MacTavish Hearth

Keep the home fires burning...

2009-06-27T09:42:00.001+09:30

It had grown excessively quiet in the back room. The flames had died down to a flickering glow in the hearth. Part of this could be explained by the fact that so many of the clan were busy doing things in their town, county, profession, trade, nation, army, university, church and so on and so forth. But still, it was too quiet in here.

Drac throws another log on the fire, watches the flame slowly spread again.

Another MacTavish Steward!

2009-04-05T07:48:00.004+09:30

Hebrin MacTavish has been elected the next Steward of Scotland.

Hebrin is the second MacTavish Steward, following my recent occupation of the position (I stepped down at the natural conclusion of my term). He came in the same way I did, a result of a last minute switcheroo to get him into the Assembly (thanks Barseback for stepping aside for this purpose). The final vote of the Assembly was a very clear majority for Hebrin over the competition (Jefferson Davis Forbes, again).

Asbgas MacTavish has taken the Assembly seat vacated by Hebrin upon his election.

Congratulations Hebrin!

Why I am in Retreat and Other Mysteries

2009-03-16T07:20:00.002+10:30

Hello, family!

LadyRobin here, stealing a little space to let you know that even though I'm currently bouncing between 5 minute player and retreat, I'm not going anywhere! I've been swamped with Real Life (school, cancer treatment, illness of parents, etc.) and needed to step back for a bit.

Hopefully, if all goes well, I'll be back in the saddle full time by April. They've changed my chemo and so we are waiting to see how this one works. I have the second round of the latest, mean chemo this Friday, and the first round kicked my butt!

IG, I am on a trip with young Raibeart, hiding from his evil relatives as they come looking to take him away from me. Rage is holding down the fort while we're gone, but I promise we'll be back!

I hope this finds you all well and looking forward to spring/April (not sure if that's spring in Australia, truthfully!)

Your erstwhile relative,
LadyRobin

Steward MacTavish of Scotland

2009-02-20T18:37:00.003+10:30

I woke up one morning and found myself Steward of Scotland, a most peculiar experience indeed! It came about as follows.

I was asked by a number of members of the National Assembly to consider taking up one of our Clan's two representative positions within the Assembly so that they could nominate me to become Steward at the end of Korna Fraser's second term. Although I wasn't keen to politik my way to the job, i realised that other people were already doing it. As I tended to trust the people who approached me and we had a vacancy anyway, I put myself forward. In the subsequent poll for Steward, Pebm McKenzie was elected with a majority of one vote over myself. I breathed a sigh of relief.

A short while passed, and then Pebm McKenzie migrated to Ireland upon the formation of the new colony there. Scotland was again without a Steward. This was disappointing and a disconcerting. The Assembly immediately set about chosing a new Steward. I was nominated by one of those who had earlier approached me. There wasn't much opposition. I was elected Steward.

Really really weird, to achieve such an honoured position without saying a word or doing anything but say 'yes'. There must be something right with our system of government that allows one to achieve this without having to argue and stab one's way to the top.

Of course, staying there is another issue ...

Map of the World

2009-01-31T19:43:00.002+10:30

For interest's sake, I hijacked this from an unattributed source on the official forums. Click on the image to see it fullsize.

Happy Hogmonay - 1457

2009-01-01T00:18:00.002+10:30

May your road rise with you!

Brief note re Clan Armies

2008-12-27T09:48:00.004+10:30

There are a number of Clan armies floating around Galloway these days, Forbes and Campbell. Both were last seen in Dumfries area. I believe that the Gunn's formed an ingame army a while back also, somewhere up near Stirling (it disbanded). Other clans are feeling slightly nervous, as the Campbells at least are spouting many threatening words against peace and good order in pursuit of their own agenda.

Under direction of the Steward, the Royal Scottish Army engaged the Campbells in what turned out to be a skirmish at Dumfries. Sadly, the Forbes got in the way and took most of the damage, allowing the Campbells to scurry behind Dumfries town walls before the RSA could hit them again (oh, so brave, those Campbells). Faced with the probability that many innocents would die if the town was stormed, the RSA leadership pulled back and granted a yuletide truce. Of course, the noisier of the Campbells saw this as a sign of weakness, which makes one wonder about what they would have done in the same position...

For awhile, the Campbells were shouting out about MacTavish, Wallace and Fraser - somehow believeing that we were the main force behind the RSA. Ha. I disabused them of that notion as well I could, but took note that they are looking for scapegoats for their own foolish behaviours.

For now, we aren't up to forming a clan army on our own. We are getting closer. Wallace, at least, is in a similar boat to us.

Not all Campbells are part of these troubles, by the way. I feel for those that don't agree with what their egomaniac leadership is doing.

At time of writing a yuletide truce is in place. Come the new year, interesting times indeed....

Response to Sajanzv's Accusations

2008-11-25T09:45:00.001+10:30

Since Sajanzv has
chosen to make this issue a very public one, I will try to address as
much of it as I can for everyone's benefit. I also want to quote a
couple of applicable forum rules here for the public's information
and ask that we all abide by them:

Quote:

3. A. Thou shalt not flame,harass, demean,
insult or slander your fellow players in public or private view.

Flaming is defined as: posting ANY material that is
deliberately hostile,insulting, inflammatory, vulgar and or
socially charged which is being done for the sole purpose to
incite anger and/or debase another's character- the only
exception to the flaming rule is in character role play as long
as it is not excessive and reaches the level of harassment.

Accusations of inflammatory content will be weighed on
the basis of both content and any established history between the
posters to determine intent.

This applies to abusive,
obscene and or hateful Private messages as well as the forums

Any post or Signature that contains current politics,
phrases, and/or terminology such as Internet, AIM, computer,
America,Canada etc will be classified as OOC and ANY such OOC
flaming will be removed for content.

13. The usage of
outside messaging services such as MSN or AIM are optional for
Players of the RK and may not be REQUIRED as means of
communication to hold any position of the Kingdom either ingame
or forum related. Thou shalt not post ANY IM conversations quoted
or paraphrased that include ANY REAL LIFE information. Any game
related conversations that are posted into the RK forum are
subject to the forum laws and will be edited or removed for any
violations of forum laws contained therein.

Sajanzv wrote:

I just want to inform the people of Glasgow
that I have had enough of all the namecalling, the destruction of
intellectual property, and incompetence leading to leakage of
information by some people in RK, and therefore I am resigning as
Duke of Glasgow.

For the last two days, I have been
staring at a MSN status message whenever I log into MSN :

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i287/sajanzv/gdad.jpg

What Sajan
neglected to mention is why this message has been staring at him. I
believe this one can be best responded to by the Goblin family, but I
can assure you that this response on Goblindad's part was not
unprovoked. Any decent husband would have risen to his wife's defense
as a result of the RL personal nature of Sajan's attacks upon
Goblinmami.

Sajanzv wrote:

Next, I am tired of all the hypocrisy. Some of
you may know there is a site that Erin_of_the_lake once started
for the RSA Glasgow when the new version of the RK forums came
into place.

http://rsaglasgowregiment.makeforumfree.com

On November 17th and 18th, Bevin thrashed my name and
accused me of quite a few things, and yet on November 16th, Bevin
was busy deleting threads in that forum, apparently on
Goblinmami's orders.

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i287/sajanzv/Deletions1.jpg

When Sajanzv
resigned from the RSA, he forfeited all rights to that organization's
private forums, onsite and offsite. Because we trusted him, it never
occurred to the offsite administrators to completely remove his
access right away. We were unaware that Sajan was still accessing the
information in that forum until he accessed personal, confidential
information pertaining to our soldiers and began an email campaign to
their private email addresses. Out of concern regarding the illegal
use of this information, a joint decision was made between the
general and the two band leaders who still had mod rights to that
forum. All personal data was cleared and deleted. All other
information was copied and removed from the site. No documents were
destroyed. Yesterday, I received an email sent by Sajan to my
personal email account, not IG. This email was sent to a usergroup
that did not define the addresses in the mail I received. This is a
copy of the mail sent to my soldiers:

Quote:

Vandalism on the site‏
From: sajanzv
(sajanzv@gmail.com)

You may not know this sender.Mark as
safe|Mark as unsafe

Sent: Sun 11/23/08 12:16 AM
To:
ardencapleshields@hotmail.fr

The following message is an
email sent to you by an administrator of "RSA's Glasgow
Regiment". If this message is spam, contains abusive or
other comments you find offensive please contact the webmaster of
the board at the following address:

ardencapleshields@hotmail.fr

Include this full email (especially the headers).

Message sent to you follows:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So everyone may please
note,

This site was started by the RL person behind
Erin_of_the_lake because of the massive RK forum problems. During
my time in the RSA, I was made an admin on the site. I never
deleted or edited anyone's posts or deleted anyone's access
without informing them. I left the RSA over 2 months ago, and
this site was not used much by the RSA since then.

Along
with Erin, I had compiled and posted a lot of guides for soldiers
and armies, along with intel reports regarding criminal
organizations and other issues.

On November 16th, my
account was deleted from this site by Argorian. When I asked him
about it today, he said he was only following orders to remove my
account because I no longer was in the RSA. This despite there
are plenty of people who have access to this site who are no
longer in the RSA.

I contacted the RL person behind Erin,
and she checked and confirmed that only my account was deleted.
Not only that, but a lot of threads were deleted by Goblinmami
and Bevin on November 16th.

The RL person behind Erin
reinstated me and removed Argorian's rights as admin. After that,
Goblinmami ordered the deletion of the entire forum and this was
carried out by Argorian. All that hard work that Erin and I had
put into making guides and what not were entirely deleted.

Such
sheer vandalism all because they do not like a person is
unbecoming of people. Therefore, this site is no longer available
to the RSA. Considering the fact that the RSA leaders destroyed a
lot of important work, they are getting off lightly.

Sajan

If you need any further information, please contact me
ingame or via MSN.

Since there was
no way to know for certain which soldiers received this email, we
sent the following response to all Glasgow RSA members:

Quote:

To Glasgow Regiment,

You all may have
received a mail recently telling you about the offsite regiment.
This post is to make all the soldiers aware this situation and to
be able to have the facts of what occured.

The mail that
was sent to you all states that the General and the Captain of
the Regiment destroyed files and information from the off site
forum. Let me make it clear that the information that was deleted
by myself was the Stats of the Soldiers. The security of this
information, the infomation you all trusted to us was of
importance. We felt that we could not leave it on a forum that we
as your General and Captain had no administration rights to. No
vandalism occurred. No files have been destroyed. All pertinent
information contained within the offsite forum has been saved.

While the offsite forum was a great site, and very useful
when the forums were inaccessible to so many in the RSA, it is no
longer needed. People were being required to check both the
offsite forum and the RK forum, and were being asked to post in
both. This was both time consuming to the Soldiers of our
regiment. I as General made every effort to insure that all RSA
soldiers have access to the RK forums.

The message sent
to you made assumptions and the person that sent it made no
attempt, that I am aware of, to get any confirmation prior to
sending out this email. I know that I was never asked. Any
questions about this or anything else pertaining to the RSA may
be directed to myself or your band leader.

Again, let me
reiterate that NO FILES were completely DESTROYED as ascerted in
this email. Copies were made and stored. The offsite forum was
stripped of the information because people who no longer had a
right nor a legitimate reason to access personal information
about you, the soldiers of the RSA, were continuing to access and
using this information. The decision was made as a security
measure, not because someone was disliked.

Sajanzv wrote:

Goblinmami then got Argorian to delete my
account from that site.

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i287/sajanzv/Accountdeleted.jpg

When I asked him why, he said it is because I am no
longer in the RSA. Yet I had left the RSA over 2 months ago, the
site has not been used in quite a while by the RSA, and I am not
the only non-RSA person who has access there. My account was the
only one deleted.

So I mailed the RL person behind
Erin_of_the_lake asking about it. She confirmed mine was the only
account deleted. She also confirmed the post deletions. I got her
to accept me back as a member and took the screenshots.

And
Goblinmami, Bevin and Argorian responded by wiping out the entire
site, all the threads and posts. Some sample screenshots are :

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i287/sajanzv/Deletions2.jpg

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i287/sajanzv/Deletions3.jpg

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i287/sajanzv/Deletions4.jpg

A lot of the guides both Erin and I had made, a lot of
the intel reports that Charles, Erin and I had made were all
deleted. None of it was RSA material or property, and they had no
right to delete any of it.

If this had happened on a RK
forum, they would have been banned by the admins.

Most of this has
been addressed already. Erin, although the creator of the site, was
no longer a member of the RSA by virtue of her IG death. Therefore,
she had no legal right as a member of the RSA to do any of the things
that Sajan requested of her. The guides are not lost. The intel
reports are not lost. Any material submitted to the RSA becomes the
property of the RSA, just as in RL.

Sajanzv wrote:

I do not spend so much time on RK helping
people, making guides, and what not only to have people call me
names, destroy my work, and tamper with accounts and forums.

Sajanzv has in the
past been a tremendous help and mentor to new players. His wealth of
information and knowledge about the game has been invaluable to many
of us and we will be forever grateful to him for that. Nothing has
been destroyed. The forum still exists. There simply is no
information in it. Had he not abused his access privileges, we would
have never been forced to take action.

As to the rest of his
accusations, he is certainly entitled to his opinions. I personally
do not wish to fight with him or those who support him. I've had
enough of being wrongly accused and having my own name smeared and my
own reputation drug through the mud by the Duke. The only reason I am
responding at all to this post is to clarify the many questions being
addressed to me by my soldiers and my friends about the issues he has
raised. One question in particular has been asked and that is why is
he doing this, and why are the soldiers being drug into the middle of
what seems to be a personal issue. I'm not sure I can answer that, as
the general and other officers have tried to shield our soldiers from
the worst of his attacks. I apologize to any and all of you who feel
that you have been used or abused by this process. It should have
ended long ago.

