{"id":1976,"date":"2024-03-20T19:06:18","date_gmt":"2024-03-20T19:06:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/realmsofdespair.com\/wordpress\/?page_id=1976"},"modified":"2024-03-20T19:06:19","modified_gmt":"2024-03-20T19:06:19","slug":"cry-of-despair-125","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/realmsofdespair.com\/index.php\/cry-of-despair-125\/","title":{"rendered":"Cry of Despair #125"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-white-color has-text-color\">In which Galandril ponders State of the MUD, Vache advises newbies<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"cryofdespair\">\n ________________________\n\/ Issue 125 - April 2008 \\____________________________________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\\\n\n   Farewell Alysira                  - CoD              Help CRY2\n   State of the Mud                  - Galandril        Help CRY3 to CRY7\n   Unholy Rantings                   - Beleth           Help CRY8 to CRY10\n   Marianna's Thoughts               - Falennt          Help CRY11 to CRY13\n   Advice from a dark elf            - Vache            Help CRY14\n   Kadgeon's Corner                  - Kadgeon          Help CRY15\n\n   Guild News\n     Guild of Clerics                                   Help CRY16\n     Guild of Mages                                     Help CRY17\n     Guild of Rangers                                   Help CRY18\n     Guild of Vampires                                  Help CRY19\n     Guild of Fathomers                                 Help CRY20\n\n   Nation News\n     Human                                              Help CRY21\n     Quendi                                             Help CRY22\n     Khazad                                             Help CRY23\n     Hobbit                                             Help CRY24\n     Pixie                                              Help CRY25\n     Uruk'hai                                           Help CRY26\n     Rukhas'dul                                         Help CRY27\n     Olog'hai                                           Help CRY28\n     Gralthai                                           Help CRY29\n     Ilythiiri                                          Help CRY30  \n     Aerandir                                           Help CRY31   \n\n   Council News\n     IOQC                                               Help CRY32\n\n   Fun and Games\n     March Quest Results                                Help CRY33\n     April Quest                                        Help CRY34\n     Funny but Violent Titles                           Help CRY35\n     Room of the Month                                  Help CRY36\n\n   Funny Logs \n     Mr. Morana                                         Help CRY37\n     Immortal vs. Bot                                   Help CRY38\n     Recite Quantum Spike                               Help CRY39\n     Some Pretty Immortal                               Help CRY40\n     Even Imms Can Spam Out                             Help CRY41\n     Waiting So Long That Dementia Sets In              Help CRY42\n     Not So Sublime Advertising                         Help CRY43                           \n\n   Announcements and Advertisements\n     Order of Arcanes                                   Help CRY44\n     Cry of Despair                                     Help CRY45\n     Ask COE                                            Help CRY46\n     Wanted - DEAD                                      Help CRY47\n     10th Annual Awards                                 Help CRY48\n     Awards Categories                                  Help CRY49 to CRY57\n\n   Desk of the Hobbit                                   Help CRY58\n   A Note from Linda                                    Help CRY59\n   From Falennt's Inkwell                               Help CRY60\n                                                                      Page: 001\n_______________________________________________________________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\/\n\n _______________________\n\/ Farewell Alysira - CoD\\_____________________________________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\\\n                   \n                           This month we say goodbye\n                           to Alysira, and so we would\n                     like to say good luck in all she does\n                         and thanks for sponsoring the\n                          CRY for as long as she has!\n                                 ,-\"\"-.  .-\"\"-.\n                                \/   -. \\\/   -. \\\n                               (                )\n                                \\              \/\n                                 \\            \/\n                                  `.        ,'\n                                    `.    ,'\n                                      `.,'\n                                   ,-\"-,-\"-.\n                                  (         )\n                                    .     .\n                                     \"._.\"\n                                      _  _\n                                     ( `' )\n                                      `.,'\n                                     ,-.-.\n                                     `. ,'\n                                       ` \n\n(End)                                                                 Page: 002\n_______________________________________________________________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\/\n\n\n _____________________________\n\/ State of the Mud - Galandril\\_______________________________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\\\n                   \nPopulation levels\n-------------------\nRoD's population seems fairly static at between 200-350 users (off\/on peak)\nat the moment, and it has felt like that for the last couple years.\nI've noticed quite a large influx of newbies to this game recently, which\nis a very good thing, and I think all guilds should be trying their best\nto consolidate these people into a more enjoyable environment with room for\ngrowth and activity... The immortals are doing quite well to keep the\nolder players of us stuck into the game with all these new and enjoyable\nareas, for which I'm sure we're all glad as well. But more discussion on the \nnew areas later!\n \nThe Symposium\n------------------\nI know The Symposium historically has not held a great reputation with\nthe mortals, but at the moment they are doing very well. A lot of great\nimplements to improve rangers, mages, druids, vampires, clerics, etc are\nall under serious discussion at the moment, and with any luck, we'll be\nable to improve the game for everyone soon enough! Remember, if you have\nan idea that you think could benefit the game, there's no reason why you\nshould not submit it to TS, there's no harm done in doing so, as such.\n\nI can't think of a recent TS change that has not benefitted the game\nacross the board, except for the slightly increased lag on staves now which\nI guess is a marginal bummer, but it's greatly compensated for by the decreased\nlag (even on my pathetic 12 int 8 wis thief) on scroll reciting!\nI, however, have only been on TS a short while, so hopefully one of my more\nestablished colleagues can write an article for you on that :)\n\nContinued...                                                          Page: 003\n_______________________________________________________________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\/\n\n\n\n _____________________________\n\/ State of the Mud - Galandril\\_______________________________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\\\n                  \nNew Areas and New EQ\n--------------------------\nThe equipment being brought out currently really impresses me - out of the\nthings that pop up on traffic regularly, I really like these new Duer'ain\ngauntlets, the Lily sword (not the pug), Edo amulets, the Diamond Shaped\nHelm of Defense, etc. I also like cool new wear progs that are replacing\nsome of the more stock eq... For example the black belt crested with blood\n-crying skulls (4 dr 35 hp 2 str svbr-3 evil vamp\/fighter only), versus\nthe Blackmote belt (very similiar stats but -int as well!)...\n\nIf things go well there will be a few new and very nice pieces coming up\non traffic in the new few months as well, that will greatly impress the\nplayers I think.\n\nEQ aside, the areas themselves are really enjoyable. I really like this\ntrend of going for 3-4 man runs over a run you can just throw a dozen\nplayers at and sooner or later it will drop. It creates a much more\nenjoyable run, but some of these progs are getting hard to solve!\n\nNaturally, there are far more things to run, or even generally do, now\nthan previously. I'm particularly enjoying some of these newer mobs that\nhave some ip allowances, it means you can solo things that are actually worth\nthe time, at a bit more of a challenge!\n\nThe one thing I am a little bit disappointed about is that there are an\nextensive amount of puzzles in this game (just look at Edel!), but some are\nso hard to get started on, and more so with older areas than now, some are\njust down right broken (e.g. KC, Dpass). Whilst I understand the immortal\npolicy of not wanting to give out clues and all that, at the same time,\na lot of areas have puzzles no one knows about, and a lot of areas have\npuzzles people know about but can't even find a starting point for!\n\nContinued...                                                          Page: 004\n_______________________________________________________________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\/\n\n\n\n _____________________________\n\/ State of the Mud - Galandril\\_______________________________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\\\n                    \nI would like to see just a little more help in this department - just to\npropagate enjoyment of the game more than anything. It's quite irritating\npouring over an area for months, and not even being able to find out if its\nbeen solved out completely or if there is more of the puzzle to it.\n\nOne of my more recent frustrations was finding a door in an area long\nconsidered solved out completely, and it was suggested it was an immortal\noffice\/house, yet all attempts to find out yielded absolutely nothing!