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   +----------------------------------------------------------------------+
   | The Olympia Times                                        issue g1-63 |
   | September 6, 1995                                                    |
   |                                                                      |
   | turn 63  180 players                                                 |
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Questions, comments, to play: info@pbm.com

Olympia PBEM

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Player-contributed press


The Lords of Revelstone sadly announce that the final noble held by OneEye in faery, Zafol III, was executed by his captors. This was done in apparent negation of an offer of release by OneEye. No explanation has been received by Zafol's comrades as to the reasons for this action. The Lords of Revelstone strongly urge the return of Zafol's body to his kinsmen.

-- Lords of Revelstone [ad4]


*** NEWBIES READ THIS..._AGAIN!_*** "You're gonna read a lot of threats in the Times. All sorts of bad stuff about the AOO, MAFOC, etc. Well, I've been playing for 15 turns and I haven't seen any of these people except Marat, who I think is run by the GM."

Thinking is apparently what you didn't do. I can attest that Marat is run by a real player, and so are BtA, the Sheriff, and so forth. The AOO really does exist - just because they aren't eating newbies' brains for fun and profit NOW doesn't mean that they've become pacifist vegetarians for good. The GM runs _the game_, period; not any positions in it. (Unless you count hordes of rats, wolves, etc.)

"Build a ship, get out of the IC"

That's good advice - just be careful who you travel with - and try to avoid them there barriers in the Atnos channel!

"find an unoccupied city (there are hundreds)"

Total cities on the map, maybe. I doubt if you'd find that many unoccupied ones.

"and start building your empire. I guarantee you'll be left alone, and will be able to grow to as big a power as exists in the game."

Left alone? Can I have that guarantee in writing & signed???

"Is mining a worthwhile skill?"

Umm - no. If you want to buy iron, bring me lots and lots of gold. On second thought, give me a couple of your nobles, and I'll make sure you get all the iron you need. Or I'll sell you _natural_ gold out of the ground, for 3 of your claimed gold pieces for each hunk of all-organic gold...

"Certainly the game is rigged, but don't let that stop you. If you don't play, you can't win!"...(paraphrasing Robert Heinlein)

-- Novgorod [ch2]


The Draconian Elite hereby lays claim to the City of Gildeath[ai9s] on the Isle of Antresk, and to the provinces immediately to the North, East, West and two provinces South. ie. Provinces [ai03]-[al03] & [aj02]-[aj04].

All travellers are welcome, Foresters, Recruiters, and Horse Wranglers are welcome but please have the decency to inform me when you wish to take resources.

-- Draconian Elite [fg4]


We're looking for a few good nobles...

The Liberty Confederacy is accepting applications for new members! Confederates gain the invaluable benefits of collective action in return for same. The Liberty Confederacy is a loose defencive alliance of nobles who wish to pursue their happiness with their freedoms intact. We are not engaged in any debilitating wars! Newbies especially welcome.

So come to Ossicus & make your fortune with the LC!

(applications to this id#).

-- Circle of Hope [lp3]


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Maps are available! Get yours today from the Illustrated Man [s5e] in the Imperial City! If you're a new player, only 75 gold plus your surface mail address for all the info known about Provinia and the world! For experienced players, ask about a blow-up of your area!

-- The Midnight Carnival [nx2]


---------------------- S. CAMARIS Update ----------------------

Monthly notice: any new visitors to our fair isle should notify us in advance.

-- The Crazy Quilters [vn7]


"Is there any truth to the RUMOR that the AOO owns a big part of Ossicus? -An Interested Party"

No, as a matter of fact, to my knowledge, there is no truth to this rumor. Ossicus is huge, however, & I can only speak of that small portion we rule. Anyone interested in traveling to Ossicus is more than welcome to contact me for information.

-- General Norc [z1a]


Stories about "innocent" travelers in Faery are greatly misinformed. Sneaky spies were treated just like all the other invaders of Faery. Future intruders will receive the same treatment.

-- OneEye [e5y]


___ ___ ___ / / ) / ) /___ /___/ /___/ / . _ _ /_ / )_ __ / / _ _ . __ . _ / / / _> / /___/(_>/ //< of / / (_)|// / // (_>

The First Bank of Provinia has offices in some of the major cities on the continent of Provinia. The FBoP offers the following facilities.

o Special offers for New Olympia Players. o Excellent Interest Rates on Bank Accounts. o A Fast and Efficient Courier Service. o Money Transfers. o Short and Long Term Loans. o Insurance Policies. o Pawn Broking Service.

