Tarquinus

She can do such things, and she is not the only one. But she must do that, if she wishes to effect such a change... and she will not have changed our wills one iota. This is what we have willed. This is what we have built. Criticise us, kill us, imprison us, ban us, do what you will: it is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees, and I have no intention of living on my knees, in this world or any other.

[quote name='Metal Bunny' post='31941' date='May 21 2009, 08:25 PM']Someone please answer me this. The purpose of the HC is, in direct or indirect manner of way, in their best perceived interest of Loreroot, the land. Correct? And the HC exists only out of members from the loreroot alliances/guilds. Correct?[/quote] Yes, and yes. [quote]And only alliance members may vote, correct?[/quote] Incorrect. Those unaffiliated with alliances may vote, provided they express their intent to vote to one of the Censors (Gremlin or Mya Celestia). Those of other [b]homelands[/b] are asked to refrain from voting. [quote]And during election time, absolutely no one (random MD player) could/can get an invitation into the alliances, correct?[/quote] That such a thing could be assured seems unlikely. It seems possible someone could get an invitation into the alliances during an election period; there is no express prohibition against such a thing.

Someone praised the Council? Who? For what reason? Of the 7 seats on the Council, 2 are currently vacant. The Council can only function at all because 4 votes makes quorum - and a simple majority (among 7). I await the results of the seat up for election, and believe the other will be filled when Council can meet again and make an appointment to replace the worthy Shadowseeker.

I do not hate you, brother, as I believe you know. Have I not made every effort to extend courtesy to you and respect your neutrality? I do not think you mean to imply that I am your enemy, but when you speak of "all of Loreroot", you tar many people with the same brush.

[quote name='Mya Celestia' post='31893' date='May 21 2009, 03:19 PM']Please forgive my tardiness in returning these requested figures: Of the original 27 members of the Guardians of the Root alliance 11 voted 6 unable to reach 7 unseen 2 did not vote 1 retired Of the 16 members of the Children of the Eclipse at the time of the vote 6 voted 2 unseen 4 unable to reach during election 4 did not vote None of the Savelites or Creators voted[/quote] Thank you, Mya. You have consistently displayed a cheerful and helpful attitude, and you have not shied from doing the boring legwork of trying to speak to all these people.

[quote name='chrispr' post='31848' date='May 21 2009, 11:50 AM']decided to join loreroot alliance[/quote] Which one? There are four: the Guardians of the Root, the Church of Savelfuser, the Children of the Eclipse, and the Crafters. I cannot speak for the others, but we of the Eclipse screen prospective members. If you wish to join us, please say why, and in what role. What about us appeals to you? Will you be a knight or a priest? Are you familiar with the codes of conduct above, and do you agree to abide by them? Have spoken to LunarGoddess, Karak, Dark Mystic, or myself in-game?

I wish some of them would speak.

If I feared negative opinions, why would I respond to you? I have no alts in Loreroot. You know this. I try to make nothing private. I take what I found when I arrived and I accept it. If you are saying I should not accept it and ignore what little co-operation remains in Loreroot, I am delighted to agree, for it has been nothing but a burden. What lies have I told you? What is it you think I am "afraid" to show you? I do not fear you at all.

At the time, he had not yet left the Guardians of the Root. This election happened weeks ago.

"Luci" would be myself, Lucius Tarquinus. I tolerate all manner of irritating nicknames, for to condemn them is to give them power over me. I fail to appreciate how the election of the Lorerootian Council affects all of MagicDuel in the sense that everyone in the realm is entitled to a say in who sits on that council; but whether I appreciate it or not is immaterial. The electorate of Loreroot itself declined the continued assistance of Pamplemousse, voting overwhelmingly (mine was the only dissenting vote) against opening the elections to the entire realm of MagicDuel for voting. As Burns indicated in the first place, the turnout is high for a democratic process. No one can be forced to vote, which is a privilege and not an obligation. I dislike the democratic procedure of the Lorerootian Council, and I wrote it. Why? Because the residents of Loreroot wanted an inter-alliance, Lorerootian Council and a charter for that council. Given to my own devices, I would ignore the Council and tend only to the Eclipse, which is a theocratic dictatorship run by myself and LunarGoddess, the Sibyl. I participate in this "Council" in the interest of harmony, and because I personally promised Nelya Setesh, all those months ago, that I would. This nonsense about the politics of Loreroot has placed inordinate and inappropriate demands on my time, and I am no longer interested. If you wish to convince someone that the Lorerootian council [u]needs[/u] to be re-elected, convince the others. Convince Amoran, Firsanthalas, Ibruzu, and Karak. Convince Siala Lone Wolf, Gremlin, Mya Celestia, Sagewoman, Windy, Lady Renata, and all the rest. I have said more than enough on this subject.

Happy birthday, my friend. Enjoy the day.

That sounds about right. Mya Celestia might have a more precise number.

Clarification: General is an appointed, not an elected position.

