Written By Reigna
Jan. 12, 2019, 11:38 a.m.(5/6/1010 AR)
Relationship Note on Shard
I do so enjoy reading your words.
You are correct, history is always told in many and often varying voices. It is the challenge of every historian to try to find the most plausible thread, the one with the most repeated patterns and theorize from that what the truth might have been.
Several things have been brought to my attention and need to be stated before I continue:
1. I showed judgement and bias when I used the word 'cowardice' to describe those who fell into the category of not choosing a side. That was not only unfair, it cast that judgement onto people who may not have seen another road. It is too easy to look at the past and say 'oh, the answer is obvious' without really grasping the many shades of gray that can make choices so very difficult. With my wording I rendered what was likely impossible-seeming choices into a literal black and white, yes or no situation that is incredibly inaccurate and not respectful. For that, I do apologize.
2. Historians often do operate on multiple levels when teaching or speaking on topics, the shallowest level is the broad strokes, boiling down complex issues to the major points. From there, specifics can be raised, individual points debated, and so on, the deeper and more specific the scholars wish to go, narrowing their focus and discussing the finer details.
3. Truth can be subjective. A difficult lesson, and one that goes counter to a logical mind, this is, nevertheless, the truth. There can certainly be an objective truth: Living humans do the following: We walk on the ground, we breathe air, we bleed. These are objectively true facts. But in any instance of conflict, the truth can be entirely, wholly subjective. If you ask two people in the midst of a quarrel what is going on, you are likely to get similar but different answers. Even when each are being entirely truthful, they will experience different things. This fact makes recording and researching subjects like history to be incredibly challenging.
So I do understand and acknowledge that the stories you grew up with are undoubtedly different than the ones I was taught. I do understand that I was over-simplifying and showing an innate bias when I regrettably used the word 'cowardice'. So, let me put this forth:
The past is the past. There is no changing what has been. But we can choose to shape our future. I very much liked your analogy about the broken pot, the pieces scattered into different elements. You are correct, there is no way to make them fit together they way they were. In order to bring them together, it will have to be new. It heartens me to hear you acknowledge that something can be built from those broken pieces. And that is what I am trying to advocate for. What happened has happened. There is no changing what has been. Not anymore. And in truth, I do not think it should. The past shapes us, teaches us, strengthens us. If we let it, it can educate us in how not to make the same mistakes. As a prodigal yourself, are you not better for being part of the Compact? Is the way of life here, not better than the alternative?
You speak of your tribe, about their nomadic ways. Their concern that their way of life might vanish. The common folk of the Compact are never bound to one place. They are free to travel as they wish to. It might be that they would have to broker agreements with lords over the lands they travel through, but think of how much less stressful that would be if there was not the fear of being at odds with those soldiers? Of being able to discuss issues with the lord? They could supplement their hunts with supplies traded with villagers or merchants. They could sell excess furs or meat for items that might make their lives easier. They could avoid starvation in the lean times.
I am positive there are things wrong with my vision. That, being someone born, raised and of the Peerage I do not see. But I do see the benefits. I see the lack of fear, I see support offered. I see all the reasons to come home. For I truly think your people would be happier in the long run by coming home.
You are correct, history is always told in many and often varying voices. It is the challenge of every historian to try to find the most plausible thread, the one with the most repeated patterns and theorize from that what the truth might have been.
Several things have been brought to my attention and need to be stated before I continue:
1. I showed judgement and bias when I used the word 'cowardice' to describe those who fell into the category of not choosing a side. That was not only unfair, it cast that judgement onto people who may not have seen another road. It is too easy to look at the past and say 'oh, the answer is obvious' without really grasping the many shades of gray that can make choices so very difficult. With my wording I rendered what was likely impossible-seeming choices into a literal black and white, yes or no situation that is incredibly inaccurate and not respectful. For that, I do apologize.
2. Historians often do operate on multiple levels when teaching or speaking on topics, the shallowest level is the broad strokes, boiling down complex issues to the major points. From there, specifics can be raised, individual points debated, and so on, the deeper and more specific the scholars wish to go, narrowing their focus and discussing the finer details.
3. Truth can be subjective. A difficult lesson, and one that goes counter to a logical mind, this is, nevertheless, the truth. There can certainly be an objective truth: Living humans do the following: We walk on the ground, we breathe air, we bleed. These are objectively true facts. But in any instance of conflict, the truth can be entirely, wholly subjective. If you ask two people in the midst of a quarrel what is going on, you are likely to get similar but different answers. Even when each are being entirely truthful, they will experience different things. This fact makes recording and researching subjects like history to be incredibly challenging.
So I do understand and acknowledge that the stories you grew up with are undoubtedly different than the ones I was taught. I do understand that I was over-simplifying and showing an innate bias when I regrettably used the word 'cowardice'. So, let me put this forth:
The past is the past. There is no changing what has been. But we can choose to shape our future. I very much liked your analogy about the broken pot, the pieces scattered into different elements. You are correct, there is no way to make them fit together they way they were. In order to bring them together, it will have to be new. It heartens me to hear you acknowledge that something can be built from those broken pieces. And that is what I am trying to advocate for. What happened has happened. There is no changing what has been. Not anymore. And in truth, I do not think it should. The past shapes us, teaches us, strengthens us. If we let it, it can educate us in how not to make the same mistakes. As a prodigal yourself, are you not better for being part of the Compact? Is the way of life here, not better than the alternative?
You speak of your tribe, about their nomadic ways. Their concern that their way of life might vanish. The common folk of the Compact are never bound to one place. They are free to travel as they wish to. It might be that they would have to broker agreements with lords over the lands they travel through, but think of how much less stressful that would be if there was not the fear of being at odds with those soldiers? Of being able to discuss issues with the lord? They could supplement their hunts with supplies traded with villagers or merchants. They could sell excess furs or meat for items that might make their lives easier. They could avoid starvation in the lean times.
I am positive there are things wrong with my vision. That, being someone born, raised and of the Peerage I do not see. But I do see the benefits. I see the lack of fear, I see support offered. I see all the reasons to come home. For I truly think your people would be happier in the long run by coming home.
Written By Reigna
Jan. 11, 2019, 3:33 p.m.(5/5/1010 AR)
Relationship Note on Shard
There is a vital difference between the points of your analogy. Which I very much appreciated, I should be sure to say that first. I am always happy to discuss differences of belief and opinion, and I hope you know that I respect your perspective and appreciate your sharing it with me. I do, however, still disagree and I hope you will see where I am coming from.
Prior to the Reckoning Arvum was split into four kingdoms. With the exception of the North which was ever warring tribes until Valeria made herself Queen by unifying them. But they were all Arvani. The land and the people were united within their kingdoms. Then the Reckoning came. And what was four kingdoms became five, became one. There were those who broke those bonds at that time. Refusing to unite under the banner of the Compact in favor of siding with the Abyss, or out of cowardice and fear, hoping to hide and ride it out on their own without committing to either the side of the light or the dark.
