Written By Jasher
Feb. 1, 2024, 1:41 p.m.(8/28/1021 AR)
Tomorrow has come. There was a Reckoning, but in the end, it was not for us.
The Eater of Stories has been defeated. After a battle at the very Thinnest Point, in which we stalled the demon while attempting to assemble the form of its defeat, our efforts bore fruit and it was sealed away screaming. It will no longer shadow Arvum with the stories it had eaten, the names it consigned to forgetfulness, and the knowledge cast to fire. As Arx endures, we will remember; not only the stories of past, but the stories told today, and stories yet to be told.
Though one threat has been defeated, there is still much left to be done. The remnants of Azazel's army roam the lands, and it is likely that the holdings that have fallen in their wake have become their strongholds. Maelstrom numbers among them, a difficult but necessary choice in light of the circumstances, but with the immediate threat put away I will aid the family to my utmost to see Maelstrom reclaimed, until the end of my life if need be.
Today could not have been, but it is, and the mood is that of bittersweet celebration with knowledge of the sacrifices made to make today's revelry possible. Sometimes, for such occasions, a glass would be drunk to acknowledge that what was lost, and that which can still be saved.
Today, I will open the seal of my last bottle.
The Eater of Stories has been defeated. After a battle at the very Thinnest Point, in which we stalled the demon while attempting to assemble the form of its defeat, our efforts bore fruit and it was sealed away screaming. It will no longer shadow Arvum with the stories it had eaten, the names it consigned to forgetfulness, and the knowledge cast to fire. As Arx endures, we will remember; not only the stories of past, but the stories told today, and stories yet to be told.
Though one threat has been defeated, there is still much left to be done. The remnants of Azazel's army roam the lands, and it is likely that the holdings that have fallen in their wake have become their strongholds. Maelstrom numbers among them, a difficult but necessary choice in light of the circumstances, but with the immediate threat put away I will aid the family to my utmost to see Maelstrom reclaimed, until the end of my life if need be.
Today could not have been, but it is, and the mood is that of bittersweet celebration with knowledge of the sacrifices made to make today's revelry possible. Sometimes, for such occasions, a glass would be drunk to acknowledge that what was lost, and that which can still be saved.
Today, I will open the seal of my last bottle.
Written By Jasher
Jan. 31, 2024, 6:19 p.m.(8/27/1021 AR)
There will be a tomorrow, or there will be not. It may be that this White Journal would never see the public eye, but I will do my duty to Vellichor before midnight.
It seems the Reckoning is upon us again. The sky is thick with demons. Blood pours in place of rain. Azazel comes to Arx with his hunger and an army of shards to sate himself upon what lies past the Thinnest Point. There are allies: dragons, the primasen, mages, all once thought myth who have now come to stand beside us in our darkest hour. I would be inclined to marvel and learn save that the sentiment is best left for the tomorrow yet to be. Now, I only hope that what we have, what is come here, is enough to bring that tomorrow.
Today, there will be a storm ahead. The water is dark and the waves rough, but I am ready.
I will sail.
It seems the Reckoning is upon us again. The sky is thick with demons. Blood pours in place of rain. Azazel comes to Arx with his hunger and an army of shards to sate himself upon what lies past the Thinnest Point. There are allies: dragons, the primasen, mages, all once thought myth who have now come to stand beside us in our darkest hour. I would be inclined to marvel and learn save that the sentiment is best left for the tomorrow yet to be. Now, I only hope that what we have, what is come here, is enough to bring that tomorrow.
Today, there will be a storm ahead. The water is dark and the waves rough, but I am ready.
I will sail.
Written By Jasher
Aug. 28, 2022, 12:28 p.m.(4/13/1018 AR)
I was a reluctant dancer at the Wine and Elegance Ball, though no sooner had we parted ways, I discovered that it served as something of a reprieve from the recurrent pain and damage that war inflicts. All due respect to Marquessa Quenia for both raising resources for Isles houses in need and providing a well-timed diversion from the war. It was good to see my cousin smile again at a time when even her spirits are affected by this repressive burden. Next time, however, we will be sure to find amusement without leaving a mess in our wake.
Written By Jasher
Dec. 31, 2021, 1:59 p.m.(11/6/1016 AR)
I've just returned from an extended sojourn to Maelstrom feeling reinvigorated. My ship's hold and great cabin were retrofitted, stocked with with supplies and furnishings, to support a host of physicians and accommodate an influx of wounded marines for the duration of the war. As such, I will be taking up residence in the Thrax Estate while on shore leave.
