Medievia Mudslinger

December 5, 2000

An Interview with Kithario by Nykaul

The interview took place on November 14th, 2000 in Kithario's Krazy Koliseum of Konstruction Konsiderations, also know as Kithario's office. He is a level 33 (132) God that has revamped the Underground Shafts, as well as various other activities. He is twenty-two years of age as of November 15th (the day after the interview but earlier than the publication date) and attends CCP in Philadelphia. He is studying Marketing/finance with a minor in public relations, and also works as a cook in an italian pizza shop/restaurant. As is obvious throughout the interview, he claims his biggest accomplishment in Medievia was meeting Kastlyn who has had an astounding affect on his Med, and real life.

I asked Kithario some questions about Medievia from the point of view of his God and his mortal, which he was open in discussing, as well as information about his life.

Nykaul: How long have you been playing Medievia and what initially got you started?

Kithario: I first played Medievia in August of 1996, when a few friends of mine said they were meeting on 'med' around 1am. That's how I was introduced to it. Around December of 1996 I finally became interested more and more, as I got into the medieval era. Hence, playing more seriously.

Nykaul:What was your initial reaction?

Kithario: It was different. I liked the dragon flight view as I didnt know what brief on meant. I remember talking to Tacony asking what warrior was like and why he liked it.

Nykaul: Had you played a Mud before trying Med?

Kithario: Not at all, the only games I really played were for Playstation.

Nykaul: How was the transition from graphics to text for you?

Kithario: It honestly wasnt that bad. I always loved reading and using my imagination. Once I became adapted to speed reading I was set!

Nykaul: When did you reach Godhood, and what made you initially decide to become a God?

Kithario: I was given my builder in early 2000 by Ikuska. I worked hard to keep my mortal clean, and my God busy so I could get a 133, which in late August I was. I had always wanted a God for as long as I can remember. Even when I was a single class cleric in Fate with the likes of Zeb, Cleon and Daedalus I kept saying I wanted a god. They used to tease me. I always wanted to contribute back to something that I had enjoyed. Kind of like preserving it for future generations.

Nykaul: You mentioned about keeping your mortal clean. It is well-known that your mortal has had various scrapes with the rules. How have you adapted since becoming a God?

Kithario: First and foremost, my mortal has only, I repeat only been frozen for what Lena calls a 'Potty Mouth'. Some say I cheated, I do all these bad things, but I'm sorry, I dont. I have actually turned in quite a few of the major bugs in our time. Including the Bloodstone bug when ethereal was put back in. Ikuska basically told me if I dont keep quiet, I will never get my God.

Nykaul: How do you feel when people accuse you of such on your mortal, and now on your God?

Kithario: I have noticed people have this natural tendency to whine when something doesnt go their way. It can get rather annoying and offending at times. They think that because of my mortal, I cant give an unbiased opinion of a matter. But take the good with the bad, and live life normally. I have come to realize that this is just a game, and it's not real life so there is no reason to get angry anymore. It took a very special someone to show me that. (hint hint Kasty).

Nykaul: Let's talk about the beginning of your Med life. You mentioned Daedalus, Zeb and Cleon earlier. Those have been labeled as heroes for some. Who were your heroes as your progressed through Med?

Kithario: I dont really label anyone as my hero. I label them as friends.

Nykaul: There was no one you looked up to and admired from the stature of being a little newbie?

Kithario: I admired Curer/Levesque/Iroc (My first clanleaders who taught me the basics), Zeb/Daedalus/Cleon who taught me the things that I love, which are equipment running, cpk/pk, and general enjoyment. However, I need to thank Tacony for getting me to logon then because so many times I would get frustrated, and just leave but he kept bringing me back, which eventually led me to Kastlyn. She has shown me things about myself that I never knew were there and helped me change and mature, which is something that I will never forget.

Nykaul: I dont think I need to really ask this, as it appears obvious to me, but.. what would you say has been your most memorable event in your Med history?

Kithario: The Fate/Med gtg [get together] in October of 1999 where I was first graced with the presence of Kastlyn.

Nykaul: You have been to several gtg's in your time. How different was it for you to meet the people you play Med with, face to face?

Kithario: It can be interesting putting faces to characters, especially if you have known them for a long time. You know everything about them but have never seen them, it's like the completion to a puzzle.

Nykaul: Some say that when you play a text based game that the lines on the screen are just that, text. How does Med translate once you have met these 'text' people?

Kithario: It changes drastically because they are your friends, you think of them, not the character. When someone mentions Kastlyn, Tacony, Ikuska, Vryce, Malaki, Scylla ect, I see the PERSON not the name because I am friends with every one of them, some, deeper than others.

