Written By Saedrus
Nov. 12, 2016, 9:11 p.m.(2/8/1005 AR)
This week has been far busier than I first anticipated. A dear client of mine, from many moons ago, wrote to inform me of his plans to build a bathhouse here in Arx which I thought was an exciting enough idea as it was. It is exactly what this city needs! A place dedicated to opulent relaxation where people can go and soak away their troubles and all the negativity that comes in these darker times; somewhere to unwind and regroup without having the usual rowdiness of taverns and inns. I told him as much, and he seemed particularly pleased I was so delighted by the idea. I expected he would ask me for some manner of input on the design of the place, perhaps the decor, or even ideas for the wine list but he didn't. No, he asked that I manage it in his stead! I am without question honoured and thrilled he thought to ask me, and I accepted graciously.
The past week has been seeing to the finer details of the Grotto since the main construction was already settled by the time I was told about it. Everything is in place now, and the bathhouse is fully functional! I will have to plan a proper opening event for it which will keep me busy in the coming weeks, and if not that the mere management of the establishment certainly will.
The past week has been seeing to the finer details of the Grotto since the main construction was already settled by the time I was told about it. Everything is in place now, and the bathhouse is fully functional! I will have to plan a proper opening event for it which will keep me busy in the coming weeks, and if not that the mere management of the establishment certainly will.
Written By Valerius
Nov. 12, 2016, 8:10 p.m.(2/8/1005 AR)
I like living in Arx. The city suits me. A lot of my fellow Thraxians I know can often feel restricted by the streets and alleys of Arx compared to the wide openness of the sea. But I just see the vast array of oppurtunity around every corner. I never really have any idea what's going to happen from one day to the next, always a lot see and do. I get it that some aren't as pleased here as I am, I even understand why. I just don't share in the sentiment.
Written By Cara
Nov. 12, 2016, 8:08 p.m.(2/8/1005 AR)
Though I know Ashford keep is very near -- in fact, I think it may be the nearest of the ducal seats in the Crownlands -- I cannot help but begin to wish for a more permanent home in the city than the Badger Boardinghouse.
I would dearly love to have a place to keep my books, and perhaps a little garden -- surely Olivia would love a place to tend her plants, and if I did take Lady Dawn up on her offer of a dog, it would be nice to have somewhere for him or her to have a bit of a romp.
Perhaps Aislin has thoughts on the matter. She is rather rootless at heart, but even she must see the advantage in having a place in the city to call home.
I would dearly love to have a place to keep my books, and perhaps a little garden -- surely Olivia would love a place to tend her plants, and if I did take Lady Dawn up on her offer of a dog, it would be nice to have somewhere for him or her to have a bit of a romp.
Perhaps Aislin has thoughts on the matter. She is rather rootless at heart, but even she must see the advantage in having a place in the city to call home.
Written By Anze
Nov. 12, 2016, 4:55 p.m.(2/8/1005 AR)
Arx.
Its big.
Seems a little soft too. Not even that cold, I don't know what all these people are complaining about.
I suppose I should meet some of these people, huh.
Its big.
Seems a little soft too. Not even that cold, I don't know what all these people are complaining about.
I suppose I should meet some of these people, huh.
Written By Silas
Nov. 12, 2016, 4:54 p.m.(2/8/1005 AR)
Mistress Joscelin will make a fine guild mistress. I am happy the election went without a hitch, and those who oppose her are still willing to help because when she succeeds we succeed.
The Lord Commander has asked me to attend the upcoming military conference on behalf of the Iron Guard. I will be going into it with few expectations, but perhaps I ought to bring a quill and some parchment...
The Lord Commander has asked me to attend the upcoming military conference on behalf of the Iron Guard. I will be going into it with few expectations, but perhaps I ought to bring a quill and some parchment...
Written By Aislin
Nov. 12, 2016, 4:19 p.m.(2/8/1005 AR)
I think I am very nearly ready to launch the Explorer's Society, with only one major roadblock still in my way: where in Arx could we use as a lasting headquarters?
In particular, I want space for a library. Because a Society library would, I think, be a great benefit to everyone in the Society. Someone could simply browse through the room, finding maps or copies of relics that spark a connection with something they themselves have found, leading to new insights or even ideas for future expeditions.
