February 2014

Weekly MOA Update Submitted by Martyna_Zmuir on February 28, 2014 at 10:25 PM CST From the desk of Melian, MOA CEO of Events: Thursday 27th Feb. 2014 the auction house saw total sales of 137,510,000 on items that hit the auction block. Top bidders were Heart’s Desire, Shadius and Orion. SirNoobDropz graciously donated the proceeds of his sales that night to the auction house to use for prizes. Trivia check totally over 3 million were given out. One donation and question came from Caliden! Thank you for your generosity. Tonight’s trivia winners were Jubatus, Zman, Beatrix Kiddo, Dot Warner (I apologize if I missed someone in my notes) Out front we’re trying out a new ATM feature so when gaters are not able to be provided you can stay and shop! As always with purchases over 5,000.000 we can use the vendors in the pit for you. (no bagging checks) There is a Newspaper agent on the steps too; keyword event there will be monthly calendars for the Great Lakes Shard. Events for the year are in the planning stage, seems the popularity of an event allowing folks to kill DJ Scorp drew a lot of positive feedback! We’ll see if we can manage a means to do this. Look for Majestic Oaks again March 6th 8 p.m. Central time.

Vesper Seeks Crew to Man BMV Tiderunner! Submitted by Vivian_Fellows on February 26, 2014 at 12:15 AM CST [Discuss This Article]

That Moose Wins Saturday Night Fight Club! Submitted by Vivian_Fellows on February 23, 2014 at 5:07 PM CST With a winner-take-all 20 million purse, Tournament of Valor champion Holy Moses hosted a tournament at the New Haven arena. Fighters from across the lands were invited (or goaded!) into attending and putting their skills on display. Crowds filled the stands, excited to see another show of skill by the best fighters. A double elimination tourney, the battles continued for over an hour before the crowd saw the field whittled down to the final four of: Holy Moses, That Moose, NightStriker, and Sentinal. Bucs Den Bookies may not have been in the house, but informal betting was happening in the stands. Many were expecting a repeat performance by Holy Moses, but would that hold true? Sentinal fought hard, but was eliminated by Moses. NightStriker, hoping for a chance to finish higher this time, unfortunately fell short to That Moose. That Moose and Holy Moses would meet in a surprising final... That Moose would sweep two straight victories to hand Holy Moses his double elimination defeats to take the crown. They were two closely contested fights, but in both, That Moose was able to in the end press to his advantage and claim victory. Holy Moses wants to thank all who participated as well as those who watched in the stands. There will be another tournament next Saturday, March 1st. Congratulations to the winner, That Moose! [Discuss This Article]

MOA Receives New Forums! Submitted by Martyna_Zmuir on February 21, 2014 at 7:21 PM CST From the desk of Melian, MOA CEO of Events: I am pleased to announce Majestic Oaks Auction (MOA) will once again be able to bring you news again. Thanks to the Great Lakes Roleplay Community for allowing us a new useable home on their site.  In doing so I’ve been reading through the archive of 2003 to 2005 news. Oh the changes we’ve seen.  Headlines in an article about MOA giving away a million gold, remember when that was a LOT of gold?  Old pictures of the auction house before the exploding flask and the marble tables. 2014 lays out like this: (highlights only) March 13th be prepared for St. Patrick’s Day April 17th Any Easter related type stuff May look for something do with our 10th Anniversary in this location! October 30th Halloween Event November 27th CLOSED for Thanksgiving December 18th Christmas Event Closed then until January 2015 Up for Auction 2/27/2014 Artifact 12 Ruined Painting min bid expected to be 65 million gold Most we leave to the Broker to decide. Trivia for gold as always Majestic Oaks Auction gathers Thursday nights 8 p.m. CST (6 PST, 9 EST) outside Vesper near the portal to Buc’s Den Trammel facet. [Discuss This Article]

Advertisement Submitted by Ad_Weasel on February 21, 2014 at 1:35 PM CST [Discuss This Article]

