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		<title>Mertjai: Created page with &quot; &lt;nowiki&gt; =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=  .............._______  ............./      /            THE LEGENDARY TIMES  ............/...&quot;</title>
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		<updated>2018-03-24T23:24:43Z</updated>

		<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;
 ............/      /         http://www.legendmud.org/&lt;br /&gt;
 .........../      /.....______.._____.....______.._____.......____&lt;br /&gt;
 ........../      /...../     /./     \.../     /./     \...../    \&lt;br /&gt;
 ........./      /...../  ___/./  ____/../  ___/./  __   \.../  /\  \&lt;br /&gt;
 ......../      /...../  /_.../  /....../  /_.../  /..\   &amp;gt;./  /./  /&lt;br /&gt;
 ......./      /...../  __/../  /____../  __/../  /.../  /./  /./  /&lt;br /&gt;
 ....../      /_____/__/__../  \_\  /./  /__../  /.../  /./  /_/  /&lt;br /&gt;
 ...../ Celebrating    / /./       /./     /./  /.../  /./       /&lt;br /&gt;
 ..../ our 11th year  /_/..\______/./_____/./__/.../__/./_______/ MUD&lt;br /&gt;
 .../________________/      running on         mud.legendmud.org 9999&lt;br /&gt;
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=&lt;br /&gt;
VOLUME TWELVE, NUMBER TWELVE                             July 6, 2005&lt;br /&gt;
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
			   TABLE OF CONTENTS&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
                           The Editor's Note&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
                       LegendMUD Calender of Events&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
                            RECENT UPDATES&lt;br /&gt;
                   Skill/Helpfiles available to all&lt;br /&gt;
                             Code Updates&lt;br /&gt;
                             Area Updates&lt;br /&gt;
                        Mutterings from the Imps&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
                              LEGENDITES&lt;br /&gt;
                           Renno is No More&lt;br /&gt;
                              Clans News&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
                            Pickin' A Fight&lt;br /&gt;
                           Lelldorin Moves On&lt;br /&gt;
                   The Importance of Following Directions&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
___                                                               ___&lt;br /&gt;
\  |-------------------------------------------------------------|  /&lt;br /&gt;
/__|                      The Editor's Note                      |__\&lt;br /&gt;
   '-------------------------------------------------------------'&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
  Don't forget to vote at the Legend forums!  www.legendmud.org/forum&lt;br /&gt;
It will help to increase our exposure and that means more players which&lt;br /&gt;
means more fun things to do!&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
  On an unrelated topic, sorry I get this one out kind of late this &lt;br /&gt;
week,&lt;br /&gt;
I took a trip to New York and ended up having my flight cancelled and&lt;br /&gt;
having to sleep in the terminal, which pushed my whole life back like 2&lt;br /&gt;
days.  I'll try to keep this thing bi-weekly as often as I can.  &lt;br /&gt;
Speaking&lt;br /&gt;
of which, keep those articles coming in!  I will reward you with great&lt;br /&gt;
riches and palaces.... or tokens... prize tokens, but those are still&lt;br /&gt;
cool.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
-Huma&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
___                                                               ___&lt;br /&gt;
\  |-------------------------------------------------------------|  /&lt;br /&gt;
/__|                LegendMUD Calendar of Events                 |__\&lt;br /&gt;
   '-------------------------------------------------------------'&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
                                 July 2005&lt;br /&gt;
                           Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa&lt;br /&gt;
                                           1  2&lt;br /&gt;
                            3  4  5  6  7  8  9&lt;br /&gt;
                           10 11 12 13 14 15 16&lt;br /&gt;
