November 2000

The Ultima Online Rewards program is designed to reward you, our long-term players, for your loyalty to the UO community. It is our way of thanking you and showing our appreciation for your long-term support of UO, and for your contribution to making UO the most popular virtual world in existence today. Screenshots for most of the rewards can be found at the end of this update.

Determining Account Age
The age of an account will be determined in the following manner:

• Any account created before November 30, 1999 will automatically be credited for all of the time from the date it was created until November 30, 1999. In other words, if you created your account on October 30, 1998, your account would be credited for 13 months of time, regardless of whether your account was inactive during part of that time.
• Following November 30, 1999, only the months in which you had an active account will contribute to the total count of months qualifying you for rewards.
• You can check your account age by logging a character into the game. (Note: Until the Rewards Program has been released, this method may not work, or may return an error message.) To check your account age:
  • Double click your profile scroll.
  • Scroll to the bottom of the scroll window.
  • A horizontal bar will be at the bottom of the profile text. Your account age in years and days will be displayed under that line. The account age will display the same value for all characters on the same account.
• Updates to your account (such as reactivations) are updated every Sunday, but may not be displayed for several days.

Reward eligibility is determined on a per-account basis. Multiple accounts may not be "combined" to increase eligibility.

Rewards
There are three categories of player reward levels currently identified as part of the program: players who have been in the game for 12 to 23 months, players who have been in the game for 24 to 35 months, and those who have played for 36 months or more. Each of the three designated categories of long-term players will be offered a different selection of in-game rewards. All reward options are ‘no loot’ and ‘no steal’, and clothing items will never wear out.

12 - 23 Month Players may choose two of the following rewards:

• Black dye tub
• Bronze cloak
• Bronze +2 AR robe
• Copper cloak
• Copper +2 AR robe
• Furniture dye tub
• Choice of one of 14 mini-monster statues:
  • Dragon
  • Skeleton
  • Troll
  • Orc
  • Deamon
  • Ettin
  • Earth Elemental
  • Gargoyle
  • Gorilla
  • Crocodile
  • Lich
  • Lizard Man
  • Ogre
  • Ratman
• Special Dye-tub
  • Using normal dyes on this tub (double-clicking the dyes then targeting the special dye-tub) will bring up a menu listing special colors not available through a normal dye-tub.
  • After selecting a color, the dye-tub will then have that hue.
  • Double-clicking the dye tub and targeting an article of clothing will dye that clothing the special color.

24 - 35 Month Players may choose three reward options (two for being a one year player plus one more for being a two year player) from the list of one-year rewards above and the additional two-year rewards listed below:

• Agapite cloak
• Agapite +2 AR robe
• Golden cloak
• Golden +2 AR robe
• Banners
  • Banners can be placed in houses and have areas that can be dyed using a dye-tub.
  • When selecting a banner as your reward, you will receive a banner deed.
  • To place the banner, double-click the deed. A targeting cursor will appear.
  • Targeting a wall inside a house will place the banner on that wall. The banner cannot be picked up once placed.
  • To remove the banner, the owner or co-owner of the house can double-click the banner. After clicking the confirmation window, the banner will be removed and a banner deed will be placed in the character’s backpack.
  • Using a dye-tub on a banner will dye portions of the banner. Each banner has a different are that can be dyed.
• Flaming Skull
  • The flaming skull is a house decoration that can be placed on the walls of a house.
  • When selecting a flaming skull as a reward, you will receive a skull deed.
  • To place the skull, double-click the deed. A targeting cursor will appear.
    • Targeting a wall inside a house will place the skull on that wall. The skull must be placed on a south-facing wall. The skull cannot be picked up once placed.
    • To remove the skull, the owner or co-owner of the house can double-click the skull. After clicking the confirmation window, the skull will be removed and a skull deed will be placed in the character’s backpack.
  • When a character walks near the skull, it will begin spewing flames. The flames do not cause any damage.
• Leather Dye-tub
  • The leather dye-tub can be used to dye leather or studded leather armor.
  • Using normal dyes on this tub (double-clicking the dyes then targeting the special dye-tub) will bring up a menu listing the colors available to use on leather armor. The colors are similar to the colors currently available for metal armor (copper, shadow, etc.) with the addition of some other hues such reds, blues, greens, etc.
  • After selecting a color, the dye-tub will then have that hue.
  • Double-clicking the dye tub and targeting a piece of leather or studded leather armor will dye that clothing the color.

Any of the 12 - 23 month reward listed above. 36+ Month Players may choose four reward options (two for being a one year player another one for their two year reward, plus one more for the third year) from among the one and two-year reward choices as well as those additional rewards listed below:

• Ethereal mount (horse, ostard, or llama; one per reward choice)
  • Transparent hue.
  • Appears as a statue in your backpack.
    • Double clicking the statue will cause the statue to disappear and create the mount and your will automatically mount it.
    • Once on the mount, double clicking yourself will dismount you and automatically transform the mount back into the statue which will reappear in your backpack immediately.
  • Ethereal mounts never lose loyalty and can't be transferred.
  • The mount can never appear without being mounted, therefore it cannot attack or be attacked.
• Verite cloak
• Verite +2 AR robe
• Valorite cloak
• Valorite +2AR robe
• Choice of one of three mini-monster statues
  • Zombie
  • Cow
  • Llama
• Any of the 12 - 23 or 23 - 35 month rewards listed above.

It is important to note that characters on an account with less than the appropriate amount of time will not be able to use some of these items. For instance, if another player gave you a golden cloak, but your account is 20 months old, you would not be able to wear it until your account reached 24 months. This only applies to clothing items and the ethereal horse. Other items such as dye-tubs and monster statues will be usable by any character.

Players who fit into one or more of these categories will have the option to receive their rewards when they log into the game after attaining a reward level. Rewards are given on a "per account" basis, but may be divided among characters on an account. It is very important to make sure you have the correct character logged on before choosing a reward. Game Masters and other OSI personnel will not be able to transfer rewards from one character to another. For example, a player who has a 24 month old account may choose to accept two rewards with a character on one shard, and may choose the remaining reward with a different character. The option to collect rewards will appear each time you log in to the game until you have chosen the total awards for which you are eligible. You will be given the option to collect any rewards for which your account is eligible upon release of the program, regardless of account anniversary date. Thus, for example, if your account is 23 months old, you will be eligible for the 12-month rewards on the day the program is released, and will be eligible for your 24-month rewards as soon as your account reaches 24-months.

If you make a rewards program selection during a final backup or before a server crash, the system may not have adequate time to save your choice. When the shard returns to service, it may take a few minutes for the server to recognize that you have not gotten your reward. The system will account for this however, and after a few minutes you will be able to select a reward.

Screenshots
Special Dye-tub colors
Leather Dye-tub colors
Flaming Skull
Ethereal Mounts
Cloaks and +2 AR Robes
Banners (note that the top banners are un-dyed, while the bottom ones have been dyed. This will allow you to see which parts of the banner are dyeable.)

In Concept Changes

In Concept was introduced approximately a year ago as an area where players could offer suggestions and feedback on design ideas during their early stages. The player suggestions generated by this section of the UO.com website have been immensely valuable in shaping these design ideas before they have been implemented in Ultima Online.

In addition to In Concept, the UO.com Message Boards have provided an area for players to discuss and debate design issues, and have taken feedback a step further than In Concept. On the message boards, debate and discourse refine your suggestions and ideas and create something that is less a question/response situation and more of a common goal created by a community.

Because of this, we have closed the In Concept email address and have opened a section of our message boards dedicated to ideas that are currently appearing in In Concept. Each In Concept system will have its own thread where players and developers can share ideas in an open forum for all to see, rather than through e-mail.

To visit In Concept, click here.

We announce the 14. auction in Dragon Town on Sunday the 3rd December 2000 at 8pm CET (7pm GMT, 2 pm EST).

The place of the auction is as always Dragon Town (Felucca), on top of the merchant tower. A introduction for the auction and a map to the town can be found on the Dragon Clan homepage. Please read the introduction there... This should solve all questions.

The collection of wares is open right now. If you have something contact Zarzal on ICQ 9611261 or visit the tower in the evening hours. Please use the time and don't bring all the items in the last 5 minutes in front of the auction : this is hard to handle.

To prevent attacks from people who like to make trouble we have a snoop service installed. You can only enter the tower WITHOUT any explosion potions and shooting weapons. Some guild members of the Dragon Clan will snoop you. Don't bring such things to the auction or you will be ejected immediately.

Don't bring your pets with you either, please leave them in the stables. Outside, pets are targets by troublemakers. We are not able to protect them. While the auction of a item is in progress please stop talking, joking about the prices or practice anything. This will spam the logs due the comm crystals that we must use to hear everything.

Giving comments on the prices while the auction is in progress is unfair. After the item is sold, feel free to say something, but PLEASE, not during the auction. Thank you.

Regards
Lady Zarzal

Saturday December 2, 2000 there will be the Grand Opening of the Dark City of Avarunn. This event will commence at 8:00 pm EST. The town is located on the Trammel Facet, North of Trinsic, near the swamp. The UOAM coordinates are X: 1808 Y: 2395; Sextant coordinates: 68 degrees, 43 minutes South; 33 degrees, 36 minutes East.

Gates will be provided from Trinsic Royal Bank, Trammel, starting at 7:30pm EST. Runes for the town are also located on a vendor just West of the North Entrance to Vesper, on the road, in Sosaria's Finest Vendors' small tower (trammel). All are welcome to attend this Grand and Dark event if ye can handle the stench of decay and the sight of death *grins*

Free food and drink will be provided, while supplies last. And the first 25 persons shall get a FREE runebook with a Avarunn rune.

At 8:15 Smogg Azalin, Cult Leader, and IvyStar, Countess of Avarunn, of The Cult of Infernal Necromancy, will bless the town in the name of darkness.

At 8:30 a Scavenger Hunt will start at the Town Hall Tower. The Archery Contest will commence at 9:15. Only GM bows please. The Evil Eye Tavern, run by Elrios, Ncr, will be open all nite for your drinking enjoyment.

There will be other events going on throughout the evening, including a pool (of blood) party on the Town Hall roof, raffle prizes, free vendors if you bring supplies and a Snowball Fight, So bring those snowpiles!

Many substantial prizes will be given out including checks, magic weapons and armor, and rares. For more information you can comment here or go to the IRC room #avarunn on irc.mystical.net. You can also contact me by bat #47371678.

I hope to see ye all there *smiles seductively*

Embrace the Darkness and Bathe in the Moonlight

*wrapes her cloak around her sleak figure and fades*

IvyStar [Ncr, Countess of Avarunn]

You guide your steed along the road on the way to your favorite hunting grounds when you glimpse the colors crimson and white ahead on the side of the road. You realize it is another one of those blasted pages and he is tacking another notice to a tree. You begin to wonder if your going to start seeing them in your dreams. None the less you rein in, dismount and begin to read the notice

HEAR YE! HEAR YE!

On Wednesday, December 6th the Stormguards of Stormhaven will host a True Britannian Planning Meeting. We invite all guild-masters loyal to the crown & throne to attend. The purpose of the meeting is to gather together and share information necessary to organize the True Britannians into a unified, cohesive force. We're looking for guilds to pledges warriors, smiths, tinkers, rogues, safe-houses, and other volunteers that are committed to supporting their fellow True Britannians in the days ahead. The need to arrange weekly planning meetings and where to meet will be discussed.

The meeting will be held at the Fortress of Light Castle (FOL) located in Trammel on the East Side of the Arctic Isle. Coordinates to the F.O.L. are 119.5’N, 169.53’W. You may use the rune to the F.O.L. that has been placed within the Stormhaven Town Hall, or you may follow the map located here.

We also encourage all town leaders standing as True Britannians to attend along with your officers and strategists. It is time to prepare for the dark days ahead; time is running out.

To Arms True Britannians; The battle starts now!

Respectfully posted,

Lady Lipstick of the Stormguards of Stormhaven

Hail all...

The Rich Mans Inn in Trammel will be having Casino night this Thursday. The bar will open at 8:30pm EST and the Casino will open at 9:00pm EST. Both the bar and casino will close at 10:30pm EST. Talryn will be providing Gates at the front of the Moonglow Bank from 8:30pm to 9:30pm. We will also have people gating aroudn the world during the course of the event...but try to get to Moonglow if you can. Bring money with you for gambling... even 1000 gold can go a long way here so ALL are welcome. If there are any questions please ICQ at 55432884. Hope to see you all there...

Also The Rich Mans Inn is proud to announce the start of a new town. Prodigus. We are currently building a museum and rune library.

One more note...Thanks to all who have shown up during the past two weeks for bar night...it has proven to be fun for all. We are still doing it on normal hours of 9pm -10pm...so stop in for a drink.

--Alan the Barkeep--

As I arrived, Watson was reading his petition to the High Court of Britannia :

Watson : The Vesper Merchant Guild Master, to the High Court of Britannia, to the Mayor of Vesper, to the counts, and to all the servants, bailiffs, judges, and other ministers of Vesper, my greetings.
In your solicitude and prudence be it known to you that the Merchant Guild of Vesper presents this document to request the High Court decree and establish in honor of our glorious town Vesper on the Trammel Facet a faire for gathering together once at the mass all the merchants dwelling in our kingdom and those coming from beyond the seas. This gathering should be near the Adventurers Supplies in the north of Vesper on Trammel Facet and you, our officials for this market, and all the citizens of our kingdom, shall know of this market, and especially those who come from beyond the sea to the port of Vesper to buy wine, honey, magic weapons, ore or anything else.
Also we request that the fair shall last for an entire evening, and the merchants of Yew, Minoc, Britain, Moonglow and other cities shall be able to go there. And we wish and firmly command that no merchant dare to transact business in the neighborhood of Vesper except in the fair we have established in honor of the Vesper Town. If any one should do so let him pay a fine to me and to the Merchant Guild.
And in order that this request of ours may be more strictly observed both now and in the future in that place, we have ordered this charter to be sealed below with our seal and we have signed it with our hand.
I, Guild Master of the Vesper Merchant Guild, have signed this.

The Honorable Judge Laternia : Thank you mister Watson. Mister Caspian, please present your case to the court.

Caspian : Thank you your honor ! I would like to say that this... idea... the guildmaster has would be all well and fine... in a perfect world.
You see, the town of Vesper has by decree of Lord British himself been charged with several obligations! Apart from the fact that we must regulate trade to avoid such things as smuggling, we also need to watch [...]
If this petition would be acknowledged, the city of Vespers funds would surely be depleted, we have for instance still not tracked down the infamous brigand Leoric and his band! How could we afford guards if we cannot collect our taxes!
I suggest that this petition be ignored and that the city of Vesper can continue to work closely with its established merchant to create a good trade community. We allready have many established shops created by its citizen, why do we need to create such a faire that serves no other purposed then to fill the merchants pockets?
I belive, if this goes through, Vesper cannot regulate the scammers who will surely benefit from this. If it is approved, we would need to make sure funds are available to guard squadrons. We also need funding to transport all the pickpockets and simpler thiefs that flock to such a gathering! I ask you, your honor, to see to the city of Vespers needs. Not a single entity in its community such as the merchants. I implore thee to understand what is best for Vesper!
Thank you.

The Honorable Judge Laternia : Very well. The court has listened to both cases. We shall now take a small break and I will pass ruling after that.

[...]

The Honorable Judge Laternia : For order of the High Court of Britannia I am glad to inform all the citizens of Vesper that the High Court has taken a decision about the request of the Vesper Merchants Guild of establishing an official Market in the Town of Vesper on the Trammel facet.
The main issue was to decide if the request of a Market Place in the Town of Vesper could be considered a nuisance for the near neighbors. Among other nuisances a liberty may be granted to the nuisance of a liberty previously granted, as where the liberty of having a market in some fixed place is granted to a person 'provided it is not to the nuisance of any neighboring market.
The first step of the Court has been to define what sort of market ought to be called neighboring and what not neighboring but remote. And in case of a neighboring market, had to decide what sort of nuisance, if the thing causing the harm admits of abatement, that is, whether it is harmful and wrongful, or only harmful and not wrongful, because it is remote, or harmful and wrongful because it is neighboring, or, if neighboring, not wrongful because not harmful but beneficial.
The High Court of Britannia has therefore decreed that there should be the solemn and universal fair of Vesper. And this we have done on the advice of the merchants of the Vesper Merchant Guild. Moreover, we have preserved the rights of neighboring cities, so that these fairs may not only not be a hindrance to their fairs but may rather increase their profits.
And so, on the advice of our Judges, we have given, out of respect for the most puissant Lord, this liberty to all merchants-that they may be quit and free of all toll throughout the year at these fairs in this royal place, and they may buy and sell goods freely just as they wish for the duration of ten years.

Caspian : *gasps*

The Honorable Judge Laternia : No merchant, nor any other person, may take a merchant to court for the paymentof any debt during these fairs, nor take him there for any business that was conducted before the fairs began ; but if anything be done amiss during the fairs, let it be made good according to justice during the fairs.
Moreover, the first fair shall begin on the eighth of December in the evening. And all people coming to, staying at, or going from the fairs shall have peace for their persons and goods. And lest the frequent changing of coins, which are sometimes light and sometimes heavy, should redound to the hurt of so glorious a place at any time in the future, on the advice of our court, we have ordered money to be struck there of the same purity, weight, and form, and in the same quantity, and to be kept to the same standard.
Moreover, we grant and confirm to the merchants of that city that they may have an official mint and a house for exchanging their money whenever they decide to go away on business. Whoever out of boldness decides to oppose our decree, or by temerity to break it, shall be in our mercy and will pay hundreds of gold coins to our court. And in order that all the things we have decreed may be accepted as genuine and be faithfully observed we have ordered this charter to be written and to be sealed by the impression of our seal. This is ruling of the High Court of Britannia.

Caspian : This is an outrage! This... this... Vesper will not take this sitting down!

Catchpole of the High Court : *looks at the merchant*

The Honorable Judge Laternia : This court session is adjourned. Travel in safety.

Watson : You have ruled wisely.

Caspian : Catchpole, let me out this instance!

Catchpole of the High Court : As you wish...

Watson : I thank thee as do all the citizens of Vesper.

[...]

Bel d'Ajoor : Lord Caspian ! A word for the press ? May I ask you a few questions ?

Caspian : I can tell you that the rulers of Vesper will do all in its powers to oppose this!

Bel d'Ajoor : How does this influence the policy of Vesper's government, and what caused your request to the court ?

Caspian : Our main issue was the granting of no taxes, this makes it impossible for Vesper to perform its duties ! We have several brigands travelling the road between Minoc and Vesper, these and frequent troll attacks would make it impossible to devide guards to protect this fair from lesser elements such as pickpockets and the like.

Bel d'Ajoor : I see... Thanks for these explanations. Will you be asking for a second judgement ?

Caspian : We have not decided, but by law the courts decree is final. We will see if we cannot get aid from our fair capital.

Bel d'Ajoor : Well, I hope to hear more about this... and I hope it will not cause trouble in your area since I happen to dwell there.

Caspian : We will see. Vesper will work day and night about this.

Bel d'Ajoor : Thanks a lot for your time.

[...]

Bel d'Ajoor : Greetings Sheriff

Henrik the Sheriff : Greetings milady

Bel d'Ajoor : May I ask you who the Lord who was there was ?

Henrik the Sheriff : Hmm which one?

Bel d'Ajoor : I didn't catch his name... he was mounted on a royal horse. He seems to be a Knight of Virtue.

Henrik the Sheriff : Ahh Lord Rothermere... He was high representive from Lord British's Court

Bel d'Ajoor : Thanks a lot Sheriff !

Henrik the Sheriff : Did that answer all thy questions?

Bel d'Ajoor : Indeed. Thanks for your time.

Henrik the Sheriff : No problem milady

Do you think you have something to sell? Are you looking for something to buy? Do you feel that in your town there are not enough goods? Are you looking for the best offer? Well then Vesper Market Place is the place you are looking for.

Thank ye very much Elv'eng for this very interesting report regarding the events, that took place about a year ago, when the towns of Deepwater and Spiritwood fought Daregard and Frabagor, struggling to discover the seven parts of the Druid Staff.

As seen below the scum, Frabagor is back. I shall give a brief information on who he is. It all began some time ago in the village of Deepwater, huge orc armies attacked and nobody really knew why they came from. 

Then one day, a stranger, dressed in a green robe witch also covered his head almost entirely, steped inside the Deepwater tavern, Owls eye. He said his name was Seer Aymer, and that he had to speak with the people of Deepwater. He said he could have a solution on why the orcs attacked Deepwater, and showed the people an book, and the text said:

Tribal Movement!
All subclans of the fort prepare your troops to move towards the deserts to the meeting Place ...
As it is fortold of our Lords coming.

More shall be spoken at the meeting place.

Frabagor - Tribal Diplomat
at the meetingplace

Now more attacks began, not only at Deepwater, but also around, Yew, Cove/Yew orc forts. I'm sure there were some down in Skara Brea area too. And more clues were given were to find this meeting place, also there were some books about a man named Jacob, a journal. Where we could read about two druids, and a Lady, named Aunnora. And how one of the Druids had turned to the evil side. Though we did not find out who this Jacob was, except that he had passed away long time ago. And that his wife, Lady Aunnora, had just vanished when a Dark lord had placed a curse upon her. Could this be the Dark lord Farabgor looked for? Soon, we found out this was in the lost lands desert, near the City of Undeads. We travelled there to have a look around, and as we came closer we could see, smoke arise, and soon we could see tents and some orcish signs in different colours. And in the middle there was a black pentagram. We were all a bit clueless at this time, why would the orcs gather at the desert? And what was that black pentagram for? 

A week or two passed, and one day, I walked pass this place. And I was standing there looking at the pentagram, when suddenly a dark shadow on the ground came moving towards me. I looked up in the sky and above me a huge dragon was about land. I jumped into one of the tents for protection. The dragon landed, and walked up to tent and opened his mouth a bit, I thought it was going to breath fire at me, but to my amazement it spoke. It said I didn't have to fear it and that I should come out so we could talk. I must admit I was a bit scared so I said no, but soon the dragon said it had information about Frabagor and I stepped outside. This was quite along time ago, but I will try remember what it said, it spoke of Frabagor and how he was trying to gather the orcish tribes, and summon the evil lord Daregard. And that we had to stop it, because if Frabagor succeeded, dark clouds would cover Britannia. I asked the Dragon, how we was suppose to stop this powerful orc, or if he knew about anyone that could help us. It said we had to find the staff of silver. I felt how my body froze a bit, but a warm breeze from the desert wind made me warm again. The Silver Staff I said, I've heard about it I said to the dragon, though I might be wrong too. Perhaps said the dragon, where have you heard about it it asked. I said, I seen journal, of a druid named Jacob, and where he had battled a dark figure, a dark lord perhaps?, and a staff had fallen from the sky, and in his journal he said, that it was coloured like silver as it landed beside him. But this is not just a tale I asked? The Dragon answered no, and said that journals where real, though they were very old and ancient. Though Jacob grew older, and soon he destroyed the staff into seven pieces, and placed them across the lands of Britannia. And until this day nobody have been able to find them. Only a ancient druid can find them, the dragon said. And this is what Frabagor is looking for, to summon the Dark Lord Daregard, who once was a friend of Jacob, and druid of the same clan. And with those words the dragon bided Farewell, but said we would meet again. Just before it went away, I asked how we would find this staff, and the Dragon said, there will be signs. Thoughts started to rumble around in my head, did we have a druid among us? Who was Jacob? Were did he live before he passed away? Why do Frabagor want this staff? I began my journey back to Deepwater to tell what I just seen and heard. 

Two weeks later our Town crier shouted that large orc armies had gathered near Delucia, in the lost lands. We gathered up with people from Spiritwood and Deepwater, to march to Delucia and fight the orcs togehter. Our plan was to fight our way up to the tents to see if something was going on up there, and it went well, till we saw the tents. The five orc clans had been gathered there, and in the middle stood a large orc lord type figure, he was pure black almost, and slightly to his left stood smaller greyish orc. More of a Orc mage kind. As our armies rode up to the tents a huge battle began, the five orc clan leaders including the two grey orcs rushed into a tent where a gate waited. Afew entered the gate, but came back quickly...... as ghosts. Soon, after 30minutes of constant attacks from all sides, we stood victorius over the orcs, AND we had taken down the blue orcish leader. Though 4 orcish clans were still alive. And the two greyish orcs. 

Days went by, and soon, our town crier in Deepwater said a orcish horde was seen near the Terathan Keep in the Lost lands, witch out much time, we rallied a group of warriors in Deepwater and headed towards the keep. But it seems we've been to fast, as we got to the yard inside the keep, we couldn't see a single orc! Though few moments later we could heard them coming in from behind, we hide. It was the Served head orc clan. I could smell Zur'Goth the smelly and drunken orc. I grabbed my spear ready for an attack and back into the shadows. Then suddenly the orcs stopped. And out from behind stepped a very greyish orc, it grunted with some very dark voice. I narrowed my eyes on it, and thought: Could this be the Dark Lord? Surley not, a orc as a druid? Then I heard a orcish voice: Frabagor, uz guw scud rund, Yub? (Frabagor us go scout?) Ah! That is Frabagor!? I thought for myself and kept looking at him as he did some kind of ritual. The orc gathered behind him, and soon a lady stepped out from nowhere, she was dressed in pure white clothes, and she had snow white hair and quite pale skin. Now where in the world did she come from? And who was she? I thought, and just kept my eyes on Frabagor. Though I could not hear what they said, but I could see how, this lady in white, gave something to Faragor. It looked like a small piece.. Though I could not see what it was. Then suddenly an orcish war cry could be heard: WHAAAG!! WHAAAG!! We had be seen, I saw how orcs took their clubs and axes and ran towards the Lady, I ran out from the corner, and tried to stop them, but with out success. And I was knocked down... 

A few hours later I woke up, and in front of me, stood Eliohan, Eefin Pea and a few others I knew. They said I had been lucky that I wasn't killed by the orcs, and that we just saved a woman from her death. And she was asleep in the Deepwater tavern. I asked if we knew who she was, and everyone shook their heads, they said she had also been knocked down by the orcs, but not killed. But was still asleep. A few days later, we had the chance to speak with her, and of course the first thing we asked was who she was, and what she was doing with the orcs. What orcs she said? I was with my husband Jacob, she said. And our mouths felt to the ground. "Your husband?", someone asked. As it turned out, we had found Lady Aunnora, Jacobs lost wife. She said she had a dream, where she were giving a piece of a staff to Jacob, and when she woke up she was in Deepwater. Had Frabagor placed spell upon her? We explain what had happened, and she burst into tears. Though sadly things got worse once we told her, Jacob had died by age. And that she had been gone for ... many many years. We asked her to rest more, and come to us once she had regaind powers. And a few days later, she came to us again, and said she would help us find the missing pieces of the staff, though she could only find the staff in her dreams, since she did not have the druid powers needed to find the staff in the world. Many weeks passed with battles, and losses from our side, soon, Frabagor had three of the seven pices of the silver staff. And we had began to lose faith. One day Lady Aunnoura said to us, that we had to seek in the hidden valley, the orcs were about to find clue to one of the staff pieces there. We took the best map makers we had, and best scouts we had, and asked were we could find the hidden valley. And soon we had found it. It was a hidden place, near Trinsic. We took our forces down there to look, and as we came inside the valley, a horde of orcs could been seen in the south part, and yet another battle began. Though in a strange way one of our scouts had heard some important information, and we were told to head for the Yew Crypts. Me, Pad O'Lion, Palmer Eldritch and Muriell went to the crypts. We walked around. and soon we could hear the sound of a reaper. And soon we heard more reapers, and as we turned around the corner, a whole room was filled with them!

And in a corner stood, a man. Dressed in red deer mask, red sandals, and staff, made from Yew tree. And amazing sight, we fought our way to the man, and he was quite happy to see us, though he was not sure why he was here. We asked who he was and if he knew where he was, and he happily answered that he was Jacob the druid, and that he was in the Yew Crypts. And yet again our mouths fell to the ground. I had to sit down.

So it seemed, we finally found the man able to aid us in our struggle against Daregard and Frabagor, I thought, but glancing at the reapers I was reminded, that there was still a small problem left to be solved. Combining our efforts and Jacob calling some of his magic's we set fire to the Reapers till a narrow path opened for us. We then told Jacob of his beloved wife Annoura being in Deepwater and since he was eager to see her again, we immediately set off for Deepwater.

Annoura and Jacob finally met at the Owls Eye tavern. They both seemed very happy as they met after such a long time, though something was strange, a feeling I had watching the reunion, what it was, I nay know, though I felt that something was nay the way it should be. While Jacob promised his aid in our struggle against his former brother Daregard, all kind of vile creatures kept attacking the tavern, but they were easily dispatched by the ever valiant Custodes Fati, that guarded Jacob and Annoura. 

Jacob then thanked his rescuers, promising to return to aid us, when his energies had returned. Slowly he walked off into the wood ... 

And with the help of Jacob we were able to find two of the pieces of the silver staff. Though one of the pieces went with Frabagor. So we have one, and Frabagor had four of them. 

A few days after this, Trinsic was invaded by Jou'nar, and Frabagor vanished. Some say he had been killed by Jou'nar. I was also told that Jacob helped the Yew people to fight Keeonean who was invading Yew while Jou'nar was attacking Trinsic.

And this is all I know for now. But it now seams Maia know where Frabagor is! And that she will try help him back!

Your humble scribe
Elv'eng - Andune
http://erpa.ultimahaven.com/courant
http://erpa.ultimahaven.com/
http://deepwater.lemming.org/

P.S.: Search the archives on the Europa Courant for more information on this, since i wrote most of my test based on my own happenings. Thanks.

Thank ye Ragnar Lusorian for sending us this report of the first part of the Al'Cedra Challange:

Greetings Citizens of Britannia

Most of thee have probably heard by now of the ancient Dragon AlīCedra and her monthly challenges for the title of "Master of the Word". Last night, as was announced by the town criers, her 4th challenge was to begin, all that was known was that it would start in Magincia. 

So as evening approached, more and more people gathered there, mostly around the platform on which AlīCedraīs son, AlīNorin had appeared last month. But no dragon appeared last night, but adventurers could find a man sitting in the parliament building, asking for help. His name was Danton Emwright, a tailor by profession, and a Grandmaster of his trade nonetheless. He told of his brother, a treasure hunter, who had gone missing after presumably finding something of great worth. All he knew was that his brother had lived around Trinsic. So many of those that had gathered, among them myself and 4 other members of Kult, set out to search in and around Trinsic. After much running through the city, we discovered a book in the Counsellorīs Hall, in which Enwright had scribbled a hasty note: "I am hiding in the maze."

So we immediately gated to the hegde maze north-west of Trinsic and started our search for Enwright there. But all we found was another note, saying: "The cave is south of the dungeon I explored."

Alas, there are 7 dungeons in the lands and caves can be found near all of them. So we spread out, each of us searching one mountain range. The first to find the cave we were looking for was myself, in the mountains south of Despise. There only a chest with some belongings of the treasure hunter could be found. While I was reading through what must have been a journal, out of thin air a mighty dragon appeared, by the name of AlīRainae. Indeed it was a dragoness, of which she informed me after I mistakenly had adressed her as brother of AlīNorin and AlīSarin. Although for a moment I feared she might simply eat me for this grave, yet unintended result, all she did was telling those that had gathered by now a time and a place where we should gather to continue our search. Hopefully we find the treasure hunter Enwright then, so we can bring him back to his worrying brother. Maybe we will also find out what great find he had made before he vanished, and maybe it will lead us to the Lair of AlīCedra again.

Ragnar Lusorian

Thank ye Ros, fer sending us this piece of information:

Hear Ye! Hear Ye!

Let it be known throughout the vast lands of Britannia and to all reaches of the world that the Glorious Lady Shia of the Town of Morning Star will marry the Honourable and Admirable Kha Danny. All who hear these words are formally invited to witness the joining of Lady Shia and Kha Danny in marriage on the 21st day of the 12th month on the 10th hour in the Town of Morning Star. The marriage ceremony will be shortly followed by a feast and games to celebrate the coming together of the couple.

Be it also known that this be no ordinary wedding for Lady Shia and Kha Danny are also the founders and leaders of the town Morning Star, and as such declare a week of celebration.

Ros

To be a gladiator means to endure pain and hardship, to fight well or to die ignominiously, and above all, to make every moment of a short and uncertain life a way to show the virtues of courage and discipline. In fighting courageously and skillfully, you might demonstrate sufficient valor to win the respect of all the citizens of Britannia; in a death accepted without protest, you could acquire it as well.

If you feel ready, come to the Jhelom Pit on the Felucca Facet and be prepared to fight against the best gladiators coming from all four corners of Britannia.

If you wish to participate, come to the eastern entrance of the pit. To simply see the fights, enter from the western door. Have fun !

The Grand Opening for the Museum of Britannia will be held on December 2, 2000, at 10:00 PM EST.

After many long hours of preparation the museum is finally ready to open! And I want to share the opening with everyone! There is still lots of space left for displays, but I'm opening anyway! This event is a fund raising event for the museum. Entry fees will be 1,000 gold per event. Half of the fee for each event will go to the winner of the event. There will also be prizes from the museum to the best role play and the most chivalrous. There is no charge for the viewing public, but donations will be accepted. (Remember, your donations to the Museum of Britannia is tax deductible! Ask Lord British!)

Events will include, but not be limited to:
: Drunken dagger bar fight.
: Summoning tourney. Yes, a summoning tourney!
: Create food tourney. This one is for the newer mages.
: Taming tourney.

More events may be announced at the time of the opening.

Aubrey Gawen, Curator
Museum of Britannia

The Museum is located northwest of Minoc between Wrong and the Ice dungeon. Coordinates are 132o 0'N 52o 56'E. For rules and more information on this event please visit Museum of Britannia

Mel Fisher has given Rivendell a complete set of all Felucca treasure hunting locations! Ye can find it in the center of the top floor of the Rivendell Rune tower!  Good Hunting!

You can find the Rivendell Rune Tower at the following coordinates: 28° 18' S, 34° 1' W.

This is the offical statement released by Galahad, Guildmaster KoA:                               

Golden Knights #50: Golden Anniversary!

Over one year ago we began a event that helped to shape our future as a guild and community. At that time it was just a pvp event held between the members of the KoA and a couple of allied guilds, but the success of the event opened the door to new possibilities. What if we could do a similar event every week? What if we opened it up to the public? How could we keep a weekly event unique or keep it from becoming the same boring thing week after week. Most importantly, was it even possible since we knew of no group that held a regular event successfully over a long period of time. A few guild members with a vision of the future took these questions, and along with their great ideas, created what I believe to be the most successful, most respected, and most popular player event on the Lake Superior shard, and probably one of the longest running player events in UO history. It has taken a long journey to arrive at this day. Sometimes it has been frustrating, occasionally it has even been unbearable due to the disruptive actions of others, but we have remained strong in our beliefs and goals even in the face of opposition. We are very proud of everything we have accomplished leading up to this day. 

The most important thing to remember is this long running event would never have succeeded without the support of the other people of Lake Superior, the interest team, the GM's, and the many dedicated members of the KoA who have taken the time to run these events over the past year. It is greatly appreciated and I thank you all!

In the last 49 Golden Knights competitions, our most popular would have to be the dragon fighting event. Held on April 7, 2000 this event put teams of anywhere from one to five against a dragon in a small arena. It was a very unique and difficult event to hold, and it was a fighting event that those not interested in pvp could participate in. To this day it still stands out overall as the most popular and enjoyed GK we have ever held. For our 50th anniversary, we are bringing back a similar version of that celebrated event from the past....

KoA Golden Knights #50: The Golden Anniversary Event

Date: Friday, December 1, 2000 @ 8 PM CST
When: Registration takes place from 7:30 - 8:00 PM CST. The event begins at 8:10 PM CST.
Where: The event takes place in the Alliance Village. The coordinates are 136*24'S 27*12'E
(http://www.allianceknights.com/village.html)
Entry Fee: 1000gp per person

Prizes: 1,000,000gp total!

1st Place: 500,000gp
2nd Place: 250,000gp
3rd Place: 150,000gp
4th Place: 100,000gp

In addition, each member of the top four teams will roll dice to aquire special bonus prizes. One person per team will win these items. They include colored armor, magic items, full potion kegs, and more!

Description:
The members of the Crystal Consortium of the KoA, along with experts from a travelling circus, will attempt to re-create a even better version of our most popular event from long ago. Teams of one to three players will enter a small arena to face the wrath of a dragon.

All teams will be judged in many different categories. Did you lose any members of your team while fighting? How long did it take to kill the dragon? Did you use any strategies/tactics, or did you just stand there hacking at the dragon? How close did your team come to dying compared to other teams? The answers to these many questions will determine the top four teams of the event. These top four teams will then battle to determine the winners of the Golden Knights Anniversary event.

Teams 3 and 4 will also enter the ring WITH the dragon and fight to the finish to determine which team will walk away with the greater prizes and claim a higher final ranking. Once again, it does not matter if the dragon dies, the last team standing wins.

Teams 1 and 2 will enter the ring WITH the dragon and fight to the finish to determine the Golden Knights champions for the anniversary event. It does not matter if the dragon dies, the last team standing wins.

This means during the last two matches there are a couple of possible outcomes. Both teams could kill the dragon and then fight each other, or both teams could ignore the dragon and fight each other while the dragon kills people off. In ANY case, the last team or person standing wins the match. If everyone dies then the last person standing wins the match.

RULES:

• No magic items, no magic weapons, no magic armor. If anything is seen on you saying "a magic ..." you are disqualified.
• No pets or mounts are allowed.
• No hiding is allowed. This includes both the skill and the spell.
• No Barding, No taming
• No summoning spells of any kind.
• No Paralyze Spell, No Paralyze Field.
• No blocking using any types of items or any blocking spell(Wall of Stone, Energy Field, etc.)
• Pre-casting and Pre-drinking is allowed.
• All poison is allowed.
• All potions are allowed
• No looting of any kind!
• Any attempt to exploit the event or the rules to win will result in immediate disqualification.

Reminders to Spectators:

• Please do not equip bows around the ring. Spells or potions may hit you that will cause you to attack back.
• Please try to stable or feed your mount prior to the event. Wild mounts are a problem.
• Please no casting, sparring, or fighting right around the ring. If you wish to do this go to another location in the village.
• No spectators in the arena after the event begins.
• The Golden Knights event is a seer sponsored event for Lake Superior. Grief players will be removed and, or, jailed, banned, etc. The consequences for severe disruption are solely the decision of the representatives for Origin Systems.
• Have a great time! Cheering for your friends is encouraged!

Galahad
Knights of the Alliance
Lake Superior  

The village of Silvervale (Chesapeake, Trammel facet) is pleased to announce it's grand crafting festival, scheduled for Wednesday, December 6th, at 8pm Eastern. The village will have Grandmaster crafts-persons on hand to make anything that can possibly be crafted, including alchemical potions, custom dyed furniture, tinker items, all house add-ons, exceptional weapons and armor, clothing and leather goods, runebooks and archery equipment. All can be crafted if you supply the raw materials. Simply bring the wood, cloth, ingots, cut leather/hides or reagents etc. and we can make anything for you. Our craftspeople will be easily recognized by their village colors of blue and white, matching the village building signs and vendors. As well as by their guild (including Heartkin, C/A, Way and others). Also, bring a book with your name inscribed in it, since we will be having a prize drawing at 10pm. Prizes will include ten named, exceptional light armor sets in gold, shadow, agapite and verite, sets to include female plate and a shield (limit, one per customer), as well as a 'tank' set of named, exceptional full plate complete with one of each sword weapon and one of each shield type. Other prizes may be added as the evening progresses. The prize drawing will take place in the main hall of the Silvervale castle, situated in the center of the village. The village of Silvervale is located just north of the Yew-Minoc road, a short walk east from the junction with the Britain road. A map can be found at http://Nywale247.tripod.com/Silvervale.jpg Note that occasionally a passing gargoyle, group of brigands, orcs, ettins or mongbats pass through the village, guards will be on hand to ensure the safety of festival attendees.

Elawyn of Yew, Mayor
Silvervale Village

Greetings!!

Friday, December 1st at 8 o'clock PM EST is the grand opening of the newest player run town on Trammel...Equinox. To mark this occasion, the Knights of Apocalypse will also be unveiling the new addition to the Trammel fight scene. The K^A Thunder Dome. It is the fighting pit on top of K^A Keep that will host a series of new tournaments and various duels. So bring your friends, and your enemies, and come have some fun. The evening will start off with 10 duels. The winner of each duel will advance to the final battle which is a 10 warrior every man for themself, battle royal. The last man standing will receive the grand prize. Entrance into the tournament is 5,000 gold with the grand prize set at 75,000 gold. Those who wish to watch may do so at no charge. More details on the City of Equinox and the tournament can be seen at http://www.geocities.com/cityofequinox

Valiant Kurgan
Guild Master K^A

Hail Great Lakes!!

It's My Pleasure to announce the Next Central Region Counselor of the Month Party! This Month our Party will be held on the Great Lakes Shard. There will be Food, Drinks and Friends!

WHEN: Wed. Nov. 29
TIME: 9:00 pm EST
LOCATION: Main Britain Guild Hall (Guild1) Trammel, Great Lakes

Lead Counselor Lady Destiny
Central Region - LS, GL, SP
Ultima Online
http://www.dispatch2000.com/Central/

Review of Rustics Play at Jollier's Fairgrounds

I have posted up a review of the Rustics Play that took place at the Grand Opening of Jollier's Skara Brae Fairgrounds (Trammel) last night, November 24th, 2000. I also included pictures of the play and the players, and a full transcript of the play for those that couldn't hear due to comm crystal difficulties. You can read it at the Great Lakes Quest News.
Enjoy!

Heather I am sorry for the untimly updates

Location: Skara Faire Grounds
Starting Date: 16 Dec 2000 12:00PM CST
Ending Date: 17 Dec 2000 8:00PM CST

No entry fee. All items to be found will carry a point value, highest point total wins.

• 50k first place
• 15k second place
• 5k third place.

We ask that teams do not exceed two members.

A list of items will be passed out at the start of the event. All wishing to participate are asked to register before 5 PM CST on the 16th at the Faire Grounds. Find any YM, TCS, SAA, or S^D member and they will direct you to someone who can register you and get you a list of items.

Teams are asked to turn in all items once they have finished searching. Turn ins must occur before 8 PM CST on the 17th to be counted for the prize. Winners will be awarded the prize after counting has ceased on the 17th. All items will be returned to participants after the counting of items is done and their total is recorded. Lists will be in the form of books.

**Note: Those who remember the YTC hunt from a WHILE back... this will be run in a similar manner. With the exception that the list of items will be broken up, at the end of each list there will be a clue to find the next piece of the list.

Post by Mastermind
Sent in by Jon von Darkmoor ,Ranger of Sanctaury

Hail dark friends,

While on duty and patrolling the caves of Wind and Shame, I must employ a wide range tactics and skills to defeat those that would invade the home of the Great Ones.
My duties require that I master not only bladed weapons and black arts, but also the ability to move unnoticed throughout my post.

Come read in this latest adventure how The Stealth Assassin protects these sacred halls.

These are not some tales of fancy, but the true Adventures of Adam Ant

http://www.game-master.net/

Greetings!

Several very generous Napa citizens will be sponsoring the upcoming events at Grimoire. The entry fees will be waived and huge prize gps will be awarded to the best of the best on Napa. Please join us on Friday nights, new champions may be named!

2 vs. 2 Sponsored by DeamonKnight:
Friday, December 1, 2000 @ (9 PM PST, 10 PM MST, 11 PM Central, Midnight EST)
NO ENTRY FEE, 1st place 20K gps, 2nd place 10K gps, 3rd place 5Kgps.

3 vs. 3 Sponsored by Kamikaze:
Friday, December 8, 2000 @ (9 PM PST, 10 PM MST, 11 PM Central, Midnight EST)
NO ENTRY FEE, LIMITED TO THE FIRST 12 TEAMS WHO SHOW UP. 1st place 30K gps, 2nd place 15K gps, 3rd place 7.5K gps.

Gladiator Bar Fight, Sponsored by Kamikaze:
Friday, December 15, 2000 @ (9 PM PST, 10 PM MST, 11 PM Central, Midnight EST)
NO ENTRY FEE and no registration, 15K gps to the last fighter left standing.

1 vs. 1 Mage Fight, sponsored by Mianoumi:
Friday, December 22, 2000 @ (9 PM PST, 10 PM MST, 11 PM Central, Midnight EST)
NO ENTRY FEE, LIMITED TO THE FIRST 24 FIGHTERS WHO SHOW UP. 1st place 20K gps, 2nd place 10K gps, 3rd place 5K gps.

Here are the rules for this Friday's 2 vs. 2 Event (12/1/2000):
· No charged magic items, clothing, or jewelry. No magic armor and weapons allowed.
· No pre-poisoned weapons. They may be poisoned during the battle.
· No use of summoning spells, offensive field spells, blade spirits, energy vortex, recall nor gate.
· No Stealing is allowed during battle.
· The only pre-casting allowed (casting done before the match countdown) is Magic Trap, Reactive Armor, and Magic Reflection.

Disclaimers:
· All contestants are subject to snooping by Grimoire Staff to ensure
everyone is participating fairly.
· The Event Coordinator's decision on all matches is final and will not be disputed during the event.
· Anyone who disrupts the flow of the event for any reason will be banned until after the event.
· In the event that a contestant loses connection during the event, the Event Coordinator will make a decision as to the possibility of a rematch. That decision stands and may not be disputed. Any disputes will be handled after the event.
· A connection loss during combat events where the roof is sealed off, will result in an automatic forfeit.
· The Event Coordinator reserves the right to adjust these rules at any time without notice.

To avoid confusion, registration will start at 8:00 PM PST, and end at 9:00 PM PST. No late entries. Tournament will start at 9:10 PM PST.

We must have a minimum of 4 people to start this event!

