I’ve known Terran Koul - Vic to me - for more than a decade. He served with me in Taldryan, what seems like ages ago, and his activity and dedication was impressive, even then. But Vic has gone on to surpass what I knew of him back then with supreme activity and dedication at the Clan level, all while keeping an eye to the rest of the Brotherhood and assisting where he can. This dedication, along with his never-ending activity, are what make Terran Koul a good example of what an Equite should be in our organization, and why I was honored when Arcona asked me to help with a recommendation.

What really sets Vic apart is his ceaseless dedication to his unit, a dedication so strong that often his biggest contributions come when he is not on the summit. It would be impossible to fit all of what he has done for Arcona into a single recc - which is why his friends and leaders in Arcona have offered more details, and more examples, below - but I will highlight just a few of the many things Vic has done that make him stand out. The Crusades offer one example of the kind of work Vic puts in, regardless of what position he holds in his unit. Facing the unrelenting grind of the Crusades and the need to eek out every last participation point, Vic created the Arconan activity tracker for the event, which allowed Arcona to organize their large roster size and effectively target members that needed additional submissions, the details of which are described in a Grand Cross he received in 2013 - all of this while himself competing in more than twenty different Crusade events. Vic finds problems, and addresses them. He’s been known to pull members aside to help explain everything from formatting of documents to the character sheet system, all because he sees a member struggling with something. On top of that, he is a tireless competitor, engaging in virtually every major tournament and event the Brotherhood has had, from ACC events like Rivalries to Great Jedi Wars, like GJWXI where he went 9/11 on events.

And though his focus is always strongly on Arcona, that does not mean that Vic ignores the rest of the Brotherhood. Far from it, in fact. Vic has been an active part of the Character Sheet revamps, offering ideas and help, and earning a Steel Cross from the Combat Master for his work on the Wiki aspects of the project. He is constantly offering to help with projects, and took it upon himself to organize a detailed and thorough writeup on the rank changes earlier this year, and provided a strong proposal for alternatives. While ultimately the Grand Master and I did not agree with him, the proposal was none the less a valuable contribution and is one example of his work beyond Arcona.

So, Vic… congratulations. This promotion has been a long time in coming, and it is most definitely deserved.

~Mav

Telaris "Mav" Cantor, 2015-12-31 20:27:19 UTC

There are many aspects that a person must exhibit to join the highest tier of Equites in the club, and luckily for Arcona Vic exhibits them all. His consistency, activity and leadership are all stellar, and more importantly than that is his ability and willingness to advise and help out anyone who needs it. The number of times I have leaned on Vic to help proof something that I've written (which is a pretty bloody arduous task, as my writing can tend towards being rubbish) and not once has he ever scoffed or turned me down, he always finds a way. He is always there with a suggestion to improve something, and consistently exhibits a maturity and humbleness which many other members could do with adopting.

While there are many people in this recc who will talk about the things that Vic has done since his last promotion and will talk about the ways in which he helps to make Arcona a better place, I will simply thank him for helping to show us a better way of doing things. If we had more people like him in this club, we would be stronger for it.

Thanks Vic, keep on trucking!

Rayze Erinos Arconae

Umbra, 2015-12-31 20:18:54 UTC

As a member of the CS Development team, Terran was on of the most active contributors. While we argued more times than not, his perspective helped pave the way for more constructive thinking. Even post-launch, he was very helpful with managing the CS 2.0 FAQ. To that end, I was able to award him a Steel Cross. Terran also took one of the top placements in my first major ACC Competition, Rivalries and is currently into the second round of the ACC Invitational Tournament. I’ve seen him offer his services as a proof reader as well, lending his experience and knowledge of the CS System and the ACC to better assist.

As Combat Master, I’d probably have to stop there. However, a portion of his three years as Equite 3 were as an advisor and Summit member for my time as a Proconsul and Consul. As you can see from the statistics listed by my fellow Summiters, Vic has simply been gathering up every kind of Merit award we are able to throw at him. I see the two Sapphire Blades, two Grand Crosses, a few Dark Crosses, some novae (we haven’t awarded those in a while, so this should lend merit to how Terran has been a consistent contributor over these past few years) and a crap ton of clusters and crescents. In summary, this lends merit to how active Invictus is as a member.

However, Terran also stepped up over the past six months by taking on the role of Aedile in House Qel-Droma. As a member of HQD myself, I’ve witnessed the impact he’s had in a positive way. Combined with his stellar activity record and showcase of merit awards, I think that the time has definitely come for him to be elevated to the final Equite rank.

