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Written By Brigida

Aug. 3, 2019, 6:12 a.m.(8/1/1011 AR)

This business with Ras and Lord Alban has gotten ridiculous. Most people in this world deserves a smack or two to set them straight. I myself have done so to commoners and nobility alike when they needed it and will continue to do so.
Ras is a troubled young man who needs help and Lord Alban is a grown man, a famed warrior of the Compact who should know better than this.

If it was up to me I'd take a switch to the soles of everyone involved and be done with it with a Blessing to the Gods.

More importantly though is the matter of WHO STOLE MY STAFF!

Written By Arcadia

Aug. 3, 2019, 6:01 a.m.(8/1/1011 AR)

Relationship Note on Evander

You chose a book over a ball?

Are you sure you're not part Leary?

Written By Thorley

Aug. 3, 2019, 5:40 a.m.(8/1/1011 AR)

I have been remiss in writing in the journals as of late. With the third year of my marriage with Violet passed, we have seen a birth of a child, and the birth of a Barony. Sandreef Point continues to grow. Our military is strong. The economic house is working on growing. But we are still rather backwater when it comes to being known.

The dawnstones we are finding are so vibrantly different in color. I remember the first time I showed them to Princess Alarissa, I had thought them a fluke - but it turns out that they are so colorful. I will need to find a way to showcase them.

This was so much easier when I was just a House Sword and was peddling coffee.

Sorcha has taken to running, not walking, when she moves. She loves to chase Tala, to run away from us when it's time for a changing - to just run. She reminds my much of Ronja. I need to get back in touch with her. To see how she has been.

Maybe I can try to convince Violet that we should have a little boy.

I've read on the notes on Ras and Lord Alban. Even though Lord Alban is family, we had our moments in the past. He can come across as ill-tempered at times. And I can only assume that this was one of those times. But I would not believe him one to bully a child. I'm not sure how to feel about all of it as a whole, having been on both sides of it. It seems to have past, and I can only hope that lessons have been learned.

Now, time to find a chance to settle, and get to work on growing this little land of mine.

Written By Mabelle

Aug. 3, 2019, 4:56 a.m.(8/1/1011 AR)

Plans for the fundraiser:

Picnic Baskets with mead & cookies - ready.
A very large rope - ready.
A table with cut fruit to make sculptures - maybe I will wait with that until the actual day.

Creativity and generousity - that's on the guests.

See you there!

Written By Rinel

Aug. 3, 2019, 4:29 a.m.(8/1/1011 AR)

Relationship Note on Margret

While it is true that the Sentinel is associated with justice, the trial by combat, as an institution, is solely a rite of the Lady Gloria. While it is tempting to associate the rite with the Sentinel, the ancient sources we have make it incontrovertibly clear that it is a creation unique to the disciples of the Lady of Valour. I have no qualifications in the realm of law and would not presume to challenge the authority of the Lord Greenmarch in matters temporal; however, I possess some meagre skill in issues of theology, and it is within this realm that I take issue with his proclamation.

It is critical, perhaps moreso now than ever, that the Faith understand its history and its Gods. I should be very happy to meet with either the Lord or Lady Greenmarch and discuss matters of the Gods, if either so will it.

Written By Iseulet

Aug. 3, 2019, 4:07 a.m.(8/1/1011 AR)

I feel change upon the wind again. Summers are so cruel, but crueler still are winters.

Written By Mabelle

Aug. 3, 2019, 3:28 a.m.(8/1/1011 AR)

Saguaro, the Cactus flower’s message is don’t let the world bring you down. Everything you need is inside you, and you too can produce beautiful things in the middle of an empty wasteland.

Written By Sina

Aug. 3, 2019, 2:35 a.m.(8/1/1011 AR)

The duty of the Scholar is to educate. Recently, I have welcomed Scholar Rinel back into the ranks of Vellichor's Disciples in recognition of the completion of the penance that I had assigned to her, and on the recommendation of Radiant Bliss Whisper, and with the approval of the Dominus. We are pleased to have her back, along with her insights.

