___The Official AVATAR___________________________________
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_______________________________________ 03 July, 1999 ___
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` ~ )Telnet to Avatar at: avatar.walrus.com 3000
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Table of Contents
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1. Editorial by Dizzy
2. Glory by Wrink
3. The Avatar Series #2, The Journey Forward by Drenin
4. Amok? Amok! Amok! By Dyrn
5. The Midgaard Guards by MethalosII
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1. Editorial by Dizzy
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A short walk down memory lane:
When I was a younger MUDder, my interests centered upon gaining levels
rather than accumulation of wealth, objects or polishing my social skills.
In those days, when a player reached level 21 you were "auto-IMMed". You
ceased to play the game as a mortal, and became an IMMortal. This level
of Social IMMortality was the gene pool from which all the BigDog Working
IMMortals were chosen.
There were other difference too: It took an increasing amount of exp to
gain a level as you advanced....up to hundreds of thousands of exp tnl. If
you died, you lost half of the exp you'd gained since your last level
(ouch! when that means 500,000 exp lost in a sigle death). Death was even
more serious than loss of exp: you also lost a point of CON, and if your
con dropped below 1, you were Permanantly Dead...end of game, play again?
Stats meant more than eq when fighting. There were humans and no other
races. There were only mage, cleric, thief, and warrior occupations. Room
descriptions were generally terse and utilitarian, as opposed to ours
which read like a novel. The optimal group was comprised of four pl
ayers, one from each class, to form a "balanced group", which received an
exp bonus over solo or "unbalanced groups".
Only mages could enchant objects. An enchant used ALL the mage's mana (and
mana burners never got more than 100 mana!), and objects could only be
enchanted once.
Clerics could cast bless on objects which was a nice +2 attribute that you
could wear or hold. Aside from blue potions (heal 100 hp), clerics were
the only healing game in town. They hit like a sissy, and were difficult
to level, but EVERYONE wanted a cleric or two in the group.
Thieves were the ultimate solo class. Their combination of backstab and
flee allowed them to take on, and defeat, the strongest mobs. The steal
skill was more directly related to DEX, and they could steal from both
players and mobs alike. Frequently, players would have a mage cast
invisible on all of their eq in an effort to keep the thieves from
filching it.
Warriors. In a hack 'n slash gaming genre, the warrior defines the word
"tank" today and it was no different back then. Unlike game tactics
today, the war almost never led groups, which meant that the rescue skill
was relied on heavily. As we all know, wars get a bonus to STR, same now
as then...but then they were almost indescribably stupid. It wasn't
unusual to roll a new war with an INT of 3 and a WIS of 5...on the other
hand, wars only had three skills to learn: rescue, bash, and kick.
On Avatar, our equipment means MUCH more to us than it did to players back
then. We accumulate momentos (back then you could only carry about 30
items.. Total.), and ascribe sentimental value to objexts that have served
us well. We are able to enchant items multiple times, and restring their
names. Our weapons and armor have a personality of their own and almost
seem to think for us.
The world is so much larger today. I remember memorizing every room in
every zone on AlexMUD. It was a simpler, but much less interesting game
to play.
The next time you're tempted to complain about some aspect of Avatar,
remember that our game continues to evolve. Today its vastly different
than it was when I came to it as a beta tester: More sophisticated,
complex, challenging, and just plain FUN.
Diz
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2. Glory by Wrink
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On this one day, a a newcomer to Avatar named Glory had arrived. Glory is
a sprite and wants to be a cleric, one who casts spells.
Glory, unfamiliar, with Avatar, looks for help. He finds Strikes the Gnome
and asks for help. "I am Glory, a cleric, and I must find a place to
practice my spells. Can you help me?" In response, Strikes says, "I am a
newcomer and I do not know. Try asking someone with more knowledge.."
Glory travels through the meadow and finds Wrink the Orc. "I am Glory, a
cleric, and I must find a place to practice my spells. Can you help me?"
In response, Wrink says, "I am a warrior and I do not practice spells. I
have no idea where you can practice. Ask Osco the Hero."
Glory travels through the Hall of Heroes and finds the hero Osco, a gnome.
"I am Glory, a cleric, and I must find a place to practice my spells. Can
you help me?" In response, Osco says, "I have not traveled near the meadow
for a long while. I have no knowledge of that place anymore. Ask the Angel
Rexie."
Glory prayed for Rexie the Angel, and Rexie steps out of a shimmering
portal. "I am Glory, a cleric, and I must find a place to practice my
spells. Can you help me?" In response, Rexie says, "I am sorry, I have
lost my knowledge of the meadow area. I have saved too many in need to
keep the knowledge in me. Ask Lady Annastasia."
Glory traveled all the way to the secret lands, where almost no one ever
travels. There he finds Lady Annastasia keeping in touch with her fellow
Lord friends. "I am Glory, a cleric, and I must find a place to practice
my spells. Can you help me?" In response, Annastasia says, "I cannot
assist you at the moment. Please leave me be. If you need help, ask the
Immortal Swiftsword."
