The NannyMUD Times issue 2001 December.

[Polar]

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The NannyMud Times, December 2001

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The times are back!

I'd like to apologize for the long wait since the last issue, the
evil thing called Real Life has been hunting me viciously. Anyway,
here it is, enjoy it!

/Slakktor

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  1. Index
     What's in this issue?

  2. Announcements
     What has happened in Nanny lately?

  3. New areas
 
     Wizards with new areas answer to questions about their areas.
     This month, we have Kefka and Slakktor on the bench.

  4. Basalt Keep Evil Special
     Let Bombadill convince you to aid Molt in burning Lars' temple
     and killing innocent citizens.

  5. Basalt Keep Good Special
     Let Oriole convince you to help saving Lars' Temple and the
     innocent citizens of Basalt Keep.

  6. Sailing to Antharis
     Bombadill and Oriole sings a song!

  7. Quest sheet
     Narya uncovers the secrets of the 'make a pancake' quest.

  8. Questwatch
     Slakktor takes a look on the questing top list.

  9. Club it!
     Slakktor takes a very brief look at some of Nanny's clubs.
 

 10. Tales from the campfire.
     Smygelfh, Elako and Huntress get together to talk about adventure.

 11. The Secret Society
     Narya has investigated who really controls Nanny.

 12. The answers
     The solutions to the quiz in the last issue, and the winners.

 13. The quiz
     Do you know Nanny better than anyone else? Also, a npc-hunt!

 14. The player question
     Lectral investigates what the people think.

 15. Playerkilling log
     Lusk reports from the more dangerous parts of Nanny.

 16. That's it.
     Slakktor sums it up.

 
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Here's a brief account of things that have occured since the last
issue of the Times:

Brom and Taren, the archwizards, suddenly retired.

Aphextwin and Nasigoreng retired.

Brom rejoined the administration, but as high wizard instead of
archwizard.

Hodd's area was closed for personal reasons.

Vincent's and Augustus' areas were closed for a couple of weeks
before reopening. They went through some maintenance recoding.

Danny's area was closed but should hopefully open again soon.

Slakktor's quest, 'Defeat the Ten Terrible Trolls', worth 117 quest
points, opened.

The Barber club reopened after being closed for a while. The new
 
club master is Snafu.

Senderis was banished for abusing mortals.

Law, Deces, Dork, Mustafah, Center and Order were banished for abusing
a bug.

Crazy, Catti and Yetl were banished for sharing their characters with
cheaters.

Groda was banished for client abuse.

Xed was banished for making threats against fellow players.

As usual, a lot of people were married to each other. Some of them
even had mudsex.

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[Polar]

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An overview of Kefka's area, based on an interview with
him.

Kefka has had his area open for about two months now. It's a
little, smelly, poorly lit shack in the woods. Fortunately, there
are expansive caves below it to add some depth.

The area isn't really based on anything, just random silliness.
Some inspiration is actually owed to Final Fantasy 6, where Kefka
got his wizard name and a name for one of his monsters.

The area contains about twenty rooms and a few puzzles. There are
a couple of exceptional monsters to beat too.

Kefka's area is inspired mainly by Meep and Dwinbar, areas that
are fun to explore and to read the amusing descriptions, but
still containing useful items and good kills.


Kefka is trying to make an area suitable for everyone, though
perhaps his kills are better for players at mid-levels than the
highest ones.
 
The area should be useful for all guilds, perhaps with a slight
advantage for a Simyarin. A few guilds might have a little
problem with a certain monster.

Kefka plan to add more parts to his area in time. He has plans
for a quest too, but it won't open any time soon.

Kefka wants people to know that it is 6w,2s,2w,n from green,
and if it doesn't get more visitors, he will cry. He would
also like everyone to know to be careful with the mood ring.

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An overview of Slakktor's area, based on an interview with
him.

Slakktor had his area opened for a couple of months almost a year
ago, but closed it for recoding, and opened it again about
three months ago.

It's basically a forest with a village in it. However, there are
 
mountains nearby, so don't rule out a few caves...

Slakktor's contains roughly 75 rooms and the area isn't based on
anything but general fantasy. He's planning to add a part inspired
by Elaine Cunningham's work soon, though.

Slakktor has plenty of puzzles (28). He also has a toplist for them,
and you can see the names of them all, and whether you have solved them.
He has several exceptional monsters as well, but they do require a bit
of puzzling to find.

Slakktor's area is mainly inspired by Vincent's, in that it has tons
of puzzles everywhere. The area is also inspired by many other
creative wizards -- Leowon, Andra and Erendi, Readis and Firelight,
to name a few.

The area is designed for puzzlers. There's some killable monsters,
but that's not their main function. There's also a few nasty monsters
and some very good equipment, but you'll need to puzzle a bit to
find them.

No guild has a clear advantage in Slakktor's area, though druids
 
might fare a bit better with their puzzling powers. Also, killing guilds
like Khorne and vampires might find little of value.
 
Apart from the already opened quest, Slakktor hopes to open a new one
any day now, and a couple more in the fairly reasonable future.

Slakktor puts in new puzzles every now and then and makes minor
modifications to puzzles when he gets feedback or thinks of an
improvement. He plans to add a few rooms and at least three new
puzzles soon.

Beware, though: the area might not be as safe as it seems. Don't
trust the monsters to be as nice and pleasant as they might seem.

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Any old area you'd like to know something about? Ask Slakktor to
check it out! Or, even better, explore it yourself and submit a
review of it!

