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- The Future
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- --09-19
- We appreciate your feedback and bug reports in helping to ensure that the world of Dereth is a stable and fun place to be. Please submit any such bug reports to http://bugs.zone.com.
- 7.8894E10
- This is the latest installment of a frequently updated series of reports on The State of the Code for Asheron's Call. In this report, we keep players informed as to the state of some of the more technical aspects of AC, particularly bugs we are working on and technical limitations of which you should be aware. Look at the News page on the Zone for other articles about recent additions and changes to Asheron's Call.
- Below are items from previous State of the Code articles. Some items have been retired from the archive below because we believe they have been fixed. If they turn out not to have been fixed, we will revive those items.
- State of the Code Archive
- Unlike any other gaming experience, the world of Asheron's Call continues to evolve. Join us, as we open our September Event, Verdict. Be sure to continue your part in this incredible ongoing story, and we'll see you in Dereth!
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- Before he could say anything more, she rose and strode toward the door. "I'm sorry, I can't abandon them. Rest, heal, regain your strength. You'll need it. I'll be back once I've spoken to my people."
- A soft whisper-hiss snapped her out of her deep thoughts. There was very little light in her hovel as the desert tended to swallow the moonlight. She made her way to her landing using only the wan glow cast by the forces of Elementals outside. She peeked over the banister to where her houseguest slept below.
- Her voice turned gravely serious. "Although the destruction of the crystals has greatly weakened Gaerlan, he will be a formidable force to counter. It will require the abilities of all our people.
- Although the magics had been born from those opposed to the Throne, in his capable hands they had become a weapon in defense of the Crown. They were to have been a means for him to rise to prominence in the Empire. Perhaps even a means for him to lay claim to the Throne! Where was the misstep?
- She paused for a moment and looked down at the table, collecting her thoughts. She returned her attention to the council members and continued, "Martine has been working alongside Asheron to aid our people--"
- After rallying the Guard and examining Yanshi, she'd been able to see that Asheron was relieved at her return. For several hours, they had discussed what she had seen and what was to come. He had agreed that she needed to gather the council, and had set in motion the necessary preparations. He'd also agreed with her decision to invite two more guests to the proceedings, and had sent emissaries to them as well. However, there was another decision she had made, one that she hadn't told him about, one that she knew he wouldn't agree with.
- Then the truth comes, and I see that the fire has consumed me entirely. . .
- "Lord Kresovus and Aun Hareltah," she said, directing her attention to the two figures that stood to the side of the table. "I would ask that you provide whatever support your people can to help in the battle. Already your support has been invaluable, and I wanted to thank you especially for helping us to try to understand the threat growing below Yanshi."
- "Asheron?" Elysa said, turning her attention toward the man seated next to her.
- Doubled Hooks/Storage--VERY IMPORTANT!!!
As you know, we have had an issue with duplicated housing objects--hooks, storage chests, and covenant crystals--off and on for several months. In certain server conditions, it is possible for your housing objects to be doubled or even tripled, leaving you the proud owner of two or more identical copies of your hooks or storage. These copies are confusing, often do not behave correctly, and carry the risk of item loss.
- As Shoyanen finished, the council broke out into a chorus of voices, each clamoring for Elysa's attention, or the attention of the person seated next to them. Some talked of events they had witnessed, others of the course the Queen should take to rout Gaerlan. Elysa tried to regain their attention, but their voices drowned her out.
- "This is inconceivable!" Gaerlan screamed to the empty room.
- "Now, for the first time," Asheron paused to let the words sink in. "You are free."
- Two men meet on a floating fortress. Neither is human. One was once a man, but is now a twisted fusion of man and Virindi. The other is an Empyrean, possessing vast elemental powers. Words are exchanged, and then these two foes exchange blows. They remain locked in battle for hours, yet all the while neither gains the upper hand. The battle continues until the Empyrean unleashes a devastating spell at his opponent. The man crumples to one knee. The Empyrean boasts over his fallen foe, but the man looks up. The man knows how to defeat the Empyrean. He calls on the powers given to him by the Virindi.
