AndrewTech

Arthur Stafyr put away his quill, shadowy bags around the attorney's weary eyes as he gazed out of his window. "I hope that you are smiling upon me, Saint Godwein..." He said to himself with a smile as he sealed the envelope to dispatch to the local historical press.

The Chancellor applauded, happy to see that the gears of Petra's government were turning.

IGN: AndrewTech Character Name: Raul Freeman (aka "Arthur of Grenz") Age: 23 Residence: Sigismund Street V, City of Karosgrad Position (Alderman or Maer): Royal Alderman CAMPAIGN POST:

VOTE FREEMAN “Raul Freeman is a TRUE man of the people! If you want your voice to be heard, you had BETTER CALL RAUL!” -Ellie Vexler Esq. For the past five years, I have humbly served the people of Karosgrad as their legal counsel and attorney of choice. When people have had nowhere else to turn, my associates and I have provided robust services to them for all their legal needs. Now, I seek to further represent them in another way. I, Arthur of Grenz, known better by my practicing name of ‘Raul Freeman,’ do therefore announce my intention to stand for election to the office of Royal Alderman. Though an outsider to the politics of this realm, I offer the following to those who might graciously consider patronage through the casting of their votes: A Promise to Revisit the Long Forgotten There are various parts of our society, and aspects of it thereof, which have gone neglected. The medical system, the local tavern, historical education. If elected, I swear to listen to every voice, and to look into matters which otherwise might go unnoticed. The Defense of YOUR Jorenic Rights! If elected, I pledge to author a bill which would cite the ancient Jorenic Rights onto the Jura I Kongzem as core principles within the Haurul Caezk. These include: “To each freeman is his own life, to take it is to be a thief, To each freeman his own time, to take it is to be a slaver, To each freeman his own sword, to take it is to blind him, To each freeman his own wife, to take it is to injure him, And to each freeman his own farm, to take is to make him no man.” Let not these go unwritten, for they must be preserved for every future generation to come! Furthermore, if elected, I shall seek to fight for YOUR liberties in the legislature with all of my heart! A Pledge to Open a Petitioning Box to the General Public If elected, I pledge to henceforth open a box in front of my office for the filing of petitions for bills, as well as other matters, to the citizens of Karosgrad. And I promise to READ what they write too! Exemplary Knowledge of the Haeseni Legal System I know the Haurul Caezk well, in addition to the legal codexes of a half dozen other realms of humanity. This places me in a unique position to legislate for my constituents. A Mindset for Servant Leadership If elected, I’m gonna work for YOU! And you can bet that I’m gonna do a good job of it! So if you want to be represented in the Duma and you want it done right… !

MC Name: AndrewTech Discord: AndrewTech#1007 Image: Description of Image: An IRP sign and / or sigil for my character's law firm, Raul Freeman & Associates. I'll be hanging it up in front of the physical office on the server to add flavor to the world. Dimensions: 1x1

The changes will have to come from the leaderships of the server's largest nations, and from the player bases themselves. Less VCs, interesting interactions between different compelling groups, dyanmic event lines and encounters to supplement player interactions, more spontaneous interactions and intriguing storylines, etc. But it all starts with just playing on the server and getting out of your comfort zone, setting aside distractions and really delving into your characters deeply. From that, everyone else will come. And I think there also has to be otherwordly threats to nations and settlements like in Aegis (1.0) that could wipe a place out so there's extra stuff out there driving the server aside from mundane political conflicts. Also, independent guilds help these outcomes to materialize as well. And again, I think the Lectors of Owyn are an excellent example of how we can still return to the old days of dynamic roleplay even in a post-discord landscape.

Yeah, I really enjoyed your attitude toward LotC and thought you were a good guy. I was very much looking forward to working with you toward building up the Imperial Legion after we obtained peace. Oh well, maybe we'll interact someday in the future!

