Atlantis Times v1.1 v05n03 From: JJC%MP068@MPA15AB.mv-oc.Unisys.COM Date: Tue, 14 Feb 1995 07:37:04 +0000 ######################################################################## =-=-= Atlantis Times v1.1 Volume 5 Number 3 =-=-= =-= February 13, 1995 =-= ######################################################################## Words from The Big Guy: Please remember that the deadline for orders are 12:00 GMT on Sundays. Many of you are sending orders past that deadline. I will most likely start running the turns earlier, so make sure your orders are in on time. NOTE *** Atlantis is now closed. All full, no more starts. Just a reminder of the new AUTOTAX command: - AUTOTAX flag available. This is a new boolean command, similiar to GUARD and AVOID. If set, a unit will attempt to TAX every turn. If reset, no automatic TAXing will occur, though the TAX command will still work. AUTOTAX boolean is reset after a MOVE or SAIL command is executed. Send Times to: jjc@mpa15ab.mv-oc.unisys.com Send Orders to: JJC@MP068.MV-OC.UNISYS.COM Send problems/comments/bug reports/questions to me personally at: jjc@mpa15c.mv-oc.unisys.com I read the mail at the times address once a week, when I'm setting up the Times. I NEVER read mail where the orders go to, so don't send anything but orders there. Good luck, and enjoy. - TBG ######################################################################## +++++++++ New encounter with the +++++++++++ +++++++ fierce natives of Bananaland +++++++ Once more the brave troops of The Northern Wind are facing a substancial force of the natives of Banana- land. This time the bloodsheed will be in Grue and not in Olonek and the Generals of the Rowing Doom promises that this time native blood will be running not brave Vaschortian blood. After the a last clean up in Gerr life have returned to normal there. Working forces have been established so production can start so the colonies in Bananaland can become independand from financial aid from the motherland. Experienced priests from Agrik have been shipped over from the main temple in Vashcort and soon a temple will be erected in Bananaland to lead the natives onto the right path. Natives not willing to give sacrifice to the great God Agrik are adviced to leave the continent of Vashcort as soon as possible. Chafin II is proud over the success that have been created during the first couple of month of his religious leadership. A spiritual session in the south of Vashcort has lead to even greater knowledge in the arcane ways and Chafin promises that this new knowledge will be used in Bananaland as soon as Agrik gives the right signs ######################################################################## What happened last time: Undine returns to Tarraspan, thinking about what to do against the invasion of this cruel Vox. Undine leaves the tunnel leading her back right to her room. For she is very tired, she decides to sleep first. "For in that sleep what thoughts may come", she thinks and fells soon asleep. She dreams: Her mind leaves her body and is swifting up in the air, flying away over the sea to an other island. She comes near a town and feels something drawing her to a house and in that house to a room where a man lies sleeping. The man awakes and so she can talk to him: Hi, William (for somehow she knows this is William), I am Undine, a young sorceress. Our peaceful island is threatened by a invasion of this cruel Vox. We cannot put up resistance alone. We need help. Something disturbs her sleep, a big dark cloud darkens the moon. Undine awakes and shook her head about what she had dreamed. In another town a man awakes and shook his head also. "What dreams I've got this night, very strange dreams." His look gazes upon his desk. Their lies a page and on this page Willam reads: "We need help urgently. Please come to Pacifica and contact Undine. If Vox conquers our island this could be the decline of the civilized world". "This was no dream", William says to himself. "But where is that island Pacifica. I have never heard of it." Does William succeed to get the position of the island and does he succeed in his attempt at rescue? These questions will be answered next time. -------------- to be continued ----------- ######################################################################## Westar Trade Report (Faction 326) "Mat, news from the east says two large groups of mounted men have entered Gnackstein" Well so much for claiming Gnackstein as my territory. Now it is time to build up defenses. Perhaps these people will negotiate a border treaty. At least that troublesome mage in Skomer is long dead. Now that iron production is increasing, we can look forward to establishing trade routes throughout the entire Island, and the construction of a trade ship. I must tell Maria to establish another group of archers. I will have to search for the ocean myself. ######################################################################## 'My Lord, we have sighted several more of those Prankster Emisarries.' 