Written By Lianne
April 16, 2018, 1:54 p.m.(7/23/1008 AR)
Relationship Note on Dominique
I take no issue with the critiques and questions levied against the Press Secretary. I have no opinion on her accusation or joke, whichever it might truly be.
I only ask after the weight of her position, if she does, as others have said, speak with the authority of the Crown, as a voice of the Crown.
I only wonder why her white journals are leant that weight while other agents of the Crown are seen, in this venue, as speaking for themselves alone.
I only ask after the weight of her position, if she does, as others have said, speak with the authority of the Crown, as a voice of the Crown.
I only wonder why her white journals are leant that weight while other agents of the Crown are seen, in this venue, as speaking for themselves alone.
Written By Reigna
April 16, 2018, 1:54 p.m.(7/23/1008 AR)
I am passionate about a great many things. Duty, honor and responsibility number near the top of my passions. Anyone who reads my journals are likely too aware of those. I can be exceedingly verbose on the topics of personal accountability up to and quite surpassing my ability to take a joke.
This is a shortcoming I am able to accept about myself. The fact that I have, and will likely again in the future be the one to draw the line and say, 'This is not okay.' (Even when I am in the vast majority, and everyone else thinks it is). That is simply how I am. Who I am.
But that does not give me the right to make others feel poorly, or attacked.
I apologize to Princess Saoirse, and any others who have taken offense at my strident words. My intention was not to condemn or tear down, but to express (likely unnecessarily) my views on responsibility.
I know there is a line between being a person and being in power. I was raised to believe my life was not mine. By nature of my birth, I bore a weight of duty to those I am beholden to. This does make me prickly at times. I will... try not to be as sharp.
This is a shortcoming I am able to accept about myself. The fact that I have, and will likely again in the future be the one to draw the line and say, 'This is not okay.' (Even when I am in the vast majority, and everyone else thinks it is). That is simply how I am. Who I am.
But that does not give me the right to make others feel poorly, or attacked.
I apologize to Princess Saoirse, and any others who have taken offense at my strident words. My intention was not to condemn or tear down, but to express (likely unnecessarily) my views on responsibility.
I know there is a line between being a person and being in power. I was raised to believe my life was not mine. By nature of my birth, I bore a weight of duty to those I am beholden to. This does make me prickly at times. I will... try not to be as sharp.
Written By Dominique
April 16, 2018, 1:46 p.m.(7/23/1008 AR)
Relationship Note on Lianne
We are nobles. She is nobility. I would hold any office holder to conduct themselves at a higher standard than the masses, especially one with a title with weight. To say something that could potentially lead to political backlash from a press secretary of the crown is not wise, nor is it noble. If she wants to joke about other things then I say, give her the freedom, but when it comes to acts or even accusation of such things like spying, then she should act befitting her station.
I would be more than happy to host an event discussing such matters at the gardens of the Wyrmguard Estate.
I would be more than happy to host an event discussing such matters at the gardens of the Wyrmguard Estate.
Written By Lianne
April 16, 2018, 1:34 p.m.(7/23/1008 AR)
Perhaps I misunderstand the role of Press Secretary to the Crown. I had thought it was a specific function, not unlike a Minster or Commoners' Councilor. Is there something about this specific position which grants Princess Saoirse the full weight and authority of Voice of the Crown, particularly outside of the particular purview of her responsibilities? Do we hold the bearer of this specific position to a higher degree of scrutiny than we do others of similar function?
Written By Jan
April 16, 2018, 1:24 p.m.(7/23/1008 AR)
"Don't get your hopes up too high," she says.
"I'm more of a hobbyist than anything else," she says.
Then she wins the entire competition.
"I'm more of a hobbyist than anything else," she says.
Then she wins the entire competition.
Written By Aleksei
April 16, 2018, 1:23 p.m.(7/23/1008 AR)
Relationship Note on Itzal
Excuse me! I have to keep my Oathlander status so that I can maximize my joke potential. I'm just a bad one.
Written By Aureth
April 16, 2018, 1:23 p.m.(7/23/1008 AR)
On the contrary, Aleksei would never deny his roots. I visited his parents once. His mother is an excellent baker.