Come One, Come All - to the Glen at the Weald

2008-11-24T13:12:00.001+10:30

View from the Chief's table

2008-10-19T08:46:00.002+10:30

Actually, at time of writing it's a 'view from a node somwhere in glasgow' as I am stuck on a node with about 8 other people as we work out what we're doing. Am learning more and more about travel on this trip, not being a leader and all it has been quite interesting.

RK Scotland seems to have recovered from the forum earthquakes though you still hear the occasional whinge about it. There are still problems in the RSA organising access to appropriate subforums (mainly due to constant changes in the officer ranks rather than the forums per se) so the Regiments have their own offsite forums ticking over.

Speaking of the RSA, MacTavishes are the band leaders of the two largest bands in the three counties - Lanark and Whithorn (Bevin and Hebrin MacTavish, respectively). Rage was a General in Galloway during one of the recent emergencies, also a Captain I believe. I am still on High Command as a Councillor. Rage and Luci are level 3 army way, I believe Aelin is also but we don't hear much from him these days. We do need to keep gaining experience in the military as much as possible so that when we need to form a clan army (not if, but when) we know what we are doing. So keep eating that meat!

In the National Assembly there are lots of words being exchanged between rep's in the public chambers about reforming the institution. All the options I've seen would reduce the power of the clans so I'm not keen on any of them. We'll see how that evolves. In the Council of Clan Chiefs (of which I'm a member) the general feel is that the clans will agree to disagree with any of these regressive changes. If we all hold true to that, should be safe.

Our clan remains fairly stable on 58 living members. Without an influx of new blood, our age profile is aging. Many of us are now level 2, more and more of us are close to level 3. Our clan subforum keeps ticking over fairly regularly, most of us who are active on the forums visit their regularly.

All in all, things are going good for MacTavish. I think we will need to do something big as a clan in the next few months to pull us all together again though, unless the various possibilities for national chaos comes to fruition (eg clan war between macgregor and forbes in galloway, NA strips clan rights away, England border closure turns into active hostilities, rebel army forms).

There's No Place Like Home

2008-09-17T01:08:00.002+09:30

I do have to say that I heartily thank those of you that encouraged me to travel. If I hadn't I never would have realized how little heart I have for traveling, and how much I love my hometown of Whithorn.

Officially, I have told Bricksand that i will not be moving to Girvan, despite JO's standing down (he begged me for another chance) because I cannot and will not support someone who was AGAINST my family and friends - all the people I love.

Those of you who love to travel - Jah bless you. Watch for MY next adventures coming from a Whithorn weaver's shop or front porch near you...

Love,
LadyRobin

Current events - outbreak of civil war?

2008-09-13T11:37:00.002+09:30

I'll do my best to summarise present situation as I see it.

Julius Campbell has kicked off what looks like becoming a civil war by making a grab for power in forums and ingame. To do this he has assumed that those who support the idea of a monarchy or a regency will go along with him. I think he is finding out that those of us who are royalists hate dictatorship as much as the best of the republicans. As a result, he is aligning with and recruiting outlaws and bandits into the army which he had the control of due his captaincy of the galloway regiment. No doubt, he is using his charm to bring in ignorant RSA members to fight for him, and those of his clan who would put their name above the good of the land.

Ragehammer has been made interim general for galloway regiment, which is the forum equivalent of the ingame captain (I guess). He is marshalling troops but things are a bit of a mess so he has his work cut out. The folk of dumfries and kirk will be on their own until the legitimate army under Rage can come to their rescue.

Just to make things interesting, there are intelligence reports of an english army lurking just south of the border.

In the Northern Counties, Ayr and Glasgow are rallying their armies. By the time they are strong enough to crush the rebels (and crush them they will) the first battles of dumfries and kirk will likely have occurred. I'm not sure about Clan Forbes, or whether their clan army is able to be of use in this situation or not.

So, you picked a nice time to look at the countryside Robin!

Scottish Style

2008-09-06T20:15:00.004+09:30

Another quick review of events around the Kingdom.

Our clan numbers seem to have stabilised (60), albeit with a few of us having gone into retreat around the time of the recent forum changes. As our age profiles develop it might be an idea to again start scouting the young ones we meet to see if they might be MacTavish. Particularly to hear from her place of retreat that Ladyrobin indeed still watches over us.

MacTavishes fought in both RSA regiments in the recent Battle of Muirkirk. Various of us were individually successful on the battlefield. Of particular note, Gryphon MacTavish joined up just for the fight and then managed to get a fatal wound in on Tosher MacGregor, the rebel leader. Well done! Cheatley MacTavish was associated with some of the rebels before the battle, recently was the latest of a long line of successful rebels in Wigtown, Galloway. He isn't welcome in our hall anymore, and would be wise to avoid meeting up with certain of his cousins if swords are in play. I think we all agreed that even good families like ours have our black sheep. Hmmm.

Asbgas and Destrata, our newest Assembly representatives, are posting and voting. They're also giving us 'nutshell' guides to the issues being debated (freedom of information and clan armies, by the sounds of it). Thanks guys. I should also again here mention Lucifera who certainly kept the buggers honest during the closing stages of her assembly membership. Thanks heaps Luci.

Nationally, debates continue about the form of government. There are glimmers of common ground being found amongst the factions. But it seems to me that there are a lot of potential fracture lines. I truly hope that common sense prevails.

Here's to "Lots of quiet days in the renaissance! Scottish style!"

Raises glass

Locating our Forum

2008-08-24T07:44:00.004+09:30

Things have been crazy with the new forum set up. It will take a while to settle down there. I am hoping people give it a go before throwing hands up in the air.

We now access the forum through the game, and everyone's forum account is now linked to their game player account. New players will have an account automatically made for them. Us old characters must link our old accounts to the new system.

Click on 'forum' in bottom left of game screen. This will lead you to a screen with three major choices, beneath a 'box' which has to do with 'NPC's (Non Player Character).

To 'activate' your old forum account, click on the THIRD option. It will then ask you five simple questions to link your game character to your forum account. You should only have to do this once. Once you've activated your account you should be able to access forums.

If you click the FIRST option on the 'forum' screen from which you chose to activate your account you will be taken to a small forum board which contains those public forums to which you have access. In theory this will be Highlands Hall, your County Inn and your Town forums (plus FAQ and a few others). Please note, our forum is NOT under 'The Gathering of the Clans' in this forum.

If you click on the SECOND (French) option on the 'forum' screen from which you chose to activate account you will be taken to the much larger 'second' forum board, containing all the private subforums. You will only have access, of course, to some of these. Our clan forum is about half way down the (huge and chaotic) list of private forums. Still in the 'Kingdom of Scotland' section (about a dozen entries down).

NB among the various 'glitches' are the following:
- your avi has dissappeared, will be back later
- you will have to set up your 'profile' again for your account, adding back your banner/sig
- the 'second' forum is a strange blue colour, change it back if you want (through profile)
- the link between your character and your town isn't always correct if you are travelling. This is a big bug I think they will try and fix very quickly.

There are lots of things to complain about the new system. I'm not trying to stop you, but please be careful on the forums to complain if you must about the changes, rather than admin.

The dogs of war

2008-08-22T07:47:00.002+09:30

If you hadn't noticed, there's a few armies kicking around Scotland at the moment. I believe they include Forbes (Clan army in Drummore, Galloway), 1st Galloway Regiment (Royal Scottish Army), 'Fury' (rogue army led by Tosher MacGregor, last heard of in Ayr City) and I hear rumours of the Glasgow Regiment (Royal Scottish Army) forming in Glasgow somewhere and Ayr Regiment (Royal Scottish Army) forming in Ayr. On top of this, an english army either in or heading to Cumberland.

Forbes army, not doing much except flexing muscle in Drummore area.
1st Galloway Regt, mustering and about to march.
Fury, recruiting in Ayr City before continuing to head South.
English army, stepping up provocative verbal threats at Captain of Galloway Regt.

Tosher army formed in Ardencaple. Gathered many thieves and rebels to its ranks. While it recruited the town was on alert and therefore lost a week's production. Glasgow Regt said it would deal with it. Galloway raised its Regiment in case Glasgow didn't. Ayr scrambled to raise its Regiment but a little hamstrung through lack of high level characters.

Tosher marched south, declaring it only wanted to get to England. English threaten scotland, saying this would be cause for war if we let Tosher through. Glasgow Regiment not formed and so Tosher gets his army out of Glasgow county. Rumours of deals being done behind this. Ayr military beg Galloway to come and help it. Ayr politicos threaten Galloway to stay out. Galloway continues to muster therefore. English start stepping up the threats.

In the Galloway Regiment at the moment the soldiers are pretty pissed that it looks like we will have to fight (and some of us will die) do defend england from invasion by scots. Those who have so far done nothing to stop Tosher's march threaten Galloway with anathema if we let Tosher through as they don't want a war with england. Ayr on high alert, Glasgow marshalling.

That's the present situation. If I had to I'd put money on it I'd say it will come down to Tosher either making a move on an Ayr town and us having to seige him out, or a battle on a node in Galloway as he makes a run for the border. Whether the english then invade will probably largely rely on how large our losses are in the fight to defend their property.

Confused? Aye. Do I sound cynical? Aye.

And all of this on top of instability in our national government (see post below).

Interesting times indeed.

Days of wine and ....

2008-08-22T06:11:00.004+09:30

Rage MacTavish recently started a petition to retire the present membership of the National Assembly. This has caused some fairly major dispute across the land, including within our own clan hall. At time of writing this, there were about 60 odd signatures on the petition (it requires 100 signatures to have its effect). At this exact moment, of course, the forums are not working (as they are being reorganised). Lucky Assembly.

There are quite a few MacTavish signatures on the petition. The other obvious group which has signed en masse is composed of members of Tosher's rogue army (see post above this one). Highly ironic chuckles. It's interesting to also note that a lot who signed this petition also had their name on the petition which sacked the Regent in the days immediately preceding the first gathering of the Assembly.

The petition itself is on Highlands Hall thread, along with a discussion on it in a separate thread. There is another discussion on it in 'Holyrood House' forum, in the public area of the National Assembly subforum. I haven't signed it yet, not sure if I will. I don't wish to stop others making up their own minds, and certainly won't hold your decision against you if you do or don't sign.

The petition is the only constitutional means by which the people of Scotland can discipline an Assembly with which they are unhappy. And a lot of people have been unhappy with the Assembly of late....

The grim reaper

2008-08-13T05:43:00.003+09:30

We've taken a bit of a hit in terms of our numbers, back down to less than 60. Four of the recent five departures were because of death (Firesage, Pasqualina, Natura and Sweetmeg), one due to permanent retreat (Wognot). Pas had language difficulties, Natura was noob, not sure about Firesage and Sweetmeg (both from drummore), Wognot's work took him away.

Oh well.

Letter to Dewey - Mayor of Ardencaple

2008-07-12T10:20:00.002+09:30

Ardencaple is at the north west limit of present day Scotland, two days travel from the larger towns of Glasgow and Ayr. Arden is a fishing village, Scotland's smallest (not counting Ayr City). I have written to the mayor of Ardencaple, warning him of the impending visit by a number of MacTavish tour groups during our tour of Glasgow County.

Greetings Dewey,

I don't know if you have yet heard from your fastness at the head of the Loch, but a bunch of MacTavishes are about to land in your town. At reset, should be half a dozen of us, with a friend who is with us by the name of Jurl. On the morrow I am expecting probably this many again to be arriving. We intend departing the day following that. I think Lucifera and Stri will be putting us up for the night.

I think most of us have brought our own food so shouldn't cause you too many problems there. Some of our younger kin will probably seek out some day labour. The older amongst us plan on a day of fishing so we can soak our tired feet in the waters.

On a personal note, I must say that I have long been looking forward to casting my line out from your shores. So much so that we have come here ahead of Stirling in our travels.

Cheers,

Chief Dracmuller MacTavish of Whithorn

Since I sent the letter, he has already replied and said we are welcome to buy and work as we chose, and to enjoy the hospitality of the town.

Travel Advice

2008-07-08T07:53:00.001+09:30

I've sent the following to the two other mob leaders who will lead us out of Girvan...

I received the following from Whithorn Band about settings for 'move options' for leaders of mobs (on the travel screen)

"In these times of robbers frequently attacking, We should be setting to:
- Travel Always
- Fight Always
- I will not hesitate to kill my opponent. No longer :I Try To Spare My Opponent's Life

"The kill setting will boost the patrols FC and will not really kill anyone, unless they have already been in a fight and lost recently."

I've set to 'kill', assume you have too.

The thieves are in Girvan. If we can get a headstart on them to Ayr they shouldn't be bothering us. They think we are in Girvan for a few days more so if we meet them it's just bad luck.

We now have three groups with twelve people in them. Stoink might try and join a group at the last moment, otherwise he has said he'll travel on his own (I've mailed him about this bad habit he is developing). Jazstar is working and being picked up by Tuski soon. Malons will head back to wiggie some time soon.

We should be traveling for a few days now ... Ayr, Muirkirk, Lanark, Glasgow, Ardencaple. IF you let your mob know that you are hitting 'travel' each day, it's up them to hit 'follow the leader' or get left behind.

See you in Ayr.

Drac

Peacekeeping in Kirk

2008-06-27T00:12:00.002+09:30

Just to show how RK can take off from under your feet, I somehow ended up leading a group of Whithorn Rangers to Kirk. Here we are, a bunch of farmer militia from over the hills, patrolling the strange streets of Kirk and trying to keep the locals from tearing each other apart as they get over the shock of having their town hall overrun by thieves and subsequently trashed and looted. Not a pretty sight.

