Volume Eight Issue Twenty
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............./ / THE LEGENDARY TIMES
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.../________________/ running on mud.legendmud.org 9999
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VOLUME EIGHT, NUMBER TWENTY September 16, 2001
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
A Note From the Implementor
NEWS, REPORTS, UPDATES
August Connection Analysis
Recent Updates
Q & A Topics
LEGENDITES
Announcements
Clan News
From the Dead Letter Office
The Bloody Rose Murders
Ch. 2 of From the Lamp to the Harem and Back
Finding My Calling
Dreams of the Nile's Blessing
Enhander's Rejection
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A Note from the Implementor....
For all who have been touched by the tragic events of September 11, 2001:
May we all be in each other's thoughts and may we strive to live each day to
the fullest and let our loved ones know exactly how much we treasure them and
do what we can to support the efforts of those who are on the scenes --
whether that be through thoughts and prayers, contributions, or donations of
blood. But most importantly, we cannot let ourselves to shut down and bury
our heads in the sand, and allow our spirits to be broken.
Many of you have probably already seen Rufus' post on the welcome board that
was written the morning after the New York and Washington tragedies, But I'm
going to include it here as well, because it expresses my feelings as well,
but much more eloquently than I am able to put into words.
-Kaige
(35) From: Rufus Title: September 11, 2001
Posted On: Wednesday, September 12 2001, 08:40AM
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I'm not going to re-hash any of the facts that have come out in the last
24 hours, you've seen them, discussed them, reacted to them, and they've
been delivered by any and all mediums possible.
What I am going to say is that many, many people's lives have been
profoundly affected by today.
LegendMUD is a small community, a microcosm housed in a virtual space.
If you don't think you know someone that was affected by this horrible
incident, you're wrong. There are people here, that you react with every
day, that have been touched by the massive loss of life, the intrusion on
the freedom which we have built over the years.
This is a very emotional time for all of us. We will react, poorly in
some cases. We will act out of sadness, out of anger, out of
frustration.
This is a time, however, to remain civil. Thousands of people unwittingly
gave their lives on this tragic day. They didn't know what hit them. Many
of them will never be given the chance to understand.
They have my sympathy, and I hope they have yours. This is a time for
understanding, a time for grieving, a time for reconstruction, and a time
to be civil and respectful toward those people who have had their lives
affected in any respect by the actions of a few.
I belong to this nation. It is a powerful nation which, in all honesty,
has overstepped its bounds in the past, and will continue to do so in the
future. Perhaps this tragedy will humble us, anger us, force us to look
inside as well as outside. We can only hope that the world moves towards
a better place because of this tragedy. But for a while, it will get
worse. Our way of life will be profoundly affected.
It is in these times we need the support of the community around us.
Yes, we have been wrong in the past, but it is highly doubtful that the
majority of the people who were sacrificed today knew or actively took
part in the actions that prompted such a devastating disaster.
They deserve our compassion, as do the people who have to go on living
now without the ones they love, the ones they work with, the ones they
smiled at in the elevator every day, never once introducing themselves.
Keep this in mind as you express yourself. Today is a good day to be
good to one another.
Todd McKimmey (Rufus)
___ ___
\ |----------------------------------------------------------------------| /
/__| News, Reports, and Updates! |__\
'----------------------------------------------------------------------'
LegendMUD Connection Analysis
August 2001
Peak Mortal Players 59
Average Peak was 50
Peak PKOK Enabled Players 34
Pkokenabled Characters represent approximately
49% of active players.
Peak Accept All Characters 12
Accept All Characters represent approximately
9% of all active characters and 19% of active pkok enabled characters.
The first two tables below show the Average Mortal Players, Average
PKOK Enabled Players, and the number that were "Accept All" connected
to Legend by hour of the day as polled approximately on the hour
system time during the period noted above.
The third table shows the same averages calculated by the day of week.
hour 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
------------------------------------------
avg 39 35 31 26 22 21 17 17 20 22 26 26
pke 19 18 15 12 10 10 8 8 8 10 11 12
aas 4 4 3 2 2 1 1 0 1 1 1 1
hour 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23
------------------------------------------
avg 29 32 33 35 35 35 37 39 41 40 39 38
pke 14 17 17 18 18 18 18 19 20 20 20 20
aas 2 3 3 3 3 2 3 3 3 4 4 5
day MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT SUN
------------------------------------------
avg 32 29 32 31 30 29 30
pke 15 15 16 15 14 14 14
aas 3 2 3 3 3 2 2
This table shows the breakdown by each hour for each day of the week.
MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT SUN
AVG PK AA|AVG PK AA|AVG PK AA|AVG PK AA|AVG PK AA|AVG PK AA|AVG PK AA
------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------
0: 39 21 5| 33 14 3| 41 22 5| 40 21 3| 41 20 5| 40 19 4| 33 17 4
1: 40 21 5| 32 15 4| 38 22 6| 37 18 3| 35 17 5| 34 15 3| 29 14 3
2: 35 17 3| 27 14 3| 31 17 5| 32 17 4| 31 15 3| 29 13 3| 29 15 3
3: 27 12 2| 24 12 4| 29 15 4| 27 12 2| 25 11 2| 24 11 1| 25 12 3
4: 23 10 2| 21 10 3| 23 12 3| 23 10 2| 23 11 2| 21 9 1| 23 10 2
5: 22 8 1| 20 9 2| 21 10 1| 20 9 1| 22 11 2| 20 9 2| 20 9 1
6: 20 8 1| 17 7 1| 20 11 1| 17 8 1| 18 9 1| 14 7 1| 16 7 0
7: 19 7 1| 17 8 0| 19 10 1| 17 8 1| 19 9 0| 16 7 0| 14 5 0
8: 22 10 1| 20 9 1| 21 11 1| 19 7 0| 22 9 1| 18 7 0| 15 6 0
9: 22 10 1| 22 11 2| 23 11 1| 23 11 1| 22 8 1| 20 8 0| 19 7 0
10: 26 12 1| 26 12 2| 29 13 1| 25 13 1| 26 10 1| 22 7 1| 25 9 0
11: 29 14 2| 27 13 2| 27 13 1| 26 13 1| 23 9 1| 25 11 1| 26 11 0
12: 30 16 2| 28 15 3| 29 15 2| 26 13 1| 25 12 2| 32 17 2| 31 15 1
13: 33 18 4| 29 15 3| 30 15 3| 30 16 2| 29 16 4| 36 20 3| 34 17 2
14: 34 19 3| 32 17 4| 33 17 3| 35 18 4| 32 15 3| 34 17 3| 36 17 2
15: 34 18 4| 34 17 3| 39 22 4| 37 19 4| 35 18 3| 34 16 3| 34 17 2
16: 34 17 4| 31 15 3| 38 20 2| 35 17 4| 34 18 3| 36 19 3| 35 18 1
17: 36 19 3| 33 15 2| 36 18 2| 31 14 2| 37 18 4| 37 21 2| 36 17 1
18: 38 17 4| 32 16 2| 35 17 3| 37 17 3| 38 18 3| 35 19 3| 42 21 3
19: 41 21 4| 38 20 3| 36 17 4| 44 20 3| 36 17 3| 34 19 1| 44 21 2
20: 45 22 5| 37 20 3| 43 19 3| 46 21 4| 35 17 3| 38 20 2| 44 23 4
21: 42 19 4| 39 21 3| 42 20 5| 43 22 5| 36 18 3| 36 19 2| 43 21 3
22: 41 19 5| 39 22 3| 40 20 4| 40 21 6| 36 18 4| 38 20 3| 41 21 4
23: 36 17 5| 44 24 4| 40 21 5| 44 22 6| 38 20 6| 36 20 4| 32 16 4
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/\ RECENT UPDATES
/ \
/ \ CODE UPDATES
/_ _\
| | Bug Fixes
| | o entry screen now displayed properly if you hit enter at
| | the "name of character" prompts
|__|
/\
/ \ HELP FILE UPDATES
/ \
/_ _\ The following helpfiles were recently added or updated!
| |
| | General Info
| | ------------
|__| cheating, areainfo, clans, description, pray
/\
/ \ Thank you to all the players & imms who assisted in this update!
