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Newsletters
October 13, 2001
In this week's issue:
THE DARKSTONE NEWSLETTER
Volume 4. Issue No. 9 - October 13th 2001
Congratulations To Sandoz Lerdanis! He has worked hard and long to earn the status of Titan. His devotion to the light and his efforts in helping his clan and the new players to arrive in the land, have not gone unnoticed.
Congratulations to Saperio Alknor on becoming a Hero!
Congratulations to Testaur, new Deity of Magistrates.
Congratulations to Siuanne, new Deity of Shadows.
Congratulations to Ifrit Andros on becoming the Leader of the Vampire Clan, and finally, to Ayden, Ifrit, Sarvulis, Twaine and Vulcan, the new magistrates of the land, a hearty welcome and congratulations to all of you!!
News From Around the Realm
The Magistrates Council
There now exists a council of Magistrates. Members of this special council have volunteered their time to serve as fair and impartial judges in player disputes, regardless of clan or alignment. They have been appointed not to make the law, but to apply what laws there are and/or to try to find reasonable settlements between the parties. Please note that this is a new function in the game, over time it is expected that things will become streamlined and run more smoothly. These valorous individuals are: Ayden, Ifrit, Sarvulis, Twaine, and Vulcan. It is hoped that everyone in the game will respect the work they do and render any assistance when asked to help out.
The League of Foresters
All bear witness, that the League of Foresters, shall soon be introduced into the Lands of Darkstone. The league is an unofficial organization, only for rangers. It's goal is to create a closer bond between rangers, help them develop themselves and prove their own worth (develop more class rp). It is a group that pushes rangers to self-accomplishment, and not power. By way of several intricate quests set up by an Elder, a ranger can join the ranks of this League. The ranger academy in Preservia Wyld would be it's home base. In the selection process, and also with normal dealing with anything, the League shall not judge a would-be Forester by their faith, by their allegiances, nor by any other group or organization they follow, the sole importance is that he is a ranger. All rangers, expect more details about this group through the mailing list and/or through the noteboard on the adventurer's guild.
-Zendel, Elder of the League of Foresters
*this is a paid advertisement*
Zendel's Weekly Quests!
If you are one of those people who never seem to be on during quests in the Lands, Zendel's Weekly Quests are for you! Just tune in on the mailing list on Thursdays, and check out what the current quest is, and give back your answer by the following Wednesday. It's not that hard, it's fun, you get to learn a lot about the Lands doing them, and the rewards are Great!
-Zendel
The Vampire Clan
A new clan has risen in the lands. Quietly, and with little fanfare, the Dark Lord has opened the doors of a clan hall belonging to a band of secretive creatures of the night. Led by Ifrit Andros, with Xodus Mentor and Seria, the Princess of Darkness to assist him, the Vampire clan will be a dark force within the lands. Little is known of the intentions of this clan, but with an organized group of vampires haunting our nights, the realm will surely not be as it was.
The Dark Lord has left the Shadow Clan, and their new Deity is the goddess Siuanne. We wish her well in her new position, and hope that under her guidance the Shadow Clan will realize its full potential.
Sarvulis and Ayden have left the Guild of Fighters. Sarvulis to become one of Tatianna's own White Tigers, while Ayden has returned to his former position as the Number Two of Dawnbringers.
For awhile Noslen Dragonsbane was the Number One of Guild of Fighters, but he too has now resigned his position, and is on a soul-seeking mission to determine his future in the lands.
Ramblings From Seluctruh's Lair
CHARCOAL-GRAY
In the sky the sun don't shine,
Makes no shadows,
No way to know the time,
No light to chase the dark away
The drone of insects won't stop,
The lands you knew, not what you thought,
Oversized tides wash the sands away,
When the skies turn charcoal-grey
Swirling devils tango in a slow dance,
Fire and lightning come,
Daring you to take your chance,
While the skies remain charcoal-grey
And the realm turned charcoal-gray
Greetings!
I hope one and all enjoyed my poem for the 13 (Nights) of evil this year.
It was originally written during the Pwipe last year denoting the destruction of the old port. Fear not, there is no pwipe is coming.
