Calyx of Isis

[b]Annoucements:[/b] [list] [*][b][url="http://md-archives.com"]MD-Archives.com[/url] is the official site for the archives and university.[/b] At this site you will find MD Lore culled from the forums and newly written, blogs by lore researchers and university teachers, and class notes and transcripts. [*][b]Classes are suspended until Monday, 5 January 2009.[/b] Between the holidays and the need for some collaborative calendar software, we all need a little time off. [*][b]A university email address has been established.[/b] Private communications about classes, scheduling, and other administrative work should all be sent to [email=MD-Univerisity@SpiritSeeker.net]MD-Univeristy@SpiritSeeker.net[/email]. [*][b]Current teachers[/b] are asked to send emails containing the following information: [list] [*]Title of your class. [*]Description of your class. [*]The number of lectures in your class. [u]One[/u] or [u]many[/u] will usually suffice. [*]Preferred day of the week and time. Please offer a second choice to give us greater flexibility in scheduling. To avoid confusion, please give day-of-the-week, date and time in your [b]local time[/b] and include your time zone as UTC+# (e.g. US Pacific Coast is UTC-8, server time is UTC+2). Please use this [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_time_zones"]list of time zones[/url] for reference. [*]Typical lecture length. Generally either 60 minutes or 90 minutes. [*]The frequency of your class, e.g. once a week, every other week. [*]Indicate if you will enter your own lecture note into the archives or will need a transcriber to assist you. Assigning someone to transcribe your lectures for you is always a good idea. [/list] [*][b]New classes and teachers are sought.[/b] Please give all the information indicated above. [*][b]The university is hiring administrators, transcribers, editors.[/b] [list] [*]I desperately need people to assist with the scheduling of classes and other administrative work. [*]Transcribers record lectures as they are given and prepare them for inclusion in the archives site. [*]Editors will go through transcripts for spelling and readability. Particularly needed are editors who will work with teachers whose native language is not English. [*]We will also need school deans and department heads, though this need is not as immediate as the others. [/list] [*][b]Rewards for university staff.[/b] I have been empowered to offer rewards to the most reliable and consistent university staff. All staff are eligible for rewards. Said rewards might be PWR title and description or stat bonuses. The most deserving in terms of reliability and time spent on the university will also be eligible to receive wishpoints or MD Shop credits. [*][b]Student incentives.[/b] Details have yet to be worked out, but there will be rewards for the best students. Spells, stat bonuses, or player titles will be associated with "graduating" from a series of related classes. [/list]

[quote name='DarkPriestess' post='21294' date='Dec 5 2008, 10:41 AM']This question actually has more than 5 answers. My opinion of course, correct me if I am wrong.[/quote] Of course there are more than five answers. So many, in fact, that for most all five choices wel be almost equally wrong. I just pict the answers that were less wrong than others.

[size=3][b]Schedule Changes![/b][/size] Silver Renard's class has been postponed one week due to the head's contest. A new class has been added to the curriculum, a new combat style devised by King Bull which he calls the Elephant Dance.

[quote name='MRnegative6' post='20922' date='Nov 26 2008, 08:53 AM']cant there be a bulletin board somewhere in MD? You press it and the schedule comes up? Id like to attend a few, but the time zones are a problem...but either way i would suggest a bulletin board?[/quote] Earlier this day (while I was teaching, actually) Mur made an interface for me so I can control the announcement of classes. Very soon (24 hours?) I will have that set up with a link to show up coming classes. I'm not sure if it will be a layer pop-up, a window pop=up or an external link to a calendar. I am experimenting with web based calendar software. Now that I can control the class announcement, it should be easier to keep it up to date and accurate.

[quote name='Treehill' post='20760' date='Nov 24 2008, 01:08 AM']...ok now i may sound stupid but....im not good with the clock wesyern means brazil too right?And Calyx i need to speak with you once the server is up.[/quote] According to the ink I included above, Bazil has two time zones, -3 (official time) and -4, with some islands in a third. I will add both timezones.

