Well.. what can I say? All things are born, all things have an existence, all things die. Change is the only constant in our reality.

I barely remember any details of that fateful day (Joined: 16 Dec 2006 04:11 pm) when Edmund C. Fex and I were talking. He mentioned he'd started playing a game that had been designed by some friends of some friends who were completing a Game Development course of study and enthusiastically recommended I check it out. I did. For a long time I'd wanted to use the name "Thorne" in a game, but it was always taken. Luckily, Skyrates had such a small community that I got it, and it proved to be quite an apt moniker for my Skyrates career. There was no wolf avatar, but I thought the ferret looked like he was enjoying himself, so I picked that. First plane's name was "The Ugly Rose" (all my planes were some type of Rose the first round). Upon learning that Fex was in the Blue Faction, I decided if we were both in the same faction that would upset the balance of the game, so I joined the Red Faction, a choice that would affect the fate of many.

At first, I specialized in combat. What a thrill! I used to grind out combats during slow hours at work at Sony's old (now torn down) music studio in Hell's Kitchen, NYC. While your favorite artists were mixing it up downstairs, I was gettin' mah kill on. And then I discovered influence.. or rather it discovered me.. turns out combat grinding with missions booted me to the top of the charts, and I rather liked it there. I saw how disorganized the rest of the game was, found like minded individuals in Red, and began working together to take over the map. Nobody even saw it coming the first time, it came out of nowhere and we got many skylands close to flipping without doing so, and then flipped them all in a marathon night of inf grinding/running. The reaction to that was priceless.

Working at it a second time, when it was fully expected and prepared for, was an even bigger and better accomplishment. And not only did we take it, we took it solidly without "rebellions" as they were referred to.

And then on to the Flight School attempt at a takeover. Warring with Blue *viciously* *all* that round. It was intense and we couldn't even get Blue off of us until FS was at both of our throats, but the battle that followed with FS was epic, often down to just one skyland besides the capitals that was untaken. Finally, right before I was about to be overwhelmed after days of battle, an island in the mid lvl ring flipped Green. Whew! They kept up after that for a few more weeks, but then they declared victory in what they'd achieved thus far.

I miss all of the treaties and political schemes. I miss the influence wars. I miss working together as a team to accomplish goals. I miss my wingmen (and women) who fought with me in Red.

I'm sorry that the devs don't see the same potential in Skyrates that I do, and I know I've given them a fair share of headaches, but at the end of the day I have to say thanks for a great game and helping to foster an even more wonderful community. I wish you all luck in your professional lives and maybe one day you'll realize what a gem you have!

To the community.. whether a friend or an enemy.. Thorne was always a character and I've enjoyed being able to play him alongside your characters in the Skyrates universe. You've all provided me with endless hours of entertainment, great friendships and devilishly fun animosities.

I may still drop into chat once in awhile to see what's happening, so don't be surprised if you see me pop up, but from here on in I'll be focusing on other games and trying to do some writing for Fauxrates.

Best of luck to everyone! So long.. and thanks for all the inf wars!

/me tosses the keys to his plane on Gil's desk and walks out, shutting the door quietly behind him.


Thorne

Not sure I quite see things the way you do, just yet. We'll see what happens, I suppose.

In any case, it's a common lament, missing the old days. I'd be lying if I said I didn't myself.

So, fly right Thorne, and good game.

Me too, bro.
Me too.

{static}, well, I guess I'll get the lights on my way out...

Well, day-um.

And some history too. Thanks Thorne, for the big welcome to Red what, three years ago?



Edit: lol, two years. 1.8, even.

Edit: Derp: two and a half.

See you around, mate.

I expect to see all three of you in Fauxrates and hopefully in my wing in Aces High II. All endings are new beginnings.

Thorne
although I will miss flipping flags with ya's

I could be an {static} and say good riddance, but that wouldn't be very sporting of me. There is a part of me - a very small part - that's glad to see you go, but the rest isn't.

For all that we butted heads, and I still think you had a large in Red's bad rep, I am gonna miss you.

Until we meet again, my honored opponent: Fare the well.

I can't do online games well due to poor connections and laggage. I'll get around to Fauxrates one day.

Batty

Even though we didn't get on, it's sad to see you go. Hopefully see you when Fauxrates is up and running or maybe I can come annoy you in WoW

Till next time.

(This late reply. D= I was bored and decided to check in. x.x)

Aw Thorne, I'm gonna miss you buddy. Thanks to you and Lethe, I wouldn't be able to play this game at all! (Even though it is a rather short time. =( )

Good luck wherever you go, because I'm also splitting from here as well. =(

Thought about starting a new thread but didn't see the real point.

Just posting to say that I'm moving on as well. The game was a fun and vibrant community for a very long time and I really enjoyed much of my time here.

I'll miss my comrades in Red, my friends in the other factions and my foes as well (well, most of them).

I will continue to be saddened by what Skyrates could have been and never will be.

So long to you all.

** Points his Spectre east from Uurwerk and heads out into the black. **

Sir, I salute you. */me salutes* You were there nearly from the beginning. You stayed even past when I couldn't bear to see the game the way it was. You're an amazing pilot, a tenacious influence runner, a sane voice in empire politics, a loyal friend (I <3 my "Thorne's" Whiskey Glass), and a master at shootin' down pirates. I'm glad fate, and the love of guns and combat, brought us together. I hope we see each other in games in the future.

To you, Senator Fenriq D'Anger.



THORNE. O that we now had here
But one ten thousand of those men from red controlled skylands
That do no work to-day!

FENRIQ. What's he that wishes so?
My cousin Thorne al'Magnus? No, my fair cousin;
If we are mark'd to die, we are enow
To do our country loss; and if to live,
The fewer men, the greater share of honour.
Magnus' will! I pray, wish not one man more.
By Him, I am not covetous for gsquigs,
Nor care I who doth feed upon my cost;
It yearns me not if men my garments wear;
Such outward things dwell not in my desires.
But if it be a sin to covet honour,
I am the most offending soul alive.
No, faith, my coz, wish not a man from those red skylands.
Magnus' peace! I would not lose so great an honour
As one soldier more methinks would share from me
For the best hope I have. O, do not wish one more!
Rather proclaim it, Thorne al'Magnus, through my host,
That he which hath no stomach to this fight,
Let him depart; his passport shall be made,
And gsquigs for convoy put in his purse;
We would not die in that one's company
That fears his fellowship to die with us.
This day is call'd the day of Unification!
He that outlives this day, and comes safe home,
Will stand a tip-toe when this day is nam'd,
And rouse him at the name of Unification.
He that shall live this day, and see old age,
Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours,
And say 'To-morrow is the day of Unification.'
Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars,
And say 'These wounds I had on Unification's Day.'
Old pilots forget; yet all shall be forgot,
But he'll remember, with advantages,
What feats he did that day. Then shall our names,
Familiar in his mouth as household words-
"Batty" Den Greyshades, Apollo the Grizzled,
and Kamilah bint Marco Fadilah Luna Asad-
Be in their flowing cups freshly rememb'red.
This story shall the good skyrate teach his son;
And Unification Day shall ne'er go by,
From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remembered-
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition;
And gentlemen in the Empire, now-a-bed
Shall think themselves accurs'd they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Unification Day!


Thorne

Thanks, Thorne! I will miss (and have missed) you.

If the Gods will it then we shall battle side by side again together!

And I can admit that it has been hard to stay away from the game. Luckily the real world is keeping me mighty busy in a good way!

Yeah, Fen, you're missing the threatening love letters from Zabrak.

edit: i spel gud