This report is brought to you by the last week of essays and cold medicine, Rockstar Energy Drinks(™), and Atty thinking she’s hilarious (oh god not again). :P No though, I’m good. And y’know why? Because I’ve got all you lovely people.

Get ready, get down, and get reading, boys and girls. We’ve got DB news in droves, we’ve got a brand new shiny threeway clan event complete with fiction prologue, we’ve got Halloween on the horizon, and it is gonna be awesome. Say goodbye to September and hello to October. And to amazing.

And be sure to talk to the mirror when you do. Cause guess what?

Amazing is you.

Now, GO, GO, GO!

It’s Not Enough to Survive

Brotherhood News

The New Order: Chapter II: Treason

Early this month, our Grand Master released the latest chapter of DB-wide fiction, titled Treason. If you haven’t read it yet, you can find the PDF here. And if you haven’t, I am telling you to suggest that you do. The events in that update define not only the whole DB’s storyline, but where Arcona is going from here, factions, sins, and all. :P

But, just in case:

TL;DR:

• Treason!
• Seriously go read it ya ffffff— ducks. Yes, ducks. Ducklings. Go read my merry bunch of ducky lucky quacknums babus.
• I’ll never refer to you as ducky lucky qucknums babus again if you do.
• For srs tho
• Ahem.
• Jac returns home to Tal. Has he betrayed the GM?
• Aabs returns home to Plag, unsanctioned, with part of the Iron Fleet. Has he betrayed the GM?
• Rogue agents Telona Murrage, Krath paragon of Tarentum, and Wuntila Arconae assemble their secret cell of undesirables and ex-Orderlies in a resistance movement. Have they betrayed the GM?
• Guess what Jac didn’t betray the GM.
• Neither did Aabs.
• Tal and Plag are looking a liiiittle bit rekt. Just a bit. Just mostly rekt.
• OH GUESS WHAT that resistance cell? Yeah Wun just stabbed Telona to death because...you guessed it...he didn’t betray the GM. Oh and Val Cole’s there too. It’s a trap “Arcona Invicta” lol.
• There’s two planets and an alliance possibly up in flames. Pravus is pleased.
• Also he thinks “the waif” on the Serpentine Throne is going to lose her seat (and her head) real soon. Sucks for her.
• Wait that’s me.
• Oh crap.

In which the TL;DR is nearly as bad as the ten page which really isn’t that bad c’mon now ya butts fiction.

DC Shake Ups

We saw a lot of changes in our contingent of overlords this month. I want you all to join me in thanking Cethgus and Evant for their time as Fist and Voice respectively. We appreciate all they’ve done.

Applications for those positions were opened — as well as that of Taldryan Consul, best to Howie on retiring — and have since closed. Mav and Sarin have kept us apprised of their decision process, and we should see the all results pretty soon. Hang on in the meanwhile, and be sure to direct any questions to the office staff.

For how, though, take a minute to hop over to this newspost and congratulate Turel and Wally on their appointments to COU Consul (#siscons #ohana) and Voice of the Brotherhood respectively!

Hoorah!

A New Regent

We weren’t saying goodbye to Evant altogether when he stepped away from the Voice office, though. The man’s been a machine spearheading the Possessions project, and as we progress through the alpha and beta stages, it became obvious we’d need someone to tender to the system when it was done. So, Sarin announced a new Dark Council possession, Regent, to oversee it!

You can check out Evant’s first report in his shiny new spot.

Such ACC, Much Pewpew, Wow

My list of ACC-related articles be long this month. Wally and co spent a lot of time highlighting the newly announced NFU Disciplines with the continued trend of featuring them in articles and NPCs, including NPCs build by you all! You can see Feat tweaks and a Star Wars Writing Rescource guide put together by the ACC and Voice staff and some merry helpers in the last CM report and check out all these glorious focus articles listed le here:

• Build an NPC: the Scoundrel
• Focus Article: Field Medic
• Focus Article: Infiltrator

And, speaking of our Character Sheet system, James, in glorious collaboration with the Voice staff, has enabled an open sandbox area in the CSs. You can now go in and play around with what it’d be like to have your character rank as an Elder, Grand Master, or even back to a Journeyman if you liked. Dive in and play around! Details for access here

Herald Shoutout — Art and Plagiarism

This is a tough topic, not only in writing but in art especially. The former Melons o’ Selen takes a seat to talk about the Do’s and Don’t’s from the Herald office in his first Praetor update here. Go find some important GFX info, talk on tracing and photo manipulation, and the Clusters of Graphite.

