Volume Nine Issue Twelve
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=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= .............._______ ............./ / THE LEGENDARY TIMES ............/ / .........../ /.....______.._____.....______.._____.......____ ........../ /...../ /./ \.../ /./ \...../ \ ........./ /...../ ___/./ ____/../ ___/./ __ \.../ /\ \ ......../ /...../ /_.../ /....../ /_.../ /..\ >./ /./ / ......./ /...../ __/../ /____../ __/../ /.../ /./ /./ / ....../ /_____/__/__../ \_\ /./ /__../ /.../ /./ /_/ / ...../ / /./ /./ /./ /.../ /./ / ..../ /_/..\______/./_____/./__/.../__/./_______/ MUD .../________________/ running on mud.legendmud.org 9999 =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= http://www.legendmud.org/ ftp://ftp.legendmud.org/pub =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= VOLUME NINE, NUMBER TWELVE March 23, 2002 =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= TABLE OF CONTENTS The Editor's Note NEWS, REPORTS, UPDATES Calendar of Events LegendMUD Photo Page Recent Updates Recent Q&A Topics DID YOU KNOW: REPAIR and material types LEGENDITES Announcements This Week's Scavenger Hunt Challenge! Spellcasting Contest TONIGHT! Clan News Anaiya's story A Desperate Need - Part One Letters from the Queen, I SCANDAL IN GOTHAM CITY HEAVY INDUSTRY An Epilogue from the Deathtrap Looters, Volume 7 Issue 20. Dinner with Rufle'a A DATE WITH DEATH Letters from the Queen, II ___ ___ \ |-----------------------------------------------------------------| / /__| The Editor's Note |__\ '-----------------------------------------------------------------' Sorry about that little shake up there on Friday. But we're sitting on a nice, borrowed connection for the next couple weeks until LadyAce's new DSL line gets run in Chicago. Unfortunately, we were unable to get a smooth transition from one to the other like we'd hoped, but thankfully, Huginn came up with a solution for the intervening weeks. *cheer Huginn* Just a couple other reminders: the spellcasting contest is tonight, and Rusalka and Kae are planning another RP workshop to be held soon, so watch the welcome board for more details there. Also, I've been pleased with the number of people who have been submitting RP articles. By keeping them around 500-750 words it helps get more people's stories out there each week and keeps the overall issue length reasonable. The easiest way for you to submit something for the LT is to point your browser over to http://www.legendmud.org/Community/ltsubmission.php and there is now a button to automatically count the words before you try to submit your piece. Also, sending pieces in as attachments is more difficult to handle than if you'd sent it as the text of the email. If you must send an attachment, please, be sure it's in text format. Remember, you don't have to do just RP stories, we've had a myriad of other topics covered in the past: hints for new players, play style advice, client set up advice, Leila's Roving Reporter questions, CLeo's WHO IS interviews. A travelogue of your trip around the world might prove interesting. Be creative! -Kaige ___ ___ \ |-----------------------------------------------------------------| / /__| LegendMUD Calendar of Events |__\ '-----------------------------------------------------------------' [All times are system time unless otherwise specified] */* *\* */* *\* March */* *\* */* *\* Saturday, March 23rd 8:00 pm Skar's Spellcasting Contest Wednesday, March 27th 9:00 pm Scavenger Hunt! Thursday, March 28th 6:00 pm Q & A in the OOC Auditorium Sunday, March 31st Easter Sunday Join us for a day-long Easter Egg Hunt! */* *\* */* *\* April */* *\* */* *\* Thursday, April 4th 6:00 pm Q & A in the OOC Auditorium Thursday, April 11th 6:00 pm Q & A in the OOC Auditorium Thursday, April 18th 6:00 pm Q & A in the OOC Auditorium Thursday, April 25th 6:00 pm Q & A in the OOC Auditorium ___ ___ \ |-----------------------------------------------------------------| / /__| LegendMud Photo Page |__\ '-----------------------------------------------------------------' Heya gang, just a reminder if you have a player picture and you would like it up on the LegendMUD photo page, send it to [email protected] The file is preferred in jpeg form and sent as an attachment. If you have already sent a photo and it has yet to be posted, send me a mudmail or an email and let me know. Sorry for the delay. If you would like your picture removed let me know as well and I will remove it asap. The photo page URL is http://www.legendmud.org/Community/photos/ Thanks again for participating! Straussy ___ ___ \ |-----------------------------------------------------------------| / /__| Recent Updates |__\ '-----------------------------------------------------------------' /\ CODE UPDATES / \ / \ MISC CHANGES /_ _\ o Tithing: tithe #, tithe clan # (the second is GM only) | | o bind spell uses different formula for success/failure | | BUG FIXES | | o directed speech is now limited to fully matched keywords |__| or full/partial names /\ o immolate and