Of Casca, and Naked Quests for Books
Posted on Monday, June 29, 2009, 3:08 AM EDT by Lady Mana (NapaValley)
Not too long ago, ‘Lord’ Casca met with the people of Britannia and delivered a speech to the masses. He said: “Citizens of Britannia, it has been a great while since my last appearance. The memorial of the dearly departed Clanin seems as though it was not long ago. However, it has been longer then one may think. It seems these lands have forgotten what his death meant. What the virtues truly mean to, or should mean to us all. The greed of the ones that have ravaged the Tokuno Isles is fresh on our minds. But it seems not as many would try to help the Empress to retrieve her items. It seems these lands fraught with anguish have forgotten what the virtues teach us. Perhaps it is time to remember that in times such as this... that compassion and honesty are a good rule of thumb. Compassion to a ruler that needs your help. Honesty to return her items. We need the Empress’s good blessings at this time, and it would be most prudent to me! I mean us to help her. There are some that may defy the virtues and even try to create versions of their own. These people must be stopped. Even now I hear of books that may spread the word of such things. Be on the look out for evidence of this treachery and keep in mind those that spread these rumors, shall be handled swiftly. Stay vigilant my citizens. Your King is concerned only for your well being and safety.” Then, on Sunday night, Maya Demeter called forth the people of Britannia and urged them to venture in to the dungeon of Despise and collect a number of books. Is there a link? Maybe… .but there was definitely a catch! All adventurers in the dungeon had to be completely naked, with only a lantern to light their way. As everyone set out, it was soon evident that their newfound fashion sense matched closely with the monsters of the dungeon themselves! Yes, indeed. Loincloth much? Eventually people gathered outside the dungeon and were gated to the room of the Book of Truth just under the lycaeum. It was rather quiet inside the room while everyone waited in anticipation to give Maya the books, but soon after all the texts were counted, a gate opened up to the Counselor’s Hall in Britain and the fun continued! The winners were announced, and Cream Pies were given and thrown!! I would like to congratulate the winners who managed to gather the most books, and hand them in: First place, announcing Book Master! Pete ran a close second place, congratulations! Last but not least, Odin Firefly! Yours truly didn’t participate, but was able to watch some of the fun unfold. It looked like a blast! I think everyone is glad to have their clothes on, again, though. Or perhaps they were glad to get them off? Well, I’m sure the ettins and lizardmen are glad they don’t have to see anymore naked Britannians for a while! Regards, Lady Mana Lieutenant of the Royal Britannian Guards
[ Discuss This Article ]

Summer Fest
Posted on Thursday, June 25, 2009, 9:34 PM EDT by AilishD (NapaValley)
Who likes BBQ ribs?  BBQ chicken?  BBQ pork?  Can you get BBQ at any of Napa's taverns or Inns?  No!  Napa citizens, we must take matters into our own hands!!  What Napa doesn't have, we will make!    Bring all the items needed to create BBQ/Picnic area with all the fixings!  (EMs will lock things down as requested.) Meet at Lord British's Castle July 5th at 5:00 pst! The area we will be decorating is: 167' 46" S 21' 9" E
[ Discuss This Article ]

Royal Summons
Posted on Thursday, June 25, 2009, 9:29 PM EDT by AilishD (NapaValley)
Date: June 26th, 2009, 7pm Lord Casca to meet with the masses Please come and meet with your Lord Casca this Friday.
[ Discuss This Article ]

Contest! Win an SA Beta code!
Posted on Monday, June 22, 2009, 11:40 PM EDT by Lady Mana (NapaValley)
For those of you who don't know, there is a contest going on! To red the full details, visit this link Stygian Abyss Beta Key Competition Objective: Create Your Own Concept of the Abyss Please Note: This is not a house building contest, we want to see your best vision of the Abyss How: Using currently available housing tiles and decor items Where: On any EA shard, including test center or using Kurgan's housebuilder. Entries: Up to four images, cropped to the game window only - no top bar, no task bar, no paper doll 800 x 600 maximum size. .jpg, .gif or .png format. emailed to: uocontests@stratics.com Eligibility: Must be a beta test applicant (apply here if you haven't yet )one entry per person. Exclusions: Current beta testers (Winning entries will be checked by EA) UO.Stratics Admins. Entry period: Starts: Now! Closes: Midnight (EDT) Saturday 27th June. Winners: Will be selected from the entries by a panel of judges. Disclaimer: By placing material on or communicating with the Stratics bulletin boards, forums or submitting material for publication you hereby grant to Stratics and their affiliates and related entities the royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable, non-exclusive right and license to use, copy, modify, display, distribute and reproduce all such materials in any form, media, software or technology of any kind now existing or developed in the future. You also agree to indemnify, defend and hold Stratics harmless against any claims or costs, including attorneys' fees, arising from the use or distribution of those materials. You further grant Stratics the right to use your name in connection with the reproduction or distribution of such material. Regards, Lady Mana Napa Valley News Manager Lieutenant of the Royal Britannian Guards
[ Discuss This Article ]

Naked Dungeon Recovery Expedition
Posted on Sunday, June 21, 2009, 4:05 PM EDT by Lady Mana (NapaValley)
Please hold on to your seats... we have an announcement from EM Fiorella herself! What's more, it's a proclamation for her very first event here on Napa Valley! Read on for details: Please join EM Sangria and I for our first official event. We'll be meeting everyone at the West Brit Bank on June 28th at 3 PM PST. You guessed it by the title, this will be a Naked Dungeon Crawl, but with a twist that will be announced at the time of this event. Few quick rules I can tell you... Regs, bandages and one weapon of persons skill level will be allowed, tamers: no dragon-kin, rune beetle's, dreadmares or cu's. So please join us, we look forward to a lot of fun and death!! EM Fiorella
[ Discuss This Article ]