Thankfully the forces of the light won the day. But those who fought against them and those that refused to choose were no longer part of the light of the Compact. Perhaps in the centuries since they have forgotten what it means to belong. Perhaps their faith has been warped, distorted, not necessarily towards the Abyss, but rather into a bastardized version of the Faith. For instance, in Oakhaven, there are a small population of shav'arvani called the Ravenscrest people who worship Petrichor to the exclusion of all other gods.
I am likely getting away from myself. I do that. The point I am trying to make is this: At one point in time we were all the same. People from Cardia, or the Undying Empire -- they are foreign and have no claim on this land, nor its people. In my own, admittedly, humble opinion. They admit as much, claiming to seek to be stewards or guardians or whatever flavor of overseership they claim. What I am saying is that there need be no warring between the Abandoned and those of the Compact. We should welcome them into the Compact. Welcome them *home*. Yes, this requires that they return to the one true Faith. As any citizen of the Compact must do and acknowledge. Shamanism can coexist side by side with the Pantheon. Shamans will tell you the spirits are not to be worshiped. The relationship is different.
As long as those who feel Abandoned are welcomed in, given opportunities to acknowledge the true faith and abide by the laws of the Compact there should be no barriers.
Hopelessly naive? Likely. As evidenced by this roads project, large changes always result in upheaval and pain. But sometimes pain is necessary. Pain is a part of growth. Will there be problems? Of course there will be. People love to fight and complain and paint one another as other. We fight, squabble and war among ourselves. Adding in hundreds, thousands more will make that worse, certainly. But it does not mean it is wrong to do so.
So, no. I do not think the analogy works. Because Arvani are Arvani. Not Cardians, Eurusi or citizens of the Undying Emperor.
Prior to the Reckoning Arvum was split into four kingdoms. With the exception of the North which was ever warring tribes until Valeria made herself Queen by unifying them. But they were all Arvani. The land and the people were united within their kingdoms. Then the Reckoning came. And what was four kingdoms became five, became one. There were those who broke those bonds at that time. Refusing to unite under the banner of the Compact in favor of siding with the Abyss, or out of cowardice and fear, hoping to hide and ride it out on their own without committing to either the side of the light or the dark.
Thankfully the forces of the light won the day. But those who fought against them and those that refused to choose were no longer part of the light of the Compact. Perhaps in the centuries since they have forgotten what it means to belong. Perhaps their faith has been warped, distorted, not necessarily towards the Abyss, but rather into a bastardized version of the Faith. For instance, in Oakhaven, there are a small population of shav'arvani called the Ravenscrest people who worship Petrichor to the exclusion of all other gods.
I am likely getting away from myself. I do that. The point I am trying to make is this: At one point in time we were all the same. People from Cardia, or the Undying Empire -- they are foreign and have no claim on this land, nor its people. In my own, admittedly, humble opinion. They admit as much, claiming to seek to be stewards or guardians or whatever flavor of overseership they claim. What I am saying is that there need be no warring between the Abandoned and those of the Compact. We should welcome them into the Compact. Welcome them *home*. Yes, this requires that they return to the one true Faith. As any citizen of the Compact must do and acknowledge. Shamanism can coexist side by side with the Pantheon. Shamans will tell you the spirits are not to be worshiped. The relationship is different.
As long as those who feel Abandoned are welcomed in, given opportunities to acknowledge the true faith and abide by the laws of the Compact there should be no barriers.
Hopelessly naive? Likely. As evidenced by this roads project, large changes always result in upheaval and pain. But sometimes pain is necessary. Pain is a part of growth. Will there be problems? Of course there will be. People love to fight and complain and paint one another as other. We fight, squabble and war among ourselves. Adding in hundreds, thousands more will make that worse, certainly. But it does not mean it is wrong to do so.
So, no. I do not think the analogy works. Because Arvani are Arvani. Not Cardians, Eurusi or citizens of the Undying Emperor.
Written By Reigna
Jan. 10, 2019, 1:34 p.m.(5/3/1010 AR)
Change is pain. This is an immutable fact, one that I think healers and devotees of Lagoma understand more than most. Even good change, like healing is often a painful or deeply uncomfortable thing. This road was a massive change. To those that say we were invading other people's territory -- that is illogical. The land of Arvum, belongs as a whole, to the Compact. Just because all those living within those lands do not realize it (Outside of formalized treaties, such as with the Nox'alfar) does not make it untrue. Nothing is stopping those people from bending the knee to the Compact and living on those lands legally. This is not a condemnation or my saying their lives have no value. Of *course* they have value. I am a healer. But I am also a student of the law and a citizen of the Compact. They are living on our lands illegally. Living within the Compact is far better than living without it. They simply need to bend knee.
The inter-House disputes are awful, but again, misunderstandings and mistakes are part of being human. While the cost of human life is a terrible thing, it is not as though we as a culture are unfamiliar with this cost. The scale is deeply saddening and we should certainly make efforts to broker peace between our vassals where we can.
The price being paid now is sizable, and painful. I reiterate: Change is pain. But change, growth, is necessary. I pray to Lagoma and Gild tonight. I pray to Gloria to remind our people what valor and chivalry means. I pray to the Sentinel for justice to be found for those whose hearts are filled with hatred.
The inter-House disputes are awful, but again, misunderstandings and mistakes are part of being human. While the cost of human life is a terrible thing, it is not as though we as a culture are unfamiliar with this cost. The scale is deeply saddening and we should certainly make efforts to broker peace between our vassals where we can.
The price being paid now is sizable, and painful. I reiterate: Change is pain. But change, growth, is necessary. I pray to Lagoma and Gild tonight. I pray to Gloria to remind our people what valor and chivalry means. I pray to the Sentinel for justice to be found for those whose hearts are filled with hatred.
Written By Reigna
Jan. 6, 2019, 5:10 p.m.(4/23/1010 AR)
Relationship Note on Draven
The story I am about to commit to my journal is an unfortunate one indeed, and though I feel the need to formalize it in the written word, there is no small amount of regret that things have come to pass in the manner in which they have.
Some time ago, a young man, an alchemist of skill reached out to me to join the Physicians guild. As I am wont to do, I welcomed him in, assured him that there were classes and mentors aplenty that would be willing to work with him to increase his knowledge and skills, and outlined the general pathways for advancement. I am told that I spoke about a stipend, and in truth, that is something that does often come up. I do not precisely recall this part of the conversation, but it is standard, and thus possible.
