Regor

From t2twiki

[edit] (The early years of T2T)

[edit] Legend

Regor belonged to the 1st and 2nd Ages, and grew as the land grew. In the true fashion of a thief he ran with those of darker souls but was one of the very few moral thieves of Arda. This rugged Sindar thief assisted many on their road towards destiny and helped found a secret band of thieves who reside in Eastern Arda. Many called him friend, and respected his style. While he enjoyed adventure, his favorite pastime was to sit in the shadows and smoke his pipe. In the end he cried out in sorrow at the passing of so many of his friends and he too left Arda to follow his own destiny.

[edit] Memoirs Of A Thief Of Arda

• Regor sits by the fire smoking his pipe and reminiscing. *

I remember the early days. Yes, the days when the Gods walked with the mortals, Bywater was the very centre of Arda, and the east was unexplored. The "old areas" were new then or the Gods had "forbidden" us to explore them.

I was young and in my infancy. I had no experience of such a world as Arda: I was a pure newbie for it was the first world I had ever visited. I intended to stay for only a little while, but I found that when I was in the other place I was drawn back to the land that I now love so very much.

[I have since looked at other lands but none compare to Arda. I am a true resident of that great land. As Arda has grown so have I. Regor is my first character, and his adventuring in Arda is not finished.]

I first found myself in Bywater where it took me a long while to learn even the simplest skills that I now take for granted. I remember my utter confusion when I saw a poor hobbit killed before my very eyes: the corpse searched and all his gold taken.

People seemed to be rushing everywhere, and never really stopping to talk for too long. I laugh when I recall my first impressions of Arda, and my stumblings. For example: it took me three weeks before I realised there was such a thing as a comm. The comm opened up a whole new world for me. It was a great source of information, and social communication.

I loved Bywater. The descriptions of the town were rich and vivid. While there were the open areas where people moved freely, there was also the dark alley ways where vile thugs lay in hiding. The gossiper (now the newbie board) was a wonderful place to catch up on information and meet people. There was just the one gossiper in those days yet now they have spread throughout the land and taken different forms. I first saw Ladyhawk, Thrawn, Stele, and Onin at the gossiper they were all high levels and I remember looking at them and marvelling at the commit they must have had to reach those levels. (*chuckle* All things are relative.)

I must acknowledge though that during my early days I tended to keep to myself. I wanted to explore and find things out for on my own. I could have taken an easier route, and found a mentor, however this was not for me. I wanted to solve the puzzles, and fight the battles by myself. My approach to the adventure has not changed I still enjoy exploring new areas on my own, and facing the challenges alone, though once I have "conquered" an area I welcome an opportunity to share the experience with others. I have an extensive map collection of many places in Arda but there are still a number of areas that I have not yet explored. Rushing off to explore a new area or immediately gaining a higher level has not been high on my priorities. I enjoy experimenting and experiencing the many facets of the land, descriptions, challenges, battles, and socialisation. I have layed bleeding many times at the hands of an NPC as I have attempted to experiment or pushed things that little bit too far. That however, is all part of the adventure.

From Bywater I explored further. It was pleasing to find that a simple smile to a poor old gaffer was always rewarded. I entered Hobbiton and explored Bagend. In fact for a while the looting of Bagend was one of my favourite pastimes.

I chose my profession carefully. I was really a loner and interested in exploring and solving problems but loved the adventure. It was suggested that Manny the Bywater storekeeper could not be stolen from. Well there was a challenge and so I decided to become a thief. However, finding someone to train me in that profession was difficult. As a stop gap I sparred with Scalus. I was eager to advance and felt that any new skills could only help me in the battles I was facing.

It was my training as a warrior that in fact lead me to Batlin. Keen to tryout my new found skills I actively sort out things to "spar" with. As my warrior skills grew I ventured into darker places and eventually found the secret room of Batlin who trained me in the ways of thieves, and whose "school" became my second home. All my adventures began and ended with Batlin, and his "noisy" room in the earlier days.