Catherine of Furnestock, Princess Imperial of the fallen Holy Orenian Empire, raised a sudden eyebrow as she read the publication. "As far as I recall- And mind you, I believe that I would know as his widow, Joseph was only married to a single woman during his life..." She spoke aloud to her squire, Irene, as she reviewed the genealogy from her desk in the Commonwealth. "...And that woman was me. So why is it that this genealogy claims that he had three sons with Hera de Rosius? Why, that would mean that he would have to have had an affair with her throughout our entire marriage! And if he did so- Which I would hope that he didn't, I do not recall my father, nor my brother, nor any other Canonist prince ever affirming a decree of legitimization." Pondering this to herself with a frown, she told her squire to reminder her to investigate the matter further at a later date. This, she thought to herself, was something she fully intended to look into.

I usually play on my alternate account Dixie_Serenade these days, which I mostly play around the human player bases. My main account is AndrewTech, though I use both! 1.) I've always liked Boston's "Peace of Mind" and Coldplay's "Viva la Vida". I usually like to judge a band by the quantity and quality of the songs it puts out, rather than by their brand. I'm also a huge fan of most 70s, 80s, and 90s classics! 2.) Well, I was an ST for a while so I've had a lot of experience working around lore and the lore reviewing process. This is a controversial opinion perhaps, but I'd say that I'd probably propose a means of allowing non-elvish voidal mages to lengthen their lifespans. Almost all voidal users are elves because nobody wants to go through the trouble of learning it again. I think that would do a lot to help spread magic to humanity, as the most powerful magic users within those communities wouldn't have to PK their characters so early. As humanity's one of the only player bases where voidal magic isn't outright banned or shunned (except by Owynism IRPly), I think this would be really good for spreading the lore as a whole. 1.) My earliest memory of the great grnappa was when I was a poor, headache ridden NL trying to fight off 75% of the server. I remember him coming back with Eddywilson2 to help my nation, and I also remember him being one of the most cutthroat and loyal fighters I had back then. Love that guy. :*) 2.) I was never a pink tag. But if I were a green tag, I wouldn't change a think. Maybe have written more lore, done more reviews, thrown more events, but my time is limited and I sadly could not keep up. But hey, I think I retired at a good time. Maybe I'll do staff again if I ever get insanely bored and / or want to put myself through excruciating mental pain. 3.) Please don't try to sell me on that Deluxe package again.....

Thank you so much, my old friend. :) That truly means a lot to me. 1.) I think some of my favorites that I've had with you over the years are from outside of LotC. Honestly, the scenario server that I ran with our friend group after I took my break between Athera (4.0) and Axios (5.0) was probably among my fondest mineman memories. In terms of LotC, I have a lot of good memories RPing with you on here as well. However, there's one that stands out above all the rest... I remember at the very end of Arcas (7.0, the last map), Chirr and Eliza decided to run around the server on an anarchy spree. The map was set to be shut down forever about 3 hours later, so we had decided to go ham IRP while everyone else had fled. We egged Kalenz Uradir's portrait in Haelun'or, broke into manors and houses, and did all sorts of other purge tier things. But at the very end of that spree, we had decided OOCly to make our way over to Nenzing and watch the sunset as the last 15 minutes of the map came about. I recall Konrad and Isabel often watching the sunset from Nenzing as they talked as father and daughter, so it was highly nostalgic to see Chirr and Eliza, who had a mother and daughter dynamic themselves, do the same thing. The RP scene represented a lot to me. It was very iconic for two old Anthosians to watch the sunset together on yet another map, and to me it symbolized our special and enduring friendship over the years as we saw Arcas come to an end. 2.) Honestly? Someday, I would like to find the time and the passion to play a dwarf. I've never played a member of the dwarvish race or culture, so it'd be a refreshing thing to do whenever all of my other many characters slow down a bit. I feel like I'd enjoy participating in and contributing to the "creation" culture of tinkerers, smiths, and craftsmen. As for a character I simply cannot bring myself to play... That's a hard one. But I think the answer would be that I just can't play an evil, cruel, or heartless leadership figure that requires irreparably ruining innocent people IRP for my character's own gain. The reasoning behind such is this. I absolutely could do the RP behind it in a smaller or more private setting, but I could never do it on LotC due to how OOCly most IRP actions are taken. Every leadership character I have ever played has been a benevolent figure. This is because I like mentoring people and building them up. That's a key part of my leadership style. Like even if I did it as a character meant to be a criminal, they'd have to have some sort of honor code if they were to ever be at the top of anything so I'd have an excuse to continue building others up and not just chaotically destroy people. So yeah. I've played strong leaders before, but always benevolent ones. I just couldn't RP a character that would require me to act purely tyrannical in an OOC sense and live with myself.

