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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;
  ........../      /...../     /./     \.../     /./     \...../    \&lt;br /&gt;
  ........./      /...../  ___/./  ____/../  ___/./  __.  \.../  /\  \&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;
						  208.188.102.145 9999&lt;br /&gt;
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=&lt;br /&gt;
http://www.legendmud.org/                      ftp://ftp.legendmud.org/pub&lt;br /&gt;
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=&lt;br /&gt;
VOLUME SEVEN, ISSUE FIFTEEN                                July 11th, 2000&lt;br /&gt;
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
                            TABLE OF CONTENTS&lt;br /&gt;
 &lt;br /&gt;
                            Calendar of Events&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
                             NEWS &amp;amp; REPORTS&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
                         June Connection Analysis&lt;br /&gt;
                         Movie Trivia with Fatale                          &lt;br /&gt;
                          The Immortals' Prayer                 &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
                              LEGENDITES&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
                             Announcements&lt;br /&gt;
                               Clan News&lt;br /&gt;
                          Vahn's Transformation&lt;br /&gt;
                          A Temple Disturbance&lt;br /&gt;
                             The Conspiracy&lt;br /&gt;
                         &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
___                                                                    ___&lt;br /&gt;
\  |------------------------------------------------------------------|  /&lt;br /&gt;
/__|                    UPCOMING CALENDAR OF EVENTS                   |__\&lt;br /&gt;
   '------------------------------------------------------------------'&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[All times are system time unless otherwise specified]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
          o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_July_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
                 LegendMUD Summer Odyssey continues...&lt;br /&gt;
              A monthlong celebration of the Medieval era.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
        Thursday, July 14 at 7:00 pm       Q &amp;amp; A in the OOC Auditorium&lt;br /&gt;
        Saturday, July 22 at 2:00 pm       Trivia! with Fatale&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
___                                                                    ___&lt;br /&gt;
\  |------------------------------------------------------------------|  /&lt;br /&gt;
/__|                        NEWS AND REPORTS                          |__\&lt;br /&gt;
   '------------------------------------------------------------------'&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
                         June Connection Analysis&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
                         Peak Mortal Players 63&lt;br /&gt;
                          Average Peak was 48&lt;br /&gt;
                      Peak PKOK Enabled Players 30&lt;br /&gt;
               Pkok enabled Characters represent approximately&lt;br /&gt;
                         36% of active players.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The first two tables below show the Average Mortal Players and Average PKOK&lt;br /&gt;
Enabled Players connected to Legend by hour of the day as polled&lt;br /&gt;
approximately on the hour system time during the period noted above.  The&lt;br /&gt;
third table shows the same averages calculated by the day of week.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
              hour  0  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9 10 11&lt;br /&gt;
              ------------------------------------------&lt;br /&gt;
              avg  34 32 27 25 18 21 20 21 22 23 27 31&lt;br /&gt;
              pke   6  7  3  6  5  4  4  3  3  4  3  6&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
              hour 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23&lt;br /&gt;
              ------------------------------------------&lt;br /&gt;
              avg  32 31 35 36 35 35 40 38 43 41 38 35&lt;br /&gt;
              pke   6  4  8  9  9 10 10 10  9 10 14  8&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
              day   MON  TUE  WED  THU  FRI  SAT  SUN&lt;br /&gt;
              ------------------------------------------&lt;br /&gt;
              avg    30   29   29   28   29   33   31&lt;br /&gt;
              pke    10    9   11   11   11   11   11&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
         []-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
                          Movie Trivia with Fatale&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Join us on Saturday July 22nd at 2pm mud time for a huge movie trivia!  There&lt;br /&gt;
will be three distinct categories - quotes, trivia, and common bond in which&lt;br /&gt;
I'll state three movies and you tell me who's in all of them or say the names&lt;br /&gt;
of two actors and you tell me what movie they're in together.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
There will be over 100 questions, and I expect it should take up to and&lt;br /&gt;
