Friday Five: Just Dinged 80 Edition

It has been a wierd few weeks over at Too Many Annas. New Laptops, New Year, New...Friday Five Guest Post? I'm quite sure that Matticus from World of Matticus can carry the torch quite well. And I'm quite happy to respond to this week's edition. In honor of achieving 80 seasons of sacrifice and dungeon-crawling with complete strangers, Let's put spotlight on Leyola Swiftwillow.


Congratulations, Leyola!

1. Last week, you state your New Year’s resolution for 2009. How do you plan on achieving your resolution?

Leyola: I suppose I ought to explain my resolution for this year, correct? Unfortunately, my resolution was to achieve 80 seasons of experience, but lo and behold, I completed my goal rather quickly. Okay then, I suppose now is an appropriate time to set another goal for this year. Hrm...Maybe I would like to lend my assistance to larger parties who aim to venture into more dangerous dungeons, such as the Obsidian Sanctum.



Oh wait, I've already done that? Well, forget this then! Elune knows what this year has in store for me and my friends, so I'll let her decide my fate. I'll try to be prepared for anything.

2. There is always a character defining moment that happens every year. For example, Mallet defied all odds and managed to take down Kil’Jaden but losing a precious Enhancement Shaman friend to the Twisting Nether as the cost. What event (tragedy or otherwise) do you foresee your character going through?

Leyola: Last year's defining moment did not necessarily involve myself, but my good friend Wimzig Wintersprug, whose life was taken away, only to be restored as a cold, calculating Death Knight. For the most part, he remains as whimsical as ever, but there was a part of him that was lost. I deeply care about him as a friend, and I forsee the possibility of helping restore what he lost.

Or perhaps, it will be I who will have to deal with his loss.

3. Like it or not, we’re all materialistic at heart. What is the one thing you plan on getting in the months ahead?

Leyola: I admit that there is no single item that I long to obtain...although, I would like to get my first piece of Dreamwalker garb. Wait, I did already? Why must elune mock me so!

More often than not, I find myself picking up things that do not appear to be of use at first, but become criticaly important later on.

For example, the Overcharged Capacitor that I had bought all the way back in November from a friend in the guild sat in my bag, rotting away until yesterday, when I finally turned it in at the Fizzcrank Airstrip for a quest. It just so happened that this particular quest put me over the top in experience, allowing me to reach my 80th season. How wonderful!

I would like to see myself getting something similar in the near future. I'm not sure what it's going to be exactly, but I hope to find out soon enough!

4. In times of hardship, it’s necessary for characters to diversify themselves in their skills. What sort of occupations would your characters involve themselves in (they don’t have to be actual professions)?

Leyola: Not long ago, I left the Argent Dawn on personal matters, particularly relating to Wimzig's death, as well as the events at Light's Hope Channel. I certainly wouldn't like to relive those moments, but apparently, there's no escaping fate, is there?

The Argent Dawn is now the Argent Crusade, and they're taking names up in Northrend. Perhaps it's only a matter of time before I enlist my services to them again. Besides, their tabard is quite elegant.

5. But hard work shouldn’t have to be backbreaking all the time. Your character needs to have fun once in a while. What hobbies would your character pick up?

Leyola: After having explored all of Northrend, traversing its many dungeons, meeting many people, I would like to go back to my roots, and finish exploring the rest of Azeroth. I would also like to observe the different species of flora that live on all corners of the world.

Happy New Year!

I've got lots of explaining to do. Now normally, this time of year (December 25th to January 1st) spells disaster for my hobby life, since everything is put on hold for numerous family functions and impromptu get-togethers. You see, I have a few relatives that come up from the States from time to time, and it's always a blast. Spending time with the cousins is always fun, too. And with family around, that usually spells hangovers for me.

That said, December 24, 25, 31, January 1 are a wash. There's no getting around to that. December 26 is also a no-show because of Boxing Day, and due to staying up all night and getting into line at 3 o'clock in the morning to buy electronics for really cheap (got an Xbox-360 amongst others), then sleeping for the rest of the day.

For family impromptu stuff, we had last minute get-togethers on the 27th, and on the 29th for the cousins to take the littler cousins to watch Twilight (very nice tween fluff and good chemistry between attractive co-stars).

