I still wanted to have a proper look at it because it’s on the map.

It’s definitely pretty and I love the fountain with it’s two modes of display but I’m still searching for that special spot. What has inspired me though is the rest of the Suramar quest chain, the idea of Elves putting aside petty quarrels even for a short while to work together against a common foe appeals to me as does sneaking around like a sparkling guerrilla. There is no denying that there is something very rotten at the heart of Suramar.

I might even make myself run the Nighthold when I reach the end of the chain, just to complete the zone of course.

Favourite Playable Race: “Elves are wonderful”

I love other people’s writing prompts because they push the conscious mind into considering things taken for granted. They make you examine why you followed a certain path, why you chose the red velvet cupcake or why only pink socks will do on Thursday and in doing so, often you find something hidden.

Thanks to Rinike, I rediscovered Neri’s writings and found myself debating over her open thread post:

What is your favourite playable race in a video game?

There were several contenders but in the end it came down to one clear winner.

Elves are wonderful. They provoke wonder.
Elves are marvellous. They cause marvels.
Elves are fantastic. They create fantasies.
Elves are glamourous. They project glamour.
Elves are enchanting. They weave enchantment.
Elves are terrific. They beget terror.

Terry Pratchett – Lords and Ladies

Perhaps it’s the fact that Elves usually have links to nature or the fact that spell casting tends to be their bread and butter but I’m drawn to them in games.

In WoW, I love the architecture of both the Night Elves and the Blood Elves. I find their lore fascinating and used to spend hours wandering the broken halls of Eldre’Thalas. In Dragon Age my first character was an Elven Mage who dared to fall in love with a King and in Dragon Age 2, I bemoaned the fact that the story line only allowed you to play Humans. In compensation, I loved questing along side Merrill.

Looking back, I think that my childhood full of fairystories and folklore probably steered me in this direction. I grew up listening to tales of changelings left in rocking cradles and my Great Grandmother used to read the Erl King in such a way which put the fear of all things dark and unknown into us as children.

Dem Vater grauset’s, er reitet geschwind,
Er hält in Armen das ächzende Kind,
Erreicht den Hof mit Müh’ und Not;
In seinen Armen das Kind war tot.

Goethe’s Erl King