Written By Haakon
Nov. 1, 2020, 6:37 p.m.(4/22/1014 AR)
Not true in every case, of all tribes, but more often than not..
Most Abandoned tribes survive by not being noticed by the bigger houses. Not a one of them could withstand the Compact if the Arvani came at them with sustained force, they need survive by holding enough power to dominate their territory, without holding so much or taking so much that they grow big and troublesome enough to get Noticed. Being left alone to hate their neighbors is the best many tribes can expect.
It's a fine balance, which greed, pride, or ill luck can upset all too quick.
Most Abandoned tribes survive by not being noticed by the bigger houses. Not a one of them could withstand the Compact if the Arvani came at them with sustained force, they need survive by holding enough power to dominate their territory, without holding so much or taking so much that they grow big and troublesome enough to get Noticed. Being left alone to hate their neighbors is the best many tribes can expect.
It's a fine balance, which greed, pride, or ill luck can upset all too quick.
Written By Haakon
Oct. 22, 2020, 8:35 p.m.(4/2/1014 AR)
As the season of storms gives way before time, and the Isles go from white to green, the day draws near when bold folk will heft spear and shield to take once more to war by oar and by sail.
The long calm grows short, and soon the sea and sky will stir with a breaking storm.
This wait has been pleasant enough and many will know sorrow to see it ended, but it is nigh done and the Wind cares not.
The long calm grows short, and soon the sea and sky will stir with a breaking storm.
This wait has been pleasant enough and many will know sorrow to see it ended, but it is nigh done and the Wind cares not.
Written By Haakon
Oct. 13, 2020, 7:13 p.m.(3/12/1014 AR)
Relationship Note on Victus
Your mid life crisis were a decade ago.
The likes of us aren't meant to live past fifty.
The likes of us aren't meant to live past fifty.
Written By Haakon
Oct. 8, 2020, 11:57 p.m.(3/2/1014 AR)
Piece of wisdom I heard once.. no idea where it came from, or who said it first.
Held that an enemy should be treated generously, or else destroyed utterly, as folk could seek revenge for wounds, but could take no revenge from a death blow.
The former course could make friends of foemen, but also may leave a dire foe with a knife to bury in your throat. The latter course could see entire houses razed to ash and bloodlines cut. It's the curse of judgement that such choices can't oft be made more than once.
Held that an enemy should be treated generously, or else destroyed utterly, as folk could seek revenge for wounds, but could take no revenge from a death blow.
The former course could make friends of foemen, but also may leave a dire foe with a knife to bury in your throat. The latter course could see entire houses razed to ash and bloodlines cut. It's the curse of judgement that such choices can't oft be made more than once.
Written By Haakon
Oct. 8, 2020, 1:44 p.m.(3/2/1014 AR)
I've seen galleys with fewer hands on board than the Saik 'dinner party'. Courtiers and socialites could invade a damned barony without much more work or expense than what goes into preparing such events.
All so folk can fill a hall and talk to one body in every ten present which they might not know.
It were pleasant enough, I'm not complaining.
But what the bloody fuck?
While I'm on it, the Arvani custom of dancing in pairs puzzles me. Seems selfish.
All so folk can fill a hall and talk to one body in every ten present which they might not know.
It were pleasant enough, I'm not complaining.
But what the bloody fuck?
While I'm on it, the Arvani custom of dancing in pairs puzzles me. Seems selfish.
Written By Haakon
Sept. 12, 2020, 2:56 p.m.(1/6/1014 AR)
Arx is greatly more tolerable under wind and white snow. The stink fades, the wind howls, and more folk are gone from the streets. A body can have a fine bracing walk now, without needing to wade among a thousand bodies and a dozen beast-drawn carts.
I'm glad the season of storms waited long enough to allow our last reaving, but I am glad to find it upon us, having returned. Now for clean wind, roaring fires, and strong drink. May the new season bury the old.
I'm glad the season of storms waited long enough to allow our last reaving, but I am glad to find it upon us, having returned. Now for clean wind, roaring fires, and strong drink. May the new season bury the old.
Written By Haakon
Sept. 9, 2020, 6:36 p.m.(12/28/1013 AR)
The most successful reaving of the year has returned from the Near Saffron, with a dozen ships taken and hundreds delivered. With the season of storms looming, this is like to be the last reaving until winter is past and the isles go from white to green. The East Wind bears us back to Arx, flush with victory and hard won plunder.
