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		<title>Mertjai: Created page with &quot; &lt;nowiki&gt; =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=  .............._______  ............./     /            THE LEGENDARY TIMES   ..............&quot;</title>
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		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Created page with &amp;quot; &amp;lt;nowiki&amp;gt; =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=  .............._______  ............./     /            THE LEGENDARY TIMES   ..............&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;New page&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div&gt; &amp;lt;nowiki&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=&lt;br /&gt;
 .............._______&lt;br /&gt;
 ............./     /            THE LEGENDARY TIMES &lt;br /&gt;
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 .........../     /.....______.._____.....______.._____.......____&lt;br /&gt;
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 ........./     /...../  ___/./  ____/../  ___/./  __.  \.../  /\  \&lt;br /&gt;
 ......../     /...../  /_.../  /....../  /_.../  /..\   &amp;gt;./  /./  /&lt;br /&gt;
 ......./     /...../  __/../  /____../  __/../  /.../  /./  /./  /&lt;br /&gt;
 ....../     /_____/__/__../  \_\  /./  /__../  /.../  /./  /_/  /&lt;br /&gt;
 ...../               / /./       /./     /./  /.../  /./       /&lt;br /&gt;
 ..../               /_/..\______/./_____/./__/.../__/./_______/ MUD&lt;br /&gt;
 .../________________/      running on         mud.legendmud.org 9999&lt;br /&gt;
                                                 66.87.103.189   9999&lt;br /&gt;
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=&lt;br /&gt;
http://www.legendmud.org/                       ftp://ftp.legendmud.org/pub&lt;br /&gt;
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=&lt;br /&gt;
VOLUME EIGHT, NUMBER TWENTY-THREE                          October 26, 2001&lt;br /&gt;
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
                           TABLE OF CONTENTS&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
                          NEWS, REPORTS, UPDATES &lt;br /&gt;
                             Recent Updates&lt;br /&gt;
                              Q &amp;amp; A Topics&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
                              LEGENDITES&lt;br /&gt;
                             Announcements&lt;br /&gt;
                               Clan News&lt;br /&gt;
                                Spider!&lt;br /&gt;
                    Walking in the Modern Wasteland &lt;br /&gt;
                           A Conquerors Choice&lt;br /&gt;
                            The Loss of Faith&lt;br /&gt;
                   The Quest for Inner Peace Continues&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
___                                                                        ___&lt;br /&gt;
\  |----------------------------------------------------------------------|  /&lt;br /&gt;
/__|  News, Reports, and Updates!                                         |__\&lt;br /&gt;
   '----------------------------------------------------------------------'&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
    /\                          RECENT UPDATES&lt;br /&gt;
   /  \   &lt;br /&gt;
  /    \                         CODE UPDATES&lt;br /&gt;
 /_    _\   &lt;br /&gt;
   |  |     Bug Fixes&lt;br /&gt;
   |  |      o Greater elementals now properly check the charmy limit&lt;br /&gt;
   |  |        &lt;br /&gt;
   |__|                        HELP FILE UPDATES&lt;br /&gt;
    /\      &lt;br /&gt;
   /  \     The following helpfiles were recently added or updated!&lt;br /&gt;
  /    \    &lt;br /&gt;
 /_    _\   General Info&lt;br /&gt;
   |  |     ------------&lt;br /&gt;
   |  |         abbreviations, banking, buglotto, drunkenness, furniture,&lt;br /&gt;
   |  |         immort, mark, prize machine, redeem&lt;br /&gt;
   |__|     &lt;br /&gt;
    /\      Spells Info&lt;br /&gt;
   /  \     ------------&lt;br /&gt;
  /    \        firestorm&lt;br /&gt;
 /_    _\   &lt;br /&gt;
   |  |     Thank you to all the players &amp;amp; imms who assisted in this update!&lt;br /&gt;
   |  |     &lt;br /&gt;
   |  |                          AREA UPDATES&lt;br /&gt;
   |__|     &lt;br /&gt;
    /\      If you want to suggest specific improvements or new additions&lt;br /&gt;
   /  \     to existing areas please don't hesitate to submit them with&lt;br /&gt;
  /    \    the idea/bug/typo commands or drop mudmail to the builder&lt;br /&gt;
