Written By Gwenna
March 31, 2021, 9:44 a.m.(3/16/1015 AR)
I've had occasion recently to contemplate lessons I've had over the years, and the variety of areas they touch. Ones that some might consider beneath the peerage, and yet /someone/ needs to have an inkling of what they are in order to manage a household, holding, or even a small part of the realm. This lead to my thoughts wandering about how I might wish to be remembered. As a skilled diplomat? Steward of the Northlands? Vain, really.
I believe I'll be happiest having made my family proud, more than anything else, and been a small part of what we all do together to make House Redrain great.
I believe I'll be happiest having made my family proud, more than anything else, and been a small part of what we all do together to make House Redrain great.
Written By Gwenna
March 21, 2021, 5:04 p.m.(2/25/1015 AR)
Often, winter is the time when people are able to catch up on the things that fairer weather makes a bit more difficult to do. The stores can be more easily counted, as few wagons are making their way from the north to unload yet more grain or what have you. Things do not stop, of course, as winter does not reach all of the Compact, but for us? There is a touch of a breather. I feel like I've spent much of the last few weeks doing such catch up, being scarce on the social scenes, as they say. It is needed work, though, and I do enjoy it - dull as some may find it. The quiet tasks that no one sees are just as important as the ones that are not, and I am truly blessed to have a family full of people who happily excel at both for House Redrain.
Written By Gwenna
March 15, 2021, 3:35 p.m.(2/13/1015 AR)
Truly, House Sanna throws the most wonderful affairs and I found myself honored with an invitation to the one for Lady Tila recently. The new ballroom is absolutely stunning - I can only imagine what wonderful future events might be held there. It was really great getting to catch up with dear friends and family, as well as put aside the the more serious concerns of the day - if only for a little while.
Written By Gwenna
March 13, 2021, 7:07 a.m.(2/8/1015 AR)
Relationship Note on Michael
Congratulations cousin. I am certain the new responsibilities and duties will keep you too busy to train more kittens that eat only my slippers or attempt to shred my ankles, for which I am immeasurably grateful.
Being serious, though, I have no doubt you will be a fine and honorable Duke for House Bisland, and very much look forward to seeing all you will achieve.
Being serious, though, I have no doubt you will be a fine and honorable Duke for House Bisland, and very much look forward to seeing all you will achieve.
Written By Gwenna
March 1, 2021, 8:32 p.m.(1/13/1015 AR)
Relationship Note on Giulio
My heart breaks at the news of Count Giulio Corvini's death, and finding the right words to describe my feelings is proving difficult. He was not only a friend to Redrain, but to me as well. He never hesitated to steer me along paths he thought I might best pursue, or recommend people I should speak to - or they, with me. There was never a hesitation about sharing what he knew, and I think he knew more than anyone I have ever met. His ability to put pieces together was truly astounding, and he was exceptionally generous both with his friendship and his intellect. I count myself so very, very lucky and grateful to have known him. The world is dimmer, and it feels like a great tome has been closed by shadows.
Written By Gwenna
Feb. 24, 2021, 3:10 p.m.(1/3/1015 AR)
Winter comes to Arx once again, which is my eighth here in the city. It is not like the winters of Farhaven, of course - winters here are not nearly as cold or serene, but I enjoy them all the same. There is still the same crisp scent on the wind, like snow is soon to come, and seeing your breath like tiny white chimney smoke as you make your way around the wards and beyond. I debate holding another bonfire event to celebrate, even though the world so often seems dim by loss and war to come.
Written By Gwenna
Feb. 23, 2021, 10:04 a.m.(1/1/1015 AR)
I am heartbroken for the recent losses, especially of my Laurent kin. Some days it feels like just too damn many are gone. I try to take comfort that they surely are welcomed back and embraced by the Queen, but that is not always easy to do.
