Volume Ten Issue Twenty-Seven

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 .............._______
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 .../________________/      running on         mud.legendmud.org 9999

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
 VOLUME TEN, NUMBER TWENTY-SEVEN                           August 11, 2003
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

                          TABLE OF CONTENTS
                          The Editor's Note

                        NEWS, REPORTS, UPDATES
                          Calendar of Events
                Second Prize Machine Changing on Friday!
              Immortal Application Deadline: September 1st
                            Recent Updates
                LegendMUD May 2003 Connection Analysis            
                          Recent Q&A Topics

                             LEGENDITES

                              Clan News
                  The Faction of the Great Disbands
             The Infernals Celebrate One Year Anniversary

                            The PK Front
                         A Pretty Good Attempt

                    The Winds of the Past, part II
                     The Squared Circle, part I
                     The Evil That Pet Rocks Do
                        The Price of Knowledge
                       Celebrations All Around!
                              My Gifts
___                                                                   ___
\  |-----------------------------------------------------------------|  /
/__|                      The Editor's Note                          |__\
   '-----------------------------------------------------------------'

It's crazy time here at my house! School starts here next week, Ptah's
been travelling four days out of seven the last two weeks, it's the last
month of the Summer Odyssey and the deadline for Immortal Applications
coming up on September 1st and that makes for a hectic end of summer/
start to fall.

So apologies to those of you who have been sitting there craving their LT
fix the past two weekends and were disappointed.

Don't forget the next couple of weeks are not your last chance to give
the builders feedback on their areas. And when you're using those
feedback channels like BUG IDEA and TYPO, you don't have to report your
name... it gets logged to the file along with the time and the number of
the room you're standing in at the time. So if you report bug/typos/etc
where they happen, you don't have to say which area it was in and it's
easier for the immorts getting the reports to find the problems easily.

Have a great week!

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

                       AUGUST: INDUSTRIAL ERA
                        Su  M Tu  W Th  F 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

Thursday, August 14th      7:30 pm             Q&A in the OOC Auditorium
                           9:30 pm             Industrial Level-to-5 Contest
Sunday,   August 17th      4:00 pm             Gangwars PK Tourney #1
Thursday, August 21st      7:30 pm             Q&A in the OOC Auditorium
                           9:30 pm             Industrial Recalltag
Saturday, August 23rd      2:00 pm             Industrial Tinyplot
Sunday,   August 24th      4:00 pm             Gangwars PK Tourney #2
Thursday, August 28th      7:30 pm             Q&A in the OOC Auditorium
                           9:30 pm             Industrial Trivia
Saturday, August 30th      9:00 pm             Finish-The-Limerick Game
Sunday,   August 31st      4:00 pm             Gangwars PK Tourney #3

Coming in September:
  Immortal Applications Due: Sept 1, 11:59pm
  The Official PKill Championship Tournament!

___                                                                   ___
\  |-----------------------------------------------------------------|  /
/__|           Second Prize Machine Changing on Friday!              |__\
   '-----------------------------------------------------------------'

Hear ye, hear ye! Only one week remains for the souvenir machine in the
OOC! Get your souvenirs while you can -- after that, the arcade owners
are trotting out the contest-fed buttons and badges machine for your
prize-choosing pleasure!

Wait, you say? What is this souvenir machine, you say? Take the token in
your hot little hand and go to the OOC Arcade -- just look souvenir,
you'll see the machine and how it works!

___                                                                   ___
\  |-----------------------------------------------------------------|  /
/__|          Immortal Application Deadline: September 1st           |__\
   '-----------------------------------------------------------------'

