------------------------------------------------------------------------------- .. .. .||. ||.. ... || || || ||.|| `|.. || || `|.. ..|'''.| '|| || '|| '|' ' .... . .... ..||.. ... ..., || .... || '' .|| || || || || .| ' || .|...|| '|. | .|' || || || || || || || || ''|...'| '|..'|' ||. ||. '|..' .||. '|..| ||. '|...' ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Volume 8.0 20 Okdyetenn, 560 1 Coin --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Welcome, faithful readers, to a new issue of the Canticle. In the last issue, I had to warn you against giving donations to our paper via Erin. I am glad to announce that the problem has been fixed now and our donation handling staff has been given a full retraining. Now your donations will go where they are supposed to again, so do come and donate to the best newspaper in town! We are working to further improve our fair paper, so if you have any suggestions on how to make the Canticle even better or have complaints, direct them to my Public Relations assistant, Fir. The editors would like to thank Heidi, Furious, Natalie, Statusquo, Kilborn, Kwits, Thorn, Arfbarky, Bunbun and Stargirl for help with providing material for this paper. If you wish to write for the Canticle, just contact the editors listed on the index ('read index') of this paper. -- Thaddeus Editor-in-Chief The Canticle --------------------------------------------------------------------------- <*> CANTICLE INDEX <*> -------------------------------------+------------------------------------- Letters to the editor..............2 From the Poets' Board: Waihi.......8 Polar Safari Aftermath.............3 News In Brief......................9 Jugglers On The Rise...............5 AA & Canticle Turning 10..........10 Insight: Interview With Gaius......6 Celebration Songs.................11 Trivia Tournament..................8 Mortal Council News...............15 Advertisement: Classifieds.......................19 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Volume 8.0 20 Okdyetenn, 560 Page 2 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- ************************* * Letters To The Editor * Seal-Attacking Outrage ************************* I have just witnessed the most disgusting sight that I have ever had the displeasure of seeing in my many years of traversing these fair lands. I felt I had no recourse but to write to this paper in hopes that my letter will raise the collective consciousness, and outrage, of the masses. Recently, while taking a pleasurable stroll a little southeast from the famous Puffin Beach, I stumbled upon a secluded beach that I had never seen before. I proceeded forward with caution and a strong curiosity to explore this cold, yet beautiful beach. As I stood staring, lost in thought, at the restless waves as they hypnotically crashed upon the beach, my reverie was suddenly broken by the sharp bark of a seal in pain. I rushed towards the sound only to find that someone was striking a helpless seal pup. I watched in horror as he again and again brought his club down upon the head of the pup, the most evil grin plastered upon his face. The pup's life was quickly being beaten out of it as the sand beneath it changed from a grey-brown to a horrible red colour as the blood flowed thickly out of the now weakly struggling seal, with one last THUNK I saw the life flicker and go out from the poor pup's eyes. I charged forward and slammed into the person without slowing down. The club flew out of his hands and he proceeded to swear at me and asked me what my problem was. I told him what I thought of people who cruelly attack so helpless an animal. He replied that he was only doing it for the money and that Aemon paid quite handsomely for baby seal pelts. I demanded to know where this monster Aemon was and the guy pointed to the north of the beach. I picked up the club that the guy had dropped and waved it at him threateningly. I told him I never wanted to see his face on this beach again, and then I stormed off in the direction that he had pointed. Not too far from the beach I spied a small shack tucked amongst the dunes. I stormed up to the door and threw it upon without knocking and leaped into the room, only to be confronted with the greasiest, dirtiest, most disgusting person I have ever seen or smelled. Orcs smell better than that man did! I demanded that he stop this disgusting business that he was running here. Letters to the Editor continued on page 3 ... --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Volume 8.0 20 Okdyetenn, 560 Page 3 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Letters to the Editor continued from page 2 ... I tried to make him understand how helpless the seal pups were, how totally innocent and trusting they were, and how wrong he was to be encouraging people to kill them all. He laughed uproariously during and long after my had tirade ended. He then grabbed me by the scruff and dragged me out of his house and after a well placed kick to my rear, and slammed and locked the door behind him. It was obvious he was not going to listen to reason so I headed back to town in the hopes of rounding up enough support to put an end to this slaughter. Please, I am begging all of you, please do not support this monster in his quest. Do not give into the temptation to make money from the suffering of creatures so sweet and so totally helpless. Signed, An outraged and disgusted citizen. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Polar Safari Aftermath In the previous issue of the Canticle, we had an advertisement by Thorn, president of Woodland Adventures. In it he offered guided tours to the northern arctic. The company turned out to not be without its problems, and the Canticle Submission Board became witness to quite an exchange. Unfortunately we do not have the space to include it in its completeness here, so you must go read the complete thread at the Canticle Offices. Thorn noted to us that "due to the polar bears and snow wolves, all of my other guides have vanished." This brought a lengthy and angry comment from Kwits, a former guide - describing how he had been badly mistreated and in the end left for fifteen days lodged in an ice crevice after a failed trip to capture yetis and a search for Thorn's wolf Fleabag who had gone missing one night. Thorn replied that he had assumed Kwits' disappearance had meant that he had quit, and that no severance pay will be given. Kwits pointed out that he has not gotten his normal pay either, as Thorn's promise to pay it to an anonymous account in the bank of Dalair was shadowed by the fact that there is no bank in Dalair. Polar Safari Aftermath continued on page 4 ... --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Volume 8.0 20 Okdyetenn, 560 Page 4 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Polar Safari Aftermath continued from page 3 ... Thorn told us later that the Woodland Adventurers stock had plummeted after Kwits' "exaggerated story of one of [their] routine northern excursions". As he sold his stock according to advice from Moza, Kwits had appeared and bought the stock at rock bottom price. He blamed Kwits of driving his company's stock down so that he could buy them up and take control of Woodland Adventures. The next post from Kwits informed us that he was the new CEO of Woodland Adventures and listed his demands for the ex-CEO Thorn. The mess was only beginning, as showed a comment by Arfbarky, also describing how his job as a Woodland Adventurers guide during Thorn's time as less than satisfying. He mentioned, among other things, "substandard, dangerous and unhealthy work environment", "faulty uniform, inadequate sewage facilities and immoderate laughter by [the company's lead]". It turned out that he had been disguised as a yeti to fool a customer, Bunbun, who had hired Thorn as a guide to catch a glimpse of the rare giant red-spotted penguin. Bunbun was also not quite satisfied with the service. On the polar safari, he told the Canticle, his suspicions had started immediately when the group was guided south despite studies showing that the red-spotted penguin much preferred tundra to desert environments. By the time they had turned around and reached the tundra, the guide, Thorn, as well as his wolf Fleabag were smelling strongly of moonshade and seemed to be surprised whenever he noticed Bunbun was following them. Soon after Thorn began to mumble something about yetis in the area, and while Bunbun was trying to explain that he was not interested in seeing yetis, Arfbarky emerged, wearing a yeti costume. Bunbun also points out that when he demanded his money back, he was very severely beaten up by Thorn and his wolf. The Canticle will watch with interest if the new lead in the company manages to guide the Woodland Adventures toward a less stormy future, and if Thorn manages to fall on his feet after losing his company. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Volume 8.0 20 Okdyetenn, 560 Page 5 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jugglers On The Rise The popularity of travelling performers has been growing as the towns get more willing to open their gates for various visitors. Known artists can bring a nice boost to a town's tourism income as they draw in spectators from the surrounding areas, and some town councils have even considered giving some of this back to the groups as subsidies. As the demand grows, more people begin to seriously consider entering the entertainment business. Calen, a member of one a just-started travelling troupes, told the Canticle that when his merchant business went bankrupt, his eyes were opened: "I realised I wasn't happy being a trader." So instead he gathered a group of artists together with a friend of his, repainted his old caravan and started touring. He wished to announce that the troupe is looking for more talent. Parents Against Suspicious Troupe Activity (PASTA) are deeply troubled about the development. "We feel that these people are a threat to our youngsters' normal career development," their representative said. "These kids have an excellent future waiting for them, but what will come of it if some entertainment folk come and recruit them