Wondering when this will end, Glory enters the Hall of Immortals. Here,
he finds Swiftsword the Immortal! Glory bows and says, "I am Glory, a
cleric, and I must find a place to practice my spells. Can you help me?"
In response, the Immortal says, "Glory, I have watched you since you first
came, and I have noticed a pattern in your behavior." Glory nods his head
solemnly. "Try exploring the meadow to find what you are looking for."
Glory asks, "I have traveled so far. I need a way to get back to the
meadow." "No problem," says Swiftsword. Glory shades his eyes as
Swiftsword rips a hole through time and space. A shimmering portal
appears! Glory enters the portal and disappears in a green flash.
Glory finds himself back in the meadow, where he had started. He started
to explore, as Swiftsword had said. Very proud of himself, Glory finds
himself looking at Carl the Magnificent, trainer of spells and skills!
Here, Glory practices the spell 'cure light.' A light shines on Glory and
Carl says, "Congratulations, you are now an adept of 'cure light.'"
Glory finds himself more familiar with this land. He goes around casting
'cure light' to all who needs a fast spurt of life. Glory looks up and
sees an image of Swiftsword smiling down at him.
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3. The Avatar Series #2, The Journey Forward by Drenin
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The sun glared unceasingly upon Drenin's back. Sweat dotted his face and
that of his companions. This group of people could be seen heading for
the not too distant city of New Thalos that was visible up ahead. Drenin
mumbled something about the heat and absently swatted a bug from the air.
"This part of the world is simply DISGUSTING!" he growled, "How can the
people here stand this?" Drenin swatted another fly near his face. "That
is IT! Stand back people, I am SICK and TIRED of these stupid bugs!" His
party members, startled by this sudden outbreak hurridly stepped back.
Soon he was alone in the front, still sweating profusely. "Alaria
Portalia Beni!" A crack of light opened in front of Drenin. Expanding
slowly, slight ripples around the edges could be seen. The crack expanded
until a vague circle rippled in the air ahead.
"A portal!" Sarah exclaimed, "But why now?"
"I thought that it would affect the ripples that you're following.
Apparently it does not. It simplifies things a bit. No more trudging
through this unworldly heat. Come on, lets go." With that, Drenin
stepped through the portal. There was a flash of brilliant white light
and he was gone. Looking at each other nervously, Geren and Jinx also
stepped through, followed by Sarah.
At first, Drenin experienced the translocation displacement that his body
always felt, but that soon passed. Looking around, he could see that
buildings were all around him. I don't think this is Thalos, he thought,
but I set the portal target to the Statue of the Beholder. He saw quick
bursts of light near him, which he knew were the others.
"Where are we?" asked Sarah, looking around.
"I think, -I hope- in New Thalos."
"We're not," stated Geren flatly, "this is Underdark."
Doh! Drenin felt quite embarrassed. He had included "Beholder" in his
invocation and obviously (now anyways) it led him to the "Eye's of the
Beholder". Drenin felt quite stupid at the moment.
"Drenin..." sighed Sarah, "want to portal back?"
"Well ok, I guess," said Drenin meekly, "well, stand bac-"
"WATCH OUT!!" cried Geren. He launched himself at a figure that seemed to
have appeared out of the shadows. Struggling fiercely with the unknown
person, the pair rolled everywhere.
"Geren!" shouted Jinx. Almost instantaneously Jinx launched himself at the
attacker. With a speed defying mortals, Jinx whipped his feet and arms
like a whirlwind, striking here and then there.
"GEREN, JINX STOP IT!" boomed Drenin. The effect was amazing. Time
seemed to stand still. Jinx stopped in mid kick and startled, looked at
Drenin. Geren simply stopped. The assailent gasped and tried to run away.
Geren simply held him. Looking at Drenin, he shrugged.
"We want him alive," explained Drenin. Turning towards the now imprisoned
attacker,"You! Why did you attack us?" Staring vilely at Drenin, the
person (who was a man) defiantly looked away. "Why did you attack us?"
asked Drenin again. The man snarled at Drenin and suddenly stiffened.
His face turned livid and purple, his arms and leggs flailing despite the
grasps of Geren and Jinx. Soon, the man was dead, with a ghastly
impression of pain upon his face.
"Poison," growled Geren, "He poisoned himself." Sarah quickly looked
away, turning pale at the horrid sight.
"But who would send an attacker upon us?" asked Geren inquirelingly. No
one knew.
************************************************
Up high upon the heat charred landscape of Lloth's Peak, a man growled
disgustingly. With a look of profound disgust, he turned away towards
another person next to him.
"Scarpa!" he barked.
"Y-yes master?" Scarpa stammered.
"That fool of an assasin is dead! I told you send send in a competent
one."
"I-I w-will send in another one master. A better one, who will not fail."
"He better not," answered the person, leaving the threat open to Scarpa's
imagination. He growled and turned his attention once again towards the
small party that was in the Underdark.
