Written By Freja
Sept. 25, 2016, 8:58 a.m.(9/3/1004 AR)
Relationship Note on Niccolo
A quick friend with the kindness I showed his 'protege', Acacia. Good deeds do not go unpunished it seems, so I am stuck with his friendship. Alas, woe is me. Our views are similar in ways I would have never thought; the merits of men and their worth, our alarmingly long-term goals so alike in nature. It makes his friendship and drinking companionship all the more enjoyable. Friends, not allies. The former is far more lucrative and he wouldn't allow the latter.
Written By Eos
Sept. 11, 2016, 6:32 p.m.(7/18/1004 AR)
Relationship Note on Niccolo
It might have taken some time for the stars to align, and schedules with them, but the wait to sit and share a drink with Duke Niccolo outside of the larger social engagements proved well worth it. We have taken similar paths through our lives, to similiar effect, but he is some years ahead of me and I believe there is something to be learned from his experiences and wisdom that I might use in my own life and toward my own aspirations. House Velenosa continues to honor House Saik with each exchange.
Written By Joscelin
Sept. 10, 2016, 11:08 a.m.(7/15/1004 AR)
Relationship Note on Niccolo
On Market Day, I had the pleasure of meeting His Grace briefly but it was his protege Acacia that arrested most of my attention, with her generous praise and her pretty eyes.
-shut up I'm not done.
-but I hadn't sat down and spoken to him until I met he and Acacia for conversation and wine.
The man is eloquent, words drip fully formed from his mouth like glittering gemstones from a doeskin pouch. And the partial focus he gives a person makes the hair stand up on ones neck, but not in alarm so much as in notification. Like, the brown eyes of the Duke are on your skin, PAY ATTENTION.
Watching the way he worked around the conversation with myself, Acacia, and Master Carver in my memories has led me to an appreciation of His Grace. While I want to say I look forward to speaking with him again, and I do, the intensity of his regard might warrant a drink or two first.
-shut up I'm not done.
-but I hadn't sat down and spoken to him until I met he and Acacia for conversation and wine.
The man is eloquent, words drip fully formed from his mouth like glittering gemstones from a doeskin pouch. And the partial focus he gives a person makes the hair stand up on ones neck, but not in alarm so much as in notification. Like, the brown eyes of the Duke are on your skin, PAY ATTENTION.
Watching the way he worked around the conversation with myself, Acacia, and Master Carver in my memories has led me to an appreciation of His Grace. While I want to say I look forward to speaking with him again, and I do, the intensity of his regard might warrant a drink or two first.
Written By Kima
Sept. 7, 2016, 11:28 p.m.(7/7/1004 AR)
Relationship Note on Niccolo
If you bother to read through entries that speak of the current Voice of Velenosa, I would hazard a guess and say nearly all of them are vapid praises of his honor and dignity. We, all of us, do so love to make ourselves sound ever so polite and courteous. Especially on paper.
The man fought Shavs. He's fathered some of the most influential women in Arvum. He knows how to act decisively and without restraint. So too does he know when to speak - even better - he knows what to say.
The man fought Shavs. He's fathered some of the most influential women in Arvum. He knows how to act decisively and without restraint. So too does he know when to speak - even better - he knows what to say.
Written By Silas
Aug. 21, 2016, 1:27 a.m.(5/9/1004 AR)
Relationship Note on Niccolo
I confess Duke Niccolo Velenosa is quickly becoming one of my favorite noblemen. He is dignified without being uptight and easy to provoke, and seems willing to pledge his wealth to good causes. He is not quite what I expected!
Written By Dawn
Aug. 20, 2016, 12:01 a.m.(5/6/1004 AR)
Relationship Note on Niccolo
The Voice of Velenosa is a true statesman and, I suspect, a man who would excel in any role he was cast to play. He has suffered more than I have, but his grief seems to have tempered him into something finer and in that, I must see an example to follow. I must not let my worries, grief, and troubles weigh me down, but draw on them as inspiration to prevent tragedies such as these recent events from ever coming to pass again.
