Written By Ryhalt
May 24, 2018, 3:06 a.m.(10/23/1008 AR)
Relationship Note on Katarina
Your Highness,
Why should I stop writing? I have been told I am very good at it. House Farshaw is a progressive house for innovation an progression, with our eye towards expansion and the future. Are we perhaps the the very best investment in the Compact, I cannot say so with absolute certainty, but I can say with utter conviction you could do far far worse. Have coffee with my lovely and charming wife and you shall see.
Why should I stop writing? I have been told I am very good at it. House Farshaw is a progressive house for innovation an progression, with our eye towards expansion and the future. Are we perhaps the the very best investment in the Compact, I cannot say so with absolute certainty, but I can say with utter conviction you could do far far worse. Have coffee with my lovely and charming wife and you shall see.
Written By Ryhalt
May 24, 2018, 2:53 a.m.(10/23/1008 AR)
Relationship Note on Lisebet
For a young woman who has no interest in being betrothed anytime soon, your attire is extremely curious and shocking both at once.
Can you give the name of the seamstress to Clover?
Can you give the name of the seamstress to Clover?
Written By Ryhalt
May 24, 2018, 2:51 a.m.(10/23/1008 AR)
For my House, its vassals and our allies, I have the greatest respect and love for you all. Tonight made me proud to be the Duke of Westrock Reach, and the future is a glorious thing to envision. There is no challenge I do not believe is beyond our grasp when we all put our hearts, minds, and blood to the task.
Written By Ryhalt
May 24, 2018, 2:49 a.m.(10/23/1008 AR)
Relationship Note on Katarina
I have nothing but the purest intentions. Well perhaps not so pure as again I am biased and will always choose Westrock's prosperity over others, but again, two women who seek the improvement of lands and territories working together. Yes such would be an interesting sight indeed.
Written By Ryhalt
May 23, 2018, 3:21 a.m.(10/16/1008 AR)
Relationship Note on Clover
For any who believe my wife is merely another pretty face, I have no sympathy or pity for them when they loose their shirt to her. I never married her for her looks, and I stay with her despite her horrible skill with a bow. I might get that new ship yet.
Hmmm I must get Clover and the Princess Katarina together and soon...
Hmmm I must get Clover and the Princess Katarina together and soon...
Written By Ryhalt
May 23, 2018, 2:44 a.m.(10/16/1008 AR)
Boiled oats with honey! Whoever thought! Oh yes I am building a shrine to whichever of the gods developed this! A whole night without one peep!
Written By Ryhalt
May 22, 2018, 5:08 p.m.(10/16/1008 AR)
Ink on the page trails off on the page at the top.
"I swear the next time there are enemies at the gate, I am putting a hangry Ivy there and letting them scare the piss out them. A mountain of Westrock coffee for some sleep."
*a finger space below the last line*
"A quarter of a mountain, and only for a good price..."
"I swear the next time there are enemies at the gate, I am putting a hangry Ivy there and letting them scare the piss out them. A mountain of Westrock coffee for some sleep."
*a finger space below the last line*
"A quarter of a mountain, and only for a good price..."
Written By Ryhalt
May 19, 2018, 1:59 p.m.(10/9/1008 AR)
Why did I not see this idea before. Yes this could very well indeed work. How to make it work is another story. I must pull in the better minds of Farshaw to see.
Written By Ryhalt
Feb. 4, 2018, 9:56 p.m.(2/13/1008 AR)
Ever since baby Ivy was born I feel like I've disappeared, having that and business to deal with, while the banners are gathered. Fortunately, I've learned some better time management skills, I hope.
Written By Ryhalt
Dec. 18, 2017, 12:30 a.m.(10/16/1007 AR)
Relationship Note on Lisebet
She's returned home for a time, leaving the rest of us here in Arx without a certain enthusiasm chasing us. I hope that she will return soon.
Written By Ryhalt
Dec. 10, 2017, 11:36 p.m.(10/2/1007 AR)
It has been interesting getting to learn more about some of my vassals' domains that I've never had a chance to spend time in, but I must tell you that cranberry bogs have the capacity to be much more threattening than one might surmise.
Written By Ryhalt
Dec. 3, 2017, 8:23 p.m.(9/15/1007 AR)
Relationship Note on Sorrel
Seems different from the rest of the in-laws, in that she does not terrify me AND is pleasant to be around.
Written By Ryhalt
Nov. 26, 2017, 11:11 p.m.(9/1/1007 AR)
I had heard it talked about, but I feel like I understand now what people mean when they say that it's easy to lose sight of your home when spending so much time in Arx. My recent trip back to Westrock Reach was a bit eye-opening. Thankfully that's settled.
Written By Ryhalt
Nov. 19, 2017, 11:21 p.m.(8/13/1007 AR)
It is good to see the efforts of many starting to pay off in the thrall crisis. I hope that those who have chosen to resettle in Westrock Reach are able to find better lives there, though I suspect that the social shifts will be seen everywhere and not just in the eastern isles.
Written By Ryhalt
Nov. 19, 2017, 11:18 p.m.(8/13/1007 AR)
Relationship Note on Clover
Lady Clover has returned from Blancbier and decided that I am a hopeless workaholic in her absence.
