A New Shard for a New Legacy
Update 11:15 am EST: The maintenance ended, the account center is back online.
Greetings,
We will bring down the Account Center for a short maintenance today, Thursday February 9th, at 10:45am EST (16:45 CET). During the maintenance you will not be able to change subscription or redeem game codes.
At the moment we anticipate the Account Center to be back online at 11:45am EST (17:45 CET).
Thank you for your understanding.
Greetings all,
In this publish we are having an issue with our patcher which increases the size of the patch. Please do not be alarmed. You are going to see a 411 MB classic client patch and a 112 MB patch for the Enhanced client. We are working on a fix for the patcher so it will reduce the size of the patches you will be receiving in the future. We are sorry for any inconvenience.
In addition to assisting to quell the still ongoing unrest throughout Britannia three new ways to gain City Loyalty have been added:
Monday night, a long and unexpected issue prevented Ultima Online players worldwide to spend their time in Sosaria. In appreciation of your patience during that time, you will be able to claim a small token tomorrow, June 20 afternoon EDT. Keep an eye open for a chest appearing near the Moongate in Luna. It will be around from Wednesday to Friday.
Make sure to get your gift – but keep it safe, it’s too easy to exhaust.
See you in the game!
We are investigating the connectivity issues to our servers and will make them available again as soon as possible.
Written by members of the UO community
Issue 1 – Edition 3
CURRENT NEWS
Accidental Tourist Takes Trip to Distant Lands
The mystery of items disappearing from containers may finally be resolved. Dread Lord Popeye reported that he had been consistently experiencing missing items from his home and pinpointed the loss to an armoir on an upper floor of his tower. While further investigating, he somehow passed through the back of the armoir into a snowy landscape, where he soon encountered, in his own words “a female RPer Ice-queen and a midget in a sled” who tried to alternately bribe him with candy and intimidate him. Popeye claimed that he became suspicious of their behavior and insisted upon searching the back of the sleigh for his missing belongings, causing the “midget” to issue threats and becoming quite annoying. Lord Popeye was disappointed that it only took two flamestrikes to take out the both of them, and that his belongings were nowhere to be found. Popeye pointed out that if lightweight RPers are going to play by Fel rules, they should have at least some decent gear.
Murderer Still at Large
Authorities are on the lookout for a violent felon by the name of Moustache Joe who is wanted on multiple counts of mass murder, piracy, arson, kidnapping, and removing tags from mattresses. The suspect is described as stocky, bald, with a scar on his cheek, missing the small finger on his right hand, dressed in dark green liveries, and having a very pretty mouth. Like all other Britannians, he is to be considered armed and dangerous. A reward of 10,000 gp is being offered for information leading to his capture.
EDITORIALS
World Going on Trip In Handbasket
Citizens are upset and they have plenty of matches. For years they cried out while witnessing gruesome murders, while the delinquent guards stood about idly inside some invisible zone of deafness. Administrations overlooked the needs of the townspeople; its working class being denied insurance or even access to a proper dentist. But what may have been the final straw for the citizens of Britannia, is the recent housing decay incident. Grumbling behind their counters and in the fields were witnesses to the latest act of mass avarice by the privileged class blissfully looting the dispossessed, while the truly worthy are trapped in their meager existences serving the establishment. What is more unforgivable is that nobody made the effort to tell “those people” about this golden opportunity to get ahead, and perhaps to reach for the brass ring for once in their pitiful lives. So, while the “Haves” go about in their prosperous pursuits, they will not even deem to make eye contact with the “Have-Nots” who have been wearing the same pantaloons for an entire decade, whose significant others berate them for not having a new living room set since their home was first built. Who can blame them when they finally lash out against the system? And what do they get handed when they do cry out for equality? Bloody fish steaks! You just want to shout out to them, “Burn it all down! Just burn it to the ground!” But, who would they be hurting but themselves? How are they going to sleep when their beds are burning? Think of the children, wherever they are….
TRAVELOGUE
Hidden Shame
Lying in the western side of the Peaks of Disgrace mountain range south of Yew, resides the dungeon called Shame. What once was a prospering gold mine in its time, is now the domain of elementals. The flooding of its chambers and attacks from the denizens of its depths drove the miners to safer endeavors. Only the remains of the miners and their abandoned equipment lingers behind as a testament of its original purpose. It is unclear if the elementals have always been the native inhabitants, perhaps freed from Shame’s depths by underground tremors or transported through the magical portals that allow transit between the levels. If such is the case, was it by accident or by design? What is certain is that in recent times, the occupants have grown more varied, more corrupted, and stronger. If Shame’s name is aptly chosen, then like many sins, its secret past has probably been long buried.