possibly over three hours so if you plan on attending, keep that in mind!&lt;br /&gt;
First prize will be a multicolor coupon, second will be a one-color coupon&lt;br /&gt;
and third will be a non-color coupon. There may also be cookies and other&lt;br /&gt;
treats for fourth, fifth, and sixth place if enough people show up to play. I&lt;br /&gt;
will be providing my own prizes.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Fatale&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
          []-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
                          The Immortals' Prayer                 &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
As I log in today, I pray for patience, humor, and enough coffee to get me&lt;br /&gt;
through the day. Let the playerbase be in a good mood, and let there be no&lt;br /&gt;
ugly player kill scenarios for me to deal with before lunch. Let no one&lt;br /&gt;
complain about offensive tells until I've had at least one sandwich.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Make me not see the system warning for multiple log-ins from one site until&lt;br /&gt;
I'm awake enough to remember how to look up IP addresses. Grant me patience&lt;br /&gt;
when I read the discussion board so that I do not respond in haste or anger,&lt;br /&gt;
not even when the silly idiots ought to have read the latest announcement of&lt;br /&gt;
code changes or just the rules before posting.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Please let no one ask ridiculously stupid questions on chat, and when they do&lt;br /&gt;
anyway, grant me patience to respond to the same question twenty-odd times&lt;br /&gt;
with a smile. The same goes for games requests - help me find the peace of&lt;br /&gt;
mind to politely refuse not only the first and second character who asks me&lt;br /&gt;
for recalltag, but also numbers ten and twenty.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
When I have been online and visible for 2 hours or more, grant me the&lt;br /&gt;
strength to politely respond, 'What do you need?' when someone asks whether&lt;br /&gt;
there are any immortals on on chat.  More so, help me not grit my teeth too&lt;br /&gt;
loudly when the question is followed up by the answer, 'There are never any&lt;br /&gt;
imms on'.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Make me remember to check my afk buffer before I log off, so that no one&lt;br /&gt;
shall say of me later that I don't care when they tell to me. Let no player&lt;br /&gt;
send me a 'help me' tell that I find in my afk buffer, and then find that the&lt;br /&gt;
player logged off 20 minutes ago without telling me that they no longer&lt;br /&gt;
needed my assistance.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
When I log off the mud, let no player remember my ICQ number unless they want&lt;br /&gt;
to say something nice to me. Let no player send me 50 pages long logs,&lt;br /&gt;
complete with prompts, that should have gone to someone else in the hope of&lt;br /&gt;
getting someone sitebanned; at best, let them hope for justice to be served.&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;
/__|    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;
Trumpets blast and cymbals crash, heralding the tremendous success of some of&lt;br /&gt;
our inhabitants. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Typhoid-Mary has reached 100 million experience!  &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Santina has reached 100 million experience!  &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Congratulations to you both.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
                               *  *  *&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
                              Clan News&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
A new RP clan, The Collective has been founded. They state their cryptic&lt;br /&gt;
purpose thus: Born in lust turn to dust. Born in sin come on in.&lt;br /&gt;
Contact &amp;amp; Other Info: Harlequin or Victim.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
We now have 19 RP clans and 11 PK clans for you to choose among, and 2 free&lt;br /&gt;
slots for new ones to form.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
                               *  *  *&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
'Thirst for blood? Like to kill things? Allergic to the sun?' Thus was the&lt;br /&gt;
wording of the formal invitation to join the vampires of Intempesta Nox that&lt;br /&gt;
my servant Ed delivered to me the other day. As a formal response would seem&lt;br /&gt;
to be in place, let me hereforthwith deliver the official stance of the Seven&lt;br /&gt;
Circles in a language that no one can misunderstand: HELL NO!&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Thank you for your  time,&lt;br /&gt;
Marcel Alexander, Esquire.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
     []-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
                          Vahn's Transformation&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The day I met Kindred, my whole world turned upside down. My urge to set sail&lt;br /&gt;
was gone. The urge to settle down in a house and get married was very strong.&lt;br /&gt;
The urge to have children was even there. The darkness I felt was gone.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
It was as if I was locked in the dark for all my life, and Kindred opened the&lt;br /&gt;
door and let the sunlight in. The hatred I carried with me for so long, over&lt;br /&gt;
