T
Tylindrel
Guest
Thomas Urquhart III, a friend of mine in real life, died from a fatal car crash in Louisiana on November 7th. Better known to UO pvpers on Great Lakes as Xuk’Luk [Urk], Lanto Malint, Kyle Malint, and Tolken Daire (most of his characters had the surnames Malint or Daire), he made an impression on the factions and RP scene in the years he played. Though many of the people who played with Thomas have since left to play other games, doubtless there are many here who fought either against him or alongside him over the years.
Regardless of who he played with, or against, he always kept it honorable, and he would as soon chat as fight with you. Over the years we were rarely on the same side, we were orange to one another far longer than we were green, but that never stopped us from helping each other. In life he was charismatic, good-hearted, and funny--traits that often carried over to his characters.
One of the most vivid memories I have of Thomas in game is an RP battle in Tram, many years ago. Thomas and I were fighting alongside one another in the Undead Legion. Kael Ashtar led the Legion into Yew to attack the Militia. (Kael, the GM of UL, had introduced Thomas and me to UO. We were all friends in real life, and Thomas actually lived with Kael at the time). The Undead Legion fought the Militia in Yew and defeated them—remarkable considering UL rarely, if ever had a strong showing. The militia was crawling from the field when a gate opened at the bank and oranges started to pour out of it. The Highland Guard had gated in to defend their allies, and UL scattered, the few too slow to move were quickly dropped.
With most of the Legion dispersed, leaving me (on Gravakiv) and Thomas (on Kyle Malint) against roughly eight Highland Guard, I thought we would leave, but Thomas laughing, said he had three or four on him and that he was going to stay and fight. We began to circle the buildings in Yew, striking quickly and running as soon as more Guard came on the screen. We did not plan tactics, but it was effortless, and we worked as if we had the same mind. I was using a kryss and Thomas was using the Berserker’s Maul. I would poison and armor ignore, he would rush on screen and smash the unlucky victim with the maul. We did this time and time again, until only the two of us remained in Yew, counting the gold we had made from the fight. He beat me at 60k—I had only pulled 37k.
Years later, Thomas and I would still talk about that battle and laugh, often over a beer or a burger. We would laugh over victories and defeats with equal fervor, remembering great fights regardless of who carried the day. Undoubtedly, if he were here now we would do the same.
And that is how I will always remember Thomas, laughing and full of life--a good man, a good player, and a better friend.
Regardless of who he played with, or against, he always kept it honorable, and he would as soon chat as fight with you. Over the years we were rarely on the same side, we were orange to one another far longer than we were green, but that never stopped us from helping each other. In life he was charismatic, good-hearted, and funny--traits that often carried over to his characters.
One of the most vivid memories I have of Thomas in game is an RP battle in Tram, many years ago. Thomas and I were fighting alongside one another in the Undead Legion. Kael Ashtar led the Legion into Yew to attack the Militia. (Kael, the GM of UL, had introduced Thomas and me to UO. We were all friends in real life, and Thomas actually lived with Kael at the time). The Undead Legion fought the Militia in Yew and defeated them—remarkable considering UL rarely, if ever had a strong showing. The militia was crawling from the field when a gate opened at the bank and oranges started to pour out of it. The Highland Guard had gated in to defend their allies, and UL scattered, the few too slow to move were quickly dropped.
With most of the Legion dispersed, leaving me (on Gravakiv) and Thomas (on Kyle Malint) against roughly eight Highland Guard, I thought we would leave, but Thomas laughing, said he had three or four on him and that he was going to stay and fight. We began to circle the buildings in Yew, striking quickly and running as soon as more Guard came on the screen. We did not plan tactics, but it was effortless, and we worked as if we had the same mind. I was using a kryss and Thomas was using the Berserker’s Maul. I would poison and armor ignore, he would rush on screen and smash the unlucky victim with the maul. We did this time and time again, until only the two of us remained in Yew, counting the gold we had made from the fight. He beat me at 60k—I had only pulled 37k.
Years later, Thomas and I would still talk about that battle and laugh, often over a beer or a burger. We would laugh over victories and defeats with equal fervor, remembering great fights regardless of who carried the day. Undoubtedly, if he were here now we would do the same.
And that is how I will always remember Thomas, laughing and full of life--a good man, a good player, and a better friend.
