Poms!Wonderful: A Pom's-eye view of Neo Steam

Guild Wars

2009-09-14T10:50:00.000-07:00

Hello, ladies

Here I am spending quality time with my newly adopted brothers- and sisters-at-arms, Affinity. They're a good group of chaps who put up with myself and Jocelyn admirably. But no time to get into that now, it's time for Guild vs Guild!

A traffic jam of onlookers, cheering, shouting, and popcorn galore! Affinity was lucky enough to have a fighter in the 5x bracket of the mid-level tournament of champions, and we all crowded the north side to cheer him on in a show of teacup solidarity.

Affinity's champion, AzureDemon

The fighting was grueling and brutal as one after another summons pummeled each other into submission. Nearly every match went into overtime.

AzureDemon won two matches in a row and we erupted in applause! Other matches were called for no-shows and disqualifications and the final match was soon at hand.

Sadly, AzureDemon was defeated by the representative from Zombies in the last seconds of overtime. Excellent run though, AzureDemon! Cheers to you!

Back at the guildhall we danced through the night and had a righteous tea party.

Till next time, be excellent to each other!

Atlus Swag

2009-07-28T10:06:00.000-07:00

We're all Poms here

Not pictured: Jocelyn coveting her cellphone accessory.

Rope Isle

2009-07-14T21:19:00.000-07:00

Just when you thought Beta was the end of it, no! We're not ones to sit on our laurels. The Poms soldier on. Hopefully we'll soon have pics of the wonderful swag Atlus is sending us, because we love them so much. For now, there's still a world to explore, and I'm just the Pom to explore it.

Of all the events in the wide land of Chrysalis worth celebrating, today's release of the fabled and feared Rope Isle has to be the grandest and greatest yet. It's a whole small continent full of new monsters and new challenges, with an enemy nation camped so near you can almost hear them plotting.

Rope Island map

Immediately after docking at the Rogwel stronghold I board my steamwalker and get to walkin'. There are only two steam balloon routes in Rope Isle, but once you get to the Crom city north of town there's a cannon to catapult yourself (at a steep price) further into the fray.

Stairs of Doomy Doom

Best leave this chap alone

But once it seemed I'd walked halfway across the island, I hit an impass: A massive rounded shield door. Built, it read, to keep the war in.

Past this shield wall lies the battleground, the place where the two realms of Chrysalis will soon meet for large-scale war.

On the other side of the shield was a small stronghold with a few guards, and a deposit of lesser energy stones. Everywhere were ports for the building of war machines, cannons, zeppelin docks. There were three castles with massive gates and fortifications, and inside, a steam core.

The war field is eerily silent and entirely empty, but one can just imagine what unspeakable sufferings are in store for these windy plains.

Look, the Elerd-held castle. I can't go in right now, but might as well take a snapshot of myself pretending to conquer it.

Our precious steam core, essential for holding Garmedis castle. Also inside our castle was the entrance to the Ancient and Abyssal factories, some of the darkest dungeons known to Pom.

That was my first look at Rope Isle. Sure it was a look from atop a speeding steam walker, but I did manage to get a good glimpse of what's in store. I'll get down to exploring it in full just as soon as I'm a little less prone to dying.

Back to the grind! Poms for the win!

Poms Forever

2009-06-12T00:00:00.000-07:00

Check out some full-screen shots in the screenshot gallery.

Launch Party Rogwel!

2009-06-11T21:35:00.000-07:00

Fly, my pretties! Fly!

Bringin' home the Bacon

TY ATLUS

LOVE, ROGWEL

Poms Farewell!

2009-06-09T01:19:00.000-07:00

David Drocilephisus Rangidoon Bop, Chrysalis Explorer, Neo Steam

Jocelyn, Rogwellian, Neo Steam

What a wonderful ride it's been! I'd like to thank everyone for giving us such a picturesque experience all around Chrysalis.

On the final day I caught up with some of the Breakfast Crew

All Poms go to Heaven

Everyone was friendly and inviting and frequently hilarious. I've never experienced such an instantly accepting community as I've found here.

Who stole a cookie from Cookies For Rogwel? Who me? Yes you! Couldn't be! Then who?

The Greticos arena in the last seconds of Open Beta

We'd like to thank all the people we've met around town, and the Gods especially for delivering such an engaging and amusing world. We'd also like to thank personally all the people who show up in these pictures, Rogwel and Elerd alike. Without you there'd be no Neo Steam.

See you on the flip side! We love you all! Peace!

Final Day! Elerd Rescue 2

2009-06-08T23:41:00.000-07:00

Sorry but your princess is in another castle

Cerita Praha, the Elerd capital. Once I walked these stone floors in the entourage of a doomed Rogwel raiding party. Now I walk down in broad daylight and tip my hat to the guards as I smile my way in. Why didn't I think of this before?

The Elerd crafting machines look like a mix between a brass typewriter, a jewelry box, and a Fabergé crustacean. It's marked "Paws off" for some reason, though feel free to make a campfire nearby.

The entrance to the hall of Cerity Praha has a golden dragon guarding it. Do they really want something this unfriendly to be the symbol of the government? Look at that thing. I don't want to petition that thing for local zoning ordinances, it looks like it'd golden flame my whiskers off.

I resist the urge to make the victory sign

I'm an Elerd, so no one stops me from walking right down the main hall.

