enigmatic-elegance

[enigmatic-elegance]

The Sorrow

Five weeks have now passed. Five weeks if one were to trust my timepiece. I must admit that trust has waned of late. The hours of the day seem to stretch and compress when my eyes linger elsewhere. A minute, an hour, I fret I may no longer know the true weight of either.

I arrived at this place one month's mark ago. "An Illness" I was told, such as had been seen countless times before. With pack light and feet admittedly sore I set to the two days march down the coastline, cutting the granite cliffs with my steady pace.

My arrival was met with a mixture. Apprehension and curiosity, two common emotions. The intimate bond between patient and practitioner is sacred and requires a degree of vulnerability difficult to offer to strangers. As per my norm, I worked to initially establish rapport. Meet people, shake hands, cast passing small talk and levy joke to calm their concerns.

The success was moderate. First a small number, and finally much of the small village were paying me visit. I documented all. Appearances, rate of the heart, color and consistency of blood, pupils, all signs again and again adopted a peculiar trend. They were healthy. Each and every soul who graced my makeshift and rather temporary clinic were completely bodily sound.

Which makes what I write next all the more disturbing.

There is a sickness with these people, though it is not a sickness buried in flesh, blood, or bone. Not that I have found. This sickness appears to cling to their thoughts. In my practice I have experienced many different mental deteriorations. Dementia, delirium, psychosis, yet this particular madness projects an almost sophisticated cunning.

As it more and more made manifest, I began to see the patterns emerge. Questions turned from "How long have you been a doctor?" to "What does it feel like to watch someone die?" and just today, "Would you please remove my tongue?"

The questions are never posed with malice. They possess an almost childlike innocence, as though the words and the mind are unaware of each other. Their demeanor is pleasant through it all, and they have as of yet showed no signs of violent behavior.

I am concerned for my safety. Moreso, concerned whatever has gripped these people is more than a simple mental fog. No poison could have such pristine effect. No magic I as of yet encountered possesses such balance of cunning and madness.

I have taken to unofficially refer to this condition as "The Sorrow". Something in their eyes possesses a deep sadness despite their pleasant demeanor.

If I am to somehow be rendered incapable of documenting my findings myself, I hope that whoever finds this letter will take it to the appropriate sources. As for those within the town...

...It may be too late for them. I fear it may already be so.

Respectfully,

Dr. Ellis Relth

[enigmatic-elegance]

Masks of Many

There have been others. Others like me. With designs and dictations set around their own means. They established their affect and placed their face among the masks in the gallery of life. How delicate did their hand move, tracing a brush in perfect and practiced strokes to design that face. Every laugh line and tired wrinkle, every scar cut into a perfectly imperfect vision.

I remember every mask, for now they settle in the dust-coated gallery that is my memory. Some masks lay brittle, cracked smiles adorning the art pieces I established as reminders of those who once sought to stand in my stead. Some are still yet unblemished, and at times I draw a clean cloth across that face in fond memory of what they once were.

So it is with memory. For their positive influences or negative poisons, they still find a place in your gallery. Your art, through time, evolved into a piece that rivals the most perfect painting or splendid sculpture. So it is with those who I knew once, those with whom though long or short stood beside me, against me, before me.

And now I stand in their absence. As I make new contacts, establish new relations, trace new threads in all things I carry with me that gallery. The masks of many, the faces of those who came before, the remembered and the forgotten alike.

Your story ended, yet you find place in my gallery. You are my art. I am your keeper. There have been others. Others like me. I remember every mask.

[enigmatic-elegance]

I still lurk, babe. Myself and Coldwall are on MG, still RPing and hanging out. And we are actually going to be opening to wide recruitment soon!

I don't use Tumblr as much anymore but tbh that may change as stories pick up. I'm still around though, and glad my old post could give you some memories. They do for me too.

I love MG, but WrA for the good and the bad will always hold a place in my heart.

EDIT: To be fair, I changed a lot of how I operate, too. I used to dive into drama fairly liberally. But I'm older and tired now, thus find myself more content just writing stupid stories with the people I love. I'm happier now in general than I was back then, and despite how I do miss a lot of WrA I'm glad to leave a lot of that behind as well.

