Written By Aleksei
June 25, 2018, 3:41 p.m.(1/28/1009 AR)
Relationship Note on Orazio
I slept for like TWO DAYS also you're NOT MY BOSS ANYMORE. Keso, make sure those bits are all capitalized right--
Written By Aleksei
June 25, 2018, 3:38 p.m.(1/28/1009 AR)
Ugh, this is always the most boring argument. "WHY ARE YOU EVEN READING MY JOURNAL?" "WHY ARE YOU READING _MY_ JOURNAL?!" It's just boring, and I'm stuck in my house, and these are the most interesting entries Keso can bring me.
This argument is boring! People read things! Then they write things! GASP! If you're telling someone they don't have to read your journals, you can also not read their journals! DOUBLE GASP!!!
Someone please write something more interesting for the love of the gods.
This argument is boring! People read things! Then they write things! GASP! If you're telling someone they don't have to read your journals, you can also not read their journals! DOUBLE GASP!!!
Someone please write something more interesting for the love of the gods.
Written By Aleksei
June 24, 2018, 12:01 p.m.(1/26/1009 AR)
I am writing from bed. The good news is that I've been bathed multiple times. The bad news is that my legs don't quite work right yet.
I've been forcing Keso to bring me copies of Whites to keep me entertained, because not being able to walk is _boring_. I saw that people are still talking about the Dominus's decree! Something about "it's like if a courtier couldn't become a Whisper"?
Except, like. Most courtiers don't become Whispers? Whispers are the most elite of courtiers and there are rules for who can become Whispers?
Mercies are healers that _serve and represent the Faith_. Scholars are scholars that _serve and represent the Faith_. You can be a healer without being a Mercy. You can be a scholar without being a Scholar. Yes, little s, big S, no, Keso, I don't think that's confusing -- ARE YOU WRITING THAT PART DOWN would you stop it
Anyways, most of the Faithful aren't disciples. Not being a disciple does not mean that you can't help people or lead a faithful life or follow the gods. So.
I've been forcing Keso to bring me copies of Whites to keep me entertained, because not being able to walk is _boring_. I saw that people are still talking about the Dominus's decree! Something about "it's like if a courtier couldn't become a Whisper"?
Except, like. Most courtiers don't become Whispers? Whispers are the most elite of courtiers and there are rules for who can become Whispers?
Mercies are healers that _serve and represent the Faith_. Scholars are scholars that _serve and represent the Faith_. You can be a healer without being a Mercy. You can be a scholar without being a Scholar. Yes, little s, big S, no, Keso, I don't think that's confusing -- ARE YOU WRITING THAT PART DOWN would you stop it
Anyways, most of the Faithful aren't disciples. Not being a disciple does not mean that you can't help people or lead a faithful life or follow the gods. So.
Written By Aleksei
June 17, 2018, 8:32 p.m.(1/12/1009 AR)
For the record, for everybody, this last night before I begin my penance:
I'm not a knight. I'm not a Sir. I don't have any titles at all anymore.
I'm not a knight. I'm not a Sir. I don't have any titles at all anymore.
Written By Aleksei
June 17, 2018, 4:21 p.m.(1/12/1009 AR)
Relationship Note on Orathy
Guess what, buddy! I don't have a boss anymore to tell me to watch what I say in public anymore. So you just enjoy yourself for the next two weeks.
Written By Aleksei
June 17, 2018, 2:30 p.m.(1/12/1009 AR)
Well.
Gossip is always going to gossip, so I may as well set the record straight before people start making up EXCITING THEORIES about my departure.
It's not at all related to the recent rulings on Shamanism, which I kind of feel like I have to say, given the timing. Which was a bit inauspicious. Sorry about that.
The truth is that these conversations started long before any of that.
There are few reasons why the Faith would choose to release a Godsworn priest from their vows, at least in as generous -- and trust me, this is generous -- a way as I've been offered. Sometimes Godsworn that were once noble are released if their family is in dire straights and petitions the Faith.