Each paragraph seems to predict what was coming for the 13 (Nights) of evil this year so I reposted it. The first paragraph clearly predicted the demise of the fireball in the sky.
The second paragraph accurately predicted the insect infestation that has plagued the realm. The third paragraph predicts terrible weather will come and bring chaos to the lands.
Is it a bit haunting that this poem has been able to predict with such accuracy events in the future? For many, they hope not. For you see, the poem was also written to predict a realm without the sun. A realm where only Vampires and those close to and embracing the Darkness would remain.
-Seluctruh, Lord of Darkness
The Thirteen Days of Evil
The Dark Lord proclaimed it. "The Thirteen Days of Evil are Upon Us." He gave fair warning for all to see, yet, how could we have known that the very sun would be taken from us.
The land is in darkness. With the absence of sun, the plants and animal life are failing. Soon, the world will begin to know hunger as it has never known it before.
Pestilence is sweeping the lands. Nightcrawlers, sewerflies and other horrendous insectoids have invaded the country side and even the towns. Though seemingly innocuous, they are deadly and have caused the deaths of many townspeople and others who have roamed the country side.
We cannot know when this evil will end, nor can we know what the next while will bring. What else does Seluctruh have in store for the lands? What other plagues and pestilence may be visited upon us?
The Dark Lord proclaimed thirteen days, but warned that they were not consecutive days. The evil side of the Dark Stone is ascendant right now, and Darkness rules throughout the land.
Beware!!!!
- Maedwynne
Caperea's Column
Rags to Riches "You're fired," said Sparatus.
Caperea stared back at him with a blank face.
"Pack your bags, you're outta here!"
Caperea twitched. "But it's always been my dream to be in the Guild of Mystics! You can't do this to me!!"
Sparatus smirked. "I can and I will. Get Lost!"
Caperea fumed. "You'll live to regret this!!" he yelled, his blood boiling. Caperea stomped down to his storage room in the Guild and emptied out his cubby into a brown shopping bag. he took down a portrait of Corin with a milk moustache and held it in his hands. "Ahh Corin, my only friend." The picture suddenly shattered in his hands. Caperea sighed and made his way out the door. It was cold outside, and Caperea was forced to return the guild item which protected him from the elements.
Caperea wandered around the realm, foraging for food wherever he could. He made his way to Eria, where he met another man down on his luck. "Hello friend," said Caperea cheerfully. "What do you want?" said the bum gruffly. "My name is Caperea and I --" "Get lost or I'll stabs you."
Caperea, seeing that it was a lost cause, went about his way. He went into a tavern. "My last resort; drink," thought Caperea. Jemrol the barkeep greeted Caperea,
"What can I get for you laddy?"
"Drink. Strong. Now," was all Caperea had to say. The bartender filled Caperea's cup many times while the lonely gypsy sat and complained to the world about his troubles.
"That's too bad son," Jemrol said. "Now pay up." Caperea had drunk his fill.
"How much?" "Comes to....144 coins." Caperea gulped. "I only have 98."
"Hmm...looks like you'll be washing our dishes tonight."
Caperea sighed. He sifted through the pewter plates. The specialty that night had been steamed goblin brain. Caperea gagged on the stench. Once he had finished, he threw the filthy apron on the ground and left, cursing all the way out.
"Goodnight," said Jemrol with an evil grin.
"Yeah, yeah...wait a minute...do you know where a person could get some sleep?"
The bartender scratched his beard for a moment, then responded, "You might try asking the senator. He likes to look charitable for his public image." Caperea thanked Jemrol and headed out. He made it to the senator's dwelling, and knocked on the tall oak door.
"Hi, I'm --"
"Another bum. Sleep on the roof. If you leave any mess up there I'll feed you to the vampires. Caperea nodded slowly and made a spot for himself. Before going to sleep, and after putting on his pyjamas, Caperea clasped his hands together in a prayer. "Gods, goddesses. I've never much communicated with you, but I need your help. Please, if you have any mercy, help me just this once. I'll be a better person. I'll change my ways, just please help me now." Caperea sighed and closed his weary eyes.
