September 26, 2021 Sunday Meeting
5:00 P.M. Eastern Daylight Savings Time
Discord:
Valar Guild/meeting_place
Back to News
Transcript work by Varda.
[times are Central Time from Varda's Discord. Add one hour for
Eastern.]
Attending (and typed): (5)
Discord: Arien, Ar-Pharazon, Eonwe,
Lenwe, Varda (presiding)
Before-meeting
Accidentally started the meeting in the wrong
channel.
Meeting begins
Membership news:
GSMU (see under Web)
Web:
Games Site Mass Update! Please send in your data
to Eonwe.
Gaming:
General news:
report from Eonwe:
World of
Warcraft, Hearthstone,
Lord of
the Rings Online, Diablo Resurrection
Tolkien:
Topic
from Varda: Gundabad (brought up in gaming and is near the next area
for the forum story)
After-meeting:
The
anniversary theme word is Hastilude. Sort of like
"interlude". (old-fashioned games other than full tournaments)
(non)Flashgaming
Reviews (plus) by Ar-Pharazon. Includes Blizzard games.
top
Before-meeting
(Accidentally started in the wrong channel, moved over
shortly.)
Eonw๋ Valar Yesterday at 4:01 PM
Heya all.
Varda Yesterday at 4:01 PM
Aiya : )
[4:02 PM]
@Bounder Huzzah! It's time to gang up together, say howdy, talk
gaming and Tolkien!
[4:02 PM]
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Elen sila lumenn' omentielvo!
[4:02 PM]
Membership:
[4:03 PM]
Whomever is here at the starting gate, please say Aiya!
[4:03 PM]
Aiya!
Eonw๋ Valar Yesterday at 4:03 PM
Aiya.
Varda Yesterday at 4:05 PM
Yay! Hi there, Fionwe. : )
Eonw๋ Valar Yesterday at 4:06 PM
Heya :}
Varda Yesterday at 4:09 PM
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Web:
[4:09 PM]
No new Tolkien stuff up at this moment.
Eonw๋ Valar Yesterday at 4:09 PM
GSMU ending in 4 days.
Varda Yesterday at 4:09 PM
I try to keep the News up to date, pretty much. Still needs work.
[4:09 PM]
O wow, that soon?
Eonw๋ Valar Yesterday at 4:09 PM
September 30th.
Varda Yesterday at 4:10 PM
Tempus fugit.
[4:10 PM]
What was that word starting with H we were going to use for a theme,
again? : )
[4:11 PM]
Hastilude
[4:11 PM]
For the anniversary
Eonw๋ Valar Yesterday at 4:11 PM
By the way, we're in Harbor, not meetingplace :}
Varda Yesterday at 4:11 PM
ack!!!
(Switched to meeting_place.)
Arien Valar Yesterday at 4:11 PM
Aiya all
Varda Yesterday at 4:11 PM
Aiya!
Eonw๋ Valar Yesterday at 4:11 PM
Heya :}
Varda Yesterday at 4:12 PM
I somehow wound up doing the meeting in the wrong channel. /facepalm
[4:12 PM]
Aiya Arien and Eonwe : )
[4:12 PM]
Ok, now I want to look at that You Tube about "How Powerful
was Elrond" that Shelob posted. backs away
[4:13 PM]
and look back through your Tolkien discussion... backs away again
[4:13 PM]
On to...
[4:13 PM]
commenting that the first part of the meeting was in Harbor
[4:14 PM]
So that should mess with the transcript, hah.
[4:14 PM]
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Gaming!
[4:14 PM]
hands the wiggly hammer to Eonwe for this part
Eonw๋ Valar Yesterday at 4:14 PM
Thanks :}
[4:14 PM]
World of Warcraft:
[4:15 PM]
The week's bonus event: Cataclysm Timewalking.
The PvP Brawl: Southshore vs Tarren Mill is going until Tuesday,
September 28th.
Check out this week's hotfixes. --- https://worldofwarcraft.com/en-us/news/23691036/hotfixes-september-24-2021
World of Warcraft
Hotfixes: September 24, 2021 - WoW
Here you will find a list of hotfixes that address various issues
related to World of Warcraft: Shadowlands, Burning Crusade Classic,
and WoW Classic.
