State of the Clan: 2023

It’s officially 2023!  Three years into a … well lets be honest … a pretty fucked up decade!

Though 2022 was slightly better than it’s two predecessors it was still fairly rough.   On a personal note, my health improved, unfortunately had a slight backtrack, though not as bad as a trip to the ER – so lets count that as a win.  The good news, was able to establish a good doctor, got on a better treatment program which seems to be working.   I had a lot more energy this year, and was able to finally finish one smaller story (showcased during Seven Days) and two major stories (showcased during Advent) plus update two videos, and a good amount of Aesthetics.

To continue the good news (at least on my end) I have a new job.  I started at the beginning of this year, and well to be honest prepped a good amount of posts for the new year a head of time!  Once things settle, I’ll be back into the daily grind that is Sylum.

Now before we get into the actual State of the Clan, a few things.

Sylum is and forever will be a safe place!

We work hard to make this place as stress free as possible.  Rarely dive into politics, or into aspects world events.

Our goal is to bring a smile and fun to your inbox each day.

Now on to the State of the Clan!

Looking Back at 2022!

 

We’ve had a good year with Sylum Events!  It was actually one of the first years that I had Advent set and ready to go before December 1st!  It was a miracle!!!!  Just ask Gil 🙂

This year Sylum Creators put out 53 new items!

• Videos: 3 – two of them were remakes, the other showcasing a unique Hunting Pair
• Aesthetics: 15 – many showcasing new characters, Sylum stories, and one teaser
• Artwork: 21 – gorgeous painted pieces, along with beautiful wallpapers for a variety of characters
• Fanmixes: 3 – fun and inspirational mixes
• Stories: 11 – New chapters to Shifting Tides, Mission Impossible, and Assassins Creed – along with the fun adventures of the Winchesters and Magnum on a hunt.
• New Characters: 16 New Characters were added to the Wiki! Along with 12 New Updated Images.

 

What’s Coming in 2023?!

Sylum Events

 

Spring Fling: Sign Ups will begin Feb 1st – Event starts: April 9th
Seven Days of Summer: Sign Ups will begin April 1st – Event starts: July 1st
Sylum Advent: Sign Ups will begin September 1st – Event starts: December 1st

We encourage all who can and want to participate to sign up for Sylum Events.   There are many characters in the Wiki that do not have a lot of exposure.   You don’t have to write a 50K Story!  You can do a small snippet, artwork or an aesthetic, even a fanmix or video.   There are so many options!  Come join us this year and sign up for one of our yearly events.

We will not being doing any side events this year. 

This year I’ll be mostly focused on getting my to-do-list done!

 

Sylum Stories

 

It seems now that Bob and his Minions are settled back at home, more Sylum related stories are getting worked on.

What does that mean?

Family and Evolution

Yep – you read that right.  My main focus this year is getting those done.   It was one of the main reasons why I worked hard this year to get the Mission Impossible and Assassin’s Creed stories finished so I can focus completely on those big arcs.  Believe me I want them done as much as everyone else, so can focus on all the exciting things that are coming.

Okay, I admit that yes, while I’m working on Family and Evolution, I’ve got another major story in the works, with an introduction of some new characters!  Actually it’s about 3/4 done, but got put on hold because Ethan and Aguilar were persitant bastards!  If you’ve read the Assassin Creed Story then you were introduced to one of the characters in this story … *evil smirk*

We have a lot of stories brewing.   Once Bob got home, he brought lots of bunnies who left plot land mines around the house.  So everything time we went outside more plots just appeared!!  Hence the big push to get the last two Arcs up to date.   At the moment we’re keeping most of the stories on the down low.

*shifty look*

Though if you watched the updated Lazarus Video there’s some teasers in there.

Afternoon Fic

 

Unfortunately, this will not be seen this year, actually as much as I wanted to there wasn’t any Afternoon Fics last year. 

I’ve actually been working on a side Cody/Obi-Wan Story for a while now, and once finished I’ll post a link for all to enjoy.

With the focus on Family and the new job – I will not have time to have an ‘Afternoon Fic’ though teasers may show up.  Just sayin’.

 

Sylum Snippets

 

Oh yes, I’ll still be working on those!  I got eight on my list and there’s always fun ones popping up for variety of different reasons!

I’ll update the Archive throughout the year, so all the snippets can be found in one location.

 

 

Sylum Stuff & Things

 

• Sylum Discord:  Yes we still have one!  We’re working to have more Discord Days, but alas there are times I’m beyond busy and just forget *sigh*
• Sylum Archive:  Usually during this time we’re working to upload Advent, so make sure to check in on the Archive.
• Sylum Blog:  Make sure to Subscribe to the Blog as we’ll be shutting down the Twitter Account by the end of the month.
• Sylum Wiki: All new characters introduced during Advent has been uploaded to the wiki.   We’ll be working to get more updated images through out the year, hoping to complete at least one Clan… maybe two.
• Nicholas J. Finch: Still working away on a new story, but like everything it’s been delayed.  I’ll start making announcements when I get closer to finishing it.
• Sylum Storylines:  We don’t always bring real world events into storyline.  For example:  Covid is not in the Sylum Universe.  But there are some things that get incorporated only because there is no way we can’t.  For example:  Hurricane Katrina, Notre Dame Fire … So after a few discussions, that when Sylum Timeline catches up to real world events (basically 2022) we will be mentioning what is going on in the Ukraine, and it will be treated with the utmost respect.
• Sylum Security:  We changed the password back in November.  From here on out, we’ll be changing the Password yearly around November.   So, please don’t join the security group – then leave it thinking you have the password and are now set.   

Support Sylum

 

One of the best ways to support Sylum is by being active on the blog and archive.  All of us who work on Sylum throughout the year, do this because we love this universe, and the annoying assholes who control our lives … pointedly looks at the Meridii.

So please hit the like button, and leave a comment on the archive and the blog.

Other ways to help keep Sylum moving towards our 20th, which guys is like 2 years away … TWO.  I totally just had a moment there.

We’ll be doing a Fundraising Event, sometime in the summer, to help pay for the Hosting Fees, along with Spam Protection.   

 

To all those who have supported me through this year, and this crazy thing called Sylum.

• Gil – for the beautiful artwork and the hard work that had Advent prepped before the 1st of December.   We had to accomplish that at least once!
• taibhrigh – for the banners and for the wiki images I randomly send you at odd hours of the day
• Sparrow – *snags the rum*

But most importantly to my cohort in crime, my partner in all things.  Who keeps me sane, yet feeds the insanity. 

We’ve survived another year.  Hands over the stolen rum – here’s to 2023 – may it be filled with plots, humor, and bananas!

And as we head into 2023 please remember:

Enjoy Life 

Be Kind

Take care of yourself

Yours Truly,

Bj Jones (Nico aka The General)