So where does that leave 30th? Sick. Terrible cold. Couldn't even drink as much to ring in the new year, because hangover symptoms for me are amplified by illness.

And now, I'm back, but till a bit sick, though! This learns me to have pre-arranged posts for instances of sick days and unavailability. But iunno. 9 consecutive days worth of filler posts wouldn't float well with anyone. Heck, I don't even think Matticus would have the blog-fu in him to do so without some modicum of assistance.

Me? I get none. I play the game solo, and this is what I get for not being around. Le Sigh! Oh well. Time to catch y'all up on stuff.

Individual Progress
- Bashertin finally got new shoulders to replace his Loot Reaver mantle, and is a head slot away from Superior. It won't happen anytime soon, because his current piece has a lot of Hit on it.
- Leyola is 77 and has epic flight! She also has Cold Winter Flying! Now the herb/mineral farming can truly begin in between pug groups.
- Wimzig has become the REAL moneymaker in the group, doing Jewelcrafting dailies almost exclusively, and selling the Dragon Eyes for ridiculous prices. He's still 70, though.

Guild Progress
For some reason, the awkward post-Wrath conundrum that surrounds the guild is still there. We're still hemorrhaging all of the new members we get. Recently, it's been in part to other up and coming guilds stealing healers and tanks away from us. We have fallen into the trap of recruiting dishonest alts who are only there to scout things up and combing through the ranks and spiriting away our new recruits.

Well, I've got a few choice expletives for them, but I'd rather not say it here. All I am going to say is that Ironwill Mercenaries does not condone dishonesty, forgery, or underhandedness. And don't think we don't know which guilds are responsible, as well. We got your numbers, and don't expect us to help you out any time soon, or even acknowledge you with any common decency. And that is that.

Conclusion
I hate to end the post on such a nasty note, but I have an equally nasty cold still lying around, and I don't have much left in me. I think I'll do a boss strat soon, though. Anyways, happy new year again, and I'll see ya around.

Friday Five - Keeping Up Appearances

The theme for F5 this week over at Too Many Annas is about appearances. Due to my current ailment, I'll limit the response to just one character. And in celebration of the big healy christmas tree reaching her 75th season, this week's installment will feature Leyola Swiftwillow.

Describe your characters general appearance - is it exactly what you see in the avatar?

Leyola is somewhat typical for a Night Elf with regards to general appearance, except somewhat lankier for her height. She's quite tall, pale purple-grey skin, and wavy silver-white hair, which, at moderate length, she'll style according to the needs of her helm.

What are their opinions on baths/showers/etc?

Taken whenever available, but her journeys limit herself to doing so at night, at a nearby lake, where nobody can see. For hot, relaxing baths, she prefers natural springs rather than man-made devices.

Do they fuss about their looks (and if female, wear makeup)?

Spending most of her time in the Tree-of-Life form, she has no qualms about her looks, since there's no saving the ugliness of barked skin. Outside of her druidic duties, she's too exhasted to bother with her appearance. Besides, it's not like anybody's looking anyways.

If they could pick an outfit out of an infinite closet, what would it look like?

She doesn't care much about clothes outside of her healing form, but if she could pick any tree in the entire world of Azeroth to shift into, she would probably want to be one of those beautiful tall oaks in Grizzly Hills. Simply remarkable, in her opinion.

For the guys - boxers, briefs, or commando trousers? For the girls - bikinis, thongs, or boyshorts?

She wears a thong underneath all that armor, for comfort. But that doesn't mean she'll be dancing on top of Stormwind mailboxes anytime soon.

Friday Five: What Dreams May Come

Anna has another exciting F5 post, and now that the FitNB gang is all caught up and united, it's time for the first official full edition of Friday Five!

1) Describe your character’s sleep habits. Do they eat breakfast or have other routines?

Bashertin has the average sleep schedule. Give or take, he'll have regular hours, but is quite flexible depending on the situation. He's too eager to conjure up his own breakfast, but will spend more time than most mages to make the perfect meal.

