I'm not one to add fluff to a recommendation. Halc taught me that, and it's stuck with me all these years. The following is completely accurate and bull**** free. I've known Halc since he went by the name Halcyon Rokir, before and during his first tenure as Consul of Taldryan. This is perhaps the first time I came into contact with a true Elder of the club, someone who was truly selfless in their quest of bettering the Brotherhood as a whole. As a then Aedile, Halc more or less taught me the ropes, and instilled a sense of duty into me. We lost touch for a couple years, but he was by no means silent in his activity. He went on to become Combat Master, and most recently the first Voice of the Brotherhood. At the time I was elevated to Headmaster, there were few people I could turn to for a real candid point of view on certain projects; and Halc was one of those people. In the early months of my Dark Council tenure I frequently found myself in the counsel of this Taldrya, with his decade long experience to back him up when aiding me. Let me tell you right now, you want a guy like Halc fighting in your corner when you're the low man on the DC totem pole. He doesn't weigh himself down with politics and drama, which I think is why him and I gravitate to each other so well. You want a list of things he's done in the 5+ years since his last promotion? You'd need to create a Dark Summit position to fully document everything. But let me give you a brief summary of my working relationship with him on matters concerning the Shadow Academy. Halcyon has served as an EP and DOC off and on for longer than I've even been on the staff, and has graded the ACC Basics courses consecutively for a couple years. He's always up to date on making sure the course is fully audited and that mirrors the current Character Sheet fundamentals. He was a sheer maelstrom in the 10th Great Jedi War, as I got the profound honor of co-grading a few events with him. He proposed both courses that were released during the war, and provided enough of a summary for me to get the material written. Let's not even talk about the spreadsheets he had to maintain...there was enough content in there to fill the DB News Page for months. He and I have been putting our heads together on several projects, with him personally contributing ideas to the much anticipated Grind Path and SA Society, as well as him and I working on upcoming fiction updates that revolve around both our characters. This guy's trail of work is everywhere, spreading across the Brotherhood like a complex system of sequoia tree roots (or spider brain cancer depending on your opinion of him) reaching everything from gaming to his home in the ACC.
When you take a look at Halc's background, a reoccurring theme pops up. The man has held half a dozen Dark Council positions, often times doing so when no one qualified is available to. He does this without thought to personal reward and gratification, leading his home clan, paving the road for the new position of Voice, and taking the helm of Deputy Grand Master for yet another term. The true leaders of this club are the ones that will sacrifice their own enjoyment for the benefit of others. This is the best way I can describe Halc, in that he's always there when we need him. What's even more amazing, is the amount of trolling and hate he deals with on a daily basis. There are some people in this club, I won't name names, that have nothing better to do than constantly try and wear him down based on their partial view points of how they "think" he is. He wipes their comments and demeanor off like mud on the bottom of his shoe, with more professionalism than I've ever seen.
I'll now ask the readers this obvious question: Why the hell isn't Halc a Dark Prophet yet? The only answer I can up with his simple and blunt. Without Halc, the DB would have died years ago. This is not an exaggeration, so don't give me any lip, Halc. We haven't promoted him, because if we did, there would have been nothing left to award him with. We had to keep baiting him, though he truly does enjoy every facet of this club without reward. We were afraid to lose him. A world without Halc is something I personally don't want to think about, as he has become one of my closet confidants and mentors in this beloved club of mine. He is the foundation of the modern Dark Council, and he is the go to guy that every DCer goes to (including Muz) for the hard questions. As Headmaster, I've worked with some really great people, but none as impartial, selfless, and genuinely awesome as our Deputy Grand Master. I've come to call him a friend, something I don't normally do in an Internet environment. Without him, most of us would have resigned from stress long ago. He keeps our spirits high, and kicks ass while doing it. This is the new era of the Brotherhood, a time where we're moving forward with new policies and programs for our users. At the spearhead of this new era is Halc, who as of today is being brought into the caste of the few. With all the power that rests in my position, I hereby recommend that Halcyon Taldrya, my friend, be elevated to the final rank of Dark Prophet. May he serve as an example to the rest of us. Congratulations. ~Taigikori Aybara Dupar; Headmaster of the Brotherhood
Halcyon has been one of the most influential individuals in the Dark Brotherhoodâs history. Through pitfalls and over hurdles, he continues to strive for better within this community. As one of the established, ever-present and dedicated members, he is a bastion of hope for the Dark Brotherhood. During his tenure as the VOICE, Halc was instrumental in creating a truly inspirational fictional backdrop in which the Brotherhood could evolve. His ability with words is matched by few and, despite the calls for bias, his ability to act as an objective and rational leader in the face of adversity is surely a trait to be admired. He was acting Combat Master, VOICE and aide to the Dark Council for a number of months before his progression to his second tenure within the position of Deputy Grand Master.
