Written By Orazio
Aug. 22, 2017, 7:48 p.m.(1/25/1007 AR)
Relationship Note on Eleyna
She remains one of my truest friends, although I see her not nearly often enough. It was my pleasure to have a glass of wine with her, recently, and catch up on how each of us was doing since the last time we saw one another. Which, again, has been far too long. How easy it is to get so caught up in what must be done that you forget to do the things you enjoy, including time with those whose company you most enjoy.
I should be better about this in the future.
I should be better about this in the future.
Written By Orazio
Aug. 20, 2017, 3:31 p.m.(1/21/1007 AR)
To the Faithful Reader:
A collection of condolences.
First, to those innocents lost in the disaster which afflicted the harbor a few days ago, where much of the Thrax fleet was lost. To the survivors, the Faith offers our sorrow and our sympathy, and our hope for each lost life to fly safely into the Queen's arms, and from there, to the Shining Lands. The Faith will be offering material support to those who lost family in this tragedy, and as always, stands ready to assist the process of grief and recovery.
Second, to the unrelated but no less tragic events that resulted in the death of Prince Dominic Thrax and his valiant men. The loss of a friend, a family member, and a heir of a Great House is always a cause for mourning - not just in that fealty, but across the Compact. The Faith respects the month of mourning declared by House Thrax, and offer our prayers to Thrax and other families who lost loved ones in those events.
Third, to those who were injured during the desecration of the Shrine of Mangata, and all Faithful who mourn and are horrified by the events at that Shrine. The Faith shares your horror and your sorrow, but remember: our Lady of the Sea and the Sky is far stronger than any singular insult or attack. With the support and love of every member of the Faith, we will cleanse the Shrine of this darkness, and restore it to purity and to right. Not because we seek boons or blessings from the gods, but because we owe them love and worship, and because the Compact will never bow to darkness, regardless of the setbacks we face, or the mistakes we make along the way.
If we can unite under nothing else, let it be that.
A collection of condolences.
First, to those innocents lost in the disaster which afflicted the harbor a few days ago, where much of the Thrax fleet was lost. To the survivors, the Faith offers our sorrow and our sympathy, and our hope for each lost life to fly safely into the Queen's arms, and from there, to the Shining Lands. The Faith will be offering material support to those who lost family in this tragedy, and as always, stands ready to assist the process of grief and recovery.
Second, to the unrelated but no less tragic events that resulted in the death of Prince Dominic Thrax and his valiant men. The loss of a friend, a family member, and a heir of a Great House is always a cause for mourning - not just in that fealty, but across the Compact. The Faith respects the month of mourning declared by House Thrax, and offer our prayers to Thrax and other families who lost loved ones in those events.
Third, to those who were injured during the desecration of the Shrine of Mangata, and all Faithful who mourn and are horrified by the events at that Shrine. The Faith shares your horror and your sorrow, but remember: our Lady of the Sea and the Sky is far stronger than any singular insult or attack. With the support and love of every member of the Faith, we will cleanse the Shrine of this darkness, and restore it to purity and to right. Not because we seek boons or blessings from the gods, but because we owe them love and worship, and because the Compact will never bow to darkness, regardless of the setbacks we face, or the mistakes we make along the way.
If we can unite under nothing else, let it be that.
Written By Orazio
Aug. 15, 2017, 10:35 a.m.(1/10/1007 AR)
To the Faithful Reader:
I say this not in chastisement of any particular individual (because it has happened more times than I can easily name), but as a useful tip for the future, and in the sincere desire to both retain my own sanity, and to avoid causing offense by my reactions. Thus, be aware: At any time when I am in the nude, it is not a good time to ask for spiritual advice or consultation of any sort. Nor to share dire portents and doomsaying, or demand action on any particular issue. I assure you, whatever it is, it can wait until a time when I am clothed.
I say this not in chastisement of any particular individual (because it has happened more times than I can easily name), but as a useful tip for the future, and in the sincere desire to both retain my own sanity, and to avoid causing offense by my reactions. Thus, be aware: At any time when I am in the nude, it is not a good time to ask for spiritual advice or consultation of any sort. Nor to share dire portents and doomsaying, or demand action on any particular issue. I assure you, whatever it is, it can wait until a time when I am clothed.
