I have to tear myself away from questing to write this. Legion’s story has brought with it a touch of magic that is all too familiar to us story lovers. It is engaging, fun, and has that I-can’t-put-this-game-down feeling that I’ve sorely missed in WoW in the last two years. And so I return to my beloved game with a big grin…and perhaps some magic of my own, quite literally.
Once you’ve completed the Broken Shore scenario, might I suggest a trip to Karazhan. What you see floating above it is totally worth it! Join me for a journey around New Dalaran.
Contains spoilers for the Broken Shore scenario (Alliance side)
Well. I didn’t think I’d be here for this but I am – and I am excited. I managed to dip my fingers into the cursory healing mechanics of priest and druid over the weekend and it felt very much like a walk down memory lane.
This is a series I’ve been wanting to write for a while now – a special tribute to all the gnomes who have touched our lives in Azeroth. Today I’ll be starting out with one of my favourite stories of a wonderful father: Windle Sparkshine.
Windle Sparkshine, father of Kinndy Sparkshine can be found in Dalaran. Kinndy was a bright and promising mage who was apprenticing under Jaina Proudmoore at the time. During the cataclysmic bombing of Theramore, Kinndy along with many others lost their lives to the evil of Garrosh Hellscream. Windle now walks the streets of Dalaran and lights the lamps of the city every night at 9pm in memory of his beloved daughter.
Windle also sells a lighter that you can use to light any other lamps and torches in Dalaran. It has the touching flavour text: “Shine one!”
The Sparkshines’ full story can be found in the book by Christie Golden, “Tides of War”. Their story always gets me, and it’s stories like these that keep me coming back to Azeroth.
As a fitting tribute to the sacrifice of Kinndy, in Legion, Windle’s lights show an image of a laughing and cheerful Kinndy as he goes around and lights the lamps.
Windle’s Outfit:
Chest: Lesser W
izard’s Robe
Shoulders: Elder’s Mantle
Feet: Replica Magister’s Boots
Gloves: Exiled Dabbler’s Gloves (or the sneaky no-glove look as I call it)
Head: Regal Wizard Hat
Waist: Wastewalker’s Sash (Windle has a custom tailor because I couldn’t find an exact match – but this one comes pretty close. There are many others that look nice like Serenity Belt and Gossamer Belt)
Cloak: Mantle of Gnomeregan (His custom tailor strikes again… so I just went with the Mantle of Gnomeregan – hard to go wrong with it)
Tabard: Tabard of the Kirin Tor
Windle and I
The rise of the gnomes has begun! It is the time of the gnomes!! Ahem… *takes a deep breath*
*SQUEEEEAAAL* OMG OMG OMG WE’RE GETTING GNOME HUNTERS OMG OMG OMG!
I had begun to give up hope since Gamescom and Blizzcon went ahead without any major gnome news….but this…. I… I cannot stop smiling!! 😀
It’s worth noting on the outset that there’s a marked difference in Blizzard’s approach to classes in general. The Legion Class Preview Series return to the fantasy of the class and then proceed to mark out their changes and design philosophies with lore as their guide map.
It is a wonderful change from the last few years and I for one, am glad that they are returning to the core of what makes us want to play our classes. It isn’t just numbers, rotations and flavour of the month – it’s the story, character and fantasy that draws us to it.
With that in mind, I dove in to look at what they had in store for us healing priests….and so far, I like what I see!