before they even get properly started with their CX job?" Some family values are also threatened, according to PASTA - children on the tour won't have sufficient contact with their parents, for example. The representative told us that there are plans of pressing for an entertainment tax to get some control over this trend. _________________________________________________________________________ *Decker's Used Goods* We buy and sell! *Decker's Used Goods* Have you just finished off some vile monster and find that you have a lot of equipment that you don't need? Just entered the realm and find that you need stuff to keep you alive? We've got the solution! Come now: RUN! Don't walk! To Decker's Used Goods! We have swords, knives, shields, armor, yes, folks, we have ANYTHING you need! If we don't have it, you don't need it! And we're SLASHING prices on all our stock! You can find us just north of the Adventurers Guild... but you'd better hurry or that special item you are looking for may already be sold! *Decker's Used Goods* *Decker's Used Goods* *Decker's Used Goods* --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Volume 8.0 20 Okdyetenn, 560 Page 6 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Insight: Interview With Gaius by Furious I finally got the break I was looking for, an exclusive interview with Gaius. We sat down with the master sage, as he prefers to be called, at the firepit in Tantallon to have a nice little chat. Furious: It's nice to have you here, Gaius. Gaius: Have you seen Delaney lately? She is an amazing explorer, and cute too. Furious: That is what I would like to talk to you about today, sir. Gaius: How cute Delaney is? Furious: No, no. I would like to ask you a few questions about your profession. Gaius: You haven't come to seek advice? Furious: No... I would just like to ask you a few questions. Gaius: Alright, you may ask. But I only give sage advice. Furious: I think that's been made rather clear. Gaius: But have you smelled and listened to everything? Furious: I think I am supposed to be asking the questions. Gaius: Well, you do not seem to be very good at your job. Furious: Ok, so here is what I want to know... Gaius: I think I need to go take a nap now. (Gaius abruptly left, and I had to track him down. I found him sitting in his room, at an undisclosed part of Nepeth.) Furious: Why did you leave earlier? Gaius: Can't you see that I am busy? Furious: I wanted to inquire about the rumours that you are looking for an apprentice... Gaius: Yes, I am looking for a young female apprentice. Furious: How young? Gaius: 16 years or so. Furious: Don't you think that is a little young? Gaius: I think that age is inconsequential. Furious: If age is inconsequential, then why 16? Gaius: Do you seek to learn or not? Furious: Does your search for an apprentice have anything to do with the fact that you have a huge bed with silk sheets? Gaius: I happen to like the feel of silk. Interview with Gaius continued on page 7 ... --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Volume 8.0 20 Okdyetenn, 560 Page 7 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Interview with Gaius continued from page 6 ... Furious: Ok, on to another topic. I see you have an interesting plant here in your room. Gaius: It is just a plant. Furious: What kind of plant? Gaius: Just a plant. Don't you listen to my sage advice? Furious: Are you getting defensive? Gaius: IT IS JUST A PLANT!!! Furious: So how long have you been staying in this room? Gaius: Why, does it smell? Furious: What do you see when you look into this gold mirror? Gaius: I hold the secret to immortality! Furious: How do you feel when you hear people talking about how much they hate you? Gaius: It makes me sad. All I do is help these people. Furious: You don't think you are stubborn? Gaius: I am sageful. Furious: Ok, well I guess that is all. I'll show myself out. Gaius wrapped his cloak tightly around himself and departed. I almost wanted to check if he was hiding under the bed, as I thought I could hear him softly chuckling to himself. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -=- Village Auctioneers -=- The Village Auctioneers provides an exciting and lucrative way to unload some of that 'extra baggage' that one obtains while slaying ones enemies out in the wilds. Perfect for those adventurers who cannot sit around to sell off their goods, the Auctioneer will keep track of funds across any game reset or crash that may happen, to be reclaimed at some later date. Submit your goods and log off, and rest assured that your funds shall be there upon your return! The Village Auctioneers - Subsidiary of Hatamoto enterprises --------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Volume 8.0 20 Okdyetenn, 560 Page 8 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Trivia Tournament If you are reading this at the right time, keep an eye on the Announcement and Adventurer boards - the (semi)annual Trivia[*] Tournament might be heading your way. This year Sudian threatens to hold it once he gets a decent connection up, but a more specific date has not yet been set. If you should have missed this year's tournament, despair not: it is relatively likely there will be another next year. In any case, single contests of Trivia and Stars[*] are held every now and then spontaneously by various wizards. These are announced by a tell or two just before the contest. (For example: "Trivia tells you: General Knowledge Trivia in the firepit starting in 5 minutes.") [*] Trivia is a quiz game much like Jeopardy, and Stars is a slightly hangman-like game comparable to Wheel of Fortune. .