Clue Submitted by Martyna_Zmuir on February 21, 2014 at 3:47 AM CST Originally posted February 20th, 2014 by EM Elizabella on the Great Lakes EM Site: The rich, glamorous, acid-tongued Contessa Cadavera has been murdered! Figure out whodunit, where, and with what weapon. Meet at the Counselor Hall on Saturday, February 22nd, at 8:00 p.m. CST. [Discuss This Article]

Governor Willa Responds to Recent Attacks in Yew Submitted by Vivian_Fellows on February 21, 2014 at 2:51 AM CST From the desk of Willa of the Yew-wood, Governor of Yew: Dearest Citizens and travelers to the Yew area, Please be advised that we are on full alert and I cannot guarantee your safety or wellbeing at this time.  As most of you are aware, we had yet another attack upon our citizens by Rodrik von Karl and the dark elves that associate with him.  In the cowardly attack, our beloved Grand Marshall Polynikes was poisoned and is now gravely ill. I have spoken with Leif of the Yew Militia, who currently serves as Field Marshall to the B.A.F., and he assures me that they will continue regular patrols.  However, once again, I am forced to continue advising that those living on the far west side of Yew across the bay to please remain within the city limits. I am very sorry for the inconvenience and I am aware of the need for you to tend your crops, but it is not within our resources at this time to patrol that far out.  Perhaps next term I will be able to raise the matter with the Royal Council, in the hopes that the King’s builders will change their minds in light of recent events.  I further advise anyone traveling or planning to ship goods via caravan to please inform the Yew Militia of your route so they may escort you safely within our borders; however, beyond our borders you may wish to hire your own guard. I also caution against trade with, or travel to, the Valorian Isles as there have been many reports of pirate attacks and shipments of contraband (including slaves) coming from the region.  Since I will not allow Yew to fall victim to a similar tragedy as occurred in Skara Brae, the following is effective immediately: All shipments entering into Yew are subject to inspection until further notice, no matter their origin.  All unattended pack animals are subject to immediate seizure when discovered. A 10 pm curfew within the city limits, Empath Abbey and the suburb of Nameless Rune. I apologize for any inconveniences this may cause, but your lives and wellbeing are my greatest concern. Thank you all for your patience and understanding. Sincerely yours, Willa of the Yew-wood, Governor of Yew [Discuss This Article]

