{"id":2029,"date":"2024-03-21T17:38:37","date_gmt":"2024-03-21T17:38:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/realmsofdespair.com\/wordpress\/?page_id=2029"},"modified":"2024-03-21T17:38:37","modified_gmt":"2024-03-21T17:38:37","slug":"times-of-despair-0198","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/realmsofdespair.com\/index.php\/times-of-despair-0198\/","title":{"rendered":"Times of Despair #0198"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Times of Despair – January 1998<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\na copy of the Times of Despair for January, 1998\n-------------------------------------------------------------------------------\n*-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-*\nTHE TIMES OF DESPAIR - COLUMN LISTING\n*-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-*\n\nIntro\n- Welcome to the Times of Despair.\n\nUpdates\n- Stories on the Realms about stuff you really need to know.\n\nAdventures\n- The journals of those who wandered the Realms.\n\nEntertainment\n- Poems and stories that add to the spice of life.\n\nHumour\n- Laughable and funny stories for those with a sense of humour.\n\n-------------------------------------------------------------------------------\n*-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-*\nTHE TIMES OF DESPAIR - COLUMN LISTING 2\n*-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-*\n\nCouncilNews\n- Reports on what is going on in the various councils.\n\nOrderNews\n- The latest news on the Realms great Orders.\n\nGuildNews\n- What goes on in the Guilds of Darkhaven.\n\nClanNews\n- The latest news on the great Clans of the Realms.\n\nSubmissions\n- The \"How To\" on becoming a part of ToD.\n\nStaff\n- The listing of all those who put an effort into this edition of ToD.\n\nWelcomes Times of Despair Readers!\n\nI would first of all like to wish everyone a Happy New Year! It is such a\ntreat to be able to bring out this next issue for the first month of 1998,\nand hopefully this year will bring us many more issues.\n\nThis issue is much smaller than the last one, but still contains much of the\nvital information that each issue is known for. If you wish to submit any\nstories, or post comments on our issues, please don't hesitate. Our board is\nlocated in the Town Hall. I hope you enjoy this issue!\n\nAdonia Calonderiel\nEditor\n-------------------------------------------------------------------------------\n*-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-*\nTHE TIMES OF DESPAIR - REALMS UPDATES\n*-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-*\n\nU0: Introduction\n\nU1: Making a New Pkiller - by Anonymous\n\nU2: High Heavens - by Kwai\n\nWelcome to the Updates section in the Times of Despair!\n\nThis section is meant to be an at-a-glance way to view the various happenings\nin the Realms. All articles written here have to do with various tips, new\ncommands, etc. that could help any adventurer.\n\n-+- Making a New Pkiller -+-\n\nSo, you're a non-deadly avatar or maybe even a leveler that wants\nto see how the other side lives, eh? Well, here are some tips I can\noffer to you on doing so.\n\n- Do NOT go straight into avatar pkilling, start off with a bit\nof lowbie pkill.\n\n- Start off with a level 10 or-so warrior. Learn what it can do, and\nwhat it can't.\n\n- Always look at the people that kill you easily. They usually have\nbetter equipment than you, and if you look at them, you can try getting\nthe same. After a long time of this, you can really get strong.\n\n- Do not forget sanctuary. Make a trigger, quaff a charcoal (sanctuary\npotion from store) before you go in, just make sure you have it at\nall times. (maybe not if you get an HQ to hide in :) ).\n\n- Make a level two deadly and learn the town. Try \"help pkmap\" and\njust wandering around. You'll be an expert in no time.\n\n- If you are planning to make more pkillers, see which clan side\nyou like the best. Do you like the honor of Brujah\/Nosferatu or\nthe powerful strength of Tremere\/Las? Remember, if you attack Brujahs,\nthen Lasombras, then Nosferatus (all of these unfairly that is, 15\nvs. 10), most people will attack you.\n\n- Try your best not to attack people 5 or so levels under you, because\nit's just plain unfair and mean.\n\n- If you like pkill on a lowbie, try slowly going higher and higher up.\nBefore you know it, you'll be a strong avatar dual-wielding banes\nand having a bloodthirsty mind. :)\n\nBy: Anonymous\n\n-+- High Heavens -+-\n\nDuring the course of my life here as an Immortal, I have heard from a\nnumber of people (many who, up to that point, I thought were quite sane)\nthat there innermost desire is to be an Immortal. To me this came as\nquite an aspiration. When I first started playing RoD I never really knew\nwho or what an Immortal was! In fact, I rarely had ever met one until I\nhad applied to Newbie Council. It seems, however, that by the time one\nAvatars, becoming an Immortal is the next item on the list of things to\ndo.\n\nMost people seem to think that being an immortal means drinking beer with\nDarrek, slaying people who mouth off to you or just acting plain arbitrary\nany old time you feel like doing so. Unfortunately, the myth of what an\nImmortal does can rarely be judged by listening to public channels. For\nthose of you who think it is one large party, please re-evaluate. For\nthose who claim it is just a lot of sitting around using immortal commands\non an arbitrary basis, please re-consider. For those who think it is\ndifficult, thankless and time-consuming work, you are close.\n\nAn Immortal's life is much like that a player's in the game--with one\nsignificant exception. While a player in RoD levels through killing mobs\nto gain experience (an objective situation); an Immortal can only level\nthrough the approval of specified groups within the Immortal community\n(a subjective situation). Where a player either kills a mob or not--a\nmatter easily determined--an immortal is judged on other intangible factors.\n\nThe assessment of these factors are not simply a black and white matter.\nA beginning or Neophyte rank Immortal is under an enormous amount of\npressure. They have a new set of commands to master and are not given\na spectral gates area, academy or battlegrounds to grow into their new\nposition. They are constantly being judged to determine if they can meet\nthe high standards necessary of an Immortal on RoD. Aside from justifying\ntheir actions to higher level Immortals; they are also asked to justify\ntheir actions to players. As can be imagined it is a very pressure\nfilled and tense situation to be placed in. Many can not handle the\npressure or meet the standards. So next time you see someone being\npromoted to level 51 don't think \"lucky dog\"; think, rather \"poor\nunfortunate one\".