Written By Ilira
July 25, 2021, 3:25 p.m.(11/25/1015 AR)
Relationship Note on Dio
"Are hearts something one can shape on his own? Is it not set aflame, or protected or stolen by those whom he lets close enough to touch it?"
You tell me, lost one. I might have shown you the answer, but you left, and I had barely a moment to mourn before I learned I was mourning a lie. Relief isn't the word for it, that kind of detachment. It's a comfort to know who you weren't, but a painful and winding contemplation to also regard who you were. To me, to the rest.
Because I think you knew very well what it was to set hearts alight, you just couldn't harness your own flame. I understand, fire is a fickle thing with which to play. I suppose I only wish yours had been worth the burn.
I remember our first kiss on that mountaintop, our sole. I remember the hike up, and the tumble I took off that bough, and how hard we laughed together on that rockface. I remember every word we exchanged as you stoked the fire and I brewed the coffee. I remember your lips tasted of both. I am not ashamed to say, for those moments, I believed in who you pretended to be.
This writing is not from a place of grief. Rather, I wanted to recognize a story scrapped before it started. I felt my side of it deserved a voice. And despite myself, I needed to mourn the little nothings, what almost was and never would've been; I know now.
But you didn't steal my heart away with you, pirate. It's still sitting pretty right here, blazing and broken and beating, and that is a triumph unto itself. You came damn close, though. Perhaps you, wherever you are, can consider that a triumph too, and this a good riddance.
You tell me, lost one. I might have shown you the answer, but you left, and I had barely a moment to mourn before I learned I was mourning a lie. Relief isn't the word for it, that kind of detachment. It's a comfort to know who you weren't, but a painful and winding contemplation to also regard who you were. To me, to the rest.
Because I think you knew very well what it was to set hearts alight, you just couldn't harness your own flame. I understand, fire is a fickle thing with which to play. I suppose I only wish yours had been worth the burn.
I remember our first kiss on that mountaintop, our sole. I remember the hike up, and the tumble I took off that bough, and how hard we laughed together on that rockface. I remember every word we exchanged as you stoked the fire and I brewed the coffee. I remember your lips tasted of both. I am not ashamed to say, for those moments, I believed in who you pretended to be.
This writing is not from a place of grief. Rather, I wanted to recognize a story scrapped before it started. I felt my side of it deserved a voice. And despite myself, I needed to mourn the little nothings, what almost was and never would've been; I know now.
But you didn't steal my heart away with you, pirate. It's still sitting pretty right here, blazing and broken and beating, and that is a triumph unto itself. You came damn close, though. Perhaps you, wherever you are, can consider that a triumph too, and this a good riddance.
Written By Ophira
June 29, 2021, 7:06 p.m.(10/1/1015 AR)
Relationship Note on Dio
I have found myself reeling with the news of your death and the lack of information concerning it. Days and nights bleed together in a haze of smoke and drink as they afford me dreamless sleep. But sometimes, my beloved brother, I see you raising your glass to me in the shadows with a smile. If you are truly a spirit trapped in this realm of existence, I welcome your ghostly presence however it might pain me at the realization you are gone.
Words are ash in my mouth, quill shakes, and my eyes are sightless as they peer out towards the horizon. If I was your stone in which to keep your blade sharp, your star to guide your ship home - what does that now mean for me with you gone?
Words are ash in my mouth, quill shakes, and my eyes are sightless as they peer out towards the horizon. If I was your stone in which to keep your blade sharp, your star to guide your ship home - what does that now mean for me with you gone?
Written By Thalamina
Feb. 14, 2021, 8:35 p.m.(12/9/1014 AR)
Relationship Note on Dio
A hunter removes the heart of its kill to honor the animal, to show them respect. What reason would a man need to rip the heart from an enemy's chest? What reason would that same man have to preserve an enemy's heart? Where is the honor in anything you have done?
Written By Savio
Jan. 18, 2021, 11:47 p.m.(10/11/1014 AR)
Relationship Note on Dio
Some fool named Borios tried to scam the Marquis, trying to sell him tin arrowheads. Can you imagine?
