Written By Octavia
March 27, 2017, 6:52 a.m.(3/1/1006 AR)
Think not that I ignore the siege. I am acutely aware of the death that stands outside our gates. I would be a liability, not an asset, on a battlefield. I am a thinker, a student, a judge, not a warrior.
I leave the fighting to those capable. My place is in ensuring order. Ensuring that we survive. Ensuring that the people of Arx understand that we will endure, and that justice will prevail. Ensuring that those who would take advantage of our situation for their own material gain understand that their behavior will not be tolerated.
There will be a reformed court, of this I am certain. I have spoken to every ruling prince save Edain, and they are in agreement that a court is a necessity, and that I must bring it to pass. Prince Laric seems adamant that I lead it. Who am I to argue?
Think not that I ignore the siege, for the walls are not the only place it is fought.
I leave the fighting to those capable. My place is in ensuring order. Ensuring that we survive. Ensuring that the people of Arx understand that we will endure, and that justice will prevail. Ensuring that those who would take advantage of our situation for their own material gain understand that their behavior will not be tolerated.
There will be a reformed court, of this I am certain. I have spoken to every ruling prince save Edain, and they are in agreement that a court is a necessity, and that I must bring it to pass. Prince Laric seems adamant that I lead it. Who am I to argue?
Think not that I ignore the siege, for the walls are not the only place it is fought.
Written By Merek
March 27, 2017, 2:23 a.m.(3/1/1006 AR)
Where to begin? It was interesting to be called to assist by the Cullers, however I was more than willing to. It seems more Bringers had managed to invade past our lines. However... We hunted them down, and managed to defeat them. I'd take time to write out a full story about it, but at this time, all I can think about is how I met a Bringer face to face in battle, and saw so many things, and then woke up later being tended to with medicine. I'm still recovering, and it will likely scar, but I survived, somehow. I don't mind the scars. They remind me of the sacrifices we make.
Written By Rowan
March 27, 2017, 1:42 a.m.(3/1/1006 AR)
I have never seen the like of the spirits' answer to our call. I have never seen so many in one place. If only it had not been for such dire circumstance. If only it had not been to the sound of troops moving in the distance and the onset of the fight. It is hard to take joy in seeing their faces in the smoke knowing the toll that was being paid at the gates below. Still...the image of the Stag in the fog charging the battle, the inspiring heat, I will never forget that.
I will never forget that I nearly lost my Tranquility. Nor that the Compact came together to hold the gates, to hold Arx.
The blood on the snow.
As the stories come in, I feel the weight of the numbers, of those lost - mortal and spirit alike, of the questions left in the wake of the fight. It is a night to drink to the fallen, to hold my children and those dear to me, and to thank the spirits they still breathe.
I will never forget that I nearly lost my Tranquility. Nor that the Compact came together to hold the gates, to hold Arx.
The blood on the snow.
As the stories come in, I feel the weight of the numbers, of those lost - mortal and spirit alike, of the questions left in the wake of the fight. It is a night to drink to the fallen, to hold my children and those dear to me, and to thank the spirits they still breathe.
Written By Tikva
March 27, 2017, 12:37 a.m.(3/1/1006 AR)
Relationship Note on Reese
_A reprise_:
Princess Ribbons rode to war
'Gainst Bringers by the score
And they fall before her blade
Pink as strawb'ry lemonade!
The power shone in her stroke
Gleaming roseate, full of hope
and the Bringer that she struck
Blew apart, well holy fuck--
Princess Ribbons rode to war
'Gainst Bringers by the score
And they fall before her blade
Pink as strawb'ry lemonade!
The power shone in her stroke
Gleaming roseate, full of hope
and the Bringer that she struck
Blew apart, well holy fuck--
Written By Darren
March 27, 2017, 12:36 a.m.(3/1/1006 AR)
Relationship Note on Deva
I knew you were good with a bow, but damn.
Damn.
Damn.
Written By Clover
March 27, 2017, 12:14 a.m.(3/1/1006 AR)
Ow.
Written By Orazio
March 27, 2017, 12:11 a.m.(3/1/1006 AR)
The Battle of the Seawatch Gate
Rarely have I seen such courage and bravery as I saw from the men and women of the Compact on that occasion. The Knights of Solace and the Templars, although fired to fury by the sight of their brethren risen as unholy standards above the army, never lost sight of their discipline, and under the command of Sir Armel, they hewed and cut like avenging Seraphs. But by no means was it the Faith alone that fought.
