Volume Eight Issue Twenty-Six
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.............._______
............./ / THE LEGENDARY TIMES
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......./ /...../ __/../ /____../ __/../ /.../ /./ /./ /
....../ /_____/__/__../ \_\ /./ /__../ /.../ /./ /_/ /
...../ / /./ /./ /./ /.../ /./ /
..../ /_/..\______/./_____/./__/.../__/./_______/ MUD
.../________________/ running on mud.legendmud.org 9999
64.7.5.163 9999
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http://www.legendmud.org/ ftp://ftp.legendmud.org/pub
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VOLUME EIGHT, NUMBER TWENTY-SIX December 3, 2001
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
NEWS, REPORTS, UPDATES
A Discussion of Magic
Recent Updates
Q & A Topics
November Connection Analysis
LEGENDITES
Clan News
Visits from Beyond
In the deep desert
From the journal of Clod
___ ___
\ |----------------------------------------------------------------------| /
/__| News, Reports, and Updates! |__\
'----------------------------------------------------------------------'
A Discussion of Magic
This is the beginning of a series of articles intended to be an ad hoc
description of the LegendMUD magic system using historical sources. It is a
success if it gets in the Legendary Times. It is a decisive success if it
receives favorable player reviews. It is an overwhelming success if it
becomes the de facto retroactive continuity for magic in LegendMUD.
Like the MUD itself, I concentrate mostly on European magic, because that is
where my expertise lies. I also attempt to restrict myself to historical
sources, which means that a large part of Wicca is lost, since it is mostly a
recreation -- on the other hand, I'm not fond of Wicca. Amazing how that
works. However, my near-eidetic yet entirely too selective memory refuses to
carry bibliographic information, so if a more modern source should slip in, I
apologize now.
If anyone should feel inspired to follow me with descriptions of other
historical magics, I challenge them to fit their articles within the
framework of LegendMUD magic, as I have attempted.
Finally, LegendMUD receives many visitors from strange and far away places,
and each brings with them their own framework for the working of magic. I
intend this solely as a description of how the natives (mobs) probably view
magic, and not as a prescription for RP, although my character, having such a
huge ego (like his player), may lead you to believe differently.
I will begin with a review of LegendMagic, describing how I have divided the
subject into smaller topics. Being written into the game, everyone is
familiar with the groupings of magic called Circles. In addition to Circles,
I see two other groupings: the Pairs, and the Schools. The pairs of vid/guh,
kere/ksi, and vina/meue are intentional. Agni/udan, bhu/vayu, drva/vya, and
jiv/mrti are obvious. Mahi/anna is clear if one wishes to allow an
Einsteinian concept of relativity, and such an admission can help explain
gam/kala, if one identifies gam, being movement through space, with space
itself. Rudh/vant share a quality in that they are both words of raw magic,
power itself. Next comes have lak/pur. These words may seem different, but
in the create school, at least, both identify strongly with illusion. And
finally there is dyn. But for those with long memories, dyn has always been
unique.
The schools are, mostly, pairings of pairings, and involve second and third
circle words only. The first is the most obvious: Elementalism, containing
agni, udan, bhu, and vayu. It should be noted that this is the only school
limited to third circle only. The next is Necromancy, and contains jiv,
mrti, vya, drva, and dyn. A more accurate description would be the school of
man and his conditions, but that's too long. The School of Power holds vant,
rudh, lak, and pur, and is both the most fantastic school, being that people
who actually called themselves mages never pretended to such power, and the
most historical, in that everyone else, from present fantasy novels back to
the Fae myths of Glamour and before, believes that is what magic entails.
Gam, kala, mahi, and anna can be considered their own school, but have no
historical counterpart that I have found. I have already planned separate
articles for elementalism and necromancy, and am researching articles for
power and that other school, but I will conclude this article with a
discussion of the First Circle.
This [The First Circle] is one place where I feel comfortable bringing in a
New Age concept. I have seen it called Masonic, Rosicrucian, Wiccan, Druidic,
Hermetic, or Kabbalistic, and it is the quote, "To know, to will, to dare, to
keep silent." I have yet to find a reference to it, in any form, from
earlier than the late 19th century, but it is now quite commonly referred to
as the powers of the (pick one: Mage, Witch, Druid, Rosicrucian, Hermetic, or
Kabbalist). In nouns they are Knowledge, Volition, Courage, and Silence.
