A cudgel in the sack.

It was time that the professor told us the next part of his favorite tale.

When he arrived many where waiting to hear the next part of the story.

 The story was still long so he wanted to start reading immediately:

It came to pass that he came to the same inn in which his brother’s table had been exchanged. He led his donkey by the bridle, and the host was about to take the animal from him and tie him up, but the young journeyman said, “Don’t trouble yourself, I will take my nag into the stable, and tie him up myself too, for I must know where he is.”

This struck the host as odd, and he thought that a man who was forced to look after his donkey himself, could not have much to spend. But when the stranger put his hand in his pocket and brought out two gold pieces, and said he was to provide something good for him, the host opened his eyes wide, and ran and sought out the best he could muster. After dinner the guest asked what he owed. The innkeeper did not see why he should not double the bill, and said the journeyman must give two more gold pieces. He felt in his pocket, but his gold was just at an end.

“Wait an instant, sir,” said he, “I will go and fetch some money.” But he took the tablecloth with him. The innkeeper could not imagine what this meant, and being curious, stole after him, and as the guest bolted the stable door, he peeped through a hole left by a knot in the wood.

The stranger spread out the cloth under the animal and cried, “Bricklebrit,” and immediately the beast began to let gold pieces fall from back and front, so that it fairly rained down money onto the ground.

“Eh, my word,” said the innkeeper. “Ducats are quickly coined there. A purse like that is not bad.” The guest paid his bill and went to bed, but in the night the innkeeper stole down into the stable, led away the master of the mint, and tied up another donkey in his place.

Early next morning the journeyman traveled away with his donkey, and thought that he had his gold-donkey. At midday he reached his father, who rejoiced to see him again, and gladly took him in.

“What have you made of yourself, my son?” asked the old man.

“A miller, dear father,” he answered.

“What have you brought back with you from your travels.”

“Nothing else but a donkey.”

“There are donkeys enough here,” said the father, “I would rather have had a good goat.”

“Yes,” replied the son, “but it is no common donkey, but a gold-donkey. When I say ‘Bricklebrit’ the good beast spews forth a whole sheetful of gold pieces. Just summon all our relatives here, and I will make them rich folks.”

“That suits me well,” said the tailor, “for then I shall have no need to torment myself any longer with the needle,” and he himself ran out and called the relatives together. As soon as they were assembled, the miller bade them make way, spread out his cloth, and brought the donkey into the room.

“Now watch,” said he, and cried, “Bricklebrit,” but what fell were not gold pieces, and it was clear that the animal knew nothing of the art, for not every donkey attains such perfection. Then the poor miller made a long face, saw that he had been betrayed, and begged pardon of the relatives, who went home as poor as they came. There was no help for it, the old man had to take up his needle once more, and the youth hired himself to a miller.

The third brother had apprenticed himself to a turner, and as that is skilled labor, he was the longest in learning. His brothers, however, told him in a letter how badly things had gone with them, and how the innkeeper had cheated them of their beautiful wishing gifts on the last evening before they reached home. When the turner had served his time, and was about to set forth, as he had conducted himself so well, his master presented him with a sack saying, “There is a cudgel in it.”

“I can take the sack with me,” said he, “and it may serve me well, but why should the cudgel be in it. It only makes it heavy.”

“I will tell you why,” replied the master. “If anyone has done anything to injure you, do but say, ‘Cudgel out of the sack,’ and the cudgel will leap forth among the people, and play such a dance on their backs that they will not be able to stir or move for a week. And it will not quit until you say, ‘Cudgel into the sack.'”

The journeyman thanked him, and put the sack on his back, and when anyone came too near him and wished to attack him, he said, “Cudgel out of the sack,” and instantly the cudgel sprang out and beat the dust out of their coats and jackets, right on their backs, not waiting until they had taken them off, and it was done so quickly, that before anyone was aware, it was already his own turn.

