Update of the Avatar #155 – 2015.12.11: Hilt Fortress Interior, New Britannia’s Next Top Model, Bear Tavern Brawl, Wake Up New Britannia!!!, and More!

Greetings Fellow Avatars!

Here’s what we have for you in this week’s edition of Update of the Avatar:

• Hilt Fortress Interior
• New Britannia’s Next Top Model
• Myrcello’s Peaceful Novia
• Seven Piece Musical Performance
• Holly Wreath Hats
• Let’s Make a Snow Family!
• Replenishing Rocket Fireworks Boxes
• Beat Tavern Brawl
• Wake Up New Britannia!!!
• The Traditional FireLotus Release 25 Party – Christmas Edition
• 24 Day Countdown for Winter Reward & Price Expirations
• Account Services Vouchers
• In-game Community Events
• Upcoming Events
• Recommended Projects to Back

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Hilt Fortress Interior

[A Dev+ Forum Post by Scottie Jones]

Finally I’ve had the chance to complete Hilt’s expansive interior! This map doesn’t include the upper tower itself, which will appear in a later release, but does include all the lower areas deep beneath the earth.

Once you pass through the exterior doors, you will appear in an entry hall adorned with friezes and stone carvings of past Obsidian battles and victories, now defaced and crumbling. The torches are lit, evidence of the kobolds which have decided to make this area their own.

Beyond, a huge reception rotunda hosts the four stone thrones of the ancient Obsidian generals who once held court here. It has become of den of the kobolds, who just might be willing to make a deal with the players (eventually) which could include escort through these ancient halls if the players are willing to fight an infestation of giant spiders far below.

Deeper still are several of the forgotten chambers adjacent to the large barracks, similar to those at the surface. Here the party will discover areas such as the old kitchens and mess hall, armor and weapons forges, and a small armory. The kobolds are frustrated because neither of these proved to be the Obsidian Forge of legend…

Below the Barracks a huge, shadow-filled training area sits, choked with vast spider webs and filled with crawling horrors. It is here that the players might find a few meager kobolds attempting (and failing) to fight the many giant spiders that prowl this room, especially the lowest arena floor where the players must cross to go deeper..

Sticky webs seem to halt intruders at every turn, and of course the spiders immediately attack any who dare trespass. At the chamber’s center, a huge nest stretching to the ceiling is adorned at its base with many corpses that have been sucked of blood yet still carry treasures to loot… The players are welcome to continue delving further downward in search of the real Obsidian Forge… The kobolds wish them luck…

Below the Training Arena the stairs eventually lead to the main entrance to the Crypts of Eternity… Apparently the ancient Obsidian Builders truly outdid themselves when they found the old lava caves here, because now the grand central crypt hall is an impressive area filled with fly-over walkways, multiple arches leading to tomb-filled halls, and great pillars stretching many stories up and down into darkness. Only further down these side halls might one find evidence of the crude lava tubes they were originally carved from. A single path through this echoing hall, lit by eternal sorcerous crystal sconces, leads to the far side, where a door continues deeper down below… But between here and there, however, sinister green mists rise form the floor and gaunt, skeletal shapes move menacingly through the glowing vapors….

Below the Crypts of Eternity is a long-abandoned Chapel where the Obsidians once performed dark rites in honor of their dead before carrying them back up to be interred in the endless tombs… This is largely full of collapsed stone and old furniture, including a few supply chambers and the office of the old Chaplain, but the main feature here is the secret door the players must discover that will finally allow them into the hidden volcanic chambers of the Obsidian Forge itself.

Beyond the Chapel’s secret door, a natural tunnel lined initially with a few crystalline lights leads deeper into the earth, eventually emptying out into a large, dangerous-looking chamber filled with swirling vapors and angry pools of lava…

Beyond this, at the back of these natural volcanic chambers, is an entrance carved by the Obsidians leading into a large circular chamber excavated to expose part of a massive, alien glyph-covered artifact that seems to be made of volcanic glass even more ancient than that which fell from the shattered moon… This must be the true Hilt that once pierced the land long ago!!! And at its center, under a shaft of crimson light and power that falls from a huge floating piece of obsidian, is the Forge itself…waiting…

I hope you’ve enjoyed this little tour through the depths of Hilt! Hopefully I’ll be able to post some more once the tower interior is done… Have a great weekend!

