Atlantis Times v1.1 v02n05 From: GM%TRPASB@MPA15AB.mv-oc.Unisys.COM Date: Tue, 12 Apr 1994 16:33:12 +0000 ######################################################################## =-=-= Atlantis Times v1.1 Volume 2 Number 5 =-=-= ######################################################################## Words from The Big Guy: Sorry to you all, but I was on vacation last week, and when all the outgoing mail got bounced, I did not see it. I'll send out the May reports this week, and just let the week delay go. I've removed all incoming mail, so please resend any June orders after you get your May report. Note that I ran the turn last week. The mail failed. REMEMBER, send game problems to: jjc@MPA15C.mv-oc.unisys.com. I don't read the mail at the other addresses!!! Game Rules UPDATE: Ships under construction now also indicate how many build points are left to complete the ship. I've sent a test return receipt for the ORDERS address. Did any of you get it? Mail me if you did, but don't if you did not. Remember, there is a limit of 72 characters per line for Times submissions. Anything over 72 characters will wrap around auto- matically. Well, we no longer have heffalump. The mailing list is no longer available. I'll keep running the game, but we really need a list server of some sort. Anybody got a system we can use? Send Times to: jjc@mpa15ab.mv-oc.unisys.com Send Orders to: gm%trpasb@mpa15ab.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 ######################################################################## ATLANTIS ECONOMICS PART 8 This weeks question: Analysing a sample battle using the model developed last week. In part 7 the below procedure was developed: Improved Battle Model Procedure 1. Calculate the loses inflicted by the "behind" troops. 2. Apply half of those losses to the front line troops (adjusting Na and Nb). 3. Use equation (3) to calculate the additional losses in the front line troops. 4. Apply the other half of the losses calculated in step 1 to the front line units. 5. Repeat steps 1 - 4 until one side breaks. Recall that equation (3) was: (4 * Na * Pa) - (2 * Nb * Pa * Pb) Hb = __________________________________ (3) 4 - (Pa * Pb) Hb = Hits inflicted on side B Pa = A's probability of hitting B Na = Number of troops in Player A's force Nb = Number of troops in Player B's force Pb = B's probability of hitting A Scenario A group of poorly trained swordsmen (miners and weaponsmiths by trade) are protecting a number of unarmed artisans from an attacking band of bowmen. The bowmen have a bunch of untrained peasants to "man the front line" and the swordsmen have 2 wizards. Side A Front line 100 armed level 1 swordsmen. The miners and weaponsmiths have the same skill and are "lumped together" for modelling purposes. Pa=.4 against peasants, but Pa=.49 against bowmen. "Behind" units 48 unarmed artisans Take no part in the battle, but do effect side A's "breaking point" (50% casualties). 2 wizards These individuals are armed with "lightening bolt" and will kill 2-10 each per battle round. (modeled as 6 killed each round). Side B Front line 100 unarmed and unskilled peasants. Pb=.1 against the swordsmen "Behind" units 50 armed level 2 longbowmen Pb=.25, so this unit will kill 12.5 each round until peasants in front are all dead and it starts to take casualties. 50 armed level 1 crossbowmen Pb=.4, so this unit will kill 20 each round it fires. Neither side has any tactician, so no free round at the start of battle takes place. Note that this battle will end when one side takes over 50% losses. I think that this means the battle ends instantly (and goes straight to the victor's free attack round). Also note that the numbers below refer to the steps in the battle model. First Round. 1. A's wizards kill 12(6/6) B's bowmen kill 32.5(16/16) 2. A's swordsmen reduced to 84 B's peasants reduced to 94. 3. A's swordsmen kill 33 B's peasants kill 8.6 (~9). 4. 59 of A's swordsmen survive 55 of B's peasants survive 5. Neither side has 50%= losses, so the battle continues Second Round. 1. A's wizards kill 12 B's bowmen kill 12.5 (6/7) 2. A's swordsmen reduced to 53 B's peasants reduced to 49. 3. A's swordsmen kill 20.9(21) B's peasants kill 4.4 (~4). 4. 42 of A's swordsmen survive 22 of B's peasants survive 5. Neither side has 50%= losses, so the battle continues Third Round. 1. A's wizards kill 12 B's bowmen kill 12.5 (6/6) 2. A's swordsmen reduced to 36 B's peasants reduced to 16. 3. A's swordsmen kill 14.4(14) B's peasants kill 1.25 (~1). 4. 29 of A's swordsmen survive -4 of B's peasants survive 5. Side B has surpassed 50% casualties, so they have lost. The third round in fact ended with the 101st hit on side B. (about 23/26 ths of the way through, so A probably has 30-31 surviving swordsmen). Aftermath. A's wizards kill an additional 12 and A's swords should kill another 14-15, so B should wind up with 73-74 bowmen surviving. Observations 1. Note that this was still a close battle. In the above analysis I assumed "average" luck on both sides. Good hitting could have won it for either side. Note that if the swordsmen had hit poorly sending the battle into a fourth round, the crossbowmen's second volley could well have won the battle for the bowmen. 