Atlantis Times, Volume 1, Issue 6 From: rwallace@unix1.tcd.ie (russell wallace) Date: Mon, 17 May 1993 00:58:08 +0000 Atlantis Times, Volume 1, Issue 6 --------------------------------- Rules change: From this turn on, ATTACK orders against your own or an ally's units will not be carried out. (You can still end up fighting your allies, if you attack someone they are allied to.) There was a bug in the teaching code in previous turns that caused student units to only gain the benefit for one of their members, e.g. a 2-person unit would gain only 90 days training rather than 120. This has been fixed for this turn. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Thyse, daughter of the Headman of Valga, watched breathlessly from the top of the intricately carved wall. The street below was crowded; she had not known the narrow streets could hold so many people. And all so quiet. Apart from the bleating of a goat somewhere out of sight, and the buzz of flies in the hot air, the whole town was wrapped in silence. And well it might be, thought Thyse. The events of the past few days had been beyond any others in her experience. For the past week Valga had been in the thrall of a group of reavers and bandits from the far north. They had imprisoned her Father in the Old Mine and had issued any orders they pleased in his name. A surly, cruel lot; but they would trouble this town no more. A young princeling from Distant Peloria had received news of their plight; had force-marched his army into the mountains and put the miscreants to the sword. Their heads e'en now topped spikes atop the town gate; and no-one wasted a pitying glance at them - much more interesting things were in the offing. Kahar Four-Magic, Lord of the Rising Moon, was entering Valga this very afternoon to receive the Sacred Hearth-Stone from her Father - signifying that he was to be Protector of the Town. Thyse turned as someone moved up behind her; it was Galim, her old maid- servant. "Has he come yet, Mistress?" she rasped excitedly, "They do say The Power of the Bat is on him...and he is to live in our house!" Rather more calmly Thyse replied "Oh hush Galim, you old cackler! He is but a mortal man, even if he has seen the Goddess. Do you think he will glow, or have lightning playing about his shoulders? Hush now!" For, despite her words, Thyse had turned once more to the street below, and was watching intently. A column of mail-clad soldiers was making its way up the main thoroughfare. They marched slowly, almost as if they attended a funeral cortege; the crowd gazed at them awe-struck. Thyse was silently amazed. She had expected drums, music, even trumpets. But this! The soldiers moved to a inaudible beat; some pulse both slower and stronger than the ordinary rhythms of life. And behind them came red-robed priestesses; moving in the same measured manner. Their faces were painted with exotic designs in red and silver; their eyes were taut and staring. They were as silent as the soldiers. But suddenly, wonderfully, they began to sing. The song was antiphonal, strong, somehow terrible. It seemed to grow out of the very ground; primaeval and compelling, each voice singing but one note. Thyse's mouth became dry - she found herself longing to be part of that Song, to behold the mystery it contained. It defined her; in some way it was her. And there was Kahar. Not as she had secretly expected; a barbarian conqueror held aloft on a jewelled divan; nor yet a great lord on a charger. He was walking down the street; avoiding a broken pot, then stepping over a mildewed cloak someone had dropped. His eyes were downcast; almost as if he was approaching some presence unseen by the crowd. As he approached the Headman's House he stopped. And looked up. The Song stopped. Its aftertones seemed still to hang in the air. The entire procession stopped, almost in mid-stride. And Thyse found herself looking down into the face of Kahar as he stood below her. Minutes seemed to pass; as Kahar stared at her. And she realised then that he was gazing at her with awe. He began to speak; not loudly, but all present heard what he said; "Behold, People of Varga, and you that have accompanied me from the Distant Lands of the Moon. Behold She whom we have long searched for! Behold She through whom the Red Goddess protects fair Atlantis from the seas! Behold the Avatar of the Red Moon! Fair One, command us!" And in that moment Thyse, daughter of Brombir, Headman of Varga, realised something that, deep down inside herself, she had always known. ------------------------------------------------------------ ( Well aren't I going to look silly if I don't take Varga? Anyhow now maybe the All-Conquering Moon will get a bit of respect from all you Atlantean Low-Lifes. Don't forget, anybody not putting "Hail the Conquering Moon" - or a reasonable fascimile - in unit descriptions will be fed to the Crimson Bat. This doesn't apply to allies of course.) ALL HAIL THE CONQUERING MOON! MAY THOSE WHO DEFY THE RED GODDESS - SUCH AS "THE PROPHET" OR HIDALGO AND HIS CHUMS OR ANYBODY ELSE WHO FANCIES DYING YOUNG - COME OVER TO VARGA: OUR BAT'S ALWAYS HUNGRY. -------------------------------------------------------------- =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Let's see now ... "All hail the corpulent moon", no that's not it. "All hail the corpse of the moon", closer ... "To hell with the putrescent moon", yes that's what the Red goddess was saying, in between gulps, as it were, when she was kneeling before me just the other day. "Dominic, train me in that new entertainment skill", she pleaded, so I did. I must say she is a VERY slow learner. So, I asked her about this Sor-Eel guy and she said, "Sore ? Well I'm sure it is, considering what he does to it, but eel, no way. Inchworm maybe". I asked her about these temples he's erecting to her and she said something about the last thing he erected probably was a temple, but that Sor-Eel and "erect" in the same sentence is an oxymoron. "Well then what about this Kahar of the over-reaching moon?", I asked. "Oh, Kahar the waning, you mean. The only moon he's involved with is the one rising out of those low-rider leather pants he wears." Always good to get the inside scoop. Tune to this channel for future interviews of Atlantean notables. Dominic Flandry =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= I was walking along the road the other day and smelled something really foul, so I investigated, just in case it was one of Kahar's relatives. I never pass up the chance to taunt them while they die, but anyway I saw a sign that read "DAVID'S ALL-ORGANIC GARDEN, you can't grow anything without sh*t". Well, actually the sign wasn't censored, it had a word on it that gave me a clue as to that smell I had been following. Well, I went in and there David was shoveling it (as usual as I came to find out). As I approached him he began killing these cute little bunny rabbits with his shovel, muttering "I told you to write me a letter telling me which bunny rabbit hutch you belong to and you didn't so I have to kill you. I don't WANT to kill you, but I have to, because you didn't tell me. No hard feelings I hope." And there they were just looking up at him all cute and fluffy, with those big, soft eyes. WHACK. WHACK. "Excuse me, excuse me, sir. Might I have a word with you?" "Peace is war, war is peace." "Excuse me, I didn't quite catch that?" "Freedom is slavery, slavery is freedom." "I beg your pardon?" "Microsoft is good, IBM is kind." Well, as David of the Garden was obviously mad as a bloody hatter, I quick-marched it out of there. Another interview with an Atlantean notable brought to you by Dominic Flandry =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= This is the first public announcement from the Ancient and Honorable Order of Olympians, Atlantis Chapter, an alliance mostly of old Olympians which was formed in the first days of this world. Currently it contains more than twenty factions and over one thousand men many of which are armed which according to the best intelligence available to us makes it most militarily potent force currently in this world. As this alliance is more low-key, less anal-retentive, generally more private (and not to mention better spelled) than some other loud groups which could be mentioned, we've preferred not to make wild announcement or take aggressive steps against other powers so far. However, circumstances being what they are we now have to have some territory to be reserved for our exclusive use. This territory -- the "Eastern Dominion" -- stretches from Helmsley, Melvaig and the bay to the south of Melvaig to the indefinite east. In other words, it includes any province with an x-coordinate of 6 (inclusive) or greater _and_ a y-coordinate of 3, 4 or 5. All units in the Eastern Dominion which are not part of the alliance are asked to leave the Eastern Dominion at highest possible speed, starting immediately. These units are asked not to RECRUIT while leaving the Eastern Dominion. Units which leave will not come to any harm from us. Unfortunately the only way to enforce this rule is to attack units which