Olympia Times v4n8 From: skrenta@blekko.rt.com (Rich Skrenta) Date: Sun, 12 Jul 1992 01:46:32 +0000 +----------------------------------------------------------------------+ | The Olympia Times times@olympia.rt.com | | July 10, 1992 v4n8 | | | | Turn 30 116 Players | +----------------------------------------------------------------------+ Turn 31 orders due: Friday, July 17, 1992 Turn 32 orders due: Friday, July 24, 1992 Orders are due 6:00pm EDT, 22:00 GMT. Questions, comments, bug reports, to play: olympia@rt.com Magazines about play-by-mail ---------------------------- \ | / See ads from real companies that offer PBM games you can play. =- Read reviews of commercial PBMs -= Learn the secrets of master PBM players. / | \ Paper Mayhem Consistent quality, game ratings, 1518 Adams Street reviews, and player surveys, lots Ottawa, IL 61350-4770 of ads for neat pbm's. US: $24/year Canada/Mexico: $31 Europe: $51 Australia: $57 Flagship Similar to Paper Mayhem. Reviews, Alan Tabor their own PBM rating system. Big 3860 14th Ave. in the UK, separate US edition. Oakland, CA 94602 Subscriptions: ??? Simcoarum Bimonthly Small, low budget production, Simcoarum Systems but has lots of charm, and you P.O. Box 52861 can learn about free playtests Salt Lake City, Utah 84152 of their products. US$ 14 * * * * I was going to skip ahead to turn 31 since we had so many turn 29's, but it would muck up things like Uldim Pass, so I didn't. * * * * Mail to <entity>@olympia.rt.com works for the following kinds of entities: PC's and controlled units Ships and towers -- will forward the mail to the stack leader Guilds -- mail goes to every guild member Locations -- mail goes to everyone in the location For example, sending mail to 501@olympia.rt.com would forward mail to me. Mail to 3101@olympia.rt.com would send mail to everyone in the Warrior's guild. If there is no human to receive the mail, it will be silently discarded. * * * * There was a bug with WAIT SYNC that could cause it to terminate prematurely. It should work reliably now. * * * * I removed the fixed component from the worker effectiveness formula. It now is: health 10% loyalty 10% skills 80% The best workers are about three times as effective as the average worker. The skill component comes from the level of the spell or parent skill. Subskills no longer have level ratings. * * * * Ship and Fortress construction: The automatic unstack for units which exceed a completed ship, tower or castle's size has been removed. Ships may not sail if they are overloaded. The capacity rating on towers, castles and other region features may go away entirely. The size rating is useful for modeling certain "realistic" behaviours, but tends to be awkward in practice. If your troops can't get inside the tower, they'll sit out front; you still have a stack. * * * * Why haven't new players been added lately? o The game documentation is lagging behind development. This is quite frustrating for current Olympians, but would be deadly for new players. o The game is in a high state of flux right now. Best to wait until all of these changes shake out before adding new people. o Olympia has lots of players already. Some parts of the land are quite crowded. Where would I put all of these new players? I might have to expand the map again. * * * * I would like to get rid of the GET command. I see that some players are using it. If you cannot do what you are trying to do without GET, then make a case for it staying. Otherwise I will remove it next turn. Inventory may not longer be stashed in towers or ships. It must be held by a character. New syntax for RECRUIT next turn: recruit [days] [men] Recruit until the specified number of days have passed or the indicated number of men have been found, whichever comes first. Days defaults to seven if not specified. Men defaults to as many as possible. Examples: recruit 7 # recruit as many men in 7 days as we can recruit 14 1 # recruit for 14 days at most, but quit # as soon as we get 1 man IMPRESS's syntax will change to match RECRUIT's. * * * * A few casual observers think that I write everthing in the _Times_. This is not the case. My section ends here, and the player contributions appear below. -- Rich Skrenta =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Top 5 reasons for Bastrestric the Archymonaged [810] to form the Council of the South: 5) Keep people out of Chardia so he can rake in all the WORK money. 4) Keep people out of Chardia so he can rake in all the entertainment money. 3) Get free amnesty for his murderer friends like Amber [912]. 