Blane Flynn's coming of age - Posted by Kyrian Koven October 18, 1997 at 4:19 PM EDT - Category: General

*wind howls around the huge Yew trees that surround the campfire*
"This day has brought forth no good tidings. As I traveled the edges of the road that runs from Yew to Skara Brae, we saw some ghastly sites. As we headed south past the old graveyard south of Yew, the animals stopped making noises, and the wind died down to a thick, stingy standstill. Off in the deep forest of Spiritwood, moans of the wraiths that dwell there were heard. Some passed it off as the wind, but I knew that those cries were those of dejected souls, seeking eternal vengeance for their anguish ...
Along the road I traveled alone, and only a stones throw from the road itself I encountered a spectre. I bit my cheek to fight off the overwhelming feelings of terror it invoked, and charged it in well disguised fear. I overcame the wraith quickly, and it fled deep into the forest. Back upon the road, at one of the old abandoned keeps, a man was yelling for help. There was apparently an alchemist trapped on the roof by a Giant Scorpion, and a man named Blane Flynn was trying to get into the keep to aid, but the door was being guarded by a crazed troll. Without a word I ran swifty by rolling under the swinging club of the troll and gashing it's achilles tendon with my axe. Blane was caught off guard, and was still contemplating whether he should attempt the rescue. The troll shreiked in pain, obviously losing its grim determination, and I fired another quick blow at the wrist of the troll, hacking it from its body. The troll reeled and screamed, and from the sounds from the roof, I knew time was of the essence ...
I ran through the legs of the troll, hoping it would not be able to fit up the stair case. As i came over the balcony, the poor alchemist was down on a knee, fending off claws with a shield, cowering behind it, and weakening fast. In one long motion I reared back and let sail my double axe end over end across the rooftop. The axe clanged off the side of the scorpion's tail, doing no damage, but getting its attention as I desired. I reached into my pack and pulled out a my broadsword, a thick blade, of a clan design. The scorpion charged me but as learned, I amputated that stinger with one stroke. The fight was quick after that. I checked briefly to see that the alchemist was okay, then hurried back down the stairs to where I still heard the troll thrashing about. Young Blane caught me off guard here, for he had taken the initiative, inspired perhaps by my actions, and was parrying the trolls attacks! I grew heart from this, for Blane had gone past the point of terror, and was maneuvering between this troll's legs, and striking blows when available. I let out a loud cry, startling the troll. The creature circled round to see what come from behind it, and instantly, without hesitation, Blane put all his might behind is blood-ridden katana and drove it sideways across the back of the troll's hamstring, dropping it like a sack of flour. As the creature hit the ground Blane brought the blade to the trolls throat and opened it wide ... finishing the beast.
As the troll gasped for its last breaths, Blane stood over it, a boy to a man, blood ebbing from the side of his head. We exchanged glances, both saying thank you, for different reasons, to one another. We helped the poor alchemist off the roof, and I regained my axe, we set camp and rested for a while, talking of the battle. Blane was eager to learn more, so he ventured forth south, toward Skara Brae, in the hopes he could soon return the favor I had done for him, to some young warrior.
Kyrian Koven

The Lady Elawyn - Posted by The Great Lord Xavori Grandmaster Rogue October 18, 1997 at 3:28 PM EDT - Category: Adventure Stories

