I met Evant in the Emperor's Hammer TIE Corps twenty years ago. He was my squadron commander and I was an ambitious noob. Somehow, two decades later, we're still friends, still pouring time and energy into an online Star Wars club. When he rejoined the DJB after several years in the wilderness, I don't think he had any interest in taking on major projects or leadership positions. But he slowly moved up into Clan leadership and eventually onto the DC as Voice, all because of hard work, a good attitude, and his irrepressible stream of ideas (what Howie so eloquently calls "Evantbabble").

The ideas aren't always good, but when he hits, he really hits. The possessions project was an ancient relic in the DB when he started reviving it as Voice. He took the basic concept of giving members credits for doing things, and creating stuff for them to buy with those credits and threw out all of the prior plans that had been sketched, discussed, and left to languish over the years. Instead he built a monstrous spreadsheet from the ground up and spent months filling it in. He assembled a team to help him plan and test, and he never let the project slow down. Today's possessions system is the result of many years of hard (and ongoing) work by many members, but without Evant's vision and determination to finally get it done I'm confident it never would have happened.

A similar story applies to the XP project. Mav dreamed it up during his term as DGM (though I'm sure others had the idea in the past, as well) and we made it pretty far into planning the system during his GM reign, but that final push to actually make it real didn't happen until Evant became GM and made it a priority. Again, many people contributed and Evant didn't do it alone (in fact Atra took the lead), but it wouldn't have happened without his push to get it done.

Those are the big ones. A few other things accomplished during Evant's tenure include: moving from TG to Discord; removing the RM role; introducing M:CON; retiring Discourse; creating Exarch and greenlighting both RP as an official activity and the Envoy Society; the (partly complete) ACC revamp; clusters for casual gaming; creation of the Trivia Tribune and Comms Tribune; lowering barriers to entry for the Elder ranks; and the team-based RoS: Escalation. Evant didn't do all of these himself; he didn't even dream many of them up. What he did was create the conditions necessary to make them happen and support them to completion.

Evant, enjoy your Golden Lightsaber and some time off. But I'm sure we haven't seen the last of you.

Lord Dacien Victae, 2023-10-16 13:50:20 UTC

The Dark Brotherhood wiki states that the Golden Lightsaber is awarded to members who have displayed the greatest forms of ability, service, and sacrifice for the Brotherhood. 16 Golden Lightsabers have been awarded to 13 members in the history of our club. That is less than 1 awarded per year of our existence and is 0.127% out of every member that has ever joined the Brotherhood. Grand Master Telaris "Mav" Cantor is already counted in those numbers and enjoyed the previous distinction of being 1 of only 3 members in the history of the Dark Brotherhood to have earned a Golden Lightsaber while not serving as Grand Master.

Today, Mav joins another distinguished group by becoming the Dark Brotherhood’s 4th member to have been awarded a Second Golden Lightsaber. Mav’s service to our club over the past three years has been exemplary and should serve as a model for future Grand Masters. Patience, fairness, and humility are desirable traits in all of our members and the Dark Brotherhood has been blessed to have them in Mav’s term as Grand Master.

Thank you for all you have done for our club and for all you will continue to do in the future.

Grand Master Sarin

There is not a lot that I can say about Mav that others haven't explained in great detail and with admiration already. He's shown a strength in stability, a deft hand in handling issues as they arise, and a whole flotilla of other duties that come with that cursed throne. Being the final arbiter of every decision, having the weight of every Dark Councilor's calls on your conscience and generally being responsible for the survival of the club is a unique trouble that few people truly know. Thank you Mav for keeping our corner of the fandom thriving. It means more to us than the stack of shiny pixels can possibly show.

Muz Ashen, the Lion of Tarthos

---

From the Dark Council

I’ve been fortunate to have Mav as a mentor and friend since my first days on the Dark Council. For each of his roles, he has had a guiding hand in the direction of things. Oftentimes arguing about it, just because, someone had to argue about it. Yet in every instance wanting the best results.

He has played an active role in all the societies, the possessions system, the ACC, the character sheet system, paths, ranks, species, the trial of identity, the trial of acquisition, the move to Telegram, the vendetta format, the Covenant, and so many different individual policies that guide decisions and member experience every day. I’ve been along for the ride on many of those conversations and it’s through his collaboration and guidance that all these things took shape and that I have had the opportunity to learn so much about all of it.

I don’t know what post GM life has in store for Mav, but I hope he remains in some capacity just to continue to provide his vision and leadership when needed. Congratulations on a successful term as GM Mav, and thanks for the opportunity to work alongside you all these years.

Evant

This award caps off a remarkable period in the history of this club and in Mav’s career. For the last six and a half years, Mav has served on the Dark Council in some capacity: a year and half as Voice, then three each as Deputy Grand Master and Grand Master. During that time he played a leading role in revolutionizing the pillars of this club, developing the vendetta bin scoring system that has simplified participation requirements and standardized scoring, guiding the transition into nuCanon and the path/order system, and helping to oversee the launch of the massive possessions system -- not to mention his earlier key work in creating the character sheet system we use today. Mav didn’t do these things alone, but I think it’s fair to say that they would not have happened as effectively (and in some cases, maybe at all) without his leadership, his attention, his energy, and his vision.

As Grand Master, he has been engaged on a daily basis with the business of running this sometimes-unwieldy organization. He has regularly offered his ideas, opinions, and encouragement to Dark Councilors, Consuls, and individual members, and brought a steadfast, deliberate, and thoughtful style to the Iron Throne.

On a personal note, I am grateful to Mav for taking a chance on my nomination as Justicar. We had worked together on the Dark Council previously but didn’t have a particularly close relationship at that time. For the past three years, working closely with Mav has been an absolute pleasure and one of the highlights of my 18 years in this club. I’m proud to call him a friend and a mentor, and although I will miss his constant presence on the Council I’m sure he won’t vanish into permanent retirement.

Mav, congratulations on becoming only the fourth dual-wielder of Golden Lightsabers!

Bubba

From my appointment as Combat Master in October 2016 until working directly as his Praetor and then as Regent, I have had the good fortune of working directly with Mav and benefitting from his experience and insight. He has been a solid and reliable Grand Master for the club, providing stability and oversight that is always consistent and measured. This mindset shows itself throughout the projects we have worked on, always looking at it from both the implementation standpoint and the desired end state. It's methodical and ensures a complete product when released. In that regard, there's not much else that could be asked for, though so long as he doesn't have a valid Character Sheet I can't be sure he actually exists.

At the same time, it's almost hard to believe it's been this long. Three years of GM really does go by that quickly, and it's going to feel quite different without Mav around to bug. I for one just want to say "thank you". Thank you Mav, for giving me the confidence to push the systems of the club further. Thank you for putting data and experience first and always challenging "gut feelings" to be quantified. The presence you have brought within your role has been a welcome one. You have earned your retirement, and any merits that come with it.

Atra

Many many moons ago, there was a Combat Master, working on the new CS system, and more importantly, trying to get the ACC rebooted. He was frequently bothered by a very annoying me about this process. Now, years later I can say that our dynamic has not really changed. Mav works hard on implementing his vision, and I pester him about it. A staple of club-wide leadership for ages, Mav’s ascension to Grand Master was a boon to this club, more than many would like to attribute to “The Worst”.

Throughout our many many conversations and interactions over the years, Mav has always been a perfect example of what we want from all leaders. Calm, polite, capable of listening, and in dealing with anything, from complaints to compliments, with an even well thought out statement. He has his members back, and a strong well seasons sense of what is best. More than that he is actually capable of listening to alternative ideas to his own, and not so stubborn that he refuses to ever adapt his stance. He never looks for yes men, but instead for ones like himself, full of passion and drive to better this club.

Now at the end of a very long run of club leadership, Mav can finally enjoy some rest and well-deserved rewards for his efforts. He has given this club the stability it needs to grow and thrive. He has taught me so much about being a leader, and a hard worker to push towards a better tomorrow. Thank you so much Mav, you may be “the worst” but you certainly have been everything we’ve needed in a Grand Master, and this club is all the better than it would have been without you.

Xen

Mav has served as Grand Master of this club for three solid, frustrating, annoying, amazing years. He has kept our course straightish and truish - and has ensured that the Brotherhood will continue to flourish for years to come. I think. Probably. Despite my best efforts to the contrary. Congratulations, jackass. You didn't burn it all down.

Howie

It's not easy to put into words the accomplishments of a Grand Master, and even harder to do so at the end of their three year term. Mav hasn't done anything to make that any easier, either. He wasn't one to sit back on his laurels and watch his staff do work while he takes credit. No, he has always been an active presence driving the Brotherhood forward through hard work and dedication. He's helmed the Brotherhood through a difficult year as well, with the club we all enjoy being impacted by the events of the last 12 months even as a virtual, online organization well fit for social distancing. It's fair to say that our organization has probably not faced as tough a time or as large a challenge since the Exodus. Mav was there, ready and able to ensure the Brotherhood continued to be there to offer the membership an enjoyable outlet in times of trouble, working hard to promote and run the third major Vendetta of his tenure even as some weren't sure it could be pulled off under such circumstances. A place where all could play a little, and forget their troubles for a while, was even more critical now than it has been at any time before. Helming the Brotherhood under the best of circumstances is enough to try men's souls. Doing so under the circumstances he has faced over his three year tenure, culminating in the prior year, is something altogether different. I offer you my sincere thanks for the work that you have done, sir. May the challenges that lay before you be both less taxing and more rewarding than those that have come before.

Slagar

There really aren't enough words to say how much I appreciate Mav taking a chance on me as Fist. The first time I applied I was a new EQ2 that had been active for about two and a half years. I knew I was a long shot candidate so when I received notice that I was not selected I was not shocked. But even in telling me I was not selected, Mav was very encouraging in his response to my application and I could tell he appreciated the time I put into it. When the position opened up again, that appreciation motivated me to take another shot at the job. I was both shocked and honored when I was selected.

