Written By Aureth
Jan. 16, 2024, 11:05 a.m.(7/24/1021 AR)
Relationship Note on Fortunato
Whatever shape was needful, this one is what you needed to become.
The world is your canvas, little brother, and I'm proud of you.
The world is your canvas, little brother, and I'm proud of you.
Written By Aureth
Dec. 29, 2023, 7:43 p.m.(6/17/1021 AR)
The matter of the relationship between the Deathspeakers and the Harlequins has always been one that has troubled me before. I have no desire to diminish the judgment of Beloved Orazio or of Beloved Aldwin who came before me in this role, nor to alienate the conservative orthodoxy of the Oathlands by scattering shamanists willy nilly throughout the Discipleships of the Faith.
Yet the idea that a Deathspeaker may be a voice for Death should not come as a shock. It literally exists in the word "Deathspeaker," for one thing.
While I must say that the Faith of the Pantheon does not take direction on matters of theology from the Court of the Nox'Alfar, and I am in fact the Closest to the Gods, and it is my duty to speak for the Faith of the Pantheon -- I am persuaded that a Seraph of Death may tell us much on behalf of the Queen of Endings, and to refuse to hear him would simply be silly.
All this to say that it is the position of this Dominus that, while generally a faithly discipleship ought to remain as it is, without dilution of the message of the Faith of the Pantheon and the clarity of our previous posture - nevertheless, the nature of the role of the Deathspeaker to the shamanists and the role of Harlequin to us all is simply, and has always been, rather interconnected.
Therefore henceforth, the Deathspeakers are welcome to serve as Harlequins. This exception is limited to the Deathspeakers and Harlequins, and I remind the public generally about the commitment in hours of time that comes in volunteering your time for the Faith before anyone else starts complaining to me about this.
I have made my personal congratulations to Lady Volcica along with my certain prayer that she never run out of puns.
Yet the idea that a Deathspeaker may be a voice for Death should not come as a shock. It literally exists in the word "Deathspeaker," for one thing.
While I must say that the Faith of the Pantheon does not take direction on matters of theology from the Court of the Nox'Alfar, and I am in fact the Closest to the Gods, and it is my duty to speak for the Faith of the Pantheon -- I am persuaded that a Seraph of Death may tell us much on behalf of the Queen of Endings, and to refuse to hear him would simply be silly.
All this to say that it is the position of this Dominus that, while generally a faithly discipleship ought to remain as it is, without dilution of the message of the Faith of the Pantheon and the clarity of our previous posture - nevertheless, the nature of the role of the Deathspeaker to the shamanists and the role of Harlequin to us all is simply, and has always been, rather interconnected.
Therefore henceforth, the Deathspeakers are welcome to serve as Harlequins. This exception is limited to the Deathspeakers and Harlequins, and I remind the public generally about the commitment in hours of time that comes in volunteering your time for the Faith before anyone else starts complaining to me about this.
I have made my personal congratulations to Lady Volcica along with my certain prayer that she never run out of puns.
Written By Aureth
March 3, 2023, 1:07 p.m.(5/17/1019 AR)
As always, the Faith of the Pantheon continues to offer open doors to the community at large for those in need, in any weather, including the heartbreaking aftermath of these difficult storms. We commend those noble houses who are stepping up their devotion to Gild in times of need, though I feel no particular need to call the heralds to do so.
For myself and the Church, I will be performing dawn services at the Shrine to Mangata and at the Shrine of Petrichor in the evenings for the next few days and look forward. I hope that the faithful of Arx will join me for morning beer and evening bread.
For myself and the Church, I will be performing dawn services at the Shrine to Mangata and at the Shrine of Petrichor in the evenings for the next few days and look forward. I hope that the faithful of Arx will join me for morning beer and evening bread.
Written By Aureth
Oct. 21, 2022, 1:49 p.m.(8/9/1018 AR)
Relationship Note on Noah
Look at it this way: the more expectations change on you, the more assured you are that you shall never be boring and predictable.
Written By Aureth
Sept. 26, 2022, 1:55 p.m.(6/15/1018 AR)
Relationship Note on Porter
I consider Porter Kennex to be both a surprisingly driven subordinate and a personal friend. In him, the grace of Gild is as a balm to the spirit: industry, energy, charity, generosity.
He is a brother of the Faith and the Voice of Gild.
I strongly suggest that, if anyone was thinking of doing anything to him, they reconsider this course before they find that the righteous wroth of the Faith can freely accommodate more than one target.