And while all that's happening outside, I'm aiding negotiations between the factions inside. Talk about a strange situation.

And to think it all started out as a regular monthly two day patrol to nearby Wigtown.

On Travelling Freely

2008-06-23T20:30:00.001+09:30

At present a handful of thieves are gaining far more prominence than their deeds warrant. They do this because the RSA in its peacetime persona is effectively unable to 'take out' the robber bands because to do so would cause a lot of injury and death amongst innocent travelers caught in the crossfire. Luckily, the thieves are themselves ineffective against well organised groups of travellers (armed mobs of sufficient strength and weaponry to fight off any high level brigand).

The ideal prey of the robber is a lone level 1 with their lifesavings in their backpack, setting out to start a new life. Or a small bunch of disorganised low level revellers going on a county wide pub-crawl.

I would hate for a bunch of MacTavishes heading to a clan gathering to be mistaken for a garden variety pub-crawler by these thieves. Besides our good cheer, we should also maintain our reputation for toughness. Do that by travelling in armed mobs and retinues, armed with shafts (swords and shields are no good for 'peacetime' combats against robbers). Communicate, don't be afraid to ask other relatives in your town or county if they can lend a hand.

I'd like to know that all the Dry's and Prut's and other assorted thieves will keep their distance when they hear a bunch of MacTavishes marching by!

Copied from our clan's forum

Letter to a Campbell

2008-06-19T14:20:00.003+09:30

The (in)famous JuliusOctavius has recently assumed leadership of the Scottish branch of the Campbells. I have been having a brief friendly exchange with him. He asked me about where we stand on 'official alliances' between clans etc. I thought my response might be interesting to those of you who care about such things. So here it is...

Julius Octavius Campbell, greetings from Whithorn on the sea!

I find that a good daily workout, smashing steel in my forge, helps me appear level headed when I emerge in public. Whatever works...

As to Clan business, I have been approached by various clan leaders over time seeking these 'official' alliances of which you speak. I say to you what I have previously said to them,

I do not presently abide by the concept of 'official' clan alliances, at least in regards to ourselves. We regard all clans as our blood allies, even when that blood is running hot.

I place great regard in the clan 'system', though I recognise it as being potentially Scotland's weakest point as well as its strongest asset. When contesting matters of honour I always try and also keep in mind this point. But, if a clan breaks with us, I am sure our emnity will be as pronounced as our friendship. I hope it never comes to that.

There is much work that can be done to strengthen links between the clans. We, for example, will soon be congregating in Ayr for a Shindig with your relatives. By partying with them we build a link to you guys.

I see two things as majorly strategically important for the mid to long term future of clans ... how the concept of organised clan militias translates into practice, and how strongly we continue to stamp Scotland's clannish nature upon our national and county institutions and cultures.

Always keen to exchange views,

Dracmuller MacTavish of Whithorn
Chieftain of Clan MacTavish

McKenzie replies

2008-06-18T06:54:00.002+09:30

Greetings Dracmuller,

I'm more then certain that we'd find you and your kin places to rest their heads. Several days spanning a weekend would be perfect. A Bonfire and a grand cooking would be a great idea!

I have let my town Mayor, who is also a McKenzie, she has said she will try to have a good feast prepared in the taverns. The only question I have is if you know roughly how many will be showing?

To a grand friendship,
Kishen McKenzie

I've replied that we should have a rough idea of numbers within a few days, and asked him if possible to (1) not be too publicly specific with the dates, and (2) have the RSA keep alert for robbers.

Letter to the McKenzie about a shindig

2008-06-16T23:00:00.002+09:30

Kishen McKenzie of Girvan is the Chieftain of his Clan, the most significant indigenous clan of Ayr. He and most of his kin live in the same town, one day by foot from Wigtown, two from Whithorn and Kirk, three from Drummore, Lanark, Stirling and Ardencaple. In recent correspondence (not recorded here) he accepted an offer to extend an invitation to us (!) for a shindig (party) between our clans. Because of the travel time involved, we are looking at departing in around two weeks. Hopefully that allows enough time for people to put their affairs in order.

Below is one of my letters, suggesting a possible date.

Greetings Kishen,

Thankyou for your warm reply to my query. It gladdens me that civility amongst true scots is still a virtue that is valued.

I have broached with my kin the concept of a shindig in your fair town. If you could put us up there would probably be groups arriving from both Glasgow and Galloway for the affair. I have suggested several days, spanning a weekend - gotta think of all those to whom weekends are not good for RK as well - in which RP and tavern crawls occur. Perhaps a grand bonfire, cows on a spit with side threads of all sorts?

Three or four days spanning the weekend of 5-6 July would probably be good logistically, and not too far away that people lose focus...

Your thoughts?

Dracmuller MacTavish

It's been too long!

2008-06-08T09:30:00.003+09:30

Having returned from his trip to the borderlands in Eastern Galloway, Drac settles in at the Hearth to recount a little of his recent experiences.

I set out in a travel group from Whithorn with Asbgas and Helian MacTavish. We met up with Aelin MacTavish in Wigtown, and travelled on to Kirk the following day. We spent a day there (I worked someone's field) and met up with Malons Knight MacTavish who was stranded there. Then it was on to Dumfries.

Dumfries has only about 140 residents. There were quite a few nobles around when we arrived, but that is because it is so near the border and there was a fair bit of interest in events there at the time. Most of these nobles left over the following week. It was very strange to see myself and Asbgas as amongst the highest ranked folk in town on the town list.

I spent a couple days cutting wood, and the next four or five days 'guarding the power'. I sold them a couple blunt axes as I knew that there weren't enough resident smiths there to keep things going smoothly. I gather that there is generally a shortage of stat workers in town also, though not as chronic as it used to be.

There were three pubs in town. Generally always someone around. Market was sparse, but enough food to eat. I managed to get a blue bonnet there on my first day (haven't seen one anywhere else). Forbes are probably the major clan, but they seemed less hostile than the Forbes of Drum. Sadly, I think that some of the Forbes way of doing things has been seen by other locals and has been a disincentive to join a clan. Sigh.

I didn't do any active recruiting but I think we created a good impression (which is at least as important). In fact, by not recruiting we may have advanced our reputation.

While in Dumfries Asbgas and myself went on a bit of a tour of the castle. Actually, we went and looked at some catacombs beneath the castle, and barely escaped with our lives. Due to some quick wit on Asbgas' part I was able to able to bring back an ancient roman dagger blade to add to the collection of knives I have at my forge.

The return trip was fairly uneventful. I missed catching up with Jazstar as we passed through Kirk, but we weren't going to delay our return as our money was running out and our farms needed attention.

All in all, a valuable expedition. I would encourage all MacTavishes to have a bit of a journey beyond the next town on the road. You can appreciate the diversity of this huge community best by spending a little time in various places.

Of course, now I've been bitten by the travel bug again, I want to travel again. Perhaps a trip to Lanark?

A quieter week in the Kingdom

2008-05-18T09:33:00.005+09:30

This has been a quieter week in the kingdom of scotland.

Constitutionally speaking, Galloway's outgoing council ratified the draft Constitution as its final act before departing office. Therefore, all three counties and the Gathering of the Clans have all supported the draft. It has now been submitted to King James the Second for his consideration. If and when he approves our Constitution, the National Assembly will assemble, clan armies will become lawful, and the fun will begin.

Politically speaking, Antek MacTavish has gracefully retired from Galloway Council, having not stood for re-election. Not a complaint was heard of his performance during the most tumultous council term Galloway has yet experienced. Well done Antek! Aelin and Yankie MacTavish have taken seats on the new council, and Bonquida might still get a seat if anyone vacates their seat. I should also say that Aelin is now Duke of the County (?), the first MacTavish to hold such high office.

Personally speaking, I have recovered from both my computer virus and my 'flu virus. No lasting damage was done except that when my hard drive melted down the fire destroyed the MacTavish archives. The worst loss was the total destruction of the carefully compiled MacTavish genealogy and family tree. I'm thinking of an alternative way of doing it as I write...

A letter to a kinswoman (long post)

2008-05-15T18:48:00.004+09:30

Recently I sent the following to a relative in Lanark who is concerned about the recent 2 week forum ban placed on Sajanzv for 'flaming'. Apparently it is quite an issue locally. As a member of the Privy Council of the Regent (where 2 of the 3 flames occurred) I have access to the relevant threads. I cannot quote them, but can give a bit of my view.

Anyway, I have received a number of letters about the issue. So I have published here the most comprehensive response I've yet given. So that we all know my personal views on it.

I write you about the issue with your friend. I looked at at least three of the threads which caused his troubles. I can only say what I think of the situation and what follows is my personal view at the moment.

Firstly, as usual, Saj had a good idea. What he then did, however, was act like 'a bull in a china shop'. He accused two other players of lying, made his good idea into a 'all or nothing' demand. My own view is that that is not any way to talk to anyone in this game, let alone the Regent in the Regent's home. So he basically got suspended for bad manners.

Secondly, it is important to note that it was for forum breaches, not the RP or political aspects of what was said, that Saj received his penalty. In the linlithgow threads, others intervened but Saj came back for more. It was only then that the matter was referred to the censors. An appeal occurred. Their initial decision was upheld. Many fine scots have worn a ban for similar reasons (I recall once when our general, captain, count and trade minister all had bans on them).

Thirdly, the whole issue of the Regent and 'democracy' is a very delicate issue. Being Scots, there are different views on it and they are often strongly put. In this situation, to flame and insult could lead to very serious consequences, such as outright rebellion, repression, civil war.

As Saj is a player who has obviously invested a huge amount of time and energy into the game for all of our benefit I imagine his forum ban is causing him great sadness. I hope that he has got over the shock and decided to remain and continue to participate. It would be sad for him and for Scotland if he did not. Sadly, as the issue which he raised became 'political' with his raising it, I suspect that it will now take awhile longer to achieve what he originally asked than it once would have.

In my dealings with Seer she has always been considered in what she does. She is very aware of the anti-regent position held by many. She may even hold those views herself for all we know. Even if I don't feel comfortable with her at times, I would trust the power to be in her hands more than any other player I can think of (and I have had dealings with most of the leading characters in the land). The fact that she has not gone around and stuck her nose into everything says something about her own concerns regarding the power that is in the regent's hands.
I can't speak of Dragon of Lyons Hall, having not known him long enough. He did seem to be leading Saj on. Saj should have realised the nature of the contest. Live and learn.

I don't know what england is like, having never been there. To date the main battles in this land, to keep us distinct, seems to have been around the co-operative nature of scottish society and our clannishness. I hope this never changes. Another difference is that we have a regent who questions her own position more intelligently than any others I've yet heard speak on it and who has refused to interfere in the people's affairs even when all else around urged her to do so. She has not boasted of this, and the events in her chambers are basically kept in-house to allow honesty within. But this has been the case.

I fear that many who speak of 'democracy' actually want the strongest and the loudest to get their way without the risk of authorities preventing that (I'm not saying this about Saj, but several other Gunn's can act that way). People of high ability often would set the world up as a meritocracy. And that can be even more exclusive than a royalty.

I'd be interested to know what Loren Soth thinks of this all.

None of us like everything in the constitution, and the clans probably gave away more than any other group. The challenge will now be for the National Assembly to keep the ship of state afloat. The MacTavish Representatives on the Assembly will both be independent types.

I've said more than enough. Talkative me! I guess it boils down to - there was a reason for what happened, the decision was appealed, and in my opinion there has been no lasting harm done to anything but people's pride. I hope.

Yours truly,
Drac

Hopes he hasn't upset too many people by baring his soul here.

Moving right along...

2008-05-11T09:12:00.004+09:30

I've still not got my 'old' computer going. New hardrive installed but now an issue with the video card. Still I managed to catch up with some clan admin this morning.

We now have 50 members. Thanks to the spark of Destrata and the energy of her friends, there are now ten MacTavishes in Lanark. Well done folks, make the most of it! I believe the Roses are the other major clan presence in town, from past dealings they are a nice and friendly bunch of people generally speaking. Four more of us have become level 2s over the past week; Lucifera (Ardencaple) is now a baker; Jubox and Quik2type of Whithorn, weavers; and, Jayne of Drummore, a miller.

Our clan subforum keeps fairly busy, albeit mainly with new applications for membership at the moment. There's a thread there seeking your thoughts on what our clan is and could be doing. Please have a look and post your ideas there.

In national affairs, the Scotish Constitution awaits the ratification of the one remaining county (Galloway) before becoming law. Our two brave MacTavish representatives, Ragehammer and Lucifera, both await the opening of the National Assembly (we get two representatives due our status of one of Scotland's Founding Clans). Expect there to be a bit of shake up of national power structures in the months following the opening of the National Assembly.

Galloway Council elections finish in a couple days. It is likely that the Scottish Democratic Party will take a majority of seats (fingers crossed). If this proves the case, there could be upto three MacTavishes on the County Council (Aelin, Bonquida and Yankie) and a MacTavish as Count! I urge all MacTavishes resident in Galloway to get out and vote, and be careful you place your vote in the box of the SDP ticket!!!

There has been a slight increase in clan hostilities recently. The MacGregors have shown their robbing colours again, laying silent seige to Dumfries castle in April. The Forbes have run a ticket in the Galloway elections, and elevated a squabble between their chieftain (JeffersonDavis) and the Wallace Chieftain (Brother Chris) into the beginnings of a feud. Tempers seem to have calmed recently, and the MacGregors have dispersed, but the potential for major conflict has shown itself. Through these troubles we have kept a quiet presence in the background (as also, I hear, during the present dominance of the Gunn clan in Glasgow) and kept going in our own little ways to improve the situation.

This gives us great credit.

