Introduction

A Message from the Quaestor

Hallo, my malekstic Qel-Dromnians!

The winter weather has truly settled in, it seems, and with the flavor of our Clan event being equally frigid, I hope you’re all bundled up warm and with a cup of your favorite beverage to hand. The snow situation has been pretty hit or miss around my part of the world, annoyingly enough to make life difficult, but not quite consistent enough to let me enjoy skiing as a substitute to jogging…

There have been some major moves and shakes going on in the Club as well. What with some legacy things being discontinued and new stuff being announced. It also seems like we’re brewing slowly towards another War, but that’s still hopefully a few months away as these things tend to settle around Summer.

In the meantime, let’s make sure to show our Clan leadership how much ass HQD kicks in the snowy winterlands of Tunca and I have it on good authority there will be VDs going around afterwards. Erm, I obviously mean Valentine’s Day comps, not anything else that might be going around… cough

Signed, Your Lekhead

A Message from the Aedile

Hello fellow Qel-Dromans!

I hope everyone’s year has started off quite nicely! As Tali mentioned above, I hope everyone has been remaining bundled during this chill season. There’s not been much in the way of snow down in the south (if only) just cold.

Looks like some you guys have stayed busy during this frigid winter as the numbers have spoken! Proud of you all and keep up the great work! There’s plenty to be excited about so stay tuned for a House fiction update, news, and comps.

Anywho, I’ve rambled enough, go enjoy the rest of the report!

Signed, Jazzy

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. House Fiction Update
3. News
4. Awards, Promotions and Transfers
   
5. Crescent Leaderboard
6. Competitions
7. In Closing...

House Fiction Update

Cartel Territory
Port Ol’val
Late 40 ABY

“Unacceptable!” Daros Uvenki hissed, pacing impatiently around the stuffy room filled with choking cigar smoke. “We should never have thrown our lot in with the Hutt...” The last captain of the Mal Company felt his hand shiver as his temper threatened to get the better of him and he grabbed the twitching appendage before others could notice his momentary weakness.

“It seemed like a wise choice at the time,” the synthetically modulated voice of Vallan Provost replied. The Rodian seemed nonplussed about the situation, but Daros knew it was all an act. They both knew their empires were crumbling underneath them and what little remained of their once-glorious cartels were but pale shadows, allowed to exist by the Blind Man’s mercy.

After their failed attempt to usurp control of Ol’val, that had seemed like an agreeable existence. They’d bet all on Whallatta—and lost. Surviving the Dawn Conclave’s attack that followed, they’d been lucky to still be alive once the dust settled, but now…

Grainy footage of a security cam from one of their underground brothels played in the background of the smoke choked meeting room, reliving another humiliating bust by these so-called ‘Paladins’ as they stormed the establishment and set free the men and women they’d worked so hard to groom into perfect escorts.

Elsewhere, Vallan Provost’s dealings in illegal tech had suffered sudden and drastic setbacks when his tech-thralls had been beaten back from enforcing their long-standing monopoly on software imports. Facing genuine competition for the first time in decades, profits were down and Provost was keenly aware that every second they wasted was bleeding his coffers dry.

Unless things changed—unless they rid themselves of these self-styled lawmen—their cartels would be bled dry by petty merchants and rogue smugglers if they couldn’t enforce their own rules. So far, Ol’val had only had a single rule: Don’t kill—and get caught. But now, it seemed, these upstarts were attempting to shine the light of the New Republic into the Galaxy’s blind spots. “What of the Blind Man? Is he not suffering as we are?” Vallan Provost inquired. “He has more to lose than either of us. Why isn’t he making a move? Why are the Enforcers allowing those meddlers to run unchecked?”

“I don’t know.” Daros Uvenki paused in his pacing and leaned wearily against the armored transparisteel panel that offered a magnificent view over Ol’val’s entertainment district.

The sea of neon lights blinked off the pane, illuminating the Human’s creased features. He’d been on Ol’val since the beginning. He was all that remained of the old guard. He knew there would be no return to the days of yore, but he’d be damned if he’d go out with a whimper. The Mal Company had been the founding force of Ol’val, and though but a shadow of its former glory, it still counted some of the best street fighters among its ranks. They couldn’t hope to challenge the Blind Man’s might, not by a long shot, but there were enough of them to make one final show of force.

