My First time - Ancient Recollections
Feature

Being the story of a last reset.
by Pugsley the Wizard

[Editors note] ANY of you that read the last issue of the ABC may recall an article I did entitled a Wiz - but how? Well the thing that kicked that whole issue off was tales told in a pub. And one of those tales I finally (and trust me - I have been chasing this ever since the first one and it STILL only just made it in time) can present to you. The story of the making of a Wizard. And the reason why, though he has not used it on mud2.com (YET!) Pugsley's epitaph on other systems read as follows:

Before you stands a plain, white marble headstone; its deeply-chiselled inscription reads: "Pugsley the wizard, who killed himself to gain a resting place".

I've often been asked about the story behind my headstone and my normal reply has been, "Just that. I killed myself to make wiz."

The usual reply is but you can't do that! Or can you?

If you try to kill yourself you get the usual reply - Committing suicide is too easy a way to get points...!

So, how did I manage to kill myself and survive to tell the tale?

At one mud meet, Hawumph managed to get the story and so, after a lot of nagging on his part I've finally put pen to paper. This recollection starts towards the end of my second to last reset as a mortal. Most names have been changed, partly because I lost the original log in a flood and partly because I can't remember some of the names.

202,000! Not far to go now, another check on the qw, a double check on that warlock I've never seen before.

Hmmmm... he's in the maus... qw... another unknown necro... another one I need to keep an eye on.

Where's that warlock I don't know? In the east tomb. QW... another warlock I don't know... 2 warlocks I've not seen before and an unknown necro... Hmmmm... I'll keep an eye on all of em now.

200k sure does make you paranoid!!

I dash towards the yew tree. Icons will help, especially if I get in.

I pass the thief on the road opposite the cottage and do a quick inventory check once I'm in the hallowed chamber... damn!

Where fs0 - one carried by the thief.  He stole from me!! Damn good eyesight and reflexes that thief has, I'm invisible!

Where are those warlocks I don't know? - one in the east tomb and one I can't find and that necro is invisible now... soon sort that out... that's better, I can see him now. I better keep track of him too...

Suspicious "Quick, let's med and get these icons!"
Suspicious the sorcerer tells you, "Ok, just waiting for Lazy to get in place."

Another check on the qw. This doesn't look good... Friendly the warlock, Slime the warlock and Nastyb the necro. One in the east tomb, one in the bridal suite and Nastyb in a dense forest. I can almost see the commands. Summon Pugsley, kill Pugsley with pick. I should have killed that damn thief!

Suspicious the sorcerer tells you, "Ok, ready when you are."
Suspicious "Med now!"
Lazy "Med now!"

Med. You fall asleep, deep in meditation.

Lazy the necromancer tells you, "In"
Suspicious "damn, Lazy waited and got in. I can't hang about. No protection. You see where they all are?"
Suspicious the sorcerer tells you, "Yes. Call if you need help."

Discretion is sometimes the better part of valour.

Suspicious "Ok, I'm qq'ing. I'll come back in for an icon."

I quit and came back in waiting in the tearoom

Lazy the necromancer tells you, "Meet w,w of swamp for icons."

A quick dash north, invisible and feeling extremely naked with no weapon or protection I hurry to the forest west of the swamp.

Where Lazy. 1 in the place known as dense forest.

"Quick, give me my icon!"
A male voice says, "who is it?"
"Who the heck do you think it is? ME!"
"Who's me?"
"Pugsley! Who did you think it was?"
Someone has given you the icon1.
Someone has given you the icon0.
Friendly the warlock rushes at you wielding his pick0.
Friendly the warlock hits you (109/120)

DAMN!

You hit Friendly the warlock (10-14)
Blind Friendly, dumb Friendly
Your spell worked! Friendly the warlock has gone blind
Your spell worked! Friendly the warlock has been struck dumb.
Nastyb the necromancer attacks you with the billhook.
Nastyb the necromancer hits you (94/120)
You hit Nastyb the necromancer (10-14)
Blind Nastyb, dumb Nastyb
Your spell worked! Nastyb the necromancer has gone blind
Your spell worked! Nastyb the necromancer has been struck dumb.
Friendly the warlock makes some magical gestures.
Friendly the warlock hits you (79/120)
You hit Friendly the warlock (20-29)
Blind Friendly.
Your spell worked! Friendly the warlock has gone blind.
Nastyb the necromancer hits you (69/120)
You hit Nastyb the necromancer (10-14)
Nastyb the necromancer makes some magical gestures.

(As you can see, Lazy didn't help... and didn't help the others either!)