I had heard of other areas (particularly over the comm) There were places called Bree, and "The Dike" and Tookland, and so I packed my backpack and ventured onto the Great East Road. In those days the road was safe there were no ugly orcs along it. Bree made me realise that there really were other areas further a field, and more adventures would lie ahead for a brave explorer.

It was my experiences in Tookland that really decided my alignment and cemented my profession. I enjoyed very much being a thief in Tookland. Stealing from the residence, and picking locks became some of my favourite pastimes. [Tookland is a well laid out town, and a credit to its creator(s).] I finally worked out how to get into the treasure room and get the nugget that was hidden there. Once my locksmith were developed I also enjoyed wearing the crown. Tookland had a lot to offer in both gold and weapons if you knew where to look and I explored it in great depth. I came to despise the rat that lived in the cupboard, and enjoyed fighting with the thugs who lived in the alleyways. I constantly battled with the bums of Tookland and their gold assisted me in gaining more skills.

The killing of little babies in Tookland turned my stomach. I have always felt that an individual has a right to act and behave as their heart dictates in Arda and I would never actively criticise any one for undertaking the role that they felt suited them. To me though the killing of a defenceless baby and the screams they make while they are attacked is sickening.

Tookland also gave me the opportunity to experience and party with other characters as well. It was in Tookland that I first meet people such as Kerosion, Canther, Bren, Trygve, Fenris, and Shanna. Bren was one of the first characters I ever partied with. She was a wizard, and new to the MUD we learned a lot from each other and I came to know her well. We often took on the hobbit worker together in fact that was how we first meet. She was battling the worker on her own and not having much success so she politely (Bren was alway polite) asked me for assistance. We went on to fight many battles together across western Arda in Rivendell, the Dike, Tookland and Buckland. She disappeared for sometime, but I am pleased to say she did return to Arda.

Peoples experiences in Arda are relative. I believe there is good in everyone, and all you have to do is take the time to find it. In a text based world there is always room for misinterpretation of intent or meaning. I have always made myself available to assist other characters providing their requests are not in the extreme, and I have always made it clear that I will not assist in nor participate in a player killing nor player stealing. I accept both as being part of life in Arda but I will not support either actively.

I must admit that there have been some killers for whom I have had a lot of respect. The best are quick thinking, very intelligent, and tend to be honourable in their approach to their activities. In some ways I have been fortunate to call two of Arda's best killers friends and I have a lot of respect for them. I can more than appreciate that others may look upon Fjant and Kerosion in a darker light. While I was to meet Fjant at a later date, I first meet Kerosion in Tookland. I got off on the right foot with Kerosion because he ask for my assistance in finishing of one of Tookland's residence and fortunately I was able to give it. Kerosion amazed me because he was very quick, very experienced, and seemed to know everything about Arda. He is the only person I know who has been on every waterway in Arda (he had to find something to do while he was wanted). He was continually coming up with new ways of killing Arda's residents. While I did not party much with him I did enjoy talking to him about various subjects.

Kerosion also used to run with a character called Canther. I must admit I did not warm to Canther straight away he seemed more interested in assisting Kerosion than he did in just talking. However, as I got to know Canther better I found that he was a very honourable character with strong feelings about the role that thieves should play in Arda. At various times Canther and I would terrorise Tookland. I was very interested when he invited me to become a founding member of the Thieves Guild and honoured when he asked me to be the first Assistant Guild Master of the Thieves Guild but that is another story. I miss the "spider at his web" was the dearest of friends. His time however, had come and so at the end of the second age ……. he left.

I met many others for the first time in Tookland, such as Trygve, Moocow, Lemskaft, Stromgald and Gard. Trygve and I helped each other on numerous occasions both in Tookland and at the Dike. Life in Arda is full of joy, sorrow, friendship, and conflict. Tookland has fond memories for me for other reasons one of which is that Tookland was the first area that Fenris and I partied in. Fenris was a superb character. He role played very well, and was proud of his dwarf heritage. He of course went on to become the self-proclaimed King under the Mountain in Erebor, and had quite a following of evil characters. That did not interest me as much as the person behind the character. He was very complicated and his knowledge of Arda was extensive. Fenris truly loved Arda but he did unfortunately take things very seriously. Fenris hated the Tookland guard with a vengeance and we used to have competitions to see who could kill the guard the most during our visits to Arda. I was stuck by Fenris' death. He mailed me before his death and I was truly saddened that he felt he had to leave. There is a lot of potential however, in his son Taea. With maturity I believe Taea has a lot to offer Arda.

