|
 [UO Herald: Live Events] First Contact | |
| Posted on Thursday, October 29, 2009, 2:08 AM EDT by Avenhar (QuestandEventNews) |
First Contact
Start Date: October 20, 2009
End Date: October 20, 2009
Additional Information
Queen Zhah took the scroll her royal guard was presenting her. Their eyes met for a brief second as she silently thanked him with a slight nod. The guard lowered his eyes respectfully and with a slow bow of the head, as he quietly exited the room.
The Queen ran her fingers over the seal that bound the exquisite parchment the message was written on. She had seen such a seal before in the archives… a seal not of this world. The room was filled with tension as her Council stood staring at her intently, no doubt as curious as she was about the content of the missive. But were they as concerned?
She broke the seal and began to read. When she finished, she exhaled loudly and realized she had been holding her breath. She hoped it didn’t reveal the extent of the relief she was feeling. She lifted her eyes from the parchment and offered a restrained smile to Surnem, her Minister of Magic.
“Her name is Dawn.” she said calmly, then looked around the room at Hon-Aur, her Minister of Commerce and Uskadesh, her Minister of War, observing their reaction.
“Dawn?” repeated Surnem, with curiosity. “Yes. She’s the leader of our… visitors. Their Queen.” replied Queen Zhah. “She sends her respects and requests the pleasure of meeting with the leader of the magnificent world her people recently discovered.”
“She wants to come here?” inquired Hon-Aur. “No. This is an invitation to come visit her palace in the lands beyond the Abyss.” said Queen Zhah. Uskadesh stretched his wings nervously and said much louder than he had intended “This could be a trap!” He winced and lowered his eyes in shame at the scolding look the Queen gave him. He thought to himself “Control, you fool... Control!”
Surnem suppressed the disdainful smile that threatened to blossom on her lips as she shifted her gaze from the chastised Minister of War to her regal Queen. “This could be good for us, my Queen. Since the Elves and the Humans have entered our realm, our battle against the void creatures has been far more successful. The number of new refugees has diminished by almost half!” Hon-Aur walked over to Surnem and stood by her side in sign of support as he declared “Commerce has also exploded everywhere in Ter Mur. Even the Holy City has reported a huge increase in sales and trades. The people are regaining a sense of hope!”
Hope… Queen Zhah wouldn’t let Hon-Aur see how his innocent comment stung her. That the mere appearance of these strangers and rumors of a foreign Queen would give her people more hope than she has despite all her sacrifices and all her struggle to protect them…
She walked off to one of the terraces of her palace and her Council followed her quietly. Down below, Humans, Elves and Gargoyles were noisily going about their business. It had been a long time since there had been such joyous activity in the City. “Passion and Diligence, Zhah… for the people” she thought to herself. She resolutely turned to Uskadesh and in a tone that suffered no arguments she said “Prepare my royal escort. We leave in the morning. Surnem, round up your Mystics and find a way to rebuild the gate.” She turned her back to them again to face the city. Dismissed, they left without another word.
“Hope…” she whispered.
-Sakkarah |
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| [UO Herald: Live Events] Hyde and Seek | |
| Posted on Thursday, October 29, 2009, 2:05 AM EDT by Avenhar (QuestandEventNews) |
Hyde and Seek
Start Date: October 23, 2009
End Date: To Be Determined
Additional Information
Jared let out a heavy sigh as he looked at Isham’s body in helpless frustration. The latest concoction he applied on him had yet again failed. He could not stand Isham’s angry, accusatory stare, but now was not the time to dwell on moral dilemmas or guilt. There was much work to be done and too little time left.
The sudden muffled sound of a feminine voice emanating from behind the laboratory’s doors startled them both. Jared stared at the door in shock, his mind racing, trying to identify the woman. No one knew of this place, not even his wife Eliza. He glanced back at Isham whose eyes suddenly widened in joyous recognition, quickly replaced by horror. He whimpered and looked at Jared with pleading eyes.
“Lydia”, whispered Jared with sudden understanding.
She would come inside the room any minute now and see what had transpired here. He couldn’t allow that. He gave Isham a stern warning look as he ordered in a whisper: “Be quiet!”
