Introduction

Greetings, Plagueians. Seasons greetings, even!

It's hard to believe that we've reached the end of another year. It seems like 2025 was here and gone in a flash, but we've grown so much as a Clan over the last calendar year that I can't wait to see what we can all accomplish in the year to come. 2026 might be just around the corner, but we're not done with 2025 just yet!

Staffing Updates

I would like to offer my thanks for all that submitted Aedile applications for the open position within House Ventress. It has been a long time since I've seen such a strong group of applications for a position, which really shows just how great a job that everyone in the Clan really is doing. But, in the end, like the Highlander says there can be only one. Please offer your congratulations to Blackhawk on his appointment to the position of Ventress Aedile. Blackhawk already has developed a strong working relationship with Tahiri that even goes back to their old Tarentum days, so that coupled with some of the project work he's been doing in Plagueis and for Ventress made him a stand out choice. So, drinks are on him!

But, that being said, I did tell a little white lie in the preceding paragraph. There can sometimes be more than one if the Consul decrees it so. Both Kalen Joss and Astralis Violentus are new arrivals to the Brotherhood and Clan Plagueis, but their applications for Aedile had some qualities that I would be loathe to not take advantage of. It's been a while since Clan Plagueis has had any Battleteams, but we've decided to revive them to serve their traditional purpose here: A place to give newer folks their first taste of leadership. They're not going to be buried with a mountain of work to do, mostly serving to drive activity for their members and provide a nice, unique little fictional corner of the Clan for folks to play around in. So, please join me in welcoming Kalen as the BTL for the House Tyranus Battleteam and Astralis as the BTL for the House Ventress battleteam. What are these battleteams you might be thinking? I'm so glad you asked…

The Ascendant Outreach Corps

Serving within House Tyranus, the Ascendant Outreach Corps will work to expand the soft power influence of Clan Plagueis throughout near-Plagueis space and throughout the member worlds of the Confederacy of the Outer Reaches. They are charged with serving as a support unit for various activities in and around the region controlled by the Confederacy, ostensibly responsible for Anti-Piracy and 'Show the Flag' presence patrols as well as humanitarian and support missions. The unit mainly operates as a small, space based task force centred around the Pelta-class frigate Bright Light. Fictionally, this team is one that serves as the "Good PR" group of Clan Plagueis, expanding the good will from Plagueis's neighbors through general good deeds. While the team is headed by the resident Jedi of Clan Plagueis, the true mission isn't as altruistic as it might first appear. As some Muun somewhere probably said, "Treat people in your debt like family… exploit them."

The Hidden Blades

While the Ascendant Outreach Corps is a tool to spread Plagueian influence, the Hidden Blades are charged with a mission that will reach a similar end via entirely different means. The Blades are a faux pirate band operating the Cumulus-class pirate raider Goreleech, charged with raiding in and around the space controlled by the Confederacy. For Plagueis to be a valuable shield against possible threats, those threats must exist. Unwilling to simply wait for those threats to materialize on their own, Plagueis has created its own merry band of raiders to prey upon the shipping lanes and underdefended border outposts. The Blades can even be deployed against settlements that have yet to join the Confederacy, creating the pretext and motivation for them to sign on. Like that same Muun also said, "The riskier the road, the greater the profit."

Never a Clan to shy away from playing both sides of any situation, the Outreach Corps and Blades are two tools to spread Plagueian influence and maintain the Clan's power and authority.

Recent Brotherhood News

Here is the news

• Exarch Report 18: Ping - The One With Metrics and Resources
  
• Regent Report #6 - Life Day IV - The One Where Where the Regent Talks About Life Day
  
• Herald Report #25: and a Gundam for all - The One With Preeeeeeety
• Combat Master Report #7 - The One Where Judges Gotta Take the Class
• Regent Report #6.1 - Life Day Begins - The One With the Star of Life Day
• New Website Open Beta Now Live! - The One Where You Can Buy a Website Ticket
• Regent Staff Openings and Important Crafting Info - The One Where Regent Staffers Are Needed

In Closing

I'm really happy to bring back the concept of Battleteams to Clan Plagueis. They're not something that we were in desperate need of from a member to leadership ratio standpoint, but that's not what Plagueis sees as their primary use anyway. That first step into leadership can often be a big one, so Plagueis has always seen a BTL job as a place that someone new to our group can take their first plunge into managing other members and their activity. Additionally, they're a great place to offer a more specialized and focused fictional space that doesn't need to offer the same broad range, accessible-to-all setting that our Houses and Clan must to provide a place where all can find a corner for their character. Our new leaders, BTLs and Aedile as well, have me looking forward to 2026 with a smile on my face.