I've only ever known Mav and DGM and GM. I knew little of Mav before joining the Dark Council and interacted with him even less. I have been honored to work alongside of him this past year and a few months and it will be strange to see a Dark Council without him on it. Even in my short time working on his staff, I could tell Mav was a great leader for our club.

I've learned that one of Mav's greatest strengths is to listen to your ideas but also challenge you to prove them. I've bombarded him with ideas in our short time together and he was fantastic at simultaneously taking the time to understand what I was presenting but also professionally critiquing them. The ideas that died did so under the correct amount of scrutiny and those that made it to see the light of day were better off for going through this type of process.

His other great strength is that of master organizer. I was extremely nervous going into my first Great Jedi War as Fist but it eased me greatly to see what a well oiled machine I had joined. Both Mav's process and his direct support helped tamp down my anxiety and significantly help me succeed in my first major event, something that is likely the scariest thing an new Fist will ever do.

Thank you for this opportunity Mav, as you sail off to retirement I hope I can keep honoring the trust that you placed in me.

Justinios

Mandalorian Declan Roark, 2021-02-25 01:09:33 UTC

One of the primary tasks of the Star Chamber is to ensure that the Grand Master is properly recognized for his efforts. Section 3.04(c) of the Covenant states that the “Star Chamber is charged with ensuring proper recognition is given to the Grand Master for his services, including any appropriate medals or other honors, and will work with the Dark Council to provide for such.” To that end, the Star Chamber has gathered to conduct a review of the actions and activity of Grand Master Pravus. We have further sought the recommendations of Pravus’s peers, which are appended to this. Our findings are contained in this award recommendation, as we have found his performance to be excellent over the course of the last three years. Pravus tirelessly lead the Dark Brotherhood forward and pushed the Dark Council ahead in creation of new systems and activities, and giving focus to our membership.

This recommendation will focus on four areas of performance by Grand Master Pravus. These areas are:

• Creation of member focused activities

• Ensuring strong Club Level leadership

• Improvements to existing Club Level systems

• Implementation of new Club Level systems

As to the overall performance by Grand Master Pravus over the course of his three-year term, those matters are contained within the multiple recommendations that will be appended.

-Creation of Member Focused Activities

The primary role of the Grand Master above all others is to ensure that the Brotherhood maintains high levels of activity and participation. The Star Chamber expects a Grand Master to focus his efforts both on creation of club-level competitions as well as ensuring the leadership of the club is making unit- or system-specific events. This section focuses on the club-level activities headed by Pravus.

To ensure creation of member focused activities Grand Master Pravus focused the efforts of the Club leadership team towards aligning with major Star Wars events, such as movie releases, and holidays like May the 4th. Since starting his second term as Grand Master, Pravus’s team has centered activity on four different major events. The first was focused towards a celebration around the release of Episode 7. The release of the first Star Wars movie in over a decade was an opportunity not to be missed, as previous movies have brought with them a surge in new members it was key to show the people who had newly joined that the Dark Brotherhood is dedicated to providing events focused around the Star Wars universe and celebrates new additions to it. This mini event consisted of nine unique competitions and awarded three unique artifacts for member’s dossiers.

The next milestone in the Star Wars franchise came with the release of Rogue One. Again Pravus ensured that the Dark Council had in place a series of events to celebrate the occasion, with another nine unique competitions and three artifact awards for the winners. Finally this past May the Fourth brought with it not just a Star Wars Holiday, but also a Club Holiday. To celebrate May the Fourth thirteen unique competitions were run by the Dark Council, with a set of custom robes going to the winners.

However, one must not forget the awesome effort that is displayed in running a Great Jedi War. When Pravus took over the role of Grand Master, the club was largely burnt out from the constancy of the Dark Crusade. He was determined to conduct a Great Jedi War, but also wanted to make sure it was done right. Pravus assembled an incredibly fine team and coordinated the creation of a GJW that was incredibly well-executed and well-deserved. As a part of that, Pravus pushed the development of a radical new DB storyline and a compelling and complex enemy. The work behind the GJW will go a long way toward pushing the DB in the right direction in the future.

Grand Master Pravus has excelled at ensuring all key Star Wars moments have been celebrated within our Club, and with those provided significant events that all members have the opportunity to participate in. The GJW near the end of his term was an impressive feat as well. Through these efforts, Pravus has the Brotherhood storyline to a new level and brought the club into a more regular cycle of major events.

-Ensuring Strong Club-Level Leadership

The second major category through which is a Grand Master is evaluated is his ongoing staffing and development of club-level leadership. Ensuring strong club level leadership is one of the most challenging responsibilities of a Grand Master; he must assemble a cohesive team of people, each with their own strengths and weaknesses, and ensure that they are aligned to lead the Club forward. This group consists not only of the Dark Council, but the Tribunes and Consuls to each Clan as well. When choosing a Dark Councilor there is a lot of discussion within the existing DC as well as some key advisors to the Grand Master, but the ultimate decision and responsibility for that decision remains with the Grand Master. Moreover, the removal of non-performing staff can be as big of a task as choosing new team members. Throughout this term, Pravus had to select two Fists, two Headmasters, one Voice, one Master at Arms, and a Combat Master. Additionally he created and filled the position of Regent to ensure completion of the Possessions project and oversee the system.

Filling a Consul position can be even more difficult than that of a Dark Councilor at times; the nature of the position of Consul widens the pool of members to gain input from significantly. This starts with the existing Clan Summit and continues to Clan Title holders as well as general membership of the Clan. The changing of a Consul can be significantly more impactful to individual members of a Clan than a new Dark Councilor, and the situation must be approached delicately and uniquely with each Clan’s personalities taken into account. Over his time as GM, Pravus has had to select (and remove) multiple Consuls.

In evaluating Pravus in this category, the Star Chamber focused its review on both the quality of candidates appointed to positions (including their “fit” within the core team of leaders), but also on the efforts of Pravus to ensure that future transitions will be accounted for. We have been impressed with the teams assembled by Pravus. There is little disagreement or strife among the club leadership and we have found that Pravus has not only put the right people on the bus, but he has put the right people in the right seats on the bus. For example, the Star Chamber has been continually impressed with the Dark Council’s alignment on the implementation of new systems, which is a sign of a team working together.

We are also pleased with the efforts of Pravus to develop future leaders. He continually discussed with his senior advisors the possible up-and-coming leaders and the transitions that will be needed upon current leaders leaving their posts. To that end, Pravus has been able to ensure that new leaders can be installed without much loss of momentum. The Star Chamber is particularly pleased with the efforts of Pravus to develop Mav into his ideal successor.

Ensuring consistency and alignment as positions change or are created can be demanding, the risk of scope creep from old projects to a new individual’s ideas always looms during these times. Pravus’ expert leadership has ensured all of the Dark Brotherhood’s leadership continued moving forward as a team.

-Improvements to Existing Club-Level Systems

Continued improvements to existing Club Level systems is a necessity for any organization to continue to prosper and the Dark Brotherhood is no exception to this rule. One of the maxims that Pravus carried throughout his term is that we need to be an organization for today, as opposed to an organization of fifteen years ago. That meant someone needed to make the hard decisions to alter existing systems, no matter the headwinds.

One overlooked but important change was the re-configuring of DB holidays. For years the Club had celebrated a variety of internal holidays; some celebrated individuals who had made significant contributions to it, others simply celebrated leaving a different club and tended to focus towards the negatives of that organization at the time. Through his initiative to change this, Pravus gained alignment of the Dark Summit and restructured the Club’s Holidays into two specific events. The first was determined to be May the Fourth, or Star Wars Day. An appropriate day that any Star Wars fan can acknowledge deserves some celebration. The second holiday selected was December 16th, which was the anniversary of the day that the Covenant of the Dark Brotherhood was approved.

Pravus was also incredibly instrumental in the re-writing of the Covenant. His efforts helped to make it more clear (for non-lawyer types) and provide several improvements, including pulling the mythical Star Chamber from behind a curtain and defining what it truly is, who represents the Club on it, and what it is responsible for. One central idea that Pravus pushed without ego or self-interest was the three-year term limit on Grand Masters. Through that change, Pravus, who might have otherwise stayed on as GM, forced his own eventual retirement. But he recognized the importance of that provision and made it happen anyway. These efforts by Pravus have made it so the Brotherhood is an organization rooted in the present, as opposed to the past. We are more defined by the Star Wars universe and activities of today than the traditions that may have previously held us back on making creative and beneficial moves.

Beyond the changes to Holidays multiple other improvements were implemented across the Dark Brotherhood. These include, but are not limited to, improvements such as additional Non Force User Disciplines, transition of the Gaming Bot from mIRC to Telegram as well as better functionality for the Telegram version, an update to Dark Brotherhood storytelling which will utilize the Dark Brotherhood systems like possessions for enemy forces and characters.

We also saw a significant fictional shift to align our club with current Star Wars canon. At times this was controversial with the membership, but the ultimate goal of ensuring a new Star Wars fan could join the club and not be forced into reading legacy books and comics to understand where it is an a fictional organization was well placed. Additionally related to fiction the Dark Councils fictional responsibilities all got an overhaul and a new home planet was created.

Pravus also made some very hard decisions in relation to existing club structure. One such decision was the closure of Clan Tarentum. Without rehashing the decision, the Star Chamber was impressed by the thorough and thoughtful manner by which Pravus approached that decision. He left no stone unturned in obtaining advice, and in the end the Star Chamber agreed completely with his rationale for the closure. We believe the DB is stronger for it.

Overall, Pravus has worked to give the Brotherhood a “fresh” feel that was long overdue. He does not hold anything sacred that was done in the past if he finds that the change or removal of something will benefit the Brotherhood in the future. That is exactly the manner of working that the Star Chamber expects.

