Volume Eleven Issue Seventeen

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 .............._______
 ............./      /            THE LEGENDARY TIMES
 ............/      /         http://www.legendmud.org/
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 ....../      /_____/__/__../  \_\  /./  /__../  /.../  /./  /_/  /
 ...../ Celebrating    / /./       /./     /./  /.../  /./       /
 ..../ our 10th year  /_/..\______/./_____/./__/.../__/./_______/ MUD
 .../________________/      running on         mud.legendmud.org 9999
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
 VOLUME ELEVEN, NUMBER SEVENTEEN                    October 10, 2004
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                         TABLE OF CONTENTS
                         The Editor's Note

                       NEWS, REPORTS, UPDATES
                         Calendar of Events
                           Recent Updates

                            LEGENDITES
                  LegendMEET: California Style
             Stranger No More, But An Agent of Vengeance
                             
                             CLAN NEWS
             Intempesta Nox Celebrates 5th Anniversary
             Knights of Legend Celebrate 5th Anniversary
            The Seeker: Church of Epicurean Enlightenment

                             PK Front
                    Horror's Battlefield News
                        Meet The Grendels

                  Hell Tourism Commission Report
                    The Other Side of the Coin
                     The Creature in the Mound

                      A Word from Our Sponsor
___                                                               ___
\  |-------------------------------------------------------------|  /
/__|                      The Editor's Note                      |__\
   '-------------------------------------------------------------'

In the interest of raising LegendMUD's visibility on The MUD
Connector and TopMudSites.com, we'd like to invite everyone to vote
for LegendMUD! After a few days, we've already seen results with
those of you who have already been casting your votes and we'd like
to say thanks!

When I checked earlier today, LegendMUD was ranked 56 out of 1424
muds listed there. To cast your vote visit (allowed 1 vote/12 hours):

     Click Here

On the MudConnector, where they also incorporate telnet and website
connections from their site to ours, we were ranked 369 out of 1726
muds listed there. TMC is more strict about their voting and you can
only vote there once a day, but just searching for LegendMUD and then
surfing to our website or connecting from there every once in a while
will help boost our profile as well. To cast your vote on TMC visit:

     Click Here

By visiting these sites and voting for LegendMUD on a daily or weekly
basis, you can help other mud players discover this great place. 

If you'd like to submit a review of LegendMUD on TMC, you can point
your browsers to: 

     Click Here

Please be nice to any newbies you meet, we were all once clueless and
lost too. ;)

Have a great week,

-Kaige
___                                                               ___
\  |-------------------------------------------------------------|  /
/__|                LegendMUD Calendar of Events                 |__\
   '-------------------------------------------------------------'
       [All times are system time unless otherwise specified]

                                OCTOBER
                         Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
                                         1  2
                          3  4  5  6  7  8  9
                         10 11 12 13 14 15 16
                         17 18 19 20 21 22 23
                         24 25 26 27 28 29 30
                         31

Sunday,     October   10th,               Intempesta Nox's 
                                              5th Anniversary
Tuesday,    October   12th     8:00 pm    Classic Games Series: 
                                              Scavenger Hunt!
Wednesday,  October   13th,   2pm-10pm    PK BattleZone (HELP BATTLEZONE
                                                         for more info)
Thursday,   October   14th,    7:30 pm    Q&A in the OOC Auditorium
Friday,     October   15th,               Knights of Legend's 
                                              5th Anniversary
Tuesday,    October   19th     8:00 pm    Classic Games Series: 
                                              Recalltag!
Wednesday,  October   20th,   2pm-10pm    PK BattleZone 
Thursday,   October   21st,    7:30 pm    Q&A in the OOC Auditorium
Sunday,     October   24th,    3:00 pm    Semi-Annual Heavyweight 
                                              PK Tourney
Tuesday,    October   26th     8:00 pm    Classic Games Series: 
                                              Scavenger Hunt!
Wednesday,  October   27th,   2pm-10pm    PK BattleZone 
Thursday,   October   28th,    7:30 pm    Q&A in the OOC Auditorium
Sunday,     October   31st                Happy Halloween!


