Muddled Times
Issue:Issue 26, March 2004
Section:Events
Author:Laura

Nothing to Lose

First off, I apologize if this report seems rambling, but I wrote it at the very end of January, shortly before the February issue of Muddled Times was scheduled to be completed. A lot of distractions kept me from writing it right after the event itself, when everything was still fresh in my mind. Even so, there's only so much I can tell about the event, considering that I couldn't actually see everything that went on there and that I had to leave before it was over. But I'll do the best I can, and then let someone else tell the rest of the story.

On Thursday, December 18th, 2003, a most unusual event occured. For one whole set, all the normal rules of MUD2 were temporarily suspended. Here's what the sign people saw when entering had to say about it: 

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
 For this reset only, there are no rules! You can do (almost) nothing
 wrong. Live, die, it doesn't matter! At the end of the reset, we'll
 be putting everything back the way it was.
 Points you score this reset do not count. Deaths do not count.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

In other words, you could do anything you want. You could kill other players, be killed yourself, and it would all be undone when the set was over. (Of course, from the mobiles' point of view, every set is like this, but I digress ... grin). You could even bring in your other personae any time you wanted to and use kit gathered by your other persona, something which is usually called 'looby looing' in normal sets. But since this set had no rules, you could get away with anything you wanted to do without worrying about being sent to limbo and/or FODed.

Even though I knew this 'event' (unlike most events) didn't have any prizes (as it wasn't the sort of thing anyone 'won'), my curiousity got the better of me and I just had to participate. Almost right away, I puzzled over what I could do that I normally wouldn't do in any normal set. If, indeed, all my lost points were going to be restored at the end, I could try all sorts of things that would be very costly under normal circumstances. But what could I do to make this set really chaotic?

I noticed that Apeomancer was not present, and thought that it was a shame he couldn't be here. As a self-professed explorer, experimenting with the game is one of his favorite hobbies, and it seemed to me this set was designed for such things. It then hit me what I could do. Since Apeomancer couldn't be there to do the stunt that gave him the name Apeomancer, someone else would have to do it ...

So I headed off to the pagoda, and grabbed the necessary items. I then decided to take those items elsewhere before doing the 'apeomancy' trick. Apes already infest the pagoda area, so what fun would it be to create new apes there? No, instead I decided to give the other participants a few surprises by making apes appear in places they usually don't expect to find them. I dragged the items to the railway track, the haha area near the keep, and the monastery north of the Villa. I repeated the apeomancy procedure over and over until ape30 showed up. Note that this is VERY costly in both points and stamina, as doing it even once results in a 'silly death'. Here, I did it at least 18 times, but I switched between personae to do so.

While I was increasing The Land's ape population, a number of people had decided that since they indeed had nothing to lose, they'd throw a few mortal FODs at each other. As the set went on, the OBIT list grew larger. I have never seen so many attempted mortal FODs in one set before. A full OBIT list should come toward the end of this article. I did of course type OBIT every minute or so, just to keep track of who was doing what to who while I was engaged in my fiendish little plan.

Alas, the apeomancy tools vanished after I created ape30, so I couldn't create ape120 this time. But the monastery, normally home to the piglet and the piglet, was now crawling with apes. I decided to go check on them.

It turned out to be a big mistake. I was still weak from my little prank, and I ran into ape16 at the luscious wood. My creation had already killed one or two players at this point, and since I was vulnerable at the moment, it decided to attack ... 

*e
Luscious wood.
You are at the edge of a luscious wood, near the bottom of a pleasant
hillside. Eastwards, in a field, is a stone building, while up a steep hill,
to the southeast, the landscape melts into olive groves. Through the trees
to the north the terrain slopes down to some water, and a path meanders to
the west. An enraged ape (ape16) snarls at you, wildly. Hanging from the
branches is an old hammock. 
*For your information: the ape16 is worth 4,141 points if killed.
*val ape
The value of the ape16 is 4,141 points.
*The ape16 is advancing towards you threateningly.
*The ape16 hits you (21/120).
*You hit the ape16 (1-4).
The ape16 looks superficially injured.
*str.dex
Your spell worked!
You emit a bright blue flash of light.
You have suddenly and magically become stronger!
*Your spell worked!
You emit a bright green flash of light.
You have suddenly and magically become more adroit!
*The ape16 hits you.
You feel your will ebbing away ...
The ape16 has killed you.
Not updating persona.

Alas, like many B-movie mad scientists, I had fallen victim to my own creation. Soon afterward, Nemesis also fell, causing ape16 to be worth 5,883 points. I, meanwhile, was hoping that Foddy meant it when he said that everything would indeed be put back the way it was at the end of the set.

Revan the warlock, much to Foddy's surprise, had managed to last quite long into the set, despite the fact that there was plenty of PKing going on in addition to the apeomancy and mortal FODs. I, meanwhile, QQed as Laura and entered as Zalagar (I guess most everyone knows Zalagar is Laura's alternate persona by now). I went in and did a WH of most of the apes ... 

