Issue #2: 26 Payni, 2755

	By: The Eye Update: Because of a scheduling conflict, the Oracle chat has been moved to Saturday February 3rd, from 7pm-12am EST. For a second time the Oracles have invited us to join them in an open chat. The previous chat, held in late November, was attended by the Oracles of Thebes and Isis and provided numerous tips and hints of things yet to come. In the months and Mods that followed many of these things, such as the recent Heathen Invasion, have found their way into the game. A few questions still linger. Will dominions be able to build pyramids, will the level cap eventually hit 100, and is there really a Path of Selket? Tune in on February 2nd from 7pm to 12am Eastern Standard Time to find out what our mysterious Oracles have in store for us next! Unable to be there? Never fear! TAG will bring you all the highlights in the next issue following the chat. The chat room, which is always open and hosted by Em (eidolon’s Nomarch), can be found here: http://www.rlscnetwork.com/sharedresources/chat.html?Channel=ankhet&ServerName=irc.everywherechat.com For additional information on the chat room, check the System Alerts or Announcements. By: The Eye Thursday (Payni 22nd) started with not with a bang but a dull thud. Supposedly defending Nefertiti’s (Light) honor, Ako (Hairetikós Nomarch) Exhausted relative newcomer Tau (unaligned) into negative anima. In a surprise move, Nefertiti thoroughly discredited Ako by promptly releasing Tau from the underworld. That’s when the real gimp fighting broke out. What followed was a series of four duels between the two Hathors, three of which were launched by Ako after returning his opponent to negatives. When the dust settled Tau was up two kills to none and had once again been rescued from negs by Nefertiti. This isn’t the first time Ako’s rabble rousing has backfired on him. Many of you will remember his escapades with Silence under the alias Steve. Despite delivering a 25 point lethal blow in a 21 round comedy, Tau has only recently emerged as a habitual one-liner and Bears fan that enjoys resurrecting others. In what appeared to be either a gesture of good faith or possibly a plea for mercy, Ako went on to bequeath 200 anima to Tau. This quick but furious exchange is just the latest chapter in an unfolding saga of emerging Hathor violence that has us all wondering: What is so funny about peace, love, and understanding? By: The Eye At 2:10am. on Payni 25th, Euplicitious Arophram (Light) was Desecrated by Reign (Iron Maiden). This marks only the second time that Desecrate, a Hathor ability that forever bans an account from logging in, has been used. The previous victim was the notoriously explicit Da+han, who requested the deed as a means to escape the underworld. The destruction of Arophram marks the first use of Desecrate as an act of aggression. The irreversible blow was preceded by a series of four deaths by duel at the hands of Giorgioh (Iron Maiden). The Desecrate was followed by more strife as Cyno and Em (eidolon) attempted to Exhaust Reign. Luthien Tinuviel (Iron Maiden) answered by inflicting Cyno, Em, and Pakaran (eidolon) with Paradoxes. The violence would not escalate again until 5:37am when Cyno unsuccessfully attempted to Condem Luthien and was immediately plunged deeply into negative anima. In a public statement Giorgioh proclaimed the Desecration as the “end of an era”. The Iron Maiden Nomarch went on to cite Arophram’s proclivity for violence, hubris, and failure to acquire an important artifact as justification for his permanent destruction. When asked what he hoped to accomplish, Giorgioh answered, “peace, integrity and freedom”. Peace wouldn’t come without a fight. Sporadic violence continued into afternoon as various outraged but disorganized disciples exchanged volleys with Giorgioh, Luthien, and Reign. As the bloodletting subsided that evening, Iron Maiden’s war machine seemed invincible. Despite scathing criticisms in the Underworld and Hall, no coherent resistance materialized. Even Arophram’s own dominion, the frequently beleaguered Light, allowed the desecration to go virtually unanswered. While several members did protest emphatically, it was a day when actions spoke with far more credibility than rhetoric. As the hours passed, Giorgioh’s proclamation seemed to gain an undeniable gravity. Perhaps the era of Arophram the Bully had given way to the era of Arophram the Martyr. Maybe the foretold era of Iron Maiden supremacy had begun. These things remain to be seen, but one way or another, Ankhet defiantly changed at 2:10am on Payni 22nd. In related news, there have been several signups since the slaying but if Arophram is among them, he has yet to declare it. By: The Eye Lately there’s been a lot of buzz on the topic of Tutor. How much is too much? Who deserves them? Does it make weaker players? Should the Oracles