Bumblebee

[Pen N Popper]

Mai 20, 1400
  Dear Father and Mother...
  Bumblebee lifts the quill from the parchment and gives it a look before laughing out loud. Stifling the sound, he pokes his head out from beneath the evergreen bush to be sure no passerby had heard his outburst. Again he looks at the feather held in his hand and thinks, Bless youmother for making mepractice my caligraphyno matter how much I complained.
  I have arrived safely in Hlint. My bags, I'm afraid, were lost on the final leg of the boat ride into Lleilon. The cat caught wind of me...
  How had she done it? A moment she was there, casting careful glances about the Hlint sewers, and then gone. Her voice floating about the room, chiding our other companion on his lack of hearing. Myself, I was lucky enough to land a small dart or three from my new bow much less spot her shadowy figure. Sighing, he returns to the letter in progress.
  ...and gave me quite a fright. I dare say I earned my passage well enough with the number of mice I sent into the sea. The road from the docks to Hlint was safe, though each night brought more intense dreams of the dragon. Outside the eastern gates of the town on the final night the dream was...
  This town, it is a gristmill for warriors. If this is a true calling, as it seems to be, and not a dream, why me? A brownie barely capable of pulling the bowstring taught? Bumblebee laughs again, despite his caution at being seen.
  ...vivid. Too real to be false. Many here, it seems, share my nocturnal visions. I have taken your advice and put aside my instincts to remain unseen. The dragon called, as I have taken to thinking of them, are to a soul focused on readying themselves.
  He thinks back to the many hours he has spent concealed about Hlint, evesdropping on conversations and watching themany varied folk. He pauses and shakes his head.
  It is a simple matter to remain unseen as they rush about their business. A few, I am sure, spot my shape amongst the leaves and flowers where I lie concealed. They seem not to give even a pause. It is clear that I have much to learn if I am to survive...
  He cringes and quickly blots out the word survive before continuing.
  ...make a home here in this town.
  Deciding it is best to stop there, he puts the quill aside. Best to not mention the orcs, large rats, tame drow and goblins, spiders, and bandits, he thinks. Unable to control himself he lets out a loud laugh. Oh mother and father, if you could only see your son now.
  Yours, Bumblebee
  Not able to afford a bird delivery, he posts the letter to be sent by land and boat. Pranzis may feel far away, he thinks, but it is still home.

[Pen N Popper]

((OOC
  Just a few thoughts I've had as this PC has entered the world. Want to get them down on paper, so to speak, to help me stay focused going forward.
  The Dragon's Whisper Newsletter
  I've had this in mind for some time. A PC on another persistent world did this with great success, I just hope I can get close. Although the forums are full of IC information there are many things that we are encouraged to "ask ingame." This is my solution to that: Information will be both gotten and shared ICly through this newsletter.
  More importantly for my PC, though, is that he will be using this newsletter as a means of contacting other brownies. In each paper he will put a bit of text I get through the brownie language ear ingame. I'll translate it OOCly in the forums since it would be difficult (or impossible?) to translate ICly. Of course the ingame versions will be traslatable through the parchment object editing system (thanks orth and onest8!!).
  Brownie Homeland
  This introduces what I hope will be the "epic" quest for this PC. The description of Brownies says they were displaced from their island in the Serpent Isles. Hopefully Bumblebee can find out more about this event and perhaps be part of organizing the future for this race. He is RPing that he was raised in Pranzis and his parents do not speak of the events that drove them from the lands. This works well as I do not know OOCly what happened.
  Shadow Dancer
  Bumblebee constantly moves about in stealth mode. This is obvioiusly a live-preserving technique as he has some 23hp at the moment. It also fits well with the Brownies being somewhat reclusive and not wishing to draw attention to themselves. I RP him as hiding near the hlint benches, or evesdropping by the campfire, or simply following some adventurers as they head out. I also emote often how he is moving quietly, or from shadow to shadow. I've especially enjoyed the *poise* emote to put him into a crouching position (a big thanks to orth!). I'll grab some screenies of his evesdropping, perhaps with a cat in the foreground. Priceless!
  He has met a shadow dancer PC as well as another rogue so he has some rolemodels to work off of.
  CNR
  Not sure which CNR he will do. I find it more enjoyable to wait to start CNR until a higher level simply because gold and gathering resources is less of an issue. Poison would be OOCly interesting, as would alchemy. Making arrows would be useful but he can neither chop wood nor mine so that seems unlikely. Time will tell here.
  House
  The description for brownies seems to indicate that they will adopt a household to assist. I am hoping that someday Bumblebee will find a player-owned house where he can RP that. Perhaps leaving eggs in exchange for something else. Just something I'm keeping my eyes open for.

