Again, I'm just a few hours ahead of the end of another chapter -- the Dark Crusade marches on, and with it, Plagueis! If you have anything less than full participation in this chapter's events, then close this window and get back to work. What I have to say is not nearly as important as your entries into the Shadow Academy exam, the fiction event, or gaming.

Whatever you put off until the last minute -- get it finished. Then come read.

36 ABY
The Anchorage
Edge of the Stygian Caldera

Overseer.

Underneath his mask, Eiko's eyes were glazed over as he scanned the ship manifests. Medical supplies, droids which could be wiped and set to Plagueian interests, and foodstuffs. While the items he was searching for weren't entirely under his purview, it affected his work. Too little food and the influx of slaves would have to be temporarily stemmed until another, more successful raid yielded the foundational ingredients for success.

Success that Eiko did his best to manage from a distance.

The cold gap of the Anchorage's central plaza stretched in front of and below the Overseer's office and quarters. Red curtains, stripped from the officer's quarters of a raided ship, covered over the view until the transparisteel could be fitted with variable privacy screens. Or perhaps the curtains would stay indefinitely.

Eiko caught himself staring at them, considering the play between the crimson field of the warbanner situated behind his desk, itself a relic of the Anchorage. Considering the wreckage that cluttered of the rest of the station, the Summit's offices were in better condition -- neglected more than abused, and sorely in need of updated equipment. Eiko had insisted on working alone, restoring his desk to a secure and stately appearance. Now, he abandoned that desk and pushed away from the seat. He parted the curtains and stared out at the broken displays, cracked superstructure, and torn banners.

Activity Report

Incoming and Outgoing

Welcome to House Plagueis, Jay Kyro!

Award Lists

Promotions

Shadowkind: Jedi Hunter

Competition Awards

Clusters of Fire: 783 in February (so far)

Alaris Jinn di Plagia (75), Arden Karn (1), Eiko (1), Kuro Kogarasu (27), Nariah Jadon (13), Nite Dawn (72), Silent (9), Solus Gar (304), Teylas Ramar (259), Tra'an Reith (1), Zuser Wheloc (1)

Scroll of Foundation: Solus Gar

Merit and Sacramental Awards

Dark Cross: Seabr'imsto'nedansr

Shadow Academy

Classes Passed: Furios (2), Seabr'imsto'nedansr (4), Garloaf (3), Arden Karn (2), Alaris Jinn di Plagia (1) (and everyone who passed the Cryptography Exam in Phase 1, Chapter 1!)

Degrees Earned:
Arden Karn: Dark Maven: Writing
Seabr'imsto'nedansr: Dark Maven: Flight, Dark Maven: Combat
Alaris Jinn di Plagia: Dark Savant: Tactics and Combat
Solus Gar: Dark Sage: Gaming

Rollmaster Report

This might seem like a skinny report, but I think we'll make up for it next month. I haven't reported the Novae from the Dark Crusade yet (not even February's chapter) since they haven't been officially awarded. You'll see those numbers next month -- DC willing.

Until then, I want to congratulate you guys on knocking the first phase of Dark Crusade out of the water -- we've already said quite a bit about last month's achievement, and since my report came out on the last day, I didn't get a chance to officially cheer. I've seen some incredible work from a bunch of you guys for this current phase, so I'm fully prepared to keep cheering for your achievements -- just make sure that you get your last entries in.

Competition Spotlight

Dark Crusade, Phase 1, Chapter 2. It ends tonight.

We'll then have roughly a month of peace and quiet to ourselves before Independence Games kicks off. I won't throw more information at you right now -- look for emails from the Summit once we're out of this chapter.

Activity Spotlight

On hiatus this month. I promise to bring you something new and exciting next month, though.

The Plagueian Path

I have very little to note on this, since we've been skinny on new joins and a lot of focus has gone towards Dark Crusade. I have seen very little communication between... well, most everyone. It's March. It's a hard time to get things rolling. I know that.

To anyone who still is a Journeymen, without a master, and interested in finding your way to Dark Jedi Knight, please email me personally. I'd love to take the time to work with you personally or to connect you with some of the very talented Equites we have hanging around this House.

Question Time

You guys asked good questions -- but the challenge for me is that you asked them and we had DCers swarming all over the place ready to answer your questions. Sarin, Fremoc, and James all showed up, and what questions they left unanswered were handled rather directly by Tra'an before I could pull together something for my report. So, here's some of the questions that they didn't get to answer:

"What is the word on the NPC idea that was circulating a while back?" -- Furios Morega The word is "One." Of course, you should have other NPCs hanging around in your history. But the longstanding policy is one NPC per person in a current, recurring role. This is judgment from on high, in the form of Tra'an's word.

If you mean another NPC idea, then I don't know what you mean.

"Can House Plagueis go after more economic power, like the Hutts instead of just seeking out Dark Side teachings?" -- Telum vas Umbra Solus had a very succinct answer. Here it is.

I agree heartily with what Solus suggests. I don't want us to become another crime syndicate House, or a corporate facade House, or even an esoteric House chock-full of Dark Side treasures and secrets.

We can certainly take time to stop and explore other things as we continue to build our House -- but I want you to look around and sense that this is ground that others haven't tread. Slaves? Correct me if I'm wrong, because I am a relatively new guy in the grand scheme, but I haven't seen a House or Clan rebuild on the backs of slaves -- nor have I heard of others going this direction. Is it better than what the other guys have? No, I like their concepts too. But I don't want to live our their concepts. If I did, I wouldn't be in Plagueis.

My perspective? We're already on that path. I know we had a discussion several months ago about "pirates" -- and whatever we've become, we aren't pirate raiders. We're an exiled nightmare, stirring on the edge of Sith Space. We've already claimed victory on Nfolgai. Perhaps Khar Delba will be ours as well, if you finish this chapter with drive and focus.

As we get space in the middle of Dark Crusade, we'll continue to develop Plagueis. I think you'll like what you'll find -- both Tra'an and Solus have great direction on this and I'm thrilled that you and I get to join in the story and go for a ride. Won't you join us?

Closing

Is Daylight Savings Time kicking everyone else the same way that it's kicking me?

I've still got a final RO post to write -- and you should probably finish off just one more competition. Y'know, 'cause I hear that's the cool thing these days.

No, seriously. Stop reading and do another competition.