Knowledge and Silence map exactly onto the powers of Vid and Guh, the
entrance to Legend Magic. Volition is represented in choosing a Mage
hometown, in the act of will required to actually chant a spell and pay the
mana cost, and in the spending of practices on words. And the act of Courage
is easily understood by anyone who has attempted some of the harder word
quests, or who has sacrificed a really useful skill for an extra cast level.
Relating kere and vina to historical magic requires a discussion of the types
of magic. There are three main categories: Theurgia, Goetia, and Mantia.
Goetia is the practice of using the hidden virtues of plants or spirits to
work marvelous effects. By plants, unfortunately, I also mean stones or
animal parts or any other natural substance with hidden power. By spirits, I
mean the more easily recognized aspect of Goetia: the summoning of demons,
the dead, or spirits of the elements or ether. It can be summarized as magic
through intermediaries. It also has the nasty reputation of "low magic,"
"black magic," or just the worst whoredom of magic for money or power. I
feel these are undeserved.
Theurgia has two definitions in modern parlance: the practice or series of
practices of refining the soul, bringing it closer to a Godlike aspect, and
the simple summoning of spirits. But wait, you ask, isn't the summoning of
spirits an act of Goetia? Yes, and from this it should be obvious that I
prefer the first definition of Theurgy. It is very common in
magico-religious circles to suggest that humanity in its natural state is
less than perfect, whether the excuse be original sin, as Christianity, the
physical world is evil, as Dualism, one's meridians are clogged, as Taoism,
or other. Even modern magics suggesting a "return to nature" will sometimes
lament humanity's more violent leanings. Theurgy is the art of putting aside
these human faults, and becoming (or becoming again) a perfect being. One of
the side effects of practicing this kind of theurgy is, according to both
Western magic and Taoism, the good will of spirits (in addition to a host of
spontaneous magical powers that manifest without an intermediary). So the
difference between a theurgic summoning of spirits and a goetic summoning of
spirits is that a theurgist will command a spirit, as a master to a servant,
or implore it, as one brother to another, whereas a goetist must contract a
spirit, as a customer to a shopkeep, or threaten it, as the meanest of
bullies.
And finally, Mantia is best summarized as divination, or in modern parlance,
ESP. It is a very passive art, dedicated to knowledge beyond mortal ken. It
also has the reputation of magic which is too weak to be classified as goetic
or theurgic.
From these descriptions, kere and vina can be likened to theurgy, as they are
power expressed without intermediary. It is possible to extend this likeness
by noting the "perfect being" of theurgic practice is often equated with
God. To Create from nothing is to be like God, as He so created the Universe
and all its contents. And in medieval parlance, nothing moves without a
mover, except the Prime Mover, or Ultimate Cause, who is God himself.
However, there are exceptions, possibly (as discussed above) the line of
Charmy spells in both branches of Legend Magic, and definitely the spell of
Foul Water.
Yours in Faith,
Nop Mimson ex Miscellanea ab Viridante Purpureo
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
/\ RECENT UPDATES
/ \
/ \ CODE UPDATES
/_ _\
| | Bug Fixes
| | o Can no longer gag yourself.
| | o Recall spell now shows correctly when you recall yourself
|__| and when you see someone else recalled.
/\ o You can no longer roll up poultices into bandage rolls.
/ \ o Fixed dancing weapon group members lining up and showing
/ \ with () when they're not in the same room in group report.
/_ _\ o Discuss now uses player's name when viewed in 3rd person.
| | o Bug with split fixed.
| | Misc Changes
| | o Page is now an alternate for tell.
|__| o Can use healing balm on other people that are fighting.
