Good Evening, Everyone,

What a week...daylight's savings time hit here, the world has a new Pope, and there is still just over 48 hours to participate in the Dark Crusade events.

What Have You Done?

I really hope that everyone has participated in something for this round of the Dark Crusade. I know Oberst has been hammering away at the TOR duels, and I know there is a team of us doing the run-on (which is turning out to be quite interesting). I've gotten a graphic entry in, and I just submitted my fiction entry. I'll do the training event after I send this report to you guys. I haven't been copied on anything, nor do I see anything in the [Log in to view e-mail addresses] email address (please copy all submissions there).

Guys, and gals, we really need to see participation pick up. The house is slipping backwards, back to our old habits. We almost got closed because of that. Our only way out is participation. I know you guys have it in you- we pulled this house out of its descent and we started on the right course. I have faith in you and what you can do. The events are not that hard, and I do think that our particular fiction prompt is one of the more interesting ones I've seen in awhile. It was interesting enough to get me to three pages of fiction, whereas I normally only do one page.

Participation is also how you newer/lower ranked members get what you need to advance. For events like the Dark Crusade, each event counts as a competition. So, when the promotion guidelines state "participate in X number of competitions," you aren't being gypped.

Welcome New Member

I would like to publicly welcome Solas Night Thorn to House Tarentum. Solas has already been promoted to Novice, and is working towards Acolyte. I'm sure we'll see him promoted again very soon!

And the Names Are...

You may recall that I asked for ideas on what to call the three new ships the house picked up: Vanguard Heavy Assault gunboats. Many good ideas were put forth, but the overwhelming number of responses suggested that we name the three ships after the three houses of Clan Tarentum. Therefore, I am pleased to christen our three newest ships as the Gladius, Tridens, and Cestus.

Awards and Promotions

-Solas was promoted to Novice! -Saronyx was awarded a Dark Side Scroll -Oberst picked up 59 Clusters of Fire

Also, though nothing has been launched officially, another benefit to participation in the Dark Crusade will be the ribbons being awarded. These are unique, like Seals, but the more you participate, the better ribbon you get.

What's Coming Up

The Dark Crusade is our priority right now and will be for the coming year. That said, in a couple months, the Independence Games will be coming around. This will be a huge opportunity to participate in a lot of different events, and in general just have fun. I'm trying to figure out what even I'm going to host. It has been awhile since I've done one. For those not familiar, the Independence Games celebrate the Brotherhood's break from the Emperor's Hammer many years ago. Though relations between the two clubs are much more cordial these days, it was not pretty back then. But, I believe it was well worth it.

I am going to try and get some small events (trivia and the like) approved for the House. Currently, we cannot submit competitions because they don't want anything interfering with the Dark Crusade.

A Final Thought, and a call to you

I have now been Quaestor for over a year (actually back on February 24th). It has been a fun, interesting, and sometimes frustrating year. But, we pulled Tarentum back from the brink. This effort was achieved not only by old members, but also by new members. I hope to see more of that cooperation and work in the future. Let me be clear about one thing: I will serve as Quaestor so long as Tarentum needs me to do so, but at the end of the day, this is your house, and your Brotherhood. I want members who want to advance to step up and say something, to be leaders. I want to be able to hand the reigns over to someone so that I can be a "regular" member again and support that person and his or her staff.

If you want to get up to my level, that is, the elders, you have to have leadership in the Brotherhood. Agree with it or not, that is how the current system is set up. Activity is the start. You go from participating in the house's activities to planning them, to leading them. How can you do this? What steps can you take? Join the Jen Kaari so we can have an active battleteam (and maybe get another one). Come to Jason and myself and say "hey, I want to run this competition."

The Brotherhood has a lot to offer, a lot to give the members. Truth be told, my time in leadership positions has been some of the best times I've had in the Brotherhood in my almost 14 years here. I want you guys to experience the same fun that I've had. Sure, there is the occasional headache, but they are few and far between. And they are quickly forgotten.

Long Live Tarentum!

-- DJM Anshar Kahn Tarentae

"Where ignorance is bliss, knowledge is a curse. For even those who have learned from the past are sometimes doomed to repeat it." -Preview for Kiddy Grade Episode 10 (Rebirth/Slave)