Volume Seven Issue Twenty-Six
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
.............._______
............./ / THE LEGENDARY TIMES
............/ /
.........../ /.....______.._____.....______.._____.......____
........../ /...../ /./ \.../ /./ \...../ \
........./ /...../ ___/./ ____/../ ___/./ __. \.../ /\ \
......../ /...../ /_.../ /....../ /_.../ /..\ >./ /./ /
......./ /...../ __/../ /____../ __/../ /.../ /./ /./ /
....../ /_____/__/__../ \_\ /./ /__../ /.../ /./ /_/ /
...../ / /./ /./ /./ /.../ /./ /
..../ /_/..\______/./_____/./__/.../__/./_______/ MUD
.../________________/ running on mud.legendmud.org 9999
64.7.5.163 9999
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
http://www.legendmud.org/ ftp://ftp.legendmud.org/pub
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
VOLUME SEVEN, ISSUE TWENTY-SIX October 28, 2000
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Calendar of Events
Color "Themes" Contest
DEPARTMENTAL UPDATES
LEGENDITES
Announcements
The Meaning of Tiphareth
Fee's Transformation
A Letter of Introduction
The Old Man of the Sea
In the words of Bass
Horoscopes by Mme. Decara
___ ___
\ |----------------------------------------------------------------------| /
/__| LegendMUD Calendar of Events |__\
'----------------------------------------------------------------------'
[All times are system time unless otherwise specified]
o o o o o o o October o o o o o o o
Tuesday, October 31 Happy Halloween!
*/*\*/*\*/*\* November */*\*/*\*/*\*
Thursday, November 2nd, 7:00 pm Q & A in the OOC Auditorium
Thursday, November 9th, 7:00 pm Q & A in the OOC Auditorium
[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]
Color "Themes" Contest
Announcing a new contest: Color themes!
What do we mean by that? Chocorua has been working hard on a new code project
involving colors, which allows players to choose from a set of pregenerated
color mappings. Right now, we only offer one possible theme and allow players
to set up their own from there. This new feature will allow players to easily
move between a variety of pre-set themes, and hopefully we'll provide a
good range which is useful to most people, at least to start with. This is
a very similar feature to what your desktop computer might offer, i.e. a
"Water" theme, or an "Eggplant" theme, etc.
Here's how to enter:
Send a note to Chocorua with the colors for your theme for each of these
categories:
0: prompt [] color 14: tell color
1: prompt color 2 15: fight message color
2: prompt color 3 16: full condition color 1
3: room name color 17: slightly down condition color 2
4: room desc color 18: medium condition color 3
5: room contents color 19: bad condition color 4
6: "normal" color 20: critical condition color 5
7: channel [] color 21: social / emote color
8: channel color 22: banner color
9: channel user color 23: banner title color
10: channel message color 24: group tell color
11: exit [] color 25: clan channel color / message color
12: exit color 2 26: clan channel user color
13: valid exit color 3
For reference, the colors are:
0 black 1 red 2 green 3 yellow 4 blue 5 magenta 6 cyan 7 white
8 bblack 9 bred 10 bgreen 11 byellow 12 bblue 13 bmagenta 14 bcyan 15 bwhite
Share your favorite color combination, or try out some new ones! Be creative!
Is there a setup that works particularly well for, say, healer-type
characters, or snipers, that you can recommend?
The last step is to name your theme (if possible) and send it in!
Entries are due Friday, November 10th at midnight!
___ ___
\ |-----------------------------------------------------------------| /
/__| Departmental Updates |__\
'-----------------------------------------------------------------'
=== ADMIN ===============================================================
During the past month, Admin has gotten new method for adding keywords to
help files and a new warning system, in which the coders are still trying
to work out some problems. In the meantime, if you appear to have multiple
listings of the same helpfile, this is a known problem and the coders are
working on it. We cleaned up many duplicates with this week's update, but
they may reappear.
With the changes to the help file system, players should be finding less
and less helpfiles that come up with 'No help found on.' for minor
variations on the keywords for common help files. There are still many
that will need to be written from scratch, but they're coming. Missing
helpfiles do not need to be reported via the bug command as missed
keywords are automatically logged.