The Professor stood up from his chair and told us that even in this story there was a grain of truth.

He knew the workshop where the good guy has learned.

The professor was too tired to come with us but if we where interested he would open a moongate to the workshop.

And of course we would be interested to see this workshop!

Only moments later we found our self in Skara Brae at the shop.

The host did not looked very friendly!

“What are you doing here in my workshop!” he yelled!

He really did not want us there and threaten us to use the cudgel against us.

He was not sure how it would work but it would be more then enough to use against us.

With a wicked laugh he opened the bag and several of these cudgels flew around and start to beat on us.

These flying sticks where a lot tougher then they looked!

We had to organise well to beat down the cudgels one by one.

The evil host could not accept his defeat and his despair he attacked us himself.

It was the last mistake he will ever make!

A few lucky people got their hands on a bag that was used to store the magical cudgels.

I already look forward for the professor next part of the story.

It always take us on new adventures!

New Frarc, Drachenfels News reporter.

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Drachenfels presents:

Tour of Champions.

Round 10

A weekly event to fight the different champion spawns in Ilshenar,Tokuno and Malas.

To show loyalty to your town or to seek out the treasure of the champions!

To show your might or just for fun!

Join us!

The tenth round will be the Tokuno Champion Spawn…

Gathering will be next Saturday the 27th of October at 20:30 CEST.

We meet at West Britain Bank.

For who comes later, join us at the champion spawn or find us in General chat.

We hope to welcome many people to fight several champions!

Be There!

[Discuss This Article]

Battling the Behemoths!

Round 12

From the adventurers that created “The Gauntlet Returns” events, they are going to offer you, even more dangerous adventures against the most deadliest monsters!

This Friday the 12th Battle!

We would like to invite all adventurers for a trip to The Abyss to fight The Slasher of the Veils!

On Friday the 26th of October.

Leaving around 20:30 CEST at West Britain Bank!

Or Contact us in General Chat.

Are you brave enough!?

Be there!

[Discuss This Article]

Memorable Moment Winners – Drachenfels

Posted by Tim Chappell | 2012 Oct 12 23:01 -0400 GMT

We had 13 entries from the Drachenfels shard that included some very creative stories.

For your enjoyment, here are the 5 winners:

[Somewhere in Sosaria back in 1999…]

Dear diary,

*inkblot*

It´s been some weeks now, since I started travelling the lands of Sosaria. In my efforts to become a good citizen I had to encounter fearsome creatures like Mongbats, Ettins and evil undead.

My brothers Hegor and Kregor are good-for-nothing, lambasting murderers and bandits down at the crossroads, but I think a woodelf should follow the path of the virtues.

… more or less. *smiles and takes a nip of Ale*

Enviously I noticed all those fine structures built by respected and honorable people everywhere throughout the lands. So I decided to become a home owner…

*inkblot*

Little did I know about what it means to become the proud owner of even a small property in the lands of Sosaria. It is extraordinarily expensive, knotty and tough. So I slayed thousands of Harpies, Headless and Gazers down in dungeon Covetous. And it was dangerous and harsh and my collection of grey robes was astonishing.

But eventually I did it! – I earned enough money to buy the scroll and rights for a little plot.

*moaning*

And this was when the second part of the journey began – finding a free building plot somewhere in Lord British´s realms seemed to be even more challenging than to defeat a Shame blood elemental barehanded.

Well, anyway…

After almost endless travels throughout the lands I was desperate…

…until I found this little plot on a small island today! Even big enough for a small tower!

Hurray! *praises the gods*

I placed my new home.

A bit leaning – but all mine!

*nip of ale*

Tonight I will spend the first night in my new home – people say, things you dream about in the first night will eventually come true.

Well… *nip*

*Falls asleep and dreams about a Lady killing people in Roulette games giving out strange lanterns…*

Odd.