-Implementation of new Club Level Systems

There have been multiple new systems implemented under Grand Master Pravus’s watch, but the one on which we obviously focused was his effort in completing the long-awaited possessions system. This was a project started 15 years ago and worked on by an unknowable number of members, both those within leadership positions and outside of them, over that time period. Many thought this system was a mythical idea, always looming on the horizon and never arriving within our Club. Pravus proved those cynics completely wrong. He focused the Dark Council around completing Possessions from the moment he began his tenure. Multiple other ongoing projects were sidelined to ensure appropriate time could be allocated to the Possessions initiative.

As the time to begin open testing of the system for the club neared it became obvious to Grand Master Pravus that the Possessions system had grown in complexity and could no longer be maintained as an added task to an existing Dark Council position. He also was aware that the critical nature of a system which permeated every level of our Club and would impact each member was something which required a greater level of responsibility and time than would befit a Tribune. From this realization the Dark Council position of Regent was formed and filled. With a point person firmly established the Possessions system would move forward to beta testing and become a live system in late 2016. The dream of many members had finally become a reality.

Not content to rest with the newly created system Pravus continued to push the Possessions team forward. As quickly as new content was released for the Star Wars the Possessions Team was creating it for the Club.

Pravus’s leadership and guidance of the Dark Council allowed for an accomplishment that many members thought would never be done. Frankly, he did what members of the Star Chamber themselves were unable to do, and that leaves us grateful to him.

Aside from the addition of Possessions, Pravus has guided the club through the development of new societies, new gaming resources, and other exciting developments. The Brotherhood has expanded well-beyond where it was when Pravus re-took the position of Grand Master, offering more and more to members on a daily basis.

Overall the Star Chamber has found that Grand Masters performance in serving the club has been exemplary. We placed our trust in his leadership and decisions, and we were not disappointed in the least. Pravus has been an exceptionally strong Grand Master, and we look forward to having him (back) among our ranks as a member of the Star Chamber! Congratulations, Pravus, on your second Golden Lightsaber!

Awarded by the Star Chamber

• Grand Master Jac Cotelin

• Grand Master Muz Ashen Keibatsu

• Master Darth Aeternus

• Dacien Victae di Plagia

• Eminent Val Cole

Jac Cotelin, 2018-02-23 06:03:54 UTC

The Golden Lightsaber has only been awarded thirteen times in the history of the Dark Brotherhood. Only eleven members have received this honor and eight of them have been Grand Masters. The three members who were not Grand Masters; James Lucius Entar, Keirdagh Taldrya Cantor, and Kir Taldrya Katarn all served on the Dark Council and provided our club with Grand Master-like contributions. Today, I am honored to award another member of the Dark Brotherhood with the Golden Lightsaber and welcome him to one of the most exclusive club's in the DJB.

Prophet Telaris "Mav" Cantor is our Deputy Grand Master, but he enjoys near parallel Grand Master decision making authority and is a Grand Master in all but rank. Mav has earned this authority through countless years of dedication to the Dark Brotherhood, through countless hours of counsel to multiple Grand Masters, and through his steadfast work to improve our member's experiences.

Mav's role as our Deputy Grand Master is that of a co-leader. I do not make decisions without his advice and often I trust him to make decisions without me. This has brought on a period of stability, creativity, and growth in our club's systems and processes that have not been seen in years. Just take a look at our website, our club, and compare it to two years ago. Old systems have been vanquished and outdated clutter has been swept away. In its place has come possessions, new character sheets, new ACC rules, new orders, a new member join experience, and a host of other projects that are too numerous to name (and remember!). These new systems and projects are all a result of Mav's work, effort, and vision. He has either had a guiding hand or has been the lead on each of them and his efforts have fundamentally changed our club.

I am extremely fortunate to have Mav as my co-leader and it is my honor to award him our club's highest honor.

Congratulations!

Mandalorian Declan Roark, 2016-12-25 17:23:51 UTC

The responsibility and time requirements of a sitting Grand Master are hard to describe. Those of us who have held the position are uniquely aware of the sacrifices and challenges that come with the job. Family, work, travel, and all of the other life events are accompanied by your duties as Grand Master. Sneaking a break at work to answer an emergency email, checking whatsapp while on vacation to make sure a scandal does not turn into a riot, and running competitions during the birth of your children are just a few little examples of what a Grand Master does.

Muz has served at the summit of our club for six years. This effort is unequaled in the history of our club and putting it into perspective is nearly impossible. I don’t think I or anyone in our club can accurately thank Muz for his dedication and sacrifice to our club, but a second Golden Lightsaber is a start.

Muz, I’d like to thank you for all that you have done and all that you will continue to do for the Dark Brotherhood in the future.

GM Pravus

I have been a member of the Brotherhood for about eleven years. This as it would turn out be around the same time Muz Ashen joined the club. Six of the last eleven years of this club has seen Muz sitting upon the Iron Throne. To say Muz has been responsible for shaping the experiences I’ve had these last several years would be a massive understatement. Muz has overseen some of the biggest changes this club has ever undergone. Today I am here to lend my voice along with others to thank him for years of excellent service.

Anyone who has served as a leader knows what a rough gig it is. The role of Grand Master is the position that faces the most challenges. For every decision made, there are people who oppose it. To take the role of Grand Master, you need a iron clad will and a strong ability to look past the complaints that will arise no matter what you do. To do this for a continued six years, is something that most people in this club would have been broken by.

Muz has had to make many hard calls in his six years. None taken rashly, and none without reason. And without a doubt, each taken with the betterment of the club in mind. This club forged ahead thanks to Muz’s blood, sweat, and well not tears because Muz doesn’t cry. He does give 110% every day to making this club as amazing as possible for its members.

Several years ago Muz offered me the chance to run Scholae Palatinae. It is an opportunity I have enjoyed every single day. Not once has Muz ever turned away from listening to my issues. Not once has he ever made a request that was unreasonable to fill. He continues to be supportive of all the leaders of this club. He continues to be an example of a diligent work ethic.

These six years have seen Muz run massive Vendettas, he has been a leading charge in many great new additions to the club, his skills of graphics continued to be tapped, and not once has he ever shown even the slightest sign of faltering. This club simply wouldn’t be where it is at now without him. Now it is time to thank him, once again for his outstanding work. And more importantly congratulate him as he reduces the stress in his life a considerable amount. There isn’t really a reward we can give that reflects just how much he has done.

So thank you Muz. Thank you for the opportunities. Thank you for the guidance. And thank you for never taking the foot off the gas as you drove us to a better place. Xen’Mordin Vismorsus Quaestor of Scholae Palatinae

---

I can hardly believe that it was two years ago that I returned to the Brotherhood, right at the start of the Crusade. In that time, Muz has shown the dedication and determination that no doubt marked all six years of his term, an incredible feat. Muz’s fortitude as Grand Master will never be duplicated.

Muz may not be perfect, but none of us are. Yet what makes him so special, and what will keep him a part of the Brotherhood for years to come, is his dedication and love of the club. For that, and for an incredible six years of time at Grand Master, congratulations on your second Golden Lightsaber, Muz!

~Mav

---

I am what I like to call a Muzennial. My entire career as an active member and leader in this club has revolved around Muz. So, I don’t really have anyone else to compare him to. So instead, I will just speak on the man who I have followed, for better or for worse, the past 5 years.

To be honest, it did not start out well. My first real taste of Grand Master Muz was the great de-clanning. It sucked for us, trying to ride our momentum, and as I was only a rookie Battleteam Leader at the time, I was furious when I saw his rejection e-mail to our re-clanning proposal. So we put our heads together and re-tweaked the proposal, and to my surprise, Muz gave us the privileged to be one of two units to be re-clanned. I didn’t fully grasp the gravity of the move back then, but appreciate how hard the move was, looking back with the knowledge I now posses. That took juevos (as Muz would say). And Muz has shown, time and again, that he is not afraid of anything. If he thinks something is in the best interest of the club, he doesn’t just talk about it, he does it. He executes. And he does not do so blindly; always consulting those he chooses to keep as his cabinet.

From the re-clanning, it still was a rocky path. Throughout the Vendetta’s and Wars Muz orchestrated, day by day I found myself in a position where I needed to speak with him privately on the side in regards to the progress of Arcona and its members. Even on a Sunday evening, probably one of the few times he had some time to his family and self, he would sit with me for hours discussing issues I had. This is something he did not have to do. But this is just one of many things that makes him such a truly unique leader.

He also manages to make friends with the membership. I had one member tell me they were afraid of the GM, and I actually blinked a few times and was like, “huh?” It’s just Muz; the other day we were doing shot-contests on G+, he’s just a regular guy. In an online club, where we sit behind our dossiers and IRC handles, it’s hard to forget that we are real people making very real sacrifices.

The Golden Lightsaber is the ultimate award our club can give out. Muz has sacrificed more of himself for this club than anyone I have ever seen. Sacrifice is the core of leadership, and I really can’t say it enough. As a leader, I’ve tried my best to follow his example, and understand that anytime I’m feeling stressed as a Consul, I just need to multiply that by ~7.5 times and I’ll get the stress he handles on a daily basis. Muz also has a lot of projects in the works. He is very detail oriented, and doesn’t do things half-assedly. He stands behind the people he trusts with tasks, and when he releases a project, it’s typically polished and ready to go. I know he puts a lot of pressure on himself to get these projects done, but I hope he can realize that the projects are not what make the GM. It’s the will to stick with those projects, and to be a leader, that really separate him from the rest.

Muz is not the perfect GM. Nor do I have the credentials to say he’s the “best”. At the end of the day, words are wind. To put it simply, there is simply no one I’ve met in my entire time in the Dark Jedi Brotherhood who cares more about the club, it’s members, and it’s health. Even if something wasn’t his job, he still dropped what he was doing to fill in where needed. Multiple times he has stepped in to help a struggling Herald team and used his uber-gfx skills to get us our reward robes done. It’s the little things like that that get overlooked, but ultimately add up to what makes Muz such an inspiring leader.

