The End

So, I guess I'll come out with this. Through some complicated external circumstances, I couldn't finish my novel in Camp NaNoWriMo, and I can't play Wizard101 or blog anymore.

I know this is really sudden, and unlike the last time, I'm pretty sure this time it is goodbye. I wish I could play Khrysalis Part 2, but it's just not going to happen, so I'm going to accept that and just say: Thank you all so, so, much for reading my blog, Emma and Destiny for inspiring me to write a real novel (because this is something I'm not going to drop)...I'm just so grateful to all of you to making my time here a happy one.

I might not be able to see comments after this, so if you comment and I don't reply, don't think I'm ignoring you. I'm not! Just remember how much I enjoyed this, and the splendiferous thaumaturge!

I'm sorry this had to be so sudden, but...I guess this is it. It's time to move on with my life. Goodbye. And once again, thank you. :)

- Sophia E
- Emma I
- Grace S 

What just happened?

I just don't understand this. Three posts, all by Emma, all with the exact same post title, none actually making sense...what is wrong with her?

Absolutely nothing. Splendiferous dragon agrees with me. I had a splendiferous story, a splendiferous poem, and a splendiferous interview, and you say none of them make sense? You aren't making sense!

You know what? I've learned that there's not much point in arguing with you. I give up.

Okay! Now that Grace has giving up, to close out these posts before Sophia comes back, I give you... a splendiferous limerick!

There once was a splendiferous dragon
Who carried a thaumaturge like a wagon
This dragon was blue
You must like it, too!
It's splendiferousness stands out like a flag-on!

- Emma I

Splendiferous Dragon

Hello, splendiferous viewers! This is fantabulous newscaster Emma IceCrafter, bringing you an exclusive interview with the famed Splendiferous Dragon! My questions will be in bold, and my Splendiferous Dragon's answers shall be in regular text. Enjoy this super splendiferous interview!

How long have you been in the company of the prestigious Emma IceCrafter, super thaumaturge extraordinaire? 

*snort*

Two years? Ooh, that's a pretty long time. And have you enjoyed the experience?

*flaps wings emphatically*

Glad to hear it. And how does it feel to be this splendiferous? Oh, don't bother answering, since I already know. What do you think of the quality of the food? Are you enjoying eating all the tasty grilled dinosaur?

*blows steam*

And do you have anything else to tell our readers?

*spurts blue fire*

Well, thanks so much, interviewee! Everyone give a hand for the Splendiferous Dragon!

- Emma I

Splendiferous Dragon

Super awesome
Placing me at places
Looks pretty
Extra blue
Never tells me not to do something
Does what I tell it too
Is a pretty cool dragon
Fast at flying everywhere
Enters my backpack when not in use
Roars loud enough to scare all the monsters
Overreacts just like me
Understands how I feel about quests
Splendiferous dragon!

- Emma I

Splendiferous Dragon

Once upon a time, there was a super splendiferous dragon. It was blue, and it was splendiferous. It lived in Marleybone, and it roamed wild in the wilderness, which is really splendiferous if you think about it. One day, the dragon was next to a tree when it noticed something splendiferous.

My splendiferous dragon went to check it out. It was a wizard wearing blue and red, with another wizard wearing blue and purple; the two of them were definitely splendiferous. The splendiferous wizard in blue and red saw the dragon and wanted to know if she could ride him. The dragon said he wasn't sure if he wanted to leave the splendiferous green Marleybone wilderness, but he might be willing to if he was fed yogurt every day. So the splendiferous wizard in blue and red (hint: ME) So the wizard in blue and red hopped on the dragon, and the two made a really splendiferous team. They rode off together to be splendiferous and save the spiral from monsters.

From then on, the spiral owed its peace to the splendiferous duo of dragon and rider, and they lived happily ever after. Come back later for part two!

- Emma I

Gone Noveling

Hello readers,

For all of April I will be rewriting Legends of Light at Camp NaNoWriMo. This means I will not be blogging over here, but I will have a NaNo Log over at my other blog, the Treehouse. A few posts are also scheduled for this month.

Thanks!

- Sophia E

I am Genius!

There once was a genius named Emma
Who was smarter than any of them-a
She wrote poetry well
And no, she didn't smell
Because she was a beautiful gem-a!

