[Deaths]

Link to thread:

<a href="showthread.php?t=$box_forumid_1thread[threadid]">$box_forumid_1thread[title]</a>

.

To limit the message to a certain amount of chars (in this case 250):

PHP Code:

if (strlen(YOUR_VAR_FOR_MESSAGE) > '250')
            {
                YOUR_VAR_FOR_MESSAGE = fetch_trimmed_title(YOUR_VAR_FOR_MESSAGE, '250' . construct_phrase($vbphrase['read_more'], $vboptions['bburl'], $box_forumid_1thread['threadid'], $session['sessionurl']);
            } 


Don't forget to replace the YOUR_VAR_FOR_MESSAGE text with the variable you use for your message!
The PHP code must be added to the PHP file, BELOW the query, and BELOW the parsing of the bbcode in it (if you parse it), but ABOVE the calling for the template.

That should work, if not, let me know.