There is [b]no plan[/b] for a school of religion in the university. It just will not be. Mur does not want religion ripping MD apart and as this thread demonstrates it has that potential. For all intents and purposes, this discussion is ended. There may be classes describing spiritual and religious beliefs. The point being to convey information and broaden the student's perspectives. The validity of such beliefs is not open for discussion in this university as there are no definitive answers and the university is not a debating club. Calyx of Isis, University Chancellor

[center][size=4][b]I am proud to announce that MD University will open it's doors on Monday, 24 Nov 2008, server time.[/b][/size][/center] [b]We are always looking for new and interesting teachers![/b] If you have something at which you are well versed and would like to share, whether it be about MD, gaming, or the real world, please contact Calyx of Isis, Logan Marquis, or any other member of the staff -- they are now sporting shiny new university player tags. Class schedules will be posted here and in the game. Mur will make the schedule available from within the game, as well. The schedule will be provided for a variety of time zones to make it easier for people with trouble converting from server time (e.g. me). If your favorite time zone is not available send me a PM with you time zone offset. For example, New York City is at -5, Hollywood at -8, the Server and Greece at 2. Some countries have fractional time zones, e.g. Venezuela is -4:30. [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_time_zones"][color="#0000FF"][b]List of time zones (English)[/b][/color][/url] Classes will be held at the following locations: [list] [*]Classess with open admission will be hed in the Indexed Room of Memories in the MD Archives. [*]For more experienced players classes will be held at Lore Manor Interior in Loreroot. [*]Some classes have requirements or are by invitation only. Registered students will be teleported to the Sage's Keep Interior. [/list] [b]Classes for week starting Monday 24 November Dates and times are in the [color="#8B0000"][2] server's time zone[/color][/b] The character of Personality Mon Nov 24 06:00 (06:00AM) Logan Marquis Great Hall of the Sun An introduction to personality types and traits, demonstrating means to apply them based upon character. Manifesting the Imagined Tue Nov 25 02:00 (02:00AM) Calyx of Isis Great Hall of the Sun Techniques for manifesting, making real, the imagined in both Magic Duel and real life. Role Playing For Beginners Tue Nov 25 17:00 (05:00PM) SageWoman Great Hall of the Sun Creating your profile as a new player and the in's and out' of what is acceptable and what is not in role playing with other characters. Ritual Strategy Wed Nov 26 01:30 (01:30AM) AqlBeast Great Hall of the Sun Introducing the player to the strategies behind rituals required to become a better dueler. [color="#8B0000"]Postponed until next week[/color] [s]Hellenic (Greek) Mythology Wed Nov 26 23:00 (11:00PM) Lady Isolda Great Hall of the Sun An ongoing overview of Hellenic mythology starting with the The Theogony of Hesiod[/s] Native American "Medicine" Thu Nov 27 01:00 (01:00AM) Calyx of Isis Great Hall of the Sun An exploration of Native American beliefs as they apply to healing and "medicine." Building Character Through Writing Thu Nov 27 05:00 (05:00AM) Cryxus Indexed Room of Memories Lessons introducing the player to applying character to various written mediums. [color="#8B0000"]Postponed until next week due to heads contest[/color] [s]Playing a Shapeshifter Sat Nov 29 00:00 (12:00AM) Silver Renard Indexed Room of Memories An introduction to techniques for playing shapeshifters and examination the freedoms and restriction of being a shapeshifter.