{"id":1839,"date":"2024-03-15T18:00:22","date_gmt":"2024-03-15T18:00:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/realmsofdespair.com\/wordpress\/?page_id=1839"},"modified":"2024-03-15T18:00:22","modified_gmt":"2024-03-15T18:00:22","slug":"cry-of-despair-57","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/realmsofdespair.com\/index.php\/cry-of-despair-57\/","title":{"rendered":"Cry of Despair #57"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-white-color has-text-color\">RoD Awards 2002; Edmond: Housing; RoD Radio! Dear Myra and Ilsensine<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"cryofdespair\">\n   ----------------------------------------------------------------\n   Cry of Despair                                   Issue 57, 03\/02\n   ----------------------------------------------------------------\n                                  | \n      .JNNNN` .JNNNNNL   NNNNNN.  |  In this month's issue:\n     JNNNNN) JNNNNNNNNL (NNNNNNN. |    * The long-awaited results\n    JNN`    JNN`    NNN (NN.  (NN)|      to the RoD Awards, 2002!\n   (NN`    (NN`     NNF (NN`  (NN`|    * Articles on housing, runs,\n   (NN.    (NN.    JNN` NNF  JNN) |      and RRN.\n   (NNNNNN (NNNNNNNNN' (NNNNNNNF  |    * More Guild + Order news,\n    4NNNN`  \"NNNNNN`   NNNNNNF    |      including the IGPK results.\n                                  |    * Quests, funny bones, poems,\n         The Cry of Despair!      |      ant lots more as we give you\n         ===================      |      yet another huge issue of\n    *       *                 *   |      the MUD's definitivee \n                       *          |      paper, The Cry of \n      *           *               |      Despair!\n   ----------------------------------------------------------------\n   Editor: Khaimran                      Immortal Sponsor: Elisabet\n   ----------------------------------------------------------------\n   Staff:  Maray, Kuah, Begaria, Naithalia, Ilsensine, Myra, \n   Shingo, Vladith, Juliana, Tinani, Mauro, Mandasa, Silverwind.       \n\n   ----------------------------------------------------------------\n   Contents                                           CoD, Issue 57\n   ----------------------------------------------------------------\n    \n   Desk of the Editor.\n\n   RoD Awards 2002: Results.\n\n   Juliana interviews Edmond on housing.\n\n   Calamus answers Mandasa's questions on the RRN\n\n   IGPK results are in, aswell as news from the\n   organisations of the realms.\n\n   The newest installment of RoD 101. This issue:\n   The four basic run types.\n\n   Myra and Ilsensine tackle your Valentine's day\n   blues, aswell as your usual troubles.\n   \n   Quest Central! Not only a roundup of the past\n   seasons' quests, but also two new ones to keep\n   you thinking in the coming month.\n\n   Funny bones you know and love.. or hate.\n\n   Poems, stories, cookbooks. Just Words.\n\n   An advertisement, from the Cry of Despair staff.\n\n   ----------------------------------------------------------------\n   Desk of the Editor - by Khaimran                          Editor\n   ----------------------------------------------------------------\n\n   Hi.\n   Its 3am in the morning... someone please tell me what I'm doing\n   up this late.. mutter. I wonder if Myra and Ilsensine know of a\n   cure for insomnia. My problems aside, I'd like to share with you\n   the startling fact that this March 2002 issue of the Cry of\n   Despair is the lagest ever. For only the second time, we've\n   managed to break 70 pages (pity Elisabet, who has the arduous \n   task of copy\/pasting all of them into the relevant helpfiles so\n   they make sense). In my totally unbiased opinion, its also one \n   of the best ever. We have the ever insightful Juliana with her\n   help to the perplexed mudders of RoD, offering her own Realms \n   101 course, whilst Myra and Ilsensine take care of your more...\n   personal problems. Shingo delivers with the results to the \n   Realms Awards, 2002, whilst Mandasa catches up with Calamus and\n   the crew (or what used to be the crew) to find out more about \n   the Realms Radio Network, and much much more by the rest of our\n   wonderful staff. And if you don't like this issue of the Cry,\n   its your own fault for not submitting anything.\n     Enjoy.\n       - Khaimran Quena Tar'Yenea, Editor of the Cry\n\n  ----------------------------------------------------------------\n  The Realms of Despair Awards! - by Shingo              *FEATURE*\n  ----------------------------------------------------------------\n\n  After a month of voting, the winners are announced. There are a \n  few surprises, but for the most part, I believe a lot of this \n  year's winners could've been easily guessed. There are a number \n  of ties this year, but nothing like last year's scale. Over 90 \n  players voted, but some had to be disqualified for being exact \n  copies. Because of the huge amount of votes, there are no \"mass\n  1 vote only\" winners. Each place has their own unique winner(s).\n\n  -=The Results!=-\n\n  Best Male Immortal:           Best Female Immortal: \n  1st: Kali                     1st: Ceirana\n  2nd: Edmond                   2nd: Iliana\n  3rd: Nivek\/Darrek             3rd: Moonbeam\n \n  Best Male Roleplayer:         Best Female Roleplayer: \n  1st: Anmect                   1st: Rhyl\n  2nd: Eric                     2nd: Rowanne\/Shelaine\/Vernese\n  3rd: Aurelius\/Mbwana\/Forgrim  3rd: Tinque\/Ardeth\n\n  Best RoD Couple:              Best \"New\" Change:\n  1st: Phred\/Myra               1st: Housing\n  2nd: Kali\/Moonbeam            2nd: New Areas\n  3rd: Shargate\/Lascivias       3rd: ntoe list\/xchan protect\n\n  Worst \"New\" Change:           Most Memorable Quest:\n  1st: Harder leveling          1st: HoRRoRSHoW\n  2nd: Housing                  2nd: Survival in Despair\n  3rd: No score for L1 chars    3rd: Tiki's Matchmaker\n \n  Best Guild:                   Best Order:\n  1st: Guild of Druids          1st: Ascendere\n  2nd: Guild of Clerics         2nd: Inconnu\/Baali\n  3rd: Guild of Vampires\/       3rd: Dragonslayer\n       Guild of Paladins\n\n  (A quick note from the Editor. The position of 1st in \"Best \n  Guild\" was the most hotly contested out of all categories, with\n  Druids edging a single vote ahead of the Clerics.)\n\n  Best Clan:                    Best Area:\n  1st: Merida                   1st: Knights of the Round Table\n  2nd: Anarchy                  2nd: The Tower of Despair\n  3rd: Daemonite                3nd: A Moment in Nature\n\n  Best Hometown:                Best Food Item:\n  1st: Gith                     1st: Huckleberries\n  2nd: Elf\/Drow\/Half-elf        2nd: burned Cadbury chocolate bar\n  3rd: Human                    3rd: Magic mushrooms\n\n  Best Drink Item:              Most Sought \"Treasure\":\n  1st: Dry Martini              1st: a Tiny emerald music box\n  2nd: Shot of golden tequila   2nd: a cuddly stuffed dragon\n  3rd: Grog of the Gargoyle     3rd: a painted wooden top\n\n  Most Likely to DT:            Best Dressed:\n  1st: Sopwith                  1st: Aylssa\n  2nd: Thartos                  2nd: Bacara\n  3rd: Tinani                   3rd: Stoker\/Eric\/Simkin\/Shelaine\n \n  Most Wanted to be Balzhured:  \"Fruit\" Award:\n  1st: Gul                      1st: Mino\n  2nd: Vir                      2nd: Sartonis\/Goomra\n  3rd: Axius\/Valcados\/Mino\/     3rd: Shingo\n       Goomra\n\n  Best Rename: \n  1st: Aylssa - Myra's Bedroom Slippers\n  2nd: Evaine - Chocolate Covered Cherry\n  3rd: Cresis - Wrath of PMS \/ Desidio - Chaos Intrinsic\n\n  Best Social:                  Best Male Player:\n  1st: grin                     1st: Axius\n  2nd: heh                      2nd: Anmect\n  3rd: waggle\/thwap             3rd: Coelit\n \n  Best Female Player:        \n  1st: Aylssa\n  2nd: Darshanin\n  3rd: Lascivias\n \n  And there you have it. Congratulations to all the winners. You \n  get no statuettes or mantle pieces, or even a gold coin. Just \n  the fact that there are people who know you exist, and felt that\n  you should be credited\/humiliated accordingly.\n \n     - Shingo Solstice\n\n  -----------------------------------------------------------\n  Edmond on Housing - by Juliana                      Housing\n  -----------------------------------------------------------\n\n  Housing. Love it? Hate it? Can't imagine ever owning it? \n  Either way, its one of the biggest changes there's been to\n  Realms on a mudwide level there's been for a while. \n  Producing endless gripes about its effect on the economy \n  and unavailability of properties, as well as looks of \n  jealousy towards of those who actually own houses\/\n  apartments, its definitely a talking point. So who better \n  to talk to about it, other than the immortal in charge? \n  Edmond has been the overseer of housing since its \n  inception, and one of our intrepid reporters caught up \n  with him to ask him a few questions.  