He gestured towards Isham as he chanted An Lor Xen. The spell fizzled. He cussed at his cold hands still numb from touching Isham despite the protective gloves. He re-casted the spell and this time was thankfully successful. As soon as Isham vanished, Jared propped himself against the cave wall and donned his invisibility cloak. Seconds later, Lydia materialized inside the room.
She took a few hesitant steps and shyly called out Isham’s name. Getting no response, she walked further into the room. There was no one… The only sound she could hear was the slow simmer of a foul smelling mixture in a cauldron. Her heart sank. She could not believe he stood her up again… not after last night’s talk… not after all the promises…
She made for the desk at the back of the room in the unlikely hope that he would have left her another note. As she passed the alchemist table, the air suddenly became freezing cold and painful blisters erupted on her exposed right arm. She jumped back a few steps, yelping in pain.
The room suddenly felt ominous, as if inhabited by a dark, evil force. She dared not turn her back to run to the door so she clumsily walked backwards, her eyes darting in every direction, expecting to see some spawn of evil lunge at her at any moment.
His own heart pounding was deafening to Jared as he watched Lydia’s hasty retreat. She kept chanting In Mani though all the blisters on her arms had faded, as if to ward against some daemon. And then she was gone. Relieved, he removed his cloak. His mage skills had always been somewhat limited and he had feared the Invisibility spell on Isham would have worn off before she left.
“This is all your doing” said Isham, becoming visible again, his voice broken and barely recognizable…
Tears welled in his eyes, but turned to ice as they rolled down his cheeks. The frozen tears fell, shattering in countless diamond-like pebbles bouncing on the floor.
* * *
Eliza entered the imposing Yew Courthouse and walked up to Inspector Jasper. For some reason, law enforcers always made her nervous.
“Excuse me, Sir” she said timidly. “I would like to file a Missing Person report.”
-Regine Sakkarah Abel |
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| First Contact | |
| Posted on Saturday, September 19, 2009, 3:51 AM EDT by Avenhar (QuestandEventNews) |
First Contact
Start Date: To Be Determined
End Date: To Be Determined
Additional Information
Queen Zhah took the scroll her royal guard was presenting her. Their eyes met for a brief second as she silently thanked him with a slight nod. The guard lowered his eyes respectfully and with a slow bow of the head, as he quietly exited the room.
The Queen ran her fingers over the seal that bound the exquisite parchment the message was written on. She had seen such a seal before in the archives… a seal not of this world. The room was filled with tension as her Council stood staring at her intently, no doubt as curious as she was about the content of the missive. But were they as concerned?
She broke the seal and began to read. When she finished, she exhaled loudly and realized she had been holding her breath. She hoped it didn’t reveal the extent of the relief she was feeling. She lifted her eyes from the parchment and offered a restrained smile to Surnem, her Minister of Magic.
“Her name is Dawn.” she said calmly, then looked around the room at Hon-Aur, her Minister of Commerce and Uskadesh, her Minister of War, observing their reaction.
“Dawn?” repeated Surnem, with curiosity. “Yes. She’s the leader of our… visitors. Their Queen.” replied Queen Zhah. “She sends her respects and requests the pleasure of meeting with the leader of the magnificent world her people recently discovered.”
“She wants to come here?” inquired Hon-Aur. “No. This is an invitation to come visit her palace in the lands beyond the Abyss.” said Queen Zhah. Uskadesh stretched his wings nervously and said much louder than he had intended “This could be a trap!” He winced and lowered his eyes in shame at the scolding look the Queen gave him. He thought to himself “Control, you fool... Control!”
Surnem suppressed the disdainful smile that threatened to blossom on her lips as she shifted her gaze from the chastised Minister of War to her regal Queen. “This could be good for us, my Queen. Since the Elves and the Humans have entered our realm, our battle against the void creatures has been far more successful. The number of new refugees has diminished by almost half!” Hon-Aur walked over to Surnem and stood by her side in sign of support as he declared “Commerce has also exploded everywhere in Ter Mur. Even the Holy City has reported a huge increase in sales and trades. The people are regaining a sense of hope!”