Reader Commentary
We asked Silvester Silverlips, veteran reader, bard/adventurer and interior decor savant what he thought about the recent changes in two of the land’s dungeons. Mister Silverlips stated, “I don’t know who is behind it but I hope they keep it up. When I laid eyes upon the “NEW” Shame, I could have quite literally died. The new monster colors are just breathtaking, and just dazzle the eye. I am trying to get my foot in the door early and enjoy the scene, before the bourgeois riffraff flood it and bring down the whole “energy” of the place.
CLASSIFIEDS
To the abductors who kidnapped my mother-in-law. I apologize that am unable to get my hands on the funds to pay the ransom. 5,000 gold is far beyond my means. Perhaps I can pay in 50 gp installments every other week, or you can just hold onto her until I get the full amount. I spent 100 gp on this ad, so I’m already 2 weeks behind on the first payment. Sorry.
Dear Mister John Smith. I have managed to locate those LLAMAS that you asked for. I am sure that the clientelle at your STABLE will enjoy them. The blonde one is extremely TALENTED and is very good at doing TRICKS. The brunette LLAMA I mentioned is very classy and I would recommend charging extra for RIDES. I can also get you a LLAMA with great legs and nice smile, who is also good at mixing drinks, if you happen to be interested.
ARTS AND LIVING
Green Thumb Reminder
Now is the time to plant those tulip bulbs.
This Month’s Horoscope
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The Peddler-January
Good luck is on your side today, because you’re tapped into a sense of higher purpose… jacking up the prices on your Luna vendors.
The Mongbat-February
People will be watching you more in the following days…most often at the bank..pointing at your crappy armor.
The Phoenix-March
Remember. Others admire a person who is straightforward and genuine. Work on faking those qualities and you’ll earn tons of respect.
The Sea Dragon-April
Today is a good time to be bold and take chances. See that thing over there? Go poke it with a stick.
The Hermit-May
Try to make it a point to improve your memory skills or write things down more often. All your plants are dead.
The Llama-June
In dealing with others, forget about winning or losing, and seek a compromise instead. Ask the other person what they need to feel comfortable and listen carefully when they answer. When their guard is down, grab all their cool stuff, and run.
The Ancient Wyrm-July
You have the attention of a certain person. You’ll build this person’s excitement and anticipation by not asking for what you want right off the bat.Then at that moment, you will strike and crush that person’s dreams.
The Anvil-August
The routine gets boring. That is, until you arrive on the scene to provide refreshing alternatives …and booze.
The Weaver-September
It’s time to start rebuilding some of those bridges you burned lately. Stupid Pyromaniac!
The Wisp-October
Grampa’s running around the neighborhood naked again. Looks like it’s your turn to bring him back.
The Unicorn-November
You’ve never been the type to believe in love at first sight, or anything else even slightly romantic, for that matter.
The Wanderer-December
Tonight, supper will be waiting for you. A dish of roasted chicken with potatoes. A fresh baked apple pie is cooling. But someone forgot to goto the local tinker and get more plates. That’s when the fightin’ starts.
Figure out which month you were born on, to know your sign.
During this maintenance you will not be able to login to Ultima Online, however you will be able to continue to play if you log in before the maintenance.
Please be sure to check the Herald for updates regarding this downtime.
Update 11:15am EST: The maintenance is complete.
Greetings,
We will bring down the Account Center for a maintenance today, Monday February 6th, at 10am EST (16:00 CET). During the maintenance you will not be able to change subscription or redeem game codes.
At the moment we anticipate the Account Center to be back online at 1:00pm EST (19:00 CET).
Thank you for your understanding.
‘Sudiva Enshrined’ by Jhym
Sudiva stopped in her endless pacing and shivered in the darkness.
She had heard… something. A distant, keening, fitful wail, almost as though a puff of smoke had extinguished the last of the embers remaining from a conflagration that had almost destroyed the world. She raised an eye ridge in thought, unconsciously mimicking the bipeds that had interrupted her solitary torment for centuries.
“Perhaps, change has come?” She let the thought percolate through her brain, until it found one tiny, unnoticed shred of Hope. She touched the thought carefully, pulling at it as a fledgling would at his newly born wings. “I…”
Whispers surrounded her. The Shadows had held her for so long, had kept her from so much. She carefully folded her wings and settled down to ponder these thoughts. After the thousands of attempts at breaking her bonds, after the painful offers of help from the bipeds only to crash in disappointment, after the solitary darkness of yearning for something… something…. all she felt now was absence. Absence that wouldn’t turn into yearning or longing. It had been so long she didn’t know what was missing, and didn’t know what to do. A nearby stalactite dripped onto its matching stalagmite, causing her to automatically count it.
Dragonkin were solitary in their nature. Other more social creatures would have gone mad in the centuries of mind-numbing absence and repetition. But Dragons, True Dragons, could resist the ease of madness. It served no purpose, it gained nothing and lost too much. Their pride would not allow them to succumb. And so, a Dragonkin could abide. However, they are not unaffected by the driving sameness of imprisonment, the constant absence of outside life or the loss of the touch of the air and sun upon their skin as they flew.