fighting two mobs fixed / \ / \ /_ _\ HELP FILE UPDATES | | | | The following helpfiles were recently updated: | | |__| General Info: BANKING, GM, TITHE /\ / \ Thank you to all the players & imms who assisted in this update! / \ /_ _\ | | 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 | | | | THE CRUSADES | | Some fixes and additional checks added to hopefully prevent |__| problems. /\ SAN FRANCISCO / \ Fix for the murder quest. / \ THE ALHAMBRA, ANASAZI AMERICA, AZTECS, ROMAN BRITAIN, /_ _\ PICTISH COUNTRY, and 1930s PITTSBURGH | | Various bug and typo fixes. | | | | 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. | | |__| Straussy R. M. S. Titanic =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= _______ ____ _______ / ___ \ / __ \ / ___ \ 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 Scavenger Hunt Results o Spellcasting Contest Location? o Inn/Bank in Antioch? o What's Anatolia about? o Any Reloadable Quivers Yet? o Is 2C Create Changing? o MCCP and Weird Messages on Login o Quests/Items/LegendDB o Strings/Mundanes/Souls? o Is AT Fixed? o Lag & Connection o LT Subs for Clans? ت =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= _____ / _ \ DID YOU KNOW: Tips and tricks and little-used features /__/ \ \ / / We get a lot of bug reports about how several items aren't / / a particular material type, or aren't the same material as /__/ another item in the game with a similar short description. __ / \ There's a reason for this. The game only has material types \__/ associated with ARMOR type items. Items that aren't ARMOR do _____ not currently have a material type that is connected to the / _ \ item's description. /__/ \ \ / / You can only repair items that the game considers ARMOR or / / WEAPONS. Likewise, mending can only fix items that are /__/ considered ARMOR. When the game asks for another item of the __ same material to repair major damage, the game is expecting / \ another piece of ARMOR of the same material type, not just \__/ any item with similar words in the description. _____ / _ \ The engraver in Crusades works on similar principles. And he /__/ \ \ currently doesn't recognize precious metals like gold and / / silver to be metals like iron and bronze. / / /__/ In the future, we hope to have better ways to tell what the __ material type associated with an object is, and to have all / \ object types have a material type associated with them. But \__/ being able to tell an item's material is will be sooner. ___ ___ \ |----------------------------------------------------------------| / /__| LEGENDITES: Information Regarding the People of Our World |__\ '----------------------------------------------------------------' Chunk has reached 100 million experience! Grunt has reached 100 million experience! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= This Week's Spring Theme Scavenger Hunt Challenge! - New life: - Spring cleaning: nest building material dirt or grime seeds or a bulb rags for cleaning 3 different kinds of flowers old clothes fresh greens a broom - Passover - Signs of Spring - Easter Sunday unleavened bread the first robin of Spring a basket blood fresh water a cross bitter herbs a baby animal chocolate an egg Congrats to Percy & Ruby, who took first place in this week's Scavenger Hunt! Next came Serk, then Lawrence. Spot, Ember, Lanfear, Cymo, Lilac Sabrine, and Nietzsche filled out the tight grouping of top item-finders! I hope you had a fun time :) -LA =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Spellcasting Contest Join us tonight, Saturday, March 23 at 8 pm mud time for a spellcasting contest to determine who can best roleplay a spell. This contest is open to all mages, 2c and 3c, cause and create. The more the merrier! For instance, animating a corpse might involve marking the corpse with obscure runes and then casting an ephemera spell to make the corpse twitch once or twice, followed up with the actual animation. Creating a homunculus might involve a lump of clay and a vial of the spellcaster's blood, both in-game items. Contestants can use socials, emotes, directed emotes, zips, strings, ephemera, objects from the game, etc. to rp the spellcasting. I have a non-color string coupon of my own that I will offer for the top prize and I'd be happy to accept prize donations for runners-up. Judging will be by a three-person panel -- myself and LadyAce are on the panel, with the third person to be determined. I'd like a respected cause mage to fill out the panel, so feel free to volunteer. If you'd like to compete, volunteer as a judge or have other questions, please notify Skar by mudmail. Mark your calendars! Please note that this is a player-run contest. Even though LadyAce is kind enough to help judge, this has no official link to the mud management. -Skar ___ ___ \ |----------------------------------------------------------------| / /__| Clan News |__\ '----------------------------------------------------------------' The True Knights of Legend Clan was disbanded this week. When asked to comment on the dissolution