Written By Alexis
Nov. 9, 2017, 11:27 p.m.(7/21/1007 AR)
I've described my fighting style as "No, you move" to a few people. It helps set the tone - the valiant Oathlands knight standing before her foe, protecting the innocent, refusing to yield.
It's a little hard to do when you're facing stupidly sized opponents who can pick you up and fling you off into the distance. But at least the tactic still seems to work somewhat, in that, as long as they're flinging me away, they're not hurting anyone else. And I can go many many rounds of being flung.
Merek Black, Dame Esoka Greenblood, Lady Isabetta and Lady Fiora, Count Thesarin and Prince Luca - they all fought exceedingly well today. Did their part in standing between malice and innocence. I'm proud of them.
It's a little hard to do when you're facing stupidly sized opponents who can pick you up and fling you off into the distance. But at least the tactic still seems to work somewhat, in that, as long as they're flinging me away, they're not hurting anyone else. And I can go many many rounds of being flung.
Merek Black, Dame Esoka Greenblood, Lady Isabetta and Lady Fiora, Count Thesarin and Prince Luca - they all fought exceedingly well today. Did their part in standing between malice and innocence. I'm proud of them.
Written By Alexis
Nov. 5, 2017, 9:31 p.m.(7/13/1007 AR)
Relationship Note on Fatima
Princess Fatima Thrax remains wise counsel, and an engaging conversationalist. It is good to have talked to her again, and hopefully, we won't have to wait as long to fill each other's ears with news once more.
Written By Alexis
Nov. 5, 2017, 9:30 p.m.(7/13/1007 AR)
Sometimes, I wonder if perhaps life had been easier if I had just kept my head down, instead of making a few of the choices I have.
That's not a complaint, mind. Merely a rumination on the path not taken.
But I don't know that I want easy.
That's not a complaint, mind. Merely a rumination on the path not taken.
But I don't know that I want easy.
Written By Alexis
Oct. 29, 2017, 7:11 p.m.(6/26/1007 AR)
I'm not much of a scout, but from what Princess Reese said, scouting won't be where I'll be needed.
I wish Dame Esoka and her compatriots good luck, though. And the favour of the gods in their efforts.
I wish Dame Esoka and her compatriots good luck, though. And the favour of the gods in their efforts.
Written By Alexis
Oct. 29, 2017, 7:09 p.m.(6/26/1007 AR)
Lady Neve thinks I should seek out spiritual guidance for the issues that vex me. I don't think she's wrong. I have a few different reasons. I'm devoted to the pantheon, but I admit that I do not have the firmest grasp of the dogma, and mostly I just try to live my life according to the Virtues of the Gods.
Still. Meetings and talks would be good. I look forward to it. Now I just need to write the letters and ask for audiences.
Still. Meetings and talks would be good. I look forward to it. Now I just need to write the letters and ask for audiences.
Written By Alexis
Oct. 23, 2017, 9:43 a.m.(6/14/1007 AR)
I spoke to Dame Esoka some time back. She told me of her desire to devote more of her time to the Faith. And we spoke of the Gold Order of the Dragon, Lady Niamh's legacy.
It was an intensely personal conversation, but I can share a few highlights. And a few of my conclusions.
For one - I realise now that Duke Arn Telmar was right. To be a Sword and the Champion of a House is to be more than a soldier, despite my protestations otherwise. I am perhaps not the finest leader of our forces, but I must be able to stand as an inspiration to them.
This ties into who I am, and who I want to be. It ties into what Lady Niamh wanted the Gold Order to be.
As such, I have gratefully accepted the mantle as Paragon of the Gold Order, taking over for Dame Esoka, and hopefully, I'll be able to honour Lady Niamh's memory properly.
I've looked over the Lair. I am amazed at what was able to be accomplished. It fills me with pride. I look forward to... Well. Seeing what we can turn all of this into. How we can make it thrive and prosper.
I'm also going to need to set down an agenda and some tasks, and perhaps call a meeting and discuss with various existing members what to do, as well as recruit more members and patrons.
Gods. Is this what being an adult is like?
