Sierra's Sidekick

I was resting and preparing to return to Marleybone, studying the Spiral Cup, when I heard a familiar voice. "We should have shared the Cup, Mma, but that's how it goes. You defeated me handily in the final match. I think you will be a fine detective."

I turned around and gasped. "Grace! You're back!"

"Yes, for the time being," said Grace. "I have to pack a few things before I travel through the Spiral Gate to Valencia. Tell me, how goes your journey?"

I told her about Christina and Austin and about my meeting with the Gearhead and how they kidnapped Baxter. "You've gotten good replacements, yes?" said Penny with a sad smile.

"They will NEVER replace you two!" I sobbed, hugging my staff to avoid glomping onto my friend. "Why did Ambrose do this to us?"

Grace shrugged. "I'm sorry, Mma. Rra Ambrose saw my potential for perceptiveness and knew I could work well as a spy for Clever Agnes. I am currently an honorary member of her crew. She is a good pirate captain, her crew rallies around her. But she needs much help - her kind don't use magic, they need a Wizard, someone who is also skilled in espionage. Please understand."

"I tried to tell that Rra to stuff it," said Penny angrily. "But he wouldn't listen."

"Luckily for you," said Grace, sighing. "I..."

I sighed. "It's okay," I said with a sad smile. "I should know that when we get stronger and more experienced, we may not be able to do what we want - so many people want the help of our powers. I've already had to clean up the streets of Marleybone for the police. I understand. You should just go and do the mission for that pirate, and not worry about me. We're still friends."

"Before I left," said Grace. "I wanted to give you a gift to remember me by... I don't know if we can adventure again but if I am unable to return... no, I wouldn't say that, I am sure to return, but I don't think I will have time to travel with you, I will be very busy filing my reports to Rra Ambrose. This 'Armada', I've learned they plan to find an ancient city called El Dorado and if not stopped..." She shook her head. "Penny and I have come up with a boon for you, something to help you."

"Something to help me?" I asked.

"Yes," said Penny. "Someone to help you fight your class of enemies, Myth enemies. I don't really like the idea of being 'hatched', but... if it will help you..."

I gasped. "You don't mean..."

Without warning, Grace teleported us to the Pet Hatchery. "Rra Purreau," said Grace. "I wish to hatch an egg pair with my secretary and Mma Fairyfriend's beast." She turned and smiled. "I know your Strange Beast is old enough to hatch, you've been talking about feeding pet snacks to Lady Mindy."

I realized what was going on as Dr. Purreau placed our pets on the strange device and attached the wires to them. "But... if this works, you'll get a Strange Beast too, which is useless for you - you don't have Myth spells and Mythblade is worthless and the talents are all myth-related..."

She silenced my protest as the Doctor pulled the switch and our pets squirmed as energy was siphoned from them. I turned away, not wanting to see the hatching take place. "It is all right, Mma," said Grace, smiling. "I have no need for any companions, I have my secretary. Penny's child will be a boon to you, Penny told me that if she 'hatched' with your pet, you will get a Siren and it will retain the power of calling that my secretary has, though it will take more power to use for you than it does for me. Still, it will be powerful against your foes. My pet will make a fine house guardian."

The sharp cry of pain signaled the end of the hatching and I held an egg. Lady Mindy was returned to me as was Penny to Grace.

As I left, I heard Grace whisper. "No matter how far we are, our hearts are connected." Penny then added. "We will never forget you, Mma."

I turned around, but they were gone. I shook my head and walked back home, but when I got to the Spiral Gate, the egg hatched into an exact replica of Grace's 'secretary.'

"Are you my momma?" she squeaked.

"Uh... I..." I stammered but she hugged me.

"Momma! I'll be your friend!" she squealed. I looked into her cute blue eyes and melted. I smiled.

"You need a name," I said. "Princess Gracie... because you are a part of my friend, Grace." I didn't know if I was ever going to train this girl - my garden had gone to pot - but I knew Princess Gracie would be a valuable sidekick until I really needed Lady Mindy's Mythblade.

