Written By Ford
July 7, 2018, 1:45 a.m.(2/23/1009 AR)
Our family dinners are better than your family dinners.
This is a fact. Stone cold fact.
This is a fact. Stone cold fact.
Written By Ford
May 7, 2018, 4:45 p.m.(9/13/1008 AR)
It's one thing to voice your opinion on a public matter.
It's one thing to get nasty about it.
But it's well and truly another matter entirely to drag someone not even involved into your mudslinging.
Leave my fucking son out of it.
It's one thing to get nasty about it.
But it's well and truly another matter entirely to drag someone not even involved into your mudslinging.
Leave my fucking son out of it.
Written By Ford
Feb. 9, 2018, 4:48 p.m.(2/23/1008 AR)
Relationship Note on Orazio
My mistake, Legate. I was under the impression the man was of the Scholars. My fault for assuming.
I appreciate the correction, and I appreciate you.
I appreciate the correction, and I appreciate you.
Written By Ford
Feb. 9, 2018, 4:20 p.m.(2/23/1008 AR)
We've all had some good times here in Arx, some goofs, some boofs, some laughs, and gaffs. Alternatively we've also had some hard times, some trying times, and some times where it seemed that we as a people were utterly doomed. We're among one of those times.
People are scared, they're worried. Rightfully so, we're on War's doorstep.
So one can imagine that the last thing the people of Arx need during these days of stormy seas, is an outrageous wall of text that was presented as an expose, but instead merely came across as a wildly out of touch hit piece on one of the more beloved residents of our fine city. That doesn't do anything to boost morale, it's not lifting the spirits of thousands upon thousands of citizens who are terrified.
And just to burn down the house you got kicked out of. Out of spite.
I already feel foolish wasting parchment speaking on this, but I was compelled. The last thing people who are in even the remotest position of power or authority should be doing is undermining the confidences the common man or woman have in the people that make decisions that affect their lives and livelihoods. After all, where would we be without them? The lone kings of our very own hill.
The beautiful people of Arx(And they are all beautiful. Especially you, Vanora.) deserve better than to be scared further by a last minute attempt at credibility by spouting any conspiracy you've ever heard.
Anyway, enjoy the rest of your day, Scholar.
People are scared, they're worried. Rightfully so, we're on War's doorstep.
So one can imagine that the last thing the people of Arx need during these days of stormy seas, is an outrageous wall of text that was presented as an expose, but instead merely came across as a wildly out of touch hit piece on one of the more beloved residents of our fine city. That doesn't do anything to boost morale, it's not lifting the spirits of thousands upon thousands of citizens who are terrified.
And just to burn down the house you got kicked out of. Out of spite.
I already feel foolish wasting parchment speaking on this, but I was compelled. The last thing people who are in even the remotest position of power or authority should be doing is undermining the confidences the common man or woman have in the people that make decisions that affect their lives and livelihoods. After all, where would we be without them? The lone kings of our very own hill.
The beautiful people of Arx(And they are all beautiful. Especially you, Vanora.) deserve better than to be scared further by a last minute attempt at credibility by spouting any conspiracy you've ever heard.
Anyway, enjoy the rest of your day, Scholar.
Written By Ford
Oct. 28, 2017, 6:06 p.m.(6/24/1007 AR)
My my my.
I often wonder if the vast majority realizes what White Journals are for. As I learned in my school years, the Whites are for documenting an individuals story after our entire history simply vanished. An attempt to keep that from happening again by literally writing everything down. Which means, every White is history, we're all writing history that generations from now our great great great great grandwhatevers will read and get a sense of what their ancestors were like.
With that in mind. Would you like your great great great great grandwhatevers to know that you were a petty asshole with nothing better to do than attack people that have nothing to do with your business in the slightest?
I thought not.
I often wonder if the vast majority realizes what White Journals are for. As I learned in my school years, the Whites are for documenting an individuals story after our entire history simply vanished. An attempt to keep that from happening again by literally writing everything down. Which means, every White is history, we're all writing history that generations from now our great great great great grandwhatevers will read and get a sense of what their ancestors were like.
