Meushell - An Isolated Orc Village

[Meushell]

Introduction: This is my second challenge, but I didn't finish the first time. My name is Michelle. 33 years old. 34 in November. Starting weight is 290 pounds. Currently 281.6.

 

Main Quest: The Adventure Begins

A dark force has invaded the world. Many cities have remained ignorant, continuing on with their daily lives. Strange rumors have been dismissed. One small orc village was no different. Placed deep in a rocky forest, it had little contact with the outside world.

 

Things are changing. Villagers must venture further and further into the forest to bring back food. The forest itself has become more dangerous. Having known only peace for so long, most orcs no longer train for combat. Some would say they have become lazy. The village chief has called for volunteers. They will take on the more dangerous jobs to keep the village going, and they will need to learn to defend themselves.

 

One volunteer is a woman called Michaela Barge. She's about to embark on an adventure greater than she expects.

 

(Losing weight will be my adventure. My first goal is 50 pounds, which will take multiple challenges to get there. I have lost 8.4 so far in total. That leaves 41.6 left. I was originally going to give the character the same name as my screen name, but I thought that might get confusing.)

 

Quest 1: Food is Limited

 

Food has become limited, therefore it must be rationed per villager.

 

(Keep track of food and stay under assigned calories at least 6 times a week. I'm using My Fitness Pal to keep track.

 

A = Keep within calorie range at an average of 6+ times a week. Villagers are happy.

B = Average 5+ times a week. Some villagers are giving Mikaela looks of disapproval.

C = Average 4+ times a week. Some villagers have stopped talking to Michaela.

D = Average 3+ time a week. Michaela is ignored in her own village.

F = Average 2+ time a week. Michaela is banished to the forest.)

 

Quest 2: Hunting and Gathering

 

Michaela must do her part in gathering food, which means longer walks in the forest.

 

(Average 5,000 steps per day using my iPhone to keep track. Still recovering with a broken ankle, so I am keeping the number low.

 

A = Average 5,000 steps per day. Michaela is bringing in enough food to feed many.

B = Average 4,500. Michaela is bringing in enough food to feed herself and some others.

C = Average 4,000. Michaela is bringing in enough food to feed herself.

D = Average 3,500. Michaela is borrowing some food from her neighbors.

F = Average 3,000. Michaela is not bringing in any food. She is banished to the forest.)

 

Quest 3: Old Traditions

Traditions of battle have been forgotten by many, but thankfully a few orcs have kept up the tradition, even in peace. They will now train volunteers to become warriors.

 

(Strength training an average of 3 times a week. Upper limit is 5 times a week to ensure rest days.

 

A = Average 3x a week. (18 total.) Michaela impresses her teachers and fellow students.

B = Average 2.5x. (15 total.) Michaela impresses some fellow students.

C = Average 2x. (12 total.) Michaela is just an average student.

D = Average 1.5x. (9 total.) Michaela is on the bottom of the class.

F = Average 1x. (6 total.) Michaela is kicked out of class.)

 

Real Motivation: To feel and look better. To prepare for a mud run. I was going to do one in October (signed up for it a year earlier), but I broke my ankle before the run.

[Meushell]

Quest 1: Calorie Counting

Week 1 - Days Counted: 6

Week 2 - Days Counted: 6

Week 3 - Days Counted: 6

Week 4 - Days Counted: 6

Week 5 - Days Counted: 6

Week 6 - Days Counted: 6

Total: 36

Average: X/6 = 6

Quest 2: Step Count

Week 1 - Average Steps: 6,753

Week 2 - Average Steps: 5,505

Week 3 - Average Steps: 9,462

Week 4 - Average Steps: 10,867

Week 5 - Average Steps: 12,217

Week 6 - Average Steps: 8,852

Total: 53,658

Average: X/6 = 8,943

Quest 3: Strength Training

Week 1 - Days Counted: 4

Week 2 - Days Counted: 3

Week 3 - Days Counted: 3

Week 4 - Days Counted: 3

Week 5 - Days Counted: 3

Week 6 - Days Counted: 3

Total: 19

Average: X/6 = 3.2

[Koaladle]

First of all, I love how you've set up the quest. It's a "Choose Your Own Adventure" and I'm sure that for the sake of Michaela, you'll ensure she stays beloved in her village, but more importantly is respected and valued for her contributions. I can't wait to watch her (and you) gather all the food and battle all the classmates!

