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Post by Ian Wolf-Park on Jul 5, 2024 8:47:03 GMT -5
Remember the Advent Calendar? That comics that depict the events prior to the plot concludes
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Post by Kat on Jul 5, 2024 9:05:32 GMT -5
Sorry, I need to get this off my chest, but you know what that light faerie doll reminds me of? The Corrupted Light Faerie from NQII.
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Post by Breakingchains on Jul 5, 2024 14:21:34 GMT -5
Discussion from the neoboards that I thought was interesting: if Baelia is finally getting a new name, what is it going to be?
Disclaimer: I do not speak Welsh. I'm using common internet resources. BUT, I got curious and according to google translate, "bael" is "pale" in Welsh. As such, I suspect this might be Baelia's name origin--Welsh "pale" + a feminine ending.
Baelia used to be a light faerie. Therefore, I'm proposing: Claeria (claer = bright, shining)
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Post by charming thievery on Jul 5, 2024 19:38:21 GMT -5
Discussion from the neoboards that I thought was interesting: if Baelia is finally getting a new name, what is it going to be? Disclaimer: I do not speak Welsh. I'm using common internet resources. BUT, I got curious and according to google translate, "bael" is "pale" in Welsh. As such, I suspect this might be Baelia's name origin--Welsh "pale" + a feminine ending. Baelia used to be a light faerie. Therefore, I'm proposing: Claeria (claer = bright, shining) Ooh, I like that! ^^ I mean, I still prefer Baelia as she is, appearance and name-wise... (honestly, the grey/sad demeanor is a big part of why she's my fave), but for her character in-story, of course I'd want the best for her! <3 Anyway...I'm still a bit checked out from Neopets, so I actually don't mind the slow drip of content (it's a relief actually), even though I can understand how that'd be frustrating. In fact, if it were bingeable and got to the interesting parts faster, it might've actually reignited my interest in the site really quickly. As it is though...I'm not as invested as I'd want to be, considering so many great things are happening right now! (And I'm very concerned about the AC...because I'm kind of dreading it. Which sucks because that was always my fave event. OTZ)
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Post by Stephanie (swordlilly) on Jul 6, 2024 13:27:45 GMT -5
I'm still a bit checked out from Neopets, so I actually don't mind the slow drip of content (it's a relief actually), even though I can understand how that'd be frustrating. In fact, if it were bingeable and got to the interesting parts faster, it might've actually reignited my interest in the site really quickly. As it is though...I'm not as invested as I'd want to be, considering so many great things are happening right now! I'm kind of in the same boat! ^^; I thought about subscribing to the daily Discord ping to go in and collect the void essences - and did, for a day - but when it pinged, I felt more annoyed than anything else, so I ended up unsubscribing. If the content was more bingeable or engaging I'd definitely be more invested. I used to follow along with the webcomic Gunnerkrigg Court, for instance; sometimes I took breaks from reading for months at a time, but I was always able to get caught up whenever I checked back in. (And I'm very concerned about the AC...because I'm kind of dreading it. Which sucks because that was always my fave event. OTZ) It's funny because last year and the year before I was super invested in the AC, feeling like I had to put in the hours to keep up with it, but I don't feel this way anymore. It'd be nice to get a Thunder Sticks and Wand of the Dark Faerie or whatever but there aren't any interesting enemies to fight. xD Maybe there will be in the future but who knows. The Battledome itself needs repair and I just don't think the current team is up to the task, although they did designate a battledome ambassador so it seems to be on their backburner list of things to do, at least. Anyway uhhh I will catch up with reading when there's more story happening, I guess. It feels like there's a lot of story to be told but it's being held back by the lack of interesting plot steps. I also got the shiny new Void background and have placed it into my closet for now, to be used when... the closet is more functional, someday! There allegedly is a way to make it load more smoothly but again it seems to not be a priority at the moment.