                           17 18 19 20 21 22 23&lt;br /&gt;
                           24 25 26 27 28 29 30&lt;br /&gt;
                           31&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Sunday,   July 3rd,  6:00 pm Complete the Sentence with Chaykin&lt;br /&gt;
Monday,   July 4th,  8:30 am Fourth of July Elf Game!&lt;br /&gt;
Thursday, July 7th,  7:30 pm Q&amp;amp;A in the OOC Auditorium&lt;br /&gt;
Thursday, July 14th, 7:30 pm Q&amp;amp;A in the OOC Auditorium&lt;br /&gt;
Sunday,   July 17th, 6:00 pm Complete the Sentence with Chaykin&lt;br /&gt;
Thursday, July 21st, 7:30 pm Q&amp;amp;A in the OOC Auditorium&lt;br /&gt;
Thursday, July 28th, 7:30 pm Q&amp;amp;A in the OOC Auditorium&lt;br /&gt;
Sunday,   July 31st, 6:00 pm Complete the Sentence with Chaykin&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
___                                                               ___&lt;br /&gt;
\  |-------------------------------------------------------------|  /&lt;br /&gt;
/__|                       Recent Updates                        |__\&lt;br /&gt;
   '-------------------------------------------------------------'&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
                Skill/Spell Helpfiles Visible to All!&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
             -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
 After many many typos, bugs and ideas from y'all, and&lt;br /&gt;
then after lots of different discussions on chat we have&lt;br /&gt;
decided to open up the helpfiles for all the skills&lt;br /&gt;
and spells even if you aren't qualified for the skill/spell!&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
 This change has been implemented immediately,&lt;br /&gt;
so enjoy! If you come acrossed any that aren't coming&lt;br /&gt;
up and you think they should, please bug it! =)&lt;br /&gt;
Thanks!&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
-Haley&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
                           Area Updates&lt;br /&gt;
                         _*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
A new quest has been added to India that highlights the features of the&lt;br /&gt;
new quest journal (see HELP JOURNAL). To see this feature in action, go &lt;br /&gt;
to&lt;br /&gt;
Bhimbhetka and visit Charamajit.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Herblore teachers now mention entangle.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
A spellbook is now available for malaise -- 1 in ancient and 1 in&lt;br /&gt;
medieval.&lt;br /&gt;
If you have difficulty finding it, seek out your mentor for the spell!&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Some herb keywords were updated.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Beowulf: The fish shape will no longer confer LEGLESS and NONHUMAN &lt;br /&gt;
traits.&lt;br /&gt;
Unfortunately we simply couldn't find a reasonable way to balance the &lt;br /&gt;
item&lt;br /&gt;
and keep these flags, so we've been forced to remove them.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Dante's Inferno: Unbashable shades will have better explanations. &lt;br /&gt;
Weaver&lt;br /&gt;
will be dressed. Italian doors now function in both directions. Also,&lt;br /&gt;
Charon in Dante's Inferno has some better protections in place to &lt;br /&gt;
prevent&lt;br /&gt;
him from becoming aggressive.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Klein: Erich returns a costly item if he doesn't want it, many fixups &lt;br /&gt;
and&lt;br /&gt;
enhancements to getting stuck in the mud. You WILL get stuck and there &lt;br /&gt;
ARE&lt;br /&gt;
several ways to get out before....!&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Malta: The shade's invisibility powers no longer use wizinvis. Malta&lt;br /&gt;
beggars will be a bit less demanding.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
PR: whoises for the vorpal squirrel game are now available&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
 This week, the building staff made some great progress on bringing you&lt;br /&gt;
new areas. Tartarus has officially entered testing! Nestor and his &lt;br /&gt;
testers&lt;br /&gt;
have been busily working to prepare this area for you. No installation&lt;br /&gt;
date is set, and the testing process can vary in length, but the &lt;br /&gt;
testing&lt;br /&gt;