change something? Well, TAG decided to put in a little elbow grease and have a look at the numbers. Your faithful reporters slaved over the heralds logs and compiled lists of how the disciples stacked up with regard to giving or receiving Tutors. What we found might just surprise you. To be fair, it’s important to remember that what we’ll be showing you are raw totals. We didn’t take into account attack or conversion/heresy restorations. Keeping that in mind, let’s let the numbers speak for themselves. We’ll start with a list of the top 10 people who give Tutors and the amount of Favour they’ve dolled out: 01 Nefertiti 2,062,100 02 giorgioh 1,905,250 03 ChipDoc 1,115,550 04 Mullhotep 1,111,825 05 Crevanor 947,3501 07 Emau 528,500 08 Nefret 513,950 09 Caine 339,750 10 Baltar 322,550 And now we have the top 10 recipients of Tutors and the amount of Favour each has raked in: 01 Euplicitous Arophram 850,400 02 Nefret 772,975 03 Nefertiti 643,025 04 ThuSaynte 613,700 05 nova 531,575 06 Shenti 449,500 07 Baltar 444,900 08 Yoshi_Master1416 423,050 09 jjdude 378,700 10 Mullhotep 358,600 28 Luthien Tinuviel 168,800 (shown for contrast) What does this prove? After all that number crunching we can’t think straight enough to even guess. It’s up to you, gentle reader, to draw your own conclusions. We leave you with these words of irrefutable ancient wisdom: Now you know, and knowing is half the battle. Editors Note: All of the numbers above were accurate as of rollover on Payni 21st (January 24th). by Brezza As I walk through the sandy antechamber that is the entrance to my Dominion's shrine, a strange feeling of anxiety briefly passes through me. I have been a part of the Shadows Dominion for only a short while, and although everyone is pleasant enough, and seemingly all have taken me under their wing, I can't help but feel out of place. This feeling passes quickly, however, as I am greeted by the warm faces of all who reside inside. I know that, in time, I will find my place among my fellow Disciples. Until then, I feel I don't deserve to wear the bolded Shadows insignia that so many of my fellows proudly wear. While Shadows may have a track record of being at the peak of the Annals, there is more to it than that that allows us to bear the Shadows sigil with pride. True, we have been considered the most powerful Dominion, but that is only based on the Gods' divine will, purely on favour. Shadows is actually a peaceful community, that is far more bent on discovering the secrets of Ankhet than policing and controlling its people. With an extensive wealth of knowledge and resources, they can answer most any question, and immediately set to work whenever a new problem, question, or difficult situation arrives on the scene. Needless to say, most members of Shadows know when they must fight, and are willing to use much of the devastating abilities the Gods have bestowed them, if they must. Typically, the Dominion at large prefers the peace of research and discovery over the chaos and fury that would erupt from a Dominion war, as most Dominions would. In such terrible times, the sole saviors of the final Dominion shouldn't divide themselves through petty conflict. Shadows has overwhelmed me from the start. Their insatiable curiosity and unparalleled generosity, particularly towards new recruits, such as myself, has never ceased to amaze me, and for that I would like to express my gratitude. Without the help and guidance of my fellow disciples, I fear I may have committed Ennui by now. This may seem dramatic, but think about it. When a child is invited to play a game, but he doesn't know the rules, that child will quickly storm away and quit. But with friendly others playing that are willing to help said child, that child will, over time, prosper and become self-sufficient, able to play the game with only occasional guidance from others. I am that child, and Ankhet is that game. Without the gentle guidance of Shadows, I probably would have quit the game by now. Not all may agree with what I have stated. I feel that everyone is entitled to their own opinion. After living with Shadows for only a few short weeks, I feel that Shadows is great for a reason, and deserves a top spot on the Annals. But again, that is simply my opinion. Treat it as you will. Dear Miss Mummy, I found this sweet armor. How do I equip it? Signed, Smashy Pants It’s already equipped, Smashy! I tend to lump artifacts into two categories: Passive and Active. To follow along click “Manage Your Inventory”. Active artifacts have the option to “use” them. These artifacts, typically things like potions, must be consumed to generate their effect. Passive artifacts, like your armor, do not have the “Use” option. Artifacts like this automatically bestow any bonuses or effects they have. One last thing; don’t be too worried if you can’t always figure out what the