Written By Acacia
Feb. 11, 2017, 9:25 p.m.(11/26/1005 AR)
Relationship Note on Esera
The ArchDuchess terrified me, but in the best of ways. She possessed a certain aura that's painstakingly hard to define. In all of the times our paths had crossed, she commanded a presence that lingered in your mind, filled up a room, and invited thoughts to freely wander to darker corners. She was one of the only people I've encountered that could force me to hold a breath simply with the cut of her smile. This tragedy left poignant wounds in those who loved her that were left behind, but she created unmistakable memories simply by those who witnessed her. She was an incredible woman. Masterful, really.
Written By Gibson
Feb. 7, 2017, 3 p.m.(11/16/1005 AR)
Relationship Note on Esera
Get well soon.
Written By Isolde
Feb. 6, 2017, 11:34 p.m.(11/14/1005 AR)
Relationship Note on Esera
Gods of the Pantheon, I beg of thee,
Mangata -- Embrace her, for she burned bright as the sun, captivated tides with her smile.
Petrichor -- Keep her, for she bloomed as vividly as you paint the world in the colors of nature.
Lagoma -- Cherish her, for her fire magnifies, and change cometh.
Vellichor -- Remember her, that the world may never forget her.
Gloria -- Honor her, for her honor saved us all.
Jayus -- Sing of her, for her dreams were those of a whole people, her beauty a wonder.
Limerance -- Love her, for she so loved the world, she gave of herself.
Sentinel -- Judge her rightly, for no mortal finds perfection, but her soul is fire and light for the good of us all.
Gild -- Treasure her, for we are poorer for her absence.
The Thirteenth, my heart, my soul, she belongs to you now, and you have all of me in your keeping. Let her light and darkness fill our world, and we know strength through her.
Gods above, below, beyond, I beg of thee, hear a sister's prayer, and embrace her once more, accepted into your arms. May the gift of her service honor you and inspire your people to greatness.
Mangata -- Embrace her, for she burned bright as the sun, captivated tides with her smile.
Petrichor -- Keep her, for she bloomed as vividly as you paint the world in the colors of nature.
Lagoma -- Cherish her, for her fire magnifies, and change cometh.
Vellichor -- Remember her, that the world may never forget her.
Gloria -- Honor her, for her honor saved us all.
Jayus -- Sing of her, for her dreams were those of a whole people, her beauty a wonder.
Limerance -- Love her, for she so loved the world, she gave of herself.
Sentinel -- Judge her rightly, for no mortal finds perfection, but her soul is fire and light for the good of us all.
Gild -- Treasure her, for we are poorer for her absence.
The Thirteenth, my heart, my soul, she belongs to you now, and you have all of me in your keeping. Let her light and darkness fill our world, and we know strength through her.
Gods above, below, beyond, I beg of thee, hear a sister's prayer, and embrace her once more, accepted into your arms. May the gift of her service honor you and inspire your people to greatness.
Written By Fortunato
Feb. 5, 2017, 11:49 p.m.(11/11/1005 AR)
Relationship Note on Esera
A sketch. She is seated in the high seats of the Blackrose Theater, her eyes fixed on the stage well below, depicted smaller and more remote than perspective would demand, the distance drawn deep. Her hair streams dark against the darkness of her dress, there is hardly a separation between them, her hands are clasped over the fold of her knees. Her expression is almost that of a smile, her expression is balanced precariously on the edge of wonder.
Written By Jaenelle
Feb. 5, 2017, 7:43 p.m.(11/10/1005 AR)
Relationship Note on Esera
Esera could have sent me back. She could have returned me to my family's doorstep upon the death of her brother. Instead, she enclosed me. She accepted me as her sister, protected me, and loved me as if I were always a Velenosa. I am not sure where my future lies now, but I will always remember this kindness.
Written By Niccolo
Feb. 5, 2017, 5:31 p.m.(11/10/1005 AR)
Relationship Note on Esera
Carlotta Velenosa, the Grand Duchess of the Lyceum. She was far from that when I first met her, she was a princess then, and I was a young lord. Much has been written about us, about the love that drove me to abandon my claim to my dear Setarco, the many journals my father filled calling me foolish for wishing a marriage that brought neither House an advantage. What a stubborn young man I was, driven yes, but stubborn.
So I challenged fate itself in order to marry this woman, because of a love that I never thought would find a rival. A love that I fully dedicated myself to. She was my everything, she was everything. Gods I still miss her presence, I still miss the way she looked at me when we saw each other after months of being apart and I thought, I thought I'd never feel a love so deep. I thought that was it.
