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Written By Ajax

March 12, 2019, 3:30 a.m.(9/21/1010 AR)

Relationship Note on Margot

I have an idea or two, Duchess.

Written By Lianne

March 12, 2019, 2:01 a.m.(9/21/1010 AR)

I owe my gratitude to Princess Ophelia Velenosa and the sellsword Amund, both of whom acted swiftly when a carnival in Nilanza erupted in violence, an assassination attempt made on my magnificent protege Venturo Thayne. We are fortunate that they were present and struck so swiftly when the assassins made their move.

It would be remiss of me to ignore the rumors of Venturo's ridiculous luck: the first shot stopped by a house banner thrust up at precisely the right moment; the swordsmen buried in an unexpected collapse of the structure above them; and two swift and capable saviors so near at hand.

A point for Luck. You may have this one, brewer. I certainly count myself lucky that you're still alive.

Written By Joscelin

March 12, 2019, 1:17 a.m.(9/21/1010 AR)

Have you ever met a person that's a conversationalist beyond compare in person, but when they write it's like pulling turnips out of the frozen ground?

No?

Written By Joscelin

March 11, 2019, 7:32 p.m.(9/20/1010 AR)

I've been told seventen times today that 'octopus' is actually pronounced 'apple-bus'. Four year old boys can be very serious about their pronunciations. This one is no exception.

Written By Joscelin

March 11, 2019, 7:12 p.m.(9/20/1010 AR)

Standing in the Assembly, on my feet in support of Prince Victus, the past flashed through my mind. My history with the Prince, our amends, meeting Oliver, hearing his life of slavery as a thrall, his freedom won, our love, our wedding, his death, our child ... So much passing through my head and heart in that moment, overwhelmed.

What would you make of this? Would you weep with relief? Would you cheer? Roar? Would you be angry that it took so long, or that it'll be seven years and not one? We would disagree on things, we would butt heads about what's better and what's right, I would caution patience, you would insist immediacy. Or would you? Would have our daughter temper your need for instant gratification? Would it ignite mine?

Whatever it is, in the future that comes, I hope when you come 'round the wheel again, it'll be to a world empty of thralldom, and you'll never know that past save as a distant sorrow in the memory of history.

Written By Margot

March 11, 2019, 5:47 p.m.(9/20/1010 AR)

The new question is, what will I now do with criminals?

Murderers, violent criminals, major thieves.

I suppose I shall have to hire an executioner.

Written By Vanora

March 11, 2019, 4:17 p.m.(9/20/1010 AR)

Relationship Note on Niklas

I was glad to see what you wrote in the whites, and how well you understand how hard this will hit parts of the Isles.

Thank you.

Written By Selene

March 11, 2019, 2:29 p.m.(9/20/1010 AR)

To have one of the great statesmen of the Compact speak favorably of my diplomatic endeavors heartens me like an apprentice receiving accolades from the most demanding of dance instructors or a knight-commander impossible to please. It means something, high praise indeed.

Written By Tabitha

March 11, 2019, 2:12 p.m.(9/20/1010 AR)

Hope for the best and prepare for the worst. But always, always hope.

I feel like there's so much good being done right now. People are working to bring their dreams into reality. They're giving themselves to their causes to bring about positive change and do fantastic things. I find that heartening and beautiful. It's the artistry of the heart and soul, and it's wonderful.

Written By Radhilde

March 11, 2019, 12:20 p.m.(9/20/1010 AR)

Time to get started on the things I need to accomplish. I guess need to get myself pointed in the right direction.

Written By Sparte

March 11, 2019, 12:04 p.m.(9/20/1010 AR)

The Seafarer's Riddle.


Born of land, beneath sun and stars.
We struggle to walk then seek to go far.
Burning ground and cutting grass, biting winds or icy blast.
We are driven to explore our lands so vast.

At land's end we could have stopped.
At journey's end we could have rested.
Log and tar, sheet and breath.
We see the horizon and we continue on.

Why does the sailor seek the salt and the sea?
With stars their guide and wind their stride.
Their homeland will never be the sea.
Yet only at sea are they ever home.


Not all riddles have answers, some only have questions.

Written By Lisebet

March 11, 2019, 12:01 p.m.(9/20/1010 AR)

I attended the Assembly of Peers, and I am glad I did. It was inspiring. I hope to continue my own personal donations to help free those in need, in a much faster way than I was originally expecting.

Yes, I was hoping to continue forward, after the children - this may not come as a surprise to those who know me.

I am really glad to be able to support such an initiative and to help make it a success.