Passive ones do immediately. Some of them are still a mystery to us all. Disciples, dead or alive, with 0 or less anima can only access the Underworld forum. Think someone might need to spend some time in the land of the dead? Exhausting a disciple is one way, but followers of Anubis can do it for half the cost with Sap. Here is the list of Ankhets as of 26 Payni, 2755 (Bold indicates a change from the previous issue) Ahmose: Luthien Tinuviel (71 – Iron Maiden) Amin-Ra: Nefertiti (61 - Light) Ammut: HEdwards (41 - eidolon) Anubis: JenniferEmily (40 - Light) Bast: Caine (40 – Light) Hathor: Archinta (71 - eidolon) Menthu: skote4 (41 - Light) Sekhmet: giorgioh (71 – Iron Maiden) Thoth: akhenuraeus (52 – Iron Maiden) Dominion: Shadows (40,910,000) The major upheavals in the realm are reflected in this week’s Ankhet list. Six of the nine Path seats have new occupants, with no representative from the Shadows. Meanwhile the members of Iron Maiden have fully recovered from recent attacks against them, picking up three seats. The controversial death of Euplicitous Arophram ended one of the game’s longest Ankhet streaks since the early days of Baltar and the now inactive Caplin. “Holy s**t you say a lot” – Tau in reply to Nefret Underworld: Welcome to Hell, Giorgioh (and Friend): Post #115 “No, Aer Capello and I were looking for lotus buds in the Deep Jungle. He pointed to one, and when I bent down to look at it, quelle surprise!” – Nefertiti (on how she got a stick up her…) Halls of Initiation: Newspaper Anyone: Post #30 “02:10 - reign desecrated the body of Euplicitous Arophram. Euplicitous Arophram is forever lost.” - The Heralds 25 Payni 2755 “Most of the community has come to see Euplicitous for what he is: a maniacally aggressive player.” – Giorgioh Underworld: The End of an Era: Post #1 “From this moment on, I view you and all who follow you as the most shameful of cowards and bullies, unwilling to face their detractors, dishonest and hypocritical about the reasons for their acts, and thoughtless and dismissive of the consequences.” - Baltar in response to Giorgioh Underworld: The End of an Era: Post #18 “Good show! Shame I missed it.” – Bennu in reply to Giorgioh (on the desecration of Euplicitous Arophram) Underworld: The End of an Era: Post #96 “I do not feel further explanation is necessary so I will not be responding to any posts in this thread.” - Reign (regarding his use of desecration) Halls of Initiation: My Actions: Post #1 Interviewed by: Cyno Baltar is one of Ankhet’s most accomplished, respected, and vocal players. The first to achieve Imperishable Ka, he is also the founder of the game’s second Dominion: Shadows. A self-described “fluffy”, our reporter caught up with him to ask about his recent battles and more… Thanks for taking the time to do this interview! First off, I'm sure the readers are interested in knowing how you found Ankhet, and what's been keeping you here. I have been a long-time participant in the Kingdom of Loathing. I found my way here because a KoL player identified only as "Ankhet" posted in the Contest forum -- one which I frequent -- about a new game, with KoL prizes for accomplishing certain goals first. It's almost impossible for me to pinpoint what has kept me here even after all of the KoL prizes were claimed. I seem to have become positively addicted. At the risk of appearing hackneyed, I think I will have to say it's the community. Ankhet is filled with extraordinary people, and there's nothing quite like seeing that bright red "Commune" or "Telepath"... What do you believe to be your greatest achievement in Ankhet? I must respectfully object to this question, as boasting makes me uncomfortable, and I am having difficulty thinking of a way to answer it that won't sound like boasting. I was lucky enough to get an early start here, and I was also lucky enough to make certain choices and figure out certain things comparatively quickly, but -- as numerous other Disciples have now demonstrated -- anyone else can do, and has done, exactly as I did. I was also lucky enough to put together an amazing Dominion quite early. I suppose, if I have to answer this question, I'd say that Shadows is unquestionably the accomplishment of which I am proudest. Again, though, it was due in large part to my fantastic luck in forming a Dominion early and then having some of the best Disciples join. I certainly can't take credit for all of the strengths, achievements, and hard work of its members. Still, as I said, if I have to pick something, Shadows is definitely it. If you could change/add/remove one thing in Ankhet, what would it be? I have always disliked Player Killing in all its forms. In the past, when a game gave me the option not to participate in PK, I always selected it; when such an option did not exist, I generally didn't last long. My theory has always been that the underlying