\n\nBy: Kwai\n\n-------------------------------------------------------------------------------\n*-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-*\nTHE TIMES OF DESPAIR - TALES OF THE ADVENTURERS\n*-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-*\n\nA0: Introduction\n\nA1: Tales of the Green Wayfarer: The Test of Strength - by Telnarus\nWelcome to the Adventures section of the Times of Despair!\n\nThis section is meant to be an outlet for those hardy Adventurers to share\ntheir tales of battle and glory. The tale can be of your life, your\nexperiences, or just lore that you have heard from within the Realms (fiction).\n\n-+- Tales of the Green Wayfarer: The Test of Strength -+-\n\nA few here in the realms know me, Telnarus, as a collector\nand teller of tales. And although it is not my primary\nvocation, there is little I enjoy more than to share with others\none of the gems I have been told during my travels. Therefore I\nhope you accept this story in the manner it is presented, as a\nsmall token of appreciation for the kindness so many of you\nhave shown me.\nDuring my initial journey to the realms, I happened upon a\nquiet hamlet nestled near a large mountain range. As I entered\nI noticed that the village was unlike the many others I had\nvisited, in that the town was run by a council made up entirely\nof women. Note, I don't mean to imply that women are\nincapable of handling leadership positions, this has been\nproven false time and time again. But you must admit that, in\nthis day and age at least, full governance by women is\nsomewhat of a rarity. Convinced that there was a story behind\nthis, I asked one lady how this came to be, and the rest of the\nstory is exactly how she related it to me.\n\n\"Long ago our village was not tranquil as you see it\ntoday, but was the home for a tribe a warriors. They would\nsweep down the mountain side and raid the countryside in\nspring, and return every winter. One year the men returned\nearly. Their leader had been killed in an ambush, and they\nreturned home to settle the dispute as to who was next to be in\ncommand. They all wanted the position, the leader always\ngot the best of everything, but the men argued and fought over\nthe best way to decide.\n\n\"Finally, one of the younger wives, Wiese, stepped\nforward and stated she had a test they could use. She said that\nif anyone can prove it is unfair, then the result will be ignored,\nbut if not, then they must all swear to follow the victor. The\nmen knew Wiese to be an intelligent woman, and did not\ndoubt that her test would be fair. Therefore they accepted her\nchallenge and swore to make the victor their leader.\n\n\"Wiese lead the town's citizens to the side of a gully.\nThe gap between the two sides was too large to jump across,\nand the only way across was a day's journey away. She said,\n'This is the challenge: Whoever reaches the other side of the\ngully shall lead our people.' At this the men charged into the\ngap, and fought with each other to climb the other side.\nThough the men of the town were renown for their might,\nthey could not easily overcome the other warriors fighting\nthem. When any man started to make headway, the others\nwould pull him back down.\n\n\"After hours of conflict, one warrior finally scaled the\nother side and pulled himself onto the ledge. When he looked\nup, he saw Wiese and the other town's women standing before\nhim. Under Wiese's direction, they had worked together and\nbuilt a bridge to span the gully. In fact they had been waiting\nfor over an hour before the first warrior climbed the side.\nThough the warriors were extremely angry, they eventually\nrealized that they had been beaten fairly. From that day forth\nthe town has been ruled by a council of women, and the town\nhas prospered knowing that we are at our best when we are\nworking together.\"\n\nBy: Telnarus, the Green Wayfarer {()}\n\n-------------------------------------------------------------------------------\n*-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-*\nTHE TIMES OF DESPAIR - ENTERTAINMENT SECTION\n*-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-*\n\nP0: Introduction\n\nP1: Of the Elder Days - by Draconar\n\nP2: The Winners of the Bio Contest!\n\nWelcome to the Entertainment Section!\n\nHere we will put in anything from poems, duels, or maybe even a critique of\nthe latest Quests within the Realms.\n\n-+- Of the Elder Days -+-\n\nIn a time long ago before the darkness was stronger\nwhen neither the Light or the Shadowed was righter or wronger,\nthere was a quick elven lad and a brave dwarven son\ntheir friendship as children the two had both won.\n\nThrough years they grew older, their paths so unlike the other's\nThey knew not their hatred, only that they were brothers,\nAnd in time the day came, when they questioned their souls\nTheir future was blurry for they had quite differed roles.\n\nAnd the Wyrm the Dwarf sought to be slain by His hand\nthe elf could not fight in this or that land.\nHe questioned his heart and the alliance he once had\nAnd as all that is broken, this friendship was sad.\n\nForth to Darkness Dwarf went, to cast down the Great Lizard\nWhile alone in his wisdom there sat the White Wizard,\nNow in two paths they walk through the false place of Haven\nThe old memories thought lost, but indeed they are saven.\n\nBy: Draconar\n\nIn early November, a contest for the best bio was held. We chose the three\nbest bios, plus two runner-ups and displayed them upon the Lore board, as well\nas in this issue of the Times of Despair. We received 16 bio entries all\ntogether, and it took a group of about five people to judge them. Thank you to\nall who entered and all who helped in the judging:\n\nFirst place : Nashid (look bio1)\nSecond place : Draconar (look bio2)\nThird place : Eldaera (look bio3)\nRunner-Ups : Talmud (look bio4)\nNocturne (look bio5)\n\nCongratulations to all the winners! :)\n\n. ) )\\\/ ( ( (\n* ( (( \/ ))\\)) ( ) )\n( \\ )\\( | ))( ) (|\n>) ))\/ | )\/ \\(( ) \\\n( ( . -. V )\/ )( (\n\\ \/ . \\ . \\)) ))\n)( ( | | ) . ( \/\n)( ,')) \\ \/ \\( `. )\n(\\> ,'\/__ )) __`. \/\n( \\ | \/ ___ ( \\\/ ___ \\ | ( (\n\\.) |\/ \/ \\__ __\/ \\ \\| ))\n. \\. |> \\ | __ | \/ <| \/\n)\/ \\____\/ :..: \\____\/ \\\n) \\ (|__ . \/ ;: \\ __| ) (\n(( )\\) ---_ -- -- _--- \/ ))\n\\ ( | || || | ( \/\n\\. | ||_ _|| | \/\n> : | -V+-I_I_I-+V- | : (.\n( \\: T\\ _ _ \/T : .\/\n\\ : T T-+-T T\n\\..`_ -+- _' )\n) . `--=.._____..=--'. .\/\n\nIf you wanna Mess with the Best, you'll Die like the Rest...\n\n=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=\nAges ago, beyond the beginning of the endarkened times, when the Vampyre\nwere looked upon as wise by kings and elvenkind, when the mountains were\nsolely ruled by the mighty Khazad, the centuries of peace and discovery of the\nwonderous magicks, the Grey Wanderer kneeled before the feet of the Goddess\nof the Stars and devoted his soul to forever let the Holy Light shine upon all\nthat was innocent and worthy of it's beauty. In that time, his rags of grey\nbecame robes of shimmering white beyond the beauty of the newfallen snows\nin the evening. The gleaming breastplate of the Great Dragon, Hun'ar he was\ngiven to protect him from the Dark Servants of the One. And from the Love of\nthe Sparkling Starlight and the Shadowy Darkness he was given a sword that\nwould guide him towards the death of the Ten Kings of 'His' Black Kingdom.