Gavin Summerdell
Settling in Altera
About you
1) What is your Minecraft username?
mwoodman
2) How old are you?
Over 30. Old. I probably have underwear older than you.
3) Where are you?
Colorado, USA
4) Have you read our guides yet?
Yes.
5) Introduce yourself! (Minimum 5 sentences please!)
I'm a software engineer by day, a dad and gamer by night. I'm a freelance writer and I work in the video game industry, but not usually on game titles directly. So for fun I wrote a mod called JourneyMap for Minecraft, and that's been relatively successful and a fun project. Originally I wrote it so I wouldn't get lost on big Minecraft servers.
I love doing elaborate Minecraft builds from time to time, as I have a minor passion for cool architecture. I also enjoy a bit of role playing, so I like the idea of a server that encourages both.
6) Got any examples of your work?
Here's a replica I made of the "Holy Grail temple" location used in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade:
Here's an album of more images from the temple build: http://imgur.com/a/2LMvr#0 .
I also built the "City of the Dead" mob dungeon on Realmcraft last year. (
)
Sadly, I don't have any screenshots of it, but you can get a peek at it in the video.
----
About your character
Name: Gavin Summerdell
Age: 30
Race: Human
Appearance: A quiet man with an easy smile and a bit of swagger. Reddish-blonde locks of hair obscure his eyes when he is bent over his work. But when he straightens, his azure gaze does not waver. Gavin's tanned face and rough hands speak of hard work and perhaps harder times. He seems like a fellow who would be handy in a fight, reluctant to join one, and apt to be the one who finishes it.
----
The test
The common room gave little notice when the newcomer arrived, quietly picking a table by the hearth fire and ordering a mug of ale. Weary of the road and covered in the dust of travel, he sat with a sigh and loosened the laces on his boots. He kept to himself, drank by himself, and gave no-one cause for a second glance. Yet the serving wench who brought his ale, and later a meal, kept looking over her shoulder at him as she passed. Coreen knew her way around the inn and a thing or two about men, but something about this fellow was... interesting.
Perhaps it was his seeming ease in a room full of strangers, a confidence in unfamiliar surroundings. It may have been the friendly smile he offered her when most men usually leered. Whatever it was, the pretty girl found it as alluring as it was unsettling. Unfortunately, it also proved distracting. With a misstep Coreen stumbled and dumped a tray full of food on some other patrons, who roared their displeasure. One of the men - half-drunk in his cups and a regular at the inn - had seen with a jealous eye why the girl was distracted. As Coreen disappeared into the kitchens in embarrassment, the drunkard named Fenrick stood, pointing a half-eaten chicken leg at the newcomer.
"Oi, traveler. Think you can come in the Reach and mistreat the ladies? I expec' me and the lads may need to teach ya a fing or two 'bout manners, eh?"
The common room quieted down as the newcomer looked up from his meal, his eyes meeting those of the drunkard Fenrick. He said nothing for a long moment, chewing thoughtfully. Finally he swallowed, and carefully wiped his mouth with a napkin. Without a hint of irony, he replied: "Perhaps you do. If I have given the lady cause for offense, then I must certainly beg her forgiveness."
Fenrick blinked at this, uncertain of whether the other man was making a jape. Several chuckles came from the crowd. The drunk man darkened, "By Jax' dice, you'd better. And then clear out afore me an' my lads decide to give you a taste of Heaven's Reach justice! This inn ain't no place for the likes of you. You'd best learn how to behave around your betters."
Coreen reappeared with a fresh tray of food at this moment, slowing as she sensed the growing confrontation in the room.
Standing with an easy grace, the stranger came from around the table and advanced toward the drunkard. Fenrick immediately stepped back and the noise of the common room surged as the crowd anticipated the fight ahead.
But the newcomer wasn't making for the other man. Instead he approached Coreen within a couple of paces, gave her an easy smile, and then bowed deeply. "My lady," he said as he straightened. "I must ask your forgiveness. As my new friend has just reminded me, I have forgotten my manners. My name is Gavin Summerdell." He flashed her a winning, sincere grin, "And I would like to buy you dinner." A roar of laughter filled the room at this. Several men elbowed Fenrick with guffaws, for the drunkard had spent the better part of three years trying to summon the courage to approach Coreen himself.
Coreen gaped for a moment at Gavin, then a sly smile of her own grew across her pretty face. "A pleasure to meet you, kind sir. I'm Coreen Feyland..." She stole a sidelong glance at the drunkard and his companions, a glint in her eyes. "But I'm not sure whether you'd enjoy the company here."
Gavin gave an acquiescing nod, "True enough, m'lady. I've been warned this place isn't for the likes of me, and that I must learn to conduct myself in the presence of my betters." A half-bow with this toward the drunkard, who was squinting in suspicion at this admission. Gavin sighed, "And so, if you would be so kind to accompany me to the inn called August's Favor down the street, I believe we might actually find some of my betters there. Along with a good meal, if the tales are true."
The room fairly shook as nearly everyone laughed and roared and slapped one another on the back. August's Favor was an expensive establishment that few among the common folk could afford. If this newcomer could pay the coin, he'd have a fine meal and an impressed companion.
Gavin offered Coreen his arm, and the two of them headed for the door. Coreen tossed her apron to the barkeep, who shook his head in disbelief but didn't say a word. As the couple passed by Fenrick, the drunkard had murder in his eyes, but he dared not lift a finger with Coreen so close.
As the knot of men parted to let them pass, Gavin tossed a small bag of coins on their table. "My thanks for the lesson in manners, friends. The next round is on me..." He paused in the doorway and added, "... if you can find somebody to serve it." With that, he and Coreen were gone.