With that in mind. Would you like your great great great great grandwhatevers to know that you were a petty asshole with nothing better to do than attack people that have nothing to do with your business in the slightest?
I thought not.
Written By Ford
Oct. 24, 2017, 6:03 p.m.(6/16/1007 AR)
Personal Thought.
Inspirational saying, quote, or anecdote.
Pithy and petty jab at someone not able to immediately defend themselves.
There, scholar, I've done my duty. Now may I get back to work?
Inspirational saying, quote, or anecdote.
Pithy and petty jab at someone not able to immediately defend themselves.
There, scholar, I've done my duty. Now may I get back to work?
Written By Ford
Sept. 21, 2017, 2:31 p.m.(4/4/1007 AR)
This morning a friend of mine directed me towards the Journal entry that referred to me as Lord Ian's Voice.
Thank you.
I haven't laughed that hard in months.
Thank you.
I haven't laughed that hard in months.
Written By Ford
Aug. 29, 2017, 4:28 p.m.(2/11/1007 AR)
There was a story my father would tell me through letters when I was growing up. He would tell it to me when I was angry or upset with things not going my way.
The story was about a Kennex, many generations ago. He was a slightly distant cousin of the Marquis at the time, Raund. He fancied himself the greatest sailor, no one knew more about ships than him, of the opinion that he had the best control of his men, his rowers, his sails. Others often told him that that wasn't possible, one could not be the master of his sails. His sails were at the mercy of the winds, his ship was at the mercy of the sea. However, he thought this preposterous.
To prove just how correct he was, Raund took his best ship out, claiming he was going to sail out to Tssau Island which was two days sail from Stormward. He challenged another sailor to race him. Begrudgingly the challenged accepted.
When the race began, the challenged simply unfurled his sails and allowed the wind to carry his ship, there wasn't much wind that day. Raund, relied on his rowers, the best rowers to ever crank the oar. He was quick to take a massive lead, pushing ahead with ease. However, as the hours stretched on, the man allowing the winds to carry him, was gaining on Raund.
Raund was outraged, he cracked his whip, demanded his men rowed harder, faster, but the rowers were getting tired. Raund's ship could gain distance, gain speed, but still the sails would push his opponent further. Soon, Raund continued to push his men harder, panicking that he could be beaten after all his boasting. His opponent was now well ahead of him, the easy winds carrying him at almost a walking pace. Raund did not let up, the whip cracked harder, the barking grew harsher. Raund pushed his men so hard they died sitting with the oars in their hands. Needless to say, Raund did not win that race, in fact, he was never seen again.
My father enjoyed this story, while most think this story's moral is to not push your men past reasonable limits, he felt that it was a cautionary tale of attempting to force things in one's favor.
Raund tried to force the sea, and his men to carry him to victory. His opponent simply allowed the wind to take him at it's own pace. The man who believed the wind and sea knew what it wanted ended up winning the race.
You will never be able to force the wind and sea to your whim. She won't allow it out of spite.
I thought this story held some relevance lately.
The story was about a Kennex, many generations ago. He was a slightly distant cousin of the Marquis at the time, Raund. He fancied himself the greatest sailor, no one knew more about ships than him, of the opinion that he had the best control of his men, his rowers, his sails. Others often told him that that wasn't possible, one could not be the master of his sails. His sails were at the mercy of the winds, his ship was at the mercy of the sea. However, he thought this preposterous.
To prove just how correct he was, Raund took his best ship out, claiming he was going to sail out to Tssau Island which was two days sail from Stormward. He challenged another sailor to race him. Begrudgingly the challenged accepted.
When the race began, the challenged simply unfurled his sails and allowed the wind to carry his ship, there wasn't much wind that day. Raund, relied on his rowers, the best rowers to ever crank the oar. He was quick to take a massive lead, pushing ahead with ease. However, as the hours stretched on, the man allowing the winds to carry him, was gaining on Raund.