😳 zomg...... just d-don't tell Alex................ I don't think we have either, but thank you! I really appreciate those kind words. There's certainly a few stories I could theoretically write a book about, but I'd rather not because I wouldn't want to make one of my characters seem like the main protagonist. LotC should be a cooperative writing experience if it's done right. I will say though that if such a thing were to be written, I'd want whoever did it to explore the chronicles of Godfrey, Sigismund, and Tuvya. That would be an awesome GoT styled story that could be told, if done right. But anyway! 1.) That's a hard one. Most of the human cultures I'm familiar with originated within those two communities so I'd have to say that my favorite, though it might seem surprising, would be Orcish culture. When done right, has a lot of spiritualism, inter-clan competition, and strong unspoken customs that make it a very gritty, dark, tribal experience. It can be really fun for Orcs and non-Orcs alike if it's done well with good quality RPers. It really was a fun player base to play around back in its "golden age." I also thoroughly enjoy elvish culture, from all of the subraces. The elven language is very rich and the elvish player bases used to have the most amazing roleplay back in the day. That's sorta been lost a little, as it has been with everyone. but I'm hopeful that it can make more of a resurgence as the the changing landscape of the elven world takes shape. Someday, I'd like to also casually play a dwarf from one of the mercantile or craftsman clans. Something like a Goldhand or a Starbreaker, get to do some tinkering RP and engage in some greedy salesmanship ICly. That's not a culture I've RPed around at all, but I know it's a very rich one. Urguan has deep roots in server lore like humanity has, so I'm interested in seeing what it's like eventually. 2.) Unfortunately, I don't really frequent taverns a lot IRP these days. I get so busy doing other things on the server, in addition to an extremely busy IRL, that I just don't have time. But! I really enjoyed @DISCOLIQUID's tavern in Vienne. That's a contemporary tavern that I really liked, as well as @Valannor's in Karosgrad back when he ran one. As for the best taverns of all time, I'll always remember the Rusty Cog 2.0, which was the VonSchlichten tavern that we ran in Abresi (Oren's 3.0 capital) at the map's beginning. That was probably my favorite one. That and the spiritual predecessor that they ran, the Rusty Cog 1.0 in Kalos, which iis what's shown iin my initial post. Honorable mentions also include The Red Feather Tavern run by @Rayna Starin Chambery, my town within Oren in Axios (5.0), which I honestly always enjoyed so much. It was the beating heart of the community and she and the Sintels ran it so well. The Kingston tavern in Salvus during Anthos (3.0) was also a blast. Also the roadside tavern positioned near Haelun'or on the way to Oren in Athera (4.0), which was always bustling and was one of the server's main activity hubs on that map! That was a really awesome place for sure. Oh, and of course the tavern I ran in Old Reza during Arcas (7.0) for a while was an awesome place as well. :)

1.) I also think my favorite interaction with you was probably between Celestine and Katerina during "the Troubles." Rudi's reign was a hard time for me in Haense OOCly, but it did lead to some pretty great RP. Especially with Celestine and her attempts to make sure the NGS survived and look after those whom she thought were being persecuted unjustly. 2.) Hmm... Other than everything else I've said to others on this thread, which I think applies to anyone, I'd say the best advice I can offer is to just go with the flow when you're doing stuff. Try not to jump to the worst possible conclusion about things until you've had a chance to wait and see what happens. Take a glass half full perspective rather than a glass half empty one. I struggled with looking at things from a glass half empty perspective a lot when I was younger, even as recently as 2 years ago. It caused me a lot of stress and I've done / said some things that I greatly regret because of it. But eventually, I was able to let go of those worries because I realized that I couldn't control the future. I could only do the best that I can in the present. The best things I've ever gotten or have achieved on the Craft have come about when I've least expected them, and wasn't actually working toward them. King of Haense was a surprise, getting to play Catherine was a surprise, the NGS becoming so successful was a surprise, etc. So in short, and I'd say this goes for everyone else out there as well, just focus on the here and now and don't worry about what people may decide or do in the future.