/ \
/_ _\
| | AREA UPDATES
| |
| | If you want to suggest specific improvements or new additions
|__| to existing areas please don't hesitate to submit them with
/\ the idea/bug/typo commands or drop mudmail to the builder
/ \ currently responsible for the area (check areainfo to find
/ \ out!) And don't limit ideas to just these three months!
/_ _\
| | ARABIAN NIGHTS
| | Aladdin and Decara shouldn't get caught in conversation
| | loops anymore. The Captain of the Guard shouldn't wander off
|__| in the middle of talking to you. Various bugs and minor
/\ syntax problems fixed.
/ \ AZTECS
/ \ Various typos and minor syntax problems fixed.
/_ _\ ANCIENT GREECE
| | Limits production of herbs for sale where infinite.
| | CELTIC IRELAND
| | Lots of fixes, notably solves the mystery of the missing
|__| horseshoes! Various bugs, typos and syntax problems fixed.
/\ SHERWOOD
/ \ Tones down the bunny overpopulation. If Will's dead at the
/ \ time you trans, you won't be stopped. Various minor syntax
/_ _\ problems fixed.
| | TORTUGA
| | Cleans up how Levasseur handles quest items and teaching
| | acts. Various minor syntax problems fixed.
|__| VICEROYAL PERU
/\ Various bugs, typos, and minor syntax problems fixed.
/ \ 1802 ALASKA, BEOWULF, CASABLANCA, FRENCH & INDIAN WAR, LotP,
/ \ MEDIEVAL SEAS, LONDON PORT, SAN FRANCISCO, & AFRICAN SAVANNA
/_ _\ Various minor syntax problems fixed.
| | HERBLORE ENTRIES
| | You can now get herblore on HOPS as well as HOP.
| | OUT OF CHARACTER LOUNGE
|__| Various typos fixed.
/\
/ \ If you find any bugs/typos or have ideas for new items, mob
/ \ interactions, quest hints or anything else for any of the
/_ _\ areas, please make use of the bug/idea/typo channels.
| |
| | In Progress Area Updates
| |
|__| This section is intended to let everyone know what builders
/\ are working on behind the scenes. It is not a perfect record
/ \ of progress as all builders will not make an update every
/ \ week. Players who badger builders about progress or a
/_ _\ perceived lack thereof will be flogged. Remember, the longer
| | spent on questions, the longer the project takes to complete.
| |
| | Kae Larderello (Dante's Inferno)
|__| LadyAce Kleinstadt (Update)
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_______ ____ _______
/ ___ \ / __ \ / ___ \ Logs of Q&A sessions are available on the
| / \ | \ \/ / | / \ | web pages for those who are unable to attend
| | | | \ / | \___/ | or had to leave early. The most recent ones
| | | | / \/\ | ___ | are listed on the sitemap page or you can
| | /\| | / /\ / | / \ | get a complete list on the Q&A index page
| \_\ \ | \ \/ \ | \ / | at the url below.
\___\/_/ \__/\/ \_/ \_|
http://www.legendmud.org/Community/lectures/QandA/QA_index.html
RECENT TOPICS
o Hitroll Changes o Ordering Charmies to Move
o Conference Requests o Changes to Magic Roots
o Horseshoes in Tara o Elemental Changes
o Extra Attack Items o Elementals & Roots
o Newbie Clothes for Medieval? o Bug with the Phantom?
o Bug with the Flamestrike Weapons? o Elemental info vague on purpose?
o Change to Sidhe Quest o Change to Regen?
o Curses in Tortuga o Moods and Pkill
o Recall Tag? o More on Elementals
o Create Charm Changes o Dispel Magic Bug?
o Unlimited Herbs for Sale? o Discussion of Tolerance
o Worn as Shield vs On Arm? o Earthquake bug Fixed?
o Wall of Thorns Bug? o Network Change Progress?
o New Area Updates? o How're Imm Apps Going?
o Locked Rooms in OOC?
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________________________
/ \
o O | Wonder what folks are |
`\|||/ | doing over at LegendMUD?|
(o o) \________________________/
ooO_(_)_Ooo________________________________________________________________
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\ |------------------------------------------------------------------| /
/__| LEGENDITES: Information Regarding the People of Our World |__\
'------------------------------------------------------------------'
=============
|Announcements|
=============
Rowane has reached 300 million experience!