Written By Orazio
Aug. 6, 2017, 12:04 a.m.(12/20/1006 AR)
Relationship Note on Alarissa
Along with the Lady Monique, she put together a simply phenomenal event. It was everything one expects from a Great House's ball: elegant, extravagant, dazzling, and delightful, while also delivering the unexpected. It's difficult to imagine the work which must have gone into transplanting grass and flowers into the very dignified main hall of Valardin manor, much less in the dead of winter. On top of the planning, both she and Lady Monique were warm, engaging hostesses, who - as far as I could tell - made every effort to reach out to as many of the (many!) guests that could be found. It truly was a delightful evening.
Written By Orazio
Aug. 2, 2017, 12:27 p.m.(12/13/1006 AR)
To the Faithful Reader:
Allow me to state, first off, that I claim no facility in such endeavors, and will likely make a poor shore-ing of this one. Still, let's sea what we can make of it, shell we? Woe be-tide those of suspicious nature; I do not do this because I am fishing for compliments, nor because I am angling for praise. Perhaps I am just trying to be onboard with water the kids are doing these days, or maybe I'm just easily baited. Or maybe it's just because, while I have a deserved reputation for being a bit crabby, I also like to remind folks that I have a sole, just like everyone else. I cod-sider this to be an act of devotion, in a way; an unshellfish gift to the gods. Imagining the faces of others who read this is just an enjoyable side benefit.
Allow me to state, first off, that I claim no facility in such endeavors, and will likely make a poor shore-ing of this one. Still, let's sea what we can make of it, shell we? Woe be-tide those of suspicious nature; I do not do this because I am fishing for compliments, nor because I am angling for praise. Perhaps I am just trying to be onboard with water the kids are doing these days, or maybe I'm just easily baited. Or maybe it's just because, while I have a deserved reputation for being a bit crabby, I also like to remind folks that I have a sole, just like everyone else. I cod-sider this to be an act of devotion, in a way; an unshellfish gift to the gods. Imagining the faces of others who read this is just an enjoyable side benefit.
Written By Orazio
July 15, 2017, 10:45 p.m.(11/5/1006 AR)
Several priests and disciples have come up to me with a most peculiar question: what scents I enjoy. Apparently, I am told by the Scholars, this has become a trend. As fads go, I suppose it is entirely harmless, so I shall add my own list:
Citrus and ginger, particularly when they mingle in fresh steam, with the bitter undercurrents of tea.
Hot, mulled wine.
The scent of the cold wind that races ahead of an autumn storm, heavy with rain and the promise of winter to come.
Freshly mown grass.
Sacred incense.
Fresh, ripe peaches, just cut.
Spiced apple cider, steaming hot.
Citrus and ginger, particularly when they mingle in fresh steam, with the bitter undercurrents of tea.
Hot, mulled wine.
The scent of the cold wind that races ahead of an autumn storm, heavy with rain and the promise of winter to come.
Freshly mown grass.
Sacred incense.
Fresh, ripe peaches, just cut.
Spiced apple cider, steaming hot.
Written By Orazio
July 13, 2017, 1:02 p.m.(11/1/1006 AR)
To the Faithful Reader:
There is no denying that we live in a time of change. For future readers of this journal, I refer you to the many pages which have been penned regarding the King's Rest, the Siege of Arx, and the Revelation of the Lost Gods. Any of these events alone would make for an exciting decade, but we have seen all three of them in as many years. I doubt I am alone in suspecting that we have not yet seen the last significant event that Arx might be facing. The Faith, itself, has undergone changes. What were the Triads have become the Tertrads, and two new Archlectors have been raised to be leaders of the Faithful. The circumstances around those promotions have also been recorded in other white journals; my suspicion - my hope - is that for the future reader, those circumstances will not strain belief as they may for current readers.
But there is a danger, in any time of change, to become intoxicated by the possibilities. To discard tradition and custom without having anything with which to replace them. To decide that because the old frameworks and strictures are not perfect, they should be entirely discarded, without thinking through the consequences of doing so. The Compact is a land bound by tradition and by faith. Not all traditions are good - some entrench injustice and cruelty. But they are not all bad, either. It is for we who live, who strive to embody the wisdom of Vellichor, to thread that narrow path between wishing to discard the tenets that we find inconvienent in the moment, and preserving that which harms simply because it is old.
I wrestle with this, myself, in many areas. There are traditions and ancient customs which, had I the ability I would be sore tempted to destroy with a wave of my hand for the sake of personal principle. But in doing so, I might commit even greater injustices through chaos and uncertainty. In some cases, I am not sure that there is a "right" decision, even, but only one which is "less wrong". And finding that path can be difficult, and painful, and it doesn't let you be the white knight in the shining armor who saves the innocent and punishes the guilty.