[Pen N Popper]

Jular, 1400
  Dear Father and Mother...
  Bumblebee turns a bit so that the light from the rusty dagger better illuminates the page he writes upon. Beneath the drooping leaves of the bush he worries little about the faint light being seen; feet seldom tread behind the homes in East Hlint.
  The world outside Pranzis is amazing! Father, when I return home to visit I shall insist on hearing stories about our kind's homeland. I think you will find that I have grown much since my departure. Mother, I will need a few lessons in cooking if I am not to grow any thinner.
  He smiles to himself. A roast pigeon would seem a feast compared to the dried rations that make up my diet now, he thinks. Turning to more serious topics, he continues to scratch out his note with the sparrow feather quill.
  You were right in your thoughts, the dreams I had earlier were but childish fantasies. The dragons and knights I dreamed of were but the results of my evesdropping on the passing travellers. How do I know? I did not write of it for I was not sure I believed it myself, but the true dragon spoke to me the night prior to my arrival in Hlint. For a few tendays I still doubted that a young brownie such as myself could be involved in something so monumental.
  Lifting the quill from the paper, Bumblebee pauses to still the trembling of his hand. Will what I am to write sooth my parent's worries or only serve to increase them?
  It was but a day ago that I had all doubts erased from my mind. I have met a skilled fighter, quiet when he walks yet skilled with blade and bow. He showed me a patch of berries not far from town that I might pick and sell to others. Returning the following day on my own, I was moving quietly within the berry patch when a pair of skunks spotted me. Their stench quickly overcame my senses and I fell beneath their sharp claws.
  Hurrying his writing now, almost willing his parents to read fast as well, he scribbles on.
  But I was not gone from this world! I was back in Hlint! Weak, yes. Battered, yes. Alive, yes! This gift I know is not to be taken for granted, and my efforts at learning to move quietly have since redoubled. To fall to a skunk is not a feat worth sharing with a dragon.
  A dragon, he thinks, am I truly sure I do not yet dream? Brushing aside the thought he moves onto other events.
  I have started a newsletter here in Hlint. So many dragon called pass through this town's gates on their way or returning from adventures across the lands. If I could learn but a portion of what they know I am sure I would be much the better skilled to...
  To what? he thinks.
  ...to assist our people. Yes, through the newsletter I hope to find more brownies. There is much you have not shared with me, Father, and I need to learn as much as I can. I have but heard of a single other brownie here in Hlint. Freida is the only name I know.
  Enclosed is a copy of my first newsletter. Oh! And do get some eggs from that other merchant if you are able, they sell for 4000gp a box!
  Yours, Bumblebee
  Bumblebee folds up the parchment along with a copy of the newsletter, then tucks the glowing dagger away. Let us see what tomorrow brings, he thinks as he curls up in the soft dry leaves beneath the bush.

[Pen N Popper]

