Volume Nine Issue Forty-Eight

From The Legendary Times
Jump to navigation Jump to search
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
 .............._______          
 ............./      /            THE LEGENDARY TIMES
 ............/      /         http://www.legendmud.org/ 
 .........../      /.....______.._____.....______.._____.......____
 ........../      /...../     /./     \.../     /./     \...../    \
 ........./      /...../  ___/./  ____/../  ___/./  __   \.../  /\  \
 ......../      /...../  /_.../  /....../  /_.../  /..\   >./  /./  /
 ......./      /...../  __/../  /____../  __/../  /.../  /./  /./  /
 ....../      /_____/__/__../  \_\  /./  /__../  /.../  /./  /_/  /
 ...../                / /./       /./     /./  /.../  /./       /
 ..../                /_/..\______/./_____/./__/.../__/./_______/ MUD
 .../________________/      running on         mud.legendmud.org 9999

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
 VOLUME NINE, NUMBER FORTY-EIGHT                          December 8, 2002
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

                           TABLE OF CONTENTS
                           The Editor's Note

                         NEWS, REPORTS, UPDATES
                           Calendar of Events
                             Recent Updates
                      November Connection Analysis
                            Recent Q&A Topics

                              LEGENDITES

                              Clan News
                    The Legends of Alasea Clan Formed
                      Panuccis Pizza Inc Formed                        
                             The PK Front

                              Dripping
                        A Traitor of Secrets
                         Frodo and the Young Orc
___                                                                   ___
\  |-----------------------------------------------------------------|  /
/__|                      The Editor's Note                          |__\
   '-----------------------------------------------------------------'

Nothing like spending 6+ hours of your Saturday in the emergency room to
throw off your schedule! The good news: the boy doesn't have pneumonia.

Anyway, I don't have much to say this week except to thank the people who
helped so much when the purge script went awry last weekend -- the immorts
who scrambled to get the files back in order, the players who scrambled to
help save people's strings and cherished mementos when the houses went
poof, and most importantly everyone who has been so patient while we try
to sort out the mess and return things to normal. There are still several
people who haven't gotten their items back yet, and I know Haley has been
offline a few days due to a power outage in her area from an ice storm,
and we'll be trying to catch those people as we see them online and have
dropped mudmail to those for whom we have items.

Here's hoping you all have a great week! Mine can only get better. =)

-Kaige

___                                                                   ___
\  |-----------------------------------------------------------------|  /
/__|                   LegendMUD Calendar of Events                  |__\
   '-----------------------------------------------------------------'
          [All times are system time unless otherwise specified]

                               DECEMBER
                         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 31

Wednesday, December  11th    6:00 pm          Trivia with LadyAce
Thursday,  December  12th    7:00 pm          Q & A in the OOC Auditorium
Saturday,  December  14th    2:00 pm          Doubles PK Tournament
Wednesday, December  18th    7:00 pm          Snowstorm in San Fran Tinyplot
Thursday,  December  19th    7:00 pm          Q & A in the OOC Auditorium
Saturday,  December  21st    7:00 pm          Capture the Flag
Wednesday, December  25th                     Christmas Day
Thursday,  December  26th    No Q&A Session
Tuesday,   December  31st                     New Year's Eve

Coming in January....
- make your nominations for the Expies!
- LegendMUD Comedy Club
- Level to 5 Contest
....and much much more!

___                                                                   ___
\  |-----------------------------------------------------------------|  /
/__|                          Recent Updates                         |__\
   '-----------------------------------------------------------------'
            
