Since the last time I set down my thoughts on parchment, I've been a busy Tryker. I've improved my melee skills and offensive magic skills a bit, vastly improved my defensive magic, left the Refugees of Istaria guild and joined Aeden Artisans, and gone exploring with my new guildmates into some very scary locations.
The last time I stopped by the scribe to record my thoughts, I had just dressed in the Ranger gear that Ranger Chiang at the refugee camp by the ruins of Silan had given me for the assistance I provided the community there. I'd also grabbed my duellist blade and dagger and emptied my packs into the storage on my stabled mektoubs and the inventory of the raw resources merchants. Thus equipped and unencumbered, I headed to the sandy plain northeast of Fairhaven to beat on cloppers. After improving my sword-and-dagger skills over several sessions, I headed back into town to empty my packs again and did some strength training, then started learning to use the double-bladed two-handed sword Fire and Ice. Once I figured out the basics with that weapon, I headed back out into the wilds to beat on cloppers some more.
[More:]
While getting this physical exertion, I came to realize that I'd not heard from any guild members of Refugees of Istaria other than Nutsi for quite a long time... several weeks at least. So I started looking around at alternatives. I had met Riveit a while ago, and remembered that he was a guild officer in Aeden Artisans. So the next time I saw him, I asked if I could have a word and learned a bit about the Artisans. While many of them enjoy crafting, they also have members who are primarily warriors or mages. They seem to be a mature group, and fairly active with usually a dozen members around during the hours I usually get to play. So I decided to give them a try.
Riveit invited me to the guild, and showed me the guild hall. He also introduced me to Pero, the guild leader, and Pipp, Warev, and Klymene who were hanging around Fairhaven. This guild seems to be filled with mature adults who know how to have some good, clean fun together.
The next evening I offered my services as a healer, and Klymene took me up on the offer. She lead me north to Dew Drops, and showed me the Kami teleport (which I could bind to as a neutral) and the Karavan teleport. After hunting in the area for a bit, we headed north into Winds of Muse, where I did my best to stay small and inconspicuous, as I kept Klymene healthy and full of stamina.
On another trip with a guildmate, I explored southwest into Resting Water and Fount. These areas are all at least a little higher than me, if not significantly so, so I was nervous, but my share of experience for keeping my guides healthy and ready to fight was very significant. I've advanced to level 50 as a defensive healer from doing so.
When Nutsi next joined me, I was able to convince her to join me in Aeden Artisans, and we went exploring more level appropriate mobs together on an island just southeast of Crystabell, called Lakenisle.
On another session, I tried soloing the mobs on Lakenisle, but that was fairly fruitless.
My latest adventure was last night, when Pero offered to take me to a new place, the Prime Roots. We started off through Fount, and passed into Bounty Beach. We were standing, watching some frightening cutes when he started mentally wandering ((actually, he went linkdead due to a power outage)) and while I was standing there waiting to see if he'd snap out of his reverie, the cuties chomped all over our sorry butts. I went down in two bites, he took a bit longer but died as well. I resurrected in Fairhaven, and then logged off for the evening.
