Written By Iseulet
Dec. 26, 2018, 4:14 a.m.(3/28/1010 AR)
I am stretched far, far too thin these days. I have to figure out where my priorities lay, I think, so I can start working on my own future and goals. Thank you, everyone, for making me a part of your story. I will continue to be of course, but I find I havent enough time for everything I need to do during the week with so many obligations.
Just taking a small step back my darlings. Forgive me.
Just taking a small step back my darlings. Forgive me.
Written By Ysbail
Dec. 26, 2018, 3:43 a.m.(3/28/1010 AR)
Of all the strange things I've seen in Arx lately, A giant purple Spider in a top hat quite takes the cake.
Written By Samantha
Dec. 26, 2018, 1:57 a.m.(3/28/1010 AR)
Before we married, Rymarr commissioned a poem. I found it again today at the bottom of my keepsake box, and somehow it lifted my heart.
Among gardens, mountains and meadow so found,
She bends with the wind, subtle curves round,
Her simple hardy grace, has my soul so bound.
Glory and grace, end of winter, comes spring,
The daisy, yellow center such joy does bring,
To her gracious royalty the forest does sing.
When she breathes that laughter, so clear,
She fills the room with her perfect cheer,
It's a sound that draws all good men near,
Though this daisy is no bloom of girlhood,
In her pale, wild light tis where I stood,
In the darker forest, the deepest of wood.
Among gardens, mountains and meadow so found,
She bends with the wind, subtle curves round,
Her simple hardy grace, has my soul so bound.
Glory and grace, end of winter, comes spring,
The daisy, yellow center such joy does bring,
To her gracious royalty the forest does sing.
When she breathes that laughter, so clear,
She fills the room with her perfect cheer,
It's a sound that draws all good men near,
Though this daisy is no bloom of girlhood,
In her pale, wild light tis where I stood,
In the darker forest, the deepest of wood.
Written By Alarissa
Dec. 26, 2018, 12:38 a.m.(3/27/1010 AR)
It is an enormous undertaking. This much I knew going in. Would that I could spend it all from my own pockets. But it is too great an amount for any singular person. This task. Thralldom after all, took a great many years into turning into what it is. It cannot and will not be dealt with overnight. Generations likely. But after having had Astrid and then having been carrying Danse, I knew that I could do something. They are children after all. Children are such innocents in all this.
For two years I have been striving to raise the funds, to throw auctions, to work with others to see proceeds go to this. Many hours I have sat going over names and lists, making sure that not too many children come from any one fealty so as to ensure that any financial impact is softened by the debt bought and not so much that cannot be bourne by thrax. By us. There will be many that we won't reach before they turn their majority. Save to shuffle those names to the Liberators and let them try.
I sat today, going through the books with the accountant, to see where we stand. A smile on my face when I saw the numbers. Three months into our third year of this, already we have surpassed last years. Today.... today... today. Seven million in all, from start to now. Seven thousand children and counting. A small amount in the face of the whole of it. But none the less, seven thousand children. As I point out when someone sends me a thousand silver or even four resources and express guilt that it is but one child, I reply that one child, is still a child, and one more to grow up and thrive within our compact, and learn a skill and break a cycle.
One child, is one more than none.
I have to breath deep. A project that I saw taking so many years, that I did not know if I might even succeed in seeing completed before my time to go back to the wheel... it's possible. So very very possible within even the next five or ten years. Blessed be.
Freedom. A breaking of chains. This is the mark I leave for my own children.
For two years I have been striving to raise the funds, to throw auctions, to work with others to see proceeds go to this. Many hours I have sat going over names and lists, making sure that not too many children come from any one fealty so as to ensure that any financial impact is softened by the debt bought and not so much that cannot be bourne by thrax. By us. There will be many that we won't reach before they turn their majority. Save to shuffle those names to the Liberators and let them try.
I sat today, going through the books with the accountant, to see where we stand. A smile on my face when I saw the numbers. Three months into our third year of this, already we have surpassed last years. Today.... today... today. Seven million in all, from start to now. Seven thousand children and counting. A small amount in the face of the whole of it. But none the less, seven thousand children. As I point out when someone sends me a thousand silver or even four resources and express guilt that it is but one child, I reply that one child, is still a child, and one more to grow up and thrive within our compact, and learn a skill and break a cycle.
One child, is one more than none.
I have to breath deep. A project that I saw taking so many years, that I did not know if I might even succeed in seeing completed before my time to go back to the wheel... it's possible. So very very possible within even the next five or ten years. Blessed be.
Freedom. A breaking of chains. This is the mark I leave for my own children.
Written By Alarissa
Dec. 26, 2018, 12:26 a.m.(3/27/1010 AR)
I took Astrid and Danse to the springs beneath Navegant. I like the water, warm and comforting to my leg, easy for me to sit there and let Astrid play with the nursemaid in the water. Danse sat on my lap and splashed. It's not hard to see that Astrid hears Mangata's call. There is a change in her, in the joy that permeates her being when she is near water. Be it the pond in the atrium, here in the springs or when running up to the waves that crash upon the shoreline. She feels Mangata's call, though I think she does not know that's what it is yet.
A wildness to her. One that I need to temper, to not let it overtake her. She's almost two and a half, time to start learning to sit still and to be polite. More so than she already is. How to behave in public. To start taking them all with us to Maelstrom when we go, even if it has to be on separate ships.
The kittens follow her too. Tumbling in her wake, some of them with patches of color in that sea of white. They've gotten into Prince Jasher's belongings and I've lost no less than three dresses to their claws. I swear now that they are old enough, I will find them homes. Save our wardrobes from their sharp claws. At least the mostly seem to be spared the temperament of their mother.
A wildness to her. One that I need to temper, to not let it overtake her. She's almost two and a half, time to start learning to sit still and to be polite. More so than she already is. How to behave in public. To start taking them all with us to Maelstrom when we go, even if it has to be on separate ships.
The kittens follow her too. Tumbling in her wake, some of them with patches of color in that sea of white. They've gotten into Prince Jasher's belongings and I've lost no less than three dresses to their claws. I swear now that they are old enough, I will find them homes. Save our wardrobes from their sharp claws. At least the mostly seem to be spared the temperament of their mother.
Written By Delilah
Dec. 26, 2018, 12:11 a.m.(3/27/1010 AR)
There may be few joys equal to riding an elk.
At least my dear companion knew what he was about, rather than relying on me to know. Thank you, stalwart elk friend.
At least my dear companion knew what he was about, rather than relying on me to know. Thank you, stalwart elk friend.
Written By Delilah
Dec. 26, 2018, 12:09 a.m.(3/27/1010 AR)
Relationship Note on Kenna
I doubt anyone contrived to worry about whether love still flourishes in our house, but it does.
The love of many aunts for a small boy.
A love enduring despite separation.
The deep bonds of sisterhood.
New, fragile love nurtured despite social challenges.
Pure unalloyed adoration of a cat by a man shaped by war.
The rough and tumble love that grows between close kin, even when there are days they want to smack me with a book.
The lasting love of soul-bright joy in my heart that remains a steady flame, always.
There are facets to my own story I will not share except to say I love with all my heart, aflame on hope and unshakeable faith in my loved ones, all of them. Mayhap I fail to show it enough. But I attest to the gods in light of all the hardship, we endure.
The love of many aunts for a small boy.
A love enduring despite separation.
The deep bonds of sisterhood.
New, fragile love nurtured despite social challenges.
Pure unalloyed adoration of a cat by a man shaped by war.
The rough and tumble love that grows between close kin, even when there are days they want to smack me with a book.
The lasting love of soul-bright joy in my heart that remains a steady flame, always.
There are facets to my own story I will not share except to say I love with all my heart, aflame on hope and unshakeable faith in my loved ones, all of them. Mayhap I fail to show it enough. But I attest to the gods in light of all the hardship, we endure.
Written By Valdemar
Dec. 25, 2018, 8:17 p.m.(3/27/1010 AR)
Relationship Note on Vanora
Whatever has been in the air recently, our marriage stands strong. Such partnerships are not always easy, but if you have a worthy partner and a marriage rooted in more than just emotion, it will endure.
Written By Draven
Dec. 25, 2018, 7:37 p.m.(3/27/1010 AR)
The mead is finally ready! It made twelve bottles for the batch! I think it tastes really nice! I like it lots! I sent out ten bottles! Kept two for myself and my Wife! All the rest went out to friends! And even one bottle to the King! He got the best of the batch!
Written By Ida
Dec. 25, 2018, 6:59 p.m.(3/27/1010 AR)
Commissions are done, the shop stocked and emptied again. Winter makes me want to be in the forge, if only for the warmth, but also makes me want to curl up in a blanket with some coffee and do some reading. It's felt like one of the colder of winters I've experienced in Arx, or maybe my blood is just thinning after living here for so long. Idle ramblings, all this, but it feels like my own life is about to turn a corner just as winter will soon fade into spring and figured that, at least, worthy of note.