Written By Gilroy

March 11, 2019, 11:49 a.m.(9/20/1010 AR)

Relationship Note on Klaus

I'm going to have someone send you some blank sheets of paper. Perhaps I will have an associate at Scholar Oswyn Spencer's shop put lines on it for you. That way you have a nice, handy place to keep notes to yourself.

Written By Miranda

March 11, 2019, 10:33 a.m.(9/19/1010 AR)

Relationship Note on Domonico

The wedding of the beautiful Lady Aahana Volkov, now Malvici, to my second-cousin and best friend, Commodore Domonico Malvici was lovely.

The reception was a lot of fun with dancing and drink, good food and great company.

I am truly happy for them both and am glad to consider Malvici family!

Congratulations to the newlyweds on their union!

I especially adored watching Domonico's chin hit the floor when he announced his wife... her entrance was spectacular, nothing short of breath-taking, and caught her new groom quite off guard. We'll be talking about it for months, at least!

Written By Miranda

March 11, 2019, 10:30 a.m.(9/19/1010 AR)

Relationship Note on Thea

Lady Thea Malvici, you are priceless!

As my second-cousin and youngest of the siblings, you have every right to tease Commodore Domonico in any way you see fit.

Just know I approve!

"Mean brother"

Yes! I am forever going to remind him of how he was always, and might still be, the 'mean' one!

Written By Niklas

March 11, 2019, 9:46 a.m.(9/19/1010 AR)

Right now there are people on the fastest ships the Island builds with messages about Prince Victus's declaration made at the Assembly of Peers.

Right now this news is a kettle set to boil.

There are many in the Compact who will not fully understand the response from some houses in the Islands. I have faith in the leadership of the House of Thrax that they will see this change made with minimal disaster.

But there will be some disaster. Just a bit. At least.

Written By Shard

March 11, 2019, 1:58 a.m.(9/19/1010 AR)

Relationship Note on Victus

I said they would never do it, because none of them would ever be willing to make the sacrifices it would require. I said it repeatedly. I believe I wrote it down here, so I'll write this here as well:

I was wrong. I was wrong in the best possible way it is to be wrong. I had no faith in House Thrax, and no faith even in the leaders who had made gestures toward at least easing thralldom. At best, I thought, children were being freed--without their parents, without their families--and being raised in unfamiliar households. At best this was accomplished by paying the people who had either enslaved them in the first place, or encouraged their enslavement by buying their debt. At best, an entire generation of children would be cut loose from everything and everyone they'd known, to save them from a lifetime of slavery. But not their parents. Not their grandparents. Not their brothers and sisters and cousins who were too old to raise the kind of sympathy they could. Just them. At best, they and they alone would be free.

Seven years is a long, painfully long time. Children will grow up in seven years. Men and women will die or be killed in seven years. Older thralls may not have seven years left in them. But seven years is not a generation. It's not a century. It doesn't condemn every current thrall to die in thralldom for the sake of the future and the comfort of their owners.

I apologize for underestimating you. And me and mine, many of whom are former thralls themselves, will stand with you in this.

Written By Sina

March 11, 2019, 1:44 a.m.(9/19/1010 AR)

I have been very quiet of late in my white journals, and the reason for this is because I have been spending a great deal of time in quiet meditation and contemplation on a number of matters, for which I will keep my own counsel. However, during those meditations it has come to me that there have been a number of great and worthy projects of late in the name of education. I feel that it is important to recognize those who have made such contributions to the Compact in the name of Vellichor.

With that in mind, I am planning a ceremony to honor those who have made such great contributions in the name of Knowledge, and I hope to continue this tradition annually into the future. I look forward to seeing the nominations, and a few have already come in. To encourage further the spread of knowledge throughout the Compact, I will also be doubling this event as a fundraiser for a couple of projects that are upcoming, which I'm very pleased to support.

The Scholars are always willing to support such worthy goals. If there are any educational projects you are interested in developing and seek the aid of the Scholars, please do not hesitate to reach out to me. It is my hope that we will continue to work closely with any of the schools and academies throughout the Compact.

Written By Michael

March 11, 2019, 12:25 a.m.(9/19/1010 AR)

Relationship Note on Ilmia

House Leary had a wonderful woman from their House come to live with them in Arx. I met Lady Ilmia Leary several times growing up, and she never failed to make an impression upon me. She is perhaps too book smart for me to mesh with very well though.

Written By Ilmia

March 11, 2019, 12:05 a.m.(9/19/1010 AR)

Relationship Note on Michael

I received a gift this evening and I must say that it was unexpected, but a very thoughtful and beautiful gift. Now I'll have to find a fitting gift to give in return.

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