/\
/ \ AREA UPDATES
/ \
/_ _\ If you want to suggest specific improvements or new additions
| | to existing areas please don't hesitate to submit them with
| | the idea/bug/typo commands or drop mudmail to the builder
| | responsible for the area (check areainfo to find out!)
|__|
/\ Installed Area Updates
/ \
/ \ Be sure to visit the renovated library in the OOC if you
/_ _\ haven't already. There is now a Pleasant Little Coffee Shop
| | north of the Piano Lounge and a Dark And Dusty Library west of
| | that. Player recommended websites can be found on and added to
| | the mac in the library. The magazines there deal with the
|__| subject of role-playing - how to go about it, evaluations and
/\ praise of the role-play of others, tips and tricks, and notes
/ \ from one role-player to another. The heavy, midnight blue tome
/ \ found on the shelf there is for collecting and commenting on
/_ _\ player poetry.
| |
| | 1802 Alaska
| | Fixed a teacher who was checking the wrong level. Various
|__| bug fixes.
/\
/ \ ANASAZI AMERICA
/ \ Fixed the problems with the spider grandmother.
/_ _\
| | ARABIAN NIGHTS
| | Fixed problem with Aladdin not answering to his name.
| | Attacking the sultan and the Captain of the Guard (he'll
|__| help sultan too) will get various guard types mad at you.
/\ Attacking the Thief Captain will get his boys mad at you.
/ \ Breaking down the door to the throne room will make the
/ \ official and the petitioner mad at you. People that aren't
/_ _\ looking for specific objects should return stuff to you
| | unless it's money (or currency).
| |
| | CELTIC IRELAND
|__| Fixed Gawain's payment for teaching acts. More hints on
/\ one of the quests in the Dun. Some changes to the wild
/ \ boars and pookahs to give some warning. Finarra and Oonagh
/ \ hide properly again. Various minor bugs and typos fixed.
/_ _\ People that aren't looking for specific objects should
| | return stuff to you unless it's money (or currency).
| | Various minor bugs & typos fixed.
| |
|__| HOSPITALLER MALTA
/\ Giacomo should properly do family crests now. Various
/ \ minor bugs and typos fixed.
/ \
/_ _\ MEDIEVAL SEAS
| | Made it possible to get off island without a boat.
| |
| | PORT OF LONDON
|__| People that aren't looking for specific objects should
/\ return stuff to you unless it's money (or currency).
/ \ Various typos fixed.
/ \
/_ _\ SHERWOOD
| | If you have freedom of forests and haven't lost it, you
| | won't be stopped for unpaid debts doing the trans to
| | ancient. Attacking Robin will get the Saxon type mobs mad
|__| at you. Likewise, attacking the sheriff and Guy (he'll
/\ help sheriff too) will get the Norman guards angry at
/ \ you. Tuck's dogs are a bit smarter. You can now milk the
/ \ cow. People that aren't looking for specific objects
/_ _\ should return stuff unless it's money (or currency).
| |
| | SHERWOOD
| | John the Blacksmith is smarter about teaching rich folks.
|__| If you have freedom of forests and wouldn't lose it, you
/\ won't be stopped for unpaid debts doing the trans to
/ \ ancient. Attacking Robin will get the Saxon type mobs mad
/ \ at you. Likewise, attacking the sheriff and Guy (he'll
/_ _\ help sheriff too) will get the Norman guard's angry at
| | you. Tuck's dogs are a bit smarter. You can now milk the
| | cow. People that aren't looking for specific objects
| | should return stuff to you unless it's money (or
|__| currency). Various minor bugs fixed.
/\
/ \ ABORIGINAL DREAMTIME, AZTECS, PARIS OPERA HOUSE,
/ \ SAN FRANCISCO, and SOUTH SEAS
/_ _\ Various minor bugs and typos fixed.
| |
| | In Progress Area Updates
| |
|__| This section is intended to let everyone know what builders
/\ are working on behind the scenes. It is not a perfect record
/ \ of progress as all builders will not make updates every week.
/ \ Players badgering builders about progress or a perceived lack
/_ _\ thereof will be flogged. Remember, the longer spent answering
| | questions, the longer the project takes to complete.
| |
| | Kae Larderello (Dante's Hell)
|__| Kaige/Ptah 1950s Americana
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_______ ____ _______
/ ___ \ / __ \ / ___ \ Logs of Q&A sessions are available on the
| / \ | \ \/ / | / \ | web pages for those who are unable to attend
| | | | \ / | \___/ | or had to leave early. The most recent ones
| | | | / \/\ | ___ | are listed on the sitemap page or you can
| | /\| | / /\ / | / \ | get a complete list on the Q&A index page
| \_\ \ | \ \/ \ | \ / | at the url below.
