Town Hall Message

Click here to see all Mayoral Tutorials regarding RK
I am Mayor again and have made changes to my previous message:

Newest TH report in the forum. TAVERN FULLY STOCKED! (Need meat? Please shop our tavern!)

========== ANNOUNCEMENTS =========
* Town Hall is Buying ALL Fish Under 16!
- - Go fishing today: MAP: http://fishing.melyadon.info/?village=whithorn
TUTORIAL: http://xenina.blogspot.com/2008/09/whithorn-fishing-tutorial.html
=== List your fish under 16 to sell them! =====

** NEW!? Please use the New Citizen Program by Buying Our Program Corn! Questions? Mentor: Syseelia, Michael_Gallagher or the Mayor: Xenina.

* Town Danger Code is White (no danger)

* Travel Danger Code is White "low danger" from here to Wigtown, but I suggest that you NEVER travel without a grant.
= GRANTS ARE FREE! = Here is a guide: http://xenina.blogspot.com/2009/03/grant.html

=========== - TH MSG MENU - ==========
1) News
2) Food Information
3) How to Help Your Town
4) Economics / Laws /Suggestions
5) Leveling Up
6) Autobuys
7) Suggested Prices
8) Town Statistics

============ - 1) NEWS - ===========
* Short on veggies. I don't see a reason for this, so I'm now suggesting that people Level into vegetables.

* We are short meat, so please butcher some meats or import if you travel! Thanks.

* LADDERS: Please list for £20 and £60 respectively or no one will buy them.

===== - 2) FOOD & STATS/ GIFTS - ====
*HP = Hunger Points

BREAD: 2 HP, 0 Gifts
CORN:: 1 HP, 0 Gifts
VEGGIE:1 HP, 1 Charisma Point
FRUIT: 1 HP, 1 Charisma Point
MILK:: 1 HP, 1 Intelligence Point
FISH:: 2 HP, 2 Intelligence Points
MEAT:: 2 HP, 2 Strength Points

GIFTS::
Charisma: Helps you to get hired when competing for a job or to buy or sell items on the market. Example: If Joe has 3 Charisma and Sarah has 1 Charisma Point and both attempt to buy the same bread, Joe will buy the bread and Sarah will not.

Intelligence: Helps you to make more choices when fishing, chopping wood, picking fruit and so on.

Strength: Helps you to fish out further, chop wood higher and so on. Also, Strength Points come into play when you are robbing or being robbed by people on the roads and/or when fighting in an army.

==== - 3) HOW TO HELP YOUR TOWN - ====
* Become a Lord and our town is paid a stipend, just for having you in town.

* Another way to help us out is to pick up food items to sell when you leave town.

*You can also volunteer for a Town Council position.

== - 4) ECONOMICS/LAWS/SUGGESTIONS - ==
* MARKET: Our economy is low priced and moving. :)

* Minimum Wage: is currently 14 pounds

* Profiteering on our market is illegal and can be prosecuted.

** If you have concerns on a certain product, please send a note to your Mayor! Also, if you need a loan for any reason, contact the Mayor. Thanks. **

* FORUMS: I highly encourage you to read and post in our forum. To truly play RK is to know the forums. Just click on the word "Forum" below your news scroller. Then click on "Go to the forum with your player's account 'your name here'". Once in the forum, you can scroll down to our county (Galloway) and our town (Whithorn). If you can not see the forums, please check your security.

========== - 5) LEVELING - ===========
*Please notify the mayor with a simple note when you level.*

= TO LEVEL ONE: (If you participated in our NEW CITIZEN program, just send me a note.) I suggest you have 150 pounds before you get a first field. (You'll need some cash for expenses and to hire people). Then please choose:

* VEGGIES!! (You harvest on day 5. No stats needed.)
* CORN: http://xenina.blogspot.com/2008_03_01_archive.html

= TO LEVEL TWO: We have a lot of level twos here. If you are thinking of moving, don't level UNTIL you move, because you lose your workshop when you move. If you do level in Whithorn, I suggest you ask around. Butcher may be a good choice right now.

========== - 6) AUTOBUYS - ===========
Meat: OFF
Cow HW: OFF
Pig HHW: OFF

Please don't use wool autobuy. Thanks!

======= - 7) SUGGESTED PRICES - =======
Corn ____ 2.60 (1hp)
Bread ___ 5.40 (2hp)
Veggies _ 7.70 (1hp, +1 Charisma)

Meat ____ 16.80 (2hp, +2 Strength)
Fish ____ 15.90 (2hp, +2 Intelligence)
Milk ____ 8.10 (1hp, +1 Intelligence)
Wheat ___ 10.10
Flour ___ 12.70
Wood ____ 4.00
HHW _____ 15.00
HC ______ 30.00
Knives __ 14.20
Axe _____ 150
Boat ____ 95
Oar _____ 21 (Only for carpenter use)
Wool ____ 11.25
Hides ___ 15.00
Buckets _ 39.00
Sword ___ 200
Helmet __ 150
Shafts __ 9.00

