James, where would we be without you? The stone age. That's where. For those uninitiated for any terrible reason, or maybe they're just new, James is the driving force behind, well, everything we do. Changes and updates to the website's code, keeping it secure from attacks, our resident Construct the all-powerful dbb0t and its Discord integration, the million things every Council staff at some point dumps on him? James does it all. He doesn't complain. He isn't afraid to tell us when something can't be done or it's just too complex to implement.

We have given this man literally every reward possible. We even created a new Elder rank for him. It still isn't enough recognition for the amount of stuff James does, or the things he puts up with, and we will be forever sad when the day finally does come that he steps down. We have an amazing infrastructure unprecedented for a Star Wars club on the internet, and we should be grateful every single day to the man that keeps the ship afloat.

Thanks for everything, James. We can't thank you enough.

Zxyl Bes'uliik (Noobi)
Regent of the Brotherhood

I sure hope James doesn’t get tired of the hero worship he has around here. Certainly he deserves every ounce of it, as without him this club would be massively dead.

But not only is James a master coder and problem solver, he is just a plain good guy. Any time I’ve run into issues and bugs he has always quickly found, diagnosed and fixed, often faster than it took me to describe it. All with a friendly :) on his face. And despite everyone finding new and creative ways to add to his pile of work, he still hasn’t tried to kill us all yet.

So congrats James on the 100 Dark Crosses or you know, the real thing you are getting, which is a lot nicer, and still falls very short of what you really deserve.

There are few people that I feel words utterly fail to encapsulate who they are and what they've accomplished. When I met James he was already a legend and after spending the last three years working with him that perception has only grown.

So much of what we do is via the site and coming from the origins of AOL Chat rooms and .txt files being shared with rosters and individuals having to keep track of their own medals where people nick-picked your ID Line by way of audits - this is like living in a Jetson era future!

But, the site is just the surface of what James does. This year he took the final leap of my decades long dream of making custom SW:CCG cards and playing them with people into a reality. This was easily a three year knowledge leap forward for me and I love that he didn't say "no" he said "let me add it to the list."

Which, if you know James, is pretty much a guarantee it's going to get done and probably in ways better than you imagined.

So, whether it's a 100 DCs (which I really hope it is) or something far more impressive, you've earned it a million times over and I thank you for all you've done for me personally and for the club as a whole!

Kamjin "Maverick" Lap'lamiz
Justicar of the Brotherhood

To say James is irreplaceable would be an understatement. From squashing discord bot bugs to implementing half-baked ideas like platform caps on cluster races, James is the proverbial man behind the curtain making it all happen. We could invent new ranks and awards for him and it would never be enough. Thank you for everything you do.

If I had never joined, the Brotherhood would still be here. Maybe a little worse for not having me, I like to think, but it would still be here. And I think that's true of very nearly every individual member, including most GMs and highly decorated elders. But would we have a club in 2023 without James? Well, it's possible. We have other programmers around. Similar clubs have limped along without a James-equivalent. But essentially everything we offer our members besides chat is based on James' work.

Take my own work as an example. I built systems for chat RP. Well, actually James built the logging. And then he built a different, better logging. The bot commands? James did those, not just implementing but honestly a lot of the design as well. The idea of doing sessions through threads? James. Integrating snapshots into sessions? James. And so on. The SA systems, data analysis, that ACC tournament, it's James all the way down.

I think most members are aware of how much work James does but that's only part of it. Anyone who's worked with developers professionally and also worked with James will tell you how special this guy is. He's friendlier, more proactive, faster, and more creative in an unpaid club job than most devs are in the full-time job that puts food on their table. James will sometimes explain that some idea would be bad to implement in practice, but you can hit him with whatever stupid, inane feature request you want and he'll handle it with grace. It's inhuman. We couldn't get better support than James if we paid $150,000 a year for it, I know, I've worked with what that gets you and they're not on his level.

So if he wants a Silver Sash, or a GLS, or a new rank, or a holiday named after him, just give it to him. Does he want my blood? Sure, how much does he need?