This event takes place in the Grande Grimoire Battle Arena. Once you have entered the Grande Grimoire Battle Arena, all Contestants are bound by the Rules of the Battle Arena. Failure to follow these rules may result in your death or banishment from the Arena. http://www.battlevortex.com/grimoire/tourney_rules_overall.shtml

Contestants and Spectators must observe and obey all the Village Laws. Failure to do so can end in your death or banishment from the village. http://www.battlevortex.com/grimoire/grimoire_rules.shtml

For calendar of events, rules, maps and community message board, please visit: http://www.battlevortex.com/grimoire/index.shtml

Hope to see you there =o)
Baby-Grimoire Staff

We are pleased to announce Impy's Arctic Faire located on the Arctic Island North of Moonglow. Our next auction will be held on Wednesday, November 29th from 8PM to 10PM Central Time.

Follow your Trammel compass to the castle located at 88o 14'N 170o27'W which is south of the entrance to Despise along the water.

Some of the items up for auction this week include:

• Blessed Kryss of Vanq
  
• Furny Tub
  
• Frying Pan
• Golden Goblet
• Blood Tile

As well as the normal array of vanq's and invulns are some of this week's auction For complete lists of rules, items and info visit us here. We hope to see you there!

Impys' Staff

Baroness Lady Elsa, Sovereign of the City of Stomrhaven, and Lord Savage Storm, Guildmaster of Storm Ryders of Hope, invite all bloodthirsty buckaroos to Napa Valley's second Pirate Jamboree.

The theme for this electrifying event is a winners-take-all battles at sea, in other words, naval PVP. There will be from 4 to 8 buccaneer teams, each team consisting of 5 players. Each group must elect a team leader. Baroness Elsa will present the team leaders with the following items, and their quest is to find and fight for a lost Storm Ryder treasure ship:

· A small boat deed (yours to keep)
· A sexton
· Team cloaks (must be warn at all times during the event)
· A book with the coordinates of the lost Storm Ryder treasure ship
· A rune to your team's launching point (starting locations will be equidistant to the lost treasure ship)

The event agenda is as follows:

· 6:00 PM to 7:20 PM (PST): Team sign-ups (main hall of Castle Stormhaven) and members must temporarily join Storm Ryders (S^R) Guild, in order to facilitate PVP in Trammel
· The first team to complete registration will receive blue sandals for each member of the group, and 10k to be divided among the 5 players
· 7:30 PM: Baroness Elsa authorizes team leaders to launch boats in his/her assigned city (S^R mages will gate the teams to the docks of their assigned city)
· 7:40 PM: Teams are at sea and may now combat each other
· ~ 10:00 PM (or so), prize winners to meet with Baroness Elsa (at Stormhaven) to get their rewards

The objective is to find the lost treasure ship and melee the pirate teams until only 2 teams remain. At that point, the planks to the lost treasure ship will be unlocked, and the remaining 2 pirate teams may board the treasure, while fighting each other. They must defeat the 8 Gendarme Marines on board and then hold the ship against all comers for at least 15 real minutes. Once a team has successfully defended the lost ship for the prescribed time, it is the winner of the Jamboree. They will get to loot the treasure ship; they'll also receive the grand prize (see listing below) once they have turn over the treasure ship key to Baroness Elsa.

Needless to say, the Marines will not sell their lives cheaply.

Special Rules:

· Constants must temporarily join the Storm Ryders of Hope in order to indulge in PVP combat
· Contestants must be on foot, no pets of any type will be allowed (summoned creatures are exempted from this rule)
· The spells poison field and fire field are prohibited
· Contestants should carry only what they are willing to loose, as the victors may loot the vanquished, and will probably do just that
· Contestants are urged to form their own teams, but single characters will be assigned to teams by the event staff to ensure fair play and balance
· Contestants are urged to heal and resurrect team members
· All members of the winning team will be resurrected to share the rewards equally
· No gating is allowed to and from any destination during the PvP portion of the event
· After launching the ship, the team leader must unlock all planks (for boarding purposes), and keep them open and extended for the duration of the event
· All contestants must stay on board their ship at all times, during the naval combat; exiting the vessel disqualifies the contestant
· No attacks are allowed on any player until all teams have lifted anchor and put-to-sea
· There will be a black cloaked S^R observer on board the lost treasure ship. This person is a non-combatant, and is only there to ensure fair play and to declare the winners. Attacking the
observer will disqualify the entire team
· Boarding planks on the treasure will stay locked until only two teams remain. The planks will then be unlocked and extended for the finale
· Violations of any event rule will result in team forfeiture

Prizes:

Winning team: Blackbeard's Treasure Chest, the lost treasure ship and 50k gold
Best role playing (as pirates) team: GM tricone hat and 25k gold
First team to ram the lost ship: 15k gold
First character to board the lost ship: 5k gold and a fool's (jester) hat
First team to be completely massacred: black deathrobes, bone chests and 5k gold
Door Prize- 10k and 5 force scimitars

Registration will begin: Friday, December 1, 6:00 PM (PST); 8:00 PM (CST)
Festivities will begin: Friday, December 1, 7:30 PM (PST); 9:30 PM (CST)
Location: City of Stormhaven, coordinates- 66 Degrees North by 54 Degrees East (Trammel)
Gates will be provided at the West Britain Bank, 15 minutes before the start of the event.

So all ye sea dogs grab your cutlasses, grappling hooks, and boarding pikes, then get ye'all to Stormhaven City this Friday night for the most gruesome bloodletting of the season.

Landlubbers need not apply.

Hear Ye! Hear Ye!

The Crimson Guard will be holding their first ever Winter Fest on December 1, 2000, at 11 PM EST (8 PM PST). We will be running a chess/checkers tournament, with the grand prize being a small house in Trammel!

This event is open to all Brittanians of good alignment. The entry price is 1000 gp per contestant. There will also be random entry prizes awarded, so enter today! The entry deadline is the last day of November. All entrants will receive a copy of the rules once they pay their registration fee. You can contact me, Dayn Dymstar, at: [email protected], or ICQ # 82384156, to enter and get directions to the event place. This will also be open house for all recruiting, so bring your guildmaster along! So long for now!

Dayn Dymstar
Crimson Guard Commander

Hail and well met sire.

As Administrator of Morning Star my duties take me far away from home on many an occasion, twas on such an occasion, that on my return I was hurridly given a message from one of our regular visitors to our tavern, twas young Lolion, a commander of the Free vesper militia.

Late this evening, while I was drinking ale and discussing the days events with my comrades, a poor young woman going by the name of Hu San Nyang arrived in the Morning Star town looking for shelter. As it seems, noone is willing to provide such, as wherever she may tread, hard times are nay short to follow. Villages hath burned to the ground, merely by her passing by. Families hath begun to feud, merely by speaking to her. 'Twould seem that fate hath forced a curse upon this poor woman.

Therefore We the people of the town of Morning Star are now seeking the bravest and most noble adventurers of the realm, to help us in lifting the curse, once and for all.

Take heed however, 'twill nay be a simple task. On Friday the 1st December at 7PM when Trammel and Fellucia are at their closest, the search for a cure shall begin. Mayhaps one of thee shalt be able to finally rid the child of this terrible curse. Those with naught of wits nor courage hath little to seek in this great adventure, as the poor girl's curse shall nay doubt become thee as well. If thour't ready to travel across the lands to aid this beatiful woman in distress, at her time of need, come to the Morning Star tavern on the 1st December at 7PM.

signed: The lady Shia of Morning Star town

Ros: ICQ 11720576
Meet at Morning Star Tavern (Europa/trammel)
On Friday 1st December at 7pm gmt (UK time)

Well met fellow warriors, I bring great news from the city of Tel'mar. Not to give up on the furious momentum of our previous success, the first Million Warrior War, a second has been proposed!

Remember last time we went to Hythloth to slay the mighty balrons in melee combat? Well this time we're going one step further than that.

I'll not disclose too many details yet, but I can reveal that we'll be heading to Destard, we'll be going in through the front door of the dungeon and we we'll not be stopping until we've cleared out every foul dracoform beast we encounter within.

The meeting will take place next Sunday (That's Sunday 3rd of December) at 6pm GMT. The meeting place will be Tel'mar tower. For those of you new to the Million Warrior Wars, Tel'mar tower is a single screen to the West of the shrine of Justice on Trammel. Gates will be available from the banks of Moonglow, Trinsic and Britain from 5:30pm onwards. Just look for members of MAR and ask them for a ride to the meeting point.

Team robes will be supplied in a similar manner to last month, but with a special twist! Potions will also be available so don't worry if you can't find enough.

So rally your friends, companions and guildmates together. Bring every warrior you know to Tel'mar for one of the largest hunts ever to take place, the second Million Warrior War!

Best of luck to you all until then, I shall see you at the meeting!

Phil

All of Europa's residents are in an amazing lottery, at the newly created Lottery Shop! We're situated in Trammel, at coordinates 26'48N 21'18E, near Britain on the East side of Blackthorn's lake. Prizes in the opening lottery include such desireable items as a full set of ranger armour, a fruit basket and 2 glacial staffs.

Thanks, and I hope you'll take the time to visit soon Psychor of the Lottery Shop

Join us this Wednesday as Origin Stratics hosts another Origin House of Commons. The conference will occur Wednesday night(TONIGHT) at 7pm CST in #originhoc.

The House of Commons is a program wherein Stratics brings together you (the players) and the designers of your favorite Massively Multiplayer games, so that you can ask them your questions about what to expect in their game and what changes are in store, as well as express your thoughts and feelings about the title. OSI, the development team behind Ultima Worlds: Origin, will take you into the world of the Meer, the Juka, and those humans fortunate enough to have survived the Cataclysm. Come and ask them your questions about this dangerous world, which mixes Britannia's distant past with its horrendous future and the present we thought we knew.

For information on the format of a House of Commons chat, please check here, or read one of our past Origin HOC logs. To join the conference, connect to one of the following Stratics IRC servers, then type /join #originhoc. Or, use our Stratics Java IRC Client.

• irc.stratics.com
• compu.stratics.com
• dhp.stratics.com
• frws.stratics.com
• intworks.stratics.com

Brimstone of MMORPGSTUFF.com has just released the "Chaotic Neutral" design, finishing the "Chaotic" alignment series of shirts and stuff. To see this shirt design, and many others, head over to Mmorpgstuff.

In the next few weeks, MMORPGSTUFF.com will be working on the "Lawful" alignments. If you have a special request, or an idea for a 'phrase' that fits one (or more) of the Lawful alignments, let Mmorpgstuff.com know! If your phrase is used, and if that shirt sells, you will receive a cash bonus for your ideas.

Ideas can be mailed to: Brimstone

Submitted by: Brimstone (aka: Anthony)
ICQ: 206317
Email: [email protected]

I would like to request news to be sent of Factions for when it starts. I want to keep up to date on which faction is leading, who is running which towns, and the stories of great battles between the factions.

I've also heard rumors of a Player run Minax Faction Castle that is going to be the headquaters for the Player run guild Minax Faction. If anyone have more news on this please send it in to me.

Finally, everyone be sure to send us in your stories/locations of Taverns, Museums, Inns, and Player run towns for our establishment pages. The UOSS News Team is looking forward to your news.

And fortunes he had, overall he dropped over 400k gold, regs, 50 recall scrolls, 200 magical items including some Vanq and Silver Power weapons. Although the drop was impressive, my attention kept turning to the players. I was astounded by how greedy everyone was. Some that got 50k wanted more instead of letting other new players have a shot at getting a helpful start in the game.

At the end of this event I finally managed to corner Errit and find out his reasons for leaving. As it turns out, he is tired of how greedy people have become in our land and decided to go back to other worlds. How he managed this still confuses me, but I decided not to press him on the matter.

I wonder how greedy everyone truly is. How much must we gain until we are content with ourselves? Thinking about this, I thank Errit for showing a few of us our true natures and wish him a good journey.

Hear Ye Hear Ye, the Uruk village has changed its name!!

Recently the orcs of the Uruk village have extended an invitation to all the people of Sosaria, in an attempt to the membership of its city and its guild members. In the spirit of inclusiveness, the Uruks have decided to change the name of the Uruk village. From this point forward it shall be known as Willowport.

To better inform the citizens of Sosaria about the city, the Town Criers have been asked to distribute informational pamphlets to any that are interested. These pamphlets can be located here.

Among other things, these pamphlets contain a calendar of events for the entire land of Sosaria. Any guilds or groups that are planing events are invited to send pigeon to the printers that they might keep us all informed of these events.

As always, we of the Town Criers will keep you all up to date as these situations develop.

Britania Town Criers,
If we aren't yelling about it, its not important.

The Baja section was updated with the current Mendur Marris Mystery. You can read about it here.

Hear, Hear !

The guild of Iron and Oreminers United [IOU] will be holding a race of skill and strength on Thursday the 30th of Oktober. The objective of the race is to move a large pile of ore (too heavy to carry) across a fair distance along a racing track by using the technique known as leapfrogging.

For those not familiar with miners terms : it means to stand in front of the ore pile, pick it up, set it down in front of you (quickly before your arms drop off) and now move in front of the ore pile to repeat this.

This race gives you all a chance to compare your skill in leapfrogging and to win some excellent prizes... if you are good enough *wink*
It is open to all who would like to participate, be they members of IOU or not. Even if you dont want to participate in the race you should come to view and cheer brave men and women showing of their strength and skill *smile*

The race will be held in several rounds and one final. In each round 3 to 4 participants will race each other. The winners of all rounds will face each other again in the final. A road will be used as the racetrack. Placing the ore outside of the road is not allowed and will result in a time penalty.

Now you're all waiting anxiously for prices, right ? As a major incentive I have decided to set the following price for the winner: 2000 gp times the number of participants in the race, up to a maximum of 32K, plus one magic pickaxe of Power *smile* The second will get half that sum in gp and a magic pickaxe of Force. The third will get one third.
That means that if we get 16 participants the winner gets 32K, the second gets 16K and the third gets... errr... *scratches head* lets say 10K *smile*

This event is sponsored by IOU and it is staged for the fun and entertainment of all, so come along and join in. No fees attached and great prizes to be won ! Did I catch your interest ? Great !

General meeting place, for participants and spectators alike, is the P&B Tavern (Perrin & Bel, located on Trammel, 97°N / 97°E, next to Minoc), on Thursday the 30th at 9pm CET (8pm GMT, 3pm EST). I expect the first racing round to start around half an hour later if all goes well.

A request to all racers : please notify me (Morgoth) in advance about your participation by sending a Stratics Private Message to me, or have a look at the Stratics Drachenfels Forum, where this invitation is posted as well, and reply to the thread telling me that you will come.

Greetings,
Morgoth,
aka Melkor the Magic Miner of Drachenfels
Guildmaster of IOU (Iron and Oreminers United)

Hi all ! The next dungeon tour hosted by Merchants on Tour will be a crawl in Hythloth, tomorrow (Wednesday).

Information is available here.

Yours,
Raknar

Dear Tymaron,

I hope this letter finds you well in whatever corner of the realm your duties have led you. In that said duties may cause you to be unaware of recent events here in Yew, I am writing to inform you of the situation and to ask that you might carry word of my intended vigil to those who would join me in this cause.

Simply put, Yew is in turmoil, both civil and spiritual. Not only do humans clash daily with Drow, though various nonagression pacts have been attempted, but factions that might otherwise be in support of one another now battle each other openly before our blessed Empath. Forces from abroad declare authority over long standing residents and council members have either resigned in disgust or are themselves charged with wrong doing. Warmongers bent on "sport" have been drawn to the abbey like crows to carrion. And whatever claims and counter claims, charges and counter charges made by every side have become so convoluted that I can no longer view any side as being totally in the right, especially when the sword, rather than reason or patience, seems the most oft plied method of resolution. Truly, good crier, it has been a long fall for the City of Justice, when justice is being taken so liberally into so many different hands.

And with justice in mind, I have concluded that if a truly just course can not be found in the present, then perhaps we might look to the example of the past for our direction. I make mention of my first Shrine Pilgrimage during which Jurai (our once Chief Justice) was entrusted with the Sword, Shield, and Scales of Justice by a guardian of that shrine. It is my hope that we might again turn to our namesake shrine for direction in our hour of greatest need.

I am planning a journey to the Shrine of Justice and will sit vigil there until such a time as some solution to our problem is presented, either by supernatural guardian as in days gone by, or through calmer, more peaceful discussion with those who would join me. I can not believe that any long standing peace will be delivered to our beloved Yew by the sword. Thus, I look to the Virtues for guidance.

I will depart Empath abbey on Thursday, November 30th at 8 p.m. Eastern. I and any who wish to join me will be making for the Shrine of Justice. Once there, I shall begin a vigil until a solution seems apparent or the fighting in Yew has subsided. Perhaps some would call this journey an attempt to run from the problems of Yew when Yew needs those with cooler heads to speak out for peace here at home, but of late, the only talk carried out in our city is a prelude to bloodshed. Being a firm believer in the spiritual cleansing of the pilgrimage, it is my hope that those who attend might return with a solution that can not currently be found at home.

I go now to put my few personal affairs in order for what may be an extended absense and stock what little food-stuffs I might need for the journey.

May the Virtues guide and protect you on your rounds, good crier,

Dove the Healer of Yew

Know thou embark on this day in an endeavor to defend the right of Trinsic citizens to live. We are assured by the dark elves that the beatings of our ladies and our children will continue until our race perishes from this world. Do not mistake these words. They are not simply symbolic. The dark elves have made quite clear their intention to hurt the people of Trinsic, and the people of Britannia at large, with no more thought of justice and compassion than a man ho doth harvest wheat.

Meanwhile, the Mayor of Trinsic, St. John Wraith, also issues his citizens encouragement:

Remember all, we are there to aid Yew against the Drow, not to involve ourselves in their local governmental crisis. We are not deputized, nor do we have any policing power over citizens of Yew. Do what you can to aid, but try to stay clear of local affairs.

And also, late word that the Moonglow Council has advised its citizens to evacuate the city of Yew:

After the report made by the Chancellor of the Lycaeum to the Moonglow Council, the City of Honesty decided to evacuate all the Moonglow citizens still present in the city of Yew. The situtation in the city of Justice is judged 'dangerous', and all citizens of Moonglow are encouraged to avoid Yew for now, unless they individually wish to offer their support in the coming battles.

There is a meeting scheduled for tonight (Tuesday) at 9 p.m. Eastern in the Court of Truth, Yew, to address these issues.

The questions of 1) holiday "happenings" of some type, and 2) holiday trees are both still being discussed here. I went and talked to Sage about it today, in fact. There is an issue with the trees, in that we now have de-foliated lands in Felucca unless set differently in options. A holiday tree's appearance and re-deed control are both related to the leaves being visible. So this will take a bit of thinking before anything is done.

Needless to say, it is a concern and we are trying see what action we can take before the holidays get here. At this point I do not know what will be done, but we haven't forgotten these player concerns :)

Melantus

Online Community Coordinator

Ultima Online

Congratulations to all the fighters who participated in the Gladiator Bar Fight at Grimoire! The competition was very tough and you all did great. Many thanks to DeamonKnight for sponsoring this event.

The last fighter standing was Amborse and he took home a check for 15K gps. Congratulations!

Thank you to the wonderful Grimoire staff! Thank you Fiona Pentell, Mianoumi, Lost, Craggan, Dyastro Farkas, Madness, Angel, and last but not least, Josh! Grimoire would fall apart without all of your help.

I will be posting another schedule of events in the next few days. There is still one more event sponsored by DeamonKnight, then a bunch more sponsored by Kamikaze and Mianoumi.

Thanks everyone and see you next week!
Baby-Grimoire Staff

*posted at taverns across Britannia*

The Delucia Settlement wishes to thank everyone who aided us this past week in attempting to clear the passage from Britannia. Although we slew many lava lizards, hellcats, and dread spiders, the phoenix remained our deadliest enemy. Soaring down from the cliffs in a burst of flame, he was impossible even to strike and felled even the most experienced of our warriors.

In the past few days, the phoenix has remained at his crag and there have been no reports of any subsequent attacks. Therefore Delucia has decided to discontinue hunting it, instead making it the town symbol and taking it into our protection. Routine patrols will be dispatched to the tunnels to make sure the bird is safely ensconced in its cave far away from unsuspecting travelers.

May the Virtues light your path.

Lucetta DeMaio
Paladin Brigadier
Delucia Settlement

************

Anyone interested in colonizing Delucia should realize that we are a roleplaying guild. We follow the rules of engagement and conduct ourselves accordingly. Anyone who does not gets hoisted by their own petard, tarred and feathered with phoenix feather.(Ever seen tar burn?) Details can be found here: Delucia Settlement.

Lucetta of the Delucia Settlement attempts to placate a phoenix in the caves linking Delucia to Britannia
[Picture Credit: Lucetta of the Delucia Settlement]

Riddler of Ruin
Talbot Quillfeather
Nov 26 2000 7:51PM

Often times, when I was a lad growing up in the dark and dangerous streets of Britain - long before the splitting of the facets - my friends and I would take turns spying through a tiny hole in the wall of the Kings Men Theatre at a wondrous world populated by gaily dressed creatures who pranced about in a jingle of bells and shrill laughing recitations of limericks involving a certain scribe from Yew (I need not tell you the rest of that particular bit of rhyme.) The theatre was always filled with a host of these marvelous performers who, from our limited vantage point, seemed to be virtual cart wheeling gods and goddesses of joy, ever able to send us to greater and greater heights of laughter by virtue of their staged mishaps.

Sadly, however, those days are far lost in the yesteryear of a world long gone since the coming of Minax…it is perhaps the fond memory that I have of those master makers of mirth that has propelled me on my latest quest, for it would seem that not all who would wear the jester’s cap are playful clowns…some invoke screams instead of laughter, as is the case of the creature who calls itself Pandora Vex.

I say “itself”, because in truth while I have looked upon it with my own eyes and it has the shape of a comely, yet oddly colorless, woman, I cannot (and others would agree) believe in my heart that it is a human thing - for I cannot think of any human that would so delight at the tormenting of the innocent as does this creature. But I get ahead of myself as usual.

It was not a week ago that a young man came into the Cat’s Lair Tavern, sat down, and with a trembling hand began to drink and drink and drink until even I (drunken sot that I often am) began to fear that his face would grow a goblet shaped wart. That sort of drinking does not come without first being stimulated by something of journalistic note, and so it was that I found myself edging a stool closer to the fellow and asking what ailed him.

“Ah, m’lord…I dasn’t say, for I fear that if’n I speak of it…she’ll come back, and to be honest…there ain’t enough gold in our Lord’s coffers worth listening to her laugh agin.”

If he thought that this would shove my curiosity aside, then, simply put, he was drunker than was really safe for a man of his size and wit, and so it was that I began a gentle verbal poking into the nature of his fright. T’was this that I finally dragged from his slurring lips :

“Me and me mates were about in the countryside foraging for mushrooms when we heard this hideous laughin. No human could sound like that m’lord - it still raises tha hair on me back - but poor old Grahm had ta have a look at what was making such a racket, and so we poked our way around tha brush and eventually found her.”

“Her?” I asked, thinking perhaps that the drunkard and his fellows had stumbled across the legendary Skara Brae Witch, or perhaps the infamous Hedge Harpy.

“Aye, a looker she was…but’n I could tell that there was sumthin wrong with her…she was all dressed up in one of those suits that the funny folks wear, with bells and all kinds of janglies.”

I poured him another goblet of ale and motioned for him to go on.

“She was laughing at these two fellows and saying all kinds of mean things in an awful rhyme…making fun of em’ and taunting em’ to do sumthin. Looking at those folks I wouldn’t have messed with em’..big brawny warrior types were they and I could tell that what she was a saying was getting on their nerves.”

So far, aside from the costume, I could not possibly imagine what had driven this poor chap so far deep inside of his cups. So, with a gentle prod for him to continue. he began telling me the rest of his tale.

“Well these fightin’ men was getting very upset and wanted to smash her pretty face in, but then she said sumthin really odd in that rhyming way of hers. She asked em’ if they would answer a riddle, saying that if’n they gots it right they’d get their weight in gold.”

He paused at this, his eyes clouding over slightly as if remembering something of note. Whatever it was, it was quickly lost as he took another draw from his goblet and continued his tale.

“So I guess they agreed or sumthin and she said her riddle lesee here, it went sumthin like this.”

“I have ten fingers I have ten toes But across my neck only cold wind blows.”

“Well me and my mates just huddled there in the bushes waiting to see what would happen. Truth be told I was hoping that if’n they won we might be able to talk them out of a few coins, but I guess that was wishful thinking as the lady got more and more impatient with’n them not answering her. Oh, she did an awful stamping with her feet and acted like a little girl not getting her way.

Finally one of em’ had an answer for her and he blurted out “mountains”. Fer some reason this made her double over in laughter. Well me and my mates couldn’t see the funny in it at all, and it was about this time, when we were wondering if’n we should pipe up with our own guess, that she shook her stick at the two brawny folk and, letting out a wild laugh, disappeared in a puff of smoke.”

At this point my companion took a very long gulp of ale and sat staring at me for a moment before continuing his tale in a very small, quiet voice.

“They never even saw what hit em’. Out of tha ground at their feet a pair of bony hands shot up and grabbed their ankles, while even more bones clawed their way upwards through the ground and formed themselves into a pair of rotting skeletal warriors. Those poor blokes, Virtues help them. M’lord, I do naye know if’n they survived…all I know is that cackling harlequin appeared right before me and my mates and said…”

“My lucky lucky day, three more chickens come to play!”

“I ran, m’lord, I got up and bolted through the brush and behind me all I could hear was her laughing and the sounds of the fight behind me where those poor chaps were fighting for their lives. I heard me mates behind me, and something coming fast after us, and all I could think about was my wee ones at home and how I wasn’t smart enough to answer no riddler for my life.”

Frowning, I leaned over to him and patted him on the shoulder, “It’s all right friend. Whatever you ran into out there in the woods is behind you. I very much doubt that she would dare brave a city such as Britain.”

“You don’t understand m’lord, I was the only one who came out of those woods alive! Me mates…they…”, tears formed in the man’s eyes as he gazed deeply into his half full goblet, “Every time I close m’eyes sir I hear her laughing and I hear her voice whispering in my ear saying this hideous rhyme!”

“Come to me thou mortal fool, come and be my playful tool…thy friends are resting with me in pain, and oh so soon thy soul shall I gain…so listen to my witchly hex, and come dearest back…to Pandora Vex.”

“M’lord…nothing…makes the rhyme…stop, nothing and every time I close my eyes I dream of her…and that she has followed me even to this city, if I did not know better m’lord I would swear that she is here in this tavern with us.”

With a snort I shoved his shoulder lightly and stood up dropping a few coins on the bar beside him, “A good story my friend but I’ve think you’ve had enough. This will pay for what you’ve drunk and a room for the night.” And with that, I turned and walked out of the tavern and into a gray cloaked figure that let loose a small giggle, “Ah…takes all types” I thought to myself and mumbled an apology.

The figure stopped, and with another giggle turned around to face me, its face still concealed by the heavy gray mantle. From within the cloak’s hood a high pitched, feminine voice cackled…”Think nothing of it you wielder of pen, for surely you could not know when, Pandora Vex would come to play, and claim for herself a victim to slay.”

Over her shoulder I saw an apparition begin to form in the dim light of the tavern, quickly taking the shape of a ghostly spectre that lifted my drunken companion into the air and promptly broke his neck. Terrified, I stared at the cloaked shape in front of me, and to my horror the most unearthly laugh began rising into the night.

“Oh such fun, such gruesome trouble…and now dear Talbot, shall I make thy blood bubble? Or have you the wit to win my game, hrm oh scribe of moderate fame?”

A pair of unearthly white hands appeared at the sleeves of her garment and lifted the hood back, exposing a pale yet beautiful face nestled beneath a gray jester’s cap. Dear readers, I ran screaming into the night, leaving behind me her echoing laughter.

While I at first did not believe what my drunken friend was telling me, I believe now that some frightful creature stalks our realm reveling in the pain and suffering of humankind. Should you come across Pandora Vex, run…run for your lives because to play her game I fear would carry with it the gravest of penalties should you lose. But if you are brave enough to take her challenge and you win, this humble scribe will pay handsomely to hear your tale.

Virtues Blessings,

Talbot Quillfeather

Edinburgh's Agonies End: Felucca's Now Begin
Erik Valstrom
Nov 26 2000 6:46PM

The long wait is over. The dire peril which held the village of Edinburgh, and myself, spellbound in an iron grip of mystery and terror has come and gone. Their mine is now free of evil and the miners return to their work as before, safe except from occasional attacks by marauding brigands who proliferate the area. The village, "sleepy" perhaps, but far from being a "backwater" town described formerly by Armande deSade (if that is who he was), goes about its business as usual once again. For the rest from the horrors that plagued them, I am sure they are grateful.

I had to leave the village for a while, hoping my contacts would continue to supply me with information about events I knew would transpire there in the meantime. This they did, ably. I hereby express my utmost gratitude to them, though they must remain safely anonymous. They have told me tales which, had I not done much research on the subject myself, I would scarcely have believed.

What began as the discovery of a vein of gold in the mine and the appearance of gold elementals issuing from it - leading to numerous attacks by brigands, pirates, mages, elementals, and even a dragon on the village - ended recently with the sudden revelation of the object which was concealed within it, its subsequent theft by Spyte the Knife, and his loss of it on Felucca. The object was identified as the Orb of Soul Seeking, which I shall write more about at a later date.

The vein of gold, which became so small due to the issuance of gold elementals from it and from being melted by attacks from firestorm elementals--a combination, apparently, of fire and air elemental forms--and a fire-breathing dragon, was rendered ineffective, no longer able to seal the Orb within and restrain its power of teleportation. Thus, the heroic efforts of the villagers and their allies to guard and keep watch over it proved futile. For when the gold finally disappeared the Orb was found near a point of land near the coast, south of the village. It then began utilizing more unusual properties, as poison elementals appeared above it, silent sentinels which did not attack, thankfully. Yet those who stood guard around it were nevertheless subjected to attacks from swamp tentacles which it evidently summoned to harass and kill them. And if that were not enough, the evil mages returned with brigand allies - no doubt recruited from within nearby dungeon Wrong - and made several powerful attacks, slaying many. The Orb continued to consume souls, and at least two fell prey to it during these last days: the pirate Captain Caine, and his consort, Ursula. Both were seen in ghost forms and then in what can only be described as shriveled and discolored shades, were drawn into the Orb, shrieking in abject terror. The villagers, despite their poor treatment at the hands of these two notorious villains, were nevertheless moved to pity but could only stand by helplessly and watch.

Then the fateful day came, when I met Spyte the Knife in Britain. I caught him as he was hurrying from the bank, carrying several backpacks with him. He tried to flee, but Andar was too fast for him and he, burdened heavily, stopped running.

"What do you want of me, storyteller?!" he inquired, none too kindly.

I asked him what was his hurry, and why he sought to avoid me. I was shocked by what I thought I saw in his eyes: tears, whether of anger or grief, I knew not. He looked up at me and his eyes pierced right through me. I could see then he had indeed been weeping.

"Ursula is dead!! The villagers brought the Orb near to our ship, no doubt hoping it would kill me as it did Caine. Ursula was there alone, and it took her! Now they will pay!"

I knew the villagers of Edinburgh were goodly folk, incapable of such wickedness, and I told him so... that he must be mistaken. He shook his head, but I could see he was grieving terribly and it overwhelmed him with a certain madness.

"No matter! I will make good on it myself! I know what must be done!"

I sought to pursue the matter but he would say nothing more and most discourteously told me to be on my way. This I did, reluctantly, but wisely, for those who trifle with this man court disaster.

I learned later that while the villagers and their allies were fending off an attack, Spyte ran upon the scene dressed in Stanton Kyre's enchanted verite plate armor and stood by the Orb, seemingly entranced by it. Suddenly he picked it up and hurried away using his hiding skills to good advantage. When the attacks died away, the guardians of the Orb began searching for him. He was last seen creating a facet gate to Felucca and fled through it, having first said something like, "Fear not, I know what to do." He left no trail to follow and the guardians, wearied by the fighting and toils of standing watch over the Orb, could not long continue a search for him.

A mage, Scaramandine II, or perhaps Armande, it is not known for sure, then appeared. He displayed great anger that the guardians had allowed the Orb to be stolen, though he himself, earlier, had been unable to pick it up himself. He revealed not only his displeasure at the loss of the Orb but also a measure of satisfaction that he no longer had to conceal his true intentions where it was concerned. Clearly he wants it for his own dark purposes, and is committed to finding it.

This artifact is now loosed upon Felucca. It has eluded even the grasp of Spyte. He told me as much, and while he can be deceptive, his words ring true. Spyte wanted to destroy it to free the soul of Ursula, but it only used him to escape to Felucca where it might work new evil. Evidently, by sensing or guessing his intent or by peering into his mind, it teleported away from him soon after he had acquired it and brought it to Felucca.

I end this tale with a warning to all those of noble heart dwelling upon Felucca: beware this thing! It has diabolical properties which ye have perhaps seen, heard, or have read about. If the evil Necromari - of whom Armande/Scaramandine II are leaders - obtain it and have in their possession the spell which focuses its powers of soul absorption, then no one, not any of us, can be safe from a hideous fate - far worse than mere dying. If ye find this thing, touch it not, but report it to the local authorities immediately. May the Virtues save us!

• The Banishing of a Daemon
• Strange Sightings in Edinburgh Mine
• Pirate Captured in Yew!
• Edinburgh Besieged
• An Unexpected Visitor

Well, I was sitting by my desk within the stratics keep last night, when I realised I couldn't say I had. I consider myself to be a reasonably successful game hunter, yet couldn't claim I'd killed every beast within Britannia?! What a hippocrit I've been! So, I'm going to make amends. From today, I've forgotten all beasts I've ever slayed before and starting anew. I've compiled a list of each monster within our land and I've sworn to slay each of them. Only once I have a memory of each creatures death at my hands, will I call myself a game hunter once again.

What does this have to do with you? Well, it would be rather selfish of me to keep these adventures to myself, wouldnt it? So I'm offering the public a chance to join in on the fun. What you can expect in the near future, will be spur of the moment, fly by the seat of your pants, hop in the gate or you'll miss out type action. If you see me within city walls, stop and ask me where I'm heading, because 8.5/10 I'll be on my way to killing the next beast on my list. Dont see me often within town? Then hop onto the Oceania forum (see the link of the left) and see when I'm next out hunting.

Not only will you be able to say "I was out there helping Conde kill monsters" but the adventurers that make it to the end of hunts get a share in the bounty. Oh and believe me, theres often plenty to share. So keep watching this spot, because I'll be giving the public updates on how things are going, where things are going and when they'll be going next!

See you in the dungeons,
Sha'mad Conde

Having finished conducting your business in town you notice a Page in crimson & white heading toward the town notice board. Remembering him from the previous week you quicken your step to beat the crowds to the board. You begin reading before the lad has even finished tacking the notice up.

*TRUE BRITANNIAN RECRUITMENT RALLY*

We invite all countrymen, orders & townships to attend a True Britannian Recruitment Rally on Wednesday, November 29th at 8pm Eastern to begin at Lord British’s’ Castle in Trammel on the Atlantic shard.

The Rally shall be for the purpose of recruiting all that would stand beneath the banner of True Britannians in the upcoming faction war. All orders & townships wishing to participate should send their Recruit Masters, guild representative & member support so new recruits may join an order of their choice.

The Rally schedule will be as follows:

• 8:00pm Est. Rally begins at Lord British’s Castle in Trammel.
• 8:30pm Est. Those present shall parade the streets to Britain’s West Bank to rally & recruit.
• 9:00pm Est. The Rally shall then gate to Felucca from outside town boundaries & parade to West Britain Bank Felucca to rally & recruit.
• 9:30pm Est. The Rally shall parade to Lord British’s Castle in Felucca to continue recruitment.
• 10:00pm Est. The Rally shall disburse.

The individuals present must acquire moonstones for travel to Felucca & returning back to Trammel; though party travel will be made available.

For the crown, the people & our honor, we stand as True Britannians, The Stormguards of Stormhaven

Respectfully submitted,

Lady Lipstick

Here me, Britannians and Sosarians alike. The Dark Tower’s library has been destroyed and most of its tomes stolen from our grasps over the years of decay and silence that had befallen it. It is imperative that the sacred library is restored. The Dark Tower shall pay handsomely to all that recover and return our lost tomes. Gorthaur, the former master priest of darkness, just recently began his intent to begin his contributions to the recovery of our once sacred hall; however, our collection is still not complete. After the Great War and the fall of our great Master, it was recorded the day the library was raided and destroyed by those who opposed us. Seek ye out these tomes, and you shall find yourself in wealth and favor.

Furthermore, in order to further protect the Dark Tower’s future endeavors, a new sect has been formed to prevent such happenings from ever transpiring again. Knight of Swords, former acolyte of Gorthaur and paladin of Blackwolf, has established the Shadowguard, the Dark Tower’s personal guard force composed of the only the finest and most feared paladins of the land. The Shadowguard shall ensure the survival and well being of all who reside within our tower halls, as well as its properties, and future interests. The Shadowguard is seeking fine young warriors to enlist within its honored ranks. If ye be interested in becoming a shadow guard of the tower, seek out Knight of Swords, or send message to [email protected] for further information. Only those of great prowess seeking the wisdom of the Dark Tower’s spiritual enlightenment may be accepted into this newly established personal guard force. As their first task, the Shadowguard, as well as all who still dwell within the Tower shall uncover the mystery shrouding the mysterious death of our former Master, Na-Krul. ‘Twas known that night that our master attempted a great ritual, casting forth all his magical power into the blackrock he did posses. Seek out Knight of Swords, for he bore witness to this event and can further enlighten you. To those who choose to assist us in our great plight, returning our sacred tomes, and assisting in the discovery of our master’s death, a reward shall be granted of 10,000 gold, and the promise of audience with our renown Master himself…

Therefor, a meeting shall be called. All who wish to assist the Tower, or wish to hear further what will transpire, meet at the Dark Tower this Wednesday at 7 PM pacific. There, all shall be revealed to you.

Arwyn Blackheart,

Loremaster of the Dark Tower

Avalon, a player-city located west of the Dungeon Wrong in Felucca on Ultima Online’s Baja Shard, is proud to announce several important changes:

• New Domain Name Avalon has a new domain, www.avaloncity.org. Coinciding with this is, of course, a new e-mail address: [email protected]. If you’re adding Avalon to your list of links, please use these. But, if you’re links already include our old addresses (avaloncity.cjb.net and [email protected]), don’t worry—we’re keeping those active as well, so no none of your existing links will be broken.

• Web site changes The Avalon web site has been revamped, with a new design, new logos, and new colors. We’ve also got new content, including the Spotlight on Avalon from the official Ultima Online web site. Plus, a special bonus for longtime fans of the “City of Destiny”, no more of those annoying pop-up banner ads

• New Merchandise In celebration of of these exciting changes Avalon is now offering T-shirt, sweatshirt, and mug designs, incorporating the new designs. Simply click on the merchandise link in our navigation list at the new web site, or go directly here (to www.cafepress.com/avaloncod).

• New Interest Thanks to GM Hanse and his team, the severe overspawning of monsters in Avalon is comfortably a thing in the past, and Avalon begins once again to thrive. Last weekend Ursula had a scavenger hunt and our citizens are planning more events in the near future. Everyone is invited to come use the best Rune Library in Ultima Online, visit with our citizens in Avalon’s “Lucina Juno” GM-enhanced Town Hall, shop at the Avalon Commissary (our vendor mall), take a chance and mingle with unscrupulous rogueish-types at the Dead Dove Tavern, or even get married at the Blessed-by-GMs outdoor chapel on our peninsula.

Directions to Avalon can be found at the new web site, here.

Nobody

Websmith of Avalon

We'd like t' thank everyone that came t' the Shadowlight/Alliance of Virtue Thanksgiving Feast!

Many folk came from all over Britannia. Friends of ole' and of new alike were there to gorge themselves on the meal we prepared for them.

Near the end of the event though Flenniel Loak, a great merchant, showed up. However he was not alone.... Following him was hordes of elementals, and a request for his head!

For Anvil's account of the events please see the historical documents of Shadowlight and AoV.

Paintings of the Dinner: Alliance of Vitue (go to Past AoV Event's page)

Paintings and Story of the Elemental Attack: Village of Shadowlight (go to Quests page)

Again thank ye to all that showed up!

Anvil, AoV

Village TownCrier, HC

For the third Oberon Pass Arena Team Duels, we are celebrating with two sessions of battle! Sunday December 3rd, the first session will be from 5pm EST to 7pm EST, then a second session from 8pmEST to 10pmEST. Advance registration is not required! Our rules are very non-restrictive, and we have a web based cumulative point ranking system. For full details check out the Oberon Pass Website, under the PvP Info and Rules section!

DogMeat
Mayor of Oberon Pass

Chesapeake Factions and Publish Update

In light of an issue with the faction system publish, we have decided to delay the release of the faction system on the Chesapeake shard. The stablemaster and monster changes listed in Testing for Next Update will be published to the shard and will be active following the Chesapeake shard's Tuesday, November 28th maintenance period. The factions system, however, will remain inactive on Chesapeake until further notice.

Additionally, we will be publishing the monster and stablemaster changes listed in Testing for Next Update to all shards to be active following their Wednesday, November 29th maintenance period (local server time). As the Siege Perilous and Sonoma shards will be updated with the monster changes to be active following their next maintenance period.

We will release a revised schedule for the activation of the Faction System on Chesapeake as soon as one is determined.

Item 'Smashing' and Monster Movement

Monsters may no longer be 'trapped' by barricading them behind various objects in the game world. They will now attempt to maneuver around the objects and in some cases may smash the objects barring their movement.

Items that are locked down, secure, or strongboxes may not be smashed. Containers, if smashed, will spill their contents onto the ground.

Thursday at 8:15 Havenwood will be having a library caravan from Minoc to Havenwood. We shall begin gathering at 8:15 at the stables and leave promptly at 8:25. We will be carrying several needed additions to the Havenwood library, many consisting of vampirical lore and undead scripture. We do not expect any severe trouble, although guards for the caravan, who would like to join the Royal Army or the Knights of Havenwood are welcome.

The citizens of Rivendell would like to announce another Town Night Competition for this Thursday, Nov. 30th!  We will be hosting a 1 on 1 Warrior competition with up to 16 entrants! Registration begins at 7pm CST and the first battle starts at 7:30.  Gates (hopefully)will be provided at Britain West Bank and Moonglow Bank. There will be a 2K entry fee and this will, as usual, go toward the prizes.  Which will be generous as always.  There will be a short ceremony near the tavern at the conclusion of the final match. 

The following rules apply:

Any GM made weapons are allowed, competitors may use any combination of weapons
No poisoned or magic weapons
No magic armor
Bandages allowed
No Magic allowed
Potions are allowed, but there is a limit of three healing potions per individual contest (bring enough for several rounds)
No healing after 10 minute time is called.
No looting
No pets
Fight to the death or yield
Healer and resurrections will be provided at no charge

There will be a $2k entry fee for each pair due at the time of registration.   Registration will begin 30 minutes prior to the start inside the Rivendell Tavern.  The back room with the teleporter to the arena will be opened at the 7:30pm CST start time.   With the growing number of participants, we request that registrants arrive as early as possible so that the competition gets underway promptly. (Please note: No more contestants will be taken after the contestants are in the arena.)  We will be limiting the number of warriors for this tourney to Sixteen.


Thanks for
Your support!

Regards,

Town Council

Greetings citizens,

The House of Blaine would like to invite you on a scavenger hunt. All contestants shall meet at The Drunken Norseman Tavern at 7 p.m. CST Dec. 2nd. The hunt will begin no later than 7:30. The Drunken Norseman Tavern is located just outside Skara Brae, trammel, on the southside of the road. Maps to the location can be found on our website. Gates will also be provided from Britain and Moonglow banks.

All contestants will be given books with a list of items to be hunted and a bag to place them in. ALL ITEMS MUST BE RETURNED IN THESE BAGS. After ALL bags are handed out, contestants will be disnissed to the hunt. ANYONE LEAVING BEFORE THE OFFICIAL DISMISSAL WILL BE IMMEDIATELY DISQUALIFIED!

Cost for this event will be 1,000gp each. Valuable prizes will be given to the first three to return with all the items in the bag.

In your solicitude and prudence be it known to you that the High Court has decreed and established in honor of our glorious town Vesper on the Trammel Facet a fair for gathering together once at the mass all the merchants dwelling in our kingdom and those coming from beyond the seas.

Hail Great Lakes!!

It's My Pleasure to announce the Next Central Region Counselor of the Month Party! This Month our Party will be held on the Great Lakes Shard. There will be Food, Drinks and Friends!

WHEN: Wed. Nov. 29
TIME: 9:00 pm EST
LOCATION: Main Britain Guild Hall (Guild) Trammel,
Great Lakes

Lead Counselor Lady Destiny
Central Region - LS, GL, SP
Ultima Online
http://www.dispatch2000.com/Central/

More news from BNN:

Three months ago, a gypsy legend was investigated, and found to be true. The legend was of an ancient and wise dragon who had a lair within the mountains that had been hidden for generations. A search found the lair, at least temporarily. Each month, on the first day of the month, and on the few days preceding it, the search begins anew for the entrance to the lair.

The trial is mostly by wit, though combat can sometimes be involved. It is run in two or three stages, so that it can be fair to all who wish to participate, since the wisdom of Al'Cedra, the ancient dragon, decreed that only the best should actually reach the lair. At the end of the quest, only one person each month is named Master of the Word, if they can answer all of the riddles correctly. A sash with the title is awarded by Al'Cedra to the winner.

All are welcome to try their hand at finding their way to the lair, but only the first to answer the riddles will receive the sash.

The ides of November have passed, dear reader, and now the first of December approaches. So… what news do I have, you ask? This is a most puzzling bit of news, as it seems that the dragon Al’Sarin runs this month’s quest. His is the way of the mind, and he has set about strewing the countryside with clues, it seems. All that I can tell you is that you must begin your search in the small city of Magincia upon the 28th, where you must find someone who will send you upon your way. If you do not hasten on your way, the lists will close, and you will not be able to continue upon the next part of the journey.

Three have now won the honor of Master of the Word: Dogei Matur, Misha Andone, and last month Wolfsbane of KLT solved the riddles. Who will win this time? Perhaps it will be you, dear reader, or a friend of yours. But you must exercise all your wit and wisdom for this one. Al’Sarin is a clever and crafty dragon. The trail will not be easy to follow, and only the best will end up in the lair of the dragon upon the evening of December 1st.

