Volume Two Issue Thirty-Five
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=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= .............._______ ............./ / THE LEGENDARY TIMES ............/ / .........../ /.....______.._____.....______.._____.......____ ........../ /...../ /./ \.../ /./ \...../ \ ........./ /...../ ___/./ ____/../ ___/./ __. \.../ /\ \ ......../ /...../ /_.../ /....../ /_.../ /..\ >./ /./ / ......./ /...../ __/../ /____../ __/../ /.../ /./ /./ / ....../ /_____/__/__../ \_\ /./ /__../ /.../ /./ /_/ / ...../ / /./ /./ /./ /.../ /./ / ..../ /_/..\______/./_____/./__/.../__/./_______/ MUD .../________________/ running on mud.aus.sig.net 9999 199.1.78.16 9999 =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= http://alcuin.plymouth.edu/~ed/legend.html =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= VOLUME TWO, ISSUE THIRTY-FIVE October 20, 1995 =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= ***************************** ...:/:[ CONTENTS ]:\:... *CODE UPDATES* *ANNOUNCEMENTS* -Hall of Legend Bios- -Fund Drive Update- *SOCIAL EVENTS* -A Knightly Challenge!- -An Elegy for Kiera- -A Wedding- -Harkon's Tale- =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Please send your responses to articles to the Legendary Times address at [email protected]. Letters to the editor are welcomed. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= CODE UPDATES In the past couple of weeks, a large number of code changes have been made throughout the game. Here's a list: -The fade self spell is fixed, so that invis potion now works. Fade self and fade person both last the same amount of time now. -PCs (and players) aren't forced to rush out and attack if someone shoots at them. -Cosmetic fixes were made to the census spell, and to the messages for the "steal" and "backstab" skills. -The wave of nausea spell now has a message to the caster when it succeeds. -If you are mounted and recall, the mount doesn't come with you. If you have a groupboat and recall, the groupboat doesn't come with you. -Hidden people stop hiding when they begin to fight. -You'll be thrown from your mount if you lose the ability to use ride. -Shooting to initiate combat removes the sneak affect. -You can now use the "aggressive" option while raging. -Begging now follows clanned/unclanned rules. -Boats now stay with corpses the same way lights do. -Homunculi and elementals now disappear after they uncharm. -Blind characters are now able to manipulate doors (presumably by feel) 100% of time -Unimplemented spells that are chantable will no longer cost you mana. -Praise and satire can no longer be used in the OOC. *\*/*\*/*\*/* HALL OF LEGEND BIOGRAPHIES We're now collecting biographies for HALL OF LEGEND characters to put in the helpfiles and on the web site. We request that your submissons be 24 lines or less. Our use of these biographies is subject to Flagg's approval (he has the final say on accepting submissions :) ******************** FUND DRIVE UPDATE It turns out that RAM prices were more expensive than we expected them to be. Between that and the site fees for the first six months, plus what we already owed Sadist, we still lack about $325. Yes, we are now open on the new site, but we do still need pledges and donations :) (Many thanks to the players who have already made a sizable dent in our "debt"!!!) We suggest that those who have the money burning a hole in their pocket go ahead and send the checks directly to the following address and we will get the letters out to them as soon as we can, perhaps even crossing in the mail. This is the address to send donations to: (make checks payable to Raphael and Kristen Koster) Raph and Kristen Koster 12603 Rhea Ct. Austin, TX 78727 If you are an overseas donor who cannot write a check in US Dollars, please email them at [email protected]. *********************************************************************** ________________________ / \ o O | Wonder what folks are | `\|||/ | doing over at LegendMud?| (o o) \________________________/ ooO_(_)_Ooo_____________________________________________________________ _____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____| __|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|___ _____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____ We received this scroll just this past week at the LT offices: ******************************************************************** ** ** ** * * * * * * * * ** ** ** * ******************************************************************* * * * In reply to your base challenge, I return one to thee, * * heathen Mercenary. I shall change some of my equipment, * * and face thee with as near to your own abilities as I can. * * Yet, it shall not be a single fight, but a duel to the * * final death. Equipment shall be untouched by the individual * * victors of each bout, and each combatant will start with * * full