The next day Caperea awoke to the noise of vultures. He opened one eyelid to find a giant black bird poking at his gut. "Hey! I'm not dead! Leave me alone!!" The vulture was not convinced, and began pecking at his head. "Don't make me hurt you. I'll do it!" If a bird could laugh, this one did. Caperea lifted himself up to noticed that he was covered with bird droppings.
"What a mess," said Caperea out loud. He jumped down off the senator's roof. "I've got to get out of here."
Before leaving, he lifted a hefty amount of gold from the sleeping senator's coins purse. He then went to find something to eat. "Here's something," he thought, as he saw a dairy cart. A man dressed in overalls greeted him.
"Hi," said Caperea. "Do you have anything cool to drink?" The smile on the farmer's face faded.
"Why, are you going to pour it on yourself? You stink!" The farmer grimaced and held his nose. The farmer, now gagging on Caperea's stench, pointed to the milk and cheese he had. "Take whatever you want, just leave me alone!" the farmer choked out.
Caperea thanked the man and took two wheels of cheese and a bottle of milk. Caperea then picked up his handkerchief tied to a stick, and went on his way. He dragged his feet back to Windy Bluff. But halfway there, fatigue overcame him and he stopped in an abandoned circus to rest. Caperea threw himself down next to a minotaur minstrel. "Oh mighty gods, just let me die!" Caperea shouted with his last ounce of strength. He finally succumbed to sleep, and when he awoke he found himself in a room above the circus. A bard was in one corner, polishing his instrument. Caperea, dazed, tried to make some sense of the situation. Before he could get in a word, however, a juggling ball with a glitter trail rolled by his feet. In an instant, the mighty lord Nèma had popped out and was standing before the gypsy. Caperea blinked in utter disbelief.
"N-Nema??" Nema smiled. "The one and only." "What are you doing here?" asked the stunned Caperea. "Well hello to you too. Actually I heard your prayer....plus my cousin here owes me money."
Nema drew his sword and stepped in front of the guildmaster. He attempted to thrust it in him, but as he did, a tiny flag popped out of the sword that read 'SLASH!'. Nema muttered and sheathed his sword.
"So what's bothering you, little guy?" Caperea sighed. "I was kicked out of the Guild of Mystics."
"Ahh," said Nema wisely. "I made a poem about it. Would you like to hear it?" Nema smiled and appeared to be paying attention to Caperea. Caperea cleared his throat.
"Yesterday."
Nema nodded. "All my problems seemed so far away."
"Mmm-hmm," said Nema distractedly.
"Now it looks as though they're here to stay."
"Yeah...hey look, I've got to get --"
"Suddenly!"
Nema raised an eyebrow.
"I'm not half the man I used to be."
The two talked at once. "Yeah...that's really great, but"
"There's a shadow hanging over me."
"I'm late for a meeting." "
Oh yesterday came suddenly."
Nema looked impatient.
"Are you through?" Caperea stopped reciting his poem and looked a bit sheepish.
"Yeah."
"Good. I think I can get you back on your feet again."
Caperea looked as if he'd just won the lottery. "Really? Do you mean it??"
Nema smiled. "Yes. It's not much, but it's a job."
"Oh...anything would be excellent!" Caperea's ears just about fell off as he smiled proudly. "I'm glad you agree."
Be ready tomorrow morning at 9." "Yes, yes, of course," Caperea shot out.
Nema shook his hand. "Don't worry pal. In no time you'll be back to work."
Caperea strode to Windy Bluff with a skip in his step and his head held high. He felt confident. When he got to The Town Square, he noticed Twaine admiring nature there. He snuck by him and sprawled out on the ground in the trash donation hall. He then began moaning and wailing like he had just been shot by an arrow. Twaine came in to see Caperea sobbing.
"What is going on?" asked Twaine in a cut and dry manner.
Caperea sniffed sadly. "Bandits came to my village. They kidnapped my brother and injured my mother."
Twaine gasped in astonishment. Caperea continued painfully. "My father wasn't here to defend us because....because he's away at war."
Caperea broke into tears. "They took my clothing and my food and I have nothing left." Twaine immediately began to comfort the shameless Caperea.
"My goodness! Well, fear not. I shall take good care of you." Twaine removed his cloak and placed it around Caperea's body. Caperea sniffled. "Th-thank you sir." Twaine nodded solemnly.
"Think nothing of it my friend. Just glad to get you back on your feet." Twaine then cleaned up
Caperea and found him some very presentable clothes for his job. Nine O'clock came. Caperea waited anxiously in the Mageware Shop. Suddenly the room filled with the sounds of harps, and holylight bathed down from the heavens. When the light dissipated, Tatianna remained in the room. Caperea gasped and fell to his knees.
"Your highness."
Tatianna motioned him up, and he stood. "My lady, what brings you to me?"
"Well you needed a job, didn't you?" Caperea hesitated. "Well yes, but I expected --" "Good. I hope you're ready to work." Caperea tried his best to sound enthusiastic.
"Yes, ma'am, I am. What kind of work will it be? Avatar assistance? Town guard? Ooh, am I going to wear a uniform?"
"I'll show you," the calm Tatianna responded. In a flash of light, they were gone. They arrived in a room with a wooden floor and a fireplace. "The town Inn. Of course. Am I to be a hotel manager?"
"Not exactly." "What then, a bellhop?" Caperea asked, slightly less enthusiastic. In a puff of smoke, Tatianna invoked a mop and opened the closet door. Caperea's jaw dropped.
"You want me to be a janitor?"
"Not if you don't want to. You could be an immortal's pet instead. I had a pet newt once, but it escaped. Perhaps I could have another one." The illusion of kindness in Tatianna's eyes disappeared for a moment, and it seemed as if she could penetrate a soul with her glare.
Caperea's voice cracked. "No, ahem, this will be - this will be fine." Caperea took his mop and worked as hard as he could to clean the closet. At the end of the day, Tatianna returned to give him his pay.
"Here you are. Now don't spend it all in one place." Caperea licked his lips in anticipation. "25 coins. I'm giving you extra this time to get yourself some food; you're skin and bones."
Whatever wind remaining in Caperea's sails was just forced out. Caperea forced a smile.
"Thank you, you're very gracious." A sick feeling in Caperea's stomach moved up his throat. The next few months Caperea worked for Tatianna, making a measly wage, but enough for him to get by. Tatianna found new projects for him on weekends, such as cleaning the Killamin barn, shining the hall of mirrors, and being a courier for the supermob. But, even through all of his troubles, Caperea managed to keep a good outlook on life. Even other immortals began to take advantage of the services the small gypsy provided.
"I'm having problems getting my ravens to hold still when I am giving them a bath," said Siuanne.
Caperea's eyes lowered and he gritted his teeth. "That's because you aren't supposed to bathe birds." Siuanne laughed. "Right, just like rabbits aren't supposed to live in the ocean.
Caperea stared blankly. "Would you hold them down while I lather them up?" Caperea sighed, knowing the outcome.
"Come here Snuggles. Time to get your bath," directed Siuanne to her bird. Snuggles, as it turns out, was not so snuggly. He was at one time a prize fighting bird. In fact, he was missing one eye. When Caperea saw the sorry excuse for a flying rat, he looked like he had just swallowed sour milk. Siuanne kissed the horrid creature directly on its beak, and placed it in a bath.
"There. Now hold him down by his talons." Caperea said a silent prayer as he put his unprotected hands on the raven's talons.
"Now hold still," said Siuanne to her bird as she poured a pitcher of water over Snuggles. You would have thought that it was boiling water from the way the bird responded. Its wings flapped into Caperea's face, and its talons clenched into curved razors. It squawked like nuclear war was amid. Caperea screamed as the claws dug into his flesh. When they were finished, Caperea looked like he had just come from a battle. It was all repaid, however, when Siuanne payed him. 500 coins.
"Thank you," said Siuanne.
Caperea also found work with Alexandra. "We're going to bake cookies!" said Alexandra innocently. Caperea had a great time working in the kitchen with Alexandra. They sang songs and baked, and Caperea could have all the free cookies he wanted. At the end of the day, they had created over 300 cookies, which Alexandra nibbled on constantly.
"Here you are, thank you," said Alexandra, as she paid Caperea his 300 coins.