Introducing our New EMs
Posted on Saturday, June 13, 2009, 9:19 AM EDT by Lady Mana (NapaValley)
As I'm sure everyone knows, the winds of change are a constant element in this world. And so, replacing the former event moderators Sezja and Kaen, please welcome EMs Fiorella and Sangria! They are very excited to be with us and are looking forward to Napa Valley's future. Please stop by the West Britain Counselor's Hall to meet them on Monday, June 15th at 7:00pm PST! We even have two lovely descriptions of some of the new faces we'll be seeing around, courtesy of EM Sangria and EM Fiorella. Introducing Fredrick Clairmount, and Maya Demeter!: Fredrick Clairmount Fredrick walked along the streets with a gait that reeked of confidence and power. Those who saw him tended to stare. Fredrick smiled to himself. His cloak alone cost more gold than any of these poor souls would ever see in a lifetime. He was once one of those ‘poor souls’, but had worked his way up and out and was now reaping the rewards. His mother had been a cook at a noble’s house. Fredrick never met his father. His mother used to tell him that his father was an aristocrat in some far off city. As a small child this made Fredrick feel special, important, even when the other children teased him. But as he grew older he noticed that the children of nobles were treated differently from the children of peasants. One of the biggest differences was that the noble children were tutored in reading, writing, math and other strange things. But he didn’t have a tutor. And without one, he’d never learn to read and write. He’d never be a noble. Angry he went to his mother. Sadly she told the small Fredrick that she didn’t earn enough gold to pay for a tutor. She couldn’t help him. He then went to the Master of the house, something he was not supposed to do. But for this he’d risk his mother’s wrath. The master smiled down at the boy who was trying very hard to be brave, but he would not allow a peasant to join his children’s tutoring sessions. Fredrick was devastated. Unwilling to give up his dream of being like his unknown father, Fredrick went to the tutor himself to plead his case. The tutor laughed, but Fredrick was not deterred. He cleaned, he tended the tutor’s horse, he hauled wood and water, he did anything he could to prove to the tutor that he was serious. He even convinced his mother to slip him a pastry each morning so he could deliver it to the tutor. After a few weeks of this, the tutor was no longer laughing, instead he began to teach the boy who turned out to be a fast learner. In time, Fredrick achieved what he had desired as a boy. He had enough gold to last him a couple lifetimes, servants at his beck and call, he could do what he wanted when he wanted¦ but he was bored. He knew what the problem was, the challenge was gone. He couldn’t remember the last time someone told him, ‘no’, ‘impossible’, or ‘it can’t be done’. Fredrick loved those words. They sparked a fire in him that drove him to make impossible’ become ‘possible’. To prove that ‘it’ could be done, no matter what ‘it’ was. He knew what he needed to do. It was time to move on. Maya Demeter Born in Cove, the city of love, was raised by the town as her mother tended the provisioners shop. There she learned the usual cooking, cleaning, tending the garden, but warriors and sailors also visited and she was enamored with the sea life. Sailors taught her to fish and manage herself on a boat. The warriors taught her to take aim with a bow to protect herself. Her mother all the while encouraging her, but always reminding her of where she came from: the small city of love and to never forget that. Cove is, as many know, not far from an orc fort. This made Cove the target of many raids by the orc. Sometimes those raids included other worldly creatures that completely stopped the commerce for the small seaside village. Eventually, sea farers and warriors would make there way back, but the town just never seemed to make it back to full repair after each raid. It was after one of these raids, that Maya Demeter lost her mother. She survived the raid, but barely. Maya spent the next several weeks tending to her mother’s every need. But sadly, even with the help of the healers, her mother slipped into the grasp of death, nothing Maya could do to stop it. This brought forth much rage in the young woman. She had endured many raids and been told it was the way of things. But this time the orcs had gone too far! Maya swung on her bow and quiver, mounted her horse and began her ride to the orc encampment. The town people begged her not to go. “It’s not what your mother would want!” they called. But she rode off in a hurry to meet her mother’s killers. As she rounded the bend, nearing the encampment, she heard a soft yet strange cry. She dismounted her horse and walked softly to the entrance of the cave. In the pale light of the cave she saw a smaller orc tending to one of the larger brutes. The smaller orc seemed to be crying. While she did not understand the words, Maya, understood the emotions being displayed. Her heart softened and she sighed. The smaller orc heard her and slowly approached. Maya no longer wanted to fight, she had just learned that those creatures were not that much different. The towns’ people were right; her mother never would have wanted this. While she was still angry for the loss of her mother, she left the orcs alone to say their goodbyes in peace. Was this the way of things? Was it not the orcs fault? The other worldly creatures often times seemed to be controlling the orcs. Were the stories true that other things were at work in this world? While Maya had traveled some with the sailors and warriors, she had never experienced the real world. All she had were tales spun by others. Perhaps it was time for Maya to leave the city she loved and that taught her to love and take some of that love out into the world and see what really was out there. She left that next morning, her bow and quiver ready to fight, her fishing pole by her side, her heart ready to forgive and love. Was this a good combination? Only time would tell… Regards, Lady Mana Lieutenant of the Royal Britannian Guards Napa Valley News Manager
[ Discuss This Article ]

Napa Valley Community Auction House
Posted on Tuesday, April 21, 2009, 12:42 AM EDT by Lady Mana (NapaValley)
Submitted by Lord Nabin of Napa Valley: Napa Valley Community Auction House Inside the Walls of Luna in the SE Corner The Napa Valley Community Auction house is open for the use of any guild or person wishing to hold an auction. The site rental fee is only 10% of the proceeds of your Auction. You will be Co-owned to the house 2 days prior to your auction date and must be out by 5pm the day following your auction. The intent is to provide an excellent facility for the use of the players of Napa. Reservations are on a first come first serve basis. Regularly scheduled auction events will have priority. Well we all love a good auction, now we all have a place to use here inside the walls of Luna so let get them up and running. :-) Additionally, the first three groups that sign up to run an auction won't have to pay a rental fee! Please note that it is the first three groups and not the first three auctions. For more information, contact Lord Nabin.
[ Discuss This Article ]