Take it away, \n  Juliana.... -Ed.\n\n  Juliana> Well, I understand houses and apartments are both \n  being released pretty regularly now, except houses are being \n  snapped up real fast. How many of each per month are you \n  expecting to release?\n                                                                      \n  Edmond> We have no set schedule. It's a \"within reason\"      \n  mentality.  I would expect a slow down soon.                      \n                                                                     \n  Juliana> When you say \"within reason,\" could you elaborate     \n  on that?                                                            \n                                                                        \n  Edmond> The current pace is indicative.  I'd say 2 per week   \n  on apartments is our current pace, and houses is much more        \n  infrequent.                                                           \n                                                                        \n  Juliana> Do you expect the average prices of houses to drop    \n  from max bid any time soon, or will the infrequency of            \n  houses on the market keep it up?                                          \n \n  Edmond> I would expect the current frequency is intended to \n  keep the price as high as possible for the time being.  It \n  will be some time before prices drop off of max gold.\n\n  Juliana> Any particular rationale for this?\n \n  Edmond> Laws of economics - supply\/demand?\n\n  Juliana> Odd you should say that, since gold on the current \n  economy is being made very valuable. :) Replacing the glut \n  of overran equipment with a demand for housing, to keep up \n  the challenge? :P\n\n  Edmond> There are undoubtedly some long awaited effects\n  to the economy being produced by the demand for gold - and \n  we're very happy to see them.\n \n  Juliana> All right, this next question is just to clarify \n  something I've been unclear about. Can one player or \n  character own more than one house\/apartment if they had the\n  cash to buy them?\n\n  Edmond> One \"character\" can only own one.\n \n  Juliana> On to a bit of technical question...I noticed \n  homebuy show # no longer displays the bidder. What's the \n  intention of this?\n\n  Edmond> To keep it in line with the normal auction - and\n  to keep people from spamming bidders\/sellers.\n \n  Juliana> Normal auction displays the winner of the auction\n  at the end though, does the housing auction system do this?\n \n  Edmond> Not currently - sale\/purchase of homes isn't \n  displayed to all persons, although that's a good thought \n  and could be seen soon.\n\n  Juliana> Do you think you could spare any hints for the \n  non-homeowners as to  what the accessories command really \n  does? Is it for houses only, or do apartment owners get it?\n\n  Edmond>  \"Help housing\" gives you the answer there :)\n  Note: Helpfile states accessories are for houses only.\n\n  Juliana> I bet you're keeping up the mystery of accessories\n  to keep up the demand. :P Well, the helpfile does say that \n  you can pick and choose from a list of 'approved' items. \n  Can you change the look of these accessories now, or any \n  plans to make it possible in the future?\n \n  Edmond> Nope - accessories are \"as bought\", though an \n  enterprising person might spend glory.\n \n  Juliana> Mmm. As the immortal in charge of this housing \n  project, what are the most common complaints you've heard \n  about it?\n \n  Edmond> Infrequency of housing sold.\n\n  Juliana> That's being addressed in the regularity of \n  housing being put up for auction now, anything else?\n\n  Edmond> Honestly, that's it.  More functionality for \n  apartments is a big one, but our answer to that is simply \n  that apartments are already more functional than the \n  original code intended, and without making them \"houses\", \n  there's little more to add.\n \n  Juliana> That brings up an interesting thought on that.\n  Would it possible in the future to upgrade your apartment \n  to a house one day, for the cost of a house?\n\n  Edmond> The code doesn't currently support that for \n  reality's sake.  The best option is to move out of the \n  apartment and move into a house.  Consider renting an \n  apartment and then asking the landlord to build more rooms \n  for you :P You also run into \"price\" issues for upgrading. \n  Who's to say what is a \"fair\" price for upgrading when the \n  price changes with the ebb and flow of the economy.\n\n  Juliana> That's true, unless the \"price\" then became a    \n  difficult to reach amount of glory.\t\t                    \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t              \n  Edmond> Which then puts us in the same boat as \t           \n  permanent stat changes - who will ever actually purchase      \n  those?\t\t\t\t\t                        \n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t              \n  Juliana> Heh heh, very true. :) Well, on to another        \n  subject, should items in houses\/apartments be locatable?       \n                                        \t\t            \n  Edmond> The problem there is that without policing room   \n  names, we end up with all sorts of things.  Then the              \n  populace gets \"surprised\" when they locate items in certain\n  rooms.\n\n  Juliana> So would it be better to make all items in \n  homes not locatable, or will the populace have to exercise\n  judgement in telling a home room name from accessible \n  rooms?\n\n  Edmond> Housing rooms will no longer be locateable \n  after the next code port, most have already been changed.\n\n  Juliana> Would that be the long awaited -codeport- or just\n  a minor one for fixes?\n\n  Edmond> A minor one.\n\n  Juliana> Well, the other thing about homes is that they\n  produce a lot of locked doors in the Realms. Any plans to \n  make them different from any other normal locked door, or \n  is it guesswork for the populace again?\n\n  Edmond> Not currently - but it's been brought up and is a\n  valid point. For right now it's guesswork.\t\t              \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t              \n  Juliana> Besides the above things I mentioned, do you have\n  any unsaid plans for future improvements to the housing               \n  system, or are things starting to balance out without           \n  further problems?\t\t\t\t\t            \n \n  Edmond> I'd like to see better handling of the accessories\n  once purchased. There are a myriad of unseen problems the \n  original coder never considered when developing for a much \n  smaller mud.  Even with the tremendous number of \n  improvements for a mud of our size, there is much to be \n  done.  The housing itself is stable, and functions are all\n  working near normally.  But like everything we do, it's a \n  continuous work in progress to improve the experience for \n  the mortals.\n\n  Juliana> Any further comments on the housing system before\n  we close the interview? :)\n \n  Edmond> We're happy we could finally get something that\n  sparks interest as much as it does.  People need to be\n  patient and be willing to continue to submit ideas through \n  mudmail and the \"ideas\" command.\n\n    - Juliana Shadowfyre\n\n  The Cry of Despair staff would like to thank Edmond for \n  the countless hours he's put into making housing a success.\n\n  -----------------------------------------------------------\n  Realms Radio Network - by Mandasa                       RRN\n  -----------------------------------------------------------\n\n  After a week of trying to pin down Calamus and the gang, \n  this reporter called into the realms radio network show to \n  see just what all the buzz was about.. \n\n  Disclaimer: I apologize, the answers aren't verbatim simply\n  because I cannot type as fast as someone speaks.  \n \n  How long have you been playing realms?\n    Calamus: 1yr\n    Kolgrath: 1yr\n    Ralthgis (noob): 2 months\n\n  What gave you the idea of realms radio?\n    Calamus received a random email advertisement from \n    365live.com while playing another game. When he started \n    Realms the idea came to him  to start the station and the\n    rest is history.\n\n  Why did you choose live365?\n    We are on a dialup connection, with live365.com we are \n    able to connect to them and live365 broadcasts it out. \n    They allow up to 365 connections and since we don't have \n    365 listeners it works well for us. \n \n  What times does RRN broadcast live?\n    9pm EST usually. Sometimes the show goes on as early as \n    5pm, other times not at all. Calamus and Kolgrath\/\n    Ralthgis host at different times during the week.  \n \n  Who came up with and made the webpage?\n    Tical, he registered the domain and has been a big asset\n    for the show. \n \n  What types of things can we expect from RRN?