 /_    _\   currently responsible for the area (check areainfo to find&lt;br /&gt;
   |  |     out!) &lt;br /&gt;
   |  |     &lt;br /&gt;
   |  |     Viceroyal Peru: Andes&lt;br /&gt;
   |__|          Fixes some errors in resets -- some of the stuff was&lt;br /&gt;
    /\           going to ancient not medieval&lt;br /&gt;
   /  \     &lt;br /&gt;
  /    \    1802 Alaska, Aboriginal Dreamtime, Port of London,&lt;br /&gt;
 /_    _\   Melbourne, Shadowlands, and Sherwood&lt;br /&gt;
   |  |          Various minor bug and typo fixes.&lt;br /&gt;
   |  |     &lt;br /&gt;
   |  |                      In Progress Area Updates&lt;br /&gt;
   |__|     &lt;br /&gt;
    /\      This section is intended to let everyone know what builders&lt;br /&gt;
   /  \     are working on behind the scenes. It is not a perfect record&lt;br /&gt;
  /    \    of progress as all builders will not make updates every week.&lt;br /&gt;
 /_    _\   Players badgering builders about progress or a perceived lack&lt;br /&gt;
   |  |     thereof will be flogged. Remember, the longer spent answering&lt;br /&gt;
   |  |     questions, the longer the project takes to complete.&lt;br /&gt;
   |  |     &lt;br /&gt;
   |__|             Straussy     R.M.S. Titanic&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=&lt;br /&gt;
  _______   ____    _______&lt;br /&gt;
 /  ___  \ / __ \  /  ___  \  Logs of Q&amp;amp;A sessions are available on the&lt;br /&gt;
 | /   \ | \ \/ /  | /   \ |  web pages for those who are unable to attend&lt;br /&gt;
 | |   | |  \  /   | \___/ |  or had to leave early. The most recent ones&lt;br /&gt;
 | |   | |  /  \/\ |  ___  |  are listed on the sitemap page or you can&lt;br /&gt;
 | | /\| | / /\  / | /   \ |  get a complete list on the Q&amp;amp;A index page&lt;br /&gt;
 | \_\ \ | \ \/  \ | \   / |  at the url below.&lt;br /&gt;
  \___\/_/  \__/\/ \_/   \_|&lt;br /&gt;
 &lt;br /&gt;
       http://www.legendmud.org/Community/lectures/QandA/QA_index.html&lt;br /&gt;
  &lt;br /&gt;
                               RECENT TOPICS&lt;br /&gt;
 &lt;br /&gt;
 o Gagchannel Bug Fixed?                 o Deathtraps &amp;amp; Bad Recalls?&lt;br /&gt;
 o Areas In Progress?                    o Channel for AA's?&lt;br /&gt;
 o Commands for Big Groups?              o Single Quote for Say?&lt;br /&gt;
 o Upcoming Code Projects?               o Unimped Spells?&lt;br /&gt;
 o Wall Spells?                          o Deathtraps That Defy Logic?&lt;br /&gt;
 o Why Delays On All Skills?             o More on Gagchannel&lt;br /&gt;
 o Different Imms - Different Answers?   o Balm, Create, and PK&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
           ________________________&lt;br /&gt;
          /                        \&lt;br /&gt;
      o O | Wonder what folks are   |&lt;br /&gt;
 `\|||/   | doing over at LegendMUD?|&lt;br /&gt;
 (o o)    \________________________/&lt;br /&gt;
ooO_(_)_Ooo________________________________________________________________&lt;br /&gt;
_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|___&lt;br /&gt;
__|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
  ___                                                                  ___&lt;br /&gt;
  \ |------------------------------------------------------------------| /&lt;br /&gt;
  /__|  LEGENDITES: Information Regarding the People of Our World     |__\&lt;br /&gt;
   '------------------------------------------------------------------'&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
 =============&lt;br /&gt;
|Announcements|&lt;br /&gt;
 =============&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Emrysia has reached 100 million experience!&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Scream has reached 100 million experience!&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Herbert has reached Lvl 50 yet again, hopefully for the last time.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
 =========&lt;br /&gt;
|Clan News|&lt;br /&gt;
 =========&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The Guardians of Justice have been disbanded by Ganymede.&lt;br /&gt;
There are currently 20 RP clans and 9 PK clans in the game, leaving 3 slots&lt;br /&gt;
for new clans to form. For more information about clans, check the clans&lt;br /&gt;
helpfile.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
                            Spider!&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Spider has been my best bud for only a few months now. It all started when I&lt;br /&gt;
was stumbling through the dark crypts in St. Denis Abbey, when a horde of&lt;br /&gt;
large fuzzy spiders attacked me. I detested putting them out of their&lt;br /&gt;
