Written By Leona
June 21, 2019, 10:56 a.m.(4/27/1011 AR)
I am always a little saddened by people who act like thralldom is the only tradition of the Mourning Isles. There is a tradition of training strong warriors. A tradition of naval might that is the pride of the Compact. A tradition of alliances honored. Of loyalty and fidelity. A tradition of strong, intelligent women who lead with grace and dignity and justice.
There are plenty of traditions in every Fealty that are distasteful. No House, Great or otherwise, is without its flaws or its skeletons of shameful deeds and custom. Thralldom in particular needs to be lumped in with them and set to the past.
But in doing so, the Mourning Isles do not lose the One Thing that makes them great. Nor do they lose the Only Thing that holds their tradition, their culture together. To suggest otherwise is preposterous propaganda designed to foment discord, and does not serve humanity well on any side. Let freedom come to all, and do not fear that the Mourning Isles will lose all sense of culture and tradition and history. There are plenty more traditions - good and bad in their turns - that still exist.
There are plenty of traditions in every Fealty that are distasteful. No House, Great or otherwise, is without its flaws or its skeletons of shameful deeds and custom. Thralldom in particular needs to be lumped in with them and set to the past.
But in doing so, the Mourning Isles do not lose the One Thing that makes them great. Nor do they lose the Only Thing that holds their tradition, their culture together. To suggest otherwise is preposterous propaganda designed to foment discord, and does not serve humanity well on any side. Let freedom come to all, and do not fear that the Mourning Isles will lose all sense of culture and tradition and history. There are plenty more traditions - good and bad in their turns - that still exist.
Written By Leona
June 4, 2019, 10:48 a.m.(3/21/1011 AR)
Copper fought so hard for choice. For Choice. She fought for the right of humanity to live free. Even when humans made terrible choices that ended in death and war and trouble, she fought for freedom. It was important to her that every choice be made freely, without binding or writ. Because a choice to do good or to do evil matters more when it is a choice freely made, an action freely given. To be forced to offer someone something good is to take away the ability of someone to choose to offer something good, and that takes away a great deal of meaning in the world around us. To suggest otherwise is to sully her memory, and that I will not abide.
Written By Leona
May 13, 2019, 4:40 p.m.(2/6/1011 AR)
If SOME people want to be reincarnated as a HUMAN, maybe that's FOR THEM TO KNOW OR REMEMBER AND NONE OF MY BUSINESS OR CONCERN.
This Tyrval impression brought to you by a surfeit of messengers, people who forget -yet again- that to remember in full a prior life is to go mad, and by the letter R.
This Tyrval impression brought to you by a surfeit of messengers, people who forget -yet again- that to remember in full a prior life is to go mad, and by the letter R.
Written By Leona
Jan. 4, 2019, 6:20 p.m.(4/19/1010 AR)
Compassion is the hardest thing. It is endlessly personal, forever changing to suit each individual. It is by turns loving, and gentle, and impossibly strong. It is the thing that keeps me going when I want to quit. It is putting one foot ahead of the other, it is an endless barrage of questions from people who care nothing for asking things that leave my heart bare, but answering anyway because it helps them on their path. It is endless misunderstandings when I try to protect people, but protecting them anyway. It is people asking me for advice and getting mad, and me still giving them advice the next time they ask, even though I know they'll just get mad again. It is knowing that I'll have to stand against people I love for the sake of innocents I don't know and never will. It is caring for people who could know me but don't, for people who could care but don't, for people who think they care but never truly think beyond themselves.
It is the hardest thing I've ever done.
There was a story once that a friend told me - of a ruler who had a general who was very successful, who won many battles. And when the war was done they sat at a celebratory dinner and the ruler asked the general what he thought of the virtue of compassion. The general replied that it was a weakness, and sneered at anyone who thought differently. And the ruler ordered him killed on the spot. For he himself was not a compassionate man, but the woman he loved was and he would hear no word against her.
I was horrified to hear that story the first time I heard it. But now I think I understand better.
It is the hardest thing I've ever done.