Another reason is that you become aware of a dependent you didn't know you had.
Limerance calls for us to honor our vows, and Godsworn vows are some of the most serious around. Limerance also calls for us to take care of our children, and the Faith's always known that someone with that responsibility can't dedicate themselves to the Faith the way Godsworn need to be able to do. Not that I should really be writing about Limerance right now. Dammit.
So that's the truth of it. I basically wrote the end of my priesthood without realizing before I even took my vows. I have a son, and he's been growing up outside of Arx, and now he'll be growing up in Arx. With me. Most of the time, anyways.
The Faith has been more generous with me than I've deserved at times, and it hurts my heart to leave. I've fundamentally crumbled some of the most important relationships in my life. I'll be dealing with the weight of all of this for a very long time, but I learned pretty young how to weather other people's disappointment. Joining the Faith was the first time I'd done anything respectable, after all.
To anyone who might question the Faith's treatment of me: don't. Father Orazio was _restrained_, I assure you. I chose my path for myself, I asked to be released, and I wasn't forced out of anything. The Faith took purposeful steps not to strip me of funds or possessions -- despite having every right to -- because they care about my ability to take care of my son. My penance was chosen to be hard, yes, and for me to never be able to forget, but to test a part of me that won't hurt anyone else. I've accepted it without question, and I ask others not to question it on my behalf. My relationship with the Faith is mine. It's hard, but it's mine.
If anyone needs me, I'll be in the Sanctum of Dignity tomorrow. For two weeks. Get there early if you don't want me to be too smelly.
All the rest of it is between me and Limerance.
Gossip is always going to gossip, so I may as well set the record straight before people start making up EXCITING THEORIES about my departure.
It's not at all related to the recent rulings on Shamanism, which I kind of feel like I have to say, given the timing. Which was a bit inauspicious. Sorry about that.
The truth is that these conversations started long before any of that.
There are few reasons why the Faith would choose to release a Godsworn priest from their vows, at least in as generous -- and trust me, this is generous -- a way as I've been offered. Sometimes Godsworn that were once noble are released if their family is in dire straights and petitions the Faith.
Another reason is that you become aware of a dependent you didn't know you had.
Limerance calls for us to honor our vows, and Godsworn vows are some of the most serious around. Limerance also calls for us to take care of our children, and the Faith's always known that someone with that responsibility can't dedicate themselves to the Faith the way Godsworn need to be able to do. Not that I should really be writing about Limerance right now. Dammit.
So that's the truth of it. I basically wrote the end of my priesthood without realizing before I even took my vows. I have a son, and he's been growing up outside of Arx, and now he'll be growing up in Arx. With me. Most of the time, anyways.
The Faith has been more generous with me than I've deserved at times, and it hurts my heart to leave. I've fundamentally crumbled some of the most important relationships in my life. I'll be dealing with the weight of all of this for a very long time, but I learned pretty young how to weather other people's disappointment. Joining the Faith was the first time I'd done anything respectable, after all.
To anyone who might question the Faith's treatment of me: don't. Father Orazio was _restrained_, I assure you. I chose my path for myself, I asked to be released, and I wasn't forced out of anything. The Faith took purposeful steps not to strip me of funds or possessions -- despite having every right to -- because they care about my ability to take care of my son. My penance was chosen to be hard, yes, and for me to never be able to forget, but to test a part of me that won't hurt anyone else. I've accepted it without question, and I ask others not to question it on my behalf. My relationship with the Faith is mine. It's hard, but it's mine.
If anyone needs me, I'll be in the Sanctum of Dignity tomorrow. For two weeks. Get there early if you don't want me to be too smelly.
All the rest of it is between me and Limerance.
Written By Aleksei
June 17, 2018, 1:59 a.m.(1/11/1009 AR)
I've already had one person reach out to me about the Dominus's recent proclamation from a Skaldian perspective in matters of "freedom of religion."
