122 days ago, I made the most emotional and gut-wrenching decision I had ever made on NationStates. I left the only region I had ever been a part of for an uncertain future in a new region named Wintreath. I was just storing my puppets here while I pondered my future in NationStates, and 122 days ago I had no clue what I was even going to be doing 7 days later. I didn't know if I was going to some other region, or if I would be here at all one week later. I certainly didn't initially plan on creating a serious region. It just kind of happened one bit at a time. I made the region and some of my friends put nations in here. I created an IRC chat and people joined up. Finally, Charax convinced me to just go for it and do a region, and we're now here, four months later, an active, vibrant, top 20, growing, incredible region.
Usually I would use this opportunity to discuss the the future, and the future is certainly bright, but tonight I feel the need to reflect, recognize, and thank the many people that make up this great region of ours. I may be the Monarch, but no one man can do it all on his own. Any work I did would be for naught if not for the help and support of so many people.
I think back to the people that formed Wintreath from the beginning, most of whom came with me from Spiritus.
Drexyl Nox, who was our first resident other than me...
Charax,
Denth Rowan,
Insenjar,
Horse,
Reon, and
Daylen Pheonix. You were there for me at a very low point in my time here on NS, and you showed me that indeed, no man is a failure who has friends. Not only were you
the community when we started, taking on almost all the work and activity, but you were there for me through very uncertain times. I wish I could say that once I decided to build Wintreath as a serious region I had no doubt that we would succeed, but the fact of the matter is I worried...a lot, especially in the first two months. Building a region from scratch is a daunting task, and without you it would have been impossible for me...in more ways than one.
I would be remiss if I didn't mention
Saeturn Valerius/TheSaturnianRepublic, who was also here from the beginning and was instrumental in the development of our military's regional identity, but is unfortunately no longer with us. I also must mention someone else who has been here from the beginning,
Wuufu, who in spite of being in the sometimes-awkward position of President of the region Wintreath broke away from, remains one of the kindest and most generous people that I know. Your ability to somehow stay above it all is amazing.
Then I think to our newer members...
Weissreich,
Chanku,
A. Pierangelli,
Alterra,
The Golden Persian,
Harry McClain,
Govindia,
Butterspring, and more. Some of you came to us from other regions, and some of you came to us freshly new to NationStates, but all of you are what make this region and this community truly unique. One of the things that amazes me most is looking back and seeing how the region has developed in ways I couldn't have imagined it would starting out, and you are to thank for that. Hell, I didn't even know most of you when I started this, but now I can't imagine this region without you guys. You've become not only region-mates, but friends, and this community is better for you being a part of it. Never forget that.
And finally, our many foreign partners...those who have established relations with us, in some cases agreeing to do so before Wintreath was even a month old.
Milograd and the region of
Lazarus...in spite of being the Chairman and leader of the most active and relevant regions in the game today, Milograd has easily been Wintreath's biggest supporters outside the region from nearly the very beginning, taking time out of his life to give us advice, contribute graphics, shoot the breeze in our chat, and oh yeah, proposing the first treaty ever with our region. When you come here on our forums and see our banner, or the graphics that indicate the status of our forums or topics, you are seeing his work that he did for us without even being asked. I truly appreciate Milograd and our partners in Lazarus, and only wish that we had more treaty partners of their fine caliber to work with.
And so many more...our resident nations who call Wintreath home but unfortunately haven't been part of the community yet, everyone that's stood up and worked to make this region a better place, everyone that's shown interest in our humble little region. I'm terribly sorry if I've forgotten anyone on this list, thinking through four months of people. I also wish I could expand on how each of you have made this region a better place as a member, and how each of you have made me a better person as a friend, but to do that would seriously require a novel and days if not weeks to write. Just know that I appreciate each and every one of you more than I can ever express in any one post. I truly feel lucky to know and get to work and play with all of you, and I only hope that I will get to continue to do so for a long, long, long time.
With love,
-Inric Nordrim Stark (Wintermoot of Wintreath)
-Grateful Founder and Monarch of Wintreath