A Rogwel Pom? Here? in the hall of the king? (Where is the king, anyway? Is there a king? A queen? Some sort of Duke?) Does this mean that the ancient Maestros were also Rogwel Poms — dark, brownish lovepuffs with winning smiles and unspeakably dashing demeanors? Would that mean that the whitish Poms of Elerd are of a different bloodline? Or are we more racially similar than we realize?

On further consideration it's more likely the Elerds just stole this dude like they did our zeppelins and trains and put him up here as a prop.

I give him a glance to see if he recognizes me for what I am, but he retains a stoic if amicable impassivity. Or he's a statue.

I bow before the High Priestess, the most senior member of the Elerd royaleaucracy that I can manage to get an audience with. She's a tall Elf of indeterminate age, delicate features, and a svelte, lithe frame. LIKE EVERY OTHER ELF.

Sorry princess but there were a lot of stairs on the way here. Hope you don't mind. Do they make your cloaks with earholes?

My query is simple. My cousin/sister/friend has recently come to the city from the outskirts of Whereverville, is there any way to find out where she's ended up?

In an extremely polite manner she tells me to get lost. It was so polite in fact that I was halfway to getting lost before she finished, and quite ready to apologize for ever not being lost in the first place. Why should I ever assume that a complex government like Elerd's would bother with up-to-date census material? Or that any government member would have the time to go through it even if they did? Don't I realize that they are already extremely busy standing there, sometimes swaying to one side, sometimes pacing?

They remind me quite a bit of Rogwel's government actually.

Only one more place to check: the town of Bijumir. It's not likely that I would ever find her there, that place is more for mystics and hippies than good, hardworking Poms like us.

Ah, Bijumir, city of mills. Last time I was here I got chased onto the docks by a small mob before leaping courageously into the brine to escape. (Okay I was chased by two people and got a sound butt-whupping.)

I come to the reflecting pool and who do I see, sadly standing on the stairs of the cool clear fountain like an ancient water-bearer, but my friend.

My heart leaps out of my chest and plops down the steps like a slinky.

She is astonished of course, but she immediately recognizes me behind the white hair and blushing cheeks and runs into reeds in shame or surprise or something cute like that. I wade in after her and tell her it's alright, it's just me, I just want to see if you're okay!

When in doubt, Dance

But why are you dressed in those robes? She is a mystic, she tells me, she is studying the powers of fire. This is a chance at a new life, a way to start over, to see new things and be a new person in a new land. She had to come to Elerd, and had to do it without me.

But she is sad at the same time, because, she tells me, though everything here is beautiful, none of it is home.

I guess I understand. And I'd been too busy trying to crack open Rogwel like it was my own personal puzzlebox to remember how lost I felt at the beginning of this journey. And how new and wonderful it all looked that first day...

I tell her it's alright, she can go native if she wants. Elerd isn't our enemy, no more than Rogwel is truly our home. Just let me deliver messages to your family, let me visit often, and keep telling me what a good time you're having.

We sit down by the docks of Bijumir, the wide open sea and violet sky out in front of us, as wild and unpredictable as the future itself.

"No, I guess I've had enough," she says. "Let's go back."

It wasn't an ending, and it wasn't a beginning. I guess it was just a moving, like the gears of a great steam machine. And as this journey winds to an close I can almost already see, out there in the clouds, all the future adventures stretching out before us.

Ah, a Pom's work is never done...

Final Day of OBT! Elerd Rescue

2009-06-08T22:33:00.000-07:00

Dovid Snuffleupagus Brigadoon Mop, Pom-Vivant and Exploratory Connoisseur

It took hours and seven bottles of hair dye (not to mention an ear bob) to manage it but here I am, more Elerd than Elerd, a lilly-white magical Pom. A PomSpy. I'm going to Elerd whether Jocelyn wants me to or not. I'm going to make sure everything's alright and I'm not leaving till I do. And not a second to lose!

Totally Elerd

Finally I have the ability to experience this continent the way the natives do, leisurely, not while running from half a dozen dragons. But I never wanted to be so sneaky about it. The self-proclaimed unofficial ambassador of Rogwel abhors deception!

Alas, this is the only way. I brought my dear friend into this and might have driven her to this strange and unexpected jaunt. I just couldn't live with myself if anything were to happen to her.

I arrive in Nasdaim and start acclimating myself to these new surroundings, trying to blend in.

First thing you'd notice about the city would be all the Elves. Elves everywhere, up and down, and still not a male in sight. Little Elves must be magically conjured into being. Or else those more-than-frequent raids into Rogwel are for more than just Neo Steam (you dirty little monkeys).

And what do I see waiting on the Nasdaim docks but what is clearly a stolen Rogwel airship. They painted it blue but didn't even bother to change the insignia! There are Maestros in Elerd, there are Poms a-plenty, they can make their own stuff so why steal ours?

Clearly these Elves are a tricky sort.

Almost immediately I pass by Yuna, the Elf evoker I had met what seems like ages ago in the long-contested fields of Riall. While I'd seen her several times since it'd always been at the business end of a barrage of fireballs.

How much older and more hardened she seems now! And here I am, inches away from her. Does she suspect? If I were to tell her my true identity, what do you think she would do? Would she set me on fire?

She'd probably set me on fire

I try to act normal as I walk on by.

I waste no time in setting about finding Jocelyn, out there somewhere in this wide world. If only she'd have told me what she wanted to do! I would have gladly come along, I could have been there! Now, anything could happen.

There's no time to lose!

Ok first I had to befriend this lovely floating mermaid thing, isn't she cute? Eee!