It's that time of year again. The deadline for Immortal Applications is
September 1st, 2003. 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 Allskill checks for ironwill now include minimum phyical 
   |  |          stats as well as spirit.
   |  |       o Flavoring timed items no longer stops them from decaying.    
   |  |     
   |__|     TYPO FIXES:
    /\        o Fix in lightning bolt spell.
   /  \       o Fix in missed bash message.
  /    \    
 /_    _\   
   |  |                         HELP FILE UPDATES
   |  |       
   |  |          There have been no help file updates recently.
   |__|     
    /\      
   /  \                          SUMMER ODYSSEY
  /    \                      MEDIEVAL ERA UPDATES
 /_    _\   
   |  |     If you want to suggest specific improvements or new additions
   |  |     to existing areas please don't hesitate to submit them on the
   |  |     idea/bug/typo channels or drop mudmail to the builder who is
   |__|     responsible for the area (check AREAINFO to find out!). And 
    /\      please don't limit ideas and suggestions to these 3 months!
   /  \     
  /    \    AFRICAN SAVANNA and ZANZIBAR
 /_    _\        Tweaks prices on animal skins. Mobs that use headbutt
   |  |          have alternatives for nonhumans, and those that use
   |  |          choke and elbow have an alternative to use on the
   |  |          UNDEAD. Checked fight acts for valid/is_here and is
   |__|          awake/standing. All mobs that use _transfer or the like
    /\           check they're in an appropriate room to do that now.
   /  \          Various bug and typo fixes.
  /    \    
 /_    _\   BENGAL
   |  |          Various minor bugs and typos fixed.
   |  |     
   |  |     CASABLANCA
   |__|          Mobs that use headbutt have alternatives for nonhumans,
    /\           and those that use choke and elbow have an alternative
   /  \          to use on the UNDEAD. If target fails, they'll try again
  /    \         Signor Ferrari tweaked slightly. Various typos fixed.
 /_    _\   
   |  |     GYPSY CARNIVAL
   |  |          Checked fight acts for is_here. Mobs that use headbutt
   |  |          have alternatives for nonhumans, and those that use
   |__|          choke and elbow have an alternative to use on the
    /\           UNDEAD. Various minor bugs and typos fixed.
   /  \     
  /    \    PORT OF LONDON
 /_    _\        Bootblack announcement flag stays over renting now.
   |  |          Various bugs and typos fixed.
   |  |     
   |  |     SAN FRANCISCO
   |__|          Horses here should be more like others found elsewhere.
    /\           Private rooms and swinging doors on the saloon should be
   /  \          more charmy friendly. Mayor/barber spam fixed. It should
  /    \         be more obvious it's REALLY muddy when it rains. Checked
 /_    _\        fight acts for is_here and things like NO_BLEED, etc.
   |  |          Mobs that use headbutt have alternatives for nonhumans,
   |  |          and those that use choke have an alternative to use on
   |  |          the UNDEAD. King gets cranky about his desk/notebook if
   |__|          you take it in front of him. More little critters added
    /\           around town. Mobs that didn't need HOLYLIGHT had it
   /  \          removed. Added some new mobs and items and two new
  /    \         rooms. O'Leary's changed slightly on how she handles
 /_    _\        people who are being rude to her. Adds in some prairie
   |  |          dogs too. Various minor bugs and typos fixed.
   |  |     
   |  |     SOUTHSEAS
   |__|          Pym should stay out to play just a bit longer. If target
    /\           fails, they'll try again. Various bugs and typos fixed.
   /  \     
  /    \    
 /_    _\   WWI SOMME
   |  |          Checked fight acts for is_here. Mobs that use headbutt
   |  |          have alternatives for nonhumans, and those that use
   |  |          choke and elbow have an alternative to use on the
   |__|          UNDEAD. Various minor bugs and typos fixed.
    /\      
   /  \                              Other Area Updates
  /    \    
 /_    _\   GENERIC ANIMALS
   |  |          Ensures ALL generics have acts to get out of indoor rooms
   |  |          if they end up in them. Fish will move off land. Some
   |  |          animals will move out of water rooms. Players should also
   |__|          no longer complain as much about stray cats/dogs or
    /\           bears, cows, etc deciding to settle in for an extended
   /  \          stay in their homes, or worry so much about nasty insects
  /    \         like spiders and bees invading their private space. And
 /_    _\        ups the random for them to get out so even if they do
   |  |          decide to visit or seek shelter from a foe, they'll
   |  |          vacate soonishly. Population control (cows, sheep, and
   |  |          cats, dogs, etc). Tweaks arrives and randoms even lower
   |__|          than they were. Please report any specific examples of
    /\           which acts or animals are problematic in the future. Puts
   /  \          in a help file, and makes the areainfo available to
  /    \         mortals. Various minor bugs and typos fixed.
 /_    _\   
   |  |     1802 ALASKA
   |  |          Alaska animals now use generic actblocks. They should no
   |  |          longer invade player homes and set up permanent
   |__|          residence. Various typo fixes.
    /\      
   /  \     AFRICAN SAVANNA
  /    \         Few bug/typo fixes, animals use generic actblocks.
 /_    _\   
   |  |     ANCIENT GREECE
   |  |          Few bug/typo fixes, animals use generic actblocks.
   |  |     
   |__|     BOSTON, MASS.
    /\           Checked fight acts for is_here and things like NO_BLEED,
   /  \          etc. Mobs that use headbutt have alternatives for
  /    \         nonhumans, and those that use choke and elbow have an
 /_    _\        alternative to use on the UNDEAD. Various minor bugs and
   |  |          typos fixed.
   |  |     
   |  |     PIRATE'S DEN
   |__|          Checked fight acts for is_here and things like NO_BLEED,
    /\           etc. Slay acts set victim to 1 hp. Mobs that use
   /  \          headbutt have alternatives for nonhumans, and those that
  /    \         use choke have an alternative to use on the UNDEAD.
 /_    _\   
   |  |     ROMANIA
   |  |          Checked fight acts for is_here and things like NO_BLEED,
   |  |          etc. Mobs that use headbutt have alternatives for
   |__|          nonhumans. Patrol leader and his patrol should stay
    /\           together. Various minor bugs and typos fixed.
   /  \     
  /    \    SALEM, MASS.
 /_    _\        Checked fight acts for is_here and things like NO_BLEED,
   |  |          etc. Mobs that use headbutt have alternatives for
   |  |          nonhumans, and those that use choke and elbow have an
   |  |          alternative to use on the UNDEAD. Various minor bugs and
   |__|          typos fixed.
    /\      
   /  \     TUDOR ENGLAND
  /    \         Horses here should be more like horses found elsewhere.
 /_    _\        Checked fight acts for is_here and things like NO_BLEED,
   |  |          etc. Mobs that use headbutt have alternatives for
   |  |          nonhumans, and those that use choke and elbow have an
   |  |          alternative to use on the UNDEAD. Fixed problem where
   |__|          some random acts hadn't been going off. Various minor
    /\           bugs and typos fixed.
   /  \     
  /    \    1802 ALASKA, ALHAMBRA, ANCIENT NAZCA, ARABIAN NIGHTS,
 /_    _\   BEOWULF, CELTIC IRELAND, FRENCH INDIAN WAR, MEDIEVAL SEAS,
   |  |     ROMAN BRITAIN, SHERWOOD, ST DENIS ABBEY, TORTUGA, VICEROYAL
   |  |     PERU, and VIKING SKANDINAVIA
   |  |          Various 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. 
   |  |     
   |__|          Kae           Larderello (Dante's Hell)

