end of year WoW meme!

This post in wow_ladies popped up today, and since my answer is probably too long for a comment I'm going to post it here instead.

What a Long, Strange Trip It's Been!
an end of the year WotLK meme for WoW_Ladies~
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Our Intrepid Heroes

[1:] Who/what are your mains?
-Illythia, 80 Blood Elf priest is my MAIN main.

[2:] Which alts were your favorite this year?
-I will always love my Undead mage, Adenine, who was my first character, ever...even though I don't play her as much. My druid actually got more attention this year since I was so determined to get her to 80.

[3:] How many characters did you get to 60? 70? 80?
-Two! My mage hit 80 in July and my druid hit 80 a couple of days ago.

DING!

[4:] What character are you most proud of and why?
-My priest, because she is the character that I try to get all my achievements on, and who has the best gear. (Not THE best gear, but...the best gear out of all my characters.)

Around Azeroth

[5:] What was your biggest/most memorable achievement(s) this year? What was the most painful?
-I suppose it was getting a 1300 rating on my 2s team (and getting Brutally Dedicated.) I'm not very good at arena-ing, and it was difficult, so getting 1300 certainly felt like a great accomplishment to me. It was also the most painful accomplishment.

[6:] What has been the most fun raid/pve fight so far in WotLK?
-I like that Onyxia's back, mostly for the nostalgia.

[7:] What was your favorite quest/questchain?
-Battle for Undercity, hands down.

[8:] A lot of powerful lore has been introduced in this expansion. Any favorite bits?
-Everything that happened in Battle for Undercity; the fact that we got to meet Alexstrasza.

[9:] The rise of the Lich King has changed Azeroth and its people so much. Who's your favorite NPC(s) in this expansion?
-Definitely Sylvanas. I'm sad that they had to change her voice, but she is still a total badass. And it's great that she has more of a prominent role in the expansion.

[10:] Which in-game holiday was the most fun this year?
-I liked the Midsummer Fire Festival, mainly because I got to do most of the achievements with my boyfriend.

Friends and Enemies

[11:] Did you change guilds this year? If so why?
-Yes. Because my guild fell apart and I didn't do anything with them anyway (I joined in the first place because I knew the guild leader from our previous guild, who I raided Karazhan with in BC, but he left). Now I'm in Kessel Run, which is full of RL friends and our alts.

[12:] What was your guild's biggest/proudest accomplishment this year?
-Um, we...don't really do anything except farm badges and arena.

[13:] Did you make a lot of new friends? Any mortal enemies?
-I like chatting with the people in Mayari's guild! They seem to be pretty chill. As for mortal enemies, I'm pretty sure that I hate the entirety of the Horde population on Dragonmaw (with the exception of a certain Undead mage who helped me with an elite).

[14:] Any fun or memorable PVP encounters?
-Every time I healbot one of my friends in a battleground is fun! We like to tear shit up, yo. OH, and there was also this one time when I was playing my druid and some mage tried (key word: tried) to kill me. Let's just say that shadowmeld saved my ass, and I got my revenge.

Looking Ahead

[15:] What changes are you most excited for in Cataclysm?
-Flying mounts in Azeroth! YES. Oh, and the fact that we only have five more levels, not ten. That's a plus.

[16:] Which new race/class combos are you going to roll? Got any names yet?
-I guess I'm going to have a spiffy new goblin bank alt! Seems fitting, yes?

[17:] Where do you see your character in the next few months?
-Wherever she is, I hope she's kicking serious ass.
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I hope everyone had a great WoW year! Happy new year to all, and I hope all of you get a lot of achievements in 2010!

/cheer

the home stretch is ahead!

...For my druid, I mean! Yes, I have finally hit 70 (and Northrend).

I had been sitting at 68 for a little bit while I was leveling in Nagrand, and it wasn't until today that I remembered - "OH YEAH, I CAN GO TO NORTHREND NOW. OOPS." So I took Mayari down to Stormwind Harbor to make the journey to the land of iciness and undead things.


...To be honest, I wasn't sure if I would end up in Howling Fjord or Borean Tundra (LOL ALLIANCE NOOB) , but at this point I didn't care. I just wanted to level, dammit!

Eventually, I learned that the Stormwind boat goes to Borean Tundra.

It's a statue of King Varian Chin Wrynn!

Then I quested my kitty butt off, until FINALLY:


Whew.

...Only ten more levels to go.

ding x2!

FINALLY! My mage hit 80 yesterday!


Amazingly I had enough gold just from questing, so I sprang for a dual spec: 0/51/20 fire for PvE (with Frostfire Bolt as my main nuke) and the cookie-cutter 20/0/51 frost for PvP. At the moment my gear is pretty craptacular (lol quest greens), so it's off to grind heroics for me. Once my gear is better, I may even try out arcane. That talent tree has always fascinated me.

Also, Mirror Image might be the strangest spell ever. Not saying it's not cool, it's just really...weird...seeing copies of me running around. And whenever they die I jump a little, just because the female undead death rattle is very jarring, and hearing it times three...well, maybe I just need to turn the volume down a little.