Leyola sleeps only when necessary. She doesn't eat much, so she's not picky about what she has for breakfast or when she has it. She's a working girl, so it's always on the go.

Wimzig doesn't sleep. Period. He eats whatever is available to him at the time.

2) What do they dream about at night, if anything?

Bashertin has vague, abstract dreams. They usually involve fantastic colors swirling around in an elaborate dance, and magical leylines flowing through the patterns. It's a natural effect of studying the arcanum for a very long time.

Although Leyola does not sleep often, but when she does, she has vivid dreams of the landscapes of Azeroth. Often, she will "recreates" the Emerald Dream in her sleep, but without the residual effects of actually being out-of-body.

Wimzig doesn't sleep because of his dreams. He is haunted by the Lich King in his sleep. Fortunately, undeath has no requirements for sleep.

3) Is your character a night owl or a morning songbird?

Bashertin can more easily detect the flow of arcane energy in the environment when it's daytime. Thus, he plans his actions accordingly.

Leyola is a night owl by racial nature, but is capable of operating normally under daylight conditions thanks to her training in the druidic arts.

Wimzig is a night owl, only because he likes seeing the sun go up. It invigorates his spirit.

4) What do they wear to sleep?

Bashertin has a personal collection of sleeping robes that he crafted himself, made out of mystical spellthread and the finest bolts of Imbued Frostweave Cloth. It helps keep him attuned to the arcane even as he sleeps.

Leyola prefers to to sleep outdoors amongst the trees. She will choose to sleep while in the Tree of Life form, as a means of training.

If Wimzig ever sleeps, it is probably unintentional, and thus he will be in his plate armor.

5) Is your character ticklish?

Bashertin is ticklish by nature, augmented further by the shivers he gets while casting his Frost spells. It doesn't help that his clothes are thinly layered, either!

Leyola spends a lot of her time in the Tree form, and her bark skin does not make her ticklish one bit. As a result, she is the same outside of form.

Wimzig is indeed ticklish, but is covered in plate most of the time, making the point moot. It's probably for the best anyways. His laugh, thanks to his voice augmentation as a Death Knight, tends to strike fear into others, even though he doesn't mean to do so.

Meet the Cast

Name: Bash (Bashertin) Fizzleblock
Level 80 Gnome Mage
Professions: Tailoring and Enchanting
Armory Profile



An enigma to many, but gifted nonetheless, this gnomish mage is a member of the Kirin Tor. He was discovered by the mage council in Northrend, where he was encased in a giant block of ice in the southern reaches of Crystalsong, trapped for an unknown amount of time. Brought up as one of their own, the mage displayed a knack for cryomancy, which some believe to be tied to how he was discovered in the first place. Like all mages, he is currently a target of Malygos and his crusade against the arcanists of Azeroth.

Name: Wimzig Wintersprug
Level 70 Gnome Death Knight
Professions: Jewelcrafting and Inscription
Armory Profile



A former agent of the argent dawn, Wimzig was tragically slain by the Scarlet Crusade in a top-secret experiment of manipulating the undead. Due to the powers of a runic necklace that he kept as a good luck charm, the Lich King sought him out and raised him as a Death Knight. Rescued by the Knights of the Ebon Blade, he was freed from the clutches of Arthas and was reunited with his dear friend, Leyola Swiftwillow. Having no memory of his previous life, he keeps a journal that he had kept prior to his first death, called "Wimzig's Whimsy." An enthusiast of writing and calligraphy, he is a skilled scribe.

Name: Leyola Swiftwillow
Level 73 Night Elf Druid
Professions: Herbalism and Mining
Armory Profile



A second-generation Druid, Leyola's parents were veterans of the Third War, particularly the Battle of Mount Hyjal. Unlike her parents, who were trained in Feral Combat, Leyola chose to pursue the art of Restoration, healing those she would meet during her journeys. Daring to forge her own path, she joined the Argent Dawn, where she met Wimzig Wintersprug, a Frost Mage at the time. Somewhat shaken by his turn of evets, she swears to avenge her friend, and hopes to one day find the "natural cure" for undeath.

The "Jack of All Trades" Dilemma

Straightforward and to the point, I'm going to start this post with some advice. Play what you love.