\n    A weekly feed, different spots, and more comedy bits. \n    We'd like to tape shows and put them on the feed. We have\n    another account with live365 that will eventually have \n    the older loops on it so that new people just learning\n    about the radio can listen to it and not have missed \n    anything. \n  \n  If someone has an idea, piece, or song, where can they send\n  it to?\n    www.realmsradionetwork.org. There's a link for song \n    requests, show suggestions and top 10 list. \n \n  How can someone call into RRN?\n    If it's in the middle of a show, send a tell to person \n    running the show and they will give you the direct \n    number. You can also call into the Georgia number and \n    leave a shoutout or say hi on the voicemail. It is an \n    internet voicemail and it sends an email to Calamus. The \n    phone number is 678-222-1141. We eventually want to have\n    another direct phone line with a publicized number that \n    we can give out.\n\n  Who has called into RRN so far?\n    Alot of people, including Mordheim and Morgane from \n    Australia, Aeriel, Shadia, Pardalis, Ashia, Mwbana, \n    Tical, Gryvon, Danatho, Kendron, Dekkath, Kador, and many\n    more. \n\n  When are you going to update the loop?\n    Tomorrow (Feb 24), Calamus is going to be working on the \n    loop updating alot of pieces so you aren't listening to \n    the same stuff over and over. \n\n  What is your favorite part of the show?\n    The match and trivia games are Calamus' favorite parts of\n    the show. We try to get away from playing a lot of music\n    because you can listen to that on your local radio \n    station.\n\n  What's this about an Immortal show?\n    That's Aeriel, she's collecting questions that are \n    mudmailed to her and will be answering the questions live\n    on the radio.\n\n  When will that show be?\n    That hasn't been decided yet, most likely it will be a \n    weekly show on Fridays.\n\n  Do you have anything to add for the readers?\n    When we originally started this we thought we'd be \n    broadcasting to 5 people.  It's really taken off since\n    then. We've went out and bought equipment  recently. We \n    each have own microphones, we have a speaker phone, a \n    radio mixer where we can fade out the music and such. We\n    can see spending a lot more money on the show, there's so\n    much more to get.. and it's not even about the money, we\n    do it for the fans. We can also use the radio to expose \n    people to new music. We recently had someone send in a \n    song of a band they know and we played it. We welcome \n    people who are in the music industry sending mp3s of \n    their stuff to us.\n \n    We are always looking for new ideas. Check out the \n    website at www.realmsradionetwork.org and everyone get \n    involved! It's a great project and it belongs to \n    everybody, we do what you want to hear. You can record \n    some bits for the radio so that we can showcase the \n    people that we have on realms.\n\n  My thanks goes out to Calamus, Kolgrath, and Ralthgis for \n  allowing me to call in and interview them on their show. \n    - Mandasa\n\n\n  The Editor of the Cry of Despair would like to point out \n  to the readers that two members of the Realms Radio Network\n  staff, Kolgrath and Ralthgis, no longer play due to some \n  information coming to light. He wishes Calamus the best of\n  luck in continuing with RRN.\n\n  ----------------------------------------------------------------\n  IGPK Report - by Mandasa                      Guild\/Order Corner\n  ----------------------------------------------------------------\n\n  Well after 4 months of battles the Guild of Thieves emerge from\n  the blood-filled arena victorious over the other guilds. We've \n  got the highlights!\n \n  Date      Guild        vs    Guild            Who won? \n  ------------------------------------------------------------\n  Nov 21  Druid\/Vamp     vs  Cleric\/Thief     Cleric\/Thief  \n  Nov 24  Neph\/Warrior   vs  Mage\/Paladin     Mage\/Paladin  \n  Nov 28  Ranger\/Pally   vs  Auggie\/Thief     Auggie\/Thief \n  Dec  1  Neph\/Vamp      vs  Mage\/Warrior     Mage\/Warrior   \n  Dec  5  Mage\/Vamp      vs  Cleric\/Paladin   Mage\/Vampire \n  Dec  8  Ranger\/Warrior vs  Thief\/Druid      Thief\/Druid \n  Dec 12  Cleric\/Mage    vs  Neph\/Auggie      Cleric\/Mage  \n  Dec 15  Mage\/Ranger    vs  Druid\/Auggie     Druid\/Auggie \n  Dec 19  Warrior\/Vamp   vs  Thief\/Pally      Thief\/Pally\n  Dec 22  Neph\/Pally     vs  Druid\/Ranger     Neph\/Pally \n  Dec 29  Augurer\/Vamp   vs  Warrior\/Pally    Warrior\/Pally \n  Jan  5  Neph\/Thief     vs  Cleric\/Ranger    Neph\/Thief\n  Jan  9  Cleric\/Vamp    vs  Neph\/Ranger      Cleric\/Vamp\n  Jan 12  Mage\/Thief     vs  Druid\/Pally      Mage\/Thief\n  Jan 16  Druid\/Warrior  vs  Cleric\/Auggie    Druid\/Warrior\n  Jan 19  Auggie\/Warrior vs  Pally\/Vamp       Pally\/Vamp\n  Jan 23  Cleric\/Warrior vs  Ranger\/Auggie    Ranger\/Auggie\n  Jan 26  Vamp\/Ranger    vs  Warrior\/Thief    Warrior\/Thief\n  Jan 30  Neph\/Cleric    vs  Auggie\/Mage      Auggie\/Mage\n  Feb  2  Mage\/Neph      vs  Druid\/Cleric     Druid\/Cleric\n  Feb  6  Auggie\/Pally   vs  Druid\/Mage       Auggie\/Pally\n  Feb  9  Druid\/Neph     vs  Thief\/Ranger     Thief\/Ranger\n  Feb 13  Vampire        vs  Thief            Thief\n\n    The final standing are as follows:\n \n  -= First Place =-            9 wins 0 losses\n   The Guild of Thieves      \n\n  -= Second Place =- (tied)    6 wins 3 losses\n   The Guild of Mages\n   The Guild of Paladins\n \n -= Third Place =-             5 wins 4 losses\n   The Guild of Augurers    \n\n -= Fourth Place =- (tied)     4 wins 5 losses\n  The Guild of Clerics     \n  The Guild of Druids\n  The Guild of Warriors\n \n -= Fifth Place =-             3 wins 6 losses\n  The Guild of Vampires     \n \n -= Sixth Place =- (tied)      2 wins 7 losses\n  The Guild of Nephandi     \n  The Guild of Rangers     \n\n\n  A trophy was placed in the Kindship of Guilds (meeting room) \n  announcing the victory and the rankings of the other guilds. \n  Each guild was awarded a medallion showing the ranking of their \n  guild and the date. A special congrats goes to Radihatarn for \n  having the most killing blows. \n    The trophy looks like this:\n                _______________________________    \n              ,'                               ',    \n               `.___==___==___==___==___==___=.'  \n              ,.-\\:                          \/-.,  \n             |  ,|::.   Interguild Pkill     |,  |     \n             | ( |::.  Tournament 2001\/2002  | ) |    \n             |  `|::.                        |`  |    \n              `._|::.    Winner: Guild of    |_.`    \n                 `::.        Thieves       .'        \n                    \\::.                   \/          \n                      \\::.               \/         \n                        '::.           .'           \n                          )          (            \n                         \/              '.\n                      _,''               '',           \n                    {`\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"}\n                     ------------------------           \n\n  ----------------------------------------------------------------\n  Guild\/Order News - by Mandasa                 Guild\/Order Corner\n  ----------------------------------------------------------------\n\n  And now for some news from the guilds and orders.\n \n  News from the Guild of Mages: \n  The Guild of Mages would like to welcome Asphera, Jenica, \n  Xirnon, Hallace, and Sardal to the Guild, and would like to \n  congratulate Tasicus, Xoxo, and Ellison on being named full \n  members of the Guild.\n  \n  News from the Guild of Augurers:\n  We would like to welcome the following new inductees into our \n  guild: Loupgarous, Tuppe, Jyrbian, Kyrshil, Kenjiro, Logain, \n  Petros, and Gaendor. Welcome to Alerious as our new TS rep. \n  Thank you Zellon for being ours for a very long time. We don't\n  know what happened to you, but I hope you're ok. Not only our TS\n  rep changed, we have also a new second IGQC rep. Dalysa, thank \n  you for being the rep for a little while.  Dhaulagiri, thank you\n  for being our new rep. Also big thanks to Yeroc, he made his \n  first interguildquest (I heard it was though but good) and for\n  keeping us well up to date of IGQ activities. GoA would also \n  like to extend a big thanks to everyone who participated in the\n  IGPK events.\n\n  News from the Guild of Druids:\n \n  The guild is currently holding elections for the position of \n  Second. The elections will end in March. (I'll be sure to bring \n  you the results next issue -Mandasa)\n\n  News from Ringbearers:\n  Welcome to our newest inductees Ronaldo, Ajax, Vikantus, \n  Xunerkane, and Ocin. \n  Congratulations to Venita and James on getting mudmarried!