Between bouts of industry, I was afforded an opportunity to visit with my sister, Vega, her husband, Raimon, and my esteemed young cousins, Danse, Siggy and Delia. The passage of time is never more pronounced than when you greet a child after a year spent apart. They've grown so much. It was a pleasure to share some of the tamer details of my recent adventures with them. My scheduled departure was delayed by the birth of Prince Marius Thrax. As my luck would have it, I was afforded an opportunity to congratulate his proud mother and father in person and toast to his perfect health and peerless prospects.
I am cutting this entry short, as I've a veritable book of personal correspondences to write. I can feel my hand cramping in anticipation.
Between bouts of industry, I was afforded an opportunity to visit with my sister, Vega, her husband, Raimon, and my esteemed young cousins, Danse, Siggy and Delia. The passage of time is never more pronounced than when you greet a child after a year spent apart. They've grown so much. It was a pleasure to share some of the tamer details of my recent adventures with them. My scheduled departure was delayed by the birth of Prince Marius Thrax. As my luck would have it, I was afforded an opportunity to congratulate his proud mother and father in person and toast to his perfect health and peerless prospects.
I am cutting this entry short, as I've a veritable book of personal correspondences to write. I can feel my hand cramping in anticipation.
Written By Jasher
Nov. 4, 2021, 7:58 p.m.(7/5/1016 AR)
Relationship Note on Denica
I have spent more time this past month engaging my cousin, Denica, in conversation than over the past twenty-two years of her life. I suppose that is to be expected of two people born almost a decade apart. It seems that I’ve found in her an appreciative audience for what passes as humor, or my particular brand of it, namely word-play. Nothing highbrow. Small as they are, these amusements are a welcome distraction from the looming threats of war and loss.
She is spirited, laughs and expresses herself energetically, and just beneath this lighthearted exterior creeps a somewhat dark and impish wit that is all her own. Speak with her for several minutes and glean that she is quite dissimilar to the draconian image her Thrax kin are known to espouse. There are times that I forget we grew up within the same estate, under the very same oppressive thumb. Though for as different as our approaches to life clearly are, Denica does not lack a single whit for good sense and devotion to her aims.
I was fortunate enough to receive a full tour of her art barge. Admittedly, art has never been incredibly important to my life; I never paid much mind to paintings or sculptures or a songs sung in the proper key. However, indulging in the company of a few individuals blessed by Jayus, and their individual works, that which has been designed or shaped to evoke an emotion is no longer a formless, colorless blur passing me by on my journey. In that way, I suspect that cultivating an appreciation for artistic expression is, for me, a lot like learning a foreign language, where a garbled sound holds deeper meaning only after I’ve taken the time to interpret it.
It is a vain hope that further education and exposure will make an aesthete of me yet, and in time for the grand opening of the Artshall Art District where Denica's art, and of others I'm familiar with, will be placed on display.
She is spirited, laughs and expresses herself energetically, and just beneath this lighthearted exterior creeps a somewhat dark and impish wit that is all her own. Speak with her for several minutes and glean that she is quite dissimilar to the draconian image her Thrax kin are known to espouse. There are times that I forget we grew up within the same estate, under the very same oppressive thumb. Though for as different as our approaches to life clearly are, Denica does not lack a single whit for good sense and devotion to her aims.
I was fortunate enough to receive a full tour of her art barge. Admittedly, art has never been incredibly important to my life; I never paid much mind to paintings or sculptures or a songs sung in the proper key. However, indulging in the company of a few individuals blessed by Jayus, and their individual works, that which has been designed or shaped to evoke an emotion is no longer a formless, colorless blur passing me by on my journey. In that way, I suspect that cultivating an appreciation for artistic expression is, for me, a lot like learning a foreign language, where a garbled sound holds deeper meaning only after I’ve taken the time to interpret it.
It is a vain hope that further education and exposure will make an aesthete of me yet, and in time for the grand opening of the Artshall Art District where Denica's art, and of others I'm familiar with, will be placed on display.