He is a brother of the Faith and the Voice of Gild.
I strongly suggest that, if anyone was thinking of doing anything to him, they reconsider this course before they find that the righteous wroth of the Faith can freely accommodate more than one target.
Written By Aureth
July 8, 2022, 10:55 p.m.(12/21/1017 AR)
Tonight is the Longest Night: the most holy day of Lagoma's seasonal calendar and the eve of the Thirteen Days of Year's End. All over the Compact, the Faithful will pray in vigils together until the predawn light greets us for the Canticle of Dawn. We will kneel in the small parishes churches, the isolated shrines and Solace waystations across the reach of the world. We will stand in the Crownlands, in the Mourning Isles, in the Oathlands; we will sing paeans in the Lyceum and the Saffron. Our voices will not be the same, for the liturgy will be led by different voices in each place. The thanks we give to the gods will be different in each of our hearts and the change that we embrace will be different in all of our communities.
Tonight we will feast together and then pray long into the night. We will be joyous about what is to come and we will offer respect to what has gone before. We will remember what we learned of the year before, and we will look ahead to our hopes and dreams for the year to come.
Some of us will sing the old songs, the canticles of our childhoods. Some of us will sing the new paeans, the poetry of inspired bards that have penned something new, for Lagoma and for Jayus. And all of we Faithful will join hands in love, in remembrance, in hope. Because the year ends, and another year begins, as all things must end so that they may begin anew.
Pray to each of the gods with me. Feast with your loved ones. Share what plenty you have with your neighbor if your neighbor has less. Come to the shrine, drink of the hot tea and warm bread we offer on our doorstep. And stand vigil until the dawn as we say good night to the longest night of the year.
Tonight we will feast together and then pray long into the night. We will be joyous about what is to come and we will offer respect to what has gone before. We will remember what we learned of the year before, and we will look ahead to our hopes and dreams for the year to come.
Some of us will sing the old songs, the canticles of our childhoods. Some of us will sing the new paeans, the poetry of inspired bards that have penned something new, for Lagoma and for Jayus. And all of we Faithful will join hands in love, in remembrance, in hope. Because the year ends, and another year begins, as all things must end so that they may begin anew.
Pray to each of the gods with me. Feast with your loved ones. Share what plenty you have with your neighbor if your neighbor has less. Come to the shrine, drink of the hot tea and warm bread we offer on our doorstep. And stand vigil until the dawn as we say good night to the longest night of the year.
Written By Aureth
May 31, 2022, 11:59 a.m.(9/28/1017 AR)
Relationship Note on Reigna
I regret her loss and the fact that we never did get that dinner.
She is with the Queen now.
It's strange... one of my first thoughts is that one by one we lose the people in this city who remember Brother Tomwell as the bright
-hearted diplomatist he is.
She is with the Queen now.
It's strange... one of my first thoughts is that one by one we lose the people in this city who remember Brother Tomwell as the bright
-hearted diplomatist he is.
Written By Aureth
May 20, 2022, 5:55 p.m.(9/7/1017 AR)
Relationship Note on Preston
It's nice to see him smile, to see a hint of the rambunctious youth he must have been before I knew him. He's still young for all the weight of responsibility on him, for all the bright force majeure that he is, and for a child whose family has only been the Faith, I thought it would be good to share the beneficence with all the children whose family is only the Faith.
Happy birthday, Preston. Blessed are you in virtue and light.
Happy birthday, Preston. Blessed are you in virtue and light.
Written By Aureth
May 4, 2022, 4:28 p.m.(8/2/1017 AR)
For the last eight years or so, I have intermittently in my musings and wanderings through the Great Archive come across a white journal that included references from a scholar who thought they were funny by recording writings from dictation in the Whites that were clearly not intended to be included, i.e., "Why are you writing down whatever I am saying," "please stop," et cetera, et cetera. It did not cross my desk in any formal way and frankly I had much larger fish to fillet, and in fact, still do so, but this person had the misfortune today to be doing so with a young lady while I happened to be walking by. It turns out, the joke was ultimately not on her, or me.
I am happy to report that the scholar in question will no longer be including any "funny business" in the Whites, as they have been summarily fired from their honorable post for disrespect to Vellichor's holy archive and the duty we expect of the Faithful.
I shall be directing the Archlector of Petrichor to find them a post in the heart of the Oathlands, where the local laypersons will surely do me the honor of instructing this priest in the seriousness of his oaths and the importance of recorded history in the annals of the Faith.
