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Above: The community gathers in Bear Clan at the conclusion of the Celebration of Life for Teragg. Click to expand the panoramic view. (Composite courtesy of Cruelty.) Below: Teragg's novelty Wooden Bat is displayed in a screenshot from 2008. (Screenshot courtesy of GokouB.)

The welcoming and opening

Sunday evening, the Kingdoms collected in Bear Clan hall to visit, share, and mourn the passing of former Head Judge and Bear Clan Primogen Teragg. Bear Clan had graciously opened its doors to the public as venue for the event, with Yuri's Love and glistening stones spelling out Teragg's name lining the hall. The celebration began with Heira welcoming the crowd and setting the tone for the event:

"I bid welcome to everyone, especially those that came back to the Kingdoms specifically for this event. Welcome home; we kept the light on for you.

"Before we jump into the celebration and honoring of Teragg's life, we need to talk briefly about the concept of death.

"'And death shall have no dominion.' Whether you are a nerd familiar with Dylan Thomas, or have heard some variant of it in your personal spirituality, the concept of life transcending death is not unfamiliar to us as a species.

"And in this game, death is definitely something we're used to navigating. The Golden Rabbit nabs us in the Wilderness for the first time. Death is not the end! We freak out, hit the F1 menu option, and appear at the kingdom shaman. We resurrect, say "Thank you" to restore our HP from 1, and complain about our breakables and repair costs. Nothing of value was truly lost; we are immune to the consequences of death. And that's without even talking about PK events.

"Needless to say, The Kingdom of the Winds has a special relationship with the idea of death. It's a temporary thing, an inconvenience at best, and something we shrug off.

"But, behind the pixels, there's still a human body subject to atrophy, illness, and malady. One day, the player logs in for the final time. And because we are and always have been a community uniquely attuned to the player base, we notice the absences. We feel the absences.

"Today, we feel Teragg's absence. Something that stuck with me during the informal gathering on Wednesday was a statement made by Esmerelda. Paraphrased, she said, "You always expect him to be there." She's right. We expect Rotah in the Wilderness village. IronHeart in his house in Buya. And we suspect Teragg is hiding in the courtroom. We won't want to think of anything changing in this game, ever, because it's been with us for so long. Teragg was with us here over 20 years. He can't be gone, he's a concrete part of this game. And I will tell you, he won't be gone.

"I'm not just referring to the placement of a NPC in his likeness we can virtually visit. I refer to the fact the man's presence has effected everyone here in this room at one point, which is why you are here today. That's hundreds of memories he lives on in; it's hundreds of lives he has touched at one point. And this community has a strong tradition of sharing history and memories. More will learn of him. More will learn to love and appreciate who he is to us. We remember his kindness, his advice, and his humanity.

"Teragg remains alive within us. He's in the memories we share, the screenshots, the stories, the posts. And today, we're here to continue the tradition of sharing with one another, to keep that essence going.

Let us now honor Teragg's life, and begin the never-ending dialogue that keeps his spirit alive. Because death is not the end."

A selection of Teragg's close companions would then be individually welcomed to speak before the assembly.

Bear Clan Primogen Lapin

"Good evening, afternoon, and morning to everyone. While I did not have the privilege of knowing Teragg for as long as many of you did, his impact on our community and this clan is impossible to miss.

"Like a pebble dropped in a pond, the ripples of wisdom, patience, and friendship touched all of us.

"A great teacher and mentor does not just share knowledge, they build a safe space where people can grow. Teragg was exactly that kind of guiding light. Teragg was the rare kind of person who gave their time freely, believing in others above all.

"His spirit lives on in every person he taught, supported, or helped along the way. The lessons he taught will keep echoing in the future.

"Thank you, Teragg, for leaving such a beautiful handprint on our hearts. The den thanks you for your years of dedication and hard work. You will be missed."

Merchant Elder Baltzen

"Teragg, my friend, it is with deep sadness that we gather here today knowing that you are no longer with us on this plane of existence. While you may be gone from our sight, you will remain forever present in the hearts and memories of those whose lives you touched.

"My story with Teragg began many years ago when I had the distinct privilege of serving alongside him as a Judge. Even then, his character, integrity, and willingness to help others stood out. Years later, when I took over the Shining Jewel Foundation, our paths crossed again in a different capacity, and I was reminded of the remarkable person he had always been.

"My memories of Teragg are countless, and I will treasure them always. More than anything, I will cherish the friendship he offered so freely. To me, Teragg was many things over the years. He was a counselor when I needed guidance, a colleague when there was work to be done, a father figure when I needed wisdom, and above all else, he was my friend.

"Before I continue, I would like to share a small story. Many years ago, the Ismilehere program was created to help offset losses from theft within the Kingdom. Later, the Shining Jewel Foundation was established to help members of our community during times of hardship and need. While the Foundation had noble intentions, it spent many years without a clear direction.

"When I was finally given the opportunity to step in and help breathe new life into the Foundation, Teragg was the very first person to reach out and offer his assistance. Not because he had to. Not because anyone asked him to. He did it because that was who he was.

"Teragg was always willing to go the extra mile for others. He never sought recognition, praise, or attention for the things he did. He helped because he cared. He gave his time because he believed in helping people. He saw value in lifting others up and strengthening the community around him.

"I honestly wish everyone knew just how much he did for this community. I can tell you with certainty that his contributions extended far beyond what most people ever saw. There are countless acts of kindness, countless moments of guidance, and countless hours of service that happened quietly behind the scenes without any expectation of reward or acknowledgment. That was Teragg.

"He was the kind of person who made things better simply by being there. The kind of person you could turn to for advice. The kind of person who would listen when you needed someone to listen. The kind of person who cared deeply about the people around him and the community he helped build.

"The strength of any community is not measured by its buildings, its events, or its accomplishments. It is measured by the people who dedicate themselves to making it a better place for everyone else. Teragg was one of those people. His legacy is not found in a title or a position. It lives on in the people he helped, the friendships he built, the guidance he gave, and the countless lives he touched along the way.

"Though we mourn his passing today, we should also celebrate the life he lived and the impact he had. We were fortunate to know him. We were fortunate to learn from him. We were fortunate to call him our friend.

"Thank you, my friend, for everything you have done, not just for this community, but for me personally. Thank you for your guidance when I needed it, your friendship when I needed someone to lean on, and your support when others might have simply walked away. I will always cherish the memories we shared, and I will never forget the impact you had on my life.

"Rest easy, Teragg. You have earned your peace. Until we meet again, my friend."

Druid Elder Supply

"Merry meet everyone.

"Teragg was my friend.

"I met him long ago, Yuri 30 maybe , him and Esmeralda. Two jewels. They were good people, the kind who liked to help everyone, including me. Back then I was only a level 20 mage, hunting and gathering wool with Iruma, and we would die many times in Fox Cave and drop our items and gold.

"Yes, in those days we dropped items, broke other items, and dropped gold too. Then we had to go back and try to get everything again, many times dying again and again, unless someone very kind came to rescue us. Teragg was one of those people. And somehow, from that, we became friends for life.

"How many years? 26, 27, many? I do not even know anymore. But I know it was a long, beautiful friendship.

"We always had so much to talk about. Our pets, dogs, (especially Jake and Billy) and cats, children, friends, life, problems, nexus, memories? it did not matter. With him, any small subject could become a long chat. To some people, this place is ?just a game?. But for me, it was never just a game. Here I met people who became part of my story, so many friends. Teragg was one of them.

"I trusted him and his friendship, and he trusted mine. That was unbreakable. He was kind, loyal, funny, protective, and generous. I will always remember him with love, gratitude, and respect.

"Not too long ago, I talked to GokouB, his son. I sent my love and asked him to tell Teragg to come visit us. But he was already too ill, and maybe too shy, to come. I am thankful I had the chance to send him love, even if from far away. I hope he knew how much he was loved, respected, and remembered.

"Rest in peace and love, my friend. Thank you for having me in your life."