So, from the bottom of my heart, thank you, Muz, for waking up everyday and putting up with us. Thank you for making the hard decisions that we sit here safely critiquing. We don’t always agree, but you always have, and will continue, to have my support.

Congratulations. You deserve this, and much more.

Wally, Consul of Clan Arcona

---

I’ve been around long enough to see a couple of GMs, but by far the most time has been under Muz. He has always struck me as a “professional” member of the Brotherhood, acting like an adult and a leader and selecting a staff that largely does the same. It sets the tone for the entire club, and I believe it’s the main reason we have survived as long as we have. The stability of having a leader that sticks around for six years has allowed us to flourish and pursue the long term, large impact projects that would not have survived a parade of new GM faces or even just one inexperienced GM.

Tarentum has had a rough time during Muz’s tenure, but he has been supportive of us through the toughest of times. He held my feet to the fire when I needed it and let me do my own thing when I needed that instead. He never gave up on us even when many voices around the Brotherhood said we should be closed or merged. It is because he was willing to take a chance on us that we are still here today, and I can’t thank him enough for that.

The Brotherhood as a whole has been improved dramatically from what it was six years ago. Do you remember when we had to track rosters and activity manually in Google Docs? When we awarded promotions based on when we kind of just felt like someone had done “enough” work? When you could only choose from three or four kinds of robes? When Vendettas didn’t have entire professional quality comic books published for them? I can’t say Muz is singlehandedly responsible for all of that, but he has played a direct part in almost all of the major improvements over the years and it has made the club feel like it belongs in the modern internet, rather than being some 20 year old relic from the bad old days of BBS’s and 2400 baud modems. JaM3z might write most of the code for that stuff, but Muz is the one who saw that it was necessary and pulled us kicking and screaming away from our old ways.

The Golden Lightsaber is the best thing we have to give Muz. He’s already got one, but we can’t make up a new award without his approval. So I am proud to recommend that we give him another one. Thanks for everything, Muz. It has been a great six years.

-- Scion Altera

---

After having recently spent a year or two in the Rogues, I immediately noticed two things on my return. 1: The DJB had advanced a lot while I was away. 2: Muz was still the GM. The most valuable resource any of us has is time, and Muz has dedicated a lot of it to the DJB. The popular sentiment nowadays is a sort of armchair GM-ing where the clarity of hindsight, and the freedom from having to answer to 7 bickering unit leaders each with conflicting interests leads one to conclude "I could do it better." The truth is that you probably couldn't.

Leadership in this club is tough, and the job isn't any easier the higher up you get. For the DJB to survive, we must be constantly evolving to better suit the members of today and the potential members of tomorrow. During his time as GM, Muz has overseen some of the most radical changes that the club has ever seen. The DJB of today has a new and vastly different character sheet system. The Clans were downgraded to Houses and had to fight back to Clan status. The Dark Jedi Brotherhood has a Light side house. So many of these changes have been met with something that ranges from skepticism to vitriol. And yet Muz never backed down.

I can't say that I've agreed with everything Muz has done, but I can say that I genuinely believe that his heart has always been in the right place. He loves this club, and he's bled for it. The DJB that exists today is not the DJB Muz inherited when he stepped into the GM seat, and it's a better place for it.

Muz is already Grandmaster, and he already has a Golden lightsaber. There isn't any award to give to him that he doesn't already have. As far as I'm concerned, the only thing left to give Muz is our thanks. Thank you for the hundreds - thousands - of hours you have spent to making the DJB a better place. Thank you for mediating a set of Consuls that have a hard time agreeing on anything. Thank you for all the cool graphics. Thank you for making the hard choices and tough decisions.

-Vivackus Kavon di Plagia

---

Six years is a long time. It's an impressive achievement in a club where most successful tours of duty are measured in months rather than in years. Muz's greatest impact on this club does not arise from his longevity, though, but from his drive to constantly advance the Brotherhood. His time as Grand Master stradles two eras: one of bloated clans and an aging website, and the one he ushered in, sweeping away years of tradition. Today's Brotherhood is leaner, more agile, and better equipped than ever before to capitalize on its unique place online. The slow rollout of Possessions will add great features, but the foundation for future success has already been laid.

His impact will continue to be felt for years, too, because an entire generation of Brotherhood leaders has emerged for whom Muz is the only Grand Master they have ever known. His openness to members at all levels, willingness to discuss issues, and level-headed approach to, well, everything, will be the standard by which they gauge his successors. We wouldn't be where we are today without his steady, guiding hand. Thank you, Muz, for all of your work.

~ Dacien Victae di Plagia, Headmaster

---

Some members and leaders of the Dark Jedi Brotherhood need little said to prove their accomplishments. While those of us in the Master at Arms office cross check the medals earned in an Anteian Cross request, everyone is inherently aware of the legacy of a Grand Master. An addendum – our Grand Master for the past eight years. My entire career here seems tied to the leadership of Sarin and Muz or Muz and Sarin. I became a Consul with Muz’s blessing…three times. I was Headmaster for two years and am now Master at Arms, all with Muz’s support and encouragement.

Muz is, in my opinion, an example of prime leadership at the topmost level. He cultivates a circle of advisors and trustees around him who propose, draft, and market, and he doesn’t step in until asked or to steer a careening conversation back on track with a firm declaration. He speaks openly and honestly with all members in his regular reports while at the same time maintaining the essential light hearted nature of this somewhat silly online fan club through hilarious and/or seductive Star Wars themed images and news.

As his Headmaster, I never remember Muz interfering or pushing his way in until I requested his assistance. As Master at Arms, he has always been open to ideas and how best to communicate what can often be a controversial discussion surrounding medals and promotions. He has guided us through multiple vendettas large and small, most based off of plot outlines he generated or deeply coordinated. Over the past several months, as this moment approached, Muz started to rely more upon those around him, but he has never relented in his duties or refused to proffer advice. At the same time, he continues to keep himself grounded. He will pop onto SWTOR to raid or host a G-Hangout session to draw Brimstone-Dooku. He creates lightsabers and avatars along with the warehouse of items still to be unveiled.

Muz is a firm guiding hand who has worked tirelessly (even when it was “wife time”) to keep what is great about the DJB while also steering us toward the new dawn that is new filmes, television, canon, and overall new Star Wars. He’s lasted this long for a reason, and without question Muz Ashen not only goes down as one of the Brotherhood’s greatest, most impactful Grand Masters but also one of the largest influences on the joys and memories I have of this ever complicated brotherhood. Thank you, Muz, for years of sacrifice, turmoil, and success. There’s comes a point where one wonders whether a Golden Lightsaber is even enough to recognize your work. ~~ Dark Side Adept Aabsdu Dupar, Master at Arms

---

Just over 12 years ago Muz joined our online club. Three years later he was appointed as Herald, and has remained a part of the club's Dark Council ever since. Half of Muz's entire time in the Brotherhood has been as its Grand Master. What do you even award to someone for that kind of sacrifice and effort? After having gotten to know Muz, my first thought was of a nice bottle of whisky. Although, like all of our Sacrimental Awards, I'm sure he would already have a bottle of whatever we'd be giving to him sitting in his well stocked bar. (Seriously, if you ever G+ Chat with this guy ask him to show you his bar)

To say that Muz has left his mark on the Dark Brotherhood over the last six years would be an understatement. I doubt that even the combination of all of the recommendations which will be attached to this award will do justice to the amount of and impact of the projects that Muz has had a hand in during his tenure as Grand Master.

The most obvious of the changes can be seen by any member when they load the Club's home page. The web page of 2007 is long gone, replaced by a more streamlined and user friendly one, due in no small part to the long hours coding provided by James and guidance from Muz. A Light Side House was opened, providing existing and new members the chance to roleplay the "good guys" for a change. Club Societies have also taken on a new form in the past six years, a new ACC was created, the GMRG was changed, and a Shadow Academy Society was formed. Each of these are items which are visible to members shortly after joining, and can help to retain their interest in the club.

The Dark Crusade, a marathon 2 year long Vendetta, was the first event of its kind. Like all things, some people loved it and others tolerated it. It attests to Muz's ingenuity and desire to provide new opportunities for members to become engaged with our Club, despite the behind the scenes work required from him to run an event spanning 24 months and culminating in a Great Jedi War. Like many things the Dark Crusade was an experiment which we can all learn from to further improve the experience provided by the Dark Brotherhood.

Thank you for everything you've done Muz. It has been a pleasure to serve on your Dark Council, when we run into each other one day the first rounds on me.

-Valhavoc, Fist of the Brotherhood

---

The path of a Grand Master is riddled with hard choices, choices that can make or break the Brotherhood, and choices that may even appear to have no ‘right’ choice at all. Lots of people will recognize the impact Muz has made, but it’s making the right choices that eventually leads to change and eventually impact down the road. Making these hard, and sometimes impossible choices is incredibly tough, yet Muz has shown time and time again that he was able to make the necessary choices, trust and delegate to the right people, and help shape the Brotherhood into the club it is today.

Thank you for everything Muz. We would not be where we are today if it weren’t for you. It was a pleasure working with you.

James Lucius Entar Arconae Seneschal of the Brotherhood

---

Muz has not been Herald or even on the staff in many years but it hasn't kept him from being active in the office. If it wasn't for the fact that we maintain a Herald activity spreadsheet, a lot of his contributions would go unnoticed, because Muz does not ask for credit or go out of his way to make sure they get listed. I usually write them in myself, and I know it's not a full list. He contributes to nearly (or even possibly every) aspect of the office. Muz served as a mentor to me over the last year as I took over the Herald office. He coached me on the office itself: how to approach difficult situations, give feedback, and a lot of support. This was my first year on the DC and I know it would not have gone as well as it did without his support. Over time as we got to work together I really got to understand his contributions, selflessness, and desire to see the DB successful not just now but in the future. Working with him brought about a lot of respect.

