Written By Aleksei
Jan. 18, 2017, 2:48 a.m.(9/10/1005 AR)
So let's make one thing clear:
If anybody decides to challenge Orazio, it's not going to be a former soldier of almost fifty years you'll be facing.
But don't let that discourage you.
If anybody decides to challenge Orazio, it's not going to be a former soldier of almost fifty years you'll be facing.
But don't let that discourage you.
Written By Ford
Jan. 18, 2017, 2:10 a.m.(9/10/1005 AR)
Relationship Note on Orazio
Seems to be one of the only men in this city to have an actual head on their shoulders.
Written By Calypso
Jan. 18, 2017, 1:50 a.m.(9/10/1005 AR)
Relationship Note on Anze
You are an idiot sometimes, Anze Redrain. But I love you all the same.
You may have accidentally saved us from a terrible alliance with your horrible jokes.
You may have accidentally saved us from a terrible alliance with your horrible jokes.
Written By Costas
Jan. 18, 2017, 1:41 a.m.(9/10/1005 AR)
Relationship Note on Orazio
This city does not deserve its Saiks.
Written By Orazio
Jan. 18, 2017, 1:14 a.m.(9/10/1005 AR)
To the Faithful Reader:
I am certain that what the few readers likely to search through these journals - now or in the future - would like for me to address is the excommunication of four out of five High Lords for various heresies. I am not going to be addressing that, at the moment. However, I will be addressing something which I feel will help illustrate part of the reason why such actions as are recorded in the journals of this era took place.
An ancient treaty with a culture known as the Nox'Alfar was rediscovered, largely because we broke it. It was, that history might be fair to the Compact, a treaty which we had forgotten, and a treaty which we were actively and maliciously manipulated into breaking, so that an enemy of all life's greatest wishes might come true. That sounds a little dramatic, I know. If, in the future, these events have been forgotten, just know this: the enemy was terrible, and had infiltrated even the highest levels of our society, subtly steering us towards being forced to stand alone against a terrible host.
They really needn't have bothered, for the Compact was more than happy to destroy itself.
However, the treaty was rediscovered, and ratified with what history can but record as a terrible sacrifice. It is not my intention to replay the arguments over this sacrifice here. It is only necessary to know that it was done, as was required to renew the treaty. The other provisions were quite simple: a marriage of alliance in every generation, a respect of ancient boundaries that none had had need to cross in generations, and a military alliance against a mutual threat. In return for the marriage, the respect of boundaries, and military alliance against an enemy whose machinations had already cost us much, the Nox'Alfar offered weapons beyond the making of the vast majority of the Compact, and an Envoy to deal with the arranging of them.
This Envoy, to my eternal regret and shame as both a member of the Compact, and as the Legate of Concepts, was treated with disrespect and a shocking lack of hospitality throughout their stay. Gawked at like a menagerie exhibit. Harassed in the street - even, as I was thoroughly embarrassed to witness myself, by one of the princes of the House who was hosting her, while she was an invited guest of myself. Again, to be fair: a member of my own Faith also harassed the Envoy, but was reprimanded for that behavior. The Envoy was assigned as a guard, not an honored knight or even a noble warrior and diplomat to help smooth the way in the relationship between the Nox'Alfar and Compact, but an Inquisitor. Effective for terrorizing, perhaps, but not precisely an effective or diplomatic choice for a guide and guard.
This is not an attempt to whitewash the strange and even repugnant practices of the Nox'Alfar. But even a sworn enemy, when under a flag of parley, was treated better than what I witnessed and observed, despite the clear guidance of Gild on the subject. Guest right, for those reading who share the educational deficiencies of an unfortunate number of our citizens, allow me to summarize: Once an individual has been welcomed into the home as a guest, it is the gravest of sins for a guest to injure a host or for a host to harm a guest within their walls.