Augra, 1400
  "Now I want you to focus on thedark You don't know what it feels like to spread it out around you, so it's not like you'll be trying to reverse it, but still, try to draw it in," Rayenoir said as she motions Bumblebeeto move back against the tree. "I'm going to use this first," she continues and points tothe bracer onher arm.
  With a quick motion, the world goesdark. The blackness seeps all around Bumblebee, spreading thick and viscous like blood left to the air. He struggles, body tense and eyes dilated wide in panic. Feeling blindly for the tree he tries to picture the scene before and where to hide best. It does not work, he is like a man drowning and grasping for anything to cling to.
  "Know the dark. Feel the dark. Convince it to embrace you." The voice floats out of nowhere and then the darkness dissipates. Still there is no one there.
  Mouth agape, Bumblebee stares to the spot where she stood.Slowly, as Rayenoir lets herself come into focus, he is able to distinguish her from the background.
  "This one will give you more time, but it has a certain sense of me to it." She looks down to him, "Ready?"
  Willing himself to relax, he nods and whispers, "Ready."
  Again the darkness, thick and tangible. This time Bumblebee relaxes, floats in it. Either as a man too far gone for saving or one that knows he cannot drown. Both are apt descriptions.
  "Draw it in," he hears her say. "Feel it around you and shrink it down until it only covers yourself."
  Again the focus on the inky darkness wells up a panic inside in him. He can't breath! He struggles and then it is light once again.
  "How," he coughs, "do you spill forth the darkness itself?"
  "That's what having fiend blood does for you." She motions for him to ready himself. "One more time. That's all I have left for today. Say when."
  Tired but sure there is something there, he nods. "Now."
  He floats immediately now, feeling the darkness. "Marvelous!" he cries out with a laugh. He feels the dark drip past him, as one would sense the moving water in a stream or pool.
  "Like I said, that's how I do it." She addresses him as the darkness fades away and the morning light and its shadows return. "You might have to go about it differently, and I really don't know how the humans and elves do it. I just know how it happens for me."
  "Well," Bumblebee considers, "I cannot create a pool of darkness of my own, so the night will have to do."
  "Do what you can," she says with a shrug. "That's all a person can really ask."
  "I'll be more aware of it. It is good to know."

[Pen N Popper]

Augra, 1400
  Dusk settled on Hlint and still Bumblebee did not move. He crouched at the corner of the smithy closest to the real estate building with aching muscles. The breeze ruffled the weeds he hid in and carried the scent of a campfire from the west. Oh, how he longed to be sitting beside it. But it was not yet time to approach the halfling Jennara. It was unsafe to do so.
  A couple days prior a bird had delivered a letter from Jennara in response to his query on the notice board in the Wild Surge Inn. Though he had not had the chance to introduce himself that day, she was at least known by sight to him. She was coordinating relief efforts for the Kingdom of Roldem; surely a fascinating story was behind that. Over the following days he kept a keen eye out for her presence in Hlint. And there she was, buta few steps away speaking with a winged man and a few others. So close, but dangerously far.
  Bumblebee's heart raced as he caught sight of yet another drow. They milled about, spoke and were spoken to as equals by other dragon called. Even a simple brownie growing up in Pranzis knew the horrors that the drow stood for. With a shiver he tried to think back to Rayenoir's teachings and pull the building's shadows around him like a cloak.
  The hours past until, at last, the drow left through the gates. Stretching his cramped legs, Bumblebee scurried across the path to the bench. He waited, listening to Jennara speak with the couple others near her. Her voice always soft, like a whisper. Curious.
  With a start, Bumblebee realized he was surrounded. Others had approached from behind him along the path. As they greeted one another with familiar names, Bumblebee slid into the shadow beneath the archer's platform. Quietly he moved away. So many people and a life that now demanded he meet them.

[Pen N Popper]

Seplar, 1400
  Goblins swarmed through the trees and around the rocks. Bumblebee's companions took to the fight immediately with instructions yelled to one another. He, however, flattened himself to the ground and crawled to a position behind a root. Rising to a knee and knocking an arrow, he looked for a target. Spotting a goblin mage by its crackling aura, Bumblebee loosed the arrow. Immediately the mage's archer guards let loose a volley directly at the crouching brownie.
  Without thinking, Bumblebee pulled the dappled shadows the covered himself and the ground into a concealing cloak. But only for an instant. Like smoke ring cast forth into a breeze, the shadows blew away. The next arrows found their mark.
  Two shafts punched cleanly through his leather armor, ripping holes out the far side of his body. The force of the impacts drove his tiny body to the ground. A soundless cry signalled that this death was not to be so quick as the one to the skunks. The bindstone did not appear before Bumblebee, instead a piece of his soul was peeled away. No, this death signalled that the dragon called are not immortal.
 