For one thing, the Dominus represents the voices of all the gods, and I have no right to second guess his theology.
But I wouldn't even if it were my place, because no one's right to worship the spirits has been stripped away. The Dominus has declared that those people who serve as public servants and teachers of the Faith need to be dedicated fully to the Pantheon. So yes, some people have been barred from Discipleship. Most of the Faithful laity aren't Disciples, and plenty of people have been declined from Discipleship for all sorts of reasons. It's not a requirement for fervent devotion to the Pantheon. Discipleship is service to the _Faith_. Everyone can express their devotion to the gods every day with every breath and every action. Live honorably, live truthfully, live generously.
Perhaps it would be easier for some of the displeased nobility to grasp what's happened if they considered the possibility of having a servant of their household who served them _and_ a liege from another domain. I imagine most of them would prefer those dedicated to their service to be _fully_ dedicated.
For one thing, the Dominus represents the voices of all the gods, and I have no right to second guess his theology.
But I wouldn't even if it were my place, because no one's right to worship the spirits has been stripped away. The Dominus has declared that those people who serve as public servants and teachers of the Faith need to be dedicated fully to the Pantheon. So yes, some people have been barred from Discipleship. Most of the Faithful laity aren't Disciples, and plenty of people have been declined from Discipleship for all sorts of reasons. It's not a requirement for fervent devotion to the Pantheon. Discipleship is service to the _Faith_. Everyone can express their devotion to the gods every day with every breath and every action. Live honorably, live truthfully, live generously.
Perhaps it would be easier for some of the displeased nobility to grasp what's happened if they considered the possibility of having a servant of their household who served them _and_ a liege from another domain. I imagine most of them would prefer those dedicated to their service to be _fully_ dedicated.
Written By Aleksei
June 15, 2018, 5:05 p.m.(1/8/1009 AR)
Relationship Note on Marian
That's not cynical! It'd actually be heretical to believe in fate. It doesn't exist! That's exactly the gift Skald gave us.
Written By Aleksei
June 12, 2018, 1:17 a.m.(12/20/1008 AR)
Relationship Note on Audric
Only because the conversation at the time was about your own challenge!
Written By Aleksei
June 12, 2018, 1:05 a.m.(12/20/1008 AR)
Relationship Note on Audric
Do YOU know what "sellsword" means? Because it doesn't mean "Champion"! Don't make me come over there.
Written By Aleksei
June 10, 2018, 10 p.m.(12/18/1008 AR)
I'm of the opinion that there's already a lot of forces in the world trying to spread darkness and evil. If there's a balance to be had, I think I'm doing my best by fighting the dark with every bit of myself. Father Orazio's right: the other side isn't going to be pulling any punches.
Written By Aleksei
June 9, 2018, 1:19 p.m.(12/15/1008 AR)
Relationship Note on Luca
Hi Luca!
Written By Aleksei
May 31, 2018, 1:08 p.m.(11/20/1008 AR)
Relationship Note on Monique
You can't separate them. You put all your weight on intent, the person's suddenly not responsible for the consequences of dumb but well-intentioned actions. Put it all on outcomes, you end up with "the ends justify the means," and nothing good ever came out of that.
Written By Aleksei
May 24, 2018, 12:27 p.m.(10/24/1008 AR)
For some time now, the Faith has been offering free passage, room and board, and work placement or apprenticeships for any freed thrall who wishes our assistance. This system was established not long before House Kennex's abolition of thralldom in their domain, which sorely tested our limits. (They were initially designed for a much smaller trickle of souls.) Fortunately, we were able to get assistance from a wide number of Faithful with the means to help, offering ships or funds or the like.