A Time Capsule

A stroll down memory lane took me back to @enigmatic-elegance's Mas’ Must Follow MASterpost, a list of what that player (the very active at the time GM of Coldwall Collective) considered must-follow accounts in Oct. 2019. Back in those heady days before COVID and at least a year before the wholesale migration of Alliance RP from Wyrmrest Accord to Moonguard (though some cracks were starting to appear, even then). Back then, WoW tumblr was still in full swing - if a bit diminished after the porn ban of late 2018 - and Mas' list caused a small flurry of drama from people who weren't listed, or who thought that any such list by a well-followed account was inherently elitist. I didn't agree with everything on the list, but it was Mas' list and anyone could make their own list (with blackjack and hookers if they wanted!)

But it's fun to look back at that post as a snapshot of the community at the time - and bittersweet to see how many of those accounts have been fallow for years, or much less active, and those that are active are either on Epsilon or MG-A (and more than a handful have transitioned to FFXIV).

Take a look and see who - if anyone - you still know today.

[enigmatic-elegance]

Blowing off the dust.

Hello, loves. Those of you who may still be lurking about.

Shall I update? So, I'm getting back into the mix, steadily. Guild is running events again. New members joined up in the ranks. And on my personal side I'm easing back into the RP sphere with interpersonal and walk-up RP.

MG has been vastly accommodating. And to my surprise, seems to be growing. Most nights the city is flooded, and even other RP hubs see fair use. It's a pleasure to see. However, the community is certainly different. Not worse, of course. Just different.

Tumblr is rarely used, I've found. Most people either engage via Twitter or select Discords. Not much an issue, of course. I mainly use Tumblr for my own writings, but it's still required a bit of adaption and honestly, I'm not as involved with the wider MG community as I was on WrA. Maybe that's a good thing. While I encountered some fantastic people, it also involved a lot of stress that was unnecessary.

I don't entirely know where it goes from here. For now I'm content with spending my time and focus on my own stories and those of the guild. You might see some more activity from me here and on my other blogs, but I can't promise it will be as active as it once was. It's mostly going to be used as a collection for my writings, stories, and RPs. Maybe some aesthetic stuff, as well.

And if you are considering coming back to the game, or have already, and you find yourself on MG, keep an eye out for us! Myself and many of the OG Coldwall folks are still out there causing some problems and we'd love to see you. And heck, if you need a place to settle down and find a community again, maybe we could provide that too.

Take care, y'all. Whether you still play, are still on hiatus, or are done for good, still love ya.

[enigmatic-elegance]

Man, feels like every time I try to hype up to play again I see the state of the game or Blizzard finds some new and exciting way to be terrible.

[enigmatic-elegance]

Update

Hello friends and loved ones! Been some time.

I know that back in July I made a note that CC would still be around and doing its thing. Then, in true fashion, proceeded to dive below the surface and go absolutely dark. In truth, I will admit I was taking a break. From WoW. From IC things. From all of it.

The news was a kick, but it also served to bring to light the fact that my goggles were indeed a little rose-tinted. I forgave the generally lackluster presentation of recent content in favor of memories and supplemental RP. But much of my RP took to discord and my general desire to log in diminished.

I gave a try to Final Fantasy after hearing that it was going to be some life-altering experience. It was okay. Nothing about it enraptured me, and ultimately playing it just made me miss WoW.

So where does that leave me? Honestly, I don't know. I think almost daily about my characters. I think of their stories left incomplete. Their partnerships now stagnant. Their ambitions unfulfilled. I think of how it was with my RP characters before WoW, and how some found new life in a new name within a new setting.

Maybe they will again. Or maybe they will once more forge new stories and friendships in WoW. I don't know.

But I at least wished to note that I am still 'here'. Simply a little bit in limbo as I wait with my arms filled with characters wondering where I will settle down.

Be safe. Be well.

- Mas

[enigmatic-elegance]

#ActiBlizzWalkout

Solidarity.

I won't touch anything Blizzard today. Haven't in a few days.