\nAs the Moon glows grey in the eery night sky over the remains of Old Darkhaven,\nthe White Wizard wanders to this day, his mind and soul a mystery, his purpose\nknown only to the fading Eldar, bringing a hand of healing and kindness to\nwherever there are pained and saddened. Of those Ten Kings, four have been put\nto rest, including Caienithes and Dominius, known among the race of Men as\nCaine and Dominus. Quick to laugh, with a long white beard that the hobbit\nchildren always have found an amusing thing to play with, this man of the past\nlives to this day with the elven blood of both his mother and father keeping\nhim strong to defend his ancestors, and those that he loves and respects.\n=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=\n--'--,---<@ Draconar Sirrus Drake the White Wizard @>---,--'--\n\n\"You can never do it, Eldaera\" said the lord as she traveled through the\nblight, seeking to belong amonst the strength of the night. Swirling\nanger and vile frustration pushed her onward, though, clawing through the\ndarkness as she drew the blood of those of doubt - those with little\nfaith. \"I do it with ease, m'lord\" said she as she lifted her blade to\nthe skies.\n\n\"You can never do it, Eldaera\" said the people as she lifted herself to\nthe heavens, dreaming to rest among the serenity of the stars of destiny.\nFierce determination and sturdy perseverance pushed her onward, though,\nsoaring through the clouds as she silenced the words of those of little\ncontrol - those with little righteousness. \"I do it with honor, my gods\"\nsaid she as she flung her belongings to earth.\n\n\"You can never do it, Eldaera\" said her enemies as she pushed through the\ncrowds, searching for those to walk beside her. A steady vision and a\ndelicate touch pushed them onward, though, blazing through the voices of\npoison - those of envy and deception. \"You're right, I can never do it\"\nsaid she, \"without your words of discouragement.\" She lifted her voice\nto the Inconnu, \"Live well, my bretheren. You are why I can do it.\"\n\n*******************************************************************************\nGuildmaster Talmud the Elven Master of Sorcery \n*******************************************************************************\n';.._| | `-. | `. -_-_ _-_ _- _- -_ - .'| |.'| | _..-\" |\n| `-.._ | |`! |`. -_ -__ -_ _- _-_- .' |.;' | _.!-'| |\n.__ | | `-!._ | `;! ;. _______________ ,'| .-' | _!.i' | _|.\n| \"'-..__ | |`-!._ | `.| |_______________||.\"'| _!.;' | _|..-\"|\n| |``\"..__ | |`\";.| i|_| |_|'| _!-| | _|..-|' |\n| | |``--..|_ | `;!|M| *Talmuds* |G|.'j |_..!-'| | |\n| | | | |`-,!_|_| study |_||.!-;' | | | |\n_|_______|______|____!.,.!,.!,!|A| |U|,!,.!.,.!..__|_____|_______|___\n| | | | | | |_| |_|| | | | | |\n| | | |..!-;'i|G| <> |I| |`-..| | | |\n| | _!.-j' | _!,\"|_| |_||!._| `i-!.._ | |\n| _!.-'| | _.\"| !;|E| |L|`.| `-._| |``-.._ |\n_!..-i' | _.''| !-| !|_| |_|.|`-. | ``._ | |``\".._\n..,.\" | |.| |.| !| |S| |D||`. |`! | `\". | \"-.\n| | _.-' | .' |.' |\/|_|___________|_|! |`! `,.| |-._| |\n| _!\"'| !.'| .'| .'|[@] [@] \\| `. | `._ | `-._ |\n| _,-' | .' |.| |\/| \/ \\|`. |`! |.| |`-._|\n,!-\" | |_.'| .' | .' |\/ \\ \\ | `. | `._ | \"-.\n| .' | .' |\/| \/ \\ |`! |`.| `. |\n| _.' !'| .' | \/ \\| ` | `. |`.|\n\nMore than a thousand years ago there was a young mage hight Filifi. Naive of\nmind and light in spirit he roved the Realms on his own, visiting towns of far,\nforests of darkness and fortresses of terror; when one day, by the waterfall at\nthe eaves of the dwarf forest of Juargan, he encountered the vampiress Claudia.\n\nSpellbound by her divine beauty and entranced by her seducing movements, he\nfollowed her every step through the surrounding lands, until one day, one cruel\nwonderful day, she beckoned him into the clandestine order of Inconnu.\n\nUnable to act but to follow his love, he allowed her to embrace him into the\nbreed of the kindred, knowing that he would never be able to undo this.\n\nFinally he was now united with his Claudia, both by the bond of their joined\nblood and by their undying love for each other, and no power or potency could\nthey imagine being able to hinder their love and passion towards each other.\n\nBut alas! for their bitter fate had decided otherwise. Once, after he had\nleft his body with the powerful magic from his days as warlock to discover new\nrealms afar, he came back to his clan. To his horror their fastness had been\nabandoned, and amidst the ruins lay the slain corpse of his beloved Claudia.\nNext to her he saw his own body, lying in her arms as he had left her. In\ndespair he cursed the gods asking if this was justice, and he begged of them to\nlet him be with his love again; but in answer Caine summoned him back into his\ncorpse, sentencing him to live in the torments of the undead. Never again was\nhe to find true love, but always be a victim of his passion and lust.\n\nSo he has wandered the realms for ages now; and when Caine was outcast from\nthe ranks of Gods he hoped for a last chance. A last life. A last death.\nBut Nocturne was forgotten, and somewhere he is still wandering about ...\n\n-------------------------------------------------------------------------------\n*-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-*\nTHE TIMES OF DESPAIR - HUMOUR SECTION\n*-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-*\n\nH0: Introduction\n\nH1: Adonia's REALLY Bad Jokes - A compilation. (Hah!)\nWelcome to the Humour Section!\n\nHere you can find some crazy stories, songs and poems which you will probably\nget a kick out of them. Whether it be a list of medieval jokes, or a tale\nof craziness.. we want to hear it!\n\nWelcome to the Humour Section!\n\nHere you can find some crazy stories, songs and poems which you will probably\nget a kick out of them. Whether it be a list of medieval jokes, or a tale\nof craziness.. we want to hear it!\n\nQ: Why do cows wear bells?\nA: Because their horns don't work.\n\nQ: Where do moths like to dance?\nA: At a moth ball.\n\nQ: What sits on the bottom of the ocean and shakes?\nA: A nervous wreck.\n\nTwo men were talking. One man told the second man that he could jump off the\nbuilding and bounce right back up. The Second man didn't believe him, so the\nFirst man jumped out the window, and bounced right back into the room. The\nSecond man decided he would try it too, so he jumped out the window and landed\nSPLAT in the middle of the street. A Third man walked up and said to the First\nman, \"Superman, you're mean when you're drunk\".