Today is March 20th, YR13 Kingdom Forum / End of Age Antics
Das DEMON Macalon (17:30)
March 20th, YR13
(With apologies to the Five Doctors)
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The mists cleared, and Sir Graham found himself standing on a strange marbled causeway. He was not alone. He looked up to see... himself.
At least, it seemed himself. A dim memory stirred, raised by the strange set of the clothes.
"I know you." he ventured. "You're... a past me."
The other Graham cast his eyes about uncertainly. "Shush. There may be Peasants around, or Wizards, or Thieves."
Sir Graham the Sorcerer looked about. As the mist vanished, the pillars around them stretched up into an infinity of darkness.
"No, it doesn't seem so. I think, in fact, we're outside Utopia. We've been dragged outside of the game."
The other Graham paled. "That isn't possible."
"Nevertheless, we are here. And, unless I'm very much mistaken, you're my fifth reset, aren't you?"
Now, the other Graham took a step back, and gulped. "Uh, yes. Who then are you?"
"Don't worry. I'm reset 6."
Graham 5 nodded. "So, what do we do now?"
Graham 6 replied "I'm guessing this is some temporary problem in the game time-lime. Mehul will probably fix it soon."
Suddenly, a shout arose nearby, and two figures appeared, both Graham. One was holding the other in a head-lock.
"Ah!" declared the aggressor. "Are you with me or against me!"
"Say what?" asked both Grahams 5 and 6 together.
"I caught this fool spying on me. He is obviously an enemy. Must I fight you also?"
"Hmm. Graham 3 at all?"
The newcomer stared. "I thought as much. Yes, I am the 3rd Rest of Graham. What of it?"
"Well, for a start release him."
Graham hesitated, and then grudgingly released the other Graham, who coughed and gulped a couple of times. "Thank you. Thank you. I've never done thisbefore, and he completely caught me."
"Oh boy. You're the original."
"Pardon?"
"You're the first Graham reset at Utopia."
Graham 1 nodded. "I'm not doing so bad. My Kingdom's got a 100K program going, and I've just reached it. Good huh?"
Graham 5 and 6 looked at one another. "Yes. For a newbie very good."
Graham 3 snorted. "100k! Pah, get an army and CONQUER, then you'll really do well."
A new voice spoke from the sidelines. "Was I really so war-like and barbaric?" and Graham 4 moved out from behind a pillar.
"Ah," announced Graham 6 or Sir Graham The Sorcerer as he is commonly known. "You would be the first Graham who moved from attacking to become a Thief/Mage."
"Indeed. Much more fun!"
Graham 5 coughed. "Well in my time, we're getting there. I'm learning it now."
Graham 6 grinned. "In my time I'm doing even better. I've really got the hang of it now. Try talking 5 WPA!"
Graham 3 barked an aggressive laugh. "Given up attacking! God forbid I should ever do that. Okay, I've taken some big hits through sending 60% out, BUT I'LL GET THE LAND BACK YOU HEAR!!!"
The other Grahams shot amused glances at each other. Graham 1 ventured "He really believes in it doesn't he. I mean I wasn't too bad. What happened?"
Graham 4 "Basically we suck at attacking - all of us. It's like, take 100 acres land for 3 days in a row, then lose 300. Pure pendulumn effect. Thief/Mage is far more stable."
Graham 5 "Especially with Paradise."
Graham 6 "And Personality."
The war-like Graham snarled. "Personality? Paradise? You're all a bunch of wimps! I'll take you all on, come on!!!"
Graham's 4 through 6 looked at each other. "After you," was the order of the day. Finally, Graham 6 (Sir Graham the Sorcerer) fired a rarely used Web spell at Graham 3, pinning him to a pillar.
"Now, you stay there until you learn not to attack your future selves."
The reply was unsuitable for the Utopian code.
"What happened to Graham 2?"
"The less said about *that* the better..."
The number of WPA and TPA became traded, as Graham 1's eyes grew wide at the exploits of his more experienced forms. Suddenly a figure appeared in a flash of light and smoke.
Graham 1: "Oh my God! It's Mehul!", and he prostrated himself on the ground.
Graham 3 strained against the Webbing, and nodded: "My Lord." and averted his eyes.
Graham 4 knelt to one knee: "Mehul."
Graham 5 bowed.
Graham 6 raised his eyebrows: "Hiya - you gonna sort this mess out now, or fix it mid-age as usual?"
The great Utopian Lord looked over the Five Grahams, and clicked his tongue in irritation. "You shouldn't be here - not all at the same time. You're lucky I know it's a time dilation bug - normally 5 players from one IP address, the script would have cleared you as Multis years back."
With a wave of his hand, the pillars disappeared, followed by the Marble.
Then, slowly, the first Graham began to grow translucent, and vanish.
As they disappeared, the Grahams wished each other goodbye (except Graham 3), until finally, only Grahams 5 and 6 remained. Before he went, Graham 5 shook
Graham 6 by the hand.
"Much left?" he asked.
"No, end of age now for me too."
"Well, I guess best of luck to Graham 7 then..."
... and he was gone.
Sir Graham the Sorcerer of Das DEMON Macalon stood, kind of, in the void.
Even Mehul had gone now. With a strange feeling, Sir Graham knew that this was the end. He would wake up, ignorant of this, and ready to build a Province again.
"Ah well," he said to the Universe at large, and grinned, "here we go again!"
- Sir Graham the Sorcerer