World of Warcraft®

"We'll miss you, Mama Red. It's funny to think, with this job at the AAMS, I'm surrounded by words every day, but I can't think of one to say now.

"Well, okay, maybe just a few. You helped me find my feet. Probably more than once come to think of it, because you know, sometimes they get old and fall off. What I wouldn't do for a good pair of hooves--no, I'm kidding! Really, I'm kidding...

"You also taught me how to grip the kodo by the horns. Gave me a second home after the one I lost forever in Ashenvale. More than once for that, too, actually. I guess it's the wanderer's spirit, always have to try out new places, new people...but I was always grateful I had somewhere welcoming I could put my feet up for a bit, even if it was just one night or two.

"Organizing your stash...the Summer Tiger when that black Ishnu hunter--oh, what was her name, M something?--faced off with me and thoroughly throunced me...parading around through Bloodhoof Village, with you on your kodos and me on my bony horse that someone said I should name Chopper...some other ol' fight in the Gurusbashi Arena, and you burned me to a cinder with your shock when I got too annoying with the blackjack...sitting by Woofer's Wallow trading words with Jaxila and the apple-lady...passing the peace pipe during those circle meetings--what do you call them again? Oh well. good times. Times I will always remember. And you know, Forsaken live for a very long time. Or at least, I think they do. I don't guess anyone truly knows yet, do they?

"And speaking of forgetting, and I almost forgot. Whiskers brought you a little something. I'm not sure what it is, but I'd guess it's a bit of cheese. Might be a rind off an orange. Or a...centaur finger? Eurgh. Probably best not to ask. She says it'll bring you luck, though. Or maybe just mites. Luck mites? I think I'd prefer the bad luck, honestly...what I mean to say is, I don't think she'd notice if you threw it away. It's the thought that counts, after all.

"For myself...I think at this point anything I have wouldn't do you much good, and only weigh you down on your journey. So I'll just finish with a few more words, more than what I already thought up, I mean.

"Elune bless you, spirits guide you.

"Ishnu Por Ah."

Kaeevanrash stood nearby as many gave their regards and farewells to Sisters Red Earth and Kickfeather. He remained silent, his arms folded and his eyes lowered in thought. Some had come to him to acknowledge or congratulate him on this new mantle passed to him, but he kept these conversations brief. Now was not the time for proclamations or speeches about what lay in store for the Ishnu Por Ah. More than anything, this was a farewell for Sisters Red Earth and Kickfeather, and the new leader intended it to remain as such.

He had had his conversation with the former Matriarch already, and so when the comings and goings of well-wishers reached a lull, Kaeev managed a smile as he replied to Red Earth’s parting words.

“And may She watch over you, until we meet again.”

He had just begun to take his leave when he was knocked briefly off balance by a “playful” punch to the shoulder from Kickfeather, who smirked at him before warning, “You’d better not leave a mess at the Lodge for Brother Mishkwaki to clean up!”

Clutching said shoulder, Kaeev exclaimed, “Oww! Of course not!” sounding almost offended at the idea.

Kickfeather laughed. “See ya Kaeev!” she then said with a wave as he continued on his way.

“Take care,” he said with a nod. He couldn’t help but smile again, despite the smart. They’d be missed, all right.

((I’ve been working this story, admittedly somewhat sporadically, for almost a year. The course of it continued to change based on other people’s involvement and inspiration, as well as my own feelings about what exactly I wanted it to be and where I wanted it to go. What was originally meant to take only a couple months turned into several. But really the end was always to be the same. This story marks the retirement Red Earth.

I made her way back in January 2005. Until Cataclysm, she was my main character. I did a /played on her. 339 days, which comes out to about 3 hours a day for the 7 years of continuous play. My next most played character is about 1/3 of that, and the one after that, 1/10th. So it really gives a sense of how much more I focused on her than any of my other characters.

I fell deeply in love with Tauren and shaman after I made one. The tribal aspect, the underdog survivors of both the Tauren and the Horde, the spiritual warrior, the furriness. There were a lot of things about it that just spoke to me. : ) I was happy just to be a single Tauren shaman wondering the world by herself. Honestly, I had no intention of ever being social in this MMO. No intention of RPing, or joining a guild or raiding. Was just going to play alone, do the quests, enjoy a little random time with this lightning shooting cow. I had come to Cenarion Circle because I figured an RP server would give me an environment where the world outside of the game was a little less obtrusive. And it did that well, back then. But the people I started to meet who were a part of the vibrant RP community back in Vanilla were so friendly and entertaining, I couldn’t help but get involved. I started to RP with them because they brought the world alive in a way I hadn’t expected. I started to have to make up stories for Red to play along. Through all these same RPers I found myself into a guild, got involved in raids and eventually became both a guild and raid leader myself.

What I’m basically saying is that I did not make Red into the character I loved so much solely on my own. She was created by all those people who inspired me. Because of them, I was challenged to create a character so full of depth. She was nothing but a shell until they “forced” me to put words into her mouth. They spurred my imagination and as a player opened the door to many opportunities in this game that I probably never would have ventured into if not for them.

If I could name them all, I would. But I can’t, there are so many of them. And most of them, many folks wouldn’t even remember now anyway. For those of you that can remember the times they’ve had with Red Earth, good and bad, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for making my life with her the best of times in this game. It’s made it hard for me to give her up. But since I felt I had to for various reasons, at the very least, I was inspired to make sure I ended her tenure properly with what I hope was a decent RP and story.

I had the intention of making some closing stories for some of my other characters. But time gets away from us, doesn’t it? And as my account ends tomorrow, I guess it just won’t be happening. More than likely I’ll be posting a story here and there on the Ishnu Por Ah forums for them in the near future. So if you like to read stuff, you can always visit our little story corner there. : )

http://wowforum.tabletopless.com/viewforum.php?f=2

Lots of old stuff and hopefully a few new things from time to time still.

IPA, I love you! You all know who you are! And, hell, it’s not like I don’t see at least half of you somewhere over the nets. :D ))

((Red Earth,

We've never met and we've never spoken, but I must say before you go that this story and everything I have heard about your impact on Cenarion Circle has been both inspiring and incredible. I started my own journey on this server only a year ago, and many times over I have been blessed to interact with amazing, loving people. I remember the beginning of this thread. I've read each and every post. My first Horde character, a Tauren, was created simply so that I could listen to Ishnu Por Ah's storytelling night - and from a few short hours, a character was born. I found I couldn't make myself delete her - the richness of the Tauren truly came alive to me. Your words have reached and will continue to reach farther than you know.

The memory of what you have done for this server will live on in the heart of the community. Farewell, and blessings be with you no matter where life takes you.))