She had impeccable fashion sense
And a taste for most odorous scents
Her clothes, red and blue
With white snow patterns, too
Made absolute, completely sense!

Well, they were red and blue in all
The months, but red and green in the hol
Idays, for festivity cheer
And a happy new year
But she wore a turkey hat in the fall!

It went gobbledy gobbledy cluck
Cluck cluck gobble cluck gobble cluck cluck
Cluck gobble cluck errrr
Cluck gobble gob- errrr
Gobble gobble gobble gobble cluck!

- Emma I

Super Busyness

Is that even how you say it? Business? Busy-ness?

Right. Anyway, I'm going to say busyness. My word processor says it's a word, so maybe it is!

Well, I will be planning the rewrite of my novel and I'll be busy for most of the weekend, so don't count on the Celestia World Review. It still might happen, but not necessarily, just so you know.

Thanks for understanding.

- Sophia E

Things

First off - the not-so-cool things:

• Camp NaNoWriMo starts in less than a week and I've done almost no planning for the rewrite
• I'm questing in Saltmeadow Swamp
• Emma has planted a pretty flower in her house that I don't think she'll take good care of

Now for the cooler things:

• For Camp NaNoWriMo, Midday, aka Emma DawnRider, is in my cabin!
• I'm almost out of Saltmeadow Swamp (I believe)
• I am of a happy disposition
• The snow is melting
• It's going to be 60 degrees this weekend
• This is my 150th post!

Spring - is - coming! :D

- Sophia E

Oddly Memorable Thing #5: Snake Bridge

Some things are memorable because they just look so freaking awesome.

The Thing

Snake bridge! With really awesome animation, sound effects, and context, this is one of the coolest bridges in the Spiral. Downside: the area lags. Is it because of this awesome bridge? Maybe. But no matter what, this is pretty darn cool.

- Sophia E

World Review #3: Mooshu

Previous World Reviews:

If you want to learn more about the World Review and its format, please see Review No. 1.

No. 1: Grizzleheim/Wintertusk

No. 2: Avalon

World Review Tomorrow

The Mooshu edition of the World Review will be posted sometime tomorrow. Stay tuned!

Also, Emma says the guest bedroom of her house is done, but personally, I have some doubts about whether it's very hospitable. Oh well.

- Sophia E

Oddly Memorable Thing #4: Chicken Coop

Some things are memorable because they just look really interesting and different, or maybe you have some sort of personal connection to them.

The Thing

In real life, I have chickens, so I really like this housing item. Not only is it animated, which is always awesome, but it has a yellow chicken outside. (The yellow ones are my favorites.) :)

I can't really think of too many uses for this item, although it could be really cute in a Red Barn Farm, but I love how it somehow ends up in the game anyway. I'm still thinking about making it an addition to one of my wizards' houses. Just not Emma's. Because wouldn't make any sense.

- Sophia E

Oddly Memorable Thing #3: Alternate Uses for Teleporters

Some things are memorable because you have to go out of your way to see them, but if you do...the results induce absolute hilarity.

The Thing

Most people, if they're lucky/patient/rich enough to own housing teleporters, use them for transport from one house to another (or maybe quick access to other areas of the same house). Some people, however, have found an alternative way to use these extremely fun items...a very devious way indeed.

If you have pretty much any in-game housing experience, you'll know that the game doesn't allow items to be placed on top or inside of other items without using glitches, but the game doesn't count teleporter destination marks as real items. Therefore, other items can be placed directly on top of them.

This leads to the unfortunate wizard who uses the teleporter to get stuck inside the item. This is most commonly used in jail cells, which make some sense for a wizard to get stuck in, but it can also be used for beds, bathtubs, and lone rugs floating all by themselves in the distant sky with no way out.

This sounds awfully like Emma IceCrafter's sense of humor.

- Sophia E

Nonsensical Reactions to Things

Let's say you had a friend who promised to show you something cool. You waited a few days for the appointed day, but she called you and said you'd have to wait another week because she was really busy that weekend. Would your reaction be "Awesome! That's really cool!"? Would it?

Because apparently it was for someone on this blog. No World Review This Weekend received, oddly enough, an Awesome! and an LOL in the reactions. (Okay, if you don't think World Review is all that cool, please at least hold onto my analogy. I'm just pretending.)

