Mon Nov 22 04:42:11 2004

At 11 o'clock AM, Day of Thunder, 3rd of the Month of Futility
on the Theran calendar Arthakar perished, never to return.

And a rather premature end at that, at least relatively speaking. I did have the intention to eventually return to what was my most beloved character by far, however I did not make it in time to log him in this month which resulted in Arthakar's auto-deletion. Even so, my character had very little conpoints left making me realise early on that I would have neither the time nor the opportunity to begin the last and final chapter to what was already quite an eventful and long life. My final goal with Arthakar would have been to make him reach his condeath by fighting those Maran characters that were currently active, in the hopes of making enough of an impression on a certain Immortal for him to grant my character a few gechos on his becoming one of the Temple's revenants. Alas, this plan was cut short due to carelessness on my part. Yet I cannot say that I have any feelings of regret when looking back at this character.

Arthakar was my very first hero. He was also the first character with whom I interacted with some of the best roleplayers of the game, both mortal and immortal. And he was the first character with whom I managed to do some very satisfying playerkilling with. To every one of my own little standards, Arthakar was magnificent. And eventually, he perished in a way similar to how he had always lived - on his own little unique terms. Knowing that... is enough.

If there was one thing that could have described Arthakar's nature as a character, it are those very same words. 'On his own little unique terms'. I never had a written role for this character, however there certainly was one hidden behind him. Arthakar began life as an abondonned, homeless and nameless young felar that grew up on the cold streets of Galadon, surviving as part of a small band of young mercenaries and thieves who were in a situation very similar to his own. The name 'Arthakar' was a mirror image of 'Rakahtra', a trader that came from the Hamsah Mu'Tazz region who became the first of Arthakar's many murdervictims. This man carried a bracelet on him on which his name was engraved, a bracelet which Arthakar had taken as spoils from his body. After more or less teaching himself how to read much later in his life, the young felar murderer remembered seeing the reflection of the name on that bracelet in a pool of rainwater. He kept that name ever since.
After eventually learning of the power of magic in a rather very unpleasant way, Arthakar became utterly obsessed with studying it and obtaining as much knowledge about it as he possibly could, all for the purpose of making it his own.

That, in a tight nutshell, was the basic premise behind the character of Arthakar.

With that background in mind, it seemed obvious enough what my choice for him would be. However I failed my induction interview with Etarekoth and Illivara, and Arthakar unwillingly turned into a Scion reject. At the time, I thought it meant the end of him. But as I contemplated deletion for a short while after that failed induction interview, I suddenly realised that from an IC point of view it wouldn't make sense for Arthakar to be emotionally affected in any way by the rejection of the Chasm, as being shunned and rejected had literally been all this felar had ever known throughout his violent and dark past. With that in mind, I re-activated him and began playing Arthakar from the clean slate of a rogue felar wizard who, after his rejection by the Scion circle, began to attempt gathering his power through literally scavenging for knowledge about magic in any way he could, much in the same way as he once scavenged for his more basic needs. Which would eventually result in Arthakar finding something that would become more precious to him than anything else he had ever known in his life. It was throughout this very period that my character truly came alive in its own way. Watching Arthakar's personality slowly take shape and having it evolve from what he was to what he was becoming right there in front of me, was the single most intruiging and most enjoyable experience I have had in an online game. And that, I think, is definitely saying something about this place.

Arthakar has perished, and I would dare to say Thera has become a better place for it. With this post, the end of the Felar Serpent has come. I wish to extend my greatest thanks to all of you out there I have interacted with throughout this character's very long existence. It truly has been tremendous fun.

There are far too many of you to begin naming person by person, so I think am going to restrict myself to leaving goodbyes for some of the Immortals. Should you have any remarks, comments or questions to make about Arthakar, then feel perfectly free to ask them. I will give an answer to your post as soon as I can.

The only other characters I've had that were even remotely of any note were a Drow healer by the name of Ardulnanhil (pronounced as Ardul-na-nhil), empowered by Khasotholas the day before the new Empire came in, and an Arial Warlock shapeshifter that went by the name of Itaeapheqim.

The Felar Serpent, signing off.



Immortal players and staff:
______________________

Zulghinlour: I'd say brief thanks are in order for all the work you put in while fixing the various constriction bugs of the anaconda form I submitted to the bugboard, and this while putting up with my impatient attitude at the same time. I hope that I was able to provide you with some worthwhile feedback on this form in return, seeing as how very few players ever seem to fully explore its potential and abilities.