Should anyone still working in the archives decide it would be cute to copy this behavior, I am certain that, with this entry in the Whites -- Archscholar Oswyn will ensure that the scholars are warned that I don't think it's cute.
No, of course you can still write down plainly rhetorical devices from people entering their Whites. If anyone is genuinely confused about the behavior to which I refer, I invite you to soak your head in a cold bucket before you come and ask me about it. It will do us both a world of good.
I am happy to report that the scholar in question will no longer be including any "funny business" in the Whites, as they have been summarily fired from their honorable post for disrespect to Vellichor's holy archive and the duty we expect of the Faithful.
I shall be directing the Archlector of Petrichor to find them a post in the heart of the Oathlands, where the local laypersons will surely do me the honor of instructing this priest in the seriousness of his oaths and the importance of recorded history in the annals of the Faith.
Should anyone still working in the archives decide it would be cute to copy this behavior, I am certain that, with this entry in the Whites -- Archscholar Oswyn will ensure that the scholars are warned that I don't think it's cute.
No, of course you can still write down plainly rhetorical devices from people entering their Whites. If anyone is genuinely confused about the behavior to which I refer, I invite you to soak your head in a cold bucket before you come and ask me about it. It will do us both a world of good.
Written By Aureth
April 24, 2022, 3:55 p.m.(7/10/1017 AR)
I am very pleased by the results of the festival of fragrance today. The turnout was excellent and people seemed very inclined to enjoy the day. The votes were tallied and the white team's malty, foamy ale with its bitter bite was the crowd favorite. I hope the parishioners of the Sanctum congregation enjoy it at their harvest festival this year.
While there were several beautiful fragrances, I am pleased to announce that the winner is a new anointing oil for the Dreamer, composed as a set of notes blended from all the Pantheon by Marquis Fairen Leary. The Faith made a gift to him of our jade stone, which I believe he intends to put to the science.
Mangata blessed us with a sunny day and we returned her a laughing festival. Praises be for all under the brilliant sky and may all your days carry the sweetness of running water with them.
While there were several beautiful fragrances, I am pleased to announce that the winner is a new anointing oil for the Dreamer, composed as a set of notes blended from all the Pantheon by Marquis Fairen Leary. The Faith made a gift to him of our jade stone, which I believe he intends to put to the science.
Mangata blessed us with a sunny day and we returned her a laughing festival. Praises be for all under the brilliant sky and may all your days carry the sweetness of running water with them.
Written By Aureth
Feb. 7, 2022, 5:40 p.m.(1/27/1017 AR)
I am available as a model for hair ornaments for worthy causes or donations to Faith projects, of course.
Written By Aureth
Nov. 30, 2021, 4:01 a.m.(8/28/1016 AR)
Surcease, for a moment, from foolishness. It is a relief as potent as cold water on a hot day.
Of course, then unfathomable nonsense reasserts itself, redoubled, but I'll treasure the moment anyhow.
Of course, then unfathomable nonsense reasserts itself, redoubled, but I'll treasure the moment anyhow.
Written By Aureth
Nov. 28, 2021, 8:46 p.m.(8/25/1016 AR)
Legate Cassandra suggested to me in a recent letter that the Faith ought to publicly set forth a lecture series or some writings, some liturgical reminders of the duty one owes one's sworn Liege and the head of one's family. At the time, it was my belief that no one could possibly be stupid enough as to believe that what the person who as of the instant writing is known as Valencia Velenosa is doing in public is remotely appropriate.
As this person continues to blatantly defy and condemn their liege in the bizarre expectation that they are somehow in the right, I must publicly admit that my faith was misguided. Someone, somewhere, does not realize how appalling a breach this is. Cassandra was right.
If by the unfathomable mercy of the Archduchess the person known as Valencia Velenosa retains the noble title which she now publicly degrades, this should never and be any account be taken as license by any to treat their oathsworn family the way this entitled upstart is doing.
The Faith offers our support to the House of Velenosa in this trying time of being beset by public foolishness and I offer my personal and public apology to Legate Cassandra Laurent for my earlier position on the matter.
As this person continues to blatantly defy and condemn their liege in the bizarre expectation that they are somehow in the right, I must publicly admit that my faith was misguided. Someone, somewhere, does not realize how appalling a breach this is. Cassandra was right.
If by the unfathomable mercy of the Archduchess the person known as Valencia Velenosa retains the noble title which she now publicly degrades, this should never and be any account be taken as license by any to treat their oathsworn family the way this entitled upstart is doing.
