Volume Nine Issue Thirty
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............./ / THE LEGENDARY TIMES
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.../________________/ running on mud.legendmud.org 9999
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http://www.legendmud.org/ ftp://ftp.legendmud.org/pub
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VOLUME NINE, NUMBER THIRTY August 3, 2002
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
The Editor's Note
NEWS, REPORTS, UPDATES
Calendar of Events
Immortal Applications Due September 1st
Recent Updates
Recent Q&A Topics
DID YOU KNOW: Lights, Death, Overrent
Workshops: "RP Fan Club" and "PK Nights"
LEGENDITES
LegendMEET in Wales
LegendMEET in Canberra, Australia
Clan News
Knights of the Night
Anthropomancy
Bodies and Blood
From the Lamp to the Harem and Back, Part IV
The Adventure of Sheik
Prelude to a Kiss... Part II
___ ___
\ |-----------------------------------------------------------------| /
/__| The Editor's Note |__\
'-----------------------------------------------------------------'
August kicks off our month of focus on the Industrial Era. In many ways,
the Industrial Era is the smallest of the three. It has fewer areas which
means fewer rooms to explore and fewer mobs to involve in quests and fewer
items that make it onto eq lists.
One of the reasons for this is that many of the legends and myths of
recent history aren't as interesting, or as deep and complex as those
which have had centuries or even millenia to evolve. It is also one of the
main reasons that the 1950s is as far into the present as we are willing
to take the era.
What I'd like to ask everyone in the community to do this month is take a
few minutes each time you visit an industrial era and point out via the
idea channel what you like about it and the kinds of things you'd like to
see more of there.
Also, Thursday, the 1st, marked one month left until immort applications
are due. We will be holding at least one Q&A to focus on questions people
have about this topic, and you can always speak to any of the immortals
about the process. So if you're thinking you'd like to apply, please talk
to the department head and members of that department to become familiar
with how you could add to that department before your application is
turned in.
-Kaige
___ ___
\ |-----------------------------------------------------------------| /
/__| LegendMUD Calendar of Events |__\
'-----------------------------------------------------------------'
[All times are system time unless otherwise specified]
AUGUST
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
August wraps up our 2002 Summer Odyssey in the Industrial Era.
Join us on a journey through time to explore our world!
Thursday, August 1st 7:00 pm Q & A in the OOC Auditorium
Thursday, August 8th 7:00 pm Q & A in the OOC Auditorium
Thursday, August 15th 7:00 pm Q & A in the OOC Auditorium
Thursday, August 22th 7:00 pm Q & A in the OOC Auditorium
Thursday, August 29th 7:00 pm Q & A in the OOC Auditorium
Sunday, September 1st 11:59 pm Immort Applications Due
___ ___
\ |-----------------------------------------------------------------| /
/__| Immortal Applications Due September 1st |__\
'-----------------------------------------------------------------'
It's that time of year again. The deadline for Immortal Applications is
September 1st, 2002. If you are interested in applying to become an
immortal, be sure to speak to the appropriate department head about your
proposed project _before_ you submit your application.
Additional information on Becoming an Immortal at LegendMUD can be found
by reading HELP APPLICATION online as well as pointing your browser to:
http://www.legendmud.org/Reference/documents.html
The individual links to take you directly to the important pages are:
THE IMMORT CODE OF CONDUCT
http://www.legendmud.org/Reference/imm_conduct.html
IMMORT PROPOSAL REVIEW PROCESS
http://www.legendmud.org/Reference/proposals/app_vote.html
THE GENERAL APPLICATION FOR IMMORTING
http://www.legendmud.org/Reference/proposals/gen_app.html
THE ADMINISTRATION PROPOSAL
http://www.legendmud.org/Reference/proposals/admin_prop.html
THE BUILDER PROPOSAL
http://www.legendmud.org/Reference/proposals/builder_prop.html
THE CODING PROPOSAL
http://www.legendmud.org/Reference/proposals/code_prop.html
THE PUBLIC RELATIONS PROPOSAL
http://www.legendmud.org/Reference/proposals/pr_prop.html
___ ___
\ |-----------------------------------------------------------------| /
/__| Recent Updates |__\
'-----------------------------------------------------------------'
/\ CODE UPDATES
/ \
/ \ Misc Changes
/_ _\ o examine command now works with more types of items
| |
| | Bug Fixes
| | o creatures that can not fight are no longer allowed to
|__| fight if you summon them mid-combat
/\ o umbrella social no longer refers to rain as it might not
/ \ be raining
/ \ o clarification in redeem options
/_ _\ o the messages for the relaxed mood more acurately reflect
| | its name
| |
| | Typo Fixes
|__| o someplace now some place in various moods
/\ o a fix to the grammer in wary/agg while meditating
/ \ o typo fix in salamander-rain message
/ \
/_ _\
| | HELP FILE UPDATES
| |
| | The following helpfile was recently updated:
|__|
/\ SUMMARY
/ \
/ \ Thanks to all the immorts and players who made this possible.
