Skip to main content.

Written By Max

Jan. 8, 2017, 10:26 a.m.(8/9/1005 AR)

The Teind.

I see the Teind as the cost of war.

There is a war raging. Most of you don't see it. But I see it. I have always seen it. The way our history is culled, our brilliance dimmed and our wisdom silenced.

I accept the cost of war. I accept that good men will die for no seeming reason. For a scrap of beach, for a point of pride, for a duel between a prince and a lower ranked noble woman.

Men -die- every day.

And they die for far less, far worse reasons than 'Saving their brethren and keeping a compact whole'.

Keep your perspective, Arvarini.

War is never bloodless.

Written By Esera

Jan. 8, 2017, 9:50 a.m.(8/9/1005 AR)

The Teind is abhorrent. My blood burns against it.

Before the Assembly, I spoke to my Vassals. I asked them to support me, to fight with me, to find a future with no Teind, and no blood sacrifice. Some supported me in this. Passionately. They did not wish this choice -- this concession to the Nox'Alfar -- to be what the Compact becomes, as the world awakens.

Others, though they abhorred the Teind as I did, urged me to support it. To carry the burden of guilt for the sacrifice of those thirteen men. You wish to protect those thirteen men, they told me. You will protect those thirteen men -- and you will destroy the world. You will see all life, and all hope, devoured. And then your ideals will not have mattered at all. What you wished the Compact to be will not have mattered -- because there will be no Compact.

I was torn. The choice felt ... Impossible. It was not until I talked to Dawn that my choice was made. You might hate her. You might hate the mistakes she made as Regent. But if this woman would carry the guilt for the Teind, if she would take this stain upon herself, for the sake of the Compact ... I could not let her carry it alone. Though that, it seems, is exactly what she meant to do, all along.

You are right to hate the Teind. You are right to hate the decision the Assembly made. That you hate the Teind gives me hope that this will not be what the Compact becomes. This will NOT be what defines us.

This will be the last Teind. This will be the last of the Nox'Alfar. No one may harm us unpunished.

Written By Edain

Jan. 8, 2017, 9:02 a.m.(8/9/1005 AR)

Relationship Note on Dawn

When I was a boy, I would sometimes go with my father when he would travel to Bastion to meet with the Grayson. When I was there there was a little girl, that was just a bit older than me. Being young and stubborn I sulked with being left this girl instead of getting to talk about 'knight stuff.'

Then she asked me if I wanted to see her 'Explorer Headquarters.' and I said 'sure' and she preceeded to lead me to this lean too she build in the woods, near an outcropping of quartz. Her enthusiasm for the world around her was infectious and suddenly I wanted to explore too. We explored the outcropping and spied a particular crystal that was loose and when it caught the light glowed like that last big of pink on the horizon in the dawn hours. Clearly we knew that one /had/ to be magical.

I tried to climb up to reach it and feel, and kept repeating this constantly yelling, "This time I have got it!" and of course I feel every time. She studied the terrain and eventually put a hand on my shoulder to stop me and proceeded to lay out a very complex plan. I had trouble following to the point where they had to draw diagrams in the dirt for me. Once she got it through my thick (and now slightly bruised skull) we enacted her plan and we claimed our 'magic' crystal.

That was the moment I knew that Dawn Grayson was born to be a great leader.

I have always believed in her. I still do. You can disagree with someone, you can disagree with them with all the fury of of the most violent storm, and still believe in them.

I do not believe the Teind will save us. I mourn that this has become a world with so little hope that she believes sacrificing herself to blood magic is the only answer. I would rather see if our enemies have the strength to silence the thunder of our armies riding down on them. Despite all these differences one thing has not changed. . .

I still believe in my friend, Dawn Grayson.

Written By Julea

Jan. 8, 2017, 8:44 a.m.(8/9/1005 AR)

Reason. The course is set and our destination is inevitable, only the algorithm has changed. By refusing to accept it, are we delaying our FATE. That ominous dawn to break over our darkness, a stone wall at the end of lifeline.

Hope. There is always another way. FREE WILL gives breath to our FATE; it expands and contracts the whole of it, forcing the forks and winds outwards as our choices create new possibilities.. They collapse upon themselves as time turns these possibilities into realities and banishes the impossible into the ABYSS.

Reason. Our path is set and our FATE has always been defined; all your forks lead to the same end. And the illusion of choice only causes you unnecessary PAIN.

Hope. If this EVIL is to win and there is no FREE WILL, then all our choices are wrong, and can be nothing else, which is.. of course, a fallacy. There is no good and evil without CHOICE. Our purpose will be proved by our choices and we can bend the shape of FATE with its power, as the forge can force metal into the shape of a blade.

Reason. We have proven that we cannot. We have proven that the blade has already shaped herself.