I was wandering near the orc fort at Cove looking for something(one) to do. There were many orc and ettin corpse lying about and number young warriors who looked barely old enough to shave, let alone adventure. No challenge in any of them. So, I left the fort and started towards Cove when I didst spy a fighter on board a dragon ship. And lo, the gangplank was down. I took off running towards the ship and jumped onto the plank and aboard the ship. I scrambled back to the tiller man and with the aid of my war fork, ordered him to move the boat out to sea.
After we were well away from the shore, I turned to the fighter.
"Dost thou wish to sail to Vesper?"
"Yes," he replied.
"The fee for the trip will be 200gp," I told him.
"Okay, let's go to the bank and I'll get it for you."
Obviously, the fighter thought me a complete fool. For once we reached the "safety" of Lord British's homicidal warriors, he would flee.
"Nay, knave. Thou wilt pay me now, or I shall take my fee from thy bleeding body."
"k" he replied.
He wandered over to me and handed me a pile of gold, quickly counting it, I saw he had only given me half my request.
"My fee is 200gp or your life," I threatened.
"Half now, half when we get to Vesper."
"Nay, all now, or you will never arrive in Vesper."
He thought for a moment, and then handed me the full 200 gold. I decided to see if I could get all his gold without resorting to anything so mundane as killing him. So, I set sail for Vesper, a plan already forming in my mind. After a few minutes (Cove to Vesper is a very short journey), we arrived near Vesper.
"Wouldst thou like me to land so thou can go ashore?" I asked with a sly grin.
"Yes, please," he answered.
"The fee for going to shore is an additional 200gp."
He fumbled around in his packs for a second, then said, "Wish I had it…"
"'Tis a pity," I replied.
I ordered the tillerman forward, planning on ditching him on a uncharted swamp island I had found the day before.
"Please, wait! I have 189gp, will that be enough?" he begged.
This was only 11gp less than I had asked, so I assumed he was most likely telling me the truth. I pondered for a moment.
"That will be fine."
I took him close to shore and demanded my money. As soon as he paid me, I moved next to shore and ordered him off the boat.
"Thank thee for choosing Da Gimp's charter service! Tell all thy friends about us!" I called out as he ran away.
Now, that was fun, but I always make it a point to visit Occllo whenever I "borrow" a ship. So off I went. I shan't bore you with my activities in Occllo, needless to say, nothing interesting happened. So, remembering the fun I'd had in Trinsic recently, I set sail. It is my theory that the city that prides itself for its honor hath created a citizenry who art truly naïve.
After the long journey, I arrived in Trinsic, I left my ship parked near the city, and assumed someone else would borrow it from me shortly. I had heard rumors that the jeweler's market had recently recovered from a drought and were again purchasing jewels. I had saved roughly 100 various gem stones, and figured to make a tidy profit, so my first stop was the jewelers. I spent several minutes haggling with the merchant on the prices of gems and letting me sell all my gems to him. When I walked out, I had over 3000 gold on me. I could barely move under the weight and proceeded to the bank as quickly as I could pausing often to rest. It took me quite a while to arrive at the bank and deposit my new wealth.
I wandered around the town for a few moments, then spied a tailors shop. I wandered in and saw a jester's outfit. Thoughts of all the fun that could be had dressed the fool danced through my head, and I bought it. I then took out my dye kit and tub and picked out the most obnoxious colors I could find to color everything: bright purple pants, green shoes, and blue tails on my hat. I then started wandering around telling bad jokes to distract them while digging through their pack.
I wandered around for a bit, even stopping at the local tavern to pick up some ale, figuring being slobbering drunk would add to the part of fool. I meandered some more and ended up at the docks where many fisherman were actively doing battle with the fearsome fishies.
A lady named Elawyn commented on my clothing. Several others had told me of her kindness and generosity, so I made it a point to find a "special" scam for someone so disgustingly nice. I started working on my plot while continuing to stumble about the dock and ask people if they had seen my pet frog, all the while digging though the fisher folk's packs looking for goodies. Not surprisingly, they had mostly smelly fish. Blech!
After thoroughly exploring all the packs, I started announcing the contents of everyone's pack. There were even a couple of fools who actually had gold in plain sight (well, plain sight for a rogue who was digging around in their pack anyway).
"Thou are a most strange fool," commented Lady Elawyn.
I stumbled over to her and replied, "Milady, thou art the most beautiful creature I have ever lain eyes upon."
Trying to control a smirk, I quickly continued.
"Please forgive my brashness, milday," I stammered, "I am very drunk. You could be very ugly. I cannot tell."
I then fell down laughing and so failed to catch her reaction. I continued my drunken routine for a few moments more when I came upon my plan to win her trust.
"Milady Elawyn, I have a confession to make," I started, "I am not truly a drunken fool but instead am a warrior in service to our noble liege Lord British. "
"A confession?" she asked.
"Yes, milady. I was sent here to Trinsic with a letter for the captain of the town guard warning him of a pirate attack. Alas, I was ambushed on my way here by two ruffians and lost the letter. However, whilst they thought me out, I overheard them talking of sailing to Trinsic and then travelling overland to their hideout in the jungle south of the town."
"Who was it?" asked a young mage named Tigris.
"Rainz and Gamberto," I replied coming up with the most unlikely duo I could think of.
"I've heard about them," said the mage.
So, Tigris wanted to be my victim. Very well. Lady Elawyn was not cooperating at all, although she pleaded inexperience in fighting, it was not fear, but mistrust I saw in her eyes. My esteem of her went up greatly. I had not planned on her joining me on this excursion, but needed her unwitting help in luring some other to the journey. She had unknowingly played her part perfectly. I explained the details of our "mission" to Tigris and we set off.
We travelled quickly to the jungle, and on the way, talked about the upcoming fight. Tigris was a fairly accomplished fighter, which was good since I needed some sport. I also was heading to a narrow cave to a hidden mage valley where there would be no running away. I had already lost one fleet-footed victim from Trinsic, and did not want any more returning to tell tales of the black-cloaked Xavori.
Once we arrived at the cave, I made my usual demand of "your money or your life." Tigris didn't respond, simply attacked. I smiled at the bravery if not the intelligence. The fight was over before it began. I dug through the still-warm corpse and took the reagents and gold I found. I also spied a locking box and locked all of Tigris's equipment, including the key, inside the box. It was not lost, but would take some time to find a rogue trustworthy enough to pick the lock without helping himself to the contents. I do try to add these little details to make my encounters more memorable.
I quickly made my way back to Trinsic. Changing out of my battle gear, I strolled to the tavern to relax and have another ale. Mugging is thirsty work, and nothing quenches like fine Sosarian ale. Upon entering the tavern, I spied the Lady Elawyn reading the public board. I walked over towards her and greeted her.
She turned towards me, and suddenly, one of the murderers who Lord British hath hired as guards appeared and slew her. If ever there was solid evidence of the need to have the Council of Mages take away their ability to teleport, this was it. Lady Elewyn was truly innocent, and yet was cut down like a common thief.
However, being one to seize any opportunity, I quickly told the lady to find a healer to resurrect and I would guard her things. She seemed to have difficulty with this, but after several moments, she was gone. I quickly dug through her items, finding nothing so valuable as to risk my plan to win her trust. One of the vultures that doth plague Sosaria came by, and I was forced to grab all her items as quickly as I could to keep his greedy paws away. Would that I could have slain him. Not for looting with which I normally see no wrong, but for interfering with my plan to gain the lady's trust. I did manage to get most of her equipment, and even her gold. However, I was now weighted down so that I could not move.
After a while, Lady Elawyn returned. I returned her items. We talked for a bit, but I was growing truly weary and I yawned. Lady Elawyn kindly offered to guide me to the local inn. I smiled, knowing I had gained at least some measure of her trust. She not only led me to the inn, but even stopped to show me the tailor's shop she worked in at times. Finally, we arrived at the inn. Thinking quickly, I remembered a necklace I had found and gave it to her as thanks. The look in her eyes told me I had been successful in winning her trust. I bowed and bid her farewell.

Elawyn meets Xavori! and dies ('cos of a wierd bug) - Posted by Elawyn of Yew October 18, 1997 at 6:34 AM EDT - Category: Adventure Stories

