Tuesday (18 Sep) - Surprise Attack!

Tuesday (18 Sep) - Surprise Attack!

Happy was rather desultorily stacking boxes of goods that wasn't selling. Not much of anything was selling. This was on Monday, and everyone was anxious for Tuesday to arrive for the launch of the war. Happy then started seeing comments in the trade channel referring to the start of the war. What? Really? Yes, Blizzard pulled a fast one. Sometime on Monday the Theremore Falls scenario became available to level 85s.

Warlord Garrosh must have gotten very impatient, setting sail a full day ahead of the planned launch. So much for the schedule. On Monday night JB (melee shaman) hooked up with Sin (druid healer) and friend Dm (warlock) to take part in the attack. Dm had already been through the battle, but for Sin and JB, it was a rush to join the fleet in the assault. We did not have a tank in our group. DM said that having a tank was "helpful" but not required.

There are four stages of the battle. In the first stage, we made landfall, jumped on our mounts, and rushed down a series of piers to the first ship, which were still tied to the pier. There were numerous defenders, but nothing too difficult for the threesome. We had to set a barrel to explode while fending off the bad guys. Dm and Sin did most of that. JB just killed things. One major tip is - Don't fall in the water. Its a long swim back. There are six ships to board, and there are patrols of mobs on the piers to deal with, too. Each ship captain is like a mini-boss and have their own special abilities.

In Stage 3 (ok, so we rushed through stage 2 too fast for me to see what went on) we talked to a flightmaster on the pier, and then we went around and killed a bunch of mobs. There are three gryphon riders to deal with that was a little bit challenging. Sin earned his keep keeping us alive. With no tank, JB also helped a little with self-healing. 

Next, we had to sabotage some tanks, and then battled a special tank that was one of the more engaging fights. It wasn't hard, unless you stood around where you shouldn't. The tank is just like one of those you'd ride in Winterspring, including battering ram. 

In the final phase we headed into a castle, killed our way to the basement, where we then killed a jailor and freed a spy that had been captured. Once the spy is freed a portal opens, and we went to a cut scene. In the scene a horde zep drops a mana bomb that destroys Theremore.

You get a prize for each completion, as well as a small chance of getting gear drops. On the battle itself, I thought it was fun but not very challenging. JB worried that she would be too rusty to deliver the necessary DPS and would hold the others back. But even without a tank to absorb damage, a melee shaman, druid healer, and a warlock made pretty short work of the Alliance at Theremore.

Frankly, overall it was a bit of a disappointment. For example, there are hardly any explanations of what is supposed to be going on in each phase. I had no idea we were supposed to be rescuing a spy. The scenario was over-hyped and a lot of folks are going to feel let down.

As news of the victory at Theremore filtered to the lands of the Horde, Jocey was on her way back from Sunstrider Isle to Silvermoon City. On the way she made a detour and gathered up the still in hiding EZ. Jocey and EZ shared their stories, fitting some pieces together, but there were still questions. Did Naithipe and Gamon sail off to Theremore? According to EZ, the ship Naithipe captured did set sail. On the assumption that Naithipe was on that ship, Jocey was certain it would have raced to Theremore. Theremore was obliterated, and Warlord Garrosh still lives. Does Garrosh know of Naithipe's treason? Did Naithipe even make it to the battle? Where was she when that mana bomb was dropped on the city? Jocey thought a lot about Naithipe on the trip back to Silvermoon City. She didn't have any firm answers to those questions, of course. She knew she had seen a side of Naithipe never before revealed, though, in those few hours they spent together. Jocey hoped Naithipe had survived, and was safe. But she didn't believe it.