Volume Nine Issue Twenty-Nine
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
.............._______
............./ / THE LEGENDARY TIMES
............/ /
.........../ /.....______.._____.....______.._____.......____
........../ /...../ /./ \.../ /./ \...../ \
........./ /...../ ___/./ ____/../ ___/./ __ \.../ /\ \
......../ /...../ /_.../ /....../ /_.../ /..\ >./ /./ /
......./ /...../ __/../ /____../ __/../ /.../ /./ /./ /
....../ /_____/__/__../ \_\ /./ /__../ /.../ /./ /_/ /
...../ / /./ /./ /./ /.../ /./ /
..../ /_/..\______/./_____/./__/.../__/./_______/ MUD
.../________________/ running on mud.legendmud.org 9999
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
http://www.legendmud.org/ ftp://ftp.legendmud.org/pub
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
VOLUME NINE, NUMBER TWENTY-NINE July 27, 2002
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
TABLE OF CONTENTS
The Editor's Note
NEWS, REPORTS, UPDATES
Calendar of Events
Recent Updates
Medieval Era Spotlight: Viking Scandinavia
Recent Q&A Topics
DID YOU KNOW: Clans & GMs
Congrats to Our Scavenger Hunt Winners!
Summer Snowstorm Follow-Up
LEGENDITES
Clan's Should Stick Together
Confucious say: Don't use cannon, to kill a flea
Clan News
The Rest Is Silence
Prelude to a Kiss...
A Prophet's Ponderings...
From the Lamp to the Harem and Back - Part III
___ ___
\ |-----------------------------------------------------------------| /
/__| The Editor's Note |__\
'-----------------------------------------------------------------'
Unintentionally, this has turned out to be an issue centering around
Clans. The article by Smokey below, combined with some posts on the war
board were the catalyst for much of the clan related topics in this issue.
So, what makes a good/successful clan?
Does having a lot of members on the roster list guarantee success? Not
if the majority of them rarely log in.
In the case of a PK clan, the larger the roster long listing that has
very few green pk battles, the less successful it seems to be deemed by
the rest of the pk community. Especially if they haven't made a
reputation yet or haven't lived up to it lately.
For an RP clan, it means less people to play off of that share some
common RP thread.
Also, in either case, if a clan member gets in trouble, it probably
means less help for them from other characters.
And what makes a good/successful GM?
From what I've seen, the most successful clans have GMs that have are
active with that character, and take the time to regularly touch base
with their members and also group up with them. They also have a good
vision of what their clan's purpose is and always seem to keep in mind
that making sure that the members of the clan are having a good time is
one of the basic ideas behind any clan in the first place.
Do I always succeed at this as a leader, whether we're talking of the
mud itself, or as the GM of a clan? Not always. And I'll be the first
one to admit it. But it is something I try to keep in mind and work
toward. And yes, I believe that you'll get back out of a clan and even
being an immort what you put into it.
And you know what? I also believe that goes the same for RP or PK, which
ever you prefer. If you sit around and complain that it's not happening
for you, it's not gonna. Sometimes, you have to actually go out and make
things happen yourself. It can't always be done for you.
----------
With August 1st coming up this week to kick off the last month of our
Summer Odyssey -- the Industrial Era, we're down to the home stretch in
the Medieval Era!
Don't forget the Market Day in Lima that will be held at 2pm today! If you
haven't had a chance to make it to the previous ones, be sure to come to
this one! Fun, festivities, and a chance to promote or look for a clan or
any other services you might need!
-Kaige
___ ___
\ |-----------------------------------------------------------------| /
/__| LegendMUD Calendar of Events |__\
'-----------------------------------------------------------------'
[All times are system time unless otherwise specified]
JULY AUGUST
Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3
7 8 9 10 11 12 13 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
14 15 16 17 18 19 20 11 12 13 14 15 16 17
21 22 23 24 25 26 27 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
28 29 30 31 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
Saturday, July 27th 2:00 pm Market Day in Lima
August wraps up our 2002 Summer Odyssey in the Industrial Era.
Join us on a journey through time to explore our world!