Elawyn of Yew, the poor little country lass, trained as a ranger. living in Trinsic, and feeling lost, alone, and scared.
Elawyn did pursue her training, and didst visit the inn, where she did see the message that she feared, from her good friend Lynne Greymere, who had left this fair city to pursue her training.
and Elawyn did pursue her own training, wandering the barrier island, which had trees to remind her of her home in Yew. and there didst she meet a young mage, new to Trinsic, and they did converse. And aye, then then the demon lag didst strike, and Elawyn did return to the world at a different time.
and Elawyn did walk the streets, looking for her new found friend, but alas, found her not.
and Elawyn did visit the training dummies, where she did learn much anger, for a bard in the room, his musical intrument hidden, did torment all in the room with poorly struck chords. and she didst state "I do wish that yon bard be wearing a plate codpiece, for when I do find him, I shall strike him a most mighty blow in his funions".
and Elawyn did walk to the docks, there to fish a while, and exchange pleasant conversation, and to play at 'hide and seek'.
and while fishing there she didst espy an expert warrior, who didst wear a most unusual costume, and didst play the fool, aye, indeed, didst play so well, that she was intrigued.
and she did greet yon fool.
and he didst play the fool, exceedlingly well, and Elawyn was amused, and didst smile, and didst find this fool most uncommon.
and the fishers that didst fish were intrigued, and this fool did play the fool, and most exceedingly well.
and then didst this fool reveal himself, as a captain of Lord British, in black armor, with a black cloak.
and he didst request assistance.
and Elawyn did humble herself, and express her regrets that she was not puissant in the arts of war, and another didst offer her aid, aid in the arts of magic, and she didst accompany the honorable Xavori upon his quest.
('for tis not my place to tell thee how the Captains of Lord British do travel the land, disguised, suffice it to say that the honorable Xavori did play most exceedingly well, and if he so chooses, he mayest tell the himself)
and Elawyn didst suggest, that the honorable Xavori do travel to the training room, to recruit warriors for his quest, but he sayeth that time was short, and thus, they did leave)
and Elawyn, saddened at her pitiful skills, did vow to train harder, and didst walk, and she did lend aid to the needy, and, anon, didst enter the tavern. and there she didst examine the bulletin board, and didst read a message from her friend Lynne.
and there, she did hear the honorable Xavori call her name, and she did stop reading the board to greet him for surely he would not return, quest unfulfilled, lest he need her help. and 'twas then, for reason she knowest not, that a guard did slay her, and she did become a spirit, and did attempt to open the door, while Xavori didst cry out "I pray thee m'lady, seekest thou a healer!", and she tried, and she tried, and she could not open the door. and she did run back and forth, and she did cry out "open the fusking door!" and none did hear her cries.
and then did someone open the door from without, and she ran, she ran to the healers, and she could not open the door, and she didst use words she had heard on the docks while fishing, and she ran yet more.
and she found a healer near the bank, and the healer didst examine her soul,and found it clean, and lo!, she was mortal again. And she did run
and she did run back to the inn.
and Xavori was there. And he did quoth, "Sit close, for I managed to save most of thy possesions from the foul looters", and Elawyn did feel her heart go out, for she had, earlier that week, saved the pitiful possesions of another, and she was exceedlingly moved.
and Elawyn did wear the robes of mourning, for she did not know why she had been killed.
and she didst beg pardon from Xavori, for, in her confusion, as a spirit, she had run back and forth, trying to open the door, and had run back to Xavori, and had screamed "The door! I cannot open the door! Oh Xavori, my friend, open the door that I might find a healer!" and alas, Her friend Xavori, did not have the skill of talking to spirits and did cry out "m'lady, I pray thee, seekest thou a healer!" and "Run to the healer mlady!"
and so she returned, and Xavori did hand her what little he had saved for her, and she did exclaim "that is the first time I have wandered the land as a ghost, and I liketh it not, for none can hear, and I cannot open the door!"
and so they sat, together, she feeling lost, confused, and disheartened, and he did comfort her.
and then, alas, he did exclaim that he didst grow fatigued, and did need to rest, and Elawyn did walk with him to the inn, for he was not of Trinsic and knew not where te inn might be.
and there they did part, that poor country lass, and that most noble captain of Lord British, and Elawyn did weep, and then Elawyn did look at the things that her friend Xavori had saved, and aught that was missing, was a few reagents, for he had saved her favorite dress, and had saved her halberd, and the 35gp, and the sewing kit, and, even the few fish she did have, and a few potions, and her fishing pole
and he did give her a necklace, that she might wear to look pretty, and she didst weep more. For this was a true noble, who had saved her from being just another poor soul in a robe of mourning, wandering the streets, and crying for aid.
and so Elawyn did take her room at the inn, and did lay her down to sleep, her thoughts of this kindly man, who was a captain of Lord British, who had been so kind. And Elawyn did sleep, her dreams yet unspoken.

------------snip here-----------
Xavori, I salute thee! Masterfully played, if wasn't for that bug that killed me, it would have been a total blast. Even with it, it was a total blast. I learned a great deal, and so did Elawyn, tho I fear she might have learned the wrong things ;-)
It's now almost 6:30 am, and for the last three-four hours I have been in total awe. I'm not posting the exact details of thy ploys, since I figure you might want to use some of them again, but that last few hours was the best entertainment I've had in a long time.
Yah, yah, Elawyn died, don't know why, I put the report in already. Lost a few reagents, maybe a couple of other minor things, no big deal.
I hope you got some screen shots, 'cos I was either laughing too hard, or swearing too much trying to open the damn door out of the tavern.
and for the rest of you would be role players out there, yah, the players know about Xavori, but the characters don't. That was a total and absolute blast! I really had a hard time trying to role play Elawyn into NOT going out of the city with Xavori.
Elawyn was on her way to buy reagents, because she thought she might be of some little use, got delayed helping out a couple of newbies, stopped in the inn to check the bb, otherwise she would have left the city, alone, to follow and try to help.