Whether she was liked or loathed, the Nox'Alfar Envoy and her assistant were invited into our walls, our city of Arx. While there, she was subject to harassment and threat of harm, by her hosts. Repeatedly and unashamedly. Eventually, as this discourtesy remained publicly unnoted or unchecked by the heads of the Great Houses, it escalated as such things will to an insult the Nox'Alfar felt they could no longer ignore. A privilege, it should be noted, protected by Gloria, and enshrined into every noble house, that an insult may be challenged and answered for. As befitting the insult of a representative of an entire nation, the Envoy requested a duel to the death, a solemn affair not unknown to the Compact and its nobility.
Although apparently willing to threaten the life of another, Prince Anze Redrain was not willing to risk his own in anything so honorable as a duel. Instead, refusing the challenge, he required the collective heads of the Great Houses of the Compact to protect his life from the terrifying prospect of single combat with an opponent who might have been better than him. To my eternal shame as one born into a noble house, the heads of our greatest and most powerful noble houses refused him - including the House which had agreed to directly host the Envoy, House Valardin, bastion of honor and civility. Or perhaps I do Prince Anze a disservice. Perhaps he was eager to rise to the challenge, and put his life where his threats were, but the Great Houses collectively had so little faith in his skills as a warrior that they believed that he was incapable of meeting the challenge. Certainly, the proclamation put out by his cousin, the High Lord of Redrain, seemed to expect that his defeat and death was a foregone conclusion, and that to avert this certain tragedy, the five-hundred year old treaty with the only halfway friendly power in local existence had to be severed.
Or, equally possible, the Nox'Alfar realized the quality of allies they were getting, and decided that they would be better off going it alone. Either way, I suspect this journal will cause some distress, perhaps even anger. Well, so be it. I am nearly fifty years old, and have not fought professionally for almost twenty years, so I suspect that I will not be nearly so terrifying a foe for the brave and valiant warriors of the Compact.
I am certain that what the few readers likely to search through these journals - now or in the future - would like for me to address is the excommunication of four out of five High Lords for various heresies. I am not going to be addressing that, at the moment. However, I will be addressing something which I feel will help illustrate part of the reason why such actions as are recorded in the journals of this era took place.
An ancient treaty with a culture known as the Nox'Alfar was rediscovered, largely because we broke it. It was, that history might be fair to the Compact, a treaty which we had forgotten, and a treaty which we were actively and maliciously manipulated into breaking, so that an enemy of all life's greatest wishes might come true. That sounds a little dramatic, I know. If, in the future, these events have been forgotten, just know this: the enemy was terrible, and had infiltrated even the highest levels of our society, subtly steering us towards being forced to stand alone against a terrible host.
They really needn't have bothered, for the Compact was more than happy to destroy itself.
However, the treaty was rediscovered, and ratified with what history can but record as a terrible sacrifice. It is not my intention to replay the arguments over this sacrifice here. It is only necessary to know that it was done, as was required to renew the treaty. The other provisions were quite simple: a marriage of alliance in every generation, a respect of ancient boundaries that none had had need to cross in generations, and a military alliance against a mutual threat. In return for the marriage, the respect of boundaries, and military alliance against an enemy whose machinations had already cost us much, the Nox'Alfar offered weapons beyond the making of the vast majority of the Compact, and an Envoy to deal with the arranging of them.
This Envoy, to my eternal regret and shame as both a member of the Compact, and as the Legate of Concepts, was treated with disrespect and a shocking lack of hospitality throughout their stay. Gawked at like a menagerie exhibit. Harassed in the street - even, as I was thoroughly embarrassed to witness myself, by one of the princes of the House who was hosting her, while she was an invited guest of myself. Again, to be fair: a member of my own Faith also harassed the Envoy, but was reprimanded for that behavior. The Envoy was assigned as a guard, not an honored knight or even a noble warrior and diplomat to help smooth the way in the relationship between the Nox'Alfar and Compact, but an Inquisitor. Effective for terrorizing, perhaps, but not precisely an effective or diplomatic choice for a guide and guard.
This is not an attempt to whitewash the strange and even repugnant practices of the Nox'Alfar. But even a sworn enemy, when under a flag of parley, was treated better than what I witnessed and observed, despite the clear guidance of Gild on the subject. Guest right, for those reading who share the educational deficiencies of an unfortunate number of our citizens, allow me to summarize: Once an individual has been welcomed into the home as a guest, it is the gravest of sins for a guest to injure a host or for a host to harm a guest within their walls.