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Bombadill speaks:

For those that like the smell of burning flesh,
slaughter of foul citizens, and watching
beautiful flames burning down the Keep, you can
all join the evil path and become Molt's servants.
Together we unite all the dark forces against the
good. Our mission is simple: we use elementals
to burn down the statue in Basalt Keep. In order
to do that we have to burn down the gates first
to enter the Keep. To control the elementals we
need a scar from our leader Molt. He can be found
down in the heart of Moltentear. For more
information about the servants you can visit Molt
and greet him. Molt is a bit sensitive so use
captital letters to Molt.

On the mission you will face some resistance.

Slaughter the citizens and make the deputies flee
in terror from your army of elementals. This is a
hard but rewarding mission: some say that the
 biggest reward is to watch the statue in the Keep
burn down to ashes, but you will feel your heart
grow more evil after a successful mission.

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[Polar]

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Oriole speaks:

On the continent of Antharis, the first and foremost
outpost of civilisation is Basalt Keep. If you head
south from the village church, and then go a little
east along the south coast, you will come to the
harbour that allows passage southwards to Antharis,
more precisely to the port of Basalt Keep. In the
centre of this town lies the temple of Lars, the
good and merciful creator, and his temple shines
like a beacon for the people on this dark continent.
This temple, and the town itself, where among other
things the White Lily Monastery can be found, is a
symbol for law and order in a sometimes chaotic
environment.

Near the peaceful settlement lies a volcano. It
would be dormant, if the evil creature Molt did
not use its powers to uphold the fire within.
Sometimes the forces of evil become too strong for
the mountain, Moltentear, to contain, and fire and
 
ashes are spread throughout the peaceful landscape
surrounding the volcano. Molt then summons its
evil followers, people with no morale or scruples,
the scum of the earth, who obediently follow the
evil one's orders, and attack the lovely town,
with both the force of their own, and with fire
elementals, evil creatures sprung from within
the deepest pits of hell.

Now is the time for you, good people, to give your
aid in the battle of good versus evil. While the
evil henchmen of Molt will try to burn down the
gates of the keep, reach the temple, and by fire
desecrate the holy place, you must stop them. For
the safety of the realm, for the light to prevail,
for fairness and honour to remain, you will have
to do your share. You are not alone in your struggle,
though. Apart from the many other good and noble
knights, monks, druids, adventurers, occasional
good Simyarins, khornes or chefs that are there to
fight the evil hordes, you also get help from the
innocent citizens of Basalt Keep, that try to
 
preserve their homes, to save them from destruction,
to save the world from a fate worse than death.

You must go to Oren, the sheriff of Basalt Keep, who
has his office in the southeast part of the town,
near the main gate, and ask him to get deputised,
and thus given command over a number of citizens,
who will help you in your struggle against evil.
You must destroy the fire elementals, and prevent
them from reaching the temple, where they will
try to desecrate this wonderful place with their
foul fire. But with Lars on your side, and the
power of the good and just, you surely will
prevail, and at the end of the battle, you will
stand strong and brave upon a heap of ashes, the
pathetic remains of the evil forces. When you have
won, Lars will grant you his blessing, and you
will surely be aided in your journeys, while
the evil creatures will be equally cursed.

So, the next time that the poor citizens of Basalt
Keep are in need, travel to Antharis, and aid
 
them in their just cause, and defy evil once
again. You might become the hero that bards
praise in their ballads, and you will feel in
your heart that you did your part of the work
in the struggle against evil, and that when all
was said and done, you did the right thing.

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Sailing to Antharis

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Melody: Sailing to Philadelphia

Duet featuring Oriole and Bombadill.

</> indicates words sung at the same time
by the different voices.

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O:      I am Oriole
        A knightess born and bred
        My companion is a falcon
        By Gwalchmai trained and fed
        I've fought orcs outside Camelot
        Now I'll travel to a distant spot
        I'll walk through hell and deep mires
        To save the keep from evil fires
 

B:      They call me Bombadill
        A cultist, that am I
        Basalt Keep will burn
        And light the evening sky
        I will burn down those feeble gates
        Destroy the temple that Molt hates
        I, once a simple evil dolt
        Am now a follower of Molt

Both:   We are sailing south to Antharis
        A world away from the village church
        Sailing south to Antharis
        To <save/burn> the town
        That <blessed/hated> Basalt Keep

B:      Now you're a goody-goody player
        And I'll swear you'll make me mad
        But Molt will kill all of you
        Those who are left are bad
        You talk of liberty
        Basalt Keep will never be free
 
        That ugly temple, it will burn
        And all prayers towards Molt will turn

O:      Now hold your mouth shut, evil,
        See, Basalt Keep lies there
        A symbol for the justice
        That lingers in the air
        Come out and feel the sun
        A new morning has begun
        Another day will make it clear
        Why your fires will burn out, dear

Both:   We are sailing south to Antharis
        A world away from the village church
        Sailing south to Antharis
        To <save/burn> the town
        That <blessed/hated> Basalt Keep

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[Polar]

---------------------- The NannyMUD Times --------------------- page 7    ---

MAKE A PANCAKE by Lectral

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Ok this one really blows but that cant be helped. theres no killing though
so thats OK.

your making a pancake (duh that was hard to guess right) the 1st thing you
need is the coupon for the mix cause otherwise you cant add the other stuff
and you cant get the pancake mix from the grocer without it (they say they're
sold out) so you need it 1st.