Scottie ^_^

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New Britannia’s Next Top Model

[From a Release 24 Events Forum Post by Lace]

Diamond Fields, one of the newest Player Owned Towns, is proud to announce its first event, [New] Britannia’s Next Top Model. Diamond Fields is located a wagon’s ride from Port Phoenix in the Elysium Isles. Just west of the wagon drop off point, you will find a large catwalk constructed for this event, complete with dressing tents for contestants, a red carpet walk for our spectators, along with concession tents, and a ‘swag bag’ pickup depot.

That’s right, not only will the grand prize winner receive 15,000 gold, with the runners up receiving 10,0000 and 5,000 gold, but also all our lovely spectators will receive swag bags containing fabulous prizes that no self respecting fashion show would be without. Prize money may be increased as we approach showtime, but these are the minimum guarantees.

The rules are simple, contestants will have approximately 2 minutes to use the stage and surrounding area to combine emotes, and their most bold fashions choices in order to take home the cash prizes. Various props are being constructed about the area to allow more creative expression, so contestants are encouraged to come practice on the stage or request perhaps a special prop to be constructed to help them with their routines.

If more than one person wishes to compete as a team, that is fine as well. If you want to have your own music to do your routine with, then there is a piano, but you must supply your own musician(s). To keep crowd expectations high, I strongly suggest all contestants arrive in their street clothes at entrance located behind the stage, and use of of the dressing tents before their debut.

[Click here for more details]

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Myrcello’s Peaceful Novia

Community member Myrcello created this beautiful and deeply moving video of SotA visuals that he posted in the Release 24 Screenshot Gallery Forums. Words can’t do it justice so you’ll just have to watch it. Thank you Myrcello!

And in case you missed it back in April, check out the very impressive “I Dreamed a Dream” video, created by Myrcello during Release 16.

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Seven Piece Musical Performance

Quality Assurance Specialist, Rhys Romero, happened to be in attendance this week during a 7-piece, synchronized musical performance held in Vertas. Fortunately, community member Elnoth captured a video of the performance, which Rhys shared with the rest of the SotA team. The performance was the brainchild of community member Minerva, who shared these comments:

Arkah EMPstrike is my musical mentor, and I requested that he make ‘Soul Man’ from the Blues Brothers for us to play together. He set to work. Not having brass in the game was a huge challenge but he made the flutes fill in the gap. It was hours of work. We asked Winfield to have his weekly “Fishing with Winfield” event in Vertas, knowing a piano was near by, and that there would be enough people to play.

Most had no idea what they were going to hear but cheerfully joined when asked. We passed out parts and gave out instruments to those who did not have them. Then the magic happened! It was so well received they wanted it streamed, so Elnoth offered to document.

The performers included: Margaritte (lute), Leostorm (drum), Arkah EMPstrike (harp), Minerva (piano), Kazyn PhoenixFyre, Jack Knyfe and Kal Tasker (flute)

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Holly Wreath Hats

As part of our continued Holiday festivities we have two lovely Holly Wreath hats that will be available in Release 25. Here is the craftable in-game Holly Wreath Hat:

This is the 2015 Holly Wreath with Candles Hat, available for the winter season in the Add-On Store:

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Let’s Make a Snow Family!

Get ready to decorate your front yard with this in-game craftable snow family, including a Snowman, Snowwoman, Snowgirl, and Snowboy!

And if you want additional variety, then check out this ornate snow family, available now in the Add-On Store (individually or as a bundle).

