Written By Iona
Feb. 9, 2017, 8:08 a.m.(11/21/1005 AR)
Relationship Note on Aldwin
However, I did have honor of meeting the man when I visited the cathedral early one morning. Obviously, I was not expecting to meet, nevermind share a discussion with the man who has caught the eyes of the Compact right now. That was awkward.
We shared the same sunrise, and spoke of yesterday and tomorrow. It was not only pleasant, but surprisingly insightful.
If this is where the Faith is headed as a whole, then perhaps I can once more see beauty in the Faith itself.
A lovely man indeed.
Written By Max
Feb. 9, 2017, 7:25 a.m.(11/21/1005 AR)
Darkwater lost men today, but that is the cost of battle. We know the five men who died today died to protect the city, to protect the compact, and in doing so, protect their homes in Darkwater.
Orsin Athol, an Orphan of Tidemarsh.
Kenick Dockside, of Darkwater Watch.
Maris Jormond of Tyde Hall.
Danny the Silent, no known surname, no known home.
Macklan S'Miri, of Darkwater Watch.
These men died today to defend the Greysons. To defend mainlanders. They join a half company of their allies who fell in the battle against the Iron Traitors. I do not like throwing away lives. But a life spent in defense of others, is not wasted.
I look forward to when the Greysons offer ships to defend Darkwater Watch from the threats that come to it.
Written By Silas
Feb. 9, 2017, 3:35 a.m.(11/20/1005 AR)
Relationship Note on Torian
Sometimes I don't understand him at all.
Written By Cara
Feb. 9, 2017, 3:23 a.m.(11/20/1005 AR)
I suppose I'm just a sentimentalist.
Though it may not have been strictly necessary to do so in such a public way, it was my thinking that to mend the breach between us and the Faith both required and deserved something of a larger display. I wanted it to be seen and to be understood, and so it was, and by the grace of the Dominus we are made reconciled. In such dangerous days as this, it is more important than ever that the Faith and the High Lords -- and the very Crown -- work together and rely on one another.
We cannot get through this alone. The enemies we face are simply too powerful for any one group or individual, no matter how heroic, to prevail.
Now, that being said, it seems that there is a wedding in my near future. I've been blessed with dear friends and family to help me overcome my reticence -- the heavens know my last wedding brings nothing but tainted memories to mind -- and I am pleased that there might be a small touch of something happy to celebrate in the sadness, though there is so much of it. So many dear ones are gone, missing or lost to us, and we are so diminished for their absence. I can only believe, though, that we must seize our happiness, no matter how brief, for recent events prove nothing if they do not prove how fleeting and precious such moments are.
May the gods watch over us, and send us their grace, for surely it is gravely needed now.
Written By Joslyn
Feb. 9, 2017, 2:43 a.m.(11/20/1005 AR)
Relationship Note on Calypso
Written By Rymarr
Feb. 9, 2017, 12:31 a.m.(11/20/1005 AR)
Relationship Note on Reese
She seems able to devote herself to a worthy cause. On top of that fact she has a bravery streak to her. I can only hope that she will maintain that habit, without it getting her killed.
Written By Isolde
Feb. 8, 2017, 10:41 p.m.(11/20/1005 AR)
Grief does not burn hot, consuming the heart and mind. It is not cold, an ice that freezes or snaps. The only metaphor I can attribute would be poison. Deadly poison, undetectable in most ways, that works its way through the body, wrapping around the heart, squeezing ever so slightly, but constantly, until one can't remember how it should feel, only the way it feels with those bands about it.
It snakes up into the mind, after curling those soft bands around the throat, applying pressure, to be sure, but trapping words, twisting them, making it so what one thinks and what one says are so very slightly out of harmony, until one is not sure of their own state. It wraps about the ears, like thorny vines, twisting the words coming in as quiet, as subtle as those that flow through the lips. It distorts just enough until one's own mind cripples, isolates, destroys trust and reason.
Make no mistake, Grief is a Passion, like any other... it can be controlled, used, made to serve one instead of being strangled and suffocated. It is a darkness we all feel at some point in our lives, and can turn the saintly into sinners, even before it reaches the depths of despair. One must be careful with it, however... to much force, too much brute strength of will only scatters it, leaves it lingering to infect once that pressure is lessened. Too little and it slimes its way out of the grasp, choking harder in retribution of one's defiance.
I have learned, for me, at least, Grief is not something to tackle alone. Certainly only my own will can truly own it, use it, but it takes others -- a Father, a Brother, a Sister, More than one Friend, a Love -- to give the grounding necessary to overcome the bitch. Only by those that stand with me, can I take a full breath, see the colors painted in the world. Bit by bit, I burn away the Grief that clouds my mind, that strangles my voice. Bit by bit, I transform the cracks in my heart that will never heal, into something beautiful, a work of art painted in gold, making me, not whole, but transformed. Filling the fractures that will ever remain, with precious love, warmth, affection, community, and making me better for it. Grief is not a path to strength, I think, at least not for me... instead, it is a path to a transformed outlook, a way to remind me that the world is beautiful for the people around me, and worth being better for.
It is a different kind of strength I am used to wielding, but perhaps, given time, practice, and those around me, it will be the greatest strength I have ever known. Maybe this is what she saw when she looked at me, this piece of art, vibrant, treasure, strong. I'll keep working on it.
Written By Dominique
Feb. 8, 2017, 6:28 p.m.(11/19/1005 AR)
Written By Rymarr
Feb. 8, 2017, 5:59 p.m.(11/19/1005 AR)
Relationship Note on Aleksei
Sir Aleksei has already thrown out many excuses as to why he is unqualified, yet each has been defeated as soundly as Sir Aleksei has defeated many a foe throughout his career as a knight.