of the clan, Freja had the following to say: I have disbanded the True Knights of Legend, since the matter which split us from the Knights of Legend has been resolved and the clans are now back as one, stronger than ever. -Lady Freja =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= A New Clan Forms Regarding the formation of the Knights of the Rising Sun, ArchAngel has issued the following press release: As a respectable member of Legend, ArchAngel has always worked to serve anyone in need and has been able to occomplish that to the best of his abilities. He offers his services to all and has helped from his real life friends gaining levels to helping level 50 players gain their eq in a DT or like situation. He has been known to "resort through his eq list" on almost a daily basis. In order to gain help with his services as he was getting all sorts of request he came up with a idea to form an rp clan. He bassed this on a clan he was going to form which was going to have the name Knights of the Seventh Tier, a name which Nanok suggested to him. ArchAngel's clan, The Knights of the Rising Sun or -=KoRs=-, reflects everything which he is based on which is the helping of any member whether good or evil, friend of fiend. -=KoRs=- is in the persuit of happiness and is working towards gaining members and becoming popular among the many clans out there. ArchAngel has no real goal to make this clan into a PK clan he intended it only as a RP clan so everyone who persues to join it can get an equal chance. As the clan goes on to gaining popularity it is in ArchAngels joys that the members will have an attitude single to his and provide a friendly environment for all who come in contact with its members. The clan will be available at most any time for helping with any disasters that may come upon anyone. If you are in need of assistance please contact -=KoRs=-'s few members and arrangements will be made to assist you in gaining your request. If you are interested in joining the clan please contact ArchAngel when you see him or by mudmail and he will get you set up so you can become an official member of The Knights of the Rising Sun. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= The Mercenaries have been keeping their members busy this past week. The other PK clans have been quieter this past week, but the IRA and the Grendels' members have seen some action. The newly reconsolidated Knights of Legend and the Grand Coven also had some members out on the PK scene. The Syndicate, the Hermetic Order and the Dark Enforcers were rather quiet this week in terms of number of active members. It seems that Sandman of the Syndicate spent more time posting on the war board than having the family's members back up or refute the claims made there through more persuasive means. Have you witnessed 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 the pk world, advertise with us! It's free and you get to see your name in print! Be a celebrity, the envy of all your friends, tick off your enemies! The possibilities are endless -- act today!!!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= There are currently 17 RP clans and 8 PK clans. This leaves open slots for seven (7) 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________________________________________________________________ _____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|___ __|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____| ---<--<-@ Anaiya's story @->-->--- 'Mother, come home, I assure you, the danger has past.' Pleads the freckled rehead. 'I told you already, I have freed Ricky from the Saxon raiders, he is waiting at home.' She continues. The Briton farmwife, to whom she speaks, seems oblivious to the girl's plea. In fact, she probably does not even regognize her own daughter standing there in front of her. Looking about her frantically, the farmwife raves on about somebody please help her save her son from the saxons. Anaiya sighs, frustrated with her mother's condition. 'How many times do I have to tell you mother?' she asks softly. 'Come home, Ricky needs you there.' She continued. The farmwife peered at her, looking her up and down. 'Haven't I seen you before?' She says. 'You're the one who helped me before! You're in league with the saxons!' 'Mother, please, it's me, Anaiya, your daughter, remember?' The redhead answers. 'I already got the village to help us, Ricky is free and at home. We need you there. Do you truly not remember?' Oblivious, the briton farmwife goes on, looking more and more suspiciously at her daughter. After a few more tries, the freckled redhead sighs and goes home to the small farm that had been such a cosy home until the attack by the saxons. Running to meet her is Ricky, a grimy little boy, who, despite his recent abduction seems happy as only a kid can be. 'When's mom and dad coming home?' He asks Anaiya, as he sticks his hand into hers. 'Mother is occupied,' she replies, absentmindedly. 