The following entry is dated not just a day but only minutes after the last one
Entry #33
Short cuts often come with a cost. I have seen many who looked inexperienced following around others who obviously were much, much more experienced. The experienced one did all the work and the inexperienced one collected the reward.
Discussing this with my team they had all seen the same thing where ever each was. And we all agreed that such people deprive themselves of an opportunity and, literally, taking a short-cut to wealth and power ... end up endangering themselves as well as others.
Sound familiar yet?
They could earn their way, work for it. And undergo the process of maturation, of learning, of cultivation and of becoming that experienced and powerful person ... and that will not happen if someone else does the work for them.
People like that want a reward for something they didn't ear.. It is ... dishonest.
Sound familiar yet?
It was about at this point that we all saw this greater image. And how the "corruption" we were *seeing* related to the actual corruption we could only see through its **effects**.
The actual corruption ... starts inside a person. And is deceptively simple ...
A choice.
A choice to take a short cut. A choice to want a reward you didn't earn. A choice for dishonesty.
Story - Saving the Spirit of Turtle WoW
Re: Story - Saving the Spirit of Turtle WoW
The next entry is dated only minutes after the previous entry
Entry #34
And once such a choice is made, a path is started that starts small but with each step taken gets harder and harder to turn back from coming with greater and greater costs. Edwin van Cleef would know.
And just like it started inside him ... and then went and manifest in the Deadmines and the Defias Syndicate ...
And just like the choice to destroy the environment for profit manifests in desolate landscapes ...
And just like the choice to use shadow magic or even draw out souls and use them as soul shards (or even turn them into edible soul stones ...) manifests in withered, soul-less remnants ...
I haven't even seen the area known as Felwood yet but I shudder at what it might be.
It always starts as a choice. A choice that will bring more and more ... fruits. If that can be said.
Are the fruits the corruption? No, they are just the fruits. The **choice** is the corruption. Thats where it starts.
And it makes sense. Choice is the method of change.
Entry #34
And once such a choice is made, a path is started that starts small but with each step taken gets harder and harder to turn back from coming with greater and greater costs. Edwin van Cleef would know.
And just like it started inside him ... and then went and manifest in the Deadmines and the Defias Syndicate ...
And just like the choice to destroy the environment for profit manifests in desolate landscapes ...
And just like the choice to use shadow magic or even draw out souls and use them as soul shards (or even turn them into edible soul stones ...) manifests in withered, soul-less remnants ...
I haven't even seen the area known as Felwood yet but I shudder at what it might be.
It always starts as a choice. A choice that will bring more and more ... fruits. If that can be said.
Are the fruits the corruption? No, they are just the fruits. The **choice** is the corruption. Thats where it starts.
And it makes sense. Choice is the method of change.
Re: Story - Saving the Spirit of Turtle WoW
The next entry is dated a day after the previous one
Entry #35
After this meeting my team and I started to see the world with different eyes. We had made our way to Ashenvale and we immediately saw the "early stage corruption" with the furbolgs in the region. Crazed, insane behavior, foul runes, Satyrs (which are corrupted night elves that spread more corruption).
Its all right there. In plain sight.
I even saw a glimpse of Felwood in the north of Ashenvale. Remember what I said about how it feels when a shadowbolt hits you? What I saw from Felwood is that feeling ... given form. Even the trees seemed to have malicious faces. I have no idea how anything can be alive in this region. Unless of course it sustains itself on corruption. What an unsettling thought ...
On a maybe related note, something else that everyone of my team noticed is a dramatic increase in this weird behavior like I mentioned I had seen as a rare exception a year ago. Where I had seen it maybe a handful of times ... now it seems you can't turn a corner without encountering it.
The noises and "words" such people produce are just as illegible as before. It really does behave like a contagious even though that can practically be ruled out according to our herbalist.
I still wonder if there is something to that thought. Just instead of a physical contagion ... maybe it is a contagion of the soul.
I know it is a long shot but think about it. If that were to be true it would behave like a disease without manifesting as one. It would spread like a disease but instead of touch or fluid, it would spread with people influencing one another socially.
I am aware that I have only anecdotal and incidental evidence for this but you have to admit it would explain a lot of what we are seeing ... and that makes it a compelling lead in this investigation.
Entry #35
After this meeting my team and I started to see the world with different eyes. We had made our way to Ashenvale and we immediately saw the "early stage corruption" with the furbolgs in the region. Crazed, insane behavior, foul runes, Satyrs (which are corrupted night elves that spread more corruption).
Its all right there. In plain sight.
I even saw a glimpse of Felwood in the north of Ashenvale. Remember what I said about how it feels when a shadowbolt hits you? What I saw from Felwood is that feeling ... given form. Even the trees seemed to have malicious faces. I have no idea how anything can be alive in this region. Unless of course it sustains itself on corruption. What an unsettling thought ...
On a maybe related note, something else that everyone of my team noticed is a dramatic increase in this weird behavior like I mentioned I had seen as a rare exception a year ago. Where I had seen it maybe a handful of times ... now it seems you can't turn a corner without encountering it.
The noises and "words" such people produce are just as illegible as before. It really does behave like a contagious even though that can practically be ruled out according to our herbalist.
I still wonder if there is something to that thought. Just instead of a physical contagion ... maybe it is a contagion of the soul.
I know it is a long shot but think about it. If that were to be true it would behave like a disease without manifesting as one. It would spread like a disease but instead of touch or fluid, it would spread with people influencing one another socially.
I am aware that I have only anecdotal and incidental evidence for this but you have to admit it would explain a lot of what we are seeing ... and that makes it a compelling lead in this investigation.
Re: Story - Saving the Spirit of Turtle WoW
The next entry is dated a day after the previous one. By now the entries so recent they are only a week or two old.
Entry #36
As we were finishing up our work in Ashenvale for the nightelves and heading to one of the other only safe ports for the Alliance in Kalimdor (Ratchet, in the Barrens), I was approached by a troll of all people ...
"Yo, mon! You Fadrith?" - A postman troll
He said to me and then handed me a letter. Apparently he was handling the mail. A postman troll. But at least he spoke in complete sentences. Which is more than I can say of many of my fellow humans.
The letter was an urgent message from the Cathedral of Light. Apparently the Gnomes in Ironforge (so thats where they are living) were seeking capable and willing help to help them reclaim their city.
I was not even aware the gnomes had a city.
Reading further, they also asked me to report back since I had not checked in for a while. Apparently, there was a "situation" in Stormwind.
I wonder what they mean. We are going to sail come the next day and I am writing this from the Ratchet Inn.
