Written By Sparte
Jan. 24, 2018, 9:42 a.m.(1/11/1008 AR)
Dear Diary,
I thought it was just a concussion when I heard those things, but other people quickly clarified that yes, loud things were shouted and feelings were hurt.
I want to take a moment to step back. Less than a month ago I was promoted to Officer and put in charge of far more people than I frankly feel I can do justice. Those people now rely on my choices and my word to carry them through the dangers ahead. Others are in charge of far, far more than I am. It is difficult, it is stressful, and you are expected to carry the burden without ever showing that you're less capable of weathering the storm than the mountains.
I don't know that I agree with that way of doing things. I've been taking time to get to know those people who directly answer to me. I'm spreading the responsibilities, but I'm also spreading the recognition. I never want to be in a position where everything rides on a split second decision, where if I hesitate or I'm unprepared others will be paralyzed by it.
I want the people who look to me to know I look back to them. That I see no effort as wasted, nor demand respect for the sake of my authority over them. I want to use that authority sparingly, so I have asked them to work with me in other ways. Share their goals, share their vision, and let us together find a way to be great. Maybe not 'none greater' great, but great.
I think I can only get away with that because I am from the rank and file. I'm left feeling bad for those who never experienced being on the bottom, and hope I never forget what it was to be there.
I thought it was just a concussion when I heard those things, but other people quickly clarified that yes, loud things were shouted and feelings were hurt.
I want to take a moment to step back. Less than a month ago I was promoted to Officer and put in charge of far more people than I frankly feel I can do justice. Those people now rely on my choices and my word to carry them through the dangers ahead. Others are in charge of far, far more than I am. It is difficult, it is stressful, and you are expected to carry the burden without ever showing that you're less capable of weathering the storm than the mountains.
I don't know that I agree with that way of doing things. I've been taking time to get to know those people who directly answer to me. I'm spreading the responsibilities, but I'm also spreading the recognition. I never want to be in a position where everything rides on a split second decision, where if I hesitate or I'm unprepared others will be paralyzed by it.
I want the people who look to me to know I look back to them. That I see no effort as wasted, nor demand respect for the sake of my authority over them. I want to use that authority sparingly, so I have asked them to work with me in other ways. Share their goals, share their vision, and let us together find a way to be great. Maybe not 'none greater' great, but great.
I think I can only get away with that because I am from the rank and file. I'm left feeling bad for those who never experienced being on the bottom, and hope I never forget what it was to be there.
Written By Sparte
Jan. 18, 2018, 9:31 p.m.(12/28/1007 AR)
Someone asked me where the idea for the Paper Fleet came from.
I thought back to when I was a boy, the first time I really felt like water was something special. There was a stream we would play at from time to time. It was my sister who showed me how to fold a paper boat. She put it into the water, and I followed it down the stream with her. It went well further than we were supposed to go. We were scared of how far we'd gone, but at the same time scared the boat might sink and thrilled to see how far it would go. In the end it washed up on some pebbles in a shallow spot, making the voyage safely.
We immediately put the boat back in the water. Of course we would want it to keep going. Sadly it fell apart when we tried. One voyage was all the little paper ship had in it. Thinking back on it now that seems like voyage enough to carry a prayer.
I thought back to when I was a boy, the first time I really felt like water was something special. There was a stream we would play at from time to time. It was my sister who showed me how to fold a paper boat. She put it into the water, and I followed it down the stream with her. It went well further than we were supposed to go. We were scared of how far we'd gone, but at the same time scared the boat might sink and thrilled to see how far it would go. In the end it washed up on some pebbles in a shallow spot, making the voyage safely.
We immediately put the boat back in the water. Of course we would want it to keep going. Sadly it fell apart when we tried. One voyage was all the little paper ship had in it. Thinking back on it now that seems like voyage enough to carry a prayer.
Written By Sparte
Jan. 12, 2018, 9:26 p.m.(12/16/1007 AR)
Relationship Note on Shard
Acquaintance,We agree more these days
Written By Sparte
Jan. 9, 2018, 10:30 a.m.(12/7/1007 AR)
I had no idea that nobles don't typically cook for themselves. I'm not sure what else they do differently than common folk. I'm feeling rather daft about the whole of it, maybe I should talk to a whisper. They're supposed to know this stuff.
Written By Sparte
Jan. 8, 2018, 11:30 a.m.(12/5/1007 AR)
This page of Sparte's journal is nothing but drawings of ring designs. Some feature the pantheon, some feature great houses, others feature unique sigils in the likeness of animals and probably nonsensical writings. A recurring theme on the page is the sigil to Limerance in variations with different numbers of rings. It gives the sense of an incomplete puzzle.
Written By Sparte
Jan. 5, 2018, 12:36 a.m.(11/26/1007 AR)
Officer Sparte Fatchforth. It feels so strange, like a third arm. I don't even know what my new responsibilities will be yet, I just know I got promoted. At a meeting I was late for, because everyone in this city is having meetings. Three meetings just today, all about the same thing. I get that people are preparing and that is smart. I just wish they'd prepare on the same end of the city.
I still can't quite get over how different the responses have been to my joining Thrax. Some people call me brave, other people act like I just caught the plague, others gave me grief for not picking their fealty. Which was an odd sort of flattery. I think the ones whose first response was to worry for my safety were my real friends, though. They get that I wouldn't be doing this if it wasn't important, and nothing important to me is safe.
I still can't quite get over how different the responses have been to my joining Thrax. Some people call me brave, other people act like I just caught the plague, others gave me grief for not picking their fealty. Which was an odd sort of flattery. I think the ones whose first response was to worry for my safety were my real friends, though. They get that I wouldn't be doing this if it wasn't important, and nothing important to me is safe.
Written By Sparte
Jan. 3, 2018, 10:31 a.m.(11/23/1007 AR)
I have gotten mixed responses for my paper fleet idea. I'm aware it is childish, but that isn't always a condemnation of something. I'm hoping we can come together for so simple of a thing.
Written By Sparte
Jan. 1, 2018, 5 p.m.(11/18/1007 AR)
I made up my mind and did it. I can't sail, I can barely fish. I don't get sea sick, but I've never heard the call of the ocean. I don't even like rum.
I am not regretting the choice, but I'm nervous. If I survive the coming dangers, what will they make of me once they get to know me?
I am not regretting the choice, but I'm nervous. If I survive the coming dangers, what will they make of me once they get to know me?
Written By Sparte
Dec. 30, 2017, 4:26 p.m.(11/14/1007 AR)
This is a selection of sketches of the island of Blackshore, where it was destroyed. The lifeless rock, the beaches turned to glass. Underneath it Sparte has written the following.
'The destruction was complete, but by our measure no more than a five mile area suffered it. The rest of the island was verdant, healthy, ready for life. Initial examination of the old Blackshore holdings show that the area was struck with an immense, incredible heat. Something so great as to turn the entire beaches to sand nearby. The destruction was absolutely complete. We dug to verify, the damage was etched into the very foundation where Blackshore once stood. At this time I cannot speculate on just how much heat would be needed to create this effect, or what could cause it. This is perhaps the third recorded event like it, and the smallest.
'The destruction was complete, but by our measure no more than a five mile area suffered it. The rest of the island was verdant, healthy, ready for life. Initial examination of the old Blackshore holdings show that the area was struck with an immense, incredible heat. Something so great as to turn the entire beaches to sand nearby. The destruction was absolutely complete. We dug to verify, the damage was etched into the very foundation where Blackshore once stood. At this time I cannot speculate on just how much heat would be needed to create this effect, or what could cause it. This is perhaps the third recorded event like it, and the smallest.
Written By Sparte
Dec. 19, 2017, 4:23 p.m.(10/20/1007 AR)
The history of the compact is a mess. I don't just mean it is disorganized, but the things that happened are frankly unbelievable.
Take for instance the fallen noble lines through the history of Arx. Who died, who succeeded them, what happened to the person who died? Seems like a simple and important question to be able to answer. I get why so many of the scholars drink. It isn't their fault, just their problem.
Take for instance the fallen noble lines through the history of Arx. Who died, who succeeded them, what happened to the person who died? Seems like a simple and important question to be able to answer. I get why so many of the scholars drink. It isn't their fault, just their problem.
Written By Sparte
Dec. 11, 2017, 5:44 p.m.(10/4/1007 AR)
Some riddles lose something when written, but this one was fun amongst a few recruits recently.
"I have no eyes, even when I have eyes. By the time I am old, a spider has less eyes than me. What am I?"
With this written out it shouldn't be hard to figure out. May someone else have fun with it.
"I have no eyes, even when I have eyes. By the time I am old, a spider has less eyes than me. What am I?"
With this written out it shouldn't be hard to figure out. May someone else have fun with it.
Written By Sparte
Dec. 11, 2017, 9:47 a.m.(10/3/1007 AR)
I've come across a map that uses a shade of ink I didn't know existed. Now I'm wondering if there is an expert on inks somewhere. I find myself writing more and more, and having a range of color options would make my cartography efforts more efficient. I'll have to test to see how well the colors keep over time.
Written By Sparte
Dec. 10, 2017, 2:31 p.m.(10/2/1007 AR)
Map making is made all the more confusing by trying to figure out the scale of maps done my people with no grasp of the concept. I have a map with landmarks on it I know to be different distances, but the author thought to evenly space them across the page. Because then they could draw the trees bigger and more evenly, maybe? Annoying, really. Then there is this picture of a turtle. Just randomly a turtle. Placed like it were another landmark.
'Oh, you want to get to Bastion? Just a left at the turtle. You'll know it when you see it!
'Oh, you want to get to Bastion? Just a left at the turtle. You'll know it when you see it!
Written By Sparte
Dec. 10, 2017, 2:01 p.m.(9/28/1007 AR)
What started as an expedition on a single ship will now be several. What started as just poking around will now be something larger scale. What started as a simple thing is now terrifying.
I am either very bad at planning or secretly sabotaging myself with success.
I am either very bad at planning or secretly sabotaging myself with success.
Written By Sparte
Dec. 4, 2017, 12:41 p.m.(9/16/1007 AR)
No sooner had I put out the bounties than I was in fact offered some bath water in a bottle and told it was from a fountain in the far north. You'd think that someone who takes baths would smell better, but no. By all the pantheon, no. His hair was even still wet.
Written By Sparte
Dec. 3, 2017, 11:14 p.m.(9/15/1007 AR)
Dragonweep comes in many different shades, I've been told, but how many? I have been trying to figure out who in Arx has dragonweep I might examine, but the list of people who will admit to it is extremely short. Perhaps because of fear of thieves? Yet people think nothing of walking around with alaricite. I guess gemstones are more easily misplaced than swords.
Written By Sparte
Dec. 3, 2017, 11:12 p.m.(9/15/1007 AR)
My first expedition with the Society! Only I proposed it, I'm planning it, I'm assembling the team... This is a lot more work than I thought my first expedition with the society would be. I hope I don't forget anything important.
Written By Sparte
Nov. 26, 2017, 10:09 p.m.(9/1/1007 AR)
It has been almost a week since I put the Liquors of Arx out. I'm surprised nobody has complained I missed this liquor or that, or that I didn't say enough about this house or that merchant. Perhaps it just isn't being used or read, which I suppose is fair. I'm a novice at these things, perhaps will always be. Maybe I should put my efforts elsewhere.
Written By Sparte
Nov. 26, 2017, 7:22 p.m.(9/1/1007 AR)
The outtings to the Gray Forest have been a constant source of surprises. The situation out there doesn't seem to be something that can be improved without concerted and continuing effort, but I see a lot of good people out there volunteering time and effort to do just that. It makes me happy to see so many volunteering to raise arms for a dangerous task, and mostly, out of a desire for helping others.
Written By Sparte
Nov. 19, 2017, 10:54 a.m.(8/12/1007 AR)
I've been spending time with some of the new recruits, and their skills and potential range dramatically. All of them for the most part seem to appreciate the opportunity of the guard, but it is difficult to tell how many seek greater stability and how many care about the profession for the sake of what it stands for and does. There are an unfortunate minority that cower in weapons practice, not handling the threat of violence well. I don't have high hopes for them being proper guardsmen, though perhaps we can find other roles for them as iron messengers or cooks.
Please note that the scholars may take some time preparing your journal for others to read.