Warder News

The Warders have undergone a drastic change in the resent months. Dragonmount.com has been continuously working on updating to the 6th version of its site, and with it changes are being made to each organization.

The Warders have gone from a Role Playing Organization to solely community, as have all other organization. To combat the lack of activity in the down time many of the Warder staff have begun to post interesting activities.

Segurant has begun posting a number of interesting Book Discussions as well as a very active thread on a weekly basis called Celebrity Death Match. He’s pitted Fades against Ring Wraiths, Buffy and Faith against Chiad and Bain and this weeks is Rand versus Luke Skywalker. We look forward to seeing more of his Death Matches.

Aristos is conducting polls to see what games people at Dragonmount most like to play. He’s in the process of setting up some Diablo II games as well as Baldur’s Gate. We look forward to seeing them.

Matalina has a number of projects going on, a silly essay contest, icon contests and a puzzle contest. All of which were rather poorly participated in, but we hope they will make an appearance again in when there is more activity. Matalina is also trying to get started a Writer’s Workshop.

These are a few things that have been going on and we hope to see more in the future.

Dragonmount News

Dragonmount.com is undergoing some drastic changes. The message boards and database designed by the Dragonmount.com staff are currently under construction and the members are participating in their activites on Temporary boards hosted by Ezboard.com. These boards are ad free thanks to those members of Dragonmount.com who contributed to the funding of the boards.

Phoenix has struck a bargain with his wife. If the members of Dragonmount.com can pull together $500.00 (US), he will produce Dragonmount.com site content in 7 days of the money being raised. At least check the half way point was crossed. Please know that this will not mean that Dragonmount.com will be fully function, it means that it will have content on the pages in the new DM6 format, however, boards, database and things being reconstructed from scratch will not be ready for that time. The Dragonmount.com staff is working as hard as they can to make the boards better than ever and the time it takes to do this and have a full time job as well as a life outside of Dragonmount is very small. Please be patient with the staff, they are not going to forsake you.

Dragonmount 6.0 will be making it’s way to you this month. Actually on June 3rd the doors will be open to the static content. Databases and boards will not be done however.

Wheel of Time News

The title for book ten has been announced. The new book will be entitled “Crossroads of Twilight”. It’s release date is set for sometime in November of 2002. Want to read the jacket cover text and see the cover? Check out Dragonmount.com for more information.

Other Organization News

The Ogier Organization at Dragonmount.com has a new Org Leader. Congratulations to Emmie. Also the Black Tower has a new Org Leader. Congratulations to Dramon. The Band of the Red Hand also has a new Org Leader. Congratulations to Tenan. All Three will do well in bringing their Organizations into the new Dragonmount 6 format. Good luck and God Speed.

The Sea Folk have launched a campaign to get more members.

Hawkin’s Epitaph

Once a great King,
I have nothing to show,
Now, above me, flowers grow,
If not for my brave men and me,
The nation I rest under wouldn’t be free,

Outnumbered and in hopelessness, I lead my men to battle,
My sword raised, I scream in despair,
As I witness every saddle,
But my very own bare,
I am the only man left save a spearman,
My horse rushes him like a wild demon,
The sword in my hand finds his throat,
I look to the sky feeling no pain,
The spear in me saying I have been slain,
Around me, my blood forms a moat,
In darkness and silence I am cloaked,
The field of battle has been blood soaked,

Dry tears I now weep,
From my peaceful sleep,
For me and my men,
Who no one can remember,
The battle took place just two months ago, December,
I realize now that my death didn’t matter,
It just made the purses of others fatter,
The fruits my efforts and labor bore,
Are not appreciated anymore,
As I listen from eternal slumber,
It does me good to wonder,
If society knows the end is near,
If so, let them be full of fear,
I bow my head, and dread,
That all their sins will be forgiven,
In the peaceful darkness at the end.

Written by Hawkin (Hawkin’s looking for comments if you have any constructive criticism please email him at Hawkin@bolt.com.

