[The following is a combination of last month's topic on Computers and this month's topic of Creative Writing. Mike Matsunaga has written a story based on adventures in MUDs (Multi-User Dungeons or Domains). He explains this concept at the end of the story. Be warned that this story is quite violent. - Ian]
White, damp and with an inextricable grasp, the fog rolled onwards concealing, blanketing and thoroughly covering everything in its path. While, as in a slow motion state, motionless forms standing erect and tense peered around them, fanning their hands slowly through the air to clear the mist. Their eyes were bugged intensely, with the whites of their eyes seemingly glowing such was the intensity of the moment.
Then suddenly one gasped and pointed, jabbing a ringed finger in the direction of a tombstone. And there rising from the loose dirt and damp earth was a white skeletal hand groping, questing --working fingers stiff from age.
The two, as one, gasped drawing closer to each other involuntarily. Then, boldly the figure dressed in black, on the right, slowly drew forth a long stiletto. In a blur he leapt to the grave and deftly cut the skeletal hand at the wrist and snatched his prize. He looked at the fingers...there it was! The ring of Orcrist the Dark One.
"Good one Han! Let me see it..."
"No!" cried Han, "don't get any closer to the grave!"
Han's partner unknowingly had stepped onto the grave and with shock Han watched as his comrade's legs were grasped and pulled in by another pair of skeletal hands. He tried to move in closer to rescue his companion but the wild and panicking movements of his friend swinging his sword prevented any attempt at rescue.
Han's companion was now buried to his waist, being dragged ever downward into the damp soil. In a short time, exhaustion overtook the struggling form.
"Give me your hand, Randall!" shouted Han.
Randall put forth his arm. Han sheathed his weapon and with two hands began to pull at Randall. It was no use. Sweat and dirt had conspired to create a slick film on Randall's arms so that Han could not find a grip. Han screamed wildly in desperation, his voice cracking.
"Rest in peace Randall!"
Han drew his stiletto and pierced Randall's neck artery, knowing death would be quick. Tears welled up in his eyes and his lips trembled in remorse.
"Better that you die by my hand than become an undead creature here..." he whispered, "fare thee well..."
"Accomplished,. at a price Randall's life."
The barkeep nodded solemnly.
After a few seconds, "I have gained much experience though. I'll have to check in at the Thieves' Guild to raise my stats."
"Good luck, then...see ya around Han."
Han nodded and downed his drink, a flaming elf, grimaced and left Mozzi's Inn, stumbling just a little. Han ate some cheese of healing and his headache disappeared.
Cutting and splitting the city of Bagindhaal in roughly two halves, King's Way ran north and south. The south side contained rich avenues and dwellings while the north, average and below. Shops, guilds and hawkers' wares, as well as vendors and wine sellers, lined both sides of the street. In some instances however, passage was inhibited by livestock, carriages or caravans.
Whilst Han contemplated a light brush against his belt a thunderous voice could be heard, "Corpse stretchers and wagons for sale!" and another, "Any level 5-6 humans want to quest? If so, meet at the fountain off of King's Way at Armadillo's.
Han, being quite comfortable and moderately satisfied with his level 8 thieving abilities ignored the shout and reached out a hand instead behind the back of a fat merchant named Bulfo lately of Bagindhaal, but hailing originally from Crenvale. Han was amazed at the amount of hair protruding from the trader's ear. Nevertheless he focused his thoughts.
"Ho Boy! Your not so deft movements have may have cost you your life. Where did you learn to pick purses? Frugal's the economical and one fingered? The Beggars Way?" Han lifted the boy, off the ground by his jerkin and shook him most liberally. Some coins and stones fell from the boys trousers. Han took the coins and sent the would be cutpurse sprawling.
"You must pick your targets carefully, newbie, and leave stronger...beings alone. Consider this a lesson."
It was the solid oak door that Han strode confidently up to and rapt with metal gloves on the portal. "Ho Salzabar open the door for Han of the Night! Come on I don't have all day, either.."
A high pitched voice piped, "There is no one here by that name, go away with ya!"
Han drew his stiletto and banged the hilt of it against the door. At the fourth attempt at the door it suddenly opened and two rough hands pulled him in and sent the stiletto flying from his hands in the process. A punch to the stomach sent him to his knees. His breathed came to him in short burning gasps.
"Welcome to the guild Friend,..." said a voice.
Han looked up and saw the masked visage of Henkel the merciless, waving his black gloved fist at him. "You are violating the rules of the guild, Hansy. Who told you to come here in daylight?"
There was a thud as gloved fist met face.
Han spewed blood, forcing down panic. "I was not aware of the new rules governing...transactions."
Loud laughter. "You missed the downfall of Froll as he fell to my steel which made me the guild master. Well Han, today's your lucky day! You get to meet your maker!"
Han instinctively went to grab for his stiletto, it was gone. In slow motion it seemed, a dagger pierced his abdomen while a bolt from a crossbow met lung. Henkel drew his sword and arced it toward Han's neck. A clean slice.
For a moment the world spun through his eyes while the feeling of falling persisted. A numbness, a blackness permeated his senses. he could see his head less body fall below him and the laughter of the group surrounding his mutilated corpse.
A mist solidified next to him. It was Randall. "How goes?"
"Wha-what...where are we?" ventured Han.
"Relax bud you'll get used to it. Your are in half world where we wait for a body to become vacant."
Han boggled at that thought.
A loud shout could be heard by Han that was not quite heard through once physical ears.
"Corpses for sale! we'll take all bidders..."
Randall sent a thought to Han. "Once we get our bodies again we can set out revenge on some repugnant entities, eh?"
"I bet I've lost a lot of stats."
"Well revenge will be sweet indeed."
Further information:
Multi user domains can be accessed through telnet commands through Internet sites at major universities where allowed. Furthermore, BBSs can allow telnetting to MUDs. Basically MUDs can range from domains where users gather and chat to ones where they actively work together to advance in skill. It is easy to meet with friends from around THIS world and go to the next to chat or to simply kill for the morbid fascinationists. Actually, in keeping within game rules courtesy and proper attitudes apply. Player killings are almost always prohibited. Some MUDs can be found at:
Name Address Camelot loligo.cc.fsu.edu 6715 DragonMud fermina.informatik.rwth-aachen.de 6715 Dark Castle horton.colorado.edu 4000 ShadowsEdge Was.chem.psu.edu 2000 MoralDecay zeus.csee.usf.edu 2002 Rivers of mud cie-2.uoregon.edu 9000 Darker Realms worf.tamu.edu 2000 BTech3056 btech.ece.ucdavis.edu 3056 BattleTech von.neumann.info.polymtl.ca 3026 Cyberspace cyberspace.com 4201 Island teaching4.physics.ox.ac.uk 2092 Foothills vulture.king.ac.uk 2010
More sites can be found through Usenet and Netnews access at rec.games.mud.misc. Or contact Scott Goehring at scott@glia.biostr.washington.edu for a complete listing (the above list is an abstract). Thanks to Scott Goehring (c) 1993.