Khasotholas: I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed that brief appearance you made to Arthakar in the Ruined City shapeshifter guild, if you still remember it. You have my thanks for it, and in return I hope that you enjoyed watching my character. It has been since Ardulnanhil that I have interacted with you, and I'm glad to say that you haven't lost your touch.

Scarabaeus: The most important acknowledgements I have to give are reserved for you, because from an OOC point of view I was quite impressed with what you did. You were willing to give my character a chance, despite the fact I did not have a written role for it. Without that intervention Arthakar could have never reached the heights within that he eventually did. You have my genuine gratitude for that. Arthakar was a being that had failed in everything in his life, except in the most important thing of all. To find a way to reach out to his spiritiual father and his god, and to reach immortality in the undeath as a felar. To Arthakar the Sacraa not only represented the key towards reaching this intimate inner wish, it also set Arthakar's dark impulses and desires utterly free as well as setting them far above and beyond the values of those same mortal societies that had always rejected Arthakar for being what he was. It thus wasn't surprising that towards the end Scarabaeus had come to mean the world to Arthakar. I regret not having had the opportunity to roleplay this out in more detail, especially when you consider what Arthakar's original views on felar and religion were before he discovered the Cult's teachings.
Looking back at the interaction we had, I do feel I should have presented Arthakar as being a bit more fearful and cautious towards the lich. But the simple truth of the role was that this felar had nothing but the deepest, utmost feelings of reverence and faith and loyalty towards Scarabaeus. For Sacer was Arthakar's accepted father, his god, and the one that ultimately brought Arthakar his salvation in the twilight of his life. Namely, the privilige to remain in this world for all time as a guardian of the sacred Temple. To be the only felar who will never fade, until the end of time itself.

As brief as it all has been, I hope that you enjoyed having Arthakar around as one of your initiates. And thanks for the small leap of faith that you made in me as a player.

You were consistently an interesting character to watch. I never really knew what you were trying to do, but your roleplay was very, very consistent. Good job sticking out a character that most would have deleted, and making him stand out.

Khas

I had no written role for Arthakar after all. This was mostly the result of the character's beliefsystem having always been a heavy work in progress for the vast majority of its lifetime. In retrospect however, I do believe I could and should have added those things of his past and his personality which had already taken solid shape. It's a mistake I intend to learn from with regards to my future characters here on this MUD.

Khasotholas, would you mind if I asked you one short question however? It is a question that I'd imagine only a staffmember could answer with any true accuracy.

Was Arthakar the most lethal anaconda in CF's history?

Or have their been others who reached or perhaps even surpassed the number I reached? For the sake of my little pride as a player, I hope you or someone else on the staff will be found both willing and able to answer that question for me. It is something I always did want to know.

And once again, thank you for everything, from the interactions to the work that you put into this MUD for the sake of all of our enjoyment.

You were like, the anti-Celebrimbor. More than anyone else, you helped define who I was, by virtue of my being unlike you. You were SO damn annoying about getting away from me too. The one damned time Track the Wicked ever worked, you had teleported after a fight, to a spot behind the inn. Well I couldn't get back to you, even though I knew where you were. Talk about frustrating.

REALLY well played character, and excellent work for a first hero.

Looking back, it did seem to be quite inevitable for our characters to develop that level of chemistry with one another. A staunch and dedicated Elven, Maran paladin on one side, and a vicious and murderous type of Felar atheist on the other. And it was giving off some great fireworks, certainly.

As I said in your own goodbye post at the time, you as an Elven paladin fared much better against me than many a Storm and Dwarven paladin had before you, which was something I definitely took note of. And you're quite right - we were both wielding classes that were not exactly best equipped to deliver that one and final to each other.

It was too bad Celebrimbor perished shortly after that fight. Because about those fireworks - there could and would have been much more where that came from. You could have counted on it.

Thanks for the discussions, the tauntings and that big fight in Galadon and Silverwood. It was all great fun.

Arthakar has arrived.

<1161/1161hp 784mv> <315>
Arthakar looks at you.

<1161/1161hp 784mv> <315> l ark
You do not see that here.