Written By Tikva
Dec. 25, 2018, 6:37 p.m.(3/27/1010 AR)
Marriage isn't about love. It is about oaths.
If you have love, treasure it.
If you don't? Suck it up. You have an oath. If you can't hold to that one, what will you hold to?
Honestly, so much bellyaching! Your parents' generation never behaved this way!
I haven't even reached thirty yet and I don't sound a day under sixty-five.
If you have love, treasure it.
If you don't? Suck it up. You have an oath. If you can't hold to that one, what will you hold to?
Honestly, so much bellyaching! Your parents' generation never behaved this way!
I haven't even reached thirty yet and I don't sound a day under sixty-five.
Written By Vanora
Dec. 25, 2018, 5:27 p.m.(3/27/1010 AR)
I think I might write a book about noble marriages.
Truthfully.
No one would read it, but it would be a good book.
Truthfully.
No one would read it, but it would be a good book.
Written By Valencia
Dec. 25, 2018, 4:33 p.m.(3/27/1010 AR)
I hate that so many suffer right now. It breaks my heart that this is so. Nothing is worse than heartbreak and lost love.
Those who know me know that I am vocal about my feelings on politics, love and marriage. And, as such, I find the recent the discussions and publicly aired laments on marriage (and the recent increase in the number of apparent divorces) to be an interesting development in our social and political landscape.
I was under the impression that most felt that political marriages were a duty to be stood by due to the importance they hold for the Houses that are represented. We are charged with putting our marriages first and into the best light in public. We are expected to profess love for a spouse we are entering into a "political" marriage to show solidarity and strength behind the match.
Indeed, I have been told many times that one marries for your House and not yourself. Marrying for love or any other inconsequential things like that is considered by some to be selfish and disloyal to your House and its peoples.
I was also taught that one should honour contracts and remain in such arrangements for the good of your Houses, because in such matters your personal feelings mean nothing. In these arrangements, you marry the House not your spouse, in simplest of terms.
To fully consider this trend of breaking of contracts due to unhappy unions, one may well wish to question which marriages are ending in divorce. Certainly, if past practice is to be believed, I would think not the political ones. Surely those tied under such would never be so selfish as to divorce and break a contract made by their house over a matter as trivial love and personal feelings, would they?
I say much of this with tongue in cheek. However, with things as they are, perhaps now is a fine time to examine the practice of using political marriage to solidify alliances. It cannot hurt to examine the practice, yes?
And, for those who are in turmoil and dealing with heartbreak in your life, my heart goes out to you. I would not wish this for you. I hope that you do not give up and find love once more in the hearts that you held dear. For your sake and for the sake of those who care for you.
~~~~<~<@
Those who know me know that I am vocal about my feelings on politics, love and marriage. And, as such, I find the recent the discussions and publicly aired laments on marriage (and the recent increase in the number of apparent divorces) to be an interesting development in our social and political landscape.
I was under the impression that most felt that political marriages were a duty to be stood by due to the importance they hold for the Houses that are represented. We are charged with putting our marriages first and into the best light in public. We are expected to profess love for a spouse we are entering into a "political" marriage to show solidarity and strength behind the match.
Indeed, I have been told many times that one marries for your House and not yourself. Marrying for love or any other inconsequential things like that is considered by some to be selfish and disloyal to your House and its peoples.
I was also taught that one should honour contracts and remain in such arrangements for the good of your Houses, because in such matters your personal feelings mean nothing. In these arrangements, you marry the House not your spouse, in simplest of terms.
To fully consider this trend of breaking of contracts due to unhappy unions, one may well wish to question which marriages are ending in divorce. Certainly, if past practice is to be believed, I would think not the political ones. Surely those tied under such would never be so selfish as to divorce and break a contract made by their house over a matter as trivial love and personal feelings, would they?
I say much of this with tongue in cheek. However, with things as they are, perhaps now is a fine time to examine the practice of using political marriage to solidify alliances. It cannot hurt to examine the practice, yes?
And, for those who are in turmoil and dealing with heartbreak in your life, my heart goes out to you. I would not wish this for you. I hope that you do not give up and find love once more in the hearts that you held dear. For your sake and for the sake of those who care for you.
~~~~<~<@
Written By Alrec
Dec. 25, 2018, 10:53 a.m.(3/26/1010 AR)
I sent money back to Setarco to take care of the mo th's loose ends. I have also sent money back to the family to pay my dues.
