Jump to content

Recommended Posts

  • 1 month later...

"

There is an old saying:

 

'Silence makes the heart grow fonder.' 

 

Like many such sayings, this one can be very misleading. So, we decided to break the silence: it didn't do us much good.

 

Now, a few members have been working on something the whole Dual Universe Community will benefit from, but I'm under oath not to reveal a thing, or I risk losing my position as the "Evil Spoilsport". 

 

Latest by June, you should be informed. 

 

Welcome to the Family, Epidemic. It's been wonderful having you with us, and your help within the Aether is much appreciated.

 

 

We wish all of you a good day.

 

Cheers.

"

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...

"

 

MfEV046.jpg

 

 

 

 

It has been a labour of love, it has. For weeks, a dedicated team worked tirelessly to achieve a goal. A goal not driven by the reward of money or the promise of fame; a goal unaltered by difficulties and undimmed by rumours. That goal, my friends, is Outpost Zebra.

 

This humble Outpost has no other purpose, but to spread the news of Dual Universe far and wide, to provide a platform for interaction between organisations and players alike. Consider it a home away from home, the figurative middle ground where parties on both sides of the spectrum meet to discuss events, share ideas, express opinions, promote their interests, find new friends…recruit new members.

 

In the words of Falstaf:

 

“Outpost Zebra is something I always wanted to do.”

 

 

Today, that idea has finally taken form. Aided by the ever ready help of ATMLVE, the skill of Epidemic, the expertise of Kael and the knowledge of Anonymous, and the quiet support from members of this Community, Falstaf’s dream of the platform for ideas and opinions to be shared has come true.

“Oz”, as we affectionately call it, is still in its infancy. It will mature in due time, and grow greater than many believe it can. However, for that to happen, Oz will need your patronage and your help.

 

Its goal is not to replace the Dual Universe Forums. No. That is neither our plan nor its purpose. Its goal is to complement the Forums, reach a wider audience, provide a place where conflicts are set aside and new ideas are birthed over jokes, galleries, articles, stories and media.

 

Outpost Zebra is a vantage point, looking over Dual Universe and bringing its best to you without the need to login and play. Hopefully, it will convince thousands that Dual Universe is a life worth living.

 

It’s online now – the Outpost is active.

 

 

Cheers. 

"

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The Trans Regional Aether Network For Connectivity and Enterprise 

(TRANCE)

 

 

1st2qlq.png

 

 

 

 

“And he took up his parable, and said, Jehuz the son of Nariel hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said: he hath said, which heard the words of God, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open: the hills shall yet be fruitful, and the valleys shall be filled. The Eastern City shall yet return to the owners in peace. The multitudes will once again walk the passages from the East and the ships shall again dock at the Ports, bringing the wealth of the lands from the East and the nourishment from the West into thy gates.”

 

The Waves of Kings 54: 10-13 

 

 

Rivers are the most important blood vessels of nature. For through them flows water: the essence of life. In every productive society and the greater economy, transportation is of burning importance.

In every war, logistics are as important as the weapons employed in the repelling or vanquishing of hostile forces.

In every successful company, logistics towers over many aspects of business.

 

In Dual Universe, a place with thousands of players, how much more important will the seemingly trivial luxury of transportation be? A single journey from one point to another, can make any player a wealthy one, or be the nail in the coffin for the unprepared victim.

 

Consider TRANCE the bridge over an impassable canyon. Or think of it as the blood vessels bringing life to dormant parts of the Universe. Visualise it as a power grid, illuminating unexplored areas, or regard it as the road to your success. TRANCE is all of these and much more, if only you will so much as gaze at it.

Star Gates are required for the overall success and welfare of the Dual Universe Community, especially as the known territories grow. Take into account the need for cooperation, the importance of the shifting dynamics of power and the necessity of easily accessible transport routes for medium and long distances.

 

Do not fret:

 

 

The Aether has decided to be the pioneering force behind the use and provision of stargates for the greater Dual Universe Community.   

 

 

 

 

What TRANCE Is.

