Malchik

OOC> I sometimes feel like that when playing computer games.

OOC> This is a rather rough and ready drawing of the island as you saw it 'from the air' as it were. It may propmt you to ask other questions of the villagers.

The women are confused. One laughs. "We are honest folk in Farrik. We could invent something to cheat you out of the money you seem so keen on getting rid of but that is not how we are. This village has 145 people and not one would tell you differently. Daily excitements are the rising costs on the mainland, whose husband flirts with whose wife, which child has been naughty. None of those things would interest a visitor. Is there some particular thing you came to Farrik for?" At least you have learned that the settlement on the island has a name.

OOC> You are aware that you are all somehow working together but you do not know each other, indeed you all come from different places. Some mutual introductions would be in order. On Topic There is absolutely nothing in the village that refers to the Child of Healing. And anyone you were to ask about it would look at you blankly. It is clear that the name means nothing to the villagers. Nor does he name Auriel invoke a response. The bead sellers give Esha an amused glance. "My dear, surely you don't expect us to gossip of local matters to strangers. Why would they interest you anyway? If you mean do we have news of strange events locally, no. Nothing around here has changed in years. It's the swamps of OOO where all the troubles are. Ours are long, long ended - generations before anyone here was born."

OOC> I am not here to ask. You can post 'mac listens hard to pick up local gossip' and then I will tell you if there is any. Try to keep all posts as if you were there. Because of time zone differences anyone can ask a question of the women in the shop or go outside to ask in the square as long as you indicate you have done this. You don't need to 'plan' this in the Drunken Alligator. The only info you have is that you are looking for The Child of Healing and what you saw of the island as you approached. You can also ask about the spread of the petrefaction which is what you are questing to stop. Of course you can ask any questions about their lives/interests etc. Anyway, you are currently inside with no one to overhear. On your way through the village you overheard nothing odd or unusual. Local gossip was about fish catches, the weather and general chit-chat.

OOC> We have three new members macmert and lisnpuppy are already here gman021 will be here when back from his vacation either next week or the week after. I will bring him in. Those existing members of the rpg discover that somehow as Tiemmo was speeding you on your way you acquired two new people. Feel free to ask them about themselves. Everyone knows that they are searching for the Swords of Zooz and currently looking for the Child of Healing. The newcomers however do not know why you need the Child of Healing. On Topic> You arrive at the edge of a jetty in the small harbour. Anyone noticing will assume you have arrived by boat. There are several boats in the harbour obviously local fishing smacks. The jetty is for bigger craft, presumably a ferry to the mainland. The village itself has about 40 buildings centred on a small square containing a village pump. The houses have small gardens used for growing vegetables and the flat roofs are also used for this purpose. Some houses have a cow, goat, pig or sheep tethered in the garden but there are no herds of animals. There is one general shop that doubles as meeting house and tavern. They have rooms to rent and food available. Having sorted that out you repair to the communal room to get food and drink. People have eyed you with curiosity but not suspicion. Visitors are obviously rare but not unheard of. There is no one else in the Communal room just then but there was quite a lot of activity in the square - children playing, collection of water and washing of laundry around the pump. A few men and women are selling produce and fish from stalls. Several villagers stand around gossiping. Within the 'shop' you can talk to the woman who serves behind the counter or the one who showed you your rooms and is now serving you with food and drink. They appear to be sisters, cheerful looking and chatty.

OOC> We have two new members wishing to join. For that reason I am going to move this on, assuming that you decide to go after the Child of Healing. On topic The journey is a blur. Only as you approach the island where you believe the child Auriel may be found do you take stock of your surroundings. You can somehow see it all from above. The island is like a triangle balanced on the apex, or an ice-cream cone. The top part of the island (down to about just under half the vertical measure) is enclosed in a massive and forbidding curtain wall. Within the wall you can see only a modest sized dwelling with a tall circular tower attached. Inside the wall the landscape is wild and apparently ihospitable. Most of the rest of the island seems to be fertile grassland but the land is empty of animals and does not even show a path. Squashed into the southern tip is a medium sized village with a harbour containing many fishing canoes. The terrain rises steadily from south to north so that the northern side of the island has steep cliffs. On the north east corner is a sandy cove with a cave visible. Tiemmo asks you where exactly you would like to be put down. The choices are - within the curtain wall (close to or far from the dwelling) - on the top of the tower - in the empty grassland - in the village - in the cove with the cave OOC> the choice will have a major effect on what happens next. Can I suggest you vote in the discussion thread rather than here and then post when you reach a decision. At this stage that means Abramul and phawk69 a the others aren't in game yet. As soon as the decision is made I can bring them in.

