The members of Acclivis Draco didn't know what was going on. A parade had been called. By the Aedile. And it was day-light. Even Timbal was stunned into silence, and there were no sarcastic jibes from Yeldarb either. Surely something had gone disastrously wrong. The Aedile slowly dragged his feet out in front of the silent Dark Jedi, his cloak pulled tight around him from the cold air, the jolly red hat he was wearing was a new addition, but its frivolity did not match the dark air that surrounded the huge man.

"I come with grave news." He pulled the hat off his head, wringing it between his hands, betraying a nervousness never seen before by any member of the House. The members on the front row of the parade wondered if they really could see Cuchulain's cybernetic eyes welling up with tears.

"The Alderanian Ale stocks in the bar are almost depleted..."

The shock of the simple statement swept through the ranks. RevengeX started to weep.

=====================================================================================

Dark dudes and dudettes

I hope all your Christmas shopping is going as well as mine. I'm almost done and while I can't wait to see the looks on people's faces as they open the presents on Christmas morning, I'm more excited about what my girlfriend will be doing to me on Christmas night, with all of the excellent gifts I've got for her. Cos I'm a great boyfriend.

As happens in this time I have a lot of functions and parties to attend so I will try to keep drunken rants and declarations of love to a minimum I must forewarn you all now. Impetus - it might be best if you just ignore my drunken attempts at getting you into a private IRC channel...

Lost Time Comp

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Congratulations go to GRD Tra'an Reith for winning the Lost Time competition. His excellent submission will be posted to the House archives as soon as I get round to it and a link will be sent out.

Congrats Tra'an! Medals are in the post!

Other comps

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The Clan competitions listing on the MB has been updated. No doubt you all have it listed in your favourites, but here's a link anyway, so go check it out and do stuff!

http://www.darkjedibrotherhood.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=3969

Open Positions

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Not within the House, but there are a few positions open in the rest of the Brotherhood. Should you feel the need to apply, but need help with your application then I am more than willing to help. Even if it means you turning your back on the House and Clan that has nurtured you with such love and attention. :P

Applications close for the Herald Magistrate position at 23:59pm EST today, so you'd better hurry up if you want that job. Have a look on the news page for the full script on what is expected.

The Aedile Position of House Qel-Droma closes to applications on Sunday 16th. Applications should be sent to the email addresses below, with your email appropriately labeled "Aedile Application for House Qel-Droma". M<ore info on the news page - arconae(at)yahoo(dot)com and quejobandon(at)gmail(dot)com

CSP Oscars

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Your chance to vote for who you think fills the categories below. Please take the time to send an email to Impetus (impetus(at)inbox(dot)com) listing those people you think are the best. Anyone can, and everyone should, use this opportunity to show where you think credit is due.

*Cooch waves his hand and speaks in a slow commanding voice "You will vote for me..."

Best Summit

Best Writer

Best Gamer

Best Wikipedian

Best Newcomer

Best IRC Personality

Best in Wartime / Vendettas

Best in HAD

Best in HC

Best in HDS

Best Overall CSP Member

Hotels

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The Mollington Banastre Hotel in Chester is crap. Never go there.

Procrastination

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I am probably one of the biggest procrastinators ever - just as Revvy and the Clan Summit! :P Anyway, I only got one submission for the Lost Time Comp. Just one. Gutted! Having spoken to a couple of people while it was on I was told that they were working on it and would get something to me, and this never happened. Due to my own tendency to put things off I am okay with allowing more time for events if I get some advance notice - but you have to let me know!

Things I have been procrastinating - finalization for the promotional guidelines. This thing is a beast, and I am having trouble fitting different elements into the breakdown with it being an out-and-out points system which gives no direction. A re-think of how I have the courses grouped may be in order, that ties up with the Dark Maven elements of the SA for the higher ranks should make it easier to run and track. Perhaps.

Also, procrastination, though not from me this time, is slowing the development of the Envoy handbook. I need a few documents sent through to me to compile and come up with a tome that is easy to understand and use.

Cooch's Final Thought

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This is a busy time for most members of the House both online and offline. Family / work / school and shopping may (and should) begin to take priority over what we do with our geeky mates in our online club, but we should still strive to move forwards, still give as much time as possible to bettering ourselves, our DB characters and the DJB for the betterment of everyone.

Sometimes circumstances mean that we remember supposedly happy times because of not-so-happy events that occur around it, and the holidays can be quite stressful. But that is why we are here in this group together. We are here as a collective of mutual support, and in some of the darkest times of my life I have had help from people in this club to get me through them.

We are here for you. We are a family.

Bear that in mind in all that you do. Here you have an expanded friendship base above and beyond your offline relationships and that is a group of people you can call on to help with most things. Even if you areas much of a geek as me.

Timbal though... he's the biggest geek of all...

~C

KPN Cuchulain Darkblade Palpatine

Aedile and Rollmaster Of Acclivis Draco

RevengeX's Number 1 Bitch