/_ _\
| |
| | SUMMER ODYSSEY
| | INDUSTRIAL ERA 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 (check AREAINFO to find
| | out!) And don't limit ideas to just these three months!
| |
| | BENGAL
|__| The provisioner now sells glass vials. Various bugs and
/\ typos fixed.
/ \
/ \ PARIS OPERA HOUSE AND EXPANSION
/_ _\ Various and sundry fixes as they've come up. Quests
| | should be working and various other things should be
| | working as designed now. If you find any problems, please
| | report them via the bug/typo/idea channels or drop Bart a
|__| note.
/\
/ \ PORT OF LONDON
/ \ Fog shouldn't be quite so bad as before. The outfitter
/_ _\ now sells glass vials. Curio shopkeeper doesn't try to
| | say that items that can't be sold are for sale when he
| | picks them up. The bootblack will remember people he's
| | seen earlier, but still has a chance to comment about it.
|__| Various bugs and typos fixed.
/\
/ \ SAN FRANCISCO
/ \ Adds fog to the bay area.
/_ _\
| | SOUTH SEAS
| | A couple of new items. Various bugs and typos fixed.
| |
|__| Other Area Updates
/\
/ \ ROMANIA
/ \ Should be easier to get mobs to understand what you're
/_ _\ talking about in general.
| |
| | TORTUGA
| | Fixes the odd ship build up in strange places.
|__|
/\ TUDOR ENGLAND
/ \ Fixes a couple problems with the barge moving around.
/ \ Eliminates extra barges being loaded and correctly sets
/_ _\ exits now. Fixes some bugs with the Queen as well.
| |
| | 1802 ALASKA, AZTECS, CELTIC IRELAND, MEDIEVAL ANDES, SHERWOOD,
| | and VICEROYAL PERU
|__| Various bugs and typos fixed.
/\
/ \ THE OOC
/ \ Prize machine updated.
/_ _\
| | 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.
| |
| | Haley/Matrix Ancient Rome
| | Kaige/Ptah 1950s Americana
|__| Kheldar Medieval Sea Trade
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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 Housing Item Limits? o Dying Suddenly in the Andes?
o Any New Spells Coming? o Remembering Q&A Questions?
o Arenas Where Non-pk Can Fight? o Skilltrees?
o ETA on Hell? o Why Little Changes Not Big Ones?
o How Do You Get Tokens? o Any Changes Coming to PK?
o More Distinct/Custom Houses? o Additional Topics Answered
o Object Material Types o Spell Info Ideas
o Known Bugs o Already Existing Suggestions
o Common Bug Reports That Aren't o Common Typo Reports that Aren't
o Anachronistic Suggestions
You'll notice a new section of topics starting with the August 1st, log.
We're going to add a Q&A feedback channel (like bug/typo/idea) so people
can enter questions and get them answered and not have to try to remember
them until Thursday. Also, people will be able to ask questions without
having to attend, and they will all be in one place to answer instead of
one immort mailing the answer to only one person.
This will also be a good place to put anything you're not SURE if it's a
bug/typo or feasible in order to get some feedback on it, unlike the other
channels.
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_____
/ _ \ DID YOU KNOW: Tips and tricks and little-used features
/__/ \ \
/ / Ever gotten stuck in the dark after you died and thought you
/ / were stuck in the dark until morning? Or maybe you had taken
/__/ off your light to conserve fuel and picked up some gear to
__ sell and thought you couldn't re-equip your light because you
/ \ were overrent? Or just sat in the dark with a light in your
\__/ inventory because you thought you couldn't find it to light?
_____
/ _ \ When you die, your boat and lights stay with your and are not
/__/ \ \ left in your corpse. You can equip light sources in the dark
/ / if you know their keywords, or can use WEAR ALL.