If you really, really don't like World Review, reaction person, just comment and say so. Or maybe you misclicked. But either way, this doesn't make any sense.

- Sophia E

Oddly Memorable Thing #2

While some things may be oddly memorable because they are strange and pointless, some things are oddly memorable because they're...slightly disturbing.

The Thing

I don't know why I found this pet so disturbing. Maybe it's because there are, I don't know, FEET sticking out of an egg?

It's also a bit odd that this pet hatches from an egg in itself; maybe that's how long it takes for those very strange and disturbing feet to break out of the shell?

Although - this pet can be dyed various colored patterns, which makes it sort of cool, I suppose. I don't know. I've never owned one. But this is certainly a pet to be remembered.

- Sophia E

Oddly Memorable Thing #1

Some things make you laugh or cry so much that you really remember that emotional experience. Some things are just so cool and eye-catching that you can't help but remember them. And some things...are minor, sort of pointless, but oddly memorable - maybe because they're so pointless.

Oddly Memorable Thing

Radioactive Pizza: one of the most useless pet snacks in Wizard101, right up there with popsicle, drumstick, and yogurt (THE VERY NON-FANCY KIND). Just +1 Will bonus? Meh. Might as well give it a pass.

But just take a look for a minute. It's pizza...that's radioactive. This is pet poison in disguise! Sue KI for animal cruelty! (If you can call a clockwork an animal. Or a wraith. Or a rock. You know what? Forget I said anything.)

Seriously, though? Radioactive pizza would kill someone. This makes probably the least sense of any pet snack in the game. (Have a weirder one? Comment!) Candy pizza would have made more sense here.

And why does it give your pet more willpower, anyway? Oh! Because you really need a strength of will to force it down your throat! If, of course, a snowball has a throat.

By the way - happy St. Patrick's Day!

- Sophia E

No World Review This Weekend

I'm going to be spending the rest of the weekend away, so I won't have any time to post. Just letting you know that my Mooshu World Review is going to be postponed until next week. Thanks for understanding.

(Postponed! It's a post - that's going to be POSTponed! Ha!)

(Not sure why that was funny - I guess I'm just tired.)

- Sophia E

World Review #2: Avalon

Previous World Review

If you want to learn more about the World Review and its format, please see Review No. 1.

No. 1: Grizzleheim/Wintertusk

Camp NaNoWriMo & Azteca

So I know I promised a World Review today (by the way, I'm going to do Avalon) but I wanted to deliver some other news instead. I'm sorry if that let you down, but the review should be ready by tomorrow.

First off, I turned sound effects back on recently, and this makes Azteca a lot better, so I'm more enthusiastic now. It's not one of my favorite worlds by any means, but it's manageable, at least. I can't believe Emma IceCrafter is an archmage. I'm afraid Emma's guest room is looking a bit...shabby, but I can't talk her out of it. She says she wants to focus her money and time on the rooms she'll be using.

Second off, Camp NaNoWriMo April is coming. I've decided to do this for my Legends of Light rewrite (if you haven't seen that, the details are on my other blog). I'm starting to get really excited, not least because I've decided to make one of my real-life classmates a major character (she wants to carry poison in a vial around her neck) because her personality begs for one. Super cool changes are coming, and it's going to be great.

Right. See you tomorrow!

- Sophia E

World Review #1: Grizzleheim/Wintertusk

So, what is World Review?

As this is my first segment of the World Review, I think this is due for a little explanation. World Review, as you probably know, is a post series in which I review each and every world of the Spiral that can be accessed via a spiral door. As such, Grizzleheim and Wintertusk are one review, and Aquila will not be featured in a review at all (unless I start doing pirate world reviews, in which case - that's a very different story.) After some analysis, I will give the featured world a letter grade.

Can You Bear the News?

I've decided that a Grizzleheim/Wintertusk review will be coming next. Bear in mind that votes for another option will not change my mind, as I have already started making graphics for this particular post. I don't really have much more to say now, so here's a picture of a bear.

- Sophia E

Stalling?

Is KI stalling the release of Khrysalis Part 2? I think they just might be.