    /\                         CODE UPDATES
   /  \     
  /    \    MISC CHANGES
 /_    _\     o Wall of thorns can be cast in combat  
   |  |     
   |  |     BUG FIXES
   |  |       o Lag increased with ring of fire being cast in combat  
   |__|       o "normal" can now be used as a tempmood/combatmood    
    /\        o Bad spacing and quotation marks on view mood fixed  
   /  \     
  /    \    
 /_    _\                    HELP FILE UPDATES
   |  |       
   |  |            No Helpfiles were updated this week.
   |  |     
   |__|     
    /\                          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
   |  |     currently responsible for the area (use AREAINFO to find out!)
   |  |     
   |__|     AFRICAN SAVANNA and ZANZIBAR
    /\           Housing. Fix for T'Kalo' and the Masaai shouldn't refer
   /  \          to everyone as b'wana (mister); adds in bibi for ladies.
  /    \    
 /_    _\   CELTIC IRELAND
   |  |          Changes to the shade of an ancient king. Typos fixed.
   |  |     
   |  |     PICTISH COUNTRY     
   |__|          Morgawr can't do damage from across the area.
    /\      
   /  \     ROMAN BRITAIN
  /    \         Decurions have a new tactic.
 /_    _\   
   |  |     SAN FRANCISCO
   |  |          The reason for disappearing exits should be clearer.
   |  |     
   |__|     SHERWOOD
    /\           Noblemen are now one level higher.
   /  \     
  /    \    VIKING SKANDINAVIA
 /_    _\        Viking warlord's men no longer follow players.
   |  |       
   |  |     ARABIAN NIGHTS, ANCIENT GREECE, and SOUTH SEAS     
   |  |          Various minor bugs and typos fixed.
   |__|     
    /\                     In Progress Area Updates
   /  \     
  /    \    This section is intended to share what builders are working
 /_    _\   on behind the scenes. It is not a perfect record of progress
   |  |     as all builders do not commit updates every week. Badgering
   |  |     builders about their progress will get you flogged. 
   |  |     
   |__|             Cheyla        Zanzibar Expansion        

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

                      LegendMUD Connection Analysis
                             November 2002

                        Peak Mortal Players 61
                          Average Peak was 34
                     Peak PKOK Enabled Players 33
              Pkokenabled Characters represent approximately
                        52% of active players.

                    Peak Accept All Characters 9
              Accept All Characters represent approximately
    6% of all active characters and 12% 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.

               hour  0  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9 10 11
               ------------------------------------------
               avg  23 20 18 15 13 12 13 16 17 18 19 20
               pke  11  8  7  5  5  5  5  7  8  8 10 11
               aas   1  1  1  1  1  0  0  0  0  1  1  1


               hour 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23
               ------------------------------------------
               avg  22 24 25 26 28 28 28 30 30 31 31 26
               pke  12 14 15 15 15 15 15 16 17 17 17 14
               aas   1  2  2  2  2  1  1  1  1  1  1  1


               day   MON  TUE  WED  THU  FRI  SAT  SUN
               ------------------------------------------
               avg    24   23   22   21   22   21   24
               pke    12   12   12   11   11   10   12
               aas     1    1    1    1    1    1    1

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: 24 12  2| 26 13  0| 20  9  1| 23 12  1| 24 11  1| 22 11  1| 25 11  1
 1: 21  8  1| 22  9  0| 19  7  1| 20 10  0| 19  7  1| 18  9  2| 23 10  1
 2: 19  6  2| 17  6  0| 18  7  0| 14  5  0| 17  7  1| 16  6  1| 22  9  2
 3: 15  5  1| 15  6  0| 14  5  0|  9  3  0| 15  5  0| 15  5  1| 21  9  3
 4: 15  7  1| 12  6  0| 10  5  0| 10  3  0| 15  6  1| 15  5  1| 15  7  1
 5: 15  7  1| 12  6  0| 10  4  0| 11  3  0| 14  5  0| 13  5  0| 12  6  1
 6: 15  6  1| 14  7  0| 10  5  0| 12  5  0| 15  5  0| 13  5  0| 13  5  1
 7: 17  7  1| 18  8  0| 17  8  0| 15  6  0| 17  6  0| 11  6  1| 14  6  1
 8: 17  7  0| 18 10  1| 19  9  0| 15  6  0| 20  9  0| 13  6  0| 16  7  2
 9: 19  9  1| 20  9  0| 16  8  0| 14  7  0| 20  9  1| 18  9  0| 19  8  1
10: 21 11  1| 21 12  2| 18 10  1| 16  8  1| 20 10  1| 20  9  0| 19  9  2
11: 21 12  2| 20 10  2| 18 12  1| 19 10  1| 19 10  1| 20 10  0| 22 11  2
12: 24 14  2| 20 12  1| 21 13  1| 21 12  2| 21 11  1| 18  9  0| 25 14  2
13: 29 17  2| 25 14  2| 22 13  2| 25 16  3| 22 13  2| 20 11  1| 27 15  2
14: 28 17  2| 25 15  2| 23 15  1| 25 17  3| 26 15  1| 21 12  2| 30 16  2
15: 25 15  3| 26 15  1| 26 16  1| 23 14  2| 28 15  2| 23 14  2| 31 16  2
16: 29 14  1| 28 15  2| 29 16  1| 26 16  2| 27 15  2| 28 15  1| 27 15  1
17: 30 15  2| 28 15  2| 30 14  1| 26 16  1| 24 14  2| 27 14  1| 30 16  1
18: 30 15  1| 28 16  2| 33 17  0| 31 15  1| 23 13  2| 24 13  0| 31 17  1
19: 34 20  1| 28 15  2| 33 18  1| 30 14  1| 26 14  1| 27 14  0| 30 17  1
20: 33 20  1| 26 13  2| 34 20  0| 31 16  1| 27 14  1| 30 16  1| 31 18  1
21: 32 18  0| 34 17  1| 30 18  0| 28 15  1| 25 15  0| 32 16  1| 35 17  2
22: 30 18  1| 35 18  1| 32 19  2| 31 17  1| 28 17  1| 31 16  1| 30 14  2
23: 25 12  0| 29 15  1| 27 13  1| 25 11  1| 26 15  1| 26 13  2| 27 14  2