Good luck to each and all! The honour of Master of the Word awaits.

• Events This Week - An Origin House of Commons will occur Wednesday, at 7pm CST, in #originhoc.
• Stratics Central - Check our our newly updated Hardware Review section!! Featuring thorough coverage from Gamer's Depot, our Hardware Review section is where to go to check out the latest in video cards, processors (such as the new Pentium 4), and more!!
• Stage 1 Stratics - Dawn Stratics recently hosted the second House of Commons (read it here) with Glitchless and we'll be starting a special contest today (Monday), see DNSS's front page for more info.
• Adellion Stratics - Lots of small stuff! We have a new poll! We have links to working game information, such as the working map. And! Paul Hutson has posted a forest screenshot!
• Asheron's Call Stratics - Tuesday was Dev Chat day -- if you missed it, you can read our log of the chat in the archives.
• Atriarch Stratics - This week at Atriarch Stratics the big news is the excellent new "Full Set" of screenshots recently archived by the official Atriarch site, in addition to the brand new Tyrusin skin that Serafina was kind enough to leak to us in #atriarch!
• Camelot Stratics - Remember that we have an Art Contest going on, featuring GREAT prizes, check it out now, little entries have been submitted as of now, so a BIG chance to win.
• JumpGate Stratics - We have the Log of our latest JGHoC posted, take a look at what NetDevil had to say!
• Neverwinter Stratics - We are in the midst of adding the final touches to some new content for your reading pleasure. We have a new poll up on the site that asked your feelings about "death" in an RPG - the results of the poll with help guide us in determining the consequences of death in the town that will be Glendenmoor. So please vote and let us know your thoughts!
• Origin Stratics - Make sure to check our our great Player Art Section where we've recently added several new pieces!
• Ultima Online Stratics - This we week we want to draw your attention to an exclusive Celebrity Chat we had with Gordon Walton, President of Online Services at Origin, where he answers a variety of questions about the future of Ultima Online.

42nd Assembly of the 5th High Council

Date: Monday, November 27th, 2000
Time: 10PM EDT/9PM CDT
Location: Magincia Parliament Building, Trammel Facet.

Agenda:

• Official Recognition of Guilds fighting for the True Britannian Faction.
• Other Items of interest to be announced at the meeting.

Lady Geneveve Orseau,
8th Seat,
The High Council of Britannia

And now the latest news from BNN:

Reynaud Wyndyar Banished!
Cornelius the court assistant Nov 26 2000 6:23PM

As was agreed Yoldran, elected mayor of the city of Moonglow, carefully selected a twelve-headed jury and judge Michael. The prosecutor, Kabach Cryonax, town constable of Moonglow, had three witnesses who claimed to have seen Reynaud wage war on the people of Moonglow. 

Kabach Cryonax carefully asked questions to the witnesses, trying to prove that Reynaud had committed terrible crimes. The three witnesses appeared to have a few uncertain answers, because Rupert Corp, lawyer of Reynaud Wyndyar, was putting up a formidable defense, and questioned every statement the witnesses made. 

At first it seemed as if Rupert was blocking the statements of the witnesses at every corner, making us all believe that there really was no evidence to support the claims made against Reynaud. But later on Kabach understood that Rupert was playing hardball, and started using every trick in the book. Most of the damage was already done at this point, however. 

Then Rupert brought forth the two witnesses who would try to prove Reynaud’s innocence. I must say that the witnesses seemed of a somewhat questionable nature, but they seemed sincere in what they said. They mostly spoke of what a good friend and boy Reynaud always had been, and they could not recollect him ever hurting anyone. Kabach Cryonax asked a few counter-questions, attempting to see if they were speaking truthfully, and if they even witnessed the crimes committed. 

After this second round of questions, the jury retired to the backroom to discuss the verdict. By this time there was a lot of tension in the Court of Truth, doubtful faces and mumbling in the hallways. 

The jury returned and judge Michael inquired to the verdict. The verdict was: 
For leading an attack upon the city of Moonglow – Not Guilty 
For participating in an attack upon the city of Moonglow – Guilty 

Judge Michael decided, based on the evidence given and the decision of the jury, that Reynaud Wyndyar was to be stripped of his belongings and set on a boat headed to ‘beyond the edges of the known world’. 

Reynaud is currently being held in a cell underneath Castle British on the Felucca facet, awaiting his banishment.

50.9% of you responded that you liked them, 10.5% said they didnt care either way, and 38.3% of the respondants said they preferred the look of the curent client.

OSI has stated that the new lands being added with UO:3D is for "adventuring", and will not allow placement of player housing (like T2A). We want to know what you think of this. Run on over to our Periodic Poll and let us know!

I was walking about Skara Brae, doing my shopping, and out of the ground rose a strange shape. It looked like a water elemental, but it made no aggressive movements towards me. We stood staring at one another for a few moments, and I tried to communicate with it. All I got for my efforts weere a few gurgles and splashes, and after a few moments, it splashed into the ground and disappeared.

I searched Skara Brae for it, but it was gone, so I decided to finish my shopping. On my way home, though, I saw the same creature in the pond of Kinship's tavern! Two others joined me, and we made several attempts to speak with the creature, but it never said a word we could understand.

So all be alert, and do not harm this creature. I do not think it is dangerous in the least, as it had its chances to harm me and did not. We must ponder a way to speak with our watery new resident...

After locating the elusive elementalist Qua'Tel on Monday, and having him settled into the Yew Jail by Tuesday, the Knights of Yew and the Shadow Rangers began setting into motion their plot to trick Artarion into believing they'd turn Qua'Tel over.

Wednesday night at eight, a gathering of people awaited the promised arrival of Artarion. Things quickly went downhill from there.

An undistinguishable figure showed to warn us that our homes would be attacked as soon as we had handed Qua'Tel over. He didnt answer any other questions; he simply recalled. I sent the Knights of Yew to the cells, and scouts to Shadowmoor village.

The Knights then said Artarion appeared at the cells, claiming he had kidnapped Qua'Tel the night before. He then mocked us, and said we'd played right into his hands. During the conversation, he did mention that Ventryn's staff was in fact not powerless.

As two lich lords appeared and fell to the guards, Artarion smugly asked if anyone was watching Aegis. The knights immediately scattered; it was at this point I realized no one was watching Aegis.

When I arrived, Aegis was under attack by ice fiends, daemons, frost spiders, black widows and such. Also, two "fire spiders" and some fire fiends appeared.

After a few waves had been killed, Artarion asked us who was watching Shadowmoor. We ran there, and beat off more creatures, assisted by a large force that had assembled.

At one point, Artarion appeared, and "accidentally" dropped a book. I was near by and snatched it up quickly.

The book is a journal, detailing Artarion's life before he gained this "power" he has. I have the book currently in my possesion.

We then left for Ventryn's former lair. Once there, we studied things a bit, but nothing happened. Gorion, Gildar, and some others said that Artarion had came there earlier and had been run off. We returned to Yew, and watched out for further attacks the rest of the night.

Later, Qua'Tel appeared between Aeeyia, Gandalf, Roland and I. He was badly weakened, and was wracked with coughs. He said he just needed a place to rest, and we gated him to the Grape's Wrath, where we locked him inside the upper room so no one could reach him.

He stated that he no longer has the power to control the elements, explaining that the power was removed from him, nearly killing him in the process. He also mentioned that there is someone that can help him, and that in a few days, he would have to go see him. He was unable to help us discern any new information regarding Artarion, but suggested we hold a council in a few days, to decide what to do next.

I'm assuming Qua'Tel will want to hold this council soon, but it all depends on how soon he is able. In the meantime, it looks like our best option is to find Artarion's family and shop.

As the council meeting is scheduled, we will be sure to make the date and time available.

I recently found a picture of the orb while rummaging through a chest in the village...I had forgotten that I even had this in there!

Now, this is not really new information, but this is what the orb looks like, for those who are helping us keep an eye out for it. I drew this picture while guarding it the night before it was stolen.

Thank you to all who have helped us in this ordeal, but I fear the worst is yet to come...

Saturday night the Havenwood Knights and Royal Army members led by Talimor deMonte' launched a daring counter-attack upon a base of the Obsidian Empire in retaliation for thier attack upon the Havenwood Tavern the previous night. They managed to set the base on fire before retreating without casualties. No word yet if they will respond to the attack, but if they do, the brave Knights and Legionaries will be waiting for them.

Due to our constant surveillance on the orcish brute up in the north, we've been able to intercept a messanger bearing a very interesting message. Our scribes did a good work and translated the message to the best of their abilities, but here is the original text:

Ug der alliez ob da Sebered Headz Urk!

Lazt muun der be shypzie hummie in furt wid da naym ob Maia. 'er blah abut niedin' 'elp ob da mity Sebered 'eadz. Der be da powurful urk wid da naym ob Frabagor we tinkz 'im deed fur zum tyme, bud 'im stil alibe bud imprisuned by sum mity mojo hummie. Frabagor wuz 'elped by dem Sebered Headz un dem alliez sum muunz ago, bud den 'im dizapeerd un nub enywun gruk wer tu. Nuw ib da tyme fur da ebil powurz tu rize agin un onze agin klaim da landz frum dem smelly hummie munkyz! Ged redy ull ob da alliez ob da Sebered Headz, sharpun latz wepuns fur da glory ob da Bluudgod!

Long libe da allianze! WAAAAAAAGH!

Da messengur ob da Sebered Headz

Translation:

Hail there, allies of the Severed Head Orcs!

Yesterday a gypsie, called Maia, visited the orc fort. She asked about aid from the Sebered Heads. Frabagor, a powerful orc lord, who was thought dead for some time is still alive, but held prisoner by some powerful mage. Some months ago the Sebered Heads and Fragabor had been allies, but then he disappeared and none knew where he went. Now there comes the time for the evil powers to rise again and once again claim the lands from humankind. Get ready, all allies of the Severed Heads, sharpen your weapons for the glory of the Bloodgod!

Long live the alliance!

The messenger of the Severed Heads

What? Ta’Kier PvP Event and Gambling

Where? Outside Despise Dungeon

When? Wednesday, Nov29, 8pm EST

The mighty dragon Majesty still ravages our homeland, We call on all warriors who can help rid us of this menace.

We will pay the strongest 3 man/woman team 20,000 gold pieces if they can destroy the plague of our lands. Only the strongest team will be able to try and slay the dragon and we will determine who is fit by having all teams square off against each other first in a single elimination ladder contest. The winning team will then attempt to slay the dragon.

3vs3 PvP Registration

-1st place will take 90%; 2nd place will get nothing; There will be an additional 20,000gp prize for successfully slaying the dragon.
-Team registration should consist of 3 team members names, guild association (or unguilded), and 5000 GP
-Contact me, Caligula Ta’Kier to register ICQ#91131703

3vs3 PvP Rules
-Contest will be a single elimination, ladder contest.
-Teams may consist of any combination of mages/warriors/tamers/bards/etc.
-1 pet per team(including mounts); Wyrms, Dragons, Drakes, and Nightmares are not allowed. Summoned pets do not count towards 1 pet limit but must be cast after fight starts (see below)
-No Pre-Casting and Pre-Drinking. This includes Summoning (see above)
-All spells are allowed but must be cast after fight starts.
-No magic items of any kind. Anyone seen with ‘A Magic...” will be disqualified along with his/her/it’s team. This includes the new weapons.
-If its not your body, don’t loot. The only exception is fallen team members may be looted by fellow team members participating in the battle.
-No Resurrections during the battle.
-Judges calls are final.

Dragon Fight Rules
-Only the winning team of the ‘3vs3 PvP’ competition may attempt to slay the dragon.
-All ‘3vs3 PvP Rules’ apply
-The Dragon will be controlled by a tamer to prevent spectators from being killed
-Judges calls are final.

Spectators Rules
-Never enter the ring for any reason
-Please put bows away in your backpack to prevent accidental auto-targeting.
-No sparring or spell casting outside ring during fight.
-Please stable or feed pets and mounts prior to attending.
-Entrance and exit will be by way of gate. We will meet at Ta’Kier tower and will be gated in.
-There will be gambling on the fights. Warriors participating in the event MAY NOT BET!

As announced earlier, Rilla Takhista, who took up residence in her forefathers house in Magincia sent out a call fer designs to decorate her new found home.

Last week finally the chosen design was to be put into reality. It was young Ivy's design, that was chosen and quite a large crowd had gathered at Rilla's house, located just northeast of the Magincian bank on Felucca, this evening. Everyone eagerly awaited the arrival of the hired interior architect Rilla had hired. While we stood waiting and gossiping in the main hall, Rilla announced, that the next part of her house to be furnished will be the Library/Museeum. Like before people's designs shall be send to Lady Seer Intaria, who again will collect the proposals fer Rilla.

It did nay take long when a middle aged man, dressed in rich merchant clothes walked up the house. He introduced himself as Lord Pudor. He excused himself fer being late: "It quickly became apparent that the horses had more interest in their cargo than their destination. However I did manage to secure a way of bringing the decorations here with a court mage. Quite simple really. I've constructed the area already and using a transportation system. I can bring it here, without having to worry about my vegetation being eaten en-route." He then asked people to leave the patio, so he could start decorating the area Ivy had designed. He placed some odd looking coins in a mysterious pattern. I watched him closely doing this, as I was interested in that rather special way of his to transport items over a long distance. When he was finished placing 'em, he tapped the ground twice with his staff, muttering: "Let's see if those pesky mages can get something right for once." And where there was nothing before, suddenly plants, rocks and palm trees appeared out of nothing! It seemed the mages did manage!

The gathered crowd cheered and clapped and Lord Pudor seemingly enjoying his performance at once started to call in the decorations fer the other side of the patio, which people again commented with cheers and applause. Ivy, in the meantime, danced around the patio clapping her hands and giggling happily, seeing her drawings coming into existance.

When Lord Pudor was done with the second part he announced, that a memorial was to be placed in memory of Rilla's father Sarn Takhista. At that announcement Rilla's eyes started to fill with tears ... "To ... to my Father? Ivy.. that is so lovely.", was the only thing she could say, apparently very touched. And finally a plaque was placed, bearing Ivy's name to tell the next generations of whose design this lovely place was.

Silently we stood at the memorial, sharing Rilla's losses, while remembering all the dangers we had to endure to secure Rilla's heritage. Soon enough though, the silent mood was gone and Rilla announced the next project .. the decoration of the Library/Museum, wherein as first exhibit, the Staff of Elements, currently on display in Spiritwood shall be placed. Designs shall be send in till the 20th day of December.

If ye like to meet Rilla, ye can find her in Deepwater on Mondays and in her house in Magincia on Wednesdays around 9.30 CET.

May the virtues protect ye all

Regards
Pad O'Lion

Upon the battlements of Ranger Point, the ancient Ranger stronghold that had been used to defend Skara Brae from invading Orcs in the North stood the ever-watchful eyes of the Rangers and their allies. The dull light of a new morning dawned upon the stones of the three towers and in the glade before them an army camped. It was here that I awoke to the sound of horses, smithies and the clang of armor, the noises that proceed a large battle. As I walked through the camps I could smell the damp wet grass, freshly soaked in morning dew and the camp fires burning to keep the troops warm. The day was cold and looked as if to rain, the breath of the horses could be seen at a fair distance and the sniffs and coughs of my fellow warriors could be heard.

I headed to grounds before the towers to see a group of our guards standing proud alongside our new found allies the Rangers. Eden had never been known to wage an open war let alone send its soldiers to a battle far from home. As a guard though I often thought to myself that secrecy was our best policy but in these times I now see the benefits of throwing down this veil of deceit. I watched as many of our guards mingled with the rangers and shared stories and experiences, even trading in small items and trinkets as a show of friendship between our people. I sat awhile amongst them and ate a bowl of warm soup handed to me by a ranger called Bladedancer.

After a while the watch came down from the towers and soon changed hands with the new fresh awake faces of my group. The others retired and slept in our tents, still wearing their armor and such of course. As I climbed to the top of the battlements I could see a magnificent view. Far across the bay to the west I saw the ocean stretching out far into a great mist which surrounded the entire area around us. To the south I saw the great mountains of Shame, cold and hard. Rings of clouds formed above the blackened peaks as if to hide whatever was up in those treacherous heights. And to the north I could see the mighty forests of Yew stretching for miles.

It was an awe inspiring sight to say the least and I took great comfort in knowing I would be defending this place from the accursed hordes of the Undead and its hated allies the Drow. Ravens flew past far in the distance below and ragged trees with no leaves bore many a crows nesting place. The foggy grounds around us made it hard to keep watch for the enemy, and the infernal cold that was swept across from the sea only made the guards moral low. It was then that music could be heard below in the pastures, the rangers began to play a merry tune to lift the spirits of both our armies, and to say the least it worked. Laughing and jeering could be heard as the bards played their songs before an adoring crowd.

Then the alarm was sounded, horns began to blow on the southern tower and the warning fires were lit. I was called to ride by my guard lieutenant and slay a Drow scout that had been seen in the woods. A group of rangers and our guards moved swiftly to intercept the enemy, as we engaged the lone warrior and slew him he shouted with his last breath "Oloth plynn dos!" before falling from his steed to the ground dead.

We stood still for a moment after the kill and looked at the body of our enemy, it welled up strange feelings inside, joy and anger, hate and remorse. Then the uncanny silence was once more broken as the sounds of Ranger points horns blew out to warn of an attack. Quickly we turned our steeds and rode out towards the stronghold only to see the armies of the Drow charging into our lines. We rode head long into them, as we fought their foot soldiers, their mages summoned giant scorpions to fight our forces. These evils were met with sword and arrow and we managed to hold the Drow attack at the southern tower. We began to slowly push them back, but we should have known that this was merely a diversion of their main forces. Suddenly the northern watch began to sound yet another alarm. Xirzin had certainly delivered his revenge upon the rangers well as yet another army of Drow charged us from the other side. I saw him for a moment off in the distance sat upon his dark steed grinning to himself whilst his troops quickly consumed our rear guard. Casting yet more foul magic's upon the fields of battle Xirzin and his company then moved towards the north were the stronghold had been breached.

I was separated from my unit and was helped by Wenchkin and Bladedancer we fought off the remnants of the first attack and made haste to join the second assault. We could not hold them the battle ragged on and on for what seemed like an eternity. Fighting off yet another Drow foot soldier I delivered a crushing blow. Feeling victory over this foe I suddenly felt a sharp, cold stab in my back. A scorpion had hit me with its tail and I fell to the ground convulsing in pain. I sipped at a potion to cure myself before passing out on the floor, paralysed and weak. My foe must have left me for dead for indeed it felt that way. I awoke next morning in Skara Brae alongside the dead and wounded of our united army. It was then I realised the terrible outcome of our fruitless efforts,

The Drow had taken Ranger point.

Lord Po Go,
Guard of Eden

I have posted up a review of the Rustics Play that took place at the Grand Opening of Jollier's Skara Brae Fairgrounds (Trammel) last night, November 24th, 2000. I also included pictures of the play and the players, and a full transcript of the play for those that couldn't hear due to comm crystal difficulties. You can read it at the Great Lakes Quest News. Enjoy!

We just posted over 100 UO3D screenshots in our UO Screenshots site. We have dared to show all we can. OSI asked us to black out some sections and we have. But we still dare to show you castles, dungeons, new monsters, new spell visual effects, rares and lots of blood! All of it from the new lands that will be opening soon when UO3D is published. Actually we did much more then just publish a few new pictures. Our entire screenshots site is now run from a database. No longer do you have to wait for a month or more for us to get in gear and update the site. It's now live! But wait there's more! (Hopes not to sound like a Ginsu commercial) You now have the ability to upload your favorite screenshots right from your browser. No FTP or email needed. Just click the link to add a screenshot and it walks you right through it. We are very pleased with how the new site is turning out.

So come to the site. See the UO3D screenshots and submit your favorite screenshots. Do it now because we have validators standing by! http://www.markeedragon.com/uoscreen/

Brought to you by the team that slices and dices at MakeeDragon.com :)

At the Holiday Inn Seatac on Saturday, October 28, 2000, was the Ultima Online Seattle Player Gathering. Now, live the experience from my perspective. I have pictures, scans, official Q&A and just people
chatting with Melantus digitized for your viewing pleasure.

http://www.hanneth.com/UO/UOL/UOL_2000.html

Hanneth of Moonglow [LS]

Greetings, I would like to announce the presence of my website, the Vortex of Crap (www.vortexofcrap.com). Don't let the name fool you... it's a veritable treasure trove of useless UO related news and information, with more coming in the future. Stop by, have a look around, and feel free to contact me if you have any questions. Thank you. Murdly Gurdson Webmaster of http://www.vortexofcrap.com

Havenwood will be having a town meeting the following days at Eight o'clock in the eastern sky, each of them being on a Tuesday.

November 28th
December 5th
December 12th
December 19th

Talimor deMonte'
Havenwoood

At the City Meeting on Nov 22, the people in and around PaxLair met and discussed the reformation of the City Council. We are opening up invitations for volunteers to serve on the PaxLair City Council. Anyone having an active involvement in PaxLair and interest in being a member of the Council may contact my Deputy Mayor and Knight, Sir Emmeril at [email protected].

PaxLair remains a monarchy headed by the Mayor. A City Council can exist with both responsibilities and authorities within the bounds already established by its framework. This framework was established a year ago.

The City Council deals with medium-term issues in PaxLair and have authority to make decisions within that area. Things such as regular events, usage of buildings, introduction of new groups in PaxLair, and much more relate to the business of the Council.

My role as Mayor is to aid in defining long-term vision and focus. I deal less with daily business in PaxLair and offer such dealings to my Chancellors.

My chancellors, which many have been called to other duties outside of PaxLair for the past months, handle the day-to-day business in PaxLair. I will be seeking additional chancellors as well in a short time.

So if you wish to have a key role in City government and advancing one of the notable towns on Chesapeake... for Chesapeake, seek out Sir Emmeril.

I hope to swear in the Third PaxLair City Council as soon as possible.

PaxLair Government Chart
FAQ on PaxLair Government
Second Council est. 1999

I thank you all and Dragonspeed.

Winfield,
Mayor of PaxLair

I, McGregger, have now opened the new Drunken Squire Pub and would like to hold a Pub Night on Saturday, November 25.  There will be a small 1k admission fee, but this will be used to pay for all the free drinks for as long as you stay.  In addition, there will be a drawing for a suit of GM Copper Platemail, and a weapon of choice.  The Pub is located on the main road between Britain and Vesper.  It is just a few screens east of the guard outpost over the road.  The sextant coordinates for the pub are 68o 38'N, 62o 13'E.  Events begin around 7:00cst and gates will be provided from the Britain bank at around 6:30.  The drawing shall be held at approximately 10:00, and the Pub Night will continue until the last man walks out the door.  Food will be available at menu prices.

Hope to see many of you there,

McGregger

Announcing the Britannic Library and Archive... and Writing Contest!

My next project is to start a public library. Of course, a library isnt a library unless it has books! NPC written books are few and rather boring. Therefore, I would like to invite you all to submit your own volumes for inclusion! It can be about *anything* as long as it somehow relates to UO.

Some examples of what Im looking for:

• guild histories
• biographies & autobiographies
• treatises on how you think something is best accomplished(for example - attaining fame or wealth quickly)
• stories of adventure(real accounts of great dungeon trips or treasure maps you've done, etc.)
• stories of guild wars and PKing(victim or predator)
• poetry
• fiction(in a UO context)
• ...and several other categories I cant think of but Im sure you all will.

Like I said, Im open to just about anything as long as it somehow relates to UO.

Once submitted and checked for appropriateness, your book will be put into the library for anyone to read. It will remain there for who knows how long, perhaps even long after youre no longer around!

Technical Notes:
I dont proofread - all spelling and grammatical errors will remain in the books so make sure you do it right or you will look dumb to the Ages!
All books become property of the library - once entered, its there for good! It would defeat posterity as well as take forever to have to pull books out for one reason or another.
No harsh profanity or outright porn. Romances(even with some light sexual connotations, to the level that you wouldnt mind reciting to your mother) and moderate swearing(PG-13) are ok. You write the book, I lock it down. Guess who gets in trouble when the GM flips through it, heh.
USE A BIG BLUE BOOK. These are not edittable so your text wont be erased after I lock it down. Using the small brown books is not safe since they can be editted even when locked down. The big, blue books are available from NPC scribes in various cities. One place that immediately comes to mind is the Library just across the street from the Carpenter's shop in Britain(next to the the gate to Lord British's castles).

Once I get a fair number of books(at least a dozen or so), I will formally announce the Library's opening and location (at this point it will be housed in my tower, but more suitable facilities are in the works).

And now...

The Writing Contest!

Guidelines

1. All rules as above apply.
2. Judges shall be the Black Wind Mages, who are most all GM Scholars.
3. Judges' decisions will be final.
4. Prizes:
   1st place - 8K and a Christmas tree deed
   2nd place - 5K and a crate of various spirits
   3rd place - 2K and 4 candelabras
   Winning entries will be featured prominently in the library when it is completed.
5. Judging criteria will be based on if the book is interesting, original and well written, with equal weight given to each criterion. No penalties on spelling, punctuation or grammar, although proper use of each is encouraged. You must write the book yourself(no plagarism). Libelous or otherwise unsuitable entries will be rejected(see above for acceptable content guidelines).
6. Contest is open to all residents of the realm.
7. Deadline for submissions is Saturday, December 2nd, 11:59pm Central US Time.
8. Drop-off times I will be at the fountain next to the East Britain Bank in Trammel on:
   Thursday, November 30th, at 9pm Central US time, and
   Saturday, December 2nd, at 11:59pm Central US time(which is the deadline).
   Late entries will not be considered for the contest. All entries must be in the big, blue books. You may submit as many entries as you like.
9. Winners will be announced in-game at the fountain next to the East Britain Bank in Trammel on Sunday, December 3rd, 9:00pm Central US Time. You dont have to be present to win of course, but it would be easier to get your prize as well as be recognized and congratulated in person.

One more thing: theres a utility out there that reads text files and then converts them into keystrokes within UO. Theoretically, you could type up some long story in a Microsoft Word document and then merely use the utility to read it out of your document and place it in a book inside UO. USE IT AT YOUR OWN RISK. I dont know if you can get banned for it or not, I wouldnt think so, but Im disclaiming here just to be safe. To see this utility, go to: http://www.crosswinds.net/~jbabcock/Rosebud/reader.html

Well, I think thats about it. If you have any questions, please feel free to post them here or email me. If you absolutely cant make it to either drop off time to submit your entry, email me and we will try to work something out. Good luck and may your pen flow!

Cortez RedStar
Level 4 Treasure Hunter of Hokuto for Hire
Treasure Hunters of Britannia * Hokuto Chapter GM
Co-Proprietor of The Tattered Map
[email protected]

Hail and Well met Travellers of Europa !

Tis’ I Jingo - Trader of Tayragh and friend to the Order of Witches, that hereby brings you long awaited news of the events and competitions to be held at the Grand Festival in Tayragh ( South of Vesper) on the 25th November.

The celebrations shall begin with the Grand Opening by The Ancient Witch Lady Shana Del Magia at 21.00 hrs CET (20.00 hrs GMT), and for those who are not of the faint hearted a Parade the likes of which has never been seen, with Dragons and many other noble and mythical beasts brought by the Europa Ranger Council shall be starting at the Vesper bank and ending in our fair town shortly before the opening, so be sure to arrive early not to miss this wonderous sight or dragon food you may become!

After the opening speech the First of the many events shall be the famed ‘Chicken Race’.

The race will involve spell casters to "make like a chicken" using the words of "Vas Ylem Rel" to transform themselves and fly around our Town Hall.

The swiftest foul will receive both a Great prize and Great honour. It will surely be a sight to behold if you are ‘plucky’ enough to take part!

Next, a choice of events for the strong of mind and strong of body.

The sweet Lady Anais will present a riddle in the Tayrnagh Inn, while the Town Guards, under the ever watchful eye of Lady Darkmoon, will present the Gladiator fighting in the Arena atop our Academy.

Throughout the evening you will be able to purchase Lottery tickets. The price will be a measly 1 thousand gold coins per ticket. Lady Alauna, Witch of Silk, will be selling the tickets which will only be on sale during the festival, so be sure to seek her out and ensure a ticket before they are all gone.

The Grand Prize for the Lottery's Lucky winner shall be a Fabulous Fur! There will also be other rare and exquisite items to be won, not to forget those mystical fabled kisses from the beautiful Witches themselves (which many value more highly than a 1000 furs!)

The prize draw will be held at the end of the evening in the Tayrnagh Inn at the finale of the Festival.

So alas tis’ time for me to depart once more for there is much for me to do - for all those wishing to take part seek me out up to and on the grand day itself - I wish you all the best of luck, fame and fortune and look forward to seeing you all there,

Farewell friends,
JINGO

This sunday the 26th at 9pm cet (8pm gmt), Deepwater will host yet another wrestling contest. The winner of this contest will win 30 000gp. The entry fee will be 1000gp, this will go to the prize pot. You will be able to start signin around 8pm cet. Our current champion is Zaal'Ug, from the Served Head Orc Clan. Not good, we need a human to win this time. *grins*

It will be held as always, outside Owls eye tavern in Deepwater. Deepwater is located at the Justice shrine in Felucia.

Rules of the Event:

* No healing
* No armor/weapons (except for whats said on this page abit down here)
* No looting
* No fighting outside the ring
* Robes may NOT be used

What may be used:

*Bouns potions, sutch as agility, streanght and refresh potions
*Most types of cloths (except for robes, see rules of the event above)
*Orc's may wear the helmets

Now if anyone would break those rules, he/she will be thrown out of the contest. Also if anyone would try ruin this event, they will be reported to Gamemasters as Harressers with out any warnings, and carebeard on sight.

Elv'eng - Andune
http://deepwater.lemming.org
http://erpa.ultimahaven.com
http://erpa.ultimahaven.com/courant

Erik the Armorer delivered the following scroll to the UOSS Drachenfels news office:

The 13th United Blacksmiths of Britannia Smithing Contest has been cheduled for Sunday the 26th of November, at 15:00 CET (Central European Time).

UBB Drachenfels humbly invite all Grandmaster Blacksmiths to compare their skills in a friendly duel. The event will take at the Britain Blacksmith Guildhall.

Participation Guidelines:

• Honesty foremost please!
• The event is only for Grandmaster Blacksmiths this time!
• Bring thy own smithing tools. We will not provide them.
• There must be at least two contestants .
• Please be sure to have thy money with thee before the contest begins
• Not allowed on the contestants are:
  • Armor or weapons (either worn or in thy backpack... prepare to be snooped before you get thy ingots)
  • Do not bring thy own ingots.

Anyone not in accordance to these rules will be disqualified from the event or denied entry.

The Smith with the best Ingots/Quality relation wins.

Judging Criteria:

• Entry fee 1750 GP for that you recieve 250 ingots.
• Make the best Armour you can with the ingots provided.
• Resmelting is not allowed, nor are you allowed to make any shields or female Armour.
• The Armour made at the Contest is the Property of the UBB. The money from it will be used to sponsor further Events.

First place wins 2000 iron ingots, second place 1000 iron ingots, and third place wins 500 iron ingots. In addition, each winner gets a surprise bonus prize.

If you have any questions feel free to contact Erik the Armorer via the mystical ICQ vapors at 27897341.

Go with the virtues!

Not even a week ago, I received the first bit of news in a rather long time.  I looked upon that as a sign that perhaps things returned to normal.  I sent word to Beans Baxter that I may be able to start reporting news again, however I have yet to receive word back.  When tonight I received another bit of news, my hopes were renewed.  I quickly posted the information, and set to work on this article. 

I want to officially apologize first and foremost to those I was unable to bring the news to.  Just as much, I'd like to apologize to Beans Baxter, who's done the best job possible given the circumstances.  When I became unable to report, the entire workload shifted to Beans, which wasn't fair at all.  This is the first time I've been able to report news here in months, and hopefully it won't be the last time for a long time to come.  Sorry I was gone so long everyone, but now I should be back for good.

42nd Assembly of the 5th High Council

Date: Monday, November 27th, 2000
Time: 10PM EDT/9PM CDT
Location: Magincia Parliament Building, Trammel Facet.

Agenda:

• Official Recognition of Guilds fighting for the True Britannian Faction.
• Other Items of interest to be announced at the meeting.

Lady Geneveve Orseau, 8th Seat, The High Council of Britannia

Hear Ye Hear Ye

O.P.U.S. BLACKSMITHS
Proudly sponsor a Grand Tournament of Warriors

On December 9, 2000, 5:00 PST test your Warrior skills with the best in the Land at the Jehlom Pit in Felucca

Events to include Swordsmanship, Jousting, & Archery

Grand Prize - Valorite suit of armor
Full plate for Swords & Jousting, Heavy Archer for Archery

Second Prize - Gold suit of armor

Third Prize - Shadow suit of armor

Bring your skills, equipment and courage to face the best in the land to the Jhelom First Defense Blacksmith shop in Trammel. Free gates will be provided to Fel.
Entry Fee - waived to all combatants using or wearing equipment made by an O.P.U.S. Blacksmith. All other entrants a small 500gp entry fee is all it takes to see if you are the toughest warrior in Baja. This is a one on one competition - each winner advancing to the next round. Only one heal allowed per round. No magic allowed. Events will be run simultaneously. Jousting on one side of the Pit, Archery & Swords on the other.

Thank you and hope to see you there, Durrel of OPUS.

Thank you Darrel, for this news.

Attention all guilds and communities of the Atlantic shard! The following was posted under Community news concerning a grand event occuring on the Atlantic shard itself. All Atlantic citizens are invited to attend!

Walking through downtown Moonglow, you spy a communication crystal hanging embedded in the stone block of the side of an old building. The crystal starts to shimmer and then glows a full brilliant green shedding its light on the cobblestones below. A deep, warm voice begins to emanate from the crystal and states the following which echos through the city:

The Council of Mages, the intershard body politic of the faction by the same name is hosting a summit of all concerned citizens and members who wish to participate in a roundtable discussion of events that have occured as of late. Our organization is flourishing, and with such growth, more communication between leaders of our communities must occur. The goal of the Summit is to foster this communication and to break down the barriers which divide our people across shard boundaries. Great things have been occuring for the Council of Mages lately. Fantastical workings of the literary and inventive mind, magickal breakthroughs, new discoveries, tales and renderings boggling even the most imaginative minds have been forged with the unification of the Council.

Our forces are growing steadily day by day, and our ranks are burgeoning with new recruits, mage and warrior alike who are illed by the absentee tyrant referred to as Lord British. The Council of Mages is becoming an organization not simply for mages or those of the magickal persuasion, but it is becoming a beacon of light for the trod upon and those disquieted by the misuses of power of Lord British has commited. Nystul and his destruction of our lands is one of the greatest farces of magick since Mondain's schemes for immortality. Would Nystul truly have us believe that Minax ordered her great armies to take their time in ripping all the leaves from the trees or planting skulls where there once were flowers? We cannot allow these unjustices to go unnoticed or uncontested. And so we stand against falsehood, and cowardice, and hate.

Join us, this Saturday, November 25th at 9:30 pm. [EST] on the Atlantic shard for the 2nd Intershard Summit of the Council of Mages. The Summit itself will be held at the Council of Mages Headquarters, which is a Keep on ice island in Felucca. The Keep can only be accessed via recall or gate as it is built into the mountains and surrounded by monasteries of Moonglow. The rendezvous point for Felucca will be at the Scholar's Inn in Moonglow. The rendezvous point for visitors [making new characters] from other shards and those currently in Trammel will be at the Scholar's Inn in Moonglow Trammel. Gates to and from the Keep and facet gates will be provided by the Moonglow Town Council. A small booth will also be setup in Moonglow Felucca to outfit our visitors from other shards with proper clothing and colors if desired.

Once again, all are welcome to attend this Summit and all are free to speak their peace at it. We even extend our hand to the True Britannians, Minaxians, and ShadowLords to sit in, provided no hostilities are presented at the Summit itself. Mages, warriors, and all folks from all paths of life are invited to this occasion. Together we are strengthened. Together we are fortified. Together... We Are United.

[www.councilofmages.com]

Sincerely,
Your Humble Servant,
GreyPawn, Sage of Honesty, HoA
Mayor of Moonglow
2nd Seat, Council of Mages

Darkness. Death. Decay. The cruel and inevitable passage of time. The unforgiving fate, the very doom which the Tower sought to bring to the decreped heretics of a blasphemous new era, the very harbinger of plague and disease, fallen to the fates, and now at the mercy of the gods. It was not long ago the Great War was fought. The unquenchable thirst of darkness filled with the lust of destruction as the legions of Minax consumed the lands of Britannia. Side by side, the Tower and Minax fought against a pestilence that had consumed the lands of Sosaria, and that had broken the ties of the dark brethren. Married by the same vows to end the reign of Lord British and to reclaim what was rightfully theirs, The Cabal and Na-Krul aided the generals of Minax. The battles were long and fierce, blood was spilt, and the souls of the pathetic heathens were claimed in the name of Darkness, in the name of the Tower. First in the South, Na-Krul led his minions of darkness against the newly sprung alliance of liberation, aiding the lich Juo’nar, and solidifying his reign by hunting down the paladin lackey Dupre. Then in the north, as the orcish hordes were fed by the hatred of their enemies, Lord Blackwolf conspired with Keeonean, bringing the downfall of Yew, and the raiding of Avalon. Victory was ours, and all fled from the might of the newly formed alliance of darkness. British was defeated, and the world was once again Sosaria, our Sosaria. There was never a time the Tower stood so proud, its walls filled with the satisfaction of blood shed, the spreading of enlightenment, and the boastful preaching of dark ones. The wails of the tormented echoed throughout it, the well of souls overflowed with the drunken rage of all who had felt the dark justice of Na-Krul, yet the void was still there, the need, the revenge. The lackeys of Virtue, the followers of British, the heathens that once stood against the Tower, they would not escape the wrath of a thousand years oppression. The forces of Darkness were once again called upon. The remaining forces of the alliance of virtue had gathered within Avalon, Na-Krul’s conquest had not yet been completed. Once again, Lord Blackwolf led his "ominous cloud of doom" towards the war-torn lands of the north…only to find defeat.

Now, as night once again falls upon the Tower, the shadows of the past can again dance on our blood stained walls. The dim flickering light of the candle reveals the waste, the decay, and the illusion of the Dark Tower’s present grandeur as if mocking it with every gasp of air it can consume. The library is now barren and destroyed, its knowledge scattered to the Four Corners of the world. The once great pentacle, the very circle of ritual that accepted the blood of the innocents, empty and yearning for souls. The only sound now heard is the echoes of the ghostly apparitions haunting the present with the damnation of the past. This has become the fate of the Dark Tower. I can only mourn the fate that had befallen the once mighty legion of Darkness and the temple of Na-Krul. Abandoned and betrayed by the wench Minax, the forces of Lord Blackwolf were routed and slaughtered within the lands of the north. The very force that helped guide Minax to victory was left to rot as the overwhelming numbers crushed the then dwindling life of the Dark Tower. It was after the defeat the body of my master was discovered resting upon the great pentacle, his glorious arms stretched out embracing the death they yearned for. His hands were twisted like that of a daemon’s claw attempting to clutch the last bastion of power he had possessed. His chilling glare, staring into space as if beseeching the very heavens to reign a fiery death upon the world, finally satisfying his thirst for destruction. Na-Krul, my master, was dead…

More to come…

Arwyn Blackheart, Loremaster

The Atlantic Forum was designed to give players an opportunity to interract with each other, gather information and share their concerns about the state on the Atlantic Shard. Interested in checking it out? Then stop by and take a read of some of our current threads and join in the fray! You can find the Atlantic Forum here: UOSS Atlantic Forum

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See you on the boards friends!

Hail Ye!

Let me tell ye, what lead to the death of Warbozz Karth, leader of an orcish clan, hired by the evil gypsie Maia, who desperately seeks her revenge on Sardisha Li'Sant and of her sinister plans to get into her possession four ancient stones ... the Stone of Life, of Death, of Love and Hate.

It began a few days ago, when Rilla, reading the future in this magic crystal ball of hers, foretold a marauding party of Orcs, lead by Karth, threatening the fair town of Spiritwood. It was the following day though, that I heard from King Talysman of the Eteral Knights of the Circle, that there was to be a meeting at the farms just east of Spiritwood. Of course I welcomed the famed Eteral Knights to aid us defending the town against the orcish hordes.

It was a quite cold evening, that day, when we gathered our forces at the Custodes Fati tower to await the arrival of the knights. A many folk had gathered, some to have a look, but most came to join the defence of the town. It did nay take long, and the a many knights appeared from a gate originating in Trammel. Immediately we set out to man key positions around Spiritwood to hinder the orcish force from marching into town, while Spiritwood people scouted the surrounding area. Finally the first scouts were seen at the eastern fields, fought off though rather quickly by our superior forces.

It was near the tournament fields though, where their main force attacked. Wave after wave they poured out of the woods, orcs along with their fierce mages, ettins and trolls began to surround us at the farms, while the panicked farmers fled and run fer their lives. A though battle was fought and a many brave warriors lay wounded, tend by their comrades, at the roadside, when suddenly Warbozz Karth appeared. It looked like if he wanted to talk to the gathered force, although the warriors' grief over their fallen friends was too much, and they simply attacked. Under heavy bowfire and magic spells, Karth withdrew into a farm building, where he was followed by King Talysman, Jordan Smythe and myself while the doors were guarded by heavily armed knights. 
Apparently this was the arranged meeting, I thought, while I listened to Karth and Jordan who seemed to have an  understanding of sorts. Karth would deliver some maps in exchange for ... Sardisha Li'Sant ... "Sardisha?!", I thought, "Why would they dare to exchange her fer some maps?". I had no clue, but giving signs to my men, who stood nearby and preparing fer the worst, I continued to listen. Jordan though seemed nay interested in Karth's maps, but instead wanted the Heartstone in exchange fer Sardisha. Karth did nay agree on Jordan's terms though and persisted to stick to the original deal ... whatever that was. In the meantime Sardisha had entered the hut and silently stood at the door, watching the scene, which would decide on her faith. I studied her .... I met her on a few occasions and something seemed wrong with her. She didn't seem frightened, but determinate and watched the conversation silently.

Suddenly, I just was lost in my thoughts about Sardisha, a fight broke loose within the small farm house. While warriors tried to force their way inside, a group of orcs stormed in from a backroom, where they probably stood ready fer a sign of Karth. Due to the limited space available and the sheer force of Karth and his minions the battle seemed to be lost ... in the end though, I do nay how or why we had stood our ground and Karth lay dead at the doorsteps. What happened then, I nay know fer sure, but I was told later, that Maia suddenly appeared, grabbed the Heartstone from Karth's body, laughing evily and vanished again. 

On Karth blood smeared body a note was found though:

To Karth by Maia Redhaeri

You are to go to the farms in Skara. There a traitor will bring Sardisha to you. She must not be harmed at ALL costs. At least not until after I find out what I need to know sweetie.

When you have her safely with you, have your troops kill the others, except for the one named Jordan Smithe. Him you will bring to me. Give him the five treasure maps, and also give him my thanks. I may have some ... use for him. If he betrays me, well you know the consequences of such a bad decision. His heart will be the only thing that makes it to me, eh?

Now things became clearer fer me ... Maia seemed to have an agreement with Jordan Smythe to exchange Sardisha fer some treasure maps. Jordan though, along with King Talysman forged a clever plan to lure Karth into a trap and recover the Stone of Love. Not clever enough though, it seems, as I heard rumours of Maia plotting against Karth, who seemed to determinate to keep the stone fer himself. Apparently Maia used Jordan to lure Karth into a trap to get back the item of her desire ... the Heartstone.

Regards
Pad O'Lion of Spiritwood

Soth - *C_JonSnow_Pac* How will we go about getting [UO:Third Dawn] beta clients?
OSI_Tyrant - We will announce this in December. Watch your favorite web page (Stratics) and your email box as we will be announcing this far and wide and emailing the players also. You will be able to order it on the web for shipping and handling costs only ($4.95 in the USA). And it will be patchable to the final version, so you don't need to get the final version.

Thank ye, people of Ravenmoor for sending in these reports:

The Purple Rose Quest Part II

Saturday 18 the adventurers started in the 'House of Vigilance' were they found a book written by Haltran, the leader of the Britannian Vigilance Organisation. They found in it, many explanations, and a riddle, leading to Haltran.

"This is the tail of two coves,
One with Vigilance, the other with no port.
One with timber, the other with ore.
If 'the scales' should falls you will find something 'holy'."

The place located by this riddle was the Justice Shrine. There, they meet Haltran who explained what is the situation:

"The Purple Rose Sect are demonists, their leader is unknown to me, but you have to find him, as he is the true danger! I know much of their activity, but I don't want to scare you, all you have to know is that peace, love and joy may disappear from Britannia if you don't stop them. They hide as merchants to gather the resources they need. To find out more, you have to grab information. I found a note about one of their meeting, it will be in Ravenmoor at 8:30pm GMT, but I don't know exactly where. Find their shop, and try to spy them, but be careful if they discover you, they will change their plan, and we will fail! All Britannia counts on you!" 

After these few words, the adventurers departed to Ravenmoor and found the hide out of the Purple Rose. Their shop is located near the mountains south of Ravenmoor. Now, our brave souls need to spy them, to learn more about their intentions.

On Sunday 19th the adventurers will have to spy the meeting to get more information, and maybe find a solution to the Quest.

---

The Purple Rose Quest Part III

This Sunday, the adventurers had to spy the Purple Rose meeting. Mira and Boromir were in the Dark Mage Lair, but they were very occupied here and there, which allowed the adventurers to hide inside the house. After a few minutes *grins*, they saw the Evil Durathor and a new enemy, WizWaz. They carefully listened to the four fiend conversation to learn that they plan to open a gate from Britannia to their own world of Chaos and Destruction.

The ritual will be done on Saturday 26 at 8:00 PM GMT, but the place was only known by the Master. Hopefully, Durathor made a mistake and mentionned the Lycaeum. In Moonglow, the adventurers met Perpalnor, a guide who knows a lot about the town and its citizens. After several explanations and questions he directed them to a Small Tower in the woods. There, the adventurers found a map showing a small isle.

With all their clues, they are now ready to stop the ritual! And, hopefully ... Save Britannia!

