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Written By Piccola

Dec. 25, 2020, 12:21 a.m.(8/17/1014 AR)

Remember, wise general, the nature of etiquette.

The acme of etiquette is this: goodness among equals cannot be extorted by force. All people have a right both to defend himself from injuries. All people may seek to exact punishment or restitution for wrongs done to them. And when a man attempts to take what does not belong to them -- life or property -- every honorable person takes alarm and believes they do right when they run to defend or seek revenge for the injured person.

But think of these injuries: when a parent fails in the ordinary degree of affection towards their child; when a child seems to want that reverence expected by their parents; when siblings conspire against each other; when a person shuts their heart against compassion and refuses to relieve or recognize the misery of his fellows. In all these cases, the sufferer can only complain, the spectator can only advise, and the compassionate can only listen. To do otherwise is seen as insolent or disrespectful. We all know of these occasions.

So it is that cruelty and goodness are embraced in equal measure. We do not demand goodness from our peers because our mores prohibit it. We do but stand as bystanders while the small cuts are made one by one, day by day. We never talk of the quiet things that no one ever knows because it would shed the weakness we share with our equals: that we would rather watch the cruelty continue in silence than dare over-step out boundaries. And then we wonder why others see us as barbaric.

To us, the mere want of beneficence seems to merit no punishment from equals. Instead, we talk of the virtuous and meritorious among us, and exalt those who have shown that goodness without demand and unselfishly. It is not the absence of that apparent goodness that poisons the heart of society, but the deafening silence between us when we fail to condemn or simply demand better from one another. The man who barely abstains from violating either the person, or the estate, or the reputation of his neighbors has very little merit; however, because he fulfills all the rules of what we consider justice, he remains among us. He may therefore remain as cruel and vile as he is because we cannot demand he be better.

Thus, among peers, wise general, etiquette is the binding on a wound which never heals and inevitably kills.

Written By Maya

Dec. 24, 2020, 11:59 p.m.(8/17/1014 AR)

Mother,

I know you never wished me to be in the city. But family needs as family will. You will have to forgive me.

I believe everything will be just fine here.

Written By Teague

Dec. 24, 2020, 3:29 p.m.(8/16/1014 AR)

Relationship Note on Reagan

My gifts are ready; both are finished for the woman to be my wife. I can't wait to give them to her, see which one is more to her liking. It will reflect on our future, but either way, I'm pleased with how they came out.

Written By Preston

Dec. 24, 2020, 9:35 a.m.(8/16/1014 AR)

I remain quite wary of embassies of these foreign powers. That the Cardians do not worship the Gods I find strange, offputting...unsettling perhaps. Yet, in the legends of the Faith and the Compact, the Cardians honoured an oath made to come and defend the Compact against the enemies of the Gods. I have no love still of those that rule Cardia, they offer imperiously through their man Marcus their protection at the cost of everything we are. If other groups of Cardians, these 'Scales', wish to re-learn the ways of Limerance and honour those Oaths made? Then I will welcome that and tolerate such an embassy while that occurs. I have no interest in us adopting the ways of these foreign powers, but I have every interest in teaching them, in them adapting to become our friends.

To that end we should welcome this move with cautious optimism, but with our eyes open. Guests are welcomed, courtesy given, but trust is earned.

Written By Rowynna

Dec. 24, 2020, 5:55 a.m.(8/16/1014 AR)

Whilst I have had my head buried in books, friendships I had once enjoyed have withered away. I find myself lonely at times.

Written By Lyra

Dec. 24, 2020, 5:50 a.m.(8/16/1014 AR)

I was given a very beautiful potted fern the other day. I've decided that the only place for it is in the grand hall of Byrne Manor, though it is so very large and flourishing that I think I shall need to commission a pedestal to stand it upon so it's leaves can freely drape. For now I have had the helmet removed from one of the ornamental suits of armours that are on display there, and have had it balanced atop the remainder. It looks quite spectacular and resembles a great green-haired warrior.

Written By Damiana

Dec. 24, 2020, 3:06 a.m.(8/15/1014 AR)

Beware those with no honor for their faithlessness and selfishness will consume them and their entire world with their greed.

Written By Piccola

Dec. 23, 2020, 10:43 p.m.(8/15/1014 AR)

On charity, wise general, remember this:

Charity is a calm, severe duty. It must be intellectual, to be advantageous. It is not a merit: its fulfilment is only what we owe to each other, and is a debt never paid to its full extent.

Written By Cirroch

Dec. 23, 2020, 5:03 p.m.(8/14/1014 AR)

Relationship Note on Neve

Lady Neve should be awarded a medal for her attempts to save one of Lottie's cakes from the second battle of cakes at Sanna Manor. Her efforts to save and preserve the cake were most commendable.

Written By Cirroch

Dec. 23, 2020, 5:01 p.m.(8/14/1014 AR)

Relationship Note on Neve

Lady Neve should be awarded a medal for her attempts to save one of Lottie's cakes from the second battle of cakes at Sanna Manor. Her efforts to save and preserve the cake were most commendable.