Although, they might have good reasons for it. They promised early 2014, which is quickly waning away, and they might not be ready quite yet; after all, we don't want another glitchy Azteca, do we? I'm willing to wait, but I feel this update might have been better kept under wraps.

There's practically nothing here; although the dungeon recall teleport may be useful to wizards who are stilling leveling up (as most high-level dungeons don't allow teleportation) the new "Team Up" function is, in my opinion, quite useless.

Do you know how Ranked Team PvP works, if you haven't formed a team with your friends? You're teamed up with random players and no concrete strategy; the intricate battle plans necessary to succeed in this area are nonexistent. Talk to anyone familiar with team gameplay and they'll tell you that a defined strategy is necessary in PvP.

The same goes for PvE; at least, the cheat dungeons. Although the Team Up feature may be somewhat useful for lower-leveled wizards leery of going into a dungeon on their own, the more crowded places, for which I believe this feature was initially intended, also require a knowledge of the cheats and how to circumvent them.

Team Up is basically Quick Join for dungeons. I had hoped for a way for group members to instantly teleport into a dungeon without sigil jumpers invading, but sadly, this is not the case. I hope such a feature will be added soon, and I'll continue to sit tight for Khrysalis. The promise of plot twists are one of the only reasons I'm still excited. (Although: KI says that "Khrysalis will bring an end to the Morganthe story arc - or will it?" If Morganthe the cardboard power-hungry villain is here for yet another arc, I'll probably quit or something. Just saying.)

- Sophia E

In Stasis

Still not often in the game

Taking breaks now, all the same

And enthusiasm's waning

Soon, will any be remaining?

Is any wizard bored as me?

Should I find a change of scenery?

(That's an acrostic - read down the left column and it spells stasis.)

Seriously, I think I do need a change of scenery. Wizard101 is feeling pretty flat just now.

(Hmm...Pirate101?)

- Sophia E

New Post Series

I plan to start a new post series, where I review the various worlds of the Spiral based on their setting (music, graphics, and themes), story (self-explanatory), and gameplay (difficulty, pacing, etc.). However, I was unsure which world to do first, so I've decided to let you, the readers, decide!

Simply vote on the poll in the sidebar; it will close at the end of the month!

Note: I will not be doing Khrysalis until the rest of it comes out and I finish playing through it.

(Basically, if you want to see me bash Azteca, vote Azteca - if you want a more, shall we say, rational review...don't.)

Thanks! :)

- Sophia E

Questing Burnout

Okay. I know it's really late, but it's vacation week so I can stay up. Right. Normally I'd be doing quests in Azteca, but it's Azteca. For those of you who have done this world already, you should understand my pain by now. For those of you who haven't: this world is @#$%@&%%$@$#%!

Seriously. Ouch.

So you could say I'm in some sort of questing burnout phase. Let's put it this way: I'd love for Khrysalis Part 2 to come out so I'd have some other quests to do besides dragging stuff. I can sense incoming epicness.

Right. Do I have anything else to say at this late hour? I don't think so, but I'll probably wake up and think of some other things I would have mentioned, but that's okay.

See you...tomorrow? Or maybe just soon?

- Sophia E

The Scoop on Legends of Light

If you've been reading for a while, you know what this is - in case you haven't I'll fill you in right now.

Legends of Light is the name of a fantasy novel I've been working on for about a year now. It has absolutely nothing to do with Wizard101, so you might not be interested at all.

Either way, I have some really major news on the novel writing. Click here to see it.

- Sophia E

Mansion Splendiferous

Hey, all - I've been working on my own special house for the past...I don't know. But it's specially tailored to my own interests and tastes. It's coming along so awesomely, I shall call it...Mansion Splendiferous!

So far, I have the obligatory wizard study that at least has crafting stations, a beautifully icy dining room, and a wizard kitchen with an EPICLY SPLENDIFEROUS GLOWY WIZARD STOVE! How awesome is this? Is it not functional? Is it not beautiful? Does it not make you wish you had one just like it?

Come on...you know you want one and it's absolutely splendiferous.
Note from Sophia: When I glitched this stove, I realized two late that I should probably have used candles under the dinner plate burners instead of campfires. It glows a bit too much. Also, the dinner plates were the only round, flat, and dark housing item I could find.