 

TRANCE is one category of a larger group of services known within the Aether as LIGHT. Its primary purpose is to facilitate and simplify logistics in Dual Universe. Publicly accessible stargates, created and maintained by the Aether are for the good of Dual Universe. Complementary services are also available, but unlike the Stargate Network, these are not entities of their own and will be directly tied to the Aether.

 

 

 

 

What TRANCE is not.

 

It is not the Alpha and Omega of all Dual Universe transport systems. Stargates will be expensive to build, costly to protect and the system will be challenging to coordinate in its infancy. TRANCE will not get you thirty paces away from your start point – walk, sprint or use a craft for that. The purpose of TRANCE it to provide a dirt cheap way for people to travel over medium and long distances, reducing the risk and time spent in unstable or neutral territory.

 

TRANCE is not a plan hatched by Grand masters and occultists to take over your life and force you to do things you rather wouldn’t. TRANCE is not a government spying tool to gather information about your virtual transport tendencies and thus determine your real life patterns. Kindly get some help if you were thinking along that line.

 

Some might be sceptical about the idea of Stargate plans so early. For them we have this question: whose stargate system would you rather use: the one developed by a neutral organisation with plans long matured and an established clientele, or a system hurriedly set up by an organisation with questionable credibility and unstable plans?

 

 

TRANCE is owned and run by the Aether. 

 

 

Aether Eterna; 

 

Always and Forever 

 

 

RmXuL07.png

Link to comment
Share on other sites

That'll be a helpful system for sure. Good work

 

"Thank you very much Lord_Void. We certainly appreciate your support."

 

Looks good! If you guys ever need assistance with that program, just let BOO know. :)

 

"The Aether will be quite happy to have BOO's cooperation in advancing TRANCE. All sincere help offered by fellow organisations brings this project closer to reality.

 

 Cheers."

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

"

I wish you all a wonderful day.

 

The next Dual Universe Service the Aether will be providing will be made public soon. I'll release a hint or two, and the first person to guess the correct answer (non-Aether member, of course) will earn his organisation a guaranteed ad space on Outpost Zebra for two weeks - once there is an open space, that is. This service will be ready from week one if everything goes according to plan (which, let us be honest, almost never does).

 

Thank you all for your support within and without the Aether. Quite recently, a few events have shaken things up, but we're glad the Community has not turned out the worse for it. 

 

The Aether is still accepting new members, but the terms are somewhat strict. Repeatedly rejecting applications is not an enjoyable task, but we will not be making concessions in that regard.  

 

A few organisations have reached out to us concerning TRANCE and we are much encouraged by the help and support. We are still open to talks, advice and critique concerning the concept. 

 

Have a wonderful day. 

 

Cheers.

"

Link to comment
Share on other sites

"

The last of the Aether's Frozen in Time Arc is up and online. It's been a wonderful, new experience and a trying experiment in trying to determine what method of writing I enjoy. Needless to say, I will not be writing without planning in the future: it's irregular and inconvenient for me. The offer on guessing the next service expires tomorrow (Wednesday) and I'm glad to know we are that cryptic in the Aether! 

 

Stop by here to read up on the last chapter and discover the offer replacing the current one. Hopefully, it's easier to guess. 

 

I wish you all the best. 

 

Cheers.

 

"

Link to comment
Share on other sites

"

"Why should we fear, why should we tremble? 

Is this not folly and lack of faith?

Nations shall rise, kingdoms shall crumble. 

Why fear the curse, the ghost or the wraith?

Let them live and survive through the dearth

And defy warning, curse and omen!

Their fruit you will destroy from the earth, 

And their seed from among the children of men. 

But as for us, be our sword and our shield.

We are yours even when we are killed."  

 

--Text discovered in the forsaken crypts of Alamut.

 

 

 

The Aether welcomes Epidemic and Lithorkain to the fold. 

We also welcome Tatsunobu, Brucie22 and Devious_T who have not received an official welcome until now. 

 

 

Aether Eterna; 

Always and Forever.

 

"

Link to comment
Share on other sites

"

Hidden in a puzzle is the next service the Aether will be offering. Can you take a guess?

tOg7OFgh.jpg

 

 

Cheers. 

