Independence for mobs — free of being slaughtered. At least, that’s what they believe. They’re pretty much everywhere, and also populating their numbers.
With me, I wanted some Tar for the two lanterns I made. Both are 35QL. Not bad compared to five years ago.
First off, Fall has come to Independence. And second, I was going to Xanadu (not the server, the old village) as I remembered somewhere there was a tar pit. Discovered a half-done cave canal that was linking from the North coast to Black Pine Forest. Seeing how I actually had my sickle with me (unlike the last time I visited), I decided to go there first.
Took awhile to find the canal, but I did finally find it. It’s called “Pingpong’s Folly”. I remember seeing a ‘Pingpong’ in kchat. Anyway, I went in. Was greeted by an Aged lava fiend who tried to grab me out of my boat and nom on my head, but thankfully I was too fast. The tunnel stopped, with a bunch of boats (finished and unfinished) littering the area. Ahead was a long, bumpy tunnel that went up. Halfway up this unlit three wide tunnel, my Combat tab started to flash again. A bear that I didn’t see, aggro’d me. Was able to outrun it without getting damaged (the whole “outrunning” will be said a LOT in here) and made a mad dash for the boat, screaming “COME ON!! RAISE!!” at my character raising the anchor.
The bear didn’t pursue me further, so I stopped. Off to my right, I saw a deed guard running towards the front of the cave. I’m thinking “Oh wow. Get back up there and help him!” So I did, and the bear was dead. There was also another lava fiend near the exit of the tunnel. I ran backwards, trying to lure it to the guard. It died too.
Finally with the tunnel secured, I went up and to the exit. Here.. I didn’t recognize where I was. The landscape had really changed. But I went on and started harvesting pine tree sprouts with my sickle.
Before I was able to get 20 sprouts, I had encounted four spiders, a mountain lion, and two wolves. No med wounds. Was pretty blown away with the number of mobs I encountered. Though it was a bit hilarious. You could play the Benny Hill theme for how much I was running back and forth trying to keep the spiders off me.
And then, when I tried to get back to my boat… a diseased mountain lion and a bear somehow spawned in. It was like the game was trying to kill me.. literally. So I made a mad dash for the canal entrance, down the tunnel as quick as I could, and made it to my boat. Thankfully, being lightweight, I was able to outrun them.
So I went to Xanadu, thinking surely I won’t see as many mobs as I did before. Arrived at a dock and got off, went up a ramp and there were these two large doors infront of me… and also an anaconda who wasted no time chasing me BACK down the ramp and to my boat. Was able to pull the anchor up just before it was preparing to attack me. Kind of lured it away. Then I turned around and got back to the dock after losing the snake.
Back up the ramp I went, and went through the doors. Right from the start, a crock AND a scorp both saw me! I’m all “LOL NOPE” and run backwards. Thankfully they didn’t run after me due to the doors.
By this time I’m getting really concerned if I’m going to reach that tar pit.. alive. I found an alternate way up, and prayed it would be mob-free. I see a ‘hell horse’ in the distance. And when I think I’m safe, a cave bug shows up. Here, I’m all “FUCK this! I’m going home.” And then to top it all off, before I can get to my boat, a troll somehow spawned in. What the FUCK is going on?!?!
Was able to get away from both the cave bug and the troll. Was seriously fed up and knew I had to focus on getting armor, just to survive this new Mobpendence.
I went to the Alliance tab, hoping to get some sympathy (and maybe some advice). What I got, was a LOT more than that (in a good way mind you) by a guy named “Ghostofdeath”. He offered a full 50QL set of Studded armor. All I had to do was go there and pick it up. Seeing I was halfway to home, I turned around and went there.
I arrived north of Quincy Mine. Ghost was busy imping the set, so I decided to go to his place, ‘Valyrian Steel’.
Unfortunately, having no knowledge of the roads here, I got lost quite a few times. Even having to outrun a troll and a wolf. I swear to god, the game hates me for coming back.
Telling Ghost I was lost, he got on a horse and tried to get to me. An hour passed since he said that. Though I was in too much pain with my severely-throbbing tooth (which is now been taken out by the dentist, and I’m recovering as I speak). Though I didn’t realize he was already talking to me in Alliance chat as I was in Local, waiting for him.
As I waited, I remembered a few days ago that Kylebooze gave me this map, and told me it’s better for road navigation (and also more up to date than the ‘latest’ 2013 community map). I found it is possible to get to his town, by simply following the Cobblestone road. So I went back after he said he took the troll down. When I reached the part where it goes up and Southeast, I met him on a horse. He gave me the studded set and I quickly put it on.
I then told him how all I wanted was Tar, and he said he would offer some. He also offered a means of faster transportation; a horse of my own. Of course I jumped at the chance to get another horse. So I followed him back to his village. As we walked, he asked me what kind of weapon I had. I told him I had a longsword. He asked what QL, and I told him it.. followed by how this is the best Ivan could give me at the time.
Halfway to his place, we encountered a Hellhound and a mountain lion. They were no match for him. And I also helped for some free FS(Fight Skill).
We made it to his place safely. It’s pretty nice. He has two 10-floor buildings he calls “The Kraken”. I also saw he had a staircase… yes, an actual staircase in Wurm! And it wasn’t even one of those “right click to ascend” deals. You could go up and down it as if it was a ramp. Very cool.
So he lead me to where the horses were, having to unlock many doors and gates for me to pass through. Then at last we arrived. There were two horses. The ‘Mature fat Swiftdog’, he gave to me. He said it was a “5 speed” horse (whatever that means). But she was built for speed; having all the really good characteristics of a racehorse.
He gave me a piece of rope, and also had to unbrand it to make it mine. Even gave me a saddle. On top of that, he gave me a 50QL longsword and a shield to boot! He’s a really friendly guy, and I can’t thank him enough.
He says how he knows how hard it was when he “first started”. I didn’t really have the guts to tell him that I came back 5 years ago (even though I did tell everyone a few weeks ago of when I did come back. Maybe he didn’t know?)
Anyway, I got on the horse and raced back to my boat, trying really hard to relearn how to drive a horse… it’s not like a mount in WoW or GW2. But I believe I said that before.
I’m nearly to the boat, and I see an Aged black wolf. I’m thinking “SERIOUSLY… actually, you know what? With this new armor and horse, I’m going to take it on!” and did so. Health nearly was halfway red and green when it finally died. Fearing I was going to see Bad or Severe wounds, I checked my character window… and not even a Medium!! 😀 The new armor WORKED! 😀
I grabbed the corpse as my trophy, and took it with me to the boat. There was somewhat bad fog but by the time I was heading back to the Darkenstone Canal, it started to slowly lift. Mobs are one thing… not being able to see is another.
Made it back home with my new horse, and put it in the house. Then went to bed, hoping it wouldn’t move while I went to get my tooth taken out.