Hot Summer Nights 2002

06/14/02||Honest Merchant or Swindler?|| After much inquisition and pestering of relatives and "close" friends, a comprehensive and eye-opening piece of work has been written about our own pawnshop dealer, Kilron! Delve into his mysterious past, and find out more about this pillar of Wehnimer's economy: Is he an honest merchant or a swindler, is there really that much difference between the two anyway?! You decide! Read all about it here! 06/20/02 PLATINUM: DROPPAGE/AREA UNLOAD RESOLUTIONS Changes were recently implemented in how the game handles areas unloading and the resulting problems with items left on the ground after a character death. The modifications do not protect items from the janitor, but in the event of disconnection or decay, the areas should not unload in an inappropriate amount of time. Additionally, bards will now be able to loresing to items dropped at death to determine who last held them.

On the last weekend in Lumnia, the Illistim hold a festival in Lumnis' honor. At the same time, the city's central library releases any new historical tomes written and compiled by the Illistim scholars as well as any historical works uncovered and restored.

Festival activities include the Baerl Mystiaem (a masked costume ball held in a moonlit meadow outside Ta'Illistim, where participants often make games of unmasking one another), and the Cere oen Deiama (Ceremony of Dawning), where the city's scholars formally announce the list of tomes added to the Library Aies.