Written By Neve

Dec. 23, 2020, 4:59 p.m.(8/14/1014 AR)

Relationship Note on Cirroch

He has an adorably beautiful wife, who shines with her beauty inside and out. So much so it struggles to not escape those blondie-blonde blondness of her hair.

Cirroch seems like the strongest family man, spoiler of his wife, children, and a good man.

If I were to ever marry, any man or any woman - I think their relationship is the model that I would strive for. There are two intertwined hearts working together there.

Also, the Marquis's wife Sasha sure knows how to throw a party!

Written By Neve

Dec. 23, 2020, 4:55 p.m.(8/14/1014 AR)

Relationship Note on Sasha

Beauty, sociability, grace, even with a face full of cake.

Some people are truly impressive!

Written By Neve

Dec. 23, 2020, 4:53 p.m.(8/14/1014 AR)

Relationship Note on Sasha

Beauty, sociability, grace, even with a face full of cake.

Some people are truly impressive!

Written By Sydney

Dec. 23, 2020, 4:40 p.m.(8/14/1014 AR)

There are times when I question the use of the martial pursuits when so much carnage can be wrought by (unfortunately) superior might of what our enemies have in their arsenal. I suppose it's little different than being struck down by an arrow or bolt, but it feels more terrifying by far.

That's life, is it not? One moment you're laughing, the next you're dead.

Written By Savio

Dec. 23, 2020, 10:17 a.m.(8/14/1014 AR)

Oh, we're sailing hard for the southern seas
Hey, hey, pull away! Sail away hard boys, never look home
We'll bring Skal'daja to its knees
Pull away hard boys, never look home

Oh, there's war on the water, sail her faster
Hey, hey, pull away! Sail away hard boys, never look home
We'll break the fleet of the Nointy Bastards!
Pull away hard boys, never look home

Oh, Skal'daja lusts for a Saffron slave
Hey, hey, pull away! Sail away hard boys, never look home
We'll send them all to a watery grave
Pull away hard boys, never look home

Oh, the sea will burn with Arvani fire
Hey, hey, pull away! Sail away hard boys, never look home
Every ship a Eurusi pyre
Pull away hard boys, never look home

Oh, leave your sweethearts, leave your wives
Hey, hey, pull away! Sail away hard boys, never look home
Sail with your souls and fight for your lives
Pull away hard boys, never look home
Pull away hard boys, never look home

---

This is so much more optimistic than I feel, but we need a rhythm to row to, you know?

Written By Raven

Dec. 23, 2020, 9:07 a.m.(8/14/1014 AR)

My dearest mentor, my most faithful teacher, made this look easy. I feel unworthy of this legacy, as if her memory is diminished in a role so many remember her by. Unrelated note: Accosting randomly infuriating cads carries consequences. I am, quite simply, an idiot.

Written By Preston

Dec. 23, 2020, 6:28 a.m.(8/14/1014 AR)

The killing of Prince Damik is a tragedy. Not because he saved our lives, though he did. Not because he was an ally, though he was. Not because he would have been invaluable in our efforts to liberate Eurus, though he would have been. It was a tragedy because he was trying to improve himself and that is now cut short. He was trying to learn our ways, to embrace the commands of our Gods, to love one of us, to begin a life. All of that is ended. The myriad of possible futures cut away like a felled tree.

I have every confidence in his deputies to control matters and continue his work with the Eurusi he brought with him, I have every confidence that we will win without him, in this Crusade to save ourselves and - when we are able - in the next to liberate Eurus. May he return to the Wheel, may his soul find a happier path in its next life, and may his killers find the Sentinel's justice.

Ultimately though these murderers are failures - they killed a man, they cannot stop the mission he was on, the dream we all hold, the defeat that is coming for their master.

Written By Teague

Dec. 22, 2020, 11:01 p.m.(8/13/1014 AR)

So much to learn. So little in my current knowledge. I will protect my family. They will protect me. That is the way of family.

Written By Piccola

Dec. 22, 2020, 9:09 p.m.(8/13/1014 AR)

Wise general, remember to enjoy silence.

You cannot have a sweet and wholesome home unless you admit the air and sunshine freely into your rooms. You cannot have a strong body and a bright countenance unless you admit into the mind thoughts of goodwill and serenity. Yet remember that anger can no more be separated from calm than heat from fire.

So embrace calmness that you may use anger.

Written By Wash

Dec. 22, 2020, 4:37 p.m.(8/12/1014 AR)

I am in a quandary. I write journals infrequently, so it is natural for me to be silent for months between entries. But my most recent post instigated a request for me to shut up or face a challenge. (In not so many words.) So I have to say, there are two people who can make me shut up, my wife and my liege, to whom I will respond, 'Yes dear.' and 'Yes sir.' Not necessarily in that order. To anyone else who may want to quiet me, the answer is and always be:

No.

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