Coras's Memorial

June: It's about that time, so let's get started
June: I think we all know why we're here tonight... to say goodbye to our friend Coras
June: For those of you who don't know, Coras's grandson is operating his character tonight
June: I have some words to say later, as I'm sure some of you do too, but I'd like to start with some words from Sean, if we could
Coras: Hello everyone and thank you for coming. John was my grandfather but since I was never very close to my father, he was also my mentor
Coras: He was always the smartest man in the room, the most rational, and the most patient
Coras: He had very strong opinions, but he never forced them on anyone, and he taught me more about life than anyone
Coras: Noone in my life has had more of an imact, or taught me more, it seemed my public schooling was to prepare me for his lessons sometimes
Coras: He was one of the kindest people I knew, and he would always help you, as long as your request was reasonable
Coras: I will say what I said at the funeral....
Coras: If I can become just half the man that he was, then I would be a good person.
Coras: Noone can hope to match what he was, but we can all remember him in our hearts and keep his memory alive.
Coras: Thank you
June: Thank you very much, Sean. It means a lot to me to hear some of what Coras was like in the real world... sounds like he was exactly like he was in the game
Coras: That was all I had, Im sorry, I didnt know him here and I didn't want to mention RL because that is something you may not know about

June: That's quite alright... we each have our own private issues we don't discuss here
June: I have a few words about what Coras was like here...

I have spent quite a lot of time thinking about what I would say here after Webe told me Coras had passed away.  Webe’s letter struck me unusually hard and I have been searching for the reason why.  This is not the first time I have had to deal with death.  I have watched family members that I loved and who loved me die, but I realized that up until now, I had never lost anyone I considered to be a friend.  Coras and I may never have met in person and a generational gap or two separated us, but we shared many things in common, including our desire to make the Paladins of Asheron flourish wherever it goes.

Coras was without a doubt the person with the longest history with the Paladins of Asheron in our guild, myself included.  He was an officer with the very first group of Paladins on the Morningthaw server of Asheron’s Call.  There are only a few others that I know who go back that far, and none of them made this trip with me to Horizons.  I only met Coras until this last December, which was truly a lucky coincidence for all of us.  In the short time he was with us here, he showed us all what it truly means to be a Paladin.  He selflessly devoted himself to the guild and everyone in it, whether it be crafting, construction, or answering questions.  I have felt his absence ever since he became ill and it deeply saddens me that we will never get his devotion back.

At a time like this, we all have to find meaning in the things that happen to us.  I have no intention of imposing my beliefs on any of you, so I won’t go into any detail about the meaning I’ve found.  Each of us has to find our own way and the meaning I’ve found probably won’t work for you.  I will tell you this much though:  the world around us is too perfect for there not to be meaning. 

June: But enough of my ramblings...
Coras: Thank you June, it was very well said
June: It's very hard to find words for situations like this... but does anyone else have anything to say?
Ashar: A few...
June: By all means, go ahead

Ashar: Coras was a great person, at heart. We gain no glimpse of his person as it appears, but as it is. His wisdom and advice would comfort and reassure, and he seemed a very substantial being... not the kind of person who can seem different at different times, but a constant, a solid spirit.
Ashar: He did not see this as a game as some do, to win, but as a place to spend time with people he considered friends, and he became a part of it, and a part of us.
Ashar: When our guild was in turmoil, twice, from the wills of other willful people who did not like what we were, and wanted us to be different, he stood steadfast with the rest of us, such as dear June there, until at last those beforesaid left, and remained an example to us all.
Ashar: He did not try to be a good paladin, or a good person, or a helpful guildbrother and friend... he WAS all of those things
Ashar: Once we accidently hurt him, unintentionally, without knowing it, and it did not draw a wedge between us all. In fact, when we had all spoken, and the incident passed, we were all closer than before
Ashar: Some have not fared so well... but that simply shows not only his devotion to this group, as June had mentioned, but showed that he was a part of us that could not be easily or callously cut away, as he was welded to us will friendship, and goodwill...
Ashar: Such people do not come as often as we would wish, but when they do, they always leave their mark, visible or no, and while we may never see another person such as Coras, we will never forget him, and the mark he made on our lives, whether he knew he did or not, will remain forever. Thank you.

Webe: I would like a word, if thats possible.
Coras: Very kind words, thank you ashar
June: Far more eloquent than my words, Ashar the poet. Of course, Webe

Webe: I wont say nearly as much because my time is pressed as I am sure some of your's is too.
Webe: As with June, I have never really lost a friend and the generation gaps between Coras and I are many.
Webe: But, nonetheless, he was a friend, and a quite good one, always offering to help, never going back on his words, and even more than that, he was a mentor.
Webe: I was amazed that one person could be filled with such a wealth of knowledge and wisdom, as Coras was. His advice was helpful to me in game but even at times it helped me with some situations I have been going through in real life.
Webe: When Sean told me that Coras had passed away, I was shocked and speechless.
Webe: and it made me really think hard about my mother's most frequents lines: "Life is short" and "You never know how much you like something until you dont have it anymore"
Webe: I felt a gap in my heart without Coras and made me realize how helpful and how good of a man he really was.
Webe: In closing, I never thought I would meet such a fine person and make friends with someone so much older than myself, but I did.
Webe: Thankyou

Coras: Thank you Webe, he had the ability to bridge the generational gap better than any elderly person I know