Written By Bliss
Jan. 21, 2019, 5:17 p.m.(6/6/1010 AR)
Relationship Note on Verity
These forces aren't exactly the kind to negotiate. Each of them is only held at bay by the threat of the other - these aren't really offers which they are presenting, but demands. They have sweetened the pot as much as they will go because the last thing either would want is to be undercut by the other. Otherwise, they would have done so at the Assembly.
Our options are on the table. Unless we actively find something better to present to them, this is the reality of what will come to pass. Optimism is all well and good, but it needs to be tempered with understanding the totality of the situation.
Our options are on the table. Unless we actively find something better to present to them, this is the reality of what will come to pass. Optimism is all well and good, but it needs to be tempered with understanding the totality of the situation.
Written By Evaristo
Jan. 21, 2019, 2:31 p.m.(6/6/1010 AR)
Relationship Note on Mirella
But I don't. I don't have a stock of wine.
This is devastating and sad.
This is devastating and sad.
Written By Peri
Jan. 21, 2019, 12:17 p.m.(6/6/1010 AR)
Relationship Note on Orrin
A fierce protector of freedom
Written By Peri
Jan. 21, 2019, 12:06 p.m.(6/6/1010 AR)
Relationship Note on Orrin
parent,My father. A fierce protector of freedom.
Written By Amund
Jan. 21, 2019, 12:04 p.m.(6/6/1010 AR)
Ultimately, one hopes that those who are endowed to make the choices that affect the rest of us remember the strengths of each and are led by reason, rather than ideals, misguided or not. Ideals may exist outside of reality. Bread does not. And everybody has to eat.
Written By Peri
Jan. 21, 2019, 12:03 p.m.(6/6/1010 AR)
Relationship Note on Maru
family,My grand uncle. He has had many adventures! Maybe one day I will get to go on one with him!
Written By Amund
Jan. 21, 2019, 11:51 a.m.(6/6/1010 AR)
Relationship Note on Preston
Your assumption is that the ways of the people and their culture will cease to exist when there are external pressures. You give the Arvani too little credit. It doesn't matter who the overlord is. Banners will always change with conquest and diplomacy. What won't is how people go about their business. That, in the end, is culture. It's intrinsic to the way people live.
Written By Peri
Jan. 21, 2019, 11:46 a.m.(6/6/1010 AR)
Relationship Note on Orrin
parent,My father. A fierce protector of freedom.
Written By Archeron
Jan. 21, 2019, 9:51 a.m.(6/6/1010 AR)
All these choices have draw backs. All have advantages. We just need to fully understand them.
Written By Sophie
Jan. 21, 2019, 9:32 a.m.(6/6/1010 AR)
Relationship Note on Bliss
Whomever said to you "May you live in interesting times." Can you please ask them to spread it out more?
All at once is a little much, don't you think?
We are all stretched to our limits. I'm not sure how much more we can handle.
All at once is a little much, don't you think?
We are all stretched to our limits. I'm not sure how much more we can handle.
Written By Verity
Jan. 21, 2019, 9:27 a.m.(6/6/1010 AR)
Everyone is debating the merits of the offers on the table by our foreign allies; as they should! But as any of our diplomats should be able to advice: the ifrst offer is rarely the one that's cemented in the treaty. You can look at the broad strokes, and then begin negotiation to get the more favorable deal.
Written By Archeron
Jan. 21, 2019, 8:55 a.m.(6/5/1010 AR)
It is a hard choice placed before the Assembly - on such an important matter it is clear that the Duchess alone speaks for Tyde, she will make our position clear.
What I will say though is that people quite rightly talk of some of the choices in front of us being unacceptable because it sacrifices customs and practices that are long established, and they do not wish to do that. To accept the end of Thralldom, to the Isles, is to accept that same thing. To surrender an old custom, an old practice, at the request of those not known to us. I say this not advocating either way, but it must be considered that to the Isles, this is the same as some of those routes the Mainlanders say are unacceptable.
We must also consider the cost. Remember the horror when Kennex did as it did? There are only a handful of houses in Thrax that do not practice Thralldom in any form. It took the resources of the Compact, including the others of Thrax, to control that situation. And it was not just a cost in silver, but in people as people felt worried at such rapid change, as people who society had removed, where Thralldom had provided an option other than summary execution, were returned to society they had already proven they could not live within. Deaths occured. More were avoided by the spreading of that pressure, by former Thralls being taken in. We were glad to help.
Thrax has its own holdings. It has three duchies. It has marches under those. Over 25 counties under that. Over 80 baronies. Imagine over 100 Kennexs. All at once. And with the support Thrax gave removed, as it would be dealing with its own issues. Essentially 1/5th of the Compact is removed, likely struggling to muster forces for more than enforcing order in their own lands. The cost of avoiding major unrest, the resources put in to stabilise - because we cannot have the resources to mitigate the damage as we did with Kennex when so many occur at once - would likely take a great deal away from the other 4/5ths of the Compact's ability to muster new companies of men to fight.
It is complex. It is serious. It is hard.
I am glad this is a choice for the High Lords, for it will take broad shoulders and strong backs to bear the weight of these choices.
What I will say though is that people quite rightly talk of some of the choices in front of us being unacceptable because it sacrifices customs and practices that are long established, and they do not wish to do that. To accept the end of Thralldom, to the Isles, is to accept that same thing. To surrender an old custom, an old practice, at the request of those not known to us. I say this not advocating either way, but it must be considered that to the Isles, this is the same as some of those routes the Mainlanders say are unacceptable.