\n\nThe significance of said door still eludes me, but I'm reasonably confident\nthat if there is something behind it, it at least relates to the seth\/orcus\nstoryline quite a bit.\n\nFrom a builder perspective, I can understand making puzzles for mortals to\nsolve, but at the same time, I think I would find it quite frustrating if\nno one managed to solve it out completely. Perhaps this scenario differs\nfrom builder to builder, but I do think there needs to be more immortal\nsupport for explorers, after all this is a game, not a job. Exploration\nis a very fine line between enjoyable and becoming a chore.\n \nGolders\n--------------------\nGolders I do not have a problem with - I think it's a stage that everyone has\ngone through during their mud development. With runs being a massive sink\nof gold (repairs, heals, etc), especially when the majority of runs do not\npay themselves off in gold loot from the mob, it is only necessary to have\ngolders to help fuel the runners. What I do dislike are golders who deprive\nlevelers of leveling mobs - levelers should get priorities on these, without\na doubt.\n\nI'm quite a big fan of helping out the gold circulation, by paying newbies\nto do things for me (e.g. leveling, obtaining stock eq), and I think the\nmore the older players do things like this, rather than self-farming, \nthe more we can help keep our younger players interested and \"on their way up\".\n\nContinued...                                                          Page: 005\n_______________________________________________________________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\/\n\n\n\n _____________________________\n\/ State of the Mud - Galandril\\_______________________________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\\\n                   \nHigh end trade\n-----------------\nUnfortunately, high end trade is essentially dead. Occasionally nice items\ndo come up for grabs, but the moment that desireable items became out of\ngame or unobtainable (thus setting a limited number that exist), over time\nthat limited number is being spread over an ever increasing playerbase, or\nbeing deleted. \n\nThat said, quite a few nice new items are being brought in that are quite \nhard to obtain, and to some degree, are bringing back \"high end\" trade. \nHowever, I think the days of being able to run seth for a bunch of sets and\nthen trading those up for a taint or a ret, etc, are long gone.\n\nIt's a bit of a shame, because there is no real solution here - introduce eq\nthat is better than the oog eq and you are destroying the value of a lot of\nitems, and the biggest knock on effect there is that glory could potentially\nbecome useless (e.g. if you have a +4 dr kilt and they started introducing a\n10 dr stock legwear, not that it will ever happen). \n\nAlternatively, if you bring back in all the oog eq, then it's again, grossly \noverpowered, as when it was removed in the first place. The \"best\" solution \nI've been able to think up for it so far is some kind of trade in mechanism,\nwhere you can trade sets in for oog at a higher-than-market value (e.g. let's \nsay 15-16 sets for a ret light), in a Ravenhill-esque manner (the increased \nvalue means only the truly desperate would go for it).\n\nContinued...                                                          Page: 006\n_______________________________________________________________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\/\n\n _____________________________\n\/ State of the Mud - Galandril\\_______________________________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\\\n                  \nFuture of the Game?\n----------------------------\nRoD is going good places at the moment - a VERY active code council and some\ngreat new areas coming in are really helping out the post-shattering \n\"depression\" we had, not to mention substantial numbers of older players\nreturning. The only thing we do really need at the moment is better involvement\nfor our newest players, in the forms of more active guilds, and a generally\nmore enjoyable environment for them. Aside from promoting guild recruiting, and\nasking older players to play a more active role in guilds, I don't really know\nhow else we could look at improving it.\n \nAnd on closing, I'd like to leave with a poem from one of my new favorite\npieces of equipment :)\n \n                       In the fell clutch of circumstance\n                       I have not winced nor cried aloud.\n                        Under the bludgeonings of chance\n                        My head is bloody, but unbowed.\n \n \n                      It matters not how strait the gate,\n                    How charged with punishments the scroll,\n                          I am the master of my fate:\n                          I am the captain of my soul.\n \n \n                                                 - William Ernest Henley\n\n(End)                                                                 Page: 007\n_______________________________________________________________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\/\n\n __________________________\n\/ Unholy Rantings - Beleth \\__________________________________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\\\n                   \nGreetings,\n \nI suppose I best introduce myself as this is the first of my columns...\n \nI am Beleth, one of the leaders of the Baali, the darkest group of individuals\nto frequent this land. I am a ninth level demon of the Ars Goetia and a\ndisciple of chaos. Perhaps that is why they have given me the task of bringing\nto you a set of 'Unholy Rantings'.\n \nI have chosen to rant this month about something that is close to my heart, as\na ranger, (if indeed a heart were still to beat in my chest). The item to \nwhich I elude is the most fearsome of projectile weapons, the longbow and \nits arrows! If these weapons were as good as they should be, they would be \nclose to your heart too, *grins evilly*, if not through it...\n \nWhy are there so few of them? Why can't evil rangers use more of the ones that\ndo exist? Why are these weapons akin in damage to something like a bone blade?\nWhy can't you hit the majority of stationary targets?\n \nHistory has shown these weapons to be a prevalent force in many battles.\n \nThe bow its self is none too spectacular, consisting of a straight piece of\nYew, Ash, or Elm and sometimes Wych (Witch) Elm, curved under tension from a,\ntraditionally hemp, bow string.\n\nContinued...                                                          Page: 008\n_______________________________________________________________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\/\n\n\n __________________________\n\/ Unholy Rantings - Beleth \\__________________________________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\\\n                    \nThe bow, designed specifically for each archer, can range in length up to 7\nfeet, depending on the height of the archer. Obviously it hitting the ground\nwhilst drawing is not desirable, but it is technically called a 'long' bow\nwhen it is above 5 feet in length.\n \nI have described them before as a fearsome weapon, and that is no over\nstatement on my part...\n \nThe projectile is a three feet long, iron tipped (flint here, cave men and\nwomen apparently?), hardwood spine with fletching (flights). It fires from the\nnock at a rate so as to have an affective strike distance of around 200 yards,\nwith an ability to pierce plate armour at that range with a variety of tip\nshapes designed to cause huge damage on entry. That is not a feat to be sniffed\nat.\n \nI note with humour, not that long ago in 1188, the story of one William De\nBraose. A knight of English descent, who, on his initial ride out in the Welsh\nCampaigns, is said to have been surprised that an archer, whom he could barely\nmake out on the horizon, was able to fire an arrow such that it pierced his\niron leg plates. Not only that, but it passed through his thigh, again through\nthe inner side of his leg plate, and saddle, and into his horse with enough\nvigour so as to kill the animal and leave him pinned under it...\n\nContinued...                                                          Page: 009\n_______________________________________________________________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\/\n\n\n __________________________\n\/ Unholy Rantings - Beleth \\__________________________________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\\\n                    \nI know not of the truth of this tale, a reliable account I am sure, but the\npoint I bring is this, there must be a craftsman in the land, or a force of\nnature, or magic, that is able to bring me a bow of this calibre.\nOne that a soul as dark as I might wield in battle.\nSurely when a ranger gives so much time in to the understanding of archery, to\nthe detriment of other skills that would no doubt serve equally, there must be\na payoff for the time spent.\n \nI see many who try to persevere with what they can find, and I applaud their\nactions, and to them I say...\n\nReady your bows! Nock! Mark! Loose!\n \nBeleth.\n\n(End)                                                                 Page: 010\n_______________________________________________________________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\/\n\n\n _______________________________\n\/ Marianna's Thoughts - Falennt \\_____________________________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\\\n                   \n            ,\n        .--'|}\n       \/    \/}}\n     .=\\.--'`\\}\n    \/\/` '---.\/`\n    ||  \/|\n     \\\\| |Marianna's Thoughts\n   |\\_\\\\\/by Marianna of the Western Hall\n   \\__\/\\\\ \"based on a true game incident\"\n        \\\\\n  jgs    \\|\n \nThe Western Hall along Horizon Road in the bustling city of Darkhaven \nis the place where I work. In fact, I do not remember when I've began \nworking there but it seems like forever. My name is Marianna, and people \nand adventurers know me by Marianna and just that. Sometimes, I do get \npolite customers who call me Miss Marianna but sadly, most of the people \nI'd meet would just order their drinks and cherry pies and gropes, and \nbe on their own business.