_____________________________________________________________________

Our son was born at September 29, 2010. With his birth, our dream came true: We became a family. Soon everything in our lives changed: Nights without sleep, weekends without parties, years without vacations – and love without conditions. The first months were challenging and exhausting but also magical and rewarding.

However, sometimes we felt lonely: We have always been very sociable, being part of a large circle of friends. We went to the pub, to the cinema, to festivals and parties. After our son´s birth, many of these activities came to an end: Our friends didn´t have children, they lived their lives as they always did. And in many situations, we couldn´t participate – and felt sad about this loss of social moments.

It was in such a lonely mood in February 2011, when I had an idea: It was a cold winter night, my wife and the little boy were sleeping. He had a terrible cough and I promised to watch his sleep. I looked out of the window and reminisced about my past. I remembered how I moved to Sosaria in the late 1990s – and how I lived there with my friends for about two and a half years. It had been more than eight years since I left and I never forgot how wonderful this time was. I wondered how this world might have changed, if there were still people living in Britain, if my Sosarian incarnations would still be alive, if this would still be a place of adventure and friendship.

At the same night, I decided to visit this old, intimate world. And yes, there were still people here, my avatars still were alive – and indeed, many things had changed. My first steps led me through Britain – it felt like coming home: The West Britain Bank was camped by the notorious banksitters, the graveyard was inhabited by undeads and in the stables I found Ozzy, my old reptile friend – a White Wyrm. Socializing wasn’t hard: I met some wonderful people who invited me to their guild and helped me with everything needed to make a new start. I felt that this was still the great, distinctive place of adventure and friendship it has always been.

I had many wonderful moments since my return, but my most memorable moment was when my wife decided to join me and to become an inhabitant of Sosaria. I presented her to my friends and they gave her a warm welcome. For me, it was a return. For her, it was a step in a completely new world.

Today, we have a fulfilling social life – even if we cannot go to parties every weekend or visit the cinema. At night, when our child sleeps, we grab our spellbooks and longswords and join our friends. We are now living a richer life: A life with our child and our families, another life with our friends and relatives – and a third, a new life in Sosaria. And this time, we won´t leave again.

_____________________________________________________________________

One of my memorable moments in Uo was, when I started playing UO in 1998. My in the first days I hunted a lot of monsters, I was training and trying every skill I got. At this time I had no clue about skill limit nor how to make money or how to train easy a skill.

So I started hunting around shame area, bought my first bow and killed monster for hours.

After 8 hours I had about 2000gp of money. – A fortune for a newbie like me. Heavy loaded I carried that stuff back to Britain my home town.

I could hardly move. At that time no “real” map existed for me, so I was wondering around in the forest. Finally after 30 minutes I came close to a house which was placed in the middle of a hedge mace. – I was so happy to see that seemingly there was one guy right in the middle, whom I can ask what the shortest way back to Britain is.

So I stepped close and formulated my words. “Hail good Sir, could you please tell me shortest way to Britain, please……” – But guess what. – That guy started to cast on me:

“Corp Por”- I got shocked, so I did not react on the first time

“Des Mani” – I tried to run… – Could not move

“Kas Vas Flam”

Dead, I am DEAD. – NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO, NOOOO.

All my 8 hour work was gone. I saw him looting my corpse!!!!

Gosh, I was so upset. – SO ANGRY!

I was jumping around him in circles. And I blustered him for quite some time.

And believe me, that guy ignored me totally!

So I went to the woods and was looking for a healer to ress me, but I could not find any. Finally after 20 minutes some people on a street ressed me and I told them that I need their help to kill that pk.

But they seems to freighted about PKs, so they just left me alone after my ress and run away.

….

Well that was the time, where I was thinking of stopping playing UO….

But as you can see I am still with the game and still enjoying it.

So now for the memorable moment:

The moment was there… about 4 years later.

When I passed by accident hedge maze again and I noticed: That PK, who lived there was a NPC Pk.

DOOOH! – I felt like a newbie and when i was realizing, that I was yelling and screaming for several minutes to an NPC in that old time.

_____________________________________________________________________

After so many years walking the world of Sosaria it is hard to pick one memorable moment.

But the most memorable moment must have been the wedding between Lessa and me.

One day i just had this idea to ask Lessa how she would feel for a wedding between Lessa and Frarc.

She did ask me why at first , so i explained that would be for in game fun.

But i was glad she did accept to do it and we filled in some forms and sended that to a counselor.

We had to choose a date and place and even a engraving for our wedding rings.

“I am my beloved and my beloved is mine”

I still have that ring in my bank box.

I just not wanted to tell everyone our idea for the wedding ,so i ask Max Wulf our guildmaster to help us out on something.There was a guild tournament planned to see who was the best PvPer.

We ask Max to cheat on the drawing of opponents.

Lessa and me would fight each other on the second fight.

When the battle started i refused to fight her, i role-played that a trowed away my sword and took of my helmet. Its where i ask Lessa to married me.

And of course she accepted.

The date was set : 31 July 1999

Max prepared the castle for the wedding.

Morgaine the guilds blacksmith made two matching full plate valorite suits.

She made a matching blue cloak.

In those days those suits where very valuable!

Invitations been send out for the day with big announcement on the guilds web page.

The day of the wedding had come and we where all ready for it.

I was even not allowed to see Lessa ingame that day.Good thing we had other characters.

Lessa stood with Max at the altar in the castle while i was waiting outside the counselor would come to do the wedding.

He was late… so i thought.

Its the day you learn that GMT is not the same as CEST!

A lot of people came, even people that played often on other shards like Ariye came for the wedding.

All dressed up nicely for this occasion.

Eventually the Counselor appeared and my brother took me to Lessa.

It was all nicely done , like a real royal wedding.

The counselor did a great job!

We took our vows and then gave each other the wedding ring.

After we kissed it was time for celebration. With many food, drinks and presents!

Its a day i never forget.

Many years gone by since then , many people left and new friends where made.

But Lessa and Ariye they still here with me after all this time.

I honestly have no idea what i would do without them!

So Thank You Ultima Online to bring all these people from the last fourteen years in my life even when some already moved on!

_____________________________________________________________________

My time travel

________________________________

Yesterday I had a very very nice for me UO experience.

I am very interested in old stuff from past UO days, rummaging through old houses which are apparently uninhabited for years, is for me the greatest, they are like time capsules are where the clock stopped.

For old items I do everything.

Even old threats in UO forums that were written years ago, I often find most interesting.

Unfortunately, there is not the skill archeology, I would Legendary archaeologist

* g *

Yesterday I met a beginner who enjoyed a huge horse-given, after a few minutes it became clear that he had played a few years ago already times.

I told the reactivate the old account, if he knew the old account name yet, the old email address would still etc.

And it worked!

After waiting a few minutes opened up not far from me a Moongate, and out ….. a 5 year old Char, logged out years ago and now for the first time came back online, including the dusty knowledge of the player in front of the screen.

A player in a PvP armor Valorite would now bear no more, the blacksmith of it produced there for years no longer than one swinging Tunic, a weapon that everyone would be lying in front of the bank.

Although this equipment has probably cost a fortune at that time nothing was insured, his ancient horse was not Bondet and the BackPack there were strange items that I had never seen before.

He stood there like a reawakened dinosaurs from prehistoric times, and alive to the touch, … madness!

Something I had only seen on old screenshots.

We three went to the third was (coincidentally on site and would also like to try to reactivate an old account, I am looking forward

* G *) tap into a dungeon to the earth elementals the rust from the old armor.

He had to fight hard to maintain and looked enviously at the paladin spells and weapons of the two companions of the future.

For the Poison Elemental he unfortunately died twice, his old armor was just too weak to give us companions time to heal, even his old horse, he lost here.

