A Message from his most Supreme (Former) Jarl of Culturus Ministriship
Hello everyone, Pengu here. With February coming to a close, let us stop for a moment and appreciate these first couple of months of 2016. With us already almost three months in, stop and think for a moment and ask yourself: How have these first couple of months of the new year been so far? Have you followed through on any resolutions you made in the new year? Did you find new love? A new job? A new hobby? Remember that there is never a wrong time to ever start on something new in your life. With March on its way, remember this fact and embrace any changes that come your way. Sometimes it may get rough, and other times it may seem impossible to press forward. But always remember that everything happens for a reason, and that good things will happen if you want it to. With this, I wish everyone a happy and safe March.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Werewolf makes history on Wintreath!
It was earlier this month when signups for Werewolf VI had begun, promising something different as always. With players signing up in an unusual style via questionnaire, it seemed that there were many eager players wanting to see just what was going to unfold, with 25 players total...the highest volume of signups in the history of Werewolf on Wintreath. But that was just the beginning. As the result of their answers, the theme of Werewolf was revealed: A suspenseful terror of a game known as Until Dawn – The Next Chapter.
The game began to a substantially high volume of activity. By the end of the first day (Team Discussion in this game), the thread hit a whopping 14 pages. As I speak now, the game itself is in its 5th night, with a substantial 66 pages and counting. That's 4.125 times more pages than the previously highest volume game on Wintreath (Werewolf 3), and I believe the 3rd highest active thread on Wintreath (the first two being “Say What's on your Mind” with 262 pages, and “Word Association” with 196 pages). However, there's no denying that 66 pages in a span of 16 days is no easy feat for a non-spam thread. So here's to Werewolf VI for pulling it off!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hot topics of the Month
*
Werewolf VI is still going strong. Who will win between the friends, psychopaths, and Wendigo?
*Wintreath's
Special Elections for the Underhusen is currently in the voting stages. Vote for who you believe is the best candidate!
*
The Gathering Portal is still looking for adventurers for its active Rps. Why not check out the newest First Tribes of Wintreath?
*It's time for the
Regional Evaluations! How do you enjoy Wintreath? What could be different or improved? Message Wintermoot with your answers!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Interviews Galore – Interviews with a couple of the Finest
Both last week and this week, I had the pleasure of interviewing two of Wintreath's Finest: Barnes, who was selected as January's candidate during the most recent contest, and Laurentus, who is a multiple time winner as well as the very first to receive the Wintreath's Finest of the Year honor. Here's what they had to say:
Hey there Barnes! Thanks for taking the time for this interview, be it a bit of an informal one. First of all, congratulations on receiving the honor for this month, it was well deserved. How are you feeling?
No, thank you for taking the time to interview me!
I feel honoured mostly, though I'm perfectly surprised that I received twice as many votes as the other two candidates combined. Surely the vote should've been closer!.
Well that just says that while the other candidates were definitely worthy, you were by far most people's choice for this month. So let's turn back the clock a bit and get to know you a bit. How long have you been a part of Nationstates?
It's coming up on a year now since I joined NationStates, and I've been a citizen of Wintreath for as much time. However, I only really started becoming active here in November or so.
Well that's pretty awesome, and happy year anniversary! How did you discover Wintreath, and what made you decide to join up with us?
I remember receiving a telegram from Wintermoot himself! This region just felt the most interesting in general, as all the other ones seemed about the same. I suppose the region's concept of being an accepting region for everyone, and one that's in perpetual winter to boot, just felt perfect, and I certainly don't have any regrets!
Well you've been a very welcome addition to Wintreath. From being highly active especially in the recent months, to spearheading the Academy, serving highly in the Underhusen, taking charge with continuing the Frozen Record, you've definitely made a name for yourself on here. You were even appointed as a Thane of Information for your efforts and contributions. How did that make you feel?
I feel honoured, but mostly I just want to continue to make Wintreath a better place and leave none of my plans unfinished. I hope that being Thane will allow me to facilitate my duties more readily and that people will be more willing to approach me in regards to Information.
Well you seem like a very approachable person with how friendly and outgoing that you seem. So on that note, let's talk about the person behind the screen a little. Tell us a bit about yourself, what's a typical day for Barnes like off-screen?
Well, I wake up and get ready for classes at my high school. Some time later I have to leave to go to a math class I'm taking at the local community college. After that I come back and finish up my classes for the day. After classes are over, I've been going to musical rehearsal for my school's production of Guys and Dolls (hence the police officer outfit everyone's seen me in; I'm Lieutenant Brannigan to those familiar with the show). I try to fit in time in Wintreath in between classes and after I finish my homework.
On the weekends I spend time at my job as a grocery store clerk and spend time with my family mostly. I've been trying to go to the movies lately but haven't been able to.
That's quite a productive day right there! Although the name Brannigan automatically makes me think of Zapp Brannigan from Futurama. So we've gotten to know a bit about the person both on and off the screen, so before we finish things off, do you have any words of advice for newcomers that may join Wintreath?