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Post by Duke Pikachu on Jul 6, 2024 20:28:53 GMT -5
"STORY SO FAR" THOUGHTS:I guess this would be a continuation of my post on page 4 where I gave my quick thoughts on Meridell's Greying. But now it's time to go over the Comics, or maybe in this case Story since not all "pages" are comics. Here's the link eitherway. Chapter 1, Page 1: (Rude Awakening) The Greying of Meridell, featuring probably the three Meridell heroes you'd think of first reacting to being Greyed: Jeran, Lisha, and Tormund. I was a bit confused at some of the panels, but after giving it some thought I could think of a scenario explaining it.
Jeran would likely be one of the first woken up by a soldier or guard that something terrible has happened, Jeran rushing to put on his armor (likely in a dimly lit room) ignoring any grogginess he's feeling. Upon seeing everything and everyone has been Greyed, either he realized or someone else pointed out to him he's also likely been Greyed, thus us getting the panel of him outside checking his reflection in his sword, stunned at his appearance.
Lisha's panel you can take as two ways: Either she was doing a cram session last night, fell asleep at some point (also I think she's on a bench? At first I thought she was on a desk but I couldn't think of a reason why she would), and woke up thus the panel we got. Or this isn't the first reaction but rather Lisha saw she'd been Greyed (and likely everyone else) and immediately started looking through books for an answer, the panel here showing her examining her condition to see if she could match it to what she's reading.
Tor is the least confusing as it's not a reaction to his condition but a response: writing a letter to Roberta likely alerting and warning her what has happened.
Each comic chapter also comes with a unique prize. This one is Grey Paint Filter, which would be cool if that what it was, but it's more of a frame than a filter. Still, it's something to get your Neopet into the proper gloomy mood.
Page 2: (Skarl's Solution) King Skarl wakes up cussing (I guess that's one advantage to the comic not having dialogue; do you think Skarl used actual swears or Neopian versions?) and we jumpcut to him in the Rainbow Fountain trying to wash the Grey away. While the focus is on Skarl acting ridiculous, the little additional details kind of save this page for me.
I can only imagine what Naia is thinking at the moment, she's obviously not thrilled someone is bathing in the Rainbow Fountain, but then again likely by now everyone knows of the Grey Curse so is curious if her Rainbow Fountain could do anything about it.
Skarl brought an interesting entourage with him (I'm going to assume he has a whole platoon of guards lining the perimeter of the Rainbow Fountain). We have the Draik guard that woke him up whose also acting as an attendant (you'd think those would be tow different positions but maybe the attendants are handling things in Meridell as Skarl tries his own solution); love the Rubber Duck Mallard (which surprisingly isn't an item; oddly we have a Half Eaten Rubber Mallard but no non-damage version (we also have a normal Rubber Duck toy but that's besides the point)). Also I guess Skarl isn't afraid to get the royal crown wet; he may only be wearing swim trunks (I highly doubt Naia would let him in naked) but he still has to show he's a king. But then looking on is the Guess the Weight of the Marrow Wocky, a Mortog, and a Kacheek which is maybe Alton (Potato Counter host). Odd group, I get their the hosts of Meridell activities but that's a meta reason, if King Skarl brought anyone else along it would be members of his court (including knights) and maybe characters like Morris and Boris (I'd imagine Kayla would stay in Meridell to help Lisha). Also, what about Illusen; Has she been Greyed or was t only the entrance of her Glade that has been and she's fine?
Anyway, back to King Skarl, as an extra precaution he brought with him a batch of Blue Paint Brushes (and Blue Petpet Paint Brushes for some reason, King Skarl I get your grasping for a solution but I think we can rule out some things). This even gets a callback later on.
Page Prize: Grey Oil-sheen Rainbow Fountain Background. A funny Background (though I think we should have gotten the Rubber Mallard), and its interesting as it suggests King Skarl was able to wash away some of the Grey... it's just that it didn't change his Color (though I guess there's an alternative explanation that the grey residue is normal dirt that was just Greyed along with the character). Eitherway hopefully it doesn't have a negative effect on the Rainbow Fountain.
