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New Year's Eve In Mordor (With Alphonse)



     Hey, everyone, and Happy New Year. I rang in the New Year in Mordor. It was intense, I can tell you. I am beginning to learn the ropes and to play better. It is easily one of the best games ever. I played for almost 4 hours straight this evening. I enjoyed it so much that I feel that I have already had my $30.00 worth of pleasure from the game. I went through a long session without being killed by Orcs, Urlocks or the massive beasts of this world.
    I had a tough time dealing with the loss of a Carogen. I hope that is the right spelling for these huge and ferocious beasts. The Orcs keep the fierce animals caged up in the ruins of a great city. Usually there are several guards around the area. After you kill the guards or sneak up on the cage, you find the cage locked with a chain. Using my sword, I cut the chain. Of course the animals are not tame. You have to climb a wall immediately. Then you can jump down and mount the creature.( Left Control) After mounting him, you have a fight to keep your seat, like with a wild horse. In order to subjugate the rascal, you use your mouse to click inside a circle, or hit the space bar. Something of this nature is used to break the animal to the saddle. I intend to use my E button on him today, to drain him of some of his edge.
       My first creature was a joy. I named him Alphonse. I rode him into battle. He will fight Orcs for you. Having Alphonse changed my attitude in Mordor. No longer did I creep around in stealth mode, cowering in bushes. Nay, I say unto thee, nay. I rode proudly astride my prehistoric steed, seeking out adventure and Orcs to kill. It reminded me so much of Tolkein's contemporary, Mr. Burroughs. The great Edgar Rice Burroughs. This was a favorite theme of his. One of his heroes would either befriend or subjugate a savage beast and enable himself to survive and flourish in Pellucidar or the Jungles of Tarzan. It was as though I remembered my 12-year old self but now I  had stepped into an inter-active Burroughs book and I rode a mighty Griph into battle. Or perhaps I bestrode my friend Tantor the elephant.
      Then tragedy struck and my Alphonse was killed during the fiercest fighting I have experienced in this savage land. It happened on this wise. Alphonse and I encountered three of the savage chieftains of this kingdom, out in force with their minions. We killed several in action so fast and furious that it was a blur. One of the Orc Captains was throwing hatchets or something at Alphonse and slew him. I fell to the ground but fought over his dead body for a few moments before falling prey to this band of cutthroats.
      When I did the astral stuff and awakened on top of the Forge Tower, I went to find some Grog and drink a round to Alphonse. He was a faithful friend, though he tried to kill me, on New Year's Eve, here in Mordor.

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