OK. So go into lectral's area and theres a cottage: 4s 3e 1n climb cliff ne nw
ne nw ne nw move bushes forge path 14e jump gap 4e d 3e s 2u s move mat
get key unlock door open door enter cottage

OK. The coupon can be in 3 places: 1. behind the picture 2. in the toaster
3. under the cat (i told you this sucks). 1. the picture is in the bedroom up
the stairs, move picture and if its there it falls out. 2. in the toaster:
the kitchen is e of the front door. plug in toaster press lever. it will smoke
and tell you to stick a fork in it but dont do it cause it will electrucote
 
you which will take half your max HP. eventually it will pop up and if its
there it will come out. 3. if its not there its under the cat which is in
the living room, s 2e n from the front door. DONT PET THE CAT OR TRY TO
PICK IT UP! IT WILL BITE YOU and piss on the coupon which makes it no
good (i tried this). so go into the kitchen 1st and search under fridge.
theres a filthy old catnip mouse there. then go into garden - out front
door, e e s, pick catnip, stuff mouse, back inside (door may relock, so
take key with you (oops should have said that first)) go to living room
again throw mouse. cat jumps on mouse, get coupon, run like hell as the cat
will be after you until you leave the cottage.

OK. theres two ways to the grocer and one involves getting a bus but that
means getting change from the corner minimart and its a random puzzle

(buying x newspapers and y carlsbergs) so screw that. go back to beginning
and go: 4s 3e 2s cross street when traffic is clear. then something like
12e (your looking for a pub with a green sign). if some dog tries to bite
you 'kick dog'. when you hit the pub enter alley 2s then w s w. some big
guy will try to stop you from entering the shop so say 'Danmark styrer!'
just like that, cap and exc point, he'll let you 'enter shop'. give coupon
to shopkeeper get mix. back to cottage.

by this time if you made the cat mad it should be stoned on cat nip so
 dont worry about it. but 1st go back to the garden search hedge open gate
close gate (or the chicken gets out) enter barn, bring light or the rooster
will peck you. lift chicken, get egg, out, 3e, open shed. it will say the
door is stuck, kick door, you cant open it otherwise. open door, enter
shed, get pail, out, w s bow to cow (i swear to god ths sux but it will
kick you if you dont) milk cow, you will spill it, milk cow 2 with pail
(no you cant milk cow with pail the 1st time, don't ask me why). ok, back
to kitchen. search cabinet until you find a bowl. this takes like 40 tries.
when you get it open drawers until you find matches and a whisk. turn
cock (ha ha) halfway, this starts the gas, dont turn it more or it explodes
when you try to light it, less and it wont light. strike match, light gas.
OK now the stove is warming. open box. it may have bugs in it, this means
you took too long, but if not pour mix in bowl. pour milk slowly into bowl,
you need the word 'slowly' there. wield whisk, stir mix with whisk. break
egg, fold egg into batter (yes, 'fold' or it wont work). now light burner,
get pan from rack, get oil, put pan on burner, pour oil in pan (RIGHT AWAY
or it catches on fire!!!), wait until it says the oil is hot. pour
batter in pan, wait until it says you smell pancakes, then flip pancake
until it says it again. open china cabinet in dining room and get plate
(well OK do this first), slide pancake onto plate. turn off stove (THIS
IS IMPORTANT - it can blow up!!). open fridge, get syrup, and yes close
fridge. get silverware from drawer. now go back to dining room, sit down,
 
tuck napkin into collar (really, or you cant eat it and it gets cold and
then its no good and you have to start over), eat pancake and you're done.

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Questwatch! Read the latest on the movement on the Nanny Questing
Toplist. We take a look at recent changes, produce some meaningless
statistics and make insider guesses on what might happen.

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Let's begin with the current top list (2001-12-06). * = Inactive.
The number of paranthesises is the place the player held at
November 1st, 2000, about a year ago. (N = Not on the list.)

==============================================================Top 10==
 1. Cost the Master Champion of Khorne            12974 (1)
 2. Sergoath the High Knight of Camelot           12857 (5)
 2. Decatur the High Knight of Camelot*           12857 (7)
 4. Vendral the Champion of Camelot               12830 (4)
 5. Sadyke the Champion of Camelot                12577 (
 6. Oriole the Knightess of the Round Table       12574 (3)
 7. Kati the Champion of Camelot                  12377 (13)
 8. Kelli the Grand Mistress                      12187 (15)
 9. Lwaxana  the fierce Bloodthirster             12113 (2)
10. Bowen the High Knight of Camelot              12091 (14)
 
============================================================The Next==
11. Opus T'he S'uprem'e PriezT' Of CT'hulhu       12071 (N)
12. Arien the Mistress Champion of Khorne*        11822 (9)
13. Maggs the Grand Mistress                      11792 (37)
14. Hoppetossa the Mistress of Flowers            11787 (17)
15. Goodguy the Champion of Camelot               11757 (10)
16. April the High Knight of Camelot*             11698 (11)
17. Bivlex the Master of Flowers                  11625 (16)
18. Ferrodor Minar-im-Simyar*                     11620 (12)
19. Smygelfh the vampire lord                     11543 (38)
20. Decebal the Champion of Camelot               11177 (24)
21. Melee  the Elder Mistress                     10834 (18)
22. Hrafnur the adventurer*                       10822 (20)
23. Tirian the Knight of the Round Table          10769 (21)
24. Zyraxes the Knight of the Round Table         10758 (19)
25. Sundaar the Elder Master*                     10746 (23)
===========================================================The Rest==
26. Agnoluto the Elder Master*                    10663 (22)
27. Darion the Grand Master                       10566 (25)
28. Bombadill the S'uprem'e Oracle Of' Cthulhu    10490 (N)
29. Nachak the Champion of Camelot                10463 (26)
30. Angelsin the Grand Mistress                   10426 (29)
 
