Beta Journal #2 out

There is a new beta journal out on ddo.com in case you missed it.

.probe

[Nagoth]

I had missed it, but now its been found...


A good fantasy that yet again tells us little, other than some guards mothers had a bad day naming their children...

I suppose its a good teaser tho

[Eldon Boisjolie]

wouiiiiiinnnnnn wouiiiiiiinnnnn

I want play, i want play....


Really good description...

[Horny Nazgul]

yes, people, go check it out. It is a good reading besides beeing informative^^

[Godpuppet]

http://www.ddo.com/forums/showthread...5&page=1&pp=25

For lazy people like me

[Satine]

Good call, thank you Bearprobe. This must have gone up just after I left!

The link (thank you Godpuppet) is here, but for those of you even lazier than Godpuppet here's the post in its entirety.

Beta Journal #2: Discovering the Marketplace
09-Nov-2005



This week we have a journal entry describing the Marketplace District. As always, this journal was written by a player in our Beta and not by the Turbine staff.

Ah…the Marketplace. Finally I have managed to obtain that blasted commendation from the Harbormaster and gain entry to Stormreach proper. Now to explore my new locale…

On passing through the archway I am greeted by an amusing site: a barbarian/rogue dancing in the fountain, while the barbarian and ranger trainers watch with ill-concealed distaste. Seems some people are happier to be here than others. A rather surly Warforged named Bellwether Bill stands before the fountain, and I stop to see what he can tell me. He appears well-placed in the local community, and shares some bits of information about the market. It’s a good sized area, with convoluted paths and overarching bridges and various people scattered about. Mostly it’s divided into four “quarters” -- Jester’s Haunt, Soulgate, Falconer’s Spire, and Silversmith Road. I’m standing in Jester’s Haunt, which continues to the southeast. I’ll head that way first.

On my way out, I pass several class trainers. I make note of the ranger trainer for when I’ll be able to improve my skills. Following the road east, I pass by an odd assortment of folk. The dwarf collecting morbid curios is perhaps the strangest, although the pretty woman with the insect collection does make me shudder. There is a street performer, complaining about losing his clientele to the Phoenix Tavern on the west side. Maybe he’d do better to actually perform, rather than gripe. . .Speaking of taverns, I find my way southeast to the Rusty Nail. It’s not quite the dive I’m used to from the Harbor, but it’s not the classiest establishment either. It’s rather empty this time of day, but I do take the time to speak with the cleric on duty (just as a precaution of course). I’d hate to have to make the trek from the Harbor again. On my way out, I’m accosted by a young woman entreating for aid in the sewers. I shrug her off, but take note of her location – it never hurts to know where work can be found.

A flip of a silver tells me to head north, which takes me into Soulgate. This place sends shivers up my spine and sends my fingers twitching towards my bow. I speak with men having problems with troglodytes and a giant mutant spider. Spiders…*shudder*. A passerby tells me of the Catacombs to the east; seems they have a bit of a reputation. There’s a very nervous cleric outside the gates, asking me to check on a girl inside who, frankly, sounds a bit crazy. Then again, I suppose I’d be a bit mad myself if I were locked in such a place. Sanctuary: if ever a place was misnamed, this is it. I surprise myself by agreeing to check on her. I must be getting soft. But before I go in I’ll need more protection. I’d better find my way to the Bazaar.

The heart of the Marketplace is a giant red tent, its emblem glinting overhead in the noonday sun. I enter, taking a moment to adjust to the dimmer light. That moment is also needed to take in the sight before me: multiple levels of merchants and vendors, selling anything and everything. Wands, armor, spell reagents, exotic missiles — whatever I can think of seems to be for sale here. I browse the three levels of shops before visiting the potions vendor. If I’m going into Catacombs, I want some protection. She asks my name, and I proudly respond, “Tranquility.” The merchant frowns, shakes her head, and says she’ll give me the best price for someone not known around here. Not known?! But, the Waterworks, the warehouse, the…oh, fine then. I look over her wares and find a Cure Moderate Wounds potion. I almost need to swallow it when she tells me the price! Big shock there; guess I’m not quite as flush as I’d believed. I settle for a pair of Cure Light Wounds potions, as well as a Protection from Evil. On my way out, I stop to pick up more arrows and manage to not flinch when I hear the price for that Masterwork Compound Longbow. Someday…

Leaving the tent, I wander to the west along Silver Smith Road North. Why it’s North when the road clearly runs west puzzles me, but I chalk it up to lunatic city planners. Or politics, one or the other. The westerly North road leads to Lordsmarch Palace and Bank, a place where my lack of coin does me no good. I attempt to strike up a conversation with the guards, but names like Lizardslayer and Doomstealer don’t encourage idle chitchat.

I decide to look into the street performer’s complaint and search out the Phoenix Tavern just to the south of the bank. Wow. This place is huge! Three separate levels, each with its own barkeep, encourage plenty of patronage, and the band on the mezzanine certainly keeps the atmosphere lively. I sit for a spell and indulge in a little of the tavern’s tasty ham, which always hits the spot. Nice purple décor.

Back to the east I encounter more common folk, including another street perfomer near a beautiful fountain, this one actually performing, although his work is austere and gloomy in my opinion. I’ll leave him for the younger crowd. I spend a moment admiring a butterfly garden, reflecting on the simple beauty in such an unexpected place. My path follows up several stairways, and I find myself facing the doors of several of the Houses. House Deneith seems to be most prominent here. Hmmm, yet another fact to tuck away for future use. Work of some sort is almost certainly possible there.

A shadow passes in front of the sun, and I glance skyward. An astonishing sight greets me: a giant airship floats in dock to the north. This would be Falconer’s Spire, then; the place to book passage on that enormous creation bound for faraway lands. I greet the guard at the base of the dock, who tells me of impending doom and catastrophe from kobolds at a nearby outpost. I ponder for a moment, then reluctantly step away to fulfill my obligation to the priest. I glance at the airship as I walk away -- perhaps once my mission is finished. . .

Comments?

Satine.

[Grufle]

How about you sticky those jurnals ecah time a new are comeing Satine

Btw good read, nice to get an idea of how the city looks like

[Black_Hawk]

yes, i'd say that should be sticky
thanks for these impressions!

[Nagoth]

Please dont sticky each and every one, but start a closed thread (only you can post) and make one post per Beta journal.

Sticky that new thread where nothing but the journals will be added

[Black_Hawk]

Um, well that's actually what I've meant, but expressed myself bad/ too short