=========
|Clan News|
=========
Riven formed The Horsemen Clan on August 28, 2001.
SWAT Team Clan disbanded for low membership.
Congratulations are due to the Lost Children of Atlantis clan, which
celebrates the 1-year anniversary of their founding this week!
Congratulations are also due to the Knights of the Temple Clan, which
celebrated their 1-year founding anniversary last week (although they existed
long before then.)
From the Dead Letter Office
A parcel arrived at the dead letter office this week. The address was
illegible. The parcel contained several valuable items of jewellery, and a
letter. We print the letter here in the hopes that readers of this journal
will be able to identify the addressee for us.
My dearest,
While I am flattered by your attentions and your proposals (both the
honourable one and the dishonourable one), I must with some regret say no.
I cannot marry you, nor will I become your mistress. The gifts you sent to
me are included in the parcel accompanying this missive.
Gentle soul that you are, I feel I owe you the honesty of an explanation. I
could say it is my age ... for I am nearly too old to give you an heir, but
that is not the real reason I am turning you down.
Many years ago, when I was but a lonely girl new to the ways of the world, I
gave my heart to a man. He taught me many things ... helped me learn much
about the world we live in, gave me better clothing than the few rags I wore,
even helped me find the teachers I needed to study medicine. For some time
we travelled together, he guiding my every move, yet never taking advantage
of my youth and innocence. We were so much in love, I felt deeply connected
to him, sharing a kind of telepathy even when we were apart.
After a while I wanted to spread my wings, for I now had a good grounding in
the basics and felt it time to discover for myself. I had been bitten by the
travel bug and wanted to explore I said as much to him ... he thought I was
leaving him, which I was not. In hindsight, I believe he saw my need to
assert some independence as a threat to him somehow.
I was exploring Dreamtime Australia, far from him in time and space, when I
felt my connection with him break. He had gotten into a fight with the
innkeeper of the Jolly Beggar and been killed. Unlike some of the death-like
injuries we seem to suffer from time to time, this was permanent. Oh, if
only I had been there, I could have prevented the fight, I know I could
have. I was never to see him again, and our last words had been spoken in
anger and confusion.
Heartbroken, I wandered alone for a time after that. Then another man
entered my life ... he was known for his cruelties and killer nature, but to
me he was kind. He helped me in my quest for personal growth, and took me to
dangerous, exciting places many times. He was never my lover, we were simply
friends, or so I thought.
Then one day he took me to a beautiful waterfall in the Caribbean, a region I
knew little about. I was talking about my feelings of pain and guilt
following the death of my love when he tried (with some vehemence on his
part) to seduce me. Eventually I was able to make him understand that I
meant no, and he abandoned me there, lost, in an area populated with wild
boars and all manner of pirates. Fortunately, I was able to make my way
safely out with minimal injuries and my virtue intact, although my faith in
men had been shattered. ('Twas not long afterwards that he too, left this
world, although his leaving was nothing to do with me.)
Dearest, you are kind and sweet and gentle, and not at all like this second
man, and unlike the first you understand my need for independence, but my
experience with men has taught me to be wary. Either they break your heart
or they turn on you. On that terrible day at the waterfall I vowed never to
give my heart to a man again. And so I have lived through the years from
that day to this, maintaining my independence. I urge you to forget about
me, and to seek a younger, sweeter-natured woman who can give you the love
you so richly deserve.
Yours in friendship
Tarn
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The Bloody Rose Murders
As the sun rose over the Eastern Desert, its searing light revealed a
gruesome scene. A dead man lay in the sand, rigidly on his back. Fingerless
hands were folded neatly across his breast, clasping a white rose. The rose
seemed to ooze blood, which pooled on his chest and ran in rivulets down his
ribs to soak into the desert sand. His eyes were empty sockets. His ears had
been chewed off.
A camel driver, upon finding the corpse, was immediately thankful that his
pregnant wife did not have to witness it. He hurried to Agrabah, to warn the
Captain of the guards before the corpse was covered in sand. When the guards
inspected the corpse, they found that, aside from the blood in and around the
single white rose, the corpse had none. It had been drained completely. Yet
they could find no wound on the body of sufficient size to cause such blood
loss, except perhaps the two small punctures on the neck...