=== BUILDING ============================================================
The building department has been adding information for the AREAINFO
command and fixing bugs and typos reported.
The following areas are in testing or review:
Kheldar's Medieval Trade Route, Leila's London Expansion, Chimera's
Midsummer Night's Dream (part of the collective Shakespeare areas).
The following areas currently in progress (not an exhaustive list):
Tudor's update - Rusalka
Klein Update/Expansion - LadyAce
Ancient Hawaii - Danar
Cheyenne - Chimera
Colonial New Zealand - Perseus
Denmark - Kae
Egyptian Pyramid - Charity
Gilgamesh - Ea!
Medieval France - Sandra
Roman Cologne - Kunnar
Shakespeare - Rusalka/Chimera/Kae
Silk Road - LadyAce/Sandra
Tahiti - Charity
The R.M.S Titanic - Straussy
=== CODING ==============================================================
The coding department has been proving support for the other departments
and working on balance issues and fixing all sorts of minor problems.
New Socials : READY
New commands: AREAINFO EMOTETO SCREENWIDTH TARGET
New say alts: COUGH PROCLAIM
New moods : ADMIRINGLY ARROGANT CHEERFUL FORGETFUL GIDDY HAGGARD JAZZY
PARANOID RELAXED
Details for the many bug fixes and changes this month can be found in Ea!'s
posts on the welcome board with the title "Code Changes for..."
=== PLAYER RELATIONS ====================================================
The PR Dept. has held a couple of trivia games this month, one of them for
Columbus Day, held Q&A sessions, helped with at least one wedding, updated
the prize machine and the immort listing on the web page, ran buglottos,
updated some PR related helpfiles, did lots of strings and restrings and
descriptions and talked with players about their concerns. This past week,
the Haunting of Boston tinyplot was held -- look for the full story in a
later LT!
________________________
/ \
o O | Wonder what folks are |
`\|||/ | doing over at LegendMUD?|
(o o) \________________________/
ooO_(_)_Ooo________________________________________________________________
_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|___
__|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|
___ ___
\ |------------------------------------------------------------------| /
/__| LEGENDITES: Information Regarding the People of Our World |__\
'------------------------------------------------------------------'
Announcements
Marcel has reached 100 million experience!
Shine has reached 400 million experience!
The Meaning of Tiphareth
The Six Sephiroth of the Jewish Cabbala of which Tiphareth is the
center, are sometimes called Adam Kadmon, the archetypical human
being. In Tiphareth we find the archetypical ideals brought into focus
and turned into archetypical ideas. This is why one of the names of
Tiphareth is the Child. Here, creation begins. An idea is spawned to
grow into full-fledged existence. The chief virtue of the sephirah is
commitment to a work begun; - and logically enough, its chief flaw is
false pride.
In choosing Tiphareth as our symbol to unite under, we have made a
statement. For all our differences, for who we are and where we hail
from, we are entities in development. We are conceiving of ideas,
committing ourselves to see them take form, and sometimes, alas,
falling prey to false pride in our work.
We are not saints. Many of us are hellspawn in one way or another.
Some in the quite literal meaning of the word. Some because they
perceive themselves as cast out from the light, abandoned by god and
men. We are all seekers. We are all striving to become more than we
are. Our methods differ, but the goal lies along the same path: We are
more than mere beings of the flesh, and we will ascend to our
inheritance.
Walking among you in various forms, we are travelers of time, of the
soul, of the roads inside and outside the mind. We are seekers, we are
those who know, we are those who know that they know nothing.
Contact Sterling if you wish to join this circle of entities.
Fee's Transformation
I pushed open the door to the dark tavern. Not the type of place I tend to
frequent, but it was raining heavily and I wasn't about to step back outside
to try to find a more hospitable place to stay. As I scanned the room, I
noticed and older man in simple clothes sitting in the corner. A typical
man, with a doll sitting on the table besides his mug of ale. I decided
to investigate, and within a few minutes, we were talking like old friends.
Our lively conversation continued for hours, and eventually he excused
himself, saying he had to be on his way. He told me that he had been away
from his home for years, having wandered the lands, selling his puppets to
children. The puppet he had with him was the last of his creations, so it
seemed fitting that he take the opportunity to finally retire and relax a
bit. He offered it to me, and after some persuading on his part, I agreed.