<1161/1161hp 784mv> <315>
Anger overcomes Arthakar's features and his tail begins to twitch.

l art
A quiet, sly felar with an unfriendly look on his face skulks
here in these shadows, avoiding the light as well as any att-
ention. He is clothed in a variety of robes and cloths which
have pitch-black and darkbrown colorings to them, and you get
the impression that they were either stolen or forcefully ta-
ken from their previous owner. Every part of his body uncov-
ered by these garbings shows a harsh and greasy darkbrown fur
that looks almost a tar black because of it. His eyes have a
darkbrown coloring much like his fur would have were it a bit
cleaner, and his whiskers have a darkgray color to them. His
ears are typical for those any felar though they somehow seem
a bit longer, and the fur on their insides is a tainted white
instead of the greasy darkbrown that prevails over most areas
of his body. The fur visible just underneath his chin is li-
ke an ash-gray of sorts in its color running all the way down
to his chest from there. His tail has that same greasy dark-
brown coloring as the rest of his fur does, though the tip of
it ends in an ash-gray patch the same as his chin and his up-
per chest. He seems to be a little under six feet in his to-
tal length, with his tail being about three feet in length on
its own. All of his claws have a pitch-black coloring, while
six vertical darkgray stripes seem to form a natural decorat-
ion on the fur of his skull.

Arthakar, a male felar, is in perfect health.

Arthakar is using:
<worn on finger> (Invis) (Glowing) a ring of vitality
<worn on finger> a pitch-black ring
<worn around neck> an unholy symbol of Lloth
<worn around neck> a living Boa Constrictor
<worn on tail> a woolen tail wrap
<worn on head> (Glowing) a black mitre
<worn on face> a demonic-looking mask
<worn on legs> some leggings from the snow worm
<worn on hindpaws> a pair of clawed leather paw-wraps
<worn on forepaws> crescent gauntlets
<worn on arms> a pair of armguards from the snow worm
<worn as shield> a shield from the hide of a snow worm
<worn about body> a skin from the snow leopard
<worn about waist> the belt of life
<worn around wrist> a bracer of gray leather
<worn around wrist> a bracer of gray leather
<wielded> a dripping bloody knife

1161/1161hp 835mv> <315>
Arthakar points at you.

<1161/1161hp 835mv> <315>
Arthakar points southward.

<1161/1161hp 835mv> <315>
Arthakar leaves south.

<1161/1161hp 835mv> <315> chu
You chuckle politely.

Arthakar tells you 'deserrt. strraight combat with arthakar. come.'

Arthakar tells you '*hiss*'

1191/1191hp 836mv> <315> where
People near you:
(PK) Arthakar Caravan Road
(PK) Grurk The Start of Caravan Road

<1191/1191hp 836mv> <315> s
s
Caravan Road


Two small piles of tuara hide have been tossed aside.

<1191/1191hp 827mv> <315> pincer art
Caravan Road


A desert deer looks at you as it forages for food.

<1191/1191hp 818mv> <315> They aren't here.

<1191/1191hp 818mv> <315> s
Caravan Road


A smaller mantis is busy cleaning the kills of the day.
A traveling merchant from Hamsah Mu'tazz walks along with the caravan.
A traveling merchant from Hamsah Mu'tazz walks along with the caravan.
A traveling merchant from Hamsah Mu'tazz walks along with the caravan.

<1191/1191hp 809mv> <315> pincer art
They aren't here.

<1191/1191hp 809mv> <315> s
Caravan Road


A traveling merchant from Hamsah Mu'tazz walks along with the caravan.
A traveling merchant from Hamsah Mu'tazz walks along with the caravan.
A traveling merchant from Hamsah Mu'tazz walks along with the caravan.
A nomad tribesman journies with the caravan, hoping to sell his wares.
A large warrior stands here guarding the merchants of the caravan.
A large warrior stands here guarding the merchants of the caravan.

<1191/1191hp 800mv> <315> s
Caravan Road


(Invis) (Translucent) An impossibly large anaconda is here.
A nomad tribesman journies with the caravan, hoping to sell his wares.
A large warrior stands here guarding the merchants of the caravan.
A large warrior stands here guarding the merchants of the caravan.
A nomad tribesman journies with the caravan, hoping to sell his wares.
A nomad tribesman journies with the caravan, hoping to sell his wares.
A large warrior stands here guarding the merchants of the caravan.
A large warrior stands here guarding the merchants of the caravan.

<1191/1191hp 791mv> <315> murer ana

A huge anaconda begins to slowly entwine you.
Huh?

