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Friday, June 30, 2017

10 More Questions with....Andrew "Lysis" Adams


Photo by Lexie Mitchell

1) What achievement either in or out of character are you most proud of?

I am the most proud of having brought, or been a part of bringing in, a number of well known people into the game, in multiple different decades. I don't want to name names, because that would seem boastful, but it means a lot to know that I made an impact on the game, through those that are still involved.

2) Are you a fighter or a caster? Have you always been? How did you choose?

I have three characters. Lysis-fighter, Enricho-fighter, Braemor-caster

When I first started, I was with a group of people that started their first event complete with tabbards, flag and heraldry. (The group was called The Sons of the Phoenix) Within the group, we had a mix of different types of casters, but it made the most sense for me to be a fighter, since I had a martial arts background.

I stayed a fighter because I really wanted to hone that one skill and it wasn't until I felt I was a very accomplished fighter (yes, back in my day, I'd say I could hold my own. Now a days.....not even close) that I was ready to start a new character, Braemor, whom was a spellcaster.

3) Have you ever owned an artifact, memento, or magic item  that has meant a lot to you, and why?

I've owned many different magic items and momentos throughout my career. Mostly they were just that, items. None held much significance to me, Andy, but two hold some significance to Lysis. The War Banner of Teng Hua and Kedamono. (Story to follow in answer #7)

4) What group of people do you spend the most time with and why?

Not sure if you mean IC or OOC, but the answer is likely the same. Jason and Angie Gray. Jason and I have been friends for longer than I can remember, and I formed a friendship with Angie starting at one of her first events. He was the best man at my wedding, they housed me when I was homeless for a couple of months, and I ended up living a block away from them. We are also all students at the same dojo. IC, I feel like I get along with, and can hang with just about anyone. 

Photo by Jesse Gifford

5) Who is your best friend in character and why?

My best friend, IC, would be Da'oud. He is my sworn brother and he took my family name of Matsuma. I have to be honest and claim old age, but I'm not 100% positive of the situation, but I believe we were both trapped somewhere and by becoming sworn brothers it helped us escape. I could be TOTALLY wrong.  It was a LONG time ago.

6) What event or moment had the greatest impact on you as a player?

I have two of them, actually. It was my first event, Silverquest 1995. My group was out questing and as the fighter, I challenged Jeremiah Darksparkle. A daywalking vampire only effected by silver. Well, we had none, and I didn't know, so I died.  The NPC (played by Scott Rodlin) probably assessed that we were no match and didn't decimate the party, but I died.  The group wanted to get me raised, but many healers of the time would only raise you if you paid them (I'm glad that changed). Since it was our first event, we had no money. I eventually got raised, but it took quite some time.  Later that night, I was hanging by the fire, alone. A person walks up and sit and strikes up a conversation. He asked how I was doing. I told him that I was bummed because I was the best fighter in our group, and when I died, I couldn't be raised because we had no money. He reaches into his pocket, and hands me a stack of gold. I was having such a horrible time at my first event, that I was considering if I wanted to stay or not. This one gesture kept me in the game. No joke. This person was Matt Spakoski. (His character was Sebastian Grey, the Lord of the Sloths)

The other was being Knighted into the KoEF.  It was the Feast of Chimeron 9. This event was to be the culmination event to fight the war against Pathos. The event holders thought it would be cool for the players to have bagpipes playing while the war happened. So they made sure that I was there (was it a ruse just to make sure I showed up?) and I also brought two bagpiping friends of mine.  During dinner, I'm sitting with my friends. The KoEF get up and start making speeches about someone that is going to get Knighted. I vividly remember turning to my friends and saying, "Woah. This is a big deal. They haven't knighted anyone in 3 years. I wonder who it is." When I got called up I was stunned. I had been running The View from Valehaven for a few years at this point. This was when The View was an actual printed document. I was just so surprised that the Order felt like I had given back to the game enough to be recognized for my service.

7) What event or moment had the greatest impact on your character?

It would have to be becoming Emperor. (Here is the story associated with question 3) At the time, the nation of Teng Hua had been vacant for many years. Emperor Stone Dragon had left, and the country was in ruin (Meaning, the player left the game and nothing happened to the nation). Folkestone decided to start a plot to find a new Emperor. The plot was: In order to become Emperor, you needed to find an Item of Regalia. There were 7. One for each Province. Items were: No-dachi (5' sword), Katana (3'8" sword), Wakisashi (3' sword), Tanto (18" dagger), War Banner, Samurai armor, and the Coin of Wealth. In order to claim the throne you needed to present an item to the ancient, along with your army. Then each army will fight to determine who will gain the throne. For the whole year, people who were vying for the title were searching and searching. Needless to say, I wanted to win, and the only item I was able to secure, was the War Banner.

The final battle day came up, and there were a number of people trying to win. Sebudai (played by Lackey), Shadow (played by Steve Hinkle), a Demon NPC (played by Jeff Maki I believe), and a character played by Colin Campbell (Can't remember his IC name). This character was the former warmark for Teng Hua, and the item that he acquired was Kedamono, the No Dachi, which had been his weapon to begin with, as warmark.

After the war was over, it had been tabulated that I won by 1 point. At this time, the event holders placed all 7 magic items in front of me, and allowed me to keep only 1. The other six would go to the other provincial governors to help them hold their seats. (Meaning they were taking them out of play). I, as a player, wanted to keep the armor because it would have been the most useful, but I felt character wise, it would make more sense to keep the No Dashi and give it back to Colin's character so he could continue to be my warmark. However, when I did so, he informed me that he was not going to stay on. (IE: He was just an NPC that he was playing for the year to help the plot). So this meant that I was allowed to keep Kedamomo. It is no longer a backed item, but it still has significance to Lysis as it is a reminder to him of how he gained the throne.


8) What is your most embarrassing moment, either IC or OOC?

I know this will sound pretty lame, and honestly I wasn't really embarrassed , but it was funny. At the coronation of King Pyr, I was outside sitting on my throne. My girlfriend, at the time, was there and she wanted to give me a back rub. I turned my throne around, sitting on it backwards, and she proceed to give me a back massage.  Unbenownst to me, Talon (John Berrini) had taken her place and I was getting a massage from him (Nice hands John). During the massage, my girlfriend comes around to the front and asks if I'm enjoying the massage.



9) What is the best piece of advice you'd give to other players?

Unless you have a medical issue stopping you from doing so, fight. Learn to fight and learn fight well. With all weapon styles. It is the one skill you will be able to use with any character you play. Even if you decide to play a spell caster as a new character, learn to fight. And not just with a 3'. Even if your character can only use a 3', learn to fight sword and shield. Learn 2 handed. Learn flourintine. If you know how to fight these styles, you will be able to better defend against them. Trust me. Fight.

10 ) What is the most important thing you've learned through the game?

Fair play. I know it seems cliche, but it's true. There is truly nothing to be gained from cheating. When I started, there were a few players that were blatant cheaters. And not just not calling shots. And it was widely known. They may have gotten a brief immediate reward, but the long term damage they did was something they couldn't really overcome. It's just not worth it. Call your shots, and don't cheat. If you die, big deal. It's just a game.

BONUS QUESTION #1: Who would you like to see the next interview be with?

I think it's great to interview newbies.  Yes, they may not have as many, or as long stories, since their playing career is much shorter, but it can be very meaningful to them, and can be quite an honor to be asked for an interview. I couldn't give you exact names, since I'm not involved in the game as much any more.
 

BONUS QUESTION #2: Anything else you'd like to take the opportunity to put into print?

Not really. I think I've chatted your ear off enough. lol

Photo by Jesse Gifford