hp at the beginning of each. Also, it shall not be * * of the chase me/chase you, but a stand up, formal fight, * * in a single room. A neutral shall call the start of each * * bout. Neither shall flee from the room. * * * * Should ye chose to decline this, any and all existing * * challenges by thee shall be void, and any claimed titles * * ye shall never again lay claim to. * * * * * * Written by my hand, * * * * Sir Dominic ElHalyn Hastur * * Master of the Knights of Legend * * * ******************************************************************** ======================= The following came by way of messenger: ---- To Dominic, in response to his challenge: Ass! I have a better idea, along the same lines as your challenge: why do we not instead strip down and crouch in a small coup, clucking and flapping our arms?. The first to lay an egg will be named the victor and knight extraordinaire, later to be sacrificed as dinner. And why not? It makes as much sense as your assinine proposal. Strip from combat all strategy, skill, and intelligence, and ye wind up with two idiots standing with feet rooted to the floor, taking turns beating each other with sticks until one of them is dead. Or two knights dueling each other, 'tis hard to tell the difference. And certes it proves aught. Even roving duels only slightly resemble real combat. Are ye so afraid that you and all of your warriors, putting your heads together and coming up with (dare I suggest) strategy cannot stand against me? And well ye should be, because so far on that count ye have failed. A real proposal for ye: spend some time outside of that secret clubhouse of yours. Death will find ye, swift and true, and your running can end, perhaps abating your cowardice and fear as well. Mercenary ============================================= Mercenary's retribution against the knights seems to be proceeding full-tilt. Gail has already been killed by the rogue, and Dragonseye fell victim to one of a number of assassins openly hired by Mercenary, who claimed that Dragonseye was 'not worth his time' to kill. Rumors speak of similar contracts on the life of the seldom-seen knight Tegid. Verbal sparring between Dominic and Mercenary has frequently been seen, but has only once come to blows, ostensibly because the knight chooses to exercise the better part of valour, waiting in his clan hall for reinforcements. Those reinforcements showed up recently, and Tarbash and Dominic looked like they were going to get the better of the rogue wanderer. The slippery Mercenary managed to break off and re-engage the battle often, each time coming back refreshed, much to the consternation of the knights. The war raged across Britain and Europe, until finally Tarbash was slain on the doorstep of Der Phoenix, steps away from safety. Dominic had earlier fled, and no sign of him could be found. There are those who wonder if perhaps Dominic couldn't have bought Tarbash's safe escape with a little more bravery. Mercenary also seems to have gotten more than he bargained for when he accepted a commission on Kretch of the Hermetics. His first abortive assassination attempt was foiled by Magda, who recalled Kretch to safety, where he promptly rented. Magda and Mercenary exchanged icy words over chat, and within a few minutes of Kretch's return, both Kretch and Magda were killed. Magda, claiming foul play on Mercenarys part, warned that he'd picked the terms of the fight. Mercenary claimed innocence and accidental slaying of Magda after Kretch's death, but neither Magda nor, apparently, the Hermetics bought that age-worn excuse. Kretch lured Mercenary to London under the pretense of Mercenary paying Kretch a half-commission fee still owed. Mercenary left the gold with a homunculus, then hid, claiming he hoped to verify the transaction. Kretch attacked, and was soon joined by Phineas and Magda, who quickly routed Mercenary, forcing him to flee to the past. A long chase ensued, spanning all three realms of time in legend, but Mercenary managed to keep one step ahead of his pursuers, ultimately escaping back to 'his city', Kleinstadt. No further deaths were reported, but one can't help but wonder what the Hermetics will make of this. During the chase, Kretch was slain by Phineas. No public explanation was given. More bloodshed insued when Mercenary accepted a contract on the life of Silent. After Mercenary successfully fulfilled it, his employer, Kendrik MacLaren wanted more blood, and so killed the vulnerable Silent repeatedly until ordered to quit by Mercenary, who felt that the multiple slaying wern't part of his original contract. A few hours later, Yukio avenged her clan mate by killing Kendrik, adding in a couple of extra kills in retribution for his...Angered by her attack, Kendrik went wild with rage and accosted a nearby innocent ship's captain. Unfortunately, this attack was his last, for Kendrik was permanently slain by the