Shayle, duh.

Just because she's awesome.

I used to look up to Aiakon, his name was everywhere in the Geomancers and he seemed to lead without needing to kill people to make a name for himself. Especially because Revan who was my aim for family wasn't exactly a good role model for scholarly type stuff. It was really good to work with him while he was still librarian and around.

I suppose mine are Malicia and Geb - Malicia took more of an active role in getting me into combat. Geb provided the tools and steered me into the right path for the future.

At first, Kaervas. Then he spent about a week being an utter dick to me everytime I logged in. After that early Fain and Arilyon. <3 for Arilyon. She showed me you could be in power and not a complete about it, something that many people seem to be unable to learn. Plus she was, in general, a really nice lady. Also able to flatten Daevos.

Heh, I don't remember that at all. I can't really think of anyone I'd consider an idol, though I suppose the original Fain and most of the original Magnagora crew came as close as one as I'd get.

Valek and Kaervas. And before I actually talked to him, Visaeris. Heh.

Those were fun.

I'd have to say Terenas.

Jack.

No, I am serious.

EDIT: Oh, Gregori too, he got me into combat.

For me, Vesar and Geb that time as Turgeis, still them right now.

When I first started back in open beta, Daevos was my hero. He wasn't warlord yet (Chade was a good warlord too), but he was still :censored: scary, but didn't let it get to his head. Valek and - more often - Val taught me about how to fight and stay alive (Val had the inside scoop as a coder for another IRE game), and UBER PWNZER moves like setting people on fire when nobody could cure.

With Derian, I'd have to say Shorlen. He spent a ton of time explaining everything about how the Seren works, re-explaining about Lusternia (though I already knew a lot, it was fun to pretend I didn't), and taught me all about the histories of Seren and Glom. I always thought it was awesome that the GA would take so much time (many hours) explaining all of these things one-on-one with a random novice. He was never officially my mentor, but unofficially gave me tons of advice and helped me shape Derian. He is the reason I kept Derian around instead of making another alt.

Merloch and Raevyn.

Not idols per say, but Neerth and Marzolan both had a lot of influence on Fionn when he was still an utter newb. They helped to emphasize to him that there's a fair bit more to do in Lusternia than bash and PK, and given how terrible I am at scripting and system building, this was definitely a deciding factor in how long I'd remain playing.

Hmm. Several people influenced me and still do; however, those that had and still have the most influence would have to be:

Tajalli - for helping me understand what the hell I was doing when I first joined Blacktalon. If anyone demonstrated the importance of reaching out to novices it would be her.

Athine - for taking me under her wing and really helping me get through some rough spots when I was trying to identify with what it means to be part of the Murder. Her passionate talks about what being part of the Murder means are truly priceless.

Pentu - for giving me a true understanding of what it means to be a druid.

Ragniliff and Lisarel - for having the patience to listen to me and explain Glomdoring. It is because of them I stayed in Glomdoring as a novice. They demonstrate what commune life should be about.

I appreciated (and still do) many people in Lusternia, but being a pretty rebellious guy I never had an authority figure. It might be related with that when I was a total newbie, so was everyone else around me.

If you were to put a gun against my head and ordered to name one person or else you'd shoot, I would say Rhysus.

Josun and Etanru. They were awesome parents.

That explains so much.

I realized that after I said it, too.

Shorlen, for helping Xiran along when she was a newbie novice and only influenced. Took her to aetherbubbles and got her interested in skills other than influencing.
And Nejii, for prodding Xiran into joining the Moondancers and being an unofficial mentor. Also for debating views of the Wyrd and Taint. =p Even if he doesn't remember how they first met. Silly fox with bad memory.

Saran,


.... but then I got denied by the family.


ELOSTIAN! Neerth! Genevieve! Pentu! Jasato! and... Aison. All so wonderful, despite the fact that Aison is younger than Saaga.

Like every other young Shadowdancer, Shayle was definitely my model for what a Shadowdancer and Glomdorian should be like. Druken was also always very helpful and inspiring during the early years.

Oh, and Xinemus.




...I think maybe I need to meet new people.