Subscribe via iCal or view the calendar with any browser. 
 ___                                                               ___
 \  |-------------------------------------------------------------|  /
 /__|                       Recent Updates                        |__\
    '-------------------------------------------------------------'

    /\                      CODE UPDATES
   /  \     
  /    \    BUG FIXES
 /_    _\     o Characters with less than 80 spirit now require a
   |  |         minimum of 30 mana to use augment instead of ending
   |  |         up with negative mana.
   |  |       o No rent items show up in ()s for offer.
   |__|     
    /\      
   /  \                   HELPFILE UPDATES
  /    \    
 /_    _\   The following helpfiles were updated this week:
   |  |          ARCHIVE
   |  |     
   |  |     
   |__|                     AREA UPDATES
    /\      
   /  \     If you want to suggest specific improvements or new
  /    \    additions to existing areas please don't hesitate to
 /_    _\   submit them with the idea/bug/typo commands or drop
   |  |     mudmail to the builder currently responsible for the area
   |  |     (check AREAINFO to find out!).
   |  |     
   |__|     Thanks to everyone that submitted bug/typo/idea reports!
    /\      
   /  \     ANCIENT EGYPT
  /    \         Tia now actually drives a bargain when people try to
 /_    _\        buy from her or sell her things. She also no longer
   |  |          sells +5 stat gear. A new quest was added, to help
   |  |          with keeping all the faience bracelets out there in
   |  |          mint condition.
   |__|     
    /\      FRENCH INDIAN WAR
   /  \          Some work on reducing item buildup. Trappers and
  /    \         squaws have been instructed they do not live in
 /_    _\        nudist colonies and must wear their clothes instead
   |  |          of just carrying them around.
   |  |     
   |  |     GYPSY CARNIVAL
   |__|          More toys added. Some mobs should be a little more
    /\           responsive. Various bug/typo fixes.
   /  \     
  /    \    LARDERELLO (DANTE'S INFERNO)
 /_    _\        Some fixes for the boatmen and Geryon. Crossing the
   |  |          Styx should be smoother. Some key mobs will repop
   |  |          faster. Lots and lots of various bug/typo fixes.
   |  |          Some mobs have been tweaked some, so be careful!
   |__|     
    /\      PR
   /  \          Some fixes for recalltag points version.
  /    \    
 /_    _\   1802 ALASKA, AFRICAN SAVANNA, ALHAMBRA, ANCIENT NAZCA,
   |  |     ARABIAN NIGHTS, AZTECS, BENGAL, BEOWULF, CELTIC IRELAND,
   |  |     GENERIC ANIMALS, MEDIEVAL SEAS, MELBOURNE, PICTISH
   |  |     COUNTRY, PORT OF LONDON, ROMAN BRITAIN, SEONI JUNGLE,
   |__|     SHERWOOD, SOUTH SEAS, TORTUGA, VICEROYAL LIMA
    /\           Various bug/typo fixes.
   /  \     
  /    \    
 /_    _\                  In Progress Area Updates
   |  |     
   |  |     This section is intended to share what builders are 
   |  |     working on behind the scenes. It is not a perfect record
   |__|     of progress as all builders do not commit updates every 
    /\      week. Badgering builders about progress gets you flogged. 
   /  \     
  /    \            Firefly       Japan
 /_    _\           Kaige         1950's Americana
   |  |             Kaige         Port of London Expansion
   |  |             Nestor        Ancient Carthage
   |  |             Nestor        Antebellum Louisiana
   |__|     
___                                                               ___
\  |-------------------------------------------------------------|  /
/__|  LEGENDITES: Information Regarding the People of Our World  |__\
   '-------------------------------------------------------------'

                  LegendMEET: California Style

Thank you for your interest in the LegendMud Meet, California style.