captain. His death threw the MacLaren clan into shock, many of whom had been trying to avert his final folly. Funeral services were held in Ireland by Tad, his adopted son, and a grave was dug at the Stone Monolith south of the Dun. Still more blood was shed when April encountered Ketch. For reasons unknown to most everyone, she responded to making his acquaintance by killing him twice! Since then, there have been numerous frays between them, some of which have ended up involving Kretch's fellow Hermetics. In turn, April has been aided by as well by Malorn, that former Anti-Paladin (rumor has it, the Great Guppy no longer favors Malorn). The affiliations of April herself are unclear, although she does claim Augustus as her uncle and seems to identify with the cause of the now silent Coven. Perhaps that clan will rise again from its ashes.... And last, but certainly not least, an epic battle ensued between Magda and Snapper last week. For some time now there has been bad blood between them, ever since Snapper allegedly stole one of Magda's belongings. After days of taunting each other on the chat channel, they finally went at it in Sherwood. At first, Snapper seemed to have the upper hand, owing to Magda running into Will of the Green. However, she managed to evade both Will and Snapper, reappearing in the wilds of Canada. After a prolonged chase, Magda vanquished Snapper with her stunning attack. And so the it is over...until the next fray.. /*\*/*\*/*\*/*\*/*\ Thanks to our investigative reporters, the LT is able to bring you a more complete account of the circumstances leading to Kiera's permadeath. Our sources inform us that she chose to go because of personal complications in her life and Magda's (they say she did for love of Magda). A large majority of Legend's characters reacted with grief and sadness to the news of her death, including many who were her sworn enemies. Many have left roses, pictures, candles, and other tributes to her memory. Well wishers may view these, or bring others to the site on Harbor Row, just east of the London Inn. Characteristically, Dusty, Kiera's sister, left her tribute in the form of a poem: An Elegy for Kiera I miss her gray eyes with twinkles of murder, This sister of mine who is gone; She walked the knife edge of civilization And preyed on the meek and the strong. She took life as she found it, usually by force, And left behind empty hearts and a corpse. She baited her rivals with words tinged with wry, This sister of mine who is gone. She struck from behind and betrayed unacquainted And never stayed good friends for long. She took love as she found it, often by stealth And robbed men of life and good health. I miss her small smile as she faced her dark future-- This sister of mine who is gone; She knew just how empty the nights could extend When one sells people's lives for a song. She loved life and she lost it, perhaps lost even more, This Kiera I miss, this sister, this soul sold past darkness' door. -- Dusty //\/\//\///\/\/////\/// Legend enjoyed a happier occasion with the wedding of Farnsworth and Linda. We received this account just last week: The following is a retelling of the wedding of Farnsworth Kurwa and the raven-haired waif, Linda, held Alongside the Waterfall, Canada, on October 13, 1995. Officiating the ceremony was The Most Honorable Pool Shark, Rufus. Zorn Kurwa, OTS, brother of the groom, acted as Best Man; Ren and Cleo offered to give the bride away. Those in attendance included: Charity, Peleg, Beginner, Xo, Nic, Del, Elanor, Hayden, Deathtrap, Candide, Khai, Malakai, Ta, Northstar, Greebo, Redwing, MontyPython, ParticleMan, Lancorn, Stephen, Malorn, and the link-dead Ptah. Everyone sat in your left mind. As is often the case with such events, the ceremony was late to start - though with transfer problems, minor intrusions and a nervous groom, it was most understandable. An early admonition by Rufus, "Please keep your emotes, says, actions, spellcasting to a minimum...the penalties for spamming may be drastic", was promptly ignored by everyone. Prompted by Elanor's random doodlings, a grand musical interlude followed. Excerpts from Vivaldi's "Four Seasons", Classical Bach "Fugue in G Minor", The Wedding March, Ravel's "Bolero", and the "Overture to Romeo and Juliet" were performed by Elanor (Bone Flute), Nic (Harmonica), Greebo (Flamenco Guitar), and Del (Guitar). During the music Cleo sang a stunning rendition of "Fever". Once order had again been restored, Rufus attempted to begin the ceremony. "We are gathered here today to witness the joining of two people who I have come to know in my travels across this land..." The scholarly Elanor politely offered a grammatical correction before Rufus continued. "Who here comes to give the bride?" Cleo said, "I do." "I do," said Ren. A quick debate on the subject was ended when the bride suggested that she and Farnsworth "go for a beer". The ceremony