And look at that engineering! So near to ours yet based on entirely different principles, almost animorphic in design. I wonder how its speed compares to ours. Wait, can't delay! Must find Jocelyn!

I head for the Steam Balloon, which I've finally decided is the only way for a Pom to travel.

Why are those squares so mad?

Mah Bukkit

Riding in Balloons with Poms

I ask around but people are strangely reticent. Not only with me, a young outsider, but even with each other. Where the comunications in Rogwel were frequent and boisterous, Elerd seems remarkably subdued and insular. Calls come out for possible parties, for help, and are quietly ridiculed. The Gods when they speak seem more helpful if a mite more condescending.

I decide there's only one way to get anywhere, and that's by going straight to the heart. I board the subway to Cerity Praha Castle, to take my plea to the highest authorities.

MORE STOLEN ROGWEL TECHNOLOGY!!!

The Great Escape

2009-06-07T00:20:00.000-07:00

It is done! The transformation is complete. I took David's transpomer and found myself in a most thunderous and dizzying cloud! When I landed the world had changed and so had I.

Help me Obi Pom Kenobi! It's not Princess Leia, it's me!

Elerd was a strange land. How strange? Well, for one, the trees had faces.

This was no giving tree.

No wonder Elerdians always seemed a bit off to me. Talking to kindling in the making and whatnot. There was also the matter of these strange beasts right outside the gates. Why would anyone want to harm these sweet pink fluffs?

The cotton candy here is really busy.

Could I learn to live in this fantasy forever? Something deep down told me different, but I think that was indigestion. Pufus are so gamey. I hope David isn't too mad with me. He of all Poms should understand wayfaring.

Jacelyn, Mystic

Poms Apart

2009-06-06T23:43:00.000-07:00

She's gone to Elerd! Oh no! What can I do?

The City Pom

2009-06-06T18:49:00.000-07:00

Mine. No, Mine. Mine. Mine. Mine

The city life is for me! The hustle and hoopla has got me movin' so fast I hardly have time to write to all my pomily back home. I've gotten used to all the noise and machines it takes to run this world. "Rogs are cogs" as GrammyPom says. The subway, once a thing of wonder, is now commonplace. Even ballooning is nothing special. My dear guide in the city managed to get me a job making weapons after his little "breakdown" in Riall. He says that now he is a changed Pom. I understand how a pom can only be pushed so far before pushing back.

We hold the fountain against evil diamonds

After that day of chaos and giant poms I thought that this world couldn't have more to offer, but I find myself being humbled and then my world gets bigger. Maybe fighting isn't always the way. I don't think David has left the garden in days. Does he even sleep anymore? While he keeps vigilance, I have started regularly going beyond Garnedine.

Awe and Awwwwww

A mighty castle and surrounding kingdom is known as Greticos. I still feel like there's more to see and maybe I'll just have to do something drastic in order to get this idea out of my pom. Is this what being an explorer is all about? Life is so different now than when I lived in my village. At night, instead of crickets I fall asleep to gentle whirring of tinkerers.

Week 3

2009-06-06T08:00:00.000-07:00

I fought my way deeper into the continent, trusty Neo Steam container socketed into my armor like a glowy glowstick of power. I've reached a point where I feel useless fighting Elerdians and focus instead on delving further into the secrets of Rogwel.

Clearly all of Rogwel's secrets are either smelly or burny

I find strange monuments in the oddest of places, and I'm not one to guess whether they are Republic creations or leftovers from the Maestros of old. Or maybe they're recent monuments commemorating long-forgotten ancient ones. Or maybe they're full of candy.

I join my fellow Rogs now and again in Riall, though now I've moved to the Ancient Factory, which is not much of a factory.

Holding the factory is even harder than holding the garden, mostly because everyone's stronger and angrier. And the fights go so fast that I'm usually still searching my pockets for potions before I realize I'm dead.

Follow that steam

Rogwel Destroyer, Third Siege Engine

You keep talking like a @%$@% I'm gonna smack you like a @%$@%

In my quest to understand Chrysalis I've undertaken missions that have taxed my morals. I've helped kill traitors, routed heretics, assassinated Elerd guards, and through it all tried to maintain my usual Pom good humor.

These are things I'd usually be telling to my good friend Jocelyn but I haven't heard from her in some time. I hope she's not getting into trouble...

Pom Plea

2009-06-05T12:30:00.000-07:00

Week 2, the Garden

2009-06-02T12:46:00.001-07:00

Garden of Beatin'

They've been pushing us and I have to say I must have snapped. The pressure of everyday living here is too intense; with the constant fighting, the territories and factions, it's hard to maintain a civil attitude in the midst of such struggle. I worry that I've been too long in the fight and should just stay away from contested areas like Riall. But inevitably I'll hear over the wire about how many Elerds are there and how tough it is, and how my fellow Rogs are fighting the good fight and dying in droves.

It's not my patriotism that steps up, lord knows I have little enough of that. But there are good Rogs out there just trying to do what they do, who are being bullied down by those Elerds. It tugs at my nobility-strings, it does. So I've been fighting in Jarit's Garden whenever I hear that it's being contested. And when we set out to take it back, we damn well better take it back.

Usually it takes at least a full party and several waves to take back the center, because the Elerds never hold it with less than four summoners or less than two parties. And they always have the garden. We take it and hold it when we have the manpower but there are always more of them than us and they always band together.

I've done my fair share of killing, but they brought it on themselves, I swear! When when we have the garden, every Elerd who sets foot in it has the be driven out by force. That's how wars are won friends, by eliminating the enemy's will to fight!

