Resolutions for the New Year 1016

[Editor's note: these resolutions are wholly in-character. Responses were gathered in-person during Uncle Cecil's Crazy Tavern.]

 

For this coming new year, I resolve....

"To practice and improve upon this word called "tact" that Sir Vawn keeps yelling at me about."

- Iawen

" I would very much like to perfect my art of healing and to make a lot of long-lasting relationships."

- Gunny

"To snatch more bodies from greedy healers."

- Soft

"To shoot more bad guys than last year."

- Kyomi

"To be more involved in my new-found family."

- Kazul

"To learn new songs for the baby." 

- Tarnisha

"To adventure at least once a month except in the winter when it's cold."

- Rekees

"To improve my fighting skills and become fully armored."

- Artoia

"To make my knight proud."

- Phee

"To be more helpful."

- Ivan 

"More drinking and wenching. That should make for a good year."

- Magnus

"To learn to play this strange instrument better."

- Exzof 

"To become a better fighter and make the Order of the List Top Sixteen."

- Tarja

"To have my father's memory back and to make sure my family is merry."

- Kyram

"I don't have a resolution because I'm awesome. But I guess a good one is to drink more and to be more mean and curmudgeony to people who deserve it."

- Mestoph

"To get on the good side of Edonea."

- Tao

"To physically recover, to be a better fighter, and to teach new people anything I can about fighting."

- Daekara

"To visit the Western Flank more."

- Grindin 

"To be a champion of something - pastry or Ashemark, whichever works out." 

- Raynor

"To be seen in these Realms more."

- Goku

"To meet one new friend at every event I go to."

- Imari

"To die less."

- Saka 

Wrapping up the Yule Swap

Each year at Uncle Cecil's Crazy Yuletide Tavern, the Realms comes together and sets aside boundaries to share in some joy.  One of activities to help people forget about borders is the Gift Swap.  A few people wrote in to the View with what special gifts they received, or bestowed, on behalf of the Gift Swap.

Jean-Baptiste
"I got a hand stitched dragon, which will help with rituals, because every part of a dragon is magical. Plus it's technically a cannibal, too."

Soft
"I got a lovely mirror and a bag of delicious luxurious chocolates, but the best part was the absolutely touching letter I got from the person who gave it to me! And the way their cheeks flushed when they saw how delighted I was to have gotten it.  It was a delightful experience."

Tuili
"I put booze and bacon on my wishlist, and Raynor delivered.  Bacon wrapped beer and booze (whiskey specifically) was an outstanding gift.

Obligatory biased picture, taken by Megan M.

As for Swoop, it gave me a perfect way to adopt him into the Blackhearts, one of his gifts was his new belt favor.  Plus I got him a potato and some drinking gear."

Iawen
"Grindin learned how to crochet and made me a hat from scratch to match my arm warmers.  No longer do I have to wear my baby's hat.  He also made me a good walking stick/implement staff, in my colors, plus three charms that mean a lot to me: a key, a turtle, and a Celtic Trinity.  I was so wicked pleased/super honored; I love homemade things, and I love it when someone went out of his way to bless me with that.  Every time I use or wear the gifts, I get a smile to go with the memory."

Kyntela
"This year I drew Sir Eldritch in the swap.  Knowing him to be a lover of whiskey, I put together a decanter and set of whiskey glasses engraved with his name (you know, so he didn't get confused and start drinking someone else's whiskey...).  I commissioned a beautiful box from Jinx to store the set.  Though my memory of the evening is a little fuzzy, Eldritch seemed to enjoy his gift!

Soft of Mayerling had me, and gifted me a lovely triple creme brie that came in a  festive gift box.  I promptly devoured it upon returning home.  Additionally, in an attempt to push me outside my comfort zone wardrobe-wise, he gave me a rather frilly pair of undergarments.  I doubt they will be much protection in a fight, but they certainly look comfortable."