ALSO! Midsummer Fire Festival! It took a couple of days of running around with my boyfriend's warlock, but we both got the Flame Keeper achievement. Easy, and no dependence on random drops or having to log in every hour. Nice!


Then I went on a title grabbing spree.


Working on "of Undercity" next.


Took me freaking long enough!

Next: Arena! Specifically, 2v2s! Specifically, 2v2s with a rogue! Hint: It's pretty fun. ♥ Penance.

/flex

Last week, I logged into WoW for the first time in a while and found this sitting in my mailbox:


OMG, awesome, right? But wait, there's more:


WHAT OMG YAY!!!!11!!eleventy!!1

So one of my RL friends had just quit WoW and as a parting gift he sent my boyfriend and me 5000 gold each so we could get our epic flying mounts. I don't think I've ever sent so many OMG THANK YOUs over AIM in my life.

So, here's a big shout out to you, buddy! Thanks a bunch!

At that point, I had already been saving up some gold by questing, so I had enough left over after buying the training skill to get this bad boy:


Yes, that's an [Armored Blue Wind Rider]! And man, is it sexy.

Now that I was powered by a 280% speed increase, I felt like getting stuff done.

First! I went off to Explore Northrend (and all I got was this awesome [Tabard of the Explorer]).


Then, I thought, hell. Why not go all the way?!

And so my self-imposed quest to explore the whole world (of Warcraft, lulz, didn't see that one coming, did you?) began. It was, as expected, really slow. But it was also surprisingly quiet and uneventful. Alliance left me alone the entire time (and for that, I thank them).

Hours later, my long, arduous journey came to an end in the Blasted Lands.


Success!


Next: powerleveling professions. D:

veteran of the wrathgate

When I first heard about this chain back in the beta days of Wrath, I was uber-excited. Since then, I've been looking forward to completing this questline for myself, and last December I finally did. What did I think?

Most. Epic. Questline. EVER.

If you haven't already done this questline and you hate spoilers, please skip this post because it's going to be HELLA spoiler-heavy. Yes, I just said "hella." AND WHAT?

Right before the joint Alliance-Horde assault on the Wrathgate, Illythia had to report to Saurfang the Younger, who would lead the charge. This was the last she saw of him:



And then: EPIC IN-GAME CINEMATIC OF EPIC-NESS!



(I apologize for the tiny video. If I left it at full size it would have eaten up my layout. Here is the link to the video on YouTube.)

Saurfang the Younger and Highlord Bolvar Fordragon gave their lives heroically along with the good men and women of the Horde and the Alliance, leaving my poor priest distraught at this tragic turn of events.


But there was still hope...Dragonqueen Alexstrasza and her consort, Korialstrasz, were there to survey the damage.


Alexstrasza then sent Illy to High Overlord Saurfang to deliver the news of his son. R.I.P., Saurfang the Younger.

And then Illythia learned that Orgrimmar was in a state of lockdown. When she got there, there were large groups of Forsaken refugees hanging around the entrance to the city.


From them, Illythia got an inkling of what was unfolding:


Sylvanas was in trouble? She mounted up and rushed for Grommash Hold, but paused when someone in the crowd caught her eye...


Oh, Gamon, you hapless Tauren, you.

When Illythia got to Thrall's chambers, Lady Sylvanas Windrunner was already there, asking for his aid.


And then someone else showed up:


Illy hoped that no one told Lady Jaina Proudmoore about her escapades at last Hallow's End. Otherwise, this would shape up to be a pretty awkward meeting.

In any case, this was no time for awkwardness! The Undercity was under siege by the traitorous forces of Grand Apothecary Putress and Varimathras. Illythia was asked to help Thrall and Sylvanas exact a quick and terrible vengeance.

And so the Battle for Undercity began.


It was really the first time that she had seen Thrall and Sylvanas fight. It was quite spectacular. Sometime during the battle it occurred to her that she was very, very glad that she was on their side.


And of course, there was much fangirling over Lady Sylvanas herself. How could she not? Sylvanas is one badass lady.


Those who betrayed her would soon regret their decision.


No obstacle was too much for Thrall, who destroyed everything that the Legion threw at them.


Boulders? HA! They are but pebbles in the eyes of the Warchief!

Now it was time to face the traitorous dreadlord himself.


Oh, Varimathras. You thought you could get away with this? The Dark Lady does not know forgiveness. By the end of it, he was begging for his measly life.

We thought that the battle was over, but then - Alliance! Thousands of them!


Wait, did Varian just - NO. HE DID NOT JUST CALL SYLVANAS A "WITCH." HE DID NOT JUST CALL THRALL A "GREEN-SKINNED ABERRATION."

It's time to lay the smackdown --


And it was about then that Jaina swooped in, froze everyone, and sent Varian back to his room with no dessert. ILY, Jaina.


The Undercity was now safe, Sylvanas was back in her seat of power, and Thrall and Saurfang were left to ponder what was left of their fragile pact with the Alliance.

Thrall : It ends like it began...All that we have fought for in this world is lost. The hopes and dreams carried by my father and mother... by Doomhammer... Gone...If only you were here right now, old friend. You would know what to do.

