Olympia Times 062

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+----------------------------------------------------------------------+ | The Olympia Times issue g1-62 | | August 30, 1995 | | | | turn 62 180 players | +----------------------------------------------------------------------+

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Olympia PBEM

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Player-contributed press

The Lords of Revelstone find themselves puzzled and concerned by the actions of the people of the faery lands. It appears that the people of the Land should avoid those lands at all costs until such time as the ruler there sets forth conditions for passage. In short, three nobles of a faction friendly to the Lords found themselves transported into faery after entering a faery hill, which, unluckily, happened to appear in a province they were visiting. Lacking the magic of an elfstone, they could not escape faery. These three nobles, Zafol [g6b], Mold Demon [b9s], and Ana Swiftarrow [l7c], wandered in faery for some time until they passed the area where the faery hill to Drucartan existed. I bid them wait until I could get a noble with an elfstone to the location where the hill touched our land. Zafol's stack was sufficient to give battle to the clumps of monsters that infest the lairs and ruins of the world, but was overall a small force. When we last saw them, they had 24 riding horses, 13 crossbowmen, six cyclops, and four giant spiders. Elena, daughter of Atiaran, was dispatched to open the gate for Zafol's entry to Drucartan. Some error occurred, and the exact location of the gate was misidentified, and Zafol was left for a still longer time imprisoned in faery. That imprisonment became all-too literal, as the warlord of the faery lands, OneEye, appeared with an overwhelming force and destroyed Zafol's stack utterly. Fortunately, no lives were lost- at that time. (A monster allied with the faction, held in thrall by an artifact, was destroyed by that force shortly before the attack on Zafol.) The leader of that group, along with the Lords, sent envoy to the courts of faery, apologizing for whatever slight sparked the attack and asking for parole for Zafol, Mold Demon, and Ana, held captive. The Lords acknowledge the rightful concern of the fey people regarding visitors to their land, which had just been the subject of an invasion in force some few months earlier. Still, this was not an invasion force, nor were they either efficient or necessary spies in faery. Accordingly, in their message, the Lords acknowledged the concerns of the ruler of faery in maintaining security, apologized for the lack of courtesy in not contacting the ruler of the lands in which they walked, and asking for the release of the captives. The Lords suggested that OneEye keep whatever part of Zafol's possessions were necessary to offset his cost and losses in arresting the party. Pleasantly, OneEye responded with a fair demand. If one of the members of the party would complete an emprise, it would obtain the freedom of the group. It is our understanding that Zafol's group accepted the quest, and the Lords wrote to guarantee its fulfillment. Nothing more was heard from OneEye. No quest was set forth. No nobles were released. A month passed in captivity. Ana Swiftarrow, cut off from any communication with her faction, died. It was reported that she tried to escape, and was thereupon killed by OneEye's forces. Next month it was learned that the magicks and enticements of faery made Mold Demon renounce his ties to the mortal lands and swear to the ruler of faery. Yet nothing has been heard from OneEye. Zafol still languishes in the keep of faery, but nothing is known of his status or health. His companions are dead or bewitched, his future unknown. We write this now in warning to the people of common ground. It appears certain that the lands of faery must be regarded as closed to human passage. At this time, it also appears that the words, warrants, and promises of the fey warlord OneEye are not held in the same regard as are those of mortal men. The Land suffers, and becomes a cold, closed place, with few spots of light and life on its face. There is sorrow in the air. --Mhoram, for the Lords of Revelstone

-- Lords of Revelstone [ad4]

The kingdom of DRUCARTAN & Broen Rock

Visitors to DRUCARTAN and BROEN ROCK are asked to procure a visa before entering the area. As you notice this message has been changed per request.

-- The Sen Clan [di4]

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Maps are available! Get yours today from the Illustrated Man [s5e] in the Imperial City! If you're a new player, only 75 gold plus your surface mail address for all the info known about Provinia and the world! For experienced players, ask about a blow-up of your area!

-- The Midnight Carnival [nx2]

The not-yet kingdom of Ceonak

Visitors to CEONAK and are asked to procure a visa before entering the area. Ceonak is a very peaceful island, where AOO and non AOO factions are rarely, if ever, seen. No noble has ever been attacked in Ceonak by another noble. In fact no noble in his right mind would visit Ceonak!

If you want a visa, please send a message to Hans Shadowspawn [r2y]. Don't worry about providing noble information, or any of that stuff. The only thing we want to know is why in the world anyone would want to go to Ceonak? There is no fee, and requests will be met with general apathy, and in most cases ( i.e. I am bringing more than 10 men (or 1 dragon) for any reason whatsoever), blatant disbelief.