She is correct. Archscholar Py did write a Treatise on Truth and Falsehoods, in which he did touch upon how he and his brothers and sisters of the time prayed upon the matter of truth being relative to perspective. They prayed to Limerance and to the Sentinel, but in the end it was found that the rite of trial by combat falls within Gloria's domain. This should not be in dispute, for it is a long-held tradition within the Compact. The accused may ask for a trial by combat, even for petty crimes, and the outcome determines the Truth behind a dispute, where otherwise no clear truth is evident.

At the same time, it should be noted that justice must be observed, and this is the Sentinel's province. If a Magistrate of the Courts has decreed that the accused has chosen Trial by Combat, then perhaps an overlap may be present. This does not make one right over the other. They are both relevant. A Magistrate of the Court has made a decree, which should be heeded by the laws of the Compact. If the young man, Ras, has chosen trial by combat, leaving his fate in the hands of the Gods, then this should be respected as his path to Truth. If trial by combat seems inappropriate to the crime, then a Champion surely has the right to refuse, and then that matter is perhaps best addressed directly with the parties involved, rather than through debate within the pages of the Whites. If Lord Alban Farshaw has decided to drop all charges and settle the matter in private, this, too, should put the matter to rest.

The Godsworn serve all of the Pantheon. As such, I think it is not unreasonable that sometimes, we may recognize that the ideals of the Gods may overlap in a given situation, but that does not invalidate the relevance of one ideal over another. Both can be applied here: Justice and Honor. Sentinel and Gloria. It need not be any more complicated than this. What matters is that Honor be upheld and Justice served in the eyes of the Gods.

I do not personally know well the parties involved in the original dispute which sparked this debate, so I have no stake here other than education. I am not writing here to judge anyone, or dress anyone down, nor do I take any side over the other. These are merely my personal observations after the past few days of reading white journals on this subject.

Written By Willow

Aug. 2, 2019, 11:30 p.m.(8/1/1011 AR)

Relationship Note on Rinel

How have we never talked before? I am so glad we have now. And I really look forward to more of them. It feels like you are a kindred spirit and I am very, very glad that I chanced upon you waiting outside the Shrine so we had the opportunity to talk directly rather than just being in the same room and involved in different mutual things as we have been prior.

Written By Evander

Aug. 2, 2019, 9:43 p.m.(8/1/1011 AR)

A ball, complete with finery and masks and dancing and alcohol?

Or a new, intriguing book discussing fascinating history and leading one onto new paths of thought and research?

For me, there is no contest. Not the least of which because I don't have a mask to wear.

Written By Riagnon

Aug. 2, 2019, 9:13 p.m.(8/1/1011 AR)

It's terrible how this Ross individual was denied a Champion!

Written By Norwood

Aug. 2, 2019, 6:44 p.m.(7/28/1011 AR)

I am quite proud of my Nephew, Eddard. He has volunteered to spend time each afternoon in either the beet garden or the stables. His father will be quite happy when I write to tell him that he has learned responsibility here in Arx.

Written By Jeffeth

Aug. 2, 2019, 3:09 p.m.(7/28/1011 AR)

I feel I should reiterate in a more brief fashion: In the situation regarding Ras. He was never denied a Champion. This growing discussion on whether a commoner should be allowed to take on a Champion, while I have no problem with a discussion on it in general, has nothing to do with the current situation.

Written By Kedehern

Aug. 2, 2019, 2:24 p.m.(7/28/1011 AR)

I just spent a day resolving a dispute among villagers about who gets to take care of a cow.

A cow that neither villager in fact owned, and was in fact part of Duke Cristoph's stock.

Grown men, slap fighting like little children over a bovine's affection.

This is what my life has come to, recently. Truly a noble obligation.

Written By Shazza

Aug. 2, 2019, 12:15 p.m.(7/28/1011 AR)

I reflect, without benefit of noble title or knowledge of divine minds, on a recent incident.

Some days ago, the 'infamous' Ras chose to seat himself at my table in the trader's tavern. I sat reviewing my accounts. He objected to the words I used to reply to his disruption, and, wearing a scowl, he emptied his soup onto my ledger.