'Never mind, they are crawling all over the place.' 'But aren't they supposed to be spies for the evil Lord Vox?' 'Come on, don't tell me you believe in those childrens' tales about Lord Vox coming to drink our blood? These things do not happen in reality.' 'If you say so, my Lord... Oh, by the way: Those Prankster Scouts are campaigning for World peace now.' 'What! Campaigning for world peace? Kill them off at once! All of them! Let not a single one escape! Campaigning for world peace ..' ######################################################################## Manhunt "Messages, my Queen.." reported Thal "..from Thynos - prankster spies in Trapani." "Er..we seem to have gone the wrong way. Mount up and home to Karothea."ordered Janet. ".and the other remains in Decca." continued Thal "Oh, what a hassle. Give him 10 shillings and send him on his way."said Janet "Spare him? Do you really think Hans has renounced his wicked ways?" queried Thal "Dubious..but who knows, he may learn powerful magic and destroy his evil cohorts one day. Evil traditionally destroys itself." was Janet's opinion. "A cheerful thought my Queen" smiled Thal "Send a pigeon to Shadowspawn..his minion may live but if he returns to Karothea,or moves east..." Janet made the universally understood gesture for throat slitting of the ear-to-ear variety. Karen, Political Commissar (Atlantis2) who is in no way associated with Janet, Queen of North Karothea(Atlantis1) 'She who saves the planet breaks no laws.' ######################################################################## Malice sat uncomforably on the throne in her section of the Citidel. She had been very careful as of late to stay away from Lord VOX's portion of the Citidel as he had been upset for some reason. Normally this would not really bother her too much, however, this time VOX brutally killed every servant he had. It was a bloody mess and since no one remained to clean it up she stayed away so as not to get blood on her clothing. Malice, however, decided that perhaps she needed to open some kind of dialog with the beastly fellow. She sratched her head in frustration trying to think of the best way to acomplish this. Suddenly she had the answer. It was so simple, why hadden't she thought of this before? Quickly she summoned her advisor. "Sinclare, do we still have that old bottle of Vintage Diamante Year 1?" "Yes my lady. The one the drunk bard left us?" "Yes, that's the one", Malice smiled happily. "As I recall you thought that VOX might pay rather hansomely for it some-" "Give it to him", interupted Malice. "Just Give it to him?", said Sinclare. Stunned, Sinclare thought about the implications of what he had just been told to do. His face tured white as a sheet. In a trembling voice he asked, "Me? You want me to take it to him?" "Don't be silly.", snapped Malice, "You are too important to be risked. I wouldnt want you to become VOX's dinner." Malice laughed a hideous sound. "Send it with a slave girl. Have her tell him it is a gift from me." "At once Mistress!", Sinclare saluted and left to begin his task. A few Hours Later... Sinclare was very proud of himself. He had selected the perfect slave to do Malice's bidding. He quietly chained her to the entrance to VOX's section of the Citidel. He handed her the bottle and a note. Sinclare pulled the bell pull ands silently crept into the shadows to watch. The door opened and a huge beast of a man appeared. Vox looked at the frightened girl and with one massive claw he snatched her by the hair and pulled her inside. Pausing to snif the air he looked in the direction of where Sinclare was hiding, let out a brief chuckle and slammed the door. Sinclare let out a small sigh and smiled. Just wait until he finds out that the slave girl was actually the daughter of Big Moe. ######################################################################## ------------------------Advertisement---------------------------- | Like to improve your fighting skill ? No time to study ? | | Bored of those tame horses ? | | Then you need - fresh from the Turia alps - our famous | | FIGHTING COWS | | Only limited quantity available! Each cow comes with a | | certificate and a free "Baerner Saennechutteli" as a gift. | | For inquiry please circle 16/PATO | ----------------------------------------------------------------- ######################################################################## HOW DOES ONE PROTECT THEIR MINERS FROM DRAGONS ? ,-, To say that dragons are