[4:15 PM]
Hearthstone:
[4:15 PM]
Check out the 21.3 patch notes. --- https://playhearthstone.com/en-us/news/23724327/21-3-patch-notes
21.3 Patch Notes
Patch 21.3 brings updates to Standard, Wild, Battlegrounds, and
more!
[4:15 PM]
Lord of the Rings Online:
[4:16 PM]
Update 30.2.1 comes tomorrow. --- https://www.lotro.com/en/content/update-3021-release-notes
The Lord of the Rings Online
Update 30.2.1 Release Notes
[4:16 PM]
And before I turn the gavel back over to Varda I'll repeat that the
GSMU concludes in 4 days. If you haven't already sent in a reply
please do.
[4:16 PM]
Now back to Varda :}
Varda Yesterday at 4:17 PM
Thank you. : )
[4:19 PM]
You got the Lord of the Rings Online news that's coming up most
quickly, thanks!
[4:19 PM]
Monday's hotfix
[4:21 PM]
Since our forum RP group is nearing Gundabad, this next LotRO news
may be particularly interesting.
[4:21 PM]
The new expansion, "Fate of Gundabad", can be pre-ordered Monday (we
hope), and more information on it will be released the same day.
[4:21 PM]
The Gundabad story so far is given at this link (with pictures):
[4:21 PM]
https://www.lotro.com/en/game/articles/gundabad-story-so-far
The Lord of the Rings Online
Gundabad: The Story So Far...
[4:22 PM]
For those who have free to play accounts, now's the time to grab all
of the quest packs free, intended to ready everyone for the new
expansion and the change in the Legendary Items system. Information
is at
[4:22 PM]
https://lotro.com/en/getready
The Lord of the Rings Online
Free Questing Coupon Thank You from Standing
Stone Games
[4:22 PM]
and the code is LOTROQUESTS2021
[4:22 PM]
One code per account, good through Nov 30 (which also gives a
clue when the expansion will be nearing).
[4:22 PM]
As Eonwe mentioned:
[4:23 PM]
This Monday will have downtime from 8 A.M. to noon Eastern (-4 GMT)
for Update 30.2.1 and those release notes are located at:
[4:23 PM]
https://www.lotro.com/en/content/update-3021-release-notes
The Lord of the Rings Online
Update 30.2.1 Release Notes
[4:23 PM]
.
[4:23 PM]
In other LotRO news closer to home,
[4:23 PM]
The kins on our two difficulty slider servers (Treebeard slow,
Shadowfax fast) are within three days of being leveled enough for a
kin house.
[4:24 PM]
So far, on the Shadowfax and Treebeard servers, Arien and Varda may
vote on where they want the kin house. Luthien wants to join those
two branches also. Will anyone else be interested?
[4:24 PM]
I figure we can pick two completely different kin houses. : )
[4:24 PM]
But I don't want to spend a ton for an island this time, sorry gang.
[4:24 PM]
.
[4:24 PM]
Valarites playing in one of our LotRO kin branches this past week
are:
[4:24 PM]
Landroval server:
Arien
Celebrian
Elrond
Elwing
Eonwe
Irmo
Luthien
Nar
Shelob
Varda
Anor server:
Eonwe
Varda
Shadowfax server:
Varda
Treebeard server:
Varda
[4:25 PM]
And I'm done. Comments welcome.
Arien Valar Yesterday at 4:25 PM
there are fairly nice kin houses in the various base areas
[4:25 PM]
i like the shire ones and the Bree area
[4:26 PM]
The Elven ones have of course a bit more elegance
Varda Yesterday at 4:26 PM
We only get two houses. : )
[4:27 PM]
Like to drop one of those?
[4:29 PM]
heh
[4:29 PM]
So Shire, Bree, or Celondim.
[4:30 PM]
Some folks told me they feel a bit claustrophobic in the Hobbit
housing, especially playing a taller character. Otherwise the Hobbit
holes are great fun.
[4:30 PM]
But if the ones on those servers are fine with it, it won't matter.
Arien Valar Yesterday at 4:31 PM
they are most cosy ones but if you need bigger
house Bree is fine
Eonw๋ Valar Yesterday at 4:32 PM
Any new Elven housing yet? Weren't they talking about Rivendell at
one point, or am I misremembering?