There was a story once that a friend told me - of a ruler who had a general who was very successful, who won many battles. And when the war was done they sat at a celebratory dinner and the ruler asked the general what he thought of the virtue of compassion. The general replied that it was a weakness, and sneered at anyone who thought differently. And the ruler ordered him killed on the spot. For he himself was not a compassionate man, but the woman he loved was and he would hear no word against her.
I was horrified to hear that story the first time I heard it. But now I think I understand better.
Written By Leona
Dec. 24, 2018, 9:27 a.m.(3/24/1010 AR)
You don't get to have it both ways. You have to choose. But choose wisely.
Written By Leona
Dec. 19, 2018, 4:56 p.m.(3/14/1010 AR)
What cost, grief? The greatest blessing of humanity is the return to the Wheel, to forget all the sorrows of a life well - or poorly - lived. The greatest price of humanity is the return to the Wheel, to forget all the hopes and dreams and goals, work cut off half-done and left for another. The world grieves. The Dream mourns, and we mourn as well. We who were left behind. We who will never again know the comfort of a particular cheery greeting, of a pot of hot tea steeped and served in a sitting room with a superabundance of doilies.
But this is not an end. And grief does not fade but it becomes a constant companion, until the memories of those who have left are our comfort and our companion. We will continue to hope. She would have us do no less. We will continue to fight. Her sacrifice demands no less.
Our friendship was forged in tears and heartbreak, in broken chains and freedom, in exploration and love and loss and choice. Our fellowship was tested by fire and war, by suffering and grief. It was tempered in endurance and hope and joy. As long as I live I will keep her memory close, ever a part of me. But I will always miss my friend.
But this is not an end. And grief does not fade but it becomes a constant companion, until the memories of those who have left are our comfort and our companion. We will continue to hope. She would have us do no less. We will continue to fight. Her sacrifice demands no less.
Our friendship was forged in tears and heartbreak, in broken chains and freedom, in exploration and love and loss and choice. Our fellowship was tested by fire and war, by suffering and grief. It was tempered in endurance and hope and joy. As long as I live I will keep her memory close, ever a part of me. But I will always miss my friend.
Written By Leona
Nov. 16, 2018, 11:22 a.m.(1/3/1010 AR)
Oh, heroes. Once again the people of the Compact strive against a foe who would destroy what is held dear. And once again there is musing on heroes. A hero is an ideal - it is something no one living can truly live up to, but it is not real. Even the greatest heroes of Arx were people with flaws and foibles, with weak moments and dark times. But those aren't the things that get remembered. Those aren't the moments that live on forever.
Alarice the Great wanted nothing more than to see what was over the horizon. She liked throwing vases, especially at her husband's head. She was, by all accounts, argumentative and occasionally pig-headed. None of that is on her statue in the Hall of Heroes.
We remember what we value. In the Hall of Heroes go to each individual Hall. In the Lyceum, those immortalized there were canny, crafty - snatching victory from the jaws of defeat by machinations and manipulation. Go to Grayson and you'll find the great diplomats - those who were willing to put Compact above self. Who were willing to sacrifice much in a practical attempt to save their people. Go on - each one will tell you what those people prize.
The only purpose a hero can serve is an inspiration to hold a specific value dear. Their flaws fall away, their quirks and idiosyncracies forgotten in lieu of the story that remains to be told. The inspiration to a thought, an emotion, a response.
But talk of heroes is not for the moment of mourning. The moment of mourning is a time to remember the person - with all their flaws and failures, all their dreams and successes. Heroes are not mourned, they are frozen in time. But they are not real. In this moment, as people fall in defense of the Compact take a moment to mourn, to grieve, and to remember the lives that were lived. Don't turn your dead into heroes too soon, lest you forget all the individual uniqueness that made them so loved.
Alarice the Great wanted nothing more than to see what was over the horizon. She liked throwing vases, especially at her husband's head. She was, by all accounts, argumentative and occasionally pig-headed. None of that is on her statue in the Hall of Heroes.
