+----------------------------------------------------------------------+
   | The Olympia Times                                        issue g1-92 |
   | March 27, 1996                                                       |
   |                                                                      |
   | turn 92  138 players                   http://www.pbm.com/oly/times/ |
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               Questions, comments, to play:  info@pbm.com

                             Olympia PBEM

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                        Player-contributed press



Anybody interested in a PowWow discussion about the world of Olympia should
e-mail Necrotisers (cs6@g1.pbm.com) for further instructions. The discussion
is going to be held at 18:30 hrs GMT on Saturday 30th March 1996 so make
contact before then. Anybody requiring the program should also contact
Necrotisers.  This could be an ideal opportunity to make allies OR enemies.
Spice up your life a little. Its good to talk!

                                   -- Necrotisers [cs6]



A poets words will steep in time
and never flow too fast
For if the words don't make a rhyme
their memory will not last.

Whether sour lemon or salty lime
describes your nobles past
It's never too late to turn from crime
unless you're tied to the mast.

So, we bid farewell to sludge and grime
that made this world undone.
Let's create olympia two
out of olympia one.

Let's change the rules and fight with honor
so that newbies on the run
can seek their dreams and build their power
and have a little fun.

                               -- The day of Rest [ju3]



We're looking for a few good nobles...

     The Liberty Confederacy is accepting applications
for new members!  Confederates gain the invaluable benefits
of collective action in return for same.  The Liberty
Confederacy is a loose defencive alliance of nobles who
wish to pursue their happiness with their freedoms
intact.  We are not engaged in any debilitating wars!  Newbies especially
welcome.

    So come to Ossicus & make your fortune with the LC!

(applications to this id#).

                                -- Circle of Hope [lp3]




From: The Midnight Carnival
Greetings one and all!
        Many, many turns ago (23 to be exact), some of you might have heard
of us.  Our noble the Illustrated Man had a thriving import and mapselling
business in the Imperial City, and our chief mage, Mr. Dark, was skilled in
a number of colleges of magic.
        Then two catastrophes overtook us, within short time of one another.
First, Mr. Dark and another noble happened to be passing through the capital
of the Gauls (our first visit) on the very turn when the hordes of the AOL
arrived to wipe out the noble Caesar once and for all.  We were collateral
damage, but the wound smarted nonetheless.  And we could not bring ourselves
to sue the tyrants for their release.
        Secondly, our email connection crashed.  We had no access for
several months.
        Now that contact with Olympia has been reestablished, we of the
Midnight Carnival bid farewell to these shores once and for all.  The
memories are too painful to start again.  If there ever rises another
Olympia someday, we may return to map again.  If anyone has the Campaign
Cartographer software and wishes to take over our map-selling business,
email us at bglassco@mscfs.edu.  We salute our allies, the Gauls and the
Iron Nation, and cry again: Death to the AOO tyrants!


                         -- The Midnight Carnival [nx2]




Last month the dear Answer Guy told us that there is no relation between
Olympia and Arena. But me gladiators has been told this. To me it look like
that the Imperial City in both games are the same????. But what can you say
even the best can fail, keep up the good work Answer Guy.