I stand with the hundreds; thousands of employees who are determined to effect a change in their place of business. They can't ignore your voice, and the community stands with you, both those who remain and those who have stepped back.

Make Blizzard a place to be proud of.

We are with you.

[enigmatic-elegance]

More Munday Asks

Where in the world are you from?

What’s your first language? Do you know any others? Are there any you’d like to learn?

Do you have any other hobbies besides rping? What are they?

Do you have any siblings? Do you get along?

What color are your bedroom walls? Or, if you are in a situation where you can’t paint them: what color would you want to paint your walls?

If money were not a factor, what would your fashion sense be like?

Have you ever made any art of your muse(s)? Bonus: can we see some?

Do you have a playlist for your muse(s)? Share some songs in it.

Do you like to write rp replies in silence, or with music on? What kind of music?

What is your favorite setting to write rp replies? For example, do you like to sit at a desk at your computer, in a comfortable armchair with a phone or laptop, just in your bed on your phone?

Is there anything you do to ‘warm up’ before you start writing replies? (E.G. read some of a book, have a cup of tea ready?)

Are there any muses you don’t currently write but are thinking of trying out? What about muses you used to write and don’t anymore, but miss?

Can you share a favorite piece of writing advice?

Recommend us 5 movies

Recommend us 5 books

Recommend us 5 tv shows

Recommend us 5 cartoons/anime

Recommend us 5 video games

Recommend us 5 podcasts

Recommend us 5 rp blogs

[enigmatic-elegance]

10K ART GIVEAWAY

Y'ALL! IT'S HAPPENING! Ya girl is approaching the big 10k, so I wanted to do something SPECIAL!

THE PRIZE: -THREE people will receive a full character sheet! (This includes a base, an outfit, and 3 expressions!) -It can be any kind of character (humanoid, fantasy, sci fi, furry, robotic, monstrous, etc.) Nothing hateful or cruel will be accepted.

THE RULES: -Likes are awesome, but only Reblogs will be counted. Multiple reblogs will count multiple times! Do NOT spam reblog, however. It is annoying to everyone involved. -You must be following this blog at the time of winner selection! -You MUST have asks or messages open so I can alert you if you win! -No giveaway blogs! I will be checking! - Three winners will be selected via Random.Org on Sunday, August 15th, 2021 at 6pm EST!

Thank you all SO so much for making this happen! Obviously, the number itself isn't THAT important, but I have met so many awesome people through this hellsite and you all have helped me be able to leave an awful job so that I could do commission work full time. I'm so so grateful to all of your support!

[enigmatic-elegance]

A Thing That Was

Welcome to a thing that was A world craft of mind and thought A dazzled display upon flickered lights A universe by mind we wrought

Welcome to a thing that was We shared, we laughed, we played To saturate oft fragmented things In the complicated things we made

Interred within this colored shell This patchwork thing that was We set our fears beyond the veil And lived free of terror’s claws

But as all things that once were grand So too must this shell crack Brought not by those who stand opposed But those firm at its back

And who would dare to say in fact The shatter was not with cause For beneath the shimmer of exterior things The rot within gives pause

The color has drained, the air grows stale Memory is more bright than the face From birth to growth to rise and fall Such things must keep their pace

Pain rests behind the windows If one stops to look inside So too shallow shapes in shelter Within the rot they hide

The shell is cracked, the shimmer gone No illusion covers the eye To say these shapes believe their truths Would be an unequivocal lie

So is often with a thing that was To most, a passing glance To some without the wings to fly The shell was their only chance

To soar, to fall, to glide, to nest Such choices easy to few When the festered rot that shelters you Is all you ever knew

When your life is tied so completely To things craft of shimmering light Without those silly created things You would not withstand the night

So with many spreading wings in flight Their fight, a righteous cause Others remain locked in this shell Of a terrible thing that was

[enigmatic-elegance]

Regarding Blizz

So it's likely most of you have heard. There are some horrid allegations regarding Blizz ATM. If you've not heard of them, a quick Google search will catch you up to speed.