          The meet will be held November 5th thru the 7th.

The Meet will be at Primal and Trance's House in Atwater, California.

       We welcome all who play LegendMud to come and visit.
For the Benefit of all concerned, People who Don't play the MUD should
refrain from coming as they will Probably be bored.

BYOC ... Bring you own Computers. We will provide the internet
     access. DONT FORGET YOU NETWORK CABLES!!! If you can bring a
     router that would Kick butt as well. We will have 2 routers
     here. But I have 3 on my 4 port already and am saving the 4th
     port to Daisy Chain. Vahn is also providing a router So we will
     still need people to bring 1 or 2.

BYOF ... Bring (or Buy) Your Own Food... Trance is more than Happy to
     Cook for all. But we aren't Rich and Have to feed 5 people on a
     Daily Basis as it is.

BYOB ... Bring Your Own Bedding... If you are planning to stay the
     night, Please bring a sleeping bag or BedRoll. We only have one
     extra bed (Which is Reserved for Someone already, But we do have
     a Couch and Love Seat. Plus plenty of floor space (we have
     Padding).

If you are allergic to Dogs or Cats Bring your allegy Meds, as we have
5 dogs and 3 cats. And keep in Mind ... Our animals are Our Children
as well. And We are Very Protective of all our Children, 2 legged and
4 legged alike.

More details and philsophies behind this meet can be found on the
welcome board in-game. Or contact [email protected].

Primal and Trance
          
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             Stranger No More, But An Agent of Vengeance

Having been a Lord of Justice and dealing his own brand of it,
Vendetta quickly gained a reputation for being his own judge, jury
and executioner. A lawless man who bring punishments to whomever he
thinks deserves it. Although the local authorities are not too
pleased, the public certainly is enjoying the quick and decisive
actions of this renegade and they show their support, he's the modern
day Robin Hood, they say.

Vendetta will no longer be known as:

ShortDescr   a deliberate stranger with a malevolent grin
LongDescr    A stranger with a cold expression on his face is
             plotting to avenge himself.

However, he shall now be referred to as:

ShortDescr   a fearless agent of vengeance
LongDescr    Seeking revenge above all else, a rebelling renegade
             keeps out of way.
  ___                                                          ___ 
  \  |--------------------------------------------------------|  /
  /__|                     Clan News                          |__\
     '--------------------------------------------------------'

             Intempesta Nox Celebrates 5th Anniversary

Intempesta Nox is a community for vampires, witches, werewolves,
zombies and all types of Creatures of the Night that formed on
October 10th, 1999.

Intempesta Nox, the premier guild for creatures of the night is
recruiting. Interested? Contact Malicious. You can also visit their
website at: http://swankme.com/ooky/
             
             =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

             Knights of Legend Celebrate 5th Anniversary

The Knights of Legend is one of Legends oldest clans formed to
protect the innocent and stay honorbound -- ever striving to better
themselves and Legend. The clan was one of the original clans and
were reformed under the free form clan system on October 15, 1999.

The Knights are an honorable gathering of persons whom seek to
protect the residents of the world of Legend.
             
             =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

      ----------.................._____________  _  .-.
  THE SEEKER                          _____.. . .   | |
                   _____....------""""             uuuuu
 ____....------""""                                |===|
                                                   |===|
            a weekly column                        |===|
            on the clans of Legend                 |===|
 _a:f____________________________________________ .[__N]. _______

This week, I sat down with Tennessee, the fine gentleman leading the
Church of Epicurean Enlightenment. He sat back comfortably and sipped
his martini as we chatted.

S:  So, tell me all about the background of your clan! You're the
    newcomers around here, give us your tale.
T:  Well, ostensibly we're hedonists, I'm sure. And my reputation
    certainly doesn't do much to sway that opinion... However, my
    philosophy... and the philosophy of the clan, itself, is rooted in
    the Principle Doctrines of Epicurus.

