As my great good friend Shrykespeare — our very own Friar of Film, Prince of Previews and all-around Muse of Moguldom himself — noted in his most recent column, I am departing these hale and noble shores, after what has been by any measure a remarkably tumultuous, unpredictable, even maddening tenure as a player, featured columnist, occasional contributor and all-around, albeit often irregular, "regular" of Fantasy Moguls. I can confirm all that Shrykester revealed in last week's installment of Bard's Eye View: My long-suffering spouse, the near-mythical Nicomissus, is expecting our second child, a development that came about in a fit of bittersweet, providential absurdity. As it turns out, she conceived exactly one week before my father's death this past February. Therefore, for this and many other reasons, I am turning my full attention to matters familial for at least the remainder of 2008, and very possibly for a fair time following. I've also recently taken on certain professional obligations that will make it extremely difficult for me to continue as an Fantasy Moguls gamer, much less a Forum regular. I have therefore decided to "retire" from the site, and to finally put the Nicodemus persona to rest, though I hope to return under a new "handle" in a year or so.

It is time, as I mentioned in a recent Forum post, to relegate the fickle, persnickety, renegade old rat to history, and for this vibrant virtual community to evolve past its familiar, hoary, senescent roots; for an awesome and astonishing new era to be inaugurated, populated by another generation of filmic scholars, sages and scallywags, bearing their own unique and inimitable voices, prejudices and perspectives. As Spock once wryly noted, observing his own imminent obsolescence: "History is replete with turning points." My own impending removal from Fantasy Moguls is by no means such a momentous event as all that: I am, and ever have been, no more than a single — persistent, mind you, but solitary — voice here, one stubbornly resilient spark among a multitude of blazingly creative and inspiring suns. But I flatter myself to think that I've had an impact, and I have been amazed and humbled by the outpouring of affectionate tributes and fond farewells that have graced these pages of late. Make no mistake ... This has been a difficult decision for yours truly, to choose not to participate for the foreseeable future. But it was, nonetheless, the right decision.

However — all evidence to the contrary — I'm not here today to talk about me. I've been invited back, one last time, to pay homage to one of our own: A onetime Forum denizen who, by dint of his wit, perception and discernment, has made himself known throughout the Fantaverse as that rare, compelling voice of actual reason; an unconventional, raffish raconteur whose thoughtfulness, perspicacity, humility, straight shooting and boundless goodwill inspired a spirit of edgy rhetoric, yet easy rapprochement that has permeated and come to define our entire community. I am speaking, of course, of the one and only Shrykespeare, who is this week celebrating his one-year anniversary as a regular contributor to, and featured columnist for, Fantasy Moguls.

To say that Shryke's journey from aspiring Mogul to what can perhaps best be described as the Voice of the People here at Fantasy Moguls, was a somewhat unconventional one, may well be putting it rather mildly. I remember Shryke's early days on the Forum, when he, like all of we first-season players, were testing the waters to find out what sort of dialogues were possible here: Was it kosher to talk about older films, like, say, personal favorites from childhood? Might anyone else like to discuss the wider world of entertainment, or the business of film, or the medium as an art form? Could personal stories be shared here? Would the site, and its users, tolerate, even, the occasional — gasp — random, non-germane digression? [Chuckle]

Shryke was one of the very first to recognize that the Fantasy Moguls game was bringing together a wide and uniquely knowledgeable diversity of film lovers, from all walks of life, all ages, all pay-grades, all experiences, even, all nationalities. Rather than confine his remarks, observations and opinions to the relatively narrow milieu of the current Fantasy Moguls game, Shryke helped break through what was at first a comparatively stagnant and uninteresting status quo, and from the jump began to challenge initial conventions of what the Forum was and could become, with time, ingenuity, and the dedication of a core group of enthusiasts.

His, and a few certain others', consistent involvement with the site — their ingenuity, insight and innovation — was integral to making the Forum what it is today: An intoxicating, irreverent, inspiringly unfettered cacophony of overlapping conversations and debates covering a myriad of topics, disciplines and intellectual real estate, teeming with all the dissonant complexity of a college lecture hall and fairly bursting with enthusiasm, energy and intrepidity. Shryke — and a select few other visionaries — did for Fantasy Moguls what Ty Cobb did for baseball, or Shaquille O'Neal for basketball, or Tiger Woods for golf: He helped to mature the sport, to alter it in some fundamental, wonderful way that made it relevant and accessible to a wider world and its inhabitants. He literally moved the game, and he did it with quiet authority and unassailable integrity, a soft-spoken man bearing one helluva prosaic and rhetorical stick. Shryke helped make the Forum in his own image, evolving it from a virtual bulletin board to a dashing and dynamic marketplace of thought. If this were his only contribution to Fantasy Moguls, he'd have cemented his reputation as a mere leader.

