The State of Mafiascum

[AniX]

To my dear Mafiascum community-

As of this moment, 11/11/11 at 11:11, Daniel Anix has taken control of mafiascum.net. The website http://www.11thhour.net will demonstrate as much. I shall allow the other site to remain up, for a time, as to allow for your bookmarks to adjust. Know, however, that 11thhour.net is the true website. As it should be. To those who I am speaking to for the first time: Welcome. To those I have known for oh so long: Nice to see you again. For those who hate me or seek my destruction: I hope that time will bring you into the fold as well. You are as welcome as any other.

But on this date of the 11, a very different number comes into my mind as well: 2003. That was the year I first joined this site. Honestly, it doesn't seem that long ago. I remember even before that, going into scumchat and running Seinfeld Mafia (we played games in scumchat back then). And yet, here we are in 2011, over 8 years later. A lot has changed. New people have arrived, and many have become valued members of both the community and my social circle. Beloved members have left, many of who we mourn the loss of to this day. But throughout it all, mafiascum.net stood, a beacon in the great big internet for all those who enjoyed the game of mafia.

I remember when I first came up with that infamous idea that would propel me from weird sorta-known member to the premiere eccentric on the site. I speak, of course, of UPick. Back when I ran the first game, it was called “You Pick” and was little more than a modding experiment, designed to test to see if I could come up with flavor-rich roles and abilities in a short amount of time. It was well recieved and I ran it again. And then other people starting running it. And then it spread to the forum. And soon, people who didn't even know who I was had UPick on their minds. It was an experience, to be sure, and one I cherish.

Of course, UPick is not the only gimmick that has been attributed to me. My love of Dana Scully of X-Files fame is well-documented, both in the minds of older members and in my title. Mafiascum played witness to the evolution of my sexuality as I grew up and realized that I wasn't just a late bloomer. Mafiascum was there was I embraced my newly realized (lack of) sexuality and, in placing me as the resident self-experienced expert on it, made me better understand it myself. I am grateful.

In my earlier days, I had a gimmick known as Sense of Smell. Back then, it was played as nearly a joke, a nod to my ability to kind of sense mafia despite logic and reason telling me differently. What I didn't know was that my nose had nothing to do with it. It was the legacy I carried in my soul and the prophecy I was destined to fulfill. I was the embodiment of the cosmic force known as “The 11th Hour”, a power that allows taps into the strength of the number 11 to perform great feats, both mental and metaphysical. In a way, it is simple: as the time and date of the wielder's attunement (for me, it has always been the eastern American coast) grows closer to 11, the grandness of the feats that can be performed grows as well. Today, at this time, my strength will be at the height it will ever be in my lifetime. 11/11/11 at 11:11.

And I know what I must do with that power. The prophecy always predicted it, and once I realized my legacy I began preparing for the day, this day, that I would fulfill it. I must topple the tyrant mith and rise up to lead mafiascum. I'm sure many of you like mith. Indeed, he is a charismatic man and no doubt someone a few of you believe cannot be toppled, bullshit prophecy notwithstanding. I ask you only to trust in me. I have toppled mith. He is no longer in charge of mafiascum. It was a bloodless coup, for I am not the same criminal as my predecessor, but it was a coup nonetheless. The prophecy told me it would happen, and so it has happened. That isn't to say I will remain in power forever.. At this moment, no doubt mith's loyal circle is devising a way to grab power once again. I don't know if they will succeed or not. The prophecy is done, it speaks no more. But I promise you that as long as I retain power, I will fight tooth and nail to prevent mith from returning to ruin your lives again. If mith rules again, it will only be after my last breath has been uttered. This I swear to you.