S:  So what would nirvana look like? What is your heaven?
T:  This *is* heaven. Epicurus said there is nothing after death. So
    this is it. You see, in life you are rewarded for good. And what
    do you believe that reward to be?

S:  (Sounding quite surprised to be asked a question by her
    interviewee!) Drive through espresso stands.
T:  (Laughs) Close. Pleasure. We are rewarded, every time we do
    something good, with pleasure. If you act in an evil manner, you
    are punished...with pain.

S:  So do evil people never prosper?
T:  The evil can never experience life as it should, for they are
    wracked with pain. Whether mental, emotional, or physical...
    Actions have reactions, to be sure...  We do drink, yes. But too
    much drinking leads too....Pain. Just enough...pleasure. We do
    eat, fine foods, yes. But too much eating leads to pain...So we
    eat just enough for pleasure.

S:  Would you say you have any enemies?
T:  Enemies leads to pain. That's not to say that I am so silly as to
    presume we won't have those who oppose us. Truth has always had
    its share of natural enemies.

S:  For example, perhaps those of a more ascetic frame of mind?
T:  I feel for them, I really do. I harbor no ill-will towards them.
    All of us must find what pleasure we can in whatever we can. To
    each his own. Of course, I, myself, have a hard time finding
    pleasure in chastity and fasting.

S:  Are you currently accepting converts?
T:  Most assuredly. We're not an overly-picky bunch, but we are a bit
    selective. As in any religion, some seek truth for all the wrong
    reasons.

Want to be featured in this column? Have any clan-related news you'd
care to share? Drop a note to LadyAce!

             =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

There are currently 19 RP clans and 3 PK clans. This leaves open
slots for ten (10) more clans to form. For more information, read
HELP CLAN and see the clan information list via the CLANS command
while logged into the game. For a basic handbook and reference guide
for players interested in starting and running a clan, we recommend
that before you even type FORM, you visit:
             http://www.legendmud.org/Reference/gm.html.
  ___                                                          ___ 
  \  |--------------------------------------------------------|  /
  /__|                     PK Front                           |__\
     '--------------------------------------------------------'

                  Horror's Battlefield News

A lot of people have yet to experience the fun and excitement of PKE.
Well I'm here to tell you all just what you have been missing.

First the adrenalin rush can be your best friend or your worst enemy.
Your blood can boil when your running all over the Mud with 50 hit
points while poisoned and bleeding all the while being chased by a
foe. Or the rush of knowing that the prey you are hunting is not
expecting you to rush in and knock them down with a bash, this too
can be just as big of a thrill. Not knowing when or where your going
to get stabbed in the back is all just part of the excitement. All
of us who PKE know that not knowing is one of the best parts to
P-Kill. Knowing who's going to attack you and where it's going to
happen is not what PKE is all about. This can make P-Kill bland and
boring. Controlling the situation and a good strategy will keep you
alive nine times out of ten. So this makes preparation essential.

Knowing where safe rooms, innkeepers, helpful mobs and DeathTraps
are, are all very good ideas to help you prepare for combat. Also
knowing your enemy's strengths and weaknesses can be the meaning or
living or dying. And believe me when I say that even the strongest of
PKE character's has weaknesses. It's taking advantage of them that is
most important.

Here are a few examples of good ideas to help in your PKE conquest.

-The ability to see invisible
     This is most helpful for those pesky mage's who like to hit, run
     and heal.
-The ability to cure poison
     Poison can hurt and can slow your healing.
-The ability to cure blindness
     Not being able to see your opponent or where you are going can
     be deadly.
-The ability to detect hidden
     This is a great way to stop the sneaky little Hide-n-Seekers.

As of late the PKE community has been a little thin. So here are a
few bad ideas of things NOT to do in PKE that only make people
dislike you, avoid you, and are just otherwise destructive to the
community. The first two things here are really things that are
somewhat unavoidable at times and can be considered a mistake on the
victim's part.

