Atlantis Times v1.1 v03n03 From: JJC%MP068@MPA15AB.mv-oc.Unisys.COM Date: Wed, 06 Jul 1994 01:04:40 +0000 ######################################################################## =-=-= Atlantis Times v1.1 Volume 3 Number 3 =-=-= =-= July 5, 1994 =-= ######################################################################## Words from The Big Guy: Sorry for the delay. The Fourth of July weekend took longer than I thought it would. :-) Some more bugs were fixed. The message regarding peasants drinking contaminated water that all of you saw even though you had no presence in the sector in question is the only bug that was visible to all of you. The report format will undergo minor changes to support an automated report reader program. I will announce them here as they happen. REMEMBER, send game problems to: jjc@MPA15C.mv-oc.unisys.com. I don't read the mail at the other addresses!!! 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 ######################################################################## Map of Atlantis --- -- -------- March, III Edition Emperor Shaddam IV of the Padishah Empire ---> Send donations to unit #3! <--- Send new information and corrections to email address <ckim@skidmore.edu>. The most recent edition will be will be published in the Atlantis Times and will be mailed to the Atlantis mailing list. Please note that if no new information is received, new maps will not be published for that month. 111111111122222222223333 0123456789012345678901234567890123 0 -----O-------O-O------------------ 0 1 ----OSO------O-O------------------ 1 2 ---OSPSPP---O--OO----------------- 2 3 ----MPPO----O----O---------PM----- 3 4 ----PPP---------P----------OFP---- 4 5 -----S---O-----------------OFPO--- 5 6 -----P-----O---O-----------PPPPO-- 6 7 ------------O-O------------POPP--- 7 8 -------------O-------------POPPP-- 8 9 ---------------------------OOFO-- 9 10 -----OO---------------------OPSSO- 10 11 -----PXO--------------------OPPFMO 11 12 -----XO-O--------------------OOPO- 12 13 ----OMXOXO------------------------ 13 14 --OOOFXXXPO----------------------- 14 15 -OXXXPXMXXO----------------------- 15 16 --OXXXXPXXO----------------------- 16 17 --OXOOXXSO------------------------ 17 18 ---O--OXO------------------------- 18 19 -------O-------------------------- 19 20 ---------------------------------- 20 21 ---------------------------------- 21 22 ---------------------------------- 22 23 ---------------------------------- 23 24 ------------P--------------------- 24 25 ---------------------------------- 25 26 ---------------------------------- 26 27 ---------------------------------- 27 28 ---------------------------------- 28 29 ---------------------------------- 29 30 ---------------------------------- 30 31 ---------------------------------- 31 32 ---------------------------------- 32 33 ---------------------------------- 33 34 --------------O------------------- 34 111111111122222222223333 0123456789012345678901234567890123 Legend: F=Forest, M=Mountain, O=Ocean, P=Plain, S=Swamp, X=unknown land Please note that row 34 is directly accessible from row 0 (Going north from (10,0) will get you to (10,34). We apologize for the horrible smell of this map, but recent circumstances require us to use fish scales as the paper source. All people who donate map information will remain anonymous. Your messages are deleted immediately after your data has been added to the map. ######################################################################## During the month of February a newbie unit in Sandwick (26,32), Unit 2954 (2954), attacked his fellow newbies three times. His army: - Unit 2954 (2954), number: 60. - Unit 118 (118), number: 20. - Unit 124 (124), number: 20. - Unit 2951 (2951), behind, skills: tactics 1. - Unit 2952 (2952), number: 60. - Unit 2953 (2953), behind. First attack wiped out: - Cob (109), number: 12, skills: sword 1. Second attack wiped out: - Lumberjack Corp 140 (140), number: 20; smartly dressed in red flannel shirts and rugged gray pants. - Lumberscout 1 (2955); Have you seen any trees? - Lumberscout 2 (2956); Have you seen any trees? - Lumberscout 3 (2957); Have you seen any trees? - Lumberscout 4 (2958); Have you seen any trees? - Lumberscout 5 (2959); I'm. Third attack wiped out: - Unit 209 (209), number: 9. - Tyraknight Workers (2960), number: 60. - Tscout (2962), number: 2. - Tscout (2964), number: 2. - SWTE (2966), number: 3, skills: sword 1. Fortunately he lost men in this battle and his men celerbrated else he may have continued on fighting others. We must unite and wipe this animal out. Ally with me and we will attack this dog. Ally with faction 187 for peace. ######################################################################## Lord Hetherington was angry. He had tried to have he swordsmen increase there skill while on