[@Shienvien][@yoshua171][@cthulu][@Legion X51][@Mercinus3][@Rhaevnn Xeno][@Ashgan]

Last night, when I was once again lying sleepless in bed, I found my mind wandering as it is wont to do, and my thoughts - as is often the case - turned to The Prophecy. I pondered the various plans I have for the future of the RP, the characters and creatures yet undiscovered or barely elaborated on yet, I lamented the fact that it seemed like none of it would get to see the light of day... and suddenly, I had an epiphany. The kind of ground-shattering realization that ensured I got no rest that night, and which has stayed on my mind all day until now, when I finally have the time to sit down and share this monumental discovery.

I am the [i]fucking[/I] GM.

Rudimentary, I know, yet something I conveniently allowed myself to reduce to insignificance. I knew I was the GM, obviously, but last night it dawned upon me that I'm [I]the freaking GM of The Prophecy[/I], who's run the damn show for [I]years[/I].
I allowed myself to be placated and pacified by the fact that other players have been here since the beginning, that characters have grown and lived, that people have gotten invested in them and that their stories all matter. I persistently told myself that everyone involved in this RP have lives of their own, and that I needed to respect that and make room for them regardless; that even if I could kick a player or a character, it was worth a great deal of distress to avoid doing so.

[I]Allowed. Told. Needed. Could. Was.[/I] Past tense.

Obviously people have their own lives, can be busy, can be delayed... But when damn near half a year goes by, there's no excuse short of death or total incapacitation. I have been content for [I]way too long[/I] to just sit on my hands and wait, telling myself that there's nothing I can do, that the players aren't posting and that I can't run the RP without the players. I have been stuck thinking that "we agreed", "I promised" and "the plan is".
Fuck that. The RP resumes [I]at any cost[/I].

We have heard nothing from Nessa for ages, so I can only presume that she has truly made her departure from the RP. Since it appears to be extremely difficult to permit Aemoten to meet the Zerul City-group, that's no longer in the cards. Plans: gone. It pains me, but Aemoten and Thaler are out of the picture. Outta here.
No one has posted anything in the scene with Jaelnec's group, either. Either this changes [I]immediately[/I], or drastic measures are taken in hand with them, too; depending on player attendance, total removal of those characters - including Jaelnec and Olan - are options not beyond considering.
I haven't heard from Ashgan in forever. If he doesn't show up now, Jillian and Gerald's story is at its end as well. If he's here, the show must go on, and it's time to introduce his second character.
In case you lost count, that's three of my own best and most precious characters that I'm currently dangling off the edge of a cliff, willing to sacrifice all of them for the RP.

Finally, there's the Zerul City-group. Rhaevnn, Merc and yoshua, who have exhibited the patience of [I]saints[/I]. I hope you are all ready, and that you have a preference in terms of what your characters will do next, because it's time to get things moving. I can make stuff happen early next morning, letting the future come knocking on I'on's door, or I can let your characters reassemble first.

If anyone takes issue with any of this, let me remind you that I am the [I]fucking[/I] GM, and that this story [I]will[/I] continue. I'll gather an entire new cast of players if I have to, but so help me, I won't let this RP die.

It's a new day, and a new year on the horizon. Time to get shit done.