Written By Jasher
Sept. 27, 2021, 12:32 a.m.(4/11/1016 AR)
I have been hunting pirates for as long as I can remember. My crew and I have tracked them down and cleared their hideouts, ports and isles and amassed such a collection of flags as to fill a chest within my cabin. And yet for all our efforts, I fear our waters remain as dangerous as in those early days, if not more so. Port Defiance has not been idle; more and more answer the call to join the Free Seas.
My recent return to Arx was predicated on a desire to reinvest in the affairs of my family, our vassals and a handful of close friends I've managed to maintain over the years. I believe that I have made some progress toward that end, though it has meant making a sacrifice of the time I'd have spent protecting trade routes and settlements from barbarous murderers and thieves. Breaking myself of routines and habits has never been painless, but this singular duty has always been the most difficult to surrender. So much so that I have never truly succeeded in doing so.
It is for that reason that when my cousin, Romulius, approached me about the prospect of becoming a sworn knight of the Order of East Light, I did not decline. The Order has allowed me to strike a welcome balance between my seaborne duties and what matters I wish to attend ashore. When I formally take my oaths, they will be a reinforcement of that responsibility I've readily shouldered in defense of Arvum's seas against danger in whatever form it takes, this time with a host of honorable knights in stride possessing a zeal for justice equal to my own. And we will bring the dawn.
My recent return to Arx was predicated on a desire to reinvest in the affairs of my family, our vassals and a handful of close friends I've managed to maintain over the years. I believe that I have made some progress toward that end, though it has meant making a sacrifice of the time I'd have spent protecting trade routes and settlements from barbarous murderers and thieves. Breaking myself of routines and habits has never been painless, but this singular duty has always been the most difficult to surrender. So much so that I have never truly succeeded in doing so.
It is for that reason that when my cousin, Romulius, approached me about the prospect of becoming a sworn knight of the Order of East Light, I did not decline. The Order has allowed me to strike a welcome balance between my seaborne duties and what matters I wish to attend ashore. When I formally take my oaths, they will be a reinforcement of that responsibility I've readily shouldered in defense of Arvum's seas against danger in whatever form it takes, this time with a host of honorable knights in stride possessing a zeal for justice equal to my own. And we will bring the dawn.
Written By Jasher
Aug. 30, 2021, 12:01 a.m.(2/11/1016 AR)
Relationship Note on Domonico
Now that the shock of your sudden passing has subsided, the pain arrests. It's not the concussive blow of impact that cripples, but the dull, restless ache that festers on and on. I have lived through many a loss, but none so unexpected in every way as yours. Was my letter delivered in time? Did the promise of a visit lift your spirits before the end? I may never know, but I choose to believe.
I regret the ill timing of my return to Arx for many reasons, but none haunt me so bitterly as losing the chance to say good-bye, my friend. I'll miss you. We'll meet again.
I regret the ill timing of my return to Arx for many reasons, but none haunt me so bitterly as losing the chance to say good-bye, my friend. I'll miss you. We'll meet again.
Written By Jasher
Aug. 24, 2021, 12:36 p.m.(1/28/1016 AR)
The day I arrived in Arx, a chance meeting allowed Sorrel and I to briefly reunite as I lingered in The Maw. I was glad of the opportunity, though her obvious injuries quickly altered the course of our conversation. To say I was unnerved to learn where and how she received them would be an understatement. She explained that she had been present during the attack on Bastion, then proceeded to recount her version of events to me. Had she not been standing physically in front of me, I may not have believed the encounter survivable. Not intended as an insult, as anyone who has witnessed her skills in combat would attest to its excellence. I'm merely astonished that she and so many were capable of not just opposing, but in many cases defeating his monstrous forces. Too many lives were lost, but so many were spared because people like Sorrel defended the city and its citizens against the overwhelming odds.
After rumintaing on it these last few days, it has had the effect of both heartening and disturbing me in equal measure. Were the mightiest warriors among us enough to foil his most devastating blow, or was he holding something of his true strength back? I know what I'd prefer to believe, but after reading other accounts of the battle in the Whites, I'm left feeling uncertain. Perhaps both are true to some extent. What I do know is that it will take a united force of Arvum's best if we're to stand a chance at precluding our utter ruination. Now is not the time to allow seeds of dissent take root.
I will continue to trust in the Gods. May they fortify and comfort us as we mourn, rebuild and brace for the coming storm.