And yet they still come back with their garden protection shields and their sorcerors waiting in the middle for one of us to get ganged up on by monsters before burst-firing them. Not even minding dying if they could get in a kill! What sort of person does that? Or a summoner will send her dragon in while she runs away, getting back to town with just a smidge of life each time.

Pull up to my bumper, baby

Seriously, what's the point of killing them if more keep popping up? I didn't get all this cool gear just to be murdering fellow Poms!

You just got racially discriminOWNED

Thankfully now that I'm too old to go back to the garden maybe things will calm down. Maybe the Factory will be a nicer, kinder place.

Yeah, when Poms fly.

Week 2, Open Beta

2009-06-02T11:41:00.000-07:00

Ah, life. How the joy of the new and exciting slowly ebbs into determination, drive and responsibility. Not to say that things became any less fun for me. I am after all an exploratory connoisseur if you happened to forget. But after that epic battle in Elerd, how could anything seem anything less than routine?

After that fateful night things went back to normal for the scientific country of Rogwel, and since the gods decreed that we must start over, much of the week was spent regaining what we had lost but doing it better this time. I felt like an old pro taking to the fields outside of Garnedine with my peers, knowing that for once, in this brief moment, we were all equals.

The biggest change I noticed since that first glorious week were our outfits. What had been some kick ass high-octane maintenance/warrior threads were now more like night janitor uniforms. With bloomers.

Jocelyn found out the hard way.

Cleanup, aisle 4. Thank you for shopping Terrawhale, have a nice day.

I dedicated most of my time to exploring the contraptions and mechanisms of these shattered continents. I disassembled all the things that came into my hands just to see how they worked, and put the pieces back together in strange new ways. My gun began to cast an eerie blue glow, indicating that either Orcs were near or I was leaking propane. I stuck machines into every available socket. I didn't even know what half of them were for but who cares, this is science!

After a lot of scrounging Jocelyn and I crafted matching Mining Buggies and soon we were steamin' all over the place.

Low... Ride... Er...

Drives a little slower

Low... Ride... Er...

Rides a little lower

I slowly advanced in the ranks as a mercenary, as abhorrent as that word might be to my little ears, but I felt that was the best way to get good with the Rogwel council. Soon I met with High Counselor Kianus. He is well respected in Greticos yet I suspect he's more of a figurehead.

You by chance related to Jarit?

But the most fun was trying out the new Siege Engines. Though these war machines aren't ready for actual combat yet (and neither are Elerd's) I got to test drive some of the prototypes.

First, the Suppressor, an anti-personnel machine.

And the Steam Cannon, the anti-siege-engine siege engine.

Ah, so many gears, so little time.

Till next time, Word to my Pommies!

Pom Fu

2009-06-01T22:38:00.000-07:00

Day Six, part 2

2009-05-26T23:35:00.000-07:00

AND THE GODS MAKE IT ALL WORTHWHILE

As we were making out way back out of the invasion base for another raid, we see coming into our secret area a lone Elerdian. Who could it be? Why would they walk right into our base? Its name: Korroke.

Without thinking everyone starts wailing on it and it just stands there, taking it. How could it be so strong?! Who is it? It must be... it must be one of the gods! A rough cease-fire is called and we all stand round it in awe and wonder.

This Elerdian god still does not speak our language but it makes it clear that it's not here to harm us. No, it wants to play with us.

It leads us down into the wide courtyard outside the invasion base and then asks if we want to fight the biggest, baddest monsters that Chrysalis has to offer.

Hell Yeah we do!

Giant Poms!

Crowds of Elerds started to congregate around us, watching as the world's most fearsome monsters would suddenly appear around us, in threes and fours, glowing and snarling and flinging Poms and humans alike left and right.

The Elerdians made no move to attack us. They made it clear they were "just here to watch."

Jocelyn killed Christmas.

And Christmas got even.

By this point I couldn't even walk into the courtyard without being instantly slaughtered so I stayed in the outskirts. Thankfully word had gotten around and some of Rogwel and Elerd's strongest champions were coming down to join in. Fighting alongside each other!

See you all in OBT!

It was nothing if not a memorable end to a memorable week. And though we all have to start from the beginning next week, I think we've all learned many things and met many worthwhile people. And the next week, and the next and the next, will better all around for everyone.

For now, goodbye all! See you on the other side!

Day Six, part 1

2009-05-26T21:13:00.000-07:00

Say it ain't so, Maestro

It's official, Ye Gods have spoken and decreed that tonight it going to be the end of the first leg of our little trip and tomorrow we'll all have to start anew.

Frustration in Rogwel set in quickly. Well, if we've only got a few hours left, might as well make 'em count. I gather up Jocelyn, who was already miffed enough about missing yesterday's festivities, and hitch a ride with the invasion party back to the scenic land of Elerd, home of powerful magic and killer bunnies and, ultimately, destiny.

Again we fought our way into Bijumir, this time splashing around their kiddie pool for a bit

Lightwind does the sad dance of frustration

Actually all human dances look like the sad dance of frustration

And again we trample down to Nasdaim.

Once more unto the breach, dear friends!

Behind us some sort of siege engine appears, which was only the beginning of the strange events of this day. I was too startled to get any pics. I dashed straight into town to see the sights, pursued by an irate evoker named Endora.

I try to hide from her in some sort of lava factory while waiting for backup.

Note to self: don't try to hide in some sort of lava factory

Only one place left to raid: the Castle!