Dunno what killed me, I put in a bug report on it tho, but I have to admit, Xavori payed even that surprise well.
(I think he's setting me up for later...)
To play that, to have a grandmaster player take notice and get me involved, that was a pleasure, an experience to be treasured.
and note thee well, role playing really means that your character does NOT know all that you know.

A story on Death - Posted by Galdrag October 18, 1997 at 12:50 AM EDT - Category: Adventure Stories

Dana Vinte began her career as a Boywer in Yew, she had been sitting down carving herself a bow when a man came out of the nearby Bow shop. "The town boywer hath proclaimed a surplus of equipment, and that he hath run out of gold." Hearing the man, Dana took her newly carved bow up to the shop. The shopkeeper was a young man with a stubble beard, and a worried look upon his face. Dana then asked him if he might buy a bow from her. He replied that he had been helping out apprentice bowyers all day and now he had no money and a surplus of low quality bows and arrows. He was quite worried that his reputation of having the finest bows in all of Yew would be ruined. Dana, seeing that there was no money to be made here in Yew wished the shopkeeper good luck and farewell. As she was leaving the shopkeeper did proclaim. "Thou might be able to sell thy wares in Skara Brae, I hear that the ferry is in disrepair and that they are running low on resources." he said. Thanking the shopkeeper for his advice, dana started towards Skara Brae, not knowing how exactly she would get there. As Dana walked town the trails that ran through Yew, looking at the beams of sunlight that shone through the trees, Dana did see a bird sitting on a branch of a tall Yew tree. Since Dana was running low on arrows she thought that she might be able to use the feathers from the creature for her trip to skara Brae. Now killing birds in Yew was quite a chore since there were many trees and branches that might stop the arrow before reaching its target. As Dana drew her bow to slay the bird, she was issued a warning from a nearby guard. He warned; "Do not draw thy bow in town mi'lady, If you slay that yonder bird then I'll have to place thee under arrest for breaking your Kings law."
"what law?" Dana exclaimed.
"Thy good Lord British's law mi'lady, it states that if a weapon it used in any of the towns under his rule then the subject must be put under kings arrest, or if the criminal seems dangerous, then the noble guard may indeed slay the offender."
Dana looked surprised, "Oh, I am sorry sir, I shall be careful in the future, not to draw weapons in town."
"Move along m'lady" the guard said coldy "There is no bird feathers for you in this town."
Dana proceeded to travel from town, frusterated by the guard and the Kings law. What kind of law prohibits the slaying of small creatures? she thought, I surely could have used the bird for a good use. For a while Dana pondered upon the Kings laws, and she became more and more against the "good" laws of Lord British. In her anger towards her king, she failed to see the harpy that was sitting in upon a wide branch in one the bigger Yew trees, nor did she see the torn mutilated corpses at the base of the tree. The harpy did crave human flesh this day, and did attack poor Dana while she sulked. Dana heard a horrible scream from a tree that she had just walked past. Just as she had turned to see what had made the noise, a horrible pain ripped through her lower neck and shoulders, she felt the flesh tear away from her back. It was too late for Dana to draw her bow, so she fumbled for her skinning knife in her boot. A horrible ripping sound came from her right arm as the muscles within were torn out. Screaming with pain, Dana made one desperate stab at her attacker. The strike hit home at she stabbed the harpy in the rib. The beast made a horrible shrieking sound and let go of her back, Dana did then turn toward her attacker and began slashing with her good arm, as well as she could. The harpy, near death made one last slash at dana's head, The claws hit their mark, clawing across her face and taking Dana's left eye with it. Dana, who was screaming so loud with pain did not see that a rogue had hidden himself in the bushes during the attack. Dana, feeling that she was near death, began slowly crawling back towards Yew. But no sooner that she had climbed off of the dead harpy's corpse that a man in a grey robe approached her, dagger in hand. "Hello, m'lady art thou alright?" Dana couldn't seem to respond, she was almost to weak. "well, I see that thou art nearing thy demise. " he said tapping his blade on his palm." "I also can see that thy once was a beatiful maiden, but now thy body and face looks like the creature that thou hast just slain, methinks that I shalt do thee a favor and end thy misery." With his proclaim, Dana felt the world dissapear and the knife hit home.
---then nothing----
A voice from the nothingness. "Dana, thou hast been wronged, so I give thee a choice of returning to the world alive, but weaker than thou originally were, or thou canst return as a spirit, to walk the world unseen."
"I wish to live again! " Dana cried "I do not wish to be dead, I hath been horribly wronged."
the voice then said. "So be thy destiny."
Dana felt a pulling sensation as she returned to Britainia. When she came to, she saw the man who slain her looking through her backpack and putting her things into his. Dana tried to run at the man, but she was far too weak to move, and she was wearing nothing. She waited for the man to leave, then she slowly, cautously moved towards her pack, which she saw was still attached to her body. She then realized her situation. She had been given life in a new body. She looked upon her hands, they were clean and uncalloused, the skin was a smooth as a baby. Dana very much appreciated the powers that had given her new life. She then looked to her old corpse, the man was right, her body had been mutilated so much that did not not recognize her former self. She looked to see if the man had left any of her possessions in her pack. No, he had taken everything from her. Then she saw that her skinning knife was still protuding from the chest of the harpy that had mostly done her in. She pulled out the knife and proceeded to pluck some feathers from the beast. These feathers shall make some great feathers, she thought. She then saw that a grey robe was laying on the ground near the place that she had resurrected. Looking the the condition of her old dress disgusted her, pieces of her dress, and her arm hung dangling from the harpy's claws. Dana, then collected her pack, knife, robe, and feathers. She sat down on a nearby log and tried to carve herself a new bow and some arrows, but her skills were not as good as they were, and her bow and arrows weren't of exceptional quality, but they'll do for now.
She then, travelled back to Yew and checked in at a local Inn. Tommorrow, she thought, I'll find myself some friends to travel with me to Skara Brae. Then she drifted into a most comforatble dreamless sleep.