Sometimes, you are only a man, or a woman, with hands as grimy as the next, digging what you hope and pray is the truth from a centuries' deep midden heap.
There is no denying that we live in a time of change. For future readers of this journal, I refer you to the many pages which have been penned regarding the King's Rest, the Siege of Arx, and the Revelation of the Lost Gods. Any of these events alone would make for an exciting decade, but we have seen all three of them in as many years. I doubt I am alone in suspecting that we have not yet seen the last significant event that Arx might be facing. The Faith, itself, has undergone changes. What were the Triads have become the Tertrads, and two new Archlectors have been raised to be leaders of the Faithful. The circumstances around those promotions have also been recorded in other white journals; my suspicion - my hope - is that for the future reader, those circumstances will not strain belief as they may for current readers.
But there is a danger, in any time of change, to become intoxicated by the possibilities. To discard tradition and custom without having anything with which to replace them. To decide that because the old frameworks and strictures are not perfect, they should be entirely discarded, without thinking through the consequences of doing so. The Compact is a land bound by tradition and by faith. Not all traditions are good - some entrench injustice and cruelty. But they are not all bad, either. It is for we who live, who strive to embody the wisdom of Vellichor, to thread that narrow path between wishing to discard the tenets that we find inconvienent in the moment, and preserving that which harms simply because it is old.
I wrestle with this, myself, in many areas. There are traditions and ancient customs which, had I the ability I would be sore tempted to destroy with a wave of my hand for the sake of personal principle. But in doing so, I might commit even greater injustices through chaos and uncertainty. In some cases, I am not sure that there is a "right" decision, even, but only one which is "less wrong". And finding that path can be difficult, and painful, and it doesn't let you be the white knight in the shining armor who saves the innocent and punishes the guilty.
Sometimes, you are only a man, or a woman, with hands as grimy as the next, digging what you hope and pray is the truth from a centuries' deep midden heap.
Written By Orazio
July 7, 2017, 5:01 p.m.(10/17/1006 AR)
To the faithful reader:
Recent events have prompted me to consider an often underregarded population: that of the animals who live, work, and feed the faithful. We often take the service of the beasts of field and forest for granted, but just because dominion was granted to us by the mercy of Petrichor, does not mean that any should thoughtlessly use or abuse the animals that we work with and live alongside. I understand, as well, that many of our people rely on the work of animals for their livelihoods, and could not continue to pay the upkeep of animals who no longer work at the level required. This is, however, no reason to perpetrate cruelty upon injured or crippled animals, nor to simply send elderly animals to the slaughterhouses wholesale.
Gild directs us towards charity and generosity, and to never forget from where our own success and wealth spring. Limerance reminds us to be faithful to our bonds, and to look out for those who serve us, even as we offer our service to our lieges, our King, and our gods. And the Sentinel reminds us to be just in all our actions, whether the target of that action is human or not.
From this, I think it is plain that wanton cruelty or abandonment of animals is a sin, and one that the Faith has an interest in addressing. However, it is also true that we do not wish to overburden those of the faithful who depend on animal labor. Thus, I will be looking into options, I think, to develop sanctuaries for animals who can no longer work, so that they can live out their lives with the peace they have earned, and I will be directing the disciples of the Sentinel to understand that cruelty to animals, working or kept for leisure, is unjust, that they may also bring this wisdom to the people, and help them develop better ways to interact with our fellow creatures under Petrichor. Further, I will be reaching out to Petrichor's discipleship to see how we can continue to work to address this issue.
Recent events have prompted me to consider an often underregarded population: that of the animals who live, work, and feed the faithful. We often take the service of the beasts of field and forest for granted, but just because dominion was granted to us by the mercy of Petrichor, does not mean that any should thoughtlessly use or abuse the animals that we work with and live alongside. I understand, as well, that many of our people rely on the work of animals for their livelihoods, and could not continue to pay the upkeep of animals who no longer work at the level required. This is, however, no reason to perpetrate cruelty upon injured or crippled animals, nor to simply send elderly animals to the slaughterhouses wholesale.
Gild directs us towards charity and generosity, and to never forget from where our own success and wealth spring. Limerance reminds us to be faithful to our bonds, and to look out for those who serve us, even as we offer our service to our lieges, our King, and our gods. And the Sentinel reminds us to be just in all our actions, whether the target of that action is human or not.
