Written By Sen'azala
Jan. 8, 2024, 6:11 a.m.(7/8/1021 AR)
Relationship Note on Valdemar
I'm not bragging. I'm as scared as anyone, I've got as clear a picture of what's coming as anyone. I was hoping that the Horned God's death would bring me the personal peace of having no idea what to do with the rest of my life, I wasn't looking to let the world light itself on fire. What I'm doing now is telling the truth of what happened in Harrow Hall, and why. People are doubting the wisdom of fighting the Horned God, despite the only other option being a different ending of the world, because they're frightened of what's come. I'm telling them that they did the only thing that could have been done short of lying at his feet, that it was right, that it was brave, and that if any single group, any single person had not done what they did, if there had been even moments of delay, then we - all of us - would not have stopped him. He was that close. I don't know what it looked like outside the Hall, but he was *that* close. What they did didn't cause this.
No, the self righteous zealotry is the part where I wholeheartedly believe that Cardia, the Dune Kingdoms, and the Undying Empire all deserve to fucking burn at the hands of the people they enslaved, and that a world where survival is wildly uncertain is better than a world that's simply not worth saving.
No, the self righteous zealotry is the part where I wholeheartedly believe that Cardia, the Dune Kingdoms, and the Undying Empire all deserve to fucking burn at the hands of the people they enslaved, and that a world where survival is wildly uncertain is better than a world that's simply not worth saving.
Written By Sedna
Dec. 19, 2020, 12:33 p.m.(8/6/1014 AR)
Relationship Note on Valdemar
Some time ago, Duke Valdemar set aside an hour or two of his valuable time to assuage some concerns I had regarding a subject most familiar to him. Mirrors. I probably learned more than I wanted to if I'm being honest. It was a privilege and a comfort to be able to gain the perspective of someone from the Isles on this.
Written By Zyanya
Nov. 12, 2020, 9:35 p.m.(5/16/1014 AR)
Relationship Note on Valdemar
You are mistaken, Duke Grimhall, and speak from assumption rather than knowledge. An example of why you are wrong: I bore the writs of an Imperial citizen for thirty years, but when petition was made for me to leave Jadairal and come here to learn Arvum, those writs were lifted without argument when we asked. We maintain as much free will there as people do here, under your oaths and the restrictions which come from birth and station.
As well, Skald has been worshiped in Jadairal, in Weijin, since before you were a Compact. Skald and all of the gods. The Empire is faithful to the Pantheon.
My invitation was not made to you but to those born without your many advantages. I hope they hear it. But also I hope if you wish to learn more, you ask the emissaries here for permission to visit and see for yourself. To properly learn and do away with your assumptions.
As well, Skald has been worshiped in Jadairal, in Weijin, since before you were a Compact. Skald and all of the gods. The Empire is faithful to the Pantheon.
My invitation was not made to you but to those born without your many advantages. I hope they hear it. But also I hope if you wish to learn more, you ask the emissaries here for permission to visit and see for yourself. To properly learn and do away with your assumptions.
Written By Emberly
Aug. 19, 2020, 11:04 a.m.(11/13/1013 AR)
Relationship Note on Valdemar
His moods are like the ocean, but he is a great and fierce friend.
Written By Kaia
July 17, 2020, 6:41 p.m.(9/4/1013 AR)
Relationship Note on Valdemar
I must say I am quite glad we crossed paths at the Ambassador that time. I have come to find your intellect is a boon and your conversation quite delightful. Your love and concern for the Isles and its people is, truly, noble and inspiring. You do justice to the title of Duke, and wear it well. Your people must, and should, be grateful to have you lead them. My utmost admiration goes to you, Duke Valdemar Grimhall.
Written By Iseulet
June 15, 2020, 8:09 a.m.(6/23/1013 AR)
Relationship Note on Valdemar
I heard that heating up a silver spoon and pressing it to the bite takes the itch right out.
Written By Revell
Feb. 27, 2020, 4:28 a.m.(11/1/1012 AR)
Relationship Note on Valdemar
It appears that I haven't managed to get my point across sufficiently, Duke.
Something I have come to realise that I am exceedingly bad at, and that's something I am going to have to work at. But I am going to try one last time in hopes that it might save me some face.
