JARHEAD wrote:

>Radeek I doubt will ever discuss this with Wolfloner IC. Radeek feels a decision was made by one person (Wolfloner) that affects everyone involved in the Landing. A very bad decision, as far as Radeek is concerned. Even though Radeek firmly believes Wolfloner had no ties to Cross before these events he now lumps him in with the followers of Cross, Blood Oath or not. The rescue and escort of Nysina from the boat reinforces this belief. Radeek also believes that due to Wolfloners close association with Turinrond that he may have been swayed, or even assisted by, the Coyote. At the very least Wolfloner was recruited by Nysina for this deed at the behest of the Coyote. This was a very very bad day in Dae'Randir-ville as far as Radeek is concerned.

>*THIS NEXT PART IS PURELY AN OOC OBSERVATION*

>It appears the Dae'Randir have changed over the years. Gone are the days of the shadowy machinations and secrecy. The gentle and subtle nudges of events in one direction or another have been replaced by visible displays with no consideration for how far and wide those actions may travel. The Dae'Randir I knew would know EXACTLY what reaction an action will have, or at the very least a number of possible variables would have been noted and planned for. Nothing was done for the sake of "Doing it". Nothing was ever personal, beyond the occasional assassination, and even then it was clinical. This latest turn is not what I perceive the Dae'Randir as being. You can say "this is the direction we chose to go" and that's fine and you can tell me I'm living in the past and maybe I am. However, think about what you were and consider what you've become. There will be no going back. The flags have flown and the light is now firmly affixed on the Dae'Randir for better or worse. Your shadows are now in brightness, there is no hiding from the light you have placed upon yourselves. You can also say Wolfloner wasn't representing the Dae'Randir. It doesn't work that way. The Drakes Vanguard paid a price for the Cosima rescue, though admittedly it was a lot less than I thought. It's all about perceptions.

>Radeek Andoran
>General, Drakes Vanguard
>Defender of Wehnimer's Landing
>Black Raider of the Mir'Sheq

---

For the first part, I do think it's a mistake not to talk to Wolfloner about Wolfloner's actions; lumping the whole group in with the actions of ONE or TWO members is akin to everyone treating the Drakes Vanguard based upon the choices of Radeek, Qistra, or Archales - which, near as I can tell, is not a conversation taking place in Elanthia at the moment.

At the very least consider that Wolfloner was present during the release of Grishom Stone from Cross/Winter's possession: to associate him directly with Cross, as an ally or otherwise, doesn't add up. It's much more believable and likely that Wolfloner took actions to assist Nysina, the Commander of a group of Nalfein exiles (Shades of the Rose). This, in my mind, would very much line up with the Dae'randir's previous actions, focus and motivations. That's my public estimate on the matter - again, I am less than comfortable speaking on another's behalf.

Having said that, I am beyond pleased that the group name is being openly used at all - although, I must admit somewhat sadly that it is probably only Radeek doing the talking.

*

Has the organization changed? Of course it has. I was gone for 4.5 years. My grasp on the membership and the face of the organization wasn't all that spectacular when I left, at least behind the scenes. I made some mistakes in some friendships OOG, and I left when I left due to frustration with some of the defining mechanics of my character as well as RL setbacks and concerns. I handed the ball off to the next generation of leadership, and while Elanthia was never far from my thoughts, the choices I made back then were for me - and I had to trust, and by default, I had to let go.

In my mind, the organization has evolved. And succeeded. Our active membership is as strong now as it ever was. We have a beautiful building, the monastery, and if I stopped playing tomorrow, I would feel very satisfied at whatever impact and legacy I have left upon the game that has been a tremendous inspiration to me in my own storytelling. In short, I am very very proud of the Dae'randir and our membership.

*

>It appears the Dae'Randir have changed over the years. Gone are the days of the shadowy machinations and secrecy. The gentle and subtle nudges of events in one direction or another have been replaced by visible displays with no consideration for how far and wide those actions may travel.