2. "Specialists" are extremely useful. The 36 hits inflicted by the swordsmen's wizards were crucial to their victory. If either side had had a "tactician", they would have won. A would have got ~52 free hits and B would have gotten ~42 free hits during an initial free round of combat. Next installment: Peasant economics. The above analysis generated by the scribes of faction 59, "Larson's Adventurers", formed in Gurkacre (9,14) on Jan 01 reachable at "Bill_Larson@ncsu.edu" ######################################################################## Hans Shadowspawn's Guide to a Good Time in Atlantis brought to you by Merry Prankster Enterprises ============================================= INTRODUCTION This month's feature city is the lovely, snow-covered city of Mizip (5,2). Located in the far North of the Northwestern continent, Mizip is a winter wonderland. Although the temperature is a bit cold, the natives more than make up for it with their warmth; and, with the world famous furs of the local swamps (at wholesale prices!), you can wrap yourself up cozier than a Gully Dwarf in a Gully-hole. GEOGRAPHY Mizip is located at the north end of a great band of plains, running across the continent. The icy tundra-swamps of Louer, Jakugoner, and Carbost surround Mizip, with a great icy sea rumoured to be past them to the North. The Grisbygd mountains can be seen in the distance- home of some of the best skiing in Atlantis! THE NATIVES The local government is dominated by the Padishah Empire, and the Household of Diamante. None of the locals have seen the Emporer himself lately (strange rumors of spice-driven orgies keep surfacing), but the Empire seems to be as industrious as always. The aristocratic Lord Reynolds of Diamante remains a popular local figure. Mizip seems to be filled with a spirit of brotherhood and friendship between these two factions (the own to be false). THINGS TO DO Mizip is reknowned through the continent as a capital of winter sports. Also, due to the cold weather, it seems that one of the best things to do in Mizip is to curl up with one of the large, lovable natives in front of a warm fire. Preferably with a warm 'Mizippy', a local drink that goes down well on a cold day. ######################################################################## We dwarfs have been here in the woods for several months now. Our skill is increasing and we except timber production to reflect this very soon. We are happy cutting down trees and preparing it for transport but this month the carrier do not take our timber back to base. We thought that it was despa- rately needed to make crossbows and longbows. (We were even hoping to build some nice cottages for ourselves one day.) No word has come from base about this anomaly. Has the mistress been killed? Have we mealy been forgotten in the rush of orders? Some say that the gods are having strife and that our particular deity has been isolated from the rest of the panthanon. Either way we'll just keep on producing wood for a couple more months at least. ######################################################################## Von Oedipus shook his shiny sword in Rage! "Catch that Lone Harangeur immediately" he cried. But to no avail - the cheeky voice had disappeared into the crowd. And the angry Baron was too fired up to perhaps recognise the voice he knew so well. And far too cross to laugh. Big Barons with Weaponmaking Responsibilities don't take kindly to jokes, as any mirthfull maggot should know. "Bring that pathetic little weasel to me! I'll slash his zatch from gizzard to gultch!" he announced. "Let none hide the the perpetrator, or on his head be it!" But was it a weasel or in fact a rat, that skulked off quickly into the crowd after laughing so merrily? And all around the great continent of Atlantis, the vast and harmonious Alliance-of-People-With-Swords-Looking-For-People-Without began to quake at its roots. What would happen when Von Oedipus discovered it was in fact a taunt from within that creased his brow? Would he, as the oracle foretold, bring down his very own creation, with a blood bath of brother killing brother? Only time will tell. ######################################################################## From the "Book of Things"... MUGGING FOR FUN AND PROFIT Most Atlanteans are aware that the quickest and easiest way to make $2500 is to attack a new player before that player has had the opportunity to recruit any peasants. This occurs most often when a new player, for one reason or other, fails to submit orders on his (or her) first turn. On the second turn, all those players that DID recruit have the opportunity to attack the dormant player and reap an immense profit. This is called "mugging", and is the single most annoying and unbalancing feature of Atlantis which is in most other respects an excellent game. Recently, the