(Fitting denounment to the relationship between Grace and Sierra, I hatched the Siren and Strange Beast as they had the money to pay for a hatching and now Sierra owns a Lil Siren of her own, which will probably be useless as it will require all of Sierra's pips to cast Sirens. I might have Grace finish up Vigrid - I bought the area with Crowns on the main account - but from now on she is in Limbo. I feel bad but I cannot afford to upkeep three accounts. Until I get a job, one of the accounts must be sacrificed into free-to-play and Grace's account is the one I don't like playing the most. Anyways, just wanted to make this little interlude before Chelsea Court. Ciao!)

Well, not exactly.

(Huh?)

Let me tell you about Vigrid Roughland...

And for those of you wondering... Penny's daughter is another mermaid called MISTER MIKE. Yeah, Penny's rarer than the Strange Beast so it was the dominant hatching species. Not like she could use a Strange Beast. :p

The Dogs of Marleybone (Hyde Park and the end of the Level 28 Spell Quest)

My Dear Friend, Mma Fairyfriend:

I fear that things have not gone very well for us in the last few weeks - the Watcher had been distracted by workings in Valencia and the wretched clockwork soldiers there, and was unable to help us with the situation in Vigrid. Rra Ambrose has asked me to put my investigations on hold while I help a pirate called Clever Agnes Thatcher investigate the strange incidents dealing with these creatures. As of such, I am sadly unable to help you with your investigation of Malistaire.

If it makes you feel any better, my secretary threw a hissy fit until Rra Ambrose ordered me to retain her, so now she is sadly restricted to my home while I travel with a piggle replacement. I hope you understand. I have no idea how long it will be before I can travel with you again, but this is not good-bye - as long as our hearts are connected, you will be with me in spirit.

Your friend forever, Mma Rainsmith

I clutched the letter to my heart and sobbed gently. I had lost a best friend. Curse those wretched Clockworks and their actions! CURSE THEM ALL!!!


(Yeah, this scene is a story explanation why I didn't update my blog here for so long - I ran out of pre-paid time for this account and for Grace's account. I can't afford to keep paying pre-paid time for three accounts. I did buy two game cards and used one to finally re-activate the pre-paid time for CJScribe6 so Sierra can continue her travels, but sadly Grace will not be able to continue her travels as she's past the areas I bought long ago and I don't think she'll ever be able to continue them as I don't plan on renewing her time anytime soon due to the fact that I have a new sub-account with another Storm Wizard. [I may end up deleting Grace and her friends - those wizards were created early on and while Amy is my highest-level wizard, I don't feel any desire to play her anymore.] Also, Pirate101 has taken up my time and I find it actually more fun than Wizard101! I linked the name of Agnes to my Pirate101 story blog, detailing the travels of Clever Agnes Thatcher. I guess that's my fault for going past the free-to-play areas there! However...)

 

I didn't feel like crafting, I didn't feel like gardening, I decided to go beat up something to vent my anger at Ambrose, at Valencia and at the Spiral. But I didn't want to continue with the investigation of Ander's Holt without Grace. I then recalled that I had to help Sherlock Bones with his investigation of the O'Leary gang, so I decided to help him out - it would have pleased Grace if I had been her representative, as she had wanted dearly to work with Sherlock Bones, her idol and the reason she became a detective wizard.

I also remembered that I had a book to give to that guard in Buckingham Palace, so I did so. He thanked me and rewarded me, but it didn't feel the same without my friend making a curt comment, or her 'secretary' laughing. I felt like crawling under a rock and dying.

(Oh yeah, forgot I had not even started Marleybone's main quests with Sierra yet. Oops.)

I went to Hyde Park but the ship ride made me ill. I then found some rats and, in a rage, I attacked them and lashed out with my Ninja Pigs. I then heard clapping as the last rat perished.