It was an intensely personal conversation, but I can share a few highlights. And a few of my conclusions.
For one - I realise now that Duke Arn Telmar was right. To be a Sword and the Champion of a House is to be more than a soldier, despite my protestations otherwise. I am perhaps not the finest leader of our forces, but I must be able to stand as an inspiration to them.
This ties into who I am, and who I want to be. It ties into what Lady Niamh wanted the Gold Order to be.
As such, I have gratefully accepted the mantle as Paragon of the Gold Order, taking over for Dame Esoka, and hopefully, I'll be able to honour Lady Niamh's memory properly.
I've looked over the Lair. I am amazed at what was able to be accomplished. It fills me with pride. I look forward to... Well. Seeing what we can turn all of this into. How we can make it thrive and prosper.
I'm also going to need to set down an agenda and some tasks, and perhaps call a meeting and discuss with various existing members what to do, as well as recruit more members and patrons.
Gods. Is this what being an adult is like?
Written By Alexis
Oct. 22, 2017, 10:02 p.m.(6/13/1007 AR)
Relationship Note on Clover
Lady Clover is bethrothed, and she will in time sit as duchess with the Duke Farshaw. I am pleased for her. Though I hope we will remain close. Lady Clover is the Voice I have spent the most time with, and I hope I do not speak beyond my station when I say I consider her a close friend. She is generous and clever and kind, and she deserves every blessing the gods can rain down on her.
Written By Alexis
Oct. 22, 2017, 9:59 p.m.(6/13/1007 AR)
Relationship Note on Reiker
I don't quite know what to make of Lord Reiker Wyrmguard.
The man is passionate, and dedicated to his family. An able soldier. Sometimes a little rough around the edges. But there's kindness there - he wants to do what he feels best.
I lent him my glaive for his duel, as most of his weapon collection is still in Blancbier.
He has given good advice when we've talked, and I am grateful for his perspective.
The man is passionate, and dedicated to his family. An able soldier. Sometimes a little rough around the edges. But there's kindness there - he wants to do what he feels best.
I lent him my glaive for his duel, as most of his weapon collection is still in Blancbier.
He has given good advice when we've talked, and I am grateful for his perspective.
Written By Alexis
Oct. 22, 2017, 9:52 p.m.(6/13/1007 AR)
Victory can be many things.
When I travelled North, our goal was to keep Farhaven from being breached. And we had good generals, excellent strategists and tacticians, good field leaders who were able to take advantage of the terrain, to use the skills of their soldiers to the utmost.
We had the advantage early on, and despite our numbers, it seemed like we would prevail against the larger horde - that they would break themselves, repeatedly, against our shield walls. I stood with Lady Joslyn. We'd promised to be together. To keep each other safe. I'm glad for that now.
Dame Esoka has written a journal most eloquently about what happened next. She's right. The Horned God himself showed up and it felt like he was larger than life. His utter confidence.
A lot of soldiers lost their heads when our enemy turned into a swarm of wasps. Of the largest, angriest wasps you've ever seen. I was close myself. I almost dropped, and started rolling around. To squish them. Gods know I was tempted.
But I had Lady Joslyn next to me.
The retreat was ordered. I was close enough to the Grayson forces that I witnessed mostly Princess Reese deftly working well-trained troops. I kept the line. We retreated slowly - and saw Duke Grimhall and Lord Faelan advance.
The swarm began shaping itself, unnaturally. It became a maw of sorts. A buzzing, hovering maw. That lunged. That swallowed the man next to me whole. One moment he was there. The next he was... Surrounding by a cloud so thick with insects you couldn't see anything else. They even covered part of me, the size of it. I felt the chains unravel in my surcoat, the threads popping in my tabard. Leather straps snapping under the sheer press of those creatures.
And then they began biting and stinging and the world was only pain.
It passed. Pain does. I am glad I had Lady Joslyn.
I pushed back the others, watched helplessly at what I was sure would be a noble commander sacrificing himself for our escape.
But we won the day.
Some have argued we were toyed with. Some have argued the Horned God withdrew out of a sense of cruelty. Like a cat that gives the mouse a last dash of hope.