When I suggest it may be more useful to focus on the cause of the anger, I did not mean it so literally. Bad weather? Late breakfast? Trivial things to get angry about and I'm sure that's why you used them as an example.
What I wanted to express is..
Gosh, writing like this is really difficult. Do people normally put this much thought into every words? Tangent, I'm sorry. I've already started this over several times and I am running a little low on paper, and I'm desperate to finish this.
What I wanted to express is my desire for people to be honest with themselves and look /past/ the anger. Say, if late breakfast and bad weather 'pissed you off', it probably has nothing to do with the weather or the breakfast. It probably has nothing to do with you feeling angry - it might, but it might not.
Say, for instance.. A random married man finds that his wife has hidden many letters of questionable nature in a hidden compartment in their house. Nothing is direct enough to serve as undeniable evidence that she is cheating, but he suspects she might be. Suddenly, any turn in the weather seems like the end of the world and the late breakfast causes him to snap at the servant bringing it to him.
Again, he might /just/ be angry. Angry is a comfortable feeling for many, it can feel Just and it is relatively easy to manage (in my own opinion). But say, maybe it doesn't make him angry. Maybe it makes him sad.
He really trusted his wife, and if she was ever lacking in love and affection from him, he always hoped she would talk to him rather than look elsewhere for it. Maybe he is even ready to forgive her so long as she choses /on her own/ to open up to him about the reasons why she strayed. He loves her so dearly, after all.
If sadness is what is causing him to spiral and he never acknowledges this, his anger might turn volitile as no matter how much he meditates on it and uses other coping mechanism, it just.. continues to gnaw and gnaw and gnaw at him until there is very little else left.
Now, I admit that the event I attended was /not/ the place to even attempt to say this. Turning up was the result of an invitation in the spur of the moment and I did not have the time to find out what the proper etiquette would be. My bad. I am happy to admit that I am entirely at fault there.
And for all I know, people may very well have been doing exactly as I hoped in their own mind, even if they didn't utter a word about it. I sincerely hope that is the case.
(In a weird, roundabout way. Me standing up and speaking my mind is such a way was me coming to terms with some of my own anger and frustration as well. I just.. did not do it in the most socially acceptable way. I'll learn.)
Something I have come to realise that I am exceedingly bad at, and that's something I am going to have to work at. But I am going to try one last time in hopes that it might save me some face.
When I suggest it may be more useful to focus on the cause of the anger, I did not mean it so literally. Bad weather? Late breakfast? Trivial things to get angry about and I'm sure that's why you used them as an example.
What I wanted to express is..
Gosh, writing like this is really difficult. Do people normally put this much thought into every words? Tangent, I'm sorry. I've already started this over several times and I am running a little low on paper, and I'm desperate to finish this.
What I wanted to express is my desire for people to be honest with themselves and look /past/ the anger. Say, if late breakfast and bad weather 'pissed you off', it probably has nothing to do with the weather or the breakfast. It probably has nothing to do with you feeling angry - it might, but it might not.
Say, for instance.. A random married man finds that his wife has hidden many letters of questionable nature in a hidden compartment in their house. Nothing is direct enough to serve as undeniable evidence that she is cheating, but he suspects she might be. Suddenly, any turn in the weather seems like the end of the world and the late breakfast causes him to snap at the servant bringing it to him.
Again, he might /just/ be angry. Angry is a comfortable feeling for many, it can feel Just and it is relatively easy to manage (in my own opinion). But say, maybe it doesn't make him angry. Maybe it makes him sad.
He really trusted his wife, and if she was ever lacking in love and affection from him, he always hoped she would talk to him rather than look elsewhere for it. Maybe he is even ready to forgive her so long as she choses /on her own/ to open up to him about the reasons why she strayed. He loves her so dearly, after all.
If sadness is what is causing him to spiral and he never acknowledges this, his anger might turn volitile as no matter how much he meditates on it and uses other coping mechanism, it just.. continues to gnaw and gnaw and gnaw at him until there is very little else left.
Now, I admit that the event I attended was /not/ the place to even attempt to say this. Turning up was the result of an invitation in the spur of the moment and I did not have the time to find out what the proper etiquette would be. My bad. I am happy to admit that I am entirely at fault there.