From this, I think it is plain that wanton cruelty or abandonment of animals is a sin, and one that the Faith has an interest in addressing. However, it is also true that we do not wish to overburden those of the faithful who depend on animal labor. Thus, I will be looking into options, I think, to develop sanctuaries for animals who can no longer work, so that they can live out their lives with the peace they have earned, and I will be directing the disciples of the Sentinel to understand that cruelty to animals, working or kept for leisure, is unjust, that they may also bring this wisdom to the people, and help them develop better ways to interact with our fellow creatures under Petrichor. Further, I will be reaching out to Petrichor's discipleship to see how we can continue to work to address this issue.
Written By Orazio
July 3, 2017, 11:57 p.m.(10/9/1006 AR)
Relationship Note on Calaudrin
A man of thought and compassion, and an excellent investigator to boot. I thank the gods for crossing our paths.
I am, however, reasonably certain that whiskey is not supposed to look like that.
I am, however, reasonably certain that whiskey is not supposed to look like that.
Written By Orazio
June 29, 2017, 3:29 p.m.(10/1/1006 AR)
I find myself taking dinner and drinks more often alone, of late, than with any company at all.
Much of my time has been spent in the duties of my office, and many of those who I once enjoyed respite with have taken duties of their own. But I find myself wondering if there might be anyone who would wish to take in the occasional bit of theatre or rousing discussion of theology, poetry, or other amusing conversation?
I am an aging priest, so the takers may be slim, but it would be nice to have some like-minded companionship, as the days turn cooler again.
Much of my time has been spent in the duties of my office, and many of those who I once enjoyed respite with have taken duties of their own. But I find myself wondering if there might be anyone who would wish to take in the occasional bit of theatre or rousing discussion of theology, poetry, or other amusing conversation?
I am an aging priest, so the takers may be slim, but it would be nice to have some like-minded companionship, as the days turn cooler again.
Written By Orazio
June 23, 2017, 1:06 a.m.(9/15/1006 AR)
While I was reading through historical journals, for various purposes, I came across the journals of a poet. Many of the poems were quite good, but one phrase in one poem lodged in my head, and I cannot let it go:
We dance in a circle and wonder;
the secret sits in the middle and knows.
How true this is, of so many parts of our lives right now. I have never been a man with much tolerance for mysteries; it was an aid in unraveling testimony and circumstance when I was a younger godsworn, doing the Sentinel's work. Now, it is almost a vulnerability - so many unanswered questions lead to frustration. Or worse, answers.
We dance in a circle and wonder;
the secret sits in the middle and knows.
How true this is, of so many parts of our lives right now. I have never been a man with much tolerance for mysteries; it was an aid in unraveling testimony and circumstance when I was a younger godsworn, doing the Sentinel's work. Now, it is almost a vulnerability - so many unanswered questions lead to frustration. Or worse, answers.
Written By Orazio
June 17, 2017, 9:45 p.m.(9/3/1006 AR)
Sentinel,
Silent Watcher.
You who witness my poor life,
its trials and its travails,
my actions in the light and in the darkness.
I beg not that you grant me justice.
I beg that you guide me to bring justice to others,
that I shall not silent abide evil,
that I shall not speak untruth,
that I shall not turn from the innocent in need.
I beg that my eyes be clear, my ears be open,
and that my heart be weighed on the scales,
now and at the end of my life.
May justice be done.
Silent Watcher.
You who witness my poor life,
its trials and its travails,
my actions in the light and in the darkness.
I beg not that you grant me justice.
I beg that you guide me to bring justice to others,
that I shall not silent abide evil,
that I shall not speak untruth,
that I shall not turn from the innocent in need.
I beg that my eyes be clear, my ears be open,
and that my heart be weighed on the scales,
now and at the end of my life.
May justice be done.
Written By Orazio
June 13, 2017, 12:47 p.m.(8/22/1006 AR)
In less weighty and theological news: it has been so long since I have had a night of pleasant drinking with good company where nothing of true consequence was discussed, that I had almost forgotten how very /good/ it feels. Even if the eagerness of people to attempt to find and consume fermented mare's milk was a bit surprising and disturbing.
Written By Orazio
June 13, 2017, 12:32 p.m.(8/22/1006 AR)
To the Faithful Reader:
Some musings on the area of crime, punishment, law, and justice. If the thought of exploring any of these issues does not please you, future reader, know that the rest of this entry is likely to be tedious in the extreme.