situation appears to have become worse. This writer (the Innkeeper of the Brotherhood of the Mist, faction 86) has heard of new players being placed in the same space as existing established factions. If those factions choose, they can grab the free loot and eliminate the new players no matter what those new players order on their first turn. Unless there are some important details that I'm overlooking, this situation is a clear failing of the game system. Not only does it produce disgruntled new players, but it also puts large amounts of money in the hands of those few factions lucky enough to score new players in their territory. I can see two potential solutions to the problem. Firstly, if the problem from the GM's point of view is that there simply is not any room left in Atlantis for new players, then the game could be declared full and another game started. Secondly, ALL initial characters could start life with a stealth level of 2. New players would then be invisible to other new players until they recruited some (stealth zero) peasants, or the other players studied up to observation level 2. Note that these two solutions address slightly different aspects of the problem, and are not mutually exclusive. ######################################################################## Ekij surveyed his domain, it was not to his pleasing. He needed better protection not only for himself but for his specialists. A fortress was required, or at least a smallish castle of sorts. For that he needed material and builders. Stone would be ideal but a little hard to come across, he wanted the defence to be functional by the end of the summer. Wood was more practical but lacked good defence and decayed faster. Speed was important, wood it would have to be; even then he needed lumberjacks, transport teams with horses and builders. He lacked the people for such an enterprise. Oh entertainers he had but they didn't produce enough cash for some to engage in other activities. Money that was the problem, if he could only get some fast and easy, enough for twenty five men would do that would be about $1250. Plus extra to feed them. A rediculiously large amount of cash. It would be _ _ _ the end of the summer |X|_|X|_|X| before such money |XXXXXXXXX| would be made by his |XX XXX XX| _ _ _ _ % entertainers. If \XX XXX XX/ |X|_|X|_|X|_|X| %%% only there were \XXXXXXX/ |XXXXXXXXXXXXX| %%%%% annother way. |XXXXXXX| |XX XXX XXX XX| %%%%%%% something faster and |X XXX X| _ |XX XXX XXX XX| |XXXXX| easy. Taxing would |X XXX X|_|X|_|XXXXXXXXXXXXX| _ _ |XX XX| not be possible for |XXXXXXX|XXXXX|XXXXXXXXXXXXX|_|X|_|X|_|XX XX| annother five months |X XXX X|XX XX|XX XXXXXXX XX|XXXXXXXXX|XXXXX| or so. Some other |X XXX X|XX XX|XX XXXXXXX XX|XX XXX XX|XX XX| way, he would leave |XXXXXXX|XXXXX|XXXXX/-\XXXXX|XX XXX XX|XX XX| the problem with |XXXXXXX|XXXXX|XXXX/---\XXXX|XXXXXXXXX|XXXXX| zolag, she was often |XX/-\XX|XXXXX|XXXX|---|XXXX|XXXXXXXXX|XXXXX| viscious and cruel but |XX|-|XX|XXXXX|XXXX|---|XXXX|XXXXXXXXX|XXXXX| she got the job done. ######################################################################## Memoirs of a lonely scout part III Hi all agian, It's just increadibly the newspaper wanted to continue to publish my life story. Well I don't know where to start. Last month one of the peasants finally decided to join me in my investigation of the world. I decided to give him 50$ to get him started but he just spent them at the local inn. He also has started to play hide and seek but even as he has gotten a bit better to hide I still can see him because of all my training in this matter. After awhile I decided to continue my journey eastwards but just after a couple of day my feet started to get wet and after a couple of hours I was up to my knees with water. I came to think about that guy Dances on Oceans and how he had been able to walk on the surface. I really whish that I would have this ability but as it was I had to return back to the dry plain that I just left. On my return a lot of frightning rumours had reached my new helper. He told me that the rumours of a crazy Dr. in the south was true and that he was making a map and using human skin for it. This really turns my stomach. He also told me of a stream of refugees that have left the great mountain in the west afraid of the mad Emperor and his vassals the House of Diamante. He also told me that the Emperor is recruiting peasants by force for his army. For his lumberjacks and also to build a lot of villas all over the provinses. In Grisbygd where he recides himself he has even made people to start building a castle. (who do he think he is anyway) Some rumors also say that a large allience in the south has decided to not be a part of the Padisha Empire and has started to reinforce their provinses in case that the evil emperor will try to enslave the people of the south as well. So even if all news speak of war and unrest it seems that there will be a lot of work for a scout like me and my new dancing friend this summer. Yours truly