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Well, yes. I'm back. A little, at any rate. So, hello.
After testing a few character ideas, piddling about, trying to get an idea of the going ons in Sundren and visiting a few of the places which appear to have changed, I recreated Maia.
I held large misgivings in recreating Maia - Maia had been a champion and something of a clannish leader of certain goodly elves whom struggled on to fight the good fight... but with all the ruthlessness of a veteran guerilla commando; she did not rollover to anyone and stood to many of her convictionsbeing as steadfast as an oak instead of being more flexible like the willow tree. Maia had also been acknowledged as Sundren's highest level ranger, likely the best archer in the setting and a self-appointed priestess of the elven god of archers Solonor Thelandira.
I admit, putting that back as a character in a world where she starts level three and that some other people whom have never heard of her are much higher level is not only a little daunting, but I also viewed it as demeaning to the memory of the character itself to those whom really knew of her.
There also was appeal in creating something entirely new. I do not really find people recycling characters they simply cannot let go of very original and in fact see it as the syndrome of "can't let something go". Sometimes, letting something go is good to be able to step forward from there. I'd be lying, though, if I said I was sorry for never really being able to find Maia some closure.
Just as I was trying out a human male ranger/frenzied berserker idea, Janus brought me word over the forum that it was nice that I came back and he told me many missed Maia. When I shared with him how awkward it felt to actually come back to Sundren, he went and told me about Myrddin going and telling tales of Maia and then add that what they really needed were people whom cared... and that's what they remembered of Maia: that she cared. They might really like if she came back.
Ego trip here: "People remembered Maia! Woot~!"
So, well, I whipped up the create character prompt on the Sundren PW and started remaking Maia. I needed to deal with a few things, though. The first was that I wasn't willing to be stuck with same-old same-old. The second was that I needed to take into account level loss. The third was that I had no idea what tales Myrddin had recounted about Maia and how much actually really applied to the Sundren persistent world: honestly, I wouldn't have had been surprised that after the vault wipe there'd be a blank slate on history thing.
So, seeing that it was a shot in the dark, I decided on the following background:
Maia went at the Sundered Valley and did stuff. At some point, likely several years after, Maia left with a caravan to head back home to visit her folks (people do that sometimes so why not Maia?).
On the way, Maia's caravan is attacked by swarms of incorporeal undead. While the caravan itself is ravaged by them, Maia tries her best to defend and to survive the onslaught - she was a level 17 ranger, after all - but just after destroying all the shades whom came, she collapsed due to the shock of suffering from negative energy drain.
Maia is nursed back from the brink of death by druids from a nearby Circle whom took interest in the undead attack. However, the elven woman herself suffers from a bad case of 'displaced memories' as the level drains she suffered grew permanent and thus made a major hit on her experience and the memories which came along with the hardships she suffered back in Sundren. Basically, it's all a blur and the only thing she remembers of the place was that there was something there which was important for her, which was home to her... but what it brought to her the most was the memories of blood and pain.
Though nostalgia and time (or the gradual fading of memories) has a strange way into making it so that things of the past do not seem so bad anymore. Maia eventually determined she would come back, though she was hardly in any shape to leave the care of the druids. Seeing her predilection and talent for things of nature, they took it upon themselves to teach her what they thought she might need to survive and to take into account her affinity with the wild.
In short, Maia was rebuilt as a druid. The irony was that when she was a ranger, she claimed to be a priestess. While she lost most of what she was, she became what she claimed to be. I see it as ironic.
Maia lost most of her gear as donation to the Circle which saved her life, whom trained her and whom reincarnated her animal companion (Aodan was happy about being a badger - he is not used to being a boar yet). Seeing that Solonor no longer holds any immediate link to how her life is now, she has turned to the worship of Rillifane Ralathil the Leaflord and Silvanus the Oakfather... and that, in turn, made her shift in alignment to Neutral.
That's right, neutral. In earlier talks, there was Satoshi whom once poked fun at Maia for being so draconian for a good aligned character. There was also influence from GodBeastX whom encouraged people to go on motivations rather than the more black-and-white axis of alignment. Back when work was being done on the Venoshia project (that's a sore point apparently, so, no more on that) I was looking forward to playing a neutral druid for pretty similar reasons.
So, the Maia now is somewhat mellowed out from the Maia from before (compare an adult to a middle-aged person). She's actually less hardy and strong of limb than she was before, but still fairly agile, smarter, wiser and an all around more pleasant person too. She also defined her role in life more than just "Rawr, smash those whom step on my foot!" It's really more akin to a wolfpack mentality now. Do not discount her skill with the bow yet: with Owl's Insight and Zen Archery, Maia's skill with the bow won't suffer all that much. ^_^;
I already had Maia have a rather memorable talk with Myrddin which sort of pursue how I wanted her to become, so, I'd say I'm off to a good start.
On another note, I notice elves have no forums of their own. The FAQ does say that the staff does not mind players making their own guild, but that they will not really support them seeing they wish to support elements inherent of the setting only.
I made the Council of Voices, accomplished the making of a recognized elven faction and saw how it turned out - a racial clique. Not to dash the hopes of some, but while it was nice while it lasted, but I am not doing it again - thanks.
The Druid Grove is, however, an established part of the persistent world, with NPCs backing that particular organization. I also notice that we have a surprising number of nature oriented characters as well. I'll admit that I hold a lot of interest in pursuing that avenue and being able to define an organization around that with the hopes that it may gain DM approval, recognition and inclusion in the setting - even so far as a forum like the other factions.
So, that about sums up my current going ons and my intentions for now.
tl;dr: Maia's back and she's a real nature priestess now.
