The Land's Speed Record:
Mapping The Swamp

There are many puzzles in The Land; some of which take a few moments to triumph over, others much longer. The Swamp is one of these longer, more tricky types. I've seen some players spending over an hour trying to grapple with it. I'm pretty sure that many players don't even realise that the treacherous swamp found to the south of the rapids is even a puzzle, let alone what form it takes or why they should solve it. Almost certainly the trickiest aspect of the swamp is that the puzzle - a maze - changes every reset. It's not as simple as other of The Land's mazes (such as the graveyard or scriptorium) which, once you've managed to map them, you can nip through in no time. The Land's methane-stinking maze has to be mapped time and time again.

You'll have to ask around among your fellow players if you'd like to know what makes mapping the swamp so worthwhile (yes, there is a pretty obvious clue on this page!). Despite the rather magnificent prize that is had, having made a successful reconnoitre, mapping the swamp does seem to be a long lost art. I therefore offer a reward to encourage all mortals to study the swamp and learn the necessary knowledge to get to the bottom (or more appropriately, the centre) of the puzzle. To claim the reward you must map the swamp faster than any other player (or team of players) has so far managed.

Record Holders

The Reward

*look
Treasure vault.
You are standing in an enormous, dimly lit vault. Its arched ceiling reaches
away far, far above you and while you can pick out many pillars supporting
this magnificent architectural edifice you can not identify any walls that
might place physical bounds on the size of the locale. Glaring at you, a
macabre bronze death mask catches your eye. A fragile-looking ceremonial
sword, its hilt decorated with many beautiful gems, rests within grasp. A
drinking vessel fashioned from horn, its brim of gold, is set a few feet from
you. Sparkling in the light, a large rare blue diamond lies here. A rare blue
diamond glitters within reach. Not far from you, an enormous ruby has been
carelessly dropped. You notice a fine jade statuette at your feet.
*val t
The value of the jade statuette is 1,406pts.
The value of the ruby3 is 1,317pts.
The value of the blue diamond50 is 1,361pts.
The value of the large blue diamond51 is 1,478pts.
The value of the drinking vessel is 1,443pts.
The value of the ceremonial sword is 1,480pts.
The value of the death mask is 1,480pts.
*

Each time the previous record is broken (by mapping the swamp faster than ever before) the new record holders are each allowed to select two or three pieces of treasure from this staggeringly valuable hoard. Naturally, the reward is in addition to laying your hands on the swamp's own magnificent prize.

To ensure all attempts on the record are fair and made equally, the following rules must apply:

1. Neither member of the mortal pair making the attempt may have prior knowledge of the particular route to the centre of the swamp that reset.
2. Neither the woodnymph's gift, nor Admiral Bombow's compass, nor the skeletal hands, nor any other external assistance may be used to find the path.
3. A wiz must officiate to provide the timing and oversee the attempt; if the wizzes are too busy to help you, then MUDmail me on mud2.com me and we'll find a time I can provide this service.
4. The time will be taken from the moment the mortal pair start mapping the swamp to the moment one of the mortal pair swamp's the crown.
5. The rewards are only available to MUD2 players at mud2.com.

Good luck, and watch out for the banshee...

This web page maintained by Tobias ----*
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All copyright material reproduced with permission.
Page last modified: 10, June 1998.