I joined CivRealms nearly 18 months ago, and wow, what a wild ride it has been. While this may very well be "just a game" I have learned so much about life, myself, others, and so many things overall during my experiences here. Truly, nothing else in this world can offer whatever it may be that Civ does so well at providing.

I played on the original CivCraft many years ago for just a few weeks, never made a name for myself, and didn't get too involved due to IRL constraints and commitments. Searching for what became of that server led me to CivRealms. I logged in, and what followed was an experience like no other.

In just a few hours I had met a strange man named Axusgrad in a quirky yet thriving city called "Wheaton" in the even more bizarre land of "Wheatistan". I was given a horse, some booze, and told of a few major powers on the server and what their dreams for the future were.

"Farm and build in Wheatistan!"

"Develop the first economy in Varathia, they're printing actual money!"

"But you cant stay here, we're full!"

So many strange sayings for a minecraft server. But all so intriguing. It was filled with life and passion and excitement for what we could build beyond blocks. On a wind of fortune, my horse took me to Varathia. In my time in Varathia I made so many great friends, became the first Governor of Olendor, butted heads with the boy emperor Biscuit, and helped build so many parts of the nation that still stand today.

After some disagreements with Biscuit of Varathia, some of the friends I had made and myself set off to found our own nation. One that was an open door to all newfriends (and old), regardless of who they were, as long as they were willing to be nice and to build others up instead of tearing them down. We wanted to be a shining lighthouse, like a beacon of hope on the server. We wanted to show the world that we could go beyond civilization...that if we all worked together, civilization could transcend into something closer to a utopia.

I'm not saying we always managed to meet those expectations, but we never lost sight of that goal and used our mistakes to learn. More importantly, the trials we faced as a city made us stronger. I watched so many friendships being created, so much creativity flowing through our streets, so much happiness and fun just happening organically, and nobody being hurt for it. Even in the hard times, we managed to all pull together and ride out the storm.

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A lot has happened between now and then. Alexandria may never be the same after the events of today, but today we chose to finish things out on our terms. Whatever happens to Alexandria after today, I and the remaining true members of the city disown. Alexandria as we have always known it died today on Realms and it died by the choice of the friends and citizens that came together to found it over the last year and a half.

Alexandria will go on. It will always exist in those friendships that were made, the memories that we created, the good times we all had together, and beyond.

I'd like to think Alexandria was a huge success. An experiment in the experiment itself. One that succeeded and did well. And I fully blame that success on all of the government and citizens over the last year and a half who contributed pieces of themselves to the city.

However, we modeled our city based off of the server that was, not the one that it became. And now, also, our watch has ended.

Thank you so much to everybody I met in my time here. This truly was a unique experience like no other, and I couldn't have asked for a better birthday present than getting to run through our city streets together one last time. Truly. It couldn't have been a better day for me, and that's how I know at least for me, I "won" civ. You come in one thing, and you leave a better person at the end. That's how you "win". And I couldn't have won without my friends. Our friendships will go on for a long time, beyond this server. We won together.

Crimeo, Mike0War, Tritonio...thank you so much for having me on your server. Its been an honor.

John Smith, I'm embarrassed of you and even more embarrassed of myself that I sent over $100 in support to something that has your name as owner.

Long live the Free City of Alexandria

Praise to dropbear

- TTastic