[/s] The Elephant Dance: A new MD combat style [color="#8B0000"](MP3 only)[/color] Sun Nov 30 03:30 (3:30AM) King Bull A new combat style developed by King Bull. A radical variation from the "traditional" style presently used by most high level players. This style is particularly suited to more aggressive players. As the technique has to be modified for MP3, the beginning and advanced version are taught on alternating weeks. The advanced course will be held in Loreroot. Mythology of Magic Duel Sun Nov 30 22:00 (10:00PM) Kieth Moon Indexed Room of Memories Introduction to the myths and legends that make up the history of MagicDuel. [b][color="#8B0000"][0] United Kingdom time zone[/color][/b] The character of Personality -- Mon Nov 24 04:00 (04:00AM) Manifesting the Imagined -- Tue Nov 25 00:00 (12:00AM) Role Playing For Beginners -- Tue Nov 25 15:00 (03:00PM) Ritual Strategy -- Tue Nov 25 23:30 (11:30PM) Hellenic (Greek) Mythology -- Wed Nov 26 21:00 (09:00PM) Native American "Medicine" -- Wed Nov 26 23:00 (11:00PM) Building Character Through Writing -- Thu Nov 27 03:00 (03:00AM) [s]Playing a Shapeshifter -- Fri Nov 28 22:00 (10:00PM)[/s] The Elephant Dance -- Sun Nov 30 01:30 (1:30AM) Mythology of Magic Duel -- Sun Nov 30 20:00 (08:00PM) [b][color="#8B0000"][-5] US Eastern time zone[/color][/b] The character of Personality -- Sun Nov 23 23:00 (11:00PM) Manifesting the Imagined -- Mon Nov 24 19:00 (07:00PM) Role Playing For Beginners -- Tue Nov 25 10:00 (10:00AM) Ritual Strategy -- Tue Nov 25 18:30 (06:30PM) Hellenic (Greek) Mythology -- Wed Nov 26 16:00 (04:00PM) Native American "Medicine" -- Wed Nov 26 18:00 (06:00PM) Building Character Through Writing -- Wed Nov 26 22:00 (10:00PM) [s]Playing a Shapeshifter -- Fri Nov 28 17:00 (05:00PM)[/s] The Elephant Dance -- Sat Nov 29 20:30 (8:30PM) Mythology of Magic Duel -- Sun Nov 30 15:00 (03:00PM) [b][color="#8B0000"][-6] US Central time zone[/color][/b] The character of Personality -- Sun Nov 23 22:00 (10:00PM) Manifesting the Imagined -- Mon Nov 24 18:00 (06:00PM) Role Playing For Beginners -- Tue Nov 25 09:00 (09:00AM) Ritual Strategy -- Tue Nov 25 17:30 (05:30PM) Hellenic (Greek) Mythology -- Wed Nov 26 15:00 (03:00PM) Native American "Medicine" -- Wed Nov 26 17:00 (05:00PM) Building Character Through Writing -- Wed Nov 26 21:00 (09:00PM) [s]Playing a Shapeshifter -- Fri Nov 28 16:00 (04:00PM)[/s] The Elephant Dance -- Sat Nov 29 19:30 (7:30PM) Mythology of Magic Duel -- Sun Nov 30 14:00 (02:00PM) [color="#8B0000"][b][-8] US Western time zone[/b][/color] The character of Personality -- Sun Nov 23 20:00 (08:00PM) Manifesting the Imagined -- Mon Nov 24 16:00 (04:00PM) Role Playing For Beginners -- Tue Nov 25 07:00 (07:00AM) Ritual Strategy -- Tue Nov 25 15:30 (03:30PM) Hellenic (Greek) Mythology -- Wed Nov 26 13:00 (01:00PM) Native American "Medicine" -- Wed Nov 26 15:00 (03:00PM) Building Character Through Writing -- Wed Nov 26 19:00 (07:00PM) [s]Playing a Shapeshifter -- Fri Nov 28 14:00 (02:00PM)[/s] The Elephant Dance -- Sat Nov 29 17:30 (5:30PM) Mythology of Magic Duel -- Sun Nov 30 12:00 (12:00PM)