As was sung in a tavern in Pieros:
Come and hear a warning, boys
About a man trying to sell tin toys
'Ah, arrowheads! Won't you buy so many
Noble lord of Seraceni?'
You shouldn't try to roll a lord
Who's sharp with his wits and sharper with a sword
That man's learned a lesson, I grant
Now he'll have to change his pants
Be honest and we'll get along just fine
Pravosi are lovely and our coin's divine
Try to sell shit as something glorious?
Best think twice or we'll do you like Borios.
As was sung in a tavern in Pieros:
Come and hear a warning, boys
About a man trying to sell tin toys
'Ah, arrowheads! Won't you buy so many
Noble lord of Seraceni?'
You shouldn't try to roll a lord
Who's sharp with his wits and sharper with a sword
That man's learned a lesson, I grant
Now he'll have to change his pants
Be honest and we'll get along just fine
Pravosi are lovely and our coin's divine
Try to sell shit as something glorious?
Best think twice or we'll do you like Borios.
Written By Calista
Jan. 3, 2021, 2:04 p.m.(9/8/1014 AR)
Relationship Note on Dio
The man, the myth, the legend; On paper he caught my attention but in the flesh nearly stole my breath away. Praise pours from his lips like the flowing wine from a decanter and offers the same heady and dizzying effect that such libations produce.
It was a pleasure to finally make his acquaintance and to only be further enchanted by the man they refer to as a legendary pirate. Certainly I escaped unscathed this time.
It was a pleasure to finally make his acquaintance and to only be further enchanted by the man they refer to as a legendary pirate. Certainly I escaped unscathed this time.
Written By Calista
Jan. 3, 2021, 2:04 p.m.(9/8/1014 AR)
Relationship Note on Dio
The man, the myth, the legend; On paper he caught my attention but in the flesh nearly stole my breath away. Praise pours from his lips like the flowing wine from a decanter and offers the same heady and dizzying effect that such libations produce.
It was a pleasure to finally make his acquaintance and to only be further enchanted by the man they refer to as a legendary pirate. Certainly I escaped unscathed this time.
It was a pleasure to finally make his acquaintance and to only be further enchanted by the man they refer to as a legendary pirate. Certainly I escaped unscathed this time.
Written By Neve
Jan. 1, 2021, 8:24 p.m.(9/5/1014 AR)
Relationship Note on Dio
Boop!
Written By Adrienne
Dec. 26, 2020, 6:04 p.m.(8/21/1014 AR)
Relationship Note on Dio
When House Seraceni sails against the Skal'dajan fleet, it will be with the same skill, intellect, and judiciousness that we have come to expect from its Marquis. His work on behalf of House Pravus, the Liberators of Skald, and the Compact at large is an example for us all.
Written By Medeia
Dec. 26, 2020, 3:20 p.m.(8/20/1014 AR)
Relationship Note on Dio
In recent weeks, I have found the most unexpected - but pleasant and fruitful - friendship in Marquis Dio Seraceni. Several nights back, he was good enough to let me take up a space in his home to commence work immediately after an evening meeting. There was so much to do that I found myself finally retreating from his hospitality come morning, having borrowed several of his staff as my own to deliver messages and even hosting a few emergency meetings as if the home were mine to command for such things. Never once did the marquis make me feel as if I had overstayed or overstepped. In all our dealings, he has been a gentleman and seen to my protection. (I think he actually growled at a man on my behalf, once.) I am grateful the Compact has him dedicated to its protection.
Written By Sorrel
Dec. 21, 2020, 10:23 p.m.(8/11/1014 AR)
Relationship Note on Dio
Marquis:
Having spent several days in reflection regarding how best I might apologize to you regarding my abysmal behavior at your meeting, I have finally decided upon these words. I hope that they are sufficient and that you may see it within yourself to forgive.
I have been short-sighted. I have been disruptive. I have been judgmental. You deserve none of this for trying to run a meeting at which to plan things. I attended the meeting with the hopes of getting a better picture of how you and your fealty would be approaching a threat to the Compact so that I could help coordinate with my own fealty and with my own knights how we might aid you, and I did a particularly poor job of this.
