Editing Announcements - Asheron's Call Beta (section)

== October 1999 ==
=== Fire in the Sky Recap ===

{{Microsoft Zone
 |  Link = <nowiki>http://www.zone.com/asheronscall/news/ASHEtheend.asp</nowiki>
 |  Date = October 25, 1999
 | Title = The Fire in the Sky
 |  Text =

A comet appeared over Dereth last week, clouds raced across a smoky sky, and wanderers discovered devastation in and around many of the major towns, most notably Shoushi, which remained only as scattered wreckage surrounding a large, glowing crater. In Glenden Wood, a volcano had erupted, igniting nearby buildings. Soon after, reports flowed from the Direlands that ghostly elementals of living flame stalked the waste, in the company of magma golems. In the following days, decayed parchment copies of an ancient manuscript blew across the countryside, and canny adventurers began to gather and collate them, deciphering an unsettling prophecy. Fire elementals began increasingly to appear in the settled lands, until, late on Saturday, they poured in a torrent from the skies, attacking everyone they met. Citizens of Dereth rallied to oppose them. Eventually, the tide of fire abated, to be replaced by a hail of black stones. Enigmatic collectors appeared, with whom adventurers could redeem certain stones for powerful magical artifacts. Some sages believed that the collectors tried to work with the stones to somehow forestall the ultimate cataclysm. If so, they failed. Oblivion at last descended on Dereth. However, the brave deeds that went before were not in vain. As the cycle begins again, heroes will recall them in dreams; they will enter the mythology of a vital new world, and inspire even more stirring adventures in the bright years ahead.

:[[Announcements - Asheron's Call Beta#Fire in the Sky Recap - Screenshots|<font color=#FFFFCC><u>Screenshots of the Fire in the Sky</u></font>]]
:[[Announcements - Asheron's Call Beta#Fire in the Sky Prophecy Contest|<font color=#FFFFCC><u>Prophecy Contest</u></font>]]
'''Coverage on Other Sites'''
:Thresh's Firing Squad
:The Valor Knights
}}

=== Fire in the Sky Recap - Screenshots ===

{{Microsoft Zone
 |  Link = <nowiki>http://www.zone.com/asheronscall/news/ASHEnewsfirewinner.asp</nowiki>
 |  Date = End of the Asheron's Call Beta: October 22–24, 1999
 | Title = Screenshots of the "Fire in the Sky Event
 |  Text =

'''Shoushi, Before and After'''

{{{!}}border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=15
{{!}}align=left bgcolor=#000033{{!}}[[Image:fireskybefore.jpg|100px]]
{{!}}align=left bgcolor=#000033{{!}}[[Image:fireskyafter.jpg|100px]]
{{!}}-
{{!}}align=left bgcolor=#000033{{!}}[[Image:firesky02before.jpg|100px]]
{{!}}align=left bgcolor=#000033{{!}}[[Image:firesky02after.jpg|100px]]
{{!}}}

'''Glenden Wood, Before and After'''

{{{!}}border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=15
{{!}}align=left bgcolor=#000033{{!}}[[Image:firesky03before.jpg|100px]]
{{!}}align=left bgcolor=#000033{{!}}[[Image:firesky03after.jpg|100px]]
{{!}}}

'''Yaraq, Before and After'''

{{{!}}border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=15
{{!}}align=left bgcolor=#000033{{!}}[[Image:firesky04before.jpg|100px]]
{{!}}align=left bgcolor=#000033{{!}}[[Image:firesky04after.jpg|100px]]
{{!}}}

'''Elsewhere . . .'''

{{{!}}border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=15
{{!}}align=left bgcolor=#000033{{!}}[[Image:firesky05.jpg|100px]]<font color=#CC9900>'''The Bridge Near Shoushi'''</font>
{{!}}-
{{!}}align=left bgcolor=#000033{{!}}[[Image:firesky06.jpg|100px]]<font color=#CC9900>'''The Direlands -- Elementals Regard Their Parent Star '''</font>
{{!}}}
}}

=== Fire in the Sky Prophecy Contest ===

{{Microsoft Zone
 |  Link = <nowiki>http://www.zone.com/asheronscall/news/ASHEnewsfirewinner.asp</nowiki>
 |  Date =
 | Title = The Lost Prophecy Restored!
 |  Text =

Congratulations to the intrepid band led by Saffron Dusk (Caeryn Dryad, Sol the Wanderer, Alun Magus, Aliciana, and DeLT), who were the first to gather the damaged copies of the Fire in the Sky prophecy and assemble the following message:

