Looking for more active discussion? Join our Discord at https://discord.gg/x2s7fY6
Best Of
Re: Mildly Irritating: Aetolia's Pet Peeves
People taking simple sportsmanship and commendation of good effort as some kind of insult.
Sorry that we tried to engender a community that actually pats people on the back for trying.
Sorry that we tried to engender a community that actually pats people on the back for trying.
Iesid
11
It's boring to be Duirani
I've been putting some thought into this over the last few weeks and thought a forum post would be the best way to express my opinion on the matter. I am aware that, as a city leader (and a long tenured one, if we look at all the times Iesid has been some form of leader in Duiran), it is something I am theoretically in the position to fix. That is not really why I am posting this; I'm not really looking for intervention or some kind of admin assistance, and I'm definitely not here looking to shame the people who work hard as guildmasters or other Speakers in the council. However, I think pretending there isn't a problem is doing a disservice to the other organizations in the game that depend on our participation to have the game world feel 'real' or 'alive', and it is also doing a disservice to ourselves as players who log in to find something interesting to do.
To cut to the chase, I think Duiran is an org that is largely defined by its apathy. No matter what angle a leader tries to go 'in' at, it never seems to really stick. The 'the world is bigger than us' and 'big picture' thinking is just too disconnected from the day-to-day lives that Duirani citizens seem to want to roleplay. 'The Cycle' is an excellent concept on paper, but it has been boiled down to a very tepid 'I guess we kinda dislike undead and vampires, sure' with back-and-forth law adjustments and hazy policy changes that give me the impression of an organization in full identity crisis. The apathy to organizational roleplay is so strong that a lot of characters did not even remember that Dendara is dying - a reminder from Haern about the core of our org RP ended up sending the entire council into a spiral of 'what if we do this?' and we have had not much to show for it after it inevitably burned out into 'whatever just put it on the town crier'.
Not only is the organization apathetic, I kind of perceive it as afraid. Duiran seems terrified of the idea of being the aggressor, villain, or antagonist. If nobody wants to be our villain and we won't play the villain, that means there is no story. Bloodloch and Enorian seem to be happy to bash each other's heads in, but there's no organization that wants to pick that fight with Duiran and Duiran sure doesn't seem to want to pick that fight either. To me, that's not fun. It makes me want to go do something else - or play someone else or somewhere else that isn't Aetolia. I don't want to feel forced to join Bloodloch or Enorian if I want a piece of the action, but Duiran's collective outlook (leaders and all) seem to be collectively unwilling to do anything besides say 'well we have to help Dendara' or 'well Dendara has to come first'.
Dendara, the core aspect of our organization's story, is being used as a way to avoid interaction/conflict and that is not healthy whatsoever. Something has to change. I feel as if we pick and choose what we care about in our organization's roleplay and, when we do not want to do a part of it, we write it off as 'for Dendara'.
Am I crazy? Am I just expecting an org to warmonger? Is it unreasonable for me to want my organization to do cool things instead of trying to make friends with every single NPC and every single PC org?
To cut to the chase, I think Duiran is an org that is largely defined by its apathy. No matter what angle a leader tries to go 'in' at, it never seems to really stick. The 'the world is bigger than us' and 'big picture' thinking is just too disconnected from the day-to-day lives that Duirani citizens seem to want to roleplay. 'The Cycle' is an excellent concept on paper, but it has been boiled down to a very tepid 'I guess we kinda dislike undead and vampires, sure' with back-and-forth law adjustments and hazy policy changes that give me the impression of an organization in full identity crisis. The apathy to organizational roleplay is so strong that a lot of characters did not even remember that Dendara is dying - a reminder from Haern about the core of our org RP ended up sending the entire council into a spiral of 'what if we do this?' and we have had not much to show for it after it inevitably burned out into 'whatever just put it on the town crier'.
Not only is the organization apathetic, I kind of perceive it as afraid. Duiran seems terrified of the idea of being the aggressor, villain, or antagonist. If nobody wants to be our villain and we won't play the villain, that means there is no story. Bloodloch and Enorian seem to be happy to bash each other's heads in, but there's no organization that wants to pick that fight with Duiran and Duiran sure doesn't seem to want to pick that fight either. To me, that's not fun. It makes me want to go do something else - or play someone else or somewhere else that isn't Aetolia. I don't want to feel forced to join Bloodloch or Enorian if I want a piece of the action, but Duiran's collective outlook (leaders and all) seem to be collectively unwilling to do anything besides say 'well we have to help Dendara' or 'well Dendara has to come first'.