\n \n  News from the Guild of Vampires:\n  The recent election resulted in Mari being selected a First and\n  the CoD's own  Tinani as Second. \n     Upcoming events:\n  GoV and GoP are planing to get together for a Capture the flag \n  on Sunday, March 4th. It is expected to be a well supported and \n  fun event.\n \n  News from the Guild of Clerics:\n  Congratz to Canim as our newly elected Guild Second and luck to \n  him in the future! :)  We'd also like to welcome Woztore, \n  Tracoally, Shalako, and Iaanaise to the guild, we look forward\n  to getting to know you all better! Also, gratz to Blaserin, who \n  is now happily mudmarried to Velora. And finally, a big gratz to \n  Shaelkire and Mnenarchment who became full  guildmembers. May \n  you always have plenty dirty carrots and kumquats! :)\n\n  ****************************************************************\n     _______  ____________  ___  _______  ____________  ___   ____\n    \/ ____\/ |\/ \/_  __\/ __ \\\/   |\/ ____\/ |\/ \/_  __\/ __ \\\/   | \/ \/ \/\n   \/ __\/  |   \/ \/ \/ \/ \/_\/ \/ \/| | __\/  |   \/ \/ \/ \/ \/_\/ \/ \/| |\/ \/ \/ \n  \/ \/___ \/   | \/ \/ \/ _, _\/ ___ |\/___ \/   | \/ \/ \/ _, _\/ ___ |_\/_\/  \n \/_____\/\/_\/|_|\/_\/ \/_\/ |_\/_\/  |_|___\/\/_\/|_|\/_\/ \/_\/ |_\/_\/  |_||_)   \n\n                       READ ALL ABOUT IT!                  \n  ****************************************************************\n \n            *NEWS FLASH: ORCUS AND HASTUR FOUND DEAD*\n                       *IN TOWER HOME*\n\n  - TOWER OF DESPAIR (Sunday, February 24, 2002: 5:12 p.m. EST) -\n\n  MEWS reporters from all around the Realms have reported that \n  multiple dead bodies were found inside the Tower of Despair. \n  Among the bodies were Blackmote, Nightmare, Kargoth, a fire \n  elemental, and Orcus\/Hastur. A couple of witnesses said they \n  spotted some of the following people in the area, but this \n  hasn't been confirmed: Aylssa, Axius, Reiokenon, Nemsar,\n  Baralis, Sartonis, Valcados, Khelf, Lowick, Baltaros, and \n  Klinon.\n  It is believed that Hastur was the leader of an unknown gang who\n  claim to be the Lords of Darkness, and the other bodies found in\n  the area were members of this group. The mass murder which has\n  taken place might be related to the notorious Orders of \n  Ascendere and Dragonslayers, who have been known to do silent \n  and deadly quick clean hits on their targets. Further \n  investigation will take place on both Orders as the Police try \n  to figure out the reasons for these killings, and if it was a\n  dispute over territory or other motives.\n\n    - Reported by Forssini (live on the scene!)\n\n  IT was the time of the Ethereal Conflux, and we spoke unto our\n  liege and mistress of things mysterious and secret, of knowledge\n  and enlightenment. \"Lady, our blades grow hungry. The Great Lord\n  Hastur has fallen to the Dragonslayers and ourselves, and we \n  know not wither else to do.\"\n \n  And the Ethereal Lady Aylssa spoke, \"I cannot help you in \n  finding a foe greater than Hastur, but know this - The Lord \n  Ba'al has taken up my thrown gauntlet, and answered my challenge\n  with his children ready to duel. We shall seek them out in the \n  arena...Overcome their power by finding their weaknesses, and \n  return their lives to him.\"\n \n  So did one of our newest members, Forssini, the Forgotten Hero \n  and Kaiowas, Celestial of the Ether gather up their arms and \n  make ready to do battle. To level the field of combat, the \n  worthy heroes agreed to limit themselves to equipment totaling \n  up to a damage factor of a hundred and thirty. They sent forth \n  the champions of their personal armies, Aramina, Garnlanan and \n  Zyaxan, two vampires and a thief, chaos flanked by order.\n\n  And thus did they enter, and gazed upon the Childer of Lord \n  Ba'al Himself, Desidio, Langtoly and Typh, in their own guises \n  of strength and cunning, two thieves and a vampire, stalkers and\n  masters of the dark shadows. And before long, the watchful eyes \n  of the immortal Selina fixed their stare upon the combatants, \n  and hollow booming laughs echoed throughout the arena, for the \n  melee had begun.\n\n  Crafty the children of the Lord Ba'al were, and blows dealt were\n  returned, but the true powers of the Ethereal showed themselves \n  in the unity of the mind and coordination of their attacks. The \n  three slew the Childer without pause or casualty, releasing \n  their souls to Lord Ba'al. \n    Thus ended the challenge.\n\n    - Khelf Treves-Bela Morte\n\n  ----------------------------------------------------------------\n  Realms of Despair  101 - by Juliana                      RoD 101\n  ----------------------------------------------------------------\n\n  The Definition of a Run aka \"Runs, what're those?\":\n  Foggy. Very foggy, to say the least. But here's my personal \n  attempt at a definition anyway.\n \n  It's got to have an avatar-level mob yielding avatar level eq as\n  the focus. I apologize to all the lower-levels out there who \n  group up to do a \"run\" on the newt cleric or something, that's \n  grouping for xp or for the kicks of killing a mob beyond your \n  level.  \n\n  Whether more than one player or character takes part in the \n  killing of the mob is inconsequential. \n\n  Unarguably, a run is a group of multiple players teaming \n  together to kill an avatar-level mob beyond their ability to \n  solo-kill.\n\n  What the heck does \"Multi\" mean, anyway?:\n  To answer this very good question properly, we're going to have \n  to break down runs into two possible categories - multiple \n  players and\/or characters - which overlap to form four types.\n \n                    Single Player     |     Multiple Players\n                                      |                       \n  Single Char             A           |            B        \n                                      |                                      \n               -----------------------------------------------  \n                                      |                     \n  Multiple Char           C           |            D            \n                                      |                                     \n\n  Run Type A: Single Character + Single Player:\n  Some people would debate as to this can be called a run. This is\n  definitely termed a \"solo-kill\" in both respects. Simply put, \n  one person goes out with a single character and kills something \n  to get its equipment. This strategy is usually possible with \n  easy-to-kill mobs and a fairly buff av char.\n\n  Run Type B: Single Character + Multiple Players:\n  Ah, the heart of most runs these days. A group of players with \n  ip 1 and a single character each, all beating on a mob. Good run\n  leadership and run etiquette by all members make for a far more \n  enjoyable social gathering.\n\n  A lot of mobs have guards against multi (ip 2+) in the form of \n  programs which check if someone attacking it is multiplaying and\n  do fairly annoying stuff like junk their equipment, refuse to \n  pop, do extra damage ranging from ow, OW to insanely OW! and \n  slaying people outright. Hence, why it is crucial to always test \n  a mob with and without multi.\n\n  Run Type C: Multiple Characters + Single Player:\n  This particular type breaks down into two distinctly different \n  strategies. The first is the use of separate characters for \n  special skills such as healing, poison, spellups\/spelldowns or \n  otherwise before hitting the mob with a buff character. This \n  strategy is often used by players just starting out, since they\n  only have a few avs at hand, and is very closely related to run \n  type A. \n\n  The second strategy relies on what used to be a fairly common \n  sight on the mud. The multiarmy. Laws now limit one person with\n  up to 8 characters, but this is still very much an exercise in\n  multitasking. Aliases, macros and triggers help a great deal to\n  the successful running of an army. This strategy works on the \n  premise of \"the more the merrier,\" and the optimum usage of each\n  classes' special skills.\n\n  I'd be the first to admit that this strategy leads (led, did \n  lead) to nuclear escalation in both mob strength and number of \n  characters being used to kill a mob, making it impossible for \n  the average guy without so many characters to even scratch it. \n  Hence, a clamp-down on multied char numbers and multi-guards\n  in a lot of the recent mobs.\n\n  I'd also be the first to acknowledge that to a certain class of \n  people (myself included), multiarmies are hellishly -fun-. \n  There's something about the efficiency and sheer power that just\n  appeals to the hack-and-slasher. Or the joy of seeing well \n  written scripts work. No need for a headache trying to split the \n  loot between five people or stay for hours to get enough \n  equipment, just in and out and wham!\n\n  Personally, my thoughts are that major numbers of mobs are \n  multi-guarded and that the multiarmy run strategy will never \n  work for a good many mobs. Yet, if you have the capability and \n  the aptitude, enjoy on the mobs that remain, but do not spamkill\n  them. Doing so will ruin everyone's fun, as the mobs have to get\n  changed due to the overbalancing effect, and the multi-armier \n  will lose yet another mob to the onslaught of ip1.\n\n  Run Type D: Multiple Characters + Multiple Players:\n  As mentioned above, there's a similar run strategy of using \n  other characters to spell up and down before quitting them out \n  and running the mob as a group on ip1. See run type B. \n\n  The other run strategy in this category is the massive \n  multiarmy. Sometimes, it's a case of needing more than 8 \n  characters to kill, so you grab a friend or two to log on more \n  than that. Other times, it's not necessarily ip1 but ip2 or ip3 \n  that is the maximum, so that allows for fewer players required \n  to make up character numbers.\n\n  How do you Tell Which Strategy to use?:\n  Besides the very often used tactic of asking someone how to run \n  a specific mob, the only other things that are going to help is \n  experience and experimentation.\n \n  The more running experience you have as a player, the more \n  you're exposed to little variations on the above general running \n  strategies, and can figure out which would probably be the best\n  to use in a particular case - based on limitations such as \n  tunneled rooms, or multi-guards.\n\n  Note I said probably. Because in the end, if you don't go out \n  there (with or without friends) and experiment on the mob, \n  you're never gonna find out which strategy actually works to \n  kill it!\n\n    - Juliana Shadowfyre\n\n  ----------------------------------------------------------------\n  Dear Myra + Ilsensine - by Myra           Hope After Valentine's\n  ----------------------------------------------------------------\n\n  Hope after Valentine's Day\n \n  As the roses on your neighbor's kitchen table begin to wilt and \n  you gaze longingly at them, know that it is not too late.  \n  Whether you are in a relationship with someone that does not \n  believe in Valentine's Day or if you found yourself alone on \n  this largely commercialized event, there is hope.\n \n  For many single souls out there, February 14 can be a very \n  lonely day. However, rather than looking at this day as a time \n  when you are without someone to love, look around you.  I am \n  certain you can find at least one friend worthy of a reminder \n  that you care.  This person does not have to be of the opposite \n  gender or even someone you find attractive.  Just a person that \n  you care about and value as a friend.  They can be a sibling,\n  a neighbor, a parent or even a teacher.  The gift that you give\n  should not be extravagent, but rather a simple message.  You can \n  hand make a Valentine out of construction paper or buy a card at\n  the store.  Even a small bag of candy or a CD of their favorite\n  music would be fine. Use your imagination.  When all is said and \n  done, you will feel a little less depressed about the day.\n\n  Now, for those of you that find yourself smitten with someone \n  that either dislikes Valentine's Day or is not much of a \n  romantic, do not despair. You have a few options with relation \n  to coping or changing here. In some cases, you might suggest (do\n  not hint, for many people are oblivious to hints) activities \n  that would please you most during this time of year. Something \n  else to consider is finding \"romantic websites\" and printing \n  ideas\/suggestions and giving them to your love for ideas.  If \n  you attempt to discuss the subject, try not to focus on \n  Valentine's Day as the center of the conversation.  Instead, \n  talk about ways to express your love all throughout the year. \n  On the other side of this, if you are the type of person that \n  thrives on pleasing others, try the advice given for the single \n  people.  Of course you will want to focus on your love rather \n  than just any friend, but you can include friends if you like.\n  Spread your love around and you will feel love in return.  This \n  may help to ease the pains of disappointment when those flowers\n  delivered at the office are not for you.\n \n    - Wilted Rose Myra\n\n\n  Hope after Valentine's Day\n\n  Did you get a big bunch of red roses this Valentine's Day? A box\n  of chocolates? Some sexy lingerie? Or perhaps something too \n  risque to mention? \n\n  What's that you say? You got nothing at all? Not a bean, not an \n  old sock, not even a life-size cardboard cut-out of the mighty \n  specimen of a man that is George W Bush?\n \n  Oh dear, I can see you need the help of an experienced \n  healthcare professional. However, we don't have any of those, so\n  instead I will proceed to induce mild trauma amongst you.\n\n  If you didn't receive anything for Valentine's Day, let's begin\n  to analyse why this is the case and what can be done about it...\n\n  1) You are single. Nobody loves you... except possibly your \n  mother out of sympathy and little else. You know the type... the\n  mother pushing the pram containing the square-headed baby cooing\n  some babble about 'isn't he cute?' Anyways... as I was saying...\n  nobody loves you. This must be amended quickly before next year \n  if you are to avoid eternal misery. There are a number of \n  products on the market which may help you here. Amongst these, I\n  recommend : soap, deoderant and shampoo. Other handy hints \n  include advanced rhinoplasty, and decorative use of small dogs \n  and sellotape to enhance the mind and body.\n\n  2) You aren't single, yet you still didn't get anything. This \n  category is perhaps more worrying than the prior one. There is a\n  definate problem here, all that must be calculated is where that\n  problem lies. Assuming your relationship is monogamous, it's \n  either you or your partner. Did you give something and receive\n  nothing in return? Or did you give nothing and selfishly expect \n  gifts regardless? If you gave nothing, slap yourself and go to\n  bed. If you gave something, slap your partner twice and don't go\n  to bed with them. That should help, especially where your \n  partner is male.\n\n  All in all... remember that Valentine's Day is the most special \n  and fantastic day in the whole year, and that if you didn't get \n  anything it means your life has all the utility of a damp \n  firework.\n \n  Actually, there is one thing that will give you purpose. Find \n  those around you who have healthy. loving and productive \n  relationships. Find small ways to leach away their fun and \n  happiness. Poison their love!\n\n  For this you will need - 4 rubber bands, 1 packet of cake icing, \n  1 frozen apple, 4 quarts napalm, 1 donkey, 1 healthy \n  imagination.\n \n    - Frost-Shattered Lily Ilsensine\n\n\n   Dear Myra & Ilsensine\n  Is it true that huckleberries enhance a persons prowess and that\n  Phred 'needs' them, scavenging buckets and buckets of the \n  things?\n     -Huckleberry Sue\n \n   Dear Huckleberry Sue,\n  Well, after researching various aphrodisiacs and natural herbs, \n  I was unable to prove that huckleberries may \"enhance a person's\n  prowess.\"  However, it might be interesting to note that as an \n  herb, huckleberries are known for bringing luck and protection \n  as well as dream magic and hex-breaking properties. As for \n  Phred's necessities, I can assure you that he is not in need of\n  such an aid.\n     - Myra\n\n   Dear Huckleberry Sue,\n  Huckleberries, schmuckleberries... now... where were we? Oh yes,\n  huckleberries. After spending several days in a pseudo-catatonic\n  state, I am able to shed light upon this quandry. I was visited\n  (rather rudely, I might add) by a representative deity of the \n  little known 'Panties Pantheon' - she sent unto me the following\n  wisdom :\n       'When one goes out with a lust,\n        To gather huckleberries fine,\n        Check your bucket carefully,\n        Test it by filling with wine,\n        There should be not a single hole,\n        Within your wonderous bucket,\n        For if there is, when you get home,\n        It'll be far far harder...\n        Or not.'\n \n  Warning :- Phred pees in fountains.\n \n     - Ilsensine\n\n\n   Dear Myra & Ilsensine\n  Why am I so misunderstood?  Why does everyone think I'm cold?  I\n  have an extremely friendly personality and am easy to get along\n  with.\n     - Frostillica\n \n   Dear Frostillica,\n  I do try to be a student of human nature, and it is apparent \n  that not everyone reacts the same to different types of humor.  \n  Having said that, I think it best that you not worry about what \n  other's think and just continue upon your own path in life.  I \n  am quite certain that there are those that accept you for who\n  you are.  Judge not lest ye be judged.\n     - Myra\n\n   Dear Frostillica,\n  The misunderstood misunderstand themselves, or they fail to \n  comprehend that the persona they emit is the one others will \n  acknowledge. You must ask yourself how you wish to be seen and\n  compare that to the reality of how you truly are. Discover if \n  the object is worth the price you will pay. \n    I leave you with this...\n\n     'That which dwells ever in winter may plead for warmth,\n      But as the first rays of sun hit the frozen heart,\n      It will melt and be forever a changed thing.'\n \n      - Ilsensine\n\n  ----------------------------------------------------------------\n  Winter Quests Writeup - submitted by Pheayre       Quest Central\n  ----------------------------------------------------------------\n\n  This winter, the Quest Council provided us with no shortage of\n  quests to keep bored RoDders entertained. Here's Pheayre, with\n  a quick roundup of the action. -Ed.\n\n  Winter signifies a specifically bleak time of the year. However,\n  with the advent of magic and invention, warmth and food during \n  the winter season hasn't become much of a problem with most \n  denizens of the Realms.\n \n  This year was different. Only the most highly trained observer \n  of events would have noticed. The snowfall was imperceptibly \n  heavier in the well-travelled areas of the Realms, and there \n  was a chill in the air that could send shivers down your spine \n  without you noticing the cold. To most people, it was just a \n  matter of a little more bundling up...\n\n  Things were not as hospitable in the furthest reaches of the \n  Realms. The outposts were in dire need of supplies, and the \n  heavy storm activity thwarted even the most determined efforts\n  to resupply them. Reports of odd monsters ravaging the \n  countryside were not uncommon, but for some reason they seemed\n  more powerful than normal. The people wondered if Scryn was \n  losing his touch, and if his winter element was slipping from \n  his controlled grasp. Things were definitely not as they seemed\n  on the surface this winter...\n \n  Even with the slightly ominous outlook, there were members of \n  the gods who took advantage of the wintery wonderland. One of \n  the pixie goddesses delighted in the extra snowfall, and was \n  determined to make the best of the situation.\n\n  She wished for snowmen! Oh, how did she wish for them! So she \n  sent out a call to the citizen of the Realms to satisfy her \n  wish. Their quest was to find various patches of snow which she \n  had magically altered into perfect spheres. With each piece \n  connecting to another, a majestic community of snowmen sprung up\n  around the Realms, delighting child and adult alike. She was \n  very pleased indeed. The half-elven patron of druids and rangers\n  decided that it would not be outdone by the pixies, and as such \n  devised a game of skill and marksmanship. The traditional \n  battles-to-the-death did not sate its desire for excitment, so \n  it added a wintery twist: a child's game, turned into a deadly \n  contest. Swirling energies and adding magically-enhanced snow, \n  it created the perfect snowball and a complementing weapon, \n  capable of turning these snowballs into deadly missiles of \n  accuracy. Yes indeed, even as the few mortals who had the chance\n  to participate in its little game of bloodshed left the snow-\n  filled Arena, plans for future tournaments had already begun.\n\n  Not all of the gods managed to take advantage of the winter \n  season. Some were even called to matters of the utmost urgency. \n  One of the half-elven demi-gods was called into service as the \n  dwindling supplies of the furthest outposts of the Realms cried\n  for help. With his aid and that of a team of valiant avatars, \n  starvation was staved off for at least a short time. \n  Additionally, a strange and powerful ice creature lay its icy \n  claws on a piece of the Realms, creating havoc on any who dared\n  oppose him. A half-elven Savior intervened, and selected a \n  mighty force of Avatars to defeat the lich, and conquer its \n  riddles. With its power drained, and its labyrinth of puzzles \n  solved, the lich was no more.\n\n  Truly, this has been a very strange and bleak winter. From the\n  surface, beauty abounded in the form of snow-covered valleys \n  and plains, icicle-laden trees and shrubs, and glittering lakes\n  that sparkled like diamonds. Scryn's element of power was most\n  definitely a breathtaking sight to behold. But underneath it \n  all, something lurked. Something colder than the very wintery\n  heart of the season itself. And the gods were puzzled.\n\n  And when the gods are puzzled, something for certain is amiss.\n\n   - submitted by Pheayre Lendicol\n\n\n  Cross-Multiplication\n  You'll have the times of your life solving this one! It may look\n  like an ordinary crossword, but the answers and clues are made \n  up of numbers, not letters. Here's how it works: Each clue is \n  the product of the digits in the answer. For example, the 7283 \n  is our given answer for 19-Across, whose clue is 336 (7x2x8x3). \n  There will be no zeros anywhere in the answer grid, and no digit\n  appears more than once in any answer.\n\n  Across:\n  1) 14    8) 168   15) 90    22) 21   28) 24   34) 4\n  3) 12   10) 6     17) 70    23) 20   29) 60   35) 32\n  5) 20   11) 8     19) 336   24) 40   31) 45        \n  7) 24   13) 162   21) 70    26) 15   33) 28        \n \n  Down:\n  1) 16    5) 168   14) 240   20) 168  27) 108\n  2) 84    6) 30    16) 15    21) 5    28) 56\n  3) 42    9) 54    18) 35    23) 40   30) 20\n  4) 24   12) 384   19) 21    25) 15   32) 40\n\n  The Crossword table:\n\n        ___________________________________\n       |1  |2  |###|3  |4  |#######|5  |6  |\n       |___|___|###|___|___|#######|___|___|\n       |7  |   |###|8  |   |9  |###|10 |   |\n       |___|___|###|___|___|___|###|___|___|\n       |###|11 |12 |###|13 |   |14 |   |###|\n       |###|___|___|###|___|___|___|___|###|\n       |#######|15 |16 |   |###|17 |   |18 |\n       |#######|___|___|___|###|___|___|___|\n       |19 |20 |   |   |###|21 |   |   |   |\n       |___|___|___|___|###|___|___|___|___|\n       |22 |   |   |###|23 |   |   |#######|\n       |___|___|___|###|___|___|___|#######|\n       |###|24 |   |25 |   |###|26 |27 |###|\n       |###|___|___|___|___|###|___|___|###|\n       |28 |   |###|29 |   |30 |###|31 |32 |\n       |___|___|###|___|___|___|###|___|___|\n       |33 |   |#######|34 |   |###|35 |   |\n       |___|___|#######|___|___|###|___|___|\n\n    - By Silverwind\n\n\n  ____                                                            \n  (.   \\                -\"-\"-\"-\"-\"-\"-\"-\"-\"-\"-\"-                    \n    \\  |                Spring Time Quest-athon                    \n     \\ |___(\\--\/)       -\"-\"-\"-\"-\"-\"-\"-\"-\"-\"-\"-                    \n   __\/    (  . . )                                                 \n  \"'._.    '-.O.'          Thats right, Spring time is upon us all \n       '-.  \\ \"|\\      and the Cry is offering the following quest\n          '.,,\/'.,,    to everyone interested. Three people will  \n                       chosen at random from the most correct     \n     entries. On the following pages, you will find a series of 10 \n     questions in riddle form. Mudmail all of your entries  ____  \n     to our dear Elisabet. Spring is a time of rebirth and \/   .) \n     as such holds many special hollidays, from            |  \/   \n     Easter to St. Patrick's day. you many just   (\\--\/)___| \/    \n     find something special in these questions.  ( . .  )    \\__  \n     Remember, if you have any questions contact  '.O.-'    ._.'\" \n     Elisabet or Tinani, it is better to ask a    \/|\" \/  .-'      \n     silly question than get something wrong.   ,..'\\,,.'      \n\n  Clues:\n  1-  The time of year it does seem to be, a spell for mage and \n     followers of tree, the name is like the New Years' bloom... \n     What be the spell that saves from doom?\n  2-  From the chicken, and born of newt, it comes to be but ain't\n     a fruit. What is this Easter thing from which joys, and \n     happiness does now spring?\n  3-  This room does show the locate spell, the heart of where the\n     trees and raccoons do dwell. The item there is all the time,\n     good quest item soon but what be that room?\n  4-  The Beasts do dwell, and romp, and spring, in grove Holy\n     where druids sing, their ears do flop, they hop, they bop, as \n     players on their heads do thwap. \n  5-  Light of green leaf we do see, from Dunhill Demesnes it has \n     been. To give to a piper the key you'll get, but what be this\n     trifile? this Tribble? This trat?\n  6-  This flower does bloom, it gives right away, to maidens so \n     fair in where the carnival folk play. The wizard's good son \n     he does give them away, in any a month from June to May.