Civil Debate For Chancellor and Chief Justicar Knighthawke Announces Retirement Submitted by Vivian_Fellows on February 19, 2014 at 9:59 AM CST Civility ruled the day for the candidates competing for the position of chancellor. Both experienced hands, incumbent Chancellor DaKaren and former Chancellor, as well as former Chief Justicar, Ra'Dian Fl'Gith verbally thrust and parried each other for the better part of an hour. An elf and another non human, both with much longer lifespans than the normal Britannian human, combined for over a century and a half of experience in steering the High Council of Britannia. It was a packed house to hear the candidates in the first election in decades. Many thought it would be a heated, maybe testy, debate. With the expected fireworks, many were willing sweat twice their weight off on the back benches. Vivian Fellows of the Tribune was picked to moderate the debate. As the chamber clock struck the tone for the hour, Vivian invited the candidates to take their places behind the podiums. Both candidates were given three minutes to make an opening statement about themselves before moving on to the first topic of domestic issues, namely the increasing hostilities between Skara Brae and Jhelom. DaKaren and Ra'Dian took similar stances as King Blackthorn, encouraging dialogue between both parties, insisting that both should return to the table. The incumbent state that at this time it seems impossible with neither wishing to come to the table. The former chief justicar countered that dialogue could be initiated by on it's own by directly going to them. With the recent news of King Blackthorn being focused on the affair of Ter Mur rather than the domestic agenda, mainly Skara Brae and Jhelom, but also the attacks in Yew, the second question moved to how either would work to ensure the King is properly involved in domestic affairs. Neither took a chance to criticize the King, with Chancellor DaKaren going as far to say that he would remain working with the Ruling Council even if the King chose to "remain above it." Fl'Gith argued that we may never know what is troubling the King and why he overlooks some of the problems of the kingdom, but it is up to the Council to make sure that the citizens of Britannia are safe. The second topic of leadership crises moved naturally to third topic of the recent foreign crises started by Chancellor DaKaren's current Minister of Virtue, Malag'aste Hla'ate, racially insensitive comments towards the gargoyle race. Rather than eviscerate the current Chancellor for the controversy, Ra'Dian chose to simply say there would be no place for such views in his administration and someone who holds such views would have no place in his cabinet and he would frown upon councilors who held such views as well. However, he would not go on a witch hunt to remove councilors with long records of outstanding service to the High Council. Chancellor DaKaren reiterated that the Minister of Virtue plainly misspoke and apologized quite soon after it became apparent that his words had been taken as offensive. The final question for the evening, and where many thought sparks would fly if there were to be any, was on the power of the chancellor. Did the candidates feel the chancellor should have more executive power? Less? Chancellor DaKaren, having of course been chancellor during its passage, felt that the current version of the sixth constitution provided the right amount of balance. He noted that most of the perceived powers were only emergency ones meant as a short stop gap between council sessions if needed. The former chief justicar felt the military and the court were more than strong enough to handle any situation were trouble to arise in regards to the checks and balances. His concern was more on the perceived power that is granted to the person who hold the position of chancellor, even if they really have that power or not. He noted this was the most important factor when making a choice for chancellor as it is in the execution of these details that must be most scrutinized. With the final question out of the way, each were give three minutes to give a closing statement on where they saw the High Council heading under their stewardship as chancellor if they were to win. Incumbent Chancellor DaKaren: If re-elected, I intend to continue to steer the Council on a democratically progressive course and meet future challenges head-on. Whether these challenges are from within our own chambers, brought upon us by social outcasts such as Rodrik, or more existential threats to our Virtue. We have an exemplary group of individuals on the Council and I am confident that if they steadfastly apply the Virtues in their governance they will continue to excel. Thank you for your support. Former Chancellor and former Chief Justicar, Ra'Dian Fl'Gith: Thank ye, m'lord Fellows, Chancellor, 'onored guests fer yer time this eve. I agree with th' Lord Chancellor that there is an exceptional group o' people 'ere that work t' better th' e'eryday lives o' th' citizens o' this great Kingdom. Th' only difference I see in 'ow I would lead this Council directly is th' more 'ands-on approach that I think contrasts th' Chancellor's present governance. I think 'e 'as served remarkably well an' should be commended, but I think that as Britannia 'as evolved, so too is it time fer th' leadership in this chamber t' do so once more. I would see th' Council return t' more direct involvement in matters, in a positive, energetic way. Thank ye very much fer yer support this eve, an' thank ye m'lord Fellows for a well-run debate. After the debate was over, Chief Justicar and Governor of Minoc, Lady Tanda Knighthawke, announced that she would not be seeking re-election at end of her current term as chief justicar. Her statement below: Effective the end of this election cycle February 24thI, Tanda Solstice Knighthawke, do hereby officially announce my retirement as chief justicar. I have chosen NOT to run for another term, instead to seek to fill my callings as Governor and Councilor of Minoc more fully. It has been a great pleasure serving Britannia. Tanda S. Knighthawke A reminder to all that voting for the election starts at 8 PM CST Sunday Feb 22nd. Please see the election information page for details on how to vote and with who. [Discuss This Article]