I concur. Grido has shown remarkable friendliness despite my initial fierce hostility to him, and I note a few of the old Savelites back in their alliance, seeming satisfied. I welcome them amongst us, and I will help them in any fashion I can.

1. This question has been answered already. 2. Censors determine the size and constituency of the electorate, and do not collect votes. The process of vote collection is simple, and has been explicitly stated. 3. Neutral parties do not name nominees. Does Japan nominate candidates for office in Romania? These nominees - and there are five, not four - were named by Lorerootians.

The people of Loreroot have spoken, and think almost unanimously that this election should be a matter for people of Loreroot. My guidelines posted above stand: if you wish to vote in the election but have no homeland, please notify Gremlin or Mya Celestia. All votes should be submitted to Karak. If you sent a vote to Pamplemousse, worry not, for she has given to Karak the few votes she received. On behalf of the inter-alliance cooperation of Loreroot, I offer heartfelt thanks to Pamplemousse for her offer to moderate and her honest criticism and recommendations. Let no one question her integrity or her neutrality, for she is a model of both. I cannot emphasise strongly enough that Pamplemousse is neither an ally nor a puppet of Loreroot in any way, but a dignified and independent neutral.

Frankly, I abhor democracy, and the Eclipse does not function as one. I carry on democratically out of consideration for those who wish it so.

[list=1] [*] [b]What can be done to help make Loreroot better?[/b] Loreroot needs to play to its strengths, which are diversity, creativity, and culture. Loreroot should shore up its weaknesses, particularly in dueling, but it should also concentrate on its strengths and be true to its nature. [*] [b]What do you think can be done to bring everyone closer together?[/b] Lorerootians need to do more together. They should train together, quest together, and so forth. They already party together. [*] [b]What do you think is causing people to leave alliances?[/b] That is a question with vast implications, and I am uncertain I know the answer. What causes people to leave the realm? As to alliances, I think the difficulty is partly to do with the combat system and how difficult it is to train whilst staying in an alliance. In other cases, internal strife - and contrary to what some may say, Loreroot is not the only land that sees such strife - and worse, stagnation can drive people away from their alliances. But when people become emotionally distraught, they tend to leave dramatically, not just from alliances, but from the realm. [*] [b]What do you feel can be done to fix the problems in lore?[/b] Loreroot's problems are no greater than any other land's, and hardly different. Still: Lorerootians must stay focussed on solutions more than problems, on the collective strength they gain from their diversity. [*] [b] What do you need for the High Council to better serve you?[/b] As I am on the High Council I shall say that first I should like to see the two vacant seats filled. Second, I should like to see Councillors engage each other candidly and respectfully, for we have much work to do, and [u]we[/u] are to blame if our inter-alliance co-operation breaks down. [*] [b] What skills/gifts/talents to you have to offer?[/b] I have long experience in leadership, I am a strong warrior and a fair tactician, and I am not easily cowed. I have focus and writing skill, having authored the Loreroot Charter and the codes of conduct for the Children of the Eclipse. Finally, I have a working knowledge of the history of MagicDuel, both recent and less recent, from my experiences in the realm, from my conversations with Archivists and veterans, and of course from reading the Adventure Log. [*] [b]What would you like to see in Loreroot?[/b] More joy, more friendliness, more of the spirit of the Loreroot I know. Alone among the lands beyond Marind's Bell, Loreroot is accessible to everyone. Let us welcome all who come, letting them know our reverence for tradition, our enthusiasm in the present, and our delight in new friendships are the things that drive us and distinguish our land from the others. [*] [b]What do you believe could make Loreroot a better and more entertaining place?[/b] More cooperative roleplay, more inquisitiveness into the land and its mysteries (have you ever been to Path Keeper?), and more quests! I am working to redress that last point particularly. [/list]

The election to replace the Speaker of the Law will be open in one half-hour, 0800 Server time, Day 137, and will remain open for 48 hours, that is until 0800 Server Time, Day 139. The nominees: [list] [*] Gremlin [*] Mya Celestia [*] Siala Lone Wolf [*] Lady Renata [*] Sparrhawk [/list] Please send all votes to Karak via PM. [u]TITLE[/u] your PM "LOREROOT ELECTION - SPEAKER OF THE LAW". Make sure it is clear who you are and for whom you are voting. I have removed Windy from the list of nominees as she has resigned from the Guardians of the Root. This voting is open to ALL residents of the land of Loreroot, including the neutral Crafters if they desire to cast their votes*. To those not yet affiliated with a land, I offer encouragement to submit your name to one of our Censors, Mya Celestia or Gremlin, and indicate your desire to vote in this election. If you have another homeland, I humbly request that you refrain from voting. Thank you for your co-operation. *As neutrals, the Crafters are under no obligation whatsoever with respect to the inter-alliance organisation represented by the High Council.