<1191/1191hp 791mv> <315> n
Caravan Road


A traveling merchant from Hamsah Mu'tazz walks along with the caravan.
A traveling merchant from Hamsah Mu'tazz walks along with the caravan.
A traveling merchant from Hamsah Mu'tazz walks along with the caravan.
A nomad tribesman journies with the caravan, hoping to sell his wares.
A large warrior stands here guarding the merchants of the caravan.
A large warrior stands here guarding the merchants of the caravan.

<1191/1191hp 782mv> <315> e
Wandering in the desert


A long thin black snake slithers along the sand.
A long thin black snake slithers along the sand.

<1191/1191hp 773mv> <315>
You feel yourself slow down.

<1191/1191hp 798mv> <315> murder ana
They aren't here.

<1191/1191hp 798mv> <315> q stuff
You feel momentarily ill, but it passes.
You are already in a frenzied state.
You feel yourself moving more quickly.
The night's bitter cold drains your strength.

<1191/1191hp 791mv> <315> where
People near you:
(PK) a huge anaconda Caravan Road
(PK) Grurk Wandering in the desert

<1191/1191hp 791mv> <315> murder ana
They aren't here.

<1191/1191hp 791mv> <315> w
Caravan Road


(Invis) (Translucent) An impossibly large anaconda is here.
A traveling merchant from Hamsah Mu'tazz walks along with the caravan.
A traveling merchant from Hamsah Mu'tazz walks along with the caravan.
A traveling merchant from Hamsah Mu'tazz walks along with the caravan.
A nomad tribesman journies with the caravan, hoping to sell his wares.
A large warrior stands here guarding the merchants of the caravan.
A large warrior stands here guarding the merchants of the caravan.

<1191/1191hp 782mv> <315> murder ana
A huge anaconda begins to slowly entwine you.

<1191/1191hp 775mv> <315> You hear the great commotion of an anaconda somewhere nearby.

A huge anaconda dodges your cleave.
A huge anaconda is in perfect health.

<1191/1191hp 775mv> <315>
Your cleave EVISCERATES a huge anaconda!
Your cleave DISMEMBERS a huge anaconda!
Your cleave DISMEMBERS a huge anaconda!
Your cleave DISMEMBERS a huge anaconda!
A huge anaconda has some small but disgusting cuts.

<1191/1191hp 775mv> <315> whirl

A huge anaconda slowly wraps his body around you.
A huge anaconda has some small but disgusting cuts.

<1191/1191hp 775mv> <315> You spin the shaft of the Battle Axe of Rah, hitting a huge anaconda with its points.
Your whirling axe DISMEMBERS a huge anaconda!
As the Battle Axe of Rah tears into a huge anaconda, a gout of blood erupts!
A huge anaconda has some small but disgusting cuts.

<1191/1191hp 775mv> <315>
Your cleave MASSACRES a huge anaconda!
Your cleave MASSACRES a huge anaconda!
A huge anaconda is covered with bleeding wounds.

<1191/1191hp 775mv> <315> pincer

Your cleave DISMEMBERS a huge anaconda!
As the Battle Axe of Rah tears into a huge anaconda, a gout of blood erupts!
Your cleave EVISCERATES a huge anaconda!
As the Battle Axe of Rah tears into a huge anaconda, a gout of blood erupts!
Your cleave EVISCERATES a huge anaconda!
A huge anaconda dodges your cleave.
A huge anaconda is covered with bleeding wounds.

<1191/1191hp 775mv> <315>
A huge anaconda tightens his coils around your body.
A huge anaconda fades into existence.
A huge anaconda's crushing coils MUTILATES you!
A huge anaconda is covered with bleeding wounds.

<1151/1191hp 775mv> <315>
A huge anaconda closes the first loop and begins on the second time around you.
A huge anaconda is covered with bleeding wounds.

<1151/1191hp 775mv> <315>
Your cleave DISMEMBERS a huge anaconda!
Your cleave DISMEMBERS a huge anaconda!
Your cleave EVISCERATES a huge anaconda!
A huge anaconda is gushing blood.

<1151/1191hp 775mv> <315> You drive your axes into both sides of a huge anaconda's body.
Your brutal attack DISMEMBERS a huge anaconda!
Your brutal attack DISMEMBERS a huge anaconda!
A huge anaconda is gushing blood.

<1151/1191hp 775mv> <315>
A huge anaconda closes the second loop and begins to wrap himself around you a third time.
Your cleave EVISCERATES a huge anaconda!
Your cleave DISMEMBERS a huge anaconda!
Your cleave DISMEMBERS a huge anaconda!
A huge anaconda is writhing in agony.