Thank ye Shri fer sharing this information with us:

Yes, you read that correctly, the bustling township of Spiritwood shall be holding yet another of its Talent Competitions in the splendid surrounds of the Spiritwood Theatre in the Clouds. Felucca facet.

The event shall consist of displays of skill and artistry from all comers. Anyone may come along to take part, so long as they have prepared a short act to perform for the benefit of the audience. Acts must be no longer than fifteen minutes each and can take the form of literally anything.

• Magic shows
• Short plays
• Songs
• Comedy routines
• Dance troops
• Impersonations
• Historical recreations
• Cultural displays
• Juggling
• Acrobatics
• Animal acts
• Mind reading displays

You name it .. whatever you can dream up and perform will be acceptable so long as 

• No one is hurt
• Nothing is stolen
• No one is slandered

There will be a special grand prize for best act!

The event will be held on Sunday the 10th of December starting at 7 p.m. GMT, that's 20:00 CET. All are welcome.

The town of Spiritwood can be easily found if you start at the Skara Brae docks right outside town, go east. Take the second road to your right (south at a crossroads). Keep going south until the road turns eastwards. Keep following it and you will end up in Spiritwood. From the end of the road, go a little to the north-east and you'll see two large brick houses. The eastern one is the Spiritwood Tavern. To the North of this you will find two Towers, the second one is the Spiritwood Town Hall and the Theatre in the Clouds is on the roof top. 

So come along to take part, either to perform or simply to watch what promises to be an enjoyable evening's entertainment for all! 

Shri, Consiliari of the Custodes Fati

Thank ye Shri fer sending in this announcement:

The Spiritwood Newcomers Crafts Fair

The good people of Spiritwood, in association with the United Merchants of Yew and the United Order of Artisans shall be hosting a Crafts Fair for newcomers to the lands of Sosaria on Wednesday the 6th of December, starting at 7 p.m. GMT, that's 20:00 CET

The Crafts Fair shall be held in the Travel Agency in the New Spiritwood Region of Trammel. 

If you start at the Skara Brae docks right outside town, go east. Take the second road to your right (south at a crossroads). Keep going south until the road turns eastwards. Keep following it and you will end up in New Spiritwood. The large Villa at the end of the road is the Spiritwood Travel Agency. 

This event is set out to be a big welcome to all those who are new to these lands. At the fair, you will find many Artisans who are Grand Masters in their fields who have volunteered their time for free on this special evening. You will also find a large supply of Raw Materials on hand, thanks to the good Merchants of Yew. 

Need a GM weapon? Simply buy a few ingots from the merchants and find yourself a GM Smith who will gladly make it for you. 

Need a new set of GM leather armour? Pick up some pieces of leather and find the GM tailor who will whip up a fine new suit up for you in no time at all. 

Want some Greater Heal Potions? Gather the Reagents and bottles you need and find the GM Alchemist who will brew you up a lot while you wait!

So why not come along and enjoy the good cheer and fine workmanship on hand as part of a big welcome to all the Young Players from the goodly folk of Spiritwood.

See you there!

Shri, on behalf of the Spiritwood Crafts Fair.

This Friday night, Nov 24. 6 PM in ImaTown.

There will be 2 categories of dancers couples, and single dancers.

The contestants will be judged by the originality of their performance.

The entry fee is a mere 1k. And there will be prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place in each category.

If you don't know where ImaTown is you can find a map on the website http://www.imanewbie.com

It is not necessary to sign up in advance. Just show up and IrmaDufus or ImaBlond will get you signed up.

Ug hummies, shorties, elfs ub udders!
Ga'Wen get womped wile ago at Mu'see'um ub me tel hummie half brudder Aubrey hem need tu get guards tu keep der hummie brig'nds out ub der Mu'see'um. So haf brudder say me be in ch'rge ub der hummie staff. Me hir'd dim hummie guards tu stan in der do'rw'y. Suun me seez dem hummie brig'nds come bak ub dem der guard nub let dem in! Me be stan'in in der doorw'y laffin at der hummie brig'nds. Me turn roun' ub lift kilt tu muun dem wit der uruk hiney. Den me fin'd out dem Brig'nds c'n shuut pointy arrows tru dem doors! Me nub be sit'n down fer while!

Me nub pay dem guards tu well so dem be sell'n stuff dat me "find" tu make muny. Yu hummies dat com tu see dat Mu'see'um yu buy dat thingies fum dem so dem c'n eet! Now der be der ven'der in der Mu'see'um Gift shop ub at der Happy Orc Tavern un der ruuf. Dem hab mor thingines ub dem ebry day. Me luuking tu capture...ur... me mean hire mor ub dem hummie ven'ders suun!

Ga'Wen Half Orc
D'rect'r ub der Pers'nel

Greetings humans, dwarves and elves with udders (elvish cows?).

I, Ga'wen Half-Orc, was killed while at the Museum of Brittania, so I suggested to my half-brother, Aubrey Gawen, that he needed to hire some gaurds to keep the brigands out of his museum. My dim-witted half brother asked me to take charge of the human staff. So, I hired some guards to stand in the doorway of the museum. When the brigands returned, the guards would not let them in. I stood in the doorway and laughed. I mooned them, but, alas, I learned the hard way that some brigands are archers. Sitting may be a problem for a few days.

In order to make the guards self-sufficient, I have asked them to sell items. All of you are welcome to visit the museum and but things from them so they can eat. There is also a human hired to work in the Happy Orc Tavern on the roof. I am also looking to capture... er... hire more human venors soon.

Yours truly,Ga'Wen Half Orc Personel Director, Museum of Brittania

Hail Travelers,
The Guardians of the Realm are pleased to announce the opening of "The Enclave" to the public. The Enclave is a small player run community located on the tranquil plain north of Minoc. We currently have a Castle, Keep, and Tower open for public use. All the areas of the Enclave are open to all citizens for their use at any time.

The Community Hall located in the Tower has an extensive Rune Library, a sumptuous Banquet Hall, The Bent Bow Tavern, and a Ceremonial Area on the Roof. The Ceremonial area can be used for weddings, or large group gatherings.

The Inn of GoR located in the Keep has display cases containing relics and items collected during the Guardian's travels across the lands of Britannia. The Inn has many rooms that weary travelers may use to rest before continuing their journeys

The Castle is the oldest building in the Enclave, and it is used for the Towne Centre. The different areas of the castle are set up to be used as work areas, with each craft having it's own area. There is a sewing room, a smithy's forge and anvil, a baker's mill and oven, and a mages work shop. There is a bubbling fountain on the West walkway of the second level. And let's not forget the dining room, located on the second floor that is fit for a king.

We invite any of our fellow citizens to stop by The Enclave when ever you find yourself in the region, pull up a stool and have a drink and maybe swap a few stories with the other visitors.

DarkHorse & Sorna, Founders of "The Enclave"

The Enclave is located on the Trammel Facet at 128o 40' N 87o 32' E.
Thanxs for the information you two and everyone keep sending in your news.

Hear Ye! Hear Ye!

British, The Firm , School for the Young, is holding a fundraiser event this coming Saturday November 25,2000.

The following events will take place:

6pm Teachers Auction

1. All BTF teachers will be up for bid
2. Bidding begins at 1000gp
3. The teacher will be yours to command till midnight
4. Teachers who are bought will begin their duties at 8pm

7pm Horse Wash

Been riding that same horse for months on end? Notice that white horse is not so white anymore? Well time to bath your beloved mount.

1. there will be a line formed outside the castle for all those wishing to have their mounts washed
2. a complete wash and dry is only 100gp per horse

8pm Dance

A Dance will he held at the castle, so break out those dancing shoes and come dance the night away.
Food and drinks will be provided.

There will be more events and lots of fun to be had. All proceeds of this fundraiser will go to helping the new young’s of the realm. Donations are always welcome.

The Firm is located In Yew at 59o 9’N, 34o 18w . [Trammel] Gates will be provided from the Abby to the school.

Evil luck to ye and the Firm.

This poster was found pasted up all around town this morning:

Come One! Come All!

To the Grand Opening of Jollier's Faire Grounds, this Friday night, November 24th at 8pm under the central skies. For your pleasure, a troupe of your fellow citizens will provide a performance of 'The Rustics Play' from Shakespeare's "A Midusmmer Night's Dream" under the Direction of Elder Zianna.

Mister Jollier himself will be on hand to greet guests. Come and enjoy many activities on the newly built, state of the art grounds. The Faire will be open through the weekend.

Directions for Travellers: The faire grounds are located on the mainland, east of Skara Brae on the Trammel Facet of the Great Lakes shard. Take the ferry from Skara Brae (tell the ferryman 'I wish to cross'), then head directly east on the road, then north to a large pot of earth behind a farm house. Sextant Coordinates are 47o,38'S, 35o.26'W

Interesting Notice for all Gamblers-
Havenwood will be having a raffle off Sunday at 5:30.[Pm,Est] Each ticket will be 500 gold pieces to purchase, and the winner will get the pot, if not enough people enter, the raffle money will be donated by myself to the winner so that it is a worth while prize.

Talimor deMonte'

This coming thursday night, on Thanksgiving, I will be hosting a feast in the Mystic Lake Tavern. There will be a contest and a vendor will be in place for you to buy tickets. The grand prize in the contest will be a full set of valorite plate armor. There will also be free food and games from 4:00pm EST to 6:00pm EST. Anyone from Haven is welcome to attend.

During the meeting of Yew about the Factions Arjuna of Shagei appeared and delivered a speech on behalf of the Shadowlords. "Hail Honored People of Yew. I am Arjuna of Shagei, Shadow Archer of the Shagei Warriors, Stealth Archer Division of the Shadowlord Faction.

I Ask you this what do you know of us, the Shadowlords? Did you hear we were a splinter group of the Malevolent Minaxians? Did you hear we were Chaotic Murderers of old? Did you hear we were Evil? What led you to these, in my opinion preposterous, conclusions? Did you assume that because our title includes the word Shadow that we must be some evil, malevolent upstarts? Or did you happen to read this in your histories? I think that it is more likely the later for the People of Yew are an intelligent group of citizens. I'm going to let you in on a profound truth,.

History is written by the Victors!!
Well maybe that is not too profound but many forget it regardless. It has come time for the Shadowlords to be known throughout Sosaria for what we are and I have taken it upon myself to inform you of this Truthful history.

Well in the past there was one world, Sosaria. In this world many a benevolent ruler lived spreading happiness, joy and prosperity throughout out their realms. However, there was one who grew discontented and vied for power. His name was Mondain. After many years he set upon conquering the world and did so. Then came the "stranger", who came to Sosaria and destroyed Mondain. Many believed that the "Stranger" disappeared; this however is not so. The "stranger" felt he was better than all of the previous lords of the lands, and usurped the Lands of Sosaria for his own. He removed the lords of land and title then set them to the quarries and woods to create a city unrivaled by any other, and named this city after himself. The Lord "Stranger" then set the former rulers off into the wilds, forever hunted. When the Guardian spirits came and truly split the world into innumerable "shards", the Lord "Stranger" committed a greater act of conceit and changed the name of Sosaria to that of Britannia.

The lords who had been bred to serve the land and the people could not stand idly by so they did what they could to aid them and nurture the people while simultaneously keeping out of sight, not rising to great stature but doing the deeds that needed doing. When Minax rose to power a few years ago many a young lord tried to use Lord British's temporary weakness and regain power. Seeing this Lord British set his court reporters on a smear campaign to link the Shadowlords with Minax. This lowly tactic worked only too well and after a short bout the lords were forced once more into concealment and obscurity.

In recent years the Lord British and the mage Nystul further divided the lands by creating Trammel. Now let's talk about the factions. The Commanders of Lord British's forces forced a coup and exiled him to Trammel . The True Brittanians are just that, they are militaristic dictators who tread slovenly upon the hard work, sweat, tears and blood of the citizens of Sosaria. The Council of Mages sit in their lofty towers in an elitist oligarchy priding themselves on their cunning and guile. And the Minaxians are mindless slaves of a ruthless maniacal tyrant.

We are the Shadowlords for we are the true Lords of the land, who have been forced to hide in the shadows for many centuries aiding when we could hiding when we couldn't.

Do you Fellow citizens, wish to join with the Brittanian Dicators, the Council of Deciet or Mindless Minaxians?
I beseech you, the citizenry of Yew and all of Sosaria to join us in reclaiming the land in the name of all virtues to end this tyranny and return balance to the world.'

Friday Night Event at Grimoire Arena.
Friday November 24 @ (9 PM PST, 10 PM MST, 11 PM Central, Midnight EST)

Gladiator Bar Fight, Sponsored by DeamonKnight! NO ENTRY FEE! Last fighter standing wins 15K gps.

Here are the rules:
· The Grimoire staff will scatter weapons, armor, potions, and bandages on the arena floor. Contestants will start the battle naked and will arm themselves with what they can pick up.
· No magic items, clothing, or jewelry. No magic armor and weapons are allowed, so please come naked and leave your valuables at home or in the bank. Grimoire staff will not hold items for contestants so PLEASE leave your items at home or in the bank. Gates will be provided to town when the event is over.

Disclaimers:
· All contestants are subject to snooping by Grimoire Staff to ensure
everyone is participating fairly.
· The Event Coordinator's decision on all matches is final and will not be disputed during the event.
· Anyone that disrupts the flow of the event for any reason will be banned until after the event.
· Grimoire staff reserves the right to cancel an event for any reason at any time during the course of the event.
· Contestants who are perma-banned for any reason will forfeit their chance to fight.
· If you leave the arena and you fail to return before the event/match begins, you forfeit your chance to fight.
· If a contestant loses connection during the event, he/she will forfeit
· The Event Coordinator reserves the right to adjust these rules at any time without notice.
· To avoid confusion, registration will start at 8:30 PM PST, and end at 9:00 PM PST. NO LATE ENTRIES. Tournament will start at 9:10 PM.

We must have a minimum of 4 people to start this event!

This event takes place in the Grande Grimoire Battle Arena. Once you have entered the Grande Grimoire Battle Arena, all Contestants are bound by the Rules of the Battle Arena. Failure to follow these rules may result in your death or banishment from the Arena. http://www.battlevortex.com/grimoire/tourney_rules_overall.shtml

Contestants and Spectators must observe and obey all the Village Laws. Failure to do so can end in your death or banishment from the village. http://www.battlevortex.com/grimoire/grimoire_rules.shtml

For calendar of events, rules, maps and community message board, please visit: http://www.battlevortex.com/grimoire/index.shtml

Hope to see you there =o)
Baby-Grimoire Staff

Hi there,

I was standing at the Britain bank yesterday when i saw Shabum and a crazy jester named Babil aproaching. I spoke with them and they were announcing the first performance of the circus, this thursday 23rd November. Starting time is 9pm CET (8pm GMT, 3pm EST).

Carl.

Members of the Drachenfels Community helped by answering his questions, and it certainly is worth a read ! Go read it here !

It is now only a matter of days before the forces of evil will begin their onslaught and a war will rage like none seen before it. The EUROPA Sosarian Senate were informed that panic was already starting and that a way to guide the EUROPA TRUE BRITANIANS was needed.

The defenders of good needed a unifying symbol that could also direct their efforts each day and prevent a scene of confused headless chickens......

So the mighty White Wizards & most Learned Socerors met and together summoned a Great Crystal! The senate can now let all defenders of good know how best to serve our cause through the changeing colours of the cystal, each of which have a special meaning.

The crystal could be viewed through a magic word and the first word was: http://www.sosaria.8m.com/controlab12cd.html

Realising that sinsister agents of evil will also gain access to the cystal, it was decided to change the magic word & only those registered by the Senates scribes from http://www.sosaria.8m.com and are confirmed as enrolled in the EUROPA TRUE BRITANIANS will receive it.

We plea for all good citizens to aid the cause of Lord British now.!..there are so many ways to help even if you cannot fight! Join the Senate to debate strategy and maintain our various departments or aid our troops with supplies or defend the castle as a blue citizen!

Please visit http://www.sosaria.8m.com/senate.html to register.

The EUROPA Sosarian Senate Thankye, ESS, for this news.

Hail Citizenry of Yew and Sosaria. <> On November 22 at 7 pm there will be a meeting of Yew-based guilds to discuss Factions and their effect upon the Community. This meeting will be at the Court of Justice in Historic Brittania (Felucca).

All are invited to come.

Hercules, Knight of the Old Guard, Clan Moor

I have quite a tale to tell, friends...

Earlier this morning, while doing my usual mining rounds throughout the southern Trinsic mountains, I heard a strange and distant sound. Being the curious fellow/fool that I am, I went to investigate. As I got closer, the sounds became more distinct.. clearly snake or lizard-like. It appeared to be emanating from somewhere inside of the mountains, so carefully I made my way around toward the waterfall to see what I could find. The sounds grew louder, no longer was it a single voice but a large, chanting group.

"Estyssssthsss.."

I quickly turned my head upwards to find a lone lizardman drinking from the waterfall, positioned atop a large boulder. I was in for more then I had bargained for; Crouching, I hide behind a small pile of rocks.

Still, the sounds grew louder, they were making there way through the tunnel! I would surely be discovered. Hoping the lone lizardman would not catch sight of me, I dashed North toward the city of Trinsic. Before crossing into the woods I glanced back to see their progress.. Just coming out of the tunnel was a tall, staff-carrying lizardman, apparently a Sorcerer.

Over the past months I've heard many a story about the abduction of some fellow, by the name of Cheebatoke. I fear this may very well be Tsythisus, the lizardman they speak of. It is hard to tell what these fiends are planning; Another abduction ? And, if so, a greater question - For what purpose ?

Even there motive for Cheebatoke's abduction remains a mystery, let us all hope for the best.

Sincerely,

Sir Dekoord, Trinsic miner.

An excerpt from A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM by William Shakespeare will be presented on Friday, November 24th at 8pm central, to celebrate the opening of the Fairgrounds near Skara Brae in Trammel. All are encouraged to attend and enjoy this new addition to our community.

A generous benefactor, one Mr. Andrew Jollier of Magincia (old family money I hear), has afforded the citizens of Britania a wonderful gathering place where grand festivals may be held. Craftspeople from all over Sosaria have contributed their skills and resources to build Mr. Jollier's dream.

In this past week, brave warriors and wizards have defended the very ground of the construction site from the evil clutches of the ancient liche Devon D’Clar. As a descendant of Roberta and Locke MacLeod -- whose souls were tormented by this evil presence when their eternal slumber was disturbed by the construction -- I thank the many citizens who brandished swords and spells to defeat the liche and put the spirits to rest.

So, please join us Friday night when the fairgrounds are scheduled to be complete and christened with a stellar production of the bard's classic comedy: A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM. (The new fairgrounds are located by taking the ferry from the town of Skara Brae in Trammel, and heading directly east, then north to a large plot of earth seen on your map, 47o,38'S, 35o.26'W )

Recent news on the Fairgrounds and activities surrounding the construction can be found here:

Philanthropist to Graciously Build Fairgrounds Near Skara Brae

Skara Brae Fairground Construction Underway

Ancient Graveyard Found on Western Edge of Skara Brae Fairgrounds!

Fairgrounds Near Completion

Bringing the spirits to rest!

Hope to see you there!

Skye MacLeod, The Unruled

The Ferrys' are the lil' cute boats located at the ends of the Skara Brae docks. Their sides are always open. Just walk aboard and say "cross" to go to the other side.

Looks like fun, be sure to have a gander :o)

Sha'mad Conde

Yesterday, our village of Edinburgh withstood a series of vicious attacks, which continued throughout the day. Most of the attacks centered about the Orb of Soul Seeking, which had removed itself from the Edinburgh mine to our coast. There it lay, on the spot where Ursula's corpse had been found. Late in the afternoon, Scaramandine II appeared, attempting to cast some sort of spell over the artifact, again saying "Eh Loh Kla Teh." He failed in his efforts to gain control of the Orb, however, and left in frustration, promising attacks that evening. With his departure, a massive spawn of brigands appeared which was beaten back only with great loss of life.

A vigil formed about the Orb, late into the night. At one point, a huge spawn of swamp tentacles formed about the Orb. Again, the evil ones were beaten back, but with a heavy toll. Telos Agralia and his brother Zahrn tried variations of Scaramandine's spell upon the Orb of Soul Seeking, for Scar had said his words of power were hidden, but to no avail. Tymaron suggested a mass spell by all the villagers, said together, with all aligned in a prescribed way, might be able to destroy the orb. The words of power are not known, however, nor the proper alighnment that would be needed. Tymaron said he had heard this is how the various moongates of our land were formed. Telos seeks to meet with Anton to aquire the knowlege of what these words of power might be.

As the witching hour approached and our numbers were lessened, as humble folks took to their beds to prepare for the labors of the next day, Spyte the Knife appeared. I know not how he did it, but Spyte somehow was able to pick up the Orb of Soul Seeking and place it in his pack, fleeing south along the coast. Villagers gave pursuit, but the man eluded them.

In a sense I am relieved, for this threat is removed from Edinburgh, yet I fear its power is such that now all the people of Britainnia are threatened. Let us pray, each to our own god or goddess, for the wisdom we shall need to overcome this threat which hangs over our land. I fear an object of such power in the hands of a scoundrel such as Spyte.

This would explain how Spyte was able to walk away with the relic in his possession, without suffering any ill effects.

There is speculation that Spyte may be in league with the Necromari, his greed allowing them to coerce him to their side, as with Tishba'al, but this remains unclear. Suspicions that Spyte is working on his own accord also run rampant, whether by initial design or realization that his present employer could be forced to pay more.

Perhaps the Orb and armor could be purchased from Spyte for the right price? His greed has been his apparent motivation in every dealing as of late, and this weakness may be able to be exploited.

What of Scaramandine II, and the Necromari? If they hired Spyte, then the Orb is perhaps now in their possession. And apparently, they are close to discovering the power words needed to unlock its secrets; although "Eh Loh Kla Teh" failed, the fact they are trying some combination is a clear indication they have access to information we don't.

It is said that whoever controls the power of the Orb of Soul Seeking commands a power unmatched; this grave warning must not be taken lightly, lest we all face a peril unknown.

Walking through downtown Moonglow, you spy a communication crystal hanging embedded in the stone block of the side of an old building. The crystal starts to shimmer and then glows a full brilliant green shedding its light on the cobblestones below. A deep, warm voice begins to emanate from the crystal and states the following which echos through the city:

The Council of Mages, the intershard body politic of the faction by the same name is hosting a summit of all concerned citizens and members who wish to participate in a roundtable discussion of events that have occured as of late. Our organization is flourishing, and with such growth, more communication between leaders of our communities must occur. The goal of the Summit is to foster this communication and to break down the barriers which divide our people across shard boundaries. Great things have been occuring for the Council of Mages lately. Fantastical workings of the literary and inventive mind, magickal breakthroughs, new discoveries, tales and renderings boggling even the most imaginative minds have been forged with the unification of the Council.

Our forces are growing steadily day by day, and our ranks are burgeoning with new recruits, mage and warrior alike who are illed by the absentee tyrant referred to as Lord British. The Council of Mages is becoming an organization not simply for mages or those of the magickal persuasion, but it is becoming a beacon of light for the trod upon and those disquieted by the misuses of power of Lord British has commited. Nystul and his destruction of our lands is one of the greatest farces of magick since Mondain's schemes for immortality. Would Nystul truly have us believe that Minax ordered her great armies to take their time in ripping all the leaves from the trees or planting skulls where there once were flowers? We cannot allow these unjustices to go unnoticed or uncontested. And so we stand against falsehood, and cowardice, and hate.

Join us, this Saturday, November 25th at 9:30 pm. [EST] on the Atlantic shard for the 2nd Intershard Summit of the Council of Mages. The Summit itself will be held at the Council of Mages Headquarters, which is a Keep on ice island in Felucca. The Keep can only be accessed via recall or gate as it is built into the mountains and surrounded by monasteries of Moonglow. The rendezvous point for Felucca will be at the Scholar's Inn in Moonglow. The rendezvous point for visitors [making new characters] from other shards and those currently in Trammel will be at the Scholar's Inn in Moonglow Trammel. Gates to and from the Keep and facet gates will be provided by the Moonglow Town Council. A small booth will also be setup in Moonglow Felucca to outfit our visitors from other shards with proper clothing and colors if desired.

Once again, all are welcome to attend this Summit and all are free to speak their peace at it. We even extend our hand to the True Britannians, Minaxians, and ShadowLords to sit in, provided no hostilities are presented at the Summit itself. Mages, warriors, and all folks from all paths of life are invited to this occasion. Together we are strengthened. Together we are fortified. Together...
We Are United.
[www.councilofmages.com]

Sincerely,
Your Humble Servant,
GreyPawn, Sage of Honesty, HoA
Mayor of Moonglow
2nd Seat, Council of Mages

Dawn's Tournament for Merchants

The Kingdom of Dawn will be hosting its first Dawn's Tournament for Merchants on Sunday, November 26, 2000, starting at 6 PM PST. It will be held in the Kingdom of Dawn which is located east of Dungeon Wrong, Felucca facet. The events and rules are below:

Gathering

Lumberjacking

The contestants will have 30 minutes to get as much logs/boards as possible from the trees in the nearby area. You will drop the logs/boards at the feet of your counter. We will try to have no more then 2 contestants per counter. No pack animals allowed. The winner will get a cash prize of 10,000 gold pieces.

Mining

The contestants will have 30 minutes to mine as much ore as possible from the nearby mountains. You will drop the ore at the feet of your counter. We will try to have no more then 2 contestants per counter. No pack animals allowed. The winner will get a cash prize of 10,000 gold pieces.

Crafting

Blacksmithing

Non GM Division

The contestants will have 5 minutes to make as many Plate Helms as possible of the highest possible quality. You will be given a backpack with a book with your name on it to put them into. No resmelting allowed. You will hand the backpack to the judge who will arms lore the items to determine the quality. The winner will receive a cash prize of 10,000 gold pieces.

GM Division

The contestants will have 5 minutes to make as many GM Marked Plate Chests as possible. You will be given a backpack with a book with your name on it to put them into. No resmelting, strength or bless spell, or strength potions allowed. You will hand the backpack to the judge who will explain the items to determine their quality. The winner will get a cash prize of 10,000 gold pieces.

Carpentry

Non GM Division

The contestants will have 5 minutes to make as many Writing Desk as possible of the highest possible quality. You will be given a backpack with a book with your name on it to put them into. You will hand the backpack to the judge who will examine the items to determine their quality. The winner will receive a cash prize of 10,000 gold pieces.

GM Division

The contestants will have 5 minutes to make as many GM Marked Quarter Staff as possible. You will be given a backpack with a book with your name on it to put them into. You will hand the backpack to the judge who will explain the items to determine their quality. The winner will get a cash prize of 10,000 gold pieces.

Tailoring

Non GM Division

The contestants will have 5 minutes to make as many One Piece Female Armor Leather with Brown as possible of the highest possible quality. You will be given a backpack with a book with your name on it to put them into. No unraveling allowed. You will hand the backpack to the judge who will arms lore the items to determine the quality. The winner will receive a cash prize of 10,000 gold pieces.

GM Division

The contestants will have 5 minutes to make as many GM Marked Studded Leather Tunic as possible. You will be given a backpack with a book with your name on it to put them into. No unraveling allowed. You will hand the backpack to the judge who will explain the items to determine their quality. The winner will get a cash prize of 10,000 gold pieces.

Bowcrafting (Non GM Division)

The contestants will have 5 minutes to make as many Heavy Crossbows as possible of the highest possible quality. You will be given a backpack with a book with your name on it to put them into. You will hand the backpack to the judge who will arms lore the items to determine their quality. The winner will receive a cash prize of 10,000 gold pieces.

Bowcrafting (GM Division)

The contestants will have 5 minutes to make as many GM Marked Heavy Crossbows as possible. You will be given a backpack with a book with your name on it to put them into. You will hand the backpack to the judge who will examine the items to determine their quality. The winner will receive a cash prize of 10,000 gold pieces.

Pre-registration for the crafting events is requested. Questions and pre-registration can be emailed to Wildstar.

Ultima Online is featured in GameSpot's Online RPG Week. The feature includes a 3-page interview with producer Rick Hall.

Thanks.
-Andrew Park
Managing Editor, GameSpot General Feedback

A page dressed in a white surcoat with dark crimson trim and accessories approaches the town billboard. He carries a scroll which he unrolls and promptly tacks to the board before dashing off. You approach with interest and note the title, "True Britannians Unite!" over the shoulders of others already reading. A small crowd begins to gather & their chatter over the notice adds to Britains' existing hum. You manage to edge yourself in closer and begin to read

TRUE BRITANNIANS UNITE!

A Public Rally for The True Britannians will be held Wednesday, November 23rd at 9pm Eastern at the Fortress of Light Castle in Trammel on the Artic Isle.

The Stormguards of Stormhaven S*G, have long sworn fealty to the crown, Lord British in the lands of Felucca and Trammel. Whispers of Civl War ride the winds and Independence of the throne is being declared by many. Long have we awaited for the throne in Trammel to issue a their claim of the Felucca stone as still the crown's and denounce those who would denounce British, yet the Trammel crown remains silent. The Stormguards being true Brits believe it their duty and honor to yet hold the Felucca throne secure. If British truely has released his claim upon it then we are still bound to hold it for a worthy and rightful King or the return of British. We will not see it fall to those who melign the light, justice and the virtues. We will not permit an unjust leader for the sake of power and greed hold our precious throne and rule. We call now upon all True Britannians to unite!

If you be true to your beloved city and lands then join us. If you are yet undecided join us and learn the true path. For honor, for the throne, for Britannia!

(Coordinates to the FOL castle are 119.5'N & 169.53'W)
A rune to the castle is locked down at the Stormhaven Town Hall in Trammel.
A map to the town hall can be located at the Stormguards of Stormhaven scroll page just follow the Stormhaven link for the map.

TRUE BRITANNIANS IT IS TIME TO UNITE! Let us join our strengths now and organize to preserve our way of life, our virtues and our throne in Felucca!

The Stormguards of Stormhaven

Please contact Lady Lipstick at [email protected] with questions.

Respectfully submitted,
Lady Lipstick of the Stormguards of Stormhaven

The second annual Miss Drachenfels Contest will be held on Sunday, December 10 at 18:00 MET at the main hall of the Lycaeum in Moonglow. Hannington, organisor of Miss Drachenfels Contest 2000, asks that you visit the official Miss Drachenfels 2000 site for more information. As last was the case last year, the most beautiful women on the Drachenfels shard will compete for this coveted title. "The most important thing about the event," writes Hannington, "is that is is in both German and English." Indeed, it is refreshing to hear of a multi-lingual event!

Go with the Virtues!

• Atriarch Stratics
  Atriarch Stratics is beginning its very own fan fiction section. Got a great idea for a story in the world of Atriana? Submit it for posting today!!
• EverQuest Stratics
  Everquest Stratics presents its new Events Calendar section. Take a glimpse at what events are forthcoming on your server. And don't forget to check out the latest pictures from EQ Festival 2000!!
• Dawn Stratics
  A Dawn House of Commons chat will occur in #dawnhoc this Saturday, November 25th, at 8pm CST. Glitchless will be onhand to answer all of your questions about this groundbreaking title. Last time they answered over 130 questions from over 200 players, and plans for this chat are just as ambitious. So don't miss out!
• Neverwinter Nights Stratics
  Finally, check Neverwinter Nights Stratics for the latest information on Glendenmoor. The demographics information will give you the first glimpse of what the population, justice system and other aspects of the city will offer.
• Origin Stratics
  Missed out on the UO World Faire? Visit Origin Stratics for a recap of what went on, including photos of the Origin Movie at the new UO World Faire Section!!
• Stratics Central
  Ever hear of the game Lineage? The number one title in Korea, it already boasts over 2.5 million subscribers...that's more than Ultima Online and Everquest combined! Read all about it on Stratics Central in the new review.
• UO Stratics
  It's Third Dawn Mania over at Ultima Online Stratics. Check out the Third Dawn FAQ, the log to last week's UOHOC, and an exclusive interview with Runesabre for the scoop on this forthcoming Ultima Online expansion.

And now for the latest news from BNN:

We were vigilant. We were ready. The assault lead by Kazari could start any moment. We felt it in our bones. The air was sizzling with tension. 

Suddenly it began. Not Kazari, but his brother Reynaud Wyndyar rampaged through Moonglow on the Trammel facet. With him, hundreds and hundreds of evil wizards in two distinct groups, identified by the color of their robes - scarlet or cobalt blue. We fought a terrible battle. Many died while Reynaud laughed at our effort, saying that his brother would capture Moonglow on the Felucca facet any moment now, and that we too would fall. We doubled our efforts as we grouped and moved in to kill the evil wizards who were butchering men, women and children alike. 

All of a sudden a group of brave heroes decided that Reynaud’s rampage had lasted long enough. They grouped together and surrounded Reynaud, battling with him in his fury until they finally wrested him to the ground, and placed him under arrest. With Reynaud arrested, the mages stopped attacking; without their general they made no move. 

Reynaud was dragged deep into the Yew Prison and was locked away. While Reynaud was sobbing over his capture he yelled that his brother Kazari would free him, and that he would have all our heads. We laughed. Reynaud was locked safely away. 

I rushed out to contact a guard about our prize capture. The guard quickly arrived at the Yew prison, stating that Reynaud would be put on trial for his crimes against the people of Moonglow. 

He stated that the trial would take place on the 15th of November in the Judgement Hall within the Yew prison. 

The guard appointed Yoldran, the mayor of Moonglow in charge of appointing a judge and forming a jury. We were very happy to see Reynaud Wyndyar away. It cannot be long before we defeat his brother, the vile Kazari.

Thank ye, people of Morningstar for sending in this announcement:

Adventurers, would you face the unknown? Have you the courage to take a leap of faith? Then join us in the Morning Star Tavern for the ultimate dare!

Calling all warriors, mages, bards, in fact anyone who wishes to help us in this quest. The elder mage of Morning star town (who's name I shall not mention) was sent to collect runes for the library. On his way home he was waylaid by an inn sign, and somehow got all the runes mixed up in the bag. The problem is, none are marked and whilst one of them leads to a red chest containing 20K, others lead to certain death in the deepest dungeons in the land!

The question now adventurers is... Do you have the courage to blindly recall on a rune, knowing not what lays beyond?

The rules are very simple, for 500gp purchase a rune from the Morning Star tavern this Friday, 24th November, 9pm gmt. On the signal, recall to that location and you may be lucky enough to find yourself 20K richer! On the other hand, you could be facing certain death. More details are on the website at http://www.beddingbox.com/ms or contact Shia ICQ 11720576

This is the report of the Trial of Reynaud Wyndyar. Thank ye Yoldran for sending in this report:

Last Wednesday, the trial for Reynaud Wyndyar was held in the Court of Truth near Yew. Under the eyes of judge Michael, the prosecutor Kabach Cryonax (town constable of Moonglow) tried to convince the 12 membered jury of the crimes of Kazari's brother. 

The charges were: waging war against Moonglow and leading troops in this battle.

The prosecutor brought forth 3 witnesses: Kailel Moonbow, Lord Boromir and Yang Lao Hwang who testified about how Reynaud attacked the town and brought death and destruction. In the picture below, you can see Lord Boromir as witness.

 The Councilor of Defense - the well known Rupert Cort - countered with two character witnesses named Shade, an old time friend of the defendent, and Nicole Darkhearth. Both stating the good character of Reynaud and that he had never done anything evil. The following picture shows Ruper Cort. 

He also made the witnesses of the prosecutor state that they never hear Reynaud actually command troops in this battle with words.

After the hearing of the witnesses, the jury went in a closed room to discuss. After some time they returned and judge Michael asked how they decided on both charges. The jury spoke Reynaud free of leading the attacks, however guilty on taking part in them. 

Judge Michael thus imposed the sentence over Reynaud to get stripped off his posessions and being exiled from Britannia forever. The picture below shows the end of the trial with part of the sentence.

Thank ye Yoldran for this announcement:

(Tuesday - November 21th) Gerneral Engagement Rules:
On 8pm GMT (21:00 CET) Blitz will present his course "General Engagement rules". 
This course is a must for all young warriors. You will get a picture on how to deal with different enemies and which weapons to choose for them. Information on healing as well as weapon lore will be provided. This course is held in the Lycaneum on Moonglow island on Trammel. 

(Wednesday - November 22nd:) Blacksmithing:
On 8pm GMT (21:00 CET) Frendor will present his course "Blacksmithing". 
This course will provide in depth information for young blacksmiths who wish the knowledge to become a grandmaster in their art. This course takes place in the Lycaneum on Moonglow island on Trammel. 


More information about the Academy and up to date information on a class schedule calendar can be found on http://learn.at/lycaeumacademy

Hope to see ye there!
Yoldran

Well met once again warriors of Europa.

What are we fighting and where? Well I'm not going to tell you, not yet anyway. The battle party will meet at 6pm GMT on Sunday the 3rd of December. The meeting place is the same as last month, Tel'mar tower, two screens west of the shrine of Justice on Trammel. The event is open to every warrior out there! Bring your friends, bring your guild mates and bring nothing you aren't prepared to lose in hand to hand combat with the darkest fiends Britannia has to offer! More details later, for now let's all just be prepared. I'll say only one thing about our destination, bringing some dragon repellent might be a good idea. 

More info next week! See you all there!
Phil

Thank ye Elliot for this warning:

Diary of Elliot: Part I

I awoke from my chamber after not sleeping much in the past few nights. I had these weird dreams of the last battle of Vesper and those who lost there life in it. I awoke I thought many things about my past, present and future. I remembered the first ever combat skill I gained. It was archery but after some time in use of that skill I turned to swords and eventually mace fighting. I had visions of my arch Nemesis, Conor McLord. He was a mace fighter that has caused me many wounds and has resulted in the destruction of many of my plans. I also had visions of my future which resulted in me awaking from my slumber each night in the form of me being hacked down by Conor at the final Battle of Vesper. I'm not one to believe in dreams but T'was enough to keep me awake for 3 nights in a row. Maybe the Dreams were signs of things to come or warning signs or maybe something to lead me in the right direction.

As I walked downstairs to the common room of my domain I saw on the mantle of the fire my old practice bow. I picked up and I suddenly had a flash back of one of my hunting trips with my father. My Father was excellent fighter and has slain many beast. I was also a great Blacksmith who could make the greatest of armor and weapons with what seemed like nothing. I remember coming to go get my father when he was in the Grave yard looking at my grandfathers grave. My mother had wanted us to gather for some food at the old house. When I arrived at the grave yard I saw my father surrounded by Liches. I had only heard of these monsters in story books and they my father trapped. My father had no weapons on him and so he was struck down by one of the liches almost instantly. I Yelled and shot my bow at the head of one of the Liches. This liche turned at my and then a fire ball was shot from his body towards me and I fell to the ground. I woke up with many solders around me and that was the last time I saw my father. The Bow had become something of a symbol to me but when I took up the mace it seemed hopeless to hold on to the memories of my father and my archery so I put my bow away and had forgotten it.

At my last battle with Conor McLord I realized that the weapons I was using would never beat Conor! I would beat him if it were not for his Mace Fighting skills destroying my shield in every fight we had. This renders me helpless and so I cannot continue to fight. I looked at my bow once more and then I looked at my mace. I put the mace on the mantle and put my bow in my sack. I had decided to take back the art of archery believing that this skill we have the power of my fathers spirit and the tactical increase of once and for all killing Conor McLord.

I jumped onto my trusty steed for several years now, Valor and headed to the nearby dungeon Covetous. On my way through The great memories of Archery came back to me and I believe that this time I will stick to this skill. 

Watch out Conor McLord and the FVM. Elliot and the Armed Forces of Britannia are out to get you.

Guess the True Britanians get organized, thanks to the Senate for sending this in:

It is now only a matter of days before the forces of evil will begin their onslaught and a war will rage like none seen before it. The Sosarian Senate were informed that panic was already starting and that a way to guide the TRUE BRITANIANS was needed.

The defenders of good needed a unifying symbol that could also direct their efforts each day and prevent a scene of confused headless chickens......

So the mighty White Wizards & most Learned Sorcerers met and together summoned a Great Crystal! The senate can now let all defenders of good know how best to serve our cause through the changing colours of the crystal, each of which have a special meaning.

The crystal could be viewed through a magic word and the first word was http://www.sosaria.8m.com/controlab12cd.html 

Realising that sinister agents of evil will also gain access to the crystal, it was decided to change the magic word & only those registered by the Senates scribes from http://www.sosaria.8m.com and are confirmed as enrolled in the TRUE BRITANIANS will receive it.

We plea for all good citizens to aid the cause of Lord British now.!..there are so many ways to help even if you cannot fight!
Join the Senate to debate strategy and maintain our various departments or aid our troops with supplies or defend the castle as a blue citizen!

please visit http://www.sosaria.8m.com/senate.html to register.

The Sosarian Senate

Thank ye Jingo for sending in this announcement:

Hear ye, Hear ye,

The Witches of Taymagh welcome one and all to the Grand Festival on 25th November to be held at the Town Hall of Taymagh ( just South of Vesper). A joyous celebration to mark the 5000 people that have passed through its open doors, so come and join in the festivities of song, dance and tales of high adventure. There will be free drinks for all and many competions to test the mettle of the bravest warriors and mightiest of Mages, to include :

Ettin Wrestling, 
A Grand Lottery and 
the wonderous Chicken summoning! 

to name but a few. Prizes will be as wondrous as A Fur and will include plants, many rare and other highly sought after items gleamed from the hoards of the strongest creatures. And for those few lucky winners a spellbound 'kiss' may await thee from the beautiful Lady Witches themselves. So dust off your finest clothes, gather your swords and spell books, whether you be young or old this is a celebration not to be missed!

For more information refer too www.uowitch.com

Jingo, Trader of Tayrnagh.

Artarion's Influence
Ferran Azelle
Nov 20 2000 7:31PM

News reached me late this evening that the self-proclaimed "Lord of the Spiders" attacked the city of Yew and the community known as Shadowmoor. I have been hearing reports of late that Artarion had targeted the citizens of Yew, focusing his army of spiders upon the city itself and then to the surrounding communities. Now it seems his attacks have intensified as creatures of both Ice and Fire accompany him during his assaults. There seems to be no direct source or reason for Artarion's power - but no one can deny his abilities. Regardless of the source of Artarion's power, he is definitely a developing threat to the people of Yew.

I have learned that a group of adventurers recently made contact with Ventryn Pythos, the individual responsible for a long-lived battle over the Stormguard relics some time ago. Allegedly Ventryn has repented and follows a new path, leaving behind his vile past. An individual or power unknown to him has modified his lair and home. Lava has begun to bubble up through the floor and ice has covered the walls of his dark lair. Ventryn claims he is not responsible for the attacks against the people of Yew or for the alterations to his lair. Apparently he is near powerless since he has lost possession of the Stormguard relics, but offers to aid Yew with any information he may learn regarding Artarion or Xenthyl the Phantom. I will be eager to see how Ventryn operates within the next several days.

The reason behind Artarion's hatred for Yew is still clouded. Originally Artarion had stated his hatred for Yew had no real basis, but recent activity seems to indicate it has a possible connection to the elementalist known as Qua'Tel. Regardless of his motivation, Artarion has become increasingly vicious over the last several days. Obviously something needs to be done soon. In my limited perspective it seems that Artarion's power grows as time progresses and the longer it takes to determine the source of his power the more difficult it will be to defeat him.

I find it overly suspicious that Qua'Tel is reluctant to aid the citizens of Yew. Apparently a band of adventurers contacted Qua'Tel, but the elementalist refuses to leave the confines of the dungeon Shame. Even if Qua'Tel is not directly linked to the situation in Yew, I believe something in his past could be connected to Artarion's motivations. Let us not forget Ventryn either. Ventryn was once a powerful lich consumed by intense hatred and it is difficult for me to believe that he is now an entirely different individual. Although perhaps it is far simpler than that, maybe Artarion is simply a crazed mage trying to follow in the footsteps of Ventryn.

I'll be about investigating this situation; I personally do not want to see history repeat itself.

• Understanding the Phantom
• Thain Returns Home
• Ventryn's Power
• Stormguard Revisited
• The Journal of Qua'Tel Decoded!
• The Destruction of Xenthyl

Rand Al'Thor snarls in anger of the news of another lost pigeon to the Notorious Ith'unk. "This foolish orc has feast upon his last pigeon. No more will I allow him to eat my faithful servants. His carnage must be put to an end." Rand says as he turns away from the messenger. "The only choice I have to save my children is to take my strength to this orc city and end this orc's madness." "But milord, how are you to cross everyone to Trammel much less fight the orcs since the gods allow no fighting?" Rand's young squire said. "Perhaps I can provoke Ith'unk to come to Felucca somehow. I've learned that he is an agent for some God called Stratics. Though I've never heard of this God before. Maybe the faction wars will give him interest enough to come to Felucca. If not then I fear we will have to go to war with the fool." "But milord couldn't you try to persuade Ith'unk to stop eating milord's birds?" Rand growls beneath his breath. "Boy what makes you think I will lower myself to talk with a savage orc?" "Sorry milord but I just thought it would be better to save your power for the factions milord." Rand frowns at his young squire since the kid makes a good point. "Perhaps, send a messenger to this orc and setup a meeting. But, don't send one of my pigeons either.... Have Night Hawk send one of her dragons with the message. That may make it a little more persuasive." "At once milord," the squire says as he turn around and runs looking for Night Hawk. Rand returns to the work on his castle with a grin on his face.

"Ug, that hummie has sent me a fine feast. All of orc town has never dined as well as it will tonight. Tell your hummie that Ith'unk will gladly meet him anywhere." Ith'unk says a few days later when he receives the message.

Michael scratches his head wondering how Night Hawk will cope with the news of losing one of her fine dragons. Sighing he heads up to his Lord's castle wondering if he will be dropped from squire to stable boy from this news.

"Milord a messenger has arrived. Ith'unk has agreed to meet with you." "Great" Rand says getting from his table. "I hope Night Hawk didn't mind in sending one of her dragons." Michael shuffles his feet. "Well, as to that milord it turns out that Ith'unk took the dragon as a present and the orc village has feast upon it....." "WHAT?!?!?" Michael start's tip toeing towards the door. "Your not dismissed yet. This may be for the better since the fool may be more trusting... Has Night been inform of her lost yet?" "No milord, but.." "But nothing, go to her and give her my apologies. Inform her that I will seek revenge for her lost also." "Yes, milord." "I will go to Trammel myself this time and meet with Ith'unk. You are dismissed Michael." "But milord." "GO." "At once milord."