Hope… Queen Zhah wouldn’t let Hon-Aur see how his innocent comment stung her. That the mere appearance of these strangers and rumors of a foreign Queen would give her people more hope than she has despite all her sacrifices and all her struggle to protect them…
She walked off to one of the terraces of her palace and her Council followed her quietly. Down below, Humans, Elves and Gargoyles were noisily going about their business. It had been a long time since there had been such joyous activity in the City. “Passion and Diligence, Zhah… for the people” she thought to herself. She resolutely turned to Uskadesh and in a tone that suffered no arguments she said “Prepare my royal escort. We leave in the morning. Surnem, round up your Mystics and find a way to rebuild the gate.” She turned her back to them again to face the city. Dismissed, they left without another word.
“Hope…” she whispered.
-Sakkarah |
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| Long Live the Queen | |
| Posted on Tuesday, September 8, 2009, 11:50 PM EDT by Avenhar (QuestandEventNews) |
Long Live the Queen
Start Date: September 8, 2009
End Date: To Be Determined
Additional Information
Let it be known upon every isle of the Great and Illustrious Kingdom of Britannia that our own shining jewel, that radiant Star of Hope, our own Lady Dawn has been crowned Queen of the Realm by the common consent of Her people.
In turn, let the works of Casca – the usurper, the murderer, the fraud and betrayer – be forgotten and driven into the dust beneath our heels even as we turn our eyes towards our new Queen.
The False King is dead. Long Live the Queen!
Sherry the Mouse
-Sherry the Mouse |
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| Mondain's Legacy | |
| Posted on Friday, September 4, 2009, 4:28 PM EDT by Avenhar (QuestandEventNews) |
Start Date: September 4, 2009
End Date: To Be Determined
Additional Information
I, Dexter, continue this work of history by my own hand, writing only that which is known unto me.
Herein I shall expound upon the great legacy of Mondain, the secret that brought the platinum dragons to our aid. For what could compel those most ancient wyrms, avatars of age and power, to help the weak and inferior races of men and elves?
Oh, some shall say, that these great dragons are simply altruistic, the embodiment of good without motive to question. They speak as though these beings, whose intelligence dwarfs our own, could be cast into only one simple mold. This is folly, and an insult to these great immortals who fought so valiantly alongside our own lines to defeat their crimson brethren.
Some shall say the threat was never the Shadowlords, but simply the crimson dragons.
Nay, the threat was real.
For the Shadowlords had not simply feasted upon the suffering of the world for their own gluttony. No, they had discovered a greater power, and in their avarice sought it to the very extinction of all life upon our world.
The Three, those cursed in name, had begun creating a Gem of Immortality even as Mondain had so long ago. They had found, after great effort, a ruby gem capable of harnessing the power of our beautiful sun, and in their vileness corrupted it: feeding it hatred, cowardice, and lies.
This they had done in world after world, binding them time after time, consuming their power and leaving it to wither and perish.
And when those Three were defeated, what was left of their wretched mortal shells but shards of the very same Gem? A Gem forged on a distant world, long dead…
No, the dragons have returned to Britannia, and their claim to this world is as strong, if not stronger, than our own. They fought to save this world, and we, we are but a small part in their plans.
-Tim “Draconi” Cotten |
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| Peering into the Past | |
| Posted on Thursday, September 3, 2009, 12:32 PM EDT by Avenhar (QuestandEventNews) |
Start Date: August 12, 2009
End Date: August 30, 2009
Additional Information
Dexter’s brow creased in worry.
Across from him sat the elder mage Sutek, his constant companion in their self-imposed exile from Britannia. Not exile, he thought, bitterness welling up, but their flight. After Moonglow’s devastating events Sutek had latched onto the younger mage and the injured stranger, rushing them into hiding.
But why?
Sutek let out a soft groan – he had been hunched over the scrying pool for hours now, eyes unblinking, locked in an endless stare with nothing. It had given Dexter plenty of time to consider their plight, and the recent freedom they had found in the resistance movement.
The “why” had become obvious when Casca’s men had come for him: not guards, he remembered, no, these were people who ended… threats. He shivered, recalling their dark armor as they surrounded him in the small, cramped home. He remembered slamming into a chair, rocking back, the knife at his throat, the questions –
Sutek had gotten him out then, and they hadn’t looked back.
The third member of their trio, Sutek called him Hawkwind, was still unconscious. Then again, Dexter wasn’t sure the word applied to… him. He looked human, but the vision of the glorious personage he had seen inside the rift persisted in his mind. He could still see the white robe, the burning eyes, and the pillars of fire he had unleashed on the Shadowlords so long ago.