 

I turned around and saw a girl on a mine-cart being operated by tiny metal men. She was the one clapping. "Well, I have been trying to get that spell for MOONS! Koto is a jerk and won't let me learn it. So... where did you get that spell?"

I barely remembered it myself. I told her what I knew about the spell.

"And you have red hair too, this makes you a fellow carrot-top!" giggled the girl. "Hey, we almost look like twins! The name's Christina Dawnblade and you..."

"Sierra, Sierra Fairyfriend, the Tightwad Conjurer, seeking to craft every house in the Spiral wit---" I began to say when she gasped.

"You're going for the Hall, the Observatory and Wyrd House too?!?! AWESOMESAUCE! Me too! My father gifted me my current house and these metal men and the minecart, and I love meeting with a fellow crafter!" She grinned widely and took my hand. "You look like you lost a friend, it sucks having nobody to quest with... tell you what! I'll be your quest partner."

"But... you said you were in Mooshu..." I began, not wanting to interrupt her own agenda.

"Nonsense, I am also seeking to fill out my badge book with every badge in the Spiral and I need to slay a bunch of rats and cats here to do it, so this helps me too." She winked and I felt a bit better. While nothing would replace Grace Rainsmith and her crazy pet, I felt that I could trust my fellow red-head, especially if she shared my desire to craft every one of our extra houses. I nodded.

"Okay, let's go and kill my vermin," laughed Christina. She rode off and I was hard-pressed to keep up with her. I wished her cart had another seat to rest my shoulders, these wings are hard to use!

(I decided to have Christina from my other Wizard101 Blog, a Balance Wizard who is doing her Exalted Journey, team up with Sierra for now - her spells will nicely boost Sierra's spells and Sierra is Myth, just like Zenmaster Blue's second wizard in his Wizard101 walkthrough. ^_^)

However, for some reason Christina was nowhere to be found when I spoke to Ms. Conrail, who told me that one of the O'Leary gang was turn-coating and would meet me in the garden plaza.

I was suddenly ambushed when I entered and the O'Leary thug attacked viciously, but I managed to pull out a Minotaur and drive him off.

"Sorry," said Christina who I found out by a glowing crystal orb. I recognized it as a teleport orb, used to connect places together by magical markers. The ones in Grizzleheim were runestones, but the ones here were batteries that crackled with electricity. "I got pulled into battle. Forgot how dangerous the streets were! Was it a Napper? I wouldn't have done much anyways..."

"That's okay," I said, smiling. "It was only one guy, I could handle it."

Just then, a guy in a weird outfit popped in, also in wings. "Hey, Christie!" he said.

"Oh hello, Austin," grumbled Christina. "Sierra, meet my friend, Austin Bluecoin. I met him while I was exploring Big Ben and he hasn't stopped bothering me since."

"Hey, any friend of Chrstie's is a friend of mine," said Austin.

Christina pulled me aside. "Careful, carrot fairy, once he adds you as a friend, he won't stop bothering you with invites to his house parties. Just tell him you're busy."

"Uh... okay," I said.

I saw how annoying he was at the outset when he followed me to Ms. Conrail, who was shocked that I was ambushed. "I have a little birdie who knows where a few of Baxter's hideouts are," she said. "Go check them out and see if he's there." She directed me to the warehouses he would hide out. (You don't see it, but Austin was hanging around Sierra when she spoke with Conrail.)

Unfortunately, I discovered that the O'Leary gang was there already, looking for him. I took them out quickly in each location with Christina supporting me. I learned that she followed the school of Balance, which dealt with a balance between elements.

"I have a bad feeling about this, carrot fairy," muttered my red-haired friend. I was not pleased by the nickname she had given me, but I can't be too angry at her. She's quirky to a fault. "Those goons were looking for Baxter too."

"I'll see if Ms. Conrail has any info," I said. "You stay here and rest."

(Didn't have a screenshot here, sorry.)