[Solunaria]

Good luck!

[Meushell]

Thanks. Yeah, if I don't do a good job, I'll feel all bad for Michaela.

[Blaidd]

I love how you've set up your challenge.

 

You might notice that someone has added a tag to your post.  This is not to box you into a corner but rather because your goals or lifestyle have links to the guild you've been tagged and we'd like to bring you to the attention of one of their guild ambassadors. These ambassadors will be able to offer you advice, encouragement and support on your goals.  You don't even have to wait around for them to come introduce themselves to you, you are more than welcome to pop into the Adventurers' board and introduce yourself to the guildies there. I am also around to answer any questions that you might have so do not hesitate to PM me.

 

Good Luck with your challenge

AB xx

[Meushell]

One more day! :-)

I'm already off to a good start. Sunday is my weigh in day, and I've lost 3 pounds. Since yesterday was Halloween, I was expecting to be about the same or a gain.

I've included the walk to Mordor and back challenge in my signature. I saw it mentioned elsewhere, and it looked fun. It doesn't relate to the above challenge. It's just another journey along the way.

[AmyUncharted]

Awesome job on the weight loss you have achieved so far! I look forward to following Michaela's adventure! Good luck!

[Meushell]

Thank you. I am having fun with her.

[Meushell]

Planet: Terra

Places around Gul (Michaela's Village)

(Larger Version)

As you can see, I am not hugely creative with names. LOL. I thought my naming system would make it easier for me to remember what lives where rather then having to keep notes.

Credit: Map created at Donjon. A wonderful place if you want a fantasy map and don't mind not doing every detail. I only discovered the site a few days ago.

[ExpectJade]

i enjoyed reading your challenge a lot! i hope you don't get banished to the forest, i would love to read more!
Subbed to your thread. Good luck with the challenge!!

[Shichimon]

Such a cool challenge, good luck!

[Koaladle]

Man, your quest is like reading a book. LOVE IT.

[Meushell]

(Thank you all. I hope I keep her in good standing among her people. Having her suffer if I fail is oddly motivating.)

 

Michaela stood among her fellow villagers, men and woman ranging from adolescence to middle aged. Michaela was still young herself, though she didn't always feel that way. Most everyone was an orc like herself, though over the generations, other species had been welcomed into the village of Gul. It was why Michaela had a name that was typical of humans. By the time she was born, the origin of various names no longer mattered.

 

Among the instructors was an elf named Rojeon. Elves were not known for their strength or endurance, but Roj was not the typical elf. He might've been when he first came to the village, but that was before even Michaela's grandparents were born. He embraced orc tradition, and the years made him strong.

 

Training began. Roj was the toughest instructor. If he could do it, anyone could. Michaela was inspired. Years of laziness were against her, but they would not stop her.

--

I am still figuring Michaela and her world out. How long do orcs live? Does she have the same family as me? If she is basically a fantasy version of me, then she should have a husband and young son. That would mean either leaving them later for her quest or they come with her. I don't want to deal with either, so she is single and childless. To make up for taking away the family, I will say the orcs live longer than humans. I can always add romance to her life later. Heck, it's a fantasy, she can have multiple husbands and wives later. Lol. Er, to the real point of this thread.

 

The first day went well. Kept under my calories. Did a lot of walking, and I worked out my shoulders and arms with 5 pound dumbbells. The second day (which is today, but I haven't gone to bed yet, so it feels like tomorrow) will be a rest day with strength training. Lower body strength training will be using bodyweight, and that needs to wait until my ankle is healed. That leaves the workouts to upper and middle.

[Koaladle]

The best thing about fantasy is anything goes. If you want, orcs can live for 500 years and elves could reach old age by 40.  Write what makes sense to you!

 

Excellent job on day 1! I look forward to your next post!