resumed as Rufus continued, "Before you sit Linda and Farnsworth, together on this day, before you all as witnesses. And we are here to join not only in body and mind, but in soul as well, these two hearts who have found each other in the vast sea of people that span this great land. And speaking of minds...as you see, they are in their left mind...as anyone who is getting married could not be in their right mind." This was well received, and brought shouts of "Amen!" and "So?". The bride pointed out that she was left-handed and therefore in her right mind. The groom was completely lost in his bride. "Now...upon this day of spam," Rufus continued, "of joy and rejoicing, I encourage all now to express their support for our proceedings here by maintaining ABSOLUTE silence". Turning to Farnsworth, he said, "I have known you since the days when I traveled with the Bards as companion and friend." To Linda he said, "And through Farns I have come to know you...my blessings to you both on this day." Rufus gave a copy of "The Princess Bride" to Farnsworth, while Zorn handed his brother a delicate filigreed wedding band. "On this book, oh holy book of humor and wit, do you swear that what you say upon this day is honest from your heart?" asked Rufus of Farnsworth. "I do," reponded the nervous groom. After presenting a copy of same to Linda, Rufus asked her, "Do you swear on this day that all you say comes honestly from your heart?" Linda replied, "I do." Rufus held a copy of "The Princess Bride" in his hands and, turning to page 223, began, "Mawage...." This was greeted with much amusement. Ren appeared glad that Rufus was only blaving. "I have been informed that Linda and Farns have prepared their own vows," Rufus said. "Your vows," he said to Farnsworth. "We come into this world with little," began Farnsworth. "The longer we stay, the more we find...life experiences, material items, friendships. If we're lucky, we find a special person. A person with whom to share life experiences, material items, friendships. Linda, I have asked you to be my special person, and am standing here today to formally announce this before one and all. And besides,....I like the wiggle in your walk and the giggle in your talk." Again, those in attendance were moved. Del was seen asking Zorn for a tissue. He was quickly supplied with one by Lancorn, who had many. Zorn gave Del a hanky with the Kurwa symbol on it and Charity provided a pocket handkerchief. Rufus then invited Linda to say her vows. "Being one of few words," she said, "I find it hard to express what I feel. But never doubt my love, dearest. I will love you through everything, the good and the bad. I will stand by your side til the end of time." With some well meant encouragement, and accidental late arrivals, the bride completed her vows. "The ring, please," asked Rufus, and Farnsworth handed a wedding band to him. Rufus dropped a ball and chain, but quickly picked them up again, blushing all the while. When Rufus peered intently at the ring, Linda growled at him, but it was in jest. "I think the priest here has been nipping at the holy wine..." Ren proudly observed to Linda. As the sun rose in the east, signaling a new day, Rufus placed the ring inside a copy of "The Princess Bride". Rufus then asked Linda, "The ring please." He tapped her on the shoulder. "The ring," he reminded her. Rufus looked into the sky and pondered before continuing. "Well...this is....interesting. Well, we shall join these two with but a single ring...For it is not, as these two have requested, a joining of two separate entities into a pair, but into a single existence," he said. "Then again....We may somehow acquire another ring, by which we shall symbolize the unity by the unity of the types of metals in the rings." Rufus then pondered his own existence, while more confusion, eating and coming and going occurred. Rufus continued the ceremony by blessing each ring with a small prayer. To, of course, at Linda's request, no diety in particular, unless you consider Bertrand Russell a diety. Rufus hugged Bertrand Russell's "Principia Mathematica". As Farnsworth stared into Linda's eyes, Rufus gave the groom the wedding band and said, "Do you, Farnsworth Kurwa, take Linda to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, and to always put that little plastic thingy back on the bread when you are done getting a slice?" After the expected response, Rufus directed Farnsworth "You may place the ring upon her finger." Upon giving Linda the ring, Farnsworth said, "With this ring I thee wed" and beamed delightedly. Rufus became confused at this point, thinking the vows thing had already been done, but the recently RL-married Greebo pointed out the correctness of the procedure. Taking this in stride, Rufus continued, asking Linda, "Do you, Linda, take Farnsworth to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, to nag and to love, from this