A Fallen Icon
Posted on Friday, April 10, 2009, 12:26 AM EDT by Lady Mana (NapaValley)
Clainin's Memorial With heavy hearts and a well embroidered sash on their chest, many Britannian citizens paid their respects to the fallen court mage: Clainin. His death and disappearance have long been under suspicion, and the fact that Melissa is said to have killed him while under Casca’s protection has done nothing to help this fact. Perhaps our King is weak because he is not destined to rule. Perhaps he is just weak because his citizens undermine their support. Regardless, this incident has forced me to not only mourn our lost mage Clainin, but also to mourn the memory of Lord British. Wherever he and Nystul are in the Void, I am sure they would have preferred to pay his respects at the memorial. After foe and friend gathered at Castle British and accepted the eulogy Lord Casca delivered, they made a procession and walked toward the memorial site. There, a lone book laid atop a short pillar. Individuals paid their respects privately, and as the night progressed, artifacts of remembrance were placed. If you care to visit the finished memorial site and pay your respects, it is located on the north end of Castle British, next to the armoury. Regards, Lady Mana Lieutenant of the Royal Britannian Guards Napa Valley News Manager
[ Discuss This Article ]

Announcing Clainin's Memorial Service, and EM Meet and Greet
Posted on Wednesday, April 8, 2009, 5:00 PM EDT by Lady Mana (NapaValley)
Greetings, citizens! Here's what's happening on Thursday, April 9. Memorial Service It is with great solemnity that I announce the scheduled memorial service of noble Clainin, Mage to the Court of Britannia. At 7:00pm PST, please gather at the throne room of Castle British (Trammel). Lord Casca will be delivering the eulogy. Meet and Greet Feel free to Meet and Greet with EM Kaen and EM Sezja half an hour before the memorial (6:30pm PST), at the West Britain Counselor's Hall. They will also be continuing the Meet and Greet after the service is over.
[ Discuss This Article ]

A Community Boon: The Give and Take Pub
Posted on Friday, April 3, 2009, 10:22 PM EDT by Lady Mana (NapaValley)
A Community Boon: The Give and Take Pub Need something? Or perhaps need to unload something? Want to help out the community and sponsor other players just like yourself? Well then, have I news for you! Sponsored by the Ancient Conclave of Wisdom and housed by Lord Nabin, the Give and Take Pub is just the place. Where to find it? Look no further than the southeast corner of Luna, on the inside belt (93o 25’N 19o 41’W). There are many chests located throughout the house for you to use at your disposal. Don’t have anything to give or to take? Well then! Relax and have a game of chess with some friends, or just enjoy the hearth fire as you rest after a long day of work. So next time you you’re looking for someone to unload your extra items on, look no further than the Give and Take Pub! Or, if you need something, check here first! It's a great way to help support the Napa Valley community. And of course, spread the word! The more people who take part, the better it is for everyone involved! Regards, Lady Mana Napa Valley News Manager Lieutenant of the Royal Britannian Guards
[ Discuss This Article ]

Of Spies and Death
Posted on Sunday, March 29, 2009, 10:45 PM EDT by AilishD (NapaValley)
The man moved through the shadows of night quickly, but as quietly as he could. It was imperative that he not be discovered, and that he deliver his information quickly. A black gate had appeared in the stronghold of the followers of the Shadowlords, and whispers in dark corners told of a meeting to be held inside a secret place ... I awoke with a start, dagger in hand, feeling someone was watching me. Heart pounding, I peered around the darkness of my bedchamber. As my eyes fell upon the shadowed form, he spoke quietly. "I have news ..." Cursing him for startling me so, I quickly tucked my dagger bad in place, and sat up. "Well? What is it that is so important to have you sneaking into my room in the dead of night?" He spoke quickly, telling of the odd happenings in the Yew Crypts and of an upcoming meeting of some sort. Then we sat quietly for a time as I thought about what this might mean, and what we needed to do. This could not mean well for Minax and her supporters. Those unfaithful curs of the Shadowlords faction had been a thorn in our side from the moment the battle for the throne of Britania had commenced, always calling for the release of the true Shadowlords. "Return to your post, sir, and keep listening! We must know what is happening! As soon as you know when this meeting is, send a messenger. Don't come here again, though. I feel the danger heightens, and if a spy is found in their midst, that spy will be dispatched!" In moments he was gone, with a promise that he would send word soon. I stayed awake the rest of that night, thinking and planning. As soon as dawn broke, I sent out messages to all in my guild, and then rode out for our own base, where we could meet and discuss this new development. Two days later, the message we were all waiting for came. The meeting spoken of would be tonight. We immediately gathered to finalize plans, then headed straight to Yew, and to the Crypts. We timed things well, and arrived before any Shadowlords did. We quickly put our plans in motion, entering into the base with no opposition and setting up a maze of confusion and death for any who dared show for this meeting. As they began straggling in, we fell upon them, so that only their spirits could enter that secret room. Tensely, we waited, killing them as they came. We did not know what was happening in that dark chamber. We were cut off from our informant, and could only continue to ambush the unsuspecting. Then there was a commotion outside. Our spy, out of breath from the hard ride, told us we must go quickly to the city of Trinsic, that the Lady Melissa, Follower of Nosfentor, had found Clanin there and charged the minions of the Shadowlords with his death. Our mage quickly thumbed through his book and cast a gate to Trinsic. We rode as fast as we could towards the Training Hall, hoping to cut them off. We came upon them as they were arriving, and quickly battle ensued. The tried to fight, but with weakened spirits and heavily outnumbered, they all quickly fell. We chased the last into the room where Clanin stood, alarmed at the battle that raged. It was quiet for a moment, no one knowing what to do now. Clanin's guards had attacked us and fallen with the rest. I looked at the mage, he who had fought against us in an attempt to uphold that fop Lord British, he would had ties to the Council of Mages, he would was the last remaining member of the Royal Council ... The bloodlust of but moments before returned and I again drew my sword. "Kill him! Clanin must die!" We all fell upon him, but this powerful mage fought hard! He cast some protective spell around himself and threw many damaging spells our way, but slowly he began to weaken, his life sapping from the many wounds we had inflicted. The a shout from the look-out was heard "Shadowlords and Council of Mages coming up the road!" We turned towards the door, torn between finishing off Clanin and not allowing these enemies the chance to do so themselves, or to stop us. Quickly they choked the stairwell in a mindless charge. Just as quickly they were laid to rest from our vantage point above by the archers and mages among us. With an apparent burst of energy, Clanin shouted out a spell none of us had heard before and laid out lines of fire in all directions. We scrambled about, giving first aid to ours that were injured by this new attack, the turned back to the task at hand. Clanin would not live! As the mage began to stumble, clearly on his last leg, a loud *crack* rent the air, driving us back several steps. Before us stood the Lady Melissa, herself. Yet again stuck by the rapid change in circumstances, we all fell back a bit more. "I see that my lackies have failed me! But what is this? The followers of Minax killing Clanin? *claps* Oh how perfect! Stand back! Let me have the death blow! 'Tis the best!" As we stood by in shock, Melissa pulled a pitch black dagger from her cloak and plunged it again and again into Clanin. "Wait, she is a follower of the true Shadowlords! Sieze her!" a shout came from one of our guild. We surged forward, only to fall back again as Melissa screamed, "You have done the work my minions could not, and I thank you! But now, you must burn, with all the evidence of what has happened here!" Her hands began to glow a burning orange-red and we knew it was flee or die. We all turned to the door, jostling against one another in our rush to get away. Most made it safely to the stairwell, but a few were still in the room when the first explosion came and fell, badly injured or dead. The walls began to crumble and debris flew around us. A second explosion sounded and rubble fell to the floor as the room smoldered ... What dark things has this night brought unto the lands of Napa Valley? The Shadowlords failed at their task, but the mage Clanin is dead, at the hands of the followers of Minax. Deep chaos seems to have taken hold of our lands ...
[ Discuss This Article ]