___                                                                    ___
\  |------------------------------------------------------------------|  /
/__|                LegendMUD May 2003 Connection Analysis            |__\
   '------------------------------------------------------------------'

                        Peak Mortal Players 50
                          Average Peak was 39
                     Peak PKOK Enabled Players 26
                     Peak PKE Enabled Players 8
              PKEnabled Characters represent approximately
                        7% of active players.
              PKOKenabled Characters represent approximately
                        46% of active players.

                    Peak Accept All Characters 9
              Accept All Characters represent approximately
    4% of all active characters and 9% of active pkok enabled characters.

The first two tables below show the Average Mortal Players,  Average
PKOK Enabled Players, and the number that were "Accept All" connected
to Legend by hour of the day as polled approximately on the hour
system time during the period noted above.

The third table shows the same averages calculated by the day of week.

               hour  0  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9 10 11
               ------------------------------------------
               avg  29 26 22 19 17 15 14 15 17 20 21 24
               pkok 14 13 11  9  8  6  6  6  8  9  9 11
               aas   1  1  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0
               pke   1  1  1  1  1  0  0  0  1  1  1  1


               hour 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23
               ------------------------------------------
               avg  27 29 30 31 29 28 28 28 29 31 31 30
               pkok 12 13 14 15 13 13 13 12 13 14 14 14
               aas   1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1
               pke   2  2  2  2  2  1  2  2  2  2  2  2


               day   MON  TUE  WED  THU  FRI  SAT  SUN
               ------------------------------------------
               avg    25   25   25   26   24   22   24
               pke     1    2    2    2    2    1    1
               pkok   11   11   13   12   12    9   10
               aas     0    1    1    1    1    0    1

           This last table shows the averages as calculated
                 by day of week and hour by hour.