2) Buy time to get money from #5 and #4 before he goes on a killing rampage with his murderer friends like Amber [912]. But the #1 reason is... 1) Prevent anyone else from seeing the Memorial to Dr. Pain that he's erected on the main square. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= My Belowed Prenola, Halas that you were not here when your protection was mostly needed! When you'll reach the vineyard, you'll find only tears and despair. A week ago a dozen of dark hooded knights have plundered the vineyard. Reginald fought like a lion, but was finally defeated, and old Percifal was taken and tortured to death. Elaine was - well you can figure it yourself. Thanks to the gods, I'm an old lady and they did not hurt me. Poor Elaine. She's only a child. I hope you'll reach us soon and that you'll avenge us. I don't have the heart to say more. Your loving mother. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Horsefeathers: Harvest Time The air was brisk, sparkling, this time of year; there was a faint scent of apples above the dry wheat-grass scent of the plains. Mornings were the best times here in Shotluth, with the dew still thick on the grasses, and the night chill fading. The strange bald man shifted position again, moving closer to the small herd of mavericks; just enough to get them moving again, but not enough to spook them to a trot. Patience was essential in this game. Bluejay had been glad enough to leave East Rimmon, after the bloody and senseless violence he'd witnessed last month. He preferred the open lands, where his odd appearance elicited fewer comments. He'd grown used to the birthmark that covered half his head like a cowl, and even turned it to his advantage as a performer, painting it bright blue and accenting the effect with gaudy robes and a headdress. He'd been Bluejay Cowl for so long now, his childhood name was a faded memory. But the explanations were tiresome, and the plains were a welcome relief. A subtle hand signal to Rakken, relayed to the others; the Jaybards began closing the circle. The horses would soon head east, towards the cliffs and the gap selected last week. The work was long and wearing, but the rewards were great: a dozen trained mustangs would fetch a high price in the market. Bluejay leaned back with a frown, chewing his roll of charaya leaves. Something was wrong this morning. The horses, so tractable all last week, seemed skittish and nervous today, too aware of the troupe's presence. A slight *clink* from Boraver to the south, and two of the mustangs nearly bolted, the second time in an hour! The skills he had so carefully developed through the summer had served the troupe well... until today. Something was clearly wrong. Today was the beginning of Harvest month. Fall could bring out strange behavior in horses, but not so suddenly. There had to be... *Clank* *Koff Koff* *Ptui!* The horses jerked around. The lead stallion gave a loud whinny, wheeled and bolted. The rest of the herd followed in a panic, directly north and away from capture. Over a week of stalking, and the herd was lost! Not even time to pull the ropes and catch a straggler. Bluejay spun around to face the sound. His face was livid red where unpainted, creating an even more colorful effect than usual. The little farmer clanked up noisily, carrying some unidentifiable piece of rusted farm equipment. A big grin, then: "How y'all dewin tewday?" Bluejay barely restrained the urge to nock the longbow and put four arrows through the boor's neck. "You IDIOT! Can't you see we've been trying to capture these horses! You've just lost us two weeks of work! Atnerks be DAMNED!" The Jaybards, gathering behind their leader, collectively blanched at this hasty curse. The farmer smiled slyly. "Yew guys weren't trackin' no horseys! Yew was reesearchin' horse breedin! Ah saw you! Won't do ya no good nohow, not much yew kin learn out here." "You snivelling, Oleg-rumoring, Silbur-deranged, Pain-allied slave of Varian!!" Bluejay screamed. "Of COURSE I was tracking horses!! Look, I have the book of lore right here in my..." Bluejay turned pale. There in his pack was not one, but THREE lore books. One looked vaguely familiar, with the big "110" on the binding, but its title was now, "Horses Are Fun." It seemed much thinner. The other two were labelled, "9513: Jousting for Jugglers" and the one that froze his blood: "9523: Round 'em up! The New Techniques." Bluejay, with a strangled sob, yanked open the thin book, flipped to the familiar diagrams in chapter two, and there it was: "Study of horse breeding and mating techniques." The farmer peeked over, gave a knowing smirk, and snorted "City slickers! Beats me how y'all caught those first four over there! Sure ya didn't buy 'em in town?" With a final chuckle, he clanked off across the field. Rakken sidled up to his stunned leader. "Boss? We're here to help, boss. You think we should help you study this some more? I think there's a stray filly over that hill there." The chorus of snickers didn't help Bluejay's mood a bit. It would be a long month. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Has anyone noticed that Silk Hobarth, Esq. has not been heard from since his public relations debacle in Pesbrand? He must be related to Oleg. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Greetings Inhabitants of Olympia,Silk Hobarth here with an item of information which is a first (I believe) for our fair paper - an interview with none other than the Infamous Dr.Pain himself! **** It took the better part of the month to reach Caburh, where I knew to be Dr.Pain's tempory base of operations. I doubt that even I, 'fleet-feet' Hobarth (Esq) would have made it in time if I didn't know that Doc.Pain wasn't the type of character you kept waiting...(the four hundred kilo. Troll which had been practicaly up my back passage since Ragnar helped). At the encampment Pains Raven black tent stood out amidst his milling minions (I preffer Hessian myself),Before I could feebly wave my safe conduct pass in the air,I was hurled the ground and forced to suffer considerable molestation at the hands of Pains bodygaurd as they searched me for concealed weapons (at least I assume that's what they were doing - they certainly found one). "You smell like a barnyard." say's one - 'well',thinks I, 'no wonder you feel so free to root around my britches,you look like a pig'.Keeping these thoughts to myself however, I was finaly led into the tent and face to face with the man himself. Lit only by the glowing coals of a brazier,Pain,reclining on a sedan looked pale and gaunt - lines of stress were etched into his face deeper than a whale with agrophobia. 'T'is no wonder he looks unwell',thinks I,'the air in here is so thick with incense you could cut it with a scimitar..and that devan must be murder on his spine -he'll suffer for it when he's older...' Practicaly babbling with fear I begin the interview with Olympia's most feared man... Q. Hello Dr.Pain,it's a pleasure to meet you..thank you for consenting to this interview.My first question is - to what factors would you say you owed your 'meteoric' rise into the Public eye? Hard work? Luck? A.I am the annointed of the Dark Prophet. It is His Will that works through me. It is not my star that rises; it is His. When I was still young in this land the Dark Prophet came to me and revealed the future. I carry that message to those who can hear. Those who cannot hear have no place in that future. Those who know the might of the Black Company know the truth of what I am saying. Could I have persuaded the Black Company to join my banner? No. It was His message that converted them and continues to bring the faithful to my armies. Q. On more than one previous occasion you have been known to refer to the 'Dark Prophet',do you think you could tell us more about this gentleman? A. The Dark Prophet is revealed by his works to the Faithful. To the unbelievers he is a mystery that cannot be illuminated. Q. In Chardia,at least,people have experienced the nature of your rule.What benefits - if any - do people have upon joining the Empire? A. There is no strife in the Dark Nation.The Power of the Prophet eliminates all contention.There is no clash over who shall Entertain,who shall Capture Horses,or who shall Harvest the Fields.The people walk freely,unarmed,in the Dark Nation, because no one raises a sword against a brother.And in the Dark Nation,wealth flows in the streets like water from Antresk to Drassa. Q. How would anybody go about joining? A. Only those who are Called by the Dark Prophet may join the Dark Nation,and the cost is high. Q. Do you see yourself expanding your territories indefinitely - or have you got the Empire's borders mapped out already? A. (Dr. Pain pauses and looks thoughtfully into the darkness.) The Dark Prophet has commanded me to bring his message to the People of the New Lands.But he has hinted that his Message must be brought to the whole world.I hope to prove myself worthy to be his Messanger by my works here in the New Lands. Q. Your