\___\/_/ \__/\/ \_/ \_|
http://www.legendmud.org/Community/lectures/QandA/QA_index.html
RECENT TOPICS
o Outcast with Timer? o Feedback on Bug Reports & Ideas
o Not Many Changes Recently? o Make Staff Staves?
o SkillTrees? o Eloquence & Inspire?
o Balm Changes Coming? o Imms "Helping" Players?
o Zips & Others/Clans RP? o Hunger Bug Fixed?
o Handedness Problem? o What's with the Lag?
o Love Social Obj Message? o 2C Balm & PK Balance?
o House Details Before Buying? o Str/Con Fight Skills?
o Bardic Skills & Prestige? o Ride Skill?
o Double Opaque Harder to Wake? o AC and Dex/Per/Str
o Box in Klein & Update? o More Cooking Variety?
o Better Tailor Options? o Battle Druids Overpowered?
o Unfair Charmie Tactics?
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LegendMUD Connection Analysis
November 2001
Peak Mortal Players 61
Average Peak was 49
Peak PKOK Enabled Players 37
Pkokenabled Characters represent approximately
54% of active characters.
Peak Accept All Characters 15
Accept All Characters represent approximately
8% of all active characters and 15% of active pkok enabled characters.
The first two tables below show the Average Mortal Players, Average
PKOK Enabled Players, and the number that were "Accept All" connected
to Legend by hour of the day as polled approximately on the hour
system time during the period noted above.
The third table shows the same averages calculated by the day of week.
hour 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
------------------------------------------
avg 32 28 24 20 18 15 13 14 16 20 25 26
pke 17 15 13 10 8 7 6 7 8 10 13 15
aas 3 2 2 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 2 2
hour 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23
------------------------------------------
avg 29 31 32 36 40 39 39 39 39 40 39 37
pke 16 17 18 21 23 23 22 21 21 22 22 20
aas 3 2 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
day MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT SUN
------------------------------------------
avg 30 27 29 28 25 31 31
pke 17 15 16 15 13 16 16
aas 3 3 2 2 2 2 2
This table shows the breakdown by each hour for each day of the week.
MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT SUN
AVG PK AA|AVG PK AA|AVG PK AA|AVG PK AA|AVG PK AA|AVG PK AA|AVG PK AA
------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------
0: 33 15 1| 27 14 3| 29 16 2| 35 19 3| 32 18 3| 33 17 3| 37 19 2
1: 28 14 1| 21 10 2| 24 13 2| 32 16 3| 28 14 2| 31 18 5| 31 17 2
2: 22 11 1| 17 9 1| 21 10 1| 26 14 3| 22 12 2| 28 15 2| 28 16 1
3: 19 9 1| 15 7 0| 19 11 1| 20 11 1| 18 8 1| 22 12 1| 26 13 2
4: 17 8 1| 14 6 0| 17 11 1| 18 8 0| 19 9 1| 19 9 1| 20 9 1
5: 14 5 0| 12 5 0| 15 7 0| 14 6 0| 18 8 1| 18 9 1| 16 8 0
6: 13 6 0| 10 4 0| 14 7 0| 12 5 0| 16 8 1| 14 6 1| 13 6 0
7: 11 6 1| 10 5 0| 18 10 0| 15 7 1| 16 8 1| 14 6 0| 12 5 0
8: 13 7 1| 14 7 1| 20 11 0| 18 9 1| 18 9 1| 18 8 0| 13 6 0
9: 20 11 2| 19 9 1| 22 12 1| 22 12 1| 19 8 2| 22 11 0| 17 10 1
10: 27 16 3| 24 12 3| 24 14 2| 25 13 1| 23 11 1| 27 14 0| 24 14 1
11: 31 19 4| 26 14 2| 26 16 2| 24 13 2| 21 11 2| 34 20 2| 27 15 2
12: 28 18 4| 32 17 3| 26 16 3| 26 13 3| 25 13 1| 35 20 2| 30 15 2
13: 31 19 3| 34 19 5| 31 18 2| 26 15 2| 28 17 2| 36 20 2| 34 16 2
14: 36 24 5| 35 20 5| 34 20 4| 29 16 3| 23 14 2| 38 21 3| 35 18 2
15: 40 25 5| 38 25 5| 39 23 3| 36 20 3| 24 14 2| 36 21 3| 40 22 2
16: 44 26 4| 43 25 4| 43 24 4| 40 23 3| 29 17 2| 37 21 2| 46 25 2
