Cave of stars. From the narrow, unpretentious entrance to this small cave, you are witness to an awesome, brilliant spectacle of natural wonder. The dark, grey walls are studded with innumerable deposits of a strange, red, translucent mineral, which trace eerily across the entire cave, scintillating like a thousand stars to the dancing light of a perfectly-formed touchstone, situated in the centre of the room, and dominating the scene with its profound and terrible beauty. Plainly, this stone is an object of immense and ancient power, power which might bestow great magic on some, yet which for many more leads only to the reward of dark and helpless oblivion.  (Droo the infernal wizard) is here. ((----*))reset Time-stamp: 21:49:57 on 15-JAN-2002. This is reset 4080, using slot 0. An auto-reset will be initiated in approximately 96 minutes. (Droo the infernal wizard) asks "Gonna edit out bad words with *BEEP* etc?". (Droo the infernal wizard) smiles. (Karya the melancholy witch) shakes her head. (Droo the infernal wizard) says "damn..". (Droo the infernal wizard) proclaims "*beep, beep, beeeep!*". (Karya the melancholy witch) asks "When did you first start playing MUD2?". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "Hmmm...". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "Well, its hard to determine exactly, but i started using  wireply in late 98 i think.". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "DOS client...". (Droo the infernal wizard) shudders. (Droo the infernal wizard) listens. (Karya the melancholy witch) says "I started playing in May 1998 and you were already here. You made wiz in November of 1998". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "Oh...". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "Well, shows how terrible my memory is...". (Karya the melancholy witch) grins. (Droo the infernal wizard) says "Well, must have been late 97 then...". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "I started playing because of Doom and command and conquer.". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "(wireplay - that is)". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "Happened to see MUDII and decided to have a go, it was  a little boring to start with, but the F1 client (at the time) looked to intruging..". (Karya the melancholy witch) asks "Had you played any other MUDs prior to MUD2 on Wireplay?". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "No, didnt even know what a mud was.". (Karya the melancholy witch) asks "was it the client that got you hooked ... or something else?". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "Well, if it wasnt for the client i wouldnt have stayed, but it was for the people, and the mystique i really stayed.". (Karya the melancholy witch) asks "Which players do you particularly remember from your newbie days?". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "CAT, the first wizard i met (and one of the only ones if i remember), gave me a grand tour...". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "I remember Wibble, Stresshead (tarl)...". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "Boggy, Antman...". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "Marmite, Eviledna and Sun... (shudder) Sun...". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "SUN killed my first ever Sorcerer...". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "But, he happened to help me 'work out' how to kill the  dragon...". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "And lastly Lestat and Dunbad...". (Droo the infernal wizard) exclaims "Horrible Killers!". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "Most of that list were proficient killers". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "Yeah...". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "Killers obviously had a large impact on you when you first started playing". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "There the people you remember, you dont tend to remember Plodders.". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "On that note - at the time there was WDI, GDI and MOJO all just newbies.". (Droo the infernal wizard) giggles. (Karya the melancholy witch) asks "Who was your greatest Nemesis?". (Droo the infernal wizard) laughs. (Droo the infernal wizard) asks "Hmmm, of all time?". (Karya the melancholy witch) nods. (Droo the infernal wizard) exclaims "Thats a really hard question; lots of people hated  me!". For your information: there are 150 mobiles still alive. (Karya the melancholy witch) says "I remember one person in particular who you seemed to be fighting most of the time". (Karya the melancholy witch) whispers "Dunbad?". (Droo the infernal wizard) cringes, bad memories. (Droo the infernal wizard) says "Dunbad was a git, now I'll give him that.". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "There was an Amulet incident.". (Droo the infernal wizard) asks "Do you remember that Karya?". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "I'm not sure I was there, but I think I read about it on the BB". (Droo the infernal wizard) laughs. (Droo the infernal wizard) says "Well, ill tell you quickly.". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "It was a bash and Dunbad had been giving me grief all  reset, but he hadnt attacked so i thought i aws pretty safe.". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "I think it was a NON-PK Bash.". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "So, he had himself hidden away with most of the good  kit...". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "about ten minutes of the reset left and all the mobiles  dead (horrah!) and were celebrating in the Hut, me and about 5 - 7 other people...". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "Dunbad forces me to 'KILL ALL.". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "whack whack whack - dead...". (Droo the infernal wizard) exclaims "I was raging!". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "There ensued a arguement on the BB...". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "(i was Assin BTW)". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "To be honest though...". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "I was tossing up weather Dunbad or Keyser was my biggest foe.". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "I remember a time when there was the three of us only (you, Dunbad and I), he was snooping you and wanted me to snoop him force you to jump off the cliff". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "I remember that reset... Dunbad liked you.". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "he liked all the girls". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "I also remember a reset where Antman, Boggy and myself KILLED melancholy the mage, but the game crashedand you got away...". (Droo the infernal wizard) mutters something. (Droo the infernal wizard) smiles. (Karya the melancholy witch) asks "Why was Keyser a foe of yours?". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "Well, because with Dunbad i was always going to lose, he always had the edge.". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "He knew everything...". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "With Keyser we were pretty more equal.". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "And we fought longer fights a lot more.". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "Attack, flee, attack, fled from, attack flee...". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "One time i remember Keyser got me as a 75k warlock and so nearly beat me.". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "I fled on 1 stam.". (Karya the melancholy witch) cringes. (Droo the infernal wizard) says "Aye, i got him a million times too...". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "Thats why we were always cat and mouse.". (Droo the infernal wizard) smiles. (Karya the melancholy witch) asks "What's the story behind your persona names Assin and Droo?". (Droo the infernal wizard) has just kicked the touchstone! (Droo the infernal wizard) says "Hmm.". ((----*))l Cave of stars. From the narrow, unpretentious entrance to this small cave, you are witness to an awesome, brilliant spectacle of natural wonder. The dark, grey walls are studded with innumerable deposits of a strange, red, translucent mineral, which trace eerily across the entire cave, scintillating like a thousand stars to the dancing light of a perfectly-formed touchstone, situated in the centre of the room, and dominating the scene with its profound and terrible beauty. Plainly, this stone is an object of immense and ancient power, power which might bestow great magic on some, yet which for many more leads only to the reward of dark and helpless oblivion.  (Droo the infernal wizard) is here. (Droo the infernal wizard) says "Briefly, TEZ was my first character (and a name i almost adopted for this - my second wiz on MUDII.". ((Droo the infernal wizard) says "Assin came about after a Tez persona was killed by someone or other and (again) i was raging...". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "Assin being the second part of Assassin, Assassin already had been taken.". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "I played with Assin for a long time, a few years i believe.". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "Only to be killed as a warlock (one of my first) by Agrazag.". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "(NB. that was the "lotus" incident.)". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "Droo is kinda harder to explain.". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "For reasons I wont go into here, I was thinking about leaving mud.". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "And happened to start talking to Kyric.". In the distance, you hear a low, reverberating sound. (Droo the infernal wizard) says "After a couple of MudMails he suggest a name change, I couldnt think of one and he suggested Droo.". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "And Droo was born... and died, a lot of times.". (Karya the melancholy witch) asks "Do you know where he got the name Droo from?". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "A comic strip.". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "ah". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "I cant remember which one, but I must find out.". (Karya the melancholy witch) asks "Since getting hooked on this mud, have you been tempted to try any others?". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "To be honest, no.". (Karya the melancholy witch) asks "Why's that?". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "The layout of other muds is really terrible.". (Karya the melancholy witch) asks "layout?". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "the whole '(45hp 23mp 234sp):". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "I prefer (and still find myself) sc.who.i.". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "Ive tried MUD2.com, but find it so slow...". (Droo the infernal wizard) emits a bright green flash of light. (Droo the infernal wizard) emits a bright blue flash of light. (Droo the infernal wizard) emits a bright magenta flash of light. (Droo the infernal wizard) says "As far as muds go this is pretty great. The updates (ie the giants, behind great gate) are clever ways of making a game that (when at wireplay) was getting to small continue to work.". (Karya the melancholy witch) nods. (Droo the infernal wizard) says "The mystique...". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "Now thats what makes the game...". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "Its something that other muds just dont have.". (Karya the melancholy witch) asks "Why do you think that is?". (Droo the infernal wizard) asks "Sorry, why do i think it makes the game, or other muds dont have it?". (Karya the melancholy witch) asks "What makes this game so special with regards to mystique?". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "Well, it makes the game special because most (if not everyone) who plays WANTS to get past the level 11 barrier.". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "Other muds run on the basis that you 'live' a character, and there is no ultimate goal. Roleplaying *CAN* be an aspect of mud2, but most people dont do it...". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "In mud2, you do live your character as an extention of yourself in mud2s enviroment, but not as something completely made up...". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "Thats why, we have mudmeets.". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "To put a face to the name, we dont all meet up and go "Im zarafar the great, bow before me!"". (Droo the infernal wizard) exclaims "Were like, alright, im David, i play as droo... Now who wants a drink!". (Karya the melancholy witch) grins. (Droo the infernal wizard) smiles. (Droo the infernal wizard) asks "Do you understand?". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "No, you were like "I'm Dr Bartle!"". (Droo the infernal wizard) laughs. (Droo the infernal wizard) exclaims "I was 16!". (Karya the melancholy witch) grins. (Droo the infernal wizard) laughs, remembers that... (Karya the melancholy witch) says "we are now of course talking about the Dublin mudmeet ...". (Karya the melancholy witch) asks "your first and only to date mudmeet?". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "Yup..". (Droo the infernal wizard) exclaims "Its hard being Irish!". (Droo the infernal wizard) pulls a pint. (Karya the melancholy witch) asks "How did you find that? Meeting everyone?". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "The Dublin mudmeet was organised my 2.commers.". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "So it was (if memory served me correctly) mainly them.". (Droo the infernal wizard) asks "Only, me, you, foddy, cat, boggy, antman... (who else) from wpmud2?". (Droo the infernal wizard) exclaims "But it was great crack!". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "yes, that was it from Wireplay (and Richard)". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "yeah...". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "It seems a little tense at first...". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "it was the most enjoyable mudmeet I've been to". (Droo the infernal wizard) asks "really?". (Karya the melancholy witch) nods. (Karya the melancholy witch) says "but the fact it was high summer and a weekend away in Dublin helped". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "I have about this much memory of meeting you.". (Droo the infernal wizard) pinches his fingers until there nearly closed. (Droo the infernal wizard) says "I think i slurred "Hello thar... Cara...". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "I was SO drunk.". (Karya the melancholy witch) asks "were you drunk already when we arrived??". (Droo the infernal wizard) exclaims "Hmmm. Not so sure, but Antman and Boggy (who stayed in my house in Belfast) drink like champions!". (Karya the melancholy witch) grins. (Droo the infernal wizard) says "Theyre two big fellas, and im not so small myself, and they carried me all the way back to hotel we were staying in, i was that pissed.". (Karya the melancholy witch) remembers. (Droo the infernal wizard) smiles. (Droo the infernal wizard) says "the next one I go to wont be so bad, I'll pace myself.". (Karya the melancholy witch) asks "Did anything change about the way you perceived people?". (Droo the infernal wizard) asks "The way i perceived people?". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "Hmmm". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "How do you mean?". (Karya the melancholy witch) asks "the way you imagined people to be?". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "I didnt really imagine people to be in any particular way...". (Karya the melancholy witch) asks "no mental images?". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "I didnt think Antman and Boggy would "tower" over me so much...". (Karya the melancholy witch) grins. (Droo the infernal wizard) says "They must be about 6ft tall...". (Droo the infernal wizard) is short. (Droo the infernal wizard) asks "And you?". (Droo the infernal wizard) asks "how did you imagine people to be?". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "(out of curiosity)". (Karya the melancholy witch) asks "Me? I'm not the one being interviewed?". (Karya the melancholy witch) grins. (Droo the infernal wizard) says "You have to excuse my terrible typing.". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "Before the first two mudmeets I looked at previous mudmeet photos first so I would know that I was in the right place". (Droo the infernal wizard) laughs. (Karya the melancholy witch) grins. (Droo the infernal wizard) says "I knew what Cat and Foddy looked like, i had no idea about you.". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "So, i gathered you were ... er ... you, when you came in with them.". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "Good guess, being female would be the other clue". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "I cant remember "knowing" for sure if you were female in RL.". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "ahhh". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "There are a few witches that actually male you know folks! (looks at the muddled audience)". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "There was a lot of that going around at the time". (Karya the melancholy witch) nods. (Droo the infernal witch) puts on lipstick. (Karya the melancholy witch) says "Suits you". (Karya the melancholy witch) grins. (Droo the infernal wizard) puckers. (Karya the melancholy witch) asks "At the time you were of course a wiz, what made you go for  wiz at that time?". (Droo the infernal wizard) exclaims "You made me make wiz man!". (Karya the melancholy witch) asks "I did?". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "Yup". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "I was on the reset you made witch, i came home (from school!!!) logged on, and did icons with you.". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "Gave you my icon, and you wizzed.". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "You also pretended not to be you! But I knew it was you anyway.". (Droo the infernal wizard) smiles, probably. (Droo the infernal wizard) says "I thought to myself, "Man I SO want to make wiz.", and thats the mystique I'm on about.". (Karya the melancholy witch) nods. (Droo the infernal wizard) says "I felt a little sad when you made witch actually.". (Karya the melancholy witch) asks "Why?". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "I cant put my finger on it exactly, just remember feeling a little grim.". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "sorta, why cant I...". (Droo the infernal wizard) cries. (Droo the infernal wizard) composes himself. (Droo the infernal wizard) says "sorta, why cant I make wiz...". (Karya the melancholy witch) asks "so me making wiz made you knuckle down to it and do it?". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "Aye, Determined was created shortly after you made wiz, Determined and Persistent actually... thought id try two approaches.". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "Determined was the "Kill mobiles swamp treasure", Persistent was the "Kill everything in sight".". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "Persistent made it into warlock.". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "And you know what happened to Determined.". (Karya the melancholy witch) asks "Determinded became Droo the determined wizard?". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "aye.". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "Then Hellish wizard, then infernal wizard, then novice.". (Droo the infernal wizard) laughs. (Droo the infernal wizard) says "That was wizard 1.". (Karya the melancholy witch) asks "What happened? Why novice? Why wiz a second time?". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "Well, I was pretty young.". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "And being a wiz (ESP. on Wireplay!) was quite the responsibility.". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "While I was making a good name of myself entertaining the mortals, I was making a bad name of myself with the other wizzes, and esp. the archs.". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "And, for various reasons I was dewizzed/." (Droo the infernal wizard) says "MUD left Wireplay and came here.". (Droo the infernal wizard) exclaims "BTW. this is years later!". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "I was Archfodded, september 2000....". (Droo the infernal wizard) shudders. (Droo the infernal wizard) says "anyway, im getting side tracked.". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "I stopped playing for donkeys.". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "Came back and played for a month about 2 or 3 months ago as Meridian, nearly made wiz then, only to be fodded by a bloody warlock who I was about to kill...". (Droo the infernal wizard) mutters "I was on 175k.". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "I left, raging (again) after losing meridian.". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "Then came back with Akev.... and made wiz,". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "c'est tout.". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "I made wiz again.". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "Much easier the second time.". (Karya the melancholy witch) nods. (Karya the melancholy witch) asks "How do you find being wiz second time round?". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "Well, I'm more mature.". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "Im happy to be a wiz again, but im really glad i made wiz back when we had zillions of players on, I'm glad I got to meet Xia, Suzy, Mael.". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "Mud on wireplay was adolecent.". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "4/5 players were young.". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "which I think was a shock, esp. to the wizzes.". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "Younger people are hard to keep under control.". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "Mud is now hitting its middle ages.". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "The young people (sadly) have left.". (Karya the melancholy witch) asks "Is there anything you'd change about mud?". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "Front end.". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "We dont have a dedicated front end.,". (Karya the melancholy witch) asks "You'd force people to use the same client?". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "yes.". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "It adds an element of fairness.". (Karya the melancholy witch) asks "In what way?". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "With ZMUD you can have macros, triggers, back at the start of wireplay everyone was the same". (Karya the melancholy witch) nods. (Droo the infernal wizard) says "if you were good, you were good on the same client as the next person.". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "no "press f1 - zw..nw.n.e.n.n.n.g crown" etc.". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "or whatever.". (Karya the melancholy witch) asks "Ok, I think that pretty much rounds it up, is there anything you'd like to say before we end?". (Droo the infernal wizard) thinks. (Droo the infernal wizard) exclaims "Id love to see more people play!". (Karya the melancholy witch) asks "And finally, why did you chose here, the Cave of Stars, to be interviewed in?". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "I chose here because first of all the verbrose for this room is amazing, it also reminds me of the start of my mud life, how this room gave a player a lot of power...". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "browsing the SPELLS list... i used to print them off every new level i got too.". (Droo the infernal wizard) laughs, im sad. (Droo the infernal wizard) smiles. (Droo the infernal wizard) says "Also how it can take your power away...". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "Ive lost more than one SIR/MAGE in here...". (Droo the infernal wizard) says "Unlimited power, the touchstone probably as over a million points from me alone...". (Droo the infernal wizard) exclaims "thats why!". (Karya the melancholy witch) says "and on that note, thank you for letting me interview you". (Droo the infernal wizard) asks "Do i get a lovey journalist kiss on each cheek think from  you then?". (Karya the melancholy witch) laughs. [----*]snog droo You give (Droo the infernal wizard) a great big snog! (Karya the melancholy witch) asks "will that do?". (Droo the infernal wizard) gasps. (Droo the infernal wizard) smiles. (Droo the infernal wizard) beams. (Droo the infernal wizard) exclaims "I dont know what to say!". (Droo the infernal wizard) gives you a great big hug!