phase is the last stage of work before an area is installed. Very&lt;br /&gt;
exciting!&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The following in-progress areas had commits in the last week:&lt;br /&gt;
Tartarus, Industrial Hawaii, Tombstone, Black Forest&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Assorted small fixes and bugs were completed in:&lt;br /&gt;
Alaska, Carthage, Dante's Inferno, Klein, Malta, OOC, Paris Opera&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
                           Code Updates&lt;br /&gt;
                         _*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
GENERAL&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
o @c in prompt now gives ac.&lt;br /&gt;
o Lag reduced on trueform.&lt;br /&gt;
o Exits that are hidden now show up with parentheses around them -&lt;br /&gt;
  example: Exits: [n e s (w) d].&lt;br /&gt;
o You are now given a different message when you can't scan in&lt;br /&gt;
  a particular direction because the exit in that direction is hidden.&lt;br /&gt;
o Some fixes to the quest journal so that new characters have journals.&lt;br /&gt;
o Rewrite of board and note code.&lt;br /&gt;
  (To see the new editor, type 'config editor'. It might take some time&lt;br /&gt;
  to get used to the new one, so read the help.)&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
BUG&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
o xp will be gained when killing something with entangle.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
TYPO&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
o malaise spell messages fixed&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
___                                                               ___&lt;br /&gt;
\  |-------------------------------------------------------------|  /&lt;br /&gt;
/__|                   Mutterings from the Imps                  |__\&lt;br /&gt;
   '-------------------------------------------------------------'&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Mutterings from the Imps&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
  I have to be honest in saying that Sandra has generally been the busy&lt;br /&gt;
one on Legend in the past couple of weeks as I've had a number of &lt;br /&gt;
things&lt;br /&gt;
come up workwise that have kept me away from doing what I enjoy, which &lt;br /&gt;
is&lt;br /&gt;
working on Legend. But all is not lost. Free time looks to be more&lt;br /&gt;
abundant in the very near future.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
  But let's jump into the update anyway.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
  On the newbie front, the feedback from the new Quest Journal seems&lt;br /&gt;
reasonably positive. If you haven't had the chance to try it out, &lt;br /&gt;
journey&lt;br /&gt;
to India and walk into the inn in Bhimbhetka. Charamajit might be able &lt;br /&gt;
to&lt;br /&gt;
put you to work. The first journal quest is reasonably simple but &lt;br /&gt;
allows&lt;br /&gt;
you to see some of the features of the new addition. We welcome your&lt;br /&gt;
feedback.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
  We're still discussing and debating some of the other issues. As much &lt;br /&gt;
as&lt;br /&gt;
I'd like to wave my hand and recite a few mystical words and be able to&lt;br /&gt;
relieve some of the xp table woes, the system is designed with a tight&lt;br /&gt;
internal consistency that's hard to not break when you're trying to &lt;br /&gt;
modify&lt;br /&gt;
it. That's both a good and a bad thing and hopefully we'll bypass that&lt;br /&gt;
roadblock soon enough.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
  On the Pkill front, we've had to backburner the issues surrounding &lt;br /&gt;
fight&lt;br /&gt;
length until some other fundamental code changes take place. Suffice to&lt;br /&gt;
say we're still looking for feedback regarding what changes we could &lt;br /&gt;
make&lt;br /&gt;
and increase the 'fun factor' of PK in general.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
  On the board front, Snapper has finished the initial release of the &lt;br /&gt;
new&lt;br /&gt;
board code along with the advanced editor. Though it appears much the&lt;br /&gt;
same on the surface, it has been completely rewritten internally and is&lt;br /&gt;
far, far improved over the previous system. Kudos to Snapper for the&lt;br /&gt;
