The India character

[India]

I have achieved more with India than I ever expected to when I started, Duchess. Princess, Gemholder and Ordination Contender. To be honest I was a poor typist and I used to despair of ever being a good enough typer to fight or even talk properly!
 
I have been long term Guildmaster of the Mages, possibly even beating Yairi's record in the Loremasters. During that time I have done more subscriber introductions that I care to remember and I'm proud that a high proportion of Avalonians were intro'd by me and even started life in the Mages. Although it was often frustrating losing Mages to other guilds I like the fact a lot of them became long-term players.
 
The Guild itself has been an extremely stable place over the last 10 years. We avoided a lot of the power struggles, comm raiding, bank account raiding that seemed to occur in a lot of other guilds with a high turnover. I had the pleasure of sharing the guild with some really great people and I'd like to thank my brothers and sisters for being so much fun: Ramoth, Fistandantilus, Eilan, Acaila, Hero, Egwene, Sinda, Tinuviel, Algernon, Lamron, Sorianon, Zyoska, Agarwain, Khelbyn, Jalice, Qrick and Furion. Thanks also to the ones who started as mages: Zheredan/Little Mage John, Matthew & Esprii.
 
I also was able to become Princess (unchallenged!) and held in my time PR, Trade, State, Chancellory and FM ministries. Again I'd like to recognise the following brilliant people and solid Mercinaens. These are the people who would have your back whatever: Kes, Alarius, Herbie, Foxedup, Hannan, Ygraine, Edgtho, Maximillian, Minlen, Lelorax, Kargul, Octafino, Greystoke, Fredegar, Kinjin, Myth, Mithrandil, Fig, Khashakin, Jander, Nighteagle, Haluc, Camaris, Hirad, Zatarina, Kuma, Joely, Vargo, Qey, Cenodoxus, Gareon, Lothor & Sarale.

The following people were great enemies, scary in all the right ways: Threap, Babidi (the one and only Emperor), Zerina (the one and only Empress), Toranaga, Lancelot, Kodiak, Gaar, Zakath, Aerian, Zenichiro, Ender, Arikaar (of the pointy teeth), Eldereth, Flagg, Cordon, Narissa, Wil, Solan, Drakath, Achelous, Mariah & Arturo.
 
The following people are great allies either in defence or being around to charge or refill: Finbar, Krill, Fatalus, Tukar (after he retired!!), Allys, Mirrigold, Lothar, Elmak, Rhiannon & Rhapsody.

Friends
I will always remember those who made going out in 2002-2004 such fun: Zenichiro, Gaar, Mirrigold, Lancelot, Ender, Zheredan, Arturo, Threap, Herbie, Sisyphus, Zwartia, Grymauch, Voltan and the other London meet regulars.
 
In particular Threap & Persia and Narissa & Krill who were all really supportive and always there for me when I needed them, particularly dragging me out the house for beers when the temptation was to stay in and cry.
 
Finally to the two people who have the most impact on my life...

[India]

Hermione. Boyfriend-stealer. Fake-friend.

Possibly the most selfish, self-centred person I have ever met and I hope I never meet anyone with as little loyalty and as low morality as you again.
 
Your total lack of regard for me as your friend made me feel absolutely worthless and completely doubt my ability to make and retain any new friends.
 
At times I thought I'd say here I wish I had never met you - but that's not the case. I enjoyed having another girl in the London gang. What I will actually say is I wish you had been a better person and I wish you had thought more about the consequences of your actions on others. Most people I know would have run a mile if the ex-boyfriend of a week of one of their friends had come on to them.
 
Anyway... knowing you was the exception. Most people I met through Avalon are good people. I hope one day you will understand how it feels to have good people around you who care about you and I hope you learn not to treat them as poorly as you treated me. Friends should be treasured.

One for you... I wish I had been brave enough to have the same conversation

Dolly Parton -- Jolene

 
Parnassus/Tristian/and the rest
 
I miss you and I guess I always will.
 
 
As an incurable romantic all of these I felt at some point but I decided to cut the posting spam. They are all on You Tube.
 

• The Cure - Inbetween Days
• Snow Patrol - Run
• Deep Blue Something - Breakfast at Tiffanys
• Pink - Who Knew
• The Fray - How to Save a Life

 

[Algernon]

This is painful to read.  I wonder if any of the other parties in this might reply to talk about these treaties, whether they were intentionally driving India out of the game, and if so, why. 

When my namesake played the game, we were subject to repeated slayings, sometimes to a ridiculous degree.  This was frustrating at times, but no one was actually trying to prevent us from playing in the first place.  I've never heard of anything like this.  Treaties and other collusion aiming at preventing a veteran player from having any role in the land whatsoever?  Why?  What kind of behavior on a character's part merits this sort of universal shunning?  I highly doubt India took to sadistically slaying LW's or endlessly harassing people in Rynn's fashion.  So why? 

There may be reasons for disliking India's character personally, but the loss of a character with so much experience and knowledge of the land seems like a terrible waste.  So what's going on? 

[Emrin]

Avalon seems to positively encourage what everywhere else calls "griefing", so I doubt anyone involved will have much of an excuse beyond "that's just part of the game, get used to it".

It's fun to play an evil character or to plot and scheme over months to score a political victory over an opponent, but sometimes you have to consider the fun of other people as well as your own and take a step back.

I'm not quite sure why India was the target of so much hostility, like Algernon says she was hardly a notorious bully or schemer like some. I expect she just proved to be an easy target for those who enjoy dominating others in a consequence free environment.

[Ajathar]

I'm sorry to read this. India was always a constant that Ajathar could rely on being there whenever he popped briefly into the land from time to time. It will be a poorer place without you.

I can't imagine how it would feel to have this done to me as I have never invested nearly the same amount of time into the 'game' as you have but I can't help thinking that this hasn't been done to India the human being but rather to India the character.

Does it need to be personal?

And if you can seperate this from being personal what an amazing roleplaying oppurtunity it could be (as mentioned earlier in the thread). Either the obvious route of a darkening of the character and the pursuit of vengeance or get involved in the political side of the game and plot to oust your enemies and win back your place in the city? In some ways this is much more interesting than the usual run of the mill "you are from x city therefore I must kill you" plot that most people follow.

I'm not saying its easy, or even ultimately obtainable and it may take many years of effort but it could be a hell of a lot of fun!!

Chin up India

[Algernon]

Worthy Ajathar,

I felt the same way -- back in November.  After reading these updates, it sounds as though India (the player) was being driven from the game, having no role within a city or a profession at all.  That's not so easy, and might not be pleasant at all. 

So far, no answers to the 'why' question.

[Narissa]

*hug*


I'm so sorry to read this, India. You were one of those people who helped make the game a vibrant, breathing world. I hope you can find another outlet - or responses and changes in the game - that will give you that community. I understand exactly how you feel, and it is very sad to give up or feel alone in a place you've spent years in and working on.


If all else fails, you're free to join me in WoW. Casual community can be a nice thing, and a refreshing break from the job that Avalon can be.