My first exposure to orcs came at the Dike. I had heard that the Dike was a place of evil and offered great challenge to all who enter it so I set out to find it. The Dike is superb! I loved the sound of the death squeal an orc makes as you take his life, and therefore I thoroughly enjoyed the Dike. [Another example of intelligent coding, and layout, as well as brilliant descriptions] The Dike was the first area of Arda that I truly mapped. There were many challenges such as the pool maze, and monster that lived with in its waters, as well as the Dike quest. While trying to complete the quest there were always plenty of orcs to be killed, lots of equipment to gather and plenty of gold, once again my locksmith skills came in handy.

The Dike was the location of my first death. I was in the pool trying to find an important component in the quest when I became lost and basically drown. It was a weird experience, because of course I had not been a ghost before. The Dike was also the place I first met Mutalator. He was a sheriff in those days and very active in his pursuit of criminals and very skilled in the ways of the Dike. I did eventually complete the Dike quest but only after many visits and rising through a few levels. Like every other traveler, I enjoy collapsing the Dike.

My journeys along the Great East Road also took me to Rivendell and the house of Elrond. I still enjoy travelling through the Rivendell woods and hearing the occasional "BONGGGGGGGGGG" followed by someone flying through the air. I too used to travel on "Bell Airlines" although today I prefer to fly by eagle. For an elf such as myself Rivendell was a wonder. A warm place full of trees, animals, and elves. I explored Elrond's house extensively, and frequently visited the great rock. I often went in search of the ornate sword upon my arrival in Rivendell. It was there that I first met Gandalf (now a wise hermit). The Rivendell quest was the first major quest I attempted. Bren and I basically had a race to see who could work out and complete the quest first. I really found it quiet involved. Of course if I could not obtain any weapon at all I always found Elrond and his attending elf of great help. During one of my many explorations of Tom Bombadil's house I found a necklace through the aid of my thief skills. I travelled to Rivendell with the necklace and ask Elrond if he could tell me the story behind the necklace. Elrond was of course very accommodating.

It was while trying to complete the Rivendell quest that I first met Vehemence. I was down at the smithy's forge in Rivendell and in he strolled. He too was trying to complete the quest. He asked how far I had got and chuckled to himself. It was by coincidence that I had two Bywater pipes with me. I sat down and offered him one. We sat and smoked the pipes for a while and just talked about life in general. Those people who know me well would be aware that ever since that day I have always carried a pipe with me, and invited people to stop and sit and share a pipe. You can learn a lot about someone if you take the time to get to know them while smoking a pipe (Mortu would disagree here he has this thing about smoking) or sharing a sherry. As any member of the Rimsilval Guild will tell you, Vehemence went on to bigger and better things.

It was during my young days in Arda that the clans first started to appear. The Dark Knights were the most pronounced group in those days but there were others such as The Silver Guardians, Imperial Navy, SCOME, and The Clan. I did not really like the clan period of Arda'a history. I was invited to join some of the clans but graciously declined electing to stay right out of the political strains they caused all together. There were a lot of people who enjoyed being clan members and the adventures that they entailed. I however, disagreed with the way some people use the clans as shields. I have always felt that the coward who hides behind an army lacks honour. They were however, interesting times to come. Clan friction often grew to the point where major clan wars occurred and the streets ran with blood. Clan members were often "pulled up into the clouds" while the gods tried to sort out what was going on.

I was in the Dike one particular night and Morgoth appeared in all his evil glory and pulled everyone in the room off to the void. It seemed there had been an excessive session of player killings. Once Morgoth had sort through those people he wished to "interview" the rest of us were "allowed" to leave. Morgoth's domain was very interesting, there was a definite blood theme to it. It is the only time I have been summoned by a God. It was not a pleasant experience.