The originals would still be donated to the Archive of Vellichor, of course; that's the only proper place for such. But a place to share maps, journals, and discoveries? I think there's a place for that in the city.
After all, I have rubbings of most of the relics I have contributed, copies of documents I've found, and similar records all safely stored away. It saves me time in referring to them when I plan future expeditions, rather than having to retrieve them from the Archive every time I wish to refer to them. No doubt others have similar collections of their own.
But where to base the Society that would have room for such a thing? Perhaps, instead, I should simply start the Society and then try to gather support to build us a facility of our own.
In particular, I want space for a library. Because a Society library would, I think, be a great benefit to everyone in the Society. Someone could simply browse through the room, finding maps or copies of relics that spark a connection with something they themselves have found, leading to new insights or even ideas for future expeditions.
The originals would still be donated to the Archive of Vellichor, of course; that's the only proper place for such. But a place to share maps, journals, and discoveries? I think there's a place for that in the city.
After all, I have rubbings of most of the relics I have contributed, copies of documents I've found, and similar records all safely stored away. It saves me time in referring to them when I plan future expeditions, rather than having to retrieve them from the Archive every time I wish to refer to them. No doubt others have similar collections of their own.
But where to base the Society that would have room for such a thing? Perhaps, instead, I should simply start the Society and then try to gather support to build us a facility of our own.
Written By Sabella
Nov. 12, 2016, 3:06 p.m.(2/7/1005 AR)
Relationship Note on Abbas
I met Prince Abbas for the first time and he made quite an impression on me! He encouraged me to have a blade on my person, which is a novel idea to me. He has quite a stare, but it has yet to make me uncomfortable. Everyone must play their role.
Written By Pietro
Nov. 12, 2016, 12:48 p.m.(2/7/1005 AR)
Relationship Note on Salazar
Lord Salazar Argento sets a truly remarkable table -- with, of course, only the finest Lycene wines -- and, I believe, I must also commend him for his sense of fashion.
I look forward to being able to invite him to a dinner at the Palazzo soon.
I look forward to being able to invite him to a dinner at the Palazzo soon.
Written By Max
Nov. 12, 2016, 9:42 a.m.(2/7/1005 AR)
My social graces are coming right along just fine.
I sang a bawdy song for Princesses Donella and Natalia, just before fighting a duel that sprayed Lady Margot with my own blood.
I cannot in any truth say I am displeased with that dinner.
I sang a bawdy song for Princesses Donella and Natalia, just before fighting a duel that sprayed Lady Margot with my own blood.
I cannot in any truth say I am displeased with that dinner.
Written By Leola
Nov. 12, 2016, 6:56 a.m.(2/6/1005 AR)
Relationship Note on Natalia
Father, Mother,
The trip to Arx was quicker than I had hoped. There is no word yet from Father, but I know I ride quicker than most messages would come and I hope every day to hear word he is well again. This is the first time I've seen the city alone; and it is loud, with never a moment's silence, for which I am grateful. The people swarm the streets or leave them empty, and I cannot walk smoothly along the byways. I have sent word to our lord Saik and await his convenience, and hope he will accept my aid in place of yours.
The Princess of Grayson wrote to me. I assumed it had been mis-delivered, and sent my apologies to her steward, but she responded; she wishes to see me! I assume some misstep of our family in the past; perhaps a knight whose horse we trained dismounted her grandfather. I will do what I might to settle this.
Ever
Leola
The trip to Arx was quicker than I had hoped. There is no word yet from Father, but I know I ride quicker than most messages would come and I hope every day to hear word he is well again. This is the first time I've seen the city alone; and it is loud, with never a moment's silence, for which I am grateful. The people swarm the streets or leave them empty, and I cannot walk smoothly along the byways. I have sent word to our lord Saik and await his convenience, and hope he will accept my aid in place of yours.
The Princess of Grayson wrote to me. I assumed it had been mis-delivered, and sent my apologies to her steward, but she responded; she wishes to see me! I assume some misstep of our family in the past; perhaps a knight whose horse we trained dismounted her grandfather. I will do what I might to settle this.
Ever
Leola
Written By Juliet
Nov. 12, 2016, 6:26 a.m.(2/6/1005 AR)
Praise to Jayus, praise to Vellichor, praise to Limerance! It is done.
For the better part of fall I've been writing to my old friends in Tor. Collecting knowledge, keeping up to date on things. Writing down knowledge of things I miss and would like to see in Arx.
