Written By Pasquale
Jan. 20, 2024, 12:30 p.m.(8/4/1021 AR)
Relationship Note on Lisebet
I believe it is important to believe there will be an after.
Written By Pasquale
Jan. 5, 2024, 8:56 a.m.(7/2/1021 AR)
When I was a child less than a year old my father, the late Baron Marco Engolo, met one of the rare mages that existed even back then.
Engolo has always had a heavy reliance on its vineyards and those vineyards were dying.
So he made a deal with this mage trading the health of one of his sons for the health of the vines.
My Health.
May history judge him.
Engolo has always had a heavy reliance on its vineyards and those vineyards were dying.
So he made a deal with this mage trading the health of one of his sons for the health of the vines.
My Health.
May history judge him.
Written By Pasquale
Dec. 30, 2023, 12:18 p.m.(6/18/1021 AR)
To understand the story of the Witchwood you must first know the story of the Mor'ral.
The Mor'ral were a tribe of abandoned that lived to the north of the Compact during the time of the Elven War. I do not know how long they had been there but it may well have been centuries more. They had a gift that the Traitor desired and even as the Compact was celebrating its victory they were still fighting for survival. They asked for help from us, but it was refused, and so they fought alone. For a long time they held their own.
The Compact houses that refused them were destroyed by the Traitor, because he did not care that they had refused to help, and still the Mor'ral managed to survive. They lived and they loved and they fought and over time a refugee from the Compact called Reidar Holte and the Mor'ral leader, a woman by the name of Tialha, found love and married.
But there finally came a battle where the wolves of Clan Mor'ral and the forces of the Traitor clashed. A battle where Orichalcum himself walked the field. At this battle he found Tielha's one weakness - Her love for her wife - and he used it to force her to give up her name. And so her name was lost and she became one of the Legion. A creature with no will of her own. A slave.
He turned that creature on the Mor'ral themselves because nobody knew the forests like she did. She knew all the hiding places. And he used that knowledge to dig them out and turn them one by one to his cause.
The Mor'ral were lost but it was not her fault. It was never her fault.
He forgot about Reidar, leaving her bleeding and wounding on the field, but they recovered. They said she would die but instead she vowed that she would free her wife no matter the cost. They met on a field with the Traitor looking on and fought, Wife against wife, until both were mortally wounded.
For the Traitor this wasn't enough and as Tialha died he gave her her name back. He freed her so that she would know the full depth of everything that had happened to her, her people, her wife - and he told her that it was all her fault. Tielha went to the Queen of Endings, like almost all of us do, but Reidar stayed. She couldn't leave the people she too had loved alone. Century after century she lingered, unable to do anything to stop the mor'ral's suffering as the Traitor used them for his own sick purposes. Waiting.
Over time, this forest where the Mor'ral once lived and loved, danced and fought, became the Witchwood.
Eventually the Queen decided it was time that the soul that once carried the name Tialha should be reborn and Sunaia Ashford came to be. There is a reason we forget our past lives and Sunaia is a perfect shining example of this. As Tialha she had seen terrible things. She had been forced to do terrible things. But as Sunaia she could start afresh. She was innocent but the Traitor took that away from her too. He sought her out and he taunted her with dreams of things Tialha had done and things he would enjoy forcing her to do. Taunting her. Threatening her. Haunting her. She fought him valiantly for years and years until one day, humming a song under her breath, she went north, a slave once again.
Pursuing her north we found the Witchwood, Lianne, Ian, Jan, Aleksei, and I and we stepped inside. We met Reidar's Ghost and we found and managed to give Sunaia her self back. She could have returned with us, nobody would have blamed her, but instead she chose to sacrifice herselt to fix those ancient wrongs. And with that sacrifice the terrible Witchwood, a place of terror, death and suffering, burned away.
Leaving nothing but a plum tree with a trunk shaped just like two long long lovers behind.
The Mor'ral were a tribe of abandoned that lived to the north of the Compact during the time of the Elven War. I do not know how long they had been there but it may well have been centuries more. They had a gift that the Traitor desired and even as the Compact was celebrating its victory they were still fighting for survival. They asked for help from us, but it was refused, and so they fought alone. For a long time they held their own.
The Compact houses that refused them were destroyed by the Traitor, because he did not care that they had refused to help, and still the Mor'ral managed to survive. They lived and they loved and they fought and over time a refugee from the Compact called Reidar Holte and the Mor'ral leader, a woman by the name of Tialha, found love and married.
But there finally came a battle where the wolves of Clan Mor'ral and the forces of the Traitor clashed. A battle where Orichalcum himself walked the field. At this battle he found Tielha's one weakness - Her love for her wife - and he used it to force her to give up her name. And so her name was lost and she became one of the Legion. A creature with no will of her own. A slave.
He turned that creature on the Mor'ral themselves because nobody knew the forests like she did. She knew all the hiding places. And he used that knowledge to dig them out and turn them one by one to his cause.
The Mor'ral were lost but it was not her fault. It was never her fault.
He forgot about Reidar, leaving her bleeding and wounding on the field, but they recovered. They said she would die but instead she vowed that she would free her wife no matter the cost. They met on a field with the Traitor looking on and fought, Wife against wife, until both were mortally wounded.