Crimson Dancer ######################################################################## The Mad Mage Ah yes, here I sit, or rather stand, upon the surface of this my new homeworld, Atlantis. Crisp and clear, the cottony clouds roll across the sky pushed by an unseen hand cloaking the orb of blazing light riding among the swirls in alternating suits of myriad hypnotic patterns. Joyful, the birds sing, a cacophany of life and happiness, a song reveling in the beauty of nature, in the freedom of flight. Animals, they roam everywhere, strong and free intermixing, loving, killing, living. Worst of all the packs unleashed, man he wars upon both brother and the common beast. It appears all the same from where I stand lonely upon this strange yet promising world. No different from the world I left, no strangeness greets my weary eyes. I am bound to the destiny stretching into the haze before my unwavering gaze. New adventures beckon my soul ever onward casting about through the darkness of ignorance, shining with the brilliance of knowledge. Yes, Knowledge. Who but I can assuage my mind, ever bitten by the infectious disease of lust. A desire to know. A lust that consumes the very fibers of my mortal being leaving nothing but a charred, nameless, formless husk in its wake. A husk in search of ever more knowledge. For within knowledge lies the key to power. Yes, Power. The sole reason behind my arduous journey to this far distant land. Power with which to line my coffers and feed my soul. Control over all I survey. Yes, it shall in time be mine and woe to he who deigns cross my path, the hapless fool who toys with my resolve, who thrusts blindly forward into the abyss I have created. I shall swallow him whole, spit his carcass across the spine of the world to land in gruesome splender upon the doorstep of he who commands. Beware. Loose not your feeble minions upon my lands, do not sully the peace erected by unseen hands. I am the giver of life, protector of right. You who deem yourselves mighty take heed and be wary of my wrath. I am akin to the spectre who haunts your dreams, feeding off the hatreds imprisoned with your blackened soul. Heed my warning, listen close for in the next you shall be smote by lancing pains and boils and growths until even your closest gaze upon you and choke, revulsion shining in downcast eyes. Heed these warnings one and all, for in the end even the mighty fall, call not for blood, nor war, nor death. Retract your legions from my soil, gather them back unto your breast, for is it worth the toil? to see them struck dead, a sword through the chest. Consider your future wisely, friends, for at the last, you have no choice. You can not run from death's cold hand. And, I am death incarnate. The Mad Mage Lucifer, Wizard extraordinaire, Minglewood Exploratory Enterprises (100) * - * "Lucifer, what's with that stupid tirade? Trying to get us killed?" Incensed over his subordinates speech, the leader of Minglewood Exploratory Enterprises, clobbers the mad mage over the head with a stout staff of oak. "You bleeding idiot! If I want you to speak, I'll tell you what to say! Understand?" Lucifer's redshot eyes shine with an insane inner fire. His lips part in a grim, lopsided smile displaying yellow sharpened teeth. An ominous cackle begins to form somewhere deep within his chest, fading in a phlegm choked weeze of escaping air. The psychotic grin remains plastered across his once handsome face. "I am death incarnate," he responds, saliva dripping in long coils from quivering lips. A clawed hand reaches out, grasping at the thin air, gesticulating in wild gyrations of emptiness. "I am death incarnate," he repeats, an automation lost within a maze of his own sordid creation, stricken by the magic of insanity. "Oh brother! You've gone and lost it haven't you? Sheez, what in the hell is next?" The leader departs for his own quarters leaving the Mad Mage to banter with the spirits he so clearly sees and hears above the howling night wind. "Just what I need a damned lunatic psycho for a magician!" The words trail off into the night unheard. In the tent, the mage begins a weird dance, arms flopping, limbs akimbo as he spirals in uneven circles chanting in a crude whispy language, crooning a song of imagined power to absent gods. ######################################################################## It was night again. Jarett leaned back in his heavy, stuffed chair, enjoying a leisurely pipe at the end of a hard day. "Daddy, tell me a story!" Jarett started as little Olin jumped up into his lap. Ah, the little ones, he thought wryly. So much energy... "Now, Olin, don't you bother your father. He's very tired and he doesn't have time for stories tonight." The reproof came from Elsa in the next room. "Auugh!" wailed the child. "But I wanted to hear a story about the cats!" Jarett shook his head in disbelief. "Again? I've read you 'The Seven Coat Tabby' over a dozen..." "No!! Not that one! I want to hear about the REAL cats!" An eye turned slightly towards a dusty