Some of the work he's done that most would not know about are actually small but needful things. The Call to Action banners for the war and crusade did not make themselves; Muz either completely created them himself or tag-teamed them because we needed one. For HSH we needed some more items to fill out all the days we had planned goodies, and he jumped at the opportunity, firstly in designing the much-talked about lightsaber from the Episode VII trailer that he named "Sleeper," as well as Ventilator and the new female robes/armor. A much-less known contribution would be several members' avatars that he took upon himself to put together without any prompting (or want for credit). But he didn’t stop there - he recorded a video to show how he creates the avatars so that others can do it as well. He’s done the same with lightsaber tutorials and even a recent robes tutorial. It’s wonderful because it’s never a “hey, look what I can do” - it’s always Muz trying to help out in some fashion, and perhaps even leaving behind a legacy.

I know there's many, many more items even I am not aware of or simply wouldn’t have the authority to speak on. Again, though, Muz hasn't been on the Herald staff in many years. Everything he has done for staff is all on top of what he has done as GM, which is monumental all its own. His talent deserves mad respect as does his desire to push the DB into a successful future, spending so many hours on DB work. I can't thank him enough for the support and contributions to the Herald office and ultimately to the DB itself.

Socorra, Herald of the Brotherhood

Muz, you beast of a GM, you. I’ve worked with you off and on in various capacities over your time as Grandmaster and you have consistently championed the the goals of driving this club forward; increasing its membership; and pushing for quality changes that keep it fun. You have always been an opinionated idea guy and those ideas didn’t always mesh with everyone else’s, forcing you to deal with the inevitable pains of leadership…the conflict. You handled that respectfully, pushed forward on things you felt strongly about, and conceded to others when appropriate. Leadership is hard because every action you take is judged harshly, yet you did it for 6 years! (Has it really been that long?) You can “retire” knowing that despite the hard decisions and occasional naysayer, you made many more members happy and content both directly and indirectly. I’m one of those guys. Thank you for your time and commitment to the position. Thank you for driving change. Thank you for keeping the Brotherhood a place that I can’t stay away from for too long. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to contribute where I’ve been able to. You are awesome and this Golden Lightsaber is well deserved. Bork, bork, bork!

—Baxir Vol

Mandalorian Declan Roark, 2015-02-24 09:26:52 UTC

I'm not sure there's a way to put into words the massive contribution that James has made with the launch of the new Club website. The man is a paragon of ability and drive, and has been completely focused on accomplishing this monumental objective. With the added functionality, as well as the ability to improve and add to the site we are sure to see this work last for many years into the future. Every existing member, and every new member of this Club will be impacted by this endeavor for years to come.

Fantastic job James! Congratulations on becoming one of a select few in the Club to be awarded a Golden Lightsaber! ~ Valhavoc, Fist of the Dark Lord

---

The Golden Lightsaber is an award reserved for very few. Generally speaking, it has been awarded to Grand Masters upon their retirement, in recognition of their years of service to the Brotherhood. I sometimes and go look at those names that have received the award and remember all that those men have done. I see where we are today, and I can trace the progress of the Brotherhood through the line of GLS recipients. The award shows a complete lineage of the Brotherhood's greatest. But, at this moment, and until another Lightsaber is bestowed, the list is currently incomplete.

Jam3z Lucius Entar deserves a Golden Lightsaber. His name should be quickened to the list of names of the Brotherhood's greatest. Because he is one; Jam3z, our Seneschal, is one of the Brotherhood's greatest members.

Not many people can comprehend the amount of time, effort and dedication that have gone into Jam3z and his team rebuilding the Brotherhood website. I can. I understand. We have attempted to take on this feat four other times. Jam3z was there for most of them, when we tried to rebuild the site in ASP.NET, PHP, traditional ASP, and PHP again. Jam3z was witness to the failure of each attempt. The site was too big. There was too much functionality to rebuild. It could not be done with our small team of coders.

Yet Jam3z has completed the task. He has, with the help of but few others, taken our website into the next generation and preserved our ability to prosper as a club for many more years. I doubt anyone could really count the number of hours he put into this project, but if I guessed over 1,000, I may come close by half. Our website is comprised of hundreds of scripts, dozens of tools, and countless different intricacies; rebuilding it was a herculean task.

And it was just in time. The old website was on the fritz. At times it was inaccessible. It had the fingerprints of a half dozen Seneschals and the code was out-of date. For the DB to progress, we needed a solid foundation and the ability to build new and better things. Without Jam3z work, we would be stuck.

I underestimated Jam3z, I will admit. When the project first launched, I had my doubts as to the ability of the team to pull through. I am very glad to be wrong. I am thankful to be wrong. I love this club and its members and want to see it last for another twenty years. Thanks to Jam3z, we have a shot at that future.

I am certain Jam3z will continue to do more for us. This website is his to care for, maintain and further develop, so there will be more things to thank him for in the future. But right now, it's appropriate to thank him for the work he's done to date. And that work puts our Seneschal in elite company; he deserves to be known as one of our greatest members. Because, as I said, he is one.

Jam3z: Thank you for everything. I am grateful for you. Congratulations. ~ Jac Cotelin, Sith Lord

---

The Dark Jedi Brotherhood is an internet based club that relies heavily on our website. Its complexity attracts new members, its functionality enables day to day operations, and its unreliability is legendary. Robot hacking bots owned us, requests are lost to the internet, and pages refuse to load. BUT, all this has changed. Jam3z has led our coders on an operation that has been talked about for years, but never accomplished. The Dark Jedi Brotherhood's website and all of its complexities have been upgraded and built on a new and stable coding language that will ensure our longevity and continued existence for years to come. Jam3z work ranks in the pantheon of Dark Jedi Brotherhood accomplishments and is deserving our our finest awards. I'm proud to be a member of this request and proud to thank one of our best members ever. Thanks for all your work! ~ Darth Pravus, Sith Lord

---

Many aspire to climb mountains. Few ever do. Many say what they will do. Few follow through. Many make promises. Few keep them.

We have so many examples of the above I need no more words to describe them. They are all-too-familiar to us. But what is not as familiar, what may indeed require a few more carefully chosen words, is what it looks like when someone steps apart from the rest and actually accomplishes what he set out to do.

This is what it looks like when someone doesn't talk about climbing the mountain but does it. This is what it sounds like when someone does what they said. This is what it feels like when someone keeps a promise. And as you likely have innumerable examples of the former, I will give you one of the later...

James Lucius Entar Arconae.

I have had the pleasure of working with James and his team during my tenure as Deputy Grand Master. When he was hired James was tasked with one mission: Design a new and modern website from the ground up. Unlike my experience with other coders in the past, James has been ever-present during this project. In days gone by the Brotherhood was often at the mercy of coders as the technical nature of their skills was difficult to come by and their reliability and dedication often more so.

James was unique in his role. Constant updates. Constant questions. Constant improvements. James worked so hard for so long it was difficult for the Dark Council, especially Muz and I, to keep up with all his advances on this project. But the beauty of hiring and then relying on someone like James, his tenacity, maturity, and personal drive; I knew I didn't need to worry about him, keep tabs on him, or even push him to do his job.

Few realize that a leader should never have to push his people forward. Rather, he should only have to reign them in and focus them on their next objective.

With James, I had need to do neither. James did this work. And what is to be remembered is that he did not do it for the Grand Master or the Dark Council. He did not do it for promotion, fame, or accolade.

James did it for us, the Brotherhood. He did it for you, the member.

He worked tirelessly to leave something behind for all of us. So let us do what little we can in return...

James, thank you for everything you've done for us and continue to do in your role here. Please accept the Golden Lightsaber on behalf of a most grateful Deputy Grand Master, and more importantly, a most grateful Brotherhood.

Congratulations, my friend. ~ Raken, Sith Lord

---

The Golden Lightsaber is one of our highest accolades, and requires a 2/3 DC vote. I want to take a moment and explain why I think he deserves it.

Jam3z was given one major task since he was made Seneschal in May or 2012: Save our club from this dying site. I don't need to tell you how bad it was on the best of days. Dossiers erroring out, requests vanishing into thin air, graphics getting erased, and everything loaded far far slower than we liked. This continued to get worse over the past few years, the result of so many seneschals, each with their own coding styles and piss-poor documentation to back it up.

It was a hell of a job, akin to getting thrown into a kitchen that had not been stocked or cleaned in twenty years and told to make a gourmet meal. It's not the first time I gave that job out. I'm not the only GM to hand that job out. But Jamez is the only man who achieved the goal.

Since then, he's been methodically burning through the site code, trying to find ways to do what we do now, but in more stable ways. He decided on a new framework code, called Ruby on Rails, to do the whole new site in. This makes the code modular, and easily adaptable for future projects that we've all been drooling over for the past ten years. Rough estimates from fellow coders place the amount of work he has put in at 700-800 hours of coding. That averages out to about two hours of coding EVERY day since he was named Seneschal, no weekends, vacations, or time off for good behavior.

That is a feat, gentlemen. One worthy of our highest award.

Now here's why it's the right time for him to get this award. He's done this out of love for the club. You don't do this many hours of dirty, hard, migraine-inducing work just for a few pixels, and the fleeting admiration of a few dozen people. You don't do this for the thirty comments on the announcement that will fall off the news page in two weeks. You do this because you want to heal the club, to make it better, to help us survive into the next ten years or more. On our old site, we could all feel it coming. The end of our club inched closer with every failed dossier load. Now, we have something that gives us a much better chance to not only survive, but to thrive. We needed this, and we needed it now. Now we can hone the site, live testing showing us where more work is needed. We have the framework for a new ACC, we have framework for possessions, we have framework for projects we haven't even had the balls to think up yet because those that were already on the list were clogging up our brains.