Shit just got real

Ok, here's about where communication broke down and something incredible happened, and we were all too shocked to take pictures or even form an accurate recollection of what went down.

Best I can gather, we were doing well against the castle high priest, having surrounded him and killing his bodyguards. Some Elerdian counter-forces were inbound but we held steady. Then, suddenly, just as things seemed to be turning in our favor...

We were attacked by giant Poms.

Little help?

What the monkey? Giant Poms? Did anyone just see that?

A whole gang of three-story tall, giant Pom ancestors, Pom-giants, Pom-Jotunn suddenly appeared out of nowhere and, shocked beyond shockingness, all of us sorta went "Wha?" and fled or died or fainted. (Jocelyn managed a rare combo and flediefainted.)

Seriously. Giant Poms.

By invading so far into Elerd in such force apparently we had angered the very gods of Elerd itself, who had come down and dropped a m&*$^#*@$ gang of giant Poms on us!

But let me tell you, that was just the beginning.

What happens when the gods are let loose?

Day Five, Part 2

2009-05-25T18:08:00.000-07:00

We rumbled through Elerd like a Viking horde. They stopped only to slaughter guards and I stopped only to snap pictures.

I realized that my delicate sensibilities had to be put on hold when in such company. And yet, as the miles passed I grew fond of them and their ways. In their turn I believe they put up with mine.

First they headed south, wiping out all the outposts on a meandering, wavy line that began at the invasion base and ended in the main Elerdian town, Nasdaim.

Ow

Here we made it right to the walls, before being beaten back by the head guard and many defenders.

But no one was about to admit defeat just yet. The band regrouped and headed north, all the while shouting war-cries and racial epithets and all sorts of unsavory things.

Yes, let's invade super-creepy scary tree island, that's a good idea

Here we fought their way into Bijumir, where the warband was stopped beneath the walls by another defending High Priest. This was one bad-ass dude. He could stun everyone around him with his bad-assery, and then while they were stunned beat each one of down with his sword of butt-kicking.

I knew I wasn't much of a match for this bad dude so in the confusion I darted into town.

This is the last photo I got before being cornered on the docks. A pretty town, but not anywhere I'd want to be spending my last breaths just yet.

Bloodthirsty but well chastised by the defeats at the walls, the war party started to crumble as people headed back to Rogwel for the night. Still untouched was the Elerd castle, and plans were made for a new attack tomorrow.

By now there was nothing to lose. Word had already passed down from on high: the end of this wonderful week is to be the end of a great many things. And if any of us live to see that end, we shall do so as brothers and sisters. Rogwel or Elerd alike!

Back in Garnedine the Rogs swear that if they're going to go out, they're going to go out fighting. And, as you might have already surmised, I'll be alongside to watch.

Day Five, Part 1

2009-05-25T17:45:00.000-07:00

My first day of my new vocation: Rogwel Ambassador. I feel flushed with purpose and excitement. Today I will journey to Elerd. I will go without arms, and I will do my best to speak to them, and damn the consequences!

Finally, a proper garden party

I catch up with J for brekky in the garden and try to tell her of my plans. It's a little hard to talk about peace to someone carrying a Pom-sized sword dripping with elf blood.

She agrees to come along of course, though I bet it's not peace she's after.

David Drocilephisus Rangidoon Bop, Ambassador of Dance

My sanguine friend and I head back to Garnedine and board the Zeppelin for Elerd. Oh but do I love zeppelins! Gives me a shiver every time I see them swoosh through the air, bigger than sky whales, rumbling with incomprehensible power. Plus they served a nice light lunch and complimentary beverage.

The invasion base in Elerd

The unofficial ambassador to Elerd, and the plucky young girl that helps him out

Um... Yer standing too close

The first thing we find in Elerd is a dead Pom. This does not bode well.

So this is Elerd. Beautiful, really. Dark and mysterious, with vegetative nature sprouting from every angle in strange woolly curves.

Even the monsters are cuter than ours

But at every crossroads we came to, guards jumped out at us. These were not the Elerdian citizens I wanted to speak to! These are just blind automatons, mindlessly soldiering their duties! I have no desire to kill them so we run, much to my friend's disappointment.

I begin to go south and somehow we lose each other in the convoluted forests. She tells me she's going back to the base to head home. I sigh and wish her well. I will continue without her if necessary.

All of this scenery, but no Elerds. Where could they be hiding? In their towns? Are they all in Rogwel, trying to take us over just as I'm trying to broker peace? Or maybe there are no Elerds. Maybe it's a lie invented by the corrupt council to keep us in a state of war. Maybe the whole continent is deserted!

Oop, there's one.

I go up to him and give a customary cheer.

He hits me with a sword.

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!

There I am, running like a little girl all the way from the outpost back to the invasion base, weaponless, downing potions, out of breath. Who would attack an unarmed Pom clearly of no threat?

Somehow I make it panting back to the invasion base, hidden for the moment from Elerdian eyes. Something is wrong here. Something is wrong with this country and ours if this madness must continue.

Back at the base I run into a whole band of Rogwelians. A war party! They are massed and grouping and growing in number. Their purpose is obvious. This is an invasion!

I decide that though I am a pacifist at heart the only way I will be able to explore this wide and dangerous world is to tag along with those much stronger than myself. I will become the unofficial cultural attaché to this bloodthirsty warband. And may god have mercy on our souls.

