Written By Cambria
May 9, 2019, 11:56 p.m.(1/27/1011 AR)
One should not allow their heart to be a slave to their failings.
Written By Cambria
May 8, 2019, 12:15 a.m.(1/23/1011 AR)
Societies require something to bind them together. This may be a common interest, like protection of territory, but economic interests are transitory. In order for people to sacrifice for one another or defend their society, they need a shared belief - a common sense of reality that defines them versus outsiders. In addition to blood and soil, a commonly held set of rules is what defines a people.
Written By Cambria
May 3, 2019, 10:32 p.m.(1/14/1011 AR)
I should like to put before Vellichor that I have no earthly idea what the connection between boats and murder might be. Further more, I would like it to be known that I have not even set foot upon the deck of any seagoing vessel in many, many months. Possibly even a year. It has been so long, in fact, I cannot even remember the last time!
Written By Cambria
May 1, 2019, 7:28 p.m.(1/10/1011 AR)
Four years.
Three children.
Two improvements.
One goal.
Three children.
Two improvements.
One goal.
Written By Cambria
April 28, 2019, 3:55 p.m.(1/4/1011 AR)
The party hosted by House Fidante in Tor Plaza was a delight.
Written By Cambria
April 28, 2019, 1:21 p.m.(1/4/1011 AR)
It is not my custom to craft my journals as though they were messages to another individual that just so happens to be public. However, concerning a journal that was recently directed towards me by Lady Peri Seliki, I have determined that perhaps my answers will be worthwhile not only to her, but to my contemporaries, as well as those who come after us.
Her first question, which I encourage others to to seek out and read for themselves with the date of 12/27/1010 AR. My answer, I believe, is likely shared by most of the Peerage in some regards, but is still unique to me. Which is to say that because I was born to the nobility, my tutelage was centered around certain skills and crafts that are unlikely to be of concern to the cobbler's son or the vintner's daughter. Matters of statecraft were to become, and ultimately are now my trade. Therefore, if I seek to be of any use as a leader to my people, the things of which I earlier wrote: history, political philosophy, and human nature, are subjects that will equip a leader with the capability to be of service to their people. (I should amend that an understanding of religion is also important, but will not expand upon it here).
If one does not seek out such knowledge, how then can one understand the world around them? How can one understand even themselves? If you cannot understand what motivates you, you cannot understand what motivates your neighbor. If you are the Head of a House, a Voice, or a minister it would behoove you to seek out knowledge of such things. Know why there have been peaceful relations between one settlement of yours and a nearby tribe of Shav'arvani for the last 150 years; understand why what you just said to the Orthodox Oatherlander has caused her great upset; make certain that the treaty you hope to foster between your House and another is viable, and not just mere fantasy.
Naturally, these things are not restricted to those in leadership roles. I believe everyone, from highborn to low, could benefit from being a perpetual student of life. But as I am a Peer, and also a House Head, it is easier for me to relate such things through that perception.
As for books that I might recommend, I shall only say that I recommend all books. Read what interests you, and what you like, but also read what you do not like or agree with. Do not take anyone's words as gospel, but instead acquire as much knowledge and understanding as you can and by it forge your own path. Those who would beat into your head only this or that author, this or that style of writing, only want you to be of their mindset - well-meaning or otherwise.
Her first question, which I encourage others to to seek out and read for themselves with the date of 12/27/1010 AR. My answer, I believe, is likely shared by most of the Peerage in some regards, but is still unique to me. Which is to say that because I was born to the nobility, my tutelage was centered around certain skills and crafts that are unlikely to be of concern to the cobbler's son or the vintner's daughter. Matters of statecraft were to become, and ultimately are now my trade. Therefore, if I seek to be of any use as a leader to my people, the things of which I earlier wrote: history, political philosophy, and human nature, are subjects that will equip a leader with the capability to be of service to their people. (I should amend that an understanding of religion is also important, but will not expand upon it here).
If one does not seek out such knowledge, how then can one understand the world around them? How can one understand even themselves? If you cannot understand what motivates you, you cannot understand what motivates your neighbor. If you are the Head of a House, a Voice, or a minister it would behoove you to seek out knowledge of such things. Know why there have been peaceful relations between one settlement of yours and a nearby tribe of Shav'arvani for the last 150 years; understand why what you just said to the Orthodox Oatherlander has caused her great upset; make certain that the treaty you hope to foster between your House and another is viable, and not just mere fantasy.
Naturally, these things are not restricted to those in leadership roles. I believe everyone, from highborn to low, could benefit from being a perpetual student of life. But as I am a Peer, and also a House Head, it is easier for me to relate such things through that perception.
As for books that I might recommend, I shall only say that I recommend all books. Read what interests you, and what you like, but also read what you do not like or agree with. Do not take anyone's words as gospel, but instead acquire as much knowledge and understanding as you can and by it forge your own path. Those who would beat into your head only this or that author, this or that style of writing, only want you to be of their mindset - well-meaning or otherwise.