1) What is your Minecraft username?
mwoodman
2) How old are you?
Over 30. Old. I probably have underwear older than you.
3) Where are you?
Colorado, USA
4) Have you read our guides yet?
Yes.
5) Introduce yourself! (Minimum 5 sentences please!)
I'm a software engineer by day, a dad and gamer by night. I'm a freelance writer and I work in the video game industry, but not usually on game titles directly. So for fun I wrote a mod called JourneyMap for Minecraft, and that's been relatively successful and a fun project. Originally I wrote it so I wouldn't get lost on big Minecraft servers.
I love doing elaborate Minecraft builds from time to time, as I have a minor passion for cool architecture. I also enjoy a bit of role playing, so I like the idea of a server that encourages both.6) Got any examples of your work?
Here's a replica I made of the "Holy Grail temple" location used in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade:
Here's an album of more images from the temple build: http://imgur.com/a/2LMvr#0 .
I also built the "City of the Dead" mob dungeon on Realmcraft last year. (
Sadly, I don't have any screenshots of it, but you can get a peek at it in the video.
----
About your character
Name: Gavin Summerdell
Age: 30
Race: Human
Appearance: A quiet man with an easy smile and a bit of swagger. Reddish-blonde locks of hair obscure his eyes when he is bent over his work. But when he straightens, his azure gaze does not waver. Gavin's tanned face and rough hands speak of hard work and perhaps harder times. He seems like a fellow who would be handy in a fight, reluctant to join one, and apt to be the one who finishes it.
----
The test
The common room gave little notice when the newcomer arrived, quietly picking a table by the hearth fire and ordering a mug of ale. Weary of the road and covered in the dust of travel, he sat with a sigh and loosened the laces on his boots. He kept to himself, drank by himself, and gave no-one cause for a second glance. Yet the serving wench who brought his ale, and later a meal, kept looking over her shoulder at him as she passed. Coreen knew her way around the inn and a thing or two about men, but something about this fellow was... interesting.
Perhaps it was his seeming ease in a room full of strangers, a confidence in unfamiliar surroundings. It may have been the friendly smile he offered her when most men usually leered. Whatever it was, the pretty girl found it as alluring as it was unsettling. Unfortunately, it also proved distracting. With a misstep Coreen stumbled and dumped a tray full of food on some other patrons, who roared their displeasure. One of the men - half-drunk in his cups and a regular at the inn - had seen with a jealous eye why the girl was distracted. As Coreen disappeared into the kitchens in embarrassment, the drunkard named Fenrick stood, pointing a half-eaten chicken leg at the newcomer.
"Oi, traveler. Think you can come in the Reach and mistreat the ladies? I expec' me and the lads may need to teach ya a fing or two 'bout manners, eh?"
The common room quieted down as the newcomer looked up from his meal, his eyes meeting those of the drunkard Fenrick. He said nothing for a long moment, chewing thoughtfully. Finally he swallowed, and carefully wiped his mouth with a napkin. Without a hint of irony, he replied: "Perhaps you do. If I have given the lady cause for offense, then I must certainly beg her forgiveness."
Fenrick blinked at this, uncertain of whether the other man was making a jape. Several chuckles came from the crowd. The drunk man darkened, "By Jax' dice, you'd better. And then clear out afore me an' my lads decide to give you a taste of Heaven's Reach justice! This inn ain't no place for the likes of you. You'd best learn how to behave around your betters."
Coreen reappeared with a fresh tray of food at this moment, slowing as she sensed the growing confrontation in the room.
Standing with an easy grace, the stranger came from around the table and advanced toward the drunkard. Fenrick immediately stepped back and the noise of the common room surged as the crowd anticipated the fight ahead.
But the newcomer wasn't making for the other man. Instead he approached Coreen within a couple of paces, gave her an easy smile, and then bowed deeply. "My lady," he said as he straightened. "I must ask your forgiveness. As my new friend has just reminded me, I have forgotten my manners. My name is Gavin Summerdell." He flashed her a winning, sincere grin, "And I would like to buy you dinner." A roar of laughter filled the room at this. Several men elbowed Fenrick with guffaws, for the drunkard had spent the better part of three years trying to summon the courage to approach Coreen himself.
Coreen gaped for a moment at Gavin, then a sly smile of her own grew across her pretty face. "A pleasure to meet you, kind sir. I'm Coreen Feyland..." She stole a sidelong glance at the drunkard and his companions, a glint in her eyes. "But I'm not sure whether you'd enjoy the company here."
Gavin gave an acquiescing nod, "True enough, m'lady. I've been warned this place isn't for the likes of me, and that I must learn to conduct myself in the presence of my betters." A half-bow with this toward the drunkard, who was squinting in suspicion at this admission. Gavin sighed, "And so, if you would be so kind to accompany me to the inn called August's Favor down the street, I believe we might actually find some of my betters there. Along with a good meal, if the tales are true."
The room fairly shook as nearly everyone laughed and roared and slapped one another on the back. August's Favor was an expensive establishment that few among the common folk could afford. If this newcomer could pay the coin, he'd have a fine meal and an impressed companion.
Gavin offered Coreen his arm, and the two of them headed for the door. Coreen tossed her apron to the barkeep, who shook his head in disbelief but didn't say a word. As the couple passed by Fenrick, the drunkard had murder in his eyes, but he dared not lift a finger with Coreen so close.
As the knot of men parted to let them pass, Gavin tossed a small bag of coins on their table. "My thanks for the lesson in manners, friends. The next round is on me..." He paused in the doorway and added, "... if you can find somebody to serve it." With that, he and Coreen were gone.