Dance Party

2009-05-25T06:00:00.000-07:00

Day Four

2009-05-24T21:35:00.000-07:00

My old friend Jocelyn has taken to the city like a house on fire. Every two minutes it's "Ooh!" or "Eee!" or "Lookit that!" and once again I'm dragged speeding down to the next point of interest fast as my little legs will take me. Poms aren't built to dash about, I try to remind her. We're easily fascinated and absorbed and take in everything solidly with an upturned face and broad grin. We don't bound about like a Lyell in heat.

Thankfully she wears herself out pretty fast, and sleeps like a log in a bog beneath a hibernating terrawhale. Once she was checked in to her sleeping quarters I got a a nice short doze in the hyperbaric chamber of pain and woke up early and rarin' to go.

I'm sorry I shot your cousin, cute tiny dinosaur

I took the few hours to myself to run a few errands I was given from around town. Ancient engineering is one of my specialties, so I jumped at the chance to help out a machinist in Pelten. He sent me through down through the land to pick through graves and run from giant bugs, but the crisp early morning air and a beautiful sky made the walk more than worthwhile.

The pink sky over Grieving Garden

I met up with Jocelyn again after a few hours, she'd already awoken and strapped on a new outfit and even larger sword and was running around causing all sorts of trouble. "You can't just go around beating people up then running away!" I tell her. "How were you raised?"

Usually she sticks her tongue out at me and runs off, followed by a half a dozen angry mercenaries.

If you must fight, I say, let's do it properly. I tell her of my experiences in Jarit's garden and her eyes widen. As soon as I say "Elerd" she's practically salivating.

"Elerds aren't our enemies!" I say. "They have Poms just as we do. They're just whitish and snowy, while you're more swarthy and ginger."

As soon as she felt good enough with her weapon I walk her to the subway so she can experience first-hand the horrors of war, and maybe learn a little about compassion and understanding.

On the long submarine ride in I begin thinking to myself. What if this is what I am here in Rogwel for? To be a diplomatic voice in a sea of anger and contention. To be an ambassador of peace in a time of fruitless, endless war. This must me my purpose here, as an explorer and a pacifist (a pacifist who will respond when provoked, mind you).

After all, our ancestors the Maestros once held the whole world together not with power and fear, but with reason and goodwill. This is truly a Pom's destiny, to live up to our great heritage of mastery over the earth and compassion for our neighbors.

I decide that from now on I will consider myself an unofficial Rogwel ambassador, and act accordingly!

Besides, look how adorable their pets are!

My first duty was to go up to this majestic wolfish creature and introduce myself. In response, it snarled at me.

I decided the traditional deep-waist bow would put my head a little too close to its jaws, so I sorta waved and slowly backed away.

Elerd held the garden, as I hear is usual during the twilight hours. I stood on the edge of the neutral zone and waved at my counterparts, hoping that though our languages might divide us, we all speak the same language of rhythm and movement.

Much to my surprise many of my countrymen in the area joined in the dance, and we had a whole row of goodwill going (though I suspect their motivations might not have been quite the same as mine).

That's when an elf smacked J with a spear and she ran off screaming.

My first attempt at diplomacy an utter failure I walked back to Riall Town with my head hanging. But look, there before me was a fellow Pom, minding his own business far from the fighting. I side up to him and give a greeting.

What do you know, he greeted me back! We dance an old Pom dance and I return to Rogwel feeling for once that I have done some good in this world.

Poms for Peace! It's not a dream, it's a reality that hasn't happened yet!

PomsMeeting

2009-05-23T23:00:00.000-07:00

Day Three, david

2009-05-23T21:00:00.000-07:00

Three days on this lovely continent and still the novelty hasn't worn off! Always new things to explore for a Pom on the go.

After thanking him personally for the garden party yesterday, I snapped this photo of myself and Mr. Jarit. Does the man ever smile?

My friend J has finally gotten word to me and I am glad; however, the dizzy Pom has been bouncing all over the place like a Pom pinball. Somehow she ended up in Diren, then back in Garnedine, and is now back in Diren again! That's on the other end of the continent! I can only imagine what she's been up to over there.

We set up a brunch date on the beach of Diren, lovely I hear in all types of weather. That gave me some time to mosey my way over there, as good an opportunity as ever to do some more exploring. Since I made it on foot to the Greticos outposts yesterday I shortcuted to the castle itself via the convenient railway.

Not a submarine

The gate of Greticos

There I am, happy as a clam to be standing underneath such interesting architecture. Greticos is wide and quiet and empty, a stark contrast to the cramped and populous Garnedine town. Clearly this castle was built for vehicle access, I was out of breath just making it to the stairs.

Clean steam technology

The hallowed hall of the Rogwel council. You could hear a pin drop in that place and yet no one said 'bless you' when I sneezed.

Sadly I couldn't get an audience with the councilmembers themselves. I didn't expect much, what with this endless war and all. I feel I could bring a fresh perspective to the conflict though.

What wonderful architecture! I shook hands with the guards and told them what a good job they're doing before making my way west.

But only a little way down the road I was stopped in my tracks. What is this? An Elerd raiding party? Here? Just outside the castle? I was so flabbergasted I could only stop in my tracks.

The Elerdians took no notice of me. Or did one stop? Did one look at me and wave? Did I wave back?

Over the wireless came much talk about the raiding party, and I heard the calls to arms of more duty-minded Rogwelians as they tried to close in on the invaders.

After a minute a single Elerdian straggler came down the road far behind her party, running not fifty feet ahead of a pursuing Rogwel. It looked like an exhausting race, a race of death, and I did not know what I could do to aid either party.

I kept on walking.