Tending the Hearth

2008-05-10T07:16:00.002+09:30

I apologise for not posting much here recently. I have had various IRL crises this past week, and still don't have regular computer up and running, but I hope to do something at this hearth this weekend.

Until then, I'll just clean out the ashes and collect a bit more fuel for the fire...

Random News

2008-04-27T00:35:00.002+09:30

Clan member news

Nejen, Sir Aaron, Drayzzok and Maerik have all levelled up recently. Congratulatons! Around twenty of our fortyish members are now level 2. Ragehammer has become a level 3, he and Vermelaine are our two senior members. Saliery made it Lanark. He joins Destrata there, with another three going through the application process. This will make it our second largest outpost within a week. Not to be totally outdone, there's also two would-be-members applying in Whithorn.

National Politics

Our clan supported the proposed national constitution in discussions amongst all the clans. Eventually the Gathering voted about 14 in favour, nil against, 3 abstentions. We now await the County councils to ratify the constitution. If they all do, we will have a national government.

Part of the National Government will be the National Assembly. As of right, we will have two seats as a clan in the national assembly. Ragehammer and Lucifera have kindly stepped forward to be our voice in the assembly. It was important to select our two representatives as soon as possible in case the assembly is formed suddenly, and to allow our delegates to get used to the national point of view. I know they will do us and scotland proud.

County Affairs

County elections are less than three weeks away in Galloway. The present Council has three MacTavishes on it, Lady Robin, Antek and Aelin. We were involved in the United Clans of Scotland list of candidates. There is no UCS ticket this coming election. We have members involved in the Scottish Democratic Party (Aelin, Bonquida and Yankie on the ticket, various others of us in the party). The only other list is 'Clan Forbes', so I won't comment on which way I'd suggest we vote...

Generally, as Chieftain I am immensely proud of our clan. Many of us seem content with quietly advancing ourselves in our home towns. But we are hanging in there, and advancing steadily. Very few of us have quit the game in the last six months, I great sign in a game like this. I think Bonquida expresses it well in his recent post on our forum.

To the Honour of MacTavish and the Glory of Scotland!

Events in the Kingdom

2008-04-12T07:42:00.003+09:30

Recent event in the Kingdom have been quite interesting to those that follow these things.

On a hillside near Stirling was raised the banner of rebellion by those wishing to form a 'celtic army'. The rebels were eventually shouted off the hill by the growing crowd below, well fed on Yay RSA cookies.

A Regent was appointed by our King. Her role is not yet closely defined. There is much fear that she might pave the way for a future dictator, which is what the English Regency appears to have become. She has selected a panel of advisors, one of whom is myself. The fears are not a reality as yet, and there is much debate on what terms the Regent holds office (temporary, elected, relation to the future Steward, etc).

The Constitutional ratification process continues at its slow pace. There may be some minor amendments to mollify the Counties, but the guts of the document have the support of the nation. Clan MacTavish has cast its vote in favour of the passage of the Draft into law.

Our clan continues its slow and steady growth. We are now the second largest clan. Of great significance is that much of our new growth is in the new County of Glasgow. Thanks to those members there for flying the flag!

Clan News

2008-04-02T22:28:00.004+10:30

The new colonies in County of Glasgow opened their borders for several days. Four MacTavishes made the move.

Lucifera is in Ardencaple
Maerik and Luthien Bedwyr are in Stirling
Destrata is in Lanark

All four have been given access to the UCS as the Glasgow MacTavishes.

There are three MacTavish Councillors on Galloway County Council

Lady Robin is Spokeswoman
Antek is Constable
Aelin is Public Prosecutor

We lost no-one to Ireland. Some other large clans lost half of their members (O'Broins, Campbells, MacAles, Kennedys in particular). We have been gaining members slightly faster than losing, seem to be holding around 40 MacTavishes. Almost a quarter of us are level 2.

Our homelands lie in counties to the north and the west of county of Glasgow. We might start thinking about the possibility of a big move at short notice in case new colonies of interest open in next few months.

At the moment Dracmuller is busy checking the proposed Constitution through. The clan is debating it before casting a vote for or against it. So far, no-one has said we should oppose it.

Clan Member News

2008-03-29T23:30:00.004+10:30

Sweetmeg of Drummore has levelled up. She is a weaver. Congratulations!

The Glasgow colonies are still open for those who want to move. After our recent discussion the following have moved so far:

Lucifera has moved with friends to Ardencaple where she can fish in peace.
Luthien and Maerik have gone to Stirling. Luthien likes the forests and Maerik is looking for adventure.
Destrata has gone to Lanark where the peasants pick fruit.

No MacTavishes have gone to Ireland. Many hotheads (including not a few NNGO) have gone to Stirling. Anton_capone is now in Ireland.

Balenoape of Drummore has passed on. He was one of the original MacTavishes. Jah bless him.

Aelin of Whithorn has joined Galloway Council as various members leave for the colonies. Looks like a busy time ahead for our resident scotsman.

Idallia has left our clan to join her newly found sister into the Rose Clan. Our good wishes go with her.

I make it we have 39 active members, with 2 applications in the works at the moment.

New County - Glasgow

2008-03-27T22:29:00.002+10:30

Glasgow County is soon to open it looks like. Don't yet know which towns will be there. If there's one in the tossarchs, then that'll be one of our - 'cause that's where the mythical Dunn of Tavish once was.

I'd suggest use the forum to co-ordinate movement (ie, who moves as a colonist, which town they go to, what they find there).

The Most Noble and Chivalous Scottish Order of Saint Andrew?

2008-03-22T22:44:00.003+10:30

A Campbell, a Kennedy, a Forbes and a Sinclair band together and create a "Noble and Chivalrous" order of knights. To my ear that sounds a little pretentious, a little english even! The most valuable service they might provide, perhaps, is an elite band on permanent station and, if so, good on them. It is more likely that we will have a 'chivalrous' (roleplay) order to fight civilised (nobles) tournaments against similarly well-to-do english. Fun if you are into that kind of thing I suppose.

Perhaps something a little more raucus, a little less chivalrous and a little less noble. Like a cross border raiding society or some such? A little less lords and ladies in the courtyard, a little more good folk and gentle in the cattle byre?

Puts his nose back into joint and wanders off.

A Neibour in Ayr!

2008-03-18T20:37:00.004+10:30

Neibour MacTavish has 'joined' our clan, though he has actually fulfilled all membership requirements since Jan 1, 1456 (yech, reminds me of those itty bitty mushrooms, thinking of New Year's Eve). He is level 2 (blacksmith). Perhaps we can start rebuilding our membership in Ayr and taking on some of that anti-clan sentiment which we hear emnating from former NNGO types out there...

There's no present membership applications, so I'd remind people to keep their eyes open for promising individuals. Just send me their names and I'll take it from there, or ask them yourself.

Ticking along

2008-03-13T23:13:00.004+10:30

Although things are quiet here at the hearth at the moment, our clan seems to be ticking along.

Kwakiutlcs 'Kwak' MacTavish of Whithorn has become a baker.

A recent RSA patrol composed of four MacTavishes worked flawlessly (albeit, didn't see the robber).

Clan members have been active in both local and county political scenes, with three standing as candidates at county election with UCS party, and several members providing voice to dissent with the VotP party (though not as candidates). By the way, get out and vote if you haven't done so already!!!

With a slow but steady flow of active members joining up, we remain the third largest clan in the land despite fact that Italian_Iceman and Lady_Susan no longer exist (:(

Where is the candle stick maker?

2008-03-04T00:43:00.003+10:30

We have three more level 2s amongst us, all of Whithorn. Aelin has become a butcher, and Minuet and Yankie have taken up milling as a trade. With all our pig, wheat and corn farmers there are the makings of some fine trading combinations here! Particularly in Whithorn where there are butchers and bakers.

Drac will be hard to reach for a couple of days

2008-02-29T07:13:00.001+10:30

Hi folks. Just to let you know that I will be hard to reach for a couple of days because I have to go walkabout in real life. Hopefully I'll be able to find a place to log on and feed me and my pigs. Should be back in time for mass!

Dearly departed, and the soon-to-be...

2008-02-20T22:05:00.003+10:30

I have done one of my periodic checks of the clan roster. There were a few MacTavishes who are officially classed as 'dead' at the moment, one who has 'dissappeared', one who hasn't logged on for several days but is still alive. I thought I'd leave a message here for a bit, before advising the official power structures ingame...

Totally Gone

Muzz
He's done this before so I'll wait a wee while before notifying this guy as gone.

Officially 'Dead'

Kevin Teastone
Daniel the Slayer
Italian Iceman
I'll wait for their profiles to be erradicated before regarding them as truly gone.

Missing But Active

Lady Susan
If anyone knows anything, please let me know if I can help...

Territorial musings

2008-02-16T13:08:00.004+10:30

More Musings

I have been looking around at historical stuff on MacTavish. Found this site which contains a lot more useful information than you'd expect at first glance. For the moment, I looked at the maps as it has been a mytery to me where exactly in Argyll our historical lands actually lie. I now have much better Idea - South of Kilmartin (the River Add, actually), North of Castle Sween, West of Highway 83, East of the Isle of Jura. The site of Dunnardrie and the castle/fort is on the River Add at the north of the territory. The Knapdale forest is solid MacTavish country. I wonder if this land is going to be a wood town ingame?

I have yet to go for a cyberjourney to the ahistorical lands I have creatively carved out for us to the North of Loch Lomond - in the Trossarchs (mountainous woody country - would become MacGregor land in the 16th century).

If Argyll opens up ingame for colonisation, would be pretty cool if we established a strong presence in the area around Dunnardrie. Until that glorious day, I intend to stay based in Whithorn. Of course, there'll probably be a lot of Campbells claiming Argyll as their own, so expect to have a bit of jostling amongst the clans. And don't fall for the propoganda which says MacTavish are in some way junior to Campbell. We're not.

I'll post the maps up to give you an easy look (it took me awhile to work it all out) as soon as I find time and inclination to do so.

While the servers are down - musings

2008-02-16T01:31:00.004+10:30

Here I am on a Friday night at the Hearth, thinking my thoughts and scribbling them down.

Lucifera, we'll need a day or two's notice if we are to get to Wiggie from Whithorn. I'm thinking of it seriously, might chop a bit of wood at the same time for me smith's forge...

The UCS thing is a real mixed bag of things from a clan chief's perspective. It throws into stark reality the clannish nature of scottish politics. This will be showing itself pretty majorly in Ayr at the moment. Will be interested in any stories from Ayr over the present fortnight.

One thing I am real glad about is that I stayed clear of the term 'United' in our clan's little slogan at our clan forum. I went for 'Scotland - Strong, Free, Independent' over 'Scotland - Strong, United, Independent'. I think I'd rather be free than 'united'. As things stand, we are united with most other clans via the UCS. Two active Ayr (Munro and O'Broin) clans and one local Whithorn clan (Frasers) have stayed out of the UCS political party. Philosophically they do so from a sense of independence. I don't think it will be fatal for anyone, and it does add a bit of spice to the mix. It's funny, but O'Broins voted to walk out of the UCS as we voted to walk in.

And, in case you're wondering, within the UCS I think we MacTavishes have already made ourselves heard in the direction the party is going. Although it wouldn't surprise me if someone starts pulling the numbers on us. For the moment, however, it's a case of watch and learn.

Clan Update

2008-02-10T09:03:00.000+10:30

We are expanding our presence. Clan was very prominent in recent RP of some note in Whithorn (Destrata led from the front in a witch hunt). Yankie has started off Pig Rolling RP on our clan forum. Over in Drummore, Lucifera is out fishing with some interesting types in her refugee thread.

In clan events, we have joined the United Clans of Scotland political party. Lady Robin, Antek and myself are our representatives. So far, looks like a bunch of people trying to look at developing scotland by working together. Will be updating as we go on clan forum.

Clan is presently equal third largest. We have several applications for membership up on the forum, and there are a couple more who are thinking about it. Still no official members in Ayr, and the bulk of us still reside in Whithorn. Though I think there's a critical mass in Drummore (I hope you guys are supporting The World's End tavern, run by Luthien Bedwyr MacTavish).

More and more of us seem to be using Signatures on our forum profiles. There's a thread on our own forum where Lady Robin has kindly offered to help those of us who don't wish to make a signature banner ourselves (me personally, I loved making my own banner).

That'll do for the moment. Please leave a message on the chatbox in here if you pass through.

In defence of clans

2008-02-04T00:03:00.000+10:30

The following is a recent post of mine at Highlands Hall where someone asked the question abut being in a clan. You can read the original thread here.

I am a clan chieftain, having formed clan mactavish in the early days of scotland. I was a total noob to this type of game, but a bit of an old (jaded?) hand at certain political games (always oppostional till now). I thought of making a clan that wasn't a political machine (having a fear that that was what would happen to many - I'm glad I the fear seems unfounded as there is so much more to clans that that).

So I got into it and MacTavish was formed. Now pretty big, always changing its focus of activity, disputing and scrapping and laughing amongst ourselves but getting to where we're going. We are very diverse in age attitude opinion and playing style. But that's good for us, good for our communities. We're all learning as we go so its an interesting experience. Together.

Almost everyone in our clan was invited in. We've accepted those who asked to join, but not too many of those. I suspect thats because we've kept in the background up to now. There's lots of reasons why we ask people to join, generally because the player has 'style' of some sort. That doesn't mean rich and famous, just means that they seem to be willing to have a go and keep an open mind. Only a fraction of us are active on forums, but that's reflective of RK generally. We try.

Unless you've got a good reason not to, I'd encourage all to join a clan. It adds layers to the whole experience and makes our land unique.