Now, this young man is of a singular personality. And there is nothing wrong with youth and enthusiasm. They do, however, have their time and place. And being a healer is more than just knowing what plant or method does what. It is also about being able to read a patient, being capable of adapting your tone and manners and behavior to what is appropriate in that moment. Being endlessly cheerful can actually put some people ill at ease. When someone is scared, they might not want someone grinning at them as if it were the best day ever. I repeatedly, repeatedly, tried to convey this concept, both to Apothecary Bruvir, and his wife when I was confronted by their accusations that I was refusing to teach him, that I was negligent and malicious in doing so because I did not like him. I was also told that I had neglected to add him to the payroll of the organization, and that for six long months he had worked without pay. That he was owed his payment and that, again, I was being spiteful in not doing so. I expressed confusion as to why no one had said anything to me for six long months, there was no answer other than that I owed restitution. After some back and forth I did supply the funds for the missing time. This money was returned to me by Lord Arik Halfshav, a person I have deep respect for.
I had another encounter with Apothecary Draven within the Saving Grace hospital wherein he was overtly disrespectful to a Master Physician present. I took exception to this and told him I do not find overt acts of disrespect among colleagues and in front of patients. At which time he turned his disrespect towards me. Telling me I was a poor guildmaster, that I neglect to look into the root of issues, that I am disrespectful towards him and all commoners, that I am a liar and a cheater and, peculiarly, that I have ugly feet.
Admittedly it was that last part that had me in tears later. I admit they are a bit red and swollen and likely only to be moreso as my pregnancy continues to advance.
Still, I made the decision then and there to remove him from the roster of the Physicians Guild and unless he is in need of medical care, he is banned from both the Saving Grace and the Commons Clinic.
It pains me to do this. I dislike the idea of cutting ties, but when one proves unwilling to consider anything but their own perspective, when they cannot show respect for their colleagues, then I cannot trust them.
Some time ago, a young man, an alchemist of skill reached out to me to join the Physicians guild. As I am wont to do, I welcomed him in, assured him that there were classes and mentors aplenty that would be willing to work with him to increase his knowledge and skills, and outlined the general pathways for advancement. I am told that I spoke about a stipend, and in truth, that is something that does often come up. I do not precisely recall this part of the conversation, but it is standard, and thus possible.
Now, this young man is of a singular personality. And there is nothing wrong with youth and enthusiasm. They do, however, have their time and place. And being a healer is more than just knowing what plant or method does what. It is also about being able to read a patient, being capable of adapting your tone and manners and behavior to what is appropriate in that moment. Being endlessly cheerful can actually put some people ill at ease. When someone is scared, they might not want someone grinning at them as if it were the best day ever. I repeatedly, repeatedly, tried to convey this concept, both to Apothecary Bruvir, and his wife when I was confronted by their accusations that I was refusing to teach him, that I was negligent and malicious in doing so because I did not like him. I was also told that I had neglected to add him to the payroll of the organization, and that for six long months he had worked without pay. That he was owed his payment and that, again, I was being spiteful in not doing so. I expressed confusion as to why no one had said anything to me for six long months, there was no answer other than that I owed restitution. After some back and forth I did supply the funds for the missing time. This money was returned to me by Lord Arik Halfshav, a person I have deep respect for.
I had another encounter with Apothecary Draven within the Saving Grace hospital wherein he was overtly disrespectful to a Master Physician present. I took exception to this and told him I do not find overt acts of disrespect among colleagues and in front of patients. At which time he turned his disrespect towards me. Telling me I was a poor guildmaster, that I neglect to look into the root of issues, that I am disrespectful towards him and all commoners, that I am a liar and a cheater and, peculiarly, that I have ugly feet.
Admittedly it was that last part that had me in tears later. I admit they are a bit red and swollen and likely only to be moreso as my pregnancy continues to advance.
Still, I made the decision then and there to remove him from the roster of the Physicians Guild and unless he is in need of medical care, he is banned from both the Saving Grace and the Commons Clinic.
It pains me to do this. I dislike the idea of cutting ties, but when one proves unwilling to consider anything but their own perspective, when they cannot show respect for their colleagues, then I cannot trust them.
Written By Reigna
Jan. 6, 2019, 4:38 p.m.(4/23/1010 AR)
Relationship Note on Domonico
A caring and thoughtful young Lord I had the pleasure of meeting in trying and difficult circumstances. His care for his kin was obvious and his support in an unfortunate matter was most appreciated. As to headbutting, well. That particular maneuver is most certainly not a fantastic one to practice often. The brain is delicate in its hard shell that is our skull, and smashing it against said shell is a recipe for lots of bruising. When we bruise the brain is overwhelmed by blood and it pushes the phlegmatic humor down from its balanced locations of the brain and lungs to just residing in the lungs. With the sanguine dominant, it effects the balance, eyesight and sometimes causes heaviness of breathing. Sometimes, if the injury is severe enough, one of the eyes will show signs of this change in pressure, with one of the pupils expanding to extraordinary size and no long being sensitive to changes in light. When this happens, the blood in the skull has grown so dominant, that a hole must be drilled into the skull to release the blood there.
Thankfully Lady Miranda's eyes while having difficulty focusing, were not so impaired as to require that treatment. Sleep will be the best remedy, as well as willow bark tea for the headaches, and the occasional foot plant to remind her body that the room is not spinning.
Thankfully Lady Miranda's eyes while having difficulty focusing, were not so impaired as to require that treatment. Sleep will be the best remedy, as well as willow bark tea for the headaches, and the occasional foot plant to remind her body that the room is not spinning.
Written By Reigna
Dec. 23, 2018, 1:38 p.m.(3/22/1010 AR)
Emotions are like waves in the ocean. Implacable, primal, stirred by forces we cannot ken. Powerful and able to defy all proper thought and the rules we set for the world we live in. The more we seek to master them, tame them and force them into our control the more defiant they become. Oh, you might build a wall to break those waves, but it will someday crack under the weight of their fury and the endless churn of the tide within.
This last wave of despondence and despair is a tragic thing, but it is, I believe, the result of trying to force our hand over our hearts. In times like these, perhaps the only thing to do is to lean into that pain. Embrace it. Sequester yourself away and give into the sorrow that ravages through you like a tempest. Give into the agony that tears at you. And when you have surrendered, fully, I promise there will be peace.
The most important bit in there, was that you do so while *alone*. For decisions made in those moments of agony are almost guaranteed to be terrible ones. Take all these divorces. Love within a political marriage is, and this might be a contentious musing, but remember these are my own thoughts, just my opinions and musings, but I do believe that love within a political match is a liability. I love my husband with my full heart, but there have been and continue to be, many times in which that very love has caused great pain and stress between us. Thankfully that has yet to result in a misstep politically, for we both, blessedly, are stubborn, stubborn people and loathe to take rash action. Well, he is. I am more impulsive in nature, he has a steadying effect on me which I very much appreciate.
Do not get me wrong, I would not change a single thing about my marriage, nor could I even imagine being wed to another. But, as I have said numerous times before, a noble's life is not their own. They must think beyond the bounds of their own being, pushing down their desires in favor of what is better for their people. Love can make us terribly selfish, it can pull us into a place where there exists just you and your lover. It can be that much harder to fight against the desires of the heart, when there are two hearts that beat within your breast. Or more, I suppose, if you are into that sort of thing.