Ye Olde Swaaaaap (pic by Jesse G)

The Stacked Deck: Last Update of 1015

by James "Sir Tao" Murphy

Well, UCCT lived up to its reputation of unforgettable, but forgotten happenstance. While I remember playing in the tournament on Friday night the small details have escaped my mind. With that said it was a 25 gold buy-in with ten players and two re-buys. The top four were Asharn, Jayce, Runnaris and Tao. Asharn was the first to earn points coming in fourth. This was followed by Runaris in third. This left Tao and Jayce (for the second year in a row at this event) as the last two. Tao had a 5:1 chip advantage and used it to guarantee his top place on the stack. Jayce came in second.

This put the standings at:

Tao	25
Rillian	18
Jayce	10
Mathias	10
Jinx	9
Eamon	8
Methos	6
Shadow	6
Sir K	5
Enlon	3
Damion	3
Daekara	3
Pheonix	3
Runaris	2
Meds	2
PJ	2
Nova	2
Asharn	1
Aeston	1
Mestoph	1
Eldritch	1

But wait, there was more. On Saturday night there was a 50 gold buy-in. Because of the limited amount of space we had Saturday night the table could only fit eight players and the dealer. Fortunately there were only eight players that signed up so it was not an issue.  For the record Tao sat out of this tournament to let as many other players play as possible. 

Because of this I did not watch the poker action and cannot relay the stories of bad beats or unlucky timing or that Slade came out 7^th. 

But at the end of the night the four remaining were Daekara, Eamon, Jayce, and Therian.

Therian had survived to make the final four and earn his first points for the year but alas he did finish in fourth place. Daekara was the next to fall, coming in third. In a strong performance almost repeating his finish from an earlier tournament, Eamon came in second, and Jayce came in first. 

This put the final standings at:

Tao	25
Rillian	18
Jayce	15
Eamon	11
Mathias	10
Jinx	9
Methos	6
Shadow	6
Daekara	5
Sir K	5
Enlon	3
Damion	3
Pheonix	3
Runaris	2
Meds	2
PJ	2
Nova	2
Therian	1
Asharn	1
Aeston	1
Mestoph	1

At this time we are announcing that we are inviting the Top Six to compete in a final, final tournament to be held at Feast of Leviathan. That tournament will start promptly at 12:30.

Upcoming gambling:

• January 16^th , Rhiassa Presents: Feast of the Leviathan XVIII. Clontarf Blackwood Casino: table games, maybe a poker tournament (or two), possibly the first time to get points for the new year. This will also be the event where we will have the Stacked Deck final table. 
• Febuary 20^th, Feast Of Creathorne 2016. Creathorne Hula Girl Casino: table games, poker tournament

While I am sure many more events will pop up in this time-frame that will have gambling, at this time the next event that I know will have gambling that is on the calendar is Tournaments of Creathorne. 

As always, if you have info on any gambling happening at events and would like it included here please let me know (this would also include more info on or confirming info on posted events). 

An Atypical View

Happy Holidays!

 The View from Valehaven staff would like to take a moment to wish everyone in our Realms community a safe, happy, and healthy holiday, wherever your celebrations may take you!

What You Missed: Pater Yule

 At Black and White each year, a white mailbox magically appears somewhere on the grounds. People who make the trek to find the mailbox are able to write letters to Pater Yule, the mythical figure who bestows joy and gifts at Yuletime. Each year at Uncle Cecil's Tavern, Pater Yule appears at some point during the evening and hands out gifts and notes to good boys and girls in answer to the letters he received earlier this year. Below is a selection of photos documenting Pater Yule's appearance this year. [Editor's note: photos by View Staff]

Pater Yule makes his appearance and addresses the crowd

Pater Yule hands out gifts to the children first

A dragon cape comes out of Pater Yule's bag

A rapt audience

Faelinn receives a gift of arrows

Artoria receives a hand-and-a-half

Caleal is pleased with his anvil

Aymise also receives a sword

Asharn unwraps his gift

Gray leans in conspiratorily

Vanduke gives Pater Yule a grateful hug

Shader receives a large scythe

Tirvanel listens closely

Kyara is excited about her bottle of mead

Ezra claims his gift

Kazul unwraps her shield

Soft is not amused

Umbra receives her gift

Alchemy supplies are uncovered

Rel looks in the box, and quickly shuts it again

Everybody be good, and I'll see you next year!