It is a dangerous place but I do like the climate here.
Entry #36
As we were finishing up our work in Ashenvale for the nightelves and heading to one of the other only safe ports for the Alliance in Kalimdor (Ratchet, in the Barrens), I was approached by a troll of all people ...
"Yo, mon! You Fadrith?" - A postman troll
He said to me and then handed me a letter. Apparently he was handling the mail. A postman troll. But at least he spoke in complete sentences. Which is more than I can say of many of my fellow humans.
The letter was an urgent message from the Cathedral of Light. Apparently the Gnomes in Ironforge (so thats where they are living) were seeking capable and willing help to help them reclaim their city.
I was not even aware the gnomes had a city.
Reading further, they also asked me to report back since I had not checked in for a while. Apparently, there was a "situation" in Stormwind.
I wonder what they mean. We are going to sail come the next day and I am writing this from the Ratchet Inn.
It is a dangerous place but I do like the climate here.
Re: Story - Saving the Spirit of Turtle WoW
The next entry is dated one day after the previous one
Entry #37
My goodness. I am back in Stormwind and I am writing this from a remote corner in the canals because there is just no space let alone any quiet to even hear yourself think!
What is wrong, you might ask?
Remember those weird acting people I described? Elwynn Forest? Cross Roads in the Barrens?
Yeah, those people? Just eeeeeeeverywhere. Literally! Forget about turning a corner, you cannot go a few steps in Stormwind without running into one or hearing one of those weird acting people.
I haven't even made it to the Cathedral of Light yet. At first I wanted to go to the mage district to find some quiet but they are there too ...
Calling this unsettling would be an understatement. It was downright perturbing.
What happened here ... ?
Entry #37
My goodness. I am back in Stormwind and I am writing this from a remote corner in the canals because there is just no space let alone any quiet to even hear yourself think!
What is wrong, you might ask?
Remember those weird acting people I described? Elwynn Forest? Cross Roads in the Barrens?
Yeah, those people? Just eeeeeeeverywhere. Literally! Forget about turning a corner, you cannot go a few steps in Stormwind without running into one or hearing one of those weird acting people.
I haven't even made it to the Cathedral of Light yet. At first I wanted to go to the mage district to find some quiet but they are there too ...
Calling this unsettling would be an understatement. It was downright perturbing.
What happened here ... ?
Re: Story - Saving the Spirit of Turtle WoW
The next entry is one of the most recent ones. It is only dated days ago from the present time
Entry #38
I am back from the Cathedral of Light. Apparently, the city of the gnomes is called Gnomeregan and evidently it is currently irradiate and overrun by trogs. And renegade gnomes. (Hm. I wonder if anyone betrayed anyone here ... corruption anyone? We'll see ... )
When I inquired about what was happening ... most people (yes, even Lord Grayson Shadowbreaker) didn't seem overly concerned. (which I found very concerning)
They said that it "just started one day".
Sounds to me almost like an "outbreak".
When I informed them of my research and findings they said that they had no idea what caused it or whether it is related to any "corruption". (of course, I mean why would Stormwind know. They harbor warlocks!)
Anyways, once the first shock wore off, I actually went for a stroll to take advantage of the situation and just see as much of this behavior as I could.
What I saw was as fascinating as it was disturbing.
Instead of speaking in complete sentences ... most people wouldn't speak at all and those who did most often resorted to the same illegible gibberish I described in previous entries. But for research purposes, I tried to write down what I could vaguely make out as a repeating pattern.
"lfmubrs"
"wts... " (and then usually something that is actually understandable, an item of some kind. Most often something of outlandish quality and a price tag to match. Makes you wonder where they got that ... )
Also not to be confused with "wtf" which is a human slur and abbreviation and means something very different.
"help plz"
Oh and this one ...
"Sheeeeell Conneeeect"
(though I am not sure if this is part of this phenomenon as it is at least regular speech. I won't rule out anything at this point though)
"lolxd"
"lmao"
"xddddd"
"kekekekek"
Its honestly disturbing what happened within just a year. What kind of force could do such a thing ... ?
Entry #38
I am back from the Cathedral of Light. Apparently, the city of the gnomes is called Gnomeregan and evidently it is currently irradiate and overrun by trogs. And renegade gnomes. (Hm. I wonder if anyone betrayed anyone here ... corruption anyone? We'll see ... )
When I inquired about what was happening ... most people (yes, even Lord Grayson Shadowbreaker) didn't seem overly concerned. (which I found very concerning)
They said that it "just started one day".
Sounds to me almost like an "outbreak".
When I informed them of my research and findings they said that they had no idea what caused it or whether it is related to any "corruption". (of course, I mean why would Stormwind know. They harbor warlocks!)
Anyways, once the first shock wore off, I actually went for a stroll to take advantage of the situation and just see as much of this behavior as I could.
What I saw was as fascinating as it was disturbing.
Instead of speaking in complete sentences ... most people wouldn't speak at all and those who did most often resorted to the same illegible gibberish I described in previous entries. But for research purposes, I tried to write down what I could vaguely make out as a repeating pattern.
"lfmubrs"
"wts... " (and then usually something that is actually understandable, an item of some kind. Most often something of outlandish quality and a price tag to match. Makes you wonder where they got that ... )
Also not to be confused with "wtf" which is a human slur and abbreviation and means something very different.
"help plz"
Oh and this one ...
"Sheeeeell Conneeeect"
(though I am not sure if this is part of this phenomenon as it is at least regular speech. I won't rule out anything at this point though)
"lolxd"
"lmao"
"xddddd"
"kekekekek"
Its honestly disturbing what happened within just a year. What kind of force could do such a thing ... ?
Last edited by Aydea on Fri Jun 09, 2023 7:41 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Re: Story - Saving the Spirit of Turtle WoW
The next entry is just a few days old and dated one day after the previous one
Entry #39
My team and I traveled to Ironforge and met with the gnomes, the refugees from Gnomeregan, now living in Tinkertown, which is a corner of Ironforge. Their leader is an eccentric tinkerer who was all too eager to accept our offered aid.
And ... I was also curious what happened. Would you care to guess? Apparently, the gnome leader's trusted confidante betrayed him taking a short-cut to power. Of course. Betrayal. Corruption. I am hoping you'll pardon me if my surprise at the fact is somewhat subdued.
Ironforge is a really nice place though and *much* quieter than Stormwind, goodness. I might just suggest to my team to base out of here while we prepare to venture into Gnomeregan.