linger. We will make use of armed force if we have to, but we hope to avoid unnecessary bloodshed. If you have any question about this policy (such as what direction would be the fastest to leave the area) or have some particular problem which prevents you from leaving at highest speed, please write me at cedman@princeton.edu. Bastrestric ther Archymonaged, Mge. Speaking for the Ancient and Honorable Order of Olympians, Atlantis Chapter =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o With Allies Like Kahar and the Barbarian Horde Who Needs Enemies? o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Fellow peoples of Glenanane: I am Floyd, master of the faction of Platinum Pyramids. It appears that other people in different regions of this wonderous land have united to form "defensive alliances" to protect their mutual interests against those who might otherwise prey upon their fledgling empires. I suggest that we, too, form such a pact, to promote peace, growth, and commerce in our fair land of Glenanane. Ecconomic coordination would also benefit us all! No one of us alone can hope to master the whole range of skills, at least not to any depth! So, I call upon you, fellow leaders, to send word to me if you wish to form such a pact. We also welcome news from any other alliances throughout the land who have similar goals, and send them tidings! Floyd gates@torag.guild.org =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= +---------------------------------------+ |ATTENTION ATTENTION ATTENTION ATTENTION| | Fellow Merchants | +---------------------------------------+ | | | | | | With all this talk of war and peoples claiming terrority for themselves, It's a wonder that we can get any kind of trade going at all!!! We the "Peoples of the Holy Buck" propose: Let us form a free Merchant Trade Brotherhood. The purpose of the Merchant Brotherhood (MB) will be to keep markets open and free trade going. We want Sanctuaries and Free Trade Zones. We will start the spot bid market for all traders. We will start the Atlantis Stock Market. We can thus help ourselves using free open safe markets. We are announcing Duncansby (6,7) as the first of many Merchant Brotherhood Open Safe Free Trade Zone! Please send your desires and suggestions to: ...Father Buck (185) Head Deer and Holy Leader of the Peoples of the Holy Buck played by puryear@dsps01.enet.dec.com =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= ========================================= |oo| | T h e | /---------\/ | O p e n - P l a i n s | / | || | H o r s e H e r d i n g | * ||------|| | H i e r a r c h y | || || ========================================= ^^ ^^ The OP3H is dedicated to producing the finest horses on the plains. If you are in need of a warhorse, a packhorse, or just someone who will always listen quietly to your ramblings, drop us a line or come by and browse through our stock. We cater to all your horse-needs. And, as long as you have horses, you might as well be able to use them, right? Here at OP3H, we also provide instruction in the use of weapons from horseback. Why learn from anybody else? Come and train with the professionals! Training is also available in Tactics, Magic, Stealth, Longbow, and Observation. Cost: $20 /horse | Discounts available for large | $10 /person-trained /month | purchases. Write for info. | COMING INTO BUSINESS SALE: Make an order now for delivery sometime before the end of the year and receive training in both swords and riding absolutely free! OP3H: bcwhite@sunee.uwaterloo.ca (credit available) =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Keywords: Ettrick, training, tactics, stealth, high value, low cost Are you a 98-pound weakling faction? Want to hit those bullies who kick sand in your face, but afraid they'll beat you up? Well, come to Ned and learn how to fight! We have available a number of slots in our TACTICS training classes, starting immediately. If you have no skill in Tactics at all, you can go beyond Tactics 1 in a single turn. If you already have Tactics 1, reach Tactics 2 practically overnight! Remember, the faction with the higher Tactics skill gets a free round of combat in battles! Train your explorers in Tactics, and surprise anyone who attacks them! I can also offer training in STEALTH (up to Stealth 2) for a small fee. If you are unskilled, you can go half-way to skill level 2 in a single month with my training! If you are already at skill level 1, reach level 2 in a single month instead of two! Remember, Tactics study costs $200/month, so every month saved is silver in your pocket! Training is priced as follows: TACTICS: One turn: $80/person Remember you save $200 by 2-turn package: $140/person skipping one month of training on your own! STEALTH: One turn: $10/person 2-turn package: $15/person Slots in both classes are first come, first served. Prices are negotiable, and volume discounts are available. I am also willing to trade training for SPELLS, WEAPONS, or RAW MATERIALS. (Sorry, no horses!) Classes are offered in ETTRICK (3,3). Sorry, no delivery! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Keywords: Ettrick, horses, high value, low cost Horses! Horses! Get your horses here! Fine sturdy animals, at a reasonable price. $20/horse, or best offer. We will also trade for spells, weapons, or raw materials. If orders exceed my supply on hand, delivery in future months will be scheduled at the current price. Volume discounts available. Write for information. This offer brought to you by: Faction 47, The Friends of Ned Contact vjg@cblph.att.com to reserve your place in class! Note: Due to the high number of hostile entities in the world, delivery to areas outside of Ettrick will not be possible, unless you can guarantee a safe route to your area (and back home again). (See also our advertisement for TRAINING in this issue of the Times!) =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= need a parcel deliverd ? need money transferred ? forgot someones birthday ? Then turn to W.E.P.E. for the amazingly low low price of 1 beer token per unit load per area or 1 shiny silver piece per 100 transfered W.E.P.E will move your goods from any WEPE depot to any other WEPE depot WEPE puts you in touch WEPE gets you connected WEPE puts your money and your goods where you want them WEPE puts your customers in touch with you WEPE puts you in touch with your suppliers currently WEPE operates depots in Carnforth, Melvaic, Corinth, Helmsley and Shanyin. We plan to increase this network where demand is present. If you want your area to get coinnected then drop WEPE a line If you want something shipped then drop WEPE a line And lastly if you definitely don't want to get connected in your area then drop WEPE a line. After all this is a service I am providing. Profits may not even cover the cost of the service and I don't want to waste my time getting bumped off by isolationist gorillas. The Warlock (roy@meiko.co.uk) =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Notes from the non-Anonymous Economist or Periodic Musings on the Atlantean Economy I, Dominic de Hidalgo y Alghero, in response to the Anonymous Economist, wish to expand a bit on my letter in the April issue of the Times. My main point remains: Don't Sell Cheap Weapons. (Keep in mind that mostly I am whining because my esteemed colleague and ally Master Krazy Kipper is undercutting me and driving me into ruin.) We are still in the initial, growth stages of the Atlantean economy. The following arguments will hold true for at least the next six to nine months: If I spend $1000's on manufacturing weapons, and I can tax $200/month if I keep the weapons, you are going to have to give me a pot full of money to buy them from me right now. Assuming future profits will pay for current overhead is assuming you will be alive & be making profits in the future. I have no idea what the state of the Atlantis economy will look like after everyone has weapons. Keep in mind that my comments were made with regards to _indestructible_ weapons, which our technicians assured us we could make. Now that we can only turn out these shoddy jobs (50% of breakage if you die), there will at least be a continuing market for weapons in the future. Other objections to cheap weapons: 1) Cheap weapons will increase the level of violence, especially against newcomers to Atlantis. 2) As my colleage Nicholas van Rijn has aptly pointed out, large shipments of weapons may have a tendency to be . . . returned in a most unpleasant and fatal manner. All this does not rule out that batches of bows constructed in the next few months cannot be sold for a reasonable price. Yrs. in Commerce, Dominic, Master Smith ###### ###### Hidalgo Trading Company (17) ####====#### troyer@cgl.ucsf.edu #### #### Alghero, June, Year 1 ###### ###### =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Announcing the creation of the Alghero Free Trade Zone. Come to beautiful Alghero (5,3), trade, and study! You are guaranteed safety by the crack troops in the Alghero Peacekeeping Milita (tm). Why? Because we ALLY with you during the time you're in Alghero. (*see fine print) Soon we hope