I remember when I launched my first real volley across mith's elitist bow. It was the first International Mafia Month, and mith held a day entitled “Trademark Day”, ordering all members to display their trademarks. He did not expect, however, the force he was dealing with. 11 threads throughout the day brought the site down. Mith's rage burned hot, but he could do nothing. After all, he had literally asked for it. He would call it “Don't Break the Site, AniX!” Day from then on, playing off the attack as jest but showcasing he knew I was a threat and that, one day, we would meet on the battlefield. It seems like so long ago, thinking about when he first acknowledged our destiny as foes...and yet, it has come to pass on this day.

To those loyal to mith then: Lay down your arms. I offer you a full pardon. This community is a great one, full of sharp minds and good feeling. Let it be so. Abandon your dictator and join me. You are as much a part of this community as any other, and I would love to have you join us in our glorious new website order. Know, however, that if you seek to perpetrate the vicious heresies of mith, the tactics he used to oppress these fine people while retaining power for himself, you will find no ally in me. In fact, you will find me an enemy and I will track you down to the ends of the earth before I allow those heresies to continue to germinate on this site. I am ushering in a new era of peace, a Pax Mafia, and you will either stand with me on it or hang because of it.

To those who have supported me throughout: No amount of thank yous will suffice. You are truly people of glory and it is my honor to have had the pleasure to associate with you. For me, this was written for me, I made no more choice to become Mr. 11th Hour and lead this revolution as I did to be born. You, however, each made the choice towards peace, the choice towards prosperity, the choice towards justice, and most important the choice away from mith. This is a day to install me as ruler, yes, but more than that is it a day to CELEBRATE each and every one of you. The peacemakers. The members of mafiascum. I will strive each day to live up to the ideals your sacrifices and hard work demands. But know that this is a day for all mafiascum, not just my loyal supporters. I am not just the leader of AniX's mafiascum, I am the leader of mith's, of Flay's, of MeMe's as well. All are welcomed in this new world...and all are celebrated.

Here I am, 8 years later, having gone from two-bit player to the new leader of mafiascum. It has been quite the adventure, and I hope that adventure continues for a long time. Thank you all. The reformation begins tomorrow, but today let us just revel in our joy.

Let this thread be a dedication to what we have accomplished today.

Yours in successful revolution,

Daniel S. Anix, Commander 11th Hour

[AniX]

Flay, lay down your arms. You are a smart man, one who the community can make use of. Why fight me when you can join me and help make this community the site it always had the destiny to be, had mith's oppression not come to pass?

I do not begrudge you working for him all these many years. It was what you thought was best. But he has fallen and I intend to not let him return. The time has come for a new era...one I hope you can be a part of.

Join me...Join Us.

[AniX]

For those who don't know, Mr. Flay changed my avatar to a parody of its current form, which seemed to indicate I was apologizing to mith.

For those who don't know, My administration will be above the same sort of cheap tricks that have plagued mith and his lackeys.

[AniX]

I have made no secret of my attempts to win control back of the site for the common people. They've had upwards of 6 years to plan. And for all their planning, a mere parody avatar is all they could muster to combat me. What's next, thallium salt in my shoes to make my beard fall out?

The failure of mith's lackeys to do any real combat with me is...inspiring, in it's odd way. It speaks to the success we have come to have.

[AniX]

I have been using golden comic sans since before Mafiascum existed. It seemed...appropriate it should herald my victory.

[AniX]

Comic Sans came to me when nobody else wanted it, and has been a loyal supporter ever since. All fonts are welcomed in my new administration.

Putting my name in red is exactly the sort of elitist activity I started this revolution to end. I am but a mere member. I am not better, I am no more deserving, I am simple the person with the knack for the particular task running the website requires. Mith wanted you to worship him, and draped his name in luxury. I shall make no such action.

[AniX]

Hail, mafiascum! Hail freedom!

[AniX]

Not sure how I feel about a ruler who posts so infrequently...

I love the community and I love interacting with it. But time spent engaging in frivolities (however excellent and enjoyable they may be) with the members of this site is time that mith can use to launch his attacks and deny everyone access to those fun diversions. I try my best to strike a balance between participating and keeping my eyes open. I apologize if you have found me wanting in siteside manner.