The Falling Aiel

Let me tell you a tale
I’ve a tale I must tell
It’s the tale of an Aiel
of an Aiel that fell.
Of an Aiel that fell
and still falls to this day
coz gravity’s constant
it’s a bugger that way
So he falls ever downward
in the space between threads
“Take care on the platform”
the dragon had said.
But the others had jostled
they had pushed him and bumped
Now he falls ever downward
still expecting a thump
But this place has no bottom
it has no up nor down
so he falls inside outwards
he falls round and round
He plumets relentlessly
and sometimes he sings
then he’s silent for ages
in this place between things
He recalls every second,
every moment of life
in very clear detail
minute and precise
He remembers quite clearly
the absence of floor
when some joker on the platform said
“There’s room for one more”
So the Aiel keeps falling
through the hunger and thirst
and the mind-crushing loneliness
that’s probably the worst
Well that, and the boredom
there’s just nothing to do
except drop infinitum
like an unwanted poo
So he recites his times-tables
counts fingers and toes
outside of the pattern
where nobody goes
Then strangely he finds
as he falls in the black
that one’s mind does expand
as ones senses contract.
He finds comprehension
knowledge seeks him unbidden
a high plane of existence
where answers are hidden
And the universe speaks
to this one Aiel that listens
whispers meanings and truths
of ends and beginnings
Of atoms and molecules
of destiny and fate
light and dark, good and evil
now and then, love and hate
And he falls – revelation
the answer to ALL
the meaning to everything
for the Aiel that falls
He cries “Merciful Light!”
“It’s as simple as that?”
“With this knowledge I can escape!”
“With this knowlesge I can…”
SPLAT!
In this place between things
with no up and no down
I lied about one thing
as the Aiel just found
In this space between threads
with no light and no sound
he discovered the hard way
the presence of ground.

Written by Someone Long Ago

Celebrity Death Match

Week 1: Ring Wraith vs Fade

Close Matchup Ring Wraith wins.

Week 2: Buffy & Faith vs Chain & Bain

Slaughtered Buffy & Faith win.

Week 3: Luke Skywalker vs Rand

Slaughter Rand wins.

Week 4: Lan vs Strider & Brigitte vs Legolos

Slaughter Lan and Legolos win

Trivia Questions

Thrones

1. Who sits on the Diamond Throne?
2. What nation’s throne is called the Sun Throne?
3. Who is the heir to the Lion Throne?

Last Months Answers

1. No Questions asked last month

Book Discussions

Montly Book Discussion Contest

Submit your topic and your topic may be one of the topics discussed during the following months.

Last Months Topics

Over the last few months there have been some very intense Warder Topics being discussed by the Org. To see the full debate over why a Warder is considered the best check the Warders Board for the thread.

Also prior to that discussion there was another Warder Topic about Why Aes Sedai started bonding? There are some definate ideas there, but until Robert Jordan tells us, it’s up to our speculation.

Annual Letter to Robert Jordan

Yet again Matalina is hosting a letter to Robert Jordan. She is planning on writing a letter to him which will contain all of your letters you submit to her. She will send them out in at the end of July. If you are interested in sending Robert Jordan a Letter, Email her your letter to matalina@dragonmount.com. Spell check before you send it, she will do no editing.

Also Segurant is collecting Warder Questions to ask RJ in this same letter. If you have a question about Warders you wish to know email Segurant at segurant4@yahoo.com and he will compile the list of questions to send to Robert Jordan.

Book Review

The Wheel of Time RPG Book

The Wheel of Time RPG sourcebook is a typical manual in thebeginning. The first few sections contain instructions on creating a character. The information ranges from abilities, attributes, and background details. Ever wanted to know the true difference of a Taraboner and a Cairheinen. Well the section on background is so detailed, it seems that Robert Jordan wrote the text himself. The chapters thereafter describe the Feats and Skills each character can take. Wonder what the Dark One’s own luck does, read the book and find out.