And for all I know, people may very well have been doing exactly as I hoped in their own mind, even if they didn't utter a word about it. I sincerely hope that is the case.
(In a weird, roundabout way. Me standing up and speaking my mind is such a way was me coming to terms with some of my own anger and frustration as well. I just.. did not do it in the most socially acceptable way. I'll learn.)
Written By Arianna
Jan. 27, 2020, 3:05 p.m.(8.726155340608464/27.664699074074075/1012.643846278384 AR)
Relationship Note on Valdemar
Ah. Now the reason for that betrothal becomes more clear.
Written By Edward
Oct. 20, 2019, 11:26 a.m.(1/18/1012 AR)
Relationship Note on Valdemar
Loyalty given, loyalty rewarded, thank you Duke Grimhall. I do not regret the decision for the House. Our path will be better off.
Written By Edward
June 23, 2019, 10:37 a.m.(5/3/1011 AR)
Relationship Note on Valdemar
I have to offer my apologies to the Duke and House Grimhall, as this revelation publicly may impact my negotiating credibility in the endeavors House Grimhall is making with their more rambunctious traditionalists....
House Stormbreak has long shed its use of thralls and no noble of House Stormbreak has had a thrall serving them since the second year of inception after the House's founding and the establishment of Whitefrost. Well before any marriage contracts with the House were made.
I chose never to announce this information because something like this should not be considered an achievement or claimed for glory, fame or other public accolades. Unlike others, I am not driven to madness trying to appease the Compact's howling mob. That's a fool's errand.
House Stormbreak has long shed its use of thralls and no noble of House Stormbreak has had a thrall serving them since the second year of inception after the House's founding and the establishment of Whitefrost. Well before any marriage contracts with the House were made.
I chose never to announce this information because something like this should not be considered an achievement or claimed for glory, fame or other public accolades. Unlike others, I am not driven to madness trying to appease the Compact's howling mob. That's a fool's errand.
Written By Evaristo
June 22, 2019, 11:29 a.m.(5/1/1011 AR)
Relationship Note on Valdemar
A few months back, there was a Fernman killing people in the Lowers. I haven't heard of a Strawman but I'm pretty sure they too would be very dangerous.
In general, people that are also plants, probably bad business.
In general, people that are also plants, probably bad business.
Written By Edward
May 19, 2019, 6:32 p.m.(2/18/1011 AR)
Relationship Note on Valdemar
Working with the new Duke has been a great pleasure, I look forward to more opportunities to do so.
Written By Octavia
May 6, 2019, 12:23 a.m.(1/19/1011 AR)
Relationship Note on Valdemar
I think your father would be proud, if in a very grudging fashion. -_-
Written By Niklas
March 27, 2019, 9 a.m.(10/23/1010 AR)
Relationship Note on Valdemar
Your father was quite the traditionalist, so none of this is surprising.
I never did hear any complaints when he called on the Kennex fleet to assist where necessary and Admiral Renatta Kennex lead from her flagship, though.
I never did hear any complaints when he called on the Kennex fleet to assist where necessary and Admiral Renatta Kennex lead from her flagship, though.
Written By Silas
March 14, 2019, 7:38 p.m.(9/26/1010 AR)
Relationship Note on Valdemar
This isn’t the first radical change that has led to bloodshed, nor it will be the last. It is unfortunate that such a price will be paid, but those who may choose to rebel are responsible for that decision.
Not those who aren’t kind to those who still wish to lawfully abuse other people.
Not those who aren’t kind to those who still wish to lawfully abuse other people.
Written By Shard
March 14, 2019, 4:38 p.m.(9/26/1010 AR)
Relationship Note on Valdemar
There was already a price in blood being paid, it was just the blood of criminals, or people the Compact doesn't consider to be worth caring about. Entire lifetimes of blood drained slowly through the years, or cut off brutally on an owner's whim. Generations upon generations of it, for longer than I think anyone actually knows. There are people suffering and dying in the Mourning Isles right now. Given the choice between caring about them or caring about the people causing all that misery, the choice seems pretty obvious. I don't shed any tears for slavers who love slavery so much they'll turn against all the rest of us to keep it.
