Esteemed personages and recently promoted folk that I may or may not know. Iâm writing today to recommend OPM Benevolent Taldrya Whiner for promotion to the rank of Dark Adept. Iâm not going to go into a super long winded explanation of why Ben needs and deserves to be promoted. As far as I can tell, each and every person whoâs going to be getting this recommendation already knows that he deserves to be promoted. Iâm just going to explain why I think he does, personally.
Iâm not exactly a beacon of activity these days, and when I do pop back into the DB, I always seem to find a constant in Ben. The guy is always around, always active. This was one of my longest trips away between GJWs or yelling at Kir, or even being molested by Shad, so I literally came back with almost no idea what was going on in the DB or who was running crap. Ben helped me sidestep all that and get back into it.
As a leader of the Old Folkâs Home, he probably has one of the worst jobs in the DB⦠when it actually matters, he tries to inspire us old retired idiots into stumbling out of our rum soaked retirements and get us working in the DB again; yet he somehow manages it. Beyond that, his activity that I witnessed within this GJW, as well as all the work I know he does for the DB on the wiki, making sure people maintain standards and donât spread suck all over the place is integral.
So yea, Iâm basically going to end it off with this. Ben deserves this promotion. He deserves it a lot. Give it to him.
Sincerely,
DJM Keirdagh Taldrya Cantor (Sith) / House Taldryan
Ben hasnât been promoted since 06 and I find this to be ridiculous. He was Proconsul of Taldryan at the time of his Primarch promotion and then he retired so he could do some real work. In the time since then Ben has become God of the Wiki, and did a ton of work for it before that. He rebuilt the Tal site from the ground up and became Old Folkâs Homeâs greatest leader. Heâs been a key part of Taldryanâs effort in every Vendetta since, 4 Great Jedi Wars and many Ritesâ of Supremacy, finally followed by a GJW MVP during GJW X. Ben, youâve done more for us than we could possibly thank you for, so take this promotion to DA as a nice attempt to make it right
~Chaosrain Taldrya
In his eight (almost nine) years in the Brotherhood, Benevolent has become a true pillar of Taldryan, having served the Clan/House Summit in some capacity since I first hired him as Aedile back in 2004. Over the years, many of us "older" members have disappeared at random for stretches of time for whatever reasons, but Benevolent has never done so. Each and every time I return from one of my sojourns into real life, Ben has been there to help catch me up on what's going on and smooth the transition from AWOL Elder to active member. He is truly the tether connecting old school Taldryan to the current Dark Brotherhood. Without him, I doubt any member of the Old Folks' Home would even show up for vendettas, let alone compete as fervently as so many did in this last war.
A part of what makes him such a great member is that Benevolent is pivotal as a support player (especially in CTF!). He does behind the scenes work like nobody's business, which helps ensure the important stuff actually gets done. You can see this in the recent wiki activity when the server crashed, where Ben did a tremendous amount of work to get us up and running again. And now he's working as the Wiki Tribune, constantly fixing things up and setting standards to make the wiki a much more accurate and sexy place for Brotherhood members to contribute (<3 the fancy color tables).
For the past few (maybe many) years, Taldryan has seen a decline in its overall activity levels. Much of this comes from our older members retiring or not being as active as they could during vendettas. Even though we've long since passed the torch as far as number one Clan/House goes, Benevolent still gives it everything he has when it comes to competition. In this last Great Jedi War, Benevolent was the driving force behind Taldryan, entering nearly every event and placing high in most of them. If he doesn't get an MVP for this war I'll be very surprised. He went above and beyond the role of a mere Sergeant... hell, he did more than most Consuls in their prime could have done. The only reason Taldryan did as well as it did in the war is solely because of Benevolent's efforts--his submissions, of course, but also his (harassment) encouragement to the older members to contribute and help out. To put it in clearer terms: Ben got Howlader to actually do stuff and enter it. I mean come on :P
Since the creation of the Old Folks' Home and, more recently, with its overhaul as a hilarious A-Team like group, Ben has been the mocked because he's a mere Equite leading a bunch of insane Elders with... interesting personality quirks. The fact that Benevolent is still in the Equite ranks is astonishing after so many years of service as Primarch. I know it's easier to recognize people when they're on the Dark Council or leading a Clan/House, but collectively Ben has done more with his time in Taldryan than any other person I know. After five long years at the rank of Primarch, I'm very happy to recommend Benevolent Taldrya Whiner for the rank of Dark Adept. Congratulations, Ben.
Shadow Taldrya
Grand Whore of the Brotherhood
Ben, what can I say? He's awesome! I've known Ben for a long time now, it's only been in the last couple of months I've had the honor of working alongside him and kicking some ass in GJWX! As a leader in the Brotherhood, he is always willing to help someone out, new and old alike. He has been leading the Old Folks Home BT for over a year now and they have been very active in the vendettas, winning several awards with their submissions. He has worked hard as a member of the wiki staff for quite some time now and his participation in both Tladryan and DB wide events has been a great encouragement to Taldryan.