Written By Cambria
April 26, 2019, 12:13 a.m.(12/27/1010 AR)
It is important to know ones history. It is equally important to know political philosophy. Last, but certainly not least, one should make certain to understand human nature.
Written By Cambria
April 14, 2019, 1:53 p.m.(12/4/1010 AR)
What is written without pain is rarely read with pleasure; likewise, an apology that is offered without personal discomfort or contrition is rarely counted as sincere.
Written By Cambria
April 11, 2019, 12:22 a.m.(11/25/1010 AR)
You know what I detest?
Shopping.
Someone else can do it.
Shopping.
Someone else can do it.
Written By Cambria
April 10, 2019, 11:42 p.m.(11/25/1010 AR)
One of the truths of life is that people tend to not notice what is happening outside of their cultural and social bubble. It is hard to step outside of your daily life and see the big picture, as far as political and cultural stuff. We mostly surround ourselves with people who hold the same opinions and have the same interests. Those with whom we are at odds, we navigate around and they navigate around us.
Written By Cambria
April 7, 2019, 11:14 a.m.(11/18/1010 AR)
All the maids are gossiping in the manor this morning. Something about a bloody baron? I don't know, but whoever he is, he's got them giggling a lot.
Written By Cambria
April 6, 2019, 8:50 p.m.(11/16/1010 AR)
People often make allusions to poetic turns of phrase when faced with unfathomable realities. Poetry is the language of love, of fear, and of death - it gives voice both to epiphanies and to catastrophes. When prosaic speech cannot do justice to reality, the more malleable bounds of the poetic form take over.
Written By Cambria
April 6, 2019, 5:44 p.m.(11/16/1010 AR)
A conversation with a new friend the night previous reminded me of the disparity between my own values and that of everyone else. I spent the remainder of my evening pondering the nature of importance.
Importance is not a natural quality, such as weight or density. There is no measurement one can take to prove something is more important than something else. There are some that say there is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so; and while I am reluctant to accept this, for I find such relativism very dangerous, the same might be said of importance, that nothing is important or unimportant, but thinking makes it so.
Importance is not a natural quality, such as weight or density. There is no measurement one can take to prove something is more important than something else. There are some that say there is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so; and while I am reluctant to accept this, for I find such relativism very dangerous, the same might be said of importance, that nothing is important or unimportant, but thinking makes it so.
Written By Cambria
April 1, 2019, 12:25 a.m.(11/5/1010 AR)
I recently received an advance copy of Duchess-Consort Vanora's book concerning marriage. I found it a worthy read, and would recommend it to any Peer who is, or soon to be coming of age. I also think it would be a useful companion for any Head of House or Voice new to their position, like so many of us were during the time of the King's Rest.
Written By Cambria
March 31, 2019, 12:13 a.m.(11/3/1010 AR)
Now we greet the third, Soteris.
We did not feel like waiting very long to meet you.
We did not feel like waiting very long to meet you.
Written By Cambria
March 30, 2019, 7:07 p.m.(11/2/1010 AR)
We keep a modest stable here at our home within the capital. When I came here a few years ago, I knew that eventually I would want a horse to replace the one I retired and left in Ostria - sad as that made me. There are a few geldings in our possession here that are roughly two years old, and more than suitable for my needs. I only need choose the one that I like best. A task easier said than done.
Written By Cambria
March 29, 2019, 9:40 p.m.(10/28/1010 AR)
I find it curious that the enormous volume of highly artistic works - from theatre to literature, poetry to music - are invariably bleak but manage to give us immense joy. One wonders if we are better off living in a fallen world after all, as a perfect one without strife would lack in artistic excellence.
Written By Cambria
March 27, 2019, 11:56 p.m.(10/25/1010 AR)
Leaving.
No human action is more devastating than the act of leaving. It does not matter who or what you are leaving, somebody gets hurt.
No human action is more devastating than the act of leaving. It does not matter who or what you are leaving, somebody gets hurt.
Written By Cambria
March 24, 2019, 12:02 p.m.(10/18/1010 AR)
Gratitude, though a virtue, is difficult and indeed contrary to our nature. Nevertheless, we should make a serious effort to practice it, to make it a consistent aspect of our conduct. For gratitude has the wonderful effect of ennobling our attitude, so that our very perception of things changes for the better. It also makes our relations with each other more pleasant.
Written By Cambria
March 23, 2019, 12:15 p.m.(10/16/1010 AR)
A lack of self-awareness comes as a corollary to intolerance. Intolerant people, in their speech and in their journals, advertise their tolerance. They justify their prejudice by projecting their jaundiced fantasy of "the other," to borrow from the academese used by another, upon real people who rarely conform to caricature. We never see ourselves as intolerant because we depict our foes as intolerable.
Please note that the scholars may take some time preparing your journal for others to read.