With thoughts rushing through his head Rand sets out to make his encounter with this orc. He crosses over near Minoc and heads over to Britain seeking the location of this Uruk Village. Upon his surprise he encounters the smelly orc.

"Ug, hummie." "Greetings....Why do you keep feasting upon my pigeons?" "Pigeon gud meat" Rand grumbles at this. "Do you have a more private place we may take?" Ith'unk nods and leads Rand over to a nearby abandoned building where he drops a rune. "Rune to Uruk Village hummie. Me don't like magic to much." Rand smirks thinking about the orchish mages and cast's gate upon the rune. He bids the orc to enter first and follows behind him. "This way hummie, not far" Rand is left with no choice but to follow and disperse the unusual amount of brigands. "Here we are hummie." "My name is Rand Al'Thor not hummie." "If you say so hummie, but you are friend now." Rand grins at this. "Ith'unk, as a friend I must ask you to stop feasting upon the pigeons. They are my friends and it sickens me to think of someone eating them." "Hummie, Ith'unk go hungry if not for pigeons." "Can you not eat something else instead?" "Ith'unk can eat more dragon." Rand sighs. "Besides dragons..." "Me eat soup." "Great, will you agree to eat soup instead of pigeons so we can stay friends?" "mmmm, Me eat soup if you eat soup to." "Fine." Ith'unk rushes inside his cabin and comes back out with a bowl of soup. "Eat hummie and me stop eating pigeons." With a slight hesitation Rand accepts the bowl and takes a slow bite. "This....this is Delicious. I've never tasted anything so good. My friend Orc please, what kind of soup is this?!?!?" Rand says in a rush. "Pigeon soup, stupid hummie." Rand eyes goes wide at this... "Does your God Stratics need anymore agents?" With a laugh the orc grins ruefully and nods.

Ahoy, landlubbers out dere! I hereby wanna announce, dat da Pirates of Buccaneer's Den have set foot on deir home isle last week, ta establish a community fer all da pirates, rogues, thieves and smugglers of Britannia.

Today da guildstone of da Pirates of Buccaneer's Den has been moved to our isle, and we are ready ta recruit new members fer our crew and residents of Buccaneer's Den!

If'n ye wanna sign up, please visit our skypage and read it carefully, located at http://www.extraweb.com/pirates/

Our goals are, ta give da outlaws out dere a home and a community ta live in, and ta gather our powers and go out lootin and plunderin, in order ta fill our currently empty treasure caves. In our community each member can speak his mind, and help us establish our community wid own ideas.

Interested citizens should note that the United Pirates are "a roleplaying guild who strictly follows the rules of engagement, and request highlighting with all roleplaying guilds on Catskills, in order to improve the interaction."

Artarion the mage was once again spotted at Empath Abbey in Yew, on Sunday night. Before he appeared, several giant spiders approached the west side of the abbey, but were being easily controlled by the guards. Then an ice fiend and a daemon appeared in the abbey's front yard, with a gathered group of Yew citizens managing to stop the creatures quickly, their victory bringing Artarion to appear.

He said that he wanted to play a "little game" and was going to see who he "picked" first. We had to figure out where he was going to attack. My immediate concern was Shadowmoor, and I raced there as fast as I could.

Upon arriving, I found a fellow ranger, Teleri Calendros, trying to subdue a White Wyrm that was rampaging through the village. As we dealt with the threat, Artarion appeared in front of the Shadow Ranger guild hall, simply remarking, "good guess." Then black widow spiders began appearing and attacking, as well.

After a few moments, the cavalry arrived. Judas and the Emerald Empire, Arwin and several other independent adventurers came and helped finish the white wyrm. The assault continued with ice fiends, daemons, lava serpents, fire elementals, ice elementals, and snow elementals.

Finally, after a grueling battle, the waves of attacks ceased and Artarion appeared. He said that he wanted us to find Qua'tel, and if we managed to bring him back to Artarion, the attacks would cease. He mentioned that the elementalist was last seen in Shame, but that he may not be there now, and if he is, he's excellent at hiding there. He said he would return in three days outside Empath Abbey at 8:00pm EST, and that he expected us to have Qua'tel by then.

He then said he'd leave us in peace to do our work, and dissapeared with a lightning bolt. Of course, he lied, and we were attacked by more daemons and ice fiends, and then the black widow spiders.

The crowd dispersed at this point, all for purposes of their own. There were only a few of us present when Ventryn walked up and started to offer us assistance. He said that he thinks Qua'Tel may be in Shame, but that he wasn't really sure. He also related the story of his losing a staff to a pack of giant spiders. He claimed the staff was powerless, but he used it to forge a fake identity, "Sage Sylan". Ventryn quickly left when he found that the group present wasn't exactly trusting of him.

After a few moment's discussion, it was decided to go ahead and start looking for Qua'tel. I had heard Elrick Strongbow's tale of Ventryn's "damaged" lair. So on a hunch Teleri Calendros, Fabienne and I decided to check out the lair for ourselves.

After an uneventful trip, we arrived at the lair to see that it was in fact being consumed by fire and ice. The "damage" had spread to the back wall, apparently destroying both cages that were present there, one being the Soul Binder cage. We also noticed that the corpses Ventryn tended to keep had been removed, and had been replaced with what could best be described as fire and ice spellbooks.

After a somewhat thorough search, we decided that Qua'tel wasn't present and left the lair. The new password to exit is "FrostFlame", as reported; but it does not take you to the desert entrance. It takes you to an ice blue seal in a cave on the Destard Mountain Range. This seal acts as a "back" door to the lair, using the password "FrostFlame".

After seeing this, I feel that the lair isn't being destroyed, but simply remade to be more suitable for a new owner. Maybe Qua'tel? Or Artarion? I don't really know. I am just wondering what impact the absence of the Soul Binder cage is having on Xenthyl, if any at all...

However, Ventryn has yet to prove himself a true ally to the Britannian people. The alleged theft of a staff in his possession could lead to an explanation of current events; what powers that staff held could alleviate many questions regarding the control of fire and ice we have witnessed.

And what of Xenthyl? He says he wished to punish those that did not stand against Ventryn, but there seems to be more motivation behind his involvement. With the Soul Binder cage damaged by the spread of fire and ice within Ventryn's lair, has he undergone a change, still bound to the Soul Binder armor? Spiders accompanied him in many attacks, and also accompany Artarion...which man ordered the staff stolen from Ventryn?

And what does Artarion want with Qua'tel? If Artarion is indeed behind the fire and ice in the lair, he could be seeking the elementalist to learn to control his ability. Or he could be seeking to use Qua'tel as an ally in his campaign?

And what of the spellbooks found in Ventryn's lair? Where did they come from, and are these the only source of the elemental power being used as of late?

One citizen has reported that "darkshine" no longer grants access to the lair from the known entrance. As the exit location has changed, has the entrance as well? Or has the password simply been altered to suit the new resident?

As more information comes to light, it will be made available. Citizens are encouraged to submit answers to the above questions, substantianted by fact, to our publication. With your support, the mystery may be solved!

Last eve we set forth on a task that would prove our Courage beyond
even what I thought it would. To complete the task, that would enable us
to forge this new shield, we would have to enter four separate dungeons.
They were Shame, Hythloth, Covetous, and Destard. Inside each dungeon we
would have to mix some of the dirt with the iron ingots we carried. This
would imbue them with power that would then be purified at each of the
shrines. We began the quest by entering Shame. It proved easy enough for
the large group that was there. And we were quickly on to the next. This
proved to be the deciding point that would test the metal of us all. For
we chose Destard as our next destination.

What we would do here was perhaps the greatest show of courage and
determination that I have ever seen within Britannia. Our force entered
into the dungeon and quickly dispatched a dragon and two wyrms that were
near. We proceeded deeper into the dungeon and were almost instantly
overwhelmed by several dragons and wyrms attacking us at once. Well over
half our force fell in that battle. But as the main group slowly fought
it's way though the constant attack myself and a small force ran though
to the entrance to the 2nd level. Once there the people with me
distracted the Balron demons that were there long enough for me to
complete my task. We returned to the entrance where the rest of the
force had gathered. I must truly say that I have never seen such a brave
and determined group of people in all my time. So with everyone returned
to life we chose Covetous as our next destination.

This dungeon proved no obstacle to us at all. And we quickly moved
on to Hythloth, the final dungeon on our list. It to proved an easy task
compared to the Abyss that had been Destard. So thus with that portion
of our task complete we return to Haven intent on visiting the shrines
of Honor, Valor, Spirituality, and Sacrifice to purify the empowered
metal we now carried. But there was a surprise waiting for us in Haven.

When we gathered in Haven we took a moment to breathe a sigh of
relief and gathered ourselves for the trek to the shrines. As we readied
to leave I noticed the doors to the tower open. And out stepped that
same mysterious stranger. The one that calls himself Forger. He had
seemed to be expecting us. After a short conversation he asked that the
metal be turned over to him. Knowing that I could trust him I did so.
And thus he accompanied us to all of the shrines. Once all four had been
visited there remained one final stop. The Spring of Courage in PaxLair.
For it was there that long ago Seer Daemeon gave his very life so that
the Spring might be purified and imbued with the power of Courage.

Once there the man known as Forger beseeched the ancient spirit
there for it's aid. Before our eyes the metal shifted and flowed into
the shape of a shield. Forger took up the shield and thanked the spirit
there. He then gave the shield to me and requested that we journey home
as he was quite exhausted.

We returned to Haven and I placed the shield alongside the Sword and
Hammer upon the roof of the tower. There it will lay until the final
piece of the puzzle is complete. The Armor of Love. My research into
it's making is almost complete and I will contact you all again once all
is made ready. Till then I wish to thank all of you that stood the test
and showed for all to see that Courage is NOT gone from the land of
Felucca!

Korin the Scribe
The Scribe of Haven
http://www.haven.uoguilds.com

Friday the 24th of November, at 8:30 in the Eastern Sky(EST)The citizens
of Havenwood will be throwing a Masked Ball, beginning, with the standard
event blessing by Lord Talimor. We shall have masks available for those
who do not bring masks with them. There will also be refreshments served.
We would like everyone to be there ten minutes earlier(8:20 EST) so that
we can begin promptly and on time!

We hope to see you at the ball-

Havenwood

WOW! I think we're all still trying to recover from last night's 1 vs. 1 in honor of Kamikaze. A total of 30 fighters were allowed to compete for 200K and a shot at a large two-story house. Unfortunately, due to the huge turnout, we could not accommodate more than 30 participants, lest we be running fights all night long. Fighters arrived almost two hours early just to register for the event!
After hours of fierce competition, one fighter was left standing and his name was Mr. Beemu. Mr. Beemu fought Kamikaze twice to win the grand prize of ownership to a large two-story house.

HUGE thanks to the Grimoire staff for helping! Thank you Fiona Pentell, LeeLu, Dyastro Farkas, Lost, Craggan, Mocoso and also Angel, Josh, and The Evil Spooof for standing guard.

Farewell Kamikaze! You will be missed greatly but you leave behind a legacy that will not be forgotten. The generous donations you made to Grimoire will fuel many more events and we hope that one day you will find your way back to the evil city.

Baby-Grimoire Staff

Seeking Companions and Counselors

MMRPG seeks unique individuals for exciting and compelling volunteer Companion and Counselor duties. Must be confident, enthusiastic, and knowledgeable of all things Ultima Online. Willing to volunteer on the Formosa, Arirang, Balhae, or AOL Legends shard is a plus. If volunteering for a non-English-speaking shard, speaking the native language of the shard is appreciated. Apply today!

Translation: We're seeking Companions and Counselors for all shards, but specifically on the Formosa, Arirang, Balhae, or AOL Legends shards. If you're an active Ultima Online player and are interested in volunteering your time to help other players enjoy the world of Britannia, we'd like to hear from you! Counselors must be 21 years of age or older, Companions must be 18 years of ago or older, and applicants to both programs must be free of any outstanding account issues. To learn more about the Companion and Counselor programs and to fill out an online application, please follow the links from our Volunteer Information page.

There will be a dungeon run to the dungeon of destard as those beasts have roamed too long unchecked. All welcome especially those who can res ;). It will start at 6:30 wednesday night sydney time.I hope too see you all there!

Narcissa, Suicidel Idiot of britannia

-----

I presume everyone is to meet within the dungeon at 6:30pm, Sydney time. Sounds like fun!

The First Convocation of the Dark Elven Council of Great Lakes is to occur on Monday, November 20th, at 6pm Central Standard Time/ 7pm Eastern Standard Time, within the walls of the Lycaeum of Moonglow, upon the facet of Felucca. All Drow upon the Shard as well as all Organized Dark Elven Houses (Noble, Trade, and Common Houses), are invited for the First Annual Census of the Dark Elven population de har'dro Great Lakes, as well as discussions pertaining to the Dark Elven future concerning the Factions.

Discussion will also be held concerning rules of open warfare between rival Houses, as well as the recognition of new/unknown Houses into the Drow Council. Independent Drow Elves wishing to represent themselves to the Council, as well as Independent Drow wishing to join one of the esteemed Drow Elven Organizations upon the Great Lakes Shard are also cordially invited to attend.

Any Humans, Orcs, Lizardmen, Ratmen, Ogres, Goblins, or other races (Other than Surface Elves) wishing to present business to the unified Drow Council are invited after the Regular Session, at approximately 7pm Central Standard Time/ 8pm Eastern Standard Time. Jal dobluthen lueth Darthiir xun naut doer, egluthen orn tlu elggus.

Velturus Viaxus

Hump the Impaler of the Keepers of Justice, Gorion of the Purple Guardians of Honor, Eldrich Strongbow of the Shadow Rangers, Jrake of the Dominion, Pagan Lightbring of the Fellowship of the Elven Philosophy, Madmardigan of the Unknown and myself went to the Compassion shrine in the Great Desert of Felucca after a brief stop in Winterfell. Throughout the journey, Ice Fiends and Fire Elementals assailed us. Near the shrine still stands the Tombstone of Lord Pythos. At this tombstone, we uttered the magic word “darkshine” and were ushered into Ventryn’s Lair.

Immediately, we noticed that along the left wall was an ice flow. Along the right wall, we saw a pool of lava. Towards the center from these are pillars of fire and ice. In the center at the back of the room on his throne sat a forlorn Ventryn, in human form.

The travelers launched a series of questions to Ventryn. Here’s a brief summary of what was learned:

• Ventryn does not know why Artarion seeks the elementalist, Qua’Tel.
• Ventryn does not know where Qua’Tel is.
• Ventryn’s Lair has been damaged by fire and ice. He does not know who did it.
• Ventryn does not believe Thain is involved.
• On the Soul Binding Armor: “I created the armor, only I know the uses related to it. I cannot truthfully say that Qua’Tel learned nothing of the [armor] but he could nay understand enough to utilize it.”
• Ventryn has released Xenthyl from the armor, but claims that he cannot bind Xenthyl again as Ventryn has lost his powers once he returned to human form.
• On trust: “Do not trust anyone. That is my suggestion.”

Lord Ventryn patiently answers questions in his Lair. The lair has been damaged by fire and ice.

He also mentioned a staff that he had lost some time ago. “Something occurred several weeks ago, which I simply ignored until now. It makes a bit more sense. I was in the forests of Yew and was overwhelmed by a small group of spiders. About four giant spiders. The staff I once carried I lost during the fray.” Ventyrn claimed that the staff holds no real power, though.

It was noted that the password to exit the Lair has changed. Ventryn provided us with a hint to it, and after several guesses it was determined that ‘Frostfire’ is the new password.

After the grand opening of the Wolf's Den Bar and Grille, it seems Mazrim decided to attack the Aryslan town center. Skeletons, shades, and wraiths warned us of the upcomming battle, I knew I had to send out pigeons for help, or Aryslan would not last through the night.

We then went to the new tavern to make sure it was ok and not being invaded. At the time is looked alright, so we headed to the tower of souls. We were greeted with an army of undead. We called in the others from the Aryslan town center over to the tower of souls to do battle.

"a dark minion" appeared outside the tower of souls. It seems it was the leader of this army of undead. It eventually headed south of Aryslan after we gave chase to it, fast as it could be we were able to paralyze it. However magic would not harm it, it was up to our warriors to take care of the job. They fought well and we eventually trapped it. It finally spoke to us, saying "Death". As soon as it spoke, it dissapeared. We then ran back to the town center where it was being attacked once more. There, citizens say they were able to slay this creature.

We then made our way back to the tower of souls, only to find "an evil presence" once again defending the tower. Not showing itself for quite sometime, we eventually were able to fight this creature yet again. It casted poison fields outside of the gate, and sent undead after us as well. The battle eventually went in our favor, and we were able to defeat the "evil presence" once again. However the corpse made its way into the tower of souls, and back into the well of souls on the roof. Unfortunately again, we did not destroy it.

The next wave of attacks consisted of blood elementals, and daemons. The leader of the daemons was named Wormius. This was the hardest battle of the night. 10 blood elementals and 8 daemons defended the tower of souls. I knew i had to call in some more help, or we may lose the war of the night.

I had called out for aid of the various towns across the land, but it took sometime for a lot of the people to aid us. Eventually from what I had seen, Paxlair and Haven came to assist. Aryslan is thankful that we have such great allies, together we may be able to finally defeat this great evil.

Together we fought, and together we did not fall. We defeated this large attack on Aryslan. We survived with minimum casualties. What will be next?

Jamlyn Hakkendyn

The Aryslan tavern opening was a success! Thank you to everyone who
participated in the grand opening. People from across the land came to see
what the tavern was like, and it was nothing but the best.

We decided the name to be "The Wolf's Den Bar and Grille. This goes
well with the area, for dire and timber wolves roam the woods of Aryslan.
Aryslan has been searching for a new establishment in town, and it looks
like we finally found it.

The first floor is the bar area with plenty of places to sit. We have
many bartenders willing to staff the tavern, and perhaps we may have certain
hours that it will be staffed. The top floor consists of a dance floor,
where bards can play thier music while the visitors dance. Finally out on
the balcony, there is a grille area where people can make thier food.

With all the ale and food, people began to get a bit tipsy. Bar room
brawls started to happen, fighting over women in the bar. The fights had to
be taken outside, for no fighting in the Wolf's Den!

The Rich Man's Inn bar hours are now official. Every monday - thursday we will be staffed by a bartender from 9-10pm EST time. This thursday however we will not be open due to the holidays. Our bartenders wish to be with their families that day. But the next week we will be on normal schedule. If you need a rune to my fine tavern please ICQ me at 55432884 between 8:50-9:20 next week. We will set something up so that you can come to our tavern.

Also thank you to all who applied for the positions. Without your help this would not be posible.

--Alan the Barkeep--

MMORPGSTUFF.com (aka Brimstone Graphics) is proud to announce the newest "Alignment" design, Chaotic Evil. Last week we introduced the Chaotic Evil design, and already, many people have been purchasing this design to show off at various roleplaying events that are coming up. To be fair, I designed the Chaotic Evil design, and plan to release ALL the other alignments as well, before the end of December.

In addition to designing shirts, mugs, mousepads, etc., MMORPGSTUFF.com also designs custom logos and websites as well. CHEAPLY. As an online gamer with over 5 years of community involvement, I know how much it rots trying to make a kick-ass web site that attracts new visitors. Paying someone to make a professional site can cost thousands of dollars. Not cool. To online gamers, or really ANY gamers in general (including LARP and pen/paper), I will make a visually appealing site design for you for a VERY LOW COST (i.e. $50. to $100.00, for the graphics). That goes for custom shirt designs as well, $25. to $50. for the design.

If you have any questions about the merchandise, the stores or our services, please contact me via email or ICQ (mail: [email protected] or ICQ: 206317).

Thank you for your time, interest and your support!

Brimstone (Anthony)
Founder, MMORPGSTUFF.com
Founder, lostorder.com (Guild)

Announcing, the famous or infamous Chicago Bash, upcoming April 5th - 8th, 2001. Hosted by the players of the original Never Winter Nights Community, one of the oldest online player gatherings, by the players for the players. Meet, greet, and drink with friends and those who are your enemies from the different games we all play. The adult gamers spring break, events to include, nightclubs, gambling, a hall, and many more.

Stop by the Bash Connection and learn more. Don't miss out, as people talk about these bashes for years to come!

Hail and Well Met !

Join us Monday, November 20th, 2000 at 7:00pm CST in #Ultima-Online for our Ultima Online Celebrity Chat located on Stratics IRC. Our Special guest this week will be Tyrant, Vice President of Online Services.

He will be here to answer any questions you'd like to ask him. About his role with OSI, in-game experiences he's had, or anything else you'd like to ask him! So feel free and stop by in #Ultima-Online on Stratics IRC. #Ultima-Online is the 24 hour chatroom brought to you by Stratics IRC. You can access the Stratics network via the following servers, or by using our JAVA IRC client located at http://chat.stratics.com:

irc.stratics.com 6667
compu.stratics.com 6667
dhp.stratics.com 6667
frws.stratics.com 6667
intworks.stratics.com 6667

Visit us Monday evening, at 7:00pm CST in #Ultima-Online, to chat with our guest, Tyrant. Or, drop by anytime for tips, news, and general conversation about Ultima-Online !

Dariuas

Telia's Rune Library, the largest rune library on Drachenfels with over 900 runes on both facets needs your help.
We're working on runebooks about player run towns and establishments, and ask citizens of these towns for help to collect information about these location.

Our goal is to grant access to these information to every interested UO player by providing ready-to-use runebooks at our library and more information about these towns on our website. These informations are also passed to our Interest Game Master Talos, who has a fairly good understanding of the german language *giggles*

Take your chances to make your player run town known to the community and send one email to me so we can collect the necessary information to include you to the Drachenfels player town runebook. The existing directory can be accessed (in german language) through the link above.

Best Regards,
Kathleen
Telia's Rune Library

With the events that have transpired the night before at the Skara Brae Fairgrounds, I was preparing myself for the worst. I awaited for the arrival of my brethren, Gonj the Unjust and Sir Clutch, so that they could accompany me to the fairgrounds. Greetings were short as we soon headed out to what was going to be a dangerous adventure.

When we arrived at the festive site, we were greeting by Skye MacLeod of the TURs along with Outy and many others from various guilds. After conversing for a few moments Bonnie, and Andrew Jollier came to us. I spoke of the ghost, Roberta by name, and stated that we needed to exhume her remains and transport them to the Britain Cemetery. Andrew seemed quite eager to leave her buried and just to attempt to do the ritual first. Biting our lips we had decided do the ritual first.

The Britain Cemetery’s air permeated with a rotting, foul smell that made our eyes water, none the less we pushed onto the hill where they were buried. Once we arrived Gonj the Unjust gave the last rites so that their souls may rest. Gonj approached the tombstones and spoke the words of comfort;

“Today, we lay the deceased to rest. In the name of balance we honor thee in the after life. Spirits rest, your time on this world is over, cross over into the void. Eternal rest awaits you.

Spiriti per transitus.
Nihilus pro ye Ibi Agere aeternitas in beatitudo.
Nihilus ad metus Illic.
Felicitas ye expectare.
Posse vester novus vitae esse prosperare.
Posse serpens dux ye”

I tell you now that not one soul was put to rest with those words. Heed my word, no sooner had Gonj finished speaking we were attacked by hordes of Liches, Skeletons, and Zombies. Bravely we fought them back. Many women and men fell in battle. I myself was not that lucky. Wave upon wave of undead struck at us with spells, swords and axes. The air was consumed by the cries of the living and the undead as they fell, one by one. Then nothing… The attacks had ceased. I approached Jollier, and exclaimed that we had need to transport the body!

Jollier told us that he knew nothing about where she was buried, and that the only bodies found were those by the arena and archery buttes. Skye MacLeod approached Jollier and spoke of the books that were found. He asked to see them. I passed him copies of the books and he quickly began to thumb through them. He began telling us about Devon, the man who wished to be a liche. He read aloud from the book that Devon’s intentions were to keep her soul with him, to make her like him… He also told us that his magic was controlling people. Then Jollier told us that he was under Devon’s control, but through our efforts we had freed his soul. It was determined that we would need to return to the Fair Grounds.

Stepping though the moongates we found ourselves back at the dirt laden fields of the Skara Brae Fairgrounds. Almost immediately we were attacked by the minions of darkness. Slaying wave after wave, it seemed like it would never cease, but all of us pressed on. Soon the spirit of Roberta was appearing to us. Skye tried her best to search for her body, but none could be found. We pleaded with Roberta to tell us where she lies. She told of how Devon was keeping her soul in forever torment for not going to him. The warning of his imminent arrival we told to us as well. She then cried out and disappeared. We frantically searched for her, but we could not find her.

With a bone chilling cackle the Lich Devon appeared to us. All golden, with festering pieces of flesh clinging to his dried carcass. We tried to attack him, but it was of no use. Many swarmed to him but were unable to pierce his flesh. All the spells cast were blocked by a powerful spell. Devon made sure that no harm would come to him. Devon approached the location where Roberta was, and she appeared! He grabbed her ethereal body and forced her through a facet gate, to Felucca.

With haste all the warriors hurried to secure moonstones so they could take this battle to his realm. Upon arrival we were greeting by an army of Lich Lords and Skeletal Knights, howling and clawing for our mortal remains. We bravely fought them off one by one, ever encroaching to Devon. Warrior upon warrior fell upon him, swinging, hitting and burning him with their weapons and incantations. Soon the golden lich fell. And the remains of his were gathered.

Roberta appeared to us again. This time we were told to spread the remains to the 4 corners of Sosaria so that his evil could never return. Gathering up his remains we teleported from location to location, spreading his remains. I only hope that nobody discovers his remains and re-unites them. It will be a grievous day indeed.

We returned to the fairgrounds in Trammel after the task set before us was complete. Roberta greeted us one last time. She approached Skye MacLeod, and said; (I apologize I could not get the first sentence written down) Roberta: “… He died to a brigand arrow, and I could not bear the loss. I followed him to death, but the lich Devon followed my soul. He placed his heart in my grave to be close to me. His magics bound us together, and with his body scattered. I am free of his curse.

Skye MacLeod : “I am so happy Roberta… Now may we reunite you with your beloved?”

Roberta: “All that remains is for you… all of you… to the spirit realm to be with Locke. Yes. Take some of the dirt and place it where his remains are. There is nothing left of me here. But I am tied to the soil.”

Everyone present took as much soil as they could carry and traveled back to the Britain Cemetery. Placing piles where her beloved Locke rests. She then appeared one last time to us and said, “Thank you, blood of my blood and friends. Locke is here! I feel him! Thank you! Thank you all!” Her corporeal form faded into nothing. Our job was done. Her soul will rest forever.

Ashram – Elder of the Warriors Sect of the Serpent Council

The Village of Shadowlight and the Alliance of Virtue's Thanksgiving Feast being held this Sunday, November 19th at the Alliance of Virtue's Virtue Tavern.

Gates will be summoned from the North Britain Counselors guild and Vesper Bank at 4:45pm, west coast time. There will be gates opened up through-out the dinner in these locations. Dinner will be served from 5-9pm west coast time. There are also runes available for yer own magical transprot at: The Golden Brew, and The Ring of Steel Tower.

T' get a list o' the food being served please see the AoV's historical documents at the AoV website (simply go to the pages labled as 'news'). There is also a reference to the Village of Shadowlight's documents where ye can get a look at the area map should ye want t' walk t' the tavern.

Good food, good friends, can't wait t' see ye all there!

Anvil, AoV Master of Ceremony, HC

The Kingdom of Dawn announces its new recruiting center. This site uses RealMedia enhancements as requires you have RealPlayer 7 or better installed to view it. Its under construction, but most of the content is there now! Come visit us!

Kingdom of Dawn Recruiting

There comes a time of year when each man, woman, and child should ask themselves, "What do I have to be thankful for?" and then pause to carefully think over their answer.

I have done this... and I find that I am grateful for many things.

I am grateful to have such a wonderful place in which to live -- one that is always changing, challenging, intriguing, with so many interesting people and opportunities for adventure. I am thankful for the friends I have made and for my guild, which is like a family to me. I am thankful for the opportunity I have had to lead the Trinsic Council of Honor. I give thanks for the beautiful house in which I live... and most of all, for the love I have come to know and share.

I invite each of you to join the Trinsic Council of Honor this Saturday, November 18th, at 4pm Eastern time for a Thanksgiving Dinner. We will share food and drinks with friends and fellow citizens at the Keg and Anchor Tavern (in Trammel Trinsic). Come hungry, and perhaps you will share with us what you are thankful for this year. We look forward to your company!

-Gwendolyn
Knight, Knights of Sosaria
Vice Mayor, Trinsic Council of Honor

Atlantic Shard Town Councils Public Events Calendar
Trinsic Council of Honor

Probably the biggest reason for the client overhaul is that the architecture of Third Dawn was built with the idea of expansion in mind. This will allow for future land and art expansion without too much difficulty with much smaller downloads. This will increase the ability for Ultima Online’s customization, which is the main draw of the game

The most noticeable change to the UO universe is that for the first time in a UO game, the characters, creatures, and items will be fully 3D. We asked Rick "Stellerex" Hall, coproducer (with Bryan Walker) of Third Dawn, how much of the game would be 3D, and he said, "Our ground is actually a 3D mesh. If you look carefully, you can see that it is affected by light sourcing; you can see shadows on steeper hills and the like. We are using a directional light source, so you can see where the ground ripples...Obviously, the characters are all fully 3D [and] monsters are all fully 3D. The particle effects that we're using for all of the special effects are actually 3D particles. You can see them moving in and out behind objects and the characters. When any item that your character can hold in his hand is represented in his hand, those are 3D models. Now, when you drop them on the ground, it's still represented by a sprite on the ground. It might just be better from a performance standpoint to leave that stuff as sprites." It seems kind of a waste not to have a moving light source to take advantage of the fully 3D landscape that uses light sourcing properly and casts appropriate shadows. Hall noted, "At this point, [the light source] is fixed, but there is technologically nothing to stop us from having a [movable light source]. That's not going to be a release feature; that's just one that we're playing with at this point." UO fans may just have a sun that moves over Britannia in real time at some future date.

Hear ye, Hear ye!

On sunday, november 19th, 6pm GMT (19:00 CET), the City Council of Moonglow will celebrate a festival for the towns victory over the pirate Kazari a week ago.
All people - and especially the Moonglow defenders - are invited to join us in this happy celebration.

There will be several events including:

An archery contest

A cow-tipping contest

A lottery

An item collection contest

And more!

More detailed informaion will soon be posted on the councils skypage: http://stop.at/thecouncil.

Exceptionaly the third part of the Ravenmoor Quest will be held on Sunday 19 november at 8:00 PM GMT. The reason for this is, that not enough people will be able to run this part next weekend. So, next weekend will be the fourth part of the Quest. We hope that this will not prove to be a problem for the players and we apologize for this situation.

Come with your friends and share the fun of this Quest !

All informations can be found on our site : http://linux.telnett.no/ravenmoor/player/

Tyrghen [UT] of Ravenmoor.

Stonekeep is proud to announce ‘Who wants to win 50k?’. The rules for this is very simple. Four contestants battle it out to win money. They then have to answer four questions correctly to win 50k. They have no lifelines, and they have to answer each question within 30 seconds of the host telling them the question and its answers. Each question has four answers, one of them is right, the other three are wrong. The values are 6000,12000,25000 and 50000 gold pieces. The contestant may choose to walk away at any time at the start of the next question with the money he/she has already gained..

8pm GMT Saturday, Stonekeep Taverna.

Stonekeep is located in the Trammel Facet in Yew. It is below Yew Cemetary and just above Yew Crossroads.

Hope to see ye all there!

!*! IF YOU WANT TO BE A CONTESTANT ICQ 42554579, LIMITED PLACES, 2 LEFT!ICQ NOW!*!

Rumors have been flooding the UOSS AOL Legends office of an influx of new citizens to our shard. Some are saying that the population has as much as doubled in the last few days and that our shard is currently "open" to citizens not associated with the mystic AOL guild. A visit to the Ultima Online Main Page has revealed no new information about this situation.

In the meantime, I wish to encourage everyone to welcome these newcomers with open arms. They are intrepid adventurers with stout hearts and (one hopes) deep pockets. We will bring you more information on this situation as it becomes available.

Praise Minax!

One would think that I would be able to report on story happening in my own town first hand. One would be wrong. As a matter of fact, whenever I have tried to research this story myself, I end up taking a dirt nap. Thus, I present to you two different versions of this story. First, the Britannia Town Criers (motto:"If we aren't yelling about it, its not important.") filed the following report:

Hear Ye Hear Ye, Humans and Orcs Battle in the Uruk village!!

For the past several days brigands and orcs have been battling for control of the mountain ranges near the Uruk village. These brigands, undoubtedly the same group of renegade slaves that have been harassing the orcs of the Uruk village for weeks now, have recently sent demands to one of the few human inhabitants of the village.

"Dem orcs gotta release all der slave by noon time saturday, or we is gonna burn down der museum."

King Mopher, the orc monarch that rules the northern mountains and plains near the dungeon Wrong, was unavailable for comment. But many of his orc citizens were more then happy to comment of the recent occurrences.

"Dat King Mopher, he not a true Uruk no more. All he do is sit 'n watchin' da hummie girls dance. Old day da Uruks be kill'n 'n raidn' 'n stuff. Now we gots' be cilvilized. Mopher say 'Trade wit' hummies or me cut orf yo' earz!' Well me 'n some oder boyz we be tinkin' o' showin' Mopher who real boss boy be!"

The orcs interviewed were unwilling to give their names.

We of the Town Criers will keep you all up to date as these situations develop.

I bring news of a serious nature. Last night, my half brother Ga'Wen Half Orc was slain in an attack on the Museum of Britannia! He had been assisting me in setting up some of the displays and had removed his armor to save on weight. Well, the last thing I wanted to see was a naked and sweaty half Orc so I went off on a buying trip. It turns out that while I was away, Ga'Wen was attacked inside the museum by a gang of five brigands! There was also another camp of brigands in the woods outside the front door that joined the fray as soon as they noticed him.

Ga'Wen fought mightily, but against 10 brigands, he had little chance as he was wearing no armor and had no weapons better than a chair in his pack. (The number of brigands is in question since the opponents keep multiplying every time Ga'Wen tells the story.) He slew several with body odor alone, but in the end he was dead.

After running through the gray world some distance south, he came across a fighter who resurrected him and offered to follow him back to the tower to deal with the brigands. Ga'Wen was fuming by the time he got back to the museum and was disappointed when he found his attackers gone, leaving nothing behind but his bones, some broken furniture and the contents of his pack.

Luckily for the museum, nothing was missing or damaged. The bandits apparently were only interested in causing grief. Ga'Wen was only inconvenienced by his experience and embarrassed to be taken down by mere brigands. He stormed out the front mumbling something I couldn't quite make out. I think he said he was going somewhere, and I caught the words "whomp" and "hummies", but his manner of speech quite often escapes me and I try to stay out of his hobbies.

Praise Minax!

Aubrey Gawan, curator of the museum of Brittania, walked this report over to the office earlier today:

Greetings all!

Happy news! Only a few short days after announcing the creation of the Museum of Britannia the donations have started coming in! First a generous loan from my dwarven friend Khral enabled me to buy the tower, and now my first patron has contacted me and made a large monetary donation! I want to give heartfelt thanks to Wavace of Siege Perilous for his donation of 142,000 gold! He has helped the museum get off the ground. Now after the decorating is finished I will start scouring the land for displays. When I am at a point where I can begin receiving visitors I will post location co-ordinates and screenshots of the different rooms. (If anyone wants to check on my progress, the tower can be found at the southern end of the Orc village, North-West of Minoc, but I don't know the sextant location yet.) In the hall next to the stairs on the second floor I will be displaying books with short notes by my patrons. The first book by Wavace of SP is in place now.

Just a short description of what I have in mind... In general, the museum will eventually have a practical purpose other than seeing strange things. It will also be a place you can go to learn. For instance, if you find your first ice staff and you need to know how it works, you could come to the Museum of Britannia and read the book locked down next to the one on display. (I'm looking for an ice staff with instructions if anyone has an extra.). Or you could read about the left facing plate chest that you can get from bone knights and how they give the same armor rating as normal plate with less of a dex penalty. Something no one ever told me but something important to anyone with low dexterity.

The general layout will probably be as follows:

• First floor... ...First floor main hall is taken up by stacks of shelves with small chests and a book next to each. The chests are the best representation I can come up with for a display case. The book next to each one will tell the visitor the category of the items in the chest. Inside each chest, items will be locked down with a book next to each describing the item, it's use and who donated it or where it can be found. The first floor displays will be the more common rares and semi-rares. And probably examples of strange weapons, so I have a home for the "meat cleaver of vanquishing and evil" you may have in the bank! ...also on the first floor, in the back room, will be the Museum Gift Shop. Vendors here will sell any duplicate rares or other items I come across in my travels. ...just before the stairs is a section with four bookshelves and a reading area. Here I will be displaying unique books that can be bought from vendors or written by players. (Looking for submissions for this! Put your character story in a book and get it to me. It will be put on display for everyone to see!) ...The first floor hall at the stairs will be a rune book library.

• Second floor... ...The large room on the second floor will be for display of the more unique items such as ranger or demon armor, statues or other very hard to get rares. This will be the hardest room to plan and take the longest to fill. Probably will be laid out with tables instead of chests to physically lay things out upon with a book next to them. ...The hallway by the stairs is my "walk of fame", where I will be posting books to thank my major donors. ...the small room at the top of the stairs will be an art gallery or rune library.

• Third floor... ...is my private residence. (Hey I deserve something for all this work!) I will also be displaying rares there that look better as decorations, but these will also have books by them. ...the small room is a sitting room with a fireplace.

• The roof... ...this will be the new home of the Happy Orc Tavern. Uniques or rares may be displayed here too, like the large statues. (if I can get my hands on some.)

A note to anyone else who might be planning to donate items or money or loan items... Please do not ask me to friend or co-owner you to the museum. I will temporarily friend you if you need proof that I am indeed the owner, but not permanently. This policy is for the safety of the items on loan to the Museum and is not meant to offend or put anyone off. Just trying to be fair. And thanks to the other people who have e-mailed or PM'd me about items they have. I will still be trying to get in touch with you!

This is a labor of love for me and I will continue to build and add new things to the Museum of Britannia myself to make it better and a more useful resource to all of Britannia. But thanks in advance to any who, like Wavace, want to help me with this ambitious project.

Praise Minax!

KoA Scavenger Hunt Event

The Crystal Consortium of KoA is hosting what is expected to be the one of the grandest KoA events to date on Sunday, Nov. 19th, at 7:00pm CST on the Lake Superior Shard. The festivities will begin and end at the KoA Village located around the large lake southwest of Trinsic. Entry fees will be collected between 7:00pm and 7:30pmCST. LATECOMERS ARE NOT GUARANTEED ENTRY! The event is scheduled to begin at 7:45pmCST. All players are welcome to share in the fun!

Participants are to enter as a team of between 2-4 players. All members of a team are encouraged to wear a uniform of unique colors so that they may be distinguished from other teams. Each team must provide an entry fee of 3,000 gold (regardless of numer of players on team) by their team Captain. The proceeds will be given away as Prize Money to the winning team. Additional prizes will be offered/raffled as well.

PRIZES:

First Place - 50,000 gold and assorted valuable items
Second place - 15,000 gold and assorted valuable items
Third Prize - 5,000 gold and assorted valuable items

ASSORTED VALUABLE ITEMS will include colored GM armor, runebooks, potion kegs, magic weapons and armor, rare items, etc.

RANDOM DRAWING:
All participants will roll a set of dice to determine the winner. Highest combined total wins. If players are tied for highest number, another round of rolls ensues with just those players who tied for the highest total. This repeats until one player is the winner. The RANDOM DRAWING WINNER will be awarded a surprise gift.

THE RULES:

• The List of items to be collected will be posted on the KoA General Discussion board at the following link the night of the event @7:45pmcst (or as announced by Lord Ramsonne that night); http://www.allianceknights.com/entrance.html
• Additionally, books will be laid out with the list of required items. In case of discrepancies, the Master List posted by Lord Ramsonne on the General Board will be final!
• Captains must submit all items in one backpack to Lord Ramsonne at the KoA Village Hall of Scholars upon their return. Included in the backpack MUST BE A RUNE etched with the Team Captain's character name. Prizes may be forfeit if a rune with team Captain's character name is not provided in the backpack. Items submitted will not be guaranteed return.

POINTS will be awarded in the following manner:

1. each item on the list submitted = 1 point
2. Any team to submit a complete set of items will be awarded 5 points.
3. A point value equal to the inverse of the order in which team Captains submit backpacks will be awarded. ie. If there are a total of twelve teams, the first team to return a pack is awarded 12 points. the second team gets 11 points. the third team back gets 10 points, and so on....

***** A MINIMUM of 20 items must be submitted or the team is disqualified *****

I hope to see many of our friends there. Please feel free to discuss any concerns/comments at the above KoA General Discussion page with “Scavenger Hunt” in the subject field.

Ramsonne (KoA), Lord of Scholars 

Greetings citizens of Britannia,

The House of Blaine would once again like to invite you all to join us for Pub Nite Saturday Nov. 18 at 7 p.m. cst (Trammel). Pub Nite will be held at The Drunken Norseman Tavern just outside Skara Brae.Gift bags will be handed out and food and drinks will provided as you mingle with folks from all over Sosaria. Raffle tickets will be sold at the cost of 1,000gp per ticket (limit 5 tickets per individual). Prizes will be as follows:

• Semi-rares package of blacksmith rares (2 of each!)
• Semi-rares package of misc. rares
• 1,000 iron ingots
• GM crafted gold platemail suit

Gates will be provided by The House of Blaine from Britain and Moonglow, or see our guild web-site for maps to The Drunken Norseman Tavern.

Construction on the Skara Brae fairgrounds, paid for by Andrew Jollier, has come to a temporary halt while the exhumed remains of what is presumed to be former residents of the area are relocated to the cemetery in Britain.

Mister Jollier had this to say about the unearthed bones. “I was aghast to learn that there had been a cemetery in the area. We’d have chosen another site to build on had we known, but apparently the burial grounds are so old that no one currently living knew about them. A few scholars have offered to look into the history of the area to see if it can be learned who once lived here so that recompense can be made to the families for disturbing their ancestors.”

Construction on the site will resume once all the remains have been dug up and moved to the Britain cemetery.

Lilia Newsman - BNN Reporter

OEK would like to announce the Grand Opening of Kibbles n' Bits! This wonderful shop is located in town right across from the East Brit' Bank. It has venders stocked with everything you could imagine from rares to arrows to gm potions and scrolls. We will have the Grand opening on Saturday the 18th at 10:00 am central! First 10 customers will receive free gm smithed items! So everyone please come check it out.

Hail dark friends,

The Undead Lords that dwell in the far reaches of Dungeon Shame, are resting a bit easier now that the Guardians have taken to patrolling her caves. For it be these Undead Lords we Guardians are sworn to protect.

Come and read my latest tale of adventure and learn the ways of the Guardian. But beware, all who enter these dungeons in search of fame and fortune risk their very lives for a handful of gold.

These are not some tales of fancy, but the true Adventures of Adam Ant.

http://www.game-master.net/

Wixim was seen in Paxlair again playing his game like he always does. I got the pigeon from Zann of the CFM, and I gated Aryslan citizens to Paxlair.

I could see he was ready to play the game with Zann. In the distance I saw a ghost named "The Gatekeeper". I have seen and heard news about this "Gatekeeper" before. Why the ghost was there, I do not know. Again citizens tries to ressurrect it, with no avail.

Wixim's dice were stolen from someone. Wixim then muttered some words and then made giant serpents of all kinds attack us. Then Wixim was attacked by some of the citizens. We all gave chase after him, but Wixim was far too fast for any of us to find him.

We then went back to Aryslan, but heard nothing more of Wixim that night.

The guild known as Army of the Dragon (ATD) has been in our land for quite sometime now, and has been allies with the Order of the Sapphire Rose (OsR). The ATD has formd a town named Dragon's Watch, just north of Aryslan and Vesper. Aryslan is the closest roleplaying town to them, and our border lies beside thiers.

On saturday the 25th of november, we will be holding a formal alliancebetween the two towns. Dragon'sWatch pledges to aid Aryslan against the hoards of Mazrim's forces threatening the towns of today. With this alliance, Aryslan and Dragon's Watch could open thier borders up to each other, expanding the land we now have north of Vesper.

This event will start at 8 pm eastern. We hope to see you all there. Tours will be given of each town and there will be plenty of food and drinks to go around for everyone!

Yet another Wrestling competition in Deepwater. Thank ye Elv'eng for sending in this announcement:

This Sunday at 10pm cet (9pm gmt), Deepwater will host yet another wrestling contest. The winner of this contest will win 30000gp. The entry fee will be 1000gp, this will go to the prize pot. You will be able to start signing in around 9pm cet. Our current champion is Arabelle, will anyone beat her this time?

It will be held as always, outside Owls eye tavern in Deepwater. Deepwater is located at the Justice shrine in Felucca.

Rules of the Event:

• No healing
• No armour/weapons (except for what's said on this page a bit down here)
• No looting
• No fighting outside the ring
• Robes may NOT be used

What may be used:

• Bonus potions, such as agility, strength and refresh potions
• Most types of cloths (except for robes, see rules of the event above)
• Orc's may wear the helmets

Now if anyone would break those rules, he/she will be thrown out of the contest. Also if anyone would try ruin this event, they will be reported to Gamemasters as Harassers with out any warnings, and carebeared on sight.

Elv'eng - Andune
http://deepwater.lemming.org
http://erpa.ultimahaven.com
http://erpa.ultimahaven.com/courant

Aryslan will be holding a gathering in the town center velebrating the defeat of Zyrn the elementalist. We will meet and travel the towns which aided us against Zyrn's forces. Paxlair, Corwyn, Haven, and Humility. Each town will be visited and thank the citizens for aiding Aryslan in the victory.

We will then visit the Tower of Souls after all the towns are visited. This gathering will help the people of Britania know where the towns are, as well as get to know its citizens. Its important that the towns involved in the defeat of Zyrn, continue to work together to help restore peace in our land that was lost years ago.