The battlements were manned by some of the finest archers I have ever seen, and they continued to fire even as the foul powers of the enemy became clear. Princess Deva struck out at the leader of the army herself, and I hear her shot was true and powerful. Captain Tobias and Lady Maude provided fantastic strategies, keeping the troops moving to fill gaps and push back against each enemy advance. The melee was a fury of fighting - I confess that my aging eyes found it hard to sort out individual battle victories there, but I know that they existed, and I am sure that those of better eyes will tell the tale for years to come.
In the end, we held the line. The enemy was forced to retreat, and now it stands around our walls, bent on our destruction. We have already proved that we will be no easy kill. Now, with the gods on our side, I know that we will triumph. I wish I could say that it would be a bloodless victory, but I know that we will lose a lot of good men and women. There will be funeral rites a-plenty to prepare. But still, we will stand. And in the end, we will triumph.
Rarely have I seen such courage and bravery as I saw from the men and women of the Compact on that occasion. The Knights of Solace and the Templars, although fired to fury by the sight of their brethren risen as unholy standards above the army, never lost sight of their discipline, and under the command of Sir Armel, they hewed and cut like avenging Seraphs. But by no means was it the Faith alone that fought.
The battlements were manned by some of the finest archers I have ever seen, and they continued to fire even as the foul powers of the enemy became clear. Princess Deva struck out at the leader of the army herself, and I hear her shot was true and powerful. Captain Tobias and Lady Maude provided fantastic strategies, keeping the troops moving to fill gaps and push back against each enemy advance. The melee was a fury of fighting - I confess that my aging eyes found it hard to sort out individual battle victories there, but I know that they existed, and I am sure that those of better eyes will tell the tale for years to come.
In the end, we held the line. The enemy was forced to retreat, and now it stands around our walls, bent on our destruction. We have already proved that we will be no easy kill. Now, with the gods on our side, I know that we will triumph. I wish I could say that it would be a bloodless victory, but I know that we will lose a lot of good men and women. There will be funeral rites a-plenty to prepare. But still, we will stand. And in the end, we will triumph.
Written By Franco
March 27, 2017, midnight(3/1/1006 AR)
Relationship Note on Deva
So. If I ever decide to tease or pick on this particular Redrain, I need to do so from behind something very big and hard to see through. And there can't be a single hole. Apparently she can strike through an eyeslit at a hundred yards with her bow. And I've learned she's just as adept with chairs. This means for my own safety, I need to nail them down before teasing. Preparation makes it hardly worth it in the end.
Written By Franco
March 26, 2017, 11:57 p.m.(3/1/1006 AR)
There's something about open combat that reminds you that you're alive. I imagine it's got to do with the risk of death. You're always alive, but you're almost never quite so alive as when you might lose it all. Philosophical nonsense, really. I think I missed most of the terrifying things I'm now hearing about. Which is a plus, really. It's hard to fight when the impossible is going on and coming to get you, so it pays sometimes to be cowering under a shield wall. See. Cowardice applied correctly. That's wisdom, or something.
Written By Katarina
March 26, 2017, 11:56 p.m.(3/1/1006 AR)
When the Sentinel imparted upon me a vision of warning; of Valardin Knights turning to dust before an armored man, and Alis took my vision, and with me, prayed for clarity... Nothing could have prepared me to watch it come to pass before our very eyes out there on the fields. I thought my warnings were heeded, that we'd spared lives. Apparently, we did not... Where did we go wrong?
Written By Estaban
March 26, 2017, 11:51 p.m.(3/1/1006 AR)
Relationship Note on Arcelia
One does not realize some times just how lucky they are to have a sibling, sometimes when just want to yell at them all the time or protect them. But then there are the times that you sit and you remember thing things you use to do as children together.
You sometimes forget how the other may feel till you get to sit and have a heart to heart with them. This has happened with me and my sister, sweet Aracelia. I know things have been rough and I know I have been hard on you, I want what is best for you and I want you to be happy in what you decide. I know that you will do what is best for the family.
I know my words hurt and stung your very core, I did not mean for them to I will always be there no matter what happens my dear sister always remember this.
You sometimes forget how the other may feel till you get to sit and have a heart to heart with them. This has happened with me and my sister, sweet Aracelia. I know things have been rough and I know I have been hard on you, I want what is best for you and I want you to be happy in what you decide. I know that you will do what is best for the family.
I know my words hurt and stung your very core, I did not mean for them to I will always be there no matter what happens my dear sister always remember this.
Written By Dafne
March 26, 2017, 11:48 p.m.(3/1/1006 AR)
It is quiet here, at the Palazzo. Too quiet. Sometimes I fancy I hear the sounds of battle: the clang of sword on sword, the snap of bowstrings, the groans of dying. I know I only imagine it. We are too far here.
I feel so useless. I am good for nothing but telling stories and petting kittens.