King Focuses on Ter Mur While Britannia Bleeds! Submitted by Vivian_Fellows on February 18, 2014 at 6:14 PM CST The 9th meeting of the King's Royal Council wasn't expected to be controversial... and who can blame them? Most of the Royal Council meetings are the equivalent of watching wet paint dry. The governors are encouraged to compress as much of the news as they can into short little sentences that don't try the King's patience, the King sits silently most of the meeting not betraying a whiff of emotion, and the audience uses the vaunted head-nod maneuver to keep their eyes open. However, fireworks erupted half way into the 9th meeting over the contentious topic of Skara Brae and Jhelom where the King was ambivalent to exercise his authority over the kingdom. The King did nothing to try and pull back the Skara Brae fishing fleet from an inspection embargo of all ships entering and leaving the Valorian seas around Jhelom. He also did not offer to help the ease the suffering of Jhelom commerce that has been decimated since the embargo.  The council of governors were left mostly staring in shock as the King moved on from his bleeding kingdom to focus on the events happening in Ter Mur. A couple of the audience members walked out in disbelief that two major cities being on the brink of hostilities did not unnerve the King, but rather he only passed the advice that "they should let words work this out."  Many would assume that would be the most controversial of actions, but it was the offer to join the Council as they toured Skara Brae and met with the wounded citizens injured during the blackrock attack that left the sour taste in the mouth of the Kingdom. Governor Neptune of Skara Brae formally invited the King to join the Council on the tour, noting that seeing their King would undoubtedly boost the spirits of those injured, but that was not to be. The King did not feel it wise for him to see his subjects after such a dreadful attack on the Kingdom. He wished them well hoping they make a full recovery, wrapped the meeting, and exited. The governors were not deterred. They continued their tour, accidentally stepping into the blackrock contaminated zone around the governor's office before a guard frantically chased them off. Evidently large orange signs were setup around the area to warn off those who might inadvertently wander into the zone, but juveniles in the local area keep stealing them to do who knows what with (put in their room of their parents' castle? who knows). The governors came upon the southern healers where the wounded had been moved to be taken care of. It was a horrible scene. The bomb, a magical crate filled with blackrock and nox crystal, had been a deadly blast, incinerating most of the innocent bystanders nearby. However, the worst of the explosion wasn't fealt until moments after when the green poison cloud caused by the nox crystal enveloped a large part of northern Skara Brae. Those who breathed in the cloud now found themselves struggling for a breath of air at the healers. The wounded were coughing over and over, each cough threatening to cause the nox cystals still trapped in their lungs to poison them. The governors were overwhelmed by the scene, each offering to help Skara Brae with whatever it needs to fight this atrocity. One of the wounded did not make it through the visitation. A small woman, once a tailor who had produced great tunics in Skara, had took her last breaths wile being comforted by governor Willa of the Yew-Wood. The light faded from her eyes as she muttered her last words... "I wish... I could have seen my King... before... the end." [Discuss This Article]

Wild Boar Hunt & BBQ at The Grotto Submitted by Martyna_Zmuir on February 18, 2014 at 2:41 PM CST From the desk of Tanda Knighthawke, Governor of Minoc: [Discuss This Article]

Puppies and Kittens in Fel! Submitted by Martyna_Zmuir on February 18, 2014 at 1:53 PM CST Originally posted February 17th, 2014 by an EM on the Great Lakes EM Site: The puppies and kittens statue will travel to Felucca for approximately twenty-four hours. Look for it at Felucca’s West Britain Bank on Tuesday, February 18th, from 12:01 am to 11:59 pm CST. Double click the pink statue. One pet per character. On Wednesday, which seems to be its last day, the statue will return to Trammel’s Moonglow Zoo. [Discuss This Article]

B.A.F. Expedition This Wednesday Submitted by Martyna_Zmuir on February 17, 2014 at 7:50 PM CST From the desk of Captain Leif of the Yew Militia: [Discuss This Article]

