TEA HOUSE BALANCE, PAXOKU, TOKUNO - January 19, 2006

8th Anniversary Speech by the Mayor of PaxLair

Eight years ago today ... Eight years ago today! The Band placed the first building in PaxLair, Felucca. This day is celebrated each year because we remember all those who started our community and recognize all those in our community today.

PaxLair remains one of the oldest "player towns" and communities on our shard. We grow stronger from all the joys and sorrows of our founders and citizens. We are humbled by all the towns that once thrived and do thrive in our Realm. We shed tears for our friends who left the Realm for other worlds. We learn from leaders throughout the Realm in guilds and communities. We are inspired by quests of long ago and today. We are amazed at the creative construction of buildings, towers, and towns. And ... We are dedicated and reaffirm our dedication to PaxLair and all communities.

PaxLair has certainly changed in the past eight years. It has changed with the people and the shard. But our tenets have not changed since our first PaxLair government. We continue to strive for peace, neutrality, and [roleplaying].

In the past year since our last anniversary we have seen PaxLair grow to a larger community with more opportunities. Most significantly is our PaxLair Alliance and PaxOku, where we are today. Our Alliance is a group of friends and companions, not always getting along, but always tied to PaxLair in ways our founders would appreciate. PaxOku was built from a few buildings by PaxLair citizens over a year ago and now is a bustling city that reminds me of the early days of PaxLair. We continue to build with our other cities of Dragons Watch and PaxLane. We continue to create events in Felucca, Trammel, and Tokuno for all.

Our future is still on a firm course to be here many, many more years. We will not fail ourselves or our friends in this undertaking. We will will stay the course.

In the coming year, we will become more involved in the shard and our own cities. We will continue to strengthen our alliance. We will continue our outreach to many guilds and towns. We will continue our government making as wise decisions as possible.

Finally, we of PaxLair are dedicated to help people take a few steps beyond what they might do by themselves as individuals. It is about team work in our community. It is about respect.

On this Eight Anniversary, I will continue as Mayor of PaxLair and will see PaxLair through into our Ninth Year in the Realm. I thank you all. Dragonspeed to everyone! And may the gods and spirits bless PaxLair.

Long Live PaxLair!

(spoken by Mayor Winfield on January 19, 2006)