They're all possible now, and we have one man to personally thank.

Yes, there's more work to do. No, we're not done. But I think we should acknowledge the man as one of the greats in our organization, and show him that we do appreciate him and his work.

I ask you all to stand with me and thank Jam3z for his work. ~ Muz Ashen, Dark Lord of the Sith

Lord Muz Ashen Keibatsu, 2013-07-29 04:58:50 UTC

I have known Kir in some capacity for the bulk of my time in the DB. Our paths only truly crossed post-Exodus as I began to interact with the larger DB as a whole, rather than just my own House. It is through Kir that I actually really began to respect Taldryan, and although he didn't succeed at getting me into the Clan during his reign, he did start me on that path. Where I truly got to know him was during our time on the Dark Council in various capacities, doing what we could to help out the Brotherhood as a whole. He has been tireless in his efforts over the years to make this club a better place. It is Kir who perhaps truly solidified the position of Justicar to the DB as a whole, ensuring that anyone who comes after him has the necessary foundation to succeed. He laid out the policies of previous Justicar's, while also creating many of his own over the years. He saw the worst the DB had to offer and navigated it all professionally. Many people cannot understand the toll it takes to deal with these cases and the general abuse that is thrown at leaders like him, and yet he always pressed forward for the betterment of the club. He began the trend of Vendettas that were completed in a timely fashion, with scores and results released quickly and efficiently. He has worked tirelessly over the years, behind the scenes, to mold the club into something that one can be proud of. His advice and counsel were always welcome, and still are should he ever decide to jump back into the fray.

Other may speak to his time in Taldryan, where he made that Clan a beacon of power and prestige, unequalled in all the Brotherhood. He is a friend to myself and many others, and he is one of the reasons why this club continues to exist in this day and age when so many others on the Internet have burned out and died. He is more than worthy of this honour. Congratulations, Kir!

---

DJM Halcyon Taldrya Deputy Grand Master

"Above and beyond the call of duty" comes to mind when thinking of Kir Taldrya Katarn's past five years of service as Justicar. I've had the pleasure of knowing Kir since I joined the Brotherhood in 2005, where he was Taldryan Consul. A lot has changed in 7 years, as everyone writing these recommendations can attest to. When I was raised to the Dark Council a couple years ago, there were few people that commanded the respect of not only the entire Council, but the Brotherhood at large as well. Kir was one such member. He was constantly my go to man on the Council for issues of not only Dark Council policy, but he quickly became my mentor of sorts as time went on. His legacy stretches over dozens of Chamber of Justice cases, distributing Justice where the Brotherhood needed it most, and laying the foundations for other Councilors to follow. Whether he was lending his voice for Great Jedi War trailers, or grading entire Vendettas on his own, Kir has been the rock of this club's leadership for half a decade. While he wasn't as active towards the end of his term due to strenuous college life, he never neglected the work of his position, and constantly moved to better those around him through mediation. It's only fitting that his successor as Justicar call the vote for this prestigious Golden Lightsaber, and its my pleasure to put forth a recommendation of my own into the pot. I'm extremely honored to see one of the most influential members in Dark Jedi Brotherhood history be recognized for his outstanding dedication. Congratulations Kir, here's to a great retirement. ~Taigikori Aybara; Justicar of the Brotherhood

Kir over the last three years of my time in the Brotherhood, you've had to handle many situations that most might have said, "Screw this, I'm leaving." But you handled those situations with calm, and a sense of duty to the club. Several times I came to you about different situations that were brewing within either my House, my Clan, and now the the DJB's gaming. When I wanted to levy heavy punishment upon the problematic members, you advised me to loosen up upon them. You made Justicar your position Kir, and you've left some massive shoes to fill over your 5 years of service. Congrats on your Golden Lightsaber, and enjoy retirement. ~ OPM Fremoc Pepoi Sadow, Fist of the Brotherhood

Kir was Justicar, basically single handedly taking care of all the DB's Justice needs for that whole time. It's a thankless job, by definition your entire purview is dealing with the worst, crappiest, most annoying people in the club. He did a good job, he's done lots of good work over the years, and should be rewarded for it. Give him the GLS already. -Yacks (PS: Also, Kir is gay.)

Kir Katarn has served with selfless dedication and tireless devotion to the betterment of the Dark Jedi Brotherhood throughout his career. His reign as Justicar provided the most stable and consistent period of judicial oversight in our club's history. Serving as a confidant to three consecutive Grand Master's, Kir has influenced and guided every aspect of the Dark Brotherhood ranging from Great Jedi Wars to the creation of the DJB's fictional content. I would be hard pressed to identify a handful of members who have improved the Dark Brotherhood in as many facets as Kir Katarn has over his career. Thus, it is only fitting that Kir join the very small and honored group of Golden Lightsaber bearers. Congratulations Kir! ~Sarin

At the top of the game, it gets harder and harder to recognize the efforts of members. There's only so many types of medals, only so many promotions before they need a DC vote. Kir has been this predicament for some time now. Having been Justicar under three Grand Masters and a prestigious career before that term, he had already amassed an impressive cache of awards and a distinguished rank. And yet, he pressed on. He was instrumental in most Brotherhood wide events, he was omnipresent in discussions of policy, of strategy for the club. He did this all while fulltime working and going to college, then while he was in medical school. Yet he pressed on. There are Impressively few people who have impacted the Brotherhood in the way that he has. Only one man has a Golden Lightsaber that never served as Grand Master. Today, I am honored to make that number rise, and award Kir Katarn, Dark Prophet of the Brotherhood, with a Golden Lightsaber. ~ Muz Ashen, Grand Master.

Lord Muz Ashen Keibatsu, 2012-04-13 19:09:45 UTC

I’ve known Muz since I joined the DJB. We joined into the same house only days apart. Ever since, I’ve seen great things coming from his hands. Sabers, robes, medals, GJW’s, RoS’s, etc, etc. you name it, he’s done it. Not only that, but over my time in the DB, he’s been the most easily approachable Grand Master I’ve seen. And not just to me, but to everyone, from the lowest APP to Dark Council.

As Grand Master, he’s taking his task seriously. His main goal is member retention, something that is working. Compared to last year, more members have reached DJK. Besides that, he has run several major events, like a Great Jedi War, and a Rite of Supremacy, and has done so successfully even with very little help.

What more can I say? Muz is the pwn. When the call for the Golden Lightsaber came up, the vote was unanimous. Everyone was in favour. I think that says enough. I deal with many awards in my office of Master at Arms, and many medals I sometimes dispute, but when the highest award possible comes up, there is no question about it being earned or not.

Muz, it’s a pleasure serving with you, and I hope that it will be for a very long time to come. ~Korras, Master at Arms.

I don't need to sit here and talk about how amazing Muz his or what he has contributed to the Brotherhood. We see it every time we log in to the site. We see it in the lightsaber construction tool, the robes on our dossiers, the new dossier set ups, and with recent Vendettas. Muz's devotion to making this club a better place by any means necessary can be seen through the fact that our gaming hosts are active and the site continues to function. We see it in new storylines that include members throughout the Brotherhood and new ideas that excite people for what's to come. As a member of the Dark Council, his devotion to maintaining solidarity throughout leadership and ability to rally all of us to perform at our absolute best is one of the things that makes him such a valuable asset to this club. For these reasons and for so much more, I cannot think of a better award to present to our Grand Master than the Golden Lightsaber. Congratulations, Brohim and thank you for all of your work. We truly appreciate it. -DA Shikyo Keibatsu Sadow Herald of the Dark Jedi Brotherhood

The Golden Lightsaber's description is as follows: "The recipients of the Golden Lightsaber have displayed the greatest forms of ability, service and sacrifice for the Brotherhood. Others pale in comparison to what the holders of this award have accomplished." Muz "Hamak" Ashen embodies ultimate ability, service, and sacrifice all in one. The man dedicates himself fully to this club in ways that continue to stun me. Muz is ALWAYS present and responsive to communications; he goes out of his way to give people on of a leader's most prized possessions - his time. Without batting an eye, Muz fields questions, responds to contributions, weighs suggestions with a level head, takes critiques and criticisms, and is a friend.

Communication and his ability to enter into meaningful dialogs with the membership is only the tip of the iceberg. The guy is a constant source of artistic prowess. The dude can write. He is chock full of ideas that will be a boon to the club (my god, I wish I could code as fast as he thinks). Muz continues to ask himself and others how the club can be improved and molded into a more enjoyable place to be...he is never content with keeping things as they are...that is an amazing attribute. A stagnant club is a dead club, and this guy not only keeps us moving, but improving as we go.

Do others pale in comparison to what this recipient has accomplished? Absolutely. Muz, you have the most difficult job in the Brotherhood and you wield its power with excellence. Keep up the amazing work...you have earned this award twice over. -Orv Dessrx d'Tana Arconae, Praetor to the Seneschal

I've always known Muz to be the Grandmaster of the Brotherhood. I joined shortly before he actually became it, but in my eyes he's been the GM. The man has done wonders for the Brotherhood, including the reinstatement of the GMRG, constant graphical enhancements, possessions, fictional storyline updates, and created/judged two Vendettas. But within the last year, Muz created the Spoils of War Vendetta, a vendetta that he had to grade by himself without the help of the DC since they were taking part in it. Nearly nine months later, Muz was at it again with another Vendetta for the Brotherhood to take part in, but of course had the help of the DC this time. Between those two vendettas, he had dissolved the Tribune of Gaming, and the Tribune of Fiction. He recreated them into the Fist and Voice of the Brotherhood, Dark Council level positions that replaced those two Tribunes. With reinstating the GMRG to the Brotherhood, Muz created robes and weapons for each rank, but shortly after did the same thing for the ACC, creating their own set of robes and lightsabers since some members are more talented writers than they are gamers. Although this is only a few things, these actions have changed the Brotherhood, and more over Muz has earned this Golden Lightsaber. Congrats my friend, and thank you for all your hard work and continued efforts for the Brotherhood. ~ Fremoc Pepoi, Fist of the Brotherhood.