1.) Listen to others. The people you interact with are your most valuable assets, yes, but don't treat them like assets. Treat them like people. Show them the same empathy and support you would want to be shown, and try to give them a chance to shine. When you lift others up and make them stronger, you're making the community you are working for stronger as well. In short, don't build upon the backs of others. Build them up, and by extension they and your community will both be stronger for it. 2.) Oh this is a hard one. But, luckily for you, I've had 2 years of ST experience and 8 years of really good DMing experience outside of that! You're welcome to DM me for advice on this, but basically, think of a compelling narrative that will get the players engaged. Then, roll with the punches. The most important thing is their fun, not yours. Tailor your event accordingly and make sure the players get something out of it / enjoy it so that they'll remember it for what it was. 3.) My honest, brutal advice would be to focus on doing unique IRP things rather than focusing on government. Start up something within the framework that creates roleplay, some sort of group that gives people purposes that they can join and flesh their characters out with. Government is great, but it's the independent guilds, orgs, businesses, and initiatives that make people good roleplayers. As for improving roleplay quality, just get into your character! Don't VC, distance yourself from distractions. Immerse yourself and really figure out what it is that makes your character tick. Don't be afraid to sprinkle a little bit of comedic relief in there either, or do things that might seem rash or outside of the box.

1.) When Celestine visited Kaedrin in Arcas that very first time. That was a great interaction with Mariana. I laughed hard when I found out you just invented the whole "Festival of Saint Thomas" on the spot for her ethnographical research later on 😂 2.) One time, I saw him getting all giddy about his vintage 1920s atlas collection or something. That was definitely a boomer moment right there!! 3.) I think of Hunwald. Mining coal. In a coal mine. Also, I think of how a lot of those guys call me by boomer nickname, "Techus". It's caught on with the newer generation now which is kinda funny.

1.) Someday? I'd like to RP as a self sufficient sea captain, or try out being a member of the Church. I'd really like doing either of those things. Those are the only things I really haven't done, but I'd honestly love to do them. 2.) My earliest RP memory on LotC is of the first time I logged on. I traveled to Arethor, Oren's first capital back in 2.0 to interact with some people. I remember witnessing someone trying to kill another person in the square, and Boendil of all people holding trial in the courtroom thereafter. The first person I spoke to / met? @Hanrahan, who's amazing still around even to this day! My character crashed on his couch before moving onto Ildon, where he hung with the Adunians until the map got deleted by hackers. Overall, a fun experience. Didn't really get hooked until the VonSchlichtens though in 2.5 if I'm honest. 1.) Transfiguration by far. I love that lore piece because it allows for so many creative projects to be undertaken. It's the most useful and intriguing magic and I hope it never gets ruined. 2.) Yes.............. Fun fact, a buddy and I broke into Haelun'or's ruins last map and egged Kalenz Uradir's portrait as Arcas came to an end in its final moments. 😁 Protagonist. SHE NEVER EVEN MET HIM 😭 But i am glad he was slayed by Almighty Quentin for his lies................. 1.) I do, yes. I still relate though because I'm in graduate school now. The pain never ends, my friend! But yes I absolutely do feel old sometimes. But I've shifted to thinking of myself as more of a mentor than anything. 2.) Probably 60-40 these days in favor of old people, because it's so hard for newer people to stick around and we just can't leave! It's very sad. 3.) Soon hopefully! I've just been busy with something new I've been running so I haven't been playing Pandi a lot lately. I'd love for them to meet again though, I think it'd be an awesome development for both characters. 4.) Thank you. I'll admit, I don't know how much longer I'll be around but I love this server. Even after I take the final steps to reducing my involvement in leadership stuff I'll probably still hang around on characters like Pandi and others here and there with my buddies. We have to be good examples to unto people, especially the younger players, and I'm glad I'm around to still do that.