17: 46 27 5| 40 24 4| 42 22 3| 37 22 3| 33 20 2| 38 21 3| 43 23 2
18: 43 25 3| 40 21 3| 41 19 3| 37 22 3| 34 19 2| 41 23 3| 43 24 2
19: 42 23 4| 38 20 4| 40 21 4| 38 22 2| 33 17 1| 42 22 1| 42 22 2
20: 42 22 3| 40 21 6| 42 23 5| 38 21 3| 30 16 2| 39 21 1| 44 24 2
21: 44 26 3| 43 23 5| 44 22 3| 40 22 4| 32 18 2| 38 18 1| 44 24 3
22: 43 26 5| 35 19 3| 43 25 5| 39 22 3| 33 17 1| 37 19 1| 46 23 3
23: 34 19 3| 34 19 4| 41 24 4| 35 19 3| 35 18 2| 39 20 2| 40 19 2
Be sure to also check out www.legendmud.org/stats for longer term info.
-Kaige
________________________
/ \
o O | Wonder what folks are |
`\|||/ | doing over at LegendMUD?|
(o o) \________________________/
ooO_(_)_Ooo________________________________________________________________
_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|___
__|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|
___ ___
\ |------------------------------------------------------------------| /
/__| LEGENDITES: Information Regarding the People of Our World |__\
'------------------------------------------------------------------'
=========
|Clan News|
=========
Sammael's Minions and WoS clan disbanded due to low membership. Romeo formed
the Thieves Guild Clan on Nov. 21 and changed it into a PK clan on Nov. 23.
The Breakfast Club Clan was formed by Nicodemus Dec. 1.
___ -----------------------------------.
___ /`"""[]-.__ | - Cobbler Apprenticeship (9) /
/`"""[]-.__._ ) | -_- -- _ _ (9) -- -_- `--_____
\ ._ ) """"" |(9) Contact Trunks Dumplesworth - -___--'
"""" """""" ------------------------------------
| /
"Dink dink goes da hammer, \ \
all day and through. | |
a bin of leather, | |
and a new pair of shoes!" |(9)
~ \ \
| |
| | ~ ~
| |
| |
_\|/_____\|_|/-------______\|/__
Visits from Beyond
Bitter fighting, loud, obnoxious, and not warranting her time. She sat
impassively while her fellow Enforcers fought amongst each other. The Grand
Mistress of the Enforcers, Lilian McGinty, voiced her opinions just as
loudly. It wasn't going to end easily.
"Stop this," Masha said, her voice betraying no emotions. Something in her
mind clicked, the other rising up to take authority. Her eyes narrowed and
slowly began to blaze red. "We should be fighting Lightblinders and not
ourselves!"
They ignored her, which was a typical response. The girl always led a
position of neutrality, always seeking the diplomatic side of things, and
always begging instead of commanding. Diplomacy wasn't needed, brute
strength was. Masha began pacing, though not in the mind of herself, but in
the other. Vile curses, not all in her own language, but more in Rontalan,
the Shadowmage's native language.
None looked toward her, too busy with their infighting to care one way or
another. The point was moot, another of their faction, the former Grand
Master, used his power to involve the Dark Lord's troops in a personal
matter. True, he was going after a former betrayer, but subtlety was needed,
not the full involvement of the Enforcers. Her mind raced with vile
tortures, none seeming delectable enough for what should have been used.
More babble, the breakout of fists, and Lilian's voice screaming for them to
stop. Masha didn't care, her mind shadowed, dark like the shadows gathering
towards the end of the room, and malevolently glowing eyes, much the color of
her own, formed. "Obscurae Domine," she breathed, and knelt before the
darkness.
