Written By Reese
Feb. 12, 2017, 9:25 p.m.(11/28/1005 AR)
I am going with Duke Cristoph into the van of the battle.
Thank Gloria that I am recovered in time to still attend.
And to keep my word to him.
Thank Gloria that I am recovered in time to still attend.
And to keep my word to him.
Written By Lianne
Feb. 12, 2017, 9:24 p.m.(11/28/1005 AR)
Once, there was a village beyond the reach of the Grey River, in the lower stretch of the Red Mountains. It was held by Clan Blood Oak and tolerated by the nearby landholders. In a grove not far from the village stood an elven shrine made of oak which had been tended to by both the shav'arvani and Compact alike.
About a year and a half ago, the shrine was destroyed, and the villagers who watched over it were torn limb from limb, decimated by forces far stronger than they. Upon the ruined shrine, a bone altar was built, standing about three feet high and slightly wider, requiring dozens of bodies for its construction. If the altar served a purpose beyond sending an unsettling message, I was never able to discern it. We dismantled it, spoke prayers to the spirits, and burned the bones in an offering of rum.
The shrine was irreparable. It was not ours to either understand or repair, and it had gone a year and a half without anyone else taking action. It was already forgotten.
And now, it is gone. The shrine, the grove, the village. All of it has been removed from Arvum as if it never existed. A few of us remember. We were there. We witnessed the wreckage. We cleaned up the mess. I write this now so that you might remember, too, so that this thing may not be stolen from us in its entirety.
About a year and a half ago, the shrine was destroyed, and the villagers who watched over it were torn limb from limb, decimated by forces far stronger than they. Upon the ruined shrine, a bone altar was built, standing about three feet high and slightly wider, requiring dozens of bodies for its construction. If the altar served a purpose beyond sending an unsettling message, I was never able to discern it. We dismantled it, spoke prayers to the spirits, and burned the bones in an offering of rum.
The shrine was irreparable. It was not ours to either understand or repair, and it had gone a year and a half without anyone else taking action. It was already forgotten.
And now, it is gone. The shrine, the grove, the village. All of it has been removed from Arvum as if it never existed. A few of us remember. We were there. We witnessed the wreckage. We cleaned up the mess. I write this now so that you might remember, too, so that this thing may not be stolen from us in its entirety.
Written By Elrych
Feb. 12, 2017, 9:07 p.m.(11/28/1005 AR)
Relationship Note on Demura
As Strong as you are Beautiful, and you are very lovely. It's of my experiance that they don't make woman like you. It is an honor to serve you and your Family so that mine may stay safe as it has been for generations now.
Written By Leta
Feb. 12, 2017, 8:50 p.m.(11/28/1005 AR)
I got all my steel cleaned up and ready, and my armor mended. I'm just waiting on the Captain-General's orders or else for things to turn sour, and I'll be ready as ready can be.
Done all my prayers to all the gods, though some were harder than others to think what to ask for or how to honor them. I'm just missing the Thirteenth, but I think I'll go to the shrine and see. Maybe I'll watch other folk, though I'm still not fond of mirrors. I've my own mirror and that's enough.
There's the lost ones too, but I don't know anything about those, so I wouldn't know how to start. I could give some coin to the godsworn that's cleaning the place, but I don't know if I ought to.
I also have to ask what's with things that come in threes, anyway? I've seen a lot of those and it makes a woman think and not in a good way.
Done all my prayers to all the gods, though some were harder than others to think what to ask for or how to honor them. I'm just missing the Thirteenth, but I think I'll go to the shrine and see. Maybe I'll watch other folk, though I'm still not fond of mirrors. I've my own mirror and that's enough.
There's the lost ones too, but I don't know anything about those, so I wouldn't know how to start. I could give some coin to the godsworn that's cleaning the place, but I don't know if I ought to.
I also have to ask what's with things that come in threes, anyway? I've seen a lot of those and it makes a woman think and not in a good way.
Written By Tomwell
Feb. 12, 2017, 8:47 p.m.(11/28/1005 AR)
Relationship Note on Belladonna
A most gracious host and one who I would happily see again, with or without my violin.
Written By Tomwell
Feb. 12, 2017, 8:46 p.m.(11/28/1005 AR)
Relationship Note on Fairen
My dear brother. Do not get any clever ideas. I know where you sleep. I am absolutely not going to dust your bed with powdered peppers or anything of the sort.