detractors (those still alive) claim that you are a ruthless,ambitious man who can not be trusted.. How do you reply to these allegations? A.I am a man of honor.Never have I broken my word,even when my closest allies have turned on me.I deny any man to show otherwise.Ruthless? Infidels are better dead than living in ignorance of the Dark Prophet.Ambitious? I seek no personal glory, only to carry the Message of the Dark Prophet. Q. On a more personal note,do you belive in reincarnation? If so,what type of person would you like to be when you 'come back'? A. (Dr.Pain sighs and strain shows on his face.) It is difficult, sometimes,to be the annointed of the Dark Prophet.At those times, I think about coming back as a horse,to run free on the plains of West Habyn. Q. It is rumoured that you had put a bounty of 10,000gps on the head of one Oleg Loudmouth..what was this bounty levied for? Is it still in effect? 10,000gps is a lot of cash.... A.(Dr.Pain laughs,and the mood in the tent eases.) 10,000gps for Oleg Loudmouth?Why would I spend my money so foolishly? And who would dare collect? I'll tell you this,Silk Hobarth,Esq. Oleg may tell the world that he is at sea,but I at least know his whereabouts at every moment.His closest friend reports to me his every move,and Oleg lives only by my forebearance. Q. What would you say is the greatest threat to your growing Empire at the moment? A. Nothing can stop the Dark Prophet. Nothing. Q. Does the possibility that any of your current allies may betray you at any moment to your enemies make you paranoid? A. (Dr.Pain looks sharply at Silk,his eyes seeming to leap out of the gloom,and Silk wonders momentarily if Dr.Pain is an adept of the Dark Arts.) "Paranoid"? It seems to me that for a man in danger of losing his life at any moment,you are exceedingly careless in your choice of words. Q. My apologies,Dr.Pain.Let me rephrase the question.Where is Despair,who some say is your closest confidante? A. (Dr.Pain growls deep in his throat.) He has...left my employ. I misjudged him;he was not made of material strong enough for the Dark Prophet's service. Q. Do you have any unusual sexual pecadillos you would care to share with us? A. (Dr. Pain glares at Silk and snaps his fingers;the guards appear and hoist Silk up by the armpits and carry him from the tent). Q. (As Silk is being carried out.) Do you dress on the left or the... End of Interview. Well folks,that's it for another week - another star interview next week (maybe),same time,same place (*) from your running/fleeing reporter, Silk Hobarth Esq. (*) That is providing a) I'm still alive;and b) I can unpick the tent twine that Pain's bodygaurd stitched my lips together with. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Roving Reporter's Column ======================== Committees Rule - OK ?!?! ========================= It comes to our attention, as we roam the lands, that fear of further warlords is causing the growth of many ad-hoc committees. These entities are leaping from the plains and cities of the land and trying to enforce their will and plans on the surrounding inhabitants. In fact, in some cases, these are hard to distinguish from any other Warlord. What do you call a committee member who enforces their will on all inhabitants, refuses to allow others to use their skills in a public place, e.g. "No one except me is allowed to entertain in my towns", and refuses to allow large groups to pass through ? Sounds like another Warlord to me ! Especially since most of these committees and councils aren't even elected by the inhabitants, they just set themselves up as the local power. I agree with police forces to protect against murder and persuasion. I even agree with taxes to support some protection for inhabitants. But any Committee member or Warlord who wants to forceably dictate what others can do as they move from place to place is just as much a menace to the world as one who wishes to be a Dr Pain or Zyzak. Dictators by any name are unnecessary, unwanted and should be banned (or shot !) =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Well, I never expected this kind of response to Oleg the Loudmouth's Free Lore and Map archive version 3 announcement. Only a few requests, and many contributions of new material. What the heck, if you don't want to see the bigger map, if you don't want a list of artifacts, if you aren't curious about my list of items, then I can't help you by bombarding you with requests to request my stuff. But I'll try my best. The lore and map are