"Thank YOU," said Caperea appreciatively. "By the way, how do you stay so thin with all the cookies you eat?"
Alexandra giggled.
Eventually every immortal found something for the timid gypsy to do. Testaur called upon him one day.
"I need you to clean my house. Then I want you to test something."
Caperea nodded and got to work. Testaur's house was amazing. The outside was orange with yellow stripes, and the interior was bright green. Everywhere Caperea looked he saw something interesting or eccentric. On the wall was a clock, which, to Caperea's surprise, turned counter-clockwise. Testaur had several pet fish, except the ones he had swam in blue water. On the walls was a simple striped wallpaper, only it moved. Slowly the stripes swirled with one another and psychedelically twirled. Caperea was intrigued. While he was cleaning the house, he noticed several gadgets. One was a pair of eyeglasses with eyes attached to springs. Another item was a simple box. Caperea picked up the box, and out of it dropped an aqua blue scroll. "Thank you," Caperea told the box. "You're welcome," it responded. Caperea dropped the box.
After finishing, Testaur arrived, covered in dirt. "You wouldn't believe how hard it is to dig a route to China."
"Uh... huh," said Caperea, humoring him. "Oh, I had something for you to test, didn't I?" said Testaur.
Caperea nodded. Testaur led Caperea to a corner of the room where a giant sheet lay over something. Testaur pulled the sheet away, unveiling a giant magnifying glass.
"What is it?" asked Caperea in confusion. "It's a magnifier. It magnifies." Caperea nodded.
"What are you going to magnify with it?"
Testaur's eyes opened wide and an evil grin appeared on his face. "The sun."
Caperea gasped. "I'm going to fry the mortals like ants! MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!"
"You're crazy man. I'm out of here." With that, Caperea left, but not before getting paid by Testaur, who paid him with silly putty.
Caperea sat with the avatars in the immortal lounge, exhausted. They all had appreciated the work he had done for them, and had decided to grant him a wish. Caperea thought long and hard about it for days. He knew he could wish for power and money. But he was reminded of the hectic job he had been doing and knew what he wanted then and there.
"I wish that I could be leader of the Guild of Mystics." Seluctruh nodded, and with a tip of his hat, and a jab of his cane, the wish was granted.
Caperea smiled. "Thank you all. I suppose this means I won't be working for you all anymore. But thank you for the opportunities you gave me."
The immortals all said goodbye to Caperea, and he went about his way to the Guild of Mystics. Caperea sat down in his chair, thoroughly satisfied with the way things had turned out. Suddenly, a noise was heard and Nema appeared in the room. Caperea jumped to his feet and bowed.
"Greetings." Nema bowed. "So, things are going well for you now, Caperea?"
Caperea smiled and nodded. "Yes, things could not be any better. There's just one thing..."
"What's that?" Nema chuckled. "Whatever happened to Sparatus?" Nema paused for a moment, then replied, "I think he got what was coming to him."
Meanwhile, across town, Tatianna stood with Sparatus in a vacant hotel. "Now scrub it clean, and I'll pay you well for your time." Sparatus took the mop and cleaned the closet, grumbling as he did it.
Cywry's Commentary
Testaur chose to take away the sun, hoping to teach Seluctruh a lesson. But will Seluctruh learn this lesson? His pride is great. He is evil. Perhaps the destruction of the lands is his true desire, we cannot know.
For a time this great evil turned brother against brother and clan against clan. Yet, in this time of Darkness an uneasy peace has been restored. We cannot fight each other, when this greater evil is before us all.
The failure of the sun means the death of all life as we know it. Even the vampires will suffer, for when all creatures have died, what or who, will they feed upon?
In this time of evil I pray that all those with the power of magic to act for those who dwell in the lands; those who can create food from nothing, who can draw fresh clear waters from the air itself, those who can heal, and those who can make light shine out of the darkness.
Only their powers, and the prayers of all, followers of Light and Darkness alike, may perhaps restore the sun and save the land from total desecration.
Until next time, fare thee well to all players, and may you walk in sunshine or in moonbeams and be at peace within and without the realm of Darkstone!
~~~~~~~~~
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