((OOC  
  Bumblebee got his first DT. This was midway into Minerva's quest "Of Goblins and Golems." It was a quite enjoyable quest. The DT experience fit well with his progression of understanding what being dragon called means. He also had the chance to travel with a Drow and spent a large amount of time keeping a wary eye on her. The drow, to him, are an evil race and not to be trusted, even the "tame" ones that make claims of good intentions.
  Though I know OOCly that sneaking after engaging in battle does not result in being hidden, I play Bumblebee that way. He will fire an arrow and then sneak to another flanking position. Over time he will begin to get more of a feel for the shadows and how to pull them around himself. This char dev thread will reflect that.

[Pen N Popper]

((OOC
  Brownie Homeland

• Found out how to get to the Serpent Isles. He doesn't know specifically how to get there but he is a step closer.
• Has heard there are bridges there with a new one added for significant events that happen in the world.
• Was told to speak to Ozy and Freldo (given description of Freldo).
 The Dragon's Whisper Newsletter



• Two issues published. Turning out to be more fun than I expected.
• Have sold very few but have definitely seen an increase in interest.
 Shadowdancer



• A lot of sneaking about and evesdropping. After getting into position, I will often turn off stealth mode and roll a hide check for other PCs in the area to see.
• When travelling between places I will move him in stealth mode between natural features: Small rocks, bushes, trees, etc. Is a bit slower but unless I am OOCly in need of faster movement I try to stick to this.
• He has begun to "feel" the shadows about him, having brief experiences of interacting with them.
• My goal is to take shadowdancer at lvl 8 without a CDQ. The CDQ I'd like to reserve for something to do with the brownie's homeland. Currently low lvl 6 and gaining xp very slowly so there's plenty of time for char dev thread.
 CNR



• I like tailoring but that is too expensive at the moment.
• Have successfully made two vials of poison (small spider). I'll need to OOCly practice how best to apply it to arrows in combat. I suspect that poison crafting is similar to cooking: An RP only skill without any real ingame usefulness.
• Submitted suggestion for CNR poison arrows. Won't get my hopes up.
 House



• Nothing of note

[Pen N Popper]

Decilar, 1400
  Dear Mother and Father...
  Hope all is well at the grainery. The rats here, though a good deal larger than the corn fed variety, no longer cause me too much fright.
  The spiders though, he thinks, those are a different story altogether. He shudders involuntarily as he recalls the near-death experience from the other day.
  I've met a woodsman named Allean that travels with a large bear. Not the carnival variety, this bear is quite a fierce companion and protector. The two of them work well together and have taught me not a few things about travelling outside of Hlint.
  Looking to the oak shortbow resting on the pile of gear beside him, Bumblebee considers mentioning his financial worries. Deciding against it he continues writing.
  I have been practicing moving quietly constantly. It is a quite natural feeling now to move silently through the town or amongst the trees of the wood. There are even times when I would swear the shadows reach out to enclose me of their own volition.
  Surely father will find that humorous, Bumblebee laughs quietly to himself. There are many incredible feats of skill and magic in these lands that would sound absurd should I not have seen them with mine own eyes.
  Hope to return for a visit in the coming year.
  Yours, Bumblebee
  ((OOC
  The pressure to gather coin weighs heavily on Bumblebee. He is in debt at the moment for 2500gp. It is not greed so much as the desire to adequately equip himself in this dangerous world. His aspirations in that regard are modest. For example, he knows that jewelry exists that might benefit him but considers them far above his means and so is not saving for them.
  He saves coins where he can. For example, the quest in Fort Llastmany would normally just purchase the gear and hand it over for the reward. Instead, I am having Bumblebee seek out crafters to make the items in exchange for services or such.
  Bumblebee did overhear a sizable reward offered for certain actions relating to a thief. He is trying to collect this reward. (PM sent to Leanthar on this topic.) I doubt anything further will come of it in the future, but the encounter and thought process leading to it are a fairly defining moment for Bumblebee.