Raund was outraged, he cracked his whip, demanded his men rowed harder, faster, but the rowers were getting tired. Raund's ship could gain distance, gain speed, but still the sails would push his opponent further. Soon, Raund continued to push his men harder, panicking that he could be beaten after all his boasting. His opponent was now well ahead of him, the easy winds carrying him at almost a walking pace. Raund did not let up, the whip cracked harder, the barking grew harsher. Raund pushed his men so hard they died sitting with the oars in their hands. Needless to say, Raund did not win that race, in fact, he was never seen again.
My father enjoyed this story, while most think this story's moral is to not push your men past reasonable limits, he felt that it was a cautionary tale of attempting to force things in one's favor.
Raund tried to force the sea, and his men to carry him to victory. His opponent simply allowed the wind to take him at it's own pace. The man who believed the wind and sea knew what it wanted ended up winning the race.
You will never be able to force the wind and sea to your whim. She won't allow it out of spite.
I thought this story held some relevance lately.
Written By Ford
Aug. 18, 2017, 1:10 a.m.(1/16/1007 AR)
A common misconception of Islanders, members of the Thraxian fealty, is that if we have our ships and our sails taken away, that we're nothing. Simply angry people with a drinking problem and a penchant for salt. Those who do know myself, my family, those of all Thrax, know this to be as far from the truth as it can be.
Someone or something tried to take our sails away today. Unfortunately many men and women I knew personally died because of it. Sure, I can harangue and bombast until the sun comes up, but I won't. I don't have to. I don't need to.
I know, that my fealty doesn't need their ships to remain strong after a heavy blow. I know that we can accomplish a great deal without the winds filling our sails. And I know that our ships aren't the only thing that Thrax people have in common.
Take our ships.
Take our sails.
Good luck trying to take the salt from our veins.
Someone or something tried to take our sails away today. Unfortunately many men and women I knew personally died because of it. Sure, I can harangue and bombast until the sun comes up, but I won't. I don't have to. I don't need to.
I know, that my fealty doesn't need their ships to remain strong after a heavy blow. I know that we can accomplish a great deal without the winds filling our sails. And I know that our ships aren't the only thing that Thrax people have in common.
Take our ships.
Take our sails.
Good luck trying to take the salt from our veins.
Written By Ford
July 9, 2017, 3:22 a.m.(10/20/1006 AR)
It's been some time since I've written a journal scholar. Forgive me.
A lot has happened since my last journal, a great deal. Family has come to the city, family has left the city. But most importantly, things that I never would have considered..
Okay, let me specify, I don't really see myself as the type to be desired for marriage. There have been a few who have proposed such notion and even someone I pursued personally for a marriage. Those who sought me out.. I got the impression they weren't interested in me, only in the position I held and the position they would attain once that ring was placed on their finger. Not all, mind, but many.
The one I wanted, was unattainable, she was out of my reach. Do I still want her? Yes, without a doubt. Is it realistic or feasible? No.. it isn't. It hurts my heart to admit as such, but I cannot have the one that I want.
That being said, scholar, the one who.. through pure circumstance and chance, may be the right one for me. She is smart. She is clever. She is beautiful. And most important of all? She's unafraid of the responsibilities therein of the position of Marquessa. I'm excited by the prospect. I barely know her, but I want, I crave to know more. But I am not afraid to admit, that I'm terrified. I'm scared by the notion of marrying and spending the rest of my life with someone I don't know as well as I should. That won't stop me, however, from doing my utmost from learning as much as I can from and about this woman. She is as much intriguing and unknown to me as can be.
Is it possible to be both excited and scared to death in the same breath? If it is, that is what I'm feeling. But I'm optimistic.
Anyway, stop looking over my shoulder, scholar, you're making me nervous.
A lot has happened since my last journal, a great deal. Family has come to the city, family has left the city. But most importantly, things that I never would have considered..
Okay, let me specify, I don't really see myself as the type to be desired for marriage. There have been a few who have proposed such notion and even someone I pursued personally for a marriage. Those who sought me out.. I got the impression they weren't interested in me, only in the position I held and the position they would attain once that ring was placed on their finger. Not all, mind, but many.