excellent job! If you have any feedback or suggestions on boards or &lt;br /&gt;
notes,&lt;br /&gt;
please send them Snapper's direction or post to the discussion board&lt;br /&gt;
in-game.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;gt;From the previous update:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
o Somar has recently finished the new regeneration spells! I mentioned&lt;br /&gt;
there was no ETA on these in the last update, but alas, a late-night&lt;br /&gt;
coding binge got them up and in the test mud. Look for these very soon.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
o On the post-50 game front, Snapper has signed on to head up the code&lt;br /&gt;
behind those new features. We'll be getting that project underway&lt;br /&gt;
full-force&lt;br /&gt;
shortly&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
o Failed saves: I'm still looking for this silly bug that doesn't save&lt;br /&gt;
equipment sometimes. If this happens to you, please send me an email at&lt;br /&gt;
rufus@legendmud.org.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
  On yet another front, we have started preliminary work and test code &lt;br /&gt;
on&lt;br /&gt;
a verbose and detailed crafting system. It's too early to give out &lt;br /&gt;
details&lt;br /&gt;
at this time, but you should expect some news in the near future. If &lt;br /&gt;
you&lt;br /&gt;
have any ideas or items on your wishlist of what you'd like to see, &lt;br /&gt;
please&lt;br /&gt;
drop us a line and let us know.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Rufus and Sandra&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;
              Drakkon has reached 100 million experience!&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
               Life has reached 100 million experience!&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
           -=* Axis has reached 200 million experience!  *=-&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
                          Renno is no more.&lt;br /&gt;
                       -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
  Well legend it has been fun, really it has. The past 7 years of my &lt;br /&gt;
life&lt;br /&gt;
I played this game and I became quite good at it. Then I got older and&lt;br /&gt;
Real life started to kick me in the rear if you know what I mean. So my&lt;br /&gt;
life on legend ended abruptly, now i play whenever I can, which is to &lt;br /&gt;
say&lt;br /&gt;
never... So here ends my torment to you all.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
  I may get on and play every know and then, but not like I used to. I&lt;br /&gt;
like you all, but there are a few I would like to name: Arturo, Maloth,&lt;br /&gt;
Mojo, Dias-Jax, Jasra, Uggabaggugga, Korgan, Blackdeath, Sandra, Haley,&lt;br /&gt;
Spencer, Zandy, McDougan (If that is how to spell your name), If I &lt;br /&gt;
forgot&lt;br /&gt;
someone important I am sooooooo sorry, my mind is not what it used to &lt;br /&gt;
be,&lt;br /&gt;
forgive me. I owe the people on that list my thanks for all there help &lt;br /&gt;
in&lt;br /&gt;
the past that has been so helpful. I thank you all on legend for the &lt;br /&gt;
time&lt;br /&gt;
you granted me to enter your world, and believe me as i get older, I &lt;br /&gt;
will&lt;br /&gt;
introduce LEGENDMUD to the WORLD. I will soon be a published Auther, of &lt;br /&gt;
a&lt;br /&gt;
book called, The Unholy War. When I do get published I will make sure&lt;br /&gt;
legend is known WORLD WIDE as one of the Best RPGs that is up and &lt;br /&gt;
running&lt;br /&gt;
on the internet.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
  And to you Kaige, if you read this, I give you thanks for putting up&lt;br /&gt;
with my bad spelling and bad grammer during my times that I did&lt;br /&gt;
put in RPG stories and the such, Thank you.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
  Well this letter must end soon or ill start thinking about playing&lt;br /&gt;
and i cant do that.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
May the life be Unbending, and may the world guide you,&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Renno.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
___                                                               ___&lt;br /&gt;
\  |-------------------------------------------------------------|  /&lt;br /&gt;
