November 8, 2010 Issue

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                             TABLE OF CONTENTS

                          A Note from the Editor

                          UPDATES FROM THE STAFF:
                           Code and Area Updates
                        LegendMUD Calendar of Events

                               PLAYER NEWS:
                             XP Achievements
                             The Pkill Front
                             Join the Coven

                           Description Changes:
                                   Xyn
                                 Reddeath

                            Player Submissions
                           A Trial of Intuition
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                           A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR

Well, here we are again with another LT! It's pretty packed this time, between
player submissions and description changes! Be sure to enjoy and maybe even
send in submissions of your own. 

Remember: Player submissions (like Serpentarius' stories) are awarded magic 
marbles for their contributions. Clan recruitment receives a smaller award, 
and description changes are already rewards because they allow you to get a 
new desc!


-Lamia

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                             AREA & CODE UPDATES

[Rooms]
+ Dagda's location should address exit resets correctly.

[Quests]
+ Some tweaking to the polished scale quest.

[Special]
+ A few fixes went into Recalltag.
+ Haunted house was updated. Looks spooky!

[In the works]
+ R.M.S. Titanic
+ New Orleans

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                         LEGENDMUD CALENDAR OF EVENTS

            [All times are system time unless otherwise specified]

                             November 2010
                        Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
                            1  2  3  4  5  6
                         7  8  9 10 11 12 13
                        14 15 16 17 18 19 20
                        21 22 23 24 25 26 27
                        28 29 30 

Friday,      November  12th, All Day    Friend Friday! 
                                        Invite a friend to play LegendMUD!
Thursday,    November  25th, All Day    American Thanksgiving!
  
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/__|                            Player News                             |__\
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                              XP ACHIEVEMENTS

Spiridion has reached 100 million experience!
Vittorio has reached 100 million experience!
Elysia has reached 800 million experience!
Elysia has reached 900 million experience!
Elysia has reached 1000 million experience!

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                               THE PKILL FRONT

PK seems to be experiencing another slight lull. There were about 15 pkers
active over the past two weeks, who had around 60 fights. The most active PKer
was Rajah, who had 9 wins. Mors, Boosh, Dazzel, and Fawkes rounded out the top
5 PKers with 8 wins for Mors, 7 for Boosh and Dazzel, and 6 for Fawkes.

Thanks to all of those who are PKing for the glory of PKing, and keep it up!

-Lamia

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                               CLAN RECRUITMENT

cov-en: noun:
an assembly of witches, esp. a group of thirteen.

The Grand Coven of Legend is under new management, which means...? We're
accepting new members, too. Male, or female, it doesn't matter, so long as you
have a willingness to connect with the more supernatural laws of our world, and
can commit yourself to following the law of our goddess. New to our world?
We'll gladly help guide you in the proper magical direction, able to provide
help in learning the laws of causing, and creating.

If interested, please contact Laria de'Dannan for more information. And, no
Rowane, you have not been pardoned for your unpaid debts, regardless
of whether or not I'm your sister so don't even ask!


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                           XYN'S DESCRIPTION CHANGE

Dear Nadia Itani-Ravenswick-Valentine-et all,

I've made a terrible mistake, one I recognized too late to change the wrongs
I've done. I myself am a mistake, I've learned, a tool and means to an end. I
was born of a human father, and a mother bred regal and fair. Leanan, the
human folk tend to call her, and I found only recently that these sidhe devil
women are as vampires to the Romanians, preying on the poets and the muses in
search of more. They're insatiable creatures, and my mother is amongst them.
She'd, at one point, lost her soul though I fear now she never had one. I went
about the means of reviving it in to the empty shell that was her wandering
body with the help of my mother's lover. I know now she used me for her own
personal gain, and in the process I destroyed the lives of many. The Knights,
for example... Even I can't believe the things I made them do, taking Minetta
Collins hostage, forcing Lucas Wylder to murder his former fiancee. They were
cruel, but I saw them fit in order to protect my mother. I kidnapped and
tortured Nineveh, dangled his beloved friend in front of him, I deceived the
only two people in my life that probably ever loved me for what I was, rather
than the promise of what I could be.. my adopted daughters Briony and Defrin..
I allowed a cruel, and evil man to attempt to smother what is probably the
only shred of light, and untained good in this world, which is now lost to my
horrible mother for what I fear is forever. I became as I swore I wouldn't, a
monster, and I fear I may have brought about the end of something.. someone
very important. 

I stole something from you, something of great value. The importance of this
knows no bounds, not only to you, but to many other people and should it
continue to live as, and whre it is I'm sure you know as well as I do what
will happen to it. To him. I never intended for him to end up where he is now,
even I am aware of the consequences of that, and I'm sure my horrible mother 
is as well, for she has made no efforts to withdraw him from her hold and
return him to where he belongs. I believe I have the means to prevent an end
none of us want to see, should you wish for my help. I ask not for your 
forgiveness, because I know now that nothing I can do will ever make up for
the horrible things I have done, not only to those people, but specifically to
you, your family, and most specifically, to him. Still, if you will have my
help, I'll do everything in my power to return him to you.