game is (or should be) challenging enough without also having to deal with other players trying to kill you for sport. Ankhet is the first place with no limit on attacks on others in which I have ever remained for any length of time -- which is, I think, a testament to both Ankhet and its community. In my time here, I have learned that there is a term for Disciples like me: we are called Fluffies. Therefore, as a Fluffy, I feel duty-bound to say that, if I could change one thing, it would be to eliminate (or at least seriously restrict) the "physical" attack abilities, such as Duel, Exhaust, and Diminish. Obviously we should all just sit around talking about flowers and puppies and rainbows and gardens and babies all the time, right? That said, I have no illusions about such a change ever occurring. And I have also finally grown to understand that, with a responsible community, these abilities have a valid place. Which path do you find to be the most enjoyable to follow? Are there any specific things you value in a path? I chose Hathor first, and I will always have a soft spot in my heart for her. I probably enjoyed Ahmose, the Path that I chose second, the most out of all of the other Paths I have trodden so far. I don't suppose it is a secret any longer that the ability to generate Anima is the single most valuable feature of a Path. And while the Path of Hathor is strongest in this regard, I know that at least three other Paths have some way to generate Anima besides simply Resting for four hours or waiting for midnight. You are the founder of the oldest and highest ranking dominion. Despite your "head start" you have succeeded while many other old dominions have gone inactive. Do you have any "secrets to success" you wish to share with enterprising disciples? NO! We guard our secrets most jealously! Muhahahahaha! But seriously, folks... The Dominions that have gone inactive have generally done so because their Disciples have gone inactive. Obviously an excellent way to ensure the success of a Dominion is for its members to continue to progress: active Disciples accomplish far more. Specific tips for Disciples wishing to start their own Dominion? Choose your members wisely. I believe that personality and philosophy are at least as important as ability to progress in Ankhet. These will be your closest allies for the foreseeable future, so you'll want Disciples that you both like and trust. And choose quality over quantity; size can be an advantage, but a Dominion full of inactive members benefits no one. Also, don't overlook the community's opinion of your Dominion, which I think is a much more accurate gauge of your progress than a number in the Annals. Given sufficient time, anyone can Tithe millions of points of Favour to a Dominion; I believe that it is more important that your Dominion contribute to the community in some way, and that the community recognize and appreciate it. You're a self proclaimed "fluffy", but you recently attacked Euplicitous Arophram. Can you explain? I believe I spoke of it in the appropriate Topic at the time, but I'm happy to recap. Briefly, Euplicitous Arophram has never made a secret of his willingness, even eagerness, to use so-called "physical" attacks whenever he wishes -- if I am a Fluffy, I believe the term for him would be a Spike. Euplicitous Arophram killed Bennu, a member of Shadows, several times for what seemed to me woefully inadequate provocation. It finally reached the point where it appeared to me that, if no one ever did anything about it, he would continue attacking Bennu more or less at his whim, whenever Bennu posted a comment that he didn't like. So I did something about it. My understanding is that being a Fluffy means preferring to avoid physical attacks whenever possible. (Apparently it can also carry the connotation of wishing to avoid serious Forum discussion in favor of chatting about babies and gardens, but I don't seem to have mastered that particular feature of it.) Nevertheless, despite my strong personal distaste for every aspect of PK and my preference for not participating in it, the fact remains that it is a significant part of Ankhet. The implied threat of retaliation is not the only way to deter physical attacks, but it is one of the most effective. If one never takes any physical action, no matter how great the provocation, one might as well paint a giant red target on one's forehead. There is a limit, even for a die-hard Fluffy. What's your take on the Giorgioh and Luthien fiasco? Honestly, I don't view it as much of a fiasco. I don't think either of them is a zombie; I do think they're working together, but that is hardly uncommon for Disciples in the same Dominion. I was asked about this when Iron Maiden first surpassed Shadows in the Annals, and my opinion hasn't really changed. Anyone else is capable of doing what giorgioh and Luthien