/__|                         Clan News                           |__\&lt;br /&gt;
   '-------------------------------------------------------------'&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
    Clan Drunk Clan disbanded on June 19th due to low membership.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
  ================================================================&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
            Foundation of Ormus Clan formed on June 26, 2005.&lt;br /&gt;
                     This clan is a PKE Clan.&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;
                        Pickin' a Fight&lt;br /&gt;
                       -----------------&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
PK Fight Me VS You Till a Death...or..Two..&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Bring yer Sword, Staff, Dagger, or Whatever kind of Weapon you&lt;br /&gt;
fight with and Brawl with me Sir Gadolinium Lanthanoid till death&lt;br /&gt;
and Beyond.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
                        Lelldorin Moves On&lt;br /&gt;
                      -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
  The ravages of time are no match for the legs of the Omnipotent&lt;br /&gt;
Pedestrian, but it certainly breached the walls of my spirit. Yes,&lt;br /&gt;
the polluted air in my world of all-powerful kerb walking has&lt;br /&gt;
finally started to choke the very life out of me. When I became what I&lt;br /&gt;
am, I thought it would've been fun. All those hassled, harried people&lt;br /&gt;
accelerating back and forth in their vehicular transports, trying to &lt;br /&gt;
keep&lt;br /&gt;
up with the stresses of the accelerating times; while I quietly&lt;br /&gt;
gloat over them in my easy bi-pedal pace, free of the trappings of &lt;br /&gt;
society&lt;br /&gt;
as I commute the pavements of the earth. But.. How many times have I&lt;br /&gt;
yelled and gesticulated wildy on the sidewalk like a Sim with his fun &lt;br /&gt;
bar&lt;br /&gt;
at zero? Pushing fellow pedestrians onto oncoming traffic started to &lt;br /&gt;
bore&lt;br /&gt;
after the first week of my ascendency, as was pretending to hail&lt;br /&gt;
a passing cab by raising an arm to brush my hair. I should've been an&lt;br /&gt;
Omnipotent Jaywalker instead, but things would be the same after a &lt;br /&gt;
while.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
  So as I approach the end of the tether of my sanity, I found myself&lt;br /&gt;
infront of a roadside bar. Being all-powerful I didn't have to eat or&lt;br /&gt;
drink, but for reasons unknown I stepped inside, and there was a &lt;br /&gt;
blinding&lt;br /&gt;
flash... And I was being swept down a waterfall, I was flying through &lt;br /&gt;
the&lt;br /&gt;
skies, there were tables upon tables filled with shots of whiskey and&lt;br /&gt;
there was a barman drawing a lager and I was frenetically guzzling &lt;br /&gt;
tequila&lt;br /&gt;
from the bottle in a swirl of numbing comfort and then I was awake and&lt;br /&gt;
bedraggled in the sunlight, walk-jogging to the nearest bar and I &lt;br /&gt;
wasn't&lt;br /&gt;
caring if the fish were biting because I had two guys next to me &lt;br /&gt;
sipping&lt;br /&gt;
Chivas because apparently, vast amounts of the brew are wasted yearly &lt;br /&gt;
due&lt;br /&gt;
to over-zealous salutations.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
  Now I have settled into this comfortable groove of drinking &lt;br /&gt;
everything&lt;br /&gt;
in sight and passing out, not by choice but by circumstance. I have&lt;br /&gt;
found release from the relentless tides of automobiles, so why mess up&lt;br /&gt;
a good thing?&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
                    The Adventures of Rowane in:&lt;br /&gt;
              &amp;quot;The Importance of Following Directions&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
           -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
        In a nameless desert, inside a tower the color of aged bone, &lt;br /&gt;
there&lt;br /&gt;
sits a man who has not moved quite some time.  He remains in a position&lt;br /&gt;
that he took many years ago: stooped over a desk covered with an&lt;br /&gt;
assortment of wands and other spelltools, long silent alchemy &lt;br /&gt;
experiments,&lt;br /&gt;
and scattered parchments covered in various scripts from legendary &lt;br /&gt;