She shifted slightly on the cool cave floor, murmuring.
“It has been long since they have appeared.” She nodded.
“Perhaps the bipeds have defeated….” She stopped, perplexed. She only knew them as the Shadows now, but there were names in the far past. Long moments passed as her thoughts wrapped around each other, the tiny shred of Hope gradually blowing into an ember.
Blinking, she raised herself up and stretched her limbs. She had found it simpler and less painful to squash the flames of Hope early, now should be no exception.
She stepped lightly through the cavern towards the distant exit, waiting for the signs of her shackles to begin. The soul shaking cold that would turn into pain and finally freezing, deadly agony. Each step, she tensed in anticipation only to relax. Her steps slowly began to increase in speed, in strength, as she forged her way to the entrance. Suddenly she was through and into another cavern, and another. Faster and faster she raced, her great heart beating faster than it had in many years, muffled roars of excitement escaping from her throat as gazers, headless and harpies raced to get out of her way.
With a great roar of triumph, she burst out of the final cavern and out into the light of a bright morning, frighting a flock of ravens into flight. Standing clear of the sheltering rock she let forth a huge bellow of flame into the sky.
“Freeee!!!” she called into the wood and sky. She laughed at a doe as it raced from the scene. Then, in unfettered delight, unfurled her wings and launched herself crookedly into the sky. Scraping various trees, she veered over the landscape until her muscles once again remembered how to move. Up she flew, straining with all her might to touch the sky, to feel the sun upon her carapace, to taste the cool rain bunched within the morning clouds. Higher, until she felt the snap of cold of the upper atmosphere. Momentarily fearful, she dropped, until the sun touched her wings again. She laughed at a normal, physical cold, something she could now relish.
After hours of flight, Sudiva settled to the ground and picked up some deer, her appetite suddenly larger than ever. After finishing the herd, she settled contentedly in a clearing, the midday sun warming her through. She napped, a luxury she barely remembered sharing….
“Under a warm sun Sudiva relaxed with Ferrude, idly touching his chest plates with her claw. He opened an eye, laughing, and pulled her close in a slow embrace of passion that took her breath away…
… in the coolness of the night sky, they flew together, twisting and diving, touching and embracing in silvery laughter…
Ferrude draping her in the cloak of his wings as…
… a rumbling gentle laughter… random images…
warmth of a cave, Ferrude bringing food since he knew she couldn’t hunt… why was that… It is time, my love…”
Startled, she raised herself and looked around the clearing.
“Time? Ferrude?” Her features anguished in thought as she tried to remember. The Absence made itself known, she dropped to the ground, shrieking. “Lost.. I’ve lost… I…!!!”
Rising again, she concentrated, her eyes wide in panic.
“What have I lost… WHO have I lost?!!?” she moaned. “I… I need to go HOME.”
Concentrating, she closed her eyes and thought of the word, turning slowly until a mental tug pointed her in a direction. Lifting herself into the air, she allowed herself to mindlessly fly northwards until coming to a high range, softly dropping to a ledge that opened into a large cave. Inside she haltingly stared at the disused trappings of Dragonkin. Shaking, she touched shredded books, various furniture pieces, beds of fine straw, a hearth shaped from the natural stone. The glint of a small golden chest caught her eye as she shifted some items.
Her claws touched its lock in some automatic way and it opened. Her eyes beheld a gentle golden cloth, which her claw shifted carefully to show several golden/reddish shards of what appeared to be an egg. Tears blurred her vision as she vainly tried to remember….
Sudiva found herself standing atop cool stone pavers in the form of an ankh, floating amongst the scintillating majesty of the Void. Next to her stood a man in a gold-trimmed white shroud.
“Splendid, my friend, splendid!” the Time Lord congratulated, patting her left foreleg affectionately. Removing his hood, he looked up at her with startlingly blue eyes and a wide, toothy grin. Running a hand through his unruly mop of brown curls, he continued mysteriously, “Welcome to your next adventure…”
The day dawned bright and clear. Sudiva lay coiled in the sand. Lenmir Anfinmotas was a perfect crescent, a cove tucked into the hollow of the mountain. It was silent, save for the babble of gulls and the hiss of the incoming tide. Overhead, the Ilshenari sky was cloudless, the full twin moons and the stars faintly visible even in broad daylight.
She slunk toward the cliff’s edge. She’d built a mound out of bits and pieces that had washed ashore. It was not as grand as her old treasure pile; it was mostly feathers and scraps of bark, old petrified driftwood bleached white by salt and sun. But it would do.
She lay down, curling her tail protectively around it. Snaking her neck, she nudged the meshed branches aside with her nose, revealing something smooth and bone-coloured within.
It was warm as a coal, and stirring with some dreamy internal motion. She lapped it gently with her tongue.
A single hairline crack split the surface of the eggshell.
And Sudiva smiled.
