****************************************************************** Vol. 1 THE MONTFORT MIME Issue # 9 "Knowledge is Power" ****************************************************************** ------------------------------------------------------------------ | Rosh Valdokka (Greg Dewey).............Editor-In-Chief | | Drywen Regelli (Becca Ward)............Assistant Editor | | Natile Gifford (Vandi Williams)........Copy Editor | | Zzaann S. T'aevyl (Sheli Ellwood)......Local News Editor | | The Eagle (J. Endicott)................International Editor | | Trouble Windwalk (Adrienne)............Classifieds Editor | | Calin Shadow Dancer (Paul Chisholm)....Advice Columnist | | Tyal (Von Sleigher)....................Thieve's Source | | Kit Tvyvar (Cathy Mosley)..............Investigative Reporter | | Baslet Beetlegob (Robert Douglas)......Reporter | | Gimli (Daniel Pallotta)................Food Reporter | | | | Reach us at: 3mfpl7n@cmuvm.csv.cmich.edu | ------------------------------------------------------------------ ***************************FOREIGN NEWS*************************** MORE DESTRUCTION IN PAS DU MER - TAVERN TORCHED [Sapphire]; by Greg Charles Pas du Mer, no stranger to events of great destruction in recent days, has seen more of the same devastation. Only last week, the Maiden's Delight, a tavern in the poorer (and more ruined) part of the city burned completely to the ground. Many charred corpses and copious amounts of blood were scattered through the ruins, indicating that violence and mayhem preceded the final flames. Witnesses in the area have offered varying and conflicting recollections on what exactly happened. Most agree, however, that the slaughter was started by a small band of travellers in an argument after an unidentified female member of the party defeated a local patron in arm-wrestling. Magic was reportedly used in the fight, with several bolts of light being scattered in the melee; furthermore, most patrons agree that the travellers suddenly disappeared in the middle of the brawl, leaving many corpses lying in their wake. After this, the fight supposedly dissipated. Events after this are made even more unclear by the rather incoherent account of the single survivor of the fire. The survivor -- a male whose name is being withheld -- stated that in a strange twist of events, one of the travellers returned to the Maiden's Delight and cut down the rest of the patrons in an unparalleled display of savagery and destruction. How exactly the lone survivor escaped is unclear. He maintains that the maniac let him go free, but the ferocious treatment the attacker gave to the rest of his victims lends doubt to the man's hazy recollections. The local militia continues to question the surviving witness in an attempt to shed further light on the incident. BLACK COMET SEEN; NORTHERN LOGGING COMMUNITY WIPED OUT [Horsemen] Two nights ago, a black comet was reported crashing to earth not far from North Chully, a small community several hundred miles north of Montfort. Tom Blanford, 53, a trapper who works the region surrounding North Chully, spotted the comet. "Real dark, it was," Blanford said, "'tweren't no light to it at all." Late the next day, Blanford entered North Chully -- a logging town with a population of 63 -- to find all the residents were dead of unknown causes. "Don't know if'n that thing caused this," Blanford said, "but I wouldn't be surprised to know there's a connection of some sort." CEREMONY TO REMEMBER DESTRUCTION OF PALACE OF LIGHT [Light]; by Joe Butler Twenty-five years ago tomorrow, the First War of the Light commenced with the destruction of the Palace of Light in a fire. Tomorrow, in a memorial service at the rebuilt Palace, members of the Order will remember those who were killed in the fire. The attack that destroyed the Palace was ordered by Lae'Kesh's servant Ae'Dam, who had rebelled against Lae'Kesh and joined with the dark god Mercui. One witness of the fire, a high layman in the Order of Light, said in a recent interview, "It came out of nowhere. We were all sound asleep, then everything started burning. We were lucky to make it out alive. Bloody rebels. I still wish I could have killed that Ae`Dam guy." This reporter spoke with other survivors of the fire, including the Lord High Priest Vantellor. The Lord High Priest stated, "I never really understood that bloody rebellion. Ae`Tellis never bothered to explain it all. Well, the fire nearly killed me. I thank Lae`Kesh still for waking me in time." ****************************LOCAL NEWS*********************************** GRIFF'S FIELD CEMETARY SITE OF FIREFIGHT [Church/Politi/Amulet/newsbeat] Griff's Field Cemetary was the site of a clash late last nightbetween troops wearing Republica uniforms, Church personnel (including Inquisitors and Mageguard), and an unknown number of Resistance members. Grand Inquisitor Blayne of the Church of the Redeemer reportedly had arranged a meeting to parley