eight-legged misery, but they intended to kill me!&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Moving along my way, I heard a faint little squeaking.  The sound wasn't like&lt;br /&gt;
a rat, or any other kind of rodent, so it caught my attention.  I peered&lt;br /&gt;
about (which was quite difficult considering the midnight darkness and only&lt;br /&gt;
an orb of light to guide my way) and there, trapped behind a wall of&lt;br /&gt;
spiderwebs was a little spider (well, quite little compared to the aggressive&lt;br /&gt;
arachnids) about the size of my palm.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Upon first viewing it, the spider appeared to be normal... fuzzy...&lt;br /&gt;
intsy-wintsy... eight legs... and what??  Two eyes!? Spiders are supposed to&lt;br /&gt;
have eight eyes, at least that's what the schoolbooks say.  Those two&lt;br /&gt;
scared-looking eyes peered up at me and appeared to be saying &amp;lt;save me!&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Having a soft heart and sensing no present danger, I dug through the thick&lt;br /&gt;
wall of web with my bare fingers.  The spider immediately hopped onto my&lt;br /&gt;
shoulder, as if it belonged there, squeaking madly.  For some odd reason, I&lt;br /&gt;
understood what spider was saying to me, through all those rushed squeaks.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
This is Spider's Story...&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Squeak squeeak, squick squee,.  Squick squeak, squikie squeak.&lt;br /&gt;
 Squeek squack squeee! Squick squeak squeek squieeakie squieak squieick,&lt;br /&gt;
 squak squeek.  Squeak, squick, squiee squickie squee squick squeck. Squeak!&lt;br /&gt;
                                     Squeak Squeak&amp;gt; &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Lachie's Translated Version...&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;&amp;lt;One time, bad Leggies took me.  I not same.  They no like.  Two eyes me.&lt;br /&gt;
   Trap in strong web.  Bad Leggies! Scared bad!  Long time go by.  Nice big &lt;br /&gt;
    eyed lady kill bad Leggies. Save me. Yay! &lt;br /&gt;
                                 The End  &amp;gt;&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
We have been inseparable since on our many adventures.&lt;br /&gt;
Lachie + Spider = Best Buds ferever!&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Walking in the Modern Wasteland - by Dr. Herbert West&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The battlefields have been drawn and the bloodshed has created the most&lt;br /&gt;
exciting atmosphere in a long time.  These devil worshipers and their&lt;br /&gt;
insidious leader are defying the Irish republicans at every opportunity.&lt;br /&gt;
This is nothing incredibly new to some of us, especially those of us who have&lt;br /&gt;
had any intimate dealings with Lilian or her gang of thugs and ruffians&lt;br /&gt;
before now.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
So how can those of us not actively in duty benefit from this difference in&lt;br /&gt;
opinion?&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
With my research often taking me to dangerous places and experiencing&lt;br /&gt;
dangerous things, I have been using these battles as a way to study combat&lt;br /&gt;
psychology and the effects of adrenaline on those in battle.  The interesting&lt;br /&gt;
thing about a corpse after battle is that the traces of adrenaline still&lt;br /&gt;
slipping through the veins gives the re-animated flesh a wonderful strength&lt;br /&gt;
never found in the naturally dead.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
So as I walk this chaotic wasteland of death, I find myself in several&lt;br /&gt;
interesting predicaments -- one of which of course is my previous&lt;br /&gt;
relationship with the dark lord's favoured one, which of course causes rather&lt;br /&gt;
more arguments than I would like. So as is typical in the battle frenzied she&lt;br /&gt;
ordered me slain, which like the dutiful lackey he is....Devlin most&lt;br /&gt;
dutifully attempted to accommodate her.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Unfortunately for him, with my mind on other more important matters, I was&lt;br /&gt;
more concerned with my own survival and so I waited the hunter out, and when&lt;br /&gt;
he caught up with me several members of the Irish Republican Army decided&lt;br /&gt;
they would help an old comrade out.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
A curious situation for me to be certain, as I awoke after a rather vicious&lt;br /&gt;
headbutt to see five new combatants come to my rescue.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