It were a rich voyage.
Every sailor who joined will take for their share enough wealth to see their kin fed for a full year's turn, with more for the folk of quality. It were near to disaster for a time, but strength and valor bore us through. A goodly number of unsworn reavers took service after, which only makes the voyage finer.
It were a rich voyage.
Every sailor who joined will take for their share enough wealth to see their kin fed for a full year's turn, with more for the folk of quality. It were near to disaster for a time, but strength and valor bore us through. A goodly number of unsworn reavers took service after, which only makes the voyage finer.
Written By Haakon
Aug. 23, 2020, 9:24 p.m.(11/22/1013 AR)
Hear this:
I prepare a third reaving into the Near Saffron Isles against Gildorian slavers and their allies, to take their lives, take their ships, and free their slaves. Let all those with a ship or a sword and the will to use them send me word.
I prepare a third reaving into the Near Saffron Isles against Gildorian slavers and their allies, to take their lives, take their ships, and free their slaves. Let all those with a ship or a sword and the will to use them send me word.
Written By Haakon
Aug. 7, 2020, 8:47 p.m.(10/18/1013 AR)
The Wind does not care.
My family's words. I use them oft, and were asked some time ago what "the Wind" meant.
It means the world, the elements, time and tides. They all turn on, no matter what we want. 'The Wind does not care' is a bid for folk to keep a view of the hard truth, with emotion and heartache peeled away.
Perspective.
It is not resignation to fate, or an appeal to surrender. Try all you like toward what ends you deem worthy. Fight with every echo of valor and to the last drop of blood. Do good and great deeds. But don't care so hard about changing what can't be changed that you're fighting the Wind.
Men and women are never so big as we might wish, or think. The Wind is bigger than all of us.
My family's words. I use them oft, and were asked some time ago what "the Wind" meant.
It means the world, the elements, time and tides. They all turn on, no matter what we want. 'The Wind does not care' is a bid for folk to keep a view of the hard truth, with emotion and heartache peeled away.
Perspective.
It is not resignation to fate, or an appeal to surrender. Try all you like toward what ends you deem worthy. Fight with every echo of valor and to the last drop of blood. Do good and great deeds. But don't care so hard about changing what can't be changed that you're fighting the Wind.
Men and women are never so big as we might wish, or think. The Wind is bigger than all of us.
Written By Haakon
July 26, 2020, 11:40 a.m.(9/22/1013 AR)
A second successful reaving into the Saffron chain in as many months. Less lucrative than the first, but still a fair voyage that saw near a hundred souls delivered from bondage, and freebooters set to good work.
The lesson of this voyage is that hungry folk will eat. You can't tell them not to, all a body can do is point them at the most fit meal. They may acquire a taste for it.
The lesson of this voyage is that hungry folk will eat. You can't tell them not to, all a body can do is point them at the most fit meal. They may acquire a taste for it.
Written By Haakon
July 25, 2020, 2:44 p.m.(9/20/1013 AR)
Though much of our reckoning toward ships and the sea has been upended of late, some truths still hold as they long have:
The longship remains the best raiding craft yet devised.
The dromond remains the best craft for pitched battle.
Galleys serve both roles, second best.
Caravels are unmatched for capacity and range; yet they've not displaced the ships that came before, not when it comes to the waging of war.
The longship remains the best raiding craft yet devised.
The dromond remains the best craft for pitched battle.
Galleys serve both roles, second best.
Caravels are unmatched for capacity and range; yet they've not displaced the ships that came before, not when it comes to the waging of war.
Written By Haakon
July 19, 2020, 12:23 p.m.(9/8/1013 AR)
Relationship Note on Kenjay
Folk in Arx love feeling superior to other folk.
True of folk everywhere, I suspect, but here it does lead some of them toward saying some eye-gougingly stupid things, from time to time.
Congratulations on your patience.
True of folk everywhere, I suspect, but here it does lead some of them toward saying some eye-gougingly stupid things, from time to time.
Congratulations on your patience.
Written By Haakon
July 18, 2020, 4:03 p.m.(9/6/1013 AR)
Relationship Note on Ahrsen
Still.
You made a Gildorian four-master loaded with soldiers set out every scrap of sail in fleeing from you. Few folk can claim that.