I don't want to go into the grit of it here. I want to say, upfront, that the guild is still going to be here. Some individuals have already made their intent clear that they can't justify paying for the sub with the allegations pending. Some have elected to stay. Whatever one's personal reasons, they are justified, and we all have to make our own decisions regarding what we engage and where we spend our money.

This guild stopped being about Blizzard about 5 years ago. Aside from a $15 fee, this community has grown beyond the game into a group of writers and players across multiple platforms. We intend to remain, and continue doing what we do for ourselves.

I am hoping those brought to light in these allegations face justice. I hope there is a resolution. Time will tell, on these matters. For the time being, those of us who remain will continue to create.

Blizz can't take our stories, our characters, and our creations away. They don't belong to them.

-Mas

[enigmatic-elegance]

On a more personal OOC note, some individuals (myself included, among others I have spoken to) have such a mental health connection to our stories, characters, and yes.. the game of WoW that it would be ultimately detrimental to our health and safety to leave it behind.

We don't condone any of the actions of the upper Blizz management. It's abhorrent. Our continued playing is not in support of them or their actions.

We just can not or refuse to allow the actions of those individuals to tear away something that keeps us grounded.

As much as we respect those who unsub and walk away, respect those who remain. To many of us, the game is not the game. It's the universe that we, as a community, have fostered. A universe and community that we depend on.

It's just a thought. I won't comment on all this any further, though.

[enigmatic-elegance]

On a more personal OOC note, some individuals (myself included, among others I have spoken to) have such a mental health connection to our stories, characters, and yes.. the game of WoW that it would be ultimately detrimental to our health and safety to leave it behind.

We don't condone any of the actions of the upper Blizz management. It's abhorrent. Our continued playing is not in support of them or their actions.

We just can not or refuse to allow the actions of those individuals to tear away something that keeps us grounded.

As much as we respect those who unsub and walk away, respect those who remain. To many of us, the game is not the game. It's the universe that we, as a community, have fostered. A universe and community that we depend on.

It's just a thought. I won't comment on all this any further, though.

[enigmatic-elegance]

Regarding Blizz

So it's likely most of you have heard. There are some horrid allegations regarding Blizz ATM. If you've not heard of them, a quick Google search will catch you up to speed.

I don't want to go into the grit of it here. I want to say, upfront, that the guild is still going to be here. Some individuals have already made their intent clear that they can't justify paying for the sub with the allegations pending. Some have elected to stay. Whatever one's personal reasons, they are justified, and we all have to make our own decisions regarding what we engage and where we spend our money.

This guild stopped being about Blizzard about 5 years ago. Aside from a $15 fee, this community has grown beyond the game into a group of writers and players across multiple platforms. We intend to remain, and continue doing what we do for ourselves.

I am hoping those brought to light in these allegations face justice. I hope there is a resolution. Time will tell, on these matters. For the time being, those of us who remain will continue to create.

Blizz can't take our stories, our characters, and our creations away. They don't belong to them.

-Mas

[enigmatic-elegance]

NERD CHECK IN: How's Coldwall vibing on MG side?

So far, really good. People have settled in and my guy, it feels like WrA felt back in Cata. It's great to walk the city and see people, guilds, groups, all without feeling depressed at the lack of engagement. Sure MG has its quirks, but they are actually less an issue than I thought they'd be and I already didn't think they'd be too bad.

More, I see a bunch of folks that left the game trickling back. Different reasons for all but it's so nice seeing some old familiar faces.

All in all, love it here. You should come by, some time. Sub for a month and just play around on MG absent of all the old dramatics and silliness left behind on WrA. It's RP for the love of RP, as it should be.

Hope you are well, man!

[enigmatic-elegance]

[enigmatic-elegance]

I want stark differences between fantasy races.

I don't want elves to be 'humans but pointy ears'. Give me unnatural proportions. Angular, whittled appearances. Wide, curious eyes. Something that seems grown from plant life, not born.

I don't want dwarves to be 'humans but short'. Give me completely different bone structures. Skin that glints in the light from the metals in the flesh. Eyes suited for darkness with reflective properties.

There are a number of 'classic' fantasy races that are simply human with one added feature. Make them drastically different. Make them interesting!