OOC> I have been ill with severe pain and not able to concentrate I am still suffering a little but I am hoping it will be resolved shortly. (It's nothing fatal.) On topic> The children are very interested in your information and need time to think about it. However Tiemmo has nothing further to suggest than his speeding time for you to get to your next destination. He says "Maybe you want to go somewhere else before looking for Auriel. Just tell me and I'll get you there. It may feel a bit odd but you won't come to any harm."

Maximum level without mods is around 54. Total skill increases in majors come to 525 (unless you have something which makes your major skill start higher than 25). There are a few skill increases which can add on to the supposed 100 max The Night Mother's Blessing for one so 54 is probably max for most players. I managed 57 in one game although I can't remember how. I got a few points from losing major skills on exiting jail but not that many.

Malchik clone 63bz alphacentauri mark2 repossessed appears from nowhere and throws a frozen daiquiri at spyro. "Fightings's all gone to ground, mate. Eveyone's chilling out because global climatic change is gonna make that impossible in a couple of years. Best to chill too while you've got a chance." Then the Malchik clone realising that it does not in fact exist has a sudden attack of OMGOMGOMGOMGWHOTHEHELLAMI disease and vanishes in a puff of dry ice.

ooc> yes

There was a briefly lived Chat facility. The problem was most times you tried to use it no one was there. Although the forum has a large theoretical membership only a few are 'active'. Most are here to down load mods or are relics of history. With the different time zones too it wasn't often you'd be able to have any meaningful conversations. I use MSN and any member of the forum who wants to can contact me that way for chat. Through that means I have had direct webcam and voice links too. (I don't have a webcam myself.) I feel that is enough. BTW we never mooted the idea of moderating the chat room.

Wheel83 says he has gone and if so he won't see this. As he points out in one of his posts it is impossible to read 'a tone' into a written reply and any assumptions we make are no more than assumptions. All one can do is say 'you are misreading my intention'. If the recipient refuses to let that go there's not much to be done about it. Whether they genuinely don't believe you or just keep posting for a need to have the last word the arguement is invariably circular. Dark0ne requested Wheel83 to drop the matter. He ignored the request. Just one of those things.

You repair to the nearest eating house. A summary of the info you gain from Tiemmo and Axana is as follows. ALthough they knew they were not like normal people as they had lived several thousand years without aging they did not know there were others like them until recently. A girl like them called Sylvian had appeared out of the grond one day to say that they had all been called on to save the world. She knew of three others and intended to send two to meet up with Tiemmo and Axana. So they met Prynx and Kyrykki. Sylvian had been told there were eleven of them. After discovering Tiemmo by chance she had knowledge of six. Each one represented a school of magic. She was aware of nine schools in El Rhun on Tagfier and one banned from that city that had moved to Fezreel. Of the eleventh she had no clue. They did not know of Dark Portals but agree that it could be a mnemonic. When you mention Ocaranda it seems to fit although that is their first news of her. They had heard of Auriel and Prynx had gone searching for him. It gives the following D - ??? A - Axana - school of death R - ??? K - Kyrykki - school of fire P - Prynx - school of water O - Ocaranda - school of air R - ???? T - Tiemmo - school of time A - Auriel - school of healing L - Liune - school of life S - Sylvian - school of earth Unidentified schools - Light, the Mind and one no one can guess at. They tell you that they know nothing of your quest but if by chance you learn of any of the others they will help you i they can. They tell you to call Sylvian you need only knock on the ground three times in quick succession three times over. Sylvian will know mostly where the others are. They wish you good luck with finding Auriel. Tiemmo says if that is your next goal he can speed you to the island you identify. They will not go with you as they are looking for the other three children. Do you have any additional information to help them? Do you wish to take advantage of Tiemmo's offer?

OOC> Anyone other than phawk69 interested in keeping this going or shall I wrap it up?

OOC> I am currently away in the Czech Republic and finding it difficult to get on the net. Back in two days. However no one has posted in nearly a fortnight. On the assumption that you do go to eat with Tiemmo and Axana is their anything you want to ask them?