The next sections are what makes this source book a must have for WoT fans. The chapter on Channeling is so detailed that you feel like you are learning the weaves from the White Tower. The section containsyour regular weave as well as lost and rare weaves. Each weave is detailed on range, effect, and level of power. Also each weave are sorted by categories like Elementalism and Healing. All of the creatures and Shadowspawn from the series are written in detail along with their stats and an artist drawing. Even the bios and the pictures of the main characters from the books are more detailed than any other books to date. The book also includes information on Tel’aran’rhiod and the Ways. The WoT RPG contains a small adventure in the back for players to be drawn into the world. It allows a small introduction into the world and for first time players.

Written by Segurant

Movie Review

Spiderman

Spiderman, the movie, is much like it’s predecessor the comic and the cartoon, except for one small fact. The spider is not gamma radiated, but genetically enhanced. There are a few other small things that are different from the movie and the comic, but all in all the portayal of the classic comic book character was excellent.

If you like a love story, check the movie out. If you like action adventure stories, check the movie out. Spiderman caters to all types of movie goers.

Toby Maquire (sp?) plays Spiderman to a T and Kirsten Dunst makes a very good red head playing Mary Jane. The movie leaves you hanging. So be prepared to check the next two Spiderman movies out. Yes, I said two. Toby Maguire received 4 million dollars for this film and will receive a total of 26 million for the next two flicks. I’d say we’ll see the next two. According to a radio stations entertainment news we will see Spiderman II November 21, 2003.

Music Review

Flammable: Tribute to the Red Hot Chili Peppers

Before Flammable: Tribute to the Red Hot Chili Peppers, the only band I’m aware of that had covered the funky monks was All Saints, with their execrable 1998 version of “Under the Bridge.” Their crime was one of missing the point: one of the two heavily overplayed songs of the Chili Peppers’ breakthrough 1992 Blood Sugar Sex Magik disc, “Under the Bridge” spoke of pain, despair and drug addiction — something the airbrushed pop tarts couldn’t exactly pull off convincingly by sticking to their usual heavily produced harmonies.

That’s the challenging thing about reinterpreting someone else’s music. It’s not about imitating the original, or just bending lyrics to suit your style. It’s about finding a theme in the original, drawing it out and building your own voice on top of the framework. The Chili Peppers know this — they’ve successfully covered Jimi Hendrix, Iggy and the Stooges and Stevie Wonder, to name a few — and All Saints clearly didn’t.

Listening to Flammable: Tribute to the Red Hot Chili Peppers, I realized that there are others who need to learn All Saints’ lesson. The first and last tracks illustrate how wildly uneven Flammable is. Owl’s take on “Behind the Sun” extends its already mellow flavor and wraps a layer of “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” trippiness around the original’s spacey lyrics. The result is a bubbly joy you normally wouldn’t associate with the Chili Peppers’ testosterone-laced funk. On the other end of the spectrum (and the disc), George Sarah’s “Me and My Friends” samples the opening riff a few times, then launches into a maddeningly generic techno grind that uses exactly none of the rest of the song. Why it’s on a Chili Peppers tribute album when 99 per cent of it is unrecognizable is beyond me.

“Under the Bridge” is here of course, painfully overwrought by the Solomon Burke Jr. Project. I like Burke’s voice, but when he works so hard at sounding heartfelt, it’s like Céline Dion deliberately over-emoting, if you can imagine such a thing. Then again, the original’s power comes from it being so personal, based on Chili Peppers frontman Anthony Kiedis’ struggle with the same heroin addiction that killed his best friend and bandmate Hillel Slovak; I’m not sure many people could pull it off.