The Dark Lord, or rather, the humanized aspect of him, slowly appeared, faded
into existence, and glared. Masha bowed her head, hoping the others would
notice. Lilian did.
"Oh, our most Obsidianness," she started. It always irritated Masha, or
rather the other in her, how Lilian threw those honorifics, not thinking of
how they sounded. Lilian turned to glare at the other Enforcers. "Show
respect for your Lord!" she hissed.
Masha remained motionless, kneeling before the dark man, eyes pointed at the
floor. The others followed, their endless chatter drying up and replaced
with awe.
"You have requested help from me." It was not a question. The Dark Lord
looked at Masha, eyes reflecting the same anger and need for death that
Masha's did.
"We have, my Lord," Masha replied, serious as the grave. Her eyes looked up,
gazing upon the Dark Lord's visage. She, the other, had seen the Dark Lord
on my occasions, and had spoken with his voice as well. "Several of our
ranks have lost the way, and have left us. We have a vacuum of their loss,
and now we ask for your advice."
Lilian nodded as well, "What would you have us do, Lord?" she asked, her
voice quivering from excitement and from nerves. "Masha has been my
assistant, and has seen to it that those who have left have been punished in
Your Name, and we now need your helping words."
The Dark Lord seemed to have pondered this, his face blank for a moment, "I
see. You are to continue with this, seeing to it that My Word is spread.
You are my Enforcers, the most Elite of my forces, and you will spread My
Word and be the harbingers of the eminent Darkness that is to follow." He
looked at the gathered troops, eyes narrowing.
"One question, my Lord?" Masha asked, eyes looking up, glowing like cinders.
"Ask," was the only reply from the Dark Lord.
"You have no Messiah now, that my former self has lost its body. Am I to
reclaim my position as your Messiah, my Lord?" Clearly is was the other
speaking from Masha.
The Dark Lord looked to Lilian, "If my darling Lilian agrees to it...?"
Lilian nodded, easily filling the silence, "Aginor's spirit is possessed in
the girl's body, and has been vital in helping me reshape the Enforcers to
make them an Elite fighting force once more. I say she should speak with
your voice, as I do."
The Dark Lord grinned, that grin having so many meanings. "It is done then.
You speak with my voice once again." With that, he blended back into the
shadows once more, returning to the plane that held him bound for so long.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
In the deep desert
I watched in both awe, fear and the uttermost respect as Stilgar unpacked and
set up the stilltent -- what speed, and yet, how precise, how delicate, and
yet stealthy he set up this, to some crude device. Stilgar was both pleased
and untouched by intense study. He was the Naib of Tabr, and had done this
more times than either of us could imagine, pleased because I was still a
student, as most fremen are, accepting the life of learning the fremen ways.
I say he was untouched because fremen dedication means that no means of the
mind would stop him performing the task at hand.
Suddenly an awareness grew in my mind, my purpose, perhaps I will be forced
to call him out for amtal, the thought of it shook me like the smell of Tabr
when you enter the water-seals, damp compared to the open, and intense,
though I suspected that I would have nothing to fear from this man should I
ever have need to, it still terrified me, instinctively I withdrew inwards
turning my mind on the bene-gesserit litany against fear:
"I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that
brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass
over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye
to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will
remain."
I was awoken from my slight trance by a tap to my shoulder by Stilgar, the
stilltent was ready, and Al-lat was rising. We entered the stilltent, and
after thorough inspection making sure it was water-tight, we removed our
stillsuits. Stilgar checked the sandsnork one last time, and prepared to
sleep as a sudden awareness struck me, and I embraced it.
I was in a strange land I had never heard of neither through my mother or the
bene-gesserit school, nor Gurney's rants or baliset songs, and my mind was
intrigued by it, men who could easily have been fremen, yet were not as this
world was rich on water, as well as those who could have been Harkonnen, yet
they were not, however the beast's actions will prove its nature. I met
Tancred de Gisborne in amtal with one such, and was surprised to see the
qualities of Stilgar, both in battle and in leadership in him, though in
another form, and I knew that I would call him Naib in this place. Shortly
after I had joined with the Knights Templar I realized that this world could
be my path to avoid my terrible purpose, but then again, as all paths, it has
crossroads, as all desert have dunes which valleys you cannot see, I was
unable to tell for sure. I would, however, pursue it.
