On behalf of DA Pyralis:

Ma’ar-Tyrius Ga-Tir... It’s been about 5 months now since I first caught wind of your name. I can still remember MERLANCE, the plotter extraordinaire, telling me about his “potential recruit” from Arcona, and I can remember both of us getting reprimanded for trying to “recruit you.” Merlance did a good job, I think. Haha! In that much time, Smoke, you’ve become much more than just a name or number on the rolls of the Brotherhood. In fact, you’ve probably caught me reminiscing about people I used to know in the TIE Corps or the DB of 7 or 8 years ago. If we’re all still around in those many years, yours is a name I will still remember with pride and associate with integrity and dedication.

As you advance within the Brotherhood, the most enduring memories of promotions and awards will not come from remembering that you played upwards of 150 matches since your promotion to DJK, but rather from service to your friends, your house, your clan, and ultimately the Brotherhood itself by way of leadership to those around you and mentoring of those new members eager (and not so eager) to get to know what this club is all about. So, I will not wander too long around the wins/losses/SA courses passed, etc etc and other objective activity on your record. I will note, however, that as a continuing leader, you have upheld a high standard of activity, necessary for all leaders – whether it be on a circle or house level. How else can you get to know exactly what your members are doing? How else can you interact with them? Also, you did a badass job while I was on a leave of absence.

I would like to take some time to mention some of your accomplishments as a leader of recent, many of which have led directly to your appointment as Aedile. In the Acropolis competition, for example, you wrote a reminder/explanation to the entire House on what exactly people needed to do to take part in the competitions. Repetition helps – especially coming from two different people. Another aspect of your leadership (ever since you took over Yu Circle), has been your constant vigilance over assisting new members of House Tridens, mainly those of the journeymen and yeoman class. You’ve given yourself as another contact with which they can communicate with and form friendships (consider your e-mail of March 8 or March 13). Communication is the first step towards bringing activity to your house. Next, you’ve given your members activities to have fun with (consider the Funny Picture comp, Crossword, Name Scramble, Motto, 2 “booster” Yu competitions writing/gaming). Another positive thing is directing the events of your House based on the interests of its members. You have successfully polled and received replies from members on what they would like to do and adjusted your competitions accordingly. You’ve directed a short, easy competition like Clan Trivia for a few months now, too. Next, you’ve provided short-term command challenges to aspiring leaders of the House. Vardar and Nit’Chu, for example, took a short-term shot at First Lord. Experience in a position of leadership is really the only way to learn as long as you have a vigilant mentor watching from the distance. Finally, you have written a House Report – a document that brings it all together, outlining your plans for the House, current events, news on members, activity, and other interesting info, acting as a primary source of direction for many of your members.

Overall, in 2 months, you’ve made leaps and bounds as a leader. Your dedication is impressive and you’ve more than shown your dominance as the leading figure of House Tridens. You are more than qualified for the position you serve in and I hope you will gain even more experience as time passes on. For your exemplary commitment to House Tridens, your endurance as a leader and gamer, and for assisting me during my absence from Tridens, and for everything else I mentioned above, we recognize you as a Priest of the Krath Order with the blessings of the Krath High Priestess, Dark Jedi Mistress Alanna. Congratulations, Equite... -- Dark Side Adept Pyralis

On behalf of SWL Spears Tarentae, Headmaster:

While it has only been a short time since his last promotion, Dark Jedi Knight Ma'ar-Tyrius Ga-Tir is more then deserving of promotion to Krath Priest. His dedication to his House and Clan is beyond question; he has a constant IRC presence and is always active with members while he is on, and be it gaming or just talking with them he is there and taking an active role. Smoke has done a great job as a leader in the Yu Circle and has recently been promoted to Aedile in Tridens of Tarentum after two months as Commander of Yu. This only shows his talent for leadership. On top of that Smoke has proved to be a valuable member of the Shadow Academy Staff to the extent that I have chosen to promote him from Magistrate to Praetor. I have no doubts that Smoke has grown beyond the powers of a mere Dark Knight and as such it is only fitting that he be given the rank of Krath Priest.

Ma'ar-Tyrius Ga-Tir, 2005-04-03 22:00:00 UTC