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
  _______   ____    _______
 /  ___  \ / __ \  /  ___  \  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 What Exactly Is a Treasure Item?  o Crusades Mobs vs others?
 o Bows Should Require Skills?       o Modern/Future Areas?
 o Alhambra No_Rent Item Question    o DTs to Eat Prize Strings?
 o Character Manager/Account System? o Bonuses for Solo Lowbies?
 o Happy Holidays to All             o Can We Set Stuff On Fire?
 o Burning in Salem?                 o ETA On New Hell?
 o Ideas for Cooking/Brewing         o More REALLY Good Items?
 o Next Level to Five Game?          o Capture the Flag?
 o Christmas Elf-Game?               o Dealing with Others & Putdowns
 o Reimb Progress?                   o King Arthur Area?
 o Japan Area in Progress?           o More Mid-level Combat Skills?
 o Skilltrees ETA?                   o General Suggestions/Questions

___                                                                    ___
\  |------------------------------------------------------------------|  /
/__|      LEGENDITES: Information Regarding the People of Our World   |__\
   '------------------------------------------------------------------'

               Kastina has reached 400 million experience!

     ___                                                          ___
     \  |--------------------------------------------------------|  /
     /__|                      Clan News                         |__\
        '--------------------------------------------------------'

        The Legends of Alasea Clan was formed on December 02, 2002.

There is a war going on in the lands of Alasea that ended up finding their
way to these lands.  Everybody in this clan is in that war whether it be
for ill or good.

We have an RP already set up, with names and all based loosely on a book
series by James Clemens. If you're interested in joining there are many
places still available, so talk to me and I'll tell you more about the
characters, but this is the basic information on a few of them.

Mama Freda (elemental healer)(good side)
Virani (illguard)(ill side)
Jerrick (elvin wind elemental)(good side, mama freda's lover)
Tyrus (granite elemental, human prince)(good side)
Syween (rider of the dragon Ragnark)(Good side, Kast's lover)
Kast (turns into ragnark)(good side, Syween's lover)

That's a start, but there are many more people and many more positions
left in the clan, if your interested, append on my news post, mudmail me
or send me a tell!

Thanks for reading. Btw whatever side one is one doesn't necessarily
mean that they have that alignment like me, I use the powers of evil so I
have evil alignment, yet I fight for the good side.  Thank you for
reading.

   -----Joach

               =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

           Panuccis Pizza Inc. was formed on December 05, 2002.