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Replenishing Rocket Fireworks Boxes

Just in time to celebrate the New Year, rocket fireworks will be working in Release 25! We plan to expand these over time to include more colors and more types including mortars, fountains, pinwheels, missile launchers, etc. The goal is to give players enough variety that they can produce their own fireworks shows (with musical accompaniment of course!). Look for more varieties and colors next release in honor of Chinese New Year.

Currently available in the Add-On Store for the winter season are replenishing boxes of 50 rockets in three different colors: Blue Rockets, Yellow Rockets, and Red Rockets (Note: the Red Rocket Fireworks Box was previously available in the Add-On store under the name “Replenishing Fireworks Box”).

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Bear Tavern Brawl

[From a Release 24 Events Forum Post]

Saturday December 12th 2015 3:00pm NBT

Yes it’s back by popular demand!!!

All combatants (especially if you are new) are welcome to show up at 2:30pm NBT
as we will give a run down of the tournament proceedings

Located at Victory Arena district of Beran’s Reach
/zone Archaon Avenguard, Athanil or Balec deCani at the requested time.

Battle Master(s):
Archaon Avenguard
Athanil
Balec deCani

Max Participants
32

[Click here for more details]

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Wake Up New Britannia!!!

[From a Release 24 Events Forum Post]

Check us out every Saturday from 6-8 AM NBT (Austin, TX Local Time) as Woftam and Selene Noctua broadcast on AvatarsRadio from the Wake Up New Britannia Studio in Owlshead (right behind the crafting pavillion)

Join us as we bring:

• Interviews with the Community!!
• Top Fives!!
• Contests for in-game Gold!!!
• What’s new for the week in New Britannia!!
• and your Best Bets for events for the weekend!!

Join us December 12, 2015 from 6AM – 8AM NBT for Wake Up New Britannia on Avatars Radio as we broadcast from the site of the Bear Tavern Brawl in the Victory Arena.

We are very honored to have an interview from DarkStarr for our “Who Are You” Segment, and we’ll be awarding lot deeds and houses for our daily contests provided by Memento Mori!!!

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The Traditional FireLotus Release 25 Party – Christmas Edition

Avatars Radio Proudly Presents
By Royal Warrant
The Traditional FireLotus Release 25 Party
Christmas Edition!

Avatars, it is that time again. Time to bring the warmth of the holiday cheer.
Put down your weapons and pick up a beer.
FireLotus is on deck and she has the boughs of holly.
To make this Christmas, Chanukah and Solstice
Absolutely Jolly!

December 17th 2015, 2pm – 4pm NBT

In Silverhold

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24 Day Countdown for Winter Reward & Price Expirations

As major milestones such as Alpha and Beta loom ever closer on the horizon, we are announcing the Winter Reward Expiration Event that occurs at 10:30 am CST, January 4, 2016. This event includes the following reward expirations:

• General Rewards (Custom Crest, Name on Tombstone, Custom Avatar)
• All Physical Rewards
• All In-Person Rewards
• Player Owned Town Add-On Store Houses

Additionally, the price will increase for several Add-On Store items.

[More Winter Reward Expiration details…]

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Account Services Vouchers

For a very long time now, since before our Kickstarter ended, we have endeavored to satisfy, at no charge, each and every one of our backers’ Account Services requests. As time has gone by, the number of requests for Account Services has grown. Most of these requests have not been related to account or purchasing issues, but pledge transfers and converting add-ons into store credits.

To accommodate these requests, we have been spending an ever growing amount of backer money to devote more resources to support these efforts. We do not consider this the best use of backer’s funds, so we will no longer be performing these types of requests without some way to fund these elective account services.

Effective immediately, Account Service requests may require at least one Service Voucher, including, but not limited to, the transfer between accounts, or conversion to Store Credits, of pledges, Add-on items, or Player Owned Towns. The voucher will be considered redeemed and removed from your account upon completion of the Account Services request.

Service Vouchers can be purchased in the Game Services Store with new funds only (not Store Credit). You will be notified if your service request requires more than one Service Voucher.