Thursday, August 1st 7:00 pm Q & A in the OOC Auditorium
Thursday, August 8th 7:00 pm Q & A in the OOC Auditorium
Thursday, August 15th 7:00 pm Q & A in the OOC Auditorium
Thursday, August 22th 7:00 pm Q & A in the OOC Auditorium
Thursday, August 29th 7:00 pm Q & A in the OOC Auditorium
___ ___
\ |-----------------------------------------------------------------| /
/__| Recent Updates |__\
'-----------------------------------------------------------------'
/\ CODE UPDATES
/ \
/ \ MISC CHANGES
/_ _\ o prance social
| |
| | BUG FIXES
| | o Less lag on get/drop
|__| o One more crashing bug fixed
/\
/ \
/ \ HELP FILE UPDATES
/_ _\
| | The following helpfile was recently updated:
| |
| | RULES, HOUSING, HOUSING-FAQ, JARGON
|__|
/\ Thanks to all the immorts and players who made this possible.
/ \
/ \
/_ _\ SUMMER ODYSSEY
| | MEDIEVAL ERA 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!
/_ _\
| | 1802 ALASKA
| | Adds another Russian American Company fort, complete with
| | new objects, mobs, and quests.
|__| BOSTON, MASS.
/\ Typo fix for Metacomat -- be careful. Various bugs and
/ \ typos fixed.
/ \ THE CRUSADES
/_ _\ Anything with a hunt act checks if they need a boat/fly
| | lost trail/not enough room and kills it and walks home.
| | Anneliese quest fixed. Various bugs and typos fixed.
| | MEDIEVAL SEAS
|__| The compradore has a new commodity for trade.
/\ ROMANIA
/ \ General Gales handles payment correctly now. Various
/ \ typos fixed.
/_ _\ SHERWOOD
| | Message order with bunnies fixed. Carefully choose which
| | command to use if you have multiple bunnies. Anything
| | with a hunt act checks if they need a boat/fly/lost
|__| trail/not enough room and kills it and walks home.
/\ VICEROYAL PERU
/ \ New quest. Should fix build up of caravels in odd places.
/ \ Fixes some issues with the trans quest. Anything with a
/_ _\ hunt act checks if they need a boat/fly/lost trail/not
| | enough room and kills it and walks home. Response work,
| | including directions to inn, bank, food/drink.
| | THE ALHAMBRA, FRENCH & INDIAN WAR, PIRATE DEN, SALEM, MASS.,
|__| ST. DENIS ABBEY, TORTUGA, and VIKING SCANDINAVIA
/\ Various bugs and typo fixes.
/ \
/ \ Other Area Updates
/_ _\
| | CELTIC IRELAND
| | Dreams shouldn't be quite as repetitive. Typo fixes.
| | PARIS OPERA HOUSE
|__| New mobs, items, and a few new rooms.
/\ ABORIGINAL DREAMTIME, ANCIENT GREECE, ANCIENT NAZCA,
/ \ ARABIAN NIGHTS, AZTECS, LEGENDS OF THE PAST, and PITTSBURGH
/ \ Various bugs and typos fixed.
/_ _\
| | 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 updates every week.
/ \ Players badgering builders about progress or a perceived lack
/ \ thereof will be flogged. Remember, the longer spent answering
/_ _\ questions, the longer the project takes to complete.
| |
| | Chocorua Prohibition New Hampshire
| | Haley/Matrix Ancient Rome
|__| Kheldar Medieval Sea Trade
___ ___
\ |----------------------------------------------------------------| /
/__| Medieval Era Spotlight: Viking Scandinavia |__\
'----------------------------------------------------------------'
Sigrid's visit te Olaf's farm.
Aye. Lemme tell ye 'bout me recent travels te Norway. I be getten a note
from me ol' friend Bjarni Greatarm. He be writen he be needen assistance.
Some sworn enemy of his, Halgrim Scarface, had be callen himself viking
warlord an' be threatenin' te slice Bjarni. He did be ensuren me he'd
slice Halgrim himself if et don' be because he be so busy smithin' weapons
fer Olaf the Beardless himself.