Maybe.
I say the Horned God did not expect to be wounded, and he withdrew his forces (such as they were) to protect him rather than chase victory.
Yes, he'll be back. We won't have the advantage like we did this time, though maybe we can have others.
Yes, this is the beginning of a dangerous time of war.
But Duke Harald Grmhall showed us that he can be hurt.
And that he did not expect it. And that he did not like it.
Lord Faelan tried to keep his lord safe, and I didn't see much there, but I'm pretty sure I saw the Horned God trying to deal with him. Maybe that gave Duke Grimhall his opening.
Either way, it shows us the importance of working together.
Your life was a gift. It should not be thrown away needlessly.
But sometimes, for the things we believe in, we must be prepared to give everything. Even our lives.
I remain hopeful that our foe can be defeated. I remain faithful to my liege and the gods.
I remain, and as long as I do, I will help form the line between the innocent and the malefactor.
When I travelled North, our goal was to keep Farhaven from being breached. And we had good generals, excellent strategists and tacticians, good field leaders who were able to take advantage of the terrain, to use the skills of their soldiers to the utmost.
We had the advantage early on, and despite our numbers, it seemed like we would prevail against the larger horde - that they would break themselves, repeatedly, against our shield walls. I stood with Lady Joslyn. We'd promised to be together. To keep each other safe. I'm glad for that now.
Dame Esoka has written a journal most eloquently about what happened next. She's right. The Horned God himself showed up and it felt like he was larger than life. His utter confidence.
A lot of soldiers lost their heads when our enemy turned into a swarm of wasps. Of the largest, angriest wasps you've ever seen. I was close myself. I almost dropped, and started rolling around. To squish them. Gods know I was tempted.
But I had Lady Joslyn next to me.
The retreat was ordered. I was close enough to the Grayson forces that I witnessed mostly Princess Reese deftly working well-trained troops. I kept the line. We retreated slowly - and saw Duke Grimhall and Lord Faelan advance.
The swarm began shaping itself, unnaturally. It became a maw of sorts. A buzzing, hovering maw. That lunged. That swallowed the man next to me whole. One moment he was there. The next he was... Surrounding by a cloud so thick with insects you couldn't see anything else. They even covered part of me, the size of it. I felt the chains unravel in my surcoat, the threads popping in my tabard. Leather straps snapping under the sheer press of those creatures.
And then they began biting and stinging and the world was only pain.
It passed. Pain does. I am glad I had Lady Joslyn.
I pushed back the others, watched helplessly at what I was sure would be a noble commander sacrificing himself for our escape.
But we won the day.
Some have argued we were toyed with. Some have argued the Horned God withdrew out of a sense of cruelty. Like a cat that gives the mouse a last dash of hope.
Maybe.
I say the Horned God did not expect to be wounded, and he withdrew his forces (such as they were) to protect him rather than chase victory.
Yes, he'll be back. We won't have the advantage like we did this time, though maybe we can have others.
Yes, this is the beginning of a dangerous time of war.
But Duke Harald Grmhall showed us that he can be hurt.
And that he did not expect it. And that he did not like it.
Lord Faelan tried to keep his lord safe, and I didn't see much there, but I'm pretty sure I saw the Horned God trying to deal with him. Maybe that gave Duke Grimhall his opening.
Either way, it shows us the importance of working together.
Your life was a gift. It should not be thrown away needlessly.
But sometimes, for the things we believe in, we must be prepared to give everything. Even our lives.
I remain hopeful that our foe can be defeated. I remain faithful to my liege and the gods.
I remain, and as long as I do, I will help form the line between the innocent and the malefactor.
Written By Alexis
Oct. 15, 2017, 7:43 p.m.(5/27/1007 AR)
The Spring Soiree hosted by Lady Monique and Lord Corban was an excellent end to a wonderful celebration of the return to spring.
I partook in their games - though I think maybe next year one should get bonus points for being sat on during musical chairs. I'm pretty sure that would have clinched my victory. As it is, I will try to be gracious, and offer my congratulations to mistress Mae Grayhope.
