Written By Valdemar
Sept. 13, 2018, 9:40 a.m.(8/3/1009 AR)
Clearly, everyone who has siblings has a different take on what it means to have them, to be a brother or a sister. Being the oldest of twelve, for me it meant never being alone. Never. At times, that could definitely be frustrating, but now that I am in Arx, it is a comfort to know I have that sort of backing. This is especially true now that some of them are here with me.
Written By Valdemar
Sept. 8, 2018, 2:37 p.m.(7/22/1009 AR)
Sons,
It is an easy thing to keep moving forward when things are going your way. When your sails are full of wind and you have clear skies ahead, it can feel like nothing can stop you. What you always have to remember is that the weather can change in the blink of an eye. The wind changes direction. Your enemies rise all around you. A raging storm appears. Long forgotten foes return bent on destroying us all. You will get angry, frustrated with those around you. Some of them might even disgust you. There will be the temptation to take the easy way through. Times like these will test your resolve, and you cannot allow them to break you. You are the future of house Grimhall, and for the sake of that house, for the sake of those we rule, you must weather the storm. You must persist in the face of fear and hatred, even if they are your own.
It is an easy thing to keep moving forward when things are going your way. When your sails are full of wind and you have clear skies ahead, it can feel like nothing can stop you. What you always have to remember is that the weather can change in the blink of an eye. The wind changes direction. Your enemies rise all around you. A raging storm appears. Long forgotten foes return bent on destroying us all. You will get angry, frustrated with those around you. Some of them might even disgust you. There will be the temptation to take the easy way through. Times like these will test your resolve, and you cannot allow them to break you. You are the future of house Grimhall, and for the sake of that house, for the sake of those we rule, you must weather the storm. You must persist in the face of fear and hatred, even if they are your own.
Written By Valdemar
Aug. 24, 2018, 12:48 a.m.(6/14/1009 AR)
Boys,
It has been a month since you came into the world. One month, but already you've made your marks on this family, something that will be more and more important as you grow older. Arkyn, if I didn't know any better, I would swear you already know you are meant to be Duke Grimhall one day. My prayer for you is that you grow to understand exactly what that means, the responsibility that goes along with it, and the honor as well, to lead the people of Grihem's Point. Antony, your strength so far is quieter, more understated, in a way that reminds me much of your mother. For you, I pray that you learn how important that strength will be, to yourself, your brother, and this family as a whole.
It has been a month since you came into the world. One month, but already you've made your marks on this family, something that will be more and more important as you grow older. Arkyn, if I didn't know any better, I would swear you already know you are meant to be Duke Grimhall one day. My prayer for you is that you grow to understand exactly what that means, the responsibility that goes along with it, and the honor as well, to lead the people of Grihem's Point. Antony, your strength so far is quieter, more understated, in a way that reminds me much of your mother. For you, I pray that you learn how important that strength will be, to yourself, your brother, and this family as a whole.
Written By Valdemar
Aug. 11, 2018, 4:16 p.m.(5/17/1009 AR)
For the public record:
I, Valdemar Grimhall, along with my wife, Vanora Grimhall, name Prince Galen Thrax as Salt Parent to our twin sons Arkyn and Antony Grimhall.
I, Valdemar Grimhall, along with my wife, Vanora Grimhall, name Prince Galen Thrax as Salt Parent to our twin sons Arkyn and Antony Grimhall.
Written By Valdemar
Aug. 11, 2018, 3:15 p.m.(5/17/1009 AR)
Sons,
You are finally here, and we could not be more proud. You were both born healthy and strong, fighters from the start. I have never felt the sort of joy that I did when I raised each of you overhead, presenting you to the gods as I gave you your names. Arkyn, my heir, you will one day become Duke of Grihem's Point after me, and Antony, you will play an important part in supporting him and securing the future of our ancient house. Instead of insight into who I am, that I believe might help you when you are older, this time I make you a promise: I will find a way to make the Mourning Isles a better place for you, or die looking for it.
You are finally here, and we could not be more proud. You were both born healthy and strong, fighters from the start. I have never felt the sort of joy that I did when I raised each of you overhead, presenting you to the gods as I gave you your names. Arkyn, my heir, you will one day become Duke of Grihem's Point after me, and Antony, you will play an important part in supporting him and securing the future of our ancient house. Instead of insight into who I am, that I believe might help you when you are older, this time I make you a promise: I will find a way to make the Mourning Isles a better place for you, or die looking for it.