Please send us an email at support@portalarium.com if you have any questions about whether a Service Voucher is needed for your service request.

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In-game Community Events

Our amazing community has another great lineup of in-game events planned for this weekend. Special thanks to community member SpookyJenny (aka Jenny Phoenixfyre in-game) for her help in compiling the schedule of player events from the Avatar’s Circle Community Events calendar and the Events of the Avatars community calendar:

Recurring Events

• Release 24-25 Christmas Decoration Contest!
  • ‘Tis the season for those of us in the snowy North as well as those in the sunny South to once again gather together to eat, drink and be merry!’ And to add to the chaotic merriment, we are announcing that the contest theme will be……….Holiday Fun! Deadline for entry is December 11th. 1st Place wins $20 Store Credit! (details)
• Vanguard Decoration Contest – R24 / R25
  • Vanguard is hosting a decoration contest. To enter you must place a lot in Vanguard and decorate it as best as you can. If you don’t have a lot / house then you can borrow one for the duration of the contest. If you already have a lot / house then feel free to drop by and take an empty lot. This contest lasts for the whole duration of R24 and R25. 1st Place wins $30 Store Credit! (details)
• RPOTA Monthly $160 Writing Contest – December contest involves Good Will or Winter Themes!
  • Here ye! Here ye! Biographers, Historians, Diplomats, Journalists, Story Writers, Quest Designers and Videographers! RPOTA is in dire need of your amazing talents! Role-Players of the Avatar is hosting a monthly contest to award those most famous with their quill or camera! (details)
• The Unreliable Travel Guide
  • The Unreliable Travel Guide, created at the SotA Writing Round Table, is not an event, but a collection of hilarious short stories published by two drunken layabouts who have nothing better to do than try to derive a dishonest income from newly arrived avatars. (details)
• Avatars Radio (Daily Programming)
  • Welcome New Britannians to Avatars Radio – Radio of the Avatars. Rocking your socks off from the town of Radio City with the Terrestrial and New Britannian bards together under one roof through the power of the Moon Towers.  Check out their daily program of amazing DJs:  http://avatarsradio.info/schedule.php
• NBNN Lunch with Laz & Jack (Weekdays, 12pm CST)
  • Join NBNN every weekday for Lunch With Laz & Jack. They will be covering the daily goings on in SOTA. Calendar updates, Relevant issues happening in the days news. Come chat with us about upcoming events and general information. http://nbnn.info
• Daily War Time PVP Event (Daily, 8pm CST – 9pm CST)
  • Invitation to all guilds, PK hunters, PVP’rs or players interested in PVP training to come to Chaos Crossroads (Located at the crossroads outside of Kingsport on the road to Owl’s Head). PVP Event rules: None! Use whatever spells you want, kill in mobs or solo, group with new allies and defend your territory, lure newbies into the town and wack them! (details)
• “The Tavern Respite” RP Event (Mondays, 8pm CST)
  • The tavern door opens before you, and the scent of pipe and stew waft outwards with a wall of warmth from the hearth. Join in with the patrons of the Bear Tavern as they share tales of their adventures amid endless mugs of ale, legs of mutton, and merriment unbounded (The Bear Tavern; /zone Elgarion De’Khali; details)!
• Challenge Dungeon Run (Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 7pm CST)
  • This is a self-host event, meet at the Braemar Cemetery and organize into groups to take on the infamous Chillblain’s Compendium of Pain & Suffering!
• PaxLair Working Hours – Host Sean Silverfoot (Tuesdays, 2pm)
  • PaxLair town and community “working hours” are for anyone interested in PaxLair. We will be in New Britannia doing things as a town when many people can work together. Sean Silverfoot hosts this working period. / zone Sean Silverfoot
• Novian Academy – New Citizen Help Hours (Tuesdays, 6pm CST)
  • /zone Kazyn Phoenixfyre of Novian Academy in Soltown as they provide guidance to those new to the world of New Britannia.
• Wednesday Knights (Wednesdays, 5pm CST)
  • This will be mainly an impromptu event but on occasion I may plan on doing something ‘knightly’. All will be welcome. Some possibilities include RP, boss hunts, gathering materials & crafting, hat quests, hanging out or whatever people feel up for. (Caer Dracwych; /zone Bowen Bloodgood; details)
• Happy Hour Wednesdays (Wednesdays, 8pm CST)
  • Otherwise known as “Spend Stryker’s Gold” – Stryker will open a bar tab at one of the local Novia taverns for an hour or so for drinks, stories, news, critique of the arts, dancing, and otherwise unplanned mayhem. Zone /Stryker Sparhawk or watch this thread for locations each week!
• Gladiator Wars (Thursdays, 7pm CST)
  • A call to all fighters PVE and PVP! Would you like to participate in the “Gladiator Wars” PvP Tournaments? Registration starts at 6pm CST. (Finchfield; /zone Pestilence; details)
• Phoenix Republic PVE Nights (Thursdays & Fridays, 7pm CST)
  • Join the Phoenix Republic as we send our weekly foray into the control points, dungeons and other of the most dangerous locales. Each week we will depart to a different PVE locale to help train our combatants. Contact Kazyn Phoenixfyre or Malakas for more info!
• Novian Academy – Role Play Courses (Fridays, 4pm CST)
  • Luka Melehan is hosting RP classes and practice sessions. (/zone Luka Melehan)
• Shardfall Madness (Fridays, 6pm CST)
  • A PvP event. Contact Wind Silvermoon for details.
• Vengeance Madness (Fridays, 7pm CST)
  • This is an Open PvP event where everyone fights it out in a royal rumble to see who the ultimate death dealer is! (City of Vengeance; /zone Bambino LudoVate)
• Astronomy Event (Fridays, 7:30pm CST)
  • Interested in New Britannia Astronomy? Just enjoy gazing at the stars? Join us every week as we explore the night sky above New Britannia. (Player Town of Caer Dracwych; details)