\n \nIt is not that I am not good looking. In all actuality, I am very good \nlooking and I am blonde, as far as I can remember, I have been blonde and \nI had never dyed my hair another color. \n\nContinued...                                                          Page: 011\n_______________________________________________________________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\/\n\n\n _______________________________\n\/ Marianna's Thoughts - Falennt \\_____________________________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\\\n                  \nAnd I have a great rack, which the truth being, a better rack than what \nthe old lady near Crystalmir Lake uses to hang her clothing.\n \nThe focus of my thoughts today is not about being blonde, or racks or pies.\nLast evening before I got into bed, I discovered, much to my dismay, I never\ntook a vacation since forever. Rain or shine, night or day, I have always\nbeen punctual to work, serving pies, cakes and lemonades. I suffer the\nattention of the Darkhaven guards (who are not much to look at), and the \nsleazy advances of the dirty peddler who attempts to sell me trash he'd \npicked off the streets.\n \nIn addition, every now and then, dust shakes from the ceiling as the \ncongregation upstairs trundles and vent their concerns in the torrent of \nglittering golden conversations overhead.\n \n    .:*-*:._.:*-*:._.:*-*:._.:*-*:._.:*-*:._.:*-*:._.:*-*:._.:*-*:.\n \nPerhaps, I am sure someone would not mind if I took a break to salvage \nmy sanity. I'm sure people can live without pies and cakes and lemonades \neven for an hour!\n\nContinued...                                                          Page: 012\n_______________________________________________________________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\/\n\n\n _______________________________\n\/ Marianna's Thoughts - Falennt \\_____________________________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\\\n                   \nAnd on that fateful day, I quickly untied my apron strings and left the \ngarment folded neatly on one of the counters. It was a quiet morning, \nwith not many adventurers. Gathering up my courage, I took a meager step \nout of the Western Hall I have called home since the beginning of time...\n \nSuddenly, like a roll of dreaded thunder, a request rumbled out from\noverhead, scattering a curtain of shimmering golden conversation bits \nonto my head.\n \n\"Would someone put Marianna back to the Western Hall? She's in the lounge.\"\n \n    .:*-*:._.:*-*:._.:*-*:._.:*-*:._.:*-*:._.:*-*:._.:*-*:._.:*-*:.\n \nTears welled up in my eyes as a mystical force emerged and swiftly transported\nme back to the Western Hall, where to my surprise, a long line of people were\nwaiting to buy my pies and lemonade\n \nThey miss me!\n \nI did not expect such appreciation before even though I am a very good looking\nblonde waitress. I suppose I could put in another decade into serving the\nWestern Hall without thinking of a vacation again.\n\n(End)                                                                 Page: 013\n_______________________________________________________________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\/\n\n\n\n __________________________________________________\n\/ Advice from a dark elf for newer players - Vache \\__________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\\\n                   \nGreetings realmsfolk,\n\nI have traveled these realms for a very long time and have come to several\nconclusions concerning how to make oneself useful, and hopefully RICH.\n\nFirst and Foremost:\n1) Find something you are good at, personally i'm a good trader, others are\ngood at questing, some are good at leveling, and some running. Those who\nexcel at RP may have fun, but tend to be poorer in text wealth.\n\nSecondly:\n2) Search around, even if it takes time, there's always another quest, or more\npeople to level for, or someone needing something for some such reason, and\nwaiting a week or so longer can significantly reduce prices or for that\nmatter raise the price of what you are offering.\n\nThirdly:\n3) Don't foolishly gamble away your gold at cyril's casino, even though the\nodds are significantly better then RL. They are still skewed severely in\nhis favor. The set for life jackpot may be enticing, but a few of us ran some\nnumbers and found that it probably won't pay out till it's at 55 billion or so.\n\nLastly:\n4) Never piss off the major players of the realms, even though one makes their\nown way on this mud, certain players tend to influence or hold reputations\nand if you get on their wrong side, you and they both lose out on each\nothers perspectives on trades\/quests\/runs\/whatever.\n\nForever hated, Vache :)\n\n(End)                                                                 Page: 014\n_______________________________________________________________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\/\n\n\n\n ____________________________\n\/ Kadgeon's Corner - Kadgeon \\________________________________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\\\n                   \n[]  [X] []  [-] []  [11]\n[+] [O] [+] [O] [\/]\n[]  [+] []  [X] []  [31] \n[X] [O] [+] [X]\n[]  [+] []  [X] []  [8]\n[46]    [14]    [6]\n\nTry to fill in the missing numbers. \n- Use the numbers 1 through 9 to complete the equations. \n- Each number is only used once.\n- Each row is a math equation. Each column is a math equation.\n- Remember that multiplication and division are performed before addition and\nsubtraction.\n\nKey-\nX, Multiply    -, Subtract       +, Add      O, blacked out square\n\/, Divide      [], Empty sqaure...one of the ones you need to fill in\n\nPoll Time: \n\nWhen you type help  do you go...\"Wow! What a\ngreat helpfile! Do you type help  randomly just\nto admire it? If so and you think it's the best one send me a mudmail telling\nme which Immortal and why!\n\n(End)                                                                 Page: 015\n_______________________________________________________________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\/\n\n\n _______________________________      \n\/ Guild News - Guild of Clerics \\_____________________________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\\\n\n \n                               Greetings Realms!\nWe hope you had a great start into the new spring season, please join us in\ngiving you a peek into our guild with a few announcements!\n \n                           Happy, happy, joy, joy!\nWe would like to extend our warmest well wishes to our own Mirabeau!\nShe has been a vital and wonderful part of our guild and has now moved up the\nranks to join the Immortals! Although we shall miss her dearly, we know she'll\ndo a fabulous job in whatever she might venture in. Way to go Mirabeau!!!\n \n                                Come join us!\nOur door for new Acolytes is always open! If you are interested in joining us\non our lovely porch and become a member of the GoC family, do let us know!\n\nRequirements: Level 15+\nDirections:   NW, 2W, 2N, E from the []\nWebsite:      perdaea.com\/dirtycarrot.html\n \nWe are looking forward to hearing from you!\nWarmest Regards, Haviland (Guildmaster) and Indira (Guild First)\n\n(End)                                                                 Page: 016\n_______________________________________________________________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\/\n\n _____________________________\n\/ Guild News - Guild of Mages \\_______________________________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\\\n\nIt's been a busy month at the Guild of Mages. With Egon stepping down, Pollo\nhas become the new Guildmaster and Laili was voted in as the new Second.\nWe welcome our newest member Brais, and hope to see more applicants in the\nfuture.\n\n(From Pollo)\n\n(End)                                                                 Page: 017\n_______________________________________________________________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\/\n\n _______________________________\n\/ Guild News - Guild of Rangers \\_____________________________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\\\n\nGuild of Rangers news for April 2008:\n \nThis month was an excellent month for the Guild.\nHokuten pulled off a win in the Guild's Chess tournament hosted by Threndil and\nGwydion owned everyone at knowing random useless facts in the Guild Trivia\nnight hosted by Junhi.\n \nWe were also privileged to add Lilmiguel and Karinna to our ranks as full\nmembers and Canyak, Jared and Corbyn as pledges.\n \nThis coming month looks promising as the Guild's vote on a new induct\/outcast\nmessage is completed and many mobs (and maybe some players) meet their fate\nagain.\n \nWith arrows nocked and silent steps, we blaze the trail where none dare tread.\n\nhttp:\/\/rangers.silverwolf-den.com\/index.html\n \nCheers, GoR Leaders\n\n(End)                                                                 Page: 018\n_______________________________________________________________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\/\n\n ________________________________\n\/ Guild News - Guild of Vampires \\____________________________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\\\n\nThis was a slow but good month for GoV! With everyone's RL schedules\nconflicting with our playing time not many runs were done but we've got a good\nstart on this month! We'd like to say farewell to Lyn who is leaving us for a\ngood bit of time, but he assures us that he will return! We'll keep him in our\nhearts and prayers. We would like to extend a guildwide welcome to Larieta and\nKriru who are now fullfledged members of the GoV! \n\nThat's all the news I have for you guys at the moment, but keep an ear out\n...who knows what we're up to!\n \n'May the shadows of the night protect us and give us strength'\n\n(From Taye)\n\n(End)                                                                 Page: 019\n_______________________________________________________________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\/\n\n\n ________________________________\n\/ Guild News - Guild of Fathomer \\____________________________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\\\n\n7 o'clock, day of Freedom, Month of the Old Forces\n_______________________________________________________\nDrunken crewmates were tasked to rid the hold of rats. drunk with joy. Many\nthanks to Stoneheft! Weigh Anchor! Captain Ujikisi appears to have recovered \nfrom his illness. Still no sign of the dwarven carpenter. Rumors abound.