Recently that decrepit and senile mage Tiye mentioned on the board that someone should write a history of the world. While I am not a bard, I do
have some pretensions(delusions) of writing ability, so I thought I'd give it a shot Please remember that this is a personal view of what happened during my time on the Edge. I can not be logged on all the time, or be everywhere at once, so of course some things will be missing. If you see any mistakes here, or you would like to contribute your version of events, and you too have delusions of writing ability, please feel free to submit them to me. I hope this History will not just be my work, but become a collective account from all the citizens Dorrak.

I first heard of something called "MUDS" in the winter of 1994. I was attending university and one of my profs mentioned them while explaining the internet (we had to use the internet to gather information for a project). This was my first introduction to the net, but at this time I didn't use it for anything more than e-mail and newgroups. The next year I while sitting around at home I started using my Dad's computer to access a local freenet that had just been established. It was during this time that I discovered muds for myself. Using Doran's mudlist I checked out a few different muds, and then I found the Edge. And after a few false starts... It was during the Month of Ancient Darkness, in the year 91 of the Age of Darkness. On the isle of Menel, a elven youth came of age, and Pendragon the Ranger was born. (March 1995 for the uninitiated) This is the story of his life and the history of the world of Doraak as seen through his eyes.

The world into which Pendragon was born was not so different from the one in which we live today. New places have been discovered by brave explorers since then, and others have been lost to the ravages of time. Many people claim that the player killing and thieving has gotten out of hand, but I remember reading on the board very early in my life a diatribe by Morga against thieves and more specifically against Slimer who had stolen a sword from him. I also remember a being by the name of Genesis, who caused much havoc during his reign of terror. I am perhaps getting ahead of myself though. Like most adveturers, Pendragon began his new career at the age of seventeen. New to the world outside his previous home, he was more than a little unsure of himself, and how to proceed.

It was about the time of Pendragon's arrival in this world that a new plane known as the Abyss was found by some brave explorers. However since he was still very young at this point Pendragon had no personal experience with it at this time, so more details on it will have to wait for later in the History.

One of the first people to assist Pendragon on his journeys was a dark elf by the name of Jakari. Recently the Immortals of the Edge had announced that players would be encouraged to form associations amonst themselves, these guilds as they were to be called, once they met certain provisons would be provided with a guildhouse and certain other benefits. Jakari and several other like minded elves banded together to create what was perhaps one of the most fearsome organizations known in the history of the world, the Drow. At the time of their first meeting Pendragon was still very young and being new to the world was unsure of himself. He declined Jakari's invitation to join with his fellows, deciding that he wanted to make his own way in the world before coming under the influence of others. Despite being rebuffed, Jakari was still very helpful to the young ranger and gave him much valued assistance in the first few months of his new life.

After his encounter with Jakari, Pendragon wandered the world looking for adventure and experience. Along the way he encountered many different people, Song, Cap, Vegas, Umfgard and others were among the first people that he came to know. Life seemed to be going fairly smoothly for Pendragon when thebeing know as Genesis began his campaign of terror. Genesis was a drow elf of the druid profession. While his soul was black as night, even the Drow guild would have nothing to do with Genesis, he was too chaotic even for them. One of Genesis' favorite passtimes was to use the fury spell to enrage peaceful mobs to an agressive state in which they would attack everything they could see. (The fury spell was changed because of Genesis' use of it, it now causes mobs to beunable to flee instead of become agreesive) Pendragon himself became a victim of this ploy while returning home from visiting the Sylvanian elves, running into an enraged archer who proceeded to nicely chop our ranger friend into little bits. Genesis' reign, like all others since, did not last long, eventually the other mortals in the world, and eventually even the gods were set against him and his soul parted this world.

Throughout the summer Pendragon wandered the realms, growing in statue and experience. Early on during the summer he encountered another young adventurer by the name of Heinreich. Soon they became good friends and along with a bard by the name of Mojo, spent many hours together wandering the realms. Many changes were made that summer, the gods changed many of the rules by which the various professions are governed. Some changes were met with approval, while others were met with loud complaints, but for the most part the various professions were now fairly equal in stature.

As Pendragon matured several new regions of the world were found. In the desert, a secret Order was founded, supposedly to promote good, but some think there may be a secret purpose to it. Pendragon was lucky enough to be the first person to discover the stronghold of the Order of Faith, and unlucky enough to very shortly become the first to die there as well. Fortunately death is a fleeting experience and he was soon back on his feet. At the far end of the world, an considerably diferent in temperature a lighthouse was built on the frozen shores of the arctic isle. This proved to be a boon for ships making the journey from Kaghnot, but many a hardy adventurer fell to the strange creatures which had made the lighthouse home.

(At this point I must admit that the memories have become a little bit fuzzy of what happened that summer. I can't remember any other signifigent events. If you can, please let me know and I'll include them.)

By the end of the summer Pendragon had finally achieved that ultimate goal of the ranger, to become a Lord of the Land. Becoming a Lord however didn't make life any easier, it just means the adventures become more dangerous, but the rewards can be most satisfying. It was at this time that Pendragon also chose to take service with a new master. After careful consideration he chose to follow the Vampire Lord Valorin. Valorin was a mage in ancient times who ran afoul of a powerful demon, and during their battle was transformed into a vampire. His only purpose became to destroy the demon lord who had cursed him, and to seek out the components needed for the ultimate spell, the spell of transformigation. Those who chose to follow him were to seek out the components for the spell, and at all times to destroy demons whereever they could be found. Upon completion of several quests Pendragon was awarded Valorin's symbol, as well as his most prized possesion, the helm of shadows. After many adventures Pendragon decided it was time for a holiday, an so he retired to his home on Menel for some fun and relaxation in the sun.

(That fall I moved, so there was gap of a couple months from the end of
August to early October in 1995. If you know of any happenings during that
time let me know.)

Of course after a while the elvish Isle can become quite boring. A Lord
like Pendragon can't even visit the Sylvanian maidens for company with
Mordred being such a prude about such things. So after a few months Pendragon picked up his weapons and once again set out looking for adventure.

Once again joining with Heinreich, Pendragon wandered the world looking for fun and excitement. Soon Pendragon also joined with some others to form a new guild. With Svet, Deth and others the Pack of the Grey Eyed Wolf was formed. At the time there were several other guilds in existance, the Drow, Dragonlords, Blackguard and the Torl Chamber of Commerce all provided their members with various services. It was not long after the Pack was formed that more discoveries were made. To the north of the gypsy camp in the rolling hills is a dark forest, and recently a party of rogues had decided to make it home. While trying to expel the thieves a secret tower was discovered, and Ryel'tek who had been thought dead for many years was found to be living there and still conducting his experiments. Around this time a coven of vampires was discovered to be hiding in the northern forests of Menel. While they were vampires, they were in no way connected to Valorin, in fact they were beings of immense evil, who were soon rooted out and destroyed. Also during this time an entire community of pixies was discovered living under a farm!

 

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