Wow, guys. Christmas Eve already. It's been an insane year so far and the fact that it's already Christmas is still blowing me away. I know that the Americans among us have Thanksgiving, but here in Australia, Christmas is our 'what are you thankful for' holiday, generally spent with family and friends. Right now I'm out with my mother's side of the family, seeing people that I love so very dearly that I have not been with for a decade. It's mindblowing. It's wonderful, it's incredible. Probably the best Christmas present I could get is seeing my family after so long. I hope your Christmas is just as great. Also, I'm jealous of your snow. It's freakin' summer here and Christmas is generally spent on the beach... if you're not 4 hours away from home and deep inland... bah.

However, I'm very thankful for the Clan, for this House - for the opportunity you guys have given me - and the fact that you guys have stuck around. Truly, thank you all for a wonderful experience as Aedile so far, and for your support.

Anyway, let's kick this report off so you can go eat some delicious food.

Current Competitions!

This week's christmas carol trivia has a surpriise two new entrants that won - Kairus of Shar Dakhan and took out first, and Teu took out second! Finally someone takes out Locke and Syntari, muahahahaha! Congratulations to the both of you. This week's trivia, Star Wars gaming, has already been queued up and is ready to go just in case I'm not around to make it happen. Don't forget to subscribe on Friday!

Gaming: Monthly Mobile Gaming: Hungry Santa, Monthly Mobile Gaming: Racing Santa, Ghost of Christmas Present, Ghost of Christmas Past, Do you feel Lucky?, PvP Domination
Fiction: ACC: Create a Venue
Graphics: Oh Sithmas Tree
Other: Disorderly Conduct, Your Sithmas list, Ultimate You, The Battle of the Bakers, Decode This!, Durese New Year

Promotions and Awards!

I asked for people to step up and get more than I did, and they did. Awesome work, ladies and gents. Without further ado:

Maelous Ascarend: Dark Pundit - Essentials, Dark Pundit - Vendetta, Crescent with Emerald Star
Ar'rik: Crescent with Sapphire Star x2
Teu: 2x Cluster of Fire, Legion of the Scholar
Vaar Mai: 2x Cluster of Fire

Current Events!

Oh my god Christmas this year. So many things. Literally, this is like a Christmas present set all its own. Announcing:

• In gaming, we've got a FIST Report, news about updates to Clusters of Fire and a poll, the announcement of Star Wars: Attack Squadron, the Christmas game sales, TOR Christmas events as well as the Gree event being back on. Tons of things happening right now in the gaming world that you should get in on.
• House Plagueis has an opening for Rollmaster. If you're interested in a Summit leadership position in another House, check out Montresor's application.
• A Muz report detailing some of the robes released as Crusade gifts, as well as a bonus for Brimstone of Plagueis (hnnngh Thrawn). It's some good stuff.
• And Orv's on a roll! First up, a gorgeous Orv comic! Custom avatars have also been implenented - get yours today! Mael and myself have them (as commissioned from Orv, in fact, outside the DJB) and we think they're wonderful. Next, and my favourite, it's Herald Style Hannukah, in the best traditions of the DJB. Day One, Day Two and Day Three have been released.

Sadow News Network!

I'd like to take a minute in this section to talk about something that Mal announced in his recent report that really hits home for me. As Mal announced, we have a little over a month to get over 40 members for Clan Naga Sadow again. This is extremely important that we do so. I've got some things in the works, as you all know, to help this process. I'm working on a new member's pack that I hope to have out for everyone by January that you can hand out, with some great resources for new people, whether before they join or just after, to read and jump right in to.

For this to be a success, though, we need your help. Every single one of you in this amazing Clan, this is when we need you to step up and show your support for Sadow. If ever you've wanted to contribute something to this Clan, now's the time to contribute: all we're asking is that you try and bring someone into the DJB. A friend, a family member, an acquaintance, whoever you think you'd like to share the magic with. Ask yourself what your favourite thing about this Clan is and share that love with someone you know. We're in the best damn club on the Internet and we want to show people that. What's your favourite aspect? The camaraderie? Fiction, run-ons, gaming, graphics? Chilling out in IRC? Competitions and vendettas? Whatever you love, share it with people. If they see your passion for this club, it'll build in them, too, and you'll be able to share this with your loved ones. Who knows, they might be a future Aedile, Quaestor, Independence Games Hero - even Grand Master. Who knows?

This is our time to build our Clan, coming into the new year. We'd like to build up our numbers again and keep going strong, bigger and better that we already are. I'm asking all of you, as a personal favour to me, to the Clan, to help out. One person. That's all. I hope it's not a huge request, but if you can help at all, you'll have my eternal thanks and gratitude.

2014 is going to be the Year of Sadow. Let's make this happen.

Maelous also released a Scepter of Ragnos report in which he copies my report style. Cheap bastard, he is. Well, imitation is the most sincere form of flattery...

You Know Who's Really Great?

This week I'm going to give some props to one of our newer members who has been working his butt off ever since he joined House Marka Ragnos. Say hello to the wonderful presence that is Ar'rik, ladies and gentlemen, a Jedi Hunter, a member of Scepter of Ragnos and one of CNS' strongest new members. In fact, out of every new member we've had lately, this guy is probably my favourite (despite being a Kiwi, but I won't hold that against him too much). Quiet and unassuming, he's got a great IRC presence. He's almost always talking there, asking and answering questions, being exceptionally helpful and generally an awesome guy to hang out with. If you want a reason to come into #naga_sadow, this guy is one of them, for sure. He's a family man! That's a thing! And, despite being new, he pulled a Gold Nova in the Crusade and has already earned two Anteian Crosses. Man. I don't think even I have two. That's some good work right there.

He's fairly active, too. Being a Jedi Hunter, he's only a task or two away from his promotion to Dark Jedi Knight, and he's been working very hard to get on that. I would have liked to promote him by Christmas, but occasionally things like real life come up, which is totally understandable, to be honest. He's done some good work and, frankly, I want to see more of him. His Summit task is to assist Teu and I with our House Prospectus, and he's doing some good stuff with that.

So, thank you, Ar'rik, and a merry christmas to you, sir, for being a boss.

In Closing

One more week. One more report. 2013 is almost over and it's been a long road. I'm looking forward to next year, however, and what it'll bring. I'm very excited.

And, of course, Merry Christmas and a wonderful holiday to ll of you. Enjoy your break, spend it with the people you care about.

That's it from me this week. Stay classy, Marka Ragnos.