There was also a women verses men game of throwing inflated pig's bladder balls at one another. I'm glad I didn't get hit - it looked painful. And I hope both the church and the gods will forgive me for targeting the Heart of the Faith Legate Orazio and Blessed Aleksei. It's tactically sound to target the leader-types, after all.
I also got to spend time with Lady Neve and Mistress Joslyn, and we had good food and good conversation with many people. I'm not sure if it was the wine or the constant hum of so many people talking that had my head spinning at the end of the night.
All in all, a wonderful experience.
I partook in their games - though I think maybe next year one should get bonus points for being sat on during musical chairs. I'm pretty sure that would have clinched my victory. As it is, I will try to be gracious, and offer my congratulations to mistress Mae Grayhope.
There was also a women verses men game of throwing inflated pig's bladder balls at one another. I'm glad I didn't get hit - it looked painful. And I hope both the church and the gods will forgive me for targeting the Heart of the Faith Legate Orazio and Blessed Aleksei. It's tactically sound to target the leader-types, after all.
I also got to spend time with Lady Neve and Mistress Joslyn, and we had good food and good conversation with many people. I'm not sure if it was the wine or the constant hum of so many people talking that had my head spinning at the end of the night.
All in all, a wonderful experience.
Written By Alexis
Oct. 15, 2017, 2:41 a.m.(5/25/1007 AR)
I visited the Lodge of Petrichor today, to witness what my labours for Paladin Leola would be for - gifts to those attending and a prize. I was pleased to help, of course. And now I've had the pleasure of hunting with them. Boar spears aren't really that different from glaives - at least not the way I use them.
I was pleased to lose to Dame Esoka - if I must lose, then she is a woman I enjoy yielding to. And the cause of our hunt was good, with practical asides. I am grateful that many mouths will be fed over the coming days.
For my first official hunt for the lodge, placing in the semi-finals isn't too bad.
I was pleased to lose to Dame Esoka - if I must lose, then she is a woman I enjoy yielding to. And the cause of our hunt was good, with practical asides. I am grateful that many mouths will be fed over the coming days.
For my first official hunt for the lodge, placing in the semi-finals isn't too bad.
Written By Alexis
Oct. 15, 2017, 1:59 a.m.(5/25/1007 AR)
Relationship Note on Joslyn
It's an interesting thing, to be on both sides of the divide - the soldier who went out to battle and got hurt, and the one waiting for her loved one to awaken after such a severe blow.
I respect Joslyn for her skill and her dedication, of course. I would never ask her to stay behind when her blades might turn the tide.
But gods, if it isn't anguish more exquisite than any wound I have suffered personally, to watch her laid out and unconscious.
She has recovered. She is well.
For this I thank Lagoma and Gild and the Queen of Endings.
I respect Joslyn for her skill and her dedication, of course. I would never ask her to stay behind when her blades might turn the tide.
But gods, if it isn't anguish more exquisite than any wound I have suffered personally, to watch her laid out and unconscious.
She has recovered. She is well.
For this I thank Lagoma and Gild and the Queen of Endings.
Written By Alexis
Oct. 7, 2017, 6:41 p.m.(5/10/1007 AR)
All my life, all I've ever wanted was to serve my house, and I've been granted a great honour and priveliege in holding the duty of the Sword of Blancbier.
And yet, I remain a simple commoner. This is not to express dissatisfaction with my lot, but rather... I do not understand the complexities of noble life. I do not understand how what seems to be fairly clear-cut can be complicated so quickly.
I suppose, then, it is a good thing that I am not a noble, and that I have lieges who have the ability to take in a situations and find all the implications and insinuations in something I thought was clear-cut.
Still, sometimes, clear-cut would be nice.
And yet, I remain a simple commoner. This is not to express dissatisfaction with my lot, but rather... I do not understand the complexities of noble life. I do not understand how what seems to be fairly clear-cut can be complicated so quickly.
I suppose, then, it is a good thing that I am not a noble, and that I have lieges who have the ability to take in a situations and find all the implications and insinuations in something I thought was clear-cut.
Still, sometimes, clear-cut would be nice.