It is only a matter of time and a matter of the people believing that Sir Aleksei Morgan could be an unorthodox, but still quite effective protector of the Crown as a member of the most august protects of His Majesty, the King's Own.
I have unerring faith in Sir Aleksei that he will, with time and reflection, come to recognition the immense amount of good he will be capable of when he does finally give in to destiny. I will welcome him with open arms when that time arrives and seek to take his vow myself if permitted.
Gods be praised.
Written By Rowan
Feb. 8, 2017, 5:44 p.m.(11/19/1005 AR)
Relationship Note on Bianca
Written By Victus
Feb. 8, 2017, 5:19 p.m.(11/19/1005 AR)
Relationship Note on Aldwin
The Faith will choose what Dominus they will, regardless of my fucking approval.
Still, I approve.
Written By Aislin
Feb. 8, 2017, 5:04 p.m.(11/19/1005 AR)
Relationship Note on Rowan
But the truth is, we share a similar curiosity, a similar desire to /understand/ the world. A similar willingness to push the boundaries in hopes of reclaiming the things we've forgotten. (And also a similar fondness for perching in trees.)
He's one of those handful I could see myself adventuring with quite successfully. I don't have a lot of close friends like that. So the ones who have that potential to become such... well, they're worth remembering.
Written By Aleksei
Feb. 8, 2017, 4:51 p.m.(11/19/1005 AR)
Relationship Note on Holden
And he'll have to catch me first.
Written By Dagon
Feb. 8, 2017, 4:45 p.m.(11/19/1005 AR)
Written By Holden
Feb. 8, 2017, 4:38 p.m.(11/19/1005 AR)
Relationship Note on Aleksei
Someday soon, I'm gonna end up punchin' him square in the face.
Written By Donella
Feb. 8, 2017, 3:26 p.m.(11/19/1005 AR)
It feels like forever since I have been allowed to sit here, and make my communion with the page, and collect my thoughts. I didn't know that I would miss a comfort as commonplace. I am glad that what I had written privately on my own could be added to my folio, for the sake of completion, though I never intend that other eyes should read the contents of my black journals. Much of the time, my words are my attempts to find myself, reading between the lines. Sometimes they shame me, and other times, I discover things to encourage me.
These days have been a test, and a test that in many respects I have failed. So many questions. So few clear choices. My head at war with my spirit. The days are frightening and lonely ones. There are a few hands to reach for, though in the dark times, for strength, wisdom... and aid.
And my journals.
Written By Ida
Feb. 8, 2017, 3:18 p.m.(11/19/1005 AR)
Sometimes nature has other plans for her creatures, which seems to be the case with Runtystiltskin. So named by Lady Niamh Greenmarch, he is a runt of a war elk who likely would not fare well in the wilderness and is certainly too small to serve as a proper war elk. To say that I am beyond thrilled and grateful that he is now in my charge would be an understatement! If he doesn't seem to mind it, I'm going to see how well he can balance weapons in his antlers soon enough...
Written By Michael
Feb. 8, 2017, 3:04 p.m.(11/19/1005 AR)
So many remain unsettled. So many give into panic. I refuse. If doom aims to rear its head, I will not yield to worry. I will not give into panic. Minds greater than me will have plenty to say about what can be done, but in the interim, I will do what I can to maintain the peace.
I hold my resolve.
Written By Merek
Feb. 8, 2017, 2:03 p.m.(11/18/1005 AR)
I would first like to thank you for taking the time to read this scroll, which has been titled, The Silent Reflections. Now some might ask, what are those? Not all know about them, even if such is common knowledge amongst most people in Arvum. Well, the first thing is, these are men and women who have broken their oaths that now serve in the Shrine of the Thirteenth, such as people who were Scholars and viewed the Black Reflections of others, or giving out knowledge that was not sanctioned to do so, such as private treatsies and affairs, being used in ways that they were not meant, against the people. For this, their writing hand and their tongues have been removed. It is sad, but it is the truth of the matter, and these people must live their whole life out as this.
Here, I write about what I learned while serving alongside with the Silent Reflections as part of the Scholars. First, the Silent Reflections are still men, and have personalities, though most have been subdued by what has happened to them. I went as far as to ask of people that knew them to hear of some of their crimes. There was one in particular who sought to use knowledge he found to pull political maneuvers and abuse his position as a Godsworn to sway favor. He had come to learn the error of his ways, but never again will he be able to make the same mistake. Their services are simple, mundane, but... More difficult. One learns that there are quite a few means to end up amongst their ranks. The importance of the oaths are paramount, because the duties are sacred, not meant to be abused for the means of man. It is in this service, where still allowed to live, that I've learned these people must learn the weight of what they had done. And quite a few do hold resentment, but some have come to terms with what they have done.
I would then state that the most important thing I've learned is the heavy price associated to oaths like they once served. And I believe that oath never truly went away. These men are still bound to that oath, but their new duties, are to find a way to repent, that the Gods and men might find them acceptable in spirit once more, for the lives we live upon the world are finite, but much more important is that we take into due consideration the importance of what we do with it, for it determines what will come after.
Written By Harald
Feb. 8, 2017, 1:41 p.m.(11/18/1005 AR)
Survival is merely the means to the true goal of victory, of dominance. At times, survival is not even needed for that, when one is wise enough, for such is the nature of sacrifice.
It is a fool who aims for a goal that does not ensure final triumph, or marches without knowing how to grasp true victory.
So long as life endures, hope remains, and hope is a virtue.
But domination is a strategy.
Do not hope for mere survival, when one can grasp further, toward triumph.
Please note that the scholars may take some time preparing your journal for others to read.