[Meushell]

(@Koaladle So true. I remember once when running a fantasy roleplay online, some people got annoyed when some species had a shorter lifespan than human. I was all "Well, why should humans always be the shortest lived?")

Days 2, 3, 4, & 5

Visitors from Waruk, their mother city, came by Gul. Such a thing was becoming rare, so the village had a small feast to celebrate. Waruk itself was across the forest. It had held up traditional values, including ones that Michaela and many from Gul did not agree with. With 300 people, all orcs, the city held almost thrice the number of people as Gul. Waruk was also well-known outside of the forest. Being well known was never the goal of Gul though. The founders had even named the village after the surrounding forest in order to blend in. Being so invisible and out of the eyes of the public help them to break from many orc traditions.

The feast was a great reminder of old times. In the past, one would be thrown for just about any event. One could almost forget the troubling times they were in. The feast lasted long into the night, but training began early the next morning. They were split into smaller groups, Michaela's group ended up with Rojeon. Those from Waruk joined in. Michaela found them to have higher expectations than even Roj. She did her best to reach those expectations.

Another night past. It had been two days since the feast, and they needed to go out and gather food to make up for it. Michaela was out early. Tomorrow would be another training day, so she wanted time to rest that evening.

--

Still doing well. Just not a "update every day" type person.

Day 2, we went out to eat, so I spent more calories. They have a wonderful (but full of calories) dessert, and since I go to the restaurant about once a year, I don't mind getting it. That makes Day 2 my off day.

Day 3, worked out my chest, back, and abs. Also took a walk to the park. Still ate a lot. Was eating M&M's, calculated, then realized they'd put me over. Half the bag was fine though. The rest of the the bag is still in the fridge. Lol.

Day 4 involved lots of shopping, and therefore, lots of walking.

Day 5, today, needed to rest my ankle. Worked out my shoulders. My son worked with me. He has his own dumbbells. Later I'll do arms.

So far, all my strength training has been with Instant Fitness.

Michaela continues to inspire. I think of her, then get off my butt and gets those steps in. I would have finished those M&M's if not for her. Maybe it just shows my obsession with roleplay characters, but so far, it is working.

[Luciana Valerosa Culming]

The first day went well. Kept under my calories. Did a lot of walking, and I worked out my shoulders and arms with 5 pound dumbbells. The second day (which is today, but I haven't gone to bed yet, so it feels like tomorrow) will be a rest day with strength training. Lower body strength training will be using bodyweight, and that needs to wait until my ankle is healed. That leaves the workouts to upper and middle.

What do you do to train your shoulders. I'm also trying to strengthen my shoulders and trying out different exercises is fun:)

And you are right. Why should humans always have the shortest life span.

Michaela continues to inspire. I think of her, then get off my butt and gets those steps in. I would have finished those M&M's if not for her. Maybe it just shows my obsession with roleplay characters, but so far, it is working.

That's so true. My nickname here is the name I used for one of my roleplay characters. She loves fencing, adventures and doesn't let anybody threat her. I don't want to be as hot blooded as her, but she also inspires me.

[Koaladle]

Don't worry about updating every day! It's not everyone's goblet of mead.

[Meushell]

@Luciana Valerosa Culming

In using dumbbells, a lot of it is variations of the same thing.

Arm Circles (with Dumbbells)

Dumbbell Raise

-Front

-Side

Upright Dumbbell Row

-Front

-Side

Dumbbell Scarecrow

Shoulder Press

- Wrists facing away from me, towards me, or towards each other.

- Y - Instead of just pressing up, it is up and to the side, so I look like a Y.

- There's one that combines the scarecrow with the shoulder press.

Shrug

- While standing, but another version while laying down, so you are pushing your shoulder forward.

I do six of the above, sometimes one set, sometimes two sets. For instance the Deltroid Queen (named by the app) workout is the two dumbbell raises, the two rows, the scarecrow, and a shoulder press.

It's pretty fun to see the different characters others have made and the environments they live in.

@Koaladle

Thanks. I didn't want people thinking that no update equaled no progress, but obviously, the progress itself needs to come before the updating. LOL.