Now that I can actually hear myself think again I took a moment to reflect. I am writing this from one of the taverns or inns (you can't really tell easily here what is what. It seems every inn is also a bar ... dwarves like to drink I suppose)
"Care fer a glass ... ?" - Dwarf in Ironforge
Thinking back I see myself stepping out of Northshire Abbey looking at the world with wide eyed admiration. And wide eyed fright at seeing a kobold.
And now here I am leading a party down a dangerous, irradiated subterranean gnomish city.
I am seeing who I was, who I am and wonder ... who will I become?
I have found and fashioned myself armor that is so powerful I feel I don't even need Aylia's smithing (strength!) potions anymore to work in the smithy. Just wearing my equipment does. Though I still buy them from her. We've all kind of grown fond of each other in that fashion.
The druid has become a very good leather worker. Aydea an insightful enchantress and the other paladin an engineer building things that are starting to look distinctively gnomish. Like a gnomish battle chicken for instance ...
Anyways, I am going to get some sleep. Tomorrow is a big day.
Entry #39
My team and I traveled to Ironforge and met with the gnomes, the refugees from Gnomeregan, now living in Tinkertown, which is a corner of Ironforge. Their leader is an eccentric tinkerer who was all too eager to accept our offered aid.
And ... I was also curious what happened. Would you care to guess? Apparently, the gnome leader's trusted confidante betrayed him taking a short-cut to power. Of course. Betrayal. Corruption. I am hoping you'll pardon me if my surprise at the fact is somewhat subdued.
Ironforge is a really nice place though and *much* quieter than Stormwind, goodness. I might just suggest to my team to base out of here while we prepare to venture into Gnomeregan.
Now that I can actually hear myself think again I took a moment to reflect. I am writing this from one of the taverns or inns (you can't really tell easily here what is what. It seems every inn is also a bar ... dwarves like to drink I suppose)
"Care fer a glass ... ?" - Dwarf in Ironforge
Thinking back I see myself stepping out of Northshire Abbey looking at the world with wide eyed admiration. And wide eyed fright at seeing a kobold.
And now here I am leading a party down a dangerous, irradiated subterranean gnomish city.
I am seeing who I was, who I am and wonder ... who will I become?
I have found and fashioned myself armor that is so powerful I feel I don't even need Aylia's smithing (strength!) potions anymore to work in the smithy. Just wearing my equipment does. Though I still buy them from her. We've all kind of grown fond of each other in that fashion.
The druid has become a very good leather worker. Aydea an insightful enchantress and the other paladin an engineer building things that are starting to look distinctively gnomish. Like a gnomish battle chicken for instance ...
Anyways, I am going to get some sleep. Tomorrow is a big day.
Re: Story - Saving the Spirit of Turtle WoW
The following entry is so recent you can tell that not many pages are left to read. It is dated one day after the previous entry
Entry #40
Goodness, I am hoping this journal won't be glowing in the dark. They understated a little with how bad the radiation was. It was almost like some of it had gathered and was moving as one cohesive slime creature. I don't feel anyone should go down there without a paladin or someone else who can cleanse radiation poisoning.
On a different note we also found direct evidence of dark iron involvement in what ever happened in Gnomeregan.
To my understanding dark iron dwarves are renegade dwarves who essentially committed treason to Ironforge and are planning to overthrow the king. I don't know why they would do that but I sure hope it is not something similar to the Defias Syndicate.
That being said our mission was a success. We managed to clear enough of the invaders for whoever is organizing a more concentrated effort to likely benefit from our work down there.
As my team and I were celebrating we had the idea that I should update my armor. I am still wearing the silvered bronze breast plate I fashion for myself last year. It is just such a good fit and so light weight.
I consulted my team as to what they favored of the recipes I knew. It seems they have accepted me as their de-facto leader and are looking forward to help me present myself accordingly. Unfortunately we are missing a few smithing plans for that.
Tomorrow, we are headed back to Stormwind to report our success in Gnomeregan. Ever since the outbreak of this ... phenomenon (I really should find a name for this) Stormwind feels more like an asylum than a human city, honestly.
I can only hope that now with abundant and irrefutable evidence, someone else is looking into this.
Entry #40
Goodness, I am hoping this journal won't be glowing in the dark. They understated a little with how bad the radiation was. It was almost like some of it had gathered and was moving as one cohesive slime creature. I don't feel anyone should go down there without a paladin or someone else who can cleanse radiation poisoning.
On a different note we also found direct evidence of dark iron involvement in what ever happened in Gnomeregan.
To my understanding dark iron dwarves are renegade dwarves who essentially committed treason to Ironforge and are planning to overthrow the king. I don't know why they would do that but I sure hope it is not something similar to the Defias Syndicate.
That being said our mission was a success. We managed to clear enough of the invaders for whoever is organizing a more concentrated effort to likely benefit from our work down there.
As my team and I were celebrating we had the idea that I should update my armor. I am still wearing the silvered bronze breast plate I fashion for myself last year. It is just such a good fit and so light weight.
I consulted my team as to what they favored of the recipes I knew. It seems they have accepted me as their de-facto leader and are looking forward to help me present myself accordingly. Unfortunately we are missing a few smithing plans for that.
Tomorrow, we are headed back to Stormwind to report our success in Gnomeregan. Ever since the outbreak of this ... phenomenon (I really should find a name for this) Stormwind feels more like an asylum than a human city, honestly.
I can only hope that now with abundant and irrefutable evidence, someone else is looking into this.
Re: Story - Saving the Spirit of Turtle WoW
The following entry is dated just the other day, one day after the previous entry.
Entry #41
Arriving back at Stormwind was every bit as I thought it might be. Fortunately, this time around I was prepared and could just focus on where I need to go and what I need to do. It was still hard though, seeing all these people behaving in this fashion.
Are people really that ... degenerated?
Its hard to imagine how such a thing could happen. And to so many!
How many shortcuts did they take? How many choices for corruption did they make?
On an unrelated note, I have even managed to warm up to my current teacher, Katherine the Pure. Once you get to know her a little, you will see she is a very insightful woman capable of teaching very valuable lessons. She gave me that feeling of humility that I so often felt with my teacher in Northshire Abbey.
Oh, and this time around? She had a special mission offer for me. It appears someone has sent word from somewhere and they are facing a similar problem than most of Stormwind these days.
Finding capable and sane individuals to help and get work done.
And this time? I knew exactly why they felt I was the right person. It appears that if you don't act like the rest of Stormwind, you are actually the odd one out.
Yes, that is actually how bad it is.
My contact for this mission is someone named Tyralion. I have never heard this name before, but something about this name gives me a good feeling, I can't even tell you why.
