Why I Learnt to Read

Approximately 4 years ago, I was introduced to this highly addictive game called World of Warcraft. I’ve since had a love-hate relationship with the game, it being as time consuming as a full-time job (well, if you were mad enough to level 3 characters at the same time, professions and all, and didn’t really know how to play well…), with guild drama of all sorts to deal with (doesn’t help that you know the guild leader in real life bleargh).

So, I’ve learnt to play a MMORPG, and I’ve learnt how to raid (vaguely). And in my attempt to complete all the quests as quickly as possible, I forgot how to read.

By ‘read’, I don’t mean the simple processing of words. I mean considering them, and seeing what the writer had in mind when he penned those words. “Instant quest text” removed my need to read the story behind each quest. It was not until yesterday when I was looking for information on a quest from Wowhead (yes, I got lost again) that I was reminded of the wonderful world of fantasy and lore.

A comment on the quest Light Within the Darkness
http://www.wowhead.com/?quest=13083

Wow. Did they SERIOUSLY retcon that incredibly epic and awesome quest chain out of the game? Seriously? Then why the hell did Bolvar tell me that he remembered what I had done for him, all those years ago? I don't remember "Lo'Gosh" or any King there. I remember me, some of my closest friends, Marshall Windsor, and a lot of angry black dragons. I remember the halls painted red with their blood and our own. I remember Windsor shattering the amulet that held Bolvar thralled as he fell, mortally wounded, to
the ground. I remember taking up arms and bringing the fight to Blackrock Spire and avenging Windsor's death. I remember the blood of Drakkisath, and how it was used to imbue the medallion. And finally, I remember taking the fight to Prestor herself. I remember entering that cavern in Dustwallow, slaughtering the elite Black Dragonflight guards, and putting Onyxia to the sword, ensuring that Marshall Windsor's sacrifice was not in vain.

Nowhere in there do I remember a king.

Nowhere in there do I remember some random crystal flying creatures 'ascending Windsor to heaven'.

So tell me. What did this crusader do that makes him deserve so much better treatment than Windsor?

I never did the Windsor questline, even though I first went to a raid on the Alliance side. And even if I did, I doubt I would have been so patient as to read the quest text, being the juvenile I was.

That comment is, truly, a beautiful piece of writing. I now wish I had completed that questline. Maybe I’ll go do it someday.

And of course, I read the follow up comments.

For those of you who think the quest is fruity:
That's what I thought first as well. Lorewise, Alexstrasza's power should trump that of a silly windchime, and of course running all over the place just to see him die was !@#$y. He also had no lore whatsoever besides being called a great hero by Fordring. However, when I visited the crusader's page, I found the following information.

TL;DR: It's a tribute to an IRL family member of a Blizzard employee who died of cancer.

No criticism, no sarcasm hiding behind the mask of civility. Just the sharing of information.

Perhaps, this is literature in its finest.