Nykaul: Do you have any interesting stories from any of the gtg's you've attended?

Kithario: At Shrefwan's BBQ in late July, I noticed Hanovi was, because of his drunkeness, starting to become arrogant towards Vryce, Soleil, Cameo, Melquiades, myself and a few other gods, so I put my hand on his shoulder, pushed down a little and made him fall to the floor, and when he got up he apologized to us. I told him as punishment he had to scrub Scylla's kitchen, which he went and made it spotless. We took pics and all! Soleil taps me on the shoulder and goes "omg look" and we look, there he is scrubbing the stove.

Nykaul: You have been very active in Medievia for a long time, I have heard newbies talking about you as both someone to look up to and someone to fear. Do you try to set examples for lower level players?

Kithario: I try and teach them how to fend for themselves. I tend to help a lot of newbies when they start out, by answering questions, pointing them in the right direction and such. I also try and teach them how to not be afraid of pk zones. No, that doesnt mean I am a newbie-killer. I hardly pk singles, let alone newbies. I think though, if they learn how to fend for themselves, and get things themselves, instead of begging for others to help them, they learn a lot more, and become better players in the long run. Initiative! That's what I try to teach them, initiative.

Nykaul: Your mortal is a known pk'er, in both npk and cpk. How do you feel about those titles given to you?

Kithario: I think they are well earned. I've been cpking since dual class, when I was a cleric/thief with 500hps and the second best set good alignment thief set in Med. I have always loved cpking, and pking. Not so much from the bully perspective, but just to push myself more and more on here. When I started out, I wanted 100 cpks, then 200. I never liked cpking singles. I've only done that twice as a hero, maybe twenty times overall in five years. After setting all of these goals I ended up at 1000 cpks.

Nykaul: You must have come across some interesting, and oft embarassing tales, since you started Med. Can you share some?

Kithario: Anyone who was in Old Fate, when myself, Interloper, Cleon, Zeb and Daedalus were there should remember 'plop plop...fizz fizz'

Nykaul: Care to explain that?

Kithario: There is an intersting story behind that, which Interloper thought of around 4am one night when he thought of something I really cant explain without getting gagged. And Zeb with his Ki-rin dreams, and my sharing a beer with Ki-rin in Zeb's bar was always funny or Daedalus and his pink, fuzzy bunny slippers.

Nykaul: What aspect of the game is the most important to you?

Kithario: That's a tough one because I think there are quite a few that are pretty important to me.

Nykaul: Like what and why?

Kithario: I like the player-killing part because it is very challenging to everyone who is involved, mainly CPK because you work and work for your items and if you slip you can lose it all. It keeps you sharp and on the edge. I also enjoy the zone part of Medievia, especially zones that make you think and solve problems. I remember when I was a single level 30 cleric in 24, Zeb would bring me along on zones with Fate, and the night Lyryanoth opened, I was on the first run of the zone. We solved the entire zone, maps, puzzles everything, and I had helped. It felt rewarding in a way, to be the first to accomplish that zone.

Nykaul: Talking about zones, let us get back to Kithario, the God for a second. You said you got a builder in early 2000, and since then we have seen you revamp the Underground shafts. How was that for you?

Kithario: It was actually quite fun to do it. I wanted to bring some life to this zone. I remember all the time I have been on Medievia, Shafts was open, but no one knew about it. It was secluded from the newbies, and I wanted to change that, because it is an excellent place for newbie forms to go, since there are TONS of mobs and secret passages. It was also a stepping stone for me to begin with, to prove to the higher gods that I am capable of doing god-work.

Nykaul: You mentioned earlier that you had always wanted to be a God. When you finally got the position how did it translate from your dream position to reality?

Kithario: It was really a shocking incident because I had sent in the application and honestly didnt expect to be approved. Then Ikuska is asking if we can talk and she sprung it on me! I thought to myself wow! okay, step one in the books, now I need to produce.

Nykaul: Has it been everything you thought it would be?

Kithario: And more! It involves a lot of tedious work but once your job is complete, and you hear what are hopefully praises from the players, you feel very proud of your work.

Nykaul: Some people consider having a God is a glamor position, but as you just said it is a lot of tedious work. Could you give us an example of an average day's work for your God?

Kithario: An average day recently has entailed running 5-10 quests, depending on time, then assisting the avatars with sorting through new names for approval. Then handling prayers and if there are any complaints I address them. I check in on the Newbie Clan to see if they are all right, and THEN do my zonework.

Nykaul: Some of the prayers must be repetitive, as different people ask the same questions over and over. How do you deal with the more frustrating aspects of Godhood?

