Atlantis Times v1.1 v01n03 From: JJC%MPA15C@MPA15AB.mv-oc.Unisys.COM Date: Mon, 20 Dec 1993 21:11:04 +0000 ######################################################################## =-=-= Atlantis Times v1.1 Volume 1 Number 3 =-=-= ######################################################################## Words from The Big Guy: I forgot to pay those of you that submitted articles to the Times. I'll credit you next turn. Sorry about the confusion. The playerlist that is on heffalump is now generated from the game itself. There is no need to do FINDS if you can get to heffalump. Most of you wanted to run over Christmas, so there will be a turn, provided my network stays up long enough to get orders in and reports out. Also, due to the fact that I removed all my files (yes, by accident) I may have lost mail from some of you that arrived after Friday, 12/17. If it was important, please resend. Note that orders and times submissions were not affected, only mail to atlantis-gamemaster was lost. If you've died, let me know and I'll start you up again. If you let me know who killed you, I'll put them on my list... :-o Jim (a.k.a. The Big Guy) ######################################################################## Diary of Lame Duck, Owner of Lame Duck's Trading Company 15.02.01 The last month was full of exitement. There arose some more people like myself, having much money and being afraid of loosing it but it is a friendly atmosphere among the rich people, all is peaceful. I have founded a trading company, because it is not allowed to employ people without haveing some kind of company. We are beginning to explore our surroundings, and worked out how to coordinate in the future. Oh, I'm looking forwart to happy times with new friends, interesting travells and the smell of the new, big world. I just have planned to travel to the southers country and look around how the life will be there. I have told my parents, that they don't need to be worried about their son, and I promised them to take some of my new guys with me to make travelling safer and to have some fun, sitting at the campfires in the evening and sing ols songs, dance eat and drink. My father was rather disappointed because I am in the age where the young men in my country are usally looking for a nice girl they want to marry (I think it is a great wish of my parents to have grandchildren). I told him, that there will be pretty girls in other countries, too and that I will of course write a letter home, when something important will happen. Nevertheless, I am looking for a great time, much fun and perhaps some fame and glory, from which I can tell my own grandchildren in the distant future. Tomorrow I will start to pack by bags and then the big travel will start. I hope the future will be as enjoyabel and peacefull as the last month. Lame Duck ######################################################################## The gathering grows quiet as the great philosopher prepares to share his knowledge with those whom he has deemed worthy. Of those who have studied his teachings, he has selected only a handful. Now, as dusk approaches, the crowd becomes silent as the thinker prepares to speak. "My fellow thinkerz, and all youse other folks who done got in here somehow, I has seed the future, and it is bright. Children rome freely, debatin' politics and philosapy in safety. We's gotta do sometin' if'n this future is gonna happen, though, or else it might not, unless it does. I done called y'all here today to announce a brave new society, one which I's hopin' will be builded on logic and philosapy, wherein we can figger' out how to think fer ourselves. Friends, brothers, significant others, I does hereby welcome you to the Thinkerz' Unyun!" The crowd erupts into applause as the speaker's voice rises to conclude the speech. After basking in the admiration of his followers, the philosopher waves and departs. The remainder of the evening is spent in the exploration and meaning of intoxication. As dawn arrives, the crowd disperses, but the momentum of the movement continues. ######################################################################## RABBLE ROUSED IN RODDENDOR They'd always called him the "silver-tongued devil." He just had that way with words, you see. Put him in front of a crowd, and he was in heaven! He'd called himself many names as he moved around, but lately it was just "Vox Populi." The common voice. And these Roddendorians were such passionate folk! Clearly, they loved to hear him talk about justice, equality, the sins of taxation, the joys of hard work. Already he'd attracted a crowd of 70 or so just by buying some beers and making small talk! And the diversity of this place! Not just peasants, there were odd lizard-creatures, and sinister-looking spies in green and black, and no-nonsense traders; definitely a motley crew. But there was clearly a darker side to this place as well. Here and there, he would meet people -- well, they *looked* like people -- who would not communicate, were completely nondescript, and when asked, would describe themselves only as "Unit" and some number! Where were they coming from? What was their evil purpose? Naturally, he mentioned these odd creatures in one of his rousing speeches to the peasant population. They seemed to be universally resented, and their ringleader seemed to be the notorious "Unit 12". Not only was he uncommunicative, but he was rumored to have vast wealth, hoarded in some secret location! But Vox Populi was not prepared for the results of his innocent speech. He preached peace and tolerance, naturally, but the crowd seemed to misinterpret...they became louder and louder, and finally a cry went up "Death to 12! Death to 12!" and his own voice was lost in the great cry, as the mob surged away, picking up crude clubs and rocks as they went! Afterwards, when the street-sweepers had cleaned up the blood, and the rabble had calmed somewhat, seeming now a little ashamed of their actions, Vox Populi reflected on his own ethics. Oh well, he decided, the lizards were ready to lynch the fellow anyway; they seemed equally intolerant of sloth and unapplied wealth. And the incident didn't seem to have hurt Vox's popularity. But he *really* had to learn to control these peasants better... ######################################################################## CRAIL -- In recent weeks, the town of Crail, a town with aspirations to cityhood, has suddenly risen from its slumber of years of sleepy contentedness. A fresh new look has come upon the streets, banners flying, and people opening their doors upon the crowds bustinling through. Spring is here, you say? So it is, but not just spring. People are flocking