It was during the Clan Wars that I decided that while I was not player stealing or killing I would make it my business to ensure that I still knew all of the tricks. One never knows when circumstances may develop to a point where such skills are unfortunately needed. I have been blessed because some of the best killers and thieves in Arda have been willing to offer me advice on player stealing, killing, and escape from the up holders of the law system. A close friend once said to me "I am very very glad that you are walking on the moral side of the path as you progress through Arda".

When the westernese sword started to appear it took me a while to work out where it was coming from eventually I found Tom Bombidil's house and solved the quest to find the sword. Buckland of course is quite close to Tom's and it was in Buckland that I first began meeting Meri. You have no idea how over joyed I was to find a thief of good alignment. Meri was like a breath of fresh air. She was patient, and graceful and a real "social animal". We discussed many issues about Arda and life as a thief, and we developed a warm relationship which I would describe as having evolved into a strong friendship. I used to describe Meri as "The Jewel of Arda", and once called her "the slick chick with the quick pick" a title that she carried around on her legend for a considerable period of time.

Meri is also one of the reasons why I expanded my cellar to included sherry. Not everyone in Arda appreciates the sensations which can be gained from a fine cut of leaf. Meri however, does enjoy a nice drop of sherry. Thus I searched all of Arda looking for sherry of the finest taste and vintage to share with those who do not care to converse over a pipe.

I enjoyed exploring Buckland and spent many hours there testing myself against the guards, the annoying vendors, hobbit pirates and buccaneers. As in all large areas of Arda there was also the challenge of the quests. I also continued to test myself in other areas as well. I died while trying to wrestle the blade for Gildor (boy that guy can hit!!!). When rumours of a giant claymore began to surface I searched for an orc camp that was reported as being north of Hobbiton. Well I found the orc camp, and it was loaded with orcs, big strong, rough, angry orcs. I think I became a ghost twice in that camp for one reason or another however, I did learn how to gain the claymore.

Rumours of weapons of power, and walls of gold started to surface in western Arda, and strange weapons began appearing in the shops of Tookland, Bywater, Buckland, and Bree. The first of these rumours said that Radagast had been seen east of the Misty Mountains and that the fabled dwarf mountain of gold Erebor had been found. Of course I packed my backpack again and headed east despite the rumours of death and weird creatures in ancient Mirkwood, I did eventually find Radagast at a place call Rhosgobel. Rhosgobel was a real find for in those days Radagast was the only trainer with enough experience to allow a person to increase to the next level. Rhosgobel was not as civilised as it is now, and Radagast was more tolerant. There actually used to be a bar in Rhosgobel, a resting place for the weary travellers of the east.

Erebor was a magnificent place of majesty and gold. Unfortunately the first time I tired to enter it I died. I HATE ORCS!!! Erebor was besieged by a great orc army and of course the moment I tired to enter Erebor, I was swamped by 10 orcs in a battle frenzy, I immediate lost all sense of direction and once again found myself as a ghost. Erebor was always a challenge for a young and inexperience adventurer in those days, but it was a wonderful place full of adventure, mystery, wonderous weapons that have since lost their power, and GOLD. Once you got past the challenges of entering Erebor you were rewarded with silver plated axes, and swords, great two handed axes, mithril helmets, shields, dwaren sleeves, belts and rings, gold coins and nuggets. …….. and if you ever got bored you could always go jump off a cliff. * chuckle *

While Erebor was the making of Fenris, it was probably the down fall of Kerosion. You see Kerosion was one of the first to enter Erebor and during his exploration in the depths of the mountain he found a coin, the Coin of Fate. Kerosion discovery of the coin and his rise as one of the most notorious killers in Arda seem to have been linked. I have often wondered if that was more than coincidence.

