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Apologies:
The first thing I need to do before I bore you all to tears with my afterlife thread proper is apologise. Sorry for the name. I chose Wortsenawl because it is a name I have used for many years on the net. I was at home one Sunday afternoon, checking through some old CDs when I came across Zmud. I installed it and decided to see what MUDs were still about, MUDs I had briefly played or given much time to when I was living abroad in 2000. I remembered SK and "WOW!" there it was, still going
strong. So I popped in, signed up as 'Wortsenawl' and away I went. I never intended to stick around, I never intended to play beyond that Sunday afternoon (testament to this fact was the quote from Kahze "OOC Your RP skills suck.") But before I knew it, I had found a PC Peacekeeper and I remembered them taking my interest all those years before. Groof... thank you. Then suddenly I was invested and it all spiralled out of control from there. Wortsenawl should have been called Ellis (but I think
that name is forbidden anyway).
Experience:
My reason for such a long post is that this my first character, with whom I achieved more than I ever thought I could. PAR, Leadership of a tribunal and High Knight of my chosen faith. Also, the feeling I had as a newbie proper will never be felt again. I have probably mentionned this to the players concerned already, but meeting Adroan and fearing the title "Bowman of Zhenshi" (not know how to consider at this point). Lirimaer making my symbol glow *GASP* (and telling me my centaur friend (Asen) was diabolic!). Fainting at the site of the golden Beriku and then the spam dieing trying to retrieve her corpse. And Winksy making me feel accepted by the MUD when she gave me the ring of Truth, which for weeks was my most prized possession - until Nadil and Valdemar taught me the finer points of the obligatory 'j/loot'. And being so worried about my investment that Caeru asked "are you worried you might get the answers wrong?" Whether or not she meant that to help me as much OOC as she did IC, I don't know, but OOC I really was extremely nervous (as a result I was always wary of my own HP).
Thank you's (long and in no particular order, except first and last).
Beriku, Lirimaer, Sithara, Pilcester, Eusd, Eyrios, Eilsys, Dizri, Corathir, Leen, Adroan, Adan, Igvot, Melhisethech, Arsilan, Valtari, Mithos, Thayian, Gallus, Frollith, Vorak, Kirari, Kirin Waterfall, Gerad, Linarumien, Karn, Avice, Winksy, Yaubl, Vaerta, Federrik, Bruck, Amilira (Princess), Lourei, Furaha, Aelraen, Igvot, Kaspian, Slayne, Senach, Ghent, Enthus,
Eraylos, Maylu, Aevan and Filliokwe.
And of course, Naixin, the coolest darkie on the MUD.
So to the Afterlife:
Wortsenawl was a young lad from the orphanage of Taslamar, he knew nothing of his parents or his heritage and really I suppose you could take his name as a nickname, never knowing his 'real' name, just adopting this one. As a young boy he spent his free time, time not completing chores in the orphanage, loitering around the stables or working in the Temple of All Gods. Surrounding himself with Priests and the city militia it was then he realised his calling in life, that a path was laid before him. As soon as he was able he enrolled himself into the old Collegium under the watchful eye of the Priests he had served growing up. To help him on his way they taught him a few simple prayers, while some of the friendlier guards taught him the basics of using a dagger.
He spent a year or more training in the college, it was slow progress for him and was often found wanting with his studies both religious and martial. He thought perhaps this life he had set upon way beyond him, a feeling which would never leave him throughout his entire life, but he was determined and persevered. To the surpise of his tutors he finally gained rank enough to allow him to graduate the school and he immediately set off home. He arrived and immediately started putting his skills to use to serve his city and any that might need aid. He brought himself quickly to the attention of the Peace Keepers and a Griffon named Groof helped him realise his dream of serving his Queen proper. This kept him fulfilled for a
time, until after meeting with the then Justiciar's (Arsilan) wife, Lady Sithara, she spoke to him of religious matters and the need to devote oneself wholly to one God.
Wortsenawl knew immediately that he sought Truth above all and set about finding the voices of the Dulrikian chruch. So it was he met with Caeru, who he was in fact quite fearful of, fearful again of rejection, but she allayed his fears and brought him into the fold. Within the next year he found himself mentoring under Sir Yaubl and became his Squire. Not long after, he reperesented his faith, with Sister Alynwen at the Knights tournament and at the tender age of 26, ranked Journeyman, he
fought the dark Knights Slayne and Trakeakus. This was an important lesson to the young Knight, that he could stand before these imposing figures and with the strength of his Lord behind him, feel no fear. This emboldened him greatly and so it was he trained hard and explored for many years, for he wanted to best Sir Slayne to prove himself worthy of becoming a Knight.
Suddenly and without warning a new problem arose for Wortsenawl. While patrolling the city streets of Exile he did happen upon a youthful form of shimmering beauty (actually it was a wee lass decked out in brass armour) and from that moment a firm friendship was struck up. He started to cross the boundary to something more, questionning his vows, even offering to walk away from the life he knew so he could be with her, but it was realised that he would no longer be the boy Miss Beriku (later
married to Mithos) fell in love with. He saught counsel often with Lady Sithara and his good friend, the Priestess Lirimaer.