Dat Big Wiki Comp

Finally, a reminder that Slags and co have a massive set of competitions involving the wiki running that you can check out here. There’s some pretty sweet rewards up for grabs, including first-level Crescents and a unique dossier accessory.

One Must Be Worthy of Survival

Clan News

Most of the news for us on a Clan-level involves the comps I’ll be discussing below...however, there’s still plenty to be had! Our Houses are busy as ever, with Gal undergoing some more faction-licious fiction updates while HQD tackles their wiki revamp head on.

You can also frolic over to the Rynmaster’s last report and give some love and cheers to our sweet JMs.

For now, though, heads up, eyes open, and pay attention. I’m about to tell you what we’re doing for the next eight weeks. ;P

And Sometimes, You Just Have to Roll a Hard Six

Sins of the Past...wait...what?

Previously, our tentative date for Episode III of Sins of the Past was set for October first, to run alongside the event we’d be participating in with Tarentum (more below). However, we decided that we wanted to give y’all the chance to focus your energies in each respective event, especially since we’ve got Halloween competitions on the docket later in October too.

That said, the next Sins Episode has been postponed, as of now, until November. You can expect it to start about the second week or so so that y’all have time to rest a bit after those candy and candied drinks comas.

Don’t forget too much in the meantime! Remember, you can always refresh on the whole plot thus far here on the Discourse page.

Now, let me introduce you to...

....drumroll AFTERMATH a Threeway Event!

It’s my pleasure to finally announce that Arcona will be joining our allies Tarentum and their friends Plaguies in a threeway joint Clan extravaganza. Treason (see above) and betrayal have wracked the Clans who defied Pravus, and now, as Plagueis’ homeworld and fleets burn, one of the Brotherhood’s oldest alliances threatens to crumble under the turmoil. Will Arcona and Tarentum be able to salvage their alliance? Will Plaguies and Tarentum successfully strike back at Pravus and his Iron Legions? Will you betray your Clan? Your Brotherhood? Will you bow? Retreat? Or will you fight?

And if you do, who will you fight for?

It’s time to make a choice.

Atty be like.

This event will last the month of October, with several events running for its duration and several unique mini-fiction, wiki, trivia, and gaming events every week. Get out there and show your Clan colors (black, darker black, and rainbow, duh)! Get in the trenches with your allies — or enemies? — of Plagueis and Tarentum and fight for victory and survival. Crescents and a whole lotta fun are up for grabs, folks.

Find the events here, find our half of the opening fiction prelude below, and find the rest of the opener in this report by Beefles. Go make some new friends, go try some new events, go show the rest of the DB what you can do.

Go be you, Arconans.

---

Aftermath: Prelude — Ripples

The Citadel

Selen

34 ABY

“Combat the Throne directly?” Timeros’ cool voice, as flat and uninflected as ever, somehow scathed. “Such an attempt now would be foolish. The fact that a vengeance-mad child entertained all-out warfare against a superior force does not mean it is a tactic we should execute.”

“What other alternatives do we have, with the Grand Master’s forces hovering, the Inquisitors a step ahead, and runaway Jedi,” the word was sick as it fell from Rayze’s hot-blooded lips, “as our closest allies? These attacks from Teroch and Lorden have been too much a strain on top of it all.”

Kordath interjected, "How's abouts we, ya know, dinnae go wavin' our arms about at tha crazy darkity dark type who be glassin' planets and killin' folks, eh? Stay away from tha black robed goons o' his and the whole bleedin' thing."

