Enjoying Festivult

That's right, the Festival of the Twelve Moons, also known as Festivult (or Festivus for those who've been playing since launch), has finally returned to Stormreach. And, with it, the Festival Jester has given us a bit of a change this year.

I guess the jumping puzzles we had to contend with during the Thirteenth Eclipse were so popular that the Jester decided to borrow the idea for himself. Personally, I like the idea, as I always enjoy the puzzles. But, then, I was a big Mario Bros. fan, back in the day. I've tried the puzzles out in the Harbor and in the Marketplace, but I haven't yet had an opportunity to check out the puzzles in each of the four house enclaves yet.

In the mean time, though, I've received some very interesting prizes from the Jester...

The most interesting thing I've received so far is a stack of Sun Flasks.



They actually come in a stack of 20. Which, as you can see, I've already reduced to a stack of 12. Particularly since they're such fun to use. Notice that they're classified as Dart weapons, so you can throw them at mobs. And they even do some damage. Of those I used while touring the Waterworks with a lowbie, they do from 2 to 6 points of damamge. They *seem* to also do a little fire damage when they hit, but the flash of light they produce is what makes them so much fun. I'll have to try them against some undead, to see how effective they might be in that case. After all, they are Ghost Touch weapons. And, the flash seems like it might be particularly effective against zombies. I guess I'll just have to try them out.

Of course, I've also been lucky enough to pull a couple of Irian, the Eternal Day Jelly Cakes. They're resurrection cakes. A great item to have in those groups where the Cleric isn't yet able to raise fallen characters from the dead. Fortunately, I haven't had reason to use them yet, as our groups have been lucky enough to be near a shrine whenever someone buys the farm.

The funny thing is, two days from now is my two-year anniversary in DDO. I remember that when I first started playing, I thought the festival coins were a regular part of the game. I was rather disappointed when the Jester retired at the beginning of January. Particularly with unspent coins in my various character's inventories.

I even saved up some coins from last year. Been waiting ever so patiently to take them over to the Jester to see what he gives me.

I think, this year, I'll have to save up all of the lumps of coal he gives me so I can join in the Festivult in July celebration next year. This past year, one of the players hosted the event in which you bring your lumps of coal to one of the taverns and have some fun in the PvP pit throwing coal at one another. But I missed out due to lack of supplies. :P

At any rate... good luck with festival coin drops! The Jester surely has something fun for you!!!

Trinarius Returns!

I think most would have to assume that, based on the number of Warforged you can find in the Trinarius clan house, that Trin has been spending a fair amount of time in his creation forge. Well, actually, Haywire's foundry.

With permission of Haywire, of course.

But, Trin seems to have been using his abilities as a Cannith-trained artificer to give everyone some new options when it comes to rounding-out adventure parties. Which is why most folks have seen very little of him in recent months. But, Friday, Trin returned to the guild-house for a bit of adventure.

That's right, Trinarius... the master of the multi-classed clan... has returned to the guild-house.

Which is as it should be, considering that Trin was promoted to Guild Leader of the Face Stabbing Misfits when Althenna decided she needed to take a vacation.

Sure, the Trinarius clan has been fairly well represented while Trin has been toiling away in the foundry, but I think it's only reasonable that all of the guild members should be able to see and talk to their leader on a fairly regular basis. Besides, I've greatly missed the kind of fun Trin allows me to have with any given adventure in the game.

Actually, it started earlier in the week when PuddinTan and I decided to join RedRaider for some Favor runs over in House Jorasco. Red was hosting a Levels 15 and 16 group to help some folks earn more favor toward their 1750 mark. Now, realizing how long it had been, I decided I wanted to bring Trin along.

And, I had a really good time running him. That's when I decided I wanted to spend more time with him.

Particularly since our groups sometimes find themselves in need of a Rogue.

I mean, despite the appearances of the icons on the player's screens, Trin's primary role is that of Rogue. Something that many folks often forget. Except Maeric. Maeric always seemed to remember that Trin's "purpose" in life is to gain access to the treasures most other would prefer he not have.

So, on Friday evening, when the guildies got together for some fun, Tan said he wanted to run some high-level quests. Perhaps some of those out in the new Syber Atol.

Well... that's where I told everyone I wanted to run Trin. Tan decided to bring the original Tanision, Bashal decided to bring Demab, and Belzur brought... of course... Belzur!

For the first time in a long time, all high-level characters.

And, we had a blast!

Well, mostly, anyway.

Demab was more than a little peeved at the number of times he died.

Granted, Trin *did* die a few times, but c'mon... this is Trin we're talking about. He has a propensity toward untimely demise. Not to worry, though, as Tanision, master Cleric was with us.

It did get a little frustrating at one point, when we tried to take on the red-named ice giant out in Aussircaex' canyon. So frustrating because we'd all run out of healing, including Tan. Hmm... It was at that point that I made an executive decision... It was time the guild bank footed the bill to help out the guildies.

And, once everyone had some healing again, the ice giant wasn't quite so tough after all.

No, nothing spectacular dropped, but we all had a lot of fun.

Isn't that the point of playing the game?

I think so.

Keep it fun, everyone. And don't be surprised to see Trinarius a little more often.