The one I wanted, was unattainable, she was out of my reach. Do I still want her? Yes, without a doubt. Is it realistic or feasible? No.. it isn't. It hurts my heart to admit as such, but I cannot have the one that I want.
That being said, scholar, the one who.. through pure circumstance and chance, may be the right one for me. She is smart. She is clever. She is beautiful. And most important of all? She's unafraid of the responsibilities therein of the position of Marquessa. I'm excited by the prospect. I barely know her, but I want, I crave to know more. But I am not afraid to admit, that I'm terrified. I'm scared by the notion of marrying and spending the rest of my life with someone I don't know as well as I should. That won't stop me, however, from doing my utmost from learning as much as I can from and about this woman. She is as much intriguing and unknown to me as can be.
Is it possible to be both excited and scared to death in the same breath? If it is, that is what I'm feeling. But I'm optimistic.
Anyway, stop looking over my shoulder, scholar, you're making me nervous.
Written By Ford
June 11, 2017, 3:02 p.m.(8/19/1006 AR)
I met with a merchant the otherday, one who ships out of Stormward. He was in my office over a claim of piracy. He claimed pirates stole his goods.
For those of you that are not aware, based on the principles established by Admiral Marquis Johann Kennex, the man granted Stormward March after securing the land for Thrax. One of his founding pillars was that piracy would be punished by death. As his crowning achievement was ridding the Stormward isles of Pirates.
This merchant brought me tales of pirates, in my waters, pillaging and raiding his vessel. I take piracy seriously, as did my father, and his father. All Kennex leadership, if we stand for anything, it's crushing piracy under our boot. The problem with the merchant's story, was that all the items taken from his ship, were sold to various merchants and vendors in Stormward proper, in the Galleon District. While that wouldn't be uncommon, brazen and bold, to pedal stolen goods in a city where the penalty for such is death, what was uncommon was the man selling them.
Our merchant's brother.
My initial thought was this was a scam, a racket, this merchant was running to make some cash on the side while the Corsairs and Navy chased our own tails in search for pirates that didn't exist. Yet, with little prodding, the merchant admitted to me that his brother was in fact that pirate that raided his ships. Despite my clarification that he would be sentencing his own blood to death, the merchant simply said that there was a time when he wished to be Godsworn, to personally serve Sentinel.
He also said that despite it being his brother, Justice must be achieved. His brother committed a crime knowing the penalty, and in Sentinel's eyes, the punishment was due.
This interaction stuck with me for the rest of the day, even into today. Such devotion to the Gods, even above family.
I don't know if I could have that strength.
For those of you that are not aware, based on the principles established by Admiral Marquis Johann Kennex, the man granted Stormward March after securing the land for Thrax. One of his founding pillars was that piracy would be punished by death. As his crowning achievement was ridding the Stormward isles of Pirates.
This merchant brought me tales of pirates, in my waters, pillaging and raiding his vessel. I take piracy seriously, as did my father, and his father. All Kennex leadership, if we stand for anything, it's crushing piracy under our boot. The problem with the merchant's story, was that all the items taken from his ship, were sold to various merchants and vendors in Stormward proper, in the Galleon District. While that wouldn't be uncommon, brazen and bold, to pedal stolen goods in a city where the penalty for such is death, what was uncommon was the man selling them.
Our merchant's brother.
My initial thought was this was a scam, a racket, this merchant was running to make some cash on the side while the Corsairs and Navy chased our own tails in search for pirates that didn't exist. Yet, with little prodding, the merchant admitted to me that his brother was in fact that pirate that raided his ships. Despite my clarification that he would be sentencing his own blood to death, the merchant simply said that there was a time when he wished to be Godsworn, to personally serve Sentinel.
He also said that despite it being his brother, Justice must be achieved. His brother committed a crime knowing the penalty, and in Sentinel's eyes, the punishment was due.
This interaction stuck with me for the rest of the day, even into today. Such devotion to the Gods, even above family.
I don't know if I could have that strength.