I admit that when I was first designing the whole thing with the Liberators and the Faith, I expected a lot more people to take us up on the option to move elsewhere. We leave the choice in their hands, you see, because how they start this chapter in their lives is up to them. They've been denied choice, so I knew I had to give choice back to them. I thought people would want to get away from those that had held their chains. I underestimated how many of these people would still count these places as _home_.
The Faith doesn't endorse or recommend any particular location in the Compact to those it offers this assistance to. I do pass on specific offers extended from particular houses that try to incentivize their lands as a choice for someone to choose to relocate to, but I try to remain neutral in this. It doesn't really matter to me _where_ these people choose to go: it will be somewhere in the Compact, and they'll swear their fealty to whoever rules there, and they'll begin their lives again. The Faith is everywhere in the Compact, which means that we can help people get started anywhere they want to go.
So like I said -- I was surprised at how many chose to stay in the Isles in that massive effort. Not the majority, no, but it wasn't an insignificant number. A lot chose to relocate to areas that offered specific incentive, especially in the southern city-states, which have a climate closer to the Saffron Chain, where a number of them were from. But still: I had assumptions I had to revise.
The most important thing is this: we give them a choice. You can't offer someone their freedom and then tell them what they have to do with it. That said: a whole lot of people take us up on settling elsewhere, especially when the rest of the Compact makes particular effort to welcome them.
So. There's, you know, some actual information.
Please don't invoke Skald in your defenses of thralldom. It gives me a headache.
I admit that when I was first designing the whole thing with the Liberators and the Faith, I expected a lot more people to take us up on the option to move elsewhere. We leave the choice in their hands, you see, because how they start this chapter in their lives is up to them. They've been denied choice, so I knew I had to give choice back to them. I thought people would want to get away from those that had held their chains. I underestimated how many of these people would still count these places as _home_.
The Faith doesn't endorse or recommend any particular location in the Compact to those it offers this assistance to. I do pass on specific offers extended from particular houses that try to incentivize their lands as a choice for someone to choose to relocate to, but I try to remain neutral in this. It doesn't really matter to me _where_ these people choose to go: it will be somewhere in the Compact, and they'll swear their fealty to whoever rules there, and they'll begin their lives again. The Faith is everywhere in the Compact, which means that we can help people get started anywhere they want to go.
So like I said -- I was surprised at how many chose to stay in the Isles in that massive effort. Not the majority, no, but it wasn't an insignificant number. A lot chose to relocate to areas that offered specific incentive, especially in the southern city-states, which have a climate closer to the Saffron Chain, where a number of them were from. But still: I had assumptions I had to revise.
The most important thing is this: we give them a choice. You can't offer someone their freedom and then tell them what they have to do with it. That said: a whole lot of people take us up on settling elsewhere, especially when the rest of the Compact makes particular effort to welcome them.
So. There's, you know, some actual information.
Please don't invoke Skald in your defenses of thralldom. It gives me a headache.
Written By Aleksei
May 15, 2018, 7:22 p.m.(10/2/1008 AR)
Relationship Note on Cassius
Fuck.
_Fuck_.
_Fuck_.
Written By Aleksei
May 15, 2018, noon(10/1/1008 AR)
Man, I'm really sad I missed this duel now.
Written By Aleksei
May 7, 2018, 5:09 p.m.(9/13/1008 AR)
Matters of commerce and charity fall into Gild's domain, actually, not Skald's. People criticizing choices isn't actually the same thing as taking choices away from them.
Written By Aleksei
May 5, 2018, 8:21 p.m.(9/9/1008 AR)
Relationship Note on Kaldur
It really does warm my heart to know that Dumpling is still well-loved and well-appreciated. I'm sure Zhayla appreciates it from the Shining Lands, too.
Written By Aleksei
May 3, 2018, 1:04 a.m.(9/2/1008 AR)
I think I've had an idea.
Written By Aleksei
April 21, 2018, 5:35 p.m.(8/6/1008 AR)
Relationship Note on Martin
Yes.
Please note that the scholars may take some time preparing your journal for others to read.