Letter to a Campbell

2008-02-03T22:52:00.001+10:30

I just realised that I can print here a copy of the letter I sent to the UCS founder. I sent it Feb 2 (local).

Greetings.

Thankyou for recent missive. I can inform you that our clan is discussing the UCS issue anew. It would appear very likely we will be seeking to join UCS, full membership (ie 3 representatives). And, by "very likely" I mean "almost certainly". The process still has several days to run. But that is the way it's looking.

I have told you this out of respect for you and your position within both UCS and County. I simply ask that you not tell anyone about this until my clan has completed their discussions.

Yours truly,

Dracmuller

More on the UCS

2008-02-02T23:54:00.001+10:30

I don't know if any of us have approached the UCS hierarchy recently to tell them what's happening in our clan, but I've just received another request for us to come and send rep's to the UCS. Again, it is being produced as 'not a political party'. As if...

I told their representative that we happened to be considering that very course of action at present and that I would get back to him. I haven't published the letter here because I didn't receive explicit permission.

Pubs and Professions

2008-02-01T18:12:00.000+10:30

In recent times quite a few of us have levelled up to level 2. This is our present list of tradespeople, grouped by town.

Wigtown
Lady Susan (Baker)

Drummore
Luthien Bedwyr(Baker)

Whithorn
Antek (Baker)
Dracmuller (Blacksmith)
Lady Robin (Weaver)
Ragehammer (Butcher)
Vermelaine (Carpenter)
Wognot (Miller)

While I'm at it, there are two pubs owned by MacTavishes

The Alba Arms (Muzz of Whithorn)
The World's End (Luthien Bedwyr of Drummore)

Polls and Pictures

2008-01-29T07:49:00.000+10:30

Polls

Greetings all. On our clan subforum is a pair of polls, asking you if we as a clan should (a) be involved with the United Clans of Scotland political party, and (b) if we do, what level of involvement that should be (if we become involved). Please take the time to go and vote in both polls.

By the way, I split the poll into two parts to make it 'fairer'. The main question is SHOULD we be involved. If I had put up a three way poll, the vote for those who want involvement would have been split two ways, versus the vote for those who don't want involvement which wouldn't have been split. Also, doing it this way, if we choose to get involved, those who voted against involvement get a say about what level of involvement we end up seeking.

If you need to know more about the issues before voting, theres notes on the poll thread about where you can find information. If still having trouble, mail me.

Pictures

Our clan's Coat of Arms has been delivered to us by the Court of Lyons (Scotland's heraldry authority). It is now official. Again, there's an announcement thread on the issue posted on our clan subforum.

"Clans rule" of "Mob rules"?

2008-01-25T23:15:00.000+10:30

The governmental project of Scotland, a group with representatives from all of scotland's 'estates' (eg. clans, army, church, court of Lyons), is beginning to publish on the forums the various draft articles it has devised for our proposed national constitution. Our representatives on the Project are Ragehammer and Malons_knight. Now we all have a chance to read and debate. To do so, click here.

For your information, I will pop in and out of the public debate. I intend doing so in my individual capacity. In my case, that encompasses my role as Clan Chieftain. Therefore, I will have a tendency to promote as much power as possible to the clan system. Of course, if you think differently to me on these points, all the more reason for you to consider publishing your own views!

Seriously.

Departures and Goodbyes

2008-01-20T09:24:00.000+10:30

Minuet has gone into retreat, being totally frustrated at a game system which keeps locking her out and penalising her. After a long battle with the system and much talk with the admins, she called it a day in disgust. Will wait until she has been inactive for 3 months before removing her.

Soltario had real life creep up on him. Something had to give. Online gaming drew the short straw, so he too went into retreat. He's working long long shifts in Iceland, hopes he'll be able to return one day. Will wait until he has been inactive for 3 months before removing him.

Telets has relocated ingame to be near the university of his home country in eastern europe. I wouldn't be surprised if we'll see him again one day, but have had to remove him from official list.

Reinaert wrote me, asking release from our clan. I granted that release. She is no longer a member. Part of her reason was that she was the only member in Ayr after Telet's departure. The other reason was that she couldn't maintain membership after some of the opinions expressed about her friends on our subforum. She is involved in many good things in her hometown and county, works with these folk every day, and in good faith could not countenance the opinions of some of us. A very sad loss in my opinion.

Clan Update

2008-01-09T23:14:00.000+10:30

Scotland seems to have a population which varies between 3100 and 3200 souls across its two counties. Around 320 are presently in one of the various clans. There are 30 MacTavishes at time of writing (this includes 3 who appear to have either gone 'inactive' or who have told me they will shortly do so).

Their are seven towns in Scotland at the moment. MacTavishes are in 4-5 of them. The average scottish town seems to have 430 - 470 inhabitants, with around 120 level 1, 22 level 2 and 4 - 10 level 3. Our clan presently has 0 level 3, 4 level 2, 26 level 1. Several level 1s are on the cusp of going to level 2. The majority or our clan was 'born' in scotland ingame, and in that sense we remain a 'young' clan.

Our greatest concentration is in Whithorn (Galloway), where around half of the clan presently resides. Drummore has now got 6 members, 3 in Wigtown, the remainder in County Ayr.

It took us 2 months and 1 week to double in size from November 1, when we had 15 members. We were the third largest clan then, we are the third largest clan now. There are five applicants at present, likely to all become MacTavish within the next week.

Newsflash - War Approaches!

2008-01-06T14:53:00.000+10:30

The scottish nation marshalls itself for war! If you are already in the Royal Scottish Army (RSA) you should contact your local town band leader and ask for orders (check on the forum for the Regiment if you don't know who your local leader is). If you want to join the RSA, you should contact the RSA by posting on the forum for the royal scottish army at the Highland Hall (or contact your local leader if you know who it is).

For those who will be marching to the muster (gathering of the army), you should ideally take a weapon (shaft or sword), shield, 6 days food and some spare money. If you will need to manage your fields while you are gone, you should take enough money to do that as well. We don't know how long we will need to stand to arms or march around the countryside. Also, we don't know if we will actually have to fight. If we fight and die, we come back. If this happens, won't be able to fight again for another 45 days though.

If we have to fight, you get a bonus for every 50 points of strength or charisma you have. you also get one point bonus for having a shaft, and either 2 or 3 bonus points for having a sword. A shield will help defend you. If you go into battle as part of a (mounted) 'retinue' you will get another bonus for being mounted (even if you are not an ingame lord). At least, that's how I understand the IG rules about war.

If you stay behind, we will need the economy going at full speed. The army will need food and other supplies if this goes on for a long time, as well as people to carry the supplies to the front.

If this gets heavy, it will require maximum effort from all of us!

I have posted this on the forum also...

Auld Lang Syne - Happy New Year! Hogmany!

2008-01-01T08:21:00.000+10:30

Should auld acquaintance be forgot

And never brought to mind?

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,

And auld lang syne?

Chorus: For auld lang syne, my jo,

For auld lang syne.

We'll tak' a cup o'kindness yet,

For auld lang syne.

(On the last verse, traditionally, each clansmember extends his right hand of fellowship to the member on his left, then the left hand to the member on his right. This symbolizes two things: firstly, that they are crossing their hearts; secondly, that they automatically form a smaller and more intimate circle of friendship. Now they have an unbroken chain of brethren who are close friends.)

And there's a hand, my trusty frier!

And gie's a hand o'thine!

And we'll tak' a right guide-willie waught,

For auld lang syne.

http://www.masonmusic.org/music20/auldlang111.mid

AAP Article about NNGO/RSA/England

2007-12-31T11:18:00.000+10:30

[+]
LONDON (AAP) - There are rumours that NNGO will use a political stronghold to position themselves to attack England. According to the leader of the Ayr Ducal Party (ADP), Krelian von Liechtenstein Stewart, NNGO has created two of the four Council lists in order to maximize and gain most of the support at the polls, which would guarantee that the NNGO receives at least 50 percent of Council seats if true.According to a transcribed conversation provided by Krelian, reputed to have taken place in the NNGO Embassy, the alliance between NNGO and the Royal Scottish Army (RSA) is a ruse. A portion of the transciption purportedly stated that Anto_Capone, leader of the NNGO, allegedly said that the alliance is just a formality and that "nothing is binding forever."The RSA has publicly declared peaceful relations between the Country of Scotland and England; however, Anto_Capone was allegedly overheard telling NNGO affiliates that members of the RSA are "not needed for our invasion, but would be welcomed nonetheless to serve in the armies."According to the transcription provided by Krelian, prominent leaders of both the RSA and the NNGO were unable to agree to terms and thus reached a stalemate in negotiations.The transcribed conversation is not factual, according to NNGO Spokesperson, Muin. The conversation was taken out of context to be used as propaganda. "There are rumours about every organization, some started by the organizations themselves, some by others. This bit of news, I'm afraid, is very far from the truth," she said.When approached for comment, Anto_Capone, denied the allegations. "Is there nothing else to talk about except hearsay about NNGO? Seriously, it is an election time," he said.Spellman for the AAP

[24 Dec 1455 - some of us are having trouble finding this so I posted it here]

My new friend and holiday numbers

2007-12-28T01:02:00.000+10:30

Arnawlf

Someone left a big friendly black pigdog on my cottages doorstep over christmas in Whithorn. So I've got another farm companion, who will probably accompany me when required for RP in bush settings. Being a pigdog, I wouldn't want to mess with her if she was upset. Her name is Arnawlf.

Holiday Numbers

At last count, there are 26 MacTavishes. 6 of us are on retreat, 1 of us (Aindriu) is listed as 'dead' (I will leave him on the last until he runs out of time to resurrect himself). There is one present application to join us, and a couple more relatives waiting until after new year to make up their minds. All of us are level 1 except for Ragehammer, Vermelaine and Telets. At a guess, about a third of us will be level 2 within a month or so.

More stuff on UCS political party

2007-12-26T11:41:00.000+10:30

The following is my recent response to an invitation by Tobbi, Chieftain of the Kennedys, top become involved in the political party called United Clans of Scotland. I reproduce his original letter underneath.

Season's greetings, Tobbi Kennedy!

I note with interest your recent mail. I have previously discussed a similar solitication with Julius of the Campbells. Out of liking for you personally, and respect for your clan, I repeat roughly here what I have said with him.

Politics divides, clans unite. Oil and water. The clans already carry moral authority, they will have legislative power in near future. Many, if not most, of the members of government from both town and county already are members of clans, or clanlike organisations. Their clan identity will already be framing their actions. What need therefore for a separate political party?

We MacTavishes have many and varied political viewpoints, we cannot be bound by any except that which proclaims freedom for scotland. Anything other would be to invite fraction into our midst. Thus, while I am sure that you can count upon a strong MacTavish vote I do not think that you will see us in your party as a clan.

Can individuals join your party as such (as long as they are clanned)? What chance a decent place on your list for such a one?

(raises glass)

Dracmuller of Whithorn
Chieftain of Clan MacTavish

Here's Tobbi's original letter:

This letter is to invite you to join our party which is called United Clans of Scotland. As you see, this party is trying to get all the clans together for a United and strong Scotland. I think our ideas will please you cause our goals are noble and we're not there for power but as people of service for the communities.

I would be very happy to see your Clan being active with us. 3 representatives are allowed per Clan for now so maybe you can talk to your members to see if they would be interested.If you want to become a part of this journey, just hit me back. I'm sure we can do great things all together. ;)

Also, happy holidays Drac.
^o^Tobbi Kennedy

NB - For those that want to get involved as individuals, that is still feasible. Contact me to contact Tobbi to contact JO to gain access (though I note that the list of those standing for election is almost full)

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!!

2007-12-24T00:17:00.000+10:30

First of all, I'm sorry I missed the trip to Wigtown. It was NOT my intention to miss it...but dopey me did SOMETHING wrong. I'll try again another time.

Secondly, I would like to wish you and yours a very merry, safe and blessed Christmas and Holiday season. I know many of us go into retreat over holidays...not me! It's a time when I actually have a little free time, so I'll be haunting the Role Plays and Forums...come join me!

Thirdly, even though there are times we stubborn Scots disagree, STRONGLY, I might add, clan is most importantly family. (I disagree with my RL family sometimes too, of course!) I may not always LIKE you...but I always love you, as my mother has told me for 50 years now...LOL!

Now get in here and post stuff!

Proposed Clan Coat of Arms

2007-12-21T00:54:00.000+10:30

This is the MacTavish Coat of Arms proposed by the Lyons Court of Arms (Scotland's heraldric authority). I think it is historical (I have come across several different 'historical' coats of arms for MacTavish Clan and Chieftain on the net)? Looking at this COA, I actually think I quite like it.

The celtic cross/sword refers to the celtic origins of the clan. I'm not sure what the 2 five pointed stars might represent. The creature is, I presume, one of Scotland's horned native species - highland goat perhaps? A fitting clan 'totem'!

Brief update

2007-12-20T07:28:00.000+10:30

Destrata of Whitorn is our newest member. There are several others considering our clan.

Luthien is thinking of setting up a MacTavish Tavern in Drummore. There's been a Clan Forbes pub there for awhile already, so I can't see anything wrong with him doing it. Goodness knows, from what I know of Drummore the place needs a bit of a shakeup!

There are a few of us heading to Wigtown from Whithorn for the Get Together. We should be there after reset on 22 Dec. I believe also that there will also be travellers from Drummore and Largs (!) present. Should be good. I am looking forward to it.

We will do something similar again in not too distant future, but pick a time of year that isn't so busy IRL! Quite a few of us are busy in the coming week with christmas and new year, I hope the season is enjoyable and safe to all, whether or not we see you in Wigtown!