with various representatives of the Resistance when the negotiators came under fire by what appeared to be Republica troops. The Grand Inquisitor was missing for several hours following the firefight, but reportedly appeared alive and uninjured well before dawn. At least three Resistance members were killed in a teleport, and extensive damage to gravemarkers was reported. The Gilford Family Mausoleum, final resting place for generations of that family, was completely obliterated, according to witnesses who preferred to remain anonymous for their own safety. No comment could be obtained from either the Church or the Republica by press-time. NEW CHURCH COMES TO MONTFORT [Mercy]; by Joe Groszkiewicz A new church dedicated to the worship of Valia, "Mother of Mercy" and "Supreme Comforter" was recently constructed outside of Montfort. As explained by Brother Marcellus, the head of the Church of Mercy in Montfort, the Church's philosophy focuses on charitable acts. "The worshippers of the Comforter are tasked to relieve suffering whenever possible," Brother Marcellus stated. "When people are sick or injured, we do what we can to heal them. When people are hungry, we give them food. That's the primary reason we have come to Montfort at this time. There are many here who are in need." Brother Marcellus went on to affirm that all who are suffering are welcome to come to the Cathedral. Many already have done so to take advantage of the free food distributed by the Church of Mercy. PATRONS TEST LIMITS OF INN'S WARDS [Deception/Terror/Saga/Honour Bound] A recent food-fight in the common room of the Dragon's Inn tested the outer limits of Hugh Rogers' anti-violence wards. The melee reportedly started when an unidentified young man threw his bowl of stew and attempted to flew from the common room. Soon, countless patrons were participating in the ruckus, tossing food back and forth at one another. Earlier in the evening, a young female mage known only as Katrina Aes Sedai, had set the precedent by levitating a barrel of ale and emptying it over the head of one of her companions. Fawn LeGhost end the food-fight after several minutes. Having suitably chastised the guilty parties, she then drafted all responsible into cleaning up the mess that had been created. Hugh Rogers reportedly is considering recalibrating the wards to prevent a similar future occurrence. Shortly after the uproar in the common room, explosions were heard in a nearby alleyway. Though witnesses reportedly heard someone blaming the noise on the "Politi," investigation by Inquisitors on the scene revealed that the cause was only a healthy amount of fireworks. PARCEL STATION DESTROYED BY MYSTERIOUS STORM [Beaver] The Montfort parcel station (not to be confused with the local offices of the Messengers' Guild and the Stream Riders') was flattened three days ago by a mysterious storm. On a day in which the skies were clear of clouds, a sudden wind levelled the entire building. Ironically, the parcel station roof had been replaced only the day before by local craftsrodent Bronwyn the Beaver. Bronwyn reportedly is hard at work even now to replace the destroyed building. LOCAL WOODCUTTER, WIFE TORTURED AND KILLED [Malikai] John Atley, 34, and his wife Quilla Atley, who lived northwest of Montfort were found dead in their home yesterday by Mrs. Atley's brother, Robert Quentin. "I started to worry about them when Quilla didn't show up for our monthly family gathering," a shaken Quentin said. "What with big animals being seen north of Montfort, and all the bandits roamin' around, I thought I should check on them." According to Quentin, the Atleys' murderer apparently tortured them extensively before killing them. The couple will be interred tomorrow morning following a private service for the family. MORE DEATHS IN NORTH WOODS [Church] Early yesterday morning the Rabin Tylit, age 25, came into town to report that his neighbors, Calur and Mergean Crakson along with their seven children, were missing. The children ranged in age from a girl of 14 to a newborn son. Mr. Tylit said that went to the Crakson farm to collect payment on a loan he had made to Calur Crakson, and found the farm deserted. Mr. Tylit said, "I's wes werried - Crakson wesn't a man to run frem a debt. And I's remendered him seyin' thet he and the femily were goin' to town for supplies - Ye knew the Church of the Redeemer is geven out clean food. And weth a femily thet big, weth the femine and ell, they'd need help." Mr. Tylit alerted the authorities to the disappearance of the family, and a search was organized. Eberson Hiknon, a local hunter, who headed the search, reported, "It was as we'd feared - for some reason the Tylit family had taken the northern road through the woods. I'd say it was past noon when we found the overturned wagon, though oddly enuv the bodies of the horses were found quite a distance from it. All torn up by some huge beasts. Looked to me like they're were savaged by wolves, but the claw marks were way too big for that. We found the bodies of the elder Craksons, though they were off in different directions. Kind of like they separated. As for the children - we've scoured the woods and can't find anything of them. 