Hope. We have only proven that we can fail, at times. Without failures and successes there can be no growth, no motion. No enlightenment.

Reason. There is only time, ageing. We are propelled forward towards the inevitable, an arrow to the target.

Hope. The arrow wishes to make it's own mark. Find its own target. That desire proves that FREE WILL exists, that choice exists, your analogy breaks down and becomes a lie!

Reason. I know what you desire, it is a petty thing, unworthy and inconsequential.

Hope. I desire only the possibility of it and faith in the concept. If that possibility continues to exist and we can make our own choices that will uphold its existence, then BALANCE too continues to exist. And we prove that it is not just possible for monsters, but that which is right and good and possible to strive for greater than that.

Reason. And you believe this?

Hope. We must; we have no other choice.

Written By Ainsley

Jan. 8, 2017, 5:49 a.m.(8/9/1005 AR)

Relationship Note on Dawn

Damnit.

Written By Killian

Jan. 8, 2017, 4:50 a.m.(8/9/1005 AR)

The events of the past week or two have seemed to move so quickly, and yet at the same time they move so slowly in other ways. I find that it is difficult for me to reconcile all of what has transpired in my mind. The Assembly of Peers..the chaos that it has created. Worrying about Dawn. About the city. Cara and Aislin are in pain and I can see it, so very clearly, in all the things that they do. Of a certainty it was easier before I had others I had to worry so deeply about, had to care so much for. Now though, I find my life entangled with others. Family..some few friends who I have come to trust. It is strange to see how much has changed in so little an amount of time.

Written By Anze

Jan. 8, 2017, 3:43 a.m.(8/9/1005 AR)

Its so damn FLUFFY

Written By Agnarr

Jan. 8, 2017, 3:26 a.m.(8/9/1005 AR)

Wonder if a smith somewhere knows if one could weld an edge of diamondplate or alaricite to common steel, or use it as the flanges or studs on a mace head or what. Could arm more that way with the same amount of metal.

Written By Gian

Jan. 8, 2017, 2:10 a.m.(8/8/1005 AR)

Of all that transpired within the Assembly of Peers; of all the momentous events and announcements, I will repeat the one that may be of greatest weight in days to come, from the voice of Lady Eirene Malvici:

One: Diamondplate weapons cut and burn demonic flesh.
Two: Alaricite blades cleave and consume demonic flesh.
Three: Holy water of Mangata’s shrine eats at demonic flesh.
Four: Holy fire from Lagoma’s shrine cleanly consumes demonic flesh.

I will hold these words close to my heart, as will- I hope- all others.

Written By Leta

Jan. 8, 2017, 2:01 a.m.(8/8/1005 AR)

Haven't written much because I know there are many wise minds writing about these matters of the Crown, so there's no call for me to say anything.

I don't know if I agree with this sacrifice. I don't like the sound of it, and I don't know if it's any good to offend the gods. Maybe the cure is worse than the sickness, and maybe not.

But when it comes to sacrifice, I don't know what sort of folk the elves say they needed, if it was just folk with six fingers in one hand, or the seventh of seven brothers, or only the sons and daughters of kings and queens of old. If it was just any man or woman, there's folk that are sick or dying, so not even the Mercies can help. Some of these folk have children, bound to be orphans before the year's done. If the Crown were to give their children a home, a trade, and a proper stipend, like some folk get just for being born to noble parents, I'd wager you'd get more than willing to go. Ask outside of Arx, and you'd get ten times the number.

If some noble wants to go, that's their affair, but giving orphans a home and a trade is better than making more, silk or not. Good and bad die every day, and you might as well make it worth the death.

Now this is too late, but maybe there's call for such a thing again in the future, so I put it here for the scholars to remember.

I went to see my folks after it happened, and they're well. The cat had kittens, as cats don't much care about Regents or Kings, but only one lived. I'm thinking of taking her in. I don't know if what some folk say about kittens and dark magics has any truth to it, but even if it doesn't, I've the coin to spare for a saucer and some milk and offal.

Written By Cassius

Jan. 8, 2017, 1:56 a.m.(8/8/1005 AR)

Relationship Note on Tristram

To the Scholars of Vellichor and the people of Arx:

I originally penned this letter to Prince Tristram Valardin and have made a copy for the archives. The subject matter is faith, miracles, and hope.

Lord Cassius Nightgold, KoS

**********************************************************************

Prince Tristram,

When you shared your story at the Assembly - which you had waited so patiently to do - it struck me as strange. You see, the Gods that I have learned of are not known for their direct actions in this world. They are not known for handing out miracles, not in any but the most subtle ways. When you shared that you had experienced what can only be described as a miracle, I was highly skeptical. There is so much false in this world. So many illusions we're meant to see as truth.

