I wish to make public a humble petition I have for the Grand Duke of the East - the Merciful and Wise, the one and only - Chewett.

I have come to the conclusion that the Caretakers alliance, which it has been my pleasure to lead for a good few years now, is currently, and sadly, redundant. I believe every alliance should have a purpose, and most importantly, be able to fulfil that purpose - otherwise they become little more than vanity badges.

When I first took the alliance over, it was with the goal of bringing new blood in, and to make death a more common - but less frustrating, experience.

I was pleased to welcome both lashtal and Lazarus into the alliance, former Necrovions who I felt matched the somewhat dark persona of the alliance. It was also a pleasure to later welcome chriselnenepr, a new player who had great potential - and still does, should they ever return.

Many changes were made to the death system, including making self revive a plausible, reliable, and very easy method of revival. This was mostly implemented by Azull and Syrian, if I recall correctly, via A25. There was also a public, if more difficult, revival process implemented in the East, again, mostly by Azull if I recall. There was much activity, including death and keeping an eye on the East, to be done.

Nowadays I find myself the only active Caretaker when I log in, on most days. I have not been able to contact Mallos, someone I consider a good friend and Caretaker. The death system has, essentially, been unilaterally disabled with no consultation. There is no need to keep an eye on the East, when there is none to endanger it.

Given all the above, I no longer see a need for the alliance to continue in its current form. I would ask that the alliance either be officially disbanded, or given to someone capable of providing it with new meaning in the current environment.

Yours truly,

The Evil and Terrible Ledah

I think this is a fair assessment, and honestly it touches on a larger issue within MD: alliances should have a purpose beyond simply preserving their name and badge.

That said, I would rather see the Caretakers rebuilt than buried.

The alliance has history, identity, and a theme that still fits MD extremely well. If death itself no longer provides enough purpose, perhaps this is an opportunity to redefine what a Caretaker actually cares for. Death, the dead, forgotten places, abandoned mechanics, the East, old rituals, or even maintaining knowledge and traditions that would otherwise disappear could all fit naturally within its identity.

MD has changed considerably, and some of its alliances probably need to change with it. I am facing a similar question with the Crafters Guild: preserving an alliance for nostalgia alone accomplishes very little, but taking something old and giving it a reason to exist again can add something valuable to the realm.

So I would vote against simply disbanding the Caretakers.

If Ledah no longer wishes to carry it, find someone willing to give it a new purpose, give them the freedom to reshape it, and see what grows from there.

Old things in MD don't necessarily need to die.

Sometimes they just need a new role.