In his capacity as the Deputy Grand Master Halc has been truly awe-inspiring. His dedication to the position is widely perceived throughout the Brotherhood and, having joined at such a crucial time, his work can be described as fundamental to the progression of the Brotherhood as a whole, if not through his ability to co-author the Great Jedi War, then through his capacity in grading and development in the post-GJW fray. It has been both an honour and a privilege to serve with Halcyon in the Brotherhood and in my (very) short time on the Dark Council, and I hope to see many more years of continued growth.
It is easy to see the work people have done fade into the ether, lost to the sands of time; it is hard to ensure that each member is rewarded in kind for the work they have done in this club of like-minded individuals. If it were not for Halc, the Brotherhood would not have developed so quickly and so efficiently, with such a rich and inviting storyline. His abilities are arguably unmatched and it is for this reason, above all else, that I believe Halc should be awarded in kind.
He truly deserves this promotion to Dark Prophet and I am honoured to be assisting in its completion. Congratulations, Halc. ~Wuntila Zratian Entar, Consul of Clan Arcona.
Halcyon Rokir. Halcyon Taldrya. Halc. Pally. Bro. Dude. Quaestor. Combat Master. Deputy Grand Master. Member. Gamer. Writer. Friend. Peer. Leader. All these names, titles, and more, this reputable member has both earned and been known by among his peers, among the members of the Brotherhood. Halc has spent years working for the betterment of every member of this Club, often to the detriment of himself; itâs quite easy to make enemies in Clubs like these as much as it is to make friends. When you work hard, when you give of yourself, you expose yourself, you literally give up pieces of what you have inside, and sometimes, people donât like that. Despite all of the heartache and time given that, at times, was not always appreciated by everyone, Halc still gives. He still wants to make the Brotherhood a better place, and still offers his friendship and time freely to everyone.
My friendship with Halc is probably not as strong in recent times as it has been in the past, but he is one of those people, much like Kir Katarn, Jac Cotelin, Firefox, Sarin, Muz, and other peers of dedicated leadership who is constantly being called to serve for the benefit of the Club, and who has never denied the call. Many times in my own past, my positions in leadership have often paralleled his own, when I was Sith High Warrior, Consul, or even simply the short stint I had as Combat Master, so we were generally involved in either a lot of the same projects, or very similar works. I have spoken with him at length regarding nearly every facet of the Brotherhood, and I have found that, not only does he care about every facet, he is also intuitively knowledgeable about every subject. He has been a dedicated member, and has learned these things by actively doing them. He has maintained himself as an active member with stamina that is something we should all envy. He tirelessly, and ceaselessly works in all of the areas that the Brotherhood needs improvement upon, which is generally all of the tedious work that no one else likes to commit to.
I am nearing my twelfth year in this Club, and despite all of the knowledge I ought to have acquired, and all of the understanding I should have, I find myself often referring to Halcyon in situations I have where I need an understanding ear, and someone who has been through enough to really see my situation from the angle of those of us who are undertaking trials and obstacles in the Club. Halc not only sees issues, understands issues, he crawls into the ditches with you when you are struggling, and he tries to help you dig your way out of the holes youâve been digging for yourself. His leadership is that of frontline leadership, and his are helping, caring hands of someone who will put every problem aside, every bit of ill will, and return to the friendship you once had when he sees your eyes open, and your heart soften. Halc never writes off a member of the Brotherhood, and I can sa that from personal experience.