You made a Gildorian four-master loaded with soldiers set out every scrap of sail in fleeing from you. Few folk can claim that.
Written By Haakon
July 12, 2020, 9:50 a.m.(8/21/1013 AR)
When trust is dead, one body or another tends to follow.
Written By Haakon
July 1, 2020, 10:59 p.m.(7/28/1013 AR)
Relationship Note on Iseulet
...they sail to Arvum, buy boatloads of people, and I kill them? Take as old as time, that.
They had a nice ship, at least.
They had a nice ship, at least.
Written By Haakon
July 1, 2020, 2:20 a.m.(7/27/1013 AR)
Anyone know where Gildorians come from?
The easy bets would be Gildor or Gildoria, something of that nature. Whatever the name, I'm told it's a Kingdom.
Killed a few Gildorians of late with no damned idea where they come from, and I can hardly ask them, now.
The easy bets would be Gildor or Gildoria, something of that nature. Whatever the name, I'm told it's a Kingdom.
Killed a few Gildorians of late with no damned idea where they come from, and I can hardly ask them, now.
Written By Haakon
June 26, 2020, 2:26 a.m.(7/17/1013 AR)
Relationship Note on Shard
I know reavers better than you do.
I am a reaver. I've raided since I was a boy, because the winters are lean, the rocks grow little, and my people will not starve.
And though you can keep right on basking in your self righteous hate, the plain truth is that you're railing against a world that doesn't exist, anymore.
Ivan Helianthus and those like him are dying. The Tyde and those like her are ready to spend silver and blood to see them off. No more thralls are being made. Everyday, more thralls are freed. Now we're freeing slaves, and you find a way to hate us for that, too. That you think all Islesmen are slavers at heart who will sell souls for a quick silver says more about you than it says about us.
What a day when an Islesman needs to tell a Mainlander to stop living in the past and let go of their backward views on Thralldom.
I am a reaver. I've raided since I was a boy, because the winters are lean, the rocks grow little, and my people will not starve.
And though you can keep right on basking in your self righteous hate, the plain truth is that you're railing against a world that doesn't exist, anymore.
Ivan Helianthus and those like him are dying. The Tyde and those like her are ready to spend silver and blood to see them off. No more thralls are being made. Everyday, more thralls are freed. Now we're freeing slaves, and you find a way to hate us for that, too. That you think all Islesmen are slavers at heart who will sell souls for a quick silver says more about you than it says about us.
What a day when an Islesman needs to tell a Mainlander to stop living in the past and let go of their backward views on Thralldom.
Written By Haakon
June 26, 2020, 2:12 a.m.(7/17/1013 AR)
Everyone is paid.
Whether it's your family who pays your needs so that you can train and fight, or whether it's an overlord who pays their vassals with fief and lands, or a war chief, who pays tribal warriors out of plunder.
Everyone is paid.
Get in a tavern brawl for fun, I suppose that's one of the only ways not to get paid, but of the sorts of folk who fight battles, all silvers come from somewhere.
Whether it's your family who pays your needs so that you can train and fight, or whether it's an overlord who pays their vassals with fief and lands, or a war chief, who pays tribal warriors out of plunder.
Everyone is paid.
Get in a tavern brawl for fun, I suppose that's one of the only ways not to get paid, but of the sorts of folk who fight battles, all silvers come from somewhere.
Written By Haakon
June 25, 2020, 12:30 p.m.(7/16/1013 AR)
Relationship Note on Shard
Warriors are paid to fight.
Captains are paid to carry passengers.
To say a reaver shouldn't be paid for killing slavers, and carrying their victims freely to the next port where they can remain or move on seems odd.
Calling it slavery seems stupid.
Captains are paid to carry passengers.
To say a reaver shouldn't be paid for killing slavers, and carrying their victims freely to the next port where they can remain or move on seems odd.
Calling it slavery seems stupid.
Written By Haakon
June 24, 2020, 4:56 p.m.(7/14/1013 AR)
I'm in a good mood this day.
Thus, I find it funny that so many Mainlanders seem to think that Islesmen will resort to selling people at the first hint of a few silvers.
The damned fools really do think we're all slavers.
Thus, I find it funny that so many Mainlanders seem to think that Islesmen will resort to selling people at the first hint of a few silvers.
The damned fools really do think we're all slavers.
Please note that the scholars may take some time preparing your journal for others to read.