Written By Alexis
Oct. 6, 2017, 2:09 a.m.(5/7/1007 AR)
Relationship Note on Clover
I will do my best, my lady. But better me than a person of import.
Written By Alexis
Oct. 6, 2017, midnight(5/7/1007 AR)
I'm not dead.
I write this because I got some concerned letters, and I can assure that between Lady Brigadier Eirene Malvici's deft touch and Princess Eleyna Velenosa's keen mind, I was safe and the poison quickly neutralised.
The wound wasn't too bad, and is healing. Per Princess Eleyna's advice, I am taking lots and lots of chamomile and mint tea. I sometimes still get the twinges of pain, but I am not dying. As someone said on the battlefield - "she talks to much to be dying".
Thank you. I can laugh about that now.
And I admit, I had a good vantage point to hear High Lord Edain exchange his vows with Princess-Consort Caelis.
Welcome to the Oathlands, your highness. May you find a comfortable home here.
I write this because I got some concerned letters, and I can assure that between Lady Brigadier Eirene Malvici's deft touch and Princess Eleyna Velenosa's keen mind, I was safe and the poison quickly neutralised.
The wound wasn't too bad, and is healing. Per Princess Eleyna's advice, I am taking lots and lots of chamomile and mint tea. I sometimes still get the twinges of pain, but I am not dying. As someone said on the battlefield - "she talks to much to be dying".
Thank you. I can laugh about that now.
And I admit, I had a good vantage point to hear High Lord Edain exchange his vows with Princess-Consort Caelis.
Welcome to the Oathlands, your highness. May you find a comfortable home here.
Written By Alexis
Oct. 1, 2017, 9:55 p.m.(4/26/1007 AR)
Relationship Note on Joslyn
With some people, you can pick up months later and it'll feel like no time has passed at all.
Joslyn came to dinner the other night. And though she's been terribly busy with her new lieges and duties, seeing her again made it seem like we'd only just parted yesterday.
I'm glad to have her back in my life.
Joslyn came to dinner the other night. And though she's been terribly busy with her new lieges and duties, seeing her again made it seem like we'd only just parted yesterday.
I'm glad to have her back in my life.
Written By Alexis
Oct. 1, 2017, 9:54 p.m.(4/26/1007 AR)
Was asked personally by Princess Reese Grayson to attend a military briefing. I'll admit I was rather proud to hear that. Now it's preparations for more travel. It's almost like being a squire again.
I do look forward to going out in the field.
I do look forward to going out in the field.
Written By Alexis
Oct. 1, 2017, 9:52 p.m.(4/26/1007 AR)
I've had the pleasure of working some with the Knights of Solace, and Dame Thena seemed quite pleased with my contribution to the Art Exhibit. I expect that we'll be able to cooperate well together, and I am happy to be of service to Gild and her flock.
Written By Alexis
Sept. 24, 2017, 7:05 p.m.(4/10/1007 AR)
The Laws of Limerance have changed, and it's not, admittedly, something I know a lot about.
But I have seen things that are hard to explain, both good and bad. And I am curious to see what wiser heads than mine will make of all of this.
But I have seen things that are hard to explain, both good and bad. And I am curious to see what wiser heads than mine will make of all of this.
Written By Alexis
Sept. 24, 2017, 7:03 p.m.(4/10/1007 AR)
Relationship Note on Neve
Lady Neve Greenmarch is many, many things. Not all of them are complimentary, but she'll tell you about those herself - or at least she has when I've spoken to her.
She is passionate and impulsive, and funny and clever. And she confuses a poor knight with the way her thoughts move. But in a good way. I like being confused by Lady Neve.
She holds to old gods and old ways, and it's interesting to see up close. I do not think it clashes with the Pantheon. I think they are complimentary.
Thank you, Lady Neve.
She is passionate and impulsive, and funny and clever. And she confuses a poor knight with the way her thoughts move. But in a good way. I like being confused by Lady Neve.
She holds to old gods and old ways, and it's interesting to see up close. I do not think it clashes with the Pantheon. I think they are complimentary.
Thank you, Lady Neve.
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