Tanaris Gold Rush

THE STORMWIND POST-SPECIAL BREAKING-NEWS ISSUE

GOLD-RUSH FEVER HITS TANARIS!

This very morning, word has reached us at the Stormwind Post of excitable activity in the once desolate deserts of Tanaris, far across the sea in Kalimdor. Hundreds have begun flocking to the dusty, dune-filled land, buying as many shovels and picks as they can carry. The reason? Gold!

In the past month, gold has begun to appear all over the deserts of Tanaris. We interviewed Kirk Stonefield, an Elwynn resident who has recently returned from there. He told us: ‘There's gold everywhere! Sprouting up from the very sand and rocks, like some sort'a magical fruit! Me and the others couldn't believe our eyes! We managed to fill several crates full o' the stuff before running out of storage space and heading back to the Eastern Kingdoms. I'm goin' back out there tomorrow to snap up the rest!'

But since the discovery of the vast gold reserves, many others have had the same idea as Kirk. Sentient species from all over Azeroth have started travelling to Tanaris in order to make their fortune, quickly forgetting their responsibilities at home: the Stormwind Post has heard reports of farmers, miners and even soldiers packing up and buying boat tickets to Tanaris.

But why the sudden arrival of such vast quantities of gold? We spoke to a Representative of the Gnomish Council of Science, and local-Watchman, Cedric P. Tinkerton. ‘Well,' the gnome told us, ‘the sudden increase in gold-discovery could be due to a number of reasons. However, most likely is that one of the region's earthquakes could have caused the gold ore, which was long buried beneath the sand, to move upwards and appear at the surface. Or maybe some sort of asteroid crashed and the gold came from that...anyway, this is all besides the point. People are getting rich out there in Tanaris, and I'm joining the bandwagon before all the gold is claimed! Now out of my way, I need to buy a bigger suitcase!'

With the arrival of so many hopeful gold-hunters in Tanaris, there has also been an increase in the area's economy. The once desolate port of Steamwheedle is now a thriving hub of trade and commerce, and several merchants and tavern-keeps have decided to set up shop in order to profit from the influx of gold-hunters. Problems have however begun to arise in these quickly growing ‘gold-towns': as they are far from the jurisdiction of the Alliance, these towns are technically lawless and filled with corruption. The Stormwind Post has heard reports of a number of drunken brawls, gun-fights, gambling and even harlotry in Steamwheedle Port alone. To counteract this, several Priests of the Holy Light have been dispatched to Steamwheedle Port in order to try and bring morality and peace back to the region. We have also been told that the Goblin Trade Cartels have begun to employ some travellers as rudimentary law-enforcers, paid to keep the peace in these various ‘Gold-Towns'.

Will the boom of gold in Tanaris lead to riches and prosperity for those who go seek it, or will it breed nothing but destruction and greed? The Stormwind Post suggests you go find out for yourself! Good luck readers!

Date:

5 July 2009

Time:

13.00

Location:

Steamwheedle Port, Tanaris

Event details:

Gold fever is here!

Greetings all! This event will be a little different than most, but hopefully will be a success and offer you something a little different than your typical role-play event.

Basically, as the above newspaper article states, gold has begun appearing in huge quantities in the Tanaris desert, and your character is invited to journey to Steamwheedle Port and take part in a day of roleplay there, all with a very Wild West theme!

Will your character come with intentions of finding gold for themselves? Or will you give them alternative motives? Here are some examples of the ‘role' your character could take on during the event and their reason for being in Steamwheedle, but feel free to come up with your own ideas entirely!

Gold Miner

Your character likes nothing more than making sweet riches, and has arrived at Steamwheedle to seek out and mine the gold that has been appearing all across the desert. Or maybe they have different motives for seeking the valuable nuggets...some say the gold contains dangerous amounts of fel energy, and could be used for darker purposes...

Merchant

Seeing an opportunity for making money, but not wanting to risk the dangers of seeking gold in the Tanaris desert, your character has decided to set up shop in Steamwheedle to make money off others. People will certainly need mining tools, shovels and clothing, but also the less practical products such as souvenirs and ale. There is even space for people to RP a tavern in the port, a good opportunity for a currently existing tavern guild maybe?

Hired Muscle

The less capable miners will need as much protection as they can get out in the desert, not only from the wild beasts and native troll tribes but also rival gold-hunters and bandits. This is where your character comes in: ready to offer their services to any who can afford it, or perhaps a lone ranger who wishes to protect the weak and vulnerable in such a harsh place.

Law-Enforcer

Due to zoning regulations and a lack of available Goblin security, Steamwheedle Port is technically a lawless town. The local goblins and residents have thus pooled their money and wish to hire a select few to keep the peace in the Port, at least until the gold-rush is over. Your character may take up this task and roleplay accordingly, but be warned Steamwheedle is far from the cobblestone streets of Stormwind: a quick draw of your weapon may be much more useful than a quick tongue or diplomatic reasoning.

Criminal

With the gold-rush on, Steamwheedle is the ideal location for criminals from all across Azeroth. Pick-pockets will find plenty of bulging purses, bandits can lay in wait for prey out on the dunes and thugs will find plenty to intimidate in the shadows and taverns.

Pleasure-Seeker

Your character has come to Steamwheedle to enjoy themselves as much as possible, whether it be drinking, gambling, hunting for sport or gazing lustfully at the dancing ladies in the tavern. It's worth the trip alone to sample some of the famous Goblin Gin, which is guaranteed to bring a dwarf to their knees after one glass.