But then my children were born. Of all the gifts Carlotta ever gave me, that is perhaps the sweetest. Yet again in my life, I was blessed enough by the Gods to experience a love like no other. The Gods might have taken my son from me, but they still left me with two daughters. Two beautiful parts of my now departed wife that I loved the moment they entered this life.
I find it hard to describe the love I felt for my wife sometimes. This is even harder. It is something that just doesn't feel like it can fit in my chest. To love someone so much, even before you get to know them. That is what I felt for Esera, for Isolde when I first met them, when they were born. It was of course a different kind of love, but no less potent, no less powerful and overwhelming.
Duty often kept my family apart, for often Carlotta would find herself in Arx, and I'd find myself in the lands around Lenosia spilling the blood of our enemies. But it was that knowledge of being reunited with my wife, with my children that made the days easy to tolerate, that made that distance easy to accept. That same distance that sometimes made me not the best of fathers, that kept me from experiencing so many of their lives. Both Esera's and Isolde's.
And now, I still have my Isolde, but my Esera is gone. Just like her mother, she is gone. And just like it's hard for me to describe the love I feel for her, it's hard to describe the pain that seeks to crush my heart with every breath I take. But it is that love that I've felt since the moment she was born that now drives me. It drives me to set my grief aside, for there is so much that must be done. I miss her, but I will honor her by keeping her dreams alive, by doing what must be done.
Esera, I love you. I miss you. I will forever keep you with me, until the day we get a chance to meet again among the stars.
So I challenged fate itself in order to marry this woman, because of a love that I never thought would find a rival. A love that I fully dedicated myself to. She was my everything, she was everything. Gods I still miss her presence, I still miss the way she looked at me when we saw each other after months of being apart and I thought, I thought I'd never feel a love so deep. I thought that was it.
But then my children were born. Of all the gifts Carlotta ever gave me, that is perhaps the sweetest. Yet again in my life, I was blessed enough by the Gods to experience a love like no other. The Gods might have taken my son from me, but they still left me with two daughters. Two beautiful parts of my now departed wife that I loved the moment they entered this life.
I find it hard to describe the love I felt for my wife sometimes. This is even harder. It is something that just doesn't feel like it can fit in my chest. To love someone so much, even before you get to know them. That is what I felt for Esera, for Isolde when I first met them, when they were born. It was of course a different kind of love, but no less potent, no less powerful and overwhelming.
Duty often kept my family apart, for often Carlotta would find herself in Arx, and I'd find myself in the lands around Lenosia spilling the blood of our enemies. But it was that knowledge of being reunited with my wife, with my children that made the days easy to tolerate, that made that distance easy to accept. That same distance that sometimes made me not the best of fathers, that kept me from experiencing so many of their lives. Both Esera's and Isolde's.
And now, I still have my Isolde, but my Esera is gone. Just like her mother, she is gone. And just like it's hard for me to describe the love I feel for her, it's hard to describe the pain that seeks to crush my heart with every breath I take. But it is that love that I've felt since the moment she was born that now drives me. It drives me to set my grief aside, for there is so much that must be done. I miss her, but I will honor her by keeping her dreams alive, by doing what must be done.
Esera, I love you. I miss you. I will forever keep you with me, until the day we get a chance to meet again among the stars.
Written By Serafine
Feb. 2, 2017, 12:29 a.m.(10/27/1005 AR)
Relationship Note on Esera
Esera is dead.
Uncle Niccolo is now Archduke.
Esera dressed like a grieving bride to confront he that kept her from what should have been one of the happiest day of her life.
I'm assuming, anyway.
I don't see her doing anything else but fighting for her right to happiness. It's not always so easy for some, and that she found hers-
I can't stay here too long. It makes me feel guilty, to have a spot of light in a world that has gone dark for so many.
Cousin Esera. Clever, brilliant, lovely kinswoman.
Uncle Niccolo is now Archduke.
Esera dressed like a grieving bride to confront he that kept her from what should have been one of the happiest day of her life.
I'm assuming, anyway.
I don't see her doing anything else but fighting for her right to happiness. It's not always so easy for some, and that she found hers-
I can't stay here too long. It makes me feel guilty, to have a spot of light in a world that has gone dark for so many.
Cousin Esera. Clever, brilliant, lovely kinswoman.
Written By Darren
Feb. 1, 2017, 11:48 p.m.(10/27/1005 AR)
Relationship Note on Esera
We were bonded by fate, you and I, but bound by will.