Slavers Attack Yew! Grand Marshal Polynikes Poisoned! Submitted by Vivian_Fellows on February 17, 2014 at 12:08 PM CST Just when it seemed things couldn't get any worse after the attack upon Skara Brae, it did. Brothers Alonso and Cedric of the Red Ankh Society were murdered by a vicious gang of slavers and mercenaries that attacked the city of Yew. The two were loading bandages, healing potions, ginseng, garlic, mandrake root, and spiders silk, all of the needed supplies in Skara Brae, onto the pack llamas. They were just beginning to untie the llamas to set out on their mercy mission when they themselves were shown no mercy. Like a city lamp, their lives were snuffed out in an instant... and they would not be only ones... A total of eleven bodies would eventually be identified and attributed to the raid. Response times in the greater Yew area have been poor as the militia remains stretched thin. Thieves and mercenaries have especially taken advantage of King Blackthorn's decision to turn down the request for a bridge tying the Abbey closer to western Yew. The Grand Marshal was receiving an updated report on the progress of the impounding of the BMV Tiderunner from Servious of the Crusader of Virtue at the militia headquarters in eastern Yew when news of the attack broke. Pigeons burst out of the stone windows seeking all aid that might be able to help come defend the city. Luckily, John the Paladin was escorting Governor Tanda of Minoc during her inspection of sheep and wool quality in Yew. Along with Sir Basil Thorn of the Order of the Silver Serpents, the Grand Marshal set out to meet the slavers with his party of four. The Marshal and his men fought with honor, they fought with courage, but in the end, the Slavers left the virtuous defenders wounded as they melted back into the Yew forest. Disorganized, they wandered through the city until they were all together again. There, in the center of the town near princess Mirendel, they found the Grand Marshal gravely wounded. The Lady Tanda, an expert in the magics, used everything that was available to her in the well stocked militia headquarters, but nothing appeared to be working. It was only delaying the effects of the toxin, not curing it. Sweating and passed out, the Grand Marshal was moved to a bed where the Lady Tanda could apply a cold compress to his forehead in an effort to reduce the fever. We are still awaiting a statement from the governor of Yew on the attacks. When we have one we will be sure to post it. In related news, the Majestic Oaks Auction House requested a moment of silence for all the victims in Skara Brae and Yew before beginning bidding at their latest auction. MOA donated a million gold to both Skara Brae and Yew to help fund any recovery efforts.  Those interested in helping in either city of Skara Brae or Yew are encouraged to contact the Red Ankh Society and volunteer. Gold donations to either city stone is also accepted.  [Discuss This Article]

House Customization Issue Submitted by UO_Herald on February 14, 2014 at 12:55 PM CST Originally posted 2014 Feb 14 17:59 -0500 GMT by Bonnie "Mesanna" Armstrong on the UO Herald: Happy Valentines Day Everyone! We have confirmed an issue related to a conflict between house customization and vendors within the houses.  Until further notice we are asking everyone not to customize their houses if they have vendors in their homes. Thank you [Discuss This Article]

Happy Valentine's Day! Submitted by DaKaren on February 13, 2014 at 11:39 PM CST

Red Ankh Society Requests Aid Submitted by Ad_Weasel on February 13, 2014 at 10:19 PM CST The Red Ankh Society would like to thank the following corporate sponsors:

Minister Hla-ate Apologizes For Gargoyle Comments, Chancellor DaKaren Addresses the Situation Submitted by Vivian_Fellows on February 13, 2014 at 8:24 PM CST Hoping to quell the growing criticism, the DaKaren administration is addressing the racist remarks made by the Minister of Virtue, Malag-aste Hla-ate towards gargoyles at the last High Council meeting. The following apology has been received from Minister Hla-ate: Citizens of Britannia, I apologize if my comments were construed as racist. Was not my intent that they be as such. I have nothing against gargoyles, or the gargish race in general. I merely wanted to convey my concerns over the current status of relations in Ter Mur and that one needs to extra cautious in regards to people being armed in the High Council chambers. As for my statements regarding my own race of Ilythiiri, well those are personal. My duty is to the Kingdom first. I am a Knight, and ever shall I be. My duty is to protect and uphold the laws of the land and keep its citizens safe. I bristle at the sight of weapons drawn within the chambers of the High Council. The only ones who should bear arms inside the chambers are Guards appointed by the Council and the Britannian Armed Forces. Again, I humbly apologize if my remarks seemed racist in nature that was not their intent. The intent was to keep the council members safe from all threats. Sincerely, Malag’aste Hla’ate, Minster of Virtue Chancellor DaKaren also wanted to address the situation before it became a dark mark on his administration. He sent the following statement: I have spoken with Minister Hla-ate and I believe that he truly regrets any doubts in the High Council that his unfortunate comments may manifest in the minds of Sosarians and Ter Murians. The High Council has always striven to see the best in an individual regardless of their race, creed, or nationality – it shall continue to do so in the future. [Discuss This Article]

9th Royal Council Meeting Submitted by Martyna_Zmuir on February 13, 2014 at 7:56 PM CST Originally posted February 13th, 2014 by an EM on the Great Lakes EM Site: His Majesty King Blackthorn invites the governors and all interested citizens to the ninth meeting of the Royal Council. It will be held in the Council Room at Castle Blackthorn on Sunday, February 16th, at 8:00 p.m. CST. [Discuss This Article]

