Written By Jhond
June 10, 2018, 7:51 p.m.(12/18/1008 AR)
Apparently not everyone appreciates a good sweat.
Written By Cullen
June 10, 2018, 7:50 p.m.(12/18/1008 AR)
Relationship Note on Alexis
I've praised her work before, but it bears repeating - Dame Alexis is truly an unparalleled armorer, and my commission she's been working on diligently is nothing less than spectacular.
Written By Joscelin
June 10, 2018, 7:22 p.m.(12/18/1008 AR)
Relationship Note on Austen
I didn't need one.
Your pies found good homes.
Your pies found good homes.
Written By Victus
June 10, 2018, 7:17 p.m.(12/18/1008 AR)
Relationship Note on Cassima
DON'T. KILL. THE DOG.
Written By Cassima
June 10, 2018, 6:47 p.m.(12/18/1008 AR)
To those who may bother to read my journal entries,
My sister, Caith Thrax, has gifted me with a living animal as a birthday 'gift.' It is small, with curly black hair. It makes a sound that I do not believe classifies as a 'bark' but my servants have informed me that it is, indeed, a dog.
No doubt it also eats, and slobbers, and produces excrement as a dog.
What do I do with this feral beast? To give it away is to slight a beloved sister, but to keep it is entirely impossible. Perhaps my guardsman Bastian has a wife or child to whom the responsibility of managing this wild creature might be settled upon.
Taking other recommendations on how to navigate this perilous situation.
My sister, Caith Thrax, has gifted me with a living animal as a birthday 'gift.' It is small, with curly black hair. It makes a sound that I do not believe classifies as a 'bark' but my servants have informed me that it is, indeed, a dog.
No doubt it also eats, and slobbers, and produces excrement as a dog.
What do I do with this feral beast? To give it away is to slight a beloved sister, but to keep it is entirely impossible. Perhaps my guardsman Bastian has a wife or child to whom the responsibility of managing this wild creature might be settled upon.
Taking other recommendations on how to navigate this perilous situation.
Written By Aiden
June 10, 2018, 6:47 p.m.(12/18/1008 AR)
Relationship Note on Estaban
The world allowed me a chance to give you a proper goodbye.
Rest well, Lion of Saik.
Rest well, Lion of Saik.
Written By Austen
June 10, 2018, 6:21 p.m.(12/17/1008 AR)
Relationship Note on Joscelin
Who gave you a key?!
Written By Orazio
June 10, 2018, 6:19 p.m.(12/17/1008 AR)
Balance.
I find this concept frustrating when it is applied to ideas of good and evil, because it inevitably feels like an excuse. An excuse not to fight against evil with all of your heart. An excuse to allow one to tolerate the intolerable. I confess that I have never known one on the side of evil to spare any innocent lives because of a concept of 'balance', although I have certainly known them to try and manipulate those on the righteous path to stay their hand because of it. "Balance", in practice, seems inevitably to be about good people allowing evil to exist and prosper, and never about evil retreating or ceasing to exploit and corrupt.
If one would strive for some nebulous balance between good and evil, one must then ask oneself - what atrocities are you willing to turn a blind eye to in order to win it? What lives that you could save, will you not? What horrors that you could end, will you instead allow to thrive? All for a concept which has no true meaning for the average mortal life.
Perhaps the universe seeks balance on a cosmic scale. But if that is true, then I would remind one of the other nations of the world, and the horrors they live under in even what little we know of them. Arvum could be a paradise of justice, compassion, and civilization, and the scales would still be tilted towards misery. As one who signs the funding requests for orphanages, homeless shelters, food kitchens, and Mercy deployments across the continent, I assure you that we as a people, a nation, and a land are in no danger of being "too good" or bending "too far" towards justice and righteousness. Children of the Faith, I say fight - fight against evil, against the vices that dwell within the world and our own hearts, and fight with every thing that you have. You are in no danger of upsetting a balance.
Hold to the Virtues of the Pantheon, and you will not go wrong.
I find this concept frustrating when it is applied to ideas of good and evil, because it inevitably feels like an excuse. An excuse not to fight against evil with all of your heart. An excuse to allow one to tolerate the intolerable. I confess that I have never known one on the side of evil to spare any innocent lives because of a concept of 'balance', although I have certainly known them to try and manipulate those on the righteous path to stay their hand because of it. "Balance", in practice, seems inevitably to be about good people allowing evil to exist and prosper, and never about evil retreating or ceasing to exploit and corrupt.
If one would strive for some nebulous balance between good and evil, one must then ask oneself - what atrocities are you willing to turn a blind eye to in order to win it? What lives that you could save, will you not? What horrors that you could end, will you instead allow to thrive? All for a concept which has no true meaning for the average mortal life.
Perhaps the universe seeks balance on a cosmic scale. But if that is true, then I would remind one of the other nations of the world, and the horrors they live under in even what little we know of them. Arvum could be a paradise of justice, compassion, and civilization, and the scales would still be tilted towards misery. As one who signs the funding requests for orphanages, homeless shelters, food kitchens, and Mercy deployments across the continent, I assure you that we as a people, a nation, and a land are in no danger of being "too good" or bending "too far" towards justice and righteousness. Children of the Faith, I say fight - fight against evil, against the vices that dwell within the world and our own hearts, and fight with every thing that you have. You are in no danger of upsetting a balance.