The group has changed and evolved, yes. I was never, ever a militant leader. I never valued mechanical dominance over cunning. Part of that was Turin's makeup and personality - and part of that was the reality of the mechanical skills of our membership. When one establishes goals and dynamics for the group, one has to take into consideration the abilities of the individuals. We were more secretive, discreet, not solely as a stylistic choice, but also as necessity to play to the strengths of our membership.

Something else, however, was that I was a tyrant and an unwavering taskmaster when it came to pushing paper and documentation. The paper trail and the complexity of the amount of effort I put into stockpiling, organizing and redistributing information was - quite frankly - bordering on manic and obsessive. No one, no one could have been expected to keep up with that - frankly, I don't know how I did it, and I don't know how "fun" it was for the other members.

The last thing is that the population of Elanthia has evolved. There's a much smaller population, and a notable percentage of that population is tremendously skilled (i.e., post cap), which means that the "threat" that Turinrond posed as a character, platemail wearing ranger, master of ranged combat and stealth, no longer exists upon his return. In fact, since I've missed out on the enhancive and fusion explosion, Turinrond is actually LESS of a threat now than he's ever been. Do I go around threatening people? No, never have, and never will. But I never had to, either, because in any given invasion, he'd take a room down on his own and people would know, "hey, don't mess with that guy." Nowadays, I'm just some twerp who gets incapacitated during every invasion and most bandit bounties by rolling groups of post-cap adventurers. It's humiliating, to me, as a player, to no longer carry the weight that I worked so hard to RP and foster and develop in the decade or whatever that I played this character. But, it's also a challenge and one that I am striving to overcome.

The point of that? Intrigue, back then, had influence. The promise of threat, the unstated notion that THERE ARE CERTAIN PEOPLE THAT YOU DO NOT MESS WITH, which was a very deliberate, painstaking and constant constant RP effort - no longer matters in Elanthia. And really, short of being able to summon Onar at my whim and leisure to shadow-choke and stab those who disrespect a member of the group, there ain't a whole lot I can do about it, but for what I'm doing now. Intrigue no longer has the influence it once had, and my influence certainly is incredibly nonexistent compared to how it was. Particularly in the Cross Into Shadows storyline, where there are players with 4 years of emotional investment and character history going into this final chapter, the fact that I've been able to do ANYTHING noteworthy is a miracle. I can only attribute that to my experience in these matters and banking on the legacy I once had, plus the fact that the GM's in charge of the storyline are very responsive to player initiatives.

Now, having said that, let me say this. Cross Into Shadows is not the only thing going on in Elanthia at the moment - it's just the biggest. Very much in alignment with our group dynamics and objectives, we have a pleasantly (or disturbingly) amount of members scattered throughout Elanthia, in key positions of influence and impact. I can't say anymore than that, of course, because that's the point. What you see in Wehnimer's Landing is a fraction of our membership engaged in a fraction of the notable events in Elanthia. I will always be a vocal Onarian, that is not a role I am going to step away from. But there are Onarians of all shapes and sizes, and it is my experience and observation that most of them are not as vocal. We have always held to a policy where members had the choice of being open or covert. I have always imagined my role is to cast a shadow within which other shadows may linger.

That, in fact, has NOT changed about the organization at all since its inception.

In my opinion, Wolfloner brings an air of militancy and power to the leadership of the organization that excels anything I ever had. In many ways, he is my superior as a leader, and he brings to the fore of organizational dynamics an element that I never did, or could. Most of the current active membership was recruited by Wolfloner, and really, they don't know me at all, but for being the loudmouth founder who causes trouble once a month on the boards or elsewhere.

I don't know that you and me are living in the past, so much as romanticizing it, while disregarding the present. Five years ago, no one would have dared blocked the door to a group of Dae'Randir on a black ops mission - and no one would have dared attempt to subterfuge that effort through a rescue attempt. Back then, pressure would have been applied by the opposition (of course), but it would have been applied through cunning and distraction and the subtleties of influence. Now, everytime I do something people don't like, all I hear are threats and insults. For that, I want someone like Wolfloner in charge.