Again I was awoken by a tap on the shoulder by Stilgar's hand. Obviously I
had been in trance for a while, I could feel the heat of Al-lat when it is
high, and the air in the stilltent was dense.
'Where do you go, when you go away like that, Muad'Dib,' asked Stilgar.
'Many places Stil,' I said, 'Many times, many dunes.'
'Stilgar,' I exclaimed, Does the future never have you worried?'
Stilgar's blue-within-blue eyes met mine, with what could be taken for a
fremen shrug. 'The future is this, he said with a slight gesture towards the
tent, then his crysknife.' How simple, yet how complex, I thought, the
future is now, and if need be the future will be violent.
In this slight gesture Stilgar had stated what the Lansraad could have argued
about over several years, and still come to no conclusion, and yet, a slight
movement betrayed his gesture, he knew. He knew that I might be the Mahadi,
as the prophecy had stated, and that if it was true, I would per fremen rite,
have to call him out for leadership of the tribe, leadership of Tabr. He
would, if need be, stand and let me take his water, if it was for the benefit
of the tribe. He was a true Naib, but as men do, he feared it. 'You should
rest Muad'Dib, we have a long ride tomorrow,' he almost grunted, as he turned
on his side, indicating that he was about to sleep. I could not, however,
sleep now -- I had to pursue this path I thought I very well might have
found, and I entered Bindu-suspension to enter this world, and attempted to
evade my purpose once again.
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From the journal of Clod.
Well, where to begin? I guess I'll start at the beginning. It's been awhile
now since I've been roaming the land of Legend. I really don't remember much
of my childhood. My parents abandoned me when I was only a few months old.
Guess they figured it be to hard to raise a child that couldn't speak.
After spending 15 years in the orphanage I decided that it was time I took
control of my own future. I wandered about mainly for the first 2 years.
Just finding out about the world. I had become fascinated with books, and
read about 4-5 books a week. I remember always dreaming about the places in
the books, wondering if someday I would ever see them. Taking about some odd
jobs, mainly at farms, by the age of 17 I was able to save up enough money to
start my travels. A lot of people thought I was crazy, going off by myself,
but then again most people don't understand me.
So I set off, just me, a few belongings, and my sword. I really don't
remember what book I had read, but the hero was brilliant with a sword. I
then took a real liking to swords. I had made a sword out of wood and would
practice between chores at the orphanage. So, back to my story. Just me and
the open hillsides. The first few months I journeyed around Germany and
France, picking up as many useful skills as I could. Finally I decided to
see what laid in England. So I found a small trading boat going that way and
joined as a crew member. They captain of the small ship knew I had lied
about being a seagoing person after the first day. I was laid up sick for
the rest of the trip. After about three days or so we arrived at the docks
and I parted ways with the crew.
The first night in England I stayed in a seedy Inn, the innkeeper was very
rude and I knew that he was mocking me when I turned by back to walk up the
stairs to bed. The next morning I was up with the light and on my way to
seek out this new land. I didn't meet many other travelers while there, and
I always ended up going back to that same inn. One day, while walking about
in a forest, and in dire need of some food, so I killed a rabbit. Started a
small fire and cooked it up. While I was eating my lunch(which was very
tough) I noticed these stones that were in a circle, not thinking anything of
it really I finished my lunch, and decided to get comfortable for a little
nap. I really don't remember much after that, everything got all blurry and
it seemed that the world was spinning around in my head. The spinning became
faster and faster, until I blacked out. I wasn't sure where I was when I
woke up. There were huge trees all around me and it was night time. I
decided to stay where I was for the night, considering I didn't know my
surroundings.