You were more than an ally to me, Esera. You were my friend, my confidant. This is a loss that hits hard and heavy. You will never be forgotten. Your death will be avenged. No one will harm you unpunished.
I'll stand by the promise I made you there in the ocean. We looked like fools such fools, didn't we? But the words we spoke ring all the more true now. I couldn't protect you there on that bridge. But I will not fail you.
I will miss you, my friend. Until we meet again.
You were more than an ally to me, Esera. You were my friend, my confidant. This is a loss that hits hard and heavy. You will never be forgotten. Your death will be avenged. No one will harm you unpunished.
I'll stand by the promise I made you there in the ocean. We looked like fools such fools, didn't we? But the words we spoke ring all the more true now. I couldn't protect you there on that bridge. But I will not fail you.
I will miss you, my friend. Until we meet again.
Written By Calypso
Feb. 1, 2017, 11:27 p.m.(10/27/1005 AR)
Relationship Note on Esera
There is no amount of poetry or flowery words that would do you justice. And certainly not written by me. So I will say simply this:
You were loved and respected. You held the mantle of your position with dignity and grace. And I will sorely miss our chats. I am not often gifted with the presence of one so strong and I fear I will not be again for some time. Loss is felt in ripples. The wake left behind by your departure from this world will be felt for some time.
As to the fate of the one who took you from this life, I have but to look to your family words. - No one may harm us unpunished.
You were loved and respected. You held the mantle of your position with dignity and grace. And I will sorely miss our chats. I am not often gifted with the presence of one so strong and I fear I will not be again for some time. Loss is felt in ripples. The wake left behind by your departure from this world will be felt for some time.
As to the fate of the one who took you from this life, I have but to look to your family words. - No one may harm us unpunished.
Written By Eleyna
Jan. 31, 2017, 6:16 p.m.(10/23/1005 AR)
Relationship Note on Esera
On my sixteenth birthday, I was convinced that everyone had forgotten me. My mother was many years dead. My sister had disappeared and was given up for dead. My father... well, no one could ever accuse Marik Velenosa of caring too much about his daughters. That night, Esera came to me with a gift. A dress. A perfect blue dress that she said matched my eyes. There was a party. Nothing overly large, but there was dancing and music. And Esera smiling at me, reminding me that I was never truly alone, no matter how much it felt as though I was.
Hers was the little hand that found mine at my mother's funeral when I was five. Esera was the one who got me drunk on Tor red the night before my first wedding because I was too anxious to sleep. She was my cousin and friend long before she was ever my Grand Duchess. That is who my heart aches for now.
Yet, even though she is gone, she is still there to remind that none of us are alone, even without her. There is still the family. Always. She bonded us all and, through her memory, the Velenosa will rise stronger than ever. As she would have wanted of us.
Hers was the little hand that found mine at my mother's funeral when I was five. Esera was the one who got me drunk on Tor red the night before my first wedding because I was too anxious to sleep. She was my cousin and friend long before she was ever my Grand Duchess. That is who my heart aches for now.
Yet, even though she is gone, she is still there to remind that none of us are alone, even without her. There is still the family. Always. She bonded us all and, through her memory, the Velenosa will rise stronger than ever. As she would have wanted of us.
Written By Sylvie
Jan. 31, 2017, 5:10 p.m.(10/23/1005 AR)
Relationship Note on Esera
You cannot know the amount of respect that I held for you, truly. You were a woman not afraid to admit to a mistake, but strong enough not to dwell on it. You did not rush to judgment. You were willing to sacrifice for others. And despite the weight of your position, you also were able to set it aside and enjoy yourself, when it was appropriate. You were able to brush aside things that were light and bear yourself under the burden of those that were heavy.
There were many sacrifices I was willing to make in your name, Esera, and I was glad to follow a liege like you. I would have been proud to call you daughter-in-law, if it had been.
The Lyceum is truly worse for your loss.
There were many sacrifices I was willing to make in your name, Esera, and I was glad to follow a liege like you. I would have been proud to call you daughter-in-law, if it had been.
The Lyceum is truly worse for your loss.
Written By Ida
Jan. 31, 2017, 3:41 p.m.(10/23/1005 AR)
Relationship Note on Esera
It seems like a hundred years ago when Her Grace, Grand Duchess Esera Velenosa, visited my shop. Even with the amount of time that has passed, I am no less awed by the memory of that visit. As I think I wrote then, the Grand Duchess fills a room the moment she walks in. You can just feel her presence, should that make sense. I think I expected far more...distance, perhaps. Aloofness, y'know. A smith's shop just didn't seem like a place someone so refined and near-ethereal would visit. She was warm and kind while remaining a Grand Duchess in my every sense of the word.
