We got the pleasure of escorting the newest member of the 2nd
circle into the 2nd circle healer training area. Mehan was
very excited to get her new white pants, and we were all very
happy for her. She's a fun healer to be around and participates
in rescues when she's able. I think she looks quite nice in
a purple and white outfit!
In other news, our Rising Claw clan got together with nearly
20 members and had big fun hunting in Sasquatch Valley. We
faced it all from Cave Cobras to Young Sasquatches to those
deadly Stinging Beetles, but no Angry Mother Sasquatch (too bad
since both Lorikeet and I were there!). In the end, we had
a narrow escape from the exit after beetles nibbled us down, but
Thorstorm and I (mostly Thorstorm) were able to chain out fallens,
and we recovered in the savannah gem mine after a fun day.
I hear the following day there was a practice session for an
upcoming Dunny challenge: a relay race against the formidble
Order of the White Elephant clan. I like to think I've got
pretty fast feet and would be a real asset, but I don't think I
have the pathfinding skill to truly make a difference given some
of the routes. Of course, it won't be just a simple race. There
will be all sorts of nasty little tricks, traps, kudzu, etc. I
am sure. Should be fun, if we practice.
In other clan news, I spied Polerand hanging about in town center
the other day, having a conversation with Solome, one of my
favorite healers in the lands (I remember back when she was
talking in opposites and getting many good laughs, but she has
since recovered). Polerand, of course, is one of my loyal friends
in the RC clan, a tough fighter who is fun to hunt with.
Well, I didn't really think anything about it until I was in the middle
of helping Frozen Shade out of a tight spot in the Savannah: Here
comes Polerand and Solome with an announcement that he proposed to
her with a ruby wedding ring, and she accepted! So I rushed back to
town to greet and congratulate the happy couple.
Finally, I've recently switched back to my old red color from a Rising
Claw blue/grey color scheme. Several exiles commented on my lack of a
red cloak over the past several puddleweeks. Perhaps I'll go into the
whole story another time. Maybe soon.
Down below are found lots of dangerous Stinging Beetles and a narrow
corridor leading I know not where. I hope to have updates about this
place, the changes on Fire Island (apparently a Drake's Den there)
and a few changes in the way healer tools work. All soon. Today,
allow me to ramble on a bit about a new and wonderful friend.
Some of you with very good memories may recall a few puddlemonths ago
when I wrote about Felicity, a strikingly beautiful fen healer who has
been with us in exile for almost three puddleyears now. At the time,
she was pretty down about a recent split with her former husband, the
friendly and talented fen fighter by the name of Garibaldi. They
parted ways amicably but with some sadness.
Well, I am very glad to report that many exiles responded with a
veritable avalanche of goodwill toward Felicity. I found out
about all this a while back when Felicity and I participated in
a Dread Passage expedition (that wandered around the Outback for
what seemed like days before turning back after a brief battle
in the passage). She was showered with gifts and other gestures
of goodwill and support, so much so that she could barely hold
it all. She sure enjoyed all the chocolate, though.
After we had a chance to talk there, we grew closer and began to
talk more often. I offered to train her in the art of healing
those closer to death, and she eventually accepted. She now
poooofs her chest out proudly when I tell her she keeps me on
my toes. All this and a solid 3rd circle healer in less than
three puddleyears. Amazing. She has also
joined me frequently on rescue missions to save fallen exiles all
over the lands.
Normally, one of us will run beasts while the other raises the fallen
and helps them recover. We're still practicing on this. Sometimes
the rescue goes bad, so I try to stay healthy enough to chain everyone
out of danger if things go bad.
Usually, though, one of us can get away from a trap of beasts. When
we rescued Manx, I was able to bail us out. When we rescued Swing,
Felicity bailed us out by running around and staying healthy while
putting out the call for fighters.
On kitty beach, we were put to the test today a couple of times
when a relatively fresh group of exiles met a few more cats than
they bargained for. As we practice more together, we find ourselves
able to handle tougher situations, and our bond of friendship and
trust deepens.
Here we timed our mutual arrival at Richard well so as to raise
him quickly and get him out of harm's way before we took too much
damage. It is such a joy to share hunts, rescues and long
conversations with someone like Felicity. We share secrets with
one another we would never tell another soul and feel like
lifelong friends, even though we've only known each other well
for a few puddlemonths.
