Read the first part of Jamie's Minecraft journal first.

The Defence Of Stormhaven

What had we done?

The silence didn't last long. The sound of Endermen warping in and out began to ring through the city. Orcs and floating fire gears soon joined them, and before we knew it, they were pouring through the gates. There were only a few of us left at this point, although thankfully, all but one of us were fully armed and armoured. That someone? Me...

Leaving Stormhaven

Those clad in the garb of their nations charged forward first. Headlong into the group of enemies, slashing as they went. "For Stormhaven!" they cried. I sat back, watching on as more Endermen surrounded them. I couldn't stand still and witness them being overwhelmed. The decision was made. I charged, too.

If anyone had seen us at the time, they would have laughed, despite the severity of the situation. A group of knights, and one mad man, slashing, hacking and punching anything that dared pass those gates.

The next time someone screams "I don't care about ancient curses" at you, while pillaging a hidden portal, I advise you to call them crazy. And if not crazy, then at least ensure they're there to see the repercussions of such frivolity. Their insanity must be stopped!

Which is to say, we probably should have heeded those warning signs. With almost everyone else having run off in search of more portals, it was left to a scarce few to deal with the aftermath of our day of excavation and exploration.

The waves continued, and for close to thirty minutes they attacked the city, pouring in from the portal. We pushed them back further with each successive wave. "Let nothing pass!" someone screamed. During those moments, nation boundaries and prejudices crumbled. Nations at war stood together for the defence of Stormhaven, and in the end, we triumphed. I had survived!

We gathered at the local tavern once the last of the monsters' bodies had been removed. "A flagon of your finest mead for the true protectors of Stormhaven!" cheered one. "Yes, we are thirsty!" cheered another. We again sat in silence, this time with the knowledge that danger had been averted for now, and took up our talk again. The soldiers thanked me for my efforts, named me "SirJD the Brave", and as a gift, handed me a set of diamond armour.

I accepted their offer of appreciation, and just before we began to head out and go our separate ways, we bowed before each other. "I guess I best be off then, and take my first real steps outside Stormhaven" I said. "I hope we meet again one day," they replied, and finally, my journey had truly begun.

The Forest of the Dead

To The Ends Of The Earth

As much as Stormhaven had become a home (admittedly, it was the centre of much of my Nations at War experience to that point), unknown lands were too alluring. And so were the nations that inhabited them.

You see, new players are as much a commodity as they are a new member in Nations at War. They're new blood, and they're hunted because of it. Not in the "I'm coming for you with this pixelated sword" kind of way though.
With every nation trying to further their cause, and increase their foothold, a new member can sway the balance just as much as any other aspect of the world at large. As I finally stepped out of Stormhaven, I had become that commodity.

Gravitating to the first nation to make me an offer felt naive though, even if joining up with my earlier allies seemed a valiant prospect. Nations themselves can be read up on and discussed through their forums, for sure, but the only way to scout out a nation's prospects is to do it the old fashioned way - to walk.

I set off east at first, following the great road for a ways before some buildings off the beaten track caught my attention. They were nothing but small huts at this time, and so I continued on past them. If a tour had been constructed for new arrivals to this land, then I have a feeling I would have tread most of its track over those hours and days, even if I did deviate from the road more often than not.

The Land of Corruption

I continued north-east, stumbling upon the track every once in a while as new nation strongholds and cities broke the horizon. The odd home or travellers hut littered the country side, as I made my way through the Forest of the Dead and out north in to the frozen Tundra.

From there, through to the Ullrium Ascendancy, and then further east, to the land of Corruption. Black spires rising from the tortured ground. These nations slept peacefully, without even the slightest sound of movement. I was alone, but couldn't help but feel I was being watched. I climbed a nearby treehouse as night fell, on what day I couldn't now remember. I watched on for the coming sunrise, before I set my sights for the day's travel slightly further towards the south.

Massive figures loomed ahead of me, their swords held skyward as they defended their mountain hall. The Dwarven Arena, and its bottomless pit littered with signs of encouragement. "Jump In!" they said.

As a foreign land, Nations at War succeeds so well. Its vast size coupled with its limited number of documented maps and travel instructions leaves it up to you to decide exactly where you're going. Its biggest guiding force? Its road.

First expectations would dictate that an MMO-esque Minecraft experience would be a largely populated thing, though going in with those expectations, the feeling of loneliness can oftentimes far outweigh that of a singleplayer Minecraft play session when no one is around. The only company I had as I wandered Nations' ever changing land was its road. A single, twisting entity marked by torches and lights.

Dwarven Arena

No matter how lost I became, there was always the one certainty that walking in any which direction for long enough would bring me to it again. Stumbling across each other like old friends. It became a comforting sight, especially at night.

I'd never stay aboard the road too long though. The land of Nations at War always has the ability to drag you away from its metaphorical (and physical!) guidance system with a new, strange building or location. Each one with the ability to tell its own story, without uttering a single word.

Tonight, at least, the land of many had become the land of one.

Days later, and many a mile walked, I'd made my way further south, even further so than Stormhaven. I'd crossed a fair stretch of the northern land, and managed to circle back on myself in the end, though this time, I would be continuing on.

My feet were heavy, my eyelids heavier, and I was growing restless. As much as I'd flirted with it before, I let the road guide me for the rest of my journey. It was time to find a home.

Finding Home

Applications, applications, applications. If there's one recurring theme within Nations at War, it's that you constantly have to be on your best behaviour. Try and do anything - even join the server in the first place - and you're being judged. Don't play by the rules and you're not likely to get far. It's a smart way to keep players honest.

My latest judge in the Nations jury? The Hammersong Alliance.

Port Forward

I'd finally made my decision. Hammersong, and their central city of Port Forward, were recruiting at the time I passed them by, sticking exclusively to the road at this point in my journey. Amongst the most active nations, Hammersong also offered a change of scenery. Sat amongst the parched land of the Wailing Sands, its location was a change from the green hills and towering trees.

The judges on this panel were far more welcoming, in the end. Perhaps it was those tales that had reached their ears. The ones told of a group of soldiers who had defended Stormhaven, one of them bare handed. I had left Stormhaven a commodity, and by the end of my travels, found a new place to call home, and a place from which I could push on with my Nations journey. A territory to defend and a city to help build.

I climbed to the top of a tower, just outside the city boundaries. The barren, sandy landscape before me now held more opportunities than its bleakness appeared to offer on first glance.

I sat and watched over the land, while the moon again slept and the sun began to rise. Rising on a new day and a whole raft of new possibilities.