We remember what we value. In the Hall of Heroes go to each individual Hall. In the Lyceum, those immortalized there were canny, crafty - snatching victory from the jaws of defeat by machinations and manipulation. Go to Grayson and you'll find the great diplomats - those who were willing to put Compact above self. Who were willing to sacrifice much in a practical attempt to save their people. Go on - each one will tell you what those people prize.
The only purpose a hero can serve is an inspiration to hold a specific value dear. Their flaws fall away, their quirks and idiosyncracies forgotten in lieu of the story that remains to be told. The inspiration to a thought, an emotion, a response.
But talk of heroes is not for the moment of mourning. The moment of mourning is a time to remember the person - with all their flaws and failures, all their dreams and successes. Heroes are not mourned, they are frozen in time. But they are not real. In this moment, as people fall in defense of the Compact take a moment to mourn, to grieve, and to remember the lives that were lived. Don't turn your dead into heroes too soon, lest you forget all the individual uniqueness that made them so loved.
Written By Leona
Sept. 14, 2018, 7:38 p.m.(8/8/1009 AR)
Siblings are both trial and treasure. At least mine are. They are problems when I want to keep them safe and they will insist upon making the dangerous choice instead, I am certain just to spite me. Of course, they would also perhaps say the same of me - and rightly so. Sometimes I think to myself, "What would annoy Jaenelle the most?" And then that's exactly what I do.
Well. Okay, not really. When it works out that way it's really just accidental, I swear.
I love my siblings. I would do nearly anything to protect them. And some days I hate them, the way only siblings can. But they are mine - mine to fight with, and to love, and to defend in turn. I may give Valerius grief, I may occasionally tweak Galen's moustache, I may make Jaenelle as crazy as only a twin can. But they're mine to do that to. Best you not try that yourself, or you'll find me knocking on your door.
Well. Okay, not really. When it works out that way it's really just accidental, I swear.
I love my siblings. I would do nearly anything to protect them. And some days I hate them, the way only siblings can. But they are mine - mine to fight with, and to love, and to defend in turn. I may give Valerius grief, I may occasionally tweak Galen's moustache, I may make Jaenelle as crazy as only a twin can. But they're mine to do that to. Best you not try that yourself, or you'll find me knocking on your door.
Written By Leona
Aug. 31, 2018, 10:57 a.m.(7/1/1009 AR)
Relationship Note on Bliss
Norever and Sallialias spent all night arguing about who was the better Blissciple. I'm not entirely sure I can thank you for this. But we'll have to get that drink together soon.
Written By Leona
Aug. 27, 2018, 5:35 p.m.(6/22/1009 AR)
Relationship Note on Marian
For some people, it is very hard for them to understand that the worth of a place is not in the buildings or the history of it, but in the people who make their homes within. You made a choice to value the lives of the innocent over the buildings, and I think no one could fault you for that. Indeed none have spoken against evacuating Stormwall at least.
What some people fail to realize is that there was another choice made that was perhaps a more subtle one. In your strategy, you boldly assumed that the enemy was intelligent enough to not make a stupid, heedless decision and you planned accordingly. Who can say what they would have done if the Compact's forces were not there? Would they have pressed out of Stormwall into killing fields and past chokepoints? Or would we have given the pirate king a bastion of safety, an in tact and fortified city?
No one knows. The only reason we don't is that you planned for them to be smart and tactical, and deployed your forces to prevent them from grasping that advantage and making us pay for it for years. Planning strategies assuming the enemy is going to make the stupid choice is dangerous. It is a thing best done only when there is nothing but even worse choices to make.
What some people fail to realize is that there was another choice made that was perhaps a more subtle one. In your strategy, you boldly assumed that the enemy was intelligent enough to not make a stupid, heedless decision and you planned accordingly. Who can say what they would have done if the Compact's forces were not there? Would they have pressed out of Stormwall into killing fields and past chokepoints? Or would we have given the pirate king a bastion of safety, an in tact and fortified city?