I am sorry for being rude to you. I am particularly sorry for being rude to you in your own home. Your home should be a place where guests appreciate your hospitality, not snark at you or snipe at you with sass.
I am sorry for being disruptive. I should have been more respectful of your time and your energy. I also should have appreciated your willingness to open your meeting to others.
I am sorry for being judgmental. I need to remember my manners and respect decorum and show empathy towards others. I do not know you and judging you on hearsay is foolish.
I am sincere in this apology and I hope that we may make a new beginning with it.
Having spent several days in reflection regarding how best I might apologize to you regarding my abysmal behavior at your meeting, I have finally decided upon these words. I hope that they are sufficient and that you may see it within yourself to forgive.
I have been short-sighted. I have been disruptive. I have been judgmental. You deserve none of this for trying to run a meeting at which to plan things. I attended the meeting with the hopes of getting a better picture of how you and your fealty would be approaching a threat to the Compact so that I could help coordinate with my own fealty and with my own knights how we might aid you, and I did a particularly poor job of this.
I am sorry for being rude to you. I am particularly sorry for being rude to you in your own home. Your home should be a place where guests appreciate your hospitality, not snark at you or snipe at you with sass.
I am sorry for being disruptive. I should have been more respectful of your time and your energy. I also should have appreciated your willingness to open your meeting to others.
I am sorry for being judgmental. I need to remember my manners and respect decorum and show empathy towards others. I do not know you and judging you on hearsay is foolish.
I am sincere in this apology and I hope that we may make a new beginning with it.
Written By Ophira
Nov. 25, 2020, 3:26 p.m.(6/14/1014 AR)
Relationship Note on Dio
Your story was an unexpected gift as it painted such a nostalgic image of home - I find that I miss it terribly. But more importantly than that, my brother, I'm glad that you were granted peace.
Written By Calypso
July 29, 2020, 9:58 a.m.(9/27/1013 AR)
Relationship Note on Dio
Let me help you out.
"I'm sorry, Lady Thea. It was extremely disrespectful of me to talk about the "salacious" and "well used" picture of you. It was even more disrespectful of me to stand on a table and start singing about it. There is no excuse for my behavior. I'm a complete idiot and I'm going to treat women with a modicum of respect from here on out."
What you did was a way of making a woman into an object to be possessed without her consent. It's not okay. It's especially not okay when it's my fucking cousin, and putting it on her to tell you to stop doing something no reasonable person would do it the first place is also not okay. If you want to be treated like more than a glorified pirate, act like it.
"I'm sorry, Lady Thea. It was extremely disrespectful of me to talk about the "salacious" and "well used" picture of you. It was even more disrespectful of me to stand on a table and start singing about it. There is no excuse for my behavior. I'm a complete idiot and I'm going to treat women with a modicum of respect from here on out."
What you did was a way of making a woman into an object to be possessed without her consent. It's not okay. It's especially not okay when it's my fucking cousin, and putting it on her to tell you to stop doing something no reasonable person would do it the first place is also not okay. If you want to be treated like more than a glorified pirate, act like it.
Written By Monique
July 22, 2020, 1:08 p.m.(9/14/1013 AR)
Relationship Note on Dio
What gift says "I'm sorry for putting a dagger in your chest"? Whatever it is, I'll endeavor to find it.
Written By Evaristo
May 23, 2020, 2:26 p.m.(5/6/1013 AR)
Relationship Note on Dio
Why are you talking like you're one of the Lowers? You're not.
Shard is. Shard can speak for us. You can't.
Don't you have some pirating to do?
Shard is. Shard can speak for us. You can't.
Don't you have some pirating to do?
Written By Shard
May 23, 2020, 2:20 p.m.(5/6/1013 AR)
Relationship Note on Dio
I am not going to try to explain to you how the Iron Guard and private, hired security work, or how they're different, there is not enough time in the day to keep leading you down this magical journey of discovery. You're welcome to ask them if we're somehow stepping on their toes when we get hired for jobs in the city, or the Crafters Guild if it's bullying to ensure as many people from the Lowers as possible can get food without being jumped.