After rumintaing on it these last few days, it has had the effect of both heartening and disturbing me in equal measure. Were the mightiest warriors among us enough to foil his most devastating blow, or was he holding something of his true strength back? I know what I'd prefer to believe, but after reading other accounts of the battle in the Whites, I'm left feeling uncertain. Perhaps both are true to some extent. What I do know is that it will take a united force of Arvum's best if we're to stand a chance at precluding our utter ruination. Now is not the time to allow seeds of dissent take root.
I will continue to trust in the Gods. May they fortify and comfort us as we mourn, rebuild and brace for the coming storm.
Written By Jasher
Aug. 23, 2021, 9:19 p.m.(1/27/1016 AR)
Relationship Note on Natasha
I returned from my post-war patrol of the Mourning Sea to a city relatively unchanged, with the most notable exception being the addition of several caravels berthed in the harbor. One of them has usurped the Sea Drake's usual mooring; an impressive vessel constructed by New Hope's shipwrights, some of the finest in Arvum, that bears the name The Vigil. A wedding gift from Romulius Thrax to my cousin, Natasha. Needless to say, the discovery of its owner served to undermine my annoyance at having to seek out an open space, though has not dampened my determination to reclaim what was once mine. She'll have to sail it away someday, and I'm a patient man.
My cousin invited me to visit her their private manor in the Upper Boroughs. Like the caravel, it is elegant, but practical in its design and arrangement. Every room seems to serve a purpose though none lack for a measure of versatility. Take, for instance, the gazebo in the garden which by nature of its existence out of doors, should have been relegated to an ornamental ice sculpture at this time of year. Instead, glass panes were affixed to all sides to trap the warmth of a tended fire, a successful effort by its headstrong residents to enjoy their slice of paradise all year-round.
It seems a simple thing on its surface to fixate on, but in reacquainting myself with Natasha's rich character during this visit, I discerned one of many traits I suspect are at the cornerstone of her success in all things to which she applies herself: a mind for innovating solutions that place her in the most advantageous situation possible, obstacles be damned. I won't pretend to rival her in that regard, but I do possess something akin to raw persistence to get what I desire in like kind.
And so, should my first plan fail, I shall just have to devise a much longer mooring line so that we can share that dock instead. I only hope that, when side-by-side, her elegant new caravel won't eclipse my old Sea Drake exceedingly.
My cousin invited me to visit her their private manor in the Upper Boroughs. Like the caravel, it is elegant, but practical in its design and arrangement. Every room seems to serve a purpose though none lack for a measure of versatility. Take, for instance, the gazebo in the garden which by nature of its existence out of doors, should have been relegated to an ornamental ice sculpture at this time of year. Instead, glass panes were affixed to all sides to trap the warmth of a tended fire, a successful effort by its headstrong residents to enjoy their slice of paradise all year-round.
It seems a simple thing on its surface to fixate on, but in reacquainting myself with Natasha's rich character during this visit, I discerned one of many traits I suspect are at the cornerstone of her success in all things to which she applies herself: a mind for innovating solutions that place her in the most advantageous situation possible, obstacles be damned. I won't pretend to rival her in that regard, but I do possess something akin to raw persistence to get what I desire in like kind.
And so, should my first plan fail, I shall just have to devise a much longer mooring line so that we can share that dock instead. I only hope that, when side-by-side, her elegant new caravel won't eclipse my old Sea Drake exceedingly.
Written By Jasher
Aug. 20, 2021, 5:32 p.m.(1/21/1016 AR)
I have been away, and anything but idle.
The Battle of Pieros took its toll upon me, my crew and the hull of the Sea Drake. She suffered damage to her starboard side, though nothing so detrimental as to stymie my subsequent campaign to patrol the Mourning Sea against what threats to our holdings still loom. As expected, no shortage of pirates descended upon coastal settlements, leeches eager to bleed war weary citizens dry and incite malcontent. They were given no quarter.
An unexpected period of celebration followed in Maelstrom, wherein my cousin, Natasha, wedded a lord of Blackshore. Surrounded as I was then by family and friends I hadn't seen since the war commenced, I discerned the value of seizing an opportunity to settle in Arx while a measure of peace can be maintained, however fleeting.
So, here I sit in a familiar alcove at the Archive, preparing to engage in yet another series of overdue reunions. Every night I spend ashore, I'll dream of the sea.
