Jiaphyon's Mission [WARNING: EXTREMELY IMAGE HEAVY!!!]
Posted: Tue Nov 23, 2010 1:00 am
So as a lot of you probably know by now, I've had a little red hyena as my favorite pet for a very long time now. At level 34, back when I was a noobish hunter who didn't really know what she was doing, I stormed the Scarlet Monastery solo and after over an hour's worth of work and blowing a special immunity potion that in retrospect I should have saved for later, I got myself a Scarlet Tracking Hound. I named him Jiaphyon, which means "laughing death" in drow, and he stuck with me from then on. From level 34 to level 80 he was my constant, loyal leveling companion. We did everything together...Azeroth, BC and WotLK content.
Cataclysm brings a lot of amazing new stuff, but it also means the Scarlet Tracking Hound is being replaced by a red mastiff. While I agree that the Mastiff fits the Monastery much better than a red hyena, I was devastated to learn my loyal companion Jiaphyon would be turning into one of these dogs come the Shattering. It wasn't even just a skin change; it was a whole FAMILY change, a whole MODEL change. His very identity would have been completely destroyed by this.
I was not ready to give up my closest companion throughout the game, so I came up with a solution...and today, I acted on it and took some screenshots. Now I'll share my little story. For an added kick, this happened to come up on my playlist right at the end, which nearly tore my poor heart to pieces
Okay. Here we go.
Silinrul and Jiaphyon headed down to Tanaris to investigate the Elemental Attack situation further. Elementals have been popping up everywhere, and everyone on Azeroth is desperate to find the source. The four elemental generals of sorts have been found, but there could be still more hiding in mysterious and powerful places, and Silinrul was reminded of that strange door that seemed to conceal something important...
Silinrul and Jia saw several other elemental attacks along their way across the desert, only reaffirming how dangerous the situation was becoming.
Spurred on by the dangerous attacks, they hurried across the barren desert as fast as they could.
They found a few old landmarks to go by, and contemplated the ruins that had been left behind long ago in the desert. Would these attacks become so dangerous their own homes turn into ruins that would in turn be absently contemplated by some other being centuries from now?
And at last...they reached the strange door to the place only known vaguely as 'Uldum.'
Silinrul knew what had to be done. With the attacks everywhere, it was imperative that she, as an experienced combatant, offer as much help as she could to the growing problems, defending the cities and helping in combat. But she also needed to keep an eye out on possible hints and clues that could very well lead to the protection of her people. She needed to be in too many places at once, and couldn't manage it by herself. But Jiaphyon, the loyal hyena who had stayed by her side and protected her from hundreds if not thousands of dangers, could help her with that.
And then he darted off over the dunes, weaving carefully between the sand and stones just like he always did with her when they were on a mission of subtlety, and soon disappeared from sight.
Silinrul knows she has to get back to the cities, to help with the defenses...but for a moment, she lets herself pause, and think about a week from now, when she can finally return for her friend.
And now....all that's left to do is wait.
~VelkynKarma
Cataclysm brings a lot of amazing new stuff, but it also means the Scarlet Tracking Hound is being replaced by a red mastiff. While I agree that the Mastiff fits the Monastery much better than a red hyena, I was devastated to learn my loyal companion Jiaphyon would be turning into one of these dogs come the Shattering. It wasn't even just a skin change; it was a whole FAMILY change, a whole MODEL change. His very identity would have been completely destroyed by this.
I was not ready to give up my closest companion throughout the game, so I came up with a solution...and today, I acted on it and took some screenshots. Now I'll share my little story. For an added kick, this happened to come up on my playlist right at the end, which nearly tore my poor heart to pieces
Okay. Here we go.
Silinrul and Jiaphyon headed down to Tanaris to investigate the Elemental Attack situation further. Elementals have been popping up everywhere, and everyone on Azeroth is desperate to find the source. The four elemental generals of sorts have been found, but there could be still more hiding in mysterious and powerful places, and Silinrul was reminded of that strange door that seemed to conceal something important...
Silinrul and Jia saw several other elemental attacks along their way across the desert, only reaffirming how dangerous the situation was becoming.
Spurred on by the dangerous attacks, they hurried across the barren desert as fast as they could.
They found a few old landmarks to go by, and contemplated the ruins that had been left behind long ago in the desert. Would these attacks become so dangerous their own homes turn into ruins that would in turn be absently contemplated by some other being centuries from now?
And at last...they reached the strange door to the place only known vaguely as 'Uldum.'
Silinrul knew what had to be done. With the attacks everywhere, it was imperative that she, as an experienced combatant, offer as much help as she could to the growing problems, defending the cities and helping in combat. But she also needed to keep an eye out on possible hints and clues that could very well lead to the protection of her people. She needed to be in too many places at once, and couldn't manage it by herself. But Jiaphyon, the loyal hyena who had stayed by her side and protected her from hundreds if not thousands of dangers, could help her with that.
And then he darted off over the dunes, weaving carefully between the sand and stones just like he always did with her when they were on a mission of subtlety, and soon disappeared from sight.
Silinrul knows she has to get back to the cities, to help with the defenses...but for a moment, she lets herself pause, and think about a week from now, when she can finally return for her friend.
And now....all that's left to do is wait.
~VelkynKarma
A lot of this was spur-of-the-moment, once I got into character. 
That said, I'm in the area as well and will be sure to stop by to check on Jia if I make it over to Nesingwary. There will be Much Flailing if I can find him. 