[4:33 PM]
Think they'll give us a vineyard in Dorwinion? :}
Varda Yesterday at 4:33 PM
We can do two different kin houses, one per slider server.
[4:33 PM]
So we could do hobbit on Treebeard and man on Shadowfax.
[4:34 PM]
Rohan had new housing. : )
[4:34 PM]
Maybe we can get a grapevine.
[4:37 PM]
In other gaming news,
[4:37 PM]
Gimli has been letting us know about Diablo Resurrection
[4:37 PM]
Aiya Phar : )
Ar-Pharazon-V Yesterday at 4:37 PM
Aiya! reading up
Varda Yesterday at 4:37 PM
read read
[4:38 PM]
The first day, the servers had problems. The world would go down.
Coming back up, it would not find the character just made. The world
would go down. Up down up down updownupdown
[4:38 PM]
The second day, the servers were stable!
[4:39 PM]
The textures and movements were smooth, unlike the previous Diablos.
[4:39 PM]
He'd tell us more but he's not here at the moment, for all good
reasons.
[4:39 PM]
Has anyone else given that game a try yet?
Eonw๋ Valar Yesterday at 4:40 PM
I'm sticking to the old version if I play D2 at all. All I care
about is the ME mod anyway. (edited)
Varda Yesterday at 4:47 PM
How is that mod doing now? Don't think anyone is still taking care
of it, are they?
Eonw๋ Valar Yesterday at 4:48 PM
I haven't seen or heard anything about it since the Phrozen Forums
shut down or moved or whatever several years ago.
Varda Yesterday at 4:49 PM
But you still play the mod?
[4:49 PM]
It might need a programmer...
Ar-Pharazon-V Yesterday at 4:50 PM
Aaaand caught up, including the political stuff.
[4:50 PM]
As for D2:Res, I did install it (took a while!) but haven't tried it
yet.
Varda Yesterday at 4:50 PM
You went too far back, heh.
[4:50 PM]
That wasn't part of a meeting. : )
Ar-Pharazon-V Yesterday at 4:50 PM
I know, but i'd not read it yet
Varda Yesterday at 4:50 PM
Ah ok. Be interesting to hear your take when you get around to it.
[4:50 PM]
: )
Ar-Pharazon-V Yesterday at 4:51 PM
And Eonwe hopefully got my gsmu stuff in private chat last week.
Varda Yesterday at 4:51 PM
My family has been pretty busy with weddings, two birthdays so far,
two funerals, one more birthday tomorrow (for some Sauron guy).
[4:52 PM]
Did you get that, Eonwe?
Eonw๋ Valar Yesterday at 4:52 PM
I did yes.
Ar-Pharazon-V Yesterday at 4:53 PM
great
Varda Yesterday at 4:53 PM
Poor Eonwe. I dumped a huge heap of updates on him from all the
LotRO servers. Good luck with that!
Ar-Pharazon-V Yesterday at 4:55 PM
Honestly, I'm not sure whether I'll get into D2 soon. It's way down
my "list", and when it comes to Blizzard games I just like to buy
them now, with any timely perks, and then play them much later when
it's their turn.
Varda Yesterday at 4:56 PM
Oh, I was just asked by a lurker what I mean by a sliding server in
LotRO. It's a sliding difficulty. I recommend choosing Deadly +3 to
gain all the titles. Anything higher is just incredibly annoying
without much to show for it.
Lenwe Yesterday at 4:56 PM
#lenwelurking
Varda Yesterday at 4:56 PM
Phar, let them work out the bugs! No worries
[4:56 PM]
hehehehe
Lenwe Yesterday at 4:56 PM
Aiya everyone
Varda Yesterday at 4:56 PM
Aiya Lenwelurker!
Ar-Pharazon-V Yesterday at 4:57 PM
Aiya Lenwe!
Arien Valar Yesterday at 4:57 PM
aIYA a Lenwe
Varda Yesterday at 4:58 PM
Any more gaming comments, requests, needs for invitations,
suggestions? Other news to pass around?
[4:59 PM]
Yikes, just noticed running tight on time.
Ar-Pharazon-V Yesterday at 4:59 PM
As if we've never run longer before.
Varda Yesterday at 5:00 PM
Sunshine Lady, do you have any last comments before setting? Want a
Bree and a Shire kin homestead?