- As I walk in the shadows cast by our people, I find others who are as I was when I first arrived on this world. They are directionless, filled with hopelessness. What kind of monster would drop these people on a world of pain? I will become these outcasts' benefactor, not abandoning them like that man has. They will not be torn apart by this world. The sight of them stokes the fires of hate in my heart, hate for Asheron. . .
- A thought occurred to him, and he paused in his frantic pacing. Perhaps Asheron was not the fool he had taken him for. Could the secret of Asheron's long life, the secret Gaerlan had discovered long ago, be a sign of his collusion with those who had forsaken the Light, those loathsome undead? Yes, the undead were infamous for trying to manipulate and control the living. Asheron was the cause of all of this!
- The old woman smiled again and Ciandra felt her muscles relax. The Sclavus bowed to Nuhmudira, and then to Ciandra, and backed out of the building into the desert night.
- Elysa scanned the faces of the council and, gesturing toward the Lugian, said, "This is Lord Kresovus of Linvak Tukal." He inclined his head as he was introduced. Directing her hand toward the Tumerok, she said, "And this is Aun Hareltah of Timaru. The Lugian and Tumerok people face the same doom as we. They have been invited today to serve in an advisory capacity."
- He would not fail, nor would he fall. Asheron's corruption and meddling would be defeated. He would have his revenge on the man. Asheron would pay for Delacim's murder, the massacre of their people, and the near destruction of the world itself.
- Concern entered Asheron's eyes. "You realize you'll be a target for Gaerlan, do you not? My wards are holding the force of his elemental magics back from this castle for now, but I won't be able to protect you if you leave it."
- As she spoke, she looked directly at each person in the room. "First, we need to prepare for the assault on Gaerlan. We must face him and rise to the challenge that he presents. Together we faced the Hopeslayer and defeated him; can we do no less with this Gaerlan? Asheron has promised to provide whatever means of support he can to aid us against Gaerlan."
- "Very much so, Candeth," Asheron said as he stroked his beard. "Very much so."
- "Any guesses?"
- "I did everything perfectly!"
- And now they were coming to the decision Elysa had made, the one she knew Asheron would not agree with. There was nothing to be done about that now, though; it was necessary.
- I came home to you, Melanay, after my day. More cargos have come in today, ship after endless ship emptying its hold. You ask me of my day, to talk to you. What shall I tell you? That the most interesting facet of my day was the discovery of a miscalculated ledger sheet? My heart burns for exploration, excitement. How it burns. . .
- "I realize that, Elysa, but I sense a change in him. Candeth's mind is no longer tainted by Gaerlan's influence," Asheron said with care. "The clarity your son's actions brought to him was the seed from which Candeth was able to heal his mind."
- In August's Letter to the Players it was stated that the additional damage inflicted by the new skill-based War Magic damage bonus was a percentage of the War spell's minimum damage. This is incorrect. The actual bonus damage is a percentage of the unmodified spell damage. This unmodified damage is a number somewhere between the listed minimum and maximum damage for the spell. It should also be noted that this bonus only begins to appear when the character's buffed War Magic skill meets the difficulty of casting the spell. Players should be aware that each level of War Magic spell has a different maximum damage bonus. The higher the level of the spell, the higher the potential damage bonus. We apologize for any confusion this may have caused.
- Miscellaneous Improvements and Changes
:* As discussed in the Letter to the Players, if you find duplicate hooks or chests in your home, please remove all items from these immediately to prevent item loss. After you leave the area and the server resets your home, the duplicates should no longer be present and you can safely use your hooks for storage again.
:* We have revised the types and levels of enchantments that can be found on various pieces of armor and weapons.
:* We have tweaked the rate at which certain weapons appear as treasure, as well as the racial restrictions applied to these weapons, to be more inline with their skill point costs.
:* Certain thrown weapons--such as throwing axes, clubs, daggers, djarids, darts, javelins, and shokens--will no longer appear as treasure. Worry not, though! The multitude of players who use these items will still be able to find a selection of such weapons on sale at the 9 Nexus town bowyers.
