Written By Tikva
Nov. 10, 2023, 4:16 a.m.(3/2/1021 AR)
Once, I watched a woman pluck a star from the heavens through the winter branches of the tree in the Shrine of the First Choice. In her fingers the starlight was a gemstone. She gave it to my son with a smile that shone as warm as the diamond was bright.
It's his dearest treasure. He stows it in a secret place where his brother and sister will never find it. He might be too old, now, to acknowledge why it is so important to him.
For me, though, the real treasure was their faces. Gift and wonder, light and delight, a thousand refractions in a moment, and yet somehow as easy a commonplace.
It's his dearest treasure. He stows it in a secret place where his brother and sister will never find it. He might be too old, now, to acknowledge why it is so important to him.
For me, though, the real treasure was their faces. Gift and wonder, light and delight, a thousand refractions in a moment, and yet somehow as easy a commonplace.
Written By Valencia
Nov. 9, 2023, 10:33 p.m.(3/1/1021 AR)
It would seem that the ties of our compact are being tested again, which says to me that it is more important than ever that we remain allied against our common enemy if we are to survive.
We cannot yield to it. No matter how hard they try to sow the seeds of discord among us.
United we are formidable. Torn asunder and fighting each other from within... unthinkable.
I have faith in the people of Avrum and our allies. Each and every one. There is so much skill and experience, and we are rich with strong hearts, clever minds and unwavering will.
Stand strong, good people, stand strong. Hold fast. Do not let eyes stray from the task. We cannot let this evil end us. Not today. Not tomorrow. Not ever.
~~~~~~~~~~~<~<~<@
We cannot yield to it. No matter how hard they try to sow the seeds of discord among us.
United we are formidable. Torn asunder and fighting each other from within... unthinkable.
I have faith in the people of Avrum and our allies. Each and every one. There is so much skill and experience, and we are rich with strong hearts, clever minds and unwavering will.
Stand strong, good people, stand strong. Hold fast. Do not let eyes stray from the task. We cannot let this evil end us. Not today. Not tomorrow. Not ever.
~~~~~~~~~~~<~<~<@
Written By Fortunato
Nov. 9, 2023, 8:04 p.m.(3/1/1021 AR)
What does it mean to be free?
I don't know that I know. Triscali, I do know, is grieving. Perhaps at the core of my question, what does it mean to be free, is this.
Once our chains are broken, what then? Once we begin to remember, what then? Who will we be? And will we also remember how to help each other?
I don't know that I know. Triscali, I do know, is grieving. Perhaps at the core of my question, what does it mean to be free, is this.
Once our chains are broken, what then? Once we begin to remember, what then? Who will we be? And will we also remember how to help each other?
Written By Lys
Nov. 9, 2023, 6:50 p.m.(3/1/1021 AR)
Relationship Note on Triscali
Hey, uh. Everyone does realize an ancient queen is giving us nightmare inducing warnings right? We might want to listen.
Written By Esme
Nov. 9, 2023, 6:49 p.m.(3/1/1021 AR)
Most Beloved Readers,
We are feeling those moments of change. It is all around us. It is opening the swirling paths before us and we shall find ourselves at the fork in the road. Oh, but what a time we are blessed to live in. For the Gods take notice of us, but so then do those that seek not our betterment. We cannot fall to a depravity that takes the will from others, so that ours might be done. We must hold true to who we are and for what we seek and fight.
Do we even know what we fight for?
That is first question, but please remember that you are loved. In times of questions, there are not always ready answers. Sometimes, we must write our own answers on the path that we walk, but still we must walk. You must look deep into your souls and understand who you are so completely. For in coming times, I feel we are going to be sure to have this twisted and doubted.
I cannot speak for the Faith. I cannot speak for Limerance. I speak only for myself, but know that I am here to listen. I am here to counsel if I know the answers and I am here to admit I do not know them all. We live in blessed times and our blessed by the Concepts that we choose to worship.
We are feeling those moments of change. It is all around us. It is opening the swirling paths before us and we shall find ourselves at the fork in the road. Oh, but what a time we are blessed to live in. For the Gods take notice of us, but so then do those that seek not our betterment. We cannot fall to a depravity that takes the will from others, so that ours might be done. We must hold true to who we are and for what we seek and fight.
Do we even know what we fight for?