Entry #41
Arriving back at Stormwind was every bit as I thought it might be. Fortunately, this time around I was prepared and could just focus on where I need to go and what I need to do. It was still hard though, seeing all these people behaving in this fashion.
Are people really that ... degenerated?
Its hard to imagine how such a thing could happen. And to so many!
How many shortcuts did they take? How many choices for corruption did they make?
On an unrelated note, I have even managed to warm up to my current teacher, Katherine the Pure. Once you get to know her a little, you will see she is a very insightful woman capable of teaching very valuable lessons. She gave me that feeling of humility that I so often felt with my teacher in Northshire Abbey.
Oh, and this time around? She had a special mission offer for me. It appears someone has sent word from somewhere and they are facing a similar problem than most of Stormwind these days.
Finding capable and sane individuals to help and get work done.
And this time? I knew exactly why they felt I was the right person. It appears that if you don't act like the rest of Stormwind, you are actually the odd one out.
Yes, that is actually how bad it is.
My contact for this mission is someone named Tyralion. I have never heard this name before, but something about this name gives me a good feeling, I can't even tell you why.
Re: Story - Saving the Spirit of Turtle WoW
The next entry is as recent as the last few days, dated a few days after the previous one
Entry #42
While I was waiting for word on this special mission, I met with my team's alchemist, Aylia, and we had a good long talk on the matter of "corruption" and "shortcuts".
She mentioned it from her perspective, telling me of ... actually, I think I am going to ask her permission to include her in this journal directly.
The handwriting changes for the next part it is clear that someone else wrote the following paragraphs
From here on the handwriting changes once again but returns to the handwriting of what must be the writer of the journal
You would think that with insights like this something like what we see in Stormwind these days wouldn't happen, right?
But it does.
And that only lends further credence that something more insidious and sinister is at work here and at the root of all of this. Something that may, perhaps, even transcend the very world we live it.
It wouldn't be the first time, if historians are to be believed. Just look up the tales and myths of the creation of this world.
Entry #42
While I was waiting for word on this special mission, I met with my team's alchemist, Aylia, and we had a good long talk on the matter of "corruption" and "shortcuts".
She mentioned it from her perspective, telling me of ... actually, I think I am going to ask her permission to include her in this journal directly.
The handwriting changes for the next part it is clear that someone else wrote the following paragraphs
My name is Aylia and as per Fadrith's request I am writing in her journal.
One of the first things you learn as an aspiring herbalist is to not be greedy. Take only what you need and always leave enough for the plant to regrow.
A single leaf, a single blossom, a part of a root ... all of these things regrow, its what plants do. They are part of nature. But they can only regrow if they remain alive and functional and they only remain alive and functional of herbalists don't take too much.
Different plants have different rates of growth. It is important to know your plants and to be considerate. Afterall, the herbalist may not be a plant but is also part of nature.
From here on the handwriting changes once again but returns to the handwriting of what must be the writer of the journal
You would think that with insights like this something like what we see in Stormwind these days wouldn't happen, right?
But it does.
And that only lends further credence that something more insidious and sinister is at work here and at the root of all of this. Something that may, perhaps, even transcend the very world we live it.
It wouldn't be the first time, if historians are to be believed. Just look up the tales and myths of the creation of this world.
Re: Story - Saving the Spirit of Turtle WoW
The next entry is dated a few days after the previous one.
Entry #43
After a few days of waiting for my contact, no one showed up. My inquiries at the Cathedral of Light brought to light (pun not intended here ... ) that evidently the group that my contact was part of spontaneously disbanded. Most peculiar but I suppose stranger things happened, right?
Speaking of, after having spent a few more days in Stormwind, I am almost afraid to say but I almost got used to the sight of these people that I was referencing in previous entries. You know the kind that doesn't speak much and if they do often not even in complete sentences.
Following a couple of them around I wanted to see what it is that they are doing. Maybe they were spying on someone? Or maybe they were involved in some sort of sabotage?
But no. Nothing like that. They were running around attending what appears to be regular things. Buying and selling. Working at the forges in the dwarven district. Running up and down the mage tower in the mage district. (There is a portal there that can take you to the high elven refugee camp and they requested aid. I'll write about them some time else)
Coming back to these people I started wondering ... are these maybe "Adventurers"? At Northshire Abbey they were mentioned but only in brief. It was generally advised to leave them alone and do whatever business they have. Generally if you don't get into their way, they won't get into yours.
Entry #43
After a few days of waiting for my contact, no one showed up. My inquiries at the Cathedral of Light brought to light (pun not intended here ... ) that evidently the group that my contact was part of spontaneously disbanded. Most peculiar but I suppose stranger things happened, right?
Speaking of, after having spent a few more days in Stormwind, I am almost afraid to say but I almost got used to the sight of these people that I was referencing in previous entries. You know the kind that doesn't speak much and if they do often not even in complete sentences.
Following a couple of them around I wanted to see what it is that they are doing. Maybe they were spying on someone? Or maybe they were involved in some sort of sabotage?
But no. Nothing like that. They were running around attending what appears to be regular things. Buying and selling. Working at the forges in the dwarven district. Running up and down the mage tower in the mage district. (There is a portal there that can take you to the high elven refugee camp and they requested aid. I'll write about them some time else)
Coming back to these people I started wondering ... are these maybe "Adventurers"? At Northshire Abbey they were mentioned but only in brief. It was generally advised to leave them alone and do whatever business they have. Generally if you don't get into their way, they won't get into yours.
Re: Story - Saving the Spirit of Turtle WoW
The next entry is dated on the same day as the previous one.
Entry #44
It was while following around one of those people that I met someone very interesting. A high ranking man from a group named <Swords of Lothar>. It was the way he was carrying himself that caught my attention. Composed, aware, sensible. Completely unlike those "adventurers" that you see so often these days.
On a spontaneous decision I decided walking with him for a little while. When I spoke to him he turned and responded and then we started talking. It turns out that this man and I could connect over our shared appreciation of certain values and conducts.
He took me to one of the taverns in the Park District of Stormwind, run by high elves. Perhaps now is a good time to write a few words about them. You remember night elves, right? Tall, handsome and beautiful creatures. High elves, are not tall. They tend to be a little shorter and much more delicate. So much so you start wondering how they can lift these heavy things like a shield and plated armor. For a human woman that is already a bit of a stretch but these high elves? How do they do it? It must be some sort of magic ... then again what do I know. I practically live on strength potions. Maybe they do too ...
Anyways. I came to meet the people that this high ranking officer was part of and a range from another group called the <Thalassian Alliance>. They seem sensible folk, unlike these adventurers. You can stop to take a moment for a conversation with them (as is evidenced by me following the high ranked officer and speaking to him).