31. Keldo the Grand Master*                       10376 (27)
32. Arx the Master of Flowers                     10263 (31)
33. Mantor the adventurer                         10246 (28)
34. Kurgan the Leper Messiah                      10138 (30)
35. Nightchild the Whisperer in the Void          10061 (47)
36. Newton the Champion of Camelot*               10058 (32)
37. Hawkie the Elder Knight of Camelot            10034 (33)
38. Hunted the adventurer*                        10002 (35)
39. Michel the vampire lord*                       9995 (34)
40. Scale the Chivalrous Knight*                   9941 (36)
41. Dixy the High Knightess of Camelot*            9684 (54)
42. Oxy the Mistress of Flowers                    9607 (N)
43. Saian the Master of Flowers                    9606 (N)
44. Insomnia the Champion of Khorne*               9580 (40)
45. Sarcotome the Grand Master                     9574 (41)
46. Malfeithor the vampire lord                    9566 (50)
47. Huntingjoe adventurer*                         9522 (42)
48. Brian the initiate*                            9511 (45)
49. Baran the Whisperer in the Void                9432 (N)
50. Thypoon the Master of Winter*                  9400 (46)
51. Connor the Champion of Camelot                 9394 (43)
52. Daz the Shupremhe Priesht Ofh Cthulhu          9370 (N)
 
53. Belly the Master of Flowers*                   9306 (49)
54. Mathias the Elder Master*                      9302 (48)
55. Bubbabuzgut the High Knight of Camelot*        9276 (51)
56. Horn the Elder Master                          9261 (58)
57. Orcryst the Elder Mistress                     9232 (52)
58. Isobel the Mistress of Flowers                 9176 (53)
59. Ravagon the Greater Daemon of Khorne           9034 (56)
60. Kytten the Grand Mistress*                     9032 (55)

(Inactive players are those who haven't logged on for a month
 or more.)

A guild breakdown shows:

Knight        19 (12 active)    Best: Sergoath & Decatur (2)
Monk          22 (14 active)  Best: Kelli (
Khorne         4 (2 active)   Best: Cost (1)
Cthulhu        3 (3 active)   Best: Opus (11)

Vampire        3 (2 active)   Best: Smygelfh (19)
Dark           2 (2 active)   Best: Nightchild (35)
Leper          1 (1 active)   Best: Kurgan (34)
Adventurer     4 (1 active)   Best: Hrafnur (22)
 Simyarin       1 (0 active)   Best: Ferrodor (18)

Obviously, the general good quester seems to be a monk or a knight.

Let's compare the top 10 with the top 10 a year ago:

 1 Cost      12837
 2 Lwaxana   12197
 3 Oriole    12077
 4 Vendral   12067
 5 Sergoath  12037
 6 Mablung   12014
 7 Decatur   11862
 8 Sadyke    11839
 9 Arien     11822
10 Goodguy   11751

What we notice is that Cost still rocks, though it's a bit closer
nowadays. We see that Mablung, Arien and Goodguy have been replaced
by Kati, Kelli and Bowen. The amount of qp needed to become top 10
has increased with 340 qp, which could be explained with more quests
being available, as well as the questers becoming better.
 

The best climbers seem to be Opus (49+), Bombadill (33+), Maggs (24)
Smygelfh (19), Saian & Oxy (18+).
Those who have fallen the most (Apart from Mablung, who no longer
exists) are Lwaxana (7) & Connor (7).

Who will be the next player to enter top 10? Rumours have it that
Opus might be continuing his climb after a month of resting
and Maggs has also been seen working hard lately, as has Smygelfh and
Oxy. A few knights have also moved. There are several more
players who are questing too, and who knows, maybe a new star will rise
and climb on the list soon? It could even be you!

Join us next month to find out!

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[Polar]

---------------------- The NannyMUD Times --------------------- page 9    ---

Club Review

Every month, we take a brief look at a few Nanny clubs. This month,
we're looking at the Questers, the Explorers, the Spammers and the good
old Trade club.

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The Questers Club. (Created and maintained by Dannoc)

This is the club for those players who are really good at questing.
The club has its own line where the best questers in Nanny can
talk to each other. The club isn't that easy to join: first, you
have to find it, and then you have to have solve quite a few quests
to be allowed in.

The club is not that popular. There are seldom more than five players
online at the same time, and usually 2-5 are on.

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The Explorer's Club. (Created and maintained by Andra and Erendi)

The Explorer's club is for players who like to explore Nanny.
The club has an internal ranking system (though only the best
ten or so explorers are shown). The club also has fancy titles
that change as you explore more. You gain points by exploring
new areas in Nanny. In order to join this fine club you will have
to explore a little in the right place.

This club is quite active. There are often 10-15 players online, and
seldom fewer than 5.

--==++@@++==----==++@@++==----==++@@++==----==++@@++==----==++@@++==--

The Spammers' Club. (Created and maintained by Slakktor)

This is the club you should join if you don't like quiet lines.
Using the club line is encouraged and rewarded and not using it is
punished. The club features an internal level system which can
be raised by spamming the club line, and getting other members to
vote for you. For each new level gained, the players get new
feelings and adverbs to toy with, as well as fancy clubtitles.
 

The club is fairly active; there are seldom fewer than 3 members online,
and often 5-10.

--==++@@++==----==++@@++==----==++@@++==----==++@@++==----==++@@++==--

The Trade club. (Created by Taren and Brom, maintained by the admin)

This is the club which is supposed to be used for trading items in
Nanny. Most players are members of this club, which is fairly
easy to join--look for a tent west of the humpback bridge. When you've
got an object you want to sell, just offer it on the trade line.