Page 3, 4, & 5: (World Leader Summit) Page 3 is just the proclamation sent out by King Altador (and I'm also guessing Fyora) to all the world leaders and defenders that they really should get together to talk about Meridell turning Grey and the giant tear in the sky. While odd to call it a page, at the same time I do like that these little graphics which normally vanish after viewing them once are now being placed somewhere you can go back to them. I'm hoping they do this with future events like Halloween Trick-Or-Treating and Festival of Neggs' Negg Hunt.
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Page 4 & 5 is cameos galore as the world leaders gather. Who we see, separating them by lands:
* Altador: King Altador, Torakor, Florin, Fauna, Marak, Jerdana (being they're in Altador I imagine all the current active members are either there or around. Missing are Siyana, Sasha, Gordos, & Kelland. Psellia's status as still a member is unknown, as well as whether she is there) * Faerieland: Fyora * Neopia Central: Judge Hog, Aisheena, Blackwing (I'm guessing they're going for a Superman, Wonder Woman, and Batman (aka the "DC Trinity") reference?) * Lost Desert: Amira (Sakhmet), King Jazan & Queen Nabile (and there's an art mistake, the comic shows Jazan is drawn in his black robes but at the Hub's table he's in his white robes) * Darigan Citadel: Lord Darigan * Roo Island: King Roo * Krawk Island: Governor McGill * Moltara: Mayor of Moltara * Virtupets Space Station: Commander Valka * Dacardia: Chief Adler Honcho * Tyrannia: Kyruggi * Other: Orion, Dr. Landelbrot * Meridell: King Skarl (Not in the comics but is at the hub table) * Brightvale: King Hagan (Not in the comics but is at the hub table) * Maraqua: King Kelpbeard (Not in the comics but is at the hub table) * Shenkuu: Emperor Yun (Not in the comics (though the Cyodrake's Gaze is at the harbor) or at the hub table but he has some dialogue on Page 6)
Missing lands are Haunted Woods (not sure who they would send; Edna? Sophie?), Kiko Lake (there's Mayor Fuff but his canonicity is in question), Kreludor (unless Commander Valka is also representing them, it would be Xarthab and/or Zorlix), Mystery Island (obviously one or two of the five Island Guardians, likely the Island Mystic and maybe the Tour Guide Native), & Terror Mountain (Taelia definitely, Keeper of Time maybe); I'm going to assume Lutari Island (and Jelly World) in a non-factor.
Though it's just two pages of cameos there are still some fun things. Blackwing doesn't look happy having to be carried ("I appreciate you wanting me to come along, Judge, but I think Brexis would have been a better choice, at least he can fly"). King Roo and Lord Darigan certainly make an interesting pair (Darigan be like "if he talks about Dice-A-Roo one more time... why didn't I bring Vex with me"). As well as Jerdana and Dr. Landelbrot, though we'll get to that on Page 6.
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Page Prizes: Page 4 is Ships on the Altador Coast Painting, nothing too special though would have probably made a nice Furniture item. Page 5 is Council of Leaders Stamp, though I'll be honest after the AC I'm all album item out. Also wouldn't it make more sense for this to be an image of the leaders at the hub table instead of just Jazan?
Page 6: (Talking Figure Heads) I'm not going to go over all the story beats, just anything that catches my eye.
No Nabile, everyone affected by the Grey Curse just wants to get in-character.
They're all quick to assume someone is responsible. For all they know it could be a dimensional/reality-bending phenomenon.
Well neither did the Wraith (or Wraith-imitating) magic she used last time. Don't think they can shelve it being the Darkest Faerie just yet.
No, that doesn't rule him out, at least just yet. And as Fyora suggested even if its not him it could be one of his followers.
This is interesting upgrade for the Library Faerie. She's not just an owner of the Faerie Bookshop & host of the Faerie Crosswords, but she's also an archivist for the Faerieland Court? I guess this also explains why they suddenly updated her character (she's now partially disabled, need crutches and a wheelchair), she's going to have a part in the plot.