Written By Valdemar
Aug. 5, 2018, 7:32 p.m.(5/1/1009 AR)
Child,
This week, loyalty has been on my mind quite a bit. As your mother already wrote to you, it is not something that one can really compel from others. Oaths sworn can mimic it, but true loyalty is freely given without such vows. It is a thing that comes out of mutual respect, and normally, you must give it as well as receive it. When you find those who give it to you, keep them close. Treat them well. They might not always be your friends. Loyalty can, at times, come from the strangest, most unexpected places. Where ever it does come from, though, it is worth treasuring. Those who give it to you are the ones you can count on most, which is something that you should never take for granted. My hope is that you will find many such people throughout your life. I have found them to be rare so far myself, but my own life is far from over.
This week, loyalty has been on my mind quite a bit. As your mother already wrote to you, it is not something that one can really compel from others. Oaths sworn can mimic it, but true loyalty is freely given without such vows. It is a thing that comes out of mutual respect, and normally, you must give it as well as receive it. When you find those who give it to you, keep them close. Treat them well. They might not always be your friends. Loyalty can, at times, come from the strangest, most unexpected places. Where ever it does come from, though, it is worth treasuring. Those who give it to you are the ones you can count on most, which is something that you should never take for granted. My hope is that you will find many such people throughout your life. I have found them to be rare so far myself, but my own life is far from over.
Written By Valdemar
Aug. 4, 2018, 2:26 p.m.(4/27/1009 AR)
Earlier in the week, Mistress Mirari Corsetina made an announcement about the future of the Mirrorguard, in which she opened membership up to the rest of the Compact. I am honored to not only be among the first non-Lycenes to be offered a place within that elite order, but to be among the Voices of my fellow Sword. Knowing how important this organization is to the Archduchess and Archduke-Consort, I could not be more pleased to offer my talents to them, given their longstanding friendship to the Mourning Isles.
Written By Valdemar
July 26, 2018, midnight(4/7/1009 AR)
Child,
I have written to you of duty and love already, but recent events have brought to mind an area where they intersect, at least ideally. Marriage. As a noble, this is is a responsibility that will almost certainly come to rest on your shoulders in time. In fairness, I have to admit that I was fortunate in my own match with your mother. Though the idea originated with your grandfather, I came to love her easily. Not every peer is so fortunate. Many are not, and must work for years to find any sort of affection with their spouses. Some never manage it. However, for the love of their families, and the opportunity to see them prosper, they persist. These men and women are to be commended, and just as I would like to believe that I'd have done the same as they do even if I had not been as lucky as I was, I pray that you will learn that same sense of honor, the same loyalty to your family. Though I want you to have the same happiness I did, above all, I want you to do what is right. There is a different sort of fulfillment that will come of it.
I have written to you of duty and love already, but recent events have brought to mind an area where they intersect, at least ideally. Marriage. As a noble, this is is a responsibility that will almost certainly come to rest on your shoulders in time. In fairness, I have to admit that I was fortunate in my own match with your mother. Though the idea originated with your grandfather, I came to love her easily. Not every peer is so fortunate. Many are not, and must work for years to find any sort of affection with their spouses. Some never manage it. However, for the love of their families, and the opportunity to see them prosper, they persist. These men and women are to be commended, and just as I would like to believe that I'd have done the same as they do even if I had not been as lucky as I was, I pray that you will learn that same sense of honor, the same loyalty to your family. Though I want you to have the same happiness I did, above all, I want you to do what is right. There is a different sort of fulfillment that will come of it.
Written By Valdemar
July 19, 2018, 4:52 p.m.(3/21/1009 AR)
Child,
Recent journal entries of others have me thinking about life. It is a precious thing, which will no doubt seem odd coming from a man who has spent most of his years learning to kill, training to take it. Admittedly, there is a rush unlike any other when you are in a fight for your life, when you will likely need to kill in order to walk away from the conflict yourself. And make no mistake, there are absolutely times when it must be done.
It is entirely possible, given our family's traditions, that you will have similar training as well. Hopefully, it will be at my own hand, in which case I can relay much of what I am about to write down to you in person. The world is not always a kind place, however, and so I am putting this to paper in the event that others have to carry out that duty in my place. The most important lesson a warrior can learn is that your sword, axe, or whatever other weapon you end up favoring will not always solve your problems, and even when it can, it is not always the best solution. Because even in an honorable contest that is meant to not be lethal, or one fought entirely with sparring weapons for that matter, death can come. This is not a lesson that weapon instructors often think to teach, but it is one that I struggle with often, myself. For the sake of the people who will one day rely on you for not just strength, but wisdom and justice as well, I hope you can learn this lesson long before I did, myself. Knowing when to take other approaches will make your own life longer and more valuable, and will let you tap into the potential of others you might send to the Queen of Endings too soon.