Hold to the Virtues of the Pantheon, and you will not go wrong.
Written By Tikva
June 10, 2018, 6:17 p.m.(12/17/1008 AR)
Relationship Note on Antonio
No, Princess Alarissa Thrax was a Valardin at the time those arrangements took place, and the arrangement between the Mourning Isles and the Oathlands was so celebrated.
This is the first success we have had at negotiating such a treaty in years. To be celebrated! Likewise! Huzzah!
This is the first success we have had at negotiating such a treaty in years. To be celebrated! Likewise! Huzzah!
Written By Valery
June 10, 2018, 6:10 p.m.(12/17/1008 AR)
I still need to talk with so many people...
Written By Antonio
June 10, 2018, 6:08 p.m.(12/17/1008 AR)
Relationship Note on Tikva
If I recall, Princess Tikva, isn't Prince Victus himself currently married to a Grayson?
Written By Tikva
June 10, 2018, 6 p.m.(12/17/1008 AR)
Ever since Queen Genevieve died, House Grayson and House Thrax have puttered around the edges of matchmaking. Princess Dawn nearly married Lord Victus, and then Princess Natalia very nearly married Prince Dagon, and then after that fell apart due to reasons, Princess Lark _very nearly_ married Prince Valerius. One by one, each of these matches has fallen apart. We strive for peace, prosperity, honor, and dignity, and at times, it seems life and trouble defeat us at every turn.
But we persevere!
So now we come to the treaty arrangements that we look forward to now. I look with fondness upon the announcements published by High Lord Victus this week, for they are the culmination of the intention and labor of several parties. House Thrax and House Grayson shall continue as friends and allies, I have elicited a solemn promise that High Lord Victus shall dance with me at the wedding of the decade, and I should very much like to thank the Whisper House for serving in their capacity as advisors and diplomatists, and my deep-felt thanks to Duchess Margot Tyde, who aided us in wisdom during the finalizing
And, of course, Legate Orazio for the Faith of the Pantheon, without whom none of this could be possible.
I know Arx will look forward, as I do, to the grandest wedding celebrations in living memory. Hold onto your hats, folks . . . It’s going to be epic.
But we persevere!
So now we come to the treaty arrangements that we look forward to now. I look with fondness upon the announcements published by High Lord Victus this week, for they are the culmination of the intention and labor of several parties. House Thrax and House Grayson shall continue as friends and allies, I have elicited a solemn promise that High Lord Victus shall dance with me at the wedding of the decade, and I should very much like to thank the Whisper House for serving in their capacity as advisors and diplomatists, and my deep-felt thanks to Duchess Margot Tyde, who aided us in wisdom during the finalizing
And, of course, Legate Orazio for the Faith of the Pantheon, without whom none of this could be possible.
I know Arx will look forward, as I do, to the grandest wedding celebrations in living memory. Hold onto your hats, folks . . . It’s going to be epic.
Written By Torian
June 10, 2018, 5:57 p.m.(12/17/1008 AR)
Gets hard, doing the same thing every day. Taking care of the kids, working the shop, trying to carve out a life worth living for the orphans and common folk.
It's all worth it, but I'd be a liar if I didn't miss traveling and the old life.
Maybe I need to take another trip.
It's all worth it, but I'd be a liar if I didn't miss traveling and the old life.
Maybe I need to take another trip.
Written By Fortunato
June 10, 2018, 5:50 p.m.(12/17/1008 AR)
Relationship Note on Laric
Ah, balance.
I have-- hm. I am not a man wholly comfortable with the ideal of living by ideals. I mean this in the gentlest way I can. I love the gods and worship them, but I know I am unequal to endless growth and aspiration. I am a painter who often explores darkness as a subject, and not in a way that is wholly meant to be instructive.
I am an imperfect person, in the sum, who sees some worth in my imperfections and struggles.
This is, perhaps, my own balance. My own equilibrium. My own internal pendulum.
I am familiar with the work of Archlector Py in this area, and I have interpreted it as the maxim, you must act. I believe this. Sometimes the desire for equilibrium or balance can lead us to paralysis, to be afraid of change, certainly. But I am also wary of classifying actions as Light or Dark, when much of what we do as humans is necessarily muddied. In the middle. Or unreadable.
I respect the gray represented by the complexity of acting over a lifetime. I respect duality. The pendulum swings the world. And the pendulum swings in us, restless. We will never be perfect, you and I. But we must act.
I have-- hm. I am not a man wholly comfortable with the ideal of living by ideals. I mean this in the gentlest way I can. I love the gods and worship them, but I know I am unequal to endless growth and aspiration. I am a painter who often explores darkness as a subject, and not in a way that is wholly meant to be instructive.
I am an imperfect person, in the sum, who sees some worth in my imperfections and struggles.
