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Written By Julea

Feb. 3, 2017, 6:22 a.m.(11/3/1005 AR)

Relationship Note on Victus

So recently I had the pleasure of Highlord Victus' company for lunch at the Ebb and Flow Inn within the Thrax ward. And he surprised me. He has something of a reputation, and while he is every bit the gruff warlord that people paint him to be. He was not a monster, not even close. I like to think we got along well. He was surprisingly charming, and he didn't even have to get out his pectorals to have me just a little smitten. Not that I would object if he did.

I can certainly see why the Thrax stand behind him.

Written By Preston

Feb. 3, 2017, 1:58 a.m.(11/2/1005 AR)

Relationship Note on Jasher

I do not have many friends outside of my brothers and sisters the Templar.

This is likely a flaw: it has been said to me that I need to work to understand people outside of the circle of the Faith more.

Yet, he is a friend.

Written By Merek

Feb. 3, 2017, 1:36 a.m.(11/2/1005 AR)

You know, it has been a little while since I wrote. I have been having some fun with my research, and I serve with the Iron Guard to perform my duties. Still, with things the way that they are, getting to know people is quite difficult. My views have changed a bit since coming here, though I think that all people deserve respect, even these races of elves. Perhaps like us, there are some that aren't as rough as others say, and might be nice.

Written By Merek

Feb. 3, 2017, 1:25 a.m.(11/2/1005 AR)

Relationship Note on Costas

This man is quite interesting. From the Lower Boroughs, but he seems to mean well. That doesn't surprise me, I mean not all men are rough and tumble, I just didn't expect many from there to trust the Iron Guard after the riot. But I hope that we can take steps to make Arx a better place.

Written By Preston

Feb. 3, 2017, 12:58 a.m.(11/2/1005 AR)

Relationship Note on Orazio

There is only one man I have ever thought more wise then him, but the Legate of Concepts has shown himself to be kind, wise, and cunning.

Written By Joscelin

Feb. 3, 2017, 12:30 a.m.(11/2/1005 AR)

Relationship Note on Aureth

You think you know a guy.

Really, Aureth?

Really?

Written By Margot

Feb. 2, 2017, 11:49 p.m.(11/2/1005 AR)

Relationship Note on Lark

I know this is not what you want. And that makes you the best choice for it.

Written By Juliet

Feb. 2, 2017, 11:19 p.m.(11/2/1005 AR)

Relationship Note on Anze

I've been answering a lot of questions, but Prince Anze of Redrain caught me by surprise. It was delightful. He'll make a woman very happy one day, I'm sure.


He's a kitten, really.

Written By Aureth

Feb. 2, 2017, 11:18 p.m.(11/2/1005 AR)

I didn't plan to do that.

I mean, rarely is anything I do planned, these days. I feel like I used to plan more.

But it felt raw, and real, like I had to speak. I've never held so much truth in me. I've never held so much anger. I've never felt so much fear.

It's all related.

The Silence is coming. We have to stop it. Everything else is secondary. I keep saying this to everyone who will listen, so why not write it here?

I want to go on living. Kill the Bringers. Stop Tolamar Brand. This is her command.

Life may be unforgiving. Power slips through your fingers like so much hourglass sand--

Oh gods almighty, all that rhymed, now she's got me doing it. I need a drink.

Written By Silas

Feb. 2, 2017, 11:11 p.m.(11/2/1005 AR)

PLAN FOR IRON GUARD REFORM, ROUGH DRAFT #1

It is the new mission of the Iron Guard to safeguard the lives and property of the people we serve, to reduce the incidence and fear of crime, and to enhance public safety while working with the diverse communities to improve their quality of life. Our mandate is to do so with honor and integrity, while at all times conducting ourselves with the highest ethical standards to maintain public confidence.

Training at all levels - academic, field, and in-service - will support these principles. We have always, and always will, draw in recruits from all walks of life: we will see to the recruitment of officers who have a "spirit of service" instead of only a "spirit of adventure." We will thoughtfully examine where we are seeking recruits, whom we are recruiting and hiring, and what is being tested. Performance, reward, and promotional procedures will support sound problem-solving activities, proactive policing, community collaboration, and citizen satisfaction with guard conduct.

We will form collaborative partnerships between the Iron Guard and the individuals and organizations they serve to develop solutions to problems and increase trust in the Iron Guard. We recognize that the Iron Guard rarely can solve public safety problems alone, and we wish for interactive partnerships with relevant stakeholders.

The Iron Guard can partner with a number of other government agencies to identify community concerns and offer alternative solutions. Examples of agencies include legislative bodies, prosecutors, public works departments, health and human services, child support services, and ordinance enforcement.

Individuals who live, work, or otherwise have an interest in the community - volunteers, activists, formal and informal community leaders, residents, and visitors - are a valuable resource for identifying community concerns. These factions of the community can be - and hopefully will be - engaged in achieving specific goals at town hall meetings, decentralized offices/storefronts in the community, and team beat assignments.

There will be long-term assignment of guardsmen to specific neighborhoods or areas. Geographic deployment plans can help enhance service and facilitate more contact between guards and citizens, thus establishing a strong relationship and mutual accountability.

There will be a decentralization in both command structure and decision making. Decentralized decision making allows frontline guards to take responsibility for their role in policing. When a guard is able to create solutions to problems and take risks, he or she ultimately feels accountable for those solutions and assumes a greater responsibility for the well-being of the community. Decentralized decision making involves flattening the hierarchy of the agency, increasing tolerance for risk taking in problem-solving efforts, and allowing guards discretion in handling calls. In addition, providing sufficient authority to coordinate various resources to attack a problem and allowing guards the autonomy to establish relationships with the community will help define problems and develop possible solutions.