Brushes w/ being PK'ed (and why Notoriety is bogus) - Posted by Den Dragon October 18, 1997 at 8:50 PM EDT - Category: General

I got a good, long session in yesterday, on the Atlantic server, and had a couple of interesting experiences w/ PK's and Notoriety. I'll stick to the highlights :)...
On the road Northwest of Vesper, I noticed about 6 or 7 dead bodies (all bare, of course), along w/ a bunch of low Notoriety newbies standing around. I looked over the carnage w/ some mild curiosity and, itching for a fight, questioned a couple of Dread Lord Apprentices (I was only an Apprentice Swordsman, but a well-equipped and skilled one at that ;), establishing that they were, most likely, not the culprits. I headed North a bit more, and ran into a newly res'd Journeyman warrior who warned me of a PK Mage dressed in red robes. After giving him a spare metal shield, I decided to work back south a bit and see what I could find (again, I'm itchin' for a fight :). So, I'm struttin', lookin around and Tracking for humans, when I come upon a red-robed mage named 'Lord Larry' delivering a death-blow to a ring-clad warrior. I quickly jump into the fray and am attempting to swing my sword through this vile killer's torso, when I hear a magical phrase being uttered, and then freeze. I attempt to move: "You are paralyzed. You cannot move." AAGGH! So I'm held there, and the (Evil) Lord Larry is just standing over me, silently (looting his kill, I assume). I keep trying to move, but to no avail, and, hoping this guy has mercy on my sorry ass, let out a "dumdedum" due to boredom... After a few seconds of being paralyzed, he lightening bolts me-- BWAMO 1/5 of my health left (I may be a skilled Apprentice, but not skilled in Resisting Spells, which, at that time was at 0%... "Dumdedum" indeed. :P ), he then casts some other spell and it fizzles, leaving me w/ my fingers crossed and tossing insults at him :).
"Thou art but a knave!", I spit at him. I watch, in silence, as he prepares an incantation that I knew would surely bring about the end of me. Then, as I stand frozen, almost devoid of life, I hear footsteps nearby, to the North. Salvation! "Help!", I call out, "An evil mage hath paralyzed me". I hear running, and then a group of adventurers enters the clearing where I have been held against my will. Just as quickly as I they arrive, Lord Larry is off into the woods. (It's interesting to note that half of the group that 'saved' me were of Dastardly or Dishonorable status. Also interesting to note is the fact that a group of 4-5 medium-skilled warriors were unwilling to take on one Expert mage, for fear of being "fried" :P ).
Having barely escaped w/ my life, I headed back to Vesper in order to stock up on Heal Potions and train my Magic Resistance. I got my Magic Resistance up to just under 30, and bought 5 Potions that an Alchemist claimed were of the Greater variety (it turns out that he was a fraud; the potions healed maybe 6 HP a pop :( ). After healing and stocking up a bit, I headed back out on my journey to Covetous. I decided to take the road that passes thru Minoc, after having, uhm, my 'previous difficulties' w/ the more direct route. :) I passed North and thru Minoc w/out incident, encountering a few hide-bearing fauna and crafting gorgets from their remains. After Minoc, I headed SW towards that mountain range which is connected to Covetous. Near the mountains, just beyond the protective boundaries of Lord British's domain, I encountered a Wandering Healer, who, upon checking the name, appeared to have a negative notoriety (the name was red). I quickly dispatched the healer, ridding the world once and for all of that scum (???). Shaking my head in bewilderment, I ventured onward.
I decided to stop by a player-built forge ("So-and-So's House of Makin' Shit"-- not the exact title, but it was damned funny :), and see if anyone there would be able to assist me in repairing my weapons and armour. There was a Master Smith there, and he was kind enough to repair all of my EQ for 50 GP. I donned my armour and sword once again, noticing that my AR went up a point (yay :), and headed back out into the wilderness. Eventually, after many a player-built house/forge ('tis amazing how NPC's congregate around those things), I reached the entrance to Covetous. Standing just below the entrance were three highly-skilled warriors discussing a subject of, seemingly, some importance. After inquiring about the situation, I discovered that there was a group of PK'ers camping out at the Crossroads nearby to the South. I thanked them for the info. and headed towards the entrance. I dispatched an Ettin that was harassing a couple of newbies outside of the cave opening and entered the dungeon...
Apparently I had arrived just after a respawn... About half of the first level was cleared, and I encountered many a wounded warrior as I wound my way through the first pillars of fire. After rounding a corner, I witnessed a well-armoured warrior assaulting another fighter who was down to below half-health. The wounded fighter kept screaming that it was not his fault, that it was a bug, he had done nothing to deserve the title of 'Evil Lord'. The attacker then stopped and said, "Then give me your gold." The other fellow agreed and pleaded for him to stop attacking. The attacker (Dastardly, BTW) kept at him, chasing the wounded man round and round, demanding his gold. I, disgusted by this, unsheathed my blade and laid into the offender. Every time that he swung at the fighter, I whapped him one-- He, never saying one word to me, eventually laid off. I wandered deeper into the dungeon, wondering how one could so easily let honour act as a thin guise for greed.
The monsters were plentiful that trip, and I and a group of fellow adventurers had a grand time exterminating them. During one battle, however, I accidentally struck a Great Lord and dropped from 'Honorable' to Neutral. My potions did not last long (damned Alchemist! :), and my companions were unable to help after a while (I had no more garlic), so I headed back out of the dungeon, content in the skill/stat points that I had gained (I even gained a pt. of STR! ;). One of the companions that I had met inside the dungeon and I decided that we would head back to Vesper in order to unload/restock. Outside of the entrance to Covetous I told him about the PK'ers at the Crossroads that I'd heard about earlier. He mentioned that he may, in fact, know them; that they may very well be friends of a friend of his. A Dastardly GM Mage wandered by and was very interested to hear of the PK'ers, after a "Farewell" he ran down the road. We followed, at a slower pace, and neared the Crossroads.