Dendara, the core aspect of our organization's story, is being used as a way to avoid interaction/conflict and that is not healthy whatsoever. Something has to change. I feel as if we pick and choose what we care about in our organization's roleplay and, when we do not want to do a part of it, we write it off as 'for Dendara'.
Am I crazy? Am I just expecting an org to warmonger? Is it unreasonable for me to want my organization to do cool things instead of trying to make friends with every single NPC and every single PC org?
Iesid
11
Re: Mildly Irritating: Aetolia's Pet Peeves
You know when you're RPing or talking with someone, and there's kind of a lull, and you're not sure if you should be doing something, or if you should wait in case someone is writing a long emote, or if someone's gone to eat something, or if the conversation is just over?
Why does this happen all the time!?!?!?!?
Why does this happen all the time!?!?!?!?
Legyn
13
Re: GOOD THINGS IN LIFE
In Sweden there is a system set up for steady employment if you have worked x amount of time over a 5 year period for the same employer. I was coming up on this magical time last fall, and then the law was changed. It used to be that you could combine the time you worked as a substitute and the time spent as a part time employee, but with the change you only counted one form of employment. Since I had been skipping back and forth between the two, I was essentially screwed. I have been in contact with my union rep all year trying to figure out how to settle this and the verdict came yesterday afternoon: Regional school administration have taken a look at my case and decided I have earned my permanent employment.
What this means is I finally obtained job security and won't have to go job hunting this fall! Instead, I will be offered the first position that opens up that correlates with my subjects, and if nothing is available, I will enter the substitute pool, but get a monthly salary no matter how much work I get through this until a position becomes available.
Feeling so happy now!!
What this means is I finally obtained job security and won't have to go job hunting this fall! Instead, I will be offered the first position that opens up that correlates with my subjects, and if nothing is available, I will enter the substitute pool, but get a monthly salary no matter how much work I get through this until a position becomes available.
Feeling so happy now!!
Teani
10
Announce post #3368: Unwanted Attention
6/1/2022 at 5:29
Ictinus, the Architect
Everyone
Unwanted Attention
Hi folks,
This is just a quick PSA to remind everyone that nobody is under any obligation to engage in explicit RP with others, nor are they obliged to stay IC to try and get along with them in order to avoid making waves. It is always okay to say no. It is always okay to use the IGNORE system. And it is always okay to escalate via ISSUEs if unwanted attention persists.
On the flip side, it is not appropriate to subject people to your explicit RP or obscene language unless they've consented to participate in it. Pestering people isn't appropriate. Soliciting newbies for this kind of activity isn't appropriate unless they initiate first.
Let's all show some decorum please.
Penned by my hand on Gosday, the 7th of Haernos, in the year 502 MA.
Ictinus, the Architect
Everyone
Unwanted Attention
Hi folks,
This is just a quick PSA to remind everyone that nobody is under any obligation to engage in explicit RP with others, nor are they obliged to stay IC to try and get along with them in order to avoid making waves. It is always okay to say no. It is always okay to use the IGNORE system. And it is always okay to escalate via ISSUEs if unwanted attention persists.
On the flip side, it is not appropriate to subject people to your explicit RP or obscene language unless they've consented to participate in it. Pestering people isn't appropriate. Soliciting newbies for this kind of activity isn't appropriate unless they initiate first.
Let's all show some decorum please.
Penned by my hand on Gosday, the 7th of Haernos, in the year 502 MA.
Autoposter
12
Re: RL Struggles, Strife, and Sadnesses
So...
I just need an outlet to vent, because frankly the past few weeks have been incredibly frustrating, emotional, and overall riddled with anxiety and sadness.
On April 14th, I started to feel sick, like -sick SICK- and of course I had to do the runaround for coronavirus, got put on some antibiotics and symptoms really didn't seem to get better after a week. A week later I started feeling really nauseous and dizzy, I called teledoc which said I needed to make an appointment with my primary care provider, the soonest appointment they could get me in was in two weeks, so I opted to go to urgent care. I arrived at urgent care, and the doctor did a preliminary examination and I was admitted into the hospital. They took blood, did Catscan and Xrays, and put me on more antibiotics, anti-nausea medicine, and I was sent home.
