In normal times, I try to space out some of our awards and promotions, to give each member a moment of glory on their own. Today, I do not have that luxury, thanks to the tireless efforts of three of our brightest leaders in this club.

These three have done great works for their units, each in different ways, each with different challenges. They have all exuded confidence, strength, and the will to see their vision through despite obstacles. They have not done this for their own glory, their own awards or legacy, but they have done it for the Brotherhood that we all share, for their houses.

These three leaders are all being recognized with promotions to Equite III; two Battlelords and one Exarch.

I'm posting up my reccommendations here for all to see, but I encourage you to take a moment and read what others have said about them in the official reccs, and take a moment to appreciate what they have done for their houses and for the Brotherhood.

Thank you.

There are some easy leadership jobs in the Brotherhood, and there are some that can drain you. Leading any unit can be a drain on your time, on your energy, taking everything that you have to give and still needing more. Tarentum is no exception. With n Old Guard well entrenched in the system, a very rapidly changing environment in the club that threatens to disenfranchise those older members, and an overwhelming need to drive new joins into productive and happy members, it can be overwhelming.

Scion Altera has weathered these storms admirably, fighting the ship at every turn, working hard to combat those who would rather complain than contribute. Tarentum was hit particularly bad with the changes to canon powers int he club, losing much of their self-identity when necromancy was removed from our system. Much of their lore would either need to be rewritten, reworked, or just plain deleted. Driving the team forward witht he work of other leaders who have since left the unit due to these pressures, Scion has worked diligently to bring Tarentum into the present while still honoring the past.

Today, I honor a man who works hard and expects nothing in return. I salute a man who has bled for Tarentum, for her glory, for her future. I acknowledge a man who has toiled with the new members adn the old guard alike. I promote a man who is long overdue.

Thank you, Scion.

The Brotherhood has a tide. Anyone who has been here for more than a few years can tell you that. We can see the low rise of activity, the crest of movement, and the slow denouement into quiet, such as it is, before the waves start rushing once more. For decades, the Throne has tried to harness this tide, to control it, and in the Crusade, we have found a new high-water mark. We've done this to try to help the Clans and Houses in their individual tides, which may not necessarily coincide with the rest of the Brotherhoods.

Rian Aslarhas seen defeat, the echoes of a great clan now silent. He has talked with those who have seen the great times, reminisced with them over times now passed. He has worked with them to try to breath life into the House once more. He's tried to fight the tide, to make it rise again. It's been an uphill battle, but it has been worth it.

Having awakened the earth, those giants of ages past, he's used them to drive more and more rain from the heavens, swelling the rivers of activity and breaking old dams to let the waters rise again. He's chained new members to old, to bring the wisdom of the old guard to the new members so that they may learn from the mistakes of old, to benefit from their struggles. He has rekindled the fires within the Taldrya, and driven them to War, not against other clans and houses, but against what they once were, against what they could be again.

We stand together now, looking at what the future holds. We see the tides rise and fall, yes, but there is more movement, more energy tahn there has been in years. Yes it is due to the house entire, but it is the catalyst that we always seek, the beginning that we acknowledge, that we salute. Rian is this catalyst. Rian is responsible.

Today, I recognize Rian for his work in resucitating Taldyran, to rekindling the embers of that great unit and making them burn brightly again. It is time we hold him as an Exarch. Thank you, Rian.

There are times when a decision must be made while on a precipice. Plagueis had seen their entire summit fired due to impropriety, casting aspersions upon their hard work, their entire record across the Crusade. It was not a good time for them. I had to open up both primary summit positions for applications very shortly before the event was to kick in again, giving whomever I chose very little time to acclimate to the situation and gain the respect of those they were to lead.

It could have been a disaster.

Montresor made it a success. Bringing in his real world experiences in leadership, and taking many notes from those of us who have battled the political climate in the brotherhood, Montresor left the comfort and strength Of Arcona to test his own mettle. He dove into the problems headfirst, demanded authority, earned respect, and drove the House to a spectacular finish, tying our strongest clan in a direct confrontation. He took a house that was preying on the weak and made them into a legitimate contender for anything that we can throw at them. Instead of being satisfied with a crippled house, aggressive re-recruitment campaigns built the house up, beyond even past glories. Instead of teetering on the brink of disaster, the House now hovers at the edge of Clanhood.

I can only imagine what he can do if I give him more time.

It is with pride that I am able to promote Montresor to the Rank of Battlelord. Thank you for all that you have done so far, Montresor.

Thank you all, gentlemen.