Yet this was no immortal, at least, not anymore. All Dexter saw was the husk of a mortal man laid across a stained bed, propped up by pillows smuggled to them by loyal sympathizers.
Dexter turned back towards the bowl just in time. It came on quickly, without forewarning, as magic flowed into the bowl and out from it, enveloping the tent in a diffused glow. A light blossomed beneath the surface of the rippling liquid mirror.
And then Sutek could see.
-Tim “Draconi” Cotten |
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| Dawn of Hope | |
| Posted on Thursday, September 3, 2009, 12:29 PM EDT by Avenhar (QuestandEventNews) |
Start Date: August 4, 2009
End Date: August 30, 2009
Additional Information
She kneeled in front of the wooden chest, gently brushing her fingers atop the aged mahogany. The corner of the house was quiet; her only company the tiny motes of dust spinning in gentle pirouettes down an errant shaft of light.
Pulling the old brass key from her skirt sent a glancing ray around the room to play across the ceiling. She gazed at it for a moment, remembering, and lowered it towards the chest. A sound, suddenly familiar, greeted her efforts with a soft click.
The chest began opening upwards, revealing the treasures she had placed within so long ago. In her mind the familiar refrain of an old song began: a song of strange places, of lost peoples, and of Stones.
The jewels and gold atop the velvet sparkled in the light returned, but her hands slipped beneath them, gently setting them aside. As the tales of her Lord and King awoke within her the humble tune carried on, rising in fervor. She lifted aside the smooth cloth, her fingers grazing against the cherished treasure beneath.
The door crashed inwards.
One hand had already ripped her armor from its resting place within the chest, the lid snapping closed, as the other leveled a sword towards the intruder before she realized this was no foe who had interrupted her impromptu reverie.
“We must go!”
She picked herself up, holding up the iron and oiled leather armor, shining despite the years. The man paused then, her determination, her calmness blunting his message. He realized what she held and turned around, suddenly modest, but spoke on.
“The madman let them loose on Luna,” he moved to make a spitting motion, and frustrated by the indoors, jerked his head to the side instead. “No place is safe, not even here.”
Dawn stepped beside him, cinching a band of leather across her waist, and strapping her sword to her hip.
“Then we ride for Luna.”
…
After the pair had left the old farmhouse a cloaked figure stepped from the shadows to regard the empty room. They never would have felt his presence, let alone seen him, and yet he had been there throughout. White hair with streaks of platinum spilled from beneath the hood as he pushed it back. He regarded the lonely chest, now emptied of its great charge.
“Such things should not be left to perish,” he mused, waving his hand, “When her work is done she will have need of you again.”
The chest vanished, and then so had he.
-Tim |
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| The Bell of Courage | |
| Posted on Thursday, September 3, 2009, 12:26 PM EDT by Avenhar (QuestandEventNews) |
Start Date: September 3, 2009
End Date: To Be Determined
Additional Information
The dragons had come, and with them, power.
The power to end wars, or begin them anew. Even as the platinum dragons pledged aid to the battered armies of Dawn, behemoths of crimson red had appeared alongside the agents of chaos, fulfilling vows made in the dark recesses of the void.
Distractions and diversions had been tossed aside, strategies abandoned. A veritable army now answered her call, surrounding her beneath the ramparts of Serpent’s Hold.
The dragons sought to pacify the threat of their crimson enemies, in a bid to give Dawn the time she needed to take her army into the Underworld and destroy the Shadowlords in their hiding place.
The greatest of the platinums had spoken to her, telling her of the power each artifact held – that through them she would take on the mantle of virtue and pierce the veil that protected the Shadowlords.
There plan was simple, for time had simply run out. One part of her army would aid the dragons, while the other made their way to the daemon template of Fire Island, and there, confront the Shadowlords deep beneath the earth.
Now she held the last of the sacred treasures. The Bell of Courage was cold in her hands, heavy, as though weighted with the ages, and yet it resonated still – a new magic slowly intertwining with the power of the other two within her. At last, she was assured.
She looked out upon the assemblage below, a sea of faces all now familiar. Her friends, her followers, simply strangers a few weeks before, now bonded together by blood and fire. Beyond the crowd a slow mist rolled in from the shore, and for a moment, in that deepening fog, she could see all who had ever stood beside her, all who were left behind.