I love all these gates. Makes me feel like I'm getting somewhere.

Have I mentioned how much I adore my weapon?

Wind power is like steam power, but pretty.

The cramped and bugful forests opened up to wide and squidful beaches and I saw in the distance a clear blue ocean dotted with islands, and the yellow sands of the Rusty Coast.

And there, swinging around a sword slightly larger than herself, was J!

We cheered and danced like old Pomfriends do. She grabbed my arm and dragged me running at full speed back to Diren town for tea.

Day Three

2009-05-23T18:22:00.000-07:00

When I got word from my best mate David Drocilephisus Rangi-something that it was high time I headed out, I took it to core. In my tiny village there aren't too many exciting happenings; once an Elerd lost his way and that was a good meal. After a great recycling party, Mum gave me a ticket for the air balloon. I've never been on one and was a bit nervous.

Gosh, but do they go way up there! When we landed, I noticed I wasn't near Garnedine at all. Where was I?

I was well lost, but decided I would go by paw to the big city. Maybe by the time I had arrived I'd even have some stories of my own to tell. The land was so strange! Thick jungles filled with such creatures even GrammyPom with her wild stories could not imagine. I was glad to have my homemade Pomera with me to show everyone back home. I asked an elfin girl to take a snapshot of me in a lovely field.

I don't know why she ran away. I was hoping for tea. Ah well, I had to continue on my journey. When I finally reached the town of Portis there were towers of steel and so many people in a rush! The machinery moved in rhythm with my excited heart. A pom could lose their minds here.

A security camera caught the moment I went from pomgirl to pomlady and yet I could not celebrate fully without D. I left a note with a panda ambassador about my future whereabouts. I hope to meet up with him soon. For now, I will try and make new friends on this big adventure.

This may be a rubbish bin, and not a friend.

Day Two

2009-05-22T20:56:00.000-07:00

Remember when I said the steam-chamber-whatever was rejuvenating? I don't think I was in there long enough the first time. First, imagine being stuffed in a washing machine that's rolling down a mountain. Then, combine that with being dragged down a gravel road by an elephant while a small team of monkeys beats you with metal sticks. For eight hours. The combination of senses might be a modern marvel but call me old-fashioned I'd much rather have a nice soft bunny-down bed thank you very much.

Still no word from my traveling friend so I set out bright and early in the morning for exploring. I boarded a steam ship outside of town and headed for the middle of nowhere.

Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeee! I mean, remarkable.

I've never been much of a fan of fast travel — the best surveying tools are your own two little feet, I always say. No point in going anywhere you're not willing to walk to. But the lovely steam balloon ship was a ride and a half and I'm not afraid to admit I giggled like a Pomchild at the view.

From there I trekked halfway across the continent, seeing many a strange and scary sight.

Here I visit the grave of my dear great-aunt Gertrude. Actually I have no idea whose grave it was, what language is that?

But after a few hours it seemed that solo exploration on its own was a little profitless. I decided I should go see what normal Rogwelians do on a normal day, and that way explore a little of their culture.

Back in town all people were talking about was a strange land named Riall, which doesn't exist on any map. After inquiring around I found that the only way to get there was by subway (which was quite literally named).

Riall, as it turns out, is a meeting of the two great continents Elerd and Rogwel. Not the seat of a great summit or a meeting of the minds, though. No, they meet to fight over stuff.

Here I am engaged in a discussion of Forms with an Elerdian counterpart

After spending some time around poisonous beetles and dragonflies (and being defeated regularly by Elerd scouting parties) I was handed, out of the blue, an invitation to a garden party.

Now if you know me, and by now I think you might just a little, you know that I love garden parties. I am a connoisseur of sorts; my favorite in recent memory has to be that of King Nantu of Illyria, where the teas and confections were delivered from above by animatronic butterflies. I had, I confess, a few two many blue rumdonglers and passed out in the lap of the fair princess Rhonda, which didn't go ever well with her betrothed, who was at least four Poms tall and had a bit of a jealous streak. How I escaped a lashing that night is the subject of an entirely different travel journal (and maybe an autobiography).

The Garden Party in Jerit's garden turned out to be of an entirely different sort. First, Count Jarit wasn't attending, much to my disappointment. Second, instead of food, there were monsters. Third, instead of tea, there were angry Elerdians.

When attacking the Elerdians, the monsters would come and bite me on the butt. When attacking the monsters, the Elerdians would also come and bite me on the butt. At least their summons would. It was largely uncomfortable but quite exhilarating.

"help"

Here my helpful friend pretends to be a powerful fighting machine. Oh, you!

Poms Musketeers

The battle was held by Rogwel (for a time, at least) and in a lull in the fighting I took the chance to wander among my counterparts and chat with them a little.

It was a diplomatic gesture, one that I hope will not be ignored by either side.

This gentleman was not one for talking

Here I got to take an enemy summons out for a walk! Adorable!

Here is the crazy bitnip that would run into the middle of our party and wait for her shield to run out.

After a little talking it turns out we shared many interests in common: thread, organ music, watching the sunset on the beach, peanut butter and mutton sandwiches. Though her language was incomprehensible and her ears laughable we both spoke a common Pom-and-Elf language. Maybe I'm being presumptuous here, but isn't that the language of the heart?

Oh, star-crossed lovers!

Sadly it was not to be, for two main reasons. First, I cannot begrudge any lady for trying to kill me once in a while, but to have succeeded at it repeatedly is a little too much to take.

Second, I had to stand on a hill to talk to her.