the sea journey but it had not. He was under the impression that the owner of the vessel was the one who was occupied the entire month in sailing but it appeared now that the entire population on board was considered the crew and sailed for the entire month. It was lucky that the money spent on the chemicals and equipment had not gone and would be used next month. He was hoping for a better result in his attempts to tax the populus from a ship. ######################################################################## The Colonel stood silently for a moment, contemplating this latest news. In some ways he was glad that Major Zachari was out of the way, but at the same time, he was a natural leader with a ruthless streak that had taken them through several skirmishes they could easily have been destroyed. Still, there was always Captain Janos. He had all the ruthlessness and determination without the malice, and he was certainly zealous enough to do it. His tactical skills would need improved, but that was only a matter of patience... Yes, it seems to be time young Janos got a promotion. "Sergeant Gretch!" "Sir!" A grizzled veteran snapped to attention. "How are the mining operations going?" "First batch of 20 swords is due to arrive this month Sir" The Colonel mused over this information for a few seconds. "Are our advance troops properly prepared in the use of these archaic weapons?" "Trained them myself Sir" "Very good, how frequently can we expect the shipments to arrive?" "Sir, from next month onwards, with our present staff in the mountain we can expect 30 new swords every month." The Colonel broke into a rare smile. "Keep up the good work Sergeant. Dismissed" Randy Gretch saluted sharply, turned and left the office. Hmmm...30 swords every month with the men we have there, and with my planned expansion, we should be producing 100 swords every month by June at the latest. Soon it will be time for Atlantis to feel our presence. Satisfied with the situation, the Colonel turned back to the other reports he had received, musing over the strange reports coming in about this backwaters savage Dr. Vox. It was clear the savages were no easy target, considering their past victories and sheer weight of numbers, but could they stand against a true army, recognised as the best mercenaries in the galaxy before that god-forsaken weapon of our enemies left us stranded in this hell-hole. Still, some of our allies must be out there somewhere, waiting for us to find them. ######################################################################## Once upon a time. Crohyzes blade barely left the spitters body before a burst of flame engulfed the pledium. All the heat that had once been trapped inside the spitter was now free. The sweat immediately evaporated from every crevice of crohyzes body. Leaving dry cracked skin. Yet he did not die. No. For his people have been performing this sacrifice for generations. Crohyze was but the most recent youth to become initiated. He stood calmly in the scorching heat. Feeling no pain. Watching the spitters body being consumed by her own fire. He thought of music. Of clouds. Of air and coolness. His lips moved in chant. But no sound came forth. And there. Among the ashes. A sudden light flashed. Then glimmered. Then burst forth with the cold brightness of a night star. It was the next stage of the sacrifice. Rebirth. To be continued. ######################################################################## Duncan's face turned pale when he first saw his brother. Jonathan's clothes were all made of leather and his incisors had been augmented. "You sold out to the cannibal!" "Take it easy, Duncan. There are profits to be made. I'm going into dentistry." "What?" "There are thousands of people out there willing to pay to get their incisors filled. I'm going to make a bundle. And then after this fad fades, there will be thousands of people willing to pay to get their incisors restored. I'll be able to retire early; unlike you who invested in cucumber and zucchini futures." Duncan looked at his brother with disgust. Jonathan was taking advantage of the populace. It would not have been so bad except that the fad was so disgusting in nature. He felt bad about gaining the attention of the Lord Vox with plans to feed the populace with vegetables. His brother might never have been involved with the cannibals except for that visit from Lord Vox himself. It was almost worth it to see Vox's face when he tasted that cucumber. If the situation were not so serious he would have laughed out loud, but nothing was worth losing his brother to the influence of the skin flayers. Suddenly, Duncan noticed a pair of marks in his brother's neck. "What have you done! You donated your life's blood to them!" "Calm down. They didn't take much and besides they