window pane. Elsa raised her eyebrows and smiled. "What is this? Are you saying you don't believe in the Seven Coat Tabby?" "I dunno..." The little boy got down from his father's lap, walked to the window and clambered up onto the sill. "I just want to hear a story about the other cats..." A little nose pressed up against the cold pane. Jarett was confused. "You mean Old Man Marber's litter of..." "No!" called the child, still gazing outside, "The ones out THERE..." A finger stubbed against the pane, making a mark in the dust. "Olin, get down from that window," his mother called. "You'll break it!" "Time for bed, young lad." Jarett rose heavily to his feet. "You can look for cats some other..." "They're BACK!" "What?" "Look, SEE? I TOLD you..." Jarett looked out the window and stared. "Gods above..." In the grass, in the rows, up the trees, over the roofs, they were everywhere. Lions, panthers, tigers, jaguars, cougars, lynxes and common cats of all breeds and colors...and moving among them, sinewy, graceful people, covered in light mantles of fine hair. Watching from their homes, the people were scared at first. One man made to go for his crossbow. But something held him. The wonder of their movement, leaping, dancing through the air with unequaled agility. The cats and the people bounced water barrels between them, one great lion juggled four aloft with his back paws. They rebounded from one another in midair, their glistening coats making kaleidoscopic patterns of color. One man, tall with auburn hair, lit torches. Cats and people alike took them by the teeth. They took places by one another...and in perfect synchronization, the constellations of the Archer and the Gorgon came alive on earth, and did battle for the delight of mortals. And with the fall of the Gorgon, all the torches went out... ...A moment later, the man who had thought to go for his bow stepped out. He walked into the field and dropped a large haunch of beef. Without preamble, he turned, walked back into his house and closed the door. One by one, others came out. A pail of milk, a pot roast, a leg of lamb or venison, all left in the middle of the field. Jarett went into the back yard to slaughter a pair of chickens, for his gift. And when it was done, they came again, from out of the shadows, darting in, snatching up beef, meat, pails and birds, and continuing on. From all sides they came, almost flying, each new cat reaching the pile not a hair's breath behind the one before him. In a few moments, the field was empty again. The night continued in rapturous silence. ######################################################################## Received: from mail.unigate1.unisys.com (sys1) by mvdns1 (4.1/SMI-4.1-1. 6) id AA19431; Thu, 31 Mar 94 22:39:18 PST idom.com by mail.unigate1.unisys.com (4. 1/SMI-4. 1) id AA12954; Fri, 1 Apr 94 06:39:15 GMT Received: from eng.tridom.com (tridom.eng.tridom.com) by gatekeeper.mis. tridom.c om with SMTP id AA26639 (5.65c/IDA-1.4.4 for <jjc@mpa15ab.mv-oc.unisys.com>); Fri, 1 Apr 1994 01:24:07 -0500 Received: from shu.eng.tridom.com by eng.tridom.com (4.1/AT&T Tridom Eng 2.0) id AA01160; Thu, 31 Mar 94 17:56:20 EST Date: Thu, 31 Mar 94 17:56:20 EST From: lam%eng.tridom.com@mvdns1 (Larry Morris) Message-Id: <9403312256.AA01160@eng.tridom.com> To: jjc@mpa15ab Subject: Times article - $ to unit 321 Doktor Vox grumbled as his horse slogged through the swamp water. Why had he *ever* thought springtime would be a good time to travel? And even the normally hardy peasants couldn't survive for long in this hostile swamp, and the food supplies were a bit low. At least he'd brought some reading materials; this had to be the *longest* month of March in history! Vox chuckled as he read the exploits of Dr. Neve Eril...clearly a physician after his own heart. Or pocketbook, perhaps! But Muian Pox Potion wasn't the specialty he was after. The secret of Spice Vellum was foremost on Vox's mind this weary trip. He'd been intrigued by the Emperor's assertion that his own dubious maps were printed on "bamboo cloth". Hrmph. If that was true, it was clearly a waste of precious natural resources! The party drew to a halt at a slightly less soggy hummock, and after pitching camp, an unusually nervous squire handed Dr. Vox his dinner rations. He was delighted to see a steaming plate of delicious-smelling meat, bubbling in a rich brown gravy. Vox turned to the squire and asked where this lovely repast had come from; he'd thought they were down to trailbread and water! "Umm...well, Doktor, a couple more peasants just starved to death yesterday, and since we had all these swords, well...uh..." Vox looked horrified. "You DIDN'T!! You couldn't have...you just SLICED UP and COOKED those poor beggars??" The squire blanched, but continued. "Well, see, the Smokehouse Master back in Roddendor, he's been having to do somethin' with all those folks you skinned, and he sorta came up with this recipe..." Vox considered a moment, then took a bite and chewed carefully. "Well, I have to admit it's tasty...sort