“I believe he is biding his time,” the Duros stated, oblivious to the Human’s introspections. ”According to my estimates, it would be favorable for him to let the Paladins weaken us into extinction before sicking the Enforcers upon them. It will cost him, but there is no ambiguity about the resolution. We are being exterminated.”

Uvenki scoffed, dry bile rising in his throat. “Exterminated, like womp rats, in our own nest no less. That’s not happening. Not while I’m still here.”

“Then what do you propose? Our forces are few and you are aware of the Ol’val decrees. If we attack the Paladins directly, the Enforcers will be compelled to restore order.”

“I’m aware,” Uvenki murmured. “But there are other ways to send a message…”

Read the rest of the story here.

News

Arcona News

Awards, Promotions, Consul Report

• Our glorious leader, Rhylance, is an Elder (god) now!

DB Wide Updates

• Good bye old things! The MAA is retiring the role of Rollmaster and the Legion of the Scholar.
• The FIST has been fisting more than usual! Magistrate applications are open, PvP is dead, Long Live PvP! Relatedly the PvP platform has changed and there have been some RoC changes.
• There have been moves and shakes in the artist formerly known as the Shadow Academy and now renamed Aurora Collegium! We got some new possessions items too!
• Speaking of new things, the Voice unveiled a new grading rubric!
• We have Clan Artifacts now! And our Blind Key is a real thing you can own! Henceforth, every month’s winner will get to keep the Key until the next month. Please use it responsibly, ok? We just cleaned up all the fire…
• Speaking of Possessions, we have new cool stuff.
• Justicar applications are open, btw. In case you fancy a career in Galactic Law?
• The Club-wide storyline is advancing! Hold onto your safety blankets, we have evil cultists abound!

Awards, Promotions and Transfers

If you have not already please say hello to the new faces of Druzk Zornosz and Melaril Duskvale

And now, for the Crescent list!

Mune Cinteroph
- 1 Crescent with Sapphire Star
- 1 Crescent with Quartz Star
- 6 Clusters of Graphite
- 12 Clusters of Ice

Socorra
- 1 Crescent with Diamond Star
- 2 Crescents with Amethyst Star
- 3 Crescents with Sapphire Star
- 13 Clusters of Ice
- 12 Clusters of Graphite
- Congrats on earning a Grand Cross!

Tali Sroka
- 1 Crescent with Ruby Star
- 1 Crescent with Amethyst Star
- 2 Crescents with Sapphire Star
- 1 Crescent with Emerald Star
- 4 Clusters of Ice
- 1 Cluster of Earth
- 3 Clusters of Graphite
- Congrats on earning a Sapphire Blade and Legion of the Scholar! Go Tali!

Edema Ruh-Kalinor
- 1 Crescent with Diamond Star
- 1 Cluster of Earth

Avery Watson
- 2 Crescent with Amethyst Star
- 12 Clusters of Fire
- 17 Clusters of Ice
- 65 Clusters of Earth
- 1 Scroll of Indoctrination

Zuza Lottson
- 4 Crescents with Ruby Star
- 13 Crescents with Amethyst Star
- 7 Crescents with Sapphire Star
- 2 Crescents with Emerald Star
- 1 Crescent with Topaz Star
- 12 Clusters of Ice
- 149 Clusters of Earth (Wow!)
- 3 Clusters of Graphite

Doon Sulvir
- 5 Cluster of Ice

Aru Law
- 3 Crescents with Diamond Star
- 5 Crescents with Ruby Star
- 3 Crescents with Amethyst
- 3 Clusters of Ice
- 2 Clusters of Earth
- 36 Clusters of Graphite

Jael Valsi Chi’ra
- 11 Clusters of Fire
- 3 Clusters of Ice
- 9 Clusters of Earth

Balthasar
- 2 Crescents with Ruby Star
- 3 Crescents with Amethyst Star
- 2 Crescents with Sapphire Star
- 2 Crescents with Topaz Star
- 18 Clusters of Graphite

Marick Tyris
- 59 Clusters of Fire
- 18 Clusters of Ice
- 4 Clusters of Earth

Sulith Bekett
- 58 Clusters of Fire

Archian
- 2 Clusters of Earth

Ziva
- 1 Cluster of Ice

Druzk Zornosz
- 1 Crescent with Amethyst Star
- 48 Clusters of Fire

Crescent Leaderboard

Below you will find the numbers used to determine the scoring and the leaderboard itself.
If you don’t want to be featured in the Crescent Leaderboard, let your House leadership know.