'Father is in heaven, he will not come back to us. He is watching over us, and makes sure we are alright.' She continues softly. Not really understanding, the small boy talks about his day at the farm, playing with the lambs and collecting the eggs. After having put her brother to sleep later that night, she goes to visit the folk at the neighbouring farm. They agree to look after her brother while she searches for a cure for her mother. 'I will look in on little Ricky once a week,' She tells them as she leaves. While packing her things that night, she weeps softly, thinking about how fast her life has changed. She no longer has a father, hardly a mother and a brother to look after. 'Maybe when mother is cured, there will be time to grieve for father.' She thinks to herself, as she blows out the candle beside her bed and goes to sleep. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= A Desperate Need - Part One I came through the forest, after having passed a rather jolly looking outlaw, and found myself staring at a sign that said Royal Stag -- Richard the Inn keep and it had an arrow pointing to the right. I was rather hungry and thirsty, so I went in and had a seat at a rather large round table, odd, as it was it was almost empty except for a lone man who was obviously drunk. ' 'ello lass. What is a pretty thing like yourself doing 'ere?' 'Good eve, kind sir. I am a traveler in highness.' search of some warmth, a bit of food, and drink if ye are able?' 'Aye that I am. You also look like lass with a story to tell. I'll tell you what. I will give you food and drink and a place by my fire if'n you tell me your story.' 'Okay.' I said thinking to myself that he may be able to help me find a way to get back to my father. He brought me a plate of food, a dish I'd never seen before. 'Deer meat.' He said as I must have had a questionable look on my face. 'Oh,' I said 'It is fine m'lord. Might I begin?' Thus I began my tale. --*--*--*-- 'Liel,' my mother called, 'Are you awake?' 'Yes mother, I am getting dressed.' I yawned and stretched and got up and went to my window and looked out upon all of the forests of the Tuatha De Danaan sidhe of which my father Rael D'Rath was King. I never ceased to be amazed at the great expanse of his domain. As I bathed myself, I could never get used to the servants touching my body although they were some of my parents most trusted servants. As I did I thought about what I had to do that day being my tenth birthday. As usual there was to be a big celebration, my father would insist on it. So I got dressed in my royal clothes as I had an audience with my father. There was a knock at the door. 'Liel?' my mother called. 'Come in dear mother.' My mother, a Celtic priestess, was a beautiful woman. It is no wonder my father fell in love with her. 'Oh my dear daughter,' she said taking my face in her hands. 'Tis a great day today. Art thou ready to go and see your father?' I nodded. We walked down the long hall to the throne room and the sentries opened the door, but not before he gave me an evil look. I was puzzled. 'Your daughter and the Queen to see you your Highness.' 'Aye, allow them entrance.' As we walked in to the throne room, I noticed my father was not alone, but with my uncle, his spiritual advisor, Lugh, the Il'Dana. I ran to embrace him and immediately I knew something was wrong. His embrace was neither as warm nor as tight as it usually was. 'Good noon, my child how fare thee on this special day?' 'Oh uncle, tis a beautiful day and I am in good health and...' 'Liel,' my father interrupted, 'I've something for you.' He gave my uncle an amulet shaped in the form of a great sword, a sidhe sword the crest of our family. My uncle withdrew inward and began chanting under his breath. The amulet was outlined in a bright white light and the sword burned with a bright fire. He placed it around my neck and though it was on fire I could feel no warmth. 'My dear daughter, this is a symbol of your heritage. Keep this close to you and one day it will serve you well. Now return to your room and rest up for your banquet tonight.' I left the throne room and made my way back to my room. I knew something was wrong, I just didn't know what. I was becoming rather afraid. --*--*--*-- 'So you are Liel? And a princess of the fairy folk?' 'Aye, you could say that.' He looked at me eagerly, waiting for me to continue, but alas it was very late and I was tired. 'Good sir, I would love to finish my tale but it is late and I am tired. If you could allow me a room, I will finish my tale on the morrow.' He nodded visibly disappointed, and gave me a key to one of the rooms upstairs. 'Good night, your Majesty,' he said with a bit of a mock bow. I smiled and went to my room. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Letters from the Queen, I A small white pigeon ducked down into the turret, sweeping past Lady Emrysia's head with a start. She frowned at it, shooing it towards it's cage. 'Land THERE,' she reproached, pointing to it's cage. 