Never change, King Roo.
And that's pretty much anything I'd like to note. It's interesting that Jerdana seems to be able to keep up with Dr. Landelbrot's science talk (not that he says anything too techno-babbly).
Though looks like I talked too soon about them saving out-of-comic dialogue. While this world leaders meeting is its own page, there was additional dialogue on the hub page from Fyora about fetching Baelia (which is hinted at at the end of the meeting) and Dr. Landelbrot explaining the Void Essence collecting.
Page 7, 8 & 9: (A Grey Journey)Page 7 is just a nice picture of Baelia watching a Nova, Supernova, Ultranova, and I guess we'll call the colorful one a Rainbow Nova zipping around in the night sky.
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Page 8 is another dialogue and it starts with a character that debut with Baelia over 20 years ago (real world time, I don't think that much time has meant to have passed in Neopia) but rarely received any mentions until recently: Tavi, the Kyrii that rescued her! Tavi finds Baelia who mentions trouble sleeping ("I never feel more awake than when my head hits the pillow" Too true, too true). Tavi asks Baelia if she had bad dreams before turning to a Grey Faerie which she hesitates to answer (why?), but then Naia appears. A bit odd for Fyora to send Naia to tell Baelia what's going on, but then again if there's any Faerie who you would believe there's a Colour that even the Rainbow Fountain can't change, it would be the Rainbow Fountain Faerie herself.
Naia fills them in what's been happening and we learn a few things that have happened over the in-world years since Tavi rescued Baelia. Goes without saying that the Rainbow Fountain can't help Grey Faeries either. Then possibly a retcon? Tavi mentions that it's because of Jennumara's curse that she needs to get a new name in order to get back her wings and power. So, is the "get a new name" something that only applies to Baelia but not other Grey Faeries? Anyway, Tavi had tried coming up with new names for Baelia but no luck, unsurprisingly. And so, seeing this as both a chance to help Neopia and herself, Baelia along with Tavi decide to go to Alta... Meridell. Huh, I guess Fyora figures Baelia wouldn't has any info now so skipped to just sending her to Meridell to see what she could dig up.
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And finally Page 9 has them packing up and, Baelia, I think there's a few other reasons why you can't sleep at night: if you do your house may very well collapse on top of you. That or a dust bunny might suffocate you. Honestly I'm surprised Baelia even has a home, I would have thought that Faerieland would have a boarding house for Grey Faeries until they can find a way to cure them cause without magic a Faerie has trouble taking care of themselves. Well, looks like I was right about that last part, though not so much on the first. Though I can also see another reason why Baelia's house is a wreck: she doesn't use it that much. She has no creativity or hobbies thus, even if she took care of her house, it's not like she's going to make it look nice or keep that much stuff in it. Thus she prefers to sleep outside where she can watch nature, the sky, and natural phenomena or sleeps over at other's to see how they decorated their homes or have collected.
Quick oddity I noticed, Tavi is holding a potion in the top panel. I could have sworn I saw that potion design before so I looked through JN's Item Database and found it, and it's an odd case. The potion that Tavi is holding is just a Healing Potion. But it's not the Healing Potion design we're familiar with (that is sold in at the Healing Springs), it's the design of the Healing Potion as depicted in the old TCG. That's some digging they did, I have no idea why they chose to use that design as almost no one is going to recognize it. An easter egg for a defunct product? Like, if they plan on updating the Healing Potions artwork so they're all in bottles that look like that design I wouldn't be against it.
And finally off to Meridell, but first a quick stop to Brightvale...
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Page Prizes: Page 7 is Baelias Backyard Background, another nice background which I can see going with Faerieland or Nova based customizations. Page 9 is Faded Light Faerie Doll, a bit of a morbid reminder of what Baelia used to be. Don't think we'll get it, but would be interesting if they made other themed "ruined" dolls for the other basic elements: Burnt Fire Faerie Doll, Washed Out Water Faerie Doll, Twisted Air Faerie Doll, Crushed Earth Faerie Doll, and Decayed Dark Faerie Doll.