the murder of my father and my kidnapping, seemed to have just melted away.&lt;br /&gt;
And I liked it.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
I didn't know what was happening to me. I was a pirate captain. I was not&lt;br /&gt;
supposed to feel this way. I feel like a stranger to myself.  I must look&lt;br /&gt;
like a stranger to others, especially the people who have known me for the&lt;br /&gt;
black-souled pirate I was.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
But the happiness I feel when I am with Kindred is too strong to fight. I&lt;br /&gt;
feel as though this is where I should be in my life, and so I accept the new&lt;br /&gt;
me. Kindred and I will settle down in our little home, and live happily ever&lt;br /&gt;
after... I hope.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
If you see me in the future, you may recognize me as:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
a familiar young stranger&lt;br /&gt;
A handsome young stranger smiles at you, looking vaguely familiar.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
     []-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
                       A Temple Disturbance&lt;br /&gt;
                           by Mizquina&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
**&lt;br /&gt;
I was working late hours in the temple, sweeping and performing my devotions,&lt;br /&gt;
when the thunderous voices of the masters and warriors began to echo through&lt;br /&gt;
the space. I hid myself in fear... for well I know that when the dark nobles&lt;br /&gt;
clash, lowly servants such as I, Mizquina, are more likely to be used in some&lt;br /&gt;
macabre demonstration than tolerated.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Their voices were so loud, the pillars shook! I think the whole world&lt;br /&gt;
could have heard them.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The argument was already in progress when they entered the temple, but from&lt;br /&gt;
what I could discern, it involved a struggle over power and loyalty in the&lt;br /&gt;
ranks of the Dark Enforcers, with Lord Aginor himself and Lord Barabas at the&lt;br /&gt;
center of the maelstrom. It seems that Lord Barabas had grown disillusioned&lt;br /&gt;
with the Enforcers, and now sought to serve the Dark Lord, honored be his&lt;br /&gt;
name, from the ranks of the Ministers of Darkness.&lt;br /&gt;
**&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Barabas: btw Aginor.. you are one of the weak.. the Dark Lord despises&lt;br /&gt;
you as such.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Aginor: You know not of what you speak, fallen Bonecrusher.  You aid one&lt;br /&gt;
of those who is beneath His notice.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Barabas: Heh.. you hide behind a calendar.. and you call yourself one of&lt;br /&gt;
the strong?  You are to be pitied if you were not so despised&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Aginor: You could repudiate the Lost One and all he has given you, but&lt;br /&gt;
you will not.  I know your mind better than you do mine, Barabas.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Barabas: you haven't been listening old fool.. I have built more power&lt;br /&gt;
than you have dreamed.. haven't you seen?&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Aginor: You never did have feeling for more intricate matters.  You always&lt;br /&gt;
advocated yourself as the thug, and thug you shall ever remain, I am afraid.&lt;br /&gt;
There is far, far more to the Dark Lord's power than mere blood and death.&lt;br /&gt;
They are but two of the Nine Pillars, Barabas.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Barabas: aye and a favored thug.. a champion rather than a windbag&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Aginor: I possess power in the greatest of the Nine Pillars, that which&lt;br /&gt;
you will never know.  Wisdom.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Barabas: and those are the pillars that are feared.. you are afraid to&lt;br /&gt;
see your own blood .. afraid to raise your hand&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Aginor: The Dark Lord denied your dominion over Rage.  What else does he&lt;br /&gt;
deny that you cannot even see?&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Barabas: heh you think he has denied me?  You, you old prune?&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Aginor: Once I respected your abilities in the field of battle.  You&lt;br /&gt;
ever were strong, and deadly dangerous.  It is really too bad that it has come&lt;br /&gt;
to this.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
**&lt;br /&gt;
The heart of their disagreement was clear to me now, and I listened closely&lt;br /&gt;
to see how it might be resolved. A passing lady doctor spoke up, her calm&lt;br /&gt;
voice carrying the disinterested tone of an observer, but also the clarity&lt;br /&gt;
which comes only from wisdom.&lt;br /&gt;
**&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Mertjai: why not just challenge the Dark Lord and take his place then,&lt;br /&gt;
if you're got the power?&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
**&lt;br /&gt;
But they ignored her challenge, and their argument went on and on. Barabas&lt;br /&gt;
grew bolder and bolder, the confidence in his powerful voice amazing to my&lt;br /&gt;
ears.&lt;br /&gt;