I am sorrowful for all those lost to their own personal tempests, and I wish for them to heal as best they are able. We cannot let ourselves break upon the unruly tide. We must remember, that even in the darkest despair that there is, and always will be, hope.
This last wave of despondence and despair is a tragic thing, but it is, I believe, the result of trying to force our hand over our hearts. In times like these, perhaps the only thing to do is to lean into that pain. Embrace it. Sequester yourself away and give into the sorrow that ravages through you like a tempest. Give into the agony that tears at you. And when you have surrendered, fully, I promise there will be peace.
The most important bit in there, was that you do so while *alone*. For decisions made in those moments of agony are almost guaranteed to be terrible ones. Take all these divorces. Love within a political marriage is, and this might be a contentious musing, but remember these are my own thoughts, just my opinions and musings, but I do believe that love within a political match is a liability. I love my husband with my full heart, but there have been and continue to be, many times in which that very love has caused great pain and stress between us. Thankfully that has yet to result in a misstep politically, for we both, blessedly, are stubborn, stubborn people and loathe to take rash action. Well, he is. I am more impulsive in nature, he has a steadying effect on me which I very much appreciate.
Do not get me wrong, I would not change a single thing about my marriage, nor could I even imagine being wed to another. But, as I have said numerous times before, a noble's life is not their own. They must think beyond the bounds of their own being, pushing down their desires in favor of what is better for their people. Love can make us terribly selfish, it can pull us into a place where there exists just you and your lover. It can be that much harder to fight against the desires of the heart, when there are two hearts that beat within your breast. Or more, I suppose, if you are into that sort of thing.
I am sorrowful for all those lost to their own personal tempests, and I wish for them to heal as best they are able. We cannot let ourselves break upon the unruly tide. We must remember, that even in the darkest despair that there is, and always will be, hope.
Written By Reigna
Nov. 22, 2018, 3:56 p.m.(1/16/1010 AR)
Relationship Note on Audric
I feel it must be some strange alignment of the stars. Today I read something from the quill of Audric De Lire and I agreed with it.
I feel like I must spend sometime looking into the mirror today and making sure that I am me.
I feel like I must spend sometime looking into the mirror today and making sure that I am me.
Written By Reigna
Nov. 21, 2018, 2:40 a.m.(1/12/1010 AR)
Relationship Note on Alrec
You'll have to forgive me, admiral Magaldi. I stayed away from the whites for over a month. I suppose my quill was rather backed up.
Written By Reigna
Nov. 20, 2018, 1:43 p.m.(1/11/1010 AR)
An Oathlander's perspective on the gods in brief, but Tehom mostly:
The gods provide us with this world that Aion formed in his endless Dream. Skald killed Fate and created humanity, creatures born free with the right to choose our own paths. Death gives of herself, her own blood to craft each of our souls and places them on the Wheel for us to sing our stories as we live. Petrichor provides us with the bounty of nature, giving us dominion over beasts, grains and plants for us to eat. Mangata blesses us with water, wind and wine. Gild teaches us to be a community, to be charitable to others even as we provide for ourselves. Limerance deepens the bonds between us, building off Gild's civilization to give us laws, to teach us that our words have power -- concepts that are furthered by Vellichor's thirst for knowledge, dedication to documenting so that the wisdom we accrue can not be lost to later generations, and by Gloria's gifts of honor and chivalry, an expansion of the idea that our words matter, that we should strive for greatness, and understanding that winning is not the end. The point of a journey is never the destination, but the acts and lessons acquired on the way there. When we fail, the Sentinel is there, unsmiling, featureless, as justice should be. To judge fairly without emotion, to hold us true to the righteousness Gloria demands of us. We are not without our joys, for there is Jayus to inspire us, to delights us with visions of beauty, to fill us with the potential to create wonders if we can just keep trying. Lagoma teaches us about change, how to accept it, reminding us that though change is almost always a painful process, there will come healing, and growth before change comes again. Her fires both burn and cleanse, removing the old to make way for the new.
And then there is Tehom. The most uncomfortable of the gods. Lagoma gives us pain, but Tehom gets under your skin and itches. He dwells within the shadows of your heart and your mind and he lingers there. Oh, you can choose to ignore him. To try to pretend he is not there. But he is still there, lurking at the periphery, a grain of sand in your boot, a splinter lodged under your nail. Tehom teaches us not to be afraid. Fear makes our lives smaller. We might believe this gives us control, we can fool ourselves into thinking this is a choice, but it is not. It is allowing your fear to take the reins. It is removing freedom. Can you truly be free if fear drives you? Tehom does not let us forget those places within our hearts that we like to pretend are not there. Those sides of ourselves that, for whatever reason, make us feel shame. What is shame but fear of someone finding out? But there is no reason to be afraid. We all judge ourselves so much more harshly than anyone else might. When we make a mistake, how many are quick to say 'Well, that was stupid!'. Now think for a moment -- if your friend did the same thing, would you call them stupid with the same sincerity that you used on yourself? I very much doubt that you would. That self-directed criticism drives us to shame, to fear. If we stop running from those feelings, if we look inside ourselves, take the time needed to really listen to ourselves, I believe we could all be so much stronger, freer. Tehom's lessons also keeps us safe, keeps us from falling into traps disguised as harmony.
Dominus Orazio is fond of saying 'Unity is not a virtue of the gods'. I will admit I struggled with this concept for a long time. My first impulse was to think his journal had been taken over by a prankster. How could a Legate (at the time) not want his flock to be unified? The longer I thought about it, the more sense I began to see. When people choose to unify, when they make that choice to set aside differences, it is a powerful thing. But unity for the sake of itself... that breeds conformity. And conformity is a sublimation of self. That strips us of our power by removing choice. To blindly follow out of a misguided desire for 'unity' plays into the hands of our enemies. Which is why we must always question. We must face that which we do not know, release our shame at the thought of being ignorant -- Ignorance is not a crime, it is a state of being, one people must choose to get out of -- and question. If your belief or Faith cannot withstand questioning, perhaps your belief is not as strong as it should be. Questioning will only deepen your belief. You will find the answers you seek to prop up your faith, or you will confront the fact that what your belief is not as certain as you think it is.
One of the most common complaints I have heard from my fellow Oathlanders is an objection to the contrarian nature of Mirrormasks. And I agree, there have been some in my experience that seem to delight in being so, delight in not testing someone's faith but genuinely attempting to tear them down because they feel powerful in doing so. That attitude, in the opinion of this Oathlander, demeans the worship of Tehom as much as someone using Gloria's righteousness to bully someone else. Our Pantheon is supposed to be asperational. The virtues and strengths embodied by our gods should be tools we use to better ourselves and the world around us. When it is used as a weapon... it becomes a twisted, ugly thing. Do not deny your faults. Acknowledge them. Embrace them and move past them.
