Written By Corban
Aug. 22, 2017, 8:59 p.m.(1/25/1007 AR)
It has been days of intense sparring.
First, I participated in Princess Reese's "grand melee," which turned out to be very much like a game of defend the princess. I was paired with Prince Luca and Prince Antonio, and I played my traditional role of front-line combatant. That meant I was first to fall, but it was all in service of a victory over a far-numerically-superior force on the other side. I also think we may have been Evil Pirates in this scenario, but I never quite caught onto the roleplaying.
Second, I sparred with the Marquessa Dominique Wyrmguard. We were an equal match for one another, and a perhaps-misguided attempt to press her attack opened her up to my blows and allowed me to secure victory. Nonetheless, she appears as honorable a warrior as they come, and I look forward to speaking with her in the future.
First, I participated in Princess Reese's "grand melee," which turned out to be very much like a game of defend the princess. I was paired with Prince Luca and Prince Antonio, and I played my traditional role of front-line combatant. That meant I was first to fall, but it was all in service of a victory over a far-numerically-superior force on the other side. I also think we may have been Evil Pirates in this scenario, but I never quite caught onto the roleplaying.
Second, I sparred with the Marquessa Dominique Wyrmguard. We were an equal match for one another, and a perhaps-misguided attempt to press her attack opened her up to my blows and allowed me to secure victory. Nonetheless, she appears as honorable a warrior as they come, and I look forward to speaking with her in the future.
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 Cristoph
Aug. 22, 2017, 7:25 p.m.(1/25/1007 AR)
Relationship Note on Driskell
You roast the chicken.
Written By Driskell
Aug. 22, 2017, 6:13 p.m.(1/25/1007 AR)
It's been some time since I've written, the trip south took far longer than expected as well as the issues which struck house Darkwater and it simply is impossible to write when one is floating from a wrecked ship for days. Transferring from ship to ship at the various isles until I reached Arx and then I went up the streets to enter the halls of Darkwater Reach.
The tides rise and fall and while the ships dip down the horizon into the deep, new lands and adventures await. I wonder where my ship will land, now that I'm in new waters. Do I seek out my High Lord? The new Countess of Darkwater? Become Godsworn? Heat up my skillet and make a really good roasted pulled chicken meal with rice?
...I wonder.
The tides rise and fall and while the ships dip down the horizon into the deep, new lands and adventures await. I wonder where my ship will land, now that I'm in new waters. Do I seek out my High Lord? The new Countess of Darkwater? Become Godsworn? Heat up my skillet and make a really good roasted pulled chicken meal with rice?
...I wonder.
Written By Monique
Aug. 22, 2017, 2:48 p.m.(1/25/1007 AR)
Dinner tonight in the newly-completed Forest Solar at Greenmarch Lodge! It is a wonder, in no small part to the wooden finery I acquired from Mistress Petal!
Let us see how well my guests like stealing their supper in a forest bower!
Let us see how well my guests like stealing their supper in a forest bower!
Written By Merek
Aug. 22, 2017, 1:54 p.m.(1/25/1007 AR)
Relationship Note on Sameera
This Coldrain woman was kind enough to help teach me more about investigative techniques, which will be quite useful as a scholar. I also hope to support her endeavors to make jewelry for folk, as she's one of the best jewel crafter in the city that I know of.
Written By Raphael
Aug. 22, 2017, 1:05 p.m.(1/25/1007 AR)
Raphael looks into the mirror to get a better look at what his face looks like after what just happened. He shook his head to the left and then to the right examining all the angles of the black around his eye. He does remember what hit him as he was barely half way done with his beer when he was ripped and dropped to the ground and punched right in the eye. The good news is that it wasn't just him, there were others. He thinks back for a moment and realized that he was in the wrong place at the wrong time and therefore ended in some blackness.