Shattered Crimson
Posted on Saturday, March 21, 2009, 11:12 PM EDT by Lady Mana (NapaValley)
Dragons. Dragons everywhere! Or at least, that’s what it’s seemed like the past while. Years ago we found ourselves dealing with Tal’Keesh and her kin, and with the arrival of the Crimson Dragons, we’ve been forced to see our own neighbors cower in fear or lash out in hatred. But on the eve of March 21st, 2009, that all changed. The heart of darkness was destroyed. Having heard that an important venture was planned, a great number of Britannians stood outside Empath Abbey’s doors and treaded the green grass in anticipation. If you were among them, you might have recognized a familiar face: a strange elf named Kalathiro. In fact, it was from him that they had heard word the night would begin as soon as Maeda, Captain of the Guards, came to greet them. After a steady wait (and plenty of grape eating), the time finally arrived. Opening a moongate to somewhere deep in the forests of Yew, Maeda briskly led the gathered Britannians through another moongate, and in to a strange cavern. Exploring the unfamiliar grounds proved difficult, because a great number of atrocious monsters surged through the cavernous halls and tested the group’s strength. Most perilous were the Shadow Fiends, and any who approached them were fortunate if they managed to avoid a quick defeat. Indeed, the battle through the cavern was perilous. But! As to be expected, success eventually guided them to the core of the tunnel. It was there, amidst a torrent of daemonic beings, where a large crystal sigil stood. After a brief battle, all threatening beings were slain and only a curious crowd remained. What was this sigil? This blood crystal, which emanated such an ominous aura? As contemplation grew to swift frustration, all eyes stopped and paused on a newly arrived face. Casca, Lord Casca, and King of Britannia, addressed the crowd. Some of those he addressed whispered curt remarks of dishonor, while others bowed their head in allegience. Regardless, Lord Casca spoke to all in attendance and reassured them that everything was soon to be sorted. According to him, the blood sigil was behind all of Britannia’s recent misfortunes. If it were destroyed, then the dark grasp of the Crimson Dragons would be loosed. Today, they would witness history. And with that, Lord Casca raised his black staff and smashed the crystal to pieces. Blown back by a clash of magical forces, it took everyone a moment to regain their feet. As they stood, a few shards of the crystal remained… but not for long. As soon as people had grabbed what remnants they could, Lord Casca led them back to Empath Abbey and gave his closing speech. He voiced how his actions had saved Britannia. But, to his great dismay, a young Crimson Dragon lurched its way towards him and the crowd. Casca, deciding to disappear, left the Crimson Dragon alone to taunt and insult the surrounding Britannians. This did not last long. A small woman, Fayaxion, delicately made her way through the crowd and with a great voice, beseeched everyone to flee the area immediately. No one did, but her reasons soon became clear. Doffing her dress and human form, Fayaxion became a large, shimmering Platinum Dragon. The Crimson Dragon was quite intimidated, because it either ran away or was forced off by the Platinum Dragon’s sheer power of will. Either way, before many words of thanks could be offered, Fayaxion ruffled her wings and flew high away in to the sky. As Fayaxion disappeared from sight, only one question stood out amongst the many. What happens now? Regards, Lady Mana Lieutenant of the Royal Britannian Guards
[ Discuss This Article ]

Looking for a few good pens!
Posted on Tuesday, March 17, 2009, 6:24 PM EDT by Lady Mana (NapaValley)
Hey there guys! Are your shoes worn thin from traveling from town to town? Is your voice hoarse and sore from speaking with citizens across Britannia? Have a knack for putting pen to paper and writing an excellent story? Then perhaps UO Stratics' Napa Valley News Page is the place where you can not only show off your talent but also help bring the community together with interesting, exciting stories and news items about the Napa Valley Shard and her citizens. UO Stratics is currently looking for active, talented citizens of Napa Valley to join our team!! As a volunteer you are required to: * Be a competent writer * Be an active, knowledgeable member of the Napa Valley community * Be willing to attend events and quests, conduct player interviews, report news of interest to the community * Be able to dedicate a minimum of six hours per week to writing and/or posting news items * Have a familiarity with basic HTML * Be pro-active Does the above describe you? Then what are you waiting for??? Apply... right now... do not hesitate! Simply fill out this brief questionnaire and fire off an e-mail to Lady Mana with "Napa Valley Reporter Application" as the subject. 1. Real name 2. Contact e-mail address 3. ICQ, AIM, MSN number (if applicable) 4. Stratics username and character name (this must be the character name you will be reporting with) 5. Rate your HTML knowledge from 1-10, where 1 is poor and 10 is phenomenal 6. Answer this: Why do you wish to be a shard reporter for UO Stratics? 7. Include a brief writing sample, no more than 500 words (no attachments) 8. Date of Birth 9. Location (kept for Stratics records only) 10. Any Bans/Warnings (on any and all usernames) 11. Any questions??? You must be over 18 years of age or older to apply. Have fun! Lady Mana Napa Valley News Manager
[ Discuss This Article ]