'NOT on my shoulder!' With a gentle fluttering it perched atop the gilded cage and waited patiently for her to untie the message from it's tiny leg. Emrysia did such, and in opening the small scroll found a letter. To My Confidante... Days have passed with my druid teachers unable to assist. Why for do we call ourselves druids when we are unable to help another? Is this not our calling? *sigh* I am so frustrated. Not one herb has worked. Not one potion. We have cast stones and revered each God and Goddess in their own right... To no avail. Even the elder Archdruids seem befuddled. I would have thought at least Cernnunos would answer my calls.. I sometimes forget Sparky is of the elements and not simple beast. Laying hands or poultice to him do not even work. I do not understand his illness, it is beyond me. I wish Rowane was here, he understands the workings of created beings far more than I. And I miss my mate. I left the circle some 4 days ago to start my journey across the deserts towards the Sultan. The air is so dry, even more so than near our own Kingdom. Water is becoming more scarce and Sparky seems more listless. I am grateful for being able to purify it for some of these lands still seem so alien to me, I admit I am leery of their food and drink. And worse still I am afraid to give water to Sparky- a fire Salamander, something I had never thought to deal with before. But now in this dire heat, my worn bones ponder it. There is little shelter save for an oasis or two along the way. I hope this journey does not take one of us. And I suspect Sparky knows where we are going as well, for he has hidden his keys. *smile* He must think we have come to return his 'toy'. Always, MoiraGwyn =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= SCANDAL IN GOTHAM CITY HEAVY INDUSTRY [Gotham, USA] An intern at Wayne Industries, Gotham City, today published several sensitive documents on a Yahoo! Geocities free website. The files, acquired from a ranking executive's desk, form a series of letters exchanged between the senior staff of Wayne Industries and a so far unidentified person who goes under the alias of 'the Shadow.' Describing in accurate detail financial and personal circumstances of several key politicians of Gotham City as well as media celebrities and officials of the Justice Department, the Shadow evidently has been in a position to not only blackmail Wayne Industries for considerable sums of wealth, but also to manipulate the activities of the industrial giant. The documents have been appropriated by the authorities and the website has been shut down by request of Wayne Industries officials, threatening Yahoo! with a lawsuit if the commercial web hotel failed to comply. The FBI is currently investigating with special interest the allegories made to various Gotham vigilantes, as well as a series of references to the 'necessary rendering politically incapacitated of certain members of the (masonic?) organization, the Knights of Legend.' Secretary of the Knights, Lawrence Windstrom, refuses to comment on the activities of the presumably masonic or neo-chivalric group as regards the Shadow. 'It is true,' writes Windstrom in a fax, 'that a large number of senior knights were dismissed from our ranks on grounds that were later revealed to be false. This was a case of deliberate misinformation from our political opponents. It is not our choice at the time being to involve the authorities in these matters, though we will obviously be at the service of any law enforcement officials who requests our cooperation.' The secretary adds that the Knights has approached their disgraced members in an attempt to reconcile the lodge. The Gotham City Police Department has made no official statements regarding the purpose and nature of this secret correspondance, yet an un-named source inside Wayne Industries let this reporter know that 'It was all about the money. There's a lot of wealth tied up in this operation, and by creating dissent between Mr. Wayne and his associates, the Shadow was able to funnel a considerable amount to his own Swiss accounts.' Who knows? The Shadow knows. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= An Epilogue from the Deathtrap Looters, Volume 7 Issue 20. Preacher Kaine stood at attention in the middle of his campground, eyes staring straight ahead but completely unseeing. His mind was obviously wandering, far away, unaware. In his arms a large black bag bulged, close to overflowing, choice pieces of equipment carefully packed away. He had been careless, he had been greedy, he was carrying more than was his right. And they knew. A keen sense of hearing could pick them up, far away, but getting nearer. Imminent, unstoppable, like an incoming tide. Skittering claws, gnashing teeth, gutteral growls. And still he stands there, staring ahead, unaware. A single lucky coin in his fingers, looted from the corpse of Fith-Fath, will be his undoing. The invisible observer longs to shake him awake, to scream in his ear, to knock the offending article to the ground, in an attempt to save him from the impending disaster. But still he stands there. The tumbling black tide sweep over the edge of the glen and into the campground's clearing, swarming over the stationary figure like a wave of angry ants. Equipment is stripped away from unresisting fingers, and clothing removed with the frightening efficiency of a pack of piranhas. Each item in turn is hauled away back over the edge of the glen, to be hidden away in the dark hidden void, never to be seen again. The group howl as one with excited joy as they lay their claws upon an old hunting horn. And still he stands there. It takes only seconds and now he stands there totally naked, but still with the same vacant stare. The remaining Deathtrap Looters pause for a moment, and circle around. They leap as one and knock him to the ground, and drag him away as well. Hours pass before Kaine's mind returns, regaining consciousness in a busy Harbour somewhere in the Caribbean. He notices the curious stares of the sailors ambling past, before becoming aware of his own state of undress. He turn his face to the sky and screams a long single note of dispair before shuffling aimlessly away. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Eer bes a fine scuff newfie style byes. Use bes needen da followen tings, 1 pound per person of just cut outda der gobs cod tounges alf a brick of real budder 2 andfuls of flour couple eggs fres outda da 'en 'ouse some taters outda da garden still dirdy salt pork still squelen a finger ov salt and a finger ov pepper a couple on'uns all teary eyed a stirren spoon a fryen pan or two. ers wa yas do now den, yas takes dem tounges write good like and washes em clean. Den ya cracks dem eggs in a bowl or sometin andy like and dips dem tounges write on in der. take em outda da egg and roll em in da flour, do dat til der all covered in flour eac one of dem. Next ya bes taken dat budder and meltin som of it in da fryen pan. once ya ears it sizzle yas takes dem der tounges and som cut up salt park and puts it in da fryen pan. cook dem tounges on eac side til golden brown, ifs day start to blend in wit da fryen pan, des overcooked and yer a bad cook. ya can toss in som on'uns at dis point if ya wants but its not needed. Now in de order pan ya cuts up yer tadders affer cleanen em and slices im in roun circles. budder up ya pan wit da rest of da budder and slap in dem der tadders wit som cut up on'uns. add dem fingers of salt and pepper and fries em til dem tadders gets a second skin of brown. If yas wants ya can get som lemon and squezz em over da tounges affer dey cooked but true newfies wouldn't ave it. Der ya goes, a good scoff of tounges and tadders. Enjoy byes! Rulfe'a da fisherman =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= A DATE WITH DEATH An errant breeze wafted through the room, its barely detectable passage marked by the slight guttering of the myriad candles that had been lit just a few moments before. Standing against the walls in their elaborate wrought-iron holders, they were like tall, silent sentinels, nothing in the room escaping their golden gaze. Well, almost nothing. Reclining lazily on a pile of silken cushions, Lilian smiled to herself as she observed several nooks and crannies still bathed in shadow. Where there was light, there was always shadow. A stray breeze once more assailed the room, its chaotic cadence enticing the shadows on the walls, floor and ceiling to dance. Laughing with delight, Lilian leapt to her feet, an impulsive urge to be one with the darkness compelling her to join the shadows in their black celebration. With this aim in mind, she headed towards the row of candles nearest to her, her intention to snuff out their flames, one by one. A sudden, metallic click from the door stopped her in her tracks. With a sigh of disappointment, she turned to face whomever of her clanmates was about to enter the room. After a few muffled cries of pain, the handsomely carved door set in the archway was opened, admitting the dark horseman, Riven, and what looked like the remnants of a human slung carelessly over his shoulder. 'Here she is,' Riven said, grinning wickedly. Still breathing heavily from his strenuous task, he staggered further into the room and, making sure there were no pillows around to cushion the blow, flung the battered body to the cold, stone floor, pushing it away from him. Chuckling quietly, the Dark Lord's Darling advanced on the prone figure, smiling in delight as she absorbed the deplorable condition of Riven's captive - beaten, bloody, bound and gagged. 'Just the way I like them,' she whispered, unconsciously giving voice to her thoughts. Raising her eyes to Riven's, she nodded her respect. 'I see you know how to treat traitors,' she stated, unable to keep the deeply impressed tone from her voice. Riven nodded solemnly at her words. 