Written By Itzal
April 16, 2018, 1:18 p.m.(7/23/1008 AR)
Relationship Note on Aureth
Yes, but does Archlector Aleksei really qualify as an Oathlander? He'd be the first to deny the origin!
Written By Aureth
April 16, 2018, 1:16 p.m.(7/23/1008 AR)
Incidentally, the only jokes I have about Oathlanders keeping quiet (or not) are filthy, lewd, and entirely based upon my own personal experience.
Written By Dominique
April 16, 2018, 1:11 p.m.(7/23/1008 AR)
Relationship Note on Aleksei
Aye, we are honorbound to do so.
Blessed Aleksei gave a good joke.
Ha.
Blessed Aleksei gave a good joke.
Ha.
Written By Aleksei
April 16, 2018, 1:10 p.m.(7/23/1008 AR)
It's actually impossible to accidentally hire a Valardin spy. They're required to announce their spy status in the hiring process.
Written By Aureth
April 16, 2018, 1:08 p.m.(7/23/1008 AR)
If one wishes not to be the butt of a joke, it is generally advisable not to behave like a butt.
This is advice that anyone can take, however.
This is advice that anyone can take, however.
Written By Orazio
April 16, 2018, 1:07 p.m.(7/23/1008 AR)
To the Faithful Reader:
There is a game taught to children - or there was when I was growing up - in the Lyceum, which is called "liar's poker". It actually has many names, and they get progressively more vulgar as age and alcohol content at an event rises, but we'll go with the first for now. It's a card game played with two full decks, and the goal is simple: lose all your cards. The mechanics are also far more simple than standard poker - going around to every player, one places 1-4 cards of the same value (suit immaterial) in the pile at the center of the table, and when the turn passes to the next player, the card value advances by one. Player 1 might place 3 twos, Player 2 then plays 1 three, Player 3 then puts down 2 fours, etc. You cannot skip a turn - you /must/ play at least one card. Luckily, you play all your cards face down, and the only way for anyone to know what you play is by calling your bluff. If you were lying about what you put down, you have to pick up the whole pile. If you were telling the truth, the pile goes to your opponent. Play until you get tired or the number of players is small enough that it's no longer fun.
For children, this provides a fun and relatively simple way to learn two key skills: how to bluff, and how to detect when others are bluffing with enough confidence that you're willing to take a risk on action.
Adult players, however, recognize that there is a greater strategy than bluff and counterbluff. A great liar usually ends up no more than a mediocre player of liar's poker - because once people figure out that you're lying, calling every play ends up a reasonable risk. The people who consistently win liar's poker are the ones who can succeed in turning their opponents' own paranoia and suspicion against them - if every called bluff ends up being an honest play, then it is only the opponent that suffers, whether they call often, or not at all. This is often a most effective strategy when dealing with non-Lycene, for whom prejudice has persuaded that Southerners are simply incapable of truth, even when there is absolutely no value in lying.
Ah, but how does one ensure that one has the cards to play honestly on each turn, I can hear the savvy reader asking?
That, I leave as an exercise to the reader, and urge you to enjoy a good game or two trying out your guesses.
There is a game taught to children - or there was when I was growing up - in the Lyceum, which is called "liar's poker". It actually has many names, and they get progressively more vulgar as age and alcohol content at an event rises, but we'll go with the first for now. It's a card game played with two full decks, and the goal is simple: lose all your cards. The mechanics are also far more simple than standard poker - going around to every player, one places 1-4 cards of the same value (suit immaterial) in the pile at the center of the table, and when the turn passes to the next player, the card value advances by one. Player 1 might place 3 twos, Player 2 then plays 1 three, Player 3 then puts down 2 fours, etc. You cannot skip a turn - you /must/ play at least one card. Luckily, you play all your cards face down, and the only way for anyone to know what you play is by calling your bluff. If you were lying about what you put down, you have to pick up the whole pile. If you were telling the truth, the pile goes to your opponent. Play until you get tired or the number of players is small enough that it's no longer fun.
For children, this provides a fun and relatively simple way to learn two key skills: how to bluff, and how to detect when others are bluffing with enough confidence that you're willing to take a risk on action.