Another week passed, symptoms still not getting better. Back in the same hospital, new doctor didn't seem to be inconvenienced by my visit, did another Catscan, found some foreign bodies in my lower intestine, put me on -more- medicine, referred me to my PC and a GI specialist. The same week followed up with my doctor and GI, MORE blood taken, and markers for cancer were found in my blood, and examination found tumors in my colon. After bloodwork came back it was confirmed I was diagnosed with early stage colon cancer and would need to have surgery to remove what was in my insides.
More blood work was done, and appointment was scheduled, as of a week and a half ago. The soonest the surgery and oncology appointment could be scheduled was June 28th, I was placed on disability and am unable to work, and frankly my entire life has been turned upside down from this. The state approved my disability immediately, but still pending a few other things, ways to pay bills, and losing about 40% of my income due to this. Fast forward to this last Friday, and I received a letter from my employer, that they were not going to honor FMLA, because I had not worked for them for over a year, and that my insurance was being effectively cancelled, so another thing on the list i need to work on. (Yay me.)
As of today, I am still waiting for a consult from my doctor from a week and a half ago, they prescribed me the wrong medication which gave me a reaction (IE Seizures, convulsing and shortness of breath) which I called them about and demanded answers and a new prescription that would not do that, no word on my hemoglobin or blood count levels, no updates from oncology, and messages left daily, and I am sitting here in a position where I have been told "not to stress" obviously stressing. All in all having to face my own mortality, severe or not, is absolutely terrifying, but then I have fortunately had people in the community who have talked me off the ledge lately, and I have been taking my time being around for when I have the brain to escape, and not just using Aetolia as an escape and letting my bad feelings come in.
Overall, I am just frustrated and stressed, and I appreciate the people who allow me to vent, and to those who have been expecting things from me, or needing things, just send me a message I will get back to you, I just have a hard time focusing at the moment. I am hoping to get some answers today, and hopefully then I can sleep and feel rested enough to be part of things again, this weekend has just been rough.
Long story short: Cancer fucking sucks. (Im taking advantage of the curse word filter being removed, but I feel this is a valid reason)
I just need an outlet to vent, because frankly the past few weeks have been incredibly frustrating, emotional, and overall riddled with anxiety and sadness.
On April 14th, I started to feel sick, like -sick SICK- and of course I had to do the runaround for coronavirus, got put on some antibiotics and symptoms really didn't seem to get better after a week. A week later I started feeling really nauseous and dizzy, I called teledoc which said I needed to make an appointment with my primary care provider, the soonest appointment they could get me in was in two weeks, so I opted to go to urgent care. I arrived at urgent care, and the doctor did a preliminary examination and I was admitted into the hospital. They took blood, did Catscan and Xrays, and put me on more antibiotics, anti-nausea medicine, and I was sent home.
Another week passed, symptoms still not getting better. Back in the same hospital, new doctor didn't seem to be inconvenienced by my visit, did another Catscan, found some foreign bodies in my lower intestine, put me on -more- medicine, referred me to my PC and a GI specialist. The same week followed up with my doctor and GI, MORE blood taken, and markers for cancer were found in my blood, and examination found tumors in my colon. After bloodwork came back it was confirmed I was diagnosed with early stage colon cancer and would need to have surgery to remove what was in my insides.
More blood work was done, and appointment was scheduled, as of a week and a half ago. The soonest the surgery and oncology appointment could be scheduled was June 28th, I was placed on disability and am unable to work, and frankly my entire life has been turned upside down from this. The state approved my disability immediately, but still pending a few other things, ways to pay bills, and losing about 40% of my income due to this. Fast forward to this last Friday, and I received a letter from my employer, that they were not going to honor FMLA, because I had not worked for them for over a year, and that my insurance was being effectively cancelled, so another thing on the list i need to work on. (Yay me.)