            ___                                           ___
            \  |-----------------------------------------|  /
            /__|Job available at Panuccis Pizza Inc.     |__\
               '-----------------------------------------'
               waiter/waitresses, assting cooks, delivery
               boys and others are needed at our restaurant.
               We want to be the best so we need the best!
               So hurry up, take a pen and write a mail to
               Richard Ramirez manager at the restaurant.
                               Yours sincerly
                                     Ramirez, Richard
                                     
               =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

There are currently 14 RP clans and 10 PK clans. This leaves open slots
for eight (8) more clans to form. For more information, read HELP CLAN and
see the clan information list via the CLANS command while logged into the
game. For a basic handbook and reference guide for players interested in
starting and running a clan, we recommend that before you even type FORM,
you visit: http://www.legendmud.org/Reference/gm.html.
     ___                                                          ___
     \  |--------------------------------------------------------|  /
     /__|                    The PK Front                        |__\
        '--------------------------------------------------------'

The majority of the Infernals were out and about again this past week.
The Panucci Pizza workers had better have an impressive set of employee
benefits as 2/3 of their members were engaged in PK last week. One third
of the School of Hard Knocks were seen in the midst of battle last week. A
few members of the Syndicate were seen protecting their territory and a
few Grendels were out in the middle of things spreading chaos. The IRA and
the Knights of Legend each sent a pair of members out in battle this past
week. The Secretives and the Hermetic Order each had one representative in
the field and the Grand Coven was quiet this past week.

               =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

This past week there were 70 pkill-related deaths involving 37 different
characters. Of those 37 characters, 18 of them were accept all at the
time. So come on, let's get YOUR name up in lights! We can't report on it
if you don't tell us about it!

If you have you witnessed or committed any glorious or nefarious deeds,
send a short report to us at the LT. If you are looking for a fight,
recruiting, or anything else related to PK (not necessarily PK Clan
related), send it in! It's free AND you'll get a prize token! Be a
celebrity, the envy of all your friends! Tick off your enemies or just
tell your side of the story! The possibilities are endless -- act today!!
 
              _______________________
             /                       \
        o O | Wonder what folks are   |
  `\|||/    | doing over at LegendMUD?|
   (o o)     \_______________________/
ooO_(_)_Ooo________________________________________________________________
_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|___
__|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|

                             Dripping

It had felt this way since I was sixteen and fell on broken glass, the
same sting, the same dripping sticky feeling and I had always had this
fascination for it.

The blood that ran in rivulets down my arm held such a magical appeal to
me I couldn't help but become the woman I am today, as it spiraled down my
arm following the veins and scars I was deeply aware that blood truly is
life as both the Holy Bible and a certain Mr Renfield had both once said.

The first time I used the powers of the blood however things were not so
clear, as I said when I was sixteen I had fallen on broken glass, this was
no ordinary adolescent mishap this was my own parents attempt at my death,
I had been resting lazily atop a large willow tree idly carving runes into
its mighty trunk.

I didn't even hear my father calling for me, and by the time I realised he
had been looking for me he was already enraged to the point of violence, I
can assure you the first rock that hit my leg hurt, but not nearly as much
as the second which cracked my skull and sent me plummeting to the earth,
via the old glasshouse below me.

At this point I was barely conscious and I heard my fathers voice
laughing, quickly joined by my mother, then they were discussing how much
better their lives would be without me there constantly wasting their
money and their food.

They left me there to die.. but death never comes quickly for one with
revenge in their heart.

And so as I lay bleeding with shards of glass piercing me on all sides I
watched transfixed as my life's blood dripped down the glass leaving thin
trails of crimson.

And so I began dabbing at it with the one hand left with mobility, and
traced the ancient runes of creation and wellness into the glass, and as
soon as my finger finished the rune I felt a strange warmth spread over my
body and suddenly the paint did not feel so bad.

After a good few hours the bleeding stopped and I slipped into a quiet and
peaceful sleep dreaming of a woman in crimson who had the power to shape
destiny... that woman of course was me.

But I'm sure that is a tale for another time.

Maleficia.

               =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

                        A Traitor of Secrets

The black-haired woman stretched in a manner resembling that of a content
cat and looked at the man sleeping beside her. A smile crossed her lips as
she traced a scar on his chest with a lazy finger. Her mind going over the
recent beginning of their, so far, secret affair.