Date of Release	Release Name	Release Info
05/30/02	New Magic Preparation Messaging for Each Spell Circle	The Council of Guilds have heard replies about current spell casting methods being too confusing, and too hard to recognize distinct patterns between the Spell Circles. Through long research, the Guild Leaders have finally discovered a way to differentiate between the Spell Circles by redesigning the initial gesture of a spell, and adding uniqueness to each Circle. "Henceforth, all spell preparations shall be based upon its Circle, and the Guild Leaders have also noted that there will be a slight difference between the way violent and non-violent spells are to be prepared."
05/30/02	Expanded Profession Titles	The Council of Guilds has heard the various pleas and proposals from its membership on the lack of ranking titles for its members, and thus hereby decrees: "Henceforth, let it be known that all Profession Guilds may establish a wider-range naming system for its membership, for those members who reach a specific level within the guild."
05/30/02	Merchants Arrive in Wehnimer's Landing	In celebration of the Landing's survival of the last great battle, and in thanks to those many citizens who contributed time and effort to rebuild the town, the merchants of Elanthia have gathered along the Coastal Cliffs.
05/30/02	Cultural Group Selection	The Great Library of Illistim is in the process of tracing the lineage of various cultures, and seeks help from willing participants of Elanith. They have established a grant to all local governments in order to allow citizens to register their cultural lineage. For those who wish to participate, and register your linage with the Great Library, please seek out your local lineage TITLE clerk.
06/01/02	New Area Discovered!	Hearing rumors of treasure unearthed by a recent earthquake in the general area, a purportedly drunken Crugrut lead adventurers and workcrew alike toward the Underground Ruins in the coastal cliffs near Wehnimer's Landing. Digging around, the ragtag band unearthed a new series of chambers deeper underneath the general ruins. Rumors were confirmed when numerous artifacts were taken from the site, and whispers of creatures prowling inside have also reached our ears! Tread carefully if you should explore these caverns!
06/13/02	Warrior Guild Announcement	The Warriors Guild Guildmasters have heard the pleas of their members and have revised their training regimen to include new techniques for teaching feint. Henceforth, diligent warriors should find that their feints are more effective - particularly those warriors who have trained more than 50 times.
06/13/02	Zul Logoth Party	In celebration of their new development, the dwarves of Zul Lugoth have announced they'll throw a party! And what dwarven party isn't without copious amounts of drinking and gambling? The world-reknowned games such as the Conquest Wheel, Pennant Chase, and the ever-popular Dragon Bones will be setup in the caverns, and they invite you to try your luck and your skill and tour the town in the process! Check the calendar for exact times on these events, and remember many a dwarf's motto: Drink, drink, drink!
06/14/02	Zul Logoth Grows!	The dwarves of the settlement of Zul Lugoth are pleased to announce that their hard work on some facets of the town have been completed! They've hired a dutiful clerk that will keep track of all your items should you wish to register them, and have also built a weapons shop for all your destructive needs! Overjoyed by the new improvements, the wandering miner and sweeper are said to be a bit more chatty than they were previously? Are cultural boundaries being broken down? The only way to find out is to go there and see! So, go there! And see!
06/14/02	VERBALLY Correct Story!	We're pleased to share this humorous little story with our readers, which we encourage you to read over very carefully, there are 10 little secrets inside! Wanting to attend the recent Ale Festival, Shivara dusted off her new dress. Puzzled that the dress just wouldn't get clean, she began to sulk, squirming and wobbling as she sobbed. Gathering her spirits, she went off to her seamstress, and promptly began to grovel for her talents on such short notice. The seamstress, who had just gobbled down her dinner, expressed her concern for Shivara's predicament. The seamstress knew her material, though, and took a flask of oil, lightly sprinkling it over the garment. Shivara nearly warbled with joy, for she could now go to the festival! And on the very next morning, that's precisely what she did, where she was welcomed by the hooting of drunken dwarves! Scoffing, she turned on her heels and made a swift exit, determined to shun the dwarves evermore! And the moral of the story is: Dresses are evil!
06/20/02	SOLHAVEN IMPROVEMENTS	Solhaven saw the following improvements: Sea Troll's Kitchen, Great House Locker Annexes, new inventory in Slim Jhym's lockpick shop, Public Baths, Cleric's Shop, and Phoen's Temple.
06/20/02	MERCANTYLERS' GUILD ANNOUNCEMENT	The Mercantylers' Guild of Solhaven is proud to announce the opening of the Sea Troll's Kitchen on the North Market Pier and is sponsoring a Seafood Festival to mark the occasion and the opening of other town improvements!
06/20/02	KAHLYR'S DILEMMA	The owner of Kahlyr's Precious Gems in Solhaven reports that a recent shipment to her establishment has been lost! Kahlyr requests that citizens of Solhaven be on the lookout for her lost REAL GEMS, and she offers her thanks to any that can recover them. Hidden in the lands in and around all of the cities are gems which you can find and turn in for "REAL" precious stones with the same name. Participation is easy. All you have to do is keep a sharp eye out searching everywhere you can. Real gems *will* be found. Maybe the next one by you. Note: Free accounts, employees of Simutronics, and relatives of Simutronics employees are not eligible. You may only find a maximum of one gem every six months. When you find a "real" gem, you will be given instructions on how to exchange it. Follow these instructions precisely. If you have any questions after you find a gem, please do an ASSIST and a Gamemaster will help you with the proper information.
06/21/02	NEW HERB AND FORAGING SYSTEM	The new herb and foraging system includes the following new features: Expanded selection of flora. Total of over 100 types of items at release. Climate and terrain factor in more realistically when foraging. Some types of plants may only be found in specific areas. Time of day now plays a role. Some species of plants may only thrive in the dark of night, and some may only be found while the sun shines. Locations become more important. A particular plant might only be found in areas sheltered from the elements, such as caves, tunnels, etc., while others may crave the open outdoors. More informative messaging. Messaging will be of more assistance when you don't find what you are looking for. Balanced and updated mechanics. The new foraging system takes advantage of many of GemStone IV's newer programming feature.
06/27/02	THE FESTIVAL OF LUMNIS	In the month named for the Arkati Lumnis, the elves celebrate in her honor. While all elves prize knowledge and illumination, the Illistim, with their devotion to the task of discovering and documenting all knowledge, hold this holiday in highest regard.
06/27/02	BARDS SING LONGER/BETTER THAN EVER BEFORE!	The Bard Guild would like to announce a few tremendous advances in the art and science of spellsinging. Spellsong duration is no longer capped at six minutes, nor is it based solely on level of training. The singer's vital statistics come into play, and elder bards should see a significant improvement. The multi-song mana penalty has been revised. Based now on song training and statistics, the penalty for singing several songs at once will be easier for all bards to bear. Songs lost due to temporary incapacitation can now be renewed by those who are able to come to their senses quickly enough.
06/27/02 - 06/29/02	ELVEN NATIONS IMPROVEMENTS	Ta'Illistim residents may enjoy the following improvements to their town: a hat shop, a bridal wear shop, a new pub, an amphitheater and a new observatory. Additionally Sylverraend saw a couple minor improvements (including a trash bin and additional earthnodes.)
06/27/02	NEW HISTORICAL TOMES ADDED TO THE LIBRARY AIES!	The Keepers of the Chronicles are pleased to announce the addition of several new tomes to the Library Aies! Our scholars have just finished recopying texts about the Faendryl (the Faendryl Empire), our Art (the Evolution of Elven Art), the Flora of our beautiful Elanith (Elanthian Flora), and the Arkati Eorgina and Lumnis (The History of Lumnis, the History of Eorgina) into new volumes. Visit the Library Aies in Ta'Illistim, and learn more of the past! ---- Sir Aeriadrn Ghaeriden, Seneschal to Her Highness Queen Myasara Illistim
06/28/02	PLATINUM: TA'VAALOR TICKET SELLER	Ever been stuck on the otherside of the DragonSpine Mountains without a portal ticket? Decayed due to a hunting "accident" (yes, your armor was in your cloak, it's ok to admit it)? Feel like it's going to be a longer day than expected? Fear not! The illustrious Chronomage Tiazani in his infinite wisdom decided a new revenue center was needed and opened a ticket seller under the city of Ta'Vaalor. He hopes you will make use of it well, and do remember, it does belong to the chronomages.
06/29/02	PLATINUM: Cobbling Warehouse Opens!	A new warehouse has opened in the Landing on the South Ring Road that offers tools and goods to be used by those interested in the grand and revered skill of cobbling! Yes, you too can now create footwear for both friends and enemies (depending on how much skill you have, of course). This opportunity will soon be available for all to enjoy, so for more information (and to follow the passionate discussions about to ensue) please check out the general GemStone IV forum under AG Skills/Cobbling. Enjoy!!
9/30/02	Solhaven Hunting Areas	Two new hunting areas, the Ruined Village and the Outlands, were released in Solhaven last night, complete with new creatures. dobrem crested basilisk raider orcs Bresnahanin rolton Jantalarian knight Jantalarian marauder Jantalarian pikeman Jantalarian footsoldier Jantalarian regular
10/1/02	WARSALUTE	Hot Summer Nights continues with the release of Warsalute! Warriors, have you ever wanted to do a different salute? Feeling chivalrous or maybe a bit barbaric? Warsalute is the answer you seek. Just type WARSALUTE for usage in game.