Alethia Archenksova
Headmistress

There are no praises that haven't been said about James before and yet, we can't stop saying them again and again because he deserves to hear them again and again. Without James, this place would by far not be the same place as it is right now nor will it be able to evolve in the way it is. James from someone who has literally no clue of what you do to keep this place running please keep it up. You rock!

Our systems are quite literally held together by the lynchpin known as James. Nothing we do is possible without his care and attention. In fact, the fact that I'm writing this in a modal window designed to append this very rec to his award is only possible because of him.

That's why it's not an understatement to say, all is possible due to James. I can't really say anything else. He codes, makes it look easy, and adheres to the whims of fanciful idea types. That's not to say he'll blindly do everything you ask. No, James will be the first to say "well, that seems a silly way of doing it" and then offers solutions based on things he's already built into the systems.

For his perspective, presence, and coding wizardry, I offer my thanks and congratulations.

Thank you for everything.

The Silver Sash is awarded to members who have, over the years, proven dedicated to improving the brotherhood by impacting the growth and function of the club as a whole. And when you break down the brotherhood into its main components, you come away with the following: Fan Fiction, Art and Community, and Gaming. And to put it quite simply, one man has been the face of gaming in the Brotherhood over the past few years. And that man is Valhavoc, who has effectively held down 1/3 of what makes the Brotherhood the growing and expanding community that it has become.

Stepping into the position after the former FIST made a less than ideal exit, Valhavoc had the impossible task of not just patching up leaky holes, but propelling the ship forward to meet the next challenge. Val did this seamlessly, but not easily in the middle of an ongoing Vendetta nonetheless. Val didn't even stumble, and simply went to work to get what needed to be done, done.

And yet, few people have had the same tremendous impact on the Brotherhood in such a short time. Well, I guess it isn't really that short a time when you look at it. It seems like yesterday, but time has really flown. You see, I had the honor of originally working with Valhavoc as a returning member who was sitting at the humble rank of Jedi Hunter (I still have him on Google Chat as "JH Valhavaoc." Never had the heart to try and change it.). He quickly stepped up in the Dark Crusades, (which might be the last time he wrote a fiction) and then a short stint as a leader with us before sacrificing himself to the Dark Council.

Val and I often joke about our split focuses on the club (him Gaming, me Writing), but there has never been, in my entire time of knowing him, a single moment where I felt Val waiver on his mission of simply making things better. There was no backwards thinking, only forward. No problems--only solutions. This is, in essence, the core of what has made Val such a powerful leader in this club.

I'm sure my peers will list his accomplishments, so I will instead simply say this: Valhavoc has been the most consistent leader, day-in and day-out, the club has had that wasn't a Grand Master. Gaming is constantly evolving, and our members evolve with it. Attention to detail is one thing, but the ability to take those details and statistics and make calculated, logical decisions is not something many people can do. As a leader, I've always looked up to Val. I often find myself wishing I had his calm-in-the-storm demeanor with that quiet ability to use his rage-hammer eloquently and with such grace that you simply wonder how he manages to yell at someone but not drive them away. Val balances the hard line between iron-fist (heh) and caring friend. He has always been there when I've needed advice, both in club and out, and I know that he won't stop finding ways to make a difference even when he is no longer required to do so by Position.

In short, thanks Glenn for all the hard work you've done for the Brotherhood over the years. You've put us in a really good position to keep growing as a club, while laying down solid foundations that encourage both casual and hardcore gamers to unite and compete and play together.

-W

Combat Master

A Councillors job is not an easy one, however way you slice it. You basically control one huge part of what makes this Club tick. In the thick of things, you're the one who has to keep the coolest head and a calm voice. You're the one everyone looks to for guidance and the one everyone turns against when things don't go their way. This is doubly true for the FIST.