\nSpirits appear lifted.\n\n10am, day of Freedom, Month of the Old Forces\n__________________________________________________\nKorvette, riddled with scurvy and driven by the excesses of rum, ship biscuits,\nand loose women, has been lost at sea. Mainwarric has been promoted to the rank\nof Ship's 1st. The Albatross' Maindeck has been swabbed. Elections have \ncommenced for ship 2nd.\n\n7am, day of the Great Gods, Month of The Spring\n___________________________________________________\nUpon the break of dawn we were awoken by the deep bellow of a mysterious band of\ndwarves. Their mallets tapped furiously against our hull. Crew morale has \nsurged! Grunthos assures us we will be sea worthy soon.\n\n8am, day of The Sun, Month of the The Spring\n__________________________________________________\nOur ship is fully operational. The entire crew is positively drunk with joy. \nOur first port of call will be the Town of Eurion.\n\n(From Mainwarric)\n\n(End)                                                                 Page: 020\n_______________________________________________________________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\/\n\n\n\n\n _____________________\n\/ Nation News - Human \\_______________________________________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\\\n\nThe Human Nation is in the process of forming a new government. Many \npositions are open and humans interested in being in on the ground \nfloor of the government and councils are urged to post their intents \nto the Human Nation board. For more information on the councils, \npossible positions, or general roleplay within the nation \nsee HELP 'NATION COUNCIL'. For more information on the Human nation \nin general read their nation board and read HELP HUMAN.\n \nFor general questions contact Tonitrus, acting leader.\n\n(End)                                                                 Page: 021\n_______________________________________________________________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\/\n\n\n ______________________\n\/ Nation News - Quendi \\______________________________________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\\\n\nTari Annale Firestorm would like to thank all those who have wished her well\nin her recent ascension.  She extends an invitation to those of other Nations\nto come rejoice in the coming of new life upon the Island.\n \nPlans for the Sheelala festival are well underway.  Rumour has it that Tari\nAnnale has been speaking with the shopkeepers about offering several new wines\nalthough the shopkeepers are being very tight-lipped about it.\n \nOnce again, anyone wishing to help out or partake in the upcoming Sheelala\nFestival is encouraged to post within Arborlon or to speak with the Tari\nherself.  The festival will be a little late this year, unfortunately.  But\nthat does mean that there is still plenty of time to organize events!\n \nAnd on behalf of the Elves of Arborlon, we would like to wish everyone a\nJoyous Spring.  May it bring you new life and happiness.\n\n(From Annale)\n\n(End)                                                                 Page: 022\n_______________________________________________________________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\/\n\n ______________________\n\/ Nation News - Khazad \\______________________________________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\\\n\nThe Reach is quiet. With the ongoing demand for miners in foreign kingdoms our\npopulation remains thin. The pay is good in Juargan's mines where the demand\nfor miners is so great. The demand is great because the neverending wars with\nthe duergar keep the miners turning over. Turning over like so much soil on so\nmany young dwarven graves. Yet the young Khazad are drawn to it, we all were,\nwe all remember.\n\nThe bulk of our people have adjusted to the idea of the \"New Way\".  Dwarves\nmingling with up-tops, the \"Surface Life\". Individually, the new generation's \nKhazad are everything that the 'deep downers' were in the old mines below\nthe reach. As a whole, however, the open sky seems to drain something from\nthe Khazad. As a whole. The Khazad as a \"Whole\".\nI must speak with Juargan about allied service between the kingdoms.\n \n*This note was never signed, but it is generally agreed that it was written\nby Stoneheft Gemstone.*\n\n(End)                                                                 Page: 023\n_______________________________________________________________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\/\n\n\n\n\n ______________________\n\/ Nation News - Hobbit \\______________________________________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\\\n\nFrom the Desk of the Thain,\n\n                   Not much has happened for our Nation as of yet, but\npreparations for Spring will start within the next few days! There will be\nmuch merriment and joy for us this year. I extend an invitation to all Nations\nto come and join in our festivities. I only ask that everyone try to let me\nknow ahead of time so I can make accommodations for those much larger than\nourselves. For those wandering hobbits who are far from home I am calling for\nthe formation of my Olympics Council! So please get in touch with me as soon\nas you are able if you are interested. \n     \n      On another note, Morgaina has been unable to get in contact with several\nof the other Nations and so has not been to visit them and learn more about\nthem yet. As soon as we receive responses she will be on her way and keep us\nall up to date.\n \n    For now that is all I have for you, until next month! \n                  Forever in the service of her people,\n                     Thain Kadgeon Silverblood\n                                       *\n                                     * | *\n                                    * \\|\/ *\n\n                               * * * \\|O|\/ * * *\n                                \\o\\o\\o|O|o\/o\/o\/\n                                (<><><>O<><><>)\n                                 '==========='\n\n(End)                                                                 Page: 024\n_______________________________________________________________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\/\n\n\n _____________________\n\/ Nation News - Pixie \\_______________________________________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\\\n\nThis is PNN: Your source for Pixie News\n \nIt is spring time in the Realms. Time for the Annual Spring time sugar festival.\n \nThe festival's turnout was low this year due to bad weather. Also this year's\nsugar harvest was low, due to the long winter. Tree Tappers hope that the \nweather will warm up enough to get more suger.\n \nIn Sports, Vileala Swiftwing, from Kontaur won this years single sky skating\ncompetion, easily impressing the judges and beating out favourite Paglita \nTwigalita\n\n(End)                                                                 Page: 025\n_______________________________________________________________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\/\n\n ________________________\n\/ Nation News - Uruk'hai \\____________________________________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\\\n\nFrom the Opallinoc News Bureau -\n\nDateline Darkhaven: Olympics committee forming\nThe Nation's Olympics Committee is in need of volunteers. Opening and closing\nceremonies, events and other ideas are taking shape. But, help is needed to\nmake it happen. Want to contribute? Do some brainstorming? Find our more?\nThe Olympics are what you need, what you crave and what you make it to be.\nContact Romani or Klaatu.\n \nDateline Tar'pa Cithm: Barbarians hold a meeting\nThe thunder of hoof beat and a thousand warsongs filled the air across the\nNorthern Plains as a horde of barbarians rushed to  the Village of Tar'pa\nCithm. The Tribal Lord Kinux presided over the throng, telling of new things\nthat barbarians can do. And new things barbarians can obtain. \n\nDateline Trade Routes: New Settlements along Trade Routes\nDuke Luther's plan for adding to Darkhaven's land claims has resulted in\na number of adventurous making forest areas arable and starting settelments.\nExplore the Trade Routes and check out how the rural way of life. \n \nDateline Opallinoc: Equinox Fest\nThe recent Equinox fest in Opallinoc was, again, a brawl. Just what the cabin\nfever stricken Uruk'ahi needed after the long winter. Those still looking for\nmissing items, such as teeth or ears, see Hakupa, the shaman. Revenue from the\nsale of Meeka's swill, will mean no taxation of Uruk'hai this year. \n\n(From Klaatu)\n\n(End)                                                                 Page: 026\n_______________________________________________________________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\/\n\n\n\n\n __________________________\n\/ Nation News - Rukhas'dul \\__________________________________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\\\n\n-Mount Krozloy has several facilities which are not actually built into\nthe physical area on the game. These facilities are to be referred to as \"IC\"\nfacilities for the time being.\nThe facilities included in this group are listed below:\n\n-Mount Krozloy's Barracks: Where new recruits to the Il'Khan military are\ntrained to fight. Contrary to popular belief, the half-orc army is not\nentirely savage or barbaric. In fact, many of their elite troops are\nhighly organized. These buildings are located just to the south of Krozloy,\nnear the southern wall and gate.\n \n-The Lumber Mills: Located near the woods on the map, the Lumber Mills are\nwhere the Il'Khan store whatever wood they have deforested that is not\npresently in use.\n\n-The Mines of Krozloy: There are several mines running underground in the\nsurrounding are of and beneath Mount Krozloy. These mines were once rich\nwith gold, but that mineral has almost completely been harvested. Now all\nthat remains is some essential metals for blacksmithing.