-- The Merry Pranksters [qd3]

---------------------- S. CAMARIS Update ----------------------

Monthly notice: any new visitors to our fair isle should notify us in advance.

-- The Crazy Quilters [vn7]

We claim a good clean kill/capture of the evil sneaking AOO b*****ds Genji [x8x] and Hermes [c9q]. The death of an AOO stealth wizard should be cause for general cele- bration (sorry Taira) and Genji has or will renounce loyalty to his faction. We also claim an ugly bug-ridden kill of the AOO sneak b*****d Fred [hg3h] who quite lit- erally shouldn't have mixed in. What the hell, we'll take 'em any way we can get 'em out here. If you *need* to know what happened and can provide us with good anti- AOO references we'd be glad to provide a blow-by-blow summary (suitable for framing.)

-- The Indomitable Gauls [wk7]

> The clan with no name has no honor. > It's mindless slaves are fools who feed > the leech.

You have three options:

1) Post your evidence so we'll know you are honest.

2) Post your name so we'll know (after the battle) you are brave.

3) Continue to post your pathetic accusations from the shadows, so we'll know you are a liar and a coward.

-- Erik the Well Read [l4o]

What can be done to prevent the attack in by21 that occured last turn?

-- Pepe the Magnificent [x4h]

READ THIS BEFORE COMING TO GENTLEWIND, NEWLEAF, AND ENVIRONS

Visitors are welcome to the area controlled by the Cohorts of Colossus [vo4], as long as they obtain travel permits first. Not all requests will be granted. The affected area includes the land provinces bx25-bx27, by24-by27, and bz27.

To avoid possible misunderstandings, do not enter this area without a permit, nor collect resources without express permission. Violators of this policy may be subject to arrest.

I only rarely refuse reasonable requests, and then only because I've already granted my quota.

This policy helps ensure the security of all nobles within these lands. If you are interested in a franchise on collecting resources in one of these provinces, please contact me. I have friendly arrangements with several factions along these lines.

-- Sheriff Pelenth of Gentlewind [f3i]

The Olympia Atlas is accepting contributions, and is available for download! Be the first to contribute information for unexplored lands (Faery).

In the tradition of Oleg's Map (tm), the Atlas is a compilation of geographical information useful for explorers, traders, and adventurers. Best of all, it's absolutely free!

To contribute to the Atlas, simply send turn excerpts (cut out all the incriminating parts) that contain the following information:

o) Mapping data (region & route info) o) City market reports o) City skills lists o) Inner locations

and send it to sx6@g1.pbm.com. We'll include it into the next version of the Atlas.

The Atlas is available by ftp from your nearest PBM ftp site (ftp.erg.sri.com in the USA, check the PBM FAQ for other sites), in the directory /pub/pbm/olympia, as atlas.X, where X is the turn of the last update.

The Atlas is also available on the PBMGames forum on CompuServe, in the fantasy games section, as atlas.oly.

Brought to you by the Skulking Vermin (sx6)

Note!! Due to Real-Life (tm) commitments, the Atlas will be appearing irregularly, as I have time to assemble contributions.

-- Sludge [x0o]

> Who put the barriers in the Atnos Channel? > Why? > Please remove!

The answers, in order: I did, to interfere with enemy transport, and no.

-- Amber [s0s]

MONTHLY NOTICE

The Brotherhood of Ormos claims the city of Avalon [ao0k] and all lands and resources inside the boundary of [bp05]-[bp08]-[br06] -[br09] inclusive, as its sole and lawful demense. Those wishing to visit Ormos are required to request a visa and await clearance before attempting to make landfall. All unauthorized visitors are unwelcome and looked upon with extreme prejudice. Captains needing to make landfall at Avalon for emergency repairs will not be molested, but are still required to contact me for a visa.

-- Pelinore Dragonslayer [p4s]

This is monthly notice if you wish to visit the environs of Cycarth and Redwine please be courteous enough to let m9l know (you can reach him at heyman@camis.stanford.edu. I do not currently plan to restrict access, but would like to know who is wandering around in my front yard. I would especially like to know if you plan on using any of the natural rsources (peasants, wood, and the like) in the provinces bt25 bt26 bt27 bu25 bu26 bu27 bv25 bv26 bv27 bw25 bw26 and bw27.