And I don't care about unity for the sake of unity. Too often unity is held up as a shield against ever changing anything for the better, including Thralldom. Unity for a purpose is better. Unity for a cause is powerful. Unity for the sake of letting people do terrible things is neither of those. I mentioned unity because you brought it up, and seemed to value it.
The people who are going to revolt over this are already people who think I am scum on their shoe. If not now, then they thought I was better off in chains for the vast majority of my life, along with every single man, woman, and child in my tribe. If you don't care about my opinion, I sure as hell don't see why they would.
And I don't care about unity for the sake of unity. Too often unity is held up as a shield against ever changing anything for the better, including Thralldom. Unity for a purpose is better. Unity for a cause is powerful. Unity for the sake of letting people do terrible things is neither of those. I mentioned unity because you brought it up, and seemed to value it.
The people who are going to revolt over this are already people who think I am scum on their shoe. If not now, then they thought I was better off in chains for the vast majority of my life, along with every single man, woman, and child in my tribe. If you don't care about my opinion, I sure as hell don't see why they would.
Written By Duarte
March 14, 2019, 8:03 a.m.(9/25/1010 AR)
Relationship Note on Valdemar
When I cheer for the promised end of thralldom I can assure you I am cheering for just that, and not cheering for the 'death of your people'.
You pretend as if an individual is incapable of changing their own mind, and they've no choice over what outmoded practices they will allow to drag them - willy-nilly - to the grave. As if the sweet aroma of thralldom was like a siren's song beckoning these houses to crash upon the rocks of modern times and fall as martyrs for the nostalgia of archaic constructs.
I'm afraid indentured servitude is no such drug. If people die trying to save the institution of thralldom, 'twas their pertinaciousness did them in - not my cheering.
You pretend as if an individual is incapable of changing their own mind, and they've no choice over what outmoded practices they will allow to drag them - willy-nilly - to the grave. As if the sweet aroma of thralldom was like a siren's song beckoning these houses to crash upon the rocks of modern times and fall as martyrs for the nostalgia of archaic constructs.
I'm afraid indentured servitude is no such drug. If people die trying to save the institution of thralldom, 'twas their pertinaciousness did them in - not my cheering.
Written By Archeron
March 14, 2019, 7:03 a.m.(9/25/1010 AR)
Relationship Note on Valdemar
It's interesting how different the young Duke is to what came before - his father and his grandfather both never had a problem with violence to achieve their ends, to find something better for Grimhall.
Written By Shard
March 14, 2019, 1:07 a.m.(9/25/1010 AR)
Relationship Note on Valdemar
Actually, I will answer a part of it:
If people break their oaths to their lieges and the Compact as a whole over this (and it will happen), it's because they value owning people over all the rest. And if they value owning people over the Compact, over House Thrax, and over all their other traditions, then they care far less about unity than you do.
If they want to die for it, then they have made their choice and I see no reason to downplay that decision by pretending that the Compact forced them to sacrifice their honor and their loyalty for the sake of holding on to a tradition that is slavery in everything but name, and if we were still playing by their rules the punishment for their rebellion would be execution or an effective lifetime in chains.
Traditions are not good simply because they are traditional. The Compact, Great House Thrax included, obviously understands this, because Abandoned with incompatible traditions are forced to either give them up or die.
If people break their oaths to their lieges and the Compact as a whole over this (and it will happen), it's because they value owning people over all the rest. And if they value owning people over the Compact, over House Thrax, and over all their other traditions, then they care far less about unity than you do.
If they want to die for it, then they have made their choice and I see no reason to downplay that decision by pretending that the Compact forced them to sacrifice their honor and their loyalty for the sake of holding on to a tradition that is slavery in everything but name, and if we were still playing by their rules the punishment for their rebellion would be execution or an effective lifetime in chains.
Traditions are not good simply because they are traditional. The Compact, Great House Thrax included, obviously understands this, because Abandoned with incompatible traditions are forced to either give them up or die.
Written By Shard
March 14, 2019, 12:49 a.m.(9/25/1010 AR)
Relationship Note on Valdemar
I'm pretty sure you wouldn't like my answer to those questions.
Please note that the scholars may take some time preparing your journal for others to read.