                MON          TUE          WED          THU
           AVG PK OK AA|AVG PK OK AA|AVG PK OK AA|AVG PK OK AA
        ---------------+------------+------------+--------------
         0: 29  1 15  1| 28  1 13  1| 32  3 17  2| 25  2 11  1
         1: 29  1 15  0| 25  2 12  1| 27  2 14  1| 23  2 11  1
         2: 26  1 13  0| 21  1 11  1| 23  3 13  1| 20  1 10  0
         3: 20  1 10  0| 18  1  9  0| 19  2 10  0| 18  1  8  0
         4: 16  0  7  0| 14  1  7  0| 18  0  8  0| 17  1  8  0
         5: 15  0  5  0| 13  0  6  0| 13  0  7  0| 16  0  7  0
         6: 13  0  4  0| 12  0  6  0| 13  0  6  0| 15  0  7  0
         7: 14  0  4  0| 14  0  6  0| 15  1  7  0| 17  0  7  0
         8: 17  1  7  0| 16  0  7  0| 17  1  8  0| 18  1  8  0
         9: 19  1  7  0| 19  1  9  0| 20  1  9  0| 22  2 10  0
        10: 22  1  8  0| 21  1  9  0| 21  2 10  0| 24  2 11  0
        11: 24  1  9  0| 24  2 12  1| 29  3 14  1| 24  1 11  0
        12: 30  1 13  0| 29  2 11  1| 32  2 15  2| 29  2 13  0
        13: 35  1 15  1| 31  2 13  1| 32  2 15  1| 30  2 14  1
        14: 33  2 15  1| 31  3 14  1| 33  2 17  2| 32  2 16  1
        15: 32  2 15  1| 29  2 13  1| 34  2 18  1| 32  2 16  2
        16: 28  1 12  2| 32  2 14  1| 31  2 17  1| 30  2 13  1
        17: 30  1 11  1| 28  2 11  1| 27  2 14  1| 31  2 15  1
        18: 32  2 14  2| 31  3 14  2| 26  1 14  1| 30  3 16  1
        19: 29  2 14  1| 29  2 13  2| 27  1 13  1| 28  2 15  1
        20: 28  1 13  0| 31  3 14  1| 28  2 13  1| 33  3 16  2
        21: 31  1 14  1| 30  3 13  0| 31  3 15  2| 34  3 15  2
        22: 30  1 13  0| 33  2 15  1| 32  2 15  2| 34  2 16  1
        23: 29  1 12  1| 31  2 15  2| 28  2 14  1| 36  3 17  2

                       FRI          SAT          SUN
                  AVG PK OK AA|AVG PK OK AA|AVG PK OK AA
               ---------------+------------+--------------
                0: 29  2 16  1| 28  0 12  1| 31  1 14  1
                1: 24  2 13  1| 27  0 12  1| 27  0 12  1
                2: 22  2 13  2| 22  0  9  1| 16  0  6  0
                3: 19  2 10  1| 20  1  9  0| 18  1  7  0
                4: 16  1  8  0| 20  1  8  0| 16  0  6  0
                5: 14  0  8  0| 16  0  7  0| 15  1  6  0
                6: 13  1  7  1| 18  1  8  0| 13  0  6  0
                7: 15  1  8  1| 15  0  7  0| 14  0  6  0
                8: 16  1  8  0| 15  1  8  0| 16  0  8  0
                9: 20  1  9  1| 18  1  8  1| 17  0  8  0
               10: 22  2 11  1| 20  1  8  0| 19  0  8  0
               11: 22  1 12  1| 20  1  9  0| 20  0  8  0
               12: 24  2 13  1| 21  1  9  0| 22  1  9  1
               13: 32  3 17  1| 21  1  9  0| 23  0  9  1
               14: 31  3 17  1| 23  1 10  0| 26  1 10  1
               15: 36  3 20  2| 24  1 10  0| 27  1 10  1
               16: 28  1 13  1| 25  1 10  1| 30  1 12  1
               17: 28  1 15  1| 23  1  9  1| 31  1 14  2
               18: 28  1 13  1| 21  2  8  1| 27  2 11  3
               19: 26  2 12  1| 25  1  8  1| 30  1 11  1
               20: 26  2 13  2| 26  1  9  0| 32  2 13  1
               21: 26  2 12  2| 28  1 11  0| 34  2 13  2
               22: 28  1 13  1| 27  1 12  1| 33  2 14  2
               23: 30  1 12  1| 24  2 12  2| 31  2 14  1