This club is for trading only, and non-related talk should be
taken to other clubs. Also, most members are happy if you refrain
from selling bad items, we all want a bit of quality, right? (Of
course, people have different opinions of what's good...)

--==++@@++==----==++@@++==----==++@@++==----==++@@++==----==++@@++==--


Join us next month in our Basalt Keep special, as we take a closer
look on the Geeks, the Servants of Molt, and the Deputies.
 
Oh, we do requests too! Just ask Slakktor if you want your
favourite club looked over.

--==++@@++==----==++@@++==----==++@@++==----==++@@++==----==++@@++==--






---------------------- The NannyMUD Times --------------------- page 10   --

You arrive at the campire.

>l
You are standing next to a cosy campfire in the middle of a green
glade. It's quite late and dark, but the fire lights up the closest
area. A few birds can be heard from the bush surrounding forest.
 There are no visible exits.
Smygelfh the Vampire Lord (droolin').

Elako arrives.
Some blood drops from Elako.
Elako grins.
Huntress arrives.
Smygelfh drools.
Elako sits down by the campire.
Huntress sits down by the campfire.
Smygelfh sits down by the campfire and drools.

Smygelfh says: So, how's everyone tonight?
Huntress says: Fine, thanks.
Elako says: Fine, just killed a bunch o' zombies.
 
Huntress says: Sounds easy enough.
Elako says: Regular zombies perhaps, but these were a dozen really
            mean zombies.
Huntress says: Really?
Elako says: Yeah! They had some stunningly nasty weapons, and they
            were immune to damage.
Smygelfh says: Sounds easy enough.
Huntress says: Yeah.
Smygelfh says: I remember fighting a few zombies that were a challenge.
Huntress says: How so?
Smygelfh says: They were hydra zombies. They kept growing new heads as
               I clawed them off, and the severed heads growed new
               zombies. It took me almost half an hour to finish them.
Elako says: That doesn't sound hard to me.
Huntress says: Not at all. Anyone can kill hydra zombies.
Huntress says: Killing is easy when you've got weapons. I remember when
               I faced a dozen pit fiends, and forgot my sword at home.
               I had to beat them to death with their own toenails!
Smygelfh says: Teeth, what a luxury.
Elako says: Last time I killed a demon lord, I had to pull out my own
            toenails and beat it to death with.
Huntress says: You call that hard?
 
Smygelfh says: I remember when I needed potency, and all creatures in
               Nanny were dead except for Pet. I had to kill him over
               and over again to make potency.
Elako says: You had monsters? Luck! All I had when I was to rank was a
            lousy rabbit. I had to spend five years growing it into a
            beast worthy of killing!
Huntress says: You were lucky!
Huntress says: When I needed ten million xp for a couple of paragon
               levels, there was a bug that made me take triple damage
               from all monsters, and I couldn't wear any armour or
               wield a sword. It took me almost a day to collect it.
Smygelfh says: You were lazy!
Elako agrees with Smygelfh.
Smygelfh says: I remember a nasty bug I that made it impossible to heal,
               and I had promised to kill a hundred dragons that day.
Huntress says: I was there too, it appeared when I had 2 hp left, and
               was in the middle of the demonknight quest, which I had
               to solve within two hours to win a bet.
Elako says: Don't you ever do anything difficult?
Smygelfh says: Not that I can recall.
Huntress says: Me neither.
Elako says: Next month, I'm gonna tell you about a few easy quests.
 
Huntress says: There are no hard quests.
Smygelfh agrees.
Elako says: The matrix is starved, it will be too expensive to heal,
            I gotta log off.
Smygelfh says: Another vampire logged on, he might challenge me,
               gotta run.
Huntress says: Ritual! I don't have a blade, gotta log off!
Elako waves happily.
Smygelfh waves happily and drools.
Huntress waves darkly.
Elako left the game.
Smygelfh left the game.
Huntress left the game.

--==++@@++==----==++@@++==----==++@@++==----==++@@++==----==++@@++==--

[Polar]

---------------------- The NannyMUD Times --------------------- page 11   --

_NANNYMUD TIMES_ EXCLUSIVE

SECRET SYNDICATE OF THIRTEEN WHITE MICE FOUND IN BARBADOS
"They're the real power behind the mud," says unnamed source

The _NannyMUD Times_ has uncovered evidence of a secret group that may be
the shadow goverment underlying NannyMUD. This news may shock many readers,
who believe the mud to be run by certain high-ranking wizards, but our
evidence comes from former administrating wizards themselves.

"It's unbelievable," said one such former administrator--or "admin," as
they prefer to be called--who asked not to be named. (Indeed, all our
sources demanded anonymity, and many claimed to fear for their lives.) "You
go along for years, thinking it's all done on merit, and then you yourself

become admin and find that really it's just a sham, that you're the puppet
of a shadow government." Laughing hollowly, he added, "I'd call myself a
catspaw, but that would be inaccurate."

Inaccurate? Why? _NannyMUD Times_ staffers, working undercover, ferreted
out a lead. Sparing no expense, we found ourselves on the mysterious isle
of Barbados.
 
--
"Look on the beach," we were told. Barbados! Where isn't there beach here?
430 square kilometers of land and 97 km of coastline. Easternmost of the
Caribbean islands, it's a tropical paradise: more than 3000 hours of
sunshine a year, average temperature between 24 and 30 C year-'round. To
think it might be months before I found my quarry, trudging grimly along
soft, sandy beaches under dark blue skies! I clutched my thermos of pina
coladas and marched resolutely on.