We must also consider the cost. Remember the horror when Kennex did as it did? There are only a handful of houses in Thrax that do not practice Thralldom in any form. It took the resources of the Compact, including the others of Thrax, to control that situation. And it was not just a cost in silver, but in people as people felt worried at such rapid change, as people who society had removed, where Thralldom had provided an option other than summary execution, were returned to society they had already proven they could not live within. Deaths occured. More were avoided by the spreading of that pressure, by former Thralls being taken in. We were glad to help.
Thrax has its own holdings. It has three duchies. It has marches under those. Over 25 counties under that. Over 80 baronies. Imagine over 100 Kennexs. All at once. And with the support Thrax gave removed, as it would be dealing with its own issues. Essentially 1/5th of the Compact is removed, likely struggling to muster forces for more than enforcing order in their own lands. The cost of avoiding major unrest, the resources put in to stabilise - because we cannot have the resources to mitigate the damage as we did with Kennex when so many occur at once - would likely take a great deal away from the other 4/5ths of the Compact's ability to muster new companies of men to fight.
It is complex. It is serious. It is hard.
I am glad this is a choice for the High Lords, for it will take broad shoulders and strong backs to bear the weight of these choices.
Written By Lisebet
Jan. 21, 2019, 8:41 a.m.(6/5/1010 AR)
Relationship Note on Pharamond
I had an interesting discussion with Lord Pharamond yesterday about adventures, risk taking and the duties of a House Sword.
I am not sure how likely it is that I will be the safe one who doesn't cause him to take risks. I'm not sure that doing the right thing will allow that. However, I shall certainly do my best.
Not necessarily to be safe, though surely that will always play a role. But to do the right thing.
I am not sure how likely it is that I will be the safe one who doesn't cause him to take risks. I'm not sure that doing the right thing will allow that. However, I shall certainly do my best.
Not necessarily to be safe, though surely that will always play a role. But to do the right thing.
Written By Audric
Jan. 21, 2019, 7:13 a.m.(6/5/1010 AR)
Relationship Note on Brady
I've given him a potentially amusing job. It might kill him! Probably not. I also haven't told him the real prize if he succeeds. Let's see what happens!
Written By Felicia
Jan. 21, 2019, 4:53 a.m.(6/5/1010 AR)
The first free human kingdom of Arvum was founded by those who had fled slavery in the East. Freed from their bonds by the Great Lone Wolf, also known as Skald. And by those who remember those times, humanity is considered to be the Children of the First Choice.
The legacy of our history, and our freedom, extends further than the Reckoning, and has been fought and paid for in blood for more generations than most of us realize.
Let us not disgrace our collective history by submitting to slavery now.
The path ahead will not be easy, but at least when we return to the Wheel we can hold our heads up high and tell Death Herself that we lived free.
The legacy of our history, and our freedom, extends further than the Reckoning, and has been fought and paid for in blood for more generations than most of us realize.
Let us not disgrace our collective history by submitting to slavery now.
The path ahead will not be easy, but at least when we return to the Wheel we can hold our heads up high and tell Death Herself that we lived free.
Written By Preston
Jan. 21, 2019, 4:31 a.m.(6/5/1010 AR)
Relationship Note on Amund
I say survival is not a virtue, you say it is a necessity. And you are right, but not in the way I meant survival. I was talking of survival of self, and it is not. Your survival, my survival, these things are not important. The survival of our people and their culture and values? That I will accept is a necessity. But they must both be preserved - for without our culture, our values, our Gods, our ways....we are not us. That death of our society will be slower perhaps if our people survive but everything else is shed away, as those who remember what we were pass on, as each successively smaller revolt by those who realise the path we were on is too dark fails.
I have little desire to die, even fighting, but I have absolutely no desire in fighting to live without purpose.
I have little desire to die, even fighting, but I have absolutely no desire in fighting to live without purpose.
Written By Victus
Jan. 21, 2019, 3:41 a.m.(6/5/1010 AR)
There has not been and will not be any official stance from House Thrax about Brass' offer at the present time. There is still a month's worth of time for planning and consideration.
I urge all of those sworn to the Mourning Isles to remember this when speaking of that particular offer.
I urge all of those sworn to the Mourning Isles to remember this when speaking of that particular offer.
Written By Vanora
Jan. 21, 2019, 2:32 a.m.(6/5/1010 AR)
Things I did today without screaming:
Had a meeting requested by Octavia and Ford, which ran for several hours and was quite productive.
Spent the evening drinking and talking with my father, whose advice I actually found very wise and plan to take.
Interesting times indeed.
Had a meeting requested by Octavia and Ford, which ran for several hours and was quite productive.
Spent the evening drinking and talking with my father, whose advice I actually found very wise and plan to take.
Interesting times indeed.
Written By Vanora
Jan. 21, 2019, 2:30 a.m.(6/5/1010 AR)
Relationship Note on Belladonna
Every once in a while, the surprises that one comes across are not disappointing but truly wonderful.
I'd forgotten how much I loved my family, when they let me. I don't mean my husband and children, for I don't forget that.
But rather my Pravus kin, from my dramatic and silky cousins to my practical yet philosophical father.
It is good to be back in one another's lives. May it last.
I'd forgotten how much I loved my family, when they let me. I don't mean my husband and children, for I don't forget that.
But rather my Pravus kin, from my dramatic and silky cousins to my practical yet philosophical father.
It is good to be back in one another's lives. May it last.
Written By Belladonna
Jan. 21, 2019, 12:54 a.m.(6/5/1010 AR)
What a time to be alive and well in the city of Arx!
I sometimes wish our Assemblies were more organized, but what is a party without a rabblerouser or two?
I sometimes wish our Assemblies were more organized, but what is a party without a rabblerouser or two?
Please note that the scholars may take some time preparing your journal for others to read.