Zaphod, of the louder war-cry

Zaphod             Born: 28-OCT-1989

Zaphod is a citizen of Mercinae.

Zaphod holds Grand-Master and Elder ranks in the Alchemists Guild.

   The most ancient mortal in Avalon, the first newborn in the land, [world record; added 2015:] and the oldest player-character in any online game (continuous existence in current form since 1989). Zaphod was the first mortal of the modern epoch to wield a weapon, the first to use a forge, first "player" to make an item and to thereafter own it as equipment. [These were the first objects created by a player of an online multi-player game, in the world; before the net and before MMOs and MMORPGs and when these games were called MUGs!]

   Zaphod was one of the original profession leaders and was an early recipient of an artifact: the battleaxe of Zaphod remains in Avalon to this day as one of the oldest artifacts player-made, player-owned, in the online multiverse. Some of Zaphod's contemporaries have not survived the interceding centuries but Zaphod contributed the palace of King Thandrades as it is today and parts of the Knights Guild. The "Garderobe" location with its godly name ZAPBOG is considered his final flourish as regards creative contribution to Avalon's permanent map.

   Zaphod began life as a Warrior (the precursor class later renamed as the Knight) and was one of the first to attain Legendary skill rank in the development of his Warrior (Knight) skills. Legendary was the high-point initially and it was not until many months later the Ultimate and then Crowned-Ultimate levels were layered into play. Guilds were formed in 1990 to gather the professional classes under a single roof and leader. Zaphod was the natural choice as first Guildmaster of the Knights Guild and along with the Mages, these two are Avalon's original and oldest guildhouses. As far as we know, the Knights and Mages Guilds are the first of their kind in any online game which would make Zaphod the first player to lead a guild in a multi-player game. Zaphod was the first player to reach Ultimate in a skill, by a whisker, from Maedros and Trekker and Spell and the proto-Thief and ginger-haired lothario Euphoria.

   Zaphod's life and career in Avalon spans many years and like most with such a long history, there have been ups and downs and phases of intense involvement interlarded with periods of protracted dormancy or check-in-check-out "otherwise occupied" detachment. His life has always featured Mercinae, never altering personal loyalty to patron and city and justice-fighter ideals. In later life Zaphod set aside his Knight persona and took up a new class in the Alchemists Guild. He cited old age and arthritic bones and a desire for the less combat-oriented demands of the creator profession and indeed this was consistent for Zaphod's early life had included much creativity in the making of items and some of Mercinae's key buildings. He was comfortable in the Alchemists Guild but it was a semi-retirement and everyone knew it as such. He was one of the only Mercinaens 'off limits' to bloodthirsty Thakrian contemporaries by this time, out of respect for his age and legend.

   Zaphod is still seen on occasion in Avalon over half a millennia since his birth but these sightings are rare and it is considered a good luck fetish to see the "first mortal" at all. There are three traditions centered around Zaphod: to shake his hand and thus have touched in the flesh the progenitor Avalonian, to feed him a pie of any kind (for reasons likely to become clear if ever you manage to do so) and to successfully cause Zaphod to know fear and flee a single location. Why the fear and flee? An ancient challenge, a boast and a contest and many challengers but only one outcome: failure to budge the pugnacious pugilist. The repertoire of a challenger today must surely be diverse enough to succeed where others have failed but as of Paglost 1391, the most recent attempt was over half a century ago. It failed, like all the others.