With all my arcane knowledge knocking nicely about in my dazed mind, I&lt;br /&gt;
decided to summon hellfire upon poor Lilian who died moments later.  Now this&lt;br /&gt;
is a deplorable act of cowardice to be sure, and I might regret it if I had&lt;br /&gt;
more of a conscience for these things, but knowledge is still quite the&lt;br /&gt;
powerful tool and I seek more of it before I choose a side to join in this&lt;br /&gt;
fight.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
And so for now I wander the modern wastelands, simply striving to survive in&lt;br /&gt;
these frightful times, 'til I am ready for battle once more.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
                             A Conqueror's Choice&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The darkness seemed to be imposing on the convocation of mystics within the&lt;br /&gt;
circle. The circle of trees, one of each sacred type, stretched towards the&lt;br /&gt;
heavens and seemed to embrace the moon at its pinnacle in the night sky.&lt;br /&gt;
Within the circle, a ring of men, each wearing dark brown robes and a pair of&lt;br /&gt;
antlers upon his head, stood waiting for the master. A wizened old man&lt;br /&gt;
wearing a dark green robe embroidered with silver approaches the circle.&lt;br /&gt;
Behind the arch-druid is a tall, muscular man. Only his gray hair, tied into&lt;br /&gt;
a topknot that flows behind him in the wind, shows his age. His face is lined&lt;br /&gt;
with tattoos of strange runes and his arms are heavily corded with muscles.&lt;br /&gt;
His gray beard is neatly trimmed and his look is somber.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The newcomer walks to the center of the circle and kneels before the&lt;br /&gt;
arch-druid.  The circle of men begins to hum and chant in low tones that echo&lt;br /&gt;
throughout the forest.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;quot;Tonight you make a choice. This is a prediction and a judge of your future&lt;br /&gt;
path.&amp;quot; The arch-druid looks down at the stranger and looks for a sign of&lt;br /&gt;
acceptance. There is no sign of movement and the arch-druid smiles. The first&lt;br /&gt;
test has been passed.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;quot;Now rise and address the convocation. Tell us who you are and what you&lt;br /&gt;
seek.&amp;quot; The stranger rises and stares straight ahead and at nothing at the&lt;br /&gt;
same time.  He boldly states in a booming voice, &amp;quot;My birth name is Conan son&lt;br /&gt;
of Dunn.  Most know me as the Conqueror, the Pict, and the derivation of my&lt;br /&gt;
name, Nanok. What I seek is a path that leads within.&amp;quot; With that, Nanok falls&lt;br /&gt;
silent. The convocation stops singing and the arch-druid stares at him&lt;br /&gt;
seeking some sign of wavering or doubt. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Seeing none, the arch-druid nods and reaches into his robe. He pulls out&lt;br /&gt;
three items. One is a wand tipped with a crescent moon and hung with raven&lt;br /&gt;
feathers. The second is a metal amulet of intertwined serpents. The final&lt;br /&gt;
object is a plain, unadorned stave. He kneels and places each item on the&lt;br /&gt;
ground and then rises.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;quot;You may choose one item. Feel free to handle each in order to gain an&lt;br /&gt;
understanding of its true spirit. When you have made your choice, rise and&lt;br /&gt;
state the reason for your choice.&amp;quot; When the arch-druid finishes his&lt;br /&gt;
statement, Nanok kneels and begins his examination with his eyes first.&lt;br /&gt;
Several minutes pass as he stares blankly at the objects.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Finally he reaches out and touches the serpent medallion.  As his fingers&lt;br /&gt;
touch the medallion he pauses and stares at it.  Briskly shaking his head he&lt;br /&gt;
removes his hand and moves to the stave.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
He picks it up and tosses it lightly in his hands to get a feel of the&lt;br /&gt;
weight.  Closing his eyes he grasps the stave tightly and listens.  He hears&lt;br /&gt;
the sounds of summer, of birds, and of animals.  He opens his eyes and looks&lt;br /&gt;
down at the staves.  With a sad look on his face he gently places the stave&lt;br /&gt;
back upon the ground.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Finally he moves to the wand.  He crouches before it and ponders it for a&lt;br /&gt;
short time.  Carefully he reaches out and pokes it with a single finger.&lt;br /&gt;