irritating is an OoOOOOo /\_ understatement of the order of 'VOX has a '' '\OOo/ \ few antisocial tendencies'. A single OO/ \ dragon can totally depopulate a mountain 'OOOOoo__/ of miners in a single turn. But what can _OO "OOOO o> be done about them and how ? As dragons /| "OOOOooo0" appear to behave as 200 level 7 swordmen _oO" with a level 7 tactitian the obvious way of killing them is with bows. However they behave as platemailed creatures and so longbows suffer from 1/3 kills. Therefore crossbows are the only real weapons to do any dammage. Assuming that the dragon gets in a free round due to its high tactics and that you need to kill it in the first round (as otherwise it is the fourth round before your crossbows fire again) You need 100/0.49 lvl 2 bows to ensure you hit the dragons breakpoint say 210 to be safe. In two rounds it will hit and kill 200 (0.49) + (200+100)/2 (0.49) = 147 people of sword 0-5. and also fireball annother fifty or so. Therefore a 'safe' presence on a mountain to protect your valuable miners from dragon attack is 250 peasants 250 crossbows (100 lvl 2 : 150 lvl 1) Remember most of these peasants are going to die so make the miners the crossbowers and not the dragon_food. And of cource the more crossbows , the sooner it dies , the fewer people it eats. generated by 'EKIJ the pleasant peasant' of Faction 133 ######################################################################## Ha, Ha, Ha ! Poor Gresir Pact... You thunk there was no consequence in slaughtering a hanful of mining workers, from a small weak faction ? Do learn know that you have dealed with powers you do not even understand. You have awakened black and powerful strenghts. Here is my revenge : Kill a gnome, and fight a Dragon... Bruty ######################################################################## La boite parlait de plus en plus,les gens de Tristam semblait faire les pires hypotheses,une voix de communication avec l'enfer,on entendait les voix de demons.Un puissant artefact magique...bientot les dieux qui l'avait perdu viendraient le recuperer dans un flot de sang.... Tristam souriait...une boite venue de l'enfer...lui connaissait la verite,elle n'etait pas si eloignee apres tout.Des gens aurait tue pour l'avoir....il relisait le rapport du groupe charge de noter tout ce que l'on entendait. "...scrrrrrr....et maintenant quelques messages personnels... ...uuuuuuuu....ooooo....Le terrier du renard est vide,je repete ...le terrier du renard est vide....Gaston danse avec Grand-mere ...je repete...gaston danse avec grand-mere...blesse mon coeur d'une langueur monotone...je repete...blesse mon coeur d'une langueur montone....scrrrrrouich....uuuuu...iiii..." Il avait soudain l'intuition que quelque chose d'important allait se produire bientot,tres bientot.... Peut etre allait il recontrer ce General venu de la Gaulle antique dont on entendait tant parle dans cette boite... Il se perdit dans ses pensees... Chronique d'un Voyageur Solitaire. ######################################################################## "What FOOLS these morsels be!" Lord Vox flung the Times across the room, simultaneously shredding it with his claws, resulting in an astonishing burst of Propaganda Confetti. "They seem to think that Larson's oh-so-noble Efficient Empire will somehow offer them an existence other than drudge slaves! FOOLS!!" The Great Beast of Vashcort had apparently returned to his customary mood, which was somewhere between disgruntled and apocalyptic. "And the sanctimonious so-called Emperor plays it for all it's worth, reminding others that no-one 'lives' under my rule! Bah! Simple lies! I am perfectly capable of eating my prey so that it continues living for MONTHS!" As if to emphasize the point, Vox grabbed a servant who had wandered too near, and promptly reduced her finger count from seven to six, oblivious to her screams. "Paugh! Perhaps it's better that they perish to Larson's legions. I would have trouble bringing myself to dine upon the flesh of SPINELESS INVERTEBRATES! At least Moe, BORA, and even the foolish former Diamantes have the will to struggle as they die!" Vox made a sound of disgust, which was vaguely distinguishable from his other normal sounds. "I grow weary of dealing with fools and peacemakers. Perhaps I have spent too much time relaxing here. Perhaps it is time..." Vox paused, thoughtful. "...to take a little trip." ######################################################################## Adrano (UofZ): The Efficient Empire slaughtered a small band of teachers who wanted to start a small school of arts and crafts. The attack occurred early in February when over 1500 troops descended upon the school. The Efficient Empire army efficiently slaughtered everyone at the school. The only