Soon, I'm also going to make my super ultra-deluxe thaumaturge bedroom, and a luxury bathroom - the plumbing draws straight from the water outside, so baths might be a bit...chilly. There will be a super awesome game room, sitting room, and place for hanging out all in one ginormous space! Can anyone say splendiferous? That's why I'm calling it Mansion Splendiferous!

Oh, and I guess I'll have to make a guest room too, in case anyone wants to stay with me at Mansion Splendiferous. But I'll attend to that issue later, I suppose.

The landscaping will be gorgeous, too! I'll be sure to post again later with the latest design info! (Isn't my glowy wizard stove just AMAZINGLY SPLENDIFEROUS?!)

- Emma I

Explode: A Poem about Azteca

Ambrose sent me to a new world

Full of prehistoric life

After despair was unfurled

From a quetzal from their strife.

(Oh, Kingsisle, don't you know that

Quetzal is a tropic bird?

Your "quetzal" winged snake shows that

You did not research the word.)

Anyway, this desperate letter showed

That soon Azteca would explode.

Despite the one quetzal mistake

I was ready to forget

All of Azteca seemed to shake

From Xibalba, the comet.

(Oh, Kingsisle, don't you know that

Your players need to care?

Your thinning characters show that

The dinosaurs miss that flair.)

As I through buggy jungle strode:

"I wonder when it will explode?"

After weeks and weeks of grinding

All to stop that deadly rock

I was panting, groaning, finding

That I'd gotten quester's block.

(Oh, Kingsisle, don't you know that

Tedious does not mean hard?

Your crawling pacing shows that

Players' excitement's marred.)

All I could think was of this mode:

"When will Azteca just explode?"

After solving every small whim 

Always feeling just the same

My rage finally did me in

"Is this dratted thing a game?"

(Oh, Kingsisle, don't you know that

Rage inspires mutiny?

Your painful "game" quests show that

There is not much left in me.)

From one thought my mind would implode:

"I wish Azteca would explode!"

Contest Cancellation

I've decided to cancel the contest. It just didn't go as well as I'd hoped, and if only one person enters each task, it's not even a contest, really. So this contest is over. I might adapt the story into a short post series, because I feel like it had some good things going for it, but otherwise...it's over.

Thanks for reading.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Hey everyone - I thought I should probably post today, with it being Valentine's Day and all! The Spiral is clearly in a festive mood, and I must say, I don't feel so bad myself, at least for being alone with Emma for such a long time. Maybe I can do something to fix that soon...but anyway, how are your days all going? Have you eaten any chocolate? I haven't...

But I can fix that problem! :D *extends bright red box of chocolates*

Emma...what's this all about? Are those supposed to be for me?

All for you! *opens box* See? There are a dozen of them, and they each have different fillings...only I ate this one here because it was hazelnut and I just love hazelnut and chocolate. But you can have all the others! :)

No. No no no no no. I'm not going to touch these chocolates - there's probably something wrong with them if you'd just give them to me like that. They might even be poisoned!

But it's Valentine's Day, and you just said you haven't had any chocolate yet! You can't have Valentine's Day without chocolate - it's an abomination, and completely not splendiferous!

I don't care whether it's splendiferous to you or not, but I'm not going to touch those chocolates! You can eat them all, for all I care! *stomps off*

*sigh* I only wanted her on my side...

- Emma I

My Sword is Pointy.

Pointy things are splendiferous, you know. 

They're just dangerous. I can't believe some of the interests you've developed over the past year. Some of them can only be called barbaric.

Poetry isn't barbaric. See? That's one of my interests.

Snow is good
Snow storms mean
'Sno more school
And coffee bean! :D

...remember? That reminds me - it just happens to be another SNOW DDDAAAAAAYYYY!!

I had hoped to forget that phonetic torture. Your poetry is barbaric, even though poetry in general isn't. Can you please just stop pressing the point and leave me alone?

Ha! The POINT! You brought up pointy things yourself! (Actually, "pressing a point" sounds really painful.) Back to my own POINT; pointy things, especially my epic new sword from finishing Avalon, are awesomely splendiferous! With them, I can kill lots of things!