We must work together to help destroy Mazrim and his forces. Aryslan cannot do it alone, we need your help. Perhaps this is the first step into making sure the roleplaying towns stick together through this, and perhaps even make an alliance between us all. Aryslan feels that we must make this pledge ... restore the facet known as Felucca to what it once was, before so many of our citizens made thier more to Trammel.

This event will take place at the Aryslan town center at 9 PM Eastern on Sunday the 19th. Hope to see everyone there that was involved in the defeat of Zyrn and his elementals.

Next Sunday, November 19th, the Spiritwood Tavern will host the 25th Lottery. Again it will start at 21.00 cet (8pm gmt).

The grand prize is 100.000 gold pieces! Although this time we'll have several winning tickets. Amongst the prizes ye can win are: a green Mug, a bottle of pink Champaign, a Champaign Flute, Leprechaun Boots, a whip and a SOS map.

You can buy keys from the vendor outside the Tavern, but you need to register the keys with Aranlindale, by telling him your number(s). The keys cost 1000 gold pieces each. One person cannot buy more than two however. Perhaps that number will be the lucky number... Please try to buy one before Sunday. Good luck everyone!

You can find the Spiritwood Tavern if you follow these directions: If you start at the Skara Brae docks right outside town, go east. Take the second road to your right (south) (at a crossroads). Keep going south until the road turns eastwards. Keep following it and you will end up in Spiritwood. From the end of the road, go a little to the northeast and you'll see two large brick houses. The eastern one is the Spiritwood Tavern. The sextant coordinates are: 65S 27W and we are on Felluca.

If there are questions, please go to the #spiritwood IRC channel on the irc.stratics.com server or mail me at [email protected]. I hope to see you all there! :-)

Aranlindale, Spiritwood Tavern Barkeeper

And the Quest of the Purple Rose continues. Thank ye Tyrghen for this announcement:

On Saturday 18, the second part of the Ravenmoor Quest will take place. It will start at the house where the first part ended. If you didn't find the house, or don't have a rune to it, you can find a rune at the Ravenmoor Tavern, on the runebook at the entrance. If you don't know about this quest, or don't remember preceding events, you can check the site of Ravenmoor.

We hope that many of you will come,
Tyrghen [UT] of Ravenmoor.

Thank ye Gino for sending in this information:

Ravenmoor allies with Twinkle Town and The Morning Star Village.

As reported the Ravenmoor council have had meeting with Twinkle Town and Morning Star Village. These meetings now result in alliances between the three cities.This alliance will mean the three cities will co-operate a lot. A counlcil will be formed with representatives from all cities in it. Events will be created and run together. On the long term this might result in the three cities going under one law as one state, thus creating the largest community on the Trammel facet.

Gino Black
Reporter for the Ravenmoor Journal

The Ravenmoor Journal can be found at: http://www.FollowersSilverHand.com/journal

We received this report from Lady Tia Maria of Moonglow:

My daily visit to the Moonglow Cemetery was cut short today when I was assailed by a more than usually powerful assault from its undead minions. Since the untimely death of my Lord Darius, at the hands of the evil Necromancer and Lich Lord "Soul-Eater", I have taken it upon myself to hunt the thing down and return its spectral followers to their graves. Everyday I pray for the beings return in order that I can slay it and put my husband's spirit to rest. Yet today I was repulsed by a force of attack that I previously believed only capable through the magical capabilities of the Lich's evil mind. But there was no Lich present. The undead themselves possessed these powers, mindlessly casting their new found magics at me and I was forced to retreat; escaping to the safety of the nearby zoo. Safely ensconced within it's hallowed walls I healed myself and helped the local guard finish of the creatures that had followed me from their open graves. I was unprepared and so I send this warning to the citizens of Moonglow - be ready. Something is about to happen here and if we are un-equipped to deal with it then the forces of Kazari and Reynaud combined will seem whimsy in comparison.

Yours in faith,
The Lady Tia Maria of Moonglow.

GameSpy continues with the fantasy MMORPG events with a look at the recently concluded UO World Faire, where Origin announced UO: Third Dawn. Check out our report on the Faire and all the images we brought back at http://www.gamespy.com/articles/november00/Faire/

On Tuesday night the elements themselves came to life. The town of Trinsic came under assault by the very elements themselves. There were elementals from all the types, even poison. There were also many mages attacking the town. Thanks to many hardy adventurers, and tamers, the city was saved.

When the battle started it was just a few people fighting with the guards to stop them from entering the city. Then the word got out that help was needed, and the outpouring of help was astounding, gates started appearing just inside the city bringing several adventures and heroes at a time. Then tamers with dragons in tow were coming in. Out on the battlefield there death and destruction reigned. Bodies of the noble defenders, pet dragons, evil mages and brigands. The elementals just left their treasures as they were sent back to whence they came. Early on only the bravest would advance far from the gates; most would just help the guards keep the evil from entering the city and wreaking havoc.

As the battle progressed, it moved it to small battles where elementals out numbered the defenders at least 2 to 1. The defenders waded into the fray, a few died as they went but they gave the guards some respite from the onslaught. The fight degraded into a big melee, where claw, magic, arrows, and blades hit both sides, killing many. The fight lasted well into the night, and at one point the elements pushed the defense of the city back into the city almost to the river.

Near the end of the fight, the elementals and evil mages seemed to just appear from nowhere, and almost overwhelmed those that had pushed the fight out of the city. Bodies lay everywhere, a testament to the graveness of the situation. The defenders finally destroyed the last of the elementals. All that was left was to heal those that were injured and raised those who had valiantly given their lives to defend the city of Trinsic, and claim the treasure left by the destruction of the elementals.

The Honorable Melvin-Sven Adventurer.

Siege Perilous East Coast Move

On Friday, November 18th, we will be moving the Siege Perilous shard to our East Coast server location. This move will require two extended maintenance periods. During the first, we will be moving the shard to a temporary server located on the East Coast, requiring an extended maintenance period of approximately three hours on Friday, November 18th.

Upon completion of the transfer to the temporary server, we will be transporting the regular Siege Perilous hardware to our East Coast server location. Once this hardware is in place, we will schedule a second extended maintenance period to finalize the shard move. We will release a schedule for this extended maintenance as soon as possible.

Order/Chaos on Sonoma Shard

Sonoma players who participate in the Order/Chaos system should be aware that the system is currently active on that shard, on both facets. The system was activated during testing of the Faction system and it was our intention to disable it prior to this most recent publish. However, as it was our original plan to re-enable the Order/Chaos system on the Trammel facet of all shards, we will be leaving the system in place on the Sonoma shard.

Important: If you are active in the Order/Chaos system and do not wish to participate in Order/Chaos wars on Trammel, you should speak with your Guildmaster as he or she may remove your guild from the system.

We are currently targeting the release of the Faction System to all remaining shards following the Thanksgiving holiday (after November 23rd). The Order/Chaos system will be enabled on the Trammel facet on all shards as they are updated with the Faction System publish. We will release a target schedule for the Faction System publish in the future.

Ce'Nedra Willow: Well, first off thank you for coming and being interviewed.
Runesabre: It's great to be here! How long did this take... 2 years to setup? hehe
Ce'Nedra Willow: Yeah, something like that.
* Ce'Nedra laughs *
* Joshua runs in quickly *
Joshua Rowan: Hail Runes!
Runesabre: Hail Joshua!
Ce'Nedra Willow: I'd like to start by asking you about yourself.
Runesabre: I am Runesabre, currently Lead Programmer for the exciting new UO Third Dawn, formerly Lead of UO Live and avid player before that.
Ce'Nedra Willow: When did you first start playing the Ultimas?
Runesabre: Believe it or not, UO was my first contact with Ultima.
Ce'Nedra Willow: You were once an active poster in the CoB Tavern Forum yes?
Runesabre: Yes I was. I can't recall exactly what CoB was called back in 1997, but it was a a single webboard then. Shortly after I started playing UO I discovered CoB as well as some other messageboards. In fact, it was my constant postings on CoB that ultimately caught the attention of the UO producer, Vogel who gave me my shot on the UO Dev Team.
Ce'Nedra Willow: I've read your stories that you posted there. They are very entertaining.
* Runesabre smiles *
Runesabre: Thanks ( though some are probably not for the kiddies ;) )
* Ce'Nedra grins *
Note: The tales of Vlad Talon(Rune's old RP player name) reside permanently in the Library of the Conservatory of Bardic Arts and can be read there.
Ce'Nedra Willow: When you eventually got hired by OSI, were you startled at all to be in the driving seat finally?
Runesabre: When I came onto the team, UO development was in one of its transition periods so there wasn't a lot of time to really think about anything but getting down to business. Faceless and I joined within a week of each other. That was when we had 9 servers and pagers that never stopped beeping in the night. :) At first the amount of work needed done was a little overwhelming but at the same time there was no shortage of things to do that needed immediate attention.
Ce'Nedra Willow: As a player was it exciting the first time you met Richard Garriot aka Lord British?
Runesabre: Funny story ( for me anyway ) I met LB on the way to the bathroom in the hallway late at night. It was a few minutes later that I realized it was THE Lord British. A very personal, creative and great guy to be around.
Ce'Nedra Willow: I imagine Joshua being awe-struck for a minute if he ever meets him and then going into creative discussions on his Nobility Titles.
* Runesabre laughs *
Runesabre: Think Joshua has a few things to say about Nobility titles? :)
Ce'Nedra Willow: Perhaps a few...
* Ce'Nedra smirks *
* Joshua struggles to remain silent on Nobility Titles :) *
* Ce'Nedra enjoys taunting. *
Note: Joshua's Nobility Titles Proposal can be read at the Origin Stratics site.
Runesabre: That's probably one the of the great experiences I have had with UO... the endless amount of ideas from both the team AND the players that can be shared. UO is a very flexible game in that respect.
Ce'Nedra Willow: Well starting as a player yourself, it's apparent that OSI recognizes the talent that lies in their player-base.
Runesabre: We've learned that given the right basic set of technical skill, the people with a real passion for UO are the ones that excel in its caretaking.
* Ce'Nedra nods *
Runesabre: We can teach the rest as far as programming or scripting but we can't teach passion.
* Joshua agrees *
Ce'Nedra Willow: So tell us about Siege Perilous, sometimes known as "Runesabre's baby." What inspired the design ideas for it?
Runesabre: Siege Perilous really represented the culmination of every players idea of what needed fixing in UO and what would make UO the pure experience it could reach. So while it may be attributed as my baby, the ideas and concepts are really the gathering up of all those ideas and putting them into action. Things like no recall, one character, restricted ability to obtain gold, no system enforced rules against murderers... We had the chance to really put all those ideas to test, to stop debating those subjects endlessly on boards, in newsgroups, and email and just see what would happen. It's been quite a learning experience.
Ce'Nedra Willow: So then you are happy with how it turned out; considering it a success and such?
Runesabre: I love a lot of things that Siege has experienced. The territorial guarding of certain dungeons by certain guilds and the rise and fall of one guild to another as time passed. Watching the players step in and try to help Siege grow with such things as organized PvP ladder fights and especially Safe Haven. Safe Haven is a great example of what I wanted Siege and its players to do; to rise up and take control of their own destiny. I attended Destiny's birthday on Siege a few months back. There were easily 50+ people on screen, well over half were red. Not once did I get attacked or see anyone randomly offing others and disrupting the event. I had never seen that sort of constraint before and it really exemplifies Siege and its players. Well, except for the couple orcs that wanted to eat the horses. *chuckles*
* Ce'Nedra laughs *
Ce'Nedra Willow: You seem to have kept track of the details of its progress. Does this mean you play it yourself?
Runesabre: I've stepped within the world of Siege on occasion. Unfortunately, the opening of Siege was also around the same time as my step up as Lead Programmer of UO. So most of my time was spent overseeing and watching it from a distance.
Runesabre: Do you play Siege?
Ce'Nedra Willow: The regular shards are too tough for me as it is, so I've never created a character on Siege.
Joshua Rowan: Were you involved in the recent changes to SP? Do you feel they were necessary?
Runesabre: I had a strong advisory role on helping to stimulate Siege's overall population. Removing RoT was one of the tougher decisions I have had to make. In the end I supported the removal of RoT because its my opinion that RoT is not really what makes Siege. What makes Siege are the player interactions and the ability to truly affect the environment and decide what is right and wrong within the game confines. Additionally, Siege is very much a hard shard in my opinion. What I felt RoT did was impose an arbitrary limitation that players could not overcome. It was unnatural and limiting to a lot of players. Knowing that you would simply NOT gain skill because the system decided you couldn't was a little odd. At the same time I like a lot of the things RoT brought to the table. When you see a GM in a RoT skill you know for certain they couldn't have taken the easy route. RoT let players simply play without worrying about skill gain. Skill gain would eventually come... they would eventually GM their skills. And finally it really leveled the gap between powergamers and players who only had a couple hours a day to play. Both types of players could build up powerful characters in roughly equivalent time. What RoT didn't accomodate were the weekend warriors. RoT was built around the idea of the player playing on a daily basis. Players who only played weekends were still left far behind in character building. At any rate, the overall stigma of RoT is another reason for its removal. Over and over, I heard the same thing from various boards and emails "I would play SP if not for RoT"
Ce'Nedra Willow: It seems to be a love it or hate it system then.
Runesabre: At the very least and a very misunderstood system :)
Joshua Rowan: Is there anything on SP that you've considered adding to all shards?
Runesabre: Hmmm. Siege helped us find a lot of imbalances and loopholes in skills that were quickly addressed and released to all shards in the early days of Siege. Some other economy fixes that were enacted on Siege were put on the rest of the shards eventually as well. Otherwise, most of the changes to Siege were the types of changes that really couldn't be put on the regular shards at this point. Recall and one character for instance.
Ce'Nedra Willow: Where then do you see SP heading? What kind of future does it hold?
Runesabre: I honestly don't know right now. That's for the Live team to decide and right now they are completely focused on finishing up Factions ( Go Sonoma and SP! ) and Vet rewards and other things that are on their plate.
Ce'Nedra Willow: Now that the server was moved to the East Coast, does that leave an empty server there in Austin? And if so, what will it be used for?
Runesabre: No clue. That's more an operations matter. :)
* Ce'Nedra grumbles *
* Runesabre puts on his Tyrant mask *
Runesabre: NO
*** Runesabre is now known as Runesabre-Tyrant ***
* Joshua laughs *
Runesabre-Tyrant: NO
* Runesabre-Tyrant cackles *
*** Runesabre-Tyrant is now known as Runesabre ***
* Joshua hides under the table *
Runesabre: Whew... that can get addictive. :)
Ce'Nedra Willow: Anyways.. for the part that will interest everyone the most.. UO: Third Dawn.
* Joshua hoots and hollars *
Runesabre: I have to ask... what were YOUR first impressions? Did you EVER think something like that would happen for UO?
Joshua Rowan: My first impression? When I saw the movie at the World Faire I thought I was going to die. I was blown away. And honestly, I didn't think it would be possible to upgrade to this level, but I'm glad it can be.
Ce'Nedra Willow: I had heard rumors that it was in the works, so I wasn't surprised and since I didn't get to make the Faire, I didn't get to see anything other then screenshots and pics. I think this was almost a necessary step though to keep UO fresh and I'm glad you all decided to take it.
* Runesabre nods at CeN *
Ce'Nedra Willow: When was this project first developed?
Runesabre: Its always tough to look back and try to pinpoint the roots of something like this. The Live team had discussed the mechanics of upgrading UO well before the launch of UO:R. These were mostly informal talks, after hours type of things. Then some executive voodoo stuff happened behind the scenes and suddenly we were given the go ahead to design and propose what we could do to bring UO into the modern age of graphical appearance. I think everyone can agree that UO's biggest weakness is its out dated look. Additionally, its underpinnings really disallowed us from updating its content on a regular basis which is key to keep a game like UO alive and growing from year to year. So it was a natural thing to want to upgrade UO with modern 3D graphics. But knowing that is something that should be done is not the whole story. A large part of the reason Third Dawn exists is because of UO's demonstrated success, its committement by the players and the love of the project by its various Dev Teams, most of which I have worked on. UO and the Dev Team really had to prove to the company and to EA that UO was WORTH upgrading. The amount of business attention UO gets compared to what it used to get 2 years ago is astounding. So here we are today, UO Third Dawn. A great look and feel as well as a committement to UO's future.
Joshua Rowan: How do you feel fan reaction went at the World Faire?
Runesabre: I was blown away by the fan reaction and overall response to Third Dawn and the team members in general.
Joshua Rowan: You guys are all celebrities :)
Runesabre: We've all been on the boards quite a long time and on occasion there can be some negative undertones that really make you stop and wonder if you are doing anything right. UOWF was really the point where I felt reassured that where we have come with UO was what the players wanted and they expressed that over and over.
Ce'Nedra Willow: Everything you do will be unfair to some, or something like that.
* Runesabre laughs *
Runesabre: Yes, working on UO is HARD. :) or something.
Ce'Nedra Willow: Can you run through a list of the UO Third Dawn team members?
Runesabre: Well, let's see. Rick Hall ( StellarX ) is our producer. Rick has had 11 years game development experience on both PC and console. Bryan Walker ( whom you saw probably a lot behind the demo machines ) is our Development Director. He has been producer on such high profile games as Alpha Centauri. He is our schedule man and is the guy keeping this whole project on schedule and headed where it needs.
Joshua Rowan: Was he the guy in the gray suit asking everyone questions? He was very cool!
* Runesabre nods at Joshua *
Runesabre: Several others you would be familiar with. Krelin, our server programmer ( formerly UO Live.) Jalek, one of the client programmers ( formerly UO Live, the guy who fixed container crashes and client ghosting in his first week of hire. ) Ignatz who helped build the new lands.
Joshua Rowan: Ahhhhh, so that's where Jalek disappeared to.
* Runesabre nods *
Ce'Nedra Willow: You got the right creative person to build the lands. Now I can't wait to see what he came up with.
Runesabre: Our 3D guru worked briefly on Origin ( the game ) as well as worked with Rick for 5 years on other projects outside of OSI. Oaks was hired on Live a few months ago during the big changeover after UOR and then joined us to also help build the new lands. He was a former UO player.
Ce'Nedra Willow: I've been wanting to meet him. I love his name.
* Ce'Nedra likes trees *
Runesabre: Alai who is probably the most veteran UO member on the team ( though he just graduated college last December! ) managed the map building effort as well is re-writing the entire UO interface system from scratch.
Runesabre: Alai helped build the T2A lands and is largely responsible for implementing the extensive localization in UO prior to this project.
Ce'Nedra Willow: He's the one repsonsible for the new backpacks right? As well as making things like scrollbars all work uniformally.
Runesabre: Yes he is, though please remember, a lot of that is still very, very much in the early stages. :) For the most part he has worked 14 hours a day and weekends getting the underpinnings of the interface system up and running, as well as putting in interfaces to get functionality going, so we could demo at the Faire. Let's see.. We have 2 Artists, Scottie Jones and Mike Morlan, both who worked on the Ascension team. Mike is the Lead Artist and is also coordinating a large art studio who is helping us create a lot of our 3D models.
Ce'Nedra Willow: Which is why many of the graphics have the Ascension look to them?
Runesabre: Probably. I believe that is the core team.
* Runesabre afraid he accidentally left someone out *
Ce'Nedra Willow: That's okay, most Oscar recipients forget to thank their mothers.
Joshua Rowan: How hard was it to stay silent for the last 6 months, basically removing yourself from the fans?
Runesabre: It was extremely hard to have to remain silent and I am relieved it's public now! I always loved interacting with the players but without anything I could say I felt it was better to simply disappear and not risk the temptation. :)
Runesabre: Did you have a good session at the Faire Joshua? It was fun watching you web guys up front.
Joshua Rowan: The Workshops? I was scared to death in the Fansite workshop. I don't do well speaking in public :) But it was still a lot of fun.
Ce'Nedra Willow: I think you were just scared of Aureus. He even scared his own staff.
Joshua Rowan: Well, he was wearing a vinyl black suit. I think EVERYONE was afraid of him ;)
* Runesabre laughs *
Joshua Rowan: As for my other sessions, I did the Virtue System and the Player Town ones.
* Ce'Nedra lived vicariously through various fan-site pics. *
Joshua Rowan: Both were incredibly informative. It was really neat to see Sage so passionate about both issues.
Runesabre: Both are definitely some of his biggest topics in UO.
Joshua Rowan: I missed the Gold Sink one though. I think it was a conspiracy so that I couldn't talk about Nobility Titles!!!!
* Runesabre chuckles *
Joshua Rowan: We got some new UO3D pics right before it started. DOH!
* Joshua grins *
Joshua Rowan: So, can you tell us anything about the new lands yet? Such as new cities or dungeons or new monsters?
Runesabre: They'll be cool!
Ce'Nedra Willow: Heh
* Joshua evil-eyes Rune *
Ce'Nedra Willow: How about this then.. Can you explain to us how you'll be able to add land, monsters and items with greater ease? If you do add new items will these only exist in the 'new' lands?
Runesabre: New lands I can't really explain, but the rest I can. Any new items, sound, music, wearables, or monsters added will be able to be added to any part of Britannia and NOT restricted to one area like T2A. There are a couple reasons why. One, the reason we couldn't add a new wearable in the past is because a wearable is yet another animation. Add up the animation frames in 5 directions for all 35 player animations and you end up with a very sizable, prohibitive download to patch. Just wasn't possible. With 3D, that same item is a fraction of the data size. 3D items do not have to be rendered per frame like 2D animations so you save a lot of data space. The 2D users will benefit from new items, new monsters, etc, however, they will see "default" art. So if we added a new monster for UO:TD, the 2D players will see that new monster as something like a black ettin.
* Joshua imagines people walking around with a black square on their chest saying "default" *
* Runesabre laughs *
Runesabre: They will still see the proper text when they click the items and the items will have the same properties, they just won't look new.
Joshua Rowan: And what will the UO:TD people see instead of a Black Ettin?
* Joshua tries to find out about a new monster *grins*
Runesabre: They will see whatever the new monster is supposed to look like.
Ce'Nedra Willow: If, understandably, new items/monsters need to stay in the new lands, how much will people really appreaciate new wearables that they have to take off?
Runesabre: New wearables are not confined to the new lands. :) Only the new lands themselves are confined to the new lands.
Joshua Rowan: Can you tell us what some of the new wearables will be? Or has that not yet been determined?
Runesabre: I'll let Rick announce all that.
Ce'Nedra Willow: Most players have asked about potential player housing in the 'new' lands that will come with Third Dawn. Is this a possibility?
* Joshua nods *
Runesabre: The general idea behind the new lands is a place to adventure without the smothering of houses.
* Joshua likes the phrase "smothering of houses" *
Ce'Nedra Willow: Doesn't T2A already offer that or will you consider allowing housing in T2A with the 3D release?
Runesabre: I don't really know what designs are in store in that area.
Ce'Nedra Willow: What about the potential to add new lands for housing only?
Runesabre: Too far in the future to think about. :)
Joshua Rowan: What other games on the market inspired your move to the 3D Isometric realm? Did Diablo II or Baldur's Gate II affect the look of UO3D? Or any other games?
Runesabre: Hmm, good question. I can't say that any other game explicitly inspired us in our move to 3D, but the artists would have more insight on that.
Ce'Nedra Willow: Speaking of artwork... While many of the graphical changes are amazing, there seems to still be a bit of disappointment with the land forms and the flora. Are these graphics still being worked on, or is what we've seen the final product for them?
Runesabre: At this point I wouldn't say anything is final. We are still very much in the pre-alpha state. Our overall goal is to finish this product in such a way that it's the most clean, polished product we have ever shipped to date.
* Joshua cheers *
Ce'Nedra Willow: I noticed in some of the screen shots that the avatars appear to be a bit larger then the ones we currently have. Is this just a trick of the eye because of the more detailed graphics or is the proportioning of the skeletal frames to the world still being adjusted?
Runesabre: I've heard a lot of mention about the current size of the avatar. In fact, up until the night before the Faire, the mongbat was almost as big as our current dragons. They were scaled down considerably which is another advantage with 3D... its easy to scale things up and down. Not sure what direction with the current avatar size the artists plan on going. I think a lot of it really depends on player feedback.
* Ce'Nedra nods *
Ce'Nedra Willow: It seems that from the system specs we've seen, the hardware requirements don't increase too much. The noticeable increase is in the graphic card mb. I believe 16mb is the recommended. Does this mean 8mb won't cut it?
Runesabre: The actual requirements call for 8 megs of texture memory. UO will take advantage of more memory on the video card.
Ce'Nedra Willow: Will this bring more possible resolutions to run in?
Runesabre: For right now we want to make sure we support what players have already come to expect with UO. Once that is achieved, we can always look into adding more options; but that is not our focus.
Ce'Nedra Willow: There's been discussion of karma locks. Is this the only new feature being looked at or are other physical customizations being considered as well?
Runesabre: oooh, colors!
* Ce'Nedra pouts again *
Runesabre: I'm such a meanie
* Ce'Nedra nod nods *
Ce'Nedra Willow: It was written in the official documentation that Beta participants would not need to buy the release but could download it. Does this mean that they won't have to pay for the download or does this mean that they can pay for the download rather then purchasing it at a store?
Runesabre: I'm not really sure what Marketing and Tyrant have in store as far as distribution. The only thing I do know is that the Beta CD will be patchable indefinitely so if you manage to get a Beta CD you shouldn't have to buy UO:TD from the stores once it goes final.
Joshua Rowan: Cool!
Joshua Rowan: How do you plan on recruiting Beta Testers? And when do you anticipate them beginning?
Runesabre: ooh colors!
Joshua Rowan: Drat!
Runesabre: colors are unfair to some :)
* Ce'Nedra tries to bribe with a banana, then realizes that she has the wrong team and looks for cheese. *
Joshua Rowan: Hehe
* Runesabre laughs *
Ce'Nedra Willow: Well we'd like to thank you so much for spending all this time answering all our questions.
Joshua Rowan: OH, one last question
Runesabre: oh what NOW! :) It better not be the briefs or boxers question.
Joshua Rowan: Rune, what creature were you most excited to see in 3D? I honestly think the mongbat blew me away, though the Orc Mage was awfully cool too.
Runesabre: I think for me the new Corpser was way cool.
Joshua Rowan: Also, I heard that you guys will be putting in bunny rabbits that are 3x the size of dragons. And that they will attack and take over Yew. Any truth to that? *grins*
Runesabre: That would be wholly incorrect. It's sparrows.
Ce'Nedra Willow: That sounded like a Jinx question.. did he pay you to slip that in?
* Runesabre laughs *
Joshua Rowan: Haha Actually, someone really did tell me that they could make bunnies that big because of the way 3D works :) I just couldn't help but wonder how freaky that would be to come across a Giant Killer Rabbit ;)
Ce'Nedra Willow: Before we go, was there anything else that you wanted to say to our readers Runey?
Runesabre: Just many, many thanks for helping to make UO such a success over the years and proving over and over that UO is the best out there. Without the player dedication, UO wouldn't be here today, Third Dawn wouldn't be here and I would be writing some crappy image software for a no-name software firm.
* Joshua doubts it *
* Ce'Nedra doubts it too. *
Runesabre: If there was any doubt of UO's future, I think everyone can honestly see where we are going and that UO has a very bright future ahead. Thank you Ce'Nedra and Joshua for having me. Its been fun!
* Joshua cheers *
Ce'Nedra Willow: Our pleasure!
Joshua Rowan: Thank YOU!

“And so there we were, in the middle of the Yew Woods,” Tristam said after a long draught of ale. “The original party had been split, one group was still on the road, and the other group was in the middle of the forest. The foul rain had ceased and corpses were piled everywhere. A quick assessment of our situation was not pleasant.”

Tristam set his mug down on the Sandlewood table, wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and looked around the room. “It was night in the middle of the Yew woods near a known lich hang out, our party was split in two, a majority of the warriors in our party were dead, Marcus the Mage had managed to escape, and on top of it all, it was believed that Nujel’m might use this fiasco as an excuse for a war. Now, just to clear up a slight matter, the group on the road, did not know about the group in the woods, and vice versa. Each thought that they were the only remnants of the original party, and they behaved accordingly. The group on the road decided that they would continue on to the Brit docks, and more or less explain the situation to Elrond. The group in the woods however, came up with a more… interesting idea,” Tristam grinned.

He beckoned for Noleens the serving wench to bring him another ale, “For you know ‘s hard to tell a good story on an empty stomach.” After a few swigs from the ale bottle Tristam decided he should continue with his tale, “So as I was sayin’ the group in the woods was busy hatching a plan to try and prevent a war between Nujel’m and the rest of the world. We decided that a member of our group would impersonate Marcus and turn themselves in. It just so happened that a member of our group by the name of Ox Dematari happened to pick up the belongings of William the Bailiff. There were also quite a few dark mage robes lying about. We grabbed one and headed to The Sultry Sultan’s where I happened to have a dark colored mages hat. We had a Bailiff, and we now had an outfit much like that of Marcus the Mage, the only thing we needed now was a Marucs.”

Tristam set down the now empty bottle of ale and began work on the next one. “And guess who got picked,” Tristam looked about the room with a slightly tipsy smile on his face, “me! Yes, my dear friends and companions whole heartedly agreed that I should be the bait. I think the reason they all agreed so fast is because they knew this would be a perfect opportunity to kick me, hit me, and in the end they could tell me that they were just ‘trying to make it real’. So I slipped on the robe, and hat, and we gated to the west Brit bank. Interestingly enough the other group had just reached the city of Britain and were headed for the docks as well. Due to a slight ‘mishap’ my group went to the wrong docks to meet Elrond and thus we were not the first to speak to him. When we finally found the right docks Elrond got the queerest look on his face. Elrond was such a little snot,” Tristam made his voice small and whiney, and adopted a snide expression, “’Hrmm… I thought that Marcus had escaped, and the Bailiff had been killed during the trip, and yet here they stand before me, what seems to be going on here’”

“Our group did some quick thinking,” Tristam took a gulp of ale. Smothering a hiccup he continued, “They said that the others had been hit one to many times by the daemons, and they obviously hadn’t seen what had been going on, for here was Marcus and the Bailiff. Elrond looked a bit curious to the whole matter and then he said ‘Well, it really does not matter if this is the real Marcus or not, someone’s blood shall be spilled for the crimes committed against Nujel’m.’ With that he spun on his heel and called out ‘Captain Darian, has all been made ready for the voyage to Nujel’m?’ A grizzled old sea dog cried out from the boats docked there ‘Aye ‘t has! ‘re ye gonna get on board or just stand there you lubbers? I’m chargin’ ye by the hour Sir Merchant’ to that Elrond turned a rather interesting shade of purple.”

Tristam chuckled, and beckoned for another ale. “I suppose this could be the funny part of the story, for while we were sailing from Brit to Nujel’m, we lost several people due to the fact that the boat was very overloaded. Ox, dressed as the Bailiff you remember, fell overboard, and awoke several hours later on the Brit docks. But the truly hilarious moment was when the captain fell over!” Here Tristam disinigrated into drunken giggles, before continuing. “And so” *sniff* “The Captain, Mr. I’ve been Sailin’ Since Before ye were a glimmer in yer da’s eye, fell off the boat” *wipes at his eyes* “He… he.. hehehe” *cough* “He was able to swim back to the boat, eventually, so I suppose our trip took a slight bit longer than normal. We were all wishing that Elrond would fall over the side of the boat, but amazingly he had better sea legs than the cap’n!” *another fit of the laughs*

“As all things must eventually come to an end, we finally landed at the Isle of Nujel’m” Since we had lost the Bailiff at sea, BlackAngel took over the role of the Bailiff. I was marched through the city of Nujel’m, from the docks to the jail (which is located all the way over by the chess board). Along the way the peasants of Nujel’m poured into the streets. Let me tell you, there’s nothing like being herded to a jail cell while people throw garbage at you. Before entering the jail itself Elrond took a moment to announce to the assembled group of peasants that the guillotuine would be put to work soon for a public execution. With the sound of cheering about my coming death I was thrown into the Nujel’m jail.

While I was in the cell I unfortunantly missed Elrond tell my “escort” about how I would be killed for the pleasure of the public. I was told he described everything in fabulous detail. Elrond left soon after a man by the name of Ildin the jail guard arrived. Ildin then took a few moments to entertain the gathered escort with graphic descriptions of how I would be tortured before my death. I was truly saddened that I didn’t get to hear what was in store for me, and so left to my own ends I simply paced back and forth in the jail cell. After a while the crowd cleared out, Ildin stood guard on the inside of the cell, and BlackAngel stood guard outside the cell.

Things were beginning to look rather bleak, you see, the people of Nujel’m neither knew, nor cared, that Marcus the Mage was the servant of a daemon, they only wanted to kill him for destroying the Sultan’s Herbarium. They didn’t think Marcus could have been any use to them whatsoever. Realizing this the ‘original group from the woods’ decided to mount a rescue operation. Slowly they left the jail, and one by one gathered on the Nujel’m chessboard. Once a sizeable amount of them had been gathered they all polymorphed into daemons, at which point they raced into the jail and freed me.” Tristam grinned and swallowed the last of his ale.

“And yet that’s not exactically the end, you see, we all decided to go to the Monastery Thurisaz and see if we could speak with Teleburiel about these matters. We got to the monastery and waited for Teleburiel for a while, after about ten min. of waiting Teleburiel showed up. He had just returned from Yew. Upon hearing the story of what happened he became quite concerned. ‘My friends’, he said, ‘I fear that the Sultan may send assassins after us all now… we must leave this place as it will undoubtedly be a target.’ We raced down the path and took the elevator to the ground, but we had not been quick enough!

Gathered on the ground below the mountain stood a group of about 50 brigands who were most certainly employed by the Sultan of Nujel’m. We were able to dispatch them, but we took a few losses. Deciding that things were simply not safe in this part of the world, I gated us to The Sultry Sultan once again. Amazingly there were a few members of the Cult of the Rat waiting outside the establishment. We dispatched them quickly before running to the entrance of the passage that would take us to Delucia. Once in Delucia, we booked rooms in the inn, and slept for the night.

I have also discovered that there are posts in the news as to this night,” Tristam said waving a piece of parchment around, “perhaps you should read these as well, and I think it should be known that I have a goatee, and not a Vandyke.” Tristam grinned and the many visitors gathered around to read of the account in the BNN newspaper.

See you in #uohoc on Stratics IRC at 7PM CT.

Destructive “Salamander” Dead at Last
Tim Armstrong, Ranger of Britannia Nov 15 2000 4:31PM

The quest to put an end to “the salamander’s” destructive attacks ended last night. The first attempt to accomplish this was a peaceful one. Warriors from the town of Liberalis in Trammel undertook a perilous journey to Felucca, through the northern desert in the new lands, so that they may try and talk the dragon out of doing any more harm. Rangers hidden near the dragon’s nest in the fire dungeon observed these negotiations for more than an hour, but the dragon was as stubborn as only an old dragon could be. At the end of the talks, the beast remained adamant that it would hunt where it wants, when it wants, and that it would spare no human lives in the process, if provoked. Just as the negotiations were failing, a man calling himself Alucard emerged from a gate with an ice wyrm following him. Although he was not affiliated with the group from Liberalis, he saw the salamander as an obvious threat, and sent his ice wyrm after the fire dragon. It is theorized that the ice wyrm’s affinity for cold was able to offset The Salamander’s impressive regenerative abilities. As a result, the salamander was easily killed, as it was unable to defend itself.

Once the salamander was slain, Rangers from the Britannia Ranger Guild excavated its nest and found the bones of many humans, including some women and children. It seems that the salamander’s claim that it never attacked innocents was a complete lie, as its nest revealed the gruesome truth. If it had not been slain, more deaths probably would have resulted. The land is much safer now that this rogue dragon has finally been dispatched. The people of Britannia thank all those who took up arms against it until its weakness could finally be discovered.

Lilia Newsman Nov 15 2000 4:04PM

Philanthropist Andrew Jollier oversaw the ground breaking ceremony in the fields northwest of Skara Brae today. Smiling for the artists gathered around, Mister Jollier posed with shovel in hand, a small pile of dirt at his feet. Various carpenters from all over have all been employed to make sure that the site is built in a timely fashion as well as making use of the finest materials available.

Stone from Minoc is being imported along with sand from Nujel’m to build the fountain that will grace the fairgrounds. Timber from Yew is being imported to build tables and benches for what is slated to be a gaming area. Logs from north of Vesper are being brought in to construct a large stage and benches. Local wood is being employed to build fencing for a tournament area. From the jungles south of Trinsic wood is being brought in to build an outdoor tavern. Seamstresses from Britain are said to be sewing up banners and curtains and tablecloths. Orders have been placed for barrels of wine to be delivered from Empath Abbey. The local farmers have been asked to sell off some of their crops to provide food for the Faire. Herds of sheep and cattle have been ear-marked for slaughter as well.

It seems that all is going well with Mister Jollier’s dream and that things are falling into place nicely for what appears, at least on paper, to be an exceptional recreational area.

Welcome to Fight Night. Fight Night is sponsored by Fight Club. Fight Night is a weekly single elimination PVP tournament to the death for prizes. This week our prize is 75% of the Gross Enrollment. The entry for the contest is 10,000 GP made out in check format payable only to the Ring Master.. Arcaneus.

BONUS PRIZE AND SPECIAL GUEST THIS WEEK: Phatty Mike from the UO Newsletter will be awarding this weeks winner with 1000 Diamond Ring. Special Thanks To Phatty Mike for contributing to Fight Club.

Basically two warriors at a time are put on the Fight Club Guild Stone for the match and then remove afterwards. There are rules to Fight Night which are posted outside the ring.

Come to our tower, see the ring and review the rules. If you contact me, I ll make myself available to answer specific questions and sign you up.

The Ring is located at our guild tower on Arctic Island above Deceit Dungeon on the left side of the mountain. I have red and white vendors. Here are our coordinates please visit us 113' 1' N 175 ' 52 W Tram. Please sign up in advance.... there will be far too many people signing up the night of the fight.

Fight Night is Every Saturday 8 PM EST at the Fight Club. My icq is 63003345 if you have any questions. Enjoy the BEST PVP in Trammel Great Lakes. Please visit our tower and register in advance!!!!!!

For those of you not familiar with Fight club we have a new site so that you can learn more!

When: 8:00 PM CST, Saturday, Nov. 18th
Where: Elysian Coast (Trammel) - Coordinates: 80° 30’ N 133° 31’ E.
Hosts: Portia [CSH] and Shem Quicksilver [CSH] of Elysian Coast.

Come one, come all to the Grand Opening of PoC (Pearl of the Coast) Supply Company. Be sure to buy your key in advance for our Glacial Staff giveaway and show up at the event to try your luck at opening the prize box to win the Glacial Staff. Other giveaways include a GM Valorite Archer Set, a sail boat, various rares, runebooks, and more. Gates will be provided from 7:30 PM CST - 8:00PM CST from the following city banks: Britain, Vesper, Moonglow, and Trinsic. There will also be food, drinks, discounts on all wares, and other activities for everyone’s participation. Please contact Shem (ICQ # 73210065) or Portia (ICQ# 77011125) with any questions, concerns, or suggestions. We look forward to seeing you all there!

Thank you,

Shem Quicksilver of Elysian Coast - Keeper of the Horn [CSH]

UOSS is currently looking for active, talented citizens of Drachenfels to add to our crack team of top-notch Ultima Online reporters. As a volunteer you are required to :

• Be a talented writer
• Be an active, knowledgeable member of the Drachenfels community
• Be willing to attend events and quests, interview VIPs, 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

1. Real name
2. Contact email address
3. ICQ number (if applicable)
4. Character name (this must be the name of the character you will be using as your potential shard reporter)
5. Rate your HTML knowledge from 1-10, where 1 is poor and 10 is phenomenal (we're talking of real knowledge, not use of an editor)
6. Answer this: Why do you wish to be a shard reporter for UOSS ?
7. Include a brief writing sample, no more than 500 words (pictures are not welcomed and no attachments)
8. Any questions ?

Good luck to all applicants!

An Unexpected Visitor
Erik Valstrom
Nov 15 2000 7:16PM

It has often been my inescapable misfortune to cross paths with rather sordid, despicable, characters in the pursuit of my quest for knowledge of events which transpire in our world. I have confronted men, daemons, and monsters whose threatening demeanor and ruthlessness have chilled me to the bone. So when Armande deSade, or someone claiming to be him, showed up at my door today, I was experienced enough with such things to comport myself with appreciable calmness during the discussions that followed between us.

He was alone, apparently, and I allowed him entrance. I was at once extremely curious as to how he had found me, but remembering how easily the captured pirate in Yew was discovered by forces no doubt under his command I knew it had to be a magical source of great power and he would not tell me. Therefore I did not ask.

I could waste my time detailing his appearance, what little I could see behind his cloaked form, but I am sure it was altered in some way. He knew full well I would report such things and doubtless took precautions to conceal the exact nature of his features from me. I, therefore, omit a description of him.

I asked him what business brought him to my humble home.

"Since thy tongue is heard by many of the... persons, shall we say, with whom I must contend, I shall use you as my own mouth to speak to them. I trust ye will convey the meaning of my words in their full context, and I seldom trust any man in any thing. Consider it an honor that I come to ye for such a purpose," he stated arrogantly in a rasping voice.

I gave him my word as assurance that his messages would be accurately related as he told them to me. He nodded in approval and, cordially enough, made no threats or threatening gestures.

"Allow me to explain my business at that sleepy backwater village called Edinburgh. I had reason to believe, and I now know, that an object which belonged to a kinsman of mine was stolen and buried in the mine. I send my minions to retrieve it and there they meet with resistance at every turn. The thieving, murderous, mob of townsfolk who dwell there, and those who visit looking for fortune, continually assault those I send there peacefully to recover my possession. I have therefore directed them to defend themselves. This is the reason for the many battles which have occurred there of late. If the villagers and visitors would leave my aides alone, they would find that no harm would befall either them or their property."

I was astounded at the sheer brazenness of his mendacity. I asked him who this kinsman was, what was the nature of the object he claims to have been "stolen" and who had taken it.

He smiled briefly. "That is no concern of yours, chronicler, but I will not evade thy question entirely. It is a simple crystal ball, an heirloom. It belonged to my great-grandfather. I prize it for sentimental sake alone. It is all that might be left of his possessions since he and all other things of his perished suddenly and completely long ago. It was recovered then stolen by some mage and well-hidden."

I asked him if the ball had been hidden in the vein of gold in the mine and how he had found it if so.

"I have means to detect it should I come near it. I have confirmed it is indeed inside the vein of gold at the mine in Edinburgh and have been sending my aides to melt the gold in order to free it. They do this by summoning fire elementals atop and around the vein to melt it down. Naturally the fire elementals are ill disposed toward intruders and the work is disrupted when they see and attack them. My aides become angry at their work being delayed, tempers flare, and, well, a battle ensues. If the villagers would leave us be at the mine for a while, our work of recovery could be completed without further confrontations with them."

I wanted to know how the pirate attacks and gold elementals fit into this so-called recovery expedition of his and queried him on it.

He laughed. "The pirates were of use to me for a time as their services for guarding and transportation were quite inexpensive. I used them to help my aides seek areas where the ball might be found, knowing that it had been lost somewhere along the Britannian coastline in a shipwreck which claimed the life of my great-grandfather. Hence ye witnessed what was called "raids" on coastal cities. The mere sight of my aides and their pirate hirelings was enough to instill enough fear in townsfolk to incite them needlessly. For the record, I take no responsibility for the numerous deaths of the townsfolk who thrust themselves into matters which did not concern them or pose any threat to their town or their livelihood. Once word spread that gold elementals were seen at the village, the pirates naturally wanted to go there. I consented, and by sheer good fortune found the mine and the location of my heirloom. It is all as simple as that."

I was curious to know the connection between the gold elementals and the pirate captain, Caine. How was it that he was able to lure them on board his ships and then smelt them at Serpent's Hold.

"The gold elementals seemed very possessive of the gold from which they spawned. Apparently some of the pirates came upon a corpse in the woods with some of it in his pack. While they divvied it amongst themselves, a gold elemental appeared, probably the slayer of the deceased man, and began asking for the gold from them. They fled to their ship and the brute followed them to the coastline. Caine returned and spoke at length with the thing assuring it that he would help them find the ones who had taken the gold, it's "little ones" as he put it."

I asked him of Spyte the Knife who seemed to be looking for the ball as well.

Armande's face reddened with anger. "He is another of the thieves which seeks to steal what is mine!! Ye would do well not to trust him! Ye think I am vindictive and ruthless? ...such a list of my deeds pales in comparison to his! He assaulted me recently. I escaped death by the narrowest of margins, a death from which there is no return. The blade he wields is enchanted or other-worldly... when it kills it banishes the soul of its victims to the void from whence they may never return. Mark him well. He is not to be trusted. If he is in thy employ ye are doomed."

Nothing further meaningful could be drawn from him and we concluded the meeting. Armande bowed low, stating he would return if he needed a public voice for his concerns. I did not promise to provide a forum, but I told him I would do what I could to help us all come to a greater understanding of this mystery. With that, he said he was content, and disappeared.

How much of this tale is true or something intended to lead us off the trail I cannot say. I am disposed to believing very little of it, but that which I do still unsettles me greatly. Many answers remain cloaked in shadow and I fear that only experience itself will bring the truth of them to light. - Erik

(In his announcers voice) “Well, Pelle our grand prize winner will get an all expense paid trip to Haven where he or she can harass young players at will by snooping their packs and flicking their ears...no wait...

*he looks at his cue cards*

“I’m sorry, that’s the prizes for next weeks contest of how many mongbats you can flamestrike at one time. Here’s the ones for the housing contest:”

1st Place: 50K, Black Dye Tub, 3 small plants, 2 roses
2nd Place: 25K, Large Painting, 1 small plant, 2 roses
3rd Place: 25K, 2 small paintings

The United Blacksmiths of Britiania would like to invite all Warriors and wearers of Armor to bring all that old beat up armor in that secure chest of yours to the Hammer n Anvil Forge to have it repaired for "FREE" by the finest smiths in all Sosaria.

The activities will commence at 7:00PM PST (10:00PM EST) Tonight (Nov 15th). Find your way to the Hammer N Anvil forge, at the northwest entrance to Britain on Trammel, and spruce up that platemail.