Call in at your local branch for further details.

-- First Bank of Provinia [v0z]


MONTHLY NOTICE

The Brotherhood of Ormos claims the city of Avalon [ao0k] and all lands and resources inside the boundary of [bp05]-[bp08]-[br06] -[br09] inclusive, as its sole and lawful demense. Those wishing to visit Ormos are required to request a visa and await clearance before attempting to make landfall. All unauthorized visitors are unwelcome and looked upon with extreme prejudice. Captains needing to make landfall at Avalon for emergency repairs will not be molested, but are still required to contact me for a visa.

-- Pelinore Dragonslayer [p4s]


READ THIS BEFORE COMING TO GENTLEWIND, NEWLEAF, AND ENVIRONS

Visitors are welcome to the area controlled by the Cohorts of Colossus [vo4], as long as they obtain travel permits first. Not all requests will be granted. The affected area includes the land provinces bx25-bx27, by24-by27, and bz27.

To avoid possible misunderstandings, do not enter this area without a permit, nor collect resources without express permission. Violators of this policy may be subject to arrest.

I only rarely refuse reasonable requests, and then only because I've already granted my quota.

This policy helps ensure the security of all nobles within these lands. If you are interested in a franchise on collecting resources in one of these provinces, please contact me. I have friendly arrangements with several factions along these lines.

-- Sheriff Pelenth of Gentlewind [f3i]


Need a sugar daddy? I'm your man.

political references available.

-- Amra [g1p]


Puny mortals. I am not the GM. I simply CONTROL the GM. Since it can only be done once per game, I'll even tell you how: do research in Persuasion while posessing a Palantir...

-- Marat [g3y]


The Olympia Atlas is accepting contributions, and is available for download! Be the first to contribute information for unexplored lands (Faery).

In the tradition of Oleg's Map (tm), the Atlas is a compilation of geographical information useful for explorers, traders, and adventurers. Best of all, it's absolutely free!

To contribute to the Atlas, simply send turn excerpts (cut out all the incriminating parts) that contain the following information:

o) Mapping data (region & route info) o) City market reports o) City skills lists o) Inner locations

and send it to sx6@g1.pbm.com. We'll include it into the next version of the Atlas.

The Atlas is available by ftp from your nearest PBM ftp site (ftp.erg.sri.com in the USA, check the PBM FAQ for other sites), in the directory /pub/pbm/olympia, as atlas.X, where X is the turn of the last update.

The Atlas is also available on the PBMGames forum on CompuServe, in the fantasy games section, as atlas.oly.

Brought to you by the Skulking Vermin (sx6)

Note!! Due to Real-Life (tm) commitments, the Atlas will be appearing irregularly, as I have time to assemble contributions.

-- Sludge [x0o]


This is monthly notice if you wish to visit the environs of Cycarth and Redwine please be courteous enough to let m9l know (you can reach him at heyman@camis.stanford.edu. I do not currently plan to restrict access, but would like to know who is wandering around in my front yard. I would especially like to know if you plan on using any of the natural rsources (peasants, wood, and the like) in the provinces bt25 bt26 bt27 bu25 bu26 bu27 bv25 bv26 bv27 bw25 bw26 and bw27.

-- Darkman [m9l]


Hmn. If you try buying one of every item #, you get some interesting things sometimes: Tax Cookie [96] Wind Cookie [275] Mob Cookie [101] Rain Cookie [276] Undead Cookie [273] Mage Menial Cookie [277] Fog Cookie [274] Petty Thief Cookie [294] Methinks you should not be able to try purchasing these.

-- Seline Fireflower [w0l]


Rumors


Looks like it's time to do more with our sabres than just rattle them.


And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And Power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth. Revelation 6:8 The Equaliser.


Man there sure seems to be a lot of these Savage buggers around lately!


GUARDIANS OF THE LIGHT! There is an AOO city called Saltstone, at the lower tip of Provinia, around province cf32. It is poorly defended, far from any other AOO forces, and would be an easy target. Depriving the AOO scum of a city's income would be an impressive feat indeed!

A friend.


AOO go home!


***** ***** ***** NOTICE ***** ***** *****

Now he-yar dis, noble scums!

Once we put up wif bean bossed around. Reely nasty control ardifax (elf-made) let you do dat. Even now, sum of us are slaves of doze. No more; we be free volk!