[5:00 PM]
I have to go soon, though. : )
Ar-Pharazon-V Yesterday at 5:00 PM
Aiya Arien!
Arien Valar Yesterday at 5:01 PM
sounds good to me and aiya golden one :P)
[5:01 PM]
[5:02 PM]
and yes i ll have to set before
[5:02 PM]
to set now i mean
Varda Yesterday at 5:02 PM
Irmo and Namo must be served too!
Ar-Pharazon-V Yesterday at 5:03 PM
Well, setting at midnight is a pretty good run.
Arien Valar Yesterday at 5:03 PM
Ar-Pharazon-V Yesterday at 5:03 PM
Oh right, for you it's 11
Arien Valar Yesterday at 5:03 PM
Namarie for now yes but i have to get lup; in six hours so ..
Ar-Pharazon-V Yesterday at 5:03 PM
Short night for the sun.
Arien Valar Yesterday at 5:04 PM
it is all right @L:)
[5:04 PM]
Namarie !
Varda Yesterday at 5:04 PM
Sleep well!
Ar-Pharazon-V Yesterday at 5:04 PM
Namarie!
Varda Yesterday at 5:04 PM
Sleep fast ; )
Eonw๋ Valar Yesterday at 5:05 PM
Sleep well Arien.
Varda Yesterday at 5:06 PM
Does anyone have a Tolkien topic they'd like us to chew on?
Eonw๋ Valar Yesterday at 5:06 PM
Bah, I had one and then I forgot it.
Varda Yesterday at 5:06 PM
hehe
Ar-Pharazon-V Yesterday at 5:07 PM
Best to write them down, then
Eonw๋ Valar Yesterday at 5:07 PM
I should have, but I didn't have a pen at the time it crossed my
mind :}
Varda Yesterday at 5:08 PM
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Tolkien!
[5:08 PM]
I was thinking about Gundabad, actually. : )
[5:09 PM]
Our forum story has a touch of Gundabad. Is Helvy still going
through those caves with his pack?
Ar-Pharazon-V Yesterday at 5:09 PM
He is. Last I recall he pretty much had the place on lockdown.
Though depending on our progress and narrative timing he's probably
advanced somewhat since then.
Eonw๋ Valar Yesterday at 5:10 PM
A wolf locked down an entire mountain? :}
Ar-Pharazon-V Yesterday at 5:10 PM
A pack, at least
[5:11 PM]
It might be a slight exaggeration. But I can tell you those orcs are
wary about heading out.
Eonw๋ Valar Yesterday at 5:12 PM
hehe
Varda Yesterday at 5:13 PM
A few tunnels are deemed "unsafe".
Ar-Pharazon-V Yesterday at 5:13 PM
But Gundabad is not their goal. When they realize the sorcerer's not
there, they'll head on and leave the place alone.
Varda Yesterday at 5:13 PM
How does Helvy's pack handle the wargs?
[5:13 PM]
I thought they were using it as a way to reach the Sorceror on the
other side?
Ar-Pharazon-V Yesterday at 5:14 PM
Through, around, I don't quite remember anymore That does
sound familiar.
[5:14 PM]
In any case, once they're through, orcs have nothing more to fear.
Varda Yesterday at 5:14 PM
But they will jump every time they hear howling? : )
Ar-Pharazon-V Yesterday at 5:15 PM
Wargs... I suppose it's a combination of numbers, superior
coordination and sheer bloodyminded determination?
[5:15 PM]
You bet they will!
Eonw๋ Valar Yesterday at 5:15 PM
I think we narrowed our adventure down to this side of the
mountains.
Ar-Pharazon-V Yesterday at 5:15 PM
Yep, which means the pack will be joining us there eventually.
Eonw๋ Valar Yesterday at 5:16 PM
"This side" being the western side.
Ar-Pharazon-V Yesterday at 5:17 PM
Well, Gundabad is pretty much a three-way fork, looking at the map.
If sorc's heading our way down the western flank, you can bet the
pack will follow.
Eonw๋ Valar Yesterday at 5:18 PM
There's bound to be paths through the mountains easier for wolves to
get through than people, so it need not be through Gundabad itself.
Varda Yesterday at 5:18 PM
The sorceror is going to have to come out again sometime to do his
plans. Maybe with the wolves helping, we can catch him on the move.
[5:18 PM]
Prefer to say "Gundabad area"?
