Shadow Wind history
From Shadow Wind
Contents |
Preface
The reason to write this article was to amuse others, keep history continuity and last but not least the lack of other own senseful work. We describe here our own view of how things evolved. Who is „we“? Once you read it, you will find out. There might be several „I’s“ since more people cooperated on writing this. Feel free to utilize wiki features yourself and update this page with your own views, comments, addons, pictures and anything you find relevant to create more complete picture in some respectful manner.
Once upon the time
History of part of founders (those writing more often) of this gaming community has been started in early 90s when three RL friends (Almyr, Arnalix and Genagen) started to play Holly Mission MUD game. It was real fun - especially from point of view that it was only one serious use for university DRS unix stations (one x86 processor was powering 30 unix terminals).
We liked this game and especially Arnalix played it a lot - as much as he was promoted to GM at the end. He was preparing his own in-game adventure inspired by Herbert's Dune novel – but this extension was not published to live system because other GMs thought that Dune environment does not fit to Holly Mission environment even this adventure was fully finished and tested.
Genagen was playing summoner called Edmund (inspired by Black Adder BBC serie). Arnalix was playing monk followed by his pink panther fellow. Almyr spent his time by playing some sort of wizard I hope.
Next online game we played together was Ultima Online. The most hardcore player out of our small group was… Arnalix – again. Almyr was played very introvert fisherman’s avatar and we were able to see for the first time his main online profile – peaceful crafter/gatherer. I was playing this game only a little – I did not have good internet connection at home during these days. Hence only one think I can remember from this game is fact: “I really HATE MINING”.
Next game in the row was Everquest 1 which was played AFAIK only by Arnalix out of our small group of three friends. He played wizard and during years he enjoyed this game a lot and he became international raid leader - but a lot of info about this period we got only from Arnalix’s story telling – hence do not take it serious.
SWG and CzA
Real beginning of Shadow Wind founders online gamming community was found in Star Wars Galaxies SOE online game built on SW license. We started to play this game immediately when it was lunched and – it was a pain let say. Tons of bugs, almost no content and every Live Update were promising that next one made good game out of SWG for sure. We were waiting almost 2 years for corrections but when Everquest 2 was launched we move to this game hoping for very good game based on its predecessor Everquest 1.
 CzA - Shadow Wind predecessor |
 Every day rebel's excercises |
 Funny but only in Czech |
 Genagen |
To be righteous it is necessary to say that not everything was bad in SWG. All social concepts as well as concept of crafting, mining and trading was very good and in my humble opinion in these days it was the best crafting ever seen in MMORPG games. Also concepts of cities and player housings were excellent ideas.
Our guild was called Czech Alliance because of we were gathering czech and slovak players only and we met here a lot of people that started to be core of our community: Popbob, Abadon, Trisania, Filc and many others. Guild was lead by Genagen and our city was called Ankh (+3664 +5748 near POI „Jedi Temple Ruins“, level 4) with his mayor Atriane (Arnalix’s alt). We were really proud of this city and Arnalix proved his social skills again.
 Ankh hospital (c) Almyr |
 Starting with SWG |
 Quest for the FORCE |
 Bunker adventure |
At the moment this guild is almost dead because czech/slovak community is playing on the empire side and CzA was Rebel/neutral guild only.
Also SWG changed a lot in past 2 years and everything I have wrote here is no more valid so keep it as remembrance of an old lizzard.
- Almyr:
- Efop (Almyr’s alt):
- Arnalix:
- Atriane (Arnalix’s alt):
- Genagen: Trandoshan, Teras Kasi Master, Master Pistoleer, Master Smuggler
- Rusalka (Genagen’s alt): Master musician, Master Dancer, Merchant
Here comes to the end our private add-on topic how we see it and real Shadow Wind history starts....
Birth of Shadow Wind
When we moved to Everquest 2 we were thinking about international guild from the real beginning. National concept was not seen as best in SWG for various reasons. Nationality as basic qualification criteria for selecting friends is not such a great idea when you think about it. So we have chosen indifferent name with little “Freeport” connotation – hence Shadow Wind was born. We have started as very small guild where everyone knows each other. Founders were following:
- Almyr
- Arnalix
- Eskel
- Genagen
- Mraven
- Popbob
Then later that day (well that is how you loose founders position), joined the guild also the guys like Vokoun aka Azmelid, Vacanc, Akia and Trisania.
We stated the guild will be international, we accept people we feel good with, regardless of their nationality or playing style or playing quality. We look for friends and we mean it.
Although at the beginning it was just a formal statement and also we all agreed we fit ourselves well in this concept, later it turned to work out. Original guild pages were located at www.ArGeAl.org (see how self oriented some of us were).
There was quite a number of people coming and leaving over the time, some sticked with us till present time and we hope even in the future as friends regardless of online gaming.