\n\n-The Shipyard: Located in the northern stretch of the river which runs\nthrough Krozloy's surrounding area is a Shipyard. Currently there are no\nshipwrights working on new seaworthy craft, but there are some of the rickety\nold transports from ages past.\n\n(From Kragash)\n\n(End)                                                                 Page: 027\n_______________________________________________________________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\/\n\n ________________________\n\/ Nation News - Olog'hai \\____________________________________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\\\n\nSalkare - Greetings!  (plural)\nSalva -  Greetings!  (singular)\nOlog'hai - Half-troll nation \nOlog'hian - A half-troll who belongs to the nation\nGrumband Har Marook - How are you?\nGrumbandel Har Marook Tarl - How are you? (plural)\nMartook Garkra Shan  -  I am well!\nDwark - dwarf\nParxy - Pixie\nHeruk - Elf\nHarl-Heruk - Half-elf\nMann - human\nHarl-Ogran - Half ogre\nHarl-Urk - Half orc\nChuf - Food\nIk Chuf - Turning something (usually living) into food\n\n(From Leala)\n\n(End)                                                                 Page: 028\n_______________________________________________________________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\/\n\n ________________________\n\/ Nation News - Gralthai \\____________________________________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\\\n\nThe Gith are a race descended from Humans. Once long ago, they were a peaceful\ncivilization of Humans that were captured by Mind Flayers and tormented for\ncenturies. Eventually, a Gith savior led them to freedom, yet their bodies had\nbeen flayed by the mental powers of the Illithids. The Gith found themselves\nstronger, quicker, luckier and smarter than average Humans, yet they had lost\nmuch of their wisdom, stamina and charisma.                            \n\nGith are yellow-skinned and very long of limb. Sunken eyes peer from yellowed\nsockets, now strangely capable of naturally detecting the invisible. The Gith\nrace has split into three distinct groups: the good (Githzerai), the selfish\nneutral (Pirates of Gith), and the evil (the Githyanki).\n \nFor more information on the Gith nation, or if you are interested in a\nposition in their government please post your questions\/interest on the Gith\nboard in your hometown.\n\n(From gith helpfile)\n\n(End)                                                                 Page: 029\n_______________________________________________________________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\/\n\n _________________________\n\/ Nation News - Ilythiiri \\___________________________________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\\\n\nA Cry in the (Under)Dark\n\nThe quiet of the Underdark had grown perpetual and the Valsharess had grown\naccustomed to pacing the halls of the Veldrin'velve at all hours. Had her\npeople grown so inactive, or had they merely slipped so deeply into the\nshadows that even her sources could not keep her informed? Something had to\nbe done... she had to get a better tab on her subjects. Storming into her\nstudy, Alzeria scrawled out quick note and sent for a messenger. The order\nwas given for the note to be hand-copied and sent to the head of each house\nregardless of station, tacked onto each door:\n \n\"In an effort to come to know my subjects with greater intimacy, I, Alzeria,\nValsharess and Matron of Veldrin'velve invite any who wish to speak with me\nof requests or concerns of any nature to send private missive to me. State\nin that missive your name, the nature of the discussion, and when you would\nlike to meet.                 -Your Valsharess in service to Lloth, Alzeria\"\n\n \nOOC: Due to bad logging times and limited time that I can truly focus, I\ndecided this might be a good way to boost involvement and learn when others\nwould be on. Please send mudmails primarily as IC, but note times as ooc.\nI am in CST, for that matter. Also, to ensure I respond as quicky as I can,\nput both Alzeria and Gliowien in the 'to' line of the note. Thank you!\n\n(End)                                                                 Page: 030\n_______________________________________________________________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\/\n\n ________________________\n\/ Nation News - Aerandir \\____________________________________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\\\n\nRituals and Customs -- A page from Sea-Elf History by Faya Evithrawiel\n  \nThe Aerandir was birthed from a variety of sea-elves coming from the Five\nKingdoms and various little territories from beyond the Seven Seas. This\nkaleidoscope of cultures soon re-created a rainbow of rituals and customs\nworthy of representing the Aerandir of today in the Realms. \nComing of Age and Eldership. \n\nSome of the more formal customs of the Kingdoms were demolished, and new ones\ntook it place. But the rigorous testing that was required of young sea-elves\nwho came of age was kept, for it inculcated in the next generation, the\nimportance of preseverance, and determination. Two rituals are included here -\nthe Lien'eiaur elchuui (Coming of Age Quest) and the Alata ien'Einiurea \n(Pathway to Eldership)\n\nPrayer of the Dead\nTo remember those who had passed on since the building of the Faen Minaas and\nthe drowning of former Mathlaan Lagoon, as well as to honor all kin and cousin\nwho died in battle, sickness or old age, the Prayer of the Dead can be invoked\nin the graveyard (Reflections of a Requiem room) by reciting the prayers found\non the marker stones there.\n\n-- If you are interested in joining the Sea-Elf nation post your intentions on\nthe Sea-Elf board in your hometown. Many positions are available in leadership\nand beyond.\n\n(End)                                                                 Page: 031\n_______________________________________________________________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\/\n\n _____________________\n\/ Council News - IOQC \\_______________________________________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\\\n\nThere hasn't been any IOQs over the past few months but this is about to change.\nIOQs will once again run monthly with the up coming IOQ being hosted by Baali. \n\nGonnil has been extremely busy and therefore Destre and Siporta will now \nco-head the council. On behalf of the IOQC I would like to thank Gonnil for\nall the time and effort which he has dedicated to hosting, implementing and\nco-ordinating IOQs and thank Destre and Siporta for volunteering more of their\ntime for our enjoyment. \n\nInconnu will be the next Order to host the IOQ after Baali. All Orders are\nreminded to submit their quest ideas and concepts to Destre and Siporta in good\ntime (Usually 2 weeks before the quest is held). Each Order should also mudmail\nme to confirm your current IOQC representative or if your representative is\ninactive or out dated, your new IOQC representive. Meetings are very rare but\nrepresentatives will act as your main liason when it is your Order's turn to\nhost an IOQ. \n\nEach Order is encouraged to make their quest as challenging, novel and fun as\npossible. Quests should have a theme or concept and be comprehensive. Please\nconsult the IOQC_Rules helpfile for more information.\n\nFinally, mudmail Destre, Siporta or myself if you have any further queries \nor questions.\n\n+ Fiebin +\n\n(End)                                                                 Page: 032\n_______________________________________________________________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\/\n\n\n\n ____________________\n\/ March Quest Results\\________________________________________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\\\n\nThe March CoD Quest was to go on a dragon hunt and list as many named dragons of \nRealms as possible. A valiant effort by all, especially Ciska, Vukodlak, Redbeard\nand Pollo. The winner with a list of 30 is...REDBEARD and second place goes to\nPollo with a list of 27. Congratulations to both of you. Please contact Falennt\nor Linda for your glory prizes! Below is the winning list from Redbeard.\n\nAmmit  Bahamut  Black Rose  Calacirlande  Carcacelnaur  Curdardh  Dalkiel\nDelasu  Dracolithos  Eylops  Faina  Gayalossen  Gealcath  Hirema\nIngeloakastimizilian  Keryesti  Kizarvexius  Kujrajgi  Lokelaurea\nOndomir-Celeb  Phenn  Puff  Shade  Shadow Stalker  Shimmergloom  Tiamat\nWynd  Yamata-no-orochi  Zaosobbrada  Zylandialtiara\n\nCiska had 2 dragons not listed by anyone else- Mistress Cosira and S'goral.\n\nVukodlak listed Qauxiggis (Merlin's pet dragon?)\n\nThe hobbit ventured out to find another 3 dragons not listed by anyone-\nLishakean'ash, Sindraod and Yankirashim\n \n(End)                                                                 Page: 033\n_______________________________________________________________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\/\n\n\n _____________\n\/ April Quest \\_______________________________________________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\\\n\nSince the turn out to the March dragon hunt was pretty good, the April quest\nis a demon hunt. Simply send in a list of as many named demons of Realms as\nyou know of on a single note and mudmail it to Fiebin, Linda and Falennt by\nthe 25th of April. Glory prizes to the top two participants.\n \n(End)                                                                 Page: 034\n_______________________________________________________________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\/\n\n\n ____________________________________\n\/ Funny but Violent Titles - Falennt \\________________________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\\\n\nCrosius kicks you in the gut for Alihan's Pizza Service. \nJabin and Stabin away!!!\nSyn, rigger of ropes and torturer.\nTausha Friend of Pixies - see a Pixie...squish.\nRuccarrin d'Mortem slashes the heart of your vile existence.\n\n \n(End)                                                                 Page: 035\n_______________________________________________________________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\/\n\n\n ___________________\n\/ Room of the Month \\_________________________________________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\\\n\nA Space in Time\nAs if awakening from an unsettlingly surreal dream, you find yourself in\nunfamiliar surroundings far from whence you came.  