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
  _______   ____    _______
 /  ___  \ / __ \  /  ___  \  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 Bug with PK Healing?              o Bug with Commands Going Wonky?
 o Soloing & Charm Killing Mobs?     o Why Similar Mobs Different?
 o How Many Pke Currently?           o How About Asst GMs?
 o Tourney with Someone Else's Char? o When is Next Tourney?
 o Dress Wound Progress?             o Bug With Burning Roof Quest?
 o Dealing with Crossplay and PKOK?  o Applying for LotP Status?
 o Can You Stack Limn Spells?        o Why So Many Crashes Lately?
 o Writing LT Stories?               o Why Can I See Wizinvis Imms?
 o New Full-Stat Bows?               o What's With the Hunt Lag?
 o Why Does Some EQ Zap Me?          o Spirit Requirements for Fighters
 o New Skills/Spells/Items?          o Update the Welcome Board?
 o Why Two Different PK Systems?     o Ironwill and Multiple Fighting Stats?
 o Picking Up Quests Again           o New Area Progress?
 o Update for Lima?                  o Strings and DTs?
 o Why a Summoning Lag?              o Is Lori's Item In-Spec?
 o Prize Machine Discussion          o The Imms Went Soft: Stuff to Rip!
 o Administrating Pkill?             o Posting Changes This Week? 
 o What's "a thrashing of water"?    o Generic Critter Spam?
 o Bug/Advantage with Entrance?      o Skill Reimbs Past the Deadline?
 o 10 Years? & Reminiscing           o When Did I Start Playing?
 o PK Healing Bug Fixed?             o What Imm Positions Are Open In Sept?
 o Attitudes & Imm/Mort Relations?   o Conferences & Asking to Move There
 o Double Standards with Swearing?   o When do Warnings Go Away?
 o Does the Void Still Exist?        o What do Consider Msgs Really Mean?
 o Clarify PKE Means Can Be Jumped?  o Less Spam with GET ALL CORPSE?
 o Bug with PK Stealing?             o Games: Flag Hunts and Recall Tag?
 o What's with New Channels?         o Status on Asst. GM?

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

                Malachite has reached 100 million experience!
     ___                                                          ___
     \  |--------------------------------------------------------|  /
     /__|                     Clan News                          |__\
        '--------------------------------------------------------'

     The Faction of the Great Clan disbanded was disbanded by the GM
                        on August 7th, 2003.

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

              The Infernals Celebrate their One Year Anniversary

A pile of corpses, blazing as bright as the sun was last night found in
the woods near the Royal Stag as though some collection of psychotics had
somehow found cause to band together, at least long enough to prepare
this grand spectacle of the macabre.

Found in the dead hands of a man buried deep within the pile was this
slightly burned note:

     One year on, one year's more service to chaos, we remain true
     to our past, and we persist.

     Many of you doubted our integrity, and our devotion to
     mayhem, but this pyre stands not as proof, but as a
     celebration unto ourselves as we pass this year of change,
     our master Barabas may have moved on to the lifeless void
     that so many others have gone on to, a shell of his former
     self controlled by some wretched force beyond our reckoning.

     But his passion for carnage, his hatred for the children of
     the light burns ever brightly as this pyre is testament to.

     And we only hope for another year such as this.
     Infernal Regards,
     Holzt Xylander, press release agent to Duchess Maloth.


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

There are currently 23 RP clans and 3 PK clan. This leaves open slots for
six (6) 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                        |__\
        '--------------------------------------------------------'

                         A Pretty Good Attempt

The small, worm-like man watched as his master exchanged a few choice
insults with the devil garbed in theatric red. Lord Marcel Alexander and
Mephistopheles, both acclaimedly princes of the infernal realms, were
never the best of friends. Soze, of course, feared them both although his
loathing of Lord Marcel was more, well, personal.

Mephistopheles, ever overconfident, lounged forward and slapped Lord
Marcel across the face with his ruby glove, a gentleman's challenge that
seemed more than a tad absurd down here, in the dim and dusty darkness
below centre stage. Lord Marcel promptly responded in course, slapping
his leather gloves across Mephistopheles' ruby features with a resounding
THWAP!. If he had had a pair of iron gauntlets handy, Soze was in no
doubt he'd have used those instead.

"Have at you, scoundrel!" Mephistopheles roared, swinging his trident
about as to swipe the feet out under the agile prince of the Seventh
Circle who sidestepped and with an excited gleam in his ice-blue eyes
poked a finger into the sewer-stalker's right eye. Lord Marcel always did
take a certain passion in causing physical pain, a passion which was
probably the chief reason that his affairs never lasted long.

Soze, ever on the look-out for a quick career advance - from doormat to
master, perhaps -- eyed his chance. As the two princes whirled around
each other, each about as unable to get a good blow in as the other, he
concentrated and wove a spell of darkness to engulf them all.

"Oops," he muttered excitedly as the spell misfired and ricochetted
around the dim cave, causing Faust and Marguerite both to dive for cover
behind the nearest inanimate objects.

Mephistopheles, cape streaming, reeled from the poison of Lord Marcel's
touch and clawed at his eyes where the darkness engulfed him. Breathing
words of power he tore the veil of shadows from his face and hissed
violently. Lord Marcel too grabbed at his eyes, thinking the spell one of
Mephistopheles' making, and prepared his countermove.