We, da Orcs, heer-bye announz and' deeklare da ee-stabalishmend of da Sozialist Demokradic Free Orckish Peeble's Republik (SDFOPR).

Dere aint no beeches wot youz kin land on aksidently, so we doan wanna heer dat shit 'bout running aground, and you doan need ta no where we iz.... If youze finds yore whey heer, you wuz trying to.

And if youz doan got pur-misshun, we is goin' ta eat you. Dat mean per-mishin *FIRST*.

An' no, I ain' gon give ewe my ID to do dat skry crap.

--> If it'z Ourz, it'z Ourn <--

Neville Chamberlain, Speegkr of da Free Orcshish Azsembdly

P.S. Elf panzies not welkum.


Life is a jest, and all things show it. I thought so once, and now I know it.


many thanks to the aoo for providing us all with free entertainment. not so much fun for any nobles they catch, tho.


Oh, the drums, the drums...they're driving me mad.


I wonder if you can get a griffin by crossing a lion and a giant bird. Anyone tried it?


The roundship "Revenge" returns to familiar waters to complete its mission. The castle still stands, the accursed villain remains, and the defenses are ripe for the plucking. Enjoy the taste of your own medicine, foul villain...


There are several rather silent alliances which are quite powerful.


Quoth the sage, "A penny saved, is a waste of time"


To honor the one (RL) year anniversary of the first death of noble little Dogmatix, Provinian Press is proud to present a special limited gold-bound edition of "High Noon at the Chateau - What Really Happened." Place your orders with the Soothsayer [gw8c] in Imperial City.


A Circle, A Circle! Now a basket and some wood! Bark at the Moon!


> What can be done to prevent the attack > in by21 that occured last turn?

You need spell 9872 (Time Travel)


To all bird-lovers who yearn to have their own pets: The travelling salesman is on his way to IC with lots of nazgul, giant birds and winged horses for sale. Watch for the Floating Zoo in 6 turns.

The Travelling Salesman


What has happened to the folks on Torba Bacor? Is anyone still there? Or have they all melted into the ground?


"This space not controlled by the AOO, one of the small areas where they have no influence"


Most foul & wrong!

We just learned how the AOO gets all their nobles! Yes, an oathed noble is hard to persuade over, but when a player quits the game (say, a newbie who's just lost all his nobles outside the chateau), the nobles shift to oath-0 from which they can quite easily be beaten senseless or bribed into joining some nefarious AOO faction. Oh whicked tyranny! Thy name is AOO!

How to avoid the syphon of noble points into the AOO vortex?

Lesson 1: don't wander about central Provinia with less then 1,000 troops & absorb aura blast.

Lesson 2: leave the Imperial City with friends & allies: there is safety in numbers.

Lesson 3: build lots of troops & aim them at the nearest evil AOO Stronghold.


Attention: Residents of eastern KRUSSOS Missing: Siccum Rex [r8x] Description: 6 ft. under, weight 100, pallid complexion, does not respond. Quals: Shipcraft/Combat/Stealth/Mining/Persuasion Location: Graveyard [ag8e], in Plain [ct35]

Dead for several months now, Siccum is urgently in need of Resurrective therapy. As you can see, he is possessed of a wide range of skills and will gladly enter into the service of any kind soul who can extricate him from his predicament, or some other compensation can certainly be arranged.


Coming in next months Olympia times: "Raising Wyrms for fun and profit".


Fed up with grizzling newbies? Strike a blow for tyrrany by joining the Guardians of Darkness! Watch this space for tips on how you can oppose do-gooders of every persuasion. We are many, they are few. GoD


Stealth, like all swords, has two edges. Hunters should also be seekers. A newbie who has read the rules.


I read in the first passage of the "Art of War", by Oleg the Loudmouth (deceased).

"We must begin with self confidence. Remember: You are somebody"


I think we are hearing a severe case of sour grapes.


If MAFOC is THE GOOD and AOO is THE BAD, then who is THE UGLY?


A newbie and his money are soon parted, as I have learnt to my own sorrow!


The end is nigh.......... close down your hatches, prepare for the worst......the sea is getting rougher.... even dolphins cannot survive.....the typhoon cometh.


This space intentionally left blank.


How come no one will answer about breeding oxen?


Regarding the dramatic coastal raid posted to the last Times, congratulations on making for yourself an enemy out of a hazard.


___ Ascii Art: {^._.^} Title: She's as cold as ice... Brought to you by: ( Y ) An Anonymous Artist ()^*^() (AAA) (_)-(_)


A wise warmaster said to his advanced student:

"My friend, you have trained yourself & your men as best you can. You have studied the ancient secrets of battle. But do you know what is good in life?"