There are several points in that process to be remembered, since these crafted face of Shadow Wind significant positive way. In order as those happened....
Going international
We stated we are international guild. However until this point with some minor exceptions it was not totally reality, but then we met ..... yes, we met guys from Portuguese guild called Lvsitania. We fell in love with them and agreed on merger under name Shadow Wind, assigning Kure as one of three guild leaders, some others as officers to respect proportion of players. This I would personally see as the beginning of real Shadow Wind as you might know it today. We got lucky and all the bastards that joined us and forced us to speak English or Portuguese in guild chat later bacame our friends for real. We speak about names like Scatha, Kerothar, Komodo, Kure, Thanque, Rhaiz, each one of them great supporters of Shadow Wind community all the way through, their names to be written in stone.
Then the guild merged with several groups of players from various guilds, one under lead of Ghorr from Russia, names like Duremar and Torgoffka to be remembered, other under lead of Nubo from guild Lords of Chaos. Later Nubo prooved his great heart and dedication to support community and became guild leader shaping the guild style as well. Then the Swedish crowd joined Ibias, , Futtlur, Azga, Trollis and others from Dolls of Nyth.And quite a few English Eno Sunset Vomandor, Hedswill/Glaeken and Skuz to name but a few. I just know we are happy to know them.
Then other great names were joining and leaving, becoming friends over internet, some of them even marrying each other at the end (see Hedswill and Sunset story). As some more players commit to this article I am sure we will learn out more about whole bunch of great guys.
Then The Houses concept came, some of them were Bright, some of them were Lame, some of them were even Chaotic. All are friends, competetive, with sense of humour.
Raiding
 Ghoulabane raid |
 First T5 Zalak raid |
 Oxxulious garden party |
We have started with raiding in T5 approximately six moths after the game launch in cooperation with czech guilds Rytiri lva and MdK. We were really lame from the point of raiding view. After a few weeks in this coalition Genagen and Arnalix slowly started to organize this raiding force and raids. We have created rules, dkp and even we were still lame – we get some successes. One of the biggest was finishing prismatic quests series before T6 coming.
 Prismatic quest serie started |
 Preparing Wyrmsteel weapons |
 Lady Vox |
 Scripted sequence at Drayek chamber |
 Prisma1 drakota |
 DFC part of prisma1 |
 Darathar killed |
 Prisma1 finished |
Serious raiding we started at the beginning of T6 when more complex raiding zones raised and we discovered that our raid leading should change from intuitive way to more analytical one. Also Shadow Wind started to be self-sufficient in the question of raiding.
Before T7 as one of few guilds we were able to finish very hard live event while creating new portals to Kingdom of Sky data disk. Even we were underestimate theoretical study before we chosen Antonica zone it was great feeling when summoned dragon after almost three days of hard work was killed and portal in Antonica was set.
In T7 we started raiding very hardly and we move into one of the most successful raiding guild on Runnyeye. We were the fourth guild finished The Laboratory of Lord Vyemm zone. As well as we were finished Lyceum of Abhorrence very early.
RaidWiki
We decided not to keep the raiding know-how to ourself as most of the alike guilds did, but to share it with other players free for all.
We have created and published detailed walkthroughs about Spirit of the Lost and The Court of Al'Afaz zones and we were published it on our guild pages as well as it was re-published by other EQ2 sites.
We have continued in this work because it was our joy and players welcomed our articles about raiding a raiding zones walkthrough. At some point the bandwidth took down our guild pages and it led in launch of RaidWiki portal that is handling as well as our raiding knowledge as well as contribution of other players participated on our project.
At the same time we launched guild pages on www.shadow-wind.org, original verson was taken down by hackers (great job) and we also changed the style to wiki, which you see now.
Darker times
Concept of our guild was unique in my opinion. We were guild of causal players. We were not pro players as Xanadu or other pro guilds are – but we were able to do almost the same things as they did.
Around June/2006 (after one and half of very successful existence of Shadow Wind guild) a lot of things happened. A few guild members organized around 20 SW members left in conditions that I personally feel as very unfriendly – but don’t expect from me dispassionateness.
People that left SW started new pro-raiding guild, they did not make it successful and in another three weeks they partially left to other guilds (mainly Xanadu) or they stopped playing.
Shadow Wind after this act sticks together and guild spirits was raised very high. However this was perhaps worst point in the history of guild. Hopefully we have learned our lesson.
Going multi-game
Over time some players have left for various reasons like lack of time, loss of interest in EverQuest, drafted by new games coming. The concept however changed to gaming community of players that know each other and feel good about playing together other games as well.
At the moment (Q1/2008) Shadow Wind community is spread out through these games mainly:
- EVE
- Everquest 2
- Vanguard
- World of Warcraft
- Tabula Rasa
A lot of people now have their eyes on Age of Conan we will be there for sure. In case you like the people you met in this guild, just hang around forum and make sure to join us in the game of your choice.
