I hit the Dires for a bit to make some more cash. I sell to Yoshi
Deshi, and then go to the weaponsmith for trade notes. I see a round
shield AL 96, and pick it up. Surely someone can use it.

I recall back to Nanto, and hit the portal to Mayoi. I hear Kane,
God Son, and another talking. Not sure who these cats are, I start
running as soon as I appear, and God son starts hitting me with
lightning. I'm not ready for this, so I start to recall.

(I didn't get the chat log, and you'll see why in a minute)

I Shurov Thiguz, and he's hitting me for 4's and 5's with lightning.
Then Armor V wears off and he's hitting me for 19, 20, 19, just as I
disappear.

Close one.

I heal and try to cast Life Mastery.

Missing a comp... Rowan Talisman. Argh.

Run to the Nanto mage tower, and buy a few. I also do a quick
inventory to make sure nothing else is low.

Nope. Good to go.

I do a quick Life Buff, Armor V, Lightning Prot V, and hit the
portal. No one's there. Good.

I hit the town and see an archer who was with Kane.

I act like I'm afraid and run past him... He takes the bait. He
chases, and nails me in the back for 20 piercing.

I turn, and cast Piercing Prot V. he hits me again for 10 this
time. Much better.

I do a quick heal and start pursuing. I light him up with Fire
Vuln. He shoots and misses due to slide casting.

I chase and get a quick drain off. Less than 20 health. Hmm. Must
not have much.

He stops to fire, and so do I. I launch a quick Flame Bolt IV at
him, and he turns to run when he sees the spell words.

He runs a circle around me, and I rotate as the spell charges.

Nail him for 70 or so, and he's gone for good.

As I contemplate chasing him, God Son is back on me, this time
attacking with Fire.

No time to vuln, and I'm a bit low on stam, and mana.

I fumble for a second going out of combat, putting away my staff,
going back into combat, re-arming my staff, and I'm quickly down to
half. I hit a couple drains, and I'm better, and God Son's not. I'm
not at full, but I'm not hurting as badly. I drain stamina and do a
quick stamina to health.

Even better now.

I hit one more drain, then charge up.

Flame Bolt IV. He tries to disengage.

Bang!

Dead fighter.

I quickly loot, heal, and recharge mana.

I am looking around and see that this level 2 vassal is one of the
archers vassals. I talk to him and he starts to run. I whip out
hollow staff of robed beating and chase. I see Kage running toward
me. I will not be denied...

We pass Kage before he realizes what's going on.

Then Kage lights me up with Blade Vuln V.

New guy runs towards the meeting hall...

My computer locks up.

That's right.

I think it's lag for a second. My screen is sitting there doing
nothing.

Then it dawns on me.

I'm going to die.

I move the mouse.

Nothing.

Ctrl-Alt-Del

Nothing.

*^&#!

I hit the reset button, and reboot.

My machine is pretty fast, and I'm back up in less than a minute. I
have almost no extra crap on my computer so I can boot fast when I
need to. No Norton Utilities, no ICQ, no Instant Messager, just a
virus checker. No background picture, just a plain blue background.

But it won't matter. How long does it take to kill a lagged out
mage? Not long. Especially when he's not draining you.

My computer starts up and I log into my server. I hit the AC icon on
my startbar, and I'm back in. Log into Zone, hit DT, and finally get
to the character screen.

Click enter as Dhali is already selected...

Screen stops for a second.

Then goes as I start the tunnel ride.

I know I'll see myself on top of Nanto lifestone.

Things start popping up.

My quick keys - Matty coat, leggings, staffs, etc.

Inventory starts coming in.

I'm not paying much attention to that.

My eyes are glued at the top right corner of the screen. I'm looking
for the red and gold star of vitae.

Where is it? I know it's going to be there.

More things populate. My persona, and his funny leather basinet.

My packs, etc.

A blue star pops up in the top right, as does a green chain
representing lag.

Where's the red star?

I start to appear, but I'm not on the lifestone.

I'm not on the lifestone?

How can I not be on the lifestone?

I fully materialize and look around.

Where the hell am I?

I pull up my map and I'm about 7 clicks from town.

What the heck?

/tell kage, What happened? My computer locked...

Kage tells you "Couldn't catch you. Had weakness V on me from
previous guy"

Hallelujah!

I'm still alive. How about them apples?

I tell Kage what happened, and we laugh a bit. He finds his way back
to Yanshi (got lost chasing me) and I tell him "Until next time."

What a great end to the night.

Monty