How to begin? I will be nineteen in one month. Forgotten Kingdoms has been an integral part of my life since I was twelve years old. I'd like to say that I never let it interfere with my schoolwork, social life, or anything other than my spare time, but I can recall being thirteen and sleeping through first period because I stayed up to play those extra hours at night.

I will admit, when I first began I was what the staff called a 'problem player'. What unruly, adolescent boy wouldn't be? But as I developed in life, as a role player or more importantly, as a writer, I began to see what beauty this MUD offered. I could do more than abuse code for temporary, meaningless gain. I could do more than gang up with other dysfunctional kids like me, and ruin a good time for many people. I realized that I could escape from a town, a job, a school, that I hated, into a place where I could find solace. I didn't need drugs, or alcohol, but I would say that the fun offered by this video game is just as calming, if not addictive, as both. I learned after my ban from Forgotten Kingdoms, that I truly valued it - I snuck back in, almost four years ago. I don't know if the imms knew it or not, and by this point I'm sure they do, but I definitely needed this game. I believe that since then, I have become a truly helpful player. I have developed not only my characters, but my writing skill, and in some way, my social abilities, through interaction (forced or not, though sometimes it surely was) with other players of this game.

Up until the day I left for college, almost five months ago, I clocked over one hundred hours a month, and if it weren't for real life finally taking precedence, I still would. I love Forgotten Kingdoms, and the people who make it what it is, with all my heart. I've been trying to say this for a long time, but I really do regret all the terror I put this game through, because it is more than just a game. It's a community, and if you're looking for that, you've found it in Forgotten Kingdoms. To all the imms, not-so-imms, average Joes, and plain ole bad people that I've glorified, slandered, loved, hated, given to, taken from, and most of all, loved again, this review is for you. You people are wonderful, and I'll be here until the end of this MUD's days, or mine.

Thank you, very much, Homer. P.S. - Hrosskell, Graham, Florian, Angarato - all of the stories I've written around these, and fifteen other characters, mean very much to me. I thank you again, for sparking something creative inside me.