Both Flint and Kraun seemed to live in Thranduil's Hall, and delight in emptying the hall of all it's inhabitants. I soon worked out that both Flint and Kraun were usually adventuring in Arda when I was and thus it was that we came to realise that we had a lot more in common than just our love of Arda. Others seemed to live north of Rhosgobel in those days: Acedog, Alanis, Astrakan, Canton, Curly, Damhiane, Fjant, Fringers, Hirbel, Hoof, Ismandor , Kaldi, Leijun , Navaar, Samovaari, Shanna, Shadow, Sunem, Titan, Toodle, Viper, Voronoi,

Hirbel was one character who I really enjoyed being with. He was always running around near Thranduil's looking for something to test his skill on, but he had time to stop and talk though. On a number of occasions we sat and healed, discussing life in Arda over a pipe of leaf or a glass of sherry. Responsibilites elsewhere unfortunately called Hirbel away from Arda and I was very sorry to see him depart.

I was of course very much aware of Fringers and Curly, they are (were) Meri's brothers. When I first asked Meri about her brothers she was evasive and then she indicated that owing to their background they had decided to follow a different path to her. I did however, have an opportunity to party with both of them in Erebor and other areas at different times. I can only assume that Meri had discussed me with her brothers because both were eager to party with me. Fringers has always been a strong dark and powerful figure, and I got to know him to the point where I consider him an old friend. Curly was a dark and sinister wizard, his knowledge of the dark ways were deep and stretched all the way to the mountain of doom itself. Despite this I did get to know Curly very well, but then something major happened in his life and he was forced to leave Arda forever.

Rumors of Dale's besiegment began to spread……. It took me awhile to work out how to get inside Dale. Orginally I tried entering via the south gate but since Dale was under siege this was of course impossible. I did eventually find a different entrance and finally got to explore the city both above and below. Two very fierce trolls jumped me while I was exploring the under ground caverns. Once I had established where their lair was I took it upon myself to test my skills against them. It was always a tough fight usually I came out on top. However, once while involved in combat with one of those ugly creatures I was distracted by the lag monster and once again experienced the sensations of death.

Dale proved to be a challenge for a number of reasons. I once spent three hours stuck in a slide at the top of the Dale tower with no light whatsoever. While I was very keen to give Brand as much support as possible against the orcs and Dunlendings who were besieging his city I had trouble meeting up with him and his army at the south gate. I also spent sometime trying to complete a quest in Dale as well. It was in Dale that I really got to know Samovaari and Stromgald. Stromgald had developed a distinct dislike of one particular orcs who hunted near Dale. The orc's name was Krotan and Stromgald was often found explaining the intricacies of death to the orc. As for Samovaari, well our meeting was one of the joys of being in Arda. Like Stromgald, Sam appeared to have developed this thing for one of Dales residence, in this case the Dale assassin. Sam and I have since enjoyed many a wine, sherry, port, beer, ale …….. if it is alcoholic I have shared it with Samovaari. *chuckle*

There was a time when Samovaari began ignoring all his friends in order to spend time with a very attractive young wizard called Damhiane. Who could really blame him, Damhinae has a very enchanting nature. However, I first met Damhiane in a rather cramped cell in Thranduil's hall. Poor Damhinae had been in that cell for two hours when to my surprise I awoke to find her in the cells with me. If you have to spend some time in a cell who better to do it with but Damhiane. *smile* It took us a while to figure out how to escape from that cell but we did adventually manage it. Damhiane is not the only person I have met in Thranduil's cells as Alto and others will confess to.

Others such as Acedog, Hoof, Kaldi, Alanis, Leijun, Stix (Stix and Navaar may break my bones but Meri will never hurt me -smile-), Sunem, Toodle, Viper, Voronoi I also met while exploring the general region north of Rhosgobel.

I met Hoof, and Kaldi while I was attempting to do the level 10 quest. It appeared that we were there because we were trying to do the quest at the same time we kept on bumping into each other a lot. They disappeared from my life just as quickly as they entered. Hoof simply no longer appeared in Arda. Kaldi, who was developing into a good friend joined the Gods and then left as well.

