{"id":2002,"date":"2024-03-21T12:58:22","date_gmt":"2024-03-21T12:58:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/realmsofdespair.com\/wordpress\/?page_id=2002"},"modified":"2024-03-21T12:58:22","modified_gmt":"2024-03-21T12:58:22","slug":"cry-of-despair-148","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/realmsofdespair.com\/index.php\/cry-of-despair-148\/","title":{"rendered":"Cry of Despair #148"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-white-color has-text-color\">Romani announces organization website awards, Babui reports on player demographics<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"cryofdespair\">\n               _____\n   *          ( ____)           .    +          .\n        +     ( ____)\n   .          ( ____)                               *\n              ( ____)      +\n              ( ____)                      \n          .   ( ____)    +            .\n  +           ( ____)             ______ ______ ______   ______ ______\n    \/\\______\/|:_____:|\\______\/\\  |   (__   () |    | | |    ) |    __|\n   (( ======= ------- ======= )) |______)___|\\_\\___   | |______;___|\n    \\_________________________\/                |______|\n              |::|  |  ______ ______ _______ ______ ______ ___ ______\n Number 148   |::|  | |   _) \\  \\___|(_   (_   () |    . |   |   () |\n              |::|  | |______\/______|__)____)    __|____|_;___;___|\\_\\\n ------------ |::|  | --------------------- |___| --------------------\n [Editor]     |::|  | [This Issue's Writers]\n Falennt      |::|  |  Annale, Klaatu, Versetch, Kadgeon, Babui,\n              |::|  |  Excane, Eisengrym, Meddon, Klessenia\n              |::|  | \n [Sponsor]    |::|  | [Imm Contributors]\n Falennt      |::|  |  Romani, Stoneheft, Kinux\n              |::|  |  \n              |::|  | \n              |::|  | \n              |::|  |  [Issue 148, December 2010 - January 2011]\n ------------ |::|  | ------------------------------------------------\n\n See HELP CRY2 for the table of contents.\n\n2 \n\n           \/\\                           \n _         )( _________________________________________________________  \n(_)\/\/\/\/\/\/\/(**)_________________________________________________________>  \n           )(                          \n Page 2    \\\/    Table of Contents\n\n This Month's Special:\n   Realms Research Project             - Babui           CRY2-13\n   Realms Awards 2010                  - Romani          CRY14-20\n\n Monthly Article     \n   Realms Olympics Report 2010         - Romani          CRY21-24\n   The Lotus Sanctuary                 - Anon            CRY25\n\n Nation News\n   Quendi (Elf)                        - Annale          CRY26\n   Uruk'hai (Half-Ogre)                - Klaatu          CRY27-29\n   Khazad (Dwarf)                      - Stoneheft       CRY30\n   Gith                                - Excane          CRY31\n   Hobbit (Halfling)                   - Kadgeon         CRY32\n\n Quest News\n   Ausguteptember CoD Quest Results  - Falennt         CRY33-37\n   December\/January CoD Quest          - Falennt         CRY38-39\n\n Realms Living\n   Realms Heroes 2010                  - Romani          CRY40\n   Storytime - Poor Iori               - Excane          CRY41-44 \n   Knights of Edel                     - Eisengrym       CRY45-46\n\n Orders, Guilds and Clans News\n   Arcanes                             - Klessenia       CRY47\n   Baali                               - Meddon          CRY48\n   Guild of Augurers                   - Excane          CRY49\n   Catarhh                             - Gangrel         CRY50\n\n Funny Bones\n   Funnies                             - Various Imms    CRY51-53\n\n Announcements and Advertisements\n   Shop with Guts'n'Glory!                               CRY54\n   Advertise with the Cry!                               CRY55\n   CoD Readers Reward                                    CRY56\n   2010 Annual Website Results                           CRY57\n   Roleplay Wiki:http:\/\/realmsroleplay.wikidot.com\/      CRY58\n\n  Cry of Despair Staff\n   Write for the Cry                                     CRY59\n   From Falennt's Inkwell                                CRY60\n\n\n3 \n\n           \/\\                           \n _         )( _________________________________________________________  \n(_)\/\/\/\/\/\/\/(**)_________________________________________________________>  \n           )(                          \n Page 3    \\\/    Realms Research Project - Babui \n\nIntroduction\n\nIn a conversation with someone, I was musing how everyone on RoD seems to be a \nteacher, or be working in IT. With that thought, I decided to verify or to \ntest that hypothesis, and conduct a Realms research project on general\ndemographics of our player base. Huge hugs and thanks to all those who\nparticipated in this research survey, and was very patient despite receiving\ntells on multiple alts. For those who showed an interest in seeing the\nresults, I hope this report would reveal new insight and be an amusing read.\n\nMethod\n \nOver a span of one month, from 11th August 2010 to 12th September 2010, at\nvarying days and times, samples were collected via 'who 2 60'. Initially, 10\nsamples were collected each given time, beginning at the bottom of the who\nlist, and moving up until I have gathered 10 responses.\n \nHowever, this approach began to encounter more alts than not. With this in\nmind, my data collection method altered, and while still seeking samples from\nthe 'who' list, there was no rigid requirement of collecting 10 samples for\nquestions included Gender, Age, Location, Occupation, whether one MUDs at\nwork, and organizational affiliations (optional).\n\nIn the end, 131 responses were collected. Unfortunately, 1 response was\nremoved due to inaccuracy, leaving a sample size of 130.\n\nContinued... Help Cry4\n\n\n4\n\n           \/\\                           \n _         )( _________________________________________________________  \n(_)\/\/\/\/\/\/\/(**)_________________________________________________________>  \n           )(                          \n Page 4    \\\/    Realms Research Project - Babui \n\nPotential Bias\/Inaccuracy\n\nAlthough attempts have been made to minimize sampling errors, such as\nquestioning on different timezones and days; adhering to the 'who' list, and\nthus players online, rather than contacting friends\/players via other means; I\nacknowledge there are still room for potential bias. This includes timezones\nmissed, and players giving incorrect or misjudged answers. \n\nPlease also be aware that from the time of the survey until now, age,\nlocation, gender, occupation, and organizational affilitations (active or not)\nmay have changed.\n \nData on organizational affiliations should be taken with caution, as answer \ngiven was their \"perceived\" organizational affiliations. Some preferred to\nhave it \"unknown\", while others may have \"missed\" naming some of their\norganizations. Some also claimed although they are in a number of\norganizations, they are not active in all of them. Perceived organizational\naffiliations should be interesting! \n\nFurthermore, 'occupation' was classified in order to group responses, but it\nmust be noted that ones job may encompasses more than what the category\nsuggests, as well as the possibility that it fits into more than one category.\nFor the purpose of this research project, each persons full-time occupation\nwas classified into one group only.\n\nContinued... Help Cry5\n\n\n5\n\n           \/\\                           \n _         )( _________________________________________________________  \n(_)\/\/\/\/\/\/\/(**)_________________________________________________________>  \n           )(                          \n Page 5    \\\/    Realms Research Project - Babui \n\nAnalysis\n  \n-- Gender --\n \n           Frequency      Percentage\nMale         107            82.31\nFemale        23            17.69\nTotal        130           100.00\n\nRealms' gender population is made up of 82% male and 18% female.\n \n-- Age --\n \n              Mean       N     Min     Max     Median\nMale         30.11      97      14      65      28.00\nFemale       30.43      21      21      53      26.00\nTotal        30.17     118      14      65      28.00\n \nThe mean age for males, females, and in general, is 30. The median is 28 and\n26 for males and females respectively.\n\n\nContinued... Help Cry6\n\n\n6\n\n           \/\\                           \n _         )( _________________________________________________________  \n(_)\/\/\/\/\/\/\/(**)_________________________________________________________>  \n           )(                          \n Page 6   \\\/    Realms Research Project - Babui \n\n-- Location --\n\n           Frequency      Percentage\nAustralia      7             5.38\nCanada        22            16.92\nChina          1              .77\nIreland        1              .77\nItaly          1              .77\nJamaica        1              .77\nNew Zealand    2             1.54\nSingapore      1              .77\nSouth America  1              .77\nSweden         1              .77\nTaiwan         1              .77\nUK             5             3.85\nUSA           85            65.38\nTotal        130           100.00\n \nA significantly large percentage of RoDers reside in USA (65%), followed by\nCanada (17%) and Australia (5%).