survivors were away from the school at the time looking for students. It is interesting to note that the only units seen belonged to the Efficient Empire. Not one native unit was in sight. The whereabouts of the missing natives have not been determined. "Were are concerned that there will be no one that can benefit from our training," said Professor Tamara the president of the University of Zamora. "If the native peoples are being quietly exterminated by the Efficient Empire, then our researchers will not be able to learn about all of the diverse cultures that have developed. Our anthropology department is furious at the Empire for destroying the native peoples. The name Pacifica is a joke, we have seen no evidence of peace in these lands." For the benefit of the people who call their land Pacifica, here is the threat from your neighbor to the west: Governor General (2902) attacks Metal Shop (3344) in Adrano (14,12)! - Governor General (2902), behind, skills: tactics 5, longbow 2, has: longbow; contact=larson@pevsc.pec.ncsu.edu. - Longbow Defense Company 1314 (5009), number: 251, behind, skills: longbow 3, has: 26 swords, 245 longbows. - Crossbow - Third regiment (4360), number: 115, behind, skills: crossbow 4, has: 10 swords, 115 crossbows, longbow. - Longbow - Reaction Force (5013), number: 24, behind, skills: longbow 3, has: 9 swords, 26 longbows. - Larson's Mob (5027), number: 988, has: 59 swords, 7 longbows, plate armor; Howling for the head of Vox. - Sword Militia (5030), number: 83, skills: riding 0, sword 1, has: 86 swords. - Sword Militia - HQ (5810), number: 9, skills: riding 2, sword 4, has: 9 swords. - Observer (5819), behind, skills: longbow 3, has: longbow. - Unit 5934 (5934), behind. - Militia (5075), number: 1210, behind. - Naval Longbow - 101st Regiment (5475), number: 160, behind, skills: longbow 4, has: 160 longbows. - Naval Longbow - 60th Regiment (5567), number: 92, behind, skills: longbow 4, has: 92 longbows. * Metal Shop (3344), faction University of Zamora (21), number: 10, avoiding. =========================================================== Unit 6007 (6007) attacks Researcher (5785) in Drammes (14,13)! - Unit 6007 (6007), number: 9, behind, skills: longbow 4, has: 60 longbows. - Lumberjack - Regiment 1314 (7174), number: 200, behind, on guard, skills: sword 0, longbow 2, has: 200 wood, 200 longbows; contact=larson@pevsc.pec.ncsu.edu. - Unit 5973 (5973), behind. - Naval Longbow - 73rd Company (5067), number: 59, behind, skills: longbow 5, has: 59 longbows. - Naval Infantry - 73rd Company - HQ (5121), number: 2, skills: riding 2, sword 4, has: 2 swords. - Naval Infantry - 73rd Company (5226), number: 20, skills: sword 3, has: 20 swords. - Naval Longbow - 102nd Regiment (7113), number: 112, behind, skills: longbow 5, has: 112 longbows; Contact=larson@pevsc.pec.ncsu.edu. - Unit 6035 (6035), number: 252, behind. - Lumberjack Guards (5042), number: 42, behind, skills: sword 0, longbow 4, has: 42 longbows. - Lumberjack Guards (5038), number: 22, behind, skills: sword 0, longbow 2, has: 22 longbows. - Crew 71 (5837), number: 3, behind, skills: crossbow 4, has: 3 crossbows. - Naval Longbow - 71st Battalion (6953), number: 74, behind, skills: longbow 4, has: 81 longbows; contact=larson@pevsc.pec.ncsu.edu. - Naval Infantry - 71st Company - HQ (7102), number: 2, skills: riding 2, sword 5, has: 2 swords; contact=larson@pevsc.pec.ncsu.edu. - Naval Infantry - 71st Company (7103), number: 20, skills: riding 2, sword 5, longbow 0, has: 20 swords; contact=larson@pevsc.pec.ncsu.edu. - Horsetrainers Regiment (1352), number: 21, behind, skills: sword 0, longbow 4, has: 21 longbows; contact=larson@pevsc.pec.ncsu.edu. - Crew 79 (5195), number: 3, behind, skills: crossbow 4, has: 3 crossbows. - Coastwatcher (6259), behind, skills: longbow 4, has: longbow; contact=larson@pevsc.pec.ncsu.edu. - Naval Longbow - 79th Battalion (6929), number: 116, behind, skills: longbow 4, has: 123 longbows; contact=larson@pevsc.pec.ncsu.edu. - Naval Infantry - 79th Company - HQ (7097), number: 2, skills: riding 2, sword 5, has: 2 swords; contact=larson@pevsc.pec.ncsu.edu. - Naval Infantry - 79th Company (7101), number: 20, skills: riding 2, sword 5, has: 20 swords; contact=larson@pevsc.pec.ncsu.edu. - Crew 110 (6999), number: 2, behind, skills: crossbow 2, has: 2 crossbows. - Marines - 110th Company (4357), number: 41, skills: riding 2, sword 5, has: 41 swords, 7 plate armor; Contact=larson@pevsc.pec.ncsu.edu. - Naval Longbow - 110th Regiment (4441), number: 120, behind, skills: longbow 5, has: 120 longbows; Contact=larson@pevsc.pec.ncsu.edu. - Coastwatcher 914 (6269), behind, skills: tactics 1, longbow 4, has: longbow; contact=larson@pevsc.pec.ncsu.edu. - Crew 111 (7000), number: 2, behind, skills: crossbow 