-AFK, or otherwise sitting around at low Hit Points
     Sitting AFK outside of safe rooms is just asking for someone to
     come and kill you. Hence, don't do it. And sitting around
     outside of safe rooms while almost dead isn't too bright either.
-Killing people who are AFK and/or at DYING
     Now this is hard to avoid in some cases and is somewhat accepted
     buy the community. If a Player A is hunting Player B most are
     not thinking about ruining the surprise by going into the room
     and looking at the Player B. There is a way around this however.
     Use the Glance command (GLANCE <target>). This will give you in
     information you need without giving away the surprise.
-Stealing strings or rare items
     Now not all stealing is a bad idea. For example someone breaking
     into your house and stealing a non-essential string can make for
     a fun Roll-play and getting it back can be fun. But stealing a
     persons strung weapon and then junking it will only be frowned
     upon. Or stealing the bulk of someone's equipment and then
     throwing it all over the mud. These things will make you a huge
     target of the victim's friends and will probably get you
     multi-killed.
-Wolf-packing or ganging up on someone
     Personally, I like the challenge of a 2 on 1. But most people
     hate getting ganged up on. So again this will do nothing but
     make you a target of multi and/or lootings.
-Perma-death, or the threat of
     This is just plain destructive. Perma-ing someone only hurts the
     PKE community as a whole by scaring off would be new P-Killers.
     No one wants to spend weeks and weeks leveling up a characters
     only to watch it go down the drain for what is most likely a
     stupid reason.

In closing I would suggest that the PKE community as a whole take it
upon themselves to help control some of the problems. If there is a
person or persons that are bothering you or otherwise being a pain in
the butt, tell their clan leader and see if they will help. If
the said person isn't in a clan, then maybe try asking other players
for help. But for love of god don't go crying and moaning to the
Immortal Staff about problems that you can fix yourself. Doing so is
only going to make them think twice about PKE and that may make them
take it out completely. And I am sure they, (the Immortals), have
heard enough whining about problem people. Besides you don't want to
be the straw that broke the camels back, now do you????

Thanks for reading and I will see you on the Battlefield! 

             =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Sandra went and cornered Sana this week, demanding she break the silence
about her clan. All everyone ever sees is death, death, death. Not that
this was a problem for Sandra, but she figured people should see another
side too. And so, Sana sent this blood-soaked letter to Sandra in
response, written in crayon...

      You are going to hear a lot of talk during this issue
      about the Grendels war in the stag and how it was a bad
      war and we started it just because we are blood-thirsty
      and violent with an insatiable greed for expanding our
      territory.

      And to that I say, so what!

      If you like killing people randomly, your friends, your
      foes and even yer momma then Grendels might be the right
      choice for you to make this november! We have a rich and
      long history of violence and greed and thats what makes us
      cooler than all the other kids in this playground!

      It all started many millenia ago when our great founder
      Sir smelly (a night of some amount of fame, serving under
      sir helplessloser) woke up one day and decided to
      randomnly butcher his friends and family. Well this is the
      story we tell others at least. The truth is it wasn't a
      random slaying so much as it was a revenge slaying for you
      see sir helplessloser had dared commit the most heinous
      sin of sitting in Sir smelly's floral arm chair...so he
      slayed everyone present and then ran off to sit in a
      stinky place, like a swamp or something i dunno, anyways
      he stayed there until he had acrued enough and then they
      all started a group of stinky ugly random killing people
      peoples and they named it The Hermetic order. Sir smelly
      quickly decided that the Hermetic order was stupid so he
      left and started Grendels, there you have it.

      So now that you know our wonderful history maybe you can
      go into the clanning cubicle on November 4th and decide on
      a clan that is truly right for you. But just a warning to
      anyone who is considering the Queens of justice, Brutus
      snores, has bad breath, doesn't cut his toe-nails and is
      prone to befouling the clan's water supply. Also he is a
      flip-flopper, unable to decide if he wants to be a bad boy
      or a good boy and is often seen in the company of such
      dubious characters as Allegory, the manchurian midget with
      12 inch fangs.