Puppies and kittens at the Moonglow Zoo! Cuddle yours today! Submitted by Martyna_Zmuir on February 13, 2014 at 7:53 PM CST Originally posted February 13th, 2014 by EM Elizabella on the Great Lakes EM Site: Lady Artemis the zookeeper is pleased to announce that the puppies and kittens Beezlebetsy found are all ready to go to their new homes. They are available for adoption at the Moonglow Zoo. (Doubleclick the pink statue, one per character.) [Discuss This Article]

Massive Explosion Rocks Skara Brae! Submitted by Vivian_Fellows on February 12, 2014 at 7:38 PM CST A massive explosion has rocked Skara Brae near the governor's office. While interviewing governor Neptune for an edition of Politics! Britannia!, we were witness to a devastating explosion that can undoubtedly be termed as an attack on Skara Brae. We were just coming into view of the governor's office when we heard shouts of commotion. A couple of city guards were rushing towards an unattended packllama that had wandered into the square. They were shouting for everyone to get back, then time stopped for a split second as my sight when white from a flash and I felt the shock wave throw me off my feet onto my back. When I was able to regain my senses, I found myself pushing up off the cobblestone to witness a scene of horror. A green cloud had settled over the explosion area and out of it came several people, grasping both hands around their throat, choking on the poison cloud. Guards were holding the governor back as he struggled to run towards the stricken citizens. There would be few survivors...   The current death toll stands at 9, but several survivors are now being treated at the healers to the south. Investigators have determined from wooden shards embedded in the walls of housing around the square that the bomb was contained in a magic crate being carried by the llama. Ingredients for the explosion appeared to be blackrock and nox crystals. Authorities have encouraged citizens to stay away from the area as it is now considered blackrock contaminated and will need to be cleaned. Governor Neptune has released the following statement: This assassination attempt will not stop us from trying to protect the people of Skara Brae or our interests abroad. We will hunt down those who are responsible, wherever they may be, and bring them to Justice. I have received offer for assistance from all corners of Britannia in tracking down these cowards who desperately tried to harm our people. Those wishing to aide the people of Skara Brae, bandages and cut cloth are in urgent need as well as skilled healers.  [Discuss This Article]

First Tournament of Valor a Rousing Success! Submitted by Vivian_Fellows on February 11, 2014 at 7:19 PM CST On most days, the arena of New Haven sits empty, no valiant combatants battling for glory, the only cheers being the squawks of wheeling seagulls overhead.  But today was not to be one of those days... ...for Jhelom was hosting the Tournament of Valor. The crowds' roar could be heard as far away as the city moongate. The clang of steel crashing on steel as gladiators locked in combat sought the upper hand was only rivaled by the calls by Four Finger Fred for bets. "Place your bets here! Championship Bet, who is going to take it alL? LEIF 2 TO 1!! HOLY MOSES 1.5 TO 1! BASIL THORN 6 TO 1!! YES, I SAID 6 TO 1!!" They crowded around him, waving their golden checks screaming:"1,000,000 on Holy Moses!" "500,000 on Leif!" "I want it all on NightStriker!" Those who thought Lady Luck was on their side collected their tickets and rushed back to the stands, hoping not to miss a minute. Behind them, they could hear Fred ringing in their ears, "NEXT BET!" Their hopes that the gladiator on the field would not only bring glory to himself, but glory to their pockets as well. Each fight bringing fresh sadness or new found elation. Betting was not for the faint of heart. If gambling betrays favorites, then the early favorite was Holy Moses. A name many had heard from the battlefields of Felucca, he was the pick by many. Others disagreed, with a strong line-up featuring Leif, Deadeye, and Nightstriker, surely one of them would prove to be the upset. Nor could any of the unknowns be written off, no would knew what kind of fight John the Paladin, Sir Thorn, or Rook might provide. It would take five rounds and a final to determine the winner. A double elimination tournament, the first loss did not spell doom, but instead allowed the combatant to regroup, examine their tactics, and steel their resolve for coming elimination battle. By evening, it was the favorites that marched on. Leif, Holy Moses, Deadeye, and NightStriker waded through blood and sweat to reach the final four. In the end however, the favorite proved why he was the favored choice for many to win the tournament. Holy Moses was pressed to the wall by Leif's early challenge in the final, but did not buckle, turning the tide to win the fight handily and claim the title of first champion of the Tournament of Valor. The two finalists saluted, each congratulating the other on the well fought tournament. Exiting they found the host, Jhelom's governor, Alista Laleyan, waiting for them with their trophies and prizes. The crowd applauded as the champions were crowned. "First place, Holy Moses! Second place, Leif of Yew! Third, NightStriker of Vesper! Congratulations to all the winners!" The Tournament of Valor will return in 2015. The top two finishers, Holy Moses and Leif, qualified for the winner take all, invite only, 75 Million Gold King's Cup. Check the Tournament of Valor site to see the detailed match results. Keep checking GL.UORPC.NET for future news regarding the King's Cup and our next tournament. Once again a thank you to all that attended. It's reported that over 30 million gold was wagered during the tournament! That is a good first start and the next tournament will be even better! [Discuss This Article]