2, has: 2 crossbows. - Horsetrainer Reserve (5864), number: 13, behind, skills: longbow 4, has: 13 longbows. - Marines - 111th Company (4361), number: 41, skills: riding 2, sword 5, has: 42 swords, 6 plate armor; Contact=larson@pevsc.pec.ncsu.edu. - Naval Longbow - 111th Regiment (4456), number: 92, behind, skills: longbow 5, has: 246 longbows; Contact=larson@pevsc.pec.ncsu.edu. - Crew 90 (4400), number: 3, behind, skills: crossbow 3, longbow 0, has: 3 crossbows. - Marines - 90th Company (4355), number: 40, skills: riding 2, sword 5, has: 40 swords, 7 plate armor; Contact=larson@pevsc.pec.ncsu.edu. - Naval Longbow - 90th Regiment (4401), number: 120, behind, skills: longbow 5, has: 120 longbows; Contact=larson@pevsc.pec.ncsu.edu. * Researcher (5785), faction University of Zamora (21), avoiding; Contact: psmith@mp054.mv-oc.unisys.com. ######################################################################## Bascon Diamante was astounded. "A son? But he's a full-grown man! That's impossible." But the lawyers and advisors convinced him that, in the warped world of Atlantis, it was QUITE possible. It seems the Lady Marguarite had had a reason for her hasty departure some months ago. The letters she had signed could not be disputed - the child was his. Now she wanted official acknowledgment of the child, and was hinting that a title would be appropriate. "Very well. He wants a title, he'll have to earn it. I'll give him rule over Rueve; that'll either prove his mettle, or it'll break him so I can get rid of him. Now, if only it were this easy to explain it to Philum..." * * * * * Once again, an enemy ship sailed ashore. Shamed by their past failure to eliminate two enemy scouts, the Confederated troops attacked with a vengeance. The lone Agrikian aboard had barely set foot on deck when he flew backward, bristling with arrows. A boarding party of swordsmen carefully boarded the galleon to search for more enemy troops. Blair Diamante followed; she wanted to supervise things personally. They found the body in the cargo hold, bleeding from dozens of wounds. The sergeant prodded the corpse with his sword, as if any human could have survived that kind of punishment. Suddenly, Blair noticed a faint stench of brimstone. The temperature in the hold dropped, and the air became charged with electricity. Abruptly, the mangled body began to move, dragging itself across the floor toward the outer hull of the ship. Blair screamed, and a couple of the swordsmen broke and ran up the stairs to the deck. Two swordsmen strode forward, hacking the body to bits. It reassembled, minus various pieces. Trailing gore, intestines bulging wetly through sword slashes, the ghoul continued to move. Somewhere it had obtained a hammer, and it began beating against the hull. Wood cracked, and a fine spray of water began. "It's sinking the ship!" cried the sergeant. "Everyone out - NOW!" The troops cleared the ship, the last one leaping to the dock as the galleon began to list badly. In minutes, the great galleon had sunk completely, thankfully taking its Agrik-spawned horrow down with it. After regaining her composure, Blair ordered guards posted to watch for anything swimming ashore from the wreck, and retired to ponder the incident. * * * * * Elsewhere, Sir Pilsner studied the Times, and gazed at the stars. So many signs: Ghouls wandered the southern forests. Dead men sinking ships. Agrikian directives going astray, if the Times report was believable. But were these the signs he had spent his entire life waiting for? Finally, he decided that they may not be exactly the signs he awaited, but they were close enough. He packed his bags. In the morning, Sir Pilsner mounted up and rode east into the sunrise. * * * * * Roman Diamante stepped out of the portal into the strange new land of Atlantis. The journey had taken only seconds. To his surprise, he landed in the middle of a battlefield! A passing longbowman shouted at him, "I don't know what you think you're doing, but I suggest you get out of the way!" Roman ducked a volley of arrows. The air was filled with the crackle of lightning and the screams of the dying. Roman wasn't sure who these restless troops were, but he recognized the enemy as minions of Lord Vox. He stumbled over a dead soldier and was startled to find the man's insignia was familiar. Roman didn't know what the Confederated Houses were, but the insignia was almost an exact copy of the emblem of the royal guard of House Diamante. Roman ran off, in search of an officer and some answers. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ######################################################################## =-=-= END TIMES 503 =-=-= ######################################################################## Up