[Pen N Popper]

The narrow tunnel boomed with the sound of battle. The dwarf grunted with effort as blow after blow by the ogres crashed down upon his armor. The man, bracing himself against the wall on the dwarf's right, held his ground against the ogres push to surround the two. Thin rivulets of viscous blood already were streaming down the floor behind the pair, freed from the already fallen ogres that heaped the passage way. Oddly, many of the dead sported small arrows tucked under an arm, or protruding from a soft neck.
  Bumblebee slipped out of the shadowed recess for a moment, loosing a dart-like arrow at an ogre's exposed leg. It whistled in and found the artery on the giant's inner thigh. Already wounded from the fierce battle, the mountainous creature crumpled to the bloody floor. Without hesitation, the brownie leapt across the width of the passage to the opposite wall. Inhaling deeply, he imagined the varying shadows to be thick and real, drawing them too himself with the inhaled breath. Sighting along the arrow's length, the next one was away to find its target.
  ((OOC
  Bumblebee made a trip into the Haven mine with a pair of fighters. I oocly did not expect him to be a large contributor but was complete taken aback by the damage he dealth. He snuck along and played the part of "looter." After a few initial battles, though, I got the hang of moving to within sneak attack range. The little fellow dealt quite a bit of damage!
  It was a good RP session and Bumblebee really held his own. He even got to slip a potion the man when he slipped to -7 hp. Lots of sneaking, emoting about shooting arrows from the flank, etc.
  This trip, though not terribly deep into the mine, was a huge confidence boost to Bumblebee ICly. He is beginning to understand how to mix stealth into combat.

[Pen N Popper]

Apreal, 1401
  Dear Father and Mother...
  Bumblebee peeks around the corner of the chest he crouches behind. Across the room a pair of drow chatter about trivialities. Bloody drow, he thinks. Shaking his head he reaches out with his senses to deepen theshadow in this corner of the craft hall. Perhaps it gets a little darker, or perhaps it is his imagination.
  I received word today of the King's passing. A messenger sought me out. Me! There are so many people here in this town that it is impossible to go unnoticed for too long. I am enclosing a copy of the newsletter I penned. I do hope you were able to pay your respects to our King as he lay in state there in Pranzis.
  Here he pauses to trim the end of his sparrow feather quill. Thinking back upon the past year, his first away from home, he cannot help but feel a little proud of his accomplishments.
  A year. I am sure it seems as long to you as it does to me. If all goes well I will perhaps splurge and pay for passage home during summer. It would be good to walk the streets and hear the sounds of the market again.
  And to test my new-found quietness around the alley cats, he chuckles.
  In closing Father, I have yet to encounter a single brownie. I have been told that there are other Dragoncalled of our kind but I am beginning to wonder. Let us speak on this upon my return.
  Yours, Bumblebee

[Pen N Popper]

((OOC
  Some quick notes while I remember them:

• Met PC Katrien Hommel for discussion about King's death. She impressed him immensely for several reasons, not the least of which was that she was with the King on the day he died and sang him a song. He crafted the newsletter article to meet her expectationsboth because of her persuasiveness as well as the chance to make a good impression on a powerful person.
• Travelled into Storan's crypt with some very powerful people. It started off, or so Bumblebee thought, with he and two others leaving Hlint to investigate something going on with the goblins. (This has to do, I assume, with an upcoming quest. Our part at this time was just RP, though.) However, we continued on into the the mountains and eventually into Storan's. During most of the battles Bumblebee stayed hidden. The place was so frightening to him that even when invisible he still found shadows to hide in. I was OOCly wondering if he shouldn't really be here due to level, but his effective level is 8th and he had one shining moment. With the help of some jewelry and a spell, Bumblebee got the group into the final room with his lockpicking skills! This has added tremendously to his confidence. The trip ended in him reaching levelseven at the quest's conclusion.
 The Dragon's Whisper
  More subscriptions. Being able to send messages through the web via LORE is key to all this. First paid advertisement will appear in next couple issues.
  Might put some points for RP purposes in "Gather Information" skill. The idea appeals to me but the likelyhood that I'd ever get a chance to use it seems remote.
  Brownie Homeland
  Nothing new. Need to pin down Freldo and/or Ozy to get some more stories.
  Shadowdancer
  Bumblebee has used traps several times on the bugs in Sielwood. Picked his first lock.
  CNR
  May begin trying to work leathers soon as he has made a few tanning acids and oils. Still trying to decide about tinkering. I am thinking now that perhaps he will brew the acid flasks and other components, then find a tinker to make the traps for him.
  House
  Nothing new.

