Subject: MYSTARA-L Digest - 4 Jan 2002 to 5 Jan 2002 (#2002-6) From: Automatic digest processor Date: 06/01/2002, 19:00 To: Recipients of MYSTARA-L digests Reply-to: Mystara RPG Discussion There are 13 messages totalling 537 lines in this issue. Topics of the day: 1. A Complete Guide to the Cosmos - Power to the Athanatoi! (Part Two) 2. A Complete Guide to the Cosmos (3) 3. MA available on almanac.starflung.com (6) 4. War Journal of Bue Geirsteinson - Part III 5. War Journal of Bue Geirsteinson - Prologue 6. War Journal of Bue Geirsteinson ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp The Mystara Homepage: http://www.dnd.starflung.com/ To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sat, 5 Jan 2002 10:50:27 +0100 From: Sergio Caroletti Subject: A Complete Guide to the Cosmos - Power to the Athanatoi! (Part Two) Contrarily to the Draeden and Dragons, races in the true sense of the term, the Athanatoi were individual immortal and very powerful beings, but were "technically" sterile. The Athanatoi retained a certain ability to "create and shape thoughts", thus altering the Cosmos, creating new demiplanes and planes, re-shaping the nature, creating new races. In creating new races, however, they were less succesful than their masters, and were only able to create "incomplete" four-dimensional beings, mortal races that suffered the weight of Time and ultimately died, planets and moons that were eroded and transformed. This happened because no Athanatoi was able to have a complete control on its creature or on the parts of nature, and all the other Athanatoi influenced with their thoughts and actions the work of the other. In the same way, mortals interacted with the others and were free to war each other, and erase races and destroy places in the Universes. Mortal life was born. The Mortals began to worship the Athanatoi as superior beings, and the Athanatoi discovered that the Mortals who worshipped them in the Prime Plane, that had retained the strenght of Belief, enhanced their powers. The Athanatoi, however, were even more surprised by the incredible power of the Prime when some powerful mortal heroes managed, through their will to survive death and the worship as superheroes by their race of origin, were able to ascend their rank. Depending on the Multiverse, the Athanatoi had different reactions to this situation. Some reacted with indifference, others hated these "parvenu-immortals"; others created a strict chaste system to prevent the new gods from learning of the origin of the Multiverse. And this is the end of the Old Cosmos, and the start of the Cosmos as we know it today: there are ancient gods, mortals that can become gods, outer beings and dark sinister secrets, hidden by layers of lies forged by godlike creatures to hide the truth from the grasping hands of any creature, mortal or immortal, that wants to reach the ultimate meaning of the Cosmos and of Life... ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 5 Jan 2002 11:58:25 +0100 From: Jacob Skytte Subject: Re: A Complete Guide to the Cosmos la Volpe wrote: You lost me back when you said: > Take a giant plumcake filled with rosins. > The plumcake is the Ethereal. The rosins are the Prime Material = Planes. :) And I have trouble understanding why you want an explanation for this = 'Cosmos' that encompasses everything? Unless you want to found a new = religion...but you said that you didn't. ;) (weak attempt at humor) Will you be starting a Multiverse (or whatever) hopping campaign? And = even if so, do you need such an elaborate explantion for it? But I can = see you've put a lot of work into it, which is good. I know, I know. It's easy to be critical, and I can't claim to have read = through the entire thing. Keep chucking out well-thought-out articles, = Giulio! Jacob Skytte scythe@wanadoo.dk ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 5 Jan 2002 03:41:32 -0800 From: Herve Musseau Subject: MA available on almanac.starflung.com Thanks to Gordon, the Mystaran Almanac is now available on almanac.starflung.com, right next to the Vaults. The files for the MA1018 are available there, as well as some of the older MAs (not all old files are there yet, but the main ones are). Also, I know it is quite complex to assemble the split files, so the pdf file of the MA1018Atlas is also available as one big file (but of course it's a 12MB download so make sure you have a steady connection and a resume download utility). Thanks to everyone who offered disk space, either on the MML or privately. I will contact you shortly to see if we could set up mirrors (in various places around the world if possible). ===== ___________________________________________________________ Herve Musseau http://www.geocities.com/hmusseau/ __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Send FREE video emails in Yahoo! Mail! http://promo.yahoo.com/videomail/ ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 5 Jan 2002 12:51:51 +0100 From: la Volpe Subject: Re: A Complete Guide to the Cosmos > And I have trouble understanding why you want an explanation