\n\n\nContinued... Help Cry7\n\n\n7\n\n           \/\\                           \n _         )( _________________________________________________________  \n(_)\/\/\/\/\/\/\/(**)_________________________________________________________>  \n           )(                          \n Page 7    \\\/    Realms Research Project - Babui \n\n                Frequency      Percentage\nAccounting          2             1.54\nArtist\/Musician     5             3.85\nFood\/Beverage       2             1.54\nCars\/Mechanic       2             1.54\nConstruction        3             2.31\nContracterasual   3             2.31\nEducation           9             6.92\nEngineer            8             6.25\nHousewife\/husband   2             1.54\nIT                 17            13.08\nLawyer\/Legal        2             1.54\nMachinist\/Factory   4             3.08\nMarketingales     4             3.08\nMedical             2             1.54\nMilitary            4             3.08\nMiscellaneous      13            10.00\nOffice              6             4.62\nRetail*             7             5.38\nRetired             3             2.31\nStudent            15            11.54\nTechnician (other)  4             3.08\nUnemployed         13            10.00\nTotal             130           100.00\n\n* Retail\/Warehouse\/Manufacturer\n \nContrary to the initial prediction that the majority of RoDers works in IT\nand Education, it was found that Realms has a diversely skilled population,\nfrom Glass Glazers to Lobbyists (grouped in Miscellaneous). Although IT did\nprove to be the leading occupation with 13%, it could hardly represent the\nmajority of realms.\n\n\nContinued... Help Cry8\n\n\n8\n\n           \/\\                           \n _         )( _________________________________________________________  \n(_)\/\/\/\/\/\/\/(**)_________________________________________________________>  \n           )(                          \n Page 8   \\\/    Realms Research Project - Babui \n\n-- Number of Organizations --\n \n           Frequency      Percentage\n0             12             9.52\n1             38            30.15\n2             29            23.01\n3             23            18.25\n4             11             8.73\n5              7             5.55\n6              4             3.17\n7              1             0.79\n8              0             0.00\n9              0             0.00\n10             1             0.79\n11             0             0.00\nTotal        126*          100.00\n \n*4 people did not disclose their organizational affilations.\n \nMost RoDers are in one, two, or three organizations. There is one person who\nstrayed far from the \"majority\", and is in 10 organizations on realms. For\nthe purpose of this table, NC, TS, Immortalhood counts as an organization, as\nare guilds, orders, clans, and tribes.\n\n\nContinued... Help Cry9\n\n\n9\n\n           \/\\                           \n _         )( _________________________________________________________  \n(_)\/\/\/\/\/\/\/(**)_________________________________________________________>  \n           )(                          \n Page 9   \\\/    Realms Research Project - Babui \n\n\n-- Organization by Location --\n \n        USA  CAN  GBR  AUS  JAM  NZL  ISR  IRL  ECU  TWN  CHN  SWE  SGP  Total \nDS      10    0    0    0    1    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    11\nMS       1    0    1    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0     2\nArc      5    1    0    1    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    1     8\nRB       9    3    1    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    13\nInc      0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0     0\nBaa      7    0    0    1    0    0    0    1    0    0    0    0    0     9\nSI       2    1    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0     3\nAsc      2    5    1    2    0    2    1    0    1    0    0    1    0    15 \nGoC      2    5    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0     7\nGoD      6    6    0    1    1    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    14\nGoM     18    3    1    1    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    23\nGoR     18    3    0    1    0    0    0    0    1    0    0    0    0    23\nGoT     13    2    1    1    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    17 \nGoV     18    6    2    1    1    1    0    0    0    0    0    1    0    30 \nGoP     13    2    1    0    0    1    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    17\nGoW      8    2    0    0    0    1    0    0    0    0    0    1    0    12\nGoN      4    3    2    1    0    0    0    0    0    0    1    0    0    11 \nGoA      8    2    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    10\nGoF      4    3    1    0    1    0    0    0    0    0    0    1    0    10\nCat      3    2    0    1    0    1    0    0    1    1    0    0    0     9\nMal      2    0    0    0    0    0    0    1    0    0    0    0    0     3 \n\n\nContinued... Help Cry10\n\n\n10\n\n           \/\\                           \n _         )( _________________________________________________________  \n(_)\/\/\/\/\/\/\/(**)_________________________________________________________>  \n           )(                          \n Page 10   \\\/    Realms Research Project - Babui \n\n        USA  CAN  GBR  AUS  JAM  NZL  ISR  IRL  ECU  TWN  CHN  SWE  SGP  Total \nFer      3    1    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    1    0    0     5\nNC       2    4    0    0    0    0    1    0    0    0    0    0    0     7 \nTS      10    1    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    11\nImm      2    5    0    2    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    1    10\nBarb     1    2    1    0    1    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0     5\nUnknown  3    1    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0     4\n \nAscendere is most diversed in terms of its members' location, spreading over 8\ndifferent countries. This is followed by Guild of Vampires over 7 countries,\nand Catarrh with 6 countries. To group numbers, all Tribes were categorized as\n'Barb'.\n\n\nContinued... Help Cry11\n\n\n11\n\n           \/\\                           \n _         )( _________________________________________________________  \n(_)\/\/\/\/\/\/\/(**)_________________________________________________________>  \n           )(                          \n Page 11   \\\/    Realms Research Project - Babui \n\n-- Organization by Age, Gender, Number of Organizations --\n \n         AGE-MN   AGE-MD     M     F   ORG-MN  ORG-MD\nDS        28.82    28.00    10     1     3.55    3.00\nMS        38.00    38.00     1     1     4.00    4.00\nArc       28.71    29.00     7     1     2.25    2.00\nRB        30.00    29.00    12     1     3.23    3.00\nInc         -        -       -     -      -       - \nBaa       26.75    24.00     6     3     2.78    3.00\nSI        25.00    26.00     3     0     2.67    3.00\nAsc       29.07    27.00     9     6     3.07    3.00\nGoC       31.14    30.00     4     3     4.29    5.00\nGoD       30.69    29.00    13     1     3.64    4.00\nGoM       29.62    28.00    17     6     3.48    3.00\nGoR       28.73    27.50    21     2     3.57    3.00\nGoT       31.18    29.00    15     2     4.12    3.00\nGoV       31.24    28.00    25     5     3.60    3.50\nGoP       26.35    24.00    13     4     3.35    3.00\nGoW       29.67    27.50     9     3     4.25    4.00\nGoN       29.67    28.00    10     1     2.82    3.00\nGoA       28.10    27.00     8     2     4.90    4.00\nGoF       33.44    29.00     9     1     5.00    4.50\nCat       28.33    28.00     8     1     3.78    3.00\nMal       25.00    25.00     3     0     1.67    2.00\n\n\nContinued... Help Cry12\n\n\n12\n\n           \/\\                           \n _         )( _________________________________________________________  \n(_)\/\/\/\/\/\/\/(**)_________________________________________________________>  \n           )(                          \n Page 12   \\\/    Realms Research Project - Babui \n\nAGE-MN   AGE-MD     M     F   ORG-MN  ORG-MD\nFer       29.80    29.00     4     1     3.20    3.00\nNC        36.71    34.00     5     2     2.57    2.00\nTS        32.30    29.00     9     2     3.73    3.00\nImm       36.33    35.00     5     5     2.70    2.50\nBarb      29.50    29.50     4     1     3.80    4.00\nUnknown   29.75    30.00     4     0     0.00    0.00\n \nIn an overall table, the mean and median age, the number of males and females,\nas well as the number of organizations' mean and median can be seen, in\nrelation to each organization.\n\nMaidenstone, Newbie Council and Immortals have the highest average age. On the\notherhand, Sanctus Irae and Maleficae have the lowest average age.\n \nMaidenstone and Immortals have a relatively even ratio of males to females, as\ndoes Ascendere and Guild of Clerics. The highest number of females can be\nfound in Ascendere and Guild of Mages.\n \nPeople in Guild of Fathomers on average is in 5 different organizations. Guild\nof Augurers follows as second most spread across organizations. People in\nMaleficae are in the least number of different organizations, averaging at 2\n(rounded up).\n\n\nContinued... Help Cry13\n\n\n13\n\n           \/\\                           \n _         )( _________________________________________________________  \n(_)\/\/\/\/\/\/\/(**)_________________________________________________________>  \n           )(                          \n Page 13   \\\/    Realms Research Project - Babui \n------------------------------------------------------------------------------\n \nConclusion\n\nAlthough effort was made to collect a significant sample size to ensure\nrepresentativeness, all statistics here cannot be taken as a 100% accurate\nreflection of Realms of Despair's population. However, I do hope that it\nprovided some interesting perspectives on our players and their affiliated\norganizations.