[Meushell]

I weigh 1.8 pounds less than last week. Yea!

[ExpectJade]

I weigh 1.8 pounds less than last week. Yea!

Good job congratz!

Sent from the past

[Meushell]

Thanks.

Well, today is the day everyone will be updating how they did in the first week. Did well myself. I'll be updating the results in the second post of this thread.

[Meushell]

Michaela sat atop her roof. An orc's roof was like their porch, so this was a normal sight in the village. As she gave a wave to her neighbors, she thought about the past days. The first week of training had gone well. Now she was halfway into the second week. This week seemed harder somehow, though she could not explain why. Maybe if she found someone to talk to...

 

She lost her thoughts when she noticed something unusual. Smoke, much more than the usual campfire. She frowned slightly, confused, then suddenly realized it was in the direction of Waruk. Quickly, she was on her feet, but before she could say anything, her neighbor cried out.

 

"Waruk! Fire! Waruk!"

 

His words sounded as jumbled as Michaela's mind.

 

What to do?! What to do?!

 

It took a minute to register that their chief, Oraul, was giving orders on forming a rescue party. Anyone who could fight volunteered, but it still wasn't enough. Michaela volunteered as well. She did not have long to pack and join the rest. They were soon heading into the forest.

--

Seems like the second week is always the hardest. That's usually the end of my restart. It'll be different this time. It's my birthday in a few minutes. It'll be a strong birthday.

[Koaladle]

HAPPY STRONG BIRTHDAY!!

[Meushell]

On 11/13/2015 at 5:42 PM, Koaladle said:

HAPPY STRONG BIRTHDAY!!

Thanks.

-----

I realize I am overdue for an update. There has been my birthday dinner, my son's birthday party, and Thanksgiving, but I have also made a point to walking more. As you can see in my results post, my average steps a day from Week 2 to Week 3 have gone up about 4,000 steps. It feels very satisfying to reach 10,000 steps on a more regular basis.

 

This week is been going well. I do need to get my strength training in today and tomorrow to make it three for this week. Thanksgiving was my off day for counting calories. I've been walking more, but that's with neglecting the strength training.

 

We are halfway through. It is going fast. Already thinking about goals for the next challenge. They'll probably be very similar. Lol.

Anyway, now onto Michaela...

-----

Michaela found herself being pushed to reach Waruk more quickly. She was never one for speed, and though she was anxious to arrive, her feet and back were sore. She felt she only had herself to blame. What was she even doing in this party? How useful could she possibly be once they arrived?

 

It took two days to get there. The smoke was long gone. As they approached, Michaela saw that little of the city still stood. Most of it had turned to ash.

 

"Search for survivors," Rojeon ordered. They made him the party leader, as they felt he might have the best experience with this.

 

Oraul, their chief, had stayed behind. Michaela had not really thought about why, but now she realized it was in case their own town was attacked. She heard the others mutter in horror and fear. That soon turned to anger.

 

There were no signs of survivors. In fact, there were no signs of bodies either. Had they turned to ash with the buildings?

 

Rojeon, being an elf, was never really welcomed into this city, but he seemed to be searching the hardest for the people. Michaela realized that many of the others, like herself, were afraid of what they would find. The search became quiet for a while, until...

 

"Are we next?" was a soft voice, but it became stronger. "Is Gul next?"

 

Michaela had wondered this herself, but feared saying anything as it would sound selfish. Her family and friends were in Gul. She had never gotten close to anyone from Waruk. She was almost thankful for that. Even now, the faces that she knew kept flashing in her mind. It was almost haunting...yet more than anything, she was afraid.

 

Rojeon turned to the woman who asked. "Oraul will take care of our town. He stayed behind, so at the first sign of trouble, he will lead everyone out."

 

Michaela found her voice. "Could that have happened here? Could they have ran?"

 

Rojeon looked around, but slightly shook his head. "Anything is possible, but an evacuation from a city this large is harder to organize. If they did..." He gave a sigh. "...we should've seen something of them by now." He closed his eyes briefly. "Find anything we could salvage. We need to go and report back."

 

The search continued.