Written By Gael
May 14, 2021, 2:47 p.m.(6/21/1015 AR)
Relationship Note on Shard
You might never read this, but,
Shard,
When I first joined your band, the world saw us and the company for what we were: a manifestation of ambition girded with weapons. Everyone in our group, when I entered, had a clear dream and aspiration; and about half of those who did then had the arms and desire to shape them, to make them real. We weren't unique, far from outstanding, not even particularly dangerous if we're giving our old selves a good look in the eye without lie.
But we've made it this far.
After many doors shut in our face. The attempts at haggling and wrying for good deals that ended up crumbling them altogether. The spitting. So much spitting. It is a cold world and we dared to warm our own damn selves, and you taught us how. Thus far, we have succeeded, in no small part to the legacy you laid out before leaving us.
Contracts under our belt, contracts on the horizon, they are blurring together. A culture of success has started to wash over the Valorous Few and you have good reason to be proud of when you once commanded it, because it is in no small part because of you, Shard.
Maybe we won't even look half-bad and like one sorry lot when you're back to take command.
You take care now.
Shard,
When I first joined your band, the world saw us and the company for what we were: a manifestation of ambition girded with weapons. Everyone in our group, when I entered, had a clear dream and aspiration; and about half of those who did then had the arms and desire to shape them, to make them real. We weren't unique, far from outstanding, not even particularly dangerous if we're giving our old selves a good look in the eye without lie.
But we've made it this far.
After many doors shut in our face. The attempts at haggling and wrying for good deals that ended up crumbling them altogether. The spitting. So much spitting. It is a cold world and we dared to warm our own damn selves, and you taught us how. Thus far, we have succeeded, in no small part to the legacy you laid out before leaving us.
Contracts under our belt, contracts on the horizon, they are blurring together. A culture of success has started to wash over the Valorous Few and you have good reason to be proud of when you once commanded it, because it is in no small part because of you, Shard.
Maybe we won't even look half-bad and like one sorry lot when you're back to take command.
You take care now.
Written By Sydney
Nov. 7, 2020, 11:57 a.m.(5/6/1014 AR)
Relationship Note on Shard
Until those who trample on our lives lay broken at our feet, flabbergasted in their flailing, wailing, gnashing and thrashing.
You were the first one to help me see.
Thank you.
You were the first one to help me see.
Thank you.
Written By Amari
Nov. 6, 2020, 11:30 a.m.(5/4/1014 AR)
Relationship Note on Shard
I never thought I'd be one to miss Shard's regular and strident journals, as I often found her arguments rather unfairly biased and rooted more in anecdote than fact. However, the rank hypocrisy involved in the jubilant rush of some to join the latest cause is terribly deserving of a few unkind words. Wherever she's gone, I do hope she's grouching vigorously at someone, somewhere, over something.
Written By Gwenna
Aug. 4, 2020, 6:51 p.m.(10/12/1013 AR)
Relationship Note on Shard
Words nearly fail me. I am struck with utter disbelief mixed with a gratefulness. Disbelief that you could be gone. Gratefulness because I got to know you a little and you trusted me with something - someone, really. I felt truly honored by that. I'm so glad that the day I was updating my will, I thought not to save that brooch until I was gone. I never thought in a thousand years you might be lost from our sights before I would be. I write lost only from our sights, because I refuse to believe your story is complete.
Written By Ras
Aug. 4, 2020, 10 a.m.(10/11/1013 AR)
Relationship Note on Shard
<<Dictated to a scholar who must have been prudish enough to censor certain language:>>
I started off hating Shard, because she punched my friend. Long story, but I thought it was my job to get justice, to make ---- fair.
No matter how many times I tried to punch Shard, though, I couldn't touch her. No matter what I said, she wouldn't listen. She's tough as ---- and she's stubborn as ----, and...
Deep down, she's a kind person.
Shard ain't the kind of kind where someone says nice words or gives hugs. She's the kind of kind that'll kill someone to make it quick if they really gotta die and the kill got botched. The kind of kind who's got the power to totally destroy a guy who annoys her, and nobody'd get her back for it, but she holds herself instead. The kind who'll tell someone to ---- off if they're teasing somebody, or stand with her sword ready to fight a whole pile of guards when she sees ----'s unfair. The kind who cares about a people she's fighting enough to want to save them from folk who'd kill them all. Or the kind who'll drag someone out of a place if he's digging himself a hole. Me.
I don't know why she started caring about me. But she's saved me a lot of times. She gave me so many warnings, ever since the beginning when she told me I best leave her alone. I ain't good at listening to people tell me what to do... ----.
Anyway, like I said, she's kind. Or, or GOOD, I guess. Maybe GOOD is a better word. You can't really be GOOD and not also be ------ off with the way the world is right now, you know? Well, maybe you can. Maybe KIND is the right word after all. Whatever. I don't know.