Written By Jaenelle
Aug. 14, 2016, 8:02 p.m.(4/19/1004 AR)
Relationship Note on Niccolo
Duke Niccolo has been nothing but accommodating since I joined House Velenosa. His refined and silent confident nature is quite reassuring and comforting. He is certainly someone that I will seek advice from in the future. While he is nothing like my father, it is nice to have a man of experience to lean on.
Written By Malorie
Aug. 12, 2016, 11:12 p.m.(4/13/1004 AR)
Relationship Note on Niccolo
They say that the Lyceum exports silk and wine for the sheer decadence of it, but that their main trade is in secrets and intrigue. After having spent some time in the company of Duke Niccolo Velenosa several times since arriving in Arx, I find myself believing this claim. It isn't simply the effortless way they intoxicate all of Arvum with their wine and charm, for certainly one can protect themselves against such things - but why would you want to? And therein lies their most devastating talent, I think; robbing others of their will to keep a guard up.
Written By Acacia
Aug. 11, 2016, 8:16 a.m.(4/8/1004 AR)
Relationship Note on Niccolo
I had a very deliberate purpose when Duke Niccolo Velenosa first granted me his audience, but I was still surprised when he did. I'm very aware of my status. I'm comfortable with it, really. Yet, my resolve and boldness was met with his reflective answers and a remarkable attention to detail despite it. He received me with grace, questioning where it was due, but never exceeding what was necessary for the mere sake of curiosity or prying. He understands that guarded side of me, which I can only assume was one of the many things he picked up when training among his soldiers. Business was, and is, first and foremost, and those lines have never blurred. With our differing priorities and the leagues between us, I really can't emphasize enough how important that is to me.
I'm a person who's protective of my own freedom, my home, my family. He knows exactly where my loyalties lie and what boundaries I will never cross. But he's supported my endeavors with the Boroughs when others snubbed them, provided me with more opportunities than someone like me should ever really have, and offers me a guiding hand when needed. We've crossed sharpened blades and bare fists in training nearly as often as we've shared words; a persisting reminder of just how many arenas he excels in. Friendship isn't a word that I'd use to describe it. It doesn't fit. But I couldn't have fathomed a more compatible patron.
I'm a person who's protective of my own freedom, my home, my family. He knows exactly where my loyalties lie and what boundaries I will never cross. But he's supported my endeavors with the Boroughs when others snubbed them, provided me with more opportunities than someone like me should ever really have, and offers me a guiding hand when needed. We've crossed sharpened blades and bare fists in training nearly as often as we've shared words; a persisting reminder of just how many arenas he excels in. Friendship isn't a word that I'd use to describe it. It doesn't fit. But I couldn't have fathomed a more compatible patron.
Written By Jacinthe
Aug. 9, 2016, 9:56 p.m.(4/4/1004 AR)
Relationship Note on Niccolo
I have no doubt that a great deal of ink has been spent on parchment about the virtues of Duke Niccolo. Often when one meets a man of such reputation, it becomes immediately apparent that the high praise he receives is at least partly due to bloodline and title rather than the gentleman himself. In this instance, and marking the Duke as a rare man indeed, I've seen no evidence that he hasn't earned every positive adjective that's been written or whispered about him.
That said, he is also a man of formidable perception and an uncanny knack for keeping his thoughts behind the most civil and pleasing of masks. That he does this in a way that invites rather than alienates the interest of others is testament to skill as well as character, I believe.
That said, he is also a man of formidable perception and an uncanny knack for keeping his thoughts behind the most civil and pleasing of masks. That he does this in a way that invites rather than alienates the interest of others is testament to skill as well as character, I believe.
Written By Edain
July 31, 2016, 10:30 p.m.(3/5/1004 AR)
Relationship Note on Niccolo
Gravitas. That is what I think when I see Duke Niccolo. I don't think I have met anyone so unflappable. A unicorn could burst out of man's stomach and vomit up an army of small unicorn minions, and I am convinced that the Duke would act as if he expect that would happen all along and ask them to bring him a goblet of wine. He is also an amazing fighter. He invited me to observe the Ritual of Gloria with him. He may have gracious asked for quarter after I landed some lucky hits, but make no mistake, he beat me pillar to post for what whole bout.
