Morning Ramble 379: Airports, Legends, and Gear

Some TV, some gaming, and a relaunch makes this a true morning ramble. I continue my look at the first episode of American Gods, I advance in baby steps in Destiny, and I eagerly begin the install of Secret World Legends – I am so looking forward to this game and hope it takes off from where TSW left things.

Secret World Legends: Head Start

Today brings the dawn of Secret World Legends with the head start.

I am really looking forward to giving this game a run and seeing the similarities and differences between it and TSW. I just downloaded the installer and its patching away as I write this. Hopefully I’ll have a chance to play a bit and at least create a character tonight, if not, I’m sure I’ll get some time this weekend to get my feet wet.

American Gods: The Bone Orchard – Airport

The story so far…With 5 days left on his sentence, Shadow’s wife has died in a car accident and he’s been released early from prison so he can attend the funeral.

He makes it through the factory town to the airport where he runs into his first obstructionist situation in the real world with the lady at the ticket counter. He’s got a ticket for Friday to head home, but is 5 days early and she has trouble seeing that he’s a human being. She instead refuses to work with him to solve the problem and devolves into reciting airline policy for death certificates and flight changes. With the situation ramping up, Shadow flashes back to his cell mate relating a story about a previous inmate who ended up back in prison because he argued with the “bitches” at the airport. Keeping that in mind, rather than returning her disrespect with similar disregard, Shadow deescalated the scenario and booked a fight for the next day.

Here is where we break the common stereotype of the ex-con and push Shadow into the role of everyman. The writers want to make it clear that he is not your typical assault and battery thug, but that he can be calm and considerate in the face of incivility. Rather than taking the bait and ramping up the situation, Shadow lets his temper subside realizing that it will accomplish nothing to throw harsh words at the ticket lady. By displaying this restraint we learn that while capable of physicality and violence, Shadow moderates his emotions with his intellect – like most people choose to do in crazy airport situations. He also gets to spend the night in the airport.

In contrast to the conflict and deferred resolution of Shadow’s ticketing experience, we are next presented with Mr. Wednesday’s interaction with the same ticket lady. We don’t know that Mr. Wednesday is always working a con at this point, but we see him portraying a slightly demented, agitated, elderly man trying to get to his son’s christening and being very confused about the whole ticketing issue. He manages to convince the ticket lady that not only does he have a ticket for the flight, but that he’s reserved in first class.

In this situation, there is no escalation that might lead to violence, but instead the ticket lady shows compassion for the elderly Mr. Wednesday. We later learn that this was all just a story to get into first class and that Mr. Wednesday is a pretty decent con man.

With the flight boarding and everyone with their tickets, you’d expect things to go smoothly as Shadow heads home for the funeral, but fate throws another twist at him as the ticket lady double booked the seat she gave him.

He’s now on board the plane with no seat but…the flight attendant finds a spot for him…in first class.

What did I learn:

• Shadow can control his temper in frustrating situations.
• Shadow is unable to get a hold of anyone back home – his friend Robbie who was throwing the surprise party for him with his wife didn’t pick up his phone.
• Ticket counter ladies can be really rude or very nice – it’s usually a flip of a coin.
• Shadow’s former cell mate seems to be a fountain of wisdom – with his “do not piss off the bitches in the airport” story.
• Things aren’t going too well for Shadow, perhaps they’ll get better as the episode moves along.

Next time Mr Wednesday offers Shadow a job, we learn how planes fly, and the buffalo with the flaming eyes.

Destiny: Homeward Bound and a Patrol

After getting through the World’s Grave and freeing the Traveler’s shard I decided to had back to base to restock my gear so I hitched a ride back to the Tower.

I swapped out a few weapons including this Trax Mallus III Scout Rifle.

And I headed out on a patrol which for the most part was pretty straight forward and simple, compared to the craziness that the latest missions have been. This one simply required me to take down Darnu, Horn of Oryx.

It wasn’t a bad, fight, particularly when my Golden Gun chewed through his HP like it was going outta style.

But I didn’t have much time for gaming so I left it at that for the day.

For more on my travels, check out my Destiny journal