They might be anywhere, so I looked everywhere. This reporter spared no
effort. Beach parties! Long lazy days of cricket. Snorkelling. (Who knew
but that they might be found in some distant reef?) Conga lines.
Sunbathing. Always, always vigilant, always watching from beneath eyelids
carefully drooping to give me the look of the perpetually half-asleep or
drunk.

Finally, one day, I heard what I was seeking: tiny, piping voices, raised
 
in antic revelry.
--
Catspaws, indeed! Who could be the catspaws for these tiny creatures?
 
Thirteen of them, sitting in their oversized novelty sunglasses on tiny
beach chairs under one sun umbrella. Thirteen white mice and one laptop:
the power behind the virtual throne. I sat, entranced by the spectacle,
only to be stunned from my reverie by a tiny nutshell, still smelling of
some fruity, highly potent drink, bouncing off my forehead.

"Hey! Poindexter! Fetch me 'nother one'a them coconut'n'lime drinks!"
shrilled one of the mice. "I got computin' to do!" With that, he began to
dance an improvised flamenco on the keyboard while the other mice chanted,
"De-mote! De-mote! De-mote!"

I did his (his? her? who could tell?) bidding, knowing this was my big
chance. To ensure that I might stay nearby, I simply brought a large shaker
of the coconut, lime, and rum drink and a fresh supply of tiny shells. I

would be kept busy over the next several hours, long until after the giant
tropical moon arose, overshadowing the clear bright pinpricks of the stars.

How do I explain those minute fiends? They amuse themselves with others'
lives. "Make Pet BIGGER!" they shriek one minute, then "No! No! Close the
door to Ghan-Toth ... NOW!" the next. One or two then launch themselves off
the open back of the laptop, drifting down the beach on a paper umbrella
made for a human-sized drink, then come scampering back, refreshed and
 minded to new deviltry. "Make Harry screw up that speedwalk!"
"Hahahahahahaha!" "Okay, okay, uh, that knight's been idle for ten minutes
... hold the crusade NOW!" "That Khorne's at 5 HP ... it's time for a slow
link, don't you think?" "Oh, but of course!"

Catspaws, indeed. It chills the blood, these murine tyrants and their
miniature passions. I spent several days in their company, catching
snatches of sleep whenever I could--mice sleep very little, and these mice
seemed immune to hangovers, and always thirsty and always hungry. (I
thought I would have to bribe the waitstaff in order to keep my post, but

they seemed quite happy to let me take over their duties; the mice don't
tip, and I never once saw them even pay a bill.)

The mice go all day. When it rains they get sullen and type faster.
Frequent squabbles break out over which gets to type commands next, and woe
betide the mortal whose name catches their eyes then. When it's sunny,
their moods improve, but the sun seems to stimulate their faculties, and
their torments get all the more vicious. They stay up all night, too, for
the most part, their fur glowing eerily in the dim glow of the liquid
crystal screen. They nap, here and there, and occasionally one or two will
run to frolic in the surf, but their real joy comes from interfering with
 
others.

The longer I stayed, the more and more it became clear how thoroughly these
mice were running the mud. The thousand small shocks virtual flesh is heir
to on Nanny could all be traced back to them. After days of collecting tape
on a hidden recorder, I was ready to return and to face the so-called
"admin" with the awful truth.

--
But I had a shock when I got back: the tapes had all been erased somehow. I
don't know when it was, for I listened to some right before I left. Still,
once I set foot on friendly soil again, I raced home to begin transcribing
the fatal tapes ... but all for nothing. All blank. They _were_ my
tapes--unless someone had opened the cases and replaced the actual
medium--but blank.

Of course, without that evidence, what could I prove? All I had were a lot

of mouse bites and a massive bill. One member of the admin after another
told me I was crazy, offered to show me the machine, laughed at me; but in
the end, the poorly hidden and deeply frightened expression in their eyes
was all I needed to tell me of their secret knowledge.

 The former admin were no better. They had put me on the trail, but none of
them will go public. Their lives still aren't safe, they say. And one by
one those sources have suddenly denied this terrible story. How do the mice
get to them? I don't know.

The information is now in your hands. I pray you're wise enough to use it.

--==++@@++==----==++@@++==----==++@@++==----==++@@++==----==++@@++==--







---------------------- The NannyMUD Times --------------------- page 12   --

Here are the answers of last issue's quiz.

Bluejedi snatched both prizes. Oriole also managed to get the
quiz right. C'mon people, let's give them a match this month!

--==@@==----==@@==----==@@==----==@@==----==@@==----==@@==----==@@==--

There are many keys in Vincent's area, which one opens the shed door?

A) The thin key [Wrong: B) The short key C) The brass key]

What monster is carrying 'The Corrupter of Souls'?

A) Grimtooth [Wrong: B) Zqnoidy'sdovw'sdorie C) The beast of Nurgle]

What are the names of the dwarves guarding Ered Luin?

B) Thror and Borin [Wrong: A) Bruenor and Thorin C) Dalin and Kali]

In what area can you get turned into a gnome?

 
A) Chino [Wrong: B) Lorenzo C) Brom]

What's the most exclusive dish of the Stonecutter's inn?

A) Meat stew with a 'Molten Rock'
[Wrong: B) Fried fish with a 'Stonecutter's Brew'
        C) Roasted pig with a 'Flaming soda']

In what area can you gain a full set of armour made out of worms?

B) Mirage [Wrong: A) Giltas C) Hans]

In the Mentarin University, what does Headmaster Matthew teach?

C) Mathemathics [Wrong: A) Chemistry B) Physics]

In the city of Gnomeholm, what's the name of the king?