Something interesting came up today, while I was healing an Old Kingdom PuG with the lovely Leyola. Originally, I was lounging around in Dalaran with the boisterous Bashertin, and saw a few messages in the trade and lfg channels wanting heals for Old Kingdom. Leyola, still a good way into her 72nd season, could potentially heal it, and I was in the mood. So why not? I whispered the group leader, telling them I was on my way with a resto druid.

While game went through its loading process, I whipped up good old WoWHead to check out the instance info, since it had been a while since I last ventured into that dungeon. Levels 73-75, it had suggested. I began to have second thoughts regarding the appropriateness of both the level and gear of my Night Elf for the instance. Those chilling words words from Illidan, "You are not prepared!" suddenly rushed into my head. I warned the group that I was undergeared and underlevelled, being both a level under the suggested range as well as having the gear equivalent of a fresh 70; approximately 700 spellpower and a below average amount of health and mana.

The Pally tank shrugged. "Whatever," he said. "We'll adjust as we go. Might as well try."

We dawdled along through the dungeon as expected. The run went as smooth as it could, despite numerous individual deaths during the bosses and pulls (as expected). This was a great run, and I enjoyed healing. The kicker though, was the two individual whispers I got when it was all over, and I left the group.

"Thanks for the awesome healing. We couldn't have done it without you."

"TYVM for coming! I'll add you to my friends for the next time we do an instance."

Leyola is just an alt, yet she gets such praise from groups due to her ability to heal. In my entire time with Bashertin, I really don't think I've gotten as many compliments on my DPS. Attribute this to the fact that DPS is a group responsibility, but the fact remains that I have an ability to heal as well. This seeped into the guild as well, having received accolades for healing guild runs with efficiency.

"Bash, we need some healers. Think you can get Leyola up to 80 and help us heal Naxx?"

Let's switch back to my life, because this is the reason why I wrote up this post in the first place.

I'm Asian, and by stereotypical nature, I happen to be smart. I obtained very good marks in High School, across a wide variety of subjects. I got accepted into all the colleges/universities that I applied for, and the family praise was just as stereotypical.

"Oh, he should be a doctor."

I could be a doctor, but I don't want to. It's the "Jack of all trades" dilemma. When you're capable of doing many things well, it is often asked of you to do things that are optimum benefit. You may not like it, but you're damned good at it.

Well, 4 years later, and I'm about to graduate at the University of Toronto with a degree in Forensic Science. No doctoring here. Instead of preventing people from dying, I'm investigating people who are dead. Instead of administrating blood tests, I'm analyzing blood samples. So on, and so forth.

What happened to the doctor thing? I was capable. I could have been something that provided me all the financial stability anyone could ever ask for. But I didn't go through with it. I didn't like being a doctor. I loved Forensic Science. It's not because of the glamor and romance of the the show, CSI (sorry matticus, I actually don't like the show at all!), but the hunkered-down laboratory aspects of analysis, and working with the justice system via expert witness testimony. These avenues were enthralling, and I choose to do it, despite being skilled in a lot of other things too.

The situation has reared its head again in WoW, and currently I have 3 toons that I play, and play well (for completion's sake, I tanked with Wimzig through BC content all the way up to 69 with no problems, and lots of praise as well). And guess what? I will still keep blogging about Frost Mages, and I will still keep raiding with my mage as my main. Leyola remains second fiddle with Wimzig in tow.

Of course, if and when Leyola reaches 80, I won't mind throwing her out there if the guild is short on heals for a heroic run or heck, even a naxx run. I love the guild too much to hold it back whenever we hit a snag in progression or general activity. It's just that when given the choice, I will be logging into Bashertin at every available opportunity.

Why? Because I love the thrill of riding the threat wave with my Water Elemental by my side. I love the utility of being able to port and make tables and counterspelling and spellstealing. I love the survivability of Ice Block and Ice Barrier. And no amount of rolled lifeblooms or critted Frost Strikes could change that.

I tell you now, denizens of the internether. Do what you love, and do it well. Don't let anyone dictate who you ought to be if you don't like it. You will end up burnt out in a dead-end situation, feeling like you're doing a chore, while everyone else is enjoying themselves.