She asked me to complete some tasks for her, which I failed to do. Utterly and completely. This or that commission took my attention, or a fight, or something that shouldn't have taken precedence after her graciousness. She never once asked why not, where were the things she'd asked after? Never a word.
I can still complete them, though, and believe I will. I owe her that much.
She asked me to complete some tasks for her, which I failed to do. Utterly and completely. This or that commission took my attention, or a fight, or something that shouldn't have taken precedence after her graciousness. She never once asked why not, where were the things she'd asked after? Never a word.
I can still complete them, though, and believe I will. I owe her that much.
Written By Eirene
Jan. 30, 2017, 7:41 p.m.(10/20/1005 AR)
Relationship Note on Esera
We barely met, the Grand Duchess and I... She seemed a good person. I don't fucking know. But she did her job and made the hard calls when required.
So for her to be fucking -pushed off a bridge- by a so called 'holy' man? Gods above, someone just set him on fire already and do us all a favor before someone else gets hurt... Like her father.
Didn't the Thraxian King push priests off that self-same bridge... hrm.
So for her to be fucking -pushed off a bridge- by a so called 'holy' man? Gods above, someone just set him on fire already and do us all a favor before someone else gets hurt... Like her father.
Didn't the Thraxian King push priests off that self-same bridge... hrm.
Written By Talen
Jan. 30, 2017, 7:18 p.m.(10/20/1005 AR)
Relationship Note on Esera
None may harm us unpunished. I will have blood.
Written By Branan
Jan. 29, 2017, 4:19 p.m.(10/17/1005 AR)
Relationship Note on Esera
You gave me my shot.
I shall not throw it away.
I shall not throw it away.
Written By Talen
Jan. 17, 2017, 6:16 a.m.(9/8/1005 AR)
Relationship Note on Esera
If I see one person not bend the knee, I'll break the knee so it's perpetually bent.
Written By Sylvie
Jan. 8, 2017, 9:02 p.m.(8/11/1005 AR)
Relationship Note on Esera
Every time I meet with the Archduchess of Flowers, I am moved by her grace and depth of spirit. She apologizes for things she should not even where other won't, and takes account for those that others would never. She does not deserve the position that others have put her in, but she is certainly a liege worthy of respect.
And I did not think it was possible to surprise her, but I think I did, this evening.
And I did not think it was possible to surprise her, but I think I did, this evening.
Written By Edain
Jan. 1, 2017, 7:53 p.m.(7/18/1005 AR)
Relationship Note on Esera
When I came to the city of Arx, I had many prejudices that colored my judgements of people. Of no one was this more true than Grand Duchess Esera Velenosa. The rivalry between our families is old, and brutal and I thought I knew all I needed to know. I have come to learn that I was wrong.
I have learned that the Grand Duchess is a woman with a boundless love for her people and a peerless devotion to the compact. She is someone I will be proud to stand beside to defend the Compact when that day comes. Thank you. Thank for teaching me I have much left to learn about the world.
I have learned that the Grand Duchess is a woman with a boundless love for her people and a peerless devotion to the compact. She is someone I will be proud to stand beside to defend the Compact when that day comes. Thank you. Thank for teaching me I have much left to learn about the world.
Written By Branan
Dec. 24, 2016, 10:23 a.m.(6/20/1005 AR)
Relationship Note on Esera
Grand Patroness
Written By Eleyna
Nov. 8, 2016, 10:06 p.m.(1/24/1005 AR)
Relationship Note on Esera
When we were children, I was always striving to keep up with Esera. In our games, she always surpassed me by at least a narrow margin. She grew into the epitome of Lycene beauty, smoke and flames and shadows in human form while I was ice and alabaster.
When I was sent away to marry my first husband, I wondered at why the gods had designed her to rule while I was meant to be nothing but a piece in the game.
Now, all these years later, when I look into my cousin's eyes, I feel grateful for the role the gods gave to me. I know what I am, I know my strengths, and I also know that I was never equipped to carry her burdens.
When I was sent away to marry my first husband, I wondered at why the gods had designed her to rule while I was meant to be nothing but a piece in the game.
Now, all these years later, when I look into my cousin's eyes, I feel grateful for the role the gods gave to me. I know what I am, I know my strengths, and I also know that I was never equipped to carry her burdens.
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