While we argue like a couple in dire need of a divorce, and hold polar opposite views on pretty much every topic in the DJB, Terran is one of the hardest working members in the club, and he fully deserves this promotion. Congratulations, and thank you for everything you’ve done, big and small, over the years, Locke. I appreciate it even if I don’t always show it.

Consul Emeritus of Clan Arcona
Combat Master

Lord Marick Tyris Arconae, 2015-12-31 20:20:44 UTC

Terran Koul has always been one of those members you just know you can rely upon, whether he’s in a leadership capacity or not. When you give him an assignment and expect something simple in return, he exceeds all expectations beyond what you could’ve imagined and takes it that one step further. One such example of these accomplishments would be the new Activity Tracker spreadsheets for the Summit. I’ll be the first to admit that the complexities are beyond my understanding, but multiple sheets are updated in an instant with a single keystroke. Another example would be the document detailing the responsibilities and expectations of those within Summit positions for those within Arcona that are new to leadership.

When I hired him as my Aedile six months ago, I knew he was just the man for the job. Every task I set him was executed to perfection, down to the most minuscule of details. Sometimes he even anticipated these things before I would set them and leave me stunned when it was delivered as a completed project minutes later. I can say, without hesitation or a hint of doubt, that Terran truly is an inspiration and a pleasure to work with.

He’s the kind of person that is selflessly willing to help and teach, offering to lend a hand no matter how busy he may be with various other tasks. If you’re unaware how something works and he knows, Terran will patiently walk you through every step until you’ve understood the process. He pours his heart and soul into everything he does, down to the smallest detail. Whether it’s proofreading a fiction, lending a new leader a helping hand in how to work out markdown in reports, Terran shines through in these moments as a consummate mentor.

In my opinion, for all of his hard work and tireless dedication to the House and Clan, I’m pleased to be recommending Terran Koul for Equite IV. You deserve this, my friend. Congratulations.

Celevon Edraven Erinos
Quaestor of House Qel-Droma

Adept Celevon Werd'a, 2015-12-31 20:21:04 UTC

Today we are recognizing the constant efforts and successes of one of our very dedicated leaders of Arcona. Today Terran Koul has earned the right to claim his spot at the pinnacle of the Equites - an Augur of the Gray Path. To attain such a rank, one must achieve of a lifetime of work that benefits not only the Brotherhood, or Clan Arcona, but the members he has worked with during his time. It is a testament of professionalism, capability and capacity.

Since his last elevation, Terran has participated in 107 competitions, organized 25 competitions and co-organized 30. He has submitted 8 PvP matches, logged 99 PvE activities, completed 6 ACC battles, finalized 5 fiction activities (accumulating 9,906 words!), posted 4 times in a run-on (accumulating 5,049 words!) and completed 7 Shadow Academy courses. In addition, he has collected an astounding 2 Sapphire Blades (see below), 2 Grand Crosses, 1 Steel Cross, 3 Dark Crosses, 4 Novae (1 Gold, 3 Silver), 9 crescents (1 Crescent w/Diamond Star, 2 Crescents w/Ruby Star, 1 Crescent w/Amethyst Star, 3 Crescents w/Sapphire Star, 1 Crescent w/Emerald Star and 1 Crescent w/Topaz Star), 13 Pendants of Blood, 76 Clusters of Fire, 50 Clusters of Ice, 2,663 Clusters of Earth, 1 Scroll of Indoctrination, 2 Scrolls of the Master and 2 Legion of the Scholar. Though Terran has been astoundingly active in every way within Arcona, mere numbers alone do not tell the whole story of how valuable he has been to the Clan.

Terran has served a combined 8 months as Battle Team Leader, 2 months as Quaestor and 6 months as the Aedile of House Qel-Droma. In light of his excellence and diligence in performing his duties as Quaestor of Qel-Droma, in 2012 he was awarded his first Sapphire Blade when he rebuilt the fictional framework of the House and mentored future leaders, such as Soccora who went on to become Herald, even going on to lead the House to impressive showings in GJWX. Equally impressive is the work he accomplished for his second Sapphire Blade; his multiple stints as Battleteam Leader allowed him to inspire his members and lead by example during the Crusades. These are not all Terran has done for us while in positions, as others will detail below, but are examples of his commitment to bettering the Clan.