The two look at each other. Axana in a rather startled voice says: "I should warn you that if any of you is ill you will probably die if you are around me for long. But otherwise I am happy to eat with you. We have heard of Auriel of course but I have no idea where he is or even if he is in Bashkher." Tiemmo nods. "We'll have to find him too in the end but not until we've got together those we do know about, Prynx, Kyrykki, Sylvian, Liune and the two of us. Then we'll look for the other four. Where were you thinking of eating." There are several roadside stalls with seats serving food al fresco and a number of places to dine indoors close to you.

The two giggle at this. "Still showing off is he. You'd think he'd got into enough trouble with his tricks. But he's not as bad as Prynx and his practical jokes. Did he say where he was going?" The boy asks the question. The girl stares ahead silently. You keep thinking of skeletons, tombs, the dead and the undead whenever you look at her. It is very unsettling.

ooc> Until all the rehearsals I am involved in finish I cannot devote the time needed to bring in the new members. I haven't forgotten you if you still want to continue but will not be available to set up your characters before Tuesday or Wednesday this week. Just hang on for a couple of days. On topic While you are out in the town looking for a place to eat - there are many - you notice two teenagers having a huddled and apparently subversive conversation. They have no obvious interest in you but you cannot help noticing how odd they are. The boy is in a ragged brown robe. His hair is wild and unkempt and his feet are bare. His arms are horribly scarred but his eyes are alert and intelligent. The girl is emaciated to the point of being almost a walking skeleton and her complexion is so pale it could be a white maquillage. She is also in a robe - black - though her feet are encased in stout walking shoes. In spite of being incredibly thin she shows no signs of being ill. Her long dark hair is lustrous, her eyes alive with interest and her voice clear and steady. You overhear her saying in a somewhat annoyed voice. "Really, Tiemmo, I think you are completely wrong about Kyrykki. He has no intetest in thwarting us. He just likes inventing silly gadgets."

OOC> Hi falcon. You need to sign up with me before joining the rpg. It isn;t set in Oblivion, there is no mages guild etc. Please contact me via a Pm and I'll bring you in. To all - I'm sorry I haven't been around this week I fell down 16 metal stairs top to bottom sustaining a great many cuts and bruises but fortunately no breakages. (I am on stage in a play starting 21/5 so it's lucky - yeah?) However I have had to go for tests and check ups. I was completely sober too which really pisses me off. Any way I will be back tomorrow. I'll catch everyone up with the current situation. Painfully yours, Malchik

As you fall asleep you hear voices in your dreams telling you that you must hurry. You have three swords and two are waiting for you. Where now?

Following the suggestion you take the swords to one of the trainers, Prandal. He is a very pleasant youngish man who points out that the sword handle is completely useless. The silver sword, he advises, is clearly a training sword and if you don't want it he'll buy it from you. The other sword has him mystified for a moment. Then he says: "The sword has been placed in a cheap and nasty sheathe and exposed to great heat. The sheathe has melted and attached itself to the sword. If you are willing to wait I can probably clean it up for you." The wait is rather longer than you expected and it is late when he returns. "You realise what you have here is not just any sword? It is a sword created by the famed Master Of Zooz. This is worth a fortune. I never thought I would get to handle one, let alone see one born before my eyes. I could not afford to buy it and in truth I would not want it. My business would suddenly attract far too many thieves, many of whom would not be bothered by thoughts of murder. Here I will give you a plain sheathe. Keep it hidden." He will take no money for the service so you leave him the training sword as a gift. Back in your lodging you hide the sword with the others and repair to the adjoining sitting room to discuss the next move. You talk about how it is important to get all the swords as quickly as possible to save Bashkher from petrefaction. As you are talking you hear a whisper of sound from the next room. The window is open. Someone has climbed in and out. The swords of Zooz have been moved but not taken. As you peer through the window you see a man hesitating in the street below. A moment later and he has entered the house and is knocking on your door. He speaks before you can say anything:-

OOC> can Abramul or the Terminator please agree or disagree and fix a plan of action. There is nothing to challenge anyone in Zooz I'm afraid. That will not be the case in most of the places you can go next. And you should debate that. You can - steal the sword in Ippikander, look for the Child of Healing off Selma, look for Costanta's bones in Antinapura or look for the sword last heard of in the ruined city of Akitaron.

I am sorry but I have not heard of this bug (or bugs). Are you playing with mods? They can sometimes affect other quests.

Whilst nothing actually happens, you get the strangest feeling that the 'blob' would move if it could. Perhaps more expert help is needed.