for this 'Cosmos' that encompasses everything? Unless you want to found a new religion...but you said that you didn't. ;) (weak attempt at humor) No, I see your point...I am doing this just because I hate to see thousand of different variants on Multiverses and so on. I want a single explanation to everything, even if it could seem complicated (in this I'm similar to your fellow Dane Tycho Brahe, I wonder what his real name was 8-) ) > I know, I know. It's easy to be critical, and I can't claim to have read through the entire thing. Keep chucking out well-thought-out articles, Giulio! Well, I simply want to have a coherent background for the Nightmare Dimension, and be able to put in one single reality Planescape, AD&D Gods, D&D Immortals and Sphere of Power, Outer Beings and Old Ones. I have done this because my introduction pages at the "A Dark Portal" website needed some corrections...I have updated the whole site, putting the Guide to the Cosmos as the new introductory file. If you want to have a look (eh eh eh). Thanks for the comments, though. Always pleased to hear them, even if critical! "It's not important that they speak bad about me, the important thing is that they speak about me". Uhm, was that Wilde? Or Madame Pompadour? A happy new year to everyone, by the way! 8-) Iulius Sergius Scaevola Captain of the XXth Cohort Port Lucinius, Thyatis ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 5 Jan 2002 16:12:28 +0100 From: Jacob Skytte Subject: Re: A Complete Guide to the Cosmos la Volpe wrote: > No, I see your point...I am doing this just because I hate to see = thousand of different > variants on Multiverses and so on. I want a single explanation to = everything, even > if it could seem complicated (in this I'm similar to your fellow Dane = Tycho Brahe, I > wonder what his real name was 8-) ) It's Tycho Brahe of course! (Or Tyge Brahe, if you prefer) > Well, I simply want to have a coherent background for the Nightmare = Dimension, > and be able to put in one single reality Planescape, AD&D Gods, D&D = Immortals and Sphere of Power, Outer Beings and Old Ones. I have done = this because my introduction pages at the "A Dark Portal" website needed > some corrections...I have updated the whole site, putting the Guide to = the Cosmos as the new introductory file. If you want to have a look (eh = eh eh). I suppose I can understand that. It's just all so...theoretical. > Thanks for the comments, though. Always pleased to hear them, even if = critical! > "It's not important that they speak bad about me, the important thing = is that they speak about me". Uhm, was that Wilde? Or Madame Pompadour? I only know Tycho Brahe's saying: "To be, rather than to be regarded = as." But enough showing off. I wanted to offer comments rather than let such a large piece of work = slide by (now that I have a little extra time on my hands, for the first = time in I don't know how many months), but quickly got put off, which = was why I was critical, I guess. Jacob Skytte scythe@wanadoo.dk ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 5 Jan 2002 16:14:19 +0100 From: Jacob Skytte Subject: War Journal of Bue Geirsteinson - Part III The saga continues... Jacob Skytte scythe@wanadoo.dk --- The War-Journal of Bue Geirsteinson Vatermont 17th, the year 1000 After Crowning of the First Emperor of the = Thyatian Empire After my family had left Zeaburg I told king Hord Dark-Eye that I would = need to raise an army to march on Noslosford. The king was pleased that = I had chosen to come forward and called together the Brothers of the = King and the Ravenguard, his personal warriors, and addressed them. "Loyal kinsmen! Before you stands young Bue Geirsteinson of clan = Noslosford. He is a most faithful and loyal subject, having come to me = with news that his own father intends to overthrow me and usurp my = throne. For this display of loyalty I have chosen to spare his clan if = young Geirsteinson will lead an army to punish those of his clan who = conspire to such treachery. I ask of you, my most trusted warriors, to = find an army for young Geirsteinson, who stands to gain a great deal = from this war, I might add." There was a roar of approval from the Ravenguard and several of the = renowned Blessed Warriors of Thor stepped forward, proclaiming that they = would personally be part of any force sent to punish the would-be = usurper. Seeing this, some of the Brothers of the King also stepped = forward to lend their aid to the endeavor. Other warriors of the Royal = Household, to whom I belonged, stepped forward into the great hall, = ready to join the force. Among them was a pale, black-haired woman that = I had noticed before. Her strange purple eyes bespoke of her Alphatian = legacy. I knew her to be daughter of jarl Herjolk Eirikson. Seeing her = stepping forward another woman joined her, this one a red-haired beauty = that I recognized as daughter of jarl Karlsefni Garson of Fallersholm. The two women stepped forward to greet me. The black-haired one was Asta = Katlasdottir and the redhead was Ingibjorg Siglindesdottir. "I