Vodo Biask Taldrya. I have a hard time putting into words with this recommendation exactly what sort of insanity it takes from a man to have put up with the DB for as long as Vodo has, with as little recognition. Part of me would like to chalk it up to Taldryan virtues: as long as the job is getting done, that’s the reward in and of itself… and part of me would be right in Vodo’s case. He served a long time as Taldryan’s Consul, for nearly a year, and I can state wholeheartedly that it is his influence that set the stage for the next phase of long term leaders and stability within Taldryan’s Summit. Under his guidance Shaz’air and Rian Taldrya grew to prominence, and in the nearly 5 full years since Vodo left, it has been his apprentice, and his apprentice’s apprentice who have guided this Clan. It is a legacy that Vodo can be proud of.

But it’s not just this belief of abnegation that makes Vodo what he is, in his heart, Vodo just wants to help Taldryan, and by extension the Brotherhood itself grow and get better. After he was finished with over a year on Taldryan’s summit, Vodo rose to the Dark Council, taking up the mantle of Voice. In arguably one of the most influential positions in the Brotherhood, Vodo served with distinction a year and two thirds. For his efforts, he was given bupkiss. He was ignored by the past administration.

Still, this did not slow Vodo down. Upon his resignation, he returned to Taldryan and has been a constant advisor and participant. His voice is never far from reach on the myriad of mailing lists, and his counsel is heard by the Summits nearly daily. Vodo just keeps on keeping on, even when his efforts seem to be ignored.

This is an injustice that I wish to rectify today. For his long service, to Clan Taldryan and the Dark Brotherhood itself, I hereby recommend that Vodo Biask Taldrya be raised to the rank of Krath Pontifex. Congratulations Vodo.

Keirdagh Taldrya Cantor

Consul of Clan Taldryan

Keirdagh Taldrya Cantor, 2015-03-04 23:15:13 UTC

Not only did Vodo wear well the title of BTL, AED, QUA, PCON and CON, but during his time in leadership he proved to Taldryan and the Dark Jedi Brotherhood what a strong and capable leader he was. Vodo took me under his wing when I was a fresh DJK (with eager intentions of becoming the next Grand Master) and taught me how to lead and how to train up those who were gracefully placed under our watch. With that same teaching that Vodo taught me, I too was able to pass on this great lesson to my successor, Rian Taldrya.

Sometime after resigning from his posts in Taldryan, Vodo took up the position of Voice of the Brotherhood. A position which at the time was still being vetted and processed, and is now one of the most prominent and effective Dark Council positions this club has seen. A large reason for the Voice' positions success today is due to Vodo's diligence in the position. In his near 2-year term as Voice, Vodo ran around 17 DB-wide competitions alone, as well as posting multiple fiction updates and putting a face to what the Voice is today. Without Vodo, the voice position may very well be a different position than it is today. All of that, and he never once poked anyone for a reward or elevation. There is something to be said for that kind of attitude.

I have a certain connection with Vodo, having been his very successor as the leader of Taldryan. A connection which has allowed me to have a certain understanding of the man. I will admit, he still baffles me with his unique and awesome ways about him. But one thing is for sure... This guy has sacrificed time-over-again to put Taldryan and this club before himself, and it is time that he is rewarded and shown that some of his sacrifice has touched the very fabric of this club, and that we can prove that he truly deserves to stand at the height of his Order's Equite Rank, among the greats that taught him.

Vodo has been an unsung hero. Today, we rain down a hurricane of praise for this member who has dedicated much to the Dark Jedi Brotherhood. Without Vodo, we would not be where we are today.

With the blessing of my superiors I am honored to have an active part in seeing a fellow friend, role model and standup member elevated to the rank he has earned twice-over. Congratulations my brother. There is no question you deserve this. Bask in it's glory and may it be a bastion of Taldryan's and the Brotherhood's gratitude towards the emblem that you embody.

Shaz'air Taldrya

Inquisitor Shaz'air Taldrya, 2015-03-04 05:02:36 UTC

I’ve not been around Vodo anywhere near as long as the old farts above have, so I’m going to share a recent experience with him and his leadership.