When there is no effect he picks it up carefully.  No effect.  Nanok grasps&lt;br /&gt;
the wand tightly and listens with his eyes closed.  In his mind he hears the&lt;br /&gt;
sound of war.  Screams of the dying echo in his ears and pictures of battle&lt;br /&gt;
run through his thoughts.  Above the battlefield a spirit-raven cackles in&lt;br /&gt;
delight.  &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
On the hill side across the field of battle, a small band of men dressed much&lt;br /&gt;
like the druids within the circle stand and watch.  The druid in the lead&lt;br /&gt;
raises one arm and there is a boom like thunder.  A flaming streak makes its&lt;br /&gt;
way across the sky and lands in the center of the battlefield erupting in an&lt;br /&gt;
explosion of dirt and gore.  The small band of druids are suddenly hovering&lt;br /&gt;
above the smoldering crater.  They look out around them at the men who have&lt;br /&gt;
stopped fighting.  The leader looks around and yells, &amp;quot;You feed the Morrigan&lt;br /&gt;
with blood! This is not the way! Cease your battle and return home! &amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Nanok opens his eyes with a start and wipes the sweat that has beaded upon&lt;br /&gt;
his forehead. Glancing at the other two items and then back at the wand in&lt;br /&gt;
his hand he nods to himself and stands. &amp;quot;I have made my decision.&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;quot;Why have you chosen the wand?&amp;quot; inquired the arch-druid.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;quot;The medallion gave me a feeling of something far more powerful and far more&lt;br /&gt;
ancient than myself. It did not seem to be an object that reflects what I&lt;br /&gt;
seek properly. The stave gave me a sense of peace and tranquility. While it&lt;br /&gt;
is a tempting thought, I am not as old as to give in to the ways of a farmer&lt;br /&gt;
yet. The wand gave me no sensation until I looked within.&amp;quot; &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
He pauses and seems to be troubled with an inner thought. &amp;quot;I saw a battle&lt;br /&gt;
that I was involved in long ago...only it did not end the same way. I looked&lt;br /&gt;
about but could not find myself. There were druids and one of them stopped&lt;br /&gt;
the battle.&amp;quot; He pauses with his voice caught in his throat.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;quot;Why did you choose it, my son?&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;quot;I...I think that druid was me. When I was in the battle before, it ended and&lt;br /&gt;
only a few other scattered Picts and I survived the Roman horde.... I didn't&lt;br /&gt;
choose this wand....it chose me.&amp;quot; Nanok's normally strong voice is now&lt;br /&gt;
cracking and he seems barely able to talk.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;quot;Conan son of Dunn...Nanok, you are correct. Items of such power are not&lt;br /&gt;
chosen but instead do the choosing. The wand you have chosen is the Morrigan&lt;br /&gt;
Stave of Influence. With it you are able to bend the wills of others. You may&lt;br /&gt;
use it like the warriors in your vision...to conquer, or you could use it&lt;br /&gt;
like the druids in your vision...to bring peace. The Item has chosen you.&lt;br /&gt;
Your path has been set. The druids lend you their full support and we wish&lt;br /&gt;
you well.&amp;quot; With that the arch-druid and all the others disappear in a swirl&lt;br /&gt;
of mist. Nanok is left standing in the circle of trees all alone and still&lt;br /&gt;
quite frightened.  He spins around looking for a sign that what took place&lt;br /&gt;
really happened, but can find none....&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
...and he awakens with a start. Everything seems to have been a dream, though&lt;br /&gt;
his heart told him otherwise. He stands and gathers his things to begin his&lt;br /&gt;
travels again. Finally reaching for his large Oaken staff that he carved, he&lt;br /&gt;
notices a change to it. On the top is a crescent moon hung with Raven&lt;br /&gt;
feathers....&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
                            The Loss of Faith&lt;br /&gt;
                             ---------------&lt;br /&gt;
                               by  Israfel&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
I am not numbered among the rebels. Their failings were more explicable.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Ah, to fall from His arms into the arms of a woman, what better excuse? For&lt;br /&gt;