Still, it was all great fun, and for me it was like going back in a time machine to the past, an unforgettable experience.

_____________________________________________________________________

[Discuss This Article]

 

Tomorrow we are all a part of history! The majority of us know how old Stratics is and here are some interesting facts Stratics.

Stratics will be hosting a Livestream tomorrow at 2:00pm EST, 1:00 pm CST, 11:00 am PST and 7:00 pm BST and the thread to share their own memories.

Stratics encourages anyone interested to attend. During this live hangout, Stratics will be giving away beta keys, merchandise, and a brand new Razer Naga gaming mouse.

You won’t want to miss the festivities.  Happy 15th Anniversary Stratics!

The Gladiators!

Ladies and Gentlemen!

It is time to separate the boys from the men,the girls from the amazons!

NO STUPID MONSTERS TO FIGHT AGAINST!

This Sunday:

The 21st of October at 20:30 CEST

We present to you all,

The Gladiators!

A fight to the death in the New Haven Arena!

Do you have what it takes in this first Player vs Player Tournament on Drachenfels!

It is time to show how good you really are!

Meet us next Sunday at the New Haven Arena!

With the following rules:

NO PETS ALLOWED!

Everyone is free to join this ultimate test of your fighting skills!

Your referee and the person to make the fighting draws will be Maximillion Sun.

There can be only one winner!

And the winner will take home:

5 Million in gold!

Are you brave enough?

Or Chicken!

[Discuss This Article]

Battling the Behemoths!

Round 11

From the adventurers that created “The Gauntlet Returns” events, they are going to offer you, even more dangerous adventures against the most deadliest monsters!

This Saturday the 11th Battle!

We would like to invite all adventurers for a trip to Despise to fight

The Lords of Despise!

On Saturday the 20th of October.

Leaving around 20:30 CEST at Britain Bank!

Or Contact us in General Chat.

Are you brave enough!?

Be there!

[Discuss This Article]

Drachenfels Presents:

Sosarian Brainiacs

Episode 2

We bring you the only game show on Drachenfels!

We will be looking for the smartest people in Sosaria.

The show will be held in the Town Hall of New Magincia!

The Second Show will be Friday the 19th of October starting at 20:30 CEST.

The Town Hall of New Magincia can be found in the center of New Magincia.

Your game host will be Stella New.

Everyone is invited to participate in this new game show.

There will be all kinds of questions that are related to Sosaria.

The game will have 3 rounds to eliminate players to find our first Sosarian Brainiac!

Prices:

1st Place

2nd place

3rd place

After the first shows success we are back to test your knowledge and win great prices!

[Discuss This Article]

Gold-Donkey

It was been a while since the professor read out of his book with his favorite tale.

Many came to listen to the next part of his book.

It was a long story so there was no time to waste to start reading:

The eldest had apprenticed himself to a joiner, and learned industriously and tirelessly, and when the time came for him to be on his way, his master presented him with a little table which was not particularly beautiful, and was made of common wood, but which had one good property. If anyone set it out, and said, “table be set,” the good little table was at once covered with a clean little cloth, and a plate was there, and a knife and fork beside it, and dishes with boiled meats and roasted meats, as many as there was room for, and a great glass of red wine shone, so that it made the heart glad.

The young journeyman thought, “With this you have enough for your whole life,” and went joyously about the world and never troubled himself at all whether an inn was good or bad, or if anything was to be found in it or not. When it suited him, he did not enter an inn at all, but either on the plain, in a wood, a meadow, or wherever he fancied, he took his little table off his back, set it down before him, and said, “table be set,” and then everything appeared that his heart desired.

At length he took it into his head to go back to his father, whose anger would now be appeased, and who would now willingly receive him with his magic table. It came to pass that on his way home, he came one evening to an inn which was filled with guests. They bade him welcome, and invited him to sit and eat with them, for otherwise he would have difficulty in getting anything.