pay well. Donating was how I paid for dental school." At this Duncan had heard too much and fainted. ######################################################################## Lord Vox, tired after the shipyard inspections, relaxed in his favorite scalphide chair, sipping a rich red substance from a delicate glass, and leafing through the Times. The chair was particularly comfy, since the hair had been left on, and was a lovely pastiche of blond, brunette, and redhead. Apparently the Diamante nobility had their share of genetic excursions among the populace... Vox flipped immediately to the article on the Ballindine/Larson war. Now *there* was a conflict! He looked forward to reading of blood spilled in giant tankfuls, the ground covered in chopped flesh and severed limbs...a delightful thought, and he only wished he could see it in person! The thought made his mouth water, and he took another long sip as he read. But then Vox gave a snort of disgust. Bah! The sneaky Paladins had apparently fled south, avoiding the slaughter. Nobility! Couldn't trust them for a minute. Interesting tactic, though, sacrificing their lead tactician for a chance to save their army. Vox thought for a moment. Could that work for his alliance in the future? Hmmm...now who *was* their best tactician? Vox blinked once or twice, staring at the tactics text beside him. Nahhh. Bad idea. Better just to bring a bigger army, he decided. Vox swirled the liquid in the glass, admiring the color. Padishah Sauvignon March, from the richness and raw-spice nose. Supplies were running a bit low on this, and Vox rather regretted having used this for bathing once or twice before when common peasant blood would have done fine. Though they *were* very satisfying baths. Vox had wondered for a time if he might be overdoing it a bit, but he hadn't any serious stomach problems lately; and other than a noticable enlargement of certain teeth and some minor bone structure changes, he felt pretty normal. The harvests were much smaller these days, though, as nobility was rapidly running out. Vox shook his head sadly. Too much peace going around these days. What was Atlantis coming to! ######################################################################## Thought For The Day "Those who live in the south are doomed!" ######################################################################## Hobi strained hard to keep the concentration necessary to comprehend events ocurring in Lorthalm. Although the battle was not going according to plan, the plan was robust in its layers of safety. Sir Aubec had missed out on the strike attack initiative, but due to the mysterious nature of the fabric of Atlantis called 'The Rules' he still maintained the suprise assault into the flanks of Larson's Adventurers and Lord Falken's army. It would just cost a little more to trap this mightly army and pin them down in Lorthalm. All 1,600 of the Larson/Falken army had apparently been directed to attack one of Aubec's lowly courier units. No doubt because they believed their subterfuge had worked and that all of the Ballindine units would be attempting to avoid the battle. "This is what happens when you commit 1,600 troups to the devices of a tactician...", laughed the mage. Hobi had to collect himself and concentrate if the rift would be opened wide enough to allow the Ballindine forces to escape. As the army descended on the poor unsuspecting courier, Sir Aubec and D'Nabolos rushed to his aid. Sir Aubec, standing before the army, held his hand into the air freezing the onrushing hoard while D'Nabolos ripped a scorching bolt of controlled lightning through the front ranks of Larson's men killing 6 men immediately and throwing a terrible fright into the 1,594 men remaining. This was the moment...Hobi now opened the rift in The Rules as Sir Aubec dropped his hand and the hoard of Larson & Falken fell upon the mage and tactician who were quickly feathered with hundreds of arrows. As the valiant tactician and mage fell to the ground dead, the most amazing and expected thing happened. As the army of Ballindine Paladins looked on, the army of Larson fell into a spontaneous orgy of celebration! A loyalty sick unit of Aubec's peasants jumped in to the midst of the celebration to avenge their liege lord and were quickly dispatched as party crashers. "Ha! Just as I predicted Navarre." spake the great mage. "Our entire army is now free to move away unrestricted while the army of Larson celebrates their *great* victory!" "What were our losses M'Lord?" "The faction of Ballindine Paladins lost only D'Nabolos. He will be easily replaced in the next month. Lame Duck took no losses at all! Only Sir Aubec, his courier and his loyal band of partisans, 64 in all were lost." Navarre, the mightly sheriff and chief tactician of Teba could only