Written By Peri
May 17, 2019, 11:14 a.m.(2/13/1011 AR)
Relationship Note on Raimon
I have thought of three challenges I face in understanding whether someone meets your criteria. I feel a Godsworn may have less challenges than I do.
Firstly, the knowledge of what ideas even _are_ is difficult. I recently spoke to someone who led me through the the complexities of duty and loyalty and the acts of obedience that follow from those ideas. The acts may be the same, yet the ideals behind those acts will be different. As I began to imagine what act would fall under what idea, I realized how little I understand of the concepts of Limerance.
Secondly, discerning the motivations of a person is difficult without the help of the gods.
Thirdly, making a life or death decision that requires the knowledge and the insight to know which ideal takes priority is difficult, and making that decision in the heat of a moment is difficult.
I am a veteran of the Gyre War and lost many people at Setarco. The Academy of War has meeting areas where we can re-enact those wars in miniature. I have relieved that time over and over working through every decision in that war with my compatriots as we slowly develop military doctrines and the strategic and tactical decisions that follow from them. Some decisions have us kill enemies, some decisions have us sacrifice our own people. I claim to you that knowing which ideal in any one moment is not easy.
I will not be able to judge whether myself or anyone is a warrior by your criteria until I have the years to grow insights and prove those insights time and time again when faced with decisions of life and death.
I hope until then to treat myself and others with respect from the humbleness of our ignorance. Unless someone is an absolute shite who violates some law. In the which case I will judge them greatly and perhaps will have to do so out of duty to an ideal despite wishing no good will towards shites.
If anyone asks what qualities absolute shites have, I confess that I have no oyster jobbing clue.
Written By Valenzo
May 17, 2019, 8:47 a.m.(2/13/1011 AR)
Relationship Note on Evaristo
I mean if we're all being honest here, you're probably responsible for...oh...twelve of them, I'd wager.
Written By Jasher
May 17, 2019, 1:55 a.m.(2/13/1011 AR)
I was given to the Salt when I was young, and when I was old enough to wield a cutlass, I spilled my share of blood upon the high seas. I killed many people--shav pirates, escaped thralls, or other malcontents--who found us, or who we found. I tasted saltwater and swam with sharks. I wear the scars of Silence, the Gyre, and the Lodge, among other battles.
For all this, they call me a warrior.
It is one of many paths, and there will be journals to come that will speak of their perspectives, but if you wish my perspective, being a warrior is not always about superior skill. It is also about understanding the mercy of preparation and a quick resolution, the weight of a weapon readied, and the scars that come with glory. It is to fight despite the odds you face, and to know that one day, you will not find victory but death, either by circumstance or choice.
Perhaps you may walk down that path, or you will never see it come to pass. But should the day come where you receive a weapon of your own, treat it with the respect it is due. One day you will kill someone with it, and if their face haunts your dreams, better that it is the face of an enemy that sought to destroy you or yours, than the face of an innocent.
Written By Willow
May 17, 2019, 12:19 a.m.(2/13/1011 AR)
Relationship Note on Martino
Written By Ishmael
May 16, 2019, 10:56 p.m.(2/12/1011 AR)
Written By Raimon
May 16, 2019, 9:18 p.m.(2/12/1011 AR)
In my opinion, it is someone who is prepared to kill and die for an idea. That idea may be wealth, fealty, Honor. There are a number of reasons why some choose to fight. But it is an act of service in my opinion.
Since coming to Arx I have seen several individuals pursing martial capabilities because they feel they should. Not everyone is cut out for the field of battle. There is no shame in that. Strength comes from a variety of places. No one can be strong in every way. It is best to focus on ones strength then try to become something you are not.
Written By Jaenelle
May 16, 2019, 5:08 p.m.(2/12/1011 AR)
Written By Riagnon
May 16, 2019, 4:30 p.m.(2/12/1011 AR)
Relationship Note on Kenna
Written By Willow
May 16, 2019, 4:28 p.m.(2/12/1011 AR)
Written By Evaristo
May 16, 2019, 3:13 p.m.(2/12/1011 AR)
Relationship Note on Joscelin
The gray hair isn't because of me, right?
Written By Sparte
May 16, 2019, 10:23 a.m.(2/11/1011 AR)
Written By Martino
May 16, 2019, 10:14 a.m.(2/11/1011 AR)
While my education did certainly cover so much of this before, it is always good to refresh and remind.
Written By Quintin
May 16, 2019, 9:31 a.m.(2/11/1011 AR)
Relationship Note on Raimon
Written By Peri
May 16, 2019, 9:27 a.m.(2/11/1011 AR)
Relationship Note on Raimon
By your words I take it that you hold those who are adept in the arts of combat to ideals that some do not meet. What are the ideals to which you hold warriors? Do you measure the battle adept by the ideals of those in your lands? I aim to understand the ideals of all lands so that I can fit my demesne into the tapestry hanging in the Great Cathedral.
And now I will speak on knighthood. For when you said this about warriors it was knighthood my thoughts turned to. The Order of East Light was born out of many ideals, one of which I've heard was a mission to spread knightly values to your lands. When you said that not all who fight are warriors, I immediately thought of the duties and loyalties that knights have versus those who have not taken that path.
It is not for everyone to take the path of Knighthood. I have not spoken to many in that Order to understand truly their ideals, but I judge their goals worthy enough to grant them beneficial access to my ports. Yet I hesitate to approach any for joining this order because I worry that by seeking to follow the tenants of knighthood because part of those require a declaration of loyalty to just one person. Shall I place my hands in the moral judgement of but one person?
I feel a loyalty to my people. I would call it love. I feel a very strong loyalty to protection. That is a different type of love. Would such a love for that concept be enough for me to trust in the judgement of another and perhaps love that trust enough for me to hold to the duty of a knight? This is something I have thought on for many months since discovering that order.
My skill at combat is poor or perhaps mediocre. My skill at at navigating danger is as good as those of us who are not Prince Cerdic, yet I am no knight. Would you deem me a warrior once my skill at war is as good as any in Arvum, would I be one then?
I do not ask these questions with any rancor or frivolity. I know not what pricked you to post to the whites. I ask these things so that we honor Vellichor and share the ideals of our time with our descendants. They will hold us to that Eastern Light and question why we have made the choices we did. They will see what dedication it takes to hone worthy blades to defeat the darkness. If it ever come time for war I want my children and my children's children to know what it takes to fight the darkness.
Let us tell them.
Written By Lisebet
May 16, 2019, 8:25 a.m.(2/11/1011 AR)
Why did I think this was a good idea again?
Written By Kenna
May 16, 2019, 6:39 a.m.(2/11/1011 AR)
A, and i-n.
I'm thinking I should make a badge or sign.
Written By Maja
May 16, 2019, 3:20 a.m.(2/11/1011 AR)
I cannot fail.
I will not fail.
I will study. I will learn. I will improve. And someday? I will become a Whisper.
Written By Raimon
May 15, 2019, 11:57 p.m.(2/11/1011 AR)
Relationship Note on Harlex
Written By Joscelin
May 15, 2019, 10:58 p.m.(2/10/1011 AR)
A good sign, I think, wisdom manifest, perhaps? Maybe too romantic but what am I but a propagator of romance?
Written By Acantha
May 15, 2019, 10:42 p.m.(2/10/1011 AR)
Relationship Note on Morgan
Please note that the scholars may take some time preparing your journal for others to read.