/ /
/__/ You can also equip light sources when you're overrent. We'd
__ rather you were able to see to make your way to an innkeeper
/ \ so you can get an offer and get back underrent than sit in
\__/ the dark helpless to solve the problem yourself.
_____
/ _ \ There are some things to be careful with when dealing with
/__/ \ \ lights and being overrent. If you use RENT SHORT or RS to
/ / leave the game, you may not realize that you no longer have
/ / one of the lights that do not rent with you.
/__/
__ It is more important to pay attention to SAVE FAILED messages
/ \ than it is to whether or not you can equip an item if you are
\__/ more than 1000 over your rent limit if you value your items.
___ ___
\ |----------------------------------------------------------------| /
/__| Workshops: "RP Fan Club" and "PK Nights" |__\
'----------------------------------------------------------------'
LadyAce has put up two posts on the in-game discussion board requesting
feedback and indication of interest on.
The first deals with setting up a regular meeting of people who like
roleplay, who want to encourage roleplay, who want to talk about it and
get it going and fix it when it breaks. Some of the meetings might scheme
up a tinyplot, others might be suggesting bits and pieces to help each
other, or bring new twists to your 'regular' RP. There wouldn't be any
sort of reward for attending -- the idea would be that if RP is your kind
of fun, the group would be all about your kind of fun, and rewarding in
that way.
The second post deals with declaring a weekly day and time when people
interested in learning more about PK could meet up with people interested
in teaching others about PK? We could make it a mix of talking/live
demos/small groups practicing, we could hold it on the mud or on a
testmud, we could just declare it as the time to pull out your AA chars
and sharpen your steel....
Some of you have offered to teach others at various times, perhaps this
could pool those resources. Setting aside a particular time might pull
people into trying it, enjoying it, and spread to more nights of the week,
or all nights of the week.
If you're interested in either of these or want to share your ideas and
comments on them, please take a ffew minutes and append to them on the
discussion board located in the room up from the Wild Boar Tavern (The
OOC).
___ ___
\ |----------------------------------------------------------------| /
/__| LEGENDITES: Information Regarding the People of Our World |__\
'----------------------------------------------------------------'
LegendMEET in WALES
McDougan is still interested in organizing a meet around Wales, contact
him or see his post on the news board in game for more information.
LegendMEET in Canberra, Australia
I am organising a Mud Meet in Canberra, Australia. The main reason is
because its about 1/2 way between Sydney and Melbourne. Well that and it
means I don't have to travel. Oh and because Bart is coming up here anyway
so it kinda fits in. So far the date is lunch, saturday 21, september. If
this proves a problem and you would really like to attend, contact me, but
don't get your hopes up. For full infomation on the meet, ie exact times,
and place, also contact me. ANYONE and EVERYONE is welcome, espicially
overseas players. Not that it will happen though.
Once again, contact me for further infomation, not that it's organised
yet, but knowing approx numbers might be a help. To contact me OOC for
info etc
ICQ: 110529876 or msn: [email protected]
- Stygian
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
This clipping from the The London Times - Classifieds Section was dropped
off at our offices.
+---------------------------------------+
| at 34 Mayfair. |
+---------------------------------------+
| Hard working servant seeks master. |
| Cleaning, cooking and bathing are |
| just a small sample of the tasks that |
| I perform. If any are interested in |
| hiring, contact Jen. |
+---------------------------------------+
| Hard working butler seeks employment. |
+---------------------------------------+
Who DOESN'T need some one to take care of all these chores?
___ ___
\ |--------------------------------------------------------| /
/__| Clan News |__\
'--------------------------------------------------------'
Flea formed the Revolution clan at Est. August 01, 2002
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Knights of the Night
Delandel, always looking for a good fight, sought out Rahvin for a nice
duel. Rahvin graciously accepted and they proceeded. Rahvin quickly
blinded him, by happenstance. This was great luck since Delandel forgot his
clears. Cackling madly to himself, Rahvin chased him around setting him on
fire. Delandel did put up a good pugilistic match though, managing to trap
Rahvin once or twice. In the end, the Grendels triumphed once again.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
The Grendels, who accept all challengers, were once again the PK clan with
the most members in at least one pk battle this week. The newly formed
Revolution clan came out of the corner, swinging as well. The Knights of
Legend were also out on the pk front, and the IRA and the Syndicate also
had a couple members out getting into the action. The members of the Grand
Coven and the Hermetic order remained apart from the action this week.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
There were 55 pkill related deaths involving 52 different characters in
the last week. Of those 52 characters, 32 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 commited 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), advertise here with us! It's free AND you'll get a 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!!