The gods provide us with this world that Aion formed in his endless Dream. Skald killed Fate and created humanity, creatures born free with the right to choose our own paths. Death gives of herself, her own blood to craft each of our souls and places them on the Wheel for us to sing our stories as we live. Petrichor provides us with the bounty of nature, giving us dominion over beasts, grains and plants for us to eat. Mangata blesses us with water, wind and wine. Gild teaches us to be a community, to be charitable to others even as we provide for ourselves. Limerance deepens the bonds between us, building off Gild's civilization to give us laws, to teach us that our words have power -- concepts that are furthered by Vellichor's thirst for knowledge, dedication to documenting so that the wisdom we accrue can not be lost to later generations, and by Gloria's gifts of honor and chivalry, an expansion of the idea that our words matter, that we should strive for greatness, and understanding that winning is not the end. The point of a journey is never the destination, but the acts and lessons acquired on the way there. When we fail, the Sentinel is there, unsmiling, featureless, as justice should be. To judge fairly without emotion, to hold us true to the righteousness Gloria demands of us. We are not without our joys, for there is Jayus to inspire us, to delights us with visions of beauty, to fill us with the potential to create wonders if we can just keep trying. Lagoma teaches us about change, how to accept it, reminding us that though change is almost always a painful process, there will come healing, and growth before change comes again. Her fires both burn and cleanse, removing the old to make way for the new.
And then there is Tehom. The most uncomfortable of the gods. Lagoma gives us pain, but Tehom gets under your skin and itches. He dwells within the shadows of your heart and your mind and he lingers there. Oh, you can choose to ignore him. To try to pretend he is not there. But he is still there, lurking at the periphery, a grain of sand in your boot, a splinter lodged under your nail. Tehom teaches us not to be afraid. Fear makes our lives smaller. We might believe this gives us control, we can fool ourselves into thinking this is a choice, but it is not. It is allowing your fear to take the reins. It is removing freedom. Can you truly be free if fear drives you? Tehom does not let us forget those places within our hearts that we like to pretend are not there. Those sides of ourselves that, for whatever reason, make us feel shame. What is shame but fear of someone finding out? But there is no reason to be afraid. We all judge ourselves so much more harshly than anyone else might. When we make a mistake, how many are quick to say 'Well, that was stupid!'. Now think for a moment -- if your friend did the same thing, would you call them stupid with the same sincerity that you used on yourself? I very much doubt that you would. That self-directed criticism drives us to shame, to fear. If we stop running from those feelings, if we look inside ourselves, take the time needed to really listen to ourselves, I believe we could all be so much stronger, freer. Tehom's lessons also keeps us safe, keeps us from falling into traps disguised as harmony.
Dominus Orazio is fond of saying 'Unity is not a virtue of the gods'. I will admit I struggled with this concept for a long time. My first impulse was to think his journal had been taken over by a prankster. How could a Legate (at the time) not want his flock to be unified? The longer I thought about it, the more sense I began to see. When people choose to unify, when they make that choice to set aside differences, it is a powerful thing. But unity for the sake of itself... that breeds conformity. And conformity is a sublimation of self. That strips us of our power by removing choice. To blindly follow out of a misguided desire for 'unity' plays into the hands of our enemies. Which is why we must always question. We must face that which we do not know, release our shame at the thought of being ignorant -- Ignorance is not a crime, it is a state of being, one people must choose to get out of -- and question. If your belief or Faith cannot withstand questioning, perhaps your belief is not as strong as it should be. Questioning will only deepen your belief. You will find the answers you seek to prop up your faith, or you will confront the fact that what your belief is not as certain as you think it is.
One of the most common complaints I have heard from my fellow Oathlanders is an objection to the contrarian nature of Mirrormasks. And I agree, there have been some in my experience that seem to delight in being so, delight in not testing someone's faith but genuinely attempting to tear them down because they feel powerful in doing so. That attitude, in the opinion of this Oathlander, demeans the worship of Tehom as much as someone using Gloria's righteousness to bully someone else. Our Pantheon is supposed to be asperational. The virtues and strengths embodied by our gods should be tools we use to better ourselves and the world around us. When it is used as a weapon... it becomes a twisted, ugly thing. Do not deny your faults. Acknowledge them. Embrace them and move past them.
Written By Reigna
Nov. 20, 2018, 1:24 p.m.(1/11/1010 AR)
I have been thinking a lot about the nature of Oaths. What is an Oath vs a Promise vs a Vow. Two of these are typically made to someone or some entity in front of witnesses, the other something made in private. Are these things the same thing? Are not all of these, at the heart, giving your word to do or not do something? And are the gods not always witness to the things that we say? It is said that the Sentinel sees all. He may not be able to act, by vow or by principle we cannot understand, but we will all find ourselves held accountable. Does he have Death's ear, do you think? A word from him helping her decide if someone should be sent onto their rest, or if they need another turn on the Wheel to learn the lessons life teaches?
I am getting away from myself I think. But back to the point about Oaths.
If someone's word is given, it must be upheld. If it is not, then the person who failed to live up to their word deserves to be punished. There should be social condemnation, or pressure applied to them, some form of penance required before they can reestablish themselves. Only by accepting that penance wholeheartedly, not grudgingly, but willingly, can the stain be removed from their honor. Obviously the severity of the penance should be appropriate to the circumstance, no false equivalence should be pushed to lessen or deepen the punishment, but there needs to be genuine contrition, an understanding of wrongdoing and an acceptance of that blame. It is like an infected wound. When rot sets in there is no way to reverse the death of tissue. If left alone the rot will spread and a limb or even life might be lost due to not facing the truth of the situation at hand. The sooner acceptance of what is happening occurs, the sooner a surgeon can excise the rot, leaving only healthy tissue behind. It will hurt, but it will also heal. There may be a scar, but what is a scar but a reminder of something overcome?
These are the lessons we receive from the gods. Not just devotion to one, but to all. That is the life that we all should strive for. One that blends the lessons, the virtues of our Pantheon and illuminates our personal stories with wisdom.
We of the Oathlands hold honor above almost everything else. For if we do not have honor, what do we have? To be without honor is to be outside of the Compact. Our society revolves around the only true currency any of us truly have. Our word. If you cannot trust me to fulfill my word, how can you barter with me? How can you ally with me? The social contracts that make our civilization depend entirely on the faith we have in one another to keep our word. Without honor? We have nothing. We are nothing. Now we all may squabble among one another about what exactly is honorable. The Valardin have likely the most rigid views on what behavior is expected to retain one's honor. We have the reputations of being fussy and demanding. Righteous, and not in the good way. The Lycene may well think that having honor is about being practical and seeing the hard truths that the idealists of the Valardin look away from, try to pretend are not there. The Thrax find honor in the traditions that have remained intact within their culture, in the ability to endure the test of time without wavering. But all must agree, that if one cannot keep their word, in the spirit as well as the letter, then they are lacking the most fundamental element of honor.
To return to my previous metaphor, it is far better to cut out rotted flesh. It will hurt. It will take time to heal. But it WILL heal. Embrace the pain, embrace the cost and come through it stronger, better. Come through it with unstained honor.
