All things are to be discovered at the Dawning of Time before the Morning's Light is fully prescient. The understanding of adventures to enjoy, of challenges to meet, all still knowledge in an as yet unknown distant future.

It is enough for now to be created and to create, to be crafted and to craft, to learn the techniques of creation and the locations of resources for making new constructions appear out of thin air, or so it appears .. to know and to remember, in this new world, from whence we have come and to where we return after each daily round.

Istaria : A Dragon's Tale [Part 2] - by Huffenpuff

Before the beginning, the Corridor in the 'Hall of Creation' seemed to stretch forever into the mists of time and space, as the musings of consciousness as yet undefined, meandered along its length, peering into each alcove in turn at the wonders of each new appearance, seen for the first time .. the experiences desired in this creation, the challenges to be handled, and the tools with which to handle them .. which to choose, who to be, what to require ?

The musings gradually crystallising into the desire for flight, the need for wings, and the power and strength of as yet unknown abilities for adventure and craft ..

Finally drawn into the Dragon's Alcove, more decisions of size, colour, personality and appearance being chosen and implemented with perfect precision .. the colour purple appears, majestic for the Ancient Scion to be, the eyes, bright blue, ever twinkling with the joy of laughter, the decals, light violet for the freedoms to be gained with faint hints of gold for the wisdom to be garnered .. the form, strong and resilient for the challenges ahead .. a hatchling at first, a knowledge, somehow already known, of a Helian Adult to be, to fly .. an Ancient Scion in distant future mists.

.. as the need for 'The Naming Ritual' approached ..

The knowledge of Dragon Lore still a distant experience, but the musings gradually becoming crystal and magical, little knowing the 'Path of the Helian' to come .. the ability of the Dragon's Breath recalled from some void of All-Knowing, the in-breath, the out-breath, a seemingly familiar understanding from a place so deep in consciousness and magic, it was not yet defined in mindful thought ..

The scene changes, a new world appears, I AM Huffenpuff, my journey begins !


Istaria : A Crafter's Journal [Part 2] - by Lio de Purr

T'was always thus, the new learning being a world of confusion, before certain necessary steps, and their correct order in turn, become second, third and fourth nature.

The world of the Crafter was no different, the tools at first to know, the processes to learn, and which become oh-so-familiar .. the increasing knowledge of the many various schools to join, and in what order and preference, as awareness is yet to grow of even what any final goals are to be .. the locations of resources, and their most efficient gathering, the convenience of local shops for processing, roads for faster movement and the 'all important' locale of a Vault .. or an unending supply of travel scrolls.

It is generally agreed, by the 'Gifted' and the 'Skilled' who choose to discuss these things, that there is no agreement at all about which route is the most advantageous, just that all routes are fun and all gain knowledge and ability.

Each player's desire, requirements and varying goals are their own .. whether it is really necessary to duplicate effort and learn the combination schools to high levels, or 100, as well as the 'Prestige' schools...whether the 'Grand Master Crafter' title, which requires ALL Schools to be maxed at 100, is worth the duplication of effort .. and more

However, it should be noted that all routes lead to mastery of varying degree, but identifying what you wish to finally achieve, whilst at the beginning, is always a good basis from which to set out on your long journey.

If the 'Grand Master Crafter' title is the desired final goal, those advocating this will recommend advancing the Blacksmith, Outfitter and Scholar Schools to high levels first. These combination schools are felt, by those who recommend this route, to give the maximium efficient ability gain in many areas at one time, each level for Blacksmith giving skill in metal, stone and woodworking, and other combinations of skills for the other two .. and enabling a choice of routes for using those skills to level other schools later.

Though it has also to be noted with emphasis, that greater ability of a more limited range of the same individual skills, is awarded per level achieved in the single profession 'Prestige' schools...

.. and this is the kernel of the discussion .. the crux of the matter !

Some may even prefer to just use the Blacksmith school, or pure Mining and Gathering, to solely earn their eligibilty for joining the many other pure 'Prestige' schools of single profession, such as Fletching or Weaponcrafting, and then devote their energies to greater gain per level in fewer individual skills in those 'Prestige' schools, leading to higher skill level overall in the end .. This route leads to a greater individual level of mastery for the highest crafting ability in the top tiers of craftable items .. less duplication, with individual 'Expert' titles available for each school.

Some will just decide to get into the Gathering or Mining schools, and earn the greatest gains per level for the most efficient garnering of Istarian resources, but this is the hardest route, though the greatest prizes are hardest earnt, but many future routes are then available using the skills gained through this route with the least duplication of effort.

It is generally agreed that there is no agreement !


A wise young Crafter will seek out those of greater experience who might assist in this discussion at the start, A good Crafting Guild to join should be an early decision for efficient advancement, though not a necessity as communication in the global channels of the Empire will yield many helpful thoughts and usually sound advice ..


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Once more, the sun sets, the moon rises, another day has ended and the time arrives for a leap into the restful arms of the night .. I take my leave for a short period, with musings of future adventures and possible discoveries trickling through my mind like crystal clear mountain streams, as all gradually becomes still ...