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
There are currently 14 RP clans and 7 PK clans. This leaves open slots for
eleven (11) 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 for players interested in founding and
running a clan, visit http://www.legendmud.org/Reference/gm.html.
_______________________
/ \
o O | Wonder what folks are |
`\|||/ | doing over at LegendMUD?|
(o o) \_______________________/
ooO_(_)_Ooo________________________________________________________________
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Anthropomancy
Lord Rahvin von Darkmoor quietly stands up, his grisly work done. He
glances down, the dry earth has quickly soaked up the blood and carnage
splattered around him. Like a man dying of thirst, all that remains is
dark black splotches. The viscera of spilled entrails reminds him of red
eels, slithering away from the horror.
A nice breeze blows in from the west, cooling his brow, which had been
dotted with perspiration from his intense concentration just moments
before. His hand gripping his jade-handled dagger, his prized knife. Which
not only was for killing, but also played an important role in other dark
rites. He smiles to himself. He was one of the only remaining
practitioners of Anthropomancy, the art of diving answers from living
entrails. At most all you could get was a yes or a no, maybe sometimes a
place or name. The best part of it all was right before the answer is
obtained, as copious amounts of blood pump out in rhythm with their heart,
watching life dim in their eyes.
Without looking he hands his knife back to his awaiting zombie, still
swathed in the habiliments of the grave, which silently wipes the greasy
blood off on its pants leg, and hands it back reverently. He accepts and
sheathes it quickly, ramming it home with a soft metallic 'clink'.
The breeze picks up, blowing his hair around. His raptor-like gaze sweeps
the horizon, as he scratches his chin thoughtfully.
'There is change coming...' he mutters to himself, his undead servant
sensing he wasn't being addressed remains ever quiet. But would it be to
his benefit to align with this new group that may or may not form? Only
time will tell. He will have to wait this one out and see what Barabas
does. With change comes opportunity. He would be ready.
Hearing a small scuffling noise, he glances down and notices his victim
still had small spark of life in him. He is quietly struggling to breathe
through organs that no longer function. It almost makes him feel pity for
this weak creature, almost. Quick as a fox, he snaps his bootheel down
onto his victim's throat, like lightning. Smiling to himself he turns to
his waiting undead.
'Come, we must be away and wait for the signs.' The gale finally picking up
force snaps his cloak back, fighting against him as he walks away, into
the storm.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Bodies and Blood
In the early morning light of a typical day, the guard opened the gate to
allow the every day vendors and merchants entry into the fair city of Klein.
It had been an uneventful evening with only the company of a quail or two to
keep his attention. His partner on the other side had not spoken to him at
all, most likely due to him sleeping on the job. As the gate swung open the
guard ventured inside for a change of shift. To his morn' blurry eye
everything was as it should be. Quiet, peaceful, a scene to put any man at
ease. The guard turned toward his street to make his way home when something
deep inside him struck him as being odd. A movement perhaps or the lack of
prompted him to turn and look around more closely. Nothing seemed out of
place, nothing seemed wrong. Perhaps it was his mind playing tricks on him.
The guard continued along his way trying to forget the nagging feeling deep
inside him that nothing was wrong. As he rounded a bend he noticed the heavy
boots of a man lying on the ground, just barely sticking out of an alleyway.
Odd to him that such would be there, he ventured to take a look, only to
discover a giant corpse of a pathetic lonely man. He was stripped naked
except for his boots and butchered to pieces by what must have been a large
sword. Even the boots had been damaged by the fight, taking a sword slash
across the ankle. The size of this man was amazing, how he could not have
seen more of him before was a mystery to him he wagered in his mind. He must
stand 20 feet tall. Could this be a giant from some unknown land? I would
hate to face that thing in battle he thought. The guard took sick from the
sight of the gory body. 'I must get help, I must seek Roland and tell him of
this' the guard exclaimed as he took off his cloak and laid it over the
body. The guard hurried along, hoping to find Roland at home, when from afar
he noticed the glint of metal from the morns light.
