Bishop Javix


Yesterday I realized my recent post "Go Eve!" had been syndicated over on EN24 so I finally dragged myself over there to read the comment section. Which is always so much fun to do to yourself. But nestled among the comments was this nugget of wisdom from Max Singularity:

"You are hereby promoted to the sacred rank of Bishop and shall be known as your Grace Javix, a keeper of the faith in the rising Sixth Empire of Capsuleers."

When you share a Solar Eclipse with someone in Iceland it changes you. That is what I am attributing this sudden promotion to, the lingering effects of bone-chilling wind and the slow, but inevitable eating of the Sun by the Moon. Thank you Space Pope for the honor, I know you are trolling but I appreciate the benediction nonetheless.

Within weeks of starting to play Eve back in 2008 I was dragged down the pipe into Providence. For the next few years that region of space would serve as a magnet that would keep dragging me back over and over again. The people I flew with, many of whom I am still in touch with (some of whom are even in ABA), impacted my entire Eve career. It was a pivotal time in Null Sec politics and a proving ground for a great many things. In some ways a PvP playground, a destination for anyone looking for a fight, and a cauldron of role-playing, rules, trials, hot-drops, gate camps, and easy player-versus-player combat. In hindsight it was the perfect place to grow up in Eve.

I fought four wars over Provi. I would leave time and time again, only to be called back when yet another war was looming. Eventually circumstance would bring me into the roll of invader for the last of those wars. And I would help the invaders conquer Providence only to stall and fail deep in Cache. (If you'd like to know more I suggest searching for Providence in the search bar.)

As a storyteller I often think about Rixx's story line. A story that continues to develop and go in interesting directions. And I try to imagine where that story might be leading. These are not "plans" exactly, but more like the fevered dreams of a completist. In any story arc the main character needs a destiny to fulfill, a goal to achieve, a destination to pursue. What if, in the grand scheme of things, Rixx also has a destiny. If we agree that he does, then what exactly would that look like?

I can imagine several scenarios that would accomplish the closing of his main story arc. But one of the most compelling of those would be the return of the Prodigal Son to the place of his birth. A triumphant and glorious conquerer that spreads retribution across the South and destroys those that betrayed him in the past. An invasion yes, but a liberation more importantly. A power grab that would solidify his return and the death of his enemies. In that dream, Providence would be his. And eventually the entire South would fall to his gathered horde. A massive upsetting of the established power base that would eventually lead to the collapse of all those that have consolidated power over the past decade. A fever that would result in a brand new paradigm. Out with the old and in with the new.

In that dream everything works out pretty much exactly like that. Providence returns to the PvP Playground it is meant to be, only this time gifted to the new Amarr Empire and their faction supporters to hold and protect.

While it is fun to dream big dreams, is there any way such a thing could actually happen? Why not. Or maybe some other scenario will be the one that plays out in time. Who knows?

Thing is, no one knows what is going to happen next. Only that something will.

Until then, it is great to be Bishop.