Sometimes the best things happen in IRC. Take what just happened. I log in as stealther chum, only to have Verchiel recall in next to me at West Britain Bank. He doesn't seem to notice me going through his belongings. And what do we have but an accurate katana of power. That will go nicely on my vendor when I reopen! From Verchiel's bag to my vendor, as the man says.
I ponder how much such an item is worth in IRC:
01[18:08] <chumbucket> ooh how much is a power kat going for these days?
[18:08] <Verchiel> 02chuj
[18:08] <Verchiel> 02chum can i have that back
[18:08] <hemperor> 1 billion
[18:08] <Verchiel> 02damnt
01[18:08] <chumbucket> lol
[18:08] <hemperor> chum would normally return it,
[18:09] <hemperor> but since you are typing in blue bold font
[18:09] <Verchiel> 02hehe
[18:09] <hemperor> he won't
So far, all is normal. He's acting in a reasonable manner, but I don't intend to return what I steal. I steal it because I want it. And Hemperor is right: That blue font, which you don't see here, was killing me. [That also explains the odd characters that come from cutting and pasting from my chat logs.]
[18:09] <Verchiel> 02hey
[18:09] <Verchiel> 02chum
[18:10] <Verchiel> 02can i get my katana back
[18:10] <Verchiel> 02that was truly unfortunate
1[18:10] <chumbucket> i dunno
1[18:10] <chumbucket> i should like to sell it
[18:10] <Verchiel> 02cmon now
[18:10] <Verchiel> 02fuk it keep it
[18:10] <Verchiel> 02lol
[18:10] <Verchiel> 02not that big of a deal
And now he is really taking the right sort of view of the matter. After all, what is a katana of power in the grand scheme of life? Even the grand scheme of UO life?
But only a few minutes pass before he changes his tone:
[18:14] <Verchiel> 02fuk this who wants my account ?
That was a sudden shift. While I have no explanation for his sudden change in attitude, I have even less of an explanation of what he says next:
[18:15] <Verchiel> 02hey can you get spell damage in town now
[18:15] <Verchiel> 02?"
[18:15] <Verchiel> 02??\
My only thought is that, rather than giving up his accounts, he is now planning an attack in some vain hope of my not having banked his katana. Of course, the first rule of stealing is BANK THE LOOT. I had put it away long ago.
At this point, a second young brigand enters the scene going by the name 'Alek'. I don't see what is happening immediately, but I gather he is giving Verchiel the same routine I do. During this time I chased CmAN away from the bank after he rather ineptly attempted the grey at the bank routine. I return to IRC:
[18:19] <Verchiel> 02chum
[18:19] <Verchiel> 02you alek ?
[18:19] <Verchiel> 02hey you going to give back my shit ?
01[18:19] <chumbucket> CMAN: Don't run away! Let's play.
01[18:20] <chumbucket> Verchiel: No and No.
I notice Alek fighting Verchiel and just have to join in. I manage to steal his GM made katana. In the bank it goes. Verchiel recalls to the bank roof, and the taunts begin.
Alek: How are you today?
Verchiel: yoru are just a dumb blue gum nigger
chumbucket: My gums are not blue!
Now I have never heard this expression about gums before, but its intent is apparent. For shame. And he's up on that bank, where we poor, magery-less thieves can't follow. Except, of course, stealther chum is a mage. The gate goes up. Alek and I go in. The beatdown commences. Verchiel recalls away, but the action continues in IRC!
18:25] <Verchiel> 02your dumb lol
[18:26] <Verchiel> 02hey chum , good night blue gum
01[18:26] <chumbucket> I can't say I have evr have heard that, even though I am black.
[18:26] <hemperor> not worth your blue disease of a font
[18:27] <Verchiel> 02i wouldnt make you give the katana back i dont want to put you in more of a repression
[18:27] <Verchiel> 02that what your already in
01[18:27] <chumbucket> I hate being in repressions.
[18:27] <hemperor>

[18:27] <Verchiel> 02plus i pay enough of my time and money to your welfare, so im not gonna spend my off time explaining to a porch moneky
01[18:28] <chumbucket> A repression, if you're wondering, is when you get depressed about a recession.
[18:28] <Verchiel> 02Peace !
02[18:28] * Verchiel (~[email protected]) Quit (Quit: UoSecondAge.com Website Java user signed off)
I only hope that we can avoid another Great Repression.