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In Response to Lord Ansel Telmar

Posted by Bliss on 10/13/18
To all,

I do not deny Lord Ansel's claims of my first attempt at peaceful resolution, though I will say that this was before Princess Isabeau and Lord Ansel's betrothal were public knowledge, before any contract had been signed, before any vows were sworn. I am a Devotion of Limerance, and once it was clear that that was the path things were going down, I did not seek to break any promises that had been set in stone between the families of Valardin and Telmar.

Allow me to respond to the next statements:

After our initial discussions, House Telmar was silent on this issue for months and months, never speaking with me, never making an attempt to reach out, until I informed House Valardin of what the situation was. They were content to ignore me and act as if this problem would go away.

The idea of serving the House from which the traitor Everard originated and which is responsible for so many wrongs done against me in the eyes of, by my interpretation, Limerance, Gloria and the Sentinel is a difficult idea for me to swallow to say the least. As does taking a position from a House which has wronged me so badly which they could revoke at any moment.

The forging of the sword was not rejected. I said that if this were part of the deal, it would be a beginning only, not a solid offer in and of itself. I asked to meet with House Telmar to speak on this, and despite agreeing, she instead had Duchess Nicia Laurent speak on their behalf instead. As for the name of the blade - my input on the name was never asked. I was simply told what it would be.

House Telmar said they would be seeking penance with the Faith. Their donation to Gloria is more than welcome if they wish to make it, but it does not right the wrongs that have been done to me.

I do not seek personal gain. I am a victim seeking recompense for the wrongs committed against me, from one who has vowed to repay those wrongs. If a House Voice can grant lands and titles, he can also grant the House Sword. It is within your power, Lord Ansel.

For clarity, here are the demands which I gave to House Telmar as a compromise:

* Possession of Vowkeeper for my life. As I am a woman unlikely to ever have an heir and have no immediate blood relations aside from my father, the blade would be returned to House Telmar on my death, so long as they did not commit further dishonorable action against me. Should I have children, then those children could be made members of House Telmar, either married in or ennobled, and thus the claim over Vowkeeper would return to House Telmar once more, in full, with no question.

* Public repudiation of Everard Telmar, censuring him. While I would prefer a posthumous denoblement, I am willing to accept that, finally, a Telmar has issued a proclamation that states the wrongs that Everard has committed. It is a shame that it took this long.

A public apology offered to me by House Telmar.

These terms were rejected.

The Faith has offered mediation on this matter. I am willing to accept it. My initial goal in proposing marriage was a simple one - to fold my claim back in with the bloodline of Telmar, and give them an out that would help maintain their honor. I recognize that Everard is dead, but House Telmar has made their own vows to me even outside of him - from the Voice, the Sword, the recognized heir, the representative of the entire House and not just a single member of it - and I want this made right.

Bliss

--- Amadeo Stance (from Duarte) ---
Attempts to alloy our fondness for Bliss Whisper are unnecessary. I am happy resolution is sought, but public pronouncement of how the House now feels somehow slighted by the aggrieved seems strained.

--- Inverno Stance (from Aisha) ---
Inverno has no doubt that Whisper Bliss is free to feel she has been wronged by House Telmar. HOWEVER, we do not support her demands to take a family heirloom from them.