\n  7-  This plant is so sweet, in zodiac it stays, with ram-like\n     mob in the way. The galaxy shows the true beauty of foes, if \n     the blossoms can bloom like this, now go!\n  8-  If lucky is four, than this almost twice more, on the \n     green leafed clover, what could it be? wWat could it be?\n     Stick this in your pipe and smoke it.\n  9-  The title is clear, this quest's instructions dear, but what\n     be the animals around them?\n  10- Locate, Locate, in and out, the Irish brew be on this lout.\n\n    - by Tinani\n\n  ----------------------------------------------------------------\n  Funny Bones -  by Tinani                             Funny Bones\n  ----------------------------------------------------------------\n\n  Leaders and imms around realms were asked the same question that\n  has been bugging the world for years... \n  \"What is a Wibble?\"\n\n  Aeriel   - Why, it's the cosmic twin of the wobble! I thought\n             everyone knew that...\n  Shadrack - Mmm... I feel a wibble is something like a double\n             wobble :)\n  Stoneheft- A very unsplutiferous mignamation of the lower \n             gloumerious area can be a wibble, if you do it really\n             quickly.\n  Racin    - A Wibble? What would I want one of those furry lil \n             monsters for? Oh, wait that was a Tribble wasn't it..\n  Maray    - Some things man was never meant to know...\n  Mordheim - Hrm I dunno. Shaking your rump? :)\n  Zyandra  - It is the combination of a wiggle and a wobble.\n  Loril    - I figure it's a cross between a wiggle and waggle.\n  Sareko   - I'd say its the face you make when you actualy say\n             that word loud. You know, say \"WIBBLE!\" in a childish \n             way... That's a wibble.\n\n  If you were a leader and you accidentally outcasted someone what\n  would your excuse be to them?\n \n  Zya      - I didn't like your shoes.\n  Thorpe   - After further reflection, we've decided to accept\n             you back into the guild\/order IF you promise the \n             uphold our creed?\n  Shargate - \"And on the 4th day, Optimus prime said - Thou shalt\n             not pay heed to (char), and he was thence cast forth\n             from Fraggle Rock.\"\n  Moonbeam - I never make excuses. I never make mistakes :)\n  Shadrack - Okies... I'd say they were outcast for non-payment\n             of guild fees and Second's expenses for the quarter..\n             But i was soft and they could have more time to pay.\n  Aphrael  - My evil step-sisters made me do it!\n  Tiki     - I'd tell them that they hadn't come up with their\n             sugar quota for the week, and upon bringing me a \n             cookie or two, they might be in my good graces again.\n\n  Holly has a photographic memory, she just ran outta film.\n  Kendron openly traffics: ltb title. \n  Alarial Corslokh the nite of grammer and speling. \n  Garrund Ravenyze,\"I intend to live forever--so far,so good.\n  Ienna spreads her Mudherpes [BOT]. \n  Loremanonvu: You will be acirculated. Fleeing is futile.\n  Malore wears tight pants and picks up the pencils that Iliana drops.\n  Mercestes D'Moriarty, The horns are there to hold the halo.\n  Aithne LifeBringer. A doughnut by any other name..... \n  Conran: If you believe in telekinesis, raise my hand.\n\n  Foamfoller says 'i ate a snail once'\n  Foamfoller says 'garden snail in kindergarden, had apple in one\n  hand, snail in other and got distracted'\n\n  The pituitary disfunction formerly known as Prince musics 'This \n  is what it  sounds like when Doves cry...    Coo   coo...   Coo'\n\n  ----------------------------------------------------------------\n  Temple of Thoughts -  submissions                          Words\n  ----------------------------------------------------------------\n\n          The Temple of Thoughts       \n                    by Pardalis Bloodthorne           \n\n  I know a temple composed of thoughts \n  It is under a most powerful reign.. \n  Doors are locked and windows barred \n  Yet still it calls my name.              \n                                                                         \n  Origin left in the ruins of time, \n  Yet it's builder, still alive.                 \n  For this temple continues to grow,   \n  And from it, I should thrive.                  \n                                                                           \n  The temple tends to reflect moods,  \n  For it will copy my current state,   \n  If happy, it illuminates with light-\n  Enshrouds in darkness, should I hate \n          \n  Fear brings about most the horrid things,\n  Which the warm hearth of love wards away,\n  Anger and greed will deteriourate it -   \n  And guilt, the insurance I pay.  \n\n  Yet should I ask why it's here?..       \n  As this is my curiosity.           \n  For To enter, I must first unlock..  \n  And knowledge be the key.   \n  \n  So enter I do, and I traverse on  \n  Through these mysterious darkened halls..\n  For there's a raspy voice at it's end,  \n  And 'tis my name it calls..     \n                                 \n  ..For my mind is a temple composed of thoughts,                \n    Which builds with the knowledge I gain..                 \n    And tis the knowledge which opens these gates               \n    To it's power, which I reign...                  \n\n\n    Silver, Lust and Dragons,\n          by Tinani Blood'Drake\n\n    The sun burned high in the skies above Dragon Pass and the\n  cries of a multitude of powerful creatures roared in the noon \n  light. Inside the various caves and atop the peaks of the pass,\n  the dragons prepared their nests for the coming of a new brood.\n \n    Ferocious sounds arose from the lair of the most powerful of \n  them all, the silver dragon. Her brood will grow strong and \n  stretch from east to west creating lairs of their own. This is \n  a mystical event which occurs only once every thousand years, \n  and now is the time for it to happen again. The strength of the\n  mother dragon will increase ten-fold as she bears her single \n  egg. Screams of pain and horror surround the cave, something \n  horrific and evil was stirring. Three strong adventurers entered\n  the cave of the silver dragon. Staring evilly, their eyes filled\n  with visions of greed and glory from the thoughts of her silvery\n  hide.\n\n    Outside in the Pass, mages and clerics stood ready to aid \n  their friends who had just ventured inward. Leaning against the \n  mountain side one cleric trimmed his nails with a dagger. \n  Suddenly, his eyes widened as the corpses of the three thieves \n  appeared beside him embedded in the rock. Light clouds of gas\n  remained from the dragon's powerful breath attack. A powerful\n  roar erupted from cave scattering the avatars six ways to \n  Tuesday. Now, satisfied that she had protected her nest the \n  silver dragon rested, beside her a newly laid egg with veins of\n  silver running across the shell.\n \n    Clouds gathered in the once serene sky and a harsh wind \n  picked up. Thunder boomed in the sky and lightning struck the\n  peaks of the pass. The silver dragon stirred as she sensed the\n  powerful presence, and rested again, unaware that her closely\n  guarded egg was being removed ever so silently.\n \n    Another crack of thunder forced her eyes open just in time\n  to see her egg moving silently down the pass. In a rage the \n  dragon shot up and moved towards the cave mouth, but a powerful\n  drift of darkness wafted into the cavern. Falling to the \n  ground, the great silver dragon lay paralyzed.\n\n                            *******\n \n    Within the city of Darkhaven, the reconstruction of numerous\n  damaged buildings was going on as scheduled. Sitting on a pile \n  of newly shaped marble, Kellandra sat relaxed with the remainder\n  of her guild. The work detail had been working non-stop to \n  rebuild what had once been an impressive chapel. The loss of \n  Sonoria had hit the City hard and even months afterwards a \n  gloom hung over the heads of all who knew her, especially \n  Kellandra. With the shops destroyed, the people on the streets\n  were almost starving to death. Kellandra and her guild tried to \n  do what they could, but the handful of clerics that were left\n  could not handle the demand. Most of the other avatars had \n  moved on to places of greater wealth, from Solace to Shadowport. \n  Only a handful of the original guilds remained.\n\n    Beside the group of resting clerics, a dark unseen form \n  dropped the stolen egg. Kellandra was the first to notice the \n  treasure and with great fear she quickly realized the origins of \n  the object. Darting her eyes to the sky she looked for the \n  danger that would soon be upon them. Jumping up quickly, the \n  leader of the clerics grasped the egg and headed towards the \n  ruins of her guild. And standing upon the sheet of solid marble \n  that once served as their home she called for the Raging Peace.