Recent journal entries of others have me thinking about life. It is a precious thing, which will no doubt seem odd coming from a man who has spent most of his years learning to kill, training to take it. Admittedly, there is a rush unlike any other when you are in a fight for your life, when you will likely need to kill in order to walk away from the conflict yourself. And make no mistake, there are absolutely times when it must be done.
It is entirely possible, given our family's traditions, that you will have similar training as well. Hopefully, it will be at my own hand, in which case I can relay much of what I am about to write down to you in person. The world is not always a kind place, however, and so I am putting this to paper in the event that others have to carry out that duty in my place. The most important lesson a warrior can learn is that your sword, axe, or whatever other weapon you end up favoring will not always solve your problems, and even when it can, it is not always the best solution. Because even in an honorable contest that is meant to not be lethal, or one fought entirely with sparring weapons for that matter, death can come. This is not a lesson that weapon instructors often think to teach, but it is one that I struggle with often, myself. For the sake of the people who will one day rely on you for not just strength, but wisdom and justice as well, I hope you can learn this lesson long before I did, myself. Knowing when to take other approaches will make your own life longer and more valuable, and will let you tap into the potential of others you might send to the Queen of Endings too soon.
Written By Valdemar
July 17, 2018, 7:05 p.m.(3/17/1009 AR)
Child,
As you grow up, you are going to hear a lot of things about love. There are different kinds of it, each with its own quirks and various ways it should be approached. Familial love, love for friends, love for your home, romantic love, love of self...and I may be missing some. There will be people who try to tell you which of these is the most important, without consensus. Ask ten different people, and you might well get ten different answers. So I am not going to try to push my own opinion of that on you here. There is something much more important about love that you should know, and it is one thing they all have in common. Love is difficult. It will hurt you sometimes, and I can assure you that pain is unlike any other. However, the other thing that I can tell you for certain is that it is worth the pain, the difficulty, the frustration. All of it.
As you grow up, you are going to hear a lot of things about love. There are different kinds of it, each with its own quirks and various ways it should be approached. Familial love, love for friends, love for your home, romantic love, love of self...and I may be missing some. There will be people who try to tell you which of these is the most important, without consensus. Ask ten different people, and you might well get ten different answers. So I am not going to try to push my own opinion of that on you here. There is something much more important about love that you should know, and it is one thing they all have in common. Love is difficult. It will hurt you sometimes, and I can assure you that pain is unlike any other. However, the other thing that I can tell you for certain is that it is worth the pain, the difficulty, the frustration. All of it.
Written By Valdemar
July 8, 2018, 5:43 p.m.(2/26/1009 AR)
It is good to see hard work paying off, even if it is only in small ways so far. New ships built, more people brought into the Compact under the name of Grimhall. There is much more to be done, but these gains are worth a moment to reflect on.
Written By Valdemar
June 25, 2018, 6:59 p.m.(1/28/1009 AR)
Child,
As you grow up, there will be many who call you "friend". This has nothing to do with your position, or with the duty that accompanies it. It is the same for many people, not just in the Mourning Isles, but all across Arvum, from the bottom of society to the very top. Most people want friends, and to have them, you have to be a friend. And though I wish I could spare you this, perhaps moreso than anything else, there is no way to do it, and so I all I can do is prepare you: the day will come when one of them, or more, turn their back on you. Perhaps it will be for political gain or because you've done something they don't approve of. Maybe you will do something unpopular or it could even something as simple as a misunderstanding that goes too far. Fair-weather friends of this sort will be around you in abundance. There are two important things to keep in mind when this happens. First, it is not the end of the world. Those who turn their backs on you for such insignificant reasons are not worth your time. Second, look around you at those who remain by your side. These are the ones you should value.
As you grow up, there will be many who call you "friend". This has nothing to do with your position, or with the duty that accompanies it. It is the same for many people, not just in the Mourning Isles, but all across Arvum, from the bottom of society to the very top. Most people want friends, and to have them, you have to be a friend. And though I wish I could spare you this, perhaps moreso than anything else, there is no way to do it, and so I all I can do is prepare you: the day will come when one of them, or more, turn their back on you. Perhaps it will be for political gain or because you've done something they don't approve of. Maybe you will do something unpopular or it could even something as simple as a misunderstanding that goes too far. Fair-weather friends of this sort will be around you in abundance. There are two important things to keep in mind when this happens. First, it is not the end of the world. Those who turn their backs on you for such insignificant reasons are not worth your time. Second, look around you at those who remain by your side. These are the ones you should value.