This is my belief in life, and once again, WoW conveniently reaffirms it.

Friday Five: Leyola's Lore

I love Fridays. It means another F5 from Too Many Annas, and it means I can take a bit of an easy breather with regards to blogging and with what's going on in the World of Warcraft. Today I'm going to feature Leyola Swiftwillow, since it'll be a good exercise to think more about her character as I prepare for her story in November.

What is your character most proud of?
Leyola is proud of the accomplishments of her parents, two veteran Druids from the third war. The both of them survived and played a crucial role in the battle of Mount Hyjal. As a Druid herself, she aims to live up to the reputation of her parents.

What traits does he or she really respect in another person?
Although it may come off as superficial at times, she is fascinated by the family histories of others. Whether it be a long line of nobility, or modest traditions (such as the Wintersprug Emporium), she respects those who wish to extend and solidify their family tree (somewhat coincidental for a person who spends most of her time in the form of a tree).

Does your character have any titles, and if so, does he or she actually use them?
Leyola currently is not experienced to be able to carry a title. If she were ever awarded one, she would proudly wear it.

Is your character looking to get any recognition through the new system of achievements?
As a Druid, she is compelled to gain the utmost recognition from the Cenarion Circle and Cenarion Expedition. As a healer of the land, she wants to travel all around Azeroth, preserving and restoring every inch of the land that she desperately wants to protect.

In her travels, she was told a particular folktale of a human named Leroy who valiantly took on a room of Whelps and...well, perished. It was the wat the story was told that amused her so much, resulting in her deep empathy for this tragic hero. Hearing of such an achievement now motivates her to succeed where he has failed.

When the time comes, she'll be prepared. She even has chicken.

What’s one silly, irrelevant, or otherwise not in character achievement that you think you’ll get, even if your character would NEVER do something like that?
Leyola does not have a penchant for exotic and/or alcoholic beverages. She prefers the purity of water, but has a terrible feeling in the pits of her stomach that someone could easily influence her otherwise. A particular gnome comes to mind, but she feels her self-discipline will prove effective against the offbeat, yet calculating logic of said gnome.

Wimzig's Whimsy: A Different Kind of Debate (Part II)

((The Canadian Election draws to a close today, and the Polls have been open since this morning. I shall uphold my civic responsibilities and vote at the Catholic school down the street from my house. Makes me wonder which party Rip and Matt are voting for, if at all.

In the spirit of politics, therefore, here is the second part of my neat little roleplay debate between Leyola Swiftwillow and Wimzig Wintersprug. Part 1 can be found here.))

Krizzlybear: Welcome back to part 2 of our debate between RP alts! We have Leyola Swiftwillow and Wimzig Wintersprug in our presence today to debate the merits of their existence in my stable of active alts. My time is limited, and I need to decide on a hierarchy of playing time between alts, especially with the looming addition of a Frost-specced Death Knight to the ranks.

Wimzig: Speaking of active alts and limited playtime, you seem to be hiding the fact that you've started another alt, Mr. Kriz.

Kriz: *chuckles nervously* Yeah. I'll admit it. I started a Paladin on US Bleeding Hollow.

Leyola: Such blasphemy! Here you are, torn between the two of us, and the only way you could decide is to just abandon us altogether? How could you!? /disgust

Kriz: I'm sorry, Leyola and Wimzig! I've just been active on another server because I am currently spending some time with Breana's guild, just to get a sense of what it's like.

Wimzig: Breana? That Dwarf chick who apparently loves guns? I have nothing against Dwarves. They're quite kind and hospitable. Believe me, I would know! I wouldn't think Ley would take kindly to Dwarves though, or any other race for that matter...

Leyola: You are mistaken, Gnome! Unlike most of the elder Night Elves, I don't harbor any feelings of mistrust to your kind or others. In my journey, I have develloped an understanding and respect for all the different races that I met.

Kriz: So the two of you are okay with the existence of a Dranei Paladin in our stable of alts?

Leyola: No. I still don't forgive you for doing that.

Wimzig: Unlikely. Religion just ain't my thing, buddy!