So I be guessen I might as well pass by me ol' frien' an' deliever him the
fakes head. Slicen the fake did be no trouble, slicen fakes seldom be. I
be starten te wonder if they gots a deathwish er somethin. They sure don'
be able te stan' up te me, none of thems.
Anyways, I be beaten the fake up so thoroughly that his face be all
smashed an' unrecognizeable, so I be bringen Bjarni his axe instead, fer
proof he be dead.
Bjarni did be happy te see me, of course, an' he be offeren me an award
fer slicen the fake. He be offeren me his fathers ol' roun' shield set
with some protection rune te make it almost impossible te slice through.
He jus be needen te modify the rune a bit te have it protect me instead of
him. So I be deciden te stay aroun' fer a day.
Hardly be I out of Bjarni's Smidja before I be passed up by Vemund an'
Vethor, Olaf's own sons. They be looken desperate. They be needen me help
an' off I be dragged te their room. It turns out te be a disaster. Some be
stealen their mead they be hiden. So I be promisen te go te Helga an' get
them some more, since she thinks they be too young te drink mead
themselfs. She's aulways been a bit queer that way. On me way te pick up
some mead I be passed up by Olaf. He needen me advise he be sayen. Aye,
fine, he can have it. But no, it gots te be secret. So we be goen te his
private room. His trouble be his lack of beard. He be ashamed he gots no
more growth of beard than his own sons. I can hardly be holden back me
laughen. But I manage an' advise him te rub his cheeks with dung from his
hens. That's be helpen.
Suddenly we can be hearen Helga comen. She can' be finden me here, I be
tol'.
I gots te hide under the bed. So I do. I don' like it but I do it fer me
frien' Olaf. So Helga be enteren, peeren round the room, sein' Olaf an'
draggen him away, locken the door behind them. Bugger et, an' here I be
lyen.
Olaf be comen back a bit later. But he gots no key for his own room, so he
can't be helpen me, he whisper through the door. Bugger et! Luckily there
be a window.
An' I can be crawlen out of et.
I be picken up me shield at Bjarni. Delieveren some mead te the boys an'
out of there I be. Bugger et for bitchy wifes. Bugger et fer Helga!
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
_______ ____ _______
/ ___ \ / __ \ / ___ \ 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 Rent Changes/Specs? o Imm Applications & Qualities
o Specific Imm for Complaints? o New Areas?
o Industrial Era Discussion o A Strength Spear?
o Guns Shooting > 1 Room? o More Changes for Creates?
o Homunculi Don't Fight? o Bodily Functions?
o Why is Skyblade Quest So Long? o Hell, Dante, & Larderello
o Hometown Skill Changes? o Guns & Distance 2
o Bows & "Realism"? o What was with the Snowballs?
o PKOK Discussion o Controlling the Weather?
o Homunculi: Take 2 o Character Type Diversity
o Pistol Whip? o Positions & Aim & Bugs
o What affects Movement?
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
_____
/ _ \ DID YOU KNOW: Tips and tricks and little-used features
/__/ \ \
/ / Ever wondered just what a GMs job was? Or once you landed in
/ / that hot seat, what you were supposed to do next?
/__/
__ A while back, we put together a basic how-to guide for GMs
/ \ and people looking to form clans. You can find this guide on
\__/ the web at:
_____
/ _ \ http://www.legendmud.org/Reference/gm.html
/__/ \ \
/ / A clan is only as strong as its GM and members make it. They
/ / are a community within the larger community. Before you rush
/__/ out and type in that FORM command, look into what it takes to
__ plan, form, and maintain a clan that will provide people with
/ \ an interesting and entertaining time.
\__/
_____ If you are a GM or just want to see your clan more active and
/ _ \ have it form closer bonds between the members, you should
/__/ \ \ read Sandra's "Clanbuilding Seminar" which can be found in
/ / the archives at:
/ /
/__/ http://www.legendmud.org/Community/lectures/clanbuilding.html
__
/ \ That seminar is also a good read if you're thinking about
\__/ forming a clan and has some good advice about why some clans
_____ are successful and others aren't from the get go.
/ _ \
/__/ \ \ GMs of clans also have a variety of commands that can help them
/ / with both the day to day and long term aspects of leading a
/ / clan. For the most part, these commands are underused or not as
/__/ effectively as they could be.
__
/ \ The commands that will help your clan out in the long run are
\__/ PURPOSE, CLAN_URL, and CLANINFO. They define your clan to your
_____ members and to possible future members. It can also give
/ _ \ another clan ideas for RP interaction or a spark for a pk war.
/__/ \ \
/ / Also by using these commands, your clan will have a useful
/ / entry on the Clan web pages which can be found at:
/__/
__ http://www.legendmud.org/Community/comm_clans.shtml
/ \
\__/ The short-term commands that will help a GM best lead their
_____ clan are ROSTER so you know who is active and you can get in
/ _ \ touch with the people who aren't to find out why (personal or
/__/ \ \ the clan is losing its luster. Also useful are the RECRUIT,
/ / DECLINE and INDUCT commands to increase your membership.
/ / Lastly, the TITHE command is a fair way to cover the costs of
/__/ maintaining your clan hall once you have one.
__
/ \ We have clans which have existed for 4 years and longer. It
\__/ is possible to form ones that create a sense belonging even
_____ when the leaders and members have changed many times over.
/ _ \
/__/ \ \ So if you're clan member or a GM, take a look at why you're
/ / in a given clan, and what you want out of that clan, and
/ / get together with your clanmates and see if you're getting
/__/ the most out of the experience.
__
/ \ If there is interest, future clan workshops can be held and
\__/ questions and concerns can be brought up.
___ ___
\ |----------------------------------------------------------------| /
/__| LEGENDITES: Information Regarding the People of Our World |__\
'----------------------------------------------------------------'
Congrats to Our Scavenger Hunt Winners!
Wednesday's Scavenger Hunt's theme was: The makings of a medieval banquet
wine (3 types, 1 point each)
assorted alcohol (3 types, 1 point each)
fancy glasses (2 types, 1 point each)
the meat of many beasts (8 types, 1 point each)
a limp vegetable or two (2 types, 1 point for both)
rough bread (3 types, 1 point for each)
a knife (2 points)
a spoon (3 points)
a fingerbowl (2 points)
fancy banners (3 types, 2 points each)
instruments for the minstrels (3 types, 2 points each)
All items had to be from medieval era areas.
Percy came in first with 37 points.
He was followed by Mable, who scored 28 points,
Lenore with 27 points, Nietzsche with 26 points, Tennessee with 25
points, Mahasin and Phoenix with 24 points, Lorenzo with 22 points,
Asher with 17 points, Xomich with 16 points, Santina with 15 points,
Lilac and CheechWizard with 14 points, Wyth and Moira with 10 points.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Summer Snowstorm Follow-Up
When the snowball hunt was run, many players asked to have one as a
souvineir but didn't want to keep one extra that someone else may have
needed. We told people when everyone was done turning snowballs in,
we'd send everyone that played the game one.
So... there you participants go.
Thanks for playing.
___ ___
\ |--------------------------------------------------------| /
/__| Clan News |__\
'--------------------------------------------------------'
Clan's Should Stick Together
Ladies and gentlemen of LegedMUD it has come to my attention that some
clans are becoming disbanded because of support of fellow clan members.
Clan are to stick together no matter what. If you do not like the clan you
have joined its ok to get out of the clan but you have to think about the
other members of the clan. You can not just think of yourself, after a
while of being in a clan and you do not like the clan, think your in for a
while and you decide that this clan is not for you, your leaving of the
group could disband the group because of you leaving. Just because you
think the clan is not for you, you may not like it but other members in
the clan might like it.
I am asking that clan GM's before letting someone leave you group please
please please talk to them, ask them there likes and dislike about the
clan , then hold a clan meeting to talk about the problem the member of
the clan dislikes. After talking with the whole clan, see if the clan can
change what that person dislikes about the clan so that he my stay. Clans
are to stay together through everything. You are a clan. Stick together
like a family, love one another as a clan should.
I have read in recent LTs about clans getting ready to disband, vanish, or
be deleted, for what? There is no reason why a clan should be going
through any of that! I will soon be starting a can of my own. This article
is basically letting you know who I am and how my clan will be run, if you
would like to be in my clan write me or send me a tell when I am on. I am
not sure if the clan I start will be a PK clan or not. I am not sure at the
moment. if you do chose to be in my clan when you write me or send me a
tell please please please write me a letter about what you as a person
would like the clan to be like, include were you want the clanhall to be
built.
The procedures that I am taking should be done a lot more it lets people
know what there getting into so there is no need or reason to disband a
clan when or if I start a clan we will work together as one we will help
each other out when ever they need it or even if they do not need help. If
you go to http://www.legendmud.org/ click on Community scroll down to The
Clan, it says "The Clans who combine strength of the Players, to aid each
other in what obstacles must be overcome, and to improve and shape the
environment they share." That there is what every clan should be based on
whether they are PK clans non PK clans it does not matter all clans should
be based on that quote.
Yours Truly
Smokey the bear
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Confucious say: Don't use cannon, to kill a flea
Flea, fighting against Mysanthrope, and winning, managed to get himself
walled in a single exit room, Rahvin, seeing opportunity strike (and never
turning it down!) snatched up Shivan and headed off for him, Flea, not
suspecting anything, asked Rahvin for a DI. Sadly, he had to turn him down
as Shivan, tanking the attack, leapt into the fray. Rahvin quickly
followed up with alot of napalm, ending the match quite quickly. Flea,
although crushed, fought bravely against better odds, always proving
himself in knightly ways.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
The Grendels are definitely the PK force to reckon with. Sure, they
haven't always had the best reputation on the PK scene, but they must be
doing something right to see such regular action for the majority of their
members every week. If you're looking for some action too, you might
consider joining up with them, or better yet, go up against them! The
members of the IRA and the Syndicate also saw some action this week. The
Knights and Grand Coven each had one member out on the pk front while the
Hermetics remained uninvolved.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
There were 112 pkill related deaths in the last week, so come on, let's
get YOUR name up in lights! We can't report on it if you don't tell us
about it!
If you have you witnessed or commited any glorious or nefarious deeds,
send a short report to us at the LT. If you are looking for a fight,
recruiting, or anything else related to PK (not necessarily PK Clan
related), advertise here with us! It's free AND you'll get a token! Be a
celebrity, the envy of all your friends! Tick off your enemies or just
tell your side of the story! The possibilities are endless -- act today!!
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
There are currently 14 RP clans and 6 PK clans. This leaves open slots for
twelve (12) more clans to form. For more information, read HELP CLAN and see
the clan information list via the CLANS command while logged into the game.
For a basic handbook and reference for players interested in founding and
running a clan, visit http://www.legendmud.org/Reference/gm.html.
_______________________
/ \
o O | Wonder what folks are |
`\|||/ | doing over at LegendMUD?|
(o o) \_______________________/
ooO_(_)_Ooo________________________________________________________________
_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|___
__|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|
The Rest Is Silence
When it is all said and done, everything is quiet in the mansion on the
outskirts of Salem town. There is nothing more to say, nothing more to
pack, nothing more to do. Where once echoed laughter, gloom now presides;
where children played, broken toys lie forgotten.
Servants slip in and out, careful not to draw their master's attention. A
few small demons hide under the kitchen table, and the cat refuses to come
out from under bed where it is making a safe refuge out of one of her
lavender gowns.
What do they fear? The fury which somehow does not seem to be unleashed on
their heads. The fury which keeps them waiting in anxiety for so long
they'd almost rather just have Lord Marcel blow up and get it over with as
is his customary modus operandi. Where's Soze or Kingfisher when you need
someone else to take the blame?
The manor's moody lord reclines in the garden, on the ancient altar to a
Goddess he barely believes in, lost in thoughts the servants only dare
guess at. An aura of silent fury surrounds him, so almost physical that
even the blackbirds and sparrows keep quiet for once. The only light in
his small, wry smile would be the ice blue glare of his eyes.
The little demons who serve know the look on their lord's face from the
Old Days -- the days before there was Abigail, Malia, Cymo, Percy, Judah,
and Mitra in his life. Particularly before Mitra.
The servants are simple demons with simple tastes. They appreciate the
simple concept that humans are monkeys worthy only of resent; this they
can understand. Certainly it will cause the master much fewer headaches to
return to his old ways. Certainly it will meet with approval in Hell
proper. So why this sullen gloom, this seething anger?
The servants do not ask. Demons are easily replaced.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Prelude to a Kiss...
He gazed into her eyes as she turned to him, raven waves spilling from the
length of her half-braided hair. Her eyes, bluer than the sky, laughing on
their own as she spoke. Those lips, so full... Her husband does not
appreciate these lips enough. 'They should be mine instead,' a wandering
thought. She smiles. Only for me. For no one else. She wants me.
He reached out to run his fingers through a portion of hair that fell
loose from the braid. Soft. So very soft. She smells like fresh flowers.
Maybe it is the herbs. Maybe it is her skin.
He reaches out to touch her skin. Like silk, just as he knew it would be.
Need replacing sheer want.
He entwines an arm about her waist, slowly. He pulls her closer. Those
lips. Why do they torment him so? He must have them. They should be his
and not shared with anyone else. The sidhe does not deserve them, only he
does. He deserves her. And she will come to him, want him instead. He is
sure of it. He just needs to catch her eye, her attention. She will want
him as much as he wants her. He is sure of it.
She will succumb to him, his heart, his body, his mind, and together they
will be. She should be his. His queen.
She smiles, she laughs, only for him. Those lips. That smell, He pulls her
closer, his lips hungrily seeking hers. Want. Need...
He awoke with a start, his body trembling, a light sweat already having
broken out on his forehead. Why does that dream never finish? The sound of
guards outside, yelling orders. Are they after him? Was that what woke
him? Instinct has that way about it... He turned over in his bed, wishing
the inn had more sound proof windows. His hand slid down the side of the
bed to the floor, groping for something. Where was it? Ahh, there it is-
his fingers touched the delicate fabric. He snatched it up, bringing it to
his face, a length of sheer fabric. She wore it about her at the ball in
Agrabah. The day the other one proposed. He was never there, never loved
her the way I did, she was a mere trophy. And now he is rarely home. She
needs me, to love her and protect her the way HE does not. Breathe deeply
the cloth, her scent. It smelled like her still, but the scent was wearing
away. He would have to fix that. Maybe if she wore it again. And he could
bring it to her. And she would be thankful and overjoyed and maybe even
hug him, this stranger, her arms about him, her scent, her smile. Those
lips.
She had not been to visit the Camel Driver's son in weeks. He had thought
she would be here. Why was she not here? Was she avoiding him? He needed
to see her. He could brush by her and touch her arm, no one would notice
really. Her companion might, the blond woman. No, she would not. No one
would notice. He was invisible. Invinsible even. No one could catch him.
Even the guards he slunk carefully past did not recognize him.
But she did not come as he hoped. She did not come to the son or to visit
the Sultan. He needed to see her.
He rested back on the bed, cloth to his face, unhaling deeply. There had
to be a way to get into that castle. He was going to have to find a way.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
A Prophet's Ponderings...
Judah looked up from the book he was reading and looked at he picture of
Jesus, who is the Christ, as he hung on that cross on the place of the
skull. He had been reading through the Bible since his realization of the
one he had always known as Aslan had been. He had read through the book
the Jews called 'The Torah', even though he struggled to stay awake as he
read through Numbers. He marveled at how, in seemingly every book the Lord
used people who were not worthy. He used a prostitute to get his people
out of a city safely, and one called Samson, even though he broke most of
the promises he took as a 'Nazarite' and even married a girl from a people
who he was forbidden to associate with. And later on, the Lord used a
prophet, who, not unlike Judah himself at times, did not wish to preach
the Lord's mercy upon repentance. The prophet tried to run away from God,
and thought the best way was to board a ship for what seemed like the edge
of the world, a port near Spain called Tarshish. Judah shuddered when he
had read that the Lord sent a great storm that threatened to capsize the
craft. The prophet told the crew to throw him overboard and all would be
well, and sure enough, as soon as the prophets body touched the water, the
storm was done, and the prohet, swallowed by a fish. He then repented and
was spit out, on the very land he was supposed to go to. Judah thought on
that for a moment and agreed that one could not go against the Lord's will
for long. The prophet, Judah learned, was hoping that the people would
not be repentant, as they were his people's enemies. Ones who put fish
hooks in noses to lead them about, and other cruelties to those not
fortunate enough to die in the battle. But they did repent, through
themselves on the Lord's mercy, ripping clothes and wearing sackcloth and
ashes. And what did the Lord do? He forgave them... allowed them to live,
just as the prophet had said would happen. And so, the prophet sulked and
pouted. Judah had felt like that prophet on a few occasions, wondering
where the justice was on the evil that seemed to be allowed to thrive.
Judah closed the book and looked hard at it, wondering how many others
within it felt as he did...
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
From the Lamp to the Harem and Back - Part III
It was a bright sunny day, as all days were in Agrabah, the sun shone down
baking the sand until it burned your feet right through your sandals.
Being unused to the hot desert sun, Raewyn found it unbearable. At home
there had been green grass and trees, here all one could see for miles was
sand and more sand. It seemed dirty and desolate somehow.
Slaz'hid dragged Raewyn behind him. He had been charming enough to her
parents, but once they had left, it hadn't taken Raewyn long to realize he
was a cruel and evil man. As soon as they had been out of sight of her
village, Slaz'hid had bound her hands and now dragged her after him like
some animal. Yes, he definitely had some plan for her, she just wished she
knew what.
Slaz'hid gave a sharp pull on the rope bound around Raewyn's hands,
causing her to fall face first into the sand. 'Get up, girl!' he growled.
'We're almost there.'
Raewyn struggled to her feet, the sand shifting under her feet making it
difficult to stand.
Slaz'hid pulled on a ring set in a slab of stone, opening the entrance to
a cave. He pushed Raewyn down inside and then followed in after her. At
least it was cool inside the cave.
'Now,' Slaz'hid hissed as he rubbed his hands together.' My plan is almost
ready. I just need one more thingb& ' His voice trailed off as he began
rummaging around the junk in the cave.
Raewyn was scared. She didn't mind admitting it. Even the bravest of
warriors would be scared of this tall man, with his menacing ways and evil
laugh.
'Ahhh! This will do!' Slaz'hid exclaimed, holding up an oil lamp. It was
old and battered, yet at one time had been quite fine.
Slaz'hid turned to Raewyn, grinning widely. He opened a large book that
was sitting on the table and began reading from it, almost chanting. The
words sounded strange to Raewyn, she didn't understand them at all.
Suddenly, the room began to fill with a thick fog. Raewyn found it more
and more difficult to breathe. She gasped trying to fill her lungs with
air, but only managed to inhale more smoke-like fog. She tried to scream,
but there was no sound. And all the while the chanting went on. It pulsed
and flowed over her, changing her somehow, yet she knew not how. On and on
it went for what seemed like ages, and still the agony continued. She
couldn't breath, she couldn't scream, the chanting pounding in her ears.
It seemed to control her heartbeat, her very being. Suddenly, in a
blinding flash the chanting stopped, and Raewyn was alone.
Raewyn woke up screaming, the sweat dripping from her body. It had been
ages, perhaps millennia, since she had lived that nightmare, yet still she
dreamt about it.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
The Legendary Times is published by the immortals of LegendMUD. Please send
replies, additions, or corrections to our address at [email protected] for
inclusion in the next edition. All subscription options are now handled
at this url: http://www.legendmud.org/lists/listinfo/legendarytimes
For RP submissions, copyright ownership remains with the author. We do
reserve the right to moderate the forum and edit or reject any submission.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=