Currently in the capital of Xanadu — Glasshollow, and it’s also where I’ll be resting for the night (while also looking for the things I promised I would find B2). Back in Esteron, I was unable to find Soleil… but there was one time where I really didn’t give a fuck to see him again (losing my interest in exploration, as ‘exploration’ means adventure, and ‘adventure’ means to go to areas you’re scared of going to).
But a fellow explorer helped to boost my spirits back up (and even giving me an idea that might help to achieve my ‘nomad life'(which I will be discussing in my debriefing on the 18th(a week and two days away from now)), also showing compassion for what I went through up on that mountain.
So let’s get the ball rolling. I tried to ask anyone I saw (while on the island of Esteron) if they’ve seen someone named Soleil, and if they did to please tell me where he want. I was pretty sure none of the locals have even heard (nor seen) of his name, and it seemed I was right. While at the same time, I also wanted to see just how many roads are actually on the map here (to really get a handle for navigating around the SE quadrant of Xanadu).
Following Esteron’s SW coast, I ended up at a few dead deeds (that had things I could loot (though I still don’t get why I’m doing this)). One of them was a Nymph statue (that my jaw dropped to the floor when I was able to load THIS.. yet I couldn’t get in the planter?! #Wogic)
One of these dead deeds was also an underground cave system (with a manmade canal going into it), with an unlocked tent right there for the looting (it had the Take option). I highly debated if I should take it or not, but I felt I couldn’t live with myself if I did. This could’ve been someone else’s attempt of living like a nomad, and it would feel wrong to do so. And so my common sense won this debate and I left it.
Further West along the coast, took me to a pretty nice deed (called ‘Southern Comfort’) that has a boat canal (connecting to the southern ocean). The house here wasn’t accessible, but the rest of the deed was. There’s also a marble statue of troll (named “Enki, Lord of Trolls”), standing proudly while surrounded by a small puddle of water. Next to it is a Black Legion flag.
Heh, ‘Lord of Trolls’ is a perfect title for Enki (during the Impalongs). 🙂
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Any further west (looking at the map), would take me through a valley full of blinding trees (once the roads end). It was since then that I started to get bitter at myself, my fear of getting lost and/or losing my bison (incase I have to unhitch, lead them and pull the wagon) overpowered my curiosity of seeing the cool-looking deeds there.
I went back up the coast and paused, staring at the dark bay (it was night), wishing B2 had a high enough ML that he could come here on my boat and pick me up. And also wishing (even more) that the devs would release a monthly (or even a quarterly) map dump of all the worlds (that way I would know if the road was extended or not).
One can dream, but it requires so much manpower to make it into a reality. *sighs*
Eventually I thought “I’ll just go to Glasshollow, and try to figure out what to do next.”
Soleil has no fear of going up or down mountains, or even losing his bison (as he didn’t pay big money for them). I wish I had this courage. …But it also made me not give a fuck if I -ever- see him again, feeling “I should had stayed with Umawarrior.. wtf am I doing?”
(And on, and on.. all the way out of Esteron)
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Sol rose as I reached the point that I was able to get up the mountain (near the ‘We’re So High Up Meow’ deed)….. but now I can’t get fucking back down for some reason! Trying to look for that ‘sweet spot’ I took, and I can’t find the damn thing!
I can see this useless, unfinished bridge, wondering if I should just set up a temp camp, plop down my forge, and make the parts needed to finally build the thing (since no one else is). But instead (after killing a few mobs), I pushed the wagon down the mountain, vowing to never return to Esteron until the new highway is installed.
Now back on the main roads, I started thinking about things that I never factored in (when I had this stupid idea). Again, more on this in the debriefing.
About 700 or so meters away from the E/W highway that connects Whitefay to Summerholt, I needed to park in a secluded area to restart my game (and take something for a headache I’ve had all day).
With my head feeling much better, I logged in and immediately heard the sound of a wolf dying, with someone named ‘Ntstlkr’ in local. Turned out he too is an explorer, heading north (but going to Whitefay to buy a deed stake). I don’t think he realizes that he can save a lot of money by making one himself.