Kriz: Well, fret not, the two of you. Kryz, the Paladin is merely a placeholder member for Bre's guild. If things keep going along nicely, I will either put the Death Knight in there, or server transfer Leyola and Bashertin, all made possible with allowable PvE to PvP transfers.

Wimzig: I for one welcome our player-killing overlords.

Leyola: If that's what the master wants, then I won't object.

Kriz: Well, I'm glad we settled that matter. But either way, the two of you are still going to compete for playing time. Continuing our little debate, please tell the readers and I what you plan on doing for patch 3.0.

Wimzig: Have you visited Stormwind Harbor yet? My goodness, that place is an architectural wonder! I'm quite sure that there will be people there "looking for contact" who I can talk to.

Kriz: Indeed. There's potential encounters abound wherever new content is added, particularly in regards to capital cities and towns. Leyola?

Leyola: I think I will remain specialized in Restoration spells. I look forward to being able to cast Healing touch while in my Tree of Life state, amongst others. This will definitely be an exciting learning experience.

Kriz: Well, I'm looking forward to both of those things that the two of you mentioned. It certainly makes my decision even more difficult. I could always just split the time between the two of you more evenly.

Wimzig: If you analyze the situation, you can certainly conclude that there is a niche for all of us. If you want to DPS, Bashertin is your guy. If you want to heal, Leyola is the lady for the job. If you want to tank it out, Mr. Gnomish Death Knight will provide his services when the time comes. I'm always good to experience Azeroth through characterized interaction with its numerous denizens.

Leyola: That's a good point, Wimzig. You are actually quite smart for a gnome.

Kriz: Do my eyes deceive me? My toons are actually getting along?

Leyola: Well, at first, it seemed to me that Wimzig was the kind of person who wouldn't interest me. He's a little too different from me for my liking. But I suppose if given certain situations, that sentiment could disappear quickly over time.

Wimzig: As they say, Krizzlybear, opposites do attract! I learned that from observing others. If anything, Ley and I would make quite a team! We could go around solving mysteries and stuff! It would make for an awesome novel!

Kriz: omg...

Leyola & Wimzig: ...what?

Kriz: ...BEST IDEA EVER! HOLY CRAP GUYS! HOW DID I NOT THINK OF THIS BEFORE! THANK YOU SO MUCH!

*Hugs the both of them*

You know what!? Forget about playtime and stuff! You two will be just fine! BUAH HAHAHA! *runs off to plan out his NaNoWriMo*

((LOL! OMG, I just realized what I am going to do for NaNoWriMo! I'm gonna write a story that takes place in the Warcraft universe, and use the two of them as main characters! Seriously, I JUST thought of this as I wrote the post, so I'm actually super excited! I'll see y'all again soon!))

Friday Five: Not Exactly Ideal for Living Arrangements

Cop-out Friday Five response! Anna has her F5 up, so here's my response for both Wimzig Wintersprug and Leyola Swiftwillow.

1. What does your character’s living room look like? (If they don’t have a stable home, describe an inn room that he or she has rented steadily.)

Wimzig is constantly travelling from place to place in search for customers. After a long day of business, he unwinds at the nearest inn. Recently, he has been seen in the Thunderbrew Distillery, in Kharanos. Unfortunately, it was Brewfest at the time, so he can't exactly remember what the room looked like.

As a druid, the great outdoors is a natural home for Leyola. Despite recently re-rediscovering her more animalistic talents, She's always trying to restore the beauty of nature. The last place that she has rented out recently was a wooded area east of Everlook, in Winterspring. The foliage of the evergreen, contrasting to the blanche of snow, is an appealing and homely sight to Leyola.

2. Does your character have any pets?

Wimzig keeps a prairie chicken as a companion. The chicken's name is Doug, and is often subject to Wimzig's various antics. Most notably, he was vomitted on during Brewfest, a memory that Doug does not want to keep for too long. Why he remains faithful to Wimzig is a mystery. Most likely, it's because of the prospect of more feed from the vendor from Saldean's farm; it's the reason he joined, and likely the reason he'll stay.

Leyola does not keep any pets, but tends to the various critters that she meets on her journeys. She would never harm a living thing, unless it didn't belong to the order and balance of nature.