My open letter in the Clan forum

2007-12-16T19:53:00.000+10:30

As I didn't get any replies there yet, I came wandering in here - like I said, there is such an abundance of information I haven't had the time to read all and everything. Now it seems I jumped the gun a bit? As I read a few posts down, it seems that Clan MacTavish isn't politically inclined, or do I interpret that incorrect? Is the fact that I'm coming up in a list for the coming County Elections against the Clan rules? I only have the interests of the common man at heart, so please can anyone advise me? I'll just post my letter here too, if anyone hasn't seen it yet... Oh yes, the funds are all collected now, so U2 is a running list now.

Greetings all Clan Members,

First and foremost, apologies for not coming in sooner and introducing myself to you all. Largs is a very bustling community and with my job as a Bartender in the Rose Wood Café there, my designer house, herb garden and all that, I sometimes don't know where I'm heading :D

So, my name is Reinaert, and originally I came from Birmingham, but Telets has brought me to the attention of Dracmuller, who kindly took me in. I'm sorry to say I haven't seen much of Telets, so I'm not really up to speed yet with the clan adventures, but I will try my best to repair that omission. By the way, feel free to look through the RP threads of Largs, I try to make a regular appearance there and I'm very busy in the Rose, so people start to know me in Largs.

Due to all this, I've also been invited to come up on an election List, "U2", consisting of mostly lvl1 and lvl2s. We would like to bring Scotland to a new height, bringing together old and new Scots, new and experienced players alike.

And here I come to you all, asking for your ear and your heart - and your vote :D! We are still trying to get the funds together, but would like to be able to prove to Scotland that we can bring people together and bring joy to everyone.

Feel free to post here with suggestions or questions - or ideas to get those needed funds :D.

I know I pledged to our Clan Chief to question Anto and come up with some answers, but that man is as slippery as an eel in a bucket of snot - and never awake when I am, it seems :D I haven't given up though, but it probably will take a lot longer than I expected :?

So, do you want a MacTavish in the Council? Do you want to lead the two counties of Scotland to a united Scotland? Then rally behind me and vote U2!

Thank you :)

Reinaert MacTavish, Largs, Ayrshire, Scotland

Things to do for or with your kin...

2007-12-12T00:02:00.000+10:30

Visit the clan subforum. Swap information and gossip on the 'sticky' thread for your town. Use it to organise to get to Wigtown for the MacTavish Christmas Get Together (see the 'Announcement' thread on the forum).

Post your entry on the Roll Call here at the Hearth. Use the chatbox.

Keep your eye out for potential new members. If they're interested, let me know.

Walk tall and be proud.

Clan policital proposal rejected (again)

2007-12-09T15:07:00.000+10:30

I recently received a letter from leader of Clan Forbes, seeking our involvement in 'The United Clans of Scotland' (a newly proposed political party). This was my reply:

Jefferson Davis Forbes,

I have put my views on this matter to the one who first raised it, JO. I promised him I would not publicly voice my critique and keep an open mind and eye. I continue to do so. When you have Munro, MacGillivray and O'Broin (and MacGregor, if they are still active) on the list, then you will have surprised me and convinced me at the same time. Until then, I maintain position that clan and political party are separate entities and should remain so.

Clan MacTavish has some very divergent political opinions within it. So far, we have a happy house. If we as a clan get involved in the political fracas and compromise (which is the art of politics in a democratic society, afterall) then survival there could lead to troubles at home. Have already seen Scottish Nationalist Party fall apart on the rocks of ego and grudge. What makes you think this proposed party would be any different?

Politics divide. Clans pick up the pieces. Politics about power. Clans about culture. Oil and water.
I am sure that, even if we are not in 'the party' our votes would strongly tend towards your candidates. As I see it, that is the way it should be.

I assure you, as I have others who have brought this proposal before us, we keep an open but sceptical mind on the issue and remain to be convinced.

Yours in unity,
Dracmuller

Here's the letter I received:

Dracmuller, Chieftain of the Great Clan Mactavish.

Presently there is a building of the United Clans of Scotland. So far there are 3 reps from each of the following clans. The Campbells, The Forbes, The Macales, 3 coming from both the Wallaces and the Kennedys.

I'm contacting you and the other chieftains to build on this list. Giving this body your strongest arms and your brightest minds. It is our intention to put forth a list of canidates in Galloway and hopefully Ayr, for those who have relocated there. Providing a platform that will be the front line of the coming english political parties.

I've never been more proud to be a parts of Scotland and her clans. Without the MacTavishes, the body would be nothing more then a empty suit and with you, .... courage, commitment, and commonality.

Sincerely Jefferson Davis

Discerning readers will note that of the clans mentioned in Forbes' letter, only one of them is a 'heavy hitter'. It was their rep's who deserted the Scottish Nationalist Party when things appeared to be getting too personal and bygones couldn't be let be bygones (sorry Robin). The 'litmus test' clans I mentioned fell on the other side of the barrier. If the hard heads of those clans all agree with the UCS proposal, then I would say we should re-evaluate present stance. Until then, there is nothing here that cause me to feel inspired...

PS - check our clans forum for details of upcoming Christmas get-together at Wigtown on the weekend before Christmas...

Christmas Party - Wigtown - Dec 22/23

2007-12-08T09:25:00.000+10:30

There's details in an announcement in our clan subforum. I will also be sending out messages to all clan members as not everyone goes to the forums (or here, for that matter).

We'll have to book out Wigtown's pubs for the weekend, it seems!

Time now for those in our various towns to start organising their affairs before the trip, and organising travelling groups closer to the time...

Message Board Down

2007-12-08T00:47:00.000+10:30

The message board just went down, just as bugs struck pubs in whithorn. Hope the two aren't connected! This has been the first failure of the Message Board in nearly two months, so it is pretty reliable overall.

On patrol with the RSA

2007-12-05T23:43:00.000+10:30

I write this from Wigtown, where I am spending a little time in a nice cool pub while 'on patrol' with the RSA. This is my third trip to or through Wigtown, and it sure seems to have changed. All the O'Broins seem to have gone to Ayr and thus the pubs are pretty quiet at the times I'm around. There seems to be a lot of HHWs on the market, but saw no meat. Vegies prices are higher than Whithorn's. Knives are available.

The pubs were particularly 'buggy' when I was there (I hate that), so again haven't caught up with kin. Was nice to share a drink with Malon's, albeit the evening was cut short by the bugs.

When things got underway a bit later I bumped into a bunch of roving McAles, heading from Kirk through to Largs (Ayr) to provide an escort back to Kirk for a clan matriarch. They reminded me of a troupe of travelling players. Quite a bit of savvy amongst all the play, their company was fairly intense, but welcoming. They were of the opinion that there were more englishers in Ayr than there were coming across the border from Cumberland.

Apart from that, the patrol has been fairly uneventful so far.

Role Call -Balenoape

2007-12-04T19:48:00.000+10:30

Hey,wassup my mactavish family.........I am Balenoape.
IRL-I am just an average student studying Biochemical Technology in Singapore.
During my pass time, i like to take care of different type of fishes from marine to freshwater........My current pet is the Fighting Fish...I also love arts.I use to do painting during my Secondary school.I also love music and now taking up courses to learn how to play the guitar....during my free time i like to slack and meet up with friends...it can be said that i am a lazy fellow.....

IG- I am a wheat farmer and current member to the Black Wings Mercenaries.......

Roll Call - Jayne

2007-12-03T07:01:00.000+10:30

Hello, this is a belated continuation to Lady Robin's idea.

IRL, I am a normal, broke Texas college student and, consequently, my life tends to be a little boring. Not to mention, I really have no life outside of school. lol. I have two remaining semesters of undergraduate work and then hopefully I'll be admitted to law school. (Time will tell...) I spend the rest of my weekdays working for federal attorneys as a lowly file clerk. In my free time, I like to hang out with my husband, friends, and family. There's not much else to do in my neck of the woods. Random tidbit: I'm actually a Californian at heart. :-)

IG, I am a 20 year old widowed corn farmer living in Drummore.

Direct Action on Meat!

2007-12-02T02:48:00.001+10:30

There is a Galloway wide shortage of meat due various reasons, some of them limited to specific towns, some of them county wide. Ayr will soon develop its own problems, if they aren't evident already.

In Whithorn, one of the problems are the market manipulations of other residents, forcing folk to beg for what should be theirs by right. Anyway, we are trying to see if we can pool together our clan resources to make sure that we, and other stubborn types like ourselves, get a fair go.

The Fraser Clan is, like us, composed of mainly level 1s and over represented in Whithorn. As such they are both on the 'outer' of the kingdom's elitist power structures, and victims of the meat shortage. As I like these Frasers, and as we share more common ties with them than any other clan, I have sought to get them involved in our cunning plan (Lady Gypsy Rose is their leader).

Lady Gypsy,

I write concerning two things. Firstly, have you recently had approaches made to you, seeking to draw your clan into governmental political arena? I have, and rejected the proposal out of hand.

Secondly, you and your kin are no doubt as concerned about the meat situation in Whithorn as myself and mine. It is my assessment that things are worse for us at present due to market manipulations. For example, why is a butcher trawling the market for meat, if not to fulfill some private 'deal' he has made? All those who don't want to go cap in hand to the 'providers' have to take their chances on the open market, when the meat and HHW supply is being controlled ever more tightly.

Anyway, MacTavish have two butchers and a number of pigfarmers in town. We are about to set up an alternate supply chain to the present one. We don't wish to limit it to ourselves, but are a bit wary of just putting our goods on the market where the manipulators will likely get them.

As we hold yourself and your clan in high regard, we wonder if you would not mind working with us so that we can help build up your folk as well as ours. Once we start making inroads into the hold the manipulators have, I would like to see us try and open up the market to all.

I think both of our clans have a number of people who will soon reach level 2, so we can return a bit of civility to our town in near future... If you think we can work together on this, let me know.

Dracmuller MacTavish

Politics Schmoliticks

2007-12-02T02:22:00.000+10:30

I recently had an approach made me by a fairly well known county level politician type, seeking to recruit 'my clan' into a 'new political party' that will 'represent the interests of clans' in 'Scotland's future government'. I politely rejected this proposal out of hand.

The politician returned for more. I explained my reasoning thus: politics divide, clans unite. I see his way as leading to the diminution of the clan system before it has had a chance to blossom. He says that this was all "[his] point exactly", the clans can 'unite' the present political factions, secure their own power in doing so, and make scotland 'truly scottish'.

Hmmm, I thought. The politician was by this stage as close to begging as this politician will ever come. As he has worked very hard as a politician and has probably on the whole done us more good than harm, I didn't jump down his throat. I said that I'd bring it up before my kin, but would not recommend any such political involvement nor endorse it in any way.

My goodness, with the diversity of political views within this clan, we'd self destruct if we had to agree upon the best way to run the economy or some such...

Roll Call - Drac

2007-11-28T00:24:00.000+10:30

IRL I am early forties aussie male (half canadian). Play guitar in a rock band. work during the day as a criminal defence lawyer. Been there and done that in my earlier life, worked all types of jobs before spent 11 years at university where I expanded my mind. Married a scottish wife, in a kilt, in scotland (that's a tale in itself, which I'll tell anyone who asks me about it). I'll post a picture up in a day or two, adding it to this post.

IG play a early forties scottish male. Lead dude in a highland band. Taking the long view in setting up a clan for those not connected to the power structures, so kin can connect to the power structures via a clan which others respect. So far, mission a success.

IRL and IG - somewhat of a philosophical anarchist, stong sense of social justice, tilts at windmills.

Next ...

2007-11-26T10:24:00.000+10:30

Hokay So here is the Malon_Knights. My real name is Dave and I am one of Ladyrobin's 600 teenagers. I am really 17 years old. I am a senior in high school and very lazy, except in this game which is wierd. But yeah I have 2 cats, and my pure breed German shepred puppy, whom I love. I am also dating Sweetmeg, which will most likely, though I don't know, come into play in the game. I got my name from the Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. It can be found on the 3rd truthstone from the left in front of the temple of time. Also 2 interesting facts about myself, I know the ancient Scottish Sword Dance and I plan on growing huge, bushy mutton chops.

In game, I will be level 1 tomorrow. I just thought there was no better group of people to share this with than my clan.

Roll Call!

2007-11-26T09:34:00.000+10:30

There are 21 or more names on our clan list...and I admit I only know six of you more than just in passing. I do think it would be fun for each of us to post a little bit about ourselves, either IRL, IG, or both. Of course, I'll begin...

My real name is Robin (imagine that!) and I teach high school English (journalism/drama/Brit Lit/grammar). SweetMeg and Malons_Kinight are both students of mine IRL :-) We all live in Michigan, in the United States.

IG, I am 30. It was an age I enjoyed. IRL I am older than 30, and glad to be, frankly, after the last 18 months or so. You see, I'm also an ovarian cancer survivor! I've been married 26 years and have three fur children, and 600+ teenagers. Life is never EVER dull at my house.

Next?

A Blessed Thanksgiving

2007-11-22T23:23:00.000+10:30

Good day, clan family! I wasn't sure if I was allowed to post here, but seeing the "New Post" button, and having the time (finally!) to sit down for a minute, I decided to add a few pearls of wisdom.

First of all, I am thankful today for the new friends I've made in the Renaissance Kingdom. It's interesting the way a shared interest can pave the way for true caring, isn't it? I love how we are forming a family, and I am especially grateful for Dracmuller's leadership and constant care for the "extras" we have as MacTavishes, for example, this site.

Secondly, I'd like to encourage more of you to get involved! I know that's a hard thing to do with time as it is, and those of you who read this probably already ARE involved - but encourage our other clansmembers! It's lovely and fun to chat and feel more connected.

I will be around a bit more this next few days, being on Thanksgiving holiday from my work as a high school English teacher...so drop in, say hi, post a few lines! Make this our cyberclan home!