*n
You step through the opening into a blurred patchwork of greens and browns,
which whirl around you in seemingly aimless patterns until they suddenly
slide into shape...
Dense forest.
You are standing in a dense forest. It continues to the southeast at a
passable level, but south it is too thick to allow movement through.
Westwards it becomes a pine forest. North, northeast and east are pastures,
and northwest lies a festering, fuming swamp. A rusty key can be seen here. 
*wh ape30
Your spell doesn't find any.
*wh ape29
1 in the place known as "stony beach".
*wh ape28
1 in the place known as "west dale".
*Foddy the loopy arch-wizard shouts "what does ffs mean?".
*wh ape27
1 in the place known as "railway track".
*wh ape26
1 in the place known as "behind bar".
*wh ape25
1 in the place known as "upstairs landing".
*wh ape24
1 in the place known as "lounge".
*A male voice in the distance shouts ":) dont answer that".
*wh ape23
1 in the place known as "stable yard".
*wh ape22
1 in the place known as "room in scriptorium".
*wh ape20
1 in the place known as "pigsty".
*qs
Zalagar the necromancess
eff str 94 eff dex 93 sta 18/120 mag 20 pts 39,211 gam
79
*wh ape16
1 in the place known as "dense forest".
*l
Dense forest.
You are standing in a dense forest. It continues to the southeast at a
passable level, but south it is too thick to allow movement through.
Westwards it becomes a pine forest. North, northeast and east are pastures,
and northwest lies a festering, fuming swamp. A rusty key can be seen here. 
*For your information: Archangel the mage is worth 33,847 points if killed.
*wh ape15
1 in the place known as "Dally Lane".
*Gilgamesh the priest has just arrived.
*Gilgamesh the priest glances around.
*Gilgamesh the priest has just left.
*nod
OK, Zalagar the necromancess nods.

Those apes were just about everywhere at this point in the set. After Jay and Vincent fell victim to the apes, I decided to seek out ape16, who by now was worth quite a lot. The encounter, unfortunately, went badly ... 

*w
Dense forest.
There is an ape16 here, asleep. The ape16 is carrying a longsword. 
*look ape
The ape16 looks critically injured, and is holding the following:
 the longsword.
*val ape
The value of the ape16 is 7,398 points.
*k ape
You attack the ape16.
*The ape16 has woken up!
You hit the ape16 (1-4).
The ape16 looks critically injured.
The ape16 hits you (24/120).
*str.dex
Your spell worked!
You emit a bright blue flash of light.
You have suddenly and magically become stronger!
*Your spell worked!
You emit a bright green flash of light.
You have suddenly and magically become more adroit!
*The ape16 has started to use the longsword to fight!
*You hit the ape16 (5-9).
The ape16 looks critically injured.
The ape16 misses you.
*rf
Your spell worked!
You emit a bright magenta flash of light.
You have suddenly and magically become fitter!
*You miss the ape16.
The ape16 hits you.
You feel your soul fading away...
The ape16 has killed you.
Your magic stalls, having not warmed up properly.
Not updating persona.

I suppose I should have checked my stamina before attacking. In any case, I was now deprived of two musers, and still hoping that Foddy wouldn't forget to restore my personae at the end. Especially since RL was going to be calling me away at any minute. I tried to stay as long as I could, though.

I went back into The Land as Zalagar, hearing the distant shout "I'm the ape16, King Kong ain't got nothing on me!". I soon discovered that as a result of all the killing and FODing, the zombie count had gone up to at least zombie30, too, as I ran into a zombie30 resembling Vincent the sorcerer. As Revan was sighted in the sorc room, someone finally brought down ape16.

Soon, Revan fell to Jay the necromancer, much to Foddy's delight. I, meanwhile, managed to touch ts and regain magic, only to fall to ape29 in battle. I continued for a while, but unfortunately RL could not wait much longer. I was expected elsewhere IMMEDIATELY, and I had to leave before the set was over

So, while I had to leave not knowing how the set ended, I can truthfully say that it was probably THE strangest session of MUD2 I have ever participated in. 