Her eyes caught those of her most loyal comrades, among them a master thief, a grizzled soldier, a young mage, and even a tiny mouse.
She lifted the bell forward, holding it aloft, even as the crowd kneeled in reverent awe, quieting to hear her.
“Britannia!”
“Today we shall conquer! In Virtue’s name!”
The crowd roared in approval.
“We go not now to die for our kingdom!”
“Nay! We shall live to see her free!”
From the heavens a rushing sound descended upon the fortress city, as shining meteors of silvery light appeared above, in moments the platinum flight had descended upon the parapets, roaring their approval.
Dawn pulled back her hand, and threw it forward with a powerful snap.
The bell rang, a crystal note of righteous fury speeding through the crowd. The dragons roared again, their voices rising in a symphony of ancient song. The mortal throng too began to shout, and this was their refrain:
“Rule, Britannia!”
And so on they sang, even as their ships set out across the ocean towards the Isle of Fire, where at last their struggle could end.
-Tim “Draconi” Cotten |
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| The Nature of Shadows | |
| Posted on Friday, August 21, 2009, 2:31 AM EDT by Avenhar (QuestandEventNews) |
Posted to uoherald.com
Start Date: August 20, 2009
End Date: To Be Determined
Additional Information
Britannia lay under siege, both from forces without and within. Her borders marred by intrusions by daemonic horde and mortal traitor, her fields in ashes, homes empty, deserted. The great cities still moved on, unheeding the carnage consuming the countryside even as voices rose in protest, only to be cut down by the merciless enforcers stalking the streets.
The agents of the Shadowlords moved freely amongst the common people, subverting their will with insidious guile. Their earliest attacks had taken a toll on the will to fight, and now the very people of Britannia were becoming part of their own downfall. Every day the Shadowlords themselves grew stronger, preparing for the day they could convert the world into yet another dark jewel in their ever expanding collection of conquered shards.
Worlds without number had fallen thus far, and now, this shard too would be stained with the darkness eternal. A few, a precious few, strove to fight back against this dying of the light. Hope had returned in our future leader Dawn, a savior in times beyond saving, who began rallying the faithful for our final stand.
Unlikely allies appeared, and pieces moved across the great, unknowable battlefield of fate. Even then we were helped and hindered by forces beyond our reckoning.
Amongst the chaos one man had sought out the secrets of the Shadowlords, willing to sacrifice anything to discern their true nature: to learn how to defeat them once and for all.
I, Dexter, write the following account of the Elder Mage, Sutek, a man I was proud to call my mentor, and in those days in hiding, my only friend. These are his words, the words that taught us how to defeat the monstrosities by our own hand.
“A bargain has been struck… we shall know what must be known.”
Sutek’s eyes stared into the pool of liquid light, I remember his face, blank, serene, his eyes piercing through the very ether.
“There are three, as we have known, and they are Astaroth, Faulinei, and Nosfentor. They are creatures of Hate, of Falsehood, and Cowardice.”
“Yet they are not… creatures, they simply… are. Hate, Falsehood, and Cowardice.”
“They are the very embodiment of the Anti-Virtue, they are everything… that the Virtues are not.”
“They are… not eternal, they have been created, as an… archetype, a shadow of a greater… danger. One which has not yet turned towards us, not yet…”
“Their mortal hosts… live, and yet live no longer.”
“Slaves they shall become… these agents of chaos.”
“Beware them, for though pawns they are yet power…”
“The Murderer, the Betrayer, the Fool.”
“Beware their masters greater, their shadows of shadows.”
“Our world was shielded from… their influence, their power. The great rift, in Moonglow, allowed them to pierce the veil.”
“Yes, it was then that the Lord of Time attempted to thwart them…”
“And is now cut off from the ethereal void as are they. That is why they are weak, all of them! They are all trapped here, in our world, without…”
He sagged, yet kept speaking, possessed of a stranger’s will.
“They feed on us… they grow stronger while the Time Lord weakens.”
“ The rift must be re-opened so they can be cast out…”
“In another world there was One who was known, one, who, who fought them, and defeated them. For that world was saved.”
“It is at once another world, and our own world. My mind… cannot…”
“They are the antithesis of everything the Virtues are… and thus, they too have an opposite.”