Suspicious "Help! w,w, of swamp!"
Slime the warlock rushes at you waving his blade
Slime the warlock hits you (64/120)
You hit Slime the warlock (20-29)
Friendly the warlock misses you.
You hit Friendly the warlock (10-14)
Nastyb the necromancer misses you (64/120)
You hit Nastyb the necromancer (10-14)
Suspicious the sorcerer has arrived.
Suspicious the sorcerer hits Slime the warlock with his pick.
Slime the warlock misses you.
You have suddenly and magically regained your visibleness!
You hit Slime the warlock (5-9) 
Invis
You have suddenly and magically become invisible!
qs
(Pugsley the mage)
eff str 96     eff dex 98     sta 54/120     mag 65    pts 202,189     gam 262
Suspicious the sorcerer hits Friendly the warlock with his pick.
Nastyb the necromancer hits Suspicious the sorcerer with his billhook.

(I should explain that certain spells and commands that are now in use were not available then. Also, if someone made wiz in a fight, the fight didn't stop automatically. The player making wiz would simply kill his or her attackers!)

Nastyb the necromancer flees and I'm now on 204,200. The icons or a flee will put me over IF I can survive. It's also debatable whether or not I'd have made wiz during the fight if Suspicious hadn't joined in. Would Nastyb have a need to flee without Suspicious joining in?

At 27 stam, with Slime and Friendly on critical I decided discretion was the better part of valour and fled.

The other big difference here was that flee points were not linked to stamina. In other words, I lost thousands of points!!

The next reset I'm scoring points as fast as I can again and no one seems to be after me. I'm back up to a little over 203,000.

Skiff the arch-wizard told everyone that I was not to be helped with anything I could do by myself or given anything. There was one dissenter - someone I played with often - Blackwood the necromancer.

Skiff dealt with his dissent with a fod!

Skiff the arch-wizard tells you, "Stop whatever you are doing now."

I stood still and wondered what was about to happen.

You are magically transported and find yourself in the place known as "ante
chamber".
Look.
Ante chamber
You are in the ante chamber, a pleasantly furnished room with comfortable
seating where those awaiting examination must sit and wait for the final test.
There is a door to the north-west and one to the north-east.
Skiff the arch-wizard says, "Give me your kit, please. You can keep your ring
and firestone."

Gulp!

Suddenly wizzes seem to be everywhere, Sherlock the arch-wizard, Revelation the wizard, Mycroft, the wizard, Nagasaki the wizard, Charesh the witch.

Skiff tells you, "Now, you have a choice. You must choose between the two
doorways and deal with whatever you find in them. Remember, what you need is
there and do not panic."

Panic? Why mention panic? What was waiting?

Pugsley the mage nods.
"Ok. Here goes!"

I go north-east ...

Examination Chamber
This bare and empty room is where those wishing to attain wiz-hood must face
their final test. There is a cold and damp mist that swirls across the floor
almost up to your knees. Pugsley the mage is here.
Pugsley the mage is glaring at you ferociously.
Pugsley the mage hits you (99/120)
You hit Pugsley the mage (20-29)

What do I do????

I can't use offensive magic against Pugsley (you couldn't use words like foe then) I'd be using it against myself!

Invis
Your spell doesn't work.
Skiff the arch-wizard tells you, "Stay calm. What you need is there."
Get all
You can't pick up Pugsley the mage.
Smell all
You're so used to your own odour that you can't really tell what you smell
like...
Pugsley the mage misses you (99/120)
You hit Pugsley the mage (15-19)
Pugsley the mage hits you (80/120)
You hit Pugsley the mage (10-14)
Taste all
You're kidding! Either go the whole way and bite yourself or forget the idea
altogether!
Look
Examination Chamber
This bare and empty room is where those wishing to attain wiz-hood must face
their final test. There is a cold and damp mist that swirls across the floor
almost up to your knees. Pugsley the mage is here.
Pugsley the mage hits you (59/120)
You hit Pugsley the mage (20-29)
Look Pugsley
You appear covered in wounds, and are holding the following:
        the firestone0 and the earring
If you leave a location, your description will be: "Pugsley the mage has just
left.".
If you arrive in a location, your description will be: "Pugsley the mage has
just arrived.".
If you are encountered in a location, your description will be: "Pugsley the
mage is here.".
If you cast a spell, your description will be: "Pugsley the mage makes some
magical gestures.".
Pugsley the mage misses you (59/120)
You hit Pugsley the mage (5-9)
Pugsley the mage hits you (40/120)
You hit Pugsley the mage (20-29)
You have killed Pugsley the mage (204,900)
You have changed experience level to wizard.
You are now Pugsley the wizard.

[Editor's note - wonder what was behind the OTHER door? gulp!]