Thursday, June 18, 2009

The Secret Life of Mages

You may have noticed I haven't updated in a while. This is not an accident. You see, before I was resurrected I was pretty seclusive, only coming out of Karazahn when someone needed some official guardian business. Even when I came back during the Third War, I may have addressed several people, but I never got directly involved. (That was the point, after all... if Azeroth doesn't need guardians, then my getting involved would defeat the purpose.) I had started thinking that perhaps my affinity for the shadow of secrecy was due to the influence of Sargeras, and so I started reaching out a bit more... getting a Twitter account and starting an online journal and so forth. I have recently realized, however, that there was a reason no one really thought it was entirely odd that a mage such as myself locked himself away in his tower for so long. Mages always do that. Mages have secrets. Their mysterious ways are directly related to the danger involved in their studies. A single misspoken word of power could bring down a well-built castle wall.

I have, therefore, decided to step back only slightly from my mainstream activity on the Internet. Only slightly, I reiterate. Because if I accidentally let out the incantation for a spell that destroys an entire city I would never forgive myself. It would undo all I have done to repay for my past actions. I will, however, release clues to my activities that the learned among you will be able to pick up on. They will be hidden in cryptic messages, journal entries and tweets that only the wisest and most worthy of my followers will be able to decipher. And they will often lead to some sort of pay-off.

When I have a story to tell, I will tell it. When I have a recipe to share, I will share it. But in keeping with the time-honored traditions of mages everywhere, my arcane activities will remain veiled in secrecy. Good luck to those who wish to follow in my path.

Thursday, June 11, 2009

Observations

When I tell people I can see the future, it's often misunderstood. So I rarely do. What I "see" is less an image than it is a feeling, or a strong intuition. Oftentimes, my journeys are based on these intuitions. I get a feeling about what is in the future for Azeroth, and so I investigate in order to give them a clear warning beyond the simple "HUMANITY IS IN PERIL!" spiel. But there are times when my mind is silent and the voices of the future fail to reach my spirit. In these times, I often study the current age and make predictions about what will occur based on extrapolation. In recent studies, a few things occur to me:

1) Murlocs are a formidable race.
Hear me out. Since the discovery of these creatures, every sentient being has been out to get them. They even once threatened to wipe out the Darkspear Trolls until Thrall and the rest of the Orcs came along to help them out. Part of me believes that the Murlocs are just as intelligent as any of the Horde or Alliance races, though inability to decipher their language makes it impossible to be sure. On the one hand, the ability to translate a complex string of guttural noises into understandable ideas represents an uncanny ability to structure a intriguing language. On the other hand, these noises may just be random and they're as dumb as a forest toad. In either case, they have thrived despite several attempts at their genocide. I would not be surprised if they eventually represent an integral part of Azerothian history.

2) Adventurers rely too heavily on gear.
There are copious amounts of enchanted gear to be found or crafted around Azeroth. But gear alone does not make a worthy adversary. It takes skill and cunning to break through your opponent's gear and win an honorable victory. It pains me to observe those who have honed their abilities to the highest level, only to wield such abilities like a child with a knife. They believe they are worthy to face Yogg-Saron alone in battle when they could easily be taken out by a well-geared murloc. Just because you hold Life and Death in your hand, young mage, does not mean you have the wherewithal to use it. Sit down, fool! And learn from your betters!

3) Gnomish technology is destroying the world more efficiently than Sargeras.
I will admit that it's fun to sit at my Netherbox all day and Tweet the friends I have made online, but how much is too much? Eventually you must communicate face-to-face. There is much to be gained by in-person communication that will never be transmitted electronically. And if you sit all day in front of a glowing screen, the Lich King is sure to win. Your mind will be even more easily pliable once he raises you into his scourge army. Go out and accomplish some real quests! Damn hoolagins!

4) I still don't know if I'm a father.
Can anyone update me on this? I'm positive that damn Brighteyes was never concieved by my seed, but Med'an... well, let's just say it's within my best interests to know for sure...

5) Why hasn't anyone been back to Hyjal since the battle?
I thought about checking it out once or twice, but something else always came up. Sure, you can visit it through the Caverns of Time, but it's just not the same. Rather, it is exactly the same... as it was during the battle... because it is the battle... which is to say, it's not the same as it is today... I do hope I'm not confusing anyone. Time travel is inharently a confusing subject. Regardless, someone should really be checking things out up there. Elune knows what kind of evils may be stirring up in the ruins of Archimonde's carcass.

These are just a few of the observations I've made while on hiatus from adventuring. Talk back to me. Tell me what kinds of things interest you in Azeroth.