<1151/1191hp 775mv> <315>
Your cleave EVISCERATES a huge anaconda!
Your cleave EVISCERATES a huge anaconda!
Your cleave EVISCERATES a huge anaconda!
A huge anaconda is convulsing on the ground.

<1151/1191hp 775mv> <315>
The clouds disappear.
A huge anaconda is convulsing on the ground.

<1151/1191hp 775mv> <315> murder ana

You get in one more shot on a huge anaconda as he flees.
Your parting blow EVISCERATES a huge anaconda!
A huge anaconda leaves north.
A huge anaconda has fled!

<1151/1191hp 775mv> <315> where
They aren't here.

<1151/1191hp 775mv> <315> People near you:
(PK) a huge anaconda Wandering in the desert
(PK) Grurk Caravan Road

<1151/1191hp 775mv> <315> n
Caravan Road


A smaller mantis is busy cleaning the kills of the day.
A traveling merchant from Hamsah Mu'tazz walks along with the caravan.
A traveling merchant from Hamsah Mu'tazz walks along with the caravan.
A traveling merchant from Hamsah Mu'tazz walks along with the caravan.

<1163/1191hp 791mv> <315> e
The Temple Path


A huge scorpion crawls along searching for food.

<1163/1191hp 782mv> <315> where
People near you:
(PK) Arthakar Wandering in the desert
(PK) Grurk The Temple Path

<1163/1191hp 782mv> <315> n
n
Wandering in the desert



<1163/1191hp 773mv> <315> where
Wandering in the desert


A desert deer looks at you as it forages for food.

<1163/1191hp 764mv> <315> People near you:
(PK) Grurk Wandering in the desert

<1163/1191hp 764mv> <315> w
Caravan Road

Arthakar tells you '*hiss*'

<1163/1191hp 733mv> <315> te ark I think that just about settles that.
They aren't here.

<1163/1191hp 733mv> <315>
Arthakar tells you 'how this giant hit so harrd?'

<1163/1191hp 733mv> <315> te art I think that just about settles that.
You tell Arthakar 'I think that just about settles that.'

Arthakar tells you 'arthakar not done yet. desirre to kill giant one way orr otherr.'

repl Bring friends.
They aren't here.

Perfect example of defensive Anaconda at work...without ABS...is not really defensive at all.

Here comes some Anaconda lovin posts next....sheesh

About how I'd expect an anaconda to fair against a 90+ damroll,
hasted cloud giant.

Haste really doesn't matter. It dodged one attack. You can dodge more than that when unshifted. Secondly, consider the fact that an anaconda gets no incombat attacks, and one moderate damage attack every two rounds. It's not like it has any ability to hurt anyone, at least give it a CHANCE to defend itself. Now, I played with an anaconda for awhile, and it's a decent form if you want to use it for certain things, but...it's not a defensive form. That's beyond question. Toss it over into utility, and I think most people would be happy enough. That leaves six defensive forms, and bumps utility up to six as well. Thoughts, anyone?

About the anaconda form I have just one thing to say at this time.

Patience. Everything will be made clear to you soon.


To Grurk - Seeing your own character in action from a third person perspective is always an interesting thing. After this brief battle had come and gone I always went from the assumption that you had the Trapping Beneath Thunder legacy with your Cloud giant, and that made me stay clear of you for a time. As bitter irony would have it however, you IMM'ed at around the exact same time I found myself my first ABS wands and thus when I came looking for you again. Typically my luck.

I did learn one valuable lesson however - stay very clear of Avatar applicants. For Jinroh and Grurk both were by far the two times when I fared the worst against the warrior class, and not by some small amount either. Hence Arthakar's (and my own) surprise at the end of that log.

Indeed, too bad I never got around to making you number 23. And well done.

Can't it do a constrict attack for damage, once per round. It can also destrot gear and boneshatter, if I recall right.

You're also a bit off on some of the information you gave in your post.

However I'd appreciate this thread not turning into a discussion solely about the anaconda form.

You were totally devious on so many levels. Had fun.

...about some of the things Arthakar did to your bar and your customers while you were gone.

As I recall however, you never did ban him from the Inn which frankly surprised me a bit. It always seemed to me that Isitirth was attempting to balance out this desire he had to observe Arthakar's nature and behavior when he was given the chance for it, while at the same time trying to keep his bar in one piece throughout the process. That's something I liked quite a bit about your character. It's basically one of the main things that made me come back there with him.

It was fun. And once again, sorry for the mess Arthakar made at your place.