Sad (glad) News

2007-11-18T16:29:00.000+10:30

Aalynn of Wigtown has sadly but gladly left our clan. She had a closer origin to O'Broins in any case, as it turns out, and has lived in close and friendly contact with them all her life. I did not release her from our care until I had confirmed that this would be okay with O'Broin. I trust their word, so when they said yes, I released her. Perhaps in the long run, all for the best. It has strengthened the bonds between our two clans. That is not a bad thing.

Aalynn was desperately unhappy and lonely. In such a vivacious one as she, this was terrible to see. So, if you could have but seen her smile when I and Anthalor O'Broin had our talk, I am sure that you too would agree it was no bad thing that happened on this day.

If you were wandering...

2007-11-15T18:06:00.000+10:30

I am still in Drummore, meant to be back in Whithorn by now and feeding my pigs. Sadly, I buggered up the travel distance a bit, then ran out of money, had to work a day and rely upon lizardking to assist with finances to make sure that I have HHWs to get to market as soon as I return rather than pig corpses. Then I 'joined' a travel group to at least start the return journey, only to be told by group leader AFTER reset that the 'group' won't leave for weeks! Another day wasted...

So, I'm still in Drummore, little food and no money, and my pigfarm is almost idle (only one pig at present on it). I am leaving regardless today, on my own (seeing as one can't rely on nonkin organised groups it seems), and will brave robbery and starvation to get back to my cute little cottage.

If there's any kin in Drummore who read this in time, I'm call by the pubs from about 1100 GMT on 15/11. Some things never change.

I guess this will be a saga to tell the grandkids about one day...

New members

2007-11-13T18:27:00.000+10:30

Please welcome Kwaciutlcs MacTavish to our clan! And, if I didn't already say this ... Aindriu MacTavish also! Two young scotts proudly adopting our clan as theirs, we must be doing something right!

Please keep your eyes open for quality candidates for our clan, especially those from Wigtown and Drummore. It only takes one of our founding members to nominate an (IG) relative, three members (one of whom must be a founding member) to nominate someone out of the blue. If you are a bit shy about making an approach to somebody you'd like to see join us, contact me by message and tell me what you know of the person. I'll follow it up as required.

Brief Clan Update

2007-11-12T23:15:00.000+10:30

Membership is witnessing a fairly steady flow of applicants. One (Aindriu MacTavish) has been accepted. Two are in the process (Kwak and Malons_knight). There have been at least three others of whom I'm aware of who have made queries. We are more than holding our own.

National Affairs: Lady Robin and Ragehammer will represent us on a working group which should have come up with firm proposals to put to the King about how our country will be run in future. I understand that the working group is a forum for 'ideas' and I am sure our representatives will keep us informed and take our ideas 'up'. It is a very important thing these two MacTavishes do, please support them if they ask it of you.

Chief: Presently on the road to Drummore and about to run out of cash. Lucky there are family members in Drummore (the whole purpose of the trip having been to visit them in the first place) and already Lizardking has come up with an idea to keep the Chief in bread. I am looking forward to meeting you all in Drummore on my brief stay (my farm needs me). On the return trip, hope to have better luck in Wigtown than I had on the way through, and meet up with my clan members and our present applicant who reside there.

MacTavish Subforum: is keeping quite busy. Most of us have posted at least once. It has been great to see that most of us are using the resource this subforum is. My most fun bit was the Cattle Tipping roleplay we had there. If you haven't read it, take the time and do so. It's got terror and it's got laughter. We've also sorted out a few possible issues about our clan in a fairly open fashion. Worth visiting.

MacTavish's Hut: Got heavy visiting traffic on November 1 when we became a founding clan. I was highly impressed with the spirited turnout then and since. Considering the Hut has never been advertised as such, very impressive. Since then, we are constructing a 'Lodge'. This will be much more substantial than the present hut. You can keep an eye on the progress of the Lodge if you visit the hut occasionally. I don't keep a 'tracker' on any blog, so I don't know if the hut is being visited much unless folk leave a comment occasionally.

Well, that's about it for now.

"The Wigtown Convention"

2007-11-12T01:20:00.000+10:30

There's been a recent gathering on a hillside near Wigtown, whereat a large number of Scotts from all clans, creeds and ways of life attended. Under the great flag of our nation, words were freely spoken about the future of our country and how it will be run. Taking longer than many thought, the meeting appears to be breaking into working groups in its third day. May I say that various MacTavishes attended and truly spoke their minds. We made quite an impression.

It's looking like we'll be sending a couple rep's off to join a group who's job is to propose something to the king about how this country will be run in future. They'll be reporting back to us regularly, probably through our subforum. The working group will eventually come up with a proposal for the future, which will then be considered by a Council of Founding Clan Chieftains and voted upon before being submitted to the King to be enacted into law.

Sounds all dry and dusty? You're probably right, but it needs doing so that our freedoms and opportunities presently enjoyed may be preserved into the future as our nation grows. Many many thanks on behalf of all of us to those who have taken on these vital tasks.

And by the way, I'm slowly getting to Drummore and hope to be there 11/12 November. I will be relying upon clan members to help me out a bit, as I miscalculated what the trip would require by way of resources. Silly duffer me. And I can't wait to get back home!

New member in -others lining up.

2007-11-11T08:50:00.001+10:30

Aindriu has been accepted into the clan after some debate. I have added his name to our roster in Highland Halls and in MacTavish's Hearth. As soon as he replies to my message seeking his email address and username so I can grant him access to this site and our subforum, I will remove the thread about him from the forum.

Kwak's wait to join ends on the 13th of November.
Malons_Knight of Wigtown has now also applied.

Town and County Economics (long post)

2007-11-10T00:09:00.000+10:30

I borrowed the following from this post in archive forums. Although long, it gives and idea of how things work economically in our towns and county. Some of you might find it interesting.

hypno wrote:

First we have no road with any other counties (so no export money)

How the county makes money,
from the selling of animal to the rancher (malus the fodder needed to breed it). -From Gold mine that makes dirrectly money to the county
-From iron mines (we sell iron to blacksmith)
-From weekly tax tavern 20 pounds each (that is automatic)
From the election list (each to be a full list for county election need to paid 1200p that go to county funds)

What is the expense of the county
-Buying of the fodder (if shortage sometime we paid more then what the animal will gives from it)
-Marshals wage (soldiers that defend each town)
-Miners wage (and since we have more mines of stone and iron combine, if all mines are full we loose around 600 pounds a days that we can try to have more money be selling iron but with out trade road pretty hard, blacsmith just need a small amount of what is produce)
-And can loose money if need to do upgrade of a mine after one get downgrade
-the 8 pounds job on the mines page cost 8 pounds to county for absolute nothing back

Now for the town hall money add:
-Lordship IG each days a house of common lorship make sthe town hall get 4 pounds and a lorship of house of lords gives 9 pounds. (very important if you want to help the games and the town to takes those)
-Sell made by the TH, they buy stuffs on auto buy and resell it at higher price on market. -tax if a mayor is crazy enough to create one (very unpopular mesure)
-what is sold in Town hall tavern (beer and meal) Cost of town hall
-Wage of the town militia
-Weekly 20 pounds tax tavern to the county
-wage of state way for state point (each time mayor buy or sold something with out grant that cost him state point, same if he sent letters or start a trial, to get back point he need to hire state way that can produce those point)

Now for the global economy,
i will make analogy think of the county has a pool and the money is the water. Some of teh thing takes out money from it some other add money in it. What create money on the dychy economy -Gold mines (they transform iron and stone into money, since the maintenance require iron and stone, more miners more maintenance cost is high but more gold enter)
-church work (when you work for the church the 5 pounds come from nowwhere)
-Lucky event (when they gives money that create money in the county)
-Vote for the games (the 6 number vote on the uper right in game, each days if people vote in it that gives them 1 pound at reset, takes example that 50 people by town of teh duchy do that, that add 200 pounds of money into the economy of the county, really need to remind people to do it)
-the 50 pounds on creation of character by new player
-exportation (but right now impossible to do with no road)

What remove money from the economy:
-the level up, when you paid the 90 pounds, 500 pounds or 1000 pounds depend of the level, that money is takes by the system so it's a lost to the pool)
-The beer, each beer that is buy, 0.7 pounds return to system and that money lost in the economy)
-Buying of second field to the system not from other player (this money is remove from teh pool also)
-switching field cost 50 pounds (again money that dispear from economy)
-Buying of tavern 100 pounds
-switching shop 500 pounds
-buying of card deck from the NPC merchant 50 pounds (that will come soon enough for the poker in tavern)
-buying of table for poker 50 pounds
-level 3 study 5 pounds each time

Now i am sure i forget a lot but you see a lot remove money from the economy. that why it's important to have lordship, and people vote for the game. More money in the economy more the grow of the county.

If you have more question just ask

I have found a similarly informative post of Hypno's on the 'trajectory' of a new economy, such as is found in a Colony County like Galloway and, more particularly, wherever the next Scottish colony will be.

MacTavish United!

2007-11-08T10:04:00.000+10:30

We are a diverse bunch of people! Some of us like making money and playing along 'efficiently' ingame. Others like chatting in pubs. Still others are into the forums. Some love the roleplay aspects. Some are online all the time. Some get to call in, eat work and visit market, and get going again. We cover all the major timezone bands across the globe. Younger and older, male and female, first time MMPOG player, experienced hack. At least six different first languages.
Amazing!

I think we are all finding out where we fit in, which part we can play in our collective story. All of us have something to contribute, solid market citizens, bar flys, role players and political junkies alike.

At some stage, each of us will be able to contribute directly to our clan's future in some fashion or other. So, don't feel bad if you don't think you're doing alot - it's all voluntary and it is all appreciated!

And don't be afraid to try something new if that's what you want - most of us are learning as we go and will certainly enjoy the company.

Quieter Day

2007-11-08T01:54:00.000+10:30

I haven't done much stuff today as chieftain, which was nice after recent couple of weeks. The Hut site continues on its path to 'level up' to a lodge.

Around a half dozen of us have tried our hand at roleplay on the forums. I think we all agree its fun. It is also important for our clan that we engage at this level of the game, for it is here that glory and renown will be ultimately won. The at times terrifying, at times hilarious, Cattle Tipping role play on our subforum is reaching its conclusion, we have had an etrant in the Highland jousting tourney (myself), and Lady Robin has spoken on behalf of the people in a large gathering on a hill near Wigtown. Thus, the role play side of this clan is looking pretty good, we are gaining experience and making a bit of an impression. Is good.

Membership: Please keep your eyes open for people you'd like to see in our clan. If you don't want to make an approach yourself, or you want to know if they are already in a clan before asking, please let me know.

Please make a point of saying hello to your fellow MacTavishes if you meet them in a taven or buy goods off them in town. Not always easy in our busy lives, but over time such contacts will be the glue that ultimately binds.

I am off to Wigtown in a couple of days, and then on to Drummore before returning. I hope to catch up with clan members in these towns, and just generally be seen as I find this is good way to raise our profile.

Letters, Fraser and Campbell (long post)

2007-11-05T23:54:00.000+10:30

The Fraser Clan is entirely resident in Whithorn. They are unique in that they have a 'Chieftess,' Lady Gypsy Rose. They arrived at the Gathering of Clans out of the blue before the Nov 1 deadline. Well done! Also perhaps of interest to many of us is the fact that four of the seven Frasers have some link to our own clan (according to our archives).

I have had some correspondence with The Fraser. I reproduce the most interesting letter so far.
I first sent a brief letter (not reproduced here), thanking her for visiting our hut own November 1, as well as during the cyberstorm the following night. In her reply (not included here) she alluded to fact that other unnamed clan leaders were giving her a hard time about the fact that her character is female. This was my response:

Lady,

MacTavish has no problem dealing with a female character leading her clan. Many of our most influential members are female. We honour all. In fact, methinks you must be very competent to have raised your people to recognition in the short time you had available. Well done!

Leave ignorant ones to their ignorance. It may mean a bit more give than take on your part, but in the long run the people will recognise wisdom and understanding for what it is.

Looks like 6 of our fellow chieftains have nominated themselves for the council of the new colony (whenever that will come about, who knows). Much experience will be leaving our County with them. These are both things we will need to consider for the benefit of our people(s).

Yours,

Dracmuller of Whithorn
Chieftain of Clan MacTavish

The Campbells (again)

I have also received word from JuliusOctavius of Clan Campbell, effectively summoning myself as chief and yourselves as clan members to Wigtown for a big meeting. I'm none to pleased that he feels it his right to do this, but believe that what he proposes has merit. Therefore I go. And ask all of you to go if you are interested (directions are here).

I wrote this letter to Aqueron, Chief of Cambell, before doing anything else:

Aqueron, Proclaimed Lord of Argyll, Chieftain of Clan Cambell, Greetings!

I have received word from your kinsman, summoning clan leaders to a meeting as clan leaders. I believe that it is necessary we all meet publicly. So I will come. I would like you to note, however, that I would rather have heard such from yourself than from he.

Dracmuller
Chieftain of Clan MacTavish

I hope I wasn't too brusque!

Finally, a quoting letter of mine to Aqueron, which quotes his response to the previous:

"Your want of hearing from myself would have been true if I had prior knowledge of this event. Many times Julius takes action as the Captain of the Army and not as sub under me in the clan. If this were a summons from Clan Campbell to the others such as yourself, rest assure it would have come from me."

Point taken, sir, but we still would rather have heard of it from you. Be it thus. We go because we all need to talk, and be seen to talk, openly so that the scottish people can have their trust in the clan system affirmed. On another matter, I feel I must thank you for your wise words to Aindriu. When he first approached us, I referred him to yourself. I believe he is thinking things over at the moment.