Sincerely,
Xyn


Xyn will now be known as:
Short: a fallen, fair-featured soverign
Long:  A shadow of his former self, an ashen haired youth keeps his distance.


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                        REDDEATH'S DESCRIPTION CHANGE

Dear Legend,

Some of you may have noticed that I have gone into a deep seclusion, far from 
the seas which I once loved.  I am afraid to tell that I have scuttled my ship
and will no longer live my life on the seas.

All of my fellow plunderers of the oceans have either gone into hiding or been
hanged by the Empire.  The Royal Navy is becoming far to supreme to compete 
with.

All of this being said, this is not the reason that I have given up my life on
he seas.  The only woman I have ever loved, Kenzie, was murdered in cold blood
three months ago.

London newspapers have descriptions of the murderer.  I have read them quite 
tediously, and I believe I have a lead to her murderer.  I understand that it 
will take a long time to find him; he covers his tracks quite well.  I will 
kill every one of his accomplices that I find.

I have but one reason to go on.  I WILL kill him.


Reddeath will now be known as:
Short: a vengeful vigilante
Long:  You barely notice this cloaked figure lurking in the shadows.


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A Trial of Intuition

Serpentarius, having just defeated one Zodiac in their own home, would not be 
allowed to rest. The footsteps grew ever louder, until he decided to exit the 
tower and meet whoever it was outside; though there was nothing. Nothing on 
the path down the mountain, or any other cardinal direction for that matter.

But there was still the unshakable feeling of a nearby presence. Serpentarius 
didn't even get to see what happened next: the gigantic golden scorpion above 
him, climbing on the side of the tower, struck the Serpent King in the back 
with his tail without hesitation nor mercy. Pure agony tore through 
Serpentarius as fast as Scorpio's stinger tore through his chest. He fell to 
the ground, numb, with time only to silently curse himself before his 
consciousness was taken from him...

Serpentarius awoke to an icy prison. He'd been frozen solid in a block of ice 
several feet thick, with only enough room to wiggle his fingers or perhaps 
speak. He could make out some blurred figures through the ice, though he could
guess who they were: Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces. 
The surroundings looked dark and depressing; probably a dungeon.

Aquarius stepped forward, having seen Serpentarius trying to move. She was a 
cold-looking woman, dressed in flowing blue robes, and most likely responsible
for the ice Serpentarius was now trapped in. 

'Poor Serpentarius,' Aquarius mocked. 'In life, you made wondrous masterpieces
out of ice. In death, you shall simply become one yourself.'

'If you believe I am to die here, then you are sorely- no, agonizingly 
mistaken,' replied the Serpent King calmly.

Aquarius glared at him. 'And you've some daring escape plan, I presume?' she 
asked sarcastically.

'Naturally. Would you like me to simply teleport out of here?' asked 
Serpentarius.

Aquarius laughed. 'Not even you have such power. But if you do, you may wish 
to utilize it. You've not long to live.'

Serpentarius smiled. 'Then allow me to share this lesson with you: never 
underestimate your opponent,' he advised, before vanishing instantly.

The gaze of Aquarius grew even colder, were such a feat possible. 'A spell of 
concealment, most likely. Sagittarius. Cleave him in two,' she ordered.

Sagittarius slowly made his way to the weapon rack on the wall. He was a huge,
fierce-looking centaur, though he detested violence. Not that Aquarius would 
hear excuses at this point. He picked up a large greatsword before dashing to 
the block of ice in the center of the dungeon, and with a single mighty 
strike, he cut the ice prison completely in half.

The ice fell to the ground and shattered, though there was no sign of any 
Serpent King.

Aquarius sighed. 'Curse that slippery snake,' she muttered, before turning to 
the others. 'Well, he can't have gone far...'

'Indeed,' interrupted a disembodied voice. 'He might be closer than you 
think...'

Of course, Serpentarius hadn't really teleported anywhere; all he had done was
shapeshift to one of his smallest forms- the Lesser Antillean Threadsnake, 
whose tiny size and silvery scales hid it perfectly in the ice.

By now, Serpentarius had shifted to his human form once more, and was finally 
allowed an unclouded view of his surroundings. They were in a large 
rectangular room with stone walls and a fairly low ceiling; perhaps thirty 
feet at most, presumably to prevent Serpentarius from being able to turn into 
his true form should he manage to escape.. though he quite enjoyed the thought
of slaying them as a human. The only exit out of the room was a stairway 
behind the Zodiac; and though they had placed themselves strategically, it 
would make little difference.

Serpentarius focused on his scythe, his mind becoming one of pure reflex. And 
then, in a flash, everything happened at once. Aquarius struck first, 
summoning shards of ice out of the air and firing them at Serpentarius; he 
countered by striking them with the blunt edge of his scythe, sending them 
flying back. Capricorn charged forward with a blindingly fast burst of speed, 
though Serpentarius managed to leap up onto the giant golden goat's back and 
slice through his spine with his scythe. Capricorn collapsed, temporarily 
paralyzed but certainly not defeated. 