The sounds of a battle grew loader as we drew nearer, and we stopped short at seeing many heavily armed Master+ players killing eachother. Bodies were everywhere, and weapons, reagents and armour were scattered about in great abundance. We hovered near the edges of the fray and backed up, but my friend was overloaded from his gatherings and had to take some time to drop some of his findings. We exited to the SW a little, and, after a bit, my companion beckoned me to come forward, for he thought he knew some of the participants. The battle was over shortly and the group of victorious players gathered just above the site of the carnage, oblivious to the loot lying around. I never was able to determine who had won the battle-- the I assume the PK's had been vanquished, for I saw the GM Mage that I had met earlier standing victorious along w/ multiple other GM's and Masters (but, then again, my companion seemed to know one of the victors, who asked if I was a friend of his, so who knows). They all had low notoriety, and one of them, complaining about this, had one of the mage's there summon a Fire Elemental for him to kill. :P At the victors' behest, I picked up a good portion of the loot before the newbie vultures moved in on it (bone helms, magic weapons, plate armour, reagents, wands, etc.). Beckoning my companion farewell, I continued on my way to Vesper.
After selling off that which I was not going to use, I discovered that Vesper's mage was missing (most likely slain due to an NPC notoriety bug), so I moongated over to Vesper to pick up some lower level spells that I was missing (like Heal :). On the way to the Magic Shoppe in Britain, I encountered a rat. Clicking on it, I discovered that it was not tamed and had a name in red (of course), so I dispatched it, hoping to raise my Notoriety a bit. A Guard fucking killed me. >:( I quickly ghosted over to a healer (as the System Save message came up), and returned to my corpse... Well, at least my Heater was still there. :( A Ranger was hanging out at the corner where I died, and I hoped that he'd grabbed some of my belongings... I asked if there was anything left-- he just walked away. Disheartened, I logged out.
When I logged back in, I found that the server had reset back to the last save-- the exact moment after I had died. I didn't even have my shield.
Epilogue: Torrin "Ravensblood" Lockeseide wandered over the first bridge past the Ironwood Inn into the seaport city of Vesper, his bootheels thumping dully on its sodden planks. He paused briefly to look out over the coast, gazing at the far-away lights twinkling along a coastline in the distance of the iron-gray sky. He frowned slightly, remembering his death in that city, and shuddered. Hearing a slight clinking noise to his left, he glanced over and saw a large man outfitted in heavy metal and fine cloth kneeling before a sodden beggar, as if paying fealty to a Lord. Torrin approached carefully, the dull thump of his boots on wood turning into a sharp clicking as he crossed the cobblestones between himself and the unlikely pair that he saw before him. The man draped in finery was literally pouring gold into the poverty-stricken man's hands. The grimy beggar looked up graciously, a light glinting in his eyes.
Torrin the Ravensblood looked down at his own newly-purchased armour, magically protected from the moisture around him, and his face grew humble. He too kneeled next to his peer, and emptied his purse into the hands of the poor man. Standing from his crouch, his armour creaking, Torrin looked down at the armoured man beside him. Their eyes me for an instant, and locked in understanding.
"Damned Notoriety", he muttered.
-- Den Dragon (Thanx fer listening! :)

some chit-chat, some role playing advice - Posted by Elawyn of Yew, or rather, her player. October 19, 1997 at 3:41 PM EDT - Category: Rant

Elawyn won't be seen for a day or two, my computer died. THought is was a bad video card, so I threw a brand spaking new Matrox Mystique in there, still won't frackin boot. My best guess is a cracked track on the back of the motherboard, since all the components, the drives, and the cards and memory work with my old 486 system. That's going to take a day or two to replace. No local stores out in the boonies here. (and the 486-66 is nowhere near fast enough to play UO with). As I just got told I'm getting a bonus from work, I'll buy a new barebones system and throw the stuff in there. (Old one is a minitower, and my fat fingers have problems working in such a small space.) That will be sometime Monday...
Until then, here's some comments on ROLE playing, based upon the Elawyn meets Xavori incident from Friday night-Saturday morning.
1. Please do not email me, tell me in the chat zone, or have your character run up to mine in UO and tell me "Hey, Xavori is an evil swine, did you read his stuff on the chatzone, keep Elawyn away from him.". I know this. My character dost NOT.
2. Xavori could EASILY have asked around Trinsic, for plenty of folks know Elawyn, she's kind, generous, and likes to play silly games in the tavern. As it was, I *TOLD* him where I could be found.
3. I, personally, do not know the player who plays Xavori, I know only that he (I guess that from somecomments he posted a while back), I do *know* that he playes extremely well, I've seen him in action, I laughed so hard the beer almost came out of my nose. *I*, the player, am not a sweet young generous charitable, naieve goody two shoes. I'm an ex soldier, ex biker, martial artist, who truly enjoys role playing.
4. If, IN THE GAME, as your character, you have personal knoweldge of Xavori, AND, in the game, you talk to Elawyn, and the subject comes up, then that might be acceptable.
5. *I*, the person, am NOT in competition with Xavori, neither is he in competition with me. We are ROLE playing. and hopefully he enjoyed his encounter as much as I did. I have great admiration for his skills and playing ability, and do not feel threatened or intimidated by his attentions. He plays his character far far better than most, certainly better than I play mine. The poin is the long term interaction, it's not trying to beat each other.
-------------------
So, there you have it, stop sending me email warning me about him, it's spoiling MY fun.
---------------
And the role playing lesson, Yah, Elawyn got slapped down by a guard for nothing but a simple bug in the game. A combination of hitting the bulletin board in the tavern, and double-clicking on Xavori. Just like the funky double click on a wisp, then click the resulting target cursor on a player. ZAP...
Both Xavori and I ROLE played the result, it helped him with his character (Hey, here's another example of the injustice of the system), and I played the poor sweet young innocent who had never been killed before. That experience has changed Elawyn the character, but I, the person, shrugged and said, what the heck, let's play it. The results were a reward, hopefully for Xavori as well as I.
If Xavori plays well, he can change Elawyn the character, and possibly vice versa. Neither of us know the others true selves, nor their true intentions. We, as players, DO know the characters, but as characters, we do not KNOW everything about each other.
For this is the role playing way. To interact, to develop the character, and, above all, to have a blast doing it.
(I threw the old video card in my step-son's computer, so he's going to be playing just as soon as I get off of here. I'm going to take a well earned rest, drink a few beers, relax, watch some tv, smoke a couple of good cigars. See ya all tomorrow!)