Adult players, however, recognize that there is a greater strategy than bluff and counterbluff. A great liar usually ends up no more than a mediocre player of liar's poker - because once people figure out that you're lying, calling every play ends up a reasonable risk. The people who consistently win liar's poker are the ones who can succeed in turning their opponents' own paranoia and suspicion against them - if every called bluff ends up being an honest play, then it is only the opponent that suffers, whether they call often, or not at all. This is often a most effective strategy when dealing with non-Lycene, for whom prejudice has persuaded that Southerners are simply incapable of truth, even when there is absolutely no value in lying.
Ah, but how does one ensure that one has the cards to play honestly on each turn, I can hear the savvy reader asking?
That, I leave as an exercise to the reader, and urge you to enjoy a good game or two trying out your guesses.
Written By Dominique
April 16, 2018, 1:01 p.m.(7/23/1008 AR)
Relationship Note on Saoirse
Upon rereading the journal, I disagree.
The joke is more 'You accidentally hired a Valardin' not 'they're a Valardin spy'
So I can't forgive it as a joke because it wasn't a good joke.
I would recommend you getting lessons in humor. I know I am a dour sourpuss, so I would happily pay for lessons in public relations for you as well considering the hubub you stirred.
The joke is more 'You accidentally hired a Valardin' not 'they're a Valardin spy'
So I can't forgive it as a joke because it wasn't a good joke.
I would recommend you getting lessons in humor. I know I am a dour sourpuss, so I would happily pay for lessons in public relations for you as well considering the hubub you stirred.
Written By Reigna
April 16, 2018, 12:59 p.m.(7/23/1008 AR)
I do not understand what about the concept of taking your word and your duty seriously is hard to understand.
If your job is to speak with the voice of the Crown, should you not take that obligation seriously? Where is the line? What if she were to say that Thrax thought the Lyceum's way of dressing is too immodest and that they should go to war. Is that funny too?
At the *very* least it diminishes the value of the Word of the Crown. If you start down the slope of not taking her words seriously, then there may come a time when anything she says might be interpreted as a joke.
Is this nitpicking? Of course it is. But it is about the *principle* of what it means to be responsible. This is the heart of duty and honor and I am sorry, it is just not funny. It is offensive.
I know this is not the first time I have come down on the side of humorless adherence to responsibility. I know I am... unfun and not funny. But it *means* something to hold responsibility.
If your job is to speak with the voice of the Crown, should you not take that obligation seriously? Where is the line? What if she were to say that Thrax thought the Lyceum's way of dressing is too immodest and that they should go to war. Is that funny too?
At the *very* least it diminishes the value of the Word of the Crown. If you start down the slope of not taking her words seriously, then there may come a time when anything she says might be interpreted as a joke.
Is this nitpicking? Of course it is. But it is about the *principle* of what it means to be responsible. This is the heart of duty and honor and I am sorry, it is just not funny. It is offensive.
I know this is not the first time I have come down on the side of humorless adherence to responsibility. I know I am... unfun and not funny. But it *means* something to hold responsibility.
Written By Echo
April 16, 2018, 12:57 p.m.(7/23/1008 AR)
Relationship Note on Lucita
Geez Luci! There's a story I haven't heard in some time!
I admit, I'm... Slightly afraid that you've planted all sorts of ideas into Aggie's head.
I admit, I'm... Slightly afraid that you've planted all sorts of ideas into Aggie's head.
Written By Saoirse
April 16, 2018, 12:56 p.m.(7/23/1008 AR)
It was just a joke, I apologize. I was merely playing with the very old understanding of dislike between two houses. Just a quip. Everyone is fine.
Written By Agatha
April 16, 2018, 12:53 p.m.(7/23/1008 AR)
Relationship Note on Saoirse
Scholar, I would like to make an addition to my will. Should I die before Princess Saoirse, please leave her my big lettered HAH!
It sounds like she might need it.
Yes, she can borrow it from time to time until I pass.
It sounds like she might need it.
Yes, she can borrow it from time to time until I pass.
Written By Aleksei
April 16, 2018, 12:50 p.m.(7/23/1008 AR)
Oathlands good humor on display! Sure makes me not miss home.
Written By Norwood
April 16, 2018, 12:49 p.m.(7/23/1008 AR)
Relationship Note on Lumen
I am grateful you have noticed the opened doors and pulled out chairs.
They are two of my favorite activities.
They are two of my favorite activities.
Please note that the scholars may take some time preparing your journal for others to read.