      So in closing, if you want a clan that lets you do the
      right thing and help people, ten help me as I walk all over
 ___  your sorry self by washing your back real nice so i don't
/o o\ get any crud on my feet! And if you want a clan that all
\_-_/ the cool people are in, and for any choices in between feel
  |   free to apply with us.
 /|\ 
  |   --Sana, writing in the place of the stinky Grendel PR
_/ \_   person who is on vacation and smells and is ugly too.
(Sana's self portrait)

             =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

If you witness or commit any glorious or nefarious deeds, send a
short report to us at the LT. If you are looking for a fight,
recruiting, or anything else related to PKill (not necessarily PK
Clan related), send it in! It's free AND you'll get a prize token! Be
a celebrity, the envy of all your friends! Tick off your enemies or
just tell your side of the story! Get YOUR name up in lights! We
can't report it if you don't tell us!
              _______________________
             /                       \
        o O | Wonder what folks are   |
  `\|||/    | doing over at LegendMUD?|
   (o o)     \_______________________/
ooO_(_)_Ooo__________________________________________________________
_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|___
__|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|

                 Hell Tourism Commission Report

An elegantly folded piece of slightly warm parchment appeared in the
editor's office this morning, carried by a small scaly pigeon which
took off again after eating the editor's lunch.

     It's been a long time in the waiting and an issue of much
     debate among the Princes of the netherworld: Should we or
     should we not allow tourists again?

     The tourism industry has its ups and downs, needing to be
     carefully weighed against each other. Hordes of rampaging
     adventurers disrupt the carefully created systems of
     punishment that is Hell. Dead sinners rejoice in glee they
     don't deserve when the demons dishing out their punishment
     are dead or out of commission. The carefully plotted
     structure and order of Hell goes down the drain. On the up
     side, adventurers mean warm bodies. Bodies, which have not
     received proper sentencing and allotted punishment. Bodies,
     which our junior employees can do anything they want to,
     and as everyone will agree, staff loves freebies and perks
     like that. It's always good to keep your employees happy.

     The verdict was, as you will know by bow, to open up the
     gates of Hell to mortal travelers again. Not everyone is
     excited about it as you may find -- but we've made the
     decision and it's not apt to change. There remains but one
     thing to tell you all, mortals of the Lord's realms: Go to
     Hell!

     Signed in flowing script,
     Lord Marcel Alexander, Esquire
     Prince of the Seventh Circle   

             =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

                   The Other Side of the Coin

After years of research, experimentation and some might say obsessive
focus on death it wasn't surprising at all to see them waiting there
for me like a circus sideshow gathering, armed with pitchforks and
saws and any other sharp easily obtainable implements.

Most of them I had never even seen before or at least they had been
in the early days of the human trials and their faces had long since
become lost to me, or disfigured to the point that recognition by any
soul who had ever known them would be impossible.

Resistance was really the worst possible plan, but what scientist
would allow himself to be taken captive by his own experiment without
at least giving them a bloodied nose and a severed spinal cord, and
so I drew out my impossibly sharp half-saw and sliced at what
appeared to be their leader, a giant of a man who had obviously
suffered massive burns and so wore an old army surplus sheet as a
cloak.

Blood spewed from his hips where my saw had become lodged and he
laughed, this vile thing could not feel a thing, because not only did
my reagent give new life it also improved those human frailties I had
for so long loathed.

And as he laughed his two huge fists came down atop my head like a
massive flesh built club and the dismal London night was lost to me
and all that was left was black.

Consciousness I wish now had escaped me more permanently for when I
awoke I lay upon an ancient stone slab the 'operating table' of this
wretched horde, and as I looked down I could see the rib separator
clamped neatly in place and my internal organs shake violently as two
huge electrodes stuck to my lungs delivered their 20 volt charge.

So they had learned a few things, I was glad, in a perverse way that
my creations had proven they weren't just shambling masses of flesh
given false life.