Ar-Pharazon-V Yesterday at 5:19 PM
Probably. But if the sorc visited Gundabad on the way, his trail
will have led through there.
[5:19 PM]
Intercepting him west of the mountains could be interesting. I'd
kinda planned ahead for a confrontation higher up.
[5:20 PM]
Not to give too many spoilers but a cliffhanger was involved. But
hey, plans...
[5:20 PM]
I wonder how long I've had that scene in my head, might be 10
years...
Varda Yesterday at 5:20 PM
The whole area there is high up. Cliffs abound. : )
Ar-Pharazon-V Yesterday at 5:20 PM
True
Varda Yesterday at 5:24 PM
Anyway, if some of you want to do a Free to Play account on LotRO,
now is a great time to grab the free quest packs.
Ar-Pharazon-V Yesterday at 5:25 PM
Was there more on Gundabad you wished to discuss?
Varda Yesterday at 5:25 PM
I've been happily gaming in the new areas.
[5:25 PM]
I should let you all go. : )
Ar-Pharazon-V Yesterday at 5:25 PM
Oh, my night is just beginning ;0
[5:25 PM]
*
Varda Yesterday at 5:25 PM
Mine is too. Have to get moving!
[5:26 PM]
the gavels run thither and yon as if confused
[5:27 PM]
the hammerpad gongs and they all run to it
Ar-Pharazon-V Yesterday at 5:27 PM
Run as if the wolves are on your heels.
Varda Yesterday at 5:27 PM
they run into it in the dark, as the sun has already set!
[5:27 PM]
thonkitty thwomp thunk thwink!
Ar-Pharazon-V Yesterday at 5:28 PM
Now I'm reminded of a Dutch song, by a comedic singer about a
Russian family trying to escape a pack of wolves.
Varda Yesterday at 5:28 PM
the hammerpad carries the gavel pile back to the shelf and tucks
them in
[5:28 PM]
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After-meeting!
Ar-Pharazon-V Yesterday at 5:28 PM
Literally translates as ride of the dead, I guess.
Varda Yesterday at 5:30 PM
Aragorn rode at the head of the Dead, as King of the Dead before
becoming High King. : )
Ar-Pharazon-V Yesterday at 5:30 PM
No wolves though
Varda Yesterday at 5:31 PM
Here's hoping we now have some thoughts for our forum story!
[5:31 PM]
One wonderss, yes, we wonderss.
[5:31 PM]
Namarie for now!
[5:32 PM]
oh, reminder
[5:32 PM]
The theme for the rapidly approaching Anniversary
[5:32 PM]
Hastilude!
[5:33 PM]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hastilude
Hastilude
Hastilude is a generic term used in the Middle
Ages to refer to many kinds of martial games. The word comes from
the Latin hastiludium, literally "lance game". By the 14th century,
the term usually excluded tournaments and was used to describe the
other games collectively; this seems to have coincided with the
increasing preference for rituali...
[5:33 PM]
So let the Middle-earth games begin!
[5:33 PM]
Tolkien fan gamers should be write in their comfort zone this year.
: )
[5:34 PM]
Could be a game of golf for Hobbits!
Eonw๋ Valar Yesterday at 5:35 PM
"write" in their comfort zone.
Varda Yesterday at 5:35 PM
Namarie and I will read any messages, no worries!
Eonw๋ Valar Yesterday at 5:35 PM
A hint, perhaps? ;}
Ar-Pharazon-V Yesterday at 5:35 PM
Boat jousting in Numenor.
Varda Yesterday at 5:35 PM
ohhh! neat!
[5:35 PM]
Later, gator
Ar-Pharazon-V Yesterday at 5:35 PM
namarie!
Eonw๋ Valar Yesterday at 5:35 PM
Sleep well Varda :}
[5:36 PM]
Er, enjoy your night, heh. Used to saying that much later, heh.
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Ar-Pharazon-V Yesterday at 6:21 PM
Personal gaming report:
[6:22 PM]
(non)flashgaming: 3 old ones again this week, but ones I
really liked
[6:24 PM]
https://www.kongregate.com/games/flori9/stop-the-darkness
is the first game! A strategy/building/upgrade game where you have
to develop an area, building up resources, towns and towers, in an
effort to stop the darkness that's taking over the map one square at
a time around the outside.