If I want to make a contribution, however minute, to a better and more welcoming climate, maybe these people are who I am looking for. We'll see.
Entry #44
It was while following around one of those people that I met someone very interesting. A high ranking man from a group named <Swords of Lothar>. It was the way he was carrying himself that caught my attention. Composed, aware, sensible. Completely unlike those "adventurers" that you see so often these days.
On a spontaneous decision I decided walking with him for a little while. When I spoke to him he turned and responded and then we started talking. It turns out that this man and I could connect over our shared appreciation of certain values and conducts.
He took me to one of the taverns in the Park District of Stormwind, run by high elves. Perhaps now is a good time to write a few words about them. You remember night elves, right? Tall, handsome and beautiful creatures. High elves, are not tall. They tend to be a little shorter and much more delicate. So much so you start wondering how they can lift these heavy things like a shield and plated armor. For a human woman that is already a bit of a stretch but these high elves? How do they do it? It must be some sort of magic ... then again what do I know. I practically live on strength potions. Maybe they do too ...
Anyways. I came to meet the people that this high ranking officer was part of and a range from another group called the <Thalassian Alliance>. They seem sensible folk, unlike these adventurers. You can stop to take a moment for a conversation with them (as is evidenced by me following the high ranked officer and speaking to him).
If I want to make a contribution, however minute, to a better and more welcoming climate, maybe these people are who I am looking for. We'll see.
Re: Story - Saving the Spirit of Turtle WoW
*the next entry is dated a few days after the last.*
Entry #45
It appears that having concluded most of our business now we all have a few moments to ourselves. Instead of continuing my research or going on a new adventure, I chose to spend some time with my team. It has been a while that I had a chat with Aydea, our tailor and enchantress so I went and looked her up. I found her among scattered pieces of parchment deep within her own research. Or researches. She really does seem to be a very studious individual.
It also turns she was looking for me as she had come up upon something during her own enchanting related research. While I would love to include her entire paper here that would probably fill a few pages worth of this journal, so I will keep to a portion of her paper:
Her devotion to the subject and research in general aside, what I read from her paper is that she believes that casting as much as enchanting isn't just affecting the world but also affecting the caster back. If a caster for example uses shadow magic, as is well known for its corruptive influence, they might cause a spread of corruption by casting a spell called "corruption". Aydea told me of this, she says she used "detect magic" to figure this out when she saw a warlock cast the spell on an enemy.
However, by making the choice of using such a spell and spreading corruption, as noted in this example, the caster -themselves- acts as a conduit and becomes affected not just by backwards-influence of the spell, according to Aydea, but also through the choice of doing this to someone or something of this world.
It takes a little bit of getting used to Aydea's academical style but I think she may be on to something here. If I were to word it in a very simplified fashion, I would say that what she is essentially saying is ...
"Be careful with your thoughts as your thoughts become your words. Be careful with your words as your words become your actions. Be careful with your actions as your actions become your and other people's future. Be careful with your future as your future becomes part of the world's and everyone else's future".
And honestly, that does make a lot of sense. If I had to say it in one sentence I would say Aydea advises to "choose wisely".
Maybe we've been looking in all the wrong places for the origin of all this madness. Certainly, it manifests in all sorts of places but what if that is merely the symptom?
Maybe if the start of all of this ... is within each of us? Each and every one of us.
Entry #45
It appears that having concluded most of our business now we all have a few moments to ourselves. Instead of continuing my research or going on a new adventure, I chose to spend some time with my team. It has been a while that I had a chat with Aydea, our tailor and enchantress so I went and looked her up. I found her among scattered pieces of parchment deep within her own research. Or researches. She really does seem to be a very studious individual.
It also turns she was looking for me as she had come up upon something during her own enchanting related research. While I would love to include her entire paper here that would probably fill a few pages worth of this journal, so I will keep to a portion of her paper:
... a fascinating topic especially in regards to shadow magic and corruption. Just like casting spells, enchanting an item draws upon the world's inherent magical potential. And just like casting (i.E. channeling) a spell causes you to act as a conduit, channeling (i.E. casting) an enchantment appears to work in the same fashion.
And as we all know, being able to casting magic means power and power, as all mages are made abundantly aware of*, corrupts.
Furthermore, the fact of acting as a conduit means that every time magic is channeled through the caster who acts as a conduit creates and brings a bilateral bridge of temporary nature (a two-way-street in layman's terms) into existence, opening a gateway for energies and influences on both sides.
While it is well documented and researched that such bilateral interaction generally creates influences manifesting in our world through people, it is as of yet unclear whether or not that influence also factually affects the swirling Nethers (the other side). Further research ... - Aydea, enchantress, on "The Caster as Conduit in regards to shadow magic and corruption" by Aydea et. al.
* a reference to a cautionary letter that apparently all mages receive upon graduating from Northshire Abbey
Her devotion to the subject and research in general aside, what I read from her paper is that she believes that casting as much as enchanting isn't just affecting the world but also affecting the caster back. If a caster for example uses shadow magic, as is well known for its corruptive influence, they might cause a spread of corruption by casting a spell called "corruption". Aydea told me of this, she says she used "detect magic" to figure this out when she saw a warlock cast the spell on an enemy.
However, by making the choice of using such a spell and spreading corruption, as noted in this example, the caster -themselves- acts as a conduit and becomes affected not just by backwards-influence of the spell, according to Aydea, but also through the choice of doing this to someone or something of this world.
It takes a little bit of getting used to Aydea's academical style but I think she may be on to something here. If I were to word it in a very simplified fashion, I would say that what she is essentially saying is ...
"Be careful with your thoughts as your thoughts become your words. Be careful with your words as your words become your actions. Be careful with your actions as your actions become your and other people's future. Be careful with your future as your future becomes part of the world's and everyone else's future".
And honestly, that does make a lot of sense. If I had to say it in one sentence I would say Aydea advises to "choose wisely".
Maybe we've been looking in all the wrong places for the origin of all this madness. Certainly, it manifests in all sorts of places but what if that is merely the symptom?
Maybe if the start of all of this ... is within each of us? Each and every one of us.
Re: Story - Saving the Spirit of Turtle WoW
*the next entry is dated a few days after the previous one*
Entry #46
This entry is going to be a bit of a funny one. So, I was out fishing somewhere in the Dustwallow Marsh when all of the sudden it just kind of hit me. All these strangely acting people, all those short cuts taken (letting a more experienced adventurer do all the work for you for instance), all the greed for gold and power, all the toxicity that spreads much like disease (the wounded wound others in turn), all the demonic and, literally, corruptive influences from warlocks ... what do all of these things have in common?
Us.
Its all connected. And its all connected through ... us.
We are the connection. We!
If you are used to fishing yourself you know that you can get all sorts of stuff when you reel in your fishing rod. From locked crates, potions to ... yes, the literal worn boot that somehow made its way to where you are. However, what you can also get ... is Rumsey Rum. Something you will be well familiar with as well.
And thats where it starts to get funny ...
So, as I was fishing and minding my own business until what I just told you just hit me I really had to stop fishing and sit down for a moment to process it all. It is a lot to take in. And since I had been fishing a while, ... I had a few bottles of Rumsey Rum next to me. And the weather was hot and you can imagine what happened next.
"So ... you're shaying ... that some of this world was created by someone named "Torta"? Oh, please excuse the slur. I may have had a bit of Rumsey Rum." - Fadrith, tipsy talking to a turtle on the beach.
Needless to say its amazing what a bit of fishing and rumsey rum can do for you. There is more though ...
"I think I get it now. All this beautiful work, all the wonders for us to experience. All the work that went into building all of thish ... hic! And making it even more beautiful ... for people like you and me to enjoy. Well, maybe not you, you're a turtle on the beach. But you -are- an excellent listener!" - Fadrith, tipsy and talking to a turtle on the beach.
Naturally, the turtle was indeed a good listener. Didn't say a word to my tipsy escapades.
"Goodness, if this is really true I can't imagine what this "Torta" must have gone through seeing all of this. I mean it was already kind of hard on a paladine like me but if I imagine I would be the one to have built all this? Seeing all your and your team's work, all the love poured into it treated by adventurers in such truly gross and deplorable fashion? Ohhh .... Torta, what have they done to you and your team?" - Fadrith, musing tipsily on her own tipsy musings at the beach.
Of course, by now I am no longer tipsy and realize that there may or may not be something to what I said while having some first hand experience on the excellent listening skills of turtles. Still, I didn't want to deprive you from perhaps a topic with a bit more levity than the usual somewhat forbidding considerations on shadow magic and the state of corruption of this world.
Besides, this is important information because it brought me to a step that I did not think I was going to take. I already have a team of people with me, we are all aligned on our goals and we like spending time with one another. Honestly, it was the sensible next step. I created a guild of my own ... to make a statement and act as an example for like minded individuals
And who knows maybe I won't even be the only one who tried talking to a turtle on the beach. You never know!
Entry #46
This entry is going to be a bit of a funny one. So, I was out fishing somewhere in the Dustwallow Marsh when all of the sudden it just kind of hit me. All these strangely acting people, all those short cuts taken (letting a more experienced adventurer do all the work for you for instance), all the greed for gold and power, all the toxicity that spreads much like disease (the wounded wound others in turn), all the demonic and, literally, corruptive influences from warlocks ... what do all of these things have in common?
Us.
Its all connected. And its all connected through ... us.
We are the connection. We!
If you are used to fishing yourself you know that you can get all sorts of stuff when you reel in your fishing rod. From locked crates, potions to ... yes, the literal worn boot that somehow made its way to where you are. However, what you can also get ... is Rumsey Rum. Something you will be well familiar with as well.
And thats where it starts to get funny ...
So, as I was fishing and minding my own business until what I just told you just hit me I really had to stop fishing and sit down for a moment to process it all. It is a lot to take in. And since I had been fishing a while, ... I had a few bottles of Rumsey Rum next to me. And the weather was hot and you can imagine what happened next.
"So ... you're shaying ... that some of this world was created by someone named "Torta"? Oh, please excuse the slur. I may have had a bit of Rumsey Rum." - Fadrith, tipsy talking to a turtle on the beach.
Needless to say its amazing what a bit of fishing and rumsey rum can do for you. There is more though ...
"I think I get it now. All this beautiful work, all the wonders for us to experience. All the work that went into building all of thish ... hic! And making it even more beautiful ... for people like you and me to enjoy. Well, maybe not you, you're a turtle on the beach. But you -are- an excellent listener!" - Fadrith, tipsy and talking to a turtle on the beach.
Naturally, the turtle was indeed a good listener. Didn't say a word to my tipsy escapades.
"Goodness, if this is really true I can't imagine what this "Torta" must have gone through seeing all of this. I mean it was already kind of hard on a paladine like me but if I imagine I would be the one to have built all this? Seeing all your and your team's work, all the love poured into it treated by adventurers in such truly gross and deplorable fashion? Ohhh .... Torta, what have they done to you and your team?" - Fadrith, musing tipsily on her own tipsy musings at the beach.
Of course, by now I am no longer tipsy and realize that there may or may not be something to what I said while having some first hand experience on the excellent listening skills of turtles. Still, I didn't want to deprive you from perhaps a topic with a bit more levity than the usual somewhat forbidding considerations on shadow magic and the state of corruption of this world.
Besides, this is important information because it brought me to a step that I did not think I was going to take. I already have a team of people with me, we are all aligned on our goals and we like spending time with one another. Honestly, it was the sensible next step. I created a guild of my own ... to make a statement and act as an example for like minded individuals
And who knows maybe I won't even be the only one who tried talking to a turtle on the beach. You never know!
Re: Story - Saving the Spirit of Turtle WoW
*The next entry is dated a few days after the last one*
Entry #47
We are now the owners of a humble guild charter. I must admit it does feel a little different to before when we were all just acquaintances. A loosely formed group that has just gotten comfortable with one another. Now it feels like a bond deepened, formalized on a document. It feels different. Like a deepened friendship.
Anyways, I also had another chat with our guild's alchemist Aylia. Apparently, she was out gathering herbs some where and may or may not have been sniffing flowers when she was thinking about how things used to be when she joined our little group. It was what she said next thought that I want to share in this journal.
So, this entire "situation" with these adventurers and people acting speaking strangely ... our alchemist likened all of this (and get this) to ... a forest fire. Yes. She is an herbalist. Yes, she really said that.
She said that when a forest is too densely populated or generally the conditions are just right, a forest fire can break out. Once it starts burning there really isn't a whole lot to stop it except a week's worth of rain maybe.
What remains behind after such a forest fire though is fertile ground, fertilized by the ashes of what had burned down.
And if you ask what all of this has to do with the current situation, that makes two of us because I asked her the same thing. Here is what she said ...
Wow, makes me wonder, maybe I should start sniffing flowers too. That is honestly some fairly deep stuff and I think there may be merit to it. I feel that Aylia is on to something here. It also coincidences with my own wondering whether I haven't approached this entire topic from the wrong angle. I was starting to look for signs, for effects, for "symptoms" (as Aylia would say). At this point of the journey I am starting to feel I had it backwards. And just like everyone else struggling with the effects, the "symptoms" ... no wonder it all just goes on and on. The source of it all remains unaddressed. Even by paladins and paladines like me. And how could the source be changed if the source is us? You can't change people, everyone knows that. You can only lead by example ... and hope to inspire.
Its funny how all of this came together just when we created our guild. I was just wondering about a name and what to do with it all. Now I know ...
Oh, and ... Torta? If you exist and you're out there somewhere? Reading this? I hope all of this brought you and whatever team you have a smile.
And thanks so much. For all the hard work.
Entry #47
We are now the owners of a humble guild charter. I must admit it does feel a little different to before when we were all just acquaintances. A loosely formed group that has just gotten comfortable with one another. Now it feels like a bond deepened, formalized on a document. It feels different. Like a deepened friendship.
Anyways, I also had another chat with our guild's alchemist Aylia. Apparently, she was out gathering herbs some where and may or may not have been sniffing flowers when she was thinking about how things used to be when she joined our little group. It was what she said next thought that I want to share in this journal.
So, this entire "situation" with these adventurers and people acting speaking strangely ... our alchemist likened all of this (and get this) to ... a forest fire. Yes. She is an herbalist. Yes, she really said that.
She said that when a forest is too densely populated or generally the conditions are just right, a forest fire can break out. Once it starts burning there really isn't a whole lot to stop it except a week's worth of rain maybe.
What remains behind after such a forest fire though is fertile ground, fertilized by the ashes of what had burned down.
And if you ask what all of this has to do with the current situation, that makes two of us because I asked her the same thing. Here is what she said ...
Forest fires aren't the only phenomena that can damage nature. A swarm of locusts can do the same thing and ravage a forest faster than a well paid and motivated group of goblins could. Usually when this happens you can find most of the locust swarm on the ground somewhere, starved because there just isn't enough food available to sustain that kind of mass of locusts.These adventurers and strangely acting people remind me of that. A swarm of locusts, a forest fire ... both will eventually burn itself out, the forest fire leaving behind ashes, the swarm of locusts lots of food for anything enjoying expired insects. Either way, the problem solves itself, nature takes care of itself.
And these strange, acting, speaking and short cut taking adventurers? They're just like a forest fire or a swarm of locusts. I think they'll burn themselves out, taking short cut after short cut in a frenzy of making one bad choice after another only to ultimately stand before a whole lot of nothing at some point. When what they could have done is cultivated a journey, created memories, fashioned bonds with people. That is when they'll leave, going back to whence they came from. And thats usually when nature recovers. Maybe it'll be like that with people. - Aylia, guild herbalist musing after sniffing flowers
Wow, makes me wonder, maybe I should start sniffing flowers too. That is honestly some fairly deep stuff and I think there may be merit to it. I feel that Aylia is on to something here. It also coincidences with my own wondering whether I haven't approached this entire topic from the wrong angle. I was starting to look for signs, for effects, for "symptoms" (as Aylia would say). At this point of the journey I am starting to feel I had it backwards. And just like everyone else struggling with the effects, the "symptoms" ... no wonder it all just goes on and on. The source of it all remains unaddressed. Even by paladins and paladines like me. And how could the source be changed if the source is us? You can't change people, everyone knows that. You can only lead by example ... and hope to inspire.
Its funny how all of this came together just when we created our guild. I was just wondering about a name and what to do with it all. Now I know ...
Oh, and ... Torta? If you exist and you're out there somewhere? Reading this? I hope all of this brought you and whatever team you have a smile.
And thanks so much. For all the hard work.
Last edited by Aydea on Fri Jun 16, 2023 10:19 am, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Story - Saving the Spirit of Turtle WoW
*This next entry doesn't have a date, but it has a name*
Epilogue
Maintaining a guild is a lot more work than I thought it would be. Just organizing all of this and everything alone ... no wonder all these "guild masters" are such busy people, now I am making some first hand experience of that!
I suppose, the reason I write is related. With all this work and everything I am not sure how often I am going to write into this journal anymore. I mean, do you really want me to bore you with ... I don't know, what mail goes to who and what? I don't think you need to read about this here.
It is rewarding work though, it feels like I am, in a way, responsible for them now, my guild that is. And in a way, they are responsible for me. I wonder if this is how it all started. Just a group of people coming together, wanting to create something beautiful, something for others to enjoy. Maybe this is how the miracle of creation works. A miracle that we, all of us creative people, can partake in.
Goodness, I am started to sound like Aylia. And I haven't even sniffed any flowers. Though I hear purple lotus tastes well, apparently.
Anyways, I don't want to say this is the "last entry" because you never know, right? And don't you worry, if I have any other hilarious escapades talking to turtles or something else I might just write about it here.
I did find my own way of "working for the light", I suppose. And if it brightens not just my life but maybe other people's lives along the way? It will already have been a worthwhile journey ...
Epilogue
Maintaining a guild is a lot more work than I thought it would be. Just organizing all of this and everything alone ... no wonder all these "guild masters" are such busy people, now I am making some first hand experience of that!
I suppose, the reason I write is related. With all this work and everything I am not sure how often I am going to write into this journal anymore. I mean, do you really want me to bore you with ... I don't know, what mail goes to who and what? I don't think you need to read about this here.
It is rewarding work though, it feels like I am, in a way, responsible for them now, my guild that is. And in a way, they are responsible for me. I wonder if this is how it all started. Just a group of people coming together, wanting to create something beautiful, something for others to enjoy. Maybe this is how the miracle of creation works. A miracle that we, all of us creative people, can partake in.
Goodness, I am started to sound like Aylia. And I haven't even sniffed any flowers. Though I hear purple lotus tastes well, apparently.
Anyways, I don't want to say this is the "last entry" because you never know, right? And don't you worry, if I have any other hilarious escapades talking to turtles or something else I might just write about it here.
I did find my own way of "working for the light", I suppose. And if it brightens not just my life but maybe other people's lives along the way? It will already have been a worthwhile journey ...
Re: Story - Saving the Spirit of Turtle WoW
*There appears to be another entry but it has no number*
While doing guild work today, I had mail from our researcher and enchantress Aydea. She sent one of her papers to me and wrote I might find it interesting given the search for the causes of corruption that I concern myself with. And after having read the entire thing, I have to say, that woman was right, I did find it interesting. So much so I am actually going to add it here for your perusal.