Soze could barely contain his glee when the red-cloaked, horned devil
ducked Lord Marcel's counter-spell and drove his trident into the
Englishman's flesh, impaling him. He all but squealed with pleasure as
Lord Marcel's form dissipated, sending him back to Hell for at least a
day or two.

Then he ducked and ran for his life before Mephistopheles sorted it all
out. Better to run and live and enjoy a few days' of being in command of
Lord Marcel's hordes of imps before his master stopped breaking things in
Hell and rebuilt his body to return.

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

Two weeks ago the Seven Circles of Hell, the Infernals and the Prophets
lead the pack with the most active members in pkill that week. They were
followed closely by the Wardens of the King, the Syndicate, the
Necromancers and the Grendels. Also seen involved in pkill were members
of the Knights of the Temple, the Grand Coven, the Hermetic Order and the
now disbanded Faction of the Great.

This past week, the Prophets has the most members involved in a pk
situation, followed by the Infernals and then the Grendels. The
Necromancers had the next highest number of memers out in the field. The
Wardens of the King and the Sundicate were each represented by a pair of
members this week. The following clans each had one member involved in
pkill this past week: Legend Armed Forces, Society of Allies, the Grand
Coven, the Hermetic Order, the IRA, the Institute of Healing Arts and the
Knights of Legend.

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

Two weeks ago there were 44 pk-related deaths involving 37 different
characters. Of those 37 characters, 16 of them were accept all and 14 of
them were PKE at the time. There were 17 pke vs pke battles that ended in
death. There were 58 PKE characters total.

In the past week there were 49 pk-related deaths involving 42 different
characters. Of those 42 characters, 17 of them were accept all and 22 of
them were PKE at the time. There were 12 pke vs pke battles that ended in
death. There are 63 PKE characters total. 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 witnessed or commit 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________________________________________________________________
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                    The Winds of the Past, part II

'I am looking forward to that meal then.' Ransom chuckled.

'I'm lookin' forward to you lettin' go of my wife.' a low voice sounded
from the door. 'It ain't enough you prolly got a girl in every village
pining for ya, you have to come and hug mine?'

'Jani!' Ransom said. 'We were just talking about you.'

'I bet you were. With yer arm around wife too. Fine way to talk about a
man.' the red-haired man said, and then laughed as the young knight
blushed and stepped away from the petite woman.

'Jani!' scolded Kirva. 'You talk like that to a knight?'

'When he hugs my wife too long I do.' he said with a mock glare before
hugging Ransom tightly. 'About time they made you a knight, Sir Vhache
finally got his keister in gear, eh?' The large man stepped back and
looked at the young knight. 'Still a bit on the scrawny side... you need
a woman's hand to fatten you up some.'

'I have that, and it looks as if Kirva takes that duty to an extreme in
your case, Jani.' the knight said with a grin as the large man peered
down at his sizable girth.

'But I have seen one bigger than you, Jani. He carries a huge warhammer,
and has a beard, braided in a fork.'

'Is he followin' ya?' Jani asked, raising an eyebrow.

'I should hope not!' Ransom said, looking out the window.

'Then I dont care who he is. I'm hungry'

'Wait now!' Kirva said, 'Ransom, you're married?'

'No, not yet anyway.' Ransom said, blushing again.

'Her pa's holdin' you and sword point to marry the girl that's carryin'
your kid?' Jani said, winking.

'No! Nothing like that.' Ransom insisted.

'Not everyone is like you, dear.' Kirva pointed out, causing Jani to
stutter and grin sheepishly before laughing again.

Ransom laughed as well. 'It is good to see you two again.'

'Both of you go wash up for the meal. And Jani... No fooling around...
show him the right one, not the one you fixed' for company.' Kirva said
sternly.

'Yes dear.'

'Yes dear?' Ransom teased the large man. 'Yes dear?' He laughed that much
harder when Kirva nodded and Jani shoved him through the door.

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

                     The Squared Circle, part I

As he sat in the locker room he could hear the crowd cheering and
'boo-ing' some of the others. He felt a familiar sense of anticipation
and excitment building as he ran through the night's match in his mind.
He smiled as a pair of soft hands began to massage his shoulders. then
his upper arms, then linger on his chest, just for a moment, as they
always did. He slumped forward a little, trying to relax his muscles,
enjoying the sudden ministrations. She leaned close and whispered in his
ear, 'It's time to get ready... only 2 matches before you walk the
platform to accept the challenge, and they still have to see you come in
the building.'