Halc returns to leadership time and again, and when he does so, he puts forward all of the effort that anyone can put into the position, and he reminds us all exactly what kind of stamina, dedication, and caring we all need to have in every position. He is an example to me of tenacity and creativity, as much as he is an example of dedication and understanding. I have appreciated his friendship, I have enjoyed the fruits of his labors, and I am forever in his debt as both a member, a leader in the Brotherhood, and someone who will always hope to call this wonderful member and dedicated man a friend. He not only has earned a promotion to Dark Prophet, but Halc is worthy of every reward that we have in this Club to offer. His effects, his work, his changes will resound throughout the history of this Club, and we are made stronger because of the portion of the evolving foundation and structure that he has been a part of.
Halc, thank you so very much for your work. From the bottom of my heart, I sincerely appreciate all that you are, everything you have gone through, and all that you put up with to continue to offer this Club the best you have to give: your own heart and soul. Congratulations. ~Sith Bloodfyre-Tarentae, Quaestor of Tarentum
If you have spent any time in this club, you know who Halcyon is. Thereâs no need here for flowery words as his work speaks loudly for itself. This is a clear-cut situation in my mind. Halcyon Taldrya's last elevation was in mid-â06, and he has certainly worked incredibly hard since then. The Diamond Sword, two Sapphire Blades and Amethyst Kukri he has earned since that time speak highly of his work. This does not even include the hordes of lesser medals. His hand touches nearly every aspect of this entire club. Combat Master, MAA, Voice, Deputy Grandmaster⦠thereâs not many positions he hasnât served in, it seems. He oversaw GJW X, and did a fine job. His tireless dedication, time spent, and great efforts on behalf of the Brotherhood deserve serious commendation. I can think of no one more deserving of promotion in this entire club. Halcyon certainly deserves to be a Dark Prophet. On behalf of Clan Naga Sadow, we fully support his elevation forthwith. ~ SWL Macron Goura Sadow, Clan Naga Sadow Consul
Ever since I joined the Brotherhood, Halcyon has been a leader with very few pauses to relax and be a "normal" member. From the ACC to general leadership, Halcyon has been one of the very few members I have had the privilege to learn from and work along side with. As an ACC Staff member, he has taught me the rules and tricks of the ACC system and through his wisdom, has provided me with the vast knowledge of the ACC that I have used to assist many others. As a leader, I have come to him for advice and learned through his actions as a senior member of the Dark Council.
At this point, there's very little I could say that hasn't already been said about the Emerald-haired man. He has been an exceptional instructor, a valuable mentor, and an astounding friend. The rank of Dark Prophet should be reserved for those whose impact is so great, their contributions can be found throughout the Brotherhood and are detrimental to the success of the club. Halcyon is one such member and I can think of no other award to present to him than the rank of Dark Prophet. Congratulation, Halc! You more than deserve this! -DA Shikyo Keibatsu Sadow, Herald of the Dark Jedi Brotherhood
Halc to be promoted to Dark Prophet. Over 5 years its been from Halc's last promotion, and numerous positions he's served as, and various titles awarded. Over the last year and a half he's spent as the Voice and the current Deputy Grandmaster. I think Muz has been thanking some Star Wars club Gods since Halc became Deputy, because of Halc's activity as Deputy. While Muz left for his vacation at the end of the Independence Games in April, Halc was busy finishing up the grading and the awarding of Seals and crescents for the event. During the recent Great Jedi War, Halc was the one who coordinated who was grading which events, as well as posting weekly result updates on or before the Wednesday of that week. He had spreadsheets for each unit's participation ready and which member earned a nova during the war by the weekend after the war.
Halc has also been a place for me to go to for advice on different aspects for gaming. Any of my ideas I usually will got to him, even when he was Voice, because I knew he had been here a while, and was a former Commander of the Guard, and a fellow gamer. A lot of my decisions were based off his advice when it came to gaming. With The Old Republic coming out within the next month, Halc is in an oversight role for the guild to make sure myself or my staff don't loose our minds and run off from the Dark Brotherhood.