Valentine's On Napa
Posted on Saturday, February 14, 2009, 6:57 PM EST by AilishD (NapaValley)
Friday night brought EM Kaen and EM Sezja to the Counselor's Guild in Britain for a little Valentine's fun with the people of Napa Valley. After much chatting and joking, and Sezja letting us all know how she loves us, she began to explain her sad Valentine's Day plight. It seems she had comissioned the poet Jeffery of Yew to write a poem for her, but he had yet to deliver. She beseeched us to please go inquire for her as to what the delay was. Off we all went to Empathy Abbey to find Jeffery. Upon arrival, we learned that he had lost his inspiration - namely his wife. It seems she had gone to tend to her ill father southwest of the city, and missing her dearly, Jeffery was unable to complete his poem! He asked us to please find what was taking so long, and when she would return. Upon finding Jeffery's wife with her ailing father, she beseeched us to find Gregor the Healer east of Yew and request his help. Gregor was a crabby fellow, feeling that this illness was below him, but he did say to let her know that fluids and rest were all that was necessary to heal her father. Back to Jeffery's inspiration to give her this good news! She understood and was glad of the news, however felt she was still needed to pull her father past this critical time in his illness and asked that we let Jeffery know. Jeffery was understanding, and, with our assistance, nearly completed the poem for Sezja. However, he felt it necessary to send his wife some flowers from the maid Eillish of Zento, as was his tradition. As he finished off the poem, we were to perform the small favor of finding Eillish and delivering his message. Off to Zento we went, feeling a bit downtrodden about not being able to deliver Sezja's poem just yet. Here we found that Eillish had become enthralled with a certain kind of flower, the Deepbloom, that grows only in the dungeons of Trammel and was curious to know their color. After a bit of searching, the Lilac Deepbloom was located in the dungeon Despise. We rushed back to Eillish to tell her of the discovery. Finally, Jeffery let us know that he would deliver Sezja's poem in the mail shortly. After much running and backtracking and searching, we finally returned to Sezja to give her news of her poem! In gratitude, she passed out a few tokens of appreciation to those who were first to bring the news. A few Cupid's Bows and several plates of Heart Cookies were passed out. Congrats to the winners: Tarquin Lavender Stephen The Wanderer NADA Kastro Spirit Heart Napa Man Dude Shania Raelynne Debbie Sundiata Keita Sly Quickfingers Thank you EM Sezja and EM Kaen for an entertaining evening! ~Ailish
[ Discuss This Article ]

Vivien the Healer
Posted on Thursday, February 12, 2009, 2:07 PM EST by AilishD (NapaValley)
It smelt like a slaughterhouse in the hut. The flies murmured above the moans of the wounded while the clouds pressed low outside, swollen with summer rains. Sweat ran down the healer's face as he paced back and forth, sweltering in his woollen robes, his feet reddened by the blood that painted the interwoven reed floors. Below the hut he could hear the clash and scrape of steel weapons, the slither of muscular scaled bodies and the hissing rasp of the ophidians calling to each other. The sound of carnage drowned out even the cicadas from the nearby jungle, but nothing could obscure the drone of feasting flies. He stayed until sundown, working until his hands were raw and his robes sodden, pained cries echoing in his ears. When the onslaught began to slow toward evening, the hut was carpeted with moaning bodies, twisting in agony as the jungle sun – fierce even at twilight – baked down upon the roof and the flies crawled in their blood-crusted nostrils. Looking at them, he knew that his work had only been postponing the inevitable. These were the worst wounded, the ones that couldn't be moved; as soon as the ophidians came, winding their sinuous bodies up the house stilts and through the window, these beings would be flesh for the feast. Better just to kill them now, he thought, but he knew that would not do. Humans did not kill for mercy. Juka and gargoyles practiced mercy-killing, and the great winged warriors of the marble island would put a lethal blade through the throat of a fallen comrade to spare them a slow earthbound death – he had seen them, had been taught how to do it - but humans were not like that; they were sentimental, and cruel in their sentimentality. Cruel and foolish. Sometimes he wondered if he had spent too much time in the company of other races to even be considered human anymore. Recognising that there was nothing more than he could do, he quietly left the hut. Humans and ophidians alike discounted him as he made his way across the town, a single dark-robed figure surrounded by clouds of flying dust and whirling blades, moving unhurriedly with his eyes turned toward the overcast sky, moving carefully through the thickly piled mangled corpses. He headed toward the darkening jungle with one hand on his quarterstaff and the other reaching inside his robes, feeling for his spare bandages. A young ophidian lay twisted and curled at the bottom of a ditch near the vine-thick trees. It was a lithe young male, fine-looking even though its autumn-gold scales were dented and encrusted with drying blood. At a glance, he realised that there was nothing that he could do for it; its spine had been broken, its body cleft almost in two, and although it lived still, as cut snakes do, it would not live for long. Without hesitation he walked up to it, knelt beside it and said in the ophidian language, his tongue stumbling on the sibilant syllables, "Let me help you." Its reptilian eyes, as bright as a Trinsic sunset, fixed him flatly and it flicked its bloodied tongue out, tasting his scent on the humid air. He watched it sadly. "What do you want?" it asked finally. "I want…" Pulling away, the healer regarded the chaos that was Papua. Smoke rose over the thatched roofs, staining the sky like a spreading bruise above the massed corpses, and the fading sun shone off splintered bone and shattered weapons; another man fell, young enough to be his son, his dying cry bubbling bloodily on his lips. "…I want this to never happen again," he finished, looking back at the crippled ophidian. It watched him inscrutably, one limp useless hand resting on the shaft of its bardiche. "All this fighting… I want it to stop, I want it to end." Pausing, he added, "But in the meantime, I want to help you." Its tongue flicked again. "You stole our…" "That's not important now," he interrupted. It fell silent. Reaching over, he lightly touched its torn flesh, feeling the broken edges of scales hard and sharp under his fingers; it didn't even flinch. "You can't feel that, can you… your spine is cut. There's nothing I can do. You'll be dead before morning, providing that nothing kills you first…" As he drew back he could feel its vivid slit-pupilled eyes on him. Its breath was raspy with pain. He wished that he could help it, but all that he could offer was an easy death; he would give it that at least. Sosaria was home to many races, and all of them deserved the gift of mercy. Even if nobody else observed that, Vivien would. "I can make it quick," he said. "I'm afraid that's all I can do." Ichor gurgled in its throat as it hissed a laugh. "Blunt, human. I like it." Its severed tail wriggled mindlessly in the ditch like a golden overgrown worm. "I… well, go, then. With my thanks." It coughed, a curious sound coming from a serpent; runny black ophidian blood drooled from its jaws. Nodding, he stood and hefted his quarterstaff. One stroke – that was all it would take. The Juka had taught him how, in his time spent among them. "Don't move. This won't hurt." "Pain! Hah!" A moment before he struck, it twisted to look up at him. Its eyes gleamed with reptilian intellect as it whispered, "Why… why are you helping me?" Vivien paused. He tightened his grip on the quarterstaff, mentally analysing the weak spots of the ophidian's skull, determining where to strike. "I help everybody," he said gently. "But… we are at war… you are human…" "Barely." He smiled. "And we're not so different. We'll all meet on the other side, every one of us – human, elf, ophidian, ogre and all." He raised his staff. "I hope to see you there. Fare well." The ophidian's jaws parted; a serpentine smile. "Thank… you…" He brought the staff down.
[ Discuss This Article ]