\n\nQ: Why am I telling these jokes?\nA: Because no one submitted anything... so you all HAVE TO SUFFER! Mwahahaha..\n\n-------------------------------------------------------------------------------\n*-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-*\nTHE TIMES OF DESPAIR - COUNCIL NEWS\n*-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-*\n\nC0: Introduction\n\nC1: The Symposium\n\nC2: The Newbie Council\n\nC3: The Quest Council\n\nC4: Quests: A Behind the Scenes Look\n\nHello there! Welcome to the Council News Section.\n\nHere Councils can submit explanations as to what they do, and\/or current\nprojects they have on the go. If any Council Member\/Head would like to begin\nsubmitting articles, they may do so on the Newsletter board.\n\nAnyone with questions about the Councils within the Realms, can post them on\nthe newsletter board and we will put them in a Q A article within the\nNewsletter.\n\n- * - * - The Symposium - * - * -\n\nThe Symposium is a council that focuses on the communication lines between the\nImmortal and Mortal communities of the Realms. Mortal representatives from\neach Guild, Clan and Order, (as well as a few at-large representatives) meet\nweekly to discuss changes, ideas and the needs of the Realms. The group\ndiscusses ideas, conducts polling, and often works directly on the ideas to\ntransform them into reality.\n\nThe Immortal side of this Council deals with the selection of new immortals,\nensuring that ideas from Mortals are seen, forwarded to the right Council and\nthat feedback is provided. The Town Hall was one of the Mortal generated ideas\nthat was handled primarily by these members. Our representatives are\nrecommended by various organizations and voted on by current members. If you\nneed further information, please type : who 'the symposium' to see a list of\nonline members to contact.\n\nHistory of the Symposium:\n\nTS started out long ago as the Mortal Council. It was from these roots that\nThe Symposium developed into what it is today. There have been so many involved\nwith this council that to attempt to give credit to all would be quite\nlengthy. As with any Council, it can only work with dedicated individuals who\nstrive for improvement. The Symposium has always been blessed with this. The\nfollowing maps provide a visual directory for those unfamiliar with the Town\nHall. If you haven't been there, please drop by and read the Oracle, write mud\nmail, visit the Mayor, post an idea and get involved.\n\n* The Symposium: The Mortal Side *\n\nThe Symposium is the council there to help bridge the gap between Mortals and\nImmortals. We are here to listen to any concerns you might have, or to help\nyou construct ideas in a clear and concise manner, in hopes to improve the\nrealms. Among some of our duties are Polling the Mortal community on their\nthoughts on certain subjects, and proposals of ideas to the Visionary\nConsortium after they have been discussed thoroughly and any problems worked\nout. We in TS are hear to help with the Improvement and betterment of Realms\nof Despair. If you have any questions, or have an Idea you wish to submit.\nOur board is located 1E, 1S, 1U, 1S, 1E, 1N, of Darkhaven Square, inside the\nTown Hall. All ideas posted will be discussed, and we hope that we will be\nable to write back a small response if it is at all possible.\n\nMeeting times for TS are Tuesdays at 9:15 pm EST and Sundays at 9:30 pm EST\nthese two days alternate, and notes are usually posted for TS members, and\nfor open meetings. Open meetings are help on average once a month. These are\nhere incase you wish to submit an idea personally, or see how TS works.\n\nA Mortal Asks 'Why havent we recieved upgrades yet?'\nA Mortal Answers 'Upgrades require a fair bit of coding. Coding is not\nsomething that can be done in a few minutes. It takes time. It also\nrequires a good deal of time to test and work any bugs. There are other\nspells\/skills. These all require thought, and a good eye for detail. That is\nwhy you have not recieved an upgrade yet.'\n\nIf you wish to join the TS, please speak to Cresis.\nThe Newbie Council:\n\nBEWBIECHAT\n\n\"Help me\" \"Help me please\" \"Won't someone help me\"\n\nHow often have you heard this plaintive cry and wondered did that person\nreceive the assistance they so desperately requested? Perhaps you responded\nto the request for help yourself; but were unable to offer the much needed\nassistance due to lack of information. There are ways to reduce these\nproblems!! There is an appropriate way to request assistance without making\nit a major production. Here are some helpful tips that Newbie Council members\nwould suggest.\n\nBe Precise\n\nPrecision is the key to obtaining that bit of much needed help quickly. First,\nknow which channels to use. It may sound trite but when asking for help be\nmindful of the level. Thus, levels 2-20 should be contacting newbie council\nmembers directly via tell. Typing who 'newbie council' (with the single\nquotes please) will give you a list of those on line. Typing tell  will\nput you in contact with them. This is especially important for corpse\nretrievals ( CR's) in the battlegrounds, as they are the only high level\ncharacters who have access to this part of the academy. If you require\nassistance outside of the battleground, and, do not wish to use an NC member or\nthere are none on line, use the chat and ask channels. For avatars avchat is\nthe preferred channel.\n\n- * - * - The Quest Council - * - * -\n\nThe Quest Council's job is quite important to the Realms of Despair. It is our\ncharge to see to it that players are constantly challenged. We see that the\nplayers are given frequent opportunities to prove their valor, and as reward\nfor excelling in knowledge or ability, reward you with reknown and glory.\n\nQuests range from mere scavenger hunts, to seemingly impossible dares to find\nand slaughter your worst nightmares-turned-mobs. We're the happy folk who sent\nyou looking for emeralds, rubies and saphires. We're the warm, kindhearted\npeople who dared you to defend Darkhaven from demonic forces. And you might\nremember us as the evil incarnates that liberated your beating heart from your\nchest, via a special mob.\n\nAlso under our purview, is the task of deciding how the glory you win may be\nspent. We suggest, and ultimately help decide what amounts of glory will be\nworth what rewards. We constantly seek to finetune the system to ensure it\nworks correctly, and serve everyone fairly. It is our goal to have glory,\nand the entire quest system serve as an extension to the every-day adventures\nof the Realms, and to keep you coming back for more.\nIf you have a suggestion for a quest, or an idea about how to better serve the\nRealms through QC activities, write us a note. We have a board in the town\nhall, The Hall of Heroes, located 3u, s, w, n from the entrance.