A) Gnevil [Wrong: B) Gneedle C) Gnick]

What four towers guard the corners of the Castle of Faery?

 
C) Mortality, Faery, Dragons, Poets
[Wrong: A) Dragons, Sun, Moon, Faery B) Faery, Sun, Dragons, Mortality]

Which fabolous creature can be found in Amaryllis' area?

A) An ent [Wrong: B) A bullephant C) A sphinx]

--==@@==----==@@==----==@@==----==@@==----==@@==----==@@==----==@@==--

Copertino is one of the last famous levitating monks. He looks very peaceful,
but yet able to enjoy a good fight. Copertino has a white hood which makes
it, in some strange way, impossible to see his face, but you can see his eyes
looking right into your soul.
        Copertino  is carrying:
A white hood (worn).

This monk can be found in Gorbys area.

--==@@==----==@@==----==@@==----==@@==----==@@==----==@@==----==@@==--

[Polar]

---------------------- The NannyMUD Times --------------------- page 13   --

The Quiz!

The first one to submit a correct solution will get a reward of
5000 gold coins. Another 5000 coins will be given to a randomly
selected player from all who have submitted a correct solution
within one week, provided it's more than three. (Dec 17th that is.)

--==@@==----==@@==----==@@==----==@@==----==@@==----==@@==----==@@==--

1. What material is the gargoyle face on the vampire motherhouse made of?

A) Iron
B) Mithril
C) Stone

2. What's the name of Boyd's chef?

A) Birger
B) Bengt
C) Olov

 
3. How many climbable mountain peaks are there in Ziphoid's area?

A) Three
B) Two
C) Five

4. What's the name of the King of Tritonia?

A) Wolfgang
B) Grimtooth
C) Oswald

5. In what inn can you buy Anglosax booze and Mamas beer?

A) Marial's Inn
B) Stonecutter's Inn
C) The Five Kings

6. In whos area does Thetis, the watertroll, live?

A) Imrica's
B) Maxi's
 
C) Nyoni's

7. What's the name of the ill gnome in Carpathia?

A) Garko
B) Bruegor
C) Tuilo

8. The city policemen in LLoyd is named what?

A) Mike & Hansi
B) Borack & Derec
C) Marcus & Tiburt

9. What's the name of the mage guarding the entrance to the Caverns of
   Contagion?

A) Hertz
B) Theofyr
C) Amtrak

10. What's the name of the Acoma village elder?
 

A) Shinzawai
B) Papewaio
C) Xomich

--==@@==----==@@==----==@@==----==@@==----==@@==----==@@==----==@@==--

NPC Hunt! The first player to give the directions to and name of this
npc will get a reward of 2000 coins. Another 2000 coins will be
randomly given to one of the players submitting a correct solution
within one week, provided there are more than three. (Dec 17th that is.)

--==@@==----==@@==----==@@==----==@@==----==@@==----==@@==----==@@==--

He is very short and he's wearing a strange black cloak that is covering all
his body except for some inches in the face. You can see his blue eyes
looking up at you. A strange shimmering light appears from him that lights up
the room. He is sitting at the fireplace, doing something strange with his
hands.
        X is carrying:
A black cloak (worn).

 
--==@@==----==@@==----==@@==----==@@==----==@@==----==@@==----==@@==--

The answers and winners will be published in the next issue. Rewards
will be handed out as soon as they are decided.

--==@@==----==@@==----==@@==----==@@==----==@@==----==@@==----==@@==--






---------------------- The NannyMUD Times --------------------- page 14   --

The player question. This month's questions is:

What do you want from Santa this year?

--==++@@++==----==++@@++==----==++@@++==----==++@@++==----==++@@++==--

Lectral tells you: Hi! I'm doing a poll for the NannyMUD Times: What
        do you want from Santa this year?

Eyce tells you: the best weapon on the game
Murder replies to you: Darkness
Kefka tells you: I'm jewish, you Danish freak.
Grym replies to you: Irl?
Naeblis replies to you: A good guitar amplifier
Idimmu tells you: More exp
Snapple tells you: a blowjob
Twirl tells you: Some extra time
Methrix replies to you: Pink fuzzy bunnies
Archaon tells you: A big Axe.
Orm tells you: PORNO!!!
Grimflange replies to you: your serious???

 Eyce tells you: nah.. .just jokin
Cyrion tells you: a new shiny HD
Orm tells you:
Neill replies to you: peace and quiet from from pointless tells
Zop tells you: Some cigarettes would be great.
Rasp replies to you: nothing
Oak tells you: More time!
Femtonminus tells you: a better internet connection that´s free
Sarastro replies to you: a ADSL line with flatrate internet connection
Hammar tells you: a big kiss, and some new dark unice swords
Slakktor tells you: A long vacation.
Someone tells you: Santa who?
Jasay tells you: In real life or in the MUD?
Grimflange replies to you: I want a Computer
Isam tells you: Hmm, dont really know
Tempeh tells you: a firebreather and a very good sword
Brom replies to you: A year vacation and a NannyMUD 12-year birthday party.