*SageWoman* ID: 47315

66179, 65936

Note to Tarquinus or Moderator... there is something about the final image that is a spoiler.. for something to come. Tarquinus... no more must be said on that matter. It is a storyline that will be unfolding in the near future. The image is hilarious, but sadly does not belong here at this time.

I am torn on this and have yet to vote. There will be a University in Loreroot and many things will be taught there. Envy and I are working on this at Neyla's request. We know rituals, philosophy, principles and Role Playing will be taught there. Probably more. Teachers will include Envy, DST, Wodin, Khal, SageWoman, and myself. More as envy and I can make arrangements.

No, Glor, you have not killed this topic. There is far more to be revealed. Your role in all this was part of Khal's plan. Your post merely confirms what I had deduced by Monday morning. I have told the story once in public in MD. If Khal and the archivists permit I will reveal and analyze the whole thing. There are many stories to be told. There is much I was not a witness to and would like to experience through others eyes. Glor, even had white not showed up when he did, Sage and I had that covered. We had an alternative box from which to produce him. Had I known who's plan this was -- Khal's -- I would have PMed him that I was rewriting the ending with Sage's assistance. No one but the two of us knew we had it covered. Khal was obviously trying to fix it on his own. I wished Sage or I had thought of contacting Khal at that point, but it was not until Sage's sacrifice that the two of them actually started working together. After I knelt by her body I PMed, "what next." She told me that only she and Khal could do the rest, so I stalled for time while they worked it out. I said about Sage's souls communing with me, and someone picked up on the other stuff (thank the gods) and it all worked out. I have no idea what Khal was thinking of when he came in as white (yes, Khal played white, too). In the version of the story I have to present, the box never held white at all. It was a ruse to keep people for looking for white in the right place. At some point, Sage or I was told white could be present only when black was asleep. We pondered this and I considered many theories. I would have had it but I had no way to account for the box if white was in the world, now what to account for white in the world if the lore about the box were true. Also I pondered about who was playing white. One person was responsible for the whole thing and he never told anyone to do anything. He was the only one who knew what was going on. He initiated and controlled the whole thing by providing information for people to acquire. Everyone was a free agent. There was no guarantee of success. It hinged on his being able to hide the link between black and white and his total control of what information entered the game world. Up until the final minutes of the drama everything went off as he planned and he had the added drama of Calyx of Isis charging into the scene. I was the only unexpected aspect of the whole thing. At one point I could have gotten the information I wanted from Sage's guards. The only problem was, they had no idea why they were guarding her or from what. The following night I had to conference with Khal about the dojo. I used the opportunity to ask about Sage. While fighting for the reassurance I desired he gave me enough information to figure everything out. However, he added a dramatic piece of misdirection which caused me to spend days on something totally unrelated. I really want to hear more first hand accounts. Sage and I have discussed this extensively. We both felt an amazing sense of loyalty at the end, at the Aramory. Some were there because they wanted the return of Grey. But many seemed to be there out of loyalty to her, me, or us. I have never experienced anything like it. Sage was a wonderful story teller. She made stuff up all along. Hearing Udgard say the prophecy got him involved was interesting as it was something she made up on her own based on what she had learned. My darling's brilliance was stunning. I would say all my intelligence gathering was for naught except for a few things. It cause people to join because of their investment in us, not Khal, and it established the bonds of trust that got us to where we needed to be when we needed to be there. [b]Please people, if you were part of this, please share your story.[/b] Though I understand the mechanics of it and how the events fit together, the personal experience of the event is of great interest to me (and others, I assume).