I am getting away from myself I think. But back to the point about Oaths.
If someone's word is given, it must be upheld. If it is not, then the person who failed to live up to their word deserves to be punished. There should be social condemnation, or pressure applied to them, some form of penance required before they can reestablish themselves. Only by accepting that penance wholeheartedly, not grudgingly, but willingly, can the stain be removed from their honor. Obviously the severity of the penance should be appropriate to the circumstance, no false equivalence should be pushed to lessen or deepen the punishment, but there needs to be genuine contrition, an understanding of wrongdoing and an acceptance of that blame. It is like an infected wound. When rot sets in there is no way to reverse the death of tissue. If left alone the rot will spread and a limb or even life might be lost due to not facing the truth of the situation at hand. The sooner acceptance of what is happening occurs, the sooner a surgeon can excise the rot, leaving only healthy tissue behind. It will hurt, but it will also heal. There may be a scar, but what is a scar but a reminder of something overcome?
These are the lessons we receive from the gods. Not just devotion to one, but to all. That is the life that we all should strive for. One that blends the lessons, the virtues of our Pantheon and illuminates our personal stories with wisdom.
We of the Oathlands hold honor above almost everything else. For if we do not have honor, what do we have? To be without honor is to be outside of the Compact. Our society revolves around the only true currency any of us truly have. Our word. If you cannot trust me to fulfill my word, how can you barter with me? How can you ally with me? The social contracts that make our civilization depend entirely on the faith we have in one another to keep our word. Without honor? We have nothing. We are nothing. Now we all may squabble among one another about what exactly is honorable. The Valardin have likely the most rigid views on what behavior is expected to retain one's honor. We have the reputations of being fussy and demanding. Righteous, and not in the good way. The Lycene may well think that having honor is about being practical and seeing the hard truths that the idealists of the Valardin look away from, try to pretend are not there. The Thrax find honor in the traditions that have remained intact within their culture, in the ability to endure the test of time without wavering. But all must agree, that if one cannot keep their word, in the spirit as well as the letter, then they are lacking the most fundamental element of honor.
To return to my previous metaphor, it is far better to cut out rotted flesh. It will hurt. It will take time to heal. But it WILL heal. Embrace the pain, embrace the cost and come through it stronger, better. Come through it with unstained honor.
Written By Reigna
Nov. 14, 2018, 11:58 a.m.(12/27/1009 AR)
Relationship Note on Cybele
It does not yet feel real. When I saw the reports that you had fallen, it was like the ground under me fell away. There is a hole in my world where you once stood, a glaring absence in a Cybele-shaped void. I know that you have returned to the arms of the Queen, and that she has welcomed you home -- at least I hope that you have. If not I promise... I promise to listen hard. I hope you knew how much I trusted you. How much I learned from you. I hope you know how treasured you are. Not were. Are. Your teachings, your gentleness, kindness will be at the forefront of my mind, and I will carry you with me to every student I teach, to every herb I make into a poultice, in every new face that I greet with the openness you helped teach me. I will not say you will be missed. For I will carry you with me, always. Non Omnis Moriar.
Written By Reigna
Oct. 2, 2018, 8:04 p.m.(9/16/1009 AR)
Relationship Note on Eilonwy
I think you summed up the issue rather precisely with a pair of sentences in your last journal.
"I don't begrudge other Houses their outrage but Blackwood is a young House, only a generation old. Our ways are not yet wholly the ways of the compact. "
That is precisely it. House Blackwood is a House of the Compact. Its ways need to be the ways of the Compact. We are bound to one another by oaths and tradition. Once we stop honoring the traditions that founded us, where does it end? We have given our sacred word to uphold the tenants of the Faith and the laws that bound five kingdoms into one.
I have to hope that you have it in you to pull House Blackwood further into the culture of the Compact, that you learn to embrace our traditions as your own. We do not all need to be precisely the same, but we must all be on the same page about what makes us Compact and what makes others not.
When people rail against those strictures, when the lines of right and wrong are blurred it weakens the overarching structure. If a noble does not feel like honoring their duties to their family and instead fritters away their family's coffers on luxuries while their people starve that is obviously worse than a noble refusing to take themselves seriously and act with the dignity of their station, right? When you chip away at the small things it adds up. We hold ourselves a certain way because we need to remember what separates us. We need to remember our choices are not for ourselves. If we make concessions here or there, those concessions will only grow until the most simple truths are no longer simple.
It is about principle and honor and respect.
I know you only a little. And what I do know is that you are an intelligent, brave healer who puts the needs of others above her own. That is fantastic and that strength, conviction and selflessness will serve you incredibly well. I do wish you the best in your future. Never think I wish you or anyone ill. But mine is not a solitary point of view. You are going to be watched, and judged, and likely underestimated. Your successes are likely going to be brushed off as chance, and your failures will be held up under intense scrutiny and will receive more than one smug look of condescension. Your path is going to be a difficult one. If you wish my advice? Marry. Marry soon. And pick someone who was born to it, raised to the life of a noble and knows the way that it works. Lean on them and their expertise until you get your feet under you.
Good luck.
"I don't begrudge other Houses their outrage but Blackwood is a young House, only a generation old. Our ways are not yet wholly the ways of the compact. "
That is precisely it. House Blackwood is a House of the Compact. Its ways need to be the ways of the Compact. We are bound to one another by oaths and tradition. Once we stop honoring the traditions that founded us, where does it end? We have given our sacred word to uphold the tenants of the Faith and the laws that bound five kingdoms into one.
I have to hope that you have it in you to pull House Blackwood further into the culture of the Compact, that you learn to embrace our traditions as your own. We do not all need to be precisely the same, but we must all be on the same page about what makes us Compact and what makes others not.
When people rail against those strictures, when the lines of right and wrong are blurred it weakens the overarching structure. If a noble does not feel like honoring their duties to their family and instead fritters away their family's coffers on luxuries while their people starve that is obviously worse than a noble refusing to take themselves seriously and act with the dignity of their station, right? When you chip away at the small things it adds up. We hold ourselves a certain way because we need to remember what separates us. We need to remember our choices are not for ourselves. If we make concessions here or there, those concessions will only grow until the most simple truths are no longer simple.
It is about principle and honor and respect.
I know you only a little. And what I do know is that you are an intelligent, brave healer who puts the needs of others above her own. That is fantastic and that strength, conviction and selflessness will serve you incredibly well. I do wish you the best in your future. Never think I wish you or anyone ill. But mine is not a solitary point of view. You are going to be watched, and judged, and likely underestimated. Your successes are likely going to be brushed off as chance, and your failures will be held up under intense scrutiny and will receive more than one smug look of condescension. Your path is going to be a difficult one. If you wish my advice? Marry. Marry soon. And pick someone who was born to it, raised to the life of a noble and knows the way that it works. Lean on them and their expertise until you get your feet under you.