He nodded and slowly stood up. He needed to get dressed and into the back
parking lot so that they could see him 'arriving,' even though he had
been there for hours.

He stepped into the dressing room and took his mask, tights, and boots
from his bag. He put on his tights, and carried his boots and mask back
out with him, and sat down to lace and tie his boots. He looked at
himself in the mirror and chuckled. No one knew him without the mask...
'Time to oil up.' his manager told him. He chuckles again and nodded.
'Going into character early tonight, aren't you.' she commented almost
tauntingly. 'That's ok, I think I like you better like this.. you cant
say no.' she said, placing a kiss on his lips as he was pulling the mask
on over his head. She grabbed the baby oil and began rubbing it on his
back, arms, and chest. He took the oil from her and did his legs and
chuckled when he looked up to see her ruby-red lips in a pout. 'You never
let me finish!' she said.

He felt fortunate that he was wearing a mask, she couldn't see him turn
red, but his neck and upper chest gave him away. His manager tilted her
head back and laughed softly. She grabbed his world heavyweight
championship belt and put it around his waist. 'Time to go to the parking
lot, baby. We need to get out of that nice limo and show the world the
best couple in professional wrestling. She put her arm in his and led him
out to the awaiting limosine to make their grand entrance....

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

                     The Evil That Pet Rocks Do

Dr. Hinkleberry the psychiatrist leaned back in his comfortable leather
armchair and looked at his note pad. Glancing up over his wire-rim glasses at
the handsome young man with the steel mask squirming on the couch he said,
'Today we're going to talk about anger, Torak. You get angry easily. What are
you so angry about?'

The youth gestured with evident frustration. 'Why wouldn't I be angry?
Everyone hates me. Even my worshipers hate me.'

'Worship... Right,' Dr. Hinkleberry mumbled. 'And you think this is all the
fault of that rock you carry around.'

The youth sat up, scowling. His left eye glowed ominously as if on fire. 'I
gave my left hand and my left eye to obtain that rock,' he snarled.

Dr. Hinkleberry nodded. 'Yes, so you, err, say, Torak. Right.' To him, it
looked like any other rock picked up from a riverbed somewhere. 'Tell me about
your parents. Did your parents love you?'

The youth rolled his good right eye, or at least it seemed so from his shrug
-- it was really hard to tell behind that steel mask, though.  'My father
laughed in my face when I told him of my career plans. My mother never talked
to me at all. And as for my six idiot brothers, they were either too busy
drinking and chasing blonde wenches or ganging up with my oldest brother to
harass me.'

The psychiatrist winced. 'Yes, that's really terribly complicated.' He glanced
at his notes. 'Your father was God, you say, and your mother -- the Universe?'

Torak  shrugged. 'Yes?'

'Err. Yes. And you believe that your, er, pet rock will kill you eventually.'

The youth jumped to his feet angrily. 'It's not something I BELIEVE, it's
something I KNOW!' He paced the office angrily, stomping his feet rather like
a sullen child. 'Some day some farm boy is going to pick up this rock and come
shove a sword through me and there is NOTHING I CAN DO ABOUT IT!'

Dr. Hinkleberry peered at his note pad again. 'I see. Well, you're really very
upset, Torak. Maybe we should talk more next week. I have an appointment with
Kodachi next and I'd really hate it if you wrecked my office again.'

The steel-masked youth sighed. 'All right.'

As the door closed behind him the psychiatrist breathed relief. At least this
week, his desk and bookcase had survived intact. He was getting better at
this.

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

                        The Price of Knowledge

Bjorn was smiling. He finally got to go on a long trip with mama! Yay!!
The place they were visiting was across the big water, and was full of
unhappy looking people.

The little boy watched his mama get into an argument with the shopkeep
about some prices, and when the man started to get out of hand, Lilac was
forced to defend herself. So Bjorn thought that he would try one of the
things that the two ravens had shown him! Wouldn't mama be pleased??

But as soon as he tried to, the man became hysterical. 'A witch!' he
shouted. Suddenly, the unhappy people grabbed him and took him from his
mama... shouting and yelling questions and words that he didn't
understand. They began to tie him to a big log! And started a fire with
him there! All the while, jeering and making faces! Why where they doing
this?! Bjorn blacked out....

He woke up to see a large, grizzled looking man peering at him with one
good eye. A flurry of feathers, and Bjorn's two raven friends were
sitting on the man's shoulders, cawing. 'Now you know the price of
knowledge,' he stated sadly, 'as do I.' The ravens abruptly stopped
making any noise as the man spoke. 'If you wish to learn more from my
little friends, you may. But it most likely will result in suffering
again, Bjorn. Is that something you want?'

