"PEACE IN THE HEARTHLANDS??? A HOSTILE ENVIROMENT FOR ANY UP AND COMING CHAMP" I honestly don't remember how long I was gone for, or why I returned after dying. If I recall correctly I think it was because a world 4 was announced, a few weeks before it was to be reset. So I hopped on late world 3 after contacting NaoWhut about being interested in playing again, worked on a character and sparred with him. Not to many interesting things happened, but I think It would be injustice to mention the state of the game at this time, which had a huge impact on the path I chose to take.
The game at this time, was quite different then the one that we play now. There was without a doubt, a rule of LAW in the hearthlands, and it was upheld to quite a standard by the super powers of the world. This was a time when people would post on the forums if someone had stolen from them, attacked them, or worse yet killed them... and people would honestly reach out to help these people... Out of the desire to honestly want to help someone. If you were a criminal, it didn't take long to attract the attention of powerful players, and those players would eventually be tied to one of these factions... When it came to this (and it did), you could count in the fact that you would have to (literally) answer to them.
Let's get things in perspective here, villages were able to thrive with out having walls surrounding them... there was a trade hub (much like Lady Goo has made in recent worlds) that while also being un-walled, was not protected by a visitor debuff (this didn't exist then). It was protected by people. I recall at one point having accidentally left a theft a scent on a crate in Constantinople (I think the hub was called)... Big mistake. It didn't take long (maybe a day? or less) for a crew of Sodomites (with the Dhelms and merch robes

) to find me out killing fox's or something like this. After explaining the situation, they even went as far as letting me live. This is the kind of world it was.
Though I can't say I had much impact, nor was I involved in it much, I strongly feel like this balance was held in place the diplomacy of people like Burgingham, and Koya (yes, lol), the resources of the factions,
and the fact that they had brick bashers. Brick bashers were basically mutually assured destruction, they held the world at bay.
These guys though, were not ready for people like me, and eventually, we would turn their world upside down... They had a lot going for them, with a strong grasp of the game, with the highest quality infrastructures, the best gear, and best statted fighters. But the mentality of these people, wasn't one that would foster a champion of the PvP. It was a hostile enviroment for any up and coming champ.
In the coming worlds, I would desire both a freedom and level of PVP skill that surpassed the limitations set by these factions. It was truly my love for the endless possibilities the hearthlands had to offer, that drove me to become the champ.
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I recall there being some renown and respected PvP'ers and people can feel free to add their opinions or stories here, I am interested in hearing them. Dataslicer was said to be the strongest PvP'er from Sodom, I heard this IRC chat and maybe some forum posts. Super Sohon? Some titan of a character... but no doubt, looking back, kLauE was the closest person to a champion of the PvP in my eyes. I think the only thing holding him back was the fact that he wasn't rolling with the champ (thats me).
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Editors notes
I'm tired so this is it for me tonight. Hard to believe I'm still talking about world 3 when things didn't start heating up till much later, but that's how it is. The people wanted to know what makes a champ and this it.
You may have foiled the plans of BAD-EVIL this time, but there is no rest for the wicked.