Just before Christmas 2008, players on the Mol Rehan Home lands banded together to hold a Christmas Impalong. Instigated by Titrus, the aim was to improve as many player made objects (tools, weapons, clothing, all kinds of items) in a spirit of fun and community. Mol Rehan is a vast, mountainous land, and the players are often spread far apart. Titrus takes up the story ...

Kallana Verde was not the most happy of places when I left to attend the Craft Fayre in Alchemist Bay. After all it was yule and we were all exhausted after mining through the mountain to the south. So I got in my sail boat with quite a lot of enthusiasm to head for the Gift Giving at Alchemy. It took me a fair time to sail westward along the coast and then south down to the new, but rapidly growing, town of Alchemist Bay. The bay is a city in the making. Currently very much a farming community the place is, nevertheless, vast; a collection of sprawling farming estates that give the town a feel entirely its own.

My journey was less than monotonous. Forty foot waves and only Yomo to help me with his slight priestly frame, I spent most of the journey wondering if we would live. We did, however, reach Alchemy's docking area, still under construction it seems, and labour up the steep path to the merchant area at the top. We were greeted by a good man called Killgod. He has appeared from time to time as we worked here and is clearly a man of conscience and character. My good friend GoldFishMoo used his strength of arm to carry up barrels of ore beneath each shoulder.

The first day was a nightmare of sweat, blood and toil. I thought we would labour all night until a friendly local, Clover by name, proffered great masonry skill to aid us in our endeavors to build our own small place amidst the bustle of the general fayre. Clover's appearance, I will admit,  was fortuitous, but even more so was the appearance of the local mayor, Zerobyte, who, upon learning that we were travellers from distant Kallana Bay, called on the services of his townsfolk to aid us. The man is most diplomatic I must say, And is some match for my man Goldfish in a mine! It seems the mayor of Alchemy Bay is a man of common stock raised from the roots on skill alone!

Suffice to say, with the help of Goldfishmoo, Clover, and the Mayor Zerobyte and his adherents, we had our small place set up in the space of one night. I am still overwhelmed by the strength and talent of the people of Mol Rehan .. by right of this alone! That night I tossed and turned trying to sleep on our, as then unpaved, dirt floor. But the worst was my stress and fear that trade would go badly or that my mission of diplomacy would fail.

I awoke the following day to find that two people, Gaffeek and Rogan, had chosen to lend their effort to aid us. Both hardy stalwarts from their own place, unflagging in their efforts to help. Mutual gain may have been their motive but aid was their means. And the were not alone in being noteworthy in this festival gathering.

On the following day the town was flooded by hordes of eager entrepreneurs, each keen to display their talents and make a name for themselves. Many were famous already. But the competition for renown, being as fierce as it was, even the famous were competing with the notorious!

One of the first to arrive was, more notorious than famous, a smith by the name of Abdullah. May Vynora bless me but the man is a demon of hard work and intense effort. He remains here as I write, his smithing hammer clinking in the background, the clunking of his hammer almost in rhythm with the scratch of my quill, though I think my excitement at the occasion lends my feather the more rapid beat.

Fooli, is another to note. He saved my life from a dangerous spider, though I must admit the excitement of the hunt was too much and, against his advice, I got too close with my bow. I do remember the sound of Fooli's hammer in the forge but it pales in comparison with the sound of Fooli's sword saving my neck.

Shweet, Rosie and Violet exerted silent skill in working leathers and precious metals. Only the glow of happiness on the faces of their beneficiaries exceeded the beauty of their work.

Maximusthegreat, maker of shields, and of more fame than notoriety, decided to work in our shop with us and he is a man of great skill and prowess. I nearly shook myself over my whole body as I shook his hand in greeting.

And you think these alone are awesome? What of Winter Solstice and Moss, masters of great and subtle craft who work raw iron to items of great usefulness and superior craftsmanship?

What of my own not inadequate skills and those of the infamous shipwright and pirate Revelation, sometimes called The Reverend? This latter organised a raffle of great extent and with very valuable prizes.

Beyond wonder, we had three most powerful stop by! Chumpeh, most wise in the ways of Vynora, Smog, most devious in the working of her wile, and Yomo, most skilled in weakness of frame. These wise ones did enchant and enchant and, it seemed, they did never sleep! Then several adventurers did decide to stop by our hut. By name, DragonSpawn, SwedishPhoenix, BloodMaster, Air, Star. Even the despicable Qualia spent some time with us!

As well as adventurers, one known Criminal was caught trying to pilfer near our camp. The loathsome felon Gwydion stole several lumps of clay and was publicly branded an outlaw! Saddest of all, hardy and resilient, Gaffeek by name. That one, I hear died on the way home.

There was one funny incident, the entire population living in our house were nearly thrown in jail when I got drunk one night and forgot to inform the local constabulary that those people had permission to be there.

However, they being responsible for the hangover I consequently suffered, I let the constables think for some time that those people were indeed felons! (Ah the life of a journalist!)

Thinking back over the last few days, it was all the people, whatever they were there for that has made this such an exciting time. It was no single one amongst us made that gruelling boat trip worth it; it was all of us working together! (including Gwydion - hugs!)

The Great Christmas Impalong it set to run through out Christmas - keep an eye on kingdom chat and come along!