Muz Ashen

Grand Master

Four Years

We gather together today to pay tribute to a living legend in the Brotherhood...Muz Ashen. We tried to think of something to award him. He has everything. We considered new awards, gifts, etc., something to show him our appreciation for his work and dedication over the last four years. Finally we decided to simply give him that which those who know him best know he appreciates most...

Our thanks.

I have known Muz a long time. We have worked together on projects, vendettas, fiction, and countless other items in service to the club. If you look at Muz's dossier he has everything. Two of everything in some cases. But what one has to take away from the most impressive member we have known is that he has "earned" all these things through the sweat of his brow. Muz puts pen to paper and makes things happen. He is both prolific and prophetic. We don't always agree on the issues facing the club, but in my experience, Muz is right more than he's wrong. It's a ratio I envy.

So what I'd like to say here on his Fourth Anniversary as Grand Master of the Dark Jedi Brotherhood is simply:

Thanks, partner.

Thanks for all of your hard work. Thanks for taking the knocks and pushing forward despite them. Thanks for covering our asses when we screw up. Thanks for making things happen when I'm spending time with my family and can't do as much as I should. Thanks for keeping the place I love to spend some precious free time the greatest Star Wars fan destination on the internet.

Thanks, partner.

- Raken, Deputy Grand Master

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To paraphrase a recent Sapphire Blade recommendation in which Raken spoke of Sarin's many assets: there are very few who are truly legendary. By legendary, I don't mean the Barney Stinson kind, nor the overused affectionate term afforded by some friends to others. No, by legendary, I mean of, or pertaining to legend.

The Brotherhood has very few legends. The day of the Fox is used to remember Firefox; the Anniversary of the Split is used to look back to the days when the Brotherhood broke off from its parent site. In these legends, these tales, these Brotherhood holidays, we look back with fondness, in celebration, and we look back triumphantly. Fondness, celebration, triumph - three key ingredients that define legends.

It is fair to say that we have the personification of that recipe in the Brotherhood today. Muz has been an inspiration to many people in the Brotherhood. For many more, he has been the only constant. His power, his influence, his touch can all be felt across every unit, and through every member. He is a polymath within our little corner of the internet; a true master of all. An artist, a writer, a gamer, and, importantly, a leader. As previously mentioned, we have the Day of the Fox and the Anniversary of the Split, but I propose a new holiday in celebration of legend... The 21st of February should be added to that list, for it signifies the day upon which the longest-serving Grand Master of the Brotherhood stepped into his role.

Four years have gone by, and for four years, the Brotherhood has been blessed with his presence. I can only thank you, Muz, for all you have done, and for all that you will do. I'm sure every Grand Master enters the role hoping to make the Brotherhood a better place and, from my experiences with you at the helm, you can hold your head high and rest assured that you have far exceeded that goal.

Thank you for everything Muz, from me, from the Arconan Summit, and from Clan Arcona.

You have made this club that much more enjoyable. For that, you have our eternal gratitude.

- Wuntila Arconae, Consul Clan Arcona

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How did this look? There's so much to say an I didn't want to make it look like a rec, so I tried to keep it short.

Muz has been the Grand Master the entire time I have been an active member of the Brotherhood. In this time he has been a constant when many things have changed. He's always been there for me if I've had a concern, and nearly every time I see a GM report, there's something new and exciting in it.

I really think the direction our club has gone in the past couple of years (since I've been active) is pretty amazing, and credit a large part of this to Muz, and the brilliant

Dark Council he has to work with. There are tons of things I could say here, but sometimes it's difficult to find the right words when there's so much one could say, so I just want to say thank you, Muz.

- KAP Locke Sonjie, Consul of Clan Naga Sadow

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Four Years.

That is a long time devoted to leading a club like this. In that time we’ve seen other leaders come and go. We’ve seen a multitude of different vendettas pushing us in

new ways. We’ve seen some hard decisions made.

Muz Ashen has never taken his position as Grandmaster lightly. If there is anyone we can point to in the Brotherhood who works hard continually it is him. Over the last four years the DB has moved forward in ways that were unexpected, new options were put on the table, new ideas actualized. Over the last few years as I’ve had to work with Muz, and the rest of the DC, I’ve come to realize what a full time job it is to run this club. While for many this is a fun hobby, Muz has had to work, hard, on so many things. With out his work, his ideas, his leadership, many of the things we as members enjoy would never have happened.

