You’re a Wizard, Mikey

Michael Abadie

Miller

ENG 102

Blog Assignment 4

Following a State of Emergency in Pennsylvania, I woke up from a deep slumber (a scant occurrence for a humble high-schooler, such as myself). I had planned to visit the Corning Glass Museum with all of the new extra time I had been bestowed to write an essay about. Horrifically, New York had unhesitantly shut down any “unnecessary” businesses and attractions. The glass museum would not be open for at least another two weeks. A failing grade began to orbit my mind as I scrambled for any place to visit that I already had not been to. Unsurprisingly, I got tired, so I turned on my computer to reinstall a game that had been forgotten for years. The infamous, Wizard101, had been opened on my PC once more. I created a character that simultaneously resembled me and looked nothing like me. My face grew a childish smile, for I had not played this game since I was around eleven years of age, but there sounded a familiar music that I once sat by for days on end. A foolish idea struck. What if I were to write my essay on my discoveries of Wizard101?

For those who have never heard of this game–nerds–the basis is creating a wizard to complete quests, learn spells, and defeat enemies to protect The Spiral (essentially Wizard101’s version of a universe). There are seven initial schools of magic: Fire, Ice, Storm, Life, Death, Myth, and Balance. Each holds their very own unique set of stats, spells, and quest lines. I chose the school of Myth for my young wizard, Michael Goldenshield. I have never played a wizard of this school before, so I was excited to see what adventures I would encounter. 

The tutorial and first few hours of gameplay are nothing unfamiliar. I soar through levels and hoan my skills through various quests. However, the redundancy comes to a halt when I receive a request from Headmaster Ambrose (The Leading Wizard of the Main World in Wizard101). He informed me that the Spiral Cup, an artifact achieved through competition between fledglings of different headmasters, must be won from a world I have never visited before. Wysteria, a world of advanced magic scholars and talking animals!

I humbly accepted the quest from the Headmaster and began my Journey to Wysteria. By now, I was about level 30, equipped with adequate armor, and befriended an adorable squirrel pet with healing abilities named Ratatoskr. I transported myself (via World Tree) to Wysteria. My screen loaded and revealed a whole new realm. The first things to catch my eye are the pigs, dressed in deep green and blue robes and matching hats that drape backwards like a nightcap. They walk the dark concrete streets with an awkward waddle. Mysteriously enough, most of these pig-people carry wands and move with levitation spellbooks. The structure of this town is similar to what you would find in Naples, Italy. Greenery climbs the walls of cobblestone buildings as the sunlight projects harshly among them. Spiral bushes and posh water fountains line the town’s walkways and precarious marble pillars support this world’s Headmistress’ dwelling. I enter to see her standing against humongous, gated windows. The flooring alternates between diamonds of brownish-beige and royal blue crested with golden vines. The spacious room belittles even a cyclops, but is singular— only a shallow, curved staircase separates me and the Headmistress. I approach her, only to be struck with an aggressive accusation of inferiority. The citizens of Wysteria obviously hold themselves to a higher standard than those who derive from the Main World, such as myself. 

Headmistress Belladonna states I must be capable of defeating five of her personal students if I wish to succeed in my quest of winning the Spiral Cup, a pretty trophy. I race through Wysteria’s streets to the Arena. A humanoid horse in Conquistador-esque attire met me at the entrance and warned me of the arduous trials ahead of me. I rush through a gold and red hallway to the first door, The Hall of the Basilisk. Inside stood a pig, Bleys Flamerender of the fire school. His defeat was fairly effortless, for a single Cyclops spell handled him. I proceeded to the next room, The Hall of the Hydra. Kisai Shugenja, a samurai bull of the balance school. Once more, I could easily overpower him with a single Minotaur spell. The Hall of the Harpy and The Hall of the Specter followed. Both had increased in difficulty, but it was nothing I could not handle. Until, I made it to the final room, The Hall of the Gorgon. Randal Spellshine, a pig in elegant red and purple robes stood with a swagger more inflated than the Headmistress herself. He, too, was of the balance school, but I noticed he would prove more difficult than the previous trials. He began with endless weakening spells to hinder my damage output. I attempted to counter with trap spells to increase his vulnerability, yet he quickly shielded himself. I broke a sweat when he unleashed a Vampire spell, not once, but three times! My health dropped drastically, but I was thankfully saved by Ratatoskr’s healing spells. I blasted a Kraken spell that wiped Randal off his feet. 

The Headmistress stood with amazement as she witnessed my inevitable victory. I was awarded the Spiral Cup and made my way back to Headmaster Ambrose. Despite the age and humility that may arise from playing this game, I do not see myself stopping any time soon. I have made many friends through this RPG and take delight in feeding my geekish side. I recommend this game to anyone with any ounce of adventure left in their heart, for it is a primary source of my sense of creativity. Who needs to go outside during a pandemic, anyways?