\n\n    Within the chamber of the leaders she called forth the \n  remaining Guilds (the orders having collapsed). Soon standing in\n  the Raging Peace stood Wiglaff new head of the Vampire guild, \n  Kellandra leader of the Cleric guild. Riley leader of the Mages,\n  and Ilena head of the Warriors. As Kellandra lay the egg before \n  them, each one knew what they had to do. It was their job to \n  return it to the mother dragon before she comes down upon their\n  shattered city. Just what was stopping her now was beyond their\n  understanding.\n \n    That very day they set out for the pass. Gathering in the \n  square the four Guildmasters began their journey. The eastern \n  gate of Darkhaven was blocked by droves of people, from the \n  guards to the merchants that once thrived in the city. Voicing \n  their opinions and demanding the solid silver egg, the mob \n  began to attack.\n\n    The warrior drew his sword and the mage began to summon a \n  powerful spell, Kellandra chanted silently sanctifying the \n  group. Wiglaff tapped his group on the shoulders and stepped in \n  front of them. Letting out an ear piercing wail the front lines\n  of the mob exploded into bits. The group shrugged and advanced. \n  A dark mist wafted in from the open gate and the dismembered \n  body parts once again formed attackers. With a fury not seen \n  before, the four hacked apart the Darkhaven residents but time\n  and time again the dead arose and continued the fight. \n  Exhausted, the group became overwhelmed and was soon forced to \n  fall back into the square. Additional crowds appeared from the \n  north south and west and fighting back to back the group tried \n  its hardest to remain alive.\n \n    All hope seemed to be lost. The mob slowly wore away at the \n  group scratches became deep gashes and gashes became open \n  wounds. When the fighters were sure that these would be their \n  last moments, shimmering blue auras appeared from nothing. \n  Through those portals stepped scores of avatar vampires, \n  warriors, mages, and clerics. They began to fight valiantly \n  alongside their leaders. Shrieks shattered mobs apart and the \n  blasts of gas from the mages struck even more down. The \n  warriors hacked their way to the eastern gate and the cleric's\n  dispel magic slowed the mob's regeneration. Running for the \n  gate the group of four forced every ounce of strength they had\n  left to reach the pass. Unknown to them, the silver dragon had\n  escaped the dark spell that held her and she was already in \n  flight towards her egg.\n\n    Stopping dead in their tracks the group turned back as the\n  dragon broached The hill. Her wings flapped with fury as she \n  headed screaming towards the group. A disembodied arm grabbed\n  Kellandra by the foot, and the portal carrying the egg went \n  flying into the air. Time slowed as the sun glinted off the \n  silvery egg and with a quick snatch of her talons the dragon \n  retrieved the egg and swooped off towards the pass.\n\n    The group of leaders shrugged helplessly and started back \n  towards the city. Trotting through the scattered body parts and\n  corpses of the population of Darkhaven, Wiglaff asked Kellandra\n  just who would be rebuilding her guild now. Staring blankly for\n  a moment she replied, \"There's lots of newbies out there. We \n  will just torture them into doing it.\" Stopping for a moment \n  Wiglaff replied, \"You can use torture for that? I've just been \n  doing it for fun.\"\n \n     The End\n \n    - Tinani Blood'Drake Killer of Small Bunnies\n\n\n  After two submissions of frozen goodies I feel it a good idea to\n  cook something warm for those cold nights. so here is the \n  ultimate in garlic bread.\n \n  What do you need?\n  1tbsp per piece   Thickened Moo Juice (Butter)\n   of bread  \n  3 bulbs           Vampire Repellant   (Garlic)\n  1tsp per piece    Pixie Dust          (Parmesan Cheese)\n   of bread\n  1\/4 tsp per tbsp  Vamp'B'Gone Powder  (Garlic Powder)\n   of butter\n                    Bread               (Uhh.. Bread)\n                    Volcanic Oven       (Oven)\n \n\n  How do you make it?\n  * Set your oven to 350 degrees F\n  * Chop garlic into a fine paste. You may also use the fine \n    grater or a garlic press.\n  * Mix in garlic with softened butter and a pinch of garlic \n    powder after its mixed (not before. If you mix ground garlic\n    with garlic powder it will turn into a sticky lump of \n    garlic).\n  * Spread your new garlic spread onto however many pieces of \n    bread you make and put in the oven. (store bought garlic \n    spread works just as well).\n  * When the edges start to brown pull them out. Add a sprinkle \n    of powder on top of the garlic bread and a sprinkle of \n    parmesan cheese. \n  * Continue cooking until it starts to brown. BE CAREFUL, the \n    cheese and garlic will brown quickly and will burn if not \n    watched it will take less than a minute to finish. You may \n    or may not want to add cheese, as it tastes fine without.\n \n  Enjoy\n      - Tinani Blood'Drake Killer of Small Bunnies\n\n\n  RP Individual (sung to Gilbert & Sullivan's \"Modern Major \n  General\"), submitted by Eldygar\n\n  My friends and I we gather for some fun out on the Internet\n  Our MUD-y antics textual, political and intricate\n  We make up a persona, a description and biography\n  Like Paladins and Rangers in a medieval fantasy\n  With clever prose and angsty woes we try hard to be literate\n  As stories told and scenes unfold, the plot we must develop it\n  But if you please, \"Hurray For Me\" is not a good philosophy\n  A fall from grace from lofty place is better contrapuntally\n\n  (Elven chorus)\n     A fall from grace from lofty place is better contrapuntally\n     A fall from grace from lofty place is better contrapuntally\n     A fall from grace from lofty place is better contrapuntally\n\n  I used to bear the title of the Elven army General\n  My RP fights on moonlit nights are almost semi mythical\n  My emotes are apocryphal, satirical and whimsical\n  I am the very model of an RP individual\n  \n  (Elven chorus)\n     His emotes are non-sensical, they're truly undecipherable\n     He is the very model of an RP individual\n\n  ----------------------------------------------------------------\n  Cry of Despair Ad -  from the staff of the Cry     Advertisement\n  ----------------------------------------------------------------\n\n             .adAMMMb.   .dAMMMAbn.\n        .adAWWWWWWWWWAuAWWWWWWWWWWAbn.\n  -----.adWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWbn.---------------\n  ---adMMMMMP`\"\".--\"\"'YWWWWWWWWWWHHMMMMMMMMbn-------------\n       \"\"`Y\"   \/    ..dMWMP\".ammmmdMMMUP'\"\"\n          |   Y    dMAbammdAMMMMMMP'\"\" \n          |   |    MMMMMMMMMMMMU'\"     \n          l   :    Y'YUWWWWUP'\"       \n           \\       j                   \n            \"-..,.'               \n        \n  April Fools' is almost upon us, and the Cry of Despair wants \n  your pranks, laughs, and jokes. Send us logs, lists, ideas for \n  the ultimate prank, or whatever tickles your fancy. Help us \n  make the April issue of the Cry the best ever!\n\n    - the Cry Staff\n\n  ----------------------------------------------------------------<\/pre>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>RoD Awards 2002; Edmond: Housing; RoD Radio! Dear Myra and Ilsensine &#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;- Cry of Despair Issue 57, 03\/02 &#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;- | .JNNNN` .JNNNNNL NNNNNN. | In this month&#8217;s issue: JNNNNN) JNNNNNNNNL (NNNNNNN. | * The long-awaited results JNN` JNN` NNN (NN. (NN)| to the RoD Awards, 2002! (NN` (NN` NNF (NN` (NN`| * Articles on housing,&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"page-templates\/full-width.php","meta":{"footnotes":"","_members_access_role":[],"_members_access_error":""},"class_list":["post-1839","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/realmsofdespair.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1839","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/realmsofdespair.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/realmsofdespair.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/realmsofdespair.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/realmsofdespair.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1839"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/realmsofdespair.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1839\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1852,"href":"https:\/\/realmsofdespair.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1839\/revisions\/1852"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/realmsofdespair.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1839"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}