As I once more fell unconscious I did not wake up again, not for what
felt like centuries went by as I was trapped within my own corpse.

Because certainly this is what had happened they had tormented me
till I had died and now here I lay confined to my own mind, death
really did want nothing to do with me after all these years of
faithful adoration.

And then I felt it, the twitch in my arm, the throbbing in my head,
and with one eye barely capable of sight I saw someone leaning over
me with a familiar syringe glowing a very faint greenish yellow hue,
no sooner had the syringe been thrust into my chest than the figure
left, whispering only 'You have much more to suffer for yet'.

Dr West

             =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

                     The Creature in the Mound

In the region of Telemark in the far north there lived a small
courageous boy. Though he was only ten, he was very strong for his
age and could easily defeat his older brothers in wrestling and
contests of strength. His father owned many sheep but the little boy
didn't like watching over them and spent his time fishing and hunting
instead.

One evening he was dragging home a large deer he had killed with a
spear when he passed a barrow mound he had never noticed before. As
he stood there wondering about it, the sun set directly behind it and
as it did, a small hole opened up at it's base. Having been told many
stories about treasure in such mounds he decided to crawl inside and
see what was to be found.

When he got inside it was very dark, but as his eyes adjusted, he
noticed there was a faint green glow emanating from the walls of the
chamber which allowed him to see. On one side of the chamber were
piles of bones that looked to have been a horse, a cow and two or
three people all mixed up together and on the other was the corpse of
a man dressed in fine clothes on a stone slab with weapons and silver
and gold items placed around it. His attention was drawn to a huge
sword that seemed to gleam in the dim light and as he reached for it,
the corpse on the stone slab sat upright and turned to stare at him
with glowing yellow eyes.

The boy froze, and before he could decide what to do, the creature
lunged at him tackling him to the ground and raking it's sharp claws
all over the boy's body. Somehow he managed to beat it back and get
it in a bear hug from behind. He squeezed with all his might snapping
the creatures bones like twigs, but instead of subduing it, this only
seemed to enrage the creature more and it bounded against the walls
in a fury to try and dislodge the boy.

For hours they struggled like this, neither getting the upper hand
until the boy began to tire and knew he couldn't keep up the
struggle. Flinging the creature away from him, he snatched up the
sword and as the creature lunged at him, it impaled itself to the
hilt on the sword. It gave out a hellish scream and then vanished
into thin air as if it had never been. Weary with exhaustion and
battle sore, the boy climbed out of the hole, and as he did so, the
mound collapsed in the snow and vanished as well.

They found him covered in cuts and bruises fast asleep in the snow,
gripping tightly to a sword nearly as big as himself. Bringing him
home, they tended his wounds and unable to pry the sword from his
grasp, put him to bed, sword and all. That, my friends, is the tale
of how Ozurr came to wield the sword men call Irongrim, the
harvester.

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                      A Word from Our Sponsor

            Wilderness Walk: Wazizi Guest House, Zanzibar
                          by Jack Paris

Dusty and dirty, I arrived in the common room of this quaint hostel
which is only barely lit by gaslight lanterns. Smoke curled in the
lazy air and lingered near the ceiling. There are a dozen scattered
tables, most of which are inhabited by an assortment of traders,
hunters, townspeople, and the occasional riffraff. For the most part,
the patrons consisted of Muslim slave and ivory traders, though there
were people of all backgrounds present.

Aasma greeted me with familiarity. I make sure to stop here at the
guest house every couple of weeks as I pass through the region. Aasma
carries a nice variety of Persian, Arab, and Swahili dishes for her
regular customers -- Breads, soups, vegetable or meat dishes, and
desserts. I ordered a bowl of supu ya kuku, a plate of mchuzi wa
samaki, and a few barazeh and a cup of qahwa arabeya to savor as I
settled in for an evening of gossip and talespinning. Ahh, but it was
good to be back.

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