Whether she was liked or loathed, the Nox'Alfar Envoy and her assistant were invited into our walls, our city of Arx. While there, she was subject to harassment and threat of harm, by her hosts. Repeatedly and unashamedly. Eventually, as this discourtesy remained publicly unnoted or unchecked by the heads of the Great Houses, it escalated as such things will to an insult the Nox'Alfar felt they could no longer ignore. A privilege, it should be noted, protected by Gloria, and enshrined into every noble house, that an insult may be challenged and answered for. As befitting the insult of a representative of an entire nation, the Envoy requested a duel to the death, a solemn affair not unknown to the Compact and its nobility.
Although apparently willing to threaten the life of another, Prince Anze Redrain was not willing to risk his own in anything so honorable as a duel. Instead, refusing the challenge, he required the collective heads of the Great Houses of the Compact to protect his life from the terrifying prospect of single combat with an opponent who might have been better than him. To my eternal shame as one born into a noble house, the heads of our greatest and most powerful noble houses refused him - including the House which had agreed to directly host the Envoy, House Valardin, bastion of honor and civility. Or perhaps I do Prince Anze a disservice. Perhaps he was eager to rise to the challenge, and put his life where his threats were, but the Great Houses collectively had so little faith in his skills as a warrior that they believed that he was incapable of meeting the challenge. Certainly, the proclamation put out by his cousin, the High Lord of Redrain, seemed to expect that his defeat and death was a foregone conclusion, and that to avert this certain tragedy, the five-hundred year old treaty with the only halfway friendly power in local existence had to be severed.
Or, equally possible, the Nox'Alfar realized the quality of allies they were getting, and decided that they would be better off going it alone. Either way, I suspect this journal will cause some distress, perhaps even anger. Well, so be it. I am nearly fifty years old, and have not fought professionally for almost twenty years, so I suspect that I will not be nearly so terrifying a foe for the brave and valiant warriors of the Compact.
Written By Dafne
Jan. 18, 2017, 12:57 a.m.(9/10/1005 AR)
I wish my sleep were troubled only by bumps in the night and unquiet ghosts and the occasional heady passion--but.
There are other matters that trouble my sleep.
We had a treaty with the Nox'alfar. For centuries we honoured it. Until we--not they--smashed it to fragments. It was for us to make recompense. Instead we mocked and blamed the delegates from the people we wronged.
Treaties are sacred when signed. We cannot decide that breaking a treaty is of no matter, simply because we find the contents distasteful. The whole fabric of the Compact is made up with the stuff of treaties, of promises made and words kept.
If we treat agreements with outsiders so lightly, why should we honour our treaties with each other? Why keep to our defense pacts and our marriage agreements when the Regency Council holds our agreements so light? Why should the five of us cleave to each other when treaties matter no whit? Shall the Lyceum retreat to our lands and laugh as Arx falls? Will the North wander off on whatever they do, because Prince Darren seems to think he always knows best? Will the Oathlands continue to make mockery of oaths? Will the Crownlands fall with no one there to help? Will Thrax sail away?
I am increasingly beginning to believe we are the villians of this story.
There are other matters that trouble my sleep.
We had a treaty with the Nox'alfar. For centuries we honoured it. Until we--not they--smashed it to fragments. It was for us to make recompense. Instead we mocked and blamed the delegates from the people we wronged.
Treaties are sacred when signed. We cannot decide that breaking a treaty is of no matter, simply because we find the contents distasteful. The whole fabric of the Compact is made up with the stuff of treaties, of promises made and words kept.
If we treat agreements with outsiders so lightly, why should we honour our treaties with each other? Why keep to our defense pacts and our marriage agreements when the Regency Council holds our agreements so light? Why should the five of us cleave to each other when treaties matter no whit? Shall the Lyceum retreat to our lands and laugh as Arx falls? Will the North wander off on whatever they do, because Prince Darren seems to think he always knows best? Will the Oathlands continue to make mockery of oaths? Will the Crownlands fall with no one there to help? Will Thrax sail away?
