Updated WoW Backstories

Just posted a couple of backstories for my two level 80s. I re-discovered that I had already posted a backstory for Rowanblaze in January, in addition to the vignette I had written for her.

New Rank, New Ship, New Assignment

"That extra pip becomes you, Rowan," Admiral Quinn leaned forward over his drink. "Your mother would be so proud of you."

Starfleet's newest captain looked back at her mentor, then looked down at her own drink. "It's a big responsibility for a simple doctor, sir."

"Yes, it is. But we have every confidence in you." Quinn reached out and clasped her hand. "I have every confidence in you. You're no simple doctor, uncovering the Reman involvement in the Hobus disaster, fighting off Klingons, Romulans, . . . even Hirogen. You've done great things for the Federation."

The admiral lowered his voice. "I don't think I need to tell you things are not going well for the Federation. We are fighting on multiple fronts. The Undine infiltration reaches deeper than even most of Starfleet knows."

Rowan shifted uncomfortably. "I've heard rumors."

"Trust me, the truth is even more disturbing than the rumors. You are not the only Starfleet officer to participate in missions that turned out to have been directed by Undine agents. We've had whole command crews replaced by Undine imposters. When you take command of La Gitana, you'll be accompanied by a platoon of MACOs."

Rowan picked up the PADD on the table, which had the her new ship displayed. "Sir, La Gitana is a research vessel. You expect us to fight a war?"

"Rowan, I don't expect you to wage war, but we can't take any chances. War is being waged upon the Federation, the Klingon Empire, and every being in the quadrant. Your ship is one of our most advanced." Quinn leaned back in his chair, folding his arms across his chest. "It's the techniques you and your crew developed for discerning cloaked Romulan ships that are enabling us to gain the upper hand on that front. With the state-of-the-art sensors aboard La Gitana, Starfleet Intelligence is hoping you'll be able to detect incursions from Fluidic Space as they happen."

"So that's what our mission to Beta Ursae is about?" Rowan toyed with her glass, shaking her head.

Quinn made a dismissive gesture. "Oh, you'll have specific assignments from Captain Kurland of course. But your continuing secondary mission will be to detect and try to stop these incursions."

"We'll do our best, sir."

"In the meantime, enjoy shore leave while the final touches are being made to La Gitana. Your shakedown cruise will have to be on the way to DS9. It's not often that you get back here to Earth. Are you going to visit your hometown, your family?"

"I don't know. Father didn't want me to join Starfleet. He has made it hard to even think about going back."

"I understand. Life on a starship attenuates ties to the ground, any ground. Do what you think is best for you. But it may help to visit your father before that link becomes too tenuous."

"I'll consider it, sir."

WoW Nerd in Deutschland: Part III

And final for now, unless something really strikes me while sight-seeing tomorrow. Although this will be the biggest and in some ways the most varied of the pic sets, though it was all of the same castle.

Burg Rheinfels at St. Goar am Rhein, Rhineland-Palatinate, gave my WoW-playing coworker/friend and me plenty of inspiration. Being the ruin that it is, there were many parts that reminded us of different sections of the Human- and Forsaken-controlled areas of Azeroth. In the pic above, one of my other friends descends a very steep stair toward the entrance/exit of the main castle. This stair reminded me of the wooden structures in Shadowfang Keep, some parts of which I also think of as fairly precarious. My friend said that on his previous visits, this stair was simply a ladder. Other less photogenic parts of the ruined castle also resembled Shadowfang and other spooky areas of Azeroth--minus the hostile worgen and undead, of course. While it was a beautiful day when we visited, I kind of wish it had been overcast, which is how I picture medieval times.

From different angles, Burg Rheinfels reminded me of Stromgarde in the Arathi Highlands. The blue sky helped, in this case.

The Burg is even terraced, like Stromgarde. Similar to the capital of Arathor, it also overlooks a body of water, the Rhine, not visible in these photos. I can certainly envision myself doing battle with the Syndicate (and the Stromgarde soldiers on my Hordies) on these ramparts.

The last pic of Burg Rheinfels shows the flags of Germany and the hotel that operates out of a couple of the outbuildings at the site. This photo was my attempt to capture something like Stormwind itself; though the resemblance to the last great Human city is only passing at best.

Well, like I said, this concludes my tour of Azerothian Germany, unless something awesome pops up tomorrow. I took many other photos, this place is gorgeous. But most of them don't actually remind me of Warcraft at all. I hope you enjoyed coming with me, and also that you get the opportunity to visit this part of the world yourself.

WoW Nerd in Deutschland: Part II

Anyone up for a trip through pre-Culling Stratholme? I'm pretty sure Marburg, Hessen, is the sort of town the developers had in mind when they designed Strat, even way back during WCIII. I especially liked this building and others close to it, because they looked unreal, having recently been painted. But those are real timbers in the walls.

WoW Nerd in Deutschland: Part I

OK, so a week or two ago I promised to get more pics from my trip to Germany posted. I may do this in a couple posts. There were quite a few times I could see influences on WoW scenery in the sights.

Who remembers fighting religious zealots in the colonnades and courtyards of the Scarlet Monastery?

That's what I thought of when visiting Römerkastell Saalburg, the restored Roman fort in Bad Homburg vor der Höhe.

And finally our trip through SM concludes at the Cathedral. OK, so it's not as grandiose as the Scarlet Cathedral, but it reminded me of the great porch and doors. It's late, so I'll stop here. More tomorrow.