Garden Party over, I received a message from my friend telling me that she was on her way into Rogwel so soon we'll hear from her. I'd like to say she was struck by lightning or swallowed by a whale or attacked by Pom-pirates. But no. She got lost.

Onward! Poms forever!

A Softer Pom

2009-05-22T07:09:00.000-07:00

Day One

2009-05-21T20:10:00.000-07:00

David Drocilephisus Rangidoon Bop, Pom-vivant and exploratory connoisseur

As traveler and explorer by nature, I can never turn down an opportunity to traipse through new lands, to wiggle my toes in exotic grasses, to face certain death before fearsome yet strangely adorable enemies. Why did the Pom go over the mountain? To see what he could see, of course! Then he got a chair to stand on so he could see better.

In that spirit, this Pom has decided to go see what he can see in the wonderful world of Chrysalis. Other persons of more dubious breeding than yours truly can go through a world like this. They can dive in and learn all the catch phrases and hit the deepest darkiest of the dungeons and the tip-toppiest of the mountains. They could learn the best tricks and don the snazziest outfits and think that they know. Well let me tell you, Poms have never been about the coolest gear or fastest fists. If a straight line really was the fastest distance between two points, why would we have Zeppelins?

When a wide open world is presented to us, we bask in it. Sometimes we rub our toes in it! Sometimes we shake our bootys at it. Sometimes we finish quests.

Much of the world is best viewed from on your bum

I entered the continent of Rogwel on a air steamer designed by Poms of old, a gloriously inefficient ball of wonderful. On the flight I leafed through a book of Pom koans, some of which I may relate to you.

Being a traveler I have no set citizenship, but I chose to journey to Rogwel because the principles of technology seem far more in fit with that of exploration than those of Magic. It does offend me a smidge that the Pom races have been segregated so, I do love the Elerds' fuzzy snowball-faced-Poms.

I shouldn't speculate aloud, some Humans might overhear and think I'm a traitor. But don't they too, just once, look across the aisle at Riall at some bright-eyed, tiny-nosed Elf girl and think "Why, why must we fight?

(Elves though. How could you stand to look at a girl with no body hair? That's just not right.)

My first stop stop in Rogwel was the first stop for many machinists, the lovely town of Garnedine.

I posed here with Mr. Keeper for his entry in the Garnedine 'Stash of the Month calendar

There are many things about this continent one cannot help but noticing. Like, why are there are no male elves?

The battle tutu, while providing some defence in the front, leaves one end woefully exposed.

But look at these machines! Zeppelins, Steam riders, mounts, miners! Things that go woosh or bap or ding or donk, enough exposed gears to make a watchmaker weep. I'm certain the purpose of most of these contraptions is just to look good, and I'm fine with that. It's a purpose I am well acquainted with.

You might not know it, but to a Pom, this is porn.

This is porn too. But way more kinky.

But every journey must begin with a single step, provided that step is over some baddie's twitching carcass. The town might be loud and lovely and full of ticking things and glowing blue cylinders but adventure, as they say, lies beyond the village.

So I began, spoke to those needing speaking to, updated my maps and collected my things and set off. And as preparation and a gift the town leaders hand me a rusty scrape of metal that wouldn't scare a stunted butter-hamster. Brilliant.

I was frightened, yes. I have always been a traveler first, you see. The actual duties of adventuring start to make my stomach churn with too many questions. Why are there so many harmful creatures so close to a settlement? How come they aren't extinct what with this daily organized genocide? What kind of life cycles must they have? I ask myself, if the Humans one day decide one to hunt us Poms, how long would we last?

Well, probably a lot longer than the Humans, since we're the only race with both sexes on the same continent.

Plus we're bad-ass.

Here I am standing over my first ever kill. I was so happy I wished the flower would get back up and celebrate with me. Sadly he was dead.

After some bandying about with that flimsy piece of metal I gained enough confidence and gold to buy myself a proper weapon.

Truly an elegant weapon. Not as clumsy or random as a saber.

You see, to a Pom, the first joy in life will always be the tick and tock of gears and escapements, the way every part moves together as a single, well-oiled machine. But a close second would using said machine to blow things to pieces.

Now, I would never advocate hunting for sport. But even I know that sometimes it's necessary to use a weapon, sometimes you just have to go out and take down some monsters, especially if they give the guards in area trouble, harass travelers, or somehow swallow gold coins and the occasional piece of semi-rare armor. Or if someone you've never met before tells you to.

Needless to say I grew fond of this rifle very quickly.

Let's just say he saw it coming

After fightin' through the evening I decided that it was time to relax the weary trigger finger and shut in for the night. I looked around town for their most deluxe accommodations. Not having found those I sought their second-rate ones. Does anyone get any shut-eye in this town?

The answer: no. They do something better. They work while sleeping.

I was directed to the middle of a dirt field of walking, poisonous flowers and shown these lovely insta-sleeping-chambers. I didn't climb inside, it sort of built itself around me.

Well, it ain't roomy, the view is crap, and the neighbours are loud and sometimes try to kill you, but damn if I didn't feel invigorated after only a short time. I need to get one of these installed back home.

And that was my first day traveling in this lovely world. Granted, I didn't travel very much but I did take a lot of pictures. And isn't that all that really matters?

My sister-in-arms and fellow traveler Jocelyn has yet to arrive in town though, and I hope nothing's gone wrong. Probably it's just inclement weather, lightning can be such hell on zeppelins, what with them being flammable and all.

Nevermind that for now! Tomorrow will be a brand new day!