My point is, Shard's ------ off for all the right reasons. Maybe that's why she cares, because I was ------ too. And I guess that's why I started caring about her. Started caring a lot.
Can't shake the thought that I ------ up. It hasn't been that long but I miss her. She took up a big place in the city, to me, and now that she's gone that place is empty. I was just sitting in the stuffed armchair, holding her key, looking at the desk where she once stood.
She'll stand there again. She's tough as ---- and stubborn as ----. I have faith.
...
No, I don't want you to write about that. Yeah, it ------ me off when I read, sure, but can't expect that guy to start taking responsibility or talking to my face all of the sudden when he never has before. And Shard told me about a line. Got my line.
...
I'll listen to Shard.
Wait, did you write that last part down too? Fine, whatever. Stop now though.
...
Hey, Ayallah -- what? A diary? Yeah, tell stormbird I didn't see. Can she show me? Where is she?
...
----, man. Stop! Enough.
I started off hating Shard, because she punched my friend. Long story, but I thought it was my job to get justice, to make ---- fair.
No matter how many times I tried to punch Shard, though, I couldn't touch her. No matter what I said, she wouldn't listen. She's tough as ---- and she's stubborn as ----, and...
Deep down, she's a kind person.
Shard ain't the kind of kind where someone says nice words or gives hugs. She's the kind of kind that'll kill someone to make it quick if they really gotta die and the kill got botched. The kind of kind who's got the power to totally destroy a guy who annoys her, and nobody'd get her back for it, but she holds herself instead. The kind who'll tell someone to ---- off if they're teasing somebody, or stand with her sword ready to fight a whole pile of guards when she sees ----'s unfair. The kind who cares about a people she's fighting enough to want to save them from folk who'd kill them all. Or the kind who'll drag someone out of a place if he's digging himself a hole. Me.
I don't know why she started caring about me. But she's saved me a lot of times. She gave me so many warnings, ever since the beginning when she told me I best leave her alone. I ain't good at listening to people tell me what to do... ----.
Anyway, like I said, she's kind. Or, or GOOD, I guess. Maybe GOOD is a better word. You can't really be GOOD and not also be ------ off with the way the world is right now, you know? Well, maybe you can. Maybe KIND is the right word after all. Whatever. I don't know.
My point is, Shard's ------ off for all the right reasons. Maybe that's why she cares, because I was ------ too. And I guess that's why I started caring about her. Started caring a lot.
Can't shake the thought that I ------ up. It hasn't been that long but I miss her. She took up a big place in the city, to me, and now that she's gone that place is empty. I was just sitting in the stuffed armchair, holding her key, looking at the desk where she once stood.
She'll stand there again. She's tough as ---- and stubborn as ----. I have faith.
...
No, I don't want you to write about that. Yeah, it ------ me off when I read, sure, but can't expect that guy to start taking responsibility or talking to my face all of the sudden when he never has before. And Shard told me about a line. Got my line.
...
I'll listen to Shard.
Wait, did you write that last part down too? Fine, whatever. Stop now though.
...
Hey, Ayallah -- what? A diary? Yeah, tell stormbird I didn't see. Can she show me? Where is she?
...
----, man. Stop! Enough.
Written By Filshiar
Aug. 2, 2020, 9:26 p.m.(10/8/1013 AR)
Relationship Note on Shard
A woman I knew not save in passing, though she has loomed large in my thoughts these last days. An old friend of mine suggested we were alike in some ways, though I never grasped precisely how, and did not take the time to ask when I had opportunity. If she has fallen, I give my prayers to the Queen of Endings that she finds rest or honors in her next life. If she lives, I pray perhaps we shall meet again one day, and I shall know myself enough to have the right questions to ask.
Written By Gwenna
July 27, 2020, 12:27 p.m.(9/24/1013 AR)
Relationship Note on Shard
To quote part of a recent journal of yours: "it’s not a sacrifice if it’s easy"
I had occasion to discuss this somewhat in-depth with someone the other night. I find myself wondering if I've done enough so far, or am even doing enough. If there may be a sacrifice too great to ask along this path, or if I don't fully realize what's being sacrificed by others. I'm not sure I know what price is too much to pay. Maybe that's why we are so often advised on the importance of balance, but the gods and spirits know I have no true fathoming of where the scales really tip too far one way or the other.
I had occasion to discuss this somewhat in-depth with someone the other night. I find myself wondering if I've done enough so far, or am even doing enough. If there may be a sacrifice too great to ask along this path, or if I don't fully realize what's being sacrificed by others. I'm not sure I know what price is too much to pay. Maybe that's why we are so often advised on the importance of balance, but the gods and spirits know I have no true fathoming of where the scales really tip too far one way or the other.
