Mania’s Arcania

(You can read all of Kaet’s adventures, starting with why I’m doing things this way, by checking out the series Table of Contents at the end of this post. Alternatively, if you are here primarily for juicy pet-related news, feel free to skip these bits — they’re optional.)

I had started writing these posts about my new Dwarven hunter, Kaet, in her own voice — in character. But although I enjoy that sort of thing once in a while, I just can’t keep it up for very long. Anyway, her limited knowledge of game systems design gets in the way of the things I’d like to say. *grin* And so I am spared that indignity — as are you!

So. I created a new character: a dwarf hunter, female, with orange hair and a sharp look about her. And then I got out of Dun Morogh as fast as I could. I used to like the dwarven homelands, but these days they just depress me. Even running through on my way to Ironforge I got so tired of snowy fields and boars, boars, boars! I delivered some supplies to Tannok Frosthammer in Kharanos on my way through, just to break up the monotony. I was hoping for a few copper to get me started, but all he gave me was jerky. Tough jerky. *sigh*

The tram from Stormwind to Ironforge was nice, though. I love going through the part under the water. It reminds me of the Shark Encounter at Sea World, minus the screaming kids. Well, usually minus the screaming kids. On the other side I hunted around a bit until I found the hunter trainer: Thorfin Stoneshield. He hides out in the Dwarven District and I eventually had to resort to asking a guard for directions. But at least there is a hunter trainer here — I won’t have to go back to Ironforge every two levels. (Although to be honest I usually only bother training at level 6 and level 8 – and then at 10, of course, for the taming quests.)

After I got oriented with Thorfin I headed off to Northshire Valley. I always feel sorry for the folks in Northshire. Here they are in the heart of human lands and yet they are suffering under an invasion of kobolds and an invasion of wolves and an invasion of bandits! You’d think Stormwind could spare just one of those level 65 guards to wallop a few kolbolds, but no — Marshal McBride, the man in charge of Northshire, is stuck with asking newbie adventurers for help.

I have to admit, I was also pretty amused with some of the other players in the area. No one really wanted to talk, but I found myself adventuring alongside “Deathinhaler” and “Muffincakes”. I swan, it makes you long for Legolas. Actually Deathinhaler was a nice kid. (For the record, I assume that all other players, regardless of behavior or stated age, are younger than I am.) We killed the bandit leader Garrick Padfoot together.

I also found my natural dwarven ability to find treasure to be a lot more useful in human lands. I actually had time to work my way over to chests instead of having to race 80 other dwarves who had also just seen it pop up on their minimap.

By the time I finished with the Northshire quests I was level 6 and had almost five whole silver pieces — which I promptly spent on training up Serpent Sting, Arcane Shot, Hunter’s Mark, Aspect of the Money, mining and skinning. Buying a mining pick broke me, though — I’ll have to wait on a skinning knife, because now it is time to call it a night!