There are, and have been, many arguments made to justify performative and cruel punishments for lawbreaking over the centuries. This is a phenomenon not restricted to one given fealty - zealotry and a desire for revenge are nigh universal among humanity. It brings us satisfaction, at least in the short term, to see someone who has done something we consider unforgivable suffer - the greater the suffering, the deeper the satisfaction. We justify our desire for this satisfaction in many ways: we say that such punishments deter others from risking the same, we say that a great crime deserves a cruel punishment, we say that this is how our people expect us to do things and the way that we have always done them, we say that the way the laws are written do not allow us to make any other choice. I will address each of these (briefly, in deference to the space available and my faithful reader's patience!) in turn.
First, the issue of cruelty as a deterrent. This is perhaps the most logical justification, and the one that 'feels' most right. After all, were any reader here to contemplate getting one's hand removed for the crime of theft, they will likely say to themselves, "I enjoy having both my hands, and whatever I might steal wouldn't be worth losing one of them. I won't do that!" It seems rational. However, my years of experience talking with those who have committed criminal acts, and adjudicating in cases from the petty to the reveals one truth: most criminals are very foolish people. An integral part of criminal motivation is the belief that you will not get caught. Thus, the punishment for being caught deters no one who is committed to criminal action - indeed, wanton cruelty in consequences instead can encourage others, who might ordinarily encourage a criminal to turn themselves in, to instead shelter the criminal and hide their misdeeds, out of a desire not to participate in that cruelty. Rather than deterring commission of crimes, such cruel punishments instead encourage a disrespect for and disobedience to the law.
Even if we grant that such punishments - whether rendered by fire, blade, or seawater - do not deter criminality, can we not argue that they are /deserved/, and that refraining from them would be a sign of moral softness and unwillingness to see through a just reward? To address this concern, we must consider the purpose of punishment in the mortal realm, as well as the purpose of the Sentinel in the celestial. Non-execution punishment serves two purposes: restitution to the victim or community, and an opportunity for the criminal to repent and redeem themselves in the future. As such, the Pantheon has made it clear that punishments should be short, sharp, and certain. It is not the will of the gods for a man or woman's choice to be taken from them in the long term as payment for their actions, either by imprisonment or enslavement, for a person without choice cannot choose to become better, and imprisonment is a burden on the community and not a benefit. Cruelty in these punishments, likewise, does not either encourage someone to recognize their wrongs and become better, nor does it benefit either victims or the community - except in that sense of satisfaction we have mentioned above. And here, I would argue that much like a serving of the drug called 'dust', that satisfaction poisons the soul despite how pleasant it may feel, and thus is not a benefit, either. Execution, of course, serves a different purpose - the purpose of execution is to protect those around the criminal from a threat which is great enough that it is deemed worth it to remove from the criminal the ability to either improve or deliver restitution. And, not inconsequentially, to remove the criminal from the mortal world. Adding cruelty to this act is not only poisonous to the souls of those who undertake it, but it is also nonsensical - it provides nothing but pain and suffering, and at the end, nothing is changed - the criminal is still dead, and they have gone on to the only truly Just judge: the Sentinel. The Silent Watcher metes out to every man, and every woman, precisely what is required, once it has seen all that lives within their soul. Cruelty before death does nothing to aid in this process, and it only adds darkness to our own souls, which shall be called to account in our own time. It is not softness, or undeserved mercy, to forego cruelty towards the prisoner and the condemned; it is clarity of purpose and it is justice.
Finally, there is the issue of law and of custom. This is, perhaps, the weakest of the arguments in favor of such acts, for all that it is pleasant to be able to turn to the law books or the customs of the people and cry, "But this is our way." Laws and customs are developed by men and women, and when they are written not with the will of the gods in mind, but rather the desires of the people, it is all too easy for them to wander into injustice. When they do, it is much as if an acquaintance has called you over, saying, "Watch me climb this wall!" As you watch, they turn to the wall, and slam their face into it, as hard as they can. As they reel back, bleeding and dazed, you catch them and say, "That is not the right way to climb a wall." In reply, they shrug you off, and slam their face into the wall again. And again. After the five thousandth time, they can certainly say, "But this is the way that I have always climbed walls," but that changes nothing (except perhaps for creating an admiration for the hardness of your acquaintance's skull). Cruelty in sentencing and in execution is unjust; so says the Sentinel, god of Justice. Centuries of precedent in practice only mean that one has been unjust in action for centuries, and thus has sent generations of people on to their true judgement with unnecessary darkness clouding their souls. Mere longevity grants no moral authority.