Meanwhile, in the quiet Roman town of Aquae Sulis, playgoers expecting a
comedy were treated to tragedy. Even the director was startled when a
mutilated corpse was found on the stage. At first, he thought it was an
actor, practicing for a funeral scene...so neatly was it laid out, with a
white rose on its chest. But when he saw that the actor was missing ears,
eyes, and fingers, he knew it was no ruse. An insane orator insisted that it
was a foretelling of the worlds end when he discovered that the body was
bloodless, but the citizens were more circumspect in their suspicions. In the
baths and on the streets, speculations flew. Was it Britons? Picts?
Politicians?
In Lima, Peru, the Viceroy himself stepped out onto his balcony, to greet the
dawn before tumbling back into bed. Looking down at the fountain in the town
square, he spied a young woman lying on the ground. He was immediately
entranced by the mystery of a beautiful woman lying so still, with a white
rose clasped to her breast. But the guard he sent to fetch her returned
reluctantly, with the news that she was no beauty up close. Her eyes, though
probably once beautiful, had been gouged out. Her ears and fingers were
chewed off. Her slender neck bore punctures on the jugular. Her skin was
fair, but it was a gray pallor due to her complete lack of blood.
A reporter covering a baseball game in Pittsburgh got the scoop of a
lifetime. As the players took the field to warm up, they found a dead body on
home plate. Police inspectors had the daunting task of questioning everyone
in the ballpark that day, while trying to quell a riot, but those who had to
examine the corpse were given the worst job by far. This was not the ordinary
mob shooting or knifing that they were used to. The poor woman had been
mutilated.
The press got wind of how the corpse had been laid out, as if for a funeral,
with a white rose dripping blood clasped to her chest. A daring reporter
hopped the police line, and snapped a photograph, revealing that her eyes,
ears, and fingers were all missing. The police did manage to hide the fact
that the corpse had been drained of blood, seemingly from a vampiric bite on
her neck...
From Agrabah to Pittsburgh, guards, legionaries, conquistadors, and policemen
stalked the streets, searching for a madman, a butcher...and a legend come to
life.
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CHAPTER 2 of From the Lamp to the Harem and Back
As a merchant, Ashimar traveled to many strange and distant lands. Often
Ashimar took Raewyn along with him, but there were times when he felt that
having Raewyn along would merely distract his buyers and therefore, he would
leave her at an inn and travel on alone.
Raewyn found it boring to be left alone for so long. 'Not that it's anything
new,' she thought to herself. 'I spent who knows how many millennia trapped
in my lamp all alone. 'Raewyn sighed heavily as she idly plucked at a stray
thread on her clothes.
Raewyn peered around the tiny, airless room. Ashimar had ordered her not to
leave their room. There was nothing in the room but a bed and a chair and a
stand with a pitcher and washbowl, not even a window.
Raewyn sat down on the bed cross-legged and stared off into space,
remembering what life had been like before she had been trapped in the lamp.
It was a warm spring day; the sun was shining in the small town where Raewyn
had lived as a young girl. The village was built around a small fountain,
where the woman would come each day for water.
As Raewyn walked down the street carrying her water container, she was
surprised to see a traveller in town. 'Who is he?' she wondered. He was not
one of the regular traders, who often visited the town to trade goods. In
fact, he looked different than anyone Raewyn had ever seen before. He had
dark skin, and instead of the usual jerkins and rough trousers the men of the
village wore, he had on long robes, and what appeared to be a long piece of
cloth wrapped around his head. Raewyn shrugged and went on her way to fetch
the water for her family.
As Raewyn was drawing water from the well, the stranger approached her, 'Do
you mind sparing some water for a traveller?' he said.
There was something in his voice that sent chills down her spine, she really
did not like this man at all, but she had been taught it was rude to refuse a
traveller a share of water from the well. Raewyn filled a container of water
and handed it to the stranger.
'Thank you, my dear,' he said as he gave a sly smile.
'You are welcome, traveller.' Raewyn waited for the traveller to finish
drinking and give her the container back.
'Tell me, what is your name?' he asked her.
'Raewyn,' she answered quietly.