That is first question, but please remember that you are loved. In times of questions, there are not always ready answers. Sometimes, we must write our own answers on the path that we walk, but still we must walk. You must look deep into your souls and understand who you are so completely. For in coming times, I feel we are going to be sure to have this twisted and doubted.
I cannot speak for the Faith. I cannot speak for Limerance. I speak only for myself, but know that I am here to listen. I am here to counsel if I know the answers and I am here to admit I do not know them all. We live in blessed times and our blessed by the Concepts that we choose to worship.
Written By Ainsley
Nov. 9, 2023, 6:48 p.m.(3/1/1021 AR)
Relationship Note on Titus
As the Paladin of Gloria who cut off Brand’s head, I’m all about honorable combat and seeing the humanity in our enemies…
But before you speak on an enemy you might want to actually know something about that enemy.
But before you speak on an enemy you might want to actually know something about that enemy.
Written By Sen'azala
Nov. 9, 2023, 6:36 p.m.(3/1/1021 AR)
My adopted family had a wise saying that I'd like to relate to current events:
For fuck's sake, this is *not the fucking time* for this shit.
For fuck's sake, this is *not the fucking time* for this shit.
Written By Triscali
Nov. 9, 2023, 10:13 a.m.(2/28/1021 AR)
I have seen, in this world, newfound gasps of hope. I have seen chains broken and freedom reborn. A lost god remembered. Cherished. A light renewed.
To those of you who have loved these things, fought for them, basked in them, I tell you this: You will all watch as She dies. And you will do nothing.
To those of you who have loved these things, fought for them, basked in them, I tell you this: You will all watch as She dies. And you will do nothing.
Written By Tanith
Nov. 9, 2023, 8:57 a.m.(2/28/1021 AR)
They all warn, all of them do: it's different when it's your own. From the outside looking in, even a hundred times, it's very different. Maybe I have more knowledge than most beginners, maybe I can handle the changes easier when they happen ... But it's so very very different when it comes to you.
Rumors abound, terrifying whispers and murmurs in the Murder. I'm on the far side of Her territory, my husband stands at the other end of the knife; him the edge, me the hilt. Balanced between us, there is so much at stake.
What kind of world am I bringing you into, little one?
Rumors abound, terrifying whispers and murmurs in the Murder. I'm on the far side of Her territory, my husband stands at the other end of the knife; him the edge, me the hilt. Balanced between us, there is so much at stake.
What kind of world am I bringing you into, little one?
Written By Mattheu
Nov. 9, 2023, 8:22 a.m.(2/28/1021 AR)
The stone and brick of this city feels trapping so many times over where when the city decides to pull at one small thing and then find their own means of amusement within it. ...
Others have benefited from my own gape. That's all which really matters. There's food being delivered to those that need it, someone got a laugh to fill their home and surprise those loved around them.
I have a small child with eyes wide of wonderment. I love that this is the world they are able to see. Even if it's their at their father's gape which brought it on.
Others have benefited from my own gape. That's all which really matters. There's food being delivered to those that need it, someone got a laugh to fill their home and surprise those loved around them.
I have a small child with eyes wide of wonderment. I love that this is the world they are able to see. Even if it's their at their father's gape which brought it on.
Written By Medeia
Nov. 9, 2023, 7:11 a.m.(2/28/1021 AR)
This very sudden awareness of the supernatural that has always surrounded us is encouraging in me an adherence to my Faith. Amid all of this, we should be clinging to our guiding principles and our better natures! It is important that we keep level heads and seek out understanding. Turning to our libraries and relying upon those better knowledgeable than us will allow us to soothe those sharp pangs that rattle us. There are wonderful resources through the Compact, especially the Sina Memorial Library in the Lower Boroughs and the Saikland archive.
In these cold winter months, when things can feel even more dismal and heartbreaking than they are, turning to the warmth of community can replenish the spirit. We should not be leaving our people out on the streets, hungry - for food or for knowledge. It is not possible for me to personally go and sit with everyone, but Saik is a house committed to both its people and the Compact. Baroness Lucita and I have arranged several charitable donations from our house to organizations that can help to extend that goodwill.
I implore you, if you read this, to act with honor and dignity in these challenging times. We have an opportunity to think well about our actions and how they serve us, how they serve our society.
"To act without thought is slavery." Our great enemy seeks to enslave us and bend us to his will, to turn our thoughts into nothing - to replace them with his own. Think. Think carefully. Do not let fear inspire you to act without thought, to be your master. I believe in the great potential for beauty, strength, growth, love, kindness, health, and success that can come from us pausing, breathing, and dedicating ourselves to our godly principles.
In these cold winter months, when things can feel even more dismal and heartbreaking than they are, turning to the warmth of community can replenish the spirit. We should not be leaving our people out on the streets, hungry - for food or for knowledge. It is not possible for me to personally go and sit with everyone, but Saik is a house committed to both its people and the Compact. Baroness Lucita and I have arranged several charitable donations from our house to organizations that can help to extend that goodwill.
I implore you, if you read this, to act with honor and dignity in these challenging times. We have an opportunity to think well about our actions and how they serve us, how they serve our society.
"To act without thought is slavery." Our great enemy seeks to enslave us and bend us to his will, to turn our thoughts into nothing - to replace them with his own. Think. Think carefully. Do not let fear inspire you to act without thought, to be your master. I believe in the great potential for beauty, strength, growth, love, kindness, health, and success that can come from us pausing, breathing, and dedicating ourselves to our godly principles.
Written By Viviana
Nov. 9, 2023, 3:49 a.m.(2/28/1021 AR)
Not the brightest - not the sweetest --
But, I'll accept being the sharpest Whisper.
But, I'll accept being the sharpest Whisper.
Written By Sen'azala
Nov. 8, 2023, 6:12 p.m.(2/27/1021 AR)
Relationship Note on Titus
True for many of the people the Compact has fought, but I guarantee you, there is no scrap of humanity to the Horned God, not a whisper, not a passing thought, nothing. If he ever had any virtues - and, frankly, I've never seen any evidence of it - then he willfully abandoned them a long, long, long time ago. He doesn't care about honor, or any law of decency dreamed up by anyone, at any point, ever, gods included. It's a fatal mistake to ever think otherwise. His armies have no choice to do anything other than what he wants them to do, whether they want to or not, so, unless that hold is shaken, it's a fatal mistake to think otherwise of them either. He wants you to die, all of you, he's very happy to ensure it happens, and for those who do not die, he wants you chained so tightly that you'll never escape. He wants this because he believes it's where all of us belong, in the ground or at his feet.
He *is* a fucking monster, and if he ever seems otherwise, it's a lie.
Presumably, at some point there was at least some scrap of something that led to him being a part of the Order, but since he ended up betraying them all, none of them are left to ask what that might have been.
He *is* a fucking monster, and if he ever seems otherwise, it's a lie.
Presumably, at some point there was at least some scrap of something that led to him being a part of the Order, but since he ended up betraying them all, none of them are left to ask what that might have been.
Written By Silvio
Nov. 8, 2023, 5:17 p.m.(2/27/1021 AR)
Today I met a man who introduced himself as "the Great." I found it so charming, choosing a sobriquet to self-appellate, so I thought it must become the new fashion. We should all choose an adjective with which to adorn ourselves, like our cloaks or our hats, and no one should be seen without one. I'm myself partial to the Brilliant, or maybe even the Vivacious, but I am open to persuasion on the specifics.
Written By Titus
Nov. 8, 2023, 4:53 p.m.(2/27/1021 AR)
There is numerous literature devoted to the topic of the Compact and its enemies such as the Horned God, the Gyre, Tolamar Brand and more. Often the stories create monstrous depictions in which all humanity is stripped from the armies or leaders of our enemies when that is not the case.
Remember, seeing your enemies as mere monsters is a dangerous oversimplification. This mindset often paves the way to unchecked violence and destruction. It's crucial to acknowledge that they, like us, possess a mix of virtues and flaws. Every severe action taken against them is likely to provoke a comparable reaction and the reverse is true when they take severe action against the Compact which drives us to react. Strive for understanding and measured responses to avoid a cycle of endless unchecked hostility with no end in sight.
While I understand it's paramount to minimize violence and seek peaceful resolutions, there are limits to what diplomacy and restrained tactics can achieve. In situations where standing firm for our beliefs and values becomes inevitable, it is essential to engage with honour and integrity. This approach ensures that we rise above our primal instincts to fear and attack the unfamiliar. By maintaining honourable conduct in conflict, we uphold our principles and avoid descending into a mindset that blindly opposes anything different from us. It's about striking a balance - defending our ideals while respecting the humanity of all involved.