Anyway, we talked about Xanadu and exploring it, and I mentioned how I was trying to see if I could live like a nomad while also having a deed in Cele (saying “so far it’s iffy”). He says “but doable thats how ive done things”… hmmm.
I also found out he’s from my era of joining Wurm (living in JK-H). Lots of old timers here in Xanadu. He wanted Rolf to bring back the old server (even though he retired from Wurm a long time ago). I thought of maybe having “Classic Wurm” (pretty sure angry would like that), with the old mechanics (such as before having multi-leveled structures, and horses (yes, back then we didn’t have horses. That wasn’t until 2010 with the Freedom server opening, which became Independence)).
Hell, maybe re-create ‘Benie Bay’ and have angry join me for it. Bring back all the old folks too. That would be nice. Hmm.
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Anyway, back to the present, he also said that he was planning to build a boat and sail to Chaos. I said “well if you have nothing to lose sure”, saying I ‘explored’ JK-W (more like hung out infront of the capital, hoping to see a dragon). He claims he died a few times but didn’t get into many fights, but I’m just going to stay in the Freedom Isles.
We eventually reached his destination (as I was finishing up my horrific story of being lost on a mountain). He said I was brave doing that, and wouldn’t do it. This alone helped to restore my faith as a Wurmian, that what happened was really “just another day in Wurm Online”.
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I made it to Vrock Landing (though it nearly got dicey earlier going up a hill with a troll behind me, and I’m out of stamina) for the second time since exploring the server. Since it’s night, I wanted to wait ’till Solrise to see vistas I haven’t seen yet. And, there were many! This is one of the most beautifully-placed roads I’ve seen in Xan so far, where a few times, my brain is all “dude, get the fuck OFF the wagon and go shutter crazy!” Holy FUCK these VIEWS!! 😀
The road then went down to the water table, going around the same lake that Cindy and I walked to get to Vrock Landing. I could clearly see just how far the journey there would had taken, if I didn’t say to go back when Sol was setting. Because even on a wagon, it took 45 minutes to get there (probably sooner if I didn’t go all tourist by stopping to take pictures). But, ehh. The journey is more important than the destination.
Three Sol rises later, from the SE point of the server (Esteron), I made it to the NW point of the server (Glasshollow). Just over 15,000 meters (guesstimating 25 or so miles) of travel.
I have DONE it! Glasshollow, by wagon! Went to the market and parked my wagon where I had parked it during the impalong last year. There was only a few spots where it showed there was an impalong here. Walked around, remembering those good (and bad) times.. aka, when I had died for the first time ever during an Impalong. Yet also remembering this was the first time my limited skills were accepted to help people! And it felt really, really good.
I hope to reach 60 BS in the Pri Impalong.
So anyway, now that I’m here, it’s time to go shopping to get B2 some proper adventuring gear (a tent, a better compass, and a better toolbelt). As for the tent, I realize that this might be something I could make myself for him (and save so much money in the process). I remember having a ton of wemp fiber back home in Cele, that I can make the cordage rope required. I got plenty of square pieces of cloth (from the person that gave me the loom, and also encouraged me to get a Knarr). And the rest I can fairly easily make myself.
The toolbelt, I found a mid QL one for 10c. I wanted to find something higher, yet I thought I could have it imped at the Pri Impalong.
And finally for the compass… for some reason I cannot find one. I think I may either have to ask, or even go back to my boat and sail to Inde, and check out FM (where I got mine years ago).
A bit surprising that I can’t find a compass here, in the biggest market of the Freedom Isles. Not even the Dragon or Lumpy markets have one. Though, there’s the NEXA(Northeast Xanadu Alliance) Market at Summerholt. I believe this is also where I bought my BoTD Trowel from. So they should have a compass for B2.
However, I’m not immediately going to go there.. not yet anyway. Going to stay around this side of the server for a bit.