Zilea Victor

There are those indelible moments in each of our lifetimes that will never be forgotten.  Whether it be a first kiss, the birth of a child or the first day of freshman year, they are etched onto our souls forever, woven into the very skein of our lives.  And then there are our shared events, reflecting the times and struggles of a whole generation, such as the moon landing or the fall of the Berlin Wall.  I think I speak for millions across the world today by stating that Zilea's victory at Blizzcon qualifies as both.  Everyone today will be able to answer the question, "Where were you and what were you doing when Zilea won Blizzcon 2009?".

Unparalled : Putting The Victory In Context
Ancient history is replete with stories of military glory, such as Caesar's stunning victory before the walls of Alesia, King Leonidas's last stand at Thermopylae or even Scipio Africanus's defeat of Hannibal at Zama.  All of these pale in comparison to the glory to which Zilea has earned through his indomitable skill at arms.  I don't think it's going too far to say that modern history books will likely include comparisons between Zilea and Alexander, with Alexander the lesser of the two mighty colossi.

Surely, Roma, I hear my loyal readers (the best, brightest and generally most virile of all GR readers) say, you're laying it on a bit thick here. After all, Zilea wasn't risking his life or leading eight legions against a quarter of a million men like Caesar.  And I admit that's true, but I also need to point out two differences that qualify him for eternal glory.  First, he was risking his honor no different than any other storied battle lord.  His actions were directly responsible for their success, or ignominy, on the field of battle.

Second, and this I think is equally vital to understanding the magnitude of this triumph, is that he conquered while playing the lowly paladin, a class that to date had enjoyed no arena tournament success... ever.  There were great Roman generals before and after Caesar.  There were other sprawling empires before and after Alexander conquered his own.  What Zilea achieved had never been done in the annals of human history.  Somewhere I know King Leonidas is stroking his magnificent beard and rehashing the tournament with his mighty 300.  My guess is King Leonidas probably would like to ask Zilea for some tips on tactics as a fellow cleavist.


We So Wish Zilea Were Healing Us

Good Defeats Evil At Last
I also don't want to skip over the moral side of this victory.  This was more than a simple border battle between feudal lords over some scraps of worthless land.  This was the Great Crusade, a moral endeavor that shook the very foundations of both earth and heaven.  For years the arena tournament scene has been in the clutches of that most diabolical of comps, the very definition of both iniquity and inequity: RMP.  For once, just once, the Comp of Darkness has been brought low, cast into the infernal void with great weeping and gnashing of teeth among its numberless (skilled) adherents.  It will probably never happen again (and judging by the look on Lord Kalgan's face when he handed out the award, count on massive paladin nerfs soon), but for now this great evil has been thrown down and destroyed.


How's Cleave Taste, *****es!

Zilea, Imperator
It was a tradition in the late Roman Republic for victorious legionaries to hail their conquering general by the title of Imperator on the bloody field of battle.  It wasn't a title given out lightly, as it was shouted spontaneously by the survivors to honor their commander.  And so it is here : henceforth on the posts of this blog Zilea, paladin hero and battlefield commander without equal, shall be given the honorific Imperator.

IMPERATOR! IMPERATOR! IMPERATOR!

Imperator Zilea, your diligence, your sacrifice, your glory and your honor are an example for us all. I'd like to think that it was your holy paladin spirit that enabled me to earn my shoulders and likely my new title of FURIOUS DUELIST ROMA VICTOR. I, along with the rest of the Free World, remain forever in your debt, content to bask in the light of your reflected glory.

Zilea. Victor.

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