I'm sorry if this is the wrong place for this for this, but it's two hours after GreyMantle's return and SageWoman getting Zleipheimer to snap out of it. I am still shaking from the rush and totally exhausted... almost 60 hours in just over three days. It is so long since I have had so much fun. This is my first time ever in something like this... I am at a loss for words to describe how I feel. Maybe if you get to the end of this long, rambling post, you will understand. Timing the return of Khalazdad Greymantle for the end of the festival was a brilliant move on Mur's part (and those he conferred with). Making it happen on schedule was, I suspect, due to Mr. Machiavelli, our chief archivist, Ren. (Sorry about the new appellation Ren, but I am still paying you compliments.) How they made it come out like this, I have no idea -- especially with idiots like me running in and wreaking havock over Sage's disappearance. Oh Well, they did an amazing job. Sage and I were hidden away far from the action (that was one challenging hour) and when the reports of Khal's death we looked at each other in horror, what do we do now. Gargant's PM to me sounded agonized. He was truly mortified by Khal's words. Then came the report that Khal might not be dead, but neither the box nor Khal the White had arrived. OMG! What do we do now? After some agonizing seconds I suggested the Principle of Imagination. Maybe if we played it out, gave a good enough performance, make a good enough story, just maybe the Creator God, Mur, would bless our rituals and permit the return of Greymantle. So we started running through ideas. C: "Maybe we can do another ceremony." S: "Nope, out ofceremony." (She had used everything when we purified ourselves and Xcerces before entering Golemus). C: "I still have sage, tobacco, sweet grass, and whit cedar." S: "No, I don't think it would work." (Lord why did I not copy the chat as it flowed!? Like I said above, idiot.) We ran through a whole bunch of ideas in seconds. She rejected all of them -- keep in mind, it was her decision to make, I could only support and advise at that point. Besides, she had proven herself wiser than I several times in the drama of the preceding week.) Finally PM's came to me announcing the arrival of Khal the White and news that Khal might not have expired yet. Oh what wonderful news. There was still a chance, but could it be done without the box? S: "Wait!" C: "Yes?" S: Her eyes glowed with the holy light I had seen shine from her many times. "I still hold the Ace!" She cried triumphantly. S: "Sister, will you follow me in this no matter what." C: "Of course I will! I will follow you through hell if need be." (We really did roleplay this even though we were alone.) I knew what was coming. She had planned it days before. I did not like what was coming, but we both had to follow her heart in this. I sent message to our friends that we we coming, and told them not to loose hope, there was still a chance. With that we left Golemus and returned to the horrific site of battle. I won't go on. Ren and Yami were there scribbling away as fast as I had ever seen. They will tel the rest. Please know this... Sage being in hiding was not cowardice. It was a strategic move to keep her alive. If she had died in battle, then what?? In fact, her Valkyrie spirit was driving her into the battle. This was a last minute decision. BlackThorn, the Voice of the Root, was screaming at me in my mind... "Get her into Golemus NOW!" She had turned away BlackThorn's warnings several times. I told her I trust BlackThorn as much as I trust her. "Well, if you trust him that much..." Still she was not happy and the Valkyrie in her struggled to go the the battlefield. In the lonely hour of waiting she finally allowed me to tell her of Loreroot, the Root, itself, and why I trusted BlackThorn so much. Still the Valkyrie wanted to taste blood. Time and time that spirit had to be quelled and I could see how much energy it took Sage to control it. Ok... so that's what happened. The days and hours leading up to this were strenuous. Many hours were spent collecting and analyzing clues, warnings, offers of aid and the rest. I waisted time following a false trail I had stumbled on and wound up in an out of character argument with Ren. That night as I tossed in bed, I was heart sick, everything had turned to ashes and Sage was still no closer to finding what she sought. With less than a day to go neither of us had a clue. I spent hour after hour in PM hell. Yrthilian, Wodin, Udgard, Tarquinus and many others provided information that lead nowhere. (Thanks, in part, to the deception of a friend, which I now see a necessary. What was thought lost was never lost. It was always where Sage, Udgard and ever thought it was in the first place. (No hard feelings, my friend, you did what you had to do.) Exhausted, but unwilling to leave MD I staggered into Winds Sanctuary and Windy's pub to rest. A woman I had met the day before. My invitation for her to sit with me again triggered events that ultimately would save us. Gargant had an interest in the woman sitting um.. um.. I better say, sitting beside me and Sent a PM. Our conversation is not important. What is was the alliance he and I formed in those few minutes. Hours later I was still clueless and Sage was sleeping. I ran into Xcerces. I have no idea who reached out and sent the first PM. X was a total stranger to me. We had exchanged hello's in the pub, but that was it. I had no idea whether to trust this Necrovian defector, but I knew he had aided my beloved soul sister to escape a deadly trap. Taking a risk I asked a test question and received the answer I desired. I cannot tell you why I placed Sage's fate in his hands. Sage and I... our medicine training has taught us to trust our hearts and intuitions (she, better than I). I found myself revealing secret to him without even understanding why I was doing it. I asked X to contact Gargant, and left to sleep. I know I have left out the names of many friends and enemies I met along the way. There wer so few I know I could absolutely trust.. Friendships were made in a second and dropped in a heart beat. The scale tipped from one side to the other moment by moment. It was exciting, exhilarating, depressing, joyous, and exhausting. In the end, what it was all about was Sage's faith in me and I in her, and the unwavering devotion of a few very special friends. This is the first time I have experienced any "game" this intensely. When I ::whispered:: I even typed quietly. So hear I am at the end of this post and I am still not sure what I am trying to say. Thank you every one for a glorious experience.

The Dojo became all of one month old a few days ago. Feels like it's been here forever, doesn't it. We're hoping to keep growing and getting better. I am working on improvments. Thank you to everyone who helped us make it this far.

