Dared to the Brink of Reason
27 Mesore – A question was posed about the ethics of acquiring Glowing Vials from the Blood Merchant at a discount (25 anima) for the intention of selling them at a rate four times greater than that value (100 anima).  Some have likened this conduct to bug exploitation.  Others viewed it as intelligent strategy not unlike that used in corporate America.  Whether it was an exploit or simply smart tactics has yet to be determined and may never be until some form of Oracular intervention occurs.  Ankhet politics, however, carries on as disciples attempt to settle seemingly irresolvable disputes even in the absence of definitive answers.

Jim (N: Hatred), the original inquisitor in this sequence and who was the first to observe and speak out against the unsettling behavior, offered one such attempt, communicating through telepathic means his concerns to one, VAH (Lunchlandia), who appeared to be engaged in suspicious activity.  After some time of no reply and without indication of desisting provided by the Heralds, it became unclear whether the message remained unread or was defiantly being disregarded.  VAH was consequently sundered to death at which point private discussion began between both parties.  A compromise was reached soon thereafter, the details of which involved a trade of 125 Glowing Vials in exchange for the discontinuation of the supposedly unapproved conduct.  Oh, but the story does not end there.

Enter CaesiusCurationis (Lunchlandia), the mastermind behind the allegedly exploitative technique discussed above, who unhappy with the measures employed by Jim to gain the attention of his dominion mate, VAH, demonstrated his displeasure with a skillful use of exhaust.  In all there were ten tries, as the attempts were met with stiff resistance, adding up to a total of 3,694 anima removed until, finally, Jim was plunged to the deepest region of negative anima allowed by game mechanics.  Victory seemed certain for but two minutes, when suddenly Jim sprang himself out of negative anima, converted to the Path of Thoth through use of Metasis Charm and, under the effects of Shadow Cloak, subjected his assailant to the Wrath of Thoth; all of this, in under one minute.

CaesiusCurationis was then allowed to escape his punishment early and without conditions, serving a mere 22 minutes in the Underworld.  Further, an ultra rare artifact, Ipet Tear, was sacrificed to return CeasiusCurationis to the realm of the living, for which he promptly expressed genuine gratitude despite prior differences that existed between them.  For a moment, it appeared that combat had come to an end.

And for two days, onlookers observed the growing tension created by a caustic combination of incessant taunts and veiled threats being flung every which way.  During this period, CaesiusCurationis was antagonized to the brink of reason by would-be Desecrate victim, Jim, for not coming through with his publicly-announced plans to use Desecrate for means of entertainment.  Instead of succumbing to the unusual will of his adversary, however, CeasiusCurationis directed his efforts to erasing in one, single swift motion an Ankhet record 40,329,044 of Jim’s favour by way of Condemn. Despite the extraordinary amount of stripped favour, Jim’s level 100 status was unchanged by the act.

Among the reasons cited for what appears to be a vindictive attack included the constant daring by Jim for CeasiusCurationis to cast Desecrate on him, the fatal use of doom on his dominion mate, VAH, and his growing tiredness with the community for allowing Jim to “get away with crap.” Meanwhile, there has been no word from Jim as to how he intends to respond or if he ever will.  But so far it appears it will be CeasiusCurationis who will be the one getting away with, to quote Nightvol (Monolith), “a metric butt-ton” of feces.

Update, 1 Epagomenae – With no formal address provided by Jim since being condemned, it is beginning to look like he will be giving CeasiusCurationis the silent treatment.  Others, including members of Hatred, have been much more vocal about the attack, protesting the casual use of such a devastating ability.  But it was Major Tom (Monolith) who after a Censure and 34 uses of Doom spelled out what appears to be the first in a series of punishments for CeasiusCurationis.

Meanwhile, newcomer Poison (Hatred) decided to take matters into her own hand, strategically weakening VAH’s vitality using the withering power of Thoth and subsequently killing him, in just one round, via Duel.  She was quickly doomed to her death and exhausted into negative anima by Lunchlandia juggernauts ghostOpyroto and Ivan the Cat, the latter of whom removed the last 130 anima needed to bring Poison completely under.

The fighting did not end there, however, with Poison returning the following day rested and determined to make good on her promise to avenge what her dominion have deemed a “cowardly attack”.  This time the preferred method was to seek revenge through usage of Wither and Blaze.  Once dead, she proceeded to deplete all of CaesiusCurationis’ anima, adding a bonus Stupefy and Innervate for good measure.  We are not exactly sure why Poison wished to raise CaesiusCurationis’ potency, but speculation would suggest that it was meant to taunt him further.

An update, should one be necessary, on this story will be available next week.

