Greetings everyone who clicked the link (and everyone who has no idea what's going on but watches my account). So it's finally over, hard to believe really. It's incredible looking back on it all now. I really wish it didn't have to end. All of the competitors and spectators have been so awesome; I noticed that many of the competitors were wearing their ToH icons towards the end. And all of the last minute artwork; it was quite a send-off. What a fantastic curtain call…

Has it really been over a year now? The auditions ended at the end of September of 2010, but the auditions had been open all of that summer. But I can remember that it was mid January-February when the idea first came to mind to make a circus-themed OCT. I really didn't think it was going to go anywhere, but hell if you all wouldn't prove me wrong. A full bracket, plus extra.

I really do have to thank all of you, the competitors and the spectators and the confused passerbys. You guys really are what made the tournament so awesome; the staff and I only gave it direction. But you all gave it form and motion and brought it to life. I'm just astounded by the amount of work and dedication you guys put into it, looking back at all of the old stuff just brings back memories if I may steal a moment of sentimentalism. The Misc folder is brimming with insanity. Everyone just went so beyond with their work and made it so much fun. I'm so very honored to have been able to have been a part of it. There's so much I've learned from working with the ToH people.

There was so much interweaving of plots and stories that to pull away at one thread seemed to unravel everything. I used to comment stalk the deviations (because I am your host and this isn't creepy at all maybe) and always chuckled a little when I found the watchers of competitors who had no idea what was going on because in order to understand ToH, you had to read more or less everything. And dear me the running gags. The ToH Cheerleaders, the flaming tent, spontaneous Pft (seriously, how the hell did that start and how the hell did it keep going??). The iScribble Nights were full of insanity, and I well remember the late hours of the night filled with Transformice.

To all of the staff who have come and gone from ToH, thank you for your dedication. Give these folks a round of applause. Many nights were spent in the judging rooms, sometimes till the early morning hours. They've all been great to work with, even if at times we felt like strangling each other (once per round in the later rounds, on average) It's been really tough, and we've made some really close calls, the finals in particular. Really it could have gone either way but after picking apart bit by bit we had to make a decision, and it wasn't easy. Countless times when it came down to asking which would win a given match I'd be answered with "both", and then I was forced to get out the toaster remind the judges that it didn't work like that, as much as we wished it did. Kal and 12 do have very busy lives however and weren't able to write their final last words on the tournament as a whole. However, if you guys ever get around to it go ahead and post them, I'll link to them on the journal and in here.
Edit:
Kal's final thoughts: [link]
12's final thoughts: [link]

I've met some rather incredible people through ToH, several of which I'm now good friends with. There have been numerous hardships for all of the competitors but in the end, there was such endurance. How so many people could come together to create this is amazing. Thank you everyone for making this so great. I can't believe it has come to its end…

Oh, there were a few questions I've been asked a number of times and I figure there's no better time to address them.

Q: Will there be a sequel to ToH?
-A. No. Let me be more definitive. Never. There are waaay too many problems with sequels. People who just compare the two to each other, saying one was better and the other worse. People would refer too much to old entries, making it too difficult for new people to squeeze in. Plus, the mystery of the Tapestry has been explored by the competitors. I'd rather focus on something new and fresh that people could tear apart and explore on their own, instead of something that's been done and dissected. Leading me to question two.

Q: Will you be hosting another tournament?
-A. Eventually. Right now, that niche has been filled by other early-stage OCTs. I don't think you've heard the last of me as a host, but I think there needs to be some time. ToH is still close at heart so I don't want to jump into anything just yet. I really have no plans or ideas beyond that it would probably still be non-human, although perhaps more lenient on what that entails. But that's it, really.

Q: What about Elly?
-A. What about her? Elly belongs to ToH. I don't really consider her 'my' character, she belongs to the competitors who fleshed her out. I may have made her but, she's not really mine nor is her story.

Q: Any regrets?
-A. No. Live and let learn.