Scorpio struck with his tail faster than even the snake eye could see, and yet
Serpentarius somehow managed to deflect the blow with his scythe. An arrow 
struck him in the shoulder; fired by Sagittarius, who was now using his bow. 
Serpentarius simply ripped it out and continued his advance.

Aquarius stepped back, casting a torrent of raging water at Serpentarius, 
while Sagittarius also fired a volley of arrows yet neither had any effect; he
was hit by both attacks at full blast but refused to even flinch. Fear began 
to invade the minds of the Zodiac. 

'Impossible... he's already regained this much power?' Aquarius asked in 
disbelief.

'You should've let me kill him when I had the chance!' Scorpio yelled back.

Scorpio lashed once again with his tail, but this time Serpentarius didn't 
bother avoiding it - he simply grabbed the tail stinger with his free hand and
held it back, in a deadlock for what seemed like an eternity with a scorpion 
many times his size... before slicing off the end of Scorpio's tail with his 
scythe. 

The giant scorpion thrashed about in both anger and agony, while the giant 
goat was back up on his feet and was charging the Serpent King once more, 
though at the last moment Serpentarius simply grabbed onto Capricorn's horns 
and let them propel him through the air towards the exit. He landed by a young
girl made of pure water: Pisces, whose watery form was made even moreso from 
the tears in her eyes. She couldn't bear to see her friends tearing themselves
apart, and though he tried, Serpentarius couldn't bear to harm her. Instead he
motioned towards the exit and turned his back, and the next time he looked, 
she was gone.

After turning around, a shard of ice pierced Serpentarius in the chest. But 
instead of wounding him, it simply fueled his rage. In a flash, he pulled it 
out and sunk his fangs into it, injecting the ice with his venom before 
throwing it back at Aquarius with all his strength before she could react. It 
struck her through the abdomen and she began to fall backwards, growing 
visibly weak as the venom surged through her veins. Sagittarius lept to her 
and caught her in his arms as she lost consciousness, though he could sense 
the severity of her wounds.

'I have to save her!' Sagittarius yelled to the others as he dashed through 
the exit, removing both him and the wounded Aquarius from the carnage, which 
left a mere two Zodiac left to fight the dreaded Serpent King.

Serpentarius couldn't help but smile as he walked towards the remaining 
Zodiac. 'Don't worry. Everything returns to dust,' he said mischievously.

'Go,' Scorpio said to Capricorn. 'I'll hold him off.'

Capricorn just looked at him. 'But..'

'Just trust me on this. Hurry and escape,' Scorpio interrupted.

'As you wish,' Capricorn replied with a slight hesitation. 'Fight well!'

'It's getting quite lonely in here, no?' Serpentarius mused after watched 
Capricorn run past. 'All according to plan. Now I can ask you something,' 
replied Scorpio.

Serpentarius thought for a moment. 'Very well... but it will cost you 
everything.'

Scorpio nodded. 'What did Libra stand to gain by throwing us all into the jaws
of the Serpent King?' he asked. Serpentarius raised an eyebrow, so Scorpio 
continued. 'I saw your battle with him, and I know what he is capable of. He 
fought with but a tenth of his power. Why?'

'And why would I know?' Serpentarius replied. 'Remember what Libra is like. He
tells us everything and nothing.'

Scorpio refused to believe him, instead striking Serpentarius with his tail, 
which had already regenerated, but Serpentarius was too quick; he stabbed his 
scythe through Scorpio's tail and tore it in half.

'If you don't believe me, remember also that Libra shares the same fate as 
you.' Serpentarius said calmly, avoiding blows as the scorpion thrashed about.
'He has nothing to gain for himself. He doesn't even have a self anymore.'

He took another step towards Scorpio, and then stopped. 'Why did you wait for 
the others to leave before asking?' pondered Serpentarius, slicing open a 
pincer as it reached for him.

'So they wouldn't spend what time they have remaining in the knowledge that 
they'd been betrayed by a friend,' Scorpio replied, staggering slightly from 
his wounds.

Serpentarius nodded. 'That is indeed no pleasant way to die,' he said 
bitterly.

Scorpio then flew into a rage and charged at Serpentarius with all the 
strength he had remaining, but Serpentarius flew up and landed on Scorpio's 
back, stabbing his scythe through Scorpio's body.

Scorpio collapsed, exhausted and defeated. 'Just.. too... quick,' he muttered.
'You have passed the trial of Intuition and I will give you my power.'

Serpentarius jumped off Scorpio's back and landed just in front of him, though
he left his scythe sticking through the scorpion's back.

'Don't worry. You will see them again,' Serpentarius said with surprising 
gentleness as he began to drain Scorpio's power. 

'It isn't my fate I'm worried about,' Scorpio replied as what was left of him 
slowly faded away, his last words haunting the Serpent King:

'But what awaits you, I would not wish on anyone..'

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The Legendary Times is published by the immortals of LegendMUD. Please send
replies, additions, or corrections to our address at [email protected] for
inclusion in the next edition. All subscription options are now handled at
this url: http://www.legendmud.org/lists/listinfo/legendarytimes For RP
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