lands.&lt;br /&gt;
The man has lain so still for so long that one might take him for dead, &lt;br /&gt;
as&lt;br /&gt;
his robed back is gray from the covering of a thick layer of dust and&lt;br /&gt;
cobwebs.  Yet it still rises and falls gently. Sprouting from the man's&lt;br /&gt;
face, pressed against a particularly ancient book, grows a long beard; &lt;br /&gt;
its&lt;br /&gt;
brown-gray tendrils flapping with every snore, giving yet more evidence&lt;br /&gt;
that the man is very much alive.  The only sound in the room, apart &lt;br /&gt;
from&lt;br /&gt;
the occasional snore, is the steady ticking emanating from the man's &lt;br /&gt;
hand,&lt;br /&gt;
or rather, what is enclosed inside: a small wooden clock, intricately&lt;br /&gt;
carved to the design of a small cherry-oak cottage with the two hands&lt;br /&gt;
nearly touching at XII.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
        The single room has but one window that looks out onto the &lt;br /&gt;
desert&lt;br /&gt;
expanse.  And the desert, for its part, looks back with scorn at the &lt;br /&gt;
tower&lt;br /&gt;
in an effort to maintain its habitual horizon; the desert has been &lt;br /&gt;
sending&lt;br /&gt;
constant winds carrying minute grains of sand to tear it down.  Like &lt;br /&gt;
the&lt;br /&gt;
crashing waves that originally created the sand a millennia ago, the&lt;br /&gt;
particles of silica have beaten at the tower, ripping away much of its&lt;br /&gt;
ivory coating and exposing so much of the foundation that it seems as &lt;br /&gt;
if&lt;br /&gt;
any moment it may come crashing down. Only some form of enchantment &lt;br /&gt;
must&lt;br /&gt;
keep it from crashing down.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
        But through it all the man inside sleeps.  And he would&lt;br /&gt;
continue to do so -snoring away happily and oblivious to the world&lt;br /&gt;
-except that today- the clock that rests in his palm, having&lt;br /&gt;
continually delivered a steady rhythm for many years, pauses for a&lt;br /&gt;
moment.  Inside the polished red-brown exterior, there is the sound of&lt;br /&gt;
creaking metal: the cranking of dry gears and the gritty twisting of&lt;br /&gt;
rusted cams, all of this leading to the moving of the long hand to join&lt;br /&gt;
with the short at XII.  Silence falls over the room.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
        The snoring has ceased now and the man's half-lidded golden &lt;br /&gt;
eyes&lt;br /&gt;
peer through a tangle of grayish-brown hair and out across a cluttered&lt;br /&gt;
desk. ith a sleepy yawn, he stretches his slender arms, sending the &lt;br /&gt;
dust&lt;br /&gt;
cascading down his shoulders and back in a mini-avalanche.  The motes&lt;br /&gt;
swirl at his feet as the robed man trudges across the room, arms &lt;br /&gt;
extended&lt;br /&gt;
like a blind man, towards a basin that once was filled with water that &lt;br /&gt;
has&lt;br /&gt;
since evaporated in the heat of the dry desert.  The chanting of a few&lt;br /&gt;
arcane words and a wave of his hand cause the basin to fill once again&lt;br /&gt;
with water in a great 'sploosh' and the man groggily begins the process &lt;br /&gt;
of&lt;br /&gt;
waking up.  He washes his face, running his hands across his chin and&lt;br /&gt;
cheeks only to have his fingers stopped by tangles in an unexpected &lt;br /&gt;
beard.&lt;br /&gt;
The curiosity of a new beard, which falls to his chest, does not &lt;br /&gt;
register&lt;br /&gt;
to the man who simply grumbles sleepily, continuing with his morning&lt;br /&gt;
routine.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
        After washing up, the man pats around the basin for his pair of&lt;br /&gt;
brass spectacles and upon finding them, fastens them upon his face.  &lt;br /&gt;
Only&lt;br /&gt;
then does he looks up and into a simple oval mirror that hangs just&lt;br /&gt;
above the basin.  There staring back at him is an olive-skinned man in&lt;br /&gt;
his 50's with bedraggled hair, long and brown, with plentiful amount&lt;br /&gt;
of gray at the edges, and a sopping beard that sends little rivulet's&lt;br /&gt;
down his robes and onto the floor, amassing in a puddle.  The man's&lt;br /&gt;
reflection squints through his spectacles and then open wide with&lt;br /&gt;
surprise.  Whirling around, loosening more dust and cobwebs, he slips&lt;br /&gt;
