Thursday, December 31, 2009

A Dragon’s Heart Pt. 4

AerialDuel For a brief summary and roster of characters in A Dragon’s Heart head here.

December 13th, 28th year after the Dark Portal

Our ambush of Vissic began well… and ended in disaster.

We waited for Vissic at an abandoned temple in the Storm Peaks near Ulduar. Scheen had forged Ruby’s handwriting using the manuscript from Ruby’s romance novel and sent Vissic a letter telling him to meet Ruby there.

All of us were there. Myself, Ravine, Scheen, and a death knight named Ariadne whose death was apparently Vissic’s fault. In addition Ravine had her voidwalker present and I had my mana elemental.

When the time came Vissic stood alone with his felguard.

Our initial ambush took Vissic completely by surprise. I couldn’t believe how easy it was. Scheen and Ariadne lay hidden within the temple while Ravine and I swooped in on dragon back. Together we hit him fast and hard. He fought back but given our numbers and the element of surprise he never really had a chance.

Until Vissic did something truly unexpected: he surrendered.

As an agent of the Kirin Tor I had no choice but to take him into custody to be tried for his crimes. My compatriots however did not see it that way and attempted to cut him down in cold blood. I fought in the villain’s defense though it weighed at my heart to do so. My companions were relentless however and the battle soon turned against me. In the ultimate irony Vissic was able to escape in the confusion, taking to the skies on his violet proto-drake after he knocked Scheen unconscious.

In a show of unbridled determination Ariadne leaped onto the proto-drake’s foot even as it began to lift off, trying to bring it down through sheer necromatic-given strength but not before the proto-drake shot forth a great blast of fire engulfing the foolhardy death knight. Badly hurt she fell to the ground below and Vissic’s proto-drake began it’s escape.

But not without pursuit.

Ariadne’s efforts managed to delay Vissic long enough for Ravine to mount her Netherdrake and give chase. What followed was an epic aerial duel in the skies above that almost brought the death’s of both participants and their dragons.

Even as fel magic and dragon fire brightened the skies above, a wounded Ariadne confronted me for my actions down below. I have decided to disregard the bloody nose I got as a result of that confrontation given her valiant if misguided efforts earlier.

Finally the aerial duel came to an end with Vissic fleeing for his life and a very battered Ravine and nether dragon landing before us.

The battle was over. Vissic had escaped.

Light… what will we do now? How will we stop him? How will we protect Ruby from… herself?

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Comment away!

Booknovel

Seems I had this blog set up so that only registered users of various services were able to post comments while thinking I had it set so anyone could do so. Oops!

I’ve now changed the settings so that ANYONE and EVERYONE can now post comments to DragonWhimsy.net. However if you post something nasty I still have powers to annihilate such a post.

So post away to your hearts content. Because writers and bloggers love feedback. Live for it even.

Seriously though I can hear you breathing.

A Dragon’s Heart Pt. 3

 RubyBioSmall

“Jusst a few ssmall updatess” Ruby spoke into her enchanted star ruby, beginning a new entry in her voice journal.

“Firsst up I’ve hired a freelance… uh… well… spy. Her name is Amarastine and I originally hired her to sspy on Vissic. Allied with him for the moment I may be, but I’m not sstupid. No matter how naive Rhune thinkss I am.”

“Through her effortss I have learned that Vissic operates out of Dalaran, likely in the depths of the Underbelly.”

“Rhune will jusst looooove that.” Ruby said drily.

Ruby continued: “With that mission completed I have put her to spying on Ravine, Rhune, and Scheen. Thiss iss too important to allow their protectiveness of me and wariness of Vissic to get in the way. I have to keep all of them alive. I won’t let their mortality take them away from me.”

“In addition to Amarastine I have found another ally in Philomene who I think iss interested in the idea of an extended life. She’ss usually more humble so perhaps this iss another encouraging ssign sshe iss coming out of her shell. She will also be watching after Ravine, Rhune, and Scheen when she iss able and may be useful when we go to… well I can’t say that out loud.”

“At least I’ve been able to talk to Scheen about something not related to this whole mess. She’s interested in the romance novel I am writing…”

“Oh wait… did I not mention that yet? Well I am. Scheen introduced me to the concept of the romance novel and I found they were a great deal of fun… however they’re always about MORTAL romances. It seemss to me there should be a novel about DRAGON romance… after all we love too. In our own way.”

“Anyway Scheen volunteered to be my editor and I gave her my handwritten manuscript to look over. She seemed very excited about it.”

“It felt sso good to be able to reconnect with her despite our disagreements of late. She’s a good friend.”

RubyBook

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

A Dragon’s Heart Roster

Booknovel To make following the “Dragon’s Heart” story easier here’s a list of important people and a description of who they are.

Each of these characters have a part to play as Vissic reaches for his ultimate goal: immortality and Ruby allies with him to find a way to keep her mortal friends and family alive against the eventual ravages of time.