Saturday, December 12

• 9:00am CST PaxLair Working Hours
  • PaxLair town and community “working hours” are for anyone interested in PaxLair. (/zone Winfield)
• 11:00am CST Church of the Dark Star – Saturday Service
  • High Priestess of Chaos, Amber Raine, and the Dean of the Novian Academy, Kazyn Phoenixfyre, welcome you to the Church of the Dark Star. A shared project, built upon equality, where all are welcome. Services range from what is Chaos and Order to how they affect different aspects of our life. The path you choose is yours. (Alternate weekends at PaxLair and Port Phoenix; details)
• 12:00pm CST Beran League Construction – Harvest & Craft
  • A weekly craft & harvest event for the purpose of supporting all towns, guilds and player run establishments within the Beran League! All harvested materials, crafted items and decorative items purchased will be collected and sorted in a specially designated warehouse. Town owners, guild leaders and proprietors of the Beran League (and those designated by them) will have access. (Meet at the Bear Tavern in High Rock or /zone Bowen Bloodgood; details)
• 1:00pm CST New Britannia’s Next Top Model
  • Diamond Fields is proud to announce its first event, Brittania’s Next Top Model. Diamond Fields is located a wagon’s ride from Port Phoenix in the Elysium Isles. Just west of the wagon drop off point, you will find a large catwalk constructed for this event, complete with dressing tents for contestants, a red carpet walk for our spectators, along with concession tents, and a ‘swag bag’ pickup depot. 1st Place prize of 15k Gold! (Catwalk in Diamond Fields; details)
• 3:00pm CST Bear Tavern Brawl
  • The Beran League is back with their ever popular Bear Tavern Brawl PvP tournament and this time they are hosting it in their amazing new arena constructed by guild member, Athanil. (Victory Arena, /zone Archaon Avenguard, Athanil or Balec deCani; details)
• 6:00pm CST Elysium Social Nights – Arts in the Heart of Elysium
  • Each Saturday we meet together in Elysium and have a whole series of activities with our friends inside and outside of the island and the republic. Join us each month in a different spot within Elysium for a monthly block party celebrating all of the people and places that make Elysium great! This event was originally started by the Phoenix Republic in order to promote the foundation of Port PHoenix at the founders ball and has since evolved into a celebration of music, dancing, story telling, crafting and even occasional PVP! (details)
• 8:00pm CST Vengeance 1v1 Tournament
  • The longest running Player vs Player tournament in Shroud of the Avatar. (City of Vengeance)
• 8:00pm CST Gladiator Tournament
  • Hosted by The Weeping Seven, held in Chaos Crossroads. Purchase your Entry ticket from the Vendor outside the arena in Chaos Crossroads and your name will be entered for the follow Saturday’s Tournament. 1st Place wins 40% of Entry Fee total. (City of Chaos Crossroads; details)