\n\nOnce again, thank you to everyone who participated in this project. Special\nthanks must go to Valky, for he is the master of Excel formulas and his elite\nskills puts me to shame.\n\n------------------------------------------------------------------------------\n\n14\n\n           \/\\                           \n _         )( _________________________________________________________  \n(_)\/\/\/\/\/\/\/(**)_________________________________________________________>  \n           )(                          \n Page 14   \\\/    Realms of Despair Awards 2010 - Romani  \n\nOver the past few years, the Cry of Despair have brought you a little sunshine\nknown as the RoD Awards. We have dozens of categories for you to vote for all\nyour friends, or maybe even the people who you feel deserve these awards.\n \nThe votes will be collected by myself via MUDmail, by the 1st of January.\nTo vote, please mudmail your entries. You can purchase a note in Darkhaven\nat the Quills and Parchments shop (#5 on HELP MAP).\nSee HELP MAIL:\n \nmail to Romani\nmail subject RoD Awards Votes\nmail write\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 (Romani) via tells or\nMUDmail.\n\n\nContinued... Help Cry15\n\n\n15\n\n           \/\\                           \n _         )( _________________________________________________________  \n(_)\/\/\/\/\/\/\/(**)_________________________________________________________>  \n           )(                          \n Page 15   \\\/    Realms of Despair Awards 2010 - Romani  \n\nRules to Voting:\n\n* You may only have one voting sheet per real-life player. If it is known\nthat you have used more than one character to vote,   all of that players\nvotes are nulled.\n\n* You do not have to vote in every category, you can vote in whichever\ncategories you wish.\n\n* Entries handed in after the 1st of January are not valid.\n\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\n\nContinued... Help Cry16\n\n\n16\n\n           \/\\                           \n _         )( _________________________________________________________  \n(_)\/\/\/\/\/\/\/(**)_________________________________________________________>  \n           )(                          \n Page 16   \\\/    Realms of Despair Awards 2010 - Romani \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 Role-player\nWho's the most natural male role-player?\n  \n4. Best Female Role-player\nWho's the greatest drama queen we have?\n\n5. Best RoD Couple\nWho are the cutest couple to hit the scene?\n\n6. Best \"New change\" to Realms\nOver the past few months, what's the best change that has happened?\n   \n7. Worst \"New change\" to Realms\nAnd which recent change has made you cringe?\n\n8. Best Guild\nWhich Guild has been the greatest in all aspects of the game?\n   \n9. Best Order\nWhich Order has proven itself worthy?\n   \n10. Best Clan\nWhich Clan has the most feared reputation?\n\n\nContinued... Help Cry17\n\n\n17\n\n           \/\\                           \n _         )( _________________________________________________________  \n(_)\/\/\/\/\/\/\/(**)_________________________________________________________>  \n           )(                          \n Page 17   \\\/    Realms of Despair Awards 2010 - Romani \n\n11. Best Area\nWhich area always has you on the edge of your seat?\n  \n12. Best Nation\nMany nations are springing to life. Which is the livliest?\n   \n13. Best Food Item\nWhich food can you almost taste in your mouth?\n   \n14. Best Drink Item\nWhich drink quenches your thirst the best?\n   \n15. Best \"Treasure\" Item\nWhich is the most prized treasure of the land?\n  \n16. Most Likely to DT\nWhich player always gets themselves into sticky situations?\n\n17. Best Dressed\nWhich player just leaves you in awe when they enter the room?\n\n18. Most Likely to be Balzhured\nThe one award you DON'T want the pleasure of winning.\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. Most likely to be mudding from a hand-held device\nWhich techno-geek player is such an addict he muds from his phone, etc.?\n\n\nContinued... Help Cry18\n\n\n18\n\n           \/\\                           \n _         )( _________________________________________________________  \n(_)\/\/\/\/\/\/\/(**)_________________________________________________________>  \n           )(                          \n Page 18   \\\/    Realms of Despair Awards 2010 - Romani  \n\n21. Best Social\nWhich social do you find a use for in EVERY situation?\n   \n22. Best Male Player\nWhich male player has inspired you?\n \n23. Best Female Player\nWhich female player leaves you with a good impression about herself?\n\n24. Most likely to get illegally PKilled\nIt happens, we know it does. Who do you think would deserve this award more\nthan anything?\n \n25. Most likely to be the one to illegally PKill them\nPeople and their short tempers. Who would be the one to snap and attack?\n \n26. Most charismatic deadly\nWhich deadly stands out above all others with their outstanding personality?\nBe it bad or good.\n \n27. Most charismatic peaceful\nWhich peaceful comes to mind when you think of most charismatic?\n \n28. 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 \n29. Most interesting room\nSome rooms come to mind when you want to hang out or just idle. Which one do \nyou prefer? \n \n30. Best Runner\nWho comes to mind when you have an itch to go on a run?\n\n\nContinued... Help Cry19\n\n\n19\n\n           \/\\                           \n _         )( _________________________________________________________  \n(_)\/\/\/\/\/\/\/(**)_________________________________________________________>  \n           )(                          \n Page 19   \\\/    Realms of Despair Awards 2010 - Romani \n\n31. 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\n32. Next-to-Imm\nThis player has contributed a lot to the realms community in the last year and \nif another person was to Imm, this person should be that Imm.\n  \n33. Most eligible Bachelor\nWhat gentleman invades your dreams at night, ladies... and some men as well?  \n \n34. Most eligible bachlorette\nWhich graceful bachlorette invades your daydreams, men... and some ladies as \nwell?\n \n35. Best Female Character Played By A Male\nMany players make their real identity no secret. Who plays the female character\nthe best?\n \n36. Funniest person\nWho makes your sides hurt and your lips sore from laughing so much?\n\n37. 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\n38. Ugliest Player Name\nWhose name just reeks of unoriginality and ugliness?\n\n39. Nicest Player Name\nWho has the most original, best looking name?\n\n40. Most Unique rename.\nNot necessarily 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\n\nContinued... Help Cry20\n\n\n20\n\n           \/\\                           \n _         )( _________________________________________________________  \n(_)\/\/\/\/\/\/\/(**)_________________________________________________________>  \n           )(                          \n Page 20   \\\/    Realms of Despair Awards 2010 - Romani \n\n41. Craziest Player\nWho is the most outspoken, weirdest, and just generally insane player?\n\n42. 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\n43. Best Quest of 2004\nWhich quest gave you so much thrill and suspense last year?\n(When voting for this category, please be sure to list the name of the Immortal\nwho ran the quest)\n\n44. Most Frequent to X-Chan\nWho always lets the most awkward sentences slip onto the wrong channels?\n\n45. Most Likely To End Up With QWERTY On Their Forehead\nWho idle so much that you swear they fall asleep at the desk?\n\n46. Most Likely To Have No Life\nWhich player seems to lurk here 24\/7?\n\n47. Most Frightening Immortal\nWho strikes fear into your heart whenever they log?\n\n48. Most Frightening Player\nWhich player intimidates you every time you see them?\n\n49. Beauty contest winner\nWhich player is most likely to win a beauty contest in RL?\n\n50. Sacrificial Player\nWhich player is most likely to sacrifice their things to their deity by mistake?