3. Does your character collect anything? Is that collection of any value to anyone other than them?

An avid hydrophile, Wimzig obsesses over the quality of water in the places he visits. He likes to keep samples of the local water in tiny vials that he keeps in his pockets, for the purposes of examining later on with his self-created Hydromatic Qualitificationator.

Leyola has a fondness of seeds. Many species of seeds make for valuable reagents for her druid spells, so this hobby tends to save her the trouble of going into town to buy said reagents from vendors.

4. Does he or she have any “side” jobs or professions, other than their class and/or talent professions?

Wimzig's main non-class/profession job is water vendoring, but he has a few side interests that generate periodic spurts of income. Namely, his hydromatic qualitificationator finds a few tainted samples originating from the inns he visits. A frank discussion with the inkeeper regarding threats to report said inn to the Azerothean Health Ministry often results in a free stay for a night or two. In a way, Wimzig's exploits make him notorious to inns as a maverick health inspector.

Other than her two main professions, Skinning and Mining, Leyola has no other jobs. Her income is steady enough that she can afford to focus on her task at hand as a restoration druid.

5. What would you find in his or her sofa cushions?

Wimzig is always travelling, so the various sofas in inns he visits will vary in sub-cushion content.

Leyola is at home with nature, so sofas are not a part of her furnishings.

Wimzig's Whimsy: A Different Kind of Debate (Part I)

Krizzlybear: Welcome, kind readers, to a special edition of WW. Firstly, I would like to present to you conundrum that I have faced in my WoW gaming career.

Lately, I've been doing a lot of work on Bashertin, my main, but have distributed playing time between Leyola and Wimzig as my alts. With an expansion coming around the corner, a Death Knight is expected to join the ranks as co-main, leaving very little playtime to be distributed between the remaining two.

As such, in the spirit of yesterday's US vice presidential debate, I have summoned the presence of both Wimzig Wintersprug and Leyola Swiftwillow to debate the merits of being the third wheel in the upcoming expansion. I will be acting as the moderator. Without further ado, let's bring out the participants, shall we?

*Enter Leyola and Wimzig, audience applause*

Krizzlybear: Greetings Leyola and Wimzig. To be blunt, this is going to be a debate for more playtime in the upcoming expansion, Wrath of the Lich King. I will be asking questions to the both of you, and you will be given only a paragraph or so to make your point. At that time, the other individual will be given the opportunity for a rebuttal. Are the rules understood?

Leyola: Yes.

Wimzig: Indeed!

Kriz: Excellent. I have flipped a coin prior to the start of this event, and Leyola will be answering first. Let's begin.

*applause*

Kriz: The first question is very straightforward. Please introduce yourself to the audience with a brief character history, in-game or otherwise. Leyola, you first.

Leyola: Thank you, Kriz. I would like to first state that it is an honor to be a part of your blog, despite not being a mage myself. My name is Leyola Swiftwillow, and I was born around 300 years ago in the forests of Ashenvale. My parents fought in the battle of Mount Hyjal, and now live as retired veterans of the third war. Thanks to their respected position, I was allowed permission to learn the arts of druidism in Teldrassil, and have developed a penchant for the restorative powers of nature. I am in my 52nd season.

Kriz: Thank you Leyola. Wimzig?

Wimzig: Very well! My name is Wimzig Wintersprug. I am a water vendor from Ironforge. Originally from the underground city of Gnomeregan, I inherited my family's business. Then the troggs came. The folks and I escaped unharmed, but our legendary business has been reduced to nothing. Thus, I have decided to take the shop on the road, and taken up cryomancy to complement my hydration services as well as protect me on my travels. So far, it has been 17 seasons since I last left Ironforge.

Kriz: Thank you for the responses. The two of you are indeed interesting figures. Following up that question, what have the two of you been up to recently? Wimzig, let's start with you.

Wimzig: Well, um...*laughs*...to be precisely honest, I don't actually remember much. Supposedly I was recruited to help the Westfall militia deal with the defias threat, but those efforts were halted indefinitely by none other than brewfest.

