Editing Darkness Ascendant

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'''March 2000''' - [[Announcements - 2000/03 - Darkness Ascendant|Announcements Page]]
== Turbine/Microsoft Announcements ==

=== Teasers ===
{{Patch Announcements Links
| Current = None
| Original = None
| Archive = Announcements - 2000/03 - Darkness Ascendant#Teaser
}}

=== Rollout ===
{{Patch Announcements Links
| Current = None
| Original = http://www.zone.com/asheronscall/news/ashenewsdarkness1.asp
| Archive = Announcements - 2000/03 - Darkness Ascendant#Rollout Article
}}

=== Release Notes ===
{{Patch Announcements Links
| Current = None
| Original = http://www.zone.com/asheronscall/news/ashenewsMarch7build.asp
| Archive = Announcements - 2000/03 - Darkness Ascendant#Release Notes
}}

=== Letter to the Players ===
{{Patch Announcements Links
| Current = None
| Original = http://classic.zone.msn.com/asheronscall/news/ashenewsspin6.asp
| Archive = Announcements - 2000/03 - Darkness Ascendant#Letter to the Players
}}

== Discoveries ==
=== [[Town Crier]] Rumors ===

<font color=darkgoldenrod>
Town Crier tells you, "The pollen was not so bad.  My counterparts from the Sho and Aluvian lands must have weak constitutions."

Town Crier tells you, "High-ranking monarchs have been approached by an unknown presence and subjected to grueling tests on a distant island.  Apparently this entity, whatever it is, does not think much of our monarchs.  Might this have something to do with the frightful apparition in the lightning flashes?"

Town Crier tells you, "The shadow spires have appeared in the vicinity of these towns:  Eastham, Cragstone, Tufa, Khayyaban, Tou Tou, and Sawato.  There are rumors of a few others out in the wilderness, all just as quiet and inactive.  What purpose they serve or will serve is not yet known, though some have been said to have been within them."

Town Crier tells you, "Just between you and me, I remember the sun being brighter long ago, before the sudden winter."

Town Crier tells you, "Yesterday I found a Wool Fez of Willpower!"

Town Crier tells you, "A renaissance in metallurgy! First there was the rediscovery of Lord Atlan's weapon technology! Now, the master armorers in al-Jalima, Eastham and Kara have found ways to utilize shadow and crystal items."

Town Crier tells you, "But between you and me, they are very touchy! They will only make one suit of armor of a particular quality for you. They will make another of different quality without complaint, but if you ask for a suit similar to one they already gave you, they become very rude!

Town Crier tells you, "News! Three new Festival Grounds have been created for the enjoyment of all athletically - inclined people of Dereth. They are near the Wintersebb Festival Stone east of Qalaba'r, the Leafcull Festival Stone west of Yanshi, and the Leafdawning Festival Stone west of Rithwic."

Town Crier tells you, "News! The heritage groups have published a book on weddings, available at scribes. Despite the ominous atmosphere, love is in the air, and people are getting married. The resilience of life is amazing."

Town Crier tells you, "Have you noticed the changes in the sky? Though all is peaceful now, some say the distribution of monsters has changed: perhaps they sense a coming storm. But the rabbits seem to be reproducing as usual, so the storm must be a ways off yet. Thank goodness!"

Town Crier tells you, "News! Ominous floating monstrosities have appeared all over our island! Many people are holding their breath waiting for something to happen, but there is no sign of activity. Some even say they are empty. Magical experts have determined that it is unlikely that the strange spires pose any immediate threat."

Town Crier tells you, "These dark spires loom quietly for now, and experts agree they do not pose any immediate threat. However, I heard a rumor that some people are being taken inside of them and subjected to strange questions. What power can play with mortals like this?"

Town Crier tells you, "The Great Sage, Aleister the Loquacious, has published a treatise on fused gems. He certainly earned his name. He is quite long-winded, and very full of himself, to boot."

Town Crier tells you, "That dratted pollen has finally subsided! I can breathe freely once again!"

Town Crier tells you, "Is it just me, or do the lowly Drudges now look somehow more...menacing?"

Town Crier tells you, "Books are now available at the capital cities' scribes that detail scholars' that detail scholars amazing discoveries about the strange crystals that have been acquired from the shadows and the remnants of the Great Work."</font>

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=== New [[Quests]] ===
* [[Shadow Armor Quest]]

==== Live Events ====

March 10, 2000<br>
<font color=green>
The winds momentarily gust and howl, and through the blustering noise strange laughter may be discerned: high-pitched, thin, shrill, child-like, with an edge of cruel and twisted steel. A shadow seems to pass across the face of the sun. A presence has arrived in Dereth but soon the sensation passes.</font>

March 16, 2000<br>
<font color=green>
Tension seems to run like a current through the ground; the air tingles with sudden foreboding. Somewhere, a dark presence has arrived.

Like a silent black liquid, it flows up into Dereth, bringing the smell of decay and death. The impression fades quickly, and all is normal once again.</font>

March 24, 2000<br>
<font color=green>
If not for the slight change in the pressure of the air, the arrival of the third presence might not have been noticed. Yet the world seems just a little darker now.</font>

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=== New [[NPCs]] ===
* [[Jibril ibn Rashid]]
* [[Alean the Steel Forger]]
* [[Koga Hideki]]

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=== New [[Locations]] ===
* [[Wedding Hall]] 
* [[Festival Grounds]]

==== New [[Points of Interest]] ====
* [[Shadow Spires]]

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=== New [[Items]] ===

==== [[Shadow Armor Quest|Fused Gems]] ====

{{Item Table
 | Glimmering Gem (Retired)
 | Sparkling Gem (Retired)
 | Scintillating Gem (Retired)
}}

==== [[Greater Shadow Armor]] ====

{{Item Table Two
 | Greater Amuli Shadow Coat (Post-Patch)
 | Greater Amuli Shadow Leggings (Post-Patch)
 | Greater Celdon Shadow Breastplate (Post-Patch)
 | Greater Celdon Shadow Sleeves (Post-Patch)
 | Greater Celdon Shadow Girth (Post-Patch)
 | Greater Celdon Shadow Leggings (Post-Patch)
 | Greater Koujia Shadow Breastplate (Post-Patch)
 | Greater Koujia Shadow Sleeves (Post-Patch)
 | Greater Koujia Shadow Leggings (Post-Patch)
}}

==== [[List of Texts|Texts]] ====

{{Item Table
 | A Treatise on the Properties of Fused Gems
 | The Festival Stones of the Empyrean
 | The Wedding Guide
}}

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=== [[Announcements - 2000/03 - Darkness Ascendant#Release Notes |Other Updates]] ===
* Sticky melee introduced
* [[Well]]s and [[Fountain]]s can now be used with [[Empty Flask]]s

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=== New [[Creatures]] ===
{{Creature Class|Shadow
 | Small Shadow Child
}}

{{Creature Class|Target
 | Oak Target Drudge
 | Wood Target Drudge
}}

==== Updated Creatures ====
* New [[Drudge]] models
* New [[Golem]] models

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[[Category:Patch]]