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Messages - Rhizome
1
« on: May 09, 2009, 01:55:01 am »
Hello there! Good to see your face as well!
Thanks for sharing a glimpse of your life with us. What a challenge! Our two boys are growing healthy, in many accounts privileged, and are still more than four handfuls. What a wonderful mother you are to know the importance of the sacrifice you are making and to engage in it wholeheartedly without even the question of doing otherwise.
Happy Mothers' Day to you! And congratulations on your marriage!
2
« on: June 02, 2008, 06:12:06 pm »
Happy birthday DMOE!
I miss chatting with you. I hope all is well with you and your family. You deserve a great B-Day!
3
« on: June 05, 2007, 03:29:18 am »
Darkwulf,
It's been quite some time since we've interacted with each other, I know. Everything I remember about those encounters reminds me of the sort of thoughtful, passionate and respectful person you are. Perhaps it's because of that, at least in part, that reading your overwhelmingly negative words was unsettling for me. I hate the idea that you seem to feel exploited or mistreated in some fashion. I don't know if you are still present to read this response, or if it will matter anyway, but I do feel strongly that many, if not all, of the points you raise in your post demand careful reflection and evaluation. So, that's what I'll try to do here.
It seems that part of your negative reception of the news about Layonara's future is based in the fact that you only found out about it on June 3rd. As orth has stated in another thread, that time-line is really not as unreasonable as it might seem. Only very recently were certain decisions made which greatly accelerated the development of the new Layonara. Prior to that, the project was really just a bunch of ideas, good ideas I believe, which were not appropriate to disclose. I didn't even start telling friends and family members about this project until very recently. I feared things were so nebulous and uncertain as to raise questions and concerns about how I've been spending enormous amounts of my valuable time rather than genuine interest and support in a compelling and practical project. Similar sentiments led us to hold back our urges to speak about this project with other members of the Layonara community until we felt we were on a viable trajectory towards independently developing a new game world. We expected to have a product in development years from now and that some interim version of the current Layonara would continue well into the future. As I said, it was only very recently that that time-line changed.
With the above points in mind, I hope you can see that you were not dealt with in an underhanded fashion. Everything you contributed to Layonara, from your characters to your GM-ing to your writing has been greatly appreciated and intended to directly benefit the current community and version of Layonara. You were not snookered into contributing towards a proprietary endeavor by that fact being willfully withheld from you. Instead you've volunteered to contribute to game world and a community in a way that has generated joyful and challenging events and materials for a great many people. Your work still does that. The memories of your contributions will do that well into the future.
It does seem to me that you are conflating two issues which should be considered separately. As you stated, you assented to the notion of writing for profit for Layonara. Your contributions to the handbook, particularly after you were informed that the handbook and other written materials would be made available for purchase, were intended for sale to the current Layonara community or to an interested public. They were not conceptualized as contributing to the new and potentially for profit version of Layonara. The fact that the game itself will morph into something better doesn't change the fact that you wrote for the handbook, not for game engine itself.
I'm of the opinion that individuals and collectives should always strive to improve themselves. Layonara has been a wonderful example of this for years. Descriptions I could offer of what this place was like when I first started over three and a half years ago would seem implausible at this point I imagine. We've gone through 3 versions and many other significant updates. We've implemented new and independently generated elements to our world. Many people have put in enormous effort to enable Layonara to evolve over the years. In the process we've learned alot about how to make and run a game world. Now that we are faced with some pretty darned obvious limitations of the NWN game engine, it only makes sense that we should attempt to move beyond those limitations. NWN is a device not of our own making, and thus cannot do many of the things we want it to do. So, we'll attempt to empower ourselves by creating our own tools and put them into action. I believe that the fact that we have developed the skills, cultivated the vision and nurtured the drive to accomplish this should be something to celebrate rather than condemn.
Another point which seems to have gone missing in this discussion is that Layonara has never been a free server. Sure, it may be free to you and others. But it hasn't been free for primarily Leanthar, but also OneST8 and Thak, who have shared the burden of costly fees for the many servers it takes to effectively run this world and community. Keep in mind that three are new and many others have been upgraded numerous times. I know you and others don't intend this, but please understand that when you are saying that Layonara should remain a free-play server you are actually arguing that Leanthar, OneST8 and Thak should continue to foot the bill for everyone. That doesn't seem just to me. This is another, admittedly secondary, reason why Layonara must leave NWN behind. We're not after 6 million subscribers, mansions and yachts here. We're not out to deal-double with people in search of wealth and fame. We're simply attempting to find a way to keep Layonara alive, evolving, fruitful and at the same time self-sustaining.
I'm truly sorry that you feel affronted, mistreated and exploited Darkwulf. It has never been anyone's intention to do such things and to make you feel that way. I hope, with admittedly shaky confidence, that something I've said has assuaged your negative sentiment and allowed you to reach a better understanding of how this situation has unfolded. Please feel free to contact me at any point to discuss any of these issues further.
Respect,
Rhizome
4
« on: October 25, 2006, 08:12:21 pm »
Happy birthday orth!