:* Granite and Ceramic should now appear slightly more often in higher quality treasure.
:* Examining stacks of salvaged Black Opal, Fire Opal, and Sunstone will provide a better description of the effect they add to an item, instead of just providing the name of the effect.
:* Chests that require a Sturdy Iron Key to open should now provide slightly better treasure. Chests that provide level 7 scrolls, and require a Sturdy Iron Key, are unaffected by this change.
- Seeing her wince at the mention of the Olthoi Queen, Asheron paused a moment before continuing more softly, "Candeth lives because I healed the grievous wounds he incurred during his berserk attack on a Virindi complex. If you need to blame someone for the threat that is hanging over your people--" He looked into her eyes. "You should blame me."
- "We have yet to find a way into the lower levels," he continued. "We have, however, heard the sounds of something speaking, as if waking from a slumber, and there have been minor quakes in the earth."
- Before he could say anything, Elysa looked down at her hands again and said, "Asheron, I have to go to them."
- Hundreds of years of effort were unraveling before his eyes. When first he had found the citadel, this temple that had lain dormant for centuries, he'd known that it would be the instrument of his ascension. The destiny he knew he had been born to would begin here. He had felt it in the pit of his being and had known he had been fated to find this. Nothing could prevent his destiny, not even the prison between worlds to which Asheron had condemned their people.
- . . . only you and Aritta are left.
- As Celdiseth took his seat, Elysa stood up and opened the council. "Thank you all for coming. We have much to discuss, although our time is short. In just the last hour the situation has progressed and we must respond to it. However, before we begin, we have two more who will be joining us."
- She sat for a moment looking down at her hands as they rested in her lap, and then said quietly, "You aren't responsible for all those things, and I realized that long ago. You're a good man."
- Elysa met his eyes for a long moment and then nodded. She turned back to her force and motioned them into action. They descended into the pit and began assisting the Golems beneath the charred landscape of Yanshi.
- Martine's voice became nothing more than a whisper. "I became accustomed to its presence, so much so that even after the unnatural union of our two parts resulted in its death, my mind generated a replacement. Why couldn't I see it? Why was Gaerlan able to exploit me so easily?"
- Noticing her grin, Asheron said, "I didn't realize sipping tea was so entertaining."
- For this reason, if you are purchasing a Mansion or Villa this month, please ask a friend to stand in the dungeon area while you complete the purchase. This forces the dungeon area to remain loaded, and thus the hooks and storage chests are updated properly.
- Ketnan begs for his life. He is just one of those I meet as I study the society our people have built on this world. From some of those I meet I take what I need. Others I manipulate to suit my needs. Would you be ashamed of me, Melanay? Or maybe even horrified? It matters not, for I will gain the respect of this world. With respect, I can control this world. I wish to wipe away its chaos and pain. I have so many, many plans. I will provide gifts to our people, although they will come with a price. Some of my gifts will instill the fear of death in them. Other gifts will leave them questioning the nature of their existence on this misbegotten world. I will show them the way and be a blazing beacon to them. . .
- New Functionality and Content
:* Challenges unseen before await the heroes of Dereth.
:* Gaerlan's Elemental hordes have melted away from the landscape. Creatures have now returned to their old familiar haunts.
:* The Arcanum builders have been burning the midnight oil. Along with their other construction projects, they've found the time to add 500 new Residential Quarters for players to purchase.
- He stopped and looked behind the Queen as a force of men and women wearing the colors of the royal guard and bearing her standard marched into the city. Elysa cleared her throat to get Antius back to his story.
- "Did everything perfectly. . . everything perfectly. . . perfectly. . ."
- September is another exciting month for players of Asheron's Call! Here is a summary of the changes and additions for September.