'Just doing the Dark Lord's bidding,' he said, a sneer twisting his usually bland features into a mask of arrogance. The 6-inch stiletto heels of her black, leather boots struck the stone floor sharply with each step as Lilian circled slowly around Masha. Flinching at the sound of every step, the beaten druidess moaned about the gag and stirred, one eye slowly opening, the other swollen completely shut from her recent beating. The Dark Lord's Darling struck the woman lightly on the cheekbone with the hilt of her weapon, the sickening crunch of collapsing tissue bringing a satisfied smirk to her full, carmine lips. Receiving no response, Lilian crouched and reached down to grab a fistful of Masha's tangled, bloodied hair. The druidess' good eye narrowed and she hissed in agony as her former Guild Mistress' action pulled at the gag in her mouth, slicing even further into her already mutilated face. Leaning in close, Lilian glared into Masha's face, pulling her hair just a little more. 'Why?' the Dark Lord's Darling hissed into Masha's pain-wracked eye. 'Why have you done this? The Dark Lord served you well. Why have you betrayed Him?' Unable to contain himself, Riven stode over and, face set into a stone mask, kicked Masha repeatedly in the side, 'You gave Him greater power by creating His Soldiers, then betray Him!', he bellowed at her. Lilian snickered quietly then put a calming hand upon Riven's arm. 'Careful dear, we don't want her to die,' she cautioned. Nodding her approval as Riven visibly attempted to calm himself, she added, '...yet.' Masha groaned, her ruined lips emitting nothing but muffled gibberish around the gag. She squirmed slightly, the movement sending searing jolts of pain throughout her body. Howling around the blood-soaked gag, she directed all her remaining energy towards capturing and containing those last threads of conscious thought that threatened to leave her here, undefended, against her enemies. Lilian pursed her lips in disgust as she observed the woman's pathetic efforts. Indicating Masha with a nod of her head, she commanded, 'Riven, remove her gag...no, wait - just loosen it enough so she can speak.' Riven nodded and strode over to the crumpled druidess. Pulling her head up roughly, he loosened the gag, leaving his gauntleted hand entangled in her hair. Smiling ferally, he pressed his fingers into her scalp, the tiny spikes of mail digging deeply into Masha's skull, causing the tiny rivulets of blood flowing from beneath his fingers to dye her hair a deeper shade of red. 'Speak, thou traitorous dog!' Lilian snarled, her contempt at Masha's pain-filled gasps radiating from her. Riven glanced at his Guild Mistress thoughtfully. He wondered if she noticed the way her speech reverted to archaic forms when she was about the Dark Lord's business. Just how old was she? He shook his head to bring his attention back to the matter at hand. Musings about his mysterious clanmate would have to wait. 'I am no traitor,' Masha mumbled in response, her aching jaw and split lips making it difficult for her to speak. Lilian nonchalantly flipped the Dark Lord's toenail. Cold, callous, she peered at Masha, punctuating her words by slowly slapping her weapon against the palm of her hand. 'Thou art aware, thou maggot, that liars can do no harm without their tongues?' she threatened quietly. The traitor gave Lilian a grim look with her open eye, whimpering quietly with the pain that still wracked her body. The Dark Enforcer spat on the ground by Masha's head, then kicked her violently in the ribs. 'Thy feeble squirmings move me not,' said Lilian, the coldness in her voice almost lowering the temperature of the room, so icy was its tone. 'Explain thine actions now, or suffer the Dark Lord's vengeance.' She nodded to Riven. 'Remove its gag, but stay behind it, and rest thy weapon across its throat.' Receiving no response, Lilian nodded, crying, 'So be it!', and, in a fluid motion that bespoke years of familiarity, snuck up behind Masha, placing the Dark Lord's toenail in her back. The power of the Dark Lord lending her added agility, Lilian quickly attacked, obliterating Masha with her horrific piercings. Grinning with bloodthirsty delight, Riven joined in the attack, demolishing Masha with the burning pierce of his hideous, crimson scythe, the hellfire engulfing it casting fantastic patterns of light and shadow over all the room's surfaces. Blood spattered the room and its occupants. Cackling madly, the two Dark Enforcers delighted in the bloodlust their violent attack had spawned within them. 'Thou hath been beaten to within an inch of thy life, thou poor excuse for a living being,' Lilian spat, her words laboured with the heavy breathing caused by her recent exertions. Eyes alight with something akin to madness, she moved to stand behind Masha, her weapon lightly touching the nape of the near-dead druidess' neck. Her hands shaking slightly from the adrenalin rush, she gave her former clanmate one final chance to redeem herself in the Dark Lord's eyes. 'Hast thou had enough, worm? Canst thou tell me thou hath not yet learned thy lesson?' Masha suffered from her bleeding wounds, shivering convulsively, the poison that had coated the Enforcers' weapons rapidly destroying what remained of her body cells. 