For the Traitor this wasn't enough and as Tialha died he gave her her name back. He freed her so that she would know the full depth of everything that had happened to her, her people, her wife - and he told her that it was all her fault. Tielha went to the Queen of Endings, like almost all of us do, but Reidar stayed. She couldn't leave the people she too had loved alone. Century after century she lingered, unable to do anything to stop the mor'ral's suffering as the Traitor used them for his own sick purposes. Waiting.
Over time, this forest where the Mor'ral once lived and loved, danced and fought, became the Witchwood.
Eventually the Queen decided it was time that the soul that once carried the name Tialha should be reborn and Sunaia Ashford came to be. There is a reason we forget our past lives and Sunaia is a perfect shining example of this. As Tialha she had seen terrible things. She had been forced to do terrible things. But as Sunaia she could start afresh. She was innocent but the Traitor took that away from her too. He sought her out and he taunted her with dreams of things Tialha had done and things he would enjoy forcing her to do. Taunting her. Threatening her. Haunting her. She fought him valiantly for years and years until one day, humming a song under her breath, she went north, a slave once again.
Pursuing her north we found the Witchwood, Lianne, Ian, Jan, Aleksei, and I and we stepped inside. We met Reidar's Ghost and we found and managed to give Sunaia her self back. She could have returned with us, nobody would have blamed her, but instead she chose to sacrifice herselt to fix those ancient wrongs. And with that sacrifice the terrible Witchwood, a place of terror, death and suffering, burned away.
Leaving nothing but a plum tree with a trunk shaped just like two long long lovers behind.
Written By Pasquale
Dec. 28, 2023, 4:01 a.m.(6/14/1021 AR)
Some time ago, when the armies of the Horned Traitor were still rampaging around Greyson lands, and causing untold harm, I reached out to the leaders of Valardin, Redrain and Greyson and asked if they would share the information they held on his armies, their movements, and anything else that seemed to match.
To my surprise they agreed.
And so I, supported by Titus Vaevici and Jan Kennex, set about trying to work out just what the army was up to.
It took quite some time and the death of more than a few writing implements but eventually we figured out that the ruse of a withdrawal after the siege here in Arx was just that - A ruse.
And whilst he pretended he was beaten evidence suggested that he had withdrawn to a place almost forgotten to us all - Harrow Hall.
This time when I took the information I held to the Highlords I was not surprised by their co-operation.
I have nothing but praise for the way we all worked together in these difficult times. We could have simply ran to the various corner of the Compact and hid, or fought over scraps of glory and fame - But instead we chose to unite. We chose to stand together and fight.
I am beyond fortunate to have lived to see it.
To my surprise they agreed.
And so I, supported by Titus Vaevici and Jan Kennex, set about trying to work out just what the army was up to.
It took quite some time and the death of more than a few writing implements but eventually we figured out that the ruse of a withdrawal after the siege here in Arx was just that - A ruse.
And whilst he pretended he was beaten evidence suggested that he had withdrawn to a place almost forgotten to us all - Harrow Hall.
This time when I took the information I held to the Highlords I was not surprised by their co-operation.
I have nothing but praise for the way we all worked together in these difficult times. We could have simply ran to the various corner of the Compact and hid, or fought over scraps of glory and fame - But instead we chose to unite. We chose to stand together and fight.
I am beyond fortunate to have lived to see it.
Written By Pasquale
Dec. 15, 2023, 8:38 p.m.(5/17/1021 AR)
Relationship Note on Sunaia
When I learned that Sunaia had walked away one day humming a song I knew that it was our enemy, Orichalcum, who took her for I knew that she was a vital link between him and a great atrocity he committed not long after the Elven wars. An atrocity so great that it pursued her through the solace of rebirth and caused her great grief. Nobody should be forced to exist as something worse than a slave, so we went north to free her.
We found what was left of her in a ruined village deep within a tormented forest and gave her back the truth of who she really was. For a brief, beloved moment, she was Sunaia again. She could have returned home - nobody would have blamed her for it - but instead she chose to do what she could to make things better. She died to resolve that ancient wrong.
Finally she is at peace.
We found what was left of her in a ruined village deep within a tormented forest and gave her back the truth of who she really was. For a brief, beloved moment, she was Sunaia again. She could have returned home - nobody would have blamed her for it - but instead she chose to do what she could to make things better. She died to resolve that ancient wrong.
Finally she is at peace.
Written By Pasquale
Dec. 11, 2023, 3:07 a.m.(5/7/1021 AR)
Relationship Note on Jan
Things end and things begin and somehow Jan stands by my side despite it. She is truly the best of wives.
Written By Pasquale
Dec. 11, 2023, 3:05 a.m.(5/7/1021 AR)
I made a promise once, years ago, to my wife Sunaia. I promised that should she be enslaved by the Traitor then I would go and free her.
And finally it is done - My promise is fulfilled - and it is all because I had people willing to stand by my side.
Thank you Lianne. Thank you Ian. Thank you Jan. Thank you Aleksei. Thank you Mabelle. Thank you Titus. Thank you Aconite and most of all Thank you Tolv.
Without your help she would still be a slave and I would probably be dead.
Without your help we could never have achieved what we did.
And finally it is done - My promise is fulfilled - and it is all because I had people willing to stand by my side.
Thank you Lianne. Thank you Ian. Thank you Jan. Thank you Aleksei. Thank you Mabelle. Thank you Titus. Thank you Aconite and most of all Thank you Tolv.
Without your help she would still be a slave and I would probably be dead.
Without your help we could never have achieved what we did.
Written By Pasquale
Nov. 11, 2023, 4:36 p.m.(3/5/1021 AR)
I've heard people say that our enemy was defeated when his forces attacked Arx and broke against the wall of flame. Don't believe them.
It was a battle, not the war.
We haven't won yet.
It was a battle, not the war.
We haven't won yet.
Written By Pasquale
July 29, 2023, 2:05 p.m.(4/4/1020 AR)
I seem to have worried people by writing that I am going away. It won't be for long. Arx is home.
Written By Pasquale
July 28, 2023, 1:04 p.m.(4/2/1020 AR)
With the news being what it is I've decided it is time for me to head back to Nilanza, check on my soldiers, and spend time with Lianne and her twins. I expect it will be good for me to get away. The last couple of years have not been kind.
Written By Pasquale
July 1, 2023, 3:38 p.m.(2/5/1020 AR)
All warfare is based on deception. Hence when able to attack we must seem unable. When using our forces we must seem inactive. When we are near we make the enemy believe we are far away. When far away we must make the enemy believe we are near.
Written By Pasquale
July 1, 2023, 3:34 p.m.(2/5/1020 AR)
If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself, but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.
Written By Pasquale
March 4, 2023, 4:55 a.m.(5/19/1019 AR)
The bounds of fidelity, devotion and family seem soft things until they are called upon. It's only then, on those difficult days, that you remember just how great a weight they can be. They are the foundation of my life though and everything that makes it worthwhile. And so today I bow to Limerance again, in thanks for all I've been blessed with, and in prayer I've the strength to bear it and the road it takes me on.
Written By Pasquale
Nov. 24, 2022, 10:36 a.m.(12/5/1018 AR)
If you were given a choice between a terrible thing that was inflicted on you before memory or a terrible choice which was chosen by you, which would you choose?
Written By Pasquale
Oct. 23, 2022, 9:06 a.m.(8/12/1018 AR)
Occasionally in life you will find achieving your goals is plagued by seemingly insurmountable obstacles.
It is easy to be draw into many hours spent fruitlessly trying to resolve the issue or to write the entire thing off as impossible.
But before you do you should always step back and ask yourself one simple question: Can I go around this mountain instead of trying to move it?
It is easy to be draw into many hours spent fruitlessly trying to resolve the issue or to write the entire thing off as impossible.
But before you do you should always step back and ask yourself one simple question: Can I go around this mountain instead of trying to move it?
Written By Pasquale
Oct. 8, 2022, 9:58 p.m.(7/11/1018 AR)
Sometimes it is best to listen to the advice of the healers but I truly do hate it when the fleets sail without me.
Written By Pasquale
Sept. 30, 2022, 9:28 p.m.(6/23/1018 AR)
My leg is healing well enough. With a little determination I should be capable of sailing with Velenosa's fleet. It will slow me down of course but compared to the handicap presented by my weak lungs it is nothing really.
The Iron Guards over zealous behavior on the other hand is proving as irritating as I suspected. I have never liked to be touched by strangers and having to potentially submit to it every time I wish to go through the gates is untenable. Luckily I can't travel far without a carriage or palanquin anyway so the inconvenience of having to go around the city every time I wish to visit another district is considerably lessened. I am starting to think about hiring more guards. It is a sad day when you are more worried about meeting the Iron Guard you than you are the criminals.
The Iron Guards over zealous behavior on the other hand is proving as irritating as I suspected. I have never liked to be touched by strangers and having to potentially submit to it every time I wish to go through the gates is untenable. Luckily I can't travel far without a carriage or palanquin anyway so the inconvenience of having to go around the city every time I wish to visit another district is considerably lessened. I am starting to think about hiring more guards. It is a sad day when you are more worried about meeting the Iron Guard you than you are the criminals.
Written By Pasquale
Sept. 24, 2022, 3:24 p.m.(6/11/1018 AR)
I truly loathe stairs.
Climbing them is not so terrible. That merely requires grit and determination.
It's descending that is the problem.
Climbing them is not so terrible. That merely requires grit and determination.
It's descending that is the problem.
Written By Pasquale
Sept. 4, 2022, 12:50 p.m.(4/27/1018 AR)
Relationship Note on Gaspard
A stalwart fighter and a fine Knight to have at your side in any conflict.
Written By Pasquale
Sept. 4, 2022, 12:47 p.m.(4/27/1018 AR)
I've spent significant time and effort making Nilanza's forces the best they could be but never, until now, have I really had an opportunity to see the fruit of that labour. I'm pleased. They served with every bit of courage and skill that I could have hoped.
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