Indeed she had. "More ambushes?" she said in shock. "Baxter must really have the goods. Don't worry, we'll find him yet. It so happens I know a certain someone called Willy Marks who might know where Baxter is hiding - won't part with information nice and easy, though. I don't condone it but a good ol' spot of the rough-and-tumble will work."

I knew where this was going. "Just direct me to Willy and I'll mark him up with some ninja pigs until he surrenders the information."

 

Hyde Park was a hive of crime and many people - er, dogmen - were victims of it. I defeated all of the criminal overlords in Hyde Park and taught them that you can't steal when wizards are visiting. Officer Darby was glad I lent a wand to the Force. :)

(I did all the side-quests in Hyde Park and it brought Sierra halfway to Level 35. Not like she will need a gear upgrade - she only really needs an upgraded robe and the Senator's gear she got from Mt. Olympus outstrip anything you can get at Level 35 because they give nice resistances to Life and Death magic and a boost to power pip chances. ^_^ She will get a training point though and I have plans for what she will use it for.)

 

 

Willy Marks did indeed cough up the information once Christina had Spectral Blasted his mook with ice and I sent a Minotaur to carve up his face. "He's in the old Fraternity Warehouse in the northwest corner of the town," said the thug. "But you'll never reach him, it's locked up tight!"

"I beg to differ," I said with a smirk. "I'm sure some of your fellow thugs will be willing to donate some lockpicks to the cause." (I cut out the talks with Ms. Conrail for this part but you do have to talk to her again.)

"Ugh," said Christina, holding her ear. "Austin's calling me to a port party at his place."

"Go ahead and amuse him," I said. "I can solo it from here."

Indeed, despite misgivings, I was able to handle the rest of the enemies I needed to defeat in Hyde Park. The hooligans I had to get the lockpicks from were Myth-based so I had a bit of trouble, but I did manage to collect enough to break into the warehouse with my crude lockpicking skills. I was no "master of unlocking", but I managed to get into the warehouse. Oh, and one thing I learned - the garden plaza was NEVER a safe place.

(Headdesks for the lose - I completely forgot that the O'Leary ambush in the plaza is triggered by someone who has the first quest from Ms. Conrail entering the plaza and Sierra was idling by when a guy wearing a Draconian transformation called Hunter Silverhammer was going to meet Baxter there. OOPS. Luckily a summoned Cyclops helped out in taking this jerk out. :p)

 

As soon as I saw the robot, I was enraged - was this one of the group of 'metal men' that Grace was investigating? They'd pay for taking her away from her travels with me! My rage fueled my ninja pigs as they slaughtered both the gear-head robot and the O'Leary thug with him, but it was too late - I saw the guy who was probably Baxter being dragged out of the Warehouse by more metal men and I was too tired to give chase.

Ms. Conrail consoled me and told me that Bones would know more about these robots. Indeed the great detective had a clue and told me to meet Ms. Marphaly in Chelsea Court.

"Will do," I said. "I have to go there anyways." I picked up a ticket to that place and took the next airship there immediately.

I was able to find Ms. Marphaly as well as the guy in the photo Private Kinchley gave me. "Yes, I did see a winged woman passing by," said the dog-man in a smart suit and monocle. "She was following one of those ruffians from the Klaw Brothers. If you are eager to get tangled up with those ruffians, you will find them in the abandoned house at the end of West Street."

"Thanks," I said, hurrying off to find the Klaw Brothers. I had a feeling I was in for a fight...

And indeed my hunch was correct, as the Klaw brothers were scheming to use Lady Sylvian(who looked like a twin of Oriel) to make iron into gold. I didn't believe that such alchemy was possible, but I knew that the Seraph was in dire trouble and ambushed them before they could spot me.

 

It was a difficult fight - the two thugs were Myth-element so my spells were muted, but I was lucky to get my Prisms out and planted on them before they could put up any Storm Shields. Still, I was unable to call out my ninja pigs until late in the fight and had to use up all my Pixies to keep myself alive. In the end, I beat them. (This fight sucked because Sierra's attack cards did not show up right away but all of her Pixies did, which was good as the fight was brutal - the Klaw Brother mook planted TWO Fire Elves on Sierra!)

