The Editor’s Update

Eniara Sedai, DDS Editor

This issue of DDS is the first one in two months. Because of this, we have worked hard to gather a good amount of new information to post and keep you entertained. Because I have some more time, I would like to expand DDS a bit but I need more volunteers to write stories/articles whatever. If you’re interested, please mail us at DDS@dragonmount.com. I also need more submissions from our readers! I don’t like having to go scraping around to locate fanfic and art when I know that the White Tower is a hotbed of talents. Here’s a place to show off what you can do!

Finally! School is finished and I’m home for the summer. I had to put off doing a new issue for May because of moving. For the next few months I’ll be working and keeping up on my online activities (as much as I can, lol). There’s not much else going on. I may become a little scarce through the month of July because my boyfriend is going to be here from England, but I’ll still be around and intend to get the newsletter out each month. If you’d like to volunteer to help with Daes Dae’mar and the Source then please drop us an e-mail.

The Library Bulletin

Raeyn Sedai, Mistress of the Library

The MoLs really have no idea what is going on with the library (things are confusing around here like that you see) but if you have ideas or would like to volunteer, e-mail Raeyn Sedai at enchantress45@hotmail.com.

The Ajah Report

Taracia Sedai, Director of Ajah Relations

** Our lovely Siofa Sedai has resigned her position as DDS Director of Ajah Relations in April and we’re still sorting out how to keep the column going smoothly with the changes to DM 6. The new Director of Ajah Relations will be DDS Assn’t Editor, Taracia Sedai. She will be resuming this update next edition. **

Dragonmount 6 Discovered

Anonymous Contributor

DM6. The rumors. The speculation. The controversy. In this exclusive inside look, the WT was given unprecedented access to the movers and shakers of the self-styled “Largest Wheel of Time Internet Community”.  We were able to interview many of they key people behind this paradigm shift and never before seen screen shots of the upcoming face-lift for DM.

Dragonmount, the Wheel of Time mega-community means quite a bit to its members. Many consider it to not  a website, but a second home. It’s a place where people can let their hair down, relax, chat, make friendships, and occasionally find true love. Oh yeah, they sometimes talk about “The Wheel of Time” series by best selling author, Robert Jordan. While its fandom that brings them together, its friendship that keeps them there. “I met my wife at DM.” Says Shea Wilkerson, who goes by the online handle of “Mandein”. “We met in a chat room several years ago, and became friends. Things developed from there.”

The site has undergone a lot of upheaval in its four years of operation.  Change is the only constant for its members, the “DMers” as they like to call themselves. However, occasionally there is a change so profound that it is marked by a “Breaking” and the site is given a new version number. The last of these upgrades occurred in the summer of 2000 when the site was given a major facelift. DM4, was released during the fall of 1999 with an overhaul of the database and new role-playing boards, and before that DM3 was released in April of 1999, when the database was implemented and DM started using its own boards, rather than the free service provided by Bravenet. Before that, the numbers get a bit fuzzy. “Really we only started numbering with DM5.”, one DM staffer told us. “Before that, the site would just go down for awhile and then sometimes it would come back with new stuff, and sometimes not. But then Phoenix [Jason Denzel, founder of Dragonmount] got into promotion, and started really hyping everything that happened. ‘Coming soon, to a website near you’ type of thing. Its cute in a pathetic kind of way”

Most people speak positively about the changes. “Its life you know”, says long time DM staff member, Jennifer Shifflett, who goes as “Kathana” online. “’Things fall apart, the center cannot hold’ and all that rot. If it didn’t change periodically I would’ve gotten bored a long, long time ago and left like everyone else. Sure, there’s a couple of things I don’t like about DM6, but those are really very minor compared to everything that I think we’re gaining.” Like what for example?  “Well, like we’re letting Paityr [High Inquisitor of the Children of the Light] stay. I really don’t agree with that at all. He’s a hippy peacenik and god knows what he does in the bathroom everyday with a woodchuck for three hours. Also, I think Jim Blonde and Tenan have been stealing pies from my window sill, and that sort of tom foolery shouldn’t be tolerated. But given the choice between getting rid of them and getting rid of the RP, I’d ditch the RP any day.”