Shadow Wind in RL
- Summer 2007: Popbob’s wedding
- Summer 2007: Nubo's holidays in the Algarve
- Winter 2007: Duremar's holidays in Prague
- Prague Xmass party 2006
- Summer 2006: Portuguese holidays in Prague
- Hedswill and Sunset story
- Summer 2004: Popbob’s cottage
Character Stories
Kami Chesed
A bright yellow sun rises on the edge of Odus. The white light brings a new life. Kerrans gather around on the royal courts. All whisper gently, they speak of a historical birth. A new face in the clan, that will forever change the lives of all. Royal banners playfully tease the horses waiting for their masters inside. They witness the naming of the special member. As the first daughter of the Queen of Odus she wears the royal head ornament. With the official crowning everyone knew from the first sight, she was born for the crown. Her mother picked her up and carried her proud to the balcony. When the giant wooden windows opened, the crowd felt a never felt peace in the their hearts. The Queen held the little bundle of joy lovingly in her arms. A warm silence fell over the hundreds of kerrans gathered to see this tiny newborn. On that moment the sun began to turn white and the rays of the sun lit up the little ones' face. Her name was given by the ancient powers themselves. The ancient forces filled her body with divine energy. She opened her eyes and that same energy could be felt by every soul who looked at her.From this moment on the first daughter of the Queen will answer to the name; "Kami".
Kami grew up bringing joy and peace to all of her kinsmen. She was loved by all. At a very young age she knew what her purpose in life would be. She would function as an oracle to her nation. She had the gift of communicating with her ancestors. She can feel the spirits of old running through her veins. Kami joined the elders to learn more about her roots and to learn how to focus on the use of her powers. Kerrans came from all over to experience her powers and to warm their hearts with her energy.
After a couple of years of being a shaman, she and her entire nation fell victim to plagues and severe hunger. Crops failed, water got poisoned and death came in such waves that even Kami's power couldn't cope with it. As a young leading figure to her people she was devastated. She came through by deciding to aid her people by offering them homemade snacks and brews. She became a provisioner. Cooking suited her well, she found another way to meditate. She liked it so much, that she soon became master chef and cooked dozens of dinners for her parents and the entire royal staff. She cooked meals for guests and for all who needed it. Hours on end she cooked, baked, roasted, grilled each dish better than the last.
Her life a shaman came to an end as soon as she turned 20 years old. As a worthy mystic she improved her skills as an oracle and a healer.
One day a brightly furred kerran walked up to her. He asked if she could see his path of life. Kami concentrated on the kerrans question. But her vision was different the any other she had. She saw his name, although he did not mention it. Only his name: Vai'Mashe. The name burned in her heart. She said to him that she had failed in her meditation. She said;"You are a true Lord of the animals, they will obey you." What she did not say, was that she still felt his name burning in her heart. Vai'Mashe turned homeward disappointed in the great and lovely oracle. After several months Kami sent for Vai'Mashe to return to her. Fear clouded her heart, she had not been able to find peace ever since the strong kerran visited. Kami told him about her true vision and her ongoing fear. Vai'Mashe kept strong to his feeling of disappointment, he couldn't cope with the failure of Kami. His faith in her was shattered. Kami told him that his path as a ranger soon would come to an end. She warned him not to venture outside the safe borders of the realm. Stout tempered stormed Vai'Mashe out of the mystic's hall. He did not come all the way over to be ordered what to do. He was born on the plains midst hoards of animals, the adventurous blood of nature spirited his mind. The drifts of nature were also very alive in this kerran. Even with Kami's warning he ventured into the unknown.
During her cooking, she saw his name in her mind. The name first bright then faded before her eyes. Pain made her freeze. How long she stood there no one knows, but for the first time ever her furnace caught fire. Flames filled the room. The heat made Kami's royal crown melt almost entirely. The melted ornament awakened her from her frozen state. The royal lakies ran into the room and doused the flames. Kami walked out the room unharmed but with a broken heart. The name once burning deep inside her, vanished.
Later that week a big stag entered the royal courts. It carried in his enormous antlers a broken kerran body. It was Vai'Mashe. Kami rushed to the deer. Through telepathic communication, the deer told her about his final hours. That he got overrun by orcs and foul zek creatures. In his lasts moments he saw Kami's eyes in front of him. His broken body healed up and he could again fight with the power of lions and the courage of buffaloes. He managed to fight them of, he fled into the forest where his soul slowly but surely left his body.He felt peace, feeling the grace of Kami taking over. And so he came to die with his faith in Kami's forces restored. At that moment he felt his love for Kami flow into eternity. Kami mourned with grief. The stag took Vai'Mashe's body back to the place of his birth,where the animals made his final resting place. His death changed Kami's way of life completely. From now on she would meet the people wherever they are instead of waiting for them to come to her. With her divine powers and cooking skills she will aid all who need it.