Why I Want To Go...
I miss him. I like what this event wants to do in his memory. But I also like fun. I like weird tournaments. I like sharing food and drink with my friends. I like hanging out around fires. Or around a poker table, or around a circle of healing, or around the forge, or just hanging out; Together. I like seeing a community come together and help. There will be auction items, there will be prizes, silliness will happen. Sticks will be removed from, er, well, yah, enough of that. I want to go to respond to the Paladins Call. Hope to see you there.
- James Murphy
Why I Want To Go...
While the French (Insectafae!) word ‘paladin’ means warrior, it was used specifically starting in the late 1500s to mean "one of the 12 knights in attendance on Charlemagne." As time went on, its meaning grew to include any chivalrous or heroic person. One of the definitions of paladin nowadays is someone who fights for a cause. By that definition, do you consider yourself one? 🙂
One particular cause that will be explored and talked more about at this event will be the creation of The Paladin’s Fund. According to the EH Becky Baron, the creation of this fund is to provide financial assistance for people identified by the community who find themselves in desperate need. This reminds me of the late Ray Roberts, and how he helped me in this way.
Many people have come and gone within our community; some leaving their mark for ill or good, and some only existing still in the analog or digital film pictures left behind. This year we lost Ray Roberts III to cancer (Feb 1972 - Oct 2023), a quieter gentleman in later years within the community, but a man who shaped it largely as Lord Soth, Lord Frederick of Fairhaven, Michael of Eagle’s Rook, and many, many other roles as he enjoyed NPCing for our games and writing stories (the Cobra Daggers are still around, I believe!).
Ray, for me, was also a generous man, and one who understood the value of hard work. He was responsible for hooking me up with first city jobs within Worcester, and helping me when my finances ran so low I was struggling to decide rent or car payments. Ray also was a staple at WPI fight practices years before the Quiet Years (the Pandemic), and his firm and gruff demeanor still helped many to learn how to give their best efforts and energy to the Western Flank, no matter what the crunchy or juicy roles assigned. He worked with many different groups, nations, and kingdoms that rose and fell over time, and never did his candlelight go out. Then, with the discovery of a RL family he didn’t know he had, Ray Roberts quietly retired from the Realms game, yet kept in touch with his few within the community. Others lost this year were the young blacksmith Conrad Barnes, also known as Garharz. There was also Keith, who played Rednuht of Neden. In previous years we have lost David Hayden (Sir Vawn Coupant), Justin “Buddy” Wolfhope (Arg, BrightHammer), Mr. Hinkle from Chaos Dwarf Armory, Nana Prom (the original Sir Dirk), and many more.
Everyone who also leaves our game for Real Life reasons, their light is dimmed within the community, and sometimes goes out, leaving a hole behind. While there may be some holes in the community that the Truly Dead have all left in their own ways, Paladins fight to fill it back up. Paladins fight for a cause, and continue to help keep others’ lights going; to keep them safe. Maybe the light from the cause is just to support one another, to let your light shine brilliantly, if only for a moment to light up another’s face, another’s life. And with the way the world currently spins, I believe that That is Enough. That We, and Our Light, Our Common Cause, is Enough.
So, will you answer this call?
- Janna Oakfellow-Pushee
Why I Want to Go...
One strength of Realms has always been its low cost of entry. Sure, some spend lavishly on "kit," but simple garb has never been a problem. Not to mention that many invest lavishly with time and craft rather than money on garb for themselves and others. Meanwhile, loner armor, garb, and weapons abound for any who need to borrow it or are just starting out. And even though event site rates keep increasing, folks try hard to keep reg costs down. I know many events never break even financially. It is a generous community in all kinds of ways.
That said, recent years have been hard. We have suffered some painful losses. Among other "real world" challenges, a couple weeks without wages due to Covid can quickly cause significant financial strain. So what better way to commemorate and remember our Paladin than starting something to help people power through (KFG)? Dave would have loved that! It's a beautiful idea.
Why do I want to go? Sure, I expect a fun time playing our game. It's a great staff that we can expect a lot from. And it will also be healthy to gather and remember as a community. But most of all, I want to answer that Paladin's call.
- Steve Nelson