Never before in my DB career have I seen such defiance of expectations and such measures of going above and beyond to improve and perfect the Dark Jedi Brotherhood.

Since his elevation to Grand Master, Muz has led the Brotherhood through two Rites of Supremacy, one of which he graded and judged solo. He has assisted in the reform of the clans to houses knowing full well it was a controversial sacrifice, and he has replaced an inefficient 3 Tribune system with the Voice and the Fist of the Brotherhood who both ultimately have spurred on a revival of writing and gaming. He has reformed the unit powers, directed various changes to the dossier, approved Odan-Urr as the first light house of the Brotherhood, written dozens of pages of fiction, reformed clan/house military systems, and is now working on the upcoming tenth Great Jedi War.

I'll be using plenty of words to compliment Muz's work, but I think it can all be embodied into one single interjection: DAMN. If I were to list the top ten most productive and successful leaders of the Brotherhood, Muz would be in the top three. He has done nothing but work since he received the job. I'm sure other recommendations will spout insane amounts of praise for various projects he has begun, continues on, and has finished. I myself have named only a few of the accomplishments that Muz has demonstrated to the club at large. But above all, I consider Muz a mentor and an ally, a role model to look up to should I wish to further progress in the Brotherhood.

Muz has had to put up with a lot, and I mean, a LOT. The fact that despite that, he still continues to take time to help leaders like me who are begging for advice and consolation is really a blessing. There have been many times when I have felt down and out about my leadership - I've dealt with many highs and lows, and sometimes it's difficult to handle. Having seen it all, Muz knows how to ground leaders like me and help re-adjust our priorities. He is all about progress, even if perhaps to obtain that progress, we need to take a few steps back in order to rediscover our fotting.

You truly deserve the gold lightsaber, Muz. I see no one else in this club at the moment who is more worthy of it. You have been a paragon of achievement, success, and progress in the Brotherhood, and I can only hope that you continue your tenure with soul, zeal, and passion. Congratulations, Muz, and thank you. ~Ronovi Tavisaen Tarentae, QUA of House Tarentum

Muz has been Grand Master for nearly two years. In many cases such an award is given only when a GM stands down to signify the service the have performed for the club. However, I do not think it will begrudge anyone to hand this award to Muz "early". In these 2 years he has managed to keep afloat on all DB matters, mostly without the benefit of an active right-hand man. He has overseen the entire gamut of Vendettas, from GJWs to RoS', introducing comics as a new form of storytelling for the DB.

He has ushered in brand new Houses, the first truly unique entities the DB has seen in over a decade (Plagueis being only an amalgamation of two previous Clans). At the same time has has also taken the necessary steps to see the DB through rougher times of activity, streamlining the leadership positions as well as focusing the Dark Council's energies on projects such as the Grind Path, to help with the continued development of newer blood.

His own personal talents have also not languished, his tireless efforts continuing to bring us new robes and lightsabers. He has also been working on our own "head selector" while also plugging away at creating custom images for the eventual use in our possessions system. This work alone would outclass most any member in the club. To continue it while still managing to actually lead the club is astounding. He has also continued to write fiction for the club, continuing the DB storyline in between Vendettas.

So much has gone on in the last few years, it's hard to remember everything. However, the club continues to run as it ever did, new developments always in the works. Muz continues to work, never faltering in his activity for this club. He has gone full-bore all this time, without any hint of slowing down. For managing such a feat, this award has been more than earned by him. Congratulations!~DJM Halcyon Taldrya, Voice of the Brotherhood

The Golden Lightsaber is traditionally awarded after a Grand Master's term. In Muz's case however, we said screw it. What better way to show our appreciation than while he's still in office, rather than wait until he's retired? The man reshaped the Brotherhood as we know it from an outdated club to a modernized forum for all Star Wars fans to come together and have fun. Nearly every new feature has Muz's signature on it. I called the vote for Muz's GLS for a few simple reasons. His work as Herald has carried over to his term as Grand Master, with literally thousands of images created. He's one of the few Grand Masters that have a useful skill, and he leads by doing; rather than delegating work out. Projects long forgotten have been reborn, and released or are nearing completion. The Grind Path alone was of Muz's design, as he proposed it originally to Aabsdu and myself in the Spring of 2009. It has since taken shape into a giant project with hundreds of man hours being put into it. During his first few months as Grand Master, ran Great Jedi War 9 nearly by himself. This comes with the territory, but Muz is truly selfless in his love for this organization and what he does for us. Projects like Possessions, Prestige, the face generator, countless pages of Vendetta fiction, and several other secret projects that I'm not aloud to shed light on at this time, are all a possibility because of the work being done by Muz. I've been working with Muz for over two years now, since my appointment to Praetor to the Headmaster. He's always been a strong advocate of the Shadow Academy and what we do. The training of new members is an important priority that others sometime put on the back-burner. This is not the case with Muz, as he's our strongest supporter. I've watched the Academy grow from a place that veteran members say is a just a place for Journeymen to take exams; to a society in of itself. Muz appointed me as Headmaster 7 months ago now. In that time he's been an outstanding mentor and friend that I've grown closer to as time has gone on. I can honestly speak for his character when I say that he's our best hope for survival as we enter the new decade. As a member of the Dark Council, I have the extreme honor of knowing Muz, and one day when I look back at my time as Headmaster, I will think fondly of the support and friendship that Muz has given me personally; making my job so much easier. It is with this that I am extremely honored to recommend that Muz Ashen be awarded the highest award we have in our club, the Golden Lightsaber. Congratulations, you've earned it. ~Taigikori Aybara Dupar; Headmaster of the Brotherhood

Driftan Balephor, 2010-12-25 15:56:16 UTC

2 years of complete commitment, despite a RL commitment littered with reasons to step down. Sarin is the quintessential Grand Master, shirking excuses and sacrificing for the better of the Brotherhood time and time again, displaying a selflessness that would put any other member of the DB to shame. Furthermore, his time has been the most productive I've ever seen the DB undergo with club-wide reductions in antisocial behaviour, the best GJW the DB's seen and fantastic improvements to the website. His influence is undeniable and the mark he's left with set a benchmark of what's to be expected of our leaders. Without a doubt, Grand Master Sarin deserves the best the DB can give in gratitude for such a brilliant tenure. Arcona's thanks definitely go to him for the bright future the DB now sees, due in large part to his patience, guidance and vision. – Sashar Erinos, Consul, Arcona

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I fully support awarding Sarin a Golden Lightsaber, and not just because he's a retiring Grand Master and I want to give him something nice. The "GM" rank for life thing is pretty nice. No, the Golden Lightsaber truly means something special, and it should remain that way. The award description refers to the Golden Lightsaber as being given to members who display the greatest form of ability, service, and sacrifice. I'd say this fits Sarin to the letter.

Though I'm sure others will bring this up, Sarin skillfully led the DB while on active military deployment… in a war zone; along with his family growing with the addition of not one, but two kids. Somehow, with all that, Sarin pushed the Brotherhood forward, either through his own direct efforts or in his delegation of duties to others.

On a more personal level, I have always appreciated the free reign that Sarin extended to me as both Headmaster and as Consul of Tarentum. It is because of his trust in me, and his support, that both the Shadow Academy and my clan have grown and rebounded. I didn't know Sarin that well before he became Grand Master, but over the past two years, I've gotten to know him better, and I'm glad I had the opportunity to work with him for the betterment of the Brotherhood. I'm thankful for his service, and grateful for what he has done for everyone in the Brotherhood. - Anshar Kahn Tarentae, Consul, Tarentum

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While I joined during the time of Jac Cotelin as Grand Master, almost all of my Dark Brotherhood career as a leader has been under the tutelage of Sarin. First coming to Clan Plagueis, he helped me through the ranks as Aedile and Question, and then Proconsul, before leaving me with Consul when he moved on to Deputy Grand Master. Since then, however, he has always stayed a role model mentor for me as a leader, something he does extremely well. He not only helped me as a Consul, but as Headmaster, and I have been extremely gifted with the opportunity to work with Sarin over the past two odd years. His work in the Brotherhood is not limited to Grand Master, but is perhaps most visible there on a large scale. He oversaw the greatest Great Jedi War ever, and oversaw its sequel, which we can only hope is Dark Knight-ish in nature. He oversaw the revamping of the Brotherhood website and character sheets as well. None of these were minor things, either, but major changes felt by all, and everyone can proudly say that they were all changes in the positive. Without Sarin, I would not be the leader I am today, in responsibility and position, and while Grand Master for two years, what Sarin did will last a lifetime, and I, personally, am grateful for all he has granted not only the Brotherhood but me. Thank you for all of your hard work, dedication, and motivation of me when things started to look grim ~ Aabsdu di Plagia Dupar; Headmaster of the Shadow Academy

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Grand Master Sarin has sacrificed his personal time and energy to ensure the Dark Brotherhood's continued success and growth. Over the last two years he has worked selflessly to improve and continue the strong traditions of the Dark Brotherhood. Sarin's presence has been felt throughout the club, his vision resonating from the Star Chamber all the way down to the newest Apprentice. I am honored, on behalf of Clan Naga Sadow, to recommend Grand Master Sarin for the Golden Lightsaber. - Robert Sadow. Consul, Naga Sadow