“This… Avatar, he is destined to defeat the greater… power. While we in our worlds…”
“Yet we are aided, still.”
His eyes tightened, as through blinded by an unseen brilliance. After this, his voice changed, the meaning of his words shifted as though another were speaking through him, and no longer merely to him. They echoed in rhythm, filling my mind with images.
The dawn of hope comes; a light to fill the void,
and with her ride legions forgotten.
The cold of platinum against crimson fire,
elder ones return to the world of men.
She shall take in hand the icons of power,
The Book, the Candle, and the Flame.
She shall pledge herself to Virtue,
She shall descend into the darkness, and with her,
all the chosen kingdom, and there,
end
At this point, Sutek collapsed, and struck his head against the table as he fell into a crumpled heap atop the dirty floor. The scrying pool went dark as I rushed to his side. Only time would tell if he had said all he had hoped to say…
He awoke some minutes after, barely remembering his ordeal, or his breakthrough. He seemed a bit muddled, but quickly took command, and soon enough we were on our way to meet up with the resistance movement.
It was with this message I had written that we met our new leader, Dawn. And as she meditated upon these words a strange thing occurred, something we have never forgotten. A beautiful light seemed to enshroud her, transfiguring her before us into the very embodiment of our hopes. It was as though, in that moment, we all had a moment of perfect clarity, of what must be done, and the assurance we would succeed.
And that’s when the Dragons came.
…
Elsewhere, a filthy figure clawed at scraps in the gutter of the street, clutching a chewed apple core greedily. Grime was combed through her hair, her fingernails black with the detritus of a hundred nights without a warm bed or shower. She was dressed in a ragged kimono, out of place in the Britannia city, but uncaring.
Inu the Crone’s eyes focused. She straightened, lifted her head slowly, and with a newly clear voice and unburdened eyes stared into the heavens. She had only two words, two words she had longed to say for many years, that now spilled out so humbly.
“It’s gone.”
-Tim “Draconi” Cotten
|
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| Salvation | |
| Posted on Saturday, March 28, 2009, 12:00 PM EDT by Larisa (QuestandEventNews) |
Posted to uoherald.com:
Salvation Draconi
27 Mar 2009 18:21:33 Our Lord Casca, ruler of the realm, bids all Britannia to hear, and have the following news be made known to them: Let it be known that after great struggle and sacrifice, Lord Casca has personally shattered the wicked artifact that weakened the world’s magical barriers, allowing invasion into our fair lands. Let it be known that he is thankful to all who aided the effort, in both the defense of our cities and to those who demonstrated their loyalty in the assault on the hidden lair of our cowardly enemies. Let it be known that Clainin, of the royal court, master magician, yet lives! His survival warms the heart of our liege, who, having ensured Clainin’s protection from nefarious villainy, has entrusted him into the hands of Britannia’s finest soldiers while he recovers. Soon, our greatest wizard will return to our ranks, ready to stand against the tide of darkness, ready to strike down with brimstone and flame all who dare oppose that which is right and true! Rejoice, Oh Britannia! Though the final battle is yet to be won, our salvation is nigh! |
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| BNN - Dungeons and Flagons | |
| Posted on Monday, October 20, 2008, 11:28 AM EDT by *zigzag* (QuestandEventNews) |
BNN: Dungeons and Flagons Jeremy Dalberg 20 Oct 2008 13:48:41 EST Avery woke up in a crumpled heap, his head lodged up against moist brick and
legs pulled askew by iron shackles. He’d been thrown here, he realized,
probably after he passed out during the last round of interrogations.