Most of my sellswords either live in the Lowers or used to, by the way. Including me. Oh no, a twist.
Anyway, you seem a little mad about me having coin, Marquis Seraceni, which is strange, because you kept talking about how people of the Lowers could 'grasp opportunity' and make a lot of money. Guess how I made my money, which I am now choosing to spend on helping the Lowers, rather than helping myself to what I think the Lowers can give me? I grasped opportunity.
I just didn't grasp it from you. Because you're a pirate. Is 'take everything' not working out?
Most of my sellswords either live in the Lowers or used to, by the way. Including me. Oh no, a twist.
Anyway, you seem a little mad about me having coin, Marquis Seraceni, which is strange, because you kept talking about how people of the Lowers could 'grasp opportunity' and make a lot of money. Guess how I made my money, which I am now choosing to spend on helping the Lowers, rather than helping myself to what I think the Lowers can give me? I grasped opportunity.
I just didn't grasp it from you. Because you're a pirate. Is 'take everything' not working out?
Written By Teagan
May 23, 2020, 2:04 p.m.(5/6/1013 AR)
Relationship Note on Dio
Oh do shut up.
Written By Shard
May 22, 2020, 3:50 p.m.(5/4/1013 AR)
Relationship Note on Dio
Wow, okay, I see I'm going to have to go through this step by step with you. Have you never dealt with mercenaries? That's unusual for a noble. I guess you're a pirate, so you just sit on a ship and shout at anyone daring to do things you don't like on land.
Step one: client asks to hire the Valorous Few (in this case, the Crafters Guild, through Felix)
Step two: terms are discussed. How many, how long, what specifically they want done.
Step three: I tell them how much that's going to cost, based on all of those things. Here's where it gets complicated, I'm sorry, maybe the Scholar can help you.
Step three-a: In this case, given the situation in the Lowers, I offer to do it at cost. That means the Valorous Few does not actually make any profit. Usually we make a lot of profit, at least for commoners. It doesn't stack up to taxes given to nobles, usually, but it's probably pretty similar to what pirates get, if they're decent pirates, except the people who hire us are willing to pay us.
Step three-a-a: Since I said 'at cost' and not 'free', that means we're still getting paid. Except that, as you may note (but probably not, I understand this is difficult), I said that /I/ was not taking a cut of this. That means I, personally, am working for free. This is the part where you were actually right, hooray! I am a shitty mercenary for working for free, in this one case.
Step three-a-b: In this case, I tell the Crafters Guild what it will cost to give my sellswords a very nice payout in which they will be allowed to comfortably support their families (this means they get to eat, and they don't get kicked out of wherever they're living. Hooray!). I note that it's possible for me to do it for half of that money, but it would take a lot of convincing, because, while I can use funds from the company's account to make up the difference, I probably wouldn't be able to make up /all/ of the difference. It's good to pay sellswords well, they aren't very happy when you don't.
Step four: Usually, we haggle. Haggling means they tell me why they shouldn't have to pay that much, I tell them why they should, we argue (this is an important tradition. See? I respect some traditions), and sometimes we come to a compromise. Other times, I exhaust them by continuing to argue (I'm good at this!), and they agree with me that they should actually pay that much.
Step four-a: But in this case, the Crafters Guild doesn't argue, because we both agree this is an unusual situation. I quoted them a fair price, they agreed to pay me a fair price. They decide to pay me the first amount I cited, which means all of my sellswords get a nice, comfortable payment while they're going through hard times.
Step five: We get paid. Hooray! I split the money between all of the sellswords who were hired for this job.
Step five-a: In this case, I take no cut. The company takes no cut. That means I eat whatever other costs there might be, and I don't get any money. This is, as I mentioned, the part where you're actually correct (hooray!) and I am a shitty mercenary, because I'm handling this for free. I am. Not my people. Me. Not them. if you can't understand this difference, I'm afraid I just can't help you there.
Step six: We do what we were hired to do.
Step six-a: So the Crafters Guild gets what they paid for: security while they feed hungry people. Hooray!