Rhizome
5
« on: October 10, 2006, 08:02:43 pm »
Happy birthday!
Rhizome
6
« on: September 13, 2006, 09:23:05 pm »
Congratulations!
Rhizome
7
« on: September 06, 2006, 09:03:27 pm »
Awesome!
Rhizome
8
« on: August 29, 2006, 08:23:38 pm »
LynnJuniper - 8/28/2006 8:27 PM *giggles* Upon further reading of this english syllibus from HELL Its pretty apparent that I'll hardly be here -_-; Four research projects in 4 months for one class...Its hillarious considering in highschool it took that long to do one... I'm offically overwhelmed and wigging out Rhynn signing off! In my expert opinion, 4 research projects of any substance in 4 months is exorbitant. You should seriously consider asking around for another instructor who will better fit your style of learning. Rhizome
9
« on: July 07, 2006, 12:18:44 am »
Work, family and other Layo projects have conspired to curtail my in-world time these days. I'll attempt to make myself available sometime in the near future for you and for others who may have other similar requests. Thank you much for your interest.
Respect,
Rhizome
10
« on: June 25, 2006, 09:45:18 pm »
It really was a wonderful Layonara experience. The quest was brilliantly conceived from the beginning and brilliantly enacted through to the end. It truly felt like the climax of a 3 year storyline for me. Leanthar's fabulous vision and prior machinations provided an amazing setting and background. Aragwen's creativity and skill in the implementation made the event roll gracefully onto the screen in a way that captured the full intensity of the scenario. The characters and their interactions were thick, compelling and well rounded. We worked together as well as any group I've participated in my nearly 3 years of playing Layonara. As I said before the final battle when our two groups met and smashed the remainder of Blood's forces between us, that Rhizome had prepared his whole life for that moment. I was touched by the responses of those I was with, Addison, Ireth, Iradril, Kharl, Aralin, who complemented Rhizome on preparing well. My response might have seemed sappy at the time, when I said that the core of that preparation was realizing that who stands with you is far more crucial to success than one's own talents and abilities. The events in our quest, as well as in the other sessions I wager, are proof positive that it wasn't just a sappy comment. In my experience just one of those elite forces of Blood could, and have in the past, killed parties far stronger than ours. In my experience quests with even more straightforward challenges are botched by groups of players and characters more experienced than ours were. But we killed many of those elite forces. And we succeeded convincingly and decisively. In my mind there is one key source of that accomplishment, we communicated, collaborated and worked together as a team. I'm very proud of what we accomplished and feel deeply fulfilled with my smallplaceat the plateau built by years of collective and collaborative effort. I also said last night, and think some took the full meaning of my words, that our success was in no way secondary to the overall victory against Leanthar... ...I mean Bloodstone  . Remember that the Tol'eflor Patriarch told us not so long ago that "The Silver Vein flows down the ridge. The soul flows down the silver vein. The soul touches the bone of Blood. With this all is done." If we had failed, and the Great Oak as well as the Silver Vein plant, which now grows right beside it, were destroyed, thenthe Blade of Shadows would have just been a knife with a nifty name. Of course this is one key reason why Bloodstone attacked the Great Oak and why our efforts saved not only Nature but allowed for the destruction of Sinthar. It was so fitting and brilliantly rendered to witness the explosion over the Demon Mountains shortly after we vanquished the last few of Bloodstone's Great Forest devastation troop. To me, this makes me feel proud at a whole other level about the teamwork evident in the finale quests. Our community has worked well together, not only here at the end when it is most obvious that it mattered, but time and time again building up to the final defeat of Sinthar Bloodstone. It hasn't been one character, or one set of players, or even a series of events which has enabled our thrilling victory and the pride and fulfillment many of us are experiencing now. Everyone has played a role in the way that we have communicated information and built relationships and acted in ways which have made our world an immersive and engrossing experience for us all. I'm honored and privileged to be a part of that. It is something that in my professional opinion (I'm an anthropologist so I'm allowed to say that  is rare indeed in our "real" worlds. That fact, alongside the fact that Layonara has repeatedly generated such experiences and sentiments, should never be overlooked. Leanthar certainly deserves the lion's share of credit in those endeavors. Our team, our community and all those who have supported and encouraged us surely also deserve chunks. To me this creative connection and collaboration is the positive core of a Layonara experience, of a Layonara self, which I will always cherish and always nurture. Thank you for allowing me these few lines to express to you at least glimpses of my appreciation, admiration, and love for this community and for all of those who have made it possible. Much respect to all, Rhizome
11
« on: June 23, 2006, 08:05:27 pm »
I very much appreciated and enjoyed your comments. Thank you.
Rhizome
12
« on: June 12, 2006, 04:08:34 pm »
Situation resolved.
