The Dancing Tree

I’m sorry, Kynsaia. The allure of pretty pandaren lady animations was too much for me. I turned you from a proud, strong orc into an adorable panda. I hope you can forgive me.

What can I say? I’m a sucker for good animations. I’ve been pondering turning my shammy from an orc to a pandaren for a while now and last night I just bit the bullet and did so. The pandaren dual wielding animations are just too good to pass up. And the casting animations? Equally amazing. It was between my rogue and my shammy getting the race change, and once my friend changed her rogue from a male orc into a panda lady, she made my decision easy for me. Beer keg totems it is.

The most frustrating part of the race change process was coming up with a new name for this lady. Apparently every single Chinese name is already used on Argent Dawn, mostly by people who aren’t even playing the character. I can’t really bitch too much about that though, since it’s possible I did the same thing for my windwalker monk that I haven’t had a chance to play. So I’m sure every person that tries to use Meifeng for a name is cursing me too. Still though, it was frustrating. I like the names of my toons to fit, and I like to stay true to their culture. I also have to like the way the name sounds and looks, so even if something had a cool meaning, I couldn’t bring myself to use it if I didn’t like the way it sounded.

In the end, I had to combine some words together to get a name I liked. I went with Jianying, which I got from combining words that apparently mean river and clever, which I thought quite suiting for a resto shaman. Of course, since I know nothing about Chinese, it’s possible that it has a totally different meaning, like “smells like cat” or something, but I’ll never really know. I do know, after a little more research, that this is actually a woman’s name, so at least I didn’t totally strike out there.

It was a little bit of a shock to go from my sexy looking orc chick decked out in her Engraved set to a rolly polly panda lady wearing it. I immediately decided that said set was far too sexy and I was going to have to reconsider her transmog immediately. Unfortunately, there were zero mail options on the AH. Apparently everyone’s too busy doing dailies or something to stock the AH with dress up clothes. My friend reminded me that these things called tabards exist though and huzzah! Problem solved. Now Jianying can set forth without too much fur showing.

The best part of race changing to a pandaren was the totally silly impromptu RP session that came from it. Two of my guildies, one a pandaren rogue and the other a forsaken rogue, wanted to see how my toon looked, so we met up in Orgrimmar.

Rinelle waves at the pandaren ladies.
Jianying boggles at Rinelle.
Jianying says: You need to eat!
Rinelle says: What?
Xingchi says: Oh my!
Xingchi says: Are.. are you ok?
Rinelle says: I’m fine… um, thanks?
Jianying says: You look as though you have grave injuries!
Rinelle says: Hmm, you could stay that.
Rinelle smirks slyly at the pandren.
Xingchi says: Your knees must be terribly painful! Oh and your toes!
Xingchi says: … And your fingers… And your… face…
Xingchi says: Oh my.
Jianying says: And….how is your spine cutting through your clothes like that?
Rinelle says: Really, I’m fine.
Rinelle lets out a long, drawn-out sigh.
Jianying says: I think you need some food.
Xingchi says: Maybe clothes from this land are not as strong as on the Wandering Isles.
Jianying says: Perhaps.
Rinelle says: Possibly. However, I don’t think you serve the type of food I’d be interested in.
Jianying says: Nonsense!
Jianying says: Everyone knows the finest chefs in all the land are Pandaren.
Rinelle says: Still, I’m sure the use the wrong… ingredients.
Jianying says: Well that is just silly.
Xingchi says: Perhaps farmers in this land don’t know how to properly grow fine crops.
Jianying says: We could custom make you food!
Jianying says: You just need to tell us what you like.
Rinelle says: Maybe you should talk to the farmers in Hillsbrad.
Rinelle says: They grow my favorite crops there.
Rinelle quietly snickers to herself.
Xingchi says: Hills… brad…?
Jianying says: Where is that?
Xingchi ponders the situation.
Rinelle says: Oh right… you’re new here.
Rinelle says: You take the zep over to Lordaeron and go south from there.
Jianying says: That sounds interesting.
Rinelle says: Stop by in Undercity if you’re feeling especially adventurous.
Xingchi says: Oh! One of those flying boats!
Jianying says: Those things make me nervous.
Xingchi says: I am not so sure I want to fly on one again.
Xingchi says: The one I traveled on crashed.
Rinelle says: What’s wrong with a zep?
Xingchi says: Set fire to such fine farmland in Pandaria.
Rinelle says: Don’t you use those balloony things?
Xingchi says: I have never crashed a balloon before!
Rinelle glances over at the orange balloon.
Rinelle says: Granted, you aren’t a goblin.
Jianying says: Besides, balloons are made by pandaren. Your zep-e-lins are made by those goblin creatures.
Xingchi says: I’ve always thought boats are meant for floating.
Rinelle says: Well they do… usually.
Jianying says: I’m half convinced those goblins want to crash.
Rinelle says: You may not be wrong on that account.
Rinelle nods at you.
Xingchi says: And fishing of course! And one can’t well catch fish to eat if sailing through the air…
Xingchi says: Ah… What I’d do for a nice plump fish right now…
Jianying says: I wonder if you could fish for birds.
Xingchi is hungry!
Rinelle says: Hmm air fishing. Sounds like something the goblins would like to capitalize on.
Jianying says: By the way, I didn’t catch your name.
Rinelle says: I am an agent of the Scions. You can call me Rin.
Xingchi pulls out a Boiled Silkworm Pupa and licks her lips hungrily.
Jianying says: Scions?
Jianying says: Who are the Scions?
Rinelle says: Have you not heard of us?
Jianying glances at Xingchi and then back at Rinelle. She shakes her head.
Rinelle says: We’re experts at… this and that. Best of the best and all.
Xingchi says: What is the trade of these Scions?
Xingchi says: Are you craftsmen? Warriors?
Rinelle says: You can stop by our hall over yonder. I’m sure they have something to fill your bellies there, if you’d like to stop by and meet the others.
Jianying says: Could probably teach them a thing or two about cooking, eh Xing?
Xingchi says: Oh yes. And we could have a feast at the same time.
Rinelle says: The Scions are made up of all sorts of people.
Rinelle says: Your cookery would be appreciated by most of the folks there. I’ll have to pass…
Jianying says: Oh, I’m sure we could figure out something to tempt you.
Rinelle says: However, that larvae you had looked more interesting than food usually is.
Xingchi says: Oh that is just a snack.
Xingchi says: But it is quite delicious!
Rinelle shrugs. Who knows?
Rinelle says: I’ll take your word for it.
Jianying says: I’d certainly be up for meeting some new people.
Xingchi says: Especially if they are strong.
Jianying nods.
Rinelle points out the guild hall building.
Jianying says: Though apparently I’m to go through some dark portal for some reason. Not sure what that’s all about.
Jianying says: Sounds spooky.
Xingchi says: Oh my, that sounds fun!
Rinelle says: There’s the place. Go on and have a look-see. I have my own matters to get on with.
Jianying says: Well it was good to meet you, Miss Rin!
Xingchi says: All right. Thank you, friend.
You bow down graciously.
Rinelle says: It’s been a slice, ladies.
Xingchi says: And please, get something to eat!
Rinelle creaks as she bows in return.
Jianying says: Yes. And perhaps a monk to heal you!
Xingchi agrees with you.
Rinelle says: Ha! Must be miracle-working monks!
Xingchi says: Oh yes, they are very skilled!
Rinelle says: I’m sure.
Rinelle waves goodbye to everyone. Farewell!
Jianying says: She seems nice
Xingchi says: Yes. A little odd, but probably due to the pain!
Jianying says: Yes, no doubt.
Xingchi says: I think I need to gain a few pounds after seeing that.
Jianying says: It can’t be comfortable to have your bones sticking out like that.
Jianying says: Oh yes.
Jianying says: How about some dumplings?
Xingchi says: Oh yes!
Xingchi cheers at you.
You cheer at Xingchi.

Totally ridiculous, but also totally fun. And poor Kynsaia the orc will live on too. She’s always supposed to have been part of the Horde’s navy. I’m going to reroll her as a mage and play her as an elementalist of the sea. And since I already have the First Mate Hat and Buccaneer’s Vest sitting in the bank, her transmog is already halfway done. It’s the little things. 😉

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