Lots of drinking to be had, I'm quite sure of that! Not great for business, I presume.

Leyola: Some of the elders of the Cenarion Circle have felt strange omens originating from a distant land. They are convinced that a shadow looms over Azeroth, threatening to wipe out that which we have worked so hard to create.

I have volunteered to work with the other alliance journeymen as they venture into the depths of dungeons such as the Sunken Temple of Atal'hakkar and the depths of Blackrock Spire, in an attempt to bolster the spirits of those who are prospected to be a part of a future effort against this threat.

Kriz: Very well, Leyola. Speaking of looming threat, have either of you heard about these individuals known as Death Knights?

Wimzig: Of course! Word from the Thunderbrew distillery says that there exists a group of people who were dominated by their own lust for power, resultingly losing their very freedom.

A tragic story, indeed, but within lies a very intriguing power. Some of which resonate with my own.

Kriz: You mean, frost.

Wimzig: Bingo!

Leyola: I object to Mr. Wintersprug's statement, Kriz.

Kriz: Why so?

Leyola: Because, the individuals that Wimzig speaks of are a force of death, one that threatens all that is filled with life!

Wimzig: A redundant statement, quite frankly.

Kriz: Now now. Let's have some order here. Leyola, please. Now is your opportunity for a rebuttal.

Leyola: Certainly. Wimzig is grossly misinformed. The information that he relies on come from an unreliable source. Rumor? from a bar? Not exactly reliable information.

According to the Cenarion Circle, these individuals are known as Death Knights, and from their experiences in the Third War, they wrought disease and death to everything they touched, and soiled the ground they have walked on.

Kriz: I understand your concern, Leyola. But as the moderator, it is my duty to inform the both of you that a Death Knight will soon be a part of Krizzlybear's WoW team.

*audience gasps, applauds*

Kriz: Yes. Death Knights will be joining the ranks of the Alliance. Regardless of your opinion of them, you will have to cope with coexistence. How do the two of you plan on doing so, if at all? Wimzig, you first.

Wimzig: Well, apparently, these people are extremely seasoned warriors. I suppose I have no alternative but to go with the flow, depending on how the situation goes.

I estimate a 98 percent chance that this new recruit is going to specialize in frost. If that is the case, I for one welcome our icy overlords!

*audience laughs*

Kriz: That could mean the beginning of a frosty friendship. Leyola, your thoughts?

Leyola: If they are a part of the solution, then they won't be a problem. But the fact remains that they are destructive to the earth. It is my duty then to nurture that which they don't mean to destroy, even if it means healing Death Knights themselves.

At the very least, they will become powerful allies who are capable of protecting others from harm. It is then my duty to mend their wounds, if they feel pain at all...

Kriz: Miss Swiftwillow, you certainly live up to your name, quick to bend and adapt to your surroundings, regardless of their nature.

Leyola: All in good nature, my friend.

Kriz: Okay then. Let's shift the perspective away from Azeroth, and a little bit beyond the game itself. I write a blog, and so far, I have settled myself within a wonderful community in the internether. What dynamic do you feel you bring to my blog? Leyola, you're first.

Leyola: I certainly haven't had the same exposure on your "blog" as my opponent, but I feel that I can bring a different perspective to your content. Considering that you are a mage specialist, my opponent does not bring anything new to the table, since your main member, Bashertin, is the source of your knowledge as a Frost Mage.

Now, my opponent also promised that he would provide a unique take on slaying multiple enemies, but he himself has yet to fulfil that promise! He is not even seasoned enough to have the tools to successfully carry out his plan.

Kriz: Wimzig, your rebuttal?

Wimzig: We don't need more information about druids on the internether. That is all I have to say about that.

Now, I on the other hand, have much more experience as the focus of the moderator's blogging content, providing a fresh take on a class he knows and loves. To simply chronicle my adventures in Azeroth, particularly with other aspiring individuals such as myself, is an attractive premise to a good portion of the moderator's readership. My opponent isn't experienced enough to do what I do.

Kriz: Seems like the debate has just started to heat up. Now is a good time to have our intermission. We will return with part II of the debate, where we will discuss issues such as the economy, foreign relations (death knights) in greater depth.