Governor Neptune Orders Inspection Blockade of Jhelom! Developing Stories From 428th Session of High Council! Submitted by Vivian_Fellows on February 10, 2014 at 11:27 PM CST The 428th meeting of the High Council of Britannia is making headlines throughout Britannia. Following the detailed account of the impounding of the BMV Tiderunner and arrest of her captain by Servious of the Crusaders of Virtue, Governor Neptune of Skara Brae announced that the fishing fleet of Skara Brae will begin to stop, board, and inspect any ship of commerce coming out of Jhelom. The governor is also seeking to finalize a deal to purchase two ships from the Empire of Tokuno to improve Skara Brae's fishing industry as well as allow them to defend themselves from alleged Jhelomite aggression. Of further note, Justicar Max von Bayer upheld the warrant issued by the Grand Marshal for the arrest of the captain and impounding of the BMV Tiderunner. Reports are that the Council chambers became dead silent when Minister Hla-ate allegedly made disparaging remarks towards the gargoyles of Ter Mur. There is no word on how the DaKaren administration plans to handle this outburst and potential egg on the face of the Council. This reporter is still trying to confirm the words that were said, but will have more on this story for you later. Also of note, the council was briefly interrupted by figures claiming that Darius Magnus will be resurrected. Not much is known on the perspective threat, but the BAF said it will investigate. [Discuss This Article]

Extra! Extra! Holy Moses Wins Tournament of Valor!! Submitted by Vivian_Fellows on February 8, 2014 at 9:09 PM CST News breaking fresh from the Tournament of Valor at New Haven Arena! The winners are listed as below. Further details as information comes in from the Tournament!

Puppy Love Submitted by Martyna_Zmuir on February 7, 2014 at 5:47 PM CST Originally posted February 7th, 2014 by EM Elizabella on the Great Lakes EM Site: Can an orc make a demoness happy? To help a despondent orc, meet at the Counselor Hall on Sunday, February 9th, at 8:00 p.m. CST. [Discuss This Article]