I wonder if Sylvie is out--in that. I wish I knew what took her, far away, to leave me. I always had here. She was here to chide me, but the chiding was only part of taking care of me, and we both knew that.
I should not be weak in public. I know that. But it is so hard to be strong sometimes.
<Beneath the entry, in very careful writing, as if someone had copied out something else:>
It was always meant to be you, Dafne; you are the true Zaffria duchess. You have more steel than anyone will ever give you credit for. Use that.
And, I love you. Always have, always will.
I feel so useless. I am good for nothing but telling stories and petting kittens.
I wonder if Sylvie is out--in that. I wish I knew what took her, far away, to leave me. I always had here. She was here to chide me, but the chiding was only part of taking care of me, and we both knew that.
I should not be weak in public. I know that. But it is so hard to be strong sometimes.
<Beneath the entry, in very careful writing, as if someone had copied out something else:>
It was always meant to be you, Dafne; you are the true Zaffria duchess. You have more steel than anyone will ever give you credit for. Use that.
And, I love you. Always have, always will.
Written By Aislin
March 26, 2017, 11:48 p.m.(3/1/1006 AR)
Relationship Note on Deva
Holy SHIT, my friend, that was a shot that will live on in /legend/. A thousand years from now, that's one that'll be in songs and stories.
You shot the Herald of Silence in the /eye/, through the helm of his armor
You shot the Herald of Silence in the /eye/, through the helm of his armor
Written By Fortunato
March 26, 2017, 11:47 p.m.(3/1/1006 AR)
Gods, life is so fragile. All of it.
But we're still here.
But we're still here.
Written By Katarina
March 26, 2017, 11:46 p.m.(3/1/1006 AR)
It was a strange thing, fighting in the frontlines after having surrendered my blades for two years. I'm a lot more rustier than I thought, but there's nothing like the present to begin improving one's self for the next battles.
Written By Aislin
March 26, 2017, 11:43 p.m.(3/1/1006 AR)
In previous fights, I've been the scout in the trees, the one reading the land and finding the paths to take. I've been the lone explorer fighting off direwolves. I've never been a soldier standing rank-and-file in the lines. I've never been the one who goes toe-to-toe with an invading army in the thick of things.
Tonight, I had a painful reminder of my shortcomings.
Perhaps it's time to put aside the studies of forgotten history and esoteric knowledge for a while, and focus on improving my combat skills.
Tonight, I had a painful reminder of my shortcomings.
Perhaps it's time to put aside the studies of forgotten history and esoteric knowledge for a while, and focus on improving my combat skills.
Written By Morrighan
March 26, 2017, 11:39 p.m.(3/1/1006 AR)
We did it. For now. They retreated, but it's only the beginning. This was my first real battle, the first time I really saw anything this extreme up close and personal. I saw things that I couldn't wrap my head around. Hundreds of people turned to dust. Nothing. They just dissolved and were gone. The ballistae and trebuchets did the same, and some were wounded in the process. After a while the fear and anxiety turns to something else, all I could think about was just killing as many of them as I could, slaughtering any that got close to Darren, and for the most part I succeeded. Did I mention Deva got a killer shot at the leader? She shot him in the face. The fucking face. Right in his fucking eyeball. It was glorious. People fell, but thanks to the skill of the Mercies, they were able to be taken to safety or continued fighting. There were many brave men and women there today, and it was an honor to fight with them. I've had enough excitement, however, and now I need to get all this blood off of me and crawl into bed. I'm tired.
Written By Khanne
March 26, 2017, 11:39 p.m.(3/1/1006 AR)
I am stunned. I don't even know what to write at the moment. They came! The Spirits heard our call and came to help us fight! I am in happy shock for this, as much as I am thrilled to be alive. I truly thought I was going to die to my own arrow as the Bringer stabbed me with it... I felt my life seep out of me so quickly. I am eternally grateful that Sophie was there to help me. She is a truly blessed Mercy, and it surely thanks to her that I am alive.
I will write more when I can....
I will write more when I can....
Written By Jaenelle
March 26, 2017, 11:38 p.m.(3/1/1006 AR)
I pace. That seems as if it is all I do now. If I were born a man I would at least have something tangible to focus on. A blade, a battle, death. Instead, I did not inherit Leona's taste for the sword, so I pace and worry. Nothing has ever been solved by pacing and worrying, and I find that my empty wringing hands need something better to do.
Written By Ferrando
March 26, 2017, 11:38 p.m.(3/1/1006 AR)
'Veiling' is a new term I've regrettably had cause to learn recently, it means "to make it vexingly difficult to see a Bringer when you need to smash it with a mace".
Please note that the scholars may take some time preparing your journal for others to read.