After testing a few character ideas, piddling about, trying to get an idea of the going ons in Sundren and visiting a few of the places which appear to have changed, I recreated Maia.
I held large misgivings in recreating Maia - Maia had been a champion and something of a clannish leader of certain goodly elves whom struggled on to fight the good fight... but with all the ruthlessness of a veteran guerilla commando; she did not rollover to anyone and stood to many of her convictionsbeing as steadfast as an oak instead of being more flexible like the willow tree. Maia had also been acknowledged as Sundren's highest level ranger, likely the best archer in the setting and a self-appointed priestess of the elven god of archers Solonor Thelandira.
I admit, putting that back as a character in a world where she starts level three and that some other people whom have never heard of her are much higher level is not only a little daunting, but I also viewed it as demeaning to the memory of the character itself to those whom really knew of her.
There also was appeal in creating something entirely new. I do not really find people recycling characters they simply cannot let go of very original and in fact see it as the syndrome of "can't let something go". Sometimes, letting something go is good to be able to step forward from there. I'd be lying, though, if I said I was sorry for never really being able to find Maia some closure.
Just as I was trying out a human male ranger/frenzied berserker idea, Janus brought me word over the forum that it was nice that I came back and he told me many missed Maia. When I shared with him how awkward it felt to actually come back to Sundren, he went and told me about Myrddin going and telling tales of Maia and then add that what they really needed were people whom cared... and that's what they remembered of Maia: that she cared. They might really like if she came back.
Ego trip here: "People remembered Maia! Woot~!"
So, well, I whipped up the create character prompt on the Sundren PW and started remaking Maia. I needed to deal with a few things, though. The first was that I wasn't willing to be stuck with same-old same-old. The second was that I needed to take into account level loss. The third was that I had no idea what tales Myrddin had recounted about Maia and how much actually really applied to the Sundren persistent world: honestly, I wouldn't have had been surprised that after the vault wipe there'd be a blank slate on history thing.
So, seeing that it was a shot in the dark, I decided on the following background:
Maia went at the Sundered Valley and did stuff. At some point, likely several years after, Maia left with a caravan to head back home to visit her folks (people do that sometimes so why not Maia?).
On the way, Maia's caravan is attacked by swarms of incorporeal undead. While the caravan itself is ravaged by them, Maia tries her best to defend and to survive the onslaught - she was a level 17 ranger, after all - but just after destroying all the shades whom came, she collapsed due to the shock of suffering from negative energy drain.
Maia is nursed back from the brink of death by druids from a nearby Circle whom took interest in the undead attack. However, the elven woman herself suffers from a bad case of 'displaced memories' as the level drains she suffered grew permanent and thus made a major hit on her experience and the memories which came along with the hardships she suffered back in Sundren. Basically, it's all a blur and the only thing she remembers of the place was that there was something there which was important for her, which was home to her... but what it brought to her the most was the memories of blood and pain.
Though nostalgia and time (or the gradual fading of memories) has a strange way into making it so that things of the past do not seem so bad anymore. Maia eventually determined she would come back, though she was hardly in any shape to leave the care of the druids. Seeing her predilection and talent for things of nature, they took it upon themselves to teach her what they thought she might need to survive and to take into account her affinity with the wild.
In short, Maia was rebuilt as a druid. The irony was that when she was a ranger, she claimed to be a priestess. While she lost most of what she was, she became what she claimed to be. I see it as ironic.
Maia lost most of her gear as donation to the Circle which saved her life, whom trained her and whom reincarnated her animal companion (Aodan was happy about being a badger - he is not used to being a boar yet). Seeing that Solonor no longer holds any immediate link to how her life is now, she has turned to the worship of Rillifane Ralathil the Leaflord and Silvanus the Oakfather... and that, in turn, made her shift in alignment to Neutral.
That's right, neutral. In earlier talks, there was Satoshi whom once poked fun at Maia for being so draconian for a good aligned character. There was also influence from GodBeastX whom encouraged people to go on motivations rather than the more black-and-white axis of alignment. Back when work was being done on the Venoshia project (that's a sore point apparently, so, no more on that) I was looking forward to playing a neutral druid for pretty similar reasons.
So, the Maia now is somewhat mellowed out from the Maia from before (compare an adult to a middle-aged person). She's actually less hardy and strong of limb than she was before, but still fairly agile, smarter, wiser and an all around more pleasant person too. She also defined her role in life more than just "Rawr, smash those whom step on my foot!" It's really more akin to a wolfpack mentality now. Do not discount her skill with the bow yet: with Owl's Insight and Zen Archery, Maia's skill with the bow won't suffer all that much. ^_^;
I already had Maia have a rather memorable talk with Myrddin which sort of pursue how I wanted her to become, so, I'd say I'm off to a good start.
On another note, I notice elves have no forums of their own. The FAQ does say that the staff does not mind players making their own guild, but that they will not really support them seeing they wish to support elements inherent of the setting only.
I made the Council of Voices, accomplished the making of a recognized elven faction and saw how it turned out - a racial clique. Not to dash the hopes of some, but while it was nice while it lasted, but I am not doing it again - thanks.
The Druid Grove is, however, an established part of the persistent world, with NPCs backing that particular organization. I also notice that we have a surprising number of nature oriented characters as well. I'll admit that I hold a lot of interest in pursuing that avenue and being able to define an organization around that with the hopes that it may gain DM approval, recognition and inclusion in the setting - even so far as a forum like the other factions.
So, that about sums up my current going ons and my intentions for now.
tl;dr: Maia's back and she's a real nature priestess now.
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