Lacking the skill and temper for violence, I remained seated and informed Ras of his best next step: to deliver to me a replacement, and quickly. As I told him, we cannot allow injuries to pass unredressed, even small ones. To do so invites further injury. I calmly told him he would pay for the book, one way or another.

He gave me a new book.

I considered the matter settled and we parted ways. I was not blameless in the encounter, as my words did provoke him to overturn his soup, just as I found provocation in his sitting at my table uninvited. But we each must own our actions (and their consequences) without laying them at the feet of provocateurs. The more self-mastery we hold, the lighter our burdens become; freed from illusions and excuses, the profitable path is made clear.

As I consider whether Ras was responsible for my ruined ledger (he was), I consider also whether I was wise to provoke an unknown man of doubtful station (I was not). My desire was a peaceful meal and a ledger free from soupy pages, and mocking Ras's manners did not serve my goal. Yet I escalated.

Escalating a heated moment is rarely the wise course, regardless of who bears responsibility for the resulting injury - be that determined in the court of public opinion, by the Crown's law, or by the gods. Determining who is "right" can be an interesting academic exercise, but does little to change that both parties will show a loss, either in suffering injury or in atonement for inflicting it.

What if he had struck me? Both he and I would have been exposed to significant cost. Time spent obtaining redress would only be a distraction to my business, and I would have no pleasure in seeing a man lose his freedom or his meagre wealth.

Gods forbid if I were a member of the peerage and he had struck me! The loss would be only greater on both sides. In addition to my health and time, I might put at risk things more valuable still, not least my reputation; but also the life of a common man, over whom I was set by the virtues of ennoblement as an exemplar of good citizenship, but yet who came through his interaction with me only to ruin and a likely descent into deeper adversity.

I count myself fortunate that I, common as I am, need not ponder at length how I may have exposed myself to a noble's risks, had my encounter with Ras escalated further. Faced with weighing the damage to my reputation and a man's life against my ruined ledger revenged, or against the peace of an inn restored, I would have found it a poor trade, and my responsibilities unserved.

With gratitude, I will take the lesson of my encounter to heart, having profited by the instruction.

Written By Tyrus

Aug. 2, 2019, 12:07 p.m.(7/28/1011 AR)

It is interesting to be witness to the various debates taking place through the White Journals and, I must assume, out loud in various rooms and streets of the city.

It's also interesting to find that while certain voices, or I suppose authors, are common fixtures with an opinion on practically anything, especially if it's to tell another how wrong they are, various individuals tend to speak up. From Peer to common, the perspectives offered are varied and even fascinating to observe.

While I tend to be less interested in religious matters, having never found much appeal there, I find it is changed when I behold the points and counterpoints made. With such passion and righteous belief in one's convictions, how could I not be moved?

Written By Gwenna

Aug. 2, 2019, 10:46 a.m.(7/28/1011 AR)

It seems Archscholar Py's "Treatise on Truth and Falsehoods" is a must-read lest one wishes to be rather publicly taken to task in the whites. Surely something of such suggested import is available in the archives for anyone to read? I will have to have send someone over to check straight away.

Written By Lora

Aug. 2, 2019, 10:40 a.m.(7/28/1011 AR)

Relationship Note on Dante

Why is it that when someone is gone, I find a dozen or more things each day that I want to share? Things to say, things to show, questions to ask, all the glimmers that only serve to illuminate the empty place created by their absence.

And why is it that when they return all those things are suddenly forgotten? They're swept away like dry leaves in an autumn wind come to scour away the dust and cobwebs and suddenly that place is full again, as nothing had ever been missing. Only missed.

Written By Sparte

Aug. 2, 2019, 10:18 a.m.(7/28/1011 AR)

The pregnancy of Dame Tom has been confirmed. The estimate was 2-3 weeks until she gives birth. For those who were inquiring.

Written By Lysander

Aug. 2, 2019, 10:16 a.m.(7/28/1011 AR)

It is good to be back at work again. The time between having artistic inspiration is definitely the darkest of times. It's as if there's no light left in the sky. No warmth in the winter. But the the redhot flame of the muse strikes again and suddenly all makes so much more sense. All is much closer to right again.

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