Written By Ryhalt
Nov. 12, 2017, 8:23 p.m.(7/26/1007 AR)
Busy days, though not in the style I am accustomed to. I scarcely was able to get out at all. I should look into hiring a secretary or steward to help with this.
Written By Ryhalt
Nov. 12, 2017, 8:21 p.m.(7/26/1007 AR)
Relationship Note on Corban
Lord Corban is like the face of House Telmar's helpful navy, ever ready to help. This time, we actually get to work in concert for once, since we don't so much need warships.
Written By Ryhalt
Nov. 5, 2017, 7:02 p.m.(7/12/1007 AR)
Relationship Note on Clover
Lady Clover will be absent for probably a couple of weeks to visit home, and I think I am about to realize how much I've come to rely on her here in Arx since I arrived.
Written By Ryhalt
Nov. 5, 2017, 4:54 p.m.(7/12/1007 AR)
A brief note on thralldom and the economic woes it inflicts upon the Compact:
The core principle of trade is an exchange of something of value for something else of value. It is possible to enter into a bad trade, of course, where you lose value in the exchange, but for the most part it is a matter of different people valuing different things, trading for what they do not have but find desirable. A relatively equal trade that creates value on all sides. To that end, we price goods and services at a level that is (hopefully fairly) close to what we value them at. This system breaks down when value is misrepresented.
House Thrax's economy is intrinsically tied to the value they derive from their thralls. They take these prisoners and extract a stated value from them, presumably. The problem lies in House Thrax's consistent undervaluing of their thralls' labor. If you sell something at its stated price, and that exchange proves ruinous to you, you have misvalued that asset. In this case, Thrax grossly misvalues the work of its thralls, which does two things: It leaves people indentured far longer than they ought by the laws by which they are indentured, and, more importantly to this particular matter, it artificially drives prices down for both House Thrax and anyone who engages in trade with them or in competition with them. They effectively depress our economy by unfairly undercompensating their labor, both providing them with more of it due to not allowing people who would have paid their debt at a fair value free, and also forcing the rest of Arvum to compete in an unfair market.
Effectively, House Thrax and its vassals engaging in this practice without reform are not only stealing from those in their charge, but from the rest of us, as well as compounding a cycle that erodes their ability to function as a mercantile entity on their own. What response can we have but to attempt to ameliorate this situation? House Kennex is in crisis over doing something good. Many Thraxians have stated that this is folly, but in actuality it shines a light upon our long complicity in the way this affects the manner in which all of us conduct trade. The end result can, and should, be a bolster to the economy of all Arvum, and to that end we owe House Kennex gratitude, and should all attempt to bolster them in this time, as well as attempt to assuage the human cost in the displacement and resettlement of the house's thralls. Pay more for fairly worked goods and services, depress profits from thrall labor until it is untenable for them to be kept in unfair indenture. It profits the institution only as long as we are complicit.
The core principle of trade is an exchange of something of value for something else of value. It is possible to enter into a bad trade, of course, where you lose value in the exchange, but for the most part it is a matter of different people valuing different things, trading for what they do not have but find desirable. A relatively equal trade that creates value on all sides. To that end, we price goods and services at a level that is (hopefully fairly) close to what we value them at. This system breaks down when value is misrepresented.
House Thrax's economy is intrinsically tied to the value they derive from their thralls. They take these prisoners and extract a stated value from them, presumably. The problem lies in House Thrax's consistent undervaluing of their thralls' labor. If you sell something at its stated price, and that exchange proves ruinous to you, you have misvalued that asset. In this case, Thrax grossly misvalues the work of its thralls, which does two things: It leaves people indentured far longer than they ought by the laws by which they are indentured, and, more importantly to this particular matter, it artificially drives prices down for both House Thrax and anyone who engages in trade with them or in competition with them. They effectively depress our economy by unfairly undercompensating their labor, both providing them with more of it due to not allowing people who would have paid their debt at a fair value free, and also forcing the rest of Arvum to compete in an unfair market.
Effectively, House Thrax and its vassals engaging in this practice without reform are not only stealing from those in their charge, but from the rest of us, as well as compounding a cycle that erodes their ability to function as a mercantile entity on their own. What response can we have but to attempt to ameliorate this situation? House Kennex is in crisis over doing something good. Many Thraxians have stated that this is folly, but in actuality it shines a light upon our long complicity in the way this affects the manner in which all of us conduct trade. The end result can, and should, be a bolster to the economy of all Arvum, and to that end we owe House Kennex gratitude, and should all attempt to bolster them in this time, as well as attempt to assuage the human cost in the displacement and resettlement of the house's thralls. Pay more for fairly worked goods and services, depress profits from thrall labor until it is untenable for them to be kept in unfair indenture. It profits the institution only as long as we are complicit.
Written By Ryhalt
Oct. 29, 2017, 8:05 p.m.(6/27/1007 AR)
It's been a relatively productive week! I was able to meet many of the local merchants and traders, as well as begin to negotiate agreements with at least three houses and some other organizations. The Laurents were kind enough to throw a party to welcome us Farshaws, and now we're preparing to go visit them for dinner, which I am looking forward to.
Please note that the scholars may take some time preparing your journal for others to read.