*obit
	The following players have died in fights this reset:
 Jay the sorcerer, killed by the lion and (Heiach the warlock),
 Strobe the sorcerer, killed by the lion,
 (Pppp the warlock), killed by the mouse and Jay the sorcerer,
 Archangel the mage [target], killed by Pppp the warlock,
 Nemesis the superhero, killed by Strobe the sorcerer,
 Werewolf the sorcerer, killed by Archangel the mage [target],
 Jay the sorcerer, killed by Archangel the mage from heaven,
 Strobe the necromancer, killed by Jay the sorcerer,
 Thwomp the sorcerer, killed by Jay the sorcerer,
 Nemesis the champion, killed by the ape24,
 Thwomp the champion, killed by Strobe the necromancer and Jay the sorcerer,
 Gilgamesh the sorcerer, killed by Pppp the champion,
 Nemesis the sorcerer, killed by Pppp the sorcerer and Gilgamesh the sorcerer,
 Gilgamesh the dragon-slaying sorcerer, killed by Nemesis the sorcerer,
 Jay the champion, killed by the giant1,
 Dragonbash the champion, killed by the giant1,
 Thwomp the champion, killed by (Archangel the mage from heaven),
 Jay the mage, killed by the dragon (twice),
 Strob the champion, killed by the dragon,
 Dragonbash the sorcerer, killed by the dragon (twice),
 Strobe the sorcerer, killed by the dragon (twice),
 Nemesis the protector, killed by the dragon,
 Jay the champion, killed by the dragon and Dragonbash the sorcerer,
 Booo the sorcerer, killed by the dragon,
 Thwomp the necromancer, killed by Archangel the mage from heaven,
 Gilgamesh the sorcerer, killed by the dragon and (Jay the mage),
 Foz the necromancer, killed by the man,
 Boooo the sorcerer, killed by the man,
 Vordai the necromancess, killed by Boooo the sorcerer,
 Strobe the necromancer, killed by Gilgamesh the spellbinder and (Jay the mage),
 Nemesis the swordsman, killed by the ape14,
 Vordai the sorceress, killed by the vampire,
 Jay the hero, killed by the ape14,
 Revan the sorceress, killed by the vampire,
 Strobe the sorceress, killed by Boooo the sorcerer,
 Jay the necromancer, killed by Revan the sorceress,
 Johnnyd the superhero, killed by Jay the necromancer and the female dwarf32,
 Zalagar the sorceress, killed by the ape29 and the female dwarf37,
 Nemesis the protector, killed by the ape29 and the female dwarf37,
 (Revan the warlock), killed by Jay the necromancer,
 Booooo the champion, killed by Revan the warlock,
 Nemesis the sorcerer, killed by the ape13 (twice),
 Jay the spellbinder, killed by Booooo the sorcerer,
 Zalagar the necromancess, killed by the ape16,
 Jay the sorcerer [target], killed by the ape16 (twice),
 Vincent the sorcerer, killed by the ape16,
 Strobe the sorcerer, killed by (Archangel the mage from heaven) (twice),
 Laura the necromancess, killed by the ape16,
 Vordai the protector, killed by the ape16 (twice),
 Vordai the sorceress, killed by Strobe the sorcerer,
 Ragalaz the guardienne, killed by Vincent the sorcerer,
 Nemesis the sorcerer, killed by Jay the enchanter,
 Ragalaz the protector, killed by the ape15,
 Vordai the protector, killed by the snowman,
 Englebert the necromancer, killed by (Revan the warlock),
 Jay the warlock, killed by Englebert the necromancer,
 Englebert the necromancer, killed by Gothik the necromancer,
 Ragalaz the superheroine, killed by the magpie,
 Lady Englebert, killed by Jay the warlock,
 Boddington the legend, killed by Revan the warlock,
 Jay the guardian, killed by (Revan the necromancer),
 Strobe the sorcerer, killed by the ape16,
 Jay the mage, killed by Sir Strobe and (Revan the necromancer).
	The following have died to FODs from mortals this reset:
 Booo the sorcerer, violently disintegrated by a failed attempt to FOD Jay the
	sorcerer,
 Werewolf the necromancer, violently disintegrated by a failed attempt to FOD
	Werewolf the necromancer,
 Art the warlock, violently disintegrated by a failed attempt to FOD Art the
	warlock,
 Foz the sorcerer, violently disintegrated by a failed attempt to FOD Dragonbash
	the champion,
 Gilgamesh the spellbinder, violently disintegrated by a failed attempt to FOD
	(Jay the mage),
 Thwomp the sorcerer, violently disintegrated by a failed attempt to FOD Thwomp
	the sorcerer,
 Rubycon the sorceress, violently disintegrated by a failed attempt to FOD Revan
	the sorcerer,
 Gothik the necromancer, violently disintegrated by a failed attempt to FOD Revan
	the champion,
 Nemesis the sorcerer, violently disintegrated by a failed attempt to FOD
	Archangel the mage from heaven,
 Jay the enchanter, violently disintegrated by a failed attempt to FOD (Revan the
	warlock [target]),
 Lenon the spellbinder, violently disintegrated by a failed attempt to FOD (Revan
	the warlock [target]),
 Jay the sorcerer, violently disintegrated by a failed attempt to FOD (Revan the
	warlock),
 Vertigo the magician, violently disintegrated by a failed attempt to FOD Jay the
	necromancer,
 Strobe the mage, violently disintegrated by a failed attempt to FOD (Englebert
	the mage),
 Po the big soothsayer, violently disintegrated by a failed attempt to FOD Strobe
	the mage,
 Po the sorcerer, violently disintegrated by a failed attempt to FOD Strobe the
	mage.
	The following non-first-game players have died to the touchstone this reset:
 Thwomp the champion, short of luck by 3.2%,
 Werewolf the champion, short of luck by 11.5%,
 Pppp the champion, short of luck by 4.9%,
 Nemesis the champion, short of luck by 9.4%,
 Jay the champion, short of luck by 14.4%,
 Strobe the champion, short of luck by 4.8%,
 Bert the hero, short of luck by 74.8%,
 Po the swordsman, short of luck by 82.7%.


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