The guard ventured forth and in the middle of a twisted alleyway he found
yet another corpse of a Pathetic Lonely man, stripped naked except for a
canoe lying by his side. Perplexed the guard could not understand why he had
found the exact same corpse but moments ago, lying in another location of
the city. The amount of blood that surrounded the area would never be
cleaned. Off to the side were giant bloody footprints leading away from the
scene of this disturbing murder. Thinking it best to follow the footprints
the guard wondered off, trailing the apparent assassin. He hurried along,
afraid that he may be to late in his capture of the villain. The Trail leads
to the scholar's home, but why? Surely the good scholar had nothing to do
with this. As the guard reached the house, the front door was beaten inward,
a pile of splinters at best. The guard drew his Saebel and slowly moved
inside. The stench of death was appalling; inside laid the bodies of the
scholar, one of his fellow guards and in two pieces the corpse of a pathetic
lonely man. The bodies of the guard and the pathetic lonely man both
stripped of all their worldly possession and left to rot. How this pathetic
man was able to get into the home of the scholar in the first place left the
guard perplexed, for its size was immense. He would have had to crawl inside
on his hands and knees to have even had maid the attempt.
The guard hurried from the scholar's home, moving along the road toward
Roland's home. 'I must tell him of this, I must get help,' the guard
breathed out as his feet moved faster along the road, with a will of their
own. Just before he reached Roland's home, another scene of violence
exploded around his eyesight. There, in a gutter, close to Roland's home
laid the bodies of several Ritter men and several corpses of a pathetic
lonely man. 'How could this be, who is this pathetic lonely man that could
die and leave his body only to die once again' the guard nearly wailed. 'I
swear that I shall find the answers to this...' Suddenly a crash of ungodly
proportions sounded nearby, followed by another and another. The very ground
around the guard shook. Staggering about, the guard moved as quickly as he
could toward this sound. When there, before the front door of Roland's home
stood a man so large, that giant hardly would describe him. In one hand he
held a battering ram, while in the other, a catapult with signs of the
church on the side. He was beating through the door to Roland's home with
the ram while launching boulders the size of mountains at the home of
Leopold, the gold smith.
I was dumbstruck by this show of violence. My feet would not move and my
sword trembled in my hand. I felt a light tap on my shoulder and turned to
see the same man that I was watching do unspeakable things before me, now
behind me. Yet I turned and he had not moved. There are two of them! I
almost could not bear this fact, for they were twins in look and manner. I
turned to face off with the one behind me, when out of no where, the other
snuck up behind me and lodged his ram point first in the small of my back,
My entire back exploded in pain that crept into my head. I was paralyzed
by the horror and pain of a thousand pounds of wood ramming me from
behind. I passed out from it all, to awake many hours latter. I had been
stripped of my belongings and left for dead. The entire area had been
demolished by my assailant. The entire league of Ritters and guards left
for dead. All the merchants' dead. Their homes destroyed. I hauled many a
body away from the ruins and in my final count, I found thirteen Giant
bodies of a pathetic lonely man. Why did this giant attack us, what could
we have done? All that remained was a note on the splintered front gate.
It read; your assault on nature has been met by an assault on you. Take
warning that if thou shall wreak havoc that havoc will come again to call
on thee, oh town of man.
Anonymous
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
From the Lamp to the Harem and Back, Part IV
Raewyn had been with Ashimar for nearly a year now. She had come to almost
like her master, despite his greediness. He was by far the best master
she'd ever had. Her life with him had followed a predictable pattern,
travelling from place to place. Ashimar, making his living as merchant,
occasionally used Raewyn's 'charms' to help him get a better deal with
some of his more stubborn clients, but for the most part, simply left her
to entertain herself. Yes, on the whole, it was a good life. At least, as
good as she could have expected.
Then one rainy day in a small town in Germany, Ashimar came rushing into
their tiny room at the inn. He was obviously very excited about something.
Ashimar rubbed his hands together greedily, something Raewyn had seen him
do many times before, and it always meant he anticipated being richer.
'I,' Ashimar declared proudly, 'have been appointed the Minister of
Finance to the kingdom of Carian Trag!'
Raewyn blinked. She'd never heard of Carian Trag. And she wondered at the
wisdom of its leaders, putting Ashimar in charge of money.
Ashimar hurriedly packed his things. 'We will be living in the kingdom.