(THESE MINIMUM prices assume wool=11, hides=15 and wage=21 pounds. Larger items are more difficult to save up to make and therefore may cost more.)
Dress ____ 234 (18 wool, 1 hide)
Shirt ____ 109 (8 wool)
Shoes ____ 28 (2 hides)
Trousers _ 65 (4 wool)
Hat ______ 56 (2 hides)
Rope belt_ 52 (1 hide, 1 wool)
Belt _____ 41 (1 hide)
Boots ____ 86 (4 hides)
Hose _____ 45 (2 wool)
Mantle ___ 246 (15 wool, 4 hides)
Headscarf _28 (2 wool)
Waist Coat_131 (7 hides)
Headdress _78 (2 wool, 2 hides)
Toque ____ 56 (2 hides)
Cloak ___ 175 (4 wool, 7 hides)
Skirt ___ 117 (8 wool)
Apron ___ 116 (6 hides)
Shield ___ 71 (3 hides)

Unhooped buckets = 20
Small Ladder = 20
Large Ladder = 40

========= - 8) STATISTICS - ===========
Number of players, level 0 : 233
Number of players, level 1 : 87
Number of players, level 2 : 59
Number of players, level 3 : 11

Number of wheat fields: 84
Number of corn fields: 51
Number of vegetable patches:95

Number of cow ranches: 13
Number of sheep ranches: 9
Number of pig ranches: 17

Number of cows: 29
Number of sheep: 21
Number of pigs: 35

Number of millers: 20
Number of bakers: 10
Number of butchers: 12
Number of blacksmiths: 12
Number of carpenters: 12
Number of weavers: 14

EPIC FAIL

Credit to EBSF Members:

Robert Carter / James Glasgow ~ An RK Friend Is Gone

I have only recently learned of the death of our good online friend:
James_Glasgow in Renaissance Kingdoms. The man was known to the real world as Robert Carter, and I considered him my good friend. He had struggled with cancer for years, but never did he let on to me when he was feeling weak or sick. I actually thought he had beat it, because he told me last year that he was doing really well. So, I was hit with a rather large hammer when I read his son's post that he had passed in April.


Robert's family says that he was "determined" to beat it. To me, he always told me he was feeling "great". He would much prefer to sit and talk to you about the weather . . . anything to avoid complaining about himself.

Personally I've known Robert for around 8 years. In 2009, he joined Renaissance Kingdoms in Scotland. His game name then was Remus Dunbar. After some time in the game he changed his name to the one we are most familiar with: James_Glasgow. Back then I was living as Serendipity. He lived with me and many others in a wonderful county of Ayr, Scotland. He was a very active and participating member of our community. He was the one person who was so kind and honest to me that I decided to stay in touch with some of the people of Ayr. That time was rough for me. He was probably the single most person who kept me in RK. Upon my suggestion, when Ayr fell, James ended up in Penrith, England. He was the most reliable person in Penrith, other citizens have said. He made so many axes that I bet we could never count them all.  Over time, I continued to check on his progress after he made landfall in England. He was glad to hear that I was next door in Egremont.


We always had a kinship, and we both joined the family De Grey. That's when we began to talk more often. I knew him best as my RK cousin. Later he was an RP partner, and then later a good friend. We spoke on Skype and Facebook often enough. We liked talking about silly RK politics and he would listen to me gossip. He enjoyed it. The last few years were when we spoke the most in real life. He regaled me with stories of his real life adventures, stories of his kids and all the travels that he was doing. He was always curious about my real life, my struggle and my travels. I think he lived vicariously though me and his other friends.


Did you know that Robert was deaf? Probably not, because he never complained. He was always so sweet to me, and kind and polite and proper to everyone. Even when I hurt him, he came back at me with compassion and love.  I truly believe he was so generous that he would give most the shirt off his back. His humility also knew no bounds. When I praised him he would never accept it. He would instead throw some compliment back at you. Truly, he was a good man, and someone that I looked forward to hearing from. Always.

Please click on the image to read it in a larger format.

I regret not talking to him more than I did in the last year. We had a disagreement in 2015. It was the only one we ever had, and it was right before I changed my RK character. I was going through a rough time in game, and in my own life, trying to find myself once again after life had handed me a bunch of terrible playing cards. The funny part is that I was leaning on him, instead of him leaning on me, while the man was battling cancer? He rarely spoke to me about any discomfort or upset. He was just always curious to hear about my life. Now, I wish I had listened a little bit more.


He'd gone missing earlier this year. I thought he was fine, because I had spoken to him on April 2nd. I reminded myself to catch up with him again soon, but a few months ago I was in Penrith, so I started trying to get a hold of him. He didn't respond to any messages after that date, but I had no way of knowing that he was gone. I mailed him at least 5 times in the last few months especially, wondering where he'd gone to. I had no idea that he had passed and upon hearing about it today.  I will say that I am beating myself up that I missed spending time with him. Even one more discussion before he passed would have helped us both. Still, I was honored to have known him, and he truly did touch my life. I hope he knew that I loved him. I think he did. Still, I wish I'd told him more often.