1.) My absolute least favorite conflict was during 4.0, near the very end of @ChumpChump's time playing Emperor Tuvya. It was my first real chance at working in human government, but the people at the top decided to work with my IRP brother to ruin my reputation, sabotage my political career, and force me into a corner where I had to PK my character. As my character, Nicholas Blackwell the Baron of Ager, was a supporter of the Carrions, the Storm King and his followers wanted to eliminate me and install someone more sympathetic at the top of our house. Frankly, I couldn't maneuver like they could because I didn't use Teamspeak. It sucked, terribly. And for a while, it drove me away from humanity. Missed the Duke's War because of it and left the server for like 2 years until 5.0 rolled around, at which point @cruzazul gave me a second chance to prove myself and I created a really successful boom town! 2.) The one where Jake famously said "i'm glad we groomed you for leadership and not molestation" 👀 1.) O-Oh my... 😳 ......... ................. ANYWAYS! 2.) I have a lot of great memories in Oren. It's where I spent the first 7 years of my time on the server. But when it comes to the most recent Oren, it would probably be when Eliza brokered the Wittenbach Accords between two countries she loved dearly. It was very dynamic, and watching the two monarchs play chess to determine the treaty's fate was really awesome. It was the culmination of like 3-4 different IRP meetings and at the time, neither side thought it was going to be possible. And for her triumphs, Eliza was made a Petrine knight and declared a hero of the Empire. A great way to end her political career as a populist champion! Honestly thought? Beyond the most recent version of Oren, I also remember re-enacting Half Life 1 in 3.0 at the VonSchlichten research facility in @Mirtok's Hanseti where the Teutonic Order got called in to fight off interdimensional invaders (endermen). And in 5.0, the townsfolk of Chambery made a HUGE deal over @cruzazul's visit. It meant so much to have the Emperor pay homage to your town back then and I loved the vibe of the whole occasion we threw for it. My favorite memory in Haense is probably the Athera Expedition. That whole event line was really fun and dynamic, and it felt super driven by roleplay. It was awesome to go on the expedition with all the buddies I’d made and explore a compelling Haense narrative. 3.) Okay so! When I was a nooblet in 2.5, Saul VonSchlichten had this obstacle course at his engineering company. He wanted to test human reflexes, so he'd contently hire people from the mainland to come back to the island and run it as "test subjects." Well back then, brothels were still allowed under server rules........ So one day, he went over to the one on the human island and asked all the ladies there to participate "in a job" he had "back at the facility." They got sooooooo mad IRP when they learned the truth of what they had actually been hired to do! 😂 In the end, the red haired one amongst them broke our highest score, and I remember laughing so, so hard. 4.) Thankfully, I've taken two extended breaks. Once after early 4.0 for about 2 years, and then another after early 5.0 for about 3. So I haven't been around the whole way through. But I've seen enough. It's sad, really. It's very discouraging to think that all the fun that I had as a teenager may not be something that the newer players of this generation will be able to experience. This place was my childhood, it did a lot for me during some really difficult times in my life where I was awkward, socially anxious, and going through some weird middle school / high school transitions. But I hope that through my actions, and the actions of others, we can help to bring at least a little bit of that back. It all starts with setting a good example, and with people that others look up to taking the initiative to make the world dynamic and create fun for others. The Lectors of Owyn are probably the closest thing to the old days still around today, and they're a blast. I legitimately believe that emulating their approach to getting people engaged in RP would be excellent for the server as a whole. 5.) Most favorite? Well, my most favorite was Kalos, though I'm probably in the extreme minority there. I loved all the times I had with the VonSchlichtens on their little island, and sailing from place to place to each racial island in boats was kinda cool. But Anthos was probably my favorite mainstream map. 3.0 was the best map, in my opinion, that LotC has ever spawned. It was honestly perfect and though we were all stupid kids back then, those were some of my favorite times. Axios too is a decent honorable mention after that. The Fringe is also worth an honorable mention, where the Chivay Empire came into its own and the Orcs were strong, which was fun. That's where I did my first actual human nobility RP too with House Blackwell. As for my least favorite? Athera. Man I hated Athera, and not just because I got screwed over politically at the time. It was way too small and I plainly just didn't like the vibe. Maps have to have a certain vibe and layout to be good, but Athera just didn't have it. Everything was too close together and it sucked, though I enjoyed the event in which we went back there for nostalgia's sake.