Elawyn learns temptation.(story, long txt) - Posted by Elawyn of Yew October 24, 1997 at 9:34 AM EDT - Category: Adventure Stories

Elawyn of Yew, no longer 'Noble Lady', merely 'Noble', awoke from her long sleep in her room at the inn, her fingers were still sore from staying up late into the night sewing the great rent in her favorite dress that had been put there by a crazed guard, and her hands felt soft, for she had spent much time cleaning her own blood from her possessions.
With her heart heavy she spent a few moments time to re-arrange her things, those few little things that she held precious, the tools of her trades, which her new friend Xavori had managed to save for her. She put the necklace her had given her and checked her appearance in the mirror. The necklace distracted the eye from the tired, worn and distracted look in her eyes.
She strolled to the tailor shop, not really taking much notice of her surroundings, for she was tired, so very tired. As usual, the tailor shop was busy, full of novice tailors dressed in chain armor, Elawyn found this amusing, for what need did it serve?. She awaited her turn to speak to the good tailor and finally got his attention, "Elawyn!" He quoth, "What can I do for thee today?", Elawyn sighed, "perhaps I might sell thee a little something today good tailor?".
To her pleasant surprise, the tailor bought three skullcaps that Elawyn had made a week past, none of them were the famous 'Skullcap of Orm', but should she feel like repeating that jest on someone, she knew she could make more. Elawyn bought some cloth too, for perhaps she might be able to make a little money to replace the reagents she had lost. She left the shop and found a quiet place to stand, where none could disturb her, and quickly sewed a couple of dresses and a skullcap.
Returning to the tailor, she was pleased that he liked the dreses and bought them, and the skullcaps too. So she bought more cloth, and sold two more shirts, and then the tailor did cry enough!
She walked to her good friend the furtrader, and they spoke for a little while, and she bought a goodly amount of hides, far far more than she could carry, so she sat, and made armor. and when she was done, she asked the tanner if she might sell some armor, and he said he would, and Elawyn began to think that this might be a day when fortune would smile upon her, she showed the tanner all that she had made, but he had only enough gold to buy one tunic.
So Elawyn walked to the provisioners, for the good lady there had sometimes bought a few leather items, and upon entering the store, Elawyn did pause a moment, for there were many people in here, and it was sometimes difficult to see. Elawyn espied a young rogue, dressed like a shopkeeper, moving amongst the crowd, and made a note of her name, "Little Nikki", and then Elawyn did manage to sell some gloves, and some leather pouches, and even a pair of leather leggings. This was a better day than she had had in a long while. So she ran to the bank, and deposited half of her gold, that there would be enough to replace her tools should she be slain again.
Twice more did Elawyn go to the tailor shop, but he had no need of the few things she had not sold, and twice more did she buy hides and leather from the furtrader and the tanner, and sell it to the provisioner. With her heart still heavy, she did not tarry long to talk to anyone, but she did see "Little Nikki" twice more. In the tailor shop, "Little Nikki" did try her lockpick, and the tailor didst espy her, and the inevitable death did occur. Elawyn sighed at this, and picked up the lockpick that "Little Nikki" had dropped.
Shortly thereafter, Elawyn did enter the tanner shop, and she didst espy a body on the ground, it was "Little Nikki" again, Elawyn did buy and sew and sell again, and while she stood there, "Little Nikki" did run in through the door and did start grabbing the things remaining on her previous body. Elawyn handed her the lockpick, and quoth, "You dropped this earlier this day".
"Thanks"
"Thou art having a sad day I see" replied Elawyn.
"it's hard to practice my skills here" said Little Nikki.
Elawyn felt her heart go out to this child, for it was obvious that no-one had prepared her for the life she had chosen, Elawyn looked closely at Little Nikki, and did see that she was strong, but not so smart, and barely able to stand upright. and Elawyn did think to herself "I was like that once, 'tis time to forget my troubles".
and so Elawyn didst explain the way of the world to Little Nikki, in that picking locks in town would avail her little, that with the title of 'rogue', all would shun her for they feared her, that a truly skilled locksmith was an asset in a dungeon, and Elawyn did suggest that Little Nikki take up fishing, and practice it a while, for it would help her to run fast, a skill that would be useful in the future. and Little Nikki agreed but said that her gold had been lost and she could not afford to buy a fishing pole.
and so Elawyn did give her a fishing pole, and did ask that she pass it to another in the future.
bidding Little Nikki fare well, Elawyn walked through the city, heading towards the mage shop, and as she walked, her heart grew heavy again, and she didst wonder if she would ever see that her efforts to teach people how to survive on their own, without having to wait for the castoffs and discards of the nobles that simply threw things on the ground. Her heart was so heavy, and her thoughts so confused, that when a demon or perhaps a gargoyle, she knew not the difference, did appear from within the magic shop and fly towards her, she didn't think about it, she just walked into it, and shoved it out of the way.
then she turned, to see what manner of creature this was, but it was gone. She sighed, this was a sad time, when her thoughts were such that the appearance of such a creature, right in front of her, could not break through the sadness.
She entered the magic shop, which was usually a futile trip for Elawyn, for the mage had no new spells to sell, and hardly ever any reagents. Elawyn did greet him and ask if he had aught new she might buy. and lo, some new scrolls, and a few reagents too. and Elawyn did bid him a fair day, and did talk to the herbalist, and did buy more reagents. and she did go find a quiet place to stand, that she might copy these new spells into her spell book and collect her reagents together. Alas, neither the mage nor the herbalist did have any spidersilk, and Elawyn grew sad again, for she remembered her home, the deep woods of Yew, where spidersilk would lay upon the ground, sometimes carpeting it like snow. and she wondered if going back to Yew, and collecting spidersilk, and bringing it back to Trinsic might be a goodly way to finance her studies.
and so went the day, and Elawyn did sleep, and awake the next, her heart still heavy, but her hopes a little brighter, and she did make a little more gold from toil, and she did have a long conversation with another newcomer, and did hear him learn to speak the city tongue as they spoke, and she did feel happier.
then later, she didst espy a mage in a colorful costume, hight 'The Mystical Bubba', of whom she had heard, and she did greet him as he passed and didst wish him a fair days travelling, and she didst espy another mage, one skilled indeed, but she knew him not. Her heart did grow a little brighter, for now she had seen a Grandmaster mage, and she knew that with hard work, it just might be possible for her to reach that status one day.
So she returned to the mage shop, but still no spidersilk, and a young mage in there, clad in red, did ask her if she had any scrolls for sale, and she did look at him, and did see "The evil lord somesuch, novice mage", she does not recall his name, for he impressed her very little, and Elawyn did ask which scrolls her was looking for, and he said any, for they will not sell to me.
and Elawyn looked in her pouch, and found a 'Create Food' scroll, and did offer him this scroll in exchange for 3 spidersilk. and he did reply "I want more than just a scroll for 3 spidersilk", and Elawyn didst say "'tis all I can trade thee, for I have little else of value to thee" and he did reply "Child!, I want that grey robe" and Elawyn did then realise why this mage had an evil reputation, for he was snooping in her pack as they did speak, so she did say "Get thy prying eyes away from my backpack!" and he did reply "it makes the trading easier" and then he did say "Child, I WANT that robe!"
and Elawyn's heart did grow heavy again, could not this fool not see she was no longer a child? "I fear that thou should seek a healer, for thy eyes are weak" she exclaimed, and "This is my deathrobe, I keep it as a reminder of my death" she said. After a few moments the mage did agree on the trade of 3 spidersilk for the scroll. and Elawyn did leave, for the emotions she was feeling were not gentle, nor kind, she felt temptation wash over her like the tide upon the beach, could she not take this fool outside and slay him, and thus regain her title of "Noble Lady"? For she could tell this fool she kept her scrolls hidden, and he would follow, and she would have him.
She weeped as she walked, such temptation, she was ashamed to feel it, and she felt pity for that fool, for he would not last long. And she feared that she had not the patience nor the time to try to show him the mistakes he had made, she continued to walk, ashamed, but glad that she had resisted.
A young warrior passed her, running the other way, and he paused, and Elawyn glanced at him, and saw a novice warrior, with a strange name "Johnny Mafia", she knew not why these names sounded so strange, so she continued to walk, behind her she saw the warrior turn and run after her, she continued to walk, the warrior continued to run, and she walked, and he ran, and he could not run fast enough to catch her, and she thought of playing "TAG!" with him, but it would be no fun, for he was slow. She slowed a little, wondering if this young warrior might be crazed like the mage who had attacked her last week, or the warrior who had tried the same thing the week before that. She readied herself to say "Put away thy weapon fool!" and he did cry out "Noble one! Noble one! Wait a moment!" and Elawyn wondered who he was talking to, for she was not feeling noble today, not with the thoughts of temptation to the easy path still in her mind.
"Art thou addressing me?" she asked as he got closer.
"Yes Noble one! Can you teach me?" he cried.
"I can teach thee of many things, what do you wish to learn?" she asked.
"I want to be great like thee!" he said.
*Elawyn blushed*
"I can tell thee how to practice and learn, if thee will listen" she said ,and "but I cannot make you stronger, or faster".
As they spoke, Elawyn did look closely , this young warrior was not very strong, and could hardly stand upright.
Another Ranger, hight "Iceman" did join in the conversation, and together Elawyn and Iceman did patiently explain that there were many roads to follow, and didst explain something of how to learn. And as they talked, two more stood politely nearby, listening and learning. and this young warrior hight "Johnny Mafia" did exclaim
"How can I be strong? How can I be fast? How can I be smarter?" and he was most humble, and did ask many questions, and as Elawyn and Iceman did explain things, they did play at hide and seek, which amused young Johnny Mafia greatly.
Elawyn did ask "what do you want to be in this world?" and Johnny Mafia did reply "I want to learn adeptness, I want to be great and noble like thee and thy companion" and Elawyn did giggle and reply "Thou art already well on the way to becoming an adept sycophant, perhaps thee should travel to Britain, to the great castles, where such skills are in demand". Alas poor Johnny Mafia did not know the word 'sycophant', and Elawyn's joke was too subtle for him, Iceman did laugh tho.
So Elawyn told Johnny how to improve, and did give him a fishing rod, and did make him promise to pass it onto another when done, and to take the time to look around him and learn by doing, and to not forget that there are the poor and the hungry common folk all around, and that just giving them things, or gold, would not help them, but that when he grew strong and mighty, he should take a little time to help show the weak and the poor how they might make their way in life.
and Elawyn did take her leave then, pausing only to discover Iceman, hidden nearby, and gleefully call out "I can see thee!!". She went fishing again, and didst have two more people ask her if she was an 'en-pee-cee', and another ask "I'm new here! How long have you been here?" and she did reply "All my life, save for my childhood in Yew", and he did say a word she knew not, "touche", but soon, he did understand her meaning, and did try to be himself in this world.
Finally, wearily, Elawyn went back to her room in the inn. Where she thanked the virtues for helping her resist temptation. and her heart did lift a little, for she had, perhaps, taught several people enough about the world that they might survive, if not prosper, and she did look in her spellbook, and feel glad that she had added to it, and that she had improved herself this day.

I finally have a ship I can keep... - Posted by Xavori (dtn80063.gte.net) October 24, 1997 at 6:24 AM EDT - Category: General