It was a few weeks since they first shared a bedroll and up until now that
had been the way of it - this time, they had shared the bed he usually
shared with his wife. A devious part of her almost wished his wife would
walk in an find them - but a larger part of her enjoyed the nerve it added
to their relationship.

She had known him before he had gotten married. Back then she had enjoyed
declining his attempts to charm her - she couldn't deny that he had become
a lot more interesting from her point of view, when he got married. So far
she had no complaints. He attentions were enjoyable and made it much
easier to ignore his usual comments about women's abilities and status in
various professions in life.

She knew she wasn't his first lover but that didn't bother her. She was
sure she had taught him a trick or two, maybe even his wife would benefit
from their secret meetings? How ironic, she thought and laughed softly to
herself.

She slipped from his bed and started to dress. As she combed her hair, she
thought of his wife, who were, in principle her friend. It seemed as if
his wife had grown from a promising, self-sufficient girl into a brainless
ninny who didn't take decisions herself. Not a development the
black-haired woman appreciated much, or perhaps she felt that way to
justify the affair.

She gazed at him wondering how she really felt for him. She couldn't
really tell. Definitely not love and she knew that he didn't love her
either - she was just the chosen diversion for the moment.

She picked up her bags and slipped out through the garden unseen. Unknown
to her, she had left behind a sign of her presence in the bedroom - one of
her gold loop earrings had fallen from her ear and was now laying
half-hidden beneath his bed, waiting to be found.


               =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

                       Frodo and the Young Orc

The tall wide-eyed boy made his way through the thick brush of the forest.
He stopped and sighed as he brushed the sweat from his brow. He looked at
his hand, how he missed his finger. He sighed once more at the thought of
that day. He was happy with himself. He has once saved middle earth from
the traitorous Sauron lord of darkness with his friends.

'They should be eating lunch now,' he said to himself as his stomach
growled with anger.

He rubbed his ever still growing stomach, and gave in. Frodo sat on a
small downed tree and pulled out a fresh cake of cornbread. He broke it
in half and ate heartily. He placed the other half in a small soft leather
pouch. He found his large canteen of Ent water and drank fully, feeling
the great water flow through his body invigerorating him.

'By god, Bilbo! I think I get it from you,' he talked to himself yet
again, amused.

Frodo pondered a second, and withdraw his pack from his back and removed a
small hard leather scabbard. He placed the scabbard on his belt.

From the backpack, he took Sting, a small silver dagger with great rune's
filling the blade with design. It still had its shine, but Frodo still put
a few drop's of Ent water on the blade and wiped it with a small piece of
white cotton. He placed Sting in his scabbard and took his large chainmail
shirt that covered most of his body. It shined brightly with the light of
the sun reflecting from it's great undirty metal. He placed the beautiful
mithril on a large log that sat close by.

He removed his clothes and placed them on the log. 'Now for a bath,' he
said peering around.

'Ahh... here we are,' he stated as he spotted a small hot spring that
bubbled angrily in a small ravine near him.

He made his way to the spring, and set a foot in the water. 'Warm,' he
thought to himself.

He felt two hands grab him from behind, pulling him to the ground. He
looked around accusingly, but did not see anything. Grunts could be heard
to his left, then the sound would move to the right. No one was there, but
he could sense a presence. A cold shiver went down his back, he stood
and went to the place he had set his cloths. He dressed quickly placing his
chainmail beneath his clothes and held Sting gingerly.

'You are far from your Shire hobbit,' he heard from behind.

He turned to see a young Orc wielding a fiendish silver serrated bastard
sword. The Orc swung his large sword, slashing at Frodo's head. Frodo
ducked and counter struck the Orc in his overly large leg. The Orc dropped
the sword and screamed in anger and pain. Frodo removed the dagger from
the poor creature's leg. The Orc grunted and cringed in pain as the blood
spirted out. Frodo jumped atop the large Orc and slowly slit his throat,
looking into the creatures eyes. The eyes were full of fear and hatred.
The Orc died quickly but Frodo shook badly, terrified.

'My, my, yes I am a far way from the Shire,' he told himself as he
gathered his belonging's. He placed his backpack on his back and departed,
disappearing into the thick green vegetation.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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 submissions, copyright ownership remains with the author. We do
reserve the right to moderate the forum and edit or reject any submission.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=