**&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Barabas: I am indeed proud.. and powerful.. you Aginor are a worthless&lt;br /&gt;
failure. So go and hide.. you are no longer worthy of being in His service!&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Aginor: You misconstrue, Infidel.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
**&lt;br /&gt;
Barabas only laughed, a great booming, sinister sound which pried mortar from&lt;br /&gt;
between the stones and shook my very bones.&lt;br /&gt;
**&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Aginor: You are unfaithful.  You are lost.  You are nothing, Barabas. &lt;br /&gt;
Begone from my sight.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Barabas: I am more powerful than you .. that is what is eating you.  I follow&lt;br /&gt;
you and you did nothing.. so I followed another. It bothers you to know that&lt;br /&gt;
you are without power..&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Aginor: Eating me?  Eating me?  You misconstrue ever more. You are so lost,&lt;br /&gt;
you do not even *know* the Nine Pillars of Darkness!&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Barabas: You are a windbag.. a failure .. a useless OLD man!&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Aginor: You were the combat force of the Dark Lord, Barabas.  I grant that.&lt;br /&gt;
But grunts are easy to lose, and even easier to replace.  Warriors and heroes&lt;br /&gt;
are a dime a dozen.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
** &lt;br /&gt;
Now a new voice spoke, and though I did not know it by sound, I peered into the&lt;br /&gt;
dark recesses of the temple and recognized the leader of the Ministry. &lt;br /&gt;
**&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Craven: Really. As a fellow leader, I disagree. Grunts like Barabas are few&lt;br /&gt;
and far between.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Aginor: You are not a fellow.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Craven: I'd be hard pressed if I lost him. Your loss is my gain I suppose.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Aginor: You rely on fighting, Craven.  That is why you'd be hard-pressed.&lt;br /&gt;
Myself, I can release him without thought. Who is more powerful: the soldier&lt;br /&gt;
who goes out and destroys and kills, or the person who rids himself of that&lt;br /&gt;
soldier when the soldier loses his power? &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Barabas: You fear the soldier's return home.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Craven: You of all people Aginor should know the Dark Lord plays people&lt;br /&gt;
against each other. Even against you.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Aginor: Ah, and he has in the past.  But he doesn't play with pawns who&lt;br /&gt;
don't believe, Craven.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Craven: But perhaps he is testing your strength by matching you against us.&lt;br /&gt;
You are only proving your weakness to him.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Aginor: Impossible.  You do not serve the Dark Lord, Craven.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Barabas: You refuse to fight.. you are no longer worthy of the name&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Craven: Apparently being a Dark Enforcer means to run when the Enforcing&lt;br /&gt;
isn't going too well.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Aginor: The Dark Lord is my Master, and most humbly do I serve Him to the&lt;br /&gt;
last shred of my very soul. You are not Ministers of Darkness.  You are&lt;br /&gt;
ministers of Chaos.  Go on, and spread your Chaos.  I will stay back, to keep&lt;br /&gt;
the power which is real.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
**&lt;br /&gt;
I wondered at this fearful turn of events. Aginor went on.&lt;br /&gt;
**&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Aginor: Do not claim servitude any longer, Barabas.  It is denegrating&lt;br /&gt;
to those who still have faith.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Barabas: Do not claim Power any longer Aginor.  It is denegrating to&lt;br /&gt;
those who still have it.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Aginor: Keep your power, Barabas.  I have eternity to gather power you&lt;br /&gt;
cannot even imagine.  I have eternity to gather power over worlds, over&lt;br /&gt;
everything.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
**&lt;br /&gt;
They might have fought forever in this manner, but something completely&lt;br /&gt;
amazing happened...I can still scarcely believe it. Barabas began to chant,&lt;br /&gt;
and his request was granted. A voice so cruel, so commanding, and so&lt;br /&gt;
all-powerful it could only have come from the Dark Lord shattered my&lt;br /&gt;
eardrums. My soul shivered at the absolute thrill of being in His presence,&lt;br /&gt;
in this place where I had so often whispered His name and found solace in His&lt;br /&gt;
service.&lt;br /&gt;
**&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The Dark Lord: *scowl* Why do my minions squabble like children?&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Barabas: he claims to lead the enforcers.. but instead leads them into&lt;br /&gt;
hiding&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Aginor: Your servants do not squabble, my Lord.  One servant squabbles,&lt;br /&gt;
and one fallen squabbles back.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Barabas: do I not still serve Your power oh Dread Dark Lord?&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Aginor: How do you serve, Barabas?  By fighting alongside one who openly&lt;br /&gt;
