Awe, crystal cubes and the Band.

It's Sunday evening and after having a few days to wander the map, it sunk in last night just how huge and amazing the new map is. And everyone's excited, from Dev Corps' new plans as to what's now doable to the players' exploring and discovering their old favorite haunts or just taking in the view.

What astonishes me is how Lysator did ALL of the building himself. When you wander the new map and realise how big everything is, how the scope of Gaia has just expanded. What was once Almeria is now at least 11 maps (9 main regions and Tetlacana and Quetatl). Not to mention Mordo, the first region of Esartur released. A 'dark' continent is more than welcome. And if you've tried going to Mordo you'll realise the ocean after Avalon is HUGE. Whether you love the new map or hate it (I think most of you are in the former category along with myself) you have to be in awe of the man behind the work. I praised him on release, but that praise is all the more heartfelt after wandering the new maps. I gave him Kudos before. Now I can only say: Lysator I salute you.

Twilight released Crystal Cubes to allow people a small map readout of the region they're in. It has been /vital/ to me in imagining my explorations as well as finding my way around. Thanks for releasing them.

The War Band has shrunk. We lost Suzasti during my original explorations and we got stuck in a region of what I think now is Korindim. I ended up disbanded the Band temporarily, left the horses and packs and spent two days rounding up pegasi to remount the Band as a small aerial band. We added a firelizard and an elicat to the mix, and Captain Rubernel dismissed Truct and bonded an owl, so he could stay with the Band. He's becoming a fearsome warrior in his own right now. So the War Band size is now Six Humans, Eight Pegasi, 2 drakes, an elicat, an owl and a firelizard and myself. So from 26 to 19. There's a free pegasi I use for when I'm helping newbies. We've raided Mordo and hit some other places. S'been a lot of fun and I don't regret using Gavadel to test the new map, even with the loss of Suzasti, makes me prouder of my little Band.