\n\n\n21\n\n           \/\\                           \n _         )( _________________________________________________________  \n(_)\/\/\/\/\/\/\/(**)_________________________________________________________>  \n           )(                          \n Page 21   \\\/    Realms Olympics Report 2010 - Romani \n\nTop Olympic Contestants\n1st - Klaatu (Half-Ogre)\n2nd - Eisenbeard (Human)\n3rd - Illidias (Half-Ogre)\n \nOverall Rankings: \n1st place: Half-Troll\n2nd place: Human\n3rd place: Half-Ogre\n \nOlympic Torches (Opening Ceremony)\n1st - Human - Eisenbeard, Brandal, Yoshio, Trella\n2nd - Half-Ogre - Klaatu, Illidias\n3rd - Half-Troll - Gaonllyx, Lunnalkann\n\n\nContinued... Help Cry22\n\n\n22\n\n           \/\\                           \n _         )( _________________________________________________________  \n(_)\/\/\/\/\/\/\/(**)_________________________________________________________>  \n           )(                          \n Page 22   \\\/    Realms Olympics Report 2010 - Romani \n\nRabid rabbits quest\n1st - Half-Trolls - Tibineleon, Gaonllyx, Nomak, Telesana, Petrograd\n2nd - Half-Ogres - Klaatu, Drulialirica, Illidias, Ubamakaji\n3rd - Half-Orcs - Slake, Ayla\n \nShamrocks\n1st - Humans - Eisenbeard, Brandal\n2nd - Half-Trolls - Prithvi, Gaonllyx\n3rd - Elves - Orchid\n \nBody Part Hunt\n1st - Half-Trolls - Karalee, Petrograd, Gaonllyx, Thaq, Prithvi\n2nd - Gith - Gibbs\n3rd - Half-Ogres - Klaatu, Illidias, Mezzacre\n\n\nContinued... Help Cry23\n\n\n23\n\n           \/\\                           \n _         )( _________________________________________________________  \n(_)\/\/\/\/\/\/\/(**)_________________________________________________________>  \n           )(                          \n Page 23   \\\/    Realms Olympics Report 2010 - Romani \n\nTreasure Chest\n1st - Ogre  - Klaatu tied with Human - Eisenbeard, Babui, Trella\n2nd - Gith  - Vlanak \n3rd - Orc   - Drylon\n\nMonster Build-Off\n1st - Half Troll - Petrograd, Prithui, Meddon, Gaonllyx\n2nd - Half Ogre - Klaatu, Drulialiria, Mezzacre, Illidias\n3rd - Elf Dwarf - Orchid, Semiramia, Bratac, Littera, Jaxxon\n \nSea shells\n1st - Humans -  Eisenbeard, Babui, Aleq\n2nd - Dwarf - Grunthos\n3rd - Half-Orc - Ray\n\n\nContinued... Help Cry24\n\n\n24\n\n           \/\\                           \n _         )( _________________________________________________________  \n(_)\/\/\/\/\/\/\/(**)_________________________________________________________>  \n           )(                          \n Page 24   \\\/    Realms Olympics Report 2010 - Romani \n\nDryders\n1st - Humans - Eisenbeard, Aleq, Babui, Brandal, \n2nd - Elf - Orchid, Semiramia\n3rd - Half-Ogre - Klaatu, Drulialirica, Illidias\n \nDuke Luther's kitchens\n1st - Human - Aleq, Babui, Eisenbeard\n2nd - Gith - Vlanak, Vachu, Melancholia, Sharil\n3rd - Half-Troll - Nomak, Prithvi, Meddon\n \nMr. Potatohead\n1st - Half-Troll - Gaonllyx, Nomak, Prithvi \n2nd - Elf  - Orchid, Semiramia, Kean\n3rd - Half-Orc  - Phyre, Slake \n \nGathering of the Medals\n1st - Half-Troll - Madazanirt, Lonsmamaivuh, Prithvi, Nomak, Serdiucka, Fayrae\n2nd - Half-Ogre - Illidias, Klaatu\n3rd - Gith - Vlanak, Gibbs\n\n\n25\n\n           \/\\                           \n _         )( _________________________________________________________  \n(_)\/\/\/\/\/\/\/(**)_________________________________________________________>  \n           )(                          \n Page 25   \\\/   The Lotus Sanctuary - Anon\n\n**Skulls and Bones line the top and bottom of this article**\n------------------------------------------------------------\nNot long after the journal of Jerl was found (pknews 134), there have been\nmany more deaths of young deadly adventurers. They all seemed to be linked\nto a hidden sanctuary found somewhere within The Isle of Nethescuros. \n\"How can we help?\" some might say.. \n\nBeware! The helpful are usually the fools that die first! Stay away from \nthis \"sanctuary\" if you value your life.\n \n- A public service announcement from the committee of boring safe living\n---------------------------------------------------------------!\n\n\n26\n\n           \/\\                           \n _         )( _________________________________________________________  \n(_)\/\/\/\/\/\/\/(**)_________________________________________________________>  \n           )(                          \n Page 26   \\\/   Quendi Nation News - Annale \n\nNation Olympics\n \nTari Annale would like to congratulate the Elves on their showing with the\nNation Olympics.  Our Olympians brought home 1 silver medal and 2 bronze\nmedals!  Well done!\n \nFall Colours\n\nRadiant red and vibrant orange hues have graced the leaves of the trees in\nIrrybis.  It looks as though the entire island has donned a new cloak,\ninspiring a new trend in fashion for the Elves.  Cadriendir now offers the\nthistledown cloak in these new, fashionable colours.\n\n\n27\n\n           \/\\                           \n _         )( _________________________________________________________  \n(_)\/\/\/\/\/\/\/(**)_________________________________________________________>  \n           )(                          \n Page 27   \\\/   Uruk'hai Nation News - Klaatu \nFrom the Opallinoc News Bureau:\n \nDateline Opallinoc - Triumphs in the Nations Olympics\nCongratulations to Team Uruk'hai on their performance in the Nations Olympics.\nTeam members were Klaatu, Illidias, Drulialirica, Mezzacre and Ubamakaji. The \noustanding  efforts and sacrifices made by them has  brought honor and glory\nto the Uruk'hai. A total of 7 medals were won in 11 events. One gold, four\nsilver and two bronze were earned by the team.  This was the best showing by\nthe Uruk'hai since the Nations Olympics was begun.\n \nDateline Darkhaven - Final Olympic Standings\nThe final standings for the top three Nations in the Olympics was announced\nFirst place went to the Human Nation\nSecond place went to the Olog'hai half-trolls.\nThird place went to the Uruk'hai !!!! How sweet it is !!!!\n\nDateline Opallinoc - Autumn Equinox Fest\nThe festivities of the Olympics carried over into the Autumn Equinox Festival.\nEndless replays of Olymic events, strategies used and glory earned were told\nat the Great Bonfire. The crowds gathered early and stayed way late, into the\nwee hours. The glowing embers of the bonfire added to magic of the tales told.\nAnd with each round of Meeka's potent swill, the embelishments of the tales\nreached new heights making this one of the great Equinox Fests of all time.\n\n\nContinued... Help Cry28\n\n\n28\n\n           \/\\                           \n _         )( _________________________________________________________  \n(_)\/\/\/\/\/\/\/(**)_________________________________________________________>  \n           )(                          \n Page 28   \\\/   Uruk'hai Nation News - Klaatu \nFrom the Opallinoc News Bureau:\n \nDateline Opallinoc - Fall Harvest\nThe harvest of the crops this fall has been quite good. There is enough food\nand maybe even a surplus for trading. The Inahir Protectorate has given us\nreports harvesting feed and fodder for the eltor beasts. They also are\ninterested in quantities of Meeka's swill. Given the potency of the swill and\nit known effects  on those that do not imbibe it on a regular basis, it will\nbe considered by the Council as to the amount allowed for trading purposes.\n \nDateline White Pines Camp - Fishing\nZontar became hungry while exploring and came upon a nice trout filled stream\nin White Pines Camp. Catching a few and eating them raw gave him an idea.\nSalted fish as a new food for the Uruk'hai. As Opallinoc is near the Azure and\nBlood Seas, there is plentiful fishing to be had without going on the accursed\nwatercraft. The Council is taking this under advisement as it means a change\nto the diet  of the average half-ogre everywhere in the Plains.\n \nDateline Isle of Monkeys - Secrets\nAgain it has been reported of mysteries on the Isle of Monkeys still not found\nSeems the talking parrots are just not talking. Maybe the headhunter knows?\nSurely Capatains Cooke and Eldyr have some clues. At least survival on the Isle\nis easy with the supply of water, bananas and coconuts plentiful. \n\n\nContinued... Help Cry29\n\n\n29\n\n           \/\\                           \n _         )( _________________________________________________________  \n(_)\/\/\/\/\/\/\/(**)_________________________________________________________>  \n           )(                          \n Page 29   \\\/   Uruk'hai Nation News - Klaatu \nFrom the Opallinoc News Bureau:\n \nDateline Opallinoc - Solstice Fest\nIt is that time. You know the date. You know the where. So be there.\nKlaatu the Benevolent is still in joyous elation over the Uruk'hai efforts\nin the Nation's Olympics. As such, the old cheapskate ... err glorious\nleader has opened his fabled retirement fund to fund the festivities. Let's\nbe sure we get our monies worth, a filled belly and druken stupor.\n \nDateline Ocean Keep - Lanie\nZontar, of the Uruk'hai Expeditionary Force, made a visit to Lanie in Ocean\nKeep. It seems she was a bit depressed and asked Zontar to bring her some\nflowers to brighten up her day. Oh the surprise Zontar got for doing this.\n \nDateline Troll Den - Accursed Hides\nVolstagg the Catacomb Dweller obtained a number of troll hides from the Troll\nDen. His first brilliant idea of where to take them was to the seamstress in\nWinterlight Isle, a long cold fruitless trek. Being full of fail, he then\ntried various tanners, leather workers, shopkeepers, those well known and\nthe not so well known. Alas, again he came up full of fail. The embarassment\nbecame even more when the hides soon started to decay and vanish.\nPerhaps the Giant Ribbit Beast that wanders the Ashen Forest ... or maybe the\nmysterious Shadow Lord ... but the Volstagg realized something that was found\nin all areas touched by Romani that was missing ... the rune !!!\n\n\n30\n\n           \/\\                           \n _         )( _________________________________________________________  \n(_)\/\/\/\/\/\/\/(**)_________________________________________________________>  \n           )(                          \n Page 30   \\\/   Khazad Nation News - Stoneheft \n\nIt's good to see that things have settled nicely for not only the city of\nEdel, but for our brothers far out in distant regions with whom we only\nrarely have contact. Here in the comfort of the kingdom, the quarries are\nin double production as Edel's growth has kindled expansion in the housing\nmarket.\n\nBe sure to explore. There's always resources to be discovered in our kingdom\nand far better it be that they be discovered by us rather than one of the\nclumsy, plundering races that would probably just waste a good opportunity.