Introducing Maeda Himeko
Posted on Thursday, February 12, 2009, 1:18 PM EST by Lady Mana (NapaValley)
---- "Commander Lucius Worthington-Montgomery," he introduced himself, "folks just call me Monty." "Maeda Himeko," she replied, taking his offered hand after a moments hesitation, "hajimemashite." The commander laughed heartily, "I haven't a clue what that means, but the feeling's probably mutual." Maeda bowed her head, a little confused by his response. "So, lieutenant," he continued, "who's wick did you get on, to be assigned here?" "Wick?" she asked, her growing confusion becoming evidence on her face. "I don't understand." "Well, you didn't get sent to this icy corner of hell, because you were anyone's favourite." He explained, "glorious as an assignment to the capital may be, chances are you'll just end up buried under her." "I have no intention of dying here," she said quietly, and completely seriously. The commander laughed again, "good job, too, else I'd have to find myself a new lieutenant." Maeda nodded slightly, to acknowledge, but not encourage his line of reasoning. "Whatever it was, I don't care," he waved his hand dismissively. "The war's dragging on, and I'll take all the help I can get, especially if it comes with as many recommendations as you do." "I look forward to serving under you," she said, with a deep bow. "That's the spirit, although less bowing," he laughed again. "Salute, if you must, but bowing makes me feel like there's a noble looking over my shoulder." He lowered his voice and checked behind him, "it's bad enough having an army at your doorstep, but when the nobles start poking their noses in... I'd rather be out there, with the dragons." "Dragons?" Maeda asked, furrowing her brow a little in surprise. "Of course, the mages brought you in, didn't they?" He sighed, "I'll show you." "Welcome, to Britain," he said, with a grand gesture over the wall. Maeda looked out at the city below. The streets were littered with bodies, with survivors examining them, in the hopes of finding wounded allies that could be saved, or enemies that could be dealt with. Movement in the eastern part of the city caught her eye. In the distance, she saw a huge red dragon, making its way between the buildings, seemingly looking for something. "That's why the mages brought you in," he explained, with a solemn nod. "Every time she shows, we lose a dozen men, at least. The dragons that come before her, we manage well enough. But her..." Maeda looked at him curiously, he wasn't laughing any more. "Are you sure I can't interest you in one?" he asked, offering a liberal glass of something potent. After showing her the dragon, he'd led her back to his office. "I don't drink," she answered, watching him carefully. "Yet," he mumbled, and raised his glass in a toast that seemed to lack conviction. "To the Royal Guards." She watched him drink deeply from the glass, in silence. The reasons were obvious to her, but she still had some difficulty accepting an officer that was so quick to turn to a bottle. "Your orders," he continued after draining the glass, "are to get your bearings. We don't need to be sending out search parties for you, because you took a wrong turn at the kitchen." He chuckled at her expression, "it's a big castle, everyone gets lost at least once. When you figure you can handle it, put this on." Reaching under his desk, he pulled out a small red bundle, and slid it across the polished surface towards her. As she picked it up to examine it, he smiled to her, "the Royal Guard need a captain, it might as well be you." ---- Attention Royal Guards and citizens, alike! I am most pleased to announce that fellow Lieutenant, Maeda Himeko, has been awarded the rank of Captain! It is with utmost sincerity that I congratulate her on her achievements, and know that we will all do our utmost to aid her in healing Britannia's current state of turmoil. May the virtues be with you all. Regards, Lady Mana Lieutenant of the Royal Britannian Guards
[ Discuss This Article ]

Welcoming EM Sezja!
Posted on Friday, December 19, 2008, 7:57 PM EST by Lady Mana (NapaValley)
Greetings, citizens! With the coming of the holiday season, we have been blessed with a very special gift! As I’m sure you’ve heard, whispers on the wind claim that a new Event Moderator has arrived! Well, sure enough, these rumours are quite true. Who is this, you ask? Our former Event Moderator (EM) was Theowulf, but this time around, we have a new face! Please welcome our new master of mayhem, EM Sezja! Sezja was discovered in the West Britain Counselor’s Hall earlier in the evening, and retired around 7:30 PST. So, if you’d like to meet Sezha, pay a visit sometime in the early evening! He/she would love to get acquainted with our community. Why am I not being gender specific, you might be wondering? Good question! Apparently there was a bit of confusion in chromosomes, and Sezja (a boy, at the moment) is actually a girl. We don't know much about her yet, but I'm sure we'll all get well acquainted soon enough. Sezja is currently confined to the Counselor’s Hall so don’t expect to see them outside wandering around (yet). Until the curse keeping her locked inside is broken, please feel free to bring disposable, temporary furniture and other items to help spruce the place up a bit! I tried throwing in some tables and flowers, but it only helped so much. Welcome, Sezja! Hope we don’t give you too much trouble. Regards, Lady Mana Lieutenant of the Royal Britannian Guards Napa Valley News Manager
[ Discuss This Article ]