Good luck.
Written By Reigna
Oct. 2, 2018, 5:20 p.m.(9/16/1009 AR)
Relationship Note on Alarissa
Keaton rarely denies contribution to a sound cause. If you are asking for a goat, I will happily provide one, if not two.
You simply have to ask.
You simply have to ask.
Written By Reigna
Oct. 2, 2018, 4:30 p.m.(9/16/1009 AR)
Relationship Note on Eleyna
I know what it was I said, Your Grace, and no amount of your claiming otherwise or attempting to twist the meaning held within my writing is going to change it. I did not demean, disparage or condescend to anyone, unlike what you are attempting to do to me. I have, repeatedly, explained, that what Baron Clement earned was in no way influenced by my affection for him in any manner. If you can find another situation with another common born person with his record of dedication, responsibility, dignity and service who goes out and secures land and ousts those squatting on that land? I would approve of their promotion as they would have earned it. As Baron Clement has. My feelings for him are moot. If I were prone to overlook my own ethics for those I am close to, then why have I not adopted my ward, Kata Oakheart? I love her as a daughter. I love her the same as my true-born sons. Is she a Lady of Keaton? No. Why? What has she done to earn it? Be loved by me? Not enough.
I do think there is a problem with the Peerage of Arx not taking things seriously. We *should* take things seriously. If we do not want to? Then why are we noble? I think there should be more like your brother, Ettore. He relinquished his responsibility over his March and took a courtesy title instead. While that seems utterly shocking and deeply unsettling to me, it was, in a sense, the responsible thing to do.
I do think there is a problem with the Peerage of Arx not taking things seriously. We *should* take things seriously. If we do not want to? Then why are we noble? I think there should be more like your brother, Ettore. He relinquished his responsibility over his March and took a courtesy title instead. While that seems utterly shocking and deeply unsettling to me, it was, in a sense, the responsible thing to do.
Written By Reigna
Oct. 2, 2018, 3:34 p.m.(9/16/1009 AR)
Relationship Note on Eleyna
Where was it I said all commoners are utterly unfit? If you actually read what I said, my words were that it is grossly unfair to them because it changes their lives, strips them of their personal freedoms that were not in question before and places a lifetime of expectations on their shoulders when they have not been trained from early childhood to handle.
Again, Baron Clement's elevation is an exception due to his service, I and my feelings for him, have nothing at all to do with what he earned.
Would you like to try again?
Again, Baron Clement's elevation is an exception due to his service, I and my feelings for him, have nothing at all to do with what he earned.
Would you like to try again?
Written By Reigna
Oct. 2, 2018, 2:55 p.m.(9/16/1009 AR)
Relationship Note on Eleyna
It has absolutely nothing at all to do with my friendship with Baron Clement and everything to do with my respect for his decades of loyal and noble service to House Laurent. As I said.
But please, I do invite you to further cast shade upon my integrity.
But please, I do invite you to further cast shade upon my integrity.
Written By Reigna
Oct. 2, 2018, 1:44 p.m.(9/16/1009 AR)
It has been mentioned to me that my recent words presented a rather general sweeping nature of my opinion on the topic of commoner elevations.
I am, in general, opposed to the practice. But that does not mean there are not worthy exceptions. Exceptions, as they say, prove the rule.
I would like to be very clear that one such exception, was the recent elevation of Baron Norwood Clement. I believe this is an instance in which someone has steadfastly shown uncommon dignity and service to House Laurent for decades; including repeatedly saving the life of its Duke and former heir, Lady Jael Laurent. Baron Norwood has time an again, proven his loyalty, responsibility, dignity and honor and I cannot think of a better person to be elevated to Baron.
I am, in general, opposed to the practice. But that does not mean there are not worthy exceptions. Exceptions, as they say, prove the rule.
I would like to be very clear that one such exception, was the recent elevation of Baron Norwood Clement. I believe this is an instance in which someone has steadfastly shown uncommon dignity and service to House Laurent for decades; including repeatedly saving the life of its Duke and former heir, Lady Jael Laurent. Baron Norwood has time an again, proven his loyalty, responsibility, dignity and honor and I cannot think of a better person to be elevated to Baron.
Written By Reigna
Oct. 2, 2018, 12:54 p.m.(9/16/1009 AR)
It has been several days since the announcement and I have given considerable thought to the situation with House Blackwood.
I think, perhaps, there is a brewing crisis in regards to the increasingly commonplace elevation of commoners into the Peerage. Please understand this is not a criticism of Eilonwy Thunderoak. I have a deep respect for her as a healer after working with her during the battle of Stormwall. But the fact of the matter is... to place her in charge of House Blackwood is not only a dire and inconceivable slight against the fallen Marquis' child Lady Ysbail Blackwood, or his aunt, Lady Barbrey, but it is bordering on cruel to Eilonwy.
Our society is built on a covenant between its people, our gods and our monarchy. The Peerage are who they are because they undertook the solemn responsibility to sacrifice their personal freedoms in order to best serve the people they are sworn to provide for, support and protect. A noble is raised to understand that their life is not their own. They do not get to choose who they marry, where they go or what they do. Their pride must often be set aside for the greater good of their people. You cannot simply give into petty feuds when doing so can cause damage to your ability to import necessary supplies from someone who has angered you. Being a noble is sacrifice. Or it damn well *should* be. If it is not? You are doing it wrong. To foist this heavy responsibility on a person who has not been brought up with this foundational understanding of what is expected of them, to lay that burden on their shoulders with no warning or preparation is *cruel*. You are taking away freedoms that they have had their whole life. You are suddenly telling them that their life is not their own. Those of us born to the noble families have known this from the beginning. It was drilled into us. Accepted.
We do these things because in surrendering our personal freedoms, we give others the opportunity to live their lives. It is not a service provided without benefit. We live lives of wealth and comfort, we get access to outstanding educations and opportunities to do things that might be considered quite frivolous to someone else.
More and more often of late I have seen those of the Peerage showing a marked disregard for the values and traditions we should be upholding. They flaunt marriages of love as if this is a great virtue instead of the selfishness that it truly is. Perhaps it stems from overly abundant families with too many children, so that the responsibilities required of the family are handled by a few and the rest are driftless, unnecessary in the management of the lands and so they feel there is no reason to uphold the dignity and responsibilities of their station? I wonder where their ambition and sense of service has fled. Are we not surrounded by those who are holding onto our lands illegally? Is there not work to be done to solidify our hold on the lands we recognize as belonging to the Compact and bringing law and order to the furthest reaches of Arvum? Why not send Cadet branches out to deal with those who have lost their way? Return them to the fold of the Compact, remind them of the proper worship of the gods, and if they prove intractable demon-worshipers, protect the land from them, and in turn, those Cadet branches can be reborn into new Houses to bolster our ranks. Retake what was ours and what has fallen away due to the mistakes of the past.