\n \n*Signed in purple wax on the Gemstone Crest*  Stoneheft \n\n\n31\n\n           \/\\                           \n _         )( _________________________________________________________  \n(_)\/\/\/\/\/\/\/(**)_________________________________________________________>  \n           )(                          \n Page 31   \\\/   Gith Nation News - Excane \n\nMy fellow githfolk,\n \n   Long has the absent overlord slept while his githyanki bands scrambled\nabout the city, losing their grip on Teracchei. The Githzerai have retaken\nand refortified their strongholds, the Pirates have recaptured their territory\nand now, my own faction has taken residence in the southwest.\n \n   The rule of Menta is crumbling. Now is the time.\n \n   Many of you will remember Ikses, my brother. He reawakened a hope within us,\nthat we would someday rule ourselves and not be at the mercy of some absent\nqueen or her somnolent regent. We still hold to that. And we will move now\nin preparation for his glorious return and the freedom he has promised us.\n \n   Join me now. Go to the noteboard in Teracchei and join my faction and\ntogether we shall rule. I swear it.\n \n-Excane Azralon Vancour, the Zombie King, Warlord of Teracchei\n\n\n32\n\n           \/\\                           \n _         )( _________________________________________________________  \n(_)\/\/\/\/\/\/\/(**)_________________________________________________________>  \n           )(                          \n Page 32   \\\/   Hobbit Nation News - Kadgeon \n\n                                       *\n                                     * | *\n                                    * \\|\/ *\n                               * * * \\|O|\/ * * *\n                                \\o\\o\\o|O|o\/o\/o\/\n                                (<><><>O<><><>)\n                                 '==========='\n\n                          *From the desk of the Thain*\n \nI have the highest hopes that everyone thoroughly enjoyed the Olympics this\nyear and I apologize for not being able to be a part of it as I was hoping I\nwould be able to! It seems Windows 7 is not very understanding!! I am asking\nthat everyone please keep an eye on the Hobbit HT board I should have new\nposts going up soon for everyone to read and perhaps a new website too! In the\nmean time I will try and keep everyone posted.\n \n               Forever in the service of her people,\n \nThain Kadgeon Silverblood\n \n\n33\n\n           \/\\                           \n _         )( _________________________________________________________  \n(_)\/\/\/\/\/\/\/(**)_________________________________________________________>  \n           )(                          \n Page 33   \\\/   Augusteptember CoD Quest Results- Falennt \n\nIn the last Cry of Despair Quest, we invited readers to submit wedding gift\nbasket ideas to the Cry and we received these two submissions that won!\n\nFirstly, from Babui, and secondly from Meph&n. Congratulations!\n\nPlease see\/tagend a tell to Falennt for your prizes.\n\nThe picnic basket submissions are continued on Help Cry34.\n\n34\n\n           \/\\                           \n _         )( _________________________________________________________  \n(_)\/\/\/\/\/\/\/(**)_________________________________________________________>  \n           )(                          \n Page 34   \\\/   September\/October CoD Quest Results- Falennt \n\nPicnic Basket Submission Quest from Babui\n\nTheme - Colours of the Rainbow...\n\nRainbows are an interesting phenonmenon. They arc across the skies, a symbol,\na vision, a bridge, between heaven and earth. A beautiful spectrum of colour,\none can only be amazed at how this sight only comes after the rain.\n\nThus, this is my wish for you, Annale, and your husband. That regardless of the\nrain and storms in life, the sun will shine through, and you two will always\nsee that rainbow that's waiting for you at the end of the day.\n\nWith this rainbow in hand, the heavens are within reach. I wish you two the\nmost blissful marriage, a living fairytale, under a beautiful rainbow.\n\n\nContinued... Help Cry35\n\n\n35\n\n           \/\\                           \n _         )( _________________________________________________________  \n(_)\/\/\/\/\/\/\/(**)_________________________________________________________>  \n           )(                          \n Page 35   \\\/   September\/October CoD Quest Results- Falennt \n\nPicnic Basket Submission Quest from Babui\n\nPicnic Basket -  \n \nA wicker basket appears to be nearly empty.\nA wicker basket contains:\n     a bottle of Tielton Valley Red wine\n     a steaming cherry pie\n     an orange\n     a tall mug of frothy beer\n     a slice of yellow cheese\n     a flask of buttermilk\n     a bottle of green drow spice wine\n     a head of lettuce\n     a glass of blue oasis\n     a blueberry pancake\n     a bottle of Shadowport's blue cider\n     a yummy blueberry pie\n     a glass of violet wine\n     a bunch of purple grapes\n     a small cup of rainwater\n     a guiding light\n     a Rainbow's End rose\n\n\nContinued... Help Cry36\n\n\n36\n\n           \/\\                           \n _         )( _________________________________________________________  \n(_)\/\/\/\/\/\/\/(**)_________________________________________________________>  \n           )(                          \n Page 36   \\\/   September\/October CoD Quest Results- Falennt \n\nPicnic Basket Submission Quest from Babui\n\nFor each colour of the rainbow, there is a food and drink item. To fully\nrepresent each colour, one of the item has the name of the colour in it, and\none is simply of that colour. Furthermore, torepresent how far across the \nrealms this rainbow stretches, each food\/drink item is from a different area.\nHopefully where ever you are, where ever you go, there will be a part of this\nrainbow.\n\nRed - a bottle of Tielton Valley RED wine, a steaming CHERRY pie\nOrange - an ORANGE, a tall mug of frothy BEER\nYellow - a slice of YELLOW cheese, a flask of BUTTERMILK\nGreen - a bottle of GREEN drow spice wine, a head of LETTUCE\nBlue - a glass of BLUE oasis, a BLUEBERRY pancake\nIndigo - a bottle of Shadowport's BLUE cider, a yummy BLUEBERRY pie\nViolet - a glass of VIOLET wine, a bunch of purple GRAPES\n \nDisclaimer - Indigo is kind of like blue. Its a spectrum of colour... =P \n\nGifts - \n\nA small cup of rainwater in those rainy days, but a guiding light to guide\nyou through the dark, and most of all, a Rainbow's End rose to remind you\nto keep smiling =)\n\n\n37\n\n           \/\\                           \n _         )( _________________________________________________________  \n(_)\/\/\/\/\/\/\/(**)_________________________________________________________>  \n           )(                          \n Page 37   \\\/   September\/October CoD Quest Results- Falennt \n\nPicnic Basket Submission Quest from Meph\n\nYou take a closer look at a large, grass woven backpack in inventory...\nWoven from the extraordinarily tough grasses that encircle the island, this\nbackpack has extraordinary resilience. Though mainly utilized for carrying rice\nit is sturdy and large enough to hold most items easily.\nA large, grass woven backpack appears to be empty.\nA large, grass woven backpack contains:\na woolen blanket\nGroom's globe of moonlight\na drink made from a blend of eight vegetable juices\nTobiko\na small, circular rice cake\na piece of smoked eel\na plate of sauteed salmon with wild rice\na loaf of freshly baked bread\na handful of fresh strawberries\na moist pumpkin pie on the baker\na miniature painting of Crystalmir Lake\na pink candy heart\na soothing mint lotion\n \nWhat better than to spend a picnic by the lake as a newlywed couple with\nfresh food, beautiful scenerey, good company, and sourvenir to take home\nand remember the good times while they last?  Plus, a lotion rub down\nfor later... :)\n\n\n38\n\n           \/\\                           \n _         )( _________________________________________________________  \n(_)\/\/\/\/\/\/\/(**)_________________________________________________________>  \n           )(                          \n Page 38   \\\/   December and January CoD Quest  - Falennt \n\nThis issue we are featuring two sets of quests. One for Christmas and \nthe other to herald in the new year! So you have a chance to win prizes for\nthe months of December and January.\n\nDecember's CoD Quest\n\nThe frigid lands of Otherland and Wild Tundra beckons the adventurers \nforth for this quest. Seek out clues to the following rooms and name them.\n\n** Do note that some of the room names are repeated. \n\nRoom 1\nThe endless fields of snow and ice blanket the southern terrain; this\nland is the true south of the realm...\n\nRoom 2\nMany sailors have been known to return from a voyage across the oceans \nand refuse to be without the company of others ever again...\n\nRoom 3\nThe numbing water crashes against the ice-bound shore as if attempting to \ndrag it, too, into its frigid grasp.\n\nRoom 4\nA large finger of ice-covered snow blocks the eastern view of the \ntundra and casts a long shadow over the snowy trail.\n\n\nContinued... Help Cry39\n\n\n\n39\n\n           \/\\                           \n _         )( _________________________________________________________  \n(_)\/\/\/\/\/\/\/(**)_________________________________________________________>  \n           )(                          \n Page 39   \\\/   December and January CoD Quest  - Falennt \n\nRoom 5\nThe path and the decline to the valley are gradual and could go easily\nunnoticed in the swirling snow.\n\nRoom 6\nThese are the killing fields of Tirebean...