But it was as a featured columnist that Shryke became a legend. I remember vividly how shocked and awestruck he was when, at the behest of yours truly, The Powers That Be here at Fantasy Moguls saw, as I had, his potential as a writer and invited him to join the staff. At that time there were only two of us contributing regularly to the site: Steve Mason, who I swear must have been using a Time-Turner to fulfill his manifold journalistic endeavors, and myself. We desperately needed new blood, unfamiliar faces, a fresh perspective; my own style of writing, oft-punctuated by ceaselessly snarky disparagement (and, very occasionally, advocacy) of forthcoming titles, was understandably off-putting to some readers, and it had always been the intention of Fantasy Moguls to provide a genuine diversity of perspectives to gamers, to tickle their imaginations and, it was hoped, enrich their overall Fantasy Moguls experience. Shryke's collaboration with yours truly on One Month Out's epic ''A Conversation with Nicodemus" three-parter, where we looked ahead to the forthcoming debut weekend of Summer 2007, convinced me beyond all doubt that he was an undiscovered talent, a diamond in the rough, a star lacking only people, compelled to look up one evening, to take his rightful place among the growing constellation of Fantasy Moguls featured columnists.

He needed convincing. It had been 20 years since Shryke had written anything for public consumption; perhaps longer since anyone had really noticed the burgeoning, undeniable ability lurking, patiently, just beneath the surface of what was otherwise a fairly nondescript corporate and suburban existence. He must have thought I was either high or halfway 'round the bend when I insisted that he BELONGED here at Fantasy Moguls, that he had something rare and valuable and precious to contribute, no matter his pedigree or professional experience. "I'm not as knowledgeable as you are," he protested. "I don't know much about art films, I don't go to festivals." Doesn't matter, I told him. You're smart, opinionated, and you have a thirst for learning. You don't need an MFA, an all-access pass or a five-dollar vocabulary to be compelling. Nor do you need them to be RIGHT. You've got the stuff, I assured him. People will want to read you, to know what you think.

He sweated those first columns. I remember Shryke calling me up, asking me what I thought of his work. He worried that he would come off as too partial. He stressed over not being opinionated ENOUGH. He pored over the posted responses to those first few efforts, wondering if the sniping of one or two heckling wags meant that he didn't know what he was doing after all. It took a little while for him to grow confident, to realize that he didn't need me — or anyone else, for that matter — to put a stamp of approval on his words; to recognize that argumentation is the sincerest form of flattery, and that in order for someone to debase your opinion, they first must CONSIDER your opinion. You know you're a success when people start telling you you're an idiot, I said. When someone cares enough about you, and what you say to actually call you out, you've hooked 'em.

It didn't take long, though. Like I'd said to him from the beginning: Shryke, you don't need me. You've already got the pitches you need to make it in the majors. You just needed someone to call you up. The rest is just destiny.

I began my last post to the Forum thusly: "Seems like I'm always saying good-bye." Truer words have rarely been spoken here, least of all by yours truly. And yet I cannot be sad at my departure from Fantasy Moguls, for I know beyond all doubt that I am not only leaving it in the best hands possible — those belonging to the wise and worthy Mase, the uncommonly sagacious Indie Jones, the preternaturally perceptive Mister Informative, the unflappable [Mysterious Mister F], and of course, my great good friend Shrykespeare (not to mention, the aptly-named Sir-Not-Appearing-In-This-Column) — but I'm leaving it even better, stronger and wiser, than when I came to it. I can't claim credit for that, but, perhaps, I did have something to do with it. And for that — and for the hours upon hours of indescribable entertainment, intellectual athleticism, unending inspiration, and, of course, incredible fellowship this remarkable site has given me — I am deeply, and profoundly thankful.

This place is special, as many of you have noticed, and some have noted. Let's all lift a glass, therefore, to the one and only Shrykespeare, on his one-year anniversary, and shake the Bard's prolific hand for all he's done to help make it that way. May he have many more years shining bright in the Fantasy Moguls sky.

As for myself — well, the road goes ever on and on, my friends. I'll see you all again, after a time. You have honored me with your friendship, and I will ever be in your debt.

Shryke, congratulations, again, man. I am well pleased, my great good friend. And now, having celebrated your well-deserved success and many praiseworthy achievements, and with faith in the future still to come, I'll take my leave of you with a (yet) another Spock quote (Eoin must be banging his head with a cricket bat right about now): "You are my friend. I have been, and always shall be yours. Live long, and prosper."

Until we meet again, I bequeath you my enchanted quill; and I remain, always and forever ...

Nico.

The Road goes ever on and on
Down from the door where it began.
Now far ahead the Road has gone,
And I must follow, if I can,
Pursuing it with eager feet,
Until it joins some larger way,
Where many paths and errands meet.
And whither then? I cannot say.

J.R.R. Tolkien

Nicodemus was not a bullfrog. (Duh, he was a rat.) But he was, and is, a good friend of ours. If you'd like to say farewell, ask around the Message Boards. His e-mail is out there. (Wink.)