\n\nIf you have a suggestion for a quest, or an idea about how to better serve the\nRealms through QC activities, write us a note. We have a board in the town\nhall, The Hall of Heroes, located 3u, s, w, n from the entrance.\n\nArticle written by Darkur.\n-+- Quests: A Behind the Scenes Look -+-\n\nRemember that pkill quest you participated in last week? Or how about\nthat huge mob killing quest yesterday? Each quest you take part in is\ndesigned, organized, and run by one or more members of a hard-working,\ndedicated team called the 'Quest Council'. It is the Quest Council's job\nto bring you the best and greatest variety of quests possible, as well as\nhandle the distribution of glory and other neat prizes.\n\nSo, you may ask, how does a member of the Quest Council dream up and go\nthrough with something like a quest? I'm writing to give you an 'insider's\nlook' on the process a Quest Council member might take before running a quest.\nFirst, we usually start out with a general idea or story for the quest.\nUsually, I'll jot down a few ideas as well as characters, objects, and a brief\nstoryline on a note or sheet of paper, then develop things from there. Some\nideas we come up with will be completely original, but we always like to hear\nmortal ideas that can be incorporated into our quests.\n\nNext, I usually plan where my quest will take place. Will in take place in\na city, like Solace or Darkhaven? A dangerous place like the Blasted Lands?\nMaybe in the arena? After I do this, I'll decide where I want to place my\nmobs and\/or objects.\n\nThe next step is without a doubt the most lengthy, but also the most fun.\nThis is where all the mobiles and objects to be used in the quest will be\nprepared. Most will have to be created from scratch, while others can simply\nbe renames of mobs that already exist in the game. I'll create my mobs and\nobjects based on the notes that I wrote down earlier. As well, I'll often use\nmobile programs to breathe a little life and excitement into the quest.\nSome quests, such as arena pkill quests, do not require any mobs or objects\nat all, so this step may be skipped entirely. Next, I'll place all the objects\nand mobiles in their proper positions.\n\nIt's time for the quest to begin! Questors will be selected, and they'll\nget started. I'll often turn wizinvis and watch the quest as it happens.\nIt can quite exciting to see the fighting and searching going on, and the\nmany different strategies that the questors employ!\n\nWhen the quest is over, it's time to distribute the prizes. Glory is the\nmost common prize, but for some lower levels quests, gold and some other\nmiscellaneous prizes can be distributed. These prizes are given out based on\nquest level, difficulty, and player participation. Now, the questing imm will\nreturn to the Quest Council office and write up a brief report on the quest\ns-he designed and ran.\n\nAs you can now see, creating a quest is no simple matter! It can however\nbe very rewarding, entertaining, and fun.\n\nAfter questing, please be sure to thank the imm involved. S-he most likely\nput a lot of time and effort into the preparation of the quest and to be\ncertain that you had a good time. Criticism is as always welcome, but\nplease be sure you're constructive and polite.\n\nFeedback, questions, and quest ideas are always welcomed by the Quest\nCouncil. Please feel free to visit our office located in the Darkhaven\nTown Hall to post your feedback. We will be sure to forward your quest ideas\nto the immortal board and\/or reply to your feedback\/questions as soon as\npossible.\n\nThanks for reading, and keep questing!\n\nBy: Phalanx, Head of the Quest Council.\n\n-------------------------------------------------------------------------------\n*-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-*\nTHE TIMES OF DESPAIR - ORDER NEWS\n*-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-*\n\nOR0: Introduction\n\nORM: The Order of Maidenstone\n\nORA: The Order of Arcanes\n\nORR: The Order of Ringbearers\n\nWelcome to the Order News Section of the Times of Despair!\n\nHere we will try to keep you informed of the latest changes in Orders, latest\nnews or induction policies. We hopefully will also have a Q A section for\nanyone with frequently asked questions about Orders.\n\n***--The Order of MaidenStone--***\n\nDeity: Circe\nLeader: Cruella\nNumber 1: Lizee\nNumber 2: Farrow\n\nThe Order of MaidenStone is rich in tradition and steeped in history.\nCreated by Circe in the times of old, MaidenStone was a deadly clan\nof very select maidens. Only few were chosen to join the ranks of\nthese beautiful, deadly women. When the blight across the land ravaged\nthe lands and brought all clans to their downfall, MaidenStone emerged\nanew in the form of a peaceful Order. Their ideals are still the same.\nTheir methods altered. To learn more about MaidenStone and their\nhistory, type help MS and\/or read the revered MaidenStone handbook.\n\nMembers receive the benefit of a beautiful HQ chock full of luxurious\nameneties such as:\n\n1) Rhiannon's Stables for purchasing such fine mounts as baby dragons,\nflying griffens, arabian horses, wild mustangs and unicorns.\n2) Vesta's Titanium Workship for repairing equipment.\n3) The Upper Lip where bartender Scheherezade will make you a\ndynamite Margarita or an elegant Vodka Martini among other items.\n4) MaidenStone Spa - Boris the Towel Boy will massage you at no cost.\n5) Musashi - MaidenStone's resident mascot, and Min's cherished pet\nwill assist you in many of your needs, but watch out, tiger's\nstill aren't exactly domesticated or housebroken.\n6) MaidenStone Boutique - Minerva offers various sought-after items\nsuch as the ever fashionable and useful Sequined Evening Bag,\na detect hidden\/invis potion.\n7) Gula - Rumour has it that MaidenStone's resident healer has\nawesome powers that favour maidens greatly.\n8) A Dining Room with Antoine, MaidenStone's personal waiter.\n9) A Larder overflowing with delicious foodstuffs.\n10) Hidden surprises that only a MS member would be privy to.\n\nPlease note that the MS HQ is being constantly renovated in order\nto keep on the cutting edge and ensure that our members are\nnot lacking for anything.\n\nAt this time, we would like to wish Farrow congratulations on her\npromotion to Number One as well as welcome Lizee to the spot of\nNumber Two. Farrow, an elf-druid, has been a loyal member of\nMaidenStone for aeons and her promotion is well earned. Lizee,\nelf-mage and daughter of Circe, is known for her cheeky, high-\nspirited nature and is known for cheering up even the most\ndespondent of souls. Both would be happy to speak to those\nwishing to join MS, along with Cruella, noble leader of MaidenStone.\nBe warned though, although Cruella is extremely pleasant and\nhelpful, she has a wicked temper that matches her name. Fiercely\nprotective of her maidens, she would die for any of them, as they\nwould for her.