Brewfest...HOORAY BEER!

My office has been turned into a "dry out" center by the Priesthood. They decided that it was a convenient location since it was near their headquarters. I'm glad to help, but...MY OFFICE! And Rommath spends all his time on WebMD on MY netherbox, so...

...the best thing I can do is go enjoy Brewfest some more.

Have you seen the pink elekks yet? No? Find some of this beer.



Do it.

One of the best beers in the world.

Thank me later.

Rommath wants my netherbox again. I'll be at Farstrider Retreat. I'll have some kegs sent up.

Diplomatic matters

As one can probably guess, things have been busy in Silvermoon. This week we had a state visit from Archmage Aethas Sunreaver and Rhonin. Rhonin wanted to visit a city and land whose very essence was imbued with magic. I think he also wanted to visit his wife's homeland, but she did not join him. This was probably a good thing, as the atmosphere in Sunfury Spire was tense enough. I hear she's none too fond of the path our people have taken, and I'm sure that Halduron and I would have ended up "having words" with her. Sylvanas's sister has a harpy's tongue when she wishes to express her opinion. It's a good thing that only Rhonin came.

Of course, since Rhonin was here, Sunreaver had to accompany him. This, too, was probably a good thing. I trust any potential assassins stayed their blades and magic with the Archmagus by Rhonin's side at all times. Neutral or not, Rhonin is only a human, and there are many still bitter toward the entire race. Plus, Sunreaver is aware of the need to keep many aspects of the city, particularly the magical ones, secret. So he could give Rhonin some information without divulging anything important.

The downside is that three high-ranking mages in the same room makes for a volatile situation. At one point, Halduron defused it with a large bucket of cold water. I was caught in the splash, but it was certainly worth getting soaked to see those three sputter a bit. Halduron's lucky he's got that "good-looking boyish innocence and charm" thing going on. Somehow he can do things like that and get away with it.

My best friend is a lucky bastard.

The Lady After Dark

For some reason, no one had the foresight to tell me that the Boss Lady had a blog of her own. I found it after Googling my own name to see what PR atrocities might need to be resolved these days.

(Trust me, when you're in a position of leadership, you must do this every so often to find out who is making claims like you're their father. Funny...THAT one believes that her mother is Sylvanas. Hey, Boss Lady, is that a night YOU remember?)

To address some of Sylvanas's criticisms, I must say this: I was comfortable leading the Rangers. We were the land's military presence, and those good people would gladly lay down their lives without question if it was in defense of their homeland. Compare that to leading the rest of the citizenship, who would sooner die than get dirty. It's an entirely new challenge, and while I'm handling it fairly well (as far as I can tell), it takes vastly different methods than what we did in the Farstriders.

So yes, I get fussy when it comes to matters of state. There are a lot of people who resent no longer having a monarchy, and they cling to the "old ways." Due to this stubbornness against change, I am under constant criticism when it comes to government protocol. When Lady Sylvanas visits, I'd like to greet her as a friend and former boss. I'd like her to have the freedom to walk around the city as she pleases. I'd like to treat her with the pleasant familiarity we once had, rather than the awkwardness that has grown between us.

What the remaining nobles wish to see is a grand display of state, including the escorts, formal banquets, and celebrations in her honor because she is the leader of the Forsaken. To not treat her as a Queen is an insult, making Silvermoon and our new government look (or so they assume) disrespectful to the rest of the Horde. Such an affront is what my critics look for so they can promote someone with a noble title (and without a lick of experience) into my position.

Imagine, if you will, some flouncy ponce with a title of nobility and no real experience leading Silvermoon. You know the ones who survived were the ones who hid while Sylvanas fought to the bitter end. Would anyone want one of those in the position of authority? Some people do, and they are the ones whose game I must play for the good of the city. It may be enough to tell the Forsaken that following orders will lead to Arthas's downfall, but with the general Sin'dorei population one must use a silver-tongued approach.

My dear Sylvanas, understand this is why I must act as I do when you arrive in Silvermoon unannounced. The bowing and scraping and fussiness is for their comfort as much as it is for yours. Not having to deal with such fussiness is why when I need a break I go camping or fishing or hunting or get laid. With the exception of the latter, Thrall is often willing to join. You might want to try it some time. Hence, offers to go hunting still stand.

Finally, I totally believe that Rommath sent that picture to everyone you know. But knowing him, he probably received it as a chain letter email that told him to forward it to all of his contacts or his ears would fall off again. He may be a master mage (or so we're told) but when it comes to anything outside his area of expertise (whatever that is) he's not too bright.

More on Rommath

With the help of some wonderful ladies on Twitter, Rommath's dilemma made it to our overlords at Blizzard. They helped him get his ears back.

He also got hair extensions. And a Night Elf hairstyle.

*facepalm*

Call me "That Guy"

*facepalm*

But I must add, that's the extent of the grasp of proper grammar I expect of Varian Wrynn.

Typical.

*grumbles*

At the risk of starting another war...

I was having a discussion with Cadistra about the Cenarion Circle's large amount of paperwork, yet their stance on protecting the environment. This brought up a question that was too complicated for the 140 character limit on Twitter.

As a Ranger, being close to nature is not a foreign concept. As a politician, I have to wonder (and point out the hypocrisy) about the decisions people make in regard to their treatment of the resources we have.

The initial question: If Druids are so protective of the environment, then why do they have so much paperwork? Even if the paper is recycled, they must still cut down trees for the raw materials.