Written By Ford
June 8, 2017, 7:53 p.m.(8/13/1006 AR)
What a waste of ivory.
Burns well enough though.
Burns well enough though.
Written By Ford
June 4, 2017, 1:45 a.m.(8/3/1006 AR)
May the winds of change be ever at your backs.
Written By Ford
June 2, 2017, 4:42 a.m.(7/27/1006 AR)
The money that you think you're owed?
It doesn't exist. It never existed.
You were cheated, you were swindled. Just like the rest of us. And if that sum you were given is too paltry? Then donate it to someone who does need it.
Unfortunately this is the cost of doing business with corrupt business men. You do not see your fair shake. None of us will. We are all at fault for allowing this to happen, to let it go unchecked.
It doesn't exist. It never existed.
You were cheated, you were swindled. Just like the rest of us. And if that sum you were given is too paltry? Then donate it to someone who does need it.
Unfortunately this is the cost of doing business with corrupt business men. You do not see your fair shake. None of us will. We are all at fault for allowing this to happen, to let it go unchecked.
Written By Ford
June 1, 2017, 5:42 p.m.(7/26/1006 AR)
What is trust worth? If it can be shaken at the slightest provocation.
Perhaps it's one of those words that, as humanity, we have tacked on a meaning to something that in truth, does not.
No, that can't be true, I have plenty of trust. I trust that Mangata will fill my sails when I need her the most. I trust that Sentinel will see justice done. I trust that the Gods have our best interests at heart.
The people that they shepherd? Not so much.
Perhaps it's one of those words that, as humanity, we have tacked on a meaning to something that in truth, does not.
No, that can't be true, I have plenty of trust. I trust that Mangata will fill my sails when I need her the most. I trust that Sentinel will see justice done. I trust that the Gods have our best interests at heart.
The people that they shepherd? Not so much.
Written By Ford
May 28, 2017, 6:55 p.m.(7/18/1006 AR)
I think I need a sabbatical. A couple weeks in Stormward this time of year would do me good. And the ability to wake up and not see Arx for once would be a delight.
Written By Ford
May 23, 2017, 9:41 p.m.(7/8/1006 AR)
Deep breaths, Ford, deep breaths.
Don't break anything.
Don't lose your cool.
Keep your head on.
Don't break anything.
Don't lose your cool.
Keep your head on.
Written By Ford
May 22, 2017, 10:29 p.m.(7/6/1006 AR)
Hey boys and girls, just your friendly neighborhood Ford Kennex here.
If you're absolutely positive that you -must- do drugs in order to survive a party? A lovely party mind you.
Go elsewhere to get your fix and come back.
Don't sneak off, have your little sniffter, and be generally fucking suspicious in someone else's house.
It's rude. It's disrespectful. And above all? It's skeezy.
Moral of the story? Be skeezy in your own house.
If you're absolutely positive that you -must- do drugs in order to survive a party? A lovely party mind you.
Go elsewhere to get your fix and come back.
Don't sneak off, have your little sniffter, and be generally fucking suspicious in someone else's house.
It's rude. It's disrespectful. And above all? It's skeezy.
Moral of the story? Be skeezy in your own house.
Written By Ford
May 21, 2017, 8:43 p.m.(7/4/1006 AR)
When engaging in a three way fight, take caution to watch the opponent who appears to be hanging back...
Because she'll come out of nowhere and make all your hard fought work for nothing, and then trounce you.
That's right, the betrayal was immense. The defeat was shameful. I will have my just desserts, Kima Saik. Mark me.
Because she'll come out of nowhere and make all your hard fought work for nothing, and then trounce you.
That's right, the betrayal was immense. The defeat was shameful. I will have my just desserts, Kima Saik. Mark me.
Written By Ford
May 21, 2017, 3:45 p.m.(7/3/1006 AR)
I'm starting to think that my missives disintegrate the moment I stop holding them...
It's the only way to explain the sheer lack of responses from anyone in this fucking city.
It's the only way to explain the sheer lack of responses from anyone in this fucking city.
Please note that the scholars may take some time preparing your journal for others to read.