In many ways it is a thankless job. Too often it is complaints given for when things happen that aren’t like. Too infrequently is it praise for a job well done. Today I am

glad to be able to thank Muz for his kickass work as Grandmaster. He cares about this club, and its members. I’ve seen time and time again the tremendous efforts he puts into making this club awesome. I’ve learned much from him in the last few years of working with him. Where others have gotten burnt out on leadership jobs, Muz endures in one of the most stressful positions there is.

So today, after four years of service, I am glad to throw my voice in with others in thanking Muz for continuing to be a fantastic GM.

- Xen’Mordin Vismorsus, Quaestor House Scholae Palatinae

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Muz has been at the forefront of this Brotherhood for many years, with nearly all of that having served on the Dark Council. This marks four years that he has had the mantle of Dark Lord of the Sith, with myself only being at his side for three of those years.

Indeed it takes one with superior fortitude to last that long among the mindless rabble like myself, but he does so with grace. What else do you want to know about the man? That he's been behind every single major plot update, Vendetta release, and site overhaul since before most of you reading this were members? Nah, I'll spare you all of that mumbo jumbo and let others delve deep into that black hole of accomplishments. I will say however, that you will never find a more appreciative Justicar, for giving me moderate seas and clear skies, or a more well tempered Headmaster for letting me dabble behind the scenes and make policy as if a soft skill Dark Council member was worth something.

Muz, thankyou for everything you have done over these past four years, I truly wish that they haven't flown by as fast as they have. Here's to hoping you stick around for another four, just to stir the pot.

- Taigikori Aybara, Justicar of the Brotherhood

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I had a new member ask me recently, “Why do you like Muz? What makes him such a great leader?”

At the time, I didn’t have a ready answer. The only answer I had was, “Because he gives everything he can to the club, and he doesn’t flinch at getting stuff done.”

It’s only after taking the time to really think about it that I understood what makes Muz such a different, and desirable leader.

Muz is Sacrifice. He sacrifices all the things that people always complain about not having enough of; time, money, sleep, opportunities, Muz has sacrificed it all in the name of this club. Most people don’t know the depth to which he really gives his all to this club, or how much those nifty comics for the GJW’s and Vendettas cost, or care that there are times that Muz is busy doing stuff for us, while tending his son.

His dedication to us is not limited by the extent of his skill. He’s personally coded the last three vendetta websites, when our Seneschal’s have been busy working on the new website and unable to do so. That new website that James keeps teasing us about. The one that he and his crew have been busting ass on, to the point that they hinge on burnout.

Rather than call them away from that task, of bringing an amazing new interface to the club, and moving us into the next generation of interaction, he did it himself. Even if these websites haven’t been amazing, and jaw dropping, they have been functional enough to get the job done.

And that is just one of the many things that Muz has devoted personal time and attention to getting done, so as not to impede what others are doing for a long term betterment of the club.

I can’t tell you of other things he’s done, because they’re REDACTED, but I can tell you that there is more. There are things you will never hear about. There are things that even I don’t know about. The reality of the situation is that Muz deserves your thanks, your praise, and your understanding that when something isn’t perfect, it’s not because it couldn’t be better, it’s because there’s something more important being done for you, that you haven’t seen yet.

Be thankful that we have a leader who is willing to work himself to the bone for us, and to do so without grandstanding for praise or accolades.

The Lion in the Darkness is always working, even if you never see him hunt.

- OE Tra'an Reith, Quaestor of House Plagueis

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The early Grand Masters of this club didn't always stay in the job for very long. It was not uncommon for someone to last but a few months and then resign. Some people lasted a year. Hell, my first term only lasted nine or ten months. It was a different time, but still interesting to look at when compared to recent times. Since the split, we've had terms running around two to two and a half years.

But four years? That's unprecedented. That's unique. That's tough. That's impressive! Muz has been at the helm of this club, our rock solid leader, for longer than any other Grand Master before him. He has withstood the test of time and laughed in the face of burnout. Let us not forget that Muz had been Deputy before this, and Herald before that. He has been serving this club on the Dark Council for an unbeliveable length of time. For all of his hard work and dedication, we owe him our thanks.

I often say to people that it is impossible to know what the job of Grand Master entails until you experience it. There is nothing that can quite prepare you for the absolute wonder of being in charge of these amazing members, and the absolute cluster that some days bring. Sure, we can train as DC members, Consuls and Deputies, but there is something amazingly hard and amazingly rewarding about the GM's job. Despite the upsides of the job, the challenges wear on you, which is why after a few years, people tend to retire.

That Muz has lasted through four tough years is incredible. He is a hard working, dedicated, caring individual that wants what is best for this club. His desire for greatness is infectuous and his love for Star Wars and our universe can't be rivaled. Muz has facilitated our joy of being members here through huge vendettas, administrative upgrades, system overhauls, and membership changes. He has survived when his friends and advisors around him burnt out. He has maintained when people were unappreciative. He has pushed hard to ensure that the mission of this club always is fulfilled.