All in all, Halc's done a heck of a job over the last 5 years, and I'm glad I'm able to write this recommendation for his promotion to Dark Prophet. Congrats dude. ~Fremoc Pepoi Sadow, Fist of the Brotherhood
Halcyon Taldrya is this Brotherhood's foremost member. Through his work, multiple generations of members have enjoyed high quality competitions, vendettas, and feuds. They've learned under his tutelage and blossomed into the next generation of leaders and drivers that this organization requires to breath new life into it. It is profoundly evident to me, and to many others, that the time has come that he, the Deputy Grand Master, be elevated to the much deserved and rare rank of Dark Side Prophet.
Halcyon has served in a visible position of leadership for much of his career in the Brotherhood, and in deed the Emperor's Hammer before that. In my dealings with him he has been nothing short of a kind, patient, and demanding mentor to me. As his Proconsul in Taldryan he immediately set us on a course to revitalize Taldryan's fictional background, possessions, and attitude. As I stepped up to Consul, he was still right there, offering valuable advice, guidance, and perspective despite having been stolen from us by the Dark Council.
As VOICE, the first to hold that title, he greatly added to the waning fictional aspect of the Dark Jedi Brotherhood that had seen something of a slump since Raken had been Sarin's Tribune of Fiction. By encouraging large scale participation in Run-Ons, and monthly topics, Halcyon raised participation in this arena and aided the Grand Master in preparing the plot leading up GJWX.
His work as VOICE however is overshadowed I believe by his work as the Shadow Hand. While the Grand Master penned the plot and drove the initiative, I believe Halcyon executed the Grand Master's will in the last Great Jedi War by dividing the grading work amongst the pool of judges, keeping them on task, and doing a great portion of the work himself. It was his rule clarifications, buying sheet clarifications and work behind the scene that truly caused that GJW to go off without a hitch.
The rank of Dark Side Prophet is not one that can merely be attained by hard work alone. It is recognition of service, selflessness, and sacrifice. Its a recognition that a member's contributions have touched every aspect of the Brotherhood over the course of their career. I would challenge any given member, new or old, to point to a facet of this Brotherhood's activity, organization, or leadership that hasn't been touched or influenced by Halcyon Taldrya. The Antei Combat Centre runs because he holds it accountable. The Shadow Academy has felt the touch of his editorial hand. The fictional fabric that binds us together was tended to dutifully by his work as Voice. Taldryan is as great a House as it was a Clan because of his time as a member and a leader and I would venture far enough to suggest that Arcona feels the same way despite their occasional brashness.
Lord Korras, Master-at-Arms, I respectfully request at the behest of the Brotherhood at large, that you elevate Darth Bias, the Grand Master's Shadow Hand, Consul Emeritus, Son of Taldryan, my mentor and friend, to the rank of Dark Prophet. It is well deserved and long overdue. ~Lord Vodo <b>Bias</b>k Taldrya
Voice of the Brotherhood
So what else can be said? Halcyon has obviously left a hearty impact on the Brotherhood, his presence improving everything that he bothers to put his work into, which is to say a lot of things. He was influential as Consul of two different clans, as Master at Arms, as Combat Master, as Voice and as Deputy Grand Master (twice now). There's a reason he's held all those positions to the point of us having an inside joke of making Halc do everything. He's just that good.
Dark Prophet is awarded mostly to those who would have been Grand Master, were it not for other circumstances. Halcyon was DGM before I was, and had to step down for personal reasons back then. Even though he stepped down, he still made himself available for literally anything that the DB could have needed him for. Had he stuck with it, he'd probably be writing this recc for me instead of the other way around.
It's gotten hard to reward the man. I've been holding off on this promotion for a while because I know that the only award above this will require my retirement. He's a legend in this club, one of a select few who have made their mark and continue to guide because there's no other option for them.
It's well past time, Halc. Congratulations on the last promotion you can get without a DC vote. Thank you again for everything you have done, and for everything you will do, knowing how you are. ~Muz Ashen, Grand Master
Lord Muz Ashen Keibatsu, 2011-11-22 15:31:13 UTC