I realize that Radeek's view is what it is, but I think it's important to note that the current Dae'Randir is as much a product of its leadership as it is of the environment. That we are gaining some notoriety through actions and influence is actually of some use, in maintaining our presence in Elanthia. Some of the visibility is intentional.

The current group dynamic is similar to other groups, in that collectively, we share goals and visions, but individually, our membership maintains their devotion to the group and to Onar in the way that best suits their personality and style. You can be absolutely certain that, for instance, that if I had not joined Cross, one of ours would have. Likewise, we have spoken in the past about codesets, but the proliferation of information has made their use unnecessary as of yet. There is most certainly a prepared set of codes ready for implentation.

Last but not least, do not think that whatever circumstances shine whatever light on whomever key members is not intentional. The average person cannot watch all things and events with equal clarity - eyes that are upon me, for instance, cannot and will not be elsewhere. Sacrifices I make for the group and for Onar are absolutely in line with my beliefs. The group is as strong as it has ever been, and the current beneath the surface is swift and sure. I'm thrilled beyond words at the current leadership, membership and the role the organization has played.

---

~ Bill, Coyote.
"Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth." - Marcus Aurelius

<Aligning with Tayeros and the House of Kestrel was a poor choice and against the interests of the Landing.

I know yer not sayin I allied wit' 'em, cause I dinnae, an ye shoul' knows me betta den dat, Wolf. I don' neva supports da Empire. I don' hunts da Demonwall on accounta it helps da Empire fer me ta does it. I don' care when da follerers a Cross kills Imperical soldiers in da Landin', on accounta dey be Imperical. Aye, I did cheer Tayeros on, each an' ever'time der were a follerer a Cross on dat boat. M'only r'gret be dat I weren't in der ta hears 'em a'screamin....beggin'....wimperin'...under da knife. I cheered, loud, fer Phever's sake. Da ONLY people ye dids a service to wit' dis deed were Cross an' his follerers, but I reckon ya a'ready knows dat.

So now it be da Landin' yer worried bouts eh? I seems ta r'membas ya tellin' me it were bad fer da Dae'Randir ta has da Impericals here. Weren't neva no mention a da Landin' when we talk'd. Nice try at dat twist, but we both knows betta. I reckon all ya dids was bring more pain ta us all by not lookin far 'nuff down dat road, 'cause when da Empire comes...an dey will come, I reckon der gonna wanna know who kill't der Magister. Let's see how proud ya is a yer p'sition den. R'memba yer words when dey's marchin thru da gates, not carin' who dey hurts ta gits what dey wants. An' der a'gonna be a'wantin' you, Wolf.

<The catalyst for this change was the assault inflicted on Phever by Cross. Your single minded focus is on revenge and you care not what path you venture on to achieve that end.

Ain' been no change in me Wolf. I see's Althedeus as da enemy, da final enemy. Not no magister, not da Empire. Cross jus' has a big parta m'attention right now. An' I'se jus' gittin' start'd down dat path. Mebbe if ye had somethin' happen ta someone close ta ye, den mebbe, jus' mebbe, ye'd un'erstand. I can only hopes it don' happen ta ya, 'cause I don' reckon it'd be fair ta wish's dat on anyone. Any time yer wond'rin why I'se doin what I'se doin', er why I'se doin' it, why doncha jus' takes a good hard look at Phever...mebbe den ye'll un'erstands.


Radeek Andoran
General, Drakes Vanguard
Defender of Wehnimer's Landing
Black Raider of the Mir'Sheq

Only the dead have seen the end of war - Plato

<Do I view the presence of imperial troops occupying the landing a threat to the Dae'randir? Yes, without question I do

Den why does somethin dat's only gonna bring more?

*OOC HERE*
<I am saying you aligned yourself with Tayeros, that is not even in dispute.
From the wording here I "think" there's supposed to be a "Not" in there

Radeek Andoran
General, Drakes Vanguard
Defender of Wehnimer's Landing
Black Raider of the Mir'Sheq

Only the dead have seen the end of war - Plato