The bronze giant answered:

"To crush your enemies, see them driven before you, & to hear the lamentations of the women."

"That is good," the warmaster smiled.


Seems like the earlier editions of the TIMES had more information. Lately, there seems to be little but bluster and repetitive land claims. Anybody got anything _interesting_ to publish?


Guardians of the Light say: USE 9523 ATTACK GARRISON And no one will ever know who attacked it!


I would also like to say that my dealings with the AOO & with the Gauls/Oleg crowd are qualitatively different: The AOO usually tries to see what they can squeeze me for & attacks whenever they have the advantage, while the Gauls/Olegites usually try to give good advice & help me out when they can. You can say rulers are all alike if you wish: but I can tell the difference between a goodly & an evil duke.


re: " Is all villany against newbies finished? "

In the last 10 turns 23 factions joined Olympia and the population of Olympia went from 186 to 179 factions. I doubt that all those factions are just melting into the ground. The villany against newbies will end only with the end of newbies.


ATTENTION ALL NEWBIES ! A BRIEF HISTORY OF SOME OF THE ALLIANCES AND PERSONALITIES IN OLYMPIA.

> Would somebody please post to the times some > info on the political history of Olympia to > aid a confused newbie in working out how the > big alliances fit together. > Who are AOO, BtA, MAFOC? > Any others? > What are their general dispositions?

Very well, here is what I've gleaned from the OT as well as some more confidential sources over the years.

The AOO is the self-declared Ancient Order of Olympians. It is an alliance of a dozen or so factions which was formed some time in the early history of Olympia. Since that time virtually every major conflict seems to have involved them. In that long series of wars they have often lost battles or leaders, but at the end they always are still around, while their enemies are nowhere to be found. Today they are said to rule fairy, the cloud lands, hades, most of provinia, atnos and a number of other continents. All of them seem to want to rule every single last province of Olympia, but apart from that their disposition varies from benign despots to homicidal maniacs.

Speaking of homicidal maniacs, BtA (or Basty as he is known to his friends) is one of the most notorious "nobles" in (or for that matter, outside) the AOO. Even you only count the murders he has gleefully confessed to (only a fraction of the ones he has been accused of), he is probably the single leading cause of noble death in Olympia. If you add to that all the deaths caused by wars started by his arrogance and ruthlessness, he probably had a hand in a majority of all deaths so far. While his own military record is mixed, unfortunately he happens to be the most powerful mage in Olympia. And by quite some distance as far as I can tell. He has used that power to assassinate every other mage who could have challenged him. It is estimated that he has dined on the brains of more than a dozen full-fledged sorcerors. My advise to everybody who wants to get anywhere in magic is to keep a very low profile indeed. However, if you want to see BtA, he is but a single ten day trip to the north away from the Imperial City. But don't plan on a return trip.

Which brings us to MAFOC. What the acronym stands for is unclear, but threats to eliminate the AOO within short order signed by that name appeared for about sixty months in the OT. In the end BtA got tired of waiting and attacked them instead, apparently without help from any of his AOO "friends". Within two months they were shattered and BtA got himself a larder full of fresh brain food. If you want to resist the AOO, don't bother with them any more. Instead follow the hints given by the Guardians of the Light, or contact the Indomitable Gauls which have successfully resisted the full might of the AOO since year 2, when they led the only (so far) successful attack against the Chateau Olympique. BtA himself was killed in that attack, and I daresay that if we had succeeded in laying him to rest then, the world would be a better place, in particular for newbies and other mages. Instead he came back from the dead and has been a complete psychopath ever since.

Name withheld for obvious reasons.


Faux bonhomme:

When the snakes surround the altar, and the Maratan blood is troubled by Rimmonites, because of them, a great number will be lessened. The leader flees, hidden in the swampy marshes.

The rock holds in its depths white clay which will come out milk-white from a cleft Needlessly troubled people will not dare touch it, unaware that the foundation of the earth is of clay.

A thing existing without any senses will cause its own end to happen through artifice. At Autun, Chalan, Langres and the two Sens there will be great damage from hail and ice.


What two animals are needed to breed chimera?


Can anyone tell me what a "Sword of the Ages" does?


The winds of fate are dying.


Beware Tollus! We are many, we are mighty, we are coming!


How do you gain controll of captured oath loyalty nobles?


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