<nowiki>* * *</nowiki>

<b>In the midst of a terrible fever I had this dream. For four days and nights I sweltered, even as the chill wind scoured my sickbed, and visions appeared before me. As I burned, I saw the same befall the world.
<br><br>There shall come a time of flame and woe unto the land. There shall be no harbinger of this suffering, no warning that we may escape. We have grown prideful, drawing power from the Earth's bones without thought, and for this she will be avenged.
<br><br>The Earth shall be in turmoil, with great wounds rent in her flesh, and her blood shall burn like brimstone. Mountains of fire will awaken, and the fruited fields shall blacken. A crimson eye shall open amid the welkin and look down upon the ravaged ground. This bloody Witness shall be wroth to see the pain pent in the Earth, and its tears shall fall burning upon the land, bringing cleansing flame.
<br><br>But the tears of the Witness shall not be as mortals shed: they shall live, and knowing the wrath of he who gave them birth, shall spread despair upon the earth. Their forms shall be those of men, and their might shall grow with the passing of days. They shall brook no thoughts of pity, but shall know only slaughter, and no woman nor man may enter their sight and not feel their rage. And still they will come, for many terrible nights and days.
<br><br>When finally the Witness's grief is fully spent, its tears shall fall no more, and dark stones shall rain down in their place. In my dream, men laid hands on these stones, crafting magical wonders from them. Yet they shall be chary to use them, lest the Witness weep again.</b>

<nowiki>* * *</nowiki>

Many sages from across Dereth labored long and hard to compose this message. Alas, there could be only one winner. However, an honorable mention, at least, is due the following adventurers, who also completed the entire text:<br><br>
{{{!}}border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width=400px
{{!}}align=left bgcolor=#000033{{!}}<font color=#CC9900>The team of Jin Lee, Molarman, and Xipher</font>
{{!}}align=left bgcolor=#000033{{!}}<font color=#CC9900>Aranac Greyblood</font>
{{!}}-
{{!}}align=left bgcolor=#000033{{!}}<font color=#CC9900>Rwild</font>
{{!}}align=left bgcolor=#000033{{!}}<font color=#CC9900>Jedismj</font>
{{!}}-
{{!}}align=left bgcolor=#000033{{!}}<font color=#CC9900>Sokharis</font>
{{!}}align=left bgcolor=#000033{{!}}<font color=#CC9900>PAKRAT</font>
{{!}}-
{{!}}align=left bgcolor=#000033{{!}}<font color=#CC9900>Onicus Battleblade</font>
{{!}}align=left bgcolor=#000033{{!}}<font color=#CC9900>Kawaii</font>
{{!}}-
{{!}}align=left bgcolor=#000033{{!}}<font color=#CC9900>Mynex II</font>
{{!}}align=left bgcolor=#000033{{!}}<font color=#CC9900>Ba-Thonga</font>
{{!}}-
{{!}}align=left bgcolor=#000033{{!}}<font color=#CC9900>Knight Who Says Ni</font>
{{!}}align=left bgcolor=#000033{{!}}<font color=#CC9900>Lord Soth</font>
{{!}}-
{{!}}align=left bgcolor=#000033{{!}}<font color=#CC9900>Atari</font>
{{!}}align=left bgcolor=#000033{{!}}<font color=#CC9900>Ghaleon Magus</font>
{{!}}}
}}

=== turbinegames.com/ac/ Image Gallery ===
''Original Link  - <nowiki>http://www.turbinegames.com/ac/</nowiki>

<div style="background-color:#; border:2px solid #C0C0C0;width:80%;padding:30px;margin-bottom:20px;margin-left:5%;margin-right:10%;">
<big>The Disco:</big>
<gallery widths=150px heights=150px perrow=3>
Image:Turbinegames full disco.gif|Ladies and gentlemen... TheTurbinites!
</gallery>

<big>Devastation in Shoushi:</big>
<gallery widths=150px heights=150px perrow=3>
Image:Turbinegames full lainelevelsupto13.jpg|Laine Levels Up
Image:Turbinegames full shoushigone2.jpg|Shoushi Looks Wrong
Image:Turbinegames full shoushicrater.jpg|Shoushi Is No More!
Image:Turbinegames full shoushiinflames.jpg|My Aunt Lived in Shoushi!!! *cry*
</gallery>

<big>Flammas and Flares Invade!</big>
<gallery widths=150px heights=150px perrow=3>
Image:Turbinegames full flammasencroach.jpg|Flammas Encroach
Image:Turbinegames full flaresattack.jpg|Flares Attack
Image:Turbinegames full flammasprevail.jpg|Flammas Prevail
Image:Turbinegames full flareinthedires.jpg|Flare in the Direlands
</gallery>

<big>The End of Days:</big>
<gallery widths=150px heights=150px perrow=3>
Image:Turbinegames full discoentrance.jpg|Outside the Disco
Image:Turbinegames full dancehall.jpg|Party like it's 1999
Image:Turbinegames full glendenwoodvolcano.jpg|Glenden Wood Volcano
Image:Turbinegames full shoushiruins.jpg|Shoushi in Ruin
</gallery>

<big>More Screen shots of the Apocalyptic End of Beta:</big>
<br><small>Posted October 25, 1999</small>
<gallery widths=150px heights=150px perrow=3>
Image:Turbinegames thmb Arwic.jpg|Flares Swarm Arwic
Image:Turbinegames thmb Qalabar1.jpg|Qalaba'r Is Invaded
Image:Turbinegames full Tethana27.jpg|Fort Tethana is Under Siege
Image:Turbinegames full Tethana03.jpg|Flares Assault the Fort Tethana Pub
Image:Turbinegames full Tethana20.jpg|The Valiant Humans Fight Back
Image:Turbinegames full Tethana23.jpg|The Humans Have Won the Day
</gallery>
</div>