He cannot fight alone; whatever his plan, he depends on other people. He needs to discuss his strategy, to ask for help, and - in moments of relaxation - to have someone with whom he can sit by the fire, someone he can regale with tales of battle.
But he does not allow people to confuse this camaraderie with insecurity. He is transparent in his actions and secretive in his plans. The Warrior of Light dances with his companions, but does not place the responsibility for his actions on anyone else."
- From "Manual of the Warrior of Light" by Paulo Coelho
Greetings, my dear friends.
1531 days. It doesn't sound like a very long time, now does it? Maybe it isn't. It certainly feels like a long time for me. 1531 days ago I had an idea. I wanted to create an internet community for the Wood Elf players in the Warhammer hobby. On the 16th of March 2004 I created my site, named "The Raining Glade". I had no experience running a site, I had no idea on how to handle files, and I knew nothing about programming. But I had an idea, and I ran with it. 1531 days later, you're all experiencing the result. More than four years of experiences and wonderful friends.
It's been fun.
I have been a member of Warhammer internet communities for a whole third of my entire life now. I joined the famed Druchii.net when I was 14 years old. By the time I was 15 I became a moderator there, and by the age of 16 I started the site that would eventually become Asrai.org. I am now 21 years of age (as of today) and have spent more wake hours on this site than any other member. I have had both mental and physical conditions during these times as some of you know and others may have guessed. I have been unable to sleep at nights to spend time here instead. I have dropped out of university due to putting too much time on this forum and too little on my studies. I have put my heart and soul into this website, and I'm damned proud of what it has become.
It's been rewarding.
A website like this deserves a staff team of people who are good-hearted, strict but humble, but most importantly; they must burn for the hobby. My flame for the hobby died a few years ago. I almost never get to play the game anymore, which leaves me clueless when it comes down to giving tactical advice or armylist opinions. I have never been good at writing fluff, nor have I been a painter worth mentioning (even though I have a model or two I'm kinda proud of). I have simply fallen out of the loop. The Warhammer hobby has been a major part of my adolescent life, but most importantly this has been a place where I have been able to meet my wonderful friends. Other people use MySpace or FaceBook or some other similar sites to talk to and keep track of their friends. I got all my 3000 friends gathered here in one place. Some of you have been closer to me than others, but I consider each and everyone of you my friend. You have helped me through my hard times, knowing it or not.
It's been helpful.
During these seven and a half years of my internet community presence, I have been known for taking on a lot of tasks. I have a very big problem saying no. That, coupled with my feeling of having to do things myself to get it done right makes my personal life suffer greatly. I have been administrating this site, with some help from Kul back and forth, I've been putting a lot of effort and time into the online campaigns hosted at our sister sites, I've become administrator of the Warvault.net site and its different components. I have been the owner (main operator) of the #Albion chatroom. And I was a moderator at Druchii.net for a while in the beginning. I have had a lot of balls in the air at once, and I have gotten both good and bad experiences from it. I have gotten first-hand experience on how an administrator should not behave towards his members, and I've seen a lot of good things. During my seven and a half years in the circuits I have gathered all the best and put it into one this site. I have strived to make this site the best community around. Most comments I have heard points towards success.
It's been educating.
But as with all journeys, mine has reached its final destination now. I will now walk the path of people like Taaveti and Kitrik. Taaveti was the one who founded and started the High Elf site in 1999, and Kitrik founded the Dark Elf site around the same time. Both of them have long since departed from their creations and ascended to fond memories and legends. I can only hope that people will remember me in a similar way. I have been the captain of this ship, as well as the helmsman and the engineer. Together we have sailed many seas, met many big waves but also seen many days of beautiful voyage. As for this old captain, I have reached my final destination. I don't know about you, but I feel I have earned myself this retirement. The ship is capable of traveling the far oceans for countless years ahead, but someone else will have to do the steering from now on. Cap'n Nag is checking out. It is time for me to take on new challenges, meet new people (perhaps some in the real world for once) and focus on my studies. I have been accepted to the Royal Institute of Technology where I will study for five years to become a mathematics and physics teacher.
It's been one heck of a ride. Thanks for sharing it with me.
I have been dragging this decision since early March this year. Only a few have known this was about to happen. In fact, at the time of writing this, only two people have been informed. I have felt the need to finish some things I have started, and to keep an eye out for good replacements. As of today, Lethalis is the owner (main operator) of the #Albion chatroom. I have removed myself from all administrator positions on Warvault.net. Tethlis is the new chief in command of the LEAF team. As for this website, I have yet to decide. Nor can I really decide alone. All I know at this time is that I will remain as a co-admin, but mostly lurk. I will still be paying for the server (I won't argue if someone else wants to cash out, though).
This is your captain speaking. I hope you have enjoyed the cruise. Exits are to the right. The staff of Nagathi Cruises would like to thank you all and wish you a pleasant future. This is Captain Nagathi signing off from duty. Over and out.
A Warrior of Light knows when a battle is worth fighting.
He bases his decisions on inspiration and faith. He nevertheless meets people who ask him to fight battles that are not his own, on battlefields that he does not know or which he do not interest him. They want to involve the Warrior of Light in contests that are important to them, but not to him.
Often these are people close to the Warrior of Light, people who love him and trust in his strength and who want him to ease their anxieties in some way. At such moments, he smiles and makes it clear to them that he loves them, but he does not take up the challenge.
A true Warrior of Light always chooses his own battlefield."
Petter Nagathi Axén
Administrator of Asrai.org