Ben has made a huge impact on the DB during his time here. He has served in several leadership positions, worked with the DC to improve things for the membership and his experience over the almost 9 years here is invaluable. It is with great pleasure that I have the honor of reccomending him for this promotion to Dark Side Adept. Congratulations, Ben! My hat is off to you. You deserve it!
~Pontifex Ashia Kagan Keibtasu
Aedile of House Taldryan
Magistrate to the Grand Master
Magistrate to the VOICE
I have known Benevolent Taldrya Whiner from the first time I logged into Ektrosis mIRC channel, and it has been great to see him always being there over the years. During this time he has served as BTL of the âOld Folkâs Homeâ Battleteam and later as Wiki Tribune of the DB. His knowledge about the Wiki is stellar and during the recent GJW he lead his Battleteam through example to new highs, participating in really all events of the Great Jedi War (with placing in the top 3 nine-times and placing in the top 10 eight-times), including the ACC-event, although he mentioned he would never participate in any fiction event but did it for the best of Taldryan.
From my point of view Ben has always been open minded to all members of Taldryan as well as the whole Dark Brotherhood and has always been there when anybody has any problem regarding the Wiki. If someone has what it needs to be part of the Elders then it is Benevolent Taldrya Whiner, BTL, Wiki-Tribune and good friend.
Congratulations Ben!
OT Rian Aslar
Benevolent Taldrya Whiner, where or where has the time gone. Ben has been the Wiki Tribune for quiet some time now, working on this and that to expand our already massive collection of pages into a plethora of knowledge. That however isn't why I'm writing this recommendation, it's his complete and utter selflessness as a member that makes me double take. He has been Primarch for as long as I can remember, and he never once has talked publicly about his desire to reach the Elder status. For someone to serve the Brotherhood in the capacity that Ben does, and never once moan about his lack of awards, truly takes a measure of respect. Let's not even discuss his recent performance in the 10th Great Jedi War. I lost count of all of the events I've graded that he personally has placed in, bringing Taldryan that much closer to the gold. I'm not a big fan of fluff, so I'll keep this short. Ben does for others before himself, and is an all around quality leader of this club that I'm more than happy to put forth this recc for. As such, I formally recommend that he be elevated to the rank of Dark Side Adept, and take his true place among the Old Folks Home. Congratulations.
~ Taigikori Aybara Dupar; Headmaster of the Brotherhood
Ah, where to begin. Do I start this as the all knowing and professional Quaestor, the caring friend, the lowly underling that joined Taldryan when Ben had already been around as long as I have now (4+ years) and owes him a good portion for what he is today, or as a fellow Taldrya, making sure my brother is being taken care of? Well, I still havenât decided by now after writing that out, so weâll see how this turns out. ;)
To start, and this is totally a bias opinion, yet I know it to be a true one⦠Ben is by far one of the most trusted people in the Brotherhood. I only wish I could be as selfish as I want to be right now and say that he is only loyal to me, and that no one else has as close of a relationship that we do. But itâs true. Ben has been a light to me in many times of discouragement, and in times of joyousness. He is also there for countless other members, most of the ones who have written something in this recâ have benefitted from Benâs knowledge and know-how more than once, including multiple members on the Dark Council, and as a result of that he has had a direct influence on how this Brotherhood works today.
I find it shocking when I look upon his dossier and realize that it has been over five years since Benâs last promotion into the final tier of the Equites as a Primarch. I myself was still not even a member for another whole year by then. Granted, his e-peen is quite stellar, the lack of real notice towards Ben is a bit shameful⦠yet, I feel like all Ben has done has been leading to this grand-finale as I write this recommendation for him to be ushered into the ranks of the Elders, and truly become a Taldryan Veteran not only by years, but he has the epic force powers to back it up!
This past year Ben has been more than any Quaestor or Consul could ask for: Heâs been a steady voice of reason for Taldryanâs Summit, while making sure to maintain his place as Battleteam Leader. Ben is like your best friend and your wise, gentle old man next-door. Heâs also been the MVP and all star on the baseball, football, soccer and cheerleading team! Ben rocks his duties as Tribune over the Wiki, a feat that is both tedious at times, as well as time consuming and he makes it look like a piece of cake⦠and Iâll bet heâll argue that it is a piece of cake, too. His advance on keeping up with DB happenings and being sure to stay active goes beyond just sitting on IRC and talking, as Iâm sure most of you reading this know. He is known to put time into things that are important to him, and he can distinguish himself above any other member in the entire Brotherhood as the most reliable, down-to-earth person in this club.