Rhizome
13
« on: June 06, 2006, 09:48:05 pm »
I should start by sayingthat what Dorganath stated is true. The current dynamics of the Druid organization are being reconsidered. Things may change dramatically or just minorly. What happens will depend on feedback and participation. Stay tuned for more information on this. Whatever transpires I hope that it will make playing your new druid character more fun. Your question is both important and revealing. At some level, almost all PC Druids in Layonara are of the nomadic sort. I say this because it's not likely that you'll find a player who wants to undertake the sorts of in-game activities that would realistically correspond with the daily life of a grove druid. Sure, that may entail defending a particular territory from invasion and such. But you're Layo life would be pretty strained with repetition if all you did was patrol one particular region and RP'd planting, grafting, animal tending, etc mostly on your own. I'm saying these things to point out the relevance and importance of your question. Not like you needed to hear all that *smiles*. In terms of territories and authority, my vision is very similar to what you ask here: Does the wandering Druid simply shift to the local Druid of higher rank? My answer would be yes. But keep in mind that this Druidic ranking and structure is flexible. It has to be to meet the practical needs of each druid, any given territory, and in particular the demands of being a Layonara druid specifically. A travelling druid wouldn't really fall under the authority of a druid assigned to a particular natural area simply because she or he wanders into that territory. The wandering druid would have relative autonomy. It's when that wanderer wants to take action that would affect that territory in any way that her or his actions would fall under the perview of the assigned druid. Wander through... ...fine. Wander in and want to make changes... ...better collaborate with the druid in charge for that. That makes the local druid a resource person as well as an authority figure. And I think that's a good way to view it. Those are my thoughts for now. As I said, there should be more soon. And, feel free to ask follow up questions. I'll respond as swiftly as I can. Thanks, Rhizome
14
« on: June 05, 2006, 04:12:13 pm »
I would like to attend the meeting, depending on when it is held. The Life Giver would be blessed to feel many of us brought together by his binding light. Rhizome //I'm not clear on the date and time you posted. If you are intending this Saturday the 10th of June at 8pm gmt and noon pst, I'll be unable to attend. A weekday I could do that time I think. PST evenings otherwise. If neither of those options work perhaps we can arrange your conversation to carry over onto the forums for additional participation from out-of-zone folks. Just a suggestion. 
15
« on: June 01, 2006, 01:23:57 am »
Good question. It seems there are a few parts to it. Hopefully I'll be able to address at least a few.
With regards to contacting a GM about random or impromtu events, the best way to do that is by contacting the GM directly. That can be done in-game, as you mentioned. But if an idea or question comes to you when the GM isn't available in game, a Private Message here on the forums is a good choice. Some GMs have even more options to contact them, through email or a chat program. Take a look at the specific GM's profile and see what options are available. All GMs are open to, in fact most of us crave, those sorts of inquiries and requests.
At times reading your post I thought you might be asking about how to identify a GM who orchestrates an impromptu event. This is important, of course, because if you don't know who the GM is, it's impossible to follow up on anything. In those circumstances I think the best approach is to post an inquiry on the forums. Just breifly describe the event and ask who was involved so that you may contact the GM with some follow up questions and/or ideas. As I said above, all our GMs are open to these kinds of ideas and questions, and so whoever the GM was will likely get back to you relatively quickly.
I hope some of the statements above address your questions. Thanks for asking them. Be well.
Rhizome
16
« on: May 30, 2006, 04:39:27 pm »
Happy birthday! I hope you get everything you asked for and more.
Rhizome
17
« on: May 19, 2006, 07:39:16 pm »
Congratulations! Now get to work! Rhizome
18
« on: May 19, 2006, 09:25:19 am »
*Rhizome stands again in the approximate middle of the sacred island at Corax Lake. As the rain begins to fall and moisten the ground around him, his feet seem to sink into the earth and his whole body and personae seem to merge with the surroundings. He speaks a few words slowly and softly, sounding more like they were created in concert between the wind, rain, birds, rustling grasses, creeking trees than from his mouth.*
I've enjoyed meeting people here in the past. I think the time is right to do so again. Some company, conversation and connection will be welcomed and hopefully productive.
*With a deep meditative breath his handsreache up towards the rays of the sun beaming through the branches in the grove around him. As he does so green shoots stretch out beyond his limits. They continue to grow skyward, sprouting leaves and donning bark. Slowly the transformation overtakes his whole body, and as a tree he stands firmly in the middle of the sacred grove, branches entwined with those around him.*
*In moments, birds and forest creatures scatter to the edges of their territories, communicating the message beyond that Rhizome has rooted himself to solicit questions, discussions and companionship. The message is carried from creature to ranger to all manner of being. Eventually it reaches your ears.*
19
« on: April 06, 2006, 03:28:55 pm »
Hello folks,
This is a quick notice to inform everyone that the quest tonight will begin right where the last one ended, namely, outside of the Sielwood Witch's house in the Sielwood Forest. Please save your character there and log into the quest server.
It was a collective decision last session to "lock" the party. Thus, tonight's event will be for returning characters only.
See you in one quarter of a revolution. Be well.
Rhizome
20
« on: April 04, 2006, 08:59:11 am »
Welcome back Waha! It's great to see you again. Hope to see you in game sometime soon.
Rhizome
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