With the exception of Tavu’s decidedly unfunky handling of the decidedly funky “The Power of Equality” (where no amount of screaming helps bring it closer to Kiedis’ moral outrage) the rest of the disc ranges from the adequate to the exemplary. The latter compliment I happily bestow on Gringo Floyd’s “Scar Tissue” and Capsule’s “Sexy Mexican Maid.” “Maid” is one of my favorite of the Chili Peppers’ special brand of perverse love songs. With the help of some DJ wizardry, original “Sexy Mexican Maid” hooks are morphed into a new soundscape that only loosely follows the original’s structure. The original elements are all there, though: the lustful lyrics sung with romantic longing, describing events in clear violation of an acceptable employer-domestic relationship, but sung with some saucy extra yearning by Capsule vocalist Laura Derby. The added frisson of girl-girl hijinks ups the naughtiness factor in an already naughty song, preserving the Chili Peppers’ flavor while making it an unmistakable Capsule performance. Now that’s a real tribute. | May 2001

Emru Townsend is a musically inclined freelance writer. (taken from Bluecoupe.com)

Anniversary/Birthdays/Promotions

Real Life Dates

The following is a list of Birthdays for this month

• None public

The following is a list of Wedding Anniversary’s for this month

• Matalina & Mandein (June 27th)

Warder Org Join Anniversarys & Promotions

The following is a list of Yearly Anniversaries

• Dabril (2 years)
• Lewin (2 years)
• Dean Vandahla (1 year)
• Vanair Sharkan (1 year)
• Charlie (1 year)
• Teslan (1 year)
• Dias Peacecraft (1 year)
• Xaria (1 year)
• Jonas Nylan (1 year)
• Eos (1 year)
• Brian Lobyr (1 year)
• Jerremy Hawkings (1 year)
• Kyle Conner (1 year)
• Jagard Dobraine (1 year)
• John Mason (1 year)

The following is a list of Promotions for this month.

• Dabril (2 years)
• Lewin (2 years)
• Dean Vandahla (1 year)
• Vanair Sharkan (1 year)
• Charlie (1 year)
• Teslan (1 year)
• Dias Peacecraft (1 year)
• Xaria (1 year)
• Jonas Nylan (1 year)
• Eos (1 year)
• Brian Lobyr (1 year)
• Jerremy Hawkings (1 year)
• Kyle Conner (1 year)
• Jagard Dobraine (1 year)
• John Mason (1 year)
• At’akorin (9 months)
• Yujiko (9 months)
• Tristan Carolina (9 months)
• Oslen (9 months)
• Joseph_Davian (9 months)
• Arizhel Wyndstrom (9 months)
• Daerien Avahre (9 months)
• oron Dijatcal (9 months)
• Kyrukan (9 months)
• Solas duFarceur (9 months)
• al’Langaris (9 months)
• Keith al’Baraak (9 months)
• Ghaldean (6 months)
• Dante Treaus (6 months)
• Carrog Gaidin(3 months)
• Axel (3 months)
• Corax (3 months)
• Paetr (3 months)
• Gabriel al’Massa (3 months)
• Paige (3 months)
• Huren al Rashid (3 months)
• Erik Highlander (3 months)
• naerik Jelal’ (3 months)
• Dowdy34 (3 months)
• Belaroth (3 months)
• Talon Nachiman (3 months)
• Dal Finlay (3 months)
• Marx A’Neanu (3 months)
• Wraith Blackmane (3 months)

Welcome New Members

The following is a list of new members to the Warders Org in the previous month, let’s welcome them with open arms.

• Zor al’Kin
• Brayton Orandu
• Flaren Winsid
• NoLan
• Cadrin
• Kain Zul’Gan De Meridian
• Uriel Allien
• Glazagore De’Athla
• elmore
• Deakin

Adding your Dates to the list

If you wish your birthdate, anniversary, etc to be announced in the monthly newsletter please send an email to birthdays@warders.ws and your date will be cataloged for the next upcoming date.

Projects/Announcements

Book Project still open

All orgs have been tasked to summarize and collect data for DM about each book. For every chapter you do you get an entry into a DM wide drawing for a free item in the DM store. If you would like to sign up for a chapter email Matalina. The Warders are doing the Great Hunt.

