Battle Team Leaders Report - Shadow Gate

Shadow Gate Command Room

Port Ol'Val

(written by Loki, edited by Etah)

The door slid shut violently behind the two Dark Jedi as they entered the dimly lit room. Console lights illuminated the hilts of the sabers on their sides and as the automatic sensors picked up their movements the room was bathed in a reddish glow. Adorning the walls of the room were the banners of the three Dark Jedi Orders which sat and opposite the door they had just entered, under the sigil of House Qel-Droma and the Battleteam symbol.

Loki d'Tana ran his hand across one of the nearest consoles and raising his hand to his face he observed the gathered dust upon his black gloves. He turned his head to his companion and nodded gently. The hood of his robes were pushed back and long black hair fell down over his shoulders, his face hidden behind his death mask. The mask itself displayed both feminine and male features and adding to the bulk of his armor and robes it became near impossible to tell wherever Loki was male or female, something he enjoyed immensely being a shape changer. As he spoke the inbuilt voice modulated added further confusion by being toneless, "This place is a mess brother I wonder when last someone even stepped in this room. It needs the cleaning droids in before we choke on the filth."

Etah let out a low chuckle and turned his back to the younger d'Tana as he circled the room, his robes flowing behind him. "The Battleteam rarely meets in one place Loki so this room has never really needed any attention. In fact I'm still not sure we'll use it again after tonight but it’s convenient for now at least." He walked back up and stood next to Loki as the Dark Jedi Knight adjusted his robes, "You seem nervous Loki stop fidgeting it will be fine." He flashed a grin and turned his head as the doors slid open again and members of Battleteam Shadow Gate walked into the room.

Etah nodded as Kanis and Marrek walked in together, the two journeyman looking around the room with a small sense of wonder before taking their seats at the front of the room closest to the podium. One by one the older members of the team joined them, Fet'ai'narun, Ood, Timeros and even Strategos took their seats. Loki took a silent step back in the presence of some of the Elders but held his nerves and was glad for his mask.

When the entire team had settled Etah stepped up to the Podium just as the door slid open again and two more figures stepped into the room, "I hope you do not mind us sitting in this Etah? I am curious to see what you have in mind for the team’s new beginnings."

Etah turned his head and grinned, "Not at all Quaestor, you and the Aedile are free to take a seat." As the two new entrants sat down to the side Etah checked himself and with a flick of his wrist dimmed the lights and was instantly bathed in shadow. "Ladies and Gentleman of Shadow Gate, honored Guests welcome, let us begin."

Etah’s Introduction

Hello guys. My name is Etah d’Tana, I am sure most of you know me; if not my quick spiel is that I have been a member of the Dark Jedi Brotherhood for about seven years, and I have been Arconan for every single one of those years. Psyko was my original master; he pulled me through Dark Jedi Knight during the pre Erinos years. Our very own, Timeros, became sort of an extended Master during my later service in Arcona.

I made Templar for serving as Battle Team Leader of the Qel-Droma phyle and Aedile of the House Galeres, and for being the highest scoring Arconan during the Great Jedi War where we came in one or two steps from the bottom. I made Prelate for serving as Aedile of the House Galeres during our first out and out victory in the Great Jedi Wars. I served as Questor of the House Galeres for some time after that.

Since then I’ve been around, participating in every major competition, fighting very hard for second place with Legorii in the Trials of Loyalty and leading various Battle Teams here and there. I have participated in every phase of the Dark Crusade and lead a (now defunct) battle team successfully through the pre-Dark Crusade run on and the first two phases of the Dark Crusade. Now I am here.

As the new Gate Warden I would like to announce the newly created position of Gate Steward which will be filled by my own apprentice, Loki d’Tana. I will let him introduce himself and then I will quickly go over some additional information.

Loki’s Introduction

Hi guys, I'm Loki d'Tana or in IRC Morrighan. I've been around the block nonstop for the last few months and have been picking up bits and pieces here, there and everywhere. I'm a keen follower of Monty's get work done and by the end of the crusades I'd like to think everyone be on that page.