- "Yes, a member of--" Ciandra blurted, then stopped an instant as she realized the attention of the entire council was upon her. "A-a-a member of the Arcanum spoke to Sir Olivier Rognath, a member of the Explorer Society. Sir Olivier had known Martine before he was modified by the Virindi and was in attendance when Martine spoke to the crowds. Sir Olivier said that Martine appeared before them as a human. He appeared as Sir Olivier originally remembered him!"
- And then it burns no longer.
- Celdiseth simply snorted in response.
- Before Elysa's arrival, before she had activated the portal device and he had summoned her into his presence, he had been alone for five centuries. Recalling that time, he had difficulty believing that he had kept his sanity. Throughout the long years, he'd had only a few constructs, Golems and other magical servants, to keep him company. Then he had offered a place in his castle for Elysa and Borelean, and their presence had warmed his heart in ways he hadn't thought possible. In Elysa he had found a kindred spirit, and in Borelean, a new pupil.
- "That doesn't matter, I simply can't hide anymore," she said, looking up at his face intently. "I once left my people, after the towns were settled. I thought they didn't need me anymore. I see now that I was wrong. I was trying to escape. I tried to escape for five years."
- Elysa blinked, coming out of her fugue. "Sorry. I was just thinking about all that has happened in the span of a few weeks. It almost seems too incredible to believe."
- Now, on to some of the other changes this month:
- "Perhaps," she said, looking up at Asheron. "But that doesn't stop the threat." She began to speak more quickly. "The combined might of my people have destroyed three of the four siphoning crystals, but Gaerlan still threatens them all. And Yanshi. . . you've told me you sense something wrong there."
- "Elysa, this calamity that your people face is just another a consequence of my actions," he said forcefully. "Need I remind you of what I am responsible for?"
- She sat silent.
- To be continued. . .
- Until. . .
- War Magic Damage
- "Wonderful, he's healed," she said, biting off each word. "He should be dead for what he's done to all of us. For what he tried to do to you."
- "If the time exists, that is," Martine said quickly. "What more can I do? We can't have much time left."
- This month's event is promising to be one of our biggest yet, providing players with quests and content unlike any seen before in Asheron's Call. We'll see you next month, and thanks for playing!
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- The flame grows. It burns, tearing at my body and mind. It builds. Focusing becomes difficult. My thoughts drift to you my wife, my love. . .
- The Mosswarts surround me, their spears prodding me in the direction they want me to go. If only the overwhelming fear of death didn't paralyze me. But those Lifestones, how can I trust them? How can I trust devices created by a man who abandons us on this blighted world? And even if they do restore life, I have seen the corpses of those who have died. Even though they knew they would be returned to life, their bloated faces are disfigured into masks of pain and fear. This is a world of sorrow, Melanay, it blisters us all. . .
- "As I began," she continued, focusing her attention back to the faces of the council. "Martine has been aiding our people, informing them of what is to come. After the last crystal fell, he created portals to a location below Gaerlan's floating citadel. Reports from some of my Guard indicate that he told the crowds that he was going to face Gaerlan personally."
- It is my memories of you, Melanay, and the actions of a brave child, a child so much like our own, that ignite a new fire in me. The old passions and desires have been turned to ash and blown away. I burn brightly now, my love, yet instead of consuming me, the fire makes me stronger, it makes me the man I once was. . . and more.
- Suddenly, from a corner of the room, a voice cried out, "Silence!"
- "Elysa. . ." Asheron began, but was interrupted by an earth-shattering rumble. He rose and quickly strode to the nearby window. The sky above them was now a sheet of elemental colors, flashing from green to blue to red to purple and back again.
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Part 6
- The words echoed throughout the library, "This is inconceivable. . . is inconceivable. . . inconceivable. . ."
- "Amazing," Asheron said quietly, stroking his beard.
- At one side of the table, the usually quiet and serene archmage Shoyanen Kenchu spoke up, "I can appreciate the need to bring us up to date, Your Highness," she said, agitation clear in her voice. "But you have not yet told us what we are to do. The destruction of the crystals has not removed Gaerlan's elemental creatures from the land. They still surround my tower, and my visitors are slaughtered as they try to approach."
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