Glor, I should be paying more attention. Time in-game has distracted me from the forums. I have been meaning to ask you... I would like there to be a large Yin-Yang symbol someplace. On a wall or on a standard. The idea came from my apprentices and it is good. I think we may be doing something else with the symbol as we get a little further down the road. There are many projects I have been putting of until the end of the festival. Mur and Shoeps have been busy enough without me pestering them about stuff. About the steps: Please, please keep them. I appreciate Bloodmoon's knowledge of real world dojos. They are my inspiration and what she says is correct, but this is MagicDuel. In creating the dojo I am teaching much, much more than martial arts. In a way one could say teaching combat is just a way to get people into an environment designed to teach other lessons. This purpose is working and being refined. In any case, the depressed center and steps divide the space up and suggest that more is happening than simply training exercises and duels. I particular, I am inspired by the Way of the Samurai. The word means "servant." To enter the life of a samurai one adopts a life of service to others. A well trained samurai would have studied calligraphy, a musical instrument, poetry, social graces, and a lot more. And, oh yes, Mastery of weapons. When I look at the dojo, I see the Mistress and Her apprentices standing in the back or wandering through and making a correction here or there. In one corner adepts sit in lotus position and meditate. In another, there is a well and student's drinking pure water. Along one side a group of students are all practicing the same sequence of motions. Elsewhere there are discussion of philosophy. That's the dojo I believe I have created, it is a busy, industrious place. This is a vision, something to be pursued. In the weeks and months to come I see training dojo staff to handle things more diplomatically, to encourage greater participation, etc. Things have been slow, yet I have been watching what happens in the dojo, analyzing problems, meditating on possible solutions. SageWoman and Meru Chi, my apprentices, as wise women with training in the ways of spirit. We've been discussing many things (while not trying to rescue Sage from Khal and all). Glor, I am going to need signs. Scrolls on the walls with the rules, announcements of upcoming guest teachers, e.g. DST, AqlBeast, Wodin. I need to discuss the maintenance of the sign contents with mur, but these two scrolls, at the least, need to be added. If there are other scrolls there will be quotes from Sun Tzu, Miyamoto Musashi, and from Daoist and Buddhist tracts. There may also be examples of calligraphy, brush and ink paintings, etc. You provide the scrolls, I'll find content and try to have it change on a regular basis. This is what I recall at the moment. Loreroot dojo will have the alliance symbol and the yin-yang. Previously I had said that this dojo could not be in No Man's Land. The deal has been struck and Mur and Shoeps notified, Adv. Log. scheduled and all that. An existing site has been chosen in No Man's Land. When it shows up in the AL, you will see there are historic reasons for this site and it's principle teacher. Has anyone been assigned to the the Loreroot dojo yet? I may be getting ahead of things, in asking about this. I know Neyla has Mur's approval and my participation, but I have no idea if any request has been made yet. There's a few hints of things to come in the weeks and months ahead. That wraps it up, I think, I probably need to see a guy about that altar... ::Calyx waves goodbye and blows kisses to all:: ::exit::

Well Said, Udgard. I concur.

I saw this a while ago and let Glor know I liked it. I've written to him extensively, so I won't make more than a few token remarks. I like the oriental feeling with a shrine, weapon racks, training dummies and dummies with armor, a place for meditation. LOCATION: It must be Marind Bell. The No Man's Land option vanished a few hours ago. I cannot divulge why, but if negotiations go as planned, there will be a dramatic change with regard to the No Man's Land Dojo. Stay tuned. As for the Loreroot dojo, Neyla and the high council have plans for something which Mur has apparently approved. I have no idea what those plans call for though I expect to learn soon.

You remind me of my grandmother, a Native American tribal shaman. She played this sort of thought game with me every day. I knew you were a wise man when I found the game. I did not have to meet you directly as your game described you in the first 20 minutes of interaction. What I found whn I actually talked with and work with you, very much fit the image I constructed. I cannot play the game, as my answer would fill far more space than appropriate. I work with both connotative and denotative meanings. I always have. My grandmother broadened my perspective and then I found the writings of Samuel Hayakawa and they were widened even more. Being strictly technical, I would agree with Morrel. Being familiar with a variety of philosophies I could make still other arguments, split hairs in five parts and all that. Or I could apply the Principles of Imagination and "common sense" and find justification for still more arguments. In other words, to one degree or another, all views here are valid. You have created a world in which Truth, Personality, and Reality are based on the integrity of each player. When our actions remain consistent with our character, deepest feelings (heart), and beliefs (mind), then this is Truth, it expresses individuality (Personality), and is Real. Integrity plus Imagination yields Manifestation. Read the adventure logs, the character support forums, and look around the world. You will find this truth to be self evident.