Diablo Gaming

As many of you know I recently hosted a Diablo II Ironman Tournament on Wed. 8th. I was very impressed by the turnout and we had a lot of fun. An Ironman tournament, for those that do not know, entails every player to create a new character. These characters cannot, by any means buy anything from any NPC. Every item must be obtained by finding them or by questing. This brings a new challenge into the game; characters now must share what they find and learn how to use their resources to the fullest. Also when a character dies, he or she really dies. This brings a Hardcore character element into the game. I want to thank and give praise to those that participated in this event:

Doc_Uzuki played an Amazon. With her, he was able to kill many foes before they even reached the party.

Kaeven played a Paladin. Using his powerful auras Kae was able to enhance our party ten fold and give us a good melee fighter.

Matsu Turi played a Barbarian. Using twin axes and skills of brute strength Turi was our front line fighter and could take on large numbers of enemies.

I played an Assassin. With twin Katars, guile, and speed I was able to destroy most enemies before they were able to react.

Portion of Gaming Article written by Aristos

Writers Workshops

Matalina is working on creating a Writers Workshop for all those interested in Writing. The first workshop is on Character Creation. This workshop is good not only for a writer but for all potential RPers out there. The next two workshops to follow Character Building is World Building and Conflict/Plot.

RP Information

Dragon Reborn PSW

The Amyrlin Seat is dead!

Age of Legends

This Portal Stone World is set mid-Collapse (when society was breaking down, the period between the Golden Age and the War of Power). The Bore has been drilled, the Chosen are turning, Lews Therin Telemon is First amoung Servants. The Age of Legends is a mix between tech and magic so it’s good for those who want an RP environment that’s a little more advanced when it comes to technology while still having the magical element.

The RP is not up and running yet. When it is people will have the choice of joining The Aes Sedai Div, the Grove Div (Orgier, Wolfkin and Nym), the Shadow Div, or the Aiel/Freelander Div. They are working on a website at the moment and I will provide a link as soon as it is available. Mostly at the moment the Incarns (Dalinarius and Deanne) are ironing out details since RJ doesn’t give many.

The do have a set of boards up right now. They can be found at http://pub7.ezboard.com/bageoflegendspsw This link can also be found on the RP board of the DM main temp site.

New Public Portal Stone Worlds

Nothing new atm.

Gaming Article

I want to welcome and thank you all for reading my article. I am very excited about keeping you all informed on the world of gaming and bringing you opportunities to game with other Dragonmount members. In this monthly article I will keep you up to date on upcoming games releases, Dragonmount gaming events, and anything else dealing with the wide world of games.

Recent Events:
As many of you know I recently hosted a Diablo II Ironman Tournament on Wed. 8th. I was very impressed by the turnout and we had a lot of fun. An Ironman tournament, for those that do not know, entails every player to create a new character. These characters cannot, by any means buy anything from any NPC. Every item must be obtained by finding them or by questing. This brings a new challenge into the game; characters now must share what they find and learn how to use their resources to the fullest. Also when a character dies, he or she really dies. This brings a Hardcore character element into the game. I want to thank and give praise to those that participated in this event:

Doc_Uzuki played an Amazon. With her, he was able to kill many foes before they even reached the party.

Kaeven played a Paladin. Using his powerful auras Kae was able to enhance our party ten fold and give us a good melee fighter.

Matsu Turi played a Barbarian. Using twin axes and skills of brute strength Turi was our front line fighter and could take on large numbers of enemies.

I played an Assassin. With twin Katars, guile, and speed I was able to destroy most enemies before they were able to react.

Upcoming Events:
Those of you who could not participate for some reason do not worry. I will be hosting many gaming events in the near future and I expect each to be very fun. In the next two months I hope to host a multitude of online RPG games such as Baldurs Gate, Summoner, Dungeon Siege and many others. Keep your eyes peeled for announcements, and read this article for confirmed dates.

Games of interest:
Dungeon Siege- a Diablo like RPG game set in medieval times where you play a simple farmer who must build up enough skill and gather powerful allies to destroy a great evil which plagues the land.

My thoughts: Not to shabby of a game, graphics will remind you of a cartoon and the camera views are great. Unlike Diablo you have a whole party to level and you don’t have to stick with one certain class. You can be just as good with a melee weapon as you are magic. The game is a little tedious though and the storyline needs some work. The world is HUGE and you will spend ages just roaming around trying to get from one place to the other. If you like RPG games this is a must.