stare in disbelief. "M'Lord, this is a truely great day! We are now free to plunder the mountains and forests of our dread enemy without fear!" "Well...there's been a slight change in plans. We're not going to Lagos. We're going to Oloron." "But M'Lord, there's nothing in Oloron but swamp rats and overpopulation. What will our mightly army do in Oloron? We'll just waste another month before we may invade the Larson/Falken production regions." "Navarre, we're not going to invade their production regions.", Hobi just let that hang in the air for a moment. "We're attempting to declare a truce." "But M'LORD! We can easily disrupt their production! Why would we not!?" "Because Navarre, they could also easily disrupt our production regions. Now that the mysteries of The Rules have been exposed, combat over territory is senseless. We are trying to convince Larson and Falken to form a mightly alliance to invade and crush other continents less aware of the true nature of the world." Suddenly both Navarre and Hobi snapped to awareness. "Surely you don't think...", stammered Navarre. "Noooo, no he couldn't. Could he?" mused Hobi. The mage and the sheriff just looked at each other for a moment. "Navarre, fire off a communique to Lame Duck. Tell him if Larson begins those damned economics articles again you have my word that we'll not stop until we meet Larson in hell." "Unless, of course M'Lord, they continue to delude the the unaware." smiled Navarre. "Those are our new targets, no?" ######################################################################## Denbost, Warden of the Eastern Marshes, stared in wonder at the craft that had become entangled in the foul-smelling mangroves that bordered Orrebygd Bay. A party of sailors, showing zero skills at navigating the mud, had floundered from the vessel to where the village walkways gave them some brief respite from the odourous ooze. One of the mud-spattered creatures ventured forward and tried to muster some dignity. "Captain Thurg of the bark Belladonna bids you good morning. Do I have the honour of addressing the Marshall of the Eastern Wards?" ######################################################################## Announcing an Atlantis Home Page. This is an unoffical announcement of the Atlantis WWW Home Page. Located at sunny "http://www.cs.utexas.edu/atlantis/", the Atlantis Home Page offers a few items of interest to Atlantis Players. First, the entire rules have been converted to html for easy browsing. Links to the ftp site for players lists, old issues of the times and code for some programs that players might find helpful. Future editions will include links for various factions and alliances who want to put their info online. If you are a faction or alliance leader and have access to a WWW server, feel free to make a page and send me the URL. I can add a link. Also, if you have written code (turn checkers, turn managers, etc...) and would like to place it for everyone to see, then send it to me and I will put it online. The other option is to send it to the FTP server and tell me so I can link to it! Finally, I am hoping some of the times writers who have written series of articles would send me their prior submissions and I can place them on the server for people to access more easily than searching through old times. So, come by the page and take a look. http://www.cs.utexas.edu/atlantis/ For problems, questions, or new information to be posted, send mail to orb@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu... Have fun!! ######################################################################## War of Ballandine Aggression, Final report Dateline Lorthalm February Year 3 All but 10 of the Ballandine army withdrew from my territory last turn and we have agreed to respect each others border. I am hoping that peace has returned to our fair island. I observed my first sea monster raid this turn. Edited report below: An Ugly Sea Monster (905) raids the peasants in * (**,**)! - An Ugly Sea Monster (905), skills: sword 3; Grinning Evilly and emitting a foul Stench. - Peasants, number: 2036 [listing of guarding forces deleted - 61 men - 11 were armed] An Ugly Sea Monster (905) completes the raid Winner casualties: An Ugly Sea Monster (905) loses 25. Loser casualties: The peasants lose 15. Reportedly these creatures live in coastal areas and can be observed by level 5 observers. Note the syntax is slightly different, "raid" vs "attack". I don't know how a strength 1 unit can lose 25 men and still win the battle. I wouldn't want to run into a 25 strength level 3 swords unit in a longboat! Next week: ???? The above report generated by the scribes of faction 59, "Larson's Adventurers", formed in Gurkacre (9,14) on Jan 01 reachable at "Bill_Larson@ncsu.edu" ######################################################################## Now