understand what you must be going through," Ingibjorg told me. "My = brother Ogmund has also turned out to be a rotten seed. When I met him = here in Zeaburg, he held nothing but scorn for me and my father and = spoke of becoming jarl himself in my father's place. It is a terrible = thing to see your own kin of blood straying from the noble path." "I thank you for your words, Ingibjorg, but I am the one turning against = my kin, turning against my father. I am the sole member of clan = Noslosford standing here, plotting my jarl's downfall," I replied. "But you do the honorable thing," Asta argued. "While you turn against = your clansmen, you do so because they plan treachery, and because you = follow the will of the Gods." Asta was startled by the sudden appearance of Asgrim the Bowed, who = joined our small circle. "You speak truth, Katlasdottir. Young = Geirsteinson is devoted to our Lord Odin, and is indeed a man of honor. = You will find, young lord, that the Priesthood of Odin will appreciate = this thing that you do, *I* will appreciate it. The All-Father is fond = of warriors who fight in his name and know where their true loyalties = lie. A reverent warrior such as yourself is a credit to Ostland and you = will surely triumph. Take this spear, it is blessed by Odin. When you = meet your father in battle throw this spear at his forces that Odin will = know which warriors to claim." I accepted the spear which Asgrim presented to me. As he left, Asta = leaned in close to me and whispered: "Be wary of Asgrim. His ambitions = are said to include more than furthering Odin's will." I looked at her in surprise. "Surely one who has been chosen as the = closest to Odin in this world works only to further His will. And what = more can a man aspire to?" She looked me in the eyes before responding. "There is always more that = a man can want. Is it not the same with your father, a powerful jarl, = who rules an entire clan of famed warriors?" "Are you suggesting that Asgrim also desires the throne of Ostland? But = surely he knows that Odin will not want him on the throne. Odin desires = a strong warrior, a Hord Dark-Eye to rule His most favored nation." Ingibjorg nudged me with an elbow. "Not so loud, Geirsteinson. You would = not want the godar to overhear you lecturing them on what our Lord Odin = wants, even if you may be right. It is as Asta says. Asgrim has = ambitions and you would do well to be wary of him. He uses people to get = what he wants, and he will use you if you let him." I looked at them both. "You are either wise beyond your years or very = foolish. I will not question the will of Odin the All-Father, and so I = will not question the intentions of his voice in Ostland, Asgrim the = Bowed. He has given me this weapon to lend the might of Odin to my = endeavor and I give thanks to him and to Odin for their aid. I must see = what troops have been gathered and plan our journey. I am pleased to = have two such capable warrior-maidens among the troops, but I will hear = no further smearing of Odin's Chosen." I spent the rest of the day preparing the army, meeting the leaders of = the various regiments that were formed and dealing with logistics. We = would set out in three days to give my father as little time as possible = to prepare for the coming war. ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 5 Jan 2002 08:56:45 -0800 From: John Calvin Subject: Re: War Journal of Bue Geirsteinson - Prologue Hey Jacob, I just wanted to tell you that I'm on the edge of my seat! Keep the story coming, I can't wait to see what happens. -John ===== Rule #53. If the beautiful princess that I capture says "I'll never marry you! Never, do you hear me, NEVER!!!", I will say "Oh well" and kill her. from "A Guide to Becoming an Evil Overlord" by Peter Anspach __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Send FREE video emails in Yahoo! Mail! http://promo.yahoo.com/videomail/ ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 5 Jan 2002 19:59:29 +0100 From: Jacob Skytte Subject: Re: War Journal of Bue Geirsteinson John Calvin wrote: > Hey Jacob, > =20 > I just wanted to tell you that I'm on the edge of my seat! Keep the = story > coming, I can't wait to see what happens. Thank you very much! Glad somebody's reading. One entry a day though or = I won't have time to write it. I'm also posting reviews of the = Gazetteers over at http://reviews.dnd.starflung.com/ these days, if = anybody's interested. Jacob Skytte scythe@wanadoo.dk ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 5 Jan 2002 17:22:45 -0500 From: Ray Brooks Subject: Re: MA available on almanac.starflung.com Has anyone else tried to use the new 12mb zip file of the whole MA1018 Atlas? I have downloaded it 3 times now over a high speed line with no interruptions and every time I try to unzip it, I get an error. Has anyone else had any luck? ray > Thanks to Gordon, the Mystaran Almanac is now available on > almanac.starflung.com, right next to the Vaults. > The files for the MA1018 are available there, as well as some of the older MAs > (not all old files are there yet, but the main ones are). Also, I know it is > quite complex to assemble the split files, so the pdf file of the MA1018Atlas > is also available as one big file (but of course it's a 12MB download so make > sure you have a steady connection and a resume download utility). > Thanks to everyone who offered disk space, either on the MML or privately. I > will contact you shortly to see if we could set up mirrors (in various places > around the world if possible). > ===== > ___________________________________________________________ > Herve Musseau > http://www.geocities.com/hmusseau/ ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 5 Jan 2002 18:32:00 -0600 From: Stone Marshall Subject: Re: MA available on almanac.starflung.com I have had the same problem. I'm glad its not just me. :) When I try to extract the files it says there is none!? Multizar the Mage > From: Ray Brooks > Reply-To: Mystara RPG Discussion > To: MYSTARA-L@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM > Subject: Re: [MYSTARA] MA available on almanac.starflung.com > Date: Sat, 5 Jan 2002 17:22:45 -0500 > > Has anyone else tried to use the new 12mb zip file of the whole MA1018 > Atlas? I have downloaded it 3 times now over a high speed line with > no interruptions and every time I try to unzip it, I get an error. > Has anyone else had any luck? > > ray > > > Thanks to Gordon, the Mystaran Almanac is now available on > > almanac.starflung.com, right next to the Vaults. > > > The files for the MA1018 are available there, as well as some of the > older MAs > > (not all old files are there yet, but the main ones are). Also, I know > it is > > quite complex to assemble the split files, so the pdf file of the > MA1018Atlas > > is also available as one big file (but of course it's a 12MB download so > make > > sure you have a steady connection and a resume download utility). > > > Thanks to everyone who offered disk space, either on the MML or > privately. I > > will contact you shortly to see if we could set up mirrors (in various > places > > around the world if possible). > > > ===== > > ___________________________________________________________ > > Herve Musseau > > http://www.geocities.com/hmusseau/ > > ******************************************************************** > The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp > The Mystara Homepage: http://www.dnd.starflung.com/ > To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM > with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. > _________________________________________________________________ Chat with friends online, try MSN Messenger: http://messenger.msn.com ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 5 Jan 2002 17:48:07 -0800 From: Chris Furneaux Subject: Re: MA available on almanac.starflung.com I've been unable to unzip the combined zip file. It opens and sees a PDF but just can't extract it. Specifically it says: "extra 48436 bytes at beginning or within Zip file" Anyone actually managed to unzip the PDF version yet? RTF version works fine. Chris. --- Stone Marshall wrote: > I have had the same problem. I'm glad its not just > me. :) When I try to > extract the files it says there is none!? > > Multizar the Mage __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Send FREE video emails in Yahoo! Mail! http://promo.yahoo.com/videomail/ ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 5 Jan 2002 22:43:51 -0500 From: David Knott Subject: Re: MA available on almanac.starflung.com From: "Ray Brooks" > Has anyone else tried to use the new 12mb zip file of the whole MA1018 > Atlas? I have downloaded it 3 times now over a high speed line with > no interruptions and every time I try to unzip it, I get an error. > Has anyone else had any luck? I tried it once -- same results as you and the others. I think the 12 mb version must be corrupt, so I will wait until it is re-uploaded before I try again. ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 5 Jan 2002 20:23:52 -0800 From: John Calvin Subject: Re: MA available on almanac.starflung.com >> I've been unable to unzip the combined zip file. It opens and sees a PDF but just can't extract it. Specifically it says: "extra 48436 bytes at beginning or within Zip file" Anyone actually managed to unzip the PDF version yet? << I've tried both ways (combining the 13 pdfs and downloading the one big one), and I get the error you reported in either case. I was thinking that it might be some kind of winzip or OS version incompatability (I'm using windows ME), but I'm not sure. -John ===== Rule #53. If the beautiful princess that I capture says "I'll never marry you! Never, do you hear me, NEVER!!!", I will say "Oh well" and kill her. from "A Guide to Becoming an Evil Overlord" by Peter Anspach __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Send FREE video emails in Yahoo! Mail! http://promo.yahoo.com/videomail/ ------------------------------ End of MYSTARA-L Digest - 4 Jan 2002 to 5 Jan 2002 (#2002-6) ************************************************************