Jedi Outcast- Set in the world of Star Wars you play an outcast Jedi who must take up the Lightsaber and the awesome Jedi powers once more to save the universe.

My thoughts: I played this game once or twice at a friend’s house and utterly love it. Unlike its predecessor you can interact with almost EVERYTHING in the game. And best of all you have 3 different styles of fighting to choose from and each style has a different effect on the Saber form you use. Those of you who are Warders or have a sword using character will find this game very enjoyable. Also Jedi powers are very cool, each has 3 power levels and are very realistic. Powers include, Jedi mind trick, Jedi Jump, Jedi Speed, Choking grasp, Force Lightning and many others. Unfortunately this game is VERY strict on what video cards it supports and can use. Even if you think you have the top line card you will find that Jedi Outcast will utterly hate your Glide drivers. And for those of you with older cards.don’t even buy the game. You are going to waist 45 bucks on a game you can’t play. If you like Star Wars you will love this game.

Resident Evil for Game Cube- you play as Chris Redfield and Jill Valentine. Members of a Team known as S.T.A.R.S. A virus has struck changing people into zombies and mutating other creatures. You and your team must stop this and find out who is behind it.

My thoughts: I have seen the game played and I have played the original game for Playstation. If you liked the first you will enjoy this version very much. Graphics are ten times better and there are things that will pop up during the game that didn’t in the first.

I hope you have all enjoyed this article. In the future I will add new sections like, “Reviews by DM Members”, “Codes and Spoilers” and others. Please look forward to them.

Do you have a game you would like reviewed? Is there something you would like to comment on? Any complaints or suggestions? Send me your thoughts at morzanwiz@mailcity.com. I look forward to hearing from you.

Written by Aristos

Humor

Do Fades have noses?

The rec.arts.sf.written.robert-jordan newsgroup embroiled itself in a vehement debate, some time ago, as Jordan-obsessed artists struggled to depict Myrddraal: do Fades have eyebrows? Unfortunately, this question only skirts a much more important question, namely, how to depict a Myrddraal: nose or no nose?

Personally, I have no doubts: the nose is absent. Suits my personal sense of aesthetics. Jordan repeatedly insists on a egg-smooth face, presumably lacking a nose. Despite frequent mentions of Myrddraal, and detailed descriptions of their faces, a nose is never mentioned.

The WoT presents a face that is “From oily black hair to puffy cheeks … as smooth as an eggshell.” (TEotW: 17, 247, Watchers and Hunters) Surely a “… smooth expanse of pale, pasty face …” (TDR: 29, Prologue) leaves no room for a nose. “barefaced” (TEotW: 51, 761, Against the Shadow) I presume means noseless, and “… a dead-white sweep of skin where eyes should be …” (TFoH: 22, 398, Birdcalls by night), while it does not disallow for such a facial feature, surely would not be called a sweep if a nose were present.

Given that noselessness has been established, or is very probable at the least, why would Jordan not have mentioned so great an oversight? Think of the unexplored literary possibilities: “The look of the Noseless is fear”, or perhaps “The sniff of the Noseless is death”; “Wolf images were complex: Neverborn, but also they were scentless two-legs, Leafblighter’s Unnosed …” The very mention of a Myrddraal’s noselessness could enhance the ominous, chilling quality of Jordan’s description.

I further note that Fades are referred to as Halfmen. Not Halfpeople, never Halfwomen; there are no females. They are Neverborn, that is, not born of a mother, a female of the species. Only makes sense within the framework of the WoT; the ability to sniff is requisite for any of Jordan’s female characters. Coincidence? I think not — Fades are, must be, noseless.

Then again, perhaps the Noseless *can* sniff, just as the Eyeless can stare. Perhaps I’ve gotten it all wrong: “The Halfwoman audibly sniffed, and tugged at her black cloak.”

Taken from Paul Postuma’s Robert Joradan Page

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