[quote name='Burns' post='31299' date='May 17 2009, 01:52 AM']what is the point of non-combat pacts?[/quote] Whatsoever point there once might have been is now gone. I never questioned it, for whatever reason; I was simply told not to attack fellow Loreroot alliances without permission, and agreed (since I really wanted to get the Eclipse started, and was eager to gain support), and was later told not to attack the members of Guerrilla Golemicarum because Loreroot had signed a non-aggression treaty. And I tried to observe these rules for months before the Eclipse officially existed, though I was aware the observance of the treaty was uneven, to be charitable, as much on the Loreroot side as the Guerrilla Golemicarum... if not more. For the record, I disciplined a member of the CoE for having violated the treaty with GG - twice. His punishment, as decreed by Shadowseeker, was a blessing in disguise, though the fellow in question certainly felt the weight of it at the time. Anyway, interesting point, and it is a shame tempers ran so high on a matter that is in fact so trivial.

Thank you, Ailith. Your help is always appreciated - and this would have come out anyway.

Please, please, please: peace, my friends. This is a misunderstanding. Kragel, my brother, the idea of Loreroot alliances asking permission to attack each other is an old one, but hazy and never adequately explained, let alone enforced. It was not clear whether, for example, Willow's Shop was an exception. This tradition goes back to RPCs who are long gone, and the Savelites were never properly informed, and so on. When I swear in members to the Eclipse, I inform them that, as a matter of courtesy, [b]we[/b] do not attack members of other Loreroot Alliances without first asking. This tradition is by now utterly pointless, as fight balance no longer helps (and, in fact, most skilled fighters now skew themselves heavily to losses). Luna has been with us a long time, however, and remembers some of the old traditions. They were never laws, so, respectfully, I submit to you that no one has ever been 'forced' to do or not to do anything. Finally, to reiterate, I have tried very hard to acknowledge your neutral stance in Loreroot, and to offer you participation in our inter-alliance cooperation... but not to require it, as I honour your intentions. Luna, beloved Sibyl, I thank you for your acknowledgement of the miscommunication. I know some of those who love you are calling for Kragel's head on a platter, but I believe you do not want that. To my fellows among the Eclipse: I honour your show of support for our true leader, and thank you. We are no democracy; and we of the knights will always close ranks behind our priestesses, right or wrong, blunt or courteous, for better or worse.

[quote name='Firsanthalas' post='31141' date='May 15 2009, 06:46 AM']I voted for Karak to be President. I am not disputing that Karak is President of the Council or that I voted for him. I am however questioning the remark that Karak is also the Leader of GOTR. Currently you are the leader of GOTR as you occupy that slot. If Tarquinus made a mistake in his statement, then Tarquinus or anyone else can say so. Don't try to make out that I said or agreed to something I didn't. A statement was made in public. I questioned that statement. If it was an error, then say so and all can see it and understand. Don't jump down my throat for speaking up about something that I felt was incorrect.[/quote] I made a mistake, and issues of terminology - which I have said above I don't really care about, despite some very high-pitched inisistence that it matters - are part of the problem. Amoran is the systemic and symbolic leader of the Guardians of the Root alliance. Who is the actual leader of that alliance matters little to me: it can have a secret leader, a junta, or be an anarchy, and I feel that is nobody's business but the Guardians'. Not the Eclipse's. Not the general MagicDuel public's. Nobody else's but the Guardians'. Similarly, if the Guardians wish to punish or otherwise change the composition of their membership, I have nothing to say about that, just as I would disregared anyone else's recommendation about conduct in the Eclipse - [b]except[/b] where it involved matters affecting joint diplomacy. To name one example, I disciplined a knight - twice - for violating the joint-alliance non-aggression treaty with Guerrilla Golemicarum (he kept attacking Grido, and Grido rightly lodged a complaint.) Karak, as president of Council, presents a unified face for the alliances of Loreroot. In that sense, he is our "leader", and I believe his calm, unflappable demeanour amply demonstrates why you, I, Ibruzu, and Amoran voted in Council to select him. Out of respect for BlackThorn, I called our alliance of alliances "the Guardians of the Root." My mistake: that was a bad idea, as it seems to cause confusion. I believe you, Firsanthalas, understand Karak's position, scope and limitations of authority, and role. I publicly apologise to you, Firsanthalas, for my carelessness in terminology, and offer this clarification to those watching this topic.

[b]Note: web-searches and textual analysis indicate that nearly all the above prayers are the [u]original works[/u] of MagicDuel players.[/b] The sole exception is "Song of the Goddess" submitted by Dark Mystic, in real life a single mother with an infant child and a full-time job, who admitted she lacked the time or the writing gift to submit the requisite prayer to join the priesthood of the Children of the Eclipse. I told her it would be ok to use this relatively obscure pagan prayer, given that this is not from a major, living religion with large numbers of people to offend, and given that the "hymn to Hecate," found everywhere from modern Satanism to the fiction of H.P. Lovecraft, had been used by Khalazdad on several occasions in rites pertaining to Necrovion. Dark Mystic is now a PWR with a very interesting role that contributes to the flavor of both Loreroot and Necrovion.

I work for nothing, all right. You show you are weak in argumentation. I will not start again.