day forward, till pkill and perma may do you part?" "I do," was the bride's response. She gave the ring to Farnsworth before Rufus could say, "You may place the ring upon his finger..." With the words, "With these rings may you forever be binded, by life, by love and by the soul within each of you," Rufus is drowned out by the jubilation of the crowd. He tried trice to tell everyone he was not finished yet. The newlyweds kissed, as Rufus said to Farnsworth "You may now grop...er, kiss the bride." Amidst many cheers, Rufus said "I now pronounce you man and wife." With everyone congratulating the happy couple, the ceremony quickly degenerated into a spam-festival of good wishes, and guests began to politely bid the newlyweds adieu. Before leaving, Charity presented Farnsworth and Linda each with a magic mushroom, a trip for their wedding. Many others as well presented the couple with gifts. Greebo played "Appropriate Reception Music" on a flamenco guitar lent to him by Nic. Some of those present danced. The final entry of the log is Rufus bringing the ceremony to an end, saying "Can I get my your right mind back?" The chronicles stop here, but tales are told that the Kurwa family soon found themselves in Norway, fighting Vikings and rescuing their friend Hayden from certain doom. Details of their honeymoon are better left to the happy couple. Chronicled by Greebo --- Edited by Spencer We received this message from the honeymooning couple: We would like to thank everyone who helped make our special day so memorable, it really did mean a lot to us and we wish you all the best in return. Thank you!!! Farnsworth and Linda Kurwa -=-=-=-=-=-=- More wedding bells will chime when Nic and Kadiya get married on the first week of November (the exact time and day is yet to be determined). They invite all interested parties to come and witness their vows at the Temple of Anubis, in Egypt. Circumstances pending, Parrilyn will preside over the ceremony. -=-=-=-=-=-=- PAID ADVERTISEMENT ***************************************************** Wiley the Druid Mage is offering animal stunning, human sleeping, person fading (non-clan related), calming, and soon, nice substantial augmented poultices. All I require is being grouped to split the EXP in return for my assistance. ***************************************************** This History of Harkon Lukus I was not always the pathetic wretch you may see from time to time wandering the byways of the world. No, good people, I was once a being of great power, a power so evil as to make your very soul shudder. You see, I was the Dark Lord's own bard, for thousands of millennia I was a powerful figure in the courts of Hell. I say "was" because I have since been banished from my homelands, exiled to this hell you call Earth. Why? You may ask. Why indeed? I was stripped of all my powers and station for a most heinous act. I was banished for falling in love. She was a lovely young soul, pure as any can be and still reside in Hell. Her eyes where like sapphires, her hair the color of the fires of my homeland, with skin so soft and white, it hurt the eyes to gaze upon her beauty for too long. But I was betrayed, betrayed by my own carelessness. For, in my blind love of this beautiful creature, I forgot one very important thing. I forgot that not everyone wants to be in Hell (except for its masters, no one wants to in fact). I let that creature of my desire know of my love, and in her hope for salvation, she in turn told Him, the master of that dark court. For my sin I was forced to watch as He and his underlings had their way with her. For her honesty and ambition to be gone from that place she was given the final release, her soul erased for all time. After the rapings and torture I was stripped of all I had come to know, my lands, and my powers. I was sent to earth to live out eternity as a lowly human. I have since vowed to regain my rightful place, even though I have been forbidden the use of my natural powers, forbidden to even learn you humans paltry little magicks, I will regain my station, and I will make the dark one pay for his cruelty to myself and the one I loved! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Legendary Times is put out by the gods of LegendMUD. Please send all replies/additions to to our address at [email protected] for inclusion in the next edition. We, however, reserve the right to moderate this discussion, and may object to some submissions. If you feel we have wrongly omitted one of your messages, please talk to Rusalka online or through EMail and see if she did indeed receive it in the first place. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= The LegendMUD anonymous ftp site has the latest issue of the Legendary Times available for anonymous ftp. Its address is given in the banner at the top of this message. Visit our Web pages too! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=