Kithario: Honestly you need to have patience to be a God. I've been where players are, I've spammed pray because of something that has gone wrong. I just try and calm them down first, and assure them the situation is under control, and we are handling it as fast as possible. We dont like seeing the players upset.

Nykaul: Playing the game on your mortal, has your opinions about Med changed because as a God you have seen the different aspects, and how the game is run?

Kithario: Much hasnt really changed. I believe all the players have their right to voice their opinion about changes, or situations involving the game. Although now I discourage the way they tend to voice their opinions. I dont believe in spamming pray, immmortal, telepath ect ect. If you have a valid complaint or opinion, you should go through the right channels to voice it, not any which way you feel like.

Nykaul: What are the plans for Kithario? Can you tell us about some of the projects you are working on?

Kithario: I have recently taken over as Manager for the Hall of Zones, I am also still assisting Kalise with the new and improved Medlink, as well as revamping New Genesia. Along with the regular duties of name approval, herobattles, quests ect ect.

Nykaul: As both a player and a God, what are some of your favorite features/changes to have happened on Med?

Kithario: I really enjoy the DragonLair module, and am thrilled with the recent locate changes, which in my opinion, make CPK a little bit more suprising.

Nykaul: What would you say has been some of your least favorite changes/features?

Kithario: I really miss Kingdom/Castle battles, along with not being able to see where in cpk. I miss walking into Fire Giants, and coming across twenty-five people sanced and ready behind the picture.

Nykaul: What changes do you think Med should make?

Kithario: I think Med should keep on going with its current course, like the old saying goes if it aint broke dont fix it. The new modules Vryce has planned sound very interesting and fun.

Nykaul: If you were forced to quit Med this very second, what would you want people to remember about you?

Kithario: That I can be your very best friend, or your worst enemy, and my deep love for Kastlyn.

Nykaul: What do you think people WILL remember about you?

Kithario: Unfortunately the self-righteous attitude that instilled fear into their hearts for the first four years of my Med-career. Everyone thinks I'm so mean.

Nykaul: If you could ask anyone on Med a question, what would it be and to who?

Kithario: I would ask Kastlyn if I still make her smile so bright, as I did the first time we met.

Nykaul: If you could interview anyone in the world, alive or dead, who would it be and why?

Kithario: God, definitely God, just to get his view on things. I believe we have the ability to talk to Him through praying so it's not like I would have to interview Him persay but I would like His views on the world today.

Nykaul: Where did you get the name Kithario from, and what does it mean, if anything?

Kithario: It's just a random name that Kastlyn and I had picked. I wanted something close to her name so we could always be close.

Nykaul: If you could have just one spell or skill from Medievia in real life which it would be and why?

Kithario: Phase, so I could always be with my baby in the blink of an eye.

Nykaul: If you would describe yourself in three words, what would they be?

Kithario: Loving, strong and sincere.

Nykaul: Do you have any ritualistic habits while you play Med? Some people play certain music at certain times, drink only mountain dew, or mud naked for example.

Kithario: When I am on anymore I am always with Kastlyn just talking, and when we talk I like to listen to this cd I got when we were together on holiday, Jann Arden.

Nykaul: If you were given three wishes, what would you wish for?

Kithario:
  1. To spend the rest of my life with my baby.
  2. Worldwide tranquility.
  3. To ensure that myself, and my family are kept healthy throughout our lives.
Nykaul: What would say your biggest accomplishment in life has been?

Kithario: I think living with and dealing with lifes hardships day in and day out is definitely a big one. My father left when I was 5 so that was hard. But getting through that with the help of my friends, and realizing that I am better off, and that I can still be whatever it is that I want to be, as long as I believe in myself is important.

Nykaul: Name five things that most people do not know about you!

Kithario:
  1. I have recently found God again, and became Christian.
  2. I had two minor league tryouts for the Philadelphia Phillies when I was 15 and 16, then I blew my knee out.
  3. I am not a 600lb person who has no life and sits at his computer all day like some perceive me to be.
  4. I believe Faith can move mountains.
  5. I am truly, madly, and deeply in love with Kastlyn.
Nykaul: Do you have any final comments, opinions, statements, or advice for anyone that may be reading this?

Kithario: I have made a lot of good friends from Medievia, including my love. The best thing I can say is to never forget who your friends are, regardless of their clan number, and to follow your heart, for you will never go wrong.


I would like to thank Kithario for his time and honesty in answering my questions. Through conducting these interviews I am finding new, interesting information about people that I had never known before, and I hope everyone else is too. I certainly never knew of Kithario's softer, and romantic side before.

If you believe you are a 'special' person that should be interviewed then email me at nykaul@medievia.com with the reasons why. Also, if you have a question you have always wanted to ask someone, feel free to email that question and if I ever interview that person I may include your question.

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