My brother said the same thing about Zapp Brannigan!
New Wintreath citizens, I advise you to try out anything you might be interested in! It's a lot of fun, and if you find you're not enjoying something, you can always leave, but you need to at least try first to see if you like it! Not to mention that it contributes a lot to the region in the time you do put in!
Definitely some good advice there. Well thanks for taking the time for this interview Barnes, and once again congratulations on being chosen as Wintreath's Finest for January 2016!
Thanks for interviewing me! It was fun to be here!
Hey Laurentus, thanks for taking the time for this interview. How're you doing today?
I'm doing well, thank you.
That's great to hear. So first off, major congratulations are in order. First you were chosen as Wintreath's Finest back in July, then again in December, and then you were chosen as our very first Wintreath's Finest of the Year. On top of all of that, you were elevated to nobility as a Count as well as being chosen as a Thane of Culture. That's quite a list of accomplishments there, how does that make you feel?
Awkward, lol. Especially as I had to announce myself as Wintreath's Finest for July when I hosted it.
Haha, yeah, I imagine that was a bit awkward. But all of your accomplishments were definitely well deserved. From the RP guilds, to being a highly active member of the UH, to being a driving force to some of our major fixes, and even now being an active and important part of the Riksrad. You've certainly made quite a mark here, and it shows. So let's go back a bit. How long have you been a part of Nationstates?
I joined when a bunch of real life friends started the region called The Revolutionary Council, back in December of 2013, I think. My first nation was Laurentus States.
So a little over two years, that's a pretty good chunk of time there. What happened to the region?
I'm not quite certain, but I left them after a few months when a party system was introduced, and the division and plays for power began to wear on me in my second term as WA Delegate. And immediately fell into New Hyperion. Of which I've been a member of ever since.
Ah, I completely understand. Is that when you discovered Aura Hyperia (now New Hyperion)? (I hadn't realized he already answered this)
Indeed it is. I was impressed with what I saw when I received a recruitment telegram while still in The Revolutionary Council, especially their meritocratic system of governence and their university. Mara Sargon showed great loyalty while defending me from the backlash of my decision to leave TRC, and I returned that loyalty in kind.
And eventually New Hyperion established relations with Wintreath, and you've been a highly valued member ever since. Looking on your time on Nationstates, is there anything you would have done differently?
Strange as it sounds, I wouldn't want to change anything. My experiences shaped me into the gameplayer I am, and I learnt a great deal about the inherent instability and power struggles that would inevitably form in a politically themed game like NS. If all those things didn't happen, I would never have found New Hyperion, and in turn, Wintreath.
I understand. So we know a bit about the Laurentus on the screen, so tell us a bit about the Laurentus off the screen. What's a typical day for you like when you're not online?
On weekdays, I'm a law student, and I spend most of my time in lectures and libraries. On weekends, I'm just your typical Afrikaner. I watch rugby, braai wors and steak, and occasionally work at a traditional South African restaurant and catering service.
That sounds like a pretty exciting schedule, actually. What got you into studying law?
It sounded interesting when I visited open days while still in high school, and it plays to my strengths with language and reading. But in truth, I struggled to choose between Accounting, Law, English and Psychology
Ah, I know that struggle all too well. If you could go back, would you have chosen differently?
No, I doubt it. I can fall into Psychology and Education pretty easiliy since I first did BA Law before LLB, and one of my main subjects while doing the Humanities degree was Psychology. If I decide to do Education, I just have to spend an extra year studying it since I already have my BA Law degree. As for Accounting, I doubt I'd be happy working for some faceless company and crunching numbers all day.
I can understand that, and I wish you luck in your endeavors. Before we end this interview, is there any advice you have for some of our newer members that have/may join Wintreath?
Take part in our rich cultural activities, and be pro-active if you see something that we can add to our already excellent region. And most of all, have fun! The rest comes naturally.
Excellent advice there. That's all the questions that I have for you Laurentus. Thanks for taking the time for this interview.
No problem Just ignore the occasional spelling mistake.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Quote of the Day
There are no great men, only great challenges that ordinary men are forced by circumstances to meet.
-- Admiral William Halsey
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cat of the Day
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Things your Grandma probably doesn't know
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Monthly Challenge
The previous challenges have been challenges of creativity. This month's challenge is something quite a bit easier for those who may feel they're not the best in that department.
For this challenge, simply write a short paragraph or longer if you wish on what you would do if you woke up tomorrow to find $1 billion (or the foreign equivalent) in your bank account. Would you pay bills? Live in a mansion? Go on a world tour? Try to get outside of your box of what sounds easy, and think carefully. This is money that could change lives outside of yours in a positive or negative way. Would you donate to charity? Help out friends? Let us know your answers in the thread!
And thanks for tuning in for another edition of the Lusty Jarl. Stay tuned for possible mini news along the way, as well as our next major publication at the end of March!