Now, I have no fucking idea when you think I ever spoke for the Faith or the Crown, when I started ordering people around (except the people I hired, that's my job), when I shit on any traditions (in this case, though sometimes I do shit on traditions!), or claimed that I was the only one who had the right solution (I just said your solution was blatantly self-serving, not the actual generous offer you keep claiming it is, do you think your solution is the only solution?). That sounds like shit you just made up! Boo.
P.S.: Guess who also kills slavers? Lots of people! Including me. Wow, imagine that, it's amazing.
Step one: client asks to hire the Valorous Few (in this case, the Crafters Guild, through Felix)
Step two: terms are discussed. How many, how long, what specifically they want done.
Step three: I tell them how much that's going to cost, based on all of those things. Here's where it gets complicated, I'm sorry, maybe the Scholar can help you.
Step three-a: In this case, given the situation in the Lowers, I offer to do it at cost. That means the Valorous Few does not actually make any profit. Usually we make a lot of profit, at least for commoners. It doesn't stack up to taxes given to nobles, usually, but it's probably pretty similar to what pirates get, if they're decent pirates, except the people who hire us are willing to pay us.
Step three-a-a: Since I said 'at cost' and not 'free', that means we're still getting paid. Except that, as you may note (but probably not, I understand this is difficult), I said that /I/ was not taking a cut of this. That means I, personally, am working for free. This is the part where you were actually right, hooray! I am a shitty mercenary for working for free, in this one case.
Step three-a-b: In this case, I tell the Crafters Guild what it will cost to give my sellswords a very nice payout in which they will be allowed to comfortably support their families (this means they get to eat, and they don't get kicked out of wherever they're living. Hooray!). I note that it's possible for me to do it for half of that money, but it would take a lot of convincing, because, while I can use funds from the company's account to make up the difference, I probably wouldn't be able to make up /all/ of the difference. It's good to pay sellswords well, they aren't very happy when you don't.
Step four: Usually, we haggle. Haggling means they tell me why they shouldn't have to pay that much, I tell them why they should, we argue (this is an important tradition. See? I respect some traditions), and sometimes we come to a compromise. Other times, I exhaust them by continuing to argue (I'm good at this!), and they agree with me that they should actually pay that much.
Step four-a: But in this case, the Crafters Guild doesn't argue, because we both agree this is an unusual situation. I quoted them a fair price, they agreed to pay me a fair price. They decide to pay me the first amount I cited, which means all of my sellswords get a nice, comfortable payment while they're going through hard times.
Step five: We get paid. Hooray! I split the money between all of the sellswords who were hired for this job.
Step five-a: In this case, I take no cut. The company takes no cut. That means I eat whatever other costs there might be, and I don't get any money. This is, as I mentioned, the part where you're actually correct (hooray!) and I am a shitty mercenary, because I'm handling this for free. I am. Not my people. Me. Not them. if you can't understand this difference, I'm afraid I just can't help you there.
Step six: We do what we were hired to do.
Step six-a: So the Crafters Guild gets what they paid for: security while they feed hungry people. Hooray!
Now, I have no fucking idea when you think I ever spoke for the Faith or the Crown, when I started ordering people around (except the people I hired, that's my job), when I shit on any traditions (in this case, though sometimes I do shit on traditions!), or claimed that I was the only one who had the right solution (I just said your solution was blatantly self-serving, not the actual generous offer you keep claiming it is, do you think your solution is the only solution?). That sounds like shit you just made up! Boo.
P.S.: Guess who also kills slavers? Lots of people! Including me. Wow, imagine that, it's amazing.
Written By Cassandra
May 22, 2020, 8:13 a.m.(5/3/1013 AR)
Relationship Note on Dio
I am not a fan of pirates.
And given my current mood, the fact that a member of the peerage feels that can display such affiliations openly and not expect pushback annoys me.
So I will say it very politely. My patience and my tolerance for annoyance has limits.
And given my current mood, the fact that a member of the peerage feels that can display such affiliations openly and not expect pushback annoys me.
So I will say it very politely. My patience and my tolerance for annoyance has limits.