I spoke to Father Orazio, the Legate, as well as Archscholar Aldwin, then and there, as I considered your tale. I said to the Father, "But Father, the Gods do not act directly upon this world. How can this story be true?"

He said to me, "The Gods have always acted directly in this world. There have always been miracles."

I said to he, "Certainly, I believe in miracles. But they are small and this is so direct. Would not an action so direct made by the Gods cause their dark reflections to stir? To bring more evil into this world?"

That is when Father Orazio looked to me. He said to me, "Perhaps it is the other way around, Lord Cassius. The enemy has been more than stirring, its actions more than small. Perhaps the Gods feel to balance this darkness with their own light."

It was then and there that I felt so clearly the presence of the Gods amongst us. I knew, without a doubt, that the Father was right. That your story was true. That the Gods can and will take action, now at the time when we need it most. I believe you when you suggest there is another way to stop the Silence and the elves, and to keep Avrum safe.

I started to pen this letter the morning after Assembly. However much I wished to see it completed, duty called me away, and it is only now that I have a chance to finish it. Between then and now, much has happened, no more so than me experiencing a miracle myself. As you shared your tale, so I will share mine, in hopes my words might bolster you and all who read them the way yours have bolstered me.

I was called to assist with a matter, a matter that took me into the Lower Boroughs to chase down what we feared was a demon. Upon finding the demon, a creature that came from beyond the mirror, I recalled a prayer that I had learned as a child. As I held a flask of water blessed by Mangata, I spoke these words:

"We call upon Petrichor, we call upon the wind. Let it blow at our backs, let it push us forward. Let it ripple the pond and upset our dark reflections, so we can live today with only the light."

I cannot tell you why these words came back to me. They had seemed such a simple blessing. Yet, as I spoke them, with conviction in my heart, with courage in my soul, with dedication in my voice, I felt the Gods among us. It was more than something inside me. I felt as the wind stirred and burst through the opened windows of this derelict apartment. I could smell the forest - crisp and wet - despite being deep in the lower boroughs. This wind, this divine wind, blew in and swirled around this demon. It collected the droplets of the holy water I had flung and drove them into the demon's flesh. It howled as it blew past this demon's face, and like the wind can carry sand and carve out a canyon, so Petrichor's presence carved away the false flesh of the beast.

The demon fell. We saved two lives that day and none of my party was seriously injured.

Just as you witnessed a miracle, so have I. I have no doubt, not even the slightest, that the Gods will deliver, so long as we are faithful to them. So long as we believe. So long as we stand righteous.

The other day, as I stand watch at the House of Solace, a Seraph came to me. She asked what had happened, why the Iron Guard was off the streets, why the citizenry seemed so riled up. Buried in her work, she hadn't heard the news of the Assembly and the proclamations made. I shared with her the news, and she looked to me, and she asked, "In the face of such darkness, what is a Seraph to do? How is she to serve the people?" I told her your story. I told her what Father Orazio had shared with me. Just as it had for me, hope shone in her eyes.

I hope now that by adding my tale onto yours we can spread that light through all of Avrum, for if you have felt it, and I have felt it, I am sure there are many more that have as well.

Thank you, Prince Tristram.

Very respectfully,
Lord Cassius Nightgold, KoS

Written By Tristram

Jan. 8, 2017, 1:19 a.m.(8/8/1005 AR)

Relationship Note on Cassius

And then there were two of us, and soon there will be more, and together, we will stem the tide of darkness. In this I pledge my faith and sacred honor.

Written By Tristram

Jan. 8, 2017, 1:19 a.m.(8/8/1005 AR)

Relationship Note on Cassius

And then there were two of us, and soon there will be more, and together, we will stem the tide of darkness. In this I pledge my faith and sacred armor.

Written By Tristram

Jan. 8, 2017, 1:17 a.m.(8/8/1005 AR)

Relationship Note on Cassius

And then there were two of us, and soon there will be more, and together, we will stem the tide of darkness. In this I pledge my faith and sacred armor.

Written By Signe

Jan. 8, 2017, 1:14 a.m.(8/8/1005 AR)

I see the pain beneath your armor. The energy of this city has been poisoned by the wounds of recent events and you suffer with it. Remember: you are a Mountain - a spine of stone, grounded to this earth. You, too, will weather this storm.

Written By Rymarr

Jan. 8, 2017, 12:36 a.m.(8/8/1005 AR)

As war looms on the horizon, I begin to question many things.

The wisdom of others. My own purpose. The actions of others. My own words. To name only a few.

I rarely openly write a journal focused on self-reflection or discussing the matters which I encounter on a regular basis. Call it paranoia, call it fear. I will call it security. My role in this world, at this time, is to see to the safety of our sleeping king. Due to this role I find myself regularly unable to form friendships as I so often consider the matter of ulterior motives. No doubt this is exacerbated by the long series of misfortunes my family has historically suffered that ultimately resulted in my expecting the worst and being pleasantly surprised when my concerns were unfounded.