There are many different people in the Club and many of them are gamers. Truth be told I'm one as well and I can say with a pure conscience: We gamers, by nature, are very temperamental and competitive. That said, handling not only gaming rules and making the system fair for all members, but also preventing cheating and supporting the community by introducing new, revitalizing games to the members, are all stressful tasks set before Valhavoc in his time as FIST. One other big job the FIST has always had is being the mediator between the system and the members, and Val has done this job marvelously. A cool head always wins out, even when the stress piles up. That is how I have always seen Valhavoc. He has always been the voice of reason and the clam in the storm in any situation.

On a more personal note, working closely with the Dark Council as Praetor is nothing like working as a Council member. As scary as I thought the job would be before, the work waiting for me was much, much scarier. I can only say that, without a doubt, as one of the senior Councillors Valhavoc has been supportive of all my work and has held nothing but words of encouragement for me and my staff. His support alone would be enough to help me move forward and accomplish all my tasks.

Valhavoc is a role model, an excellent leader, the best FIST we've ever had and a good friend to have. Thank you for all your service, Glenn. You've been an inspiration and a reminder of what a Dark Councillor should act like. Congratulations.

• V'yr Vorsa
• Herald of the Brotherhood

"Foremost among the accouterments of a Dark Jedi’s formal attire, the Silver Sash denotes a being of true merit that embodies what it means to serve...Recipients of the Silver Sash will go down in history...as some of our greatest members." Undoubtedly, the Silver Sash is one the most sought after awards within the Dark Jedi Brotherhood and one that I would be hard pressed to identify someone more deserving of than Valhavoc, who perfected what it means to serve within the DJB. Undeniably, Val is a consummate professional who applied every fiber of his being tirelessly assessing, building, and refining systems and processes in a effort to serve the members of the Dark Jedi Brotherhood during his time as the FIST.

From perpetual Cluster of Fire balancing to a complete overhaul of the GMRG, Valhavoc left no stone unturned in a effort to bolster member experience and to improve every facet of the Office in which he was charged to lead. To that end, during the last two and a half years, he wrote a staggering 46 Reports, 97 News Posts, and organized/co-organized 259 competitions. Additionally, he created the Cluster of Earth, revolutionized DJB mobile gaming, supported multiple Club wide events, Streamlined ROC requirements, attended Star Wars Celebration as a DJB Ambassador, and expanded viable DJB gaming platform options. Admittedly, any one of these member led initiatives would be impressive in their organizational impact but when looked at collectively and attributed to one person propel Valhavoc onto a short list of the greatest members to ever serve within the Dark Jedi Brotherhood.

All effort and initiatives considered, I wholeheartedly recommend Adept Valhavoc for the Silver Sash. He certainly left the position and the DJB better than it was when he arrived. Thank you for your unparalleled service Glenn. Job well done.

The Silver Sash is one of the highest honors available in this club, only topped by the illustrious Golden Lightsaber. It is awarded to members who have had an impact on the growth and function of the entire Brotherhood. The list of members who’ve received one are legends — their reception is essentially an induction into the Brotherhood’s Hall of Fame, and Val is one of the best leaders the Brotherhood has had.

Since he took office on July 5th, 2013, he has developed gaming from an activity into a community. I’ve been the only member to remain on his staff from the beginning, and it has been an honor working alongside him and watching him provide Fist Staff experience to 9 other members as well. From the start there has always been constant communication of what the plan was: turning gaming into a major branch of this club and creating a gaming culture that welcomes all. Val delegated tasks and ensured that work got done. He’s always been approachable and never afraid to get his hands dirty and help out.

In his time, he has approved over 1,100 PvE activities and over 2,100 PvP activities in administrative duties alone. On top of continuously balancing cluster values through re-evaluation efforts and creating caps: limits to clusters earned from a platform to prevent farming and maintain balance, Valhavoc has added 3 games as platforms for the Brotherhood: Destiny, Star Conflict, and Battlefront (2015). These games have been extremely popular throughout the Brotherhood and contributed to the positive morale the club has for gaming. He was also creative and provided a new challenge during the Dark Crusade in the Alien Swarm event, one that many members had fun with in experiencing something new. It created teamwork, and that is exactly what Val has made gaming in the Brotherhood is about: having fun and creating bonds regardless of Clan allegiances.