to follow Master Johann, a man claiming to be the direct descendant of the Dukes of Argentese, who in earlier days might, or might not, have ruled much of the Southlands. Some speculate that Johann is a fraud, merely an adventurer out for himself, to carve out a small empire in the fractious wilderness of petty baronies, manor houses, and untamed land that is this world of Atlantis. Others vouch for his sincerity, feeling sure that he will lead them to (return to?) greatness. The truth? Well, no one knows, yet. The tale will unfold in the coming months, and your humble reporter will keep you, citizens of Atlantis, informed. This has been Hurnem, Southern Bureau reporter for the Atlantis Times, signing off. ######################################################################## The enlightened Beings discover the ocean! Yes, those inquisitive Beings have wandered smack into an ocean and, after enjoying a quick bath, have reported back that the salt air does indeed enhance one's stamina. B-) Serious discussions were reported at the bargaining table with the Mages of Nemesis. The musings of the studious spellcasters were of particular interest to our entertainment troupes, whom are practising Shakespeare (love all those deaths!) for the peasants' amusement. Rumor has it that we have even scouted out new factions! We welcome our new friends, and hope all have a prosperous future together. Beelzebub, ruler of the enlightened Beings of Dharma ######################################################################## A royal bird with crest of Falcon returns to the hand of it's master. "Ahhh. This land of Crail. So fertile, so vast, so free. The forces of Falcon have selected here to begin their quests, and so they shall... To all our friends and allies, peace and harmony. To our enemies, woe and terror..." ######################################################################## The Padishah Empire has decided to take over the Oleg's Map work of the previous Atlantis game. If you decide to participate, send your data to ckim@skidmore.edu (Atlantis Map in the sub. please) with the data (the type of land and the co-ordinates). The maps will be uploaded by ftp to heffalump.ucsf.edu. If people request it, they will also be sent to the Times. Emperor Shaddam IV ######################################################################## Now it is over one month since I've arrived in this unhospitable part of Atlantis. A lot of things have changed during this time, this desolated plain was not among them. I have met Azrael Xavier, one of the people who arrived with me. He told me that he also sent out scouts to explore our surroundings. Last week I got a message from one of my scouts. He writes that he has found a nice forest further to the south. I am glad to hear that for this gives me some hope for the future. I've also seen the third man of us five. His name is Gar Von Braun. I haven't talked to him yet - he seems to be a shy nature. But he was very busy recruiting a lot of people for his needs last month. I wonder what he is planning. The last one in our group hasn't left his hut in all the time. We don't even know if he's still alive. Some people say that he is practicing dark magic there. I don't believe that, but we should enquire in this case. Yesterday we've decided to break in his hut to see what he's doing there or if he's still there at all. We are prepared for the worst, and I will send 30 of my best men in there. For the whole last week I've preparing a caravan to the forest to the south, which is called Jotel. I will send about 50 men there to harvest wood and build crossbows for my defence. My studies go very well so far. I feel like I would able to cast some simple spells - if I would only know some. It will still take several weeks to research one or two simple spells, though. Morgar the Mage ######################################################################## "What a strange place," thought Peter. "Plains, plains everywhere, but not a stick to swing." Peter and Rufio sat on the banks of a little river that ran through the flat, golden tract of grass. The Lost Boys were playing games in the tall stems around the river. Villagers worked their fields contentedly, not far down the little road that lead away from the river. "At least we're safe from Pirates," offered Rufio. Peter did not seem to be cheered up by the thought. "But things are just not same since we left Never-never Land. Sure, we killed Hook, but this new island is almost boring. We need some adventure!" Peter tossed pebbles into the water as he spoke. "I know!" Peter suddenly leapt to his feet, his hands on his hips. "We need to scout around this place and see what's here! You take some of the Boys that way, and send the rest that way. I'll go this way." With a spritely jump into the air, Peter flew away to the north. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ That night, the Lost Boys sat around a fire in their camp, and each group told what they had found. "There are Indians here," Rufio offered. "We saw them hunting buffalo with spears and arrows just west of here." "That's what we need!" said Peter. "We need some bows and arrows to hunt buffalo. Now *that* would be an adventure!" "But we couldn't find any trees anywhere," a small boy from the pack observed. "We can't take 'em from the Indians, so how we gonna get 'em?" Peter thought hard about this. "This could take some time, I guess. What else did you see?" "It looks like there are some pirates here or somethin', too, though they haven't got boats. There are 2 or 3 camps of folks that don't look nice," a boy said. Peter looked concerned, and flew down from the large rock he stood on. "Did they see you?" The little boy's head drooped down. "I think so. Sorry, Peter." Peter ruffled the little boy's hair and smiled. "Oh, they would have found out we were here soon enough." "One group is pretty large, but the others don't look *very* huge," another said. "Maybe we can defend ourselves if they start a fight?" "How much money do we have left?" Peter asked a boy with glasses. "Is it enough to feed some more Lost Boys?" The little boy took a small, dirty book from his shirt and a pencil from behind his ear. After a minute or so he looked up. "Sure. We can feed lots more Boys. *If* we can find some." "Leave that to me. Just get some more places to sleep ready. And the rest of you get some food fixed up so we can feed them." With that, Peter raced off into the star-lit sky, off to find some more Lost Boys. ######################################################################## =-=-= END TIMES 103 =-=-= ######################################################################## Up