-- Darkman [m9l]

___ ___ ___ / / ) / ) /___ /___/ /___/ / . _ _ /_ / )_ __ / / _ _ . __ . _ / / / _> / /___/(_>/ //< of / / (_)|// / // (_>

The First Bank of Provinia has offices in some of the major cities on the continent of Provinia. The FBoP offers the following facilities.

o Special offers for New Olympia Players. o Excellent Interest Rates on Bank Accounts. o A Fast and Efficient Courier Service. o Money Transfers. o Short and Long Term Loans. o Insurance Policies. o Pawn Broking Service.

Call in at your local branch for further details.

-- First Bank of Provinia [v0z]

Nathan stood on the rain soaked cobbles looking out towards the crowded harbour of the Imperial City. He frowned, far down along the shore a half built galley seemed to be abandoned. Perhaps, he mused, it belonged to some great power. He berated himself for making assumptions, in this new land he must tread carefully or not at all. He dismissed the matter as of no import and turned back to the busy central marketplace. He thought of what his father used to say "To make money, you have to spend money", and grinned. This month he'd spend, soon he hoped that by buying low and selling high he'd recover his money many times over. The big war factions seemed to have the land tight in their fists. He shrugged, this mattered little. War brings hardship, but also many openings to turn a quick profit. By making himself useful to all sides, a good trader could become a very rich man. In the mean time, he'd heard there was a market for clay pots.

-- Nathan Gaunt [n7a]

Rumors

What is the deal with the "clan with no name" and its "mindless slaves"? Is there a spell that produces "mindless slaves", and if not, how do I get some?

The winds of fate signal a sea-change.

Ah, it would have been easier to stay in my mud MUME, Middle Earth was much safer.

WANTED! Two, or three, healthy Nazgul. Name your price. Will pickup.

Well, I guess it's a cheap way to make 25 gold: ------------------------------------ Characters: 5 111st Men: 29 133rd Gold: 651 130th Land controlled: 29 39th Skills known: 23/70 83rd Spells known: 9/80 74th Provinces visited: 55/9,995 122nd

Would somebody please post to the times some info on the political history of Olympia to aid a confused newbie in working out how the big alliances fit together. Who are AOO, BtA, MAFOC? Any others? What are their general dispositions?

I just have 2 questions: When do we eat, and when are we gonna get paid? Oops, sorry, I mean 1) What the heck is a poppy field good for? and 2) Is it really true that each noble has to research skills independently - ie, if my noble 1 spends 6 months and fails 21 times to research breed beasts (*not that i'm bitter*), then my noble 2 can't just study it, or get the skill from noble 1 in any way, but he has to research it on his own, possibly failing 21 times (*NOT THAT I'M COMPLAINING*)? oopsie, there goes the Beasts, Inc franchise I was planning :(

***NEWBIES READ THIS*** You're gonna read a lot of threats in the Times. All sorts of bad stuff about the AOO, MAFOC, etc. Well, I've been playing for 15 turns and I haven't seen any of these people except Marat, who I think is run by the GM. Build a ship, get out of the IC, find an unnoccupied city (there are hundreds), and start building your empire. I guarantee you'll be left alone, and will be able to grow to as big a power as exists in the game.

The AOO have found me again. When will they stop persecuting me?

Hmmmm, sneaky nobles not so sneaky eh?

Financial crisis! Major mage (top 10%) in minor faction (*not* top 10%) needs sugar daddy to fund further development. Anti-AOO stance. AOOies need not apply. Contact me here--I'm not giving the AOO my id!

To: The Protectors of the Light, or whatever you're calling yourselves... In principal I heartily support what you're doing - newbies banding together. As you say, I was a newbie once too, not too long ago. However, I must disagree with your statement that both sides are the same. I joined fairly late, without knowing anyone in the game, firmly intending to have no alliances. That is until some AOO nobles attacked without provocation and wiped out some of my nobles. I have known the same thing to have happened to several new players. For what it's worth, neither Oleg nor the Gauls have ever been reported, or even rumored, to have attacked a new faction unprovoked. Indeed, I have found that they'll generally help you out, even when they don't know you. The AOO has gone on record in these pages as saying that, while attacking newbies is not an official policy, they know that a lot of their members do it, and that's OK. Draw your own conclusions.

People who post one-liners to the Times should be shot

The silence of the night was disturbed by the grating sound of a small boat's keel scraping over the gravel beach. Men wearing dark clothing jumped out and ran forward, dropping behind the seawall, the last men out pausing to shove the boat off the beach. One man made his way along the row of prone figures, sending pairs off in different directions to scout.