Bjorn thought about it. He WOULD get to see mama and daddy again...and
maybe help them protect others from the unhappy people. So he
nodded...and blacked out again...

When he awoke, he saw his mama crying. 'MAMA!' he gleefully shouted.
Lilac could only blink. But she was too happy to see her little bear
alive and far too busy hugging Bjorn to see the tall, weathered figure
watching from outside the window with two ravens cawing softly in the
background...

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

                       Celebrations all around!

A fey maiden with elfin features and a raven-tressed shield-maiden
awaited an incorrigible lass's arrival. They had some news to share with
her and hoped to have a killing celebration.

An incorrigible lass found her friends in the desert outside of Agrabah.

'Hi girls,' she said brightly, hugging them each in turn.

The pair of them glowed and she was immediately sure that something
momentous was up.

'What's going on? You two are so damn happy! Er, not that it's a bad
thing, of course! But...'

A fey maiden with elfin features chuckled with amusement.

A raven-tressed shield-maiden grinned at an incorrigible lass.

'Well, I've asked Arya to marry me and she said YES!'

'Oh! That's fabulous! Congratulations!'

An incorrigible lass threw her arms around them both!

'Some rum to celebrate?'

She passed around the cask and the killing spree began.

                               =-=-=-=-=-=

After leaving her friends, an incorrigible lass wandered into Agrabah in
search of a dining establishment. While she was eating, she began
thinking of her Elven prince. She realized that she wanted what her
friends had.

She decided to take things into her own hands, thinking it would be hard
to get a ring without her prince finding out, being as they spent all
their time together. She would ask her friends for advice on a ring
befitting him and where to get it.

After finishing her dinner, she found her way home to the cottage for the
night.

                               =-=-=-=-=-=

Feeling rested and lacking for her prince's company, she set out to find
a ring. She was about to speak to the owner of the ring about giving it
to her when her prince logged on. She sent a little prayer to Poseidon
that she would not die in its retrieval and be caught in her project.

'Ah, Poseidon, must be pleased with me currently,' she said with a sigh
of relief, the ring tucked safely in her pack.

                               =-=-=-=-=-=

Later that afternoon, she was returning to the cottage. She was missing
him terribly. He had been away for several days. Unlocking the door,
she stepped inside and found him, much to her delight!

'You're home!'

She threw her arms around him enthusiastically.

He kissed her tenderly, snuggling her.

'Why is my pirate shaking?'

'Shaking? I'm not shaking!'

He looked at her and said, 'Oh really? Then why do I hear your coins
jingling?'

'Uhm...'

She looked nervous.

'Mally, what is it?'

She really began to shake. He began to worry what was wrong with his
pirate. Taking a deep breath, she dug in her pack and retrieved
something.

Handing it to him, she held her breath. With a stutter, she asked him,
'Will...you...marry me?'

With a grin, he said, 'Sure will!'

She let out her breath and he pulled her close for a kiss.

'Silly, pirate, did you really think I would say no and let you get
away?'

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

                              My Gifts

As I sit, completely bored, I receive a message from a person that I
don't yet know.

'Hello, Princess of Amber,' since that is what I am.

'Hello,' I answer.

'Can you please come to the Royal Stag?'

'Why?'

'I have a gift for you.'

'Okay!'

Even though it was a long way to The Royal Stag from where I was, a gift
is a gift! I arrive to the inn and shyly curtsey to Feh. He smiles at me.
He gives me the most beautiful thing I have ever seen! The Jewel of
Judgement. It belonged to Eric of Amber who is my brother. I think to
myself 'How could he have it when neither I nor Corvin have it. Oh well,
miracles are miracles. Suddenly, he hands me something out of the
ordinary. An item I have never seen. A glittering projection of the
Logrus. The Hell pack. There are only a couple left today - maybe only
one! After I ask him about the whereabouts of my gifts, I find it hard
not to ask...

'Wouldn't you like anything in return?'

'No,' he tells me.

'But these gifts are very valuable. Money perhaps?'

'No, thank you,' he says 'these things mean nothing to me so I decided
they are best with you.'

I am completely shocked, yet relieved. A stranger of some sort - gives me
the two most valuable things known to us. The Hell pack and the Jewel of
Judgement. Even though, I am a shy person at heart, I begin to tell all
my peers about my wonderful gifts and how lucky I am. They aren't jealous
but really interested. How can I get so lucky and get my hands on the
things that are most rare? Hmm, that we will never know. *wink*

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