The Faith offers our support to the House of Velenosa in this trying time of being beset by public foolishness and I offer my personal and public apology to Legate Cassandra Laurent for my earlier position on the matter.
Written By Aureth
Nov. 19, 2021, 2:22 p.m.(8/6/1016 AR)
Relationship Note on Jaenelle
Please ask the Archduchess if she has tried guaranteeing to the clientele at the Black Fox that the meat in the soup isn't lizard, I always found that worked a treat.
Written By Aureth
Nov. 18, 2021, 1:25 p.m.(8/4/1016 AR)
Many years ago, when I ran the Murder, I had a drinks menu item that was a mystery drink, which was basically a pour from any random bottle that we had that I couldn't read the label of or that the label had been removed. I'm glad to see that high society is finally catching up with the Grayhopes.
Written By Aureth
Nov. 17, 2021, 10:27 p.m.(8/3/1016 AR)
Lady Sylvie Zaffria, once the Duchess Whisper, has returned to the city of Arx after a storied disappearance ten years or so ago, and I find that the lady is resplendent as the last day I saw her. I believe the last time I saw her, before she vanished, she consulted with me about the design of a building I was devoted to developing at the time: the Shrine to the Queen of Endings, which now stands in the Sanctum of the Lost, and any grace in its design I credit to her art and inspiration, whereas anything you don't like about it is probably my fault.
Unless you just can't stand the spiders, but there's really no helping that.
Unless you just can't stand the spiders, but there's really no helping that.
Written By Aureth
Nov. 11, 2021, 1:06 a.m.(7/17/1016 AR)
All things end, and each ending becomes a new beginning.
The Shrine of Lagoma may fall, consumed in vine, or flame, or arrogance, or whatever else you might name. But a shrine is a building. A building we protect, a holy building, consecrated and protected, embraced by holy ritual, Sanctuary and sanctum.
But Lagoma is an idea. She cannot be defeated by taking down a building. It is ludicrous to imagine you can defeat Lagoma by doing property damage.
It is easy to become discouraged, to feel hope shrink, to know the touch of despair upon your heart and to feel overwhelmed by the threats in the world. It seems a darker place now than it did when we were children.
But it is not. It's just that we are no longer children. We see it with new eyes and in clearer light.
If your heart sinks to see that the Shrine of Lagoma as you knew it is gone, think of what bright new change tomorrow will bring, and be glad.
The Shrine of Lagoma may fall, consumed in vine, or flame, or arrogance, or whatever else you might name. But a shrine is a building. A building we protect, a holy building, consecrated and protected, embraced by holy ritual, Sanctuary and sanctum.
But Lagoma is an idea. She cannot be defeated by taking down a building. It is ludicrous to imagine you can defeat Lagoma by doing property damage.
It is easy to become discouraged, to feel hope shrink, to know the touch of despair upon your heart and to feel overwhelmed by the threats in the world. It seems a darker place now than it did when we were children.
But it is not. It's just that we are no longer children. We see it with new eyes and in clearer light.
If your heart sinks to see that the Shrine of Lagoma as you knew it is gone, think of what bright new change tomorrow will bring, and be glad.
Written By Aureth
Sept. 12, 2021, 5:41 p.m.(3/11/1016 AR)
It is interesting that there are Houses who appear to believe that voluntarily pledging their word to not be idiotic they might be giving up their autonomy in some way.
Why don't you simply choose not to be a fool of your own will, without concern as to whose idea it was that you not be a fool?
Why don't you simply choose not to be a fool of your own will, without concern as to whose idea it was that you not be a fool?
Written By Aureth
July 21, 2021, 2:36 p.m.(11/17/1015 AR)
I have noticed a recent trend of flowers of the nobility seeking, not proteges, but patrons, to better elevate them in society. I find myself remarkably skeptical of this practice. If you are already among the flowers of the nobility, use the cachet that you have and draw attention to yourself throughout the social season with balls and masques. Society knows about you and your blood. You just have to put yourself out there.
No, it is to elevate those rare commoners who can set society on its ear that etiquette demands we patronize. My protege, Mayir, has demonstrated his social acumen and his financial cleverness in ways uncommon among people of any blood, and I'm proud to flaunt our social connection even from my rarefied social heights.
It's not that you _cannot_ choose to make those of lesser noble blood your protege, of course, you can, but you aren't really bringing anything exciting to high society when you do, are you?