1.) I think it was honestly always inevitable. As the years went by and we all formed our very tightly knit and separate cliques, the logical conclusion was that a situation like this would manifest. As we all continued to tribalize, it became more difficult to conduct politics IRP because the stakes shifted to being very OOC based. It became a competition between competing friend groups, a similar phenomenon to opposing football teams or high school cliques trying to get one up on the "other guys" because it meant a lot to their prestige. I can remember people complaining about this as far back as Anthos. But uh... Literally this. I know you're meming @argonian, but it's very true. I think Discord has forever changed the sort of roleplaying environment we used to enjoy, and it's gonna be really hard to restore it without a mass movement. I think things would be better if we didn't invest in Discord so much to govern things, which of course we have to do to get ahead of the "other guys" all the time." In short, I'd say that I'm also in the former camp. I think there are things that could have been done, but this was always going to eventually be the way that things went. 2.) You may very well be right. I didn't use Teamspeak and I only started using Skype sparingly during 4.0, so I likely wasn't privy to a lot of that stuff. I'm glad it's been reduced, but I would still hope that we could strive to eliminate it in its entirety.

Oh man... I wish I could've been a part of the Teutonic Order formally. That would've been awesome. But at the time my parents were really strict about me not using Teamspeak or Skype (being 14 and all) so I didn't get involved in any of the major Anthosian military orders. :/ The White Rose would definitely also be a contender, as well as Kralta. Basically all the old groups back in Anthos I interacted with but was never formally a part of. But I've been a part of of some REALLY great and fun communities, so I can't complain! 1.) Celestine Herbert, Konrad Stafyr, and Elizabeth Brae-Wittenbach are my favorites. I've played a lot of characters, but these are probably my top three because of the rich narratives and impacts that they've left. This is because all three of them developed really naturally. They came into their own, rising from nothing into being figures that gained strong legacies in their own right. All three were, and in Eliza's case are, very special. But as a special honorable mention, my elf that I've had for 9 years, Pandora, is also really special to me. I'd say she's probably my favorite just because she means so much to me and I've had so many lasting memories from my childhood on her. 2.) That's a good question... Honestly, I'd say it was the moment I walked into the VonSchlichten engineering facility in Kalos and got pugsied by some random dude there. If not for that pugsy and the VonSchlichtens coming to check on me thereafter, I would have probably quit the server and my life would be a lot different, no cap. 3.) Because I follow the Golden Rule, my dude!! Treat others as you'd like to be treated and everything else falls into place. :)