Sunday, December 13

• 5:30am CST Explore Novia! with royalsexy
  • Starting at the entrance to Owl’s Head, come explore the wide world of Novia – for people on our side of the calendar! (Dancing Rock, Owl’s Head Entrance, /zone royalsexy)
• 8:30am CST PaxLair Meeting
  • Come see what PaxLair is up to in Novia and other town areas! Many people also attend from towns and guilds for a bit of a weekly wrap-up and what’s happening. Good discussions! (PaxLair, /zone Winfield; teamSpeak: 43.245.163.15:10099)
• 11:00am CST Phoenix Republic Weekly Teamspeak Meeting
  • A Gathering of members of the Phoenix Republic to cover important topic areas of the month. It is here that the republic shall discuss new event types, ideas on new laws and other concerns effecting the Phoenix Republic. (Republic Town Hall, Port Phoenix, teamspeak at ts3.portphoenix.com)
• 12:00pm CST Violent Underground – Team Tourney!
  • Join War Sage in Hometown in group combat! This 4v4 (and more) Team tournament creates a wargame where only the best team wins! Come on out and grab a drink, cheer on your team, and BATTLE! This tournament takes place every other week and tests only the best of the teams in SotA! (Hometown)
• 1:00pm CST Serenite Shopping Extravaganza
  • Shopping Extravaganza at the Serenite Selfridge Mall. Crafters will be available for special orders.
• 3:00pm CST Gustball
  • Two teams are pitted against each other in a sporting event not dissimilar from soccer, football, and basketball. The object of the game is to Gust a Gustball around the field and into your opponent’s goal (/zone Bambino Ludovate, details)
• 5:00pm CST BMC Grid Iron Feast and Registration
  • Register to compete in the BMC Gridiron and mingle with other participants and spectators before the big fight! (Blackrock Cove on Novia near Etceter Crag Mines, details)
• 5:30pm CST BMC Gladiator’s Grid-Iron
  • The BMC is proud to present the nastiest, the foulest, the most feared arena in all of New Britannia! The Grid-Iron is equipped with a pit-style arena, locker rooms, a VIP round-table, betting & vendor booths, and all the blood-sport you can handle. (Blackrock Cove on Novia near Etceter Crag Mines, details)
• 7:00pm CST PaxLair Meeting
  • Come see what PaxLair is up to in Novia and other town areas! Many people also attend from towns and guilds for a bit of a weekly wrap-up and what’s happening. Good discussions!  (PaxLair, /zone Winfield)
• 8:00pm CST Fishing with Winfield
  • Come sit with Winfield on a log or rock to hear some fish tales or tell your own. Chat about anything from the moons to the earth worms. Spend a relaxing day in nature near a stream or lake — bring insect repellent or a sword.  (some fishing spot or pond, /zone Winfield; details)

Be sure and check out the Release 24 Events thread in the SotA forums for additional events that may not be included here.

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Upcoming Events

2015.12.17 – Release 25
2016.01.28 – Release 26
2016.02.25 – Release 27
2016.03.17 – SXSW Gaming
2016.03.31 – Release 28

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