Long-time companion and in-game wife, Esmeralda

"It's hard to come up with something to say about Teragg that hasn't already been said. He and I have been married on game for over 25 years, but our companionship doesn't stop there. From our fun hunts in Tiger 1 boss room to battling day-to-day life outside the game, I knew Teragg was always there.

"He was the fairest judge , he always believed in second chances... Always offering help to anyone in need. Teragg helped me grow through my character and our marriage in game, and he also helped me grow as a mother and a wife outside of the game.

"I'm sure everyone who has gotten to know Teragg feels the same, when I say we have all lost a great man and a great friend. He has made a lasting impression on us all!

"We love you Teragg and hope you rest in peace dear husband/friend."

Head Judge Heira

"It is always easy to forget that avatars we speak to in the Kingdoms are controlled by actual people, with vivid lives and stories. And Teragg was a real human being, full of the prerequisite humanity. He was stocked with kindness, flaws, humor, matters important to him, and connections with those around him. I had the honor of being one of those few connections, and I cannot fully express how meaningful it was.

"He chose to share his time and stories with me. He opted to place himself as a surrogate figure in my life in my online presence here. Teragg was a substitute for paternal love, with the validations, encouragement, and course-corrections that come with it that I otherwise lacked. I won't bore you with those personal details and stories at this time. I will say that most of my interactions with him happened in Final Judgment, either working on cases or just idling in the quiet.

"As a Judge in service of the community, Teragg seemed to think that the majority of people were innately smart and orderly. Or in other words, players will accidentally be stupid, or choose to act out stress from a bad day, and that's when the law gets broken. That is why Teragg's type of Judge proverbially became Papa Bear and lectured you to death, several times, to get you to stop whatever law you're insisting on breaking before he punished you. He wanted to make darn sure there was no other option in his quest to help the defendant. People actually respected him for it all, at the end of the day, for being someone that wasn't afraid to take the time to 'get real' with them.

"This week, while we were working on the memorial plans for Teragg, I was asked by Horus for some statements that Teragg might have regularly offered. However, I doubt "why are we making a big deal out of this?" would have made for a good line for his NPC. But it does sum up the lackadaisical attitude toward courtroom dramatics that we learned to love. And that outlook includes theatricality about himself. And if he was watching us carry on today, you bet he'd be asking us why we are making a big deal out of this. And we would be saying, 'You were our dad and grandpa, protector, corrector, confidante, and good friend. It's a big deal because you are a big deal.'

"Teragg, thank you for sharing your time with us, as well as your dedication and energy. Thank you for sharing that humanity with us, and being there at times when nobody else was. Goodnight, Papa Bear."

Teragg's son, GokouB

"Hello everyone.

"I've told myself for a week I'd be ready for this. And I'm not. I came here with bits and pieces of a speech, mostly because nothing ever felt right or complete. Listening to the people before me give their accounts, I realize just how much of an impact he's made over the years here. I have nothing but gratitude for everyone here today.

"To that end, I will say a few things that I managed to keep on my notes, if this damn rain will let up just a bit.

"Most remember my father for being Head Judge. He was someone who cared about the community and wanted to help keep Nexus peaceful and lawful.

"He was also loyal to his clan, and was Primogen for a time. I still remember, and hear stories about his clan hunts.

"He also startd a program - 'Random Acts of Kindness,' because of course, that's exactly right up his alley.

"Many people were fortunate enough to have one-on-one experiences with him. As you heard from our previous speakers, he was always there to listen, to give advice, to help guide people on his own journeys without commanding any sort of compensation or recognition on himself.

"Esmeralda and Teragg were married here in Yuri 37, and were together more than 20 years. I had the privilege of growing up with them as 'parents' here in Nexus. However, I was uniquely blessed to have him as my actual father. The lessons, principles, and moral boundaries have shaped me into the man I am today.

"I am grateful to think that he passed some of those onto you as well. I know how much they mean to me. And I think, perhaps, the greatest gift he was able to give was the interactions with all of us.

"I encourage you all to take a moment to think back on the best times you had with him. Those marks he left on you are worth more than any legend mark you could ask for. While I'm confident he is watching this, and able to hear all of you, I will tell you I am so honored to be his son, and to see and hear all of you here today.