During the GJW, Vodo was on a team full of active and eager participants for the Battle Plan. There was plenty of formal leadership on the team (RM, an AED, and a BTL), but it was Vodo who stepped up to the plate and really got the team organized. He took it upon himself to start analysing the requirements and started assigning members to tasks. He spearheaded the body of the project and shouldered a huge amount of the workload on it. His constant shepherding and managing the team really helped keep us on target and ultimately helped us to a top 5 placement.

It’s this type of leadership and love for his Clan that totally exemplifies what we look for in our Equites and I think that this is a great example in addition to all his extraordinary achievements detailed by Howie and Yacks above.

Kenath Zoron

Quaestor, Ektrosis of Taldryan

General Kenath Zoron Ad Vizsla, 2015-03-04 05:03:16 UTC

When I first got lured into Taldryan from the rogues by Erinyes, Vodo was the Consul. He was promoted nearly a half year before that. In all that time, well over five years, Vodo has been a loyal member of Taldryan - first as a Consul, then Aedile of our independent house, and then as a member who was always willing to do what was needed for our clan/house (to say nothing of his nearly two years on the Dark Council as Voice of the Brotherhood, but I will let Halcyon cover that!). Throughout the time I’ve known Vodo, he’s always been driven towards accomplishing more: more projects, more competitions, more everything.

Since July 2009, Vodo has earned himself just a boatload of awards: 85 Clusters of Fire, 68 Clusters of Ice, 17 crescents, three Bronze Novae, a Silver Nova, two Gold Novae, a Seal of Loyalty, a Dark Cross, Anteian Cross, two Grand Crosses, and a Red Damn Club! He’s also competed in 37 (as well as a bunch of vendetta competitions from the pre-site days!) competitions. As a testament to his leadership contributions, Vodo has organized 33 competitions!

For his contributions to the Brotherhood as a whole, including his 608 days on the Dark Council (that from my perspective? Has gone totally unrecognized) - I wholeheartedly recommend Vodo Biask Taldrya for a promotion to Krath Pontifex (see, I used the Krath rank!). Congratulations Vodo!

Howlader Taldrya

Rollmaster of Clan Taldryan

Howlader Taldrya, 2015-03-04 05:03:37 UTC

I have known, and worked, with Vodo for a very long time. For quite some time there Vodo was literally following in my footsteps, taking over from me at Consul and then taking over my time as Voice of the Brotherhood. Being a Consul and a Councillor are some of the most, if not the most important jobs in the entire Brotherhood, and it is a true tragedy that Vodo was not properly awarded for his efforts during that time.

I was the DGM for Vodo’s time as the Voice, and I feel terribly that he was not given this promotion at the time. It was a huge oversight, and it is a testament to his maturity and his loyalty to both Taldryan and the Clan that he has continued on being a truly productive member. The job of Voice itself is to further the fictional aspects of the club in a variety of manners. Vodo did just that, doing anything he could to help Muz and I on fictional developments, while also making his own personal additions and continuing to run regular fiction competitions for the club as a whole.

He served, with distinction, for 2 years as a Dark Councilor for this club. That alone, above all else, should earn him this promotion. However, the very fact that he has continued on, and been an integral part of the Clan shows that he is more than deserving of reaching the pinnacle of Equites. Sorry it took so long, Vodo, but a huge congratulations!

Halcyon Rokir Taldrya

Proconsul of Taldryan

Lord Halcyon, 2015-03-04 05:04:53 UTC

Vodo has been the Consul of Taldryan back in the days when I joined the Brotherhood, and thus one of the earliest persons I met. And while most of the members in Taldryan know me only as the leveled person I am today, he knows me how I have been back then. An over-eager barely english-speaking guy, almost toppling over his feet as he tried to set his foot into the large world that was the Dark Jedi Brotherhood. And it was him alongside Shaz'air who tempted me and taught me not to make the second before the first step while at the same time showing new and different things to try including leadership.

Even when he stepped down from the Clan Summit and become a member of the Dark Council not so long after as Voice of the Brotherhood, he remained a steady force in activity. But it was when he returned home, when he really stepped up the game, setting his focus on helping Taldryan and its Summit to bring it back to what it once was, serving as example and offering his experience as leader for members old and new alike.

Vodo, I know you have worked hard for this, and today you finally get what you deserve. Congratulations Vodo!

~Rian Taldrya

Rian Taldrya, 2015-03-04 22:48:16 UTC