A DECADE’S REFLECTION Me in Kalos, LotC 2.5 (c. 2012) Today marks 10 years to the day since I joined the Lord of the Craft. As such, I find myself deep in reflection regarding the last decade that I have spent on this server. I’ve had the privilege to have been able to do a lot here. I’ve had the opportunity to leave an impact on an amazingly dynamic world and to have woven a lasting narrative, serving as both a human NL and an ST. I’ve played a lot of different characters, from peasants, scholars, and nobles to doctors, mages, and royals. I first joined this server when I was 14 years old. It seems like a lifetime ago when I first read about all the excitement behind 2.0 on the forums as a kid. When I first joined up as a human in Arethor, the very first iteration of the Holy Orenian Empire was just coming into being in Asulon. It makes me feel old just to think about it. And then later, when I somehow ended up in the lobby of the VonSchlichten research facility in Kalos (2.5) after getting randomly pugsied, it started me down a road that kept me from quitting the server as a newer player 9 years early. I’m glad that I didn’t, as the writing skills alone that I accumulated from this server have greatly altered the course of my life for the better… …But things have changed. And before I open this thread up to an AMA, I’d like to use this platform to say a few words about the state of the server and how I think it can best be fixed and preserved for those yet to find their adventures on the Lord of the Craft. Things used to be very RP centric back in the day, the server being driven by a compelling narrative and web of interactions. Now, the OOC politics of discords and friend cliques determine almost everything. We all enjoy hanging out with our friends. Heck, I’ll be the first to admit that I’ve got tons of friends and friend groups that I love to hang out with to reminisce about the olden days, server happens, and even real life. The out-of-character connections we make on the Craft are important, and I treasure the many lasting friendships that I have made through this server. But over the last several years, this platform, meant for roleplaying, has become more and more OOC oriented. Almost ridiculously so, in fact. When a newer player joins, they do so hoping to find compelling roleplay. They want to interact in a rich world full of interesting characters and dynamic relationships. But more often than not, they walk into nation capitals full of people VCing in their discords as they hop around. It’s nearly impossible for a newer player to have a good time with someone who they don’t already know after joining, which is key to the server’s low retention rate for newer players. Furthermore, they find themselves petitioned through discord by NLs and their lieutenants to partake in activities OOCly. Whether it be joining the military to partake in PvP training through the use of VCs or filling out spreadsheets and crunching numbers, the activities presented to the people who want to write a compelling narrative just aren’t what they used to be. Worse yet is the fact that many groups almost never willingly interact with one another RP wise. The OOC slant towards viewing the server encourages toxicity rather than a healthy narrative, souring the potential for any meaningful IRP conflict to transpire at any level, from the smallest stick up to the largest invasion, without the letting of blood, the shedding of tears, or the permanent ruination of one’s very reputation. The fact is, RP is no longer dominant. OOC is. And the issue is cultural. It isn’t a problem within any one nation or group, it’s server wide. And sadly, as a result, the experiences that I once had are growing harder and harder for the players who want to join to find any longer. This used to be a really fun place. And now, we have people committing the most vile acts against their fellow players, such as doxxing. Horrific acts by any measure done out of pure hatred, over Minecraft. Think about that for a moment. This server isn’t what it used to be, but I think it can be fixed. I have to believe that. The solution is very simple, and it requires adherence to a timeless phrase known to many as “The Golden Rule.” Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. These eleven simple words have always been my guiding light. It can be difficult to consider how others feel when cliques enter into competition with one another. Indeed, I myself am guilty of forming friend groups and cliques on this server which I have grown close to. However, when we take a moment to think about how people outside of our cliques may feel about something, things can be so much better for everyone. Even the slightest bit of empathy and respect can help to encourage good vibes and lay the foundation for a fun, enjoyable environment. It’s important to remember that for every truly despicable individual on this server, there are 9 others who, although flawed human beings, have decent hearts and intentions. I acknowledge that it is wishful thinking to expect this. The server has never truly been this way, after all. Even during the “good old days,” problems of this nature persisted across LotC. In fact, back then, the situation was arguably even worse. This degeneration has been happening as far back as Anthos (3.0) at least. But a few good people change the tide? Can a few good hearts make this community a better place? I would urge everyone who may have taken the time to read this post to think about doing the following. Try to see others as projects to be built upon, rather than seeking to build upon the backs of others. The thing that I’ve always been proudest about doing on LotC is lifting lesser known people up, and giving them a chance to find their own RP niche and grow. Don’t look at people as assets, treat them as you would have wanted to be treated in their shoes. Don’t be so quick to judge others due to their past. Newer or rising players coming into their own may make mistakes, but can also change. Back in the day, it used to be easier for people in leadership positions to forgive others because we were all just kids. To be clear, I’m talking about kiddos who may have done something IRP with a character of theirs and been judged unfairly for it in an OOC way. We have to be more understanding to players coming into their own who are just trying to weave an RP narrative and not judge them for going against what nation leadership groups may want. Of course, disgusting violations of server rules are another matter entirely. Those cannot be tolerated. But if something is purely RP, or if it’s a minor OOC screw up that didn’t break any rule, the player shouldn’t have to suffer for it for all eternity. When you say that you'll do something, follow through with what you promise and practice what you preach. When people do judge you, they judge you by your word, and by the way you treat others. While we shouldn't judge other people for the mistakes that they make, we should strive to hold ourselves to a higher standard in terms of keeping promises and promoting trust. It can be very hurtful when someone close to you breaks their word, or turns out to have been illegitimate. Don't be fake, be as legitimate and honest as you can be. People will respect you for it all the more. Show love toward others, not hatred. Forgive those you can bear to forgive. Don’t stew over negative vibes that, at the end of the day, don’t really have any meaning. There’s an old phrase floating around out there: “An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.” I’ve certainly suffered great pain on this server before. But following the Golden Rule stipulates that we treat others with the same respect and dignity we would want to be treated. A little love, shown even toward those who may not deserve it, can go a long way. And that’s my 10 year message, guys. A bit long winded, and maybe even cheesy and overly wishful. But if it got even one person out there thinking, then it was worth it to use this platform to do this. In short, just try to be kind and understanding to other people. Don’t be quick to judge others. And at the risk of sounding really corny, love will always triumph over hate. And now, for the fun part! My name’s AndrewTech, and I’m getting waaaay too old for this server. This is a rare opportunity that may not come again to ask me anything about myself or the last 10 YEARS I’ve spent on it, and I WILL ANSWER! But please, no arguing, toxicity, or mockery on this thread or I will either ignore your post or have it deleted. Only good vibes in this place, people. Also, no overly vulgar questions or requests for personal information please.