A few minutes later, the boat returned with another load of men from the roundship waiting a few hundred yards off the beach. The boat made a few of additional trips to bring more men, and soon there were two score armed men waiting anxiously on the beach.

While the boat was still ferrying men ashore, the first of the scouts began reporting back, telling their leader that the countryside was not alert, and the pitiful garrison of 10 soldiers was not patrolling near the beach this night. The garrison hadn't been improved since the priest back home had seen it in a vision.

The leader smiled, and signaled his troops to begin moving up the draw, inland. It was two hours past midnight, and he wanted to attack the sleeping garrison at four hours past, right when they should be in their deepest sleep.

The eastern horizon was just barely showing the faintest of lights when the leader ordered his force to attack. The battle was over almost before it began. The raiders had won without losing a man or dragon. half of the garrison had been killed before they even awoke, and the rest ran without even trying to put up a fight.

The next week was spent raiding the hamlets and farmholds in the province, stealing anything of value that wasn't bolted down. It bothered the leader to deprive the poor peasants of their goods, but if the raiders didn't take them, the AOO tax collectors would be around at the end of the month to get them. The point of the raid wasn't to hurt peasants, or even for the gain of gold (although that _was_ a nice side effect). The main point was to kill the garrison and deplete the tax base of the AOO-owned castle the controlled this area.

Since the nearest AOO castle was to the south, the raiders turned north. It was still early in the month, since the initial landing had been made on the first day of the month. The raiders moved to the next province, and fell upon that garrison as well, achieving the same results, and spending another week raiding.

Next, they turned north once more and made a forced march to the next province. Time was running late, and soon the castle to the south would receive news of the raiding party and send out a force that would overwhelm them as easily as they had been handling the local garrisons.

In the third province, they defeated the garrison, but rather than pausing to pillage, they marched directly to the shore, where their roundship had moved to meet them. By the end of the month, they were sailing out towards the open sea, having reduced the local castle's tax base and area controlled by three provinces. They may not have been the Guardians of the Light, but they could still strike a blow for freedom (and make a tidy profit, as well).

Characters: 6 89th Men: 206 52nd Gold: 875 121st Land controlled: 0 80th Skills known: 16/70 116th Spells known: 13/80 55th Provinces visited: 144/9,995 75th

"Sir, the men are becoming rebellious! If we find no gold, we face a mutiny!"

"Argh, matey, then it's gold we must find. Scan the horizon; there must be a juicy treasure galleon about somewhere!"

Around turn 45, this guy asks me what his one noble should do. So, I say maybe he should learn Archery. Last turn, he says that he has archery 100 and wants to know what to do now. He actually practiced all those turns. I can bearly believe it.

And now a moment of silence, ... Ok that was long enough.

"nothing to see but sea."

The Guardians of the Light say: Kill the AOO!

> Now up for auction in the IC: one scroll of Weathermagic! The standing > price is 600 gold.

Don't buy it. Six hundred is too high a price! Buy a flying creature and you can not only learn the trick in the Cloudland, you can also fly to anywhere through the rest of your life.

The travelling Salesman

Coming in next months Olympia times: "Wyrms are our friends".

"Where is Unclaimed Territory?"

Sorry, the last bit was just taken over by "ROTFL",an alliance that has no newbies at all in it. Just players who generally know what they're doing (sometimes), and who don't ask silly "tell me where everything is, so I don't have to look for it - (whine, snivel)" questions in the Times.

BtA should have one title only. Meister Bater of the Archy. If he and his ilk were not total cowards they would set a time, and place, and take on all comers.

"...Fourthly it chews up their noble days. A garrison takes a minimum of 20 nobles days to create, plus travel time."

It was going so well up until this week, you almost had us believing you know what you're talking about, and suddenly it comes out that you're another newbie who hasn't read the rules. Tut.

"Sure in order to get a reasonable chance of success you are going to have to put that much effort into attacking the garrisons, but we are many, and they are few"

Number of people with garrisons = 82 last week, number of people in the Guardians of Light = ?. It looks like they are many and you are few.

Why not stop messing about with dumb posts and join one of the groups that are REALLY working against the tyrants?

I have a public face and a private heart, Do you see one's end and the other's start?

Or like so many past and gone, Do you see the two and think them one?

And thinking thus, will you walk away? When a private heart would ask you: Stay?

Is mining a worthwhile skill?

Claimed territory is evrything I want. Unclaimed territory is all else. FYI, if you want land, bring a sword.