Not everyone has such a positive view of the changes however. A small but vocal minority has expressed dissatisfaction with DM6. They charge that Mr. Denzel has lost touch with what the people of DM really want and that DM6 takes away the reason they joined. One of these dissidents consented to speak to us, only after we promised her total anonymity, as she fears reprisals from DM’s Staff. We know her only as AesSedaiGurl4655 “This is all so stupid, you know? Why can’t they just leave things they way they always have been? I know why, because they are big stupid grown ups and we’re just little teenagers. Gawd, I wish I wasn’t in high school anymore, so people would take me seriously. Nobody listens to you unless you can drive. But yeah, I joined DM because I wanted to RP. I like to write stories and stuff, I even had a poem published in the school newspaper once. Everyone said it was really good. It was about how life is bleak and meaningless and stuff. I just want to be able to RP my 16-year-old Aes Sedai who is super strong in all five powers and was raised by the Aiel in peace. Why does Phoenix have to be such a dork and tell me I can’t?” You are aware that in every single public statement Mr. Denzel has made on this subject, he has reassured everyone that the RP will continue to be a part of DM, and will even be expanded to include more timelines and even the ability for ordinary users to create their own worlds? “Yeah, I heard about that. But Phoenix is, like, old and stuff. He’s married and has a job, so you can’t trust him. Plus, I heard that you had to spend money to get your own PSW. My parents only give me like, twenty bucks a week, and black lipstick is really expensive. I can’t afford to waste my money on DM. Plus, doesn’t he like, only accept dollars? Not everyone uses American money. What if someone from Mexico only has dinero or whatever? Phoenix is like, a racist too, for not accepting dinero and keeping Mexicans from buying premium accounts.”

To answer these charges, we caught up with Mr. Jason Denzel, standing outside a bus station in Pasadena California.  Despite the mega-success of his website, Mr. Denzel remains humble, never forgetting his site’s origins. “We really had nothing back then. No server. No programmers. I did it all myself, using what little HMTL I knew and hosted it on Geocities. No one came. I knew if I wanted to attract even a small following, I had to buy a domain name and rent some server space. That was the first of the mountain of debt.” He mused, panhandling for change from passer-bys. “Really, we’ve been very lucky. The response to DM has been overwhelming. I had no idea we would ever be so huge, or so expensive to maintain. I have no regrets though. How many kidneys does one guy need anyways?”

When asked about the facelift for the site, and the promised new content, his rheumy eyes brightened considerably. “Well as you may have heard, DM6 is getting back to the basics, our core mission, our roots as it were. After a lot of soul-searching and discussion, we’ve decided not to have Rob [Lead Programmer of Dragonmount] do the development of the new site. Instead I’m going to do it all myself again. We’re also moving back to the Yahoo! Geocities family, instead of paying for a real server.” Won’t that lead to a decline in quality, or memberships? “I really don’t think so. I think people will come back to DM for the same reasons they always do, for community, for WoT news, for our unique presence online. Honestly, most of what Rob does is the flashy, smoke and mirrors type stuff. I don’t think people really care about that.  Besides, where else are they going to go? Wotmania?” What about the RP? There’s no mention of it anywhere on the new site. “The RP? Oh, you mean that role-playing, D&D crap.” He flicks his hands dismissively, creating a cloud of dust and blowflies. ”I got news for people, only band geeks play D&D.  I really don’t think people will notice when the new site comes online.” In your official statements on DM6 and the role of the RP, you mention “Portal Stone Worlds” and reassure people that the RP will still exist, just in a different form. Have you changed your mind? “No, I have not. I have always hated the RP with a white hot and fiery passion. I spit on it. Pah! I only allowed one to be created at DM in the first place so that I could denigrate and mock the people who actually like that kind of crap. I’m lying when I tell people there will be RP in DM6. There won’t be suckers.” At this point, he began laughing maniacally. “Fools! All of you!” You’ve promised new features and content when DM6 comes online. “Oh yes, like I said we’re moving back to Yahoo! Geocities, which gives us many unique opportunities. In addition to our partnership with Amazon.com to sell books and with Cafepress to sell t-shirts and other merchandise, you’ll be able to purchase something called ‘the X-10 SpyCam’ by clicking a small pop-up window on the site. There will also be opportunities for online casino gambling and lots of other things. All of these things will be done as pop-ups, all over the site. I’d expect the average DMer to encounter anywhere from fifteen to twenty pop-ups on a given day. That’s fifteen to twenty things that DM couldn’t offer before. This is a really exciting development for all of us, and I think it can only enhance the DM experience.”