In those days the great two handed flail was a useful weapon. In dispatching the Warlord I often helped or was helped by Alanis, Acedog, Leijun, Sunem, Toodle, or Viper. Viper (also from Australia) frequented Thranduil's and Erebor. I enjoyed his comrardery a lot. Alanis impressed me with her honesty. She was quite open with me from the start. She moved quickly but was always supportive. When she told me that she felt she must leave Arda I was very disappointed. It is always a pleasure to catch up with Acedog, while his name is a little strange he is a strong wizard, and fun to party with. I always enjoyed stopping to watch Sunem or Leijun dispatch an orc. They were both strong fighters and very experienced. I cannot say what happened to Sunem, but Leijun's contribution to Arda has been mirror by his contribution as a God. Leijun was a good friend during his mortal life and I am please to say our relationship has continued despite his immortal statis. The rigors of immortal life for some mean that they disappear into the mists so that that are not distracted by us mortals. Leijun still has time to say hello and catch up, and I appreciate that a lot. Be careful of Leijun has a mean right hook, and if he "decks" you usually end up unconscious.

If you know me well, you will have experienced some of me very descriptive tells. As well as being a great person to party with Toodle also appreciates a good tell he would always comment on my greetings or farewells giving advice and positive reinforcement. For a while Toodle and I would see who could come up with the most descriptive tells.

One character who has made a lasting impression on me I did not know for that long. Amberle played her character very will. She was a thief, of good alignment, so of course I noticed her straight away. Her speech and actions were always in character. She spoke of the need for good to fight evil, and she was very experienced for one so young. I had an opportunity to party with her on only two occasions but we did talk a lot. It was unfortunate that she left Arda for I believe she had a lot to contribute. I understand from her brother that she will not return.

It was during these days of exploration in north eastern Arda that I came across an interesting group of people. I say group because they always seemed to been in Arda at the same time, later they became known as "the swedes". (*Regor laughs and says "Handen ar snabbare an Ogat"). I actually found this group of adventurers to be very interesting, honourable and always willing to stop and talk or discuss life in Arda. They were experienced characters, and a lot of fun to party with. Astrakan, Ismandor, and Titan are highly professional thieves, qualified in very facit of the profession, they are continually looking for new and imaginative ways to relieve you of you money or your life, they are scoundles and I love them dearly. Fjant is ruthless his ability as an assassin has surpassed Kerosion. Fjant knows all the tricks of an assassin, and plays his role with a tenacious thirst for blood. Canton in his early days was a thief of some ability, and huge potential. Canton and I always greet each other when we arrive in Arda, and it is no surprise that the Assassins Guild recognised Canton's experience and leadership skills.

Navaar, and I would be a working example of how two people of different alignments can share strong comradeship, and brotherhood without compromising their alignment. I consider Navaar to be a true brother, and hold him in high regard. Partying is sometimes different for us because I will not kill good elves and Navaar will not kill orcs. We sometimes disagree but our deep friendship is built on tolerance, understanding and a love of adventure. I first met Navaar as a sheriff. In those days we were able to use our mutual skills to gather weapons from unsuspecting residents of Thranduil's hall and Erebor. It was a very profitable relationship. Later of course Navaar saw the light and became a thief. He was good as a sheriff but has a thief he is very good. Such is Navaar's experience that regardless of what profession he may choose I am sure he would be one of the best.

Since those early days in Eastern Arda much has changed more areas have opened up, and the Guilds have been established. I started travelling to Edoras, and exploring there. It took me a while to find Edoras but Meri had indicated that it was a rich city for an experience thief where even the peasants carried gold. I was not disappointed and was amply rewarded when I did find that southern city. There were also reports of a savage warg who guarded a fabled warhammer. The wargs lair is a very interesting one and I have had the priviledge of battling there with characters of high calibor such as Flint, Samovaari, Mogg, Saratoga, Khirth, Moose, Galaad, Toodle, and Navaar at various times.

* Regor looks at you and smiling warmly says "The old times were fun, just as today and tomorrow, are and will be filled with adventure. I look forward to other story sessions but for now I am tired." He looks at you and holding his pipe he offers a salute, winks, and fades into the shadows. *