The Journey of Juniper Strides

[djspectre]

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Juniper Strides (djspectre)

This character was created on Monday, September 8th, 2008 at 04:14:04 AM.
Since creation, this character has logged on and off 338 times.
The character has spent 14 days, 8 hours, 45 minutes, and 14 seconds online.
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Juniper Strides has passed on....

Juni Strides was by far one of my favorite characters to play. His story touched me as it was a simple love-driven quest. His wife had been kidnapped and tossed into a portal that lead to the underdark. Juni used a wish-stone to wish his way to her location, but the Mythallar interfered with that and he was stopped short, ending up on Ymph instead of in Sanctuary.

Despite his many adventures and near-death experiences, Juni never lost sight of his goal: train and acquire enough supplies to make the trek through the Underdark. He researched Sanctuary through his own personal interaction with the original Seekers who arrived on the island the very first day the setting went active and through the various books and NPC's who were brought up by way of the grey druid's Ark.

While he was always an independent spirit, focussed on rescuing his wife, he did form several strong friendships along the way. Among them were Joric Featherfall and Teneski Veraski. While he never got to say goodbye to Joric, he did get to see the heroism of Teneski as well as share a few, rare, hunter-stalker moments with her. He also formed a fondness for Quinn, the drunken monk. Particularly when they were trapped in a cavern together. In addition, he had several memorable moments with other characters such as Clarice Nemetski and just about every halfling that came through the teleporter.

Throughout his campaign, Juni seemingly always had his most treasured and interesting moments alongside elves. His first ever assignment on Ymph was to retrieve an ancient and sacred Elven sword for the Forgotten Flower warband of elves who apparently were departing the islands. It was only fitting that his final journey be in the company of an all-elf party.

Juni was also a broad adventurer, always searching for equipment or information that would aid him in his eventual journey into the depths. He often explored alone to far reaches of the server. Several adventures of notable nature included a battle with a Frost Giant and his pet Wyverns where at the conclusion of which, the cavern collapsed on the party separating us and leaving Juni on the side that was sealed off from the rest of the group where he was supposed to die. Another was when the demon crashed to land creating a crater and the subsequent chase after it. He took the side of the Stargazers in their struggle against the Stygians and even saved Kisii from permadeath by wisking the body away into the deep woods. Sadly, due to computer problems I missed the Red Elient event in its entirety.  

As Juni, I enjoyed many, many DM interactions and was very lucky to be in the first party to explore several areas of the server, including the first group to ever set foot in the Starwood village, the Illythyrii Ruins (where he first encountered Drow and set the stage for his future in the underdark), the now-destroyed inn on the Isle of bliss where he got the chance to hear a Seeker bard perform, visted the top of the Misty Mountains long before the area's further up were ever created. fought drow alongside the seekers during his first week on the server, and recalled a nightmare he had that was (ironically) prophetical of his own death.

While he didn't find his wife, he did reach the Underdark and had the option of either continuing on alone (Sanctuary was only two transitions away) or rescue his elven comrades. He chose the latter using the logic that he would need companions to continue his journey since he didn't know ICly how close to Sanctuary he really was.

His attempt to retrieve the bodies of his companions was his second scenario to do so. Earlier, the party met unfortunate luck towards the end of The Way. Juni was able to salvage that situation and the group made it to the old Seeker camp at the bottom. However, the second scenario was different. Juni got separated from his party when a one-way door locked behind him. He had to navigate his way through unfamiliar territory until he found a way to backtrack (nearly 1-real-life hour later). He was able to drag 2 of the 6 remaining elves to safety, but when Juni went back for the 3rd, his immense luck ran out and his ridiculously high stealth score was compromised. He was slain mere inches from safety.

In the end, Juni turned out to be my very first character (out of 4 years of playing here!) that ever achieved his goals and died the way I inteded him to. He was a blast to play and I really loved all the people he met along the way. I know there are many more names than i can recall, after all 14 months is a long time to have to remember things. :-)

But if you ever interacted with him, I hope it was a fullfilling RP experience as much as it was for me.

Here are a few fun facts about the Halfling from Waterdeep:

-- He never once gave his full name of Juniper, shortened to Juni as he felt his full name was too feminine.

-- He always introduced himself 'james-bond-style': "Name's Strides, Juni Strides"

-- He had over 40 different arrow types in his pouch. Including paralysis, wounding ones and ones that could stun more than one enemy at a time.


Juni Strides!




EARLY DAYS:
Juni had quite a journey. He visited some of the most dangerous area's on the server and lived to tell about it, including several underwater areas, the Isle of Blight, he faced hordes of DM spice, and even nearly became trapped in a collapsed cavern where he was doomed to die with Quinn.

His First night in the Ziggurat!
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One of his first quests. He was sent to retrieve a holy Elven Sword.
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The Sword he was sent to retrieve.
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Exploring the Illythirii ruins on the extreme far side of the island...he fought his first drow here at merely level 4.
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His first survival of the Orc's quest.
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Exiting the Temple District before night falls!
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He -finally- finds the entrance to the Underdark!





HUMOR:[/B]
Despite my seriousness with the character, he occasionally just couldn't help the humorous situations that seemed to pop up around him.