\n\nRoom 7\nAt a distance, the structure would be easily mistaken as another mound\nof frigid snow.\n\nRoom 8\nOut here in this harsh climate, the signs of lift and civilization are\nfar different than anywhere else.\n\nMudmail your submissions to Falennt before December 26th to qualify for\na chance to win prizes.\n\nThe January CoD Quest will be updated in an addendum to this issue\nof Cry after December 27th! Watch out for it.\n\n40\n\n           \/\\                           \n _         )( _________________________________________________________  \n(_)\/\/\/\/\/\/\/(**)_________________________________________________________>  \n           )(                          \n Page 40   \\\/   Realms Heroes 2010 - Romani \n\n          Once every so often, a player represents themselves as an\n      exemplary asset to the game. They may be silent, or may rise above\n     the crowds. However they are known, they are, and forever shall be...\n\n                                 The Heroes.\n \n          Congratulations to Annale and Babui for being named \n                              Heroes for 2010.\n \n                      ___________             ___________                      \n                     '._==_==_=_.'           '._==_==_=_.'                     \n                      |:.       |             |:.       |                      \n                     (|  Annale |)           (|  Babui  |)                     \n                      |  2010   |             |  2010   |    \n                       \\_______\/               \\_______\/\n                         )  (                     )  (      \n                       _.'  '._                 _.'  '. \n                      `\"\"\"\"\"\"\"`                `\"\"\"\"\"\"\"`\n\n\n\n41\n\n           \/\\                           \n _         )( _________________________________________________________  \n(_)\/\/\/\/\/\/\/(**)_________________________________________________________>  \n           )(                          \n Page 41   \\\/   Storytime -- Poor Iori - Excane \n\n                         Poor Iori\n \n   About ten years ago I had gotte a bunch of my friends in high school to play\nRoD with me. I had been playing about a year or two already, and was fully\naddicted. Among that group there was an unfortunately awkward try-hard named\nIori (in the game, a ranger). He was a slow leveler (and a slow speaker, go\nfigure), and was lagging behind the others a bit. He was a level 9, chugging\nalong in the Gnome Village while others were level 30 exploring the glories\nof the Canopy.\n \n   Now, the Realms of Despair back then was the Wild West compared to the tame\nRealms of Despair we have now. Back then, we still had illegal pkill and the\nodd mob wandering out of its home area and into a new one 10 levels below its\nown. Back then people dueled high-noon style. Gauntlets were thrown, faces were\nslapped, women lamented.\n \n   Well, one day, just for the hell of it, some Jerk came along and saw Iori\nplugging away at some gnome in the Shattered Refuge. He figured that Iori would\nbe there for a while, so this Jerk made a new ranger and leveled it as fast as\nhe could. The new ranger strolled into Shattered Refuge and zeroed in on Iori.\nHe then typed 'murder iori', and all hell broke loose. Iori was busy fighting\na teacher, so all he could say was 'hey what are you doing', 'stop that' and\n'why did you attack me, lol'\n\n\nContinued... Help Cry42\n\n\n\n42\n\n           \/\\                           \n _         )( _________________________________________________________  \n(_)\/\/\/\/\/\/\/(**)_________________________________________________________>  \n           )(                          \n Page 42   \\\/   Storytime -- Poor Iori - Excane \n\n   Iori was dressed in the kind of gear that instantly tells you the wearer is\na noob. There's a mix of good and bad, of academy and new gear. Often times, \nnew players will wear their life stories on their bodies. A watch from Tull\nmanor, some neckwear from the gnome village, maybe they lucked out and got\nsome armguards from a stray doom goblin. They might even wear stuff that you\nknew they thought sounded cool, because the item itself had no stats to speak\nof.\n \n   The Jerk knew that his ranger didn't need to equip himself too heavily to\ndefeat a ranger dressed like Iori was. He probably just enchanted the weapon\nhis ranger was using, and did the deed. The fight lasted longer than the Jerk\nhad expected. Iori was confused, and he was busy attacking a gnome teacher. His\narms were attacking the gnome while his head was still trying to talk to the\nmurderous ranger attacking him. 'lol, stop that', 'who are you' and 'seriously\nwhat the hell' were some of the things he said.\n \n   Eventually, Iori succumbed to the rangers blows. The Jerk's ranger heard\nthe booming voice we all heard when we became killers. What to do next...\nRecall? No, Harakiem slays killers on sight. Walk back to DH? No, DH Guards\nattack killers on sight. Wait in Shattered Refuge and murder him again? No,\nIori would probably take advantage of the five minute rule and avoid murder.\nBut as the Jerk was pondering his options, Iori began talking on chat.\n \n   And the Jerk got a few other ideas.\n\n\nContinued... Help Cry43\n\n\n\n43\n\n           \/\\                           \n _         )( _________________________________________________________  \n(_)\/\/\/\/\/\/\/(**)_________________________________________________________>  \n           )(                          \n Page 43   \\\/   Storytime -- Poor Iori - Excane \n\n   'lol why did u kill me jerk'   'why r u so gay'   'ill kill u man'\n \n   Iori had decided to sit and rest for a little bit. The confusion of battle\nhad obviously stunned him, and he needed time to collect his thoughts. In the\nmeantime, he would continue to slag off the Jerk.\n \n   The Jerk knew that Iori would take his merry time with getting back to his\ncorpse. And so he decided to prepare a welcoming party. He went into the Land\nof the Fire Newts and charmed two lava newts (the ones that stand guard right\nat the entrance when you go one down, you remember those) and walked them out\nof the Obsidian Hills and into the Shattered Refuge. This was before the\nShattering, and so the path was very, very short. (u 3n w 3n w 2s w se sw s se\ne, from the Lava Newts to the Gnome Guards, if you're curious). He dismissed\nthem at Iori's corpse. He dismissed the other at the entrance to the village.\n \n   The Jerk waited. This was a glorious trap. He didn't want to follow his\nprey, so he had no way of knowing if Iori was on the move or not. But he waited\nand his waiting paid off. For not too long after he set his trap, he heard...\n \n   'omg i died again' and 'wth is a newt doing in the GNOME village'\n \n   By now, Iori's cries had caught the attention of some other low level do-\ngooders. They were confused as to what Iori was talking about. They didn't know\nthat he had been ambushed by a murderous ranger, that he was going back to\n\n\n\nContinued... Help Cry44\n\n\n\n44\n\n           \/\\                           \n _         )( _________________________________________________________  \n(_)\/\/\/\/\/\/\/(**)_________________________________________________________>  \n           )(                          \n Page 44   \\\/   Storytime -- Poor Iori - Excane \n\nget his corpse from a death wouldn't have gotten had it not been for the Jerk.\nAnd so a level 20ish dogooder went off to the Shattered Refuge to investigate.\nThere he found that there was indeed a newt standing guard at the village\nentrance and at his corpse. Peculiar, he thought. But whatever! and shrugged\nhis shoulders and reported the all clear to Iori.\n \n   'lol r u sure' and 'i dun wanna die again lol' were his responses.\n \n   The Jerk needed to act fast. This do-gooder had foiled his plot! Sure, Iori\nhad fallen to the village entrance lava newt, but he hadn't fallen to the one\nat his corpse. He quickly went back to the village center, onto a main road\nthat Iori and this do-gooder would have to walk to reach the corpse. He needed\nsomething bigger. A lava newt would not kill a level 20. But...a three-toed\nsloth might. The Jerk's eyes widened in devilish inspiration. He summoned it\nand hoped it wouldn't wander too far off the main road in the gnome village.\n \n   The Jerk recalled and waited for the glorious sounds of Iori's death on\nchat, and perhaps even the do-gooder. He waited...and waited...and heard...\n \n   'Whoa, what's a sloth doing here! Almost killed me! No worries, though'\n   'thanks for helping me get my stuff man'\n   THWARTED! Argh! At least the Jerk had accomplished some murder and mayhem.\nThe Jerk took his victory and walked away. The Jerk was, of course, me. The\nnext day, Iori asked me if I was that ranger. Straight-faced, I said 'No'\n\n\n\n45\n\n           \/\\                           \n _         )( _________________________________________________________  \n(_)\/\/\/\/\/\/\/(**)_________________________________________________________>  \n           )(                          \n Page 45   \\\/   Knights of Edel - Eisengrym \n\n             Knights of Edel -  - Eisengrym\n \n  The streets of Edel are once again bustling, now that the rat\ninfestation has been eliminated. Much thanks to the many pipers\nwho had a hand in helping. It has freed up a band of Knights\nto return to their great search for the fabled gold dragonscale\nplate. Rumors are now pointing at a shape changing dog in machine\ndreams.