For the lesson today we shall create a person. I like to call
make-believe people Bob so here we have Bob. He's a priest. Calm down,
it isn't that kind of lesson. Anyway, Bob's a priest. He's got decent
fighter skills but of course the personality of a rock. Which means that
every Sarapin Bob becomes everyone's friend, and then thats about it for
Bob. Bob won't ever advance very far in the guild because...well Bob has
all the diplomacy skills of a 5 week old turnip left in the rubbage bin.
But Bob certainly loves that feeling of being wanted. He loves the
adoration he gets when he smites his foes down. And he wants more of
that. Now see, this is where Bob starts down a path that leads to a
viscious cycle. Instead of applying himself and learning how to become a
better priest, he decides that the best route to feeling loved and
wanted is to betray the Church and help Mhaldor. And so, the next few
Sarapins he feeds info to the enemy and then in one big apocalyptic
backstab, joins the Maldaathi killing many of his former friends.

Bob rationalizes that the priest didn't appreciate what they had. Heck,
thats what all his new friends say. You'll be much happier here. And for
awhile Bob is. Why he's the guy that screwed the church. Way to go Bob!
But see, what Bob hasn't figured out yet is that in this world, its all
about what have you done for me lately. So Bob does what he always did,
worked the landmarks and continued to have those same weaknesses as
before. Eventually, he's just Bob again. Nice job Bob, see you next
Sarapin. Bob really hates that. He longs for the attention he got
before. So what does Bob do? Betrays the Maldaathi. You see, part of his
deal to join them was they made him a secretary which gave him access to
the guild accounts. So he cleans them out and rushes off to join, oh who
really cares at this point?

Eventually Bob joins a group of elite people who have backstabbed nearly
everyone in the game. These are the people that Pentharian, Lupus,
Twilight, and Sartan can actually all agree on the fact that they are
worthless. Quite the accomplishment and gosh at the attention.

Now the lesson. For those of you who are pondering this, understand you
are only as good, evil, clever, whatever as what you did last. And you
have to keep topping yourself to get that level of attention you crave.
Its a hellish amount of work. In fact, if you had just used about a
quarter of that work and applied yourself in your guild, you'd be a
guild secretary on your own now and Gods forbid, have respect. So do
ponder this before you become the next flavor of the week we read about
here on the public boards. Yes, you really did a good job screwing your
former friends. Don't expect warm receptions wherever else you decide to
wander unless you pay them off too because thats the life you've chosen.

For those who have chosen this life *shrug* more power to you. I'll just
point this one tiny, itsy, bitsy thing out. Eventually you end up in a
situation where your only allies are people who have backstabbed just
about everyone else like you did. And while there is a certain
comraderie to that, understand that you are in fact a group. Groups are
the same as organizations and see, thats who you all betrayed.. some
organization of some fashion or kind. I wonder who will be the next
flavor of the week to appear here that has betrayed the betrayers. Or is
it possible they already have? Nasty circles, they just keep going round
you know.

Bob says bye all

Penned by my hand on the 12th of Scarlatan, in the year 314 AF.