"That's cowardly—”

"Bloody smart is what it is, do like tha Jedi did and just karkin' take off. Why are we gettin' involved, sendin' supplies we may have a need for and info that pretty obviously came from us, eh? Why we sendin' our own folks ta live on tha run? Bugger 'em all, keep our heads down and live."

"The First Clan does not surrender—”

“How much more must we lose?” It was Sashar that interrupted, quiet, grave. His haggard face was set around eyes aged a hundred years.

“Look, bub, we’re all just so sorry for your losses, really, but our concern is the ones still alive to give a damn,” snapped Terran, taking his boots off the table as he sat up. "And I, for one, plan to stay that way."

"How about ya just shut the kark up instead?" K’tana hissed in irritation as the Twi’lek bounced her forehead off the table top, wrapping her arms around her head and lekku.

“Gentlemen, lovelies," interrupted Atyiru as she drew herself up, her calm, solemn tone cutting through the clamor of those gathered. For the second time in so many weeks, the Shadow Lady wore mournful black. But her presence was strong. "A break is in order. I believe if we continue to shout at one another much longer, we all may end up deaf, and I, for one, rather need my ears.”

Many of the summiteers around the table growled or murmured their agreement and reached for drinks, tabaac or another particular vice, drawing into small circles to discuss amongst each other. Many familiar faces were also present by holo, former members of the Summit — many of the Arconae and Elders who had departed for other roles or whatever facsimile of retirement the Brotherhood offered had been called back amongst the chaos, entrapped either by loyalties or by the Consul's will.

"Lady Consul," a flat, steady voice said to her right. She turned to her Proconsul.

"Yes, Lord Scion?" she stressed, imitating his tone.

"A word?" He nodded aside, and the Miraluka gave a faint smile, tipping her head in acceptance. The pair strode over to the chamber's sole viewport, its shades open to allow in light, an often annoying addition to some.

"Now, my dear," Atyiru murmured as they drew out of even enhanced hearing distance. "If I let you talk, are you going to abscond again before I've even had the chance to check on your wellbeing?"

“You and I both know it is better for us to be apart, to split our enemies’ focus that much more.” His eyes flickered around, lingering on clusters of people bunching in groups — Arconae with Arconae, Braecen, Tamashi, and Larrik, Zujenia with K’tana and Marick, Ruvak and Kharoc, even Zakath waiting for him to the side and the few bodies that made no move to cluster at all, like Kordath and Terran. “All of them.”

“Careful, my friend. Your mistrust is showing.”

“As it should.”

“And why is that?”

“You know exactly why. If any of the traitors among us don’t put a dagger in you first, then Pravus will, and you refuse to do anything substantial about it.”

“I made you my right hand,” the Miraluka challenged. “Just as I’ve entrusted the rest of this Clan where they need be.”

“They need to be culled.”

“Must you be so callous?”

“When you must be so careless.”

“I must be the opposite. Someone has to care, to care about all people, even the unlovable. Someone has to be sad that they are gone, and glad that they did live. Someone has to wish them mercy when no one else will. Every single soul in this universe...each deserves that.”

“No, not every one. Some men and women simply need to die, Atyiru.”

“I disagree.”

“You do so foolishly.”

“I do so faithfully. Whether or not you regard those as one in the same is at your discretion.”

“I will kill Pravus, given the chance.”

The Miraluka turned to him, expression sorrowful. “And I will stop you.”

Uji scoffed and turned away, hand spasming on the hilt of his gruesome saber in frustration. “He needs to be stopped.”

“But he doesn't need to die.”

“It is foolishness if you think one could be done without the other. He's a Grand Master, Atyiru. He might be insane, or worse, not. What would we do with him? Attempt to contain him, only for complete disaster later? No. We end this, the only way all men can end.”

“Redeemed.”

“Buried and forgotten.”

A heartbeat stretched between them, the Scion's eyes hard and cold as a dead star's core.

Read the rest here.

---

Dem Factions Tho

Reminder as ever — you’ll notice this as a new permanent report feature for the foreseeable future — for our ideological factions, different schools of thought that draw different people together and lead to certain goals and actions in Arcona.