Thus, if I would ask anything of the people of Arvum, from a parent disciplining a child, all the way to the Crown itself, it would be this: Be just. Even when it is hard, even when your desire to see another suffer clamors within your chest like a demon, itself. Do not spread despair, pain, or wrath. Learn from those who have made steps, even small ones, to be better people and better leaders, even when it has won them nothing. This is a choice each person must make for themselves, knowing that in the end, no one - King, High Lord or Lady, or beggar - escapes a full and just accounting.
Some musings on the area of crime, punishment, law, and justice. If the thought of exploring any of these issues does not please you, future reader, know that the rest of this entry is likely to be tedious in the extreme.
There are, and have been, many arguments made to justify performative and cruel punishments for lawbreaking over the centuries. This is a phenomenon not restricted to one given fealty - zealotry and a desire for revenge are nigh universal among humanity. It brings us satisfaction, at least in the short term, to see someone who has done something we consider unforgivable suffer - the greater the suffering, the deeper the satisfaction. We justify our desire for this satisfaction in many ways: we say that such punishments deter others from risking the same, we say that a great crime deserves a cruel punishment, we say that this is how our people expect us to do things and the way that we have always done them, we say that the way the laws are written do not allow us to make any other choice. I will address each of these (briefly, in deference to the space available and my faithful reader's patience!) in turn.
First, the issue of cruelty as a deterrent. This is perhaps the most logical justification, and the one that 'feels' most right. After all, were any reader here to contemplate getting one's hand removed for the crime of theft, they will likely say to themselves, "I enjoy having both my hands, and whatever I might steal wouldn't be worth losing one of them. I won't do that!" It seems rational. However, my years of experience talking with those who have committed criminal acts, and adjudicating in cases from the petty to the reveals one truth: most criminals are very foolish people. An integral part of criminal motivation is the belief that you will not get caught. Thus, the punishment for being caught deters no one who is committed to criminal action - indeed, wanton cruelty in consequences instead can encourage others, who might ordinarily encourage a criminal to turn themselves in, to instead shelter the criminal and hide their misdeeds, out of a desire not to participate in that cruelty. Rather than deterring commission of crimes, such cruel punishments instead encourage a disrespect for and disobedience to the law.
Even if we grant that such punishments - whether rendered by fire, blade, or seawater - do not deter criminality, can we not argue that they are /deserved/, and that refraining from them would be a sign of moral softness and unwillingness to see through a just reward? To address this concern, we must consider the purpose of punishment in the mortal realm, as well as the purpose of the Sentinel in the celestial. Non-execution punishment serves two purposes: restitution to the victim or community, and an opportunity for the criminal to repent and redeem themselves in the future. As such, the Pantheon has made it clear that punishments should be short, sharp, and certain. It is not the will of the gods for a man or woman's choice to be taken from them in the long term as payment for their actions, either by imprisonment or enslavement, for a person without choice cannot choose to become better, and imprisonment is a burden on the community and not a benefit. Cruelty in these punishments, likewise, does not either encourage someone to recognize their wrongs and become better, nor does it benefit either victims or the community - except in that sense of satisfaction we have mentioned above. And here, I would argue that much like a serving of the drug called 'dust', that satisfaction poisons the soul despite how pleasant it may feel, and thus is not a benefit, either. Execution, of course, serves a different purpose - the purpose of execution is to protect those around the criminal from a threat which is great enough that it is deemed worth it to remove from the criminal the ability to either improve or deliver restitution. And, not inconsequentially, to remove the criminal from the mortal world. Adding cruelty to this act is not only poisonous to the souls of those who undertake it, but it is also nonsensical - it provides nothing but pain and suffering, and at the end, nothing is changed - the criminal is still dead, and they have gone on to the only truly Just judge: the Sentinel. The Silent Watcher metes out to every man, and every woman, precisely what is required, once it has seen all that lives within their soul. Cruelty before death does nothing to aid in this process, and it only adds darkness to our own souls, which shall be called to account in our own time. It is not softness, or undeserved mercy, to forego cruelty towards the prisoner and the condemned; it is clarity of purpose and it is justice.
Finally, there is the issue of law and of custom. This is, perhaps, the weakest of the arguments in favor of such acts, for all that it is pleasant to be able to turn to the law books or the customs of the people and cry, "But this is our way." Laws and customs are developed by men and women, and when they are written not with the will of the gods in mind, but rather the desires of the people, it is all too easy for them to wander into injustice. When they do, it is much as if an acquaintance has called you over, saying, "Watch me climb this wall!" As you watch, they turn to the wall, and slam their face into it, as hard as they can. As they reel back, bleeding and dazed, you catch them and say, "That is not the right way to climb a wall." In reply, they shrug you off, and slam their face into the wall again. And again. After the five thousandth time, they can certainly say, "But this is the way that I have always climbed walls," but that changes nothing (except perhaps for creating an admiration for the hardness of your acquaintance's skull). Cruelty in sentencing and in execution is unjust; so says the Sentinel, god of Justice. Centuries of precedent in practice only mean that one has been unjust in action for centuries, and thus has sent generations of people on to their true judgement with unnecessary darkness clouding their souls. Mere longevity grants no moral authority.
Thus, if I would ask anything of the people of Arvum, from a parent disciplining a child, all the way to the Crown itself, it would be this: Be just. Even when it is hard, even when your desire to see another suffer clamors within your chest like a demon, itself. Do not spread despair, pain, or wrath. Learn from those who have made steps, even small ones, to be better people and better leaders, even when it has won them nothing. This is a choice each person must make for themselves, knowing that in the end, no one - King, High Lord or Lady, or beggar - escapes a full and just accounting.
Written By Orazio
June 4, 2017, 3:58 p.m.(8/4/1006 AR)
To an inquiry forwarded to me by a helpful (if somewhat nosy) acolyte, before I sent him off to do tasks other than reading people's white journals:
There is no specific religious prohibition against trapping lightning in a bottle, provided one does not use forbidden means to do so. However, it is more likely to result in exploded glass and peculiar burns than it is a captured lightning bolt.
Please experiment responsibly.
There is no specific religious prohibition against trapping lightning in a bottle, provided one does not use forbidden means to do so. However, it is more likely to result in exploded glass and peculiar burns than it is a captured lightning bolt.
Please experiment responsibly.
Written By Orazio
May 31, 2017, 1:44 p.m.(7/23/1006 AR)
It must be said: I have had nothing but good experiences working with the Whisper House, under the able leadership of the Radiant Whisper, Selene. Sometimes, we forget how integral the Whispers are to our society, particularly when so many of the nobility wish to resolve their own diplomatic issues (even when they truly, truly should not, but that is a sermon for another time, I think) rather than rely on trained experts for the tasks. Whispers have averted wars with a smile, and saved reputations with a few soft words in the right ears, and the Radiant serves that tradition well.
Written By Orazio
May 30, 2017, 5:37 p.m.(7/22/1006 AR)
To the Faithful Reader:
The summer has come, and the city evenings are filled with the buzzing of insects and the constant hum of humanity. Both of these sounds are pleasing to me. They always have been, but when I contemplate what we so nearly suffered, I see their beauty anew. Even in the squabbling and gossip, whether it be of the songbirds on my windowsill, or of the humans who inhabit the city, becomes like a song, reminding me that I am alive. That we are all alive.
Whatever else might be said of our circumstances and the challenges that lay before us, in my prayers I contemplate our existence, and our potential, and it fills me with awe, and even a little joy. It is my hope that each man and woman of the Faithful might look within them, for that potential, that best possible them, and use the peace which we have won to bring that forth into your life. There may never be a better time to do so.
The summer has come, and the city evenings are filled with the buzzing of insects and the constant hum of humanity. Both of these sounds are pleasing to me. They always have been, but when I contemplate what we so nearly suffered, I see their beauty anew. Even in the squabbling and gossip, whether it be of the songbirds on my windowsill, or of the humans who inhabit the city, becomes like a song, reminding me that I am alive. That we are all alive.
Whatever else might be said of our circumstances and the challenges that lay before us, in my prayers I contemplate our existence, and our potential, and it fills me with awe, and even a little joy. It is my hope that each man and woman of the Faithful might look within them, for that potential, that best possible them, and use the peace which we have won to bring that forth into your life. There may never be a better time to do so.
Written By Orazio
May 22, 2017, 8:49 p.m.(7/6/1006 AR)
A miracle is worth a little pain.
Or a great deal of pain, as the case may be.
