Category: story

The More You Know!

Hi friends!

I haven’t talked about it here at all, but in October, I was diagnosed with cancer.

On Christmas Eve (of all days!) I had surgery to remove the cancerous tumor.

And in the middle of last month, I started radiation, taking place every weekday. I finish up with those treatments the middle of next week.

I thought my inability to work much (I’m a self-employed content marketer specializing in content strategy) would mean I’d be able to spend some time promoting the content governance book I’d finished before my diagnosis, and have lots of time to play WoW both in the Beta abd in the live.

The reality of the situation has been I’m freaking exhausted. I have pain from the radiation site’s skin irritation and from the nerves surrounding my lumpectomy. I come home every afternoon from my treatment and take a long nap with my cats and dogs.

I have levelled one character to 90, thanks to my horde guild revelling in playing together and bringing me along on all the things.

But other than that, I’m mostly logging in to work on my alts’ crafting leveling, and doing a couple of world quests before I log off, exhausted.

In short, it’s been really shitty!

That’s why I was over the moon on Saturday when my gnome guild master asked me to take on the role of Craft leader, in addition to my bank manager duties.

It inspired me to do some creative writing for the first time in weeks. Here’s what I wrote and posted in our RP channel:

Hi friends!

During our recent guild meeting, I accepted the role of C.R.A.F.T. Lead for the guild. Since I was encouraged by the voices in my head to sacrifice my previously prepared meeting notes to the Void, I will summarize the important bits here for the sake of clarity and future accountability.

What My Role As C.R.A.F.T. Leader Means for the Guild

  • I will serve as the guild’s central resource for all things crafting and professions—recipes, materials, what is useful, what is nonsense, and how to turn piles of ingredients into things that actually help us.
  • My goal is to help members use crafted gear, consumables, and items so that everyone can be raid-ready without unnecessary suffering or gold procurement.
  • I will organize occasional crafting nights, where we gather, pool materials, and produce useful items for guild members.
  • From time to time, I will also host fishing events, because certain recipes require fish and also because group fishing is strangely relaxing, except when you are attacked by a blood thirsty fish out for revenge.
  • I will also happily advise on housing and decorative projects, because I understand that whilst Gnomish victory in battle is important, having the most adorable homes possible is a close second.

Guild Bank: A Gentle Reminder

The guild bank exists so that resources can circulate and be put to good use rather than languish forgotten in dusty storage bins.

  • If you have extra crafting materials, please donate them to the guild bank.
  • If you need materials, check the bank before buying them yourself.
  • If you withdraw materials, please use them to craft something useful for yourself or the guild.

Think of the guild bank as a living crafting ecosystem, not a dragon hoard.

My Crafty Goals, Summarized

With a little coordination, we can make sure:

  • Members have access to crafting support and useful items
  • Materials are shared and used efficiently
  • Our raid group is outfitted and supplied properly
  • Our homes are ridiculously charming

If you need help crafting something, figuring out what profession items are useful, or determining whether that stack of materials in your bags is valuable or cursed—just ask.

Embrace the Shadow!

— Anexxia Sparklebutton
Shadow Priest
C.R.A.F.T. Lead & Keeper of the Guild Bank

Hello, New Blog Content!

I’ve been threatening to write all sorts of blog posts about housing and crafting things, and now, I finally feel like I have a renewed reason to do so! SO, stay tuned. And thank you in advance for all your good vibes as I go through the rest of this journey.

Cheers!

A Sort of Homecoming in Brill

Anexxia at her new office desk, thinking...

Anexxia had been at loose ends for a few weeks now, ever since walking out on her raiding team. They continued on with their never-ending fight against evil monsters, leaving Anexxia puttering about in Orgrimmar, restless.

One hot Sunday afternoon, she packed a small bag with her herbalism scissors and her sewing kit, and hopped upon the zeppelin for Tirisfal Glades. It was an easy decision to leave the dust and bustle of the City– she’d never felt welcome there. It was merely the most convenient point from which to set out with the raiding party. With those days behind her, she was free to return to the only place that had ever felt like home — The Dark Lady’s kingdom.

Even from the zeppelin tower, it was clear that things had changed in the years since she left on her crusade for justice. Brill had grown up. No longer a hastily slapped together burg, it was now a respectable place to call one’s home.

Anexxia kept her eyes peeled for for rent signs. The office was the easier find. But it took poking about in a number of unsatisfactory rooming halls before she found the studio. She’d nearly decided not to head up the stairs to look at the place after her encounter with the landlady. She was quite possibly one of the most dim-witted shadow priests Anexxia had ever met. Standing about with her flapping outdated bat-wing staff, not having been in shadow form in aeons. But her feet were getting tired, so Anexxia trudged up the stairs, and found the absolutely perfect place.

Nice rock hard bed, candles everywhere, cobwebs in every corner. Yes, this will do, she thought to herself. “I’ll take it!” she yelled down the stairs at the landlady, who chirped back something about being just thrilled to have another shadow priest in the house.

Taking off her dusty boots, and lying down upon the bed, Anexxia still didn’t know what she was going to do with herself. But at least she was finally home. And thus, she rested.

shadow priest at rest.