Kongregate
Stop the Darkness
A mini strategy game. Upgrade the land to stop
the darkness. Build villages, towers and more. The available upgrade
is based on the adjacent areas and areas bo...
[6:25 PM]
So it's timed, but you've got plenty of time as your map
shrinks, as long as you build in the middle. There's multiple
possible win conditions as well, so choose what you prefer
[6:30 PM]
https://www.kongregate.com/games/FractalSunrise/knight-errant
is a maze/puzzle game based on chess; you play a knight, one of the
last pieces of your chess kingdom, and have to move around a
chessboard world moving only in the way a knight moves.
Kongregate
Knight-errant
A chess knight#39s little adventure.
[6:31 PM]
Along the way you'll need to defeat the entire enemy chess set using
those moves, and finally save the princess from the evil queen.
[6:33 PM]
The fights can get quite tough, but if you die you just spawn a bit
earlier, so nothing is lost.
Ar-Pharazon-V Yesterday at 6:44 PM
(And I just went through it again without losing once, so it's
doable!)
[6:45 PM]
https://www.kongregate.com/games/snowroadgames/gragyriss-captor-of-princesses
is the third game! Upgrade grass, use grass to upgrade sheep, use
those to hatch and upgrade a dragon, use the dragon to conquer the
map, gain gold, upgrade more stuff including a wolf den, and collect
all 3 princesses for unique buffs
Kongregate
Gragyriss, Captor of Princesses
A strategy game about dragon life: devour lambs,
grow stronger, raid settlements, fight weak humans, elves and
undead, kidnap beautiful princesses
[6:46 PM]
Take your time, and if you lose a fight, just upgrade a bit more
before trying again.
[6:48 PM]
In fact, you can leave it on passive for a bit at points to just let
the place upgrade itself.
[6:48 PM]
For example, the sheep will go after the grass themselves when you
get them to start spawning.
top
Ar-Pharazon-V Yesterday at 7:08 PM
Blizzard gaming:
[7:10 PM]
Hearthstone:
Level 82 on the reward track now. Definitely slowing down.
[7:10 PM]
Did get demon hunter to level 42, though
[7:12 PM]
Brawl is Three Wishes. Choose a class, get a random deck with 3
wishes added; you get the first in your opening hand and every time
you spend one, you get the next one spawned in the deck.
[7:13 PM]
Often enough I see people spending their wishes early on, presumably
to draw the others early, but personally I've found it more useful
to use them later on as I could really make use of them.
[7:13 PM]
Wishes, btw, give you a choice of 3 cards that the game decides
would suit you the best in the current situation, so it's useful
when you're behind or even for the killing blow.
[7:14 PM]
WoW:
[7:16 PM]
We got heroic Soulrender down, fourth boss of the raid. Yay
progress! Bit of a gearcheck, and running practice to avoid the
torments, but after a few hiccups we finally got it down.
[7:16 PM]
Renown up to 66, enhancing a couple more conduits.
[7:17 PM]
Weekly is timewalks, which are going quite smoothly now with the new
weapon, the shards, etc. Other players too, as things seem to die
quite easily.
[7:18 PM]
Oh, and in Torghast I got the last broker-bought transmog shoulders!
Now I can spend all my phantasma on actual anima powers
[7:19 PM]
One more mount from the conservatory! The Enchanted Wakener's
Runestag. Looks quite good! All that's left now for mounts there is
the white gorm mount, which is why I'm constantly throwing untamed
spirits at the 4-grain slot now. Shouldn't take long I hope?
[7:20 PM]
And finally, more anima bought stuff! Not only did I get the last
weapon appearance from the renown vendor, leaving just some things I
can't even buy yet until later renown, but I moved on to the next
vendor, the Court of Night quartermaster, and got 2 more soulshapes
bought: the wolf and the lion!
[7:20 PM]
Seems the wolf is a recurring feature in this meeting
[7:21 PM]
And that's my report for the week!
Ar-Pharazon-V Yesterday at 7:36 PM
Oh, of extra mention, in the Flashpoint launcher I mentioned last
week, I made a favorite playlist of all the Papa Louie games, both
the platformers and the time management games. Been dabbling in them
a bit, but they are quite a grind
Ar-Pharazon-V Yesterday at 7:53 PM
well, namarie!
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