still version 3, although a fair bit of stuff has been added: the area around Ragnar, Teaching skill, and some spell lore. And heck, you'll even find out that 801's precious artifact is one-shot. Thanks to everyone who contributed this month. And to everyone else: feel free to request a copy. It's free, it's healthy, it's fiber-rich, and a natural source of vitamin B12. -- Oleg the Loudmouth [810] <gl8f@virginia.edu> =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Oleg the Loudmouth's Interesting Player List ============================================ Oops. I forgot to mail this last month! You know I live on those article fees... This is a list if people you might want to watch out for, because they've done, erm, "interesting" things in the past. Note that obituaries are no longer promptly reported, if at all -- so you'll have to watch & contribute to this list to see what's going on. New stuff this turn: Mohammed sighting, and the Council of the South announces that they've granted themselves amnesty for their own crimes. Who's on this council? Read down my list: 912, 801, 823, 868. Hm. Interesting. Fox guards the chicken coop, film at 11. Amber [912] -- Killed one of player 823's units in Habyn on turn 28. Now occupies the Chardia Castle -- Dr. Pain's heir apparent? Or just Zyzak's heir apparent? Or did he decide to go straight? Units controlled: 1515 1516 2156 2195. Bastrestric ther Archymonaged [801] -- Killed 1 unit on turn 23 in Chardia, which Milinkthos claims was independent. Listed as a buddy by Dr. Pain. Has an outstanding offer to buy flowers for my funeral, should I be killed. Now tell us, why are you letting 912 stack with the castle? Seldon the Avatar [809] -- killed 1863 in Pesbrand on turn 20. Killed 1 player and 3 units in Ilion on turn 23. Units owned: 1400, 1773. 5,000 gold bounty offered by Tony Wayland [572] for "Seldon the Avatar and all his units." Mohammed ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi [819] -- Attacked newbie player in Ilion on turn 21, but was unable to beat one man. Attacked 2 units in Camaris on turn 23. Currently carrying units from 841 and 836 as prisoners. Units owned: 1977 1464 1486 1678 1679 1681 1683. John Smith [823] -- killed unit that killed player 830 and others in Chardia (i.e., apparently 830 was pro-Pain and the attacker was anti-Pain, then John Smith killed the attacker.); killed 4 other units in Camaris since, which he says were independent. Says he is the protector of Camaris. Units owned: 1317 1494 1935 1972?. Maidez de la Montt [868] -- Attempted to kill 6 players turns 21-23, but all failed. Attacked 3 players in Pesbrand on turn 25 for booty. Units owned: 1991 1995 1998 2007 2012. Spiney Norman [878] -- Apparently the owner of Fengal's Hoodlums [2037], which killed a newbie on turn 23 in Kircarth. Fengal's Hoodlums was captured turn 24, and the combat reports lists 878 as the faction of Fengal's Hoodlums. Spiney claims that he was framed, and the owner gave him the unit at the start of turn 24. Truth or fiction? You be the judge. Stryder [898] & Phillipe [905] -- Attacked a player who successfully fled. These guys claim that they thought this player was independent and were out to guard his gold for him. Uhuh. The victim wasn't independent, he just doesn't answer his email as promptly as some. A mass of newbies, including 879, 877, 881, 882, and 876, attacked player 880 in Kircarth. They say that this player was inactive, so they captured him and took his gold. Use it or lose it, eh? Sightings last turn: ==================== Mohammed [819] ended the turn in Kuneack with 20 men. I ended the turn in Kuneack with 80 men. Military leadership? I don't need it, I have cross-bows. Fog? That won't bother me, I have X-Ray vision! Yeah! CHARGE! If you believe any information on this list is incorrect, please write me. If you would like to contribute information, especially combat reports and/or sighting reports, please write. Information is like a breath of fresh air: it makes everyone's day happier. -- Oleg the Loudmouth =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= !!! Massacre in Drucartan !!! The full moon drove the sanity from the town. It seems that [899] Mr. get out of town or I kill you, found himself on the wrong side of the self proclaimed ruler of Drucartan after threatening several of the peaceful citizens of Drucartan with Exile or extermination. Word of this reached the Ears of Drucartan's formerly benevolent ruler, D'Arc Shadowborn, and his temper apparently got the best of him as he and his men did there best to Exile Mr. Tyrant to the Netherworlds. With the Blood bath so recent that accurate counts of the casualities are not available, it seems that D'Arc has decreed a self imposed Exile of himself and his men from Drucartan for his actions. Perhaps when he returns, he will show more self-control. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Camaris Police Report ===================== No action worth mentioning occured in Camaris last turn. The arrest order for Rondo of the slight hands [1367] has been annulled because the recent world changes has made it impossible to perform entertaining in Camaris. This report is a reqular feature in the Times, and always ends with the most up to date wanted list. WANTED ====== Mohammed ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi [819], for assault and kidnapping. Band of Mamelukes [1464], for assault and kidnapping. one-eyed Kalendars [1977], for assault and kidnapping. The Town Council of Camaris [355] =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= * * * The Dragaeran Trading Company Perpetually Hammers You With * * * The Olympia turn checker! It's alive! This marvel of the midevil age reads in turn commands, checks syntax, and prints out an english version of the commands for easy checking. No longer will you buy 5 of 6 instead of 6 of 5. It also does reasonability checks (ie. you can't buy Osswid, and you can't terrorize a rug). Binaries for Next, Vax, Sparc, Decstation and Sun3 machines running UNIX are available from shrimp.cs.washington.edu in pub/olympia. Source code is NOT available, so don't ask. Comments/questions/bug reports to hauck@cs.washington.edu. Note: For bug reports, please include the line that triggered the bug, and the output the checker gave. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= The black and white banner -- Per pale Argent and Sable an Owl displayed counterchanged. It stood hidden in the fogs that had rolled in off the gulf. Varian sat in his tent, buried in papers. He looked back and forth between two sheets held one in each hand. Touchstone held yet another piece of paper up so that it was backlit by a lantern. "I can't be sure of the writing," Touchstone said. "It could be, but maybe not." "I really would like to know who generated that false report that I mistreat my prisoners. Considering the money I have lavished upon Aeira and Daeron, only the get their attention, I would more expect reports that I pamper them -- unless the reports come from The Men in Black. Perhaps another round of "I'm Henry the 8th"..." "No, sir. Please..." Touchstone said. "It used to be my favorite tune..." "Very well. Perhaps we should move onto this other stuff," Varian said. "Any more word of the Alliance in the South?" "Conflicting reports. It definitely does have murderers in its ranks. They could be reformed." "And I could be a dragon in disguise. I guess stranger things have happened. But Maidez. I don't like that one bit." "I doubt the others would let them get away with murder," Touchstone said, chuckling a little at the literalness of his statement. He stopped abruptly when he noticed Varian wasn't joining him. "And unit movement up North?" Varian asked. "The soldiers tell me that Mohammed ibn Musa al-Whateverhisnameis has been spotted in Kuneack. There seems to be no other hostile forces in the area." "Good, perhaps I can get some rest," Varian said. He sighed. "Probably not. We'll see in due time, I guess." Touchstone walked to the entrance of the tent and slipped between the folds of canvass. "Next, I study load bearing timbers!" he said with enthusiasm. He exited, leaving the cloth stirring in his wake. "Which reminds me," Varian said to himself, looking under the papers for a book, "warhorses... warhorses," he pulled a book out, "warhorses... Ah! Training warhorses!" He pushed the papers aside and started reading by the light of the lantern. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= To all Fellow Olympians The World Over. As I have recieved no correspondence concerning my last letter to the Times I have been lead to believe that on-one objects to my guardianship of Caburh. Therefore I declare that the following rules are now inforce in Caburh. - There is to be no unjustified killing. - No-body shall influence the loyalty of men belonging to another entity. - There is to be no single unit with more than 20 men, unless previously arranged. - Anyperson wishing entertain in Caburh must contact Delf the Trader, to arrange a time for this to take place. This will allow entertainers to perform at such a time that no-one else is, and thus be more profitable. Any persons found to be breaking these rule will be delt with as I, Delf the Trader, sees fit. I thank you all for you co-operation in this matter. - Delf the Trader - vanhalewyns@ccc.govt.nz =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= "Fine then. Sign here and it's all yours." Joyce said cheerfully, "Now, are you sure you would not like to reconsider getting an adjustable rate mortgage. The prime lending interest of the First Olympian Bank is at an all time low of 16 1/2%." Tony Wayland looked at the individual suspiciously. She wore a bright mustard colored jacket. Her hair was unnaturally bright and curly and it did not move when the wind blew it. The label on her jacket proclaimed her to be: Joyce Stevens. "No, Joyce," said Tony. "I will simply pay in gold." He dropped a heavy pouch to the table. Joyce didn't blink, but instead her hand deftly plucked the pouch from the air just as it was about to hit the table. She quietly pocketed the gold within the folds of her skirt. "Well, Mr. Wayland, thank you for doing business with Century 2. I hope you keep us in mind for all your realty needs." Tony nodded and turned back to his makeshift headquarters while Joyce went out to tack a "sold" sign on the bottom of the realty sign. His clerks were still making sense of the jumbled paperwork hastily removed from his hasty departure from Cnossa. In any case Tony checked on the progress of his men. They were working on building signs and distributing flyers: -==**** ANNOUNCEMENT ****===- Idar and the Surrounding Lands of West Idar, West Sarindor, And Aldain has fallen under the Proctorship of Anthony Wayland. In order to facilitate this proctorship, the following rules willbe enforced. 1. No Stack containing more than 50 men will be allowed to move through without prior warning or notification. 2. No tax men will be allowed on the lands. 3. There is no licencing of entertainers or manual laborers. 4. There is no violence, either to capture or to kill allowed in any of these properties. 5. No fugitives from the law will be given amnesty unless the lord is convinced of their innocence. This proctorship will in no way interfere with the StarLight Courier service. The rules listed above were meant with the most benevolent intentions. Should you have a problem or request with any of these rules please feel free to contact Anthony Wayland. StarLight Courier also apologises for our inability to make deliveries to the New Continent. By this turn we will have agents in Atnos Forest and soon to Ragnar. Should there be new agents south of Summersbridge or where you are, we will be sure to announce it. --Tony Wayland StarLight Courier 572@olympia.rt.com =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= WANTED: a small ship suitable for exploration work. Will pay cash up front. Delivery to Chardia ideal, but can send a unit for it anywhere in the New World south of Summerbridge. - Amber =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= StarLight Courier: Use us for your shipping needs! Transfer of funds? Need to pay someone in a faraway province? Starlight Courier says, "No, Problem!" StarLight Courier will soon be found near almost all neighborhood markets! We deliver ships! No longer must you wait for a shipswright to pop up on your province. Need something delivered? Need something? Tell us and we'll see what the fates will bring. Offices In: Pactra, Drassa, Rimmon, Drucartan, Atnos Forest, Cnossa. Aerth Pirn Opening Next turn: Kircarth, Ragnar (?) Headquarters: Idar =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= In Vol XXXVI of "The Teachings of Ebenezum" it is written that, "There is talk in some learned circles in our major cities about whether or not satyrs, centaurs, griffins ans certain other fantastic beasts really exist, or are only the product of the popular imagination. As a wizard, I, of course, tend to side with the satyrs, centaurs and griffins, especially when these beasts begin to doubt the existence of any learned circles in our major cities." In the interest of further exploration of this burning question, this humble mage would be greatly interested in hearing any and all reports or rumors of the sightings of beasts anywhere in our beautiful world of Olympia. Generous awards for finders available. Please send all information or offers of samesuch to: Bastrestric ther Archymonaged, Mge. P.O. [801] Chardia cedman@golem.ps.uci.edu Up