As of today, I am still waiting for a consult from my doctor from a week and a half ago, they prescribed me the wrong medication which gave me a reaction (IE Seizures, convulsing and shortness of breath) which I called them about and demanded answers and a new prescription that would not do that, no word on my hemoglobin or blood count levels, no updates from oncology, and messages left daily, and I am sitting here in a position where I have been told "not to stress" obviously stressing. All in all having to face my own mortality, severe or not, is absolutely terrifying, but then I have fortunately had people in the community who have talked me off the ledge lately, and I have been taking my time being around for when I have the brain to escape, and not just using Aetolia as an escape and letting my bad feelings come in.
Overall, I am just frustrated and stressed, and I appreciate the people who allow me to vent, and to those who have been expecting things from me, or needing things, just send me a message I will get back to you, I just have a hard time focusing at the moment. I am hoping to get some answers today, and hopefully then I can sleep and feel rested enough to be part of things again, this weekend has just been rough.
Long story short: Cancer fucking sucks. (Im taking advantage of the curse word filter being removed, but I feel this is a valid reason)
Nipsy
10
Re: RL Struggles, Strife, and Sadnesses
Hey y'all.
Ten years ago today (okay, yesterday at this hour, but still) I lost my husband to suicide. He was in a dark place, scared that he was never going to change, and that the depression that had hounded him for ten years was going to stay forever. So he took control the only way he thought he could.
I'm not okay with it. He thought he was making things easier for me to move on. He was wrong. His memory will always be here, and once in a while, I still cry for the loss of what and who he could have been. I'm functional. I don't feel like I need help for it. But if I did, that would be okay.
Because reaching out for help is okay. People care about you, sometimes even people you don't realise do.
There are a lot of resources out there if you feel like you can't talk to your friends or family. You're not a burden - the people who staff the support lines, the chat options, therapists and counsellors and all kinds of other people, they do it because they want to help. They want to see you find your way out of the darkness - being the light gives them a little bit of purpose, a little bit of something good to fight all the bad that's out there.
In his memory, I strive to be a little kinder some days, a little brighter, because you never know when your little glow is what gets someone through the darkness.
Be kind to each other.
Ten years ago today (okay, yesterday at this hour, but still) I lost my husband to suicide. He was in a dark place, scared that he was never going to change, and that the depression that had hounded him for ten years was going to stay forever. So he took control the only way he thought he could.
I'm not okay with it. He thought he was making things easier for me to move on. He was wrong. His memory will always be here, and once in a while, I still cry for the loss of what and who he could have been. I'm functional. I don't feel like I need help for it. But if I did, that would be okay.
Because reaching out for help is okay. People care about you, sometimes even people you don't realise do.
There are a lot of resources out there if you feel like you can't talk to your friends or family. You're not a burden - the people who staff the support lines, the chat options, therapists and counsellors and all kinds of other people, they do it because they want to help. They want to see you find your way out of the darkness - being the light gives them a little bit of purpose, a little bit of something good to fight all the bad that's out there.
In his memory, I strive to be a little kinder some days, a little brighter, because you never know when your little glow is what gets someone through the darkness.
Be kind to each other.
Zeheia
23
Announce post #3364: Mirror Mirror...
5/30/2022 at 0:07
Ictinus, the Architect
Everyone
Mirror Mirror...
Hi folks!
As some of you may have noticed a few quirks and oddities in abilities recently, I wanted to formally announce the following:
The next two classes currently being mirrored (and the first set for this year) are SHAMAN for Shadow, and TERADRIM for Spirit!
I don't have more to share on the specifics yet, except to say that the development is well underway and I'll have more to say on the subject soon.
For now, feel free to discuss in the forum thread (and please report any more quirks you see with existing skills)!
Penned by my hand on Kinsday, the 19th of Slyphian, in the year 502 MA.
Ictinus, the Architect
Everyone
Mirror Mirror...
Hi folks!
As some of you may have noticed a few quirks and oddities in abilities recently, I wanted to formally announce the following:
The next two classes currently being mirrored (and the first set for this year) are SHAMAN for Shadow, and TERADRIM for Spirit!
I don't have more to share on the specifics yet, except to say that the development is well underway and I'll have more to say on the subject soon.
For now, feel free to discuss in the forum thread (and please report any more quirks you see with existing skills)!
Penned by my hand on Kinsday, the 19th of Slyphian, in the year 502 MA.
Autoposter
10