[Pen N Popper]

((OOC
  Today was a huge day in Bumblebee's life. A lot of IC accomplishments and successes.
  The Dragon's Whisper
  Struggling to find stories worth writing about. Will write something up in the next day or two anyway.
  Brownie Homeland
  Bumblebee met another brownie today! Jamerion. Hopefully get to speak further another day.
  Shadowdancer
  PrC approved. Acquired a bracer of the scouts item which casts darkness, but cannot use it until next level. Trying to coordinate some RP with another shadowdancer.
  CNR
  Bumblebee hunted alone for the first time. On Rilara he took down a pair of panthers (with 3 traps, 2 brownie confusion, several tanglefoot bags, a handful of arrows, and a lot of running around), a white stag (with sneak attack), and two cougars (sneak attacks, tanglefoot bags, and prayers to Prunilla).
  House
  Met Jil ICly and sent OOC tell.
  Other
  Travelled back to Pranzis for a visit with folks.

[Pen N Popper]

((OOC
  Lots of happeningsto note.
  The Dragon's Whisper
  Subscriptions good; could get a lot more with some IC effort. I hope to focus on tales of current world altering quests with an emphasis on including the names of PCs. Everyone likes to see their name in print. In addition, I'll post short bits of obscure lore that Bumblebee hears about various locations throught the lands.
  Brownie Homeland
  Bumblebee has met several brownies now. OOCly I have also learned some of the details from vgn about why the brownies had to leave. Bumblebee will learn this ICly over the coming weeks.
  Shadowdancer
  With the generous quest XP, Bumblebee took 8th level as shadowdancer. Fun! Have only tested it out on the goblins outside of Hlint.
  He has travelled to Storand's crypt several times with groups. Though it is very dangerous, he enjoys the challenge of the locks and traps there.
  CNR
  Reached 5th level poison CNR, so can brew dire spider venom sacks. I have little desire OOCly to progress any further as I find the craft fairly useless day-to-day.
  I'll continue tailoring and alchemy piecemeal but have no intention of "grinding" in that area. He'll make bandages, tanglefoot bags, and maybe some alchemical fire bombs and such.
  House
  Talked with Lala on IRC about possibly "adopting" the Leilon Arms tavern as his home. Lots of fun RP there and it would make sense since Bumbles was raised in the city of Pranzis.
  Other

• Parents
[INDENT]  Though I couldn't make it to the finale quest, I had decided beforehand that Bumblebee would be travelling back to Pranzis when news of the conflict broke out. Apparently this was a good choice as a major battle happened there and it is now under the control of one of Bloodstone's generals.
[/INDENT][INDENT]  I'm still trying to work out in my mind exactly how this impacts Bumble's parents. My initial thoughts are that he is beginning to view them not as parents but as people with all the depth that goes along with this. (Kind of like when a child grows up and realizes their parents had lives outside of the home.) Did they fight for their homeland prior to fleeing? Did they stay in Pranzis after the fall because they didn't want to lose another home to war?
[/INDENT]

[Pen N Popper]

((OOC
  Been some time since giving an update. I took a couple week self-forced break to forget about leveling, experience, etc. Definitely worked and I'm ready to go.
  The Dragon's Whisper
  Still difficult to get stories. The "bounties" I've posted for stories have drawn little to no interest. What are the bards of the land good for? Perhaps players don't realize that I want to make The Dragon's Whisper their newsletter. The tales ought to be our own, not the GMs. None the less, it continues to be fun.
  Hired first employee: Jser Arcanebow. We don't overlap in playtimes much so I'll need to work out how to keep him interested and involved. Definitely would like to get some more PCs involved in this.
  Spoke to a Freelancer founder, PC Quillwem, about them acting as the hired security firm. It should be a good arrangement for both groups. Still looking to hire a Head of Security for the whisper. Should be a fun RP position for someone.
  GMs continue to be very helpful.
  Brownie Homeland
  No progress.
  Shadowdancer
  I'll likely continue to level in shadowdancer. Since Bumbles is not combat oriented at all, there's no reason to continue in rogue.
  CNR
  Making bandages now and then.
  House
  The Dragon's Whisper is looking for office space. For now I'm going to work out of the Wild Surge. I'll likely look to get access to some housing for portal use. No rush, though.
  Other

• Parents
[INDENT]  Bumbles is saying his absence (my two week break) was to move his parents into new housing since they were forced to flee Pranzis. They both are alive and well.
 