These “factions" have long been developing amongst all our individual characters and in the stories we as a Clan have told, and they’ll be our device to further establish ourselves and develop now! They’re our boats to help us along in the fictional sea of the New Order storyline, its eventual War wrap up, Sins of the Past, Aftermath, everything from DB to BT level, and more.

It’s still a very big chart.

If you want to go back over the specifics and thorough details of all the factions, refer back to my previous report on the topic.

Reminder that some of the standing Summit and Arconae (and a Barabel) have all declared their factions to help out as a reference. You can check them for an idea of who’s who, where, doing what — just bear in mind that while YOU know these allegiances, your characters likely don't.

• Atyiru: Champions
• Uji: Operatives
• Kordath: Wildcards
• Braecen: Iron Loyalists
• Terran: Wildcards
• Wuntila: Shadow Hearts
• K'tana: Wildcards
• Larrik: Iron Loyalists
• Marick: Champions
• Timeros: Shadow Hearts
• Sashar: Shadow Hearts
• Strategos: Shadow Hearts
• Zakath: Operatives

We saw movements from all of these groups over the course of Sins II and will see them not only later in Sins III and in House fictions, but also going into Aftermath.

Among the Champions we see Atty calling for justice, peace, and diplomacy as treason threatens to topple Arcona’s oldest alliance and rock the foundation of her throne; we see hints at Braecen and his fellow Iron Loyalists stirring up trouble by exacerbating the uproar in favor of the Iron Throne; we see Shadow Heart Wuntila acting against his Summit’s wishes and murdering a Tarentum figurehead in efforts to keep Arcona on Pravus’ good side; we see Uji and his fellow Operatives calling for blood in answer to Wuntila and Val Cole’s betrayal; and we see the Wildcards protesting the rising bloodlust and political turmoil.

What’s next for all these groups? How will the events of Sins affect them, and each of you? How will your stories continue to build under the New Order?

Go find out.

Other News, Reports, and Happenings

• Herald Report #17: Life of Sin
• Voice Report #15
• Praetor to the Fist #1
• Senechal Report September
• Regent Report #1
• Wiki Report #14
• Odan-Urr Proconsul Report September
• Tarentum Proconsul Report #9
• Qel-Droma Report #6
• Galeres Quaestor Report September
• Tal’Mahe’Ra Report #1
• Nighthawk Report 011
• Shadow Gate Report September

Recognition

Y’all turned out some very impressive achievements this month. It makes me proud to see all these merits and sacs and promos, to see you all rewarded for all that you do. Enjoy your accolades, my darlings. You’ve all earned them.

Braecen Kaeth

• Amethyst Kukri

Atyiru Caesura Entar

• Promoted to Augur
• Dark Side Scroll

Celevon Edraven Erinos

• Grand Cross of the Dark Side

Livana Agrona

• Dark Cross

Revs

• Dark Cross

Ernordeth Puer-Irae

• Grand Cross of the Dark Side

Uji Tameike

• Dark Side Scroll

Rins'zler Sang-Kalinor

• Promoted to Mystic
• Anteian Cross

Xenna Azara

• Steel Cross

Rulvak Quorr0c

• Sapphire Blade

Val Cole

• Grand Cross

Ask the…drumroll...Gold Team

Kant asks, What sort of circumstances would drive Atty into taking Arcona into open resistance against the Iron Throne? #asktheatty

• Atty: either a) when the opportunity arose to confront Pravus’ forces on equal footing with their allies, or b) when he targeted them directly. See also, Pecan :P

• Donny: What makes you think we aren’t already? Often times it only takes a single shot to begin a revolution. And you can be assured, neither Atyiru nor myself are going to throw away our shots.

Skar asks, #asktheatty would Atty allow skar to return home to Kalee and use his clan leader status to gather allies for clan arcona?

• Atty: All are welcome. As long as he’s back before supper. /me wags finger
• Ghost S'nar:

Scarlet asks, #asktheatty what made you want to join the DB?