Or a great deal of pain, as the case may be.
Written By Orazio
May 21, 2017, 9:14 p.m.(7/4/1006 AR)
To the Faithful Reader:
The House of Grayson, as one might expect, throws an exceptional party. I am not certain I saw that many types of spirit since the last judging of the alcohols for Mangata's blessing. It is good, I think, for people to have an opportunity to relax and unwind from the stress of siege and battle. This is not a disrespect of the struggle up to this point, nor is it a diversion from the responsibility we have to be ready to meet the next challenge. But life is not meant to be lived joylessly, going from one battle to the next. Just as Gloria requires preparation and honor, so does Jayus bring dreams, and Lagoma change, from war to peace. Love and laugh, lest we forget what we are fighting for, beyond mere survival.
Had a few drinks with a friend the other night. It was a pleasant experience, to be sure, although it is both difficult to remember and impossible to forget that our positions are not the same, and that I cannot be entirely who I was with some of my friends anymore. I am happy for them, but propriety should not be entirely discarded. This would be easier if I had any close friends remaining who had not joined the Faith, of course.
Finally, I understand that there a...nickname, circling. It is an unnecessary one, and certainly an entirely unofficial one. Give thanks and grace to Gild, not to me, if you will.
The House of Grayson, as one might expect, throws an exceptional party. I am not certain I saw that many types of spirit since the last judging of the alcohols for Mangata's blessing. It is good, I think, for people to have an opportunity to relax and unwind from the stress of siege and battle. This is not a disrespect of the struggle up to this point, nor is it a diversion from the responsibility we have to be ready to meet the next challenge. But life is not meant to be lived joylessly, going from one battle to the next. Just as Gloria requires preparation and honor, so does Jayus bring dreams, and Lagoma change, from war to peace. Love and laugh, lest we forget what we are fighting for, beyond mere survival.
Had a few drinks with a friend the other night. It was a pleasant experience, to be sure, although it is both difficult to remember and impossible to forget that our positions are not the same, and that I cannot be entirely who I was with some of my friends anymore. I am happy for them, but propriety should not be entirely discarded. This would be easier if I had any close friends remaining who had not joined the Faith, of course.
Finally, I understand that there a...nickname, circling. It is an unnecessary one, and certainly an entirely unofficial one. Give thanks and grace to Gild, not to me, if you will.
Written By Orazio
May 17, 2017, 12:03 a.m.(6/22/1006 AR)
To the Faithful Reader:
In all things, change. Winter will never fail to yield to spring, nor spring to summer. This is the promise of the gods to us, the faithful, and they have not let us down now. I have not written in a while, my fault and my apologies to Vellichor for that. But there were a great many letters to write, and I am sure that many of these will be referred to or added to white journals across the continent, so I will consider my duty done in an indirect fashion. The pertinent part, however, is that no winter lasts forever. Every silence, with the grace given by the gods and the courage and sacrifice of the men and women of the Compact, can be broken.
As it has. Now begins the hard work of rebuilding, of mourning, of honoring the lives lost by using our lives to make their sacrifices matter. Each one of us has no doubt lost at least one person in our lives. Honor that loss. Take what time you can to remember their lives, and ask yourself what they would wish you to do with the time they have bought for you with their life's blood. Do not waste it, people of the Faith. Rise to it, hold it close to your heart, and walk forward into the cold and the dark with Gloria's own courage.
I shall do the best I can to follow my own advice.
In all things, change. Winter will never fail to yield to spring, nor spring to summer. This is the promise of the gods to us, the faithful, and they have not let us down now. I have not written in a while, my fault and my apologies to Vellichor for that. But there were a great many letters to write, and I am sure that many of these will be referred to or added to white journals across the continent, so I will consider my duty done in an indirect fashion. The pertinent part, however, is that no winter lasts forever. Every silence, with the grace given by the gods and the courage and sacrifice of the men and women of the Compact, can be broken.
As it has. Now begins the hard work of rebuilding, of mourning, of honoring the lives lost by using our lives to make their sacrifices matter. Each one of us has no doubt lost at least one person in our lives. Honor that loss. Take what time you can to remember their lives, and ask yourself what they would wish you to do with the time they have bought for you with their life's blood. Do not waste it, people of the Faith. Rise to it, hold it close to your heart, and walk forward into the cold and the dark with Gloria's own courage.
I shall do the best I can to follow my own advice.
Please note that the scholars may take some time preparing your journal for others to read.