As the torpor wears\noff and your eyes begin to refocus, you realize you have been brought\nhere by the Gods to receive a message of relative import.  Checking\nthrough your inventory, you look for some sign of indication to validate\nyour purpose and assure you that the deconstruction of your mind has not\nyet been put into play.\nExits: none\nA small orb tops a slender pedestal of glowing crystal.\n \n(End)                                                                 Page: 036\n_______________________________________________________________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\/\n\n _________________________\n\/ Funny Logs - Mr. Morana \\___________________________________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\\\n\nStoneheft chats 'I'm Morona'\n \n'Mr. Morona.'\nHe is a male level 59 Dwarf Cleric, 3803 years of age.\nHe is a peaceful player.\nHe holds a seat on:  Newbie Council\nMr. Morona has accumulated 52 glory in his lifetime.\nHe has found succor in the deity Adendra.\nHis homepage can be found at the center of Lyra's loving heart.\nHis email is: unread\nHis IM is irritating\nMr. Morona's personal bio:\n\nMr. Morona> Oh man!\n\n(Sent in by Romani)\n \n(End)                                                                 Page: 037\n_______________________________________________________________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\/\n\n\n\n _______________________________\n\/ Funny Logs - Immortal vs. Bot \\_____________________________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\\\n\nLoril freezes Hurey with a glance and shatters the frozen body into tiny shards.\nHurey splatters blood on your armor.\nHurey appears from the Ringbearers headquarters.\nHurey says 'I hope you're happy now.'\nHurey looks particularly glum today.  *sniff*\nLoril seems to agree.\nGlimji laughs.\nZabanire snickers softly.\nLoril waves happily.\nLoril and her Cloud named Nine simply .. poof\n\n(Sent in by Vukodlak)\n\n \n(End)                                                                 Page: 038\n_______________________________________________________________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\/\n\n\n ___________________________________\n\/ Funny Logs - Recite Quantum Spike \\_________________________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\\\n\nThis is what happens if you are in a fight and type \"rec quant\" instead of \n\"rec quant \"   (Fight spam removed for this note)\nrec quant\nYour quantum spike cuts you.\nrec quant\nYour quantum spike cuts you.\nrec quant\nYour quantum spike cuts you.\nrec quant\nYour quantum spike MAULS you.\nrec quant\nThat really did HURT!\n..Everything begins to fade to black.\n \nYou feel yourself leaving your body... rising up into the air, you feel\nmore free than you have ever felt before...\n \nHowever, before your deity comes to collect your soul, you feel a strange\npulling sensation as strange and colorful mists swirl around you...\n \nguild F**K  (except it was spelled out...use your imagination)\nguild oops\nguild *slaps her own hand*\n   This was as seen from our glorious leader, Linda.\n\n(Sent in by Siporta and Linda)\n \n(End)                                                                 Page: 039\n_______________________________________________________________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\/\n\n\n ___________________________________\n\/ Funny Logs - Some Pretty Immortal \\_________________________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\\\n\nSome pretty immortal eats a few wooden blocks.\nYou ACK her.\nSome pretty immortal giggles.\nYou say 'You are a woodchuck in disguise, I knew it'\nSome pretty immortal nibbles your wooden leg.\nARRRRRRRRRRGH!!!!!\nSome pretty immortal laughs diabolically.  MUHAHAHAHAHAHA!\nYou wave your sabre at some pretty immortal and say \"I be sendin' ya to the\nmurky deep!\"\nSome pretty immortal grins evilly.\nSome pretty immortal makes like a pirate and says \"Yarr!\"\nYou exclaim 'evil wood eating leg biting piratey woodchuck!'\n\n(Sent in by Falennt)\n \n(End)                                                                 Page: 040\n_______________________________________________________________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\/\n\n\n _____________________________________\n\/ Funny Logs - Even Imms Can Spam Out \\_______________________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\\\n\nFalennt is working hard cleaning up the Cry of Despair board...\n\nFalennt says 'Going to be spammy for a bit.'\nFalennt evaporates into thin air.\nFalennt steps out of your imagination.\nFalennt glances over the notes.\nFalennt takes a note.\nFalennt takes a note.\nFalennt takes a note.\nFalennt takes a note.\nFalennt takes a note.\nFalennt takes a note.\nFalennt takes a note.\nFalennt takes a note.\nFalennt takes a note.\nFalennt takes a note.\nFalennt takes a note.\nFalennt takes a note.\nFalennt takes a note.\nFalennt takes a note.\nFalennt takes a note.\nFalennt takes a note.\nFalennt takes a note.\nFalennt takes a note.\nFalennt takes a note.\nFalennt takes a note.\nFalennt takes a note.\nFalennt takes a note.\nFalennt takes a note.\nFalennt takes a note.\nFalennt takes a note.\nFalennt has left the game.\nFalennt has entered the game.\nFalennt says 'Spammed myself out.'\nFalennt gobbles down a can of spam. Oink!\nFalennt glances over the notes.\n\n(Sent in by Fiebin)\n \n(End)                                                                 Page: 041\n_______________________________________________________________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\/\n\n ____________________________________________________\n\/ Funny Logs - Waiting So Long That Dementia Sets In \\________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\\\n\nRB is waiting for a certain dragon...for a very long time...\n\nMiguelol ordertalks 'i'm like setting his place on fire'\nMiguelol ordertalks 'and he's just like chilling'\nMiguelol ordertalks 'I've even barbequed like tons of rabbits'\nMiguelol ordertalks 'and it still doesn't want to come out'\nKeanne ordertalks 'he fears u!'\nDrox ordertalks 'c'mon, rabbits? He's a DRAGON.'\nMiguelol ordertalks 'well'\nMiguelol ordertalks 'my original intention was to snare the dragon :('\nDrox ordertalks 'lol'\n\nlook nw\nA patch of darkness plays backdrop to the swirling snow...\nYou attempt to scry...\nThe howl of the storm outside whistles through the cave entrance and blows\nsnow in to blanket the ground. The cave is burrowed deeply inside the rock\nof a mountain and the walls are, surprisingly, free of ice. It apparently\nnever gets quite warm enough here to melt the snow to allow ice to gather\non the cave walls. The snow blown in from the entrance extends a few feet\ninto the darkness, growing sparser as it goes. The cave is a welcome\ndistraction from the brutal storm that rages out on the plateau.\nExits: north northeast southeast \nA sprung rabbit snare lies on the ground nearby. (42)\nA cloud of vaporous flame blazes here, defying the elements. (14)\nA mystical spring flows majestically from a glowing circle of blue.\nA burnt rabbit carcass. (10)\nA roasted rabbit carcass. (2)\nThe freshly killed carcass of a rabbit lies on the ground. (12)\nAn overcooked rabbit carcass.\nLorana dreams of angels but lives with demons. is hovering here.\nMiguelol.                                [Pandamonium] is hovering here.\n\n(Sent in by Fiebin)\n \n(End)                                                                 Page: 042\n_______________________________________________________________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\/\n\n\n ____________________________________________\n\/ Funny Logs - Not so sublime advertising... \\________________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\\\n\n \nTaradan winks suggestively.\nTaradan the trapper says 'Just nod to me if you wish to make a deal.'\nYou nod in agreement to him.\nTaradan the trapper says 'Ah, good, I knew we could make a deal.'\nTaradan the trapper says 'For a small fee I will skin a corpse.'\nTaradan the trapper says 'For squirrels, I charge 1000 gold.'\n \n...\n \nA small grey squirrel floats in from the north.\n \nMaomule says '...'\n \n(Sent in by Maomule)\n \n(End)                                                                 Page: 043\n_______________________________________________________________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\/\n\n\n ________________________________\n\/ Order of Arcanes Advertisement \\____________________________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\\\n\n                                        \n                         ,\n                       _\/ \\_\n            _,--.     <  ,  >The Order of Arcanes is recruiting!\n         .-'.'         \/(\/.\\\n       .' .'   .\"\"\".   `\/  `\n      \/  \/    \/     \\  \/)Contact your nearest Arcane Scout\n     ;  ;  ,_.;._  _;-'}\/or speak to an Arcane Leader for more\n     |  |  '.    )(    \/'information.\n     |  |   \/'-._\/\\_.-' \n     ;  ;   \\_.'     \\      ,\n      \\  \\   \/        |  _.'\/\n       '. `'-\\       \/.-\/.;,\\\n         '-._ `\"\"\"\"\"`_.|`\"\"\"`|Visit the Arcanes Website at\n       jgs   `\"(\"\\\/\")` |#    |http:\/\/www.orderofarcanes.org\n                \\(_\/   `-...-'\n\n(End)                                                                 Page: 044\n_______________________________________________________________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\/\n\n ______________________________\n\/ Cry of Despair Advertisement \\______________________________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\\\n\n              \/---------------------------------------------------\\\n              | \/-----------------------------------------------\\ |\n              | |                                               | |\n              | | Are you looking for a new challenge?          | |\n              | |                                               | |\n              | | Want to meet interesting, and even not-so-    | |\n              | | interesting people?                           | |\n              | |                                               | |\n              | | Want to discover new aspects of the game?     | |\n              | |                                               | |\n              | | Want your voice to be heard by the whole MUD? | |\n              | |                                               | |\n              | | And... Want to get paid for it all?           | |\n              | |                                               | |\n              | | Then look at a career in journalism! Send a   | |\n              | | short application and sample article via      | |\n              | | MUDmail to Falennt, Linda and Fiebin if       | |\n              | | you're keen to join the Cry of Despair staff. | |\n              | |                                               | |\n              | | Hope to hear from you soon!                   | |\n              | |                                               | |\n              | \\-----------------------------------------------\/ |\n              \\---------------------------------------------------\/\n\n(End)                                                                 Page: 045\n_______________________________________________________________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\/\n\n\n _____________________\n\/ Ask COE Announcement\\_______________________________________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\\\n\nTHE CRY OF DESPAIR IS PROUD TO BRING BACK\n \n           ###     ######  ##    ##     ######   #######  ########\n          ## ##   ##    ## ##   ##     ##    ## ##     ## ##\n         ##   ##  ##       ##  ##      ##       ##     ## ##\n        ##     ##  ######  #####       ##       ##     ## ######\n        #########       ## ##  ##      ##       ##     ## ##\n        ##     ## ##    ## ##   ##     ##    ## ##     ## ##\n        ##     ##  ######  ##    ##     ######   #######  ########\n \n  If you had a chance to ask the Council of Elders something about\n  gameplay, what would you ask?\n \n  Do you want to know when we are going to have pasta somewhere?\n \n  Do you want to know why thief mobs only keep a percentage of what\n  they steal?\n \n  Or do you want to know something else?!  If so, mudmail Fiebin with\n  your questions today!\n\n(From Falennt)\n\n(End)                                                                 Page: 046\n_______________________________________________________________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\/\n\n _______________\n\/ WANTED - Dead \\_____________________________________________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\\\n\n   _________________________________________\n0=(_________________________________________)=0\n   |                     ___  __  _        \/\n   |    |   |  \/\\  |\\  |  |  |   | \\      |     \n   |    | x | :__: | \\ |  |  |-  |  ;     |     The CoD Staff\n   |    |\/ \\| |  | |  \\|  |  |__ |_\/      |     invites any deadly\n   |                                      |     to post a bounty on\n   |    \/\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\\      |       another deadly. \n   |    |     :   ,''\"((\") |       |      |     \n   |    |     |  \/         |       |      |   You set the bounty \n   |    |     ,-: .*\"    \"*;       |      |   and the number of  \n   |    |     ;    (o)  (o)|       |      |   bounties you are \n   |    |     `-.      ,   |       |      |   prepared to pay and \n   |    |       :     ___  '       |      |   Linda, Falennt and    \n   |    |       |`.    -  \/        |      |   Fiebin can collect the   \n   |    |     _.:  `-.__.'         |      |   skived skin of your  \n   |    | ,-\"'\"  `-.__.-''*-._     |      |   target from bounty  \n   |    .-------Dead---------.      |       hunters. You may also \n   |    _   __              _   _         |     share your reasons \n   |   | \\ |   |   |   \/\\  | \\ | \\        |     for wanting the target \n   |   |_\/ |-  | x |  :__: |_\/ |  ;       |     dead.\n   |   | \\ |__ |\/ \\|  |  | | \\ |_\/        |     The cost of this\n   |______________________________________|         service is 1 million \n0=(________________________________________)=0  gold coins. The Cry of \n                                                      Despair may also award\n                                                      successful bounty hunters\n                                                      with additional gold!\n(Thank you Romani for the Ascii art)\n\n(End)                                                                 Page: 047\n_______________________________________________________________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\/\n\n ______________________________\n\/ 10th Annual Awards - Falennt \\______________________________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\\\n\nIt is time for the Annual Realms of Despair Awards again and in just a\nblink of an eye, the Annual Awards are in our 10th year of giving away \nthe most coveted, the most wanted or even the most unwanted Award to \nplayers Realms-wide. We have tons of categories, and some new ones for \nyou to vote for your friends or even some people who you think deserves \nthe Awards.\n \nThe votes will be collected by myself and Kadgeon via MUDmail, by the \n26th of April. To vote, please set out your MUDmails in the following \nfashion:\n \n    To: Falennt Kadgeon\n    Subject: RoD Awards Votes\n \n    Category 1: (Player1), (Player2), (Player3)\n    Category 2: (Object1), (Object2), (Object3)\n \nAnd so forth. Only three nominations per category will be accepted, and the\norder in which you vote will be considered the preference of choices.\nIf there are any questions, please direct them to me (Falennt) via tells or\nMUDmail.\n\n  Rules to Voting:\n \n  * You may only have one voting sheet per real-life player. If it \n    is known that you have used more than one character to vote, \n    all of that players votes are nulled. \n  * You do not have to vote in every category, you can vote in\n    whichever categories you wish.\n  * Entries handed in after the 26th of April are not valid. \n  * Keep your nominations within reason.\n \nThe categories will be listed on the following pages. Remember, you do not\nhave to vote in all categories, but please remember to write on your voting \nnote which categories you are voting in.\n\nContinued...                                                          Page: 048\n_______________________________________________________________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\/\n\n ___________________\n\/ Awards Categories \\_________________________________________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\\\n\nCategories:\n \n1. Best Male Immortal \nWhich male Immortal works the hardest for the MUD?\n \n2. Best Female Immortal\nWhich female immortal have you felt have done their best?\n \n3. Best Male Roleplayer\nWho's the most natural male roleplayer?\n \n4. Best Female Roleplayer\nWho's the most eloquent and dramatic lady we have?\n \n5. Best RoD Couple\nWhich couple in RoD is the most loving and envied?\n \n6. Best Male Player\nWhich male player has inspired you?\n \n7. Best Female Player\nWhich female player leaves you with a good impression about herself?\n\nContinued...                                                          Page: 049\n_______________________________________________________________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\/\n\n ___________________\n\/ Awards Categories \\_________________________________________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\\\n\n8. Best Guild\nWhich Guild has been the greatest in all aspects of the game?\n \n9. Best Clan\nWhich Clan has the most feared reputation?\n \n10. Best Band (New Category!)\nWhich Tribe rules the great wilderness?\n \n11. Best Order\nWhich Order has proven itself worthy?\n \n12. Best Nation\nMany nations are springing to life. Which is the liveliest?\n \n13. Best Area\nWhich area always has you on the edge of your seat?\n \n14. Best Food Item\nWhich food can you almost taste in your mouth?\n \n15. Best Drink Item\nWhich drink quenches your thirst the best?\n\nContinued...                                                          Page: 050\n_______________________________________________________________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\/\n\n\n ___________________\n\/ Awards Categories \\_________________________________________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\\\n\n16. Best \"Treasure\" Item\nWhich is the most prized treasure of the Realms?\n \n17. Best Clothing Item (New Category!)\nWhich garment brings out the personality in everyone?\n \n18. Best Dressed\nWhich player just leaves you in awe when they enter the room?\n \n19. Best Rename\nWhich player has the greatest rename, in your opinion?\n(When voting for this category, please be sure to list the rename beside the\nnominee's name).\n \n20. Best Social\nWhich social do you find a use for in EVERY situation?\n\nContinued...                                                          Page: 051\n_______________________________________________________________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\/\n\n ___________________\n\/ Awards Categories \\_________________________________________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\\\n\n21. Best \"New Change\" to the Realms\nOver the past few months, what's the best change that has happened?\n \n22. Worst \"New Change\" to the Realms\nAnd which recent change has made you cringe?\n \n23. Player(s) everyone dream of pkilling.\nIt happens, we know it does. Who do you think would deserve this award more\nthan anything?\n \n24. Player(s) most likely to pkill the above.\nPeople and their short tempers. Who would be the one to snap and attack?\n \n25. Most Charismatic Deadly\nWhich deadly stands out above all others with their outstanding personality?\nBe it good or bad?\n \n26. Most Charismatic Peaceful\nWhich peaceful comes to mind when you think of most magnetic and charming?\n \n27. Craziest Player\nWho is the most outspoken, weirdest, and just generally insane player?\n\nContinued...                                                          