The Code and the god of war demands this.
Remember, seeing your enemies as mere monsters is a dangerous oversimplification. This mindset often paves the way to unchecked violence and destruction. It's crucial to acknowledge that they, like us, possess a mix of virtues and flaws. Every severe action taken against them is likely to provoke a comparable reaction and the reverse is true when they take severe action against the Compact which drives us to react. Strive for understanding and measured responses to avoid a cycle of endless unchecked hostility with no end in sight.
While I understand it's paramount to minimize violence and seek peaceful resolutions, there are limits to what diplomacy and restrained tactics can achieve. In situations where standing firm for our beliefs and values becomes inevitable, it is essential to engage with honour and integrity. This approach ensures that we rise above our primal instincts to fear and attack the unfamiliar. By maintaining honourable conduct in conflict, we uphold our principles and avoid descending into a mindset that blindly opposes anything different from us. It's about striking a balance - defending our ideals while respecting the humanity of all involved.
The Code and the god of war demands this.
Written By Lys
Nov. 7, 2023, 11:49 p.m.(2/25/1021 AR)
I may ... need to find an event planner of some sort. I am so excited for the idea of hosting such a large party but I have never done so before...
Written By Ann
Nov. 7, 2023, 2:59 p.m.(2/24/1021 AR)
I woke up from a pleasant slumber to cookies dipped in chocolate. Awe, dear husband what a sweet gesture. Only to hear arguing from Mattheu and Amelia and then criers talking about cookies and people in need? Oh my what has been started? Maybe I need more sleep.
Oh but there are more cookies to be had! Look a whole container to! Thank you to the kind House Acheron. This also reminds me I should bring the children to the soup kitchen so they can do their part. Mmm. Yes, I think I shall.
My favorite nephew did make me giggle in his proclamation, Scholar. Don't tell him that I did that. I'll deny it. Okay, more cookies and more sleep and then soup kitchen.
Oh but there are more cookies to be had! Look a whole container to! Thank you to the kind House Acheron. This also reminds me I should bring the children to the soup kitchen so they can do their part. Mmm. Yes, I think I shall.
My favorite nephew did make me giggle in his proclamation, Scholar. Don't tell him that I did that. I'll deny it. Okay, more cookies and more sleep and then soup kitchen.
Written By Miraya
Nov. 7, 2023, 1:40 p.m.(2/24/1021 AR)
I've never slept so well as I did the other night. I awoke refreshed and renewed. If only for this hunger.
Written By Sydney
Nov. 7, 2023, 12:08 p.m.(2/24/1021 AR)
We like to believe that diplomacy, that change, that philanthropy is something that must be learned. Studied. In many cases, that's true.
But sometimes, it is a matter of reading the situation and stating common sense in a succinct and clear way that can cause people to open their eyes, their hearts, or their coin purses. I'm heartened by the response you've received, and hope that more comes. If we Arx is to be the beacon of Arvum, its people should not live in poverty and squalor.
That should be for cities who get it wrong. When we thrive as a populace, we prosper as a populace.
But sometimes, it is a matter of reading the situation and stating common sense in a succinct and clear way that can cause people to open their eyes, their hearts, or their coin purses. I'm heartened by the response you've received, and hope that more comes. If we Arx is to be the beacon of Arvum, its people should not live in poverty and squalor.
That should be for cities who get it wrong. When we thrive as a populace, we prosper as a populace.
Written By Raymesin
Nov. 6, 2023, 5:49 p.m.(2/23/1021 AR)
Well, Scholar, I never expected that reaction when I wandered up to the market square to see what people were talking about and decided to have a little fun. And it has been fun. It's been absolutely hilarious, listening to the criers sent out to announce things on the street, seeing the vast sums donated to charitable efforts, hearing my own name on peoples' lips as the instigator of good things rather than with the usual curses. And a lot of people will be fed this winter who would have gone hungry, which is even better.
It's still funny, though. I've been laughing all day, listening to the criers go past the window with ever more outlandish statements.
It's still funny, though. I've been laughing all day, listening to the criers go past the window with ever more outlandish statements.
Please note that the scholars may take some time preparing your journal for others to read.