Sweet Tea and Southern Hospitality: A Tasty Treat of an Interview

It is an oppressive Atlanta heat that hits me as I step from my air-conditioned carriage.  I’ve been invited to enjoy a breakfast conversation with a Kingdoms Live player who must be a Southern belle.  She told me her name was Lady Arana in our initial texts, and I insisted we eat her native food.  She agreed readily. 

 

I arrive at the plantation, and she spots me from her veranda.  She waves me over to a lavish table.  I have to say that by the end of our morning interview I didn’t get many questions out.  This is partly due to the fact that this lady is quite a conversationalist.  But it was mostly because her cooking was heavenly.

 

I greet her with a kiss on her hand and then settle into a wicker chair.   Before I can compliment her on her lovely dress, she begins: “I first began playing KL in October of 2009. I’m not really sure why I downloaded the app, but I fell in love with it quite quickly. Then after I moved from NYC to boring schmoring Georgia I became addicted to the game.”  She pauses to smile.  “I did not really know anyone here in Atlanta so I started meeting people in the game.”

 

I’m digging into the poached eggs and pause to direct: “Tell me some about the types of KL relationships you’ve developed.”

 

She takes a delicate sip of her iced tea: “I have many different relationships going on in KL. There are some people that I say good morning to every morning and thats all, and then there are some people that I will interact with throughout the entire day. I am a real flirty person so I often find my self flirting in the game with guys and girls. I have a KL boyfriend and we talk absolutely every day.” 

 

She stops to reach for the sugar bowl.  As she adds 2 heaping teaspoons of sugar to her tea, she says: “If he is busy or away and we can’t talk, I find myself getting really sad. I know that sounds crazy but its true. I also have my KL best friend and we find ourselves getting into the oddest—most hilarious moments.”

 

I’ve now found the cheese grits and place a large dollop on my plate.  I ask, “What do you think about clans in KL?”  I keep munching.

 

She chuckles and leans in to wipe some grits from my cheek.  She smells of peaches.  “I have been invited to a few clans but I have declined them all. I understand why people would want to be in a clan but I like that I can get to know absolutely everyone. I fight when I want to fight, I farm who I want to farm, toss people on the bounty list and I report to no one. I guess because I’m a girl and I flirt a lot, people just come to my aid… it’s the whole damsel in distress act. But usually it’s my fault and I probably deserved to be bountied.”

 

Now comes the biscuits and gravy.  Mmmm, I love me some biscuits.  I am noisily chowing down when I notice my interviewee has become quiet.  My attention has been on the food, so I ask quickly: “Why the name?”

 

She graciously smiles at my ill manners and says, “When I first start the game I was Dutchess Arana, but I changed it to Lady Arana. Not that big of a difference but people did notice it and I changed it because… well I won’t say. And every time someone asks, I tell them: ‘He liked it so he put a ring on it.’  No one has a clue what that means but it makes sense to me.”

 

I wipe my mouth quickly and offer this question: “And artwork, poetry, things like that?”  I find some apple butter and begin spreading it on an extra biscuit.   Mmmmmm.

 

“I have become quite good with artwork but I rarely post those anymore. Only for special occasions such as a wedding or a birthday. I did enter the poetry contest but that’s the only poetry I have posted. I didn’t win,” Lady Arana says with a huff and a frown.

 

I slow down a bit from all the eating and wipe my brow.  Eating in a hot climate is taking a lot out of me.  I ask, “Since you haven’t joined a clan, what do you do when you get stuck.  Who do you reach out to?”

 

She giggles.  “You are silly Candel!  And hungry!  I am a part of the Palringo room ‘KL strategies.’ Anything goes in that room and you learn so much! And it’s fun to watch all the madness. I also have a very trusty source that I go to for advice, if I should ever need it. TheRiddler.  He is someone that I trust immensely in the game. People have also come to me for advice but I would really trust me: I’m only Level 36 and I look out for my best interest.”

 

She leans in as if telling a juicy rumor: “One guy who was a level 7 in my army asked how to kill someone. I noticed he had 0 deaths so I bountied him 25 times!  Oh, was I amused.  He was upset and started bountying me back.  I have also asked for someone to look at my set up when I started loosing a lot in my level and Pale Hors—who is also my level—was nice enough to help me out.” She pauses and smiles: “Then I attacked him and won.”

 

“What is off limits for you in sharing personal information?” I ask.  “Could you pass the pancakes please?”

 

She hands me a hefty platter of hotcakes and says, “I have disclosed my identity to only one person. But I will give out a few details about myself. I talk about work/family and my day to day life without giving details. I think everyone is a killer.

 

“You have talked about some capricious events this morning.  Do you find yourself making enemies in KL?”

 

“Honestly… I can’t think of any enemies that I have. The trash talking doesn’t work on me, so if I am in a heated battle with someone, they end up liking me always. It’s a game! And, as my new friend Fear Rampage says ‘Farmer’ is the cry of the weak! I’m not a farmer though. I am an opportunist!  If I have the opportunity to take some of your gold, I will,” Lady Arana says as she erupts in laughter. 

 

While the lady is laughing, I’m feeling sad.  I’ve cleaned my plate and there appears to be no more food.  I check my watch and realize that our interview has come to an unexpected and unwelcome end. I quickly ask, “Lady Arana have you ever become distracted when playing KL?”

 

She smiles mysteriously and says, “Yes and No.  There have been times where I had to pull over my car to max bounty.  Or, I can be in a conversation and on KL at the same time. This can cause me not to pay attention!  If I’m busy then I can keep the phone away but if there is the shortest lapse in fun things to do, I’m back on KL!” 

 

I arise from my chair more entertained and a bit heavier than I was.  I thank Lady Arana for her hospitality. 

 

While I certainly appreciate good food in a friendly atmosphere, please know that General Candel will interview all types.  If you would like to answer my questions and pass along your unique KL experiences, please drop me a line at generalcandel@gmail.comj; on my KL profile R2N3SM; in my Palringo room ‘candel’s coterie on kingdoms live’; or through completing my questions here:  http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/XWP83FV  .

Comments

[Master_Carter]

Sweet interview! nice website, :P and if you can comment on other people's profile... could you let me know how? Was trying to tell the amount of quests I had done because i noticed she asked. If you can, let her know the max you can do one quest is 32,767. You can still do the quest and get the experience, however it will not count onto the quests completed. My goal is to get 50,000 quests, and probably as soon as i do that I will be getting a bigger goal once again. Right now i'm counting at a 5,000 flaming arrow goal and an achievement point of 50,000 quests.. I don't know what I will be doing, but I am trying to maintain the top quester in the game. I will also say that i have NEVER bought any points with my own money, but I do download the free points. Hope this helps =)

[Blu]

"he liked it so he put a ring on it" shouldnt perplex anyone after the Beyonce song.. He liked the girl so put a ring on her finger and asked for her hand in marriage... simple :grins: