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Written By Peri

March 9, 2019, 11:52 a.m.(9/16/1010 AR)

Relationship Note on Michael

Lord Michael Bisland has earned his fame. I recommend sparring with the Sword of Pridehall. but be sure he remembers to equip his wit.

But in all seriousness, He is the best teacher. One day I will have fewer scrapes and bruises after only one exchange in the practice ring.

Written By Beatrice

March 9, 2019, 9:16 a.m.(9/15/1010 AR)

The city hums with jubilation. I expected to return from Nilanza to a dour Arx. I happily commit to history my wrongness.

The Carlotta is magnificent. I am grateful to Archduchess Regent Jaenelle Velenosa and the crew for the opportunity to see a caravel up close. It is an inspiring creation.

Lady Monique Greenmarch's launch party for the Adventures of Zeriax series was a charming gathering, startlingly entertaining and unexpectedly poignant. The Gilded Page is a treasure.

These joyful events will sustain me through the Assembly, I think.

Written By Martino

March 9, 2019, 3:35 a.m.(9/15/1010 AR)

Relationship Note on Aerwyna

The seamstress has very quickly developed a special place for as being the go-to for a doublet, cassock or anything else that I need made. Her deft cuts, the use of the reds to suit my Malvici tastes, and well fitted fabrics. Her recent creation, a formal mid-calf length cassock, even came with superbly jeweled pyrope buttons.

Written By Lucita

March 8, 2019, 11:59 p.m.(9/15/1010 AR)

The Courtin' Song
For Luis and Juliana

Luis went a courtin' and he did stride, un-huh
Luis went a courtin' and he did stride, un-huh.
His eyes held mischief and his smile was wide
His armor polished and sword at his side, un-huh, un-huh, un-huh.

Juliana went a courtin' and she did flirt, un-huh
Juliana went a courtin' and she did flirt, un-huh.
With a winking eye and a swirling skirt
And a sense of humor, that did not hurt! un-huh, un-huh, un-huh.

Luis looked all around at the ladies fair, un-huh
Luis looked all around at the ladies fair, un-huh.
But none had such lovely long brown hair
And the risque gowns Juliana'd wear, un-huh, un-huh, un-huh.

Juliana looked around at the men so brave, un-huh
Juliana looked around at the men so brave, un-huh.
Which one from bachelorhood would she save
But the charming Luis, who the ladies crave, un-huh, un-huh, un-huh.

He wooed Juliana with his pale moon light, un-huh
He wooed Juliana with his pale moon light, un-huh.
For it was still day, oh yes that's right
And lovely Juliana winked at the sight, un-huh, un-huh, un-huh.

She wooed Luis with paint and a gauzy gown, un-huh
She wooed Luis with paint and a gauzy gown, un-huh.
The most risque dress you'd see in town
Made all the modest Ladies gasp and frown, un-huh, un-huh, un-huh.

The heads of house the contracts wrote, un-huh
The heads of house the contracts wrote, un-huh
With political gains for both to note
And a lively couple on whom they'd dote, un-huh, un-huh, un-huh.

What's that sound, was that a clink, un-huh
What's that sound, was that a clink, un-huh.
Thats wine poured to toast and drink
Till the newlyweds to their bed slink, un-huh, un-huh, un-huh.

(OOC Sung to 'Frog Went A Courtin' an old Scottish folk song from the 1548. If you are unfamiliar with the tune look up Bruce Springsteen Froggie Went a Courtin' on You Tube)

Written By Silas

March 8, 2019, 11:52 p.m.(9/15/1010 AR)

I am looking forward to the Tournament of Roses.

Maybe I should finally refine my old gear...

Written By Lucita

March 8, 2019, 11:32 p.m.(9/15/1010 AR)

After plans have set, it has been pleasant to spend time talking with friends, actually doing a tiny bit of shopping. Discovering the twins did not care if I read 'The Clever Fox stories' to them for the hundredth time or reports from Saikland Glassworks or letters from family in Saikland, as long as I use a 'story telling' cadence to the voice and reach over to give a hug now and then, has freed up a tiny bit more of time.

Written By Victus

March 8, 2019, 8:07 p.m.(9/14/1010 AR)

Relationship Note on Joscelin

The only thing tall people are truly good at is hitting doorframes.

Written By Tescelina

March 8, 2019, 3:55 p.m.(9/14/1010 AR)

It is important to record thoughts. They pass as vapors. A breath carries all the things we forget.

I have not been to Arx since I was a small girl and much has changed. They built an observatory, I'm told. How wonderful. I have always loved to look and listen to the stars. So very rich are their thoughts.

So very strange.

The carriage passed through a tremendous marketplace and I saw many faces. I saw their sweat creeping on their brows and I saw, in my mind you see, the vines of muscles which bunch up under all that skin.

Such marvelous things. We are. Yes. Such secret little mechanisms.

But I grow tired now. I will retire to the window. I will think on things. It is -- nice, yes. Nice to be here.

Written By Perronne

March 8, 2019, 3:09 p.m.(9/14/1010 AR)

I am buried in scrolls and letters! Turns out setting up a trade fair in a place where you aren't is a bit more complex than I perhaps realized, but it's been a lot of fun figuring things out! Who knew so much could go sideways, and require creative solutions and the occasional bit of blatant bribery to fix? My favorite crisis so far has definitely been a little issue I like to call the Affair of the Brindle Goat. And if you didn't hear someone saw dissonantly on a violin after I said that, I encourage you to picture that sound effect in your mind! Somehow a single brindle goat (who I am assured is a CHAMPION, so let that be said) has managed to cause three different merchant guilds to nearly come to blows, walk out of participating in the fair, or beat each other up and THEN walk out of the fair. Apparently there is a very important dispute on the champion's lineage and the sire of the little baby goats she has recently given birth to, and somehow SOMEHOW, this has become a very big deal. Stud fees, fees for 'besmirching the honor of the goat', and fines for not keeping goats properly enclosed...I think I've gotten a hundred letters about that alone.

But. I think we have finally come to a satisfactory conclusion in the matter of the Brindle Goat, and my only lingering regret is a strong yearning for goat stew.

But that's just one thing. There are many things! My fellow merchants have many, many opinions about all sorts of things, and it turns out that once you put any sort of 'organizer' or 'facilitator' tag with your name, you are contractually obligated to listen to all of them. And fix them.

I am very much considering just getting very drunk.

Written By Joscelin

March 8, 2019, 2:02 p.m.(9/14/1010 AR)

Got in an argument with Bess, a server at the Traders. She insists tall men are better lovers than short. I told her short men have better leverage. I demonstrated with cutlery and she looked intrigued.

Ah, Oliver. You'd have laughed to see the look on her face, eyeing the soldier at the bar, a scant inch taller than me. Like a cat considering all the different ways to stuff a chicken.

Written By Monique

March 8, 2019, 12:21 p.m.(9/14/1010 AR)

I'm thrilled and grateful to announce (last minute, I know) the final two prizes for tonight's book launch!

An incredible painting done by Lord Jyri Whitehawk, whose subject must be seen to be believed. It is /divine/! I almost thought it was going to leave the canvas and scorch me! I am more tempted than ever to abscond with these prizes.

And last, but most certainly not least, Mistress Josephine, jeweler to my heart, miracle worker and Minx-tamer, has created a piece that makes me weep when I think about giving it away. Stygian, black gold, and iridescite, OH and did I mention, dawnstones? Gild preserve me and help me fight this temptation!

Tonight will be a night to remember!

Written By Marian

March 8, 2019, 2:57 a.m.(9/13/1010 AR)

When I was in my 12th year, a girl my age was killed by wolves. Her body was torn by the pack. Her parents' grief knew no solace. Her father declared that he would hunt the beasts that killed his daughter and took his closest kin into the forest to search for vengeance. A few days later they returned to the tribe with wolf pelts declaring that his daughter's killers had been dispatched.

Being old enough to question but young enough to not understand I asked my father, "How does he know he got the right wolves?"

The father placed a hand on my shoulder and hushed my questions. It took me many years to realize why someone would turn their grief in such a manner. How loss could overwhelm and consume your reason. It doesn't make it right or just, taking life because one was taken from you...but I understand that need for closure.

Written By Vercyn

March 8, 2019, 2:36 a.m.(9/13/1010 AR)

Relationship Note on Orathy

Master Orathy

I'll not mince words about the wisdom of insulting the peerage, nor about the complicated nature of land ownership as I am certain you would not understand or the points of it would be lost on you.

What I will say, is that wolves are not evil creatures. They hunger and so they eat. It is a terrible tragedy that a Lady was killed by them. But to speak of justice or revenge against a wild animal is meaningless. It is simply what they do.

Written By Jeffeth

March 8, 2019, 2:07 a.m.(9/13/1010 AR)

Relationship Note on Mikani

I do not want to be insulting. But there are many in Arx who do not seem to understand or display an understanding of what happens to a person in a deep state of grief.