'Course there might not be enough left to find." CHURCH OF THE REDEEMER ANNOUNCES CLEANSING, FESTIVAL [Church/Politi] It was announced today that The Church of the Redeemer will be hosting a festival to celebrate Deacon Geod's finding an antidote to the famine that has caused such widespread devastation to Montfort. The Church spokesperson said that the Church will be giving out free food to all who attend to celebrate the bounty of the Redeemer. The Church's spokesperson said that a Cleansing of two witches will also take place during the Festival. He said that these two were charged with, and confessed to, several crimes. These crimes include the recent poisoning of the town's wells, which the Church Mageguard quickly purified; participation in spreading the famine; heresy, and the practice of black magic. The Church spokesperson said that the Church wants the people of Montfort to know that such acts against the citizens of Montfort will not go unpunished. *******************************PUBLIC FORUM******************************** From: Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Arthropods [WaterHorse]; by Gary Couch Our field agent, Keir Ti'Kar, has reported the wanton and unjustifiable destruction of Reticulitermes habitat by one known as Gin (smh@tyler.net). We deplore this intentional infliction of suffering upon the innocent citizens of that city in the Katelyn Forest. The screams of the dying and their kin could be heard as far away as Mandria where our agent is currently based. To the perpetrator of this heinous act we ask: Have you no conscience, no regard for sentient beings simply because they are small and vulnerable?! Let it be known your name has been added to *The List* and will not be removed until you either make reparation in the form of a cash donation to the Society's Shelter for Homeless Hexapods or volunteer your time to any of the fine charitable activities of the Society. We hope you are thoroughly ashamed of your actions. Metamorphosicly yours, Geezer Gadfly President *****************GOSSIP: WHO'S NEW IN THE DRAGON'S INN******************** The interval between Issue 8 and Issue 9 has seen the advent of a number of threads in the Dragon's Inn. One of the more light-hearted ones, [Beaver] features Kannadeth, a very unhappy mage, and Bronwyn, a talented carpenter -- and beaver -- who speaks with an unfortunate lisp (hyperfrisk@aol.com). (See related story in the local news section). The [Deception] thread also formed, with the characters of Katrina Aes Sedai (prk@tartarus.uwa.edu.au); the mysterious dark elf Twilight (micele@sirius.com); a half-elf smelling faintly of ale, Connell Shaughnessy (rdw1@midway.uchicago.edu); Nirein and Bougar Holyndile the Furdar (samsong@earthlink.net); Yunas Skold, he of the stiff knee (etakayamant@alpha2.curtin.edu.au); and the erudite if short-tempered minotaur Brawl (c9404397@student.anu.edu.au). [WaterHorse], another rather whimsical thread with dark underpinnings, has made its appearance also with a collection of interesting characters (smh@tyler.net). The [T'Ki] thread started with arrival of the couple, Jaise and Anelle and their horses Kitlon and Balhan (jfarmer@direct.ca), all on the run from the robber baron T'Ki in the far north. The [Light] thread has started with a recounting of events twenty-five years past, involving the characters High Priest Leran, Lord High Priest Vantellor, and Tetraclys (tbutler@airmail.net). [GatekeyQuest], headed by a shape-shifting dragon named Jai-Alai (tbutler@airmail.net) has sucked in has managed to recruit a beautiful half-elven woman named Estara (?) and a striped individual named Poni (p01004@psilink.com), a shape-shifter and smith of "good skill." The [Mystics] thread, involving a number of characters (Heidi.Hough@i-link.net), has also begun with a number of introductory posts. Godfroi de Bouillon of [Honour Bound] has managed to sign up a good number of stalwart adventurers to help him with his quest to re-establish the Mergovian Empire. The heroes in his employ include: the warrior Nazeer Shalam'Bazeel (nelson@ultrix.demon.co.uk); Selayha (aslandfg@aol.com), an elven princess; Trisstree (aslandfg@aol.com) a dark elven swordswoman; Marcus Lamont (al415@detroit.freenet.org), who was down on his luck; Ragsted (skia@coshocton.com), who may or may not be blind, but who describes himself as a rogue and thief; Bossler Von Eichfeld, a/k/a Crocker (Croaker111@aol.com0, a laconic fellow; Sharralindrea dol' Fuerre (p01004@psilink.com), a beautiful and talented Fire Elementalist; Keora (otter+@andrew.cmu.edu), a healer; Devlin Raelith, or "Zombie" (koptev@chelsea.ios.com, with a long scar across his neck; and Talas (drobin02@uoguelph.ca), a young warrior. A rather insistent gentleman by the name of Nallix Black-cloak (nocp@comm.net) has been trying to recruit fellow adventurers. Dressed all in black, complete with a fashionable fedora, Nallix starts by warning potential recruits that he fully expects to bury them in the course of the quest. He has approached, among others, Ardra (pwb45727@pegasus.cc.ucf.edu), a sorceress dressed in black and carrying a sword called FoeSlayer. Other recent arrivals include, in no particular order: Lord Theasa (t_mccain@ix.netcom.com), a Drow, with stained robes and a multitude of pouches; Marquis Lenne (sca00460@mail.wvnet.edu), with an "unexplainable regal air"; Zyarif Dragon-Mage (lramsay2@cln.etc.bc.ca), who still seeks aid in defeating the wretched Anzerh; Malikai (skruffy@aol.com), who appeared fresh from an execution, killed a farm couple, and presages the beginning of a new thread; Drannic (jasonl@wow.com), a totally bald man with slight build and a silent way of walking; Blade Dante (hinton@linknet.net), who arrived via a dimensional door (another variation on the mistaken teleport) which dropped him in the river; SelyrDae and Essence (sauralyn@gnn.com), exiled from their temple and returned, living, from the Fire Mists; Fawn (izzy@rain.org), an elven lady who has falled into [Saga] with her dog, Ash; Jasin Lightvoice (ewokboy@dmv.com), a lavender-eyed young man who entertained the patrons with his pipe; Eclipse (sauralyn@gnn.com) with purple/blue skin, who will "stop at nothing to satisfy that unleashed urge within her to quest forward ... and find out ... her purpose"; Cyrrus (fcastro@apci.net), who came in wrapped in a blue blanket and tried "to blend in with the crowd"; Iolair (swinford@indy.net), a lonely dragon in human form; Lyja and Rayenne (anjela@indy.net), who have befriended Iolair; Moridin (prk@tartarus.uwa.edu.au), a menacing man with startling blue eyes; Skydancer (sophie@g-dav.demon.co.uk) who appeared in a flash of lightning and echoing thunder; Master Graylin the tinkerer and the feline Creed (bwt@brain.uccs.edu); Bron, who has tried to sell the small monkey Neika (cll@pl.jaring.my); Rubal Noon (fortitude@linknet.net), a courier who seemed quite dismayed to find himself dropped in the middle of a muddy farm field; Sabrina DeCappa (aOkara01@phys.ksu.edu), cast out by her family for being a girl interested in knighthood; Brad, or "Skull," a different sort of shapechanger, and his sister Sam (drew@utdallas.edu), who have fallen in with Essence; Mordalf (be767@yfn.ysu.edu), some sort of were or vampire or other creature who spared the life of a woodsman who tried to kill him; Ezberron (Ezberron@apci.net), a young man who has fallen into [Saga]; Keiven (cll@pl.jaring.my), apparently known to Neika the monkey; Nunc Velata (wgh55674@jetson.uh.edu), a tall red-headed character wielding something called a voulge; and Donna Twotrees (firefly@iinet.net.au), a female halfling deposited by a portal on the street corner. [Disclaimer from Becca Ward: My server crashed yet again at midnight on Thursday, just as I was finishing this up the first time. The entire file of "Who's New," the foreign news, and the local news was wiped out. Though I have tried to reconstruct all the information, I most likely lost a sizable chunk of the "Who's New" list. If your character or thread was recently introduced and does not appear above -- I apologize, but it disappeared into the ether.] --------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------- THE MONTFORT MIME - CLASSIFIEDS ---------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------- *************** Come Celebrate the Coronation *************** with Quisling Brother's Circus of Renown Thrills, Chills and Fun for the Whole Family Coming to Montfort -- Soon! ************************************************************** ---------------------------------------------------------------- Come to the B E S T B O O K S T O R E I N T O W N for: - first class reading - ancient manuscripts of power - foreign literature - all sort of maps - Sage advice of any kind - reasonable rates Visit Librandt's Bookstore at any hour, you can find it just below the bright yellow sign. Up to date directions are floating around on a magical panel through The Red Dragons Inn. Come soon you will not regret it ------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------- **** PERSONALS **** ------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------- PEOPLE OF MONTFORT - REJOICE! ...for your salvation is at hand. Come to the Church of the Holy Redeemer each morning at sunrise and find the happiness already afforded many of your neighbors. The Church is here for you, be you of high blood or low, rich or poor, it matters not to us. We are here for your soul! ------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------- **** WANT ADS **** ------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------- PLAYERS WANTED: The interplanetary corporation of Hither Thither and Yon Oddities would like to announce a new opening in St. Yerron, on the planet of Loria. The first hundred customers get a free gift certificate for two free fish curls at Gerrok's Tavern. For reservations contact Erzats c/o (samsong@earthlink.net), or for more info, set you magical document viewers to: <a href="http://home.earthlink.net/~samsong/">http://home.earthlink.net/~samsong/</a> -------------------------------------------------------------- WANTED: TROOPS Brave men and women to join the forces of the Republic. Ability to think independently not required. --------------------------------------------------------------- WANTED FOR HERESY: THAI SILVERRUN! Anyone who can give information leading to the arrest of former Deaconess, Thai Silverrun, will receive 1,000 pieces of gold and the eternal gratitude of the Holy Church. If you have such information, contact Inquisitor Blayne at the Church of the Holy Redeemer in Montfort to collect your reward. --------------------------------------------------------------- TEMPORARY CHARACTERS NEEDED FOR CORONATION AND ACCOMPANYING FESTIVITIES: Writers sought to play, among others, the king's friend, a policeman to check vendors' licenses, and miscellaneous other personages. Ideas for events/mishaps/ and other occurrences also wanted. Please contact sand@iglou.com and post also to ad-i-misc (un.ad-i-misc@Orb.Nashua.NH.US via the mailing list). ---------------------------------------------------------------- ARCHIVED POSTS AVAILABLE FOR THE ASKING: Are you missing a post from long ago? Do you want to know the beginning of the Church? Did you know that a Dragon attacked the Inn a year ago today? Well, if the answer is YES to any of these question and you would like to read some of the old posts from the Dragon's Inn, assistance is only an email away. Just send a request to: wmvon@airmail.net and I'll dig it up for you. All that is needed is time frame, character name, thread name, or even give me all of it ... and <poof> it is in your mailbox, all 100 meg worth. I have posts from 8/95 to the present; posts from 4/95 to 7/95 are scattered in my database somewhere. And you ask what is the charge for this service? Well, the answer is 'dinner,' if I ever come to your part of town. If I never show up, then the service is *FREE*. Yes, that is what I said, FREE. No string, no rings. Well, it will eat up a lot of your harddrive space. Just let me know and it is yours.. See you at the Inn.. -Von P.S. Oh yeah, I forgot to tell you my favorite food is... Just guess for now. I hate traveling... --------------------------------------------------------------- [Admin: the following are examples I used because I didn't receive enough submissions. --------------------------------------------------------------- ADVENTURERS WANTED: Example: The [Macho] group has just lost its healer. We are desperate for another. Inquire at the Dragon's Inn, ask for Bruno (bruno@macho.org) -This would be someone's actual email address. --------------------------------------------------------------- VILLAINS WANTED: Example: The [Churchianity] group needs another arch villain to work with Proctor Johannus. Must look human and work well with commoners. Magical ability a must, illusionism a plus. --------------------------------------------------------------- LONELY HEARTS: Example: Single vampire seeks regular blood donor for meaningful relationship. Meet me in the alleyway behind the Dragon's Inn at midnight. --------------------------------------------------------------- ***WHERE TO SEND SUBMISSIONS************************************** FOREIGN <a href="NEWS">NEWS</a>: The Mime offices are always eager for out-of- town news. Please send all submissions to Allercan Casour, c/o sand@iglou.com. LOCAL <a href="NEWS">NEWS</a>: For those of you closer to the home front, we will be pleased to receive submissions or leads about the goings- on around Montfort. Contact Zan c/o shansu@axxis.com. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: If you would like to express your views on something you have seen in the MIME, or events in Montfort or elsewhere (plus see your name in print), address your letter to Rosh Valdokka, Editor-in-Chief, c/o 3mfpl7n@cmuvm.csv.cmich.edu. CLASSIFIEDS/ADS: Classified ads, personals, and advertising of all kinds should be submitted to Trouble Windwalk, c/o gtraxler@holli.com. GOSSIP: If you are a new arrival at the Dragon's Inn, and want to have some control over how you are written up in the gossip column, please submit information to Drywen Regelli, c/o beccaward@delphi.com. ADVICE: Torn between two lovers? Tearing your hair out at your mother-in-law's endless interference and uncertain how to tell her to mind her own business? (After all, who wants to upset a woman who can turn into a dragon in the blink of an eye?) Write to Calin Shadowdancer, c/o chisholm@buffnet.net for advice.