I'll have my own apartments in the castle. Just think of all the money I'm
going to make!!' Ashimar was practically drooling. 'No more travelling
just to make a few measly coins, this time, I'm going to sit on a silk
cushion in my room in the castle and count my money... I mean the kingdoms
money.' he cackled gleefully.
Raewyn had never totally understood Ashimar's greediness. All he had to do
was wish for more coins than the sultan himself and Raewyn would give it
to him. But, the most he had ever wished for was a purse full. He was
greedy, but she supposed he loved finding new and sneakier ways of getting
the gold just as much as he loved the gold itself.
And so, they traveled the great distance from Germany to the castle of
Carian Trag, far to the east.
Upon their arrival, they were brought before the King and Queen. There was
much discussion as to the duties of the Minister of Finance, and this
bored Raewyn, and her mind wandered back to the first time she was brought
before royalty.
-----
The Magician bowed low before the Sultan, pulling on Raewyn's arm as he
did so, forcing her down as well.
'Oh great Sultan,' the magician oozed, 'In my wish for your happiness, I
have searched the globe and found this lovely young girl to be your wife.
I wish you will find her pleasing.' With his last sentence, the magician
glanced meaningfully at Raewyn.
'As you wish it.' Raewyn muttered under her breath.
The Sultan waved away one of his wives, who had been feeding him grapes,
and stepped down off the dias. He slowly walked around Raewyn, giving her
an appraising look.
'It is my wish that she would please you enough to marry her.' The
magician oozed some more, while looking at Raewyn commandingly.
'Yes, master' Raewyn sighed.
The Sultan stopped in his tracks. 'I shall marry her at once!' With that,
the Sultan placed a gold bracelet on her wrist and sent a servant to fetch
one of the eunuchs from the harem.
'Take her to the harem' the Sultan ordered the eunuch. 'No! Wait! She is
to have her own apartments in the harem! She is to be my most prized wife'
And so, Raewyn had found herself in the harem of the Sultan of Agrabah,
with a gold dowry bracelet binding her wrist. The magician of Agrabah was
her master, and he used her to control the Sultan to his whim
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The Adventure of Sheik
Medieval Sherwood:
The mist fades and surrounding me are the corpses of many small fuzzy
bunny rabbits. I go EEK in distress! I jump to my feet and stare at the
coagulated bunny blood.
I shrug it off, not knowing whether to think someone else had used the
druid's circle before me, or a major psychopath has a vendetta with
rabbits...
I fumble around in my inventory to find an orb for myself to see better
with in the dense forest growth. POP! An orb of light started to
illuminate before my very eyes! I blinked at the sudden light and started
my walk through the forest to find some life in the known world. I take a
couple steps forward and slightly hear the sound of a musical instrument,
which is very lively and upbeat. I think for a moment to what the sound
could be coming from...A Trumpet?...An Ocarina?...Or a Music Box? I pick up the
pace to investigate before the music was gone. I hear the music start to
become more of a slower song while I got closer to it. It sounds almost
like...a band...yes; a band is playing at the Royal Stag Inn! I gawk at the
band as they come into my view. What a very exciting day this was going to
be!
I peer around the room intently and then step forward bravely as the crowd
cheers on, for the band to play another ballad or two before it becomes
too late for the group to make their journey back to where they were
supposed to be. I step up to talk to the lead singer, a young man from a
far off land who was obviously on break from singing his lungs out! I ask
him, 'Where do you come from?' and he answers, 'What would it matter to
you? Just to become another victim of blackmail!?' The lead singer is
obviously offended by my dumb question...I shrug and start to walk away from
the easily insulted young man, when my silvery-blue harp falls from my
inventory! I try to retrieve it before anyone notices but as I grasp my
harp, a very weak man seizes my arm.
I jerk away from him, but I notice it is the man I had just insulted! I
raise my eyebrow inquiringly at him when he smiles and holds out his hand,
as if he wants to greet me. I shake his hand with a very firm grip and
smiled back at him. 'Can you play that thing?' asks the young man. I nod
my head in agreement to his words, and I demonstrate for him by playing
the song I call 'Cheyla's Song', which was used long ago by my people, the
Sheikah to bring order and peace back into the hands of Royalty.