(I'd better go. She's starting to sound dangerous. Maybe she's a serial killer in disguise?) Okay...I have other things to work on right now. Goodbye, blog!

- Grace S

Chase #3

Rendezvous Point K is in the Krokosphinx. That actually makes a lot of sense. You shove the scraps of paper into your backpack and begin walking. You lost a good bit of time working on that tedious puzzle, so now, you need to go even faster than before, if that’s possible. It’s a disappointing and stressful feeling, being far behind.

The blue mander captain who mans the boat is gone for the night, but you know how to launch it. You clamber on and set it loose, and soon, you’ve docked at the second island. You jump out of the boat and walk over to Niles. “Have you seen…” You proceed to describe Corwin and Amy.

The tree rustles his fronds in a gesture of assent. “They ran into the tombs, but it was a long time ago. It looked like dirty business to me.”

You thank Niles and run down the steps into the tombs, your wand at the ready. When the drafty cold air wafts across your face and you see the glimmer of the blue lanterns, you walk a few more steps, then jump behind a pillar to listen. A small crack between the pillar and the wall gives you a decent view of the activity in the main hall. To your horror, you find not just Corwin, Amy, and the assistant who mailed the intercepted letter, but several wizards, none of whom you recognize and all of whom are cloaked completely in black. They seem to be surrounding a wizard, with long black hair and a winged commander robe…Emmaline FairySlinger.

You slouch back against the wall, barely able to hold back a defeated sigh. There’s no way you can overpower all those wizards, who most likely have powers similar to Corwin’s. Worst of all, you can’t see Amy anywhere. You can only hope she escaped, but somehow…you can’t help but fear the worst.

Suddenly, someone speaks loudly enough for you to overhear. “Dratted dogs,” says Corwin, clearly not caring about the volume of his complaint. “Can’t keep their panting little noses out of anyone’s business…they’re in almost every world on the Spiral, not just content with their own. But –” He let out a great sigh. “– to Marleybone I must go, for the fulfillment of my grand plan. I will meet with SkullBringer there…he claims to have captured BattleSpear.”

With a jolt, you realize Corwin’s about ready to go. If you hurry, you might be able to escape unnoticed, and possibly even head him off for once. Marleybone – finally he’s making it easy. Why, even his complaint sounds familiar…

(The location of his minion is somewhere on this blog. Look for the Mark of the Mordromancers, and go where it leads you. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to comment.)

Last Week's Champion

The winner of the previous task was, once again, Roslyn SilverTalon/April! She will receive her hoard packs shortly. She was also the only person who entered again; I will try again one more time in case anyone decides they want to unseat her from her record. Remember, whoever wins the most of these tasks will get the grand prize, and if she wins four tasks, that will automatically be her.

Good luck. The next task will be posted later today.

Emma's Big Secret

Hey - I just have to post, because I was digging through Emma's bank a few minutes ago for something she stole from me, and I found several bags of fresh Aztecan coffee. That actually explains a lot of things.

Wha-wha?! I never stole anything from you, and anyway, I wasn't drinking the coffee. It was just a drop, I promise you! I was going to sell them at my next trip to the Bazaar!

Ha, nice try. You're still in Avalon. I think I should put you on a restricted diet. No more coffee for you! *triumphantly leaves to confiscate coffee*

Hmph. Grace StormRider is the meanest person in the Spiral. I've been practically living on that coffee since I was born, and now she'd take it away just like that? I think she's going to be the next big villain once we defeat Morganthe, and - OW! *clutches head* I need my coffee!

- Emma I

Snow Daaaayy!

Snow is fun
Snow is great
Snow reminds me
Of what I just ate!

Snow I love
Snow snow snow
Snow is deep
And cold I know!

Snow is good
Snow storms mean
'Sno more school
And coffee bean! :D

SNOW DDDAAAAAAYYYY!!

What IN THE SPIRAL is all this?!

SNOW DDDAAAAAAYYYY!!

No, Emma, this is absolutely ridiculous and you are not going to post this on the blog because I know that's what you were thinking of when you wrote it!

SNOW DDDAAAAAAYYYY!! *clicks "publish" button and runs away*

Grrrr. Well, since I'm the only person left and this post exists whether I like it or not, I guess I'll sign it off. See you later. And remember, Sophia could still use your help against the Mordromancers, so please try to enter the contest if you haven't yet!