What about the DM6 Bargain? Why ask people to pay five hundred dollars for just the static content, when it’s the boards they want most of all? What will the money be used for, if volunteers are doing all the work?  “Well,  I think of it this way. You can spend five to ten dollars on a paperback book right? And three times as much on a hard cover. Think of how much entertainment that book gives you. You can read it for years, until it falls apart. That’s worth a few bucks right? Well, DM is the same. It offers unlimited, and ever changing entertainment. It allows you to interact with fans all over the globe, to share ideas, to collaborate on projects.  I think that’s worth a few bucks every now and then. Of course the basics of DM will always be free and people who donate won’t receive any special privileges.” He coughs into a filthy handkerchief at this point.  “This is just me asking you to give back to the community.” What about those who buy Premium Accounts? “Oh yeah. Those guys will get some priveledges. They’ll get personal icons, and be able to create their own boards and stuff. Plus, they automatically get mod rights in the chats and I won’t spit on them if they RP. But that’s nothing out of the ordinary. ” But what is the money for? “Well, obviously DM has racked up quite its share of debt in the past four years.  We have a few bills to pay off. The first thing, I’d with it though, is get a room at the Super 8 across the street and have myself a real shower.  Then I’m going to call Jennifer [His wife of ten months] and beg her to take me back. I’m a changed man. No more camping in Star Wars movie lines so I lose my job, or selling our car so I can buy DM new hardware. That’s all over now.”

At this time, Mr. Denzel asked us to stop interviewing him as our presence was “cramping his style.” We thanked him for an enlightening look into his world as the fandom’s largest webmaster, and pressed a crumbled five-dollar bill into his hands.

Later that week, we called Rob Colbert at his home in suburban Chicago. Mr. Colbert was gracious during the interview and extremely forthright. “You said WHO was in charge of DM? No way. Nuh-uh. I’m the head cheese in these parts. I built it and I sacrificed for it. Its mine.” And Mr. Denzel? “One of my most trusted advisors. Or he  WAS until he did his little freak show out in Cali and started claiming the site was his. Oh sure, he had some ideas in the beginning, it might’ve been his idea in the first place. But who was it who took those garbled, incoherent notes and turned them into the standard for WoT websites? Me. That’s who. Not some nut job out west who’s own wife won’t return his calls. He’ll be lucky if Safeway hires him to mop their floors now.  What about his attempt to rebuild DM on his own? “ Heh. That’ll be the day. The boy can hardly type, much less write DHMTL.  Any website he does himself will be a joke. And you can quote me on that.“

When will the site be up? “When I pry it out of Jason’s cold dead fingers, that’s when. Mark my words, no progress can be made on DM until he has been eliminated. If you see that punk, you tell him that Robby’s looking for him.”

At this point, Mr. Colbert was called away to attend a gun show in Illinois, so we bid him adieu.

Next month, we’ll continue our exploration of DM6, by discussing the Community/RP split and what it means to the average DMer.

Identify the Aes Sedai

Eniara Sedai, DDS Editor

My humblest apologies for this, but I do not have a new mystery Sedai for this issue of Daes Dae’mar and the Source. I have been very busy and did not have the time to interview a Sister. However, be on the lookout for a brand new mystery coming next edition! Even after having our previous mystery Sedai up for three months, no on guessed who she was. Three cheers for Swaniana Sedai for completely stumping our readers!

Meet the Newbies

Eilonwy Sedai, Sister of the White Ajah

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!(!) It’s time for the NEWEST EDITION OF MEET THE NEWBIES! Woooo! I hope you’re excited as I am. You are, aren’t you? Yes. I knew it! So very very excited! **hops around madly** Wheeee! So, today I’m gunna introduce to you the lovely TELACIA of the WHITE TOWER!! YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!! **cough** So, what’s your fav color girly?

T: “Well, my favorite color is forest green… or maybe blue… sometimes its black but I really have to be in the right mood for that. In short color is good.”

Green’s my fave color too! Green, blue, pink and black. Yep yep. Yep. How old are you?