-. .-=-. .-. .-=-. .-. .-=-. .-. .-=-. .-. .-=-. .-. ( * -={{{*}}}=- * -={{{*}}}=- * -={{{*}}}=- * -={{{*}}}=- * -={{{*}}}=- * ) .-. ~ From the Poets' Board ~ .-. ( * ) ( * ) '-' Waihi, by Stargirl '-' .-=-. My toes ache .-=-. {{{*}}} to have sand {{{*}}} '-=-' squeezed between '-=-' under the cool water .-. my hair longs .-. ( * ) to shine ( * ) '-' under the sun '-' that conquers the cold. .-=-. .-=-. {{{*}}} And my heart {{{*}}} '-=-' fears '-=-' it may never feel .-. like it felt .-. ( * ) to be here. ( * ) '-' '-' ( * -={{{*}}}=- * -={{{*}}}=- * -={{{*}}}=- * -={{{*}}}=- * -={{{*}}}=- * ) '-' '-=-' '-' '-=-' '-' '-=-' '-' '-=-' '-' '-=-' '-' --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Volume 8.0 20 Okdyetenn, 560 Page 9 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- NEWS IN BRIEF _________________________________________________________________________ | Varys the numerologist has set up a | A sudden increase in near-death home and a shop near Duendar. She | experiences along the Shantih river performs readings to customers, but | is suspected to be connected to an told us her long-term goal is to | irresponsible storyteller's failure make the world a better place with | to include vital details in his the help of her knowledge of | glorious description of an old numbers. | mithril mine. Adventurers are ____________________________________| encouraged to avoid listening to | such stories, as they can be King Drin's battle against white- | quite dangerous to your health; leaf goes on, but agents hired to | they should instead seek glory in stop cultivation and use of the | the form of more safe hobbies - plant have their doubts about the | such as making imaginative clay campaign's chances of success. | figurines. ____________________________________|____________________________________ | A wizard mistaken for a popular | Crows have been seen flying out of guide has her hands full with | Drakhiya and heading west. An old people asking for help, and "tell | crow enthusiast living in the town Lorien lost" has been found to be | did not consider this behaviour odd one of the more effective ways of | in the least and markedly refused driving the target crazy. | to comment any further on it. ____________________________________|____________________________________ o()o. .o()o. Maigyn's Magical Items .o()o. .o()o )o. .o( . At Maigyn's Magic Shop we have just the items you . need to help on your hunting expeditions. Our magic stones will help you to find just the right monsters for your abilities. Our handy compass will help you to find your way back to the village when out hunting. Come on in and try . out our products! We're located just to the north of the . )o. equipment shop in the main town. .o( o()o. .o()o --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Volume 8.0 20 Okdyetenn, 560 Page 10 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ancient Anguish Celebrates 10th Anniversary Ancient Anguish opened to the public in February 1992. In February 2002, it celebrated its 10th birthday. A contest for writing a birthday song was announced in the Adventurer Board at the start of January, and followed up by some handful of writers even if various heated topics being discussed simultaneously on the board probably shadowed the announcement somewhat. You can read many of the submissions on the following pages. In the end of January, the Senate announced a short story competition. The first prize would be US $1000 in real life money, provided for this particular purpose by an anonymous donor, and a large player-owned house worth at least one million gold coins on the MUD itself. In addition there would be 1-5 prizes of US $100 and a 'donator' status was promised for one character for all the winners. The submission deadline ended up being April 20th. The Canticle is also a major piece of AA history, and the paper was established in the early autumn of 1992. The first note on the submissions board, by Flint in September 1992, has stubbornly remained visible on the board as the amazing amounts of traffic there have not managed to make it scroll out even after all this time. According to the archives, the paper has come out eleven times (this one not included) at varying frequencies. The assistant editors and other slave labourers have changed over time, but Thaddeus and Erin have always been the same. We asked a few average people on the streets of Tantallon how the Canticle has affected their lives. Here are some of the answers we got: Resident 1: "The Canticle is great! Before, every day at breakfast I had horrible problems trying to come up with something to talk about with my wife. Now I can just ignore her and read the paper instead!" Resident 2: "Whenever the new Canticle comes out, I know it's time to visit my mother-in-law again." Resident 3: "I always buy the Canticle instead of that Dalair paper - after all, it's much closer!" Passing Ranger: "The Canticle is excellent for getting a bonfire started!" LoRiEn: "I spend my every waking moment reading the Canticle!" None of the interviewees were bribed beforehand, except possibly LoRiEn. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Volume 8.0 20 Okdyetenn, 560 Page 11 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- ~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~ AA 10-YEAR CELEBRATION SONGS (reprinted with the writers' permission) ~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~ All around the AA map (by Natalie) ("All around the Mulberry bush") All around the AA map The bounty hunter chased the weasel.. The bounty hunter thought 'twas all in fun, POP! Happy Birthday AA! A coin for a newspaper A coin for the dead.. That's the way the money goes, POP! Happy Birthday AA! Up and down the Tantallon road In and out of the shop.. That's the way the money goes, POP! Happy Birthday AA! Half a pound of kniggets Half a pound of berries Mix it up and make it nice, POP! Happy Birthday AA! ----------------------------------------------------------- | __,,--``\\ Maigyn's Magic Shop | | _,,-''`` \\ , | | '----------_.------'-.___|\__ Your source for that little | | _.--''`` `)__ )__ @\__ touch of magic. | | ( .. ''---/___,,E/__,E'------` | | `-''`'' | ----------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Volume 8.0 20 Okdyetenn, 560 Page 12 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Happy Birthday, AA (by Statusquo) ("Happy Birthday, Lisa", Simpsons 1991) AA, it's your birthday Antana bless you this day You gave me the gift a different world Than the depressing real life day AA, it's your birthday Happy birthday, AA AA, it's your birthday Happy birthday, AA I wish you a good long life And almost no law forms I wish you wizards that code lots of places And some entertaining lawstorms AA, it's your birthday Happy birthday, AA AA, it's your birthday Happy birthday, AA ~o~o~o~ Meet Alton And Die? (by Azaphael) ("American Pie") Eight, nine beers ago I would not tell you what I know of Alton, master mage's lair. After all we had been through A visit there seemed the thing to do But he was not even remotely fair... Meet Alton And Die? continued on page 13 ... --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Volume 8.0 20 Okdyetenn, 560 Page 13 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Meet Alton and Die? continued from page 12 ... We were some pair, me and Fillas, yet The guards alone would almost kill us I feinted some and ran past - And did not like the forecast: F. told me it was time to go I started lagging, wouldn't you know But on I went, if somewhat slow, And got a scar to show. (chorus) Oh why, why did I go there to die? I ran out of light; leaving the site, The *CLOSED* door's nearby This fellow, Alton, packs a horrible bite It was going to be a rather short fight Was going to be a rather short fight.. Now you see, this early grave's Keeping Mortus laughing even today From Alton's lair I've stayed away. Lars tells me it's long time no see Would seeing Razar interest me? Gaius's plotting with him, I know, has to be! Now we have anniversary Going way back, this old scar and me (As long as we go free Who needs Reality?) There is so much more to see and do I still haven't met with Manitou This time I'll bring a fire gem, too - Unseen things do hurt you! One might be wond'ring: Why, why did I go there to die... (etc) --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Volume 8.0 20 Okdyetenn, 560 Page 14 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- A Whole Ten Years (by Kilborn) | A whole ten years ("A Whole New World" from | - What a long time it's been Disney's Aladdin) A decade full of laughs and joy | - Let us hope for another It's been quite a few years Just like a shooting star Idling, exploring and fighting | We've come so far Tell me, players, now when did you And now we're in a grand new age turn and reflect on times? | for all - A whole ten years Oldies-newbies alike | With new areas to explore Take a break from the playing Come, let's kill Thane of Fife Here's a moment for AA | Who needs real life? When it reaches ten years old Get a knife | And carve some fun for all A whole ten years For all the players of this mud | (Interlude) By god, it's sure been fun | A whole ten years But we're not done - A whole ten years There's still a lot of killing... | Ten good long years of killing orcs - A whole ten years Partied to make the cash A wonderous place I always knew | Fuzzies to mash Why don't you join me here? Or died to that mage Alton On this fine year | - A whole ten years And now it's been a whole ten years - It's gone past way too fast with you | A whole new future to create - Let us make them