• Diamond: 7
  
• Ruby: 6
  
• Amethyst: 5
  
• Sapphire: 4
  
• Emerald: 3
  
• Topaz: 2
  
• Quartz: 1
  

Member	Points
Zuza Lottson	125
Aru Law	66
Balthasar	39
Socorra	29
Tali Sroka	22
Avery Watson	10
Edema Ruh-Kalinor	7
Druzk Zornosz	5
Mune Cinteroph	5

Looks like January has been a buzzing month for activity!

Once again, Zuza crushes the leaderboard with an astounding 125 points, maintaining first place! Not so hot on her tail is Aru in second place with 66 points, followed by a young Balthasar with 39 points resting in third place. Fourth and fifth are occupied by Socorra and Tali with 29 and 22 points respectively. The final three spots are taken by Avery; 10, Edema; 7, followed by Druzk and Mune who are tied by 5!

Great job everyone! Keep up the awesome work.

Blind Key

Zuza takes the Blind Key once again this month! This lady is not letting go of her key evident by her massive score on the Leaderboard!

Congratulations again Zuza!

Competitions

• Valentine’s day is approaching, and what better way to celebrate than with a Haiku?
• Here’s a new and interesting comp: Voice Acting!
• Do you have SWTOR? Then go and grab thematic screencaps!
• Aru’s Big Load of puzzles is still running strong! Try one of his puzzles!
• How about some good ol’ frenemies (fan)fiction to spice up your Valentine’s?
• Our very own Socks has a VD! Go catch it!
• CLAN EVENT! CLAN EVENT! CLAN EVENT! CLAN EVENT!

AskLeksAvery

• Wally wants to know:

  • “Do you really think giving Aru the Blind Key will turn out well for anyone?”
    • Tali: “No, the least of all Aru himself…”
    • Avery: “No.”

• Nero has a question for the ages:

  • ”How much wood could a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?”
    • Tali: “Hmm, a voodchuck vouldt chuck all the voodt it couldt chuck. But only if it couldt chuck voodt.”
    • Avery: “It seems they are more suitable diggers and are capable of chucking about thirty-five cubit feet of dirt on a good day.”

• Atra strikes from the blue sky with this poignant question:

  • What efforts do you make to be environmentally friendly?
    • Tali: “I have it on goodt authority that many things are recycledt on Ol’val. Yes, many things… too many.”
    • Avery: “I do believe my personal house droid has been programmed to recycle…”

• Kordath has many asks:

  • Is Tali taking a vacation soon? Using up some of that PTO she probably doesn't know she has?
    • Tali: “Vhat is Pee-tee-oh? Is that a droidt? I couldt go for a SPA veekendt…”
    • Avery: “Personal Time Off, Tali. Take some time for yourself, please.”
  • FMK, Kordath, Sprout, Bub
    • Tali: “I think Kordath is spoken for, so that’s not happening. Also, Bub is a minor? I don’t see many vinning bets here outside Sprout…”
    • Avery: “...”

• Zuza is simply dying to know:

  • Any dating prospects for either of you?
    • Tali: “Vell… For a long time, not really, but something came out of the blue…”
    • Avery: “I’m happy for you, Tali.”
  • Is O'Val gonna be prettied up for the occasion?
    • Tali: “So many hearts on the streets! Some of them maybe even decorative!”
    • Avery: “It depends on what you mean by ‘pretty’ and the desires of the locals, though I’m not opposed to being decorative.”

• Archian is asking the real questions:

  • Any free belly rubs for Shistavanens at Valentintes Day?
    • Tali: “As long as ve stay in the belly only…”
    • Avery: “Sure! Belly only though– Tali said it.”

In Closing…

Hope you’re all enjoying yourselves with the Clan comps! I know I am! (8/10 at time of writing) If you need any help, or ideas, or just a gaming partner for the Cluster race, remember that you have a House full of people willing and eager to help you out. See you next month, when things might go down on Ol’val…

As always, if you have concerns, ideas, feedback, recommendations or a general need to chat, we are always here for you. Whether on Discord (KuyAurelian#4515, Jazzy#2356) and or email.

Signed,

Sherlek Holmes & Dr.Watson