of like bananas, but a little gamey. You think it would work well with a curry?" The squire broke into a grin. "Why sure, Dr. Vox, curry would work great for the gravy. But where would we get the spices?" "Leave that to me, son. We're heading to spice-rich territory." Vox smiled and settled down to enjoy the dinner. Things were definitely looking up. Now if he could just figure out what happened to that renegade scout down South... ######################################################################## Falstaff paced the room angrily. Disappointed at being denied entrance to the Magus Research Room for not having the required fee ON him. No.. they wouldn't accept the fact that the Horsefolk had more than enough to pay for his studies, he had to produce the gold up front, and now. [read: If your researcher doesn't have the 200 gold in its possession, it will be denied research!] And the news that the telegrams giving orders to his brothers had been waylaid did nothing to raise his spirits either! "Mindless Morons!" - For some unknown reason nobody received orders this month, and not knowing what to do merely did what they did last month again.. Which wouldn't have been so bad, if there hadn't been deliveries to take care of! At least poor Gowann didn't wander into any more oceans.. but the manual labour couldn't have appealed to her much, either. The final straw seems to be the threats of invasion from some more established folk to our north.. ######################################################################## From the Diary of Lord Zucchini February, Year 2 "I told you we should have gone back to Salen!", panted Zucchini at the bottom of the rough-cut stone staircase. Overhead could be heard faint scratching sounds, as Lord Falken's troops attempted to find the opening mechanism of the secret door through which they had just escaped. "But why should Lord Falken's men be after us?", whined Cucumber, as he struggled for breath. "We didn't do anything." "Being associated with the late licentious Lord Banana is enough", answered Zucchini. "If it hadn't been Lord Falken's men, it would probably have been the husbands or brothers or fathers of half the women in town!" "Not to mention the dairy farmers and shepherds" agreed Cucumber sourly. "Sometimes I think our family legacy is more of a curse than a blessing", he growled, glancing down at his well-filled breeches. "So what do we do now?" "We try to make our way out through the secret tunnel and then flee for our lives - what do you think, you idiot?", snapped Zucchini. Taking up a torch from a rusty wall bracket, they made they way around the perimeter of the hidden chamber under the inn. Narrow dark tunnels led off in 4 directions. "Which one is the exit?" wondered Cucumber aloud. "The innkeeper back in Salen didn't say anything about four tunnels." murmured Zucchini. "Strange that he should know about the secret door, of which the local innkeeper is apparently ignorant. Perhaps he worked here long ago, or perhaps there is some kind of brotherhood of innkeepers where such information is passed from member to member." "But if it's a secret, why would he have told us?" asked Cucumber. "Perhaps he wanted us to go in here," answered Zucchini, "...for some reason of his own. Well, we have no choice now. Just pick a tunnel and get going." Cucumber stooped into a tunnel, and Zucchini followed him, quickly glancing back to make sure they weren't leaving an obvious trail behind them. They had left no tracks on the stone floor. After proceeding for some minutes the tunnel began to narrow, and soon they were both forced to crawl, Cucumber stumping along on one hand with the other holding the torch out in front of him. "This seems like it's going down instead of up," he whispered. "If it's the secret exit, we should be going up!" "Too late to turn back now. It must go somewhere. Just keep going. Perhaps it leads into the mines, somewhere in the mountain." After crawling onward for a time that could have been minutes or hours in the unchanging darkness, a cold draft caused the torch to flutter dangerously. Cucumber stopped suddenly, and Zucchini bumped into his rear end, causing him to curse roundly. A short distance ahead, the tunnel widened into a cavern. They crawled out onto a ledge and, slowly stood upright, straining to see in the flickering torchlight. Crumbling low structures were discernable in the cavern. "Looks like ancient abandoned dwarf dwellings," exclaimed Cucumber. Zucchini just looked on in amazement. They made they way down into the middle of the underground habitat. A gully ran the length of the street, disappearing into a hole in the cavern wall - an open sewer, a sure sign that these ruins had once been inhabited by gully dwarves. At the other end of the street, they spotted a well. Hoping to quench their thirsts, they hurried over to it. There was no bucket. Cucumber held the torch over the well and peered down into the depths. At first he could see nothing, but then his eyes widened as he made out a