denegrates His power?&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The Dark Lord: Barabas, if I had sought to discipline Aginor, mine own&lt;br /&gt;
shadow on this cursed planet, would I not have done it myself?&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Barabas: aye Lord.. but perhaps through a human weapon. If that was your&lt;br /&gt;
will.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Aginor: Humans are pitiful weapons.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The Dark Lord: Do neither of you understand that my purposes are many&lt;br /&gt;
and varied, and my servants of many shapes?&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Aginor: I have always understood that, my Lord.  I merely find&lt;br /&gt;
it...unfortunate...that my fallen colleague Barabas is no longer among them.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Barabas: no Lord. I understand only the power you have given me to inflict&lt;br /&gt;
suffering in Your Name. I do not claim to be able to understand your mighty&lt;br /&gt;
plans -- and I think Aginor only pretends to.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Aginor: There are many plans which I do not know of His.  But I know&lt;br /&gt;
more of His will than you could even comprehend, Barabas.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The Dark Lord: I will judge my own servants, Aginor. Do not forget whose&lt;br /&gt;
hand carries the Sceptre of Ar'kanoc.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Aginor: *growl* Could you put that in a terminology from my original&lt;br /&gt;
realm?  I am unfamiliar with the Sceptre.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Barabas: growling at our Lord.. you are obediant&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Aginor: I growl only in frustration.  I do not growl at him.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The Dark Lord: *chuckle* *flip Sceptre* Find an answer to your quarrel, and&lt;br /&gt;
you might have it for your own. There is but one of them in existence.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Barabas: What answer shall we seek oh Dread Lord?&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Aginor: I still serve, my Lord.  It is Barabas who follows a heathen.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Barabas: I follow you, my Lord&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The Dark Lord: Aginor and Barabas, you will reconcile these differences.&lt;br /&gt;
Whether it is by force or by treaty, by bloodshed or by ink spilled upon a&lt;br /&gt;
page, one of you will be victorious.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Barabas: How can I fight him if he hides oh Mighty One?&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Craven: After witnessing your great power, myself and my counterparts agree&lt;br /&gt;
that we have erred in our ways and wish to follow you.  We wish your favor&lt;br /&gt;
over the Enforcers.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Barabas: Lord, I offer you these men. These Killers who will enhance Your&lt;br /&gt;
Name and Terror. Please accept them oh Mighty Lord.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Craven: we are stronger and more knowledgeable then any 5 enforcers put&lt;br /&gt;
toegether.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The Dark Lord: I have but one right hand. One of you squabbling children will&lt;br /&gt;
rise above this battle and serve me thus.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Aginor: Ay, my Lord.  You have but one right hand.  And for a millenium&lt;br /&gt;
and a half I have been thus.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Craven: I believe we can suceed where Aginor has failed.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
**&lt;br /&gt;
Now spoke another voice, also a Minister by his garb.&lt;br /&gt;
**&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Ruby: So it is true. The forces of the dark go to war for the favor of&lt;br /&gt;
the Dark Lord.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Barabas: there can be no war if the Enforcers flee, Ruby&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Ruby: So shall we call Aginor the Spider from now on?&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
**&lt;br /&gt;
The lady doctor spoke again from the threshold, her words again unheeded by&lt;br /&gt;
the arguing men who were beginning to fill the chamber.&lt;br /&gt;
**&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Mertjai: If he's hiding, and you can't fight him, and the Dark Lord said it&lt;br /&gt;
could be by paper or bloodshed, why not go with paper?&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The Dark Lord: Win my favor as you see best. End this squabbling and&lt;br /&gt;
screeching, and claim the Sceptre of Ar'kanoc as your sign of leadership when&lt;br /&gt;
all is settled again.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Craven: unlike most of your miserable life Aginor, you will not have&lt;br /&gt;
milleniums to win this fight.  You will not have decades for the tide to turn&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Aginor: There are far more insidious weapons than brute force, Barabas. &lt;br /&gt;
