Lots of player in our game are part of nations. This series gives them a chance to talk about why they decided to join and what it means to them.
Who are you? (IC and/or OOC)
Ser Tuilli MacAengus
What nation are you in?
None. I'm a proud independent.
How long have you been a member?
Since I first came to this realm, some 13 years ago
Why did you join this nation?
At a surface level? Because I enjoy proper independence. On a moral level, what use have we for royals? Really I have stayed an independent this long, and to do anything else feels... wrong.
What sets your nation apart from others?
We hold no creed or loyalty except that which is personally earned.
What makes you proud to wear your nation’s colors?
I'm one of the longest (if not THE longest) continuously active independents in the game. I've built a non-nation-based family which at this point is big enough to outnumber membership of a few long-standing nations. The group we built is great and does it's best to be egalitarian, affirming, and welcoming.
What’s the most powerful moment you’ve experienced as a member of your nation?
Some of the recent gatherings where we managed to get almost all our families active members together in one place. Not an easy task.
Beyond that, I'd say some of the first times I've stood and advised to various royals on equal footing.
How does your nation help you become the person you want to be?
It's no secret that I may have a little IC/OOC bleed. I *may* have some issues with authority, so I can act without needing to be concerned about any sort of chain of command. My actions, successes, and consequences are purely my own. This also means that since my agency is my own, I get to reinforce my own lessons on accountability to myself, and face both adversity and accolades on my own, without the typical structures of a nation. It also has encouraged me to reach out and find people that I groove with without the normal "clique" elements that historically came with nations. That has changed as we now interact more openly these days outside nations through social media and other forms, but was a real element when I first started.
What should someone do if they want to join?
Be free! The only thing you have to lose is your chains!
Anything else you'd like to say about your nation?
It isn't the easiest path, but it has been a rewarding one. For all the joys of being independent, the challenges of building community and connection without the "cheat code" of wearing a nations colors are present and real. That said, it is possible. I've done it for years and intend to do so. I'll continue to fly my own flag of independence.