I am increasingly beginning to believe we are the villians of this story.
Written By Preston
Jan. 18, 2017, 12:18 a.m.(9/10/1005 AR)
My heart is heavy, and I can but commit my prayers to paper, for some prayers are insufficient if only spoken alone in sanctuary.
Limerance, Lord of Oaths, look upon those who have forsaken you and lead them back to the Faith.
Gloria, Lady of Honor, look upon those who have forgotten what honor means, and lead them back to the Faith.
Jayus, Lord of Inspiration, look upon those whose hearts have gone cold in fear and have led themselves astray, and lead them back to the light of the Faith.
Gild, Lady of Charity, look upon those who in fear sin against you and lead them back to forgiveness in the Faith.
Lagoma, Lady of Change, look upon those who see only the path to damnation and show them that there is always another way, if only they will follow your lead back to the Faith.
Petrichor, Lord of Nature, look upon those who have embraced the unnatural and lead them back to the Faith.
Mangata, Lady of Life, look upon those who forget your sacraments and the sanctity of life, and lead them back to the Faith.
Vellichor, Lord of Knowledge, look upon those who forget the lessons of the past and in their hubris see only their own wisdom, and lead them back to the Faith.
The Sentinel, Lord of Justice, look upon those who do have turned away from your law and stay your hand for surely they know not the gravity of their sins, and the Faith may yet lead them back to righteousness.
May the gods have mercy upon those children who have lost their way, and may they find their way back to the Faith.
And may the Faith stand strong, united behind our Dominus.
Limerance, Lord of Oaths, look upon those who have forsaken you and lead them back to the Faith.
Gloria, Lady of Honor, look upon those who have forgotten what honor means, and lead them back to the Faith.
Jayus, Lord of Inspiration, look upon those whose hearts have gone cold in fear and have led themselves astray, and lead them back to the light of the Faith.
Gild, Lady of Charity, look upon those who in fear sin against you and lead them back to forgiveness in the Faith.
Lagoma, Lady of Change, look upon those who see only the path to damnation and show them that there is always another way, if only they will follow your lead back to the Faith.
Petrichor, Lord of Nature, look upon those who have embraced the unnatural and lead them back to the Faith.
Mangata, Lady of Life, look upon those who forget your sacraments and the sanctity of life, and lead them back to the Faith.
Vellichor, Lord of Knowledge, look upon those who forget the lessons of the past and in their hubris see only their own wisdom, and lead them back to the Faith.
The Sentinel, Lord of Justice, look upon those who do have turned away from your law and stay your hand for surely they know not the gravity of their sins, and the Faith may yet lead them back to righteousness.
May the gods have mercy upon those children who have lost their way, and may they find their way back to the Faith.
And may the Faith stand strong, united behind our Dominus.
Written By Felix
Jan. 17, 2017, 10:36 p.m.(9/10/1005 AR)
A peacock spreading its beautiful tail feathers mocked a passing crane for the dull hue of his plumage. "I am robed like a king! Behold my purples and golds; a rainbow of color." "That may be so," the crane replied. "but I soar to the heights of Elysia and call to the stars while you walk below like a cock among the birds of the dunghill."
Written By Merek
Jan. 17, 2017, 9:24 p.m.(9/10/1005 AR)
Relationship Note on Bianca
I met Bianace at Damos' funeral. She is kind, well-spoken. I wish she did not have to be in the middle of these rough times. But the support their family received was quite inspiring, as were the words on the man.
Written By Lianne
Jan. 17, 2017, 8:23 p.m.(9/10/1005 AR)
Relationship Note on Damon
I believe there is a fifty percent chance you are still alive. May Gild guide you to safety and fortune.
Written By Alis
Jan. 17, 2017, 7:47 p.m.(9/9/1005 AR)
Relationship Note on Eirene
I will say this. Lady Eirene gives an unconventional tribute. And I mean that in the best way possible. If anything were to happen to me, I sincerely hope she comes to the memorial. And says I had a great ass.
Written By Eirene
Jan. 17, 2017, 7:45 p.m.(9/9/1005 AR)
Relationship Note on Damon
Eirene's Eulogy for Damon:
On behalf of House Malvici and my Duke, accept our condolences.