Be bold. Be daring. Find someone new and interesting!
No, it is to elevate those rare commoners who can set society on its ear that etiquette demands we patronize. My protege, Mayir, has demonstrated his social acumen and his financial cleverness in ways uncommon among people of any blood, and I'm proud to flaunt our social connection even from my rarefied social heights.
It's not that you _cannot_ choose to make those of lesser noble blood your protege, of course, you can, but you aren't really bringing anything exciting to high society when you do, are you?
Be bold. Be daring. Find someone new and interesting!
Written By Aureth
July 1, 2021, 6:03 p.m.(10/5/1015 AR)
There are several critical components to a fashionable look.
The first, of course, is wearing clothes that fit you. Not clothes that fit you twenty pounds ago, not clothes that would fit you if you were four inches taller. No sartorial masterpiece will do you the least good if it was made for someone half your height and girth. A large woman in a fitted suit is imposing; a large woman who has squeezed herself into last year's trousers fools no one, least of all herself. Likewise, a man wearing a gown designed for someone with stronger curves looks like he's trying too hard, but the sweep of skirts tailored for his own hips will look classy and correct.
The first thing my mother would do when she took on a new client would be to take their measure. You met with Myrinda or she wouldn't sew for you, and you took her advice about what would suit you or you took her advice about the location of the door. I believe this is an attitude that more artists should take. It chokes the creative spirit to try and force it to please the purse of someone else. When an artist works, it is with the touch of divine Inspiration on their hands, and this should absolutely be recalled by artist and customer alike.
The next component, of course, is that your clothing is a message. Any clothing creates an impression, even if the impression it creates is unintentional. Sometimes the impression is only, "This is what I could afford," and that is an impression without shame. But if you choose a color, it will send a message; a fabric, another. When artisans and scientists come together to put passion behind a new material, they do so for the lure of the unknown and the joy of creation and the sensational feeling of being the latest, newest thing; but also they do so because the message they wish to send is incomplete with the tools they have at hand.
What is the message of wearing starlight? Of impractically thin leather with a pleasing scent?
I imagine the tales my mother could have woven in these threads, and it's bittersweet.
But the final component of a fashionable ensemble is very simple, and that is the confidence to define your compartment rather than letting it define you. When the canvas and the artist are mutually agreed of purpose, that is when the true effects of style bear fruit.
Anyway, all this to say, if anyone has an inspired idea for how to gown a middle-aged blond in starlight, I am open to persuasion on the subject. After all, I'll be 47 next month. It wouldn't do to age beyond the times.
The first, of course, is wearing clothes that fit you. Not clothes that fit you twenty pounds ago, not clothes that would fit you if you were four inches taller. No sartorial masterpiece will do you the least good if it was made for someone half your height and girth. A large woman in a fitted suit is imposing; a large woman who has squeezed herself into last year's trousers fools no one, least of all herself. Likewise, a man wearing a gown designed for someone with stronger curves looks like he's trying too hard, but the sweep of skirts tailored for his own hips will look classy and correct.
The first thing my mother would do when she took on a new client would be to take their measure. You met with Myrinda or she wouldn't sew for you, and you took her advice about what would suit you or you took her advice about the location of the door. I believe this is an attitude that more artists should take. It chokes the creative spirit to try and force it to please the purse of someone else. When an artist works, it is with the touch of divine Inspiration on their hands, and this should absolutely be recalled by artist and customer alike.
The next component, of course, is that your clothing is a message. Any clothing creates an impression, even if the impression it creates is unintentional. Sometimes the impression is only, "This is what I could afford," and that is an impression without shame. But if you choose a color, it will send a message; a fabric, another. When artisans and scientists come together to put passion behind a new material, they do so for the lure of the unknown and the joy of creation and the sensational feeling of being the latest, newest thing; but also they do so because the message they wish to send is incomplete with the tools they have at hand.
What is the message of wearing starlight? Of impractically thin leather with a pleasing scent?
I imagine the tales my mother could have woven in these threads, and it's bittersweet.
But the final component of a fashionable ensemble is very simple, and that is the confidence to define your compartment rather than letting it define you. When the canvas and the artist are mutually agreed of purpose, that is when the true effects of style bear fruit.
Anyway, all this to say, if anyone has an inspired idea for how to gown a middle-aged blond in starlight, I am open to persuasion on the subject. After all, I'll be 47 next month. It wouldn't do to age beyond the times.
Please note that the scholars may take some time preparing your journal for others to read.