Page: 052\n_______________________________________________________________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\/\n\n ___________________\n\/ Awards Categories \\_________________________________________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\\\n\n28. Most Dedicated Leader\nWhich leader shows the most exceptional skills when dealing with their \norganisation? (They may be a Guild, Order, Clan, or Council Leader\n \n29. Best Runner\nWho comes to mind when you have an itch to go on a run?\n \n30. Best Explorer\nWho is the first one to have directions and EQ to the new areas?\nSomeone that you trust to guide you to safety.\n \n31. Best Questor\nWhich questor out there is the fastest and most furious?\n \n32. Most Eligible Bachelor\nWhat gentleman invades your dreams at night, ladies... and some men as well? \n \n33. Most Eligible Bachelorette\nWhich graceful lady invades your daydreams, men... and some women as well?\n \nContinued...                                                          Page: 053\n_______________________________________________________________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\/\n\n ___________________\n\/ Awards Categories \\_________________________________________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\\\n\n34. Funniest Player\nWho makes your sides hurt and your lips sore from laughing so much?\n \n35. Sickening Goodness (the biggest Goodie Two-Shoes)\nSomeone in the Realms tries very hard to be the best, the most \npure, the most innocent, never to do anything wrong. Who is it\n \n36. Most Likely to be Balzhured \nThe one award you DON'T want the pleasure of winning.\n \n37. Most Unique Rename\nNot neccesarily the best. Who owns the rename that stands out the most?\n(When voting for this category, please be sure to list the rename beside the\nnominee's name).\n \n38. Best House Description\nWho's interior decoration is the most original and best?\n(When voting for this category, please be sure to submit the room description \nbelow the nominee's name)\n \n39. Ugliest Player Name\nWhose name just reeks of unoriginality and ugliness?\n\nContinued...                                                          Page: 054\n_______________________________________________________________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\/\n\n ___________________\n\/ Awards Categories \\_________________________________________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\\\n\n40. Nicest Player Name\nWho has the most original, best looking name?\n \n41. Most Interesting Help File\nOut of the hundreds of help files, which one still makes you laugh, cry or \nscream when you think of it?\n \n42. Most Interesting Room\nSome rooms come to mind when you want to hang out or just idle. Which one do \nyou prefer? \n \n43. Most Likely To End Up With QWERTY On Their Forehead\nWho idle so much that you swear they fall asleep at the desk?\n \n44. Most Frightening Immortal\nWho strikes fear into your heart whenever they log?\n \n45. Most Frightening Player\nWhich player intimidates you everytime you see them?\n\nContinued...                                                          Page: 055\n_______________________________________________________________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\/\n\n\n\n ___________________\n\/ Awards Categories \\_________________________________________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\\\n\n46. Most Likely to Get Lost outside DarkHaven (New Category!)\nWho is most likely to end up going west instead of east outside of DH?\n \n47. Most Likely to Get Lost Inside DarkHaven (New Category!)\nWho is most likely to end up lost in DH even with help map?\n \n48. Most Likely to DT\nWhich player always gets themselves into sticky situations?\n \n49. Most Likely Next to Imm\nWho would you think would be the next to head to heaven, or hell?\n \n50. Most Annoying Bot (New Category!)\nWhich bot leaves you frustrated, angry and ready to tear some hair off?\n \n51. Best Service Bot (New Category!)\nWhich bot provides the best public service to the Realms community?\n \n52. Player's who would most likely be in jail for a computer crime \n(New Category!)\nWho do you think is most likely a hacker in disguise?\n\nContinued...                                                          Page: 056\n_______________________________________________________________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\/\n\n\n\n ___________________\n\/ Awards Categories \\_________________________________________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\\\n\n53. Most Underrated Player (New Category!)\nWho do you think is the dark horse and the underdog of the year?\n \n54. Most Bombastic Player (New Category!)\nYou have to check a dictionary to understand what this player is saying!\n \n55. Player most likely to own a KIA (Know it All) (New Category!)\nWhich player knows everything in the game, and everything everywhere?\n \n56. Most frequent to X-chan\nWho always lets the most awkward sentences slip onto the wrong channels?\n \n57. Most Quotable Quote made by a Player (New Category!)\nWho's line gave you a deep impression and you would remember it ever.\n(When voting for this category, please be sure to submit the quote \nbelow the nominee's name)\n \nRemember to vote wisely and have fun! The winners of each category will be \npublished in next month's Cry of Despair.\n\n(End)                                                                 Page: 057\n_______________________________________________________________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\/\n\n\n\n _____________________________\n\/ Desk of the Hobbit - Fiebin \\_______________________________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\\\n\nA GIANT issue, a mad April Fool's prank by Kinux and his posse, new Immortal\nsponsors for the Cry of Despair and the IOQC...and all those awesome additions\nto the Realm. I would call it a great month.\n\nOn Kinux's April Fool's prank- Haha cruel. You got me. I just wish we had a\nchance to get you back...We will though..some how? Well at least I took the \nprank well and won't have bad luck..not too sure about the other half of the\nRealm populous.\n\nOn this month's giant issue- Thank you Galandril, Beleth and Vache for \nsubmitting your first Cry of Despair article. $$ for you, lets make it a\nregular thing. Thank you Falennt and Linda for all your input too, and of\ncourse, Kadgeon and Romani for your reliable and much needed help. \n\nOn the new additions to the Realm- Awesome. Thank you Coders and everyone\nelse involved with making it happen.\n\nOn my prolific use of the word thank you- eat my hellfirez\n\n+ Fiebin R'aw +\n\n(End)                                                                 Page: 058\n_______________________________________________________________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\/\n\n\n ___________________________\n\/ A Note from Linda - Linda \\_________________________________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\\\n\nI would really like to thank everyone for giving me the chance to help make\nthe Cry of Despair really great.  I do have several requests though.\n\nWe need articles players want to read.  I would like to see more stories,\npoems, ballads, haikus, whatever, about runs you go on.  \n\n\"Our group entered Shimmergloom's lair hoping to.....\" \n\n\"Even though we delt many death blows, Horus kept getting back up...\"\n\nOr if you would prefer, just a little missive about things. Subject of course\nto certain guidelines.\n\nAlso I would really love to see any ideas of things you would like to see in\nthe Cry. This is for you, the players of Realms.  So please help us make it\nthe best it can be.\n\nThanks in advance.\nLinda\n\n(End)                                                                 Page: 059\n_______________________________________________________________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\/\n\n\n __________________________________\n\/ From Falennt's Inkwell - Falennt \\__________________________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\\\n\nThis issue, I'm glad to introduce our two new immortal sponsors of the Cry of\nDespair, namely Linda and myself.\n \nWe bid a fond farewell to Alysira but not before thanking her for her devotion,\nguidance and effort put towards this great magazine.\n \nI would also like to thank all the past and current staff of the Cry for their \ncontributions in keeping this special in-game magazine alive since its \ninauguration in 1999. In addition, a special shout-out to all the immortals \npast and present who had contributed greatly to the punch and oomph of this \nmagazine.\n \nWith new staff and new sponsors, we hope to make the Cry of Despair one of the\ngreatest reads ever in the Realms!\n \nCheers\nFalennt\n(End)                                                                 Page: 060\n_______________________________________________________________________________\n|_____________________________________________________________________________\/\n\n<\/pre>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In which Galandril ponders State of the MUD, Vache advises newbies ________________________ \/ Issue 125 &#8211; April 2008 \\____________________________________________________ |_____________________________________________________________________________\\ Farewell Alysira &#8211; CoD Help CRY2 State of the Mud &#8211; Galandril Help CRY3 to CRY7 Unholy Rantings &#8211; Beleth Help CRY8 to CRY10 Marianna&#8217;s Thoughts &#8211; Falennt Help CRY11 to CRY13 Advice from a&#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-1976","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/realmsofdespair.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1976","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=1976"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/realmsofdespair.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1976\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1977,"href":"https:\/\/realmsofdespair.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1976\/revisions\/1977"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/realmsofdespair.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1976"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}