Sir Damon was a drinking buddy and sparring partner, and he had a very great ass in addition to being one.
He will be missed.
On behalf of House Malvici and my Duke, accept our condolences.
Sir Damon was a drinking buddy and sparring partner, and he had a very great ass in addition to being one.
He will be missed.
Written By Pietro
Jan. 17, 2017, 7:08 p.m.(9/9/1005 AR)
I've met Prince Ainsley before, but yesterday's bout in the training center was the first chance we've really had to get to know one another. He fights well, and fiercely. I think he is a man forced by circumstance to thrive under great pressure, and we had a good bout while he burned off some of the stress of that responsibility. (I'm getting to know the weight pretty well myself. See earlier journal entry today. Sigh.)
I earned a drink from him as forfeit for our sparring match. I think we shall be good friends.
I earned a drink from him as forfeit for our sparring match. I think we shall be good friends.
Written By Pietro
Jan. 17, 2017, 7:05 p.m.(9/9/1005 AR)
It behooves me to be circumspect in making public comment about the Faith. If I spoke only for myself, I am sure I would have CLEAR opinions to announce to the world generally. I am the Voice of Granato, and it is a duty I really do take seriously. I am listening to everything being put forward, and reading a really surprising number of journal entries from people of all walks of life.
I write this mostly because it feels strange to write of simple, personal things while the city erupts in a new fervency of chaos, but that's all that I'm going to be writing about for public consumption, at least until the interests of duty and fealty require me to do otherwise.
I am sure that Vellichor is really appalled that I've gotten so BORING.
I write this mostly because it feels strange to write of simple, personal things while the city erupts in a new fervency of chaos, but that's all that I'm going to be writing about for public consumption, at least until the interests of duty and fealty require me to do otherwise.
I am sure that Vellichor is really appalled that I've gotten so BORING.
Written By Ford
Jan. 17, 2017, 6:50 p.m.(9/9/1005 AR)
OH! -AND- How could I forget?
A religious figurehead excommunicating everyone involved in, as I understand it, a farce of a decision.
Save for one.
Suspect much? Me thinks so.
A religious figurehead excommunicating everyone involved in, as I understand it, a farce of a decision.
Save for one.
Suspect much? Me thinks so.
Written By Ford
Jan. 17, 2017, 6:43 p.m.(9/9/1005 AR)
Silent monsters encroaching upon our walls.
Demons around every which corner.
Young Lords vanishing into thin fucking air.
And elves with a wonderful sense of hat styling.
Welcome to fucking Arx, Ford Kennex.
Demons around every which corner.
Young Lords vanishing into thin fucking air.
And elves with a wonderful sense of hat styling.
Welcome to fucking Arx, Ford Kennex.
Written By Merek
Jan. 17, 2017, 6:25 p.m.(9/9/1005 AR)
I arrived recently in Arx. My parents would be proud that I've come so far. My craft is still not the best. I hope my sister Malena joins me sometime here. Met Princess Valencia Redrain. She mentioned something about demons coming back, and people called The Bringers. Apparently there is a war on the horizon. I remain optimistic that the gods will see us through this difficult time.
Written By Isolde
Jan. 17, 2017, 6:24 p.m.(9/9/1005 AR)
Relationship Note on Niamh
Lady of the Greenmarch family, a pleasant conversationalist and a curious mind. I appreciate her immensely, and would like to think we could, somehow, in some way, be something of friends. I keep her in my prayers, that she and I can find the answers we seek.
Written By Merek
Jan. 17, 2017, 6:22 p.m.(9/9/1005 AR)
Relationship Note on Valencia
I met Valencia at the Stone Grove. She was quite kind to me, and continues to be. I find her views on certain things to be refreshing. Different than the normal, that's for sure.
Written By Merek
Jan. 17, 2017, 6:22 p.m.(9/9/1005 AR)
Relationship Note on Valencia
I met Valencia at the Stone Grove. She was quite kind to me, and continues to be. I find her views on certain things to be refreshing. Different than the normal, that's for sure.
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