*************************************************
Leaving the body there in the open street was out of the question. While
the Underdark may be short upon humans, there was plenty of non-humans to
notice the corpse. Finally, the party decided to leave it in an out of
the way alley. Hopefully no one will notice it for a while. Hoping that
it would suffice, Drenin once again proceeded to open a portal, this time
maybe to the right place.
"Okay, stand back everyone," said Drenin as he stepped forward. "Alaria
Portalia Beni Statia!". The result was the same. A slit of brilliant
white light appeared in front of Drenin. Expanding more and more quickly
it became a shimmering, multi-hued pool. "Alright people, let's go!"
Drenin stepped through the portal and disappeared in a flash of energy.
"I hope he got it right this time," growled Geren as he followed Drenin in
to the portal.
"Heh, I REALLY don't wish to end up at the bottom of the Great Sea,"
chuckled Jinx as he also stepped in. Sarah didn't say anything as she
followed.
It seemed to be the right place, although Drenin's sight was still blurry
from the translocation displacement. As soon as that cleared up, he could
see that they were indeed in the New Thalos.
"The old man did it," chuckled Geren as he recovered from the
displacement.
"One question," asked Jinx dryly looking around them as he too recovered,
"Why in all the gods names are those guards pointing their pikes at us?"
"What?!?" said Drenin startled. He was soon answered. A person stepped
out from the ring of steel that was indeed surrounding the group.
Arrogantly, he stepped up to them.
"So," he sneered, "the famous Drenin and his circus troupe. How nice to
meet you. I am here to inform you that you are arrested for fraud and
trickery. Everyone knows that there is no such thing as magic!" The
guard looked smug, motioned his men to apprehend the group and sneered,
"Let's see you use your so called magic to protect yourselves against hard
steel!"
"What!" boomed Drenin, "Trickery?!? Then how do you explain our sudden
appearence here?!?"
"Frauds, fakes!" sneered the man, "Any street performer can make it appear
as if he materialized out of thin air! Guards! Arrest these con-artists!"
"Oh dear," said Sarah quietly. Touching Drenin's arm, she whispered
something in his ear. Drenin listening, suddenly grinned.
"Why Sarah! You're a genius!" he proclaimed. Grinning openly, Drenin
uttered a few words, "Massia Invisia" The effect from the guards point of
few must have been quite frightening. To them, it would appear that quite
suddenly Drenin and his entire group just disappeared. Bewildered, they
edged back, looking fearfully around them. The apparent leader of the
guards shouted at them to search for the party but they paid no attention.
When Drenin cast invisibility on one of THEM, they went into hysterics.
To them, it would seem that suddenly a member of their guard had
disintergrated into thin air. The invisible man, not knowing what was
happening as he could see himself quite clearly only made it worse by
pushing and grabbing his fellow guards trying to find out the source of
their fright.
"Enough!" shouted the leader, "Drenin, I know you're there. Show
yourself!" A few moments passed with out Drenin appearing. "That is it.
I am sick and tired of playing games with you." Cursing savagely, he
motioned to one of his men. Immediatly, that guard blew a horn.
Suddenly, a enormous green and black dragon flew above the guards' heads.
The dragon was huge, with large green reptilian eyes in which a sly
intelligence could be seen.
"Find Drenin!" boomed the leader on the verge of curses, "Find Drenin and
KILL HIM!!!" The dragon roared in acknowledgement, spewing out a great
blast of green-tinged flame in the process.
"Oh dear," said Sarah, looking up towards the titanic dragon flying above,
dwarfing everything under it. "Oh dear dear me..."
Thus ends part II of the Avatar Series. We leave Drenin and his party
facing impending doom. Will they survive? Will they be able to face the
invincible foe of the sky? And what will happen after? Danger is certain,
more and more danger. And thus end s this part of their long and
difficult quest to save the magic of the world....
________________________________
4. Amok? Amok! Amok! By Dyrn
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The redundant immortal looked out over the realm, and realized something
was amiss... or were things Amok? No, not yet, but they soon would be...
this imm had large plans for chat, large... SPAMMY plans!
"Oh, how I do loathe my minimal powers upon this realm of text-based
information! I need a plan to make myself stronger so that I may dethrone
that Daemon Snikt and be the true ASCII Anarch!!! Muahahahaha!!!"
The next day the slightly crazy immortal set his plan into motion and
typed in his means to gain power... #ALIAS spam %1 |G|%2 |R|%2 |C|%2
|W|!|Y|!|B|!|C| With this, he could gain the attention of mortals
everywhere by flashing repetitive and colourful messages across their
screens, therefore brainwashing them and putting them under his control.
"With each message they send in return, the lend me their power!!! I will
be larger than Snikt in no time at all!"
The months went by, and most of Avatar was under Amok's spell. Snikt
failed to notice what was going on as he was apparently (AFK) for the
entire year. Finally, right on the eve of December 31st, 1999.... Amok
prepared to strike! He counted down the seconds... -10- -9- -8- -7- -6-
-5- -4- -3- -2- ... -*
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