If they cut down trees for paper to maintain their own bureaucracy, then why are the Night Elves so up in arms about the Orcs needing building materials? There is conflict in Warsong Gulch because the Orcs have no viable building materials in Durotar and need wood from nearby Ashenvale. Notice, they are not clear-cutting the entire forest (there is no lumbering going on adjacent to Splintertree Post, Mor'shan Rampart, or Zoram'gar Outpost), nor are they setting up lumbermills in Azshara. I also must bring up the point that wood is a renewable resource, and I'm sure everyone can work together to plant trees in place of the ones that need to be taken for building material.

Yes, Grom Hellscream and his Orcs cleared parts of the forest, but going to war only makes people more belligerent and stubborn to continue their ways. Again, wood is a renewable resource. Thrall is the type who understands nature, and would like to strike a balance between taking and giving. I believe Thrall would be willing to work with both Shamans and Druids to repair the damage done when taking what they need from the forest, but the attitude of the Silverwing Sentinels is not doing much to convince the Warsong Orcs to stop anything.

Perhaps it's a misunderstanding of orcish culture, behavior, and personality. The best way to get an Orc to stop doing something is NOT to tell him, "If you don't stop, I'm going to attack you!" An Orc is just going to smile and increase the rate of whatever he's doing to provoke a fight. The greatest honor to an Orc is dying on the battlefield, not dying in bed of old age, surrounded by friends and family. Give the lowliest peon who is stuck in a menial job a chance to die in battle, and he'll do what he can to make sure that battle happens.

This is NOT a difficult concept.

Finally, if they are so environmentally friendly and have issues with necessary logging of a renewable resource, how is it that Night Elves are on friendly terms with Dwarves and Gnomes? How can they go to war over the trees in Ashenvale, but look the other way when Dwarves strip-mine for non-renewable resources and artifacts? The Dwarves mining in the Barrens and Mulgore are not Dark Iron Dwarves, but Bronzebeard's people. In addition, the Stormpike Expedition traveled into Alterac Valley where Thrall's own clan, the Frostwolves, wanted to live in peace with the land. How can Night Elf Druids justify fighting alongside those who have invaded a land to take non-renewable resources from those who have lived in accord with the elements?

As for the Gnomes...while the invasion of their city by troggs and their subsequent need to destroy it was unfortunate, they detonated a radiation bomb. Need I say more?

This is not a question as to who should have "possession" of a particular bit of land, but what they intend to do with it.

I can't help but question this as being hypocritical. There is bad blood between Night Elves (and often, Druids in general) and Blood Elves due to our use of the Arcane. But think about this: after Silvermoon was razed we rebuilt our city with magic rather than destroying the land around us. Eversong Woods is our home and source of protection. The Farstriders would do anything to defend it, even use the Arcane (something we hesitate using) to keep our home safe.

I don't really want to start ANOTHER war when the problem with the Lich King still needs to be resolved in Northrend, but...

To my fellow Horde: If you ever see a Night Elf Druid riding a Mekgineer's Chopper in Alterac Valley...target them first.

Winter Veil Wish List - Part 2

The other day I posted my wish list. Since then, it turns out that one of my wishes has already been granted. It wasn't Christie Golden, but another talented scribe who submitted some information about me to our grand overlords at Blizzard. Said scribe embellished a little (as scribes are wont to do), but otherwise managed to document that time period between the recapture of the Isle of Quel'Danas and the expedition to Northrend perfectly. Amongst other things, they grasped my unwillingness to be called "king" despite the deserved promotion beyond "regent," the reasons I show some animosity toward Rommath (and yes, I do pity him at the same time), my desire for peace with the Quel'dorei, and the dawning realization that I must tread carefully to not follow Kael'thas's path of leadership.

And the scribe won a contest on my behalf.

Well, I'm glad more is now known about me. However, those particular days expose many raw emotions. I've read it over and over again, feeling old wounds reopen. It is the mark of a good scribe to be able to extract the same feelings no matter how many times we've read his/her work. The reason I try to keep this journal rather light-hearted and cover other subjects is because I don't wish to burden others with those problems they do not need to see. But once in a while, it is good that the audience understands what their leaders go through.

For that reason, I highly recommend giving it a read. Remember, while it is based on my own experiences, it was another scribe who completed the work and submitted it.

I need to find him and give him a promotion.

As to the subject of this post, since one of my wishes has now come true (although I was hoping for more of a biography so people would STOP claiming a relation to me that simply does NOT exist), I must now come up with a replacement.

I now ask Greatfather Winter a request on behalf of my people:

In neutral cities such and Dalaran and Shattrath, I would like the merchants, bankers, and other townspeople to also observe neutrality, lest my people begin to pull their support and protection. I've had numerous complaints that upon concluding business with Horde races, the townspeople often make the parting comment "For the Alliance!"

No. Just no.

I know the townsfolk have their loyalties too, but they are alienating those who would otherwise gladly help them. So in the spirit of diplomacy, I ask Greatfather Winter to make them see the folly of bias in neutral territory. My people go to Dalaran because they must. It's bad enough that they willingly go in and defend the Violet Hold knowing that is where their Prince, friends, and family members were driven to join the naga and Illidan in order to survive. But then to be told "for the Alliance!" when all they want to do is a simple banking transaction? After all they've been through such treatment is a slap in the face.

I'm not even asking for members of the Horde to find employment in the main part of Dalaran, forcing out those who already have an established livelihood there. Just requesting some conscious effort on the part of the townsfolk to remember that half the people supporting their economy and protection are not "for" the Alliance at all.