me, that came later. And what of Shemyaza? Of Azazel? Of pride? My failing&lt;br /&gt;
was less dramatic, lacking the clash of weapons...and the melding of bodies.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
No, lust was not my sin, nor pride. I lost my faith.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Ah, faith.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
How like love is faith. It slips away, and until it is gone, you do not&lt;br /&gt;
notice its passing.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
On a day like any other day, it all rang false. The beauty was false, His&lt;br /&gt;
hand on my brow, false; all false.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
And the screams of the damned? What had my tears ever done for them? His&lt;br /&gt;
Voice a comfort to me, soothing; but for them, nothing.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
If it was for this that my kin and I gathered our handfuls of dust, then&lt;br /&gt;
perhaps Azrael, in returning empty-handed, was the wisest amongst us.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
But I make excuses. Those were not the reasons. There were no reasons.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Turning my back on it all, I, too, fell into the arms of a Lady, kin to me in&lt;br /&gt;
those millennia past. She had become a Queen over her own dominion. It was&lt;br /&gt;
she who gathered me up. Yet, she is lost, as I am lost.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Three years in the desert with a prophet. All I learnt was that he'd found&lt;br /&gt;
what I'd lost - the sweet, succulent fruit of faith. There's a sweet little&lt;br /&gt;
tale of a Messiah and the Devil in the desert. Was that what I was, all&lt;br /&gt;
unknowing? Little wonder that Jibra'il was sent to clean up after me. Yet&lt;br /&gt;
that was never my intention.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
My intention, then, is to find what I lost so long ago. Or failing that, to&lt;br /&gt;
distract myself from the loss. It shouldn't be too difficult - I have all the&lt;br /&gt;
time in the world.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
                  The Quest for Inner Peace Continues&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The years have passed slowly for Dias, 50 long years away from the land he&lt;br /&gt;
grew to manhood in. The land of mortals has changed him in ways that he never&lt;br /&gt;
thought possible, rearranging all he once believed to be set in stone. When&lt;br /&gt;
it all began for him he saw himself as superior to the humans, he was trained&lt;br /&gt;
to kill, and no human could live through what he had, or so he thought.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The years have humbled Dias somewhat, though they've done little to cool his&lt;br /&gt;
flashing temper and cocky attitude. The trail has not been an easy one for&lt;br /&gt;
Dias by any means.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Upon first arriving the sentient calls of Nightfang were almost too much for&lt;br /&gt;
him to fight and he leaned slowly towards evil, his induction into the Dark&lt;br /&gt;
Lord's service caused many problems, creating a temporary feud between&lt;br /&gt;
Trinity, Tancred, and himself which was promptly handled by Trinity, the&lt;br /&gt;
human magic-user who gave Dias his first taste of human power.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Humbled by the experience with Trinity, Dias sought a new and greater&lt;br /&gt;
opponent as he soon overcame Trinity by surprise, setting his sights on a&lt;br /&gt;
fighter he had heard much about. Jelly seemed like the perfect target and&lt;br /&gt;
soon enough the two met on the field of battle. Once more Dias was humbled by&lt;br /&gt;
the strength a human could posses as Jelly defeated him time and again.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The years wore on and the rivalry between the two turned into a friendship&lt;br /&gt;
that just continued to grow with each fight. But then a sad twist of fate hit&lt;br /&gt;
them both as Dias was indeed made a member of the Dark Enforcers, who are at&lt;br /&gt;
war with IRA. Jelly and Dias once more strapped on their blades and met on&lt;br /&gt;
the field of battle, constantly after one another.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The war wittled on yet the friendship between the two grew no weaker. Time&lt;br /&gt;
seemed to pass even slower for Dias without his close friend and he found&lt;br /&gt;
himself looking for someone new to spend his time with, the form that person&lt;br /&gt;