Smugglers Killed! Captain Detained! BMV Tiderunner Impounded Until Further Notice! Submitted by Vivian_Fellows on February 6, 2014 at 6:25 PM CST By most accounts it was a normal day in Skara Brae, the ferries shuttling passengers back and forth to the mainland, tamers caring for their animals at Beasts of Burdens, and bees buzzing around the bank. It was until Servious, of the Crusaders of Virtue, received a mysterious pigeon message from what appeared to be a local fisherman. The main docks were bustling from both the ferries and the two merchant ships from Tokuno. Other than an overzealous harbor master stomping filthy "Jhelom" rats, all activities appeared to be above board. Nothing matched the description found in the pigeon note. No magically glowing crates, no shady looking characters. Servious stood at the end of the dock, about ready to turn back when he spied to south another ship at the much smaller private dock of Superior Ships. He could hear across the water the captain yelling at his crew to hurry up. As Servious approached, the two workers on the docks became noticeably tense. The captain, an old man who's white hair betrayed the strength and youth of his voice, stood amidship and cautioned Servious. He said all the right words, that the ship was merely carrying food and clothing, that he had the proper permits to be docked, how he was merely a merchant ship with the Vesper Shipping Co., but he would not allow Servious to board and inspect the cargo or see the permits claiming legitimacy. Something was off, Servious was sure of it. While he might not have the authority to board the ship, the Port Authority of Skara Brae would. Returning to the main dock, he found local official, Julius of the Port Authority. Julius immediately knew something was off. The dock for Superior Ships was private and shouldn't have merchant ships loading and unloading at it. The two returned to the ship. While he was gone, Servious noticed the two handling the crates had slipped into studded armor that could easily be ascertained was of the finest craftsmanship. Inspecting the shipping manifest, Julius read off the list of cargo items and ordered Servious to search the hold and match the crates to the list. Servious hunted through the hold, everything matching until he came across a locked crate marked clothing. He tried to lift the crate, but it was too heavy, way too heavy for simple cloth. Dragging the crate out of the hold, he slid it down the gangplank onto the dock. Julius looked over it, asking the captain for the key. Long since moved to silence, the captain merely shook his head and said no. Not wasting time, Servious crashed the crate in two with his hatchet, spilling the contents onto the dock. Weapons, of the finest quality, littered the dock. Before he had the chance to even get a word out, the two crew member were on Servious, their scimitars lacerating the magical barrier he barely managed to cast in time. Julius dove behind a stack of unloaded crates and watched Servious battle the two, his bolts of energy and lightning eventually electrofrying the crew.  Their singed bodies, burnt into an angry and painful contortion, laid crumpled on the dock, the odor of burnt flesh leaving Julius nauseous. Holding cloth to his face to dampen the smell, he suggested Servious take the captain to the Grand Marshal. Using magics, Servious opened a moongate to Yew and dragged the captain through. The warm ocean spray of the docks gave way to the cool and serene woods of Yew as they emerged in front of the militia barracks. The Marshal was pleased to hear that an apparent crime had been halted and had the captain locked away in the jail cell until he could go before the court. The two returned to the dock where the Grand Marshal ordered the BMV Tiderunner to be impounded and had militiamen brought in from Yew to help guard the ship until more could be determined. Along with Julius, the Yew Militia along with Servious uncovered a couple of more oddities in the hold: another crate marked clothing and destined for Trinsic was filled with weapons and all of the crates marked magical had already disappeared from the hold. Until further notice the BMV Tiderunner will remain impounded in Skara Brae. The Grand Marshal wanted to thank all members of the Britannian Armed Forces who helped in disrupting this apparent smuggling organization, as well as the Port Authority (even if they are a bit lippy) for their help in the initial inspection. [Discuss This Article]

Producer Letter Submitted by UO_Herald on February 5, 2014 at 3:53 PM CST Originally posted 2014 Feb 04 22:32 -0500 GMT by Bonnie "Mesanna" Armstrong on the UO Herald: Greetings Everyone! I come to you with some exciting news!  Since its humble beginnings at Origin Systems Incorporated in 1997, through development at EA Redwood Shores and for the last 7+ years at Mythic, Ultima Online™ has been enjoyed by millions of devoted players around the world. Beginning February 1st, 2014, Mythic Entertainment Co-Founder Rob Denton’s new studio: Broadsword Online Games (http://www.broadsword.com/) will partner with EA’s Mythic Entertainment to operate, support and develop Ultima Online on EA’s behalf.  Electronic Arts will continue to provide billing and account services through its Origin™ portal.   Broadsword and Electronic Arts will work closely together to ensure a bright future for Ultima Online.  For future inquiries and support, you can contact UO@broadsword.com. The UO team will continue to work as hard as ever under our new banner.  In the immediate future, we will be putting out a publish for Valentine’s Day and a few bug fixes, along with polishing a final release of Vendor Search.   I will be putting out a list very soon of all the features we will be working on this year to get everyone’s feedback as well as some updates regarding our ongoing projects. I know this has left everyone with a lot of questions, so I will try to answer a few right off the bat.  As always we will collect any additional questions and try to answer them as they come in.  Talk to everyone soon! Bonnie “Mesanna” Armstrong UO Producer Ultima Online To read the full article on the forums, click HERE.