The Times We Live In...
Posted on Monday, November 3, 2008, 7:14 PM EST by Lady Mana (NapaValley)
A knock sounded on the lady’s door. It was long after hours, and she had been slowly preparing to head home for the night. Things had gone so bad lately; surely this knock at the door could not bear even more horrifying news. Chanting under her breath, she telekinetically opened the door with a wave of her hand. An old man stumbled in, catching himself a bit too late. Dusting himself off, he looked ahead and glared angrily at the lady before him. Limping forward rather loudly, he threw himself in to a seat adjacent from the lady he had so carelessly disturbed. When asked what his business was, he slammed his fist on the table and yelled; “Gracious! First we’re all subjected to the ravings of a lunatic old crone, then we go helter-skelter looking for that thief, Ricardo. Before you know it, Moonglow goes haywire and the Shadowlords are back. The Shadowlords! Of all things! Times went down the sewer in a handbasket, I tell you. The poor Royal Council… slain! Their restless souls undoubtedly roam the castle halls, still. I’ve heard rumours, you know. Speaking of restless souls, I’ve never seen so many before! And the skeletal liches? I sure hope that totem goes away soon, it creeps me right out. Now, as to what I’m doing here, I’m just an old man begging for a bit of attention. Hear me out! The poor souls roaming our doomed city, Magincia, still saturate the island with their haunted presence. I can’t stand it, I tell you! We need as many exorcists, clair..voyan..cists… clairvoyants! Yes, as many of those and as many warriors as you can muster. Honestly, why do I get the feeling that if I were a young man again this problem would be taken care of by now!? You young whippersnappers don’t seem to have any sense of responsibility; and you’re gonnah get it for being so slack! I sure hope when I die, and become a restless soul, someone puts me out of my misery straight away. NO FIDDLE FADDLING. And one more thing. You’re in the news, right? Have you heard anything about the cities besieged lately? I went to visit my cousin in Vesper and he ran away from me screaming like a lunatic on fire! I can’t say I’ve ever felt any more indignant than at that moment. Sure, there are things roaming the lands that frighten you to your very core, but we never had to live in fear like this before! It’s simply … not the way we are! We are Britannians! Lord British, wherever he may be, never would have let this happen. Where’s a hero when you need him? Are all the legends a lie? Honestly… I’ve half a mind to join up with the Shadowlord faction right now; at least they seem to be accomplishing something. What have I seen out of everyone here? Little swings of a sword at a giant spider? Pul-eeze. Don’t joke around with an old man. The lady folded her hands together, taking a deep sigh as she scowled at the old man. He wasn’t the first to storm in to her office and ramble out such remarks. In fact, it seemed to be a habit of Britannia’s cowards to help themselves to her time and remind her of the world’s problems. Funny thing was, she thought, none of them seemed willing to do anything about it. None of them, that is, except the countless men and women of wit and daring whom she saw on the battlefield day after day. If the future of Britannia lay at rest in the hands of cowards such as this man, surely all would be lost. “No matter what you say, missy, nothing you do is going to get the job done. You just have to get out there and do it! By the sight of ya, you’d not last longer than a heartbeat, though. Your last heartbeat! Haha… ha! Hem. I tell ya, if I ever find myself a fountain of youth, I’d be this world’s hero. No lies! Dragon slaying… ha! Killing a dragon was as easy as baking pie, in my day. You just needed the nerves, the guts! Why do you lot seem to have such a sore time with it? I’m fed up. Fed up I say!!!” Standing suddenly, he crashed his fists upon the lady’s desk and left her presence in a heated huff. The lady smiled. Indeed, the future of Britannia was not left in the hands of men such as this. It was in much more capable hands. The frightening question remains, though – to which allegiance do those hands belong? Shivering from the thought, the lady shook her head in deep contemplation. These are indeed dire times, and the first that we’ve experienced such without a strong leader to offer guidance. With that in mind, she began packing up her things and headed out in to the chill night air.
[ Discuss This Article ]

K-D Is Hosting a Dungeon Crawl, with Prizes!
Posted on Saturday, September 27, 2008, 3:25 PM EDT by Lady Mana (NapaValley)
On Saturday, October 18, K-D is sponsoring a dungeon crawl to Shame, down all 5 levels, with things to gather and prizes to get. Prepare to fight everything from Earth Elementals to Krakens, and from Harpies to Evil Mage Lords! There is over 2 million gold in prizes at stake, so watch your back and prepare to descend the dungeon floors! The crawl is planned to stretch from 5:30pm PST to 7:30pm PST, and teams will be formed at the K-D Guild House. At 5:00pm PST, half an hour before the event starts, please meet at the Skara Brae Community Center, Trammel and behind the Tailor Shop at Luna, Malas. Come join the fun! If you have any questions, please PM talween.
[ Discuss This Article ]