Written By Dominique
Aug. 22, 2017, 1 p.m.(1/25/1007 AR)
I have returned from some much-needed time away at Blancbier, and I stand more ready than ever to protect my people and my liege-lands from the forces that threaten them, and the Compact at large. I cannot say what that palpable melancholy was prior to my trip home (perhaps grief for Damon compounded by a deep homesickness) but the mountain air vanquished it completely. I have a clear mind and a renewed purpose.
All this marital mess is on hold indefinitely. Such negotiations serve only to cloud the mind in the face of much more pressing issues.
All this marital mess is on hold indefinitely. Such negotiations serve only to cloud the mind in the face of much more pressing issues.
Written By Leona
Aug. 22, 2017, 11:32 a.m.(1/25/1007 AR)
From time to time I am asked about my mentor. So many want to know what he taught me, how he taught me. Others want stories of amazing heroism, and I could tell those all day long. But there are better stories. And there is one lesson he taught me that I cannot stress enough.
The measure of a person is not in the moment of glory. The moment of success. The true measure comes in that moment of failure. When mistakes, poor choices, terrible tactics, misinformation - when it all comes to a head to produce a horrifying failure - when people are dead because of choices you made: What do you do? And therein lies the heart of what makes a man great or coarse. Do you own your mistakes? Do you seek redemption? Do you admit you were wrong, as publicly as the effects of the mistakes you made, and seek redemption? Or do you lie? Do you blame others? Do you attempt to slough it off, as though it were of no matter at all?
There is no deed done that is so secret that no one knows of it or ever will. And I have no time for cowards.
The measure of a person is not in the moment of glory. The moment of success. The true measure comes in that moment of failure. When mistakes, poor choices, terrible tactics, misinformation - when it all comes to a head to produce a horrifying failure - when people are dead because of choices you made: What do you do? And therein lies the heart of what makes a man great or coarse. Do you own your mistakes? Do you seek redemption? Do you admit you were wrong, as publicly as the effects of the mistakes you made, and seek redemption? Or do you lie? Do you blame others? Do you attempt to slough it off, as though it were of no matter at all?
There is no deed done that is so secret that no one knows of it or ever will. And I have no time for cowards.
Written By Archeron
Aug. 22, 2017, 9:29 a.m.(1/24/1007 AR)
Relationship Note on Victus
I remain unsure on what mistake Prince Victus made in the shrine that caused the waters to consume our ships, or for himself to be stricken. For my part, I do not blame him - a mistake was made, and he has learnt the lesson it seems, so what purpose does blame serve other than to salve hurt pride and stroke egos?
No. I am actually encouraged. Prince Victus has accepted, owned and now seeks to deal with the problems we face. Were more of his vassals so focused on results and less on pride, he would be served better.
No. I am actually encouraged. Prince Victus has accepted, owned and now seeks to deal with the problems we face. Were more of his vassals so focused on results and less on pride, he would be served better.
Written By Quenia
Aug. 22, 2017, 7:56 a.m.(1/24/1007 AR)
Relationship Note on Lucita
I finally found some time to sit down and talk to Lucita and see how she's getting settled in. I'm glad that she went to the Velenosa party the other night in my stead. It's a good way to measure how she'll act as Voice for House Igniseri. I've also assigned her some tasks for the house, and I hope that she'll manage them with great ease, though she seemed dubious. I think she just needs to find a steady foothold here, and then she'll flourish. I hope to help her with that as much as I can, even if I'm still trying to find steady ground with which to rest my own two feet as well.
Written By Lou
Aug. 22, 2017, 7:53 a.m.(1/24/1007 AR)
I attended Reese's mock battle last night. It was all great fun, however I'm fairly certain that Luca has held a tight grudge against that one damn arrow finding his ass! For not only did he come after me himself, a warrior against my archery skills, but he instructed the others to come after me as well. He thought me the weak link - but I'm not as weak as he might have guessed.
I am reminded that I need to go to him for weapons training. In the meantime... I wonder what kind of snake... well, no... that'd be punishing Reese and I've no need to do that. Sigh. Maybe frogs in his shoes then...