'Da....help me...!' she moaned, a single tear from her barely open eye cutting a twisted path through the blood and filth coating her ravaged face. The Dark Lord's Darling snorted derisively. 'Thy father cannot help thee now.' Masha looked up, blood from her extreme head wounds pooling in her eyes, blinding her. Eyes rolling into her head, she fought once more to remain awake. She moaned and, after gagging on the blood in the back of her throat, whispered, 'I... I will be... s-supreme...' Lilian looked over at Riven, the contempt and disgust she felt mirrored on the dark horseman's face. 'This... thing,' she stated, kicking Masha once more, 'is not worth His time.' Grasping the hilt with both hands, Lilian smiled triumphantly as she pushed the point of her weapon up into Masha's skull, giggling madly as her former clanmate's body stiffened before slumping to the ground, dead. As the last echoes of the woman's tearing deathcry filled the room with despair, she leaned down, wiping her weapon clean with the tattered remnants of Masha's cloak. Eyes glowing with pride, she raised her weapon into the air, crying, 'In His Name!', the dark horseman by her side echoing the sentiment wholeheartedly. 'So shall all who betray the one, True Lord, perish.' =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Letters from the Queen, II Lady Emrysia spoke quietly with the sorceress at the gate. Word was sent to King Rowane and he would be headed straight to Agrabah to meet up with Queen MoiraGwyn. Finally! She nodded and thanked the visitor for the information. The well-spoken woman was clearly of the Hermetic order. Though somewhat mysterious, she was known to be a friend of Rowane and MoiraGwyn. What was Emrysia now to do? With no chancellor chosen, should she stay and tend to the castle or go and meet with the others? She was running out of time to decide. She belonged at the Queen's side, but being the most trusted of the still meager staff, someone had to keep watch over the kingdom. The sound of dense fluttering and a sharp THUD disturbed her thoughts. She knew what that was. There was always that ONE poor pigeon that just wasnt the brightest one in the flock... Sure enough there he was, a pile of dented feathers and a triumphant coo resting, of all places, on the bookshelf. He seems rather proud of himself. Emrysia was still surprised this one found his way back. He nipped quietly at message attached to his foot, which Emrysia helped him remove. She recognized MoiraGwyn's scrawl. Dearest Emrysia, Never, ever, EVER again! I do so adore the Sultan, and this being my first visit since the wedding, he was overjoyed at our presence, even despite Rowane not being here. But his son, Prince Shahriar- Ugh! Roses and flirtacious behavior constantly. I can usually handle such with a polite smile but every time I have passed him, there he goes again! Sparky is too weak to defend me and this afternoon I found him in the guest room of the Sultan's palace where our bags were. Such nerve. And the way the thieves roam so free here, I am ready to lock myself in and barracade the doors! I still dont understand it but the thieves seem to have quite a liking for the young Prince as well. A bit unnerving. This afternoon I met with the Sultan and his Court Magician. It embarrasses me to say it, but there is just something about that mage I do not trust. I know not why the Sultan has such faith in him, for me his oily ways trail nothing but reason for distrust. I am spending half my time watching the Sultan's back for fear of finding the Magician's dagger in it. However, he did say something that I think may help. And he did such inadvertantly. A small, snide comment escaped his lips about returning Sparky from whence he came. 'From whence he came.' Born of fire and magic, is he not? I need Rowane with great urgency! I need to seek sources of grand fire and magic. Maybe of power as well? I am not much of a mage, I know little of Sparky's creation. Am I to gather symbolism of these things? For all that I do not know, certainly it appears that Magician holds answers he will not share. And my sweet Salamander is good for judgement as well, he does not like that Magician either. He belched a stream of fire that all but burned that Magician's robe right off his back. (that was actually where that comment about taking Sparky back where he came from started). But I behaved and whilst a wry smile did escape my lips, I remembered not to laugh at him. There may be hope for me yet as a royal, though indeed I do know I should be attending lessons to make me more.. courtly. I wish them luck with that one. But I will not worry of that until we are safe and sound at home. This will keep me racked and pacing until I can understand how to use the source of Sparky's creation to aid him. Maybe I should be spending more time studying his behavior and aches to help understand? If you have come across any news, please send it right away! Always, Queen MoiraGwyn =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 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. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=