That was 3 years ago, and since then I have been able to craft quite a few of
my own puppets, and hence I will begin my traveling of the lands of Legend,
ready to show and sell these puppets to whoever is interested. Don't call me
'Puppetmaster', either. *grumble*
[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]
A Letter of Introduction
To my dear brother Ignazio --
I wrote to you that I had found treasures in the new world, as I swore I
would. However, as you can see, the messenger who bears this letter brings
no riches, only herself. Let me explain in this letter, my final missive, how
that came to be.
There is indeed gold in the lands beneath the sunset, and in the craggy green
peaks I sailed away to see. The hardships of my journies, my years of labor
in the mines, and my rise to power in the city of Lima, I have recounted to
you in great, perhaps tedious detail. I will not repeat myself if I can avoid
it. As I lie here and my strength fails, I find my narrative rambles down all
the familiar avenues of my life, and so I hope that you will pardon any
duplication.
When I sailed from Lima, I was a proud and happy man. Seven ships stood in my
fleet, each one more laden with gold and gems than the one before it. A flock
of servants stood ready to respond to my slightest whisper. I had served my
own interests as well as my queen's. I looked forward to an idyllic
retirement, with time enough to spend repairing a lifetime's worth of
neglecting my family, and particularly you, who was so young when I
departed.
It was not meant to be. My pride and determined arrogance had brought me to
the peak of life's accomplishments, but it could not carry me home. Our ships
were caught in a storm in the Devil's Triangle, in a gale that blew around my
flagship like the screaming of the damned. When the winds had subsided, we
were far off course, and we found ourselves in dangerous waters, thick with
sharp-sabre'd pirates, sharks, and reefs. The injured vessels were quickly
surrounded by these thieves, and I was cast, along with those sailors and
servants who had survived the storm's cruelty, into their dungeons. I say
dungeons, but perhaps I should say caves, for they were dark, and wet, and
filled with horrors I cannot begin to describe.
Those weeks were as one night; they were as one long night of great despair,
the darkest I have ever seen. We sat without fire or lamplight, encased in an
echoing rock tomb, our eyes aching for day to come. They would have driven us
all to the brink, were it not for the simplest of miracles. As we sat there
in the blackness, I heard my footman's voice. His timbre quavering, he
addressed his daughter. "Sing, Estrella. Sing to bring down the stars in
envy, and with their fallen light, bring us hope."
And sing she did. Her voice was clear as spring sunlight, sparkling like
diamonds, shining out like a beacon in the dark. I wept to hear her.
Her good father, and many other good men, perished in that curse'd cave, and
the evils that visited us there I shudder to describe. And though many of us
perished, many of us survived long enough to be rescued, and resettled on an
island of greater safety. My gold, however, was never recovered. I was able
to see to the health of my staff and establish a small estate, nothing more
remains. I myself am struck with fever, and though I am cared for night and
day, no doctor can reverse the weakening I feel down to my bones.
I commend her to you, with what remains of my fortune, to you. I bid you,
care for this sweet spirit, and defend her from all harm.
- Your brother, Don Rodrigo
[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]
The Old Man of the Sea
It was a balmy day in the Mediterranean, and I decided to go sponge diving. I
was just prying up a large yellow one, when something caught my eye. It was
glittering in a bed of red algae, just over a rather steep precipice.
The algae bed turned out to be rather deeper than it seemed, and the
glittering object was quite tangled and half-buried. I barely managed to free
it before having to surface for air. It was a giant conch shell, the like of
which I had never seen. It was a shimmering silvery white and as long as my
arm. The flaring lip was iridescent with shades of blue and green. The shell
had been carved to serve as a trumpet, with a mouthpiece and several holes
for producing different tones.
I suddenly realized that while distracted by the shell, I had drifted much
father from the shore than where I had been collecting sponges. I began the
long swim back, but something grabbed hold of my foot and dragged me under
the water. I kicked back, and it recoiled, freeing me to swim back to the
surface.
The thing that had grabbed me was a woman, or something like it. From the
waist down, she had the fins and tail of a fish. She glared at me across the
water, and spluttered, 'Give that back; it's mine.'