As for who I am, I'm a 25 year old computer games design student, studying programming at college before going into a 3 year computing degree and 1 year teacher qualification. My real names Opie and I'm pretty much your average student. Drink, smoke, study and well stuff! Add on too if that in also in training for my first year degree in Wicca with my local Coven and suffice to say I'm a busy bee.

I'll help you guys achieve what you want to achieve. I won't apply any sort of pressure because the clubs not the same for everyone. To some of you it's a chill out zone, pop in once a week, do a competition here and there and not bother about the rest, to others it becomes lots more and I'm, along with Etah are looking to help out all of you guys. Won't hold your hands but suffice to say won't leave you stranded.

Anyway all I can say is trust in the d'Tana bros and we'll get shit done!

~ Loki

Expectations

I don’t believe a Battle Team is a place to be if you don’t plan on taking place in the Clan competitions, the house is there for that. Me and Loki will work with you if there are happenings beyond your control but we need you to contact us If there is a phase of the Dark Crusade that you cannot, or don’t plan to participate in for whatever reason so we know what to expect. This cannot be done for more than one phase in a row.

I am not a hard ass, this shit is supposed to be fun after all, but I expect some amount of communication. Every month me and/or Loki need some sign that you are alive, be that a PM on IRC, an email or participating in a competition. If you fall off the face of the earth for more than 30 days, I am going to start asking the House Summit to think about transferring you out of the battle team.

I think we have the beginnings of what could be an awesome battle team, to rival the Soulfire of yesteryear. In my application for Battle Team Leader of Shadow Gate, I stated that I want to make this Battle Team elite, not because we only admit the best, but because we help those who join us to become the best.

Dark Crusade

Last phase of the Crusade our participation looked like this:

Gaming

• DJK Loki d'Tana (5th place)

• DJK Kanis Da'uul

Poetry

• DJK Fet'ai'narun (5th place)

• DJK Kanis Da'uul

• DJK Loki d'Tana

• OP Etah d'Tana

Run-on

• GRD Marrek Gunstinson

• DJK Kanis Da'uul

• DJK Loki d'Tana

• OP Etah d'Tana

• KE Ood Bnar

GFX

• DJK Kanis Da'uul (1st place)

• OP Etah d'Tana

• DJK Loki d'Tana

Fiction 1

• OP Etah d'Tana (4th place)

• DJK Loki d'Tana

• DJK Kanis Da'uul

Fiction 2

• DJK Loki d'Tana

• OP Etah d'Tana

• DJK Kanis Da'uul

• GRD Marrek Gunstinson

Shadow Gates Total Participation Rate: 2.1 (21 entries divided by 10 members)

Kanis is the rock star here, taking first place in the graphics competition and submitting in 6 out of 6 competitions, closely followed by the new Gate Steward, Loki d’Tana who competed in 6 out of 6 entries.

All in all, five of the eleven members of the Battle Team did not participate in the Dark Crusade. I know there are a lot of crusty Equite veterans here and I know real life is busy. I sympathies with both of those things, but this next round of the Dark Crusade is very very important. Some of you know, in the next round of the Dark Crusade, we get to take on House Plagfail. So far they are the winners of this event, having beaten us once.

The Dark Crusade ends here. If we win in this next round, we pull even with Plagshit and break their spirit. If we lose, they pull two ahead and victory is theirs. So this is the moment to pull it down, this is the moment to lay down the law. This is the time to let our Invicta shine.

Let’s do this!

Fiction

Spies and assassins are cool and it directly contrasts with the infantry mentality of Galeres which is good. But why do we spy? We do we assassinate?

I think there could be a funner fictional angle than just being an intelligence apparatus, maybe something cult or secret society like. I am thinking less Imperial Intelligence and more Prophets of the Dark Side.

I would very much like your input.

~ (#8075) OP Etah d'Tana (Obelisk) / BTL / Battle team Shadow Gate of House Qel-Droma [ACC: II]

~ (#8106) DJK Loki d'Tana (Sith) / BTS / Battle team Shadow Gate of House Qel-Droma [GMRG: I]