There is no such thing as an understandable and reasonable request to a person who is deep in the midst of their grief. Of course it is understandable to you. But to confront someone in the Whites with this 'reasonable' request shows a profound lack of empathy and respect. This was not put out in a desire to help someone.

I am not saying the bounty was justified or right. But explaining to someone who is in the throes of just losing a loved one how they're doing something wrong... I am at a loss that I keep having to explain this. There are ways to help someone. There are a variety of different ways. And certainly in our grief, someone should try to keep us from acting out in a way that would hurt ourselves, those around us, our environment. But that is certainly not done in an essay explaining how someone is wrong.

Finally. I'm not very good at math, but I will put this out there. Pelts at the market go from 500 silver to 5,000 per pelt. There are a lot of pelts at the market. I am confident a good portion of those pelts are wolves. Those who sell the pelts need to gain a profit, so they probably buy them from the hunters less than 5,000. I'm no merchant but I would guess anywhere from 2,000 to 4,000 while the lower quality perhaps 250 silver? Lady Moore's bounty at its peak reached 2,000 silver I believe? So depending on the quality of pelt it could roughly be, the same that it already is with certain merchants?

Would I have posted this bounty? No. I don't think it will accomplish anything, really. But again, I didn't lose a family member.

So perhaps we take a breath. The wolf population is fine and is going to be okay. But on this side of the wall I think we could use a bit more compassion and a little less outrage. Or, if we must continue with our outrage, perhaps be consistent with it and direct it to at the merchants and hunters of Arx who consistently keep us flush with leathers and furs.

Even Orathy Culler deserves to say stupid things when in the throes of grief. I hope we can all let go a little bit of these 'reasonable requests' and instead take up some more compassion for our fellows.

Written By Alarissa

March 7, 2019, 9:25 p.m.(9/12/1010 AR)

And just like that, we breach ten million, and find ourselves seventy thousand shy of fifteen million for the year. To have gone from twenty percent of the children freed to thirty percent, and within grasp. The latest donation made me smile as the messenger came and I tucked it into the chest. Ready to be sent off to procure more of the bonds and then dissolve them. But there is no rest. None at all. Rest comes when they are all freed.

Written By Joscelin

March 7, 2019, 8:49 p.m.(9/12/1010 AR)

The things I do to make sure my wares get to where they need to, namely the ungodly cost of postage when a boat, a set of oars, and a determined messenger are involved.

Note to self: the unaffiliated messengers of Arx are not to be trifled with. You raise a challenge and by the gods, they will meet it, come Abyss or high water, plague of rabbits, or a fleet of naked party-goers.

Written By Mikani

March 7, 2019, 6:45 p.m.(9/12/1010 AR)

Relationship Note on Jeffeth

Sir Jeffeth Bayweather.

While I understand your words and I understand where you are coming from.

I am reminded of a quote I either read or heard once ... Do not do something permanently significant for a temporary emotion. While grief is overwhelming. Rage is overwhelming. Sorrow is overwhelming. All emotions I have felt. We cannot act out of them. Especially as a Peer. Our actions affect more than just our personal space. They affect those in our houses and those that are connected to our houses. They even have possible repercussions to the Compact as a whole. Zeriax's request for reflection of Lady Moore's actions and to not lash out at animals for a travesty is an understandable and reasonable request.

Written By Arcadia

March 7, 2019, 6:06 p.m.(9/12/1010 AR)

Relationship Note on Martino

You are old. Ancient. I am sure I saw some chest wrinkles and grey hairs when you exited the pool.

Just because you're old doesn't make you wise.

Written By Arcadia

March 7, 2019, 5:34 p.m.(9/12/1010 AR)

Relationship Note on Willow

I woke up and my head aches, my limbs heavy and throat dry. I'm not sure what parts of today were dreams and reality.

I think that is a clear indicator that Lady Willow Nightgold holds the best parties.

Written By Willow

March 7, 2019, 5:12 p.m.(9/12/1010 AR)

Relationship Note on Martino

Ha, never lay at my feet even the ambiguous possibility I may have called you old, my Lord. Let alone that such might be considered a negative by me. I say this only half jokingly. For as long as I have remembered I have dreamed of the day when I will have had enough life experience to be considered an elder. Where I come from, that is a title of Esteem my Lord.

Additionally, that party. I am not sure anything else could be said on the topic without reminding of things best left forgot. Suffice to say, there is a reason I do not as a prsctice drink.

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