A chill, soft breeze swirled the soft layer of dust atop the rocky outcropping, giving birth to a tiny dirtdevil that glowed a gentle hue of rose under the clouded twilight. The newly-formed elemental spun a few moments before dissipating back to the rock, leaving only a faint pattern in the dust that was quickly scattered by one footstep, then another, and another. The climb was long and arduous, but at last the pinnacle had been reached.

Not all who are wicked believe themselves to be in the wrong. Nor do all who are heathen believe themselves to be godless. Most people believe that they are led by an inner light of wisdom, and least clearly is that "light" seen by those in whom shines a blight of deception.

I was thinking this morning about the time I was accused of being a "Pollyanna". This person hadn't actually read the book nor seen the movie, but I have seen the movie, several times. I grew up in a house that loved the classic Disney movies, and frankly, Hayley Mills is the awesome.

Kajixar's Blessing: A New Empire is a rare find, having been banned by the Kujix and shunned from all Talrok society who wished to remain among the living. Being so preciously scarce, one of the few surviving copies (if copy it was) had been carefully laid atop a silk cloth draped over a low table, hidden within the confines of a tent that stood behind an obscure hill in a rare-travelled corner of the Burrs.

It was Nevena's mother who had taught her the secrets of the brew called the Kiss of Truth. This was only fitting, for her mother credited Nevena's conception to Xukiss' Embrace.

I just wanted to make sure everybody who's coming into the beta is made to feel welcome! I've had excessive work and a little bit of health isues so I haven't been about all the time, but if you need help with anything, catch Nevena if I'm around or ask in Dev or on the forums! The forums will have a lot of info handy for you already so check there first.

Have fun!!

Quick post on why I play Alganon, have gotten my best friend to pre-order with me, and am lobbying my other best friend to pre-order as well.

It's true that a lot of the features that really set Alganon apart, gamewise, aren't scheduled to be in place yet. If they had totally scrapped them and had no plan to pursue them, I probably would be finishing helping with the Beta and then move on at launch.

I just posted the third and final scene of Nevena's 'visionquest' here: Longing for Xukiss' Embrace

Since I like to be able to finish these things in small episodes and not junk up with a lot of separate blog entries, I tried the method of posting the main story opening as a blog, then adding the rest as comments. Thanks to the limitations of comments here (esp. no editing), I'm not sure how well that worked. Opinions on the format are most welcome.

The sun remained full in the sky despite the late hour, its merciless rays sweltering even the shaded air beneath the stitched-hide canopy, threatening to wilt its smaller effigies within.  A half-dozen flowers stood bravely against the heat within the clay vase that held them, each bloom a tiny replica of that full, golden sun.