Let me be clear, in this I mean wholly demon-worshipers, *not* shamans, as those are wholly different things and should *not* be conflated or confused. I think we can all agree that anyone who willingly serves the Abyss will not be missed. In my experiences in the Shadowood, many Shav'arvani are actually followers of the Pantheon, though they frequently have had some drift in belief and can, and should, be gently guided back to the established beliefs.
I am worried that that spirit of service is being erased. That there are more and more born to the Peerage that only see the entitlement rather than the sacrifice.
I think, perhaps, there is a brewing crisis in regards to the increasingly commonplace elevation of commoners into the Peerage. Please understand this is not a criticism of Eilonwy Thunderoak. I have a deep respect for her as a healer after working with her during the battle of Stormwall. But the fact of the matter is... to place her in charge of House Blackwood is not only a dire and inconceivable slight against the fallen Marquis' child Lady Ysbail Blackwood, or his aunt, Lady Barbrey, but it is bordering on cruel to Eilonwy.
Our society is built on a covenant between its people, our gods and our monarchy. The Peerage are who they are because they undertook the solemn responsibility to sacrifice their personal freedoms in order to best serve the people they are sworn to provide for, support and protect. A noble is raised to understand that their life is not their own. They do not get to choose who they marry, where they go or what they do. Their pride must often be set aside for the greater good of their people. You cannot simply give into petty feuds when doing so can cause damage to your ability to import necessary supplies from someone who has angered you. Being a noble is sacrifice. Or it damn well *should* be. If it is not? You are doing it wrong. To foist this heavy responsibility on a person who has not been brought up with this foundational understanding of what is expected of them, to lay that burden on their shoulders with no warning or preparation is *cruel*. You are taking away freedoms that they have had their whole life. You are suddenly telling them that their life is not their own. Those of us born to the noble families have known this from the beginning. It was drilled into us. Accepted.
We do these things because in surrendering our personal freedoms, we give others the opportunity to live their lives. It is not a service provided without benefit. We live lives of wealth and comfort, we get access to outstanding educations and opportunities to do things that might be considered quite frivolous to someone else.
More and more often of late I have seen those of the Peerage showing a marked disregard for the values and traditions we should be upholding. They flaunt marriages of love as if this is a great virtue instead of the selfishness that it truly is. Perhaps it stems from overly abundant families with too many children, so that the responsibilities required of the family are handled by a few and the rest are driftless, unnecessary in the management of the lands and so they feel there is no reason to uphold the dignity and responsibilities of their station? I wonder where their ambition and sense of service has fled. Are we not surrounded by those who are holding onto our lands illegally? Is there not work to be done to solidify our hold on the lands we recognize as belonging to the Compact and bringing law and order to the furthest reaches of Arvum? Why not send Cadet branches out to deal with those who have lost their way? Return them to the fold of the Compact, remind them of the proper worship of the gods, and if they prove intractable demon-worshipers, protect the land from them, and in turn, those Cadet branches can be reborn into new Houses to bolster our ranks. Retake what was ours and what has fallen away due to the mistakes of the past.
Let me be clear, in this I mean wholly demon-worshipers, *not* shamans, as those are wholly different things and should *not* be conflated or confused. I think we can all agree that anyone who willingly serves the Abyss will not be missed. In my experiences in the Shadowood, many Shav'arvani are actually followers of the Pantheon, though they frequently have had some drift in belief and can, and should, be gently guided back to the established beliefs.
I am worried that that spirit of service is being erased. That there are more and more born to the Peerage that only see the entitlement rather than the sacrifice.
Written By Reigna
Sept. 27, 2018, 11:18 a.m.(9/6/1009 AR)
The Physicians Ball went spectacularly well! I would very much like to thank everyone who attended and participated! I hope it was as enjoyable for you as it was to host.
Special thanks to:
Guildmaster Joscelin Arterius for her incredible support and generous donations. I am humbled and so grateful.
Princess Caelis Valardin for a very generous donation in support of the healers of Arx, you are a gift to Valardin.
Grandmaster Thena Grayhope, your generosity is matched only by your honor and your dedication to the people of the Compact.
My volunteers, Goodman Waldemai, Lady Amari Keaton and Lady Kalani Seliki, your portrayals of the ailments were spot on and perfect!
My fellow physicians. Without you there would be no guild and Arx would be so much poorer for the lack. Your dedication to the art and craft of healing is second to none and each of you offer so very much to this world. I cannot express how much I appreciate your work and how proud I am to work with you.
Special thanks to:
Guildmaster Joscelin Arterius for her incredible support and generous donations. I am humbled and so grateful.
Princess Caelis Valardin for a very generous donation in support of the healers of Arx, you are a gift to Valardin.
Grandmaster Thena Grayhope, your generosity is matched only by your honor and your dedication to the people of the Compact.
My volunteers, Goodman Waldemai, Lady Amari Keaton and Lady Kalani Seliki, your portrayals of the ailments were spot on and perfect!
My fellow physicians. Without you there would be no guild and Arx would be so much poorer for the lack. Your dedication to the art and craft of healing is second to none and each of you offer so very much to this world. I cannot express how much I appreciate your work and how proud I am to work with you.
Written By Reigna
Sept. 26, 2018, 1:58 p.m.(9/4/1009 AR)
Relationship Note on Preston
The analogy is fine enough. And, again, I must submit that the trick is neither to embrace the inferno, nor freeze. It is about finding the correct balance. Do not ignore the fire lest it burn everything, but do not suffer for lack of warmth.
If you (generic you, not You, Sir Preston) simply try to smother the darker impulses within you, squash it down and never address it, your willpower is going to break. It is simply a matter of time. And when it does it is going to be ugly. And the stress and pressure of trying to deny those feelings is going to make it that much more difficult to hold out. If you face that part of yourself that makes you uncomfortable, examine it, deal with it and find a means to express it in a positive direction, then the stress is manageable, it holds no power over you.
It is a balancing act, as all things should be. The needs of self vs the needs of others, the darker feelings that bring us shame vs our selfless impulses. Extremes on either side are unhealthy. Tehom is a god, who like all the others deserves our worship and respect, but not to the exclusion of all else. Not everyone's balance will be exactly the same, but we all must find the one that works for us.
If you (generic you, not You, Sir Preston) simply try to smother the darker impulses within you, squash it down and never address it, your willpower is going to break. It is simply a matter of time. And when it does it is going to be ugly. And the stress and pressure of trying to deny those feelings is going to make it that much more difficult to hold out. If you face that part of yourself that makes you uncomfortable, examine it, deal with it and find a means to express it in a positive direction, then the stress is manageable, it holds no power over you.
It is a balancing act, as all things should be. The needs of self vs the needs of others, the darker feelings that bring us shame vs our selfless impulses. Extremes on either side are unhealthy. Tehom is a god, who like all the others deserves our worship and respect, but not to the exclusion of all else. Not everyone's balance will be exactly the same, but we all must find the one that works for us.
Please note that the scholars may take some time preparing your journal for others to read.