This is, perhaps, my own balance. My own equilibrium. My own internal pendulum.
I am familiar with the work of Archlector Py in this area, and I have interpreted it as the maxim, you must act. I believe this. Sometimes the desire for equilibrium or balance can lead us to paralysis, to be afraid of change, certainly. But I am also wary of classifying actions as Light or Dark, when much of what we do as humans is necessarily muddied. In the middle. Or unreadable.
I respect the gray represented by the complexity of acting over a lifetime. I respect duality. The pendulum swings the world. And the pendulum swings in us, restless. We will never be perfect, you and I. But we must act.
Written By Antonio
June 10, 2018, 5:47 p.m.(12/17/1008 AR)
Lenosia will be commissioning privateers soon. As happy as I am to administer the program.. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little jealous of our soon to be legal pirates. Oh, the freedom and adventure!
Written By Alessandro
June 10, 2018, 5:42 p.m.(12/17/1008 AR)
Relationship Note on Lorenzo
I miss you already, but I will hold a place for you in the Greenmarch Gardens whenever you wish to visit. I hope it is often.
Written By Joscelin
June 10, 2018, 5:38 p.m.(12/17/1008 AR)
Relationship Note on Ida
I took his pies too.
Written By Fortunato
June 10, 2018, 5:36 p.m.(12/17/1008 AR)
Relationship Note on Pasquale
Pasquale. A man of thoughtful reserve who loves Limerance. Limerance is a god I often struggle with, having no fealty, unlikely to marry, my love diffuse, but when I speak to a man like Pasquale, I understand the power of the vow. I understand the power of swearing yourself to a house, a concept, an aspiration that you love and long to serve and fulfill. I understand how a passion may lend itself to constraint and focus and thus become stronger. I am glad to be this man's friend.
Written By Ahrsen
June 10, 2018, 5:29 p.m.(12/17/1008 AR)
Getting a good group of mercs together is harder than I thought. I put out the call but not many have answered, except for pretty girls. Come on you scallywags, sign up for gold, treasure, adventure!
Written By Laric
June 10, 2018, 5:17 p.m.(12/17/1008 AR)
'Balance'. It's a powerful concept, but one that hinges entirely on its context. You cannot truly discuss 'balance' without first discussing what it means to what you apply it to. Take this example: when planning a construction, an architect must carefully consider its shape and the weight of their materials. If they do not ensure a balance, the construction will eventually collapse under its own weight. There must be equilibrium. A monument or home crumbling of its own accord is a terrible thing to behold, but they are often mistakes. Perhaps the architect failed to take something into account, or perhaps the builders or suppliers cut a corner and compromised the architect's vision.
But let's apply it much more broadly, concepts they are often attached to. Good and evil. Elysia and the Abyss. Can they achieve an architect's 'balance'? Equilibrium? Everlasting harmony? Let's say for a moment they could, as idealistic as that may be.
Adversity and challenge are what drive change and progress. A permanent balance of good and evil would be stasis, antithetical to Lagoma's teachings. Without progress there is no learning; a spit in the face of Vellichor.
Would the enforcers and guardians of this balance impose their will on the world, removing choice to ensure their balance? This would be antithetical to not just Skald's teachings, but also Gloria and the Sentinel. The death of choice is tyranny, and tyranny - no matter whatever good intentions may drive it - is unjust.
When applied to good and evil, that sort of balance - an equilibrium - is undeniably evil. It is a deliberate act, not a mistake.
Archscholar Py wrote on the subject once, and he wrote poignantly. The balance of good and evil is a swinging pendulum, a constant give and take, an unending push and pull. It is foolish to try and interfere with its movement on any grand scale. There is no safety in the center of the pendulum.
Good and evil are concepts greater than any of us, and I think it is the height of hubris to assume mastery over either. The best any one soul can do is to live their life fully, facing whatever consequences may arise from it.
But let's apply it much more broadly, concepts they are often attached to. Good and evil. Elysia and the Abyss. Can they achieve an architect's 'balance'? Equilibrium? Everlasting harmony? Let's say for a moment they could, as idealistic as that may be.
Adversity and challenge are what drive change and progress. A permanent balance of good and evil would be stasis, antithetical to Lagoma's teachings. Without progress there is no learning; a spit in the face of Vellichor.
Would the enforcers and guardians of this balance impose their will on the world, removing choice to ensure their balance? This would be antithetical to not just Skald's teachings, but also Gloria and the Sentinel. The death of choice is tyranny, and tyranny - no matter whatever good intentions may drive it - is unjust.
When applied to good and evil, that sort of balance - an equilibrium - is undeniably evil. It is a deliberate act, not a mistake.
Archscholar Py wrote on the subject once, and he wrote poignantly. The balance of good and evil is a swinging pendulum, a constant give and take, an unending push and pull. It is foolish to try and interfere with its movement on any grand scale. There is no safety in the center of the pendulum.
Good and evil are concepts greater than any of us, and I think it is the height of hubris to assume mastery over either. The best any one soul can do is to live their life fully, facing whatever consequences may arise from it.
Please note that the scholars may take some time preparing your journal for others to read.