Ankhets
Sekhmet: Recklosh (100, Hatred) 5w
Menthu: errational (100, Pennant*) 2w
Hathor: FranChom (100, N: Lunchlandia) 4w
Selket: pakhet (100, Monolith*) 4w
Anubis: neminem (100, Lunchlandia) 7w
Thoth: Djeret Netjer (100, N: Hem-Netjer) 4w
Bast: PorQ Cheops (100, Lunchlandia) 2w
Atum-Ra: Olufemi (95, Pennant) 2w
Amin-Ra: Bottom-Heavy Grapefruit (86, Hem-Netjer) 5w
Septu: Evori (79, Hem-Netjer) 6w
Ahmose: paulisall (77, Lunchlandia) 2w
Ammut: Sut (71, Pennant*) 7w

*- Previous affiliation

For the fifth consecutive week, Recklosh (Hatred) is Ankhet of Sekhmet.  Though, it did not always seem it would turn out that way.  First, we saw Ivan the Cat (Lunchlandia) take the top spot for a couple of days only to be surpassed by recently condemned member of Hatred, Jim, whose motivation was ignited after having lost over 40 million favour.  Jim held the Ankhet position until presumably tithing all the way down just prior to converting to the path of Amin-Ra.  The title passed hence to his dominion mate, Recklosh, who by that time happened to be next in line of successors and would therefore extend his Archive streak by one more week. Both errational (Pennant) and FranChom (Lunchlandia) kept their placements on the rankings, earning second and third respectively. While the fourth and fifth spots were captured by pakhet (Monolith) and neminem (Lunchlandia), who has marveled the realm with his current Ankhet streak of 7 consecutive weeks.

Dominions
Monolith (741, Blue Agave) +1
Lunchlandia (537, FranChom)
Hatred (341, Jim) +71
Pennant (335, saucybandit)
Shadows (251, Baltar)
Luz (127, Nefertiti)
Hem-Netjer (101, Djeret Netjer) +45
Light (101, Aethlas)
Lite (92, Messeret)
Disciples of the South (25, Doru)

The Ankhet dominion belongs to Monolith for yet another week, but with every day Hatred moves closer, bridging ever so steadily the gap that prevents them from succeeding in their passionate quest for dominion Ankhetship.  If the time should come for a shift of power to occur, Monolith’s legacy will endure on in the fond memories of record aficionados all throughout Ankhet, for it is unlikely a streak of this scope will ever be matched much less be outdone.  Certainly, there will be those who will endeavor to prove otherwise.  Hem-Netjer, with its size and strong leadership, could very well succeed in that.  Or might it be the newest dominion to leave its mark on the Annals, Disciples of the South? Whatever the future holds, this is a very exciting time to be a reporter.

Beast Slayer
Major Tom (626, Monolith)
PorQ Cheops (451, Lunchlandia)
Blue Agave (231, N: Monolith)
KeweL (220, Pennant)
Jim (179, N: Hatred)
errational (169, Pennant*)
Olufemi (111, Pennant)
ghostOpyroto (108, Lunchlandia)
Cabalist (107, Hem-Netjer)
Khedi (102, Hem-Netjer)

Surprisingly, there are a couple of changes to report despite the invoking pattern that has emerged: Burning then Deluge, repeat. With the slaying of the 179th Beast, Jim (Hatred) solidified his position on the list of Top Five Beast Slayers, edging out errational (Pennant) who moved to 6th place. Then we had ghostOpyroto (Lunchlandia) who killed more than enough numbered monsters to make the cut, earning himself a spot in respectable 8th place. As a result, former 10th spot holder, Mullhotep (Shadows, 86), was eliminated from the rankings.

Truth Sayer
UAA (689, Shadows)
Satanic Claw (492, Monolith)
KeweL (373, Pennant)
Baltar (256, N: Shadows)
Blue Agave (197, N: Monolith)
errational (197, Pennant)
Jenn (184, Lunchlandia*)
Crevanor (178, Shadows)
Nightvol (169, Monolith)
Jim (168, N: Hatred)

There are no positional changes this issue.

Wisest
Q (99.8%, Monolith)
DarkEternal (99.5%, Lunchlandia)
Major Tom (99.2%, Monolith)
FranChom (98.7%, Lunchlandia)
Moebius (98.7%, Shadows)
Ivan the Cat (98.6%, Lunchlandia)
Soulene (98.3%, Luz)
Baltar (98.2%, N: Shadows)
yami (98.2%, Monolith)
pakhet (98.1%, Monolith*)

Everyone on this list neither improved nor worsened their wisdom.