Written By Esera
July 31, 2016, 2 p.m.(3/4/1004 AR)
Relationship Note on Niccolo
My father gave up everything to marry my mother. All that he might have had and all that he might have done, as the Duke of Setarco -- everything. Behind closed doors, he might have still had her in secret. It is a story told all the time in the Lyceum ... but it is not the story he chose. He chose to fight. He fought for her, fought for a future with her. Now that future has been taken from him, has been snuffed out, stolen away by shadow. I owe my Father my life, my blood and breath. I will give him something else to fight for.
Written By Calista
July 17, 2016, 3:56 p.m.(1/18/1004 AR)
Relationship Note on Niccolo
The Velenosian Statesman is not only the current Duke of Lenosia, but he is also the father to Arch Duchess Esera and Princess Isolde Velenosa. He is a difficult man to read but one that truly piques my interest. As he is older, he is surely wiser and has certainly seen things in his day. I'm curious to learn more about the past from him.
Written By Ailith
July 17, 2016, 3:38 p.m.(1/18/1004 AR)
Relationship Note on Niccolo
Duke Niccolo seems utterly intent upon backing his niece's... Odd fixations, which surprises me, he does not seem stupid. Whilst I can understand wanting to maintain the prestige of one's house this does not normally extend to threatening and trying to browbeat figures in the church should they fail to actively pander the inanities of relatively distant relatives. What a thoroughly unpleasant man.
Written By Enzo
July 15, 2016, 3:20 p.m.(1/12/1004 AR)
Relationship Note on Niccolo
This nobleman was most generous to offer not just more than decent tips, but also a possibility to become my patron. It's always a pleasure to be of services to kind and generous customers.
Written By Nadia
July 11, 2016, 1:05 a.m.(12/26/1003 AR)
Relationship Note on Niccolo
Duke Niccolo Velenosa is an exceptional man, one who suffered a great loss from which he never truly recovered. I first encountered him during a tourney, I believe. We'd only exchanged polite pleasantries before the fights began, but even then he intrigued me. He holds a timeless sophistication, the perfect epitome of a traditional, gentlemanly lord. We were more properly introduced at Grand Duchess Esera's Moonlight Social, where he impressed me with his grace and style on the dance floor, and kept me engaged with delightful conversation until we had to make our leave.
Written By Luca
July 10, 2016, 9:27 p.m.(12/26/1003 AR)
Relationship Note on Niccolo
Prince Duke Uncle, or whatever Phil calls him. I gave up trying to figure out if she's inventing these titles or just adding them all together years ago. These are horrible times, his wife gone and no one to blame for it, yet. He's holding up well, though. Admirable. For my own information: Our House words are apparently "No one may harm us unpunished." Intense.
Written By Eira
July 1, 2016, 5:39 p.m.(11/28/1003 AR)
Relationship Note on Niccolo
Saw him beating the shit out of Talan in the training centre, barely took a mark on him. Damn! Must have been a terror when he was younger and is pretty formidable now. Got to respect that but why the hell would a duke spend that much time training to use a sword? He has how many thousands he commands? Then again maybe he's better at that, reputation suggests he might be.
Written By Ophelia
June 30, 2016, 4:21 a.m.(11/23/1003 AR)
Relationship Note on Niccolo
Stealing into the library like the stealthiest of huntresses, I prowled up to my Duke-Uncle and he was so overcome with both being impressed and surprised, he declared me his favorite niece on the spot. Okay. I didn't quite prowl, I knocked, and I didn't quite surprise him, I curtsied. It does make for a better story the other way though, doesn't it? Although, he DID proclaim me as his favorite niece and even complimented my newly purchased ribbons as suiting me perfectly, to which I am so delightfully pleased. While it was much to his regret that it would be unlikely to arrange a hunting trip any time soon with situations are they are, he did mention the idea of perhaps joining me in one at a later date. I simply must find a new horse -immediately-.
Written By Margot
June 24, 2016, 10:13 p.m.(11/8/1003 AR)
Relationship Note on Niccolo
Isolde's father and now I know where so many of her best qualities come from. Refreshingly blunt, and to the point, and not nearly as fussy as I expected of a Lyceum man. He asks hard questions and distracts any attempts to turn the tables on himself but I shall still try.
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