Written By Maude
Feb. 12, 2017, 8:34 p.m.(11/28/1005 AR)
The die is cast, or it will be soon enough.
I am not at all fond of games of chance. There is always a risk in war, there are always odds of success and of failure, but I find part of a military commander's job is to whittle away at sources of uncertainty and to diminish the role played by luck in the tides of battle. To turn a game of cards into a game of chess.
It cannot be done entirely, of course, there are too many things one cannot control. But the more a general knows, the better she can assess likely outcomes, for better and for worse. And, if for worse, to avoid the fight entirely, if possible. We have no such luck. I have done some whittling at uncertainty over the past few weeks, but hardly enough that I can guess at what will happen.
I expect that's where the gods come in. In the roll of the dice.
I am not at all fond of games of chance. There is always a risk in war, there are always odds of success and of failure, but I find part of a military commander's job is to whittle away at sources of uncertainty and to diminish the role played by luck in the tides of battle. To turn a game of cards into a game of chess.
It cannot be done entirely, of course, there are too many things one cannot control. But the more a general knows, the better she can assess likely outcomes, for better and for worse. And, if for worse, to avoid the fight entirely, if possible. We have no such luck. I have done some whittling at uncertainty over the past few weeks, but hardly enough that I can guess at what will happen.
I expect that's where the gods come in. In the roll of the dice.
Written By Sigurd
Feb. 12, 2017, 8:33 p.m.(11/28/1005 AR)
Relationship Note on Percephon
Nosy, opinionated, and stubborn. A perfect man of the Faith and a perfect Scholar. And a good comrade for what was surely one of the strangest missions I have ever been on. And that's saying something.
Written By Sigurd
Feb. 12, 2017, 8:33 p.m.(11/28/1005 AR)
Relationship Note on Jackson
He brought rum into Nightgold lands and called my men 'boyo'. Said a prayer over those he did not need to. I hardly know the man, even after a week with only him and two others for company, but that alone warrants some respect.
Written By Deva
Feb. 12, 2017, 8:31 p.m.(11/28/1005 AR)
Relationship Note on Valery
Valery has recently joined our household to tend the gardens. She is lovely and sweet, quiet-- maybe too quiet. I think I might scare her a little with my, ah, energy? Whatever you want to call it. She has immediately embraced her work, and I hope to get to know her better.
Written By Anabelle
Feb. 12, 2017, 8:29 p.m.(11/28/1005 AR)
Today I managed to get done with something I've been working on for a while. Well, I didn't finish it completely, but part of my plan worked out nicely.
Duchess Iona told me about the wood from her lands, it's ability to be strong and rot resistant. Using that wood, I had a sword fashioned for my sister, a training sword in the style that we will soon hopefully be selling to all of the lands. To start off with, I discovered something truly amazing. The woodworker I took it to didn't just make a good sword, he made it... perfectly. Without any need to ask for cleaner edges or to clean it up in any way, it was perfect. It was almost as if the Gods reached out and crafted it with their own two hands, you could say it was truly divine.
Best part? I had it made pink. Now the Marquessa has a pink training sword. Cue the evil laughter.
Duchess Iona told me about the wood from her lands, it's ability to be strong and rot resistant. Using that wood, I had a sword fashioned for my sister, a training sword in the style that we will soon hopefully be selling to all of the lands. To start off with, I discovered something truly amazing. The woodworker I took it to didn't just make a good sword, he made it... perfectly. Without any need to ask for cleaner edges or to clean it up in any way, it was perfect. It was almost as if the Gods reached out and crafted it with their own two hands, you could say it was truly divine.
Best part? I had it made pink. Now the Marquessa has a pink training sword. Cue the evil laughter.
Written By Fairen
Feb. 12, 2017, 8:23 p.m.(11/28/1005 AR)
Relationship Note on Jael
My wife's cousin is a delightful woman with a great sense of humor. I look forward to seeing more of her.
Written By Fairen
Feb. 12, 2017, 8:21 p.m.(11/28/1005 AR)
Relationship Note on Tomwell
My dear brother. Always with his eyes on the horizon.
I do wonder how much it would cost me to make a fake shark, though. A life-sized model. That could be fun.
I do wonder how much it would cost me to make a fake shark, though. A life-sized model. That could be fun.
Written By Joslyn
Feb. 12, 2017, 8:13 p.m.(11/28/1005 AR)
Relationship Note on Calandra
Calandra is a whisper that was born and raised here in Arx. I met her upon my return home, in fact within the day. She was sweet but shy, and I certainly can understand given the situation that first brought us together. Since then, we've grown quite close, and I find myself looking forward to more trips to the whisper house as more time goes on. She is lovely, and beautiful, and I love her clothes and jewelry. Aside from all that, she is incredibly kind and warm, I'm so glad to know her, and I hope there is more where that came from.
Written By Rowan
Feb. 12, 2017, 7:11 p.m.(11/28/1005 AR)
A gaunt and starving wolf, half dead with hunger, met a hunting hound at the edge of the wood. "Cousin!" said the hound. "I always knew this would be your fate. Your wild and unpredictable life will be the ruin of you. Why don't you work steady as I do, and have your food given to you?"
Wolf thought about it and the pain in his gut and said, "I am desperate. I would have no objection, if only I could find a place."
"That is easy enough," said the hound. "Come with me to meet my master, and you can share in my work. He'll show you just how to do everything."
So Wolf and Hound went together to the master's estate. On their way, Wolf noticed a worn place around the Hound's neck where the fur would not grow. He asked the hound how it had come about.
"It is nothing," Hound assured the Wolf. "It is only where my master puts the collar to chain me up. It chafes a little, but one soon gets used to it."
"Is that all - " said Wolf, as he turned and returned to the woods.
Wolf thought about it and the pain in his gut and said, "I am desperate. I would have no objection, if only I could find a place."
"That is easy enough," said the hound. "Come with me to meet my master, and you can share in my work. He'll show you just how to do everything."
So Wolf and Hound went together to the master's estate. On their way, Wolf noticed a worn place around the Hound's neck where the fur would not grow. He asked the hound how it had come about.
"It is nothing," Hound assured the Wolf. "It is only where my master puts the collar to chain me up. It chafes a little, but one soon gets used to it."
"Is that all - " said Wolf, as he turned and returned to the woods.
Written By Jael
Feb. 12, 2017, 6:54 p.m.(11/28/1005 AR)
For the first time, I feel as if I may be getting my feet beneath me in the city. It's strange, so many people of so many classes, all packed in so tightly. But running the Gauntlet, having a chance to joke and challenge with others from the Oathlands, reminded me that while I may only be familiar with home, home is in the people and the relationships, and those are everywhere.
Written By Preston
Feb. 12, 2017, 6:53 p.m.(11/28/1005 AR)
Relationship Note on Rainier
It is good to see someone putting an effort into encouraging the orders to cross-train: if helps us all, and in these times we need all the help we can get.
Written By Eleyna
Feb. 12, 2017, 6:34 p.m.(11/28/1005 AR)
Relationship Note on Isolde
I hate the circumstances that brought us closer together, but I cannot regret the chance to get to know her more as the women we are now than as we were as children.
Bright, fierce, utterly self-possessed. She doesn't flinch from darkness nor try to eradicate it. She embraces it and illuminates it, like moonlight sweeping over the world in the dead of night.
Yet, I also enjoy her humor and her wit. I love her because she's family, but I'm actually coming to like and rely upon her, which is altogether more rare.
Bright, fierce, utterly self-possessed. She doesn't flinch from darkness nor try to eradicate it. She embraces it and illuminates it, like moonlight sweeping over the world in the dead of night.
Yet, I also enjoy her humor and her wit. I love her because she's family, but I'm actually coming to like and rely upon her, which is altogether more rare.
Written By Malena
Feb. 12, 2017, 6:15 p.m.(11/28/1005 AR)
Relationship Note on Merek
My brother, my twin, the other side of the coin.
Written By Khanne
Feb. 12, 2017, 6:12 p.m.(11/28/1005 AR)
Somewhere along my recent path, I have lost my balance. I cannot pinpoint one occurrence that set me off course. I speak of threads a lot. The threads of our lives, our fates, and how they are woven together. Others speak of them too, of the tapestries woven and unwoven.
My tapestry seems to have become frayed.
I still hold the threads, and I am trying to weave it together once more. Perhaps it will be slightly different, but, I will be whole again. I will find my balance once more...
I will.
My tapestry seems to have become frayed.
I still hold the threads, and I am trying to weave it together once more. Perhaps it will be slightly different, but, I will be whole again. I will find my balance once more...
I will.
Please note that the scholars may take some time preparing your journal for others to read.