Speed Demons
29 Mesore 2758
Slithy Tove / Nightvol

17 Mesore 2758
Slithy Tove / Nightvol

20 Mesore 2758
Big Bad Leroy / Jim

23 Mesore 2758
Slue-foot Stogie / saucybandit

8 Mesore 2758
Evil-Minded Son of a B*tch / Baltar

26 Mesore 2758
Big Bad Leroy / Jim

5 Mesore 2758
Oxygenarian / Khedi

23 Mesore 2758
Zephyrus / Ivan the Cat

2 Mesore 2758
Sean Connery / Djeret Netjer

17 Mesore 2758
Zephyrus / Ivan the Cat

What a ride Mesore has been with so many records broken and unlike previous months of camel racing winning streaks were quite uncommon.  Well, the numbers are in and just as anticipated a new fastest racer was named.  This honor goes solely to Nightvol (Monolith), who with his latest record breaking win on the 29 of Mesore has gained the reputation of being a master in the highly complex and competitive sport of camel training. It should be noted that Nightvol is also the proud owner of the 2nd fastest record of All-time. The winner of the 26 Mesore contest was Jim (Hatred), which earned him 6th fastest camel run of all ages.

26 Mesore 2758

1. Jim
2. Ivan the Cat
3. saucybandit
4. Blue Agave
5. Olufemi
6. pakhet
7. Eccentric
8. Nightvol
9. Pakaran
10. Vega

29 Mesore 2758

1. Nightvol
2. Ivan the Cat
3. Djeret Netjer
4. errational
5. Jim
6. saucybandit
7. Recklosh
8. Olufemi
9. Blue Agave
10. Vega

Avatar of Ra
(2)
Recklosh
Hatred

Apep Avatar
(5)
Recklosh
Hatred

Black Minotaur
(2)
errational
Pennant
(2)
Ivan the Cat
Lunchlandia

Blasphemous Idol
(2)
errational
Pennant

Kauket
(2)
Recklosh
Hatred
(2)
saucybandit
Pennant

Wandering Cleric
(3)
Recklosh
Hatred

Light / Dark Ascendancy
(Light)
Jim
Hatred

Defeat Anouke
(1)
PorQ Cheops
Lunchlandia

Defeat the Apis Bull
(0)
N/A

Defeat Cherti
(1)
akhenuraeus
Shadows

Defeat the Shedu
(0)
N/A

Defeat the Tore
(0)
N/A

Black Oracle
(0)
N/A

Blood Merchant
(2)
PorQ Cheops
Lunchlandia

Septu
(1)
Recklosh
Hatred

White Oracle
(0)
N/A

Absolve
(0)
N/A

Phoenix
(21)
Jim
Hatred

Bequeath
(21,652 anima)
Jim
Hatred

Resurrect
(2)
CaesisusCurationis
Temporarium Castellum Incessi

Cure
(9,551 vitality)
FranChom
Lunchlandia

Sacrifice
(832 vitality)
ghostOpyroto
Lunchlandia

New Archive Record

Cureall
(5)
FranChom
Lunchlandia

Shelter
(3)
CaesisusCurationis
Temporarium Castellum Incessi

Innervate
(34)
janice
QA

New Archive Record

Tutor
(12,000 favour)
Djeret Netjer
Hem-Netjer

Adjure
(2)
Djeret Netjer
Hem-Netjer
(2)
Jim
Hatred

Judgment
(1)
Jim
Hatred

Censure
(1)
Major Tom
Monolith

Paradox
(0)
N/A

Desecrate
(0)
N/A

Txatxu
(0)
N/A

Exorcise
(0)
N/A

Wrath
(2)
Djeret Netjer
Hem-Netjer

Non-Adjure
(38)
Nightvol
Monolith

Malign
(0)
N/A

Condemn
(1, Total Favour: 40,329,044)
CaesisusCurationis
Temporarium Castellum Incessi

New Ankhet Record

Decimate
(0)
N/A

Obviate
(0)
N/A

Devastate
(1)
Djeret Netjer
Hem-Netjer

Ostracize
(1)
Bottom-Heavy Grapefruit
Hem-Netjer

Diminish
(0)
N/A

Ruin
(1)
Poison
Hatred

Doom
(38)
Nightvol
Monolith

Sap
(0)
N/A

Exhaust
(4,304 anima)
CaesisusCurationis
Temporarium Castellum Incessi

New Archive Record

Soulrift
(0)
N/A

Extinguish
(0)
N/A

Wither
(81 vitality)
Poison
Hatred

New Archive Record

One Item
(29)
Jim
Hatred

New Archive Record

Multiple Items
(185)
Jim
Hatred

Kills
(13)
Recklosh
Hatred

New Archive Record

Deaths
(43)
Zeus
Hatred

Kills
(4)
Poison
Hatred

Deaths
(7)
CaesisusCurationis
Temporarium Castellum Incessi