Written By Gwenna
Feb. 10, 2021, 4:04 p.m.(11/28/1014 AR)
My more recent paintings have been done in order to honor something. I've been struggling for weeks on a new piece, which I had hoped to dedicate to Mangata and her shrine. The colors don't feel right, the lines appear juvenile, and I've scrapped more drafts than I care to admit in writing.
Maybe, instead, I should draw (no pun intended) deeper and paint what haunts me. It seems to work for others, from what I have been reading, and perhaps that's where my inspiration should be drawn from. At the worst, I'll end up with more trashed canvases, I suppose.
Maybe, instead, I should draw (no pun intended) deeper and paint what haunts me. It seems to work for others, from what I have been reading, and perhaps that's where my inspiration should be drawn from. At the worst, I'll end up with more trashed canvases, I suppose.
Written By Gwenna
Jan. 24, 2021, 4:59 p.m.(10/22/1014 AR)
I am so very grateful to all of those who came by the ward for what was a rather short-notice bonfire. Getting together casually to just catch up with people or make new friends is something I always like doing, and bonfires seem perfectly conducive for as much. I am so thankful, especially in times of crisis, for such amazing family and friends. I think everyone enjoyed themselves and now, it seems, we've a dessert gathering to plan for next!
Written By Gwenna
Jan. 16, 2021, 6:18 a.m.(10/6/1014 AR)
Relationship Note on Andrina
A couple of weeks ago I found myself at Jayus' Shrine, hoping for some inspiration I suppose. I found it, though not in the way that I had imagined. I met Andrina Thornburn, of the famous Thornburns, an artist who I had already been hearing about a bit in the city. I hadn't expected to have such a delightful conversation which weaved between discussions of art to our origins and families. The way she described combining materials for her sculptures for the effects she hoped to create was nothing short of brilliant. I was, indeed, quite inspired when I left the shrine and am so glad our paths happened to cross. I very much look forward to seeing her future sculptures! Especially as I missed out on purchasing one she that was recently for sale.
Written By Gwenna
Jan. 11, 2021, 4:23 p.m.(9/24/1014 AR)
In times of impending crisis, every so often someone makes a remark suggesting that there are bigger things going on in the world, like war, with which to spend our thoughts and journals. That the smaller things, even the petty things, should be tucked away or go unrecorded because there are more important things we should be putting our minds to. Yes, war does loom and certainly many in the Compact spend more hours of their days planning and worrying about it than otherwise. That does not mean we think of nothing else, like the desire to paint, or noting how much we enjoyed an event. And, yes, even our irritations with the smaller things of this world. Perhaps we should not have the time to make such remarks to others in the same manner, were such to be true.
Written By Gwenna
Jan. 10, 2021, 10:06 a.m.(9/22/1014 AR)
I have been hearing that no few great economic and accounting minds have been arriving in the city the last couple of months. I've half a mind to hold some sort of gathering where we might discuss our various experiences and thoughts. Some will surely think such an event would be duller than un-buttered toast, but I can assure you that bookkeeping can be quite entertaining.
Written By Gwenna
Jan. 10, 2021, 8:06 a.m.(9/22/1014 AR)
Once again, and despite my promises to myself, my paints lay idle and a canvas half completed. It's been an interesting couple of weeks, though, and I can't really be that upset with myself. Painting is for idle time, and the gods and spirits know I've had little of that. Which isn't a bad thing, by any means, as none of what I've been doing has been unpleasant.
Written By Gwenna
Jan. 2, 2021, 9:14 a.m.(9/6/1014 AR)
Relationship Note on Sabella
Metaphor or not, I also find brownies with walnuts - or any sort of nuts, really - quite disappointing.
Written By Gwenna
Dec. 26, 2020, 7:42 p.m.(8/21/1014 AR)
I tried to get out about the city a bit, even though I still find summer in Arx a bit too warm for my tastes. When I heard that whiskeys from the Sanna estate would be paired with some sparring? Well, hard thing to resist. As tends to be the case, I wasn't able to stay long, but I did witness a bout between Raven, The Blackheart, and Sir Amund. And what a spar that was! Almost makes me wish I could wield a sword. The whiskey was exceptional and I was graciously offered an invitation to the next family dinner. I may have hinted about politely crashing it before that, I admit.