more special Courts of Chaos and Knights | Now let's head over there Bears, and Eldar, and Scy-ythe There's time to spare Monks 'n' Ravens, those guildless | Everywhere And together, we celebrate! It's in the air |  If you dare Let's celebrate, ten years A whole ten years - A whole ten years It's been fun times - Been some fun times So pick your race In this new place And join the fun! --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Volume 8.0 20 Okdyetenn, 560 Page 15 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- M O R T A L C O U N C I L N E W S The new Mortal Council elected in Stormmonth 560 looks like this: Mage : Sinius, Wynlan, Callandor Rogue : Tarott, Lanstro, Puma Fighter : Annihilator, Lunarsee, Frostbite Necromancer : Karsh, Furious Cleric : Rey, Meg, Ceren Paladin : Noir, Krim Ranger : Ebot, Lorer, Mordygan Shapeshifter : Darvinia, Od, Erithywen The Mortal Council held a meeting in Fearmonth, 559 (and in Nethory 560, not included here). The log can be found at the Nominations board (upstairs the Town Hall of Tantallon), and here is Fir's digest: Shifters: Paldin had submitted the projects brought up at the earlier shifter meeting, and would look into shifters' titles and level advancements not working correctly with all guilds. Clerics: Nothing much new for the clerics, waiting for bigger re-write... Did we hear this for the last time? Adinos reported that some people have expressed serious interest in doing something cleric-related. Rangers: A project for allowing rangers to forage for mandrake (with a *very* low chance) was suggested, coded and submitted. Ranger-made bolas, on the other hand, got a thumbs-down. As for more animals to tame, Oliver would look into how an old falconry project was doing, and Adinos hinted that parrots were on their way. Macavity would research ways to improve ranger armour while keeping Balance happy, but he warned about an already long queue of changes to rangers. Llanfear would take a shot at ranger-made medicinals. A suggested project for enabling rangers to distill other flowers than the regulars for new and exciting perfumes was not picked up by anyone yet. Mortal Council News continued on page 16 ... --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Volume 8.0 20 Okdyetenn, 560 Page 16 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mortal Council News continued from page 15 ... Mages: Adinos announced that the mandrake-using spells would be submitted for approval one by one, the first going into the queue soonish after the meeting. (All would probably not make it to the queue before the end of the RL year.) The "Drowgar spells", on the other hand, were quite close to getting into the game. Defaulting spellpower to 'high' was brought up again and got fixed. A mage ability to scribe spells was suggested by Aristotel, but after some discussion of abuses and Balancing there did not seem to be any final conclusion. Educative classes for mages to get study hours without fighting were suggested and, after the idea was thrown around some, Bunbun volunteered to work on the project. He wished for help with ideas for such classes and the tests the mages would have to take in the end of the class. Paladins: Adinos would look into auras disappearing upon link death, as requested by Krim. Diderot suggested that paladins be able to dismiss their horses from afar, since they could sense if they were in danger even when not in the same room. Sylwen would look into it if she could get a plausible explanation for the phenomenom from someone first. Paladins calling the same type of horse every reboot was suggested by Diderot. Iceblaze added that the mounts should be nameable, and Sylwen pointed out it was being worked on. She would add paladin horses "in general" to her working list and see what would go through Balance. Necromancers: Goblins' unwillingness to become undead despite their rather humanoid shape was brought up by Utb. He was asked to give Adinos a list of humanoid-like creatures that can't be animated so that they could be added in. Llanfear would look into enabling the undead to emote when commanded to. Mortal Council News continued on page 17 ... --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Volume 8.0 20 Okdyetenn, 560 Page 17 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mortal Council News, continued from page 16 ... The Unknown Class: Not being able to trip undeads was brought up by Rey, and Paldin requested a list of undeads that should be trippable so that he would see what he could do. Pocket worms would not be changing for a while now, although they had some changes coming later. Iceblaze suggested new uses for poisons, but according to Paldin such functionality would be hard to add to the code. Related to this, Oliver's list of old projects to resurrect got an addition of the alchemist class. Tarott suggested shoplifting. Due to the shops being quite different it would mean much work, but Oliver would take a quick look at them. Macavity would look into nightvision (among other things) costing spell points when it did not really work. A suggestion for rogues to be able to ambush with thrown weapons was met with a pained groan from Macavity, who was still recovering from fixing archery abuse bugs. Ansi-coloured cards were suggested toward the end of the meeting, but few wizards were around at that time to pick it up. Fighters: A project for disarming while unarmed was in approval. 