Remember it.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Barabas: And you lack the strength to lift any of them old man.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Craven: You will be crushed quickly and you will not know what to do.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Aginor: Ah, but I always have time, infidel.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Barabas: So how did you wish to settle this Aginor?&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Aginor: If I cannot spread the Enforcers here, then elsewhere.  I am quite&lt;br /&gt;
certain there are other realms where a Ninth Legion could flourish.  But&lt;br /&gt;
there is an easy way to settle this, Barabas.  Denounce your heathen leader,&lt;br /&gt;
and return to us.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Barabas: *laugh* running again?&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Craven: But he's so easily replaced, Aginor.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Barabas: No, Aginor, I will not return to your weak leadership. Make the&lt;br /&gt;
Enforcers strong again.. do it for our Lord.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
**&lt;br /&gt;
Another young acolyte, of a similar age to myself spoke up. But the&lt;br /&gt;
dark nobles would not be dissuaded from their war of words.&lt;br /&gt;
**&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Nekrum: I do not claim the wisdom of the Dark Lord, but as a humble follower&lt;br /&gt;
of his ways, I must ask one question of you both.  Why are you so consumed by&lt;br /&gt;
yourselves? You, like I, are but mere tools of his Power, he needs you not&lt;br /&gt;
more than he needs an ant. Kill him, kill her, kill it. Is it not better to&lt;br /&gt;
die for the Dark Lord than to kill for him?&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
**&lt;br /&gt;
None heeded his question. They argued over mortality and inevitability, and&lt;br /&gt;
there seemed no end to it. &lt;br /&gt;
**&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The Dark Lord: I am beginning to believe that you are complacent, Aginor.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Aginor: I will do what I have never done, my Great Lord.  I call you into&lt;br /&gt;
question. You know you must have expected it when you sent me here.  There's&lt;br /&gt;
something resistant about this place.  It creates questions.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Barabas: Aginor, that is fear that makes you question.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Aginor: Why have you sent me to what could only be classified as an astral&lt;br /&gt;
backwater? Why have you told me to remain for these past 80-odd years?  I&lt;br /&gt;
have lost much to this place, my Lord. Your orders have reaved me from my own&lt;br /&gt;
wife!&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Barabas: lucky you, I've seen her.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The Dark Lord: Why does this astral backwater remain so? Why is it not a vast&lt;br /&gt;
center of power?&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Aginor: You don't get it, my Lord.  This place has become a center of&lt;br /&gt;
power.  For them!&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Barabas: And me.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The Dark Lord: It is a backwater, as you say. Must I look after every&lt;br /&gt;
celestial mudhole personally?&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Aginor: There's nothing here to look after!  Burn it out! Destroy this place&lt;br /&gt;
as if it never was!  It is of no use.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Barabas: You grow too bold. Know your place old man.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Aginor: It is much worse than of no use.  It is our death!&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The Dark Lord: Perhaps it is only yours, Aginor.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Aginor: This place is going to be our undoing!  I say undo it first!  The&lt;br /&gt;
Enforcers wither here.  Where next?  Perhaps the very place they were&lt;br /&gt;
formed?&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Nekrum: If you believe that this place will be the Dark Lord's undoing,&lt;br /&gt;
you put way too much value on your own existance, as well as the existance of&lt;br /&gt;
this plane.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Aginor: You don't even realize.  This place will destroy us.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Nekrum: But we are of no matter, Aginor.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Aginor: I call you to question.  Why do you persist in preserving this&lt;br /&gt;
place that spells our doom?&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The Dark Lord: *chuckle Aginor* Your wisdom is failing you in your old&lt;br /&gt;
age, along with your zeal for my purpose.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Aginor: You think so?  I still hear bits of what goes on elsewhere.  You&lt;br /&gt;
know, as I do, there are many places which could use my strength better than&lt;br /&gt;
here. If you want this lost, infidelous cretin to serve you here, my Lord, by&lt;br /&gt;
all means, do.  You certainly don't need me anymore. Not here, at any rate.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The Dark Lord: I am not impressed with your strength, Aginor, and tired of&lt;br /&gt;
your mouth. You challenge me, you fight with my faithful, you ponder the&lt;br /&gt;
future like an old man does his childhood. Immortality has made you soft,&lt;br /&gt;