His dedication to Taldryan is border-line incomparable to any other. Little is there any time when Ben does not have a word in edge-wise about what happens in Tal, and whether he knows it or not (he will now =P), there are 2 people whoâs opinion I hold the highest in this Brotherhood, and he is one of them. Were it not for Benâs words during this past summer, I doubt I would have been able to hold on and maintain my position as QUA. Ben seemed to offer the right amount of encouragement, the perfect dose of motivation, and the biggest sense of camaraderie that I needed to carry on. Ben is as solid as an oak tree, and his skills and knowledge in the ways of the DJB are seldom bested.
Ben made the impressive feat of mustering the Old Folks Home members into activity with all success and graces for Taldryan come to life. The top 4 most active members in Tal are all members of the OFH⦠how many veteran members that were dead just weeks before the GJW started were able to make that dramatic of a turn-around? I can tell you: Only the vetâs under Benâs rule. It boggles my mind when I look at the participation list and see that were it not for Ben fulfilling his duty as Sergeant, but fulfilling his duty as a Taldrya.
Itâs one thing to be on the Summit of a unit and have your say on matters⦠itâs another thing to do it and remain not only the most active member your unit, but in the entire Dark Jedi Brotherhood. Ben, is that exact image of activity. The guy literally missed ONE entry out of the entire GJW X events, standing on 35 events total. Not even the epic Yacks could compete with that. In addition to participating, he did more than just draw a stick figure and enter it for participation points⦠he put TIME and EFFORT and his work, and for that, he scored more Novae than anyone else in the DJB! My inbox is flooded with award approvals for my favorite Obelisk, and there shouldnât be any question why: Because Ben is the freaking First Hero of the GJW! This truly embodies anything that a Tally can look up to. Leadership, leading by example, being the most active member in the DJB, and still have time to work on the Wiki. You sir⦠are pwntastic. Jac worthy even.
Although most who are reading this wonât ever get to know Ben as well as Iâd like to think I do, nor fully understand what Ben truly does for Taldryan, or for the Brotherhood, just take a look at all of the recâs on this request form. Here are a few things that best represent Ben: Stickhatbootman (Taldryan Masscot), Marmalade, Bryar PIMP, Sergeant over Old Folks Home Battleteam, Wiki Tribune of the Brotherhood, First Hero of GJW X with 35 events under his belt not including Novae, webmaster of the Taldryan.net website, his e-peen (Prestige) is the 13th largest in the DB, heâs a son of Taldryan and heâs been a Primarch for 5 years⦠wait, what? 5 years? Sorry, but this wonât do.
For his entire 5 years that he has spent at the final tier of the Equites serving Taldryan, for his diligence and faith in carrying on the most important unit in the Brotherhood - and in doing so prolonging the longevity of itâs growth â and for being the best damn member in this entire Brotherhood (yes, that is a compliment =P), I am proud to stand amongst my fellow Dark Jedi and give up this recommendation that Benevolent Taldrya Whiner be no longer known as an Equite, but as an Elder of the Dark Jedi Brotherhood.
Ben, itâs been too long for this to happen⦠no, go play with your Darkside Adept lightening! Furthermore, Marmalade!
Much has already been said about Ben, that I have almost nothing left to add. We know heâs been a paragon of strength for Taldryan over the years. Many have come and gone, but the Ben remains. He is not the flashiest of members, especially in the midst of others in Taldryanâs whoâs personalities are larger and a little more well known to the general membership. Only now have people really been getting to know the man behind the hat, as heâs become the face of the Wiki. However, all of that belies what heâs accomplished over the years, as mentioned above. He has done all of this quietly, without asking for reward or thumping his own chest. This past GJW is a perfect example of that. Taldryan needed someone to lead from the front. Ben instinctively knew this and stepped up in a tremendous way, not only being tops amongst the entire DB, but also yanking many of the older members along for the ride, some very much kicking and screaming (re: Howie).
Yet, for all of this an Elder it does not make. An Elder is more than just their own unit. No, an Elder should be an example to others. They should be someone others strive to be. They are an Elder because they have touched the DB as a whole, and made it better by what they have accomplished. Ben, without a doubt, meets all of these requirements. The wiki has become an integral part of the DB, and much of that can be attested to Ben and the continued work he has done for it from day 1. He is a constant, and someone who can be relied upon without question. He is one of the very few people in the DB that I trust without question. If he agrees to do something it will be done, and it will be done properly. His intelligence, reasoning, reliability and skill cannot be overstated. He has worked for the betterment of Taldryan and this club, without every asking for a single thing in return. This is why he truly embodies what it means to be an Elder, and why he is unquestionably deserving of this honour.
Congrats Ben! Much deserverd!
DJM Halcyon Taldrya
Deputy Grand Master
Lord Halcyon, 2011-11-02 16:34:13 UTC