For a change though I will do as so many do and comment on the topics of the day. Possibly for my own sake and my own sanity, unable or perhaps unwilling so often to form personal friendships. It could be the means which will allow me to allow my thoughts to be known, without the threat of allowing someone too close to manipulate their way into gathering information which could violate my vow to protect the Crown.

The Teind. So many are opposed to it, yet so many are in favor of it. This is an issue that I find myself so regularly uncertain. I see the merit in the possibility, but it is just that, a possibility. The Teind is reputed to be our savior, yet it comes at a cost. Thirteen lives paid for exactly that: a possibility. There are no assurances, there is no certainty that the Teind will not wipe out only our enemies. What if it were to be turned against the blood which is used to fuel the ritual? The Nox'alfar claim to be unable to end our King's long rest, but they have the power to vanquish or impede an enemy through blood magic? It smells of deceit and ulterior motive.

The Nox'alfar. I have encountered them. I have witnessed their Twilight Court. A place of chaos, revelry, and devoid of logic. Or reason, by our standards. Their King Calithex, reputedly the most powerful mage in the world or so the ghost's whispers would lead me to believe, a bored lump who resides upon his throne while his court gallivants from one death to the next. I have witnessed them eaten alive, set ablaze, and I find myself willing to trust them as far as I could throw one of their number while set aflame and a spider chewing on their legs. Who keeps a spider that big? When it reached the size of a horse however long ago, no one thought that perhaps it should have been slain?

The Assembly of Peers. I am thankful each day that there was not some attempted uprising within those august halls. I am thankful that the King's Own did not have to draw steel to defend against some heinous plot. I am thankful that the people of Arx, my people, largely kept their heads despite the many stresses of that night. We all felt it, even those who maintained their composure until the end. We all understand those who showed dismay over their respective issues. We understand.

The King's Own is still comprised of the sons and daughters of Arvum. While we've sworn our loyalty to the safety and security to the Crown, this is still our home as well. One should not think that we are uncaring or that our thoughts do not turn to those who have lost their lives beyond the walls of our cloistered tower. Each loss of life is felt keenly, as it directly strengthens the resolve of our number and hones our focus. It draws into sharp clarity that the world is becoming more and more unstable with each passing day. That some day, gods forbid, our duty to the Crown will be truly tested. I hope such a day does not come to pass, but I always expect the worst, so I will not hold my breath.

As the threats make themselves more and more apparent on the horizon, some which I've faced myself already in standing between <redacted> and the then Lady Regent Dawn, our blows landing with what seemed initially to be little effect. I begin to wonder if taking my vow to the Sovereign's Own was the right choice. I do not regret it in the slightest. I merely question whether I would be more useful when the time comes, on the front lines rather than watching over the safety of the palace and king.

My hand is cramped now. I will write no more. Nor will I for sometime. It is strange making my thoughts and feelings visible so readily. It is not my nature. A character flaw perhaps, but it is one that I believe better serves the safety of the Crown. Some day, maybe, I will not need to be so guarded.

Written By Lianne

Jan. 8, 2017, 12:11 a.m.(8/8/1005 AR)

Relationship Note on Mirari

Each meeting is a new surprise. Most notable are the first, in the challenge you presented, and the most recent, in the kindness you offered. Thank you.

Written By Bethany

Jan. 7, 2017, 11:40 p.m.(8/8/1005 AR)

The second in the series may be found in the following places:

The City Center
The Ebb and Flow Inn
The Queensrest Inn

Written By Rymarr

Jan. 7, 2017, 11:26 p.m.(8/8/1005 AR)

Relationship Note on Kerr

A household knight in the service of the Marquessa Deepwood. He seems a good man, one who I found interesting and a pleasure to meet. He is apparently also a smith, though his level of skill I am uncertain. The Marquessa thinks very highly of him and I believe her measure of the man is quite accurate.

I found him to be disciplined, respectful, polite, and loyal. Precisely what a knight should be.

Written By Rymarr

Jan. 7, 2017, 11:21 p.m.(8/8/1005 AR)

Relationship Note on Monique

I encountered her at Sleepless Knights while on business of the Crown. While performing a duty, she caught my attention as she was at the bar nearby. I would have paid her little attention to begin with, until I took note of a particular mark on her cloak that she so proudly wears.

The Minx of the Marches.

By becoming a prodigal her past transgressions were wiped clean and a fresh start her reward. That does not mean that I've forgotten the acts taken against my family's holdings. I can forgive, but I do not easily forget. As a result I will keep my eye on her when appropriate.

Please note that the scholars may take some time preparing your journal for others to read.

Leave blank if this journal is not a relationship

Mark if this is a private, black journal entry