 

Done from scratch in Illustrator and Photoshop. 

Property of the Aether. All Rights Blown Up.

 

"

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 months later...

"It has been a while, and we have made some changes to how the organisation works, its goals and objectives. The recent tests have given an insight, but much more prominent, are the shifting dynamics and unfurling events in the Great Game. A refinement of goals is necessary to remain valid and competitive in Dual Universe.

 

While the changes certainly are rough around the edges, they will be much more clear as the game matures. 

 

Once again, cheers.

"

Link to comment
Share on other sites

"

As part of the many steps this organisation has taken since its inception more than a year ago, we have finally narrowed our goals and vision to suit realism. Many of you are already aware of a few of the recent changes: the first of them was the rebranding from The Aether to the Heimera Trade Xchange. The name itself was not easy to come by, and the amount of stress the search for a single unique name can birth is not something a select few are willing to go through again...for the foreseeable future.

 

Secondly, the decision to join the Band of Outlaws (BOO) as a Special Interest Group (SIG) was more of a strategic decision than one made out of pure emotion. For a very long while, BOO has proven itself to be a stable and dynamic group. We have seen the recent changes in organisations, and drama - as always - has never been in short supply. Troublesome as they may be, we have known a substantial number of their members on an individual level - and they have proven themselves capable of quietly handling as much trouble as they loudly cause. In recent months, BOO has taken a more 'mature' turn even as they touch up their image as a gaming community, not mere pirates. We are immensely proud of our decision to join BOO and look towards a future of great gameplay, not only within the alliance but with the rest of Dual Universe. 

 

Thirdly, we have changed our logo. We are very fond of the hexagons, that for a long while, were synonymous with the Aether via artworks and lore, but we have found that it is not fitting with the new image and aligned goals of the organisation. The hexagons are expected to surface from time to time in artworks and future lore. We might no longer be Aether purely in name, but we are still Aether within. 

 

Certain members of the Dual Universe Community have expressed their concerns about the impact of our 'supposed' neutrality within an alliance like BOO. To be clear once and for all, 'neutrality' will do no one any good when their lands and houses are being ransacked by the enemy. We have seen Dual Universe mature with time and with that, the concept of neutrality without a big stick has become quite laughable. For us, we will operate by our means, and avoid trouble wherever we see it. At the same time, we will give our all to having a capable and true deterrent - with or without BOO. 

 

TRANCE will remain neutral, as long as we can keep it so. We have received various expressions of good gesture and support from various organisations, all of which we are thankful for. However, stargates are still a long way off from being a major concern for any organisation keeping its internal capability and strategic environment in view. While we continue to add a little bit here and there to our concept of the stargates, we are open to working with credible and mature organisations to make TRANCE what it what meant to be: a tool for the Community. 

 

Heimera Trade Xchange (HTX) is also on very friendly terms with ODY, and we hope to make an announcement by the weekend. 

 

 

Cheers, all.

"

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...

nYfBKgm.png 

 

"Here's a little artwork from the HTX. We are neither nice nor cruel. We are opportunists, whether in the market or in combat; in taking lives or in saving them.

So, what will it be, dear traveller?

 

 

Spirits, Lavender or Onyx

 

Take that Step."

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 4 weeks later...

SMHgr2o.png 

"Another poster from the HTX.

Giving is a part of humanity, and the HTX will give - freely. To all who seek something, there will be something to receive.

You wonder whether you have a right to refuse? Yes, you may refuse... and we may refuse your refusal.

 

So, dear wanderer, what will it be?

 

 

Spirits, Lavender or Onyx

 

Take that Step."

Link to comment
Share on other sites

4ePpSan.png

"The third poster from the HTX.

The food chain is an eternal truth. What happens when the predator's world of balance is altered? What happens when an anomaly becomes the new reality? We won't stop you from running, because you can't outrun the supernatural. The dead ride fast, indeed. 

 

So, dear traveller, what will be your choice when the Wraiths and Factors come a-calling?

 

 

Spirits, Lavender or Onyx

 

Take that Step."

"

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...