"You okay, Lady Sylvian?" I asked the angel.

"Yes, I am," said the angel, smiling. She sighed. "I didn't realize those two still believed that silly myth about us making iron into gold!"

"Yeah, I don't believe it either," I said. "You aren't gods."

"I just wanted to cheer them up," said Sylvian.

"Well, it looks like the only thing that would make them happy is being rich," I said with a sad grin.

"Oh, you look like you could use some cheering up," she said. "I will gladly tell you every joke I know!"

I began to laugh. She had read my mind. "I... lost a friend, she can't travel with me anymore. But I don't really need to hear jokes all day, I have a good friend who will make me laugh." I thought abuot Christina then changed the subject. "I'm actually a student of Cyrus Drake and need to learn a chant from you."

"Oh, Cyrus," said Sylvian, sighing. "He is the only one I can never seem to cheer up. The poor thing."

I shook my head. "Walk in his shoes - his sister-in-law died, his brother went bat-ape crazy, and he doesn't like teaching. I am sure you can understand."

"Well, you are very brave to study under him," said Lady Sylvian, smiling. "Very well, I will teach you the song he wishes." She hummed a melody that I realized I never forget, the notes seemed to burn into my mind.

"Thank you, I think you have made me much happier than if you told me any of your jokes," I said, bowing. "I'll head back to Cyrus... you should get back home and let your sister know you're okay."

I hummed the song to my Professor and found him smile gently. I realized that what I had said about the song cheering me up worked on even cranky old Cyrus. He quickly hid his smile. "Well," said the professor of myth magic. "It seems you have earned the Lady's favor. I shall grant you this spell." He handed me a spell card called Stun. "This will paralyze an enemy for one action. But be warned, it won't work on extremely powerful foes."

"Thanks," I said. "I will try to keep up my studies." I bowed and Cyrus shook his head.

"Just... don't get killed," muttered the wizard. "I might be respectful to you if you reach the level of experience where you can learn your next minion spell. Now begone, I have tests to grade."

(I am never using Stun - it is just the Myth variant of Ice's Freeze which you get from Merle after Unicorn Way. Single-stuns may work on most enemies but not most bosses, so I don't use it. That's it for this update. Next update is finishing up Vigrid and doing Chelsea Court. Ciao for now!)

Sierra's Dream

I had a strange dream last night...

 

 

In that dream, I wasn't a wizard, I was a young pirate by the name of Friendly Sierra Fairlead. I was rescued from a frigate by a giant of a pirate captain called Boochbeard and his Monquistan first mate, Mr. Gandry. They asked me a few questions and I recalled how my parents were eaten by a Sky Squid, how I lived my childhood in Mooshu, raised by Ninja Pigs, and how I was arrested for fighting some group called the Armada.

 

 

 

I rescued a samoorai ronin called Kobe Yojimbo from a cell (who joined my crew) and took my anger out on the troops of Deacon, Spymaster of the Armada. We managed to get aboard Boochbeard's ship and fled to a place called Skull Island, where I helped fight a clan of Troggies, frog-men, who were slinging gunpowder at the town. I also met Captain James Avery, who was quite a nice person, almost like Headmaster Ambrose.

 

 

A fox musketeer called Bonnie Anne joined me and we descended into Skull Cave and recovered a jade amulet from a shark-man called Fin... and then I woke up once I had gotten the jade amulet.

What a weird dream!

(Yes, I am more interested in Pirate101 right now. Sorry, this blog will be updated in due time. I am using Sierra's pirate counterpart to try out the new free-to-play quests. She also got a 101 Day Eyepatch and a tree housing item which she can't use right now as she doesn't have a house. :p)

(Also... she got the Orchid Chameleon AFTER THE BATTLE WITH FIN! Ugh, why did the pirate on my free-to-play get that first time and my others get NOTHING? :( )