Is all villany against newbies finished? I have yet to see any reports of people to take action against. Even the AOO can't tell who writes rumors you know. Post away and let the guardians of the light do their work! Or maybe our threat is beginning to be taken seriously so the big alliences are toning it down a little? Come on, stand up for your selves! -The Guardians of the light

"Is there any truth to the RUMOR that the AOO owns a big part of Ossicus?" -An Interested Party

Well, wrong on point one. Obviously it was worth it to somebody. On point two, what are you charging? I could use a flying mount or three, if the price is reasonable.

Where? I've got a factor in IC, let's talk price and selection. Just pass through town or post a notice and I'll drop you a few lines. I can't afford much, heavily invested right now, but I'm in for the long haul, and might buy more later.

Well, is it any wonder that MAFOC is in Chaos? Indeed, the wise fool says, "Chaos is as Chaos does."

GotL: Hint #2: Attack isolated garrisons

Yessiree, that'll make landholders more reasonable, nothing like geurilla warfare to bring out the best in folks. Can I interest anybody in a good price on longswords?

Seems like the earlier editions of the TIMES had more information. Lately, there seems to be little but bluster and repetitive land claims. Anybody got anything _interesting_ to publish?

A Neutral Response to the GoL.

I guess you missed a few previous letters, let me assist you. (Apologies for the length.)

*************************** Times 57:

Once again, I have been forced by the AOO to leave my pleasant home. As I try to travel farther into the wilderness to put my past behind me, I wonder, "With the AOO in control of faery, is there any place I can go?"

Times 57: REST IN PEACE Palin, sorcerer, killed by a(n) aura blast Dark Night, Year 7

Let his fate be a warning to those who would attempt auraculation without authorization from the Master of the Black Arts.

Times 54:

*****REWARD***** Wanted Dead:

Bastrestric ther Archymonaged

For continuing crimes against nobility, and for questioning in the untimely death of the dearly departed Miyuki-san.

Information leading to the death of BtA will earn a noble 1000 gold payable in IC.

Location reports should be placed in the Times *****REWARD*****

In the interests of brevity, I've omitted the various complaints against the Sheriff, whom I've never found difficult to deal with, myself. You should have plenty of opportunities to show your mettle against the well-known and publically acknowledged AOO factions that are out there. As to new reports, remember that usually the prepetrator of an attack will know who he just attacked, so rumors are not much different from a press announcement.

re: OPEN LETTER TO THE SEN CLAN

First off, the Sen Clan has changed their press in a couple of important respects, although it's still the friendliest land claim out there, which is why I'm troubling with this. Second, what proof do you have that the Sen Clan is part of AOO, or is membership just required before you hold land? Finally, I think his jokes are at least as funny as yours.

A Fairly Calm Noble, With Few Worries

Some appropriate quotes from THE DEVIL'S DICTIONARY by Ambrose Bierce

FEMALE, n. One of the opposing, or unfair, sex.

FIB, n. A lie that has not cut its teeth.

FUTURE, n. That period of time in which our affairs prosper, our friends are true and our happiness is assured.

GENEALOGY, n. An account of one's descent from an ancestor who did not particularly care to trace his own.

GUILLOTINE, n. A machine which makes a Frenchman shrug his shoulders with good reason.

HABEAS CORPUS. A writ by which a man may be taken out of jail when confined for the wrong crime.

HABIT, n. A shackle for the free.

HAG, n. An elderly lady whom you do not happen to like; sometimes called, also, a hen or cat.

more next time. . .

evilivevilivevilivevilivevilivevilivevilivevilivevilivevilivevilivevil v i i v l Mars threatens us with the force of war e i and will cause blood to be spilt seventy times. v v The clergy will be both exalted and reviled moreover, i e by those who wish to learn nothing of them. l v A scythe joined with a pond in Sagittarius i i at its highest ascendant. v l Plague, famine, death from military hands; e i the century approaches its renewal. v v For forty years the rainbow will not be seen. i e For forty years it will be seen every day. l v The dry earth will grow more parched, i i and there will be great floods when it is seen. v l Because of AOO discord and negligence e i an opening shall be given to Guardians of the Light. v v The land and sea of Provinia will be soaked in blood, i e and the port of Imperial City covered with ships and sails. l v i i v livevilivevilivevilivevilivevilivevilivevilivevilivevilivevilivevilive

If you are planning on travelling during the holidays, please remember that making a reservation in advance can help you avoid unnecessary headaches due to an overbooked destination.

Q: Why are there so many nasty rumors about newbies? A: Because some players have nothing better to say.

Liberty is alive! The Harum is swarming with angry peasants! Unfortunately the Priestess is out.