SCCS Id: @(#)mythos.doc 3.3 2000/07/25 Part I General Mythos "Gehennom" (Gehenna) is a contraction of "Gei-ben-hinnom" (the valley of the son of Hinnom). It is a name of a small, deep, and dark valley south- east of ancient Jerusalem. In the pre-Hebraic era, that valley was the center for the worship of Moloch, who demanded that children be sacrificed to him. It was (and still is) considered a fearful, dreadful place, where suffering souls of dead people roam and seek revenge. Gehennom was consid- ered the place where a hidden port to the Under World exists. Through that port, demons, devils, and other servants of evil gods emerge sometimes to do havoc among the living. Part II Quests Mythos Archeologist Leader: Lord Carnarvon (co-discoverer of Tutankhamen's tomb) Home: College of Archeology Nemesis: Minion of Huhetotl Goal: Tomb of the Toltec Kings Artifact: Orb of Detection Background: General: Ranks: Barbarian Leader: Pelias Home: Camp of the Duali Tribe Nemesis: Thoth Amon Goal: Duali Oasis Artifact: Heart of Ahriman Background: Conan the Barbarian series General: Ranks: Caveman Leader: Shaman Karnov Home: Caves of the Ancestors Nemesis: Chromatic Dragon Goal: Dragon's Lair Artifact: Sceptre of Might Background: General: Ranks: Elf (retired in 3.3.0) Leader: Earendil/Elwing Home: Great Circle of Earendil/Elwing Nemesis: Goblin King Goal: Goblins' Cave Artifact: Palantir of Westernesse Background: Loosely based on Tolkien, particularly pre-Third Age General: Ranks: Healer Leader: Hippocrates Home: Temple of Epidaurus The temple of Epidaurus was the largest and most well known temple built by the cult of Aesculapius Nemesis: Cyclops Goal: Temple of Coeus Artifact: Staff of Aesculapius Background: Based on the greek mythology surrounding Aesculapius General: Ranks: Knight Leader: King Arthur Home: Camelot Castle Nemesis: Ixoth Goal: Isle of Glass Artifact: Magic Mirror of Merlin Background: Legend of King Arthur General: Ranks: Monk (added in 3.3.0) Leader: the Grand Master Home: the Monastery of Chan-Sune Nemesis: Master Kaen Goal: the Monastery of the Earth-Lord Artifact: Eyes of the Overworld Background: Militant Chinese cleric (Wu-dang Taoist, Shao-lin Buddhist) General: martial arts, enlightenment, vegetarianism Ranks: Priest Leader: Arch Priest Home: Great Temple Nemesis: Nalzok Goal: Temple of Nalzok Artifact: Mitre of Holiness Background: As of 3.3.0, more of a Western-style cleric General: holy water, undead turning Ranks: Ranger (replaced Elf in 3.3.0) Leader: Orion Home: Orion's camp Nemesis: Scorpius Goal: the cave of the wumpus Artifact: Longbow of Diana Background: Roman version of Orion/Sirius/Scorpius myth General: Locate level is in honor to the "wumpus" game Ranks: Rogue Leader: Master of Thieves Home: Thieves' Guild Hall Nemesis: Master Assassin Goal: Assassins' Guild Hall Artifact: Master Key of Thievery Background: Fritz Leiber's Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser series of books General: Ranks: Samurai Leader: Lord Sato Home: Castle of the Taro Clan Nemesis: Ashikaga Takauji Goal: Shogun's Castle Artifact: Tsurugi of Muramasa Background: Shogun. The Forty-Seven Ronin. The Crysanthemum and The Sword, by Ruth Benedict. Mirror, Sword and Jewel, by Kurt Singer. General: The player is referred to as player_name-san ('san' being an honorable title), once he has completed the quest, or obtained the artifact the reference changes to player_name-sama. 'Sama' is the title for Lord. Ranks: Hatamoto. "Banner Knights". "They were originally personal body guards to a military commander, but after completing their service they became samurai." Ronin. Samurai without alliegance to a daimyo, exiled or renegades. Ninja. Secretive society of samurai trained in killing arts. Joshu. A samurai who headed a castle. Ryoshu. A samurai who headed a small piece of territory. Kokushu. A samurai who headed a province-sized area. Daimyo. A samurai lord. Kuge. Nobles of the imperial court, they held presedence over the daimyos at court. Shogun. The reigning samurai "king". Tourist Leader: Twoflower Home: Traveller's Aid Office Nemesis: Master of Thieves Goal: Thieves' Guild Hall Artifact: Yendorian Express Card Background: Terry Pratchett's Discworld series of books General: Ranks: Valkyrie Leader: the Norn Home: Shrine of Destiny Nemesis: Lord Surtur Goal: Cave of Surtur Artifact: Orb of Fate Background: Norse mythology General: Ranks: Wizard Leader: Neferet the Green Home: The Lonely Tower Nemesis: Dark One Goal: Tower of Darkness Artifact: Eye of the Aethiopica Background: General: Ranks: Part III Game Objects (not described in data.base) Maud and the DUAM XNAHT scroll. Maud was the suggestor of the intro- duction of amnesia into the game. Part IV Artifacts (not described in data.base or artilist.h) Excalibur King Arthur's sword Stormbringer Michael Moorcock's Elric saga Mjollnir Thor's hammer (Norse mythology) Orcrist, Sting Tolkien Magicbane loosely based on the magic knife "Carnwennan" in "The Coming of the King" by Nikolai Tolstoy Grayswandir Corwin's sword in Roger Zelazny's Amber saga Part V Game Monsters (not described in data.base) Part VI Miscellaneous Knowledge Elbereth is the Star-Queen of the elves of Middle Earth. ----- "Lasciate ogni speranza voi ch'entrate" is italian for 'All hope abandon, ye who enter here'. ----- "The throne vanishes in a puff of logic." analogy comes from Douglas Adams' Hitchikers Guide to the Galaxy: "But," says man, "the Babel fish is a dead giveaway, isn't it? It could not have evolved by chance. It proves you exist, and so therefore, by your own argument, you don't. QED." "Oh dear," says God, "I hadn't thought of that," and promptly vanishes in a puff of logic. -----