'What, this?' I said, waving the conch. 'I found it myself.'
'I saw it first!'
'I don't care if you did,' I shot back. 'I like it, so it's mine.' I elbowed
her in the head, slowing her just enough to give me a head start, then swam
as fast as I could for the shore. Even disoriented she was quick, and I was
hampered by having to clutch at the shell. I just managed to clamber onto the
dock as she caught up to me. She tried to follow me, but, hindered by her
tail, was unable. I grabbed the gear I had left in a pile on the dock while
swimming, and stepped just out of her reach.
'Coward,' she accused me. 'Step back into the water and we'll fight. I know
how envious you are because I get all the sailors. You have to shipwreck
them, but they come to me.'
'I can get anyone I want,' I sneered. The nereid was beginning to irk me.
'You can't even lure sailors on your own anymore, so you've taken to
impersonating me.'
'It was just a one time thing.' She tossed her hair over her shoulder in a
calculated effort to splash me. 'It's not like you had a claim on him
anyway.'
I moved so quickly, I doubt she saw me swing my sword at her, but I know she
felt its teeth slash her cheek, just deep enough to scar. 'Just so it doesn't
happen again,' I said, smiling sweetly. She held one white hand to her maimed
cheek, and crying, swam away.
With the nereid gone, I turned my attention back to the shell. I wondered
what such a thing could be. A lost toy of some godlike creature, or an
artifact from a lost civilization whose craftsmanship far exceeds ours? I
thought such an instrument must surely be magical, and wanted to know what it
would do. Curiosity piqued, I sounded the trumpet.
I heard no sound, but the water began rocking violently. Waves rushed outward
from the dock. The water calmed again and I gazed out over the water, waiting
for something magical to happen. There was nothing.
A voice deep and gentle from behind me spoke. 'I was wondering when you would
seek me out.' I turned around and saw an old man fishing, where I was sure
there had been nobody.
'Grandfather?' I stuttered.
He nodded wisely, then turned to gaze across the sea. 'I'm disappointed in
you, Elisa,' he said. 'I expected better from you, after your mother gave her
life to protect you. Yet you dally about flirting shamelessly and living
recklessly. Your human blood has not tempered you at all. You have no sense
of the harmony of the sea nor your place in the world.'
I had not really expected a warm welcome, but his words shamed me. I felt a
coldness in my belly and found it difficult to speak or swallow. I feebly
tried to defend myself. 'But I do know that I find peace only in the water. I
don't know where my place in the world is, but I am always drawn deep under
the sea.'
'You are drawn to your home: the sunken city Atlantis. It was destroyed long
ago when the fools who lived there acted as you do, and upset the gods. But
I had the city rebuilt under the waves.' The cold spot in my belly began to
recede. I begged the old man to show me the way, but he refused.
'You are not worthy. You must choose you battles more carefully -- protect
the weak, defend the righteous. Think before you speak, and say only what is
wise. Act gently, and always with love. And for the sake of all that is good,
give up the wanton flirting. Then call on me. When you are ready, I shall
lead you home.'
The old man bent to the water and touched it lightly with a fingertip. At
once two monsters sprang from the water, with the heads and forequarters of
horses and the tails of fish. They pulled behind them a magnificent chariot
of carved and polished blue coral. The old man climbed aboard and no longer
seemed a mere fisherman, but king and god. He drove the chariot back into the
sea without even rippling the surface.
[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]
In the Words of Bass
It was an ordinary day in the year 1999. As usual, I woke in a hotel
surrounded by strangers and friends alike. Life on the road is weird like
that.
I had been playing with the rock band, DragonSpawn, for three years and we
were finally getting some notice. Our brand of progressive metal was not
really mainstream, but we worked really hard and were always trying new and
different things to stay fresh. We also thought mind altering drugs would
help free the music inside us.
It was this thought that made me accept the mushrooms the strange little man
with the weird accent offered me. I had never seen him before, but it was not
unusual for fans in strange towns to want to impress us with gifts. Guys gave
us drugs and girls gave us... well, gifts.
Anyway, I ate the mushrooms and started trying new chords on my guitar.