\n \n Ironkev has hired the Knights to eliminate some of the giants \nin the foothills, promising gold for compensation. Apparently some\nof the wandering merchants that frequent Edel were being harrased.\n \n Roovin mentions that he is still able to do work with ores, even\nthough the mountains around the smith's shop have gone dry. Word\nhas filtered in of a great deposit discovered near the kingdom of\njuargan. Scouts have been sent to investigate.\n\n\nContinued... Help Cry46\n\n\n46\n\n           \/\\                           \n _         )( _________________________________________________________  \n(_)\/\/\/\/\/\/\/(**)_________________________________________________________>  \n           )(                          \n Page 46   \\\/   Knights of Edel - Eisengrym \n\n  In addition We have been chartered to post a sign infront of the\nmysterious rabbit cave, as many a young adventurer continue to\nwander to their doom.\n \n  With the cold breezes coming in from the north, they bring with\nthem rumors of an ice island emerging, completely devestated by\nan evil witch. Few of the knights have made it that far north,\nand those that have return with tales of trolls wielding icy clubs,\nand foul demons guarding an icy prison. More exploration is\nrequired, and will be updated after I send a full band of knights \nto investigate.\n\n\n47\n\n           \/\\                           \n _         )( _________________________________________________________  \n(_)\/\/\/\/\/\/\/(**)_________________________________________________________>  \n           )(                          \n Page 47   \\\/   News from the Order of Arcanes - Klessenia \n\nAre you looking for a little bit more of a challenge? \n\nGetting tired of seeing the same people around your guild? \n\nAre you a magic user? Come join Arcanes! \n\nOur members have much they can teach new comers and you might even have\nsomething you can teach us!\n\n-Klessenia Azralon LeadScout-\n\n     \/  \\.\/  \\\/\\_\n__{^\\_ _}_   )  }\/^\\\n\/  \/\\_\/^\\._}_\/  \/\/  \/\n(  (__{(@)}\\__}.\/\/_\/__A____A_______A________A________A_____A___A___A______;\\__\n\/{\/(_)\\_}  )\\\\ \\\\---v-----V-----V---Y-----v----Y------v-----V-----v---\n(   (__)_)_\/  )\\ \\>\n\\__\/     \\__\/\\\/\\\/\n\\__,--'\n\n\n\n48\n\n           \/\\                           \n _         )( _________________________________________________________  \n(_)\/\/\/\/\/\/\/(**)_________________________________________________________>  \n           )(                          \n Page 48   \\\/   News from the Order of Baali - Meddon \n\n\"A dream....a dream....a dream....\n \nNo! You must remember that you are actually here. The pain of your still\nblistering throat may be fading, but you must not give in to the laughter....\nresounding through your skull.....as though the worms had already eaten into\nit and release was soon to come....\n \nThe laughter....so sadistic....yet it reminds you of your wife....or the\nzombie she turned into....Your abdomen can barely feel a thing anymore, except\nthe frantic quivers of the voracious worms. A sharp light pierces your eyes,\nand you seem to see a deformed slab of meat and sausages, in a square platter\nbefore you....but why is the plate black? Why does the sauce pool like blood?\nWhy does it extend to your abdom--....\n \nHow long has it been, and how long will it go on? The smell of burning flesh\nis making you sputter blood, again.\"\n\n            - the telepathed thoughts of the 4th adventurer, Month of Futility,\n               carefully imprinted on charred elven skin, signed by a clawmark.\n \nThe Baali welcome a new member into our midst. You shall regret hearing of\nthis evil, soon.\n\n\n\n49\n\n           \/\\                           \n _         )( _________________________________________________________  \n(_)\/\/\/\/\/\/\/(**)_________________________________________________________>  \n           )(                          \n Page 49   \\\/   News from the Guild of Augurers - Excane \n\n\n            .       =O===         \n         . _       %- - %%%      The Guild of Augurers\n          (_)     % <    D%%     congratulates and\n           |      ' ,  ,$$$      welcomes its new members \n          -\/-     %%%%  |        Aeolus and Arina and\n           |\/\/; ,---' _ |----.   Pkunk, now a full member.\n            \\ )(           \/  )    \n            | \\\/ \\.   '  _.|,  \\   The Guildmaster wants you to\n            |  \\ \/(   \/    \/ \\_ \\  know that while he deals in\n             \\ \/  (        | \/     prophecy, he is not religious. \n                  (  ,  ___|\/ ,`   He's only in it for the sects. \n                  (   _\/ (  |  \\_     \n                _\/\\--\/\/     ,\\\\\\        The Guildmaster calls upon  \n      _______ _\/\\\\   \/ |      |_________   all prophets, sages and\n     |_______\/   \\\\ \/ _\/   ,   |________|  diviners to join the\n     __|___#\/     \\  _  '      |##____|___       guild. \n    \/______\/ _    |  \/ \\   |   \/__________\\\n          |   \/           _\/\\_\/  \n          \/_     '_,____\\\/ )(        Seek ye the recruiting office\n         |\/ \\_   \/        (  \\      northwest, three west, northwest\n          | \/-\\_\/          Oooo          of Darkhaven Square.\n          )(.\n         \/  )\n        oooO\n\n\n\n50\n\n           \/\\                           \n _         )( _________________________________________________________  \n(_)\/\/\/\/\/\/\/(**)_________________________________________________________>  \n           )(                          \n Page 50   \\\/   A message from the Catarrh - Gangrel \n\n   .-.     .-.     .-.     .-.     .-.     .-.     .-.     .-.     .-. \n .'   `._.' C `._.' A `._.' T `._.' A `._.' R `._.' R `._.' H `._.'   `.\n(    .     .-.     .-.     .-.     .-.     .-.     .-.     .-.     .    )\n `.   `._.'   `._.'   `._.'   `._.'   `._.'   `._.'   `._.'   `._.'   .'\n   )    )                                                       (    (\n ,'   ,'  A message from the prophets of the Catarrh,            `.   `.\n(    (      The scorched ground on which we walk is caked in the   )    )\n `.   `.    blood of our enemies. As predicted by Anaximander,   .'   .' \n   )    )   2010 was the year of the prophets. All of those who (    (\n ,'   ,'   opposed the Catarrh's reign and dominance fell       `.   `.\n(    (      victim to our wrath. Our undeniable power has extended )    )\n `.   `.    out to all of the deadly territories; and our         .'   .' \n   )    )   influence continues to progress into the peaceful    (    (\n ,'   ,'    mainland. The year of 2011 will mark the fall of the  `.   `.\n(    (      few remaining pockets of resistance that lurk within   )    )\n `.   `.    the halls of our enemy clans.                         .'   .' \n   )    )       _       _       _       _       _       _       (    (\n ,'   .' `.   .' `.   .'2`.   .'0`.   .'1`.   .'1`.   .' `.   .' `.   `.\n(    '  _  `-'  _  `-'  _  `-'  _  `-'  _  `-'  _  `-'  _  `-'  _  `    )\n `.   .' `.   .' `.   .' `.   .' `.   .' `.   .' `.   .' `.   .' `.   .'\n   `-'     `-'     `-'     `-'     `-'     `-'     `-'     `-'     `-'\n\n\n\n51\n\n           \/\\                           \n _         )( _________________________________________________________  \n(_)\/\/\/\/\/\/\/(**)_________________________________________________________>  \n           )(                          \n Page 51   \\\/   Funnies - Romani \n\nYou know you have been mudding too long when...\n\n1. You legally change your name to your \"main character\" name.\n\n2. When told to do chores around the house, you demand to be outcast.\n\n3. You see a TV footage of a military hero and think \"With that new Vamp I\ncould take him\"....\n\n4. You take your kids fishing and see another fisherman, you ponder if he has\nan oar...\n\n5. When people ask you what you want for your birthday, you say a fancy rename.\n\n6. When ordering a pizza, you give directions to your guild\/orderect\/etc..\n\n7. Despite no knowledge of engineering you manage to build a working trebuchet\nin your backyard.\n\n8. The Forestry Department writes to tell you that the local bears are not\ntrolls and they will never \"pop a hide with stats\".\n\n9. You drive by a forest and wonder if the dwarf that built it was drunk or\nsober at the time.\n\n10. A judge tells you that mailing your neighbors telling them to \"stop idling\nin their yards or you will report them for botting\" is anti-social behavior.\n\n\nContinued... Help Cry52\n\n\n\n52\n\n           \/\\                           \n _         )( _________________________________________________________  \n(_)\/\/\/\/\/\/\/(**)_________________________________________________________>  \n           )(                          \n Page 52   \\\/   Funnies - Romani \n\nYou know you have been mudding too long when...\n\n11. You go to the store and you wonder if the prices would be less if you had\nhigher charisma.\n\n12. You think your respective nation leader should run for president because\nhe has a better foreign policy than the current president.\n\n13. You consider spelling up before driving on the freeway.\n\n14. Your mail box is full of run notes. \n\n15. Your mother mudmails you asking when you will move out of her basement.\n\n16. When you get robbed you think to yourself: \"Oh well, my clan will take him\nout!\"\n\n17. When a friend wants to meet up you tell them you will meet them at the [].\n\n18. You got to know your spouse while transing to Danbala.