It didn't take too long for the EverQuest II Community Team to catch wind of this month's Newsletter contest for EQII. The day began as any other with Blackguard at his desk, feverishly writing Update Notes and catching up on his emails. One email in particular however, caught his interest.
"Build a sandcastle?!" remarked Blackguard. "Why do all our players get to have all the fun? I could make the grandest sandcastle anyone has ever laid eyes on!"
Suddenly a voice chimed in, "Well, why don't you show us what you're capable of Blackguard?"
Alas, it was Brenlo, Halfling High-Commander of the SOE Community Team.
"If you think you can build a better sandcastle, why don't you head down to the beach and amaze us with your architectural skills."
Suddenly, heads began to pop up in all the adjacent cubicles.
"Obviously, you'll need some help in this endeavor!" exclaimed Raijinn, our fearless EQII Community Rep. "I better come along to assist you!
Eovania, our German Rep. was also quick to chime in, "Oh, I must come along. I love ze beach!" she said. "I vill and help you make ze best castle anyone's ever seen!"
"Oui, I must come along as well. The beach sounds much more pleasant than my desk right now." pipped in Soffrina, the French Community Rep.
Blackguard leapt to his feet and proclaimed, "Alright, we'll all go! Quick, everybody pile into the Community-Mobile!"
"Not so fast!" said a voice in the back. It was none other than Zaphax, the Community Content Manager. "There are two problems with your plan. Problem 1: We don't actually have a Community-Mobile, so we'll all need to carpool. Problem 2: If you're going to build the greatest sandcastle ever, you're going to need someone to document this event... I should probably come along and take pictures."
Crossing his arms and sneering slightly, Blackguard replied. "You can come along this time, Zaphax, though I must warn you... Don't try to steal the glory from my sandcastle vision. This is my idea!"
"I wouldn't dream of it!" beamed Zaphax. "After you, good sir!"
"Ok, we're off then!" cried Blackguard as he ran down the stairs with his cape (read: SOE beach towel) flapping in the wind. Along the way, our friends Laura and Ari stopped by to ask what all the commotion was about.
"Come with us to the beach, oh Maidens of Marketing! We're off to build a castle, a wonderful castle of sand!"
More intrigued with the idea of visiting the beach than seeing Blackguard play in the sand, Laura and Ari agreed to join us.
"Besides, I could really go for a hot dog right now." said Laura.
And with that, our band of heroes departed SOE and headed to the beach...
Realizing that tools would be necessary, our team stops at the local Target to buy only the most crucial of equipment... and a beach ball... and a Frisbee. Unfortunately, they were unable to find all the tools they desired, so they made do with buckets, shovels, and the highly advanced implements of creation they were given at birth (read: hands).
We arrive at Mission Beach on a beautiful day. Sun worshippers and red cones alike have come to take in the cool salty air of the Pacific Ocean.
Surveying the landscape, Blackguard and Raijinn draw a line in the sand... literally.
Scratching his head, Blackguard searches tenaciously for a source of water.
Soffrina, Blackguard, Eovania and Raijinn begin work on the moat as well as the primary structure.
I believe the recently finished Wynn Casino looked similar to this in the early stages of its development.
Eovania and Raijinn pause for a moment to offer up their best smiles.
Shameless self-promotion for Zaphax.
Turbo from TheX.fm stopped by to help out Blackguard and Eovania with the fine details.
Nearly finished, our castle in all its majesty; though it seems to being missing something...
"Well obviously it needs an EQII monkey!" Blackguard springs into action!
The lord of the castle sits high atop its summit.
Exhausted from a back-breaking hour's worth of work, our team of builders pose behind their own private Xanadu.
As the sun began to set and the tide rolled in, we bid goodbye to our little monkey friend and asked that he keep the place looking nice so that our grandchildren might one day come and visit what many are already beginning to call, the Versailles of Southern California.
Think you can build a better castle? Well, show us by entering this month's EQ2 Newsletter contest! Not signed up for the news letter? You can do so here!