[/INDENT]

[Pen N Popper]

((OOC
  The Dragon's Whisper

• Two employees (Jser & Elrend), one contributing writer (Lyle)
• Accomodations secured in Hlint and Prantz.
• Wild Surge used as meeting place
• GMs continue to be very helpful.
 Brownie Homeland



• No progress.
 Shadowdancer



• Rogue 7 / Shadowdancer 2 (200k to level)
• Bumbles is focused on attaining stealthy gear and putting it to good use.
 CNR



• Making bandages now and then.
 House



• Secured housing in Hlint and Pranzis.
• Bumbles keeps an eye out for special gifts or such that he may leave for the owners (as per brownie race description).
 Other


[/list]

[Pen N Popper]

((OOC
  The Dragon's Whisper

• Slow going here.I am hoping that the new PC quest systems will allow me to add some depth toThe Whisper'sactivities.
• Newspaper forumsection will be updated with quests.
 Brownie Homeland



• Have travelled to the Dragon Isles a handful of times now.
• Made it onto the Serpent Isles once before our party retreated and was slaughtered.
 Shadowdancer



• Rogue 7 / Shadowdancer3 (160k to level)
• Bumbles is seeking tutelage in more of the shadowdancer skills.
• It is a tough decision what to take as next level, rogue or shadowdancer. On the one hand I'd like to gain proficiency in lock/trap, and on the other hand sticking with shadowdancer would be more satisfying.
• Met PC Vin for the first time. This is Bumbles' first exposure to the "shadow language" ear. I expect to learn this language over time.
 CNR



• Still making bandages now and then. He's 10th level tailor now from making only bandages.
• Bought the advanced crafter badge more out of curiousity.
 House



• It is nice having access to housing in both Hlint and Pranzis.
• Bumbles keeps an eye out for special gifts or such that he may leave for the owners (as per brownie race description).
 Other



• Some roguish things in the works with other players.

[Pen N Popper]

((OOC

Phew!  Long time since I posted chardev for Bumblebee.  I've been thinking of him these past few days and so thought I'd jot down some notes and thoughts.

The newsletter business is pretty much over.  Few players shared tales in the past and now there are fewer players; not hard to do the math.  The gathering of dragon tales (yes, an allusion to the children's show ;-) ) thread was an enjoyable attempt at a new tactic for gathering information.  Unfortunately that too fell to the side since I could not both bash for XP and go meet people ingame.  For some reason players do not like to share info outside the game through forums and PMs.  Perhaps too much effort involved?  Perhaps they don't consider it RP?  Worth investigating.

So, where is Bee now?  Between the last post and this one, he's gained nine levels.  Though I don't have the numbers, I'd guess that 90% or more is bashing (grinding) XP.  The one positive thing about that is that I'd guess that a higher percentage is XP while in a party, not solo.  A turning point in my thinking, which I've begun to apply to Bumblebee, happened in recent months, though.

After dusting Bumblebee off in the past few months, I discovered the ease with which XP could be gained travelling through some of the newer areas.  It still took a party to do, but the XP gained is stunning to me.  Is this how people have been leveling all along?  With renewed focus, I pushed Bee down the throat of this beast.  He gained three levels very quickly (for me anyway) and is now 550k away from 20th.

Though much of this was pure grinding, again it was very seldom if ever solo.  Since he is not an offensively build PC, he gradually has migrated to being a field medic, bandaging the warriors.  In fact, he has spent nearly everything he had (including a raw emerald) to get healing gear.

Well onto the healing path, the crux moment came at the Crossroads campfire.  Someone, I forget who now, said as an introduction to another, "That's Bumblebee, the most bloodthirsty brownie you'll ever meet."  This was a stunning blow to me OOCly.  Bee?  The shy, blushing gatherer of information?  Yes, I had to admit, it was true.  In order to get levels he had to do nothing but kill, kill, and then kill more.  Devastating, really.  I stopped playing him almost immediately after this.

I'm a big fan of the saying, "In-character actions have in-character consequences."  You can't apply an OOC excuse of wanting to gain XP to his deeds.  His actions spoke for themselves.