Written By Macda
Dec. 25, 2018, 9:27 a.m.(3/26/1010 AR)
Relationship Note on Sparte
"While I am sad to see so many people discover they are not in love..."
Oh Sparte. I do adore your ways of looking at the world.
Oh Sparte. I do adore your ways of looking at the world.
Written By Ysbail
Dec. 25, 2018, 1:39 a.m.(3/26/1010 AR)
Since returning to the city, there is a kind of restlessness in me which I find myself unable to fully explain. Always it has been my nature to question, to seek a deeper understanding of the people, places, and creatures around me. I fill the hours with books, with meditation, with conversation - but still, I feel restless, still, there are always new questions.
Hope flutters in the song of Silver that has spread far and beyond, and maybe that is what makes me restless, reminds me that I have work left unfinished to do.
Hope flutters in the song of Silver that has spread far and beyond, and maybe that is what makes me restless, reminds me that I have work left unfinished to do.
Written By Sabella
Dec. 25, 2018, 12:35 a.m.(3/25/1010 AR)
I am setting up a fundraiser to help families who have lost loved ones in the recent and not-so-recent conflicts Arx has seen. This charity will take the form of providing funds for families in need, donations of clothing and books, and even space in as an apprentice or squire or something of the same to children of those who fell in defense of us all to secure their futures. There will be a raffle to raise funds and I am accepting donations of things to be raffled off, so please contact me if you have something or know of someone who might!
Written By Sabella
Dec. 25, 2018, 12:30 a.m.(3/25/1010 AR)
Weddings are always delightful. Such a happy time where everyone is celebrating you, a big party thrown in your honor. Marriage is the part that comes after and is the part that is not often talked about or if it is, it is usually only in happy tones so as to not scare away those who have not gotten to that part in their lives. There are many, many wonderful aspects of marriage, but it can be difficult. You are sharing your life, your space, everything with another person who you may or may not have known very well before the contracts were signed. I am very lucky that my husband is a wonderful man who I love with all my heart, but there was an adjustment period where we both had to learn how to be together all the time when we were used to living on our own. In my case, he came into my home and we adjusted by moving into a larger room in our manor that was less mine and more ours. That we decorated together to make a new space that could reflect both of us. It was wonderful and strange and hard and lovely and is still challenging and amazing and I wouldn't trade it for anything. Even when some days can be more difficult than others, we have over a year's worth of wonderful memories that we can rely on to get us through.
And Niklas is very good at apologies.
And Niklas is very good at apologies.
Written By Thena
Dec. 24, 2018, 11:16 p.m.(3/25/1010 AR)
Apparently it's the thing to assure the Compact in the most fulsome language that one is still madly in love with their partner despite the recent spates of divorces and breakups.
...
I'm mean, but I'm not /that/ mean.
...
I'm mean, but I'm not /that/ mean.
Written By Sparte
Dec. 24, 2018, 10 p.m.(3/25/1010 AR)
So many divorces in so little time.
I see people defiantly reaffirming their love, others insisting on the sanctity of vows.
Yet what is a marriage to begin with, if not a partnership? A vow to work together as the people you were when the marriage was made.
So what then becomes of a partnership, if two people are no longer as they once were? What is an agreement to support one another when paths diverge?
The answer is not hard to see.
There is change in the air.
While I am sad to see so many people discover they are not in love I am relieved to see people not trapping themselves despite it. I hope that this time of separation is followed by a tide of new unions. Better unions, as people with a clearer vision of who they are and what they want in life join hand in hand. Perhaps not forever, as change may come again, but long enough to do something beautiful together.
I say this as someone who himself has never been married, who perhaps never will be married, but who sees beauty in the vow of marriage. Sometimes beautiful things are broken for the sake of building something better.
I see people defiantly reaffirming their love, others insisting on the sanctity of vows.
Yet what is a marriage to begin with, if not a partnership? A vow to work together as the people you were when the marriage was made.
So what then becomes of a partnership, if two people are no longer as they once were? What is an agreement to support one another when paths diverge?
The answer is not hard to see.
There is change in the air.
While I am sad to see so many people discover they are not in love I am relieved to see people not trapping themselves despite it. I hope that this time of separation is followed by a tide of new unions. Better unions, as people with a clearer vision of who they are and what they want in life join hand in hand. Perhaps not forever, as change may come again, but long enough to do something beautiful together.
I say this as someone who himself has never been married, who perhaps never will be married, but who sees beauty in the vow of marriage. Sometimes beautiful things are broken for the sake of building something better.
Please note that the scholars may take some time preparing your journal for others to read.