Written By Gwenna
Dec. 26, 2020, 6:57 p.m.(8/21/1014 AR)
I attended the celebratory event for Lord Ciro Seraceni, though I don't really know him properly just yet. We exchanged a couple of messengers about endeavors he hopes to work on, so I thought to catch up with him at an event held in his name. Brilliant deduction on my part, that. Kidding aside, I'm glad I went even though I did not get the chance to speak with the guest of honor.
Instead, I lucked into spending time with some of my most favorite people in the city! As well as made a new acquaintance, and have plans to catch up with at least a couple of them soon over tea. While duties kept me from staying as long as I might have liked, and I shied away from dancing, it was an absolutely wonderful time.
Instead, I lucked into spending time with some of my most favorite people in the city! As well as made a new acquaintance, and have plans to catch up with at least a couple of them soon over tea. While duties kept me from staying as long as I might have liked, and I shied away from dancing, it was an absolutely wonderful time.
Written By Gwenna
Dec. 25, 2020, 7:03 p.m.(8/19/1014 AR)
I am working on another painting, when time allows. I had hoped to do something that represents the winds over the seas, but that seems a hard concept for me to put to canvas. Instead, it will be two seahorses, which I admit have nothing to do with the wind but...well. Such are within my talents at this point and I hope it will be well received.
Written By Gwenna
Dec. 13, 2020, 3:11 p.m.(7/22/1014 AR)
I was unable to attend the Cathedral Auction as I had hoped to do. Sometimes trade agreements take far longer than they should, especially when summer comes and travel in and out of the Northlands is so much more hospitable.
I heard it was a glorious affair and did much toward the efforts going to the rebuilding of the Cathedral. I hoped the pieces I did helped in that regard. Even if not, it sparked a bit of fire in me to create more. Sometimes getting lost in thought, paint, and canvas can be a good way to forget the frustrations and worries of the world. I have too many of them these days.
I heard it was a glorious affair and did much toward the efforts going to the rebuilding of the Cathedral. I hoped the pieces I did helped in that regard. Even if not, it sparked a bit of fire in me to create more. Sometimes getting lost in thought, paint, and canvas can be a good way to forget the frustrations and worries of the world. I have too many of them these days.
Written By Gwenna
Nov. 29, 2020, 11:01 a.m.(6/22/1014 AR)
I suppose I got rather full of myself after completing two paintings for the charity auction - having not been inspired enough to paint for so long before that. I went to Mangata's shrine in the hopes of creating a work to honor her, as the sea and storms are things I am drawn to. Nothing on canvas came out as I saw it in my head, though, and I need to rethink the whole thing. The hair was /completely/ wrong and the sense of elegance and power I had hoped for just...wasn't there. It is frustrating to fail, though I try to learn something every time I do. I have learned a whole lot over the years.
Written By Gwenna
Nov. 25, 2020, 9:11 a.m.(6/14/1014 AR)
It feels like it has been years since I managed to put brush to canvas - and it may be true, for time seems to pass at an extraordinarily quick rate these days. So often I have stood before a canvas just over the past year with a blank mind and, as it would end up, an equally blank canvas at the end of the day.
After word from Princess Sabella, however, I managed to create two pieces that I'm rather proud of, even if they needed quite a bit of touching up. Both will be donated for the Cathedral Art Auction Fundraiser and, while modest, hopefully will fetch even a bit of silver to go toward the efforts.
After word from Princess Sabella, however, I managed to create two pieces that I'm rather proud of, even if they needed quite a bit of touching up. Both will be donated for the Cathedral Art Auction Fundraiser and, while modest, hopefully will fetch even a bit of silver to go toward the efforts.
Please note that the scholars may take some time preparing your journal for others to read.