Intergalactic Summit

I'm planetside for the Amarrian holidays, celebrating the holy veneration of Saint Nicholas the Destroyer.

....May his swift judgments (and presents) reign down on you all!


Twas the night before St Nicholas Eve
and all through the station
not a Minmatar was stirring, demanding emancipation


The stockings were hung by the pods with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;


The crews were nestled all snug in their vessels,
with visions of Ravens, Apocs and Kestrels

And pappa in his 'kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled down for a New Eden's nap,

When out on the hull there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from my pod to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the hangar and threw up the latch.

The moon on the rise and the asteroids 'a glow,
Gave the lustre of mid-day to the objects below,

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature frigate, and eight tiny drone-deer,

With a menacing old driver, so violent and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.

More rapid than eagles his drones they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;

"Now, luxuria! now, gula! now, avaritia!
On, ira! on invidia! on, superbia and acedia!

To the top of the drone bay! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!"

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,

So up to the bridge-top the drones they flew,
With the frigate full of gifts, and St. Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the hull
The prancing and pawing of those drones so special.

As I drew in my hand, and was turning around,
Down the torpedo bay St. Nicholas came in with a bound.

He was dressed all in armor, his body full of flames,
And his weapons were all tarnished with blood and remains;

A bundle of gifts he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.

His eyes -- how they simmered! his dimples how scary!
His cheeks were like embers, how completely un-merry!

His droll little mouth was drawn up like a sneer
And the beard of his chin was as dark as my fear!

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;

He was terrifying and fearsome, a right vengeful old elf,
And I shook when I saw him, in spite of myself;

A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had everything to dread;

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,

And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the torpedo bay he rose;

He sprang to his frigate, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.


But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,

"Merry St Nicholas Day to all, and to all a good-night."

Lady Vitalia, I have been asked to convey this message to you from Admiral Mitara Newelle-Shutaq:


"May your Saint Nicholas celebtations be full of mirth and reflection, and may He continue to bless you and yours, Lady Vitalia"

Catalyst is the future.

Oh I'm merely a messenger bringing the Holiday Spirit!.

St Nicholas has been terrorizing Amarrian children for centuries.

I am very much interested in learning more about this Saint Nicholas....

St Nickolas did ride in a bhaalgorn once apon a time...... but he was forced to downsize his opperation. The ecconomy was killing him

Certainly not created by Quafe, but yes.... unfortunately St. Nicholas the destroyer has been 'commercialized' in our time, with all manor of utter nonsense. My beloved Saint has been misappropriated by other cultures and turned into a crass advertising icon.

I believe last year for the Caldari Mind Clash finals there was one particularly egregious advertisement showing him flying about dispensing fizzy drinks to children instead of the customary burning of villages and chasing naughty children with his flaming sword.... *sigh* The times we live in.

EDIT: Double post so I'd just like to say in this space that I really think Quafe's new gimmick with the names on the cans is great marketing. Hey, it's kind of relevant.