• Atty: my friend and beta reader from fanfiction.net (Nath/Lucy, my would-be recruiter) was spending more time doing stuff for this mysterious Star Wars club than hanging out writing Skyrim stuff with me, and when she asked me to join so we could keep hanging out together, I did, even though I wasn't interested in Star Wars and especially didn't want to be a Dark/Sith (hopeless lightie here). Stayed for the people. <3

Mirus asks, #asktheatty if Atty was gonna sacrifice us to any of the zillions of gods across all the (not-so-) fictional pantheons, which would it be?

• Atty: Uuuuuhhhh, probably like, Azura or Meridia from the Elder Scrolls pantheon.
• Donny: Cthulu, it’s the reasonable choice. After all, why choose the lesser evil?

Zujenia asks, #asktheatty what question do you ultimately wish to answer?

• Atty: Yes.

Xenna asks, #asktheatty when is arcona taking over the brotherhood?

• Atty: #FirstClan :P
• Donny: Looks around we haven’t already?

Kant also asks, #asktheatty Time for something a little more hard-hitting: milk chocolate, white chocolate, or dark chocolate. And yes, there is a wrong answer there. A heretical answer, even

• Atty: Milk chocolate, always. White chocolate is a lie and dark is too bitter for my tastes.

Len asks, #asktheatty What is your favorite color

• Atty: Rainbow. Yellow, preferably the sunshiney or buttery shades. Pale, light, cheerful, warm.

Tisto asks… a lot of questions, lol. Let’s do this:

#asktheatty when will tisto and Atty meet?

• Atty: Whenever you like. He could covertly be sent to Selen as a messenger from COU, or come with a COU delegation to a third party planet away from DB influence for one of the rare Resistance meetings Atty attends (I’m sure they have to happen sometime). Alternatively, ACC me anytime.

#asktheatty what are you doing for the different factions in arc

• Atty: see above in the Factions section for some of our more recent fiction highlights. Everything the Clan does as of right now has ties back to those factions.

#asktheatty how is Atty reacting to all the destruction caused by pravus

• Atty:

#asktheatty when will you become gm :p

• Atty: Y’all are really latched onto that one :P
• Donny: hands out the Atty4GM 2017 stickers

#asktheatty how often does atty get to practice medicine while running arc

• Atty: Not as often as she'd like. She used to balance AED duties with a full time medical-surgical rotation and the upkeep of the Citadel's medcenters and medical staff. Now she's got to delegate most of that back down to the nurses and combat medics and such.
• Donny: When someone on her Summit manages to get themselves shot, stabbed, poisoned or otherwise notably impaired. So relatively often between our Rollmaster and Proconsul
• Atty: ….that too.

#asktheatty when do demons run?

• Atty:
• #DoctorAtty He's her spirit animal, 9, 10, and 11.

Followup, #asktheatty if demons run when a good man goes to war will Pravus run when atty goes to war?

• Atty: Pravus isn't a demon, he's just a man, and he needs help like any other (even if first he needs to be stopped).

Miho asks, (of the previous answer) Gently guided or forcibly driven?

• Atty: probably the latter if you ask COU and 99% of ARC and the DB :P the former if you ask Atty. She has it in her head and heart that he needs saving too, which many in and out of character find silly, but she firmly believes it.
• Donny; Note from the fiction above… others have different ideas on how to help Pravus.

Wally asks, #asktheatty Who wins in a fight, Rainbows or Sunshine?

• Atty: Sunshine, because it — and rain! — beget rainbows in the first place.
• Donny: There can be no shadow without the light, no rainbow without the sun?

David asks, #asktheatty How do you feel about glitterbombs? Any plans to give Uji's wardrobe more color? :D

• Atty: That answer is always yes. If it makes him feel better, it can be red glitter, and he can pretend it's the blood of his enemies.
• Donny: And look damn fabulous when he goes to war.

In Closing

Our damn awesome year is continuing, my dears, and it ain’t showin’ signs of slowing down — that’s just not how we roll. Grab your brothers and sisters, give a cheer, and do what you love and do best: win the day. Whatever you choose to do, you’re gonna do it, and you’re gonna do it well. I know it.

That’s all this time, Arconans. All the best, and as always,

Arcona Invicta!