Representative of the Holy Light

Hearing about the corruption the gold-rush has created, your character may take his morality and goodness to Steamwheedle to try and keep sin at bay. Will you try and convert passersby to the goodness of the Holy Light, or maybe face a moral dilemma yourself when faced with such riches and pleasures? These figures are also in demand to provide medical services in Steamwheedle, where knife-wounds need bandaging and bullets need to be removed on a regular basis!

Tourist

Your character may just be curious about the effect the gold-rush is having on people and the town. With greed in the air and ale on tap, Steamwheedle is certain not to disappoint those who prefer sitting back and watching the world go by.

Hopefully the above ‘jobs' will give your character a reason to be in Tanaris for the event. As an example of ‘adapting' a character for this event, I shall use Tinkerton. Now Tinkerton is a Watchman in Stormwind, so could have decided to head to Steamwheedle to offer his services with their law-enforcement effort. However, Tinkerton is also a coward and quite greedy, so it is also feasible that he has instead decided to head to Steamwheedle in order to get his hands on some gold nuggets. It's entirely up to you how you will play out your character in this event, use your imagination and if you need some help I suggest watching any Western movie for inspiration.

The event will go on for hopefully most of the day, during which there will be several organised events, ending with the Grand Steamwheedle Annual Hoedown (a ball that will contain dancing, socialising, outfit and pet contests, and no doubt other surprises to be revealed on the night!)

So please spread the word among your fellow roleplayers and any roleplay guilds/communities you may be part of, and hopefully this will be an event to remember! Please read the below Q and A's for more information about this event.

OOC details:

Questions n' Answers

I'm a little confused...do we roleplay as our own character, or act as a new character entirely, like during the Faerie Tale events?

You roleplay as your character, just like normal, the only difference being your reason for uprooting yourself from the comforts of home to be in Steamwheedle for the event. Just like I stated above, Tinkerton could decide to head to Tanaris to make his fortune from gold-mining. Or, for another example, somebody who roleplays a Paladin stationed in Stormwind could RP being dispatched to Steamwheedle by the Bishops, who wish to see the sin and corruption in the region removed. So remember: roleplay your character as normal, but in their new role and with their new intentions during the event!

Why a Wild West theme?

Well, I don't think it's been attempted before, and I think it would inject a bit of new life in Argent Dawn roleplay. Try to bear the Western theme in mind during the event, which also means your character should be suitably dressed for the West! Rugged, practical, dark clothing is a must for the harsh desert environment, as is the essential western headgear (so brimmed hats, face masks, bandanas). Those characters intending to stick closer to the port itself would look mighty fine in a waistcoat, as well as wearing some dandy boots. There also will hopefully be some frilly dress-wearing saloon girls, fingers crossed fellas! Remember that during the Grand Steamwheedle Annual Hoedown there will be a contest to decide the best outfit, so the more Western you look the better! Get to it cowboys n' cowgirls!

With all the encouraged lawlessness and such, won't the event just erupt into madness?

That's not the intention. While the location and lack of official Alliance presence means that laws are basically non-existent, this doesn't mean people want your character going around and roleplaying shooting people on mass for no reason. As with all roleplay, try to be respectful to those roleplaying around you and respectful to the environment and theme. For example, a roleplay situation with two characters getting into a drunken brawl outside the tavern over a girl is great and within the Wild West theme, but a half-demon-vampire riding about on an elekk and blasting people with fireballs is not. Also remember that, like all roleplay, actions have consequences: if your character tries to rob a gold-prospector in view of a law-enforcer, expect to face a conflict. The main thing to remember is to have fun and be inventive!

Will there be...ahem...special services provided by ladies of the night, just like in the real Wild West?

While I cannot impose rules on anybody, as alas I am not a GM, I would suggest this sort of thing (ERP) is avoided :p

So this event is happening on just a single day? Wouldn't it be more suited to a long-term thing, such as a week or maybe a month?

Due to the amount of organising such an event takes, I think it would better to happen on just a single day. That doesn't mean to say people can't roleplay before or after the event has finished, by all means do, but the scheduled time for people to be in Tanaris this one day.

Do I have to be there all day? I get bored...and I won't have the time...

Of course not! You can show up and leave Steamwheedle as you please, but hopefully there will be enough RP going on to make you stick around :p People are more than welcome to come along just for the afternoon, or just for the Grand Steamwheedle Annual Hoedown in the evening, but hopefully there should be a big group of eager roleplayers around during the entire day!

Do you need any help?

Yes! I have worked out the theme and backstory, as well as a few things for people to do, but what this event really needs is people willing to put forward their ideas and generate roleplay during the event. Mabye your character could organise a hunting trip into the desert, and provide a prize for the best pelt? Or perhaps roleplay rescuing another character from a tribe of sand-trolls, forming a rescue-party and such? Or maybe your character claims to be the fastest firearm-drawer in the West, challenging others to a shootout in the town square? Anything that gets others involved, whether directly or observing, is great and what this event needs! Of course, people are also welcome to do their own thing and just have a gentle experience socialising with others, if that's what interests you. Just try something new and enjoy the roleplay!

I am also looking for help for the evening event, the Steamwheedle Annual Hoedown. This will require food and drink vendors, security, and even donations of fireworks! Let's end the day's RPing with a bang! If any current tavern-guilds would be interested in helping with this, I would very much like to hear from you!

So there you have it. If you have any more questions, feel free to contact me via the Argent Archives mail system and I'll be happy to help. All the remains for me to say is I hope to see you there, and I hope you enjoy a taste of the Wild West in Azeroth!

Contact:

Tinkerton