this here's a story 'bout a Gnome named Red Poor plains Gnome barely kept his family fed Then one day he was grubbing for some food When down from the sky came an alien dude Innkeeper that is Mistbrother Now his kinfolk said, Red, get him out of here Take him to our leader, cause we are filled with fear They said that Morella is the place he ought to be And Clive the Gnome is the man he ought to see Leader that is Head Gnome Fashion King ######################################################################## From the Chronicles of The Brotherhood of Northern Warriors February, Year 3 - Open Sea Kevin, a Commander in the TBoNW Navy, stood against the mast, looking out at the immense ocean. Waves crashed against the hull of his ship, the LFS Rowena, and the gentle rocking motion was like a massage to him. They had been sailing for several months now, due south. The edge of the world was near, they knew, and the ships namesake was eager to know if they could really sail right around to the north, as had been claimed by other travellers. A sailor came running up to him, crying, "Sir! Something's been spotted off the starboard bow." "What is it?" Kevin asked, coming over to the side of the ship and taking the viewer that the sailor offered him. Placing it to his eyes, he scanned the horizon. He saw nothing at first, then froze in terror. It was a serpeant, a gigantic one. And it seemed to be moving in their direction. "All hands to battle stations!" Kevin screamed, yanking his sword from where it hung at his belt. From every door and porthole on the ship, armed soldiers came running. Some carried swords, many others longbows and crossbows. All wore coats of chain mail, which the Brotherhood sailors prefered to plate armor for naval operations. If you fell into the water wearing chain mail, at least there was a chance you'd be able to swim. The troops took their places automatically, the result of many long hours of drilling. "Listen up," Kevin called, "we've a serpeant spotted off the starboard bow. Looks like a big one, and seems to be on an intercept course. As you know, they're usually aggressive. So we won't wait for it to attack. As soon as it's in crossbow range, open fire. Archers, begin firing volleys as soon as you feel there's some chance of striking the target. Swordsmen standby. If it gets close enough for you to do anything, we're in trouble. But be ready just the same." He paused, then continued. "This is the real thing, boys. Don't fail. And may Odin's blessing be upon us." The men responded with silence. The soldiers stationed on the starboard side stared out at the sea, gradually being able to make out the form of the serpeant. It seemed like an eternity before the first bowman opened fire, but he was immediately joined by a host of his fellows. The serpeant bellowed a mighty, pained roar, as the quarrels struck his hide, many of them digging deep. It was only a few minutes later until the archers joined in, sending a rain of arrows down on the swimming serpeant. It thrashed about, coloring the sea red with its blood. Commander Keith watched with pride. His men were showing themselves more than able to deal with the menace. By the time it was anywhere within reach of the ship, it seemed to be half dead already. One of its eyes had been ripped to shreds, and it appeared to be bleeding profusely from its mouth. Bellowing in pain, it rose out of the sea and lunged. Its jaws struck the side of the ship, and tried to pull at it. Instantly, a score or more of highly trained swordsmen swarmed around it, raining blows on its head. It thashed, knocking a few of them into the sea. One swordsmen got in the way of the massive jaws. He screamed as the yellow teeth crushed the life out of him, but the others ignored it, continuing the attack. The serpeant, now bleeding freely, reared back, bellowing in pain and anger. Another volley of bolts and quarrels struck it, and the dying monster thashed from side to side. Then Duerak, the ship's mage, stepped forwards. Raising his hands, he screamed several arcane sylables, and a huge ball of fire formed at his fingers, then went flying toward's the serpeant. The beast's head exploded in a burst of flame and putrid flesh, and the thing's lifeless body slumped back into the water with a tremendous splash. "Excellent work," Commander Kevin called. He had heard of entire ships of armed soldiers being killed by such serpeants, but his crew had suffered only minor injuries. Well pleased, he turned towards the navigator. "Lay out a course to rejoin the fleet," he commanded, "the journey shall continue." ######################################################################## =-=-= END TIMES 303 =-=-= ######################################################################## Up