- Grace S

Chase #2

You let out a sigh of relief as you sit up from being hunched over the page. It took some thought, but you feel fairly certain about the incantation, even though you have no idea what it does. Lestil slemran. It doesn’t sound too intimidating, but if a mordromancer wants it, it must be bad.

Clutching your wand again, you stand up and exit the Necromantic Archives at a brisk walk. It looks like Corwin’s already been here and may be at his Rendezvous point K, wherever that may be. If you don’t want him to pull off his plan, you’d better hurry.

“Hello.” A voice, smooth and mature yet somehow not quite adult, sounds behind you. You turn, staring at the dark figure standing in the doorway to the Theurgic Archives. It looks like he’s been waiting for you, crouching behind the doorframe until you revealed yourself. He’s wearing a pointed hat with a feather and a robe with an elegant, spotless cape, all jet black.

You find yourself stiffening, and your knuckles whiten around your wand. This looks exactly like the picture of Corwin DarkHammer that Sophia showed you, even down to the outfit. He continues, “It was awfully sloppy of me to leave my notes on important historical records. I hope you didn’t…ahem…inconvenience yourself in trying to decipher them. I’m afraid I tend to be somewhat cryptic in talking to myself.”

After a short period of stuttering, you manage to find your voice as you reply, “It was no trouble at all. You’re not quite as confusing as you think.”

For a moment, you see Corwin’s eyes narrow, but then he returns to normal with a silky laugh. He leans back into the hallway and pulls something out. You see the bound form of a wizard with long, violet hair tied back into a ponytail. Unless you’re very much mistaken, this is Amy ThunderBrand, notorious diviner of the White Legion.

“I appreciate your taking the time to delve into my notes, but unfortunately, time is something I don’t have much of tonight. I’m afraid I must run – places to go, people to see!” He points his wand at you and shouts some unintelligible words.

Soon, you find yourself surrounded by a thick black mist. You can see through it, but you know there’s no chance of walking when you try to move your legs but find them stuck. You can’t do anything as Corwin hauls Amy out the door.

Eventually, the mist dissipates, but you know they’re long gone, to that place…Rendezvous Point K. After your epic forgetting-to-dodge fail, you might not stand much of a chance, but it’s worth a try. The memory is pretty far back, but you think you might just know where to look…

(The key to the rendezvous is somewhere on this blog. Look for the Mark of the Mordromancers, and go where it leads you. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to comment.)

Contest things

Look.

Only one person showed interest of any kind in the contest so far. There were no comments, no nothing, other than the series of emails I exchanged with the winner. The nature of contest is to compete with other people for a prize, and as much work and excitement as I put into this, I feel like I might need to cancel it if it continues to do badly.

I will post the next challenge shortly, and if I get fewer than, say, three people interested, I will just cancel straightaway. I might modify the story as a post series or something, because I was pretty excited about this, but we'll just see.

Thanks for reading.

- Sophia E

Last Week(ish)'s Champion

The winner of last week's (actually two weeks ago) challenge was Roslyn SilverTalon/April! Congratulations - she will receive her hoard packs hopefully as soon as I can manage to arrange something. Details for the next challenge will be posted tomorrow, so stay tuned!

Grace's List

Hi.  This is Grace, now that Sophia's been - *cough cough* - oh, sorry, I've had this nasty cough and fever bug that's been preventing me from posting in the last week or so. It's been crazy, but I think I'll be able to post consistently from now on.

Anyway, I've sort of taken charge of the blog without Sophia here, because I know I'd be a lot better site leader than Emma -

I have been summoned! *looks over Grace's shoulder* Ohmyjustwowisthattheblogbeingpostedon?! I can be famous again! You have absolutely no idea how long I have been waiting to get some special spotlight time, and I'll bet the lovely community out there has been pining for just a mere glimpse of my own icy splendiferousness!