Rest in Peace, Robert. We'll never forget you.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Robert's family had no insurance. He wasn't insurable. If you have any ability to help his family with his medical bills and funeral cost, they would really appreciate it.  His three sons are all under the age of 23, so they've taken it hard. Mourning is important to the human spirit.If you would like to leave a memory or an inspirational message about him as James or Robert, please do! You can leave it in the comments here or on his memorial YouCaring page:

http://www.youcaring.com/robertschilldren-947536

Escaping and Healing with Renaissance Kingdoms

How do you know when you're unhappy? Well, for some it's obvious depression where you can't get out of bed. For others it's serious suicidal ideation, but for the vast majority it's hard to recognize. Many people trudge through their lives at jobs they hate and families that they avoid. Why? Could it be that they simply don't realize just how unhappy they are? Are they so caught up in obligations that it doesn't occur to them?

 That's what it was like for me, a numbness. No laughing or joy. No desire to go out and do anything. I had a lack of ambition, a lack of self esteem and confidence; confidence that used to be there when I was younger; confidence that had somehow escaped me when my body was ravaged by weight. That
confidence had helped me accomplish goals and now it was somehow missing. While I lost some looks I also realized how unimportant my looks truly were to me and how I wanted people to appreciate me much more for what was inside my head and heart than for what size my bum was.

In 2008 I found Renaissance Kingdoms. I met a man who was born in the game a few days after me. He seemed very funny and very honest. We talked online for a while and I soon made other friends. We had long conversations about the ranching of cows and sheep in the game. Silly mundane activities seemed interesting but that didn't really hold my interest. What did were writing story lines in a forum and hanging out in the taverns at night drinking virtual beer. This is called role playing in RK. Anyway, I remembered how much I loved to write. I remember the rush I got when I read certain books and it all came back to me; my love of reading and writing.

 So, once I had started writing, people in the game saw my active and thoughtful mind and I was quickly recruited into politics and into clubs. In Scotland we have clans, where you support each other in the game as well as real life. You can form real friendships here. The cool thing is that my very best friends in the world are in Canada, New Zealand and England. I remember when I first met someone in Germany. It seemed fantastical to me, that I could have friends on the other side of the world. Now it's just "normal" to me. So, there I was enjoying sitting on my computer, socializing with people who had never seen my face before. I escaped the real world by reading or writing fiction; taking trips I've never taken, accomplishing huge goals in political systems or rallying the people in Scotland.

 For the first time since college, I wrote grandiose speeches and truly moved people with my words. The interesting thing about that was that people agreed with me, enjoying my speeches and my phrasing. Suddenly people I'd never met believed in me and my cause. If I ran in an election they voted for me, had faith in me. People appreciated my insight and had confidence in my abilities. They saw my intentions as good, loving, compassionate. They read my personality as unique and genuine. I heard, "Wow. You're a very real person." over and over. I received compliments and commendations that I felt I would never receive in the real world, all while raising my kids at home. I don't know if there is a place in the real world where you can get true praise; praise for who you are and what you do, having nothing to do with your looks or social stature.

I could rally a town, a county and a country. Mind you, I now realize that this would all be easier to do if I had used a male character because even in this fantasy land there is some chauvinism. You can't escape that. However, it's more obvious than the real world, where the chauvinism is ingrained subconsciously.

 As a woman in the real world (in America), I was taught to work hard, obey your man and go with the crowd. If you have a problem suck it up rather than make a fuss because as a woman you will just look bossy or naggy and the worst sin that a woman can ever commit is being selfish. Selfish to me meant anything self serving. I felt like I was born to serve others, and if I did something that was not serving people, then I was failing them. Looking back at young me . . . the one who actually thought this was some kind of rule, I can not believe how naive I was. I missed so many chances to grow and learn and succeed.  Chasing my passions would have meant that my family and friends benefited. My being happy would have made others happy! I mean I was recruited by the FBI out of college, but at the time I had a boyfriend who was having a hard time and didn't want to leave him. I look back on this and can not believe I stayed the safer course. Was I just afraid to grow up or was I obeying what I had been taught? I can't say for sure.

What I do know is that putting my social skills in print seems to be my talent. Maybe that's because I can back-space on my keyboard, but in real life once you make a comment it's out there . . . and you can't take it back. How many times have you said something and then thought, "Oh, I wish I had phrased that better." Well, online you can. You can edit most forum posts . . . delete your post completely if you felt it was too hasty. You'll still make mistakes, but very different ones.

 So, what did I find escaping in Renaissance Kingdoms? Well, surprisingly I found myself, an autonomous, strong woman who is capable of great things. I am a person that will never stick to the stereotypes I was taught. I can now take criticisms that I could never take before, face foes that would have shrunk me before. Maybe I grew up in RK or maybe RK just came along for the ride. I'm not sure. What I can say is that I stand before you today a more successful and outspoken person, a happier person because I had a chance to learn more about myself.

 Will I make more mistakes? You bet. Will they shrink me? Probably not as much as before. I'm ready to face the world now, alone or not. Bring it on world.

Xenina

 P.S. Photoshop is pushed to the max when creating banners for these forums. They are amazing works of art. Work done by me first:

I feel terrible. I don't remember who made this for me, but I loved it:

I don't know who created these, but they're just amazing. I think Kenna made at least one of them: