Written By Preston
March 31, 2019, 11:05 a.m.(11/4/1010 AR)
Relationship Note on Thena
It is easy to remember that as a glorious moment. But in truth, I remember worry. I was worried that it had come down to this. Worried that Thena was using a small dagger. Worry that Lord Alban would lack a horse and be unable to withdraw. Worry that if we failed, how many of the wounded and noncombatants we were protecting from Stormwall would not make it to the pass. It is over two years since that day. Thena and I are different people now, and we often are pulled in different directions. But I'd like to think that we still share the agreements and bonds we once had. And that is important in the Faith Militant. We must trust one another to operate independently, to act knowing that even if we do not see the other they will have our back. And equally it allows us to operate together, knowing we can rely on the other to be a source of strength and not division.
Written By Preston
March 31, 2019, 11 a.m.(11/3/1010 AR)
Hopefully it should give people something to talk about and celebrate.
Written By Preston
March 26, 2019, 9:07 a.m.(10/21/1010 AR)
Two tribes who served our enemy, who were part of attacks seeking to pit house against house and Compact against shav, are destroyed. The redoubt of a warlord who long ago betrayed our compact for the life of the abandoned is destroyed.
I must thank the houses of the Oathlands, in particular House Blackram and House Laurent. I must thank Princess Marian of House Redrain for their work ensuring our enemy could not escape. Princess Sorrell and Sparte of the Order of the Eastern Light, whose forces travelled a great distance to engage on a righteous cause. I must also thank Dame Ida, who as well as being one of the most expert smiths I can think of, is a true ally of the Faith Militant and whose work is as though truly blessed by Gloria and Jayus themselves in its craftsmanship and its strength against those who have turned from the Gods.
Written By Preston
March 23, 2019, 6:30 p.m.(10/16/1010 AR)
To try and chase Templars yourself, with your house forces, risks being misunderstood. It risks looking like an attack on the Faith - it risks the impression to your vassals and others that an attack on the Faith is acceptable, an impression we know you would never wish to give. This is why the Faith handle our own errant members - to avoid that confusion, and the damage it could cause.
Written By Preston
March 18, 2019, 1:46 p.m.(10/6/1010 AR)
Written By Preston
March 18, 2019, 9:30 a.m.(10/5/1010 AR)
I was raised so that I could become, so that Godsworn rescuer said, 'The Sword of the Faith'. For many years I thought this meant he saw me one day as legate, an office I have never thought fitting for me. Though the old Sword of the Faith, a former Grandmaster himself, shows how one such as I can do so, I was still young. I am still young. Then we discovered that the title used to be held by a Templar who wielded a sword of the Faith. Perhaps this was the truth now, that he thought I would be the one to find this blade or forge one anew, to lead the Templars. This seemed more like me. This seemed perhaps an interpretation I could understand.
Now, with all the changes that come, I wonder instead if he did not see this time of change and threat coming. He may not have known what it would be, but he knew it would test us all. And he knew the Faith would need to declare for our cause, for the Gods, and fight for our beliefs. He knew that experience would mean less, as we had not fought wars like this in so long, no Templar alive had the experience. Instead it would be a long battle, a long war. One that needed young leaders to see it through. Perhaps that is what he meant. Perhaps that is why his successor elevated Dame Thena as well. Two young knights of the most humble origins to shepherd the Faith Militant.
All I know is that I will uphold the laws of the Faith and the commands of the Gods.
Written By Preston
March 17, 2019, 8:30 a.m.(10/3/1010 AR)
How do you fix many of these? By offering a chance for them to reform when you can. You offer them the chance to bend the knee, in doing so to adopt our ways of life, to accept the guidance of the Faith on how to worship correctly. Those lieges who welcome them in should provide proper education in our ways, our laws. You do not execute a common child if it questions why we must obey the High Lord - you teach it why you must, because before it knew no better. If that child grows into a man and continues to spout rebellion? Then you may act, knowing you attempted to educate, knowing this is a choice they made in full possession of facts. Of course, you do not make prodigals your closest advisors or nobles en masse, you never forget the past and must let them prove themselves in their new lives, you must never allow their old lives to be brought into their new.
I do not pretend either extreme is true, that we must save all or condemn all, for some worships are so heretical that you allow them into our community is to invite the Abyss, because they made a choice already and that choice damned them. But. There must always be that option where we can offer it. In so doing, those who are innocent might seek and find a better life. And those of us who must enforce the laws of the Compact and the Faith can then have confidence that our acts against the Abandoned who remain are then against those who are not innocent, and will not offend Gloria. That the deaths and battles we must face are necessary, that they are just.
And let us not forget there are those within the Compact who break the laws of the Compact - and worse who break the commands of the Gods. If in your blind rage to oppose prodigals entering the compact you should lift your hand against your sworn liege, or worst against the Faith? Then your crimes are entered into in full knowledge of the Compact, with no argument of ignorance of our ways. And you must feel confident in your reasons, for you will need to justify them, before a court, before your liege, before your peers, before the Faith, before my Templars, and before the Gods.
Written By Preston
March 10, 2019, 7:21 a.m.(9/17/1010 AR)
Relationship Note on Vitalis
The punishment is severe, but it is as it must be when one breaks such sacred oaths. Even if you have good reason, that can never justify means. Both must be judged. And punishment given as required.