'Raewyn, what a most unusual name, it becomes your beauty.' The traveller
reached out in an attempt to touch her cheek, but Raewyn moved away quickly
to tend to her water containers.
'If you don't mind, traveller,' Raewyn said, 'could I have my container
back? My family is waiting for my return.'
The traveller nodded his consent and handed the container to Raewyn.
With that Raewyn picked up her water containers and headed for home,
thinking that would be the last she would see of him.
When Raewyn arrived home with the water, there was a buzz of excitement
throughout the small house.
'What's going on?' Raewyn asked.
'Raewyn! What took you so long!' her mother exclaimed, 'didn't I tell you
to hurry? We're having a guest for dinner.'
'I'm sorry mother, there was a stranger at the well, and he asked for
water...'
'Shush, girl! Run and put on your best clothes, you must look nice for our
guest.'
'Yes mother, but who is coming to dinner?'
Raewyn's mother sighed heavily. 'Questions, questions, always with the
questions.'
Raewyn's mother stopped for a moment and looked at her daughter. 'Raewyn,'
she said in a quieter tone, 'our house is full and overflowing, you are 16
now, your father feels it's time you were married. He has found a suitor for
you. He comes from a very wealthy family. It's more than we could have hoped
for. Now, for heaven's sakes child, run and get ready.'
As Raewyn went to put on her best clothes, she found herself wondering whom
the suitor might be. There weren't any wealthy families in her hometown.
Raewyn smiled as she braided her long black hair, which had earned her her
name. Raewyn had never seen anyone else with dark hair like hers. Her whole
family had light sandy coloured hair, and she had often wondered where she
had gotten such dark hair.
Raewyn was helping her mother in the kitchen when her suitor arrived.
Raewyn's father called her into the other room to meet her suitor.
Raewyn hurriedly wiped her hands and smoothed down the skirt of her dress,
and went to her father.
'Raewyn,' her father said, 'Meet Slaz'hid.'
Raewyn looked up to see... the traveller.
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Finding My Calling
by Antimodes
It all began while visiting Egypt for the first time... I had always felt
called somehow to the area, but never deemed myself worthy to enter what I
considered holy land. I knew from very young that my destiny was to become
skilled in the black arts, and I began my training at a young age. After
gaining more and more knowledge, I finally felt able to enter Egypt.
Upon entering I immediately felt at home, something I had never felt before.
In addition to this, there was a gentle throbbing at the base of my neck,
like a pulsing sensation, traveling from this point in my neck upwards into
my head. Oddly, it wasn't uncomfortable, rather soothing. As I made my way
around, This feeling would intensify to wear it was almost unbearable at
times, and at other times would soften to the point where I hardly knew it
was there.
I decided to use this pulsing as a compass of sorts, to lead me where I felt
it was compelling me to go. Stronger and stronger it grew until I collapsed,
striking my forehead on a stone. I blacked out. I don't know how long I was
asleep, but when I awoke, I was no longer in the desert. As i blinked myself
awake, I noticed my surroundings...
I was in a small chamber, square in shape, on a stone slab set on one side,
raised up on a series of steps. The chamber was filled with candles, and a
scent of incense. I heard a low, rhythmic sound coming from all around the
chamber, but stronger on the opposite side from where I laid upon the stone.
As a listened, a slab appeared to move on its own accord on that side of the
chamber. When it was opened, twelve black-robed shapes entered the room. I
couldn't make out faces, because their hoods were shaped in such away, and the
shadows so dominant in the room, that the faces where completely obscured.
The figures marched in in a slow procession, forming a semi-circle with one
space left out of the middle. Once in place, the chanting ceased, and gave
way to an eerie silence. It was then that i noticed the throbbing in the back
of my head had ceased.
I felt compelled to rise from where I was, and walk down the steps. Standing
there in awe, in the silence of this chamber, I noticed that coming through
the chamber door was a figure robed in black, with dark blue trim on the
bottom and sleeves, along with back and silver trim down the front opening.
The robe was tied closed with a black rope, and stuck in the rope was a
silver dagger. Judging from the attire, the individual was a priest of some
sort, and seemed to be the leader of this group of individuals.