Written By Lys
July 1, 2020, 10:21 a.m.(7/27/1013 AR)
Relationship Note on Shard
I'm pretty sure you don't trust anyone, friend.
Written By Raziel
June 26, 2020, 8:45 a.m.(7/17/1013 AR)
Relationship Note on Shard
Note to self: Find out what a Prima is and why people seem to have such difficulty holding to one definition.
Oh I'm quite aware it does not make one a Peer, Scholar. I've just not heard or read the term before, and it pays to check when someone encounters something unknown, yes?
Oh I'm quite aware it does not make one a Peer, Scholar. I've just not heard or read the term before, and it pays to check when someone encounters something unknown, yes?
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 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 Margot
June 24, 2020, 12:12 p.m.(7/14/1013 AR)
Relationship Note on Shard
I am only a woman and not schooled in military norms but I was generally under the impression that mercenaries accept coin to kill people.
Freefolk do not need to be bought or brought to places, yes. But slaves and thralls are not free and this seems to be a concept you do not understand.
You cannot remove people from incarceration and simply expect them to survive in the world with nothing any more than one can set a chicken free in the wild in winter and expect it to thrive and not be devoured by wolves. That is cruelty.
I am going to great expense to save lives and provide freedom. And I will not be lectured on the value of those lives by someone who takes coin to snuff out lives and does not understand how to govern or care for people in the long term.
Freefolk do not need to be bought or brought to places, yes. But slaves and thralls are not free and this seems to be a concept you do not understand.
You cannot remove people from incarceration and simply expect them to survive in the world with nothing any more than one can set a chicken free in the wild in winter and expect it to thrive and not be devoured by wolves. That is cruelty.
I am going to great expense to save lives and provide freedom. And I will not be lectured on the value of those lives by someone who takes coin to snuff out lives and does not understand how to govern or care for people in the long term.
Written By Sorrel
May 26, 2020, 10:40 p.m.(5/13/1013 AR)
Relationship Note on Shard
Can correctly identify dogs to the chagrin of certain members of the nobility.
Written By Mirari
May 26, 2020, 11:09 a.m.(5/12/1013 AR)
Relationship Note on Shard
Thank you for that marvelous birthday present, Prima Shard. I had quite an entertaining evening!
Written By Dio
May 23, 2020, 7:44 a.m.(5/5/1013 AR)
Relationship Note on Shard
That's a lot of ink to brag about how rich, and how incompetent you are. Between fighting and looting the Compact's myriad enemies, or taking hardened mercenaries into the jurisdiction of the Iron Guard to bully the people of the Lowers, you chose the latter. Great call, Mate. I'll be sure to write you often for advice.
Written By Dio
May 22, 2020, 8:56 a.m.(5/3/1013 AR)
Relationship Note on Shard
I am indeed killing slavers, and taking everything I can find to distribute among my crews and allies.
Opportunity is out there. It ain't charity - it's silver well earned. For some, that will be freedom. And if you're now claiming you're paying your people so well, where's that money coming from? You bleeding it from the Crafter's Guild?
You'll not see me spill a single drop of ink to disparage the actions of others on behalf of the people of Arx. For all your pathetic attempts to speak for the Faith and Crown, you're really just ordering people around, shitting on their traditions, claiming only you and yours have the right solution.
Opportunity is out there. It ain't charity - it's silver well earned. For some, that will be freedom. And if you're now claiming you're paying your people so well, where's that money coming from? You bleeding it from the Crafter's Guild?
You'll not see me spill a single drop of ink to disparage the actions of others on behalf of the people of Arx. For all your pathetic attempts to speak for the Faith and Crown, you're really just ordering people around, shitting on their traditions, claiming only you and yours have the right solution.
Written By Dio
May 21, 2020, 2:55 p.m.(5/2/1013 AR)
Relationship Note on Shard
You've just written that you're barely paying your people enough to feed their families, Mate.
Instead of snarling and snapping at people to stay in their pens, try leading people to grasp opportunity. Plenty of slavers need killing.
Instead of snarling and snapping at people to stay in their pens, try leading people to grasp opportunity. Plenty of slavers need killing.
Written By Dio
May 21, 2020, 12:13 a.m.(5/1/1013 AR)
Relationship Note on Shard
That makes us good pirates, Mate, and you a shitty mercenary.
Written By Ophira
May 20, 2020, 11:18 p.m.(5/1/1013 AR)
Relationship Note on Shard
I don't expect everyone to always agree or see eye to eye on solutions that are offered, I'm so very terribly sorry you find yourself angered during these troubling times.
Written By Alecstazi
May 13, 2020, 4:39 p.m.(4/14/1013 AR)
Relationship Note on Shard
Ugh. Stop being such a reasonable asshole.
Please note that the scholars may take some time preparing your journal for others to read.