Building MacTavish Lodge

2007-11-05T19:30:00.001+10:30

You may have noticed at the Hut that construction has commenced on a new building, MacTavish Lodge. This is all happening in the 'hut' site and doesn't have any (direct) consequence ingame. Nor does it require anything from anyone (except in a RP sense, if you are so inclined).

The pictures I will use are all taken from medieval re-enactment society records. When well and truly done with the building, I will lodge the originals (or at least their address) here.

For now, I must return to the lists at the Highland Tourney where I have a Campbell thundering toward me on pounding steed, deadly lance in hand.

Chief to visit Wigtown, Drummore?

2007-11-05T00:53:00.000+10:30

If I can afford it I am thinking of making another trip soon. Perhaps, leave Whithorn in 3 days time [local]. I would intend travelling each day, through Wigtown to visit Drummore before returning. 4 day trip. Thus I can make myself available to meet up with those of our kin in these towns.

Methinks a good thing for a Chief to do.

Redundancy?

2007-11-05T00:19:00.000+10:30

I am posting some information both here and on our Sub Forum. This duplication is because some of our kin cannot get into the forum (yet) and others can't get into here (yet). All can get into at least one of these places.

We have kept clan business going when 2 out of 3 servers crashed (3 servers = game, forum, blogger). The value of having multiple locations where we can communicate has already showed itself!

Hopefully the Hearth becomes primarily a collection of more arcane and strategic information, the forum more of day to day details (plus a bit of Role Play!). They should generally remain quite different in content.

Whew...

2007-11-04T02:02:00.000+10:30

You may recall that I had earlier issued the Scottish Herald with some notice of our public existence and activities, and how it seemed all I said was refracted through a prism of politics (see posts here for October 2007).

Make of the following exchange of letters what you will:

"The Scottish Herald" Sub Editor ("Clan Politics") to Dracmuller:

i'm sorry to say that the article on the MacTavish won't be done...It has been decided that this time we'll speak about the wedding which is linking Campbells and Kennedys.And next one will probably be on the Highland games...

Dracmuller's Reply:

Mordrag, Editor
We understand that our hut compares not with the splendour of the wedding, and we hope the highland games provide good sport. I just thought you might be able to use knowledge of the hut (amongst similar sites around) for some background, in whatever way you did (or didn't) choose to. Never an expectation of an 'article'.
I look forward to the next edition.
Dracmuller

By the way, is good to see MacTavishes at both the above events !
See here and here.

Children of the Mist v Scotts Nationalists

2007-11-02T03:05:00.000+10:30

Debates have been going for awhile on the forums about a proposed 'RP robbery' law for Scotland. Things keep getting heated to much for the mods of the forums (who regularly are imposing cooling off periods and/or locking threads). Out of it all there has come about a competition for the upcoming County elections. Between the governing group (SNP - Scottish National Party) and their challengers (CotM - Children of the Mist).

I am not going to say how you should vote, or how I shall vote. I would just like to encourage you all to keep an eye on the candidates when they hassle you for votes. Don't let them put you off of visiting the taverns, but don't let their excitement get you too riled up. I know for me, a classic politician brings out the mocker in me. I try and watch it, but not always too good at this.

For the record, I have reproduced below my recent post about the issue on the Children of the Mist thread on the forums (CotM is the name of the opposition political party that is running for upcoming County election). I posted under a subtitle of 'My Pesonal View Only.'

CoM were descendants of MacAlpin, the family of first scottish king Kenneth [NB MacTavish also trace descent back through Kenneth MacAlpin]. Hundreds of years ago. Associated with MacGregors, most famously nearly 100 years in future of ig timeline .

I like not this talk of guilt by association, would that not make all us scotts guilty as charged? I for one am proud of association with Clan MacGregor. I don't yet have opinion on practicality of robbery law. My prime allegiance is to Scotland (Galloway).

Prosperity is good. Freedom is good. Difference and debate is good. I agree with Aqueron. Run the election. Debate in Council. Vote.

Fireside Message Box

2007-11-01T23:11:00.000+10:30

I have relabelled the 'chat box' a 'message box' as that seems to be its function. At a stretch I'd use it for real time communication Like, if I had to chat with someone in a different town and we therefore couldn't use a local tavern to meet and talk.

Having to 'refresh' the screen every time you want to check for new messages makes it a hassle if what you are really wanting to do is 'chat.' Pubs are so much better for chat, and one can usually find a few minutes alone.

But, always be careful who's listening in a tavern!

A Big Day

2007-11-01T06:41:00.000+10:30

Well. We made it! I hope I can take my foot off the accelerator now. I set myself goal of pushing the clan as hard and as fast as possible to today. After today, we will see if it has legs of its own.

As of dawn in Australia, we have 16 members. 4 in Drummore, 2 in Wigtown, 10 in Whithorn. I am still hoping to be able to accept at least one more person into the clan today, but we shall see.

I hope some of you made it to MacTavish's Hut and left a message. I have had responses from the following clans, each saying they would maybe bring a contingent through the site:

Kennedy, Forbes, MacAle, MacLeod and Murray. Campbell has already checked us out a day ago, I expect them at some time. I also think Clan O'Broin will be represented. Duke Hypno, Chieft of Clan MacGillivray is in France and cannot come, but sent a written message (I will put it in comments on the Hut). Brother Chris of Clan Wallace is in retreat at moment.

I've sent a circular letter to all MacTavishes, inviting them to call by especially.

See how we go.

The Toast to the Founding Clans

2007-11-01T06:39:00.000+10:30

1 November, 1455
MacTavish's Hut

I, Dracmuller MacTavish, Chieftain of our clan, welcome you all!

Be ye kith or kin, old foe of the field or ally on the hoof, peasant, tradesperson or noble, we extend to you our humble hospitality!

He gestures towards a large table, laden with piles of bread and roasted vegetables, platters of meats and poultries dripping with succulent juices, a cauldron of fish soup, and bowls of endless oatmeal porridge for the traditionalists

But before you begin, I want you to look around. Notice who is here. See them not as the doers of the petty day to day things which fill so much of our lives. Rather, see in them the Founding Clans of Scotland. For our flesh and blood is Scotlands future!

He raises his drinking bowl.

To the glory of Scotland!

And with that the feast began …

The home straight

2007-10-31T01:17:00.001+10:30

We are in the home straight to the Great Gathering of the Clans on November 1. I think that there will be RP Highland Games on the Highland Hall Forum. To see a few MacTavishes there would be good. I at least hope to enter in at least one of the competitions (Chief's battle, near the end of the day).

I haven't sent out any more invitations to join our clan today. I feel I've done enough of that. Besides, a lot of the quality candidates have joined a clan by now. I still hope that we'll get one or two more acceptances from those already sent, but am very happy with our clan's membership at present. I think we have a lot to offer Scotland.

I spent a fair bit of time sitting alone in the Whithorn Whistle and Thistle pub or up at MacTavish's Hut, closely examining a lot of maps to help out the Lyons Court in their determination of our 'territory'. Sorry if any of you are historical buffs, but I have opted for our RP version of MacTavish history. I think that will leave us freer to create our own future, and get us out from under the Campbells! I also lodged our historical coat of arms to be considered by the Lyons Court.

I have sent out some invites to various clan leaders, inviting them to visit the Hut on November 1 to commemorate the proclomation of the Founding Clans of Scotland. I hope we get a few MacTavish's passing through also to leave a 'comment' for the future.

MacTavish Lands

2007-10-30T22:33:00.000+10:30

A representative from the Court of Lyons has asked if of the two areas the circle above Loch Lomond is the area that you consider the seat of the MacTavish land?

I answered her thus:

I think ig MacTavishes come from the circled area above Loch Lomond:

Somewhere in the triangle formed by modernday Crianlarich, Tyndrum and Killin. This conincides with border area between Dumbartonshire, Perthshire and Stirlingshire, and clans of MacGregor, MacNab, Bucchanan, Campbell and, to north east, Murray. This should leave some flexibility as to which county to locate the seat. I imagine that the ancestral home in Argyll still exists, but has devolved since the clan's disintegration into a minor though independent family.

Coat of Arms to be recognised?

2007-10-30T19:15:00.000+10:30

I have just lodged the MacTavish CoA to be registered at the Lyons Court of Arms (forum).

If you don't know how to find your way either to or around the forums, let me know.

Part time warrior blues

2007-10-30T01:54:00.000+10:30

Ragehammer has indeed had to decline attendance at the upcoming Highland Games, waving his hammer convincingly towards his anvil as he declaims the urgent needs of the workshop. Who am I to argue! AND I've just been told that I can't substitute a Champion for myself in the Chieftain's fight. I think I'm gonna get pounded by a Campbell ...

One day soon I'd like to go get me a sword!

.

Things to ponder

2007-10-29T20:36:00.000+10:30

Highland Games: Check the post on our clan subforum and see if you can get involved. As a minimum, try and visit MacTavish's Hut during the day (November 1) and leave a comment to mark the celebrations that we will hold there!

Clan Champion :We need a strong person for this. There might be a bit of a call on their time at short notice. I have asked Ragehammer if interested, as probably the strongest amongst us at present. I stand to be corrected on this, and Ragehammer has the right to say no.

Ragehammer has indeed had to decline attendance, waving his hammer towards his anvil as he did so. Who am I to argue! AND I've just been told that I can't substitute a Champion for myself in the Chieftain's fight. I gotta get me a sword somehow before the day!

Clan Membership: There are 14 of us at present, and I am expecting at least a couple more to join in next couple days. That puts us at the big end of the middle sized clans, or the small end of the big sized clans. This is a pretty good position to be in around November 1.

I would like all listed here on November 1 to be regarded equally as 'founding members'. I don't do this out of a love of titles, but for want of a title. The function of Founding Members would be to keep our clan healthy.

In terms of new members of our clan after November 1, I think the process for admission should be a little more involved than it has been until now. This is what I have thought (I'll give my reasons later, most important to get discussion going now):

1. To be considered for membership a person must be born or resident in scotland, or have been resident in Scotland when they joined MacTavish. They may not be a member of another recognised Scottish Clan (though may be related to one or more).

2. For a request for membership to be considered by the clan, they must be
a) nominated publicly (on subforum)
b) by at three clan members of who have each been a member for at least one month
(this requirement waived during November as none of us would yet qualify!),
c) at least one of the three must be a founding member.

3. The nomination would remain up on the forum for a week.
Members should feel free to post any objections or agreements there during this period.
a) If there are no unresolved objections, the person can be admitted then.
b) If there is at least one objection that is still held at the end of the week,
a poll will be held on forum for all intested in voting on the matter.
c) In the result of a tie, the chieftain has a casting vote.

4. Result is final (exception - chieftain may allow another application after at least another month has passed, provided all entry criteria met)

What do you think?

I've put a copy of the membership idea up on our subforum, please comment there.

New Chieftain Press Release

2007-10-29T01:35:00.000+10:30

After deliberations lasting several days, Clan MacTavish have chosen Dracmuller to be the chieftain of the clan.

Press Release

Preceded by sounds of applause and good cheer, Dracmuller emerged from MacTavish's Hut and announced that the Clan had appointed him Chieftain by acclamation.

"Clan MacTavish and all true friends, hear me!" he said.

"You see before you the Chieftain of Clan MacTavish! The mantle of chieftainship is an honour I will accept humbly but carry with pride!

"My first announcement as Chieftain is to invite any who disagree strongly with any decision of mine to come forth and speak with me before taking any rash action."

Sent to the Scottish Herald

On new colonies...

2007-10-29T01:06:00.000+10:30

There is much talk on forums regarding a new colony for scotland. Many of the most active and experienced governmental type characters are queueing up to go and set up utopia. If they all left right now that could be a problem for us.

Why?

Most of Clan MacTavish were either born here (IG) or migrated as low level 1s. We are not quite ready to step into the roles of level2dom, so we will notice the departure of many valued members of our community. I don't primarily see clans in political economic terms, but do take note of structural factors when they threaten the well being of most of our members.

We would face an influx of new characters, including organised groups of migrants with their own visions and plans for our country. This could lead to interesting Role Play, but it could also lead to us being subject to takeover by organised political factions that are not tied to our evolving system of clan and country and who seek to run us for their own (perhaps wider) agendas.

I think, therefore, that a delay of another month or two would be to the advantage of Clan MacTavish.

That's my view, and I have let it be known in Highlands Hall.

I am also pleased to hear that some of us are prepared to join any new colonies that might be formed.

Maps and Territories

2007-10-28T01:21:00.000+09:30

Seer of the Lyons Hall sent me a couple ancient maps, asking me to indicate where I thought the lands of the MacTavishes were. The original maps she sent are here and here.

Here are my two extracts from those maps, indicating in red shaded area the two main territories of Clan MacTavish. There will no doubt be other pockets of MacTavishness throughout Scotland (such as in present day 1455 Galloway). The Western most zone is the historical territory, apparantly centred around stronghold at Dunardry. The inland zone, above Loch Lomond, is the region surrounding the original Dunn Tavish.

Dunn Tavish was a 'colony' of the main clan, set up by a younger brother and his followers after having left the Dunardry following a family squabble (RK mixed with RL). The division of the family at that time is probably what kept it relatively weak despite its illustrious origins (RL).

Piper Tom

2007-10-27T21:45:00.000+09:30

I hope you have enjoyed hearing Piper Tom and wee Roddy playing the pipes in Hut and Hearth. I have given them a bit of a break in here, too many people have visited and have stretched the down/upload limit of the site PiperTom is at.

I don't wish to harm anyone with my use of their band, so I have made it optional to hear him play 'Scotland the Brave' on this site. Just click once to activate the control on the sidebar, and again to ask him to play.

Hope this helps, Soltario!