Difference between revisions of "Wanderer"
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===Affiliated Groups=== | ===Affiliated Groups=== | ||
Revision as of 18:11, 17 May 2008
Contents
Baron Sir Michael Winternight called by most the Wanderer, of Nocturnis.
“We are the music makers and we are the dreamers of dreams.” --Willy Wonka
"I am not dangerous. My rolodex, however, is." --Wanderer
Biography
What follows are my thoughts on Wanderer. I figure they can stand until he gets around to writing something himself -- Randalf Falconbridge.
Wanderer is inactive at the moment but like so many other members he goes through phases of participation. His last significant period of active was during the formation of Avalon's Gate but he dates back to old Barad Duin. I remember him best as Duke of Tori-Mar. In fact my first day on the field was the occasion of his war with Zephram MacLaran. We have been friends ever since. I know that many people consider him to be a figure of derision but he has done a great deal for Austin Amtgard. In fact, I cannot imagine how things would have turned out with out him.
Wanderer's personal notes on the remarks above
Stunned and shocked. I have always tried to do what was right, not necessarily politically correct, but right. The very idea that I have influenced anyone or been a role model never really occurred to me.
Maybe it should have.
Auto Biography
I joined Barad-Duin in middle 1990 and adopted the lifestyle within the year. I.E. Crashing on my fellow HFSers couches and being a bum.
It wasn't until Rufus took me under his wing that I really understood any of this mess. He put me to work in both real life and in Amtgard. I was made a Page to a then Squire Rufus to Sir M'Deth.
I learned the ins and outs of many things, and not the least of them was that "working" at a real job equalled money. It is sad, but yes, true. I won't bore you with the details, but to say that Rufus was my mentor would be exactly what he was.
I have been both Baron and Duke of Tori-Mar, indeed helped form the group many years back; in 1991, I believe. The years tend to blend together after this long, please forgive an old man.
I have been blessed to meet many important individuals people that have done much for the game over the years. I don't believe I am one of those people, although from the remarks above - others do.
I am very goal oriented, which is both a blessing and a curse. In 1993, Rufus was knighted and in turn was expected to hand down a red belt to me. I should have known I was in trouble when he came to me smiling. He wanted a reason list from me as to why I should be his squire.
Yeah, I was pissed.
So I handed over a 200 item list and basically told him he could choke on it. Many years later, he would present this list to the knight's circle as proof that I was ready for my belt. The things we learn later in life.
After many years, a few death defying acts <one of which involving a tornado at an event> I had the honor of being knighted by my peers and the Knight's Circle of the Celestial Kingdom. I still remember the cheers and the standing ovation I got from the 300+ in attendance at Spring War III. King Zephram and his champion, my own knight, had this planned out. I was knighted by Zephram's own World War II katana that I had mentioned in passing when I had helped him move that last year.
This is where being goal oriented was a problem and how Rand noted my "ins and outs" after this point. Once I was knighted, I had no where to go. I didn't have much interest in politics or Empire-building. As the King noted, my security clearance went up, I was made aware of all kinds of ill dealings in the Kingdom at large. So I ran. It wasn't fun anymore and it made sense at the time.
I have returned over time and the years. Playing in Tori-mar, even returning and forming Avalon's Gate in order to help give my friends with families somewhere they could go to due to the more Stickjock-friendly modes of Tori-Mar.
Will this latest return stick? Dunno, but I am hopeful.
Being one of Rufus' Red Belts, even the first, there is a certain responsibility to the game that has been ingrained into all of us. So I will support the Kingdom and Nocturnis, my new home, to the best that I can. Hopefully, the years and the experience that I have gained over the years in and out of the game will help other generations and my own squires.
High Points
Dirk and the Wanderer
Like any time in our lives, you encounter someone that you can raise hell with. No matter what gets in your way, if you are with this partner - then that barrier vanishes into a cloud of debris. To be honest, Dirk isn't remembered by other's that knew him with much fondness. If any, to be frank. He was known to powerslide across the field, bowl people over and in general - be himself. He was as good a friend as an outsider could have though, we raided baronies up and down the kingdom. If it wasn't bolted down, we stole it. If she wasn't tied down? Well, you get the idea. We raged like that for about five years, him with his huge vinyl covered axe, known as Destiny, and me with whatever variety of katana I could get my hands on. We were roommates for a while too, as Amtgard seems to always bring people of our unique calibre together. I do look back on those days with fondness, but don't really try to find that kind of connection with other's these days. I think like everyone, I go through phases. I seem to have outgrown that one.
The Brigands
The Brigands were a group of the more experienced fighters in Tori-Mar, and my good friends. I think it was sometime around 1995, I wasn't a knight yet - that much I remember. You have to realize, that when Rufus was king, and I was squire to the king, I could get away with anything. and Gods, did I push that limit. Zephram MacLaren and his wife, Melinda <known as Curtis and Donna Wade> had joined Tori-Mar at the height of our population growth. We were fielding 70+. How could you NOT want to be out there? When Melinda won her run for Duchess, we decided to really role play it up. So we had Melinda, substituted for an evil witch <which Donna loved playing the villainess> and formed a group of Merry Men to fight against her. For the duration of the reign, we ran a series of battles that really couldn't be considered organized or even fair given the odds against the group. But we had fun and that is what mattered.
Members (updated as I remember them)
- Wanderer
- Dirk Thunderblade
- Roo
- Zephram MacLaren (under an assumed name that escapes me now)
- Jade Grimwulff
Some Fairly Well Known Facts
- Wanderer's full persona name is <currently> Michael Winternight.
- Wanderer once went to war with Zephram. <as a fund raiser>
- Wanderer is infamous for posing out while fighting.
- Wanderer was a flurb before flurbs were "cool".
Affiliated Groups
- Member of House Grimwulf
- Former House Lord of House Twin Rose
- Formerly of the Golden Lions
- Councilor of the Ministers of Grace
- Initiate in the Saracens, hopefully to join Tribe Latrocene
- Member of Rufus' Red Belts <Squire #1>
- Helped form Tori Mar
- Helped form Avalon's Gate
- The Brigands, under the rule of the Despotic Duchess Melinda of Tori-Mar
Belted Family
Formerly Squired to Sir Rufus Grimwulf. Wanderer has two squires at present Carratos and Reaper. Past squires have included Shiva and Iiridian. Shiva is presently at college in Colorado and out of contact. Her place is reserved and considered "Off Duty" at present. Iiridian passed away in May of 2007 in an auto accident. Lady Roo is currently wearing a pink belt under this belt line and referred to as a "Squeer".
