Valtiere was the type of leader that crosses between eras. When the occasion called for it, he was a man of few words yet inspired us all the same. In his case, he led us from the background yet was there the moment you needed him. In the Antei Contract Bureau (ACB), Gilbert was always there to tell me to take a step back whilst he stepped up to the plate and matched me post for post in the early days. And when he wasn’t writing contract prompts or grading, he was tossing ideas my way when inspiration was lacking.

I know he will step up to the plate should he be needed again. Until then, we sincerely thank you for your time and service, Valtiere. I salute you. o/

• Aedile, House Qel-Droma, Clan Arcona

The biggest measure of a leader is their legacy, what they leave behind when they step back and hand the reigns off. By that measure Valtiere has been a resounding success. He brought me in, showed me the ropes of running a house and set me up for success in every way possible. He also led from the front participating in five out of five events in Fading Light III and six out of eleven in the Great Jedi War.

On behalf of House Qel-Droma thank you for your service and continued support as a member and advisor. Your impact will be felt by Qel-Dromans for years to come.

• Quaestor, House Qel-Droma, Clan Arcona

Valtiere was never quite properly awarded for his service as Quaestor of Qel-Droma, as he served in that role from April until December. He grabbed 32 Seals of the Crusader, leading from the front lines during the long, exhaustive campaign that embroiled the Brotherhood. Then, after stepping down in December, he remained present and effective, adding another six Seals of Revelation to his impressive haul.

The influence Valtiere has had on Qel-Droma is significant. He did a great deal to shape its culture and its fictional domain in his time at its helm, and positioned the House well for the Great Jedi War. He handed his successor a strong, self-sustaining House, and then remained around to help make it even stronger.

He deserves this Grand Cross as recognition both for his leadership of House Qel-Droma in the seven months since his promotion, and as recognition for his individual work during the Dark Crusade, Fading Light, and the Eleventh Great Jedi War. Thank you, Valtiere -- you’ve always been there for Arcona, and we all appreciate that.

Proconsul of Clan Arcona

Turel has been a breath of fresh air since the moment he stepped into Qel-Droma as Aedile. The guy is a boundless bundle of energy that leapt into the deep end from day one. He didn’t just swim; he rose to the surface and flew across it. He’s one of those few people that can find the roughest hewn stone in the pile, chip away the coarse surface and leave a beautiful work of art in its place.

From his time as Aedile to taking the reigns as Quaestor of House Qel-Droma, everything he has touched has thrived. Under his leadership, Qel-Droma is steadily flourishing and growing to rival our sibling-House of Galeres. As Wally has stated, we haven’t seen this kind of activity since Wally himself was Quaestor. And I feel this is only a starting point.

Before he joined, I was perfectly willing to stay in my position as Battleteam Leader and keep things moving along. However, when he stepped in as Quaestor, I was inspired to take a more active leadership role to further the Clan as a whole. Whilst I am trying my best, I don’t think I will ever be able to fill the shoes as he did. Turel Sorenn is the very definition of leading by example, something of which I am a very firm believer in.

The possibilities for his future in the Brotherhood are endless and I look forward to seeing every moment of it.

For your service to both House Qel-Droma and Clan Arcona, take this Grand Cross as a small token of our appreciation. I look forward to seeing what else we can do together to breathe more life into our little sandbox.

Congratulations, Turel!

• Aedile, House Qel-Droma of Clan Arcona

There are a few things that must be said about Turel for you to understand why he deserves all that he does. He can be as light and free as air when interacting with his members, boldly joking with everyone as an equal, while also being steadfast in spirit, patient, calm, and serious whenever needed. He is the epitome of balance, always fair and vocal in his judgements during arguments yet perfectly reliable and loyal once a decision has been made. And perhaps most importantly of all, he is open to great change. Not many people are as adaptable yet unflinching as Turel is. It’s a special combination that makes him an incredible leader, one we’re lucky to have.

We had a rough start, he and I. Turel was so invested and passionate about all our members, not just those in his House, and really stood up for one of Galeres’ kids when promotion time came around. While honorable and a wonderful thing, it did step on a few toes. We, Arcona, just didn’t work that way, and it was a culture shock. But we resolved it, and looking back, I will swear up and down that that was the moment this man earned my respect. Turel is the kind of person who stands, immovable, by what he believes in and yet is willing to bow to other beliefs, opinions, and decisions for the greater whole. That is, again, a unique quality to say the least, and it’s come into play over and over: when we sat down together with the rest of the House summits to plan a Clan-wide Run-On; when we hashed out various promotions and awards for members; when we had to contain messy member issues and make sure everyone walked away, if not happy, then fairly represented; and when we fought side-by-side in our first Great Jedi War. Today, I’d call no other man my sister (that’s...an odd statement, but hey).

To be frank, T, you make me want to be a better person, as an individual and especially as a leader in this club. You have light and peace inside of you, and you show me everyday that if you let it out, you can change the world around you. Thank you for all you do, and congratulations on the Grand Cross, my friend.

Acting Quaestor of House Galeres