The Song of Roses.
Today, Messere Gisele sent me the first copies of the book, bound and with her scribes mimicking my handwriting as best they were able. I have the original manuscript, of course. But to see the tomes. To know that my knowledge will be shared... To think that perhaps the nobles and merchants in this city will use flowers as we do; to see more roses among them...
It makes my heart beat a little faster. It makes Arx feel a little more like it -can- be my new home.
"A Language of Roses", the letters read, as I trace my fingers across the kid leather.
"A Rose Cipher of Tor".
And then, in gold foil, just beneath the beautiful illuminated rose Messere Gisele has put in a panel.
My name.
"Lady Juliet Fidante."
I will praise Him as well. I know they fear Him outside Lyceum, but this is my passion and He fuels it.
So praise be to you, Tehom. Thank you for your presence in my life and soul.
For the better part of fall I've been writing to my old friends in Tor. Collecting knowledge, keeping up to date on things. Writing down knowledge of things I miss and would like to see in Arx.
The Song of Roses.
Today, Messere Gisele sent me the first copies of the book, bound and with her scribes mimicking my handwriting as best they were able. I have the original manuscript, of course. But to see the tomes. To know that my knowledge will be shared... To think that perhaps the nobles and merchants in this city will use flowers as we do; to see more roses among them...
It makes my heart beat a little faster. It makes Arx feel a little more like it -can- be my new home.
"A Language of Roses", the letters read, as I trace my fingers across the kid leather.
"A Rose Cipher of Tor".
And then, in gold foil, just beneath the beautiful illuminated rose Messere Gisele has put in a panel.
My name.
"Lady Juliet Fidante."
I will praise Him as well. I know they fear Him outside Lyceum, but this is my passion and He fuels it.
So praise be to you, Tehom. Thank you for your presence in my life and soul.
Written By Joscelin
Nov. 12, 2016, 3:31 a.m.(2/6/1005 AR)
I can't believe it.
I'm looking at the votes my crafters and merchants put together.
They've elected me as their Guildmaster.
-They- chose -me-.
Well. Most of them did. But it doesn't matter who any of them voted for. I love them all and I will listen to each of them.
Oh goodness. So much work to be done. SO much.
But I will sit here for this small moment, and savor this.
Because -they- chose -me-.
I'm looking at the votes my crafters and merchants put together.
They've elected me as their Guildmaster.
-They- chose -me-.
Well. Most of them did. But it doesn't matter who any of them voted for. I love them all and I will listen to each of them.
Oh goodness. So much work to be done. SO much.
But I will sit here for this small moment, and savor this.
Because -they- chose -me-.
Written By Fortunato
Nov. 11, 2016, 11:31 p.m.(2/5/1005 AR)
A painting. An actual painting. The eternal flame in a conflagration of uneasily wild color, yellows and oranges and reds and whites all bleeding into each other and laced with streaks of cooler colors, greens, blues, dwarfed and drowned by the sheer brightness of the warms. Around the edges of the painting, raw black, raw shadow. The shadow frames the flames in jagged halo, the edges all the bleaker for the contrast with the bright center. In each of the four corners, a mar, a flaw, troubled scratching. A shaky circle cut into the black on the northeast corner, a tooth cut into the northwest corner. Southeast, a chain. Southwest, a crude blade.
Written By Freja
Nov. 11, 2016, 11:28 p.m.(2/5/1005 AR)
The North Remembers was a success by all accounts and feedback I received. We showed the spirit of the North while honoring some of my favorites with Valeria, Fyrva, Rathlander, and then Weohstan. Each had a task suited to their story. For Valeria, a rousing speech. For Fyrva, we pit them against would be charming assassins. For Rathlander, they fought some our newly blooded beserkers. And then for Weohstan they outran some of House Redrains black hounds.
It came to a tiebreaker between Hammar and Count Maximilian. Part of me thinks I was -too- cruel in my portrayal of Lady Nameless, but then again while they were trying to catch me through the field of traps at least they did not find any of the bear traps I had hidden in the snow. The worse that happened was Hammar found one of the rope traps and ended hanging upside down. Maximilian took the victory.
That social task behind me, I can now start getting together my few men and belongings needed for another trip to Farhaven. Fergus has already taken care of his and I feel like -I- am the lazy one for once rather than him.