\n\n19. When listening to your boss chew you out for being tired all the time you\nwonder if is just \"RPing being an omnipotent jerk\" or if he is really like\nthat. \n\n20. Your car looses control for a moment and you wonder if you can CR from\nthis!\n\n\n\n53\n\n           \/\\                           \n _         )( _________________________________________________________  \n(_)\/\/\/\/\/\/\/(**)_________________________________________________________>  \n           )(                          \n Page 53   \\\/   Funnies - Various Immortals\n\nCyril: Opulence\nCyril: I haz it   - submitted by Romani\n\nCeirana looks at Kali.\nCeirana exclaims 'I so don't want to know what's in that meat locker!'\nKali gets the skin of the corpse of failure from the meat locker.\nKali says 'mmMMmmMMmmMMmm.'\n&Kali puts the skin of the corpse of failure in the meat locker.\nKali says 'Also, the stretched flesh of Everyone'\nKali says 'and a slice of Faceripper and Herne's wedding cake'\n\n                                                   - submitted by Kinux\n\n\n\n54\n\n           \/\\                           \n _         )( _________________________________________________________  \n(_)\/\/\/\/\/\/\/(**)_________________________________________________________>  \n           )(                          \n Page 54   \\\/    Shop with Guts'n'Glory! \n\nIf you are in need of some equipment at fair prices, look no further than\nNW of DH[]!  Kaleo and Lilkal are ready to help you with your equipment\nneeds!\n\nWith new items available on these bots, and constant restocking, Kaleo and\nLilkal can save you time and gold!  \n\nJust type whois kaleo or whois lilkal for a stock and price listing and\nfind them NW of DH[]!\n\n\n55\n\n           \/\\                           \n _         )( _________________________________________________________  \n(_)\/\/\/\/\/\/\/(**)_________________________________________________________>  \n           )(                          \n Page 55   \\\/    Advertise with the Cry! \n\nAdvertise with the Cry of Despair!\n\nDo you own a bot?  \nAre you looking to sell a few things and make a little gold?\nThe Cry of Despair is a great place to advertise your wares!  \nLet people know where you park your sellbots, afterall, people need to know \nwhere you are in order for you to get their gold!\n\nAre you looking to buy something? Place an advertisement in the Cry! \nWho knows, maybe someone is looking to sell what you are looking to buy!\n\nJust write up a little advertisement and mudmail it to Annale, or post \nit on the CoD Public board located e,s,3u,w from Darkhaven Square and \nyour advertisement will be published in the next issue!\n\n56\n\n           \/\\                           \n _         )( _________________________________________________________  \n(_)\/\/\/\/\/\/\/(**)_________________________________________________________>  \n           )(                          \n Page 56   \\\/    CoD Readers Reward \n\n           .=======================ooooooo\n   ___   ,'    \\_________________________________________\n  \/   \/-\/   dP  \/  Cry of Despair           \/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/  ''--..._\n  \\___\\-\\  dP   \\    Readers Reward         \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  __..--'\n         `-------------------------------------''''''''''''''\n\nThe staff at the CoD would like to thank you, the readers for your support,\ninput, and for reading each month!  For this reason, we have introduced \nThe Cry of Despair Readers Reward!.\n\nEach month, 10 million gold coins will be made available to one lucky \nreader!\n\nHow do you qualify?  Just write to us at the Cry of Despair!  Comprehensive\n'Letters to the Editor', well-written feedback letters to an article, or \ndetailed suggestion letters are all qualifying entries!\n\nA minimum of ten entries must be received in order for the draw to be \nopened that month.  If 10 entries are not received, the money is pooled \nand added to the next issue's draw.  The entries will also be saved for the \nnext draw.  If, after ten issues there have not been enough submissions, the \npot will be emptied and restarted.\n\nWho can submit? Why you, our loyal readers!  Only one submission per \ndraw. Any person caught submitting multiple entries on alts will be \ndisqualified from the draw. CoD Staff, Immortals, and alts are not \npermitted to enter the draw.\n\nHow do I submit? Mudmail your Letter to the Editor, feedback letter, or\nletter of suggestion to Falennt or post your letter on the CoD\npublic board at e,s,u,u,u,w from DH[].\n\nSubmissions will be published in the same issue as the draw.\n\nThis month's gold pool is worth: 40 Million Gold Coins!\n\n57\n\n           \/\\                           \n _         )( _________________________________________________________  \n(_)\/\/\/\/\/\/\/(**)_________________________________________________________>  \n           )(                          \n Page 57   \\\/   2010 Annual Website Results - Romani \n\nCongratulations to our website winners this year!\n\n1st place - Inconnu, web design by Velya\n2nd place - Guild of Vampires, web design by Vapes, Minhiriath\n\nDue to the limited entires only 2 places were awarded this year. We look\nforward to next year being bigger with more organization websites involved. \n\nThank you, \nRomani\n\n58\n\n           \/\\                           \n _         )( _________________________________________________________  \n(_)\/\/\/\/\/\/\/(**)_________________________________________________________>  \n           )(                          \n Page 58Y   \\\/    Roleplay Wiki - http:\/\/realmsroleplay.wikidot.com \n\nFor those seeking to feed their Inner RP Demons there is a wiki site\navailable with many sections including (but not limited to) Nations, Roleplay\nculture, literature, arena, RP archives, order RP, Places to RP, player\norganized groups, diaries etc.\n \nWe encourage contributions to this mud-wide RP archive and history. If you\nrequire assistance in helping to set up a section in the wiki please contact\nFalennt or myself for information or follow the handy guide in the right hand\nside of the wiki.\n \nTake the time to become part of this RP rich world which lurks in virtually\nevery part of RoD. Visit http:\/\/realmsroleplay.wikidot.com!\n\nFalennt and Romani\n\n\n59\n\n           \/\\                           \n _         )( _________________________________________________________  \n(_)\/\/\/\/\/\/\/(**)_________________________________________________________>  \n           )(                          \n Page 59   \\\/    Write for the Cry! \n\nWrite for the Cry!\n\nCurrently the Immortal Sponsors are looking for more and more writers.\nIf you are interested then please write a short note saying why you would \nlike the position.  Please include your normal online times so that the \nimmortals can interview you. \n\nWe also welcome freelance editors. Do contact Falennt for more \ninformation.\n\nWe are also looking for more staff writers and freelancers. If you \nwould like to earn some income through writing just about anything, feel \nfree to speak with Falennt regarding your interest.\n\nOur Current Payment Rates\n\nEditor-in-Chief : 60 million gold per issue edited\nStaff Writers   : 4 million gold per page submitted.\n\nRegular freelancers  : 3 million gold per page submitted.\nOrganization Writers : 2 million gold per page submitted.\n\nThe Cry of Despair welcome all newbie and avatar writers alike. If \nyour passion is writing, do contact Falennt through mudmail or a tell.\n\nThank you in advance for your interest. \n\nN.B.: Staff Writer : Cry of Despair Staff, Regular Submissions required.\n      Freelancer   : Article submission not on regular basis, not required  \n                     to be on the Cry of Despair staff list.\n\n\n60\n\n           \/\\                           \n _         )( _________________________________________________________  \n(_)\/\/\/\/\/\/\/(**)_________________________________________________________>  \n           )(                          \n Page 60   \\\/    From Falennt's Inkwell \n\n\nMuch apologies for the long awaited issue of the Cry. We are currently \nrunning low on manpower and real-life responsibilities during the \nOctober-November period keeps me busy.\n\nWe have a lot of information and articles for this issue, so I hope it \nwill be a great read for a lot of you out there. Do watch out for a special\nlittle issue by our new Editor upcoming next week which will be attached \nto this current Cry.\n\nTill then, have a good read!\n\n- Falennt\n<\/pre>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Romani announces organization website awards, Babui reports on player demographics _____ * ( ____) . + . + ( ____) . ( ____) * ( ____) + ( ____) . ( ____) + . + ( ____) ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ \/\\______\/|:_____:|\\______\/\\ | (__ () | | | | ) | __| (( =======&#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-2002","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/realmsofdespair.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2002","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=2002"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/realmsofdespair.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2002\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2017,"href":"https:\/\/realmsofdespair.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2002\/revisions\/2017"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/realmsofdespair.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2002"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}