Valhavoc has further been a personal mentor to me. He saw my hard work and dedication and nurtured it, happily providing input on any idea I had and giving constructive criticism to ensure we always delivered the best experience for the members. After promoting me to his Praetor, he has continued to help me grow as a member and contributor to the club by giving me more responsibilities in our office, such as grading exams for the gaming department and writing the main Gaming Updates for the club. He has not only been the Club’s gaming leader this way, but a mentor, ensuring gaming would last far beyond his tenure.

Glenn has been a tremendous role model and friend. He has been the definition of an ideal Dark Councillor, and I’m proud to have been there for the ride. Congratulations!

Ernordeth Puer-Irae

Praetor to the Fist

Valhavoc has been an eager and reliable contributor to gaming-related Shadow Academy courses and helped me piece together the new Gaming Sage degree in a way that, I hope, will stand the test of time. More than that, though, Val is just about the perfect Dark Councilor: he is an expert in his own lane; he is willing and able to contribute meaningfully to discussions on areas totally unrelated to gaming; he takes criticism and feedback to heart and tries to make rational decisions in sometimes-irrational circumstances.

I think he will be seen as the ideal Fist for years to come, and those who step up to carry on his legacy will have a tremendous amount of work cut out for them. Thank you, Val. This is well earned.

Bubba Headmaster

There are very few times that I can consider my past and contributions and compare it to someone else as a basis for whether that person deserves a reward. In this case, I remember getting my own Silver Sash from Jac, and the true honor it was, and the great appreciation I held when I received it. And, in this instance I can say, if I ever deserved the Silver Sash, then Val has earned his many times over. It humbles me greatly to be included in a group that holds Valhavoc.

Val has been such a kind, benevolent leader for the gaming community of the Brotherhood. In all things that he does, he adheres to the tenets of the Club; he truly leads by example. He is never cross, even when he may need to be stern. He is jovial and inviting, even when you are a stranger. He listens to others and draws upon their strengths, which is perhaps one of his greatest strengths -- he knows how to invoke greatness from others in order to bring forth the best fruits to our organization. He doesn't micromanage and lay out his own plans, and chop off little bits for everyone; he sets goals and draws out ideas from everyone on how to best accomplish them. He stays actively involved in the community he helps to lead.

In short, Val is a true leader.

In my years -- many, many years -- in this Club, I cannot say with certainty that I was ever as solid a Sith High Warrior (Dark Councilor) as Val has been as FIST. However, I remember a time when -- as Grand Masters go and new are called -- we as a Club called upon another paragon of friendship, gaming and benevolent leadership to rise to lead this Club. I see so many parallels between Valhavoc and Firefox that I can safely say, I do not doubt that Val could be a future Grand Master. He exhibits all of the qualities we could want in our finest leaders.

As a member of his staff, I appreciate his guiding hand and tempered voice. As a part of Clan leadership, I respect the profound impact he has upon my members. As a member of this Club, I am lifted up by his years of service and insight into what we all ought to be: the best of men and servants to all.

Val, from the bottom of my heart, I appreciate your hard work, your kind example, and the benefit of your friendship. You truly are one of the pillars of this Club, and you have made each of us better for the direction that you have offered to the facets of this Club. Your influence will be felt for many years yet to come.

Thank you.

-Beef

Valhavoc, since getting appointed FIST, has reworked and revolutionized any and all gaming-related aspects of the Brotherhood, constantly working to change gaming in the Brotherhood for the better for both hardcore as well as casual gamers. From a complete overhaul of the Grand Master's Royal Guard to a never-ending process of meticulously keeping all those clusters values balanced; From the introduction of mobile gaming to the Brotherhood to separating out PvE gaming to their own award type; and probably much much more, there is no aspect of Brotherhood gaming that hasn't been streamlined and modernized by Valhavoc.

