This is what happens when I get gold, some materials, and a bit of free time. I take paladin fiancees out for a night time spin.

Having read WTT:RP’s latest post, it seems a great time to mention an idea I’ve had and one I hope to further explore in the future (when my 18-20 hour workdays 6-7 days a week are done. Sorry about the silence here, folks.).

Take a look at your main RP character. What makes them tick? What events, past and present, have helped them be the character they are today? What if something drastic happened to them? What if something cataclysmic (sorry for the pun, but it works) shook them to the very core of their being and changed them 180 degrees from the character they are today?

Without getting into too many details just yet, Arrens would not be anywhere near who he is today. Having had some recent email discussions with Anna about this subject, I came to realize that if Aely were to leave Arrens – say she didn’t want to marry him for any number of reasons – how would he be different? For one, he’d no longer be the headmaster of Stormwind University. He’d hole up in books, certainly. It’s kind of his thing when things are going horribly wrong for him or leave him confused. But this singular event would likely cause him to search for power, something far greater than he already possesses. And as the old saying goes, power would corrupt him. He would become that warlock he’s spent his entire career trying to avoid. It would take him down paths far darker than merely being summoned to the Twisting Nether by an enraged demon.

Perhaps, as I’ve said, I’ll have an opportunity to explore this in some fiction – sort of an alternate universe version of Arrens.

What about you? How would something of such magnitude change your character? Would they go from good to bad? Bad to good? Remain as they’ve always been? Or something completely different?

Arrens dismounted the gryphon in Booty Bay, carefully ensuring the small crate he carried didn’t tumble helplessly to the floor several levels below him. “Long time, no see, p’rfessor,” said the gryphon master as he helped Arrens with his goods. “Wha’ be bringin’ ye down our way on this lovely summer’s day?”

Arrens stretched, his complacent muscles sore after the long flight. “I require some herbs from the region, Master Gyll. As it happens, the University’s run out of Khadgar’s Whisker for next year’s alchemy students. I need to replenish our stock.” He wiped the beads of sweat forming on his brow. “Unfortunately I hadn’t taken into account that it would be this humid here already.” He fanned himself to no avail. The robes he wore, while not thick, kept all but the stiffest breezes from reaching his skin.

Gyll chuckled. “Aye, lad. Welcome to th’ jungle.” Handing Arrens’ package back to the warlock, he said, “That’ll be 35 silver, lad.” Handing over a little extra for the tip, Arrens thanked the dwarf and summoned his stead Inigo before leaving the confines of the port city.

Hours later and several dozen specimens of Khadgar’s Whisker later, the sun began to set. Arrens’ robes were soaked through with sweat as he swallowed the last bit of water. “How the fel does anyone live down here?” he asked himself. Placing his case in Inigo’s saddlebag, he mounted his demonic stead and made a steady pace back to Booty Bay.

Before reaching the town, he saw an enormous bonfire along the coast. As he approached, he saw all manner of celebrants in varying states of intoxication laughing and celebrating the beginning of the summer. He chuckled as he recalled Aely telling him similar stories of the north, stories he had no first hand knowledge of as his youth was spent cloistered in the libraries of Dalaran.

Travelling a ways further down the coast, he dismounted Inigo. Looking back, he could still see the glow of the bonfire, but his distance was great enough that he knew he wouldn’t be bothered by their drunken revelry. Removing his clothing under the darkened sky, he stood in the pale moonlight. While the heat of the day had lessened some, the humidity continued to make him sweat. Arrens approached the waters of the South Sea and dove in. While warm, it was considerably cooler than the air and felt refreshing to the warlock.

As he was enjoying himself, he was surprised to hear quiet laughter nearby. Looking up, he saw two goblins running from his position back towards the bonfires. Not wanting anyone to see an esteemed Stormwind University headmaster in all his naked glory, he decided it was time to leave and return  his goods back to Stormwind. As he approached Inigo, his jaw dropped. While his crate of goods was still within the saddlebag, he was horrified to discover his clothing missing. He rummaged through his saddlebag further and pulled out his buzzbox. Switching to a private channel, he spoke quietly.

“My love? Aely? I’m…yes. Yes, my love. Yes. I know it’s late. I’m sorry to have woken you. No. No, I”m fine. Really. But…erm…I need some help. And some clothes…”

((Thanks to Anna for the inspiration for this post.))