*continues writing*
Emma's Issues:
1. Ego
2. Hyperactivity
3. Vocabulary
4. Nosiness
5. Irrationality
6. Obsessiveness
7. Distressingly All-Consuming Lust for Power

*looks over Grace's shoulder again* Hmm...not bad, but I'd phrase it more like this...
Emma's Personality:
1. Self-confidence
2. Energy
3. Vocabulary
4. Caring
5. Speculation
6. Interested
7. Absolutely Deserved Desire to Take Leadership of What Is Rightfully Hers

*sigh* You know what? *coughing fit* I'm done with this right now. I've received word recently that a brave adventurer has found the incantation behind Corwin DarkHammer's search at the Wizard City library, and I will disclose the details tomorrow, followed by more information about the enemy's movements. Further scheduling will proceed as originally planned.

- Grace S 

2nd Annual Contest - Your Briefing Video

(Note: Watch this with your sound on, otherwise you won't be able to make heads or tails of it. Also, my voice sounds weird with this microphone; sorry. Please enjoy!) As a strong wind blows through the room, the candle goes out and everything is plunged into darkness. You can’t see Sophia or Elizabeth, but you hear Sophia making strangled grunting sounds as she struggles to evade her attacker. With a shock, you realize nobody is attacking you and maybe the Mordromancers don’t realize you’re there. You slowly back away until you reach the door to the room. While the group is fighting in darkness, you ease it open, trying not to be heard, but the hinges make a high-pitched squeak.

The Mordromancer growls, “Who goes there?” You can hear his heavy footsteps thumping toward the candle. Without bothering anymore with stealth and hoping Sophia and Elizabeth will keep him occupied, you flee for all you’re worth.

As you run in the dark night through the Commons tunnel, you think about the intercepted letter. It sounds like Corwin is looking for some kind of article that holds information about the White Legion. Although you’re fairly new to this whole business, the name rings a bell. Where have you seen one of those before?

(The article is somewhere on this blog. Look for the Mark of the Mordromancers, and go where it leads you. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to comment. Remember, go quickly; the first to complete the challenge will win two hoard packs, and the first to complete the majority of challenges across the entire contest will win a $10 Gamecard grand prize! There will be a new challenge every week.)

A Third Year Begins

I suppose now would be a good time to spill my own personal beans, after the fashion of Emma DawnRider.

(Note: this post is quite long and fairly personal, so if that makes you uncomfortable, I'm not pressuring you to read the whole thing, or even read it at all. Just thought I'd let you know.)

A More Purposeful "Happy New Year!"

The morning of New Year's Day, I realized that I actually had a lot more to say in the New Year post, but I'd forgotten since I was, you know, half asleep. Probably more than half, actually, but that's beside the point. I forgot to do a recap thing and a list of resolutions, which had been percolating in my mind for about a week prior. x.x Then I left on a short vacation, so I didn't have time to post.

But now I do. :)

In 2013, I...

• Had my contest, which was a blast
• Switched to playing with crowns
• Reached 10,000 pageviews
• Started the Treehouse blog for writing
• Won Camp NaNoWriMo in April
• Switched to Pirate101 for a bit
• Quit the blog and the game from May to September
• Deleted Daniel DeathBlood and created Victoria DeathStaff
• Won NaNoWriMo in November
• Finished decorating my Wooded Cottage
• Maxed level on Sophia once again
• Proposed the Menu Chat Challenge, which starts tomorrow
• Had a total post count of 50 (ouch!)

It was a good year while I was active...and most of the fall doesn't really count for that. I have high hopes for 2014, though, when I plan to...

• Redesign the blog (going up in five days!)
• Have another contest (going up in six!)
• Reach 20 followers (not quite sure how I'll do that)
• Get 5,000 more pageviews
• Decorate more houses (obscure)
• Rewrite Legends of Light from scratch (this will get its own post)
• Launch three very cool things (which will be revealed at or near launch)
• Post 150 times (this is 14 per month with 5 per NaNo month)

Is this overambitious? Maybe - but it makes me excited!!

- Sophia E

Happy New Year!

Yep, I actually stayed up until midnight to post this.

I'm not going to ramble, but let me just say - good riddance to 2013. In most respects, it hasn't been a great year for me, both in-game and out. Welcome, 2014!

Need I say it will be awesome? If you haven't seen the menu chat challenge (the post before this one) please check it out. I'll also be having many, many more cool events. The blogaversary contest is coming along nicely, and it's going to have a surprise opening.

Here's to 2014!

- Sophia E