>   The Origins of the World of Olympia
>
>In the beginning the Father of All Gods, called Sol, was alone in the
>heavens.  Although he shone with radiance, the endless black night of
>the Void swallowed his light.  Alone and unhappy, he wept silently.  His
>tears collected into a cool blue ball that became Luna, called the
>Mother of All Gods.
>
>Luna reflected Sol's light and together the two were happy for many
>ages.  And as will always be when two love one another, children were
>soon born.
>
>At first, the children were content to play in the cool blue light of
>their Mother and the bright yellow radiance of their father.  But Sol
>soon realized that his children needed a place to grow and learn.  So
>with Luna he created Olympia and placed his children there.
>
>"Here you will learn to be gods, as your Mother and your Father are,"
>said Sol to his children.  "Here I command you to compete, to learn and
>to challenge; the greatest of you I shall call to join me in the
>Heavens."
>
>Sol filled this place called Olympia with many strange creatures and
>wonders to delight and instruct his children.  Foremost amongst all he
>created man, and to man alone he gave the power to be a companion and
>teacher to his sons and daughters.
>
>For many ages Man lived in harmony with the children of Sol.  Many
>children of Sol became great in wisdom and power and were called forth
>into the Heavens.  The night sky blazed with a thousand of Sol's
>children, and Man was proud of his role as teacher and companion to
>the Gods.  And always Sol and Luna loved one another and sent new
>children to Olympia to learn to be Gods.
>
>One of these children was named Nereid.  Of all of the children of Sol
>and Luna, Nereid was the most lovely.  It is said that when she walked
>the lands of Olympia, flowers sprung up in her footsteps.  She was also
>wise and kindly, and became much loved by Man.  Always the favorite of
>her father, she was soon called up into the Heavens, where she shone as
>the brightest star in the night sky.
>
>As the ages passed, Sol loved Nereid more and more deeply.  Always she
>moved closer to her father, so that soon Nereid alone shone in the
>daylight with her father.  Blinded by his daughter's beauty and wisdom,
>Sol conceived an illicit desire for his daughter.  Although he hid this
>love, Sol's heart was troubled.  His visage became cloudy, and Man upon
>Olympia saw Sol reach out yearningly towards his daughter.
>
>Finally Sol was overcome by his desire and cast himself upon his
>daughter.  The heavens burned a sickly purple at what Sol had done, and
>the face of Luna became dark and swollen with sadness.  Nereid herself
>was changed.  Her visage, once clear and blue like her mother, now
>became the feeble orange of a guttering candle.  She cast herself across
>the Heavens away from her father, hiding herself in shame, until soon
>she could be seen only on the darkest of nights.
>
>Luna, too, turned away from Sol.  Once Luna had hung low over Olympia,
>watching her children and protecting them and Man from many dangers.
>Now she drew herself further away and turned her face away from Sol, so
>that for many days at a time Luna could not be seen at all in the night
>sky.
>
>Of the union of Sol and Nereid a son was born, called Loki.  In the
>nights following Sol's rape of his daughter, Loki could be seen rushing
>across the sky, tearing open a great wound in the Heavens in his haste
>to be with his father.
>
>But Sol refused to look upon Loki, and cast him down instead upon
>Olympia, where he landed with a great crash that shook the mountains and
>caused the seas to rise up in angry protest.
>
>Loki had all the beauty of his mother and all the willful power of his
>father.  Bitter and spiteful with the rejections he had received at the
>hands of his parents, he vowed to overthrow his father.
>
>Loki gathered together the children of Sol and the men of Olympia and
>spoke to them of his plan.  Eight of the children of Sol and some of the
>men turned away from Loki, but many more were won over to Loki's side by
>his beauty and promises of great power.  Loki showed Man how to use the
>power of the gods, and many greedy Men studied with Loki and soon became
>great Wizards, able to challenge Sol's children in power.  Led by Loki,
>the rebellious children of Sol and the Wizards rose up to throw down Sol
>and to gain control for themselves of the Heavens.
>
>Never had Sol been challenged, and it appeared at first that Loki's bold
>plan would work.  The face of Sol became dim for nearly a day as Loki
>and his father struggled in the sky.  Finally Sol threw his rebellious
>bastard down, and flashed with angry brilliance.  The seas of Olympia
>boiled and the trees on the mountains burst into flame.  Loki and his
>followers turned and fled into the deep recesses beneath Olympia, but
>many were killed by Sol's anger.
>
>Just when it seemed that all would die, even those who had rejected
>Loki's plan, Luna interceded to save her children.  She drew a veil of
>cloud across Sol's face and bathed the land in a healing rain.  (This is
>why, in the eastern provinces, Luna is called the Lady of the Veil.)
>When Luna next drew the veil back, Sol had retreated to his rightful
>place in the sky.
>