Joric and Juniper having a fruit throwing match while merchants are trying to work.
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Two gnomes make lesbian inuendos....not really!
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Juniper VERSUS a Magic Chicken!
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"Spellguard don't like Meta-gamers"
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WTF is a Letchuq?
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IRON HALO:
Juni was never a member of this faction, but he did hang out with them a lot, particularly Tenesti. He was their for their final heroic act....sad as it was. He lost probably who he considered his best friend, though he'd never admit attachment to her.


Waiting for the Final Assault
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Syndri's last breach into the colony
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The Aftermath and preparation for the chase
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Fighting Syndri and his Warden in the Sewers
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Into his Inner Sanctum!
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The Fall of Syndri
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Syndri's curse upon them all. Juni had to watch his friend Tenesti die slowly before his very eyes. This actually changed him completely.
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This was a painful moment for Juni.
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Juni watches Tenesti turn to ash and vanish.
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The emotions run high after his friends are gone.
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Juni walked all the way to the elfwood alone to bury what was left of Tenesti. I actually cried in person when I did this.





NIGHTMARES:

Juni wasn't a mental case, but he did have a deep rooted fear of never finding his wife. This explains why.
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He later has a relapse after leaving the Veil one day and a close encounter with a FOIG event.
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SPYING:

Juni wasn't exactly into espionage, but his great stealth did allow him these few rare moments.
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Placing up posters anonomously to help find sympathizers in the colony during the were-stargazer/stygian conflict.
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STARGAZERS:

He hung out with the stargazers very often, I really liked that faction, but due to his goals, he never really joined them.
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Arranging for a supply of healing potions for the Stargazer cause in their war against the stygians
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He was appreciated and liked by the stargazers. Especially Imari whom he would always give new books to when he would find them.
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This was after I saved Kisii from being killed by a Stygian. He retreated to the exiles camp and, along with bunk, called for the stargazers to help her.
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LOOT:

Juni had a darn good collection of items for a hunter and stalker. I didn't get screenies though for these items:
-- Golden Halo ring, poor (from Tenesti when she died) = 2x/day cure light
-- Infiltrators Ring (from Bilby's maze) = +1 hide/ms, invis x7 and other stuff
-- Amulet of Detection (can't remember what quest I found this on) = +3 spot +2 search
-- Sharboneth Ring of Bravery (found this on a perma'd character) x7 cure serious, x11 bulls, x4 Protection from Elements

Standard Issue Silver Raven Shortbow - I always wished I'd gotten something sexier, but this was still damn good for Juni!
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SOmeone actually -LEFT- these laying out in the open!!
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By far the best piece of stuff I found. I had some locksmiths gloves which was +3 open lock, but this gave the best all around benefit.
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I stumbled across this on some random wilderness spawn somewhere in the mountains and nearly fell over!
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This was an excellent find that I found on a quest, By far my favorite bit of leathers I've had.
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I bought this cloak off a PC merchant. Its truly a great piece for sneaks.
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Sadly this is the only screenie I have of any of my arrows. I know I took more, but I can't find them. I had some pretty sick arrows if I needed them.
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After the event with the Frost Giants and his pet wyverns, the cave collapsed on us, splitting us into three groups. One of the trapped groups consisted of two men, one of which emoted getting ravenously hungery and trying to eat the other guy using Necromantic magics (I believe). The other guy beat him up and stripped him of his gear and made him march back naked, leaving his gear behind....this ring I got before the cave finished collapsing on his gear!
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And finally....Tenesti's bow. Being a long bow, I couldn't use it, but damn do I wish i could have!
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THE END:
The start of our journey into the Underdark. Juni told why he was heading into the depths, as well as Thomas_not_very_wise jinxing us despite my warning of 'none of us will' survive.
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So we made it to East Dunwarren and ran into some familiar enemies...
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Last time I was on this bridge, Sanctuary was being evacuated.
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I don't have any screenies of me nearly saving the entire party, but this was right after missing a pair of saves by 2 points. Our guide arrived....
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our guide led us here....


Our Epilogue (please read)


And so he waits for his beloved.....

[sylvyrdragon]

Excellent character. The few interactions I've had with him I truly enjoyed.  Keep up the good work.

[Drakill Tannan]

Epic character, epic post.

Sad to see him go, now it's just quin.

[Secutor]

Nice!

[TheMacPanther]

Great char, had some fun with him through the Iron Halo.

[Egon the Monkey]

PHEAR THE CHICKEN!
Glad you posted that screeny, I lost it. Some of the most fun times on Ahmed were when I was posessing Bwukkah. Juni was a great PC and a true survivor. Good end though, pursuing his goal.

[Thomas_Not_very_wise]

He certainly left a mark.

[DeputyCool]

Surface to UD Portal Magic does not work.

His wife probably ran away with a wandering vagabond.

[Luke Danger]

Epic character. Never got to interact much, but I always liked your work.

[UnholyWon]

Nice! Great character man!

[Pup]

Sad that none of my chars ever really knew Juni considering we joined EfU at nearly the same time.  Strange how that works.  Good stuff DJ!

[Canzah]

Much kudos!

[derfo]

awesome character and amazing ending dude can't wait for your next

[RevengeIsADish]

How I wish I was able to go to the UD with you guys. :(

[Stormbringer]

Truly, truly awesome. Well done. :)