- the patch title! I love that they're using it for an actual in-game chapter title screen now!

And instead of it being the name of the final msquest of the patch, it's now the first. Putting that order on its head really got me in the mood for a new(found) adventure.

- Estinien, you sweet, sweet man. I thought he was falling for the scheme but he'd actually seen throughbit, and decided if some of his money went to that kid, it was worth it anyway.

We even figured out we were being followed and walked around in such a way that the boy didn't get eaten by monsters. I feel like back in arr, each of these plot points would have taken up several quests...

which I guess is also a nice way to show how far removed we are from that even if we're doing Traditional Adventurer Things again, like treasure hunting.

- I love Vritra and want to give him hugs or headpats or both. In both Varshan and dragon form.

(and aww, Estinien relating Nidhogg's grief that he felt during the fusion/posession to Vritra's and wanting to help in no small part because of that.)

- wheee genderless dragons confirmed wheeee

our dragons are genderless ancient alien refugees from outer space and I love that

- Raha really really really wants to come on as many adventures as possible with us, and he gets to go on two in this patch alone!

- the myths of the realm storyline, or rather my enjoyment of it, suffers a bit from the fact that the twelve are easily the piece of "big" lore that I'm the least interested in. they would've been fun in arr, but here I'm not sure what to make of the storyline yet

nald'thal's design and boss music are super cool though

- questgiver boy seems to so obviously be Oschon that I'm sort of hoping that the twist is that the baby opo is him instead. Especially after we saw Vyregot and Rhalgr as a spriggan and falcon.

- felt really bad about how poorly I was doing in the 24man raid compared to everyone else, dying constantly when almost no one else did, until the "mapping the realm" achievements popped up at the end and it turned out that only I and one other person from a different alliance were completely new.

my party very patiently revived me over and over and even gave me some pity commendations...

- I'm usually largely indifferent towards Y'shtola, but I really warmed up to her this patch, with her pouting tone when she says "and I didn't mean to fall asleep..." and her enthusiasm about the restricted librarybsection and all

and the summoning ritual for the nixies she made up as a child, and the nod to be childhood with Matoya compared to how her school life could've gone (from an optional conversation during a walking quest)

- loved loved loved that the scenes where we walk into the restricted section was shot exactly like thenopening cinematic of a classic dungeon

- Nidhana being all "shocked" that we would put forbidden knowledge "into her unsuspecting hand" and then in the next line immediately being like "I can't wait to read that "

- the final boss of the msq dungeon was so fun! I laughed so hard at the little quotes from the scions when they were being spun around that I spun myself right into the spikes. XD Does anyone know what Urianger says? I only have whm at 90 so he couldn't come along.

- the captain of the radiant host "scolding" Vrtra was so sweet. and calling him their little brother hits differently now after the backstory bits

(I like the guy a lot in general. His compassion for Khalzahl in an earlier scene was so good to see too.)

- the puns in the sharlayan library continue to kill me. The index page!!

- I love that in that very first scene with Tataru, her voice echoes in the open space in the empty Rising Stones. Also, those biscuits and muffins look tasty.

- "(make sure) it has pockets!" I need to go back to choose that dialogue option.

I love Tataru's karakul needle

her needlework was so cute! and her calling out our habits of hoarding random leaves in our pockets and jumping into bodies of water fully clothed...