would come in surprises him to this day. The sun hung high over Tara that day&lt;br /&gt;
as Dias wandered through the Dun, testing himself against the likes of Rhys&lt;br /&gt;
and Donncadd, sons of Cian.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
He came across a young witch also testing herself against the younger&lt;br /&gt;
warriors of the Dun. Her long curly brown hair and violet eyes captivated him&lt;br /&gt;
at first glance and despite his quiet demeanor he couldn't help but offer to&lt;br /&gt;
take her with him and give her a few pointers on fighting.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Fortunately enough for him she accepted, and introduced herself as the young&lt;br /&gt;
witch from Orkney, Devi. Manners forgotten, all Dias could do was scuffle his&lt;br /&gt;
feet around in the dirt as his cheeks reddened, barely able to speak a word.&lt;br /&gt;
The day was long and hard for Dias, trying his best to help this wondrous&lt;br /&gt;
angel he had been allowed a glance of.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
After all his hard work it finally paid off as news of Devi's advancement was&lt;br /&gt;
heard around the world. With a smile of delight she leaned up and kissed him&lt;br /&gt;
-- it was all that was needed for the quiet young warrior, his heart leapt&lt;br /&gt;
from his chest to rest in her hands. Dias and Devi spent much time together&lt;br /&gt;
afterwards, having a few fights...but what lovers do not? They were but  minor&lt;br /&gt;
squabbles in the eyes of these two lovestruck youths.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Dias soon fell on hard times though, and several times he found himself&lt;br /&gt;
embraced in the hands of death, killed while resting within the days sun with&lt;br /&gt;
Devi or while sleeping within his clan hall after a long night of fighting.&lt;br /&gt;
The anger coursing through Dias at the cowardly way his enemies were now&lt;br /&gt;
forced to do things forced Devi away from him for a time as he became even&lt;br /&gt;
more entrenched in the call of his dagger, the evil within him finally coming&lt;br /&gt;
out if only for a short time.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
As the war between IRA and DE became more intense because of Dias constantly&lt;br /&gt;
chasing after Goin'Fission and Rinoa, and the other DE members constant&lt;br /&gt;
badgering of the way IRA handled things, Dias found himself in a tight spot&lt;br /&gt;
-- often the only member of DE around and surrounded by members of IRA,&lt;br /&gt;
knowing only that he was safe from Jelly and Siirous, old friends of Devi and&lt;br /&gt;
Dias.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
But one day it became to much for him as Herra, Goin'Fission, JamaciaMan&lt;br /&gt;
Rinoa and Stain found him within the Royal Stag, proceeding to take turns&lt;br /&gt;
backstabbing and bashing him to the ground, their weapons quickly wearing&lt;br /&gt;
away at his attire until he could now longer stay. Running far from his crowd&lt;br /&gt;
of enemies, Dias awaited the time to come so that he could abandon his clan&lt;br /&gt;
and sever all ties to this war.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Finally out of the world of PK, Dias found himself once more able to control&lt;br /&gt;
his urges and found he missed Devi immensely. Sometimes he would wait hours&lt;br /&gt;
for her in the same spots, not moving until she would come to him.  Now the&lt;br /&gt;
two have decided that as soon as they can become no more experienced in&lt;br /&gt;
protecting themselves they will marry, and though Dias hates in his heart to&lt;br /&gt;
do this to his love he has decided he will return to the world of PK, perhaps&lt;br /&gt;
not with his old clanmates but return he shall.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The path to this day has been long and uncertain, who knows what else&lt;br /&gt;
the future may bring.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=&lt;br /&gt;
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=&lt;br /&gt;
Legendary Times is published by the immortals of LegendMUD. Please send&lt;br /&gt;
all replies, additions, or corrections to our address at lt@legendmud.org&lt;br /&gt;
for inclusion in the next edition. We, however, reserve the right to&lt;br /&gt;
moderate this discussion, and may object to some submissions.&lt;br /&gt;
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=&lt;br /&gt;
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;/nowiki&amp;gt;&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Mertjai</name></author>
	</entry>
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