The young man gives me a wink and walks up to his (microphone) and
announces that I am joining them in their final number. I go EEK in
distress! Realizing 'Hey, I might get paid for this!' I step up into the
young man's face and call for a huddle. Nobody seems to move so I said,
'Gather around, my loyal band' and so they did. I whisper into the huddle,
'Anyone know the song.... (I think for a minute)...(I think for another
minute)...(ahhhh) The Chicken Dance!?' They nod their heads stupidly, and
start playing some racket, which sounds terrible, because everyone knows a
DIFFERENT version of the Chicken Dance! I hang my head in disbelief and
then ponder the existence of this so-called 'BAND'...Then I pull out my
silvery-blue harp, then start playing the most beautiful music anyone or
anything's has ever heard before. I soon hear the sounds of crying and
wailing! The song is sooo good, it touches everyone's hearts...
I shrug and rent a room for the night.
That song's name was Oath to Order
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Prelude to a Kiss... Part II
King Rowane de'Dannan glided through the crowded Paris streets, his arm
about his wife's waist. A small boy giggled and waved at passerby's from
his resting place in his custodial father's arms.
'Do you see that arch?' He pointed to the large structure, explaining to
his wife it's detailed history as they headed towards it. They were
touring the sights of a city they had longed to see together.
A merchant stopped them to show his wares. Rowane's eyes lit up as he
purchased a large red and white lollipop, much to the delight of the young
boy balanced on his hip. MoiraGwyn excitedly made a purchase to surprise
her husband with, he beamed visibly to all passing by when she carefully
placed a caltrop on his palm.
MoiraGwyn de'Dannan turned to smile first at her husband, then at the
child.
That smile. At last he was near her again. But not so near as to touch her
or even smell her. Yet.
Robes pulled about him, he edged his way through the crowds towards the
couple. He was close, closing in on them every moment. If he reached out
his fingertips he could almost... touch her--
'Clumsy oaf, watch where you are going!'
He had inadvertently bumped into a well-dressed man who was now checking
his pockets. Was he taken for a thief? He laughed aloud, nearly startling
himself. People stopped to stare. He looked around to be sure he didn't
catch the notice of the one person he wanted to get close to. Not yet, not
until things were perfect. But no, MoiraGwyn giggled as her husband edged
her from the arch towards a pastry shop he had spotted.
With them was now another man. Was this a friend they had come across? Why
did he look familiar? Oh, a clanmate of one of theirs. Good, he was of no
threat.
He moved quietly towards the small store, his eyes centered on the window
and its view of the occupants who has just entered inside.
He watched the Queen beam as her husband held up a rather grand-looking
eclair for her approval. He could hear the child's laughter from outside
as the eclair got close enough to dollop whipped cream on MoiraGwyn's
nose. He should be the one to wipe that off, to return the smile she was
giving her husband as she kissed him gently. Not that sidhe. Why was he
here anyways instead of off on his Hermetic business like always. Damn him
for being so close to her. Too close. Even the new man was close, and me
watching from outside.
It was wrong. Unfair even. He felt his heart sink a bit. Why was she
settling for second best.
His gaze fell to the child Rowane was handing to MoiraGwyn. Who is this
boy, was he hers? Had she born a child and not told him? No, this could
not be possible, surely he would have seen her pregnant. He had watched
her for long enough. Since their courtship. The child seemed part sidhe by
the look of him. She held the boy in her arms, hugging him and speaking
words that could not be heard through the thick glass of the store window.
How he longed to hear the sweet tone of her soft voice.
He rested his head to the building as he stared off, his mind wandering.
That woman in the Inn foretold of MoiraGwyn carrying a child. Twins,
claimed this elven witch of sorts. Probably not with the Sidhe, for he was
rarely home. Maybe they would be mine. My children with her. His mind
wandered to the Queen, her body swollen in pregnancy. Maybe the witch
knows who the father will be. It couldn't be the king, he rarely was near
her. It couldn't be, could it? No, it should not be his, he does not
deserve such a thing!
His mind deep in his own thoughts, he did not notice the loving couple
leave the shop and disappear into the crowded streets.
But he did eventually realize that they made a purchase and left, when he
saw an eclair was gone from the shopcase and the shopkeep counting his
money. And when the shopkeeper admitted, looking bewildered, to having
seen her smile when she was in his shop -- he gave his life to the
stranger. It was an apology for being a part of something he did not
deserve. That was what he said as he pleaded for forgiveness and that was
the last thing heard before his murder.
And with a satisfied sigh, the stranger headed back towards Carian Trag.
He wanted to be there when she came home.
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