Leaders serve as role models for taking risks and building collaborative relationships, and they use their position to influence and educate others about it. Leaders, therefore, must constantly emphasize and reinforce the Iron Guard's vision, values, and mission within their organization and support and articulate a commitment to the protection of those they serve.

In the end, our goal is to move away from the traditional policing goals, which revolved around simply protecting law-abiding citizens from criminals by accumulating evidence and jailing them - and towards a proactive partnership with citizens to identify and solve problems; to assist the public in establishing and maintaining a safe, orderly social environment.

Sir Silas Mercier
Lord Commander of the Iron Guard

Written By Leona

Feb. 2, 2017, 10:45 p.m.(11/2/1005 AR)

Relationship Note on Luna

A refugee from the woods, where demons apparently killed most of the people she knew, she's been sleeping in the streets with her bear. Her bear! His name is Reinhart and against my better judgment I've introduced her to Valerius. In any case, she sees spirits which is interesting to me for more reasons than I care to name, and apparently she dances too. And likes sweet drinks over whiskey, but nobody's perfect. I'm looking forward to seeing her again.

Written By Leona

Feb. 2, 2017, 9:15 p.m.(11/1/1005 AR)

Relationship Note on Rymarr

He is quiet and stalwart, his whole being focused completely on the task at hand - protecting the King from enemies both foreign and domestic. Well, almost completely focused. His sense of humor is understated and brilliant, and his taste in cider impressive. Nonetheless, I am quite comfortable taking orders from the new Lord Commander, and I could not have entrusted the sword of my mentor to a better man. He is sometimes a little tactless, but I can appreciate that. And he is meant for great things. Hopefully those great things won't get him killed.

Written By Leona

Feb. 2, 2017, 9:11 p.m.(11/1/1005 AR)

Three weeks since I turned over the Lord Commander's sword to Rymarr. Three weeks. You people couldn't hold it together for three solid weeks before gleefully marching toward the apocalypse? Really? Some of my reasons for turning over the sword still remain. Others are now resolved. My decision stands, but apparently a woman's work is never done.

Really? Three weeks?

Written By Serafine

Feb. 2, 2017, 7:20 p.m.(11/1/1005 AR)

My beloved offered to knit me socks, so that my feet would remain dry as I chased after dogs.

I swear I have never had an off-handed suggestion squeeze my heart so, nor ever in my life felt the sudden impression to swoon.

Love is ridiculous. It makes us all ridiculous.

Pietro, stop laughing at me.

Written By Kima

Feb. 2, 2017, 7:13 p.m.(11/1/1005 AR)

I've always preferred men to women. As friends, as lovers, as figures of authority. Men like to keep things simple. None of the absurd oversensitivity, reacting to every damned expression or glance or gesture. None of the stewing over some careless comment made in passing. And, most importantly, none of the vicious backstabbing and poison cups given with such winning smiles.

No.

I have long since learned all the cruel lessons of my own gender. I've seen enough eyes crawling up and down my body: judging the clothes I wear, the cut and style of my hair, the man at my side. I've seen women carving up others when they think their victim isn't looking, (Sometimes, even when they know that they are looking!) with eyes like blades.

Stab! Slice! Gut!

And isn't it true -beyond all challenge or doubt- that women who prefer the company of men are they most hated women of all?

Written By Orazio

Feb. 2, 2017, 4:24 p.m.(11/1/1005 AR)

To the Faithful Reader:

It is in the extremes that one grows to understand the strength of one's connections and the truth of one's friendships. Sometimes, it is simply in the kindnesses shown, be it a selection of exquisite teas, the impromptu rearrangement of one's sleeping quarters, or any number of cherished messages sent by those close to my heart. We are a strong and passionate people, the Arvani. Often, this very strength and passion can lead us into impasse and conflict, torn apart by competing duties or desires; as a man, I have often tried to moderate and disperse this passion, to replace it (or at least to channel it) with the cooler, harder substances of reason and intellect.

But it is good to be reminded, once in a while, that it is our passions which urge people close, and hold the bonds between us fast even when reason and intellect might suggest we should pull away. Never be ashamed of your regard and affection for another, faithful readers, even though the world may tell you it is foolish. Do not allow it to tempt you into dishonor or away from the gods' path, but do not be ashamed. Limerance is, after all, the god of Love and Fidelity.

Written By Bethany

Feb. 2, 2017, 12:59 p.m.(10/28/1005 AR)

No, Scholar I am not done yet. I just had no desire to have that moment of flailing panic to be permanently documented in the Journals.

(I am *not* getting a new dress for this - the one that Mistress Aurora made last summer will suit me just fine!)

Damnation!

Written By Bethany

Feb. 2, 2017, 12:44 p.m.(10/28/1005 AR)

By the scantified scrot--

No, no. No cursing. How did I not know that my own reception was just around the corner? See. This is what happens when I mope for too long.

Written By Serafine

Feb. 2, 2017, 12:21 p.m.(10/28/1005 AR)

Propriety? Really?

Written By Fergus

Feb. 2, 2017, 10:48 a.m.(10/28/1005 AR)

Each day it seems there is something new, whether it is the vanishing of others, their death, uprisings, conflict.

I took the sword down from the mantle to see if I could make right things that went wrong, and I may have found a way to do that in a manner I didn't think about before.

I have been trying to seek opinions of those that aren't noble, but live their lives in the uncertaintity of their future, and I want to give them something to be certain about.

Their own strength. It is something we all look at when we look inside of ourselves, and we wonder if we are strong enough to continue doing what is needed to be done.

When we feel strong, we are sure footed, confident, and we know the next day will not be our last. It makes you calm. It makes you know hope.

I wish to give that to the people.

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