On a different note, I dreamt of another one of father's lessons. It was an excursion out into the forests where I learned from him one of my many games of cat and mouse I employ against the Shav's up north. The game itself is best saved for another time, but I remember the aftermath and the man's head upon the pike. Apparently he was the devil upstart who started the entire conflict to begin with. As father planted and anchored the pike into the ice he gruffly opined, "A cleaved head no longer plots. " Succinct wisdom, that is.
It came to a tiebreaker between Hammar and Count Maximilian. Part of me thinks I was -too- cruel in my portrayal of Lady Nameless, but then again while they were trying to catch me through the field of traps at least they did not find any of the bear traps I had hidden in the snow. The worse that happened was Hammar found one of the rope traps and ended hanging upside down. Maximilian took the victory.
That social task behind me, I can now start getting together my few men and belongings needed for another trip to Farhaven. Fergus has already taken care of his and I feel like -I- am the lazy one for once rather than him.
On a different note, I dreamt of another one of father's lessons. It was an excursion out into the forests where I learned from him one of my many games of cat and mouse I employ against the Shav's up north. The game itself is best saved for another time, but I remember the aftermath and the man's head upon the pike. Apparently he was the devil upstart who started the entire conflict to begin with. As father planted and anchored the pike into the ice he gruffly opined, "A cleaved head no longer plots. " Succinct wisdom, that is.
Written By Donella
Nov. 11, 2016, 10:06 p.m.(2/5/1005 AR)
Relationship Note on Gareth
We knew one another, distantly, when we were younger. Before his torments at the hands of the Shavs, but after the Tyde war. That boy is gone. He retains his agile mind, but he is very altered in spirit. He became an inquisitor.
Written By Victus
Nov. 11, 2016, 8 p.m.(2/5/1005 AR)
Relationship Note on Donella
People have asked me about my opinion of Donella.
A woman is not the ideal fit for the Voice of Thrax. None the less, if a woman was meant to be the voice, it is Donella. I suspect that if she were a man, I would support her candidacy for Prince of Maelstrom.
She is not, of course.
But she is, undoubtedly, the epitome of a woman of Thrax.
A woman is not the ideal fit for the Voice of Thrax. None the less, if a woman was meant to be the voice, it is Donella. I suspect that if she were a man, I would support her candidacy for Prince of Maelstrom.
She is not, of course.
But she is, undoubtedly, the epitome of a woman of Thrax.
Written By Darren
Nov. 11, 2016, 7:44 p.m.(2/5/1005 AR)
Relationship Note on Donrai
Prince Donrai Thrax embodies all that one imagines when they picture what a High Lord of House Thrax should be. I was glad for the opportunity to meet with him before the Assembly and determine what kind of man he was. And now that I know, I feel we're far better prepared than ever before to face what is ahead of us.
Written By Natalia
Nov. 11, 2016, 5:57 p.m.(2/5/1005 AR)
And all at once we were no more
Slipping through each others fingertips
We were now at odds on distance shores
Because of broken whispers on liars lips
We were once stronger than steel
A bond that would never truly break
Now I find that it was never real
And suffer for that trusting mistake
The lines have been drawn in wayward sand
While we work against the steady stream
We are now forever divided to different lands
While the past becomes but a dream
So I will redefine you, dearest, in my life
And you will continue to hit me with your lies
My head will remain up through this strife
Because this is truly the last of goodbyes
Slipping through each others fingertips
We were now at odds on distance shores
Because of broken whispers on liars lips
We were once stronger than steel
A bond that would never truly break
Now I find that it was never real
And suffer for that trusting mistake
The lines have been drawn in wayward sand
While we work against the steady stream
We are now forever divided to different lands
While the past becomes but a dream
So I will redefine you, dearest, in my life
And you will continue to hit me with your lies
My head will remain up through this strife
Because this is truly the last of goodbyes
Written By Damon
Nov. 11, 2016, 4:20 p.m.(2/5/1005 AR)
It's finished. I've done it. I've written a damn book.
An entire book.
...Now what?
An entire book.
...Now what?
Written By Isolde
Nov. 11, 2016, 4:09 p.m.(2/5/1005 AR)
* Learn how to not get distracted and want a tree-trimmed outfit. Itchy. Fur.
Please note that the scholars may take some time preparing your journal for others to read.