Muz has held aloft this club that I've loved since my childhood, that my friends have migrated around for years, that has spawned marriages and children, joy and laughter. He has been there for us through thick and thin...for four years! That's worthy of our graditute.

I would also like to take this moment to thank Ash. I know for certain that Muz could not lead this club without your support and understanding. Thank you for putting up with the drama, the time commitments, the late nights, and the people. You are awesome.

Muz, thank you. We appreciate you.

- Jac Cotelin, Grand Master

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It's been four years that Muz has been our Grand Master. Four years. That has special meaning as he is the longest standing GM the Brotherhood has seen. In that four years Muz has torn down, rebuilt added to and remade what this club is in an effort to keep up with the changing times.

He's made it more challenging, more rewarding and more of an adventure then anyone expected. He has been a mentor to all of us in one way or another. I have watched people blossom under his guidance. Becoming stronger leaders in their own right, learning how to overcome adversity and difficulty. Muz has been exceptional in every aspect of leadership in this club and I am glad I was part of the Dark Jedi Brotherhood during his reign as GM.

- Ashia Kagan Keibatsu

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In the years before Muz ascended to the Iron Throne, we had rumors of Project: Rebirth, expanded the lightsaber/robe construction tools, and began tinkering with the idea of revised character sheets. What do we have now? New character sheets, a beta site with a new design, spaces for character avatars, but most importantly we have vendettas and story lines that are far beyond what has been done in the past.

Muz has dared to take the Brotherhood and move it right along the edge of canon to bring an experience that's many enjoy. The projects that were only talked about in years past have never been closer to fruition until Muz took office.

He's made a strong effort to open communication from the highest leaders to the newest members. From simple explanations to listening to the concerns of people, Muz makes an effort to address people while managing the work that keeps the club rolling.

I could keep going on but enough sugar coating. Muz has done a lot so much for the Brotherhood and seeing where we were compared to where we're going, I'm surprised he's managed not to destroy a city block. Thank you for keeping us motivated and excited about the future!

- DA Shikyo Sasuke Keibatsu, Herald of the Dark Brotherhood

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The position of Grand Master of the Dark Brotherhood is more than a hobby. Serving at the pinnacle of our club requires the dedication and time of a real world job. These demands have led to many of our Grand Masters serving under a year and only a small few serving for two years. This is what makes our current Grand Master, Muz Ashen, so unique. Muz has handled the multitude of responsibilities as the GM for longer than any other reigning Grand Master. His consecutive streak of four years is one of the most impressive feats our club has ever experienced.

This fact is no more evident than the hundreds of members within our club who have only served under Muz. But time alone is not the only distinguishing mark Muz has made on our club. Character sheets, force powers, robes, weapons, warbanners, multiple vendettas, fleet resets, and just about every aspect of our club has been improved by Muz. Unfortunately we lack a proper award to hand Muz on this anniversary because his distinguished reign has resulted in him earning every imaginable award our club has to offer, but we can provide our praise for his efforts and sacrifices (just ask Ash!) for the Dark Brotherhood.

Ray, thanks for all your hard work and dedication. You have not only carried the mantle of Grand Master, but you have elevated it.

- Darth Pravus (Sarin), Grand Master, Voice of the Dark Brotherhood

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What do you say about the man who you've known as the Brotherhood's leader for nearly your entire time as a member as well as being the longest first term reigning GM? You can say a lot. Muz has had an incredible amount of projects face selector, possessions, clan possessions, downsizing the clans to houses, clan force powers, vendettas, the Dark Crusade, a new lightsaber guide, a new hand to hand guide, dissolving positions but creating new ones, creating amazing graphics for the Brotherhood, and on top of all making sure he has time for the members, talking to them, talking to the Dark Council, responding to emails, and dealing with all kinds of crazy drama.

The man is a work horse, because despite being crazy busy in the Brotherhood, he's a father, a friend, and a husband, as well as having a full time job. He's had to deal with my insanity for 2 years so far as a Dark Councilor, running our gaming department and the many changes I've done to it since becoming FIST. Muz is amazing, and a total badass. I don't think I can describe how much he's influenced the Brotherhood or even begin to thank him enough for everything he's taught me, and the incredible work he's done. Thanks for 4 years of hard work man, and I hope to see what year 5 has in store for the Brotherhood!

- OPM Fremoc Pepoi, Fist of the Brotherhood

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Muz, again, thanks brother. It's been a pleasure.

• R