have done, if they care to devote the time to it. Frankly, it smacks a little of sour grapes to complain about another Disciple's rapid progress. I recall a time not so long ago -- before most Disciples had realized just how beneficial the Path of Hathor is -- when there was widespread speculation that Caplin and I must have been cheating because we advanced so quickly. This seems little different, and little more justified. That said, I will admit to not being particularly fond of the tactics they are using. However, they are not here to gain my personal approval; they are here to advance, clearly. They haven't done anything in violation of the Terms of Service, and they aren't attacking or taking actions against anyone else, so how much time they choose to spend here and how they choose to spend it is essentially their own concern. Massive tutoring of disciples 'not yet ready' for higher levels has recently come under attack. You have expressed your personal dislike for mass tutoring, but do not believe that the community should interfere. Is this correct? Is there anything you wish to add? Almost correct, with one clarification: I expressed my opinion, and indicated that I had no present plans to interfere with any mass Tutoring. I did not intend to indicate that I felt my opinion should bind the entire community. There are certainly those who feel quite strongly that mass Tutoring of relative neophytes is wrong, and they may choose to act against it. I gather that opposition to a similar tactic in Pyroto Mountain was frowned upon much more strongly, and that anything perceived as unjustified advancement was speedily -- and occasionally brutally -- reversed. For all I know, something similar could happen here. I hope not, obviously, but I certainly can't predict the future. At this time, I express no opinion on whether the community as a whole "should" interfere with mass Tutoring. So far, the community as a whole has shown admirable solidarity in determining when certain conduct is no longer acceptable *cough*Da+han*cough*. I am sure that it will continue to do so. You served as book-keeper in the Euplicitous Arophram / Aer Capello duel. Did this event live up to the hype? Do you believe that public duels will become more common after this demonstration? There was hype? In the end -- most likely due to the comparatively short notice -- very few people ended up wagering on the outcome of the Duel. I suppose in that sense one could say that it did not live up to the advance publicity. Other than that, though, I think it was a positive experience. And I actually wouldn't mind seeing public Duels become more common. Fluffy or no Fluffy, I have absolutely no problem with two Disciples agreeing to resolve their differences by way of a formal Duel -- after all, isn't that what a traditional duel has always been? The key is that both agree in advance: when one Disciple simply whacks another, it strikes me as less of a Duel and more of an Assassination... but I believe I promised to stop using emotionally-charged words like that to describe attacks, so please excuse me. Another advantage to public Duels like this one is that the community will have a good opportunity to learn more about the strengths of each Path. Before this Duel, there was a widely-held belief that followers of Hathor were inherently weaker Duelists than most other Paths; presumably that is no longer the case. We have seen that proper equipment makes a huge difference; we have also seen that followers of Thoth can be at a serious disadvantage when they agree not to use their many other devastating abilities outside of the Duel. The perceptive will have gleaned still more details. The more Duels we see, the more information we will learn... which will, in turn, make it easier for the next bookmaker to come up with odds. What is your opinion on the Desecration of Euplicitous Arophram? The use of Desecrate in retaliation for a petty insult is inexcusable. The fact that the target was Euplicitous Arophram makes this action no less reprehensible: his personal philosophy may have been completely incompatible with mine, but he was no Da+han. There is no reasonable explanation. There is no justification. I predict that Iron Maiden has now made too many enemies. Thank you for taking the time to answer our questions. If you’d like to be heard, please send any questions, comments, or submission to AnkhetGazette@gmail.com. Previous Issues can be viewed by using the Archives button below. Would you like to write for TAG? We’re looking for articles on the following subjects: An Inside Look: Iron Maiden An Inside Look: Eidolon An Inside Look: Light The Effect of Devastate on the Community The Best Method to “Power Level” View Archives

Note: Look and feel borrowed liberally from Ankhet. Ankhet the game is available at ankhet.net.
In Memoriam: Ninjalicious