By morning I felt a lot better, with a good nights rest under my belt, I
decided to hit the road. I wandered around and came to a coast, it looked
familiar, but I couldn't place where I had seen it before. I found a small
canoe and figured I'd give canoeing a try. It was a lot harder than I
thought it would be. But finally I got the hang of the paddle and soon was
on my way. I was on the water what seemed like weeks, when I finally
noticed some land and I steered into a small cove. I glanced about not
knowing that this would be the worst part of all my travels.
With the sun baring down, I could still feel the heat of the sand burning my
booted feet. I started to walk about the sand looking for some sign of
life. It wasn't long that I was out of water and staring death in the face.
I struggled to remain standing, but the heat had taken its toll on me and
slumped into the sand.
When I came to, I couldn't open my eyes. It was if they were burned closed.
I kept hearing hushed voices but couldn't make out what they were saying. I
started to panic, not being able to see anything was worse than not being
able to talk. As I started to move about, I heard one voice say "I think
he's coming to.' The voice sounded rough, but humble. I then felt a cool
cloth being dabbed on my face. The voice said to me, "Can you hear me?" I
nodded. The other voice then came in, very gentle, "You're going to be all
right."
More dabbing of the cloth, the other voice, "You're lucky we found you." I
nodded again. "Are you thirsty?" I began to nod faster, and then felt cool
water being poured slowing down my throat. After another good drink I
slumped back down unconscious.
When I regained consciousness, I was on a small skiff. It was being pulled
by a the biggest horse I had seen. On top of the horse road a man, head held
high. Next to him was another horse, with a lovely lady riding it. We were
still in the desert, it must have been late afternoon, because the sun was
almost set, and the air was beginning to cool. I let out a light moan for I
could barely move, my muscles were so stiff, and the horse came to a slight
stop.
The man riding the horse turned about and smiled down at me. "So, you've
decided to stay with us after all huh," he said to me. All I could do was
give a nod and a slight smile. The lady had stopped her horse and was
getting down. I could see the look of concern in her eyes. She got to me
and told me to lay back down, the man let out a little chuckle. I shook my
head and motioned that I wanted to stand up. She gave me a waterskin and
told me to take a drink first, by this time the man was off his horse. He
said, "Let's wait till we get into Agrabah before you stand up, you've had a
rough few days." Reluctantly I laid back down on the skiff.
By the time we reached the gates of the city, the sun
was completely gone. Finally the horses came to a
stop. The man got down and helped the lady off her
horse. She said she would go in and get rooms for us.
The man came over to me and said, "Now then, let's see
if we can get you up the steps." He helped me to my
feet, I was very wobbly at first. With one arm over
his shoulder I walked around for a few minutes.
Finally feeling confident on my own I let go of his
shoulder and walked a bit.
The man reached up and
grabbed my pack, throwing it to me he said, "I believe
this is yours." I nodded. I looked over my
belongings quickly, grabbed my pad and began to write
a brief message. When I finished, I noticed the
strange look on the man's face. I couldn't help but
chuckle to myself. Handing him my note of thanks, he
said, "You don't speak?" I shook my head in
agreement. He said, "I didn't mean for that to come
out like that." I assured him it was fine.
He said, "Oh I almost forgot, my name is Judah, Judah Eliezar".
I again jotted on my pad of paper. After finishing I gave him the note.
"Well met Clod," he said. "Let's go eat, and I'll introduce you to the real
reason why you're still with us." After meeting Judah's wife, Haley. We sat
around a table together and enjoyed a huge meal. I ate the most! By the
time we finished visiting and drinking a bit of wine, it was late into the
night. Finally, we retired to our rooms.
Morning came early it seemed in the desert city. By the time I was up Judah
and Haley were already getting ready to leave. They invited me to come along
with them, which I decided to decline. I thanked them again for saving my
life. Judah told me it was the way of Aslan. He gave me a rough map of the
way to their house from Agrabah and told me to stop in at any time.
With that they rode off out of town. I stayed a few weeks in Agrabah,
trying to learn the people and their ways. Finally I new it was time to
leave again, so I packed up a few weeks provisions, and started the long walk
back toward the house of my new found friends.
Things haven't changed much, I'm still mute and still good friends with
Judah. I've met many other people now along my travels, making some good
friends along the way. Still I know my journey will never be over, so I will
always be the dusty mute.
Clod, Clod of dirt.
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