Written By Valdemar
June 24, 2018, 7:53 p.m.(1/26/1009 AR)
Child,
I don't know yet if you are a boy or a girl, but either way, eventually duty will rear its ugly head. You will have to do things that you find distasteful, wrong, or even shameful because of your responsibility to others. Whether it is for your family, your friends, or the people that you have been charged to rule and protect, something will be demanded of you that leaves a foul taste in your mouth, the sort that it will seem no amount of mead, wine, or rum can wash away. Maybe you will have to be polite and feign kindness to those who do not deserve your respect. Perhaps you will have to marry someone you don't get along with. You may even have to risk your life fighting for reasons you utterly disagree with. In times like these, you have to find something to hold on to, something that is important to you, something that brings you happiness, to help you keep perspective. People might say that it is irresponsible of you, but without that perspective, without a little bit of selfishness, you can easily drown in loathing. Loathing for yourself, and for those around you. I love you far too much to ever want that for you, because I know all too well what that feels like. Your mother saved me from it.
I don't know yet if you are a boy or a girl, but either way, eventually duty will rear its ugly head. You will have to do things that you find distasteful, wrong, or even shameful because of your responsibility to others. Whether it is for your family, your friends, or the people that you have been charged to rule and protect, something will be demanded of you that leaves a foul taste in your mouth, the sort that it will seem no amount of mead, wine, or rum can wash away. Maybe you will have to be polite and feign kindness to those who do not deserve your respect. Perhaps you will have to marry someone you don't get along with. You may even have to risk your life fighting for reasons you utterly disagree with. In times like these, you have to find something to hold on to, something that is important to you, something that brings you happiness, to help you keep perspective. People might say that it is irresponsible of you, but without that perspective, without a little bit of selfishness, you can easily drown in loathing. Loathing for yourself, and for those around you. I love you far too much to ever want that for you, because I know all too well what that feels like. Your mother saved me from it.
Written By Valdemar
June 1, 2018, 5:14 p.m.(11/23/1008 AR)
Relationship Note on Cambria
An excellent lesson to keep in mind. One I will strive to remember, myself.
Written By Valdemar
May 22, 2018, 11:51 a.m.(10/15/1008 AR)
Relationship Note on Thena
A "risk"? I'm not hurt by your words, only confused as to why someone who claims to have been agreeing with my wife took issue with what I said. Something that, if your claim is true, did not apply to you. I was not being purposefully vague, I was commenting on something that multiple people did. If I was going to call out specific people, I would have done so through a messenger, not in the whites.
Written By Valdemar
May 22, 2018, 11:23 a.m.(10/15/1008 AR)
Relationship Note on Thena
A) I did not mention your name, so I am not sure why you felt the need to "correct" me.
B) I understand that words matter. But it is also true that everyone makes mistakes, and this one was pretty innocuous and easy to read past if one bothered to try. I was merely pointing out that some did not bother to. Whether that was due to an honest mistake of their own, a desire to appear "witty", or sheer laziness, I did not speculate.
B) I understand that words matter. But it is also true that everyone makes mistakes, and this one was pretty innocuous and easy to read past if one bothered to try. I was merely pointing out that some did not bother to. Whether that was due to an honest mistake of their own, a desire to appear "witty", or sheer laziness, I did not speculate.
Written By Valdemar
May 22, 2018, 11:11 a.m.(10/15/1008 AR)
I see a number of people who are eager to jump on a simple, easily understood error on the part of my wife. Clearly, we have not been searching for a man who is known to be deceased. If you have nothing better to do than criticize a mistake of grammar, or were not sharp enough yourself to read the intent of what was being said, perhaps you simply have too much free time on your hands.
Written By Valdemar
May 17, 2018, 10:03 a.m.(10/5/1008 AR)
Relationship Note on Vanora
I thought you were aware that you were marrying a savage brute, an ill-mannered lout without a romantic bone in his body?
After all, I knew I was marrying a strong, capable, beautiful woman who I would be able to count on. Wait, that doesn't sound like a very fair exchange at all.
I suppose I will just have to work at becoming worthy of you, then.
After all, I knew I was marrying a strong, capable, beautiful woman who I would be able to count on. Wait, that doesn't sound like a very fair exchange at all.
I suppose I will just have to work at becoming worthy of you, then.
Written By Valdemar
May 7, 2018, 12:46 a.m.(9/12/1008 AR)
So many here are eager to offer opinions about things they know little to nothing of. That Lady Vanora's former husband could offer congratulations should go to show how much of an "oathbreaker" she is, if the approval of the Dominus was not enough for you. If that does not satisfy you, perhaps you simply have too much free time on your hands.
Written By Valdemar
April 20, 2018, 3:54 p.m.(8/3/1008 AR)
Relationship Note on Cassima
Rum is not as good as...mead. There is another example for you.
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