Stumbled at First

June 28, 2008 – Like everything else, good things come to an end. Clan Exiled’s winning streak was stopped cold, as Beast City fell in Guardians’ hands. While nobody was certain how it really happened and there were indeed a number of factors that came into play in the 9 a.m. battle, one must admit it was overconfidence that did them in. Although Exiled started out strong and managed to damage the Guardians CB, the latter managed several counter-attacks that Exiled wasn’t able to contain and ultimately ended in a loss of a major city by Clan Exiled, with eleven minutes left on the clock. Instead of having a chat with the higher-ups in the clan, I decided to go to one of the members for opinions/reaction on the defeat, immediately after the battle.

Note: Interviewee wishes to be anonymous, claiming he has enough people hating him & death threats/prank calls, as it is. He wishes to go by the name Mr. B, and I agreed to do whatever it was that turned him on.

Me: Ok, how do you feel?

MrB: Hungry.

Me: Why?

MrB: Beekos…can I answer in my language, flease?

Me: I’m sorry…. Sure, let’s start over. So what do you think was the cause of this loss?

MrB: Madami, eh. Bukod sa kagigising lang ng karamihan,’yung iba walang amulet…’yung iba hindi sumusunod, patay lang ng patay…iba naman hidi na sumipot, dahil siguro ‘kala nila kayang-kaya…kumpiyansa talaga yumari samin. Eh tapos anim pa catapults ng major city attacker…May yosi ka?

Me: Yes, I have cigarettes with me, but we’re online. Anyway…so it was indeed overconfidence on Exiled’s part. Anything you wish to add?

MrB: Magsaya na sila sa Beast City, sandali lang naman sila d’yan. Tamang-tama, ire-renovate kasi ng Exiled ang Sword (City). Ok na rin ako sa pagkatalo, tingin ko pinasarap lang nun ang laban, eh. Hindi naman nila nakuha ng 13 or 15 minutes. Halos tatlong oras nila pinaghirapan ‘yun. Kukunin na ang Tradewind bukas, kaya mag-babay na sila sa mga npc nila sa Sword.

Me: Okayyy. What do you think are the things that will assure your clan’s victory tomorrow?

MrB: P*****inang tanung ‘yan. Parang fajent, ah? Taft ten ba? (laughs) D’yan ka na, bibili ako yosi.

Me: …

Unlucky as I am with every interview, Mr. B may have been able to read the stars right, as Exiled was indeed successful in taking Tradewind Town, the last territory that keeps The Red Machine from Sword City. It was like watching Exiled be their usual selves, unlike Saturday’s battle. Everyone (as far as I could tell anyway) had amulets equipped, followed orders down to the last detail, and moved as one mean, big, devouring monstrosity. Exiled’s initial push resulted in the destruction of five Guardians towers—something nearly impossible to do in a ‘real’ battle. This ultimately sealed Guardians’ fate, as Exiled lunged for the throat and ended their misery with 2h 11min+ remaining on the clock.

It was a pretty convincing victory, and as much as I’d like to do an interview, I decided to lay off of it for a while.