Written By Preston
March 2, 2019, 12:01 p.m.(9/2/1010 AR)
Perhaps there is some meaning in that. That knowing what you wish to do is important, but also knowing the limits on what you can do and trusting others to do what you cannot. But then again, perhaps these are just the thoughts one has sitting up late after a long day of paperwork.
Written By Preston
Feb. 24, 2019, 9:08 a.m.(8/17/1010 AR)
The event by Sir Andry was interesting - I learned a deal, though I am still nervous when people discuss history. So much is lost or half known, and what some present as certainty is conjecture.
But I had a visit after from Lady Teagan and her man Amund, with news from the Oathlands. It seems more than ever it is vital we get our force moving as soon as possible. Unfortunately I only know of House Laurent and House Blackram of the Oathlands who answered the call, but I hope that the Seraphs have answered the call and sent me the Templars I need. All the items have been prepared and begun shipping to Sanctum now - we took the banners of the Faith from their store in the roof of the armoury. We last used them for Dame Astraea's swearing ceremony, before that Stormwall. Lady Teagan and others will move ahead with the van and hopefully the tribes in the way will agree to move from the way and let us pass, or better yet will join the compact as brothers and sisters. But what waits us beyond? In the Red Mountains? Will Redrain forces hold the border, prevent our enemy's retreat? Will there even be forces of our enemy remaining to break? Are we too late?
Whatever happens we will hold true to Gloria's commands. We will protect the innocent, in the Abandoned and in our people, we will fight with honour, in a just cause, and we will remove her enemies from the face of Arvum.
Written By Preston
Feb. 22, 2019, 4:57 a.m.(8/13/1010 AR)
Relationship Note on Esoka
I am sorry to take you away from the child and Calaudrin so soon.
Written By Preston
Feb. 17, 2019, 8:02 a.m.(8/3/1010 AR)
Written By Preston
Feb. 12, 2019, 4:01 a.m.(7/21/1010 AR)
Relationship Note on Umbroise
That said, if I may gently say that the matter of a dead Seraph is a matter, to my mind, for the Faith to resolve. We have two border conflicts at least now where noble houses in whole or in part claim the death of Godsworn as their reason. While I appreciate and admire the zeal and faithfulness it shows, it risks placing the Faith within the politics of houses, and that is something best avoided. When we swear our oaths, we place aside our family, our rights to property and title, our rights to inheritance of the same. All that we are is the Faith's - and it is not for anyone to pull us, in life or in death, back from that in anything but the most extenuating of circumstance.
Written By Preston
Feb. 8, 2019, 6:26 p.m.(7/14/1010 AR)
Written By Preston
Feb. 4, 2019, 9:08 a.m.(7/5/1010 AR)
For so many years I have yearned to have the leash removed from the Faith Militant, for us to be allowed to act. Yet. In always being under controls, our choices were never fully our own. We were subsumed to the paths of others, never wholly responsible for all the rippling consequences. If I pursue this path, it is a path I forged, one I recommended, one I championed. The deaths - and there will be many - will be on my shoulders. The disruption will be my fault. And yet, to not act is to abandon the path that Gloria commands, it would be to allow innocents to come to harm, it would be to allow our enemy a foothold in our lands, it would be to allow those who have set themselves against Gloria to live.
So I must act, and hope others follow. Act and hope it meets with approval. I can bear the weight of more deaths around my neck, I can weep once more in the shrines at the loss. But I could not bear to see Gloria's disciples ignore her commands because of a moment of self doubt.
Written By Preston
Feb. 3, 2019, 10:49 a.m.(7/4/1010 AR)
Relationship Note on Thena
You will forever be the Godsworn who reminds me to smile, because you have carried the same burdens on your shoulders, and yet you still march onwards. You have such faith in life, even if you glower and gloom at the inefficient fickleness of decisions at times.
Written By Preston
Feb. 2, 2019, 8:41 a.m.(7/1/1010 AR)
Relationship Note on Reigna
As other say though, it is a complicated matter, and often far less extreme than in the abstract. Still, our actions must be honourable, innocents must be protected, our oaths upheld - if that forces us in a position where we might lose, then perhaps it is better to lose as a good person than it is to live knowing you forfeited Gloria's respect?
Written By Preston
Jan. 28, 2019, 12:25 p.m.(6/20/1010 AR)
Perhaps we need to remember that we can fight on our feet, that the burden of our losses is not yet so great that we cannot grip our sword and stand. And regardless of whether we take one of these deals, or indeed none of these deals, we still must face the problems that exist in the meantime. Oathlands and Lyceum vassals engaged in a border war. Purposeless killings of Shavs in the Oathlands. The yet unresolved killings of Templars and mercies, of Solace, of the breach of guest rights. And still the rise of our enemies on our lands continues.
In the coming days and weeks I hope to have an answer to some of this, and show that we are not yet so broken we cannot pick up our sword.
Written By Preston
Jan. 28, 2019, 5:52 a.m.(6/19/1010 AR)
Relationship Note on Esoka
I hope we can give him a world that is better than the one given to us, and a life full of promise.
Written By Preston
Jan. 27, 2019, 6:40 a.m.(6/17/1010 AR)
Relationship Note on Thena
Please note that the scholars may take some time preparing your journal for others to read.