Raul Freeman, attorney at law, nods in approval. He was very happy to see the restoration of the office of Lord Justiciar in the lands of the North.

[!] A letter is written the Wilven Library, along with a sizable parcel. Within would be a leather bound tome, filled with hundreds of pages of works and reports. If opened, it would read as follows: "Monk Florencio, Greetings and salutations. My name is Elizabeth Brae-Wittenbach, President of the Northern Geographical Society. Attached is a complete hardbound compendium with many of our scholarly works and studies. You are welcome to utilize whatever you wish, provided that you endow us with the proper credit for having authored them. Several of the subjects which you mentioned in your missive can be found among our century's worth of works, particularly those on the Rise and Fall of the Imperium Primus and the Duke's War. Many of these were authored before we arrived on the Almarisian continent post-migration, but should still be highly relevant to your query. On behalf of our organization, I wish you the best of luck in the pursuit of your endeavors. With Regards, Elizabeth Brae-Wittenbach President of the NGS"

“When you’re gagged and bound down in a dungeon somewhere, you’re only gonna get one bird if you’re lucky. I sent mine to Raul and I wasn’t disappointed.” -Anonymous Client Have YOU been wrongfully accused of stealing? Have YOU faced trumped up charges following a night on the town? Has the Big Man been breathing down the neck of YOU, the Little Guy again? Hi, I'm Raul Freeman. Did you know that you have rights? The Nenzing Proclamation says you do. And so do I. I believe that until proven guilty, every man, woman, and child on this continent is innocent. And that's why I fight for YOU, Almaris! You only get one bird, so you’d better make it count! I practice law throughout all the realms of humanity, including the lands of Haense, Balian, Sedan, and the Harvest Confederation. Call for me anytime, anywhere! DISCLAIMER: Free inquiries for legal services may be penned to the law offices of Raul Freeman, which are as of this moment at Rochefort Road 1, Florentine. Raul Freeman & Associates reserves the right to decline and accept cases as Raul Freeman Esq. sees fit. Free legal consultations are not a guarantee of acceptance. Acceptance does not guarantee exoneration or a successful trial, only a robust legal defense. Payment is negotiable.

[!] A neatly sealed envelope would contain a letter meant for the Countess's office, being left upon her desk: Name: Catherine of Furnestock Age: 48 Do you presently hold a Commonwealth peerage?: No. Are you currently an oathed knight of the Order of the Peterine Laurel?: Yes. Are you in good legal standing within the lands of the Commonwealth?: Yes.

Catherine of Furnestock smiled in approval, pleased to see the publication of the Constitution which she had painstakingly assisted the Count of Temesch in drafting.