Thankfulness for 11/16

Stephen Crouch – Tak! – or Talhallen – was someone I met way back in the days of the original EverQuest. He, like me, had a crazy sense of humor. (And he, like me, also played a Barbarian Shaman). I should have known immediately, I’d really get along with him. Stephen always wore a smile and a crazy look in his eyes (I mean that in the best way, I promise!) He moved out to San Diego to find a new path for his life – and in those years he spent here, I got to know him better. When Paul declined to reprise his role as Pawl the Dorf for Season 3, I asked Stephen to fill the role. When he asked me what I wanted from him in regards to the character – I said, “All I ask is that you have fun with it.”

And when I listened to the lines, I was in Heaven. Stephen kept true to the character’s previous personality; and then added his own little bit to it, to really bring Pawl the Dorf to life and make it his own. Stephen eventually moved back, and to be honest, there’s been times I have missed having him around and sharing that crazy humor I found in him. Stephen has an amazing ability to turn a dark day around, and fill your heart, soul and mind with laughter and smiles.

Stephen first appeared as Pawl the Dorf in Episode 47 – but that was a quick line. He really made a full appearance in Episode 48: The Assassin Strikes Back.