Amarastine: A freelance spy Ruby has employed to keep an eye on both Vissic AND those opposed to him.

Anthus: Ruby’s true love and confidant and a magus in the service to the Red Dragonflight.

Ariadne: A woman who was risen as a Death Knight and blames Vissic for her death.

Philomene: A priestess who may be interested in the secret to immortality herself and a possible ally of Ruby’s.

Ravine: A warlock and friend of Rhune and Ruby’s who is a long time adversary of Vissic’s.

Rhune: A magus of the Kirin Tor and Ruby’s “adoptive father” with a long history of distrusting warlocks and for being very protective of his family.

Ruby: A red dragon whelpling who has lived among mortals all her life and has learned to shapeshift too early for her own good, taking the form of a red-haired gnomish woman. Known for caring very deeply for those she considers family or friend.

Scheen: A mischievous rogue who always has a snowball at the ready (even in summer!). A friend of Ruby and Ravine’s and an enemy of Vissic’s.

Vissic: A warlock who often manipulates and uses those around him to his own dark ends and who is currently obsessed with becoming immortal.

Monday, December 28, 2009

Greaterfater Winter has come!

My favorite gifts that Santa brought me this year (i.e. my very loving family):

 

Elegant Dragon Ring in Sterling Silver

Dragon Ring: Imagine the ring with a very deep purple/blue stone depending on the light. I’ve named the dragon “Whimsy” of course! It’s my very favorite gift this year.

 

The Razer Naga MMO Gaming Mouse: It’s hard to get used to but once I do look out! Will I finally stop being a point & clicker? Hope so! It looks even sexier in person with the blue being daker and more eerie and the logo fading in and out. It looks like it has been enchanted. A mouse of the arcane indeed. Who needs engineers?

 

Product ImageProduct Image

Dragon Age: Origins: I’m all about storytelling and Bioware always delivers. However this time I’m told they have really upped their craft. I’ve barely started but already the lore is the most in-depth I’ve ever seen from an original setting with no prior games. Even only having dipped my toes in so far there is a feeling of being part of a truly epic story. The music, the character interactions, the lore, I think this is going to be something really special. And the mapmaker is supposed to be incredible. I can’t wait to tinker with that too!

In addition I got the collector’s edition of the strategy guide which includes 50 pages of lore that the normal version does not as well as additional pages with concept art, an interview with the creators, and it is also hardback. I mention it because it is the most enjoyable strategy guide I can remember buying. Though it has the usual walkthroughs a good portion of the book is dedicated to FUN stuff. Lore, tactics, character builds, and how to interact with the characters. And the production values are fantastic. I enjoy just looking through it.  The World of Warcraft strategy guides could learn a thing or three from this one. I highly recommend this version of the strategy guide to anyone interested in the game.

To everyone out there I hope you got the sugar plums you were dreaming of as well.

Thursday, December 24, 2009

Merry Winter’s Veil! (And Happy Holidays too!)

RubyWinterVeil

Whatever holiday you celebrate Dragonwhimsy.net would like to wish you a joyous time this holiday season.  Coming up next week we will have a montage of Winter’s Veil pictures, new A Dragon’s Heart entries, and the expansion of this blog into new territory!

As well as an announcement that will be shocking to some, and obvious to others. Just what is the Dragonsworn Council? For those who have noticed the guild tag over Ruby’s head in-game you’ll know what it means next week!

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

A Dragon’s Heart Pt. 2

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Sylerrinn Astherion sipped at her tea and tried her best to seem absorbed in her book. Her husband Rhune drummed his fingers on the kitchen table, not looking at all like someone who was in a good mood. She glanced at Rhune worriedly whenever she thought he wouldn’t notice.

Sylerrinn knew he had not been pleased with the outcome of his talk with Ruby. She was concerned for him, he was so close to the dragon. And of course their daughters Lamorra and Lakorra adored the little whelpling.

She knew Rhune would work it out. He always did eventually. In the meantime she could only watch him carefully. Be there to comfort him and make sure he did not do anything… rash.

Peaking over her book she snuck a glance at what it was he was writing in his journal:

November 22, 28th year after the Dark Portal

I tried talking with Ruby with less than optimal results. She is a dragon and an Astherion, adopted or not. That means she is stubborn. Too stubborn to talk out of something she has her mind set on.

I’m going to have to approach this from another angle.

Vissic. Deal with the snake and the problem goes away. I have already worked out a plan that should work with Ravine and Scheen. It is dangerous but it is the only course left to us. Each of us has our own reasons to end the threat Vissic represents. We all know what we are getting into.

Scheen represents her own problem. She’s flighty and undependable. Arrogant and distrusting. Worse… she’s annoying and a prankster. I will have to be careful she is not a hindrance to the operation.

One way or another, Vissic’s days are numbered.

To set matters in motion we will need an example of Ruby’s handwriting…

Sylerrinn felt her stomach tighten in knots. Rash had been an understatement.

 

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