Yes, so, like I said her style takes getting used to. From what I read though, she does have evidence on her hands that taking shortcuts is bad and does things to you. It makes sense to me too and personally, I can testify to it as well, having journeyed as far as I did and having tried to look into corruption related topics myself. Especially the part about time being a resource (like gold or mana) speaks to me as I have been made keenly aware since I started acting as the leader for our guild. Time spent, time as a resource and valuable things (like friendship, bonding, building things, etc) requiring time. It really makes sense when you look at it that way.
And why people who don't use their time responsibly can't and won't have nice things ... unless they take shortcuts. And pay the price for those later ...
While doing guild work today, I had mail from our researcher and enchantress Aydea. She sent one of her papers to me and wrote I might find it interesting given the search for the causes of corruption that I concern myself with. And after having read the entire thing, I have to say, that woman was right, I did find it interesting. So much so I am actually going to add it here for your perusal.
Shortcut involvement in Corruption - A study by Aydea, et. al
Introduction
Research on corruption isn't a new phenomenon or activity. Through out the Eastern Kingdoms as well as Kalimdor, interested parties have been conducting their own researches and even experiments. While some of it is indeed very practical and directly involved with known sources of corruption such as shadow magic or spells of the same name* this paper aims to take a more academic approach and delve into shortcuts as a possible factor and explanation for a potential source and perhaps even origin of corruption.
* a citation and reference to a spell by the name of "corruption"
Methods
Based on previous observations and research regarding strange behavior and speech patterns in people this experiment utilized "basic conversation" as a method of explorative research. The scope of the experiment encompassed four groups:
#1. Experimental Group #1
#2. Experimental Group #2
#3. Control Group #1
#4. Control Group #2
Experimental group #1 was a group of people who upon observation consistently displayed "strange behavior and speech patterns" but was still open to conversation of some kind that was legible enough to be understood. Experimental group #2 consists of a group of people who do not display "strange behavior and speech patterns" and are open for conversation. Control group #1 consists of a group of people who do display "strange behavior and speech patterns" but are not open for conversation except the answers to the four questions (to control for conversation being the cause). Control group #2 consists of a group of life forms that are not open to conversation except the answers to the four questions, do not display "strange behavior and speech patterns", and do not necessarily have any humanoid traits (to control for humanoid traits being the cause).
Each of the groups were met with a set of four basic questions about shortcuts.
- Have shortcuts been taken?
- How many shortcuts have been taken?
- What kind of shortcuts have been taken?
- Are they in favor of shortcuts
Results
A significant and notable difference was found between experimental group #1 and experimental group #2. No significant difference was found between experimental group #1 and control group #1. A significant difference was found between experimental group #1 and control group #2. No significant difference was found between experimental group #2 and control group #2.
What follows is the results in detail for each of the groups:
Experimental Group #1
- Have short cuts been taken? - Yes
- How many shortcuts have been taken? - Many. Too many to count
- What kind of shortcuts have been taken?
--> letting more experienced people work for them while they collect loot and rewards
--> accepting gold they did not earn
--> making deals with nefarious powers
- Are they in favor of shortcuts? - Yes. The more the better
Experimental Group #2
- Have shortcuts been taken? - No
- How many shortcuts have been taken? - Very few if any
- What kind of of shortcuts have been taken?
--> Running/Riding instead of walking.
--> Using the Azeroth/Kalimdor mail system instead of personal trade or the auction house
- Are they in favor of shortcuts? - Within reason, otherwise no.
Control Group #1
- Have shortcuts been taken? - Yes
- How many shortcuts have been taken? - As many as possible
- What kind of shortcuts have been taken?
--> all shortcuts available (note: answers were curt due to "not open to conversation")
- Are they in favor of shortcuts? - Absolutely. The more the better.
Control Group #2
- Have shortcuts been taken? - No
- How many shortcuts have been taken? - None
- What kind of shortcuts have been taken?
--> None
- Are they in favor of shortcuts? - No but understanding what "shortcut" means was not always clear.
Discussion
The significant difference between experimental group #1 and experimental group #2 does point towards a connection between shortcuts and this strange behavior, both groups were humanoid and both groups open to conversation however. The lack of any significant difference between experimental group #1 and control group #1 indicates that "openness to conversation" is not the cause for this strange behavior as one group was open to conversation, while the other was not open for conversation and answers to the four questions were very similar if not almost identical. The significant difference between experimental group #1 and control group #2 indicates that taking short cuts as well as having humanoid traits may have a connection to this strange behavior, however, the lack of a significant difference between experimental group #2 and control group #2 shows that having humanoid traits is not likely connected to this strange behavior as neither experimental group #2 nor control group #2 show strange behavior while experimental group #2 was humanoid and control group #2 was not humanoid.
Conclusions
Given the results of this explorative study I believe it is safe to say that there may indeed be a connection between taking short cuts and this strange behavior and it is especially interesting to see that neither openness for conversation nor having humanoid traits appears to be the cause for this strange behavior as it is shown in the results of this study. That indicates that taking short cuts may indeed be not only connected to this strange behavior but perhaps even a potential origin or origin factor of the same.
From my own personal experience as a mage, I can say that every time I have taken a short cut, I could feel the pull to continue, to take more shortcuts and more and ever more. If one does not resist this temptation one shortcut may indeed lead to the next and so on. My comment here goes back on a cautionary letter that mages received upon graduating from North Shire Abbey warning of the corruptive influence of power. Shortcuts are power, the power to save time. It makes sense to me. Time is a resource and just like any other resource like for example your gold or mana you have to learn to use it responsibly. Using your gold or mana irresponsibly causes you to run out and get into trouble. Using your time irresponsibly apparently invites corruption. Time is valuable and many things require time, like friendships, healthy communities, etc. Just like valuable things require gold and valuable spells require mana.
While the connection between taking shortcuts and corruption appears to be readily apparent, the question on whether shorts are the source of all corruption or just one source in a conglomerate of sources requires further research however, and the scope of this paper was only an explorative first insight into short cuts as a potential source of corruption.
Yes, so, like I said her style takes getting used to. From what I read though, she does have evidence on her hands that taking shortcuts is bad and does things to you. It makes sense to me too and personally, I can testify to it as well, having journeyed as far as I did and having tried to look into corruption related topics myself. Especially the part about time being a resource (like gold or mana) speaks to me as I have been made keenly aware since I started acting as the leader for our guild. Time spent, time as a resource and valuable things (like friendship, bonding, building things, etc) requiring time. It really makes sense when you look at it that way.
And why people who don't use their time responsibly can't and won't have nice things ... unless they take shortcuts. And pay the price for those later ...