The Battle of Pieros took its toll upon me, my crew and the hull of the Sea Drake. She suffered damage to her starboard side, though nothing so detrimental as to stymie my subsequent campaign to patrol the Mourning Sea against what threats to our holdings still loom. As expected, no shortage of pirates descended upon coastal settlements, leeches eager to bleed war weary citizens dry and incite malcontent. They were given no quarter.
An unexpected period of celebration followed in Maelstrom, wherein my cousin, Natasha, wedded a lord of Blackshore. Surrounded as I was then by family and friends I hadn't seen since the war commenced, I discerned the value of seizing an opportunity to settle in Arx while a measure of peace can be maintained, however fleeting.
So, here I sit in a familiar alcove at the Archive, preparing to engage in yet another series of overdue reunions. Every night I spend ashore, I'll dream of the sea.
Written By Jasher
Feb. 1, 2021, 7:40 p.m.(11/11/1014 AR)
I suppose I should take the storm as a sign to look to matters ashore once more.
Written By Jasher
July 16, 2020, 3:42 p.m.(9/2/1013 AR)
I wonder if there is enough rum to deal with all of what has happened so far.
Written By Jasher
July 24, 2019, 1:08 p.m.(7/10/1011 AR)
Relationship Note on Willow
Both.
Not that it is a wholly terrible thing. As many stories are written of folly as virtue.
Not that it is a wholly terrible thing. As many stories are written of folly as virtue.
Written By Jasher
July 19, 2019, 2:50 p.m.(6/28/1011 AR)
Relationship Note on Victus
Your Grace, who did you offend to warrant this influx of olives? Eating these would require enough milk to become an honourary Oathlander.
Written By Jasher
July 16, 2019, 4:29 p.m.(6/22/1011 AR)
Relationship Note on Aureth
Or in the same cup.
Written By Jasher
July 8, 2019, 8:09 p.m.(6/6/1011 AR)
Relationship Note on Peri
In their eyes, the Compact is of no consequence.
We are the toy to be squabbled over, used to further their own ends and wield as a tool against their enemy than a proper nation to acknowledge. For one to leave while the other remains will be seen as retreat and weakness, and so unless they both leave together, they will remain together.
And so they will remain until something bids them to act.
We are the toy to be squabbled over, used to further their own ends and wield as a tool against their enemy than a proper nation to acknowledge. For one to leave while the other remains will be seen as retreat and weakness, and so unless they both leave together, they will remain together.
And so they will remain until something bids them to act.
Written By Jasher
July 7, 2019, 9:47 a.m.(6/3/1011 AR)
Relationship Note on Denica
Good paintings.
Written By Jasher
June 26, 2019, 7:24 p.m.(5/10/1011 AR)
As the topic on the whites appear to be about birds, I think of gulls.
Gulls are large birds with long yellow beaks, white feathers, and dark wings, often found near the sea. While they are beautiful animals, do not let their appearance fool you: They are fiendishly clever, opportunistic as crows, and will gleefully steal a meal from under your nose should they have the chance. In the days when we presented the condemned to the sea, the gulls were often the first to arrive and the last to leave.
All this notwithstanding, there are few sights as breathtaking as heeling with the wind at the back of your ship, and seeing a flock of gulls flying in the wake created behind you.
Gulls are large birds with long yellow beaks, white feathers, and dark wings, often found near the sea. While they are beautiful animals, do not let their appearance fool you: They are fiendishly clever, opportunistic as crows, and will gleefully steal a meal from under your nose should they have the chance. In the days when we presented the condemned to the sea, the gulls were often the first to arrive and the last to leave.
All this notwithstanding, there are few sights as breathtaking as heeling with the wind at the back of your ship, and seeing a flock of gulls flying in the wake created behind you.
Written By Jasher
June 17, 2019, 12:38 p.m.(4/20/1011 AR)
Relationship Note on Brianna
Knowledge is sacred, yet I find myself questioning that concept as I hold this collection of abhorrent facts that you have brought.
Good work.
Good work.
Written By Jasher
June 2, 2019, 12:41 p.m.(3/18/1011 AR)
Relationship Note on Evaristo
People may wish something more substantial, but others may only want an ear to listen to them, without judgment or betrayal.
Both, and the permutations in between, help in their ways; it is left to you to find what is needed for the one seeking your aid.
Both, and the permutations in between, help in their ways; it is left to you to find what is needed for the one seeking your aid.
Please note that the scholars may take some time preparing your journal for others to read.