Written By Shard
May 22, 2020, 2:04 a.m.(5/3/1013 AR)
Relationship Note on Dio
That's not what I wrote, and I'm not your mate. I wrote that I was paying them plenty so that they could feed their families, and I'm paying myself nothing. Do you need a scholar to help you parse simple sentences? I'm sure they'd be happy to.
Why don't you go kill slavers yourself, instead of trying to convince people to go die for you? 'Pens'. Yes, I'm very convinced of your generosity when you talk about those living in the Lowers like they're dumb animals who can't see you for what you are. If they wanted to go be your servants or your fodder, nothing has stopped them from doing it before. And if you think they're such children that they need to be led to grasp opportunity, I question whether you've ever set one fucking foot off the main road of the Lowers in your entire life.
I wouldn't really recommend trying it for the first time now, though. The Faith is very diligent in their duty to teach even the poorest person to read.
Why don't you go kill slavers yourself, instead of trying to convince people to go die for you? 'Pens'. Yes, I'm very convinced of your generosity when you talk about those living in the Lowers like they're dumb animals who can't see you for what you are. If they wanted to go be your servants or your fodder, nothing has stopped them from doing it before. And if you think they're such children that they need to be led to grasp opportunity, I question whether you've ever set one fucking foot off the main road of the Lowers in your entire life.
I wouldn't really recommend trying it for the first time now, though. The Faith is very diligent in their duty to teach even the poorest person to read.
Written By Reigna
May 21, 2020, 12:50 p.m.(5/2/1013 AR)
Relationship Note on Dio
I do not understand how one can profess to be both a Noble and a Pirate. You do realize that pirates are by definition, criminals, yes? I believe the word you are looking for is 'Privateer' if it is, of course, that you are in possession of a letter of Marque. Elsewise I believe that the Crown would likely take issue with your plundering and such.
You persist with putting forth this "offer" to accept those of the Lowers who wish to relocate to Ischia, as if this were some sort of charity on your part, but it only underlines your lack of understanding of the pertinent points of the issue. These are people who live in Arx. They are Crownsworn. Their lives are here. Their people and families are here. There is nothing chaining them to this place and if they had the desire or means to move, nothing stops them from doing so. That you think they are unaware of their options and are simply staying put out of ignorance to their options is a little insulting. Or rather, it is very insulting, but I was trying to be kind.
Shard has pointed out, repeatedly, that from an outside perspective, this looks like an attempt to gain tax payers rather than legitimately help people. By encouraging the Crownsworn to leave Arx and move to Ischia, you do realize that you are publicly encouraging people to cease making payments to the Crown, and begin paying you? I know you have declared yourself a pirate and all, but that sort of brazen attempt at theft is rather bold.
Instead of repeating that utterly baffling turn of phrase regarding sharks, hunting and minnows, perhaps instead you might consider encouraging your local fishermen to teach those of the Lowers who wish to learn that profession? Or cutting some of Ischia's profits and donating several of your catches to the Lowers soup kitchens?
You persist with putting forth this "offer" to accept those of the Lowers who wish to relocate to Ischia, as if this were some sort of charity on your part, but it only underlines your lack of understanding of the pertinent points of the issue. These are people who live in Arx. They are Crownsworn. Their lives are here. Their people and families are here. There is nothing chaining them to this place and if they had the desire or means to move, nothing stops them from doing so. That you think they are unaware of their options and are simply staying put out of ignorance to their options is a little insulting. Or rather, it is very insulting, but I was trying to be kind.
Shard has pointed out, repeatedly, that from an outside perspective, this looks like an attempt to gain tax payers rather than legitimately help people. By encouraging the Crownsworn to leave Arx and move to Ischia, you do realize that you are publicly encouraging people to cease making payments to the Crown, and begin paying you? I know you have declared yourself a pirate and all, but that sort of brazen attempt at theft is rather bold.
Instead of repeating that utterly baffling turn of phrase regarding sharks, hunting and minnows, perhaps instead you might consider encouraging your local fishermen to teach those of the Lowers who wish to learn that profession? Or cutting some of Ischia's profits and donating several of your catches to the Lowers soup kitchens?
Please note that the scholars may take some time preparing your journal for others to read.