on the puddle in the process and falls to the floor in a loud crash.&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;gt;From the ground the man's eyes dart across the empty room.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
       'Who's there,' he says, gripping the end of his wand. Only the &lt;br /&gt;
wind&lt;br /&gt;
outside and the creaking supports of the tower answer. After a moment &lt;br /&gt;
and&lt;br /&gt;
slowly, the olive-skinned man turns back to the mirror.  He watches his&lt;br /&gt;
reflection copy his movements: the rubbing a hand through a beard, the&lt;br /&gt;
dusting off of a cobweb from a shoulder.  In the background of his&lt;br /&gt;
reflection, resting on the desk, where he had left it, is the clock of&lt;br /&gt;
cherry-wood.  The man's eyes narrow. 'Oh for Hermes' sake.' He marches&lt;br /&gt;
over to the clock, pulling off the attached note that has yellowed with&lt;br /&gt;
age and reads:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Dear Rowane,&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
  Would you be so kind as to study this magical device recently picked &lt;br /&gt;
up&lt;br /&gt;
by myself while touring London circa 1890 bce.  You will note that the&lt;br /&gt;
etchings, woodwork and lacquer mark this design out to much earlier&lt;br /&gt;
period than Edwardian England.  It is far more likely to be 12th&lt;br /&gt;
century Spain, possibly Andalusia?  The make though is not what is&lt;br /&gt;
important; it is the enchantment that runs the device.  All my attempts&lt;br /&gt;
on the road to dispel the item for further study have failed.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
  On a related note, DO NOT TURN ON THE DEVICE BEFORE READING THIS &lt;br /&gt;
NOTE.&lt;br /&gt;
I have already lost a great deal of time to some sort of sleeping spell&lt;br /&gt;
but luckily I'm traveling with a servant who was able to wake me after&lt;br /&gt;
several days.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
  Anywho, I will leave this in your capable hands.  Please be so kind &lt;br /&gt;
as&lt;br /&gt;
to watch over the Ivory Tower until my return.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Your Guild-Master,&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Larnoc&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
        Rowane placed the note back on the table and stared around to&lt;br /&gt;
take in the present state of the tower.  He could see that there was&lt;br /&gt;
dust everywhere; the spiders had been building little webs, abandoning&lt;br /&gt;
them, and then building them again; the beams supporting the roof,&lt;br /&gt;
bowing in the middle, were riddled with termite holes.  But, he&lt;br /&gt;
thought, these were easily fixed; a skilled carpenter, maybe a cleaner&lt;br /&gt;
or ten and the Hermetic enclave would be up and running in no time.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
        These were Rowane's thoughts has he wound his way down the&lt;br /&gt;
tower stairs, opening the door at the bottom only after a great deal of&lt;br /&gt;
effort seeing as the metal hinges were completely rusted.  Upon&lt;br /&gt;
shutting the door and walking about 15 yards along the edge of a sand&lt;br /&gt;
dune, Rowane felt the sand at his feet shift as the ground began to&lt;br /&gt;
shake.  Looking back, Rowane turned just in time to see the Ivory Tower&lt;br /&gt;
of the Hermetic Order falling to the ground with a might crash, kicking&lt;br /&gt;
up a great deal of sand in its wake.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
        Rowane coughed for a moment and stared at the rubble as the&lt;br /&gt;
dust settled and then exhaled in a long defeated sigh.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
       'This will take some explaining,' he muttered.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
        This was not working up to being a good day Rowane decided as &lt;br /&gt;
he&lt;br /&gt;
started off again along the dune in the direction of the nearest town.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=&lt;br /&gt;
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=&lt;br /&gt;
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&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;/nowiki&amp;gt;&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Mertjai</name></author>
	</entry>
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