“No,” answered the joiner, “I will not take the few morsels out of your mouths. Rather than that, you shall be my guests.”

They laughed, and thought he was jesting with them. He but placed his wooden table in the middle of the room, and said, “Table be set.” Instantly it was covered with food, so good that the host could never have procured it, and the smell of it ascended pleasantly to the nostrils of the guests.

“Fall to, dear friends,” said the joiner, and the guests when they saw that he meant it, did not need to be asked twice, but drew near, pulled out their knives and attacked it valiantly. And what surprised them the most was that when a dish became empty, a full one instantly took its place of its own accord.

The innkeeper stood in one corner and watched the affair. He did not at all know what to say, but thought, “You could easily find a use for such a cook as that in your household.”

The joiner and his comrades made merry until late into the night. At length they lay down to sleep, and the young journeyman also went to bed, and set his magic table against the wall. The host’s thoughts, however, let him have no rest. It occurred to him that there was a little old table in his backroom which looked just like the journeyman’s and he brought it out, and carefully exchanged it for the wishing table. Next morning the joiner paid for his bed, took up his table, never thinking that he had got a false one, and went his way.

At midday he reached his father, who received him with great joy. “Well, my dear son, what have you learned?” he said to him.

“Father, I have become a joiner.”

“A good trade,” replied the old man. “But what have you brought back with you from your apprenticeship?”

“Father, the best thing which I have brought back with me is this little table.”

The tailor inspected it on all sides and said, “You did not make a masterpiece when you made this. It is a bad old table.”

“But it is a table-be-set,” replied the son. “When I set it out, and tell it to set itself, the most beautiful dishes immediately appear on it, and wine also, which gladdens the heart. Just invite all our relatives and friends. They shall refresh and enjoy themselves for once, for the table will fill them all.”

When the company was assembled, he put his table in the middle of the room and said, “Table be set,” but the little table did not move, and remained just as bare as any other table which does not understand language. Then the poor journeyman became aware that his table had been changed, and was ashamed at having to stand there like a liar. The relatives, however, mocked him, and were forced to go home without having eaten or drunk.

The father brought out his scraps again, and went on tailoring, but the son found work with a master joiner.

The second son had gone to a miller and had apprenticed himself to him. When his years were over, the master said, “As you have conducted yourself so well, I give you a donkey of a peculiar kind, which neither draws a cart nor carries a sack.”

“What good is he then?” asked the young journeyman.

“He spews forth gold,” answered the miller. “If you set him on a cloth and say ‘Bricklebrit,’ the good animal will spew forth gold pieces for you from back and front.”

“That is a fine thing,” said the journeyman, and thanked the master, and went out into the world. When he had need of gold, he had only to say “Bricklebrit” to his donkey, and it rained gold pieces, and he had nothing to do but pick them off the ground. Wherever he went, the best of everything was good enough for him, and the more expensive the better, for he had always a full purse. When he had looked about the world for some time, he thought, “You must seek out your father. If you go to him with the gold-donkey he will forget his anger, and receive you well.”

It came to pass that he came to the same inn in which his brother’s table had been exchanged……

The professor stood up from his chair and asked everyone if they remember his words from last time.

That these tales have some elements of truth in it.

He wanted to take us to the inn where the donkey was.

Of course we where all curious about this.

Only moments later we found our self at the entrance of the inn.

But when we approached the stables of the inn we where attacked by some false donkeys!

We had our hands full with several of these creatures!

After we killed all of these false donkeys the evil host appeared and was not happy with what was happened.

The evil host had not much of a chance!

After the fight some of us where lucky to take home a golden donkey statue.

We all gathered back at the in where the professor was standing behind the counter.

He needed a rest,he said he is not the youngest anymore.

It was time for all of us to go home but i am more curious what more stories the professor has to tell and where it will take us the next time!

New Frarc, Drachenfels News reporter.

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