Why was I grinding him, though?  To get to 20th level, of course, and the chance at WL.  I had mentally been looking forward to him getting back into the news business, "paying" hardworking story tellers and gatherers with the WL XP wand.  Paying back all those that did support my efforts with the newsletter.  Would he get approved as WL?  No, I don't think so.

Yes, he's done some fine things over his days.  His player, me, has a reputation for wandering off to other servers, or skipping around amongst his PCs.  Probably also notorious for complaining about XP.  None of which is a selling point for WL.

Add to that that Bumblebee has not interacted with a broader range of PCs.  Part of this is due to timezones, but most of it is due to grinding for XP.  The "sweet spot" for XP is this single area:  If a PC didn't come through there he would never have met Bumblebee.  Since this area is for higher levels, that excludes a lot of PCs.  A shame for sure, since I've met some interesting characters with my new low level PC.  I won't beat myself up too much on this point, though, since the name of the game is XP if you want to meet the qualifications to even try to be a WL.

So, where does that leave Bumblebee?  In limbo really.  I don't want him to continue down the path of killing.  In fact, my thought is that I might take him towards becoming a healing cleric of Prunilla.  Give up killing entirely and go live on West server.

That would mean he'd never reach 20th level, but I think the case is strong for why he wouldn't be approved as WL anyway.  He could be my alt for when my bashing PC is reflecting, which might work out well.  I can progress in levels with the other one, and RP with Bee.

Need to think about this a bit more.

[Pen N Popper]

Lamplight flickered warmly across the wooden beams and flooring of the attic space. A rough hewn desk was strewn with piles of parchment and scrolls. The air was sweet with their dry and dusty smell. Sounds of laughter and the clink of dishes came from somewhere below. Bumblebee turned from his seat before the desk and smiled towards the ladder leading downward. Almost time, he thought.
 
In the corner leaned his finely crafted yew shortbow, Upward Flight. Several trail-worn packs beside it along with the quiver of arrows. His adventuring garb lay neatly folded, the dark spots still clear on the dull yellow cloth even after all these years. He turned away from his old life's accoutrement and continued his work at organizing the parchments.
 
Letters from nobles, crumpled cryptic notes on red paper, increasingly competent writings of the world's goings on. Decades of history painstakingly inked with his sparrow feather quill. Was it worth it?
 
Bumblebee's thoughts drifted to his most recent year away from home. The lure of the Thunderpeak's adventure, the hint of stories of dragons and giant king, of dwarves and long-dead elves. Did those stung souls find their way to a bindstone, he thought, or had he permanently erased life from the lands?
 
"Bee dear, it's time to go," his mother called up. "Your father has no desire to arrive late for the temple's potluck." Her gentle laughter followed this as his father's deep voice grumbled in the background.
 
Bumblebee rose and looked about his attic room and paused only a moment before puffing a breath upon the wick of the lamp, snuffing out the light. The smell of parchment was replaced by the rich aroma of pie as he descended the ladder.
 
"Ah, there you are." His mother had linked arms with another woman her age in the living room, smiling cheerily. "This is Mrs. Greenbriar, dear, we'll be walking over with them." Mr. Greenbriar, Bee presumed, was the kind looking gentleman on the sofa enjoying a pipe with his father.
 
"Good to meet you, lad," Mr. Greenbriar, "heard a good deal about you from your folks."
 
Bumblebee smiled and bowed a bit, offering his own light chuckle.  "I'm sure."
 
"Bee, fetch the lovely flower from the kitchen along with the pies for the potluck." His mother gave a wink to Mrs. Greenbriar and the two of them started for the door. His father coughed on the pipe smoke and rose as well.
 
Wrinkling his brow a bit, Bumblebee pushed through the swinging door to the small kitchen that his mother masterfully used to keep her family well fed. Not two steps in, though, he came to an awkward stop. All he could do was stare at the lovely lass with long soft hair as red as his own, long lashes framing dark brown eyes, and soft cheeks bracketing a full smile. She carried a hot pecan pie in a basket.
 
"Oh," she said softly blushing a bit, "you must be Bee.  I'm Daisy."
 
 Flower indeed! he thought.