I had strolled back to Trinsic for another visit (something about the complete lack of intelligence found in the inhabitants keeps drawing me back.). Not really having anything better to do, I meandered down to the docks. There were a couple people fishing, so to blend in, I put on a floppy hat, brown pants, blue shirt, and equipped my fishing pole. I then start fishing. I seem to lack the special touch that makes fishes jump up at my feet, but I did look convincing. So much so, that the fisherman seemed to overlook me "fishing" in their backpacks. I kept this up for a few a little while, giving what few fish I did catch to passing peasants in order to keep in the good graces of the populace. Then, my project showed up, a very young ranger whom the commoners didn't seem to like named Stompy.
"Do you want to buy a boat?" asked the ranger.
"Nay, milord." I replied.
He started back down the docks from where he came, asking several other fisherman if they wanted a boat. However, since he was asking 2000gp, and none of the fisher folk could afford it, they all declined. I followed close behind.
He finally came to the end of the dock and I saw him unlock his boat and open the gangplank. With a sudden leap, I beat him aboard and ran to his hold. Opening it, I grabbed everything without even looking.
"Hey, get of my boat and give me back my stuff," huffed Stompy.
"I think not," I replied casually.
Stompy seemed particularly flustered by my cavalier attitude and paced around. Finally, he jumped to another boat, and I followed him.
"GET OFF MY BOAT!" he screamed.
I yawned and smiled at him, shaking my head.
"IF YOU DON'T, I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!" he yelled even louder.
Now we were getting somewhere: death threats from a wet-behind-the-ear knave. I do so enjoy bringing people so much angst their mouths outrun their minds.
I strolled back to the tiller man. I quickly changed out of my fisherman's garb and into my normal black plate mail. I put the tines of my warfork around the tiller man's neck and order him out to sea. Surprisingly, he obeyed without question.
"GET OFF! GET OFF! GET OFF!" Stompy bawled as he paced around the ship.
I merely glanced at him and said, "Nay, thou cannot do harm me. Besides, this is my boat."
"NO IT ISN'T. IT'S MINE."
Obviously, no one has ever bothered explaining to Stompy the concept of boat ownership versus mere survival, and being a helpful type, I took it upon myself to explain.
"The boat is mine. However, if thou drops all thy gold, I shall sell it to thee. Else, I shall be forced to kill thee as a stowaway."
"Are you a NPC?" he asked.
I just stared at him completely in shock. It has been my experience than when a would-be hero calls someone a "NPC" he means a commoner like the shopkeepers and peasants who inhabit the land. I was once a commoner, but that was well behind me, and I take great offense at being referred to as such now, especially by those who are far beneath the commoners in intelligence. (besides which, can you imagine the AI needed to pull of a scam like the one I was in the middle of while carrying on a proper conversation?)
"I do not understand, milord," I replied, mimicking the peasants. Then I smiled at him.
"Drop thy gold, or shall drop thee," I ordered.
"If you don't get off my boat, I'm going to call a GM," he blubbered.
First, he calls me a peasant. Now he says he's going to pray for divine intervention. This was just too much.
I killed him.
I quickly dug through his belongings and grabbed what little gold and reagents he had. While searching for anything else that might be valuable, I found the key to his boat. I then stashed the remainder of his belongings in the hold. After a few moments, he resurrected.
The smart thing to do would be to kill him again. However, I usually disdain killing, especially when the victim is as weak and foolish as this whelp. He ran over to the tillerman and had him set a course back to Trinsic. I went to the tillerman and order him out farther to sea. The tillerman for some unknown reason seemed to prefer Stompy's orders to mine. Stompy and I kept giving conflicting orders to the poor confused tillerman. However, because I had to order two or three times to Stompy's once, we ended up back in Trinsic.
"Give me my stuff, back," he demanded.
I realize he was dead, but even still, he had to have seen me stash everything in the hold. Maybe he just thought everything I put in there was mine, and I was holding all his belongings still.
"Nay, I do not think thou art in a position to demand anything."
"So what," he replied. "I want my stuff back."
I thought for a moment. I really did not want to go through the mess with arguing over the tillerman, so I came up with a hasty plan.
"Take me to Buccaneer's Den, and I shall return thy goods."
"No, give me back my stuff, and you can have the boat," he replied.
"I do not want this boat. I wish to be taken to Buccaneer's Den"
This was true. I didn't want this boat; I wanted his boat that I had the key for.
"Give me my stuff back."
I will say this for him, he was persistent.
"I will plot the course on my map and give it to thee so thou can have the tillerman take us to the Den. It is not a long journey, and once we are there, you can take the boat and I shall give thee back thy equipment."
"Is it far?" he asked.
"Nay. 'Tis not far at all," I said, happy that he seemed to be taking the bait.
"Okay, give me the map."
I win.
I plotted the course and handed him the map. I then moved away from him so he wouldn't be quite so nervous. He looked at the map, and then handed it to the tillerman. With a word from Stompy, we were off.
"Why do you talk like that?" he asked.
I almost killed him again, but restrained myself since we were still in town and in the jurisdiction of the tyrant British's murderers.
"I do not understand, milord. Doth my speech vex thee?"
"I don't get it."
"'Tis how I was raised to speak, sirrah," I replied with pure disdain.
I waited a few moments till I was sure we were in open waters. Then I casually walked up to him and stuck the tines of my fork into his foolish heart. I then turned the boat back to Trinsic.
After a few moments, I arrived safe and sound. I quickly checked my key against all the locks on the various ships at the docks. Finally, I found the boat that was now completely mine. I walked up to the hold and grabbed everything from my borrowed ship and jumped with it over to my new ship. I cast magically enhanced my strength enough to walk with the heavy load to the new hold and stashed everything away. Then I locked my ship and went ashore to rest.

My day of glory and disappointment - Bloodmoon 10-08-98
    Hail all! Last night I began thinking what a relatively weak man I am, I mean I see others wearing full plate, yet I could not. I
started thinking that my swordmanship skills were very low and that perhaps if I whacked on a training dummy for awhile then
maybe I could build up my muscles that way. After hitting that dummy with all my might for awhile, I felt much stronger! I went
to my home and opened a chest, a chest filled with a full set of plate armor that my friend, Sjofna, had given me for my birthday
way back in February. I tried on the chest plate, woohoo!, I could wear it and the leggings too! I was pleased with myself. :) Also while whacking that boring dummy, I started thinking that I was becoming quite the mage. I had yet to cast an eighth circle scroll. When I would become exhausted from hitting the dummy, I tried to cast the Summon Water Elemental spell. After five attempts, I succeeded! In fact, I went on to cast that spell six more times while hitting the dummy. I thought to myself, What a night?! I can now wear plate and cast eighth circle spells. Things I have never been able to do in the past year of being in this world.
Getting ready at the bank to go hunting with my new found powers, a friend of mine and of the tBA's spotted me, Ishmael.
We decided to go to the Fire Elemental room in Covetous. Things went well there and we came out a little bit richer. It was late
in the night and Ishmael said he needed to retire. I was still pumped from the earlier night's happenings and decided to go out
hunting on my own. I recalled to a spot west of Shame I believe and immediately spotted a gazer. He gave me a pretty good fight,
he was throwing magic at me left and right. I was victorius. I wanted more! I'm powerful now, wearing my full set of plate!
Don't mess with me! :) I walked a short distance to the west and took my time killing a weak ratman. I then walked a little more
to the west near the coast and spotted another man. This man uttered the words "An Ex Por", I was frozen! I had no quarrel
with this man, why does he do this to me? Then he said "Vas Ort Flam" very quickly three times! I saw the light. Indeed I was
dead. My spirit spied this evil man taking all my things - 35 of each reagent, set of plate, over a hundred bolts, about nine
greater heal potions and a magic heavy crossbow. He did however leave me my rune back to Ocllo and my recall scroll. There was
a healer very close by, this man, Asmodean, recalled away and I drifted over to the healer and he brought me make to my corporial
form. I recalled back to Ocllo and quickly retired. I thought, I have had quite an evening! :)