A Silver Sash recipient is described on the Wiki as being someone who has had an impact on the growth and/or function of the whole Brotherhood in a significant way, and this perfectly fits my above description: the Brotherhood would certainly not be where it is today if it wasn't for Valhavoc.

Thank you for all you've done, Valhavoc. It's been an honor working with you, and your successor will have some very big shoes to fill. Congratulations on the (much deserved) Silver Sash!

James L. Entar
Seneschal of the Brotherhood

Val has been our best, our most consistent Dark Councilor since I have served on the DC. His tenure has been marked by the stability his office so needed, after the drama that wrought his office and the entire Brotherhood prior to his appointment. It is no surprise that the last year of his time as Fist has been, as it was before, marked by certainty and activity unrivaled by other Councilors. It is under his guidance that we have added some of our most popular platforms in years, including Destiny, Star Conflict, and Battlefront, despite his own interests not always being in those games. His Gaming Updates are consistent and welcome additions, demonstrating his constant devotion to tweaking our systems. He has run 64 competitions, participated in 21, and still finds time to game on the platforms he loves. He places in many competitions, a testament to his skill, but his real strength is in his constant presence and ability to impart meaningful change to the club.

While the last few months have seen Val step more into a mentorship role for his Fist Staff members, his presence has none the less been strong as he guided Ernordeath and others towards managing our gaming systems. He is a constant presence in feedback for the Dark Council, generating dozens of comments on virtually every proposal, from Orders and Paths to promotions and awards. Val helps everywhere he can, and I am sure that won't be stopping, despite him stepping down. One example was Star Was Celebration, where his hard work helped publicize the DB at the major event.

Val is the definition of a great Dark Councilor, from the way he approaches his job, to his regular updates, to his constant building of community within our club. But more than that, Val is a great member, and a great example of the kind of person that works hard to make the Brotherhood a better place for all of us. Congratulations, Val, you deserve this Silver Sash!

~Mav

Val,

The Brotherhood is a better organization because of you. I say that without any hesitation or doubt. You have worked and strived to contribute all you could in your position, and you have brought about positive change. Thank you for all that you have done.

I've written a lot of recommendations in my time and they always give me a chance to reflect on where we are as a club. We see lots of members come and go, but there are few that strike like lightning, creating such positive progress quickly and efficiently. You have been that, an effective leader from the get go and authentic to the core. For me personally, having you on the DC has been a huge comfort; I knew this club that I Love was in good hands with people like you in the lead.

You have also been a joy to have around on Telegram and on other discussions. You are always keeping the conversation going, and have kept your sense of humor even when trouble comes knocking.

You are going to be missed on the DC as Fist, but I hope whatever break you take is a short one. We need more people like you, and then again, this club needs you.

Thanks again for all that you have done.

Sincerely,

Jac

Valhavoc has served the Dark Council and Dark Brotherhood faithfully and resolutely as Fist for the duration of my time as Master at Arms. Fist, like MAA, is a position that can inspire heated emotions in members and leaders. Gaming is a core pillar of Brotherhood activity, so the act of managing that pillar falls to Val’s godly balancing of Cluster values and accepted DB platforms. The Fist office maintains the most regular competitions of any group in the Brotherhood, always ensuring there is something for members to participate in, and the Fist Office is one of the most impactful areas for the Brotherhood to actually “do Star Wars” via Star Wars themed apps, mobile games, and more. Val has left his team resolutely and left a clear impression on the position that will be felt for some time after his retirement.

My personal interactions with Val are often through MAA-related “fix this competition” or “remove these extra medals” requests, but in a more casual setting he has always been a great guy to chat with on Telegram about all things Star Wars and all things life. He has spent the past years not only cementing himself as one of the Brotherhood’s best leaders but also one of its best members. His career is filled with successes, and the Dark Council is now missing one of our best friends. Thank you, Val, for all of your hard work and dedication, through better or worse, happy times or getting yelled at times!