blue mist, swirling at the bottom... ######################################################################## The True Nature of Combat The Niskby Theoretical Institute regrets that the discourse on the nature of combat will be delayed as we have not completed our simulations of violent confrontation, not to mention the peasants are getting a little testy about the accidents (but we said we wouldn't mention that). Instead we will provide a table of the transportation limits of ships. Men+ Men+Sword+ Men+ Sword+ Armor+ Type | Men | Sword | Armor | Horse ------------------------------------------ Lo 3 Clipper | 80 | 72 | 66 | 12 Galleon | 180 | 163 | 150 | 29 Note: shipping horses is very expensive. It would be more profitable to train the men in horse training and have them train horses at a landing site. ######################################################################## He watched from the shadows. The Falcon and his wife Roxanne were in turn watching their troops pass in review, an impressive, if worrisome sight. The watcher had seen it many times before; the build up of force for defensive or mercenary purposes always went well at first, but soon the cost of continued production or the ambition of the person in charge led them to more grandiose thoughts. It soon becomes necessary to add to the personal land and glory. The review having ended the watcher retreated further into the shadows and melted away to a waiting horse. The ride would be a several days what with the terrain, but the information would be wel paid for. ######################################################################## "It has begun, my lord", reported the messenger. He handed the Seneschal a rolled parchment. Cai quickly scanned the contents of the note from Thurg. The site for the shipyard had been selected. Tree felling operations had been stepped up. Wood production had been diverted from the tax squads to the shipbuilders. The main keel was being laid in sections. Cai felt a surge of elation. The great venture was underway! Then he made a rough calculation. The work to date was about three parts in the hundred of what was needed before the ship would be ready. And there was also the matter of the starving peasants. "What of the ... measures to save the peasants from hunger?" Cai asked the messenger. "They have begun, too." ######################################################################## Map of Atlantis --- -- -------- March, 2 Edition Emperor Shaddam IV of the Padishah Empire (Faction 3) ---> 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 -----------O---O-----------PPPPO-- 6 7 ------------O-O------------POPP--- 7 8 -------------O-------------POPPP-- 8 9 ----------------------------OOFO-- 9 10 ----------------------------OPSSO- 10 11 -----P----------------------OPPFMO 11 12 -----------------------------OOPO- 12 13 -----M---------------------------- 13 14 -----F---P------------------------ 14 15 -----P-M-------------------------- 15 16 -------P-------------------------- 16 17 --------SO------------------------ 17 18 ---------------------------------- 18 19 ---------------------------------- 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 Please note that row 34 is directly accessible from row 0 (Going north from (10,0) will get you to (10,34). This map has been printed on paper made of bamboo cloth. No animals were harmed in its production. All people who donate map information will remain anonymous. Your messages are deleted immediately after your data has been added to the map. The change in format was necessary because our printing presses only are wide enough for 72 characters. We apologize. - ES4 ######################################################################## Hear ye, Hear ye, The Newbie Alliance is once again accepting applicants for it's highly sought after membership. This membership offer is for a limited time, and if you sign up now, you get all this... Free season tickets to our gladatorial combat arena. See the hottest rising stars in Atlantis compete. Tips on which type of circus acts are prefered in different parts of the world. 100 free gladatorial trading cards for you and your friends to enjoy. Magical advise from our revered masters. Free advice on how to start up your new faction, so you can get going in the world. Some many say they'd pay $500 for services like this, but were offering it for...not $100, not $19.95, but FREE. Yes, absolutely free. Be reassured that for the 25 members that have joined in the past have enjoied the company of each other and have helped make life in this world a much easier thing. Don't wait any longer, join now by sending a self addressed e-mail to smellack@crash.cts.com with the subject "sign me up". And within 2 days you'll get your first kit that will tell you how to join. Michael Odowick smellack@crash.cts.com Rorschach Inc. (101) ######################################################################## =-=-= END TIMES 205 =-=-= ######################################################################## Up