Jadow tells you: hmm.. I wanna pass my single variable course =)
Someone tells you: Tell Santa I want back all the stuff he looted from beneath
        my tree last year, and if he doesn't come through, that won't be coal
        at the bottom of his stocking!!!!
Starshine tells you: I want his beard!
 Weardal replies to you: hmm nothing...as i dont like giving presents i dont
        like getting em.
Telmorn tells you: To become cool enough to best Helm, Guardian of the Gods, in
        single combat!
Karolynna tells you: well, I wish that he would get rid of the NP in
          nanny an put back the qp based lvls =)
Brom replies to you: ... and a new number of the Times.
Starshine tells you: I want to see him cut if off and hand it over to me!
Eyce tells you: what i want for christmas, is to get a break in leowon's
     cave... stupid back left forward right dirs... it's making me insane
Idimmu tells you: Or that new guild to open
Lectraljr tells you: My very own Slakktor doll!
Gabe tells you: Peace on earth!
Eyce tells you: or a board where sim's dont rule with their irritating presence
Deathless tells you: mybee a new home stero=))))
Deathless tells you: mean stereo
Exxelsior tells you: i want a big red hot poker which i may poke
          the various gods asses with.
Methrix replies to you: I used to have a pair of real pink fuzzy bunnies, but
        one day someone thought they were slippers and tried to wear them...
Dwinbar tells you: I want peace on Earth! =)
Someone tells you: Money, money, money!
 
Ereshkigal tells you: hmm...the whole world ofc!
Ereshkigal tells you: I'm greedy dammit
Mats tells you: A tie with Escher knot.
Cathbad tells you: Beer.
Snapple tells you: add 1 million $ to my demand
Saturn tells you: Coal
Gabe tells you: Oh, and a sharper axe!
Leowon tells you: I want a mini-colosseum where rubber duckies tear one another
       to pieces using razor-sharp fins from the not-so-aerodynamic
       koffertfisk.
Kaskar tells you: some Hearts and skulls To put in My nice Cthulhu Coffin..!
Apocalyptic replies to you: A faster computer =)
Narya tells you: I want a lifetime free airline pass from British Airways.

--==++@@++==----==++@@++==----==++@@++==----==++@@++==----==++@@++==--






---------------------- The NannyMUD Times --------------------- page 15   --

PK log, submitted by Lusk

--==++@@++==----==++@@++==----==++@@++==----==++@@++==----==++@@++==--

 Party [Lusk]: findus on green.
 80%/72%/69%> ** HP: 170/170   SP: 193/202
 Party [Rocker]: finuds on green
 Party [Lusk]: braining
 80%/72%/69%> Teer leaves east.
 Raindrop leaves east.
 ** HP: 170/170   SP: 192/202
 ** HP: 170/170   SP: 183/202
 You start to focus on 'Big-Scary-Spell'.
 80%/72%/69%> Grothus arrives.
 ** HP: 170/170   SP: 193/202
 ** HP: 170/170   SP: 192/202
 Shrike raked a deep gash in Findus.
 Party [Lusk]: going.
 80%/72%/69%> Your ward vanishes.
 Findus cuts a deep wound in Shrike.
 ** HP: 170/170   SP: 191/202
 
 Life arrives.
 Shrike's claws ripped into Findus.
 Findus cuts a deep wound in Shrike.
 ** HP: 170/170   SP: 190/202
 Grothus casts a spell upon Shrike that floods her with blue light.
 You strike out and fumble about in the heads of your foes leaving a real mess.
 ** HP: 170/170   SP: 154/202
 ** Findus is in fairly poor shape.
 Life leaves south.
 Rocker arrives in a puff of smoke.
 Findus is in fairly poor shape.
 80%/72%/69%> Shrike tore out a large chunk of Findus' flesh.
 ** HP: 170/170   SP: 153/202
 ** Findus is in weak shape.
 Shrike gutted Findus with a lightning-fast rake.
 Findus missed Shrike.
 Findus tried, but failed to run away.
 ** HP: 170/170   SP: 152/202
 ** Findus is in deplorable shape.
 You cast 8 magical arrows at Findus.
 Party: Experience points divided.
 [PK Information] Lusk just killed Findus.
 
 You are victorious!!!
 [PK Information] From somewhere deep inside the temple you hear a
                  voice saying: Hail Lusk!!!
 Findus died.
 You feel as one with the weave around you.
 73%/57%/48%> Some mist blows east.
 ** HP: 170/170   SP: 151/202
 Someone casts a spell upon Shrike that floods her with blue light.
 [Simyarin] Mithshiar waves tiredly.
 Shrike leaves west.
 ** HP: 170/170   SP: 150/202
 Party [Lusk]: laf
 73%/57%/48%> Village track <e w n s>.
 A gift voucher.
 73%/57%/48%> Party [Rocker]: haha
 Village road <e w n s>.
 73%/57%/48%> Village road <d e w n s>.
 73%/57%/48%> The shop <n s>.
 A magic garbage bin.
 73%/57%/48%> ** HP: 170/170   SP: 149/202
 Party [Lusk]: arrow


--==++@@++==----==++@@++==----==++@@++==----==++@@++==----==++@@++==--

Have you had a cooler pk fight? Submit it! Remember to remove
guild secret information.

--==++@@++==----==++@@++==----==++@@++==----==++@@++==----==++@@++==--






---------------------- The NannyMUD Times --------------------- page 16   --

Well, that was all we had for this month. Please join us next month
for some more thrilling secrets from the depths of Nanny!

We'd like to thank all the people who have contributed to this
issue, a special thanks to Oriole and Bombadill for the Basalt Keep
special.

Also, thanks to everyone who answered the player question, and to
everyone who have answered other questions about various things.

We'd also once again like to stress the issue of contribution. We
believe Nanny will benefit from a monthly issue of Times, but we
haven't got unlimited time and creativity. If you have any
material or ideas for NannyTimes articles, please contribute!

/The NannyMUD Staff

(Slakktor, Lectral & Narya)

--==++@@++==----==++@@++==----==++@@++==----==++@@++==----==++@@++==--
>
>
> read page 17
But there are less pages than that!