His eyes were still closed. He listened, carefully, keeping his
breathing as regular as possible, trying to determine whether he was
being watched. It was darker, wherever he was, unlike the bright room where he’d been held for hours previously. Memories began swimming back into focus – tracking down Casca, the glass knives, that woman… the woman, what was her name? Started with an M… didn’t matter, the witch had practically thrown him into the arms of the guards. Then the questions, the accusations, why did they think… "Hey there," the hoarse voice cut through the fog in his mind - Avery barely maintained his feigned incapacity. Metal rustled and clinked, someone moved forward. The other man coughed deeply, trying to clear his throat. "I know you’re awake," the other man began, "Look, I’m not one of them, see." The other prisoner punctuated his sentence by shaking his chains, then coughing again. Avery remained silent. "Oh come now, Captain! Don’t you remember old friends?" Avery cracked an eye open, even the dim light of the cell was still blinding, but he could just make out the man cuffed to the wall across from him. "How do you know who I…" he began to ask, rising to his feet, as his vision came back into focus. "You!" "Aye, m’lord, Britannia’s finest thief, at your service." Ricardo smiled. -- "To victory!" Casca raised his mug. "To Britannia’s finest!" "Hurrah!" the chorus broke out around the room. The celebration of Avery’s capture was an event to be remembered. The dining hall of Castle British resounded with cheers and loud voices, soldiers and guards and nobles all brought together by Casca’s call to mark the glorious day when justice had been done, and the Royal Council avenged. A soldier nearby hoisted his own mug, "To Casca! A true hero!" Casca tried to admonish them amidst the shouts and clamors, meekly refuting the honors they were heaping upon him. "But remember! Remember my friends! It was you who were the true heroes!" Shouts, laughs, clapping. "And we remember who betrayed us! And who betrayed them, our loyal leaders!" The shouting overtook the clapping, turning angry, defiant. "What was his name?" Casca yelled, knowing the answer. "Avery!" A reply in unison. "What shall we do with him?" His voice rose above the fury, clear as thunder over the rain. "Hang him!" "Kill him!" A dozen other retorts and cries for vengeance. "No, no! My friends," Casca dropped his voice, and the crowd followed suit, waiting upon his next words. "We will not murder him in cold blood." The crowd breathed in as one. "We will not butcher him as he did the innocents of the Royal Council!" Nods, murmurs, solemn fists jammed into the air. "But we will have justice!" The crowd erupted into applause, and Casca smiled. |
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| BNN: Military Arrives In Moonglow | |
| Posted on Thursday, April 3, 2008, 9:02 AM EDT by Larisa (QuestandEventNews) |
Posted to uoherald.com:  BNN: Military Arrives In Moonglow Military Arrives in Moonglow Draconi Apr 3 2008 9:08AM Early this morning a blockade of cannons was erected around the crater in southern Moonglow. Captain Avery, himself on scene, tersely ordered our correspondents back and had little to say directly to us. However, contrary to expectations, the military is not stopping ordinary (albeit well-armed) citizens from entering the rift! Despite refusals to comment on the situation, the BNN has been asked to publish a short declaration from the Royal Britannian Guard, which follows: Attention citizens of Moonglow, the greater Britannian kingdom, and visitors. A state of emergency has been declared in the township of Moonglow, currently under attack by forces unknown. We do not advise volunteerism in the city’s defense, but under these incredible circumstances we will not interfere with attempts to enter the rift we are now guarding. A medical station is already under construction. All contact with entities within the rift should be met with extreme prejudice. Experience has shown that nothing within has attempted any form of communication – only vicious attacks resulting in numerous deaths. Please report any and all information gathered to myself, Captain Avery. The BNN also regrets to inform our readers that we’ve confirmed the death of Kronos, leader of the blackrock detector project. Dexter, his field apprentice, disappeared shortly after returning to Moonglow from the rift with master mage Sutek, who arrived at the scene after the disaster. The fate of Melissa, friend and fellow mage of the local council, is currently unknown. We will continue informing our readership about this calamity as details pour in.
