A New Voice of Stonewood
Posted by Malesh on 10/19/17
To all that reside within this great compact:
House Stonewood, for the most part, has a history of serving our Liege in relatively obscure humility. Our domain is a simple place, far removed the complexities of the great city of Arx. We speak plainly and we deal plainly. We hold true to our words and remain as steadfast as stone. Our family fought and took casualties during the siege, just as many of you have. Our family, in the last year alone, has bled to defend Arx, Maelstrom, and the Gray Forest. We have beaten back man and beast and all manner of foul thing, and I thank my siblings Gailin, Graham, and Arianna for their dedication to the military arts and their use in the never-ending fight against evil.
At home, though, there is a different fight: a struggle to maintain our lands despite the threat of conflict. We are lucky in that our lands produce items of value in trade, but rather than live idle lives of leisure, we have put forth effort to better provide for our people, to eliminate waste and help move what we have in excess to those of you who may want for it. My cousin Orelia and sister Arianna inspired in us Gild’s charity when they gave their time so that the poor might have a little more on their plates. My wife, the Marquessa Ariel Stonewood, is tireless in ensuring the needs of the people in our homelands are seen to as well. I’m hesitant to speak of my own accomplishments, but I can say that nearly a third of my financial success is the sole result of Lady Joslyn’s efforts, for she has been a wise advisor when she is not also risking her life for the compact.
I have stated that we are a humble people, and as you can see, we are industrious as well. I have done a poor job of sharing this knowledge with you all and, as has been shown to me as of late, many of you are ignorant to the labors of my House. There is no shame for you in this; I, too, am focused heavily on my own affairs and am ignorant to many of your great deeds as well. There is shame for me, however, in allowing our tradition of quiet isolation to continue in a time when we must all stand together united against the evils of the world.
With that in mind, I make the following decree. While Lady Arianna Stonewood has served as my sole voice for some time now, she also serves as an active agent of the Crown and a highly esteemed disciple of the faith, and the needs of our growing house are now greater than one voice can manage -- particularly one who is giving so much of herself to the compact. Since I wed my beloved Ariel, the Marquessa has had a strong voice inside the house. She has proven to be skilled in diplomatic matters as well, and is a far greater mind for the social subtleties of this cosmopolitan city than I. She will now officially serve as the Voice of House Stonewood as well.
Through her, I look forward to growing to know more of you better, and in return have you know us better as well. With mutual understanding and dedication to our shared interest, the compact will grow ever stronger, and our combined military, economic, and diplomatic might will stand steadfast in the face of any evil which might challenge us from without, or from within.
Steadfast as stone,
Marquis Malesh Stonewood