Project Lore

I still remember my first encounter with the terror of a Fel Reaver. It wasn't long after my first trip through the Dark Portal at a respectable level 58. I was heading along the main road - usually a fairly safe route. Then, I took the fork up toward Thrallmar, and stopped along the way to kill a Helboar annoyance. And made the unfortunate decision to turn my back on my destination. Then, it came. The ground started shaking; first slightly, then more and more jarring. By the time I heard the Fel Reaver's loud, train-like warning sound, it was too late. I couldn't run. All I could do was fail at my feeble attempts to defend myself as the Fel Reaver stomped my tiny figure into oblivion. My fate was the same of that Helboar that happened into my path. I think Blizzard has taken up some kind of sick fascination with terrorizing the comparatively tiny folk that take up residence in Outland and now Northrend. The torment started with the Fel Reaver and continued with the Storm Giant roaming in the Howling Fjord and Thrym the Hope Ender, who patrols the first major corridor you come upon in Zul'Drak. With a name like that, you know what to expect. All of them are giant; all are significantly higher level than the rest of their zone; and all are elite. A combination that makes them basically impossible to fight off when caught alone. Which, if you're not careful, can happen way too often. We've faced similar creatures in Azeroth, too, such as the Devilsaurs that bludgeon unsuspecting questers in Un'Goro Crater. And every time I meet a new behemoth, I make a vow. The tyrants must pay - I will have my revenge. It already has begun. The Devilsaurs that once frightened my pre-Outland rogue are now no more menacing than a Helboar. Upon my return to Un'Goro recently for the Noblegarden requirements, the dino learned my wrath. Now, a quest line in Zul'Drak has furthered my vengeance. After your assistance with freeing the captured Storm Giant Gymer, he allows you to ride his back for some fun from the perspective of a giant. The best part - slaying Thrym, the prowling, undead menace stitched together from the corpses of other storm giants.

Die, Thrym, die!! Revenge is not a pretty thing. But it sure is satisfying. Anyone else enjoy going back to terrorize the elite giants that once had you cowering in fear? What are some of your own tales of getting beat-down by behemoths, then returning a later day for pay back?

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At first, I thought my bunny-self was cute. I was just starting out my Noblegarden Achievement runs this week, and after locating and picking up a few Brightly Colored Eggs in Brill (and landing my 'I Found One!' achievement), I got my first transformation. I was collecting an egg, and all of the sudden - POOF! I was a purple rabbit. One of many, many purple rabbits frolicking through the small town in the search of winning the noblest of titles. So I made use of the tools at my disposal. I equipped the wondrous Egg Basket from the quest giver and started spamming the use to speed-hop past my competition. Find one egg hidden in the bushes, collect it, move to the next, and the next, and the next - around in a circle until I was back to my starting point. Monotonous, yes. But I somehow felt at east with this simple task. I was a bunny, and I wanted my eggs. That's all there was to it. That is, of course, until I got a little more bunny competition. Apparently, I was not the only one wise to the magicks of the Egg Basket. Other rabbits now also were speeding around, hopping right past me if I took too wide of a turn. I could no longer leisurely pick up the eggs - I had to rush to snatch it up at just the right time before some other bunny came along to steal it away from me. Some bunnies started waiting right next to where the eggs spawned so they could be the first ones to claim it the moment it appeared. But they, too, had to be careful. If they didn't pay close enough attention, THIS little rogue rabbit would swipe that egg without them knowing. Oh yes, stealth bunny form is real. Be afraid. Although, sadly, bunnies do not dance. I tried. And so the rabbit-eat-rabbit collection process continued. I finished collecting my 100 chocolates to consume for the Chocoholic achievement (proving, once and for all, that eating too much chocolate does NOT make you sick!), and in the process found a Spring Rabbit’s Foot, a useless but cute Spring Circlet and some nifty Black Tuxedo Pants. And I swapped items with my guild bunny buddies to complete Blushing Bride. But I'm still working on finding the White Tuxedo Shirt for Sunday’s Finest and the Elegant Dress needed for Dressed for the Occasion. Also still working to finish up Spring Fling, Shake Your Bunny-Maker and Desert Rose. Thankfully, we still got a couple of days to tie up loose ends. The most treacherous task (for a bunny) was the trip to Un'Goro Crater to complete Hard Boiled. You can NOT convince me that a cute, purple rabbit doesn't look like a tasty morsel to a ravenous Devilsaur. Don't forget to re-equip your weapons in case you run into some hungry beasts! Well, this bunny is about ready to be a Noble Gardener. How many of you have succeeded so far, and what have been your favorite parts of bunny-dom?

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