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The recipients of the Golden Lightsaber have displayed the greatest forms of ability, service and sacrifice for the Brotherhood; others pale in comparison to what the holders of this award have accomplished. And sacrificed, Sarin has. Since his return from the Emperor's Hammer, Sarin has proactively sought to do good within our club. This is not a recommendation for a mere two years as a Grand Master, but a long, hard-fought tenure as a leader and role model within our club. This is an achievement award. Since his sojourn from the dreaded Emperor's Hammer, Sarin has been an integral part of the Dark Brotherhood's growth, accountability and attitude. Not only did he provide a level of professionalism that we sorely lacked, but he brought a greater sense of unity and organization to his position and, thus, the club. Whether it was the project matrix, spurring new members to share ideas, asking for feedback from all sources or the occasional pat on the back for a job well done... he has done it all with heart; for the betterment of the Brotherhood. Thank you for the blueprint to something special, Sarin. You have instilled a new set of values in our leadership and your disciples will flourish within our club. Eternally. - Braecen Kaeth, Consul, Plagueis

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In an old recommendation for lowly pre-GM Sarin, Jac said of him, "Sarin has been a great Consul, and I look forward to seeing what will come from him next." At that point I don't know if any of us – Jac included – knew the truly prophetical nature of that statement. I should start by acknowledging that I have been given a gift – during my time in the Brotherhood I was able to directly serve under the two greatest Grand Masters this club has ever had – first Jac, and then Sarin. To begin with some honesty...initially I was hesitant with Sarin. I knew him to be a solid leader at the Clan level, but his style was different...so I waited and watched...and I was quickly and easily converted. Sarin approached his position with a personal drive and work ethic most of us find impossible to fathom. Consider this – Sarin achieved his success while on military deployment halfway around the world, while working 12 hour days, and while raising two children. Who amongst us can claim that sort of success? I certainly cannot, and I would be hard pressed to think of anyone who can approach that level of dedication. Now some people may say that it is easy to praise an outgoing GM merely with flowery words...so let's take a moment to examine the record of Sarin's achievements...He presided over two of the most successful and groundbreaking Vendetta events in Brotherhood history in the Rite of Supremacy and the Eighth Great Jedi War. In the afterglow of the Vendetta's he completely restructured the fleets of all of the Clans and the Dark Council, bringing us forward in the Star Wars timeline and proving his commitment to our canon. That commitment didn't stop at fleets, for he then continued the fictional development of the Brotherhood in a way that roused the spirit and inner child for many of the members, who became eager to read the newest plot updates. In practical matters he brought a new leadership style into the Brotherhood – he brushed past the typical internet drama as if it didn't exist, he forced accountability onto our leaders, and gave insightful assessments of our achievements, abilities, and pitfalls. He was the embodiment of teamwork, driving forward on tasks himself while simultaneously guiding all of us forward towards the successful accomplishment of our goals. In addition, the Brotherhood's website got a very popular facelift during his time as Grand Master, and the Dark Covenant was modified to make it more member-friendly and protective. Finally, his crowning achievement – the development and release of the new character sheets. These encompassed an amazing amount of work – Sarin made the expansion of the force powers a personal pet project and achieved a beautiful result, while at the same time monitoring and guiding the development of the order disciplines, hand-to-hand combat styles, and overall attributes and structure. These character sheets were the first step towards a new type of activity for our club, and Sarin brought it all together. Throughout these many accomplishments, and innumerable others which I haven't mentioned, Sarin maintained a positive attitude and a love for Star Wars that was a daily reminder of why we all originally joined this club. Personally, Sarin pushed me to be a better leader – when I had become lax in my work, Sarin pointed to how I could achieve more; when I occasionally became bitter or angry, Sarin lent an ear to listen and also offered valuable insight and perspective; and when I just wanted to talk with a friend, Sarin kindly obliged. The Golden Lightsaber is awarded for ability, service and sacrifice – Sarin showed many of us how to truly embody all of these, and his example will benefit the Brotherhood for years to come. If anyone has earned the right to carry our most cherished honorary, it is Sarin. Thank you for everything Sarin, and above all I am grateful to be able to call you friend. - Kir Katarn, Justicar

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I'll make this short-and-sweet, as I think what the man has done speaks for itself. Since getting the gig of GM Sarin has overseen two Great Jedi Wars, a Rite of Supremacy and the creation of a complex Character Sheet that included updated force powers and a Discipline system. However, what I most enjoyed under his reign was ensuring that leaders were made accountable for their actions. There has always been instances of leaders thinking their "above" everyone else, or just plain being inactive and letting others suffer because of it. Sarin has taken those leaders to task, removing them when they are no longer a contributing member to the club. If that was the only thing that Sarin was able to contribute during his time as GM it would be enough, but that was still only one piece of a larger whole. The club continues to grow in new and different directions because of what he has put in place. Thanks for everything, and hope to have you back in fighting form soon! - Halcyon Rokir, Sith Lord

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The Wiki, The Antei System, Force Powers, Character Sheets, Rite of Supremeacy: Second Darkness, GJW Eight: Incursion, GJW Nine: Unification, New Website Layout, Clan Artifacts Update, Order Discipline System.

The above sound familiar? You might say, “Hey, that’s the club I belong to!” but you would only be half-right. It is the club Sarin helped build for you. He has had a hand in virtually everything over the last two years of his service as Grand Master, before that his service as Deputy Grand Master, and before that his service as Consul.

Sarin has produced, guided, led, improved, and inspired so many different things in the club it is difficult to grasp because they have become fundamentals of everyday use. We have become accustomed to the advances he has ushered in and would have a difficult time imagining the club without. We are accustomed to using a professional quality service for free because of Sarin’s work to give us the best product possible.

But I mention these things for those who might not know Sarin, or realize how much of what you enjoy in this club has benefited from his involvement. Everything mentioned represents only a portion of what Sarin has done for all of us. There is another facet of his role as Grand Master not as easily quantified as the projects and innovations listed above and it is one in which Sarin has excelled and raised the bar for the Grand Masters that will follow him.

The fictional Grand Master is a terrible and cruel dictator. He is immensely powerful, sage in the ways of the Force and brooks no dissent or challenge to his authority. Supremely confident in his ability to rule with an iron fist from an iron chair, he crushes any who stand in the path of his vision.

The real-world equivalent is very different, or at least, should be very different. Some who have held the position in the past treated it as though they actually were that terrible dictator, unable to divorce the fictional concept from the reality. But what we have seen over the years when it comes to administrating or belonging to this club, is that the person with whom the title “Grand Master” is associated with needs to act as a diplomat, not a dictator.

This is where Sarin has done his best, and least seen, work. This is where Sarin has set the example for not just Grand Masters—not the terrible fictional creatures, but the people behind them—and anyone at any level in any position who wants to lead, administrate, contribute to, or otherwise endeavor to run this club. We have seen the members respond. We have seen people change their methods and model it on Sarin’s example.

Projects are great. Website features are really nice. Fancy names to describe simple things are fun. But when you see one’s behavior positively influenced by someone giving their best effort in every category of what they do, then you truly have something of worth.

A great many do not understand this necessary altruism. If confused, they can simply look at Sarin’s conduct and service over the years and see what he has achieved and, as a result, what we all have achieved. Too many have treated this club as an ego-gratifier, a cult of personality. They have sought recognition for deeds and actions worth little of it. They have lauded themselves with title and station far beyond their merit. They are perplexed and angry when not appropriately recognized for their deeds.

But if they were to pause briefly, examine the Golden Lightsaber on Sarin’s dossier and read what his peers have witnessed, then they might find there is more to leadership than litanies of titles and Force lightning. - Raken, Praetor to the Grand Master

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What is the difference between a great Grand Master and a mediocre one? I've asked myself this question many times, trying to distill from what I have seen the essence of what needs doing. It is not being in the right place at the right time. It is not being lucky enough to be in command when the game companies saw fit to grace us with the best that they had to offer in a way that we can use it. It's not just throwing money at problems until they go away.

So what is it? Is it working hard and long hours despite whatever real life obligations may compete for your time? Is it engineering and drafting together the perfect storm of councilors? Is it setting a no-drama standard and making examples of those who deviate? Or is it some cocktail of all these things?

I have sat at Sarin's elbow for more than 20 months, watching with keen interest, learning what lessons I could. And I think that it is not only the combination of that mad mixture of talent and planning, but also a genuine interest in the club, a real concern for how well it does. And his work ethic and attitude has set such an example that we've had an unprecedented amount of cooperation on the DC where before there would be constant bickering. His strength emboldened all of us, kept us all on task and goal driven. These are things that I wish to emulate, that any leader should seek to capture and chain to their will.

Now, people speak fondly of the era of Khyron, of the days before there was a real database, when we had a few hundred members and we're grappling beneath the stairs to build a fraction of what we have now. People call these times the Golden Age of the Brotherhood. I would disagree. I think that with the intense level of progress we've made, the depth of programming we have available, the immersiveness of what we have provided... this will prove with time to be a truer Golden Age of the Brotherhood. And I can think of no better reward for the man that I follow the footsteps of than a Golden Lightsaber. - Muz Ashen, Grand Master

Lord Muz Ashen Keibatsu, 2009-03-08 14:00:34 UTC

On behalf of a thankful Dark Council I am honored to award Grand Master Cotelin his second Golden Lightsaber. The Golden Lightsaber is the pinnacle of Dark Brotherhood awards and only 9 members in our history have earned one. Grand Master Cotelin is now the first Dark Brotherhood member to earn two.

This award should not come as a surprise to anyone. Jac has sacrificed his personal time and energy to ensure the Dark Brotherhood's continued success and growth. Over the last two years he has created multiple upgrades to our website, safeguarded it from MYSQL injector attacks, and now released coding that will ensure our continued customization of this complex website.

Personally, I would like to thank Jac for all of his work. Jac has served as my closest confidant and friend during my reign as GM and I am overly joyed to grant him this award.

Mandalorian Declan Roark, 2008-12-13 18:34:19 UTC