The Legion of Dark Nations is holding a tournament on Sunday, November 19th, starting at noon Eastern, in honor of brave warriors in our world who have passed on needlessly and with no profit for their death. The tournament is to find the best individual warriors and honor their struggle and desire to survive in this harsh world. There will also be a team prize given to the best group of six or less combined warriors.

Events

There are to be six events, and they are as follows:

• One on One Combat:
• Single Handed Melee Weapon with Shield
• Single Handed Melee Weapon without Shield
• Double Handed Melee Weapon
• Magic versus Magic
• Free For ALL
• Two on Two Combat:
• Free For ALL

A full listing of rules, how to register, and prizes may be found here.

Map to Griffon Township

The UO Faire was a huge success and the Markee Dragon team is pleased to have been a part of it. We have created a site dedicated to the people who attended and ran the faire. Currently there are over 250 pictures available at the site. Many celebrities can be found at the site. Some of the people you will find are many of the developers, GMs, Volunteer and people who run fan sites such as Lum the Mad, Several members of Stratics, Jinx from The Chosen, Fear from Battle Vortex and several more people including our team from Markee Dragon. We developed the database so that if you attended the faire and have pictures to share you can upload them to the site right through your web browser. Find the site located at www.markeedragon.com/uofaire/ We look forward to seeing you there. Markee Dragon www.markeedragon.com www.shatteredcrystal.com

Hear ye ! Hear ye !

Let it be known that the Council convened yestereve. All the council members were present .. most of the time.

Here are the important facts about what happened and what was voted:

• Lady Reverie Dag turned down her nomination to the post of representative of Trinsic to the High Council. Lady Panama Khanan has kindly agreed to replace her.
• Lady Reverie Dag has been nominated Ambassador of Trinsic to the other cities and/or foreign nations, and graciously accepted the charge.
• Ser Brightblade of the Praetorian Guards has been nominated temporarily Justice of Trinsic till a suitable long-term candidate for the charge could be recruited by the council.
• Lady-captain Amber has been sent by the military authorities of Britain to assume command of the Trinsic Royal Regiment. Military activities both in and around our good town are expected to increase.
• Lord-general Rutger Dag called for a revote of the law which outlaws all orcs and undeads in our fair city. Despite some protest, his proposal met with the approval of the majority of the council.
• A new law was voted which states that all members of the Shadow Clan and/or the undeads "living" in Necropolis are to be treated as enemies if they try to enter the city limits. As previously, if the militia or the army isn't around to handle their removal (the use of lethal measures was approved to that effect), citizens are authorized to take a hand in freeing our town from these villainous creatures. Civil laws do NOT apply to them.
• Lord-general Dag stated that Paladin's Island shall continue to stand as a sanctuary within the city limits for those who wish to redeem themselves. However, any creature or person trying to abuse this act of Compassion shall be removed immediately from the island by the paladins.
• The High Knight of the Order of the Silver Serpent asked the town council to add drows and vampires to the orc/undead law. Nothing has been decided yet regarding that issue.
• A member of the Order of the Griffons has brought into town a magical talisman which he hopes can free the ghosts who haunt our city under the guise of mercenaries of the vanquished Broken Sword company. He shall stay at the disposal of the city for one week.

TRINSIC FOREVER !

• Britain: Henry Guiscard
• Jhelom: Artus Farwynth
• Minoc: Theron
• Magincia: Colclasure Fallari
• Moonglow: Amus Moonbeam
• Skara Brae: Unknown or unselected
• Trinsic: Panama Khanan
• Yew: Thomas Augustine

27% of you have not yet been to the new Dungeon, but plan to go some time. 9,7% say they never plan to go there.

34.7% like the puzzles, 17.5% dont care either way, and 10.8% dont like having to mess with them at all.

Over the next several weeks, we will be asking your opinion on various aspects of the recently announced Ultima Online: Third Dawn expansion.

This week, we want to know what you think about the screenshots that we posted in our General News section. If you havnt yet, take a look at the screenshots, then hop on over to our Periodic Poll and let us know what you think about them.

To be a gladiator means to endure pain and hardship, to fight well or to die ignominiously, and above all, to make every moment of a short and uncertain life a way to show the virtues of courage and discipline. In fighting courageously and skillfully, you might demonstrate sufficient valor to win the respect of all the citizens of Britannia; in a death accepted without protest, you could acquire it as well.

If you feel ready, come to the Jhelom Pit on the Felucca Facet and be prepared to fight against the best gladiators coming from all the different corners of Britannia.
And what about the reward ? The champions name will be recorded in the history of champions book, and a carving will be made of the brave warrior, on exhibition for all to see. If you feel ready and brave enough come to the Pit and face your fate !

The town of Aryslan is announcing the grand opening of our fist tavern! It is located east of the town center directly below the tower of souls in Aryslan. We are looking for people who would like to staff the tavern and help run it. You can email me at [email protected] if you are interested in this.

This log cabin is a great addition and improvement in the town, come and enjoy the grand opening party on saturday the 18th at 8 pm eastern time. A rune to the new tavern can be found on the floor of the town tower as you walk in. Its a short walk just east of the town center, and south of the tower of souls.

We hope to see you there.

Jamlyn Hakkendyn

The Dragon Rouge is proud to present the Make Me Rich Tournament! One brave and mighty warrior will bring home a check for 500,000 gp!! There will be a meeting at The Kings Men Theatre in Brit, at 9:30 pm, Saturday the 18th. We can answer any questions that aren't cover here, but here are the basic ideas and rules.

We will be hosting the battle here in Trammel, so there will be no interference by people who aren't aware that it's a tournament.

You will need to quit your guild to do this, as there is no pvp in Trammel, and join ours for the duration of the Tournament, or at least your part of the Tournament. We will not be warring guild after guild to do this, and most non guilded people will have to join anyway.

There will be a 25k entry fee.

You may bring any weapon you wish, as long as its not blessed. To the victor go the spoils!!!!

You may poison your enemy but do not bring a poisoned weapon, poison it during the fight.

There will be looting, so be careful what you bring.

Mages will not be permitted to cast daemons but they will be able to cast one elemental of from these choices: Air, Water, Earth. If you die before the elemental dies, you lose.

No Draining Mana if you are a Mage fighting a mage.

You are subject to be snooped before the battle. Make sure you don't have equipment that isn't permitted

Sorry no tamers. No one can kill a dragon alone, and mares are pretty hard.

There will be no refunds after your fight, No calling lag kills.
Do not bring any disallowed items. You will not be permitted to fight with them. Or you will just be cut from the roster, and will not be refunded.

The payment will be made just before you are gated to the arena, and will be taken in a check form.

Thats about it, rules are subject to change, and you will know of any changes before you fight.

So come see us at The Kings Men Theater. Saturday the 18th, at 9:30pm. You could end up rich!

Yesterday evening Sardisha Li'Sant has been escorted by a large number of Eteral Knights, amongst 'em their King and Queen, from their town to Vesper. With 'em was a small detachment from Spiritwood consisting of some Custodes Fati and Skara Brae Rangers, led by myself. Much of the events, that happened along the way are covered in King Talysman's report:

All went well in Moonglow. Kazari was turned back and his brother arrested. Moonglow appears to be safe, but the invasions in the Eternal City have only grown worse. Day after day the orcs come, often led by Karth himself. Many brave warriors have fallen but each invasion has been repelled.

Sardisha emerged occasionally from her quarters to give vague warnings of danger and once to request that a caravan be readied for her so that she might go to Vesper. The caravan was readied on the 14th and many warriors and knights arrived to aid the escort.

When the party left the tower it was immediately beset by orcs and fire elementals in great numbers - more than even before. Karth appeared and demanded that Sardisha reveal her secret or he would bring even greater armies to capture or destroy her. His orcs were smashed but the escort party was in a disarray. A small contingent of the escort quickly moved to the east, taking Sardisha with them. They move around the palace and boarded one of the ships of the Royal Navy of the Eternal Knights. The others soon followed, battling orcs and their elementals along the way until four ships were filled to capacity. The ships set sail and steered outward into Minoc Bay. All had been told that the escort would be over land, yet Maia must have sensed that it would really go by sea, for many elementals of water beset the ships and it was a slow, dangerous journey across the bay to the gypsy camp south of Minoc.

The passengers disembarked, helping Sardisha across. There they all gathered at the gypsy camp and proceeded southward along the road to Vesper. 

Great battles were fought, as Karth's legions beset the warriors at every turn. Sardisha remained well protected, hidden from her would-be captors by spells. Finally, they all arrived in Vesper, where Sardisha requested a shovel and managed to get one off a bewildered but compliant knight. She led her protectors to a spot behind the Ironwood Inn wall and began to dig. As she dug, more orcs came from the north, felling innocent Vesper citizens who were unaware of the danger. Those orcs quickly died to swords and spells, and the remaining citizens warned to lock their doors and bar their windows until the escort had left Vesper.

Sardisha finished digging and pulled a fair sized and very old chest from the ground. She said it was from her "gramma" and that she never thought it contained anything important. The fact that so much danger surrounded her and the contents of the box led her to realize otherwise.

The now weary warriors, tired and many badly wounded in the many battles along the route turned about and marched out of the city with Sardisha in their midst. Before they could even reach the crossroads, Karth again appeared and warned Sardisha one last time that he would send his army if she did not divulge her secret. She again refused and that army must have been near, for hundreds of orcs marched out of the woods and beset Sardisha's protectors. It was a long and fierce battle. Many good knights and warriors were felled, and even Sardisha's closest protectors were scattered. Sardisha herself fought against the orcs and when it was all over, succored the wounded before allowing the escort to proceed again toward the Eternal City. The remaining time on the road went without incident and even the trip across the bay was quiet but for a few elementals, possibly still waiting from the earlier crossing. 

The marchers brought Sardisha safely back to the tower and there she presented her box to the assembly and asked that we try to find the secret that was hidden within.

One item to be deciphered was the scroll. Upon it was written "No itovedg niyd nuse vircerenot seht sevig reve os ohw." This was quickly found to be "Whosoever gives the stone receives undying devotion."

In the book was found written:

"The Prophecy of the Stones
by Elder Sithar Li'sant

And there will come to the streets of a great city, a dark lady. She shall hold in her hand the power to sway the fealty of any man or woman.

With her the beasts will come, and fire shall eat at the heart of the city. Yet the warriors of the great city will defend her, and the walls will hold fast. Then a king who is not a king, shall sit upon the throne uneasy, and the beast may be defeated by guile or by the sword.

And the stone shall be a power for one... or the other. Yet the prophecy does not say which. And the king that is not a king may be suborned. And the king that is a king will lose and find what he holds dear. And the circle will be broken, then mended.

Lwo PehbBluso lwo yoilw bluso veob gaheoy es lwo fuasliesb lwo iskeoslb kivvoy lhbei. Lwo bwihyb iho botihiloy isy kissul go fiyo mwuvo gal leb biey lwil ocos i teoko up el ghesrb yoilw lu ivv mwu luakwel. Lwo bokusy mib kibl atus lwo milohb. Bufo bix el mib bwivvumoy gx i reisl boi goibl el mib lwo WiloBluso. Lwo WoihlBluso povv lu lwo wisyb up i misyohesr lhego up rxtbeob yhobboy ek gvikn. Lwo VepoBluso mib bosl lu lwo mwelo viyx es lwo muuyb up xom mwu cisebwoy iploh lwo bluso mib hokoecoy up woh.

None shall again know the danger or the sting of the stones if I can keep them from it, so I have recorded what I must, but not what I wished to.

Scribe Sithar (a bloodstain obscures the rest of the signature except for the word... Caveat)"

Many hours have passed now, and King Talysman and his scholars have gone over and over the seeming gibberish text within the riddle. They have finally deciphered it's words, but not it's meaning:

"The First Stone, the death stone, lies buried in the mountains the ancients called trsia. The shards are separated and cannot be made whole but tis said that even a piece of it brings death to all who touch it. The second was cast upon the waters. Some say it was swallowed by a giant sea beast it was the Hatestone. The Heartstone fell to the hands of a wandering tribe of gypsies dressed in black. The Lifestone was sent to the white lady of the woods of yew who vanished after the stone was deceived of her."

We can only hope that the scholars of Spiritwood, who are so much more knowledgeable of the ancient legends and the secrets they hold, will be able to find the meaning to these riddles.

Several things seem clear ... Maia, the gypsie who is after Sardisha holds the Stone of Love, controlling Warbozz Karth with the powers of the stone. As it is told, the holder of the Stone of Love possesses the power to control people's emotions, though this is nay true love, the cursed will do anything to obey the holder of the stone, the one he thinks in love with.

It is evident, that Kazari, who is troubling Moonglow for some time now, holds the Stone of Hate. Some warriors, defending Moonglow, witnessed Kazari using this very stone to escape when his army was defeated. If Kazari and Maia allied and combined their stones is unknown yet, though their power would be vast, with those stones combined, to whatever effect that may cause.

Wherever the remaining stones are or whoever is possession of one of 'em holds a clue to this mysterious prophecy. It is up to the wisdom of the scholars and the strength of the warriors to alter the prophecy.

May the virtues be with ya!
Pad O'Lion

As the farmer neared the first wagon he could smell a strange, strong aroma. When he stopped to think about it, he realised it smelled like sulphurous ash. The farmer, having seen some mages work with it, realised this was a reagent that could be used to create fire. He followed the smell to locate where it was coming from. He soon stood in front of a wagon filled with chemical powders, strange oils and torches. A wooden sign read, "Fire Breather".

Yew Haunting Continues; Stranger Returns

On (11/12/00) Sunday night, the Golden Unicorn of Wispwood was again haunted. The tavern and surrounding area was thoroughly search for any cause to the mysterious activity. The only undead to appear was a lone wraith. At one point, Ailieve (CWS) claimed to have seen Rythias Rose out of the corner of her eye.
----
Rythias was the individual that may have been corrupted or possessed by some unknown evil force. This became evident in last weeks undead attacks. A week ago Monday, the tavern cleaning was assault by demons, dragons, greater undead and a few skeletons. Dene's (CWS) pet dragon and other adventurers were able to repelled the assault. During this fight Rythias did attack some of his fellow CWS members and look to be fighting with himself. The citizens of Wispwood were able to "subdue" him and help him regain his senses.

On last Wednesday (11/08/00), a massive undead and demon force again accosted northern Wispwood clearing. Rythias seemed to turn join the side of assaulting forces. Just before this dire event, Rythias professed his love for Ailieve and his desire to wed her. In the battle, it seems Rythias was spirited away by the dark minions.
-----
(back to Sunday, 11/12/00) After recent the haunting, Raziel Maleki and Gabriella Paquiel visited the Golden Unicorn. Raziel Maleki, a reporter of sorts, had visited about two weeks ago and ask about the haunting. He told a tale appropriate for All Hallow Eve Festival. This time Raziel ask about "a disappearance". Grot, feeling that they owe Raziel a tale, told him of the recent events that plague the area.

After a brief discussion, it was decide that the first blue skeleton may have bespelled Rythias. The skeleton did this with a dagger that was hidden behind his shield. The adventurers proceed to search the graveyard, thoroughly. During the search, A lich lord came from the western crypt building. The four plus adventurers quickly dispatched the lich lord with ease. Inside the crypt was a normal looking dagger, but it was fused to the floor. With prayerful mediation and some grunting, the adventurers pried lose the dagger. Ailieve and Tiberius put the dagger in a safe place until it can be inspected by a scholar. Ailieve and others are hoping this dagger will lead to some clue on how to free Rythias Rose. If you wish to help against these evil force, please contact Ailieve of Wispwood, she can be found most night tending the bar in the Golden Unicorn. The Golden Unicorn tavern is in the clearing east of the Yew graveyard.

Strangers at The Golden Unicorn

Sara Gules
Wandering Healer

Yes, at long last, the UOSS AOL Legends news team is ready to visit Establishments across the realm! This includes towns, taverns, inns, and other location of note. If you wish for one of our reporters to visit you, simply visit our submission menu underneath the Establishment heading to your left and send us a pigeon! We look forward to seeing you!

Praise Minax!

Pacific Training Institute is pleased to announce our first story time session in Trammel.

The event will be held at PTI on November 18 6 pm, Pacific time on the Pacific Shard, located at the PTI castle. Gates will be available at the Britain main bank at 5:20 pacific time.

The story topic will be: Thanksgiving, what are you especially thankful for in our virtual world?

Please use the purple book for your story, and submit when you're done sharing your story. All winners will have their book placed in the PTI library.

Prizes are as follows:

First place 10k in gold second place 5k in gold third place: a set of armor , shadow archer set

Please rsvp if you can make it, [email protected]

Advantium Founder of PTI

Recently our guard patrols and training missions to the outskirts of the town have picked up a large force of no-humans,the strongest of which appear to be only air and water elementals. Recently the mass has been edging ever closer to town and has come into conflict with the citizenry and the Army. We have estimated they will not be prepared to attack until Friday. Therefore the bulk of our attack shall be directed upon them Thursday at Eight. Any and aid will be appreciated, and we expect this will be an excellent time for young warriors to hone thier skills against the monsters of the realm. If any do chose to ceom with us during this attack we will be meeting at the Havenwood Tavern at Quarter of Eight in the Eastern Sky (7:45pm EST)

For the Glory of Havenwood!

Legate Commandant
Nathiar deMonte'
Havenwood Royal Army

On Decemember 16th, 7PM est will be Nidaros's Christmas chairty event! What is that you ask? Well, if you donate two peices of armor, weapons, shields, or 50 regents you will be entered in a raffle for 20k! The items you donate will go to a very good cuase! Please help! Bars will also be open. The town knights will be dueling eachother, and yes you can bet! If you need help getting to nidaros please vist www.townofnidaros.com or ICQ 37706470.

Faction System Publish Update

We will be activating the Faction System publish, as listed in Testing for Next Update, on the Sonoma and Siege Perilous shards on Wednesday, November 15th. The publish will be active on the Sonoma shard following it's regularly scheduled maintenance period. The Siege Perilous shard will be taken down for a special maintenance period following its first completed backup after 9:00 AM CST. Upon return from this maintenance period, the Faction System will be active on this shard as well.

We will continue to monitor the Sonoma and Siege Perilous shards for any issues that may arise, and will continue to publish to all remaining shards as soon as possible. The changes will be added to Latest Game Updates once the publish is active on all shards.

UO.com Message Boards Open

We have resolved the technical issues affecting the UO.com Message Boards and have opened them to the public. Unfortunately, the same factors that led to the corruption of our user database also resulted in a loss of the database backup. Thus, it will be necessary for users to recreate their accounts before posting to the boards.

Important: If you previously registered to use the UO.com Message Boards, your board name and password were stored in a cookie. This cookie must be updated with your new name and password. Please re-register using the following steps:

1. Log in to MyUO.
2. Visit http://boards.uo.com .
3. Click "New User" on the top menu or follow the instructions in the pop-up window.
4. Enter your message board name and your email address.
5. Once your new password has arrived in email, click "Login" on the top menu.
6. You will receive an error message stating that your password is incorrect. Ignore this message. Your browser will redirect to a login page where you may,
7. Log in with your board name and new password.

After completing these steps, your cookie should be set with your new board name and password and you may reset any profile options as necessary, including changing your password to your preferred password.

The City of Havenwood, in Trammel will begin holding Town meetings every Tuesday of each month. Unless changed in the future we shall be meeting in the tower directly South of the Darkhawk's Den, or as some know of it, the Havenwood Tavern. The meetings will begin at Eight O'clock on Tuesdays. The first meeting will be held The Twentyfirst (21st) of November. We hope to see some new faces, as well as old.

Talimor deMonte'
Lord of Havenwood

A Virtue Mass will be held in PaxLair this Thursday at 9:00PM EST. All are invited to attend and realize how big a part of our daily lives in Britannia, the Virtues are. It will be held on the third floor of the Mage Tower. This is one of eight sessions that will held during the next four months. The topic for November 16th is the Virtue of Honour. This is in other words a church service, relating only to the World of Britannia and is sponsored by the Church of Britannia (Empath Abbey in Yew). You can find the city of PaxLair (Felucca) by going to www.chessienet.com/paxlair.

A dark minion led an undead attack on PaxLair Sunday evening around 7 by the Eastern Sky. Residents and visitors took down the undead and the dark minion with minor losses. During the fray, the people saw the flame of the Fire Monument near the Chaos Tower was extinguished. None knew why the dark minion launched an attack on PaxLair nor why the flame was doused. There is speculation Mazrim is somehow behind this attack.

Wraiths, skeletons, liches, bone knights, and bone magi struck quickly as the dark minion appeared and disappeared on the city streets. Woodsman was the first one to engage the dark minion and kept it reeling in pain from his poison blade. Safious, a knight of PaxLair, joined Woodsman and they defeated the dark minion. While scouting the area for more undead, Falcor Trist noticed that the flame on the Fire Monument was missing!

After defeating the attackers, PaxLair went forth to warn other cities of the situation and render aid if more attacks were underway. Erik, 8th-circle mage of the PaxLair Wizards, and Stormchaser, a well-known tamer in the area, traveled to Aryslan, Corwyn, Haven and Humility. Aryslan, Haven and Humility were quiet. In Corwyn, they met Danielle De’ Rosa, Neil and Locutis, who said that Corwyn had suffered no attacks this eve. Locutis thanked Erik and Stormchaser for the warning.

Mayor Winfield at the Fire Monument
Mayor Winfield arrived on the scene at the Fire Monument. The defenders informed him of the attack and the missing flame of the Fire Monument. Mayor Winfield asked if Mazrim could be behind this attack. No one knew.

This attack comes in the aftermath of the defeat of Zyrn the Elementalist two weeks ago when many guilds and people launched counter-attacks from the cities of Aryslan, Corwyn, Haven, Humility and PaxLair. Zyrn was finally defeated in the dungeon Shame. This dark minion attack may or may not be connected to the defeat of Zyrn.

The Fire Monument in PaxLair is renowned for dark rituals and assemblies of evil clans and beings. It is opposed by the Spring of Courage located east along the Twin Towers main street.

The dark minion does not serve my ally, Mazrim. I for one should know. I spoke with the minion after it killed me. It's reply to my question's were ... "I have no master" and "I am out on the night of the Hollow Eve". Therefor it is my speculation that this being was formed of all the evil spirits that dwell within our realm, and on that unholy night of All Hollow's Eve, the spirit's manifested themselves into this rather powerful being.

Oh, How've I've missed these hallowed halls! I'll not bore you with mine own sorry tale of personal misfortune. It shall be sufficient to say that I've survived my encounter with the "Reaper" and have returned once more, to the Land O' Legends.

In the words of that immortal (or is that "immoral"?) orc, Ith'unk, "BRING ON THE PIGEONS!"

Until next we meet, safe journeys to thee.

Sad news from popular the AOL Legends figure, Ga'Wen Half Orc. He came by my office today to deliver the following note, written in his human brother's script:

"Today I bring news that may look sad on the outside, but is truly a reason to celebrate. Last night, the Happy Orc Tavern closed its doors...temporarily. With the help of the First Dwarvish Savings and Loan, I was finally able to purchase the tower I have been working so hard for, and decorating is now underway.

"Why is this newsworthy?" you ask? Because this tower is the future home of the Museum of Britannia!

"Since coming to this land it has been my dream to open a museum dedicated to the strange and unusual objects of Britannia. Many of our citizens need a place to go where they might see some of the objects they may have heard of but never seen. Not only will I be displaying rare and semi rare items, but also examples of the more common items.

"The attractions of the museum will be:

• A gift shop, run buy vendors selling souvenirs and samples of items seen in the museum
• Displays of non-rare, but unusual items such as reversed objects (food, bandages, armor, etc)
• Semi-rare food items...
• Rare items and armor...
• Named weapons, i.e. "Mace of ogre bashing" and the like.
• and the rebirth of the Happy Orc Tavern on the roof of the tower.

"I have attempted to purchase or acquire samples of as many unusual items as I can, but since the cost of rares rises every day, my displays may be a bit scarce at first. As such, I am making a call to all of our citizens. If you would care to donate or loan your OSI approved rare or unusual items to the museum, they will be displayed along with a book showing the patron's name and whatever story or details of it's discovery you would like to share. I will continue to try to purchase as many items as I can, but the tower has sapped my resources and accounts must be settled with my Dwarvish backers before more purchases can be made. Donations of gold are always welcome and donors can rest assured that all donations will go toward the purchase of new items for display.

"So, come on out fellow Britannians and show you spirit! Help make something we can all be a part of and be proud of! Something for all the people to enjoy. Why have that full suit of ranger armor gathering dust in a locked chest when you can display it along with the story of how you acquired it? How does anyone know the hard work that went into finding that suit of demon bone armor when it is locked in a chest at the bank? Show your support and spread your fame by donating or loaning your special treasures to the Museum of Britannia!

"Watch for future news about our grand opening as well as regular events at the museum."

Praise Minax!

It is so nice to be able to write this from the comfort of the UOSS AOL Legends Stratics office in Uruk Village! At last some of the pigeons sent to me in recent weeks have found their way this far North. The most recent one I've received was from Allwynn of the Easy Action guild:

"Easy Action will be holding a small ceremony for several of its members that have achieved Grand Master status in various skills during the past month or so. We plan on making this a monthly event within our guild, and will be giving these individuals certain tokens of our appreciation of their efforts to reach this level of achievement.

"We will also take this opportunity to welcome Zeta to our ranks, and announce our intention to patrol the environs of the town of Bleanyc, in effort to beat back the ravening hordes of scorpions, orcs, and elementals from the desert which lies to it's West. We feel that this will not only will this help out residents of Bleanyc, but it will make pilgrimages to the Shrine of Compassion somewhat easier for those desiring to visit it.

"All are welcome to attend our gathering, which will be held in the clearing behind the Guild tower on Sat, Nov. 18th at 8:00pm (eastern). We are located South East of Vesper, at 87° 37'N 130° 8'E (Trammel)"

Praise Minax!

(Tuesday - november 14th) Gerneral Engagement rules:
On 8pm GMT (21:00 CET) Blitz will present his course "Gerneral Engagement rules".
This course is a must for all young warriers. You will get a picture on how to deal with different enemies and which weapons to choose for them. Information on healing as well as weaponlore will be provided.
This course is held in the Lycaeum on Moonglow island on Trammel.

(Thursday - november 16th:) Britannian Philosophy:
On 7pm GMT (20:00 CET) Zinethi Arylliea will present her course "Britannian Philosophy".
This lecture informs about the most common philosophical streams in Britannia. The 3 principles, the virtues as well as order and chaos are discussed.
This course is held in the Lycaeum on Moonglow island in Trammel.

(Sunday - november 19th:) The art of fighting:
On 7pm GMT (20:00 CET) Paxicon will present his course "The art of fighting".
This lecture will teach everything you need to know to become a fighter. From basic weapon lore to PvP tactics.
The course is held in the Lycaeum on Moonglow island in Trammel. It is also planned to have a trip to the Cove orc fort for practical use of what was tought.

More information obout the Academy and up to date information on a class schedule calendar can be found on http://learn.at/lycaeumacademy.

Hope to see ye there!
Yoldran

Hear ye - Hear ye!

Kazari's brother - Reynaud Wyndyar - was captured during leading his attack on Moonglow city on Trammel.
On wednesday, november 15th, 9pm GMT (22:00 CET) he will face his trial in the Court of Truth near Yew (Trammel).

Announced by:

Moonglow City Council

Lord British's Guards

Thursday the 16th of November, 21.00 CET on Trammel facet.

The Trade Caravan of Cove will be delivering supplies to it's own base at Cove from Britain. Any volunteers who wish to escort the Caravan are welcomed. We will leave from Britain Gazebo at 21.00 (CET). When we arrive at Cove, everyone is invited at the Trade Caravan Fortress for drinks as a token of appreciation!

For latest updates at: http://caravan.lemming.org/.

Videric Gaveston
The Leader of the Trade Caravan of Cove

UO.com Message Boards Update

We are currently experiencing technical issues with the UO.com message board database that have required we close off access to the boards. We are working to resolve these issues as quickly as possible and return the boards to working order.

Free One Million Gold Pieces! Free Small Tower! And much more!

What:
A number of months ago Trammel opened up, and soon after our establishment Extrodinaires opened its doors for business. Since that time you have made us one of the most popular player-run businesses on Catskills. Within the next week the doors to our sandstone will register their 10,000th visitor. We have decided to commemorate this event with a special event and contest. We are giving away one million gold, a small tower, and a special chest of goods and items to the winners of our contest. This is completely free, and done as a thank you to all of you that have made us successful. On Sunday the 19th we will be hosting a scavenger hunt for anybody interested. First prize is one million gold, second prize a placed small tower, and third prize is an incredible chest filled with rares, magic items, armor weapons, etc. Once again, entry to this event is completely free!

Who:
Sponsered by Crysania and Raine, owners of Extrodinaires. This event is completely free and just our way of saying thanks to Catskills. All are welcome!

When:
Sunday, November 19th from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern

Where:
Extrodinaires Vendor house just Northeast of East Britain Bank in Trammel

For more information, please visit our website.

Thanks,
Centurio of Tradespot

Map to Extrodinaires via East Britain

41st Assembly of the 5th High Council

Date: Monday, November 13th, 2000
Time: 10PM EDT/9PM CDT
Location: Magincia Parliament Building, Trammel Facet.

Agenda:

• Information on the Council of Honesty's weekly tournaments.
• Introduction of the new representative for Compassion and the city of  Britain.

Lady Natalya Svyatoslav, 4th Seat, 
The High Council of Britannia

Date: Friday November 24th
Time: 8pm CST (6pm PST)
Where: The Silverdrake Restaurant and Tavern Lake Superior Shard
Cordinates: 33o 13'N 52o 11'E (South East of Harmony)
What: Thanksgiving Dinner

Details: A full dinner will be provided for only 100 gold per person. With each dinner comes a prize and at the end of the evening there will be a drawing for a Broadsword of Vanquishing (unused) and a drawing for all the gold remaining after paying the servers for their service.

Contact me to let me know if your comming so I can prepare enough meals.

Contact Drake Brimstone by E-mail: [email protected] or ICQ: 8803803.

Drake Brimstone
Owner of the Silverdrake

My sincerest apologies to all.

Ultima Online Stratics is proud to host another UO House of Commons chat this Thursday, November 16th, at 7pm CST. The conference will occur in #uohoc and will focus on the just-announced Ultima-Online: Third Dawn, the upcoming expansion pack which will bring UO to the world of 3D. Be sure to join us to ask the design team all about this new technology as well as the new lands, monsters, and features which will be a part of it.

To join the chat, connect to one of the following Stratics IRC servers, and type /join #uohoc. Or, use our Stratics Java IRC Client.

• irc.stratics.com
• compu.stratics.com
• dhp.stratics.com
• frws.stratics.com
• intworks.stratics.com

Are ye interested in buying cheap wares? Ye need some armor or weapons or house add-ons or other crafted items fer good price. Then visit da fifth Black Market on Catskills! It will take place on Friday, November 17th at 8 pm Eastern on da Buccaneer's Den docks on da Trammel facet!

If ye visit da Black Market, be aware that ye will come across smugglers, beggars, pirates, robbers, alcoholics and thieves, basically da worst scum of Britannia.

All da landlubbr's are welcome to drop by and buy some of our high quality and low priced goods! For details about this event, visit here.

Hook
United Pirates

Map to the Black Market

The day had been filled with battle. It was midday when an army of Dragons attacked Olympus without warning, and without mercy. Although the initial attacks were fended off, a slew of Dragons and Drakes broke down the gates of the castle, and stormed the courtyard. With the dragons about to break down the inner gates many of the Purple Guardians of Honor retreated to Trinsic.

Although the dragons had been easily visible, the one who commanded them was not. Throughout the battle many people reported hearing a voice, which seemed to come from the sky. This voice spoke of the destruction of Olympus, and to punish those who had tried to control nature's creatures.

About an hour after Olympus had been taken by the unknown enemy, we knew what this voice was speaking of. Cedric, Grey's Cowboy, and Silvana Syav'ryn launched an attack of their wyrms and dragons on the castle. The people who were waiting outside as backup for the tamers soon reported that the three tamers came back out a few minutes later, and ordered their wyrms to attack the backup group. It was obvious that any who dared to bring a tamed creature into the castle would have their mind taken over by the still unknown evil.

Soon it was decided by many that if we were to try and recapture the castle, that we would need help. Long ago during the Ventryn attacks on Winterfell, we met a group of people known as The Lords of The Eternal Realm. This group was very large in size and was very willing to help people out. I contacted their leader, Antilian, and he agreed to help our forces retake the castle.

Although the Lords of The Eternal Realm were great in numbers, we still felt more help would be needed, so we turned to an old ally, from days long gone, The Guardians of Light. I met with Valkyrie, and her council, and requested their assistance. They were more than willing to help us in our endeavor to retake Olympus.

It had been many hours since the invasion of Olympus and a massive force was gathering at the Trinsic Barracks. Nearly 70 soldiers of the Purple Guardians of Honor, Guardians of Light, and Lord of The Eternal Realm were ready to make an attack on Olympus so as to retake the castle. Soon the order was given to begin the attack.

What was seen sent most people into shock when they gazed at the castle. Dragons stood upon the battlements and standing upon the roof of the Inner structure of the castle there were three massive Wyrms. We charged the front gates, which were still broken. We hadn't even made it to the courtyard, but many dragons, drakes, and a couple of those wyrms were already set upon us. We charged the creatures, with spears being thrusted into their chests and swords driven into their backs.

Soon walls of the castle were littered with the corpses of the creatures. As our forces climbed over the corpses to reach the courtyard, dragons flew over us and began to attack us from behind. Soon we saw the three tamers standing on the battlements, not even looking at the battle below.

They began sending more dragons at us, but we continued to bring down each dragon, one by one. We had finally reached the inner part of the castle. Within we found many more drakes, but we pushed on and killed each one. We finally reached the last wyrm. It was far larger than any other we had fought so far, but having all three guilds united, we had the power to overcome the wyrm's strength and destroy it finally.

The three tamer's face became filled with hate, and with an eerie red mist, they faded from sight. Olympus was covered in blood and corpses. The walls had burns and cracks in them, and the front gates were destroyed. It wouldn't take long for repairs to be made, but a question was now brewing in the minds of everyone there.

"What could have the power to do this?"

Suddenly, as though it could read our minds, we heard the voice. It seemed to be coming from the sky, and its tone was filled with rage and hatred.

"You have but won a small victory. Now your allies shall pay dearly for helping you fools. I am far from finished. You shall all feel my wrath!"

With that, silence griped the armies below. A sense of dread soon followed, for we knew whatever had done this was far from over, and that our allies, the Lords of The Eternal Realm and Guardians of Light would also be targeted by this foe.

From the Moonglow Free Press:

Last night, the armies of the Black wolf Clan (BWC) and the Ancient Order of the Wild Hunt (AWH) allied with the Serpent Council to attack the orc fort in Cove, slaying hundreds of orcs and ettins in their wake. Led by Knight-errant of the Warrior sect Ilin Thral, The army of balance laid waste to the fortress, slaying any orc or ettin that got in their path. With the docks cut off by Trinsic’s navy blockade, many orcs fell into the sea, where the sea serpents dined upon their carcasses.

This was in response to the recent Orc invasion on Trinsic’s borders, which killed several and put the entire city on a panic. Tacticians have identified the large force of orcs and Ettins at the Cove orc fort to be a possible staging ground for attacks on Trinsic.

The sea route from Cove to Trinsic is all but clear, allowing ships manned by Orc sailors to make their way around the south end of Trinsic unnoticed, while allowing them a strong defense position in the event of a counterattack.

A statement from Hierophant Ku Kullin determines their reason for their aggressive stance from an otherwise pacifistic organization:

“We have studied the situation with the orcs, and found that the attack on Trinsic was far too carefully calculated to be organized by Orcs, who have a very fragmented social structure. We assume that there is a more intelligent general leading these orcs, and decided to take action. This attack on the Orcs was to dwindle their numbers, and to psychologically unhinge their hierarchy, giving us a tactical advantage. Also, we felt that they needed a good thrashing!”

So far, there has been no response from the Orcs, or hostile counter attacks. Trinsic continues to remain on alert at this time.

The Mayor of Minoc received an invite for its citizens along with the other communities and towns, to come celebrate the Shadow Festival being held by the Gypsies of Shadowura (G*S).

This event will be held on Saturday, November 18th, 2000 from 3:00 pm Pacific (this is 6pm for est.) till the end. The festival will be a community get together to celebrate the ending of days of light and the coming of the shorter days of night (daylight savings time).

There will be a nominal fee for those that wish to participate of 500 gp per person or 300 per person for a group of 5 or more. The reason for this is that it will make up part of the grand prize contest. Some of the contest that will be offered are:

Riddle Scavenger Hunt (3 people per group), Story Telling contest, Rogue Relay (Lock pick a box, retrieve the item from within it and bring it back, sounds easy enough), Secret Contest, and Pirate’s Treasure Contest.

So for a friendly community celebration then gather your friends and come out for a night of food, drink and fun. Gates will be provided for those needing escorts from the banks at Minoc, Vesper and West Brit 30 mins before the event. The festival will be held in the city of Nujel’m at the Mystical Spirits Tavern, look for the D*S individuals.

(Please note that this is a role-playing event and the G*S will stay in character. For more information and in a RP format please go to http://www.surealism.net/UO/events.html this is the page it will be listed on or to the main page at http://www.surealism.net/UO Also, in order to be eligible to participate in the contests you must pay Myliana De`Rosa the entry fee, so as the money can be placed with the grand prize contest. To contact me my icq is 61960126 or [email protected] . Looking forward to seeing everyone there.)

Greetings,

The following is intended as an alternative to traditional teachings. Much of the new information can be validated through careful research, to which references have been included, for your convenience.

This correspondence is intended to dispel the rumor claiming the Cult of Juo'nar is motivated by darker intentions. This document will seek to remedy the confusion by revealing an accurate historical account, unclouded by political propaganda and agenda.

To clear the name of the followers, one must first show the leader to be innocent of the sins claimed. To this end, we will refer to events in the early days of 1998...

On February 5th, 1998, the Town Cryer reported that an attack on Trinsic was intended as a diversion for an assault on the Shrine of Spirituality, where Juo'nar was said to have brutally murdered three monks to obtain an amulet in their possession. Another article printed on the 11th went on to explain Juo'nar's expulsion from the Paladin's Guild, and his apparent alliance with orcs, ogres, ettins, and lizardmen. It also recounted the events that had transpired at the Shrine of Spirituality, involving three monks and an amulet. Both reports attempted to link him to the Followers of Armageddon, then known as the Zog Cabal...

But there is far more to this story than our history books would lead us to believe.

Juo'nar was of a noble family, and had quickly risen to prominence in the ranks of the Paladin's Guild. The Town Cryer would lead us to believe he was driven to divert funds and armaments to orc tribes due to excessive greed, but he was already well off, through his station and kin, and had little need of additional monies.

The truth behind the matter is that the Paladin's Guild had been systematically committing genocide against the orc tribes south of Cove. Each strike against the orcish encampment brought their culture and kin one step closer to complete annihilation, without regard for the fact they were intelligent, sentient beings with a right to life.

Juo'nar had protested the repeated attacks, citing little to no reasoning behind the assault, and soon requested an official investigation by Lord Crawworth of the Royal Court. When this was request was denied by Finth Desryn, Crawworth's lieutenant, Juo'nar publicly stated the Captain had made a poor decision based on prejudices against the orcish race.

Realizing no one within the ranks of the Paladins would be willing to assist him, and taking into account the dwindling resources of the orcish defense, Juo'nar opted to take matters into his own hands. Using his position as treasurer for the Paladin's Guild, he diverted a number of arms shipments to the orcish tribes, in an effort to grant them a fighting chance against the unending tide of Paladins and their allies.

When the murder of Lord Hartham brought the Royal Court into investigate the practices of the Paladin's Guild, Juo'nar's appropriation of arms and funds was discovered, and he was expelled from the Paladin's Guild. However, the character assassination was taken a step further by the Guild, who incited an angry mob to run him out of the city, with accusations he was in league with the Followers of Armageddon, and involved with the murder of Lord Hartham. This accusation was later shown to be false; Juo'nar had no ties to the Zog Cabal, as acknowledged in later reports involving the Followers of Armageddon, and therefore, had nothing to do with Hartham's death.

It is common knowledge that Juo'nar ordered the strike on the city of Trinsic, sending both orcs and lizardmen, races normally at war with each other, into a siege of its streets. However, the purpose of the attack has been lost amidst the chaos that ensued...

With his access to the Paladin's funding and armaments cut off, the orc tribe's supplies were slowly dwindling, causing their defenses to weaken and their hopes for survival disappear. Realizing that remaining on the defensive equaled unavoidable defeat, Juo'nar decided to make a move no one expected: a direct assault on the City of Paladins, intended to cripple the Paladin forces and their resources, thereby giving the orc tribe time to gather their resources and strengthen their defense.

However, when the army marched upon the city, instead of manning the battlements and barricading the gates, the Paladins FELL BACK to Paladin's Isle, leaving the city proper undefended. The women and children left without guard panicked and struck out against the orcs and lizardmen that marched towards Paladin's Isle; an attack riles a response, and many died that would not have had the Paladins not retreated to their own sanctuary.

Even with the element of surprise and city strategy provided by Juo'nar, the army was routed when they reached the isle. The ragtag army assembled was ill-equipped and sparse compared to the regal arms and endless ranks the Paladin's employed.

While the waters around Paladin's Isle ran crimson with blood, Juo'nar was nearby, involved with completely separate situation.

The incident at the Shrine of Spirituality has been debated for decades, but the truth behind the matter has never been discerned. The Town Cryer states that "Juo’nar was forced to kill three of the highest prefects of an order of peaceful monks, who were meditating near the Shrine of Spirituality". Oddly, the Cryer fails to name the prefect; if it was indeed one of the "highest prefects" in the land, one would assume it would be deserving of mention in news publications.

The fact of the matter is, the Cryer was misled by the Royal Court. The investigation into the incident at the Shrine of Spirituality was led by Finth Desryn, now the Captain of the Guard, and evidence found at the scene was twisted to paint a dark picture of Juo'nar's intentions.

During this time, as stated by the Town Cryer in its February 5th article, the lich "Lathiari wreaked havoc on the countryside near Yew". The monks at the Shrine of Spirituality were actually followers of Lathiari, and were attempting to corrupt the Shrine of Spirituality through use of an amulet provided to them by the lich they worshipped.

Juo'nar had learned of this through contacts within the orc tribes, and had attempted to contact the Royal Court with the information. Due to his criminal status, however, his requests for an audience were ignored, and his concerns went unheard.

Juo'nar then asked the orc tribe he had been assisting to provide him with a few of their warriors to accompany him to the shrine to deal with the situation. Upon reaching the Shrine, Juo'nar demanded the monks turn possession to the amulet over to him, but they resisted, through use of offensive magic. The citizen named Eric who reported witnessing the event did not arrive until after the monks had been felled, and upon arriving, instantly attacked the orcs accompanying Juo'nar without questioning the scene before him. When Juo'nar quickly forced him to submit or die in defense of his allies, the citizen fled the scene and began spreading an inaccurate tale of what had occurred, a tale that grew more flamboyant with each ale.

Although the true power of the amulet has never been determined, authorities attempted to associate Juo'nar's leadership of both orcs and lizardmen with the amulet's enchantment, for lack of a better explanation of why the two races normally at war with one another would join together.

The fact is, Juo'nar diplomatically enlisted the aid of a number of sentient races, citing the fact that if the Paladins succeeded in eradicating the orcs, it could be expected others would soon be targeted. Realizing unity was beneficial, the races banded together under Juo'nar's command, in an attempt to end the genocide and stop it from spreading.

A Town Cryer article dated May 5th, 1998, indicates in a retrospective that Juo'nar "wore the necklace openly, using it's magic to control the minds of the creatures he commanded as an army." However, Juo'nar wore a platemail gorget, which would have concealed any necklace, and no portrait of Juo'nar from that era includes a necklace. Further, there is no basis or research to support the claim that the necklace is what bound the races to Juo'nar's orders, as it was never recovered, and therefore, never tested to substantiate this claim.

February 19th of 1998 was rife with conflict, with Juo'nar directing numerous marches on a variety of locations. With the defeat in Trinsic, the only hope Juo'nar had was to cut off the supply caravans the Paladins were poised to receive; if they were received the shipments, there was little hope for the weakened orc defense, even with the alliance of other races.

Additionally, Juo'nar was notified that the followers of Lathiari were attempting to corrupt the other seven shrines. As he did not expect the Royal Court to heed his warnings, Juo'nar dispatched troops to each shrine, to intercept the monks before they could complete their rituals.

The citizens of Britannia, unaware of the motivation behind the orc marches, and spurred on by Finth Desryn's call to arms, assembled at the shrines and immediately attacked the forces as they arrived. The followers of Lathiari never materialized, undoubtedly due to the presence of both Juo'nar's forces and the citizens sent to oppose them.

One of the atrocities of this conflict was the death of Tali Desryn, the wife of the Captain of the Guard.

A caravan, carrying large amounts of weapons and armaments to equip the Paladins for what was thought to be their final strike against the orc tribes, was sent to Trinsic from Skara Brae. Realizing that there was no hope for the orcs if the caravan reached Trinsic, Juo'nar ordered it intercepted. When attacked, the caravan retreated to caves west of Trinsic, where conflict ensued.

Tali Desryn, leading the caravan, was killed in the assault; Finth had spared no expense and wasted no time in dispatching as many people as he could to assist the caravan when he heard it was attacked, but his reinforcements were too late.

The first report of the incident painted the assault as barbaric and without purpose; the Royal Court at first claimed that the caravan was not carrying military supplies, and that those leading it were unarmed and virtually defenseless.

This was eventually debunked, however, when the Cryer coerced the Skara Brae council to admit the caravan was in fact carrying supplies and weapons for the forces at Trinsic. Additionally, it was common knowledge that Tali, as the wife of the Captain of the Guard, was well versed in combat technique, and citizens arriving before the eventual capture of the caravan testified that she was armed and attacking those seeking to seize her caravan.