\n\nOn a sad note, MaidenStone tearfully retired two of their original\nleaders to the distinguished ranks of Aes Sedai. Min and Lomion.\nKnown for their skill and prowess in their glory days of pkill,\nMin and Lomion took MaidenStone from their deadly ways into the\nnew domain of the peaceful with grace and aplomb. Their leadership\nwill be greatly remembered as they pass the torch on to their\ndisciples.\n\n-+- The Order of Arcanes -+-\n\nLeader: Cyrax\nNumber1: Covellia\nNumber2: Ashiana\n\n* * * * * Arcanes Resolve to Destroy Evils of the Highest Order * * * * *\n\nThe Arcanes have accomplished many of its goals in taking on some of the harder\nand\/or more obscure mobs in the Realms. Lead by such fine avatars as Covellia,\nAshiana, and Bede (in his pre-imm days), we made our way to Abattoir to\nvanquish Frankie and Quorthem, to the Halls of Enlightenment to bash Justice,\ninto the depths of Transylvania to rub out Dracula and his concubine, and to\nthe Halls of Taut to humiliate Set. Needless to say, none of the mobs were very\npleased with our intrusions, but they fell quickly nonetheless. To quote the\nLeader of the Arcanes Council of Light, our own Covellia, \"Arcanes has\ndemonstrated that we go nasty places, and give the inhabitants thereof good\nreason to fear us.\"\n\nIn addition to such well-planned affairs we have had to contend with sudden,\nundesirable uprisings within the Forces of Darkness. Arcanes Arch-Nemesis,\nthe horrid Dark Lord Axchillan, sent his voracious minions free in the great\nCity of Ofcol, one of the last strongholds of Light in the Realms. With a plea\nfrom Marshall Diana herself, Arcanes made their way quickly to the scene of\nthe crime, finding the hated Axchillan Orcs and the Wyrm Warriors devouring\nentire citizens. We kicked, punched, gashed, slashed, bashed and gassed the\nwhole lot of them until the evil aura itself faded from our beloved city. We\nknow 'tis but a matter of time before we face the Dark Lord himself, but when\nhe arises, we shall certainly destroy him.\n\nOver our long awaited Christmas holiday, we gave chase to some evil mobs in\nAntartica. They came bearing the names of \"The Abominable Snowman\", \"Rudolph\nthe Red-Nosed Reindeer\", \"Mrs. Claus\", \"Herbie the Disgruntled Elf\", \"The\nGrinch\", \"Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, and Blitzen\",\nas well as many \"evil elves\" from Santa's workshop. Mercilessly we slaughtered\nthese hideous creatures, and once again Light triumphed.\n\n* * * * * * From the Desk of Bede, Arcanes ImmHelper * * * * * *\n\nI am happy to report that the Arcanes Induction system has been running rather\nsmoothly, and that while we are always jammed with requests for applications,\nwe are able to serve them in a timely manner and with a fair amount of ease.\nIf you are interested in applying to Arcanes, we would appreciate if you could\nkeep the following guidelines in hand:\n\n1) Find someone with 'Arcanes Scout' in their title and send them a tell\nstating that you would like to apply to Arcanes. Keep in mind that there\nisn't always a Scout online, and you may need to check back occasionally.\n\n2) Be certain you have been outcasted from any other Guilds\/Orders you are a\nmember of.\n\n3) Have the names of three good contacts handy that Arcanes can talk to and\nask them who you are, and what they know of you. These contacts should be\nwilling to write a note about you detailing their experiences with you.\n\n4) Be patient, Processing your application takes one week -minimum-.\n\n5) If you do not gain entrance, don't take it personally, we are, after all,\nafter all, 'The Most Elite Practicioners of the Magicks'\n\n*-* The Order of Ringbearers *-*\n\nDeity: Ynnug\nLeader: Duquesne\nNumber1: Lascivias\nNumber2: Valaria\n\n* The Ringbearers Explorer Team *\n\nThe Ringbearers Explorer Team was organized to gather and share information\nabout the various areas of the Realms. Our main purpose at this time, is to\nmap all the areas in an easy to understand format, then make these maps\navailable for our members use. We have a map room in the order to display the\nlarge effort put into this project.\n\nWe work as individuals during our mapping expeditions, gathering our\ninformation. This is all written out in text form onto a note, then posted on\nthe board. The next step is then to have another member approve the map,\nchecking for any errors on it. We do get all our maps verified by another\nmember before they get approved for posting.\n\nEventually, we will be able to move on from simple mapping, and will be able\nto start gathering eq stat info, mob fighting techniques and hints, and more\ndetailed information about each of the areas. Until that time, we bow to those\nwe meet on our journies, as we trace the outlines of this world to paper.\n\n* Joining the Order of Ringbearers *\n\nHearken ye all. For those who would seek to gain position within\nthe Order of Ringbearers:\n\nFirst prepare thyself, tested will you be. A long ardous task is set before\nyou. To first prepare thyself, seek ye the site by the address,\n'http:\/\/www.wipd.com\/-wolfling'. Then, when thou hast read all within, thou\nwilst need turn to sources within the Realms, for seek ye to know all you\ncan about the Order, before you apply.\n\nThen, whenst thou art prepaired, and deem thyself ready, seek ye in this time,\nto be level 30, and find a Ringbearer with [IT] in their title, for they\nshall speak with thou further during the first week of every month. Upon\ncompletion of this interview, shall your mind, body and soul be tested. For\nwhen thou finish this process, if thou art successful, shall you enter a new\nway of life with your Brothers and Sisters of the Order.\n\n* A Commentary from Lascivias *\n\nThe Order of Ringbearers is comprised of the very essence of the Realms of\nDespair, where Knowledge is needed to survive and prosper, Honor to stumble\ngracefully through the mistakes that must be made to attain knowledge, and\nTruth to simply endure. If I were to sum up what the Order of Ringbearers\nis to me, I would probably say that it is a place where the young are safe\nto grow, and the old are safe in learning all over again.\n\nFreedom of opinion and action are rights given to every Ringbearer upon\ninduction. But they come with a stipulation: They will be expressed with\nrespect at all times. While I do not believe that Ringbearers should be\nsaints, I do believe no matter the situation, at it's end, the results\nshould shine honorably upon the Order as a whole. If that is not attainable,\nsomething must change.\n\nLascivias, Number One - Order of Ringbearers\nThe Symposium\n\n* Ringbearers and their brush with Er'res *\n\nIt was a starless night, the kind of night you spent waiting for something to\nhappen. Some six-legged wombat was around every corner, or at least that's how\nit felt. If it hadn't been for the light she held so closely to the ground,\nand the faint glowing red tinge to the parchment, she'd have never seen it.\nRemembering now, she envied the seemingly safe way she felt before reading the\ntorn page of Er'res' grimoire.\n\nThe ripped and faded page from Er'res' spell book foretold his would be rise\namong the echelons of deities, and how he planned to rule alongside Vaschte\nand Vl'arescht, \"...I will leave the petty bickering of Finaglera and Ch'Aranol\nand take my place among the true powers of creation!\" If she had not found that\nscrap of parchment, what would it be like here today?\n\nBut she had found it and Er'res had underestimated the powers a group of\nmortals allied in a cause against evil. They had to endure the freezing cold\nof the Scourge of Time, taking down a would be minion in Father Time, then on\nto the such places as the Blasted Lands, Astral Plane, Kontaur and\nTransylvania to squelch the glimmer of hope in Er'res' scheme.\n\nAll in all it had gone well, a bedraggled tired crew of nine Ringbearers\nreturned home to their just rewards. To this day, if one were to seek out a\nscripture you would find them, besmeared with the sins they were meant to\nrepresent.\n\nLascivias, Number One-Order of Ringbearers\n\n-------------------------------------------------------------------------------\n*-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-*\nTHE TIMES OF DESPAIR - GUILD NEWS\n*-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-*\n\nG0: Introduction\n\nG1: Guild of Rangers\n\n___====-_ _-====___\n_--###\/\/ \\\\#####_\n_-#########\/\/ ( ) \\\\##########_\n-############\/\/ |\\| \\\\############-\n_\/############\/\/ (@::@) \\\\############\\_\n\/#############(( \\\\\/\/ ))#############\\\n-###############\\\\ (oo) \/\/###############-\n|\/ |#\/\\#\/\\#\/\\\/ \\#\/\\##\\ | | \/##\/\\#\/ \\\/\\#\/\\#\/\\#| \\|\n` |\/ V V ` V \\#\\| | | |\/#\/ V ' V V \\| '\n` ` ` ` \/ | | | | \\ ' ' ' '\n( | | | | )\n__\\ | | | | \/__\n\nWelcome to the GuildNews Section!\n\nFrom the time the Guilds were first introdced to the Realms, they have been\na very large part of what makes the Realms such a great place to be. This\nsection outlines what has been happening in various Guilds lately, and also\ntries to help people to learn more about the Guilds.\n\nEach Guild may choose a representative to submit their news to the ToD.\n\nAll reports can be posted upon the Newsletter Board to be added into each new\nedition of the Times of Despair.\n\n-+- The Guild of Rangers -+-\n\nGreetings, Realms of Despair!\n\nI was glancing at the September release of Times of Despair, and\nnoticed something is missing from the GuildNews section:\ninformation regarding the wonderful Guild of Rangers,\nwhich I am proud to be a part of. Needless to say, I feel inclined to\nremedy this situation immediately.\nThus, I give you a flesh-and-bone description of the GoR. The good,\nthe bad, and the ugly. To get the accurate information I required, I\nwent straight the the GuildMaster himself: Hobbes. The following is\nan (edited) transcript of our conversation.\n\nWho are the current leaders of the Guild of Rangers?\nHobbes- \"Me, Tanthalas, Linda!\"\nWhat are the requirements to join The Guild?\nHobbes- \"Level 20. Team spirit. Commitment. A personality :)\"\nWhat is expected of a guilded ranger?\nHobbes- \"Courtesy, keeping up with guild news, involvement in meetings\n[Weekly meetings at midnight on saturdays!] and such, helping whenever\npossible.\"\nWho are currently involved with the Ranger Quest Council, or RQC?\nHobbes: \"Merick, Drathlor, Manannan.\"\nHobbes: \"The RQC is a council to help out the induction process. They can\ngive out quests, but cannot interview or induct new members.\"\nAfter you complete your quest, given from the RQC member or leader, and\n'pass' your interview - what happens?\nHobbes: \"You are inducted, and go through the Pledge system.\"\nWhat is the Pledge system?\nHobbes: \"The Pledge system is a month long 'trial' period to see if you have\nwhat it takes to be a guilded ranger. At the end of it, you will be tested\nand interviewed to see if you have been interacting, keeping up with guild\nnews, stuff like that.\"\nWhat is the Mentor System?\nHobbes: \"Mentor program is mostly for newbies. Older players helping younger\nplayers with eq suggestions, tips, warnings, etc...\"\nIs there any stuff that is going on currently, or in the works, that others\nshould know about?\nHobbes: \"Sure are. I'm thinking of incorporating more people into the RQC,\nand expanding it's role to become the Council of Rangers (tentative). They\nwill be a council to deal with issues such as helping lowbies, runs, quests,\netc.\"\n\nBy: Shelliak\n\n-------------------------------------------------------------------------------\n*-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-*\nTHE TIMES OF DESPAIR - CLAN NEWS\n*-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-*\n\nCL0: Introduction\nCLW: Clanwars\nCLL: Lasombra\nUpdates: UTREMERE, ULASOMBRA, UBRUJAH, UNOSFERATU, UVENTRUE\n<>=======()\n(\/\\___ \/|\\\\ ()==========<>_\n\\_\/ | \\\\ \/\/|\\ ______\/ \\)\n\\_| \\\\ \/\/ | \\_\/\n\\|\\\/|\\_ \/\/ \/\\\/\n(oo)\\ \\_\/\/ \/\n\/\/_\/\\_\\\/ \/ |\n@@\/ |=\\ \\ |\n\\_=\\_ \\ |\n\\==\\ \\|\\_ snd\n__(\\===\\( )\\\n(((-) __(_\/ |\n(((-) \\ \/\n______\/ \/\nWelcome to the Clan News section!\n\nHere we would like to get the latest news on all the Clans and keep you\ninformed of their latest battles! We hopefully will also have a Q A section\non the most frequently asked questions about Clans.\n\nWars as of 1-10-98:\n- Tremere warring Brujah and Lasombra, allied with none\n- Brujah warring Tremere, alliances unclear\n- Lasombra warring Tremere and Nosferatu, alliances shaky\n- Ventrue warring none, allied with none\n- Nosferatu warring Lasombra and Tremere, alliances unclear\n\n+-+ Lasombra +-+\n\nDeity: Phalanx\nLeader: Anakin\nNumber1: Gunerson\nNumber2: None currently\nOut of the shadows of the darkness, and the abyssal blackness of the night\ncomes a new clan known as Lasombra. Heavily influenced by the occult and\nthe manipulation of both shadows and darkness, the Lasombra exert their\nwill upon others through both force, and manipulation.\n\nThe Lasombra believe that they are the true bearers of power, as well as\nthe rightful rulers of the Sabbat. It is through these foundations that\nthe Lasombra will affect these Realms as we know them. A both potent and\npowerful clan of Vampires, we will be a force to be reckoned with. But,\nsuch things do not happen overnight and it is with these ideals and goals\nin mind that I call you to my cathedral of Darkness, to fight in both\n\nIt need not matter of what origin you come from, nor the level of\nexperience you have had in combat. We, the Lasombra will gladly accept\nyou, as well as teach you of the powers and knowledges that have\naccumulated during our times and lives.\n\n- Lord Anakin\n\nTREMERE\n\nWars: the powerful Tremere continue to war both the Brujah and the\nLasombra, and are allied with no others. Officially the clan also wars\nthe dangerous Nosferatu, but in recent weeks combat between the two has\ntapered off while cooperation against mutual enemies has risen. There\nis no known official stance regarding the unaligned Ventrue.\n\nLeadership: Tremere boasts one of the most solid and feared leadership\nthreesomes. They are lead by Maril, one of the elder leaders of the\nexisting clans, and certainly one of the most feared and powerful deadlies\nthe Realms have known. Sombreiq takes the Number One spot, while Zater\ntakes the position of Second. Together these three boast as much power and\nexperience as some other clans in total.\n\nPolitics: little to speak of recently aside from departure of Franak,\na prominent Tremere thief, to take the Number One spot of Nosferatu.\n\nLASOMBRA\n\nWars: a young but rapidly growing clan, it continues to war Tremere.\nTheir once-bountiful association with the Nosferatu has turned against them\nin the form of a nasty war, however, throwing their alliance with the Brujah\ninto an uncertain light (though cooperation between the two continues). No\nknown official stance regarding the unaligned Ventrue.\n\nLeadership: Still shifting, as is to be expected with a rapidly growing\nclan, the clan retains its original leader and founder Anakin, whose age and\nexperience reach back through three generations of clans almost to the\nbeginning of the Realms themselves. Gunerson fills the Number One spot, and\nthere is currently no second-in-command.\n\nPolitics: Though numerous, the Lasombra are young. The past many months\nhave shown that alliances serve them well, and re-solidifying their ties to\nthe Brujah may serve both clans extremely well. The whispers are that only\nthe lack of experience keeps the clan from being a dominating force.\n\nBrujah\n\nWars: once large and boisterous, the Brujah have been relatively quiet\nin recent times. Their war against the Tremere continues, but the dramatic\nbreakdown of the Nosferatu\/Lasombra alliance into a war placed the status\nof Brujah alliances with both of these clans on shaky ground. Still, there\nhave been several attacks by Brujah in conjunction with Lasombra on the\nNosferatu, demonstrating some solidarity between the two. No known stance\non the unaligned Ventrue.\n\nLeadership: the Brujah are lead by Akhkharu, Shiva and Mirdan.\n\nPolitics: The Brujah have moved from a large clan to one very small in\nnumber. After a period of turmoil, its leadership structure has been stable\nfor some time now. A decision to support the numerous but young Lasombra or\nthe deadly but few Nosferatu has not been officially announced.\n\nNOSFERATU\n\nWars: considered as dangerous as it is small, the Nosferatu officially\nare at war with the Tremere and the Lasombra. However, the Lasombra are\nthe only enemies it pursues with vigor at the moment. The Nosferatu seem\nto have the most aggressive stance toward the unaligned Ventrue, though it\nis by no means a war.\n\nLeadership: the Nosferatu have been lead from their inception by\nStoker (in various incarnations). One of the elder deadlies, he is among\nthe singularly most powerful and feared the Realms has ever seen. The\nclan's secondary leadership fluctuates from time to time, but this has\nhad little impact on the course of the clan.\n\nPolitics: the clan has recently been inducted less experienced\npkillers it seems, but it's unknown as to whether this is a change in\ninduction policy. The majority of the clan's activity has come from\nits leadership in the past, and communication outside the clan has\nnot been common.\n\nVENTRUE\n\nWars: the Ventrue remain unaligned in all clan wars, casting their\nlot in either on whim or undisclosed plan.\n\nLeadership: Though the names have changed, Ventrue leadership for\nthe most part has been stable for some time now. They are lead now by\nStreleheim, also one of the elder pkillers in the Realms whose\nexperience dates back as far as any in the Realms.\n\nPolitics: Little to speak of. The Ventrue have remained unaligned\nin recent clan wars - though not inactive.\n\nSUBMISSIONS:\n\nOur board is now located on the newly created Town Hall (Fourth Floor).\nWe hope to get the\nNewsletter out on a more regular basis, perhaps even monthly. To do so, we\nneed quite a bit of participation from all Level of Players. The deadlines\nfor all stories is the 1st of every month. Please post all you article ideas,\narticles, etc. on our board. Not all stories are chosen, depending on the\nnumber of entries and\/or the content of your submissions. Those who do\ncontribute stories which are then displayed in the Times of Despair will\nreceive 5 Glory each. So, put your quills to your parchments and let's get\nwriting!\n\nPlease address all articles to Adonia, and make sure you add under which column\nyou would like to see your article printed in. :)\n\nToD Staff\n\n-------------------------------------------------------------------------------\n*-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-*\nTHE TIMES OF DESPAIR - STAFF LISTING\n*-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-*\n\nEditor:\nAdonia\n\nCo-Editor:\nTelemachus\n\nWriters:\n\n(+) Bede (+) Cresis (+) Draconar (+) Kip (+) Kwai (+)\n(+) Phalanx (+) Shelliak (+) Telnarus (+)\n\nThank you to all who contributed new stories to this issue, and a special\nthanks to those who's old stories we have reused here. Also a great big thank\nyou to Jade who gave us our few pictures and spell-checked, and thanks to\nKorkas for the cover.\n<\/pre>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Times of Despair – January 1998 a copy of the Times of Despair for January, 1998 ——————————————————————————- *-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-* THE TIMES OF DESPAIR – COLUMN LISTING *-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-* Intro – Welcome to the Times of Despair. Updates – Stories on the Realms about stuff you really need to know. Adventures – The journals of those who wandered…<\/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-2029","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/realmsofdespair.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2029","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=2029"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/realmsofdespair.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2029\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2030,"href":"https:\/\/realmsofdespair.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2029\/revisions\/2030"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/realmsofdespair.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2029"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}