Overlord Saurfang: I know what he would do. He would say to you what I am about to say to you: Thrall. Lead your people. Let's go home, old friend.

Thrall nods.

Thus ends the account of the Battle of the Undercity. It's easily the best questline in the game, and I think anyone who sets foot in Northrend should be required to complete this. Seriously.

Next post: how speccing shadow is working out for me!

freakin' FINALLY

Guess who's 80?

That's right! Why yes, I did respec shadow. More on that later.

Now I can sleep!

a good night for leveling

I am a fantastically slow leveler. I don't think that my decision to level holy is the main reason why, I think I just really am that slow. But I'm getting there! I went on a questing spree in Borean Tundra last night and finally hit 74!

Shut up, yes I know I should be 80 right now. WHATEVER DUDES. Just direct your attention to the following picspam!

First I went to explore Wyrmrest Temple and met the Dragonqueen Alexstrasza. I love what you've done with your horns, Alex.

When I first heard about the fabled turtle boats of the Kalu'ak, I knew that I had to see them for myself. And they were everything I ever dreamed of and more. Come on. Giant turtles are immediately For The Win. Also, lol @ the giant [Carrot on a Stick].


I love the Tuskarr. They seem like they'd be the most awesome faction to hang out with.


I kinda wish that I could have my own pack mule following me around all the time. Then I'd never have to say, "Oh crap, guys, I left the quest item in the bank!"


Say what you will about adult murlocs, but baby murlocs are friggin' adorable. (Taken during the quest Oh Noes, the Tadpoles!)


No words, really. (Taken during the quest Surrender...Not!)


Chillin' with the penguins. (/groan)


The D.E.H.T.A quests made me a little sad. I was tempted to not turn in this quest, just so I would be able to continue saving the mammoth calves. Poor little guys!


As I found out, though, it's all good. This little guy will take care of them.



After doing this quest, I kind of want my own mammoth mount now.


Can I keep him?

After I finally hit 74 on Illythia last night, I decided to take a break and level my druid since she was halfway to 46 anyway.


First things first: Off to get a Shave and a Haircut! Sadly, her new hairstyle didn't last long. It was cute, but her original hairdo is where it's at...yo.

Okay! Nooby story time! So I was off in the Badlands doing the questing thang when I decided to finish up the Tremors of the Earth questline. I had just hit 46.

Now, I did not read the Wowhead comments on this quest very thoroughly, just enough so that I knew where to find the items that I needed to complete it. Unfortunately I completely skipped over the part that said that once I turned it in, two HUGE, HONKIN' DRAGONS would IMMEDIATELY spawn with the urge to DESTROY. But more on that later.

So I walked up to the Seal of the Earth, ready to turn in all the jewels needed to...to do what? I'm not sure what I was thinking would happen at the time. I turned in the jewels, sorta stepped back for a moment, thinking I was done, and then...wait, where'd those dragons come from...AHHHH WHAT THE HELL?!

A quick glance told me that the two drakes were, thankfully, non-elites. But both of them were level 50. Both of them had just decimated the poor undead mage who had been sitting nearby at half-health. (Sorry, dude!) And now both of them were after me. GASP.

I thought I was done for, but I decided that I wouldn't go down without a fight.

And it was a long, long fight, spent mostly in bear form. And I had to blow all my cooldowns. And I went out of mana from having to heal myself up so much, but a quick Innervate fixed that.

AND THEN: VICTORY!


That's right!


I was pretty damn proud of myself. And I even scored this: [Blazewind Breastplate].

(Now that I think of it, if I had read all of the comments, I probably would have been like "Oh, wow, two level 50s? I can wait a couple levels until I attempt this so I don't get owned," and then I wouldn't have gotten my shiny new armor.)

Bonus: LOL CHAT.

but does he speak with a french accent?

The other night I decided to take a break from priesting and logged on my mage to get her the Shop Smart, Shop Pet...Smart achievement. I was at 43/50 pets needed, so I flew to the Stormspire to pick up a few of the pets that I hadn't acquired yet. That bumped me up to 49/50. Just one more! I thought, But where do I get the last one? Then I remembered: I never bought the [Prairie Dog Whistle]. I ported to Thunder Bluff quick as I could, got my prairie dog, and then:


Success! Isn't he cute? The only thing that would make this better is a green cloud of stink emanating from his tail that gives surrounding players a "STANKY" debuff.

I also really enjoyed the letter that accompanied the [Reeking Pet Carrier] in the mail:

Stinker's New Home

I've heard how well you take care of our furry friends. I hope you don't mind but I must get Stinker a new home. He just refuses to play nice with others.

Please make sure to feed him twice a day. And um... he has a thing for black cats.

--Breanni

If only there was a way to summon Stinker and my Bombay at once...

Also, can I say how much I love the Dalaran pet store?



Because I do.


A lot.


(Here is Adenine's Warcraft Pets profile. Some of the pets listed are actually Illythia's or Mayari's, but I'm just too lazy too make separate profiles for them.)