[member="Orphen"] - You get what you give... You planned a plot in secret, without cooperating with those involved in it ICly on an OOC level. At all. In any shape or form whatsoever. They reacted as their characters would have reacted ICly, since OOCly they have no knowledge of anything. When that happens, you then plead and hand-wring and unveil all this behind the scenes stuff that none of us had knowledge of up until after we had committed to threads. But you take no IC steps to prove anything that you say, so whilst various people understood OOCly, to ask them to conduct a massive retcon of several threads and more of IC action, just so you can have your cake and eat it too, is extremely... Well.... It's not cool.
I would have LOVED to have worked with you guys to plan this out and give the character/writer a proper send off. It's fitting and cool to do. Honestly, I really, really would have. As you can see, there was a ton of interest in something this 'scandulous' so to speak. But you guys(Or Gen, whoever is at fault is irrelevant) didn't even give us a heads-up of 'hey, this is happening' ... The threads were just noticed at the right time and right place and things fell together for a response.
To deal specifically with your comments, rather than the spirit of your message...
That we of the various companies seemed to have wanted this to happen? Of course we did... WE ARE ROLEPLAYERS! THIS IS A GOOD STORY! That is why we all jumped on it and ran with it. And given there wasn't an OOC brief to any of us, to expect any sort of contact in return is... A little much... As well, the tonal suggestion (and I say that hesitantly, it is text) that this is some sort of nefarious plot against the GR is just... Well, it's... A little paranoid and rude. But you're upset your plans got away from you, so a little frustration showing that might make you say things you don't mean or that can be mis-interpreted is understandable.
So far as competitive atmosphere ruining a story? It didn't. And it hasn't. The story is being ruined/ended by those who started it, as is their right. The specific sub arcs, ripples, and more that sprout from it will run their course as those writers wish, as is their right. Nothing has been blown out of the water or ruined. You attempted to use people's things without asking, and they are now in the process of reacting like anyone does to someone who tries to take what isn't there: Varying levels of 'Get off my lawn'.... But with lasers, instead of shotguns... Ok, some of us MIGHT have shotguns too... Who knows...
The point I want to make is this: You are decrying others ruining a good story. Of OOC plotting by corporation heads ruining a good story. It's just as easy to say that, by forcibly closing this thread and not running with the story because it changed, you folks are ruining it. Or that the group behind this seeing the reaction go a direction they didn't want is OOCly plotting to deprive other writers of the story they want. It's an endless quagmire when you start accusatory passive-aggressiveness.
I want you to understand that for my part, and for several others on the Company side of things... This is not some spiteful nefarious plot to ruin your fun. This is us seeing a story we like and trying to engage with you, trying to help you tell that story, and you going 'No no, we dont like your ideas, we want it this way and ONLY this way, so no one is getting to write this anymore'.
Problem with that is... Well... Actions have consequences. OOCly I respect the idea behind this, and wish you had approached me and the others so we could have made this a fitting hurrah. ICly? I see a chance for Ostanes/AEI to finally get out there, do things, and find his pace and place, so I am taking it. I hope you will see the potential this has and play along with it, rather than plugging your ears, squinting your eyes, and hoping we all go away.