No one knows. The only reason we don't is that you planned for them to be smart and tactical, and deployed your forces to prevent them from grasping that advantage and making us pay for it for years. Planning strategies assuming the enemy is going to make the stupid choice is dangerous. It is a thing best done only when there is nothing but even worse choices to make.
Written By Leona
Aug. 19, 2018, 4:21 p.m.(6/5/1009 AR)
Relationship Note on Sabella
Such a wonderful turn as Queen Alarice the Great. By turns imperious and humorous, and the trajectory on that vase was everything anyone could have asked. Well played, Princess.
As an aside though? Cloudstriker.
As an aside though? Cloudstriker.
Written By Leona
June 13, 2018, 9:35 a.m.(12/23/1008 AR)
Relationship Note on Jaenelle
I hate to spoil a secret, but my sister has a fine mind behind that socially cheerful exterior. Also a rapier wit. Could not be prouder. Could not.
Written By Leona
June 13, 2018, 9:01 a.m.(12/23/1008 AR)
Relationship Note on Bastien
I say this publicly, even as vague as it is.
You are right, and that is to the shame of many.
You are right, and that is to the shame of many.
Written By Leona
June 4, 2018, 3:21 p.m.(12/1/1008 AR)
Relationship Note on Bastien
Extremely belatedly, since I rarely have time for the Whites - you may not be her friend or even her good friend, but she's not wrong when she says you're a gifted playwright.
Written By Leona
May 25, 2018, 9:52 a.m.(11/3/1008 AR)
Relationship Note on Jaenelle
You looked beautiful in your wedding dress, sister-mine. I hope your marriage brings you all the joy you so richly deserve.
Written By Leona
April 30, 2018, 4:32 p.m.(8/25/1008 AR)
Relationship Note on Tikva
I'm told Archscholar Py would also never run around or desert you.
Written By Leona
April 27, 2018, 10:06 a.m.(8/18/1008 AR)
Relationship Note on Jaenelle
Was any sister ever prouder of her twin than I?
I doubt it.
My little sister by mere minutes outdid herself. The Nox'alfar Embassy is outstanding, and beautifully appointed in the spirit of the Nox. They seem to be quite at home there - Tyrval was already talking about rearranging things. So you did a phenomenal job, and the party was a crushing success, and you did a wonderful thing.
So very proud of my brilliant, thoughtful sister.
I doubt it.
My little sister by mere minutes outdid herself. The Nox'alfar Embassy is outstanding, and beautifully appointed in the spirit of the Nox. They seem to be quite at home there - Tyrval was already talking about rearranging things. So you did a phenomenal job, and the party was a crushing success, and you did a wonderful thing.
So very proud of my brilliant, thoughtful sister.
Written By Leona
Jan. 25, 2018, 4:27 p.m.(1/14/1008 AR)
Relationship Note on Corban
I'm not mad. I'm just very disappointed.
Consider my questions.
For honor's sake, I hope you find an answer.
Consider my questions.
For honor's sake, I hope you find an answer.
Written By Leona
Jan. 24, 2018, 10:28 a.m.(1/11/1008 AR)
Relationship Note on Eleanor
Dame Eleanor is another who, like Felicia, did not come to the Hundred in the usual way. But for all that she is determined to be the best Knight she can possibly be. And the most loyal, the most faithful. I'm proud of her strength. More than that, I'm proud of her flexibility. She has had several shocks to the system of late, and handled them all with grace.
Pretty soon now she'll have her sink or swim moment. But she was born on the water - I know she'll swim.
Pretty soon now she'll have her sink or swim moment. But she was born on the water - I know she'll swim.
Written By Leona
Jan. 24, 2018, 10:13 a.m.(1/11/1008 AR)
Relationship Note on Felicia
She is bold, and brave, and smart, and good. She is, in effect, everything I would hope one of the Hundred to be. She came up from the Lowers, not a standard path to Knighthood. And yet she treasures her path and her responsibilities, and does well and right by them. I'm proud of her, and while I know she faces personal challenges - don't we all? I believe she will discharge both duties and personal responsibilities with honor and integrity.
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