Page 10: (We Resume Our Story) To say nothing much is to overlook that it seems like we've "caught up" to where the Advent Calendar teaser left off! And, oh look, Brightvale. So looks like Baelia and Tavi are going to meet with Nyx and her Faellie. I'm also wondering if Roberta may get involved, Tor wrote to her on the first page and with King Hagan at the world leader meeting she could be helping "hold down the fort" with Hagan's other advisers. Not saying she'll become a member of the group that seems to be forming, but maybe she'll be able to help them out like get them out of Brightvale (cause I have a feeling Nyx is going to show up in a bit of a flash, spewing energy similar to that which King Hagan sent warning about. I also can't imagine too many would be happy a Grey Faerie has showed up after a whole entire land was turned grey, can be seen as a bad omen).
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Page Prize: Swirling Void Stamp. Ooh, very pretty! I can forgive it being another stamp as long as its visually interesting.
And we're caught up to the stor. This took longer than I thought, so going to save further discussions for tomorrow. Though I did get most of my thoughts off my chest.
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Post by Ian Wolf-Park on Jul 7, 2024 4:37:03 GMT -5
Looks like hapter 1 is about to end soon.
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Post by June Scarlet on Jul 7, 2024 7:55:44 GMT -5
Just a note that reading that reminder is worth one point still!
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Post by Ian Wolf-Park on Jul 8, 2024 2:55:41 GMT -5
EXTRA! EXTRA! READ ALL ABOUT IT! Brightvale is the second land to be hit by the Curse! Also, a couple of updates -Void essence collecting is now erratic, instead of remaining in Roo Island, Brightvale and Meridell. Initially was 3 random locations for each person, but is now 3 random locations for everyone -The Hospital has a 'volunteer center' opening soon. There's also this from the 1st part of Chapter 2 -The 'From the Very Beginning' Fearless Deed has been updated to say 'Joined in the 1st week' instead of 'Complete everything in the the 1st week', so you might have some additional points added.
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Post by Fraze on Jul 8, 2024 5:12:55 GMT -5
Hmm, so it looks like we will be getting intermittent Obelisk-style skirmishes. There's a timer counting down to the start of the battle, it's going to start at 10 AM NST.
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Post by June Scarlet on Jul 8, 2024 10:12:06 GMT -5
Hey, hey, random theory about the Yurble in today's comic. What if it's Jacko the Phantom Painter, from the random event, revealed at last?
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Post by PFA on Jul 8, 2024 14:36:55 GMT -5
The battledome step is up, but the website is very laggy and the battles seem to be extremely bugged, so proceed with caution. Good news, we can indeed double dip and do both battling and hospital volunteering!
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Post by Breakingchains on Jul 8, 2024 15:29:51 GMT -5
Ooooof this lag is sooooo bad. Wezsley is on the volunteer team; Comet is my battler and so far makes very short work of voidlings. Hopefully the waves system and the prowlers are fixed tomorrow, since both are currently unavailable and I'm pretty sure I'm not actually earning any points. I've managed to get two battles done in almost an hour.
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Post by Duke Pikachu on Jul 8, 2024 15:58:17 GMT -5
I and many others are stuck in a glitch. This is basically my experience battling:
* Battled ONE Voidlng and got 10 points. * Battle result screen popped up with the usual "Rematch", "New Opponent", & "Exit" * Had no clue how to get the next opponent in the wave so pressed the "X". * Kicked to the normal BD. * Went through the whole process again and battled second Voidling but was told I reached my maximum points.
I'm assuming after winning we're supposed to automatically challenge the next opponent, right? So we shouldn't be seeing the normal battle results with the three options?
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Post by Ian Wolf-Park on Jul 8, 2024 16:14:10 GMT -5
Neoj (lab rat) is going to be my main battler, with the rest taking turns volunteering (Opren and Ocean are probably take the lion's share).
Yeah, if the lag's bad, I'll just stick to volunteering for the time being.
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