>Since the Time of the Rebellion, Sol has turned his back upon Olympia.
>No longer do the children of Sol come to Olympia; no longer do the
>learned and wise children of Sol rise up from Olympia to join him in the
>Heavens.  Neither does Luna protect her children, though still she
>periodically turns her face from Sol in shame and anger.
>
>Upon Olympia the eight children of Sol who remained faithful during the
>Rebellion still live and strive to join their father in the Heavens.
>These eight are called Eres, the God of Sea and Wind, Anteus, the God of
>Fire and Earth, Dol the Beastmaster, Timeid, Lady of Plants, Ham the
>Jester, Kireus the Smith, Halon Warmaster and Domingo, Lady of Healing.
>Although they no longer show their visages upon Olympia for fear of
>angering their father, it is said that they sometimes wander the land in
>the guise of humans, guiding and helping their followers.
>
>Of Loki and the rebel children of Sol less can be said.  Some claim they
>still live under Olympia, in a kingdom they have created in the dark
>regions below.  It is said that the orcs and other foul creatures who
>occasionally venture forth unto the face of Olympia from the realms below
>are the twisted children of the Men who followed Loki.  Others claim that
>Loki and the other Dark Children are still worshipped in secret upon the
>face of Olympia, but no one has yet found a temple to one of those shamed
>children.
>
>What is certain is that some men still seek greedily after the powers
>that Loki shared with Man.  Wizards in lonely towers spend endless hours
>studying the tomes and artifacts from the time before the Rebellion
>hoping to unlock their secrets.  Although some wizards start out as
>innocent scholars, most soon turn toward the dark side of power.
>Indeed, orcs and other foul creatures are sometimes seen in the service
>of the wizards, and other wizards surround themselves with undead and
>other fell beasts from beyond the grave.
>
>The High Priests of the Faithful Eight have prophesied that Sol will not
>turn his favor upon Olympia until Loki and his rebels have been defeated
>by Man and the Faithful Eight.  According to this prophecy, a great band
>of heros led by priests of the Faithful Eight will invade Loki's dark
>kingdom and destroy his forces there.  Loki himself will be struck down
>by the Sword of the Sun, a mysterious and holy artifact that has been
>lost since the time of the Rebellion.
>
>
>
>
>    ANTEUS
>
>Anteus is the God of Fire and Earth.  He appears to his followers as a
>short, stout man with a bulbous nose, a long cap and is often seen
>carrying a pickaxe or hammer.  Although short and slow, Anteus is
>known for the strength of his arms.  The hammer is the favored weapon
>of the followers of Anteus.  The holy plant of Anteus is ironwood, the
>rare and strong wood which is favored for the hammer handles, and the
>totem animal of Anteus is the mole, which "swims the rivers neath the
>earth."
>
>Small shrines to Anteus are often found along difficult mountain
>roads, and miners often hire priests of Anteus, who are said to bring
>good luck under the earth.  It is said that dwarves are the special
>minions of Anteus, and that a party which contains a Priest of Anteus
>will never be attacked by dwarves and will have free passage through
>dwarven tunnels.  Priests of Anteus avoid the ocean, running water,
>and ships, which are said to weaken their holy powers.
>
>
>
>
>    TIMEID
>
>Timeid is the Goddess of Plants and Healing.  She appears to her
>followers as a small, fey woman clothed in clinging vines.  Although
>not strong of arm, Timeid is filled with vitality.  Followers of
>Timeid do not seek combat, but are said to be fierce defenders when
>cornered.  The holy plant of Timeid is the green rose, whose perfume
>is said to revitalize the spirit.  The totem animal of Timeid is the
>eagle.
>
>Temples to Timeid are often found in isolated forest glades, though
>they rarely seem to be inhabited when found by the uninitiated.  It is
>said that the priests of Timeid can pass through even the densest
>forest without leaving a trace behind, and merchant caravans often
>hire followers of Timeid as guards, as they are said to bring good
>luck.  Priests of Timeid sometimes come to the city to work with
>alchemists, with whom they share an interest in plants.  Priests of
>Timeid avoid contact with beasts and beastmasters, which are said to
>weaken their holy powers.
>
>
>
>
>
>    KIREUS
>
>Kireus is the patron God of smiths.  He appears as a thick-set man
>dressed in blacksmith's garb, with bushy red hair and a beard singed
>by smithing fires.  Kireus is depicted as having great vigor but
>little intelligence or wit.  The followers of Kireus favor the
>two-handed sword and are dangerous, if predictable, foes in combat.
>The holy plant of Kireus is firewort, which is used in forging to set
>the edge of a blade, and the totem animal the horse.
>
>Priests of Kireus traditionally build their temples in cities, and
>often associate with engineers and weapon smiths.  It is said that no
>priest of Kireus can be harmed by a blade and no wall built of stone
>can bar them.  The priests of Kireus avoid crowds of people and
>untamed forest, which are said to weaken their holy powers.