A note was found at the scene of the conflict, written by Juo'nar, including the following passages:

"Mine name has been besmirched by a subtle lot with an agenda I find deplorable. Betrayed by men close, and now even closer to thee."

This is obviously a reference to the associations implied by the Paladins, the refusal to order the investigation into the orc massacres, and the manipulation of the incident at the Shrine of Spirituality.

"With these tools thou hast kindly provided me I will not wreak havoc, nor shall I bring Chaos upon thee. I am most desirous of an Order. An order borne of service and dedication to the truth I shall enlighten all of Britannia with."

Here, Juo'nar indicates he does not wish to bring a state of anarchy, or waste the lives of Britannia's citizens; he intends only to bring order and peace, and to dispel the lies and deceptions the Royal Court had been perpetuating.

Oddly enough, the last paragraph, which indicates a desire to "rule the world", was not written in Juo'nar's handwriting, and his name is signed with a capital N. Juo'nar's name does not bear a capital N, however, and you would think he would not make such a mistake in signing his own signature. It is believed the threats were added in order to maintain his criminal image, as the prior comments in the letter sought to dispel any reference to evil intent. The public would be in near revolt if the truth behind the conflict surfaced, showing corruption in the Royal Guard and races they were taught to hate working to stop Lathiari and Kyrnia. And so, the political wheels began turning, propoganda used to keep the perspective of the masses where it was needed for the Royal Court to maintain control...

A troll ambush on Andre the Gambler's caravan March 29th was reported by the Royal Court to be part of Juo'nar's forces, but were in fact unaffiliated with the alliance, and working on their own accord.

A report the following day indicated Juo'nar's forces were sent to "hit such diverse locations as the fort south of Yew, the Shrine of Honesty, the swamps north of Trinsic, and the human cabins West of Vesper." The fort south of Yew was home to brigands; Juo'nar sought to confiscate resources from known criminals to reinforce his army. The Shrine of Honesty was the only shrine not targetted by the followers of Lathiari on the 19th of February, and it was suspected they might try to corrupt it. The swamps north of Trinsic were home to the lizardmen in Juo'nar's ranks; they weren't attacking anything there, only gathering. As for the cabins west of Vesper, they were unoccupied at that time of year, and the orcs were using them as shelter during a storm. Citizens passing by noticed the army encamped, and called out the guard.

The Town Cryer then makes a number of biased slanders, such as "like so many cowardly despots before him, he refuses to be in the vicinity of the attacks himself, preferring to work from the dark shadows where he keeps himself safe, and sacrificing the creatures he considers his slaves." This comment, even though they report him present at other battles, and at the Shrine incident. "This coward has no place in our world, and the sooner he is removed from it, the better." Would a coward defy the entire system of rule to prevent the genocide of a race his own people generally despise?

A report on May 17th indicates that Finth Desryn learned the location of Juo'nar's hideout, his childhood home in Occlo, and ordered an assault on the building. The account of the battle is as follows:

"Once discovered, Juo'nar attacked ferociously, using both magic and his blade to defend himself; he was none the less killed on the very land where he grew up."

Juo'nar was not ignorant, and faced with more than a dozen adversaries, he would have surrendered to imprisonment. However, Desryn had not ordered an arrest; he had ordered Juo'nar's execution, circumventing the virtue of Justice he was pledged to uphold to exact vengeance for his fallen wife. Juo'nar was murdered, denied fair trial and victim of a stray from Virtue on the part of none other than Captain of the Royal Guard. And with his death, the truth behind the conflict died, as well, with the history books claiming those loyal to British once again victorious over "an unspeakable evil".

The Paladins took charge of his body, but it somehow ended up in the hands of the Dread Lady Minax, who resurrected his corpse in the form of a lich and commanded him to lead an army of undead against the City of Paladins.

Many unfamiliar with his history instantly despised Juo'nar, as he was now an undead general of the most vile enemy Britannia had ever faced, and eventually the victor in an endless siege of Trinsic.

However, there are a number of facts to take into consideration. Juo'nar did not ask to become a lich; it was thrust upon him through necromantic ritual by Minax. And, as the animator of his corpse, Minax could compel him to her whim; in other words, although he limited control over his actions, he was a slave to Minax in every respect. Threatened that failure would bring Minax to seal him away in a tomb, forever trapped in the form she had forced upon him, and bound by the enchantment that gave him life, Juo'nar had no choice but to do what she commanded.

His fall during the reclamation of Trinsic was release, but his spirit could no longer manifest to communicate with the physical world, due to his undead state prior to death. And so, banished from this realm and weighted down with the burden of the past and the sins of the present, Juo'nar mourned his future and gathered his strength to reach out to those who would listen.

I have listened, and I believe.

The Rapture now begins.

-Jonathan Rye

Greetings Humies,

It seems the rumor and gossip of the land has spread far. Several weeks ago, Kor the Orc King, of the Orcs of Kor was resurrected. Having been dead for a lengthy time, and thusly weakened, the Orcs did not want to openly announce of his return just yet.

Alas it seems that word has spread to the enemies of the Orcs of Kor. The lesser orcs that inhabit the world which they refer to as Urks, launched a great assault on the Orc Fort.

Having just finished celebrating a great gambling victory, the drunk orcs were caught a little off guard by the assault.

A loud blast of exploding fire was heard, as the doors to the Orc Fort nearly were blown away. Many Urks and Ettins rushed into the Fort, being led by an Urk Mage Lord. The Mage Lord, painted in pink-red war paint was a ferocious sight.

Quickly the Orcs charged into the huge assault force. With orcish ale running through their veins, and endless enemies to kill, the Orcs surely thought they were dreaming. They were quickly reminded it was not though, as the Urk Mage Lord let loose tremendous amounts of magic, singing every orc in sight.

Just as the Orcs turned to engage the Urk Mage Lord, more Urks rushed into the Orc Fort. Superior Orc combat tactics and healing did seem to even the odds... momentarily.

Two Urk Cheiftains, coated in blue war paint rushed through the fort entrance, demolishing what was left of the doors. Just as strong as the Urk Mage Lord, these Urks quickly began chopping and hacking at the Orcs of Kor troops. Behind the Chieftains, came yet another force of Urks.

Outnumbered, not a single orc thought of fleeing. A few Orcs did grunt angrily about starting to feel sober. The Orcs directed their attacks first at the lesser Urks, until they had all been slain.

The three Urks in war paint, despite being constantly attacked, were barely harmed. Looking for an advantage, Kor the Orc King then led a charge into the tower of the Orc Fort. The battle has difficult and bloody. With unique Orc tactics and even some Orcish magic, the Orcs eventually defeated these vile Urk raiders.

Most orcs swore that nearly half a day passed, until the last Urk Chieftain had falled. It was a long, gruesome, bloody battle. A good reason to drink!

Now that Kor's return is known, the Orcs of Kor have sent out scouts to determine who may have been behind this attack. Is it a powerful Urk Overlord? A Demi-God? Or the dreaded Dark Orcs which have nearly vanished from the world? Only time will tell.

Scribe of Kor, Orcs of Kor (ORK)

Publish Update

We will be publishing the stablemaster changes listed in Testing for Next Update to the Sonoma Shard. The publish will be active on the shard following its Wednesday, November 15th maintenance period, barring any unforeseen downtimes. We will continue to monitor the Sonoma shard for any issues that may arise, and will continue to publish to all remaining shards as soon as possible.

Additionally, we will be publishing the overland spawn changes, previously published on Great Lakes only, to all shards this evening. These changes will be available on all shards following their next scheduled maintenance periods.

The changes will be added to Latest Game Updates once the publish is active on all shards.

Also on Friday was the reappearance of Smithson, now in the guise of a green wraith. Here is Niamb Goldenhair’s account of that night’s events:

We had two massive attacks on our town Friday. In the first, our numbers were small and I heard close to 12 were killed. Just prior to the attack, the ghost of Smithson appeared to warn the Village of Edinburgh. He spoke so that all could understand his words and pointed to the cave and then walked inside, saying he was lost and warning us to flee for our lives. With that Smithson disappeared beside the gold and a massive spawn erupted from both inside and outside the cave. This involved earth elementals, fire elementals, orcs, orc lords, ettins and evil mages. Our brave people were swamped and barely fought off this attack. Many lost their lives in defense of our village.

Smithson warns an assembly inside of the mine near Edinburgh Village
[Picture Credit: Kento of the Order of the Silver Serpent]

Later in the evening Spyte came to the Whispering Pines Tavern. He said the mages have lost interest in the pirates as a means of gaining control of the mine. The pirates are not aware of this, however, and Caine plans to visit our village this evening. Spyte has plans for Caine and says he will kill Caine if he sees him.

After Spyte left, we had another large attack of elementals, orc, ettins and evil mages, but with a large party on hand, were able to beat them off successfully.

The golden elementals are going to the pirates because they are trying to get a child of theirs returned to them. Although it is most likely the pirates have just smelted the poor little thing down, we may want to try to find out if the baby elemental is still alive and figure out a rescue of it.

Events this Week!

• Ultima Online Stratics will be hosting a chat this Thursday at 7pm CST in #ultima-online. The conference will focus on the latest UO expansion, Ultima-Online: Third Dawn.
• JumpGate Stratics will be hosting a JumpGate House of Commons chat this Thursday at 7pm CST in #jghoc.

Stratics Central

• Check out our Hardware Review section, featuring coverage from Gamer's Depot, to learn all about the latest in online gaming technology.

Asheron's Call Stratics

• Yet more Meet the Devs interviews have arrived. This week saw Elliot Gilman, Cardell Kerr, Justin Quimby, James Todd, and VP of Production David Bowman take a spin in the AC Stratics' interrogation chair.
• Also, we've made a couple of updates to the Quest Guides:
  1. The Composite Bow Quest Guide has finally been finished. Thanks to Scrime for writing it and to Casper for gathering the icons.
  2. The Neydisa Hauberk Quest Guide has been updated with how to get a set of 20 of Oswald's Throwing Daggers

Atriarch Stratics

• A lot has been going on here at Atriarch Stratics! This week we released our fourth Developer Profile, this time featuring Iimzodar.
We also held our sixth Atriarch Stratics House of Commons developer chat! Currently in our news is also a log of the conversation that occured after the House of Commons, which sheds more light on some topics we covered. If you're interested in participating in these chats, or #atriarch, our IRC channel, you can check out our House of Commons section, or our Atriarch IRC section for more information.

Camelot Stratics

• Dark Age of Camelot has finally gone into second stage beta, a lot of people are awaiting their confirmation if they have been selected to join in. This should promise a lot of new stories and screenshots coming up soon.
• Camelot Stratics has opened up an Art contest, make your best artwork for or about Camelot and win PRIZES, we have 3 prizes to give away. First prize is a Stratics Sweater, the second prize an official Stratics mug and the third prize is a Stratics mouse pad. Be sure to check the contest out.

EverQuest Stratics

• The EQSS Staff is back from the EverQuest Festival 2000 in Houston, Texas and it was a fantastic trip! Ron Pinkerton and his family and friends did a spectacular job of putting everthing together and everyone here from EQSS just had a wonderful time. Check out our stories and pictures in the EQ Fest 2000 Recap and Review!
• The Racial Reference chart has been updated. Thanks to Leng for adding the Iksar and the Erudite Shadowknight!
• EQ Stratics would like to welcome the Inn of Bristlebane to our family of forums. Please grab drink and welcome our new friends.

Jumpgate Stratics

• We have completed redesigning and upgrading all the statistic pages here at JumpGate Stratics. The three new pages are Radar, ECM, and Commodities. Next we plan on making them sortable any way you like!
• Did you have a problem with the old forums of ours? Were they too slow? You should see how they run now!!

Neverwinter Nights Stratics

• Over 17 Bioware folks showed up this past week to answer questions from over 200 players! Check out the logs for last week's Neverwinter House of Commons chat.

Neocron Stratics

• Get aquainted with the future! Check out the Stratics' Beginner's Guide to Neocron. With rumors of beta starting this month, be sure to fill out that application.

Shadowbane Stratics

• Our wonderful Graublitz has delved into the highly anticipated promise by Q3 to create a game model (for Quake, Unreal, etc) in your own likeness. Read all about it in our exclusive interview with Q3's president.
• Would you like to get involved with Shadowbane Stratics' artistic community? Submit some fantasy art and get it featured on our site!

Ultima-Online Stratics

• This week is of course the week of UO: Third Dawn, the newly announced 3D client for Ultima Online. Read all about it on our General News pages. Also, have a look at our reports from the Ultima Online World Faire, where players and developers spent two entire days together discussing all aspects of the game and of course having peeks at demos of the new 3D client.

Stage 1 Sites

• Middle Earth Stratics
• Middle Earth Stratics is starting to reorganize, and focus on some neat stuff. Expect some announcements later this week.
• Dawn Stratics
• Dawn Straticsis coming alive! With help from Darien Kane, the fanatic JLBesser and other Dawn fans, we'll be creating new sections, content and updating Dawn Stratics with regular news.

On my member site you will find the world's first UO Webcam. Watch me in UO as I adventure! This is a direct s-video feed from my display as I see it!

http://members.nbci.com/dslye30796614

Added Friday, November 10th, 2000:
- ImaNewbie Episode #128 - Who Says DoOdZ Can't Roleplay!

ImaNewbie does Britannia http://www.imanewbie.com/

later...Tryon

It seems that a man by the name of Forger was seen on Lake Hammerfell delivering some type of message, "Though your memory be clouded." The significance of this message is not yet known, but we will be sure to keep you posted.

Azazel,

City of Haven

Hail All!
As you know I am leaving UO. This Fri 17th @ 9:00 PM PST 12:00 EST I will be sponsoring a 1v1 fight night at Grim.
Here are the rules and the incredible stakes:

1) Full Grim rules will be in effect.
2) First place takes home 200K (Yes I did not insert an extra 0, 200K)
3) The winner of the 1v1 (if it's not me) gains the privilege of fighting me for my 2 story (fel NE of Minoc no spawn) partially decorated and fully stocked. This will be a best 2 out of three match (time permitting).
4) At the end of the event I will donate 200K to Grim and Dyastro will match it in my memory. This money is to be spent sponsoring grim fights and ensuring there will be no entry fees for a long time to come!
5)There will be no entry fee to participate, but depending on attendance we may have to restrict participation on a first come first serve basis. SHOW UP TO REGISTER EARLY!

I gained my wealth and possessions through PvP'ing (never had a mule char) and now I want to distribute them the same way I won them! I lived by the sword and I'll die by it! So come if you dare and try to take a piece of Kami home with ya!

I expect it to be a very interesting night and for the level and quality of competition to be fierce! See you all there!

-Kamikaze

· No charged magic items, clothing, or jewelry. No magic armor and weapons allowed.
· No pre-poisoned weapons. They may be poisoned during the battle.
· No use of summoning spells, field spells, blade spirits, energy vortex, recall or gate.
· No Stealing is allowed during battle.
· The spell Des Mani (Weaken) is not allowed, nor can you cast Bless on an opponent.
Casting Bless on an opponent will result in immediate loss of match.

Disclaimers:
· All contestants are subject to snooping by Grimoire Staff to ensure everyone is participating fairly.
· The Event Coordinator's decision on all matches is final and will not be disputed during the event.
· Anyone who disrupts the flow of the event for any reason will be banned until after the event.
· In the event that a contestant loses connection during the event, the Event Coordinator will make a decision as to the possibility of a rematch. That decision stands and may not be disputed. Any disputes will be handled after the event.
· A connection loss during combat events where the roof is sealed off, will result in an automatic forfeit.
· The Event Coordinator reserves the right to adjust these rules at any time without notice.

To avoid confusion, registration will start at 8:30 PM PST, and end at 9:00 PM PST. No late entries. Tournament will start at 9:10 PM PST.

We must have a minimum of 4 teams to start this event!

This event takes place in the Grande Grimoire Battle Arena. Once you have entered the Grande Grimoire Battle Arena, all Contestants are bound by the Rules of the Battle Arena. Failure to follow these rules may result in your death or banishment from the Arena. http://www.battlevortex.com/grimoire/tourney_rules_overall.shtml

Contestants and Spectators must observe and obey all the Village Laws. Failure to do so can end in your death or banishment from the village. http://www.battlevortex.com/grimoire/grimoire_rules.shtml

For calendar of events, rules, maps and community message board, please visit: http://www.battlevortex.com/grimoire/index.shtml

Greetings,

The Europa Sosarian Senate had its 1st meeting last night but sadly 7 of the senators and their aids were ambushed by the outcast Lemon and his gang and many senators were killed.The senate was formed under the flag of LORD BRITISH to coordinate all those joining the TRUE BRITANNIAN faction so that large scale battles can be planned and fought in order to wipe the rising hordes of evil form the land.We call on all good people of fellucca to join us!! If you can fight register with the Europa Sosarian army to take part in our glorious defence of the realm! if you cannot fight join the senate to debate strategy or our support forces to help the troops on the battlefield! So to everyone joining the TRUE BRITANNIAN faction together & united we can have victory!!

Please visit http://www.sosaria.8m.com and select the join link to register with us and recieve news updates.

Senator

Yesterday, the first part of the Quest took place in Ravenmoor. All the adventurers who came where assigned to find the Evil Durathor and his group and to put a definitive end to their activity. The Judge Tyrghen has asked to those brave souls to discover what lies behind those murders aswell as who ordered them. At first, the adventurers asked the family of the victims about any informations they could know and which might help to solve this case. They learned about the Britannian Vigilance Organisation, the BVO, and found a notebook where Khanor, the first victim, wrote this after the BVO abbreviation: "Eno Eno Thgie Htron' Yb 'Ytnewt Tsae' Yb Eht Noegnud fo Gnorw". Which was, if you reverse the words: "One One Eight North by Twenty East by the Dungeon of Wrong". Following this coordinates, the Adventurers found a house called: "The Heart of Vigilance".

This was the end of the first part, and the house will be the starting point for the second part.

You can find all news and events in the Town site: http://linux.telnett.no/ravenmoor/

Tyrghen of Ravenmoor

• Pentium II 266
• 28.8k modem
• 64 Megs of RAM
• DirectX compatible video card with 16 MB of video RAM
• Win 95 or better
• Windows compatible sound card
• 4X CD-ROM/DVD
• Approximately 500 Megs of HD space for full install

As more details become available on this issue we'll make sure to let you know! Thanks to Sage for filling us in!

3D has lots of advantages over 2D. Particle effects are the tip of the iceberg. The animation in UO3D is smooth and seamless, and a lot more realistic. Also, it's a lot quicker to create animation. With Sprites, adding a new Laugh social animation is nearly impossible, since you have to draw every possible frame position for every possible piece of clothing. With 3D, it's just a skeleton. Easy to create and small to download.

Other people have talked about other benefits, such as how it will be easier to add new stuff and the relative download size of polygon monsters vs sprite monsters. Also, it's not insignificant to note that using 3D offers benefits that the geniuses over at nVidia and 3dfx come up with.

The camera remains static for a lot of reasons, many of which revolve around the balance and style of gameplay that already exists in Ultima Online that would be unfortunate to upset. For example, consider the piano screenshot that Joshua sent out last week. The fact that you can do that in UO is one of the amazing things about it, but if you can move the camera around to wherever you want, that delicate illusion is destroyed. There are other issues, such as ensuring that players of the 3D client have no advantages of range over those with the 2d client.

I'm actually quite excited and impressed by what the UO3D team has done, and not totally because my brother is one of the programmers on it. =) I think that anyone who loves or loved UO should give it a shot before they dismiss it outright.

--Ubiq

Here are the details :

Sunday, November 19th from 2 pm (pst) to 4 pm, there will be a scavenger hunt. It will start from the town hall of Avalon at 2pm sharp. I will have books available with rules at that time. Some of the items may involve a little hunting so come prepared. Prizes are as follows:

1st place 30k in gold
2nd place 20k in gold
3rd place 10k in gold

If you have any questions, ICQ me at 28846597.

If there are many people that need help getting to Avalon, transportation can be arranged--just icq me.

Ursula (not of the Golden Brew)

The Rich Mans Inn is looking to fill multiple postions for the tavern. The jobs are volunteer work but it is very entertaining to fill htese spots If you are intrested in participating in our fair tavern please ICQ me at 55432884. The Positions are...

• Advertisement Director
• Casino Dealer

The sooner we fill these positions the sooner our tavern will be open full time. Thank you.

--Alan the Barkeep--

Hail to thee my good friends. Sit down and let me tell ye of some recent secrets that have been revealed to me regarding the fair city of Wintermoor. Both Beast of foul origin and Behemoth of the Depths have invaded our fair city again and again. Every incidence of attack has yielded more and more waves of creatures, thus we can only assume much darker days ahead.

The night dragged on and quickly many of us fell to the various Water Elementals, Sea Serpents and deadly Krakens that paraded over the land. More and more valiant warriors arrived to slow down this menacing threat.

But we realized from this last attack, that something was not quite right. The monsters were entering various buildings and spreading themselves throughout the town in search of something! These foul beasts were either being controlled by someone or something. This last attack, which was the strongest, occurred after the old Naval Academy had been closed for renovations. This building is to be reborn into a new wing of the Museum.

The Western Wing of the Museum has been bringing in new and foreign rare objects in for display. It was there that we noticed the strange humming sound and the mild blue glow on some of the foreign objects. We will have to do some further study, but it does appear that there is a link between some of the new objects for future display and the recent attacks.

Sincerely,

Xanthar of the Museum

Mayor of Wintermoor

Hello citizens of Baja,

Please join us for the grand wedding of Croc and Emma on Sunday November the 12th at Emma's tower just behind the old LoD keep on the Felucca facet. On the map, this is just on the west side of the mountains around Wrong, between the mountains and the player-ran city of Avalon. Hope to see you there. It will be a spectatular occasion.

Baja Newsman

Hail !

On Sunday the 12th november (tonight), at 9pm GMT (10 pm CET, 4pm EST), UOchat.co.uk is holding the first ever Drachenfels PvP irc meeting, on the Stratics IRC servers ! Every single PvP guild is annoyed with Buccaneer's Den, and we aim to resolve this as of now.

All guilds are invited to attend. The session will work like this, much like the UOHoC :

• Every guild can have one member (best if it's the GM) voiced in the channel.
• The room for the first thirty minutes will be moderated and all topics and questions will come from the GMs
• If during that time people wish to ask something they must private message the gm of their guild to ask.
• After the first 30 mins the room will be un moderated and it will be a free discussion.

Tonight on irc.stratics.com, Channel #uochat.co.uk, uochat will be hosting the first EVER drachenfels pvp talk ! The aim of this is to resolve once and for all the locations we fight in. If we all agree on things we will have much more fun in the game and small guilds and such will follow us.

Its for all pvp guilds, so make sure you dont miss out!
Regards
Sion

The Alliance of Virtue and the Village of Shadowlight would like t' invite everyone t' Thanksgiving dinner!

We will be serving a three course meal on Sunday, November 19th at the AoV Tavern of Virtues, on the Trammel Facet. Dinner will be served between the hours of 5:00pm & 9:00pm, west coast time.

Thanksgiving is a time t' be thankful for the things we have. The AoV and Shadowlight have many a reason t' be thankful.. because of this, the meal will cost ye NOTHING. Tis' our way of saying thank ye t' the friends and allies we have, and t' those we hope t' have in the future. Those of ye that think ye have nothing t' be thankful for, ye will soon enough! The food will be better then ye can get at any pub in town!

Yer meal will consist of:

1st Course/Salad
Salad with Fall Squash Chutney Dressing
Various Breads

2nd Course/Main Entree
Turkey
Beets
Mashed Potatoes
Choice of One Vegetable- Corn, Carrots, Cabbage
Roll

3rd Course/Dessert
Pumpkin Pie

Beverages
Wine
Ale
Water
Milk

A pitcher o' any beverage will accompany yer meal. Additional beverages can be purchased at a minimal cost, just ask yer waiter/waitress.

Gates will be provided from North Britain Counselor Guild and Vesper Bank. Gates t'will begin at 5:45pm west coast time, and will be summoned at intervals all through-out the dinner. There are also runes at the Golden Brew and the Ring of Steel Tower. For a map t' the village and tavern, please visit the Shadowlight Historical Documents and look at the 'area map'.

Can't wait t' see ye there!

Anvil, AoV
Mstr of Ceremony, HC

Together I, Obao, and my friend Savage Vamp, are hosting a weekly tournament. The event well be held every Saterday, 2 PM Est (11 AM Pst), on Savage's large tower roof. On the Felucca facet, Located at 123 29 n 86 24 e, about a 30 second run north of Minoc stables. The tower itself is named Nifty Little Shack.

Official tournament rules and regulations:

Tournament will held for 1 vs. 1 or group(s). No more than 3 per group. If you wish to participate in a group, you have to have your group chosen beforehand. With groups there may not be another group willing to fight of the same size, so no guarantees.

There will be a small fee of 1k per person to fight. Around 10% of the total will go to me for the use of my tower, random supplies and decorations. The rest will go back as prizes. Depending on the number of people who show up, the prize amount will vary, but will be approximately 60% to first place winners, and 40% to second place.

Looting will be decided by the people in the fight beforehand. If you don't want any looting to occur you must request it. If any member on either team decided upon no looting, neither team can loot.

Anything goes...well, almost anything. No pets allowed except a regular horse. No mares for fighting purposes, if you only have it to ride then mares will be permitted. All forms of PvP allowed. Bards, Assassins, mages, warriors, whatever you want to use. Bandages, potions (including explosion) may be used.

All forms of poison are legal, and no magic weapons or armor may be used. GM is top of the line. Any weapon style may be used.

There will be several vendors on top of tower selling cloth, bandies, potions, armor, weapons, and other combat related items.

123 29 n 86 24 e are the coordinates. Tower's name is Nifty Little Shack. It is located around 30 seconds north of Minoc stables. No reservations required. If lag gets to heavy from too many people watching, the tournament will be broken into 2 segments and half of the participants and people watching will have to leave. I will decide who leaves, and my decision is final. If you don't not get to watch or participate in the first event, you will see the second.

Not sure how I am going to keep the fighters from not giving murder counts. I will have a guild stone and hopefully guild the participants so that no count can be given.

The Kingdom of Dawn will be hosting its first Tournament for Merchants on Sunday, November 26, 2000, starting at 6 PM PST. It will be held in the Kingdom of Dawn, which is located east of Dungeon Wrong, Felucca facet. The events and rules are as follows:

Harvesting Contests:

Lumberjacking

The contestants will have 30 minutes to get as many logs/boards as possible from the trees in the nearby area. You will drop the logs/boards at the feet of your counter. We will try to have no more then 2 contestants per counter. No pack animals allowed. The winner will get a cash prize of 10,000 gold pieces.

Mining

The contestants will have 30 minutes to mine as much ore as possible from the nearby mountains. You will drop the ore at the feet of your counter. We will try to have no more then 2 contestants per counter. No pack animals allowed. The winner will get a cash prize of 10,000 gold pieces.

Crafting Contests:

Blacksmithing (Non GM Division)

The contestants will have 5 minutes to make as many Plate Helms as possible of the highest possible quality. You will be given a backpack with a book with your name on it to put them into. No resmelting allowed. You will hand the backpack to the judge who will arms lore the items to determine the quality. The winner will receive a cash prize of 10,000 gold pieces.

Blacksmithing (GM Division)

The contestants will have 5 minutes to make as many GM Marked Plate Chests as possible. You will be given a backpack with a book with your name on it to put them into. No resmelting, strength or bless spell, or strength potions allowed. You will hand the backpack to the judge who will arms lore the items to determine their quality. The winner will get a cash prize of 10,000 gold pieces.

Carpentry (Non GM Division)

The contestants will have 5 minutes to make as many Writing Desks as possible of the highest possible quality. You will be given a backpack with a book with your name on it to put them into. You will hand the backpack to the judge who will examine the items to determine their quality. The winner will receive a cash prize of 10,000 gold pieces.

Carpentry (GM Division)

The contestants will have 5 minutes to make as many GM Marked Quarter Staff as possible. You will be given a backpack with a book with your name on it to put them into. You will hand the backpack to the judge who will explain the items to determine their quality. The winner will get a cash prize of 10,000 gold pieces.

Tailoring (Non GM Division)

The contestants will have 5 minutes to make as many One Piece Female Armor Leather with Brown as possible of the highest possible quality. You will be given a backpack with a book with your name on it to put them into. No unraveling allowed. You will hand the backpack to the judge who will arms lore the items to determine the quality. The winner will receive a cash prize of 10,000 gold pieces.

Tailoring (GM Division)

The contestants will have 5 minutes to make as many GM Marked Studded Leather Tunic as possible. You will be given a backpack with a book with your name on it to put them into. No unraveling allowed. You will hand the backpack to the judge who will explain the items to determine their quality. The winner will get a cash prize of 10,000 gold pieces.

Pre-registration for the crafting events is requested. Questions and pre-registration can be emailed to [email protected].

• Pentium II 266
• 28.8k modem
• 64 Megs of RAM
• DirectX compatible video card with 16 MB of video RAM
• Win 95 or better
• Windows compatible sound card
• 4X CD-ROM/DVD
• Approximately 500 Megs of HD space for full install

The second final day of the UO World Faire began with a grand spell fizzle, as masses of patrons from the first day were unable to gate from their hotel rooms after a night of partying as intense as gamers are capable of. Indeed it wasn't until noon that some people were unable to manage to walk the 1.5 blocks from their hotel rooms to the convention center. Only a half hour into the second day, I attended the community building session, where Gordon "Tyrant" Walton actually managed to not say a word while the most vocal UO community members spat back and forth about message board activity, and reporter ethics. Then, finally, Gordon spoke up, only to say, "Bug Sites BAD!" (words in italics are mine)

Of course he didn't really use such simple english, but this being a family site, I cannot use his actual words. Which I will only say starts with the letter "F", and does not inlude these letters: 'a,b,d,e,g-j,l-t,v-z'. This being a wild party and all, we were not unfamiliar with the term. The fem-dom vendor was still open, and full of stuff. We think this may be because their items have been nerfed. (there seriously is a fem-dom vendor here, but they don't say "welcome to my shop", they say something else.) Maybe someone will come by later and check them for money, and let us know why they're here.

They've had a lot of live acts going on, live poem readings in a heavy accent, grown white men singing Little Mermaid songs, Kung Fu demonstrations, and even renaissance costumed battle displays! It's worlds more fun than I expected to have. It seems that no matter how much fun I have, LadyMOI has more. She was seen earlier alone in the stands, perhaps the only person moving to the music. We salute her enthusiasm, for it's worthy of saluting.

Seriously now, this is much more fun than I expected to have, and that's saying quite a bit. Must go, they are rolling out the cookie carts!

---Rainman

Thursday the 16th of November the Ravenmoor Journal will host the first Death Drink. Place of happening will be the Drunken Guard Tavern. Healers and warriors from all over Britannia are invited to join this new monthly event.

More info can be found on http://www.geocities.com/ravenmoorjournal

I was sitting in the library at Stonekeep today studying old guardsmen’s reports one of my favourite pastimes. I had just finished ready how Former Corporal Glywellyn had defeated a Lich with his fists when all of a sudden I heard a commotion outside. I rushed to the window and saw four or five guardsmen running around near the Workshop. Not wanting to be excluded a moment longer from the new excitement I rushed down the stairs and within a minute was standing by the Workshop.

It was to my horror I saw three dead orcs lying belay the soldier’s feet and Captain Drakan and Sergeant Rhodry looking concerned. They were talking to a citizen. By now a patrol had come back from the valley and a few other citizens had joined the commotion. Manuvering myself into a better position I started to listen intently to what the Officers were talking to the citizen about.

Within a few moments I gathered that this Citizen was actually a Merchant and an employee of the Yew Winery. He said he was carrying important artefacts that must be delivered to Vesper before dawn! He said he would gladly pay more than double the Kings Tax for an escort to Vesper. More guardsmen had joined the circle and it was getting to be quite a gathering of folk. After a few more words I heard Sergeant Rhodrys voice cut through the crowd. ‘Line UP’ he shouted with a soldier like tone that someone could identify as him long before they could see his face.

Now the guardsmen were organised I could see that there were around ten guardsmen in the line up. Captain Drakan turned to the guardsmen and explained that they would be escorting the citizen from here to Vesper. Not wishing to miss a battle opportunity the guardsmen leapt at the chance and promptly marched out of Stonekeep.

I must admit that I was quite shocked so far at my whole experience but never the less I continued to allow myself to be swept away in the crowd. As I had predicted this was not an easy journey… Almost straight after we left Stonekeep we were ambushed by a fair few orcs. For a moment I though the party was a gonna but only one-man fell. I decided then to position myself between the Merchant and his escorts.

As I said it wasn’t an easy journey to Vesper. Trolls, Ettins, Orcs, Wraiths and other bloodthirsty fiends met us at every bend. At the first bridge we came under heavy attack by Harpy’s, at the desert it was yet more orcs and at the edge of Vesper; trolls. However the party made it to Vesper in one piece and the Merchant deposited the Artefact in one piece. He then gave the guardsmen a present, to the corsair division he gave treasure maps, to the merry men he gave wine and to the marksmen squad he produced precious gems. Each guardsman also received a good wage packet that day.

The merchant however promptly departed and the Officers wished him good luck with his business in Vesper. Way beyond their boundaries the Guardsmen turned back for the long walk home….

As I sit back in the library I reflect on the events of today, so many questions unanswered, What was the Artefact? Why was it needed in Vesper? And do the orcs that attacked the Merchant have anything to do with the orcs that sieged stonekeep under Maia’s control a few weeks back…

*Sighs as he finishes the parchment* Mayhap time will tell…

Guardsmen Line up at Vesper

James Whitely

Citizen of Stonekeep

November 9

With danger for my own live, I interviewed one of the brigands who are often seen in the Mainstreet. They form an danger to everyone passing through or visiting the town.

I been attacked many times by brigand in the Mainstreet. I always managed to outrun them, but this time that was not the idea. I was going to talk to one. Before I went to see them I visited the Drunken Guard Tavern for some ale for courage.

When leaving the tavern I went looking for the brigands. And as usual, when you are looking for someone, they can't be found. But he who continues wins, and so, after an hour and a half searching I found one. Well, she found me. I was looking for them in the north part of town, when I suddenly heard someone shooting: Attack. Liza, as that was here name came running up to me, her spear aimed at my heart. As my leather armor, although made by Woody, does not offer protection to that, I ran. While running, I remembered my mission for that day. I stopped running and leaned with my back to a tree. Liza ran towards me. At the final moment I stepped to the right, and her spear went into the tree. Now that she could not attack me, I started talking to her. Furious as she was she only called me names. I offered her some fish steaks and some ale to calm her down. Finally she agreed to talk to me.

Why are the brigand so often in the Mainstreet?
What’s the Mainstreet?
The Mainstreet is the road leading from the guardpost to the swamp.
Oh, well, as you might have seen there are several shops on this road. All those are filled with goods. Many visitors come here to buy those goods. We don’t want them to spend their money on the goods. We want them to donate their money to the shrine of evil.
How can they donate their money to the shrine if you kill them?
We kill them and take their money of their corpses. Than we donate their money to the shrine of evil. In fact we are doing them a pleasure. They don’t have to travel all the way to the shrine.
But you kill them!
Well death ain't so bad. Heaven seems to be very peaceful.
Can't you just ask people for their money? You donate it to the shrine of evil, so it for a good purpose.
We did that long time ago, but most travellers refused. So we killed them. Which reminds me, I want your money too. To donate ofcource.
Well, I am sorry, but I don't have anything on me. I am just a poor reporter.

My reply invoked her anger and in one burst of strength she pulled her spear out of the tree and attacked me. I managed to avoid her attack, although I was heavily cut in my arm. I ran and lost her in the forest. The town healers took care of the cut in my arm. Now that I know the reason of the brigand attacks, I will donate some money to the shrine of evil in the near future. I hope that will end the brigands attacks.

Rik of Ravenmoor
Reporter for the Ravenmoor Journal

Greetings,

The Europa Sosarian Senate had its 1st meeting last night but sadly 7 of the senators and their aids were ambushed by the outcast Lemon and his gang and many senators were killed.The senate was formed under the flag of LORD BRITISH to coordinate all those joining the TRUE BRITANNIAN faction so that large scale battles can be planned and fought in order to wipe the rising hordes of evil form the land.We call on all good people of fellucca to join us!! If you can fight register with the Europa Sosarian army to take part in our glorious defence of the realm! if you cannot fight join the senate to debate strategy or our support forces to help the troops on the battlefield!

So to everyone joining the TRUE BRITANNIAN faction together & united we can have victory!!

Please visit http://www.sosaria.8m.com and select the join link to register with us and recieve news updates.

Senator Morgroth

It was a stormy night when I arrived in Spiritwood. Cold and soaked to the bone in my leather garments I stood before the great oak doors of the Ranger Headquarters. "Knock, knock" went the sound as my gnarled and worn staff tapped upon them. The door opened as if I was expected and a Ranger calling herself Wenchkin quickly greeted me.

"Greetings and who might you be?" the slender woman asked I quickly entered into the doors and handed her the message that I had been sent to deliver. "I come with grave news, the undead have arisen and are destroying all in their path. Farms and small villages have come under attack. My master sent this message for you" I said quite hastily without taking a breath. I handed her a rather wet note wrapped in leather.

"To the rangers of Skara Brae, I send this message in deep urnest, for the undead have arisen in great force. They have destroyed settlement after settlement searching for a man called Snide and something named Eden? What Eden is, I know not but at least to say I do know this Snide. He is a renowned pirate of these parts, a cowardly figure that would sell his own mother. This man will arrive on Sunday in Yew. H e often comes to port to release crewmen from jail or to get heavily drunk at the winery. The undead seem to know this and a great army is marching towards Yew. Please come to our aid, I fear I will not be here when thou dost reach the city for I will flee with my family. Aid the people of Yew and stop the Undead from consuming the northern lands. Sir Robert.

Looking quite astounded by what she had read the lady begged me to sit for a while. "I am sorry but I cannot stay long I must return to Yew and defend by land" I said as she passed me a cup of warm brew. Looking at me with concern she asked, "When will the attacks take place? And in what direction"

"From the south they will come, from their den of Nohkmar" I hissed cursing the foul abominations beneath my breath "They have destroyed farms and homes of the forest people"

Another knock came at the door and there came three more rangers and soon a meeting was held. It was brief to say the least but that is what's needed in such hasty situations as these. Soon I departed and rode as fast as I could to the city of Yew.

When I arrived my worst fears began to come to fruition; I saw burned out houses, dead cattle and fields crushed underfoot by vast numbers of boots. Nearing the abbey I saw torches and banners bearing the symbols of the Undead. I ran out of the bushes which I was hidden to try and pass them into the woods near my home. 'Twas a foolish endeavour not two steps from the bush had I trod before being spotted by a regiment of evil.

Scared outta my wits I ran into the heart of the town only to come face to face with two adolescent orcs. They promptly demanded I pay them tribute but I was not going in for such nonsense my mind was filled with the fear that my family had been slain already.

Running as fast as I could to get away from the evil that lay about I ran towards the courthouses in desperation that some guards had blocked the gates to defend themselves. As I approached I found the place crawling with troops. And yet these men that scavenged the buildings where not men of Yew and nor were they Rangers.

I approached stealthily towards the gates where a group had amassed and there in the clearing of the courtyard amongst these strange warriors dressed in garments of black and white stood the Rangers.

"John!" came a familiar cry. I quickly turned to face the direction of the voice to be relieved to find the fair Wenchkin coming towards me. " We have come John I said we would, but as for talking to this Snide he is going to be arrested by these men for treason" Wenchkin said pointing towards the warriors. "Arrest? But who are they? They are not men of Yew? I replied as the fear in my head now subsided into confusion. "They claim to be the Guards of Eden, they have joined forces with us to prevent the invasion" Wenchkin quickly explained "However these Men have only granted their assistance if we help them arrest Snide, and so we have agreed"

By now I was confused about these turn of events but needless to say I was most eager for these men to help defend my hometown of Yew. The men now began to search the courtrooms and prison cells for this Yellow-bellied pirate only to eventually find the tyrant skulking in the depths of the jailhouse stores. Snide lay next to an open barrel with sword in hand, as we approached him he quickly stood to his feet and began to wildly slash the air with his cutlass "You won't take me ya ..Hic".

Not fearing the threat of the cold steel in Snides wild hands a large menacing man with a shock of dark green hair and a cold hard look in his eyes walked straight at him and promptly detained the crazed drunkard. "I Grimreaper hereby arrest thee Snide in the name of Eden for the crime of High treason". Snide then began to squirm as the man shackled his hands and proceeded to lead him away. "Lieutenant open a gate to Eden" Grimreaper ordered at one of his mages.

The poor wretch was then magically transported from Yew kicking and screaming. We briefly arrived in what I can only presume to be Eden. The Guards calling themselves the "Gdn" placed Snide in a cell upon the roof of their headquarters and placed a guard upon the door before returning. " We have been granted permission to aid thee Rangers in defending Yew from destruction. You have shown to be goodly souls and we will assist you in this plight." Grimreaper said he then turned towards me and gave what I can only describe as an apologetic nod. " The people of Yew should not suffer through our problems" Grimrepear said to me in a solemn tone.

Before long we had been transported back to Yew and began assembling are men at the abbey. We were few in number and had not seen head nor tale of the Undead forces that had been here previously. This put us on edge for our band was small and we felt as if the shadows would pounce at any moment.

Then the terrible sound of drums and the roars of an army could be heard heading our way. Scouts ran back with news, which terrified us all. Upon the roads leading from the city's centre an army of Drow were marching alongside the undead waving the banners of Nohkmar, the evil enclave of the dead. Then all chaos was loosed upon our band, a trap had been set most likely to the design of Xirzin and his minions. Before we could break ranks to attack the approaching Undead a group of Drow attacked us from behind.

This devastating turn of events shattered the defenders, we could not stand fast against both armies attacking us from both sides. And as one by one the guards and rangers were slain by the poisoned blades of the Drow or the rusted warhammers of the Dead. In a sudden and fleeting moment something hit me, "my family!" I gasped through all the goings on I had forgotten about my family so I ran from the battle to my home in the town, I kicked the door in to find nothing but a simple note pinned to the wall.

We the Undead of Nohkmar have captured your Priest of Eden, unless you release the key to us we will destroy this city and your precious priest. Already the families that once dwelled here serve as our brothers and sisters now. Do not force our hand your pathetic armies are no match for us, your destruction is inevitable.

Falling to my knees, the tears began to swell in my eyes with a beating sense of rage behind them. I stood grinding my teeth to dull the pain and turned towards the battle once more, running head long in to the undead I smashed one of the foes clean down with a blow of mighty force. However it was for naught the Rangers and the Guards were being slowly pushed back and then the sound of the retreat was called.

We fell back from the city as fast as we could before another wave of Drow attacked. The Guards opened a magical portal and transported me to Eden, where I know reside. As for the Rangers I believe they also made it safely back to their staging post at Ranger point. The battle for Snide had been won but at what cost? Yew was decimated and now under Drow control, a vastly sizeable force of Undead had defeated the Rangers and Eden had lost its priest to the accursed city of Nohkmar.

The time will come I hope when I shall see the dreaded Undead smashed before their own city and Yew's families are avenged for the suffering they have caused.

John Snitch , Local farmer and defender of Yew

Hail citizens of Britannia.

As some of ye may already know, I have opened a new craft shoppe in Britannia. As promised, I am posting this to let ye know how my little shoppe was doing. After many struggles against the mountain raiders, I have finally managed to get my delivery of Smithing tools. This now means that ye can buy any piece of armour or any weapon, although I am nay Grandmaster yet. I am still awaiting that title from the head Blacksmith of my Clan.

As stated before, ye can order the items on my skypage, which is located at : http://www.btinternet.com/~ultherfireblade

The next shipment should contain my Carpentry tools and resources, so I will let ye all know as soon as they arrive. If there are certain items that anyone needs, then a pigeon may be sent to 21155163.

May the Virtues guide thee all

Hendel Stoneaxe
Master Craftsman of the Stoneaxe Clan

After a somewhat long period of being dormant, Havenwood will once again become an active city.

To celebrate this occasion, Saturday the 11th of November at Eight o clock (8pm Eastern Standard Time), we shall be having a celebration to announce our return. We would be delighted for you to share in our celebration and accept our hospitality. We shall be having numerous activities, up to and including a knife throwing contest, a race, a story telling contest, an ale drinking contest, cock fights, a song competition, a dance competition, our Royal Army shall be sparring each other, and perhaps some visitors for your enjoyment.

Talimor deMonte'

Here Ye, Here Ye.

M'Lords and Ladies, Knights of the Realm, and the people of Napa Valley. The citizens of Stormhaven and the Storm Ryders of Hope, request your presence to witness the virtuous union of Milady Trinity to Milord Cujo, on Saturday, the eleventh of November, in the virtuous year of two thousand. It will commence at 7:30 PM (PST) on the top of Storm Watch Tower in the fair city of Stormhaven (coordinates: 62o 29'N 53o 26'E).

The blissful couple wishes to extend an invitation to all citizens of Napa Valley to come and share their special day with them.

As always, humbly yours,

Elsa, Baroness of Stormhaven

The speakers opened the floor up for questions almost immediately after introducing themselves and naturally the main concern voiced was that of getting the word out about events. Attendees tossed around several ideas for spreading the word about Interest Program run events ranging from dropping scrolls into players' backpacks to messaging players in the corner of their screens. Eidolon and Augur explained what was not possible about some of the ideas and took notes on others. Messaging would not be consistent with in game fiction with many of the events, dropping scrolls would not ensure a turnout or could possibly result in an overabundant turnout, sending out emails to a list would inherently show preference to those already in the RP in crowd, etc. An increase in the number of town cryers located outside of town seemed to be one small but possible solution that everyone approved of.

The general consensus was that players do want to know about these quests and that the current means of informing them often tend to favour those already involved with the roleplaying community. It was also mentioned that many times, players have been a part of a quest and not even realised it. Much brainstorming was done on how to involve those who who have not yet become familiar with RPing or who may be reluctant to get involved in such events because of differeng playstyles. Busily jotting through the session, OSI's reps gave us the impression that they were genuinely interested in not only preserving the integrity of the fiction involved but also in drawing in new sections of the UO community.

Well, more news later I'm sure but it's almost time for happy hour. *evil grin* Cya!

Joan