I am the founder of the Gaiscioch and a dear friend of Roger "Oldroar" Rall. Roger wasn't always a Gaisicoch. He first came to us as a Council of Shenanigan on Badlands in Warhammer Online. Our family was well known on our server for running public community events such as Open PuG Night which became Battle for Badlands.
Oldroar was my right hand raid leader. While I would spearhead the battles he was leading my secondary with his fellow guildmate Doctorfixit. The 3 of us made what was called the Gaiscioch Trinity. 3 raid groups of Public Groups open for everyone who would attack multiple objectives at the same time and pull off all kinds of trickery.
During our time on Badlands, Oldroar and Doctorfixit had a falling out with the Shenanigans guild leader and ended up finding themselves kicked from the guild. Being we had so much history together already and both of these people were one in a million I offered them a home in our Gaiscioch Family until they found something more suitable. Well im happy to say Doctorfixit is now an elder and our family and they only thing that prevented Roger "Oldroar" Rall from becoming one was his way. He refused it because he felt others were more worthy.
Roger put every else first. Find a screenshot anywhere on the web where Oldroar was in front. He always stood at the rear and made sure each and every person was thought of first. He passed on loot when he could have used it and gave everything to help others. Even when real life challenges arose for some of our members he was the father that sat you down and gave you guidance. He became more than just a raid leader. He touched the hearts of each and every one of us.
The Gaiscioch is now 3,400 people worldwide and I am certain that every single one of those who call our family home know Oldroar in spirit. His voice was unforgettable. He could calm even the most fanatical rage. When he spoke you listened. He was very soft in his tone and loving. He radiated love to all that he encountered. Even his enemies on the opposing faction both loved and honored him.
The last week of September 2011 he just stopped logging in. On October 4th one of our members decided to hunt him down and found his phone number. His wife Karen answered the phone and passed the horrific news. Roger Rall passed away quietly in his den at age 65. (http://www.gaiscioch.com/tavern/gaiscioch_discussion/post_23287.html)
We however would not go quietly. Roger "Oldroar" Rall was our friend, our father, our grandfather, and the very essence of what it means to be a Gaiscioch. He loved Guild Wars 2 beyond that of any man. When I first met him he spoke about the game and said it sounded like a perfect home for us.
The Gaiscioch have been traveling through game looking for a place where all 5 of our branches: PvP, PvE, Casual, Crafting, and Roleplay could exist happily and have content to explore. Guild Wars 2 provided that home. In addition it took away the one thing that prematurely ended many Gaiscioch adventures, the monthly fee.
Roger was our point man on research for Guild Wars 2 and over the 2 years we played along side each other he gave us more an more information that supported his claim that it was our "Perfect Home". It was because of Roger that I went to PAX Prime in 2011 to deliver our media kit to several key personnel of ArenaNet's Staff. This is where I met Martin Kerstein for the first time and introduced myself and the Gaiscioch.
I returned with the great experience and shared what I had learned with everyone. Roger most of all was proud of the news. A month after our first contact Roger passed away. This was a huge blow to our community, not only the Gaiscioch but everyone who knew Roger. Both in RIFT and in Warhammer hundreds of players sent their condolences.
Without Roger, we knew Guild Wars 2 would not be the same. We came up with the idea to do whatever it takes to get a server named after Rogers honor. For his life, his devotion, and the legend he was. We wanted to show his wife Karen, that Roger was not just a man, not just a father, not just a husband, he was the mentor and hope bringer to thousands.
We started our campaign with the CookieZerg of 2011 where we as a family mailed off sweets from all over the world to ArenaNet with a letter telling ArenaNet who we are, why we love their game, and introducing them to the legend of Roger "Oldroar" Rall who spent the last years of his life promoting their product. The CookieZerg even made an appearance on their Twitter and Facebook page.
Time passed on and both Vampiresbane, an elder of our family, and I made personal visits to ArenaNet to help discuss Guild Wars 2 and social communities as well reinforce the pitch of naming a server after Roger.
Nearly a year after we first started asking we decided to step it up once again. I rallied every person that had been a Gaiscioch over the past 10 years, everyone who participated in the Battle for Badlands, and had our blogger army call to arms every person who knew and loved Roger to send a letter to ArenaNet asking one last time for them to name a server in his memory.
On Tuesday, July 17th 2012, Martin Kerstein replied with a note stating that we can expect to see Sanctum of Rall in the BW3 server list and on live. That the server was ours to protect and ensure it never dies.
Roger "Oldroar" Rall was more than a man, more than a father, more than a husband. He was our spirit, our dedication, our passion. He became a legend among our family and now among the Guild Wars 2 player community.
My grandmother once told me that a Man is not measured by what he has at the end of his time, but by what he has given to the world he left behind. Roger gave us everything and made us all better people. He may be gone from this world in flesh, but his legacy lives on in all of us.
Other servers may have names, but we on Sanctum of Rall have a legend. They may stand and fight for themselves, but we fight to honor his memory. ArenaNet has given our community something to fight for, something to be proud of, and something to protect.
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