They helped him navigate the mindfield of emotions, though it was made all the more difficult by Lady Avice, who often encuorage his un-Knightly behaviour (much fun, thank you). In the end though, he remained true to his vows, but harboured feelings throughout his entire life for Beriku and was often the cause of his low moods. At the Zhensh ball (thank you
Adroan, I have not forgotten the embarrasing duel shortly after it) he offered the young lass a small emerald ring as a token of his friendship, stating no more could be given. Beriku accepted and later wore a yellow flower in her hair to honour the Knight and their secret vow. Wortsenawl could be seen sporting a yellow sash often, his message to her that he truly honoured her.
Quite late into his life, comparable to other Squires around him, he attained his Knighthood in a duel with Sir Slayne. Ironically, it was this duel which started his severe distrust of the Hammer of Light. Though he lost the battle, he felt Slayne was within his grasp to defeat, though alas, it was the last time the pair duelled proper, though they clashed several
times on the field of battle. As the first duel between the pair was set up, Wortsenawl asked Pelani if she would watch the fight. She agreed, and unknown to Wortsenawl, she advised her Hammer collagues of the event and Sithara, Pelani and Frollith set about ambushing Slayne and killing him. Angered, Slayne called Wortsenawl a liar and a coward, but it was soon realised that he had no part in this plan. Wortsenawl confronted the Hammer of Light about their actions, but found only denial and was accused of being poisonned of mind by the then leaders (Karn and Melithindlee). This was strike one in his life with the hammer.
He worked tirelessly with his church and the Peace Keepers over the next years, serving under Arsilan, Thayian, Valtari and Federrik before taking first the position of Captain and then holding the rank of Justiciar. For a time, Wortsenawl acted as the Leader as there were no superior officers about and, well, the work needed to be done. Naive and unsure he found himself manipuated by the Hammer. Lady Sithara pressured him into a truce with the East, which he fought against, but he eventually
convinced it was the right thing to do. Within two years of the truce, having pardonned all his enemies and allowing them free reign on his lands, a huge force appeared at his gates and laid waste to the city and his guard. Strike II.
It was in this time that a rift opened between The Keepers and The Hammer. Exile was under an almost state of siege with Vorak leading the Adepts and the Midnight council (under Senach) leading brutal raids. His young guard were no match. For a time he stood against the Midnight Council and the Lady Strifelaugher as she whispered what he believed were lies in his ears. She spoke of the fact his guard were alone in this fight, that he would die at their hands if they did not agree a truce. Wortsenawl replied that he would muster the forces of the light and have the Empire in ruins, but upon seeking the aid of the Hammer (and later the fists) he was told he stood alone, for they saught peace with the East and he should do the same. HUmiliated, he marched to Losache Keep to meet with Lady Eilsys and Lord Senach. Mockingly, they agreed to a truce, but the terms set cost Taslamar dear. Within the year Sir Pilcester asked Wortsenawl to break the truce, almost bringing the pair to blows. Strike III. The truce remained for many years, but was the main reason that Wortsenawl resigned his position (To his good friend Eyrios). Further trouble flared years later when the Empire again broke a truce, this time resulting in the violation of his Queen. It would be some years before he realised that the Hammer of Light had been told of such a threat, but refrained from passing this information on to the Peacke Keepers. An honourable thank you to Adan, who throughout all of the above remained a steadfast ally to Wortsenawl, and that came at cost to him.
Despite saying he would not hold office again, he took up the position of Captain and then again Justiciar until the day his body, aged and frail, could no longer continue. As a Knight of Dulrik, Wortsenawl had several Squire under him. Most notably Leen and Melhisethech. He also adopted a
troubled Squire called Kirari. He spent many a day teaching her, tutoring her in an effort to bring her on track. Kirari's troubles were, in his opinion, as much the failings of the church and her Knight which lead him to write a small book (found in Talsamar now). Eusd and Kavella were another two that he tried his utmost to do the right thing by. Kavella, though a Dark Knight, seemed abandonned and Wortsenawl misguidedly thought he might bring her to the light. Eusd, a more successful project, he encouraged where he was able, preparing him for Captaincy. Wortsenawl would later serve as Captain under Eusd as Justiciar, a very proud moment in his life.
In his twilight years he was finally blessed with meeting an immortal who bestowed upon him the title of High Knight, a position which he kept to his very last breath. It need not be said that this was the most important and defining moment of his life.
The end of his life was spent serving out his time as Justiciar, High Knight and leading the Paladin Council. In death he searches for the soul of the love he spent his mortal life trying to forget, the young Bard Beriku.
To all who helped shape this character, Imms and players alike, thank you.
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) I enjoyed every minute of it, and truthfully, the other experiences I've had with Wortsenawl show that it was not a one time experience.