perhaps a return to flesh would remind you of your true purpose.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Aginor: If you want to destroy me, strike me down where I stand.  But I&lt;br /&gt;
highly doubt you will. There are other deities who would grant me immortality&lt;br /&gt;
if you brushed me aside.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The Dark Lord: If you think some other god would take you, go and seek him.&lt;br /&gt;
Your torture will be ever more painful when you return to me.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Aginor: I refuse to aid this any further.  This place is insignificant, my&lt;br /&gt;
Lord.  By your leave or without it, I am going to harness my skills&lt;br /&gt;
elsewhere, in your name. Whether you will it or no, my Lord, I will fight in&lt;br /&gt;
your name.  But not here.  It is no longer needed here. Good-bye, lost ones.&lt;br /&gt;
To my loyal Enforcers, I regret that there is nothing more for you.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
**&lt;br /&gt;
It was another conflict which held no promise for resolution. The&lt;br /&gt;
ever-practical warrior spoke.&lt;br /&gt;
**&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Barabas: My Lord, Aginor is lost.. grant me the sceptre to be your&lt;br /&gt;
champion and killer.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The Dark Lord: Whoever can bind this chaos back to Our purpose will hold&lt;br /&gt;
the sceptre. Let Aginor stumble on his myopic way.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Barabas: I will try, oh Lord.. What shall signal our triumph?&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The Dark Lord: Let there be death dealt in my honor. Let the ranks of&lt;br /&gt;
our movement swell.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Barabas: Aye Lord. I shall try to make it so, in Your Name!&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The Dark Lord: I will have but one right hand, and it must be strong and&lt;br /&gt;
fierce and cruel, with wisdom and cunning to match its strength. Let it be so.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Barabas: I shall strive for that honor, oh Lord!&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
     []-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
THE CONSPIRACY&lt;br /&gt;
Diary notes by Lord Marcel Alexander of the Seven Circles&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The other day I was enjoying a quiet cup of cafe au lait at a French cafe. It&lt;br /&gt;
was a sunny day, and the sparrows were all but jumping onto the table to pick&lt;br /&gt;
at the crumbs of my croissant - all in all, an ordinary, if pleasant scene. I&lt;br /&gt;
remember that there was a piece of Mozart playing in the background, gentle&lt;br /&gt;
violin tones lingering on the breeze.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
There were a couple of young ladies sitting at the next table. I don't&lt;br /&gt;
remember what they were talking about; I wasn't listening in on their&lt;br /&gt;
conversation, just quietly paying attention to the fact that both were&lt;br /&gt;
unusually attractive. I think it wasn't until one of them dug into her purse&lt;br /&gt;
and took out a palm pilot I really began to stare.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Well, really, palm pilots aren't that common in Paris, 1875 AD.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The woman noticed me staring at her. She winked at me conspiratorially.  It&lt;br /&gt;
was probably my 1945 newspaper that gave me away. We shared a secret right&lt;br /&gt;
there, at the little French cafe. A secret, which the astrologers,&lt;br /&gt;
astronomers, esoterics, sorcerers, chiromancers, diviners, and whatever other&lt;br /&gt;
people attempting to know the future, would trade their souls for without&lt;br /&gt;
much consideration.  We were time travelers.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The ladies left before I could question them. Oh, I wanted to, but as they&lt;br /&gt;
got up and walked away, they were gone before I managed to catch up. Magic,&lt;br /&gt;
no doubt - I dare say there is not the mortal who can sneak away from me when&lt;br /&gt;
I don't want them to.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
So I sat back down and hid behind my newspaper once again, but this time the&lt;br /&gt;
headlines did not interest me; I was too busy studying the passers-by,&lt;br /&gt;
looking for other little signs of people who have mastered the secrets of&lt;br /&gt;
traveling between the eras. Isn't it fascinating, after all? You never know&lt;br /&gt;
whom, when, or where they are. Sometimes you can tell how they got to be&lt;br /&gt;
there, sometimes you can't.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
After all this time, all these centuries with sightings of strange tools,&lt;br /&gt;
foreigners speaking about things they should not know, people bringing news&lt;br /&gt;
from past and future times - mankind has still not caught on.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Sometimes I wonder how long it will be, if ever, before the great gray masses&lt;br /&gt;
of humanity realizes that there is a conspiracy, a small group of individuals&lt;br /&gt;
who travel back and forth in time to further their own means. People to who&lt;br /&gt;
laws are irrelevant; to whom time is just another road to explore. I also&lt;br /&gt;
wonder what humanity will do about it, if it ever dares believe.&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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