Seeing it is a whole different experience

Days have been running slowly save for the awesome side trip (to Avenue Q) and some other interesting tales related to it. I haven’t been able to play Cabal in what feels like an eternity. Our friends who played later than me are starting to catch up because they get to play more. I’ve been busy with a couple of things so Cabal had to take a bit of a backseat since I can’t play at home. Although I’m still working on the signatures, I haven’t quite finished them yet so they might take just a few more hours to post. By tomorrow, they’ll be ready.

So I do apologize for the lack of updates lately. Sorbetera’s been having some blues which she’ll probably explain soon enough.  But there is new material coming in. Escutcheon must be a bum by now sitting around Bloody Ice drinking his ass off. Unfortunately, I last left him trying to hunt Hound Zombies since the target head count is fifty. The number of kill steals was getting pretty annoying and another person’s remedy to it was to invite us all to one big party.

“Who the hell are they kidding?!” Sure I get some bonus experience but I’m not getting my quest done. Plus, the party was filled with Wizards and Bladers so everyone else got a better chance to nab that last hit. Mental note: Do not party with strangers when all of you are aiming for the same thing and no sharing is apparent.

But at least I have my Adept Shadowsteel equipment ready! Oh yeah… Once I hit level 40, it’ll be skill grinding time. Oh the sweetness of getting more skills. Sure, being a Force Shielder isn’t flashy but it’s better than nothing~

Must hold out just a little bit more.

Because of the continuous server maintenance for the Commercial Release of Cabal Online…

Finally, after weeks of close and open beta testing, CABAL Online is set to go commercial on June 12, 2008! This means more action, more adventure, and more reasons to play the country’s hottest and fastest-growing MMORPG today. – CM Jay

Artemisia had nowhere to go and nothing to do. Her handler Sorbetera wasn’t doing well either. There was work upon work and bad luck seemed to follow her around. Artemisia then, tried exploring the world on her own. She can only explore though, without her handler, she can’t really do anything. She can’t get her Astral Bow out and she can’t exactly defend herself.

Her light blue eyes scanned the area in Desert Scream and she was fighting the urge to visit Bein in the Research Camp right in the middle of the Desert. The bite on her shoulder was starting to heal, maybe she should pay him a visit, you know… to say thanks. But then again…

Artemisia heaved a deep breath and walked straight to the Research Camp.

… Only to go right past it and walk straight into the Zombie Warriors.

“Holy shit…” Artemisia could only utter these words upon realizing that Sorbetera wouldn’t be able to log in because of Server Maintenance. Artemisia tried summoning the Astral Bow herself but it really won’t work without your handler.

“Holy shit, holy shit, holy shit” she muttered under gasping breath as a horde of Zombies inch closer to her.

Hi everyone! Let me introduce myself. I’m Ascognati; the handler of Escutcheon. I’ll be joining Cabal Nights as a contributor of stories and whatnot. What better way to celebrate me joining the blog than to make Cabal Online avatars? I think Sorbetera already put them up on the Fan Art section so go on ahead and take a few minutes to look them up. The typical rules still apply about downloading and using them so don’t be shy.

That aside, I’ll be posting stories about my avatar Escutcheon some time in the near future so please do visit often and read it when it comes out. I promise you it should be an interesting read. For those who just started reading, Escutcheon is a Force Shielder and friend of Sorbetera’s avatar Artemisia. At the moment, I haven’t been able to log on and play due to a number of different reasons but I’ll be playing soon and hopefully catch up to Artemisia’s level.

Now, back to the avatars I just made. It’s hard to find a lot of material for Cabal Online so I just had to make do with whatever official art I could find. I hope you’ll all like them. It’s been a while since I was in the avatar-signature making field so it might not be as good as I think. So please do be kind. X3

My best ones (I think):

There’s going to be more in the Fan Art section so keep an eye out for all the awesome stuff we’re gonna put up. Just so you guys know, Sorbetera’s better than me on these things so when she starts posting stuff, you’ll know the difference between our levels of skill. She’ll probably deny everything and act all modest. Anyway, I’ll be working on some signatures, too. They’ll be ready by tomorrow or the next day depending on how many I end up making.

So stay updated. You can expect a lot more Cabal Online fan art to download soon. Oh, if I feel like it, I might also put up some sketches of mine. They’re not pro material but it’s better than some other stuff out there. XD

Artemisia had to spend one whole week trying to wash away the awful stench the Plant Toads inflicted on her. It was an awful one week, she wasn’t able to do any of the quests the people from Desert Scream asked her to do. Hey, she was a girl after all… she has to do some little freshening up before she goes around meeting people right?

Her handler, sorbetera was busy with IRL things too. You know, she has to work to get money. And as far as Artemisia knows, her handler had one too many beers that weekend. When sorbetera logged in to Cabal Online and woke Artemisia up, sorbetera was actually tipsy and a little bit drunk.

That’s why when Artemisia was trying to wash her boots in the little oasis in Desert Scream, she wasn’t able to turn around fast enough to defend herself from the Giant Snake that was about to attack her:

She was bit pretty bad. One thing she remembers about snakes though is that you have to suck the venom out if you want to live. Artemisia doesn’t really know if that’s how it works in the real world, all she knows is what her handler sorbetera knows. And sorbetera is holed up in her room most of the time rather than exploring the outdoors.

So Artemisia went to the nearest place to get help. (No, not Captain Mark’s place… that man would probably just let her go on another tough dungeon errand again) The research camp was nearby so she decided to go there. As she trudged inside the worn-down research camp, she could hear voices inside.

Arionell: Why don’t you stop being so uptight about all this Bein!! Cheer up a little!

Bein: But… I do not feel sad at all.

Arionell: You’ve been thinking waaaay too much about that girl. You haven’t had food for days!

Artemisia hesitated on entering the room. They seemed to be talking about Naain, if she wasn’t mistaken. Last time Artemisia met Bein, he asked her to gather as much information on Naain as she possibly could. She figures that Bein must be quite amused (if not genuinely interested) at Naain.

// start flashback

// end flashback

Bein wasn’t usually talkative though, Arionell on the other hand was being her usual annoying happy self. Artemisia doubts if Arionell could get anything out of Bein. In any case, she may have come in a bad time, so Artemisia turns around and prepares herself to leave. The sudden move made the wound on her shoulder gush even more blood out. Bein is apparently used to the scent of blood. He hushed Arionell from talking and immediately made his way to the entrance, flinging chairs and tables along the way.

Bein: Artemisia?! Is that you?!

He sees Artemisia’s pale face.

Artemisia: This is… nothing. I’m going now.

Arionell: WA! What’s wrong with her? Does she have a return stone?

Bein: That would tax even more of her strength. We treat her here now.

So the night was spent nursing Artemisia’s wounds. It wasn’t a particularly tough job but Bein was surprisingly gentle on her. Usually he was curt and official, he never talked about personal things or let his emotions pass through, whenever it does seep in a little though, he immediately changes the subject. But Artemisia kind of admires him like that.

The next day, Artemisia thanked them. She has a lot more quests to go, she can barely stand her ground on mummies. She has to train more.

Artemisia: I’m sorry for the trouble…

Bein: I believe we will meet again.

Artemisia: You don’t have to be so serious like that. *laughs* Anyway, I’ll be going now… thanks again!

When Artemisia got out of the Research Camp, she could’ve sworn she heard Arionell say, “Why does Artemisia smell like a Plant Toad?”

Oh great. How smooth. XD