"him"?? Careless. I should leave it to a "him" to reply. to you. "Oh, who am I, you ask. Why, sir, a servant of the Goddess Isis. See Her ankh on my garments, and her owl near by. The wolf is mine own. I am Her Calyx, a priestess. It was Her command that I create this school and teach Her wisdom here. You are welcome to join in our study any time." Wynken stares openly wondering how he had not seen the wolf and the owl before. The woman, he had seen in brief glimpses through the moving bodies. The woman was of moderate stature, dressed in gauzy, flowing grey garments that flowed with the wind and did, indeed, carry the representation of an ankh in several places. She had piercing green eyes, but they seemed to shift to the yellow eyes of the owl, then the darker eyes of the wolf. For a moment there was an impression of an asp, then violent violet eyes that seemed to radiate more energy than the sun or anything else Wynken could conceive. The moment passed and then he sees only the concerned green eyes. She studies him for a moment, then return to the people practicing in the plaza. Off to the side he sees her armor neatly piled by a tent. Each piece seem emblazoned with a golden ankh. Wynken returns to his papers and his books. I could have imagined that first beauty, he thinks, but this one... no way did she come out of my imagination. And those purple eyes, their power! Could that have been Isis? How could I possible imagine all this, the dojo, the seeker of the moon, the priestess with her owl and wolf?? He looks up at the sun. Huh? It hasn't moved. Why did I think it was getting darker? No days, no nights? Where is the moon? He stands up and looks in the Penelope had taken, but she is gone. Should I try to follow her? he wonders.

There are a number of puzzles, finished or otherwise in Golemus. The Pilars of harmony is only one. Tremir is right on the number of possibilities, six to the sixth or 46,656. A program to solve it exhaustively would need to have a dictionary and other capabilities. Better to just your your brain. Those who got in were lucky. Simplyzero did this without taling to MrD, let alone Yrthilian or Wodin Ullr. All three were very upset and the Mr's struggled valiantly to save their whom from what, to them, appeared to an attack. I've seen one of Mur's PM to MrD, talked to him, Yr, Wodin, and Shoeps. The Mr's were acting entirely as they should have. From personal experience I can say this, show respect, ask politely, and you might be invited in on another occasion. That's my speculation, based on having asked for and received permission to remain without being attacked. No of that is germane to the puzzles. It just gives some context.

As my mother, my psychiatrist, and all my friends can tell you, from the moment I found this game I have been singing Manu's praises. He has created some unique, that is something of which there is only one. This game cannot be duplicated. The day before finding MagicDuel I spent hours trying to think of a game that would be truly different, that would represent the principles by which I live, one that would be hack-and-slash or mastery of the stats. Ne next day I found MD and there was the game I sought. I didn't even have to take a test drive to know. More than any game programmer or moderator, Mur makes good on his promise, the players create the game. He watches us and the forums all the times. He listens and he acts. Players create their own destinies. Some, e.g. BigC, were chosen others, e.g. Thanasia, just did their own thing, while other, e.g. me, went to him with passion about some idea and found him supportive and encouraging. Regardless of how the role came to be, we truly do create our own destinies here. I cannot think of any other game where this is so completely true. Logan, you have said everything I might have, and AQL and others are right, as much as it is, it is not enough. People want a portrait or statue of Mur. Why? A map of his mind is layout out before us. It gows and changes every day, just as Mur does. I refer, of course, to the game itself. Every day it gives us hints as to what he's thinking and wants to happen. Every day it reflects the choice we make, the way me use the Principle of Imagination as we play. The MR's, the Dojo, Penelope and Tarquinus, and on an on. These are all uses of Imagination and it is clear this is what Mur loves and adores and thrives on.

All four MDA gazebos seem to have stuff in them that I remember. However, the center of the garden -- at the round... that would be a good location. Otherwise I see bronze plaques in the MDA Lobby.

Dito! Meiche I wanted to be the one to create this. You were the first friend I made in the game. You have been the best friend a gal could wish for. Happy Birthday, dear one. May this new year bring you the fulfillment of at least one of your dearest dreams. May you make the Imagination Principle work in real life!! I know you doit here every day. With lots of love, the Calyx of Isis

The dojo is intended to be a safe place to do healing rituals, set rituals, duel with other players, experiment with various settings in rituals, etc. It is not intended as a place for idle players to regenerate. Once the festival is over I will be testing things to see how we can increase real study and work at the dojo. Expect the rule about idle players to change. There may be other changes besides that. The dojo will always be a safe place for people to come and hang out. The requirement to wait eight (8) minutes or an hour between combats make things hard and we all enjoy hanging out while we wait. No one will ever be chased away, yet I dearly would like to see the actual study of rituals increase.

Cute and evil rarely mix, but I suppose it's not impossible. Keep trying, you might just make it work.. but it has to be fluffy and cuddly.