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Written By Adalyn

Feb. 22, 2021, 12:25 p.m.(12/27/1014 AR)

Relationship Note on Sunniva

True to her name, Sunni radiated warmth and light wherever she went, always with a kind word or a helping hand. She was gracious and giving, considerate of others' wants and needs, not because she felt such behavior was expected of her, but simply because that's who she was to the core. We were united by home and a shared upbringing, fast friends from the beginning. Her reason and calm formed the perfect counterbalance to my tendency to act on impulse. Looking back at our childhood, I realize now how sweetly she managed to soothe the chaos often left in my wake.

Sister to my soul, she said, and I feel the same.

Bravery is not simply rushing headlong into battle with a blade in your hand and a battle cry upon your lips. Sometimes, it is a subtler thing: a prayer, a hope, a determined stand. Marquessa Sunniva Harthall was truly brave.

She will be sorely missed.

Written By Adalyn

Jan. 29, 2021, 10:14 a.m.(11/4/1014 AR)

I've always found change to be exhilarating. Stepping into the unknown feels like embarking on an adventure.

Why, then, do I feel such trepidation about what is to come?

Written By Adalyn

Jan. 24, 2021, 8:36 p.m.(10/23/1014 AR)

Relationship Note on Vitalis

Tenacious, resilient, determined to persevere. I am pleased to walk this path beside him, no matter the obstacles that present themselves.

Written By Adalyn

Aug. 23, 2020, 10 p.m.(11/22/1013 AR)

The jousting tournament was absolutely exhilarating, just the change of pace I needed. It was a thrill to watch Lady Amari and Lady Jael face off, then to witness Lady Jael joust against my father. I thought Papa would burst with pride by the end of it. There were so many other exciting pairings to watch as well.

It was an absolute privilege and honor to compete among such incredibly skilled, fierce competitors in an event to honor Gloria.

Written By Adalyn

April 1, 2020, 7:25 p.m.(1/14/1013 AR)

Final day of watching little Lord Eadric Laurent: Earlier during his visit, I took Lord Eadric outside for target practice with blunted objects. Harmless. He thought it was great fun. How was I to know the idea would remain in his head and inspire him to throw silverware during dinner? I'm also in need of tips for getting paint out of things. (And by things, I do mean everything.)

The prospect of having children now seems a bit more daunting. Gods bless the Laurent nannies.

Written By Adalyn

March 30, 2020, 2:05 p.m.(1/9/1013 AR)

Day 3? 4? of watching the little Laurent heir (I've lost count): I thought proposing a hiding game was a genius idea on my part. It would require stillness and a few moments of blessed quiet. How was I to know this child is an expert hider? I tore the house apart looking for him in every hiding spot I could think of and when I finally announced that I gave up and called for him to come out, there was nothing. Stillness. No Eadric to be found. I nearly called the guards, thinking he must have wandered off, or worse, been abducted. I was sure of it! Just as I was growing frantic, he appeared from gods-know-where with a delighted giggle, triumphantly declaring that he had won. He refuses to tell me where he was hiding that whole time.

No more hiding games. Gods help me. Is the week over yet?

Duke Cristoph, Duchess Nicia, if you're reading this, it's fine. We're fine.

Written By Adalyn

March 28, 2020, 11:03 p.m.(1/6/1013 AR)

Day 1 of taking care of the little Laurent heir: Eadric is bright, inquisitive, lively. Full of boundless energy, but that's to be expected.

How hard can this be?

Written By Adalyn

March 16, 2020, 6:33 p.m.(12/10/1012 AR)

Relationship Note on Kedehern

Sometimes one makes a split-second decision that seems like a good idea at the time, and sometimes those decisions don't turn out quite as successfully as planned. What Papa doesn't know won't hurt him. (Unless he is perusing the Whites in which case Amari, Colette, and I ought to start practicing our most innocent faces. Luckily, I've years of practice.)

I know you don't enjoy being the level-headed one, Kedehern, but I'm so grateful you are.

Written By Adalyn

Nov. 4, 2019, 2:19 p.m.(2/20/1012 AR)

I am grateful to have had the opportunity to test my combat skills at two recent events: the Rite of Gloria and the Sip'n Spar. There is always more to learn and improve upon. Arx boasts many strong, capable fighters and it is an honor to fight among them.

The recent knife-throwing contest inspires me to hone those skills as well. Papa will not be pleased to find nicks in the walls. Perhaps it's best to let him discover them on his own?

Bless him, he puts up with so much from me.

Written By Adalyn

Feb. 3, 2019, 8:26 p.m.(7/4/1010 AR)

Papa does not seem to relish the prospect of having to drive swarms of hundreds of fully-grown basilisks from an area, even if all that's needed is a rooster. Happily for him, they don't exist. It's just bandits.

Written By Adalyn

March 21, 2018, 11:14 p.m.(5/26/1008 AR)

I feel like I should write an account of the monstrous creature taller than a building, whose flailing tentacles nearly knocked the life from me in a single blow. There I was, standing upon the wall at Setarco alongside the Valorous Few and others... Now, don't you give me that look, scribe. You don't believe me? I'm not making this up! I know, I was supposed to bring back an eyeball or something to show around, but there weren't any left! You want to see my scars from it? Look-

(Here the ink trails off the page, then continues in a different handwriting.)

All right, fine. Let's see if /you/ do any better, Scribe Number Two. Let me also say I was delighted to return to Arx, more or less in one piece, where my father Norwood also returned hale and whole, along with many others in the family and household, even though the calvary and others lost many. I was relieved to see Duke Cristoph return as well, considering the tales I heard. He looks perhaps a bit less hale at the moment, but better every day. Our house and family were lucky, and many others were not so.

And lastly, let me swear upon the whites that I haven't been the one dropping coppers on the floor throughout the Laurent manse. I mean, not this time, I wasn't.

Written By Adalyn

March 18, 2018, 9:44 a.m.(5/19/1008 AR)

On the eve of battle, I think about home, family, and those close enough to be family. We have all been sent to different battle fronts, and now we have to trust others to protect those we love the most. I hope it won't be long before we are all together again, sharing a drink near the fire and telling one another tales of our exploits.

Written By Adalyn

March 9, 2018, 10:43 a.m.(5/1/1008 AR)

Relationship Note on Norwood

Though many have no doubt put much thought and effort into writing wills, I would say that I don't have much to leave behind except my sword and armor, which presumably would be damaged beyond repair or lost on the field of battle in the event of my demise. But my dear father slipped a few coins into my pocket yesterday as we passed in the hallway, telling me to go buy something pretty. Perhaps I will buy a pretty, new knife.

Written By Adalyn

March 3, 2018, 9:13 a.m.(4/17/1008 AR)

My sleep has been plagued by nightmares since speaking with the would-be assassin of the Keaton Countess. I don't believe that you can summon a wish-granting demon by smearing ash and woman's blood over your face, but you probably think you can after you eat a bunch of crazy mushrooms. I admit that after the interrogation was over, I took the madman's book back to my room and locked it in a trunk, then spent a sleepless night imagining creatures and knives emerging from the darkness. But I believe the book is only a book, as much a work of fiction as those flowery romances, though its content makes for decidedly less pleasant bedtime reading.

Written By Adalyn

Feb. 21, 2018, 6:39 p.m.(3/25/1008 AR)

Relationship Note on Jaerith

Lord Jaerith Keaton is trouble.

But what amusing trouble to find oneself in!

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