T: “In real life I’m 23 but soon I’ll be 23 again. I never remember how old I really am. In all honesty a cop asked me once and I swear I couldn’t remember for the life of me… nothing at all to do with wanting to be young for vainity sake, just old age catching up with me I guess. Telcia Nalemar, my character, is close to being raised to accepted. When she’s raised she’ll be 27 years old.”

Errg! How come everyone is older than me!

T: “How old are you?”

I’m fifteen …

T: “Fifteen is a wonderful age!”

Uhh, sure. This article isn’t about me so we’ll stop that now **g** AHHHH! There is a spider on my computer! Ergh! Spider on monitor! Spider on monitor! **screech** [insert Eilonwy's computer rebooting for no reason here] Ack **dusts off cloak and straightens hat** that was odd. **blinks rapidly** Anyway, which ajah are you aspiring too, which on are you closest to IRL?

T: “In real life I’m a blue. Anyone will tell you that I’m crazy about taking up a cause and becoming over zealous about it. Sometimes it’s a good thing, like when it helps out animals or children or something like that but other times it gets in the way. I’ve found too much passion can really hurt people. I sorta relate to the character Moiraine that way. People were really put off by her dedication to keep the dragon out of the dark one’s hands. She would do anything to make sure she reached her goal and sometimes again thing means just that… no matter who gets hurt. Its never good when passions get in the way of the things that matter. Blue is a hard road but its where I fit best.”

My my, what a lovely speech. May I suggest White though? Whiiiiite **chants** White, White, White! Okay, I’m done. Whatcha like doing around the tower? Favourite thing?

T: “Easy! Its either to throw blueberry muffins at the trollocs and berate their cooking or take all the goofy tests and read other’s results that get posted.” BEWHEHEHE! **high five** Who is your mentor, that slick person who provides minty-freshness?

T: “I don’t have a community mentor really. ::pouts:: I’ve kinda been learning the ropes on my own. But on the plus side I think I’m doing better now. However I welcome more friends. ::hint hint!::”

Awwwww *hugglies* we must make Julsiekinns give you one, because its always fun to have a mentor!

T: “::jumps up and down with joy:: OH A MENTOR! That would be groovy!”

It would indeedly! I *puts hand over heart* will gladly take you in ’til you get one.

T: “Oh thank you dear. ::hugs:: You’re the best! Here have a cookie!”

**blushes** Well, I wouldn’t go that far – OooOoooOo! Cookie!

T: “Soft and chewy fresh from the oven even!”

Dude! Thanks! So, on the topic of food, what do you like to eat best?

T: “Manicotti, I make the world’s best if I do say so myself! Which, of course, I do. ::toot toot:: That’s my own horn in case you didn’t know. ::wink::”

Aww … wish I had a horn. What’s your favourite Wheel of Time book/any other book?

T: “I’ll name three. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. The Pendragon Cycle (actually a series) by Stephen R. Lawhead and of the Wheel of Time series my favorite has to be Eye of the World.”

Isn’t she great? Anyway, after a series of interesting farewells, we closed the IM window and rounded up this edition of Meet the Newbies. Hope you enjoyed! **hugglies**

-Eila

Manetheren

Wil Ohmsford

The bite of our swords
Marked our enemies high
People of the world praise our valor
We are the flame of Manetheren

Mountain home, river’s blood
Trolloc steel fell beneath our might
Our swords, our hearts, would never break
We are the Eagle of Manetheren

Warrior King, Beautiful Queen
Aemon the Valiant and Eldrene
The Shadow quails at the sound of our march
We are the blood of Manetheren

Marching to the call
Of the Mountain Home
All day, all night without cease
We are the hope of Manetheren

With our backs to the water
We faced that army so black
With the Heart of Dark at it’s fore
We are the love of Manetheren

Through battle grim
The Eagle flew
A week we stood against the dark tide, and more
We are the sword of Manetheren

Hope nearly gone
We flew to Aemon’s Field
To do final battle
We are the might of Manetheren

Day dawned, showing that evil mass
And we walked through the valley of death
Blood flew, men and beast died alike, til day’s end
We are the price of Manetheren

Eldrene, driven by grief and love
Did smite the Shadow horde
Destroying the ghastly army and the beautiful city of the Mountain
We are the people of Manetheren

A thorn to the Dark One’s foot
A bramble to his side
The sword that could not be broken
We are Manetheren