Test Center Updated
Posted on Thursday, May 1, 2008, 5:04 PM EDT by Dreamwolf (NapaValley)
Factions In order to promote accessibility and invigorate Factions, we’ve made several changes and fixed some bugs. Additionally, Factions will play an important role in the Warriors of Destiny plot arc. Faction size limit and load balancer removed: individual factions can grow to any size. Previously capped at 200. Multiple characters from the same account may join the same faction An account cannot have characters in different factions on the same shard Removed 30 day character age requirement “Young” players cannot join factions “Young” players will be removed from guilds that join factions One vote in faction elections per account Only one character per account may run in the elections Quit time reduced from 7 days to 3 days House Placement Changes This publish implements several changes to prevent house placement exploits. 15 day character age requirement to place or trade a house Water barrels/magic fields/etc will no longer block house placement When a house is placed on top of a moongate, the placer will get a message about placement being blocked, and the moongate will be destroyed (at both ends.) IDOC behavior (houses that collapse through decay) When an IDOC drops, housing cannot be placed on the lot for a random amount of time Items that drop from the IDOC will have protections against scripted looting House placement tool will have a cooldown if used too many times in a given time period Must now wait one hour after building a home before demolishing it (previously 15 minutes) Spring Cleaning 2008 Ah, how time flies. Spring has come once again to Britannia, but the sweet smell of blossoming flowers outside our homes can’t belie the memories of battles fought long so very long ago. Or is that the chest overflowing with Ophidian weapons in the corner? Or maybe it’s the bag of cursed artifacts hidden upstairs? Time to cleanup, Britannia! Publish 52 institutes the first round of Spring Cleaning collections and rewards Four NPCs around the world collect items in exchange for tickets The tickets can be redeemed for rewards in a new community collection Turn-in items Copper Shilling 100pts Planesword 100pts Planeshield 100pts Ophidian Rations Can accept stacks of 1, 10, or 100 100pts per Ration Ophidian Orders 250pts Slippery Snake Skins 400pts Silver Crown 500pts Power Weapon 650pts Magincia Rubble 800pts Vanquishing Weapon 1.000pts Mystic Weapon 2,000pts Ophidian Journals 2,500pts Staff of Pyros 2,500pts Vorpal Blade 2,500pts Ophidian Weapon (Power) 3,500pts Cursed Artifacts 5,000pts Ophidian Weapon (Vanquishing) 5,000pts Ophidian Weapon (Mystic) 7,500pts Berserker's Scythe 10,000pts Gold Sovereign 10,000pts Ophidian Berserker's Bardiche 25,000pts Inavlis's Burchete 2,000,000pts Rewards Shirt: "I survived the Ophidian War" 1,000pts Shirt: "I survived the snakes on the plains" 1,000pts Shirt: "I saved the day and all I got was this fancy shirt" 1,000pts Shirt: "Free Ricardo!" 1,000pts Shirt: "Hang Ricardo!" 1,000pts Shirt: "Magincia Pride" 1,000pts Shirt: "Minax is #1" 1,000pts Shirt: "Council of Mages are #1" 1,000pts Shirt: "True Britannians are #1" 1,000pts Shirt: "Shadowlords are #1" 1,000pts Nocturne Earrings 5,000pts Sherry the Mouse Statue 10,000pts Scroll of Alacrity 20,000pts Snake Skin Boots 20,000pts RBG Sash (Blue) 30,000pts RBG Sash (Yellow) 30,000pts RBG Sash (Red) 30,000pts RBG Sash (Green) 30,000pts RBG Sash (Orange) 30,000pts RBG Sash (Purple) 30,000pts RBG Sash (White) 30,000pts RBG Sash (Black) 30,000pts Knight's Close Helm 100,000pts Knight's Norse Helm 100,000pts Knight's Plate Helm 100,000pts Knight's Bascinet 100,000pts Knight's Gorget 100,000pts Knight's Gloves 100,000pts Knight's Arms 100,000pts Knight's Legs 100,000pts Knight's Breastplate 100,000pts Knight's Breastplate (Female) 100,000pts Descriptions: Shirts Comes with one phrase of choice Blessed Dyable Nocturne Earrings Grayish silver Night Sight RBG Sashes “Royal Britannia Guard” One color per Virtue/Town Blessed Scroll of Alacrity Increase skill gain for 15 minutes in the scroll’s skill Skill is randomly set once redeemed from the collection Sherry the Mouse Statue Larger than life statue of Sherry, in marble Will be hooked into the Town Crier system in Publish 53 Snake Skin Boots Random snake skin hue +2% Poison Resist Knight’s Armor White Each piece has 7% resists, +1 HP Total: 42% resists, +6HP as a set of 6 items Cannot be enhanced Turn-Ins Makiko the Samurai Turnins: Ophidian Journals Ophidian Orders Zento, Rokuon Cultural Center, 1st Floor Lozat the Numismatist Turnins: Copper Shilling Silver Crown Gold Sovereign Britain (Trammel), East Britain Bank Calaid the Soldier Turnins: Ophidian Rations Slippery Snake Skins Britain (Trammel), North guard tower at Castle Britannia entrance Siege: Guard tower southwest of West Britain Bank Onoe the Soldier Turnins: Cursed Artifacts Magincia Rubble Planesword Planeshield Staff of Pyros Vorpal Blade Magical Weapons (Power, Vanquishing, Mystic) Ophidian Weapons (Power, Vanquishing, Mystic) Berserker’s Scythe Ophidian Berserker’s Bardiche Invalis’s Burchete Britain (Trammel), South guard tower at Castle Britannia entrance Siege: Guard tower southwest of West Britain Bank Community collection box Located with Onoe the Soldier Bug Fixes: Fixed a bug where players that use the Basket of Herbs could lose 20 points of cooking when the effect wears off instead of 10 points of cooking. Explosion potion should no longer go off and reveal the player if the player is in no play mode (character transfer). Pet release gump should now closed the moment a player is in no play mode during a character transfer. Players should no longer be able to stable pets while a pet trade gump is open. Spellweaving: Essence of Wind. Casting Speed and SSI debuff potency have been flip flopped Fixed an issue with Ronin not being able to access secures in their own houses if permissions were set to "guild" The Curse spell should no longer sometimes last past its intended duration When a monster casts Curse on players the icon should now show in the buff icon tool bar Fixed bugs where Paroxymus's swamp dragon can despawn if it is killed Fixes the 2 rare mounts obtained from peerless mobs. Will no longer be marked as a summoned pet. Will no longer be deleted by other monsters special moves. Fixed a bug where some "Sacks of Flour" could not be used as a cooking ingredient Players guarded by pets that are attacked via the Paralyze spell in a guard zone will no longer get guardwhacked Flattened the ground to remove pit in Moonglow, on tram/fel. Players who transfer to a shard from another will no longer start in Magincia. Fixed a bug with the weight of stacks of bola balls being incorrect Small stacks of ore should no longer get stuck in "This object is in use" mode Runic fishing poles made with Oak will not return values of 0 any longer Commas can now be seen in checks (instead of 1000000, you will see 1,000,000)