I am reminded that I need to go to him for weapons training. In the meantime... I wonder what kind of snake... well, no... that'd be punishing Reese and I've no need to do that. Sigh. Maybe frogs in his shoes then...
Written By Halsim
Aug. 22, 2017, 4:04 a.m.(1/24/1007 AR)
The Inquisition is working on understanding what happened and cleaning it up.
Hopefully, this is the last of this form of... event.
Hopefully, this is the last of this form of... event.
Written By Victus
Aug. 21, 2017, 10:57 p.m.(1/24/1007 AR)
Now that I have some color back in my face I feel obliged to give my own thoughts on what's happened.
The fault of the horrible mistake made at the Shrine of Mangata is mine alone. Were I more attentive to my own prayers to the Goddess and had the self-control to keep my head in check while I was speaking to them, maybe that monster never would have come here. I don't know why, I'm not even sure of the how, but I know what happened is my burden to bear.
To the people of Thrax, you can rest the weight of our sailor's deaths on my shoulders. I know how all of you suffer the moment I laid eyes on my cousin's body. I will carry that suffering with me and as is my responsibility now, I'll find justice down to every last fucking man.
Don't fear the anger, because I sure as shit am not fearing my regret. Let it be what drives you forward in the weeks and months to come that we rebuild, gather our strength and raise up from the ashes better than we've ever been. Never forget the why, the who and what can be done about it. Many have tried to break us, no amount of tentacles will be what tears us down so long as the Isles stands.
Tears in our wake, never at our wake.
The fault of the horrible mistake made at the Shrine of Mangata is mine alone. Were I more attentive to my own prayers to the Goddess and had the self-control to keep my head in check while I was speaking to them, maybe that monster never would have come here. I don't know why, I'm not even sure of the how, but I know what happened is my burden to bear.
To the people of Thrax, you can rest the weight of our sailor's deaths on my shoulders. I know how all of you suffer the moment I laid eyes on my cousin's body. I will carry that suffering with me and as is my responsibility now, I'll find justice down to every last fucking man.
Don't fear the anger, because I sure as shit am not fearing my regret. Let it be what drives you forward in the weeks and months to come that we rebuild, gather our strength and raise up from the ashes better than we've ever been. Never forget the why, the who and what can be done about it. Many have tried to break us, no amount of tentacles will be what tears us down so long as the Isles stands.
Tears in our wake, never at our wake.
Written By Rook
Aug. 21, 2017, 8:39 p.m.(1/23/1007 AR)
Relationship Note on Mydas
Sorry, I can't hear you over the sound of 'mmm, taxes!'
On a more serious note, you do good work for yourself, your family and your liege - you should be proud if even half of what I've heard is true.
On a more serious note, you do good work for yourself, your family and your liege - you should be proud if even half of what I've heard is true.
Written By Mydas
Aug. 21, 2017, 8:27 p.m.(1/23/1007 AR)
Aviaron's mines are more numerous than ever, thanks to the support of faithful allies. Silver, gold, copper and iron flow like rivers from the depths, and the finest steel is forged from the furnaces. When I return to Arx, it will be with mind content of the progress made within my homeland.
Written By Merek
Aug. 21, 2017, 7:56 p.m.(1/23/1007 AR)
Relationship Note on Ida
One of the best weaponsmiths in the city and possibly Arvum. Glad to have met her.
Written By Reigna
Aug. 21, 2017, 6:28 p.m.(1/23/1007 AR)
I have been putting this off because I barely want to think about what I saw in that place, let alone commit it to paper. But Vellichor does not ask that we write only the beautiful things, he demands we record it all. Truth is truth and words spread knowledge. If it hadn't been for something I'd read that frightened me, I would not have been able to recognize what I saw at that river.
The blood ran so thick you could taste it like a copper fog. The ground squelched underfoot in the worst kind of mud and the bodies... children's bodies split open like too ripe fruit, splayed open for carrion feast I... It was the pattern written in their viscera that drug the memory of the Children of Malar to my mind. Once we knew who we were dealing with we laid those poor souls to what little rest we could offer them.