to open a walled city for your safety which you can ENTER to carry out your transactions! Alghero is located conveniently near the lush northern forests of Skokholm and Helmsley, and the scenic Caserta Swamp. It is an ideal region for carrying out trades, and talk to us about training! To gain full benefits of this amazing service we only ask that you send a short note to us before your units enter our fair zone of free commerce. For the safety of our patrons, please do not bring large platoons of armed men into Alghero without a good excuse. We also ask that you do not RECRUIT or TAX while you are in Alghero. Why are we doing this? To make the world a better place. Trade makes the world a better place. Safety in numbers makes the world a better place. (Although we wanted to figure out a way to make a buck off this, we never were able to. Our loss is your gain!) The announcements of similar sanctuaries across Atlantis are welcomed and sorely needed. Note that we are _absolutely_ an equal-opportunity Sanctuary. People from ALL alliances are welcome as long as they behave themselves. The Alghero Free Trade Council Roack Dominic Hidalgo Muskrat (*fine print. Since ALLY takes effect world-wide, we reserve to right to ALLY with our patrons only if the local situation appears to warrant it. However, we are committed to keeping the peace in Alghero. Random attacks will not be tolerated.) =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= To the residents of Duncansby: Concerned about the dangers around you? Planning to explore the world, but worried that you won't make it beyond the barbarians that Oleg's been telling us all about? Ready to move beyond the confines of Duncansby and establish your own province, but not sure that you have the military might to hold it? Maybe we can help! The Order of the Silver Tiger, a group dedicated to the advancement of all fields of Atlantean knowledge, will offer the following courses next turn in Duncansby... Tactics 100 & 101 $120/student When two sides of fairly even size and equipment meet on the field of battle, the winner will most likely be the side which is able to use its tactical advantage to strike first. General T'ran Lannok, a noted expert on the subject, offers first and second term instruction, concentrating on the tactics involved in small- group combat. Not only will you learn faster, but T'ran's lessons will actually save you money! A must for all aspiring generals and warlords! Observation 100 & 101 $10/student Wondering which faction holds the loyalty of the local ruffians? How many swords they're carrying? Wonder no longer! Nadia MacCloud of the Clan MacCloud offers first-rate lessons in the art of observation. Learn how to see through disguises, evaluate military strength, and more. The world is a safer place when you know what's out there! Lumberjack 100 & 101 $8/student Ready to head out into that forest and start chopping trees to get the crossbows coming? Why not double your production rate sooner by spending a month in lessons? Gerald Cobbe provides instruction on the use of the ax, the double saw, and other techniques which can speed your wood production immensely! And since you're chopping wood, you might want to learn... Weaponsmith 100 & 101 $8/student Even if your lumberjacks are ready to head out into the world, it'll take them a turn to have anything ready for production anyhow. Why not spend that turn better preparing your smiths to use that wood or iron? One month of study with Melor Tirell can double your production! Sword 100 & 101 $8/student Sure, bows seem to be the ideal tools of war, but remember that a soldier with ANY training with a sword can slaughter an archer or crossbowman... UNLESS you too have a row of swordsmen in front! Begin training a swordsmaster now, so you can form an elite legion to protect your archers, as well as those valuable skilled units. Belak Veruun instructs your novice fencers in thrusting, parrying, and other elementary techniques. Don't wait until it's too late to begin preparing your defences. Start today! Remember, each of these classes is limited to 10 students, so send in your applications immediately! All forms, as well as any questions that you might have, can be sent to conley@engin.umich.edu subject: classes Remember, space is limited, so apply today! Alia Velados Mistress of Education, Order of the Silver Tiger =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= -- "To summarize the summary of the summary: people are a problem" Russell Wallace, Trinity College, Dublin rwallace@unix1.tcd.ie Up