Xathia has been insanely helpful in the running of the ACC. She's outstripped me in sheer judging, opening matches etc, she's almost singlehandedly updated the rules and put them up on the wiki, she's helped train up two generations of ACC staffers, and without her, the CHL would have never have got off the ground. She's come up with new venues for each round, wikified them (making them all highly detailed), and on top of that has been grading them. It's only through RL that she's had to step down, and frankly I feel her loss keenly. She's been a great assistant, sage counsel when I need it, and a good friend. The ACC has recognised her stellar, stellar contributions, and would like to award her a SB for her titanic efforts. You're welcome back on the staff any time, Kris.

• Teroch Erinos Arconae, Combat Master

From the instant I took on Xathia in my new and nascent Judging Staff, she was an indispensible part of the ACC team, steadily helping with more and more of the ACC's general functioning. Not only has she opened and Judged an impressively huge amount of battles, but she was also the driving force behind two of the most important events in recent ACC memory.

In this, I'll speak first and foremost of her activity as our main administrator. While it was Dash who came up with the sheet, and me who coded it in, there's no way it would have functioned without Xathia's tireless work in its maintenance. It was, for the longest amount of time, by her efforts alone that the sheet was updated and checked, and it was she who helped explain things to inexperienced new Judges and who suggested many of the improvements that were eventually incorporated in the second and third versions of the Reminder Sheet. In these versions, too, she was the main administrative leader, doing what was essentially a full sweep of all active ACC battles multiple times per day to ensure adequate in-time warning. The results of this policy were almost miraculous, cutting down on TimeOuts by a truly amazing amount and thus preventing untold amounts of frustration.

The second time in which Xathia showed her value as a Staff Member was in the recent Championship Ladder. In this, it was she who not only opened all the battles (and Judged a good amount of them), but she also designed the special rules and venue for each round, thus giving the Ladder a whole new and fresh 'feel'. The Ladder, on the whole, has been called a smashing success by most of its participants, and most of that is thanks to Xathia's efforts.

So, at the end of Xathia's term as Judge and Operator, it's time to review her efforts on the Brotherhood's behalf. The Sapphire Blade, I can read, is granted for "consistent and long-term service to their Clan or Brotherhood position". This seems to be the very minimum that Xathia deserves.

-Timeros Caesus Entar Arconae, ACC Operator

Xathia has been an amazing ACC trainer all the way back to when I first qualified just before GJWX. She judged that match and gave me critism that I still use today. Her insight and knowledge from there and all through the war helped me achieve 4th place in the ACC event at the rank of PRT against EQ1-EQ4. Since then, she has been an amazing coach not only in ACC but also in fictions and ROs, providing countless proofings and suggestions that have absolutely helped me become a better writer. Xathia is always available for questions as a Judge, having answered numerous of my own in email, IRC, and even in IM, while at home and even at work, some damn near immediately or as soon as possible, and never once batting an eye no matter how newbish or crazy they were. It's been great being able to just go to her without feeling like I will be judged based on what I ask. Her dedication to ACC has been a huge source of inspiration and has driven myself to do well on this platform.

But truly, Xathia wasn't just active in the ACC. During my tenure as Aedile she was also an active member of Void Squadron Battleteam, participating in competitions and offering insight on groups discussions on the future of the Battleteam as well as helping put together a Run-on for BT activity. She has also been participating in the Clan Operation Rolling Thunder, joining in on ACC matches and furiously pounding out excellent posts for the Operation Run-on. Xathia has truly been a stellar example of a dedicated member and leader of the Brotherhood, with innumerable hours of ACC staff work, behind the curtains work for myself and I imagine countless others in private and public, and also a terrific asset to Arcona. Thanks Xathia, for all that you've done.

~Socorra Erinos, ACC Judge

Xathia is one of those people I've known since I got my start in the brotherhood. She is many things, all of them excellent. She's detailed, focused, dedicated, capable, and determined. Her jobs have always recieved the maximum effort she could give, often proving that jobs everyone thought were just poorly done, were done poorly because others who had held them were poor at them. Reliability, responsibility, impartiality, these are her words. Patience is her virtue, and perfection her goal. I've never known Xathia to fake, fluff, or otherwise produce something that was "finished" and not, be, or to just quit. She gives it her best, produces it as is, and makes no excuses. Often, her work out performs others due to its sheer attention to detail, and is often expertly crafted.

What matters most, is that she took this all and applied it to the ACC with a will. She judged matches, many times on little or no sleep, just because it needed done. Her judgements were always impartial, fair, focused, and based in logic. No matter how many people accused her of being biased, or of being lazy, her work spoke for itself. She has served faithfully since Dalthid's second term as CM. Her term in the ACC came to symbolize stability and reliability, that even when no one else was available, that she would be. Her work is nothing short of exemplary, and recognized by all with respect as a pillar of the Brotherhood.

Congratulations Xathia, it's long overdue.

-Tra'an Reith, ACC Judge

I’ve only recently had personal dealings with Xathia, but it is her conduct removed from those that allows me to lend my name to the list of those recommending her for this award. I’ve been a fan of the ACC for a long time, and as such, I’ve continued to monitor the goings-on there. Her activity there has been astounding, and that speaks to a member who is willing to put in a lot of time influencing - the right way - the members who look to the Club as a form of worthwhile entertainment.

Additionally, my role as Aedile gives me insight as to how she deals with that same membership. I’ve only heard about Xathia’s tough, but fair, leadership and instruction style. That sort of attitude, in my humble opinion, is vital in helping members become better at writing and competitive amongst their peers.

Lastly, when I did decide to rejoin the ACC Staff, she was more than welcoming while still making sure this old-timer was still familiar with the rules and regulations of the venue; this, to me, is a sign of a member who expects excellence from the Club she belongs to, the people she works with, and the writers whom we encounter when we decide to ‘throw down the gauntlet’ in the form of an ACC Challenge.

In short, the Club could use more members like Xathia; she’s done everything the right way, and as a result, the members are enjoying themselves for the right reasons.

Congratulations, Xathia, on your Sapphire Blade!

-Tsainetomo Keibatsu, ACC Judge

Within the criteria for awarding a Sapphire Blade, it states: 'The recipient of a Sapphire Blade has shown consistent and long-term service to their Clan or Brotherhood position. Such services however cannot be seen until taken on a hold, each individual part seen as one.' Now, I'm not one for semantics, but I believe Xathia has accomplished this, and much, much more. Her work not only in Arcona but in the ACC has been exceptional. And exceptional is a word never used out of context within Arcona. She is simply sublime, with loyalty, dedication, and ambition by the bucket load, and ability to boot.

Long-term and consistent service? The ACC. A mentor and senior player in Arcona. Bringing it all together? Pretty much holding the ACC up, along with Dash, during both the CHL and the downtimes, spending a significant amount of her time actually writing, drawing and essentially creating venues. If the success of the CHL, and her continued success in Arcona does not exemplify these accomplishments being brought together and 'seen as one', I don't know what would justify such a claim.

Seldom does one see someone so truly deserving of a Sacramental Award. Krissi has gone above and beyond the call of duty time and time again. She deserves recognition for the amount of effort and dedication she has shown to this club for the best part of five years. Especially in her efforts within Arcona and the ACC.

Congratulations, Krissi. You deserve it.

~Wuntila Arconae, ACC Operator

Xathia has been one of the single most dedicated ACC Judges I have had the pleasure of working with. She directly taught me almost everything to do with the logistics of judging a match and what's more finds the time to judge most of the matches that are submitted herself. This doesn't keep her from keeping up with other activities in the DB. She's won a handful of awards, including a Dark Cross, Grand Cross and a Seal of Loyalty. She's been a very loyal member of this club, and as such I recommend her for a Sapphire Blade. Congrats Xath. It's well earned.

~ Alaris Jinn di Plagia, LHoJ and former Staff member.

Sashar Erinos Arconae, 2012-09-10 08:00:58 UTC