"Thank you for being such an amazing part of my father's life.

"Take care dad... I love you."

GokouB and Heira wish to extend gratitude to Bear Clan for being such gracious and hosts for the Celebration of Life event. Special thanks also goes to GokouB and Cruelty for assistance in gathering screenshots for the Nexus Atlas coverage. We also welcome those visiting for the sake of honoring Teragg, and any returning players staying with us for a while.

'Just a game?' An op-ed

While performing preparation for the announcement of Teragg's passing, the informal gathering, and the celebration of life, there was a lot of explaining to do.

It is always a losing battle to attempt to convince someone that scheduling time for an online game is an absolute necessity. You're met with judgmental tones of voice wondering what is wrong with you that you've devoted so many hours (after real-world obligations) to this exceedingly strange hobby. And that's doesn't even remotely explain the idea of people volunteering to perform "jobs and responsibilities" within Nexus, often for months to years.

"It's just a game" is a sentence heard often. But the truth of the matter is that Nexus: The Kingdom of the Winds isn't "just a game."

At its core, yes, the Kingdoms is a compilation of code with a GUI we interact with online. But this amalgamate of 1s and 0s has been the social avenue for thousands for decades. And in this avenue, there have been countless more possibilities of growth, creativity, and exploration.

People have met their significant others in the Kingdoms, and raised entire families in real life that also log into the client. Kids joined in the late 90s and early 2000's without knowledge of a single word in English; they became fluent in the language through practicing with native speakers. Shut-in individuals played Nexus to have some way of interacting with society, or as a temporary escape from a troublesome period. It is a place where people were first introduced to the concept of roleplaying, or were encouraged to participate in creative writing. For some, it is a way to contribute to something bigger than them, for why they join clans and subpaths. And because Nexus is a community-based platform, where players control most aspects of the game, there was always the chance of finding belonging in some manner or another.

These are just a few examples of the many ways this program has evolved into more than "just a game."

Even so, Nexus isn't immune to the arrow of atrophy. As newer and shinier games entered the market over the decades, and support from the publisher waned, so has the player base. The Heroes list barely shows 200 characters logged in on a normal day, as opposed to the four digits we saw in the first decade. People bemoan the state of the place, and yearn for the nostalgia of the glory days. Many have given up hope that Nexus will continue to survive in the coming years, as it marches on toward its next anniversary on July 1. And just like its players, nothing is guaranteed a tomorrow.

Teragg's passing was a reminder of this unfortunate fact. This small, intimate community lost one of its members that helped shape our lives. And those that are dedicated to keeping the lights on remain here in this dwindling space are left wondering what to do about it. After all, the tenet of Nexus involves the community itself having the power to change and uphold the game. How do we keep the legacy going, so we can continue to share the stories and the experience?

We do our best to instill interest in the game. We express that this is a place that means a lot to its player-base, and is deserving of love and attention. We invite people to partake in it with us. We refrain from unkind behaviors that will drive others away, or deter people from joining the community. We explore different ways of having fun in the game: we hunt, we write, we share, we quest, we host, we attend, and we appreciate.

We give both KRU and our fellows a reason to open their eyes and invest in Nexus: The Kingdom of the Winds. Because this is more than "just a game."

Pictured above: Teragg dances in Bear Clan hall after receiving evidence of GM mug's praise, during his tenure as Bear Clan Primogen in 2008. Click through to view the dialogue. (Screenshot courtesy of GokouB.)

Know something we don't?
Get in touch with the friendly folks at NexusAtlas, or contact Chongde in-game with information, screenshots, or conversation. Got a screenshot? You can submit screenshots to NexusAtlas by writing to reporterchongde[at]gmail.com. Please submit full-size screenshots in a .bmp or .png format. (You can take screenshots in these formats in-game by using the Shift+Ctrl+3 and Shift+Ctrl+4 keys.) Please ensure character names and chat windows are not on display. NexusAtlas staff will maintain your privacy by cropping out your statistics/items/spells.

- Shiori "Chongde" Sato reporting