2-handed weapon skills were discussed as well as getting more exotic weapons, which Sylwen mentioned was somewhere in her to-do list. Various: Adinos announced the 10th anniversary story writing contest. The rules (at the time of this writing readable at 'help contest') were discussed at some length. Some gallery listeners suggested that they should be able to 'squelch the gallery' around them, as some noisy people in the room can make it difficult to hear what goes on in the meeting, but the suggestion seemed to get lost in the active contest discussion. Mortal Council News continued on page 18 ... --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Volume 8.0 20 Okdyetenn, 560 Page 18 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mortal Council News, continued from page 17 ... Player-owned houses were less than a year from being ready to enter approval, and Adinos said they would be ready by the time the story contest winner is declared. Some of the no more than 100 houses (at first) would be auctioned. They would differ in size quite a bit, and can be furnished. Some of them would have gardens as well. Plants and their killability was also discussed at length, and Oliver would look into rangers being able to conceal their seedlings. Meg recited a suggestion for being able to set a direction to wimpy. The project was picked up by Adinos (later grabbed by Fir), but faced some Balance problems.[1] Tarott hoped for the board web-archives to be updated. Adinos pondered an idea about a special page with "selected" classic posts. Scarlioni hoped for being able to capture crabs and lobsters with seines. Sylwen (later joined by Fir) picked it up.[2] More trade routes for Mozi & Moza were hoped for. Macavity would look into it. Aristotel suggested that the Academy's Diam could actually give lessons in languages. He was instructed to mail Llandra and ask if she was interested. [1] Currently the wimpy direction is on its slightly slow way of being submitted to approval. [2] The code addition turned out to be a bit more challenging than expected and it sneakily fell on the priority list. Pestering at least Fir might help. ------------------------------------------------------- | ---<---<@ ~ The Flower Shop ~ --->--->@ | | | | We have a wide assortment of beautiful, fragrant | | flowers, a nice present for that special someone. | | A card comes with each flower, to convey the | | message that will mean so much. | | | | Come and see for yourself. The prices are very | | reasonable. We are located just opposite south | | of Ancient Bliss Inn in Nepeth. | | | | *->- The flower girls | ------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Volume 8.0 20 Okdyetenn, 560 Page 19 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- _________________________________________________________________________ | ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ___ ____ | | The Canticle / / // / / / / / / | / | | / / /___//____ /____ / /__ / /__ / //____ | | / / / / / / / / / / / / / | | / / / / / / / / / / / / / | | /___ /___ / / ____/ ____/__/_ / __/_ /___ /____/ ____/ | |_________________________________________________________________________| | | | Tired of the same old thing? \o/ | | Wish you could do something exciting and fun? -o/.:|:.\o_ | | .\:|:/. | | Well now is the time! You can journey to the far -=>>::>o<::<<=- | | northern arctic with an experienced guide. See Yeti! _ '/:|:\' _ | | (Arfbarky, that's your cue!) Get away from the hustle o\':|:'/o | | and bustle of Tantallon. /o\ | | For a sizeable fee, our experienced team of trackers will | | help you kill and stuff that mount you always wanted. | | | | Hurry up and take advantage of this great opportunity! | | | | Prince Kwits, Chairman of Woodland Adventures (tm) | |_________________________________________________________________________| | | | | Tracker for Hire | Single H-Elf Necro Seeks Elven/ | | | Human/Half-Elven student for | | Tracker in debt seeks any tracking | Necromantic Training. I will teach | | job available. I had to sell | you how to rock hard and smell | | Fleabag's golden collar, but he | good while doing it. See Furious | | still tracks good! Send tells to | for more info. | | ThOrn. |____________________________________| | | | | ThOrn, moved back home to Anasazi. | Krq, I hate you. | |____________________________________| Marry me? -Lejana | | |____________________________________| | Adventurers needed to stop Drin's | | | rule of tyranny! - Anonymous | Malire should do more Lawstorms!! | |____________________________________| We like Lawstorms, for they are | | | fun. :) | | Miss ya, Stephanie (Ailys) -Leland | -A member of the Courts | |____________________________________|____________________________________|