This is ordinarily where I’d give you an update on how I’m doing or what I’ve been up to but, to be honest, it’s not that interesting: I’ve done some heroics, I’ve gotten some new gear, I’ve skilled mining an unreasonably high amount considering I’m still in Outland for mining, and so on. I even tanked King Ymiron in an emergency situation, and the only person who got killed was the tank (the tank prior to me… not me… which is why I was tanking to begin with). Hooray!
No, instead, I’m going to focus on something interesting in Wrath: just how damn touching some things are, both in a good and a bad way. I’ll put it behind a cut for my Icecrown-impaired viewers; part of this is a minor spoiler.
Good touch: Crusader Bridenbrad
I’m man enough to admit it – this was one quest chain that made me tear up a little. A valiant soldier of the Light, now afflicted with undeath. He wishes only to be left alone so that he can die in peace – and away from where he can spread the plague – but Tirion Fordring isn’t willing to let it end at that, and you (as his current workhorse) aren’t either. A series of trips sends you into the Emerald Dream to request help from Keeper Remulos, to the Dragonblight to beseech Alexstrasza, and finally to speak to the purest incarnation of the light known to Azeroth or Outland: A’dal, in Shattrath City.
And in the end… all that can be done, is that A’dal saves Bridenbrad’s spirit, and gives him “paradise.” Everything went a bit shimmery for me for a second there – is this all there is? All I can give this faithful crusader is a peaceful respite? I wanted him to live, to fight! Clearly so did the others! I can only assume A’dal knew from the moment he arrived that there was nothing more for Bridenbrad, but this still made me actually feel the frustration I think a real person in this situation might have felt. (Or, who knows, maybe they’re all battle-hardened veterans and I’m just a wuss.)
Bad touch: Meathook, Patchwerk, and other abominations
“New toys!” “Playtime!” “Why you stop moving?” “This not fun…” Are these the cries of a ruthless killing machine? Apparently, according to Blizzard. I have a little confession to make: I hate killing abominations. At least named ones. At least named ones who aren’t Ramstein the Gorger. The worst thing Blizzard ever did for my motivation was give Patchwerk and Meathook the attitudes and quotes of oversized, extremely stupid children.
I guess I have a soft spot for extremely stupid children?
Regardless, I always feel a little twinge of regret when Meathook announces “This not… fun…” as he falls lifeless, and we move on to our next destination in search of a dragon. Maybe it’s that the abominations just seem like they don’t always know what they’re doing – they just do what they’re told, in search of “play” and “new toys.”