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| BNN: Blackrock Detector Fails! Mages Reported Missing! | |
| Posted on Wednesday, April 2, 2008, 7:56 AM EDT by Larisa (QuestandEventNews) |
Posted to uoherald.com:
BNN: Blackrock Detector Fails! Mages Reported Missing! Jeremy Dalberg
26 Oct 2007 12:38:43 EST Blackrock Detector Fails! Mages Reported Missing! Draconi Apr 2 2008 8:24AM Events took a terrifying turn in Moonglow this weekend as Kronos, Director of Alchemical Studies, turned on his blackrock detecting machine for the second, and apparently, very last time. Witnesses reported a keening, rushing sound enveloping the crowd amidst magical flares, when suddenly those standing closest to the machine disappeared in a flare of light! The remaining onlookers had only a moment’s warning before an explosion ripped through the machine itself, leaving a gaping hole where hundreds had gathered just seconds before. Our own reporter vanished in the initial chaos, leaving the BNN with little to go on for hours as a much more apprehensive crowd began gathering around the smoldering crater. Their wait wasn’t in vain, however, when after a while a moongate, as dark as night, opened at the base of the crater. Frenzied survivors began pouring out of the portal; screams for healers and aid rang up over the ridges as they clambered up the sides. Against all reason more jumped back into the darkness, but the BNN was already confirming details on what lay beyond with our own correspondent. We know for certain that the place beyond the rift resembles our own Moonglow, yet is infested with hordes of demonic entities. We also know that one or more of the mages working on the project, Kronos, Melissa, and Dexter, were killed within. The others, if any survive, are missing. The rift apparently leads not to a “place” so much as a “when.” The local mages are struggling to explain this phenomenon, but claim that the rift is bound to the failure of the experiment the previous day, and has captured some slice of time in which the good people of Moonglow were trapped. The BNN is also attempting to corroborate reports that some sort of battle took place within the so-called “timerift” between the Time Lord, and other beings of extraordinary power. We’ve also received word that the military is sending reinforcements to secure the perimeter of the gate. We urge our readers to be wary of the rift, and not enter it under any circumstances!
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| BNN: Blackrock Detector To Be Unveiled! | |
| Posted on Thursday, March 27, 2008, 5:52 PM EDT by Watchertoo (QuestandEventNews) |
This new chapter has appeared on uoherald.com's BNN news site: Blackrock Detector To Be Unveiled!
Anderson the Scribe
Mar 27 2008 4:20PM “After initially losing funding from the Mage’s Council in Moonglow, progress on the "blackrock detection machine" resumed late last month with government intervention, and is finally nearing completion. Despite fears of the dangers involved in working with the still-mysterious substance, officials agree on the necessity of knowing where it is. Captain Avery, of the militia, made the following statement: "After the destruction of Haven, we are taking any activity involving blackrock extremely seriously. After thorough and careful review, the Royal Council has agreed to authorize the completion and use of the blackrock detector to ensure the continued safety of Britannia." The mage Kronos, Director of Alchemical Studies and the chief mage on the project, was unavailable for comment. His apprentice Dexter assured the BNN that, despite the delays, work on the project is going smoothly and they do not expect any snags.
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| From our Friends at UOGuide | |
| Posted on Tuesday, December 4, 2007, 2:39 PM EST by Larisa (QuestandEventNews) |
| From our Friends at UOGuide Greetings all. UOGuide has been chugging along for the past year quite steadily. Just last week we added our 1,500th page of information. That is a lot of data! UOGuide is now the 2nd largest UO information site for English speaking players. There are two new sections I think many people will be interested in. Doom - With the new Gauntlet changes many people are rushing back, some for the first time in years (such as myself). Perhaps some will need a refresher was to which slayer is used on each monster. Rubble - The newest item craze in UO. Players are spending hundreds of millions of gold to acquire this stuff. Find out how much of each item exists and the estimated worth. This section will be updated more in the coming weeks so keep checking back. UOGuide is constantly being updated and is looking for new contributors all the time. JC the Builder UOGuide |
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| BNN: Magincia Still Not Safe, Mages Warn | |
| Posted on Friday, November 30, 2007, 5:10 PM EST by Larisa (QuestandEventNews) |
This new chapter has appeared on uoherald.com BNN: Magincia Still Not Safe, Mages Warn Jeremy Dalberg
30 Nov 2007 19:54:37 The battle for Magincia seems to have reached a stalemate. Most of the city is shattered, and looting has been regrettably prevalent, but the stalwart defenders of the city continue to push back the invading hordes. However, all is not well, say the leading researchers of the Mage Council. "The moongates have been warped into a form they were never intended to hold. The etheric disturbance is tremendous, and we fear that it will get worse before it gets better," warns the Mage Council's spokesman. The Royal Guard has ordered all nonessential personnel off of the island, and is maintaining a minimal force to secure the city. "Daemons - even big daemons - my men can handle," says Sir Brendan of the Royal Guard, officer in charge of Magincia's defenses. "But once the mages start talking 'unstable planar rift' this and 'etheric resonance crisis' that, I get my people out of the area before they get blown clear off the map." Bringing you the latest from Magincia, this is Sherry the Mouse, reporting. |
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