As he struck the bottom of his staff on the floor, the twelve apprentices
kneeled in one smooth motion. Gazing at this individual, who obviously
wielded great power, I was compelled to do the same. Not for fear of what he
might do if I didn't, but simply out of respect for one more learned than I.
Once I kneeled I felt the cold, sharp tip of his dagger on the back of my
neck. Knowing somehow that if i protested, a simple flick of the wrist would
take me out of this world, I succumbed completely to his will. Prostrating
myself at his sandaled feet, I was lifted by two of the apprentices, who
placed me back on my knees. The head priest kneeled as well, and leaned to my
left ear.
"Welcome Antimodes. We have waited a long time for your arrival." he spoke,
grasping my shoulder as he did so. I was awestruck that they knew who I was,
much less that I was expected. Lifting me to my feet, he passed me his staff,
bowing his head as he did so. "This was pre-ordained from the beginning, By
our master, Ra. He said a novice would enter our chamber, and exit a master,
learned in all our rituals, and forever protected by His power." as he spoke
these words, he touched the hilt of the dagger to my temple, and I felt a
surge of energy through my head, and down my spine. I felt rooted to the
floor, connected with the ancient energies that had existed here before the
dawn of mankind. The sensation became overwhelming, and I felt myself falling
backwards, nothing to stop me from striking my head on the steps.
It was then that I awoke, back at the traveler's inn. Assuming it was a
dream, although feeling somehow changed, I arose from my bed, only to feel
lightheaded and have to sit back down. Once the room stopped spinning, I
noticed leaning in the corner, a six foot staff, capped with an onyx sphere.
next to it, on a hook in the wall, was a black robe, edged in blue and
silver. Shaking my head in disbelief, I donned the clothes and picked up the
staff, feeling like it was made just for me all along. I knew now it was no
dream, that I had been called. I would forever pay homage to the dark
energies now coursing through me. I had been chosen.
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Dreams of the Nile's Blessing
By Darkness
Let me tell ya how I ended up with the mages of AmonRa....
Once not so long ago in a place not that far away, I lay down to rest my head
on the banks of the River Nile just outside Annu. When I opened my eyes, I
found a corpulent man wearing a crown of papyrus reeds, sitting at my feet
and staring at me. Blushing I gathered myself, stood up, and peered round.
"Nice to see you awake, young heroine. My name is Hapi, and I have came to
deliver you a message of great importance." said the short chubby man, with a
smug look on his face.
"Your apprentice, Mojo, has created a cult of worshipers to Amon Ra." he
continued after a brief pause.
"Yes, I am aware of his followers," I replied, sitting down on a near by
rock.
"We ask of you to join this clan aid in its cause and help them gain power,"
said Hapi.
"Hapi, your wish is my command. I will serve Amon Ra and bring them into
power. Egypt will be restored to its glory," I said, peering up to the
stars.
"The People of Egypt will have full faith in you, for now you speak with
medju-netjer (the words of the gods)," said Hapi.
Then suddenly I feel myself slipping, my sight started to blur and to my
surprise my pet Quasit was licking my face to wake me from my slumber. Had I
dreamed this, was it not true? The sand at my feet started to swirl round and
I jumped out of the way, drawing my claws and readying myself for a
conflict. But the sand formed an Eye of Ra, and I knew that my dream was a
message that I must not ignore. I had given Hapi my word, and so I set off
to find this cult.
I searched for many lunar phases for these worshipers of Amon Ra. When I
found them, my apprentice had given over his leadership to Saehlien, a great
mage who accepted me into their clan without doubt. Maybe he found me or
perhaps it was fate -- I guess I'll never know.
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Enhander's Rejection
I, Enhander, was found on Planet Vegeta one short week before it was
destroyed by the evil villain Freeza. I was low class by birth, and rejected
by the Saiyan. When the cataclysm came, I escaped to Earth, and have since
been forgotten by my fellow Saiyan survivors. Since then, even though I've
been a kind and gentle individual, I've always had the Saiyan longing to
fight -- as a Saiyan, it is in our blood to crave a fight. And given the
rejection that I experienced from my own kind, I long to prove myself worthy
of acceptance into their ranks.
Super Saiyan Enhander (spelling correction)
The forgotten Saiyan warrior is here, longing for a fight.
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