As a token of friendship and trust, and because I think she looks
great in it, I had loaned Felicity my red cloak for a while so she
could see how she liked the color and fit. Maybe someday we'll get
her one of her own to augment her wardrobe. I gather some exiles
find her black cloak a little portentious, but I quite like it. She's
stylish in any outfit.
Being as attractive and outgoing as she is, Felicity naturally garners
her share of attention among the male exiles of the lands. Just like
so many other of our most beautiful females, any male lucky enough to
be a frequent companion is bound to start rumors flying. Oh, you think
I'm going to make a *list* of other beautiful female exiles? Ah, I certainly
have my opinions on the matter, but I am not suicidal, thanks. If I
left anyone off, I'd never be forgiven, and there are so many.
Ah well, rumors are rumors. To those exiles out there in our
respective clans (Rising Claw for me, Hunter for Felicity) and
fallens who have missed us when we have been off talking or
wandering or rescuing, we are both sorry. We didn't plan to
discover a wonderful and rewarding new world in each other's
warmth and companionship. These things just happen.
Most exiles have been very reluctant to contribute anything to Mar.
This isn't exactly like rebuilding the altar so long ago. Mar is
selling something that up until now we've been just fine without,
so there is no real wave of sentiment among exiles that I've seen
to pay him off. If anything, people are taking a "wait and see"
attitude and hoping he lowers his price if he gets desperate to leave
the lands.
Maybe the trainers know something we don't, which is why they are
so desperate to help raise funds to pay off Mar. I'm skeptical
myself. Why should a few of us fork over thousands of hard-earned
coins to this fellow for something we haven't seen of dubious benefit?
Is is fair for a few to pay while everyone enjoys the benefits of
the new potion knowledge? I wonder if Mar will get desperate enough
that he will offer to sell exclusive rights to someone or some small
group of exiles who want to keep the secret to themselves?
I'll bet if he did make such an offer, it would be jumped on in a
heartbeat. That's someone else's battle, not mine. By the way,
if anyone has sketches of these recent events, I'd love to see them
so that I can include them here.
I asked Atkus why he felt this potion secret was important enough
for him to venture out of the training hall. I mean, I sure never
saw any of the fighter trainers out helping us raise funds way
back when we had to raise over 100,000 coins to repair the broken
altar for Master Hekus! He basically said that he's doing it because
a healing potion would tend to help his students the most. They are
accurate fighters, but they tend to take a lot of damage and could
use the help.
I also asked Detha why she was out and about. She said she just
feels like getting out and stretching her legs for a vacation.
She seems to be having a grand time. Together with Biff's group,
Atkus and Detha raised nearly 2000 coins toward Mar's price in
a few short hours. I wonder if they will keep helping us until
the money is raised?
Atkus seems to know Mar better than anyone, having had a few
beers with him and talking business. I asked Atkus if he thought
Mar would sell us any more secrets if we buy the first formula,
but Atkus said he thinks Mar will leave the island at his
earliest opportunity. Too bad. I can think of many more things
that might be more useful to us than a mildly augmented healing
potion, but I suppose that remains to be seen.
In other news, I caught this sketch of Algernon's very recently,
apparently in a scandalous embrace with the lovely Slyph. I
wouldn't normally publish such a thing, but Algy seemed quite
proud of it.
Click here to go forward in the archive
to Summer 542, Part 1.
Back to Koric's Journal Archives
Click here to go backward in the archive
to Winter 542, Part 4.
A 2nd circle zo fahsion show.
Rising Claw prepares for a clan hunt.
Polerand and Solome have a playful chat in town, prelude to big news!
I congratulate and offer some advice to the happy couple about the honeymoon.
A hut of black magic and danger on KI.
Hurricane Felicity is headed your way.
The flirtatious Felicity has many admirers.
Felicity runs beasts while I move in to heal Manx in NWF.
A chain rescue almost ends disastrously. Note health bar lower left.
A rescue in muddy north forest will end with me fallen.
Felicity assists fallens while I distract the beasts.
Felicity's faustus helps out in a tight spot.
Bailing out my rescue partner after part of the rescue goes bad.
Flattery will get you everywhere.
Chatting with Atkus outside the farm at North Lake.
Detha thooms (thanks to Rabbi Solomon and Paramedic for sketch).
Algy and Slyph in a compromising situation at the Tor Inn.