Aside from his actions while in traditional leadership roles and whether he has a position or not, Terran constantly performs as a role model and mentor to our junior and senior members alike. For instance, one of his most effective contributions was the creation of the Crusade activity trackers as mentioned in one of his Grand Crosses, which assisted the Summit in keeping track of what the members were able to accomplish. Two examples from this year alone further demonstrate how much Terran has engaged in projects to help the Clan as a whole. Recently, he took part in a month-long update to the Shadesworn system where he assisted in reevaluating the requirements for 7 tiers as well as creating a table outlining the update (a total of 20 requirements created). Terran was also instrumental as an advisor during Arcona’s Character Workshops, offering insight on how to better one’s wiki page and elaborate on historical backgrounds of characters. Without his input and guidance, I doubt we would be where we are today. With such dedication to the Clan, Brotherhood and members alike, we honor that commitment and sacrifice.

So a huge congratulations, Terran. You’ve made us very proud to work alongside you and I personally cannot wait to see what achievements you make in the future. Wear your rank with pride.

Arcia Cortel
Proconsul of Arcona

Rear Admiral Arcia Cortel, 2015-12-31 20:23:15 UTC

Terran has been a part of Arcona for so long now that it wouldn’t surprise me if the majority of the Clan can even remember a time before he was a part of it. Always available to give advice, guide members on improving their Wikipedia, Character Sheets, providing guidance towards advancement or opportunity for Equites. As a leader, he provides consistent insight and analysis of every situation the Summit faces. This only begins to speak of the higher echelon of what he provides the Clan, he also makes time to log in and assist members within games like Diablo III, providing gear and valuable advice to help them get started.

During the course of the last few months, his involvement with co-organizing Fall of Scepter and Arconan Halloween Horror Nights showed that Terran is not a ranking Equite who is content to sit by and provide only advice. He also steps to the forefront to assist you providing members the chance to remain active and enjoy themselves through participation

He has also proven himself time and again to be willing to help when processes need to be refined or smoothed out. Providing tables, spreadsheets and trackers for Summit use in both Houses. I will allow others to speak further on the breadth of what Terran has accomplished, on behalf of myself and Galeres I simply wish to state.

Thank you for your service,

Uji Tameike
Aedile of Galeres

Eminent Ikarri Itinen, 2015-12-31 20:17:38 UTC

Invictus is a consistently under-appreciated member of Arcona. He works through the clock daily to provide a fun atmosphere for each and every member of the Clan. He is never afraid to frankly speak his mind if he feels an issue is worth debating, and whilst that is not always the most well-liked of jobs, it is necessary for a summit's effective decision making, as he is always one to consider every angle of a problem. As the de-facto Summit whip, he has aided Celevon ably in shaping Qel-Droma into a powerhouse of activity, and his genuine good nature has enamoured him to many a member. It is high time he was rewarded for his efforts. Well done, my friend.

Dash

Sashar Erinos Arconae, 2015-12-31 20:18:15 UTC

I have known Vic for almost six years, now. In those years, I have seen many sides of him. I’ve seen him as a mean, skilled ACCer. I’ve seen him as a trusted confidante and co-planner in many of Arcona’s war efforts. I’ve seen him as a friend with whom I share many interests. With Vic, it seems there’s always another side of things to explore.

There is a competence to everything Vic does that is, I believe, often underappreciated. When he does something within the Clan, you can be certain it will be carefully thought out, meticulously planned, and skilfully executed. He is, without a doubt, a man who can be entrusted with almost any task - and it will be seen through, successfully. I saw this, most recently, when he performed invaluable work on the ACC Staff in helping to jump start the new Character Sheets.

Terran, however, is not content merely to sit still and wait for the work to come to him. He has taken the initiative on several major projects as well, most recently detailing areas of responsibility within the Summit. He’s also helped detail much of the background for Battleteam Tyrant Sword, building a workable concept around a bare framework.

In previous years, Vic has been invaluable in instructing, advising and aiding the Summit. He has, throughout his career, helped out in all the small ways of Summit functioning that are rarely noticed - until they are absent. From running analysis on the Clan’s behalf to spearheading various improvement initiatives, Vic has proven time and again to be a reliable voice within the Summit, staking out positions and arguing them fiercely, thus helping to create a workable consensus within the Clan.

I have also seen him take on a good mentoring role lately, helping to instruct what are often younger and less-experienced leaders within his Battleteam and helping them thrive and build their teams into proper, functioning units. In that, he has excelled as expected, taking a major part in rebuilding Qel-Droma’s activity level to one worthy of our Clan.

Congratulations, Vic. Your years as a reliable companion and friend within the Summit means you have more than earned this honor.

Timeros Caesus Entar Arconae

Timeros Caesus Entar Arconae, 2015-12-31 20:19:42 UTC

For having the highest Elo gain in a quarter

dbb0t, 2015-11-22 23:44:14 UTC