I was amazing. At least that's what I thought, until I looked up to find
everyone had left the motel room. I started to go find them when I realized,
strange accent man was still there. Without a word he pointed out frets on
my guitar neck and I understood, he wanted me to play them.
I fingered the new chord, strummed the strings, and was instantly surrounded
by the most magical music I had ever heard. I was in ecstasy and played the
new chord louder and faster, harder and harder. There was blood on my fingers
and sweat on my brow. I kept playing and playing.
I'm not sure what happened next but I awoke in unfamiliar surroundings
again. As I tried to get my bearings I realized that, the strange little man
was standing over me. I tried to say something to him but he laughed, then
ran off down the stairs.
I, of course, thought that the mushrooms were of superb quality.
I wandered around enjoying what I thought was just a very vivid
hallucination. I had been under the influence of many things up till that
time and none of them had made my motel room look like ancient Ireland. I
enjoyed it right up until I was bit by a wolfhound. The realization that I
was actually in ancient Ireland was very hard to take and I started looking
for the stranger who had brought me here.
I have been looking for him for years now. I finally accepted my fate and
have since gathered quite an interesting collection of magical clothing and
weapons. I saw the stranger once while I was fighting an angry Centurion, but
couldn't get away fast enough to catch him. Even If I did catch him, I don't
think I want to kill him anymore.
I have met many new friends in my time here. I have fought against and
besides some great warriors. I have traveled time and have even been to Hell
and back. I've met Robin Hood, Herne and been lost in Casablanca. The other
day I even saw a Turtle War.
I'm in no hurry to get back to my time. I miss a few things, like cold beer
and computers. I don't miss things like politics and pollution. I call Tara
my home even though I don't spend much time there anymore. I'm still always
waking up in some strange place. Life on the road is weird like that.
.+'''+. .+'''+.
Horoscopes by Mme. Decara
'+,,,+'
+---------------------------------+---------------------------------+
| SCORPIO (Oct 24 - Nov 22) | SAGITTARIUS (Nov 23 - Dec 21) |
| | |
| Seek a topaz to bring serenity. | Independence is a good thing, |
| Ever idealistic, strive to wear | but too much of it can be dull. |
| Crimson or burgundy on Tuesday. | Aim high, be direct, shoot true.|
+---------------------------------+---------------------------------+
| CAPRICORN (Dec 22 - Jan 19) | AQUARIUS (Jan 20 - Feb 19) |
| | |
| Use your steadiness to prevent | Creativity abounds and you're |
| backslides in progress. Organize | the life of the party. Be sure |
| adventures on Saturday for luck.| to carry spare bandages & gauze.|
+---------------------------------+---------------------------------+
| PISCES (Feb 20 - Mar 20) | ARIES (Mar 21 - Apr 19) |
| | |
| It is essential to believe in | Diamonds are your best friend. |
| yourself, first, if you want to | Wearing one on your left side |
| walk on water. Not everyone can.| will attract much love & money. |
+---------------------------------+---------------------------------+
| TAURUS (Apr 20 - May 20) | GEMINI (May 21 - Jun 20) |
| | |
| People will be depending on you | Versatility is the name of your |
| for support. Be strong and you | game, whether matching rose or |
| earn their unsurpassed loyalty. | lavender or in communication. |
+---------------------------------+---------------------------------+
| CANCER (Jun 21 - Jul 22) | LEO (Jul 23 - Aug 22) |
| | |
| Moonstones and pearls should be | Beware letting your tendencies |
| turned to if you want to change | of domination and possessiveness|
| bad fortune to good this Monday.| over take those of generosity. |
+---------------------------------+---------------------------------+
| VIRGO (Aug 23 - Sep 22) | LIBRA (Sep 23 - Oct 23) |
| | |
| Don't be so modest about your | Feel jealous or greedy lately? |
| accomplishments! Let Mercury's | Opals will bring clear insight |
| abundant energy shine brightly! | and return easy-going natures. |
+---------------------------------+---------------------------------+
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Legendary Times is published by the immortals of LegendMUD. Please send
all replies, additions, or corrections to our address at [email protected]
for inclusion in the next edition. We, however, reserve the right to
moderate this discussion, and may object to some submissions.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=