                                -- Order of Zobel [re7]




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

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


                            -- The Crazy Quilters [vn7]



 A gurgling echo resounds from my gut as it swells ever so ominously
 with the fruit of my sword as I wantonly indulge my drunken gluttony,
 The blasphemers are but the corpse of my wondrous leechdom.

                               -- The Brotherhood [wf7]



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



Enquire now for our forthcoming Centenary celebration deals.



                        -- First Bank of Provinia [v0z]



Greetings Fellow Olympiads!

     The Liberty Confederacy rules West Ossicus.  Peaceful,
law-abiding travelers are welcome.  Bandits, pirates, & their associates
are advised to avoid the area for their own protection.  Investors of any
kind (merchants, inn-keepers, temple-builders, tower owners, miners,
etc.) are especially welcome to civilize this untamed land. Travelers
wishing to exploit the resources of these lands should contact us so we
don't have harvesting conflicts.  Unapproved harvesting is frowned upon.

                                  -- General Norc [z1a]



Amra doesn't answer mail directly--ever.

My oxen prices are coming down:  only 75 gp an ox!

                                          -- Amra [g1p]



Customer Testamonial on behalf of the First Bank of Provinia

Greetings, Provinians!  My name's Jech Ercheflo the Friendly
Thin Guy.  I'm a Trader.  I travel Provinia buying and selling
and trading everything from the highest grade avinia leaf to the
cheap woven baskets that I buy off of broke lowlifes in Imperial
City.  Now as you might imagine, with half-breeds like Swishbuckler
bending everyone in sight, Provinia is not always as friendly and
peaceful as me.  So I don't like carrying large amounts of cash on
a trade run, if you know what I mean.  That's why I bank at First
Provinia: low-interest loans, high interest rates, newbie bonuses,
warehouse facilities, shipping services...  What else could you
ask for?

So take it from me, Jech Ercheflo the Friendly Thin Guy, don't
wind up lying in the gutters of Imperial City weaving baskets.
Give the the First Bank of Provinia a call.  You'll be glad you
did.

           -- Jech Ercheflo the Friendly Thin Guy [h3f]



                                 Rumors



Noble brains, good and good for you!



Q. What's the difference between British beef and Pinky's corpse?
A. You can eat Pinky's corpse!




Half off chains?



Can you have your rumor money sent to another faction's noble?



 Pink lemonade, anyone?




Someone Asked:
> What's all this talk about Olympia g2? Is
> the world coming to an end? What will happen
> to me then?

So far it seems to be just talk. The Great God Atnerks has sent no
  prophecies to the Answer Guy.

Someone Else Asked:
> Can you have your rumor money sent to another faction's noble?

The Answer Guy sees no reason why not.




   Tozan says:
   One should not discuss a dream
   in front of a simpleton.



 Just how far must I travel from IC to find 
 some unclaimed land ?



Hey! What happened to all the guys on West Camaris? There's a whole new
bunch of names and IDs in all of the castles. What gives?



You can say just about anything here.



  More mundane money for not so mundane purposes!



When you've fallen on the highway
and you're lying in the rain,
and they ask you how you're feeling
of course you say you can't complain-
If you're squeezed for information,
that's when you've got to play it dumb:
You just say you're out there waiting
for the miracle to come.



To c. factions:  hit T. next week, don't forget!




The Swish and Pink are run by the Answer Guy!

 Who just happens to be your arch enemy, by a
strange coincidence?



 "A monkey walks into a bar and says to the barman....
  'a pint of beer and an packet od crisps please....'
 The barman replies 'I can't serve you, you'er out your tree'..DA..DA"



> If I add an order to the end of my list of orders
> for each noble to make pots, at least my turn
> isn't totally wasted if my orders blow up.

It depends how you define "totally wasted". Why not end
all your orders with "seek"? At least then you might
spot something interesting.



    What does "AOO" stand for? Or was it the death cry of the first victim?



 What happened to g2?



    -it doesn't matter anymore
       i know the weak hearted
             are strong willed
    and we're being kept alive
            until we're killed.



Where do all these savages come from?



Could it be that to choose wisely without knowledge,
is to join an alliance without knowing the ally?  I think not!



Captain, there be DRAGONS here!