I am not a Mercy, not for lack of interest, I simply was called to Vellichor rather than Lagoma. I have never been on a true battlefield, the closest I ever came was the Grand Melee and to think, that was not true intent to harm. There was no malice, no urge to hurt and maim and kill. That day on the river I saw malice and cruelty in depths I did not know were possible. I lost a part of myself, the sight of what human beings can do to one another, what savage pleasure in death looks like.
I fear I could not handle the sight of it. A poor Mercy I would be, I lost what little was in my belly. I forced myself to look, to see, I felt that loss within myself, a bit of the child still left, a small spark of something forever lost.
Later that day Kael was wounded when fighting those abominations. He is healing well and will be back to himself in full soon.
Praise Lagoma for watching over him.
Praise Limerance for keeping him by my side, as he promised to be.
Praise Mangata whose seas brought us home.
Praise Gloria for watching his back and guiding his arm.
Praise the Sentinel for overseeing justice done to the butchers of those children.
Praise Gild for seeing us safely home from our journey.
Praise Petrichor for the success in seeing Valardin lands expanded.
Praise Jayus for the dream of freedom granted our newest Prodrigals.
May these words serve as my praise to Vellichor, my devotion to him writ in these words, this tale, painful as it is to retell.
The blood ran so thick you could taste it like a copper fog. The ground squelched underfoot in the worst kind of mud and the bodies... children's bodies split open like too ripe fruit, splayed open for carrion feast I... It was the pattern written in their viscera that drug the memory of the Children of Malar to my mind. Once we knew who we were dealing with we laid those poor souls to what little rest we could offer them.
I am not a Mercy, not for lack of interest, I simply was called to Vellichor rather than Lagoma. I have never been on a true battlefield, the closest I ever came was the Grand Melee and to think, that was not true intent to harm. There was no malice, no urge to hurt and maim and kill. That day on the river I saw malice and cruelty in depths I did not know were possible. I lost a part of myself, the sight of what human beings can do to one another, what savage pleasure in death looks like.
I fear I could not handle the sight of it. A poor Mercy I would be, I lost what little was in my belly. I forced myself to look, to see, I felt that loss within myself, a bit of the child still left, a small spark of something forever lost.
Later that day Kael was wounded when fighting those abominations. He is healing well and will be back to himself in full soon.
Praise Lagoma for watching over him.
Praise Limerance for keeping him by my side, as he promised to be.
Praise Mangata whose seas brought us home.
Praise Gloria for watching his back and guiding his arm.
Praise the Sentinel for overseeing justice done to the butchers of those children.
Praise Gild for seeing us safely home from our journey.
Praise Petrichor for the success in seeing Valardin lands expanded.
Praise Jayus for the dream of freedom granted our newest Prodrigals.
May these words serve as my praise to Vellichor, my devotion to him writ in these words, this tale, painful as it is to retell.
Written By Ida
Aug. 21, 2017, 6:26 p.m.(1/23/1007 AR)
Relationship Note on Morrighan
Dame Morrighan, Knight of Farhaven. It still sounds so wonderful and I'm genuinely so happy for her! I offered to make a pair of hairpins as my gift to her for the occasion, and she asked for a pair similar to ones I made what feels like a lifetime ago. She gives me far too much credit, though; she chose the most glorious colors and stones for the set, for which I can take no credit. As always, I am humbled by her kind words and am so glad to count her among my friends.
Written By Ida
Aug. 21, 2017, 6:20 p.m.(1/23/1007 AR)
Made several dagger and hairpin sets that almost all sold out, which is a good feeling. Was in a bit of a foul mood earlier but being in the forge gave me time to really just think and contemplate the more important things. Some days I just like the quiet and work more than others. I feel pretty caught up from the whole returning thing and soon, truly, I need to start seeking out instructors for this and that. Maybe trade some brawling lessons for them - we shall see.
Please note that the scholars may take some time preparing your journal for others to read.